Form 10-Q 2015 Q1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
 x
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended MARCH 31, 2015 or
 o
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from ______ to ______.

Commission file number:  001-32991

WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

RHODE ISLAND
 
05-0404671
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
23 BROAD STREET
 
 
WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND
 
02891
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

(401) 348-1200
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. x Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). x Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Mark one)
 
Large accelerated filer o
 
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer o
 
Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 

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

The number of shares of common stock of the registrant outstanding as of April 30, 2015 was 16,811,770.



FORM 10-Q
WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2015
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Page Number
 
 
 
 



- 2-


PART I.  Financial Information
Item 1.  Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except par value)
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
Assets:
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks

$84,842

 

$76,386

Short-term investments
4,191

 
3,964

Mortgage loans held for sale (including $36,672 at March 31, 2015 and $30,321 at December 31, 2014 measured at fair value)
47,117

 
45,693

Securities:
 
 
 
Available for sale, at fair value
340,942

 
357,662

Held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $24,834 at March 31, 2015 and $26,008 at December 31, 2014)
24,025

 
25,222

Total securities
364,967

 
382,884

Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost
37,730

 
37,730

Loans:
 
 
 
Commercial
1,559,523

 
1,535,488

Residential real estate
987,564

 
985,415

Consumer
333,505

 
338,373

Total loans
2,880,592

 
2,859,276

Less allowance for loan losses
27,810

 
28,023

Net loans
2,852,782

 
2,831,253

Premises and equipment, net
27,839

 
27,495

Investment in bank-owned life insurance
64,009

 
63,519

Goodwill
58,114

 
58,114

Identifiable intangible assets, net
4,694

 
4,849

Other assets
56,229

 
54,987

Total assets

$3,602,514

 

$3,586,874

Liabilities:
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
Demand deposits

$477,046

 

$459,852

NOW accounts
333,321

 
326,375

Money market accounts
821,353

 
802,764

Savings accounts
298,802

 
291,725

Time deposits
852,621

 
874,102

Total deposits
2,783,143

 
2,754,818

Federal Home Loan Bank advances
385,992

 
406,297

Junior subordinated debentures
22,681

 
22,681

Other liabilities
56,819

 
56,799

Total liabilities
3,248,635

 
3,240,595

Commitments and contingencies


 


Shareholders’ Equity:
 
 
 
Common stock of $.0625 par value; authorized 30,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 16,772,956 shares at March 31, 2015 and 16,746,363 shares at December 31, 2014
1,048

 
1,047

Paid-in capital
102,587

 
101,204

Retained earnings
258,069

 
252,837

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(7,825
)
 
(8,809
)
Total shareholders’ equity
353,879

 
346,279

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$3,602,514

 

$3,586,874


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
3



Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)


Three months ended March 31,
2015

 
2014

Interest income:
 
 
 
Interest and fees on loans

$28,353

 

$25,589

Interest on securities:
Taxable
2,259

 
2,942

 
Nontaxable
435

 
582

Dividends on Federal Home Loan Bank stock
165

 
142

Other interest income
25

 
35

Total interest and dividend income
31,237

 
29,290

Interest expense:
 
 
 
Deposits
3,389

 
2,969

Federal Home Loan Bank advances
1,902

 
2,241

Junior subordinated debentures
241

 
241

Other interest expense
3

 
3

Total interest expense
5,535

 
5,454

Net interest income
25,702

 
23,836

Provision for loan losses

 
300

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
25,702

 
23,536

Noninterest income:
 
 
 
Wealth management revenues
8,435

 
8,065

Merchant processing fees

 
1,291

Net gains on loan sales and commissions on loans originated for others
2,585

 
1,239

Service charges on deposit accounts
935

 
754

Card interchange fees
714

 
681

Income from bank-owned life insurance
490

 
445

Net gains on interest rate swap contracts
645

 
260

Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries
(86
)
 
(43
)
Net gain on sale of business line

 
6,265

Other income
302

 
413

Total noninterest income
14,020

 
19,370

Noninterest expense:
 

 
 

Salaries and employee benefits
15,494

 
14,558

Net occupancy
1,886

 
1,640

Equipment
1,340

 
1,236

Merchant processing costs

 
1,050

Outsourced services
1,247

 
1,044

Legal, audit and professional fees
676

 
618

FDIC deposit insurance costs
473

 
440

Advertising and promotion
267

 
232

Amortization of intangibles
155

 
164

Debt prepayment penalties

 
6,294

Other expenses
1,993

 
2,016

Total noninterest expense
23,531

 
29,292

Income before income taxes
16,191

 
13,614

Income tax expense
5,181

 
4,316

Net income

$11,010

 

$9,298

 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
16,759

 
16,626

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
16,939

 
16,800

Per share information:
Basic earnings per common share

$0.65

 

$0.56

 
Diluted earnings per common share

$0.65

 

$0.55

 
Cash dividends declared per share

$0.34

 

$0.29


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
4



Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)


Three months ended March 31,
2015

 
2014

Net income

$11,010

 

$9,298

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 
 
 
Net change in fair value of securities available for sale
664

 
612

Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
Change in fair value of cash flow hedges
(8
)
 
(16
)
Net cash flow hedge losses reclassified into earnings
93

 
92

Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges
85

 
76

Defined benefit plan obligation adjustment
235

 
88

Total other comprehensive income, net of tax
984

 
776

Total comprehensive income

$11,994

 

$10,074




The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
5



Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (unaudited)
(Dollars and shares in thousands)


 
Common
Shares Outstanding
 
Common
Stock
 
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Total
Balance at January 1, 2015
16,746

 

$1,047

 

$101,204

 

$252,837

 

($8,809
)
 

$346,279

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
11,010

 
 
 
11,010

Total other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
984

 
984

Cash dividends declared
 
 
 
 
 
 
(5,778
)
 
 
 
(5,778
)
Share-based compensation
 
 
 
 
580

 
 
 
 
 
580

Exercise of stock options, issuance of other compensation-related equity instruments and related tax benefit
27

 
1

 
803

 
 
 
 
 
804

Balance at March 31, 2015
16,773

 

$1,048

 

$102,587

 

$258,069

 

($7,825
)
 

$353,879



 
Common
Shares Outstanding
 
Common
Stock
 
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Total
Balance at January 1, 2014
16,614

 

$1,038

 

$97,566

 

$232,595

 

($1,553
)
 

$329,646

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
9,298

 
 
 
9,298

Total other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
776

 
776

Cash dividends declared
 
 
 
 
 
 
(4,894
)
 
 
 
(4,894
)
Share-based compensation
 
 
 
 
491

 
 
 
 
 
491

Exercise of stock options, issuance of other compensation-related equity instruments and related tax benefit
21

 
2

 
539

 
 
 
 
 
541

Balance at March 31, 2014
16,635

 

$1,040

 

$98,596

 

$236,999

 

($777
)
 

$335,858



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
6



Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)


Three months ended March 31,
2015

 
2014

Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income

$11,010

 

$9,298

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Provision for loan losses

 
300

Depreciation of premises and equipment
882

 
783

Net amortization of premium and discount
358

 
219

Amortization of intangibles
155

 
164

Share-based compensation
580

 
491

Income from bank-owned life insurance
(490
)
 
(445
)
Net gain on sale of business line

 
(6,265
)
Net gains on loan sales and commissions on loans originated for others
(2,585
)
 
(1,239
)
Net gains on interest rate swap contracts
(645
)
 
(260
)
Equity in losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries
86

 
43

Proceeds from sales of loans
117,571

 
48,296

Loans originated for sale
(116,502
)
 
(46,159
)
Decrease (increase) in other assets
814

 
(81
)
Decrease in other liabilities
(1,936
)
 
(3,723
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
9,298

 
1,422

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from sale of:
Other investment securities available for sale

 
547

Maturities and principal payments of:
Mortgage-backed securities available for sale
12,533

 
11,313

 
Other investment securities available for sale
4,986

 
20,844

 
Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity
1,137

 
960

Net proceeds from the sale of business line

 
7,205

Net increase in loans
(20,620
)
 
(13,584
)
Purchases of loans, including purchased interest
(856
)
 
(2,934
)
Proceeds from the sale of property acquired through foreclosure or repossession

 
659

Purchases of premises and equipment
(1,226
)
 
(1,291
)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(4,046
)
 
23,719

Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Net increase in deposits
28,325

 
86,333

Net decrease in other borrowings
(12
)
 
(11
)
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank advances
120,000

 
54,000

Repayment of Federal Home Loan Bank advances
(140,305
)
 
(138,653
)
Proceeds from stock options exercises and issuance of other equity instruments
698

 
496

Tax benefit from stock option exercises and other equity instruments
106

 
45

Cash dividends paid
(5,381
)
 
(4,511
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
3,431

 
(2,301
)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
8,683

 
22,840

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
80,350

 
85,317

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$89,033

 

$108,157

Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
 
 
 
Loans charged off

$321

 

$1,223

Loans transferred to property acquired through foreclosure or repossession
230

 
421

Supplemental Disclosures:
 
 
 
Interest payments

$5,459

 

$5,175

Income tax payments
310

 
265


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.
7



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements


(1)
General Information
Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (the “Bancorp”) is a publicly-owned registered bank holding company and financial holding company.  The Bancorp owns all of the outstanding common stock of The Washington Trust Company, of Westerly (the “Bank”), a Rhode Island chartered commercial bank founded in 1800.  Through its subsidiaries, the Bancorp offers a complete product line of financial services including commercial, residential and consumer lending, retail and commercial deposit products, and wealth management services through its offices in Rhode Island, eastern Massachusetts and Connecticut.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Bancorp and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Corporation” or “Washington Trust”).  All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

The accounting and reporting policies of the Corporation conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and to general practices of the banking industry.  In preparing the financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and revenues and expenses for the period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to change are the determination of the allowance for loan losses, the review of goodwill for impairment and the assessment of investment securities for impairment.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation presented herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by GAAP. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) and disclosures considered necessary for the fair presentation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been included. Interim results are not necessarily reflective of the results of the entire year. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

(2)
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Receivables - Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors - Topic 310
Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-04, “Reclassifications of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure” (“ASU 2014-04”), was issued in January 2014 and clarifies when banks and similar institutions (creditors) should reclassify mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate properties from the loan portfolio to other real estate owned (“OREO”). ASU 2014-04 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. The Corporation elected the prospective transition method and the adoption of ASU 2014-04 did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Topic 606
Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”), was issued in May 2014 and provides a revenue recognition framework for any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of non-financial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other accounting standards. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period with early adoption not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Corporation is currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2014-09 will have on the its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Corporation has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of ASU 2014-09 on its ongoing financial reporting.

(3)
Cash and Due from Banks
The Bank maintains certain average reserve balances to meet the requirements of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”).  Some or all of these reserve requirements may be satisfied with vault cash. Reserve balances amounted to $10.1 million at March 31, 2015 and $8.0 million at December 31, 2014 and were included in cash and due from banks in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, cash and due from banks included interest-bearing deposits in other banks of $47.0 million and $42.7 million, respectively.



- 8-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(4)
Securities
The following tables present the amortized cost, gross unrealized holding gains, gross unrealized holding losses and fair value of securities by major security type and class of security:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
March 31, 2015
Amortized Cost
 
Unrealized Gains
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
Securities Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$31,203

 

$98

 

$—

 

$31,301

Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
222,547

 
10,498

 

 
233,045

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
42,664

 
1,515

 

 
44,179

Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities
30,762

 

 
(4,475
)
 
26,287

Corporate bonds
6,119

 
36

 
(25
)
 
6,130

Total securities available for sale

$333,295

 

$12,147

 

($4,500
)
 

$340,942

Held to Maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$24,025

 

$809

 

$—

 

$24,834

Total securities held to maturity

$24,025

 

$809

 

$—

 

$24,834

Total securities

$357,320

 

$12,956

 

($4,500
)
 

$365,776


(Dollars in thousands)
 
December 31, 2014
Amortized Cost
 
Unrealized Gains
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
Securities Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$31,205

 

$21

 

($54
)
 

$31,172

Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
235,343

 
10,023

 

 
245,366

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
47,647

 
1,529

 

 
49,176

Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities
30,753

 

 
(4,979
)
 
25,774

Corporate bonds
6,120

 
57

 
(3
)
 
6,174

Total securities available for sale

$351,068

 

$11,630

 

($5,036
)
 

$357,662

Held to Maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$25,222

 

$786

 

$—

 

$26,008

Total securities held to maturity

$25,222

 

$786

 

$—

 

$26,008

Total securities

$376,290

 

$12,416

 

($5,036
)
 

$383,670


At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, securities available for sale and held to maturity with a fair value of $347.6 million and $350.5 million, respectively, were pledged as collateral for Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“FHLBB”) borrowings and letters of credit, potential borrowings with the FRB, certain public deposits and for other purposes. See Note 8 for additional discussion of FHLBB borrowings.



- 9-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The schedule of maturities of debt securities available for sale and held to maturity is presented below. Mortgage-backed securities are included based on weighted average maturities, adjusted for anticipated prepayments.  All other debt securities are included based on contractual maturities.  Actual maturities may differ from amounts presented because certain issuers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.  Yields on tax exempt obligations are not computed on a tax equivalent basis.
(Dollars in thousands)
 
March 31, 2015
Within 1 Year
 
1-5 Years
 
5-10 Years
 
After 10 Years
 
Totals
Securities Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost

$—

 

$31,003

 

$200

 

$—

 

$31,203

Weighted average yield
%
 
1.72
%
 
2.32
%
 
%
 
1.73
%
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
37,723

 
100,409

 
57,461

 
26,954

 
222,547

Weighted average yield
3.71

 
3.30

 
2.81

 
1.76

 
3.06

Obligations of state and political subdivisions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
3,601

 
24,267

 
14,796

 

 
42,664

Weighted average yield
3.78

 
3.94

 
3.99

 

 
3.95

Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost

 

 

 
30,762

 
30,762

Weighted average yield

 

 

 
1.11

 
1.11

Corporate bonds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
5,713

 
203

 
203

 

 
6,119

Weighted average yield
2.84

 
1.62

 
3.21

 

 
2.81

Total debt securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost

$47,037

 

$155,882

 

$72,660

 

$57,716

 

$333,295

Weighted average yield
3.61
%
 
3.09
%
 
3.05
%
 
1.42
%
 
2.86
%
Fair value

$48,955

 

$161,578

 

$75,897

 

$54,512

 

$340,942

Securities Held to Maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost

$3,007

 

$9,323

 

$7,364

 

$4,331

 

$24,025

Weighted average yield
3.11
%
 
3.03
%
 
2.78
%
 
0.89
%
 
2.58
%
Fair value

$3,108

 

$9,637

 

$7,612

 

$4,477

 

$24,834


Included in the above table are debt securities with an amortized cost balance of $98.1 million and a fair value of $95.0 million at March 31, 2015 that are callable at the discretion of the issuers.  Final maturities of the callable securities range from 6 months to 22 years, with call features ranging from 1 month to 2 years.

Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Assessment
The Corporation assesses whether the decline in fair value of investment securities is other-than-temporary on a regular basis. Unrealized losses on debt securities may occur from current market conditions, increases in interest rates since the time of purchase, a structural change in an investment, volatility of earnings of a specific issuer, or deterioration in credit quality of the issuer.  Management evaluates impairments in value both qualitatively and quantitatively to assess whether they are other‑than‑temporary.



- 10-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following tables summarize temporarily impaired securities, segregated by length of time the securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:
(Dollars in thousands)
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Longer
 
Total
March 31, 2015
#
 
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
 
#

 
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
 
#

 
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities

 

$—


$—

 
11

 

$26,287


($4,475
)
 
11

 

$26,287


($4,475
)
Corporate bonds
1

 
1,975

(25
)
 

 


 
1

 
1,975

(25
)
Total temporarily impaired securities
1

 

$1,975


($25
)
 
11

 

$26,287


($4,475
)
 
12

 

$28,262


($4,500
)

(Dollars in thousands)
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Longer
 
Total
December 31, 2014
#

 
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
 
#

 
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
 
#

 
Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
3

 

$20,952


($54
)
 

 

$—


$—

 
3

 

$20,952


($54
)
Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities

 


 
11

 
25,774

(4,979
)
 
11

 
25,774

(4,979
)
Corporate bonds

 


 
1

 
199

(3
)
 
1

 
199

(3
)
Total temporarily impaired securities
3

 

$20,952


($54
)
 
12

 

$25,973


($4,982
)
 
15

 

$46,925


($5,036
)

Further deterioration in credit quality of the underlying issuers of the securities, further deterioration in the condition of the financial services industry, a continuation or worsening of the current economic environment, or additional declines in real estate values, among other things, may further affect the fair value of these securities and increase the potential that certain unrealized losses be designated as other-than-temporary in future periods, and the Corporation may incur additional write-downs.

Trust Preferred Debt Securities of Individual Name Issuers
Included in debt securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2015 were 11 trust preferred security holdings issued by 7 individual companies in the banking sector.  Management believes the unrealized loss position in these holdings is attributable to the general widening of spreads for this category of debt securities issued by financial services companies since the time these securities were purchased.  Based on the information available through the filing date of this report, all individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities held in our portfolio continue to accrue and make payments as expected with no payment deferrals or defaults on the part of the issuers.  As of March 31, 2015, individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities with an amortized cost of $11.9 million and unrealized losses of $2.0 million were rated below investment grade by Standard & Poors, Inc. (“S&P”).  Management reviewed the collectibility of these securities taking into consideration such factors as the financial condition of the issuers, reported regulatory capital ratios of the issuers, credit ratings, including ratings in effect as of the reporting period date as well as credit rating changes between the reporting period date and the filing date of this report, and other information.  We noted no additional downgrades to below investment grade between the reporting period date and the filing date of this report.  Based on these analyses, management concluded that it expects to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities.  Furthermore, Washington Trust does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more‑likely‑than‑not that Washington Trust will be required to sell these securities before recovery of their cost basis, which may be maturity.  Therefore, management does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2015.




- 11-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(5)
Loans
The following is a summary of loans:
(Dollars in thousands)
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Amount

 
%

 
Amount

 
%

Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages (1)

$865,042

 
30
%
 

$843,978

 
30
%
Construction & development (2)
89,851

 
3

 
79,592

 
3

Commercial & industrial (3)
604,630

 
21

 
611,918

 
21

Total commercial
1,559,523

 
54

 
1,535,488

 
54

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
954,905

 
33

 
948,731

 
33

Homeowner construction
32,659

 
1

 
36,684

 
1

Total residential real estate
987,564

 
34

 
985,415

 
34

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines
239,537

 
8

 
242,480

 
8

Home equity loans
46,727

 
2

 
46,967

 
2

Other (4)
47,241

 
2

 
48,926

 
2

Total consumer
333,505

 
12

 
338,373

 
12

Total loans (5)

$2,880,592

 
100
%
 

$2,859,276

 
100
%
(1)
Loans primarily secured by income producing property.
(2)
Loans for construction of commercial properties, loans to developers for construction of residential properties and loans for land development.
(3)
Loans to businesses and individuals, a substantial portion of which are fully or partially collateralized by real estate.
(4)
Consumer installment loans and loans secured by general aviation aircraft and automobiles.
(5)
Includes net unamortized loan origination costs of $2.2 million and $2.1 million, respectively, and net unamortized premiums on purchased loans of $92 thousand and $94 thousand, respectively, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there were $1.24 billion and $1.21 billion, respectively, of loans pledged as collateral to the FHLBB under a blanket pledge agreement and to the FRB for the discount window. See Note 8 for additional disclosure regarding borrowings.

Nonaccrual Loans
Loans, with the exception of certain well-secured loans that are in the process of collection, are placed on nonaccrual status and interest recognition is suspended when such loans are 90 days or more overdue with respect to principal and/or interest, or sooner if considered appropriate by management. Well-secured loans are permitted to remain on accrual status provided that full collection of principal and interest is assured and the loan is in the process of collection. Loans are also placed on nonaccrual status when, in the opinion of management, full collection of principal and interest is doubtful. Interest previously accrued but not collected on such loans is reversed against current period income. Subsequent interest payments received on nonaccrual loans are applied to the outstanding principal balance of the loan or recognized as interest income depending on management’s assessment of the ultimate collectibility of the loan. Loans are removed from nonaccrual status when they have been current as to principal and interest for a period of time, the borrower has demonstrated an ability to comply with repayment terms, and when, in management’s opinion, the loans are considered to be fully collectible.



- 12-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following is a summary of nonaccrual loans, segregated by class of loans:
(Dollars in thousands)
Mar 31,
2015
 
Dec 31,
2014
Commercial:
 
 
 
Mortgages

$5,115

 

$5,315

Construction & development

 

Commercial & industrial
2,193

 
1,969

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
Mortgages
6,956

 
7,124

Homeowner construction

 

Consumer:
 
 
 
Home equity lines
1,051

 
1,217

Home equity loans
511

 
317

Other
39

 
3

Total nonaccrual loans

$15,865

 

$15,945

Accruing loans 90 days or more past due

$—

 

$—


As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, nonaccrual loans of $3.6 million and $3.2 million, respectively, were current as to the payment of principal and interest.

At March 31, 2015, there were no significant commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans were on nonaccrual status.

Past Due Loans
Past due status is based on the contractual payment terms of the loan. The following tables present an age analysis of past due loans, segregated by class of loans:
(Dollars in thousands)
Days Past Due
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2015
30-59
 
60-89
 
Over 90
 
Total Past Due
 
Current
 
Total Loans
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$497

 

$61

 

$5,115

 

$5,673

 

$859,369

 

$865,042

Construction & development

 

 

 

 
89,851

 
89,851

Commercial & industrial
229

 
229

 
721

 
1,179

 
603,451

 
604,630

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
4,470

 
1,352

 
3,607

 
9,429

 
945,476

 
954,905

Homeowner construction

 

 

 

 
32,659

 
32,659

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines
1,244

 
429

 
463

 
2,136

 
237,401

 
239,537

Home equity loans
213

 
111

 
255

 
579

 
46,148

 
46,727

Other
55

 
25

 
5

 
85

 
47,156

 
47,241

Total loans

$6,708

 

$2,207

 

$10,166

 

$19,081

 

$2,861,511

 

$2,880,592




- 13-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands)
Days Past Due
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
30-59
 
60-89
 
Over 90
 
Total Past Due
 
Current
 
Total Loans
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$—

 

$—

 

$5,315

 

$5,315

 

$838,663

 

$843,978

Construction & development

 

 

 

 
79,592

 
79,592

Commercial & industrial
2,136

 
1,202

 
181

 
3,519

 
608,399

 
611,918

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
2,943

 
821

 
3,284

 
7,048

 
941,683

 
948,731

Homeowner construction

 

 

 

 
36,684

 
36,684

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines
570

 
100

 
841

 
1,511

 
240,969

 
242,480

Home equity loans
349

 
240

 
56

 
645

 
46,322

 
46,967

Other
35

 
5

 

 
40

 
48,886

 
48,926

Total loans

$6,033

 

$2,368

 

$9,677

 

$18,078

 

$2,841,198

 

$2,859,276


Included in past due loans as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, were nonaccrual loans of $12.3 million and $12.7 million, respectively. All loans 90 days or more past due at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were classified as nonaccrual.

Impaired Loans
Impaired loans consist of nonaccrual commercial loans, troubled debt restructured loans and other loans classified as impaired that are individually evaluated for impairment. Impaired loans are loans for which it is probable that the Corporation will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreements and loans restructured in a troubled debt restructuring. Impaired loans do not include large groups of smaller-balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment, which consist of most residential mortgage loans and consumer loans.



- 14-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following is a summary of impaired loans:
(Dollars in thousands)
Recorded Investment (1)
 
Unpaid Principal
 
Related Allowance
 
Mar 31,
2015
 
Dec 31,
2014
 
Mar 31,
2015
 
Dec 31,
2014
 
Mar 31,
2015
 
Dec 31,
2014
No Related Allowance Recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$205

 

$432

 

$205

 

$432

 

$—

 

$—

Construction & development

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial & industrial
1,322

 
1,047

 
1,323

 
1,076

 

 

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
1,618

 
1,477

 
1,912

 
1,768

 

 

Homeowner construction

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines

 

 

 

 

 

Home equity loans

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Subtotal
3,145

 
2,956

 
3,440

 
3,276

 

 

With Related Allowance Recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$14,384

 

$14,585

 

$14,564

 

$14,564

 

$1,173

 

$927

Construction & development

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial & industrial
1,754

 
1,878

 
2,305

 
2,437

 
185

 
177

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
1,296

 
2,226

 
1,423

 
2,338

 
222

 
326

Homeowner construction

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines
244

 
250

 
250

 
250

 
76

 
141

Home equity loans
72

 
45

 
116

 
62

 
1

 
12

Other
151

 
112

 
151

 
114

 

 

Subtotal
17,901

 
19,096

 
18,809

 
19,765

 
1,657

 
1,583

Total impaired loans

$21,046

 

$22,052

 

$22,249

 

$23,041

 

$1,657

 

$1,583

Total:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial

$17,665

 

$17,942

 

$18,397

 

$18,509

 

$1,358

 

$1,104

Residential real estate
2,914

 
3,703

 
3,335

 
4,106

 
222

 
326

Consumer
467

 
407

 
517

 
426

 
77

 
153

Total impaired loans

$21,046

 

$22,052

 

$22,249

 

$23,041

 

$1,657

 

$1,583

(1)
The recorded investment in impaired loans consists of unpaid principal balance net of charge-offs, interest payments received applied to principal and unamortized deferred loan origination fees and costs. For impaired accruing loans (troubled debt restructurings for which management has concluded that the collectibility of the loan is not in doubt), the recorded investment also includes accrued interest.



- 15-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents the average recorded investment balance of impaired loans and interest income recognized on impaired loans segregated by loan class:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Average Recorded Investment
 
Interest Income Recognized
Three months ended March 31,
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$14,942

 

$28,340

 

$79

 

$165

Construction & development

 

 

 

Commercial & industrial
3,036

 
2,366

 
19

 
23

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
3,457

 
3,744

 
16

 
14

Homeowner construction

 

 

 

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines
247

 
134

 

 
1

Home equity loans
74

 
95

 

 
1

Other
146

 
125

 
3

 
2

Totals

$21,902

 

$34,804

 

$117

 

$206


Troubled Debt Restructurings
Loans are considered restructured in a troubled debt restructuring when the Corporation has granted concessions to a borrower due to the borrower’s financial condition that it otherwise would not have considered. These concessions may include modifications of the terms of the debt such as deferral of payments, extension of maturity, reduction of principal balance, reduction of the stated interest rate other than normal market rate adjustments, or a combination of these concessions. Debt may be bifurcated with separate terms for each tranche of the restructured debt. Restructuring a loan in lieu of aggressively enforcing the collection of the loan may benefit the Corporation by increasing the ultimate probability of collection.

Restructured loans are classified as accruing or non-accruing based on management’s assessment of the collectibility of the loan. Loans which are already on nonaccrual status at the time of the restructuring generally remain on nonaccrual status for approximately six months before management considers such loans for return to accruing status. Accruing restructured loans are placed into nonaccrual status if and when the borrower fails to comply with the restructured terms and management deems it unlikely that the borrower will return to a status of compliance in the near term.

Troubled debt restructurings are reported as such for at least one year from the date of the restructuring. In years after the restructuring, troubled debt restructured loans are removed from this classification if the restructuring did not involve a below-market rate concession and the loan is not deemed to be impaired based on the terms specified in the restructuring agreement.

Troubled debt restructurings are classified as impaired loans. The Corporation identifies loss allocations for impaired loans on an individual loan basis. The recorded investment in troubled debt restructurings was $17.7 million and $18.4 million, respectively, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. These amounts included accrued interest of $30 thousand and $33 thousand, respectively. The allowance for loan losses included specific reserves for these troubled debt restructurings of $1.5 million and $1.2 million, respectively, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. As of March 31, 2015, there were no significant commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans had been restructured.



- 16-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table presents loans modified as a troubled debt restructuring:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Outstanding Recorded Investment (1)
 
# of Loans
 
Pre-Modifications
 
Post-Modifications
Three months ended March 31,
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

 

 

$—

 

$—

 

$—

 

$—

Construction & development

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial & industrial
1

 

 
300

 

 
300

 

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
1

 
2

 
93

 
479

 
93

 
479

Homeowner construction

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines

 

 

 

 

 

Home equity loans

 

 

 

 

 

Other
1

 

 
35

 

 
35

 

Totals
3

 
2

 

$428

 

$479

 

$428

 

$479

(1)
The recorded investment in troubled debt restructurings consists of unpaid principal balance, net of charge-offs and unamortized deferred loan origination fees and costs, at the time of the restructuring. For accruing troubled debt restructured loans, the recorded investment also includes accrued interest.

The following table provides information on how loans were modified as a troubled debt restructuring:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Three months ended March 31,
2015

 
2014

Below-market interest rate concession

$335

 

$—

Payment deferral
93

 
479

Maturity / amortization concession

 

Interest only payments

 

Combination (1)

 

Total

$428

 

$479

(1)
Loans included in this classification were modified with a combination of any two of the concessions listed in this table.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


- 17-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents loans modified in a troubled debt restructuring within the previous twelve months for which there was a payment default:
(Dollars in thousands)
# of Loans
 
Recorded Investment (1)
Three months ended March 31,
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

 

 

$—

 

$—

Construction & development

 

 

 

Commercial & industrial
2

 
6

 
11

 
1,191

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
2

 

 
338

 

Homeowner construction

 

 

 

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines

 

 

 

Home equity loans

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

Totals
4

 
6

 

$349

 

$1,191

(1)
The recorded investment in troubled debt restructurings consists of unpaid principal balance, net of charge-offs and unamortized deferred loan origination fees and costs. For accruing troubled debt restructured loans, the recorded investment also includes accrued interest.

Credit Quality Indicators
Commercial
The Corporation utilizes an internal rating system to assign a risk to each of its commercial loans. Loans are rated on a scale of 1 to 10. This scale can be assigned to three broad categories including “pass” for ratings 1 through 6, “special mention” for 7-rated loans, and “classified” for loans rated 8, 9 or 10. The loan rating system takes into consideration parameters including the borrower’s financial condition, the borrower’s performance with respect to loan terms, the adequacy of collateral, the adequacy of guarantees and other credit quality characteristics. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the weighted average risk rating of the Corporation’s commercial loan portfolio was 4.68 and 4.67, respectively. For non-impaired loans, the Corporation assigns a loss allocation factor to each loan, based on its risk rating for purposes of establishing an appropriate allowance for loan losses. See Note 6 for additional information.

A description of the commercial loan categories are as follows:

Pass - Loans with acceptable credit quality, defined as ranging from superior or very strong to a status of lesser stature. Superior or very strong credit quality is characterized by a high degree of cash collateralization or strong balance sheet liquidity. Lesser stature loans have an acceptable level of credit quality but exhibit some weakness in various credit metrics such as collateral adequacy, cash flow, secondary sources of repayment, or performance inconsistency or may be in an industry or of a loan type known to have a higher degree of risk.

Special Mention - Loans with potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the asset or in the Bank’s position as creditor at some future date. Special Mention assets are not adversely classified and do not expose the Bank to sufficient risk to warrant adverse classification. Examples of these conditions include but are not limited to outdated or poor quality financial data, strains on liquidity and leverage, losses or negative trends in operating results, marginal cash flow, weaknesses in occupancy rates or trends in the case of commercial real estate and frequent delinquencies.

Classified - Loans identified as “substandard”, “doubtful” or “loss” based on criteria consistent with guidelines provided by banking regulators. A “substandard” loan has defined weaknesses which make payment default or principal exposure likely, but not yet certain. Such loans are apt to be dependent upon collateral liquidation, a secondary source of repayment or an event outside of the normal course of business. The loans are closely watched and are either already on nonaccrual status or may be placed on nonaccrual status when management determines there is uncertainty of collectibility. A “doubtful” loan is placed on non-accrual status and has a high probability of loss, but the extent of the loss is difficult to quantify due to dependency upon


- 18-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

collateral having a value that is difficult to determine or upon some near-term event which lacks certainty. A loan in the “loss” category is considered generally uncollectible or the timing or amount of payments cannot be determined. “Loss” is not intended to imply that the loan has no recovery value but rather it is not practical or desirable to continue to carry the asset.

The Corporation’s procedures call for loan ratings and classifications to be revised whenever information becomes available that indicates a change is warranted. The criticized loan portfolio, which consists of commercial loans that are risk rated special mention or worse, are reviewed by management on a quarterly basis, focusing on the current status and strategies to improve the credit. An annual loan review program is conducted by a third party to provide an independent evaluation of the creditworthiness of the commercial loan portfolio, the quality of the underwriting and credit risk management practices and the appropriateness of the risk rating classifications. This review is supplemented with selected targeted internal reviews of the commercial loan portfolio.

The following table presents the commercial loan portfolio, segregated by category of credit quality indicator:
(Dollars in thousands)
Pass
 
Special Mention
 
Classified
 
Mar 31,
2015
 
Dec 31,
2014
 
Mar 31,
2015
 
Dec 31,
2014
 
Mar 31,
2015
 
Dec 31,
2014
Mortgages

$842,516

 

$819,857

 

$17,207

 

$18,372

 

$5,319

 

$5,749

Construction & development
89,851

 
79,592

 

 

 

 

Commercial & industrial
586,370

 
592,206

 
15,536

 
16,311

 
2,724

 
3,401

Total commercial loans

$1,518,737

 

$1,491,655

 

$32,743

 

$34,683

 

$8,043

 

$9,150


Residential and Consumer
The residential and consumer portfolios are monitored on an ongoing basis by the Corporation using delinquency information and loan type as credit quality indicators. These credit quality indicators are assessed on an aggregate basis in these relatively homogeneous portfolios. For non-impaired loans, the Corporation assigns loss allocation factors to each respective loan type and delinquency status. See Note 6 for additional information.

Various other techniques are utilized to monitor indicators of credit deterioration in the portfolios of residential real estate mortgages and home equity lines and loans. Among these techniques is the periodic tracking of loans with an updated FICO score and an estimated loan to value (“LTV”) ratio. LTV is determined via statistical modeling analyses. The indicated LTV levels are estimated based on such factors as the location, the original LTV, and the date of origination of the loan and do not reflect actual appraisal amounts. The results of these analyses and other loan review procedures are taken into consideration in the determination of loss allocation factors for residential mortgage and home equity consumer credits. See Note 6 for additional information.

The following table presents the residential and consumer loan portfolios, segregated by category of credit quality indicator:
(Dollars in thousands)
Current and Under 90 Days Past Due
 
Over 90 Days
Past Due
 
Mar 31,
2015
 
Dec 31,
2014
 
Mar 31,
2015
 
Dec 31,
2014
Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accruing mortgages

$947,949

 

$941,607

 

$—

 

$—

Nonaccrual mortgages
3,349

 
3,840

 
3,607

 
3,284

Homeowner construction
32,659

 
36,684

 

 

Total residential loans

$983,957

 

$982,131

 

$3,607

 

$3,284

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines

$239,074

 

$241,639

 

$463

 

$841

Home equity loans
46,472

 
46,911

 
255

 
56

Other
47,236

 
48,926

 
5

 

Total consumer loans

$332,782

 

$337,476

 

$723

 

$897



- 19-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)


(6)
Allowance for Loan Losses
The allowance for loan losses is management’s best estimate of the inherent risk of loss in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. The allowance is increased by provisions charged to earnings and by recoveries of amounts previously charged off, and is reduced by charge-offs on loans. The Corporation uses a methodology to systematically measure the amount of estimated loan loss exposure inherent in the loan portfolio for purposes of establishing a sufficient allowance for loan losses. The methodology includes three elements: (1) identification of loss allocations for individual loans deemed to be impaired, (2) application of loss allocation factors for non-impaired loans based on credit grade, historical loss experience, estimated loss emergence period and delinquency status, with adjustments for various exposures not adequately presented in historical loss experience, and (3) an unallocated allowance maintained for measurement imprecision associated with impaired and nonaccrual loans.

Loss allocations for loans deemed to be impaired are measured on a discounted cash flow method based upon the loan’s contractual effective interest rate, or at the loan’s observable market price, or, if the loan is collateral dependent, at the fair value of the collateral. For collateral dependent loans for which repayment is dependent on the sale of the collateral, management adjusts the fair value for estimated costs to sell. For collateral dependent loans for which repayment is dependent on the operation of the collateral, such as accruing troubled debt restructured loans, estimated costs to sell are not incorporated into the measurement. Management may also adjust appraised values to reflect estimated market value declines or apply other discounts to appraised values for unobservable factors resulting from its knowledge of circumstances associated with the property.

Individual commercial loans not deemed to be impaired are evaluated using an internal rating system and the application of loss allocation factors. The loan rating system is described under the caption “Credit Quality Indicators” in Note 5. The loan rating system and the related loss allocation factors take into consideration parameters including the borrower’s financial condition, the borrower’s performance with respect to loan terms, the adequacy of collateral and the adequacy of guarantees. We periodically reassess and revise the loss allocation factors used in the assignment of loss exposure to appropriately reflect our analysis of migrational loss experience. Revisions to loss allocation factors are not retroactively applied. We analyze historical loss experience over periods deemed to be relevant to the inherent risk of loss in the commercial loan portfolio and the related estimate of the loss emergence period as of the balance sheet date. We also adjust loss factor allocations for various exposures we believe are not adequately presented in historical loss experience, including our assessments of credit risk associated with certain industries, an ongoing trend toward larger credit relationships, recent changes in portfolio composition, conditions that may affect the ability of borrowers to meet debt service requirements, trends in rental rates on commercial real estate and conditions that may affect the collateral position, such as environmental matters.

Portfolios of more homogeneous populations of loans, including the various categories of residential mortgages and consumer loans, are analyzed as groups, with loss allocation factors assigned to each group based on account delinquency status. We periodically reassess and revise the loss allocation factors. Revisions to loss allocation factors are not retroactively applied. We analyze historical loss experience over periods deemed to be relevant to the inherent risk of loss in residential mortgage and consumer loan portfolios and the related estimate of the loss emergence period as of the balance sheet date. We also adjust loss factor allocations for various exposures we believe are not adequately presented in historical loss experience including trends in real estate values, consideration of general economic conditions, increases in delinquency levels and regulatory changes affecting the foreclosure process. These matters are also evaluated taking into account the geographic location of the underlying loans.

Because the methodology is based upon historical experience and trends, current economic data as well as management’s judgment, factors may arise that result in different estimations. Significant factors that could give rise to changes in these estimates may include, but are not limited to, changes in economic conditions in our market area, concentration of risk and declines in local property values. Adversely different conditions or assumptions could lead to increases in the allowance. In addition, various regulatory agencies periodically review the allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require additions to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



- 20-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses for three months ended March 31, 2015:
(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
 
Construction
 
C&I (1)
 
Total Commercial
 
Residential
 
Consumer
 
Un-allocated
 
Total
Beginning Balance

$8,202

 

$1,300

 

$7,987

 

$17,489

 

$5,430

 

$2,713

 

$2,391

 

$28,023

Charge-offs
(200
)
 

 
(7
)
 
(207
)
 
(48
)
 
(66
)
 

 
(321
)
Recoveries
80

 

 
14

 
94

 
2

 
12

 

 
108

Provision
249

 
(71
)
 
(191
)
 
(13
)
 
(29
)
 
72

 
(30
)
 

Ending Balance

$8,331

 

$1,229

 

$7,803

 

$17,363

 

$5,355

 

$2,731

 

$2,361

 

$27,810

(1) Commercial & industrial loans.

The following table presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses for three months ended March 31, 2014. Prior to December 31, 2014, the unallocated allowance included amounts for management’s qualitative and quantitative assessment of certain other loan portfolio risks not captured in other components of the allowance. The 2014 presentation of the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment, set forth below, has been revised to conform to the December 31, 2014 presentation format. The reclassification resulted in a reduction of $5.3 million in the unallocated allowance previously reported as of March 31, 2014, with a corresponding increase to the allowance by portfolio segment. The reclassification resulted in no change in the total allowance.
(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
 
Construction
 
C&I (1)
 
Total Commercial
 
Residential
 
Consumer
 
Un-allocated
 
Total
Beginning Balance

$8,022

 

$383

 

$7,835

 

$16,240

 

$6,450

 

$2,511

 

$2,685

 

$27,886

Charge-offs
(945
)
 

 
(196
)
 
(1,141
)
 
(42
)
 
(40
)
 

 
(1,223
)
Recoveries
6

 

 
26

 
32

 
35

 
13

 

 
80

Provision
(536
)
 
(114
)
 
805

 
155

 
705

 
93

 
(653
)
 
300

Ending Balance

$6,547

 

$269

 

$8,470

 

$15,286

 

$7,148

 

$2,577

 

$2,032

 

$27,043

(1) Commercial & industrial loans.



- 21-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents the Corporation’s loan portfolio and associated allowance for loan loss by portfolio segment and by impairment methodology:
(Dollars in thousands)
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Loans
 
Related Allowance
 
Loans
 
Related Allowance
Loans Individually Evaluated for Impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$14,563

 

$1,173

 

$14,991

 

$927

Construction & development

 

 

 

Commercial & industrial
3,074

 
185

 
2,921

 
177

Residential real estate
2,912

 
222

 
3,698

 
326

Consumer
467

 
77

 
409

 
153

Subtotal

$21,016

 

$1,657

 

$22,019

 

$1,583

Loans Collectively Evaluated for Impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$850,479

 

$7,158

 

$828,987

 

$7,275

Construction & development
89,851

 
1,229

 
79,592

 
1,300

Commercial & industrial
601,556

 
7,618

 
608,997

 
7,810

Residential real estate
984,652

 
5,133

 
981,717

 
5,104

Consumer
333,038

 
2,654

 
337,964

 
2,560

Subtotal

$2,859,576

 

$23,792

 

$2,837,257

 

$24,049

Unallocated

 
2,361

 

 
2,391

Total

$2,880,592

 

$27,810

 

$2,859,276

 

$28,023


(7)
Time Certificates of Deposit
The following table presents scheduled maturities of time certificates of deposit:
(Dollars in thousands)
Scheduled Maturity
 
Weighted Average Rate
April 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015

$296,731

 
0.67
%
2016
177,667

 
1.02

2017
152,730

 
1.11

2018
77,579

 
1.35

2019
122,693

 
1.76

2020 and thereafter
25,221

 
1.52

Balance at March 31, 2015

$852,621

 
1.07
%
 
 


- 22-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)


(8)
Borrowings
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances
Advances payable to the FHLBB amounted to $386.0 million and $406.3 million, respectively, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

The following table presents maturities and weighted average interest rates on FHLBB advances outstanding as of March 31, 2015:
(Dollars in thousands)
Total Outstanding
 
Weighted
Average Rate
April 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015

$160,520

 
0.49
%
2016
31,792

 
0.60
%
2017
30,075

 
5.44
%
2018
58,634

 
1.56
%
2019
42,661

 
4.40
%
2020 and thereafter
62,310

 
3.17
%
Balance at March 31, 2015

$385,992

 
1.91
%

As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Bank also has access to an unused line of credit with the FHLBB amounting to $40.0 million. In addition, the FHLBB has issued standby letters of credit to depositor customers of the Bank to collateralize public deposits. The Bank’s FHLBB borrowings, line of credit and letters of credit are collateralized by a blanket pledge agreement on the Bank’s FHLBB stock, certain qualified investment securities and loans, as well as amounts maintained on deposit at the FHLBB. The Bank’s unused remaining available borrowing capacity at the FHLBB was approximately $613.7 million and $569.4 million, respectively, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.



- 23-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(9)
Shareholders’ Equity
Regulatory Capital Requirements
The following table presents the Corporation’s and the Bank’s actual capital amounts and ratios, as well as the corresponding minimum required capital ratios and minimum capital ratios required for the Bank to be “well capitalized” for purposes of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (“FDIC”) prompt corrective action provisions:
(Dollars in thousands)
Actual
 
For Capital Adequacy Purposes
 
To Be “Well Capitalized” Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
March 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation

$352,521

 
12.80
%
 

$220,262

 
8.00
%
 

N/A

 
N/A
Bank
347,674

 
12.63

 
220,187

 
8.00

 
275,234

 
10.00
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation
324,375

 
11.78

 
165,196

 
6.00

 
N/A

 
N/A
Bank
319,528

 
11.61

 
165,140

 
6.00

 
220,187

 
8.00
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets): (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation
302,376

 
10.98

 
123,897

 
4.50

 
N/A

 
N/A
Bank
319,528

 
11.61

 
123,855

 
4.50

 
178,902

 
6.50
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets): (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation
324,375

 
9.21

 
140,864

 
4.00

 
N/A

 
N/A
Bank
319,528

 
9.08

 
140,738

 
4.00

 
175,922

 
5.00
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation
343,934

 
12.56

 
219,149

 
8.00

 
273,936

 
N/A
Bank
339,268

 
12.39

 
219,075

 
8.00

 
273,844

 
10.00
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation
315,575

 
11.52

 
109,574

 
4.00

 
164,361

 
N/A
Bank
310,909

 
11.35

 
109,537

 
4.00

 
164,306

 
6.00
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets): (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation
315,575

 
9.14

 
138,090

 
4.00

 
172,612

 
N/A
Bank
310,909

 
9.01

 
137,964

 
4.00

 
172,454

 
5.00
(1)
New capital ratio effective January 1, 2015 under the Basel III capital requirements. See additional discussion of Basel III and the new regulatory capital requirements in the “Supervision and Regulation” section in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.
(2)    Leverage ratio.

(10)
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Corporation’s derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing, and duration of the Corporation’s known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments principally to manage the Corporation’s interest rate risk. Additionally, the Corporation enters into interest rate derivatives to accommodate the business requirements of its customers. All derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and are measured at fair value.  The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative and resulting designation.

Interest Rate Risk Management Agreements
Interest rate swaps are used from time to time as part of the Corporation’s interest rate risk management strategy.  Swaps are agreements in which the Corporation and another party agree to exchange interest payments (e.g., fixed-rate for variable-rate payments) computed on a notional principal amount.  The credit risk associated with swap transactions is the risk of default by the counterparty.  To minimize this risk, the Corporation enters into interest rate agreements only with highly rated counterparties that management believes to be creditworthy.  The notional amounts of these agreements do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, thus, are not a measure of the potential loss exposure.



- 24-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Cash Flow Hedging Instruments
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Bancorp had two interest rate swap contracts designated as cash flow hedges to hedge the interest rate associated with $22.7 million of variable rate junior subordinated debentures. The effective portion of the changes in fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges is recorded in other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified to earnings when gains or losses are realized.  The ineffective portion of changes in fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings as interest expense.  As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Bancorp has pledged collateral to derivative counterparties in the form of cash totaling $800 thousand and $939 thousand, respectively.  The Bancorp may need to post additional collateral in the future in proportion to potential increases in unrealized loss positions.

Customer Related Derivative Contracts
The Corporation has entered into interest rate swap contracts to help commercial loan borrowers manage their interest rate risk.  The interest rate swap contracts with commercial loan borrowers allow them to convert floating-rate loan payments to fixed-rate loan payments.  When we enter into an interest rate swap contract with a commercial loan borrower, we simultaneously enter into a “mirror” swap contract with a third party.  The third party exchanges the client’s fixed‑rate loan payments for floating-rate loan payments.  We retain the risk that is associated with the potential failure of counterparties and the risk inherent in originating loans.  As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, Washington Trust had interest rate swap contracts with commercial loan borrowers with notional amounts of $209.4 million and $165.8 million, respectively, and equal amounts of “mirror” swap contracts with third-party financial institutions.  These derivatives are not designated as hedges and therefore, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings.

Risk Participation Agreements
In 2015, the Corporation entered into a risk participation agreement (“RPA”) with another bank participating in a commercial loan arrangement. The participating bank guarantees the performance on a borrower-related interest rate swap contract. The RPA represents a purchased guarantee that is recorded as an asset and under the RPA the Corporation participates out the risk associated with the interest rate swap position executed with the commercial borrower, for a net fee paid to the participating bank, classified in net gains on interest rate swap contracts. The RPA derivative asset is recorded at fair value and changes in the fair value of the derivative asset are recognized in earnings in the period of change. As of March 31, 2015, the notional amount of the RPA was $12.5 million.

Loan Commitments
Interest rate lock commitments are extended to borrowers and relate to the origination of residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale.  To mitigate the interest rate risk inherent in these rate locks, as well as closed residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale, forward commitments are established to sell individual residential real estate mortgage loans.  Both interest rate lock commitments and commitments to sell residential real estate mortgage loans are derivative financial instruments, but do not meet criteria for hedge accounting and, as such are treated as derivatives not designated as hedging instruments. These derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value and changes in fair value of these commitments are reflected in earnings in the period of change. The Corporation has elected to carry certain closed residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale at fair value, as changes in fair value in these loans held for sale generally offset changes in interest rate lock and forward sale commitments.



- 25-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents the fair values of derivative instruments in the Corporation’s Consolidated Balance Sheets:
(Dollars in thousands)
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
Fair Value
 
 
Fair Value
 
Balance Sheet Location
Mar 31, 2015
 
Dec 31, 2014
 
Balance Sheet Location
Mar 31, 2015
 
Dec 31, 2014
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate risk management contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap contracts
Other assets

$—

 

$—

 
Other liabilities

$367

 

$497

Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Forward loan commitments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
Other assets
1,769

 
1,212

 
Other liabilities
5

 
20

Commitments to sell mortgage loans
Other assets
14

 
13

 
Other liabilities
2,970

 
2,028

Customer related derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps with customers
Other assets
7,415

 
4,554

 
Other liabilities

 
23

Mirror swaps with counterparties
Other assets

 
28

 
Other liabilities
7,699

 
4,748

Risk participation agreement
Other assets
47

 

 
Other liabilities

 

Total
 

$9,245

 

$5,807

 
 

$11,041

 

$7,316


The following tables present the effect of derivative instruments in the Corporation’s Consolidated Statements of Income and Changes in Shareholders’ Equity:
(Dollars in thousands)
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Effective Portion)
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)
 
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income (Ineffective Portion)
Three months ended March 31,
2015
 
2014
 
 
2015
 
2014
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate risk management contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap contracts

$85

 

$76

 
Interest Expense
 

$—

 

$—

Total

$85

 

$76

 
 
 

$—

 

$—


(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative
Three months ended March 31,
Statement of Income Location
2015
 
2014
Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
 
Forward loan commitments:
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
Net gains on loan sales & commissions on loans originated for others

$572

 

$277

Commitments to sell mortgage loans
Net gains on loan sales & commissions on loans originated for others
(941
)
 
(313
)
Customer related derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps with customers
Net gains on interest rate swap contracts
3,633

 
1,030

Mirror swaps with counterparties
Net gains on interest rate swap contracts
(2,836
)
 
(770
)
Risk participation agreement
Net gains on interest rate swap contracts
(152
)
 

Total
 

$276

 

$224




- 26-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(11)
Fair Value Measurements
The Corporation uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures.  As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, securities available for sale, certain residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale and derivatives are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.  Additionally, from time to time, we may be required to record at fair value other assets on a nonrecurring basis, such as collateral dependent impaired loans, property acquired through foreclosure or repossession, certain residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale and mortgage servicing rights.  These nonrecurring fair value adjustments typically involve the application of lower of cost or market accounting or write-downs of individual assets.

Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement.  Fair value measurements are determined based on the assumptions the market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.  In addition, GAAP specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the types of valuation information (“inputs”) are observable or unobservable.  Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Corporation’s market assumptions.  These two types of inputs have created the following fair value hierarchy:

Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.
Level 3 – Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable in the markets and which reflect the Corporation’s market assumptions.

Fair Value Option Election
GAAP allows for the irrevocable option to elect fair value accounting for the initial and subsequent measurement for certain financial assets and liabilities on a contract-by-contract basis. The Corporation elected the fair value option for certain residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale to better match changes in fair value of the loans with changes in the fair value of the derivative loan sale contracts used to economically hedge them.

The aggregate principal amount of the residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale recorded at fair value was $35.6 million and $29.5 million, respectively, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. The aggregate fair value of these loans as of the same dates was $36.7 million and $30.3 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate fair value of residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale exceeded the aggregate principal amount by $1.1 million and $779 thousand, respectively.

There were no residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale 90 days or more past due as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

The following table presents the changes in fair value related to mortgage loans held for sale, interest rate lock commitments and commitments to sell residential real estate mortgage loans, for which the fair value option was elected. Changes in fair values are reported as a component of net gains on loan sales and commissions on loans originated for others in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Three months ended March 31,
2015

 
2014

Mortgage loans held for sale

$341

 

$76

Interest rate lock commitments
572

 
277

Commitments to sell mortgage loans
(941
)
 
(313
)
Total changes in fair value

($28
)
 

$40


Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Securities
Securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.  When available, the Corporation uses quoted market prices to determine the fair value of securities; such items are classified as Level 1. There were no Level 1 securities held at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.



- 27-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Level 2 securities include debt securities with quoted prices, which are traded less frequently than exchange-traded instruments, whose value is determined using matrix pricing with inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.  This category generally includes obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises, mortgage‑backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government‑sponsored enterprises, obligations of states and political subdivisions, trust preferred debt securities and corporate bonds.

Securities not actively traded whose fair value is determined through the use of cash flows utilizing inputs that are unobservable are classified as Level 3. There were no Level 3 securities held at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
The fair values of mortgage loans held for sale are generally estimated based on secondary market rates offered for loans with similar characteristics. When secondary market information exists, these loans are classified as Level 2. In certain cases when quoted market prices are not available, fair value is determined by utilizing a discounted cash flow analysis and these assets are classified as Level 3. Any changes in the valuation of mortgage loans held for sale is based upon the change in market interest rates between the loan closing date and the measurement date and an immaterial portion attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit risk. There were no Level 3 mortgage loans held for sale at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Derivatives
Interest rate swap contracts are traded in over-the-counter markets where quoted market prices are not readily available.  Fair value measurements are determined using independent pricing models that utilize primarily market observable inputs, such as swap rates of different maturities and LIBOR rates and, accordingly, are classified as Level 2. For purposes of potential valuation adjustments to its interest rate swap contracts and risk participation agreements, the Corporation evaluates the credit risk of its counterparties as well as that of the Corporation.  Accordingly, Washington Trust considers factors such as the likelihood of default by the Corporation and its counterparties, its net exposures and remaining contractual life, among other factors, in determining if any fair value adjustments related to credit risk are required.  Counterparty exposure is evaluated by netting positions that are subject to master netting agreements, as well as considering the amount of collateral securing the position.

Level 2 fair value measurements of forward loan commitments (interest rate lock commitments and commitments to sell residential real estate mortgages) are estimated using the anticipated market price based on pricing indications provided by other financial institutions. In certain cases when quoted market prices are not available, fair value is determined by utilizing a discounted cash flow analysis and these assets are classified as Level 3. There were no Level 3 forward loan commitments held at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Collateral Dependent Impaired Loans
Collateral dependent loans that are deemed to be impaired are valued based upon the fair value of the underlying collateral. Such collateral primarily consists of real estate and, to a lesser extent, other business assets. For collateral dependent loans for which repayment is dependent on the sale of the collateral, management adjusts the fair value for estimated costs to sell. For collateral dependent loans for which repayment is dependent on the operation of the collateral, such as accruing troubled debt restructured loans, estimated costs to sell are not incorporated into the measurement. Management may also adjust appraised values to reflect estimated market value declines or apply other discounts to appraised values resulting from its knowledge of the property. Internal valuations are utilized to determine the fair value of other business assets. Collateral dependent impaired loans are categorized as Level 3.

Property Acquired Through Foreclosure or Repossession
Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets is adjusted to fair value less costs to sell upon transfer out of loans through a charge to allowance for loan losses. Subsequently, it is carried at the lower of carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. Such subsequent valuation charges are charged through earnings. Fair value is generally based upon appraised values of the collateral. Management may adjust appraised values to reflect estimated market value declines or apply other discounts to appraised values for unobservable factors resulting from its knowledge of the property, and such property is categorized as Level 3.



- 28-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Items Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following tables present the balances of assets and liabilities reported at fair value on a recurring basis:
(Dollars in thousands)
Total
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
March 31, 2015
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$31,301

 

$—

 

$31,301

 

$—

Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
233,045

 

 
233,045

 

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
44,179

 

 
44,179

 

Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities
26,287

 

 
26,287

 

Corporate bonds
6,130

 

 
6,130

 

Mortgage loans held for sale
36,672

 

 
36,672

 

Derivative assets (1)
9,245

 

 
9,245

 

Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis

$386,859

 

$—

 

$386,859

 

$—

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative liabilities (2)

$11,041

 

$—

 

$11,041

 

$—

Total liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis

$11,041

 

$—

 

$11,041

 

$—

(1)
Derivative assets include interest rate swaps contracts with customers, a risk participation agreement and forward loan commitments and are included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(2)
Derivative liabilities include mirror swaps with counterparties, interest rate risk management contracts and forward loan commitments and are included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.



- 29-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands)
Total
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$31,172

 

$—

 

$31,172

 

$—

Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
245,366

 

 
245,366

 

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
49,176

 

 
49,176

 

Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities
25,774

 

 
25,774

 

Corporate bonds
6,174

 

 
6,174

 

Mortgage loans held for sale
30,321

 

 
30,321

 

Derivative assets (1)
5,807

 

 
5,807

 

Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis

$393,790

 

$—

 

$393,790

 

$—

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative liabilities (2)

$7,316

 

$—

 

$7,316

 

$—

Total liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis

$7,316

 

$—

 

$7,316

 

$—

(1)
Derivative assets include interest rate swaps contracts with customers and forward loan commitments and are included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(2)
Derivative liabilities include mirror swaps with counterparties, interest rate risk management contracts and forward loan commitments and are included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

It is the Corporation’s policy to review and reflect transfers between Levels as of the financial statement reporting date.  During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, there were no transfers in and/or out of Level 1, 2 or 3.

Items Recorded at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Certain assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with GAAP.  These adjustments to fair value usually result from the application of lower of cost or market accounting or write-downs of individual assets.  The valuation methodologies used to measure these fair value adjustments are described above.

The following table summarizes the carrying value of such assets held at March 31, 2015, which were written down to fair value during the three months ended March 31, 2015:
(Dollars in thousands)
Total
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateral dependent impaired loans

$3,962

 

$—

 

$—

 

$3,962

Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession
318

 

 

 
318

Total assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis

$4,280

 

$—

 

$—

 

$4,280


The allowance for loan losses on collateral dependent impaired loans amounted to $1.2 million at March 31, 2015.



- 30-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table summarizes the carrying value of such assets held at December 31, 2014, which were written down to fair value during the year ended December 31, 2014:
(Dollars in thousands)
Total
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateral dependent impaired loans

$5,728

 

$—

 

$—

 

$5,728

Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession
348

 

 

 
348

Total assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis

$6,076

 

$—

 

$—

 

$6,076


The allowance for loan losses on collateral dependent impaired loans amounted to $1.3 million at December 31, 2014.

The following tables present valuation techniques and unobservable inputs for assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for which the Corporation has utilized Level 3 inputs to determine fair value:
(Dollars in thousands)
Fair Value
 
Valuation Technique
 
Unobservable Input
Range of Inputs Utilized (Weighted Average)
March 31, 2015
 
 
Collateral dependent impaired loans

$3,962

 
Appraisals of collateral
 
Discount for costs to sell
0% - 25% (10%)
 
 
 
 
 
Appraisal adjustments (1)
0% - 15% (1%)
Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession

$318

 
Appraisals of collateral
 
Discount for costs to sell
0% - 10% (6%)
 
 
 
 
 
Appraisal adjustments (1)
7% - 13% (10%)

(Dollars in thousands)
Fair Value
 
Valuation Technique
 
Unobservable Input
Range of Inputs Utilized (Weighted Average)
December 31, 2014
 
 
Collateral dependent impaired loans

$5,728

 
Appraisals of collateral
 
Discount for costs to sell
0% - 10% (2%)
 
 
 
 
 
Appraisal adjustments (1)
0% - 40% (3%)
Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession

$348

 
Appraisals of collateral
 
Discount for costs to sell
6% - 10% (8%)
 
 
 
 
 
Appraisal adjustments (1)
5% - 23% (14%)
(1)
Management may adjust appraisal values to reflect market value declines or other discounts resulting from its knowledge of the property.

Valuation of Other Financial Instruments
The methodologies for estimating the fair value of financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis are discussed above. The methodologies for other financial instruments are discussed below.

Loans
Fair values are estimated for categories of loans with similar financial characteristics. Loans are segregated by type and are then further segmented into fixed-rate and adjustable-rate interest terms to determine their fair value. The fair value of fixed-rate commercial and consumer loans is calculated by discounting scheduled cash flows through the estimated maturity of the loan using interest rates offered at the measurement date that reflect the credit and interest rate risk inherent in the loan. The estimate of maturity is based on the Corporation’s historical repayment experience. For residential mortgages, fair value is estimated by using market prices for sales of similar loans on the secondary market. The fair value of floating rate commercial and consumer loans approximates carrying value. Fair value for impaired loans is estimated using a discounted cash flow method based upon the loan’s contractual effective interest rate, or at the loan’s observable market price, or if the loan is collateral dependent, at the fair value of the collateral. Loans are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.



- 31-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Time Deposits
The discounted values of cash flows using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities were used to estimate the fair value of time deposits. Time deposits are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances
Rates currently available to the Corporation for advances with similar terms and remaining maturities are used to estimate fair value of existing advances. FHLBB advances are categorized as Level 2.

Junior Subordinated Debentures
The fair value of the junior subordinated debentures is estimated using rates currently available to the Corporation for debentures with similar terms and maturities. Junior subordinated debentures are categorized as Level 2.

The following tables present the carrying amount, estimated fair value and placement in the fair value hierarchy of the Corporation’s financial instruments. The tables exclude financial instruments for which the carrying value approximates fair value. Financial assets for which the fair value approximates carrying value include cash and cash equivalents, FHLBB stock, accrued interest receivable and bank-owned life insurance. Financial liabilities for which the fair value approximates carrying value include non-maturity deposits and accrued interest payable.
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2015
Carrying Amount
 
Total
Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Financial Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities held to maturity

$24,025

 

$24,834

 

$—

 

$24,834

 

$—

Loans, net of allowance for loan losses
2,852,782

 
2,898,369

 

 

 
2,898,369

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Time deposits

$852,621

 

$854,780

 

$—

 

$854,780

 

$—

FHLBB advances
385,992

 
400,770

 

 
400,770

 

Junior subordinated debentures
22,681

 
16,974

 

 
16,974

 


(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
Carrying Amount
 
Total
Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Financial Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities held to maturity

$25,222

 

$26,008

 

$—

 

$26,008

 

$—

Loans, net of allowance for loan losses
2,831,253

 
2,866,907

 

 

 
2,866,907

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Time deposits

$874,102

 

$872,570

 

$—

 

$872,570

 

$—

FHLBB advances
406,297

 
418,005

 

 
418,005

 

Junior subordinated debentures
22,681

 
17,201

 

 
17,201

 



- 32-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)



(12)
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
The Corporation maintains a tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan for the benefit of certain eligible employees who were hired prior to October 1, 2007. The Corporation also has non-qualified retirement plans to provide supplemental retirement benefits to certain employees, as defined in the plans. Defined benefit pension plans were previously amended to freeze benefit accruals after a 10-year transition period ending in December 2023.

The composition of net periodic benefit cost was as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
Qualified Pension Plan
 
Non-Qualified Retirement Plans
Three months ended March 31,
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost

$615

 

$538

 

$20

 

$12

Interest cost
732

 
723

 
122

 
120

Expected return on plan assets
(1,129
)
 
(1,016
)
 

 

Amortization of prior service (credit) cost
(6
)
 
(6
)
 

 

Recognized net actuarial loss
312

 
115

 
61

 
16

Net periodic benefit cost

$524

 

$354

 

$203

 

$148


The pension plan is funded on a current basis, in compliance with the requirements of ERISA.

(13)
Share-Based Compensation Arrangements
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, performance share awards were granted to certain executive officers providing the opportunity to earn shares of common stock of the Corporation. The performance shares awarded were valued at the fair market value as of the award date, or $38.02, and will be earned over a 3-year performance period. The number of shares earned will range from zero to 200% of the target number of shares dependent upon the Corporation’s core return on equity and core earnings per share growth ranking compared to an industry peer group. The current assumption based on the most recent peer group information available results in shares earned at 150% of the target, or 46,950 shares.

(14)
Business Segments
Washington Trust segregates financial information in assessing its results among its Commercial Banking and Wealth Management Services operating segments.  The amounts in the Corporate unit include activity not related to the segments. The methodologies and organizational hierarchies that define the business segments are periodically reviewed and revised.  Results may be restated, when necessary, to reflect changes in organizational structure or allocation methodology. Any changes in estimates and allocations that may affect the reported results of any business segment will not affect the consolidated financial position or results of operations of Washington Trust as a whole.

Management uses certain methodologies to allocate income and expenses to the business lines.  A funds transfer pricing methodology is used to assign interest income and interest expense to each interest-earning asset and interest-bearing liability on a matched maturity funding basis.  Certain indirect expenses are allocated to segments.  These include support unit expenses such as technology and processing operations and other support functions.

Commercial Banking
The Commercial Banking segment includes commercial, residential and consumer lending activities; equity in losses of unconsolidated investments in real estate limited partnerships; mortgage banking, secondary market and loan servicing activities; deposit generation; merchant credit card services; cash management activities; and direct banking activities, which include the operation of ATMs, telephone and Internet banking services and customer support and sales.



- 33-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Wealth Management Services
Wealth Management Services includes investment management; financial planning; personal trust services, including services as trustee, administrator, custodian and guardian; and estate settlement. Institutional trust services are also provided, including fiduciary services.

Corporate
Corporate includes the Treasury Unit, which is responsible for managing the wholesale investment portfolio and wholesale funding needs.  It also includes income from bank-owned life insurance, net gain on sale of business line as well as administrative and executive expenses not allocated to the operating segments and the residual impact of methodology allocations such as funds transfer pricing offsets.

The following table presents the statement of operations and total assets for Washington Trust’s reportable segments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial Banking
 
Wealth Management Services
 
Corporate
 
Consolidated Total
Three months ended March 31,
2015
2014
 
2015
2014
 
2015
2014
 
2015
2014
Net interest income (expense)

$20,625


$19,739

 

($14
)

($4
)
 

$5,091


$4,101

 

$25,702


$23,836

Provision for loan losses

300

 


 


 

300

Net interest income (expense) after provision for loan losses
20,625

19,439

 
(14
)
(4
)
 
5,091

4,101

 
25,702

23,536

Noninterest income
5,078

4,541

 
8,435

8,065

 
507

6,764

 
14,020

19,370

Noninterest expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization expense
671

585

 
306

311

 
60

51

 
1,037

947

Other noninterest expenses
13,587

13,553

 
5,915

5,387

 
2,992

9,405

 
22,494

28,345

Total noninterest expenses
14,258

14,138

 
6,221

5,698

 
3,052

9,456

 
23,531

29,292

Income before income taxes
11,445

9,842

 
2,200

2,363

 
2,546

1,409

 
16,191

13,614

Income tax expense
3,730

3,261

 
844

876

 
607

179

 
5,181

4,316

Net income

$7,715


$6,581

 

$1,356


$1,487

 

$1,939


$1,230

 

$11,010


$9,298

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets at period end

$3,015,691


$2,577,350

 

$52,568


$52,475

 

$534,255


$564,321

 

$3,602,514


$3,194,146

Expenditures for long-lived assets
1,067

1,075

 
114

171

 
45

45

 
1,226

1,291


(15)
Other Comprehensive Income
The following table presents the activity in other comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended March 31,
2015
 
2014
(Dollars in thousands)
Pre-tax Amounts
Income Taxes
Net of Tax
 
Pre-tax Amounts
Income Taxes
Net of Tax
Securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in fair value of securities available for sale
1,053

389

664

 
964

352

612

Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in fair value of cash flow hedges
(32
)
(24
)
(8
)
 
(43
)
(27
)
(16
)
Net cash flow hedge losses reclassified into earnings (1)
145

52

93

 
145

53

92

Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges
113

28

85

 
102

26

76

Defined benefit plan obligation adjustment (2)
367

132

235

 
88


88

Total other comprehensive income

$1,533


$549


$984

 

$1,154


$378


$776

(1)
Included in interest expense on junior subordinated debentures in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
(2)
Included in salaries and employee benefits expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.



- 34-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following tables present the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component, net of tax:

(Dollars in thousands)
Net Unrealized Gains on Available For Sale Securities
 
Noncredit -related Impairment
 
Net Unrealized Losses on Cash Flow Hedges
 
Pension Benefit Adjustment
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2014

$4,110

 

$112

 

($287
)
 

($12,744
)
 

($8,809
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
664

 

 
(8
)
 

 
656

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 
93

 
235

 
328

Net other comprehensive income
664

 

 
85

 
235

 
984

Balance at March 31, 2015

$4,774

 

$112

 

($202
)
 

($12,509
)
 

($7,825
)


(Dollars in thousands)
Net Unrealized Gains on Available For Sale Securities
 
Noncredit -related Impairment
 
Net Unrealized Losses on Cash Flow Hedges
 
Pension Benefit Adjustment
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2013

$3,089

 

$112

 

($618
)
 

($4,136
)
 

($1,553
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
612

 

 
(16
)
 

 
596

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 
92

 
88

 
180

Net other comprehensive income
612

 

 
76

 
88

 
776

Balance at March 31, 2014

$3,701

 

$112

 

($542
)
 

($4,048
)
 

($777
)



- 35-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(16)
Earnings Per Common Share
Washington Trust utilizes the two-class method earnings allocation formula to determine earnings per share of each class of stock according to dividends and participation rights in undistributed earnings.  Share-based payments that entitle holders to receive non-forfeitable dividends before vesting are considered participating securities and included in earnings allocation for computing basic earnings per share under this method.  Undistributed income is allocated to common shareholders and participating securities under the two-class method based upon the proportion of each to the total weighted average shares available.

The following table presents the calculation of earnings per common share:
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
 
Three months ended March 31,
2015

 
2014

Earnings per common share - basic:
 
 
 
Net income

$11,010

 

$9,298

Less dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities
(39
)
 
(41
)
Net income applicable to common shareholders

$10,971

 

$9,257

Weighted average common shares
16,759

 
16,626

Earnings per common share - basic

$0.65

 

$0.56

Earnings per common share - diluted:
 
 
 
Net income

$11,010

 

$9,298

Less dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities
(39
)
 
(41
)
Net income applicable to common shareholders

$10,971

 

$9,257

Weighted average common shares
16,759

 
16,626

Dilutive effect of common stock equivalents
180

 
174

Weighted average diluted common shares
16,939

 
16,800

Earnings per common share - diluted

$0.65

 

$0.55


Weighted average common stock equivalents, not included in common stock equivalents above because they were anti-dilutive, totaled 77,450 and 54,600, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

(17)
Commitments and Contingencies
Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk
The Corporation is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to manage the Corporation’s exposure to fluctuations in interest rates.  These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, interest rate swap agreements and interest rate lock commitments and commitments to sell residential real estate mortgage loans.  These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Corporation’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The contract or notional amounts of these instruments reflect the extent of involvement the Corporation has in particular classes of financial instruments.  The Corporation’s credit policies with respect to interest rate swap agreements with commercial borrowers, commitments to extend credit, and financial guarantees are similar to those used for loans.  The interest rate swaps with other counterparties are generally subject to bilateral collateralization terms.


- 36-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)


The following table presents the contractual and notional amounts of financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk:
(Dollars in thousands)
Mar 31,
2015
 
Dec 31,
2014
Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk:
 
 
 
Commitments to extend credit:
 
 
 
Commercial loans

$303,443

 

$325,402

Home equity lines
206,515

 
200,932

Other loans
47,998

 
48,551

Standby letters of credit
5,248

 
5,102

Financial instruments whose notional amounts exceed the amount of credit risk:
 
 
 
Forward loan commitments:
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
60,546

 
40,015

Commitments to sell mortgage loans
106,457

 
84,808

Customer related derivative contracts:


 


Interest rate swaps with customers
209,416

 
165,795

Mirror swaps with counterparties
209,416

 
165,795

Interest rate risk management contracts:


 


Interest rate swaps
22,681

 
22,681


Commitments to Extend Credit
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there are no violations of any condition established in the contract.  Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee.  Since some of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.  Each borrower’s creditworthiness is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.  The amount of collateral obtained is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower.

Standby Letters of Credit
Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. These standby letters of credit are primarily issued to support the financing needs of the Bank’s commercial customers. The credit risk involved in issuing standby letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. The collateral supporting those commitments is essentially the same as for other commitments. Most standby letters of credit extend for one year. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the maximum potential amount of undiscounted future payments, not reduced by amounts that may be recovered, totaled $5.2 million and $5.1 million, respectively. At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there were no liabilities to beneficiaries resulting from standby letters of credit.  Fee income on standby letters of credit was insignificant for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

Forward Loan Commitments
Interest rate lock commitments are extended to borrowers and relate to the origination of residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale. To mitigate the interest rate risk inherent in these rate locks, as well as closed residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale, forward commitments are established to sell individual residential real estate mortgage loans.  Both interest rate lock commitments and commitments to sell residential real estate mortgage loans are derivative financial instruments.

Leases
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Corporation was obligated under various non-cancellable operating leases for properties used as banking offices and other office facilities.  Lease expiration dates range from 4 months to 26 years, with renewal options on certain leases of 1 month to 25 years. Rental expense under the operating leases amounted to $790 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to $737 thousand for the same period in 2014. Rental expense is recorded as a component of net occupancy expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. There have been no significant changes in the future minimum lease payments payable from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.


- 37-



Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

 
 

(18) Sale of Business Line
On March 1, 2014, the Corporation sold its merchant processing service business line to a third party. The sale resulted in a net gain of $6.3 million; after-tax $4.0 million, or 24 cents per diluted share.  In connection with the sale, Washington Trust incurred divestiture related costs of $355 thousand; after-tax $227 thousand, or 1 cent per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2014. The net proceeds received from the sale totaled $7.2 million, including $900 thousand of deferred revenue that can be earned over a 5-year period by providing business referrals to the buyer. As of March 31, 2015, $720 thousand of deferred revenue remained to be earned under this arrangement.




- 38-


Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and in conjunction with the condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Item 1 of this report.  Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full-year ended December 31, 2015 or any future period.

Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains statements that are “forward-looking statements.”  We may also make forward-looking statements in other documents we file with the SEC, in our annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by our officers, directors or employees.  You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “assume,” “outlook,” “will,” “should,” and other expressions that predict or indicate future events and trends and which do not relate to historical matters.  You should not rely on forward-looking statements, because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control.  These risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different than the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Some of the factors that might cause these differences include the following: weakness in national, regional or international economic conditions or conditions affecting the banking or financial services industries or financial capital markets; volatility in national and international financial markets; additional government intervention in the U.S. financial system; reductions in net interest income resulting from interest rate volatility as well as changes in the balance and mix of loans and deposits; reductions in the market value of wealth management assets under administration; changes in the value of securities and other assets; reductions in loan demand; changes in loan collectibility, default and charge-off rates; changes in the size and nature of the our competition; changes in legislation or regulation and accounting principles, policies and guidelines; and changes in the assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements.  In addition, the factors described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, as updated by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings submitted to the SEC, may result in these differences.  You should carefully review all of these factors and you should be aware that there may be other factors that could cause these differences.  These forward-looking statements were based on information, plans and estimates at the date of this report, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or other changes.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Accounting policies involving significant judgments, estimates and assumptions by management, which have, or could have, a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and impact income are considered critical accounting policies.  The Corporation considers the following to be its critical accounting policies: allowance for loan losses, review of goodwill for impairment and the assessment of investment securities for impairment. There have been no significant changes in the Corporation’s critical accounting policies and estimates from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for details of recently issued accounting pronouncements and their expected impact on the Corporation’s financial statements.

Overview
Washington Trust offers a comprehensive product line of banking and financial services to individuals and businesses, including commercial, residential and consumer lending, retail and commercial deposit products, and wealth management services through its offices in Rhode Island, eastern Massachusetts and Connecticut; its ATM networks; and its Internet website at www.washtrust.com.

Our largest source of operating income is net interest income, the difference between interest earned on loans and securities and interest paid on deposits and borrowings.  In addition, we generate noninterest income from a number of sources, including wealth management services, loan sales and commissions on loans originated for others, deposit services and bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”).  Our principal noninterest expenses include salaries and employee benefits, occupancy and facility-related costs, technology and other administrative expenses.



- 39-


Our financial results are affected by interest rate fluctuations, changes in economic and market conditions, competitive conditions within our market area and changes in legislation, regulation and/or accounting principles.  While the regional economic climate has been improving in recent quarters, adverse changes in future economic growth, consumer confidence, credit availability and corporate earnings could impact our financial results. Management believes that overall credit quality has been stable to improving, generally in line with the pace of recovery in regional economic conditions.

We continued to leverage our strong, statewide brand to build market share in Rhode Island whenever possible and bring select business lines to new markets with high-growth potential while remaining steadfast in our commitment to provide superior service. In the first quarter of 2015, we opened a new full-service branch in Rumford, Rhode Island, and we plan to open another new full-service branch in Providence, Rhode Island, later in 2015 or early 2016.

Composition of Earnings
Net income for the first quarter of 2015 amounted to $11.0 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, up from $9.3 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2014. The returns on average equity and average assets for the first quarter of 2015 were 12.54% and 1.23%, respectively, compared to 11.10% and 1.17%, respectively, for the same quarter in 2014.

First quarter 2014 results included the following transactions, which reduced net income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 by $245 thousand, or 1 cent per diluted share:
On March 1, 2014, the Corporation sold its merchant processing service business line to a third party. The sale resulted in a gain of $6.3 million, after-tax $4.0 million, or 24 cents per diluted share.
In connection with this sale, the Corporation incurred divestiture related costs of $355 thousand, after-tax $227 thousand, or 1 cent per diluted share. The majority of the divestiture costs were classified as salaries and employee benefit costs.
Washington Trust also prepaid FHLBB advances totaling $99.3 million, resulting in debt prepayment penalty expense of $6.3 million, after-tax $4.0 million, or 24 cents per diluted share.

Excluding the above mentioned transactions, as well as the merchant processing fee revenue and expenses recognized prior to the consummation of the business line sale, increased profitability in 2015 as compared to 2014 reflected growth in net interest income, a decrease in the provision for loan losses, higher wealth management revenues and increased mortgage banking revenues, which were partially offset by higher salaries and employee benefit costs.

Net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 amounted to $25.7 million, up by 8% from the comparable period in 2014, reflecting growth in average loan balances. The net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earnings assets) was 3.18% for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to 3.34% for the comparable period in 2014.

Based on the assessment of the stable asset quality metrics, the relatively modest loan growth in the first quarter of 2015 and other favorable changes in loss exposure, management concluded that no provision for loan losses was necessary for the three months ended March 31, 2015. A $300 thousand loan loss provision was recognized in earnings for the comparable period in 2014.

Wealth management revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2015 totaled $8.4 million, up by 5% from the same period in 2014, due to an increase in asset-based wealth management revenues.

Net gains on loan sales and commissions on loans originated for others (“mortgage banking revenues”) for the three months ended March 31, 2015 amounted to $2.6 million, up by 109% from the same period in 2014, due to an increase in residential mortgage loan sales activity.

Salaries and employee benefit costs, the largest component of noninterest expenses, totaled $15.5 million, up by 6% from the same period in 2014, largely due to increases in our mortgage banking area and wealth management business line.

Results of Operations
Segment Reporting
Washington Trust manages its operations through two business segments, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management Services.  Activity not related to the segments, such as investment securities portfolio, wholesale funding activities, net gain on sale of business line, income from BOLI and administrative expenses are not allocated to the operating segments and are


- 40-


considered Corporate.  The Corporate unit also includes the residual impact of methodology allocations such as funds transfer pricing offsets.  Methodologies used to allocate income and expenses to business lines are periodically reviewed and revised. See Note 14 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional disclosure related to business segments.

The Commercial Banking segment reported net income of $7.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to $6.6 million for the same period in 2014. Net interest income for this operating segment for the three months ended March 31, 2015, increased by $886 thousand, or 4%, from the same period in 2014, primarily due to growth in interest-earning assets. However, the increase was impacted by lower yields on loans as well as narrower spreads in the funds transfer pricing allocation with the Corporate unit. Due to stable and favorable trends in asset quality and credit quality indicators and relatively modest loan growth in the first quarter of 2015, no loan loss provision was recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to a $300 thousand loan loss provision charged to earnings in the same quarter in 2014. Noninterest income derived from the Commercial Banking segment totaled $5.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, up by $537 thousand, or 12%, from the comparable 2014 period. The increase in noninterest income was largely due to higher mortgage banking revenues and customer-related interest rate swap fee income, partially offset by a decrease in merchant processing fee revenue, due to the sale of this business line on March 1, 2014. The decrease in merchant processing fee revenue corresponded to a decline in merchant processing costs included in this operating segment’s noninterest expenses. Commercial Banking noninterest expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were up modestly from the same period in 2014, reflecting increases in salaries and employee benefit costs and net occupancy costs, which were partially offset by a decline in merchant processing costs.

The Wealth Management Services segment reported net income of $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to $1.5 million for the same period in 2014. Noninterest income derived from the Wealth Management Services segment was $8.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, up by 5% compared to the same period in 2014, due to an increase in asset-based wealth management revenues.  Wealth Management assets under administration totaled $5.2 billion at March 31, 2015, up by 2% from December 31, 2014 and up by 7% from March 31, 2014. Noninterest expenses for the Wealth Management Services segment totaled $6.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, up by $523 thousand, or 9%, from the same period in 2014, primarily due to an increase in salaries and benefit costs.

Net income attributed to the Corporate unit amounted to $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2014. The Corporate unit’s net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 increased by $1.0 million from the comparable 2014 period, largely due to a favorable change in net funds transfer pricing offsets with the Commercial Banking segment, partially offset by a decrease in interest and dividend income. Noninterest income for the Corporate unit for the three months ended March 31, 2015 decreased by $6.3 million, compared to the same period a year ago, due to the gain on the sale of the merchant processing services business line recognized in the first quarter of 2014. The Corporate unit’s noninterest expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 decreased by $6.4 million from the same period in 2014, largely due to debt prepayment penalty expense recognized in the first quarter of 2014. See additional discussion regarding these noninterest income and expense items in the “Overview” section under the caption “Composition of Earnings.”

Net Interest Income
Net interest income continues to be the primary source of our operating income.  Net interest income is affected by the level of interest rates, changes in interest rates and changes in the amount and composition of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  Included in interest income are loan prepayment fees and certain other fees, such as late charges. The following discussion presents net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent (“FTE”) basis by adjusting income and yields on tax-exempt loans and securities to be comparable to taxable loans and securities.  For more information, see the section entitled “Average Balances / Net Interest Margin - Fully Taxable Equivalent (FTE) Basis” below.

FTE net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 amounted to $26.4 million up by $1.9 million, or 8%, from the $24.5 million reported for the same period in 2014. The net interest margin was 3.18% for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to 3.34% for the same period in 2014.

Average interest-earning assets amounted to $3.4 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and were up by $396.1 million, or 13%, from the average balances for the same period in 2014, primarily due to loan growth. The yield on average interest-earning assets for the three months ended March 31, 2015 declined by 24 basis points from the comparable period in 2014, reflecting the impact of a sustained low interest rate environment.



- 41-


Total average loans for the three months ended March 31, 2015 increased by $444.1 million, or 18%, from the average balances for the comparable 2014 period, with growth in average residential real estate mortgage and commercial loan balances.  The yield on total loans for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was 4.01%, down by 25 basis points from the same period in 2014. The contribution of loan prepayment fees and other fees to the yield on total loans was 4 basis points and 5 basis points, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. Due to the combined effect of new loan growth and the runoff of higher yielding loan balances, interest rates on total interest-earning assets may continue to decline.

Total average securities for the three months ended March 31, 2015 decreased by $36.7 million, or 9%, from the average balances for the same period a year earlier, reflecting maturities, calls and pay-downs.  The FTE rate of return on securities for the three months ended March 31, 2015 decreased by 61 basis points from the comparable period in 2014, due to runoff of higher yielding securities.

Average interest-bearing liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2015 increased by $367.5 million, or 15%, from the average balances for the same period in 2014, largely due to increases in wholesale brokered time deposits and FHLBB advances. The cost of funds for the three months ended March 31, 2015 declined by 11 basis points from the comparable 2014 period, largely due to a decline in the rate paid on FHLBB advances. See additional discussion under the caption “Sources of Funds” for additional information regarding funding transactions.

The average balance of FHLBB advances for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was up by $134.8 million compared to the average balances for the same period in 2014. The average rate paid on such advances for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was 1.91% compared to 3.37% for the comparable period in 2014.

Total average interest-bearing deposits for the three months ended March 31, 2015 increased by $232.8 million, or 11%, from the average balances for the same period in 2014. This included an increase of $173.0 million in average out-of-market wholesale brokered time certificates of deposit. The average rate paid on wholesale brokered time deposits for the first three months of 2015 increased by 17 basis points compared to the same period in 2014.

Excluding the increases in wholesale brokered time deposits, average in-market interest-bearing deposits grew by $59.7 million, or 3%, primarily due to increases in average money market account balances, partially offset by a decrease in average in-market time deposit balances. The average rate paid on in-market interest-bearing deposits for the three months ended March 31, 2015 decreased by 5 basis points compared to the same period in 2014, due to lower rates on time deposits, offset, in part, by higher rates on money market deposits.

The average balance of noninterest-bearing demand deposits for the three months ended March 31, 2015 increased by $15.9 million compared to the average balances for the same period in 2014.

Average Balances / Net Interest Margin - Fully Taxable Equivalent (FTE) Basis
The following tables present average balance and interest rate information.  Tax-exempt income is converted to a FTE basis using the statutory federal income tax rate adjusted for applicable state income taxes net of the related federal tax benefit.  For dividends on corporate stocks, the 70% federal dividends received deduction is also used in the calculation of tax equivalency.  Unrealized gain (losses) on available for sale securities and fair value adjustments on mortgage loans held for sale are excluded from the average balance and yield calculations. Nonaccrual and renegotiated loans, as well as interest earned on these loans (to the extent recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income) are included in amounts presented for loans.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


- 42-


Three months ended March 31,
2015
 
2014
(Dollars in thousands)
Average Balance
 
Interest
 
Yield/ Rate
 
Average Balance
 
Interest
 
Yield/ Rate
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial loans

$1,544,720

 

$15,313

 
4.02
 

$1,336,798

 

$14,601

 
4.43
Residential real estate loans, including mortgage loans held for sale
1,030,016

 
10,314

 
4.06
 
802,412

 
8,208

 
4.15
Consumer loans
336,333

 
3,168

 
3.82
 
327,793

 
3,097

 
3.83
Total loans
2,911,069

 
28,795

 
4.01
 
2,467,003

 
25,906

 
4.26
Cash, federal funds sold and short-term investments
51,058

 
25

 
0.20
 
62,246

 
35

 
0.23
FHLBB stock
37,730

 
165

 
1.77
 
37,730

 
142

 
1.53
Taxable debt securities
322,570

 
2,259

 
2.84
 
344,009

 
2,942

 
3.47
Nontaxable debt securities
44,659

 
664

 
6.03
 
59,958

 
884

 
5.98
Total securities
367,229

 
2,923

 
3.23
 
403,967

 
3,826

 
3.84
Total interest-earning assets
3,367,086

 
31,908

 
3.84
 
2,970,946

 
29,909

 
4.08
Noninterest-earning assets
221,795

 
 
 
 
 
203,335

 
 
 
 
Total assets

$3,588,881

 
 
 
 
 

$3,174,281

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing demand deposits

$37,851

 

$8

 
0.09
 

$10,767

 

$—

 
NOW accounts
329,588

 
48

 
0.06
 
304,201

 
47

 
0.06
Money market accounts
800,036

 
883

 
0.45
 
685,142

 
609

 
0.36
Savings accounts
293,926

 
46

 
0.06
 
292,809

 
45

 
0.06
Time deposits (in-market)
567,063

 
1,469

 
1.05
 
675,836

 
1,931

 
1.16
Wholesale brokered time deposits
294,664

 
935

 
1.29
 
121,622

 
337

 
1.12
FHLBB advances
404,773

 
1,902

 
1.91
 
269,989

 
2,241

 
3.37
Junior subordinated debentures
22,681

 
241

 
4.31
 
22,681

 
241

 
4.31
Other
128

 
3

 
9.51
 
173

 
3

 
7.03
Total interest-bearing liabilities
2,750,710

 
5,535

 
0.82
 
2,383,220

 
5,454

 
0.93
Demand deposits
438,904

 
 
 
 
 
422,975

 
 
 
 
Other liabilities
48,052

 
 
 
 
 
33,057

 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ equity
351,215

 
 
 
 
 
335,029

 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$3,588,881

 
 
 
 
 

$3,174,281

 
 
 
 
Net interest income
 
 

$26,373

 
 
 
 
 

$24,455

 
 
Interest rate spread
 
 
 
 
3.02
 
 
 
 
 
3.15
Net interest margin
 
 
 
 
3.18
 
 
 
 
 
3.34

Interest income amounts presented in the preceding table include the following adjustments for taxable equivalency:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Three months ended March 31,
2015

 
2014

Commercial loans

$442

 

$317

Nontaxable debt securities
229

 
302

Total

$671

 

$619




- 43-


Volume / Rate Analysis - Interest Income and Expense (Fully Taxable Equivalent Basis)
The following table presents certain information on a FTE basis regarding changes in our interest income and interest expense for the period indicated.  The net change attributable to both volume and rate has been allocated proportionately.
(Dollars in thousands)
Three months
 
March 31, 2015 vs. 2014
 
Increase (Decrease) Due to
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Net Change
Interest on Interest-Earning Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial loans

$2,141

 

($1,429
)
 

$712

Residential real estate loans, including mortgage loans held for sale
2,287

 
(181
)
 
2,106

Consumer loans
79

 
(8
)
 
71

Cash, federal funds sold and other short-term investments
(6
)
 
(4
)
 
(10
)
FHLBB stock

 
23

 
23

Taxable debt securities
(175
)
 
(508
)
 
(683
)
Nontaxable debt securities
(227
)
 
7

 
(220
)
Total interest income
4,099

 
(2,100
)
 
1,999

Interest on Interest-Bearing Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing demand deposits

 
8

 
8

NOW accounts
1

 

 
1

Money market accounts
110

 
164

 
274

Savings accounts
1

 

 
1

Time deposits (in-market)
(291
)
 
(171
)
 
(462
)
Wholesale brokered time deposits
540

 
58

 
598

FHLBB advances
859

 
(1,198
)
 
(339
)
Junior subordinated debentures

 

 

Other
(1
)
 
1

 

Total interest expense
1,219

 
(1,138
)
 
81

Net interest income

$2,880

 

($962
)
 

$1,918


Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses
The provision for loan losses is based on management’s periodic assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses which, in turn, is based on such interrelated factors as the composition of the loan portfolio and its inherent risk characteristics; the level of nonperforming loans and net charge-offs, both current and historic; local economic and credit conditions; the direction of real estate values; and regulatory guidelines.  The provision for loan losses is charged against earnings in order to maintain an allowance for loan losses that reflects management’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio at the balance sheet date.

Based on management’s assessment of the stable asset quality metrics, the relatively modest loan growth in the first quarter of 2015 and other favorable changes in loss exposure allocation, there was no provision for loan losses charged to earnings in the first quarter of 2015. A loan loss provision of $300 thousand was recognized in the first quarter of 2014.  Net charge-offs for the three months ended March 31, 2015 totaled $213 thousand. Net charge-offs for the three months ended March 31, 2014 totaled $1.1 million and included an $853 thousand charge-off recognized on one commercial mortgage relationship.

The level of nonaccrual loan formation in recent quarters has been relatively low, including $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2015 and $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. In comparison, the average quarterly amount of nonaccrual loan formation for the 7 quarters ended September 30, 2014 was $3.4 million. In addition, the amount of potential problem loans, as described under the caption “Asset Quality,” has decreased to $573 thousand at March 31, 2015. These factors have been and will continue to be taken into consideration in determining the level of future loan loss provisions along with the other factors mentioned above.



- 44-


The allowance for loan losses was $27.8 million, or 0.97% of total loans, at March 31, 2015, compared to $28.0 million, or 0.98% of total loans, at December 31, 2014. See additional discussion under the caption “Asset Quality” below for further information on the Allowance for Loan Losses.

Noninterest Income
Noninterest income is an important source of revenue for Washington Trust.  The principal categories of noninterest income are shown in the following table:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Change
Three months ended March 31,
2015

 
2014

 
$
 
%
Noninterest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wealth management revenues

$8,435

 

$8,065

 

$370

 
5
 %
Merchant processing fees

 
1,291

 
(1,291
)
 
(100
)
Net gains on loan sales and commissions on loans originated for others
2,585

 
1,239

 
1,346

 
109

Service charges on deposit accounts
935

 
754

 
181

 
24

Card interchange fees
714

 
681

 
33

 
5

Income from bank-owned life insurance
490

 
445

 
45

 
10

Net gains on interest rate swap contracts
645

 
260

 
385

 
148

Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries
(86
)
 
(43
)
 
(43
)
 
100

Net gain on sale of business line

 
6,265

 
(6,265
)
 
(100
)
Other income
302

 
413

 
(111
)
 
(27
)
Total noninterest income

$14,020

 

$19,370

 

($5,350
)
 
(28
)%

Noninterest Income Analysis
Revenue from wealth management services is our largest source of noninterest income. A substantial portion of wealth management revenues is largely dependent on the value of wealth management assets under administration and is closely tied to the performance of the financial markets. This portion of wealth management revenues is referred to as “asset-based” and includes trust and investment management fees and mutual fund fees. Wealth management revenues also include “transaction-based” revenues, such as financial planning, commissions and other service fees that are not primarily derived from the value of assets.

The categories of wealth management revenues are shown in the following table:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Change
Three months ended March 31,
2015

 
2014

 
$
 
%
Wealth management revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trust and investment management fees

$7,142

 

$6,685

 

$457

 
7
 %
Mutual fund fees
1,036

 
1,081

 
(45
)
 
(4
)
Asset-based revenues
8,178

 
7,766

 
412

 
5

Transaction-based revenues
257

 
299

 
(42
)
 
(14
)
Total wealth management revenues

$8,435

 

$8,065

 

$370

 
5
 %



- 45-


The following table presents the changes in wealth management assets under administration:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Three months ended March 31,
2015

 
2014

Wealth management assets under administration:
 
 
 
Balance at the beginning of period

$5,069,966

 

$4,781,958

Net investment appreciation & income
80,872

 
44,335

Net client cash flows
8,825

 
(19,912
)
Balance at the end of period

$5,159,663



$4,806,381


Wealth management revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were $8.4 million, up by 5% from the same period in 2014, due to an increase in asset-based revenues.  Wealth management assets under administration totaled $5.2 billion at March 31, 2015, up by $89.7 million, or 2%, from December 31, 2014, and up by $353.3 million, or 7%, from a year-ago, largely due to net investment appreciation and income.

As disclosed in the Overview section under the caption “Composition of Earnings,” the Corporation sold its merchant processing services business line on March 1, 2014, resulting in a net gain on sale of business line of $6.3 million. Prior to the consummation of this business line sale, merchant processing fee revenues of $1.3 million were recognized in the first quarter of 2014. See discussion below regarding corresponding merchant processing costs under the caption “Noninterest Expenses.”

Mortgage banking revenues are dependent on mortgage origination volume and are sensitive to interest rates and the condition of housing markets. Mortgage origination activity increased in the first quarter of 2015 in response to a decline in market interest rates in recent months. Mortgage banking revenues totaled $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, up by $1.3 million, or 109%, compared to the same period in 2014, reflecting increases in origination and sales activity. Residential mortgages sold to the secondary market, including brokered loans, totaled $127.9 million and $57.0 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

Net gains on interest rate swap contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2015 increased by $385 thousand, or 148%, from the same period in 2014. This increase was largely due to new customer-related interest rate swap transactions executed in the first quarter of 2015.

Noninterest Expense
The following table presents noninterest expense comparisons:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Change
Three months ended March 31,
2015

 
2014

 
$
 
%
Noninterest expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and employee benefits

$15,494

 

$14,558

 

$936

 
6
 %
Net occupancy
1,886

 
1,640

 
246

 
15

Equipment
1,340

 
1,236

 
104

 
8

Merchant processing costs

 
1,050

 
(1,050
)
 
(100
)
Outsourced services
1,247

 
1,044

 
203

 
19

Legal, audit and professional fees
676

 
618

 
58

 
9

FDIC deposit insurance costs
473

 
440

 
33

 
8

Advertising and promotion
267

 
232

 
35

 
15

Amortization of intangibles
155

 
164

 
(9
)
 
(5
)
Debt prepayment penalties

 
6,294

 
(6,294
)
 
(100
)
Other
1,993

 
2,016

 
(23
)
 
(1
)
Total noninterest expense

$23,531

 

$29,292

 

($5,761
)
 
(20
)%



- 46-


Noninterest Expense Analysis
For the three months ended March 31, 2015, salaries and employee benefit costs totaled $15.5 million, up by $936 thousand, or 6%, compared to the same period in 2014. Included in salaries and employee benefits was $291 thousand of divestiture costs expensed in the first quarter of 2014. Excluding these divestiture costs, salaries and employee benefit costs increased $1.2 million, or 9%, reflecting higher levels of business development based compensation in the mortgage banking area and increased staffing levels in the wealth management business line, compared to the first quarter of 2014.

Net occupancy costs for the three months ended March 31, 2015 increased by $246 thousand, or 15%, from the comparable 2014 period, largely due to increased rental expense and other occupancy costs associated with a de novo branch that opened in the second quarter of 2014 and increased weather-related utilities and operating costs compared to the same period in 2014.

As disclosed in the Overview section under the caption “Composition of Earnings,” the Corporation sold its merchant processing services business line on March 1, 2014. Prior to the consummation of this business line sale, merchant processing costs of $1.1 million were recognized in the in the first quarter of 2014. See the discussion above regarding corresponding merchant processing fees under the caption “Noninterest Income.”

Outsourced services for the three months ended March 31, 2015 increased by $203 thousand, or 19%, from the same period in 2014, reflecting an increase in third party card processing services due to increased volume and execution costs associated with customer-related interest rate swap transactions.

The prepayment of FHLBB advances in the first quarter of 2014 resulted in debt prepayment penalty expense of $6.3 million. See additional discussion regarding the prepayments in the “Overview” section above under the caption “Composition of Earnings.” There was no such debt prepayment penalty expense in the first quarter of 2015.

Income Taxes
Income tax expense amounted to $5.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to $4.3 million for the same period in 2014. The Corporation’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, was 32.0% and 31.7%, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate reflected a higher proportion of taxable income to pre-tax book income. The effective tax rates differed from the federal rate of 35% due largely to the benefits of tax-exempt income, income from BOLI and federal tax credits.

Financial Condition
Summary
Total assets amounted to $3.6 billion at March 31, 2015, up by $15.6 million from the end of 2014, largely due to net loan growth.

Nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets amounted to 0.48% at March 31, 2015, unchanged from the end of 2014. Management believes the overall credit quality has been stable to improving, generally in line with the pace of recovery in regional economic conditions.

At March 31, 2015, total deposits increased by $28.3 million, or 1%, from the end of 2014, which included a decrease of $8.3 million of out-of-market wholesale brokered time certificates of deposit. Excluding out-of-market wholesale brokered time certificates of deposit, in-market deposits increased by $36.6 million, or 1%. FHLBB advances amounted to $386.0 million as of March 31, 2015, down by $20.3 million, or 5%, from December 31, 2014.

Shareholders’ equity totaled $353.9 million at March 31, 2015, up by $7.6 million from the balance at the end of 2014.  Capital levels continue to exceed the regulatory minimum levels to be considered well-capitalized, with a total risk-based capital ratio of 12.80% at March 31, 2015, compared to 12.56% at December 31, 2014. See Note 9 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion on regulatory capital requirements.

Securities
Washington Trust’s securities portfolio is managed to generate interest income, to implement interest rate risk management strategies, and to provide a readily available source of liquidity for balance sheet management. Securities are designated as either available for sale, held to maturity or trading at the time of purchase. The Corporation does not currently maintain a portfolio of trading securities. Securities available for sale may be sold in response to changes in market conditions, prepayment risk, rate fluctuations, liquidity, or capital requirements. Securities available for sale are reported at fair value, with any unrealized gains


- 47-


and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, net of tax, until realized. Securities held to maturity are reported at amortized cost.

Determination of Fair Value
The Corporation uses an independent pricing service to obtain quoted prices. The prices provided by the independent pricing service are generally based on observable market data in active markets. The determination of whether markets are active or inactive is based upon the level of trading activity for a particular security class. The Corporation reviews the independent pricing service’s documentation to gain an understanding of the appropriateness of the pricing methodologies. The Corporation also reviews the prices provided by the independent pricing service for reasonableness based upon current trading levels for similar securities. If the prices appear unusual, they are re-examined and the value is either confirmed or revised. In addition, the Corporation periodically performs independent price tests of securities to ensure proper valuation and to verify our understanding of how securities are priced. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Corporation did not make any adjustments to the prices provided by the pricing service.

Our fair value measurements generally utilize Level 2 inputs, representing quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, and model-derived valuations in which all significant input assumptions are observable in active markets.

See Notes 4 and 11 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the determination of fair value of investment securities.

Securities Portfolio
The carrying amounts of securities held are as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Amount

 
%

 
Amount

 
%

Securities Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$31,301

 
9
%
 

$31,172

 
9
%
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
233,045

 
68

 
245,366

 
68

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
44,179

 
13

 
49,176

 
14

Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities
26,287

 
8

 
25,774

 
7

Corporate bonds
6,130

 
2

 
6,174

 
2

Total securities available for sale

$340,942

 
100
%
 

$357,662

 
100
%

(Dollars in thousands)
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Amount

 
%

 
Amount

 
%

Securities Held to Maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$24,025

 
100
%
 

$25,222

 
100
%
Total securities held to maturity

$24,025

 
100
%
 

$25,222

 
100
%

As of March 31, 2015, the investment portfolio totaled $365.0 million, down by $17.9 million from the balance at December 31, 2014, reflecting maturities, calls and principal repayments of debt securities.

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the net unrealized gain position on securities available for sale and held to maturity amounted to $8.5 million and $7.4 million, respectively, and included gross unrealized losses of $4.5 million and $5.0 million, respectively.  These gross unrealized losses were temporary in nature and concentrated in variable rate trust preferred securities issued by financial services companies.



- 48-


Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions
The carrying amount of obligations of states and political subdivisions included in our securities portfolio at March 31, 2015 totaled $44.2 million. The following table presents obligations of states and political subdivisions by geographic location:
(Dollars in thousands)
Amortized Cost
 
Unrealized Gains
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair
Value
March 31, 2015
 
 
 
New Jersey

$27,042

 

$939

 

$—

 

$27,981

New York
8,073

 
286

 

 
8,359

Pennsylvania
1,962

 
96

 

 
2,058

Illinois
1,901

 
47

 

 
1,948

Other
3,686

 
147

 

 
3,833

Total

$42,664

 

$1,515

 

$—

 

$44,179


The following table presents obligations of states and political subdivisions by category:
(Dollars in thousands)
Amortized Cost
 
Unrealized Gains
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair
Value
March 31, 2015
 
 
 
General obligations

$40,349

 

$1,407

 

$—

 

$41,756

Revenue obligations (1)
2,315

 
108

 

 
2,423

Total

$42,664

 

$1,515

 

$—

 

$44,179

(1)
Includes water and sewer districts, tax revenue obligations and other.

Washington Trust owns trust preferred security holdings of 7 individual name issuers in the financial services industry. The following table presents information concerning these holdings, including credit ratings.  The Corporation’s Investment Policy contains rating standards that specifically reference ratings issued by Moody’s and S&P.

Individual Name Issuer Trust Preferred Debt Securities
(Dollars in thousands)
March 31, 2015
 
Credit Ratings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2015
 
Form 10-Q Filing Date
Named Issuer
(parent holding company)
(a)
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized Loss
 
Moody’s
 
S&P
 
 
Moody’s
 
S&P
 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
2
 

$9,770

 

$8,300

 

($1,470
)
 
 Baa2
 
 BBB-
 
 
 Baa2
 
 BBB-
 
Bank of America Corporation
3
 
5,772

 
4,847

 
(925
)
 
 Ba1
 
 BB
(b)
 
 Ba1
 
 BB
(b)
Wells Fargo & Company
2
 
5,146

 
4,594

 
(552
)
 
 A3/Baa1
 
 BBB+/BBB
 
 
 A3/Baa1
 
 BBB+/BBB
 
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
1
 
4,175

 
3,486

 
(689
)
 
 Baa3
 
 BB+
(b)
 
 Baa3
 
 BB+
(b)
Northern Trust Corporation
1
 
1,986

 
1,730

 
(256
)
 
 Baa1
 
 BBB+
 
 
 Baa1
 
 BBB+
 
State Street Corporation
1
 
1,977

 
1,730

 
(247
)
 
 A3
 
 BBB
 
 
 A3
 
 BBB
 
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated
1
 
1,936

 
1,600

 
(336
)
 
 Baa3
 
 BB
(b)
 
 Baa3
 
 BB
(b)
Totals
11
 

$30,762

 

$26,287

 

($4,475
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a)
Number of separate issuances, including issuances of acquired institutions.
(b)
Rating is below investment grade.

The Corporation’s evaluation of the impairment status of individual name trust preferred securities includes various considerations in addition to the degree of impairment and the duration of impairment.  We review the reported regulatory capital ratios of the issuer and, in all cases, the regulatory capital ratios were deemed to be in excess of the regulatory minimums.  Credit ratings were also taken into consideration, including ratings in effect as of the reporting period date as well as credit rating changes between the reporting period date and the filing date of this report.  We noted no additional downgrades to below investment


- 49-


grade between the reporting period date and the filing date of this report.  Where available, credit ratings from multiple rating agencies are obtained and rating downgrades are specifically analyzed.  Our review process for these credit-sensitive holdings also includes a periodic review of relevant financial information for each issuer, such as quarterly financial reports, press releases and analyst reports.  This information is used to evaluate the current and prospective financial condition of the issuer in order to assess the issuer’s ability to meet its debt obligations.  Through the filing date of this report, each of the individual name issuer securities was current with respect to interest payments.  Based on our evaluation of the facts and circumstances relating to each issuer, management concluded that all principal and interest payments for these individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities would be collected according to their contractual terms and it expects to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities.  Furthermore, Washington Trust does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more-likely-than-not that Washington Trust will be required to sell these securities before recovery of their cost basis, which may be at maturity.  Therefore, management does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2015.

Further deterioration in credit quality of the underlying issuers of the securities, further deterioration in the condition of the financial services industry, a continuation or worsening of the current economic environment, or additional declines in real estate values, amount other things, may further affect the fair value of these securities and increase the potential that certain unrealized losses may be designated as other-than-temporary in future periods, and the Corporation may incur write-downs.

Loans
Total loans amounted to $2.9 billion at March 31, 2015, up by $21.3 million, or 1%, in the first three months of 2015, largely due to growth in the commercial loan portfolio.

Commercial Loans
Commercial loans fall into two major categories, commercial real estate and commercial and industrial loans. Commercial real estate loans consist of commercial mortgages secured by real property where the primary source of repayment is derived from rental income associated with the property or the proceeds of the sale, refinancing or permanent financing of the property. Commercial real estate loans also include construction loans made to businesses for land development or the on-site construction of industrial, commercial, or residential buildings. Commercial and industrial loans primarily provide working capital, equipment financing and financing for other business-related purposes. Commercial and industrial loans are frequently collateralized by equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, and/or general business assets.  A significant portion of the Bank’s commercial and industrial loans is also collateralized by real estate.  Commercial and industrial loans also include tax exempt loans made to states and political subdivisions, as well as industrial development or revenue bonds issued through quasi-public corporations for the benefit of a private or non-profit entity where that entity rather than the governmental entity is obligated to pay the debt service.

Commercial Real Estate Loans
Commercial real estate loans amounted to $954.9 million at March 31, 2015, up by $31.3 million, or 3%, from $923.6 million at December 31, 2014. Included in these end of period amounts were commercial construction loans of $89.9 million and $79.6 million, respectively. The growth in commercial real estate loans was in large part due to enhanced business cultivation efforts with new and existing borrowers, with an emphasis on larger loan balances to borrowers or groups of related borrowers.

Commercial real estate loans are secured by a variety of property types, with approximately 85% of the total at March 31, 2015 composed of office buildings, retail facilities, commercial mixed use, multi-family dwellings, lodging and industrial and warehouse properties.

The following table presents a geographic summary of commercial real estate loans, including commercial construction, by property location:
(Dollars in thousands)
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Amount
 
% of Total
 
Amount
 
% of Total
Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts

$882,400

 
93
%
 

$861,422

 
93
%
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
58,832

 
6

 
53,625

 
6

New Hampshire
13,661

 
1

 
8,523

 
1

Total

$954,893

 
100
%
 

$923,570

 
100
%



- 50-


Commercial and Industrial Loans
Commercial and industrial loans amounted to $604.6 million at March 31, 2015, down by $7.3 million, or 1%, from the balance at December 31, 2014. This portfolio includes loans to a variety of business types.  Approximately 79% of the total is composed of owner occupied and other real estate, health care/social assistance, retail trade, manufacturing, accommodation and food services, public administration, entertainment and recreation, construction, professional, scientific and technical and wholesale trade businesses.

Residential Real Estate Loans
Residential real estate loans amounted to $987.6 million at March 31, 2015, up by $2.1 million, from the balance at December 31, 2014. Washington Trust originates residential real estate mortgages within our general market area of Southern New England for portfolio and for sale in the secondary market.  In recent years, the mortgage origination business has been expanded beyond our bank branch network, which is primarily located in Rhode Island, through the addition of residential mortgage lending offices in eastern Massachusetts and Connecticut. We also originate residential real estate mortgages for various investors in a broker capacity, including conventional mortgages and reverse mortgages. Total residential real estate loan originations for retention in portfolio were $54.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to $66.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Total residential real estate loan originations for sale to the secondary market, including loans originated in a broker capacity, were $129.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to $55.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Loans are sold with servicing retained or released. In recent years, we began to retain servicing on a higher proportion of loans sold to the secondary market. In general, loans sold with the retention of servicing yield a larger gain on sale due to the capitalization of servicing rights, which are subsequently amortized over the estimated period of servicing. The net balance of capitalized servicing rights amounted to $3.1 million and $3.0 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. The balance of residential mortgage loans serviced for others, which are not included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, amounted to $407.4 million and $378.8 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Included in residential real estate loans were purchased residential mortgage balances totaling $31.8 million and $32.8 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. These loans were purchased from other financial institutions prior to March 2009.

The following is a geographic summary of residential real estate mortgages by property location:
(Dollars in thousands)
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Amount
 
% of Total
 
Amount
 
% of Total
Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts

$966,809

 
97.9
%
 

$965,452

 
98.1
%
New Hampshire
11,509

 
1.2

 
10,204

 
1.0

New York, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania
4,659

 
0.5

 
5,096

 
0.5

Ohio
1,749

 
0.2

 
1,812

 
0.2

Washington, Oregon
1,325

 
0.1

 
1,331

 
0.1

Georgia
1,057

 
0.1

 
1,062

 
0.1

Other
456

 

 
458

 

Total

$987,564

 
100.0
%
 

$985,415

 
100.0
%

Consumer Loans
Consumer loans amounted to $333.5 million at March 31, 2015, down by $4.9 million, or 1%, from December 31, 2014.  Our consumer portfolio is predominantly home equity lines and home equity loans, representing 86% of the total consumer portfolio at March 31, 2015.  Consumer loans also include personal installment loans and loans to individuals secured by general aviation aircraft and automobiles.




- 51-


Asset Quality
Nonperforming Assets
Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, nonaccrual investment securities and property acquired through foreclosure or repossession.

The following table presents nonperforming assets and additional asset quality data:
(Dollars in thousands)
Mar 31,
2015
 
Dec 31,
2014
Nonaccrual loans:
 
 
 
Commercial mortgages

$5,115

 

$5,315

Commercial construction & development

 

Commercial & industrial
2,193

 
1,969

Residential real estate mortgages
6,956

 
7,124

Consumer
1,601

 
1,537

Total nonaccrual loans
15,865

 
15,945

Nonaccrual investment securities

 

Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession, net
1,398

 
1,176

Total nonperforming assets

$17,263

 

$17,121

 
 
 
 
Nonperforming assets to total assets
0.48
%
 
0.48
%
Nonperforming loans to total loans
0.55
%
 
0.56
%
Total past due loans to total loans
0.66
%
 
0.63
%
Accruing loans 90 days or more past due

$—

 

$—


Nonperforming assets totaled $17.3 million, or 0.48% of total assets, at March 31, 2015, compared to $17.1 million, or 0.48% of total assets, at December 31, 2014. Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession increased modestly to $1.4 million at March 31, 2015 and consisted of 6 residential properties and 2 commercial properties. Nonaccrual loans totaled $15.9 million at March 31, 2015, down slightly from the balance at December 31, 2014.

Nonaccrual Loans
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Corporation made no changes in its practices or policies concerning the placement of loans or investment securities into nonaccrual status.  There were no significant commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans were on nonaccrual status at March 31, 2015.

The following table presents additional detail on nonaccrual loans:
(Dollars in thousands)
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Days Past Due
 
 
 
 
Days Past Due
 
 
 
 
Over 90
 
Under 90
 
Total
% (1)
 
Over 90
 
Under 90
 
Total
% (1)
Commercial mortgages

$5,115

 

$—

 

$5,115

0.59
%
 

$5,315

 

$—

 

$5,315

0.63
%
Commercial construction & development

 

 


 

 

 


Commercial & industrial
721

 
1,472

 
2,193

0.36

 
181

 
1,788

 
1,969

0.32

Residential real estate mortgages
3,607

 
3,349

 
6,956

0.70

 
3,284

 
3,840

 
7,124

0.72

Consumer
723

 
878

 
1,601

0.48

 
897

 
640

 
1,537

0.45

Total nonaccrual loans

$10,166

 

$5,699

 

$15,865

0.55
%
 

$9,677

 

$6,268

 

$15,945

0.56
%
(1)
Percentage of nonaccrual loans to the total loans outstanding within the respective category.



- 52-


Approximately 76% of total nonaccrual loans at March 31, 2015 consisted of commercial mortgages and residential real estate mortgage loans.

Nonaccrual commercial mortgage loans were $5.1 million at March 31, 2015, down by $200 thousand from the balance at the end of 2014. All of the nonaccrual commercial mortgage loans at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were located in Rhode Island and Connecticut.

As of March 31, 2015, the largest nonaccrual relationship in the commercial mortgage category was comprised of one troubled debt restructured loan with a carrying value of $4.7 million, which was classified into nonaccrual status in the third quarter of 2014 because the borrower failed to perform in accordance with the terms of the restructuring. This loan is secured by commercial property and is collateral dependent. Based on the fair value of the underlying collateral, a $1.1 million loss allocation was deemed necessary at March 31, 2015.

Nonaccrual residential real estate mortgage loans decreased modestly from the balance at the end of 2014. As of March 31, 2015, the $7.0 million balance of nonaccrual residential mortgage loans consisted of 29 loans, with $6.2 million located in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts.  Included in total nonaccrual residential mortgages at March 31, 2015 were 12 loans purchased for portfolio and serviced by others amounting to $3.3 million.  Management monitors the collection efforts of its third party servicers as part of its assessment of the collectibility of nonperforming loans.

Past Due Loans
The following table presents past due loans by category as of the dates indicated:
(Dollars in thousands)
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Amount
 
% (1)

 
Amount
 
% (1)

Commercial mortgages

$5,673

 
0.66
%
 

$5,315

 
0.63
%
Commercial construction & development

 

 

 

Commercial & industrial
1,179

 
0.19

 
3,519

 
0.58

Residential real estate mortgages
9,429

 
0.95

 
7,048

 
0.72

Consumer loans
2,800

 
0.84

 
2,196

 
0.65

Total past due loans

$19,081

 
0.66
%
 

$18,078

 
0.63
%
(1)
Percentage of past due loans to the total loans outstanding within the respective category.

As of March 31, 2015, total past due loans amounted to $19.1 million, or 0.66% of total loans, compared to $18.1 million, or 0.63%, at December 31, 2014.

Included in past due loans as of March 31, 2015 were nonaccrual loans of $12.3 million. All loans 90 days or more past due at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were classified as nonaccrual.

Troubled Debt Restructurings
Loans are considered restructured in a troubled debt restructuring when the Corporation has granted concessions to a borrower due to the borrower’s financial condition that it otherwise would not have considered.  These concessions include modifications of the terms of the debt such as reduction of the stated interest rate other than normal market rate adjustments, extension of maturity dates, or reduction of principal balance or accrued interest.  The decision to restructure a loan, versus aggressively enforcing the collection of the loan, may benefit the Corporation by increasing the ultimate probability of collection.

Restructured loans are classified as accruing or non-accruing based on management’s assessment of the collectibility of the loan.  Loans which are already on nonaccrual status at the time of the restructuring generally remain on nonaccrual status for approximately six months before management considers such loans for return to accruing status.  Accruing restructured loans are placed into nonaccrual status if and when the borrower fails to comply with the restructured terms and management deems it unlikely that the borrower will return to a status of compliance in the near term.

Troubled debt restructurings are reported as such for at least one year from the date of the restructuring.  In years after the restructuring, troubled debt restructured loans are removed from this classification if the restructuring did not involve a below‑market rate concession and the loan is not deemed to be impaired based on the terms specified in the restructuring


- 53-


agreement. As of March 31, 2015, there were no significant commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans had been restructured.

The following table sets forth information on troubled debt restructured loans as of the dates indicated. The amounts below consist of unpaid principal balance, net of charge-offs and unamortized deferred loan origination fees and costs. Accrued interest is not included in the carrying amounts set forth below. See Note 5 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
(Dollars in thousands)
Mar 31,
2015
 
Dec 31,
2014
Accruing troubled debt restructured loans:
 
 
 
Commercial mortgages

$9,448

 

$9,676

Commercial & industrial
881

 
954

Residential real estate mortgages
684

 
1,252

Consumer
134

 
135

Accruing troubled debt restructured loans
11,147

 
12,017

Nonaccrual troubled debt restructured loans:
 
 
 
Commercial mortgages
4,698

 
4,898

Commercial & industrial
1,442

 
1,193

Residential real estate mortgages
338

 
248

Consumer
34

 

Nonaccrual troubled debt restructured loans
6,512

 
6,339

Total troubled debt restructured loans

$17,659

 

$18,356


As of March 31, 2015, loans classified as troubled debt restructurings totaled $17.7 million, down by $697 thousand from the end of 2014.

As of March 31, 2015, 80% of the troubled debt restructured loans consisted of two relationships. The largest troubled debt restructured relationship at March 31, 2015 consisted of an accruing commercial mortgage relationship with a carrying value of $9.4 million, secured by mixed use properties. The restructuring took place in the second quarter of 2013 and included a modification of certain payment terms and a below-market rate concession for a temporary period. The second largest troubled debt restructured relationship consisted of a commercial mortgage with a carrying value of $4.7 million at March 31, 2015, secured by commercial property. The restructuring took place in the third quarter of 2013 and included a modification of certain payment terms and a below-market rate concession for a temporary period. In connection with this restructuring, a principal paydown of $1.2 million was provided by the borrower during the third quarter of 2013. This troubled debt restructuring loan was classified into nonaccrual status in the third quarter of 2014. See additional disclosure about this relationship above under the caption “Nonaccrual Loans.”

Potential Problem Loans
The Corporation classifies certain loans as “substandard,” “doubtful,” or “loss” based on criteria consistent with guidelines provided by banking regulators.  Potential problem loans consist of classified accruing commercial loans that were less than 90 days past due at March 31, 2015 and other loans for which known information about possible credit problems of the related borrowers causes management to have doubts as to the ability of such borrowers to comply with the present loan repayment terms and which may result in disclosure of such loans as nonperforming at some time in the future.  These loans are not included in the amounts of nonaccrual or restructured loans presented above.  Management cannot predict the extent to which economic conditions or other factors may impact borrowers and the potential problem loans.  Accordingly, there can be no assurance that other loans will not become 90 days or more past due, be placed on nonaccrual, become restructured, or require increased allowance coverage and provision for loan losses.  The Corporation has identified approximately $573 thousand in potential problem loans at March 31, 2015, compared to $1.2 million at December 31, 2014. Potential problem loans are assessed for loss exposure using the methods described in Note 5 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements under the caption “Credit Quality Indicators.”



- 54-


Allowance for Loan Losses
Establishing an appropriate level of allowance for loan losses necessarily involves a high degree of judgment.  The Corporation uses a methodology to systematically measure the amount of estimated loan loss exposure inherent in the loan portfolio for purposes of establishing a sufficient allowance for loan losses.  See additional discussion regarding the allowance for loan losses, in Item 7 under the caption “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” of Washington Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and in Note 6 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

The allowance for loan losses is management’s best estimate of probable loan losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date.  The allowance is increased by provisions charged to earnings and by recoveries of amounts previously charged off, and is reduced by charge-offs on loans. The status of nonaccrual loans, delinquent loans and performing loans were all taken into consideration in the assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loans losses.   In addition, the balance and trends of credit quality indicators, including the commercial loan categories of Pass, Special Mention and Classified, are integrated into the process used to determine the allocation of loss exposure.  See Note 5 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information under the caption “Credit Quality Indicators.”  Management believes that the level of allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2015 is adequate and consistent with asset quality and delinquency indicators. Management will continue to assess the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses in accordance with its established policies.

The Bank’s general practice is to identify problem credits early and recognize full or partial charge-offs as promptly as practicable when it is determined that the collection of loan principal is unlikely.  The Bank recognizes full or partial charge-offs on collateral dependent impaired loans when the collateral is deemed to be insufficient to support the carrying value of the loan.  The Bank does not recognize a recovery when an updated appraisal indicates a subsequent increase in value.

Appraisals are generally obtained with values determined on an “as is” basis from independent appraisal firms for real estate collateral dependent commercial loans in the process of collection or when warranted by other deterioration in the borrower’s credit status.  Updates to appraisals are generally obtained for troubled or nonaccrual loans or when management believes it is warranted.  The Corporation has continued to maintain appropriate professional standards regarding the professional qualifications of appraisers and has an internal review process to monitor the quality of appraisals.

For residential mortgages and real estate collateral dependent consumer loans that are in the process of collection, valuations are obtained from independent appraisal firms with values determined on an “as is” basis.

The estimation of loan loss exposure inherent in the loan portfolio includes, among other procedures, (1) identification of loss allocations for individual loans deemed to be impaired, (2) application of loss allocation factors for non-impaired loans based on credit grade, historical loss experience, estimated loss emergence period and delinquency status, with adjustments for various exposures not adequately presented in historical loss experience, and (3) an unallocated allowance maintained for measurement imprecision associated with impaired and nonaccrual loans. We periodically reassess and revise the loss allocation factors used in the assignment of loss exposure to appropriately reflect our analysis of migrational loss experience.  Revisions to loss allocation factors are not retroactively applied. We analyze historical loss experience in the various portfolios over periods deemed to be relevant to the inherent risk of loss in the respective portfolios and the related estimate of the loss emergence period as of the balance sheet date.

The following is a summary of impaired loans by measurement type:
(Dollars in thousands)
Mar 31,
2015
 
Dec 31,
2014
Collateral dependent impaired loans (1)

$19,607

 

$19,761

Impaired loans measured on discounted cash flow method (2)
1,409

 
2,258

Total impaired loans

$21,016

 

$22,019

(1)
Net of partial charge-offs of $764 thousand and $530 thousand, respectively, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
(2)
Net of partial charge-offs of $207 thousand and $264 thousand, respectively, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Impaired loans consist of nonaccrual commercial loans, troubled debt restructured loans and other loans classified as impaired that are individually evaluated for impairment. The loss allocation on impaired loans amounted to $1.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.  Various loan loss allowance coverage ratios are affected by the timing


- 55-


and extent of charge-offs, particularly with respect to impaired collateral dependent loans.  For such loans, the Bank generally recognizes a partial charge-off equal to the identified loss exposure; therefore, the remaining allocation of loss is minimal.

Other individual commercial loans not deemed to be impaired are evaluated using the internal rating system and the application of loss allocation factors.  The loan rating system and the related loss allocation factors take into consideration parameters including the borrower’s financial condition, the borrower’s performance with respect to loan terms, the adequacy of collateral and the adequacy of guarantees.  Portfolios of more homogeneous populations of loans including residential mortgages and consumer loans are analyzed as groups, with loss allocation factors assigned to each group, taking into consideration delinquency status. Loss allocation factors are also adjusted for various exposures not adequately presented in historical loss experience. See additional disclosure under the caption “Credit Quality Indicators” in Note 5 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table presents additional detail on the Corporation’s loan portfolio and associated allowance for loan losses:
(Dollars in thousands)
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Loans
Related Allowance
Allowance / Loans
 
Loans
Related Allowance
Allowance / Loans
Impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment

$21,016


$1,657

7.88
%
 

$22,019


$1,583

7.19
%
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment
2,859,576

23,792

0.83

 
2,837,257

24,049

0.85

Unallocated

2,361


 

2,391


Total

$2,880,592


$27,810

0.97
%
 

$2,859,276


$28,023

0.98
%

Based on management’s assessment of the stable asset quality metrics, the relatively modest loan growth in the first quarter of 2015 and other favorable changes in loss exposure allocation, there was no provision for loan losses charged to earnings in the first quarter of 2015. A loan loss provision of $300 thousand was recognized in the first quarter of 2014.  Net charge-offs for the three months ended March 31, 2015 totaled $213 thousand. Net charge-offs for the three months ended March 31, 2014 totaled $1.1 million and included an $853 thousand charge-off recognized on one commercial mortgage relationship.

As of March 31, 2015, the allowance for loan losses was $27.8 million, or 0.97% of total loans, compared to $28.0 million, or 0.98% of total loans, at December 31, 2014.  

The following table presents the allocation of the allowance for loan losses. The allocation below is neither indicative of the specific amounts or the loan categories in which future charge-offs may occur, nor is it an indicator of any future loss trends.
(Dollars in thousands)
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Amount

 
% (1)
 
Amount
 
% (1)
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$8,331

 
30
%
 

$8,202

 
30
%
Construction & development
1,229

 
3

 
1,300

 
3

Commercial & industrial
7,803

 
21

 
7,987

 
21

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage
5,233

 
33

 
5,228

 
33

Homeowner construction
122

 
1

 
202

 
1

Consumer
2,731

 
12

 
2,713

 
12

Unallocated
2,361

 


 
2,391

 


Balance at end of period

$27,810

 
100
%
 

$28,023

 
100
%
(1)
Percentage of allocated allowance for loan losses to the total loans outstanding within the respective category.

Sources of Funds
Our sources of funds include deposits, brokered time certificates of deposit, FHLBB borrowings, other borrowings and proceeds from the sales, maturities and payments of loans and investment securities.  Washington Trust uses funds to originate and purchase loans, purchase investment securities, conduct operations, expand the branch network and pay dividends to shareholders.


- 56-



Management’s preferred strategy for funding asset growth is to grow low-cost deposits, including demand deposits, NOW and savings accounts.  Asset growth in excess of low-cost deposits is typically funded through higher-cost deposits (including certificates of deposit and money market accounts), brokered time certificates of deposit, FHLBB borrowings and securities portfolio cash flow.

Deposits
Washington Trust offers a wide variety of deposit products to consumer and business customers.  Deposits provide an important source of funding for the Bank as well as an ongoing stream of fee revenue.

Washington Trust is a participant in the Insured Cash Sweep (“ICS”) program, Demand Deposit Marketplace (“DDM”) program, and the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (“CDARS”) program. Washington Trust uses these deposit sweep services to place customer funds into interest-bearing demand accounts, money market accounts, and/or time certificates of deposit issued by other participating banks. Customer funds are placed at one or more participating banks to ensure that each deposit customer is eligible for the full amount of FDIC insurance. As a program participant, we receive reciprocal amounts of deposits from other participating banks. ICS, DDM and CDARS deposits are considered to be brokered deposits for bank regulatory purposes. We consider these reciprocal deposit balances to be in-market deposits as distinguished from traditional out-of-market brokered deposits.

Total deposits amounted to $2.8 billion at March 31, 2015, up by $28.3 million, or 1%, from the balance at December 31, 2014. Included in deposits at March 31, 2015 were out-of-market brokered time certificates of deposit of $290.9 million, which were down by $8.3 million from the balance at December 31, 2014. Excluding out-of-market brokered time certificates of deposit, in-market deposits were up by $36.6 million, or 1%, for the three months ended March 31, 2015, reflecting growth in money market accounts, demand deposits and savings accounts, partially offset by declines in in-market time deposits.

Demand deposits totaled $477.0 million at March 31, 2015, up by $17.2 million, or 4%, from December 31, 2014. Included in demand deposits at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were DDM reciprocal demand deposits of $47.9 million and $33.4 million, respectively.

NOW account balances increased by $6.9 million, or 2%, from December 31, 2014 and totaled $333.3 million at March 31, 2015.

Savings accounts totaled $298.8 million at March 31, 2015, up by $7.1 million, or 2%, from December 31, 2014.

Money market accounts totaled $821.4 million at March 31, 2015, up by $18.6 million, or 2%, from the balance at December 31, 2014. Included in total money market deposits at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were ICS reciprocal money market deposits of $252.8 million and $267.9 million, respectively.

Time deposits amounted to $852.6 million at March 31, 2015, down by $21.5 million, or 2%, from the balance at December 31, 2014.  Included in time deposits at March 31, 2015 were out-of-market wholesale brokered time certificates of deposit of $290.9 million, which were down by $8.3 million from the balance at December 31, 2014 as noted above. Excluding out-of-market brokered certificates of deposits, in-market time deposits totaled $561.8 million at March 31, 2015, down by $13.2 million from December 31, 2014. Included in in-market time deposits were CDARS reciprocal time deposits of $89.6 million and $85.1 million, respectively, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Borrowings
The Corporation utilizes advances from the FHLBB as well as other borrowings as part of its overall funding strategy.  FHLBB advances are used to meet short-term liquidity needs, to purchase securities and to originate and purchase loans. FHLBB advances amounted to $386.0 million at March 31, 2015, down by $20.3 million from the balance at the end of 2014.

In March 2014, FHLBB advances totaling $99.3 million that had a weighted average rate of 3.01% and a weighted average remaining term of thirty-six months were prepaid. Brokered time deposits of $80.0 million and existing on-balance sheet liquidity were utilized for the prepayment of these advances. The brokered time deposits had an initial weighted average cost of 0.93% and weighted average maturity of thirty-five months.



- 57-


In February 2015, FHLBB advances totaling $69.2 million were modified to lower interest rates and the maturities of these advances were extended. Original maturity dates ranging from 2016 to 2018 were modified to 2018 to 2022. The original weighted average interest rate was 4.06% and was revised to 3.50%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity Management
Liquidity is the ability of a financial institution to meet maturing liability obligations and customer loan demand.  Washington Trust’s primary source of liquidity is deposits, which funded approximately 69% of total average assets in the three months ended March 31, 2015.  While the generally preferred funding strategy is to attract and retain low cost deposits, the ability to do so is affected by competitive interest rates and terms in the marketplace.  Other sources of funding include discretionary use of purchased liabilities (e.g., FHLBB term advances and brokered time certificates of deposit), cash flows from the Corporation’s securities portfolios and loan repayments.  Securities designated as available for sale may also be sold in response to short-term or long-term liquidity needs although management has no intention to do so at this time.  For a more detailed discussion on Washington Trust’s detailed liquidity funding policy and contingency funding plan, see additional information in Item 7 under the caption “Liquidity and Capital Resources” of Washington Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

The Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”) establishes and monitors internal liquidity measures to manage liquidity exposure. Liquidity remained well within target ranges established by the ALCO during the three months ended March 31, 2015.  Based on its assessment of the liquidity considerations described above, management believes the Corporation’s sources of funding meets anticipated funding needs.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, net cash provided by financing activities amounted to $3.4 million. Total deposits, including out-of-market brokered time deposits, increased by $28.3 million and net cash flows from FHLBB advances decreased by $20.3 million in the first three months of 2015. In addition, cash dividends paid totaled $5.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Net cash used in investing activities totaled $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The most significant elements of cash flow within investing activities were net outflows related to growth in the loan portfolio, which were offset by net cash inflows from maturities, calls and principal repayments of debt securities. Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $9.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Net income totaled $11.0 million in the first three months of 2015 and the most significant adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities pertain to mortgage banking activities. See the Corporation’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for further information about sources and uses of cash.

Capital Resources
Total shareholders’ equity amounted to $353.9 million at March 31, 2015, up by $7.6 million from December 31, 2014, including net income of $11.0 million and a reduction of $5.8 million for dividend declarations.

The ratio of total equity to total assets amounted to 9.82% at March 31, 2015 compared to a ratio of 9.65% at December 31, 2014.  Book value per share at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 amounted to $21.10 and $20.68, respectively.

The Bancorp and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements.  As of March 31, 2015, the Bancorp and the Bank exceeded the regulatory minimum levels to be considered “well-capitalized.”

See Note 9 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of regulatory capital requirements.



- 58-


Contractual Obligations and Commitments
The Corporation has entered into numerous contractual obligations and commitments.  The following tables summarize our contractual cash obligations and other commitments at March 31, 2015:
(Dollars in thousands)
Payments Due by Period
 
Total
 
Less Than 1 Year (1)
 
1-3 Years
 
3-5 Years
 
After 5 Years
Contractual Obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FHLBB advances (2)

$385,992

 

$182,304

 

$75,261

 

$81,296

 

$47,131

Junior subordinated debentures
22,681

 

 

 

 
22,681

Operating lease obligations
39,473

 
2,807

 
5,592

 
4,409

 
26,665

Software licensing arrangements
2,679

 
2,454

 
225

 

 

Other borrowings
122

 
50

 
72

 

 

Total contractual obligations

$450,947

 

$187,615

 

$81,150

 

$85,705

 

$96,477

(1)
Maturities or contractual obligations are considered by management in the administration of liquidity and are routinely refinanced in the ordinary course of business.
(2)
All FHLBB advances are shown in the period corresponding to their scheduled maturity.

(Dollars in thousands)
Amount of Commitment Expiration – Per Period
 
Total
 
Less Than 1 Year
 
1-3 Years
 
3-5 Years
 
After 5 Years
Other Commitments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial loans

$303,443

 

$136,308

 

$58,212

 

$51,009

 

$57,914

Home equity lines
206,515

 

 

 

 
206,515

Other loans
47,998

 
42,835

 
2,974

 
2,189

 

Standby letters of credit
5,248

 
5,025

 
223

 

 

Forward loan commitments to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Originate loans
60,546

 
60,546

 

 

 

Sell loans
106,457

 
106,457

 

 

 

Customer related derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps with customers
209,416

 
6,429

 
47,154

 
50,545

 
105,288

Mirror swaps with counterparties
209,416

 
6,429

 
47,154

 
50,545

 
105,288

Interest rate risk management contract:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap
22,681

 
22,681

 

 

 

Total commitments

$1,171,720

 

$386,710

 

$155,717

 

$154,288

 

$475,005


Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
For additional information on derivative financial instruments and financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk see Notes 10 and 17 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

Asset/Liability Management and Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the primary market risk category associated with the Corporation’s operations.  Interest rate risk is the risk of loss to future earnings due to changes in interest rates.  The ALCO is responsible for establishing policy guidelines on liquidity and acceptable exposure to interest rate risk.  Periodically, the ALCO reports on the status of liquidity and interest rate risk matters to the Bank’s Board of Directors. The objective of the ALCO is to manage assets and funding sources to produce results that are consistent with Washington Trust’s liquidity, capital adequacy, growth, risk and profitability goals.

The ALCO manages the Corporation’s interest rate risk using income simulation to measure interest rate risk inherent in the Corporation’s on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet financial instruments at a given point in time by showing the effect of


- 59-


interest rate shifts on net interest income over a 12-month horizon, the 13- to 24-month horizon and a 60-month horizon.  The simulations assume that the size and general composition of the Corporation’s balance sheet remain static over the simulation horizons, with the exception of certain deposit mix shifts from low-cost core savings to higher-cost time deposits in selected interest rate scenarios.  Additionally, the simulations take into account the specific repricing, maturity, call options, and prepayment characteristics of differing financial instruments that may vary under different interest rate scenarios.  The characteristics of financial instrument classes are reviewed periodically by the ALCO to ensure their accuracy and consistency.

The ALCO reviews simulation results to determine whether the Corporation’s exposure to a decline in net interest income remains within established tolerance levels over the simulation horizons and to develop appropriate strategies to manage this exposure.  As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, net interest income simulations indicated that exposure to changing interest rates over the simulation horizons remained within tolerance levels established by the Corporation.  The Corporation defines maximum unfavorable net interest income exposure to be a change of no more than 5% in net interest income over the first 12 months, no more than 10% over the second 12 months, and no more than 10% over the full 60-month simulation horizon.  All changes are measured in comparison to the projected net interest income that would result from an “unchanged” rate scenario where both interest rates and the composition of the Corporation’s balance sheet remain stable for a 60-month period.  In addition to measuring the change in net interest income as compared to an unchanged interest rate scenario, the ALCO also measures the trend of both net interest income and net interest margin over a 60-month horizon to ensure the stability and adequacy of this source of earnings in different interest rate scenarios.

The ALCO regularly reviews a wide variety of interest rate shift scenario results to evaluate interest risk exposure, including scenarios showing the effect of steepening or flattening changes in the yield curve of up to 500 basis points as well as parallel changes in interest rates of up to 400 basis points.  Because income simulations assume that the Corporation’s balance sheet will remain static over the simulation horizon, the results do not reflect adjustments in strategy that the ALCO could implement in response to rate shifts.

The following table sets forth the estimated change in net interest income from an unchanged interest rate scenario over the periods indicated for parallel changes in market interest rates using the Corporation’s on- and off-balance sheet financial instruments as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.  Interest rates are assumed to shift by a parallel 100, 200 or 300 basis points upward or 100 basis points downward over a 12-month period, except for core savings deposits, which are assumed to shift by lesser amounts due to their relative historical insensitivity to market interest rate movements.  Further, deposits are assumed to have certain minimum rate levels below which they will not fall.  It should be noted that the rate scenarios shown do not necessarily reflect the ALCO’s view of the “most likely” change in interest rates over the periods indicated.
 
March 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Months 1 - 12
 
Months 13 - 24
 
Months 1 - 12
 
Months 13 - 24
100 basis point rate decrease
(1.04)%
 
(3.48)%
 
(0.93)%
 
(3.43)%
100 basis point rate increase
1.36
 
1.39
 
1.15
 
0.87
200 basis point rate increase
3.70
 
4.49
 
3.37
 
3.66
300 basis point rate increase
6.18
 
7.60
 
5.67
 
6.30

The ALCO estimates that the negative exposure of net interest income to falling rates as compared to an unchanged rate scenario results from a more rapid decline in earning asset yields compared to rates paid on deposits.  If market interest rates were to fall from their already low levels and remain lower for a sustained period, certain core savings and time deposit rates could decline more slowly and by a lesser amount than other market rates.  Asset yields would likely decline more rapidly than deposit costs as current asset holdings mature or reprice, since cash flow from mortgage-related prepayments and redemption of callable securities would increase as market rates fall.

The positive exposure of net interest income to rising rates as compared to an unchanged rate scenario results from a more rapid projected relative rate of increase in asset yields than funding costs over the near term.  For simulation purposes, deposit rate changes are anticipated to lag behind other market rates in both timing and magnitude.  The ALCO’s estimate of interest rate risk exposure to rising rate environments, including those involving changes to the shape of the yield curve, incorporates certain assumptions regarding the shift in deposit balances from low-cost core savings categories to higher-cost deposit categories, which has characterized a shift in funding mix during the past rising interest rate cycles.



- 60-


While the ALCO reviews and updates simulation assumptions and also periodically back-tests the simulation results to ensure that the assumptions are reasonable and current, income simulation may not always prove to be an accurate indicator of interest rate risk or future net interest margin.  Over time, the repricing, maturity and prepayment characteristics of financial instruments and the composition of the Corporation’s balance sheet may change to a different degree than estimated.  Simulation modeling assumes a static balance sheet, with the exception of certain modeled deposit mix shifts from low-cost core savings deposits to higher-cost time deposits in rising rate scenarios as noted above.  Due to the current low level of market interest rates, the banking industry has experienced relatively strong growth in low-cost core deposits over the past several years.  The ALCO recognizes that a portion of these increased levels of low-cost balances could shift into higher yielding alternatives in the future, particularly if interest rates rise and as confidence in financial markets strengthens, and has modeled increased amounts of deposit shifts out of these low-cost categories into higher-cost alternatives in the rising rate simulation scenarios presented above.  Deposit balances may also be subject to possible outflow to non-bank alternatives in a rising rate environment, which may cause interest rate sensitivity to differ from the results as presented. Another significant simulation assumption is the sensitivity of core savings deposits to fluctuations in interest rates.  Income simulation results assume that changes in both core savings deposit rates and balances are related to changes in short-term interest rates.  The relationship between short-term interest rate changes and core deposit rate and balance changes may differ from the ALCO’s estimates used in income simulation.  It should be noted that the static balance sheet assumption does not necessarily reflect the Corporation’s expectation for future balance sheet growth, which is a function of the business environment and customer behavior.  Lastly, mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans involve a level of risk that unforeseen changes in prepayment speeds may cause related cash flows to vary significantly in differing rate environments.  Such changes could affect the level of reinvestment risk associated with cash flow from these instruments, as well as their market value.  Changes in prepayment speeds could also increase or decrease the amortization of premium or accretion of discounts related to such instruments, thereby affecting interest income.

The Corporation also monitors the potential change in market value of its available for sale debt securities in changing interest rate environments.  The purpose is to determine market value exposure that may not be captured by income simulation, but which might result in changes to the Corporation’s capital position.  Results are calculated using industry-standard analytical techniques and securities data.  

The following table summarizes the potential change in market value of the Corporation’s available for sale debt securities as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 resulting from immediate parallel rate shifts:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Security Type
Down 100 Basis Points
 
Up 200 Basis Points
U.S. government sponsored enterprise securities (callable)

$87

 

($1,742
)
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
517

 
(1,004
)
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
3,423

 
(15,223
)
Trust preferred debt and other corporate debt securities
24

 
655

Total change in market value as of March 31, 2015

$4,051

 

($17,314
)
Total change in market value as of December 31, 2014

$4,777

 

($20,218
)

ITEM 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Information regarding quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk appears under Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” under the caption “Asset/Liability Management and Interest Rate Risk.”

ITEM 4.  Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Corporation carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Corporation’s management, including the Corporation’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the period ended March 31, 2015.  Based upon that evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective and designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Corporation in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within


- 61-


the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Corporation’s management including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.  The Corporation will continue to review and document its disclosure controls and procedures and consider such changes in future evaluations of the effectiveness of such controls and procedures, as it deems appropriate.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Corporation’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined by the Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). The Corporation’s internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to its management and the Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. The Corporation’s management assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this report.

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the period ended March 31, 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

In May 2013, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission issued its Internal Control - Integrated Framework (the “2013 Framework”). While the 2013 Framework’s internal control components (i.e., control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring activities) are the same as those in the 1992 Framework, the new framework requires companies to assess whether 17 principles are present and functioning in determining whether their system of internal control is effective. The Corporation expects to adopt the 2013 Framework during 2015.


PART II.  Other Information

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings
The Corporation is involved in various claims and legal proceedings arising out of the ordinary course of business.  Management is of the opinion, based on its review with counsel of the development of such matters to date, that the ultimate disposition of such matters will not materially affect the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Corporation.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors
There have been no material changes in the risk factors described in Item IA to Part I of Washington Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Item 6.  Exhibits
(a) Exhibits.  The following exhibits are included as part of this Form 10-Q:
Exhibit Number
 
10.1
Terms of Deferred Stock Unit Award Agreement with certain executive officers, dated January 20, 2015 - Filed herewith. (1)
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 – Filed herewith.
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 – Filed herewith.
32.1
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 – Furnished herewith. (2)
101
The following materials from Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) related notes to these financial statements - Filed herewith.
____________________
(1)
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
(2)
These certifications are not “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act.


- 62-


Signatures


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


 
 
 
 
WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.
 
 
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 8, 2015
 
By:
/s/ Joseph J. MarcAurele
 
 
 
 
Joseph J. MarcAurele
 
 
 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
(principal executive officer)
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 8, 2015
 
By:
/s/ David V. Devault
 
 
 
 
David V. Devault
 
 
 
 
Vice Chair, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
(principal financial and accounting officer)


- 63-


Exhibit Index

Exhibit Number
 
10.1
Terms of Deferred Stock Unit Award Agreement with certain executive officers, dated January 20, 2015 - Filed herewith. (1)
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 – Filed herewith.
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 – Filed herewith.
32.1
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 – Furnished herewith. (2)
101
The following materials from Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) related notes to these financial statements - Filed herewith.
____________________
(1)
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
(2)
These certifications are not “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act.



- 64-