NOTE 4 – LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES | NOTE 4 – LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES Salisbury segregates its loan portfolio into discrete loan pools for purposes of evaluating credit risk. Each loan pool possesses unique risk characteristics that are considered when determining the appropriate level of allowance. As of June 30, 2023, the Company aggregated the individual loan pools as follows: Commercial & Industrial - Commercial loans consist of revolving and term loan obligations extended to businesses, municipalities and educational facilities for the purpose of financing working capital and/or capital investment. Collateral generally consists of pledges of business assets including, but not limited to, accounts receivable, inventory, plant and equipment, and/or real estate, if applicable. Commercial loans are primarily paid by the operating cash flow of the borrower. Commercial loans may be secured or unsecured. Commercial Real Estate – Commercial real estate loans include non-owner-occupied and owner-occupied properties as well as loans for agricultural purposes and land development. Commercial real estate loans consist of mortgage loans to finance investments in real property such as multi-family residential, commercial/retail, office, industrial, hotels, health care facilities and other specific use properties. Commercial real estate loans are typically written with amortizing payment structures. Collateral values are determined based upon appraisals and evaluations in accordance with established policy guidelines. Maximum loan-to-value ratios at origination are governed by established policy and regulatory guidelines. Commercial real estate loans are primarily paid by the cash flow generated from the real property, such as operating leases, rents, or other operating cash flows from the borrower. Residential Real Estate - Residential real estate loans are made to borrowers who demonstrate the ability to make scheduled payments with full consideration to underwriting factors. Borrower qualifications include favorable credit history combined with supportive income requirements and combined loan-to-value ratios within established policy guidelines. Collateral consists of mortgage liens on one-to four-family residences, including for investment purposes. Consumer - Home equity loans and lines of credit are made to qualified individuals and are secured by senior or junior mortgage liens on owner-occupied one-to four-family homes, condominiums, or vacation homes. The home equity loan has a fixed rate and is billed as equal payments comprised of principal and interest. The home equity line of credit has a variable rate and is billed as interest-only payments during the draw period. At the end of the draw period, the home equity line of credit is billed as a percentage of the principal balance plus all accrued interest. Borrower qualifications include favorable credit history combined with supportive income requirements and combined loan-to-value ratios within established policy guidelines. Consumer loan products including personal lines of credit and amortizing loans made to qualified individuals for various purposes such as education, auto loans, debt consolidation, personal expenses or overdraft protection. Borrower qualifications include favorable credit history combined with supportive income and collateral requirements within established policy guidelines, as applicable. Consumer loans may be secured or unsecured. The table below provides the composition of loans receivable. Commercial and industrial loans include loans to businesses, municipalities and independent schools. Commercial real estate includes construction, commercial, residential 5+ multi-family, farm and vacant land loans. Residential real estate includes residential 1-4 family and residential construction loans. Consumer includes HELOC, consumer, indirect auto loans and overdrafts. (In thousands) June 30, 2023 December 31, 2022 1 Commercial & Industrial $ 215,372 $ 239,997 Commercial real estate 525,364 491,659 Residential real estate 468,462 449,652 Consumer 42,891 46,208 Total Loans 1,252,089 1,227,516 Deferred loan origination costs, net 980 1,001 Allowance for credit losses (15,558 ) (14,846 ) Loans receivable, net $ 1,237,511 $ 1,213,671 1 On January 1, 2023, the Bank adopted ASU 326 to calculate the allowance for credit losses. The impact of adopting this standard during first quarter 2023 was a net increase in the allowance for credit losses of $0.3 million. See Note 1 for a summary of the impact of adopting this standard during first quarter 2023. Also included within scope of the CECL standard are off-balance sheet loan commitments, which includes the unfunded portion of committed lines of credit and commitments “in-process”, which reflect loans that are not in Salisbury’s gross loans receivable balance as of the balance sheet date but rather negotiated loan/line of credit terms and rates that the Bank has offered to customers and is committed to honoring. In reference to “in-process” credits, the Bank defines an unfunded commitment as a credit that has been offered to and accepted by a borrower, which has not closed and by which the obligation is not unconditionally cancellable. The Bank estimates expected credit losses over the contractual period in which the Bank is exposed to credit risk through a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Bank. The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet exposures includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments to be funded over its estimated life. At June 30, 2023, the allowance for off-balance-sheet credit losses was $ 1.2 0.2 10 0.4 Salisbury has entered into loan participation agreements with other banks and transferred a portion of its originated loans to the participating banks. Transferred amounts are accounted for as sales and excluded from Salisbury’s loans receivable. Salisbury and its participating lenders share ratably in any gains or losses that may result from a borrower’s lack of compliance with contractual terms of the loan. Salisbury services the loans on behalf of the participating lenders and, as such, collects cash payments from the borrowers, remits payments (net of servicing fees) to participating lenders and disburses required escrow funds to relevant parties. Salisbury also has entered into loan participation agreements with other banks and purchased a portion of the other banks’ originated loans. Purchased amounts are accounted for as loans without recourse to the originating bank. Salisbury and its originating lenders share ratably in any gains or losses that may result from a borrower’s lack of compliance with contractual terms of the loan. The originating banks service the loans on behalf of the participating lenders and, as such, collect cash payments from the borrowers, remit payments (net of servicing fees) to participating lenders and disburse required escrow funds to relevant parties. At June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, Salisbury serviced commercial loans for other banks under loan participation agreements totaling $ 67.4 64.1 Concentrations of Credit Risk Salisbury's loans consist primarily of residential and commercial real estate loans located principally in Litchfield County, Connecticut; Dutchess, Orange and Ulster Counties, New York; and Berkshire County, Massachusetts, which constitute Salisbury's service area. Salisbury offers a broad range of loan and credit facilities to borrowers in its service area, including residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate loans, construction loans, working capital loans, equipment loans, and a variety of consumer loans, including home equity lines of credit, installment loans and collateral loans. All residential and commercial mortgage loans are collateralized by first or second mortgages on real estate. The ability of single family residential and consumer borrowers to honor their repayment commitments is generally dependent on the level of overall economic activity within the market area and real estate values. The ability of commercial borrowers to honor their repayment commitments is dependent on the general economy as well as the health of the real estate economic sector in Salisbury’s market area. Salisbury’s commercial loan portfolio is comprised of loans to diverse industries, several of which may experience operating challenges due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic (“virus”). Approximately 33% of the Bank’s commercial loan portfolio are to entities who operate rental properties, which include commercial strip malls, smaller rental units as well as multi-unit dwellings. Approximately 10% of the Bank’s commercial loans are to entities in the hospitality industry, which includes hotels, bed & breakfast inns and restaurants. Approximately 9% of the Bank’s commercial loans are to educational institutions and approximately 4% of Salisbury’s commercial loans are to entertainment and recreation related businesses, which include camps and amusement parks. Salisbury’s commercial real estate exposure as a percentage of the Bank’s total risk-based capital, which represents Tier 1 plus Tier 2 capital, was approximately 210% as of June 30, 2023 and 198% at December 31, 2022 compared to the regulatory monitoring guideline of 300%. Salisbury’s commercial loan exposure is mitigated by a variety of factors including the personal liquidity of the borrower, real estate and/or non-real estate collateral, U.S. Department of Agriculture or Small Business Administration (“SBA”) guarantees, loan payment deferrals and economic stimulus loans from the U.S. government as a result of the virus, and other factors. Credit Quality Salisbury uses credit risk ratings as part of its determination of the allowance for credit losses. Credit risk ratings categorize loans by common financial and structural characteristics that measure the credit strength of a borrower. The rating model has eight risk rating grades, with each grade corresponding to a progressively greater risk of default. Grades 1 through 4 are considered not criticized and are aggregated as pass rated, and 5 through 8 are criticized as defined by the regulatory agencies. Risk ratings are assigned to differentiate risk within the portfolio and are reviewed on an ongoing basis and revised, if needed, to reflect changes in the borrowers' current financial position and outlook, risk profiles and the related collateral and structural positions. Loans rated as "special mention" (5) possess credit deficiencies or potential weaknesses deserving management’s close attention that if left uncorrected may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loans at some future date. Loans rated as "substandard" (6) are loans where the Bank’s position is clearly not protected adequately by borrower current net worth or payment capacity. These loans have well defined weaknesses based on objective evidence and include loans where future losses to the Bank may result if deficiencies are not corrected, and loans where the primary source of repayment such as income is diminished and the Bank must rely on sale of collateral or other secondary sources of collection. Loans rated "doubtful" (7) have the same weaknesses as substandard loans with the added characteristic that the weakness makes collection or liquidation in full, given current facts, conditions, and values, to be highly improbable. The possibility of loss is high, but due to certain important and reasonably specific pending factors, which may work to strengthen the loan, its reclassification as an estimated loss is deferred until its exact status can be determined. Loans classified as "loss" (8) are considered uncollectible and of such little value that continuance as Bank assets is unwarranted. This classification does not mean that the loan has absolutely no recovery or salvage value, but rather, it is not practical or desirable to defer writing off this loan even though partial recovery may be made in the future. Management actively reviews and tests its credit risk ratings against actual experience and engages an independent third-party to annually validate its assignment of credit risk ratings. In addition, the Bank’s loan portfolio is examined periodically by its regulatory agencies, the FDIC and the CTDOB. Based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk category of loans by segment and by vintage, reported under the CECL methodology, is presented below. Commercial and industrial loans include loans to businesses, municipalities and independent schools. Commercial real estate includes construction, commercial, residential 5+ multi-family, farm and vacant land loans. Residential real estate includes residential 1-4 family and residential construction loans. Consumer includes HELOC, consumer, indirect auto loans and overdrafts. (in thousands) 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 Prior Revolving Loans Amortized Cost Basis Revolving Loans Converted to Term Total As of June 30, 2023 Commercial & industrial Risk rating Pass $ 12,115 $ 41,250 $ 40,502 $ 29,466 $ 15,974 $ 38,085 $ 30,691 $ — $ 208,083 Special mention — — — — 616 5,456 350 — 6,422 Substandard — 300 — — 10 — 557 — 867 Doubtful — — — — — — — — — Loss — — — — — — — — — Total commercial & industrial $ 12,115 $ 41,550 $ 40,502 $ 29,466 $ 16,600 $ 43,541 $ 31,598 $ — $ 215,372 Commercial real estate Risk rating Pass $ 46,897 $ 150,311 $ 103,226 $ 66,452 $ 25,628 $ 121,807 $ — $ — 514,321 Special mention — — — 3,554 3,716 2,920 — — 10,190 Substandard — — — — — 853 — — 853 Doubtful — — — — — — — — — Loss — — — — — — — — — Total commercial real estate $ 46,897 $ 150,311 $ 103,226 $ 70,006 $ 29,344 $ 125,580 $ — $ — $ 525,364 Residential real estate Risk rating Pass $ 30,996 $ 104,583 $ 114,161 $ 63,316 $ 26,509 $ 123,627 $ 170 $ — $ 463,362 Special mention — — — 20 — 3,204 — — 3,224 Substandard — — 662 — — 1,214 — — 1,876 Doubtful — — — — — — — — — Loss — — — — — — — — — Total residential real estate $ 30,996 $ 104,583 $ 114,823 $ 63,336 $ 26,509 $ 128,045 $ 170 $ — $ 468,462 Consumer Risk rating Pass $ 952 $ 1,521 $ 955 $ 216 $ 380 $ 14,024 $ 22,292 $ 2,281 $ 42,621 Special mention — — — — — 1 96 43 140 Substandard — 45 — — — 2 70 13 130 Doubtful — — — — — — — — — Loss — — — — — — — — — Total consumer $ 952 $ 1,566 $ 955 $ 216 $ 380 $ 14,027 $ 22,458 $ 2,337 $ 42,891 Total loans $ 90,960 $ 298,010 $ 259,506 $ 163,024 $ 72,833 $ 311,193 $ 54,226 $ 2,337 $ 1,252,089 Total Gross Charge-offs $ ( 48 ) $ (13 ) $ ( 4 ) $ — $ — $ ( 20 ) $ — $ — $ (85 ) Total Recoveries 4 — — — — 1 — — 5 Total Net Charge-offs $ (44 ) $ ( 13 ) $ ( 4 ) $ — $ — $ ( 19 ) $ — $ — $ (80 ) The composition of loans receivable by risk rating grade, under the incurred loss methodology is as follows: (in thousands) Pass Special mention Substandard Doubtful Loss Total December 31, 2022 Commercial & industrial $ 232,259 $ 6,195 $ 1,543 $ — $ — $ 239,997 Commercial real estate 477,006 8,798 5,855 — — 491,659 Residential real estate 444,778 2,995 1,879 — — 449,652 Consumer 46,041 162 5 — — 46,208 Loans receivable, gross $ 1,200,084 $ 18,150 $ 9,282 $ — $ — $ 1,227,516 A financial asset is considered collateral dependent when the debtor is experiencing financial difficulty and repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the sale or operation of the collateral. Expected credit losses for collateral dependent loans are based on the fair value of the collateral at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate. Significant quarter over quarter changes are reflective of changes in nonaccrual status and not necessarily associated with credit quality indicators like appraisal value. The following table presents the amortized cost basis of individually analyzed collateral-dependent loans by loan portfolio segment: The following table presents the amortized cost basis of collateral-dependent non-accrual loans as of June 30, 2023. Commercial and industrial loans include loans to businesses, municipalities and independent schools. Commercial real estate includes construction, commercial, residential 5+ multi-family, farm and vacant land loans. Residential real estate includes residential 1-4 family and residential construction loans. Consumer includes HELOC, consumer, indirect auto loans and overdrafts. Collateral Type (in thousands) Real Estate Business Assets Total Collateral-Dependent Non-Accrual Loans June 30, 2023 Commercial & industrial $ — $ — $ — Commercial real estate 85 — 85 Residential real estate 839 — 839 Consumer 83 14 97 Total $ 1,007 $ 14 $ 1,021 The following is a summary of loans by past due status at June 30, 2023: Past due (in thousands) Current 30-59 days 60-89 days 90 days or Greater Past Due Total Past Due Total Loans Outstanding Loans Greater than 90 Days Past Due and Accruing June 30, 2023 Commercial & industrial $ 215,070 $ — $ 2 $ 300 $ 302 $ 215,372 $ 300 Commercial real estate 524,923 356 — 85 441 525,364 — Residential real estate 468,286 111 65 — 176 468,462 — Consumer 42,604 204 48 35 287 42,891 — Total $ 1,250,883 $ 671 $ 115 $ 420 $ 1,206 $ 1,252,089 $ 300 The following is a summary of the amortized cost basis of loans on non-accrual status . June 30, 2023 December 31, 2022 (in thousands) Non-Accrual Loans with an Allowance Non-Accrual Loans without an Allowance Total Non-Accrual Loans Total Non-Accrual Loans Commercial & industrial $ — $ — $ — $ 189 Commercial real estate — 85 85 1,648 Residential real estate — 839 839 820 Consumer 14 83 97 5 Total $ 14 $ 1,007 $ 1,021 $ 2,662 Past due 180 30 Accruing (in thousands) days days 90 days 30-59 60-89 90-179 and and and Non- Current days days days over over over accrual December 31, 2022 Commercial & industrial $ 239,847 $ 149 $ 1 $ — $ — $ 150 $ — $ 189 Commercial real estate 491,574 — — 85 — 85 — 1,648 Residential real estate 448,935 672 30 — 15 717 — 820 Consumer 45,677 442 84 5 — 531 — 5 Loans receivable, gross $ 1,226,033 $ 1,263 $ 115 $ 90 $ 15 $ 1,483 $ — $ 2,662 Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty The allowance for credit losses incorporates an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses and is recorded on each asset origination. The starting point for the estimate of the allowance for credit losses is historical loss information, which includes losses from modifications of receivables to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. Salisbury uses a probability of default/loss given default model to determine the allowance for credit losses. An assessment of whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty is made on the date of a modification. Because the effect of most modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty is already included in the allowance for credit losses as a result of the measurement methodologies used to estimate the allowance, a change in the allowance for credit losses is generally not recorded upon modification. In certain instances, Salisbury will modify a loan by providing multiple types of concessions. Typically, one type of concession, such as term extension, is granted initially. If the borrower continues to experience financial difficulty, another concession, such as an interest rate reduction, may be granted. Salisbury did not restructure any troubled debt in the second quarter of 2023 or 2022. The components of troubled debt restructured loans at December 31, 2022 are as follows: (in thousands) December 31, 2022 Commercial & industrial $ — Commercial real estate 1,381 Residential real estate 1,289 Consumer — Accruing troubled debt restructured loans 2,670 Commercial & industrial — Commercial real estate — Residential real estate 67 Consumer — Non-accrual troubled debt restructured loans 67 Troubled debt restructured loans $ 2,737 The past due status of troubled debt restructured loans at December 31, 2022 is as follows: (in thousands) December 31, 2022 Current $ 2,670 Past due 30-59 days — Past due 60-89 days — Accruing troubled debt restructured loans 2,670 Current — Past due 30-59 days 67 Past due 180 days and over — Non-accrual troubled debt restructured loans 67 Total troubled debt restructured loans $ 2,737 Allowance for Credit Losses for Loans The ACL on loans at June 30, 2023, was $ 15.6 0.7 The net decrease in the ACL for the commercial & industrial loan segment was primarily driven by the release of reserves associate with the sale of shared national credit loans noted above as well as changes in current and forecasted economic conditions between reporting periods. The activity in Salisbury’s allowance for credit losses for loans is presented below. Commercial and industrial loans include loans to businesses, municipalities and independent schools. Commercial real estate includes construction, commercial, residential 5+ multi-family, farm and vacant land loans. Residential real estate includes residential 1-4 family and residential construction loans. Consumer includes HELOC, consumer, indirect auto loans and overdrafts. Three months ended June 30, 2023 (in thousands) Beginning balance (Release) provision for Credit Losses Charge-offs Recoveries Ending balance Commercial & industrial $ 4,279 $ (427 ) $ — $ — $ 3,852 Commercial real estate 5,894 (29 ) — — 5,865 Residential real estate 5,226 15 — — 5,241 Consumer 610 38 (50 ) 2 600 Totals $ 16,009 $ (403 ) $ (50 ) $ 2 $ 15,558 Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 (in thousands) Beginning balance Impact of Adopting ASC 326 Subtotal Provision for Credit Losses Charge-offs Recoveries Ending balance Commercial & industrial $ 1,921 $ 2,447 $ 4,368 $ (516 ) $ — $ — $ 3,852 Commercial real estate 8,425 (3,236 ) 5,189 676 — — 5,865 Residential real estate 4,108 831 4,939 301 — 1 5,241 Consumer 392 229 621 60 (85 ) 4 600 Total allowance for credit losses $ 14,846 $ 271 $ 15,117 $ 521 $ (85 ) $ 5 $ 15,558 Three months ended June 30, 2022 (in thousands) Beginning balance Provision Charge-offs Recoveries Ending balance Commercial & industrial $ 1,593 $ 367 $ — $ — $ 1,960 Commercial real estate 6,900 35 (39 ) 1 6,897 Residential real estate 3,253 598 (239 ) — 3,612 Consumer 302 66 (39 ) 4 333 Unallocated 867 34 — — 901 Totals $ 12,915 $ 1,100 $ (317 ) $ 5 $ 13,703 Six months ended June 30, 2022 (in thousands) Beginning balance Provision Charge-offs Recoveries Ending balance Commercial & industrial $ 1,811 $ 194 $ (46 ) $ 1 $ 1,960 Commercial real estate 6,973 296 (373 ) 1 6,897 Residential real estate 3,020 851 (259 ) — 3,612 Consumer 277 102 (56 ) 10 333 Unallocated 881 20 — — 901 Totals $ 12,962 $ 1,463 $ (734 ) $ 12 $ 13,703 The Bank’s allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments is recognized as a liability (in other liabilities on consolidated balance sheet), with adjustments to the reserve recognized in the provision for credit losses in the consolidated income statement. The Bank’s activity in the allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was as follows: Six months ended Three months ended Balance at the beginning of period $ 178 $ 1,183 Impact of adopting ASC 326 913 — Subtotal 1,091 1,083 Provision (release) for credit losses 82 (10 ) Balance at the end of period June 30, 2023 $ 1,173 $ 1,173 Six months ended Three months ended Balance at the beginning of period $ 146 $ 183 Other expense – unfunded commitments 41 4 Balance at the end of period June 30, 2022 $ 187 $ 187 The composition of loans receivable and the allowance for credit losses is presented in the tables below. The loan categories for previously reported periods have been updated to conform to the current presentation. (in thousands) Collectively evaluated Individually evaluated Total portfolio Loans Allowance Loans Allowance Loans Allowance June 30, 2023 Commercial & industrial $ 215,372 $ 3,852 $ — $ — $ 215,372 $ 3,852 Commercial real estate 525,279 5,865 85 — 525,364 5,865 Residential real estate 467,623 5,241 839 — 468,462 5,241 Consumer 42,808 600 83 — 42,891 600 Totals $ 1,251,082 $ 15,558 $ 1,007 $ — $ 1,252,089 $ 15,558 (in thousands) Collectively evaluated Individually evaluated Total portfolio Loans Allowance Loans Allowance Loans Allowance December 31, 2022 Commercial & industrial $ 239,808 $ 1,780 $ 189 $ — $ 239,997 $ 1,780 Commercial real estate 488,630 7,781 3,029 22 491,659 7,803 Residential real estate 447,543 3,805 2,109 — 449,652 3,805 Consumer 46,203 363 5 — 46,208 363 Unallocated allowance — 1,095 — — — 1,095 Totals $ 1,222,184 $ 14,824 $ 5,332 $ 22 $ 1,227,516 $ 14,846 Certain data with respect to loans individually evaluated for impairment is presented as follows as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2023. Loans with no specific allowance Loan balance Income Book Note Average Recognized June 30, 2023 Commercial & industrial $ — $ — $ 115 $ 1 Commercial real estate 85 85 867 44 Residential real estate 839 859 1,083 1 Consumer 83 84 54 1 Totals $ 1,007 $ 1,028 $ 2,119 $ 47 Certain data with respect to loans individually evaluated for impairment is as follows as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2022: Impaired loans with specific allowance Impaired loans with no specific allowance (in thousands) Loan balance Specific Income Loan balance Income Book Note Average allowance recognized Book Note Average recognized June 30, 2022 Commercial & industrial $ 73 $ 73 $ 115 $ 3 $ 2 $ 63 $ 60 $ 62 $ 1 Commercial real estate 584 584 633 23 15 2,488 3,059 2,999 24 Residential real estate 2,100 2,106 568 141 24 1,853 1,938 2,531 26 Consumer — — — — — — — 15 — Totals $ 2,757 $ 2,763 $ 1,316 $ 167 $ 41 $ 4,404 $ 5,057 $ 5,607 $ 51 Certain data with respect to loans individually evaluated for impairment is as follows as of and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022: Impaired loans with specific allowance Impaired loans with no specific allowance (in thousands) Loan balance Specific Income Loan balance Income Book Note Average allowance recognized Book Note Average recognized December 31, 2022 Commercial & industrial $ — $ — $ 64 $ — $ — $ 189 $ 195 $ 88 $ 13 Commercial real estate 559 559 604 22 30 2,470 2,705 2,717 51 Residential real estate — — 306 — — 2,109 2,169 2,192 55 Consumer — — — — — 5 5 9 — Totals $ 559 $ 559 $ 974 $ 22 $ 30 $ 4,773 $ 5,074 $ 5,006 $ 119 |