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


FORM 10-K


ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20172022
OR

or

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _________ to __________.___________  to_____________


Commission File Number:  000-26099


FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware 94-3327828
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S.  Employer Identification No.)


111 W. Pine Street, Lodi, California 95240
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (209) 367-2300


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:None


Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
None
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value Per Share


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes Yes No 


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


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 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 (§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). Yes No

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer 
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)


If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

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


The aggregate market value of the Registrant'sRegistrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates on June 30, 20172022 (based on the last reported trade on June 30, 2017)2022) was $501,396,000.$648,158,000.


The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of February 28, 2018: 812,3042023: 763,807


Documents Incorporated by Reference:
Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for the 20182023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A are incorporated by reference in Part III, Items 10 through 14.




FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
FORM 10-K


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART IPage
  
Page
PART I

 3
Item 1.
34
Item 1A.
1321
Item 1B.
2235
Item 2.
2235
Item 3.
2235
Item 4.
2235
   
 
PART II
 
   
Item 5.
2236
Item 6.
40
Item  6.26
Item 7.2640
Item 7A.
5666
Item 8.
5969
Item 9.
99122
Item 9A.
99122
Item 9B.
100124
Item 9C.
124
   
 
PART III
 
   
Item 10.
101125
Item 11.
102125
Item 12.
102125
Item 13.
102125
Item 14.
102126
   
 
PART IV
 
   
Item 15.
103126
Item 16.
104
127
 105128

IntroductionIntroduction – Forward Looking Statements


This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains various forward-looking statements, usually containing the words “estimate,” “project,” “expect,” “objective,” “goal,” or similar expressions and includes assumptions concerning Farmers & Merchants Bancorp’s (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”, “FMCB”, or “we”) operations, future results, and prospects. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties. In connection with the “safe-harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company provides the following cautionary statement identifying important factors which could cause the actual results of events to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by the forward-looking statements and related assumptions.


Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) economic conditions in the mid Central Valley or the East Bay region of San Francisco in California; (2) significant changes in interest rates and loan prepayment speeds; (3) credit risks of lending and investment activities; (4) changes in federal and state banking laws or regulations; (5) competitive pressure in the banking industry; (6) changes in governmental fiscal or monetary policies; (7) the possible adverse impacts on the banking industry and our business from a period of significant, prolonged inflation; (8) uncertainty regarding the economic outlook resulting from the continuing war on terrorism, as well as actions taken or to be taken by the U.S. or other governments as a result of further acts or threats of terrorism; (8)(9) water management issues in California and the resulting impact on the Company’s agricultural and industrial customers; (9)(10) expansion into new geographic markets and new lines of business;(10) (11) the impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) on the recently enacted Tax CutsCompany and Jobs Actits customers (see COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Disclosure below); (12) the impact of changes in Federal and (11)State taxation policies and rates; and (13) other factors discussed in Item“Item 1A. Risk Factors.Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they are made.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Disclosure
Beginning in the first quarter of 2020 the COVID-19 virus has impacted all of us to varying degrees.  Various levels of governmental restrictions that affected economic activity were in place through much of 2021. In late 2021 and early 2022, economic activity began to improve as vaccination rates increased and governmental restrictions were eased.

On March 27, 2020, Congress signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) into law.  Since that time the Company actively worked with its customers to help them obtain the benefits available under the CARES Act, particularly regarding loans made under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) where the Small Business Administration was directed by Congress to provide loans to small businesses with less than 500 employees to assist these businesses in meeting their payroll and other financial obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Bank made over $494 million of PPP loans for 2,680 small business customers.  As a reflection of the diminishing impact of COVID-19 on the economy, by December 31, 2022 all of these loans had been repaid [by the SBA].  Additionally, those Bank customers operating in industries that were impacted by either: (1) the public’s changing habits in response to the risks of COVID-19 and such variants (e.g., hotels, movie theaters, health clubs and restaurants); or (2) restrictions imposed by local, state and federal officials (e.g., small businesses determined to be “non-essential”) are now, in the opinion of management, stable and do not exhibit any extraordinary levels of credit risk.

At the current time, COVID-19 is not having any material adverse impact on the Company’s business activities or financial results; however, the virus has continued to develop new strains and no assurances can be given as to whether governmental restrictions might be re-imposed and what the resulting economic impact might be on the markets we serve.

PART I


Item 1.Business


Organizational Structure
General Development of the Business

August 1, 1916, marked the first day of business for Farmers & Merchants Bank (the “Bank”). The Bank was incorporated under the laws of the State of California and licensed asBancorp is a state-chartered bank. Farmers & Merchants’ first venture out of Lodi occurred when the Galt office opened in 1948. Since then the Bank has opened full-service branches in Linden, Manteca, Riverbank, Modesto, Sacramento, Elk Grove, Turlock, Hilmar, Stockton, Merced, Walnut Creek and Concord.

During 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of Delta National Bancorp, the parent company of Delta Bank, N.A., headquartered in Manteca, California. This enabled the Company to expand its presence in to both Manteca and Riverbank.

In January 2018, the Company opened a loan production office (“LPO”) in Napa, California and is currently building out a full service branch location that should be ready for occupancy in the third quarter of 2018.

In addition to 26 full-service branches and 1 LPO, the Bank serves the needs of its customers through a stand-alone ATM located on the grounds of the Lodi Grape Festival. In 2007, the Bank began offering certain banking products over the internet at www.fmbonline.com.

On March 10, 1999, the Company, pursuant to a reorganization, acquired all of the voting stock of the Bank. The Company is aDelaware registered bank holding company incorporatedorganized in 1999.  As a registered bank holding company, FMCB is subject to regulation, supervision, and examination by the StateBoard of DelawareGovernors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”) and registered underby the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (“DFPI”).  The Company’s principal business is to serve as a holding company for the Bank Holdingand for other banking or banking related subsidiaries, which the Company Actmay establish or acquire. As a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiary, the Company’s principal source of 1956, as amended.funds is, and will continue to be, dividends paid by and other funds received from the Bank. Legal limitations are imposed on the amount of dividends that may be paid and loans that may be made by the Bank to the Company. See “Supervision and Regulation - Dividends and Other Transfer of Funds.”  The Company’s outstanding securitiescommon stock as of December 31, 2017,2022, consisted of 812,304768,337 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, and no shares of preferred stock issued.were issued or outstanding.

During 2003, the Company formed a wholly-owned Connecticut statutory business trust, FMCB Statutory Trust I, for the sole purpose of issuing trust-preferred securities. See Note 9 “Long-Term Subordinated Debentures” located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company operates all financial service activities through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California, which was organized in 1916.  The Bank iswas incorporated under the Company’s principal asset.

laws of the State of California as a non-FRB member, California state-chartered bank subject to primary regulation, supervision and examination by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and by the DFPI. The Bank’s two wholly ownedwholly-owned subsidiaries are Farmers & Merchants Investment Corporation and Farmers/Merchants Corp.Corporation. Farmers & Merchants Investment Corporation is currently dormant, and Farmers/Merchants Corp.Corporation acts as trustee on deeds of trust originated by the Bank.  The Bank’s deposit accounts are insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended (“FDIA”), up to applicable limits. See “Supervision and Regulation – Deposit Insurance.”
F & M Bancorp, Inc. was created in March 2002 to protect the name “F & M Bank.” During 2002, the Company completed a fictitious name filing in California to begin using the streamlined name, “F & M Bank,” as part of a larger effort to enhance the Company’s image and build brand name recognition. Since 2002, the Company has converted all of its daily operating and image advertising to the “F & M Bank” name and the Company’s logo, slogan and signage were redesigned to incorporate the trade name, “F & M Bank.”


During 2003, the Company formed a wholly owned Connecticut statutory business trust, FMCB Statutory Trust I, for the sole purpose of issuing trust-preferred securities. See Note 14, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”Market Area


The Company’s principal business is to serve as a holding company for the Bank and for other banking or banking related subsidiaries, which the Company may establish or acquire. As a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiary, the Company’s principal source of funds is, and will continue to be, dividends paid by and other funds from the Bank. Legal limitations are imposed on the amount of dividends that may be paid and loans that may be made by the Bank to the Company. See “Supervision and Regulation - Dividends and Other Transfer of Funds.”

The Bank’s deposit accounts are insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act up to applicable limits. See “Supervision and Regulation – Deposit Insurance.”

As a bank holding company, the Company is subject to regulation and examination by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”). The Bank is a California state-chartered non-FRB member bank subject to the regulation and examination of the California Department of Business Oversight (“DBO”) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).

Service Area

Since 2014, the Company has broadened its geographic footprint by opening offices in Walnut Creek,  Concord and Napa. The Company continues to look for opportunities to further expand its branch network in the East Bay area of San Francisco.

At the present time, the Company’s primary service area remainsis the mid Central Valley of California, including Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus and Merced counties, where we operate 24and the east region of the San Francisco Bay Area, including Napa, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties.  The Company operates 29 full-service branches and one3 stand-alone ATM.ATMs. The Company’s market areas include the following Metropolitan Statistical Areas (“MSA”), with data as of January 23, 2023 (the most recent data available) set forth below:

The Sacramento MSA (Sacramento County Only), with branches in Sacramento, Elk Grove, Galt and Walnut Grove.  This area encompasses:county had a Population of 1.6 million and a Per Capita Income of approximately $36,152. The MSA includes significant employment in the following sectors: government, education & health trade, and transportation & utilities. Unemployment was at 3.5%.

·Sacramento Metropolitan Statistical Area (“MSA”), with branches in Sacramento, Elk Grove and Galt. This MSA has a Population of 2.33 million and a Per Capita Income of approximately $53,100. The MSA includes significant employment in the following sectors: state and local government; agriculture; and trade, transportation and utilities. Unemployment currently stands at 4.6%.

·Stockton MSA, with branches in Lodi, Linden, Stockton and Manteca. This MSA has a Population of 0.75 million and a Per Capita Income of approximately $41,300. The MSA includes significant employment in the following sectors: state and local government; agriculture; trade, transportation, and utilities; and education and health services. Unemployment currently stands at 7.2%.

·Modesto MSA, with branches in Modesto, Riverbank and Turlock. This MSA has a Population of 0.55 million and a Per Capita Income of approximately $42,700. The MSA includes significant employment in the following sectors: agriculture; trade, transportation and utilities; state and local government; and education and health services. Unemployment currently stands at 7.5%.

·Merced MSA with branches in Hilmar and Merced. This MSA has a Population of 0.27 million and a Per Capita Income of approximately $38,900. The MSA includes significant employment in the following sectors: agriculture; state and local government; and trade, transportation and utilities. Unemployment currently stands at 9.5%.

All
The Stockton-Lodi MSA, with branches in Lodi, Linden, Stockton, Lockeford and Manteca. This MSA had a Population of the Company’s Central Valley service areas are heavily influenced by the agricultural industry, however, with the exception0.79 million and a Per Capita Income of the State of Californiaapproximately $30,628. The MSA includes significant employment in the Sacramentofollowing sectors: trade, transportation & utilities, government, and education & health services. Unemployment was at 5.2%.

The Vallejo-Fairfield MSA no single employer represents(Rio Vista Only, census tract 2535.01 & 2535.02), with a material concentrationbranch in Rio Vista. This census tract had a Population of jobsapproximately 10,000 and a Per Capita Income of approximately $44,012. The city includes significant employment in anythe following industries: agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and other services. Unemployment was at 3.6%.

The Modesto MSA, with branches in Modesto, Riverbank and Turlock.  This MSA had a Population of our service areas.0.55 million and a Per Capita Income of approximately $29,195. The MSA includes significant employment in the following sectors: trade, transportation & utilities, educational & health services, and government. Unemployment was at 5.3%.


See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion
The Merced MSA, with branches in Hilmar and AnalysisMerced.  This MSA had a Population of Financial Condition0.29 million and Resultsa Per Capita Income of Operations – Overview”approximately $24,521. The MSA includes significant employment in the following sectors: government, trade, transportation & utilities, and “Financial Condition – Loansfarming. Unemployment was at 7.4%.

The Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley MSA, with branches in Concord, Walnut Creek, and Oakland.  This MSA had a Population of 2.8 million and a Per Capita Income of approximately $53,736. The MSA includes significant employment in the following sectors: professional & Leases” for additional discussion regardingbusiness services, educational & health services, trade, and transportation & utilities. Unemployment was at 2.8%.

The Napa MSA, with a branch in Napa.  This MSA had a Population of 0.14 million and a Per Capita Income of approximately $49,641. The MSA includes significant employment in the Company’s market conditions.following sectors: manufacturing, leisure & hospitality, trade, and educational & health services. Unemployment was at 3.0%.


Through its network of banking offices, the Company emphasizes personalized service along with a broad range of banking services to businesses and individuals located in the service areas of its offices. Although the Company focuses on marketing its services to small and medium sizedmedium-sized businesses, a broad range of retail banking services are also made available to the local consumer market.


The Company offers a wide range of deposit instruments.products. These include checking, savings, money market, time certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts and online banking services for both business and personal accounts.


The Company provides a broad complement of lending products, including commercial, commercial real estate, real estate construction, agribusiness, consumer, credit card, residential real estate loans, and equipment leases. Commercial products include term loans, leases, lines of credit and other working capital financing and letters of credit. Financing products for individuals include automobile financing, lines of credit, residential real estate, home improvement and home equity lines of credit.


The Company also offers a wide range of specialized services designed for the needs of its commercial accounts. These services include a credit card program for merchants, lockbox and other collection services, account reconciliation, investment sweep, on-line account access, and electronic funds transfers by way of domestic and international wire and automated clearinghouse.


The Company makes investment products available to customers, including mutual funds and annuities. These investment products are offered through a third party, which employs investment advisors to meet with and provide investment advice to the Company’s customers.


Employees
5


At December 31, 2017, the Company employed 330 full time equivalent employees. The Company believes that its employee relations are satisfactory.

Competition

The banking and financial services industry in California generally, and in the Company’s market areas specifically, is highly competitive. The increasingly competitive environment is a result primarily of changes in regulation, changes in technology and product delivery systems, and the accelerating pace of consolidation among financial service providers. The Company competes with other major commercial banks, diversified financial institutions, credit unions, savings institutions, money market and other mutual funds, mortgage companies, and a variety of other non-banking financial services and advisory companies. Federal legislation encourages competition between different types of financial service providers and has fostered new entrants into the financial services market. It is anticipated that this trend will continue. Using the financial holding company structure, insurance companies and securities firms may compete more directly with banks and bank holding companies.


Many of our competitors are much larger in total assets and capitalization, have greater access to capital markets and offer a broader range of financial services than the Company. In order to compete with other financial service providers, the Company relies upon personal contact by its officers, directors, employees, and stockholders, along with various promotional activities and specialized services. In those instances where the Company is unable to accommodate a customer’s needs, the Company may arrange for those services to be provided through its correspondents.
 
The market shares of the Bank and all other banks within the eight counties in California in which we operate, at June 30, 2022 (the most recent data available), as reported by FDIC, are as follows:
5
  F&M Bank  All Banks  F&M Bank 
County Deposits  Deposits  Deposit Share 
(Dollars in thousands)         
San Joaquin $2,142,903  $16,146,195   13.27%
Merced  295,062   3,478,972   8.48%
Stanislaus  1,040,376   12,326,338   8.44%
Solano  204,523   7,100,485   2.88%
Sacramento  669,990   50,151,517   1.34%
Contra Costa  398,741   66,591,080   0.60%
Napa  22,563   6,050,434   0.37%
Alameda  817   72,077,695   0.00%
Total $4,774,975  $233,922,716   2.04%

Human Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2022, we employed 374 full-time-equivalent employees. The Company believes that its employee relations are satisfactory. For the year ended December 31, 2022, salaries and employee benefits expense totaled $64 million, representing 69% of our total non-interest expense. Expenses related to education, training, recruiting and placement exceeded $500,000 for the period ended December 31, 2022.

We are led by an experienced management team with substantial experience in the markets we serve and the financial products we offer. Our business strategy focuses on providing products and services through long-term relationship managers. As a result, our success depends heavily on the performance of our employees, as well as on our ability to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified employees at all levels of the Company. We believe that our work environment contributes to employee satisfaction and retention.

We are committed to maintaining a work environment where every employee is treated with dignity and respect, free from the threat of discrimination and harassment. As stated in our Board approved (i) Code of Conduct and (ii) Prohibited Harassment Policy, we expect these same standards to apply to all stakeholders, and to our interactions with customers, vendors and independent contractors.

We are firmly committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified individuals and will not tolerate any discrimination or harassment of any kind. Team members are encouraged to immediately report any discrimination or harassment to their supervisor and human resources.

Policies and Planning
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and enforce those values throughout all of our operations. We prohibit discrimination in hiring or advancement against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetics, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

We strive to ensure our team members have access to working conditions that provide a safe and healthy environment, free from work-related injuries and illnesses. Many of our locations employ badges and keypads to enter or to enter restricted areas of locations that have a public presence.

Each year our annual planning and budgeting process involves an assessment of staffing levels and skills and results in the development of targets for recruitment and training. In addition, our Board of Directors reviews all succession plans in place for key personnel.

Recruitment
We strive to recruit talent from both local educational institutions and the banking industry. The Company has full-time staff dedicated to our recruitment efforts and we utilize many of the major recruitment firms and websites. Annually we visit local colleges and universities for job fairs and other recruitment events, which we believe allows us to identify those students who have the skills and aptitudes we need in the Company. The results of these efforts has been a consistent flow of candidates to fill our staffing needs as we grow.

Compensation

Salary and Bonuses
We have job descriptions and salary grade ranges for all of our positions. Annually, we use outside survey firms to provide information on market pay. We also pay performance-based bonuses to our employees. During 2022, total bonus compensation amounted to over 30% of base salaries. We believe that this “pay-for-performance” approach allows us to effectively recruit and retain key employees.

Retirement Plans
All employees are eligible to participate in our Profit Sharing Plan after one year of service and having worked at least 1,000 hours. The Company makes contributions equal to 5% of the employee’s eligible compensation and discretionary contributions determined annually by the Board of Directors. This is not a matching based program; employees receive these contributions regardless of whether they make individual contributions to our 401(K) program. During 2022 total expenses for the Profit Sharing Plan amounted to over 10% of base salaries, a level that we believe helps us in recruitment and retention.

Medical and Other Benefits
In addition to competitive salaries, incentives and retirement benefits, we provide comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, health savings accounts, paid sick time, long-term disability, basic life and AD&D insurance, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance and wellness programs.

Training

Job Related
We support team members, should they wish to continue their education in subjects and fields that are directly related to our operations, activities, and objectives. We encourage our team members to pursue educational opportunities that will help improve job performance and professional development. To further this goal, we reimburse tuition and certain fees for satisfactory completion of approved educational courses and certain certifications. Included are college credit courses at accredited colleges and universities, continuing education courses and certification exams.

Diversity and Inclusion
To foster a deeper understanding regarding diversity and inclusion, the Company assigns all employees diversity and inclusion training - Diversity Made Simple. The diversity course is mandatory for all staff. As of December 31, 2022, all employees had met their diversity and inclusion training obligations.

Harassment Prevention
The Company assigns all employees prohibitive harassment training. Every two years non-supervisory employees receive one hour of harassment preventiontraining while supervisors receive two hours of harassment prevention training. Newly hired employees are assigned harassment prevention and must complete the training within six months of hire or promotion.  Following the initial training, all employees must complete training every two years, at minimum. As of December 31, 2022, all employees had met their harassment prevention training requirements for 2022.

Performance Evaluation
The Company has implemented a Performance Planning, Coaching and Evaluation (“PPC&E”) system that requires each year that employees and their managers establish detailed goals and objectives. Annually, employees are reviewed relative to their progress in achieving those goals, with the objective of reducing performance surprises and encouraging behavior that is consistent with Company objectives. We believe that this PPC&E discipline is important in retaining and growing our employees.

Government Policies


The Company’s profitability, like that of most financial institutions, is primarilysignificantly dependent on interest rate differentials. The difference between the interest rates paid by the Company on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and other borrowings, and the interest rates received by the Company on its interest-earning assets, such as loans &and leases extended to its customers and securities held in its investment portfolio, comprise the major portion of the Company’s earnings. These rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the control of the Company and the Bank, such as inflation, recession, unemployment, and unemployment.the monetary policy of the FRB. The impact that changes in economic conditions might have on the Company and the Bank cannot be predicted.


The business of the Company is also influenced by the monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government and the policies of regulatory agencies, particularly the FRB. The FRB implements national monetary policies (with objectives such as curbing inflation and combating recession)maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates) through its open-market operations in U.S. Government securities by adjusting the required level of reserves for depository institutions subject to its reserve requirements, and by varying the target federal funds and discount rates applicable to borrowings by depository institutions.
The actions of the FRB in these areas influence the growth of bank loans &and leases, investments, and deposits and also affect interest rates earned on interest-earning assets and paid on interest-bearing liabilities. The nature and impact on the Company of any future changes in monetary and fiscal policies cannot be predicted.


From time to time, legislative acts, as well as regulations, are enacted which have the effect of increasing the cost of doing business, limiting or expanding permissible activities, or affecting the competitive balance between banks and other financial services providers. Proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the operations and taxation of banks, bank holding companies, and other financial institutions and financial services providers are frequently made in the U.S. Congress, in the state legislatures, and before various regulatory agencies. This legislation may change banking statutes and the operating environment of the Company and the Bank in substantial and unpredictable ways. If enacted, such legislation or regulations could increase or decrease the cost of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities or affect the competitive balance among banks, savings institutions, credit unions, and other financial institutions. The Company cannot predict whether any of this potential legislation will be enacted, and if enacted, the effect that it, or any implemented regulations, would have on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.


Supervision and Regulation


General
Bank holding companies and banks are extensively regulated under both federal and state law. The regulation is intended primarily for the protection of the banking system and the deposit insurance fundDeposit Insurance Fund and clients of insured depository institutions and not for the benefit of stockholders of the Company. This supervisory and regulatory framework subjects banks and bank holding companies to regular examination by their respective regulatory agencies, which results in examination reports and ratings that, while not publicly available, can affect the conduct and growth of their businesses. These examinations consider not only compliance with applicable laws and regulations, but also capital levels, asset quality and risk, management ability and performance, earnings, liquidity, and various other factors. The regulatory agencies generally have broad discretion to impose restrictions and limitations on the operations of a regulated entity where the agencies determine, among other things, that such operations are unsafe or unsound, fail to comply with applicable law or are otherwise inconsistent with laws and regulations or with the supervisory policies of these agencies.

Set forth below is a summary description of the material laws and regulations, which relate to the operations of the Company and the Bank. This description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable laws and regulations.


The Company
The Company is a registered bank holding company and is subject to regulation under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (“BHCA”), as amended.. Accordingly, the Company’s operations are subject to extensive regulation and examination by the FRB. The Company is required to file with the FRB quarterly and annual reports and such additional information as the FRB may require pursuant to the BHCA. The FRB conducts periodic examinations of the Company.


The FRB may require that the Company terminate an activity, or terminate control of, or liquidate, or divest certain subsidiaries ofor affiliates when the FRB believes the activity or the control of the subsidiary or affiliate constitutes a significant risk to the financial safety, soundness or stability of any of its banking subsidiaries. The FRB also has the authority to regulate provisions of certain bank holding company debt. Under certain circumstances, the Company must file written notice with, and obtain approval from, the FRB prior to purchasing or redeeming its equity securities.

Under the BHCA and regulations adopted by the FRB, a bank holding company and its non-banking subsidiaries are prohibited from requiring certain tie-in arrangements in connection with an extension of credit, lease or sale of property, or furnishing of services. For example, with certain exceptions, a bank may not condition an extension of credit on a promise by its customer to obtain other services provided by it, its holding company or other subsidiaries, or on a promise by its customer not to obtain other services from a competitor. In addition, federal law imposes certain restrictions on transactions between Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and its subsidiaries. Further, the Company is required by the FRB to maintain certain levels of capital. See “Capital Standards.”
The Company is prohibited by the BHCA, except in certain statutorily prescribed instances, from acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the outstanding voting shares of any company that is not a bank or bank holding company and from engaging directly or indirectly in activities other than those of banking, managing or controlling banks, or furnishing services to its subsidiaries. However, the Company, subject to the prior notice to, and/or approval of, the FRB, may engage in any, or acquire shares of companies engaged in, any activities that are deemed by the FRB to be so closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto.


Under FRB regulations, aA bank holding company is required to serve as a source of financial and managerial strength to its subsidiary banks and may not conduct its operations in an unsafe or unsound manner. In addition, it is the FRB’s policy, that in serving as a source of strength to its subsidiary banks, a bank holding company should stand ready to use available resources to provide adequate capital funds to its subsidiary banks during periods of financial stress or adversity and should maintain the financial flexibility and capital-raising capacity to obtain additional resources for assisting its subsidiary banks. This support may be required at times when a bank holding company may not be able to provide such support. A bank holding company’s failure to meet its obligations to serve as a source of strength to its subsidiary banks will generally be considered by the FRB to be an unsafe and unsound banking practice or a violation of the FRB’s regulations or both.


The Company is not a financial holding company for purposes of the FRB.BHCA.


The Company is also a bank holding company within the meaning of the California Financial Code. As such, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to examination by, and may be required to file reports with, the DBO.DFPI.


The Company’s securities arecommon stock is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). As such, the Company is subject to the reporting, proxy solicitation and other requirements and restrictions of the Exchange Act.


The Bank
The Bank, as a California charteredCalifornia-chartered non-FRB member bank, is subject to primary supervision, periodic examination and regulation by the DBODFPI and the FDIC. If, as a result of an examination of the Bank, the FDIC should determine that the financial condition, capital resources, asset quality, earnings prospects, management, liquidity, or other aspects of the Bank’s operations are unsatisfactory, or that the Bank or its management is violating or has violated any law or regulation, various remedies are available to the FDIC.

Such remedies include the power to enjoin “unsafe or unsound” practices, to require affirmative action to correct any conditions resulting from any violation or practice, to issue an administrative order that can be judicially enforced, to direct an increase in capital, to restrict the growth of the Bank, to assess civil monetary penalties, to remove officers and directors, and ultimately to terminate the Bank’s deposit insurance, which for a California charteredCalifornia-chartered bank would result in a revocation of the Bank’s charter. The DBODFPI has many of the same remedial powers.


Various requirements and restrictions under the laws of the State of California and the United States affect the operations of the Bank. State and federal statutes and regulations relate to many aspects of the Bank’s operations, including reserves against deposits, ownership of deposit accounts, interest rates payable on deposits, loans &and leases, investments, mergers and acquisitions, borrowings, dividends, locations of branch offices, and capital requirements. Further, the Bank is required to maintain certain levels of capital. See “Capital Standards.”


The Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd Frank Act”) - The Dodd-Frank Act implemented sweeping reform across the U.S. financial regulatory framework, including, among other changes:

creating a Financial Stability Oversight Council tasked with identifying and monitoring systemic risks in the financial system;
creating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), which is responsible for implementing, examining and enforcing compliance with federal consumer financial protection laws;
requiring the FDIC to make its capital requirements for insured depository institutions countercyclical, so that capital requirements increase in times of economic expansion and decrease in times of economic contraction;
imposing more stringent capital requirements on bank holding companies and subjecting certain activities, including interstate mergers and acquisitions, to heightened capital conditions;
changing the assessment base for federal deposit insurance from the amount of the insured deposits held by the depository institution to the depository institution’s average total consolidated assets less tangible equity, eliminating the ceiling on the size of the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund and increasing the floor on the size of the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund;

eliminating all remaining restrictions on interstate banking by authorizing state banks to establish de novo banking offices in any state that would permit a bank chartered in that state to open a banking office at that location;

repealing the federal prohibitions on the payment of interest on demand deposits, thereby permitting depository institutions to pay interest on business transaction and other accounts; and
in the so-called “Volcker Rule,” subject to numerous exceptions, prohibiting depository institutions and affiliates from certain investments in, and sponsorship of, hedge funds and private equity funds and from engaging in proprietary trading.
On May 24, 2018, President Trump signed the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (“Economic Growth Act”), which repealed or modified certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and eased regulations on all but the largest banks.
The Economic Growth Act’s highlights include improving consumer access to mortgage credit that, among other things: (i) exempt banks with less than $10 billion in assets from the ability-to-repay requirements for certain qualified residential mortgage loans; (ii) do not require appraisals for certain transactions valued at less than $400,000 in rural areas; (iii) exempt banks and credit unions that originate fewer than 500 open-end and 500 closed-end mortgages from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act’s (“HMDA”) expanded data disclosures (the provision would not apply to nonbanks and would not exempt institutions from HMDA reporting altogether); (iv) amend the SAFE Mortgage Licensing Act by providing registered mortgage loan originators in good standing with 120 days of transitional authority to originate loans when moving from a federal depository institution to a non-depository institution or across state lines; (v) require the CFPB to clarify how Truth in Lending Disclosure (“TRID”) rules apply to mortgage assumption transactions and construction-to-permanent home loans as well as outline certain liabilities related to model disclosure use; and (vi) provide that federal banking regulators may not impose higher capital standards on High Volatility Commercial Real Estate exposures unless they are for acquisition, development or construction (“ADC”), and clarifies ADC status. In addition, the Economic Growth Act’s highlights also include regulatory relief for certain institutions, including among other things, simplifying capital calculations by requiring regulators to adopt a threshold for a community bank leverage ratio of between 8% to 10%.

Institutions under $10 billion in assets that meet such community bank leverage ratio will automatically be deemed to be “well-capitalized”, although regulators retain the flexibility to determine that a depository institution may not qualify for the community bank leverage ratio test based on the institution’s risk profile. The Economic Growth Act also exempts community banks from Section 13 of the BHCA if they have less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets; and exempts banks with less than $10 billion in assets, and total trading assets and liabilities not exceeding more than five percent of their total assets, from the Volcker Rule restrictions on trading with their own capital.
The USA PatriotEconomic Growth Act also added certain protections for consumers, including veterans and active duty military personnel, expanded credit freezes and created an identity theft protection database. The Economic Growth Act also made changes applicable to bank holding companies, as it raises the threshold for automatic designation as a systemically important financial institution from $50 billion to $250 billion in assets, subjects banks with $100 billion to $250 billion in total assets to periodic stress tests, exempts from stress test requirements entirely banks with under $100 billion in assets, and required the federal banking regulators , within 180 days of passage, to raise the asset threshold under the Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement from $1 billion to $3 billion. The Economic Growth Act also added certain protections for student borrowers.
Some aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act remain subject to rulemaking and will take effect over several years, making it difficult to anticipate the overall financial impact on us. In addition, the Economic Growth Act modified several provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act, but these remain subject to implementing regulations. Although the reforms primarily target systemically important financial service providers (which the Bank is not), the Dodd-Frank Act’s influence has and is expected to continue to filter down in varying degrees to smaller institutions over time. We will continue to evaluate the effect of the Dodd-Frank Act; however, in many respects, the ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act will not be fully known for years, and no current assurance may be given that the Dodd-Frank Act, or any other new legislative changes, will not have a negative impact on the results of operations and financial condition of the Company and the Bank.

Capital Standards
The federal banking agencies have risk-based capital adequacy guidelines intended to provide a measure of capital adequacy that reflects the degree of risk associated with a banking organization’s operations, both for transactions reported on the balance sheet as assets and for transactions, such as letters of credit and recourse arrangements, that are recorded as off-balance sheet items. In 2013, the FRB, FDIC, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued final rules (the “Basel III Capital Rules”) establishing a new comprehensive capital framework for U.S. banking organizations.

The rules implement the Basel Committee’s December 2010 framework, commonly referred to as Basel III, for strengthening international capital standards, as well as implementing certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act.
The Basel III Capital Rules became effective for the Company and the Bank on January 1, 2015 (subject to phase-in periods for some of their components). The Basel III Capital Rules: (i) introduce a new capital measure called Common Equity Tier 1 (“CET1”), and a related regulatory capital ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets; (ii) specify that Tier 1 capital consists of CET1 and “Additional Tier 1 capital” instruments, which are instruments treated as Tier 1 instruments under the prior capital rules that meet certain revised requirements; (iii) mandate that most deductions or adjustments to regulatory capital measures be made to CET1 and not to the other components of capital; and (iv) expand the scope of the deductions from and adjustments to capital, as compared to existing regulations. Under the Basel III Capital Rules, for most banking organizations, the most common form of additional Tier 1 capital is non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock and the most common form of Tier 2 capital is subordinated notes and a portion of the allowance for credit losses, in each case, subject to the Basel III Capital Rules’ specific requirements.
Under the Basel III Capital Rules, the following are the minimum capital ratios applicable to the Company and the Bank:
4.0% Tier 1 leverage ratio;
4.5% CET1 to risk-weighted assets, plus the capital conservation buffer, effectively resulting in a minimum ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 7%;
6.0% Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, plus the capital conservation buffer, effectively resulting in a minimum Tier 1 capital ratio of at least 8.5%; and
8.0% total capital to risk-weighted assets, plus the capital conservation buffer, effectively resulting in a minimum total capital ratio of at least 10.5%.
The Basel III Capital Rules provide for a number of deductions from and adjustments to CET1. These include, for example, the requirement that: (i) mortgage servicing rights, (ii) deferred tax assets arising from temporary differences that could not be realized through net operating loss carrybacks, and (iii) significant investments in non-consolidated financial entities be deducted from CET1 to the extent that any one such category exceeds 10% of CET1 or all such items, in the aggregate, exceed 15% of CET1. Under the Basel III Capital Rules, the effects of certain accumulated other comprehensive income or loss items are not excluded for the purposes of determining regulatory capital ratios; however, non-advanced approaches banking organizations (i.e., banking organizations with less than $250 billion in total consolidated assets or with less than $10 billion of on-balance sheet foreign exposures), including the Company and the Bank, may make a one-time permanent election to exclude these items. The Company and the Bank made this election in 2015 in order to avoid significant variations in the level of capital depending upon the impact of interest rate fluctuations on the fair value of its available-for-sale investment securities portfolio, changes of which are included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss.
The Basel III Capital Rules prescribe a standardized approach for risk weightings that expands the risk weighting categories from the previous four Basel I-derived categories (0%, 20%, 50% and 100%) to a larger and more risk-sensitive number of categories, generally ranging from 0% for U.S. Government and agency securities, to 600% for certain equity exposures, depending on the nature of the assets. The Basel III capital rules generally result in higher risk weights for a variety of asset classes. Additional aspects of the Basel III Capital Rules that are relevant to the Company and the Bank include:
consistent with the Basel I risk-based capital rules, assigning exposures secured by single-family residential properties to either a 50% risk weight for first-lien mortgages that meet prudent underwriting standards or a 100% risk weight category for all other mortgages;
providing for a 20% credit conversion factor for the unused portion of a commitment with an original maturity of one year or less that is not unconditionally cancellable (set at 0% under the Basel I risk-based capital rules);
assigning a 150% risk weight to all exposures that are nonaccrual or 90 days or more past due (set at 100% under the Basel I risk-based capital rules), except for those secured by single-family residential properties, which will be assigned a 100% risk weight, consistent with the Basel I risk-based capital rules;
applying a 150% risk weight instead of a 100% risk weight for certain high volatility commercial real estate acquisition, development and construction loans; and
applying a 250% risk weight to the portion of mortgage servicing rights and deferred tax assets arising from temporary differences that could not be realized through net operating loss carrybacks that are not deducted from CET1 capital (set at 100% under the Basel I risk-based capital rules).
As of December 31, 2022, the Company’s and the Bank’s capital ratios exceeded the minimum capital adequacy guideline percentage requirements of the federal banking agencies for a “well capitalized” institution under the Basel III capital rules on a fully phased-in basis.  With respect to the Bank, the Basel III capital rules also revise the prompt corrective action regulations pursuant to Section 38 of the FDIA.
In December 2017, the Basel Committee published standards that it described as the finalization of the Basel III post-crisis regulatory reforms, which standards are commonly referred to as Basel IV. Among other things, these standards revise the Basel Committee’s standardized approach for credit risk (including the recalibration of the risk weights and the introduction of new capital requirements for certain “unconditionally cancellable commitments,” such as unused credit card lines of credit) and provides a new standardized approach for operational risk capital.
Under the Basel framework, these standards were generally effective on January 1, 2022, with an aggregate output floor phasing in through January 1, 2027. Under the current U.S. capital rules, operational risk capital requirements and a capital floor apply only to advanced approaches institutions, and not to the Bank. The impact of Basel IV on us will depend on how it is implemented by the federal bank regulators.
 
Prompt Corrective Action (“PCA”)
The FDIA requires federal banking agencies to take PCA in respect of depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. The FDIA includes the following five capital tiers: “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized,” and “critically undercapitalized.” A depository institution’s capital tier will depend upon how its capital levels compare with various relevant capital measures and certain other factors, as established by regulation. The Basel III Capital Rules revised the PCA requirements effective January 1, 2015. Under the revised PCA provisions of the FDIA, an insured depository institution generally will be classified in the following categories based on the capital measures indicated:
  
Minimum to be
Categorized as
"Well
Capitalized"
  
Minimum to be
Categorized as
"Adequately
Capitalized"
  
Under-
capitalized
  
Significantly
Under-
capitalized
  
Critically
Under-
capitalized
 
Risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets  
10.00
%+
  
8.00
%+
 < 8.00%  < 6.00%   
N/A
 
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets  
8.00
%+
  
6.00
%+
 < 6.00%  < 4.00%   
N/A
 
CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets  
6.50
%+
  
4.50
%+
 < 4.50%  < 3.00%   
N/A
 
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio  
5.00
%+
  
4.00
%+
 < 4.00%  < 3.00%   
N/A
 
Tangible equity to assets  
N/A
   
N/A
   
N/A
   
N/A
  < 2.00% 
Supplemental leverage ratio  
N/A
   
3.00
%+
 < 3.00%   
N/A
   
N/A
 

An institution may be downgraded to, or deemed to be in, a capital category that is lower than indicated by its capital ratios, if it is determined to be operating in an unsafe or unsound condition or if it receives an unsatisfactory examination rating with respect to certain matters. A bank’s capital category is determined solely for the purpose of applying PCA regulations and the capital category may not constitute an accurate representation of the bank’s overall financial condition or prospects for other purposes.
The FDIA generally prohibits a depository institution from making any capital distributions (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fee to its parent holding company, if the depository institution would thereafter be “undercapitalized.” “Undercapitalized” institutions are subject to growth limitations and are required to submit capital restoration plans. If a depository institution fails to submit an acceptable plan, it is treated as if it is “significantly undercapitalized.” “Significantly undercapitalized” depository institutions may be subject to a number of requirements and restrictions, including orders to sell sufficient voting stock to become “adequately capitalized,” requirements to reduce total assets, and cessation of receipt of deposits from correspondent banks. “Critically undercapitalized” institutions are subject to the appointment of a receiver or conservator by the bank regulators.
The capital classification of a bank holding company and a bank affects the frequency of regulatory examinations, the bank holding company’s and the bank’s ability to engage in certain activities and the deposit insurance premium paid by the bank to the FDIC. As of December 31, 2022, we met the requirements to be classified as “well-capitalized” based upon the aforementioned ratios for purposes of the PCA regulations, as currently in effect.
The Community Bank Leverage Ratio
On November 4, 2019, the federal banking agencies jointly issued a final rule that provides for an optional, simplified measure of capital adequacy, known as the community bank leverage ratio (“CBLR”) framework, for qualifying community banking organizations consistent with Section 201 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. The CBLR framework is designed to reduce the capital burden by removing the requirements for calculating and reporting risk-based capital ratios for qualifying community-banking organizations that opt into the framework. The final rule was effective on January 1, 2020.
In order to qualify for the CBLR framework, a community banking organization must have a tier 1 leverage ratio of greater than 9%, less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets, off-balance-sheet exposures of 25% or less of total consolidated assets, and trading assets and liabilities of 5% or less of total consolidated assets. A qualifying community banking organization that opts into the CBLR framework and meets all requirements under the framework will be considered to have met the “well-capitalized” ratio requirements under the PCA regulations. Such a community banking organization would not be subject to other risk-based and leverage capital requirements (including the Basel III and Basel IV requirements). The CBLR is determined by dividing a financial institution’s tangible equity capital by its average total consolidated assets. The rule describes what is included in tangible equity capital and average total consolidated assets. The CBLR framework was available for banks to use in their March 31, 2020, call report. A CBLR bank that ceases to meet any of the qualifying criteria in a future period but maintains a leverage ratio greater than 8% will be allowed a grace period of two reporting periods to satisfy the CBLR qualifying criteria or to otherwise comply with the generally applicable capital requirements. Further, a CBLR bank may opt out of the framework at any time, without restriction, by reverting to the generally applicable capital requirements. The Company and Bank did not opt into the CBLR framework.
Anti-Money Laundering and Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulation
Title III of the United and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA Patriot“Patriot Act”) includes numerous provisions for fighting international money laundering, is designed to deny terrorists and blocking terrorismcriminals the ability to obtain access to the U.S. financial system. system and has significant implications for depository institutions, brokers, dealers and other businesses involved in the transfer of money.

The USA Patriot Act requires certain additional due diligencemandates financial services companies to have policies and record keeping practices,procedures with respect to measures designed to address any or all of the following matters: (i) customer identification programs; (ii) money laundering; (iii) terrorist financing; (iv) identifying and reporting suspicious activities and currency transactions; (v) currency crimes; and (vi) cooperation between financial institutions and law enforcement authorities. Regulatory authorities routinely examine financial institutions for compliance with these obligations, and failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the institution, including butcausing applicable bank regulatory authorities not limited to new customers, correspondent,approve merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required. Regulatory authorities have imposed cease and private banking accounts.desist orders and civil money penalties against institutions found to be violating these obligations.

The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted foreign countries and regimes under authority of various laws, including designated foreign countries, nationals and others. OFAC publishes lists of specially designated targets and countries. Financial institutions are responsible for, among other things, blocking accounts of and transactions with such targets and countries, prohibiting unlicensed trade and financial transactions with them and reporting blocked transactions after their occurrence. Banking regulators examine banks for compliance with the economic sanctions regulations administered by OFAC, and failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate OFAC programs, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the institution.

Part of the USA Patriot Act requires covered financial institutions to: (i) establish an anti-money laundering program; (ii) establish appropriate anti-money laundering policies, procedures and controls; (iii) appoint a Bank Secrecy Act officer responsible for day-to-day compliance; and (iv) conduct independent audits. The USA Patriot Act also expands penalties for violation of the anti-money laundering laws, including expanding the circumstances under which funds in a bank account may be forfeited. The USA Patriot Act also requires covered financial institutions to respond, under certain circumstances, to requests for information from federal banking agencies within 120 hours.

Privacy Restrictions
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“GLBA”) requires financial institutions in the U.S. to provide certain privacy disclosures to customers and consumers, to comply with certain restrictions on the sharing and usage of personally identifiable information, and to implement and maintain commercially reasonable customer information safeguarding standards.


The Company believes that it complies with all provisions of the GLBA and all implementing regulations and that the Bank has developed appropriate policies and procedures to meet its responsibilities in connection with the privacy provisions of the GLBA.


Dividends and Other Transfer of Funds
Dividends from the Bank constitute the principal source of cash to the Company. The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank. The Bank is subject to various statutory and regulatory restrictions on its ability to pay dividends to the Company. Under such restrictions, the amount available for payment of dividends to the Company by the Bank totaled $40.6$141.2 million at December 31, 2017.2022. During 2017,2022, the Bank paid $23.6$34.7 million in dividends to the Company.


The FDIC and the DBODFPI also have authority to prohibit the Bank from engaging in activities that, in their opinion, constitute unsafe or unsound practices in conducting its business. It is possible, depending upon the financial condition of the bank in question and other factors, that the FDIC or the DBODFPI could assert that the payment of dividends or other payments might, under some circumstances, be an unsafe or unsound practice. Further, the FRB and the FDIC have established guidelines with respect to the maintenance of appropriate levels of capital by banks orand bank holding companies under their jurisdiction. Compliance with the standards set forth in such guidelines and the restrictions that are or may be imposed under the prompt corrective actionPCA provisions of federal law could limit the amount of dividends that the Bank or the Company may pay. An insured depository institution is prohibited from paying management fees to any controlling persons or, with certain limited exceptions, making capital distributions if after such transaction the institution would be undercapitalized. The DBODFPI may impose similar limitations on the Bank. See “Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action and Other Enforcement Mechanisms”Action” and “Capital Standards”, above, for a discussion of these additional restrictions on capital distributions.


Transactions with Affiliates
The Bank is subject to certain restrictions imposed by federal law on any extensions of credit to, or the issuance of a guarantee or letter of credit on behalf of the Company or other affiliates, the purchase of, or investments in, stock or other securities thereof,of the Company or other affiliates, the taking of such securities as collateral for loans &and leases, and the purchase of assets of the Company or other affiliates. Such restrictions prevent the Company and other affiliates from borrowing from the Bank unless the loans are secured by marketable obligations of designated amounts. Further, such secured loans and investments by the Bank to or in the Company or to or in any other affiliates are limited, individually, to 10% of the Bank’s capital and surplus (as defined by federal regulations), and such secured loans and investments are limited, in the aggregate as to all affiliates, to 20% of the Bank’s capital and surplus (as defined by federal regulations).


In addition, the Company and its operating subsidiaries generally may not purchase a low-quality asset from an affiliate, and other specified transactions between the Company or its operating subsidiaries and an affiliate must be on terms and conditions that are consistent with safe and sound banking practices.


Also, the CompanyBank and its operating subsidiaries may engage in transactions with affiliates only on terms and under conditions that are substantially the same, or at least as favorable to the CompanyBank or its subsidiaries, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with (or that in good faith would be offered to) non-affiliated companies.
California law also imposes certain restrictions with respect to transactions with affiliates. Additionally, limitations involving the transactions with affiliates may be imposed on the Bank under the prompt corrective actionPCA provisions of federal law. See “Prompt Corrective Action and Other Enforcement Mechanisms.Action.

Capital Standards
The FRB and the FDIC have established risk-based capital guidelines with respect to the maintenance of appropriate levels of capital by United States banking organizations. These guidelines are intended to provide a measure of capital that reflects the risk associated with a banking organization’s operations for both transactions reported on the balance sheet as assets and transactions, such as letters of credit and recourse arrangements, which are recorded as off balance sheet items. Under these guidelines, nominal dollar amounts of assets and credit equivalent amounts of off balance sheet items are multiplied by one of several risk adjustment percentages, which range from 0% for assets with low credit risk, such as certain U.S. Treasury securities, to 100% for assets with relatively high credit risk, such as commercial loans.

In 2013, both the FRB and the FDIC approved final rules that substantially amend the regulatory risk-based capital rules applicable to the Company and the Bank. These rules implement the Basel III regulatory capital reforms and changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act as hereinafter defined.

The implementation of Basel III requirements will increase the required capital levels that the Company and the Bank must maintain. The final rules include new minimum risk-based capital and leverage ratios, which would be phased in over time. The new minimum capital level requirements applicable to the Company and the Bank under the final rules will be: (i) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5% of risk-weighted assets (“RWA”); (ii) a Tier 1 capital ratio of 6% of RWA; (iii) a total capital ratio of 8% of RWA; and (iv) a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4% of total assets. The final rules also establish a "capital conservation buffer" of 2.5% above each of the new regulatory minimum capital ratios, which would result in the following minimum ratios: (i) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 7.0% of RWA; (ii) a Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.5% of RWA; and (iii) a total capital ratio of 10.5% of RWA. An institution will be subject to limitations on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying discretionary bonuses if its capital level falls below the buffer amount. The final rules also permit the Company’s subordinated debentures issued in 2003 to continue to be counted as Tier 1 capital.

The final rules became effective as applied to the Company and the Bank on January 1, 2015, with a phase in period through January 1, 2019. The Company believes that it is currently in compliance with all of these new capital requirements (as fully phased-in) and that they will not result in any restrictions on the Company’s business activity. For further information on the Company and the Bank’s risk-based capital ratios see Note 15 located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

Prompt Corrective Action and Other Enforcement Mechanisms
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”), among other things, identifies five capital categories for insured depository institutions (well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized) and requires the respective Federal regulatory agencies to implement systems for “prompt corrective action” for insured depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements within such categories. FDICIA imposes progressively more restrictive constraints on operations, management, and capital distributions, depending on the category in which an institution is classified. Failure to meet the capital guidelines could also subject a banking institution to capital raising requirements. An “undercapitalized” institution must develop a capital restoration plan. At December 31, 2017, the Bank exceeded all of the required ratios for classification as “well capitalized.” It should be noted; however, that the Bank’s capital category is determined solely for the purpose of applying the federal banking agencies’ prompt corrective action regulations and the capital category may not constitute an accurate representation of the Bank’s overall financial condition or prospects.

An institution that, based upon its capital levels, is classified as well capitalized, adequately capitalized, or undercapitalized may be treated as though it were in the next lower capital category if the appropriate federal banking agency, after notice and opportunity for hearing, determines that an unsafe or unsound condition or practice warrants such treatment. At each successive lower capital category, an insured depository institution is subject to more restrictions.
Banking agencies have also adopted regulations which mandate that regulators take into consideration: (i) concentrations of credit risk; (ii) interest rate risk (when the interest rate sensitivity of an institution’s assets does not match the sensitivity of its liabilities or its off-balance-sheet position); and (iii) risks from non-traditional activities, as well as an institution’s ability to manage those risks, when determining the adequacy of an institution’s capital. That evaluation will be made as a part of the institution’s regular safety and soundness examination. In addition, the banking agencies have amended their regulatory capital guidelines to incorporate a measure for market risk. In accordance with the amended guidelines, any company with significant trading activity must incorporate a measure for market risk in its regulatory capital calculations.

In addition to measures taken under the prompt corrective action provisions, commercial banking organizations may be subject to potential enforcement actions by the federal banking agencies for unsafe or unsound practices in conducting their businesses or for violations of any law, rule, regulation, any condition imposed in writing by the agency, or any written agreement with the agency. Enforcement actions may include the imposition of a conservator or receiver, the issuance of a cease-and-desist order that can be judicially enforced, the termination of insurance of deposits (in the case of a depository institution), the imposition of civil money penalties, the issuance of directives to increase capital, the issuance of formal and informal agreements, the issuance of removal and prohibition orders against institution-affiliated parties and the enforcement of such actions through injunctions or restraining orders based upon a judicial determination that the agency would be harmed if such equitable relief was not granted. Additionally, a holding company's inability to serve as a source of strength to its subsidiary banking organizations could serve as an additional basis for a regulatory action against the holding company.
Federal banking regulators have also issued final guidance regarding commercial real estate (“CRE”) lending. This guidance suggests that institutions that are potentially exposed to significant CRE concentration risk will be subject to increased regulatory scrutiny. Institutions that have experienced rapid growth in CRE lending, have notable exposure to a specific type of CRE lending, or are approaching or exceed certain supervisory criteria that measure an institution’s CRE portfolio against its capital levels, may be subject to such increased regulatory scrutiny. The Company’s CRE portfolio may be viewed as falling within one or more of the foregoing categories, and accordingly may become subject to increased regulatory scrutiny because of the CRE portfolio. Institutions that are determined by their regulator to have an undue concentration in CRE lending may be required to maintain levels of capital in excess of the statutory minimum requirements and/or be required to reduce their concentration in CRE loans. As of the Company’s most recent regulatory examination, the FDIC determined that, at that time, the Company did not have any undue concentrations in CRE lending. No guarantees can be made that this classification will not change as a result of future regulatory examinations.

Safety and Soundness Standards
The federal banking agencies have adopted guidelines designedthat establish operational and managerial standards to assist in identifying and addressing potentialpromote the safety and soundness concerns before capital becomes impaired.of federally insured depository institutions. The guidelines set forth operational and managerial standards relating to: (i)for internal controls, information systems, and internal audit systems; (ii)systems, loan & lease documentation; (iii) credit underwriting; (iv)underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth; (v) earnings; and (vi)growth, compensation, fees and benefits. benefits, asset quality and earnings.

In addition,general, the federal banking agencies have also adopted safety and soundness guidelines prescribe the goals to be achieved in each area, and each institution is responsible for establishing its own procedures to achieve those goals. If an institution fails to comply with any of the standards set forth in the guidelines, the financial institution’s primary federal regulator may require the institution to submit a plan for achieving and maintaining compliance. If a financial institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan, or fails in any material respect to asset qualityimplement a compliance plan that has been accepted by its primary federal regulator, the regulator is required to issue an order directing the institution to cure the deficiency. Until the deficiency cited in the regulator’s order is cured, the regulator may restrict the financial institution’s rate of growth, require the financial institution to increase its capital, restrict the rates the institution pays on deposits or require the institution to take any action the regulator deems appropriate under the circumstances. Noncompliance with the standards established by the safety and earnings standards. Thesesoundness guidelines provide six standardsmay also constitute grounds for establishingother enforcement action by the federal bank regulatory agencies, including cease and maintaining a systemdesist orders and civil money penalty assessments.

Since the financial crisis of 2008-2009, the bank regulatory agencies have increasingly emphasized the importance of sound risk management processes and strong internal controls when evaluating the activities of the financial institutions they supervise. Properly managing risks has been identified as critical to identify problem assetsthe conduct of safe and prevent those assets from deteriorating. Under these standards, any insured depository institution should: (i) conduct periodic asset quality reviews to identify problem assets; (ii) estimate the inherent losses in problem assetssound banking activities and establish reserves that are sufficient to absorb estimated losses; (iii) compare problem asset totals to capital; (iv) take appropriate corrective action to resolve problem assets; (v) considerhas become even more important as new technologies, product innovation, and the size and speed of financial transactions have changed the nature of banking markets. The agencies have identified a spectrum of risks facing a banking institution including, but not limited to, credit, market, liquidity, operational, legal, and reputational risk.

In particular, regulatory pronouncements in the past few years have focused on operational risk, which arises from the potential risks of material asset concentrations;that inadequate information systems, operational problems, breaches in internal controls, fraud, or unforeseen catastrophes will result in unexpected losses. New products and (vi) provide periodic asset quality reports with adequate information forservices, third-party risk management and cyber-security are critical sources of operational risk that financial institutions are expected to address in the Board of Directorscurrent environment. The Bank is expected to assess the level of asset risk. These guidelines also set forth standards for evaluatinghave active board and senior management oversight; adequate policies, procedures, and limits; adequate risk measurement, monitoring, earnings and for ensuring that earnings are sufficient for the maintenance of adequate capitalmanagement information systems; and reserves.comprehensive internal controls.


Deposit Insurance
After the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act, the deposits ofAs an FDIC-insured institution, the Bank are now insured byis required to pay deposit insurance premium assessments to the FDIC up to $250,000 per insured depositor.

FDIC. The Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 provided the FDIC Board of Directors the authority to set the designated reserve ratio forpremiums fund the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) between 1.15% and 1.50%. The FDIC must adoptassesses a restoration plan when the reserve ratio falls below 1.15% and begin paying dividends when the reserve ratio exceeds 1.35%.
Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the minimum designated reserve ratioquarterly deposit insurance premium on each insured institution based on risk characteristics of the DIF increased from 1.15% to 1.35% of estimated insured deposits. Additionally, the Dodd-Frank Act revised the assessment base against which an insured depository institution’s deposit insurance premiums paid to the DIF will be calculated. On February 7, 2011,institution and may also impose special assessments in emergency situations. Effective July 1, 2016, the FDIC approved a final rule, as mandated by Dodd-Frank, changingchanged the deposit insurance assessment system from onefor banks, such as the Bank, with less than $10 billion in assets that ishave been federally insured for at least five years. Among other changes, the FDIC eliminated risk categories for such banks and now uses the “financial ratios method” to determine assessment rates for all such banks. Under the financial ratios method, the FDIC determines assessment rates based on total domestic depositsa combination of financial data and supervisory ratings that estimate a bank’s probability of failure within three years. The assessment rate determined by considering such information is then applied to one that is based onthe amount of the institution’s average consolidated total assets minus average tangible equity.equity to determine the institution’s insurance premium.

On October 18, 2022, the FDIC adopted a final rule, applicable to all insured depository institutions to increase the initial base deposit insurance assessment rate schedules uniformly by two basis points consistent with the Amended Restoration Plan approved by the FDIC on June 21, 2022. The newFDIC indicated that it was taking this action in order to restore theDeposit Insurance Fund (DIF) reserve ratio to the required statutory minimum of 1.35% by the statutory deadline of September 30, 2028. The FDIC said that the reserve ratio had declined below this level because of the increase in insured deposits since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors that affect the level of the DIF.  Under the final rule, tookthe increase in rates will begin with the first quarterly assessment period of 2023 and will remain in effect forunless and until the quarter beginning April 1, 2011.reserve ratio meets or exceeds 2% in order to support growth in the DIF in progressing toward the FDIC’s long-term goal of a 2% reserve ratio. The increase in assessment rates will apply to F&M Bank and is projected to have an insignificant effect on the Company’s capital levels and net income.


The Bank’s FDIC premiums were $932,000$1.4 million, $1.2 million, and $517,000 for the three years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively. In 2020, the Bank’s FDIC premiums were reduced by a one-time small bank assessment credit applied by the FDIC.  This assessment credit was not available in 2017 and $1.17 million in 2016.2021 or 2022.  Future increases in insurance premiums could have adverse effects on the operating expenses and results of operations of the Company. Management cannot predict what the FDIC insurance assessment rates will be in the future.


Insurance of a bank’s deposits may be terminated by the FDIC upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order, or condition imposed by the FDIC or the Bank’s primary regulator. Management of the Company is not aware of any practice, condition or violation that might lead to termination of the Company’s deposit insurance.


Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) and Fair Lending
The Bank is subject to certain fair lending requirements involving lending, investing, and other CRA activities. CRA requires each insured depository institution to identify the communities served by the institution’s offices and to identify the types of credit and investments the institution is prepared to extend within such communities including low and moderate-income neighborhoods. It also requires the institution’s regulators to assess the institution’s performance in meeting the credit needs of its community and to takeconsider such assessment into consideration in reviewing applications for mergers, acquisitions, relocation of existing branches, opening of new branches, and other transactions. A bank may be subject to substantial penalties and corrective measures for a violation of certain fair lending laws.


A bank’s compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act is assessed using an evaluation system, which bases CRA ratings on an institution’s lending, service and investment performance. An unsatisfactory rating may be the basis for denying a merger application. The Bank’s latest CRA examination was completed by the Federal Deposit Insurance CorporationFDIC in August 20162022 and the Bank received an overall Outstanding rating in complying with its CRA obligations. On May 5, 2022, the FDIC, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) announced a proposal to modernize the agencies’ regulations under the CRA that have not been substantively updated for over 25 years. As of the date hereof, a final rule has not been issued.


Consumer Protection Regulations
The Company’s lending activities
Banks and other financial institutions are subject to a variety of statutesnumerous laws and regulations designedintended to protect consumers includingin their transactions with banks. These laws include, among others, laws regarding unfair and deceptive acts and practices and usury laws, as well as the Fair Credit Reportingfollowing consumer protection statutes: Truth in Lending Act, Truth in Savings Act, Electronic Fund Transfer Act, Expedited Funds Availability Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, theFair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, Fair Housing Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Right to Financial Privacy Act, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, Military Lending Act and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act.

Many states and local jurisdictions have consumer protection laws analogous, and in addition, to those listed above. These federal, state and local laws regulate the Truth-in-Lending Act, the Unfair, Deceptivemanner in which financial institutions deal with customers when taking deposits, making loans or Abusive Acts and Practices and the Dodd-Frank Act. Deposit operations are also subjectconducting other types of transactions. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations that protectcould give rise to regulatory sanctions, customer rescission rights, action by state and local attorneys general and civil or criminal liability. Failure to comply with consumer rights including Funds Availability, Truthprotection requirements may also result in Savings,our failure to obtain any required bank regulatory approval for merger or acquisition transactions we may wish to pursue or our prohibition from engaging in such transactions even if approval is not required.

The structure of federal consumer protection regulation applicable to all providers of consumer financial products and Electronic Funds Transfers. Additional rules govern check writing abilityservices changed significantly on certain interest earning accountsJuly 21, 2011, when the CFPB commenced operations to supervise and prescribe procedures for complying with administrative subpoenas of financial records. Additionally, effective October 26, 2013, there is a new provision of the Federal Reserve Regulation E to accommodate the new Remittance Transfer Rule requirementenforce federal consumer protection laws. The consumer protection provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act concerning international wires.

and the examination, supervision and enforcement of those laws and implementing regulations by the CFPB have created a more intense and complex environment for consumer finance regulation. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street ReformCFPB has significant authority to implement and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”)
On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the sweeping financial regulatory reform, Dodd-Frank Act, that implements significant changes to the regulation of theenforce federal consumer protection laws and new requirements for financial services industry, including provisions that, among other things:

·Centralize responsibilityproducts provided for consumer financial protection by creating a new agency within the Federal Reserve Board, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, with broad rulemaking, supervision and enforcement authority for a wide range of consumer protection laws that would apply to all banks and thrifts.
·Apply the same leverage and risk-based capital requirements that apply to insured depository institutions to bank holding companies.

·Require the FDIC to seek to make its capital requirements for banks countercyclical so that the amount of capital required to be maintained increases in times of economic expansion and decreases in times of economic contraction.

·Change the assessment base for federal deposit insurance from the amount of insured deposits to consolidated assets less tangible capital.

·Implement corporate governance revisions, including executive compensation and proxy access by stockholders.

·Make permanent the $250,000 limit for federal deposit insurance and increase the cash limit of Securities Investor Protection Corporation protection from $100,000 to $250,000, and provide unlimited federal deposit insurance until January 1, 2013 for non-interest bearing demand transaction accounts at all insured depository institutions.

·Repeal the federal prohibitions on the payment of interest on demand deposits effective July 21, 2011, thereby permitting depository institutions to pay interest on business transaction and other accounts.

Many aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act, are subjectas well as the authority to rulemaking by various regulatory agenciesidentify and will take effect over several years, making it difficultprohibit unfair, deceptive or abusive acts and practices. The review of products and practices to anticipate the overall financial impact on the Company, its customers or the financial industry more generally. The eliminationprevent such acts and practices is a continuing focus of the prohibition on the paymentCFPB, and of interest on demand depositsbanking regulators more broadly. The ultimate impact of this heightened scrutiny is uncertain but could materially increase our interest expense, depending on our competitors' responses.

The Trump Administration signed an executive orderresult in February 2017 calling for the review of existing financial lawschanges to pricing, practices, products and regulations, includingprocedures. It could also result in increased costs related to regulatory oversight, supervision and examination, additional remediation efforts and possible penalties. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act provides the CFPB with broad supervisory, examination and enforcement authority over various consumer financial products and services, including the ability to require reimbursements and other payments to customers for alleged legal violations and to impose significant penalties, as well as injunctive relief that prohibits lenders from engaging in orderallegedly unlawful practices. The CFPB also has the authority to reduceobtain cease and desist orders providing for affirmative relief or monetary penalties. The Dodd-Frank Act does not prevent states from adopting stricter consumer protection standards. State regulation of financial products and potential enforcement actions could also adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The CFPB is authorized to issue rules for both bank and non-bank companies that offer consumer financial products and services, subject to consultation with the regulatory burden on U.S. companies, including financial institutions. At this time, no details onprudential banking regulators. In general, however, banks with assets of $10 billion or less, such as the proposed reforms have been published and we are uncertain whether the intended deregulationBank, will have a significant impact on the Company. It is unlikely that all changes will be ablecontinue to be implementedexamined for consumer compliance by regulatory agencies and that Congressional approval of many changes will be required. While Dodd-Frank primarily targets reforms for systemically important financial service providers, the law’s influence has, and is expected to continue to, filter down in varying degrees to smaller institutions.their primary bank regulator.

Notice and Approval Requirements Related to Control
Banking laws impose notice, approval and ongoing regulatory requirements on any stockholder or other party that seeks to acquire direct or indirect "control" of an FDIC-insured depository institution. These laws include the BHCA and the Change in Bank Control Act. Among other things, these laws require regulatory filings by a stockholder or other party that seeks to acquire direct or indirect "control" of an FDIC-insured depository institution or bank holding company. The determination whether an investor "controls" a depository institution is based on all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the investment. As a general matter, a party is deemed to control a depository institution or other company if the party owns or controls 25% or more of any class of voting stock. Subject to rebuttal, a party may be presumed to control a depository institution or other company if the investor owns or controls 10% or more of any class of voting stock. Ownership by family members, affiliated parties, or parties acting in concert, is typically aggregated for these purposes. If a party's ownership of the Company were to exceed certain thresholds, the investor could be deemed to "control" the Company for regulatory purposes. This could subject the investor to regulatory filings or other regulatory consequences.


In addition, except under limited circumstances, bank holding companies are prohibited from acquiring, without prior approval:


control of any other bank or bank holding company or all or substantially all the assets thereof; or
more than 5% of the voting shares of a bank or bank holding company which is not already a subsidiary.
Incentive Compensation
The Dodd-Frank Act requires
In 2010, the federal bank regulatorsregulatory agencies issued comprehensive guidance intended to ensure that the incentive compensation policies of banking organizations do not undermine the safety and soundness of those organizations by encouraging excessive risk-taking. The incentive compensation guidance sets expectations for banking organizations concerning their incentive compensation arrangements and related risk-management, control and governance processes. The incentive compensation guidance, which covers all employees that have the SECability to establish joint regulationsmaterially affect the risk profile of an organization, either individually or guidelines prohibiting incentive-based payment arrangements at specified regulated entities, including the Company and the Bank, having at least $1 billion in total assets that encourage inappropriate risks by providing an executive officer, employee, director or principal stockholder with excessive compensation, fees, or benefits or that could lead to material financial loss to the entity. In addition, these regulators must establish regulations or guidelines requiring enhanced disclosure to regulators of incentive-based compensation arrangements. The agencies proposed such regulations in April 2011, but the regulations have not been finalized. If the regulations are adopted in the form initially proposed, they will impose limitations on the manner in which the Company may structure compensation for our executives.

The FRB will review, as part of the regular, risk-focused examination process, the incentivea group, is based upon three primary principles: (1) balanced risk-taking incentives; (2) compatibility with effective controls and risk management; and (3) strong corporate governance. Any deficiencies in compensation arrangements of banking organizationspractices that are not “large, complex banking organizations.” These reviews will be tailored to each organization based on the scope and complexity of the organization’s activities and the prevalence of incentive compensation arrangements. The findings of the supervisory initiatives will be included in reports of examination. Deficiencies willidentified may be incorporated into the organization’s supervisory ratings, which can affect the organization’sits ability to make acquisitions andor take other actions. Enforcement actions may be taken againstIn addition, under the incentive compensation guidance, a banking organizationorganization’s federal supervisor may initiate enforcement action if itsthe organization’s incentive compensation arrangements or related risk management control or governance processes, pose a risk to the organization’s safety and soundness of the organization.
In 2016, several federal financial agencies (including the FRB and FDIC) re-proposed restrictions on incentive-based compensation pursuant to Section 956 of the organization isDodd-Frank Act for financial institutions with $1 billion or more in total consolidated assets.
For institutions with at least $1 billion but less than $50 billion in total consolidated assets, the proposal would impose principles-based restrictions that are broadly consistent with existing interagency guidance on incentive-based compensation. Such institutions would be prohibited from entering into incentive compensation arrangements that encourage inappropriate risks by the institution: (i) by providing an executive officer, employee, director, or principal shareholder with excessive compensation, fees, or benefits; or (ii) that could lead to material financial loss to the institution. The comment period for these proposed regulations has closed, but a final rule has not taking promptbeen published. Depending upon the outcome of the rule making process, the application of this rule to us could require us to revise our compensation strategy, increase our administrative costs and effective measuresadversely affect our ability to correctrecruit and retain qualified employees. Further, as discussed above, the deficiencies.Basel III Capital Rules limit discretionary bonus payments to bank executives if the institution’s regulatory capital ratios fail to exceed certain thresholds that started being phased in on January 1, 2016.

Available Information


Company reports filed with the SEC including the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and ownership reports filed by directors, executive officers and principal stockholders can be accessed through the Company’s website at http://www.fmbonline.com. The link to the SEC is on the About Us page. The Company’s reports may also be accessed at the SEC’s Internet website (http://www.sec.gov).


Item 1A.
Risk Factors


An investment in our common stock is subject to risks inherent in our business. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes may affect our business are described below. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference in this 10-K Report. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing our business. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or focused on or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair our business operations. This 10-K Report is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.

If any of the following risks actually occur, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the value of our common stock could decline significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Associated With Our BusinessRelated to COVID-19 Pandemic

Economic Conditions Nationally And The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 caused a significant global economic downturn which adversely affected our business and results of operations.
In Our Service Areas Could Adversely Affect Our Operations And/Or Cause Us To Sustain Losses- Thelate 2021 and early 2022, as vaccination rates increased across the markets we serve and governmental restrictions were eased, economic activity began to improve, and at the current time COVID-19 is not having any material adverse impact on our business activities and financial results. However, the COVID-19 virus continues to develop new strains and no assurances can be given that these or other variants of the virus will not lead to future governmental restrictions on economic activity or have other materially adverse effects on the local and national economy and our business.
Even if the economy of other portions of California have, for the most part, experienced solid improvements over the past several years. However, the economy of the Central Valley of California, which remains the Company’s primary market area, despite having improved,COVID-19 outbreak continues to subside locally and nationally, we may experience challenges. This is reflected in:
·continuing public sector financial stress, both at the local and statewide level. See “Item 1. Business – Service Area.” For example, the State of California, a large employer in one of the Company’s market territories, continues to experience financial challenges, particularly relating to the funding of pension and other financial commitments made to retired employees, and the City of Stockton, which exited bankruptcy in February, 2015 but still faces financial challenges; and
·levels of unemployment that remain above statewide and nationwide averages and home prices that have improved but remain below peak levels in many market segments.
Although we have initiated effortsmaterial adverse impacts to broaden our geographic footprint, our retail and commercial banking operations remain concentrated in Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced Counties. See “Item 1. Business – Service Area.” Asbusiness as a result of the continuing global economic impact of the virus.
For additional information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences for our business, see “COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Disclosure” above in this geographic concentration,Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Risks Relating to the Industry and Geographic Area in Which We Operate and the U.S. Economy
As a financial services company, our resultsbusiness and operations may be adversely affected by weak economic conditions. Our business operations, which primarily consist of operations depend largely uponlending money to clients in the form of loans, borrowing money from clients in the form of deposits and investing in securities, are sensitive to general business and economic conditions in these areas. Whereas much of this area has improved, real estate values remain below peak pricesthe United States. If the U.S. economy weakens, our growth and unemployment remains above most other areasprofitability from our lending, deposit and investment operations could be constrained. In addition, economic conditions in the state and country. As a result, risk still remains from the possibility that losses will be sustained if a significant number of our borrowers, guarantors and related parties fail to perform in accordance with the terms of their loans or leases. We have adopted underwriting and credit monitoring procedures and credit policies, including the establishment and review of the allowance for credit losses, that management believes are appropriate to minimize this risk by assessing the likelihood of nonperformance, tracking loan & lease performance and diversifying our credit portfolio. These policies and procedures; however, may not prevent unexpected losses thatforeign countries could materially adversely affect our results of operations in general and the market value of our stock. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Overview - Looking Forward: 2018 and Beyond.”

Additionally, despite the stability of our earnings over the last several years,global financial markets, which could hinder U.S. economic uncertainties may continue for the foreseeable futuregrowth. Our business is also significantly affected by monetary and the full extentrelated policies of the repercussions onU.S. federal government and its agencies. Changes in any of these policies are influenced by macroeconomic conditions and other factors that are beyond our local economies in generalcontrol. Adverse economic conditions and our business in particular are still not fully known at this time. Such events may have a negative effect on: (i) our abilitygovernment policy responses to service our existing customers and attract new customers; (ii) the ability of our borrowers to operate their business as successfully as in the past; (iii) the financial security and net worth of our customers; and (iv) the ability of our customers to repay their loans or leases with us in accordance with the terms thereof.

Our Allowance For Credit Losses May Not Be Adequate To Cover Actual Losses - A significant source of risk arises from the possibility that losses could be sustained because borrowers, guarantors, and related parties may fail to perform in accordance with the terms of their loans & leases. The underwriting and credit monitoring policies and procedures that we have adopted to address this risk may not prevent unexpected losses thatsuch conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition results of operations and cash flows. Unexpected losses may arise from a wide variety of specific or systemic factors, many of which are beyond our ability to predict, influence, or control.

Like all financial institutions, we maintain an allowance for credit losses to provide for loan & lease defaults and non-performance. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Provision and Allowance for Credit Losses.” The allowance is funded from a provision for credit losses, which is a charge to our income statement. Our allowance for credit losses may not be adequate to cover actual loan & lease losses, and future provisions for credit losses could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The allowance for credit losses reflects our estimate of the probable losses in our loan & lease portfolio at the relevant balance sheet date. Our allowance for credit losses is based on prior experience, as well as an evaluation of the known risks in the current portfolio, composition and growth of the loan & lease portfolio and other economic factors. The determination of an appropriate level of credit loss allowance is an inherently difficult process and is based on numerous assumptions. The amount of future losses is susceptible to changes in economic, operating and other conditions, including changes in interest rates, that may be beyond our control and these losses may exceed current estimates.

The process we use to estimate losses inherent in our credit exposure requires difficult, subjective and complex judgments, including forecasts of economic conditions and how these economic conditions might impair the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans and lessees to make their lease payments. The level of uncertainty concerning current economic conditions may adversely affect the accuracy of our estimates, which may, in turn, impact the reliability of the allowance for credit losses.

While we believe that our allowance for credit losses is adequate to cover our estimate of the current probable losses, we cannot assure you that we will not increase the allowance for credit losses further or that regulators will not require us to increase this allowance. Either of these occurrences could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.operations.
 
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standards Update, Financial Instruments: Credit Losses (“CECL”), which establishes a new impairment framework also known as the "current expected credit loss model." In contrast to the incurred loss model currently used by financial entities like us, the current expected credit loss model requires an allowance be recognized based on the expected credit losses (i.e. all contractual cash flows that the entity does not expect to collect from financial assets or commitments to extend credit). It requires the consideration of more forward-looking information than is permitted under current U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. In addition to relevant information about past events and current conditions, such as borrowers’ current creditworthiness, quantitative and qualitative factors specific to borrowers, and the economic environment in which the entity operates, the new model requires consideration of reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the expected collectability of the financial assets’ remaining contractual cash flows, and evaluation of the forecasted direction of the economic cycle, as well as time value of money. This proposed impairment framework is expected to have wide reaching implications to financial institutions such as us. The CECL model will become effective for the Bank for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2019. Although the new CECL standard is currently not expected to have a significant impact on the Bank’s ALLL, the transition to the CECL model will require significantly greater data requirements and changes to methodologies to accurately account for expected loss. There can be no assurance that the Bank will not be required to increase its reserves and ALLL as a result of the implementation of CECL. See Note 21, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

We Are Dependent On Real Estate And Downturns In The Real Estate Market Could Hurt Our Business - A significantlarge portion of our loan portfolio is dependent ontied to the real estate market where we operate and we may be negatively impacted by downturns in that market.  A significant percentage of our loans are real estate related, consisting of loans for construction and land development projects, and for the purchase, improvement or refinancing of residential and commercial real estate. See “Item 1. Business – SupervisionA downturn in the real estate market could increase loan delinquencies, defaults and Regulation - Prompt Corrective Actionforeclosures, and Other Enforcement Mechanisms.” Atsignificantly impair the value of our collateral and our ability to sell the collateral upon foreclosure. Real estate collateral provides an alternate source of repayment in the event of default by the client and may deteriorate in value during the time the credit is extended. If values decline, it is also more likely that we would be required to increase our allowance for credit losses. If during a period of reduced real estate values we are required to liquidate the property collateralizing a loan to satisfy the debt or to increase our allowance for credit losses, it could materially reduce our profitability and adversely affect our financial condition.

Although only 4.7% of our loan portfolio consisted of real estate construction, and acquisition and land development loans as of December 31, 2017, real estate served as2022, such loans generally have a higher degree of risk than long-term financing of existing properties because repayment depends on the principal sourcecompletion of collateralthe project and usually on the sale or long term financing of the property. The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and may continue to have, an impact on the ability of our clients to complete these projects on time and within budget, particularly with respect to approximately 71%access to materials and labor and costs of ourthe same.  In addition, these loans outstanding. Stresses in economic conditions in our local markets orare often “interest-only loans,” which normally require only the payment of interest accrued prior to maturity. Interest-only loans carry greater risk than other loans because no principal is paid prior to maturity. This risk is particularly apparent during periods of rising interest rates and declining real estate values. If there is a significant decline in the real estate market due to a material increase in interest rates or for other reasons, many of these loans could havedefault and result in foreclosure. If we are forced to foreclose on a project prior to completion, we may not be able to recover the entire unpaid portion of the loan or we may be required to fund additional money to complete the project or hold the property for an adverse effect onindeterminate period. In addition, real estate exposes us to incurring costs and liabilities for environmental contamination and remediation.  Any of these outcomes may result in losses and reduce our earnings.
The FDIC has given guidance recommending that if the sum of (i) certain categories of CRE loans and (ii) acquisition, development and construction loans (“ADC loans”) exceeds 300% of total risk-based capital, or if ADC loans exceed 100% of total risk- based capital, heightened risk management practices should be employed to mitigate risk. As of December 31, 2022, our ratio for the sum of CRE and ADC loans was 190% and our ratio for ADC loans was 32.27%.  Our concentration in ADC loans is cyclical and tends to increase in the second and third quarters of each year as demand for newADC loans increases. An increase in ADC loan concentration could cause our ratio for ADC loans to increase and even exceed the abilityFDIC’s guideline. We have exceeded these guidance ratios at times in the past and may do so in the future.  We actively monitor and believe that we effectively manage our CRE and ADC loan concentrations.  If we exceed the FDIC’s guidelines and do not effectively manage the risk of borrowersour CRE and ADC loans, we may be subject to repay outstanding loans,regulatory scrutiny, including a requirement to raise additional capital, reduce our loan concentrations, or undertake other remedial actions.
We could suffer material credit losses if we do not appropriately manage our credit risk.  There are risks inherent in making any loan, including risks in dealing with individual clients, risks of non-payment, risks resulting from uncertainties as to the future value of real estatecollateral and other collateral securing loansrisks resulting from changes in economic and industry conditions. Changes in the value of real estate owned by us, as well aseconomy may cause the assumptions that we made at origination to change and may cause clients to be unable to make payments on their loans. There is no assurance that our credit risk monitoring and loan approval procedures are or will be adequate to address the inherent risks associated with lending. Any failure to manage such risks may materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
The small to medium-sized businesses that we lend to may have fewer resources to weather adverse business and economic developments, which may impair their ability to repay a loan, and such impairment could adversely affect our operations and financial condition.Our business strategy targets primarily small to medium-sized businesses, which frequently have smaller market shares than their competition, may be more vulnerable to economic downturns, often need substantial additional capital to expand or compete, and may experience substantial volatility in generaloperating results, any of which may impair a client’s ability to repay a loan.
The success of a small to medium-sized business often depends on the management skills, talents and efforts of one or a small number of people, and the market valuedeath, disability or resignation of one or more of these people could have a material adverse impact on the business and its ability to repay its loan. If general economic conditions negatively affect California and small to medium-sized businesses are adversely affected or our common stock.

Acts of nature, including earthquakes, floods and fires, which may cause uninsured damage and other loss of value to real estate that secures these loans, may also negatively impact our financial condition.

Our Real Estate Lending Also Exposes Us To The Risk Of Environmental Liabilities - In the course of ourclients are otherwise affected by adverse business we may foreclose and take title to real estate, and could be subject to environmental liabilities with respect to these properties. We may be held liable to a governmental entityconditions or to third persons for property damage, personal injury, investigation and clean-up costs incurred by these parties in connection with environmental contamination, or may be required to investigate or clean up hazardous or toxic substances, or chemical releases at a property. The costs associated with investigation or remediation activities could be substantial. In addition, as the owner or former owner of a contaminated site, we may be subject to common law claims by third parties based on damages and costs resulting from environmental contamination emanating from the property. If we ever become subject to significant environmental liabilities,developments, our business, financial condition liquidity and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Our Business Is Subject To Interest Rate Risk And Changes In Interest Rates May Adversely Affect Our Performance And Financial Condition - Our earnings are impactedprofitability depends on interest rates generally, and we may be adversely affected by changingchanges in market interest rates. ChangesOur profitability depends in substantial part on our net interest income. Our net interest income depends on many factors that are partly or completely outside of our control, including competition, monetary and fiscal policies, and economic conditions generally. Our net interest income will be adversely affected if market interest rates impactchange so that the demand for new loans & leases, the credit profile of our borrowers, the rates received on loans & leases and securities and rates paid on deposits and borrowings. The difference between the rates received on loans & leases and securities and the rates paidinterest we pay on deposits and borrowings is known asincreases faster than the net interest margin. Like many financial institutions, our net interest margin has declined over the past 10 years. Despite the FRB increasing short-term interest rates by 1.25% since December 2015, continued low interest rateswe earn on loans and aggressive competitor pricing strategies may continue to adversely impact our net interest margininvestments. In addition, an increase in 2018.

Continuing low levels of market interest rates could adversely affect clients’ ability to pay the principal or interest on existing loans or reduce their borrowings. This may lead to an increase in our earnings. The FRB regulates the supply of money and creditnon-performing assets, a decrease in loan originations, or a reduction in the United States. Its policies determine,value of and income from our loans, any of which could have a material and negative effect on our operations. Fluctuations in large part,market rates and other market disruptions are neither predictable nor controllable and may adversely affect our financial condition and earnings.
During 2022, inflationary pressures began to affect many aspects of the cost of funds for lendingU.S. economy, including gasoline and investingfuel prices, and global and domestic supply-chain issues have also had a disruptive effect on many industries, including the yield earned on those loans, leases and investments, which impact the Company’s net interest margin. Beginning in September 2007agricultural industry. In response, the FRB implemented a series of rate reductions in response to the then current state of the national economy and housing market as well as the volatility of financial markets. Despite the FRB increasingincreased short-term interest rates by 1.25% since December 2015 they remain at4.25% in 2022, and further increases are generally expected in 2023. The impact of these developments on the business of our clients and on our business cannot be predicted with certainty but could present challenges in 2023 and beyond.
Beginning in 2021, the U.S. economy began to reflect relatively rapid rates of increase in the consumer price index and other economic indices; a prolonged elevated rate of inflation could present risks for the U.S. banking industry and our business.  During the latter part of 2021 and into 2022, the U.S. economy exhibited relatively rapid rates of increase in the consumer price index and other economic indices. Pandemic-related supply chain disruptions may be contributing to this development.   If the U.S. economy encounters a significant, prolonged rate of inflation, this could pose higher relative risks to the banking industry and our business.  Such inflationary periods have historically low levels. Whencorresponded with relatively weaker earnings and higher loan losses for banks.
In the past, inflationary environments have caused financing conditions to tighten and have increased borrowing costs for some marginal borrowers, which, in turn, has impacted bank credit quality and loan growth.
Additionally, a sustained period of inflation could prompt broad-based selling of longer-duration, fixed-rate debt, which could have negative implications for equity and real estate markets.  Small businesses and leveraged loan borrowers can be challenged in a materially higher-rate environment.  Higher interest rates are low, borrowers tendcan also present challenges for commercial real estate projects, pressuring valuations and loan-to-value ratios.
In addition, the outbreak of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine and global reactions thereto have increased U.S. domestic and global energy prices.  Oil supply disruptions related to refinance higher-rate, fixed-rate loansthe Russia-Ukraine conflict, and sanctions and other measures taken by the U.S. or its allies, have led to higher costs for gas, food and goods in the U.S. and exacerbated the inflationary pressures on the economy, with potentially adverse impacts on our customers and on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We face strong competition from banks, credit unions and other financial services providers that offer banking services, which may limit our ability to attract and retain banking clients.  Competition in the banking industry generally, and in our geographic market specifically, is strong. Competitors include banks, as well as other financial services providers, such as savings and loan institutions, consumer finance companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies, credit unions, mortgage banks and other financial intermediaries. Our competitors include several larger national and regional financial institutions whose greater resources may afford them a marketplace advantage inasmuch as they may offer a wider array of banking services at lowerbetter rates and prepaybe able to target a broader client base through more extensive promotional and advertising campaigns. Moreover, larger competitors may not be as vulnerable as we are to downturns in the local economy and real estate market since they have a broader geographic area and their loan portfolio is more diversified. While our deposit base has increased, several banks have grown their deposit market share in our markets faster than we have resulting in a declining relative deposit market share for us in our existing loans. Undermarkets. We believe our declining relative market share in deposits has resulted primarily from aggressive marketing and advertising, in-migration of more competitors, expanded delivery channels and more attractive rates offered by larger bank competitors. We also compete against community banks, credit unions and non-bank financial services companies that have strong local ties. These smaller institutions are likely to cater to the same small to medium-sized businesses that we target. Additionally, financial technology companies allow clients to obtain loans via the Internet in an expeditious manner and have become competitors.  If we are unable to attract and retain customers, we may be unable to continue to grow our loan and deposit portfolios and our operations and financial condition may otherwise be adversely affected. Ultimately, we may be unable to compete successfully against current and future competitors.
Our financial results may be impacted by the cyclicality and seasonality of our agricultural lending business.  The Company has provided financing to agricultural customers in the mid Central Valley of California throughout its history. We recognize the cyclical nature of the industry, often caused by fluctuating commodity prices, changing climatic conditions and the availability of seasonal labor, and manage these risks accordingly. The Company remains committed to providing credit to agricultural customers and will always have a material exposure to this industry. Although the Company’s loan portfolio is believed to be well diversified, at various times during 2022 a significant portion of the Company’s loans (as much as 29.8%) were outstanding to agricultural borrowers. Commitments are well diversified across various commodities, including dairy, grapes, walnuts, almonds, cherries, apples, pears, and various row crops. Additionally, many individual borrowers are themselves diversified across commodity types, reducing their exposure, and therefore the Company’s, to cyclical downturns in any one commodity.
The Company’s service areas can also be significantly impacted by the seasonal operations of the agricultural industry. As a result, the Company’s financial results can be influenced by the banking needs of its agricultural customers. Generally speaking, during the spring and summer customers draw down their deposit balances and increase loan borrowings to fund the purchase of equipment and the planting of crops. Deposit balances are replenished and loans repaid in late fall and winter as crops are harvested and sold. Disruptions in the global supply chain arising from the COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect the ability of some of our agricultural customers to efficiently export their agricultural products and in turn may adversely affect their results of operations or financial condition and their ability to repay loans we have made to them.
The impact of climate change and governmental and societal responses to climate change, including on the availability of water and the transition to a low-carbon economy, could adversely affect our business and our clients’ businesses.  Despite the fact that 2023 began with significant levels of precipitation in California, the State has experienced severe drought conditions at times over the past several years. These weather patterns reinforce the fact that the long-term risks associated with the availability of water are significant. The farming belt of the Central Valley is often cited as an example of an area that experienced extreme drought. However, not all areas of the state are impacted equally, and this is particularly true in the Central Valley, which stretches some 450 miles from Bakersfield in the south to Redding in the north. The vast majority of the Company’s agricultural customers are located in the mid Central Valley, an area that benefits from the drainage of the Sacramento, American, Mokelumne and Stanislaus rivers.
In addition to the impact of climate has on the availability of water, State and Federal regulators ultimately manage this resource, which may also impact that access of our customers’ water. For example, in 2014, the State of California passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. All Water Districts must develop plans to comply with the Act, including groundwater recharge programs. Although the exact impact of compliance is not currently known, and even prior to 2014 most of the water districts in the Bank’s service area had been developing and implementing management plans, it is possible that some water districts will have to ultimately fallow some ground to achieve compliance with the Act.
Additional legislation and regulatory requirements and changes in consumer preferences, including those circumstances,associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy, could increase expenses of, or otherwise adversely impact, the Company, its businesses or its customers.  We and our customers may face cost increases, asset value reductions, operating process changes, reduced availability of insurance, and the like, as a result of governmental actions or societal responses to climate change.  New and/or more stringent regulatory requirements relating to climate change or environmental sustainability could materially affect the Company’s results of operations by increasing our compliance costs. Regulatory changes or market shifts to low-carbon products could also impact the creditworthiness of some of our customers or reduce the value of assets securing loans, which may require the Company to adjust our lending portfolios and business strategies.
Changes to LIBOR may adversely affect the value of, and the return on, our financial instruments that are indexed to LIBOR. In July 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) which regulates LIBOR announced that it would stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. In March 2021, the FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmarks Administration, announced that LIBOR would no longer be provided (i) for the one-week and two-month U.S. dollar settings and for various foreign currency settings after December 31, 2021, and (ii) for the remaining U.S. dollar settings after June 30, 2023. In addition, the FRB issued guidance urging market participants in the U.S. to cease using LIBOR as a reference rate for new contracts entered into after December 31, 2021. There are on-going efforts to establish an alternative reference rate to LIBOR. The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (or SOFR) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “FRBNY”) is considered a likely alternative reference rate suitable for replacing LIBOR. SOFR is a broad measure of the cost of overnight borrowings collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities. The Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a group of private-market participants convened by the FRBNY to help ensure a successful transition from U.S. dollar LIBOR to a new reference rate, has recommended adoption of SOFR as the alternative reference rate. The scope of the acceptance of SOFR and the consequent impact on rates, pricing, the value and liquidity of our financial instruments and liquidity of such instruments and the ability to manage risk, including through derivatives, remain uncertain at this time. While some of our existing products or contracts include fallback provisions to alternative reference rates, other products or contracts may not include adequate fallback provisions and may require consent of all parties to any modification. The market transition from LIBOR and similar benchmarks could adversely affect the return on and pricing, liquidity and value of our outstanding products and contracts, cause market dislocations, increase the cost of and access to capital and increase the risk of disputes and litigation in connection with the interpretation and enforceability of our outstanding products and contracts.

Failure of the U.S. Congress to increase the federal government’s debt limit could have material and adverse impacts on the U.S. and global economies and our business. Discussions are occurring between the Administration and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives regarding the increase in the federal government’s statutory debt limit that is expected to be required later in 2023 in order to allow the U.S. to meet its outstanding obligations, including on its borrowings. If the debt limit were not raised and the U.S. were to default on its obligations, there could be material and adverse impacts on the U.S. and global economies with consequent impacts on the business of our customers and our business. Reductions of the ratings on U.S. sovereign debt as a result of issues over the debt ceiling could also have material and adverse impacts on the U.S. economy.

Risks Related to Our Growth

If we wouldare not able to maintain our past levels of growth, our future prospects and competitive position could be diminished and our profitability could be reduced. We may not be able to reinvest those prepaymentssustain our deposit, loan, and asset growth at the rate we have attained during the past several years, including the significant deposit growth experienced since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our growth over the past several years has been driven primarily by agricultural and commercial real estate growth in assets earning interest rates as high as the rates on the prepaid loans. In addition, our CREmarket areas, growth in non-real estate agricultural and commercial loans, which carry interest rates that, in general, adjust in accordance with changescommercial leasing, and residential real estate. A failure to attract and retain high performing employees, heightened competition from other financial services providers, and an inability to attract additional core deposits and lending clients, among other factors, could limit our ability to grow as rapidly as we have in the prime rate, will adjust to lower rates. We are also significantly affected by the level of loan & lease demand available in our market. The inability to make sufficient loans & leases directly affects the interest income we earn. Lower loan & lease demand will generally result in lower interest income realizedpast and as we place funds in lower yielding investments. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Overview - Looking Forward: 2018 and Beyond.”
Although we believe our current level of interest rate sensitivity is reasonable, significant fluctuations in interest rates and increasing competition maysuch could have an adversea negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Net Interest Income/Net Interest Margin” and “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Interest Rate Risk.”

Our Accounting Estimates and Risk Management Processes Rely On Analytical and Forecasting Models - The processes we use to measure the fair value of financial instruments, as well as the processes used to estimate the effects of changing interest rates and other market measures on our financial condition and resultsoperations.
If we are adequate, the models may proveunable to be inadequate or inaccurate because of other flaws in their design or their implementation. If the models we use for interest rate risk and asset-liability management are inadequate,manage our growth effectively, we may incur higher than anticipated costs, and our ability to execute our growth strategy could be impaired.  It is our objective to continue to grow our assets and deposits by increasing our product and service offerings and expanding our operations organically. Our ability to manage growth successfully will depend on our ability to (i) identify suitable markets for expansion; (ii) attract and retain qualified management; (iii) attract funding to support additional growth; (iv) maintain asset quality and cost controls; (v) maintain adequate regulatory capital and profitability to support our lending activities; and (vi) may include finding attractive acquisition targets and successfully acquire and integrate the acquisitions in an efficient manner. If we do not manage our growth effectively, we may be unable to realize the benefit from our investments in technology, infrastructure, and personnel that we have made to support our expansion. In addition, we may incur higher costs and realize less revenue growth, which would reduce our earnings and diminish our future prospects. Failing to maintain effective financial and operational controls, as we grow, such as appropriate loan underwriting procedures, adequate allowances for credit losses and compliance with regulatory requirements could have a negative effect on our financial condition and operations, such as increased credit losses, reduced earnings and potential regulatory restrictions on growth.

Entering new market areas, new lines of business, or unexpected losses upon changes in market interest rates or other market measures. If the models we usenew products and services may subject us to measure the fair value of financial instruments are inadequate, the fair value of such financial instrumentsadditional risks. A failure to successfully manage these risks may fluctuate unexpectedly or may not accurately reflect what we could realize upon sale or settlement of such financial instruments. Any such failure in our analytical or forecasting models could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Failure To Successfully Execute Our Strategy Could Adversely Affect Our Performance - Our financial performance and profitability depends on our ability to execute our corporate growth strategy. Continued growth however, may present operating and other problems that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will be able to execute our growth strategy or maintain the level of profitability that we have recently experienced. Factors that may adversely affect our ability to attain our long-term financial performance goals include those stated elsewhere in this section, as well as the:

·inability to maintain or increase net interest margin;
·inability to control non-interest expense, including, but not limited to, rising employee and healthcare costs and the costs of regulatory compliance;
·inability to maintain or increase non-interest income;
·the need to raise additional capital to support growth and regulatory requirements; and
·continuing ability to expand through de novo branching or otherwise.

Growth May Produce Unfavorable Outcomes - We seek to expand our franchise safely and consistently. A successful growth strategy requires us to manage multiple aspects of the business simultaneously, such as following adequate loan underwriting standards, balancing loan and deposit growth without increasing interest rate risk or compressing our net interest margin, maintaining sufficient capital, and recruiting, training and retaining qualified professionals.

Our growth strategy also includes acquisition possibilities (such as Delta National Bancorp) that either enhance our market presence or have potential for improved profitability through financial management, economies of scale or expanded services. We may be exposed to difficulties in combining the operations of acquired institutions into our own operations, which may prevent us from achieving the expected benefits from our acquisition activities. Inherent uncertainties exist in integrating the operations of an acquired institution and there is no assurance that we will be able to do so successfully. Among the issues that we could face are:

unexpected problems with operations, personnel, technology or credit;
loss of customers and employees of the acquiree;
difficulty in working with the acquiree's employees and customers;

the assimilation of the acquiree's operations, culture and personnel;

instituting and maintaining uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies; and

litigation risk not discovered during the due diligence period.

Undiscovered factors as a result of an acquisition could bring liabilities against us, our management and the management of the institutions we acquire. These factors could contribute to our not achieving the expected benefits from our acquisitions within desired time frames, if at all. Further, although we anticipate cost savings as a result of the merger, we may not be able to fully realize those savings. Any cost savings that are realized may be offset by losses in revenues or other charges to earnings.

New Market Areas And New Lines Of Business Or New Products And Services May Subject Us To Additional Risks. A Failure To Successfully Manage These Risks May Have A Material Adverse Effect On Our Business - business. As part of our growth strategy, we have implemented and may continue to implemententer new market areas and new lines of business. We recently have begun to (i) expandexpanded into the East Bay area of San Francisco and Napa, which is aare relatively new market areaareas for us, and (ii) introduceus.  We introduced commercial equipment leasing as a new product line.line a few years ago. There are risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where such product lines are not fully mature. In developing and marketing new lines of business and/or new products and services and/or shifting the focus of our asset mix and/or expanding into new markets, we may invest significant time and resources. Initial timetables may not be achieved and price and profitability targets may not prove feasible. External factors, such as compliance with regulations, competitive alternatives in these markets and shifting market preferences, may also impactaffect the successful implementation. Failure to successfully manage these risks could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our Financial Results Can Be Impacted By The Cyclicality and Seasonality Of Our Agricultural Business And The Risks Related Thereto - The Company has provided financing to agricultural customers in the Central Valley throughout its history. We recognize the cyclical nature of the industry, often caused by fluctuating commodity prices, changing climatic conditions and the availability of seasonal labor, and manage these risks accordingly. The Company remains committed to providing credit to agricultural customers and will always have a material exposure to this industry. Although the Company’s loan portfolio is believed to be well diversified, at various times during 2017 approximately 36% of the Company’s loan balances were outstanding to agricultural borrowers. Commitments are well diversified across various commodities, including dairy, grapes, walnuts, almonds, cherries, apples, pears, and various row crops. Additionally, many individual borrowers are themselves diversified across commodity types, reducing their exposure, and therefore the Company’s, to cyclical downturns in any one commodity.

The Company’s service areas can also be significantly impacted by the seasonal operations of the agricultural industry. As a result, the Company’s financial results can be influenced by the banking needs of its agricultural customers (e.g., generally speaking during the spring and summer customers draw down their deposit balances and increase loan borrowing to fund the purchase of equipment and the planting of crops. Correspondingly, deposit balances are replenished and loans repaid in late fall and winter as crops are harvested and sold).

The Impact of Climate and Government on The Availability of Water is a Long Term Risk That Could Affect Our Customers’ Businesses - The State of California experienced drought conditions from 2013 through most of 2016. Although significant levels of rain and snow in late 2016 and early 2017 alleviated drought conditions in many areas of California, including those in the Company’s primary service area, the long-term risks associated with the availability of water continue to exist.

The farming belt of the Central Valley was often cited as an example of an area that experienced extreme drought during 2013 - 2016. However, it is important to understand that not all areas of the state were impacted equally, and this is particularly true in the Central Valley, which stretches some 450 miles from Bakersfield in the south to Redding in the north. The vast majority of the Company’s agricultural customers are located in the more northern portion of the Central Valley, an area that benefits from the drainage of the Sacramento, American, Mokelumne and Stanislaus rivers. As a result, even during the worst of the drought farmers in this area still had access to reasonable ground water sources that were economical to pump.Personnel
 
17We may have difficulty attracting additional necessary personnel, which may divert resources and limit our ability to successfully expand our operations. Our business plan includes, and is dependent upon, our hiring and retaining highly qualified and motivated associates at every level. We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, substantial competition in identifying, hiring and retaining top-quality associates due to low unemployment rate and new financial institutions entering our markets.  If we are unable to hire and retain qualified personnel, we may be unable to successfully execute our business strategy and manage our growth.


Importantly, the Company has minimal credit exposurekey officers would materially and adversely affect our ability to execute our business strategy, and diminish our future prospects. Our success to date and our prospects for success in the more southern portionfuture depend substantially on our senior management team. The loss of the Central Valley, defined broadly as an area south of Highway 152, but more importantly the Fresno area and south (including the Westlands Water District). In most of these areas ground water levels were depleted, making farmers increasingly dependent on the delivery of surface water from the Central Valley Project, which cut back deliveries to many farmers during the worst of the drought.

In addition to the impact of climate on the availability of water, the “politics” of water, and how the state and federal governments ultimately manage this resource, could also impact how much water our customers have access to. As an example, manykey members of our agricultural customers have senior riparian water rights, which provide them the legal rightmanagement team could materially and adversely affect our ability to access surface water from the rivers that abut their property. In the spring of 2015, the State of California took the extreme step of threatening to curtail certain riparian water rights for those farmers taking water from the Delta,successfully implement our business plan and, as a result, affected growers agreedour future prospects. The loss of senior management without qualified successors who can execute our strategy would also have an adverse impact on us.

As a community bank, our ability to voluntarily cutback 25% of their normal water usage as opposedmaintain our positive reputation is critical to undertaking a protracted legal fight. Even with these cutbacks, our agricultural customers still had access to sufficient levels of water to satisfy their needs, however, this situation points out how the “politics” of water can also affect the availability of water.

The Company monitors the water situation through: (i) regularly reviewing ground water level reports provided by California’s Department of Water Resources; (ii) requiring water budgets and plans from allsuccess of our agricultural borrowersbusiness.  The failure to maintain that detailreputation may materially and adversely affect our financial performance.  Our reputation is one of the sourcesmost valuable components of their irrigation water and the irrigation requirementsour business. As such, we strive to achieve their crop plan; and (iii) in the case of new permanent crop development projects, requiring well tests. We recognize that the availability of water remains a long-term risk in the Central Valley.

We Face Strong Competition From Financial Service Companies And Other Companies That Offer Banking Services That Could Adversely Impact Our Business - The financial servicesconduct our business in a manner that enhances our market areasreputation. This is highly competitive. Itdone, in part, by recruiting, hiring and retaining employees who share our core values of being an integral part of the communities we serve, delivering superior service to our clients. If our reputation is becoming increasingly competitivenegatively affected by the actions of our employees or otherwise, our business and, therefore, our operating results may be materially and adversely affected.
Risks Related to Our Financial Practices
Our allowance for credit losses may not be adequate to cover actual losses. A significant source of risk arises from the possibility that we could sustain losses due to loan defaults and non-performance on loans. We maintain an allowance for credit losses in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles to provide for such defaults and other non-performance. The determination of the appropriate level of this allowance is an inherently difficult process and is based on numerous assumptions. The amount of future losses is susceptible to changes in regulation, technological advances,economic, operating and the accelerating pace of consolidation among financial services providers. We face competition bothother conditions, including changes in attracting deposits and in making loans & leases. We compete for loans & leases principally through the interest rates, which may be beyond our control. In addition, our underwriting policies, adherence to credit monitoring processes, and loan & lease fees we chargerisk management systems and controls may not prevent unexpected losses. Our allowance for credit losses may not be adequate to cover actual credit losses. Moreover, any increase in our allowance for credit losses will adversely affect our earnings.
In June 2016, the efficiencyFinancial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”).  ASU 2016-13 became effective January 1, 2020, and qualitysubstantially changed the accounting for credit losses on loans and other financial assets held by banks, financial institutions and other organizations. The standard replaced existing incurred loss impairment guidance and established a single allowance framework for financial assets carried at amortized cost. Upon adoption of services we provide. Increasing levelsASU 2016-13, companies must recognize credit losses on these assets equal to management’s estimate of competition incredit losses over the full remaining expected life. Companies must consider all relevant information when estimating expected credit losses, including details about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. We adopted and implemented this accounting standard fully effective January 1, 2022.  The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have a material negative effect on the level of allowance for credit loss held by us or on our reported earnings.  The potential negative effect that the adoption of this new accounting pronouncement may have on future lending by us or the banking industry in general is still not well known.  We believe that our allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2022 was adequate to absorb expected credit losses inherent in our loan portfolio; however, we cannot assure that such levels will be sufficient to cover actual or future losses.

Our financial and accounting estimates and risk management framework rely on analytical forecasting and models. The processes we use to estimate our inherent credit losses and to measure the fair value of financial services business may reduce our market share, decrease loan & lease demand, cause the prices we charge for our services to fall, or decrease our net interest margin by forcing us to offer lower lending interest rates and pay higher deposit interest rates. Therefore, our results may differ in future periods depending upon the nature or level of competition.

Technology and other changes are allowing parties to complete financial transactions that historically have involved banks through alternative methods. For example, consumers can now maintain funds that would have historically been held as bank deposits in brokerage accounts or mutual funds. Consumers can also complete transactions such as paying bills and/or transferring funds directly without the assistance of banks. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries, known as “disintermediation,” could result in the loss of fee income,instruments, as well as the lossprocesses used to estimate the effects of customer depositschanging interest rates and other market measures on our financial condition and operations, depend upon the use of analytical and forecasting models. Some of our tools and metrics for managing risk are based upon our use of observed historical market behavior. We rely on quantitative models to measure risks and to estimate certain financial values. Models may be used in such processes as determining the pricing of various products, grading loans and extending credit, measuring interest rate and other market risks, predicting losses, assessing capital adequacy and calculating regulatory capital levels, as well as estimating the value of financial instruments and balance sheet items.

Poorly designed or implemented models present the risk that our business decisions based on information incorporating such models will be adversely affected due to the inadequacy of that information. Moreover, our models may fail to predict future risk exposures if the information used in the model is incorrect, obsolete or not sufficiently comparable to actual events as they occur.

We seek to incorporate appropriate historical data in our models, but the range of market values and behaviors reflected in any period of historical data is not at all times predictive of future developments in any particular period and the period of data we incorporate into our models may prove to be inappropriate for the period being modeled. In such case, our ability to manage risk would be limited and our risk exposure and losses could be significantly greater than our models indicated. This could harm our reputation as well as our revenues and profits. Finally, information we provide to our regulators based on poorly designed or implemented models could also be inaccurate or misleading. Some of the decisions that our regulators make, including those related to capital distributions to our stockholders, could be affected adversely due to their perception that the quality of the models used to generate the relevant information is insufficient.

Impairment of investment securities could require charges to earnings, which would negatively affect our operations. We maintain a significant amount of our assets in investment securities, and must periodically evaluate investment securities for impairment under previously adopted accounting guidance during 2021 or for current expected credit losses after the adoption of ASU 2016-13.  We evaluate our investment securities portfolio for impairment as of each reporting date.  At December 31, 2022, we had no investment securities that were impaired.

Changes in accounting standards could materially affect our financial statements. The Company’s consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, called GAAP. The financial information contained within our consolidated financial statements is, to a significant extent, financial information that is based on approximate measures of the financial effects of transactions and events that have already occurred. A variety of factors could affect the ultimate value that is obtained either when earning income, generated from those deposits. The lossrecognizing an expense, recovering an asset or relieving a liability. Other estimates that we use are fair value of these revenue streamsour securities and expected useful lives of our depreciable assets. From time to time, the FASB and the lower cost deposits as a sourceSEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of funds could have a material adverse effect onour financial statements or new interpretations of existing standards emerge. These changes can be difficult to predict and operationally complex to implement and can materially affect how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, we could be required to apply a new or revised standard retrospectively, resulting in our restating prior period financial statements.


Many of our competitors offer products and services that we do not offer, and many have substantially greater resources, such as greater capital resources and more accessRisks Related to longer term, lower cost funding sources. Many also have greater name recognition and market presence that benefit them in attracting business. In addition, larger competitorsOur Access to Capital

We may be ableunable to, price loans & leaseor choose not to, pay dividends on our common shares. We have consistently declared an annual cash dividend for over 87 years. Our ability to continue to pay dividends depends on various factors.  FMCB is a legal entity separate and deposits more aggressively than we do. Our larger competitors generally have easier access to capital,distinct from the Bank, and often on better terms. Some ofdoes not conduct stand-alone operations, which means that the financial services organizations with which we compete are not subjectBank must first pay dividend(s) to the same degreeCompany.  The FDIC, the DFPI and California corporate and banking laws may, under certain circumstances, prohibit the Bank’s payment of regulation as is imposed ondividends to FMCB.  FRB policy requires bank holding companies to pay cash dividends on common shares only out of net income available over the past year and federally insured state-chartered banks, national banksonly if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and federal savings institutions. As a result, these non-bank competitors have certain advantages over us in accessing funding and in providing various services. Other competitorsfinancial condition.  FMCB’s Board of Directors may determine that, even though funds are subject to similar regulation but haveavailable for dividend payments, retaining the advantages of larger established customer bases, higher lending limits, extensive branch networks, numerous automated teller machines, greater advertising and marketing budgets orfunds for other factors. Someinternal uses, such as expansion of our competitors have other advantages, such as tax exemptionoperations, is necessary or appropriate in the case of credit unions, and lesser regulation in the case of mortgage companies and specialty finance companies.
Deposit Insurance Assessments Could Increase At Any Time, Which Will Adversely Affect Profits - FDIC deposit insurance expense for the years 2017, 2016, and 2015 was $932,000, $1.17 million, and $1.19 million, respectively. During 2011, the FDIC changed its methodology for calculating deposit premiums, See “Item 1. Business – Supervision and Regulation – Deposit Insurance.” Any increases could have adverse effects on the operating expenses and results of operations of the Company.

We May Not Be Able To Attract And Retain Skilled People - Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to attract and retain key people. Competition for the best people in mostlight of our activities can be intensebusiness plan and weobjectives.  A failure to pay dividends may not be able to hire people or to retain them. negatively affect your investment.

The unexpected loss of services of one or moreprice of our key personnel could have a material adverse impact on our business because of their skills, knowledge of our market, years of industry experience and the difficulty of promptly finding qualified replacement personnel.

Our Internal Operations Are Subject To A Number Of Risks - We are subject to certain operations risks, including, but not limited to, information system failures and errors, customer or employee fraud and catastrophic failures resulting from terrorist acts or natural disasters. We maintain a system of internal controls to mitigate against such occurrences and maintain insurance coverage for such risks that are insurable, but should such an event occur that is not prevented or detected by our internal controls, uninsured or in excess of applicable insurance limits, it could have a significant adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our business. Any failure, interruption or breach in security of these systems could result in failures or disruptions in our customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, loan & leases and other systems. While we have policies and procedures designed to prevent or limit the effect of the failure, interruption or security breach of our information systems, there can be no assurance that any such failures, interruptions or security breaches will not occur or, if they do occur, that they will be adequately addressed. The occurrence of any failures, interruptions or security breaches of our information systems could damage our reputation, result in a loss of customer business, subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny, or expose us to civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The financial services industry is continually undergoing rapid technological change with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and to reduce costs. Our future success depends, in part, upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. Wecommon shares may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers. Failure to successfully keep pace with technological change affecting the financial services industry could have a material adverse impact on our business and, in turn, our financial condition and results of operations.

Natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism and other adverse external events could have a significant impact on our ability to conduct business. Such events could affect the stability of our deposit base, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans and lessees to make lease payments, impair the value of collateral securing loans & leases, cause significant property damage, result in loss of revenue and/or cause us to incur additional expenses. Operations in several of our markets could be disrupted by both the evacuation of large portions of the population as well as damage and or lack of access to our banking and operation facilities. While we have not experienced such an occurrence to date, other natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism or other adverse external events may occur in the future. Although management has established disaster recovery policies and procedures, the occurrence of any such event could have a material adverse effect on our business, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We Depend On Cash Dividends From The Bank To Meet Our Cash Obligations - As a holding company, dividends from the Bank provide a substantial portion of our cash flow used to service the interest payments on our subordinated debentures issued in 2003fluctuate significantly and our other obligations, including cash dividends. See “Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.” Various statutory provisions restrict the amount of dividends our subsidiary bank can pay to us without regulatory approval.
A Lack Of Liquidity Could Adversely Affect Our Operations And Jeopardize Our Business, Financial Condition And Results Of Operations - Liquidity is essential to our business. We rely on our ability to generate deposits and effectively manage the repayment and maturity schedules of our loans and investment securities, respectively, to ensure that westock may have adequate liquidity to fund our operations. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, the sale of our investment securities, Federal Home Loan Bank advances, the sale of loans and other sources could have a substantial negative effect on our liquidity. Our most important source of funds consists of deposits. Deposit balances can decrease when customers perceive alternative investments as providing a better risk/return tradeoff. If customers move money out of bank deposits and into other investments, we would lose a relatively low-cost source of funds, increasing our funding costs and reducing our net interest income and net income.

Other primary sources of funds consist of cash flows from operations, investment maturities and sales of investment securities and proceeds from the issuance and sale of any equity and debt securities to investors. Additional liquidity is provided by the ability to borrow from the Federal Reserve Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank and our ability to raise brokered deposits. We also may borrow funds from third-party lenders, such as other financial institutions. Our access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our activities, or on terms that are acceptable to us, could be impaired by factors that affect us directly or the bank or non-bank financial services industries or economy in general, such as disruptions in the financial markets or negative views and expectations about the prospects for the bank or non-bank financial services industries.

As of December 31, 2017, approximately $1.4 billion, or 51.9%, of our deposits consisted of interest-bearing demand deposits, savings and money market accounts. Based on past experience, we believe that our deposit accounts are relatively stable sources of funds. If we increase interest rates paid to retain deposits, our earnings may be adversely affected,low trading volumes, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any decline in available funding could adversely impact our ability to originate loans, invest in securities, meet our expenses, pay dividends to our stockholders or to fulfill obligations such as repaying our borrowings or meeting deposit withdrawal demands, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, business, financial condition and results of operations.

Cyber Security Is A Growing Risk For Financial Institutions - Our business requires the secure handling of sensitive client information. We also rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our business. Cyber incidents include intentional attacks and unintentional events that may present unauthorized access to digital systems that disrupt operations, corrupt data, release sensitive information or cause denial-of-service on our websites. We store, process and transmit account information in connection with lending and deposit relationships, including funds transfer and online banking. A breach of cyber-security systems of the Bank, our vendors or customers, or widely publicized breaches of other financial institutions could significantly harm our reputation, result in a loss of customer business, subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny, or expose us to civil litigation and financial liability. While we have systems and procedures designed to prevent security breaches, we cannot be certain that advances in criminal capabilities, physical system or network break-ins or inappropriate access will not compromise or breach the technology protecting our networks or proprietary client information.

We process debit card transactions initiated by our customers at merchant locations around the world. When a merchant is impacted by a cyber breach, we are exposed to the risk of financial losses due to fraudulent card activity, as well as increases in associated operational expense.

We Rely On Third-Party Vendors For Important Aspects Of Our Operation - We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information and systems provided by certain key vendors, including but not limited to data processing, payroll processing, technology support, investment safekeeping and accounting. Our ability to operate, as well as our financial condition and results of operations, could be negatively affected in the event of an interruption of an information system, an undetected error, a cyber breach, or in the event of a natural disaster whereby certain vendors are unable to maintain business continuity.
We May Be Adversely Affected By The Soundness Of Other Financial Institutions - Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty and other relationships. We have exposure to many different industries and counterparties, and routinely execute transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including commercial banks, broker-dealers, investment banks and other institutional clients. Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk in the event of a default by a counterparty or client. In addition, our credit risk may be exacerbated if our collateral cannot be foreclosed upon or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the credit or cover the derivative exposure due. Any such losses could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Deterioration Of Credit Quality Or Insolvency Of Insurance Companies May Impede Our Ability To Recover Losses - The financial crisis led certain major insurance companies to be downgraded by rating agencies. We have property, casualty and financial institution risk coverage underwritten by several insurance companies. In addition, some of our investments in obligations of state and political subdivisions are insured by insurance companies. While we closely monitor credit ratings of our insurers and insurers of our municipality securities, and we are poised to make quick changes if needed, we cannot predict an unexpected inability to honor commitments. We also invest in bank-owned life insurance policies on certain members of senior Management, which may lose value in the event of the carriers' insolvency. In the event that our bank-owned life insurance policy carriers' credit ratings fall below investment grade, we may exchange policies underwritten by them to another carrier at a cost charged by the original carrier, or we may terminate the policies that may result in adverse tax consequences.

Our loan portfolio is also primarily secured by properties located in earthquake or fire-prone zones. In the event of a disaster that causes pervasive damage to the region in which we operate, not only the Bank, but also the loan collateral may suffer losses not recovered by insurance.

Risks Associated With Our Industry

We Are Subject To Government Regulation That Could Limit Or Restrict Our Activities, Which In Turn Could Adversely Impact Our Financial Performance - The financial services industry is regulated extensively and we are subject to examination, supervision and comprehensive regulations by various regulatory agencies. Federal and state regulations are designed primarily to protect the deposit insurance funds and consumers, and not to benefit our stockholders. These regulations can sometimes impose significant limitations on our operations and increase our cost of doing business.

Further, federal monetary policy, particularly as implemented by the FRB, significantly affects economic conditions for us.

Proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the operations and taxation of, and federal insurance premiums paid by, banks and other financial institutions and companies that control such institutions are frequently raised in the U.S. Congress, the California legislature and before bank regulatory authorities. The likelihood of any major changes in the future and the impact such changes, including the Dodd-Frank Act, might have on us or the Bank are impossible to determine. Similarly, proposals to change the accounting treatment applicable to banks and other depository institutions are frequently raised by the SEC, the federal banking agencies, the IRS and other appropriate authorities. The likelihood and impact of any additional future changes in law or regulation and the impact such changes might have on us or the Bank are impossible to determine at this time.

Risks Associated With Our Stock

Our Stock Trades Less Frequently Than Others - The Company’s common stock is not widely held or listed on any exchange. However, trades are reported on the OTCQX under the symbol "FMCB." Management is aware that there are private transactions in the Company’s common stock. However, the limited trading market for the Company’s common stock may make it difficult for stockholdersyou to dispose of their shares.

Our Stock Price Is Affected By A Variety Of Factors - Stockresell common shares owned by you at times or prices you find attractive. The stock market and, in particular, the market for financial institution stocks, has experienced significant volatility.  The markets may produce downward pressure on stock prices for certain issuers without regard to those issuers’ underlying financial strength.  As a result, the trading volume in our common shares may fluctuate and cause significant price volatilityvariations to occur.  This may make it more difficult for you to resell your common stock whenshares owned by you want andat times or at prices you find attractive.

The low trading volume in our common shares on the OTCQX means that our shares may have less liquidity than other companies, who shares are more broadly traded.  We cannot ensure that the volume of trading in our common shares or the price of our common shares will be maintained or will increase in the future. Our stock price can fluctuate significantly in response to a variety of factors discussed in this section, including, among other things: actual or anticipated variations in quarterly results of operations; operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to our Company; news reports relating to trends, concerns and other issues in the financial services industry; available investment liquidity in our market area since our stock is not listed on any exchange; and perceptions in the marketplace regarding our Company and/or its competitors.

·actual or anticipated variations in quarterly results of operations;
If we need additional capital in the future to continue our growth, we may not be able to obtain it on terms that are favorable. We may need to raise additional capital in the future to support our continued growth and to maintain our capital levels. Our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional securities will depend primarily upon our financial condition and the condition of financial markets at that time. Accordingly, we may not be able to obtain additional capital in the amounts or on terms satisfactory to us. Our growth may be constrained if we are unable to generate or raise additional capital as needed.


·operating and stock price performance of other companiesOur funding sources may prove insufficient to provide liquidity, replace deposits and support our future growth. We rely on customer deposits, advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (“FHLB”), lines of credit at other financial institutions and the Federal Reserve Bank to fund our operations. Although we have historically been able to replace maturing deposits and advances if desired, we may not be able to replace such funds in the future if our financial condition, the financial condition of the FHLB or market conditions were to change. Our financial flexibility will be severely constrained if we are unable to maintain our access to funding or if adequate financing is not available to accommodate future growth at acceptable interest rates. Finally, if we are required to rely more heavily on more expensive funding sources to support future growth, our revenues may not increase proportionately to cover our costs. In this case, our profitability would be adversely affected. FHLB borrowings and other current sources of liquidity may not be available or, if available, not sufficient to provide adequate funding for operations. Furthermore, our own actions could result in a loss of adequate funding. For example, our borrowing capacity at the FHLB could be reduced if we are deemed to have poor documentation or processes. Accordingly, we may be required to seek additional higher-cost debt in the future to achieve our long-term business objectives. Additional borrowings, if sought, may not be available to us or, if available, may not be available on favorable terms. If additional financing sources are unavailable or are not available on reasonable terms, our growth and future prospects could be adversely affected.

We may be adversely affected by the lack of soundness of other financial institutions or financial market utilities. Our ability to engage in routine funding and other transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institutions. Financial institutions are interrelated because of trading, clearing, counterparty or other relationships. Defaults by, or even rumors or questions about, one or more financial institutions or financial market utilities, or the financial services industry generally, may lead to market-wide liquidity problems and losses of client, creditor and counterparty confidence and could lead to losses or defaults by us or by other financial institutions.
Risks Related to Cyber-security and Information Technology

Cyber-attacks or other security breaches could have a material adverse effect on our business.  In the normal course of business, we collect, process, and retain sensitive and confidential information regarding our clients. We also have arrangements in place with other third parties through which we share and receive information about their clients who are or may become our clients. Although we devote significant resources and management focus to ensuring the integrity of our systems through information security and business continuity programs, our facilities and systems, and those of third-party service providers, are vulnerable to external or internal security breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming or human errors or other similar events.

Information security risks for financial institutions have increased recently in part because of new technologies, the use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies (including mobile devices) to conduct financial and other business transactions, and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, perpetrators of fraud, hackers, terrorists and others. In addition to cyber-attacks or other security breaches involving the theft of sensitive and confidential information, hackers recently have engaged in attacks against large financial institutions, particularly denial of service attacks that are designed to disrupt key business services, such as client-facing websites. We are not able to anticipate or implement effective preventive measures against all potential security breaches, because the techniques used change frequently and because attacks can originate from a wide variety of sources. We employ detection and response mechanisms designed to contain and mitigate security incidents, but early detection may be thwarted by sophisticated attacks and malware designed to avoid detection.

We also face risks related to cyber-attacks and other security breaches in connection with credit and debit card transactions that typically involve the transmission of sensitive information regarding our clients through various third parties, including merchant acquiring banks, payment processors, payment card networks and our core processors. Some of these parties have in the past been the target of security breaches and cyber-attacks, and because the transactions involve third parties and environments such as the point of sale that we do not control or secure, future security breaches or cyber-attacks affecting any of these third parties could impact us through no fault of our own, and in some cases we may have exposure and suffer losses for breaches or attacks relating to them. We also rely on numerous other third-party service providers to conduct other aspects of our business operations and face similar risks relating to them. While we regularly conduct security assessments on these third parties, we cannot be sure that their information security protocols are sufficient at all times to withstand a cyber-attack or other security breach.

The access by unauthorized persons to, or the improper disclosure by us of, confidential information regarding our clients or our own proprietary information, software, methodologies, and business secrets could result in significant legal and financial exposure, supervisory liability, damage to our reputation or a loss of confidence in the security of our systems, products and services, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or operations. In the past several years, there have been a number of well-publicized attacks or breaches affecting others in our industry that have heightened concern by consumers and have resulted in increased regulatory focus. Furthermore, cyber-attacks or other breaches in the future, whether affecting others or us, could intensify consumer concern and regulatory focus and result in reduced use of our cards and increased costs, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business. To the extent we are involved in any future cyber-attacks or other breaches, our brand and reputation could be affected, and this could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operations.  If we experience a cyber-attack, our insurance coverage may not cover all losses, and furthermore, we may experience a loss of reputation.
We rely on our information technology and telecommunications systems and third-party servicers, and the failure of these systems could adversely affect our business. Our business is highly dependent on the successful and uninterrupted functioning of our information technology and telecommunications systems and third-party servicers. We rely on these systems to process new and renewal loans, provide client service, facilitate collections and share data across our organization. The failure of these systems, or the termination of a third-party software license or service agreement on which any of these systems is based, could interrupt our operations. Because our information technology and telecommunications systems interface with and depend on third-party systems, we could experience service denials if demand for such services exceeds capacity or such third-party systems fail or experience interruptions. If sustained or repeated, a system failure or service denial could result in a deterioration of our ability to process new and renewal loans and provide client service or compromise our ability to collect loan payments in a timely manner.  Our ability to adopt new information technology and technological products needed to meet our clients’ banking needs may be limited if our third-party servicers are slow to adopt or choose not to adopt such new technology and products. Such a failure to provide this technology and products to our clients could result in a loss of clients, which would negatively affect our financial condition and operations.
Other Operational Risks
Our risk management framework may not be effective in mitigating risks and losses to us. Our risk management framework is comprised of various processes, systems and strategies, and is designed to manage the types of risk to which we are subject, including, among others, credit, market, liquidity, interest rate and compliance. Our framework also includes financial or other modeling methodologies that involve management assumptions and judgment. Our risk management framework may not be effective under all circumstances and may not adequately mitigate any risk of loss to us. If our framework is not effective, we could suffer unexpected losses and our financial condition, operations or business prospects could be materially and adversely affected. We may also be subject to potentially adverse regulatory consequences.
We are subject to certain operating risks, related to client or employee fraud, which could harm our reputation and business. Employee error, or employee or client misconduct, could subject us to financial losses or regulatory sanctions and seriously harm our reputation. Misconduct by our employees could include hiding unauthorized activities from us, improper or unauthorized activities on behalf of our clients or improper use of confidential information. It is not always possible to prevent employee error and misconduct, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Employee error could also subject us to financial claims for negligence.  If our internal controls fail to prevent or detect an occurrence, or if any resulting loss is not insured, excess insurance coverage is denied or not available, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operations.
We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about clients and counterparties. In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions with clients and counterparties, we may rely on information furnished to us by or on behalf of clients and counterparties, including financial statements and other financial information. We also may rely on representations of clients and counterparties as to the accuracy and completeness of that information and, with respect to financial statements, on reports of independent auditors. In deciding whether to extend credit, we may rely upon our clients’ representations that their financial statements conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition, operations and cash flows of the client. We also may rely on client representations and certifications, or other auditors’ reports, with respect to the business and financial condition of our clients. Our financial condition, operations, financial reporting and reputation could be negatively affected if we rely on materially misleading, false, inaccurate or fraudulent information provided by or about clients and counterparties.
Catastrophic events including, but not limited to, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, floods, prolonged drought, and pandemics may adversely affect the general economy, financial and capital markets, specific industries, and the Bank. The Bank has significant operations and a significant customer base in regions where natural and other disasters may occur. These regions are known for being vulnerable to natural disasters and other risks, such as earthquakes, fires, floods, and prolonged drought. These types of natural catastrophic events at times have disrupted the local economy, the Bank’s business and clients, and could pose physical risks to the Bank’s property. In addition, catastrophic events, such as natural disasters or global pandemics, occurring in other regions of the world may have an impact on the Bank’s clients and in turn on the Bank. Although we have business continuity and disaster recovery programs in place, a significant catastrophic event could materially adversely affect the Bank’s operating results.
The physical effects of climate change, as well as governmental and societal responses to climate change could materially adversely affect our operations, businesses and customers. There is increasing concern over the risks of climate change and related environmental sustainability matters. The physical effects of climate change include rising average global temperatures, rising sea levels and an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events and natural disasters, including droughts, wildfires, floods, hurricanes and tornados. Most of the Company’s operations and customers are located in California, which could be adversely impacted by severe weather events. Agriculture is especially dependent on climate, and climate impacts could include shifting average growing conditions, increased climate and weather variability, decreases in available water sources, and more uncertainty in predicting climate and weather conditions, any or all of which could have a particularly adverse impact on our agricultural customers.
Additional legislation and regulatory requirements and changes in consumer preferences, including those associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy, could increase expenses of, or otherwise adversely affect, the Company, its businesses or its customers.  Our customers and we may face cost increases, asset value reductions, operating process changes, reduced availability of insurance, and the like, because of governmental actions or societal responses to climate change.
New and/or more stringent regulatory requirements relating to climate change or environmental sustainability could materially affect the Company’s results of operations by increasing our compliance costs. Regulatory changes or market shifts to low-carbon products could also affect the creditworthiness of some of our customers or reduce the value of assets securing loans, which may require the Company to adjust our lending portfolios and business strategies.
Risks Related to Our Regulatory Environment
We are subject to regulation, which increases the cost and expense of regulatory compliance, and may restrict our growth and our ability to acquire other financial institutions. Supervision, regulation, and examination of the Company and the Bank by the bank regulatory agencies are intended primarily for the protection of consumers, bank clients and the Deposit Insurance Fund of the FDIC, rather than holders of our common shares. As a bank holding company under federal law, we are subject to regulation under the BHCA, and the examination and reporting requirements of the FRB. In addition to supervising and examining us, the FRB, through its adoption of regulations implementing the BHCA, places certain restrictions on the permissible activities for bank holding companies. Changes in the number or scope of permissible activities could have an adverse effect on our ability to realize our strategic goals. As a California state-chartered bank that investors deem comparable to our Company;

·news reports relating to trends, concerns and other issues in the financial services industry;

·available investment liquidity in our market area since our stock is not listed on any exchange; and

·perceptions in the marketplace regarding our Company and/or its competitors.

Our Common Stock Is Not An Insured Deposit - Our common stock is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, the Bank is separately subject to regulation by both the FDIC and the DFPI. The FDIC and DFPI regulate numerous aspects of the Bank’s operations, including adequate capital and financial condition, permissible types and amounts of extensions of credit and investments, permissible non-banking activities and restrictions on dividend payments. We may be required to invest significant management attention and resources to evaluate and make any changes necessary to comply with applicable laws and regulations. This allocation of resources, as well as any failure to comply with applicable requirements, may negatively affect our operations and financial condition.
Banking agencies periodically conduct examinations of our business, including compliance with laws and regulations, and our failure to comply with any regulatory actions to which we become subject because such examinations could materially and adversely affect us. The DFPI, the FDIC, and the FRB periodically conduct examinations of our business, including compliance with laws and regulations. Accommodating such examinations may require management to reallocate resources that would otherwise be used in the day-to-day operation of other aspects of our business. If, as a result of an examination, the DFPI or a federal banking agency were to determine that the financial condition, capital resources, asset quality, earnings prospects, management, liquidity or other aspects of our operations had become unsatisfactory, or that we or our management were in violation of any law or regulation, it may take a number of different remedial actions as it deems appropriate. These actions could include the power to enjoin “unsafe or unsound” practices, to require affirmative actions to correct any conditions resulting from any violation or practice, to issue an administrative order that can be judicially enforced, to direct an increase in our capital, to restrict our growth, to assess civil monetary penalties against us, our officers or directors, to remove officers and directors and, if it is concluded that such conditions cannot be corrected or there is an imminent risk of loss to clients, to terminate our deposit insurance. FDIC deposit insurance is critical to the continued operation of the Bank. If we become subject to such regulatory actions, our business operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Changes in laws, government regulation and monetary policy may have a material adverse effect on our operations. Financial institutions have been the subject of significant legislative and regulatory changes (including the Dodd-Frank Act) and may be the subject of further significant legislation or regulation in the future, none of which is within our control. This may result in repeals of or amendments to, existing laws, treaties, regulations, guidance, reporting, recordkeeping requirements, and other government policies.  Significant new laws or regulations or changes in, or repeals of, existing laws or regulations, including those with respect to federal and state taxation, may cause our results of operations to differ materially. In addition, the costs and burden of compliance could adversely affect our ability to operate profitably. Further, federal monetary policy significantly affects the Bank’s credit conditions, as well as the Bank’s clients, particularly as implemented through the FRB, primarily through open market operations in U.S. government securities, the discount rate for bank depositborrowings and reserve requirements. A material change in any of these conditions could have a material impact on us, the Bank and the Bank’s clients, and therefore is not insured against losson our financial condition and operations.
New and future rulemaking by the FDIC, anyCFPB and other deposit insurance fundregulators, as well as enforcement of existing consumer protection laws, may have a material effect on our operations and operating costs. The CFPB has the authority to implement and enforce a variety of existing federal consumer protection statutes and to issue new regulations.  However, with respect to institutions of our size, it does not have primary examination and enforcement authority. The authority to examine depository institutions with $10 billion or less in assets, such as the Bank, for compliance with federal consumer laws remains largely with our primary federal regulator, the FDIC. However, the CFPB may participate in examinations of smaller institutions on a “sampling basis” and may refer potential enforcement actions against such institutions to their primary regulators. In some cases, regulators such as the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, and the Department of Justice also retain certain rulemaking or enforcement authority, and we remain subject to certain state consumer protection laws. The CFPB has placed significant emphasis on consumer complaint management and has established a public consumer complaint database to encourage consumers to file complaints they may have against financial institutions. We are expected to monitor and respond to these complaints, including those that we deem frivolous, and doing so may require management to reallocate resources away from more profitable endeavors.
The CFPB has adopted a number of significant rules that affect nearly every aspect of the lifecycle of a residential mortgage. These rules implement the Dodd-Frank Act amendments to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. The rules require banks to, among other things: (i) develop and implement procedures to ensure compliance with a new “reasonable ability to repay” test and identify whether a loan meets a new definition for a “qualified mortgage”; (ii) implement new or revised disclosures, policies and procedures for servicing mortgages including, but not limited to, early intervention with delinquent clients and specific loss mitigation procedures for loans secured by any other publica client’s principal residence; (iii) comply with additional restrictions on mortgage loan originator compensation; and (iv) comply with new disclosure requirements and standards for appraisals and escrow accounts maintained for “higher priced mortgage loans.” These rules create operational and strategic challenges for us, as we are both a mortgage originator and a servicer.
We are subject to stringent capital requirements.
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the federal banking agencies adopted final rules, or private entity. Investmentthe U.S. Basel III Capital Rules, to update their general risk-based capital and leverage capital requirements to incorporate agreements reflected in our common stock is inherently risky for the reasonsThird Basel Accord adopted by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, or Basel III Capital Standards, as well as the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act. The U.S. Basel III Capital Rules are described in this “Risk Factors” sectionmore detail in “Supervision and elsewhereRegulation — Capital Standards” in this report and ison Form 10-K.
The failure to meet the established capital requirements could result in one or more of our regulators placing limitations or conditions on our activities or restricting the commencement of new activities.  Such failure could subject us to a variety of enforcement remedies available to the same market forcesfederal regulatory authorities, including limiting our ability to pay dividends, issuing a directive to increase our capital and terminating our FDIC deposit insurance. FDIC deposit insurance is critical to the continued operation of the Bank. Our failure to meet applicable regulatory capital requirements, or to maintain appropriate capital levels in general, could affect client and investor confidence, our ability to grow, our costs of funds and FDIC insurance costs, our ability to pay dividends on common shares, our ability to make acquisitions, and our operations and financial condition, generally.

We may be required to contribute capital or assets to the Bank that affectcould otherwise be invested or deployed more profitably elsewhere. Federal law and regulatory policy impose a number of obligations on bank holding companies designed to reduce potential loss exposure to the clients of insured depository subsidiaries and to the FDIC’s DIF. For example, a bank holding company is required to serve as a source of financial strength to its FDIC-insured depository subsidiaries and to commit financial resources to support such institutions where it might not do so otherwise. These situations include guaranteeing the compliance of an “undercapitalized” bank with its obligations under a capital restoration plan.

A capital injection into the Bank may be required at times when we do not have the resources to provide it at the holding company level; therefore, we may be required to issue common shares or debt to obtain the required capital. Issuing additional common shares would dilute our current stockholders’ percentage of ownership and could cause the price of common stock in any company. As a result, if you acquire our common stock, youshares to decline. Any debt would be entitled to a priority of payment over the claims of the Company’s general unsecured creditors or equity holdings. Thus, any Company borrowing to make the required capital injection may losebe expensive and adversely affect our cash flows, financial condition, operations, and business prospects.

We face a risk of non-compliance and enforcement actions with respect to the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) and other anti-money laundering statutes and regulations. Like all U.S. financial institutions, we are subject to monitoring requirements under federal law, including anti-money laundering, or AML, and BSA matters. Since September 11, 2001, banking regulators have intensified their focus on AML and BSA compliance requirements, particularly the AML provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. There is also increased scrutiny of compliance with the rules enforced by the U.S. Treasury Department’s OFAC, which involve sanctions for dealing with certain persons or countries. While the Bank has adopted policies, procedures and controls to comply with the BSA, other AML statutes and regulations and OFAC regulations, this aggressive supervision and examination and increased likelihood of enforcement actions may increase our operating costs, which could negatively affect our operations and reputation.

We are subject to federal and state fair lending laws, and failure to comply with these laws could lead to material penalties. Federal and state fair lending laws and regulations, such as the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act, impose non-discrimination lending requirements on financial institutions. The FDIC, the Department of Justice, the CFPB and other federal and state agencies are responsible for enforcing these laws and regulations. Private parties may also have the ability to challenge an institution’s performance under fair lending laws in private class action litigation. A successful challenge to our performance under the fair lending laws and regulations could adversely impact our rating under the CRA, and result in a wide variety of sanctions, including the required payment of damages and civil money penalties, injunctive relief, imposition of restrictions on merger and acquisition activity and restrictions on expansion activity, which could negatively impact our reputation, financial condition and operations.

Regulations relating to privacy, information security and data protection could increase our costs, affect or limit how we collect and use personal information and adversely affect our business opportunities. We are subject to various privacy, information security and data protection laws, including requirements concerning security breach notification, and these laws could negatively affect us. Federal law imposes requirements for the safeguarding of certain client information.  Various state and federal banking regulators and states have also enacted data security breach notification requirements with varying levels of individual, consumer, regulatory or law enforcement notification in certain circumstances in the event of a security breach. Moreover, legislators and regulators in the United States are increasingly adopting or revising privacy, information security and data protection laws that potentially could have a significant impact on our current and planned privacy, data protection and information security-related practices, our collection, use, sharing, retention and safeguarding of consumer or employee information, and some of our current or allplanned business activities. This could also increase our costs of your investment.compliance and business operations and could reduce income from certain business initiatives.


Compliance with current or future privacy, data protection and information security laws (including those regarding security breach notification) affecting client or employee data to which we are subject could result in higher compliance and technology costs and could restrict our ability to provide certain products and services, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial conditions or operations.

Our failure to comply with privacy, data protection and information security laws could result in potentially significant regulatory or governmental investigations or actions, litigation, fines, sanctions and damage to our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or operations.

Possible changes in the U.S. tax laws could adversely affect our business and result of operations in a variety of ways.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”), signed into law on December 22, 2017, enacted sweeping changes to the U.S. federal tax laws generally, effective January 1, 2018. The TCJA reduced the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%, which resulted in a net reduction in our annual income tax expense and which benefitted many of our corporate and other small business borrowers. However, our ability to utilize tax credits, such as those arising from low-income housing and alternative energy investments, was constrained by the lower tax rate. There are presently ongoing discussions in the U.S. Congress and the White House which could result in changes in the tax laws that would substantially increase the U.S. corporate tax rate. If enacted, such measures could adversely affect our profitability and that of our customers.

Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments


None.
The Company has no unresolved comments received from staff at the SEC.

Item 2.Properties


Farmers & Merchants Bancorp along withand its subsidiaries are headquartered in Lodi, California. Executive offices are located at 111 W. Pine Street. Banking services are provided in twenty-seven29 branch locations in the Company's service area. Of the twenty- seven locations, seventeen29 branches, 20 are owned and ten9 are leased. The expiration of these leases occurs between the years 20202023 and 2026.2030. See Note 20,14, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


Item 3.Legal Proceedings


Certain lawsuits and claims arising in the ordinary course of business have been filed or are pending against the Company or its subsidiaries. Based upon information available to the Company, its review of such lawsuits and claims and consultation with its counsel, the Company believes the liability relating to these actions, if any, would not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial statements.


There are no material proceedings adverse to the Company to which any director, officer or affiliate of the Company is a party.


Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures


Not Applicable


PART II


Item 5.Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities


The common stock of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp is not widely held or listed on any exchange. However, trades are reported on the OTCQX under the symbol “FMCB.” Additionally, management is aware that there are private transactions in the Company’s common stock.


The following table summarizestables summarize the actual high, low, and close sale prices for the Company's common stock since the first quarter of 2016.2021. These figures are based on activity posted on the OTCQX and on private transactions between individual stockholders that are reported to the Company. Since there is limited trading in our stock, (See “Item 1A. Risk Factors – Risks Associated With Our Stock”) the “Close” sale prices represent the volume weighted average close prices for the last month of the quarter.OTCQX:

  Year Ended December 31, 2022 
  High  Low  Close  Dividend Declared 
First quarter 
$
960
  
$
913
  
$
950
  
$
-
 
Second quarter  
960
   
914
   
927
   
7.85
 
Third quarter  
975
   
922
   
956
   
-
 
Fourth quarter  
1,088
   
952
   
1,050
   
8.30
 

  Year Ended December 31, 2021 
  High  Low  Close  Dividend Declared 
First quarter 
$
788
  
$
731
  
$
778
  
$
-
 
Second quarter  
925
   
773
   
862
   
7.50
 
Third quarter  
920
   
862
   
897
   
-
 
Fourth quarter  
1,156
   
897
   
960
   
7.80
 
22

Calendar Quarter
 
High
  
Low
  
Close
  
Cash Dividends
Declared (Per Share)
 
              
2017Fourth quarter $689  $635  $676  $6.80 
Third quarter  645   605   639   - 
Second quarter  630   595   620   6.75 
First quarter   640   595   605   - 

Calendar Quarter 
 
High
  
Low
  
Close
  
Cash Dividends
Declared  (Per Share)
 
              
2016Fourth quarter $650  $595  $622  $6.55 
Third quarter  600   550   596   - 
Second quarter  645   501   579   6.55 
First quarter  644   501   544   - 


As of January 31, 2018,February 28, 2023, there were approximately 1,6421,315 stockholders of record of the Company’s common stock.  However, since approximately 15% of our common stock shares are held by brokers on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of stockholders.

The Company and, before the Company was formed, the Bank, has paid cash dividends for the past 8387 consecutive years. There are limitations under Delaware corporate law as to the amounts of cash dividends that may be paid by the Company. Additionally, if we decided to defer interest on our 2003 subordinated debentures, we would be prohibited from paying cash dividends on the Company’s common stock. The Company is dependent on cash dividends paid by the Bank to fund its cash dividend payments to its stockholders. There are regulatory limitations on cash dividends that may be paid by the Bank under state and federal laws.Bank. See “Item 1. Business – Supervision and Regulation.”

In 1998, the Board approved the Company’s first common stock repurchase program. This program has been extended and expanded several times since then, and most recently, on August 11, 2015,On November 8, 2022, the Board of Directors approvedauthorized an extension to its share repurchase program through December 31, 2024 for an additional $20.0 million of the $20 millionCompany’s common stock repurchase program over(“Repurchase Plan”), which represents approximately 3% of outstanding shareholders’ equity.  Repurchases by the three-year period ending September 30, 2018.

RepurchasesCompany under the programRepurchase Plan may be made from time to time on thethrough open market purchases, trading plans established in accordance with SEC rules, privately negotiated transactions, or through private transactions. by other means.  Beginning in 2023 under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), a 1% excise tax will be imposed on certain public company stock repurchases.

The repurchase program also requires that no purchasesactual means and timing of any repurchases, the quantity of purchased shares and prices will be subject to certain limitations, including, without limitation, market prices of the Company’s common shares, general market and economic conditions, the Company’s financial performance, capital position, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Repurchases under the Repurchase Plan may be made ifinitiated, discontinued, suspended, or restarted at any time in the Bank wouldCompany’s discretion.  The Company is not remain “well-capitalized” after the repurchase.

There were noobligated to repurchase any shares repurchased by the Company during 2017. The approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the program is $20 million.Repurchase Plan.  No shares may be repurchased pursuant to the authority granted in the Repurchase Plan after December 31, 2024.  Repurchased shares are to be used to fund the Company’s non-qualified retirement plans or may be returned to the status of authorized but unissued common shares of the Company.


On May 24, 2018, stockholders approved a proposal to increase our authorized shares of common stock from 7,500,000 to 40,000,000. In approving this proposal the stockholders also granted the Board discretionary authority (i.e., without further stockholder action) to determine whether to delay the proposed amendment. The Company has no immediate plans to effect the increase in the authorized shares of common stock.

On August 5, 2008, the Board of Directors approved a Share Purchase Rights Plan (the “Rights Plan”), pursuant to which the Company entered into a Rights Agreement dated August 5, 2008, with Computershare (formerly Registrar and Transfer Company), as Rights Agent, and the Company declared a dividend of a right to acquire one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share, to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 15, 2008. Generally, the Rights are only triggered and become exercisable if a person or group (the “Acquiring Person”) acquires beneficial ownership of 10 percent or more of the Company’s common stock or announces a tender offer for 10 percent or more of the Company’s common stock.
The Rights Plan is similar to plans adopted by many other publicly traded companies. The effect of the Rights Plan is to discourage any potential acquirer from triggering the Rights without first convincing Farmers & Merchants Bancorp’sthe Company’s Board of Directors that the proposed acquisition is fair to, and in the best interest of, all of the stockholders of the Company. The provisions of the Plan, if triggered by the Acquiring Person, will substantially dilute the equity and voting interest of any potential acquirer unless the Board of Directors approves of the proposed acquisition (under Article XV of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors has the authority to consider any and all factors in determining whether an acquisition is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders). Each Right, if and when exercisable, will entitle the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value, at a purchase price of $1,200$1,600 for each one one-hundredth of a share, subject to adjustment.

Each holder of a Right (except for the Acquiring Person, whose Rights will be null and void upon such event) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, that number of Common Shares of the Company having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. At any time before a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Rights can be redeemed, in whole, but not in part, by Farmers and Merchants Bancorp’sthe Company’s Board of Directors at a price of $0.001 per Right.


The Rights Plan was set to expire on August 5, 2018. On November 19, 2015, the Board of Directors approved a seven-year extension of the term of the Rights Plan.  Pursuant to an Amendment to the Rights Agreement dated February 18, 2016, the term of the Rights Plan was extended from August 5, 2018 to August 5, 2025. The extension of the term of the Rights Plan was intended as a means to continue to guard against abusive takeover tactics and was not in response to any particular proposal. The Board also increased the purchase price under the Rights Plan to $1,600 per one one-hundredth of a preferred share from $1,200, to reflect the increase in the market price of the Company’s common stock over the past several years.


During 2017,2022, the Company issued 4,975repurchased 21,309 shares under the Repurchase Plan, for a total of $20.31 million.  All of these shares were purchased at prices ranging from $925.00 to $990.00 per share, based upon the then current price on the OTCQX. The Company did not issue any shares of common stock which were contributedduring 2022.

The following table reports information regarding repurchases of our common stock during the year ended December 31, 2022:

Period 
Total number
of shares
purchased
  
Average price
paid per share
  
Total number of shares
purchased as part of
publicly announced
plans or programs
  
Maximum number (or
approximate dollar
value) of shares that
may yet purchased
under the plans or
programs
(In thousands) (1)
 
Total 1st Quarter 2022  4,500  $945.00   4,500  $15,748 
Total 2nd Quarter 2022  7,956   954.32   7,956   8,155 
Total 3rd Quarter 2022  6,368   951.68   6,368   2,095 
                 
October 1, 2022 to October 31, 2022  1,465  $962.22   1,465  $685 
November 1, 2022 to November 30, 2022  709   973.47   709   19,995 
December 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022  311   979.84   311   19,690 
Total 4th Quarter 2022  2,485  $967.64   2,485  $19,690 
      ��          
Total 2022  21,309  $953.12   21,309  $19,690 
                 

(1)As of November 8, 2022 the Board approved an extension to the Bank’s non-qualified defined contribution retirement plans. The shares issued had prices ranging from $590 per share to $595 per share. These share prices were based upon valuations completed by a nationally recognized bank consultingrepurchase program through December 31, 2024 and advisory firm and in reliance upon the exemption in Section 4(a)(2)for an additional $20 million of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Company's common stock.

The proceeds from these issuances were contributed to the Bank as equity capital. See Note 15, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

During 2016, the Company issued 16,542did not issue or purchase any shares of common stock of which 4,610 shares were contributed to the Bank’s non-qualified defined contribution retirement plans and 11,932 shares were issued in the acquisition of Delta National Bancorp. The shares issued had prices ranging from $525 per share to $580 per share. These share prices were based upon valuations completed by a nationally recognized bank consulting and advisory firm and in reliance upon the exemption in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The proceeds from these issuances were contributed to the Bank as equity capital.during 2021.

Performance Graphs


The following graph compares the Company’s cumulative total stockholder return on common stock from December 31, 20122017 to December 31, 20172022 to that of: (i) the S&P 600 Regional Banks (Sub Ind) (TR) Index (which replaces the Morningstar Banks Index - Regional (US) Industry Group;Group going forward through 2020, since the data is no longer accessible); and (ii) the cumulative total return of the New York Stock Exchange market index. The graph assumes an initial investment of $100 on December 31, 20122017 and reinvestment of dividends. The stock price performance set forth in the following graph is not necessarily indicative of future price performance. The Company’s stock price data is based on activity posted on the OTCQX and on private transactions between individual stockholders that are reported to the Company. This data was furnished by Zacks SEC Compliance Services Group.
 
graphic

This graph shall not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.Act.

Item 6.Selected Financial DataReserved


Summary of Income: 2017  2016  2015  2014  2013 
Total Interest Income $114,612  $99,266  $90,075  $81,521  $76,531 
Total Interest Expense  6,289   4,196   3,325   2,813   2,891 
Net Interest Income  108,323   95,070   86,750   78,708   73,640 
Provision for Credit Losses  2,850   6,335   750   1,175   425 
Net Interest Income After Provision for Credit Losses  105,473   88,735   86,000   77,533   73,215 
Total Non-Interest Income  16,762   15,257   14,575   14,329   15,937 
Total Non-Interest Expense  67,754   58,172   56,259   51,366   50,870 
Income Before Income Taxes  54,481   45,820   44,316   40,496   38,282 
Provision for Income Taxes  26,111   16,097   16,924   15,094   14,221 
Net Income $28,370  $29,723  $27,392  $25,402  $24,061 
Balance Sheet Data:                    
Total Assets $3,075,452  $2,922,121  $2,615,345  $2,360,551  $2,076,073 
Loans & Leases  2,215,295   2,177,601   1,996,359   1,712,244   1,388,236 
Allowance for Credit Losses  50,342   47,919   41,523   35,401   34,274 
Investment Securities  536,056   506,372   430,533   430,405   473,144 
Deposits  2,723,228   2,581,711   2,277,532   2,064,073   1,807,691 
Shareholders' Equity  299,660   279,981   251,835   233,178   209,904 
                     
Selected Ratios:                    
Return on Average Assets  0.94%  1.12%  1.12%  1.17%  1.21%
Return on Average Equity  9.66%  11.17%  11.21%  11.43%  11.54%
Dividend Payout Ratio  38.71%  35.25%  37.08%  39.05%  40.41%
Average Loans & Leases to Average Deposits  82.18%  88.63%  84.44%  79.99%  74.28%
Average Equity to Average Assets  9.77%  10.05%  10.02%  10.28%  10.52%
Period-end Shareholders' Equity to Total Assets  9.74%  9.58%  9.63%  9.88%  10.11%
                     
Basic Per Share Data:                    
Net Income (1)
 $35.03  $37.44  $34.82  $32.64  $30.93 
Cash Dividends Per Share $13.55  $13.10  $12.90  $12.70  $12.50 
(1)
Based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding of 809,834, 793,970, 786,582, 778,358, and 777,882 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.
Item 7.Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations


Overview

Although the Company has initiated effortsThe following discussion and analysis is intended to expand its geographic footprint into the East Bay areaprovide a comprehensive review of San Francisco,  California (see Item 1: Business – Service Area), the Company’s primary service area remainsoperating results and financial condition. The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with the mid Central Valley of California, a region that can be significantly impacted byAudited Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Information related to the seasonal needscomparison of the agricultural industry. Accordingly, discussionresults of operations for the Company’syears December 31, 2021 to 2020 is found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is influenced byOperations” in the seasonal banking needs of its agricultural customers (e.g., during2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the spring and summer customers draw down their deposit balances and increase loan borrowing to fund the purchase of equipment and planting of crops. Correspondingly, deposit balances are replenished and loans repaid in late fall and winter as crops are harvested and sold).SEC on March 15, 2022.
 
The Five-Year Period: 2013 through 2017
Through much of 2007 the economy in our primary service area was strong, the stock market rising and individuals and businesses doing well. Then in October 2007 the financial markets started what would become a major adjustment and an economic recession began, the impact of which is still being felt today in the Central Valley of California. The Central Valley was oneSection 27A of the hardest hit areas in the country during the recession. In many areas housing prices declinedSecurities Act, as much as 60%amended, and unemployment reached 15% or more. Although the economy has improved throughout mostSection 21E of the Central Valley, inExchange Act. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views and are not historical facts. These statements may include statements regarding projected performance for periods following the date of this report. These statements can generally be identified by use of phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “seek,” “should,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “target,” “project,” “commit” or other words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our future financial condition, results of operations, objectives, strategies, plans, goals or future performance and business are also forward-looking statements. Statements that project future financial conditions, results of operations and shareholder value are not guarantees of performance and many of the Company’s market segments housing prices remain below peak levelsfactors that will determine these results and unemployment levels remain abovevalues are beyond our ability to control or predict. For those in other areasstatements, we claim the protection of the statesafe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and country.

Despiteunknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, but not limited to, those described in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections and other parts of this challenging economic environment,Annual Report on Form 10-K that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in management’s opinion, the Company’s operating performance over the past five years has been exceptionally strong.

We use certain non-GAAP financial measuresthese forward-looking statements. The following is a non-exclusive list of factors, that could cause our actual results to provide supplemental information regardingdiffer materially from our performance. Income Tax Expense for the year ended 2017 includes a one-time, non-cash $6.3 million charge related to the re-measurement of the Company’s Deferred Tax Asset (“DTA”) as a result of the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Actforward-looking statements in 2017. We believe that presenting Adjusted Net Income, excluding the impact of the DTA re-measurement charge, provides additional clarity to the users of financial statements regarding core financial performance and allows for a better year-over-year comparison of trends in core profitability.this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
 
changes in general economic conditions, either nationally, in California, or in our local markets;
inflation, changes in interest rates, securities market volatility and monetary fluctuations;
increases in competitive pressures among financial institutions and businesses offering similar products and services;
the future impact of the COVID-19 virus;
higher defaults in our loan portfolio than we expect;
changes in management’s estimate of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses;
risks associated with our growth and expansion strategy and related costs;
increased lending risks associated with our high concentration of real estate loans;
legislative or regulatory changes or changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines;
technological changes;
failure to raise the debt limit on U.S. debt;
regulatory or judicial proceedings; and
other factors and risks including those described under “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(in thousands, except per share data)
Financial Performance Indicator 2017  2016  2015  2014  2013 
                
Pre Tax Income $54,481  $45,820  $44,316  $40,496  $38,282 
Income Tax Expense  26,111   16,097   16,924   15,094   14,221 
Effect of Income Tax Rate Change                    
DTA Re-measurement  (6,300)  -   -   -   - 
Adjusted Income Tax Expense  19,811   16,097   16,924   15,094   14,221 
Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income  34,670   29,723   27,392   25,402   24,061 
Effect of Income Tax Rate Change                    
DTA Re-measurement  (6,300)  -   -   -   - 
Net Income (See Note 1) $28,370  $29,723  $27,392  $25,402  $24,061 
Total Assets  3,075,452   2,922,121   2,615,345   2,360,551   2,076,073 
Total Loans & Leases  2,215,295   2,177,601   1,996,359   1,712,244   1,388,236 
Total Deposits  2,723,228   2,581,711   2,277,532   2,064,073   1,807,691 
Total Shareholders’ Equity  299,660   279,981   251,835   233,178   209,904 
Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio  13.07%  12.80%  12.23%  12.93%  13.99%
Non-Performing Loans as a % of Total Loans  0.00%  0.14%  0.11%  0.13%  0.19%
Substandard Loans as a % of Total Loans  0.40%  0.29%  0.31%  0.21%  0.41%
Net Charge-Offs (Recoveries) to Average Loans  0.02%  0.00%  (0.30%)  0.00%  0.03%
Loan Loss Allowance as a % of Total Loans  2.27%  2.19%  2.07%  2.06%  2.46%
Return on Average Assets  0.94%  1.12%  1.12%  1.17%  1.21%
Adjusted Return on Average Assets  1.15%  1.12%  1.12%  1.17%  1.21%
Return on Average Equity  9.66%  11.17%  11.21%  11.43%  11.54%
Adjusted Return on Average Equity  11.79%  11.17%  11.21%  11.43%  11.54%
Earnings Per Share  35.03   37.44   34.82   32.64   30.93 
Adjusted Earnings Per Share  42.81   37.44   34.82   32.64   30.93 
Cash Dividends Per Share  13.55   13.10   12.90   12.70   12.50 
Cash Dividends Declared  10,982   10,478   10,157   9,919   9,723 

Note 1 – On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law by the President. Among other things, this legislation reduces the corporate tax rateShould one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from 35%those anticipated, estimated, expected, projected, intended, committed or believed.  Additional factors that could cause actual results to 21% beginning January 1, 2018. Although the Company believes that this reductiondiffer materially from those expressed in the corporate tax rate will have a significant positive impactforward-looking statements are discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on future financial performance, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requireForm 10-K. Please take into account that all companies re-measure their DTA’s using the new lower tax rateforward-looking statements speak only as of the date of enactmentthis Annual Report on Form 10-K (or documents incorporated by reference, if applicable).
The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if it later becomes aware that actual results are likely to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statement, except as required by law.
Overview
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (the “Company”, “FMCB”, or “we”) is the holding company for Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California (the “Bank” or “FMB).  The Bank is a full-service community bank providing loans, deposit and cash management services to individuals and businesses. Our primary clients are small to medium-sized businesses that require highly personalized commercial banking products and services.  The Bank has 29 branch locations and 3 ATMs that have been serving communities in the mid-Central Valley and East Bay of California for over 100 years.
The primary source of funding for our asset growth has been the generation of core deposits, which we raise through our existing branch locations, newly opened branch locations, or through acquisitions.  Our recent loan growth is primarily the result of organic growth generated by our seasoned relationship managers and supporting associates who provide outstanding service and responsiveness to our clients or through acquisitions.
Our results of operations are largely dependent on net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income we earn on interest earning assets, which are comprised of loans, investment securities and short-term investments, and the interest we pay on our interest bearing liabilities, which are primarily deposits, and, to a lesser extent, other borrowings. Management strives to match the re-pricing characteristics of the legislation. As a result the Company’sinterest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities to protect net interest income for 2017 includes a $6.3 million re-measurement reflected as a one-time, non-cash increase to income tax expensefrom changes in market interest rates and changes in the 4th quarter. Our situation is not unique in that the majority of all financial institutions reported significant DTA re-measurements in the 4th quarter.  Excluding the impactshape of the $6.3 million DTA re-measurement, non-GAAP adjustedyield curve.
We measure our performance by calculating our net income for the year totaled $34.6 million, an increase of $5.0 million or 16.8% over the prior year, which would have resulted in an adjustedinterest margin, return on average assets, of 1.15% and adjusted return on average equityequity. Net interest margin is calculated by dividing net interest income, which is the difference between interest income on interest earning assets and interest expense on interest bearing liabilities, by average interest earning assets. Net interest income is our largest source of 11.79%.revenue. Interest rate fluctuations, as well as changes in the amount and type of earning assets and liabilities, combine to affect net interest income. We also measure our performance by our efficiency ratio, which is calculated by dividing non-interest expense by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income.
 
Management believes that the Company’sSelected Financial Data
The following condensed consolidated statements of financial condition and operations and selected performance compared very favorably to its peer banks during the five-year period endingratios as of December 31, 2017:

·Net income over the five-year period totaled $134.9 million.

·Return on Average Assets averaged 1.11% over the five-year period.

·Total assets increased 55.7% from $1.9 billion at December 31, 2012 to $3.1 billion at December 31, 2017.

·Total loans & leases increased 77.7% from $1.2 billion at December 31, 2012 to $2.2 billion at December 31, 2017.

·Total deposits increased 58.1% from $1.7 billion at December 31, 2012 to $2.7 billion at December 31, 2017.

More recently:

·In 2017, the Company earned $28.4 million for a return on average assets of .94%. Without the impact of the re-measurement of the deferred tax asset the Company would have earned non-GAAP adjusted net income of $34.6 million for a return on average assets of 1.15%.

·In 2017, the Company increased its cash dividend per share by 3.4% over 2016 levels, and our strong financial performance has allowed us to increase dividends every year during this five-year period.

·The Company’s total risk based capital ratio was 13.07% at December 31, 2017, and the Bank achieved the highest regulatory classification of “well capitalized” in each of the previous five years. See “Financial Condition – Capital.”

·The Company continued to diversify its: (1) geographic footprint by acquiring Delta National Bancorp with branches in Turlock, Manteca and Riverbank.

·The Company’s asset quality remains very strong compared to peer banks at the present time, when measured by: (1) net charge-offs at 0.02% of average loans & leases during 2017; (2) no non-accrual loans at December 31, 2017; and (3) substandard loans & leases totaling 0.40% of total loans & leases at December 31, 2017. See “Results of Operations – Provision and Allowance for Credit Losses” and “Financial Condition – Classified Loans & Leases and Non-Performing Assets.”

Because2022, 2021, and 2020 and for the years then ended have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements.  The information below is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information included elsewhere herein and should be read along with this “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of this strong earnings performance, capital position,Financial Condition and asset quality, stockholders have benefited from the fact that cash dividends per share have increased 12.0% since 2012,Results of Operations” and totaled $64.75 per share over the five-year period. The 2017 dividend of $13.55 per share represents a 2.00% yield based upon the December 31, 2017 closing stock price of $676 per share (See “Part II, Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters“Item 8, Financial Statement and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities”).Supplementary Data.”
 
  Years Ended December 31 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 2022  2021  2020 
Selected Income Statement Information:         
Interest income 
$
198,413
  
$
165,268
  
$
159,294
 
Interest expense  
4,840
   
4,332
   
9,491
 
Net interest income  
193,573
   
160,936
   
149,803
 
Provision for credit losses  
6,450
   
1,910
   
4,500
 
Net interest income after provision for credit losses  
187,123
   
159,026
   
145,303
 
Non-interest income  
6,178
   
21,056
   
15,054
 
Non-interest expense  
93,560
   
91,761
   
82,406
 
Income before income tax expense  
99,741
   
88,321
   
77,951
 
Income tax expense  
24,651
   
21,985
   
19,217
 
Net income 
$
75,090
  
$
66,336
  
$
58,734
 
             
Selected financial ratios:            
Basic and diluted earnings per share 
$
96.55
  
$
84.01
  
$
74.03
 
Cash dividends per common share  
16.15
   
15.30
   
14.75
 
Dividend ratio  
16.73
%
  
18.21
%
  
19.92
%
Net interest margin  
3.80
%
  
3.46
%
  
3.88
%
Non-interest income to average assets  
0.12
%
  
0.43
%
  
0.37
%
Non-interest expense to average assets  
1.75
%
  
1.87
%
  
2.00
%
Efficiency ratio  
46.84
%
  
50.42
%
  
49.99
%
Return on average assets  
1.41
%
  
1.35
%
  
1.43
%
Return on average equity  
16.04
%
  
15.00
%
  
14.60
%
Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans  
0.01
%
  
(0.01
%)
  
0.02
%

Looking Forward: 2018
  As of December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 2022  2021  2020 
Selected Balance Sheet Information: 
Cash and cash equivalents $588,257  $715,460  $383,837 
Investment securities  997,817   1,007,506   876,665 
Gross loans held for investment  3,512,361   3,237,177   3,099,592 
Total assets  5,327,399   5,177,720   4,550,453 
Total deposits  4,759,269   4,640,152   4,060,267 
Shareholders' equity  485,308   463,136   423,665 
             
Average Balances:            
Average earning assets  5,091,684   4,656,337   3,861,070 
Average assets  5,341,901   4,913,999   4,112,537 
Average shareholders' equity  468,001   442,246   402,329 
             
Selected financial ratios:         
Book value per share $631.63  $586.51  $536.53 
Tangible book value per share $613.42  $568.04  $517.28 
Allowance for credit losses to total loans  1.90%  1.88%  1.89%
Non-performing assets to total assets  0.03%  0.03%  0.03%
Loans held for investment to deposits  73.80%  69.76%  76.34%
             
Capital ratios:            
Tier 1 leverage capital  9.36%  8.92%  9.13%
Total risk-based capital  13.06%  13.19%  12.59%
Average equity to average assets  8.76%  9.00%  9.78%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets  8.87%  8.69%  9.01%

Summary of Critical Accounting Policies and BeyondEstimates
In management’sthe opinion of management, the following key issues will continueaccompanying Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and related Consolidated Statements of Operations, Comprehensive Income, Changes in Shareholders’ Equity and Cash Flows reflect all adjustments (which include reclassification and normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary for a fair presentation in conformity with GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to influencemake estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements.
Various elements of our accounting policies, by their nature, are inherently subject to estimation techniques, valuation assumptions and other subjective assessments. In particular, management has identified certain accounting policies that, due to the judgments, estimates and assumptions inherent in those policies, are critical to an understanding of our financial statements. Management believes the judgments, estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the financial statements are appropriate based on the factual circumstances at the time. However, given the sensitivity of the financial statements to these critical accounting policies, the use of other judgments, estimates and assumptions could result in material differences in our results of operations or financial condition. Further, subsequent changes in economic or market conditions could have a material impact on these estimates and our financial condition and operating results in future periods. For additional information concerning critical accounting policies, see the Selected Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the following:
Use of Estimates — The preparation of our financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates the estimates used. Estimates are based upon historical experience, current economic conditions and other factors that management considers reasonable under the circumstances and the actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions. The allowance for credit losses, deferred income taxes, and fair values of financial instruments are estimates, which are particularly subject to change.

Allowance for Credit Losses — The Company recognizes there is risk of credit losses with financial instruments, to include loans, and unfunded loan commitments, where the Company advances funds to a counterparty.  The risk of credit losses varies with, among other things, the type of financial instrument, the creditworthiness and cash flows of the counterparty, any guarantees from government agencies, and the collateral, if any, used to secure the financial instrument.  The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses on loans and unfunded commitments held in 2018accordance with GAAP.  The allowance for credit losses represents our estimate of probable losses inherent in our existing loan portfolio.  The allowance for credit losses is increased by charging a provision for credit losses against income and future years:reduced by charge-offs, net of recoveries.

·The Company’s earnings are heavily dependent on its net interest margin, which is sensitive to such factors as: (1) market interest rates; (2) the mix of our earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities; and (3) competitor pricing strategies.
Under the guidance of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“CECL”), we evaluate our allowance for credit losses quarterly based on a number of quantitative and qualitative factors, including levels and trends of past due and non-accrual loans, asset classifications, loan grades and internal loan reviews, change in volume and mix of loans, collateral value, historical loss experience, size and complexity of individual credits, loan concentrations and economic conditions. Allowance for credit losses is provided on both a specific and general basis. Specific allowances are provided for impaired credits for which the expected/anticipated loss is measurable. General valuation allowances are based on a portfolio segmentation based on risk grading, with a further evaluation of various quantitative and qualitative factors.

-Since December 2015, the FRB has increased short-term market rates by 1.25%. However, market rates remain historically low, and although short-term rates are generally expected to increase in 2018 Management does not expect them to change significantly.
-Loan growth picked-up substantially in 2016 - 2017, partially as a result of our expansion into Walnut Creek, Concord and equipment leasing, but we still face a very competitive business environment. No assurances can be given that this recent growth in the loan & lease portfolio will continue.
-Aggressive competitor pricing for loans, leases and deposits continues to require the Company to respond in order to retain key customers.


The combinationCompany begins its determination of sustained low marketcredit losses by evaluating historical credit loss experience by loan segment.  Historical loss information may be adjusted based on specific risk characteristics by loan segment.  Such risk characteristics may include, but are not necessarily limited to, changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collection, charge-off, and recovery practices not considered elsewhere in estimating credit losses; changes in national and local economic conditions and forecasts; changes in the nature and volume of the loans and in the terms of such instruments; changes in the experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; changes in the volume and severity of past due status, the volume of non-accrual loans, and the volume and severity of adversely classified or graded loans; changes in the quality of the institution’s loan review system; changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral-dependent loans; the existence and effect of any concentrations of credit, and changes in the level of such concentrations; and the effect of other external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses.

While the Company utilizes a systematic methodology in determining its allowance, the allowance is based on estimates, and ultimate losses may vary from current estimates. The estimates are reviewed periodically and, as adjustments become necessary, are reported in earnings in the periods in which they become known. For additional information, see Note 4, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments is classified in other liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.  The allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments is increased by charging a provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments, which was reported in other non-interest expenses for 2022 and prior.

We believe that our allowance for credit losses was adequate to absorb probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Investment Securities — Investment securities are classified as held-to-maturity (“HTM”) when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity.  Investment securities are classified as available-for-sale (“AFS”) when the Company has the intent of holding the security for an indefinite period of time, but not necessarily to maturity. The Company determines the appropriate classification at the time of purchase, and periodically thereafter. Investment securities classified at HTM are carried at amortized cost. Investment securities classified at AFS are reported at fair value. Purchase premiums and discounts are recognized in interest ratesincome using the interest method over the terms of the securities. Debt securities classified as held-to-maturity are carried at cost, net of the allowance for credit losses - securities, adjusted for amortization of premiums and aggressive competitor pricingdiscounts to the earliest callable date. Debt securities classified as available-for-sale are measured at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses on debt securities classified as available-for-sale are excluded from earnings and are reported net of tax as accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), a component of shareholders’ equity, until realized. When AFS securities, specifically identified, are sold, the unrealized gain or loss is reclassified from AOCI to non-interest income.

Management measures expected credit losses on held-to-maturity debt securities on a collective basis by major security type. The Company’s HTM portfolio contains securities issued by U.S. government entities and agencies and municipalities. The Company uses industry historical credit loss information adjusted for current conditions to establish the allowance for credit losses on its HTM municipal bond portfolio.

For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether it intends to sell, or is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If the Company intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovering its cost basis, the entire impairment loss would be recognized in earnings. If the Company does not intend to sell the security, and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has causedresulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, management considers the Company’s netextent to which fair value is less than amortized costs, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. Projected cash flows are discounted by the current effective interest marginrate. If the present value of cash flows expected to decline frombe collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a high of 5.18%credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the year endedcredit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. The remaining impairment related to all other factors, the difference between the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected and fair value, is recognized as a charge to AOCI.

Changes in the allowance for credit losses-securities are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit losses. Losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the non-collectability of an available-for-sale security is confirmed or when either criteria regarding intent of requirement to sell is met.

At December 31, 20062022, we had no investment securities that were impaired.

Goodwill — Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase considerations paid over the fair value of the assets acquired, net of the fair values of liabilities assumed in a business combination it is not amortized but is reviewed annually, or more frequently as current circumstances and conditions warrant, for impairment. An assessment of qualitative factors is completed to 3.88%determine if it is more likely than not that, the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the qualitative analysis concludes that further analysis is required, then a quantitative impairment test would be completed. The quantitative goodwill impairment compares the reporting unit's estimated fair values, including goodwill, to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds its reporting unit’s fair value, then an impairment loss would be recognized as a charge to earnings, but is limited by the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

Other Intangible Assets — Other intangible assets consists primarily of core deposit intangibles (“CDI”), which are amounts recorded in business combinations or deposit purchase transactions related to the value of transaction-related deposits and the value of the client relationships associated with the deposits. Core deposit intangibles are amortized over the estimated useful lives of such deposits. These assets are reviewed at least annually for events or circumstances that could affect their recoverability. These events could include loss of the year ended December 31, 2017. Althoughunderlying core deposits, increased competition or adverse changes in the increaseeconomy. The amortization of our CDI is recorded in short-term interest rates has helpedother non-interest expense. To the Company’s loan yields, manyextent other identifiable intangible assets are deemed unrecoverable; impairment losses are recorded in other non-interest expense to reduce the carrying amount of these other factors may continuethe assets.

Fair Value Measurements — The Company discloses the fair value of financial instruments and the methods and significant assumptions used to adversely affectestimate those fair values. The estimated fair value amounts have been determined by the net interest margin in 2018. SeeCompany using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. The use of assumptions and various valuation techniques, as well as the absence of secondary markets for certain financial instruments, will likely reduce the comparability of fair value disclosures between financial institutions. In some cases, book value is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the relatively short period between origination of the instrument and its expected realization.

For additional information, see “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures Aboutabout Market Risk -Risk” and Note 12 located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Income Taxes — Income taxes are filed on a consolidated basis with our subsidiaries and allocate income tax expense (benefit) based on each entity’s proportionate share of the consolidated provision for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment. The determination of the amount of deferred income tax assets, that are more likely than not to be realized is primarily dependent on projections of future earnings, which are subject to uncertainty and estimates that may change given economic conditions and other factors. The realization of deferred income tax assets is assessed and a valuation allowance is recorded if it is “more likely than not” that all or a portion of the deferred income tax asset will not be realized. “More likely than not” is defined as greater than a 50% probability. All available evidence, both positive and negative, is considered to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, a valuation allowance is needed.

Only tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are recognized. The benefit of a tax position is recognized in the financial statements in the period during which, based on all available evidence, management believes it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including the resolution of appeals or litigation processes, if any. Tax positions taken are not offset or aggregated with other positions. Tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement with the applicable taxing authority. The portion of the benefits associated with tax positions taken that exceeds the amount measured as described above is reflected as a liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition along with any associated interest and penalties that would be payable to the taxing authorities upon examination. Interest Rate Risk.”expense and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits are classified as income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income.

·The Company’s results are impacted by changes in the credit quality of its borrowers. Substandard loans & leases totaled $8.9 million or .40% of total loans & leases at December 31, 2017 vs. $6.4 million or 0.29% of total loans at December 31, 2016. Management believes, based on information currently available, that these levels are adequately covered by the Company’s $50.3 million allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2017. See “Results of Operations - Provision and Allowance for Credit Losses” and “Financial Condition – Classified Loans & Leases and Non-Performing Assets.” The Company’s provision for credit losses was $2.9 million in 2017, compared to $6.3 million in 2016 and $750,000 in 2015. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

·FDIC deposit insurance expense for the years 2017, 2016, and 2015 was $932,000 million, $1.17 million, and $1.19 million, respectively. In 2011, the FDIC changed its methodology for calculating deposit premiums. See “Item 1. Business – Supervision and Regulation – Deposit Insurance.” While FDIC deposit insurance assessments have stabilized in recent years, they remain well above the pre-recession level the Company paid in 2007.

·Since the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010, Congress and the former Obama Administration implemented broad changes to the regulation of consumer financial products and the financial services industry as a whole. These changes could significantly affect the Company’s product offerings, pricing and profitability in areas such as debit and credit cards, home mortgages and deposit service charges. What ultimate impact the new Trump Administration will have on deregulation and/or tax relief is yet unknown.

·The Company has (i) expanded its geographic footprint through denovo branch expansion in Walnut Creek and Concord, CA and through acquisition in Manteca and Riverbank, CA and (ii) established equipment leasing as a new line of business. Although Management believes that these initiatives will result in increased asset growth and earnings, along with reduced concentration risks, the start-up costs related to staff and facilities are significant and will take time to recoup.

·The company will benefit significantly in 2018 and thereafter from the reduction of the federal corporate tax rate which changes from 35% to 21% pursuant to the recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

See Note 1. “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Results of Operations


The following discussion and analysis is intended to provide a better understanding of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and its subsidiaries’ performance during each of the years in the three-yeartwo-year period ended December 31, 20172022 and the material changes in financial condition, operating income, and expense of the Company and its subsidiaries as shown in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Impact of Delta National Bancorp Acquisition on Results of Operations
On November 18, 2016, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp completed Information related to the acquisition of Delta National Bancorp.  Since the acquisition took place late in the year, and Delta National Bancorp had only $112 million in assets (less than 4% of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp’s total assets), the post-acquisition impact on the Company’s 2016 Results of Operations was immaterial with the exception of a Bargain Purchase Gain of $1.83 million that was booked as non-interest income and $910,000 in acquisition expenses that were booked as non-interest expense (see Note 2, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”). Accordingly, limited discussioncomparison of the acquisition’s impact on operating income and expense is included in the following discussion.

Net Interest Income/Net Interest Margin
The tables on the following pages reflect the Company's average balance sheets and volume and rate analysisresults of operations for the years ending 2017, 2016December 31, 2021 and 2015. Average balance amounts for2020 can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2022.

Factors that determine the level of net income include the volume of earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, areyields earned and rates paid, fee income, non-interest expense, the computed averagelevel of daily balances.

Net interest income isnon-performing loans and other non-earning assets, and the amount by whichof non-interest bearing liabilities supporting earning assets. Non-interest income includes card processing fees, service charges on deposit accounts, bank-owned life insurance income, gains/losses on the interestsale of investment securities, and feesgains/losses on loans & leasesdeferred compensation investments. Non-interest expense consists primarily of salaries and employee benefits, cost of deferred compensation benefits, occupancy, data processing, FDIC insurance, marketing, legal and other interest-earning assets exceed the interest paid on interest-bearing sourcesexpenses.

Average Balance and Yields. The following table sets forth a summary of analysis, the interest earned on tax-exempt investments and municipal loans is adjusted to an amount comparable to interest subject to normal income taxes. This adjustment is referred to as “tax equivalent” adjustment and is noted wherever applicable. The presentation of net interest income and net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis is a common practice within the banking industry.

The Volume and Rate Analysis of Net Interest Income summarizes the changes inaverage balances with corresponding interest income and interest expense based on changes inas well as average assetyield, cost and liabilitynet interest margin information for the periods presented. Average balances (volume) and changes in average rates (rate). For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided with respect to changes attributable to: (1) changes in volume (change in volume multiplied by initial rate); (2) changes in rate (change in rate multiplied by initial volume); and (3) changes in rate/volume, also called “changes in mix” (allocated in proportion to the respective volume and rate components).are derived from daily balances.


  Year ended December 31,
 
 2022  2021 
(Dollars in thousands) Average Balance  
Interest
Income / Expense
  
Average
Yield /
Rate
  Average Balance  
Interest
Income / Expense
  
Average
Yield /
Rate
 
ASSETS                  
Interest earnings deposits in other banks and federal
funds sold
 
$
704,082
  
$
12,102
   
1.72
%
 
$
666,167
  
$
902
   
0.14
%
Investment securities:(1)
                        
Taxable securities  
1,044,954
   
19,678
   
1.88
%
  
838,710
   
14,646
   
1.75
%
Non-taxable securities(2)
  
48,168
   
1,569
   
3.26
%
  
52,384
   
1,648
   
3.15
%
Total investment securities  
1,093,122
   
21,247
   
1.94
%
  
891,094
   
16,294
   
1.83
%
Loans:(3)
                        
Real estate:                        
Commercial  
1,202,548
   
58,966
   
4.90
%
  
1,037,554
   
53,298
   
5.14
%
Agricultural  
705,222
   
35,010
   
4.96
%
  
641,086
   
29,544
   
4.61
%
Residential and home equity  
369,619
   
14,551
   
3.94
%
  
339,345
   
12,717
   
3.75
%
Construction  
182,523
   
9,788
   
5.36
%
  
182,722
   
7,965
   
4.36
%
Total real estate  
2,459,912
   
118,315
   
4.81
%
  
2,200,707
   
103,524
   
4.70
%
Commercial & industrial  
440,510
   
22,452
   
5.10
%
  
373,497
   
16,935
   
4.53
%
Agricultural  
262,461
   
14,084
   
5.37
%
  
233,544
   
10,385
   
4.45
%
Commercial leases  
94,040
   
5,702
   
6.06
%
  
98,056
   
5,485
   
5.59
%
Consumer and other  
22,008
   
3,469
   
15.76
%
  
178,535
   
10,879
   
6.09
%
Total loans and leases  
3,278,931
   
164,022
   
5.00
%
  
3,084,339
   
147,208
   
4.77
%
Non-marketable securities  
15,549
   
1,042
   
6.70
%
  
14,737
   
864
   
5.86
%
Total interest earning assets  
5,091,684
   
198,413
   
3.90
%
  
4,656,337
   
165,268
   
3.55
%
Allowance for credit losses  
(62,588
)
          
(60,059
)
        
Non-interest earning assets  
312,805
           
317,721
         
Total average assets 
$
5,341,901
          
$
4,913,999
         
 
                        
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                        
Interest bearing deposits:                        
Demand 
$
1,120,198
   
1,497
   
0.13
%
 
$
1,024,009
   
1,128
   
0.11
%
Savings and money market accounts  
1,542,310
   
1,981
   
0.13
%
  
1,352,258
   
1,458
   
0.11
%
Certificates of deposit greater than $250,000  
157,623
   
460
   
0.29
%
  
170,040
   
701
   
0.41
%
Certificates of deposit less than $250,000  
215,044
   
411
   
0.19
%
  
235,746
   
730
   
0.31
%
Total interest bearing deposits  
3,035,175
   
4,349
   
0.14
%
  
2,782,053
   
4,017
   
0.14
%
Short-term borrowings  
1
   
-
   
0.00
%
  
1
   
-
   
0.00
%
Subordinated debentures  
10,310
   
491
   
4.76
%
  
10,310
   
315
   
3.06
%
Total interest bearing liabilities  
3,045,486
   
4,840
   
0.16
%
  
2,792,364
   
4,332
   
0.16
%
Non-interest bearing deposits  
1,751,797
           
1,610,611
         
Total funding  
4,797,283
   
4,840
   
0.10
%
  
4,402,975
   
4,332
   
0.10
%
Other non-interest bearing liabilities  
76,617
           
68,778
         
Shareholders' equity  
468,001
           
442,246
         
Total average liabilities and shareholders' equity 
$
5,341,901
          
$
4,913,999
         
                         
Net interest income     
$
193,573
          
$
160,936
     
Interest rate spread          
3.74
%
          
3.39
%
Net interest margin(4)
          
3.80
%
          
3.46
%
 
                        
The Company’s earning assets and rate sensitive liabilities are subject to repricing at different times, which exposes the Company to income fluctuations when interest rates change. In order to minimize income fluctuations, the Company attempts to match asset and liability maturities. However, some maturity mismatch is inherent in the asset and liability mix. See “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Interest Rate Risk.”
(1)
Excludes average unrealized (losses) gains of ($24.5) million and $3.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, and 2021, respectively, which are included in non-interest earning assets.
(2)
The average yield does not include the federal tax benefits at an assumed effective yield of 26% related to income earned on tax-exempt municipal securities totaling $415,000 and $436,000 for the years ended December 31, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
(3)
Loan interest income includes loan fees of $11.6 million and $17.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(4)
Net interest margin is computed by dividing net interest income by average interest earning assets.

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
Year-to-DateInterest-bearing deposits with banks and Federal Reserve balances are additional earning assets available to the Company. Average interest-bearing deposits with banks consisted primarily of FRB deposits. Balances with the FRB earned an average interest rate of 1.72% and Interest Rates
(Interest0.14% for the years ended December 31, 2022 and Rates on a Taxable Equivalent Basis)
(in thousands)

  Year Ended December 31, 2017 
Assets Balance  Interest  Rate 
Interest Bearing Deposits with Banks $176,283  $2,060   1.17%
Investment Securities:            
U.S. Treasuries  81,833   891   1.09%
U.S. Govt SBA  33,255   522   1.57%
Government Agency & Government-Sponsored Entities  3,104   88   2.84%
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions - Non-Taxable  56,484   2,676   4.74%
Mortgage Backed Securities  287,114   6,595   2.30%
Other  1,170   27   2.31%
Total Investment Securities  462,960   10,799   2.33%
             
Loans & Leases            
Real Estate  1,556,122   73,710   4.74%
Home Equity Lines and Loans  32,606   1,658   5.08%
Agricultural  263,711   12,059   4.57%
Commercial  238,650   11,117   4.66%
Consumer  5,557   289   5.20%
Other  1,653   37   2.24%
Leases  80,389   3,812   4.74%
Total Loans & Leases  2,178,688   102,682   4.71%
Total Earning Assets  2,817,931  $115,541   4.10%
             
Unrealized Gain on Securities Available-for-Sale  674         
Allowance for Credit Losses  (49,439)        
Cash and Due From Banks  45,063         
All Other Assets  192,978         
Total Assets $3,007,207         
             
Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity            
Interest Bearing Deposits            
Interest Bearing DDA $533,480  $1,053   0.20%
Savings and Money Market  812,127   1,303   0.16%
Time Deposits  565,412   3,509   0.62%
Total Interest Bearing Deposits  1,911,019   5,865   0.31%
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances  1   -   0.00%
Subordinated Debt  10,310   424   4.11%
Total Interest Bearing Liabilities  1,921,330  $6,289   0.33%
Interest Rate Spread          3.77%
Demand Deposits  740,088         
All Other Liabilities  51,979         
Total Liabilities  2,713,397         
Shareholders' Equity  293,810         
Total Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity $3,007,207         
Impact of Non-Interest Bearing Deposits and Other Liabilities          0.10%
Net Interest Income and Margin on Total Earning Assets      109,252   3.88%
Tax Equivalent Adjustment      (929)    
Net Interest Income     $108,323   3.84%

Notes:  Yields on municipal securities have been calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis.  Loan interest income includes fee income2021, respectively. The increase was primarily the result of the FRB increasing rates by 425 basis points during 2022.  Average interest-bearing deposits was $704 million and unearned discount in the amount of $4.9$666 million for the yearyears ended December 31, 2017. Non-accrual loans2022 and lease financing receivables have been included in the average balances. Yields2021, respectively.  Interest income on securities available-for-sale are based on historical cost.
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
Year-to-Date Average Balancesinterest-bearing deposits with banks was $12.1 million and Interest Rates
(Interest and Rates on a Taxable Equivalent Basis)
(in thousands)

  Year Ended December 31, 2016 
Assets Balance  Interest  Rate 
Interest Bearing Deposits with Banks $53,659  $287   0.53%
Investment Securities:            
U.S. Treasuries  60,191   572   0.95%
U.S. Govt SBA  2,323   55   2.37%
Government Agency & Government-Sponsored Entities  25,624   197   0.77%
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions - Non-Taxable  60,332   2,920   4.84%
Mortgage Backed Securities  215,528   4,663   2.16%
Other  781   18   2.30%
Total Investment Securities  364,779   8,425   2.31%
             
Loans & Leases            
Real Estate  1,460,300   66,969   4.59%
Home Equity Lines and Loans  31,939   1,562   4.89%
Agricultural  266,053   10,908   4.10%
Commercial  216,593   8,886   4.10%
Consumer  4,987   307   6.16%
Other  1,943   44   2.26%
Leases  68,353   2,894   4.23%
Total Loans & Leases  2,050,168   91,570   4.47%
Total Earning Assets  2,468,606  $100,282   4.06%
             
Unrealized Gain on Securities Available-for-Sale  4,895         
Allowance for Credit Losses  (43,684)        
Cash and Due From Banks  44,385         
All Other Assets  173,313         
Total Assets $2,647,515         
             
Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity            
Interest Bearing Deposits            
Interest Bearing DDA $423,305  $526   0.12%
Savings and Money Market  725,127   1,087   0.15%
Time Deposits  513,105   2,194   0.43%
Total Interest Bearing Deposits  1,661,537   3,807   0.23%
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances  3,924   18   0.46%
Subordinated Debt  10,310   371   3.60%
Total Interest Bearing Liabilities  1,675,771  $4,196   0.25%
Interest Rate Spread          3.81%
Demand Deposits  651,709         
All Other Liabilities  53,950         
Total Liabilities  2,381,430         
Shareholders' Equity  266,085         
Total Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity $2,647,515         
Impact of Non-Interest Bearing Deposits and Other Liabilities          0.08%
Net Interest Income and Margin on Total Earning Assets      96,086   3.89%
Tax Equivalent Adjustment      (1,016)    
Net Interest Income     $95,070   3.85%

Notes:  Yields on municipal securities have been calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis.  Loan interest income includes fee income and unearned discount in the amount of $5.1 million$902,000 for the yearyears ended December 31, 2016. Non-accrual loans2022 and lease financing receivables have been included in the average balances. Yields on securities available-for-sale are based on historical cost.2021, respectively.

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
Year-to-Date Average Balances and Interest Rates
(Interest and Rates on a Taxable Equivalent Basis)
(in thousands)

  Year Ended December 31, 2015 
Assets Balance  Interest  Rate 
Interest Bearing Deposits with Banks $66,729  $172   0.26%
Investment Securities:            
U.S. Treasuries  34,040   451   1.32%
Government Agency & Government-Sponsored Entities  36,882   185   0.50%
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions - Non-Taxable  62,016   3,121   5.03%
Mortgage Backed Securities  260,579   5,641   2.16%
Other  5,323   34   0.64%
Total Investment Securities  398,840   9,432   2.36%
             
Loans & Leases            
Real Estate  1,251,061   58,701   4.69%
Home Equity Lines and Loans  31,918   1,709   5.35%
Agricultural  229,850   9,201   4.00%
Commercial  229,449   9,374   4.09%
Consumer  4,820   266   5.52%
Other  604   14   2.32%
Leases  54,763   2,293   4.19%
Total Loans & Leases  1,802,465   81,558   4.52%
Total Earning Assets  2,268,034  $91,162   4.02%
             
Unrealized Gain on Securities Available-for-Sale  4,483         
Allowance for Credit Losses  (38,560)        
Cash and Due From Banks  38,419         
All Other Assets  165,348         
Total Assets $2,437,724         
             
Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity            
Interest Bearing Deposits            
Interest Bearing DDA $350,917  $243   0.07%
Savings and Money Market  690,561   1,155   0.17%
Time Deposits  487,560   1,591   0.33%
Total Interest Bearing Deposits  1,529,038   2,989   0.20%
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances  3,937   7   0.18%
Subordinated Debt  10,310   329   3.19%
Total Interest Bearing Liabilities  1,543,285  $3,325   0.22%
Interest Rate Spread          3.80%
Demand Deposits  605,592         
All Other Liabilities  44,476         
Total Liabilities  2,193,353         
Shareholders' Equity  244,371         
Total Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity $2,437,724         
Impact of Non-Interest Bearing Deposits and Other Liabilities          0.07%
Net Interest Income and Margin on Total Earning Assets      87,837   3.87%
Tax Equivalent Adjustment      (1,087)    
Net Interest Income     $86,750   3.82%

Notes:  Yields on municipal securities have been calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis.  Loan interest income includes fee income and unearned discount in the amount of $5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Non-accrual loans and lease financing receivables have been included in the average balances. Yields on securities available-for-sale are based on historical cost.
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
Volume and Rate Analysis of Net Interest Revenue
(Interest and Rates on a Taxable Equivalent Basis)
(in thousands)
 2017 versus 2016 
 Amount of Increase 
  (Decrease) Due to Change in: 
Interest Earning Assets Volume  Rate  Net Chg. 
Interest Bearing Deposits with Banks $1,168  $605  $1,773 
Investment Securities:            
U.S. Treasuries  227   92   319 
U.S. Govt SBA  492   (25)  467 
Government Agency & Government-Sponsored Entities  (287)  178   (109)
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions - Non-Taxable  (237)  (7)  (244)
Mortgage Backed Securities  1,629   303   1,932 
Other  8   1   9 
Total Investment Securities  1,832   542   2,374 
             
Loans & Leases:            
Real Estate  4,491   2,250   6,741 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  33   63   96 
Agricultural  (97)  1,248   1,151 
Commercial  957   1,274   2,231 
Consumer  33   (51)  (18)
Other  (6)  (1)  (7)
Leases  546   372   918 
Total Loans & Leases  5,957   5,155   11,112 
Total Earning Assets  8,957   6,302   15,259 
             
Interest Bearing Liabilities            
Interest Bearing Deposits:            
Interest Bearing DDA  161   366   527 
Savings and Money Market  137   79   216 
Time Deposits  243   1,072   1,315 
Total Interest Bearing Deposits  541   1,517   2,058 
Other Borrowed Funds  (9)  (9)  (18)
Subordinated Debt  -   53   53 
Total Interest Bearing Liabilities  532   1,561   2,093 
Total Change $8,425  $4,741  $13,166 
Notes:  Rate/volume variance is allocated based on the percentage relationship of changes in volume and changes in rate to the total "net change."  The above figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
Volume and Rate Analysis of Net Interest Revenue
(Interest and Rates on a Taxable Equivalent Basis)
(in thousands)
 2016 versus 2015 
 Amount of Increase 
  (Decrease) Due to Change in: 
Interest Earning Assets Volume  Rate  Net Chg. 
Interest Bearing Deposits with Banks $(40) $155  $115 
Investment Securities:            
U.S. Treasuries  275   (154)  121 
U.S. Govt SBA  55   -   55 
Government Agency & Government-Sponsored Entities  (68)  80   12 
Municipals - Taxable  -   -   - 
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions - Non-Taxable  (83)  (118)  (201)
Mortgage Backed Securities  (975)  (3)  (978)
Other  (48)  32   (16)
Total Investment Securities  (844)  (163)  (1,007)
             
Loans & Leases:            
Real Estate  9,622   (1,355)  8,267 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  1   (148)  (147)
Agricultural  1,479   228   1,707 
Commercial  (527)  39   (488)
Consumer  9   32   41 
Other  30   -   30 
Leases  575   26   601 
Total Loans & Leases  11,189   (1,178)  10,011 
Total Earning Assets  10,305   (1,186)  9,119 
             
Interest Bearing Liabilities            
Interest Bearing Deposits:            
Interest Bearing DDA  58   225   283 
Savings and Money Market  56   (124)  (68)
Time Deposits  87   516   603 
Total Interest Bearing Deposits  201   617   818 
Other Borrowed Funds  -   11   11 
Subordinated Debt  -   42   42 
Total Interest Bearing Liabilities  201   670   871 
Total Change $10,104  $(1,856) $8,248 

Notes:  Rate/volume variance is allocated based on the percentage relationship of changes in volume and changes in rate to the total "net change."  The above figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
2017 Compared to 2016
Net interest income increased 13.9% to $108.3 million during 2017. On a fully tax equivalent basis, net interest income increased 13.7% and totaled $109.3 million during 2017 compared to $96.1 million for 2016. As more fully discussed below, the increase in net interest income was primarily due to a $349.3 million increase in average earning assets.

Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis, expressed as a percentage of average total earning assets, is referred to as the net interest margin. For 2017, the Company’s net interest margin was 3.88% compared to 3.89% in 2016. This decrease in net interest margin was due primarily to a decrease in the mix of loans and leases as a percentage of total earning assets.

Average loans & leases totaled $2.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2017; an increase of $128.5 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. Loans & leases decreased from 83.1% of average earning assets during 2016 to 77.3% in 2017. The year-to-date yield on the loan & lease portfolio increased to 4.71% for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to 4.47% for the year ended December 31, 2016. This higher yield combined with the impact of increased average loan & lease balances resulted in interest revenue from loans & leases increasing 12.1% to $102.7 million for 2017. The Company continues to experience aggressive competitor pricing for loans & leases to which it may need to respond in order to retain key customers. This could place negative pressure on future loan & lease yields and net interest margin.


The investment portfolio is the otheranother main component of the Company’s earning assets. Historically, the Company invested primarily in: (1) mortgage-backed securities issued by government-sponsored entities; (2) debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, government agencies and government-sponsored entities; and (3) investment grade bank-qualified municipal bonds. However, at certain times the Company selectively added investment grade corporate securities (floating rate and fixed rate with maturities less than 5 years) to the portfolio in order to obtain yields that exceed government agency securities of equivalent maturity without subjecting the Company to the interest rate risk associated with mortgage-backed securities.maturity. Since the risk factor for these types of investments is generally lower than that of loans &and leases, the yield earned on investments is generally less than that of loans &and leases.


Average total investment securities increased $98.2 million in 2017 compared to the average balance during 2016. As a result, tax equivalent interest income on securities increased $2.4 million to $10.8were $1.1 billion and $891 million for the yearyears ended December 31, 2017, compared to $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.2022 and 2021, respectively.  The average yield on a tax equivalent basis, intotal investment securities were 1.94% and 1.83 % for the investment portfolio was 2.33% in 2017 compared to 2.31% in 2016. This overall increase in yield was caused primarily by an increase in the mix of mortgage-backed securities as a percentage of total securitiesyears ended December 31, 2022 and a decrease in the balance of lower yielding Government Agency & Government-Sponsored Entities investments.2021, respectively.  See “Financial Condition – Investment Securities”“Investment Securities and Federal Reserve balances” for a discussion of the Company’s investment strategy in 2017. Net interest income on the Schedule of Year-to-Date 2022.

Average Balancesloans and Interest Rates is shown on a tax equivalent basis, which is higher than net interest income as reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Income because of adjustments that relate to income on securities that are exempt from federal income taxes.

Interest-bearing deposits with banksleases held for investment were $3.3 billion and overnight investments in Federal Funds Sold are additional earning assets available to the Company. Average interest-bearing deposits with banks consisted primarily of FRB deposits. Balances with the FRB earn interest at the Fed Funds rate, which increased to 1.50% in December 2017. Average interest-bearing deposits with banks$3.1 billion for the yearyears ended December 31, 2017, was $176.3 million, an increase of $122.6 million compared to the average balance for the year ended December 31, 2016. Interest income on interest-bearing deposits with banks for the year ended December 31, 2017, increased $1.8 million to $2.1 million from the year ended December 31, 2016.

Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $245.6 million or 14.7% during the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, primarily in lower cost interest-bearing DDA,2022 and savings and money market deposits. See “Financial Condition – Deposits” for a discussion of trends in the Company’s deposit base. Total interest expense on deposits was $5.9 million for 2017 and $3.8 million for 2016.2021, respectively.  The average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits was 0.31% in 2017 and 0.23% in 2016. See “Overview – Looking Forward: 2018 and Beyond” for a discussion of factors influencing the Company’s future deposit rates and their impact on net interest margin.
2016 Compared to 2015
Net interest income increased 9.6% to $95.1 million during 2016. On a fully tax equivalent basis, net interest income increased 9.4% and totaled $96.1 million during 2016 compared to $87.8 million for 2015. As more fully discussed below, the increase in net interest income was primarily due to an increase in average earning assets assisted somewhat by a small increase in the net interest margin.

Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis, expressed as a percentage of average total earning assets, is referred to as the net interest margin. For 2016, the Company’s net interest margin was 3.89% compared to 3.87% in 2015. This increase in net interest margin was due primarily to an increase in the mix of loans and leases as a percentage of total earning assets.

Average loans & leases totaled $2.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2016; an increase of $247.7 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. Loans & leases increased from 79.5% of average earning assets during 2015 to 83.1% in 2016. The year-to-date yield on the loan & lease portfolio declinedwas 5.00% and 4.77% for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Company continues to 4.47%experience aggressive competitor pricing for loans and leases to which it may need to respond in order to retain key customers. This could continue to place negative pressure on future loan & lease yields and net interest margin.

Average interest-bearing liabilities was $3.0 billion and $2.8 billion for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.  Total interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities was $4.8 million, $4.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities was 0.16% and 0.16% for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Rate/Volume Analysis. The following table shows the change in interest income and interest expense and the amount of change attributable to variances in volume, rates and the combination of volume and rates based on the relative changes of volume and rates. For purposes of this table, the change in interest due to both volume and rate has been allocated to change due to volume and rate in proportion to the relationship of absolute dollar amounts of change in each.


 
   
Year Ended December 31, 2022
compared with 2021

   Increase (Decrease) Due to:    
(Dollars in thousands) Volume  Rate  Net 
Interest income:         
Interest earnings deposits in other banks and federal funds sold 
$
54
  
$
11,146
  
$
11,200
 
Investment securities:            
Taxable securities  
3,816
   
1,216
   
5,032
 
Non-taxable securities  
(136
)
  
57
   
(79
)
Total investment securities  
3,680
   
1,273
   
4,953
 
Loans:            
Real estate:            
Commercial  
7,805
   
(2,137
)
  
5,668
 
Agricultural  
3,081
   
2,385
   
5,466
 
Residential and home equity  
1,168
   
666
   
1,834
 
Construction  
(9
)
  
1,832
   
1,823
 
Total real estate  
12,045
   
2,746
   
14,791
 
Commercial & industrial  
3,261
   
2,256
   
5,517
 
Agricultural  
1,385
   
2,314
   
3,699
 
Commercial leases  
(231
)
  
448
   
217
 
Consumer and other(1)
  
(14,475
)
  
7,065
   
(7,410
)
Total loans and leases  
1,986
   
14,828
   
16,814
 
Non-marketable securities  
49
   
129
   
178
 
Total interest income  
5,769
   
27,376
   
33,145
 
 
            
Interest expense:            
Interest bearing deposits:            
Demand  
113
   
256
   
369
 
Savings and money market accounts  
222
   
301
   
523
 
Certificates of deposit greater than $250,000  
(48
)
  
(193
)
  
(241
)
Certificates of deposit less than $250,000  
(60
)
  
(259
)
  
(319
)
Total interest bearing deposits  
227
   
105
   
332
 
Subordinated debentures  
8
   
168
   
176
 
Total interest expense  
235
   
273
   
508
 
Net interest income 
$
5,534
  
$
27,103
  
$
32,637
 

(1) Consumer and other -  These decreases respresent the end of the PPP loans which were $0 and $70,765 as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 respectively.

Net interest income was $193.6 million and $160.9 million for the two years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase in net interest income was driven primarily by increased interest rates and deposit growth, which we were able to partially deploy into growing our loan portfolio. The remaining increase in interest was held in interest earning deposits and investment securities.

Comparison of Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021

  Years Ended
December 31
       
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021  $ Better / (Worse)  % Better / (Worse) 
Selected Income Statement Information:            
Interest income 
$
198,413
  
$
165,268
  
$
33,145
   
20.06
%
Interest expense  
4,840
   
4,332
   
(508
)
  
-11.73
%
Net interest income  
193,573
   
160,936
   
32,637
   
20.28
%
Provision for credit losses  
6,450
   
1,910
   
(4,540
)
  
-237.70
%
Net interest income after provision for credit losses  
187,123
   
159,026
   
28,097
   
17.67
%
Non-interest income  
6,178
   
21,056
   
(14,878
)
  
-70.66
%
Non-interest expense  
93,560
   
91,761
   
(1,799
)
  
-1.96
%
Income before income tax expense  
99,741
   
88,321
   
11,420
   
12.93
%
Income tax expense  
24,651
   
21,985
   
(2,666
)
  
-12.13
%
Net income 
$
75,090
  
$
66,336
  
$
8,754
   
13.20
%

Net Income. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, net income was $75.1 million compared with $66.3 million, respectively.  The increase in net income was primarily the result of higher net interest income of $32.6 million. This increase was offset by a decrease in non-interest income of $14.9 million, higher provision for credit losses of $4.5 million, higher income tax expense of $2.7 million and an increase in non-interest expense of $1.8 million.
Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin. For the year ended December 31, 2022, net interest income increased $32.6 million, or 20.28%, to $193.6 million compared with $160.9 million for the same period a year earlier.  The increase is the result of: (1) average interest earning assets increasing $435.4 million, or 9.35%, to $5.1 billion compared with $4.7 billion for the same period a year earlier; and (2) the net interest margin increasing 34 basis points to 3.80% for all of 2022 compared with 3.46% for the same period a year earlier.  The increase in the net interest margin was primarily the result of the FRB increasing the federal funds rate over the past year.
Provision for Credit Losses. The provision for credit losses in each period is a charge against earnings in that period. The provision is the amount required to maintain the allowance for credit losses at a level that, in management’s judgment, is adequate to absorb expected losses over the life of the loan and HTM securities portfolios.
The provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2016,2022, was $6.5 million compared to 4.52%with $1.9 million for the same period a year ago.  For the year ended December 31, 2015. This lower yield partially offset the impact of an increase in average loan & lease balances but still resulted in interest revenue from loans & leases increasing 12.3% to $91.6 million for 2016.

The investment portfolio is the other main component of the Company’s earning assets. Historically,2022, the Company invested primarily in: (1) mortgage-backed securities issued by government-sponsored entities; (2) debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, government agencies and government-sponsored entities; and (3) investment grade bank-qualified municipal bonds. However, at certain times the Company selectively added investment grade corporate securities (floating rate and fixed rateincurred net charge-offs of $0.2 million compared with maturities less than 5 years) to the portfolio in order to obtain yields that exceed government agency securitiesnet recoveries of equivalent maturity without subjecting the Company to the interest rate risk associated with mortgage-backed securities. Since the risk factor for these types of investments is generally lower than that of loans & leases, the yield earned on investments is generally less than that of loans & leases.

Average investment securities decreased $34.1 million in 2016 compared to the average balance during 2015. As a result, tax equivalent interest income on securities decreased $1.0 million to $8.4$0.2 million for the same period a year ended December 31, 2016,earlier.

Non-interest Income. Non-interest income decreased $14.9 million, or 70.66%, to $6.2 million for 2022 compared to $9.4with $21.1 million for the same period a year ended December 31, 2015.earlier.  The average yield, on a tax equivalent basis, in the investment portfolio was 2.31% in 2016 compared to 2.36% in 2015. This overallyear-over-year decrease in yieldnon-interest income was caused primarily bydue to: (1) a decrease in$10.7 million loss on the mixsale of mortgage-backedinvestment securities asversus a percentage of total securities and an increase in the mix of lower yielding short-term U.S. Treasury securities.

Interest-bearing deposits with banks and overnight investments in Federal Funds Sold are additional earning assets available to the Company. Average interest-bearing deposits with banks consisted primarily of FRB deposits. Balances with the FRB earn interest at the Fed Funds rate, which increased to 0.75% in December 2016. Average interest-bearing deposits with banks$2.6 gain for the same period a year ended December 31, 2016, was $53.7earlier; and (2) $2.2 million a decrease of $13.1 million compared to the average balance for the year ended December 31, 2015. Interest incomedecline in gains/(losses) on interest-bearing deposits with banks for the year ended December 31, 2016, increased $115,000 to $287,000 from the year ended December 31, 2015.deferred compensation plan investments.

Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $132.5 million or 8.9% during the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, primarily in lower cost interest-bearing DDA, and savings and money market deposits. See “Financial Condition – Deposits” for a discussion of trends in the Company’s deposit base. Total interest expense on deposits was $3.8 million for 2016 and $3.0 million for 2015. The average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits was 0.23% in 2016 and 0.20% in 2015. Since most of the Company’s interest-bearing deposits are priced off of short-term market rates, the Company continues to benefit from the impact of lower market interest rates.

Provision and Allowance for Credit Losses
As a financial institution that assumes lending and credit risks as a principal element of its business, credit losses will be experienced in the normal course of business. The Company has established credit management policies and procedures that govern both the approval of new loans & leases and the monitoring of the existing portfolio. The Company manages and controls credit risk through comprehensive underwriting and approval standards, dollar limits on loans & leases to one borrower (the term “borrower” is used herein to describe a customer who has entered into either a loan or lease transaction), and by restricting loans & leases made primarily to its principal market area where management believes it is best able to assess the applicable risk. Additionally, management has established guidelines to ensure the diversification of the Company’s credit portfolio such that even within key portfolio sectors such as real estate or agriculture, the portfolio is diversified across factors such as location, building type, crop type, etc. Management reports regularly to the Board of Directors regarding trends and conditions in the loan & lease portfolio and regularly conducts credit reviews of individual loans & leases. Loans & leases that are performing but have shown some signs of weakness are subject to more stringent reporting and oversight.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The allowance for credit losses is an estimate of probable incurred credit losses inherent in the Company's loan & lease portfolio as of the balance sheet date. The allowance is established through a provision for credit losses, which is charged to expense. Additions to the allowance are expected to maintain the adequacy of the total allowance after credit losses and loan & lease growth. Credit exposures determined to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance. Cash received on previously charged off amounts is recorded as a recovery to the allowance. The overall allowance consists of three primary components: specific reserves related to impaired loans & leases; general reserves for inherent losses related to loans & leases that are not impaired; and an unallocated component that takes into account the imprecision in estimating and allocating allowance balances associated with macro factors.

A loan or lease is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due, including principal and interest, according to the contractual terms of the original agreement. Loans & leases determined to be impaired are individually evaluated for impairment. When a loan or lease is impaired, the Company measures impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s or lease's effective interest rate, except that as a practical expedient, it may measure impairment based on a loan’s or lease's observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan or lease is collateral dependent. A loan or lease is collateral dependent if the repayment of the loan or lease is expected to be provided solely by the underlying collateral.

A restructuring of a loan or lease constitutes a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) under ASC 310-40, if the Company for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower's financial difficulties grants a concession to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider. Restructured loans or leases typically present an elevated level of credit risk as the borrowers are not able to perform according to the original contractual terms. If the restructured loan or lease was current on all payments at the time of restructure and management reasonably expects the borrower will continue to perform after the restructure, management may keep the loan or lease on accrual. Loans & leases that are on nonaccrual status at the time they become TDR, remain on nonaccrual status until the borrower demonstrates a sustained period of performance, which the Company generally believes to be six consecutive months of payments, or equivalent. A loan or lease can be removed from TDR status if it was restructured at a market rate in a prior calendar year and is currently in compliance with its modified terms. However, these loans or leases continue to be classified as impaired and are individually evaluated for impairment.

The determination of the general reserve for loans or leases that are collectively evaluated for impairment is based on estimates made by management, to include, but not limited to, consideration of historical losses by portfolio segment, internal asset classifications, and qualitative factors that include economic trends in the Company's service areas, industry experience and trends, geographic concentrations, estimated collateral values, the Company's underwriting policies, the character of the loan & lease portfolio, and probable losses inherent in the portfolio taken as a whole.


The Company maintains a separate allowance for each portfolio segment (loan & lease type). These portfolio segments include: (1) commercial real estate; (2) agricultural real estate; (3) real estate construction (including land and development loans); (4) residential 1st mortgages; (5) home equity lines and loans; (6) agricultural; (7) commercial; (8) consumer & other; and (9) equipment leases. See “Financial Condition – Loans & Leases” for examples of loans & leases made by the Company. The allowance for credit losses attributable to each portfolio segment, which includes both impaired loans & leases and loans & leases that are not impaired, is combined to determine the Company's overall allowance, which is included on the consolidated balance sheet.

The Company assigns a risk rating to all loans & leases and periodically performs detailed reviews of all such loans & leases over a certain threshold to identify credit risks and assess overall collectability. For smaller balance loans & leases, such as consumer and residential real estate, a credit grade is established at inception, and then updated only when the loan or lease becomes contractually delinquent or when the borrower requests a modification. For larger balance loans, management monitors and analyzes the financial condition of borrowers and guarantors, trends in the industries in which borrowers operate and the fair values of collateral securing these loans & leases. These credit quality indicators are used to assign a risk rating to each individual loan or lease. These risk ratings are also subject to examination by independent specialists engaged by the Company. The risk ratings can be grouped into five major categories, defined as follows:
Pass – A pass loan or lease is a strong credit with no existing or known potential weaknesses deserving of management's close attention.

Special Mention – A special mention loan or lease has potential weaknesses that deserve management's close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or lease position at some future date. Special mention loans & leases are not adversely classified and do not expose the Company to sufficient risk to warrant adverse classification.

Substandard – A substandard loan or lease is not adequately protected by the current financial condition and paying capacity of the borrower or the value of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans or leases classified as substandard have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. Well-defined weaknesses include a project's lack of marketability, inadequate cash flow or collateral support, failure to complete construction on time or the project's failure to fulfill economic expectations. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

Doubtful – Loans or leases classified doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, based on currently known facts, conditions and values, highly questionable or improbable.

Loss – Loans or leases classified as loss are considered uncollectible. Once a loan or lease becomes delinquent and repayment becomes questionable, the Company will address collateral shortfalls with the borrower and attempt to obtain additional collateral. If this is not forthcoming and payment in full is unlikely, the Bank will estimate its probable loss and immediately charge-off some or all of the balance.

The general reserve component of the allowance for credit losses also consists of reserve factors that are based on management's assessment of the following for each portfolio segment: (1) inherent credit risk; (2) historical losses; and (3) other qualitative factors. These reserve factors are inherently subjective and are driven by the repayment risk associated with each portfolio segment described below:

Commercial Real Estate – Commercial real estate mortgage loans are generally considered to possess a higher inherent risk of loss than the Company’s commercial, agricultural and consumer loan types. Adverse economic developments or an overbuilt market impact commercial real estate projects and may result in troubled loans. Trends in vacancy rates of commercial properties impact the credit quality of these loans. High vacancy rates reduce operating revenues and the ability for properties to produce sufficient cash flow to service debt obligations.

Real Estate Construction – Real estate construction loans, including land loans, are generally considered to possess a higher inherent risk of loss than the Company’s commercial, agricultural and consumer loan types. A major risk arises from the necessity to complete projects within specified cost and time lines. Trends in the construction industry significantly impact the credit quality of these loans, as demand drives construction activity. In addition, trends in real estate values significantly impact the credit quality of these loans, as property values determine the economic viability of construction projects.

Commercial – These loans are generally considered to possess a moderate inherent risk of loss because they are shorter-term; typically made to relationship customers; generally underwritten to existing cash flows of operating businesses; and may be collateralized by fixed assets, inventory and/or accounts receivable. Debt coverage is provided by business cash flows and economic trends influenced by unemployment rates and other key economic indicators are closely correlated to the credit quality of these loans.

Agricultural Real Estate and Agricultural – These loans are generally considered to possess a moderate inherent risk of loss since they are typically made to relationship customers and are secured by crop production, livestock and related real estate. These loans are vulnerable to two risk factors that are largely outside the control of Company and borrowers: commodity prices and weather conditions.
Leases – Equipment leases are generally considered to possess a moderate inherent risk of loss. As lessor, the Company is subject to both the credit risk of the borrower and the residual value risk of the equipment. Credit risks are underwritten using the same credit criteria the Company would use when making an equipment term loan. Residual value risk is managed through the use of qualified, independent appraisers that establish the residual values the Company uses in structuring a lease.

Residential 1st Mortgages and Home Equity Lines and Loans – These loans are generally considered to possess a low inherent risk of loss, although this is not always true as evidenced by the weakness in residential real estate values over the past five years. The degree of risk in residential real estate lending depends primarily on the loan amount in relation to collateral value, the interest rate and the borrower's ability to repay in an orderly fashion. Economic trends determined by unemployment rates and other key economic indicators are closely correlated to the credit quality of these loans. Weak economic trends indicate that the borrowers' capacity to repay their obligations may be deteriorating.

Consumer & Other – A consumer installment loan portfolio is usually comprised of a large number of small loans scheduled to be amortized over a specific period. Most installment loans are made for consumer purchases. Economic trends determined by unemployment rates and other key economic indicators are closely correlated to the credit quality of these loans. Weak economic trends indicate that the borrowers' capacity to repay their obligations may be deteriorating.

In addition, the Company's and Bank's regulators, including the FRB, DBO and FDIC, as an integral part of their examination process, review the adequacy of the allowance. These regulatory agencies may require additions to the allowance based on their judgment about information available at the time of their examinations.

Provision for Credit Losses
Changes in the provision for credit losses between years are the result of management’s evaluation, based upon information currently available, of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses relative to factors such as the credit quality of the loan & lease portfolio, loan & lease growth, current credit losses, and the prevailing economic climate and its effect on borrowers’ ability to repay loans & leases in accordance with the terms of the notes.

The Central Valley of California was one of the hardest hit areas in the country during the recession. In many areas, housing prices declined as much as 60% and unemployment reached 15% or more. Although the economy has improved throughout most of the Central Valley, in many of the Company’s market segments housing prices remain below peak levels and unemployment rates remain above those in other areas of the state and country. While, in management’s opinion, the Company’s levels ofrecorded net charge-offs and non-performing assets as of December 31, 2017, compare very favorably to our peers at the present time, carefully managing credit risk remains a key focus of the Company.

The State of California experienced drought conditions from 2013 through most of 2016.  Although significant levels of rain and snow in late 2016 and early 2017 alleviated drought conditions in many areas of California, including those in the Company’s primary service area, the long-term risks associated with the availability of water continue to exist.  See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for additional information.

The provision for credit losses totaled $2.9 million in 2017 compared to $6.3 million in 2016. Net charge offs during 2017 were $427,000 compared to net recoveries of $61,000 during 2016 and net recoveries of $5.4 million in 2015. During 2015, the Company was able to fully recover $5.2 million that was charged-off in 2010 on restructured commercial real estate and construction loans. In addition to the full recovery of the charged off principal, this transaction also resulted in the recovery of $353,000 in interest income and the client’s payment of a financing fee of $1.1 million. See “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Allowance for Credit Losses” and “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk-Credit Risk.”
The following table summarizes the activity and the allocation of the allowance for credit losses for the years indicated. (in thousands)

  2017  2016  2015  2014  2013 
Allowance for Credit Losses Beginning of Year $47,919  $41,523  $35,401  $34,274  $34,217 
Provision Charged to Expense  2,850   6,335   750   1,175   425 
Charge-Offs:                    
Commercial Real Estate  109   -   -   -   6 
Agricultural Real Estate  -   -   -   -   575 
Real Estate Construction  -   -   -   -   - 
Residential 1st Mortgages  53   21   -   73   16 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  3   46   -   70   91 
Agricultural  374   -   -   -   23 
Commercial  -   -   12   1   60 
Consumer & Other  146   105   84   132   120 
Total Charge-Offs  685   172   96   276   891 
Recoveries:                    
Commercial Real Estate  109   2   2,939   11   - 
Agricultural Real Estate  -   -   -   -   - 
Real Estate Construction  -   -   2,225   -   - 
Residential 1st Mortgages  40   26   8   -   - 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  8   103   87   58   115 
Agricultural  17   -   4   8   42 
Commercial  8   47   136   86   312 
Consumer & Other  76   55   69   65   54 
Total Recoveries  258   233   5,468   228   523 
Net (Charge-Offs) Recoveries  (427)  61   5,372   (48)  (368)
Total Allowance for Credit Losses, End of Year $50,342  $47,919  $41,523  $35,401  $34,274 
Ratios:                    
Allowance for Credit Losses to:                    
Total Loans & Leases at Year End  2.27%  2.19%  2.07%  2.06%  2.00%
Average Loans & Leases  2.31%  2.34%  2.30%  2.36%  2.70%
Consolidated Net (Charge-Offs) Recoveries  to:                    
Total Loans & Leases at Year End  (0.02%)  0.00%  0.27%  (0.00%)  (0.02%)
Average Loans & Leases  (0.02%)  0.00%  0.30%  (0.00%)  (0.03%)
The table below breaks out year-to-date activity by portfolio segment (in thousands):

December 31, 2017 
Commercial
 Real
 Estate
  
Agricultural
Real
Estate
  
Real
Estate
Construction
  
Residential
1st
 Mortgages
  
Home
Equity
Lines &
Loans
  Agricultural  Commercial  
Consumer &
 Other
  Leases  Unallocated  Total 
                                  
Year-To-Date Allowance for Credit Losses:                                 
Beginning Balance- January 1, 2017 $11,110  $9,450  $3,223  $865  $2,140  $7,381  $8,515  $200  $3,586  $1,449  $47,919 
Charge-Offs  (109)  -   -   (53)  (3)  (374)  -   (146)  -   -   (685)
Recoveries  109   -   -   40   8   17   8   76   -   -   258 
Provision  (188)  2,635   (1,377)  (37)  179   1,135   674   79   (223)  (27)  2,850 
Ending Balance- December 31, 2017 $10,922  $12,085  $1,846  $815  $2,324  $8,159  $9,197  $209  $3,363  $1,422  $50,342 
Overall, the Allowance for Credit Losses as of December 31, 2017 increased $2.4 million from December 31, 2016. The allowance allocated to the following categories of loans changed as indicated during the twelve months ended December 31, 2017:

·Agricultural and Agricultural Real Estate allowance balances increased $3.4 million due primarily to an increase of substandard loans related to one borrower offset somewhat by a decrease in Agricultural loan balances.

·Real Estate Construction allowance balances decreased $1.4 million due to a decrease in loan balances combined with a decline in the overall risk of the portfolio as several major projects moved out of the construction phase and into lease-up.

·Commercial allowance balances increased $682,000 due to an increase in loan balances.

·Lease allowance balances decreased $223,000 due to the Company’s assessment that approximately five years of experience in this financing segment supported the elimination of the qualitative factor for “new market segments” in the loan loss allowance.

  Allowance Allocation at December 31, 
(in thousands) 
2017
Amount
  
Percent of
Loans in Each
Category to
 Total Loans
  
2016
 Amount
  
Percent of
Loans in Each
 Category to
Total Loans
  
2015
Amount
  
Percent of
Loans in Each
Category to
Total Loans
  
2014
Amount
  
Percent of
Loans in Each
Category to
 Total Loans
  
2013
Amount
  
Percent of
Loans in Each
Category to
Total Loans
 
Commercial Real Estate $10,922   31.1% $11,110   30.9% $10,063   30.4% $7,842   28.9% $5,178   29.5%
Agricultural Real Estate  12,085   22.5%  9,450   21.4%  6,881   21.2%  4,185   20.8%  3,576   23.6%
Real Estate Construction  1,846   4.5%  3,223   8.1%  2,485   7.6%  1,669   5.6%  654   3.0%
Residential 1st Mortgages  815   11.7%  865   11.1%  789   10.3%  1,022   10.0%  1,108   10.9%
Home Equity Lines and Loans  2,324   1.6%  2,140   1.4%  2,146   1.7%  2,426   1.9%  2,767   2.5%
Agricultural  8,159   12.3%  7,381   13.5%  6,308   14.7%  6,104   16.4%  12,205   18.4%
Commercial  9,197   12.0%  8,515   10.0%  7,836   10.5%  8,195   13.5%  5,697   10.8%
Consumer & Other  209   0.3%  200   0.3%  175   0.3%  218   0.3%  176   0.4%
Leases  3,363   4.0%  3,586   3.3%  3,294   3.3%  2,211   2.6%  639   0.9%
Unallocated  1,422       1,449       1,546       1,529       2,274     
Total $50,342   100.0% $47,919   100.0% $41,523   100.0% $35,401   100.0% $34,274   100.0%
As of December 31, 2017, the allowance for credit losses was $50.3 million, which represented 2.27% of the total loan & lease balance. At December 31, 2016, the allowance for credit losses was $47.9 million or 2.19% of the total loan & lease balance. After reviewing all factors above, based upon information currently available, management concluded that the allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2017, was adequate.

Non-Interest Income
Non-interest income includes: (1) service charges and fees from deposit accounts; (2) net gains and losses from investment securities; (3) increases in the cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance; (4) debit card and ATM fees; (5) net gains and losses on non-qualified deferred compensation plan investments; and (6) fees from other miscellaneous business services. See “Overview – Looking Forward: 2018 and Beyond.”
2017 Compared to 2016
Non‑interest income totaled $16.8 million for 2017, an increase of $1.5 million or 9.9% from non-interest income of $15.3 million for 2016.

Service charges on deposit accounts totaled $3.5 million for 2017, an increase of $77,000 or 2.1% from service charges on deposit accounts of $3.4 million in 2016. This was due primarily to fees related to the Company’s Overdraft Privilege Service.

Net (loss) gain on investment securities was a net gain of $131,000 in 2017 compared to a net loss of $284,000 for 2016. See “Financial Condition-Investment Securities” for a discussion of the Company’s investment strategy.

Debit card and ATM fees totaled $3.9 million in 2017, an increase of 14.0% or $475,000 from $3.4 million in 2016. This was primarily due to increased numbers of cardholders and increased account activity.

Net gains on deferred compensation plan investments were $2.6of $0.45 million in 20172022 compared to net gains of $2.0$2.6 million in 2016.2021. See Note 17,11, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for a description of these plans. Balances in non-qualified deferred compensation plans may be invested in financial instruments whose market value fluctuates based upon trends in interest rates and stock prices. Although Generally Accepted Accounting Principles requireGAAP requires these investment gains/losses be recorded in non-interest income, an offsetting entry is also required to be made to non-interest expense resulting in no effectnet-effect on the Company’s net income.


There was no bargain purchase gain in 2017 as this gain related to the purchase of Delta National Bancorp, which took place in 2016.

Other non-interest income was $4.9 million, an increase ofNon-interest Expense. Non-interest expense increased $1.8 million, or 60.2% from 2016. This1.96%, to $93.6 million for 2022 compared with $91.8 million for the same period a year ago. The year-over-year increase was primarily comprised of: (1) a $1.1$0.4 million increase in the gain on sale of fixed assets related to the disposition of one of the Company’s properties;salaries and employee benefits; (2)  $453,000a $0.6 million increase in non-recurring fees from certain loan customers;legal expenses; (3) a $0.2 million increase in FDIC insurance; (4) a $0.2 million increase in marketing expenses; and (3) $402,000 in dividend income on equity securities.

2016 Compared to 2015
Non‑interest income totaled $15.3 million,(5) an increase of $682,000 or 4.7% from non-interest income of $14.6 million for 2015.

Service charges on deposit accounts totaled $3.4 million, a decrease of $82,000 or 2.4% from service charges on deposit accounts of $3.5$2.5 million in 2015. Thisother miscellaneous expenses ($1.0 million of which was due primarily to a decreaseprovision for unused commitments). These increases were partially off-set by a $2.2 million decline in fees related togain/(losses) on deferred compensation plan investments. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company’s Overdraft Privilege Service.efficiency ratio was 46.84% compared with 50.42% for the same period a year ago.

Net (loss) gain on investment securities was a net loss of $284,000 in 2016 compared to a net gain of $275,000 for 2015.


Net gains on deferred compensation plan investmentsobligations were $2.0$0.4 million in 20162022 compared to net gains of $1.4 million in 2015.

The Company completed its acquisition of Delta National Bancorp in November 2016. This acquisition resulted in a bargain purchase gain of $1.8 million (see Note 2, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”)

Other non-interest income was $3.1 million, a decrease of $1.3 million or 29.8% from 2015. This decrease was primarily comprised of (1) a $1.1 million financing fee related to the full recovery of a loan previously charged off; and (2) a $392,000 gain on the sale of our Sacramento branch building; both of which occurred in 2015.

Non-Interest Expense
Non-interest expense for the Company includes expenses for: (1) salaries and employee benefits; (2) net gains and losses on non-qualified deferred compensation plan investments; (3) occupancy; (4) equipment; (5) supplies; (6) legal fees; (7) professional services; (8) data processing; (9) marketing; (10) deposit insurance; and (11) other miscellaneous expenses.
2017 Compared to 2016
Overall, non-interest expense totaled $67.8 million for 2017, an increase of $9.6 million or 16.5% from the year ended December 31, 2016.

Salaries and employee benefits increased $3.8 million or 9.0% in 2017, primarily related to: (1) new staff from the acquisition of Delta National Bancorp; (2) bank wide raises that occurred in mid-2017; and (3) increased contributions to retirement and profit sharing plans.

Net gains on deferred compensation plan investments were $2.6 million in 2017 compared to net gains of $2.0 million in 2016.2021. See Note 17,11, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for a description of these plans. Balances in non-qualified deferred compensation plans may be invested in financial instruments whose market value fluctuates based upon trends in interest rates and stock prices. Although Generally Accepted Accounting Principles requireGAAP requires these investment gains/lossesgains on obligations to be recorded in non-interest expense, an offsetting entry is also required to be made to non-interest income resulting in no effectnet-effect on the Company’s net income.

Occupancy expense in 2017 totaled $3.5 million, an increase of $558,000 or 18.7% from 2016 and equipment expense in 2017 totaled $4.0 million, an increase of $501,000 or 14.3% from 2016. Both of these increases were primarily related to operating expenses associated with: (1) 3 new branches from the acquisition of Delta National Bancorp and (2) remodeling existing branch offices.

Legal expenses decreased $819,000 from 2016 and totaled $424,000. This decrease was primarily due to legal fees related to: (1) changes to the Company’s by-laws and extension of the Company’s shareholder rights agreement; (2) trademark/branding issues; and (3) the Delta National Bancorp acquisition, which were paid in 2016.

Gain on sale of ORE property totaled $414,000 in 2017 compared to $5.9 million for 2016.  During 2016, the Company sold at a substantial gain a large parcel of ORE that was acquired through foreclosure in 2008.

Other non-interest expense decreased $108,000, or 1.1%, to $9.9 million in 2017 compared to $10.0 million in 2016.

2016 Compared to 2015
Overall, non-interest expense totaled $58.2 million, an increase of $1.9 million or 3.4% forIncome Tax Expense. For the year ended December 31, 2016.

Salaries and employee benefits increased $2.32022, income tax expense was $24.7 million, or 5.6% primarily related to: (1) new staff addedcompared with $22.0 million for the branches opened in Walnut Creek and Concord, CA andsame period a year earlier.  For the Company’s equipment leasing activities; (2) bank wide raises that occurred in mid-2015; and (3) increased contributions to retirement and profit sharing plans.

Net gains on deferred compensation plan investments were $2.0 million in 2016 compared to net gains of $1.4 million in 2015.

Occupancy expense in 2016 totaled $3.0 million, an increase of $101,000 or 3.5% from 2015 and equipment expense in 2016 totaled $3.5 million, an increase of $331,000 or 10.5% from 2015. Both of these increases were primarily related to operating lease payments and depreciation expense associated with: (1) expanding into Walnut Creek and Concord, CA andyear ended December 31, 2022, the equipment leasing business; (2) remodeling existing branch offices; and (3) replacing all ATM’s with the newest generation of technology.

Legal expenses increased $822,000 from 2015 and totaled $1.2 million. This increase was primarily due to legal fees related to: (1) changes to the Company’s by-laws and extension of the Company’s shareholder rights agreement; (2) trademark/branding issues; and (3) the Delta National Bancorp acquisition.

Gain on sale of ORE property totaled $5.9 million in 2016 compared to $299,000 for 2015.  During 2016, the Company sold at a substantial gain a large parcel of ORE that was acquired through foreclosure in 2008.
Other non-interest expense increased $3.5 million, or 52.6%, to $10.0 million in 2016 compared to $6.6 million in 2015. The major components of this increase were: (1) a $1.1 million increase in professional fees of which $633,100 was related to the acquisition of Delta National Bancorp; (2) a $1.1 million increase in amortization expense related to an increase in low income housing tax credit investments (see Income Taxes” for the offsetting credits related to these investments); (3) a $335,000 increase in recruitment and staff training expenses related to the addition of new staff as the Company expands its geographic footprint and business activities; and (4) a $126,000 increase in contributions.

Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes increased $10.0 million during 2017. The effective federal and state tax rate was higher than24.72% compared with 24.89% for the statutory rate of 42% due to the signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act by President Trump on December 22, 2017. Assame period a result, during the 4th quarter of 2017, all companies were required to re-measure their deferred tax assets (DTA) and deferred tax liabilities (DTL) at the new corporate tax rate of 21%. This one-time re-measurement resulted in a $6.3 million increase to the Company’s income tax provision. This DTA re-measurement accompanied by an 8.7% increase in pre-tax earnings resulted in the tax provision increase. The Company will benefit significantly in 2018 from the reduction of the federal corporate tax rate which changes from 35% to 21%.year ago.


With the exception of the one-time DTA re-measurement, tax law causes the Company’s taxes payable to approximate or exceed the current provision for taxes on the income statement. Three provisions have had a significant effect on the Company’s current income tax liability:  (1) the restrictions on the deductibility of credit losses; (2) deductibility of pension and other long-term employee benefits only when paid; and (3) the statutory deferral of deductibility of California franchise taxes on the Company’s federal return.

Financial Condition

Total assets grew $149.7 million, or 2.89%, to $5.3 billion at December 31, 2022 compared with $5.2 billion at December 31, 2021.  Loans held for investment grew $275.2 million or 8.5% to $3.5 billion at December 31, 2022, compared with $3.2 billion at December 31, 2021.  Exclusive of SBA PPP loans, the loan portfolio grew $346 million, or 10.69%, over December 31, 2021. This data constitutes non-GAAP financial data. The Company believes that excluding the temporary effect of the PPP loans furnishes useful information regarding the Company’s growth. Total deposits increased $119.1 million, or 2.57%, to $4.8 billion at December 31, 2022 compared with $4.6 billion at December 31, 2021. The increase in total assets and deposits was primarily the result of continued strong organic deposit growth.

Investment Securities and Federal Funds SoldReserve Balances
The investment portfolio provides the Company with an income alternative to loans & leases. The debt securities in the Company’s investment portfolio have historically been comprised primarily of: (1) mortgage-backed securities issued by federal government-sponsored entities; (2) debt securities issued by US Treasury, government agencies and government-sponsored entities; and (3) investment grade bank-qualified municipal bonds. However, at certain times, the Company has selectively added investment grade corporate securities (floating rate and fixed rate with maturities less than 5 years) to the portfolio in order to obtain yields that exceed government agency securities of equivalent maturity without subjecting the Company to the interest rate risk associated with mortgage-backed securities.


The Company’s investment portfolio decreased by less than 1.0%, to $1.0 billion at December 31, 2017 was $536.12022. This decrease is net of the impact of $47.7 million compared to $506.4 million at December 31, 2016, an increase of $29.7 million or 5.9%. To protect against future increases in market interest rates, while at the same time generating some reasonable level of current yields,that the Company currently invests most ofsold for interest rate risk management purposes. The Company uses its available funds in either shorter term U.S. Treasury, government agency & government-sponsored entity securities or shorter term (10, 15,investment portfolio to manage interest rate and 20 year) mortgage-backed securities. As part of the acquisition of Delta National Bancorp, the Company now owns $29.4 million of floating rate U.S. Government SBA securities.

liquidity risks. The Company's total investment portfolio currentlyas of December 31, 2022 represents 17.4%18.72% of the Company’s total assets as compared to 17.3%19.45% at December 31, 2016.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company held $54.5 million of municipal investments, of which $37.7 million were bank-qualified municipal bonds, all classified as held-to-maturity (“HTM”). In order to comply with Section 939A of the Dodd-Frank Act, the Company performs its own credit analysis on new purchases of municipal bonds. As of December 31, 2017, ninety-nine percent of the Company’s bank-qualified municipal bond portfolio is rated at either the issue or issuer level, and all of these ratings are “investment grade.” The Company monitors the status of all municipal investments with particular attention paid to the approximately one percent ($295,000) of the portfolio that is not rated, and at the current time does not believe any of them to be exhibiting financial problems that could result in a loss in any individual security.
2021. Not included in the investment portfolio are interest bearing deposits with banks and overnight investments in Federal Funds Sold.Reserve balances. Interest bearing deposits with banks consisted primarily of FRB deposits.

The FRB currently pays interest on the deposits that banks maintain in their FRB accounts, whereas historically banks had to sell these Federal Funds to other banks in order to earn interest. Since balances at the FRB are effectively risk free, the Company elected to maintain its excess cash at the FRB. Interest bearing deposits with banks totaled $121.2$515 million at December 31, 20172022 and $43.9$663 million at December 31, 2016.2021.

The Company classifies its investmentsinvestment securities as either held-to-maturity trading,(“HTM”) or available-for-sale (“AFS”). Securities are classified as held-to-maturity and are carried at amortized cost, net of an allowance for credit losses, when the Company has the intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. Trading securities are securities acquired for short-term appreciationSee Note 2 “Investment Securities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recordedSupplementary Data” in non-interest income. As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were no securities in the trading portfolio.this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Securities classified as available-for-saleAFS include securities, which may be sold to effectively manage interest rate risk exposure, prepayment risk, satisfy liquidity demands and other factors. These securities are reported at fair value with aggregate, unrealized gains or losses excluded from income and included as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, net of related income taxes. As of December 31, 2022, the Company held no investment securities from any issuer (other than the U.S. Treasury or an agency of the U.S. government or a government-sponsored entity) that totaled over 10% of our shareholders’ equity.

The carrying value of our portfolio of investment securities was as follows:
 
  As of December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021 
Available-for-Sale Securities      
U.S. Treasury notes 
$
4,964
  
$
10,089
 
U.S. Government-sponsored securities  
4,427
   
6,374
 
Mortgage-backed securities(1)
  
132,528
   
251,120
 
Collateralized mortgage obligations(1)
  
1,054
   
2,436
 
Corporate securities  
9,581
   
-
 
Other  
310
   
435
 
Total available-for-sale securities 
$
152,864
  
$
270,454
 

(1) All mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations were issued by an agency or government sponsored entity of the U.S. Government.
  As of December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021 
Held-to-Maturity Securities      
Mortgage-backed securities(1)
 
$
702,858
  
$
596,775
 
Collateralized mortgage obligations(1)
  
80,186
   
73,781
 
Municipal securities(2)
  
61,909
   
66,496
 
Total held-to-maturity securities 
$
844,953
  
$
737,052
 

(1) All mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations were issued by an agency or government sponsored entity of the U.S. Government.
(2) Municipal securities are net of allowance for credit losses of $393 and $0, respectively.

Investment Portfolio
The following table summarizesshows the balancescarrying value for contractual maturities of investment securities and distributionsthe weighted average yields of such securities, including the benefit of tax-exempt securities:

Investment Securities As of December 31, 2022 
 
 Within One Year  
After One but
Within Five Years
  
After Five but
Within Ten Years
  After Ten Years  Total 
(Dollars in thousands) Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield 
Debt securities available-for-sale                              
U.S. Treasury notes 
$
4,964
   
2.37
%
 
$
-
   
0.00
%
 
$
-
   
0.00
%
 
$
-
   
0.00
%
 
$
4,964
   
2.37
%
U.S. Government-sponsored securities  
3
   
2.17
%
  
53
   
2.29
%
  
380
   
4.52
%
  
3,991
   
4.52
%
  
4,427
   
4.29
%
Mortgage-backed securities(1)
  
13
   
2.82
%
  
16,460
   
2.31
%
  
15,156
   
2.41
%
  
100,899
   
1.82
%
  
132,528
   
1.95
%
Collateralized mortgage obligations(1)
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
1,054
   
2.35
%
  
1,054
   
2.35
%
Corporate securities  
-
   
0.00
%
  
9,581
   
3.13
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
9,581
   
3.13
%
Other  
310
   
4.60
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
310
   
4.60
%
Total debt securities available-for-sale 
$
5,290
   
2.50
%
 
$
26,094
   
2.61
%
 
$
15,536
   
2.46
%
 
$
105,944
   
1.93
%
 
$
152,864
   
2.11
%

(1) All mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations were issued by an agency or government sponsored entity of the investmentU.S. Government.

 
 As of December 31, 2022 
  Within One Year  
After One but
Within Five Years
  
After Five but
Within Ten Years
  After Ten Years  Total 
(Dollars in thousands) Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield 
Securities held-to-maturity                              
Mortgage-backed securities(1)
 
$
-
   
0.00
%
 
$
-
   
0.00
%
 
$
18,197
   
1.22
%
 
$
684,661
   
1.90
%
 
$
702,858
   
1.88
%
Collateralized mortgage obligations(1)
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
80,186
   
1.80
%
  
80,186
   
1.80
%
Municipal securities  
883
   
5.92
%
  
8,058
   
3.98
%
  
15,670
   
3.70
%
  
37,691
   
4.83
%
  
62,302
   
4.45
%
Total securities held-to-maturity 
$
883
   
5.92
%
 
$
8,058
   
3.98
%
 
$
33,867
   
2.37
%
 
$
802,538
   
2.03
%
 
$
845,346
   
2.07
%

(1) All mortgage-backed securities held on the dates indicated.

  
Available
for Sale
  
Held to
Maturity
  
Available
for Sale
  
Held to
Maturity
  
Available
for Sale
  
Held to
Maturity
 
December 31:  (in thousands)
 2017     2016     2015    
U.S. Treasury Notes $144,164  $-  $134,428  $-  $72,884  $- 
U.S. Government SBA  29,380   -   36,314   -   -   - 
Government Agency & Government Sponsored Entities  3,128   -   3,241   -   33,251   - 
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions - Non-Taxable  -   54,460   -   58,109   -   61,396 
Mortgage Backed Securities  301,914   -   273,270   -   262,493   - 
Other  3,010   -   1,010   -   509   - 
Total Book Value $481,596  $54,460  $448,263  $58,109  $369,137  $61,396 
Fair Value $481,596  $55,236  $448,263  $58,408  $369,137  $62,388 

Analysis of Investment Securities Available-for-Sale
The following table is a summaryand collateralized mortgage obligations were issued by an agency or government sponsored entity of the relative maturitiesU.S. Government.

Investment Securities As of December 31, 2021 
  Within One Year  
After One but
Within Five Years
  
After Five but
Within Ten Years
  After Ten Years  Total 
(Dollars in thousands) Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield 
Securities available-for-sale                              
U.S. Treasury notes 
$
5,028
   
2.33
%
 
$
5,061
   
2.38
%
 
$
-
   
0.00
%
 
$
-
   
0.00
%
 
$
10,089
   
2.36
%
U.S. Government-sponsored securities  
2
   
1.80
%
  
148
   
2.29
%
  
512
   
1.55
%
  
5,712
   
1.26
%
  
6,374
   
1.30
%
Mortgage-backed securities(1)
  
13
   
1.50
%
  
21,155
   
2.36
%
  
50,554
   
2.36
%
  
179,398
   
1.61
%
  
251,120
   
1.83
%
Collateralized mortgage obligations(1)
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
2,436
   
2.30
%
  
2,436
   
2.30
%
Other  
435
   
3.31
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
435
   
3.31
%
Total securities available-for-sale 
$
5,478
   
2.41
%
 
$
26,364
   
2.36
%
 
$
51,066
   
2.35
%
 
$
187,546
   
1.61
%
 
$
270,454
   
1.84
%

(1) All mortgage-backed securities and yieldscollateralized mortgage obligations were issued by an agency or government sponsored entity of the Company's investmentU.S. Government.

 
 As of December 31, 2021 
  Within One Year  
After One but
Within Five Years
  
After Five but
Within Ten Years
  After Ten Years  Total 
(Dollars in thousands) Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield  Amount  Yield 
Securities held-to-maturity                              
Mortgage-backed securities(1)
 
$
-
   
0.00
%
 
$
-
   
0.00
%
 
$
10,641
   
0.41
%
 
$
586,134
   
1.72
%
 
$
596,775
   
1.70
%
Collateralized mortgage obligations(1)
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
-
   
0.00
%
  
73,781
   
1.71
%
  
73,781
   
1.71
%
Municipal securities  
308
   
1.10
%
  
8,487
   
2.19
%
  
18,433
   
3.42
%
  
39,268
   
4.52
%
  
66,496
   
3.90
%
Total securities held-to-maturity 
$
308
   
1.10
%
 
$
8,487
   
2.19
%
 
$
29,074
   
2.32
%
 
$
699,183
   
1.88
%
 
$
737,052
   
1.90
%

(1) All mortgage-backed securities Available-for-Sale as of December 31, 2017.

December 31, 2017 (in thousands)
 
Fair
Value
  
Average
Yield
 
U.S. Treasury      
One year or less $109,935   1.05%
After one year through five years  24,926   1.01%
After five years through ten years  9,303   2.28%
Total U.S. Treasury Securities  144,164   1.13%
U.S. Government SBA        
One year or less  44   2.63%
After one year through five years  1,925   2.55%
After five years through ten years  3,619   2.95%
After ten years  23,792   2.33%
Total U.S. Government Securities  29,380   2.42%
Government Agency & Government Sponsored Entities        
After one year through five years  3,128   2.89%
Total Government Agency & Government Sponsored Entities  3,128   2.89%
Other        
One year or less  3,010   2.25%
Total Other Securities  3,010   2.25%
Mortgage Backed Securities  301,914   2.39%
Total Investment Securities Available-for-Sale $481,596   2.02%

Note:  The average yield for floating rate securities is calculated using the current stated yield.
Analysis of Investment Securities Held-to-Maturity
The following table is a summaryand collateralized mortgage obligations were issued by an agency or government sponsored entity of the relativeU.S. Government.

Expected maturities and yields ofmay differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the Company's investmentright to call obligations with or without penalties including prepayments on mortgage-backed securities. The Company evaluates securities Held-to-Maturity as of December 31, 2017. Non-taxable Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions have been calculatedfor expected credit losses at least on a fully taxable equivalent basis.quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market concerns warrant such evaluation.

December 31, 2017 (in thousands)
 
Book
Value
  
Average
Yield
 
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions - Non-Taxable      
One year or less $1,760   6.17%
After one year through five years  8,659   4.55%
After five years through ten years  14,155   4.10%
After ten years  29,886   5.14%
Total Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions - Non-Taxable  54,460   4.81%
Total Investment Securities Held-to-Maturity $54,460   4.81%

Loans & and Leases
Loans &and leases can be categorized by borrowing purpose and use of funds. Common examples of loans &and leases made by the Company include:

Commercial and Agricultural Real Estate - These are loans secured by farmland, commercialowner-occupied real estate, non-owner-occupied real estate, owner-occupied farmland, and multifamily residential properties, and other non-farm, non-residential properties  generally within our market area.properties. Commercial mortgage term loans can be made if the property is either income producing or scheduled to become income producing based upon acceptable pre-leasing, andor the income will be the Bank's primary source of repayment for the loan. Loans are made both on owner occupied and investor properties; maturities generally do not exceed 15 years (and may have pricing adjustments on a shorter timeframe) amortizations of up to 25 years (30 years for multifamily residential properties); have debt service coverage ratios of 1.00 or better with a target of greater than 1.20;1.25 or greater; and fixed rates that are most often tied to treasury indices with an appropriate spread based on the amount of perceived risk in the loan.

Real Estate Construction - These are loans for acquisition, development and construction (the Company generally requires the borrower to fund the land acquisition) and are secured by commercial or residential real estate. These loans are generally made only to experienced local developers with whom the Bank has a successful track record; for projects in our service area; with Loan Toto Value (LTV) below 75%; and where the property can be developed and sold within 2 years. Commercial construction loans are made only when there is a writtenan approved take-out commitment from the Bank or an acceptable financial institution or government agency. Most acquisition, development and construction loans are tied to the prime rate or LIBOR with an appropriate spread based on the amount of perceived risk in the loan.

Single Family Residential 1st Mortgages -Real Estate These are loans primarily made on owner occupied residences; generally underwritten to income and LTV guidelines similar to those used by FNMA and FHLMC; however, weFHLMC. However, the Company will make loans on rural residential properties up to 2041 acres. Most residential loans have terms from ten to twentythirty years and carry fixed or variable rates priced off ofto treasury rates. The Company has always underwritten mortgage loans based upon traditional underwriting criteria and does not make loans that are known in the industry as “subprime,” “no or low doc,” or “stated income.”income” loans.

Home Equity Lines and Loans - These are loans made to individuals for home improvements and other personal needs. Generally, amounts do not exceed $250,000;$500,000; but can be made for up to $1,000,000 in high cost counties. Combined Loan To Value (CLTV) does not exceed 80%75%; FICO scores are at or above 670; Total Debt Ratios do not exceed 43%; and in some situations the Company is in a 1st lien position.position


Agricultural - These are non-real estate loans and lines of credit made to farmers to finance agricultural production. Lines of credit are extended to finance the seasonal needs of farmers during peak growing periods; are usually established for periods no longer than 12 to 2436 months; are often secured by general filing liens on livestock, crops, crop proceeds and equipment; and are most often tied to the prime rate with an appropriate spread based on the amount of perceived risk in the loan. Term loans are primarily made for the financing of equipment, expansion or modernization of a processing plant, or orchard/vineyard development; have maturities from five to seven years; and fixed rates that are most often tied to treasury indices or variable rates tied to the prime rate with an appropriate spread based on the amount of perceived risk in the loan.


Commercial - These are non-real estate loans and lines of credit to businesses that are sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLC’s and corporations. Lines of credit are extended to finance the seasonal working capital needs of customers during peak business periods; are usually established for periods no longer than 12 to 2436 months; are often secured by general filing liens on accounts receivable, inventory and equipment; and are most often tied to the prime rate with an appropriate spread based on the amount of perceived risk in the loan. Term loans are primarily made for the financing of equipment, expansion or modernization of a plant or purchase of a business; have maturities from five to seven years; and fixed rates that are most often tied to treasury indices or variable rates tied to the prime rate with an appropriate spread based on the amount of perceived risk in the loan.


Consumer - These are loans to individuals for personal use, and primarily include loans to purchase automobiles or recreational vehicles, and unsecured lines of credit. The Company has a minimal consumer loan portfolio, and loans are primarily made as an accommodation to deposit customers.portfolio.


Commercial Leases –These – These are leases primarily to businesses or individuals,and farmers for the purpose of financing the acquisition of equipment. They can be either “finance leases” where the lessee retains the tax benefits of ownership but obtains 100% financing on their equipment purchases; or “true tax leases” where the Company, as lessor, places reliance on equipment residual value and in doing so obtains the tax benefits of ownership. Leases typically have a maturity of three to ten years, and fixed rates that are most often tied to treasury indices with an appropriate spread based on the amount of perceived risk. Credit risks are underwritten using the same credit criteria the Company would use when making an equipment term loan. Residual value risk is managed through the use ofwith qualified, independent appraisers that establish the residual values the Company uses in structuring a lease.
The Company accounts for leases with Investment Tax Credits (ITC)(“ITC”) under the deferred method as established in ASC 740-10. ITCITCs are viewed and accounted for as a reduction of the cost of the related assets and presented as deferred income on the Company’s financial statement.

See “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk-Credit Risk” for a discussion about the credit risks the Company assumes and its overall credit risk management practices.


Each loan or lease type involves risks specific to the: (1) borrower; (2) collateral; and (3) loan & lease structure. See “Results of Operations - Provision and Allowance for Credit Losses” for a more detailed discussion of risks by loan & lease type. The Company’s current underwriting policies and standards are designed to mitigate the risks involved in each loan & lease type. The Company’s policies require that loans &and leases arebe approved only to those borrowers exhibiting a clear source of repayment and the ability to service existing and proposed debt. The Company’s underwriting procedures for all loan & lease types require careful consideration of the borrower, the borrower’s financial condition, the borrower’s management capability, the borrower’s industry, and the economic environment affecting the loan or lease.


Most loans &and leases made by the Company are secured, but collateral is the secondary or tertiary source of repayment; cash flow is our primary source of repayment. The quality and liquidity of collateral are important and must be confirmed before the loan is made.


In order to be responsive to borrower needs, the Company prices loans &and leases: (1) on both a fixed rate and adjustable rate basis; (2) over different terms; and (3) based upon different rate indices;indices as long as these structures are consistent with the Company’s interest rate risk management policies and procedures. See “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures Aboutabout Market Risk-Interest Rate Risk” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.


Overall, the Company's loan & lease portfolio at December 31, 20172022 totaled $2.2$3.5 billion, an increase of $37.7$275.2 million or 1.7%8.50% over December 31, 2016.2021. Exclusive of SBA PPP loans, the loan portfolio grew $346.0 million, or 10.69%, over December 31, 2021. This increase hasin the non-PPP loans occurred as a result of: (1) the Company’s business development efforts directed toward credit-qualified borrowers; (2) entry into the equipment leasing business; and (3)(2) expansion of our service area into Walnut Creekthe East Bay of San Francisco and Concord. No assurances can be madeNapa County. This data constitutes non-GAAP financial data.  The Company believes that this growth inexcluding the loan & lease portfolio will continue.temporary effect of the PPP loans furnishes useful information regarding the Company’s growth.


The following table sets forth the distribution of the loan & lease portfolio by type and percent at the end of each period presented:

  December 31, 
  2022  2021 
(Dollars in thousands) Dollars  Percent of Total  Dollars  Percent of Total 
Gross Loans and Leases            
Real estate:            
Commercial 
$
1,328,691
   
37.73
%
 
$
1,167,516
   
35.95
%
Agricultural  
726,938
   
20.64
%
  
672,830
   
20.72
%
Residential and home equity  
387,753
   
11.01
%
  
350,581
   
10.79
%
Construction  
166,538
   
4.73
%
  
177,163
   
5.45
%
Total real estate  
2,609,920
   
74.11
%
  
2,368,090
   
72.91
%
Commercial & industrial  
478,758
   
13.59
%
  
427,799
   
13.17
%
Agricultural  
314,525
   
8.93
%
  
276,684
   
8.52
%
Commercial leases  
112,629
   
3.20
%
  
96,971
   
2.99
%
Consumer and other(1)
  
5,886
   
0.17
%
  
78,367
   
2.41
%
Total gross loans and leases 
$
3,521,718
   
100.00
%
 
$
3,247,911
   
100.00
%

(1) Includes SBA PPP  loans of $0 and $70,765 as of December 31, of the years indicated.2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.
  2017  2016  2015  2014  2013 
(in thousands) Amount  Percent  Amount  Percent  Amount  Percent  Amount  Percent  Amount  Percent 
Commercial Real Estate $691,639   31.1% $674,445   30.9% $609,602   30.4% $495,316   28.9% $411,037   29.5%
Agricultural Real Estate  499,231   22.5%  467,685   21.4%  424,034   21.2%  357,207   20.8%  328,264   23.6%
Real Estate Construction  100,206   4.5%  176,462   8.1%  151,974   7.6%  96,519   5.6%  41,092   3.0%
Residential 1st Mortgages  260,751   11.7%  242,247   11.1%  206,405   10.3%  171,880   10.0%  151,292   10.9%
Home Equity Lines and Loans  34,525   1.6%  31,625   1.4%  33,056   1.7%  33,017   1.9%  35,477   2.5%
Agricultural  273,582   12.3%  295,325   13.5%  293,966   14.7%  281,963   16.4%  256,414   18.4%
Commercial  265,703   12.0%  217,577   10.0%  210,804   10.5%  230,819   13.5%  150,398   10.8%
Consumer & Other  6,656   0.3%  6,913   0.3%  6,592   0.3%  4,719   0.3%  5,052   0.4%
Leases  88,957   4.0%  70,986   3.3%  65,054   3.3%  44,217   2.6%  12,733   0.9%
Total Gross Loans & Leases  2,221,250   100.0%  2,183,265   100.0%  2,001,487   100.0%  1,715,657   100.0%  1,391,759   100.0%
Less: Unearned Income  5,955       5,664       5,128       3,413       3,523     
Subtotal  2,215,295       2,177,601       1,996,359       1,712,244       1,388,236     
Less: Allowance for Credit Losses  50,342       47,919       41,523       35,401       34,274     
Loans & Leases, Net $2,164,953      $2,129,682      $1,954,836      $1,676,843      $1,353,962     

There were no concentrations of loans exceeding 10% of total loans which were not otherwise disclosed as a category of loans in the above table.
The following table shows the maturity distribution and interest rate sensitivity of the loan portfolio of the Company on December 31, 2017.

(in thousands) 
One Year
or Less
  
Over One
Year to
Five
Years
  
Over
Five
Years
  Total 
Commercial Real Estate $41,785  $169,991  $473,185  $684,961 
Agricultural Real Estate  12,794   77,619   408,818   499,231 
Real Estate Construction  72,246   24,345   3,615   100,206 
Residential 1st Mortgages  384   9,423   250,944   260,751 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  12   743   33,770   34,525 
Agricultural  154,670   91,277   27,635   273,582 
Commercial  124,238   103,011   38,454   265,703 
Consumer & Other  752   5,552   352   6,656 
Leases  331   40,571   48,778   89,680 
Total $407,212  $522,532  $1,285,551  $2,215,295 
Rate Sensitivity:                
Fixed Rate $52,727  $276,272  $559,516  $888,515 
Variable Rate  354,485   246,260   726,035   1,326,780 
Total $407,212  $522,532  $1,285,551  $2,215,295 
Percent  18.38%  23.59%  58.03%  100.00%
Classified Loans & Leases and Non-Performing Assets
All loans & leases are assigned a credit risk grade using grading standards developed by bank regulatory agencies. See “Results of Operations - Provision and Allowance for Credit Losses” for more detail on risk grades. The Company utilizes the services of a third-party independent loan & lease review firm to perform evaluations of individual loans & leases and review the credit risk grades the Company places on loans & leases. Loans & leases that are judged to exhibit a higher risk profile are referred to as “classified” and these loans & leases receive increased management attention. As of December 31, 2017, classified loans & leases totaled $8.9 million compared to $6.4 million at December 31, 2016.2022.


  Loan Contractual Maturity 
(Dollars in thousands) One Year or Less  
After One
But Within Five Years
  
After Five
But Within Fifteen Years
  After Fifteen Years  Total 
Gross loan and leases:               
Real estate:               
Commercial 
$
61,340
  
$
326,671
  
$
889,041
  
$
51,639
  
$
1,328,691
 
Agricultural  
26,588
   
172,766
   
452,249
   
75,335
   
726,938
 
Residential and home equity  
384
   
4,143
   
117,421
   
265,805
   
387,753
 
Construction  
94,238
   
72,300
   
-
   
-
   
166,538
 
Total real estate  
182,550
   
575,880
   
1,458,711
   
392,779
   
2,609,920
 
Commercial & industrial  
216,019
   
181,520
   
75,093
   
6,126
   
478,758
 
Agricultural  
197,010
   
98,898
   
18,617
   
-
   
314,525
 
Commercial leases  
45,503
   
61,377
   
5,749
   
-
   
112,629
 
Consumer and other  
753
   
3,989
   
1,144
   
-
   
5,886
 
Total gross loans and leases 
$
641,835
  
$
921,664
  
$
1,559,314
  
$
398,905
  
$
3,521,718
 
Rate Structure for Loans                    
Fixed Rate 
$
116,749
  
$
475,248
  
$
1,158,859
  
$
255,628
  
$
2,006,484
 
Adjustable Rate  
525,086
   
446,416
   
400,455
   
143,277
   
1,515,234
 
Total gross loans and leases 
$
641,835
  
$
921,664
  
$
1,559,314
  
$
398,905
  
$
3,521,718
 


Non-Accrual Loans &and Leases - Accrual of interest on loans &and leases is generally discontinued when a loan or lease becomes contractually past due by 90 days or more with respect to interest or principal. When loans &and leases are 90 days past due, but in management's judgment are well secured and in the process of collection, they may not be classified as non-accrual.nonaccrual. When a loan or lease is placed on non-accrual status, all interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed. Income on such loans &and leases is then recognized only to the extent that cash is received and where the future collection of principal is probable. As ofNon-accrual loans and leases totaled $571,000 and $516,000 for the years ended December 31, 20172022 and 2016, non-accrual loans & leases totaled $0 and $3.1 million.2021, respectively.


Restructured Loans &and Leases - A restructuring of a loan or lease constitutes a TDR under ASC 310-40, if the Company for economic or legal reasons related to the debtor's financial difficulties grants a concession to the debtorborrower that it would not otherwise consider.consider, except when subject to the CARES Act and H.R. 133, as discussed below. Restructured loans or leases typically present an elevated level of credit risk, as the borrowers are not able to perform according to the original contractual terms. If the restructured loan or lease was current on all payments at the time of restructure and management reasonably expects the borrower will continue to perform after the restructure, management may keep the loan or lease on accrual. Loans &and leases that are on nonaccrualnon-accrual status at the time they become TDR loans or leases, remain on nonaccrualnon-accrual status until the borrower demonstrates a sustained period of performance, which the Company generally believes to be six consecutive months of payments, or equivalent. A loan or lease can be removed from TDR status if it was restructured at a market rate in a prior calendar year and is currently in compliance with its modified terms. However, these loans or leases continue to be classified as impairedcollateral dependent and are individually evaluated for impairment.
At December 31, 2017,2022, restructured loans totaled $6.3$1.3 million compared with $2.3 million at December 31, 2021, all of which were performingperforming. See Note 4 “Loans and Leases” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Other Real Estate Owned – OREO represents real property taken either through foreclosure or through a deed in lieu thereof from the borrower. The Company records all OREO properties at amounts equal to or less than the fair market value of the properties based on current independent appraisals reduced by estimated selling costs. The Company reported $873,000 of foreclosed OREO at December 31, 2022, and at December 31, 2016,2021.

Not included in the table below, but relevant to a discussion of asset quality are loans that were granted some form of relief because of COVID-19 but were not considered TDRs because of the CARES Act and H.R. 133. Since April 2020, we have restructured $304.0 million of loans totaled $7.5 million with $6.0 million performing.under the CARES Act and H.R. 133 guidelines (see “Part I, Introduction - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Disclosure”).  At December 31, 2022, all loans that were restructured as part of the CARES Act, have returned to the contractual terms and conditions of the loans, without exception.


Other Real Estate - Loans where the collateral has been repossessed are classified as other real estate ("ORE") or, if the collateral is personal property, the loan is classified as other assets on the Company's financial statements.
58


The following table sets forthsummarizes the amountloans for which the accrual of the Company's non-performinginterest has been discontinued and loans & leasesmore than 90 days past due and ORE as of December 31 of the years indicated.still accruing interest, including those non-accrual loans that are troubled debt restructured loans, and OREO (as hereinafter defined):

 December 31, 
(in thousands) 2017  2016  2015  2014  2013 
Non-Accrual Loans & Leases               
Commercial Real Estate $-  $-  $19  $-  $- 
Agricultural Real Estate  -   1,304   -   -   - 
Real Estate Construction  -   -   -   -   - 
Residential 1st Mortgages  -   95   65   77   324 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  -   -   538   576   406 
Agricultural  -   243   -   18   35 
Commercial  -   1,426   1,524   1,586   1,815 
Consumer & Other  -   6   10   13   16 
Total Non-Accrual Loans & Leases  -   3,074   2,156   2,270   2,596 
Accruing Loans & Leases Past Due 90 Days or More                    
Commercial Real Estate  -   -   -   -   - 
Agricultural Real Estate  -   -   -   -   - 
Real Estate Construction  -   -   -   -   - 
Residential 1st Mortgages  -   -   -   -   - 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  -   -   -   -   - 
Agricultural  -   -   -   -   - 
Commercial  -   -   -   -   - 
Consumer & Other  -   -   -   -   - 
Total Accruing Loans & Leases Past Due 90 Days or More  -   -   -   -   - 
Total Non-Performing Loans & Leases $-  $3,074  $2,156  $2,270  $2,596 
Other Real Estate Owned $873  $3,745  $2,441  $3,299  $4,611 
Total Non-Performing Assets $873  $6,819  $4,597  $5,569  $7,207 
Restructured Loans & Leases (Performing) $6,301  $4,462  $4,953  $4,955  $4,649 
Non-Performing Loans & Leases as a Percent of Total Loans & Leases  0.00%  0.14%  0.11%  0.13%  0.19%
  December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021 
Non-performing assets:      
Non-accrual loans and leases, not TDRs      
Real estate:      
Commercial 
$
403
  
$
-
 
Agricultural  
-
   
18
 
Residential and home equity  
-
   
-
 
Construction  
168
   
-
 
Total real estate  
571
   
18
 
Commercial & industrial  
-
   
-
 
Agricultural  
-
   
-
 
Commercial leases  
-
   
-
 
Consumer and other  
-
   
-
 
Subtotal  
571
   
18
 
Non-accrual loans and leases, are TDRs        
Real estate:        
Commercial  
-
   
-
 
Agricultural  
-
   
-
 
Residential and home equity  
-
   
-
 
Construction  
-
   
-
 
Total real estate  
-
   
-
 
Commercial & industrial  
-
   
-
 
Agricultural  
-
   
498
 
Commercial leases  
-
   
-
 
Consumer and other  
-
   
-
 
Subtotal  
-
   
498
 
Total non-performing loans and leases 
$
571
  
$
516
 
Other real estate owned ("OREO") 
$
873
  
$
873
 
Total non-performing assets 
$
1,444
  
$
1,389
 
Performing TDRs 
$
1,311
  
$
1,824
 
         
Selected ratios:        
Non-performing loans to total loans and leases  
0.02
%
  
0.02
%
Non-performing assets to total assets  
0.03
%
  
0.03
%
         

Although management believes that non-performing loans &and leases are generally well-secured and that potential losses are provided for in the Company’s allowance for credit losses, there can be no assurance that future deterioration in economic conditions and/or collateral values will not result in future credit losses. See Note 6,4. “Loans and Leases”, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for an allocation of the allowance classified to impairedcollateral dependent loans &and leases.

The Company reported $873,000 of ORE at December 31, 2017, and $3.7 million at December 31, 2016. ORE at December 31, 2017 consisted of commercial land.

Except for those classified and non-performing loans &and leases discussed above, the Company’s management is not aware of any loans &and leases as of December 31, 2017,2022, for which known financial problems of the borrower would cause serious doubts as to the ability of these borrowers to materially comply with their present loan or lease repayment terms, or any known events that would result in the loan or lease being designated as non-performing at some future date. However:

·The Central Valley was one of the hardest hit areas in the country during the recession. In many areas housing prices declined as much as 60% and unemployment reached 15% or more. Although the economy has improved throughout most of the Central Valley, in many of the Company’s market segments housing prices remain below peak levels and unemployment levels remain above those in other areas of the state and country.
The State of California experienced drought conditions from 2013 through most of 2016. After 2016, reasonable levels of rain and snow alleviated drought conditions in our primary service area, but the winter of 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 were once again dry (although 2023 has begun with significant levels of rain and snow). Despite this, the availability of water in our primary service area was not an issue for the 2022 growing season. However, the weather patterns over the past nine years further reinforce the fact that the long-term risks associated with the availability of water are significant.

·The State of California experienced drought conditions from 2013 through most of 2016. Although significant levels of rain and snow in late 2016 and early 2017 have alleviated drought conditions in many areas of California, including those in the Company’s primary service area, the long-term risks associated with the availability of water continue to exist. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for additional information.
While significant progress has been made in fighting the COVID-19 virus, particularly with the development of vaccines, the effects of COVID-19 are still with us, and it is impossible to predict the ultimate impact on classified and non-performing loans and leases (see Part I. “Introduction - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Disclosure”).

·The agricultural industry is facing challenges associated with: (1) weakness in export markets due to proposed changes in trade policies; (2) tight labor markets and higher wages due to legislative changes at the state and federal levels; and (3) proposed changes in immigration policy and the resulting impact on the labor pool.
Allowance for Credit Losses—Loans and Leases


Deposits
OneThe Company maintains an allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) under the guidance of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“CECL”). The allowance is established through a provision for credit losses, which is charged to expense. Additions to the allowance are expected to maintain the adequacy of the key sourcestotal allowance after credit losses and loan & lease growth. Credit exposures determined to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance. Cash received on previously charged off amounts is recorded as a recovery to the allowance. The overall allowance consists of fundsthree primary components: specific reserves related to support earning assets iscollateral dependent loans and leases; general reserves for current expected credit losses related to loans and leases that are not collateral dependent; and an unallocated component that takes into account the generation of deposits fromimprecision in estimating and allocating allowance balances associated with macro factors. See Note 1, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for a detailed discussion on the Company’s customer base. The ability to grow the customer base and subsequently deposits is a significant element in the performanceallowance for credit losses.

60

The following table sets forth the activity in our ACL for the periods indicated:

  Year Ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021 
Allowance for credit losses:      
Balance at beginning of year 
$
61,007
  
$
58,862
 
Provision / (recapture) for credit losses  
6,057
   
1,910
 
Charge-offs:        
Real estate:        
Commercial  
(170
)
  
-
 
Agricultural  
-
   
-
 
Residential and home equity  
(25
)
  
-
 
Construction  
-
   
-
 
Total real estate  
(195
)
  
-
 
Commercial & industrial  
(324
)
  
-
 
Agricultural  
-
   
-
 
Commercial leases  
-
   
-
 
Consumer and other  
(62
)
  
(44
)
Total charge-offs  
(581
)
  
(44
)
Recoveries:        
Real estate:        
Commercial  
-
   
-
 
Agricultural  
-
   
-
 
Residential and home equity  
131
   
98
 
Construction  
-
   
-
 
Total real estate  
131
   
98
 
Commercial & industrial  
195
   
99
 
Agricultural  
53
   
55
 
Commercial leases  
-
   
-
 
Consumer and other  
23
   
27
 
Total recoveries  
402
   
279
 
Net charge-offs / recoveries  
(179
)
  
235
 
         
Balance at end of year 
$
66,885
  
$
61,007
 
         
Selected financial information:        
Gross loans and leases held for investment 
$
3,512,361
  
$
3,237,177
 
Average loans and leases  
3,278,931
   
3,084,339
 
Non-performing loans and leases  
571
   
516
 
Allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans and leases  
11713.66
%
  
11823.06
%
Net charge-offs / (recoveries) to average loans and leases  
0.01
%
  
(0.01
%)
Provision for credit losses to average loans and leases  
0.18
%
  
0.06
%
Allowance for credit losses to loans and leases held for investment  
1.90
%
  
1.88
%

The increase in ACL in both 2021 and 2022 was primarily related to higher expected probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio that was directly related to quantitative and qualitative factors associated with the current economic environment and overall growth in the loan portfolio.

The following table indicates management’s allocation of the ACL by time remaining to maturity,loan type as of each of the Company’s timefollowing dates:

  December 31, 
  2022  2021 
(Dollars in thousands) Dollars  
Percent of
Each Loan
Type to
Total Loans
  Dollars  
Percent of
Each Loan
Type to
Total Loans
 
Allowance for credit losses:            
Real estate:            
Commercial 
$
18,055
   
37.73
%
 
$
28,536
   
35.95
%
Agricultural  
14,496
   
20.64
%
  
9,613
   
20.72
%
Residential and home equity  
7,508
   
11.01
%
  
2,847
   
10.79
%
Construction  
3,026
   
4.73
%
  
1,456
   
5.45
%
Total real estate  
43,085
   
74.11
%
  
42,452
   
72.91
%
Commercial & industrial  
11,503
   
13.59
%
  
11,489
   
13.17
%
Agricultural  
10,202
   
8.93
%
  
5,465
   
8.52
%
Commercial leases  
1,924
   
3.20
%
  
938
   
2.99
%
Consumer and other  
171
   
0.17
%
  
663
   
2.41
%
Total allowance for credit losses 
$
66,885
   
100.00
%
 
$
61,007
   
100.00
%

Deposits
Total deposits in amountswere $4.76 billion and $4.64 billion as of $250,000 or more at December 31, 2017.

(in thousands)   
Time Deposits of $250,000 or More   
Three Months or Less $117,306 
Over Three Months Through Six Months  33,656 
Over Six Months Through Twelve Months  43,959 
Over Twelve Months  17,653 
Total Time Deposits of $250,000 or More $212,574 

Refer to the Year-To-Date Average Balances2022 and Rate Schedules located in this "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for information on separate deposit categories.

At December 31, 2017, deposits totaled $2.7 billion. This represents an increase of 5.5% or $141.5 million from December 31, 2016.2021, respectively. In addition to the Company’s ongoing business development activities for deposits, in management’s opinion the following factors positively impacted year-over-year deposit growth: (1) the Company’s strong financial results and position and F&M Bank’s reputation as one of the most safe and sound banks in its market area; and (2) the Company’s expansion of its service area into Walnut Creek, Oakland, Concord and Concord. The Company expects that, at some point, deposit customers may beginNapa.
Non-interest bearing demand deposits increased to diversify how they invest their$1.76 billion, or 36.96% of total deposits, as of December 31, 2022 from $1.75 billion, or 37.72% of total deposits, as of December 31, 2021. Interest bearing deposits are comprised of interest-bearing transaction accounts, money (e.g., move funds back into the stock market or other investments)accounts, regular savings accounts, and this could impact future deposit growth.certificates of deposit.


Although totalTotal deposits have increased 5.5%2.57% since December 31, 2016, the Company’s focus continues2021:

Demand and interest-bearing transaction accounts totaled $2.88 billion at December 31, 2022, an increase of $36.1 million, or 1.27% from $2.85 billion held at December 31, 2021.
Savings and money market accounts increased $144.1 million, or 10.29%, to be on increasing low cost transaction and savings accounts:$1.54 billion at December 31, 2022 compared with $1.40 billion at December 31, 2021.

·Demand and interest-bearing transaction accounts increased $182.8 million or 14.6% since December 31, 2016.

·Savings and money market accounts have increased $53.6 million or 7.1% since December 31, 2016.
52
Certificates of deposit accounts decreased $61.1 million, or 15.56%, to $331.4 million at December 31, 2022 compared with $392.5 million at December 31, 2021.

·Time deposit accounts have decreased $94.9 million or 16.6% since December 31, 2016, primarily due to the Company’s decision not to renew $90.0 million in high rate public funds time deposit accounts from the State of California.
The following table shows the average amount and average rate paid on the categories of deposits for each of the periods presented:


  As of December 31, 
 
 2022  2021  2020 
(Dollars in thousands) Average Balance  Interest Expense  Average Rate  Average Balance  Interest Expense  Average Rate  Average Balance  Interest Expense  Average Rate 
Total deposits:                           
Interest bearing deposits:                           
Demand 
$
1,120,198
   
1,497
   
0.13
%
 
$
1,024,009
   
1,128
   
0.11
%
 
$
787,306
   
1,618
   
0.21
%
Savings and money market  
1,542,310
   
1,981
   
0.13
%
  
1,352,258
   
1,458
   
0.11
%
  
1,128,623
   
2,724
   
0.24
%
Certificates of deposit greater than $250,000  
157,623
   
460
   
0.29
%
  
170,040
   
701
   
0.41
%
  
220,952
   
2,535
   
1.15
%
Certificates of deposit less than $250,000  
215,044
   
411
   
0.19
%
  
235,746
   
730
   
0.31
%
  
268,294
   
2,236
   
0.83
%
Total interest bearing deposits  
3,035,175
   
4,349
   
0.14
%
  
2,782,053
   
4,017
   
0.14
%
  
2,405,175
   
9,113
   
0.38
%
Non-interest bearing deposits  
1,751,797
           
1,610,611
           
1,232,874
         
Total deposits 
$
4,786,972
  
$
4,349
   
0.09
%
 
$
4,392,664
  
$
4,017
   
0.09
%
 
$
3,638,049
  
$
9,113
   
0.25
%

Deposits are gathered from individuals and businesses in our market areas. The interest rates paid are competitively priced for each particular deposit product and structured to meet our funding requirements. The significant increase in short-term interest rates during 2022 has placed pressure on deposit pricing, and we will continue to manage this ongoing impact through careful deposit pricing.  The average cost of deposits, including non-interest bearing deposits was 0.09% for all of 2022 and all of 2021.

The following table shows deposits with a balance greater than $250,000 at December 31, 2022 and 2021:
  December 31 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021 
Non-Maturity Deposits greater than $250,000 
$
2,872,754
  
$
2,708,576
 
Certificates of deposit greater than $250,000, by maturity:        
Less than 3 months  
45,078
   
59,591
 
3 months to 6 months  
30,426
   
37,182
 
6 months to 12 months  
44,189
   
59,945
 
More than 12 months  
9,153
   
12,147
 
Total certificates of deposit greater than $250,000 
$
128,846
  
$
168,865
 
Total deposits greater than $250,000 
$
3,001,600
  
$
2,877,441
 

Refer to the Year-To-Date Average Balances and Rate Schedules located in this "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for information on separate deposit categories.

The Bank participates in a program wherein the State of California places time deposits with the Bank at the Bank’s option.  At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Bank had $3.0 million, of these deposits.
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances and Federal Reserve Bank Borrowings
Lines of Credit with the Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank are other key sources of funds to support earning assets. These sources of funds are also used to manage the Bank’sCompany’s interest rate risk exposure; and, as opportunities arise, to borrow and invest the proceeds at a positive spread through the investment portfolio. There were no FHLB advances at December 31, 20172022 or 2016.2021. There were no Federal Funds purchased or advances from the FRB at December 31, 20172022 or 2016.2021.

Long-Term Subordinated Debentures
On December 17, 2003, the Company raised $10.0 million through the sale of subordinated debentures to an off-balance sheet trust and its sale of trust-preferred securities. See Note 14,9. “Long-Term Subordinated Debentures” located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Although this amount is reflected as subordinated debt on the Company’s balance sheet, under current regulatory guidelines, our TPSTrust Preferred Securities will continue to qualify as regulatory capital.

These securities accrue interest at a variable rate based upon 3-month London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”)LIBOR plus 2.85%. Interest rates reset quarterly (the next reset is March 16, 2018)17, 2023) and the rate was 4.45%7.59% as of December 31, 2017.2022. The average rate paid for these securities was 4.11%4.76% in 20172022 and 3.60%3.06% in 2016.2021. Additionally, if the Company decided to defer interest on the subordinated debentures, the Company would be prohibited from paying cash dividends on the Company’s common stock.

Capital Resources
The Company relies primarily on capital generated through the retention of earnings to satisfy its capital requirements. The Company engages in an ongoing assessment of its capital needs in order to support business growth and to insure depositor protection. Shareholders’ Equity totaled $300.3$485.3 million at December 31, 2017,2022, and $280.0$463.1 million at the end of 2016.2021.


The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered byadequacy guidelines as outlined under Part 324 of the federal banking agencies.FDIC Rules and Regulations. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly discretionary, actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the CompanyCompany’s and the Bank's financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’sCompany and the Bank's assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’sCompany and the Bank's capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.


The implementation of Basel III requirements will increase the required capital levels that the Company and the Bank must maintain. The final rules include new minimum risk-based capital and leverage ratios, which would be phased in over time. The new minimum capital level requirements applicable to the Company and the Bank under the final rules will be: (i) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5% of risk-weighted assets (“RWA”); (ii) a Tier 1 capital ratio of 6% of RWA; (iii) a total capital ratio of 8% of RWA; and (iv) a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4% of total assets. The final rules also establish a "capital conservation buffer" of 2.5% above each of the new regulatory minimum capital ratios, which would result in the following minimum ratios: (i) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 7.0% of RWA; (ii) a Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.5% of RWA; and (iii) a total capital ratio of 10.5% of RWA. An institution will be subject to limitations on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying discretionary bonuses if its capital level falls below the buffer amount. The final rules also permit the Company’s subordinated debentures issued in 2003 to continue to be counted as Tier 1 capital.

The final rules became effective as applied to the Company and the Bank on January 1, 2015, with a phase in period through January 1, 2019. The Company believes that it is currently in compliance with all of these new capital requirements (as fully phased-in) and that they will not result in any restrictions on the Company’s business activity.


In addition, the most recent notification from the FDIC categorizedManagement believes that the Bank meets the requirements to be categorized as “well capitalized” under the FDIC regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changedTo be categorized as well capitalized, the Bank’s category. For further information onBank must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the Company’sfollowing tables as of December 31, 2022 and the Bank’s risk-based2021.

The following table sets forth our capital ratios, see Noteratios:

 
 
Minimum to be Categorized
as "Well Capitalized" under
Prompt Corrective Action
Regulations
  As of
December 31,
 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021 
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp         
CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets N/A   
11.57
%
  
11.68
%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets N/A   
11.80
%
  
11.94
%
Risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets N/A   
13.06
%
  
13.19
%
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio N/A   
9.36
%
  
8.92
%
            
Farmers & Merchants Bank           
CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets 6.50%

  
11.79
%
  
11.91
%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets 8.00%

  
11.79
%
  
11.91
%
Risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets 10.00%

  
13.04
%
  
13.17
%
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio 5.00%

  
9.35
%
  
8.91
%

On November 15, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
As previously discussed, in order to supplement its regulatory capital base, during December 2003, the Company issued $10.0 million of trust preferred securities. In accordance with the provisions of the “Consolidation” topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), the Company does not consolidate the subsidiary trust, which has issued the trust-preferred securities.

In 1998, the Board approved the Company’s first common stock repurchase program. This program has been extended and expanded several times since then, and most recently, on August 11, 2015,2021, the Board of Directors approved an extensionreauthorized the Company’s share repurchase program for up to $20.0 million of the $20 millionCompany’s common stock repurchase program over the three-year period ending September 30, 2018. See “Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases(“Repurchase Plan”), representing approximately 4% of Equity Securities.”

In 2017 and 2016,outstanding shareholders’ equity.  Repurchases by the Company did not repurchase any shares under the Stock Repurchase Program. The remaining dollar value of shares thatPlan may yet be purchased under the Company’s Stock Repurchase Program is approximately $20 million.

made from time to time through open market purchases, trading plans established in accordance with SEC rules, privately negotiated transactions, or by other means. On August 5, 2008,November 8, 2022, the Board of Directors approved a Share Purchase Rights Plan (the “Rightsauthorized an extension to its share repurchase program through December 31, 2024 for an additional $20.0 million of the Company’s common stock (“Repurchase Plan”), pursuant to which the Company entered into a Rights Agreement dated August 5, 2008, with Computershare (formerly Registrar and Transfer Company) as Rights Agent. See “Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchasesrepresents approximately 4% of Equity Securities” for further explanation.outstanding shareholders’ equity.

During 2017, the Company issued 4,975 shares of common stock, which were contributed to the Bank’s non-qualified defined contribution retirement plans. The shares issued had prices ranging from $590 per share to $595 per share. These share prices were based upon valuations completed by a nationally recognized bank consulting and advisory firm and in reliance upon the exemption in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The proceeds from these issuances were contributed to the Bank as equity capital. See Note 15, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

During 2016, the Company issued 16,542 shares of common stock, of which 4,610 shares were contributed to the Bank’s non-qualified defined contribution retirement plans and 11,932 shares were issued in the acquisition of Delta National Bancorp. The shares issued had prices ranging from $525 per share to $580 per share. These share prices were based upon valuations completed by a nationally recognized bank consulting and advisory firm and in reliance upon the exemption in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The proceeds from these issuances were contributed to the Bank as equity capital.

During 2015, the Company issued 6,705 shares of common stock. All of these shares were contributed to the Bank’s non-qualified defined contribution retirement plans. The average share price of these newly issued shares was $501 per share. The share price for each issuance was based upon a valuation completed by a nationally recognized bank consulting and advisory firm and in reliance upon the exemption in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The proceeds from these issuances were contributed to the Bank as equity capital.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
This “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” is based upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In preparing the Company’s financial statements management makes estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses. Management believes that the most significant subjective judgments that it makes include the following:

Allowance for Credit Losses - As a financial institution, which assumes lending and credit risks as a principal element in its business, the Company anticipates that credit losses will be experienced in the normal course of business. Accordingly, the allowance for credit losses is maintained at a level considered adequate by management to provide for losses that are inherent in the portfolio. The allowance is increased by provisions charged to operating expense and reduced by net charge-offs. Management employs a systematic methodology for determining the allowance for credit losses. On a quarterly basis, management reviews the credit quality of the loan & lease portfolio and considers problem loans & leases, delinquencies, internal credit reviews, current economic conditions, loan & lease loss experience, and other factors in determining the adequacy of the allowance balance.

WhileDuring 2022, the Company utilizesrepurchased 21,309 shares under the Repurchase Plan, for a systematic methodology in determining its allowance, the allowance is based on estimates, and ultimate losses may vary from current estimates. The estimates are reviewed periodically and, as adjustments become necessary, are reported in earnings in the periods in which they become known. For additional information, see Note 6, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”total of $20.3 million.


Fair Value - The Company discloses the fair value of financial instruments and the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate those fair values. The estimated fair value amounts have been determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. The use of assumptions and various valuation techniques, as well as the absence of secondary markets for certain financial instruments, will likely reduce the comparability of fair value disclosures between financial institutions. In some cases, book value is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the relatively short period of time between origination of the instrument and its expected realization. For additional information, see “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Credit Risk” and Notes 18 and 19 located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

Income Taxes - The Company uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes. This method results in the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities that are reflected at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the provision for income taxes. The deferred provision for income taxes is the result of the net change in the deferred tax asset and deferred tax liability balances during the year. This amount combined with the current taxes payable or refundable results in the income tax expense for the current year. For additional information, see Note 1, located in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements
Off-balance-sheet arrangements are any contractual arrangement to which an unconsolidatedentity is a party, under which the Company has: (1) any obligation under a guarantee contract; (2) a retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity or similar arrangement that serves as credit, liquidity, or market risk support to that entity for such assets; (3) any obligation under certain derivative instruments; or (4) any obligation under a material variable interest held by us in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk, or credit risk support to the Company, or engages in leasing, hedging, or research and development services with the Company. The Company had the following off balance sheet commitments as of the dates indicated.

(in thousands) December 31, 2017  December 31, 2016 
Commitments to Extend Credit $735,678  $609,653 
Letters of Credit  20,061   20,444 
Performance Guarantees Under Interest Rate Swap Contracts Entered Into Between Our Borrowing Customers and Third Parties759 1,835  

The following table sets forth our off-balance sheet lending commitments as of December 31, 2022:
     Amount of Commitment Expiration per Period 
(Dollars in thousands) Total Committed Amount  Less than One Year  One to Three Years  Three to Five Years  After Five Years 
Off-balance sheet commitments               
Commitments to extend credit 
$
1,141,036
  
$
423,956
  
$
203,186
  
$
476,671
  
$
37,223
 
Standby letters of credit  
17,138
   
10,770
   
4,468
   
1,470
   
430
 
Total off-balance sheet commitments 
$
1,158,174
  
$
434,726
  
$
207,654
  
$
478,141
  
$
37,653
 
The Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party with regard to standby letters of credit, undisbursed loan commitments, and financial guarantees is represented by the contractual notional amount of those instruments. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for recorded balance sheet items. The Company may or may not require collateral or other security to support financial instruments with credit risk. Evaluations of each customer's creditworthiness are performed on a case-by-case basis.


Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee performance of or payment for a customer to a third party.third-party. Most standby letters of credit are issued for 12have maturity dates ranging from 1 to 60 months or less.with final expiration in January 2027. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Additionally, the Company maintains a reserve for off balance sheet commitments, which totaled $267,000$ 2.1 million and $315,000 at December 31, 20172022 and $267,0002021, respectively.

The allowance for credit losses - unfunded loan commitments was $2.1 million at December 31, 2016. We do not anticipate any material2022 compared to $0.3 million at December 31, 2021. The increase in ACL in 2022 was primarily related to higher expected probable losses asinherent in the loan portfolio that was directly related to quantitative and qualitative factors associated with the current economic environment and overall growth in the loan portfolio.

Liquidity
The ability to have readily available funds sufficient to repay maturing liabilities is of primary importance to depositors, creditors and regulators. Our liquidity, represented by cash borrowing lines, federal funds and available-for-sale securities, is a result of these transactions.our operating, investing and financing activities and related cash flows. In order to ensure funds are available at all times, we devote resources to projecting the amount of funds that will be required and we maintain relationships with a diversified client base so funds are accessible. Liquidity requirements can also be met through short-term borrowings or the disposition of short-term assets. We had the following borrowing lines available at December 31, 2022:
 
  As of December 31, 2022 
(Dollars in thousands) Total Credit Line Limit  Current Credit Line Available  Outstanding Amount  Remaining Credit Line Available  Value of Collateral Pledged 
Additional liquidity sources:               
Federal Home Loan Bank 
$
757,866
  
$
757,866
  
$
-
  
$
757,866
  
$
1,225,175
 
Federal Reserve BIC  
650,925
   
650,925
   
-
   
650,925
   
883,754
 
FHLB Fed Funds  
18,000
   
18,000
   
-
   
18,000
   
-
 
US Bank Fed Funds  
35,000
   
35,000
   
-
   
35,000
   
-
 
PCBB Fed Funds  
50,000
   
50,000
   
-
   
50,000
   
-
 
Total additional liquidity sources 
$
1,511,791
  
$
1,511,791
  
$
-
  
$
1,511,791
  
$
2,108,929
 
Aggregate Contractual ObligationsWe believe our liquid assets and Commitments
The following table presents, asshort-term borrowing credit lines are adequate to meet our cash flow needs for loan funding and deposit cash withdrawal for the foreseeable future.  As of December 31, 2017,2022, we had $958 million in cash and unencumbered investment securities; $2.1 million in investment securities and $2.1 billion in loans pledged as collateral on short-term borrowing credit lines. We have the option of either borrowing on our significantcredit lines or selling these investment securities for cash flow needs.
On a long-term basis, our liquidity will be met by changing the relative distribution of our asset portfolios by reducing our investment or loan volumes, or selling or encumbering assets. Further, we will increase liquidity by soliciting higher levels of deposit accounts through promotional activities and/or borrowing from our correspondent banks as well as the FHLB. At the current time, our long-term liquidity needs primarily relate to funds required to support loan originations and determinable contractual obligationscommitments and deposit withdrawals.
We believe we can meet all of these needs from existing liquidity sources.
Our liquidity is comprised of three primary classifications: cash flows from or used in operating activities; cash flows from or used in investing activities; and cash flows from or used in financing activities.  Net cash provided by payment date. The payment amounts represent those amounts contractually due toor used in operating activities has consisted primarily of net income adjusted for certain non-cash income and expense items such as the recipientcredit loss provision, investment and do not include any unamortized premiums or discounts, hedge basis adjustments, or other similar carrying value adjustments. For further information onamortization and depreciation.
Our primary investing activities are the natureorigination of each obligation type, see applicable note disclosures located in “Item 8. Financial Statementsloans, and Supplementary Data.”

(in thousands) Total  
1 Year or
Less
  2-3 Years  4-5 Years  
More Than 5
Years
 
Operating Lease Obligations $2,695  $670  $1,278  $608  $139 
Long-Term Subordinated Debentures  10,310   -   -   -   10,310 
Deferred Compensation (1)
  47,755   2,970   1,796   1,061   41,928 
Total $60,760  $3,640  $3,074  $1,669  $52,377 

(1) These amounts represent obligations to participants under the Company's various non-qualified deferred compensation plans. All amounts have been fully funded in to a Rabbi Trust aspurchases and sales of investment securities. As of December 31, 2017. See Note 17 located in “Item 8. Financial Statements2022, we had unfunded loan commitments of $1.1 billion and Supplementary Data.”unfunded letters of credit of $17.1 million. We anticipate that we will have sufficient funds available to meet current loan commitments.

Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures Aboutabout Market Risk

Risk Management
The Company has adopted risk management policies and procedures, which aim to ensure the proper control and management of all risk factors inherent in the operation of the Company, most importantly credit risk, interest rate risk and liquidity risk. These risk factors are not mutually exclusive. It is recognized that any product or service offered by the Company may expose the Company to one or more of these risk factors.

Credit Risk
CreditMarket risk is the risk to earnings or capitalof loss in a financial instrument arising from an obligor’s failure to meet the terms of any contract or otherwise fail to perform as agreed. Creditadverse changes in market prices and rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and equity prices. Our market risk is found in all activities where success depends on counterparty, issuer, or borrower performance.

Creditarises primarily from interest rate risk in the investment portfolio and correspondent bank accounts is addressed through defined limits in the Company’s policy statements. In addition, certain securities carry insurance to enhance credit quality of the bond.

In order to control credit risk in the loan & lease portfolio the Company has established credit management policies and procedures that govern both the approval of new loans & leases and the monitoring of the existing portfolio. The Company manages and controls credit risk through comprehensive underwriting and approval standards, dollar limits on loans & leases to one borrower, and by restricting loans & leases made primarily to its principal market area where management believes it is best able to assess the applicable risk. Additionally, management has established guidelines to ensure the diversification of the Company’s credit portfolio such that even within key portfolio sectors such as real estate or agriculture, the portfolio is diversified across factors such as location, building type, crop type, etc. However, as a financial institution that assumes credit risks as a principal element of its business, credit losses will be experienced in the normal course of business. The allowance for credit losses is maintained at a level considered by management to be adequate to provide for risks inherent in our lending and deposit taking activities. Management actively monitors and manages our interest rate risk exposure. We do not have any market-risk sensitive instruments entered into for trading purposes. We manage our interest-rate sensitivity by matching the loan & lease portfolio. The allowance is increased by provisions chargedre-pricing opportunities on our earning assets to operating expense and reduced by net charge-offs.

The Company’s methodology for assessing the appropriateness of the allowance is appliedthose on a regular basis and considers all loans & leases. The systematic methodology consists of three parts.our funding liabilities.
 
Part 1 - includes a detailed analysisManagement uses various asset/liability strategies to manage the re-pricing characteristics of our assets and liabilities designed to ensure that exposure to interest rate fluctuations is limited within our guidelines of acceptable levels of risk-taking. Hedging strategies, including the terms and pricing of loans and deposits, and managing the deployment of our securities, are used to reduce mismatches in interest rate re-pricing opportunities of portfolio assets and their funding sources.
Our Asset Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”), which is comprised of members of the loan & lease portfolioBoard of Directors and executive officers, manages market risk. ALCO monitors interest rate risk by analyzing the potential impact on net interest income from potential changes in two phases. The first phaseinterest rates, and considers the impact of alternative strategies or changes in balance sheet structure. ALCO manages our balance sheet in part to maintain the potential impact of changes in interest rates on net interest income within acceptable ranges despite changes in interest rates.
Our exposure to interest rate risk is conducted in accordance with the “Receivables” topic of the FASB ASC. Individual loans & leases are reviewed to identify them for impairment. A loan or lease is impaired when principal and interest are deemed uncollectible in accordance with the original contractual terms of the loan or lease. Impairmenton at least a quarterly basis by ALCO. Interest rate risk exposure is measured as either the expected future cash flows discounted at each loan’s or lease’s effectiveusing interest rate sensitivity analysis to determine our change in net interest income in the fair valueevent of hypothetical changes in interest rates. If potential changes to net interest income resulting from hypothetical interest rate changes are not within risk tolerances determined by ALCO, and approved by the loan’s or lease’s collateral iffull Board of Directors, Management may make adjustments to the loan or lease is collateral dependent, or an observable market price ofCompany’s asset and liability mix to bring interest rate risk levels within the loan or lease, if one exists. Upon measuring the impairment, the Company will ensure an appropriate level of allowance is present or established.Board approved limits.
 
CentralNet Interest Income Simulation. In order to measure interest rate risk, we used a simulation model to project changes in net interest income that result from forecasted changes in interest rates. This analysis calculates the first phase of the analysis of the loan & lease portfolio is the risk rating system. The originating credit officer assigns each borrower an initial risk rating, which is based primarily ondifference between net interest income forecasted using a thorough analysis of that borrower’s financial position in conjunction with industryrising and economic trends. Approvals are made based upon the amount of inherent credit risk specific to the transactiona falling interest rate scenario and are reviewed for appropriateness by senior credit administration personnel. Credits are monitored by credit administration personnel for deterioration in a borrower’s financial condition, which would impact the ability of the borrower to perform under the contract. Risk ratings are adjusted as necessary. Risk ratings are reviewed by both the Company’s independent third-party credit examiners and bank examinersnet interest income forecast using a base market interest rate derived from the DBO and FDIC.

Based oncurrent treasury yield curve. The income simulation model includes various assumptions regarding the risk rating system, specific allowances are established in cases where management has identified significant conditions or circumstances related to a credit that management believes indicates that the loan or lease is impaired and there is a probability of loss. Management performs a detailed analysis of these loans & leases, including, but not limited to, cash flows, appraisals of the collateral, conditions of the marketplace for liquidating the collateral, and assessment of the guarantors. Management then determines the inherent loss potential and allocates a portion of the allowance for losses as a specific allowancere-pricing relationships for each of our products. Many of our assets are floating rate loans, which are assumed to re-price immediately, and to the same extent as the change in market rates according to their contracted index.
Some loans and investment vehicles include the opportunity of prepayment (embedded options), and accordingly the simulation model uses national indexes to estimate these credits.prepayments and assumes the reinvestment of the proceeds at current yields. Our non-term deposit products re-price more slowly, usually changing less than the change in market rates and at our discretion.

This analysis indicates the impact of changes in net interest income for the given set of rate changes and assumptions. It assumes the balance sheet grows modestly, but that its structure will remain similar to the structure as of the period presented. It does not account for all factors that affect this analysis, including changes by management to mitigate the effect of interest rate changes or secondary impacts such as changes to our credit risk profile as interest rates change.

Furthermore, loan prepayment-rate estimates and spread relationships change regularly. Interest rate changes create changes in actual loan prepayment rates that will differ from the market estimates incorporated in this analysis. Changes that vary significantly from the assumptions may have significant effects on our net interest income.
For the rising and falling interest rate scenarios, the base market interest rate forecast was increased or decreased, on an instantaneous and sustained basis, by 200 basis points. As of the periods presented, our net interest margin exposure related to these hypothetical changes in market interest rates was within the current guidelines established by us.  Our simulation model highlights the fact that our balance sheet is asset sensitive, which means that our net interest income rises in a rising interest rate environment.

The second phase is conducted by segmentingratio of variable to fixed-rate loans in our loan portfolio, the loan & lease portfolio by risk rating and into groupsratio of short-term (maturing at a given time within 12 months) to long-term loans, & leases with similar characteristics in accordance with the “Contingency” topic of the FASB ASC. In this second phase, groups of loans & leases with similar characteristics are reviewed and the appropriate allowance factor is appliedratio of our demand, money market and savings deposits to CDs (and their time periods), are the primary factors affecting the sensitivity of our net interest income to changes in market interest rates. Our short-term loans are typically priced at prime plus a margin, and our long-term loans are typically priced based on the historical average charge-off ratea FHLB index for each particular groupcomparable maturities, plus a margin. The composition of loansour rate-sensitive assets or leases.

Part 2 - considers qualitative internal and external factors that may affect a loan or lease’s collectability, is based upon management’s evaluation of various conditions, the effects of which are not directly measured in the determination of the historical and specific allowances. The evaluation of the inherent loss with respect to these conditionsliabilities is subject to change and could result in a higher degree of uncertainty because they are not identified with specific problem credits or portfolio segments. The conditions evaluated in connection withmore unbalanced position that would cause market rate changes to have a greater impact on our net interest margin.
Gap Analysis. Another way to measure the second element of the analysis of the allowance include, but are not limited to the following conditions that existed as of the balance sheet date:

§general economic and business conditions affecting the key service areas of the Company;
§credit quality trends (including trends in collateral values, delinquencies and non-performing loans & leases);
§loan & lease volumes, growth rates and concentrations;
§loan & lease portfolio seasoning;
§specific industry and crop conditions;
§recent loss experience; and
§duration of the current business cycle.

Part 3 - An unallocated allowance often occurs due to the imprecision in estimating and allocating allowance balances associated with macro factors such as: (1) the improving but still challenging economic conditions in the Central Valley; and (2) the long-term risks associated with the availability of water in the Central Valley.

Management reviews all of these conditions in discussion with the Company’s senior credit officers. To the extent that any of these conditions is evidenced by a specifically identifiable impaired credit or portfolio segment as of the evaluation date, management’s estimate of the effect of such condition may be reflected as a specific allowance applicable to such credit or portfolio segment. Where any of these conditions is not evidenced by a specifically identifiable impaired credit or portfolio segment as of the evaluation date, management’s evaluation of the inherent loss related to such condition is reflected in the second element of the allowance or in the unallocated allowance.

Management believes, that based upon the preceding methodology, and using information currently available, the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2017 was adequate. No assurances can be givenimpact that future events may not resultchanges in increases in delinquencies, non-performing loans & leases, orinterest rates will have on net loan & lease charge-offs that would require increases ininterest income is through a cumulative gap measure. The gap represents the provision for credit losses and thereby adversely affect the resultsnet position of operations.
Interest Rate Risk
The mismatch between maturities of interest sensitive assets and liabilities resultssubject to re-pricing in uncertainty inspecified periods.  A gap analysis highlights the Company’s earningsdistribution of re-pricing opportunities of our interest earning assets and economic value and is referred to asinterest-bearing liabilities, the interest rate risk. The Company does not attempt to predict interest rates and positions the balance sheet in a manner, which seeks to minimize, to the extent possible, the effects of changing interest rates.

The Company measuressensitivity gap (that is, interest rate risk in terms of potential impact on both its economic value and earnings. The methods for governing the amount ofsensitive assets less interest rate risk include: (1) analysis of asset and liability mismatches (Gap analysis); (2) the utilization of a simulation model; and (3) limits on maturities of investment, loan & lease, and deposit products, which reduces the market volatility of those instruments.

The Gap analysis measures, at specific time intervals, the divergence betweensensitive liabilities), cumulative interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, for which repricing opportunities will occur. A positive difference, or Gap, indicates thatthe cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap, the ratio of cumulative interest earning assets will reprice faster thanto cumulative interest-bearing liabilities. This will generally produce a greater net interest margin during periods of rising interest ratesliabilities and a lower net interest margin during periods of declining interest rates. Conversely, a negative Gap will generally produce a lower net interest margin during periods of rising interest rates and a greater net interest margin during periods of decreasing interest rates.

The interest rates paid on deposit accounts do not always move in unison with the rates charged on loans & leases. In addition, the magnitude of changes in the rates charged on loans & leases is not always proportionate to the magnitude of changes in the rate paid for deposits. Consequently, changes in interest rates do not necessarily result in an increase or decrease in the net interest margin solelycumulative gap as a resultpercentage of total assets and total interest earning assets as of the differences between repricing opportunities of earning assets or interest bearing liabilities.

periods presented. The Companyanalysis also utilizessets forth the results of a dynamic simulation model to quantify the estimated exposure of net interest income to sustained interest rate changes. The sensitivity of the Company’s net interest income is measured over a rolling one-year horizon.

The simulation model estimates the impact of changing interest rates on interest income from alltime periods during which interest earning assets and the interest expense paid on all interest bearing liabilities reflected onwill mature or may re-price in accordance with their contractual terms. The interest rate relationships between the Company’s balance sheet. This sensitivity analysis is compared to policy limits, which specify a maximum tolerance level for net interest income exposure over a one-year horizon assuming no balance sheet growth, given a 200 basis point upwardre-priceable assets and a 100 basis point downward shiftre-priceable liabilities are not necessarily constant and may be affected by many factors, including the behavior of clients in interest rates. A shift in rates over a 12-month period is assumed. Results that exceed policy limits, if any, are analyzed for risk tolerance and reported to the Board with appropriate recommendations. At December 31, 2017, the Company’s estimated net interest income sensitivityresponse to changes in interest rates.
Gap analysis has certain limitations. Measuring the volume of re-pricing or maturing assets and liabilities does not always measure the full impact on the portfolio value of equity or net interest income. Gap analysis does not account for rate caps on products, dynamic changes such as increasing prepayment speeds as interest rates decrease, basis risk, embedded options or the benefit of no-rate funding sources. The relation between product rate re-pricing and market rate changes (basis risk) is not the same for all products. The majority of interest earning assets generally re-price along with a movement in market rates, while non-term deposit rates in general move more slowly and usually incorporate only a fraction of the change in market rates.
Products categorized as a percent ofnon-rate sensitive, such as our non-interest bearing demand deposits, in the gap analysis behave like long-term fixed rate funding sources. Management uses income simulation, net interest income was an increase in net interest incomerate shocks and market value of 2.83% if rates increase by 200 basis points and a decrease in net interest income of 4.42% if rates decline 100 basis points.

The estimated sensitivity does not necessarily represent a Company forecast and the results may not be indicative of actual changes to the Company’s net interest income. These estimates are based upon a number of assumptions including: the nature and timing ofportfolio equity as its primary interest rate levels including yield curve shape; prepayments on loans & leases and securities; pricing strategies on loans & leases and deposits; replacement of asset and liability cash flows; and other assumptions. While the assumptions used are based on current economic and local market conditions, there is no assurance as to the predictive nature of these conditions including how customer preferences or competitor influences might change.risk management tools.

Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk is the risk to earnings or capital resulting from the Company’s inability to meet its obligations when they come due without incurring unacceptable losses. It includes the ability to manage unplanned decreases or changes in funding sources and to recognize or address changes in market conditions that affect the Company’s ability to liquidate assets or acquire funds quickly and with minimum loss of value. The Company endeavors to maintain a cash flow adequate to fund operations, handle fluctuations in deposit levels, respond to the credit needs of borrowers, and to take advantage of investment opportunities as they arise.

The Company’s principal operating sources of liquidity include (see “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows”) cash and cash equivalents, cash provided by operating activities, principal payments on loans & leases, proceeds from the maturity or sale of investments, and growth in deposits. To supplement these operating sources of funds the Company maintains Federal Funds credit lines of $77 million and repurchase lines of $130 million with major banks. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has additional borrowing capacity of $455.2 million with the Federal Home Loan Bank and $381.4 million with the Federal Reserve Bank. Borrowings under these lines are collateralized with loans or securities that have been accepted for pledging at the FHLB and FRB.

At December 31, 2017, the Company had available sources of liquidity, which included cash and cash equivalents and unpledged investment securities available-for-sale of approximately $424.0 million, which represents 14% of total assets.

Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data


INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

  Page
   
Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting60
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Eide Bailly LLP, San Ramon, California, PCAOB ID: 286)
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Moss Adams LLP, San Francisco, California, PCAOB ID: 659)
6170
Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets –Statements of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2017,2022, and 201620216274
Consolidated Statements of Income – Yearsfor the three years ended December 31, 2017, 20162022, 2021 and 201520206375
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income – Years Endedfor the three years ended December 31, 2017, 20162022, 2021 and 20152020 6476
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders'Shareholders’ Equity – Yearsfor the three years ended December 31, 2017, 20162022, 2021 and 201520206577
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years Endedfor the three years ended December 31, 2017, 20162022, 2021 and 20152020 6678
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 6779

graphic

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp

Report of ManagementLodi, California

Opinions on the Consolidated Financial Statements and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

ManagementWe have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and Subsidiariessubsidiaries (the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and for performing an assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting2022, and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

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

Management recognizes that there are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any system of internal control, and accordingly, even effective internal control can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and fair presentation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal control may vary over time.

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company performed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 as described in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As a result of this assessment, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2017.

Moss Adams LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements included in this Annual Report, was engaged to express an opinion as to the fairness of presentation of such financial statements. Moss Adams LLP was also engaged to audit the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The report of Moss Adams LLP follows this report.
/s/ Kent A. Steinwert/s/ Stephen W. Haley
Kent A. SteinwertStephen W. Haley
Chairman, President & Chief Executive OfficerExecutive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the periodyear then ended,December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017,2022, based on criteria established in 2013 Internal Control - Control—Integrated Framework 2013 issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).


In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016,2022, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the periodyear then ended,December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017,2022, based on criteria established in 2013 Internal Control - Control—Integrated Framework 2013 issued by COSO.the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).


Change in Accounting Principle

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for the recognition and measurement of credit losses as of January 1, 2022 due to the adoption of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.

Basis for Opinions


The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report of Management on Internal Control overOver Financial Reporting included in Item 8.Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.


We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.


Our auditsaudit of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respondthat responds to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our auditsaudit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.


Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s
An entity’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted accounting principles. A company’sin the United States of America. An entity’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;entity; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the companyentity are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company;entity; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’sentity’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.


Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.


Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Allowance for Credit Losses – Loans and Leases

The Company has a gross loan portfolio of $3.5 billion and related allowance for credit losses (ACL) of $66.9 million as of December 31, 2022. As discussed in Notes 1 & 5 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, the ACL represents management’s estimate of expected credit losses over the contractual life of the loan portfolio. The ACL is estimated using relevant available information relating to past events, current economic conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, as well as qualitative adjustments applied on a portfolio segment basis. The qualitative adjustments are used to bring the ACL to the level management believes is appropriate based on factors that are otherwise unaccounted for in the quantitative process.

Auditing these complex judgments and assumptions involves especially challenging auditor judgment due to the nature and extent of audit evidence and effort required to address these matters, including the extent of specialized skill or knowledge needed.

Our considerations and procedures performed to address this critical audit matter included:


Obtaining an understanding of the Company’s process for establishing the ACL, including the models selected by management to estimate quantitative components of the ACL and qualitative adjustments made to the ACL. This includes the process utilized by management to challenge the model results and determine the best estimate of the ACL as of the balance sheet date.


Evaluating the design and testing the operating effectiveness of controls relating to the development and approval of the ACL methodology, management’s identification, determination and controls related to the significant assumptions used in the models, controls around the reliability and accuracy of the data used in the models, analysis of the ACL results and management’s review and approval of the ACL.


Determining whether the loan portfolio is segmented by similar risk characteristics by comparing to the Company’s business environment and relevant industry practices.


Evaluating the identification and measurement of the qualitative adjustments, including the basis for concluding an adjustment was warranted and compared the adjustments utilized by management to both internal portfolio metrics and external macroeconomic data to support the adjustments and evaluated the trends in such adjustments. We searched for and evaluated information that corroborates or contradicts management’s identification and measurement of qualitative factors.


Testing the completeness and accuracy of internal loan level data used as the basis for the calculation, including management’s controls.


Testing the mathematical accuracy and computation of the ACL.


/s/ Eide Bailly LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2022.

San Ramon, California
March 15, 2023

graphic

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of financial condition of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidatedfinancial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits providea reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Moss Adams LLP

Los Angeles,
Sacramento, California
March 15, 201816, 2022


We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2013.from 2013 through 2022.
 
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION


 December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts) 2022  2021 
ASSETS      
Cash and due from banks $73,358  $52,499 
Interest bearing deposits with banks  514,899   662,961 
Total cash and cash equivalents  588,257   715,460 
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value  152,864   270,454 
Securities held-to-maturity, fair value $688,393 and $725,841, respectively
  845,346   737,052 
Allowance for credit losses - securities  (393)  - 
Total investment securities  997,817   1,007,506 
Non-marketable securities  15,549   15,549 
Loans and leases held for investment  3,512,361   3,237,177 
Allowance for credit losses - loans and leases
  (66,885)  (61,007)
Loans held for investment, net  3,445,476   3,176,170 
Bank-owned life insurance  73,038   71,411 
Premises and equipment, net  49,476   47,730 
Deferred income tax assets
  31,507   25,542 
Accrued interest receivable  21,602   18,098 
Goodwill  11,183   11,183 
Other intangibles  2,809   3,402 
Other real estate owned  873   873 
Other assets  89,812   84,796 
TOTAL ASSETS $5,327,399  $5,177,720 
         
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY        
Deposits:        
Non-interest bearing $1,758,793  $1,750,330 
Interest bearing:
        
Demand
  1,125,014   1,097,337 
Savings and money market
  1,544,062   1,400,000 
Certificates of deposit
  331,400   392,485 
Total interest bearing
  3,000,476   2,889,822 
Total deposits  4,759,269   4,640,152 
Subordinated debentures  10,310   10,310 
Interest payable and other liabilities  72,512   64,122 
Total Liabilities  4,842,091   4,714,584 
         
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY        
Preferred shares, no par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized and, none issued or outstanding
  -   - 
Common shares, $0.01 par value, 7,500,000 authorized, 768,337 and 789,646 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively
  8
   8
 
Additional paid-in capital  57,206   77,516 
Retained earnings  449,932   387,331 
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss), net of taxes
  (21,838)  (1,719)
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY  485,308   463,136 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY $5,327,399  $5,177,720 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands except share and per share data)

 December 31, 
Assets 2017  2016 
Cash and Cash Equivalents:      
Cash and Due from Banks $65,956  $54,896 
Interest Bearing Deposits with Banks  121,193   43,964 
Total Cash and Cash Equivalents  187,149   98,860 
         
Investment Securities:        
Available-for-Sale  481,596   448,263 
Held-to-Maturity  54,460   58,109 
Total Investment Securities  536,056   506,372 
         
Loans & Leases:  2,215,295   2,177,601 
Less: Allowance for Credit Losses  50,342   47,919 
Loans& Leases, Net  2,164,953   2,129,682 
         
Premises and Equipment, Net  28,679   29,229 
Bank Owned Life Insurance  59,583   57,761 
Interest Receivable and Other Assets  99,032   100,217 
Total Assets $3,075,452  $2,922,121 
         
Liabilities        
Deposits:        
Demand $832,652  $756,236 
Interest-Bearing Transaction  601,476   495,063 
Savings and Money Market  813,703   760,119 
Time  475,397   570,293 
Total Deposits  2,723,228   2,581,711 
Subordinated Debentures  10,310   10,310 
Interest Payable and Other Liabilities  42,254   50,119 
Total Liabilities  2,775,792   2,642,140 
         
Commitments & Contingencies (See Note 20)        
Shareholders' Equity        
Preferred Stock:  No Par Value, 1,000,000 Shares Authorized, None Issued or Outstanding  -   - 
Common Stock:  Par Value $0.01, 7,500,000 Shares Authorized, 812,304 and 807,329 Shares Issued and Outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 8 8  
Additional Paid-In Capital  93,624   90,671 
Retained Earnings  206,845   189,313 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income  (817)  (11)
Total Shareholders' Equity  299,660   279,981 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $3,075,452  $2,922,121 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
Consolidated Statements of Income



 Year Ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts) 2022  2021  2020 
Interest income         
Interest and fees on loans and leases $164,022  $147,208  $143,383 
Interest and dividends on securities
  22,289   17,158   14,704 
Interest on deposits with others  12,102   902   1,207 
Total interest income  198,413   165,268   159,294 
             
Interest expense            
Deposits  4,349   4,017   9,113 
Subordinated debentures  491   315   378 
Total interest expense  4,840   4,332   9,491 
Net interest income  193,573   160,936   149,803 
Provision for credit losses  6,450   1,910   4,500 
Net interest income after provision for credit losses  187,123   159,026   145,303 
Non-interest income            
Card processing  7,123   6,959   5,536 
Service charges on deposit accounts  2,794   2,972   2,637 
Increase in cash surrender value of BOLI  2,233   2,175   2,088 
Net (loss)/gain on sale of investment securities available-for-sale
  (10,689)  2,554   40 
Net gain on deferred compensation benefits  451   2,614   1,777 
Other  4,266   3,782   2,976 
Total non-interest income  6,178   21,056   15,054 
Non-interest expense            
Salaries and employee benefits  64,250   63,860   56,950 
Net gain on deferred compensation benefits
  451   2,614   1,777 
Occupancy  4,717   4,675   4,640 
Data Processing  4,968   4,967   4,994 
FDIC insurance  1,444   1,237   517 
Marketing  1,324   1,097   922 
Legal  737   140   128 
Other  15,669   13,171   12,478 
Total non-interest expense  93,560   91,761   82,406 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES  99,741   88,321   77,951 
Income tax expense
  24,651   21,985   19,217 
NET INCOME
 $75,090  $66,336  $58,734 
             
Earnings per common share:
            
Basic
 $96.55  $84.01  $74.03 
Diluted $96.55  $84.01  $74.03 
             
Weighted average number of common shares            
Basic
  777,726   789,646   793,337 
Diluted
  777,726   789,646   793,337 
(in thousands except per share data)

  Year Ended December 31, 
  2017  2016  2015 
Interest Income         
Interest and Fees on Loans & Leases $102,682  $91,570  $81,558 
Interest on Deposits with Banks  2,060   287   172 
Interest on Investment Securities:            
Taxable�� 8,123   5,505   6,311 
Exempt from Federal Tax  1,747   1,904   2,034 
Total Interest Income  114,612   99,266   90,075 
             
Interest Expense            
Deposits  5,865   3,807   2,989 
Borrowed Funds  -   18   7 
Subordinated Debentures  424   371   329 
Total Interest Expense  6,289   4,196   3,325 
             
Net Interest Income  108,323   95,070   86,750 
Provision for Credit Losses  2,850   6,335   750 
Net Interest Income After Provision for Credit Losses  105,473   88,735   86,000 
             
Non-Interest Income            
Service Charges on Deposit Accounts  3,453   3,376   3,458 
Net Gain (Loss) on Investment Securities  131   (284)  275 
Increase in Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance  1,822   1,864   1,908 
Debit Card and ATM Fees  3,873   3,398   3,183 
Net Gain on Deferred Compensation Investments  2,563   1,999   1,375 
Bargain Purchase Gain  -   1,832   - 
Other  4,920   3,072   4,376 
Total Non-Interest Income  16,762   15,257   14,575 
             
Non-Interest Expense            
Salaries and Employee Benefits  45,746   41,981   39,683 
Net Gain on Deferred Compensation Investments  2,563   1,999   1,375 
Occupancy  3,543   2,985   2,884 
Equipment  3,994   3,493   3,162 
Marketing  1,027   1,191   1,254 
Legal  424   1,243   421 
FDIC Insurance  932   1,174   1,193 
Gain on Sale of ORE  (414)  (5,941)  (299)
Other  9,939   10,047   6,586 
Total Non-Interest Expense  67,754   58,172   56,259 
             
Income Before Income Taxes  54,481   45,820   44,316 
Provision for Income Taxes  26,111   16,097   16,924 
Net Income $28,370  $29,723  $27,392 
Basic Earnings Per Common Share $35.03  $37.44  $34.82 

TheSee accompanying notes are an integral part of theseto the consolidated financial statementsstatements.

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(in thousands)

 Year Ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021  2020 
Net income $75,090  $66,336  $58,734 
Other comprehensive income
            
Unrealized holding (losses)/gains on available-for-sale debt securities
  (39,015)  (17,986)  13,905 
Reclassification adjustment for losses/(gains) on available-for-sale debt securities  10,689   (2,554)  (40)
Amortization of unrealized loss on debt securities transferred to held-to-maturity  (238)  (457)  - 
Net unrealized holding (losses)/gains on available-for-sale debt securities
  (28,564)  (20,997)  13,865 
Income tax benefit/(expense)  8,445   6,207   (4,099)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax  (20,119)  (14,790)  9,766 
Total comprehensive income $54,971  $51,546  $68,500 

  Year Ended December 31, 
  2017  2016  2015 
Net Income $28,370  $29,723  $27,392 
             
Other Comprehensive Loss            
Net Unrealized Loss on Available-for-Sale Securities  (1,011)  (1,330)  (3,069)
Deferred Tax Benefit Related to Unrealized Losses  281   559   1,290 
Reclassification Adjustment for Realized (Gain) Loss on Available-for-Sale Securities Included in Net Income  (131)  284   (275)
Tax Expense (Benefit) Related to Reclassification Adjustment  55   (119)  116 
Change in Net Unrealized Loss on Available-for-Sale Securities, Net of Tax  (806)  (606)  (1,938)
Total Other Comprehensive Loss  (806)  (606)  (1,938)
             
Comprehensive Income $27,564  $29,117  $25,454 


The
See accompanying notes are an integral part of theseto the consolidated financial statementsstatements.

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders'Shareholders’ Equity


(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts) 
Common
Shares
  Amount  
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
  
Retained
Earnings
  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss)/Income
  Total 
Balance as of January 1, 2020
  793,033  $8  $79,947  $286,036  $3,305  $369,296 
Net income  -
   -   -   58,734   -   58,734 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax  -
   -   -   -   9,766   9,766 
Cash dividends declared ($14.75 per share)
  -
   -   -   (11,700)  -   (11,700)
Issuance of common stock  523   -   403   -   -   403 
Repurchase of common stock
  (3,910)  -   (2,834)  -   -   (2,834)
Balance as of December 31, 2020
  789,646  $8  $77,516  $333,070  $13,071  $423,665 
Net income  -
   -   -   66,336   -   66,336 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax  -
   -   -   -   (14,790)  (14,790)
Cash dividends declared ($15.30 per share)
  -
   -   -   (12,075)  -   (12,075)
Balance as of December 31, 2021
  789,646  $8  $77,516  $387,331  $(1,719) $463,136 
Net income  -
   -   -   75,090   -   75,090 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax  -
   -   -   -   (20,119)  (20,119)
Cash dividends declared ($16.15 per share)
  -
   -   -   (12,489)  -   (12,489)
Repurchase of common stock
  (21,309)  -   (20,310)  -   -   (20,310)
Balance as of December 31, 2022
  768,337  $8  $57,206  $449,932  $(21,838) $485,308 
(in thousands except share and per share data)

  
Common
Shares
Outstanding
  
Common
Stock
  
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
  
Retained
Earnings
  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
  
Total
Shareholders'
Equity
 
Balance, January 1, 2015  784,082  $8  $77,804  $152,833  $2,533  $233,178 
Net Income              27,392       27,392 
Cash Dividends Declared on Common Stock ($12.90 per share)              (10,157)      (10,157)
Issuance of Common Stock  6,705       3,360           3,360 
Change in Net Unrealized Gain on Securities Available-for-Sale                  (1,938)  (1,938)
Balance, December 31, 2015  790,787  $8  $81,164  $170,068  $595  $251,835 
Net Income              29,723       29,723 
Cash Dividends Declared on Common Stock ($13.10 per share)              (10,478)      (10,478)
Issuance of Common Stock  16,542       9,507           9,507 
Change in Net Unrealized Gain on Securities Available-for-Sale                  (606)  (606)
Balance, December 31, 2016  807,329  $8  $90,671  $189,313  $(11) $279,981 
Net Income              28,370       28,370 
Cash Dividends Declared on Common Stock ($13.55 per share)              (10,982)      (10,982)
Issuance of Common Stock  4,975       2,953           2,953 
Tax Adjustment of Available-for-Sale Securities Reclassed from AOCI              144   (144)  - 
Change in Net Unrealized (Loss) on Securities Available-for-Sale                  (662)  (662)
Balance, December 31, 2017  812,304  $8  $93,624  $206,845  $(817) $299,660 

The
See
accompanying notes are an integral part of theseto the consolidated financial statementsstatements.

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows



 Year Ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021  2020 
Cash flows from operating activities:         
Net income $75,090  $66,336  $58,734 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:            
Provision for credit losses  6,450   1,910   4,500 
Depreciation and amortization  2,428   2,632   2,769 
Net amortization of securities premiums and discounts  376   1,446   1,159 
Increase in cash surrender value of BOLI  (2,233)  (2,175)  (2,088)
Decrease/(increase) in deferred income taxes, net  4,330   (880)  (1,962)
Loss/(gains) on sale of securities available-for-sale  10,689   (2,554)  (40)
Net changes in:            
Other assets
  (8,262)  (12,432)  (818)
Other liabilities
  12,910   5,680   (4,135)
Net cash provided by operating activities  101,778   59,963   58,119 
Cash flows from investing activities:            
Net change in loans held for investment  (275,061)  (137,216)  (427,049)
Purchase of available-for-sale securities  (10,217)  (257,231)  (670,550)
Purchase of held-to-maturity securities  (173,907)  (395,176)  (22,020)
Purchase of non-marketable securities  -   (2,856)  - 
Proceeds from sales, maturities, calls and pay downs of available-for-sale securities  88,504   458,855   383,257 
Proceeds from maturities, calls and pay downs of held-to-maturity securities  65,493   43,287   13,299 
Purchase of premises and equipment  (4,190)  (2,069)  (7,709)
Purchase of other investments  (6,600)  (8,192)  (6,063)
Redemption of other investments  -   2,752   - 
Proceeds from bank-owned life insurance  606   -   - 
Proceeds from sale of assets  73   1,696   81 
Net cash used in investing activities  (315,299)  (296,150)  (736,754)
Cash flows from financing activities:            
Net increase in deposits  119,117   579,885   782,248 
Cash dividends paid  (12,489)  (12,075)  (11,700)
Net cash used in share repurchase of common stock
  (20,310)  -   (2,834)
Net provided by financing activities  86,318   567,810   767,714 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents  (127,203)  331,623   89,079 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year  715,460   383,837   294,758 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year $588,257  $715,460  $383,837 
             
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:            
Cash paid for interest $5,785  $4,369  $10,903 
Income taxes paid $12,469  $29,941  $9,581 
Issuance of common stock
 $-  $-  $403 
             
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash transactions:            
Investment securities available-for-sale transferred to held-to-maturity
 $-  $316,925  $- 
Unrealized (losses)/gains on securities available for sale
 $
28,326  $
20,540  $
(13,865)
Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets $-  $295  $- 
(in thousands)

  Year Ended December 31, 
  2017  2016  2015 
Operating Activities         
Net Income $28,370  $29,723  $27,392 
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided  by Operating Activities:            
Provision for Credit Losses  2,850   6,335   750 
Depreciation and Amortization  2,186   1,896   1,685 
Provision for Deferred Income Taxes  12,605   (2,299)  (907)
Net Amortization of Investment Security Premium & Discounts  1,430   1,481   1,554 
Amortization of Core Deposit Intangible  110   13   - 
Accretion of Discount on Acquired Loans  (202)  (43)  - 
Net (Gain) Loss  on Investment Securities  (131)  284   (275)
Net (Gain) Loss on Sale of Property & Equipment  (1,189)  71   (383)
Net Gain on sale of ORE  (414)  (5,941)  (299)
Net Gain from Acquisition  -   (1,832)  - 
Net Change in Operating Assets & Liabilities:            
Net (Increase) Decrease in Interest Receivable and Other Assets  (275  1,056   4,685 
Net (Decrease) Increase in Interest Payable and Other Liabilities  (5,396)  4,068   3,125 
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities  39,944   34,812   37,327 
Investing Activities            
Purchase of Investment Securities Available-for-Sale  (325,573)  (497,797)  (203,996)
Proceeds from Sold, Matured, or Called Securities Available-for-Sale  289,857   426,142   227,157 
Purchase of Investment Securities Held-to-Maturity  (1,205)  (2,264)  (17,747)
Proceeds from Matured, or Called Securities Held-to-Maturity  4,794   5,499   18,031 
Net Loans & Leases Paid, Originated or Acquired  (38,178)  (148,960)  (284,211)
Principal Collected on Loans & Leases Previously Charged Off  259   232   5,468 
Cash Acquired in Acquisition, Net of Cash Paid  -   31,751   - 
Additions to Premises and Equipment  (4,254)  (1,504)  (2,726)
Purchase of Other Investment  (14,380)  (6,825)  (2,110)
Proceeds from Sale of Property & Equipment  3,304   -   670 
Proceeds from Sale of ORE  3,186   8,282   1,156 
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities  (82,190)  (185,444)  (258,308)
Financing Activities            
Net Increase in Deposits  141,517   200,524   213,459 
Cash Dividends  (10,982)  (10,478)  (10,157)
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities  130,535   190,046   203,302 
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents  88,289   39,414   (17,679)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year  98,860   59,446  $77,125 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year $187,149  $98,860  $59,446 
Supplementary Data            
Loans Transferred to Foreclosed Assets (ORE) $-  $538  $- 
Cash Payments Made for Income Taxes $13,942  $12,891  $8,475 
Issuance of Common Stock to the Bank's Non-Qualified Retirement Plans $2,953  $2,586  $3,360 
Interest Paid $6,005  $3,856  $3,190 
             
Acquisitions:    ��       
Fair Value of Assets Acquired $-  $114,871  $- 
Fair Value of Liabilities Acquired $-  $103,861  $- 
Issuance of Common Stock to Acquired Bank's Shareholders $-  $6,921  $- 

TheSee accompanying notes are an integral part of theseto the consolidated financial statementsstatements.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1.
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies


Nature of Operations and basis of consolidationFarmers & Merchants Bancorp (the “Company”(“FMCB”) was organized March 10, 1999. Primary operations are related to traditional banking activities through its subsidiaryis a Delaware corporation headquartered in Lodi, California and is the bank holding company for Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California (the “Bank” or “F&M Bank” and together with FMCB, the “Company”).  The Company operates all business activities through the Bank, which was establishedorganized in 1916.  The Bank’s wholly owned subsidiaries include Farmers & Merchants Investment CorporationF&M Bank is a California state-chartered bank.  F&M Bank operates under the supervision of the California Department of Financial Protection and Farmers/Merchants Corp. Farmers & Merchants Investment Corporation has been dormant since 1991. Farmers/Merchants Corp. acts as trustee on deeds of trust originatedInnovation (“DFPI”), and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). F&M Bank is not a member of the Federal Reserve System; however, FMCB operates as a bank holding company under the Federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, subject to and under the supervision of and examination by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”) and is the sole shareholder of F&M Bank. Both FMCB and F&M Bank are subject to periodic examination by these applicable federal and state regulatory agencies and file periodic reports and other information with the agencies.  The Company considers F&M Bank to be its sole operating segment.


The Company’s other wholly-owned subsidiaries include F & M Bancorp, Inc. and FMCB Statutory Trust I. F & M Bancorp, Inc. was created in March 2002 to protect the name F & M Bank. During 2002, the Company completed a fictitious name filing in California to begin using the streamlined name “F & M Bank” as part of a larger effort to enhance the Company’s image and build brand name recognition. In December 2003, the Company formed a wholly owned subsidiary, FMCB Statutory Trust I, for the sole purpose of issuing Trust Preferred Securities and related subordinated debentures, indebentures. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”)., FMCB Statutory Trust I is a non-consolidated subsidiary.


On November 18, 2016, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp completedThrough its network of 29 banking offices and 3 free-standing ATMs, F&M Bank emphasizes personalized service along with a broad range of banking services to businesses and individuals located in the acquisitionservice areas of Delta National Bancorp, headquartered in Manteca,its offices. Although the Company focuses on marketing its services to small and medium-sized businesses, a broad range of retail banking services are also made available to the local consumer market.  F&M Bank branches are located through the mid Central Valley of California, including Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus and Merced counties and the parent holding company for Delta Bank N.A., a locally owned and operated community bank established in 1973.  Aseast region of the acquisition date, Delta National Bancorp had approximately $112 million in assetsSan Francisco Bay Area including Napa, Alameda and four branch locations inContra Costa counties.

F&M Bank provides a broad complement of lending products, including commercial, commercial real estate, real estate construction, agribusiness, consumer, credit card, residential real estate loans, and equipment leases. Commercial products include term loans, leases, lines of credit and other working capital financing and letters of credit. Financing products for individuals include automobile financing, lines of credit, residential real estate, home improvement and home equity lines of credit.

F&M Bank also offers a wide range of deposit products. These include checking, savings, money market, time certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts and online banking services for both business and personal accounts.

F&M Bank offers a wide range of specialized services designed for the communitiesneeds of Manteca, Riverbank, Modestoits commercial accounts. These services include a credit card program for merchants, lockbox and Turlock. Atother collection services, account reconciliation, investment sweep, on-line account access, and electronic funds transfers by way of domestic and international wire and automated clearinghouse.


79

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Continued

F&M Bank makes investment products available to customers, including mutual funds and annuities. These investment products are offered through a third-party, which employs investment advisors to meet with and provide investment advice to the effective time of the acquisition, Delta National Bancorp was merged into Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and Delta Bank, N.A. was merged into Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California.Company’s customers.


The accounting and reporting policiesconsolidated financial statements of the Company conform to U.S. GAAPinclude the accounts of FMCB together with the Bank. All intercompany transactions and prevailing practice within the banking industry.balances have been eliminated.

Use of estimates The following is a summarypreparation of the significant accounting and reporting policies used in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been prepared in accordanceconformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for financial information.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, F & M Bancorp, Inc. and the Bank, along with the Bank’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Farmers & Merchants Investment Corporation and Farmers/Merchants Corp. Significant inter-company transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP(“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions.  These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reportingreported period. Actual results could differ from thesethose estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”), the determination of the fair value of certain financial instruments, and deferred income tax assets.


ReclassificationsCertain amounts in the prior years'years’ financial statements and related footnote disclosures have been reclassified to conform to the current-yearcurrent year’s presentation.  These reclassifications hadThere was no effectimpact on previously reported net income or total shareholders’ equity.retained earnings as a result of any reclassification.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the Company has defined cash and cash equivalents as those amounts included in the balance sheet captions Cash and Duecash equivalents consist of cash on hand, amounts due from Banks, Interest Bearing Depositsbanks, interest bearing deposits, and federal funds sold, all of which have original maturities of three months or less. The Company places its cash with Banks, Federal Funds Soldhigh credit quality institutions. The amounts on deposit fluctuate and, Securities Purchased Under Agreementsat times, exceed the insured limit by the FDIC, which potentially subjects the Company to Resell.credit risk.  For these instruments, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Investment Securities
securitiesInvestment securities are classified at the time of purchase as held-to-maturity (“HTM”) if it is management’s intent andwhen the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities untilto maturity.  TheseInvestment securities are carried at cost, adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount using a level yield of interest over the estimated remaining period until maturity. Losses, reflecting a decline in value judged by the Company to be other than temporary, are recognized in the period in which they occur.

Securities are classified as available-for-sale (“AFS”) if it is management’swhen the Company has the intent atof holding the time of purchase, to hold the securitiessecurity for an indefinite period of time, and/orbut not necessarily to usematurity.  The Company determines the appropriate classification at the time of purchase, and periodically thereafter.  Investment securities as part of the Company’s asset/liability management strategy. Theseclassified at HTM are carried at amortized cost.  Investment securities classified at AFS are reported at fair value with aggregate unrealizedvalue.  Purchase premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the terms of the securities.  Debt securities classified as held-to-maturity are carried at cost, net of the allowance for credit losses – securities, adjusted for amortization of premiums and discounts to the earliest callable date.  Debt securities classified as available-for-sale are measured at fair value.  Unrealized holding gains orand losses on debt securities classified as available-for-sale are excluded from earnings and are reported net of tax as accumulated other comprehensive income and included as(or loss) (AOCI), a separate component of shareholders’ equity, net of related income taxes. Fair valuesuntil realized.  When AFS securities, specifically identified, are basedsold, the unrealized gain or loss is reclassified from AOCI to non-interest income.

Allowance for Credit Losses – Securities— Management measures expected credit losses on quoted market prices or broker/dealer price quotationsheld-to- maturity debt securities on a specific identification basis. Gains orcollective basis by major security type. The Company’s HTM portfolio contains securities issued by U.S. government entities and agencies and municipalities. The Company uses industry historical credit loss information adjusted for current conditions to establish the allowance for credit losses on its HTM municipal bond portfolio. Further information regarding our policies and methodology used to estimate the saleallowance for credit losses on held-to-maturity securities is presented in Note 2 – Investment securities.

80


FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
Trading securities, if any, are acquired for short-term appreciation and are recorded in a trading portfolio and are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in non-interest income.NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Continued
Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) on at least a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market conditions warrant such an evaluation.
For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, management considers the extent and duration of the unrealized loss, and the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer. Management alsoCompany first assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell athe security in an unrealized loss position before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirementCompany intends to sell the security or it is met,more likely than not that, the Company will be required to sell the security before recovering its cost basis, the entire difference between amortized costimpairment loss would be recognized in earnings. If the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that, the Company will be required to sell the security, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, management considers the extent to which fair value is recognized as impairment through earnings. For debt securitiesless than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that do not meeta credit loss exists, the aforementioned criteria,present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. Projected cash flows are discounted by the current effective interest rate. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount ofthat the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. The remaining impairment is split into two components as follows: (1) OTTI related to credit loss, which must be recognized in the income statement; and (2) OTTI related toall other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income. The credit loss is defined as the difference between the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected and fair value, is recognized as a charge to AOCI.

Changes in the amortized cost basis. Forallowance for credit losses-securities are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit losses. Losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the non-collectability of an available-for-sale security is confirmed or when either criteria regarding intent of requirement to sell is met.

Non-marketable equity securities — Non-marketable equity securities primarily consist of Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock. FHLB stock is restricted because such stock may only be sold to FHLB at its par value. Due to the entire amountrestrictive terms, and the lack of impairmenta readily determinable market value, FHLB stock is recognizedcarried at cost. The investments in FHLB stock are required investments related to the Bank’s borrowings from FHLB. FHLB obtains its funding primarily through earnings.issuance of consolidated obligations of the FHLB system. The U.S. government does not guarantee these obligations, and each of the regional FHLBs are jointly and severally liable for repayment of each other’s debt.


Loans & Leases
and leases held for investmentLoans & leasesthat management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off are reported at their outstanding principal balance adjusted for any charge-offs, the allowance for loan losses, any deferred fees or costs on originated loans and unamortized premiums or discounts on acquired loans. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal amount outstandingbalance. Loan origination fees, net of unearned discounts and deferred loan & lease fees and costs. Interest income on loans & leases is accrued daily on the outstanding balances using the simple interest method. Loan & leasecertain direct origination feescosts, are deferred and recognized overas an adjustment of the contractual liferelated loan yield using the effective interest method.

Non-Accrual Loans and Leases - Accrual of theinterest on loans and leases is generally discontinued when a loan or lease as an adjustment to the yield. Loans & leases are placed on non-accrual status when the collection of principal or interest is in doubt or when they becomebecomes contractually past due forby 90 days or more unless theywith respect to interest or principal. When loans and leases are both well-secured90 days past due, but in management’s judgment are well secured and in the process of collection. For this purpose, a loan or lease is considered well-secured if it is collateralized by property having a net realizable value in excess of the amount of the loan or lease or is guaranteed by a financially capable party.collection, they may not be classified as non-accrual. When a loan or lease is placed on non-accrual status, theall interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed. Income on such loans and unpaid interest receivableleases is reversed and charged against current income; thereafter, interest income isthen recognized only as it is collected in cash. Additionally, cash would be applied to principal if all principal was not expected to be collected. Loans & leases placed on non-accrual status are returned to accrual status when the loans or leases are paid current as to principal and interest and future payments are expected to be made in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan or lease.

A loan or lease is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due, including principal and interest, according to the contractual termsextent that cash is received and where the future collection of the original agreement. Impaired loans & leases are either: (1) non-accrual loans & leases; or (2) restructured loans & leases that are still accruing interest. Loans or leases determined to be impaired are individually evaluated for impairment. When a loan or leaseprincipal is impaired, the Company measures impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan or lease's effective interest rate, except that as a practical expedient, it may measure impairment based on a loan or lease's observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan or lease is collateral dependent. A loan or lease is collateral dependent if the repayment of the loan or lease is expected to be provided solely by the underlying collateral.probable.


68
81

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Continued

Restructured loan and leases
A restructuring of a loan or lease constitutes a troubled debt restructuring (TDR)TDR under ASC 310-40, if the Company for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s (the term “borrower” is used herein to describe a customer who has entered into either a loan or lease transaction)debtor’s financial difficulties grants a concession to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider.consider, except when subject to the CARES Act and H.R. 133, as discussed below. Restructured loans &or leases typically present an elevated level of credit risk, as the borrowers are not able to perform according to the original contractual terms. If the restructured loan or lease was current on all payments at the time of restructure and management reasonably expects the borrower will continue to perform after the restructure, management may keep the loan or lease on accrual. Loans &and leases that are on nonaccrualnon-accrual status at the time they become TDR loans or leases, remain on nonaccrualnon-accrual status until the borrower demonstrates a sustained period of performance, which the Company generally believes to be six consecutive months of payments, or equivalent. A loan or lease can be removed from TDR status if it was restructured at a market rate in a prior calendar year and is currently in compliance with its modified terms. However, these loans or leases continue to be classified as impairedcollateral dependent and are individually evaluated for impairment as described above.impairment.


Generally, the Company will not restructure loans or leases for borrowers unless: (1) the existing loan or lease is brought current as to principal and interest payments; and (2) the restructured loan or lease can be underwritten to reasonable underwriting standards. If these standards are not met other actions will be pursued (e.g., foreclosure) to collect outstanding loan or lease amounts. After restructure, a determination is made whether the loan or lease will be kept on accrual status based upon the underwriting and historical performance of the restructured credit.


On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law and was amended and extended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (“H.R. 133”) on December 21, 2020. The CARES Act and H.R. 133 provide financial institutions, under specific circumstances, the opportunity to temporarily suspend certain requirements under generally accepted accounting principles related to modifications for a limited period to account for the effects of COVID-19. In March 2020, a joint statement was issued by federal and state regulatory agencies, after consultation with the FASB, to clarify that short-term loan modifications are not TDRs if made on a good-faith basis in response to COVID-19 to borrowers who were current prior to any relief. Under this guidance, six months is provided as an example of short-term, and current is defined as less than 30 days past due at the time the modification program is implemented. The guidance also provides that these modified loans generally will not be classified as nonaccrual during the term of the modification. As of December 31, 2022, all loans that were restructured as part of the CARES Act have returned to the contractual terms and conditions of the loans, without exception.

82

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Continued

Allowance for Credit Losses
Loans The allowancemethodology for credit losses is an estimate of probable incurred credit losses inherent in the Company's loan & lease portfolio as of the balance sheet date. The allowance is established through a provision for credit losses, which is charged to expense. Additions to the allowance are expected to maintain the adequacy of the total allowance after credit losses and loan & lease growth. Credit exposures determined to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance. Cash received on previously charged off amounts is recorded as a recovery to the allowance. The overall allowance consists of three primary components: specific reserves related to impaired loans & leases; general reserves for inherent losses related to loans & leases that are not impaired; and an unallocated component that takes into account the imprecision in estimating and allocating allowance balances associated with macro factors.

The determination of the general reserve for loans & leases that are collectively evaluated for impairment is based on estimates made by management, to include, but not limited to, consideration of historical losses by portfolio segment, internal asset classifications, qualitative factors that include economic trends in the Company's service areas, industry experience and trends, geographic concentrations, estimated collateral values, the Company's underwriting policies, the character of the loan & lease portfolio, and probable losses inherent in the portfolio taken as a whole.

The Company maintains a separate allowance for each portfolio segment (loan & lease type). These portfolio segments include: (1) commercial real estate; (2) agricultural real estate; (3) real estate construction (including land and development loans); (4) residential 1st mortgages; (5) home equity lines and loans; (6) agricultural; (7) commercial; (8) consumer and other; and (9) equipment leases. The allowance for credit losses attributable to each portfolio segment, which includes both individually evaluated impaired loans & leases and loans & leases that are collectively evaluated for impairment, is combined to determine the Company's overall allowance, which is included on the consolidated balance sheet.

The Company assigns a risk rating to all loans & leases and periodically performs detailed reviews of all such loans & leases over a certain threshold to identify credit risks and assess overall collectability. For smaller balance loans & leases, such as consumer and residential real estate, a credit grade is established at inception, and then updated only when the loan or lease becomes contractually delinquent or when the borrower requests a modification. For larger balance loans, management monitors and analyzes the financial condition of borrowers and guarantors, trends in the industries in which borrowers operate and the fair values of collateral securing these loans & leases. These credit quality indicators are used to assign a risk rating to each individual loan or lease. These risk ratings are also subject to examination by independent specialists engaged by the Company. The risk ratings can be grouped into five major categories, defined as follows:

Pass – A pass loan or lease is a strong credit with no existing or known potential weaknesses deserving of management's close attention.
Special Mention – A special mention loan or lease has potential weaknesses that deserve management's close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or lease or in the Company's credit position at some future date. Special mention loans & leases are not adversely classified and do not expose the Company to sufficient risk to warrant adverse classification.
Substandard – A substandard loan or lease is not adequately protected by the current financial condition and paying capacity of the borrower or the value of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans or leases classified as substandard have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. Well-defined weaknesses include a project's lack of marketability, inadequate cash flow or collateral support, failure to complete construction on time or the project's failure to fulfill economic expectations. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.
Doubtful – Loans or leases classified doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, based on currently known facts, conditions and values, highly questionable or improbable.

Loss – Loans or leases classified as loss are considered uncollectible. Once a loan or lease becomes delinquent and repayment becomes questionable, the Company will address collateral shortfalls with the borrower and attempt to obtain additional collateral. If this is not forthcoming and payment in full is unlikely, the Company will estimate its probable loss and immediately charge-off some or all of the balance.

The general reserve component ofdetermining the allowance for credit losses also consists of reserve factors that are based(“ACL”) on management's assessmentloans is considered a critical accounting policy by Management because of the followinghigh degree of judgment involved. The subjectivity of the assumptions used and the potential for each portfolio segment: (1) inherent credit risk; (2) historical losses; and (3) other qualitative factors. These reserve factors are inherently subjective and are driven bychanges in the repayment risk associated with each portfolio segment described below:

Commercial Real Estate – Commercial real estate mortgage loans are generally considered to possess a higher inherent risk of loss than the Company’s commercial, agricultural and consumer loan types. Adverse economic developments or an overbuilt market impact commercial real estate projects and mayenvironment could result in troubled loans. Trends in vacancy rateschanges to the amount of commercial properties impact the credit qualityrecorded ACL. Among the material estimates required to establish the ACL are: (i) a reasonable and supportable forecast; (ii) a reasonable and supportable forecast period and the reversion period; (iii) value of collateral; strength of guarantors; (iv) the amount and timing of future cash flows for loans individually evaluated; and (v) the determination of the qualitative loss factors. All of these loans. High vacancy rates reduce operating revenues andestimates are susceptible to significant change.

The Company has established systematic methodologies for the ability for properties to produce sufficient cash flow to service debt obligations.

Real Estate Construction – Real estate construction loans, including land loans, are generally considered to possess a higher inherent riskdetermination of loss than the Company’s commercial, agricultural and consumer loan types. A major risk arises from the necessity to complete projects within specified cost and time lines. Trends in the construction industry significantly impact the credit quality of these loans, as demand drives construction activity. In addition, trends in real estate values significantly impact the credit quality of these loans, as property values determine the economic viability of construction projects.

Commercial – These loans are generally considered to possess a moderate inherent risk of loss because they are shorter-term; typically made to relationship customers; generally underwritten to existing cash flows of operating businesses; and may be collateralized by fixed assets, inventory and/or accounts receivable. Debt coverage is provided by business cash flows and economic trends influenced by unemployment rates and other key economic indicators are closely correlated to the credit quality of these loans.

Agricultural Real Estate and Agricultural – These loans are generally considered to possess a moderate inherent risk of loss since they are typically made to relationship customers and are secured by crop production, livestock and related real estate. These loans are vulnerable to two risk factors that are largely outside the control of Company and borrowers: commodity prices and weather conditions.

Leases – Equipment leases are generally considered to possess a moderate inherent risk of loss. As lessor, the Company is subject to both the credit risk of the borrower and the residual value risk of the equipment. Credit risks are underwritten using the same credit criteria the Company would use when making an equipment term loan. Residual value risk is managed through the use of qualified, independent appraisers that establish the residual values the Company uses in structuring a lease.

Residential 1st Mortgages and Home Equity Lines and Loans – These loans are generally considered to possess a low inherent risk of loss, although this is not always true as evidenced by the correction in residential real estate values that occurred between 2007 and 2012. The degree of risk in residential real estate lending depends primarily on the loan amount in relation to collateral value, the interest rate and the borrower's ability to repay in an orderly fashion. Economic trends determined by unemployment rates and other key economic indicators are closely correlated to the credit quality of these loans. Weak economic trends indicate that the borrowers' capacity to repay their obligations may be deteriorating.
Consumer & Other – A consumer installment loan portfolio is usually comprised of a large number of small loans scheduled to be amortized over a specific period. Most installment loans are made for consumer purchases. Economic trends determined by unemployment rates and other key economic indicators are closely correlated to the credit quality of these loans. Weak economic trends indicate that the borrowers' capacity to repay their obligations may be deteriorating.

At least quarterly, the Board of Directors reviews the adequacy of the ACL. The methodologies are set forth in a formal policy and take into consideration the need for a valuation allowance including considerationfor loans evaluated on a collective (pool) basis, which have similar risk characteristics as well as allowances to individual loans that do not share risk characteristics.

The ACL is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans to present the relative risks innet amount expected to be collected on the portfolio, current economic conditions and other factors. Ifloans. The provision for credit losses reflects the Boardamount required to maintain the ACL at an appropriate level based upon management’s evaluation of Directors and management determine that changes are warranted based on those reviews, the allowance is adjusted. In addition, the Company's and Bank's regulators, including the Federal Reserve Board (“FRB”), the California Department of Business Oversight (“DBO”) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), as an integral part of their examination process, review the adequacy of loss reserves. The Company increases its ACL by charging provisions for credit losses on its consolidated statement of income. Losses related to specific assets are applied as a reduction of the allowance. These regulatory agencies may require additionscarrying value of the assets and charged against the ACL when management believes a loan balance is uncollectable. Recoveries on previously charged off loans are credited to the allowance based on their judgment aboutACL.

Management estimates the ACL using relevant available information, availablefrom internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Historical credit loss experience, either internal or peer information, provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. Adjustments to historical loss information are made, using qualitative factors, when management expects current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts to differ from the conditions that existed for the period over which historical information was evaluated. The ACL is maintained at the time of their examinations.

Acquired Loans
Loans acquired through purchase or through a business combination are recorded at their fair value at the acquisition date. Credit discounts, which reflect estimates oflevel sufficient to provide for expected credit losses expected to be incurred over the life of the loan are includedbased on evaluating historical credit loss experience and making adjustments to historical loss information for differences in the determination of fair value; therefore, an allowance forspecific risk characteristics in the current loan losses is not recorded atportfolio. These factors include, among others, changes in the acquisition date.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposures
The Company also maintains a separate allowance for off-balance-sheet commitments. Management estimates anticipated losses using historical datasize and utilization assumptions. The allowance for off-balance-sheet commitments is included in Interest Payable and Other Liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Premises and Equipment
Premises, equipment, and leasehold improvements are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed principally by the straight-line method over the estimated useful livescomposition of the assets. Estimated useful lives of buildings range from 30 to 40 years,loan portfolio, differences in underwriting standards, delinquency rates, actual loss experience and for furniture and equipment from 3 to 7 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized overcurrent economic conditions.

On January 1, 2022, the lesser of the terms of the respective leases, or their useful lives, which are generally 5 to 10 years. Remodeling and capital improvements are capitalized while maintenance and repairs are charged directly to occupancy expense.

Other Real Estate
Other real estate, which is included in other assets, is expected to be sold and is comprised of properties no longer utilized for business operations and property acquired through foreclosure in satisfaction of indebtedness. These properties are recorded at fair value less estimated selling costs upon acquisition. Revised estimates to the fair value less cost to sell are reported as adjustments to the carrying amount of the asset, provided that such adjusted value is not in excess of the carrying amount at acquisition. Initial losses on properties acquired through full or partial satisfaction of debt are treated as credit losses and charged to the allowance for credit losses at the time of acquisition. Subsequent declines in value from the recorded amounts, routine holding costs, and gains or losses upon disposition, if any, are included in non-interest expense as incurred.

Income Taxes
The Company uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes. This method results in the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities that are reflected at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the provision for income taxes. The deferred provision for income taxes is the result of the net change in the deferred tax asset and deferred tax liability balances during the year. This amount combined with the current taxes payable or refundable results in the income tax expense for the current year.

The Company follows the standards set forth in the “Income Taxes” topic ofadopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard CodificationStandards Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, as amended, which replaces the incurred loss methodology that delays recognition until it is probable a loss has been incurred with an expected loss methodology that is referred to as CECL. Both the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“ASC”FASB Staff Q&A Topic 326, No. 1”) and the federal financial institution regulatory agencies (“Financial Institution Letter FIL-17-2019”), which clarifiesalong with the accounting for uncertaintySecurities and Exchange Commission, have confirmed that smaller, less complex organizations are not required to implement complex models, developed by outside vendors to calculate current expected credit losses. Accordingly, in income taxes recognizedadopting ASU 2016-13 (Topic 326) Management determined that the Weighted Average Remaining Maturity (“WARM”) method was most appropriate given the Company’s current size and complexity.

Management will incorporate reasonable and supportable information in an enterprise’s financial statements.order to calculate CECL reserves. This standard prescribes a recognition thresholdincludes the ability to reliably forecast and measurement standard fordocument exogenous events that may affect the financial statement recognition and measurementcredit performance of an income tax position taken or expectedthe Company’s loan portfolio. Management is confident with its ability to be taken in a tax return. It also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.effectively identify
71
83

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Continued

historical loss information by the appropriate portfolio segmentation. In addition, Management believes that it can reasonably obtain historical loss information by its respective peers to further improve historical loss information. Additionally, the Company believes that it can effectively evaluate the potential impact that both macro and micro-economic conditions can have on its loan portfolio. Management is also comfortable that it can rely on weighted average maturity calculations, including estimated prepayments with its existing third party Asset/Liability Management (“ALM”) applications.

Management determined that the most effective approach to segment its portfolio and to extract the relevant information it needed to calculate its CECL reserves was to utilize the seventeen loan segments used in preparing regulatory Call Reports. This allows Management the ability to obtain historical loss information for itself as well as its peer group. Additionally, Management’s ALM application also utilizes a similar loan segmentation in calculating weighted average remaining terms.

The foundation of CECL modeling is the ability to estimate expected credit losses over the lifetime of a loan. Management must use relevant available information about past events (e.g. historical losses) current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts about future conditions. Historical losses serve as the starting point to estimate expected credit losses. When available, historical losses should include cumulative actual losses incurred over the lifetime of the various loan segments of the loans being evaluated. In cases where such information is not available, companies may need to rely on external data, such as peer data of historical losses for similar loan segments.

Management has determined to use a “through-the-cycle” historical credit loss experience as its baseline for historical credit losses. Management has determined a representative period for a full credit cycle would be from 2008 to 2022 (fifteen-year credit cycle). Management has collected historical loss information on its own loan portfolio as well as peer group information by the seventeen loan segments over this time horizon using information available from the Federal regulators on the Uniform Bank Performance Report (“UBPR”).

Federal Regulators have placed the Company into a peer group of banks with assets between $3 billion to $10 billion. This peer group segmentation includes 181 banks across the nation. The model calculates the mean historical loss rate over the 15-year economic cycle for both the Bank and its peer group. The model calculates the stressed historical loss rate over the 15-year economic cycle for both the Bank and its peer group.

Management evaluates macro and micro economic information as well as internal trends in credit performance on the Company’s loan portfolio to determine where they believe it is in an economic credit cycle. Depending upon estimations of what point in the credit cycle the current economy may exist, management adjusts, on a quantitative basis, historical loss rates either upwards or downwards from the mean. If Management believes we are nearing the end on a credit cycle, the Company may adjust historical losses in increments higher from the mean (e.g. one standard deviation from the mean). If the Company believes that we are in the recovery stage of a credit cycle, it may adjust historical losses downwards from the mean. Management understands that historical credit losses may not exactly follow a normal bell-shaped curve, but that the approach provides consistency across all loan segments as well as a measured probability of credit loss coverage.

Management evaluated current economic metrics as its basis to determine that it believes that the U.S. economy is at the beginning of an economic recession. Based on this determination, management has used a one-standard deviation from the mean to capture 68.2% of all credit losses over the 15-year economic cycle.
84

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
The Company accounts
Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Continued

Management used the duration of each loan segment to estimate the remaining life of loans to ensure that the model covers credit losses over the expected life of such loans.

Management will continue to employ the use of qualitative factors as defined by the Interagency Policy Statement on the Allowance for leasesLoan and Lease Losses (“SR 2006-17”). Management will consider qualitative or environmental factors that are likely to cause estimated credit losses associated with Investment Tax Credits (ITC) underour existing portfolio to differ from historical loss experience, as defined in the deferredInteragency Guidance, including but not limited to:

Changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collection, charge-off, and recovery practices not considered elsewhere in estimating credit losses.

Changes in international, national, regional, and local economic and business conditions and developments that affect the collectability of the portfolio, including the condition of various market segments.

Changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio and in the terms of loans.

Changes in the experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff.

Changes in the volume and severity of past due loans, the volume of non-accrual loans, and the volume and severity of adversely classified or graded loans.

Changes in the quality of the institution’s loan review system.

Changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral-dependent loans.

The existence and effect of any concentrations of credit, and changes in the level of such concentrations.

The effect of other external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in the institution’s existing portfolio.

These qualitative factors are applied primarily to our agriculture and agricultural real estate loan exposure.

Premises and equipment — Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense is computed using the straight-line method as established in ASC 740-10. ITC are viewed and accounted for as a reduction ofbased on the costestimated useful lives of the related assets below:
Building and building improvements30 to 40 years
Leasehold improvementsterm of lease
Furniture and equipment3 to 7 years
Computers, software and equipment3 to 7 years

Maintenance and presentedrepairs are expensed as deferredincurred while major additions and improvements are capitalized.
85

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Continued

Bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”)— The Bank has purchased life insurance policies. These policies provide protection against the adverse financial effects that could result from the death of a key employee and provide tax-exempt income onto offset expenses associated with certain employee benefit plans. It is the Company’s financial statement.

WhenBank’s intent to hold these policies as a long-term investment; however, there may be an income tax returnsimpact if the Bank chooses to surrender certain policies. Although the lives of individual current or former management-level employees are filed, itinsured, the Bank is highly certain that some positions taken would be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, while others are subject to uncertainty aboutowner and sole or partial beneficiary. BOLI is carried at the meritscash surrender value (“CSV”) of the position taken orunderlying insurance contract. Changes in the amountCSV and any death benefits received in excess of the position that would be ultimately sustained. The benefitCSV are recognized as non-interest income.

Goodwill — Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase considerations paid over the fair value of the assets acquired, net of the fair values of liabilities assumed in a tax positionbusiness combination and is recognized in the financial statements in the period during which, based on all available evidence, management believesnot amortized but is reviewed annually as of December 31, or more frequently as current circumstances and conditions warrant, for impairment. An assessment of qualitative factors is completed to determine if it is more likely than not that, the positionfair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the qualitative analysis concludes that further analysis is required, then a quantitative impairment test would be completed. The quantitative goodwill impairment compares the reporting unit’s estimated fair values, including goodwill, to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds its reporting unit’s fair value, then an impairment loss would be recognized as a charge to earnings but is limited by the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

Other intangible assets — Other intangible assets consist primarily of core deposit intangibles (“CDI”), which are amounts recorded in business combinations or deposit purchase transactions related to the value of transaction-related deposits and the value of the client relationships associated with the deposits. Core deposit intangibles are amortized over the estimated useful lives of such deposits. These assets are reviewed at least annually for events or circumstances that could affect their recoverability. These events could include loss of the underlying core deposits, increased competition or adverse changes in the economy. The amortization of our CDI is recorded in other non-interest expense. To the extent other identifiable intangible assets are deemed unrecoverable; impairment losses are recorded in other non-interest expense to reduce the carrying amount of the assets.

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

Right of use lease asset & lease liability— The Company leases retail space and office space under operating leases. Most leases require the Company to pay real estate taxes, maintenance, insurance and other similar costs in addition to the base rent. Certain leases also contain lease incentives, such as tenant improvement allowances and rent abatement. Variable lease payments are recognized as lease expense as they are incurred.

We record an operating lease right of use (“ROU”) asset and an operating lease liability (lease liability) for operating leases with a lease term greater than 12 months. The ROU asset and lease liability are recorded in other assets and other liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated statements of financial condition. ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized
86

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Continued

at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Accordingly, ROU assets are reduced by tenant improvement allowances from property owners plus any prepaid rent. We do not separate lease and non-lease components of contracts. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we generally use our incremental borrowing rate based on the estimated rate of interest for collateralized borrowing over a similar term of the lease payments at commencement date. Many of our leases contain various provisions for increases in rental rates, based either on changes in the published Consumer Price Index or a predetermined escalation schedule, which are factored into our determination of lease payments when appropriate. A majority of the leases provide the Company with the option to extend the lease term one or more times following expiration of the initial term. The ROU asset and lease liability terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Off-balance sheet credit related financial instruments — In the ordinary course of business, the Company has entered into commitments to extend credit, including commitments under credit card arrangements, commercial letters of credit, and standby letters of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

Allowance for credit losses - unfunded loan commitments — An allowance for credit losses - unfunded loan commitments is maintained at a level that, in the opinion of management, is adequate to absorb current expected credit losses associated with the contractual life of the Banks’ commitments to lend funds under existing agreements such as letters or lines of credit. The Banks use a methodology for determining the allowance for credit losses - unfunded loan commitments that applies the same segmentation and loss rate to each pool as the funded exposure adjusted for probability of funding. Draws on unfunded loan commitments that are considered uncollectible at the time funds are advanced are charged to the allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet exposures. Provisions for credit losses - unfunded loan commitments are recognized in non-interest expense and added to the allowance for credit losses - unfunded loan commitments, which is included in other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

Revenue from contracts with customers— The Company records revenue from contracts with customers in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“Topic 606”). Under Topic 606, the Company must identify the contract with a customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation. Significant revenue has not been recognized in the current reporting period that results from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods.

The Company’s primary sources of revenue are derived from interest and dividends earned on loans, investment securities, and other financial instruments that are not within the scope of Topic 606. The Company has evaluated the nature of its contracts with customers and determined that further disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers into more granular categories beyond what is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income was not necessary. The Company generally fully satisfies its performance obligations on its contracts with customers as services are rendered and the transaction prices are typically fixed; charged either on a periodic basis or based on activity. Because performance obligations are satisfied as services are rendered and the transaction prices are fixed, there is limited judgment involved in applying Topic 606 that significantly affects the determination of the amount and timing of revenue from contracts with customers.
87

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Continued

Income taxesDeferred income tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities represent the tax effect of temporary differences between financial reporting and tax reporting measured at enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company recognizes only the impact of tax positions that, based on their technical merits, are more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including the resolution of appeals or litigation processes, if any. Tax positions taken are not offset or aggregated with other positions. Tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold are measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement with the applicable taxing authority. The portion of the benefits associated with tax positions taken that exceeds the amount measured as described above is reflected as a liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet along with any associated interest and penalties that would be payable toan audit by the taxing authorities upon examination.authority.


Interest expense and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits, if any, are included inDeveloping the provision for income taxes, including the effective tax rate and analysis of potential tax exposure items, if any, requires significant judgment and expertise in federal and state income tax laws, regulations and strategies, including the determination of deferred income tax assets and liabilities and any estimated valuation allowances deemed necessary to value deferred income tax assets.  Judgments and tax strategies are subject to audit by various taxing authorities. While the Company believes it has no significant uncertain income tax positions in the Consolidated Statementsconsolidated financial statements, adverse determinations by these taxing authorities could have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial positions, result of Income.operations, or cash flows.


Basic Earnings Per Common Share
and diluted earnings per common shareThe Company’s common stock is not traded on any exchange. However, trades are reported on the OTCQX under the symbol “FMCB.” The shares are primarily held by local residents and are not actively traded. Basic earnings per common share amounts are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. There are no common stock equivalent shares. Therefore, there is no difference between presentation of diluted and basic earnings per common share. See Note 16

Comprehensive income— The “Comprehensive Income” topic of the FASB ASC establishes standards for additional information.the reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components in the financial statements. Other comprehensive income refers to revenues, expenses, gains, and losses that U.S. GAAP recognize as changes in value to an enterprise but are excluded from net income. For the Company, comprehensive income includes net income and changes in fair value of its available-for-sale investment securities and amortization of net unrealized gains or losses on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity, net of related taxes.


Segment Reporting
reportingThe “Segment Reporting” topic of the FASB ASC requires that public companies report certain information about operating segments. It also requires that public companies report certain information about their products and services, the geographic areas in which they operate, and their major customers.

The Company is a holding company for a community bank, which offers a wide array of products and services to its customers. Pursuant to its banking strategy, emphasis is placed on building relationships with its customers, as opposed to building specific lines of business. As a result, the Company is not organized around discernible lines of business and prefers to workoperates as an integrated unit to customize solutions for its customers, with business line emphasis and product offerings changing over time as customer needs and demands change. Therefore, the Company only reports one segment.


Low Income Housing Tax Credit Investments (LIHTC)
The Company accounts for its interest in LIHTC using the cost method as established in ASC 323-740. As an investor, the Company obtains income tax credits and deductions from the operating losses of these tax credit entities. The income tax credits and deductions are allocated to the investors based on their ownership percentages and are recorded as a reduction of income tax expense (or an increase to income tax benefit) and a reduction of federal income taxes payable.

Comprehensive Income
The “Comprehensive Income” topic of the FASB ASC establishes standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components in the financial statements. Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenues, expenses, gains, and losses that U.S. GAAP recognize as changes in value to an enterprise but are excluded from net income. For the Company, comprehensive income includes net income and changes in fair value of its available-for-sale investment securities.
Loss Contingencies
contingenciesLoss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Management does not believe there now are any such mattersloss contingencies that will have a material and adverse effect on the consolidated financial statements.
88

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Continued

Advertising costs — Advertising costs are expensed when incurred and totaled $1.3 million in 2022, $1.1 million in 2021, and $0.9 million in 2020.

Accounting Standards Pending Adoption — The following paragraphs provide descriptions of newly issued but not yet effective accounting standards that could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.position or results of operations.


In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848). The amendments in this ASU are elective and provide optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform. The amendments in this ASU provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. ASU 2020-04 was effective upon issuance and, based upon the amendments provided in ASU 2022-06 discussed below, can generally be applied through December 31, 2024.  We have not elected to apply these amendments. However, we will assess the applicability of the ASU to us and continue to monitor guidance for reference rate reform from the FASB and its impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Business Combinations And Related Matters
Business combinationsIn January 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848). The main amendments in this ASU are accountedintended to clarify certain optional expedients and scope of derivative instruments. The amendments are elective and effective immediately upon issuance of this ASU. ASU 2021-01 was effective upon issuance and, based upon the amendments provided in ASU 2022-06 discussed below, can generally be applied through December 31, 2024. We have not elected to apply these amendments; however, we will assess the applicability of this ASU to us as we continue to monitor guidance for underreference rate reform from the acquisition methodFASB and its impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

In March 2022, the FASB issued guidance within ASU 2022-02, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures. The amendments in this ASU eliminate the current troubled debt restructuring (TDR) recognition and measurement guidance and, instead, require that a creditor evaluate (consistent with the accounting for other loan modifications) whether the modification represents a new loan or a continuation of an existing loan. The amendments also introduce new requirements related to certain modifications of receivables made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty.

These amendments require vintage disclosures including current-period gross write-offs by year of origination for financing receivables. Gross write-off information must be included in the vintage disclosures in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. Under326-20-50-6, which requires disclosure of the acquisitionamortized cost basis of financing receivables by credit quality indicator and class of financing receivable by year of origination. The Company has elected to adopt this portion of the amendments in the current year.

The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. These amendments should be applied prospectively, though for the transition method related to the acquiringrecognition and measurement of TDRs, an entity has the option to apply a modified retrospective transition method, resulting in a business combination recognizes 100 percentcumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings in the period of adoption.

Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity elects to early adopt in an interim period, the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, regardless of the percentage owned, at their estimated fair valuesguidance should be applied as of the date of acquisition. Any excessbeginning of the fair value overfiscal year that includes the purchase priceinterim

89

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Continued

period. An entity may elect to early adopt the amendments about TDRs and other identifiable intangible assets acquiredrelated disclosure enhancements separately from the amendments related to the vintage disclosures. ASU 2022-02 will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2023. The adoption of this ASU is recorded as bargain purchase gain. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed from contingencies must also be recognizednot expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2022, the FASB issued guidance within ASU 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to contractual Sale Restrictions. The amendments in this ASU affect all entities that have investments in equity securities measured at fair value ifthat are subject to a contractual sale restriction. These amendments clarify that a contractual restriction on the fair value can be determined during the measurement period. Results of operationssale of an acquired businessequity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security and, therefore, is not considered in measuring fair value.

The amendments in this ASU are included ineffective for fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance.  The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have material impact on the statementCompany’s consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2022-06, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of operations from the Sunset Date of Topic 848.” ASU 2022-06 extends the period of time preparers can utilize the reference rate reform relief guidance provided by ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2021-01, which are discussed above. ASU 2022-06, which was effective upon issuance, defers the sunset date of acquisition. Acquisition-related costs, including conversion charges,this prior guidance from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024, after which entities will no longer be permitted to apply the relief guidance in Topic 848. We have not elected to apply amendments at this time, however, will assess the applicability of this ASU to us as we continue to monitor guidance for reference rate reform from FASB and its impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

Adoption of New Accounting Standard — The Accounting Standards Codification™ (“ASC”) is the FASB officially recognized source of authoritative GAAP applicable to all public and non-public non-governmental entities.  Periodically, the FASB will issue Accounting Standard Updates (“ASU”) to its ASC. Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under the authority of the federal securities laws are expensedalso sources of authoritative GAAP for the Company as incurred.an SEC registrant. All other accounting literature is non-authoritative.

On January 1, 2022, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of  Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, as amended, which replaces the incurred loss methodology that delays recognition until it is probable a loss has been incurred with an expected loss methodology that is referred to as CECL. The Company applied this guidanceadopted ASC 326 using the modified retrospective method for all financials assets measured at amortized cost and off-balance sheet credit exposures. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2022 are presented under ASC 326 while prior period amounts continue to the acquisition of Delta National Bancorp that was consummated on November 18, 2016. The Company's consolidated financial statements reflect the operations of Delta National Bancorp from November 19, 2016 through December 31, 2016.be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP.


Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are comprised of core deposit intangibles acquired in the Delta National Bancorp acquisition. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives. If an event occurs that indicates the carrying amount of an intangible asset may not be recoverable, management reviews the asset for impairment.

2. Business Combinations

Delta National Bancorp

On November 18, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of Delta National Bancorp. Delta National Bancorp was incorporated under the laws of the State of California on December 21, 1981, for the purpose of serving as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Act of 1956. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Delta Bank, N.A., operated as a commercial bank with branches in the cities of Manteca, Riverbank, Turlock, and Modesto, California. The acquisition enhances our market presence and added $32.4 million in loans, $103.7 million in deposits and $38.7 million in investment securities to the Company. Effective December 9, 2016, the Modesto branch was closed afterIn adopting ASU 2016-13 (Topic 326) Management determined that our customersthe Weighted Average Remaining Maturity (“WARM”) method was most appropriate given the Company’s current size and complexity.

The implementation of CECL did not result in any material change in the business community could be easily supported from our current Modesto location. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed, both tangible and intangible, were recorded at their fair valuesamount of the Company’s December 31, 2021 Allowance for Credit Losses, therefore, no adjustment to Shareholders’ Equity was made as of the acquisition date in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. The acquisition was treated as a "reorganization" within the meaning of section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code and is considered tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes.January 1, 2022.
73
90

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
3. Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Continued

The main objective of this ASU is to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. The ASU affects loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance-sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables, and any other financial asset not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The ASU replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in previous GAAP with CECL, a methodology that reflects current expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. This ASU requires a financial asset (or group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. This ASU broadens the information that an entity must consider in developing its expected credit loss estimate for assets measured either collectively or individually. The use of forecasted information incorporates more timely information in the estimate of expected credit loss, which will be more decision useful to users of the financial statements.

The following table illustrates the pre-tax impact of the adoption of this ASU:


 January-2022 
(Dollars in thousands) 
Reported under ASC
326
  
Reported
Pre-
Adoption
  
Impact of
ASC 326
Adoption
 
Allowance for credit losses:         
Real estate:         
Commercial $(17,379) $(28,536) $11,157 
Agricultural  (14,580)  (9,613)  (4,967)
Residential and home equity  (5,879)  (2,847)  (3,032)
Construction  (3,311)  (1,456)  (1,855)
Total real estate  (41,149)  (42,452)  1,303 
Commercial & industrial  (11,417)  (11,489)  72 
Agricultural  (6,363)  (5,465)  (898)
Commercial leases  (1,567)  (938)  (629)
Consumer and other  (511)  (663)  152 
Total allowance for credit losses on loans
 $(61,007) $(61,007) $- 

91

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 2Investment Securities


The amortized cost, fair values, and unrealized gains and losses of the securities available-for-sale are as follows:
(in thousands)

 
  Gross Unrealized  
 
(Dollars in thousands) 
Amortized
Cost
  Gains  Losses  Fair Value 
As of December 31, 2022                
U.S. Treasury notes $4,989  $-  $25  $4,964 
U.S. Government-sponsored securities
  4,430   21   24   4,427 
Mortgage-backed securities(1)
  162,314   9   29,795   132,528 
Collateralized mortgage obligations(1)
  1,085   -   31   1,054 
Corporate securities
  10,043   -   462   9,581 
Other  310   -   -   310 
Total available-for-sale securities
 $183,171  $30  $30,337  $152,864 

(1)All mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations were issued by an agency or government sponsored entity of the U.S. Government.
December 31, 2017 
Amortized
Cost
  Gross Unrealized  
Fair/Book
Value
 
Gains  Losses
Government Agency & Government-Sponsored Entities $3,080  $48  $-  $3,128 
US Treasury Notes  144,606   -   442   144,164 
US Govt SBA  29,559   29   208   29,380 
Mortgage Backed Securities (1)
  302,502   939   1,527   301,914 
Other  3,010   -   -   3,010 
Total $482,757  $1,016  $2,177  $481,596 




 
  Gross Unrealized  
 
(Dollars in thousands) 
Amortized
Cost
  Gains  Losses  Fair Value 
As of December 31, 2021            
U.S. Treasury notes $9,938  $151  $-  $10,089 
U.S. Government-sponsored securities
  6,351   62   39   6,374 
Mortgage-backed securities(1)
  253,300   3,200   5,380   251,120 
Collateralized mortgage obligations(1)  2,412   24   -   2,436 
Other  435   -   -   435 
Total available-for-sale securities
 $272,436  $3,437  $5,419  $270,454 

December 31, 2016 
Amortized
Cost
  Gross Unrealized  
Fair/Book
Value
 
Gains  Losses
Government Agency & Government-Sponsored Entities $3,127  $114  $-  $3,241 
US Treasury Notes  134,755   5   332   134,428 
US Govt SBA  36,532   42   260   36,314 
Mortgage Backed Securities (1)
  272,858   1,725   1,313   273,270 
Other  1,010   -   -   1,010 
Total $448,282  $1,886  $1,905  $448,263 
(1)All mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations were issued by an agency or government sponsored entity of the U.S. Government.

(1)
All Mortgage Backed Securities were issued by an agency or government sponsored entity of the U.S. government.


The book values, estimated fair values and unrealized gains and losses of investments classified as held-to-maturity are as follows:(in thousands)
December 31, 2017
Book
Value
Gross Unrealized
Fair
Value
 
GainsLosses
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions $54,460  $776  $-  $55,236 
Total $54,460  $776  $-  $55,236 



    Gross Unrealized       
(Dollars in thousands) 
Amortized
Cost
  Gains  Losses  Fair Value  
Allowance
for Credit
Losses
 
As of December 31, 2022               
Municipal securities $62,302  $49  $209  $62,142  $393 
Mortgage-backed securities(1)
  702,858   29   141,121   561,766   - 
Collateralized mortgage obligations(1)
  80,186   -   15,701   64,485   - 
Total held-to-maturity securities $845,346  $78  $157,031  $688,393  $393 

December 31, 2016 
Book
Value
  Gross Unrealized  
Fair
Value
 
Gains  Losses
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions $58,109  $339  $40  $58,408 
Total $58,109  $339  $40  $58,408 


(1)All mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations were issued by an agency or government sponsored entity of the U.S. Government.
92

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Note 2—Investment Securities—Continued

 
   Gross Unrealized    
(Dollars in thousands) 
Amortized
Cost
  Gains  Losses  Fair Value 
As of December 31, 2021            
Municipal securities $66,496  $701  $-  $67,197 
Mortgage-backed securities(1)
  596,775   45   11,764   585,056 
Collateralized mortgage obligations(1)
  73,781   36   229   73,588 
Total held-to-maturity securities $737,052  $782  $11,993  $725,841 

(1) All mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations were issued by an agency or government sponsored entity of the U.S. Government.

The allowance for credit losses on held-to-maturity securities is a contra-asset valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of held-to-maturity securities to present the net amount expected to be collected. Management measures expected credit losses on held-to-maturity securities on a collective basis by major security type with each type sharing similar risk characteristics, and considers historical credit loss information that is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. With regard to residential mortgage-backed securities issued by the U.S. government, or agencies thereof, it is expected that the securities will not be settled at prices less than the amortized cost bases of the securities as such securities are backed by the full faith and credit of and/or guaranteed by the U.S. government. Accordingly, no allowance for credit losses has been recorded for these securities. With regard to securities issued by States and political subdivisions and other held-to-maturity securities, management considers (i) issuer bond ratings, (ii) historical loss rates for given bond ratings, (iii) whether issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments under the contractual terms of the securities, (iv) internal forecasts and (v) whether or not such securities are guaranteed or pre-refunded by the issuers.

Fair values are based on quoted market prices or dealer quotes. If a quoted market price or dealer quote is not available, fair value is estimated using quoted market prices for similar securities.

74
The following tables show the gross unrealized losses for available-for-sale securities, for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded, that are less than 12 months and 12 months or more:

 December 31, 2022 
  Less Than 12 Months  12 Months or More  Total 
(Dollars in thousands) Fair Value  
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value  
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value  
Unrealized
Losses
 
As of December 31, 2022                  
U.S.Treasury notes $4,964  $25  $-  $-  $4,964  $25 
U.S. Government-sponsored securities 
378  
1  
1,326  
23  
1,704  
24 
Mortgage-backed securities(1)
  35,117   1,639   96,589   28,156   131,706   29,795 
Collateralized mortgage obligations(1)
  1,054   31   -   -   1,054   31 
Corporate securities  -   -   9,581   462   9,581   462 
Total available-for-sale securities $41,513  $1,696  $107,496  $28,641  $149,009  $30,337

(1)All mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations were issued by an agency or government sponsored entity of the U.S. Government.

93

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 2—Investment Securities—Continued



 
December 31, 2021
 
  Less Than 12 Months  12 Months or More  Total 
(Dollars in thousands) Fair Value  
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value  
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value  
Unrealized
Losses
 
As of December 31, 2021                  
U.S. Government-sponsored securities $183  $-  $2,007  $39  $2,190  $39 
Mortgage-backed securities(1)
  61,469   1,192   104,489   4,188   165,958   5,380 
Total available-for-sale securities $61,652  $1,192  $106,496  $4,227  $168,148  $5,419 

(1)All mortgage-backed securities were issued by an agency or government sponsored entity of the U.S. Government.

As of December 31, 2022, the Company held 195 available-for-sale securities of which 94 were in an unrealized loss position for less than twelve months and 75 securities were in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or more without an allowance for credit losses. Because the decline in fair value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality and because the Company does not have the intent to sell these securities and it is more likely that it will not be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery, the Company does not consider these securities to impaired. Management evaluates the available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position, relying primarily on industry analyst reports and observations of market conditions and interest rate fluctuations.

The following table presents the activity in the allowance for credit losses for held-to-maturity debt securities by major type:

  
December 31, 2022        
 
(Dollars in thousands) Municipal
securities
  
Mortgage-backed
securities
  
Collateralized
mortgage
obligations
  Total 
Allowance for credit losses - securities            
Beginning Balance $-  $-  $-  $- 
Provision for credit losses  393   -   -   393 
Ending Balance $393  $-  $-  $393 

The amortized cost and estimated fair values of investment securities at December 31, 20172022 by contractual maturity are shown in the following tables. (in thousands)tables:

 Available-for-Sale  Held-to-Maturity 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amortized
Cost
  Fair Value  
Amortized
Cost
  Fair Value 
Securities maturing in:
            
One year or less
 $5,316  $5,290  $883  $883 
After one year through five years  27,290   26,094   8,058   8,004 
After five years through ten years  17,241   15,536   33,867   32,030 
After ten years  133,324   105,944   802,538   647,476 
Total
 $183,171  $152,864  $845,346  $688,393 
 
  Available-for-Sale   Held-to-Maturity 
December 31, 2017 
Amortized
Cost
  
Fair/Book
Value
  
Book
Value
  
Fair
Value
 
Within One Year $113,065  $112,989  $1,760  $1,769 
After One Year Through Five Years  30,207   29,979   8,659   8,664 
After Five Years Through Ten Years  13,044   12,922   14,155   14,347 
After Ten Years  23,939   23,792   29,886   30,456 
   180,255   179,682   54,460   55,236 
                 
Investment Securities Not Due at a Single Maturity Date:                
Mortgage Backed Securities  302,502   301,914   -   - 
Total $482,757  $481,596  $54,460  $55,236 

Expected maturities of mortgage-backed and CMO securities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.


94

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Note 2—Investment Securities—Continued


The following tables showCompany monitors the credit quality of those investments with gross unrealized losses and their market value aggregatedheld-to-maturity debt securities not issued by investment category and lengththe U.S. government or one of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at the dates indicated. (in thousands)
  Less Than 12 Months  12 Months or More  Total 
December 31, 2017 
Fair
Value
  
Unrealized
Loss
  
Fair
Value
  
Unrealized
Loss
  
Fair
Value
  
Unrealized
Loss
 
                   
Securities Available-for-Sale
                  
US Treasury Notes $94,281  $144  $49,883  $298  $144,164  $442 
US Govt SBA  8,379   51   12,900   157   21,279   208 
Mortgage Backed Securities  126,863   932   43,208   595   170,071   1,527 
Total $229,523  $1,127  $105,991  $1,050  $335,514  $2,177 

  Less Than 12 Months  12 Months or More  Total 
December 31, 2016 
Fair
Value
  
Unrealized
Loss
  
Fair
Value
  
Unrealized
Loss
  
Fair
Value
  
Unrealized
Loss
 
                   
Securities Available-for-Sale
                  
US Treasury Notes $99,429  $332  $-  $-  $99,429  $332 
US Govt SBA  27,483   260   -   -   27,483   260 
Mortgage Backed Securities  123,157   1,313   -   -   123,157   1,313 
Total $250,069  $1,905  $-  $-  $250,069  $1,905 
                         
Securities Held-to-Maturity
                        
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions $7,251  $40  $-  $-  $7,251  $40 
Total $7,251  $40  $-  $-  $7,251  $40 
As of December 31, 2017, the Company held 476 investment securities of which 97 were in an unrealized loss position for less than twelve months and 98 securities were in an unrealized loss position for twelve monthsits agencies or more. Management periodically evaluates each investment security for other-than-temporary impairment relying primarily on industry analyst reports and observations of market conditions and interest rate fluctuations. Management believes it will be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the underlying investment securities.

Securities of Government Agency and Government Sponsored Entities – At December 31, 2017, no securities of government agency and government sponsored entities, were in a loss position for less than 12 monthsthrough the use of credit ratings. Credit ratings are reviewed and none were in a loss position for 12 months or more. There were no unrealized losses on the Company's investments in securities of government agency and government sponsored entities at December 31, 2017 or December 31, 2016. Repayment of these investments is guaranteed by an agency or government sponsored entity of the U.S. government. Accordingly, it is expected that the securities would not be settled at a price less thanupdated quarterly. The following table summarizes the amortized cost of the Company's investment. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and notheld-to-maturity municipal debt securities by credit quality, and because the Company does not intend to sell the securities and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the securities before recovery of their cost basis, the Company did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impairedrating at December 31, 2017.2022:

  Held-to-Maturity    
  Amortized Cost    
(Dollars in thousands) AAA/AA/A  BBB/BB/B  Not Rated  Total 
December 31, 2022            
Municipal securities $19,380  $388  $42,534  $62,302 
Total $19,380  $388  $42,534  $62,302 
U.S. Treasury Notes – At December 31, 2017, 7 U.S. Treasury Note security investments were in a loss position for less than 12 months and 2 were in a loss position for 12 months or more. The unrealized losses on the Company's investment in US treasury notes were $442,000 at December 31, 2017 and $332,000 at December 31, 2016. The unrealized losses were caused by interest rate fluctuations. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality, and because the Company does not intend to sell the securities and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the securities before recovery of their cost basis, the Company did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

U.S. Government SBA – At December 31, 2017, 54 U.S. Government SBA security investments were in a loss position for less than 12 months and 70 were in a loss position for 12 months or more. The unrealized losses on the Company's investment in U.S. Government SBA were $208,000 at December 31, 2017 and $260,000 at December 31, 2016. The unrealized losses were caused by interest rate fluctuations. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality, and because the Company does not intend to sell the securities and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the securities before recovery of their cost basis, the Company did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Mortgage Backed Securities - At December 31, 2017, 26 mortgage backed security investments were in a loss position for less than 12 months and 36 was in a loss position for 12 months or more. The unrealized losses on the Company's investment in mortgage-backed securities were $1.5 million at December 31, 2017 and $1.3 million at December 31, 2016. The unrealized losses were caused by interest rate fluctuations. The contractual cash flows of these investments are guaranteed by an agency or government sponsored entity of the U.S. government. Accordingly, it is expected that the securities would not be settled at a price less than the amortized cost of the Company's investment. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality, and because the Company does not intend to sell the securities and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the securities before recovery of their cost basis, the Company did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2017 or 2016.

Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions - At December 31, 2017, no obligations of states and political subdivisions were in a loss position for less than 12 months. None were in a loss position for 12 months or more. As of December 31, 2017, over ninety-nine percent of the Company’s bank-qualified municipal bond portfolio is rated at either the issue21, 2022, there were no past due principal or the issuer level, and all ofinterest payments associated with these ratings are “investment grade.” The Company monitors the status of the one percent of the portfolio that is not rated and at the current time does not believe any of them to be exhibiting financial problems that could result in a loss in any individual security.securities.


The unrealized losses on the Company’s investment in obligation of states and political subdivisions were $0 at December 31, 2017 and $40,000 at December 31, 2016. Management believes that any unrealized losses on the Company's investments in obligations of states and political subdivisions were caused by interest rate fluctuations. The contractual terms of these investments do not permit the issuer to settle the securities at a price less than the amortized cost of the investment. Because the Company does not intend to sell the securities and it is more likely than not that the Company would not have to sell the securities before recovery of their cost basis, the Company did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
Proceeds from sales and calls of these securities were as follows:

(Dollars in thousands) Gross Proceeds  Gross Gains  Gross Losses 
2022 
$
51,359
  
$
2
  
$
10,691
 
2021 
301,320
  
5,570
  
3,016
 
2020 
5,080
  
40
  
-
 

(in thousands) Gross Gross Gross
 
Gross
Proceeds
  
Gross
Gains
  
Gross
 Losses
 
2017 $7,831  $143  $12 
2016 $105,941  $250  $534 
2015 $61,335  $275  $- 
Pledged Securities
As of December 31, 2017,2022, securities carried at $214.5$479 million were pledged to secure public deposits, Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) borrowings, and other government agency deposits as required by law. This amount was $171.9$426 million at December 31, 2016.2021.


Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiary
On April 5, 2017, the Company purchased 4.9% of the voting shares of Bank of Rio Vista, Rio Vista, California for $1.4 million.  On July 3, 2017, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco approved the Company’s application to acquire an additional 34.55% of the voting shares for $10.5 million.  The purchase of the additional shares closed on July 20, 2017. The Company, as per requirements outlined in ASC 323-10-15-6, does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over BORV’s operating and financial policies. Accordingly, the investment in BORV is accounted for under the cost method of accounting as Other Assets.

4. Note 3—Federal Home Loan Bank Stock and Other EquityNon-Marketable Securities at Cost


The Bank is a member of the FHLB system. Members are required to own a certain amount of stock based on the level of borrowings and other factors, and may invest in additional amounts. FHLB stock and other equity securities are carried at cost, classified as restricted securities, and periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income. FHLB stock and other equity securities are reported in Interest Receivable and Other AssetsNon-Marketable Securities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheetsconsolidated statements of financial condition and totaled $22.6$15.5 million at both December 31, 20172022 and $9.2 million at December 31, 2016.2021.


5.
95

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 4—Loans &and Leases


Loans &and leases as of the dates indicated consisted of the following:

  December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022
  2021
 
Loans and leases held-for-investment, net      
Real estate:      
Commercial
 $1,328,691  $1,167,516 
Agricultural  726,938   672,830 
Residential and home equity  387,753   350,581 
Construction  166,538   177,163 
Total real estate  2,609,920   2,368,090 
Commercial & industrial
  478,758   427,799 
Agricultural  314,525   276,684 
Commercial leases  112,629   96,971 
Consumer and other(1)
  5,886   78,367 
Total gross loans and leases  3,521,718   3,247,911 
Unearned income  (9,357
)
  (10,734
)
Total net loans and leases  3,512,361   3,237,177 
Allowance for credit losses  (66,885
)
  (61,007
)
Total loans and leases held-for-investment, net $3,445,476  $3,176,170 

(1) Includes SBA PPP loans of $0 and $70,765 as of December 31, consisted2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”)—Under the CARES Act and H.R. 133, the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) was directed by Congress to provide loans to small businesses with less than 500 employees to assist these businesses in meeting their payroll and other financial obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These government guaranteed loans were made with an interest rate of 1%, a risk weight of 0% under risk-based capital rules, have a term of 2 to 5 years, and under certain conditions the following:SBA will forgive them. The Bank actively participated in the PPP, and since April 2020, the Bank has funded $494.39 million of loans for 2,680 small business customers. As of December 2022 and 2021, PPP loans outstanding were $0 and $70.8 million, respectively.

(in thousands) 2017  2016 
Commercial Real Estate $691,639  $674,445 
Agricultural Real Estate  499,231   467,685 
Real Estate Construction  100,206   176,462 
Residential 1st Mortgages  260,751   242,247 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  34,525   31,625 
Agricultural  273,582   295,325 
Commercial  265,703   217,577 
Consumer & Other  6,656   6,913 
Leases  88,957   70,986 
Total Gross Loans & Leases  2,221,250   2,183,265 
Less: Unearned Income  5,955   5,664 
Subtotal  2,215,295   2,177,601 
Less: Allowance for Credit Losses  50,342   47,919 
Loans & Leases, Net $2,164,953  $2,129,682 


At December 31, 2017,2022, the portion of loans that were approved for pledging as collateral on borrowing lines with the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) and the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) were $618.4 million$1.2 billion and $568.6$884 million, respectively. The borrowing capacity on these loans was $521.2$758.0 million from FHLB and $381.4$651.0 million from the FRB.


77
96

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
6. Allowance for Credit Losses

The following tables show the allocation of the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2017
Note 4—Loans and December 31, 2016 by portfolio segment and by impairment methodology (in thousands):Leases—Continued

December 31, 2017 
Commercial
Real
Estate
  
Agricultural
 Real
Estate
  
Real
Estate
Construction
  
Residential
1st
 Mortgages
  
Home
Equity
Lines &
Loans
  Agricultural  Commercial  
Consumer
 &
Other
  Leases  Unallocated  Total 
                                  
Year-To-Date Allowance for Credit Losses:                            
Beginning Balance- January 1, 2017 $11,110  $9,450  $3,223  $865  $2,140  $7,381  $8,515  $200  $3,586  $1,449  $47,919 
Charge-Offs  (109)  -   -   (53)  (3)  (374)  -   (146)  -   -   (685)
Recoveries  109   -   -   40   8   17   8   76   -   -   258 
Provision  (188)  2,635   (1,377)  (37)  179   1,135   674   79   (223)  (27)  2,850 
Ending Balance- December 31, 2017 $10,922  $12,085  $1,846  $815  $2,324  $8,159  $9,197  $209  $3,363  $1,422  $50,342 
Ending Balance Individually Evaluated for Impairment  366   -   -   73   17   -   220   8   -   -   684 
Ending Balance Collectively Evaluated for Impairment  10,556   12,085   1,846   742   2,307   8,159   8,977   201   3,363   1,422   49,658 
Loans & Leases:                                            
Ending Balance $684,961  $499,231  $100,206  $260,751  $34,525  $273,582  $265,703  $6,656  $89,680  $-  $2,215,295 
Ending Balance Individually Evaluated for Impairment  4,822   -   -   2,373   340   -   1,734   10   -   -   9,279 
Ending Balance Collectively Evaluated for Impairment  680,139   499,231   100,206   258,378   34,185   273,582   263,969   6,646   89,680   -   2,206,016 

December 31, 2016 
Commercial
 Real
Estate
  
Agricultural
 Real
Estate
  
Real
Estate
Construction
  
Residential
1st
 Mortgages
  
Home
Equity
 Lines &
Loans
  Agricultural  Commercial  
Consumer
&
Other
  Leases  Unallocated  Total 
                                  
Year-To-Date Allowance for Credit Losses:                            
Beginning Balance- January 1, 2016 $10,063  $6,881  $2,485  $789  $2,146  $6,308  $7,836  $175  $3,294  $1,546  $41,523 
Charge-Offs  -   -   -   (21)  (46)  -   -   (105)  -   -   (172)
Recoveries  2   -   -   26   103   -   47   55   -   -   233 
Provision  1,045   2,569   738   71   (63)  1,073   632   75   292   (97)  6,335 
Ending Balance- December 31, 2016 $11,110  $9,450  $3,223  $865  $2,140  $7,381  $8,515  $200  $3,586  $1,449  $47,919 
Ending Balance Individually Evaluated for Impairment  -   -   -   70   18   128   608   7   -   -   831 
Ending Balance Collectively Evaluated for Impairment  11,110   9,450   3,223   795   2,122   7,253   7,907   193   3,586   1,449   47,088 
Loans & Leases:                                            
Ending Balance $668,046  $467,685  $176,462  $242,247  $31,625  $295,325  $217,577  $6,913  $71,721  $-  $2,177,601 
Ending Balance Individually Evaluated for Impairment  1,932   1,304   -   2,126   402   625   4,464   10   -   -   10,863 
Ending Balance Collectively Evaluated for Impairment  666,114   466,381   176,462   240,121   31,223   294,700   213,113   6,903   71,721   -   2,166,738 
The ending balance of loans individually evaluated for impairment includes restructured loans in the amount of $3.0 million and $3.3 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, which are no longer disclosed or classified as TDR’s.

The following tables show the loan & lease portfolio allocated by management’s internal risk ratings at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
December 31, 2017 Pass  
Special
 Mention
  Substandard  Total Loans 
Loans & Leases:            
Commercial Real Estate $677,636  $6,843  $482  $684,961 
Agricultural Real Estate  488,672   6,529   4,030   499,231 
Real Estate Construction  90,728   9,478   -   100,206 
Residential 1st Mortgages  259,795   41   915   260,751 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  34,476   -   49   34,525 
Agricultural  264,425   6,439   2,718   273,582 
Commercial  260,565   4,610   528   265,703 
Consumer & Other  6,498   -   158   6,656 
Leases  87,497   2,183   -   89,680 
Total $2,170,292  $36,123  $8,880  $2,215,295 

December 31, 2016 Pass  
Special
 Mention
  Substandard  Total Loans 
Loans & Leases:            
Commercial Real Estate $659,694  $6,817  $1,535  $668,046 
Agricultural Real Estate  464,997   1,384   1,304   467,685 
Real Estate Construction  176,462   -   -   176,462 
Residential 1st Mortgages  241,816   47   384   242,247 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  31,558   -   67   31,625 
Agricultural  283,525   11,366   434   295,325 
Commercial  208,172   6,974   2,431   217,577 
Consumer & Other  6,705   -   208   6,913 
Leases  71,721   -   -   71,721 
Total $2,144,650  $26,588  $6,363  $2,177,601 

See Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies – Allowance for Credit Losses for a description of the internal risk ratings used by the Company. There were no loans & leases outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016 rated doubtful or loss.
The following tables show an aging analysis of the loan & lease portfolio, including unearned income, by the time past due at December 31, 20172022 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):2021:


December 31, 2017 
30-59 Days
Past Due
  
60-89 Days
Past Due
  
90 Days and
Still Accruing
  Nonaccrual  
Total Past
Due
  Current  
Total
Loans & Leases
 
Loans & Leases:                     
Commercial Real Estate $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $684,961  $684,961 
Agricultural Real Estate  -   -   -   -   -   499,231   499,231 
Real Estate Construction  -   -   -   -   -   100,206   100,206 
Residential 1st Mortgages  448   -   -   -   448   260,303   260,751 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  10   -   -   -   10   34,515   34,525 
Agricultural  -   -   -   -   -   273,582   273,582 
Commercial  180   -   -   -   180   265,523   265,703 
Consumer & Other  7   -   -   -   7   6,649   6,656 
Leases  -   -   -   -   -   89,680   89,680 
Total $645  $-  $-  $-  $645  $2,214,650  $2,215,295 

  December 31, 2022 
(Dollars in thousands) Current  
30-89 Days
Past Due
  
90+ Days Past
Due
  
Non-
accrual
  
Total Past
Due
  Total 
Loans and leases held-for-investment, net                  
Real estate:                  
Commercial
 $1,319,911  $-  $-  $403  $403  $1,320,314 
Agricultural  726,938   -   -   -   -   726,938 
Residential and home equity  387,753   -   -   -   -   387,753 
Construction  166,370   -   -   168   168   166,538 
Total real estate  2,600,972   -   -   571   571   2,601,543 
Commercial & industrial  478,758   -   -   -   -   478,758 
Agricultural  314,525   -   -   -   -   314,525 
Commercial leases  111,649   -   -   -   -   111,649 
Consumer and other  5,789   97   -   -   97   5,886 
Total loans and leases, net $3,511,693  $97  $-  $571  $668  $3,512,361 



  December 31, 2021 
(Dollars in thousands) Current  
30-89 Days
Past Due
  
90+ Days Past
Due
  
Non-
accrual
  
Total Past
Due
  Total 
Loans and leases held-for-investment, net                  
Real estate:                  
Commercial
 $1,156,879  $459  $-  $-  $459  $1,157,338 
Agricultural  672,812   -   -   18   18   672,830 
Residential and home equity  350,492   89   -   -   89   350,581 
Construction  177,163   -   -   -   -   177,163 
Total real estate  2,357,346   548   -   18   566   2,357,912 
Commercial & industrial  427,799   -   -   -   -   427,799 
Agricultural  276,186   -   -   498   498   276,684 
Commercial leases  96,415   -   -   -   -   96,415 
Consumer and other  78,363   4   -   -   4   78,367 
Total loans and leases, net $3,236,109  $552  $-  $516  $1,068  $3,237,177 

                      
December 31, 2016 
30-59 Days
Past Due
  
60-89 Days
Past Due
  
90 Days and
Still Accruing
  Nonaccrual  
Total Past
Due
  Current  
Total
Loans & Leases
 
Loans & Leases:                     
Commercial Real Estate $-  $-  $-  $-  $-  $668,046  $668,046 
Agricultural Real Estate  -   -   -   1,304   1,304   466,381   467,685 
Real Estate Construction  -   -   -   -   -   176,462   176,462 
Residential 1st Mortgages  -   -   -   95   95   242,152   242,247 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  -   -   -   -   -   31,625   31,625 
Agricultural  -   -   -   243   243   295,082   295,325 
Commercial  -   -   -   1,425   1,425   216,152   217,577 
Consumer & Other  10   -   -   7   17   6,896   6,913 
Leases  -   -   -   -   -   71,721   71,721 
Total $10  $-  $-  $3,074  $3,084  $2,174,517  $2,177,601 

There were no non-accrual loans & leases at December 31, 2017. At December 31, 2016, non-accrual loans & leases were $3.1 million. Interest income forgone on loans & leases placed on non-accrual status was $0, $127,000, and $109,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

80
97

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 4—Loans and Leases—Continued


Non-accrual loans are summarized as follows:


  December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021 
Non-accrual loans and leases:      
Non-accrual loans and leases, not TDRs      
Real estate:      
Commercial
 $403  $- 
Agricultural  -   18 
Residential and home equity  -   - 
Construction  168   - 
Total real estate  571   18 
Commercial & industrial  -   - 
Agricultural  -   - 
Commercial leases  -   - 
Consumer and other  -   - 
Subtotal  571   18 
Non-accrual loans and leases, are TDRs        
Real estate:        
Commercial
 $-  $- 
Agricultural  -   - 
Residential and home equity  -   - 
Construction  -   - 
Total real estate  -   - 
Commercial & Industrial  -   - 
Agricultural  -   498 
Commercial leases  -   - 
Consumer and other  -   - 
Subtotal  -   498 
Total non-accrual loans and leases $571  $516 
98

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 4—Loans and Leases—Continued


The following tables show information related to impaired loans & leases at and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
December 31, 2017 
Recorded
Investment
  
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
  
Related
Allowance
  
Average
Recorded
Investment
  
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
With no related allowance recorded:               
Commercial Real Estate $104  $104  $-  $107  $11 
Agricultural Real Estate  -   -   -   488   - 
Residential 1st Mortgages  911   1,012   -   532   11 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  -   -   -   16   - 
Agricultural  -   -   -   30   - 
  $1,015  $1,116  $-  $1,173  $22 
With an allowance recorded:                    
Commercial Real Estate $2,973  $2,961  $366  $2,999  $104 
Residential 1st Mortgages  508   571   25   469   16 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  73   89   4   74   3 
Agricultural  -   -   -   409   21 
Commercial  1,741   1,734   220   1,693   59 
Consumer & Other  8   9   8   11   - 
  $5,303  $5,364  $623  $5,655  $203 
Total $6,318  $6,480  $623  $6,828  $225 

December 31, 2016 
Recorded
Investment
  
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
  
Related
Allowance
  
Average
Recorded
Investment
  
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
With no related allowance recorded:               
Commercial Real Estate $184  $184  $-  $354  $7 
Agricultural Real Estate  1,305   1,305   -   569   3 
Residential 1st Mortgages  451   504   -   404   10 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  -   -   -   181   - 
Agricultural  -   -   -   144   5 
Commercial  3,023   3,023   -   3,053   133 
  $4,963  $5,016  $-  $4,705  $158 
With an allowance recorded:                    
Residential 1st Mortgages $430  $469  $21  $336  $13 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  90   97   5   123   4 
Agricultural  625   625   128   581   22 
Commercial  1,441   1,640   608   1,536   8 
Consumer & Other  6   13   6   12   - 
  $2,592  $2,844  $768  $2,588  $47 
Total $7,555  $7,860  $768  $7,293  $205 

Total recorded investment shown in the prior table will not equal thelists total ending balance of loans & leases individually evaluated for impairment on the allocation of allowance table. This is because this table does not include impaired loans that were previously modified in a troubled debt restructuring, are currently performing and are no longer disclosed or classified as TDR’s.

At December 31, 2017, the Company allocated $623,000 of specific reserves to $6.3 million of troubled debt restructured loans all of which were performing. At December 31, 2016,that the Company allocated $736,000 of specific reserves to $5.9 million of troubled debt restructured loans, of which $4.5 million were performing. The Company had no commitments at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 to lend additional amounts to customers with outstanding loans that are classified as troubled debt restructurings.is either accruing or not accruing interest by loan category:

During the period ending December 31, 2017, the terms of certain loans were modified as troubled debt restructurings. The modification of the terms of such loans included one or a combination of the following: a reduction of the stated interest rate of the loan; an extension of the maturity date at a stated rate of interest lower than the current market rate for new debt with similar risk; or a permanent reduction of the recorded investment in the loan.

  December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021 
Troubled debt restructured loans and leases:      
Accruing TDR loans and leases      
Real estate:      
Commercial
 $
-  $
41 
Agricultural  -   - 
Residential and home equity  1,305   1,522 
Construction  -   -
 
Total real estate  1,305   1,563 
Commercial & industrial  6   260 
Agricultural  -   - 
Commercial leases  -   - 
Consumer and other  -   1 
Subtotal  1,311   1,824 
Non-accruing TDR loans and leases        
Real estate:        
Commercial
 $-  $- 
Agricultural  -   - 
Residential and home equity  -   - 
Construction  -   - 
Total real estate  -   - 
Commercial & industrial  -   - 
Agricultural  -   498 
Commercial leases  -   - 
Consumer and other  -   - 
Subtotal  -   498 
Total TDR loans and leases $1,311  $2,322 
81
99

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Modifications involving a reduction of the stated interest rate of the loan ranged from 3 to 5 years. Modifications involving an extension of the maturity date ranged from 3 to 10 years.


Note 4—Loans and Leases—Continued




The following table presents loanssummarizes TDRs outstanding by year of occurrence:


  Year Ended December 31, 2022 
(Dollars in thousands) 
# of Accruing
TDR
  
$ of Accruing
TDR
  
# of Non-
accruing TDR
  
$ of Non-
accruing TDR
  
# of Total
TDR
  
$ of Total
TDR
 
Loan and lease TDRs                  
2022  -  $-   -  $-   -  $- 
2021  -   -   -   -   -   - 
2020  4   257   -   -   4   257 
2019  -   -   -   -   -   - 
Prior  8   1,054   -   -   8   1,054 
Total  12  $1,311   -  $-   12  $1,311 

  Year Ended December 31, 2021 
(Dollars in thousands) 
# of Accruing
TDR
  
$ of Accruing
TDR
  
# of Non-
accruing TDR
  
$ of Non-
accruing TDR
  
# of Total
TDR
  
$ of Total
TDR
 
Loan and lease TDRs                  
2021  1  $49   -  $-   1  $49 
2020  5   476   2   498   7   974 
2019  -   -   -   -   -   - 
2018  1   84   -   -   1   84 
Prior  10   1,215   -   -   10   1,215 
Total  17  $1,824   2  $498   19  $2,322 


100

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 4—Loans and Leases—Continued



Outstanding loan balances (accruing and non-accruing) categorized by these credit quality indicators are summarized as follows:


  December 31, 2022 
(Dollars in thousands) Pass  
Special
Mention
  
Sub-
standard
  Doubtful  
Total Loans
& Leases
  
Total
Allowance
for Credit
Losses
 
Loans and leases held for investment, net                  
Real estate:                  
Commercial
 $1,314,377  $5,535  $402  $-  $1,320,314  $18,055 
Agricultural  709,927   10,891   6,120   -   726,938   14,496 
Residential and home equity  387,371   -   382   -   387,753   7,508 
Construction  166,370   -   168   -   166,538   3,026 
Total real estate  2,578,045   16,426   7,072   -   2,601,543   43,085 
Commercial & industrial  478,437   63   258   -   478,758   11,503 
Agricultural  308,830   5,682   13   -   314,525   10,202 
Commercial leases  111,568   81   -   -   111,649   1,924 
Consumer and other  5,650   -   236   -   5,886   171 
Total loans and leases, net
 $3,482,530  $22,252  $7,579  $-  $3,512,361  $66,885 


  December 31, 2021 
(Dollars in thousands) Pass
  
Special
Mention
  
Sub-
standard
  Doubtful  
Total Loans
& Leases
  
Total
Allowance
for Loan
Losses
 
Loans and leases held for investment, net                  
Real estate:                  
Commercial
 $1,142,175  $6,903  $8,260  $-  $1,157,338  $28,536 
Agricultural  663,157   3,292   6,381   -   672,830   9,613 
Residential and home equity  350,148   -   433   -   350,581   2,847 
Construction  177,163   -   -   -   177,163   1,456 
Total real estate  2,332,643   10,195   15,074   -   2,357,912   42,452 
Commercial & industrial  417,806   9,321   672   -   427,799   11,489 
Agricultural  275,206   958   520   -   276,684   5,465 
Commercial leases  96,415   -   -   -   96,415   938 
Consumer and other  78,181   -   186   -   78,367   663 
Total loans and leases, net
 $3,200,251  $20,474  $16,452  $-  $3,237,177  $61,007 
101

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Note 4—Loans and Leases—Continued

The following table represents outstanding loan balances by credit quality indicators and vintage year by class modifiedof financing receivable and current period gross charge-offs by year of origination as troubled debt restructured loans forfollows:

  December 31, 2022 
  Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year       
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021  2020  2019  2018  Prior  
Revolving
Loans
Amortized
Cost
  Total 
Net loans and leases held for investment                        
Real estate:                        
Commercial                        
Pass 
$
194,698
  
$
234,478
  
$
150,203
  
$
71,333
  
$
85,132
  
$
218,261
  
$
360,272
  
$
1,314,377
 
Special mention  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
3,820
   
1,115
   
600
   
5,535
 
Substandard  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
402
   
-
   
402
 
Doubtful  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Total Commercial 
$
194,698
  
$
234,478
  
$
150,203
  
$
71,333
  
$
88,952
  
$
219,778
  
$
360,872
  
$
1,320,314
 
Commercial                                
Current-period gross charge-offs 
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
170
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
170
 
                                 
Agricultural                                
Pass 
$
67,044
  
$
42,546
  
$
54,893
  
$
15,074
  
$
50,186
  
$
144,052
  
$
336,132
  
$
709,927
 
Special mention  
-
   
-
   
-
   
2,636
   
-
   
-
   
8,255
   
10,891
 
Substandard  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
111
   
6,009
   
-
   
6,120
 
Doubtful  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Total Agricultural 
$
67,044
  
$
42,546
  
$
54,893
  
$
17,710
  
$
50,297
  
$
150,061
  
$
344,387
  
$
726,938
 
Agricultural                                
Current-period gross charge-offs 
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
 
                                 
Residential and home equity                                
Pass 
$
66,847
  
$
96,354
  
$
86,545
  
$
14,530
  
$
6,632
  
$
76,155
  
$
40,308
  
$
387,371
 
Special mention  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Substandard  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
300
   
82
   
382
 
Doubtful  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Total Residential and home equity 
$
66,847
  
$
96,354
  
$
86,545
  
$
14,530
  
$
6,632
  
$
76,455
  
$
40,390
  
$
387,753
 
Residential and home equity                                
Current-period gross charge-offs 
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
25
  
$
-
  
$
25
 
                                 
Construction                                
Pass 
$
2,000
  
$
1
  
$
-
  
$
1,575
  
$
-
  
$
31
  
$
162,763
  
$
166,370
 
Special mention  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Substandard  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
168
   
168
 
Doubtful  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Total construction 
$
2,000
  
$
1
  
$
-
  
$
1,575
  
$
-
  
$
31
  
$
162,931
  
$
166,538
 
Construction                                
Current-period gross charge-offs 
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
 
                                 
Total Real estate 
$
330,589
  
$
373,379
  
$
291,641
  
$
105,148
  
$
145,881
  
$
446,325
  
$
908,580
  
$
2,601,543
 
                                 
Commercial & industrial                                
Pass 
$
34,410
  
$
36,846
  
$
12,325
  
$
8,245
  
$
7,167
  
$
5,679
  
$
373,765
  
$
478,437
 
Special mention  
-
   
63
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
63
 
Substandard  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
1
   
5
   
252
   
258
 
Doubtful  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Total Commercial & industrial 
$
34,410
  
$
36,909
  
$
12,325
  
$
8,245
  
$
7,168
  
$
5,684
  
$
374,017
  
$
478,758
 
Commercial & industrial                                
Current-period gross charge-offs 
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
246
  
$
78
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
324
 
                                 
Agricultural                                
Pass 
$
5,378
  
$
3,083
  
$
989
  
$
1,515
  
$
636
  
$
2,071
  
$
295,158
  
$
308,830
 
Special mention  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
5,682
   
5,682
 
Substandard  
-
   
-
   
-
   
11
   
2
   
-
   
-
   
13
 
Doubtful  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Total Agricultural 
$
5,378
  
$
3,083
  
$
989
  
$
1,526
  
$
638
  
$
2,071
  
$
300,840
  
$
314,525
 
Agricultural                                
Current-period gross charge-offs 
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
 
                                 
Commercial leases                                
Pass 
$
35,689
  
$
15,874
  
$
13,050
  
$
5,904
  
$
20,560
  
$
20,491
  
$
-
  
$
111,568
 
Special mention  
-
   
-
   
-
   
81
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
81
 
Substandard  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Doubtful  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Total Commercial leases 
$
35,689
  
$
15,874
  
$
13,050
  
$
5,985
  
$
20,560
  
$
20,491
  
$
-
  
$
111,649
 
Commercial leases                                
Current-period gross charge-offs 
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
  
$
-
 
                                 
Consumer and other                                
Pass 
$
1,476
  
$
634
  
$
275
  
$
176
  
$
315
  
$
1,769
  
$
1,005
  
$
5,650
 
Special mention  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Substandard  
236
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
236
 
Doubtful  
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Total Consumer and other 
$
1,712
  
$
634
  
$
275
  
$
176
  
$
315
  
$
1,769
  
$
1,005
  
$
5,886
 
Consumer and other                                
Current-period gross charge-offs 
$
40
  
$
6
  
$
7
  
$
1
  
$
4
  
$
4
  
$
-
  
$
62
 
                                 
Total net loans and leases 
$
407,778
  
$
429,879
  
$
318,280
  
$
121,080
  
$
174,562
  
$
476,340
  
$
1,584,442
  
$
3,512,361
 

Certain directors and executive officers of the period ended December 31, 2017 (Company are defined as related parties. These related parties, including their immediate families and companies in thousands):
  December 31, 2017 
Troubled Debt Restructurings 
Number of
Loans
  
Pre-Modification Outstanding
 Recorded
 Investment
  
Post-Modification Outstanding
Recorded
Investment
 
Residential 1st Mortgages  2  $673  $630 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  1   32   32 
Commercial  2   138   138 
Consumer & Other  1   9   8 
Total  6  $852  $808 

The troubled debt restructurings described above had no impact onwhich they are principal owners, were loan customers of the allowance for credit losses and resulted in charge-offs of $44,000 forBank during the twelve months ended December 31, 2017.

During the period ended2022 and December 31, 2017, there were no payment defaults on loans modified as troubled debt restructurings within twelve months following the modification. The Company considers a loan to be in payment default once it is greater than 90 days contractually past due under the modified terms.

During the period ending December 31, 2016, the terms of certain2021. Such loans were modifiedmade on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as troubled debt restructurings. The modificationthose prevailing at the time for comparable loans with borrowers not related to the Company. These loans did not involve more than the normal risk of collection or have other unfavorable features. A summary of the termschanges in those loans is as follows:

 December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands)2022 2021 
     
Balance at beginning of the period $18,128  $11,682 
New loans or advances during year  523   7,254 
Repayments  (1,130)  (808)
Balance at end of period $17,521  $18,128 

Note 4—Loans and Leases—Continued


Changes in the loan.

Modifications involving a reduction of the stated interest rate of the loan were for periods ranging from 5 to 10 years. Modifications involving an extension of the maturity date were for periods ranging from 5 to 10 years.

The following table presents loans by class modified as troubled debt restructured loans for the period ended December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
  December 31, 2016 
Troubled Debt Restructurings 
Number of
Loans
  
Pre-Modification Outstanding
Recorded
 Investment
  
Post-Modification Outstanding
 Recorded
 Investment
 
Commercial Real Estate  1  $112  $112 
Residential 1st Mortgages  2   289   281 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  2   305   286 
Total  5  $706  $679 

The troubled debt restructurings described above had no impact on the allowance for credit losses are as follows:


  Year Ended December 31, 2022 
(Dollars in thousands) 
Commercial &
Agricultural
R/E
  Construction  Residential &
Home Equity
  
Commercial
&
Agricultural
  
Commercial
Leases
  
Consumer
& Other
  Total 
Allowance for credit losses:                     
Balance at beginning of year $38,149  $1,456  $2,847  $16,954  $938  $663  $61,007 
Impact of Adopting ASC 326  (6,190)  1,855   3,032   826   629   (152)  - 
Provision / (recapture) for credit losses  762   (285
)
  1,523   4,001   357   (301)  6,057 
Charge-offs  (170)  -   (25)  (324)  -   (62)  (581
)
Recoveries  -   -   131   248   -   23   402 
Net (charge-offs) / recoveries  (170)  -   106   (76)  -   (39)  (179)
Balance at end of year $32,551  $3,026  $7,508  $21,705  $1,924  $171  $66,885 


  Year Ended December 31, 2021 
(Dollars in thousands) 
Commercial &
Agricultural
R/E
  Construction  
Residential &
Home Equity
  
Commercial
&
Agricultural
  
Commercial
Leases
  
Consumer
& Other
  Total 
Allowance for credit losses:                     
Balance at beginning of year $36,312  $1,643  $2,984  $14,775  $1,731  $1,417  $58,862 
Provision / (recapture) for credit losses  1,837   (187
)
  (235
)
  2,025   (793
)
  (737)  1,910 
Charge-offs  -   -   -   -   -   (44)  (44
)
Recoveries  -   -   98   154   -   27   279 
Net (charge-offs) / recoveries  -   -   98   154   -   (17)  235 
Balance at end of year $38,149  $1,456  $2,847  $16,954  $938  $663  $61,007 


  Year Ended December 31, 2020 
(Dollars in thousands) 
Commercial &
Agricultural
R/E
  Construction  
Residential &
Home Equity
  
Commercial
&
Agricultural
  
Commercial
Leases
  
Consumer
& Other
  Total 
Allowance for credit losses:                     
Balance at beginning of year $26,181  $1,949  $3,530  $19,542  $3,162  $648  $55,012 
Provision / (recapture) for credit losses  10,050   (306)  (669
)
  (3,946)  (1,431
)
  802
  4,500 
Charge-offs  -   -   (7)  (1,101
)
  -   (66)  (1,174
)
Recoveries  81   -   130   280   -   33   524 
Net (charge-offs) / recoveries  81   -   123   (821
)
  -   (33)  (650
)
Balance at end of year $36,312  $1,643  $2,984  $14,775  $1,731  $1,417  $58,862 
103

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Note 4—Loans and resulted in charge-offsLeases—Continued

A loan is considered collateral dependent when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of $27,000the collateral. When management determines that foreclosure is probable, expected credit losses for collateral dependent loans are based on the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.

fair value of the collateral at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate. The collateral on the loans is a significant portion of what secures the collateral dependent loans and significant changes to the fair value of the collateral can impact the ACL. During the period ended December 31, 2016,2022, there were no payment defaults onsignificant changes to the collateral that secures the collateral dependent loans, modifiedwhether due to general deterioration or with credit quality indicators like appraisal value. The following table presents the amortized cost basis of collateral dependent loans by collateral type as troubled debt restructurings within twelve months following the modification. The Company considers a loan to be in payment default once it is greater than 90 days contractually past due under the modified terms.
of December 31, 2022:
82
  December 31, 2022 
(Dollars in thousands) Real Estate  
Vehicles and
Equipment
  Total 
Collateral dependent loans and leases         
Real estate:         
Commercial $1,114  $-  $1,114 
Agricultural  11,035   -   11,035 
Residential and home equity  2,153   -   2,153 
Construction  -   -   - 
Total Real estate  14,302   -   14,302 
Commercial & industrial  -   -   - 
Agricultural  -   13   13 
Commercial leases  -   -   - 
Consumer and other  -   158   158 
Total gross loans and leases $14,302  $171  $14,473 

104

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
7. Note 5—Premises and Equipment


Premises and equipment as of December 31st, consisted of the following:
(in thousands) 2017  2016 
Land and Buildings $36,018  $37,003 
Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment  20,399   20,196 
Leasehold Improvements  3,117   2,439 
Subtotal  59,534   59,638 
Less:  Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization  30,855   30,409 
Total $28,679  $29,229 


  December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021 
Premises and equipment:
      
Buildings and land
 $61,274  $59,325 
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment  23,203   22,302 
Leasehold improvements  3,982   3,658 
Subtotal  88,459   85,285 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization  (38,983)  (37,555)
Total premises and equipment
 $49,476  $47,730 

Depreciation and amortization on premises and equipment included in occupancy and equipment expense amounted to $2,186,000, $1,896,000,$2.4, $2.6, and $1,685,000$2.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 20162022, 2021 and 2015,2020, respectively. Total rental expense for premisesRental income was $688,000, $644,000,$640,000, $491,000, and $604,000$434,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2022, 2021, and 2015, respectively. Rental income was $169,000, $102,000,2020, respectively and $94,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.is recorded in other income.

8.
Note 6—Other Real Estate Owned


The Bank reported $837,000$873,000 in other real estate owned at December 31, 2017,2022 and $3.7 million at December 31, 2016. Other real estate2021, which includes property no longer utilized for business operations and property acquired through foreclosure proceedings. These properties are carried at fair value less selling costs determined at the date acquired. Losses, if any, arising from properties acquired through foreclosure are charged against the allowance for loan losses at the time of foreclosure. Subsequent declines in value, periodic holding costs, and net gains or losses on disposition are included in other operating expense as incurred. Other real estate is reported in Interest Receivable

105

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 7—Deposits

Certificates of deposit greater than and Other Assets onless than or equal to the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

9. Time Deposits

Time DepositsFDIC insurance limit of $250,000 or moreare summarized as follows:

  December 31,
 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021 
Certificates of deposit:
      
Certificates of deposit less than or equal to $250,000
 $202,554  $223,620 
Certificates of deposit greater than $250,000
  128,846   168,865 
Total certificates of deposit
 $
331,400  $
392,485 

Scheduled maturities for certificates of deposit are as follows for the years ending December 31:

(Dollars in thousands) Amount 
2023 $299,575 
2024  26,097 
2025  3,070 
2026  1,310 
2027 and beyond  1,348 
Total certificates of deposit $331,400 

Note 8—Short-term borrowings

As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, committed lines of credit arrangements totaling $1.5 billion and $1.4 billion were available to the Company from unaffiliated banks, respectively. The average Federal Funds interest rate as of December 31, were as follows:2022 was 4.50%.
(in thousands) 2017  2016 
Balance $212,574  $289,955 

At December 31, 2017, the scheduled maturities of time deposits were as follows:

(in thousands) 
Scheduled
Maturities
 
2018 $426,874 
2019  30,219 
2020  10,317 
2021  3,100 
2022  4,887 
Total $475,397 
10. Income Taxes

Current and deferred income tax expense (benefit) provided for the years ended December 31 consistedThe Company is a member of the following:

(in thousands) 2017  2016  2015 
Current         
Federal $9,460  $13,101  $11,979 
State  4,046   4,832   4,446 
Total Current  13,506   17,933   16,425 
Deferred            
Federal  11,154   (1,607)  383 
State  1,451   (229)  116 
Total Deferred  12,605   (1,836)  499 
Total Provision for Taxes $26,111  $16,097  $16,924 

The total provisionFHLB of San Francisco and has a committed credit line of $757.9 million, which is secured by $1.2 billion in various real estate loans and investment securities pledged as collateral. Borrowings generally provide for income taxes differs frominterest at the federal statutorythen current published rate, as follows:

  2017  2016  2015  
(in thousands) Amount  Rate  Amount  Rate  Amount  Rate 
Tax Provision at Federal Statutory Rate $19,068   35.0% $16,037   35.0% $15,510   35.0%
Interest on Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions exempt from Federal Taxation  (617)  (1.1%)  (675)  (1.5%)  (711)  (1.6%)
State and Local Income Taxes, Net of Federal Income Tax Benefit  3,573   6.5%  2,992   6.5%  2,966   6.7%
Bank Owned Life Insurance  (696)  (1.3%)  (731)  (1.6%)  (712)  (1.6%)
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit  (1,546)  (2.8%)  (1,201)  (2.6%)  (291)  (0.7%)
Bargain Purchase Gain  -   0.0%  (641)  (1.4%)  -   0.0%
Deferred Tax Asset Remeasurement  6,256   11.5%  -   0.0%  -   0.0%
Other, Net  73   0.1%  316   0.7%  162   0.4%
Total Provision for Taxes $26,111   47.9% $16,097   35.1% $16,924   38.2%
The components of net deferred tax assetswhich was 4.63% as of December 31, are as follows: The net deferred tax assets are reported in Interest Receivable and Other Assets on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet.2022.


(in thousands) 2017  2016 
Deferred Tax Assets      
Allowance for Credit Losses $14,962  $20,260 
Accrued Liabilities  7,421   9,807 
Deferred Compensation  8,996   14,166 
State Franchise Tax  850   1,680 
Acquired Net Operating Loss  756   1,135 
Fair Value Adjustment on Loans Acquired  242   429 
Fair Value Adjustment on ORE Acquired  108   299 
Unrealized Loss on Securities Available-for-Sale  373   58 
Low-Income Housing Investment  470   366 
Other  17   233 
Total Deferred Tax Assets $34,195  $48,433 
Deferred Tax Liabilities        
Premises and Equipment  (1,361)  (1,707)
Securities Accretion  (164)  (341)
Leasing Activities  (12,389)  (14,868)
Core Deposit Intangible Asset  (247)  (398)
Prepaid  (964)  (314)
Other  (944)  (494)
Total Deferred Tax Liabilities  (16,069)  (18,122)
Net Deferred Tax Assets $18,126  $30,311 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowers the Company’s previous 35% federal corporate tax rate to 21%, was signed into law by President Trump on December 22, 2017. In accordanceCompany has $883.8 million in pledged loans with the ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, companies must recognize the effect of tax law changes in the period of enactment. As a result, the Company is required to re-measure its deferred tax assets (DTA) and deferred tax liabilities (DTL) at the new tax rate of 21%Federal Reserve Bank (the “Fed”). This onetime re-measurement resulted in a $6.3 million increase in the Company’s income tax provision. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods during which the deferred tax assets are expected to be deductible, Management believes it is more likely than not we will realize the benefit of the remaining deferred tax assets. The net deferred tax assets are reported in Interest Receivable and Other Assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal and California jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by the tax authorities for the years before 2013.

11. Short Term Borrowings

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016,2022, the Company had unused lines ofCompany’s overnight borrowing capacity using the primary credit available for short-term liquidity purposes of $1.0 billion and $962.8 million, respectively. Federal Funds purchased and advances are generally issued on an overnight basis.facilities from the Fed account was $651.0 million. The borrowing rate is 425 basis points. There were no outstanding advances fromon the FHLB atabove borrowing facilities as of December 31, 2017 or 2016. There were no Federal Funds purchased or advances from the FRB at December 31, 2017 or 2016.2022 and 2021.

85
106

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
12.  Securities Sold Under Agreement to Repurchase

Securities Sold Under Agreement to Repurchase are used as secured borrowing alternatives to FHLB Advances or FRB Borrowings.

At December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had no securities sold under agreement to repurchase.

13. Federal Home Loan Bank Advances

The Company had no short-term or long-term advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco at December 31, 2017 or 2016.

In accordance with the Collateral Pledge and Security Agreement, advances are secured by all FHLB stock held by the Company. At December 31, 2017, $618.4 million in loans were approved for pledging as collateral on borrowing lines with the FHLB. The borrowing capacity on these loans was $521.2 million.

14.  Note 9—Long-term Subordinated Debentures


In December 2003, the Company formed a wholly owned Connecticut statutory business trust, FMCB Statutory Trust I (“Statutory Trust I”), which issued $10.0 million of guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in the Company’s junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (the “Trust Preferred Securities”). The Company is not considered the primary beneficiary of the trust (variable interest entity), therefore the trust is not consolidated in the Company’s financial statements, but rather the subordinated debentures are shown as a liability. These debentures qualify as Tier 1 capital under current regulatory guidelines. All of the common securities of Statutory Trust I are owned by the Company. The proceeds from the issuance of the common securities and the Trust Preferred Securities were used by FMCB Statutory Trust to purchase $10.3 million of junior subordinated debentures of the Company, which carry a floating rate based on three-month LIBOR plus 2.85%. The debentures represent the sole asset of Statutory Trust I. The Trust Preferred Securities accrue and pay distributions at a floating rate of three-month LIBOR plus 2.85% per annum of the stated liquidation value of $1,000 per capital security. The Company has entered into contractual arrangements which, taken collectively, fully and unconditionally guarantee payment to the extent that Statutory Trust I has funds available thereforetherefor of: (i) accrued and unpaid distributions required to be paid on the Trust Preferred Securities; (ii) the redemption price with respect to any Trust Preferred Securities called for redemption by Statutory Trust I; and (iii) payments due upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding up, or liquidation of Statutory Trust I.

The Trust Preferred Securities are mandatorily redeemable upon maturity of the subordinated debentures on December 17, 2033, or upon earlier redemption as provided in the indenture. The Company has the right to redeem the subordinated debentures purchased by Statutory Trust I, in whole or in part, on or after December 17, 2008. As specified in the indenture, if the subordinated debentures are redeemed prior to maturity, the redemption price will be the principal amount and any accrued but unpaid interest. Additionally, if the Company decided to defer interest on the subordinated debentures, the Company would be prohibited from paying cash dividends on the Company’s common stock.

15. Shareholders' Equity

In 1998, the Board approved the Company’s first common stock repurchase program. This program has been extended and expanded several times since then, and most recently, on August 11, 2015, the Board of Directors approved an extension of the $20 million stock repurchase program over the three-year period ending September 30, 2018.

Repurchases under the program may be made from time to time on the open market or through private transactions. The repurchase program also requires that no repurchases may be made if the Bank would not remain “well-capitalized” after the repurchase. There were no stock repurchases made in 2017 or 2016.

Dividends from the Bank constitute the principal source of cash to the Company. The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank. Under regulations controlling California state chartered banks, the Bank is, to some extent, limited in the amount of dividends that can be paid to the Company without prior approval of the California DBO. These regulations require approval if total dividends declared by a state chartered bank in any calendar year exceed the bank's net profits for that year combined with its retained net profits for the preceding two calendar years.

86
107

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
During 2017, the Company issued 4,975 shares of common stock. All of these shares were contributed to the Bank’s non-qualified defined contribution retirement plans. The shares issued had prices ranging from $590 per share to $595 per share. These share prices were based upon valuations completed by a nationally recognized bank consulting and advisory firm and in reliance upon the exemption in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The proceeds from these issuances were contributed to the Bank as equity capital.

During 2016, the Company issued 16,542 shares of common stock, of which 4,610 shares were contributed to the Bank’s non-qualified defined contribution retirement plans and 11,932 shares were issued in the acquisition of Delta National Bancorp. The shares issued had prices ranging from $525 per share to $580 per share. These share prices were based upon valuations completed by a nationally recognized bank consulting and advisory firm and in reliance upon the exemption in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The proceeds from these issuances were contributed to the Bank as equity capital.
Note 10—Shareholders’ Equity


The Company and the Bank are subject to various federal regulatory capital requirementsadequacy guidelines as outlined under Part 324 of the Basel III Capital Rules.FDIC Rules and Regulations. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly discretionary, actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s and the Bank'sBank’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company and the Bank'sBank’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company and the Bank'sBank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.


The implementation of Basel III requirements will increase the required capital levels that the Company and the Bank must maintain. The final rules include new minimum risk-based capital and leverage ratios, which would be phased in over time. The new minimum capital level requirements applicable to the Company and the Bank under the final rules will be: (i) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5% of risk-weighted assets (“RWA”); (ii) a Tier 1 capital ratio of 6% of RWA; (iii) a total capital ratio of 8% of RWA; and (iv) a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4% of total assets. The final rules also establish a "capital conservation buffer" of 2.5% above each of the new regulatory minimum capital ratios, which would result in the following minimum ratios: (i) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 7.0% of RWA; (ii) a Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.5% of RWA; and (iii) a total capital ratio of 10.5% of RWA. An institution will be subject to limitations on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying discretionary bonuses if its capital level falls below the buffer amount. The final rules also permit the Company’s subordinated debentures issued in 2003 to continue to be counted as Tier 1 capital.

The final rules became effective as applied to the Company and the Bank on January 1, 2015, with a phase in period through January 1, 2019. The Company believes that it is currently in compliance with all of these new capital requirements (as fully phased-in) and that they will not result in any restrictions on the Company’s business activity.


In addition, the most recent notification from the FDIC categorizedManagement believes that the Bank meets the requirements to be categorized as “well capitalized” under the FDIC regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, the Bank must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the following tables. There

The Company’s and Bank’s actual and required capital amounts and ratios are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the Bank’s category.as follows:

  December 31, 2022 
   Actual  Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes  
Minimum to be Categorized as “Well
Capitalized” Under Prompt Corrective
Action Regulation
 
(Dollars in thousands) Amount  Ratio  Amount  Ratio  Amount  Ratio 
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp                  
CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets $493,438   11.57
%
 $191,984   4.50
%
 N/A   N/A
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets  503,438   11.80
%
  255,978   6.00
%
  N/A   N/A
Risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets  556,964   13.06
%
  341,305   8.00
%
  N/A   N/A
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio  503,438   9.36
%
  215,201   4.00
%
  N/A   N/A 
                         
Farmers & Merchants Bank                        
CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets $502,838   11.79
%
 $191,970   4.50
%
 $277,290   6.50
%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets  502,838   11.79
%
  255,960   6.00
%
  341,280   8.00
%
Risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets  556,361   13.04
%
  341,280   8.00
%
  426,600   10.00
%
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio  502,838   9.35
%
  215,018   4.00
%
  268,772   5.00
%

87
108

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(in thousands) Actual  
Current
Regulatory Capital
Requirements
  
Well Capitalized
 Under Prompt
Corrective Action
 
December 31, 2017 Amount  Ratio  Amount  Ratio  Amount  Ratio 
Total Bank Capital to Risk Weighted Assets $330,041   12.66% $208,552   8.0% $260,691   10.0%
Total Consolidated Capital to Risk Weighted Assets $342,210   13.07% $209,532   8.0%  N/A   N/A 
Total Bank Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio $297,232   11.40% $117,311   4.5% $169,449   6.5%
Total Consolidated Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio $299,401   11.43% $117,862   4.5%  N/A   N/A 
Tier 1 Bank Capital to Risk Weighted Assets $297,232   11.40% $156,414   6.0% $208,552   8.0%
Tier 1 Consolidated Capital to Risk Weighted Assets $309,250   11.81% $157,150   6.0%  N/A   N/A 
Tier 1 Bank Capital to Average Assets $297,232   9.65% $123,178   4.0% $153,972   5.0%
Tier 1 Consolidated Capital to Average Assets $309,250   9.99% $123,790   4.0%  N/A   N/A 

Note 10—Shareholders’ Equity—Continued
(in thousands) Actual  
Current
Regulatory Capital
 Requirements
  
Well Capitalized
Under Prompt
Corrective Action
 
December 31, 2016 Amount  Ratio  Amount  Ratio  Amount  Ratio 
Total Bank Capital to Risk Weighted Assets $319,776   12.79% $199,958   8.0% $249,947   10.0%
Total Consolidated Capital to Risk Weighted Assets $319,983   12.80% $199,981   8.0%  N/A   N/A 
Total Bank Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio $288,324   11.54% $112,476   4.5% $162,466   6.5%
Total Consolidated Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio $278,981   11.16% $112,489   4.5%  N/A   N/A 
Tier 1 Bank Capital to Risk Weighted Assets $288,323   11.54% $149,968   6.0% $199,958   8.0%
Tier 1 Consolidated Capital to Risk Weighted Assets $288,527   11.54% $149,986   6.0%  N/A   N/A 
Tier 1 Bank Capital to Average Assets $288,324   10.08% $114,409   4.0% $143,011   5.0%
Tier 1 Consolidated Capital to Average Assets $288,527   10.07% $114,568   4.0%  N/A   N/A 
 
   December 31, 2021 
   Actual  Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes  
Minimum to be Categorized as “Well
Capitalized” Under Prompt Corrective
Action Regulation
 
(Dollars in thousands) Amount  Ratio  Amount  Ratio  Amount  Ratio 
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp                  
CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets $450,687   11.68
%
 $173,674   4.50
%
 
N/A   N/A
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets  460,687   11.94
%
  231,566   6.00
%
  N/A   N/A
Risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets  509,091   13.19
%
  308,755   8.00
%
  N/A   N/A
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio  460,687   8.92
%
  206,606   4.00
%
  N/A   N/A 
                         
Farmers & Merchants Bank                        
CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets $459,813   11.91
%
 $173,664   4.50
%
 $250,847   6.50
%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets  459,813   11.91
%
  231,551   6.00
%
  308,735   8.00
%
Risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets  508,215   13.17
%
  308,735   8.00
%
  385,919   10.00
%
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio  459,813   8.91
%
  206,426   4.00
%
  258,033   5.00
%


16. Dividends and Basic Earnings Per Common Share
The Company’s Board of Directors may declare cash or stock dividends out of retained earnings provided the regulatory minimum capital ratios are met. The Company plans to maintain capital ratios that meet the capital adequacy standards per the regulations.

Total cash dividends during 2017 were $10,982,000 or $13.55 per share of common stock, an increase of 3.4% per share from $10,478,000 or $13.10 per share in 2016. In 2015, cash dividends totaled $10,157,000 or $12.90 per share.


Basic and diluted earnings per common share amounts are computed by dividing netrepresents income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted averageweighted-average number of common shares outstanding forduring the period. The following table calculates the basic earnings

Earnings per common share forhave been computed based on the periods indicated.following:


(net income in thousands)
 2017  2016  2015 
Net Income $28,370  $29,723  $27,392 
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding  809,834   793,970   786,582 
Basic Earnings Per Common Share $35.03  $37.44  $34.82 

 Year Ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts) 2022
  2021
  2020
 
Numerator         
Net income $75,090  $66,336  $58,734 
             
Denominator            
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding  777,726   789,646   793,337 
Weighted average number of dilutive shares outstanding  777,726   789,646   793,337 
             
Basic earnings per common share $96.55  $84.01  $74.03 
Diluted earning per commons share $96.55  $84.01  $74.03 



17. 109

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 11—Employee Benefit Plans

 
Profit Sharing Plan
The Company, through the Bank, sponsors a Profit Sharing Plan for substantially all full-time employees of the Company with one or more years of service. The plan assets, reported at fair value, are primarily invested in mutual funds and other investments, which are primarily Level 2 inputs. Participants receive up to two annual employer contributions, one is discretionary and the other is mandatory. The discretionary contributions to the Profit Sharing Plan are determined annually by the Board of Directors. The discretionary contributions totaled $1.0$1.8 million, $975,000,$1.6 million, and $925,000$1.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2022, 2021, and 2015,2020, respectively. The mandatory contributions to the Profit Sharing Plan are made according to a predetermined set of criteria. Mandatory contributions totaled $1.2$1.6 million, $1.2$1.7 million, and $1.1$1.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016,2022, 2021, and 2015,2020, respectively. Company employees are permitted, within limitations imposed by tax law, to make pretax contributions and after tax (Roth) contributions to the 401(k) feature of the Profit Sharing Plan. The Company does not match employee contributions within the 401(k) feature of the Profit Sharing Plan and the Company can terminate the Profit Sharing Plan at any time. Benefits pursuant to the Profit Sharing Plan vest 0% during the first year of participation, 25% per full year thereafter and after five years such benefits are fully vested.
Executive Retirement Plan and Life Insurance Arrangements
The Company, through the Bank, sponsors an Executive Retirement Plan (“ERP”) for certain executive level employees. The Executive Retirement PlanERP is a non-qualified defined contributiondeferred compensation plan and was developed to supplement the Company’s Profit Sharing Plan, which, as a qualified retirement plan, has a ceiling on benefits as set by the Internal Revenue Service.Service regulations. The PlanERP is comprised of: (1) a Performance Component which makes contributions based upon long-term cumulative profitability and increase in market value of the Company; (2) a Salary Component which makes contributions based upon participant salary levels; and (3) an Equity Component for which contributions are discretionary and subject to Board of Directors approval. Executive Retirement PlanThe Company maintains a Rabbi Trust to fund, in part, the ERP. The Rabbi Trust is an irrevocable grantor trust to which the Company may contribute assets for the limited purpose of funding a nonqualified deferred compensation plan. The Company may not use the assets of the Rabbi Trust for any purpose other than meeting its obligations under the ERP; however, the assets of the Rabbi Trust remain subject to the claims of its creditors and are included in the consolidated financial statements. The Company contributes cash to the Rabbi Trust from time to time for the sole purpose of funding the ERP. The Rabbi Trust will use any cash the Company contributes to purchase shares of common stock of the Company, and other financial instruments, on the open market. ERP contributions are invested in a mix of financial instruments; however, the Equity Component contributions are invested primarily in common stock of the Company.


The Company expensed $4.3$7.4 million to the Executive Retirement PlanERP during the year ended December 31, 2017, $3.82022, $9.0 million during the year ended December 31, 20162021 and $3.5$6.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2015.2020. The Company’s total accruedcarrying value of the liability under the Executive Retirement PlanERP was $43.3$57.0 million as of December 31, 20172022 and $37.4$63.9 million as of December 31, 2016.2021. The Company’s shares of common stock held as investments in the Rabbi Trust of the ERP as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 totaled 50,196 and 55,436 with an historical cost basis of $31.4 million and $33.2 million, respectively. All amounts have been fully funded into athe Rabbi Trust as of December 31, 2017.2022 and 2021. The consolidated investments held in the Rabbi Trust are recorded at fair value with changes in unrealized gains or losses recorded within non-interest income and the equal and offsetting charges in the related liability are recorded in non-interest expense in the consolidated statements of income.


Net gains on ERP plan investments were $0.1 million in 2022 compared to net gains of $2.5 million in 2021 and $1.8 million in 2020. Balances in non-qualified deferred compensation plans may be invested in financial instruments whose market value fluctuates based upon trends in interest rates and stock prices.

110

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 11—Employee Benefit Plans—Continued
  
The Company has purchased single premium life insurance policies on the lives of certain key employees of the Company. These policies provide: (1) financial protection to the Company in the event of the death of a key employee; and (2) significant income to the Company to offset the expense associated with the Executive Retirement Plan and other employee benefit plans, since the interest earned on the cash surrender value of the policies is tax exempt as long as the policies are used to finance employee benefits. As compensation to each employee for agreeing to allow the Company to purchase an insurance policy on his or her life, split dollar agreements have been entered into with those employees. These agreements provide for a division of the life insurance death proceeds between the Company and each employee’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries.


The Company earned tax-exempt interest on the life insurance policies of $1.8$2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, and $1.92022, $2.2 million for the yearsyear ended December 31, 2016,2021, and 2015.$2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 20172022 and 2016,2021, the total cash surrender value of the insurance policies was $59.6$73.0 million and $57.8$71.4 million, respectively.


Senior Management Retention Plan
The Company, through the Bank, sponsors a Senior Management Retention Plan (“SMRP”) for certain senior level employees. The SMRP is a non-qualified defined contributiondeferred compensation plan and was developed to supplement the Company’s Profit Sharing Plan, which, as a qualified retirement plan, has a ceiling on benefits as set by the Internal Revenue Service.Service regulations. All contributions are discretionary and subject to the Board of Directors approval. The Company maintains a Rabbi Trust to fund, in part, the SMRP. The Rabbi Trust is an irrevocable grantor trust to which the Company may contribute assets for the limited purpose of funding a non-qualified deferred compensation plan. The Company may not use the assets of the Rabbi Trust for any purpose other than meeting its obligations under the SMRP; however, the assets of the Rabbi Trust remain subject to the claims of its creditors and are included in the consolidated financial statements. The Company contributes cash to the Rabbi Trust from time to time for the sole purpose of funding the SMRP. The Rabbi Trust will use any cash the Company contributes to purchase shares of common stock of the Company, and other financial instruments, on the open market. Contributions to the SMRP are invested primarily in common stock of the Company.

The Company expensed $765,000$3.0 million to the SMRP during the year ended December 31, 2017, $627,0002022, $2.7 million during the year ended December 31, 20162021 and $530,000$2.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2015.2020. The Company’s total accruedcarrying value of the liability under the SMRP was $4.4$13.6 million as of December 31, 20172022 and $3.4$11.1 million as of December 31, 2016.2021. The Company’s shares of stock held as investments in the Rabbi Trust of the SMRP as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 totaled 15,998 and 14,192 shares with an historical cost basis of $10.8 million and $9.5 million, respectively. All amounts have been fully funded into athe Rabbi Trust as of December 31, 2017.2022 and 2021. The consolidated investments held in the Rabbi Trust are recorded at fair value with changes in unrealized gains or losses recorded within non-interest income and the equal and offsetting charges in the related liability are recorded in non-interest expense in the consolidated statements of income.

18.
Net gains on SMRP plan investments were $0.4 million in 2022, $0.1 million in 2021 and $0.1 in 2020. Balances in non-qualified deferred compensation plans may be invested in financial instruments whose market value fluctuates based upon trends in interest rates and stock prices.

111

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 12—Fair Value Measurements


The Company follows the “Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures” topic of the FASB ASC, which establishes a framework for measuring fair value in U.S. GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This standard applies whenever other standards require, or permit assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value but does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances. In this standard, the FASB clarifies the principle that fair value should be based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. In support of this principle, this standard establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:


Level 1 inputs – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2 inputs - Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These might include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.


Level 3 inputs - Unobservable inputs for determining the fair values of assets or liabilities that reflect an entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities.


Management monitors the availability of observable market data to assess the appropriate classification of financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy. Changes in economic conditions or model-based valuation techniques may require the transfer of financial instruments from one fair value level to another. In such instances, the transfer is reported at the beginning of the reporting period.


Management evaluates the significance of transfers between levels based upon the nature of the financial instrument and size of the transfer relative to total assets, total liabilities or total earnings.



Securities classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair value on a recurring basis utilizing Level 1, 2 and 3 inputs. For these securities, the Company obtains fair value measurements from an independent pricing service. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the bond'sbond’s terms and conditions, among other things.




The Company does not record all loans &and leases at fair value on a recurring basis. However, from time to time, a loan or lease is considered impairedcollateral dependent and an allowance for credit losses is established. Once a loan or lease is identified as individually impaired,collaterally dependent, management measures impairment in accordance with the “Receivable” topic of the FASB ASC. The fair value of impairedcollateral dependent loans or leases is estimated using one of several methods, including collateral value when the loan is collateral dependent, market value of similar debt, enterprise value, and discounted cash flows. ImpairedCollateral dependent loans &and leases not requiring an allowance represent loans &and leases for which the fair value of the expected repayments or collateral exceed the recorded investments in such loans &and leases. ImpairedCollateral dependent loans &and leases where an allowance is established based on the fair value of collateral require classification in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of collateral dependent impaired loans is generally based on recent real estate appraisals.

112

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 12—Fair Value—Continued

  

These appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including sales comparison, cost and the income approach. Adjustments are often made in the appraisal process by the appraisers to take in to account differences between the comparable sales and income and other available data. Such adjustments can be significant and typically result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value. The valuation technique used for Level 3 nonrecurring impairednon-recurring collateral dependent loans is primarily the sales comparison approach less estimated selling costs of 10%.costs.




Other Real Estate Owned (“ORE”OREO”) is reported at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Fair values are based on recent real estate appraisals. These appraisals may use a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including sales comparison, cost and the income approach. Adjustments are often made in the appraisal process by the appraisers to take in to account differences between the comparable sales and income and other available data. Such adjustments can be significant and typically result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value. The valuation technique used for Level 3 nonrecurring OREnon-recurring OREO is primarily the sales comparison approach less estimated selling costs of 10%.costs.


At December 31, 2017, there were no formal foreclosure proceedings in process for consumer mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties.
The following tables present information aboutsummarize the carrying value and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine such fair value for the periods indicated.

     
Fair Value Measurements
At December 31, 2017, Using
 
  Fair Value  
Quoted Prices
 in Active
Markets for
Identical
 Assets
  
Other
Observable
Inputs
  
Significant
 Unobservable
 Inputs
 
(in thousands) Total  (Level 1)  (Level 2)  (Level 3) 
Available-for-Sale Securities:            
Government Agency & Government-Sponsored Entities $3,128  $-  $3,128  $- 
US Treasury Notes  144,164   144,164   -   - 
US Govt SBA  29,380   -   29,380   - 
Mortgage Backed Securities  301,914   -   301,914   - 
Other  3,010   200   310   2,500 
Total Assets Measured at Fair Value On a Recurring Basis $481,596  $144,364  $334,732  $2,500 

December 31, 2022    Fair Value Measurements 
(Dollars in thousands) Carrying Amount  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total Fair Value 
Financial Assets:               
Cash and cash equivalents $588,257  $588,257  $-  $-  $588,257 
Available-for-sale debt securities  152,864   4,964   147,900   -   152,864 
Held-to-maturity debt securities  844,953   -   661,167   42,534   703,701 
Non-marketable securities  15,549   -   -   15,549   15,549 
Loans and leases, net  3,445,476   -   -   3,335,042   3,335,042 
Bank-owned life insurance
  73,038   73,038   -   -   73,038 
                     
Financial Liabilities:                    
Total deposits $4,759,269  $-  $4,427,869  $323,572  $4,751,441 
Subordinated debentures  10,310   -   12,211   -   12,211 



December 31, 2021    Fair Value Measurements 
(Dollars in thousands) Carrying Amount  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total Fair Value 
Financial Assets:               
Cash and cash equivalents $715,460  $715,460  $-  $-  $715,460 
Available-for-sale debt securities  270,454   10,214   260,240   -   270,454 
Held-to-maturity debt securities  737,052   -   681,588   44,446   726,034 
Non-marketable securities  15,549   -   -   15,549   15,549 
Loans and leases, net  3,176,170   -   -   3,179,857   3,179,857 
Bank-owned life insurance  71,411   71,411   -   -   71,411 
                     
Financial Liabilities:                    
Total deposits
 $4,640,152  $-  $4,247,666  $391,732  $4,639,398 
Subordinated debentures  10,310   -   6,890   -   6,890 

     
Fair Value Measurements
At December 31, 2016, Using
 
  Fair Value  
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
 Assets
  
Other
Observable
Inputs
  
Significant
Unobservable
 Inputs
 
(in thousands) Total  (Level 1)  (Level 2)  (Level 3) 
Available-for-Sale Securities:            
Government Agency & Government-Sponsored Entities $3,241  $-  $3,241  $- 
US Treasury Notes  134,428   134,428   -   - 
US Govt SBA  36,314       36,314     
Mortgage Backed Securities  273,270   -   273,270   - 
Other  1,010   200   310   500 
Total Assets Measured at Fair Value On a Recurring Basis $448,263  $134,628  $313,135  $500 

113

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 12—Fair values for Level 2 available-for-sale investment securitiesValue—Continued

  

Non-recurring Measurements: collateral dependent loans and OREO are based on quoted market prices for similar securities. During the year ended December 31, 2017, there were no transfers in or out of level 1, 2, or 3.

The available for sale investment security categorized as aclassified with Level 3 asset for year ended December 31, 2017 consisted of one $2.5 million investment in a limited liability company that purchases SBA loans. The Company increased this investment by $2.0 million during 2017. This security is not actively traded and is owned by a few investors. The significant unobservable data reflected in the fair value measurementhierarchy. The estimated fair value of collateral dependent loans is based on the fair value of the collateral, less estimated costs to sell. The Company receives an appraisal or performs an evaluation for each collateral dependent loan. The key inputs used to determine the fair value of collateral dependent loans include dealer quotes, projected prepayment speeds/average livesselling costs, and credit information, amongadjustment to comparable collateral. Valuations and significant inputs obtained by independent sources are reviewed by the Company for accuracy and reasonableness. Appraisals are typically obtained at least on an annual basis. The Company also considers other things. There were no gainsfactors and events that may affect the fair value. The appraisals or lossesevaluations are reviewed at least on a quarterly basis to determine if any adjustments are needed. After review and acceptance of the appraisal or transfers in or out of level 3 during the year ended December 31, 2017.evaluation, adjustments to collateral dependent loans may occur.




The following tables present information about the Company’s impaired loans & leasesBank’s assets and other real estate, classes of assets or liabilities that the Company carriesmeasured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis and indicatesindicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the CompanyBank to determine such fair value for the periods indicated. Not all impaired loans & leases are carried at fair value. Impaired loans & leases are only included in the following tables when their fair value is based upon an appraisal of the collateral, and if that appraisal results in a partial charge-off or the establishment of a specific reserve.


December 31, 2022    Fair Value Measurements 
(Dollars in thousands) Carrying Amount  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  
Total Fair
Value
 
Fair valued on a recurring basis:               
Debt securities available-for-sale               
U.S. Treasury notes
 $4,964  $4,964  $-  $-  $4,964 
U.S. Government-sponsored securities
  4,427   -   4,427   -   4,427 
Mortgage-backed securities
  132,528   -   132,528   -   132,528 
Collateralized mortgage obligations
  1,054   -   1,054   -   1,054 
Corporate securities
  9,581   -   9,581   -   9,581 
Other
  310   -   310   -   310 
                     
Fair valued on a non-recurring basis:                    
Collateral dependent loans
 $14,473  $-  $-  $14,473  $14,473 
Other real estate owned
  873   -   -   873   873 


December 31, 2021    Fair Value Measurements 
(Dollars in thousands) Carrying Amount  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  
Total Fair
Value
 
Fair valued on a recurring basis:               
Debt securities available-for-sale               
U.S. Treasury notes
 $10,089  $10,089  $-  $-  $10,089 
U.S. Government-sponsored securities
  6,374   -   6,374   -   6,374 
Mortgage-backed securities
  251,120   -   251,120   -   251,120 
Collateralized mortgage obligations
  2,436   -   2,436   -   2,436 
Other
  435   125   310   -   435 
                     
Fair valued on a non-recurring basis:                    
Individually evaluated loans $2,562  $-  $-  $2,562  $2,562 
Other real estate owned
  873   -   -   873   873 


91
114

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
     
Fair Value Measurements
At December 31, 2017, Using
 
 (in thousands) 
Fair Value
Total
  
Quoted Prices
 in Active
 Markets for
 Identical
 Assets
(Level 1)
  
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  
Significant
 Unobservable
 Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Impaired Loans:            
Commercial Real Estate $2,595  $-  $-  $2,595 
Residential 1st Mortgage  997   -   -   997 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  75   -   -   75 
Commercial  1,514   -   -   1,514 
Total Impaired Loans  5,181   -   -   5,181 
Other Real Estate:                
Real Estate Construction  873   -   -   873 
Total Other Real Estate  873   -   -   873 
Total Assets Measured at Fair Value On a Non-Recurring Basis $6,054  $-  $-  $6,054 
     
Fair Value Measurements
At December 31, 2016, Using
 
 (in thousands) 
Fair Value
Total
  
Quoted Prices
 in Active
 Markets for
 Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  
Other
 Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  
Significant
Unobservable
 Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Impaired Loans:            
Residential 1st Mortgage $480  $-  $-  $480 
Home Equity Lines and Loans  83   -   -   83 
Agricultural  497   -   -   497 
Commercial  833   -   -   833 
Total Impaired Loans  1,893   -   -   1,893 
Other Real Estate:                
Home Equity Lines and Loans  785   -   -   785 
Real Estate Construction  2,960   -   -   2,960 
Total Other Real Estate  3,745   -   -   3,745 
Total Assets Measured at Fair Value On a Non-Recurring Basis $5,638  $-  $-  $5,638 
The Company’s property appraisals are primarily based on the sales comparison approach and the income approach methodologies, which consider recent sales of comparable properties, including their income generating characteristics, and then make adjustments to reflect the general assumptions that a market participant would make when analyzing the property for purchase. These adjustments may increase or decrease an appraised value and can vary significantly depending on the location, physical characteristics and income producing potential of each property. Additionally, the quality and volume of market information available at the time of the appraisal can vary from period to period and cause significant changes to the nature and magnitude of comparable sale adjustments. Given these variations, comparable sale adjustments are generally not a reliable indicator for how fair value will increase or decrease from period to period. Under certain circumstances, management discounts are applied based on specific characteristics of an individual property.
The following table presents quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements for financial instruments measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at December 31, 2017:

(in thousands) Fair Value Valuation TechniqueUnobservable InputsRange, Weighted Avg. 
Impaired Loans:       
Commercial Real Estate $2,595 Income ApproachCapitalization Rate 3.25%, 3.25 %
Residential 1st Mortgages $997       Sales Comparison ApproachAdjustment for Difference Between Comparable Sales 1% -4%, 2 %
Home Equity Lines and Loans $75       Sales Comparison ApproachAdjustment for Difference Between Comparable Sales 1% - 2%, 2 % 
Commercial $1,514 Income ApproachCapitalization Rate 2.95% - 8.70%, 3.40 %
          
Other Real Estate:         
Real Estate Construction $873       Sales Comparison ApproachAdjustment for Difference Between Comparable Sales 10%, 10 % 
19. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

U.S. GAAP requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized on the balance sheet, for which it is practical to estimate that value. The estimated fair value amounts have been determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. The use of assumptions and various valuation techniques, as well as the absence of secondary markets for certain financial instruments, will likely reduce the comparability of fair value disclosures between financial institutions. In some cases, book value is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the relatively short period of time between origination of the instrument and its expected realization.

The following tables summarize the book value and estimated fair value of financial instruments for the periods indicated:
     Fair Value of Financial Instruments Using    
December 31, 2017 
(in thousands)
 
Carrying
Amount
  
Quoted Prices
 in Active
 Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
  
Other
Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
  
Significant
 Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  
Total
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Assets:               
Cash and Cash Equivalents $187,149  $187,149  $-  $-  $187,149 
                     
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale  481,596   29,580   449,516   2,500   481,596 
                    
Investment Securities Held-to-Maturity  54,460   -   38,492   16,744   55,236 
                     
FHLB Stock  10,342   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A 
Loans & Leases, Net of Deferred Fees & Allowance  2,164,953   -   -   2,137,987   2,137,987 
Accrued Interest Receivable  10,999   -   10,999   -   10,999 
                     
Liabilities:                    
Deposits  2,723,228   2,247,831   472,671   -   2,720,502 
Subordinated Debentures  10,310   -   7,428   -   7,428 
Accrued Interest Payable  1,137   -   1,137   -   1,137 

     Fair Value of Financial Instruments Using    
December 31, 2016
(in thousands)
 
Carrying
Amount
  
Quoted Prices
 in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
 (Level 1)
  
Other
Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
  
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  
Total
 Estimated
 Fair Value
 
Assets:               
Cash and Cash Equivalents $98,960  $98,960  $-  $-  $98,960 
                     
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale  448,263   134,628   313,135   500   448,263 
                     
Investment Securities Held-to-Maturity  58,109   -   40,415   17,993   58,408 
                     
FHLB Stock  8,872   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A 
Loans & Leases, Net of Deferred Fees & Allowance  2,129,682   -   -   2,107,060   2,107,060 
Accrued Interest Receivable  10,047   -   10,047   -   10,047 
                     
Liabilities:                    
Deposits  2,581,711   2,011,418   569,183   -   2,580,601 
Subordinated Debentures  10,310   -   6,578   -   6,578 
Accrued Interest Payable  852   -   852   -   852 
Fair value estimates presented herein are based on pertinent information available to management as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Although management is not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the estimated fair value amounts, such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purpose of these financial statements since that date, and; therefore, current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented above. The methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument listed in the table above are explained below.

Cash and Cash Equivalents - The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash and due from banks, interest-bearing deposits with banks, federal funds sold, and securities purchased under agreements to resell are a reasonable estimate of fair value. All cash and cash equivalents are classified as Level 1.

Investment Securities - Fair values for investment securities consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the bond's terms and conditions, among other things. Based on the available market information the classification level could be 1, 2, or 3.

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock - It is not practical to determine the fair value of FHLB stock due to restrictions placed on its transferability.

Loans & Leases, Net of Deferred Loan & Lease Fees & Allowance - Fair values of loans & leases are estimated as follows: For variable rate loans that reprice frequently and with no significant change in credit risk, fair values are based on carrying values resulting in a Level 3 classification. Fair values for other loans & leases are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, using interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality resulting in a Level 3 classification. Impaired loans & leases are valued at the lower of cost or fair value as described previously. The methods utilized to estimate the fair value of loans & leases do not necessarily represent an exit price.

Deposit Liabilities - The fair values disclosed for demand deposits (e.g., interest and non-interest checking, passbook savings, and certain types of money market accounts) are, by definition, equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date (i.e., their carrying amount) resulting in a Level 1 classification. Fair values for fixed-maturity certificates of deposit are estimated using a discounted cash flows calculation that applies interest rates currently being offered on certificates to a schedule of aggregated expected monthly maturities on time deposits resulting in a Level 2 classification.

Subordinated Debentures - The fair values of the Company’s Subordinated Debentures are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on the current borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements resulting in a Level 2 classification.

Accrued Interest Receivable and Payable - The carrying amount of accrued interest receivable and payable approximates their fair value resulting in a Level 2 classification.

20. Note 13—Commitments and Contingencies


In the normal course of business, the Company enters in tointo financial instruments with off balance sheet risk in order to meet the financing needs of its customers and to reduce its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These instruments include commitments to extend credit, letters of credit, and other types of financial guarantees. The Company had the following off balance sheet commitments as of the dates indicated.

(in thousands) December 31, 2017  December 31, 2016 
Commitments to Extend Credit $735,678  $609,653 
Letters of Credit  20,061   20,444 
Performance Guarantees Under Interest Rate Swap Contracts Entered Into Between Our Borrowing Customers and Third Parties  759   1,835 

  December 31,
 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022
  2021
 
       
Commitments to extend credit, including unsecured commitments of $20,401 and $21,036 as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively
 $1,141,036  $937,009 
Stand-by letters of credit, including unsecured commitments of $7,954 and $9,091 as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively
  17,138   17,880 
Performance guarantees under interest rate swap contracts entered into with our clients and third-parties  -   1,433 
The Company'sCompany’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party with regard to standby letters of credit, undisbursed loan commitments, and financial guarantees is represented by the contractual notional amount of those instruments. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for recorded balance sheet items. The Company may or may not require collateral or other security to support financial instruments with credit risk. Evaluations of each customer'scustomer’s creditworthiness are performed on a case-by-case basis.


Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee performance of or payment for a customer to a third party.third-party. Outstanding standby letters of credit have maturity dates ranging from 1 to 60 months with final expiration in January 2023.2027. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee.

The Company is obligated under a number of noncancellable operating leases for premises and equipment used for banking purposes. Minimum future rental commitments under noncancellable operating leases as of December 31, 2017, were $670,000, $634,000, $644,000, $462,000, and $146,000 for the years 2018 through 2022, and $139,000 for the remaining term of the leases.

In the ordinary course of business, the Company becomes involved in litigation arising out of its normal business activities. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, believes that the ultimate liability, if any, resulting from the disposition of such claims would not be material in relation to the financial position of the Company.


The Company may be required to maintain average reserves on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank primarily based on deposits outstanding. There were no reserveReserve requirements during 2017 or 2016.are offset by the Company’s vault cash and deposit balances maintained with the Federal Reserve Bank.

21. Recent Accounting Developments

In January 2016,115

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 14Leases

Lessee – Operating Leases
Operating leases in which we are the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognitionlessee are recorded as operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and Measurement of Financial Assetsoperating lease liabilities, included in other assets and Financial Liabilities. The ASU addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosureother liabilities, respectively, on our consolidated statements of financial instruments. Most notably,condition. We do not currently have any significant finance leases in which we are the ASU changeslessee.

Operating lease ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset during the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized at lease commencement based on the present value of the remaining lease payments using a discount rate that represents our incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement date. ROU assets are further adjusted for lease incentives. Operating lease expense, which is comprised of amortization of the ROU asset and the implicit interest accreted on the operating lease liability, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, and is recorded net in occupancy expense in the consolidated statements of income.

Our leases relate primarily to office space and bank branches with remaining lease terms of generally nine months to 8 years. Certain lease arrangements contain extension options that typically range from 5 to 10 years at the then fair market rental rates. ASC 842 requires lessees to evaluate whether option periods, if available, will be exercised in order to determine the full life of the lease. The Company used the first option period, unless it is a relatively new lease that has a long initial lease term or other extenuating circumstances.

As of December 31, 2022, operating lease ROU assets and liabilities were $3.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively. Operating lease expenses totaled $730,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2021, operating lease ROU assets and liabilities were $4.05 million and $4.13 million, respectively. Operating lease expenses totaled $739,000 and $833,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.


The table below summarizes the information related to our operating leases:


 
 Year Ended December 31, 
(in thousands except for percent and period data) 2022  2021 
Cash Paid for Amounts Included in the Measurement of Lease Liabilities      
Operating Cash Flow from Operating Leases $704  $709 
Weighted-Average Remaining Lease Term - Operating Leases, in Years  5.48   6.55 
Weighted-Average Discount Rate - Operating Leases  2.6%  2.6%

116

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 14—LeasesContinued

The table below summarizes the maturity of remaining lease liability:

(Dollars in thousands) Amount 
2023
 $720 
2024
  716 
2025
  714 
2026
  679 
2027
  367 
2028 and beyond
  520 
Total lease payments  3,716 
Discount
  (243)
Net present value of lease liabilities $3,473 

As of December 31, 2022, we had no additional operating leases for office space that have not yet commenced or that are anticipated to commence during the first quarter of 2023.

Lessor – Direct Financing Leases
The Company is the lessor in direct finance lease arrangements. Leases are recorded at the principal balance outstanding, net of unearned income statement impactand charge-offs.  Interest income is recognized using the interest method. Leases typically have a maturity of equity investments heldthree to ten years, and fixed rates that are most often tied to Treasury indices with an appropriate spread based on the amount of perceived risk. Credit risks are underwritten using the same credit criteria the Company would use when making an equipment term loan. Residual value risk is managed with qualified, independent appraisers that establish the residual values the Company uses in structuring a lease.

Lease payments due to the Company are typically fixed and paid in equal installments over the lease term. Variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or a rate (e.g., property taxes) that are paid directly by the Company are minimal. The majority of property taxes are paid directly by the client to third-parties and are not considered part of variable payments and therefore are not recorded by the requirement forCompany.

As a lessor, the Company leases certain types of agriculture equipment, solar equipment, construction equipment and other equipment to useits customers. The Company’s net investment in direct financing leases was $111.6 million at December 31, 2022 and $96.4 million at December 31, 2021.

117

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 15—Income Taxes

The components of income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:

  Year Ended December 31,
 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021  2020 
Income tax expense / (benefit)         
Current:         
Federal $10,638  $12,595  $12,174 
State  9,683   10,270   9,005 
Total current expense
  20,321   22,865   21,179 
             
Deferred:            
Federal  3,744   59   (1,115)
State  586   (939)  (847)
Total current deferred benefit
  4,330   (880)  (1,962)
Provision for income tax expense
 $24,651  $21,985  $19,217 

  

The combined federal and state income tax expense differs from that computed at the exit price notion when measuringfederal statutory corporate tax rate as follows:

   Year Ended December 31, 
  2022
  2021
  2020
 
(Dollars in thousands) Amount  Rate  Amount  Rate  Amount  Rate 
Effective income tax rate                  
Federal statutory rate $20,946   21.00
%
 $18,548   21.00
%
 $16,370   21.00
%
State taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit  8,112   8.13
%
  7,370   8.34
%
  6,445   8.27
%
Low-income housing tax credits  (3,031
)
  (3.04
%)
  (3,116
)
  (3.53
%)
  (2,655
)
  (3.41
%)
Compensation expense  (578)  (0.58%)  -   -   -   - 
Bank owned life insurance  (494
)
  (0.49
%)
  (471
)
  (0.53
%)
  (444
)
  (0.57
%)
Tax-exempt interest income  (326
)
  (0.32
%)
  (347
)
  (0.39
%)
  (350
)
  (0.45
%)
Other, net  22   0.02%  1   0.00%  (149)  (0.19
%)
Total provision for income tax expense and effective tax rate $24,651   24.72
%
 $21,985   24.89
%
 $19,217   24.65
%

118

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 15—Income Taxes—Continued


The nature and components of the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes. Company’s net deferred income tax assets are as follows:


  December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022
  2021
 
Deferred income tax assets:      
Allowance for credit losses $20,508  $18,129 
Deferred compensation  20,564   15,339 
Unrealized losses on debt securities  9,341   945 
Accrued liabilities  3,832   9,415 
State income taxes  2,034   2,157 
Lease liabilities  1,027   1,222 
SBA PPP loan fee income  -   764 
Acquired net operating losses  584   614 
Low-income housing tax investments  565   503 
Acquired loans fair valuation  108   197 
Acquired OREO fair valuation  108   108 
Other  2   19 
Total deferred income tax assets  58,673   49,412 
         
Deferred income tax liabilities:        
Commercial leasing $(21,204
)
 $(17,892
)
Premises and equipment  (1,940
)
  (1,860
)
Deferred loan and lease costs  (1,105)  (869)
Right of use leasing asset  (996
)
  (1,197
)
Core deposit intangible asset  (830
)
  (1,006
)
Accretion on investment securities
  (547
)
  (523
)
FHLB dividends  (348)  (348)
Prepaid assets
  (40)  (43)
Other  (156
)
  (132
)
Total deferred income tax liabilities  (27,166
)
  (23,870
)
Net deferred income tax assets $31,507  $25,542 
 

The Company adoptedbelieves, based on available information, that more likely than not, the ASU provisionsnet deferred income tax asset will be realized in the normal course of operations. Accordingly, no valuation allowance has been recorded at December 31, 2022 and 2021.



The impact of a tax position is recognized in the financial statements if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on January 1, 2018. Managementaudit, based on the technical merits of the position. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company did not have any significant uncertain tax positions. The Company includes any interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits within the provision for income taxes. The Company does not expect the adoption of the ASU to have a material effect onchange to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.total amount of unrecognized tax benefits in the next twelve months.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The ASU will require the earlier recognition of credit losses on loans and other financial instruments based on an expected loss model, replacing the incurred loss model that is currently in use. Under the new guidance, an entity will measure all expected credit losses for financial instruments held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The expected loss model will apply to loans and leases, unfunded lending commitments, held-to-maturity debt securities and other debt instruments measured at amortized cost. The impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities will require the recognition of credit losses through a valuation allowance when fair value is less than amortized cost, regardless of whether the impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary. The new guidance is effective on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted on January 1, 2019.


The Company is currently evaluating the provisionsfiles U.S. and state income tax returns in jurisdictions with various statutes of this ASU and has created a cross-functional teamlimitations. The 2018 through 2022 tax years remain subject to begin its implementation efforts of this new guidance. While the Company has not quantified the impact of this ASU, it is evaluating historical loan level data requirements necessaryselection for the implementation of the model, as well as various methodologies for determining expected credit losses.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The new standard is being issued to increase the transparency and comparability around lease obligations. Previously unrecorded off-balance sheet obligations will now be brought more prominently to light by presenting lease liabilities on the face of the balance sheet, accompanied by enhanced qualitative and quantitative disclosures in the notes to the financial statements. This ASU applies to leasing arrangements exceeding a twelve-month term. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires a modified retrospective method upon adoption. Early application of the amendments is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this ASU to determine the potential impact the new standard will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. While the Company has not quantified the impact to its balance sheet, it does expect the adoption of this ASU will result in a gross-up in its balance sheet as a result of recording a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for these leases.
In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).  As a result of the deferral, the guidance in ASU 2014-09 will be effective for the Company for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Update modifies the guidance companies use to recognize revenue from contracts with customers for transfers of goods or services and transfers of nonfinancial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. The guidance also requires new qualitative and quantitative disclosures, including information about contract balances and performance obligations. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this update will have on the consolidated financial statements. As a financial institution, the Company’s largest component of revenue, interest income, is excluded from the scope of this ASU. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2018.

22. Parent Company Financial Information

The following financial information is presentedexamination as of December 31, for2022. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the periods indicated.Company has net operating loss of $1.9 million and $2.0 million carry-forwards and no tax credit carry-forwards.

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
Condensed Balance Sheets

(in thousands) 2017  2016 
Cash $332  $228 
Investment in Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California  297,643   289,778 
Investment Securities  409   409 
Other Assets  12,006   184 
Total Assets $310,390  $290,599 
         
Subordinated Debentures $10,310  $10,310 
Liabilities  420   308 
Shareholders' Equity  299,660   279,981 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $310,390  $290,599 
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
Condensed Statements of Income
  Year Ended December 31, 
(in thousands) 2017  2016  2015 
Equity in Undistributed Earnings in Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California $5,575  $17,043  $17,352 
Dividends from Subsidiary  23,575   14,275   10,875 
Interest Income  13   11   10 
Other Expenses, Net  (1,552)  (2,485)  (1,451)
Tax Benefit  759   879   606 
Net Income $28,370  $29,723  $27,392 

97
119

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Note 16—Condensed Financial Statements of Parent Company

Financial information pertaining only to Farmers &and Merchants Bancorp (“FMCB”), on a parent-only basis, is as follows:
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
  December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021 
Balance Sheets      
Assets      
Cash and cash equivalents $1,582  $1,535 
Investment in subsidiaries  495,019   472,573 
Other assets  304   241 
Total assets $496,905  $474,349 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity        
Subordinated debentures $10,310  $10,310 
Other liabilities  1,287   903 
Shareholders’ equity  485,308   463,136 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $496,905  $474,349 


 Year Ended December 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2022  2021  2020 
Statements of Income         
Dividend and other income from subsidiaries $34,700  $9,900  $19,874 
Interest and dividends  14   9   11 
Total income
  34,714   9,909   19,885 
            
Reimbursement of expenses from subsidiaries  714   780   821 
Other expenses  2,388   1,469   1,656 
Total expense
  3,102   2,249   2,477 
Income before income taxes  31,612   7,660   17,408 
Income tax benefit  913   660   729 
  32,525   8,320   18,137 
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries
  42,565   58,016   40,597 
Net income $75,090  $66,336  $58,734 
  Year Ended December 31, 
(in thousands) 2017  2016  2015 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:         
Net Income $28,370  $29,723  $27,392 
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:            
Equity in Undistributed Net Earnings from Subsidiary  (5,575)  (17,043)  (17,352)
Net (Increase) Decrease in Other Assets  (11,822)  (124)  (79)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Liabilities  112   49   141 
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities  11,085   12,605   10,102 
Investing Activities:            
Securities Sold or Matured  1   -   - 
Payments for Business Acquisition  -   (2,207)  - 
Payments for Investments in Subsidiaries  (2,953)  (2,586)  (3,360)
Net Cash Used by Investing Activities  (2,952)  (4,793)  (3,360)
Financing Activities:            
Issuance of Common Stock  2,953   2,586   3,360 
Cash Dividends  (10,982)  (10,478)  (10,157)
Net Cash Used by Financing Activities  (8,029)  (7,892)  (6,797)
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents  104   (80)  (55)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year  228   308   363 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year $332  $228  $308 

98
120

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
23. Quarterly UnauditedNote 16—Condensed Financial DataStatements of Parent Company—Continued


(Dollars in thousands) Year Ended December 31, 
Statements of Cash Flows 2022  2021  2020 
Cash flows from operating activities:         
Net income $75,090  $66,336  $58,734 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:            
Equity in undistributed net income of the Bank
  (42,565)  (58,016)  (40,597)
Change in other assets and liabilities
  197   739   (393)
Net cash provided by operating activities  32,722   9,059   17,744 
Cash flows from investing activities:            
Payments for investments in non-qualified retirement plans  -   -   (403)
Securities sold or matured  124   -   - 
Net cash used in investing activities  124   -   (403)
Cash flows from financing activities:            
Common stock repurchases  (20,310)  -   (2,834)
Issuance of common stock  -   -   403 
Cash dividends paid
  (12,489)  (12,075)  (11,700)
Net used in financing activities  (32,799)  (12,075)  (14,131)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents  47   (3,016)  3,210 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year  1,535   4,551   1,341 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year $1,582  $1,535  $4,551 


2017
(in thousands except per share data)
 
First
Quarter
  
Second
Quarter
  
Third
Quarter
  
Fourth
Quarter
  Total 
Total Interest Income $27,242  $28,069  $29,609  $29,692  $114,612 
Total Interest Expense  1,376   1,538   1,759   1,616   6,289 
Net Interest Income  25,866   26,531   27,850   28,076   108,323 
Provision for Credit Losses  600   650   1,600   -   2,850 
Net Interest Income After                    
Provision for Credit Losses  25,266   25,881   26,250   28,076   105,473 
Total Non-Interest Income  5,406   3,539   3,638   4,179   16,762 
Total Non-Interest Expense  18,422   16,525   16,307   16,500   67,754 
Income Before Income Taxes  12,250   12,895   13,581   15,755   54,481 
Provision for Income Taxes  4,429   4,708   5,000   11,974   26,111 
Net Income $7,821  $8,187  $8,581  $3,781  $28,370 
Basic Earnings Per Common Share $9.68  $10.12  $10.59  $4.64  $35.03 

2016
(in thousands except per share data)
 
First
Quarter
  
Second
Quarter
  
Third
Quarter
  
Fourth
Quarter
  Total 
Total Interest Income $24,026  $24,314  $25,262  $25,664  $99,266 
Total Interest Expense  920   951   1,110   1,215   4,196 
Net Interest Income  23,106   23,363   24,152   24,449   95,070 
Provision for Credit Losses  2,600   -   250   3,485   6,335 
Net Interest Income After                    
Provision for Credit Losses  20,506   23,363   23,902   20,964   88,735 
Total Non-Interest Income  2,721   2,875   4,553   5,108   15,257 
Total Non-Interest Expense  12,019   14,737   16,414   15,002   58,172 
Income Before Income Taxes  11,208   11,501   12,041   11,070   45,820 
Provision for Income Taxes  4,036   4,169   4,503   3,389   16,097 
Net Income $7,172  $7,332  $7,538  $7,681  $29,723 
Basic Earnings Per Common Share $9.06  $9.25  $9.51  $9.62  $37.44 

24. Subsequent Events

On February 27, 2018 the Company acquired an additional 8 shares of Bank of Rio Vista for $95,200, increasing our total ownership to 1,586 shares, or 39.65% of the total common shares outstanding.

Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure


None


Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures


Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains controls and procedures designed to ensure that all relevant information is recorded and reported in all filings of financial reports. Such information is reported to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer to allow timely and accurate disclosure based on the definition of “disclosure controls and procedures” in Rule 13a-15(e). In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act, we
An evaluation was carried out an evaluation as of December 31, 2017, under the supervision and with the participation of ourthe Company’s management, including ourthe Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures (as required by Exchange Act Rules 240.13a-15(b) and 15d-14(a)). Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this Report, the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that are filed or submitted under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and timely reported as provided in the SEC’s rules and forms.

REPORT OF MANAGEMENT

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp

The management of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (the “Company”) is responsible for the preparation, integrity, and fair presentation of its published financial statements and all other information presented in this annual report. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and, as such, include amounts based on informed judgments and estimates made by management. In the opinion of management, the financial statements and other information herein present fairly the financial condition and operations of the Company at the dates indicated in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective system of internal control over financial reporting. The internal control system is augmented by written policies and procedures and by audits performed by an internal audit staff (assisted in certain instances by contracted external audit resources other than the independent registered public accounting firm), which reports to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Internal auditors monitor the operation of the internal and external control system and report findings to management and the Audit Committee. When appropriate, corrective actions are taken to address identified control deficiencies and other opportunities for improving the system. The Audit Committee provides oversight to the financial reporting process. There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any system of internal control, including the possibility of human error and circumvention or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even an effective internal control system can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of an internal control system may vary over time.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is comprised entirely of outside directors who are independent of the Company’s management. The Audit Committee is responsible for the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm. It meets periodically with management, the independent auditors and the internal auditors to ensure that they are carrying out their responsibilities.

The Audit Committee is also responsible for performing an oversight role by reviewing and monitoring the financial, accounting, and auditing procedures of the Company in addition to reviewing the Company’s financial reports. The independent auditors and the internal auditors have full and free access to the Audit Committee, with or without the presence of management, to discuss the adequacy of the internal control structure for financial reporting and any other matters, which they believe should be brought to the attention of the Committee.
/s/ Kent A. Steinwert/s/ Stephen W. Haley
Kent A. SteinwertStephen W. Haley
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive OfficerExecutive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed by, or under the supervision of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and effected by Management, and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).  The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:


(1)
Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

(2)
Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and

(3)
Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
There are inherent limitations in any internal control, no matter how well designed and misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected, including the possibility of circumvention or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even an effective internal control system can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of an internal control system may vary over time.
Management assessed the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effectiveinternal control structure over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017.
There have been no significant changes inSponsoring Organizations of the Company’s internal controls or in other factorsTreadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this assessment, management believes that could significantly affect the internal controls subsequent to the date the Company completed its evaluation.

Management’s report onCompany’s internal control over financial reporting is set forth in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” and is incorporated herein by reference. Moss Adams LLP, theeffective as of December 31, 2022.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm thathas audited the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report, was engaged tofor the year ended December 31, 2022, has issued an audit report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Such audit report expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Thereporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as of December 31, 2022 that appears on page 71.
Changes in Internal Controls
There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the year ended December 31, 2022, to which this report of Moss Adams LLP, which is set forth in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” is incorporated herein by reference.relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B.
Other Information

None

Item 9C.Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
 
           Not Applicable
100
PART III


Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Set forth below is certain information regarding the Executive Officers of the Company and/or Bank:

Name and Position(s)
Age
Principal Occupation during the Past Five Years
Kent A. Steinwert
Chairman, President
& Chief Executive Officer
of the Company and Bank
65
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Bank.
Deborah E. Skinner
Executive Vice President & Chief
 Administrative Officer of the Bank
55Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer of the Bank.
Stephen W. Haley
Executive Vice President
& Chief Financial Officer &
Secretary of the Company and
Bank
64Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of the Company and Bank.
Kenneth W. Smith
Executive Vice President
& Senior Credit Officer
of the Company and Bank
58
Executive Vice President & Senior Credit Officer of the Company and Bank.
David M. Zitterow
Executive Vice President,
Wholesale Banking Division
of the Bank
45
Executive Vice President, Wholesale Banking Division Manager – Farmers & Merchants Bank since May 2017.
Senior Vice President – Northern California Regional Executive – Umpqua Bank, April 2014 – May 2017.
Senior Vice President – Head of Business Banking - Umpqua Bank, July 2013 to April 2014.
Senior Vice President – Commercial Banking Manager and Business Banking Manager – Umpqua Bank, April 2011 – July 2013.
Jay J. Colombini
Executive Vice President,
Wholesale Banking Division
of the Bank
55
Executive Vice President, Wholesale Banking Division Manager of the Bank since November 15, 2013.
Senior Vice President and Manager – Lodi Main Branch from August 1, 2012 through November 14, 2013.
Ryan J. Misasi
Executive Vice President,
Retail Banking Division of the Bank
41
Executive Vice President, Retail Banking Division of the Bank since May 29, 2014.
Executive Vice President and Chief Retail Officer – Patelco Credit Union from December, 2011 to April, 2014.
 
Also, see “ElectionInformation regarding “Directors and Executive Officers” is set forth under the headings “Annual Meeting Business Matters – Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors” and “Compliance with Section 16(a)“Executive Compensation – Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Named Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors” of the Exchange Act” in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 20182023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders which will be filed with the SECProxy Statement (“Proxy Statement”) and which is incorporated herein by reference. During 2017, there were no changes

Information regarding “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” is set forth under the section “Other Matters Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” of the Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

Information regarding the Company’s corporate governance and board committees is set forth under the heading “Corporate Governance – Board of Directors Meetings” and “ – Committees of the Board” in procedures for the election of directors.Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference.

The Company has adopted a Code of Conduct, which compliesConsistent with the Code of Ethics requirements of the SEC. A copy ofSarbanes-Oxley Act, the Code of Conduct is posted on the Company’s website. The Company intends to disclose promptly any amendment to, or waiver from any provision of, thehas a Code of Conduct applicable to senior financial officers including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer and any waiver from any provisionprincipal accounting officer. The Code of Conduct can be accessed electronically by visiting the Company’s website at www.fmbonline.com.  The Company intends to satisfy the disclosure requirements under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding amendments to and waivers of the Code of Conduct applicable to directors,by posting such information on its website, onat the About Us page. The Company’s website address is www.fmbonline.com. This website address is for information only and is not intended to be an active link, or to incorporate any website information into this document.location specified above.


Item 11.
Executive Compensation

The information required by Item 11Information regarding “Executive Compensation” is set forth under the headings “Director Compensation” and “Executive Compensation” of Form 10-Kthe Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference from the information containedreference.

Information regarding “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” is set forth under such heading under “Executive Compensation” in the Company’s definitive proxy statement forProxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

Information regarding the 2018 Annual Meeting“Compensation Committee Report” is set forth under the heading “Report of Stockholders, which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A.the Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors on Executive Compensation” under “Executive Compensation” in the Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information required by Item 12Information regarding “Security Ownership of Form 10-KCertain Beneficial Owners and Management” is set forth under such heading of the Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference fromreference.

Information regarding “Equity Compensation Plan Information” is set forth under the information contained inheading “Executive Compensation – Qualified and Non-Qualified Retirement Programs” of the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A. The Company does not have any equity compensation plans, which require disclosure under Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K.Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information required by Item 13Information regarding “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence” is set forth under the heading “Corporate Governance – Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” and “ – Director Independence” of Form 10-Kthe Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference from the information contained in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2018 Annual Meetingreference.

125


Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services


The information required by Item 14Information regarding “Principal Accounting Fees and Services” is set forth under the heading “Fees and Services of Form 10-KIndependent Registered Public Accounting Firm” of the Company’s Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference from the information contained in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A.reference.

PART IV


Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
 
   (a)
(1) Financial Statements. Incorporated herein by reference, are listed in Item 8 hereof.
List of Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules
(2) 
Financial Statement Schedules. Not applicable.

 
(3) 
(a)
Exhibits.
The following documents are filed as a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

(1)Financial Statements and

(2)Financial Statement schedules required to be filed by Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(3)The following exhibits are required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and are included as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

Exhibit
Number
Description
AgreementAmended and Plan of Reorganization dated as of June 8, 2016, by and between Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and Delta National Bancorp and filed on the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 10, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference.
3.1AmendedRestated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Proposal #2 infiled on Registrant’s Form 10-K for the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Appendices 1 and 2 to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and Exhibit 3(i) to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 30, 1999).year ended December 31, 2022.
Amended and Restated By-Laws (incorporated by reference tofiled on Registrant’s Form 10-K for the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 4, 2016, the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 19, 2008, Appendix 3 to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 7, 2005, and Exhibit 3(ii) to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 30, 1999).
year ended December 31, 2022.
Certificate of Designation for the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (included as Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement between Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and Registrar and Transfer Company, dated as of August 5, 2008, filed as Exhibit 4.1 below), filed on the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference.
Rights Agreement between Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and Registrar and Transfer Company, dated as of August 5, 2008, including Form of Right Certificate attached thereto as Exhibit B, filed on the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008,  is incorporated herein by reference.
Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement between Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and Computershare Trust, N.A., as Rights Agent, dated as of February 18, 2016, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant’s Form 8-A/A filed on February 19, 2016.
Description of F&M Bancorp Capital Stock, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement effective JulyAugust 1, 2015,2019, between Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California and Kent A. Steinwert,, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015,2019, is incorporated herein by reference.
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement effective JulyAugust 1, 2015,2019, between Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California and Deborah E. Skinner, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference.
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement effective July 1, 2015, between Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California and Kenneth W. Smith, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,  2015, is incorporated herein by reference.
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement effective July 1, 2015, between Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California and Stephen W. Haley, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,  2015,2019, is incorporated herein by reference.
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement effective JulyAugust 1, 2015,2019, between Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California and Jay J. Colombini, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015,2019, is incorporated herein by reference.
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement effective JulyAugust 1, 2015, between Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California and James P. Daugherty, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,  2015, is incorporated herein by reference.
Employment Agreement effective July 1, 2015,2019, between Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California and Ryan J. Misasi, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015,2019, is incorporated herein by reference.

Employment Agreement effective May 1, 2017, between Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California and David M. Zitterow, filed on the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 30, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference.
Employment Agreement effective August 1, 2022, between Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California and Kyle Koelbel, filed on the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, is incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Retirement Plan – Performance Componentas amended on November 5, 2010, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2010, is incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Retirement Plan – Retention Component as amended on November 5, 2010, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2010, is incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Retirement Plan – Salary Component, amended and restated on November 29, 2014, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, is incorporated herein by reference.
Deferred Compensation Plan of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California,, as amended on November 5, 2010, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2010, is incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Retirement Plan – Equity Component, amended and restated on November 29, 2014, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, is incorporated herein by reference.
Senior Management Retention Plan,, amended and restated on November 29, 2014, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, is incorporated herein by reference.
Code of Conduct of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp,, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, is incorporated herein  by reference.
Subsidiaries of the Registrant, filed on Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference.
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
Certification of the 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.*
101.INSInline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
101.SCHInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema DocumentDocument.
101.CALInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase DocumentDocument.
101.DEFInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LABInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase DocumentDocument.
101.PREInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase DocumentDocument.
101.DEF104Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL Definition Linkbase Documentand contained in Exhibit 101)


*Filed herewith

*Filed herewith

Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary


None

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrantRegistrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.authorized on March 15, 2023.

 Farmers
FARMERS & Merchants Bancorp
MERCHANTS BANCORP
(Registrant)
  
 By
/s/ Kent A. Steinwert
Kent A. Steinwert
Director, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
/s/ Stephen W. Haley
 
Dated:  March 15, 2018
Stephen W. Haley
 
Executive Vice President &
and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Kent A. Steinwert and Stephen W. Haley, jointly and severally, his or her attorney-in-fact, with the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below on March 15, 2023, by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on March 15, 2018.indicated.


/s/ Kent A. Steinwert
Director, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Kent A. Steinwert
(Principal Executive Officer)
   
/s/ Stephen W. Haley
 Chairman,
Executive Vice President &and Chief ExecutiveFinancial Officer
Stephen W. Haley
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
Kent A. Steinwert
/s/ Edward Corum, Jr.
(Principal Executive Officer)
Director
Edward Corum, Jr.
 
   
/s/ Stephen W. Haley
Stephenson K. Green Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Director
Stephen W. HaleyStephenson K. Green(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) 
   
/s/ Gary Long/s/ Calvin Suess
Director
Gary Long DirectorCalvin Suess, Director 
/s/ Stewart C. Adams, Jr./s/ Kevin Sanguinetti
Stewart C. Adams, Jr., DirectorKevin Sanguinetti, Director
/s/ Edward Corum, Jr./s/ Steven K. Green
Edward Corum, Jr., Director Steven K. Green, Director 
   
/s/ Terrence A. Young Kevin Sanguinetti
Director
Kevin Sanguinetti
  
   
/s/ Calvin Suess
Director
Calvin Suess
 
Terrence A. Young,
/s/ Craig James
Director
Craig James
  


129
105