lfc201510k.htm

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

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015

Commission file number 0-11487

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Indiana
35-1559596
(State of incorporation)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

202 East Center Street, P.O. Box 1387, Warsaw, Indiana  46581-1387
(Address of principal executive offices)

Telephone:  (574) 267-6144

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Common Stock, no par value
NASDAQ Global Select Market
(Title of class)
(Name of each exchange on which registered)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes __No X

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes __No X

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

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

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.[   ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer [   ]
Accelerated filer  [X]
Non-accelerated filer  [   ]
Smaller reporting company  [   ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act) Yes __ No X

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the last sales price quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on June 30, 2015, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $676,297,945.
 
Number of shares of common stock outstanding at February 22, 2016: 16,696,834

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Part III - Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 12, 2016 are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.

 
 


LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Annual Report on Form 10-K
Table of Contents


   
Page Number
 
PART I
 
     
3
13
20
20
20
20
     
 
PART II
 
     
 
 
21
23
24
41
42
99
99
99
     
 
PART III
 
     
99
99
 
 
99
100
100
     
 
PART IV
 
     
100
     
 
S1

 
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PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

The Company

Lakeland Financial Corporation (“Lakeland Financial”), an Indiana corporation incorporated in 1983, is a bank holding company headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana that provides, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Lake City Bank (the “Bank” and together with Lakeland Financial, the “Company”), a broad array of products and services throughout its Northern and Central Indiana markets. The Company offers commercial and consumer banking services, as well as trust and wealth management, brokerage, and treasury management commercial services. The Company serves a wide variety of industries including, among others, commercial real estate, manufacturing, agriculture, construction, retail, wholesale, finance and insurance, accommodation and food services and health care. The Company’s customer base is similarly diverse. The Company is not dependent upon any single industry or customer. At December 31, 2015, Lakeland Financial had consolidated total assets of $3.8 billion and was the fourth largest independent bank holding company headquartered in the State of Indiana.

 
Company’s Business. Lakeland Financial is a bank holding company as defined in the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. Lakeland Financial owns all of the outstanding stock of the Bank, a full-service commercial bank organized under Indiana law. Lakeland Financial conducts no business except that incident to its ownership of the outstanding stock of the Bank and the operation of the Bank. Although Lakeland Financial is a corporate entity, legally separate and distinct from its affiliates, bank holding companies such as Lakeland Financial are required to act as a source of financial strength for their subsidiary banks. The principal source of Lakeland Financial’s income is dividends from the Bank. There are certain regulatory restrictions on the extent to which subsidiary banks can pay dividends or otherwise supply funds to their holding companies. See the section captioned “Supervision and Regulation” below for further discussion of these matters. Lakeland Financial’s executive offices are located at 202 East Center Street, Warsaw, Indiana 46580, and its telephone number is (574) 267-6144.

Bank’s Business. The Bank was originally organized in 1872 and has continuously operated under the laws of the State of Indiana since its organization. As of December 31, 2015, the Bank had 47 offices in fourteen counties throughout Northern and Central Indiana. The Bank’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”). The Bank’s activities cover all phases of commercial banking, including deposit products, commercial and consumer lending, retail and merchant credit card services, corporate treasury management services, and wealth advisory, trust and brokerage services.

We operate branch offices in five geographical markets concentrated in Northern Indiana and four full service offices in Central Indiana in the Indianapolis market. We have divided our Northern Indiana markets into four distinct regions, the North Region, the South Region, the East Region and the West Region. Our most mature market, the South Region, includes Kosciusko County and portions of contiguous counties. Warsaw is this region’s primary city. The Bank entered the North Region in 1990, which includes portions of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties. This region includes the cities of Elkhart and South Bend. The Central Region includes portions of Elkhart County and contiguous counties and is anchored by the city of Goshen. The North and Central regions represent relatively older markets for us with nearly 25 years of business activity. We entered the East Region in 1999, which includes Allen and DeKalb counties. Fort Wayne represents the primary city in this market. We have experienced rapid commercial loan growth in this market over the past 15 years. We entered the Indianapolis market in 2006 with the opening of a loan production office in Hamilton County and opened a full service retail and commercial branch in late 2011. We opened a second office in the Indianapolis market in January 2014, a third in December 2014 and a fourth in December 2015.

The Bank’s business strategy is focused on building long-term relationships with its customers based on top quality service, high ethical standards and safe and sound lending. The Bank operates as a community-based financial services organization augmented by experienced, centralized support in select critical areas. The Bank’s local market orientation is reflected in its regional management, which divides the Bank’s market area into five distinct geographic regions each headed by a retail and commercial regional manager. This arrangement allows decision making to be as close to the customer as possible and enhances responsiveness to local banking needs. Despite this local market, community-based focus, the Bank offers many of the products and services available at much larger regional and national competitors. While our strategy encompasses all phases of traditional community banking, including consumer lending and wealth advisory and trust services, we focus on building expansive commercial relationships and developing retail and commercial deposit gathering strategies through relationship-based client services. Substantially all of the Bank’s assets and income are located in and derived from the United States. At December 31, 2015, the Company had 518 full-time equivalent employees. The Company is not a party to any collective bargaining agreements, and employee relations are considered good.

Operating Segments. The Company’s chief decision-makers monitor and evaluate financial performance on a Company-wide basis. All of the Company’s financial service operations are similar and considered by management to be aggregated into one reportable operating segment. While the Company has assigned certain management responsibilities by region and business-line, the Company’s chief decision-makers monitor and evaluate financial performance on a Company-wide basis. The majority of the Company’s revenue is from the business of banking and the Company’s assigned regions have similar economic characteristics, products, services and customers. Accordingly, all of the Company’s operations are considered by management to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment.
 
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Expansion Strategy. Since 1990, the Company has expanded from 17 offices in four Indiana counties to 47 branches in fourteen Indiana counties primarily through de novo branching. During this period, the Company has grown its assets from $286 million to $3.8 billion, an increase of 1,217%. Mergers and acquisitions have not played a role in this growth as the Company’s expansion strategy has been driven by organic growth. The Company has opened five de novo branches in the past five years.

Over the past fifteen years, the Company has primarily targeted growth in the larger cities located in Northern Indiana and the Indianapolis market in Central Indiana. The Company believes these areas offer above average growth potential with attractive demographics and potential for commercial lending and deposit gathering opportunities. The Company considers expanding into a market when the Company believes that market would be receptive to its strategic plan to deliver broad-based financial services with a commitment to local communities. When entering new markets, the Company believes it is critical to attract experienced local management and staff with a similar philosophy in order to provide a basis for success. The Company previously announced plans to lease office space in downtown Fort Wayne upon completion of a major construction project currently underway. The Company does not currently have any definitive understandings or agreements for any acquisitions.

Competition. The financial services industry is highly competitive. Competition is based on a number of factors including, among others, customer service, quality and range of products and services offered, price, reputation, interest rates on loans and deposits, lending limits and customer convenience. Our competitors include banks, thrifts, credit unions, farm credit services, finance companies, personal loan companies, brokerage firms, investment companies, insurance companies, mortgage banking companies, credit card issuers, mutual fund companies and e-commerce and other internet-based companies offering financial services. Many of these competitors enjoy fewer regulatory constraints and some may have lower cost structures.

Forward-looking Statements

This document (including information incorporated by reference) contains, and future oral and written statements of the Company and its management may contain, forward-looking statements, within the meaning of such term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of the Company. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the Company’s management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events.

The Company’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. The factors, which could have a material adverse effect on the operations and future prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, are detailed in the “Risk Factors” section included under Item 1A. of Part I of this Form 10-K. In addition to the risk factors described in that section, there are other factors that may impact any public company, including ours, which could have a material adverse effect on the operations and future prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries. These additional factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

 
·
the effects of future economic, business and market conditions and changes, both domestic and foreign;

 
·
governmental monetary and fiscal policies;

 
·
legislative and regulatory changes, including changes in banking, securities and tax laws and regulations and their application by our regulators;

 
·
the risks of changes in interest rates on the levels, composition and costs of deposits, loan demand, and the values and liquidity of loan collateral, securities and other interest sensitive assets and liabilities;

 
·
changes in borrowers’ credit risks and payment behaviors;

 
·
changes in the availability and cost of credit and capital in the financial markets;
 
 
·
the effects of disruption and volatility in capital markets on the value of our investment portfolio;

 
·
cyber-security risks and or cyber-security damage that could result from attacks on the Company’s or third party service providers networks or data of the Company;

 
·
changes in the prices, values and sales volumes of residential and commercial real estate;

 
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·
the effects of competition from a wide variety of local, regional, national and other providers of financial, investment and insurance services;
 
 
·
changes in technology or products that may be more difficult or costly, or less effective than anticipated;
 
 
·
the failure of assumptions and estimates used in our reviews of our loan portfolio, underlying the establishment of reserves for possible loan losses, our analysis of our capital position and other estimates;

 
·
changes in the scope and cost of FDIC insurance, the state of Indiana’s Public Deposit Insurance Fund and other coverages;

 
·
changes in accounting policies, rules and practices; and

 
·
the risks of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, including, without limitation, the related time and costs of implementing such transactions, integrating operations as part of these transactions and possible failures to achieve expected gains, revenue growth and/or expense savings from such transactions;

These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. For additional information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties and other factors, please review the disclosure in this annual report under “Risk Factors.”

Internet Website

The Company maintains an internet site at www.lakecitybank.com. The Company makes available free of charge in the Investor Relations section on this site its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and other statements and reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as soon as reasonably practicable after it electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). All such documents filed with the SEC are also available for free on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). The Company’s Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Code of Conduct and the charters of its various committees of the Board of Directors are also available on the website.

SUPERVISION AND REGULATION

General

FDIC-insured institutions, their holding companies and their affiliates are extensively regulated under federal and state law.  As a result, the Company’s growth and earnings performance may be affected not only by management decisions and general economic conditions, but also by the requirements of federal and state statutes and by the regulations and policies of various bank regulatory agencies, including the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (the “DFI”), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), the FDIC and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (the “CFPB”).  Furthermore, taxation laws administered by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities, accounting rules developed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, securities laws administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and state securities authorities, and anti-money laundering laws enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) have an impact on the Company’s business. The effect of these statutes, regulations, regulatory policies and accounting rules are significant to the Company’s operations and results, and the nature and extent of future legislative, regulatory or other changes affecting banking organizations are impossible to predict with any certainty.

Federal and state banking laws impose a comprehensive system of supervision, regulation and enforcement on the operations of FDIC-insured institutions, their holding companies and affiliates that is intended primarily for the protection of the FDIC-insured deposits and depositors of banks, rather than shareholders. These federal and state laws, and the regulations of the bank regulatory agencies issued under them, affect, among other things, the scope of the Company’s business, the kinds and amounts of investments the Company may make, reserve requirements, capital levels relative to its assets, the nature and amount of collateral for loans, the establishment of branches, the Company’s ability to merge, consolidate and acquire, dealings with its insiders and affiliates and its payment of dividends. In the last several years, the Company has experienced heightened regulatory requirements and scrutiny following the global financial crisis and as a result of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”). Although the reforms primarily targeted systemically important financial service providers, their influence filtered down in varying degrees to community banks over time and the reforms have caused the Company’s compliance and risk management processes, and the costs thereof, to increase.

 
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This supervisory and regulatory framework subjects banks and bank holding companies to regular examination by their respective regulatory agencies, which results in examination reports and ratings that are not publicly available and that can impact the conduct and growth of their business. These examinations consider not only compliance with applicable laws and regulations, but also capital levels, asset quality and risk, management ability and performance, earnings, liquidity, and various other factors. The regulatory agencies generally have broad discretion to impose restrictions and limitations on the operations of a regulated entity where the agencies determine, among other things, that such operations are unsafe or unsound, fail to comply with applicable law or are otherwise inconsistent with laws and regulations or with the supervisory policies of these agencies.
 
The following is a summary of the material elements of the supervisory and regulatory framework applicable to the Company and the Bank, beginning with a discussion of the continuing regulatory emphasis on the Company’s capital levels.  It does not describe all of the statutes, regulations and regulatory policies that apply, nor does it restate all of the requirements of those that are described. The descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the particular statutory and regulatory provision.

Regulatory Emphasis on Capital

Regulatory capital represents the net assets of a banking organization available to absorb losses. Because of the risks attendant to their business, FDIC-insured institutions are generally required to hold more capital than other businesses, which directly affects the Company’s earnings capabilities. While capital has historically been one of the key measures of the financial health of both bank holding companies and banks, its role became fundamentally more important in the wake of the global financial crisis, as the banking regulators recognized that the amount and quality of capital held by banks prior to the crisis was insufficient to absorb losses during periods of severe stress.  Certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and Basel III, discussed below, establish strengthened capital standards for banks and bank holding companies, require more capital to be held in the form of common stock and disallow certain funds from being included in capital determinations. These standards represent regulatory capital requirements that are meaningfully more stringent than those in place previously.

Minimum Required Capital Levels. Bank holding companies have historically had to comply with less stringent capital standards than their bank subsidiaries and have been able to raise capital with hybrid instruments such as trust preferred securities. The Dodd-Frank Act mandated the Federal Reserve to establish minimum capital levels for holding companies on a consolidated basis as stringent as those required for FDIC-insured institutions. As a consequence, the components of holding company permanent capital known as “Tier 1 Capital” were restricted to those capital instruments that are considered to be Tier 1 Capital for FDIC-insured institutions. A result of this change is that the proceeds of hybrid instruments, such as trust preferred securities, are being excluded from Tier 1 Capital over a phase-out period. However, if such securities were issued prior to May 19, 2010 by bank holding companies with less than $15 billion of assets, they may be retained, subject to certain restrictions. Because the Company has assets of less than $15 billion, it is able to maintain its trust preferred proceeds as Tier 1 Capital but it has to comply with new capital mandates in other respects and will not be able to raise Tier 1 Capital in the future through the issuance of trust preferred securities.

The capital standards for the Company and the Bank changed on January 1, 2015 to add the requirements of Basel III, discussed below. The minimum capital standards effective prior to and including December 31, 2014 are:

·  
A leverage requirement, consisting of a minimum ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total adjusted average quarterly assets of 3% for the most highly-rated banks with a minimum requirement of at least 4% for all others, and

·  
A risk-based capital requirement, consisting of a minimum ratio of Total Capital to total risk-weighted assets of 8% and a minimum ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total risk-weighted assets of 4%.

For these purposes, “Tier 1 Capital” consists primarily of common stock, noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus less intangible assets (other than certain loan servicing rights and purchased credit card relationships). Total Capital consists primarily of Tier 1 Capital plus “Tier 2 Capital,” which includes other non-permanent capital items, such as certain other debt and equity instruments that do not qualify as Tier 1 Capital, and the Bank’s allowance for loan losses, subject to a limitation of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets. Further, risk-weighted assets for the purpose of the risk-weighted ratio calculations are balance sheet assets and off-balance sheet exposures to which required risk weightings of 0% to 100% are applied.

The Basel International Capital Accords. The risk-based capital guidelines described above are based upon the 1988 capital accord known as “Basel I” adopted by the international Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, a committee of central banks and bank supervisors, as implemented by the U.S. federal banking regulators on an interagency basis. In 2008, the banking agencies collaboratively began to phase-in capital standards based on a second capital accord, referred to as “Basel II,” for large or “core” international banks (generally defined for U.S. purposes as having total assets of $250 billion or more, or consolidated foreign exposures of $10 billion or more). On September 12, 2010, the Group of Governors and Heads of Supervision, the oversight body of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, announced agreement on a strengthened set of capital requirements for banking organizations around the world, known as Basel III, to address deficiencies recognized in connection with the global financial crisis. Because of Dodd-Frank Act requirements, Basel III essentially layers a new set of capital standards on the previously existing Basel I standards.

 
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The Basel III Rule. In July of 2013, the U.S. federal banking agencies approved the implementation of the Basel III regulatory capital reforms in pertinent part, and, at the same time, promulgated rules effecting certain changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act (the “Basel III Rule”). In contrast to capital requirements historically, which were in the form of guidelines, Basel III was released in the form of regulations by each of the regulatory agencies. The Basel III Rule is applicable to all banking organizations that are subject to minimum capital requirements, including federal and state banks and savings and loan associations, as well as to bank and savings and loan holding companies, other than “small bank holding companies” (generally bank holding companies with consolidated assets of less than $1 billion).

The Basel III Rule not only increased most of the required minimum capital ratios effective January 1, 2015, but it introduced the concept of Common Equity Tier 1 Capital, which consists primarily of common stock, related surplus (net of Treasury stock), retained earnings, and Common Equity Tier 1 minority interests subject to certain regulatory adjustments. The Basel III Rule also expanded the definition of capital by establishing more stringent criteria that instruments must meet to be considered Additional Tier 1 Capital (Tier 1 Capital in addition to Common Equity) and Tier 2 Capital.  A number of instruments that qualified as Tier 1 Capital do not qualify, or their qualifications will change. For example, noncumulative perpetual preferred stock, which qualified as simple Tier 1 Capital, does not qualify as Common Equity Tier 1 Capital, but qualifies as Additional Tier 1 Capital. The Basel III Rule also constrained the inclusion of minority interests, mortgage-servicing assets, and deferred tax assets in capital and requires deductions from Common Equity Tier 1 Capital in the event that such assets exceed a certain percentage of a banking institution’s Common Equity Tier 1 Capital.

The Basel III Rule requires minimum capital ratios beginning January 1, 2015, as follows:

·  
A new ratio of minimum Common Equity Tier 1 equal to 4.5% of risk-weighted assets;

·  
An increase in the minimum required amount of Tier 1 Capital to 6% of risk-weighted assets;

·  
A continuation of the current minimum required amount of Total Capital (Tier 1 plus Tier 2) at 8% of risk-weighted assets; and

·  
A minimum leverage ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total quarterly average assets equal to 4% in all circumstances.

In addition, institutions that seek the freedom to make capital distributions (including for dividends and repurchases of stock) and pay discretionary bonuses to executive officers without restriction must also maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 attributable to a capital conservation buffer to be phased in over three years beginning in 2016. The purpose of the conservation buffer is to ensure that banking institutions maintain a buffer of capital that can be used to absorb losses during periods of financial and economic stress. Factoring in the fully phased-in conservation buffer increases the minimum ratios depicted above to 7% for Common Equity Tier 1, 8.5% for Tier 1 Capital and 10.5% for Total Capital.

Not only did the capital requirements change but the risk weightings (or their methodologies) for bank assets that are used to determine the capital ratios changed as well. For nearly every class of assets, the Basel III Rule requires a more complex, detailed and calibrated assessment of credit risk and calculation of risk weightings.

Banking organizations (except for large, internationally active banking organizations) became subject to the new rules on January 1, 2015. However, there are separate phase-in/phase-out periods for: (i) the capital conservation buffer; (ii) regulatory capital adjustments and deductions; (iii) nonqualifying capital instruments; and (iv) changes to the prompt corrective action rules discussed below. The phase-in periods commence on January 1, 2016 and extend until 2019.

Well-Capitalized Requirements. The ratios described above are minimum standards in order for banking organizations to be considered “adequately capitalized.” Bank regulatory agencies uniformly encourage banks and bank holding companies to hold more capital and be “well-capitalized” and, to that end, federal law and regulations provide various incentives for banking organizations to maintain regulatory capital at levels in excess of minimum regulatory requirements. For example, a banking organization that is well-capitalized may: (i) qualify for exemptions from prior notice or application requirements otherwise applicable to certain types of activities; (ii) qualify for expedited processing of other required notices or applications; and (iii) accept, roll-over or renew brokered deposits. Higher capital levels could also be required if warranted by the particular circumstances or risk profiles of individual banking organizations. For example, the Federal Reserve’s capital guidelines contemplate that additional capital may be required to take adequate account of, among other things, interest rate risk, or the risks posed by concentrations of credit, nontraditional activities or securities trading activities. Further, any banking organization experiencing or anticipating significant growth would be expected to maintain capital ratios, including tangible capital positions (i.e., Tier 1 Capital less all intangible assets), well above the minimum levels.


 
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Under the capital regulations of the FDIC and Federal Reserve, in order to be well-capitalized, a banking organization must maintain:

·  
A new Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ratio to risk-weighted assets of 6.5% or more;

·  
A minimum ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total risk-weighted assets of  8% (6% under Basel I);

·  
A minimum ratio of Total Capital to total risk-weighted assets of 10% (the same as Basel I); and

·  
A leverage ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total adjusted average quarterly assets of 5% or greater.

It is possible under the Basel III Rule to be well-capitalized while remaining out of compliance with the capital conservation buffer discussed above.

As of December 31, 2015: (i) the Bank was not subject to a directive from the Federal Reserve to increase its capital and (ii) the Bank was well-capitalized, as defined by Federal Reserve regulations. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had regulatory capital in excess of the Federal Reserve’s requirements and met the Basel III Rule requirements to be well-capitalized.

Prompt Corrective Action. An FDIC-insured institution’s capital plays an important role in connection with regulatory enforcement as well.  Federal law provides the federal banking regulators with broad power to take prompt corrective action to resolve the problems of undercapitalized institutions.  The extent of the regulators’ powers depends on whether the institution in question is “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized,” in each case as defined by regulation. Depending upon the capital category to which an institution is assigned, the regulators’ corrective powers include: (i) requiring the institution to submit a capital restoration plan; (ii) limiting the institution’s asset growth and restricting its activities; (iii) requiring the institution to issue additional capital stock (including additional voting stock) or to sell itself; (iv) restricting transactions between the institution and its affiliates; (v) restricting the interest rate that the institution may pay on deposits; (vi) ordering a new election of directors of the institution; (vii) requiring that senior executive officers or directors be dismissed; (viii) prohibiting the institution from accepting deposits from correspondent banks; (ix) requiring the institution to divest certain subsidiaries; (x) prohibiting the payment of principal or interest on subordinated debt; and (xi) ultimately, appointing a receiver for the institution.

Regulation and Supervision of the Company

General. The Company, as the sole shareholder of the Bank, is a bank holding company. As a bank holding company, the Company is registered with, and subject to regulation by, the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”). The Company is legally obligated to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to the Bank and to commit resources to support the Bank in circumstances where it might not otherwise do so.  Under the BHCA, the Company is subject to periodic examination by the Federal Reserve and is required to file with the Federal Reserve periodic reports of its operations and such additional information regarding the Company and the Bank as the Federal Reserve may require.

Acquisitions, Activities and Change in Control. The primary purpose of a bank holding company is to control and manage banks. The BHCA generally requires the prior approval of the Federal Reserve for any merger involving a bank holding company or any acquisition by a bank holding company of another bank or bank holding company.  Subject to certain conditions (including deposit concentration limits established by the BHCA), the Federal Reserve may allow a bank holding company to acquire banks located in any state of the United States. In approving interstate acquisitions, the Federal Reserve is required to give effect to applicable state law limitations on the aggregate amount of deposits that may be held by the acquiring bank holding company and its FDIC-insured institution affiliates in the state in which the target bank is located (provided that those limits do not discriminate against out-of-state institutions or their holding companies) and state laws that require that the target bank have been in existence for a minimum period of time (not to exceed five years) before being acquired by an out-of-state bank holding company.  Furthermore, in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act, bank holding companies must be well-capitalized and well-managed in order to effect interstate mergers or acquisitions.  For a discussion of the capital requirements, see “—Regulatory Emphasis on Capital” above.

The BHCA generally prohibits the Company from acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company that is not a bank and from engaging in any business other than that of banking, managing and controlling banks or furnishing services to banks and their subsidiaries.  This general prohibition is subject to a number of exceptions. The principal exception allows bank holding companies to engage in, and to own shares of companies engaged in, certain businesses found by the Federal Reserve prior to November 11, 1999 to be “so closely related to banking ... as to be a proper incident thereto.”  This authority would permit the Company to engage in a variety of banking-related businesses, including the ownership and operation of a savings association, or any entity engaged in consumer finance, equipment leasing, the operation of a computer service bureau (including software development), mortgage banking and brokerage services. The BHCA does not place territorial restrictions on the domestic activities of nonbank subsidiaries of bank holding companies.

 
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Additionally, bank holding companies that meet certain eligibility requirements prescribed by the BHCA and elect to operate as financial holding companies may engage in, or own shares in companies engaged in, a wider range of nonbanking activities, including securities and insurance underwriting and sales, merchant banking and any other activity that the Federal Reserve, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines by regulation or order is financial in nature or incidental to any such financial activity or that the Federal Reserve determines by order to be complementary to any such financial activity and does not pose a substantial risk to the safety or soundness of FDIC-insured institutions or the financial system generally. The Company elected to, and continues to operate as, a financial holding company. Maintaining financial holding company status requires that the Bank remain “well-capitalized” and “well-managed” as defined by regulation and maintain at least a “satisfactory” rating under the Community Reinvestment Act. In addition, under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Company must also remain well-capitalized and well-managed to maintain its financial holding company status. If the Company or the Bank fails to continue to meet these requirements, the Company could be subject to restrictions on new activities and acquisitions and/or be required to cease and possibly divest of operations that conduct existing activities that are not permissible for a bank holding company that is not a financial holding company.

Federal law also prohibits any person or company from acquiring “control” of an FDIC-insured depository institution or its holding company without prior notice to the appropriate federal bank regulator. “Control” is conclusively presumed to exist upon the acquisition of 25% or more of the outstanding voting securities of a bank or bank holding company, but may arise under certain circumstances between 10% and 24.99% ownership.

Capital Requirements. Bank holding companies are required to maintain capital in accordance with Federal Reserve capital adequacy requirements, as affected by the Dodd-Frank Act and Basel III.  For a discussion of capital requirements, see “—Regulatory Emphasis on Capital” above.

Dividend Payments. The Company’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders may be affected by both general corporate law considerations and policies of the Federal Reserve applicable to bank holding companies.  As an Indiana corporation, the Company is subject to the limitations of Indiana General Business Corporations Law, which prohibit the Company from paying dividends if the Company is, or by payment of the dividend would become, insolvent, or if the payment of dividends would render the Company unable to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business. In addition, under the Basel III Rule, institutions that seek the freedom to pay dividends will have to maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 attributable to the capital conservation buffer to be phased in over three years beginning in 2016.

As a general matter, the Federal Reserve has indicated that the board of directors of a bank holding company should eliminate, defer or significantly reduce dividends to shareholders if: (i) the company’s net income available to shareholders for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid during that period, is not sufficient to fully fund the dividends; (ii) the prospective rate of earnings retention is inconsistent with the company’s capital needs and overall current and prospective financial condition; or (iii) the company will not meet, or is in danger of not meeting, its minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios. The Federal Reserve also possesses enforcement powers over bank holding companies and their non-bank subsidiaries to prevent or remedy actions that represent unsafe or unsound practices or violations of applicable statutes and regulations. Among these powers is the ability to proscribe the payment of dividends by banks and bank holding companies. In addition, under the Basel III Rule, institutions that seek the freedom to pay dividends will have to maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 attributable to the capital conservation buffer to be phased in over three years beginning in 2016. See “—Regulatory Emphasis on Capital” above.

Monetary Policy. The monetary policy of the Federal Reserve has a significant effect on the operating results of financial or bank holding companies and their subsidiaries. Among the tools available to the Federal Reserve to affect the money supply are open market transactions in U.S. government securities, changes in the discount rate on bank borrowings and changes in reserve requirements against bank deposits. These means are used in varying combinations to influence overall growth and distribution of bank loans, investments and deposits, and their use may affect interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.

Federal Securities Regulation. The Company’s common stock is registered with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Consequently, the Company is subject to the information, proxy solicitation, insider trading and other restrictions and requirements of the SEC under the Exchange Act.

Corporate Governance. The Dodd-Frank Act addressed many investor protection, corporate governance and executive compensation matters that will affect most U.S. publicly traded companies.  The Dodd-Frank Act increased stockholder influence over boards of directors by requiring companies to give stockholders a non-binding vote on executive compensation and so-called “golden parachute” payments, and authorizing the SEC to promulgate rules that would allow stockholders to nominate and solicit voters for their own candidates using a company’s proxy materials. The legislation also directed the Federal Reserve to promulgate rules prohibiting excessive compensation paid to executives of bank holding companies, regardless of whether such companies are publicly traded.


 
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Regulation and Supervision of the Bank

General. The Bank is an Indiana-chartered bank. The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) to the maximum extent provided under federal law and FDIC regulations. The Bank is also a member of the Federal Reserve System (a “member bank”). As an Indiana-chartered FDIC-insured member bank, the Bank is subject to the examination, supervision, reporting and enforcement requirements of the DFI, the chartering authority for Indiana banks, the Federal Reserve, as the primary federal regulator of member banks, and the FDIC, as administrator of the DIF.

Deposit Insurance. As an FDIC-insured institution, the Bank is required to pay deposit insurance premium assessments to the FDIC. The FDIC has adopted a risk-based assessment system whereby FDIC-insured institutions pay insurance premiums at rates based on their risk classification. An institution’s risk classification is assigned based on its capital levels and the level of supervisory concern the institution poses to the regulators.  For deposit insurance assessment purposes, an FDIC-insured institution is placed in one of four risk categories each quarter. An institution’s assessment is determined by multiplying its assessment rate by its assessment base. The total base assessment rates range from 2.5 basis points to 45 basis points. The assessment base is calculated using average consolidated total assets minus average tangible equity. At least semi-annually, the FDIC will update its loss and income projections for the DIF and, if needed, will increase or decrease the assessment rates, following notice and comment on proposed rulemaking.

Amendments to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act revised the assessment base against which an FDIC-insured institution’s deposit insurance premiums paid to the DIF are calculated to be its average consolidated total assets less its average tangible equity. This change shifted the burden of deposit insurance premiums toward those large depository institutions that rely on funding sources other than U.S. deposits.  Additionally, the Dodd-Frank Act altered the minimum designated reserve ratio of the DIF, increasing the minimum from 1.15% to 1.35% of the estimated amount of total insured deposits, and eliminating the requirement that the FDIC pay dividends to FDIC-insured institutions when the reserve ratio exceeds certain thresholds. In lieu of dividends, the FDIC has adopted progressively lower assessment rate schedules that will take effect when the reserve ratio exceeds 1.15%, 2%, and 2.5%. As a consequence, premiums will decrease once the 1.15% threshold is exceeded. The FDIC has until September 3, 2020 to meet the 1.35% reserve ratio target. Several of these provisions could increase the Bank’s FDIC deposit insurance premiums.

The Dodd-Frank Act permanently established the maximum amount of deposit insurance for banks, savings institutions and credit unions to $250,000 per insured depositor.

FICO Assessments. In addition to paying basic deposit insurance assessments, FDIC-insured institutions must pay Financing Corporation (“FICO”) assessments.  FICO is a mixed-ownership governmental corporation chartered by the former Federal Home Loan Bank Board pursuant to the Competitive Equality Banking Act of 1987 to function as a financing vehicle for the recapitalization of the former Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. FICO issued 30-year noncallable bonds of approximately $8.1 billion that mature in 2017 through 2019. FICO’s authority to issue bonds ended on December 12, 1991. Since 1996, federal legislation has required that all FDIC-insured institutions pay assessments to cover interest payments on FICO’s outstanding obligations. The FICO assessment rate is adjusted quarterly and for the fourth quarter of 2015 was 0.60 basis points (60 cents per $100 dollars of assessable deposits).

Supervisory Assessments. All Indiana banks are required to pay supervisory assessments to the DFI to fund the operations of that agency. The amount of the assessment is calculated on the basis of the Bank’s total assets. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Bank paid supervisory assessments to the DFI totaling approximately $236,000.

Capital Requirements. Banks are generally required to maintain capital levels in excess of other businesses. For a discussion of capital requirements, see “—Regulatory Emphasis on Capital” above.

Liquidity Requirements. Liquidity is a measure of the ability and ease with which bank assets may be converted to cash. Liquid assets are those that can be converted to cash quickly if needed to meet financial obligations. To remain viable, FDIC-insured institutions must have enough liquid assets to meet their near-term obligations, such as withdrawals by depositors. Because the global financial crisis was in part a liquidity crisis, Basel III also includes a liquidity framework that requires FDIC-insured institutions to measure their liquidity against specific liquidity tests. One test, referred to as the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (“LCR”), is designed to ensure that the banking entity has an adequate stock of unencumbered high-quality liquid assets that can be converted easily and immediately in private markets into cash to meet  liquidity needs for a 30-calendar day liquidity stress scenario. The other test, known as the Net Stable Funding Ratio (“NSFR”), is designed to promote more medium- and long-term funding of the assets and activities of FDIC-insured institutions over a one-year horizon. These tests provide an incentive for banks and holding companies to increase their holdings in Treasury securities and other sovereign debt as a component of assets, increase the use of long-term debt as a funding source and rely on stable funding like core deposits (in lieu of brokered deposits).

 
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In addition to liquidity guidelines already in place, the U.S. bank regulatory agencies implemented the Basel III LCR in September 2014, which requires large financial firms to hold levels of liquid assets sufficient to protect against constraints on their funding during times of financial turmoil. While the LCR only applies to the largest banking organizations in the country, certain elements are expected to filter down to all FDIC-insured institutions.

Stress Testing. A stress test is an analysis or simulation designed to determine the ability of a given FDIC-insured institution to deal with an economic crisis. In October 2012, U.S. bank regulators unveiled new rules mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act that require the largest U.S. banks to undergo stress tests twice per year, once internally and once conducted by the regulators and began recommending portfolio stress testing as a sound risk management practice for community banks.  While stress tests are not officially required for banks with less than $10 billion in assets, they have become part of annual regulatory exams even for banks small enough to be officially exempted from the process. The Federal Reserve now recommends stress testing as means to identify and quantify loan portfolio risk and the Bank has begun the process.

Dividend Payments. The primary source of funds for the Company is dividends from the Bank. Indiana law prohibits the Bank from paying dividends in an amount greater than its undivided profits. The Bank is required to obtain the approval of the DFI for the payment of any dividend if the total of all dividends declared by the Bank during the calendar year, including the proposed dividend, would exceed the sum of the Bank’s net income for the year-to-date combined with its retained net income for the previous two years. Indiana law defines “retained net income” to mean the net income of a specified period, calculated under the consolidated report of income instructions, less the total amount of all dividends declared for the specified period. The Federal Reserve Act also imposes limitations on the amount of dividends that may be paid by state member banks, such as the Bank. Without Federal Reserve approval, a state member bank may not pay dividends in any calendar year that, in the aggregate, exceed the bank’s calendar year-to-date net income plus the bank’s retained net income for the two preceding calendar years.  In addition, under the Basel III Rule, institutions that seek the freedom to pay dividends will have to maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 attributable to the capital conservation buffer to be phased in over three years beginning in 2016. See “Regulatory Emphasis on Capital” above.

State Bank Investments and Activities. The Bank is permitted to make investments and engage in activities directly or through subsidiaries as authorized by Indiana law. However, under federal law, FDIC-insured institutions are prohibited, subject to certain exceptions, from making or retaining equity investments of a type, or in an amount that are not permissible for a national bank. Federal law also prohibits FDIC-insured state banks and their subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions, from engaging as principal in any activity that is not permitted for a national bank unless the bank meets, and continues to meet, its minimum regulatory capital requirements and the FDIC determines that the activity would not pose a significant risk to the DIF. These restrictions have not had, and are not currently expected to have, a material impact on the operations of the Bank.

Insider Transactions. The Bank is subject to certain restrictions imposed by federal law on “covered transactions” between the Bank and its “affiliates.” The Company is an affiliate of the Bank for purposes of these restrictions, and covered transactions subject to the restrictions include extensions of credit to the Company, investments in the stock or other securities of the Company and the acceptance of the stock or other securities of the Company as collateral for loans made by the Bank.  The Dodd-Frank Act enhanced the requirements for certain transactions with affiliates, including an expansion of the definition of “covered transactions” and an increase in the amount of time for which collateral requirements regarding covered transactions must be maintained.

Certain limitations and reporting requirements are also placed on extensions of credit by the Bank to its directors and officers, to directors and officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, to principal shareholders of the Company and to “related interests” of such directors, officers and principal shareholders.  In addition, federal law and regulations may affect the terms upon which any person who is a director or officer of the Company or the Bank, or a principal shareholder of the Company, may obtain credit from banks with which the Bank maintains a correspondent relationship.

Safety and Soundness Standards/Risk Management. The federal banking agencies have adopted guidelines that establish operational and managerial standards to promote the safety and soundness of FDIC-insured institutions. The guidelines set forth standards for internal controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, compensation, fees and benefits, asset quality and earnings.

In general, the safety and soundness guidelines prescribe the goals to be achieved in each area, and each institution is responsible for establishing its own procedures to achieve those goals. If an institution fails to comply with any of the standards set forth in the guidelines, the FDIC-insured institution’s primary federal regulator may require the institution to submit a plan for achieving and maintaining compliance. If a FDIC-insured institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan, or fails in any material respect to implement a compliance plan that has been accepted by its primary federal regulator, the regulator is required to issue an order directing the institution to cure the deficiency. Until the deficiency cited in the regulator’s order is cured, the regulator may restrict the FDIC-insured institution’s rate of growth, require the FDIC-insured institution to increase its capital, restrict the rates the institution pays on deposits or require the institution to take any action the regulator deems appropriate under the circumstances. Noncompliance with the standards established by the safety and soundness guidelines may also constitute grounds for other enforcement action by the federal bank regulatory agencies, including cease and desist orders and civil money penalty assessments.
 
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During the past decade, the bank regulatory agencies have increasingly emphasized the importance of sound risk management processes and strong internal controls when evaluating the activities of the FDIC-insured institutions they supervise.  Properly managing risks has been identified as critical to the conduct of safe and sound banking activities and has become even more important as new technologies, product innovation, and the size and speed of financial transactions have changed the nature of banking markets. The agencies have identified a spectrum of risks facing a banking institution including, but not limited to, credit, market, liquidity, operational, legal and reputational risk. In particular, recent regulatory pronouncements have focused on operational risk, which arises from the potential that inadequate information systems, operational problems, breaches in internal controls, fraud, or unforeseen catastrophes will result in unexpected losses. New products and services, third-party risk management and cybersecurity are critical sources of operational risk that FDIC-insured institutions are expected to address in the current environment. The Bank is expected to have active board and senior management oversight; adequate policies, procedures, and limits; adequate risk measurement, monitoring, and management information systems; and comprehensive internal controls.

Branching Authority. Indiana banks, such as the Bank, have the authority under Indiana law to establish branches anywhere in the State of Indiana, subject to receipt of all required regulatory approvals. Federal law permits state and national banks to merge with banks in other states subject to: (i) regulatory approval; (ii) federal and state deposit concentration limits; and (iii) state law limitations requiring the merging bank to have been in existence for a minimum period of time (not to exceed five years) prior to the merger. The establishment of new interstate branches has historically been permitted only in those states the laws of which expressly authorize such expansion. The Dodd-Frank Act permits well-capitalized and well-managed banks to establish new interstate branches or the acquisition of individual branches of a bank in another state (rather than the acquisition of an out-of-state bank in its entirety) without impediments.

Transaction Account Reserves. Federal Reserve regulations require FDIC-insured institutions to maintain reserves against their transaction accounts (primarily NOW and regular checking accounts). For 2016: the first $15.2 million of otherwise reservable balances are exempt from reserves and have a zero percent reserve requirement; for transaction accounts aggregating more than $15.2 million to $110.2 million, the reserve requirement is 3% of total transaction accounts; and for net transaction accounts in excess of $110.2 million, the reserve requirement is 3% up to $110.2 million plus 10% of the aggregate amount of total transaction accounts in excess of $110.2 million.  These reserve requirements are subject to annual adjustment by the Federal Reserve.

Community Reinvestment Act Requirements. The Community Reinvestment Act requires the Bank to have a continuing and affirmative obligation in a safe and sound manner to help meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.  Federal regulators regularly assess the Bank’s record of meeting the credit needs of its communities. Applications for additional acquisitions would be affected by the evaluation of the Bank’s effectiveness in meeting its Community Reinvestment Act requirements.

Anti-Money Laundering. The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “Patriot Act”) is designed to deny terrorists and criminals the ability to obtain access to the U.S. financial system and has significant implications for FDIC-insured institutions, brokers, dealers and other businesses involved in the transfer of money. The Patriot Act mandates financial services companies to have policies and procedures with respect to measures designed to address any or all of the following matters: (i) customer identification programs; (ii) money laundering; (iii) terrorist financing; (iv) identifying and reporting suspicious activities and currency transactions; (v) currency crimes; and (vi) cooperation between FDIC-insured institutions and law enforcement authorities.

Concentrations in Commercial Real Estate. Concentration risk exists when FDIC-insured institutions deploy too many assets to any one industry or segment. A concentration in commercial real estate is one example of regulatory concern. The interagency Concentrations in Commercial Real Estate Lending, Sound Risk Management Practices guidance (“CRE Guidance”) provides supervisory criteria, including the following numerical indicators, to assist bank examiners in identifying banks with potentially significant commercial real estate loan concentrations that may warrant greater supervisory scrutiny: (i) commercial real estate loans exceeding 300% of capital and increasing 50% or more in the preceding three years; or (ii) construction and land development loans exceeding 100% of capital. The CRE Guidance does not limit banks’ levels of commercial real estate lending activities, but rather guides institutions in developing risk management practices and levels of capital that are commensurate with the level and nature of their commercial real estate concentrations. On December 18, 2015, the federal banking agencies issued a statement to reinforce prudent risk-management practices related to CRE lending, having observed substantial growth in many CRE asset and lending markets, increased competitive pressures, rising CRE concentrations in banks, and an easing of CRE underwriting standards. The federal bank agencies reminded FDIC-insured institutions to maintain underwriting discipline and exercise prudent risk-management practices to identify, measure, monitor, and manage the risks arising from CRE lending. In addition, FDIC-insured institutions must maintain capital commensurate with the level and nature of their CRE concentration risk. Based on the Bank’s loan portfolio as of December 31, 2015, the Bank does not exceed these guidelines.

 
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Consumer Financial Services. The historical structure of federal consumer protection regulation applicable to all providers of consumer financial products and services changed significantly on July 21, 2011, when the CFPB commenced operations to supervise and enforce consumer protection laws. The CFPB has broad rulemaking authority for a wide range of consumer protection laws that apply to all providers of consumer products and services, including the Bank, as well as the authority to prohibit “unfair, deceptive or abusive” acts and practices. The CFPB has examination and enforcement authority over providers with more than $10 billion in assets. FDIC-insured institutions with $10 billion or less in assets, like the Bank, continue to be examined by their applicable bank regulators.

Because abuses in connection with residential mortgages were a significant factor contributing to the global financial crisis, many new rules issued by the CFPB and required by the Dodd-Frank Act address mortgage and mortgage-related products, their underwriting, origination, servicing and sales. The Dodd-Frank Act significantly expanded underwriting requirements applicable to loans secured by 1-4 family residential real property and augmented federal law combating predatory lending practices. In addition to numerous disclosure requirements, the Dodd-Frank Act imposed new standards for mortgage loan originations on all lenders, including all FDIC-insured institutions, in an effort to strongly encourage lenders to verify a borrower’s “ability to repay,” while also establishing a presumption of compliance for certain “qualified mortgages.” In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act generally required lenders or securitizers to retain an economic interest in the credit risk relating to loans that the lender sells, and other asset-backed securities that the securitizer issues, if the loans have not complied with the ability-to-repay standards. The Company does not currently expect the CFPB’s rules to have a significant impact on its operations, except for higher compliance costs.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, stockholders or prospective investors should carefully consider the following risk factors:

A downturn in the general economic or business conditions, where our business is concentrated, could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our success depends upon the business activity, population, income levels, deposits and real estate activity in our markets in northern and central Indiana. Although our customers’ business and financial interests may extend well beyond these market areas, adverse economic conditions that affect these market areas could reduce our growth rate, affect the ability of our customers to repay their loans to us and generally affect our financial condition and results of operations. A severe economic downturn began in late 2007 that had broad based impact throughout the United States on the national economy. During the downturn, certain areas of our geographical markets experienced notably worse economic conditions than those suffered by the country at-large. Weak economic conditions were characterized by, among other indicators, deflation, unemployment, fluctuations in debt and equity capital markets, increased delinquencies on mortgage, commercial and consumer loans, residential and commercial real estate price declines and lower home sales and commercial activity. All of those factors are generally detrimental to our business. While conditions have stabilized and there have been indications of economic growth both nationally and within our geographic area, a subsequent downturn continues to represent a risk to our business.

As reported for December 2015, the 14 counties in which we operate had unemployment rates between 3.1% and 5.3%, which represent a considerable improvement from prior years. If the overall economic climate in the United States, generally, and our market areas, specifically, fails to remain stable, our financial condition and the results of operations could be affected, including the volume of loan originations, increase the level of nonperforming assets, increase the rate of foreclosure losses on loans and reduce the value of our loans and loan servicing portfolio. Additionally, we could experience a lack of demand for our products and services, an increase in loan delinquencies and defaults and high or increased levels of problem assets and foreclosures. Moreover, because of our geographic concentration, we are less able than other regional or national financial institutions to diversify our credit risks across multiple markets.

If we do not effectively manage our credit risk, we may experience increased levels of nonperforming loans, charge - offs and delinquencies, which could require further increase in our provision for loan losses.

There are risks inherent in making any loan, including risks inherent in dealing with individual borrowers, risks of nonpayment, risks resulting from uncertainties as to the future value of collateral and risks resulting from changes in economic and industry conditions. We attempt to minimize our credit risk through prudent loan application approval procedures, careful monitoring of the concentration of our loans within specific industries, a centralized credit administration department and periodic independent reviews of outstanding loans by our loan review department. However, we cannot make assurances that such approval and monitoring procedures will reduce these credit risks. If the overall economic climate in the United States, generally, and our market areas, specifically, does not continue to improve, or even if it does, our borrowers may experience difficulties in repaying their loans, and the level of nonperforming loans, charge-offs and delinquencies could rise and require increases in the provision for loan losses, which would cause our net income and return on equity to decrease.


 
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We must effectively manage credit risk and if we are unable to do so our allowance for loan losses may prove to be insufficient to absorb potential losses in our loan portfolio.

We establish our allowance for loan losses and maintain it at a level considered adequate by management to absorb probable incurred loan losses that are inherent in the portfolio. The allowance contains provisions for probable incurred losses that have been identified relating to specific borrowing relationships, as well as probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio and credit undertakings that are not specifically identified. Additions to the allowance for loan losses, which are charged to earnings through the provision for loan losses, are determined based on a variety of factors, including an analysis of the loan portfolio, historical loss experience and an evaluation of current economic conditions in our market areas. The actual amount of loan losses is affected by changes in economic, operating and other conditions within our markets, which may be beyond our control, and such losses may exceed current estimates.
 
At December 31, 2015, our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.42% and as a percentage of total nonperforming loans was 334%. Because of the nature of our loan portfolio and our concentration in commercial and industrial loans, which tend to be larger loans, the movement of a small number of loans to nonperforming status can have a significant impact on these ratios. Although management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate to absorb probable losses on any existing loans, we cannot predict loan losses with certainty and we cannot assure you that our allowance for loan losses will prove sufficient to cover actual loan losses in the future. Loan losses in excess of our reserves may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Commercial and industrial and agri-business loans make up a significant portion of our loan portfolio.

Commercial and industrial and agri-business loans were $1.486 billion, or approximately 48.2% of our total loan portfolio, as of December 31, 2015. Commercial loans are often larger and involve greater risks than other types of lending. Because payments on such loans are often dependent on the successful operation of the borrower involved, repayment of such loans is often more sensitive than other types of loans to adverse conditions in the general economy. Our commercial loans are primarily made based on the identified cash flow of the borrower and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower. Most often, this collateral is accounts receivable, inventory, machinery or real estate. Whenever possible, we require a personal guarantee on commercial loans. Credit support provided by the borrower for most of these loans and the probability of repayment is based on the liquidation of the pledged collateral and enforcement of a personal guarantee, if any exists. As a result, in the case of loans secured by accounts receivable, the availability of funds for the repayment of these loans may be substantially dependent on the ability of the borrower to collect amounts due from its customers. The collateral securing other loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business. Due to the larger average size of each commercial loan as compared with other loans such as residential loans, as well as collateral that is generally less readily-marketable, losses incurred on a small number of commercial loans could adversely affect our business, results of operations and growth prospects.

Our loan portfolio includes commercial real estate loans, which involve risks specific to real estate value.

Commercial real estate loans were $1.130 billion, or approximately 36.7% of our total loan portfolio, as of December 31, 2015. The market value of real estate can fluctuate significantly in a short period of time as a result of market conditions in the geographic area in which the real estate is located. Although a significant portion of such loans are secured by real estate as a secondary form of collateral, adverse developments affecting real estate values in one or more of our markets could increase the credit risk associated with our loan portfolio. Additionally, real estate lending typically involves higher loan principal amounts and the repayment of the loans generally is dependent, in large part, on sufficient income from the properties securing the loans to cover operating expenses and debt service. Economic events or governmental regulations outside of the control of the borrower or lender could negatively impact the future cash flow and market values of the affected properties.

If the loans that are collateralized by real estate become troubled and the value of the real estate has been significantly impaired, then we may not be able to recover the full contractual amount of principal and interest that we anticipated at the time of originating the loan, which could cause us to increase our provision for loan losses and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

Our consumer loans generally have a higher degree of risk of default than our other loans.

At December 31, 2015, consumer loans totaled $49.1 million, or 1.6% of our total loan and lease portfolio. Consumer loans typically have shorter terms and lower balances with higher yields as compared to commercial loans, but generally carry higher risks of default. Consumer loan collections are dependent on the borrower’s continuing financial stability, and thus are more likely to be affected by adverse personal circumstances. Furthermore, the application of various federal and state laws, including bankruptcy and insolvency laws, may limit the amount which can be recovered on these loans.


 
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Our continued pace of growth may require us to raise additional capital in the future, but that capital may not be available when it is needed.

We are required by federal and state regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations. We may at some point need to raise additional capital to support our continued growth. Our ability to raise additional capital depends on conditions in the capital markets, economic conditions and a number of other factors, including investor perceptions regarding the banking industry, market conditions and governmental activities, and on our financial condition and performance. Accordingly, we cannot make assurances of our ability to raise additional capital, if needed, on terms acceptable to us. If we cannot raise additional capital when needed, our ability to further expand our operations through internal growth or acquisitions could be materially impaired.

Interest rate shifts may reduce net interest income and otherwise negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.

Shifts in short-term interest rates may reduce net interest income, which is the principal component of our earnings. Net interest income is the difference between the amounts received by us on our interest-earning assets and the interest paid by us on our interest-bearing liabilities. When interest rates rise, the rate of interest we pay on our liabilities may rise more quickly than the rate of interest that we receive on our interest-bearing assets, which may cause our profits to decrease. The impact on earnings is more adverse when the slope of the yield curve flattens, i.e. when short-term interest rates increase more than long-term interest rates or when long-term interest rates decrease more than short-term interest rates.

Interest rate increases often result in larger payment requirements for our borrowers, which increases the potential for default. At the same time, the marketability of the underlying property may be adversely affected by any reduced demand resulting from higher interest rates. In a declining interest rate environment, there may be an increase in prepayments on the loans underlying our participation interests as borrowers refinance their mortgages at lower rates.

Changes in interest rates also can affect the value of loans, securities and other assets. An increase in interest rates that adversely affects the ability of borrowers to pay the principal or interest on loans may lead to an increase in nonperforming assets and a reduction of income recognized, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. Thus, an increase in the amount of nonperforming assets would have an adverse impact on net interest income.

If short-term interest rates remain at their historically low levels for a prolonged period, and assuming long-term interest rates fall further, we could experience net interest margin compression as our interest-earning assets would continue to reprice downward while our interest bearing liability rates could fail to decline in tandem. This would have a material adverse effect on our net interest income and our results of operations.

Nonperforming assets take significant time to resolve and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition and could result in further losses in the future.

Our nonperforming assets adversely affect our net income in various ways. We do not record interest income on nonaccrual loans or other real estate owned, which adversely affects our net income and returns on assets and equity, increases our loan administration costs and adversely affects our efficiency ratio. When we take collateral in foreclosure and similar proceedings, we are required to mark the collateral to its then fair market value, which may result in a loss. These nonperforming loans and other real estate owned also increase our risk profile and our regulatory capital requirements may increase in light of such risks. The resolution of nonperforming assets requires significant time commitments from management and can be detrimental to the performance of their other responsibilities. If we experience increases in nonperforming loans and nonperforming assets, our net interest income and provision expense may be negatively impacted and our loan administration costs could increase, each of which could have an adverse effect on our net income and related ratios, such as return on assets and equity.

Liquidity risks could affect operations and jeopardize our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Liquidity is essential to our business. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, the sale of loans and other sources could have a substantial, negative effect on our liquidity. Our primary sources of funds consist of deposits, cash from operations and investment maturities and sales. Additional liquidity is provided by brokered deposits, Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (“CDARS”) deposits, repurchase agreements as well as our ability to borrow from the Federal Reserve and the Federal Home Loan Bank (the “FHLB”). Our access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our activities or on terms that are acceptable to us could be impaired by factors that affect us directly or the financial services industry or economy in general, such as disruptions in the financial markets or negative views and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry. In addition, increased competition with the largest banks for retail deposits due to the higher liquidity requirements these banks are now subject to may impact our ability to raise funds through deposits and could have a negative effect on our liquidity.
 
 
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During the recent recession, the financial services industry and the credit markets generally were materially and adversely affected by significant declines in asset values and historically depressed levels of liquidity. The liquidity issues were also particularly acute for regional and community banks, as many of the larger financial institutions curtailed their lending to regional and community banks to reduce their exposure to the risks of other banks. In addition, many of the larger correspondent lenders reduced or even eliminated federal funds lines for their correspondent customers. Furthermore, regional and community banks generally have less access to the capital markets than national and super-regional banks because of their smaller size and limited analyst coverage. Although availability has improved since the beginning of the recession, any decline in available funding, similar to the decline experienced during the recession, could adversely impact our ability to originate loans, invest in securities, meet our expenses, pay dividends to our stockholders, or fulfill obligations such as repaying our borrowings or meeting deposit withdrawal demands, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, business, results of operations and financial condition.

Any action or steps to change coverages or eliminate Indiana’s Public Deposit Insurance Fund could require us to find alternative, higher-cost funding sources to replace public fund deposits or to provide for collateralization of these deposits.

Approximately 28% of our deposits are concentrated in public funds from a small number of municipalities and government agencies. A shift in funding away from public fund deposits would likely increase our cost of funds, as the alternate funding sources, such as brokered certificates of deposit, are higher-cost, less favorable deposits. The inability to maintain these public funds on deposit could result in a material adverse effect on the Bank’s liquidity and could materially impact our ability to grow and remain profitable.

Declines in asset values may result in impairment charges and adversely affect the value of our investments, financial performance and capital.

We maintain an investment portfolio that includes, but is not limited to, mortgage-backed securities and municipal securities. The market value of investments may be affected by factors other than the underlying performance of the servicer of the securities or the mortgages underlying the securities, such as ratings downgrades, adverse changes in the business climate and a lack of liquidity in the secondary market for certain investment securities. On a monthly basis, we evaluate investments and other assets for impairment indicators. We may be required to record additional impairment charges if our investments suffer a decline in value that is considered other-than-temporary. If we determine that a significant impairment has occurred, we would be required to charge against earnings the credit-related portion of the other-than-temporary impairment, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the periods in which the write-offs occur.

We may experience difficulties in managing our growth, and our growth strategy involves risks that may negatively impact our net income.

In addition to our continuing expansion in Indianapolis and larger cities in Northern Indiana, we may expand into additional communities or attempt to strengthen our position in our current markets through opportunistic acquisitions of all or part of other financial institutions, including FDIC-assisted transactions, or by opening new branches. To the extent that we undertake acquisitions or new branch openings, we are likely to experience the effects of higher operating expenses relative to operating income from the new operations, which may have an adverse effect on our levels of reported net income, return on average equity and return on average assets. Other effects of engaging in such growth strategies may include potential diversion of our management’s time and attention and general disruption to our business.

To the extent that we grow through acquisitions and branch openings, we cannot assure you that we will be able to adequately and profitably manage this growth. Acquiring other banks and businesses will involve similar risks to those commonly associated with branching but may also involve additional risks, including:

 
·
potential exposure to unknown or contingent liabilities of banks and businesses we acquire;
 
 
·
exposure to potential asset quality issues of the acquired bank or related business;
 
 
·
difficulty and expense of integrating the operations and personnel of banks and businesses we acquire; and
 
 
·
the possible loss of key employees and customers of the banks and businesses we acquire.

Attractive acquisition opportunities may not be available to us in the future.

We expect that other banking and financial service companies, many of which have significantly greater resources than us, will compete with us in acquiring other financial institutions if we pursue such acquisitions. This competition could increase prices for potential acquisitions that we believe are attractive. Also, acquisitions are subject to various regulatory approvals. If we fail to receive the appropriate regulatory approvals, we will not be able to consummate an acquisition that we believe is in our best interests. Among other things, our regulators consider our capital, liquidity, profitability, regulatory compliance and levels of goodwill and intangibles when considering acquisition and expansion proposals. Any acquisition could be dilutive to our earnings and stockholders’ equity per share of our common stock.

 
16

Our accounting policies and methods are the basis for how we prepare our consolidated financial statements and how we report our financial condition and results of operations, and they may require management to make estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain.

Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. Our management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying many of these accounting policies and methods in order to ensure they comply with GAAP and reflect management’s judgment as to the most appropriate manner in which to record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, management must select the accounting policy or method to apply from two or more alternatives, any of which might be reasonable under the circumstances. The application of that chosen accounting policy or method might result in the Company reporting different amounts than would have been reported under a different alternative. If management’s estimates or assumptions are incorrect, the Company may experience material losses.

Management has identified two accounting policies as being “critical” to the presentation of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations because they require management to make particularly subject and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because of the likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. These critical accounting policies relate to:  (1) determining the fair value and possible other than temporary impairment of investment securities available for sale and (2) the allowance for loan losses. Because of the inherent uncertainty of these estimates, no assurance can be given that the application of alternative policies or methods might not result in the reporting of different amounts of the fair value of securities available for sale, or the allowance for loan losses and, accordingly, net income.

From time to time, the FASB and the SEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards or the interpretation of those standards that govern the preparation of our external financial statements. These changes are beyond our control, can be difficult to predict and could materially impact how we report our financial condition and results of operations. Changes in these standards are continuously occurring, and given the current economic environment, more drastic changes may occur. The implementation of such changes could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We face intense competition in all phases of our business from other banks and financial institutions.

The banking and financial services business in our market is highly competitive. Our competitors include large national and regional banks, local community banks, savings and loan associations, securities and brokerage companies, mortgage companies, insurance companies, finance companies, money market mutual funds, credit unions, farm credit services and other nonbank financial service providers. Many of these competitors are not subject to the same regulatory restrictions as we are and are able to provide customers with a feasible alternative to traditional banking services.

Increased competition in our market may also result in a decrease in the amounts of our loans and deposits, reduced spreads between loan rates and deposit rates or loan terms that are more favorable to the borrower. Any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our ability to grow and remain profitable. If increased competition causes us to significantly discount the interest rates we offer on loans or increase the amount we pay on deposits, our net interest income could be adversely impacted. If increased competition causes us to relax our underwriting standards, we could be exposed to higher losses from lending activities. Moreover, we rely on deposits to be a low cost source of funding, and a loss in our deposit base could cause us to incur higher funding costs. Additionally, many of our competitors are much larger in total assets and capitalization, have greater access to capital markets, possess larger lending limits and offer a broader range of financial services than we can offer.

We are required to maintain capital to meet regulatory requirements, and, if we fail to maintain sufficient capital, whether due to losses, an inability to raise additional capital or otherwise, our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, as well as our ability to maintain regulatory compliance, would be adversely affected.

The Company, on a consolidated basis, and the Bank, on a stand-alone basis, must meet certain regulatory capital requirements and maintain sufficient liquidity. We face significant capital and other regulatory requirements as a financial institution, which were heightened with the implementation of the Basel III rule on January 1, 2015 and the phase-in of capital conservation buffer requirement beginning January 1, 2016. Our ability to raise additional capital depends on conditions in the capital markets, economic conditions and a number of other factors, including investor perceptions regarding the banking industry, market conditions and governmental activities and on our financial condition and performance. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will be able to raise additional capital if needed or on terms acceptable to us. If we fail to maintain capital to meet regulatory requirements, our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

 
17

Monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition to being affected by general economic conditions, our earnings and growth are affected by the policies of the Federal Reserve. An important function of the Federal Reserve is to regulate the money supply and credit conditions. Among the instruments used by the Federal Reserve to implement these objectives are open market operations in U.S. government securities, adjustments of the discount rate and changes in reserve requirements against bank deposits. These instruments are used in varying combinations to influence overall economic growth and the distribution of credit, bank loans, investments and deposits. Their use also affects interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.

The monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future. The effects of such policies upon our business, financial condition and results of operations cannot be predicted.

We may be materially and adversely affected by the highly regulated environment in which we operate.

We are subject to extensive federal and state regulation, supervision and examination. A more detailed description of the primary federal and state banking laws and regulations that affect us is contained in the section of this Form 10-K captioned “Supervision and Regulation.” Banking regulations are primarily intended to protect depositors’ funds, FDIC funds, customers and the banking system as a whole, rather than our shareholders. These regulations affect our lending practices, capital structure, investment practices, dividend policy and growth, among other things.

As a bank holding company, we are subject to extensive regulation and supervision and undergo periodic examinations by our regulators, who have extensive discretion and authority to prevent or remedy unsafe or unsound practices or violations of law by banks and bank holding companies. Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil monetary penalties and/or damage to our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on us. Although we have policies and procedures designed to mitigate the risk of any such violations, there can be no assurance that such violations will not occur.

The laws, regulations, rules, standards, policies and interpretations governing us are constantly evolving and may change significantly over time. For example, on July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act was signed into law, which significantly changed the regulation of financial institutions and the financial services industry. The Dodd-Frank Act, together with the regulations to be developed thereunder, includes provisions affecting large and small financial institutions alike, including several provisions that affect how community banks, thrifts and small bank and thrift holding companies will be regulated. In addition, the Federal Reserve, in recent years, has adopted numerous new regulations addressing banks’ overdraft and mortgage lending practices. Further, the CFPB was recently established, with broad powers to supervise and enforce consumer protection laws, and additional consumer protection legislation and regulatory activity is anticipated in the near future.

In addition, in July 2013, the U.S. federal banking authorities approved the implementation of the Basel III Rules. The Basel III Rules are applicable to all U.S. banks that are subject to minimum capital requirements as well as to bank and saving and loan holding companies, other than “small bank holding companies” (generally bank holding companies with consolidated assets of less than $1 billion).

The Basel III Rules became effective on January 1, 2015, with a phase in period through 2019 for many of the changes. The Basel III Rules not only increase most of the required minimum regulatory capital ratios, they introduce a new Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ratio and the concept of a capital conservation buffer. The Basel III Rules also expand the current definition of capital by establishing additional criteria that capital instruments must meet to be considered Additional Tier 1 Capital (i.e., Tier 1 Capital in addition to Common Equity) and Tier 2 Capital. A number of instruments that formerly qualified as Tier 1 Capital will not qualify or their qualifications will change when the Basel III Rules are fully implemented. However, the Basel III Rules permit banking organizations with less than $15 billion in assets to retain, through a one-time election, the existing treatment for accumulated other comprehensive income, which currently does not affect regulatory capital. The Basel III Rules have maintained the general structure of the current prompt corrective action thresholds while incorporating the increased requirements, including the Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ratio. In order to be a “well-capitalized” depository institution under the new regime, an institution must maintain a Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ratio of 6.5% or more; a Tier 1 Capital ratio of 8% or more; a Total Capital ratio of 10% or more; and a leverage ratio of 5% or more. Institutions must also maintain a capital conservation buffer consisting of Common Equity Tier 1 Capital.

These provisions, as well as any other aspects of current or proposed regulatory or legislative changes to laws applicable to the financial industry, may impact the profitability of our business activities and may change certain of our business practices, including our ability to offer new products, obtain financing, attract deposits, make loans and achieve satisfactory interest spreads and could expose us to additional costs, including increased compliance costs. Although we are currently compliant with the Basel III Rules, these changes also may require us to invest significant management attention and resources to make any necessary changes to operations in order to comply and could therefore also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 
18

Our ability to attract and retain management and key personnel and any damage to our reputation may affect future growth and earnings.

Much of our success and growth has been influenced strongly by our ability to attract and retain management experienced in banking and financial services and familiar with the communities in our market areas. Our ability to retain the executive officers, management teams, branch managers and loan officers at the Bank will continue to be important to the successful implementation of our strategy. It is also critical, as we grow, to be able to attract and retain qualified additional management and loan officers with the appropriate level of experience and knowledge about our market areas to implement our community-based operating strategy. The unexpected loss of services of any key management personnel, or the inability to recruit and retain qualified personnel in the future, could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, our business depends on earning and maintaining the trust of our customers and communities. Harm to our reputation could arise from numerous sources, including employee misconduct, compliance failures, litigation or our failure to deliver appropriate levels of service. If any events or circumstances occur which could undermine our reputation, there can be no assurance that the additional costs and expenses we may incur as a result would not have an adverse impact on our business.

We have a continuing need for technological change and we may not have the resources to effectively implement new technology.

The financial services industry is constantly undergoing rapid technological changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. In addition to better serving customers, the effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to reduce costs. Our future success will depend in part upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands for convenience as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations as we continue to grow and expand our market areas. Many of our larger competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. As a result, they may be able to offer additional or superior products to those that we will be able to offer, which would put us at a competitive disadvantage. Accordingly, we cannot provide assurances that we will be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing such products and services to our customers.

The Company’s information systems may experience an interruption or breach in security and cyber-attacks, all if which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.
 
The Company relies heavily on internal and outsourced technologies, communications, and information systems to conduct its business. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Company collects, processes and retains sensitive and confidential information regarding our customers. As the Company’s reliance on technology has increased, so have the potential risks of a technology-related operation interruption (such as disruptions in the Company’s customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, loan, or other systems) or the occurrence of a cyber-attacks (such as unauthorized access to the Company’s systems). These risks have increased for all financial institutions as new technologies, the use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies (including mobile devices) to conduct financial and other business transactions and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, perpetrators of fraud, hackers, terrorists and others. In addition to cyber-attacks or other security breaches involving the theft of sensitive and confidential information, hackers recently have engaged in attacks against large financial institutions, particularly denial of service attacks, that are designed to disrupt key business services, such as customer-facing web sites. The Company is not able to anticipate or implement effective preventive measures against all security breaches of these types, especially because the techniques used change frequently and because attacks can originate from a wide variety of sources. In addition, it is possible that we may not be able to detect security breaches on a timely basis, or at all, which could increase the costs and risks associated with any such breach.

The Company also faces risks related to cyber-attacks and other security breaches in connection with credit card and debit card transactions that typically involve the transmission of sensitive information regarding the Company’s customers through various third parties, including merchant acquiring banks, payment processors, payment card networks and its processors. Some of these parties have in the past been the target of security breaches and cyber-attacks, and because the transactions involve third parties and environments such as the point of sale that the Company does not control or secure, future security breaches or cyber-attacks affecting any of these third parties could impact the Company through no fault of its own, and in some cases it may have exposure and suffer losses for breaches or attacks relating to them. In addition, the Company offers its customers protection against fraud and certain losses for unauthorized use of debit cards in order to stay competitive with other financial institutions. Offering such protection exposes the Company to losses that could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations. Further cyber-attacks or other breaches in the future, whether affecting the Company or others, could intensify consumer concern and regulatory focus and result in reduced use of payment cards and increased costs, all of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. To the extent we are involved in any future cyber-attacks or other breaches, the Company’s reputation could be affected, which could also have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
 
19

We are subject to certain operational risks, including, but not limited to, customer or employee fraud and data processing system failures and errors.

Employee errors and misconduct could subject us to financial losses or regulatory sanctions and seriously harm our reputation. Misconduct by our employees could include hiding their own unauthorized activities from us, improper or unauthorized activities on behalf of our customers or improper use of confidential information. It is not always possible to prevent employee errors and misconduct, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Employee errors could also subject us to financial claims for negligence, among others.

We maintain a system of internal controls and insurance coverage to mitigate operational risks, including data processing system failures and errors and customer or employee fraud. Should our internal controls fail to prevent or detect an occurrence, or if any resulting loss is not insured or exceeds applicable insurance limits, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We may be subject to a higher consolidated effective tax rate if there is a change in tax laws relating to LCB Investments II, Inc. or if LCB Funding, Inc. fails to qualify as a real estate investment trust.

The Bank holds certain investment securities in its wholly-owned subsidiary LCB Investments II, Inc., which is incorporated in Nevada. Pursuant to the State of Indiana’s current tax laws and regulations, we are not subject to Indiana income tax for income earned through that subsidiary. If there are changes in Indiana’s tax laws or interpretations thereof requiring us to pay state taxes for income generated by LCB Investments II, Inc., the resulting tax consequences could increase our effective tax rate or cause us to have a tax liability for prior years.

The Bank also holds certain commercial real estate loans, residential real estate loans and other loans in a real estate investment trust through LCB Investments II, Inc. Qualification as a real estate investment trust involves application of specific provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to various asset tests. If LCB Funding, Inc. fails to meet any of the required provisions for real estate investment trusts, it could no longer qualify as a real estate investment trust and the resulting tax consequences would increase our effective tax rate or cause us to have a tax liability for prior years.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

We have no unresolved SEC staff comments.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Company is headquartered in the main office building of the Bank at 202 E. Center Street, Warsaw, Indiana. The Company operates in 54 locations, 49 of which are owned by the Bank and five of which are leased from third parties. In addition, the Company leases the real estate for four of its freestanding ATMs.

None of the Company’s assets are the subject of any material encumbrances.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There are no material pending legal proceedings other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business to which the Company and the Bank are a party or of which any of their property is subject.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.


 
20


PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The quarterly high and low closing prices for the Company’s common stock and the cash dividends declared and paid on that common stock are set forth in the table below.


   
2015
   
2014
 
               
Cash
               
Cash
 
   
High*
   
Low*
   
Dividend
   
High*
   
Low*
   
Dividend
 
Fourth quarter
  $ 49.49     $ 43.38     $ 0.245     $ 44.15     $ 36.98     $ 0.210  
Third quarter
  $ 45.40     $ 39.01     $ 0.245     $ 39.93     $ 35.50     $ 0.210  
Second quarter
  $ 44.27     $ 38.71     $ 0.245     $ 41.26     $ 34.96     $ 0.210  
First quarter
  $ 43.83     $ 37.42     $ 0.210     $ 41.46     $ 35.31     $ 0.190  


*  The trading ranges are the high and low prices as obtained from The Nasdaq Stock Market.

The common stock of the Company was first quoted on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol LKFN in August 1997. Currently, the Company’s common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “LKFN”. On December 31, 2015, the Company had approximately 333 stockholders of record and estimates that it has approximately 2,000 stockholders in total.

The Company paid dividends on its common stock as set forth in the table above. The Company’s ability to pay dividends to stockholders is largely dependent upon the dividends it receives from the Bank, and the Bank is subject to regulatory limitations on the amount of cash dividends it may pay.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The table below sets forth the following information as of December 31, 2015 for (i) all compensation plans previously approved by the Company’s stockholders and (ii) all compensation plans not previously approved by the Company’s stockholders:

 
(a)
 
the number of securities to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights;

 
(b)
 
the weighted-average exercise price of such outstanding options, warrants and rights; and
       
 
(c)
 
other than securities to be issued upon the exercise of such outstanding options, warrants and rights, the
     
number of securities remaining available for future issuance under the plans.
 

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION


               
Number of securities
 
               
remaining available
 
   
Number of securities to be
   
Weighted-average
   
for future issuance
 
   
issued upon exercise of
   
exercise price of
   
under equity
 
Plan category
 
outstanding options
   
outstanding options
   
compensation plans
 
Equity compensation plans
                 
approved by security
                 
holders(1)(2)(3)
    32,000     $ 24.05       134,956  
                         
Equity compensation plans
                       
not approved by security
                       
holders
    0       0.00       0  
Total
    32,000     $ 24.05       134,956  
(1)  Lakeland Financial Corporation 1997 Share Incentive Plan adopted on April 14, 1998 by the Board of Directors.
(2)  Lakeland Financial Corporation 2008 Equity Incentive Plan adopted on May 14, 2008 by the Board of Directors.
(3)  Lakeland Financial Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan adopted on April 9, 2013 by the Board of Directors.


 
21


STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH

The graph below compares the cumulative total return of the Company, the Nasdaq Market Index, and the NASDAQ Bank Index.

Lakeland Financial Corporation Performance Graph

 
INDEX
 
2010
   
2011
   
2012
   
2013
   
2014
   
2015
 
Lakeland Financial Corporation
  $ 100.00     $ 123.88     $ 127.82     $ 196.59     $ 223.98     $ 245.61  
NASDAQ Composite
    100.00       99.21       116.82       163.75       188.03       201.40  
NASDAQ Bank Index
    100.00       89.50       106.23       150.55       157.95       171.92  

The above returns assume $100 invested on December 31, 2010 and dividends were reinvested.

The following table provides information about purchases by the Company and its affiliates during the quarter ended December 31, 2015 of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act:

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES


                     
Maximum Number (or
 
               
Total Number of
   
Appropriate Dollar
 
               
Shares Purchased as
   
Value) of Shares that
 
               
Part of Publicly
   
May Yet Be Purchased
 
   
Total Number of
   
Average Price
   
Announced Plans or
   
Under the Plans or
 
Period
 
Shares Purchased
   
Paid per Share
   
Programs
   
Programs
 
                         
10/01/15-10/31/15
    0     $ 0.00       0     $ 0.00  
11/01/15-11/30/15
    495       46.85       0       0.00  
12/01/15-12/31/15
    0       0.00       0       0.00  
                                 
Total
    495     $ 46.85       0     $ 0.00  

The shares purchased during the quarter were credited to the deferred share accounts of nine nonemployee directors under the Company’s directors’ deferred compensation plan.


 
22


ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA


(in thousands except share and per share data)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
   
2011
 
Ending period balances
                             
Assets
  $ 3,766,286     $ 3,443,284     $ 3,175,764     $ 3,064,144     $ 2,889,688  
Deposits
    3,183,421       2,873,120       2,546,068       2,581,756       2,412,696  
Loans
    3,080,929       2,762,320       2,535,098       2,257,520       2,233,709  
Allowance for loan losses
    43,610       46,262       48,797       51,445       53,400  
Total equity
    392,901       361,385       321,964       297,828       273,289  
Average balances
                                       
Total assets
  $ 3,597,190     $ 3,318,271     $ 3,009,738     $ 2,976,239     $ 2,792,770  
Earning assets
    3,376,060       3,137,082       2,833,505       2,720,783       2,642,158  
Investments
    476,153       475,068       474,711       477,010       447,620  
Loans
    2,885,568       2,650,678       2,343,422       2,216,131       2,148,046  
Total deposits
    3,088,598       2,797,929       2,505,341       2,505,195       2,325,964  
Interest bearing deposits
    2,478,674       2,299,578       2,087,870       2,151,094       2,015,440  
Interest bearing liabilities
    2,589,915       2,461,352       2,265,303       2,316,375       2,206,714  
Total equity
    378,106       343,135       310,627       287,866       260,335  
Income statement data
                                       
Net interest income
  $ 105,927     $ 102,303     $ 90,439     $ 87,671     $ 92,080  
Net interest income-fully tax equivalent
    107,902       104,232       92,235       89,277       93,664  
Provision for loan loss
    0       0       0       2,549       13,800  
Non-interest income
    31,479       30,053       30,737       25,196       22,205  
Non-interest expense
    68,206       66,166       62,778       57,742       55,105  
Net income
    46,367       43,805       38,839       35,394       30,662  
Per share data
                                       
Basic net income per common share
  $ 2.79     $ 2.65     $ 2.36     $ 2.17     $ 1.89  
Diluted net income per common share
    2.75       2.61       2.33       2.15       1.88  
Cash dividends declared per common share
    0.95       0.82       0.57       0.84       0.62  
Dividend payout
    34.36 %     31.42 %     24.46 %     38.84 %     32.98 %
Book value per common share
    23.60       21.83       19.54       18.18       16.85  
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
    16,617,569       16,535,530       16,436,131       16,323,870       16,204,952  
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
    16,830,379       16,781,455       16,634,338       16,482,937       16,324,644  
Key ratios
                                       
Return on average assets
    1.29 %     1.32 %     1.29 %     1.19 %     1.10 %
Return on average total equity
    12.26 %     12.77 %     12.50 %     12.30 %     11.78 %
Equity to average assets
    10.51 %     10.34 %     10.32 %     9.67 %     9.32 %
Net interest margin
    3.20 %     3.32 %     3.26 %     3.28 %     3.54 %
Efficiency
    49.64 %     49.99 %     51.81 %     51.16 %     48.22 %
Asset Quality
                                       
Net charge offs to average loans
    0.09 %     0.10 %     0.11 %     0.20 %     0.25 %
Loan loss reserve to total loans
    1.42 %     1.67 %     1.92 %     2.28 %     2.39 %
Loan loss reserve to nonperforming loans
    334.04 %     337.51 %     203.79 %     166.60 %     135.27 %
Nonperforming assets to total loans
    0.43 %     0.51 %     0.96 %     1.40 %     1.86 %
Other Data
                                       
Full-time equivalent employees
    518       496       497       493       482  
Offices
    47       46       45       45       44  


 
23


ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

Net income in 2015 was $46.4 million, up 5.9% from $43.8 million in 2014 and up from $38.8 million in 2013. Diluted net income per common share was $2.75 in 2015, $2.61 in 2014 and $2.33 in 2013. Return on average total assets was 1.29% in 2015 compared to 1.32% in 2014 and 1.29% in 2013. Return on average common shareholders’ equity was 12.26% in 2015 versus 12.77% in 2014 and 12.50% in 2013. The dividend payout ratio with respect to diluted earnings per share was 34.36% in 2015, 31.42% in 2014 and 24.46% in 2013. The equity to average assets ratio was 10.51% in 2015 compared to 10.34% in 2014 and 10.32% in 2013.

Net income in 2015 was positively impacted by a $3.6 million increase in net interest income and a $1.4 million increase in noninterest income.  Offsetting this positive impact was a $2.0 million increase in noninterest expense. Net income in 2014, as compared to 2013 was positively impacted by an $11.9 million increase in net interest income. Offsetting this positive impact was a $3.4 million increase in noninterest expense and a $684,000 decrease in noninterest income.

Total assets were $3.766 billion as of December 31, 2015 versus $3.443 billion as of December 31, 2014, an increase of $323.0 million or 9.4%. This increase was primarily due to a $318.6 million increase in total loans.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Certain of the Company’s accounting policies are important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition, since they require management to make difficult, complex or subjective judgments, some of which may relate to matters that are inherently uncertain. Estimates associated with these policies are susceptible to material changes as a result of changes in facts and circumstances. Some of the facts and circumstances which could affect these judgments include changes in interest rates, in the performance of the economy or in the financial condition of borrowers. Management believes that its critical accounting policies include determining the allowance for loan losses and the valuation and other-than-temporary impairment of investment securities.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The Company maintains an allowance for loan losses to provide for probable incurred credit losses. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes that the principal is uncollectable. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. Allocations of the allowance are made for specific loans and for pools of similar types of loans, although the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged against the allowance. A provision for loan losses is taken based on management’s ongoing evaluation of the appropriate allowance balance. A formal evaluation of the adequacy of the loan loss allowance is conducted monthly. The ultimate recovery of all loans is susceptible to future market factors beyond the Company’s control.

The level of loan loss provision is influenced by growth in the overall loan portfolio, emerging market risk, emerging concentration risk, commercial loan focus and large credit concentration, new industry lending activity, general economic conditions and historical loss analysis. In addition, management gives consideration to changes in the allocation for specific watch list credits in determining the appropriate level of the loan loss provision. Furthermore, management’s overall view on credit quality is a factor in the determination of the provision.

The determination of the appropriate allowance is inherently subjective, as it requires significant estimates by management. The Company has an established process to determine the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses that generally includes consideration of the following factors: changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality and current economic conditions that may affect the borrowers’ ability to repay. Consideration is not limited to these factors although they represent the most commonly cited factors. With respect to specific allocation levels for individual credits, management considers the amounts and timing of expected future cash flows and the current valuation of collateral as the primary measures. Management also considers trends in adversely classified loans based upon an ongoing review of those credits. With respect to pools of similar loans, allocations are assigned based upon historical experience unless the rate of loss is expected to be greater than historical losses as noted below. A detailed analysis is performed on loans that are classified but determined not to be impaired which incorporates probability of default with a loss given default scenario to develop non-specific allocations for the loan pool. These allocations may be adjusted based on the other factors cited above. An appropriate level of general allowance for pooled loans is determined after considering the following: application of historical loss percentages, emerging market risk, commercial loan focus and large credit concentration, new industry lending activity and general economic conditions. It is also possible that the following could affect the overall process: social, political, economic and terrorist events or activities. All of these factors are susceptible to change, which may be significant. As a result of this detailed process, the allowance results in two forms of allocations, specific and general. These two components represent the total allowance for loan losses deemed adequate to cover probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio.

 
24

Commercial loans are subject to a dual standardized grading process administered by the credit administration function. These grade assignments are performed independent of each other and a consensus is reached by credit administration and the loan review officer. Specific allowances are established in cases where management has identified significant conditions or circumstances related to an individual credit that indicate the loan is impaired. Considerations with respect to specific allocations for these individual credits include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) does the customer’s cash flow or net worth appear insufficient to repay the loan; (b) is there adequate collateral to repay the loan; (c) has the loan been criticized in a regulatory examination; (d) is the loan impaired; (e) are there other reasons where the ultimate collectability of the loan is in question; or (f) are there unique loan characteristics that require special monitoring.

Allocations are also applied to categories of loans considered not to be individually impaired, but for which the rate of loss is expected to be consistent with or greater than historical averages. Such allocations are based on past loss experience and information about specific borrower situations and estimated collateral values. In addition, general allocations are made for other pools of loans, including non-classified loans. These general pooled loan allocations are performed for portfolio segments of commercial and industrial, commercial real estate and multi-family, agri-business and agricultural, other commercial, consumer 1-4 family mortgage and other consumer loans, and loans within certain industry categories believed to present unique risk of loss. General allocations of the allowance are primarily made based on a three-year historical average for loan losses for these portfolios, subjectively adjusted for economic factors and portfolio trends.

Due to the imprecise nature of estimating the allowance for loan losses, the Company’s allowance for loan losses includes an unallocated component. The unallocated component of the allowance for loan losses incorporates the Company’s judgmental determination of inherent losses that may not be fully reflected in other allocations, including factors such as the level of classified credits, economic uncertainties, industry trends impacting specific portfolio segments, broad portfolio quality trends and trends in the composition of the Company’s large commercial loan portfolio and related large dollar exposures to individual borrowers.

Valuation and Other-Than-Temporary Impairment of Investment Securities

The fair values of securities available for sale are determined on a recurring basis by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges or pricing models, which utilize significant observable inputs such as matrix pricing. This is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities. Different judgments and assumptions used in pricing could result in different estimates of value. The fair value of certain securities is determined using unobservable inputs, primarily observable inputs of similar securities.

At the end of each reporting period, securities held in the investment portfolio are evaluated on an individual security level for other-than-temporary impairment in accordance with current accounting guidance. Impairment is other-than-temporary if the decline in the fair value of the security is below its amortized cost and it is probable that all amounts due according to the contractual terms of a debt security will not be received.

Significant judgments are required in determining impairment, which includes making assumptions regarding the estimated prepayments, loss assumptions and the change in interest rates.

We consider the following factors when determining other-than-temporary impairment for a security or investment:

 
·
the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been less than amortized cost;
 
·
the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer;
 
·
the underlying fundamentals of the relevant market and the outlook for such market for the near future; and
 
·
our intent and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value.

If, in management’s judgment, other-than-temporary impairment exists, the cost basis of the security will be written down to the computed net present value, and the unrealized loss will be transferred from accumulated other comprehensive loss as an immediate reduction of current earnings (as if the loss had been realized in the period of other-than-temporary impairment). In addition, discount accretion will be discontinued on any bond that meets one or both of the following: (1) the rating by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch decreases to below “A” and/or (2) the cash flow analysis on a security indicates under any scenario modeled by the third party there is a potential to not receive the full amount invested in the security.


 
25


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

Selected income statement information for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 is presented in the following table.


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Income Statement Summary:
                 
Net interest income
  $ 105,927     $ 102,303     $ 90,439  
Provision for loan losses
    0       0       0  
Noninterest income
    31,479       30,053       30,737  
Noninterest expense
    68,206       66,166       62,778  
Other Data:
                       
Efficiency ratio (1)
    49.64 %     49.99 %     51.81 %
Dilutive EPS
  $ 2.75     $ 2.61     $ 2.33  
Tangible capital ratio
    10.36 %     10.41 %     10.05 %
Net charge-offs to average loans
    0.09 %     0.10 %     0.11 %
Net interest margin
    3.20 %     3.32 %     3.26 %
Noninterest income to total revenue
    22.91 %     22.71 %     25.37 %
 
(1)  
Noninterest expense/Net interest income plus Noninterest income

Net Income

Net income was $46.4 million in 2015, an increase of $2.6 million, or 5.9%, versus net income of $43.8 million in 2014. Net interest income increased $3.6 million, or 3.5%, to $105.9 million versus $102.3 million in 2014. Net interest income increased primarily due to a 7.6% increase in average earning assets, driven by an increase of 8.9% in the commercial loan portfolio, which reflects our continuing strategic focus on commercial lending. The net interest margin decreased to 3.20% in 2015 versus 3.32% in 2014. The lower margin resulted from the continued low interest rate environment as well as competitive factors in the Company’s markets including more aggressive pricing of new loan opportunities and renewed loans.

Net income was $43.8 million in 2014, an increase of $5.0 million, or 12.8%, versus net income of $38.8 million in 2013. Net interest income increased $11.9 million, or 13.1%, to $102.3 million versus $90.4 million in 2013. Net interest income increased primarily due to a 10.7% increase in average earning assets, driven by an increase of 14.8% in the commercial loan portfolio, which reflects our continuing strategic focus on commercial lending. The net interest margin increased to 3.32% in 2014 versus 3.26% in 2013. The higher margin resulted from a general decline in funding costs as well as higher levels of earning assets.



 
26


Net Interest Income

The following table presents a three-year average balance sheet and, for each major asset and liability category, its related interest income and yield or its expense and rate for the years ended December 31.

THREE YEAR AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET AND NET INTEREST ANALYSIS


   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
Average
   
Interest
   
Yield (1)/
   
Average
   
Interest
   
Yield (1)/
   
Average
   
Interest
   
Yield (1)/
 
(fully tax equivalent basis, dollars in thousands)
 
Balance
   
Income
   
Rate
   
Balance
   
Income
   
Rate
   
Balance
   
Income
   
Rate
 
Earning Assets
                                                     
  Loans:
                                                     
    Taxable (2)(3)
  $ 2,872,937     $ 110,097       3.83 %   $ 2,638,507     $ 105,317       3.99 %   $ 2,334,857     $ 98,757       4.23 %
    Tax exempt (1)
    12,631       692       5.48       12,171       705       5.79       8,565       609       7.11  
  Investments: (1)
                                                                       
    Available for sale
    476,153       13,666       2.87       475,068       13,151       2.77       474,711       10,111       2.13  
  Short-term investments
    5,229       4       0.08       5,253       11       0.21       6,515       5       0.08  
  Interest bearing deposits
    9,110       55       0.60       6,083       33       0.54       8,857       50       0.56  
Total earning assets
  $ 3,376,060     $ 124,514       3.69 %   $ 3,137,082     $ 119,217       3.80 %   $ 2,833,505     $ 109,532       3.87 %
Less:  Allowance for loan losses
    (45,256 )                     (46,831 )                     (50,651 )                
Nonearning Assets
                                                                       
  Cash and due from banks
    108,021                       75,158                       79,014                  
  Premises and equipment
    43,510                       40,241                       36,544                  
  Other nonearning assets
    114,855                       112,621                       111,326                  
Total assets
  $ 3,597,190                     $ 3,318,271                     $ 3,009,738                  
                                                                         
Interest Bearing Liabilities
                                                                       
  Savings deposits
  $ 233,361     $ 457       0.20 %   $ 233,657     $ 507       0.22 %   $ 229,440     $ 634       0.28 %
  Interest bearing checking accounts
    1,232,101       4,769       0.39       1,169,338       4,660       0.40       1,028,224       5,287       0.51  
  Time deposits:
                                                                       
    In denominations under $100,000
    279,604       3,321       1.19       280,819       3,205       1.14       327,736       4,574       1.40  
    In denominations over $100,000
    733,608       6,868       0.94       615,764       5,196       0.84       502,470       5,250       1.04  
  Miscellaneous short-term borrowings
    80,279       188       0.23       130,811       388       0.30       145,030       490       0.34  
  Long-term borrowings and
                                                                       
    subordinated debentures (4)
    30,962       1,009       3.26       30,963       1,029       3.32       32,403       1,062       3.28  
Total interest bearing liabilities
  $ 2,589,915     $ 16,612       0.64 %   $ 2,461,352     $ 14,985       0.61 %   $ 2,265,303     $ 17,297       0.76 %
Noninterest Bearing Liabilities
                                                                       
  Demand deposits
    609,924                       498,351                       417,471                  
  Other liabilities
    19,245                       15,433                       16,337                  
Stockholders' Equity
    378,106                       343,135                       310,627                  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 3,597,190                     $ 3,318,271                     $ 3,009,738                  
                                                                         
Interest Margin Recap
                                                                       
Interest income/average earning assets
            124,514       3.69               119,217       3.80               109,532       3.87  
Interest expense/average earning assets
            16,612       0.49               14,985       0.48               17,297       0.61  
Net interest income and margin
          $ 107,902       3.20 %           $ 104,232       3.32 %           $ 92,235       3.26 %

(1)
Tax exempt income was converted to a fully taxable equivalent basis at a 35 percent tax rate for 2015, 2014 and 2013. The tax equivalent rate for tax exempt loans and tax exempt securities acquired after January 1, 1983 included the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (“TEFRA”) adjustment applicable to nondeductible interest expenses.
(2)
Loan fees, which are immaterial in relation to total taxable loan interest income for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, are included as taxable loan interest income.
(3)
Nonaccrual loans are included in the average balance of taxable loans.
(4)
Long-term borrowings and subordinated debentures interest expense was reduced by interest capitalized on construction in process for 2015, 2014 and 2013.


 
27


The following table shows fluctuations in net interest income attributable to changes in the average balances of assets and liabilities and the yields earned or rates paid for the years ended December 31.

NET INTEREST INCOME – RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS (fully tax equivalent basis, dollars in thousands)


      2015 Over (Under) 2014 (1)       2014 Over (Under) 2013 (1)  
   
Attributable to
   
Total
   
Attributable to
   
Total
 
   
Volume
   
Rate
   
Change
   
Volume
   
Rate
   
Change
 
Interest Income (2)
                                   
  Loans:
                                   
    Taxable
  $ 9,100     $ (4,320 )   $ 4,780     $ 12,339     $ (5,779 )   $ 6,560  
    Tax exempt
    26       (39 )     (13 )     223       (127 )     96  
  Investments:
                                               
    Available for sale
    30       485       515       8       3,032       3,040  
  Short-term investments
    0       (7 )     (7 )     (1 )     7       6  
  Interest bearing deposits
    18       4       22       (15 )     (2 )     (17 )
Total interest income
    9,174       (3,877 )     5,297       12,554       (2,869 )     9,685  
                                                 
Interest Expense
                                               
  Savings deposits
    (1 )     (49 )     (50 )     11       (138 )     (127 )
  Interest bearing checking accounts
    245       (136 )     109       664       (1,291 )     (627 )
  Time deposits:
                                               
    In denominations under $100,000
    (14 )     130       116       (602 )     (767 )     (1,369 )
    In denominations over $100,000
    1,064       608       1,672       1,061       (1,115 )     (54 )
  Miscellaneous short-term borrowings
    (129 )     (71 )     (200 )     (45 )     (57 )     (102 )
  Long-term borrowings and
                                               
    subordinated debentures
    0       (20 )     (20 )     (48 )     15       (33 )
Total interest expense
    1,165       462       1,627       1,041       (3,353 )     (2,312 )
Net Interest Income
  $ 8,009     $ (4,339 )   $ 3,670     $ 11,513     $ 484     $ 11,997  

(1)
The earning assets and interest bearing liabilities used to calculate interest differentials are based on average daily balances for 2015, 2014 and 2013. The changes in volume represent "changes in volume times the old rate". The changes in rate represent "changes in rate times the old volume". The changes in rate/volume were also calculated by "change in rate times change in volume" and allocated consistently based upon the relative absolute values of the changes in volume and changes in rate.
(2)
Tax exempt income was converted to a fully taxable equivalent basis at a 35 percent tax rate for 2015, 2014 and 2013. The tax equivalent rate for tax exempt loans and tax exempt securities acquired after January 1, 1983 included the TEFRA adjustment applicable to nondeductible interest expense.

Growth in the commercial loan portfolio accounted for most of the growth in loans, as well as total earning assets, during both 2015 and 2014 and positively impacted total interest income. Management believes that the growth in the loan portfolio will likely continue in a measured, but prudent, fashion as a result of our continued strategic focus on commercial and industrial lending, as well as commercial real estate lending, and in conjunction with the general expansion and penetration of the geographical markets the Company serves, including our ongoing expansion in the Indianapolis market. Growth in loans of $234.9 million was funded through an increase in interest bearing deposits. Interest bearing deposit accounts represented primarily by public funds increased $179.4 million. In addition demand deposits increased $111.6 million in 2015.

The decreases in the Company’s yields on average earning assets resulted from decreases in market rates overall, including declines in loan portfolio yields during 2015 and 2014. Yields on commercial loans declined in 2015, as a result of competitive pressures and the overall low interest rate environment in the markets the Company serves. These declines were impacted by management’s continued focus on growing the commercial portfolio in a prudent and responsible manner while having to consider more aggressive pricing on new loan opportunities, as well as by the scheduled amortization and repricing of existing fixed rate commercial loans. Cost of funds was generally stable during 2015.

Provision for Loan Losses

Despite increases in the size of the overall loan portfolio, no provision for loan loss expense was recorded in 2015, 2014 or 2013, resulting in an allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2015 of $43.6 million, which represented 1.42% of the loan portfolio, versus an allowance for loan losses of $46.3 million at the end of 2014, which represented 1.67% of the loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses was $48.8 million at the end of 2013, which represented 1.92% of the loan portfolio.  The lack of a provision in 2015, 2014 and 2013 was attributable to a number of factors but was primarily a result of improvement in key loan quality metrics, including a decrease in net charge-offs, strong reserve coverage of nonperforming loans, a decrease in historical loss percentages, stabilization in economic conditions in the Company’s markets and general signs of improvement in borrower performance and future prospects. In addition, management gave consideration to changes in the allocation for specific watch list credits in determining the appropriate level of the loan loss provision. Management’s overall view on current credit quality was also a factor in the determination of the provision for loan losses. The Company’s management continues to monitor the adequacy of the provision based on loan levels, asset quality, economic conditions and other factors that may influence the assessment of the collectability of loans.

 
28

Noninterest Income

The following table presents changes in the components of noninterest income for the years ended December 31.


                     
% Change From
 
                     
Prior Year
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
   
2015
   
2014
 
Wealth advisory fees
  $ 4,531     $ 4,072     $ 3,847       11.3 %     5.8 %
Investment brokerage fees
    1,507       3,370       4,736       -55.3 %     -28.8 %
Service charges on deposit accounts
    10,608       9,495       8,806       11.7 %     7.8 %
Loan, insurance and service fees
    7,460       6,799       6,404       9.7 %     6.2 %
Merchant card fee income
    1,843       1,549       1,265       19.0 %     22.5 %
Bank owned life insurance
    1,338       1,393       1,653       -3.9 %     -15.7 %
Other income
    2,974       2,978       2,488       -0.1 %     19.7 %
Mortgage banking income
    1,176       621       1,431       89.4 %     -56.6 %
Net securities gains (losses)
    42       (224 )     107       -118.8 %     -309.3 %
  Total noninterest income
  $ 31,479     $ 30,053     $ 30,737       4.7 %     -2.2 %
Noninterest income to total revenue
    22.9 %     22.7 %     25.4 %                

Noninterest income was $31.5 million in 2015 versus $30.1 million in 2014, an increase of $1.4 million, or 4.7%. The increase was primarily driven by a $1.1 million increase in service charges on deposit accounts driven by higher service charges on business accounts.  In addition, loan, insurance and service fees increased due to increased fees resulting from higher loan volumes.  Mortgage banking income increased due to higher volumes driven by the continued low interest rate environment.  Noninterest income was negatively impacted by a $1.9 million decrease in investment brokerage fees due to lower production volumes as well as changes to the product mix designed to provide a more consistent revenue stream.

Noninterest income was $30.1 million in 2014 versus $30.7 million in 2013, a decrease of $684,000, or 2.2%. The decrease was primarily driven by a $1.4 million decrease in investment brokerage fees due to lower production volumes. Mortgage banking income decreased by $810,000 due to lower refinance volumes as rates remained at historically low levels and now refinancing opportunities are not available. Noninterest income was positively impacted by a $689,000 increase in service charges on deposit accounts driven by higher deposit fees. In addition, other income increased $490,000, driven by income related to bank owned life insurance proceeds.

Noninterest Expense

The following table presents changes in the components of noninterest expense for the years ended December 31.


                     
% Change From
 
                     
Prior Year
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
   
2015
   
2014
 
Salaries and employee benefits
  $ 38,923     $ 38,648     $ 37,176       0.7 %     4.0 %
Net occupancy expense
    3,820       3,776       3,376       1.2 %     11.8 %
Equipment costs
    3,598       3,231       2,831       11.4 %     14.1 %
Data processing fees and supplies
    7,592       6,171       5,635       23.0 %     9.5 %
Corporate and business development
    3,173       3,073       2,734       3.3 %     12.4 %
FDIC insurance and other regulatory fees
    2,044       1,936       1,855       5.6 %     4.4 %
Professional fees
    2,794       2,990       3,171       -6.6 %     -5.7 %
Other expense
    6,262       6,341       6,000       -1.2 %     5.7 %
  Total noninterest expense
  $ 68,206     $ 66,166     $ 62,778       3.1 %     5.4 %

 
29

Noninterest expense was $68.2 million in 2015 versus $66.2 million in 2014, an increase of $2.0 million, or 3.1%. Data processing fees increased by $1.4 million, primarily due to increased technology and software related expenditures with the Company’s core processor which are volume and product driven and represent digital solutions and forward technology for clients. Equipment costs increased due to higher depreciation expense related to branch upgrades and expansion.  Salaries and employee benefits increased primarily due to staff additions, higher health insurance costs and higher pension plan costs.

Noninterest expense was $66.2 million in 2014 versus $62.8 million in 2013, an increase of $3.4 million, or 5.4%. Salaries and employee benefits increased by $1.5 million, continuing to be driven by staff additions, normal annual salary increases, higher health insurance costs and higher performance based compensation costs. Data processing fees increased by $536,000, continuing to be driven by technology related expenditures with the Company’s core processor and other technology based providers to enhance the delivery of electronic banking alternatives and improve commercial product solutions.

Income Taxes

The Company recognized income tax expense in 2015 of $22.8 million, compared to $22.4 million in 2014, and $19.6 million in 2013. The effective tax rate in 2015 was 33.0% compared to 33.8% in 2014, and 33.5% in 2013. The effective tax rate was lower in 2015 compared to 2014 and 2013 due to additional provisions for income taxes related to a revaluation of the Company’s state deferred tax items made during 2014 and 2013.  For a detailed analysis of the Company’s income taxes see Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Overview

Total assets of the Company were $3.766 billion as of December 31, 2015, an increase of $323.0 million, or 9.4%, when compared to $3.443 billion as of December 31, 2014. Total loans increased by $318.6 million, or 11.5%, to $3.081 billion at December 31, 2015 from $2.762 billion at December 31, 2014. Funding for the loan growth came from a $310.3 million increase in total deposits in 2015 offset by a $20.8 million decrease in short-term borrowings.

Uses of Funds

Investment Portfolio

The amortized cost and the fair value of securities as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:


   
2015
   
2014
     2013  
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Amortized
   
Fair
 
(fully tax equivalent basis dollars in thousands)
 
Cost
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Value
 
Securities available for sale:
                                   
  U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 988     $ 1,003     $ 986     $ 1,004     $ 1,001     $ 1,017  
  U.S. government sponsored agencies
    7,178       7,120       0       0       0       0  
  Agency residential mortgage-backed securities
    357,984       360,672       366,596       372,095       374,611       371,977  
  State and municipal securities
    105,753       109,276       99,399       102,812       95,388       95,973  
                                                 
Total debt securities available for sale
  $ 471,903     $ 478,071     $ 466,981     $ 475,911     $ 471,000     $ 468,967  
 
        At year-end 2015, 2014 and 2013, there were no holdings of securities of any one issuer, other than the U.S. government, government agencies and government sponsored agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of stockholders’ equity. See Note 2 for more information on these investments.

Purchases of securities available for sale totaled $91.8 million in 2015, $73.4 million in 2014 and $167.5 million in 2013. Securities sales totaled $7.8 million in 2015, $13.8 million in 2014 and $30.0 million in 2013. Paydowns from prepayments and scheduled payments of $61.6 million, $55.9 million and $104.6 million were received in 2015, 2014 and 2013, and the amortization of premiums, net of the accretion of discounts, was $4.5 million, $5.4 million and $8.9 million, respectively. Maturities and calls of securities totaled $13.1 million, $2.1 million and $8.0 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  No other-than-temporary impairment was recognized in 2015, 2014 or 2013. Purchases of securities were lower in 2014 compared to 2015 and 2013 due to the decrease in prepayments and other scheduled payments resulting in less cash flow for reinvestment. Sales of securities were higher in 2013 than 2015 and 2014 due to the strategic realignment of the investment portfolio which involved selling the four remaining non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities in the Company’s portfolio. During the third quarter of 2013, the Company sold the four remaining non-agency mortgage-backed securities. The securities sold had a book value of $3.8 million and a fair value of $3.9 million. The investment portfolio is managed to provide for an appropriate balance between liquidity, credit risk and investment return and to limit the Company’s exposure to risk to an acceptable level.

 
30


The weighted average yields and maturity distribution for the securities portfolio at December 31, 2015, were as follows:


   
Within
   
After One
   
After five Years
   
Over Ten
 
   
One Year
   
Within five Years
   
Within Ten years
   
Years
 
   
Fair
         
Fair
         
Fair
         
Fair
       
   
Value
   
Yield
   
Value
   
Yield
   
Value
   
Yield
   
Value
   
Yield
 
(fully tax equivalent basis, dollars in thousands)
                                           
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 0       0.00 %   $ 0       0.00 %   $ 1,003       2.23 %   $ 0       0.00 %
U.S. government sponsor agency
    0       0.00 %     0       0.00 %     3,225       2.36 %     3,895       2.28 %
Agency residential mortgage-backed securities
    1       3.82 %     30,470       2.04 %     128,983       2.03 %     201,218       2.54 %
State and municipal securities
    2,020       4.16 %     22,411       3.21 %     47,529       3.21 %     37,316       3.16 %
Total Securities
  $ 2,021       4.16 %   $ 52,881       2.54 %   $ 180,740       2.35 %   $ 242,429       2.63 %
 
        The company does not trade or invest in or sponsor certain unregistered investment companies defined as hedge funds and private equity funds in the Volcker Rule.

Real Estate Mortgage Loans HFS

Real estate mortgages held for sale increased by $1.7 million to $3.3 million at December 31, 2015 from $1.6 million at December 31, 2014. This asset category is subject to a high degree of variability depending on, among other things, recent mortgage loan rates and the timing of loan sales into the secondary market. The Company generally sells almost all of the mortgage loans it originates on the secondary market. Proceeds from sales totaled $68.6 million in 2015, $56.1 million in 2014 and $91.0 million in 2013. After several years of historically low mortgage rates, many or most mortgagees who would benefit from refinancing have already done so, resulting in decreases in mortgage sales proceeds in 2015 and 2014 compared to 2013.

Loan Portfolio

The loan portfolio by class as of December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
   
2011
 
Commercial and industrial loans:
                             
  Working capital lines of credit loans
  $ 581,025     $ 544,043     $ 457,690     $ 439,638     $ 373,768  
  Non-working capital loans
    598,487       491,330       443,877       407,184       377,388  
    Total commercial and industrial loans
    1,179,512       1,035,373       901,567       846,822       751,156  
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
                                       
  Construction and land development loans
    230,719       156,636       157,630       82,494       82,284  
  Owner occupied loans
    412,026       403,154       370,386       358,617       346,669  
  Nonowner occupied loans
    407,883       394,458       394,748       314,889       385,090  
  Multifamily loans
    79,425       71,811       63,443       45,011       38,477  
    Total commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans
    1,130,053       1,026,059       986,207       801,011       852,520  
Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                                       
  Loans secured by farmland
    164,375       137,407       133,458       109,147       118,224  
  Loans for agricultural production
    141,719       136,380       120,571       115,572       119,705  
    Total agri-business and agricultural loans
    306,094       273,787       254,029       224,719       237,929  
Other commercial loans
    85,075       75,715       70,770       56,807       58,278  
  Total commercial loans
    2,700,734       2,410,934       2,212,573       1,929,359       1,899,883  
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
                                       
  Closed end first mortgage loans
    158,062       145,167       125,444       109,823       106,999  
  Open end and junior lien loans
    163,700       150,220       146,946       161,366       175,694  
  Residential construction and land development loans
    9,341       6,742       4,640       11,541       5,462  
    Total consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans
    331,103       302,129       277,030       282,730       288,155  
Other consumer loans
    49,113       49,541       46,125       45,755       45,999  
  Total consumer loans
    380,216       351,670       323,155       328,485       334,154  
  Subtotal
    3,080,950       2,762,604       2,535,728       2,257,844       2,234,037  
Less:  Allowance for loan losses
    (43,610 )     (46,262 )     (48,797 )     (51,445 )     (53,400 )
           Net deferred loan fees
    (21 )     (284 )     (630 )     (324 )     (328 )
Loans, net
  $ 3,037,319     $ 2,716,058     $ 2,486,301     $ 2,206,075     $ 2,180,309  

 
31


The ratio of loans to total loans by portfolio segment as of December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:


 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
                   
Commercial and industrial loans
38.28%
 
37.48%
 
35.55%
 
37.50%
 
33.62%
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans
36.68%
 
37.14%
 
38.89%
 
35.48%
 
38.16%
Agri-business and agricultural loans
9.93%
 
9.91%
 
10.02%
 
9.95%
 
10.65%
Other commercial loans
2.76%
 
2.74%
 
2.79%
 
2.52%
 
2.61%
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans
10.75%
 
10.94%
 
10.93%
 
12.52%
 
12.90%
Other consumer loans
1.60%
 
1.79%
 
1.82%
 
2.03%
 
2.06%
  Total Loans
100.00%
 
100.00%
 
100.00%
 
100.00%
 
100.00%
 
                In 2015, loan balances increased by $318.6 million, which is net of approximately $69.3 million in loans originated and sold and $853,000 transferred to other real estate in 2015. In 2014 loan balances increased by $235.2 million, which is net of approximately $55.1 million in loans originated and sold and $1.1 million transferred to other real estate in 2014. In 2013, loan balances increased by $280.7 million, which is net of approximately $81.7 million in loans originated and sold and $491,000 transferred to other real estate in 2013.

The mix of loan types within the Company’s portfolio continued a trend toward a higher percentage of the total loan portfolio being in commercial loans. This increase in commercial loans to the total portfolio was a result of the Company’s long standing strategic plan that is focused on organic expansion and growth in the commercial business.

The residential construction and land development loans class included construction loans totaling $7.3 million, $5.3 million, $3.8 million, $10.7 million and $4.3 million as of December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011. The Bank generally sells conforming mortgage loans which it originates on the secondary market. These loans generally represent mortgage loans that are made to clients with long-term or substantial relationships with the Bank on terms consistent with secondary market requirements. The loan classifications are based on the nature of the loans as of the loan origination date. There were no foreign loans included in the loan portfolio for the periods presented.

Repricing opportunities of the loan portfolio occur either according to predetermined adjustable rate schedules included in the related loan agreements or upon maturity of each principal payment. The following table indicates the scheduled maturities of the loan portfolio as of December 31, 2015.


         
Residential
                         
         
Real
                         
         
Estate
         
Line of
             
(dollars in thousands)
 
Commercial
   
Mortgage
   
Installment
   
Credit
   
Total
   
Percent
 
Within one year
  $ 1,439,034     $ 16,944     $ 11,100     $ 31,942     $ 1,499,020       48.66 %
After one year, within five years
    1,078,616       52,688       21,577       82,245       1,235,126       40.09  
Over five years
    234,725       46,713       2,801       49,510       333,749       10.83  
Nonaccrual loans
    12,754       49       252       0       13,055       0.42  
  Total loans
  $ 2,765,129     $ 116,394     $ 35,730     $ 163,697     $ 3,080,950       100.00 %
 
    At maturity, credits are reviewed and, if renewed, are renewed at rates and conditions that prevail at the time of maturity.
 
        Loans due after one year which have a predetermined interest rate and loans due after one year which have floating or adjustable interest rates as of December 31, 2015 amounted to $568.3 million and $1.001 billion, respectively.

Bank Owned Life Insurance

Bank owned life insurance increased by $3.1 million to $69.7 million at December 31, 2015 and by $3.7 million to $66.6 million at December 31, 2014 from $62.9 million at December 31, 2013. These increases during 2015 and 2014 were primarily due to additional purchases to help offset employee benefit plan expenses, which have continued to increase since 2002 due to the increased number of officers at the Bank. Bank owned life insurance provides investment income from the securities the life insurance is invested in, which offsets benefit plan expenses.


 
32


Sources of Funds

The average daily deposits and borrowings together with the average rates paid on those deposits and borrowings for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are summarized in the following table:


                                       
% Balance Change
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
   
From Prior Year
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Balance
   
Rate
   
Balance
   
Rate
   
Balance
   
Rate
   
2015
   
2014
 
Demand deposits
  $ 609,924       0.00 %   $ 498,351       0.00 %   $ 417,471       0.00 %     22 %     19 %
Savings and transaction accounts:
                                                               
  Regular savings
    233,361       0.20       233,657       0.22       229,440       0.28       (0 )     2  
  Interest bearing checking
    1,232,101       0.39       1,169,338       0.40       1,028,224       0.51       5       14  
Time deposits:
                                                               
  Deposits of $100,000 or more
    733,608       0.94       615,764       0.84       502,470       1.04       19       23  
  Other time deposits
    279,604       1.19       280,819       1.14       327,736       1.40       (0 )     (14 )
Total deposits
  $ 3,088,598       0.49 %   $ 2,797,929       0.48 %   $ 2,505,341       0.63 %     10       12  
FHLB advances and other borrowings
    111,241       1.11       161,774       0.88       177,433       0.89       (31 )     (9 )
Total funding sources
  $ 3,199,839       0.64 %   $ 2,959,703       0.61 %   $ 2,682,774       0.76 %     8       10  

Time deposits as of December 31, 2015 will mature as follows:


                $100,000    
% of
         
% of
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
or more
   
Total
   
Other
   
Total
 
Within three months
  $ 215,991       29.26 %   $ 42,783       16.50 %
Over three months, within six months
    127,075       17.21       36,750       14.18  
Over six months, within twelve months
    195,504       26.48       75,033       28.94  
Over twelve months
    199,684       27.05       104,695       40.38  
Total time certificates of deposit
  $ 738,254       100.00 %   $ 259,261       100.00 %

Deposits

Average deposits increased $290.7 million comparing December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2014. The growth in deposits consisted of $301.1 million in core deposit growth offset by a decrease of $10.4 million in brokered deposits. Average commercial demand deposits increased $97.2 million, average interest bearing public funds transaction accounts increased by $67.4 million, average public funds time deposits increased by $61.6 million and average time deposits of $100,000 or more increased by $37.9 million. The growth in deposits in 2015 resulted from increased deposit balances from existing customers as well as growth in new customers. The Company believes that the prolonged low rate environment has caused depositors to shift their deposits to short-term liquid products in anticipation of higher future market deposit rates.

Average deposits increased $292.6 million comparing December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2013. The growth in deposits consisted primarily of $176.8 million in core deposit growth and an increase of $115.8 million in brokered deposits. Average interest bearing public funds transaction accounts increased by $134.9 million, average brokered time deposits increased by $83.3 million, average commercial demand deposits increased by $62.2 million, average public funds time deposits increased by $49.0 million and average brokered transaction accounts increased by $32.5 million.

As previously noted, the Company has substantial funding from public fund entities which represent customers in the markets we serve. A shift in funding away from public fund deposits could require the Company to execute alternate funding plans under the Contingency Funding Plan discussed in further detail under “Liquidity Risk” below.

Borrowings

During 2015, average total short-term borrowings decreased $50.5 million primarily due to a $27.8 million decrease in advances with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and average long term borrowings decreased by $1.0 million.  Ending balances of total short-term borrowings decreased $20.8 million during 2015 due to decreases in Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis advances offset by increases in securities sold under agreements to repurchase.  During 2015, the Company reduced its reliance on borrowings due to strong growth in deposits.

During 2014, average total short-term borrowings decreased $14.2 million primarily due to a $29.1 million decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase and average long-term borrowings decreased $1.4 million due to a decrease in advances with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. Ending balances of total short-term borrowings decreased $101.5 million during 2014 due to decreases in securities sold under agreements to repurchase as well as decreases in Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis advances. During 2014, the Company changed the mix of wholesale funding by reducing Federal Home Loan Bank advances and increasing brokered deposits.

 
33

Capital

The Company believes that a strong, appropriately managed capital position is critical to long-term earnings and continuing growth in loans. The Company had a total risk-based capital ratio of 13.6%, a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of 12.4% and a common tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 11.5% as of December 31, 2015. These ratios met or exceeded the Federal Reserve’s “well-capitalized” minimums of 10.0%, 8.0% and 6.5%, respectively. The Company also had a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 11.1% and a tangible equity ratio of 10.4%. See Note 16 – Capital Requirements for more information.

The ability to maintain these ratios is a function of the balance between net income and a prudent dividend policy. Total stockholders’ equity increased by 8.7% to $392.8 million as of December 31, 2015 from $361.3 million as of December 31, 2014. The Company earned $46.4 million in 2015 and $43.8 million in 2014. The Company declared cash dividends of $0.945 per share in 2015, which decreased equity by $15.7 million. The Company declared cash dividends of $0.82 per share in 2014, which decreased equity by $13.6 million. The change in accumulated other comprehensive income, largely due to changes in the fair values of available-for-sale securities, decreased equity by $1.7 million in 2015, and increased equity by $6.3 million in 2014. The impact to equity due to other comprehensive income is not included in regulatory capital. Stock based compensation expense increased equity by $2.5 million in 2015 and $2.8 million in 2014.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Overview

The Company, with the oversight of the Corporate Risk Committee of the Board of Directors, has developed a company-wide risk management program intended to help manage and mitigate the various business risks the Company is exposed to. Following is a discussion addressing the risks identified as most significant to the Company – Credit, Liquidity and Interest Rate or Market Risk. Item 7A. includes additional market risk discussion.

Credit Risk

Credit risk represents the risk of loss arising from an obligor’s inability or failure to meet contractual payment or performance terms. Our primary credit risks result from lending and investment activities.

Investment Portfolio

The Company’s investment portfolio consists of Treasury securities, government agencies, mortgage-backed securities and municipal bonds. During 2015, purchases in the securities portfolio consisted of primarily mortgage-backed securities and municipal bonds. As of December 31, 2015, the Company’s investment in mortgage-backed securities represented approximately 75% of total securities consisting of Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”), Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (“CMBSs”) and mortgage pools issued by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities are each guaranteed by their respective agencies as to principal and interest. All mortgage securities purchased by the Company in 2015 were within risk tolerances for price, prepayment, extension and original life risk characteristics contained in the Company’s investment policy. The Company uses Bloomberg analytics and BondEdge Fixed Income Analytics software to evaluate and monitor all purchases on a monthly basis. Based upon the BondEdge analytics, as of December 31, 2015, the securities in the available for sale portfolio had approximately a 4.58 year effective duration with approximately a negative 13.85% change in market value in the event of a 300 basis points upward rate shock over a one-year period and an approximate positive 3.97% change in market value in the event of a 100 basis point downward rate shock over the same period. As of December 31, 2015, all mortgage-backed securities were performing in a manner consistent with management’s ALCO modeled expectations at time of purchase.

Loan Portfolio

The Company has a relatively high percentage of commercial and commercial real estate loans, most of which are extended to small or medium-sized businesses from a wide variety of industries. Traditionally, this type of lending may have more credit risk than other types of lending because of the size and diversity of the credits. The Company manages this risk by adjusting its pricing to the perceived risk of each individual credit and by diversifying the portfolio by customer, product, industry and market area.

There were no loan concentrations within industries, which exceeded ten percent of total loans, except commercial real estate and manufacturing. Commercial real estate was $992.5 million, or 32.7% of total loans, and manufacturing was $444.4 million, or 14.6% of total loans, at December 31, 2015. Nearly all of the Bank’s commercial, industrial, agricultural real estate mortgage, real estate construction mortgage and consumer loans are made within its geographic market areas.


 
34


The following is a summary of nonperforming loans as of December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011.


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
   
2011
 
Commercial and industrial loans
                             
  Past due accruing loans (90 days or more)
  $ 0     $ 101     $ 0     $ 50     $ 0  
  Nonaccrual loans(1)
    5,109       4,230       5,616       6,713       10,174  
    Subtotal nonperforming loans
    5,109       4,331       5,616       6,763       10,174  
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans
                                       
  Past due accruing loans (90 days or more)
    0       0       0       0       0  
  Nonaccrual loans(1)
    7,174       7,204       15,459       22,346       26,745  
    Subtotal nonperforming loans
    7,174       7,204       15,459       22,346       26,745  
Agri-business and agricultural loans
                                       
  Past due accruing loans (90 days or more)
    0       0       0       0       0  
  Nonaccrual loans(1)
    471       486       1,114       798       853  
    Subtotal nonperforming loans
    471       486       1,114       798       853  
Other commercial loans
                                       
  Past due accruing loans (90 days or more)
    0       0       0       0       0  
  Nonaccrual loans(1)
    0       30       0       0       0  
    Subtotal nonperforming loans
    0       30       0       0       0  
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans
                                       
  Past due accruing loans (90 days or more)
    0       29       46       0       52  
  Nonaccrual loans(1)
    301       1,576       1,605       895       1,646  
    Subtotal nonperforming loans
    301       1,605       1,651       895       1,698  
Other consumer loans
                                       
  Past due accruing loans (90 days or more)
    0       0       0       0       0  
  Nonaccrual loans(1)
    0       51       105       77       7  
    Subtotal nonperforming loans
    0       51       105       77       7  
Total nonperforming loans
  $ 13,055     $ 13,707     $ 23,945     $ 30,879     $ 39,477  
 
 (1)           Includes nonaccrual troubled debt restructured loans.

Nonperforming assets of the Company include nonperforming loans (as indicated above), nonaccrual investments and other real estate owned and repossessions, the total of which amounted to $13.3 million and $14.0 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014. As of December 31, 2015, management believed that there were no significant foreseeable losses relating to nonperforming assets, except as discussed below.

The Bank’s policy is that all loans for which the collateral is insufficient to cover all principal and accrued interest will be reclassified as nonperforming loans to the extent they are unsecured, on or before the date when the loan becomes 90 days delinquent, with the exception of small dollar other consumer loans which are not placed on nonaccrual status since these loans are charged-off when they have been delinquent from 90 to 180 days, and when the related collateral, if any, is not sufficient to offset the indebtedness. When a loan is classified as a nonaccrual loan, interest on the loan is no longer accrued, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed and interest income is subsequently recorded only to the extent cash payments are received. Accrual status is resumed when all contractually due payments are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured. Interest not recorded on nonaccrual loans is referenced in Note 4 in Item 8 below.

Nonaccrual loans were 0.42% of total loans, at year end 2015 versus 0.50% of total loans, at year end 2014. There were 47 relationships totaling $20.6 million classified as impaired as of December 31, 2015 versus 73 relationships totaling $32.0 million at the end of 2014. The decrease in impaired loans during 2015 resulted primarily from the removal of a $5.8 million commercial loan from impaired status due to the improved overall condition of the borrower and its business. The loan was previously accounted for as a troubled debt restructuring and was restructured at a market rate in 2015. Additional decreases in the impaired loans category were from payments received and charge-offs taken on several impaired commercial credits. Total nonperforming loans were $13.1 million, or 0.42% of total loans, at year end 2015 versus $13.7 million, or 0.50% of total loans, at the end of 2014.
 
A loan is impaired when full payment under the original loan terms is not expected. Impairment is evaluated in total for smaller-balance loans of similar nature not in nonaccrual or troubled debt restructured status such as residential mortgage, consumer, and credit card loans, and on an individual loan basis for other loans. If a loan is impaired, a portion of the allowance may be allocated so that the loan is reported, net, at the present value of estimated future cash flow or at the fair value of collateral if repayment is expected solely from the collateral.

 
35

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, all non-homogenous loans on nonaccrual status were also on impaired status. There were $20.6 million and $32.0 million of loans classified as impaired as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. The decrease in impaired loans during 2015, resulted from the $5.8 million loan removed from nonperforming status due to improved performance as well as payments received and charge-offs taken on impaired loans.

Loans renegotiated as troubled debt restructurings are those loans for which either the contractual interest rate has been reduced below market rates and/or other concessions are granted to the borrower because of a deterioration in the financial condition of the borrower which results in the inability of the borrower to meet the terms of the loan.

As of December 31, 2015, there were 33 borrowers with loans totaling $17.2 million renegotiated as troubled debt restructurings and $2.3 million were modified in 2015. Of these loans, $10.9 million were excluded from troubled debt restructured loans in the previous table because they were included in nonaccrual loans and the remaining $6.3 million were performing under their modified terms. As of December 31, 2014, there were 34 borrowers with loans totaling $25.7 million renegotiated as troubled debt restructurings and $3.1 million were modified in 2014. Of these loans, $9.2 million were excluded from troubled debt restructured loans in the previous table because they were included in nonaccrual loans and the remaining $16.5 million of troubled debt restructured loans were performing under their modified terms at December 31, 2014. Of the $8.5 million decrease of loans accounted for as troubled debt restructurings at December 31, 2015, as compared to December 31, 2014, $5.8 million was related to one commercial credit which was removed from impaired status. The Company has no commitments to lend additional funds to any of the borrowers.

The following is a summary of the loan loss experience for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011.


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
   
2011
 
Amount of loans outstanding, December 31,
  $ 3,080,929     $ 2,762,320     $ 2,535,098     $ 2,257,520     $ 2,233,709  
Average daily loans outstanding during the year ended December 31,
  $ 2,885,568     $ 2,650,678     $ 2,343,422     $ 2,216,131     $ 2,148,046  
Allowance for loan losses, January 1,
  $ 46,262     $ 48,797     $ 51,445     $ 53,400     $ 45,007  
Loans charged-off:
                                       
  Commercial and industrial loans
    1,320       1,441       1,062       3,069       2,587  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans
    1,114       2,560       2,069       1,108       2,514  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans
    0       0       200       0       318  
  Other commercial loans
    122       0       0       0       0  
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans
    362       439       382       1,340       1,050  
  Other consumer loans
    255       245       339       405       360  
Total loans charged-off
    3,173       4,685       4,052       5,922       6,829  
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off:
                                       
  Commercial and industrial loans
    216       914       513       767       826  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans
    107       928       377       203       362  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans
    20       20       212       186       0  
  Other commercial loans
    0       0       0       0       0  
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans
    52       153       126       148       46  
  Other consumer loans
    126       135       176       111       188  
Total recoveries
    521       2,150       1,404       1,415       1,422  
Net loans charged-off
    2,652       2,535       2,648       4,504       5,407  
Provision for loan loss charged to expense
    0       0       0       2,549       13,800  
  Balance, December 31,
  $ 43,610     $ 46,262     $ 48,797     $ 51,445     $ 53,400  
                                         
Ratio of net charge-offs during the period to average daily loans outstanding:
                                 
  Commercial and industrial loans
    0.04 %     0.02 %     0.02 %     0.11 %     0.08 %
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans
    0.03       0.06       0.07       0.04       0.10  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans
    0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.01 )     0.01  
  Other commercial loans
    0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00  
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans
    0.01       0.01       0.01       0.05       0.05  
  Other consumer loans
    0.01       0.01       0.01       0.01       0.01  
Total ratio of net charge-offs
    0.09 %     0.10 %     0.11 %     0.20 %     0.25 %
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans
    334.05 %     337.51 %     203.79 %     166.60 %     135.27 %

 
36


The following is a summary of the allocation for loan losses as of December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011.


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
   
2011
 
Allocated allowance for loan losses:
                             
  Commercial and industrial loans
  $ 21,564     $ 22,785     $ 21,005     $ 22,342     $ 22,830  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans
    12,473       14,153       18,556       20,812       23,489  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans
    2,445       1,790       1,682       1,403       695  
  Other commercial loans
    574       276       391       240       65  
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans
    3,395       3,459       3,046       2,682       2,322  
  Other consumer loans
    319       483       608       609       645  
Total allocated allowance for loan losses
    40,770       42,946       45,288       48,088       50,046  
Unallocated allowance for loan losses
    2,840       3,316       3,509       3,357       3,354  
Total allowance for loan losses
  $ 43,610     $ 46,262     $ 48,797     $ 51,445     $ 53,400  
 
                At December 31, 2015, the allowance for loan losses was 1.42% of total loans outstanding, versus 1.67% of total loans outstanding, at December 31, 2014. Management believes the allowance for loan losses is at a level commensurate with the overall risk exposure of the loan portfolio. However, if economic conditions do not remain stabilized, certain borrowers may experience difficulty and the level of nonperforming loans, charge-offs and delinquencies could rise and require increases in the provision for loan losses. The process of identifying probable incurred credit losses is a subjective process. Therefore, the Company maintains a general allowance to cover probable incurred credit losses within the entire portfolio. The methodology management uses to determine the adequacy of the loan loss reserve includes the considerations below.

Loans are charged against the allowance for loan losses when management believes that the principal is uncollectible. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. The allowance is an amount that management believes will be adequate to absorb probable incurred credit losses relating to specifically identified loans based on an evaluation of the loans by management, as well as other probable incurred losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The evaluations take into consideration such factors as changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problem loans and current economic conditions that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay. Management also considers trends in adversely classified loans based upon a monthly review of those credits. An appropriate level of general allowance is determined after considering the following factors:  application of historical loss percentages, emerging market risk, commercial loan focus and large credit concentrations, new industry lending activity and current economic conditions. Federal regulations require insured institutions to classify their own assets on a regular basis. The regulations provide for three categories of classified loans:  Substandard, Doubtful and Loss. The regulations also contain a Special Mention category. Special Mention is defined as loans that do not currently expose an insured institution to a sufficient degree of risk to warrant classification as Substandard, Doubtful or Loss but do possess credit deficiencies or potential weaknesses deserving management’s close attention. The Company’s policy is to establish a specific allowance for loan losses for any assets where management has identified conditions or circumstances that indicate an asset is impaired. If an asset or portion thereof is classified as loss, the Company’s policy is to either establish specific allowances for loan losses in the amount of 100% of the portion of the asset classified loss or charge-off such amount.

At December 31, 2015, on the basis of management’s review of the loan portfolio, the Company had 84 credits totaling $141.2 million on the classified loan list versus 92 credits totaling $155.6 million on December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had $105.4 million of assets classified as Special Mention, $35.3 million classified as Substandard, $0 classified as Doubtful and $0 classified as Loss as compared to $95.4 million, $58.5 million, $611,000 and $0, respectively at December 31, 2014.

Included in the classified loan amounts for December 31, 2015 above were the following troubled debt restructured loans: 17 mortgage loans totaling $1.4 million with total allocations of $272,000, and 23 commercial loans totaling $13.9 million with total allocations of $2.1 million. Included in the classified loan amounts for December 31, 2014 above were the following troubled debt restructured loans: one installment loan totaling $11,000 with an allocation of $2,000, 15 mortgage loans totaling $1.6 million with total allocations of $319,000, and 21 commercial loans totaling $24.1 million with total allocations of $3.3 million.

Allowance estimates are developed by management taking into account actual loss experience, adjusted for current economic conditions. Allowance estimates are considered a prudent measurement of the risk in the Company’s loan portfolio and are applied to individual loans based on loan type. In accordance with current accounting guidance, the allowance is provided for losses that have been incurred as of the balance sheet date and is based on past events and current economic conditions and does not include the effects of expected losses on specific loans or groups of loans that are related to future events or expected changes in economic conditions. For a more thorough discussion of the allowance for loan losses methodology see the Critical Accounting Policies section of this Item 7.

 
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The allowance for loan losses decreased 5.7%, or $2.7 million, from $46.3 million at December 31, 2014 to $43.6 million at December 31, 2015. Pooled loan allocations decreased $890,000 from $40.8 million at December 31, 2014 to $40.0 million at December 31, 2015, which was due to management’s view of current credit quality and the current economic environment. Impaired loan allocations decreased $1.8 million from $5.4 million at December 31, 2014 to $3.7 million at December 31, 2015. This decrease was primarily due to lower levels of classified loans as well as lower allocations on specific classified loans. The unallocated component of the allowance for loan losses was $2.8 million and $3.3 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, decreasing primarily due to stabilization in the current economic conditions and the general improvement in our borrowers’ performance and future prospects. While general trends in credit quality were stable or favorable, the Company believes that the unallocated component is appropriate given the uncertainty that exists regarding near term economic conditions, including the risk of an economic downturn.

The Company has experienced growth in total loans over the last three years of $823.4 million, or 36.5%. The concentration of this loan growth was in the commercial loan portfolio, which can result in overall asset quality being influenced by a small number of credits. Management has historically considered growth and portfolio composition when determining loan loss allocations. Management believes that it is prudent to continue to provide for loan losses in a manner consistent with its historical approach due to the loan growth described above and current economic conditions.

Economic conditions in the Company’s markets have generally improved and stabilized, and management is cautiously optimistic that the recovery is positively impacting its borrowers. While the recovery is not robust, commercial real estate activity and manufacturing growth is occurring. The Company’s continued growth strategy promotes diversification among industries as well as continued focus on enforcement of a strong credit environment and an aggressive position in loan work-out situations. The Company believes that historical industry-specific issues in the Company’s markets have improved and continue to be somewhat mitigated by its overall expansion strategy, the economic environment impacting its entire geographic footprint will continue to present challenges.

Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk arises from the possibility that the Company may not be able to satisfy current or future financial commitments or may become unduly reliant on alternative funding sources.

Management maintains a liquidity position that it believes will adequately provide funding for loan demand and deposit run-off that may occur in the normal course of business. The liquidity structure is expressly detailed in the Company’s Contingency Funding Plan, which is discussed below. The Company relies on a number of different sources in order to meet these potential liquidity demands. The primary sources are increases in deposit accounts and cash flows from loan payments and the securities portfolio. Given current prepayment assumptions as of the filing date of December 31, 2015, the cash flow from the securities portfolio is expected to provide approximately $62 million of potential contingent funding in 2016.

The Company has approval of $1.356 billion in secondary sources available as of December 31, 2015, of which $172.4 million was utilized. The Company had $280.0 million in federal funds lines with twelve correspondent banks, of which $0 was drawn on as of December 31, 2015. The Company has Board of Directors approval to borrow up to $800.0 million at the FHLB, but, given the Company’s current collateral structure and outstanding borrowings as of December 31, 2015, the Company could have only borrowed up to $73.1 million under this authority based on utilization of $70.0 million at December 31, 2015. The Company also has additional collateral that could be pledged to the FHLB of $246.1 million as of December 31, 2015. Further, the Company had available capacity at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago of up to $131.7 million given its current collateral structure and the terms of these facilities at December 31, 2015. The Company also has established relationships in the brokered time deposit and brokered money market sectors, as well as the CDARS One-Way Buy program, to easily access these funds when desired with settlement of funds in one to two weeks’ time.

The Company had all of its securities in the available for sale portfolio at December 31, 2015, allowing the Company maximum flexibility to sell securities to meet funding demands. Management believes the majority of the securities in the available for sale portfolio are of high quality and marketable. Approximately 77% of this portfolio is comprised of U.S. government agency securities or mortgage-backed securities directly or indirectly backed by the U.S. government. In addition, the Company has historically sold the majority of its originated mortgage loans on the secondary market to reduce interest rate risk and to create an additional source of funding.

The Company has a formalized Contingency Funding Plan (“CFP”). The Board of Directors and management recognize the importance of liquidity during times of normal operations and in times of stress. The CFP was developed to ensure that the multiple liquidity sources available to the Company are readily available. The CFP specifically considers liquidity at the Bank and the Company level. The CFP identifies the potential funding sources at the Bank level, which includes the FHLB, the Federal Reserve Bank, brokered deposits, certificates of deposit available from CDARS, repurchase agreements and Fed Funds. The CFP also addresses the Bank’s ability to liquidate its securities portfolio. The CFP at the Holding Company level establishes a minimum cash coverage limit of 2 times annual operating expenses; it also gives consideration to the possibility of establishing a holding company committed line of credit as well as the ability to transfer securities from the Bank to the Company.

 
38

Further, the CFP identifies CFP team members and expressly details their respective roles. Potential risk scenarios are identified and the plan includes multiple scenarios, including short-term and long-term funding crisis situations. Under the long-term funding crisis, two additional scenarios are identified: a moderate risk scenario and a highly stressed scenario. The CFP details the responsibilities and the actions to be taken by the CFP team under each scenario. Monthly reports to management and the Board of Directors under the CFP include an early warning indicator matrix and pro forma cash flows for the various scenarios.

The following table discloses information on the maturity of the Company’s contractual long-term obligations. Certificates of deposit listed are those with original maturities of 1 year or more as of December 31, 2015.


   
Payments Due by Period
 
         
One year
               
After 5
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Total
   
or less
   
1-3 years
   
3-5 years
   
years
 
Certificates of deposit
  $ 406,731     $ 124,919     $ 219,018     $ 62,794     $ 0  
Long-term debt
    34       0       34       0       0  
Operating leases
    5,085       366       699       699       3,321  
Pension and SERP plans
    3,132       450       703       603       1,376  
Subordinated debentures
    30,928       0       0       0       30,928  
  Total contractual long-term cash obligations
  $ 445,910     $ 125,735     $ 220,454     $ 64,096     $ 35,625  
 
    During the normal course of business, the Company becomes a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in order to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to make loans and open-ended revolving lines of credit. The Company follows the same credit policy (including requiring collateral, if deemed appropriate) to make such commitments as is followed for those loans that are recorded in its financial statements.

The Company’s exposure to credit losses in the event of nonperformance is represented by the contractual amount of the commitments. Management does not expect any significant losses as a result of these commitments. Off-balance sheet transactions are more fully discussed in Note 18 in the consolidated financial statements.

The following table discloses information on the maturity of the Company’s commitments.


      Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period  
   
Total
             
   
Amount
   
One year
   
Over one
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Committed
   
or less
   
year
 
Unused loan commitments
  $ 1,359,510     $ 824,110     $ 535,400  
Standby letters of credit
    51,515       44,992       6,523  
  Total commitments and letters of credit
  $ 1,411,025     $ 869,102     $ 541,923  
 
Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk is the risk that the estimated fair value of the Company’s assets, liabilities and derivative financial instruments will decline as a result of changes in interest rates or financial market volatility, or that net income will be significantly reduced by interest rate changes.

Interest rate risk represents the Company’s primary market risk exposure. The Company does not have material exposure to foreign currency exchange risk and does not maintain a trading portfolio. The Corporate Risk Committee of the Board of Directors annually reviews and approves the ALCO policy and the Derivatives and Hedging policy used to manage interest rate risk. These policies set guidelines for balance sheet structure, which are designed to protect the Company from the impact that interest rate changes could have on net income, but it does not necessarily indicate the effect on future net interest income. Given the Company’s mix of interest bearing liabilities and interest earning assets on December 31, 2015 and using changes in the interest rate environment over a one-year period, the net interest margin could be expected to decline in a falling interest rate environment and increase in a rising interest rate environment. Earnings can also be affected by the monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government and its agencies, particularly the Federal Reserve Board. For the majority of 2015 the Federal Reserve Board’s Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) kept the target federal funds rate at a range of 0% to .25%. At their December 2015 meeting, the FOMC raised interest rates for the first time since December 2008, when they unanimously voted to set the new target federal funds rate at a range of .25% to .50% (a 25 basis point increase). The FOMC stated at this meeting that they expect economic conditions will evolve in a manner that will warrant only gradual increase in the federal funds rate and that the actual path of the federal funds rate will depend of the economic outlook as informed by incoming data.  The FOMC continues to acknowledge the state of low inflation, indicating that it plans to carefully monitor actual and expected progress toward its 2% inflation objective.  The FOMC also announced it is maintaining its policy of reinvesting principal payments from its holdings of agency debt and mortgage-backed securities, and of rolling over maturing Treasury securities at auction, anticipating it will do so until normalization of the federal funds rate is well underway.  Due to the low rate environment and competitive markets for commercial loan pricing, there was a reduction in the Company’s yield on earning assets of 11 basis points during 2015. In addition, the rate paid on deposit accounts and purchased funds increased 1 basis point for 2015 mainly due to increased rates paid on time deposit accounts as part of various competitive specials ran throughout the year to attract additional core funding. The combined result of the decrease in the yield on earning assets and the increase in rates paid on deposits and purchased funds led to a decrease in the net interest margin from 3.32% for 2014 to 3.20% for 2015. Future changes in the net interest margin will be dependent upon multiple factors including further actions by the FOMC during 2016 in response to economic conditions, competitive pressures in the various markets served, and changes in the structure of the balance sheet as a result of changes in customer demands for products and services.
 
39


The Company utilizes computer modeling software to stress test the balance sheet under a wide variety of interest rate scenarios. The model quantifies the income impact of changes in customer preference for products, basis risk between the assets and the liabilities that support them and the risk inherent in different yield curves as well as other factors. The ALCO committee reviews these possible outcomes and makes loan, investment and deposit decisions that maintain reasonable balance sheet structure in light of potential interest rate movements. It is the objective of the Company to monitor and manage risk exposure to net interest income caused by changes in interest rates. It is the goal of the Company’s asset/liability function to provide optimum and stable net interest income. To accomplish this, management uses two asset liability tools. GAP/Interest Rate Sensitivity Reports and Net Interest Income Simulation Modeling are constructed, presented and monitored monthly. Management believes that the Company’s liquidity and interest sensitivity position at December 31, 2015, remained adequate to meet the Company’s primary goal of achieving optimum interest margins while avoiding undue interest rate risk. The Company places its greatest credence in net interest income simulation modeling. The GAP/Interest Rate Sensitivity Report is believed by the Company’s management to have two major shortfalls. The GAP/Interest Rate Sensitivity Report fails to precisely gauge how often an interest rate sensitive product reprices, nor is it able to measure the magnitude of potential future rate movements. Although management does not consider GAP ratios in planning, the information can be used in a general fashion to look at asset and liability mismatches. The Company’s cumulative repricing GAP ratio as of December 31, 2015 for the next 12 months using a scenario in which interest rates remained unchanged was a positive 0.92% of earning assets.

 Net interest income simulation modeling, or earnings-at-risk, measures the sensitivity of net interest income to various interest rate movements. The Company’s asset liability process monitors simulated net interest income under three separate interest rate scenarios; base, rising and falling. Estimated net interest income for each scenario is calculated over a twelve-month horizon. The immediate and parallel changes to the base case scenario used in the model are presented below. The interest rate scenarios are used for analytical purposes and do not necessarily represent management’s view of future market movements. Rather, these are intended to provide a measure of the degree of volatility interest rate movements may introduce into the earnings of the Company.

The base scenario is highly dependent on numerous assumptions embedded in the model. While the base sensitivity analysis incorporates management’s best estimate of interest rate and balance sheet dynamics under various market rate movements, the actual behavior and resulting earnings impact will likely differ from that projected. For certain assets, the base simulation model captures the expected prepayment behavior under changing interest rate environments. Assumptions and methodologies regarding the interest rate or balance behavior of indeterminate maturity core deposit products, such as savings, money market, NOW and demand deposits reflect management’s best estimate of expected future behavior.

Results for the base, falling 100 basis points, rising 25 basis points, rising 50 basis points, rising 100 basis points, and rising 300 basis points interest rate scenarios are listed below based upon the Company’s rate sensitive assets and liabilities at December 31, 2015. The net interest income shown represents cumulative net interest income over a twelve-month time horizon. Balance sheet assumptions used for the base scenario are the same for the rising and falling simulations.


         
Falling
   
Rising
   
Rising
   
Rising
   
Rising
 
   
Base
   
(100 Basis Points)
   
(25 Basis Points)
   
(50 Basis Points)
   
(100 Basis Points)
   
(300 Basis Points)
 
(dollars in thousands)
                                   
Net interest income
  $ 114,084     $ 109,798     $ 116,430     $ 118,809     $ 123,921     $ 143,640  
Variance from Base
          $ (4,286 )   $ 2,346     $ 4,725     $ 9,837     $ 29,556  
Percent of change from Base
      (3.76 )%     2.06 %     4.14 %     8.62 %     25.91 %


The effects of price changes and inflation can vary substantially for most financial institutions. While management believes that inflation affects the growth of total assets, it believes that it is difficult to assess the overall impact. Management believes this to be the case due to the fact that generally neither the timing nor the magnitude of the inflationary changes in the consumer price index (“CPI”) coincides with changes in interest rates. The price of one or more of the components of the CPI may fluctuate considerably and thereby influence the overall CPI without having a corresponding effect on interest rates or upon the cost of those goods and services normally purchased by the Company. In years of high inflation and high interest rates, intermediate and long-term interest rates tend to increase, thereby adversely impacting the market values of investment securities, mortgage loans and other long-term fixed rate loans. In addition, higher short-term interest rates caused by inflation tend to increase the cost of funds. In other years, the reverse situation may occur.

 
40


ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market Risk

The Company’s primary market risk exposure is interest rate risk. The Company does not have a material exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk and does not maintain a trading portfolio.

The following table provides information regarding the Company’s financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. For loans, securities and liabilities with contractual maturities, the table presents principal cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates by contractual maturities, as well as the Company’s assumptions relative to the impact of interest-rate fluctuations on the prepayment of certain commercial, residential and home equity loans and mortgage-backed securities. Core deposits such as noninterest bearing deposits, interest-bearing checking, savings and money market deposits that have no contractual maturity, are shown based on management’s judgment and historical experience that indicates some portion of the balances are retained over time. Weighted-average variable rates are based upon rates existing at the reporting date. For more information on the Company’s interest rate sensitivity see the Interest Rate Risk discussion in Item 7. above.


   
2015
 
   
Principal/Notional Amount Maturing in:
 
                                             
Fair
 
                                             
Value
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Year 1
   
Year 2
   
Year 3
   
Year 4
   
Year 5
   
Thereafter
   
Total
   
12/31/2015
 
Rate sensitive assets:
                                               
  Fixed interest rate loans
  $ 451,273     $ 274,970     $ 153,503     $ 72,806     $ 28,378     $ 33,984     $ 1,014,914     $ 1,018,461  
  Average interest rate
    4.42 %     4.47 %     4.41 %     4.39 %     4.42 %     4.37 %                
  Variable interest rate loans
  $ 1,061,169     $ 306,317     $ 169,237     $ 117,804     $ 111,977     $ 299,511     $ 2,066,015     $ 2,054,682  
  Average interest rate
    3.44 %     3.34 %     3.25 %     3.39 %     3.14 %     3.58 %                
    Total loans
  $ 1,512,442     $ 581,287     $ 322,740     $ 190,610     $ 140,355     $ 333,495     $ 3,080,929     $ 3,073,143  
    Average interest rate
    3.73 %     3.87 %     3.80 %     3.77 %     3.40 %     3.66 %                
  Fixed interest rate securities
  $ 113,164     $ 78,848     $ 63,000     $ 49,276     $ 43,745     $ 123,853     $ 471,886     $ 478,054  
  Average interest rate
    2.59 %     2.53 %     2.50 %     2.41 %     2.32 %     2.59 %                
  Variable interest rate securities
  $ 9     $ 5     $ 2     $ 1     $ 0     $ 0     $ 17     $ 17  
  Average interest rate
    4.86 %     5.63 %     5.67 %     5.65 %     0.00 %     0.00 %                
  Other interest-bearing assets
  $ 13,190     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 13,190     $ 13,192  
  Average interest rate
    4.53 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %                
      Total earning assets
  $ 1,638,805     $ 660,140     $ 385,744     $ 239,887     $ 184,100     $ 457,348     $ 3,566,022     $ 3,564,406  
      Average interest rate
    3.63 %     3.71 %     3.59 %     3.49 %     3.14 %     3.37 %                
Rate sensitive liabilities:
                                                               
  Noninterest bearing checking
  $ 4,037     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 711,056     $ 715,093     $ 715,093  
  Average interest rate
    0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %                
  Savings & interest bearing checking
  $ 53,103     $ 24,853     $ 21,538     $ 268,371     $ 14,889     $ 1,088,060     $ 1,470,814     $ 1,470,813  
  Average interest rate
    0.20 %     0.15 %     0.14 %     0.59 %     0.13 %     0.34 %                
  Time deposits
  $ 693,136     $ 210,102     $ 22,576     $ 36,869     $ 34,319     $ 512     $ 997,514     $ 1,002,452  
  Average interest rate
    0.90 %     1.07 %     1.08 %     1.70 %     1.92 %     1.14 %                
    Total deposits
  $ 750,276     $ 234,955     $ 44,114     $ 305,240     $ 49,208     $ 1,799,628     $ 3,183,421     $ 3,188,358  
    Average interest rate
    0.85 %     0.97 %     0.62 %     0.72 %     1.37 %     0.20 %                
  Fixed interest rate borrowings
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 34     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 34     $ 37  
  Average interest rate
    0.00 %     0.00 %     6.23 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %                
  Variable interest rate borrowings
  $ 83,924     $ 13,924     $ 13,924     $ 13,925     $ 13,925     $ 30,928     $ 170,550     $ 170,836  
  Average interest rate
    0.52 %     0.21 %     0.21 %     0.21 %     0.21 %     3.67 %                
      Total funds
  $ 834,200     $ 248,879     $ 58,072     $ 319,165     $ 63,133     $ 1,830,556     $ 3,354,005     $ 3,359,231  
      Average interest rate
    0.81 %     0.93 %     0.52 %     0.70 %     1.12 %     0.26 %                


 
41


ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Stockholders and Board of Directors
Lakeland Financial Corporation
Warsaw, Indiana
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Lakeland Financial Corporation as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015. We also have audited Lakeland Financial Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Lakeland Financial Corporation’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Lakeland Financial Corporation as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, Lakeland Financial Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by COSO.
 
 
Crowe Horwath LLP
 
 
Indianapolis, Indiana
 
 
March 2, 2016
 
 
42


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands except share data)
           
December 31
 
2015
   
2014
 
ASSETS
           
Cash and due from banks
  $ 67,484     $ 75,381  
Short-term investments
    13,190       15,257  
  Total cash and cash equivalents
    80,674       90,638  
                 
Securities available for sale (carried at fair value)
    478,071       475,911  
Real estate mortgage loans held for sale
    3,294       1,585  
                 
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $43,610 and $46,262
    3,037,319       2,716,058  
                 
Land, premises and equipment, net
    46,684       41,983  
Bank owned life insurance
    69,698       66,612  
Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan Bank Stock
    7,668       9,413  
Accrued interest receivable
    9,462       8,662  
Goodwill
    4,970       4,970  
Other assets
    28,446       27,452  
  Total assets
  $ 3,766,286     $ 3,443,284  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
                 
LIABILITIES
               
Noninterest bearing deposits
  $ 715,093     $ 579,495  
Interest bearing deposits
    2,468,328       2,293,625  
  Total deposits
    3,183,421       2,873,120  
                 
Short-term borrowings
               
  Federal funds purchased
    0       500  
  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    69,622       54,907  
  Other short-term borrowings
    70,000       105,000  
    Total short-term borrowings
    139,622       160,407  
                 
Long-term borrowings
    34       35  
Subordinated debentures
    30,928       30,928  
Accrued interest payable
    3,773       2,946  
Other liabilities
    15,607       14,463  
    Total liabilities
    3,373,385       3,081,899  
                 
Commitments, off-balance sheet risks and contingencies (Notes 1 and 18)
               
                 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Common stock:  90,000,000 shares authorized, no par value
               
16,641,651 shares issued and 16,546,044 outstanding as of December 31, 2015
               
16,550,324 shares issued and 16,465,621 outstanding as of December 31, 2014
    99,123       96,121  
Retained earnings
    294,002       263,345  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    2,142       3,830  
Treasury stock, at cost (2015 - 95,607 shares, 2014 - 84,703 shares)
    (2,455 )     (2,000 )
  Total stockholders' equity
    392,812       361,296  
  Noncontrolling interest
    89       89  
  Total equity
    392,901       361,385  
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  
  $ 3,766,286     $ 3,443,284  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
 
43


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (in thousands except share and per share data)
             
Years Ended December 31
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
NET INTEREST INCOME
                 
Interest and fees on loans
                 
  Taxable
  $ 110,097     $ 105,317     $ 98,757  
  Tax exempt
    464       470       402  
Interest and dividends on securities
                       
  Taxable
    8,564       8,176       5,398  
  Tax exempt
    3,355       3,281       3,124  
Interest on short-term investments
    59       44       55  
    Total interest income
    122,539       117,288       107,736  
                         
Interest on deposits
    15,415       13,568       15,745  
Interest on borrowings
                       
  Short-term
    188       388       490  
  Long-term
    1,009       1,029       1,062  
    Total interest expense
    16,612       14,985       17,297  
                         
NET INTEREST INCOME 
    105,927       102,303       90,439  
                         
Provision for loan losses
    0       0       0  
                         
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR
                       
  LOAN LOSSES
    105,927       102,303       90,439  
                         
NONINTEREST INCOME
                       
Wealth advisory fees
    4,531       4,072       3,847  
Investment brokerage fees
    1,507       3,370       4,736  
Service charges on deposit accounts
    10,608       9,495       8,806  
Loan, insurance and service fees
    7,460       6,799       6,404  
Merchant card fee income
    1,843       1,549       1,265  
Bank owned life insurance income
    1,338       1,393       1,653  
Other income
    2,974       2,978       2,488  
Mortgage banking income
    1,176       621       1,431  
Net securities gains (losses)
    42       (224 )     107  
  Total noninterest income
    31,479       30,053       30,737  
                         
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
                       
Salaries and employee benefits
    38,923       38,648       37,176  
Net occupancy expense
    3,820       3,776       3,376  
Equipment costs
    3,598       3,231       2,831  
Data processing fees and supplies
    7,592       6,171       5,635  
Corporate and business development
    3,173       3,073       2,734  
FDIC insurance and other regulatory fees
    2,044       1,936       1,855  
Professional fees
    2,794       2,990       3,171  
Other expense
    6,262       6,341       6,000  
  Total noninterest expense  
    68,206       66,166       62,778  
                         
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE
    69,200       66,190       58,398  
Income tax expense
    22,833       22,385       19,559  
NET INCOME
  $ 46,367     $ 43,805     $ 38,839  
                         
BASIC WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES
    16,617,569       16,535,530       16,436,131  
                         
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
  $ 2.79     $ 2.65     $ 2.36  
                         
DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES
    16,830,379       16,781,455       16,634,338  
                         
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
  $ 2.75     $ 2.61     $ 2.33  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
 
44


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (in thousands)
 
                     
Years Ended December 31
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Net income
  $ 46,367     $ 43,805     $ 38,839  
Other comprehensive income (loss)
                       
 
Change in securities available for sale:
                       
 
Unrealized holding gain (loss) on securities available for sale
                       
 
  arising during the period
    (2,720 )     10,739       (14,119 )
 
Reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income
    (42 )     224       (107 )
 
Net securities gain (loss) activity during the period
    (2,762 )     10,963       (14,226 )
 
Tax effect
    1,131       (4,358 )     5,571  
 
Net of tax amount
    (1,631 )     6,605       (8,655 )
 
Defined benefit pension plans:
                       
 
Net gain (loss) on defined benefit pension plans
    (325 )     (654 )     550  
 
Amortization of net actuarial loss
    244       197       244  
 
Net gain (loss) activity during the period
    (81 )     (457 )     794  
 
Tax effect
    24       176       (322 )
 
Net of tax amount
    (57 )     (281 )     472  
 
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax  
    (1,688 )     6,324       (8,183 )
Comprehensive income
  $ 44,679     $ 50,129     $ 30,656  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
45


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (in thousands except share and per share data)
 
                                     
                     
Accumulated
             
                     
Other
         
Total
 
   
Common Stock
   
Retained
   
Comprehensive
   
Treasury
   
Stockholders'
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Earnings
   
Income (Loss)
   
Stock
   
Equity
 
                                     
Balance at January 1, 2013
    16,290,136     $ 90,039     $ 203,654     $ 5,689     $ (1,643 )   $ 297,739  
                                                 
  Net income
                    38,839                       38,839  
 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
                            (8,183 )             (8,183 )
    Comprehensive income (loss)
                                            30,656  
  Cash dividends declared, $0.57 per share
                    (9,385 )                     (9,385 )
  Treasury shares purchased under deferred
                                               
    directors' plan
    (14,174 )     399                       (399 )     0  
  Treasury stock sold and distributed under
                                               
    deferred directors'  plan
    3,018       (54 )                     54       0  
  Stock activity under equity incentive plans
    98,469       903                               903  
  Stock based compensation expense
            1,962                               1,962  
Balance at December 31, 2013
    16,377,449       93,249       233,108       (2,494 )     (1,988 )     321,875  
  Net income
                    43,805                       43,805  
 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
                            6,324               6,324  
    Comprehensive income (loss)
                                            50,129  
  Cash dividends declared, $0.82 per share
                    (13,568 )                     (13,568 )
  Treasury shares purchased under deferred
                                               
    directors' plan
    (11,467 )     444                       (444 )     0  
  Treasury stock sold and distributed under
                                               
    deferred directors'  plan
    25,031       (432 )                     432       0  
  Stock activity under equity incentive plans
    74,608       57                               57  
  Stock based compensation expense
            2,803                               2,803  
Balance at December 31, 2014
    16,465,621       96,121       263,345       3,830       (2,000 )     361,296  
  Net income
                    46,367                       46,367  
 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
                            (1,688 )             (1,688 )
    Comprehensive income (loss)
                                            44,679  
  Cash dividends declared, $0.945 per share
                    (15,710 )                     (15,710 )
  Treasury shares purchased under deferred
                                               
    directors' plan
    (10,904 )     455                       (455 )     0  
  Stock activity under equity incentive plans
    91,327       12                               12  
  Stock based compensation expense
            2,535                               2,535  
Balance at December 31, 2015
    16,546,044     $ 99,123     $ 294,002     $ 2,142     $ (2,455 )   $ 392,812  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
 
46


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands)
                 
Years Ended December 31
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                 
Net income
  $ 46,367     $ 43,805     $ 38,839  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
                       
  Depreciation
    3,758       3,412       2,993  
  Gain on sale and write down of other real estate owned
    (48 )     (159 )     (10 )
  Amortization of intangible assets
    0       0       47  
  Amortization of loan servicing rights
    553       526       585  
  Net change in loan servicing rights valuation allowance
    0       0       (42 )
  Loans originated for sale
    (69,302 )     (55,107 )     (81,671 )
  Net gain on sales of loans
    (1,650 )     (1,202 )     (2,561 )
  Proceeds from sale of loans
    68,557       56,065       91,016  
  Net loss on sale of premises and equipment
    7       24       15  
  Net (gain) loss on sales and calls of securities available for sale
    (42 )     224       (107 )
  Net securities amortization
    4,464       5,420       8,765  
  Stock based compensation expense
    2,535       2,803       1,962  
  Earnings on life insurance
    (1,338 )     (1,393 )     (1,631 )
  Tax benefit of stock option exercises
    (148 )     (50 )     (146 )
  Net change:
                       
    Interest receivable and other assets
    (398 )     (2,687 )     5,860  
    Interest payable and other liabilities
    2,466       2,700       (949 )
      Total adjustments
    9,414       10,576       24,126  
        Net cash from operating activities
    55,781       54,381       62,965  
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
  Proceeds from sale of securities available for sale
    7,787       13,766       29,995  
  Proceeds from maturities, calls and principal paydowns of
                       
    securities available for sale
    74,679       57,970       112,624  
  Purchases of securities available for sale
    (91,810 )     (73,361 )     (167,450 )
  Purchase of life insurance
    (2,629 )     (3,181 )     (140 )
  Proceeds from loans sold to others
    0       4,307       0  
  Net increase in total loans
    (322,114 )     (235,165 )     (280,717 )
  Proceeds from sales of land, premises and equipment
    701       232       1  
  Purchases of land, premises and equipment
    (9,167 )     (6,565 )     (7,504 )
  Proceeds from redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank Stock
    1,745       1,319       0  
  Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned
    963       1,426       671  
  Proceeds from life insurance
    738       778       0  
        Net cash from investing activities
    (339,107 )     (238,474 )     (312,520 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
  Net increase/(decrease) in total deposits
    310,301       327,052       (35,688 )
  Net increase/(decrease) in short-term borrowings
    (20,785 )     (101,469 )     139,993  
  Payments on long-term borrowings
    (1 )     (2 )     (15,001 )
  Common dividends paid
    (15,697 )     (13,555 )     (9,372 )
  Preferred dividends paid
    (13 )     (13 )     (13 )
  Proceeds related to equity incentive plans
    12       57       903  
  Purchase of treasury stock
    (455 )     (444 )     (399 )
        Net cash from financing activities
    273,362       211,626       80,423  
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    (9,964 )     27,533       (169,132 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year
    90,638       63,105       232,237  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year
  $ 80,674     $ 90,638     $ 63,105  
Cash paid during the year for:
                       
    Interest
  $ 15,786     $ 14,957     $ 19,137  
    Income taxes
    21,566       21,185       17,280  
Supplemental non-cash disclosures:
                       
    Loans transferred to other real estate owned
    853       1,101       491  
    Property transferred to held for sale
    0       249       0  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
47


NOTE 1 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations and Principles of Consolidation:

The consolidated financial statements include Lakeland Financial Corporation (the “Holding Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Lake City Bank (the “Bank”) and LCB Risk Management, Inc., together referred to as (the “Company”). On December 18, 2006, LCB Investments II, Inc. was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank incorporated in Nevada to manage a portion of the Bank’s investment portfolio beginning in 2007. On December 21, 2006, LCB Funding, Inc., a real estate investment trust incorporated in Maryland, was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of LCB Investments II, Inc. On December 28, 2012, LCB Risk Management, Inc., a captive insurance company incorporated in Nevada, was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Holding Company. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.

The Company provides financial services through the Bank, a full-service commercial bank with 47 branch offices in fourteen counties in Northern and Central Indiana. The Company provides commercial, retail, trust and investment services to its customers. Commercial products include commercial loans and technology-driven solutions to meet commercial customers’ treasury management needs such as internet business banking and on-line treasury management services. Retail banking clients are provided a wide array of traditional retail banking services, including lending, deposit and investment services. Retail lending programs are focused on mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit and traditional retail installment loans. The Company provides credit card services to retail and commercial customers through its retail card program and merchant processing activity. The Company provides wealth advisory and trust clients with traditional personal and corporate trust services. The Company also provides retail brokerage services, including an array of financial and investment products such as annuities and life insurance. Other financial instruments, which represent potential concentrations of credit risk, include deposit accounts in other financial institutions.

Use of Estimates:

To prepare financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), management makes estimates and assumptions based on available information. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the disclosures provided and future results could differ.

Cash Flows:

Cash and cash equivalents include cash, demand deposits in other financial institutions and short-term investments and certificates of deposit with maturities of 90 days or less. Cash flows are reported net for customer loan and deposit transactions, and short-term borrowings.

Securities:

Securities are classified as available for sale when they might be sold before maturity. Securities available for sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. Trading securities are bought for sale in the near term and are carried at fair value, with changes in unrealized holding gains and losses included in income. Securities are classified as held to maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity.

Purchase premiums or discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the terms of the securities or over estimated lives for mortgage-backed securities. Gains and losses on sales are based on the amortized cost of the security sold and recorded on the trade date. For securities in an unrealized loss position, management considers the extent and duration of the unrealized loss, and the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer. Management also assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell, a security in an unrealized loss position before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the entire difference between amortized cost and fair value is recognized as impairment through earnings. For debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the amount of impairment is split into two components as follows: 1) other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) related to credit loss, which must be recognized in the income statement and 2) OTTI related to other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income. The credit loss is defined as the difference between the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected and the amortized cost basis. For equity securities, the entire amount of impairment is recognized through earnings.

 
48


NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Real Estate Mortgage Loans Held for Sale:

Loans held for sale are reported at the lower of cost or fair value on an aggregate basis. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recorded as a valuation allowance and charged to earnings.

Loan sales occur on the delivery date agreed to in the relevant commitment agreement. The Company retains servicing on the majority of loans sold. The carrying value of loans sold is reduced by the amount allocated to the servicing right. The gain or loss on the sale of loans is the difference between the carrying value of the loans sold and the funds received from the sale.

Loans:

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at the principal balance outstanding, net of unearned interest, deferred loan fees and costs, and an allowance for loan losses.

Interest income is reported on the interest method and includes amortization of net deferred loan fees and costs over the loan term. All classes of commercial and industrial, commercial real estate and multi-family residential, agri-business and agricultural, other commercial and consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans for which collateral is insufficient to cover all principal and accrued interest are reclassified as nonaccrual loans, on or before the date when the loan becomes 90 days delinquent. When a loan is classified as a nonaccrual loan, interest on the loan is no longer accrued, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed and interest income is subsequently recorded on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method. Accrual status is resumed when all contractually due payments are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured. Other consumer loans are not placed on a nonaccrual status since these loans are charged-off when they have been delinquent from 90 to 180 days, and when the related collateral, if any, is not sufficient to offset the indebtedness. Nonaccrual loans and loans past due 90 days still on accrual include both smaller balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually classified impaired loans.

The recorded investment in loans is the loan balance plus unamortized net deferred loan costs less unamortized net deferred loan fees. The total amount of accrued interest on loans as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $7.0 million and $6.2 million.

Allowance for Loan Losses:

The allowance for loan losses is a valuation allowance for probable incurred credit losses. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the inability to fully collect a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. The Company has an established process to determine the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses that generally includes consideration of the following factors: changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality and current economic conditions that may affect the borrowers’ ability to repay. Consideration is not limited to these factors, although they represent the most commonly cited factors. This evaluation is inherently subjective, as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available or as future events change. Allocations of the allowance may be made for specific loans, but the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged-off.

The allowance consists of specific and general components. The specific component relates to loans that are individually classified as impaired. The general component covers non-impaired loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for current factors. A detailed analysis is performed on loans that are classified but determined not to be impaired which incorporates probability of default with a loss given default scenario to develop non-specific allocations for such loan pools. The historical loss experience is determined by portfolio segment and is based on the actual loss history experienced by the Company over the most recent three years. This actual loss experience is supplemented with other environmental factors based on the risks present for each portfolio segment. These factors include consideration of the following: levels of, and trends in, delinquencies and impaired loans; levels of, and trends in, charge-offs and recoveries over the historical three and five year periods; trends in volume and terms of loans; effects of any changes in risk selection and underwriting standards; other changes in lending policies, procedure, and practices; experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; national and local economic trends and conditions; industry conditions; and effects of changes in credit concentrations. The following portfolio segments have been identified: commercial and industrial, commercial real estate and multi-family residential, agri-business and agricultural, other commercial, consumer 1-4 family mortgage and other consumer. The risk characteristics of each of the identified portfolio segments are as follows:

Commercial and Industrial – Borrowers may be subject to industry conditions including decreases in product demand; increases in material or other production costs that cannot be immediately recaptured in the sales or distribution cycle; interest rate increases that could have an adverse impact on profitability; non-payment of credit that has been extended under normal vendor terms for goods sold or services; and interruption related to the importing or exporting of production materials or sold products.

 
49


NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Commercial Real Estate and Multi-Family Residential – Borrowers may be subject to potential adverse market conditions that cause a decrease in market value or lease rates; the potential for environmental impairment from events occurring on subject or neighboring properties; and obsolescence in location or function. Multi-Family Residential is also subject to adverse market conditions associated with a change in governmental or personal funding sources for tenants; over supply of units in a specific region; a shift in population; and reputational risks. Construction and Land Development risks include slower absorption than anticipated on speculative projects; deterioration in market conditions that may impact a project’s value; unforeseen costs not considered in the original construction budget; or any other factors that may impact the completion or success of the project.
 
 
Agri-business and Agricultural – Borrowers may be subject to adverse market or weather conditions including changes in local or foreign demand; lower yields than anticipated; political or other impact on storage, distribution or use; and exposure to increasing commodity prices which result in higher production, distribution or exporting costs.

Other Commercial – Borrowers may be subject to the uninterrupted flow of funds to states and other political subdivisions for the purpose of debt repayments on loans held by the Bank.

Consumer 1-4 Family Mortgage – Borrowers may be subject to adverse employment conditions in the local economy leading to increased default rates; decreased market values from oversupply in a geographic area; and impact to borrowers’ ability to maintain payments in the event of incremental rate increases on adjustable rate mortgages.

Other Consumer – Borrowers may be subject to adverse employment conditions in the local economy which may lead to higher default rates; and decreases in the value of underlying collateral.

A loan is impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Loans, for which the terms have been modified and a concession has been granted for borrowers experiencing financial difficulties, are considered troubled debt restructurings and classified as impaired and may be either accruing or non-accruing. Nonaccrual troubled debt restructurings follow the same policy as described above for other loans. Impairment for troubled debt restructurings is measured at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s effective rate at inception or at discounted collateral value for collateral dependent loans. Impairment is evaluated individually or in total for smaller-balance loans of similar nature such as all classes of consumer 1-4 family and other consumer loans, and individually for all classes of commercial and industrial, commercial real estate and multi-family, agri-business and agricultural and other commercial loans. The Company analyzes commercial loans individually by classifying the loans as to credit risk. This analysis is performed on a quarterly basis for Special Mention, Substandard and Doubtful grade loans and annually on Pass grade loans over $150,000. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines 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 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. If a loan is impaired, a portion of the allowance may be allocated so that the loan is reported, net, at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s existing rate or at the fair value of collateral less anticipated costs to sell if repayment is expected solely from the collateral. All classes of commercial and industrial, commercial real estate and multifamily residential, agri-business and agricultural, other commercial and consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans that become delinquent beyond 90 days are analyzed and a charge-off is taken when it is determined that the underlying collateral, if any, is not sufficient to offset the indebtedness.

Troubled debt restructured loans are considered for removal from troubled debt restructuring status in the year following modification or at time of subsequent restructuring for loans with cumulative principal forgiveness if the interest rate is considered a market rate at the time of modification and it has been performing according to the terms of the modification for a reasonable period of time long enough to observe an ability to repay under the modified terms. If removed from troubled debt restructuring status, the loan continues to be evaluated for impairment with either the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s effective rate at inception or at discounted collateral value for collateral dependent loans. In addition, troubled debt restructured loans with subsequent modifications that do not have cumulative principal forgiveness are considered for removal from troubled debt restructuring status at the time of the subsequent modification if the following circumstances exist:  (1) at the time of the subsequent restructuring, the borrower is not experiencing financial difficulties; (2) under the terms of the subsequent restructuring agreement no concession has been granted to the borrower; and  (3) the subsequent restructuring agreement includes market terms that are no less favorable than those that would be offered for comparable new debt. Upon meeting these criteria, the loan is no longer individually evaluated for impairment and is no longer disclosed as a troubled debt restructuring.

 
50


NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Investments in Limited Partnerships:

The Company enters into and invests in limited partnerships in order to invest in affordable housing projects for the primary purpose of obtaining available tax benefits. The Company is a limited partner in these investments and, as such, the Company is not involved in the management or operation of such investments. These investments are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting, the Company records its share of the partnership’s earnings or losses in its income statement and adjusts the carrying amount of the investments on the consolidated balance sheet. These investments are evaluated for impairment when events indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The investments recorded at December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $3.4 million and $3.7 million, respectively and are included with other assets in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company also has a commitment to fund an additional $912,000 in one of the limited partnerships, which is included with other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

Foreclosed Assets:

Assets acquired through loan foreclosure are initially recorded at fair value less costs to sell when acquired, establishing a new cost basis. These assets are subsequently accounted for at lower of cost or fair value less estimated costs to sell. If fair value declines, a valuation allowance is recorded through expense. Costs incurred after acquisition are expensed. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the balance of other real estate owned was $210,000 and $284,000 and are included with other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.

Land, Premises and Equipment:

Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method over the useful lives of the assets. Premises assets have useful lives between 5 and 40 years. Equipment assets have useful lives between 3 and 7 years.

Loan Servicing Rights:

Servicing rights are recognized separately when they are acquired through sales of loans. When mortgage loans are sold, servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value with the income statement effect recorded in mortgage banking income. Fair value is based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. All classes of servicing assets are subsequently measured using the amortization method which requires servicing rights to be amortized into noninterest income in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying loans.

Servicing rights are evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the rights as compared to carrying amount. Impairment is determined by stratifying rights into groupings based on predominant risk characteristics, such as loan type, term and interest rate. Any impairment of a grouping is reported as a valuation allowance, to the extent that fair value is less than the carrying amount. If the Company later determines that all or a portion of the impairment no longer exists for a particular grouping, a reduction of the allowance may be recorded as an increase to income. Changes in the valuation allowance are reported with mortgage banking income on the income statement. The fair values of servicing rights are subject to significant fluctuations as a result of changes in estimated and actual prepayment speeds and default rates and losses.

The carrying value of mortgage servicing rights was $2.6 million and $2.4 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Mortgage loans serviced for others are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The unpaid principal balances of these loans were $335.8 million and $330.3 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014. Custodial escrow balances maintained in connection with serviced loans were $1.4 million and $1.3 million at year end 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Servicing fee income/(loss), which is included in loan, insurance and service fees on the income statement, is recorded for fees earned for servicing loans. Fees earned for servicing loans are based on a contractual percentage of the outstanding principal amount of the loan and are recorded as income when earned. The amortization of servicing rights is netted against mortgage banking income. Servicing fees totaled $957,000, $930,000 and $816,000 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Late fees and ancillary fees related to loan servicing are not material.

Transfers of Financial Assets:

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales, when control over the assets has been relinquished. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when the assets have been isolated from the Company, the transferee obtains the right

 
51


NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

(free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets and the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

Mortgage Banking Derivatives:

Commitments to fund mortgage loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of these mortgage loans are accounted for as free standing derivatives. Fair values of these mortgage derivatives are estimated based on changes in mortgage interest rates from the date the interest on the loan is locked. The Company enters into forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans when interest rate locks are entered into, in order to hedge the change in interest rates resulting from its commitments to fund the loans. Changes in fair values of these derivatives are included in mortgage banking income.

Interest Rate Swap Derivatives:

The Company offers a derivative product to certain creditworthy commercial banking customers. This product allows the commercial banking customers to enter into an agreement with the Company to swap a variable rate loan to a fixed rate. These derivative products are designed to reduce, eliminate or modify the borrower's interest rate exposure. The extension of credit incurred in connection with these derivative products is subject to the same approval and underwriting standards as traditional credit products. The Company limits its risk exposure by simultaneously entering into a similar, offsetting swap agreement with a separate, well-capitalized and highly rated counterparty previously approved by the Company’s Asset Liability Committee. By using these interest rate swap arrangements, the Company is also better insulated from the interest rate risk associated with underwriting fixed-rate loans and is better able to meet customer demand for fixed rate loans. These derivative contracts are not designated against specific assets or liabilities and, therefore, do not qualify for hedge accounting. The derivatives are recorded as assets and liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in other income for both the commercial banking customer swaps and the related offsetting swaps. The fair value of the derivative instruments incorporates a consideration of credit risk (in accordance with ASC 820), resulting in some potential volatility in earnings each period.

The notional amount of the combined interest rate swaps with customers and counterparties at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $162.5 million and $162.8 million. The fair value of the interest rate swap asset was $1.7 million and $1.2 million and the fair value of the interest rate swap liability was $1.7 million and $1.2 million, respectively at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Bank Owned Life Insurance:

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company owned $67.6 million and $64.7 million of life insurance policies on certain officers to provide a life insurance benefit for these officers. At December 31, 2015 and 2014 the Company also owned $2.1 million and $1.9 million of variable life insurance on certain officers related to a deferred compensation plan. Bank owned life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, i.e., the cash surrender value adjusted for other changes or other amounts due that are probable at settlement.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets:

All goodwill on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet resulted from business combinations prior to January 1, 2009 and represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of acquired tangible assets and liabilities and identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill is not amortized, but assessed at least annually for impairment and any such impairment will be recognized in the period identified.

FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank Stock:

FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stock are carried at cost in other assets, classified as a restricted security and are periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recoverability of par value. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income.

Repurchase Agreements:

Substantially all repurchase agreement liabilities represent amounts advanced by various customers. Securities are pledged to cover these liabilities, which are not covered by federal deposit insurance.


 
52


NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Long-term Assets:

Premises and equipment, and other long-term assets are reviewed for impairment when events indicate their carrying amount may not be recoverable from future undiscounted cash flows. If impaired, the assets are recorded at fair value.

Benefit Plans:

The Company has a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, which covered substantially all employees until the plan was frozen effective April 1, 2000. Funding of the plan equals or exceeds the minimum funding requirement determined by the actuary. Pension expense is the net of interest cost, return on plan assets and amortization of gains and losses not immediately recognized. Benefits are based on years of service and compensation levels. The Company maintains a 401(k) profit sharing plan for all employees meeting certain age and service requirements. The Company contributions are based upon the percentage of budgeted net income earned during the year. An employee deferred compensation plan is available to certain employees with returns based on investments in mutual funds. The Company maintains a directors’ deferred compensation plan. Effective January 1, 2003, the directors’ deferred compensation plan was amended to restrict the deferral to be in stock only and deferred directors’ fees are included in equity. The Company acquires shares on the open market and records such shares as treasury stock.

Stock Compensation:

Compensation cost is recognized for stock options and restricted stock awards issued to employees, based on the fair value of these awards at the date of grant. A Black-Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock options, while the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant adjusted for the present value of expected dividends is used for restricted stock awards. Compensation cost is recognized over the required service period, generally defined as the vesting period. Certain of the restricted stock awards are performance based, as more fully discussed in Note 15.

Income Taxes:

Annual consolidated federal and state income tax returns are filed by the Company. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined using the liability (or balance sheet) method. Income tax expense is recorded based on the amount of taxes due on its tax return plus net deferred taxes computed based upon the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

 A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is more likely of being realized on examination than not. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded.

The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.

Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments:

Financial instruments include credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and standby letters of credit, issued to meet customer financing needs. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded. The fair value of standby letters of credit is recorded as a liability during the commitment period.

Earnings Per Common Share:

Basic earnings per common share is net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share includes the dilutive effect of additional potential common shares issuable under stock options, stock awards and warrants. Earnings and dividends per share are restated for all stock splits and dividends through the date of issue of the financial statements. The common shares included in treasury stock for 2015 and 2014 include 95,607 and 84,703 shares, respectively, of Company common stock that has been purchased under the directors’ deferred compensation plan described above. Because these shares are held in trust for the participants, they are treated as outstanding when computing the weighted-average common shares outstanding for the calculation of both basic and diluted earnings per share.


 
53


NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Comprehensive Income:

Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale and changes in the funded status of the pension plan, which are also recognized as separate components of equity.

Loss Contingencies:

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

Restrictions on Cash:

The Company was required to have $2.3 million and $9.6 million of cash on hand or on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank to meet regulatory reserve and clearing requirements at year-end 2015 and 2014. The Company met this requirement both years.

Dividend Restriction:

Banking regulations require maintaining certain capital levels and may limit the dividends paid by the Bank to the Company or by the Company to its stockholders. These restrictions currently pose no practical limit on the ability of the Bank or Company to pay dividends at historical levels.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments:

Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in Note 5. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect the estimates.

Operating Segments:

The Company’s chief decision-makers monitor and evaluate financial performance on a Company-wide basis. All of the Company’s financial service operations are similar and considered by management to be aggregated into one reportable operating segment. While the Company has assigned certain management responsibilities by region and business-line, the Company's chief decision-makers monitor and evaluate financial performance on a Company-wide basis. The majority of the Company's revenue is from the business of banking and the Company's assigned regions have similar economic characteristics, products, services and customers. Accordingly, all of the Company’s operations are considered by management to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards:

           In January 2014, the FASB issued updated guidance related to the accounting for investments in qualified affordable housing projects. The amendment permits reporting entities to make an accounting policy election to account for 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). To qualify for the proportional amortization method, all of the following conditions must be met: (1) It is probable that the tax credits allocable to the investor will be available. (2) The investor does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the limited liability entity. (3) Substantially all of the projected benefits are from tax credits and other tax benefits (for example, tax benefits generated from the operating losses of the investment). (4) The investor’s projected yield based solely on the cash flows from the tax credits and other tax benefits is positive. (5) The investor is a limited liability investor in the limited liability entity for both legal and tax purposes, and the investor’s liability is limited to its capital investment. The decision to apply the proportional amortization method of accounting is an accounting policy decision that should be applied consistently to all qualifying affordable housing project investments rather than a decision to be applied to individual investments. For those investments in qualified affordable housing projects not accounted for using the proportional amortization method, the investment should be accounted for as an equity method investment or a cost method investment in accordance with Subtopic 970-323. The new requirements were effective for public companies in fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014. Adopting this standard did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 
54

 
NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

In January 2014, the FASB issued updated guidance related to the reclassification of residential real estate collateralized consumer mortgage loans upon foreclosure. The amendments in this update 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 interim and annual 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 according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction. The new requirements were effective for public companies in fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014. Adopting this standard did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Newly Issued But Not Yet Effective Accounting Standards:

In May 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance related to revenue recognition. This new standard will replace all current U.S. GAAP guidance on this topic and eliminate all industry-specific guidance. The new revenue recognition standard provides a unified model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration for which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This guidance will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018 and can be applied either retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. Management is evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting standard on our financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB amended existing accounting guidance related to the recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. These amendments make targeted improvements to U.S. GAAP as follows:  (1) Require equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. However, an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. (2) Simplify the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. When a qualitative assessment indicates that impairment exists, an entity is required to measure the investment at fair value. (3) Eliminate the requirement to disclose the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost for entities that are not public business entities. (4) Eliminate the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet. (5) Require public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes. (6) Require an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. (7) Require separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (that is, securities or loans and receivable) on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements. (8) Clarify that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. This guidance will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018 and should be applied as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The amendments related to equity securities without readily determinable fair values (including disclosure requirements) should be applied prospectively to equity investments that exist as of the date of adoption. Adopting this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Reclassifications:

Certain amounts appearing in the financial statements and notes thereto for prior periods have been reclassified to conform with the current presentation. The reclassifications had no effect on net income or stockholders’ equity as previously reported.


 
55


NOTE 2 SECURITIES

Information related to the fair value and amortized cost of securities available for sale and the related gross unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31 is provided in the tables below.


         
Gross
   
Gross
       
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Cost
   
Gain
   
Losses
   
Value
 
2015
                       
  U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 988     $ 15     $ 0     $ 1,003  
  U.S. government sponsored agencies
    7,178       19       (77 )     7,120  
  Agency residential mortgage-backed securities
    357,984       5,087       (2,399 )     360,672  
  State and municipal securities
    105,753       3,773       (250 )     109,276  
    Total
  $ 471,903     $ 8,894     $ (2,726 )   $ 478,071  
                                 
2014
                               
  U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 986     $ 18     $ 0     $ 1,004  
  Agency residential mortgage-backed securities
    366,596       7,178       (1,679 )     372,095  
  State and municipal securities
    99,399       3,857       (444 )     102,812  
    Total
  $ 466,981     $ 11,053     $ (2,123 )   $ 475,911  

Information regarding the fair value and amortized cost of available for sale debt securities by maturity as of December 31, 2015 is presented below. Maturity information is based on contractual maturity for all securities other than mortgage-backed securities. Actual maturities of securities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to prepay the obligation without prepayment penalty.


   
Amortized
   
Fair
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Cost
   
Value
 
Due in one year or less
  $ 1,996     $ 2,020  
Due after one year through five years
    21,715       22,411  
Due after five years through ten years
    49,708       51,757  
Due after ten years
    40,500       41,211  
      113,919       117,399  
Mortgage-backed securities
    357,984       360,672  
  Total debt securities
  $ 471,903     $ 478,071  
 
         Security proceeds, gross gains and gross losses for 2015, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Sales of securities available for sale
                 
  Proceeds
  $ 7,787     $ 13,766     $ 29,995  
  Gross gains
    42       3       1,077  
  Gross losses
    0       231       972  

The Company sold two securities with a total book value of $7.7 million and a total fair value of $7.8 million during 2015. The Company sold four securities with a total book value of $14.0 million and a total fair value of $13.8 million during 2014. The remaining gains during 2014 were from calls. The Company sold twelve securities with a total book value of $29.9 million and a total fair value of $30.0 million during 2013. The sales included the four remaining non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities. The remaining gains during 2013 were from calls.

Securities with carrying values of $122.7 million and $202.4 million were pledged as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, as collateral for securities sold under agreements to repurchase, borrowings from the FHLB and for other purposes as permitted or required by law.


 
56


NOTE 2 SECURITIES (continued)

Information regarding securities with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 is presented below. The tables distribute the securities between those with unrealized losses for less than twelve months and those with unrealized losses for twelve months or more.


   
Less than 12 months
   
12 months or more
   
Total
 
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
2015
                                   
U.S. government sponsored agencies
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 3,895     $ (77 )   $ 3,895     $ (77 )
Agency residential mortgage-backed
                                               
  securities
    151,792       (1,521 )     30,116       (878 )     181,908       (2,399 )
State and municipal securities
    11,364       (78 )     8,326       (172 )     19,690       (250 )
  Total temporarily impaired
  $ 163,156     $ (1,599 )   $ 42,337     $ (1,127 )   $ 205,493     $ (2,726 )
                                                 
2014
                                               
Agency residential mortgage-backed
                                               
  securities
  $ 33,420     $ (148 )   $ 102,512     $ (1,531 )   $ 135,932     $ (1,679 )
State and municipal securities
    2,458       (28 )     16,391       (416 )     18,849       (444 )
  Total temporarily impaired
  $ 35,878     $ (176 )   $ 118,903     $ (1,947 )   $ 154,781     $ (2,123 )
 
         The number of securities with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 is presented below.


 
Less than
 
12 months
   
 
12 months
 
or more
 
Total
2015
         
U.S. government sponsored agencies
0
 
1
 
1
Agency residential mortgage-backed securities
46
 
9
 
55
State and municipal securities
21
 
12
 
33
  Total temporarily impaired
67
 
22
 
89
           
2014
         
Agency residential mortgage-backed securities
9
 
27
 
36
State and municipal securities
8
 
29
 
37
  Total temporarily impaired
17
 
56
 
73
 
         There were no debt securities with credit losses recognized in income during 2015, 2014 or 2013.

Ninety-nine percent of the securities are backed by the U.S. government, government agencies, government sponsored agencies or are A-rated or better, except for certain non-local or local municipal securities, which are not rated. For the government, government-sponsored agency and municipal securities, management did not have concerns of credit losses and there was nothing to indicate that full principal will not be received. Management considered the unrealized losses on these securities to be primarily interest rate driven and does not expect material losses given current market conditions unless the securities are sold. However, at this time management does not have the intent to sell and it is more likely than not that it will not be required to sell these securities before the recovery of their amortized cost basis.

The Company does not have a history of actively trading securities, but keeps the securities available for sale should liquidity or other needs develop that would warrant the sale of securities. While these securities are held in the available for sale portfolio, it is management’s current intent and ability to hold them until a recovery in fair value or maturity.


 
57


NOTE 3 LOANS

Total loans outstanding as of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 consisted of the following:


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
 
Commercial and industrial loans:
           
  Working capital lines of credit loans
  $ 581,025     $ 544,043  
  Non-working capital loans
    598,487       491,330  
    Total commercial and industrial loans
    1,179,512       1,035,373  
                 
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
               
  Construction and land development loans
    230,719       156,636  
  Owner occupied loans
    412,026       403,154  
  Nonowner occupied loans
    407,883       394,458  
  Multi-family loans
    79,425       71,811  
    Total commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans
    1,130,053       1,026,059  
                 
Agri-business and agricultural loans:
               
  Loans secured by farmland
    164,375       137,407  
  Loans for agricultural production
    141,719       136,380  
    Total agri-business and agricultural loans
    306,094       273,787  
                 
Other commercial loans
    85,075       75,715  
  Total commercial loans
    2,700,734       2,410,934  
                 
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
               
  Closed end first mortgage loans
    158,062       145,167  
  Open end and junior lien loans
    163,700       150,220  
  Residential construction and land development loans
    9,341       6,742  
    Total consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans
    331,103       302,129  
                 
Other consumer loans
    49,113       49,541  
  Total consumer loans
    380,216       351,670  
  Subtotal
    3,080,950       2,762,604  
Less:  Allowance for loan losses
    (43,610 )     (46,262 )
           Net deferred loan fees
    (21 )     (284 )
Loans, net
  $ 3,037,319     $ 2,716,058  
 
 
The recorded investment in loans does not include accrued interest.

The Company had $301,000 in residential real estate loans in process of foreclosure as of December 31, 2015.

 
58


NOTE 4 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY

The following tables present the activity and balance in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the year ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:


         
Commercial
                                     
         
Real Estate
                                     
   
Commercial
   
and
   
Agri-business
         
Consumer
                   
   
and
   
Multi-family
   
and
   
Other
   
1-4 Family
   
Other
             
(dollars in thousands)
 
Industrial
   
Residential
   
Agricultural
   
Commercial
   
Mortgage
   
Consumer
   
Unallocated
   
Total
 
December 31, 2015
     
Beginning balance
  $ 22,785     $ 14,153     $ 1,790     $ 276     $ 3,459     $ 483     $ 3,316     $ 46,262  
  Provision for loan losses
    (117 )     (673 )     635       420       246       (35 )     (476 )     0  
  Loans charged-off
    (1,320 )     (1,114 )     0       (122 )     (362 )     (255 )     0       (3,173 )
  Recoveries
    216       107       20       0       52       126       0       521  
    Net loans charged-off
    (1,104 )     (1,007 )     20       (122 )     (310 )     (129 )     0       (2,652 )
Ending balance
  $ 21,564     $ 12,473     $ 2,445     $ 574     $ 3,395     $ 319     $ 2,840     $ 43,610  
                                                                 
           
Commercial
                                                 
           
Real Estate
                                                 
   
Commercial
   
and
   
Agri-business
           
Consumer
                         
   
and
   
Multi-family
   
and
   
Other
   
1-4 Family
   
Other
                 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Industrial
   
Residential
   
Agricultural
   
Commercial
   
Mortgage
   
Consumer
   
Unallocated
   
Total
 
December 31, 2014
     
Beginning balance
  $ 21,005     $ 18,556     $ 1,682     $ 391     $ 3,046     $ 608     $ 3,509     $ 48,797  
  Provision for loan losses
    2,307       (2,771 )     88       (115 )     699       (15 )     (193 )     0  
  Loans charged-off
    (1,441 )     (2,560 )     0       0       (439 )     (245 )     0       (4,685 )
  Recoveries
    914       928       20       0       153       135       0       2,150  
    Net loans charged-off
    (527 )     (1,632 )     20       0       (286 )     (110 )     0       (2,535 )
Ending balance
  $ 22,785     $ 14,153     $ 1,790     $ 276     $ 3,459     $ 483     $ 3,316     $ 46,262  
                                                                 
           
Commercial
                                                 
           
Real Estate
                                                 
   
Commercial
   
and
   
Agri-business
           
Consumer
                         
   
and
   
Multi-family
   
and
   
Other
   
1-4 Family
   
Other
                 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Industrial
   
Residential
   
Agricultural
   
Commercial
   
Mortgage
   
Consumer
   
Unallocated
   
Total
 
December 31, 2013
     
Beginning balance
  $ 22,342     $ 20,812     $ 1,403     $ 240     $ 2,682     $ 609     $ 3,357     $ 51,445  
  Provision for loan losses
    (788 )     (564 )     267       151       620       162       152       0  
  Loans charged-off
    (1,062 )     (2,069 )     (200 )     0       (382 )     (339 )     0       (4,052 )
  Recoveries
    513       377       212       0       126       176       0       1,404  
    Net loans charged-off
    (549 )     (1,692 )     12       0       (256 )     (163 )     0       (2,648 )
Ending balance
  $ 21,005     $ 18,556     $ 1,682     $ 391     $ 3,046     $ 608     $ 3,509     $ 48,797  



 
59


NOTE 4 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)

The following tables present balance in the allowance for loan losses and the recorded investment in loans by portfolio segment and based on impairment method as of December 31, 2015 and 2014:


         
Commercial
                                     
         
Real Estate
                                     
   
Commercial
   
and
   
Agri-business
         
Consumer
                   
   
and
   
Multi-family
   
and
   
Other
   
1-4 Family
   
Other
             
(dollars in thousands)
 
Industrial
   
Residential
   
Agricultural
   
Commercial
   
Mortgage
   
Consumer
   
Unallocated
   
Total
 
December 31, 2015
                                               
Allowance for loan losses:
                                               
Ending allowance balance attributable to loans:
                                           
    Individually evaluated for impairment
  $ 2,781     $ 465     $ 0     $ 5     $ 358     $ 50     $ 0     $ 3,659  
    Collectively evaluated for impairment
    18,783       12,008       2,445       569       3,037       269       2,840       39,951  
Total ending allowance balance
  $ 21,564     $ 12,473     $ 2,445     $ 574     $ 3,395     $ 319     $ 2,840     $ 43,610  
                                                                 
Loans:
                                                               
  Loans individually evaluated for impairment
  $ 8,286     $ 9,823     $ 471     $ 12     $ 1,927     $ 60     $ 0     $ 20,579  
  Loans collectively evaluated for impairment
    1,171,407       1,119,150       305,707       85,059       330,072       48,955       0       3,060,350  
Total ending loans balance
  $ 1,179,693     $ 1,128,973     $ 306,178     $ 85,071     $ 331,999     $ 49,015     $ 0     $ 3,080,929  
                                                                 
           
Commercial
                                                 
           
Real Estate
                                                 
   
Commercial
   
and
   
Agri-business
           
Consumer
                         
   
and
   
Multi-family
   
and
   
Other
   
1-4 Family
   
Other
                 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Industrial
   
Residential
   
Agricultural
   
Commercial
   
Mortgage
   
Consumer
   
Unallocated
   
Total
 
December 31, 2014
                                                               
Allowance for loan losses:
                                                               
Ending allowance balance attributable to loans:
                                                         
    Individually evaluated for impairment
  $ 3,306     $ 1,531     $ 14     $ 15     $ 482     $ 73     $ 0     $ 5,421  
    Collectively evaluated for impairment
    19,479       12,622       1,776       261       2,977       410       3,316       40,841  
Total ending allowance balance
  $ 22,785     $ 14,153     $ 1,790     $ 276     $ 3,459     $ 483     $ 3,316     $ 46,262  
                                                                 
Loans:
                                                               
  Loans individually evaluated for impairment
  $ 14,702     $ 13,005     $ 486     $ 30     $ 3,614     $ 127     $ 0     $ 31,964  
  Loans collectively evaluated for impairment
    1,020,897       1,011,858       273,388       75,684       299,189       49,340       0       2,730,356  
Total ending loans balance
  $ 1,035,599     $ 1,024,863     $ 273,874     $ 75,714     $ 302,803     $ 49,467     $ 0     $ 2,762,320  


 
60


NOTE 4 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)

The following table presents loans individually evaluated for impairment by class of loans as of December 31, 2015:


   
Unpaid
         
Allowance for
 
   
Principal
   
Recorded
   
Loan Losses
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Balance
   
Investment
   
Allocated
 
With no related allowance recorded:
                 
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                 
    Working capital lines of credit loans
  $ 20     $ 20     $ 0  
    Non-working capital loans
    2,390       623       0  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
                       
    Owner occupied loans
    3,762       3,223       0  
    Nonowner occupied loans
    4,894       4,898       0  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                       
    Loans secured by farmland
    969       471       0  
  Consumer 1-4 family loans:
                       
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    45       45       0  
With an allowance recorded:
                       
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                       
    Working capital lines of credit loans
    1,318       1,318       535  
    Non-working capital loans
    8,617       6,325       2,246  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
                       
    Construction and land development loans
    364       364       71  
    Owner occupied loans
    949       949       232  
    Multifamily loans
    389       389       162  
  Other commercial loans
    12       12       5  
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
                       
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    1,695       1,629       331  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    253       253       27  
  Other consumer loans
    60       60       50  
Total
  $ 25,737     $ 20,579     $ 3,659  


 
61


NOTE 4 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)

The following table presents loans individually evaluated for impairment by class of loans as of December 31, 2014:


   
Principal
   
Recorded
   
Loan Losses
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Balance
   
Investment
   
Allocated
 
With no related allowance recorded:
                 
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                 
    Working capital lines of credit loans
  $ 21     $ 21     $ 0  
    Non-working capital loans
    1,673       279       0  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
                       
    Construction and land development loans
    526       526       0  
    Owner occupied loans
    554       374       0  
    Nonowner occupied loans
    3,030       3,036       0  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                       
    Loans secured by farmland
    603       283       0  
  Consumer 1-4 family loans:
                       
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    724       712       0  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    317       317       0  
    Residential construction loans
    129       129       0  
  Other consumer loans
    1       1       0  
With an allowance recorded:
                       
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                       
    Working capital lines of credit loans
    1,409       1,408       837  
    Non-working capital loans
    15,557       12,994       2,469  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
                       
    Construction and land development loans
    449       448       107  
    Owner occupied loans
    5,298       5,297       1,213  
    Nonowner occupied loans
    3,324       3,324       211  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                       
    Loans secured by farmland
    381       203       14  
  Other commercial loans
    30       30       15  
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
                       
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    2,505       2,375       474  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    81       81       8  
  Other consumer loans
    126       126       73  
Total
  $ 36,738     $ 31,964     $ 5,421  


 
62


NOTE 4 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)

The following table presents loans individually evaluated for impairment by class of loans as of December 31, 2015:


               
Cash Basis
 
   
Average
   
Interest
   
Interest
 
   
Recorded
   
Income
   
Income
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Investment
   
Recognized
   
Recognized
 
With no related allowance recorded:
                 
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                 
    Working capital lines of credit loans
  $ 21     $ 0     $ 0  
    Non-working capital loans
    619       2       2  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
                       
    Construction and land development loans
    132       0       0  
    Owner occupied loans
    2,336       8       9  
    Nonowner occupied loans
    4,635       105       108  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                       
    Loans secured by farmland
    426       0       0  
  Consumer 1-4 family loans:
                       
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    261       0       0  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    189       0       0  
    Residential construction loans
    11       0       0  
  Other consumer loans
    3       0       0  
With an allowance recorded:
                       
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                       
    Working capital lines of credit loans
    1,133       24       23  
    Non-working capital loans
    8,705       326       333  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
                       
    Construction and land development loans
    382       16       17  
    Owner occupied loans
    3,050       13       13  
    Nonowner occupied loans
    817       0       0  
    Multifamily loans
    32       0       0  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                       
    Loans secured by farmland
    50       0       0  
  Other commercial loans
    3       0       0  
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
                       
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    2,357       60       60  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    82       0       0  
  Other consumer loans
    100       4       4  
Total
  $ 25,344     $ 558     $ 569  



 
63


NOTE 4 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)

The following table presents loans individually evaluated for impairment by class of loans as of December 31, 2014:


               
Cash Basis
 
   
Average
   
Interest
   
Interest
 
   
Recorded
   
Income
   
Income
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Investment
   
Recognized
   
Recognized
 
With no related allowance recorded:
                 
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                 
    Working capital lines of credit loans
  $ 154     $ 1     $ 1  
    Non-working capital loans
    174       1       1  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
                       
    Construction and land development loans
    265       0       0  
    Owner occupied loans
    218       0       0  
    Nonowner occupied loans
    1,019       139       139  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                       
    Loans secured by farmland
    240       0       0  
  Consumer 1-4 family loans:
                       
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    697       0       0  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    210       0       0  
    Residential construction loans
    139       0       0  
  Other consumer loans
    1       0       0  
With an allowance recorded:
                       
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                       
    Working capital lines of credit loans
    1,845       66       57  
    Non-working capital loans
    13,806       513       513  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
                       
    Construction and land development loans
    1,977       45       46  
    Owner occupied loans
    3,416       72       70  
    Nonowner occupied loans
    7,220       0       0  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                       
    Loans secured by farmland
    381       0       0  
  Other commercial loans
    5       0       0  
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
                       
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    2,680       74       77  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    63       0       0  
  Other consumer loans
    98       2       2  
Total
  $ 34,608     $ 913     $ 906  



 
64


NOTE 4 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)

The following table presents loans individually evaluated for impairment by class of loans as of December 31, 2013:


               
Cash Basis
 
   
Average
   
Interest
   
Interest
 
   
Recorded
   
Income
   
Income
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Investment
   
Recognized
   
Recognized
 
With no related allowance recorded:
                 
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                 
    Working capital lines of credit loans
  $ 64     $ 0     $ 0  
    Non-working capital loans
    8       0       0  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
                       
    Owner occupied loans
    482       0       0  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                       
    Loans secured by farmland
    512       0       0  
  Consumer 1-4 family loans:
                       
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    379       0       0  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    35       0       0  
    Residential construction loans
    39       0       0  
  Other consumer loans
    1       0       0  
With an allowance recorded:
                       
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                       
    Working capital lines of credit loans
    2,934       50       52  
    Non-working capital loans
    13,957       540       544  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
                       
    Construction and land development loans
    3,537       84       92  
    Owner occupied loans
    3,771       109       118  
    Nonowner occupied loans
    20,108       337       344  
    Multifamily loans
    48       0       0  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                       
    Loans secured by farmland
    442       0       0  
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
                       
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    2,488       56       68  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    70       0       0  
  Other consumer loans
    90       1       1  
Total
  $ 48,965     $ 1,177     $ 1,219  



 
65


NOTE 4 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)

Nonaccrual loans and loans past due 90 days still on accrual include both smaller balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually classified impaired loans.

The following table presents the aging of the recorded investment in past due loans as of December 31, 2015 by class of loans:


                        30-89    
Greater than
                   
   
Loans Not
   
Days
   
90 Days
         
Total
       
(dollars in thousands)
 
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
Nonaccrual
   
Past Due
   
Total
 
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                                     
    Working capital lines of credit loans
  $ 579,081     $ 350     $ 0     $ 913     $ 1,263     $ 580,344  
    Non-working capital loans
    595,154       0       0       4,195       4,195       599,349  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family
                                               
  residential loans:
                                               
    Construction and land development loans
    230,336       0       0       0       0       230,336  
    Owner occupied loans
    407,229       310       0       4,172       4,482       411,711  
    Nonowner occupied loans
    404,146       423       0       3,000       3,423       407,569  
    Multi-family loans
    79,357       0       0       0       0       79,357  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                                               
    Loans secured by farmland
    163,911       0       0       471       471       164,382  
    Loans for agricultural production
    141,706       90       0       0       90       141,796  
  Other commercial loans
    85,071       0       0       0       0       85,071  
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
                                               
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    156,525       1,187       0       49       1,236       157,761  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    164,582       83       0       253       336       164,918  
    Residential construction loans
    9,320       0       0       0       0       9,320  
  Other consumer loans
    48,687       328       0       0       328       49,015  
Total
  $ 3,065,105     $ 2,771     $ 0     $ 13,053     $ 15,824     $ 3,080,929  

The following table presents the aging of the recorded investment in past due loans as of December 31, 2014 by class of loans:


                         30-89    
Greater than
                   
   
Loans Not
   
Days
   
90 Days
         
Total
       
(dollars in thousands)
 
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
Nonaccrual
   
Past Due
   
Total
 
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                                     
    Working capital lines of credit loans
  $ 543,613     $ 0     $ 0     $ 632     $ 632     $ 544,245  
    Non-working capital loans
    487,655       0       101       3,598       3,699       491,354  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family
                                               
  residential loans:
                                               
    Construction and land development loans
    155,711       0       0       526       526       156,237  
    Owner occupied loans
    399,028       800       0       3,049       3,849       402,877  
    Nonowner occupied loans
    390,394       31       0       3,629       3,660       394,054  
    Multi-family loans
    71,695       0       0       0       0       71,695  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                                               
    Loans secured by farmland
    136,923       0       0       485       485       137,408  
    Loans for agricultural production
    136,466       0       0       0       0       136,466  
  Other commercial loans
    75,684       0       0       30       30       75,714  
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
                                               
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    142,615       1,198       20       1,051       2,269       144,884  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    150,551       235       9       398       642       151,193  
    Residential construction loans
    6,597       0       0       129       129       6,726  
  Other consumer loans
    49,308       108       0       51       159       49,467  
Total
  $ 2,746,240     $ 2,372     $ 130     $ 13,578     $ 16,080     $ 2,762,320  


 
66


NOTE 4 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)

Troubled Debt Restructurings:

Troubled debt restructured loans are included in the totals for impaired loans. The Company has allocated $2.3 million and $3.4 million of specific reserves to customers whose loan terms have been modified in troubled debt restructurings as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. The Company is not committed to lend additional funds to debtors whose loans have been modified in a troubled debt restructuring.


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
 
Accruing troubled debt restructured loans
  $ 6,260     $ 16,492  
Nonaccrual troubled debt restructured loans
    10,914       9,161  
Total troubled debt restructured loans
  $ 17,174     $ 25,653  
          
        During the year ending December 31, 2015, certain loans were modified as troubled debt restructurings. The modified terms of these loans include one or a combination of the following: inadequate compensation for the terms of the restructure or renewal; a modification of the repayment terms which delays principal repayment for at least one year; or renewal terms offered to borrowers in financial distress where no additional credit enhancements were obtained at the time of renewal.

Renewal terms were offered to three borrowers under financial duress which did not require additional compensation or consideration, and the terms offered would not have been readily available in the marketplace for loans bearing similar risk profiles. In these instances, it was determined that a concession had been granted. It is difficult to quantify the concessions granted due to an absence of readily available market terms to be used for comparison. Two were to commercial and industrial working capital loans with recorded investments of $379,000 and $185,000 and the other was to a borrower for a commercial real estate building where the collateral value and cash flows from the company occupying the building did not support the loan with a recorded investment of $788,000.

Additional concessions were granted to borrowers during 2015 with previously identified troubled debt restructured loans.  One loan was for a commercial real estate building where the collateral value and cash flows from the company occupying the building did not support the loan with a recorded investment of $131,000.  Another was to a borrower engaged in land development, where the aggregate recorded investment totaled $238,000. Also, an additional concession was granted to a borrower for a commercial and industrial working capital loan with a recorded investment of $2.5 million. These concessions are not included in table below.

The following table presents loans by class modified as new troubled debt restructurings that occurred during the year ending December 31, 2015 not already noted above:


         
Modified Repayment Terms
 
         
Pre-Modification
   
Post-Modification
         
Extension
 
         
Outstanding
   
Outstanding
         
Period or
 
   
Number of
   
Recorded
   
Recorded
   
Number of
   
Range
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Loans
   
Investment
   
Investment
   
Loans
   
(in months)
 
Troubled Debt Restructurings
                             
Commercial and industrial loans:
                             
  Working capital lines of credit loans
    2     $ 564     $ 564              
  Non-working capital loans
    1       783       783       1       12  
Commercial real estate and multi-
                                       
  family residential loans:
                                       
  Owner occupied loans
    2       855       855       1       6  
Consumer 1-4 family loans:
                                       
  Closed end first mortgage loans
    1       65       65       1       208  
Total
    6     $ 2,267     $ 2,267       3       6-208  
 
        For the period ending December 31, 2015, the commercial and industrial troubled debt restructurings described above increased the allowance for loan losses by $74,000, the commercial real estate and multi-family residential loan troubled debt restructurings decreased the allowance for loan losses by $18,000 and the consumer 1-4 family loan troubled debt restructuring described above increased the allowance by $9,000.

No charge-offs resulted from any troubled debt restructurings described above during the period ending December 31, 2015.

 
67


NOTE 4 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)

During the year ending December 31, 2014 certain loans were modified as troubled debt restructurings. The modified terms of these loans include one or a combination of the following: inadequate compensation for the terms of the restructure or renewal; a modification of the repayment terms which delays principal repayment for some period; or renewal terms offered to borrowers in financial distress where no additional credit enhancements were obtained at the time of renewal.

There were renewal terms offered to one borrower under financial duress which did not require additional compensation or consideration, and the terms offered would not have been readily available in the marketplace for loans bearing similar risk profiles. In this instance, it was determined that a concession had been granted. It is difficult to quantify the concession granted due to an absence of readily available market terms to be used for comparison. The borrower engaged in retail sales, where the collateral and cash flow did not support the loan with a recorded investment of $159,000.

Additional concessions were granted to borrowers with previously identified troubled debt restructured loans during 2014. One loan with a balance of $173,000 was rewritten under terms that are not readily available in the marketplace. Terms in the current loan agreement include an amortization period that exceeds those of similar type loans for a borrower enduring financial hardship. This concession was granted without additional compensation. Another concession included further forgiveness of principal if the terms of the restructured loan are met during the life of the loan. This borrower had a recorded investment of $2.7 million at the time of the modification. These concessions are not included in table below.

Renegotiated interest rates include loans with a reduction in rate for the remaining life of the loan. There were modifications to borrowers at rates that were not readily available in the marketplace that were considered concessions.

The following table presents loans by class modified as new troubled debt restructurings that occurred during the year ending December 31, 2014:


   
All Modifications
   
Interest Rate Reductions
   
Modified Repayment Terms
 
         
Pre-Modification
   
Post-Modification
                           
Extension
 
         
Outstanding
   
Outstanding
         
Interest at
   
Interest at
         
Period or
 
   
Number of
   
Recorded
   
Recorded
   
Number of
   
Pre-Modification
   
Post-Modification
   
Number of
   
Range
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Loans
   
Investment
   
Investment
   
Loans
   
Rate
   
Rate
   
Loans
   
(in months)
 
Troubled Debt Restructurings
                                               
Commercial and industrial loans:
                                               
  Non-working capital loans
    2     $ 433     $ 433       0     $ 0     $ 0       2       12-15  
Commercial real estate and multi-
                                                         
  family residential loans:
                                                               
  Owner occupied loans
    3       2,639       2,710       1       89       95       2       12-24  
Total
    5     $ 3,072     $ 3,143       1     $ 89     $ 95       4       12-24  
 
        For period ending December 31, 2014, the commercial and industrial troubled debt restructurings described above increased the allowance for loan losses by $205,000 and the commercial real estate and multi-family residential loan troubled debt restructuring described above increased the allowance for loan losses by $171,000.

No charge-offs resulted from any troubled debt restructurings described above during the period ending December 31, 2014.

During the year ending December 31, 2013 certain loans were modified as troubled debt restructurings. The modified terms of these loans include one or a combination of the following: inadequate compensation for the terms of the restructure or renewal; a reduction in the interest rate on a loan to one that would not be readily available in the marketplace for borrowers with a similar risk profile; a modification of the repayment terms which delays principal repayment for some period; or renewal terms offered to borrowers in financial distress where no additional credit enhancements were obtained at the time of renewal.

There were renewal terms offered on various loans to borrowers under financial duress which did not require additional compensation or consideration, and the terms offered would not have been readily available in the marketplace for loans bearing similar risk profiles. In these instances, it was determined that a concession had been granted. It is difficult to quantify the concession granted due to an absence of readily available market terms to be used for comparison. The renewals during the first three months of 2013 were to one borrower engaged in land development, where the aggregate recorded investment totaled $763,000. No renewals during the three months ended June 30, 2013 were determined to be troubled debt restructures. During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Bank renegotiated terms on a loan totaling $75,000 where the collateral and cash flow did not support the loan. During the three months ending December 31, 2013 one loan totaling $524,000 was granted an extension although the borrower was not in complete compliance with the terms of the previous agreements financial reporting requirements.

Renegotiated interest rates include loans with a reduction in rate for the remaining life of the loan.


 
68


NOTE 4 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)

The following table presents loans by class modified as new troubled debt restructurings that occurred during the period ending December 31, 2013:


   
All Modifications
   
Interest Rate Reductions
 
         
Pre-Modification
   
Post-Modification
                   
         
Outstanding
   
Outstanding
         
Interest at
   
Interest at
 
   
Number of
   
Recorded
   
Recorded
   
Number of
   
Pre-Modification
   
Post-Modification
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Loans
   
Investment
   
Investment
   
Loans
   
Rate
   
Rate
 
Troubled Debt Restructurings
                                   
Commercial real estate and multi-
                               
  family residential loans:
                                   
  Construction and land
                                   
    development loans
    6     $ 2,197     $ 2,197       6     $ 84     $ 63  
  Owner occupied loans
    1       524       524       0       0       0  
Consumer 1-4 family loans:
                                               
  Closed end first mortgage loans
    4       317       327       2       142       158  
Total
    11     $ 3,038     $ 3,048       8     $ 226     $ 221  

   
Principal and Interest Forgiveness
 
         
Principal at
   
Principal at
   
Interest at
   
Interest at
 
   
Number of
   
Pre-Modification
   
Post-Modification
   
Pre-Modification
   
Post-Modification
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Loans
   
Rate
   
Rate
   
Rate
   
Rate
 
Troubled Debt Restructurings
                             
Consumer 1-4 family loans:
                             
  Closed end first mortgage loans
    2     $ 156     $ 161     $ 164     $ 149  
Total
    2     $ 156     $ 161     $ 164     $ 149  
 
                For the period ending December 31, 2013, the commercial real estate and multi-family residential loan troubled debt restructurings described above decreased the allowance for loan losses by $405,000 and the consumer 1-4 family loan troubled debt restructurings described above increased the allowance for loan losses by $56,000. Five of the commercial real estate and multi-family residential loan that decreased the provision during 2013 had modifications during the first month of the year and had improved their positions during the remainder of the year, which warranted the decrease in allocation.

One of the commercial real estate and multi-family residential loan troubled debt restructurings described above had a charge-off of $365,000 during the period ending December 31, 2013.

The following table presents loans by class modified as troubled debt restructurings for which there was a payment default within twelve months following the modification during the period ending December 31:


   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
   
Number of
   
Recorded
   
Number of
   
Recorded
   
Number of
   
Recorded
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Loans
   
Investment
   
Loans
   
Investment
   
Loans
   
Investment
 
Troubled Debt Restructurings that Subsequently Defaulted
                                   
Commercial and industrial loans:
                                   
  Non-working capital loans
    1     $ 755       0     $ 0       0     $ 0  
Commercial real estate and multi-family residential loans:
                                               
  Construction and land development loans
    0       0       0       0       1       763  
Total
    1     $ 755       0     $ 0       1     $ 763  
 
        A loan is considered to be in payment default once it is 30 days contractually past due under the modified terms.

The non-working capital troubled debt restructurings that subsequently defaulted, as described above, increased the allowance for loan losses by $76,000 and did not result in any charge-offs during the period ending December 31, 2015.

The construction and land development troubled debt restructurings that subsequently defaulted, as described above, decreased the allowance for loan losses by $170,000 and did not result in any charge-offs during the period ending December 31, 2013.

During the first quarter of 2014 the Company sold, to an independent party, three loans totaling $6.7 million, representing a single commercial relationship. The three loans were accounted for as troubled debt restructurings. The Company received proceeds of $4.3 million and recognized charge-offs of $2.4 million as a result of the sale. The amount charged-off had previously been reserved for by the Company.

 
69


NOTE 4 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)

Credit Quality Indicators:

The Company categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt such as: current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information, and current economic trends, among other factors. The Company analyzes commercial loans individually by classifying the loans as to credit risk. This analysis is performed on a quarterly basis for Special Mention, Substandard and Doubtful grade loans and annually on Pass grade loans over $150,000.

The Company uses the following definitions for risk ratings:

Special Mention. Loans classified as Special Mention have a potential weakness that deserves management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of the institution’s credit position at some future date.

Substandard. Loans classified as Substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized as the distinct possibility that the institution will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

Doubtful. Loans classified as Doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as Substandard, with the added characteristics that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.

Loans not meeting the criteria above that are analyzed individually as part of the above-described process are considered to be Pass rated loans with the exception of consumer troubled debt restructurings which are evaluated and listed with Substandard commercial grade loans and consumer nonaccrual loans which are evaluated individually and listed with Not Rated loans. Loans listed as Not Rated are consumer loans or commercial loans with consumer characteristics included in groups of homogenous loans which are analyzed for credit quality indicators utilizing delinquency status. As of December 31, 2015, and based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk category of loans by class of loans is as follows:


         
Special
               
Not
       
(dollars in thousands)
 
Pass
   
Mention
   
Substandard
   
Doubtful
   
Rated
   
Total
 
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                                   
    Working capital lines of credit loans
  $ 538,899     $ 32,601     $ 8,844     $ 0     $ 0     $ 580,344  
    Non-working capital loans
    549,771       35,910       10,566       0       3,102       599,349  
  Commercial real estate and multi-
                                               
    family residential loans:
                                               
    Construction and land
                                               
      development loans
    227,996       2,340       0       0       0       230,336  
    Owner occupied loans
    378,847       23,522       9,342       0       0       411,711  
    Nonowner occupied loans
    394,387       10,953       2,229       0       0       407,569  
    Multi-family loans
    78,968       0       389       0       0       79,357  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                                               
    Loans secured by farmland
    163,911       0       471       0       0       164,382  
    Loans for agricultural production
    141,796       0       0       0       0       141,796  
  Other commercial loans
    85,056       0       12       0       3       85,071  
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
                                         
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    43,231       126       1,769       0       112,635       157,761  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    8,373       0       1,616       0       154,929       164,918  
    Residential construction loans
    0       0       0       0       9,320       9,320  
  Other consumer loans
    13,940       0       60       0       35,015       49,015  
Total
  $ 2,625,175     $ 105,452     $ 35,298     $ 0     $ 315,004     $ 3,080,929  


 
70


NOTE 4 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES AND CREDIT QUALITY (continued)

As of December 31, 2014, and based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk category of loans by class of loans is as follows:


         
Special
               
Not
       
(dollars in thousands)
 
Pass
   
Mention
   
Substandard
   
Doubtful
   
Rated
   
Total
 
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                                   
    Working capital lines of credit loans
  $ 504,806     $ 28,485     $ 10,343     $ 611     $ 0     $ 544,245  
    Non-working capital loans
    436,735       31,781       20,324       0       2,514       491,354  
  Commercial real estate and multi-
                                               
    family residential loans:
                                               
    Construction and land
                                               
      development loans
    150,442       1,033       4,762       0       0       156,237  
    Owner occupied loans
    369,520       20,960       12,397       0       0       402,877  
    Nonowner occupied loans
    375,702       12,512       5,840       0       0       394,054  
    Multi-family loans
    71,695       0       0       0       0       71,695  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                                               
    Loans secured by farmland
    136,923       0       485       0       0       137,408  
    Loans for agricultural production
    136,466       0       0       0       0       136,466  
  Other commercial loans
    75,680       0       30       0       4       75,714  
Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
                                         
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    39,156       0       2,199       0       103,529       144,884  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    8,400       291       2,015       0       140,487       151,193  
    Residential construction loans
    0       0       0       0       6,726       6,726  
  Other consumer loans
    15,879       290       75       0       33,223       49,467  
Total
  $ 2,321,404     $ 95,352     $ 58,470     $ 611     $ 286,483     $ 2,762,320  

NOTE 5 FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values:

Level 1
  
Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.
 
Level 2
  
Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
 
Level 3
 
Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

The Company used the following methods and significant assumptions to estimate the fair value of each type of financial instrument:

Securities:  Securities available for sale are valued primarily by a third party pricing service. The fair values of securities available for sale are determined on a recurring basis by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges (Level 1 inputs) or pricing models which utilize significant observable inputs such as matrix pricing. This is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities (Level 2 inputs). These models utilize the market approach with standard inputs that include, but are not limited to benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data. For certain municipal securities that are not rated and observable inputs about the specific issuer are not available, fair values are estimated using observable data from other municipal securities presumed to be similar or other market data on other non-rated municipal securities (Level 3 inputs).

The Company’s Controlling Department, which is responsible for all accounting and SEC compliance, and the Company’s Treasury Department, which is responsible for investment portfolio management and asset/liability modeling, are the two areas that determine the Company’s valuation policies and procedures. Both of these areas report directly to the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. For assets or liabilities that may be considered for Level 3 fair value measurement on a recurring basis, these two departments and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer determine the appropriate level of the assets or liabilities under consideration. If there are assets or liabilities that are determined to be Level 3 by this group, the Risk Management Committee of the Company and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors are made aware of such assets at their next scheduled meeting.

 
71

NOTE 5 FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)

Securities pricing is obtained from a third party pricing service and a representative sample of security prices is tested at least annually against prices from another third party provider and reviewed with a market value price tolerance variance of +/-3%. If any securities fall outside the tolerance threshold, they are reviewed in more detail to determine why the variance exists. The percentage deviation of the market value exceptions to the total market value of the sample is applied to the entire portfolio to determine if the exceptions are material and additional security prices need to be tested. Changes in market value are reviewed monthly in aggregate yield by security type and any material differences are reviewed to determine why they exist. At least annually, the pricing methodology of the pricing service is received and reviewed to support the fair value levels used by the Company. A detailed pricing evaluation is requested and reviewed on any security determined to be fair valued using unobservable inputs by the pricing service.

Mortgage banking derivative:  The fair values of mortgage banking derivatives are based on observable market data as of the measurement date (Level 2).

Interest rate swap derivatives:  Our derivatives are traded in an over-the-counter market where quoted market prices are not always available. Therefore, the fair values of derivatives are determined using quantitative models that utilize multiple market inputs. The inputs will vary based on the type of derivative, but could include interest rates, prices and indices to generate continuous yield or pricing curves, prepayment rates, and volatility factors to value the position. The majority of market inputs are actively quoted and can be validated through external sources, including brokers, market transactions and third-party pricing services. The fair value of interest rate swap derivatives is determined by pricing or valuation models using observable market data as of the measurement date (Level 2).

Impaired loans:  Impaired loans with specific allocations of the allowance for loan losses are generally based on the fair value of the underlying collateral if repayment is expected solely from the collateral. Fair value is determined using several methods. Generally, the fair value of real estate is based on appraisals by qualified third party appraisers. These appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including comparable sales and the income approach. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available. Such adjustments are usually significant and result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value. In addition, the Company’s management routinely applies internal discount factors to the value of appraisals used in the fair value evaluation of impaired loans. The deductions to the appraisals take into account changing business factors and market conditions, as well as value impairment in cases where the appraisal date predates a likely change in market conditions. Commercial real estate is generally discounted from its appraised value by 0-50% with the higher discounts applied to real estate that is determined to have a thin trading market or to be specialized collateral. In addition to real estate, the Company’s management evaluates other types of collateral as follows: (a) raw and finished inventory is discounted from its cost or book value by 35-65%, depending on the marketability of the goods (b) finished goods are generally discounted by 30-60%, depending on the ease of marketability, cost of transportation or scope of use of the finished good (c) work in process inventory is typically discounted by 50-100%, depending on the length of manufacturing time, types of components used in the completion process, and the breadth of the user base (d) equipment is valued at a percentage of depreciated book value or recent appraised value, if available, and is typically discounted at 30-70% after various considerations including age and condition of the equipment, marketability, breadth of use, and whether the equipment includes unique components or add-ons; and (e) marketable securities are discounted by 10-30%, depending on the type of investment, age of valuation report and general market conditions. This methodology is based on a market approach and typically results in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value.

Mortgage servicing rights:  As of December 31, 2015, the fair value of the Company’s Level 3 servicing assets for residential mortgage loans (“MSRs”) was $3.4 million, none of which are currently impaired and therefore are carried at amortized cost. These residential mortgage loans have a weighted average interest rate of 3.95%, a weighted average maturity of 19 years and are secured by homes generally within the Company’s market area of Northern Indiana. A valuation model is used to estimate fair value by stratifying the portfolios on the basis of certain risk characteristics, including loan type and interest rate. Impairment is estimated based on an income approach. The inputs used include estimates of prepayment speeds, discount rate, cost to service, escrow account earnings, contractual servicing fee income, ancillary income, late fees, and float income. The most significant assumption used to value MSRs is prepayment rate. Prepayment rates are estimated based on published industry consensus prepayment rates. The most significant unobservable assumption is the discount rate. At December 31, 2015, the constant prepayment speed (“PSA”) used was 181 and discount rate used was 9.4%. At December 31, 2014, the PSA used was 212 and the discount rate used was 9.4%.

At December 31, 2015, the sensitivity of the current fair value of MSRs to an immediate 10% and 20% adverse change in the PSA and discount rate was ($131,000) and ($252,000), respectively for the PSA, and was ($104,000) and ($203,000), respectively for the discount rate. These sensitivities are hypothetical and should not be relied upon. As the figures indicate, changes in value based on a 10% and 20% variation in assumptions generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in assumption to the change in value may not be linear. Also, in this example, the effect of a variation in a particular assumption on the value of the MSR is calculated without changing any other assumption; however, in reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another (for example, increases in market interest rates may result in lower prepayments), which might magnify or counteract the sensitivities.

NOTE 5 FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)

Other real estate owned:  Nonrecurring adjustments to certain commercial and residential real estate properties classified as other real estate owned are measured at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. Fair values are generally based on third party appraisals of the property and are reviewed by the Company’s internal appraisal officer. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable properties used to determine value. Such adjustments are usually significant and result in a Level 3 classification. In addition, the Company’s management may apply discount factors to the appraisals to take into account changing business factors and market conditions, as well as value impairment in cases where the appraisal date predates a likely change in market conditions. In cases where the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, less costs to sell, an impairment loss is recognized.

Real estate mortgage loans held for sale:  Real estate mortgage loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value, as determined by outstanding commitments, from third party investors, and result in a Level 2 classification.

The table below presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:


   
December 31, 2015
 
   
Fair Value Measurements Using
   
Assets
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
at Fair Value
 
Assets
                 
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 1,003     $ 0     $ 0     $ 1,003  
U.S. government sponsored agency securities
    0       7,120       0       7,120  
Mortgage-backed securities
    0       360,672       0       360,672  
State and municipal securities
    0       108,725       551       109,276  
Total Securities
    1,003       476,517       551       478,071  
Mortgage banking derivative
    0       165       0       165  
Interest rate swap derivative
    0       1,732       0       1,732  
Total assets
  $ 1,003     $ 478,414     $ 551     $ 479,968  
                                 
Liabilities
                               
Mortgage banking derivative
    0       1       0       1  
Interest rate swap derivative
    0       1,748       0       1,748  
Total liabilities
  $ 0     $ 1,749     $ 0     $ 1,749  


                         
   
December 31, 2014
 
   
Fair Value Measurements Using
   
Assets
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
at Fair Value
 
Assets
                 
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 1,004     $ 0     $ 0     $ 1,004  
Mortgage-backed securities
    0       372,095       0       372,095  
State and municipal securities
    0       101,962       850       102,812  
Total Securities
    1,004       474,057       850       475,911  
Mortgage banking derivative
    0       96       0       96  
Interest rate swap derivative
    0       1,191       0       1,191  
Total assets
  $ 1,004     $ 475,344     $ 850     $ 477,198  
                                 
Liabilities
                               
Mortgage banking derivative
    0       11       0       11  
Interest rate swap derivative
    0       1,242       0       1,242  
Total liabilities
  $ 0     $ 1,253     $ 0     $ 1,253  
 
        There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during 2015 and 2014.


 
73


NOTE 5 FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)

The table below presents a reconciliation of all assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014:


             
   
State and Municipal Securities
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
 
Balance of recurring Level 3 assets at January 1
  $ 850     $ 975  
  Transfers into Level 3
    0       0  
  Changes in fair value of securities
               
    included in other comprehensive income
    (4 )     0  
  Principal payments
    (295 )     (125 )
  Sales
    0       0  
Balance of recurring Level 3 assets at December 31
  $ 551     $ 850  

The state and municipal securities measured at fair value included below are nonrated Indiana municipal revenue bonds and are not actively traded.

Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
 
             
Range of
 
   
Fair Value at
       
Inputs
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
12/31/2015
 
Valuation Technique
Unobservable Input
 
(Average)
 
                 
State and municipal securities
  $ 551  
Price to type, par, call
Discount to benchmark index
    0-5 %
                  (2.82 %)


Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
 
             
Range of
 
   
Fair Value at
       
Inputs
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
12/31/2014
 
Valuation Technique
Unobservable Input
 
(Average)
 
                 
State and municipal securities
  $ 850  
Price to type, par, call
Discount to benchmark index
    0-6 %
                  (2.49 %)

The primary methodology used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s state and municipal securities classified as Level 3 is a discount to the AAA municipal benchmark index. Significant increases or (decreases) in this index as well as the degree to which the security differs in ratings, coupon, call and duration will result in a higher or (lower) fair value measurement for those securities that are not callable. For those securities that are continuously callable, a slight premium to par is used.


 
74


NOTE 5 FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)

The table below presents the balances of assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis:


   
December 31, 2015
 
   
Fair Value Measurements Using
   
Assets
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
at Fair Value
 
Assets
                 
Impaired loans:
                       
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                       
    Working capital lines of credit loans
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 753     $ 753  
    Non-working capital loans
    0       0       2,083       2,083  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family
                               
  residential loans:
                               
    Construction and land development loans
    0       0       293       293  
    Owner occupied loans
    0       0       717       717  
    Multifamily loans
    0       0       227       227  
  Other commercial loans
    0       0       7       7  
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
                               
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    0       0       245       245  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    0       0       226       226  
Total impaired loans
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 4,551     $ 4,551  
Other real estate owned
    0       0       75       75  
Total assets
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 4,626     $ 4,626  

The table below presents the balances of assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis:


   
December 31, 2014
 
   
Fair Value Measurements Using
   
Assets
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
at Fair Value
 
Assets
                 
Impaired loans:
                       
  Commercial and industrial loans:
                       
    Working capital lines of credit loans
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 531     $ 531  
    Non-working capital loans
    0       0       2,257       2,257  
  Commercial real estate and multi-family
                               
  residential loans:
                               
    Construction and land development loans
    0       0       341       341  
    Owner occupied loans
    0       0       4,084       4,084  
    Nonowner occupied loans
    0       0       3,113       3,113  
  Agri-business and agricultural loans:
                               
    Loans secured by farmland
    0       0       189       189  
  Other commercial loans
    0       0       15       15  
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage loans:
                               
    Closed end first mortgage loans
    0       0       399       399  
    Open end and junior lien loans
    0       0       73       73  
  Other consumer loans
    0       0       29       29  
Total impaired loans
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 11,031     $ 11,031  
Other real estate owned
    0       0       75       75  
Total assets
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 11,106     $ 11,106  

 
75


NOTE 5 FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)

The following table presents the valuation methodology and unobservable inputs for Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at December 31, 2015:
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Fair Value
 
Valuation Methodology
Unobservable Inputs
 
Average
   
Range of Inputs
 
Impaired loans:
                     
  Commercial and industrial
  $ 2,836  
Collateral based
Discount to reflect
    46 %     (5% - 100 %)
         
measurements
current market conditions
               
           
and ultimate collectability
               
Impaired loans:
                           
  Commercial real estate
    1,237  
Collateral based
Discount to reflect
    31 %     (19% - 53 %)
         
measurements
current market conditions
               
           
and ultimate collectability
               
Impaired loans:
                           
  Other commercial
    7  
Collateral based
Discount to reflect
    43 %        
         
measurements
current market conditions
               
           
and ultimate collectability
               
                             
Impaired loans:
                           
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage
    471  
Collateral based
Discount to reflect
    26 %     (11% - 42 %)
         
measurements
current market conditions
               
           
and ultimate collectability
               
                             
Other real estate owned
    75  
Appraisals
Discount to reflect
    49 %        
           
current market conditions
               


The following table presents the valuation methodology and unobservable inputs for Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at December 31, 2014:


(dollars in thousands)
 
Fair Value
 
Valuation Methodology
Unobservable Inputs
 
Average
   
Range of Inputs
 
Impaired loans:
                     
  Commercial and industrial
  $ 2,788  
Collateral based
Discount to reflect
    40 %     (11% - 68 %)
         
measurements
current market conditions
               
           
and ultimate collectability
               
Impaired loans:
                           
  Commercial real estate
    7,538  
Collateral based
Discount to reflect
    25 %     (6% - 50 %)
         
measurements
current market conditions
               
           
and ultimate collectability
               
Impaired loans:
                           
  Agri-business and agricultural
    189  
Collateral based
Discount to reflect
    7 %        
         
measurements
current market conditions
               
           
and ultimate collectability
               
                             
Impaired loans:
                           
  Other commercial
    15  
Collateral based
Discount to reflect
    50 %        
         
measurements
current market conditions
               
           
and ultimate collectability
               
                             
Impaired loans:
                           
  Consumer 1-4 family mortgage
    472  
Collateral based
Discount to reflect
    32 %     (3% - 77 %)
         
measurements
current market conditions
               
           
and ultimate collectability
               
Impaired loans:
                           
  Other consumer
    29  
Collateral based
Discount to reflect
    43 %     (33% - 50 %)
         
measurements
current market conditions
               
           
and ultimate collectability
               
                             
Other real estate owned
    75  
Appraisals
Discount to reflect
    49 %        
           
current market conditions
               


NOTE 5 FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)

Impaired loans, which are measured for impairment using the fair value of the collateral for collateral dependent loans, had a gross carrying amount of $6.9 million, with a valuation allowance of $2.4 million at December 31, 2015, resulting in a net reduction in provision for loan losses of $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2014, impaired loans had a gross carrying amount of $14.5 million, with a valuation allowance of $3.5 million, resulting in a net reduction in provision for loans losses of $2.8 million for the year ending December 31, 2014.

Other real estate owned measured at fair value less costs to sell, at December 31, 2015 and 2014 had a net carrying amount of $75,000, which is made up of the outstanding balance of $147,000, net of a valuation allowance of $72,000, which was all written down during 2012.

The following table contains the estimated fair values and the related carrying values of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2015. Items which are not financial instruments are not included.


   
December 31, 2015
 
   
Carrying
   
Estimated Fair Value
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Value
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Financial Assets:
                             
 Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 80,674     $ 79,074     $ 1,602     $ 0     $ 80,676  
 Securities available for sale
    478,071       1,003       476,517       551       478,071  
 Real estate mortgages held for sale
    3,294       0       3,340       0       3,340  
 Loans, net
    3,037,319       0       0       3,029,533       3,029,533  
 Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    4,248       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  
 Federal Reserve Bank stock
    3,420       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  
 Accrued interest receivable
    9,462       3       2,301       7,158       9,462  
Financial Liabilities:
                                       
 Certificates of deposit
    (997,514 )     0       (1,002,452 )     0       (1,002,452 )
 All other deposits
    (2,185,907 )     (2,185,907 )     0       0       (2,185,907 )
 Securities sold under agreements
                                       
  to repurchase
    (69,622 )     0       (69,622 )     0       (69,622 )
 Other short-term borrowings
    (70,000 )     0       (70,003 )     0       (70,003 )
 Long-term borrowings
    (34 )     0       (37 )     0       (37 )
 Subordinated debentures
    (30,928 )     0       0       (31,211 )     (31,211 )
 Standby letters of credit
    (381 )     0       0       (381 )     (381 )
 Accrued interest payable
    (3,773 )     (86 )     (3,684 )     (3 )     (3,773 )

 
77


NOTE 5 FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)

The following table contains the estimated fair values and the related carrying values of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2014. Items which are not financial instruments are not included.


   
Carrying
   
Estimated Fair Value
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Value
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Financial Assets:
                             
 Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 90,638     $ 88,663     $ 1,975     $ 0     $ 90,638  
 Securities available for sale
    475,911       1,004       474,057       850       475,911  
 Real estate mortgages held for sale
    1,585       0       1,612       0       1,612  
 Loans, net
    2,716,058       0       0       2,698,767       2,698,767  
 Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    5,993       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  
 Federal Reserve Bank stock
    3,420       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  
 Accrued interest receivable
    8,662       3       2,312       6,347       8,662  
Financial Liabilities:
                                       
 Certificates of deposit
    (870,590 )     0       (876,953 )     0       (876,953 )
 All other deposits
    (2,002,530 )     (2,002,530 )     0       0       (2,002,530 )
 Securities sold under agreements
                                       
  to repurchase
    (54,907 )     0       (54,907 )     0       (54,907 )
 Federal funds purchased
    (500 )     0       (500 )     0       (500 )
 Other short-term borrowings
    (105,000 )     0       (105,001 )     0       (105,001 )
 Long-term borrowings
    (35 )     0       (40 )     0       (40 )
 Subordinated debentures
    (30,928 )     0       0       (31,212 )     (31,212 )
 Standby letters of credit
    (379 )     0       0       (379 )     (379 )
 Accrued interest payable
    (2,946 )     (109 )     (2,834 )     (3 )     (2,946 )
 
        The methods and assumptions, not previously presented, used to estimate fair values are described as follows:

Cash and cash equivalents – The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value and are classified as Level 1, with the exception of certificates of deposits, which are estimated using discounted cash flow analysis using current market rates applied to the estimated life resulting in a Level 2 classification.

Loans, net – Fair values of loans, excluding loans held for sale, are estimated as follows:  For variable rate loans, fair values are based on carrying values resulting in a Level 3 classification. Fair values for other loans are estimated using discounted cash flow analysis, using current market rates applied to the estimated life resulting in a Level 3 classification. Impaired loans are valued at the lower of cost or fair value as described previously. The methods utilized to estimate the fair value of loans do not necessarily represent an exit price.

FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stock – It is not practical to determine the fair value of FHLB stock and Federal Reserve Bank stock due to restrictions placed on its transferability.

Certificates of deposit – Fair values of certificates of deposit are estimated using discounted cash flow analysis using current market rates applied to the estimated life resulting in a Level 2 classification.

All other deposits – The fair values for all other deposits other than certificates of deposit are equal to the amount payable on demand (the carrying value) resulting in a Level 1 classification.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase – The carrying amount of borrowings under repurchase agreements approximate their fair values resulting in a Level 2 classification.

Federal funds purchased – The carrying amount of federal funds purchased approximate fair value resulting in a Level 2 classification.

Other short-term borrowings – The fair value of other short-term borrowings is estimated using discounted cash flow analysis based on current borrowing rates resulting in a Level 2 classification.

Long-term borrowings – The fair value of long-term borrowings is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on current borrowing rates resulting in a Level 2 classification.

Subordinated debentures – The fair value of subordinated debentures is based on the rates currently available to the Company with similar terms and remaining maturity and credit spread resulting in a Level 3 classification.
 
 
78

NOTE 5 FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)

Standby letters of credit – The fair value of off-balance sheet items is based on the current fees and costs that would be charged to enter into or terminate such arrangements resulting in a Level 3 classification.

Accrued interest receivable/payable – The carrying amounts of accrued interest approximate fair value resulting in a Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 classification depending on its associated asset/liability.

NOTE 6 – LAND, PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Land, premises and equipment and related accumulated depreciation were as follows at December 31, 2015 and 2014:


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
 
Land
  $ 14,583     $ 12,937  
Premises
    35,760       31,953  
Equipment
    24,997       26,829  
  Total cost  
    75,340       71,719  
Less accumulated depreciation
    28,656       29,736  
  Land, premises and equipment, net
  $ 46,684     $ 41,983  
 
        The Company had land, premises and equipment of $249,000 held for sale and included in other assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.

NOTE 7 GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

There have been no changes in the $5.0 million carrying amount of goodwill since 2002.

Impairment exists when a reporting unit’s carrying value of goodwill exceeds its fair value, which is determined through a two step impairment test. Step 1 of the impairment test includes the determination of the carrying value of our single reporting unit, including the existing goodwill and intangible assets, and estimating the fair value of the reporting unit. The Company determined the fair value of our reporting unit and compared it to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company is required to perform a second step to the impairment test. Our annual impairment analysis as of May 31, 2015, indicated that the Step 2 analysis was not necessary. Circumstances did not substantially change during the second half of the year such that the Company did not believe it was necessary to do an additional impairment analysis.

NOTE 8 DEPOSITS

The following table details certain types of deposits as of December 31, 2015 and 2014:


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
 
Time deposits of $100,000 to $250,000
  $ 248,711     $ 254,137  
Time deposits of $250,000 or more
    489,543       331,074  
Public fund deposits
    891,065       748,563  
Brokered deposits
    148,040       142,429  


At December 31, 2015, the scheduled maturities of time deposits were as follows:


(dollars in thousands)
 
Amount
 
Maturing in 2016
  $ 693,136  
Maturing in 2017
    210,102  
Maturing in 2018
    22,576  
Maturing in 2019
    36,869  
Maturing in 2020
    34,319  
Thereafter
    512  
  Total time deposits 
  $ 997,514  

 
79


NOTE 9 BORROWINGS

Long-term borrowings at December 31 consisted of:


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
 
Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis Notes, 6.15%, Due January 15, 2018
  $ 34     $ 35  

Long-term borrowings mature as follows:


(dollars in thousands)
Amount
2016
0
2017
0
2018
34
2019
0
2020
0
Thereafter
0

Other short-term borrowings consisted of:


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
 
Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis Notes, 0.58%, Due June 28, 2016
  $ 70,000     $ 0  
Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis Notes, 0.43%, Due June 29, 2015
    0       105,000  
  Total
  $ 70,000     $ 105,000  
 
        The outstanding FHLB advance at December 31, 2015 of $70.0 million may be prepaid with no penalty. All FHLB notes require monthly interest payments and are secured by residential real estate loans and securities with a carrying value of $299.4 million and $353.9 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014. At December 31, 2015, the Company owned $4.2 million of FHLB stock, which also secures debts owed to the FHLB of $70.0 million. The Company is authorized by the Board of Directors to borrow up to $800.0 million at the FHLB, but availability is limited to $73.1 million based on collateral and outstanding borrowings. Federal Reserve Discount Window borrowings were secured by commercial loans with a carrying value of $182.7 million as of December 31, 2015. The Company had a borrowing capacity of $131.7 million at the Federal Reserve Bank at December 31, 2015. There were no borrowings outstanding at the Federal Reserve Bank at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (“repo accounts”) represent collateralized borrowings with customers located primarily within the Company’s service area. Substantially all repo accounts mature on demand, with the remaining maturing in less than one year. Repo accounts are not covered by federal deposit insurance and are secured by securities owned. The Company retains the right to substitute similar type securities and has the right to withdraw all excess collateral applicable to repo accounts whenever the collateral values are in excess of the related repurchase liabilities. However, as a means of mitigating market risk, the Company maintains excess collateral to cover normal changes in the repurchase liability by monitoring daily usage. At December 31, 2015, there were no material amounts of securities at risk with any one customer. The Company maintains control of these securities through the use of third-party safekeeping arrangements.

The following is a schedule, at the end of the year indicated, of statistical information relating to securities sold under agreement to repurchase maturing within one year and secured by either U.S. government agency securities or mortgage-backed securities classified as other debt securities. There were no other categories of short-term borrowings for which the average balance outstanding during the period was 30 percent or more of stockholders' equity at the end of each period.


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
                 
  Outstanding at year end
  $ 69,622     $ 54,907     $ 104,876  
  Approximate average interest rate at year end
    0.21 %     0.18 %     0.29 %
  Highest amount outstanding as of any month end
                       
    during the year
  $ 82,817     $ 96,236     $ 114,312  
  Approximate average outstanding during the year
  $ 63,880     $ 78,120     $ 107,252  
  Approximate average interest rate during the year
    0.19 %     0.24 %     0.32 %

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase are secured by mortgage-backed securities with a carrying amount of $117.5 million and $94.2 million at year-end 2015 and 2014. Additional information concerning recognition of these liabilities is disclosed in Note 17.
 
 
80

NOTE 10 – SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

Lakeland Statutory Trust II, a trust formed by the Company (the “Trust”), issued $30.0 million of floating rate trust preferred securities on October 1, 2003 as part of a privately placed offering of such securities. The Company issued $30.9 million of subordinated debentures to the Trust in exchange for the proceeds of the Trust. The Company holds a controlling interest in the Trust, but does not have a majority of voting rights; therefore the Trust is considered a variable interest entity. The Company is not considered the primary beneficiary of this Trust; therefore, the Trust is not consolidated in the Company’s financial statements, but rather the subordinated debentures are shown as a liability. The Company’s investment in the common stock of the Trust was $928,000 and is included in other assets.

Subject to the Company having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company may redeem the subordinated debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000, on any interest payment date on or after October 1, 2008 at 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The subordinated debentures must be redeemed no later than 2033. These securities are considered Tier I capital (with certain limitations applicable) under current regulatory guidelines and, subject to certain limitations, will also be considered Tier 1 capital under Basel III. The
floating rate of the trust preferred securities and subordinated debentures are equal to the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 3.05%, which was 3.6567%, 3.3051% and 3.2966% December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

NOTE 11 PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS

In April 2000, the Lakeland Financial Corporation Pension Plan was frozen. The Company also maintains a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for select officers that was established as a funded, non-qualified deferred compensation plan. Currently, seven retired officers are the only participants in the SERP. The measurement date for both the pension plan and SERP is December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Information as to the Company’s employee benefit plans at December 31, 2015 and 2014 is as follows:


      Pension Benefits       SERP Benefits  
(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
Change in benefit obligation:
                       
  Beginning benefit obligation
  $ 2,785     $ 2,454     $ 1,267     $ 1,096  
  Interest cost
    103       119       46       50  
  Actuarial (gain)/loss
    135       398       47       258  
  Benefits paid
    (228 )     (186 )     (137 )     (137 )
  Ending benefit obligation  
    2,795       2,785       1,223       1,267  
                                 
Change in plan assets (primarily equity and fixed
                               
  income investments and money market funds),
                               
  at fair value:
                               
  Beginning plan assets
    1,841       1,700       1,014       1,068  
  Actual return
    (7 )     121       1       79  
  Employer contribution
    304       206       110       4  
  Benefits paid
    (228 )     (186 )     (137 )     (137 )
  Ending plan assets
    1,910       1,841       988       1,014  
Funded status at end of year
  $ (885 )   $ (944 )   $ (235 )   $ (253 )
 
        Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of:


      Pension Benefits       SERP Benefits  
(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
Funded status included in other liabilities
  $ (885 )   $ (944 )   $ (235 )   $ (253 )

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:


      Pension Benefits       SERP Benefits  
(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
Net actuarial loss
  $ 1,966     $ 1,925     $ 852     $ 812  

The accumulated benefit obligation for the pension plan was $2.8 million for both December 31, 2015 and 2014. The accumulated benefit obligation for the SERP was $1.2 million and $1.3 million, respectively for December 31, 2015 and 2014.


 
81


NOTE 11 PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS (continued)

Net pension expense and other amounts recognized in other comprehensive income include the following:


      Pension Benefits       SERP Benefits  
(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Net pension expense:
                                   
Service cost
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0  
Interest cost
    103       119       116       46       50       45  
Expected return on plan assets
    (139 )     (125 )     (121 )     (76 )     (73 )     (74 )
Recognized net actuarial loss
    162       117       151       82       80       93  
Settlement cost
    78       0       91       0       0       0  
  Net pension expense
  $ 204     $ 111     $ 237     $ 52     $ 57     $ 64  
                                                 
Net loss/(gain)
  $ 203     $ 402     $ (510 )   $ 122     $ 252     $ (40 )
Amortization of net loss
    (162 )     (117 )     (151 )     (82 )     (80 )     (93 )
  Total recognized in other comprehensive
                                               
    income
  $ 41     $ 285     $ (661 )   $ 40     $ 172     $ (133 )
    Total recognized in net pension expense
                                               
      and other comprehensive income
  $ 245     $ 396     $ (424 )   $ 92     $ 229     $ (69 )
 
        The estimated net loss (gain) for the defined benefit pension plan and SERP that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year is $135,000 for the pension plan and $80,000 for the SERP. The settlement cost was related to participants taking lump sum distributions from the pension plan during 2015 and 2013.

For 2015, 2014 and 2013, the assumed form of payment elected by active participants upon retirement was changed from a single life annuity to a lump sum to reflect participant trends. The lump sum assumed interest rates below for December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 reflect the mortality table in effect for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. For 2015, the mortality assumption was changed to the RP-2014 Mortality Table projected to 2024 with Projection Scale MP-2015 as of December 31, 2015 to reflect improved mortality expectations. For 2014, the mortality assumption was changed to the RP-2014 Mortality Table projected to 2024 with Projection Scale MP-2014 as of December 31, 2014 to reflect improved mortality expectations.


    Pension Benefits   SERP Benefits
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
The following assumptions were used in calculating the net benefit obligation:
                     
                       
Weighted average discount rate
3.96%
 
3.61%
 
5.00%
 
3.96%
 
3.61%
 
5.00%
Rate of increase in future compensation
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
Lump sum assumed interest rates
                     
  First 5 years
1.61%
 
1.29%
 
1.24%
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
  Next 15 years
4.02%
 
3.81%
 
4.47%
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
  All future years
5.03%
 
4.88%
 
5.52%
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
                       
The following assumptions were used in calculating the net pension expense:
                     
                       
Weighted average discount rate
3.61%
 
5.00%
 
4.00%
 
3.61%
 
5.00%
 
4.00%
Rate of increase in future compensation
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
Expected long-term rate of return
7.75%
 
7.75%
 
7.75%
 
7.75%
 
7.75%
 
7.75%


Pension Plan and SERP Assets

The Company's investment strategies are to invest in a prudent manner for the purpose of providing benefits to participants in the pension plan and the SERP. The investment strategies are targeted to maximize the total return of the portfolio net of inflation, spending and expenses. Risk is controlled through diversification of asset types and investments in domestic and international equities and fixed income securities. The target allocations for plan assets are shown in the tables below. Equity securities primarily include investments in common stocks. Debt securities include government agency and commercial bonds. Other investments consist of money market mutual funds.


 
82


NOTE 11 PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS (continued)

The weighted average expected long-term rate of return on pension plan and SERP assets is developed in consultation with the plans actuary. It is primarily based upon industry trends and consensus rates of return which are then adjusted to reflect the specific asset allocations and historical rates of return of the Company's plan assets. The following assumptions were used in determining the total long term rate of return:  equity securities were assumed to have a long-term rate of return of approximately 9.90% and debt securities were assumed to have a long-term rate of return of approximately 4.80%. These rates of return were adjusted to reflect an approximate target allocation of 60% equity securities and 40% debt securities with a small downward adjustment due to investments in the “Other” category, which consist of low yielding money market mutual funds.

Certain asset types and investment strategies are prohibited including, the investment in commodities, options, futures, short sales, margin transactions and non-marketable securities.

The Company's pension plan asset allocation at year-end 2015 and 2014, target allocation for 2016, and expected long-term rate of return by asset category are as follows:


        Percentage of Plan  
Weighted
 
Target
    Assets  
Average Expected
 
Allocation
    at Year End  
Long-Term Rate
Asset Category
2016
 
2015
2014
 
of Return
Equity securities
55-65%
 
55%
60%
 
9.94%
Debt securities
35-45%
 
35%
35%
 
4.84%
Other
5-10%
 
10%
5%
 
0.25%
      Total
   
100%
100%
 
7.75%
 
        The Company's SERP plan asset allocation at year-end 2015 and 2014, target allocation for 2016, and expected long-term rate of return by asset category are as follows:


        Percentage of Plan  
Weighted
 
Target
    Assets  
Average Expected
 
Allocation
    at Year End  
Long-Term Rate
Asset Category
2016
 
2015
2014
 
of Return
Equity securities
55-65%
 
58%
65%
 
9.93%
Debt securities
35-45%
 
36%
32%
 
4.83%
Other
5-10%
 
6%
3%
 
0.25%
      Total
   
100%
100%
 
7.75%
 
Fair Value of Pension Plan and SERP Assets

Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Also a fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

The Company used the following methods and significant assumptions to estimate the fair value of each type of financial instrument:

Equity and debt securities:  The fair values of securities are determined on a recurring basis by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges (Level 1 inputs) or pricing models, which utilize significant observable inputs such as matrix pricing. This is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities (Level 2 inputs).

 
83


NOTE 11 PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS (continued)

The fair values of the Company's pension plan assets at December 31, 2015, by asset category are as follows:


         
Quoted Prices
             
         
in Active
   
Significant
   
Significant
 
         
Markets for
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
 
         
Identical Assets
   
Inputs
   
Inputs
 
Asset Category
 
Total
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2 )
   
(Level 3)
 
(dollars in thousands)
     
Equity securities - US large cap common stocks
  $ 495     $ 495     $ 0     $ 0  
Equity securities - US large cap stock mutual funds
    204       204       0       0  
Equity securities - US mid cap stock mutual funds
    130       130       0       0  
Equity securities - US small cap stock mutual funds
    46       46       0       0  
Equity securities - international stock mutual funds
    148       148       0       0  
Equity securities - emerging markets stock mutual funds
    22       22       0       0  
Debt securities - intermediate term bond mutual funds
    275       275       0       0  
Debt securities - short term bond mutual funds
    257       257       0       0  
Debt securities - world bond mutual funds
    87       87       0       0  
Debt securities - commercial
    54       0       54       0  
Cash - money market account
    187       187       0       0  
      Total
  $ 1,905     $ 1,851     $ 54     $ 0  
 
        Total pension plan assets available for benefits also include $5,000 in accrued interest and dividend income.

The fair values of the Company's pension plan assets at December 31, 2014, by asset category are as follows:


         
Quoted Prices
             
         
in Active
   
Significant
   
Significant
 
         
Markets for
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
 
         
Identical Assets
   
Inputs
   
Inputs
 
Asset Category
 
Total
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2 )
   
(Level 3)
 
(dollars in thousands)
     
Equity securities - US large cap common stocks
  $ 540     $ 540     $ 0     $ 0  
Equity securities - US large cap stock mutual funds
    255       255       0       0  
Equity securities - US mid cap stock mutual funds
    144       144       0       0  
Equity securities - US small cap stock mutual funds
    25       25       0       0  
Equity securities - international stock mutual funds
    108       108       0       0  
Equity securities - emerging markets stock mutual funds
    24       24       0       0  
Debt securities - intermediate term bond mutual funds
    242       242       0       0  
Debt securities - short term bond mutual funds
    259       259       0       0  
Debt securities - world bond mutual funds
    94       94       0       0  
Debt securities - commercial
    55       0       55       0  
Cash - money market account
    91       91       0       0  
      Total
  $ 1,837     $ 1,782     $ 55     $ 0  
 
        Total pension plan assets available for benefits also include $4,000 in accrued interest and dividend income.

There were no significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during 2015 and 2014.


 
84


NOTE 11 PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS (continued)

The fair values of the Company's SERP assets at December 31, 2015, by asset category are as follows:


         
Quoted Prices
             
         
in Active
   
Significant
   
Significant
 
         
Markets for
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
 
         
Identical Assets
   
Inputs
   
Inputs
 
Asset Category
 
Total
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2 )
   
(Level 3)
 
(dollars in thousands)
     
Equity securities - US large cap common stocks
  $ 125     $ 125     $ 0     $ 0  
Equity securities - US large cap stock mutual funds
    347       347       0       0  
Equity securities - US mid cap stock mutual funds
    39       39       0       0  
Equity securities - US small cap stock mutual funds
    14       14       0       0  
Equity securities - international stock mutual funds
    49       49       0       0  
Debt securities - high yield bond mutual funds
    22       22       0       0  
Debt securities - intermediate term bond mutual funds
    96       96       0       0  
Debt securities - short term bond mutual funds
    153       153       0       0  
Debt securities - world bond mutual funds
    30       30       0       0  
Debt securities - commercial
    58       0       58       0  
Cash - money market account
    51       51       0       0  
      Total
  $ 984     $ 926     $ 58     $ 0  
 
        Total SERP plan assets available for benefits also include $4,000 in accrued interest and dividend income.

The fair values of the Company's SERP assets at December 31, 2014, by asset category are as follows:


         
Quoted Prices
             
         
in Active
   
Significant
   
Significant
 
         
Markets for
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
 
         
Identical Assets
   
Inputs
   
Inputs
 
Asset Category
 
Total
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2 )
   
(Level 3)
 
(dollars in thousands)
     
Equity securities - US large cap common stocks
  $ 144     $ 144     $ 0     $ 0  
Equity securities - US large cap stock mutual funds
    371       371       0       0  
Equity securities - US mid cap stock mutual funds
    75       75       0       0  
Equity securities - US small cap stock mutual funds
    15       15       0       0  
Equity securities - international stock mutual funds
    54       54       0       0  
Debt securities - intermediate term bond mutual funds
    65       65       0       0  
Debt securities - short term bond mutual funds
    169       169       0       0  
Debt securities - world bond mutual funds
    32       32       0       0  
Debt securities - commercial
    60       0       60       0  
Cash - money market account
    26       26       0       0  
      Total
  $ 1,011     $ 951     $ 60     $ 0  
 
        Total SERP plan assets available for benefits also include $3,000 in accrued interest and dividend income.

There were no significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during 2015 and 2014.

Contributions

The Company expects to contribute $321,000 to its pension plan and $76,000 to its SERP plan in 2016.


 
85


NOTE 11 PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS (continued)

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The following benefit payments are expected to be paid over the next ten years:


   
Pension
   
SERP
 
Plan Year
 
Benefits
   
Benefits
 
(dollars in thousands)
           
2016
  $ 314     $ 136  
2017
    186       133  
2018
    256       129  
2019
    167       125  
2020
    192       119  
2021-2025
    878       498  


NOTE 12 OTHER BENEFIT PLANS

401(k) Plan

The Company maintains a 401(k) profit sharing plan for all employees meeting certain age and service requirements. The 401(k) plan allows employees to contribute up to the maximum amount allowable under the Internal Revenue Code, which are matched based upon the percentage of budgeted net income earned during the year on the first 6% of the compensation contributed. The expense recognized from matching was $1.4 million, $1.5 million and $1.4 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013.

Deferred Compensation Plan

Effective January 1, 2004, the Company adopted the Lake City Bank Deferred Compensation Plan. The purpose of the deferred compensation plan is to extend full 401(k) type retirement benefits to certain individuals without regard to statutory limitations under tax qualified plans. A liability is accrued by the Company for its obligation under this plan. The (income) expense recognized for each of the last three years was ($63,000), $67,000 and $282,000 resulting in a deferred compensation liability of $2.2 million, $2.1 million and $1.8 million as of year-end 2015, 2014 and 2013. The deferred compensation plan is funded solely by participant contributions and does not receive a Company match.

Employee Agreements

Under employment agreements with certain executives, certain events leading to separation from the Company could result in cash payments totaling $4.0 million as of December 31, 2015. On December 31, 2015, no amounts were accrued on these contingent obligations.

Directors’ Deferred Compensation and Cash Plans

The Company maintains a directors’ deferred compensation plan and a cash plan. The amount owed directors for fees under the deferred directors’ compensation and cash plans as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $2.6 million and $2.2 million. The related expense for the deferred directors’ compensation and cash plans as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $469,000, $469,000 and $488,000.

NOTE 13 INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 consisted of the following:


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Current federal
  $ 19,992     $ 18,877     $ 17,181  
Deferred federal
    1,378       1,118       183  
Current state
    1,257       1,650       1,387  
Deferred state
    206       740       808  
  Total income tax expense
  $ 22,833     $ 22,385     $ 19,559  


 
86


NOTE 13 INCOME TAXES (continued)

Income tax expense included an expense (benefit) of $16,000, ($89,000) and $43,000 applicable to security transactions for 2015, 2014 and 2013. The differences between financial statement tax expense and amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 35% for 2015, 2014 and 2013 to income before income taxes were as follows:


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Income taxes at statutory federal rate of 35%
  $ 24,220     $ 23,167     $ 20,439  
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:
                       
  Tax exempt income
    (1,323 )     (1,301 )     (1,222 )
  Nondeductible expense
    206       196       180  
  State income tax, net of federal tax effect
    951       1,656       1,396  
  Captive insurance premium income
    (363 )     (378 )     (391 )
  Tax credits
    (241 )     (233 )     (243 )
  Bank owned life insurance
    (605 )     (631 )     (578 )
  Reserve for unrecognized tax benefits
    0       (64 )     (25 )
  Other
    (12 )     (27 )     3  
    Total income tax expense
  $ 22,833     $ 22,385     $ 19,559  
 
        The net deferred tax asset recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2015 and 2014 consisted of the following:


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
 
Deferred tax assets:
           
  Bad debts
  $ 17,187     $ 18,300  
  Pension and deferred compensation liability
    1,370       1,224  
  Non-qualified stock options
    309       444  
  Nonaccrual loan interest
    2,618       2,127  
  Long-term incentive plan
    987       1,186  
  Other
    337       346  
      22,808       23,627  
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
  Accretion
    156       153  
  Depreciation
    4,222       3,843  
  Loan servicing rights
    1,070       994  
  State taxes
    632       704  
  Deferred loan fees
    65       61  
  Intangible assets
    1,891       1,883  
  FHLB stock dividends
    0       33  
  REIT spillover dividend
    1,413       1,085  
  Prepaid expenses
    907       884  
  Other
    422       373  
      10,778       10,013  
Valuation allowance
    0       0  
Net deferred tax asset
  $ 12,030     $ 13,614  
 
        In addition to the net deferred tax assets included above, the deferred income tax asset/liability allocated to the unrealized net gain/(loss) on securities available for sale included in equity was $2.3 million and $3.5 million for 2015 and 2014. The deferred income tax liability allocated to the pension plan and SERP included in equity was $1.1 million for both 2015 and 2014.

During the second quarter of 2013, the Indiana legislature approved new tax rates for financial institutions which will lower their state income tax rate from 8.5% to 6.5%. The decrease is being phased in over four years, beginning in 2014. This lower state tax rate going forward will reduce the benefit provided by the Company’s existing deferred tax items. As a result of the revaluation of the Company’s state deferred tax items, the Company recorded a non-cash adjustment for state tax expense of $465,000 in 2013.


 
87


NOTE 13 INCOME TAXES (continued)

During the first quarter of 2014, the Indiana legislature approved new tax rates for financial institutions. The tax rate, 8.0% for 2014, is scheduled to drop to 6.5% for 2017. The new legislation further reduces the rate to 4.9%, phased-in beginning in 2019. This lower state tax rate going forward will reduce the benefit provided by the Company's existing deferred tax items. As a result of the revaluation of the Company's state deferred tax items, the Company recorded a non-cash adjustment for state tax expense of $431,000 in 2014.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits:


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
 
Balance January 1,
  $ 0     $ 64  
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year
    0       0  
Additions for tax positions of prior years
    0       0  
Reductions for tax positions of prior years
    0       (42 )
Reductions due to the statute of limitations
    0       (22 )
Settlements
    0       0  
  Balance at December 31,
  $ 0     $ 0  
 
       The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2015. The Company does not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly increase or decrease in the next twelve months.

No interest or penalties were recorded in the income statement and no amount was accrued for interest and penalties for the period ending December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. Should the accrual of any interest or penalties relative to unrecognized tax benefits be necessary, it is the Company’s policy to record such accruals in its income taxes accounts.

The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal tax return and a combined unitary return in the States of Indiana and Michigan. These returns are subject to examinations by authorities for all years after 2011.

NOTE 14  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Loans to principal officers, directors, and their affiliates as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
 
Beginning balance
  $ 128,568     $ 124,605  
New loans and advances
    82,202       112,940  
Effect of changes in related parties
    0       0  
Repayments and renewals
    (90,807 )     (108,977 )
Ending balance
  $ 119,963     $ 128,568  
 
        Deposits from principal officers, directors, and their affiliates at year-end 2015 were $11.6 million plus an additional $7.3 million included in securities sold under agreements to repurchase. Deposits from principal officers, directors, and their affiliates at year-end 2014 were $5.7 million plus an additional $4.3 million included in securities sold under agreements to repurchase.

NOTE 15 – STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

Effective April 8, 2008, the Company adopted the Lakeland Financial Corporation 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s stockholders. At its inception there were 750,000 shares of common stock reserved for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards and cash incentive awards to employees of the Company, its subsidiaries and Board of Directors. Effective April 9, 2013, the Company adopted the Lakeland Financial Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”), which was also approved by the Company’s stockholders. At its inception the remaining shares of common stock available to grant under the 2008 Plan of 290,578 were transferred to the 2013 Plan and reserved for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards and cash incentive awards to employees of the Company, its subsidiaries and Board of Directors. Nonvested shares from the 2008 Plan that are unused at vesting are added to the shares available to grant of the 2013 Plan. As of December 31, 2015, 134,956 were available for future grants. Certain stock awards provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control. The Company has a policy of issuing new shares to satisfy exercises of stock awards.

 
88

NOTE 15 – STOCK BASED COMPENSATION (continued)

Included in net income for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was employee stock compensation expense of $2.5 million, $2.8 million and $2.0 million, and a related tax benefit of $1.0 million, $1.1 million and $795,000, respectively.

Stock Options

The equity incentive plan requires that the exercise price for options be the market price on the date the options are granted. The maximum option term is ten years and the awards usually vest over three years. The fair value of each stock option is estimated with the Black Scholes pricing model, using the following weighted-average assumptions as of the grant date for stock options granted during the years presented. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of the Company’s stock over the immediately preceding expected life period, as well as other factors known on the grant date that would have a significant effect on the stock price during the expected life period. The expected stock option life used is the historical option life of the similar employee base or Board of Directors. The turnover rate is based on historical data of the similar employee base as a group and the Board of Directors as a group. The risk-free interest rate is the Treasury rate on the date of grant corresponding to the expected life period of the stock option.

There were no stock option grants in 2015, 2014 or 2013.

A summary of the activity in the stock option plan as of December 31, 2015 and changes during the period then ended follows:


             
Weighted-
 
         
Weighted-
 
Average
 
         
Average
 
Remaining
Aggregate
         
Exercise
 
Contractual
Intrinsic
   
Shares
   
Price
 
Term (years)
Value
Outstanding at beginning of the year
    57,918     $ 22.95      
Granted
    0       0.00      
Exercised
    (25,918 )     21.59      
Forfeited
    0       0      
Outstanding at end of the year 
    32,000     $ 24.05  
2.4
 $722,240
Options exercisable at end of the year
    32,000     $ 24.05  
 2.4
 $722,240
 
        The following table presents information on stock awards exercised for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.


(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Total intrinsic value
  $ 577     $ 204     $ 589  
Cash received
    559       291       965  
Cash received net of tax
    (135 )     7       757  
Actual tax benefit realized for tax deductions
    148       50       146  


There were no modifications of stock option awards during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.

As of December 31, 2015, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options granted under the plan.

Restricted Stock Awards and Units

The fair value of restricted stock awards and units is the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant adjusted for the present value of expected dividends. The restricted stock awards fully vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, with the exception of 13,750 shares included as vested below, which vested on the grant date.

A summary of the changes in the Company’s nonvested shares for the year follows:


         
Weighted-Average
 
         
Grant-Date
 
Nonvested Shares
 
Shares
   
Fair Value
 
Nonvested at January 1, 2015
    9,650     $ 28.48  
  Granted
    14,250       42.26  
  Vested
    (20,400 )     36.74  
  Forfeited
    0       0.00  
Nonvested at December 31, 2015  
    3,500     $ 36.44  
 
 
89

NOTE 15 – STOCK BASED COMPENSATION (continued)

As of December 31, 2015, there was $57,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested shares granted under the plan. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted period of 1.14 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $944,000, $598,000 and $536,000.

Performance Stock Units

The fair value of stock awards is the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant adjusted for the present value of expected dividends. The stock awards fully vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. The 2015-2017, 2014-2016 and 2013-2015 Long-Term Incentive Plans must be paid in stock and have performance conditions which include revenue growth, diluted earnings per share growth and average return on beginning equity growth. Shares granted below include the number of shares assumed granted based on meeting the performance criteria of the 2015-2017, 2014-2016 and 2013-2015 Long-Term Incentive Plans at December 31, 2015.


         
Weighted-Average
 
         
Grant-Date
 
Nonvested Shares
 
Shares
   
Fair Value
 
Nonvested at January 1, 2015
    217,470     $ 28.99  
  Granted
    38,832       45.10  
  Vested
    (63,312 )     24.16  
  Forfeited
    (420 )     40.56  
Nonvested at December 31, 2015 
    192,570     $ 33.80  
 
        As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, there was $2.5 million and $2.7 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested shares granted under the Plan. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted period of 1.47 years and 1.55 years, respectively. The total fair value of shares vested during the year ended December 31, 2015 was $2.4 million. At December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, 63,312, 55,534 and 44,894 shares vested, respectively.

NOTE 16 CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS ON RETAINED EARNINGS

The Company became a financial holding company effective May 30, 2012 and is now required to be well capitalized under the applicable regulatory guidelines. The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Failure to meet certain heightened minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly discretionary, actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the 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 the assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weighting and other factors.

The capital adequacy requirements were heightened by the Basel III Rules, which went into effect on January 1, 2015 with a phase-in period for certain aspects of the rule through 2019. The quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy that were in effect on December 31, 2015, require the Company and the Bank to maintain minimum capital amounts and ratios (set forth in the following table) of Total, Tier I and Common Equity Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined in the regulation), and of Tier I capital (as defined in the regulation) to average assets (as defined). Management believes, as of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, that the Company and the Bank met all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.


 
90


NOTE 16  CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS ON RETAINED EARNINGS (continued)

As of December 31, 2015, the most recent notification from the federal regulators categorized the Company and the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, the Company and the Bank must maintain minimum Total risk-based capital ratios, Tier I risk-based capital ratios and Tier I leverage capital ratios as set forth in the table. There have been no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the Company and the Bank’s category.


                       Minimum Required to  
                 Minimum Required       Be Well Capitalized  
                  For Capital       Under Prompt Corrective  
      Actual       Adequacy Purposes       Action Regulations  
(dollars in thousands)
 
Amount
   
Ratio
   
Amount
   
Ratio
   
Amount
   
Ratio
 
As of December 31, 2015:
                                   
Total Capital (to Risk
                                   
Weighted Assets)
                                   
  Consolidated
  $ 457,815       13.62 %   $ 268,844       8.00 %   $ 336,056       10.00 %
  Bank
  $ 446,829       13.31 %   $ 268,468       8.00 %   $ 335,585       10.00 %
Tier I Capital (to Risk
                                               
Weighted Assets)
                                               
  Consolidated
  $ 415,700       12.37 %   $ 201,633       6.00 %   $ 268,844       8.00 %
  Bank
  $ 404,771       12.06 %   $ 201,351       6.00 %   $ 268,468       8.00 %
Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)
                                               
  Consolidated
  $ 385,700       11.48 %   $ 151,225       4.50 %   $ 218,436       6.50 %
  Bank
  $ 404,771       12.06 %   $ 151,013       4.50 %   $ 218,130       6.50 %
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets)
                                               
  Consolidated
  $ 415,700       11.10 %   $ 149,841       4.00 %   $ 187,301       5.00 %
  Bank
  $ 404,771       10.86 %   $ 149,051       4.00 %   $ 186,313       5.00 %
                                                 
As of December 31, 2014:
                                               
Total Capital (to Risk
                                               
Weighted Assets)
                                               
  Consolidated
  $ 418,827       14.36 %   $ 233,286       8.00 %   $ 291,607       10.00 %
  Bank
  $ 403,454       13.87 %   $ 232,787       8.00 %   $ 290,984       10.00 %
Tier I Capital (to Risk
                                               
Weighted Assets)
                                               
  Consolidated
  $ 382,254       13.11 %   $ 116,643       4.00 %   $ 174,964       6.00 %
  Bank
  $ 366,958       12.61 %   $ 116,394       4.00 %   $ 174,591       6.00 %
Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)
                                               
  Consolidated
    N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  
  Bank
    N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets)
                                               
  Consolidated
  $ 382,254       11.22 %   $ 136,265       4.00 %   $ 170,332       5.00 %
  Bank
  $ 366,958       10.84 %   $ 135,420       4.00 %   $ 169,276       5.00 %


The Bank is required to obtain the approval of the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions for the payment of any dividend if the total amount of all dividends declared by the Bank during the calendar year, including the proposed dividend, would exceed the sum of the retained net income for the year-to-date combined with the retained net income for the previous two years. Indiana law defines “retained net income” to mean the net income of a specified period, calculated under the consolidated report of income instructions, less the total amount of all dividends declared for the specified period. As of December 31, 2015, approximately $65.7 million was available to be paid as dividends to the Company by the Bank.

The payment of dividends by any financial institution or its holding company is affected by the requirement to maintain adequate capital pursuant to applicable capital adequacy guidelines and regulations, and a financial institution generally is prohibited from paying any dividends if, following payment thereof, the institution would be undercapitalized. As described above, the Bank exceeded its minimum capital requirements under applicable guidelines as of December 31, 2015. Notwithstanding the availability of funds for dividends, however, the FDIC may prohibit the payment of any dividends by the Bank if the FDIC determines such payment would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.

 
91


NOTE 17 OFFSETTING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

The following tables summarize gross and net information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are offset in the statement of financial position or that are subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement at December 31, 2015 and 2014.


   
December 31, 2015
 
         
Gross
   
Net Amounts
                   
   
Gross
   
Amounts
   
of Assets
   
Gross Amounts Not
       
   
Amounts of
   
Offset in the
   
presented in
   
Offset in the Statement
       
   
Recognized
   
Statement of
   
the Statement
   
of Financial Position
       
   
Assets/
   
Financial
   
of Financial
   
Financial
   
Cash Collateral
       
(dollars in thousands)
 
Liabilities
   
Position
   
Position
   
Instruments
   
Received
   
Net Amount
 
Assets
                                   
Interest Rate Swap Derivatives
  $ 1,732     $ 0     $ 1,732     $ 0     $ 0     $ 1,732  
  Total Assets
  $ 1,732     $ 0     $ 1,732     $ 0     $ 0     $ 1,732  
Liabilities
                                               
Interest Rate Swap Derivatives
  $ 1,748     $ 0     $ 1,748     $ 0     $ (1,660 )   $ 88  
Repurchase Agreements
    69,622       0       69,622       (69,622 )     0       0  
  Total Liabilities
  $ 71,370     $ 0     $ 71,370     $ (69,622 )   $ (1,660 )   $ 88  


   
December 31, 2014
 
         
Gross
   
Net Amounts
                   
   
Gross
   
Amounts
   
of Assets
   
Gross Amounts Not
       
   
Amounts of
   
Offset in the
   
presented in
   
Offset in the Statement
       
   
Recognized
   
Statement of
   
the Statement
   
of Financial Position
       
   
Assets/
   
Financial
   
of Financial
   
Financial
   
Cash Collateral
       
(dollars in thousands)
 
Liabilities
   
Position
   
Position
   
Instruments
   
Received
   
Net Amount
 
Assets
                                   
Interest Rate Swap Derivatives
  $ 1,191     $ 0     $ 1,191     $ 0     $ 0     $ 1,191  
  Total Assets
  $ 1,191     $ 0     $ 1,191     $ 0     $ 0     $ 1,191  
Liabilities
                                               
Interest Rate Swap Derivatives
  $ 1,242     $ 0     $ 1,242     $ 0     $ (1,242 )   $ 0  
Repurchase Agreements
    54,907       0       54,907       (54,907 )     0       0  
  Total Liabilities
  $ 56,149     $ 0     $ 56,149     $ (54,907 )   $ (1,242 )   $ 0  
 
        If an event of default occurs causing an early termination of an interest rate swap derivative, any early termination amount payable to one party by the other party may be reduced by set-off against any other amount payable by the one party to the other party. If a default in performance of any obligation of a repurchase agreement occurs, each party will set-off property held in respect of transactions against obligations owing in respect of any other transactions.


 
92


NOTE 18 COMMITMENTS, OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISKS AND CONTINGENCIES

During the normal course of business, the Company becomes a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in order to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to make loans and open-ended revolving lines of credit. Amounts as of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, were as follows:


      2015       2014  
   
Fixed
   
Variable
   
Fixed
   
Variable
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Rate
   
Rate
   
Rate
   
Rate
 
Commercial loan lines of credit
  $ 50,713     $ 1,125,720     $ 45,294     $ 967,282  
Commercial letters of credit
    0       0       0       62  
Standby letters of credit
    0       51,515       0       52,500  
Real estate mortgage loans
    4,917       3,185       3,439       1,589  
Real estate construction mortgage loans
    648       1,220       1,875       4,936  
Home equity mortgage open-ended revolving lines
    0       165,549       0       149,706  
Consumer loan open-ended revolving lines
    0       7,558       0       5,896  
  Total 
  $ 56,278     $ 1,354,747     $ 50,608     $ 1,181,971  
 
        The index on variable rate commercial loan commitments is principally the national prime rate. Interest rate ranges on commitments and open-ended revolving lines of credit for years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, were as follows:


    2015     2014  
 
Fixed
 
Variable
 
Fixed
 
Variable
 
 
Rate
 
Rate
 
Rate
 
Rate
 
Commercial loan
2.44-7.50
%
1.59-8.50
%
2.44-7.50
%
1.46-8.25
%
Real estate mortgage loan
3.13-4.63
%
3.00-5.75
%
3.13-4.75
%
2.88-5.75
%
Consumer loan open-ended revolving line
N/A
 
2.25-15.00
%
N/A
 
2.50-15.00
%

        Commitments, excluding open-ended revolving lines, generally have fixed expiration dates of one year or less. Open-ended revolving lines are monitored for proper performance and compliance on a monthly basis. Since many commitments expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amount does not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company follows the same credit policy (including requiring collateral, if deemed appropriate) to make such commitments as it follows for those loans that are recorded in its financial statements.

The Company’s exposure to credit losses in the event of nonperformance is represented by the contractual amount of the commitments. Management does not expect any significant losses as a result of these commitments.

 
93


NOTE 19 PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS

The Company operates primarily in the banking industry, which accounts for substantially all of its revenues, operating income and assets. Presented below are parent only financial statements:

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS


      December 31,  
(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
 
ASSETS
           
Deposits with Lake City Bank
  $ 712     $ 427  
Deposits with other depository institutions
    3,623       7,654  
  Cash
    4,335       8,081  
Investments in banking subsidiary
    411,883       376,000  
Investments in other subsidiaries
    3,429       3,394  
Other assets
    4,329       4,980  
  Total assets  
  $ 423,976     $ 392,455  
LIABILITIES
               
Dividends payable and other liabilities
  $ 236     $ 231  
Subordinated debt
    30,928       30,928  
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    392,812       361,296  
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 423,976     $ 392,455  
 
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

      Years Ended December 31,  
(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Dividends from Lake City Bank, Lakeland Statutory Trust II
  $ 11,288     $ 18,362     $ 9,524  
Other income
    98       182       98  
Interest expense on subordinated debt
    (1,063 )     (1,048 )     (1,061 )
Miscellaneous expense
    (3,231 )     (3,462 )     (2,651 )
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY IN
                       
  UNDISTRIBUTED INCOME OF SUBSIDIARIES
    7,092       14,034       5,910  
Income tax benefit
    1,655       1,691       1,387  
INCOME BEFORE EQUITY IN UNDISTRIBUTED
                       
  INCOME OF SUBSIDIARIES
    8,747       15,725       7,297  
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries
    37,620       28,080       31,542  
NET INCOME
  $ 46,367     $ 43,805     $ 38,839  
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
  $ 44,679     $ 50,129     $ 30,656  

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

      Years Ended December 31,  
(dollars in thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                 
  Net income
  $ 46,367     $ 43,805     $ 38,839  
  Adjustments to net cash from operating activities:
                       
    Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries
    (37,620 )     (28,080 )     (31,543 )
    Other changes
    3,647       5,348       989  
      Net cash from operating activities
    12,394       21,073       8,285  
Cash flows from investing activities
                       
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock
    12       57       903  
    Repurchase of common stock
    (455 )     (444 )     (399 )
    Dividends paid
    (15,697 )     (13,555 )     (9,372 )
Cash flows from financing activities
    (16,140 )     (13,942 )     (8,868 )
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (3,746 )     7,131       (583 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year
    8,081       950       1,533  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year 
  $ 4,335     $ 8,081     $ 950  

 
94


NOTE 20 EARNINGS PER SHARE

Following are the factors used in the earnings per share computations:


   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Basic earnings per common share:
                 
  Net income
  $ 46,367,000     $ 43,805,000     $ 38,839,000  
  Weighted-average common shares outstanding
    16,617,569       16,535,530       16,436,131  
  Basic earnings per common share
  $ 2.79     $ 2.65     $ 2.36  
Diluted earnings per common share:
                       
  Net income
  $ 46,367,000     $ 43,805,000     $ 38,839,000  
  Weighted-average common shares outstanding for
                       
    basic earnings per common share
    16,617,569       16,535,530       16,436,131  
  Add: Dilutive effect of assumed exercise of warrant
    104,375       92,547       61,436  
  Add: Dilutive effect of assumed exercises of stock options
                       
    and awards
    108,435       153,378       136,771  
  Average shares and dilutive potential common shares
    16,830,379       16,781,455       16,634,338  
  Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 2.75     $ 2.61     $ 2.33  

There were no antidilutive stock options for 2015, 2014 and 2013.

NOTE 21 ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The following tables summarize the changes within each classification of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for December 31, 2015 and 2014 all shown net of tax:


   
Unrealized
             
   
Gains and
             
   
Losses on
   
Defined
       
   
Available-
   
Benefit
       
   
for-Sales
   
Pension
       
(dollars in thousands)
 
Securities
   
Items
   
Total
 
Balance at December 31, 2014
  $ 5,467     $ (1,637 )   $ 3,830  
Other comprehensive income before reclassification
    (1,606 )     (204 )     (1,810 )
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (25 )     147       122  
    Net current period other comprehensive income
    (1,631 )     (57 )     (1,688 )
Balance at December 31, 2015
  $ 3,836     $ (1,694 )   $ 2,142  

   
Unrealized
             
   
Gains and
             
   
Losses on
   
Defined
       
   
Available-
   
Benefit
       
   
for-Sales
   
Pension
       
(dollars in thousands)
 
Securities
   
Items
   
Total
 
Balance at December 31, 2013
  $ (1,138 )   $ (1,356 )   $ (2,494 )
Other comprehensive income before reclassification
    6,471       (399 )     6,072  
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    134       118       252  
    Net current period other comprehensive income
    6,605       (281 )     6,324  
Balance at December 31, 2014
  $ 5,467     $ (1,637 )   $ 3,830  


 
95


NOTE 21 ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (continued)

Reclassifications out of accumulated comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:


Details about
 
Amount
 
Affected Line Item
Accumulated Other
 
Reclassified From
 
in the Statement
Comprehensive
 
Accumulated Other
 
Where Net
Income Components
 
Comprehensive Income
 
Income is Presented
2015
       
(dollars in thousands)
       
Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities
  $ 42  
Net securities gains (losses)
Tax effect
    (17 )
Income tax expense
      25  
Net of tax
Amortization of defined benefit pension items(1)
    (244 )
Salaries and employee benefits
Tax effect
    97  
Income tax expense
      (147 )
Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period
  $ (122 )
Net income
           
           
2014
         
(dollars in thousands)
         
Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities
  $ (224 )
Net securities gains (losses)
Tax effect
    90  
Income tax expense
      (134 )
Net of tax
Amortization of defined benefit pension items(1)
    (197 )
Salaries and employee benefits
Tax effect
    79  
Income tax expense
      (118 )
Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period
  $ (252 )
Net income
 
        (1) Included in the computation of net pension plan expense as more fully discussed in Note 11.


 
96


NOTE 22 SELECTED QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED) (in thousands except per share data)


2015
 
4th
   
3rd
   
2nd
   
1st
 
   
Quarter
   
Quarter
   
Quarter
   
Quarter
 
Interest income
  $ 31,619     $ 30,966     $ 30,290     $ 29,664  
Interest expense
    4,167       4,255       4,226       3,964  
Net interest income
    27,452       26,711       26,064       25,700  
Provision for loan losses
    0       0       0       0  
Net interest income after provision
    27,452       26,711       26,064       25,700  
Noninterest income
    8,069       7,902       7,713       7,795  
Noninterest expense
    17,357       17,207       16,741       16,901  
Income tax expense
    5,878       5,841       5,656       5,458  
Net income
  $ 12,286     $ 11,565     $ 11,380     $ 11,136  
                                 
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.74     $ 0.70     $ 0.69     $ 0.67  
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.73     $ 0.69     $ 0.68     $ 0.66  
                                 
2014
 
4th
   
3rd
   
2nd
   
1st
 
   
Quarter
   
Quarter
   
Quarter
   
Quarter
 
Interest income
  $ 30,023     $ 29,745     $ 29,250     $ 28,270  
Interest expense
    3,919       3,780       3,696       3,590  
Net interest income .
    26,104       25,965       25,554       24,680  
Provision for loan losses
    0       0       0       0  
Net interest income after provision
    26,104       25,965       25,554       24,680  
Noninterest income
    7,163       7,871       7,592       7,427  
Noninterest expense
    16,632       16,660       16,084       16,790  
Income tax expense
    5,565       5,665       5,750       5,405  
Net income
  $ 11,070     $ 11,511     $ 11,312     $ 9,912  
                                 
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.67     $ 0.70     $ 0.68     $ 0.60  
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.66     $ 0.69     $ 0.68     $ 0.59  

 
97


NOTE 23 WARRANT

On February 27, 2009, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement with the Treasury, pursuant to which the Company issued (i) 56,044 shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock and (ii) the Warrant to purchase 396,538 shares of the Company’s common stock, no par value, for an aggregate purchase price of $56,044,000 in cash. This transaction was conducted in accordance with the CPP.

The Warrant has a 10-year term and is immediately exercisable upon its issuance, with an exercise price, subject to anti-dilution adjustments, equal to $21.20 per share of the common stock (trailing 20-day Lakeland average closing price as of December 17, 2008, which was the last trading day prior to date of receipt of Treasury’s preliminary approval for our participation in the CPP). The Warrant was valued using the Black-Scholes model with the following assumptions:  market price of $17.45; exercise price of $21.20; risk-free interest rate of 3.02%; expected life of 10 years; expected dividend rate on common stock of 4.5759% and volatility of common stock price of 41.8046%. This resulted in a value of $4.4433 per share of common stock underlying the Warrant.

On December 3, 2009, the Company was notified by Treasury that, as a result of the Company's completion of our November 18, 2009 Qualified Equity Offering, the amount of the Warrant was reduced by 50% to 198,269 shares. In accordance with the terms of the Warrant, the number of shares issuable upon exercise and the exercise price are adjusted each time the Company pays a dividend to its stockholders in excess of the dividend paid at the time the warrant was issued. In 2015, the Company paid four dividends in excess of dividend paid at the time the Warrant was issued. In 2014, the Company paid three dividends in excess of the dividend paid at the time the Warrant was issued. Based on the formula set forth in the warrant, at December 31, 2014, the amount of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant was 201,780 and the exercise price was $20.8312. Based on the formula set forth in the Warrant, at December 31, 2015, the amount of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant was 203,323 and the exercise price was $20.6730.

On June 9, 2010, the Company redeemed the Series A Preferred Stock and accreted the remaining unamortized discount on these shares. The Company did not repurchase the Warrant, and the Warrant was sold by Treasury to an independent, third party. The Warrant has not been exercised as of December 31, 2015.

 
98


ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

Within the prior two years of the date of the most recent financial statement, there have been no changes in or disagreements with the Company’s accountants.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

a)           An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a -15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of December 31, 2015. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

b)           MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015. In making this assessment, management used the 2013 criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment and those criteria, management concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has issued their report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. That report appears under the heading, Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

c)           There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls during the previous fiscal quarter, ended December 31, 2015, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information appearing in the definitive Proxy Statement, for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 12, 2016, as filed with the SEC on March 3, 2016, on Form DEF 14A, is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information appearing in the definitive Proxy Statement, for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 12, 2016, as filed with the SEC on March 3, 2016, on Form DEF 14A, is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHARELHOLDER MATTERS

The information appearing in the definitive Proxy Statement, for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 12, 2016, as filed with the SEC on March 3, 2016, on Form DEF 14A, is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item.

See Item 5 above for equity compensation plan information.

 
99


ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information appearing in the definitive Proxy Statement, for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 12, 2016, as filed March 3, 2016, on Form DEF 14A, is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item. Certain additional information on related party transactions is also included in Note 14 to the Company’s financial statements contained in Item 8.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The information appearing in the definitive Proxy Statement, for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 12, 2016, as filed March 3, 2016, on Form DEF 14A, is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item.

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

The documents listed below are filed as a part of this report:

(a)           Exhibits

Exhibit No.
Document
Incorporated by reference to
     
  3.1
Amended and Restated Articles
Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K
 
of Incorporation of Lakeland
filed on March 2, 2009
 
Financial Corporation
 
     
  3.2
Amendment to Amended and Restated
Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 10-K
 
Articles of Incorporation of Lakeland
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012
 
Financial Corporation
 
     
  3.3
Amended and Restated
Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K
 
Bylaws of Lakeland
filed on December 5, 2011
 
Financial Corporation
 
     
  4.1
Form of Common Stock Certificate
Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s
   
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
   
December 31, 2003
     
  4.2
Form of Warrant to Purchase Shares of
Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Form 10-K
 
Common Stock
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012
     
  4.3
Form of Indenture for Trust Preferred
Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s
 
Issuance
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
   
December 31, 2003
     
10.1
Lakeland Financial
Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s
 
Corporation 2008 Equity
Form S-8 filed on March 14, 2008
 
Incentive Plan
 
     
10.2
Lakeland Financial Corporation 401(k)
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form
 
Plan
S-8 filed on October 23, 2000
     
10.3
Amended and Restated Lakeland
Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s
 
Financial Corporation Director’s Fee
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
 
Deferral Plan
December 31, 2008
     
10.4
Form of Change in Control Agreement
Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form
 
entered into with Michael L. Kubacki
10-K for the fiscal year ended
 
and Charles D. Smith
December 31, 2001
     
 
10.5
Form of Change in Control Agreement
Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Form
 
entered into with David M. Findlay and
10-K for the fiscal year ended
 
Kevin L. Deardorff
December 31, 2001
     
10.6
Form of First Amendment of Change to
Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s
 
Control Agreement entered into with
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
 
Michael L. Kubacki, David M. Findlay,
December 31, 2008
 
Charles D. Smith and Kevin L. Deardorff
 
     
10.7
Form of Second Amendment to Change
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form
 
in Control Agreement entered into with.
8-K filed on December 19, 2011
 
Michael L. Kubacki, David M. Findlay
 
 
and Kevin L. Deardorff
 
     
10.8
Employee Deferred Compensation Plan
Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s
 
and Form of Agreement
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
   
December 31, 2008
     
10.9
Schedule of Board Fees
Attached hereto
     
10.10
Form of Option Grant Agreement
Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Form
   
10-K for the fiscal year ended
   
December 31, 2004
     
10.11
Executive Incentive Bonus Plan
Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Form
   
10-K for the fiscal year ended
   
December 31, 2004
     
10.12
Amended and Restated Long Term
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form
 
Incentive Plan
10-Q for the quarter ended
   
September 30, 2009
     
10.13
Retirement Transition Agreement, dated
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form
 
July 12, 2011, between Charles D. Smith
8-K filed on July 13, 2011
 
and the Company
 
     
10.14
Form of Change of Control Agreement
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form
 
entered into with Eric H. Ottinger
8-K filed March 1, 2011
     
10.15
First Amendment to Change in Control
Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form
 
Agreement entered into with Eric H.
8-K filed on December 19, 2011
 
Ottinger
 
     
10.16
Form of Change in Control Agreement
Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form
 
entered into with Michael E. Gavin
8-K filed on December 19, 2011
     
10.17
Lakeland Financial Corporation 2013
Appendix A to the Definitive
 
Equity Incentive Plan
Proxy Statement on Form DEF-14A
   
filed on March 4, 2013
     
10.18
Form of Restricted Stock Award
Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s
 
Agreement
Form S-8 filed on July 9, 2013
     
10.19
Form of Nonqualified Stock Option
Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s
 
Award Agreement
Form S-8 filed on July 9, 2013
     
 
10.20
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award
Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s
 
Agreement
Form S-8 filed on July 9, 2013
     
10.21
Transitional Employment Agreement, dated
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s
 
September 4, 2013, by and among the
Form 8-K filed on September
 
Company, the Bank and Michael L.
4, 2013
 
Kubacki
 
     
21.0
Subsidiaries
Attached hereto
     
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered
Attached hereto
 
Public Accounting Firm
 
     
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Attached hereto
 
Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) and
 
 
13(a)-15(f)/15d-15(f)
 
     
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Attached hereto
 
Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) and
 
 
13(a)-15(f)/15d-15(f)
 
     
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Attached hereto
 
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
 
 
adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the
 
 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
     
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Attached hereto
 
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
 
 
adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the
 
 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 


 
102


SIGNATURES
 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


 
LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION
   
   
Date: March 3, 2016
By  /s/ Michael L. Kubacki
 
      Michael L. Kubacki, Executive Chairman

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name
Title
Date
     
/s/ David M. Findlay
   
David M. Findlay
Principal Executive Officer and Director
March 3, 2016
     
     
/s/ Lisa M. O’Neill
   
Lisa M. O’Neill
Principal Financial Officer
March 3, 2016
     
     
/s/ Teresa A. Bartman
   
Teresa A. Bartman
Principal Accounting Officer
March 3, 2016
     
     
/s/ Blake W. Augsburger
   
Blake W. Augsburger
Director
March 3, 2016
     
     
/s/ Robert E. Bartels, Jr.
   
Robert E. Bartels, Jr.
Director
March 3, 2016
     
     
/s/ Daniel F. Evans, Jr.
   
Daniel F. Evans, Jr.
Director
March 3, 2016
     
     
/s/ Thomas A. Hiatt
   
Thomas A. Hiatt
Director
March 3, 2016
     
     
/s/ Michael L. Kubacki
   
Michael L. Kubacki
Executive Chairman and Director
March 3, 2016
     
     
/s/ Charles E. Niemier
   
Charles E. Niemier
Director
March 3, 2016
     
     
/s/ Emily E. Pichon
   
Emily E. Pichon
Director
March 3, 2016

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/s/ Steven D. Ross
   
Steven D. Ross
Director
March 3, 2016
     
     
/s/ Brian J. Smith
   
Brian J. Smith
Director
March 3, 2016
     
     
/s/ Bradley J. Toothaker
   
Bradley J. Toothaker
Director
March 3, 2016
     
     
/s/ Ronald D. Truex
   
Ronald D. Truex
Director
March 3, 2016
     
     
/s/ M. Scott Welch
   
M. Scott Welch
Director
March 3, 2016

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