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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON DC 2049

FORM 10-K

Annual Report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (fee required) for

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001.2002. Commission File No. 0-13666

BAR HARBOR BANKSHARES
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maine01-0393663
(State ofor other jurisdiction of                                                                                                          (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization:   Maine
IRS Employerorganization)                                                                                                          Identification Number: 01-0393663
Address: No.)

PO Box 400
82 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME
Zip Code: 04609-0400
(Address of principal executive offices)                                                                                          (Zip Code)

(207) 288-3314
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (207) 288-3314code)

Title of Class: Common Stock --- Par Value: $2.00 per share
(Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Title of Class: Common Stock. Par Value $2.00 per shareAct)

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:    Yes XXYES: (X)     NO: ( )

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definite proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this form 10-K.( )

Based on the closing price of the common stock of the registrant, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, as of March 19, 200225, 2003 is:

Common Stock, $2.00 par value $55,506,942-- $59,734,451

The number of voting shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of March 19, 2002 is:
25, 2003 is:

Common Stock 3,246,020-- 3,163,901

Documents incorporated by Reference:
Proxy Statement for 20022003 annual meeting pursuant to Regulation 14A of the General Rules and Regulations of the Commission and filed with the Commission on March 26, 2002,27, 2003, is incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

 

INDEX

1.

Business

3-10

Business

3 - 11

  

2.

Properties

11-12

Properties

12 - 13

  

3.

Legal Proceedings

12

Legal Proceedings

13

  

4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

12

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

13

  

5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters

12

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters

14

  

6.

Selected Financial Data

13

Selected Financial Data

15

  

7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

13-38

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations

16 - 49

  

8.

Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

39-64

Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

50 - 77

  

9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

64

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on
Accounting and Financial Disclosure

77

  

10.

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrants

65

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrants

77

  

11.

Executive Compensation

65

Executive Compensation

77

  

12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

65

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

77

  

13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

65

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

78

  

14.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

66-87

Controls and Procedures

78

15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

79 - 96

 

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

ORGANIZATION

Bar Harbor Bankshares ("the Company") was incorporated January 19, 1984. As of March 19, 2002,25, 2003, the Company’s securities consisted of one class of common stock ("the Common Stock"), par value of $2.00 per share, of which there are 3,246,020 were 3,163,901 shares outstanding held of record by approximately 1,0881,056 shareholders. The Company has two primary, wholly-owned operating subsidiaries: Bar Harbor Banking and Trust Company ("the Bank"), a community bank which offers a wide range of deposit, loan, and related banking products; and BTI Financial Group ("BTI"), a financial services holding company that offersoffering brokerage, trust, private banking, financial planning and investment management services.services to individuals, businesses, not-for-profit organizations and municipalities.

The Company is a bank holding company ("BHC") registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHC Act"), and is subject to supervision, regulation and examination by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "FRB"). The Company is also a Maine Financial Institution Holding Company for the purposes of the laws of the State of Maine, and as such is subject to the jurisdiction of the Superintendent (the "Superintendent") of the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions ("BFI").

 

BANK

The Bank, originally founded in 1887 and now a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a Maine financial institution, and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC") up to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Bank is subject to the supervision, regulation, and examination of the FDIC and the BFI. It is not a member of the Federal Reserve Bank.

The Bank has ten offices in coastal Maine, including its principal office located at 82 Main Street, Bar Harbor, as well as offices in Hancock County and adjacent Washington County, which represent the Bank’s principal market areas. The Hancock County offices, in addition to Bar Harbor, are located in Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Blue Hill, Deer Isle, Ellsworth, and Winter Harbor. The Washington County offices are located in Milbridge, Machias, and Lubec. The CompanyBank delivers its operations and technology services from its operations center located on Avery Lane in Ellsworth, Maine.

The Bank is a retail bank serving individual and corporate customers, retail establishments, seasonal lodging, campgrounds and restaurants. As a coastal bank, it serves the lobstering fishing, and aquaculturefishing industries. It also serves Maine’s wild blueberry industry through its Washington County offices. It operates in a competitive market that includes other community banks, savings institutions, and credit unions, and branch offices of statewide and interstate bank holding companies located in the Bank’s market area. The Bank continues to be one of the larger independent commercial banks in the Statestate of Maine.

The Bank has a broad deposit base and loss of any one depositor or closely aligned group of depositors would not have a materially adverse effect on its business. The banking business in the Bank’s market area historically has been seasonal, with lower deposits in the winter and spring and higher deposits in the summer and fall. These seasonal swings have been fairly predictable and have not had a materially adverse impact on the Bank. Approximately 84%86% of the Bank’s deposits are in interest bearing accounts. The Bank has paid, and anticipates that it will continue to pay, competitive interest rates on certificates of deposit, IRAs,Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAS), NOW and money market accounts and does not anticipate any material loss of these deposits. Deposit growth continues to be a challenge in the communities served by the Bank. From 1994 through 2001, the nation’s deposits grew at an annual rate of 4.61%, while Maine’s deposits grew at 2.72%.

The Bank emphasizes personal service to the community, with a concentration on retail banking. Customers are primarily individuals and small businesses for whom the Bank offers a wide variety of products and services. The Bank provides all of the normaltraditional banking services offered by a commercial bank, including checking accounts, NOW accounts, all forms of savings andaccounts, money market accounts, time deposit accounts, individual retirement accounts, safe deposit boxes, collections, travelers checks,bank by mail services, night depository services, internet banking services, direct deposit payroll services, automated teller services, credit cards, personal money orders, bank-by-mail and club accounts, drive-up facilities at all offices, anda variety of cash management services. The Bank also offers TeleDirect, an interactive voice response system through which customers can get product information, check balances and activity on their accounts as well as perform transfers between their own accounts. In February 2001, theThe Bank began offeringcontinues to offer free, on-line real-time Internet banking services through its dedicated website at www.bhbt.com. The Bank also has arrangements with other institutions for the provision of certain services, which it does not provide directly, such as computerized payroll services. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are located inat each of the ten branch locations, in addition to twothree machines in non-Bank locations. These ATMs access major networks for use of the Bank’s cards throughout the United States, including the Plus and NYCE systems as well as the major credit card networks. Drive-up facilities are available at all banking offices.

The Bank offers a comprehensive array of lending services, including consumer credit in the form of installment loans, overdraft protection (stand-by credit)(stand-by-credit), VISA credit card accounts, student loans, residential mortgage loans, and home equity loans. It offers business loans to individuals, partnerships, corporations, and other business entities for capital construction, the purchase of real estate purchases, working capital, and a broad range of other business purposes. Business loans are provided primarily to organizations and individuals in the tourist, hospitality, health care, blueberry, shipbuilding fishing, and aquaculturefishing industries as well as to other small toand mid-size businesses associated with small coastal communities. Certain larger loans, which exceed the Bank’s lending limits, are written on a participation basis with correspondent banks, withwhereby the Bank retainingretains only such portions of those loans that are within its lending limits.limits and credit risk tolerances. The Bank’s policy for lending limits is up to 20% of its equity to any borrower provided that the loans are secured, and approved by the Directors’ Loan Committee. This committee is chaired by a member of the Bank’s Board of Directors, Bernard K. Cough, and includes non-voting members of the Bank’s management and Board of Directors.

 

BTI

BTI Financial Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. It was incorporated on August 16, 1999, as the holding company for three operating subsidiaries: Bar Harbor Trust Services ("Trust"), a newly formed Maine corporation that performs thechartered trust functions formerly performed by the Trust Department of the Bank;company; Block Capital Management ("Block"), an SEC registered investment advisor; and Dirigo Investments, Inc. ("Dirigo"), an SECa National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) registered broker-dealer. BTI is able to provide a comprehensive array of private banking, financial planning, investment management and trust services to individuals, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and municipalities of varying assets size, and to provide the highest level of customized personal service. The staff includes credentialed investment and trust professionals with extensive experience.

Trust operates as a Maine chartered, non-depository trust company offeringoffers revocable, irrevocable, charitable remainder and testamentary trust management, and estate planning and management services such as probate, estate settlement, and tax return preparation. At December 31, 2001,2002, Trust had 1,300 accounts.837 accounts with assets totaling $202 million.

Block an SEC registered investment advisor, provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services for corporate and individual investment portfolios, personal trusts, individual and corporate retirement funds, and endowments for not-for-profit organizations. At December 31, 2001,2002, Block had $239$181 million in assets under management, primarily for clients of Trust.

Dirigo was purchased by BTI in January 2000. It is a registered broker/dealer andprincipally serves the brokerage needs principally of individuals, from first-time purchasers, to sophisticated investors. It also offers a line of life insurance, annuity, and annuity products.retirement products, as well as financial planning services. A third party processor provides Dirigo’s support and clearing services.

BTI’s central offices are located in a recently renovated, 22,000-square-foot office facility shared with the Bank, located at 135 High Street, Ellsworth, Maine. Dirigo, Trust, and Block maintain their principal offices at the Ellsworth facility and maintain additional offices at One Cumberland Place, Bangor, Maine. BTI also maintains offices in the headquarters building of the Bank in Bar Harbor, Maine.

COMPETITION

The Company competes principally in Down East coastal Maine, which can generally be characterized as a rural area. The Company considers its primary market areas to be in Hancock and Washington counties, each in the state of Maine. The combined population of these two counties is approximately 86,000 people, and their economies are based primarily on tourism, health care, aquaculture, agriculture and small local businesses, but are also supported by a large contingent of retirees. Major competitors in these market areas include local independent banks, local branches of large regional bank affiliates, thrift institutions and credit unions. Other competitors in the Company’s primary market area include insurance companies and financing affiliates of consumer durable goods manufacturers.

The Bank has been able to compete effectively with other financial institutions by emphasizing quality customer service, making decisions at the local level, maintaining long-term customer relationships, building customer loyalty, and providing products and services designed to address the specific needs of customers. However, no assurance can be given that the Bank will continue to be able to compete effectively with other financial institutions in the future.

The financial services landscape has changed considerably over the past five years in the Company’s primary market area. The subsidiaries of BTI each separately face significant competition for their services from local banks, and nonbanks, which may now or in the future may offer a similar range of services, as well as from a number of brokerage firms and investment advisors with offices in the Bank’sCompany’s market area. In addition, mostmany of these services are widely available to the Bank’s customers by telephone and over the Internet through firms located outside of the Bank’sCompany’s market area.

MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

The Company has four officers: Joseph M. Murphy, President and Chief Executive Officer; Gerald Shencavitz, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; Dennis K. Miller, Senior Vice President, Audit and Risk Management; and Judith W. Fuller, Corporate Secretary. Marsha C. Sawyer serves as the Clerk of the Company.

Joseph M. Murphy also serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of BTI. Dean S. Read serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. Gerald Shencavitz serves as Chief Financial Officer of each of the Company’s subsidiaries, as well as Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer of the Bank. Other senior operating positions in the Company include Presidents of the BTI subsidiaries, and Senior Vice Presidents in charge of retail banking, lending, credit administration and human resources.

As of December 31, 2002, the Bank employed 152 full time and 26 part time employees and BTI employed 20 full-time and 2 part time employees, representing a full-time equivalent complement of 186employees of the Company

The Company maintains comprehensive employee benefit programs, which provide health, dental, long-term and short-term disability and life insurance. All Company employees are eligible for participation in the Bar Harbor Bankshares 401(k) plan and Profit Sharing Plan. Certain officers and employees of the Company may also participate in the Company’s 2000 stock option plan and/or have Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreements with the Company or the Bank.

The Company’s management believes that employee relations are good, and there are no known disputes between management and employees.

 

SUPERVISION AND REGULATION

The business in which the Company and its subsidiaries are engaged is subject to extensive supervision, regulation, and examination by various federal and state bank regulatory agencies, including the FRB, the FDIC, and the Superintendent, as well as other governmental agencies in the states in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate. The supervision, regulation, and examination to which the Company and its subsidiaries are subject are intended primarily to protect depositors and other customers, or are aimed at carrying out broad public policy goals, and are not necessarily for the protection of the shareholders.

Some of the more significant statutory and regulatory provisions applicable to banks and BHCs, to which the Company and its subsidiaries are subject, are described more fully below, together with certain statutory and regulatory matters concerning the Company and its subsidiaries. The description of these statutory and regulatory provisions does not purport to be complete and itis qualified in its entirety by reference to the particular statutory or regulatory provision. Any change in applicable law or regulation may have a material effect on the Company’s business and operations, as well as those of its subsidiaries. The Company’s shareholders generally are not subject to these statutory and regulatory provisions.

BHCs – Activities and Other Limitations.Bank Holding Company Act - As a registered BHC and a Maine financial institution holding company, the Company is subject to regulation under the BHC Act and Maine law and to examination and supervision by the FRB and the Superintendent, and is required to file reports with, and provide additional information requested by, the FRB and the Superintendent. The FRB has the authority to issue orders to BHCs to cease and desist from unsound banking practices and violations of conditions imposed by, or violations of agreements with, the FRB. The FRB is also empowered to assess civil money penalties against companies or individuals that violate the BHC Act or orders or regulations thereunder, to order termination of non-banking activities of non-banking subsidiaries of BHCs, and to order termination of ownership and control of a non-banking subsidiary of a BHC.

Various other laws and regulations, including Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, as amended (the "FRA"), generally limit borrowings, extensions of credit, and certain other transactions between the Company and its non-bank subsidiaries and its affiliate insured depository institutions. Section 23A of the FRA also generally requires that an insured depository institution’s loans to non-bank affiliates be secured in appropriate amounts, and Section 23B of the FRA generally requires that transactions between an insured depository institution and its non-bank affiliates be on market terms. These laws and regulations also limit BHCs and their subsidiaries from engaging in certain tying arrangements in connection with any extension of credit, sale or lease of property, or furnishing of services.

The BHC Act prohibits a BHC from acquiring substantially all the assets of a bank or acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any bank, or increasing such ownership or control of any bank, or merging or consolidating with any BHC without prior FRB approval. Unless a BHC becomes a financial"financial holding company" (an "FHC") under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ("GLBA"), as discussed below, the BHC Act also prohibits a BHC from acquiring a direct or indirect interest in or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company which is not a bank or BHC and from engaging directly or indirectly in activities other than those of banking, managing or controlling banks or furnishing services to its subsidiary banks, except that it may engage in and may own shares of companies engaged in certain activities the FRB determined to be so closely related to banking or managing and controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto. In addition, Maine law requires approval by the Superintendent prior to acquisition of more than 5% of the voting shares of a Maine financial institution or any financial institution holding company whichthat controls a Maine financial institution. The Superintendent also must approve acquisition by a Maine financial institution holding company of more than 5% of a financial institution or financial institution holding company domiciled outside of the State of Maine.

Federal Reserve Act - Various other laws and regulations, including Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, as amended (the "FRA"), generally limit borrowings, extensions of credit, and certain other transactions between the Company and its non-bank subsidiaries and its affiliate insured depository institutions. Section 23A of the FRA also generally requires that an insured depository institution’s loans to non-bank affiliates be secured in appropriate amounts, and Section 23B of the FRA generally requires that transactions between an insured depository institution and its non-bank affiliates be on market terms. These laws and regulations also limit BHCs and their subsidiaries from engaging in certain tying arrangements in connection with any extension of credit, sale or lease of property, or furnishing of services.

Financial Services Modernization - The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ("GLBA"), which significantly altered banking laws in the United States, was signed into law in 1999. GLBA enabled combinations among banks, securities firms and insurance companies beginning in 2000. As a result of GLBA, many of the depression-era laws that restricted these affiliations and other activities that may be engaged in by banks and bank holding companies, were repealed. Under GLBA, bank holding companies are permitted to offer their customers virtually any type of service that is financial in nature or incidental thereto, including banking, securities underwriting, insurance (both underwriting and agency), and merchant banking.

The GLBAGramm-Leach-Bliley Act established a comprehensive framework to permit affiliations among commercial banks, insurance companies, securities firms, and other financial service providers by revising and expanding the BHC Act framework to permit BHCs that qualify and elect to be treated as FHCsfinancial holding companies to engage in a range of financial activities broader than would be permissible for traditional BHCs that have not elected to be treated as FHCs, such as the Company. "Financial activities" is broadly defined to include not only banking, insurance, and securities activities, but also merchant banking and additional activities that the FRB, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines to be financial in nature, incidental to such financial activities, or complementary activities that do not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system generally.

In order to elect to become an FHC, a BHC must meet certain tests and file an election form with the FRB. To qualify, all of a BHC’s subsidiary banks must be well-capitalized and well-managed, as measured by regulatory guidelines. In addition, to engage in the new activities, each of the BHC’s banks must have been rated "satisfactory" or better in its most recent federal Community Reinvestment Act evaluation.

A BHC that elects to be treated as an FHC may face significant consequences if its banks fail to maintain the required capital and management ratings, including entering into an agreement with the FRB which imposes limitations on its operations and may even require divestitures. Such possible ramifications may limit the ability of a bank subsidiary to significantly expand or acquire less than well-capitalized and well-managed institutions. The Company has not elected to become an FHC.

Further, the GLBA permits state banks, to the extent permitted under state law, to engage in certain new activities whichthat are permissible for subsidiaries of an FHC. Further, theThe GLBA expressly preserves the ability of state banks to retain all existing subsidiaries. In order to form a financial subsidiary, a state bank must be well-capitalized, and such banks would be subject to certain capital deduction, risk management, and affiliate transaction rules. Also, the FDIC’s final rules governing the establishment of financial subsidiaries adopt the position that a state nonmember bank may only conduct through a financial subsidiary activities that a national bank could only engage in through a financial subsidiary, such as real estate development or investment, continue to be governed by the FDIC’s standard activities rules. Moreover, to mirror the FRB’s actions with respect to state member banks, the final rules provide that a state bank subsidiary that engages only in activities that the bank could engage in directly (regardless of the nature of the activities) will not be deemed to be a financial subsidiary.

Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994.1994 - - The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 generally authorizes BHCs to acquire banks located in any state, possibly subject to certain state-imposed age and deposit concentration limits, and also generally authorizes interstate mergers, and to a lesser extent, interstate banking.

Declaration of Dividends.Dividends - According to its Policy Statement on Cash Dividends Not Fully Covered by Earnings (the "FRB Dividend Policy"), the FRB considers adequate capital to be critical to the health of individual banking organizations and to the safety and stability of the banking system. Of course, one of the major components of the capital adequacy of a bank or a BHC is the strength of its earnings and the extent to which its earnings are retained and added to capital, or paid to shareholders in the form of cash dividends. Accordingly, the FRB Dividend Policy suggests that banks and BHCs generally should not maintain their existing rate of cash dividends on common stock, unless the organization’s net income available to common shareholders over the past year has been sufficient to fully fund the dividends, and the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality, and overall financial condition. The FRB Dividend Policy reiterates the FRB’s belief that a BHC should not maintain a level of cash dividends to its shareholders that places undue pressure on the capital of bank subsidiaries, or that can be funded only through additional borrowings or other arrangements that may undermine the BHC’s ability to serve as a source of strength.

Under current Maine corporation law, a corporation’s board of directors may declare, and the corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares in cash or other property, generally out of the corporation’s unreserved and unrestricted earned surplus, or out of the unreserved and unrestricted net earnings of the current fiscal year and the next proceeding fiscal year taken as a single period, except under certain circumstances, including when the corporation is insolvent, or when the payment of the dividend would render the corporation insolvent, or when the declaration would be contrary to the corporation’s charter. These same limitations generally apply to investor-owned, Maine financial institutions. Current Maine corporation law will be repealed and replaced effective July 1, 2003, with the new Maine Business Corporation Act (the "New Maine Act"). The New Maine Act adopts a simplified test for when the directors of a corporation may make distributions to its shareholders (subject to restriction by the articles of incorporation), namely, (1) the corporation’s assets must exceed its liabilities (plus any amounts payable to preferred classes of stock), and (2) the corporation must be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business (i.e., it must not be insolvent).

Federal bank regulatory agencies also have authority to prohibit banking institutions from paying dividends if those agencies determine that, based on the financial condition of the bank, such payment would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.

Capital Requirements

FRB Guidelines.Adequacy Guidelines - The FRB has adopted capital adequacy guidelines pursuant to which it assesses the adequacy of capital in examining and supervising a BHC and in analyzing applications to it under the BHC Act. The FRB’s capital adequacy guidelines apply on a consolidated basis to BHCs with consolidated assets of $150 million or more; thus, these guidelines apply to the Company on a consolidated basis.Company.

The FRB’s capital adequacy guidelines generally require BHCs to maintain total capital equal to 8% of total risk-adjusted assets and off-balance sheet items, with at least one-half of that amount consisting of Tier 1 or core capital and the remaining amount consisting of Tier 2 or supplementary capital. Tier 1 capital for BHCs generally consists of the sum of common stockholders’ equity and perpetual preferred stock (subject in the case of the latter to limitations on the kind and amount of such stocks which may be included as Tier 1 capital), less goodwill and other non-qualifying intangible assets. Tier 2 capital generally consists of hybrid capital instruments; perpetual preferred stock, which is not eligible to be included as Tier 1 capital; term subordinated debt and intermediate-term preferred stock; and, subject to limitations, general allowances for loan losses. Assets are adjusted under the risk-based guidelines to take into account different risk characteristics.

In addition to the risk-based capital requirements, the FRB requires BHCs to maintain a minimum leverage capital ratio of Tier 1 capital (defined by reference to the risk-based capital guidelines) to total assets of 3.0%. Total assets for this purpose do not include goodwill and any other intangible assets and investments that the FRB determines should be deducted from Tier 1 capital. The FRB has announced that the 3.0% leverage ratio requirement is the minimum for the strong BHCs without any supervisory, financial or operational weaknesses or deficiencies, or those whichthat are not experiencing or anticipating significant growth. All other BHCs are required to maintain a minimum leverage ratio of at least 4.0%. BHCs with supervisory, financial, operational, or managerial weaknesses, as well as BHCs that are anticipating or experiencing significant growth, are expected to maintain capital ratios well above the minimum levels.

At December 31, 2001,2002, and at the time of this report, the Company’s risk-based capital ratio and leverage ratio currently were well in excess of regulatory requirements, and its management expects these ratios to remain in excess of regulatory requirements. Separate, but substantially similar, capital requirements under FDIC regulations apply to the Company’s bank subsidiary, and these also exceed regulatory requirements.requirements at December 31, 2002.

Failure to meet capital guidelines could subject the Company or the Bank to a variety of FDIC corrective actions, including for example, (i) restricting payment of capital distributions and management fees, (ii) requiring that the appropriate federal banking agency monitor the condition of the institution and its efforts to restore its capital, (iii) requiring submission of a capital restoration plan, (iv) restricting the growth of the institution’s assets, and (v) requiring prior approval of certain expansion proposals.

Information concerning the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to capital requirements is incorporated by reference from thePart II, Item 7, section entitled "Capital Resources" and from Part II, Item 8, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 13, "Shareholders’ Equity," of the notes to consolidated financial statements, each in this annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.2002.

Activities and Investments of Insured State-Chartered Banks.Banks - FDIC insured, state-chartered banks, such as the Bank, are also subject to similar restrictions on their business and activities. Section 24 of FDIA,the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ("FDIA"), generally limits the activities as principal and equity investments of FDIC-insured,FDIC insured, state-chartered banks to those activities that are permissible to national banks. In 1999, the FDIC substantially revised its regulations implementing Section 24 of the FDIA to ease the ability of state-chartered banks to engage in certain activities not permissible for national banks, and to expedite FDIC review of bank applications and notices to engage in such activities.

Safety and Soundness Standards – The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act ("FDICIA"), as amended, directs each federal banking agency to prescribe safety and soundness standards for depository institutions relating to internal controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate risk, asset growth, compensation, asset quality, earnings, and stock valuation. The Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 amended FDICIA by allowing federal banking agencies to publish guidelines rather than regulations covering safety and soundness.

Other Regulatory RequirementsFDICIA also contains a variety of other provisions that may affect the Company’s and the Bank’s operations, including reporting requirements, regulatory guidelines for real estate lending, "truth in savings" provisions, and the requirement that a depository institution give 90 days prior notice to customers and regulatory authorities before closing any branch.

Community Reinvestment – Pursuant to the Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA") and similar provisions of Maine law, regulatory authorities review the performance of the Company and the Bank in meeting the credit needs of the communities served by the Bank. The applicable regulatory authorities consider compliance with this law in connection with the applications for, among other things, approval for branches, branch relocations, and acquisitions of banks and bank holding companies. The Bank received a "satisfactory" rating at its most recent CRA examination May 28, 2002.

Customer Information Security.Security - The FDIC and other bank regulatory agencies have published final guidelines establishing standards for safeguarding nonpublic personal information about customers that implement provisions of the GLBA (the "Guidelines"). Among other things, the Guidelines require each financial institution, under the supervision and ongoing oversight of its Board of Directors or an appropriate committee thereof, to develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program designed to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information, to protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information, and to protect against unauthorized access to, or use of such information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer.

Privacy. The FDIC and other regulatory agencies have published final privacy rules pursuant to provisions of the GLBA ("Privacy Rules"). The Privacy Rules, which govern the treatment of nonpublic personal information about consumers by financial institutions, require a financial institution to provide notice to customers (and other consumers in some circumstances) about its privacy policies and practices, describe the conditions under which a financial institution may disclose nonpublic personal information to nonaffiliated third parties, and provide a method for consumers to prevent a financial institution from disclosing that information to most nonaffiliated third parties by "opting-out" of that disclosure, subject to certain exceptions.

USA Patriot Act. The USA Patriot Act of 2001 (the "Patriot Act"), designed to deny terrorists and otherothers the ability to obtain access to the United States financial system, has significant implications for depository institutions, broker-dealers, and other businesses involved in the transfer of money. The Patriot Act requires financial institutions to implement additional policies and procedures with respect to money laundering, suspicious activities, currency transaction reporting, and due diligence on customers. Implementation of the Patriot Act’s requirements will occur in stages, as rules regarding its provisions are finalized by government agencies.

Deposit Insurance. The FDIA does not require the FDIC to charge all banks deposit insurance premiums when the ratio of deposit insurance reserves to insured deposits is maintained above specified levels. However, as a result of general economic conditions and recent bank failures, it is possible that the ratio of deposit insurance reserves to insured deposits could fall below the minimum ratio that FDIA requires, which would result in the FDIC setting deposit insurance assessment rates sufficient to increase deposit insurance reserves to the required ratio. A resumption of assessments of deposit insurance premiums charged to well-capitalized institutions, such as the Company’s subsidiary bank, could have an effect on the Company’s net earnings. The Company cannot predict whether the FDIC will be required to increase deposit insurance assessments above their current levels.

MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

Securities Regulation. The common stock of the Company is registered with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"). Accordingly, the Company is subject to the information, proxy solicitation, insider trading restrictions and other requirements of the Act. On September 5, 2001,July 30, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Company’s BoardSarbanes-Oxley Act of Directors announced its decision2002 (the "S-O Act"), which generally establishes a comprehensive framework to recruitmodernize and reform the oversight of public company auditing, improve the quality and transparency of financial reporting by those companies and strengthen the independence of auditors. The following are some, but not all, of the S-O Act’s significant reforms:

In addition, Dirigo and Block are subject to certain Broker Dealer and Investment Adviser Regulations promulgated by the NASD and SEC.

Other Proposals. Other legislative and regulatory proposals regarding changes in banking, and the regulation of banks and other financial institutions, are regularly considered by the executive branch of the Bank. Mr. Shencavitz joinedfederal government, Congress and various state governments, including Maine and state and federal regulatory authorities. It cannot be predicted what additional legislative and/or regulatory proposals, if any, will be considered in the future, whether any such proposals will be adopted or, if adopted, how any such proposals would affect the Company in April of 1998 and served as Senior Vice President of Operations and Information Systems. He brings 26 years of financial services experience in finance and accounting, audit and risk management, operations, and information systems management toor the Company.

Other senior operating positions in the Company include presidents of the BTI subsidiaries, and senior Bank officers in charge of lending, retail banking, credit administration and human resources.

At December 31, 2001, the Company had 210 employees. On a full time equivalent basis, total employees at December 31, 2001, were 164.Bank.

 

STOCK DIVIDEND

On December 8, 1998, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a 100% stock dividend to owners of record as of December 28, 1998, payable on January 25, 1999. All share and per share data information included in the Form 10-K has been restated to reflect the 100% stock dividend.

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS DISCLAIMER

The foregoing discussion, as well as certain other statement contained in this Form 10-K, or incorporated herein by reference, contain statements which may be considered to be forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation and Reform Act of 1995 (the "PSLRA"). You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words like "strategy," "expects," "plans," "believes," "will," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "goals," "targets," and other words of similar meaning. You can also identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. For these statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the PSLRA. Forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, those made in connection with estimates with respect to the future results of operation, financial condition, and business of the Company and its subsidiaries which are subject to change based on the impact of various factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated. Those factors include but are not limited to: changes in general, economic and market conditions; the development of an interest rate environment that adversely affects the interest rate spread or other income anticipated from the operation and investments of the financial services group and/or the Bank; significant changes in the economic scenario from that anticipated which could materially change credit quality trends and the ability to generate loans; significant delay in or inability to execute strategic initiative designed to grow revenues and/or control expenses; and significant changes in accounting, tax, or regulatory practices or requirements. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement contained in the foregoing discussion, or elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT INDUSTRY SEGMENTS

The information set forth under this item is incorporated by cross-reference to the Company financial statements set forth below in Part II, Item 8 of this report.

AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION

The Company makes available on its web site, which is located at http://www.bhbt.com, our annual report on Form 10-K on the date on which we electronically file the report with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are encouraged to access this report and other information about our business and operations on our web site.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The twelve parcels of real estate owned and utilized by the Company for its operations are described below:

1. The principal office of the Bank is located at 82 Main Street, Bar Harbor, Maine, and includes a building housing banking facilities and administrative offices and an adjacent 35-car customer parking lot. The building was renovated in 1998.

2. An office is located on Main Street, Northeast Harbor, Maine. This property consists of a building constructed in 1974 that underwent interior renovations in 1998 to better meet the Bank’s needs at that location.

3. An office is located on Main Street, Southwest Harbor, Maine. This property consists of a building constructed in 1975 that was added to, and renovated in 1989, to better meet the needs at that location.

4. An office is located on Church Street, Deer Isle, Maine. This property consists of a building constructed in 1974 that was added to and renovated in 1994 to better meet the needs at that location.

5. An office is located on Main Street, Blue Hill, Maine. This property consists of a building constructed in 1960 that was renovatedunderwent renovations in 1989 to better meet the needs at that location.

6. An office is located on Main Street, Milbridge, Maine. This property consists of a building constructed in 1974, to which a vestibule was added in 1994, to house an ATM that helps to better meet the needs at that location.

7. An office is located on Washington Street, Lubec, Maine. This property consists of a building constructed in 1990 and is adequate for the Bank’s needs at that location.

8. An office is located on High Street, Ellsworth, Maine. This property consists of a building constructed in 1982. The Bank is currently evaluating expansion of the Ellsworth office.

9. An office is located on Main Street, Winter Harbor, Maine. This property consists of a building constructed in 1995 and is adequate for the Bank’s needs at that location.

10. An office is located on Main Street, Machias, Maine. This property consists of a building that was purchased from Key Bank of Maine in May 1990, thatand was renovated in 1995 to better meet the Bank’s needs at that location.

11. An Operations Center is located on Avery Lane, Ellsworth, Maine, that houses the Bank’s operations check clearing, technology, training,departments and mail departments.data center. The building was constructed in 1996, with occupancy by the Bank taking place in January of 1997.

12. BTI owns and occupies a recently renovated 22,000-square-foot office building at 135 High Street, Ellsworth, Maine. Trust, Block, Dirigo, and the Bank occupy portions of this facility. This facility was renovated in 2001.

A parcel of land adjacent to the Blue Hill branch was purchased in 1981 but has not been developed. The Company also leases office space for Dirigo, Block, and Trust at One Cumberland Place in Bangor, Maine.Maine, under terms and conditions considered by management to be favorable to the Company. Other real estates include two out parcels, one improved, contiguous to the BTI Ellsworth location.

The Company believes that its offices are sufficient for its present operations. Additional information relating to the Company’s properties is set forth in Note 7 of the financial statements contained in this report and incorporated herein by reference.

The Bank also has twelve Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) located at ten of its branch officers,offices, plus three off-site ATMs located on Mount Desert Island, the primary market area it serves.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

TwoThe Company previously reported that Paul G. Ahern, a former executive employees of BTI, one of whom also was a director of the Company and executive officer and employee of BTI, resigned theirall of his positions in January of 2002 and have since made monetary demands for severance benefits under theirhis employment agreements. Oneagreement. The disputes between the Company and Mr. Ahern regarding his demands under his employment agreement were submitted to a binding arbitration proceeding in order to determine the rights of the former employees has initiated an arbitration proceeding underparties. On November 4, 2002, the termsCompany received a written "Arbitration Award" in which the independent arbitrator in this matter found in favor of her employment agreement seeking a determination of her alleged right to severance payments. BTI disputes that either employee is entitled to the benefits that they have demanded. Both employees also have threatened other legal action against the Company and BTI butwith regard to all of Mr. Ahern’s claims under his employment agreement. This decision of the Company has not received notice that any legal proceedings have been formally instituted in connectionarbitrator with these matters.regard to Mr. Ahern’s employment agreement claims is binding and final.

The Company previously reported that Bonnie R. McFee, a former officer and employee of BTI and its subsidiary Dirigo Investments, resigned all of her positions in January 2002 and made demands for severance benefits under her employment agreement.

The disputes between the Company and Ms. McFee regarding her demands under her employment agreement have been submitted to a binding arbitration proceeding in order to determine the rights of the parties. The arbitration proceeding for Ms. McFee’s claims under her employment agreement was conducted during the week of March 3, 2003. A decision of the arbitrator has not been issued as of the date of this report.

As previously reported, Roselle M. Neely ("Neely") filed a complaint dated May 31, 2002 in the United States District Court for the District of Maine (the "Neely Complaint") naming the Company, the Bank, Trust, certain other subsidiaries, and certain existing or former management personnel as defendants. The complaint relates to a trust established by Mrs. Neely (the "Neely Trust"), for which Trust has acted as trustee since May 2000 and for which the Bank formerly acted as trustee. Mrs. Neely alleges in part that Trust improperly disregarded her investment instructions and that Block engaged in excessive trading for the purpose of generating commissions for its affiliated broker-dealer. She seeks an unspecified amount of money damages and punitive damages, plus interest and costs. The Company has filed an answer denying all allegations of wrongdoing, and is actively defending against these claims. The case presently is scheduled for trial in May 2003.

Mrs. Neely had also isfiled suit against the Bank and Trust in Probate Court in Penobscot County, Maine in January 2002, seeking to appoint a new corporate trustee for the Neely Trust. In that suit Mrs. Neely alleged that the Bank failed to give her notice of the appointment of Trust as a successor trustee. The suit was amended in June 2002 to add allegations similar to those contained in the Neely Complaint. The Bank and Trust denied all allegations of wrongdoing, and filed a counterclaim seeking declaratory judgment from the Probate Court. The suit was resolved with the consent of all parties in January 2003, through court approval of Trust’s resignation as trustee and pending appointment of a successor trustee.

The Company and its subsidiaries are also party to certain other ordinary routine litigation incidental to the normal conduct of its business,their respective businesses, which in the opinion of management will have no material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

Not applicable.There were no matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s security holders in the fourth quarter of 2002.

 

 

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

High and low trades for each quarter of 20012002 and 20002001 are listed below per records from the American Stock Exchange, where the Company’s common stock is traded under the symbol BHB. Per share data information has been adjusted to reflect the 100% stock dividend described previously in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

High Low

High Low

High Low

High Low

2001

$15.50 to $14.00

$15.88 to $14.15

$18.15 to $15.51

$18.90 to $15.45

2000

$18.75 to $13.25

$16.13 to $13.38

$15.75 to $14.44

$15.50 to $14.06

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

High

Low

High

Low

High

Low

High

Low

2002

$19.40

$15.50

$20.65

$17.50

$20.10

$16.90

$19.50

$17.96

2001

$15.50

$14.00

$15.88

$14.15

$18.15

$15.51

$18.90

$15.45

As of March 1, 2002,25, 2003, there were 1,0881,056 registered holders of record of Bar Harbor Bankshares common stock.

Dividends paid by the Company in 20012002 and 2000:2001:

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

Total

   

2002

$0.19

$0.19

$0.19

$0.19

$0.76

2001

$0.19

$0.19

$0.19

$0.19

$0.19

$0.19

$0.19

$0.76

2000

$0.19

$0.19

$0.19

 

ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial data for the last five years (Dollars

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data):

 

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

      

Balance Sheet totals

     

Total assets

$487,203

$466,225

$456,809

$392,047

$342,726

Total loans

297,970

271,381

261,189

229,435

217,139

Total deposits

291,833

278,076

281,708

266,448

251,903

Total equity

52,538

50,507

49,145

46,861

42,462

Average assets

468,249

471,572

428,555

363,657

344,554

Average equity

53,409

49,550

48,131

44,172

39,472

      

Statement of income totals

     

Interest and dividend income

$ 33,892

$ 35,333

$ 31,952

$ 29,211

$ 28,518

Interest expense

15,751

17,616

13,802

11,973

11,710

Net interest income

18,141

17,717

18,150

17,238

16,808

Provision for loan losses

2,000

952

474

336

620

Net interest income after

     

provision for loan losses

16,141

16,765

17,676

16,902

16,188

Noninterest income

7,520

7,066

5,854

5,688

5,001

Noninterest expense

18,489

16,615

14,298

12,865

11,801

Applicable income taxes

1,661

2,419

3,007

3,118

2,966

Net income

$ 3,511

$ 4,797

$ 6,225

$ 6,607

$ 6,422

      

Earnings per share:

     

Basic

$ 1.07

$ 1.43

$ 1.81

$ 1.92

$ 1.87

Diluted

$ 1.06

$ 1.43

$ 1.81

$ 1.92

$ 1.87

      

Return on total average assets

0.75%

1.02%

1.45%

1.82%

1.86%

Return on total average equity

6.57%

9.68%

12.93%

14.96%

16.27%

Average equity/average assets

11.41%

10.51%

11.23%

12.14%

11.46%

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

Balance Sheet Data

Total Assets

$553,818

$ 487,203

     $ 466,225

$456,809

$392,047

Total Loans

351,535

   297,970

        271,381

  261,189

229,435

Total Investments

162,300

   142,073

       154,464

  160,785

131,285

Total Deposits

322,015

  291,833

       278,076

  281,708

266,448

Total Shareholders' Equity

   53,836

    52,538

         50,507

    49,145

   46,861

Average Assets

518,939

  468,249

       471,572

   428,555

363,657

Average Shareholders' Equity

   52,813

   52,279

         49,550

    48,131

   44,172

Results Of Operations

Interest and dividend income

$ 32,352

$ 33,892

$ 35,333

$ 31,952

$ 29,211

Interest expense

12,775

   15,751

   17,616

   13,802

   11,973

Net interest income

19,577

   18,141

    17,717

   18,150

   17,238

Provision for loan losses

1,100

    2,000

        952

       474

       336

Net interest income after

provision for loan losses

18,477

   16,141

    16,765

   17,676

   16,902

Noninterest income (including net security gains)

6,413

    7,520

    7,066

   5,854

   5,688

Noninterest expense

18,336

  18,489

16,615

14,298

12,865

Pre-Tax Income

6,554

   5,172

   7,216

  9,232

  9,725

Applicable income taxes

1,742

    1,661

   2,419

  3,007

  3,118

Net income before accounting change

4,812

    3,511

   4,797

  6,225

  6,607

Less: Accounting change

   247

--

--

--

--

Net income

      $ 4,565

  $ 3,511

$ 4,797

  $ 6,225

$ 6,607

Earnings per share:

Basic before accounting change

         $ 1.49

         $ 1.07

          $ 1.43

$ 1.81

$ 1.92

Accounting change

           (0.07)

            --

--

--

--

Basic after accounting change

         $ 1.42

        $ 1.07

          $ 1.43

$ 1.81

$ 1.92

Diluted before accounting change

         $ 1.47

        $ 1.06

$ 1.43

$ 1.81

$ 1.92

Accounting change

           (0.07)

          --

--

--

-

Diluted after accounting change

         $ 1.40

        $ 1.06

$ 1.43

$ 1.81

$ 1.92

Return on total average assets

           0.88%

          0.75%

1.02%

           1.45%

           1.82%

Return on total average equity

          8.64%

         6.72%

9.68%

         12.93%

         14.96%

Average equity/average assets

         10.18%

       11.16%

10.51%

         11.23%

         12.14%

 

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

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries for the three-years ended December 31, 2002, should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, and selected financial and statistical information appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The purpose of this discussion is to focus onhighlight significant changes in the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries during the past three years.years, and provide supplemental information and analysis.

Certain information is discussed on a fully taxable equivalent basis. Specifically, included in 2002, 2001 and 2000 net interest income was $1,488, $499 and $327 of tax-exempt interest income from certain tax-exempt investment securities and loans, which effectively resulted in a reduction of the Company’s income tax expense of $613, $193, and $123 thousand, respectively. The discussion and analysis is intendedtables included on pages 30-32 of this Form 10-K provide a reconciliation of tax-equivalent financial information to supplement and highlight information contained in the accompanyingCompany’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Management believes the disclosure of tax-equivalent net interest income information improves the clarity of financial analysis, and is particularly useful to investors in understanding and evaluating the selected financial data presented elsewherechanges and trends in this report. the Company’s results of operations.

Certain amounts in the 20002001 and prior years financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the presentation used in 2001 and prior years.2002.

Unless otherwise noted, all dollars are expressed in thousands except per share data.

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS DISCLAIMER

The foregoing discussion, as well as certain other statements contained in this Form 10-K, or incorporated herein by reference, contain statements which may be considered to be forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation and Reform Act of 1995 (the "PSLRA"). You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words like "strategy," "expects," "plans," "believes," "will," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "goals," "targets," and other words of similar meaning. You can also identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. For these statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the PSLRA.

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those made in connection with estimates with respect to the future results of operation, financial condition, and the business of the Company which are subject to change based on the impact of various factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested due to certain risks and uncertainties. Those factors include but are not limited to:

(i) the Company’s success is dependant to a significant extent upon general economic conditions in Maine and Maine’s ability to attract new business;

(ii) the Company’s earnings depend to a great extent on the level of net interest income (the difference between interest income earned on loans and investments and the interest expense paid on deposits and borrowings) generated by the Bank and thus the Bank’s results of operations may be adversely affected by increases or decreases in interest rates;

(iii) the banking business is highly competitive and the profitability of the Company depends on the Bank’s ability to attract loans and deposits in Maine, where the Bank competes with a variety of traditional banking and nontraditional institutions such as credit unions and finance companies;

(iv) a significant portion of the Bank’s loan portfolio is comprised of commercial loans and loans secured by real estate, exposing the Company to the risks inherent in financings based upon analysis of credit risk, the value of underlying collateral, and other more intangible factors which are considered in making commercial loans and, accordingly, the Company’s profitability may be negatively impacted by judgment errors in risk analysis, by loan defaults, and the ability of certain borrowers to repay such loans during a downturn in general economic conditions;

(v) a significant delay in or inability to execute strategic initiatives designed to grow revenues and or control expenses; and

(vi) significant changes in the extensive laws, regulations, and policies governing bank holding companies and their subsidiaries could alter the Company’s business environment or affect its operations.

The forward looking statements contained herein represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this Form 10-K, and the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on such statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement contained in the foregoing discussion, or elsewhere in this Form 10-K, except to the extent required by federal securities laws.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Management’s discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition are based on the consolidated financial statements which are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of such financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management evaluates its estimates, including those related to the allowance for loan losses and review of goodwill for impairment, on an ongoing basis. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis in making judgments about the carrying values of assets that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from the amount derived from management’s estimates and assumptions under different assumptions or conditions.

Management believes the allowance for loan losses is a significant accounting estimate used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The allowance for loan losses, which is established through a charge to the provision for loan losses, is based on management’s evaluation of the level of allowance required in relation to the probable loss exposure in the loan portfolio. Management regularly evaluates the allowance for loan losses for adequacy by taking into consideration factors such as previous loss experience, the size and composition of the portfolio, current economic and real estate market conditions and the performance of individual loans in relation to contract terms and estimated fair values of properties to be foreclosed. The use of different estimates or assumptions could produce different provisions for loan losses. Refer to the discussion of Credit Risk in the Risk Management section and Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a detailed description of management’s estimation process and methodology related to the reserve for loan losses.

Management utilizes numerous techniques to estimate the value of various assets held by the Company. Management utilized various methods to determine the appropriate carrying value of goodwill as required under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 142. At december 31, 2002, the carrying value of goodwill amounted to $375.  Goodwill from a purchase acquisition is subject to ongoing periodic impairment tests. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment using several standard valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analyses, as well as an estimation of the impact of business conditions. Different estimates or assumptions are also utilized to determine the appropriate carrying value of other assets including, but not limited to, premises and equipment, mortgage servicing rights, and overall collectibility of loans and receivables. The use of different estimates or assumptions could produce different estimates of carrying value.

SUMMARY FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

Net income for Bar Harbor Bankshares for the year ended December 31, 2001, was $3.5 million, representing $1.062002, amounted to $4,565, or $1.40 per fully diluted earnings per share of common stock. This comparescapital stock, compared with $4.8 million,$3,511 or $1.43$1.06 per fully diluted earnings per share in 2000.2001, representing increases of 30% and 32% respectively.

DuringSummary financial highlights for 2002 follow: