Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses | (4) Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses The composition of the Company’s loan portfolio, by loan class, as of December 31, is as follows: 2023 2022 Commercial $ 106,897 $ 106,771 Commercial Real Estate 721,729 645,166 Agriculture 105,838 114,040 Residential Mortgage 107,328 92,669 Residential Construction 12,323 10,167 Consumer 14,868 15,287 1,068,983 984,100 Allowance for credit losses (16,596 ) (14,792 ) Net deferred origination fees and costs 78 830 Loans, net $ 1,052,465 $ 970,138 At December 31, 2023 and 2022, all loans were pledged under a blanket collateral lien to secure actual and potential borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank. Allowance for Credit Losses Allowance information presented as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023 is presented under the CECL model and allowance information presented as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022 is presented under the incurred loss model. The following table summarizes the activity in the allowance for credit losses on loans which is recorded as a contra asset, and the reserve for unfunded commitments which is recorded on the balance sheet within other liabilities as of December 31, 2023: Allowance for Credit Losses – Year ended December 31, 2023 ($ in thousands) Beginning balance Adoption of CECL Charge-offs Recoveries Provision (Recovery) Ending Balance Commercial $ 1,491 $ 689 $ (366 ) $ 235 $ (8 ) $ 2,041 Commercial Real Estate 10,259 (513 ) — — 1,118 10,864 Agriculture 1,789 (742 ) (2,567 ) 2,567 (50 ) 997 Residential Mortgage 896 923 (3 ) — 189 2,005 Residential Construction 181 221 — — (68 ) 334 Consumer 176 222 (13 ) 1 (31 ) 355 Allowance for credit losses on loans 14,792 800 (2,949 ) 2,803 1,150 16,596 Reserve for unfunded commitments 700 500 — — (50 ) 1,150 Total $ 15,492 $ 1,300 $ (2,949 ) $ 2,803 $ 1,100 $ 17,746 During 2023, the Company experienced a credit event related to suspected customer fraud on a single agricultural relationship that required a charge-off of $2,567 against the allowance for credit losses (ACL) that was subsequently fully recovered later in the year. The levels of California unemployment and gross domestic product are forecasted to be relatively stable. Loan growth was the primary driver for provision expense of $1,100 recognized for the year ended December 31, 2023. Management believes that the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2023 appropriately reflected expected credit losses in the loan portfolio at that date. The following tables summarize the activity in the allowance for credit losses by loan class for the year ended December 31, 2022: Commercial Commercial Real Estate Agriculture Residential Mortgage Residential Construction Consumer Unallocated Total Balance as of December 31, 2021 $ 1,604 $ 8,808 $ 1,482 $ 742 $ 74 $ 167 $ 1,075 $ 13,952 Provision for loan losses (119 ) 1,265 275 138 104 44 (807 ) 900 Charge-offs (297 ) — — — — (48 ) — (345 ) Recoveries 275 — — — — 10 — 285 Net charge-offs (22 ) — — — — (38 ) — (60 ) Ending Balance 1,463 10,073 1,757 880 178 173 268 14,792 Period-end amount allocated to: Loans individually evaluated for impairment — — — 75 — 2 — 77 Loans collectively evaluated for impairment 1,463 10,073 1,757 805 178 171 268 14,715 Balance as of December 31, 2022 $ 1,463 $ 10,073 $ 1,757 $ 880 $ 178 $ 173 $ 268 $ 14,792 The Company’s investment in loans as of December 31, 2022 related to each balance in the allowance for credit losses by loan category and disaggregated on the basis of the Company’s impairment methodology was as follows: Commercial Commercial Real Estate Agriculture Residential Mortgage Residential Construction Consumer Total December 31, 2022 Loans individually evaluated for impairment $ — $ — $ 7,416 $ 622 $ — $ 701 $ 8,739 Loans collectively evaluated for impairment 106,771 645,166 106,624 92,047 10,167 14,586 975,361 Ending Balance $ 106,771 $ 645,166 $ 114,040 $ 92,669 $ 10,167 $ 15,287 $ 984,100 Collateral-Dependent Loans In accordance with ASC 326, 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 the collateral. All loans individually analyzed were collateral-dependent loans as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The following table presents the amortized cost basis of collateral-dependent loans by class, which are individually evaluated to determine expected credit losses as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022: December 31, 2023 ($ in thousands) Secured by 1-4 Family Residential Properties-1st lien Secured by 1-4 Family Residential Properties-junior lien Secured by 1-4 Family Residential Properties- revolving Commercial Construction and land development Secured by farmland Agriculture production loans Total Commercial $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — Commercial Real Estate — — — — — — — — Agriculture — — — — — 946 1,925 2,871 Residential Mortgage 424 — — — — — — 424 Residential Construction — — — — — — — — Consumer — 351 352 — — — — 703 Total $ 424 $ 351 $ 352 $ — $ — $ 946 $ 1,925 $ 3,998 December 31, 2022 ($ in thousands) Secured by 1-4 Family Residential Properties-1st lien Secured by 1-4 Family Residential Properties-junior Secured by 1-4 Family Residential Properties- revolving Commercial Construction and land development Secured by farmland Agriculture production loans Total Commercial $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — Commercial Real Estate — — — — — — — — Agriculture — — — — — 1,148 6,268 7,416 Residential Mortgage 123 — — — — — — 123 Residential Construction — — — — — — — — Consumer — — 637 — — — — 637 Total $ 123 $ — $ 637 $ — $ — $ 1,148 $ 6,268 $ 8,176 Foreclosure Proceedings The Company had no residential real estate property in the process of foreclosure at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. Non-accrual and Past Due Loans The Company’s loans by delinquency and non-accrual status, as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, was as follows: ($ in thousands) 30-59 days Past Due & Accruing 60-89 days Past Due & Accruing 90 days or More Past Due & Accruing Nonaccrual Loans Total Past Due & Nonaccrual Loans Current & Accruing Loans Total Loans Nonaccrual loans with No ACL December 31, 2023 Commercial $ 91 $ 178 $ — $ — $ 269 $ 106,628 $ 106,897 $ — Commercial Real Estate — — — — — 721,729 721,729 — Agriculture — — — 2,871 2,871 102,967 105,838 2,871 Residential Mortgage 976 — 916 424 2,316 105,012 107,328 424 Residential Construction — — 3,420 — 3,420 8,903 12,323 — Consumer 194 — — 703 897 13,971 14,868 703 Total $ 1,261 $ 178 $ 4,336 $ 3,998 $ 9,773 $ 1,059,210 $ 1,068,983 $ 3,998 December 31, 2022 Commercial $ 41 $ — $ 403 $ — $ 444 $ 106,327 $ 106,771 $ — Commercial Real Estate — — — — — 645,166 645,166 — Agriculture — — — 7,416 7,416 106,624 114,040 7,416 Residential Mortgage — — — 123 123 92,546 92,669 123 Residential Construction — — — — — 10,167 10,167 — Consumer — — — 637 637 14,650 15,287 637 Total $ 41 $ — $ 403 $ 8,176 $ 8,620 $ 975,480 $ 984,100 $ 8,176 The Company recognized $1,626 and $51 of interest income on nonaccrual loans during the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Impaired Loans Prior to the Adoption of ASU 2016-13 The following table presents information related to impaired loans as of December 31, 2022, as determined in accordance with ASC 310 prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13: Unpaid Contractual Principal Balance Recorded Investment with no Allowance Recorded Investment with Allowance Total Recorded Investment Related Allowance December 31, 2022 Commercial $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — Commercial Real Estate — — — — — Agriculture 10,032 7,416 — 7,416 — Residential Mortgage 673 123 499 622 75 Residential Construction — — — — — Consumer 822 637 64 701 2 Total $ 11,527 $ 8,176 $ 563 $ 8,739 $ 77 The following table presents the average recorded investment in impaired loans and the amount of interest income recognized on impaired loans during the year ended December 31, 2022: December 31, 2022 Average Recorded Investment Interest Income Recognized Commercial $ 40 $ 3 Commercial Real Estate 384 32 Agriculture 8,047 — Residential Mortgage 639 19 Residential Construction 48 — Consumer 737 21 Total $ 9,895 $ 75 None of the interest on impaired loans was recognized using a cash basis of accounting for the year ended December 31, 2022. Loan Modifications On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU 2022-02, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures. Occasionally, the Company modifies loans to borrowers in financial difficulty by providing principal forgiveness, term extension, payment delays or interest rate reduction. When principal forgiveness is provided, the amount of forgiveness is charged-off against the ACL. In some cases, the Company provides multiple types of concessions on one loan. Typically, one type of concession, such as a term extension, is granted initially. If the borrower continues to experience financial difficulty, another concession, such as principal forgiveness, may be granted. For the loans included in the “combination” columns below, multiple types of modifications have been made on the same loan within the current reporting period. The combination is at least two of the following: a term extension, principal forgiveness, an other-than-insignificant payment delay and/or an interest rate reduction. The following tables present the amortized cost basis of loans that were experiencing both financial difficulty and modification during the periods indicated, by class and by type of modification. The percentage of the amortized cost basis of loans that were modified to borrowers in financial difficulty as compared to the amortized cost basis of each class of financing receivable is also presented below. The amortized cost basis of loans that were experiencing both financial difficulty and modification during the year ended December 31, 2023 were as follows: ($ in thousands) Term Extension Combination Term Extension and Interest Rate Reduction Total Class of Financing Receivable Commercial $ 1,990 $ 41 1.90 % Commercial Real Estate — 395 0.05 % Agriculture 4,005 — 3.78 % Residential Mortgage — — — Residential Construction 3,420 — 27.75 % Consumer — — — Total $ 9,415 $ 436 0.92 % The Company had no commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans were modified at December 31, 2023. The following table presents the financial effect of the loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty during the year ended December 31, 2023: ($ in thousands) Weighted-Average Interest Rate Reduction Weighted-Average Term Extension (in months) Commercial 0.50 % $ 3 Commercial Real Estate 0.25 % 26 Agriculture — 4 Residential Mortgage — — Residential Construction — 1 Consumer — — Total 0.27 % $ 3 There were two agricultural loans totaling $4,005 and a residential construction loan totaling $3,420 that were modified within the previous twelve months and for which there was a payment default during the year ended December 31, 2023. In 2023, the Company recorded charge-offs on two agricultural loans totaling $2,567 that was subsequently recovered later in the year. The residential construction loan was 90 days or more past due as of December 31, 2023. Upon the Company’s determination that a modified loan (or portion of a loan) has subsequently become uncollectible, the loan (or a portion of the loan) is written off. Therefore, the amortized cost basis of the loan is reduced by the uncollectible amount and the ACL is adjusted by the same amount. Troubled Debt Restructurings Prior to the Adoption of ASU 2022-02 Prior to the adoption of ASU 2022-02, the Company accounted for a modification to the contractual terms of a loan that resulted in granting a concession to a borrower experiencing financial difficulties as a TDR. The Company had $8,399 in TDR loans as of December 31, 2022. Specific reserves for TDR loans totaled $77 as of December 31, 2022. TDR loans performing in compliance with modified terms totaled $8,399 as of December 31, 2022. Loans modified as TDRs during the year ended December 31, 2022 were as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2022 Number of Contracts Pre- modification outstanding recorded investment Post- modification outstanding recorded investment Consumer 1 $ 75 $ 75 Total 1 $ 75 $ 75 Loan modifications generally involve reductions in the interest rate, payment extensions, forgiveness of principal, or forbearance. No loans were modified as a TDR within the previous 12 months that subsequently defaulted during the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company considers a loan to be in payment default when it is 90 days or more past due. Credit Quality Indicators All new loans are rated using the credit risk ratings and criteria adopted by the Company. Risk ratings are adjusted as future circumstances warrant. All credits risk rated 1, 2, 3 or 4 equate to a Pass as indicated by Federal and State regulatory agencies; a 5 equates to a Special Mention; a 6 equates to Substandard; a 7 equates to Doubtful; and an 8 equates to a Loss. General definitions for each risk rating are as follows: Risk Rating “1” – Pass (High Quality): This category is reserved for loans fully secured by Company CDs or savings accounts and properly margined (as defined in the Company’s Credit Policy) and actively traded securities (including stocks, as well as corporate, municipal and U.S. Government bonds). Risk Rating “2” – Pass (Above Average Quality): This category is reserved for borrowers with strong balance sheets that are well structured with manageable levels of debt and good liquidity. Cash flow is sufficient to service all debt, including the Company’s, as agreed. Historical earnings, cash flow, and payment performance have all been strong and trends are positive and consistent. Collateral protection is better than the Company’s Credit Policy guidelines. Risk Rating “3” – Pass (Average Quality): Credits within this category are considered to be of average, but acceptable, quality. Loan characteristics, including term and collateral advance rates, meet the Company’s Credit Policy guidelines; unsecured lines to borrowers with above average liquidity and cash flow may be considered for this category; the borrower’s financial strength is well documented, with adequate, but consistent, cash flow to meet all obligations. Liquidity should be sufficient and leverage should be moderate. Monitoring of collateral may be required, including a borrowing base or construction budget. Alternative financing is typically available. Risk Rating “4” – Pass (Below Average Quality): Credits within this category are considered sound, but merit additional attention due to industry concentrations within the borrower’s customer base, problems within their industry, deteriorating financial or earnings trends, declining collateral values, increased frequency of past due payments and/or overdrafts, discovery of documentation deficiencies which may impair our borrower’s ability to repay, or the Company’s ability to liquidate collateral. Financial performance is average but inconsistent. There also may be changes of ownership, management or professional advisors, which could be detrimental to the borrower’s future performance. Risk Rating “5” – Special Mention (Criticized): Loans in this category are currently protected by their collateral value and have no loss potential identified, but have potential weaknesses which may, if not monitored or corrected, weaken our ability to collect payments from the borrower or satisfactorily liquidate our collateral position. Loans where terms have been modified due to their failure to perform as agreed may be included in this category. Adverse trends in the borrower’s operation, such as reporting losses or inadequate cash flow, increasing and unsatisfactory leverage, or an adverse change in economic or market conditions may have weakened the borrower’s business and impaired their ability to repay based on original terms. The condition or value of the collateral has deteriorated to the point where adequate protection for our loan may be jeopardized in the future. Loans in this category are in transition and, generally, do not remain in this category beyond 12 months. During this time, efforts are focused on strategies aimed at upgrading the credit or locating alternative financing. Risk Rating “6” – Substandard (Classified): Loans in this category are inadequately protected by the borrower’s net worth, capacity to repay or collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the repayment of the debt. There exists a strong possibility of loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. Loans that are dependent on the liquidation of collateral to repay are included in this category, as well as borrowers in bankruptcy or where legal action is required to effect collection of our debt. Risk Rating “7” – Doubtful (Classified): Loans in this category indicate all of the weaknesses of a Substandard classification, however, collection of loan principal, in full, is highly questionable and improbable; possibility of loss is very high, but there is still a possibility that certain collection strategies may, yet, be successful, rendering a definitive loss difficult to estimate, at this time. Loans in this category are in transition and, generally, do not remain in this category more than 6 months. Risk Rating “8” – Loss (Classified): Active Charge-Off. Loans in this category are considered uncollectible and of such little value that their removal from the Company’s books is required. The charge-off is pending or already processed. Collateral positions have been or are in the process of being liquidated and the borrower/guarantor may or may not be cooperative in repayment of the debt. Recovery prospects are unknown, but the Company is actively engaged in the collection of the loan. Inactive Charge-Off. Loans in this category are considered uncollectible and of such little value that their removal from the Company’s books is required. The charge-off is pending or already processed. Collateral positions have been liquidated and the borrower/guarantor has nothing of any value remaining to apply to the repayment of our loan. Any further collection activities would be of little value. The following tables present the loan portfolio by loan class, origination year, and internal risk rating as of December 31, 2023. Generally, existing term loans that were re-underwritten are reflected in the table in the year of renewal. Lines of credit that have a conversion feature at the time of origination, such as construction to permanent loans, are presented by year of origination. Revolving loans converted to term loans totaled $881 as of December 31, 2023. (in thousands) Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year - As of December 31, 2023 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 Prior Revolving Loans Amortized Cost Basis Total Commercial Pass $ 19,776 $ 16,961 $ 15,833 $ 5,381 $ 7,420 $ 6,298 $ 26,183 $ 97,852 Special Mention — 1,122 2,530 235 308 — 2,936 7,131 Substandard — 32 1,152 542 — — 188 1,914 Doubtful/Loss — — — — — — — — Total Commercial loans $ 19,776 $ 18,115 $ 19,515 $ 6,158 $ 7,728 $ 6,298 $ 29,307 $ 106,897 Year-to-date Period Charge-offs (47 ) (196 ) (36 ) — (87 ) — — (366 ) Year-to-date Recoveries — — — — 87 148 — 235 Year-to-date Net Charge-offs (47 ) (196 ) (36 ) — — 148 — (131 ) Commercial Real Estate Pass $ 115,807 $ 173,918 $ 191,907 $ 50,150 $ 52,157 $ 107,909 $ 6,879 $ 698,727 Special Mention — — 7,448 — 2,869 1,273 — 11,590 Substandard 395 — 1,712 1,684 6,604 1,017 — 11,412 Doubtful/Loss — — — — — — — — Total Commercial Real Estate loans $ 116,202 $ 173,918 $ 201,067 $ 51,834 $ 61,630 $ 110,199 $ 6,879 $ 721,729 Year-to-date Charge-offs — — — — — — — — Year-to-date Recoveries — — — — — — — — Year-to-date Net Charge-offs — — — — — — — — Agriculture Pass $ 6,842 $ 16,985 $ 20,511 $ 8,792 $ 2,509 11,437 $ 29,893 $ 96,969 Special Mention — 1,937 2,996 — — 1,064 — 5,997 Substandard — — 946 — 1,926 — — 2,872 Doubtful/Loss — — — — — — — — Total Agriculture loans $ 6,842 $ 18,922 $ 24,453 $ 8,792 $ 4,435 $ 12,501 $ 29,893 $ 105,838 Year-to-date Charge-offs (1,825 ) — — — — — (742 ) (2,567 ) Year-to-date Recoveries 1,825 — — — — — 742 2,567 Year-to-date Net Charge-offs — — — — — — — — (in thousands) Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year - As of December 31, 2023 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 Prior Revolving Loans Amortized Cost Basis Total Residential Mortgage Pass $ 20,239 $ 24,906 $ 26,429 $ 14,500 $ 5,481 $ 15,349 $ — $ 106,904 Special Mention — — — — — — — — Substandard — — 39 — — 385 — 424 Doubtful/Loss — — — — — — — — Total Residential Mortgage loans $ 20,239 $ 24,906 $ 26,468 $ 14,500 $ 5,481 $ 15,734 $ — $ 107,328 Year-to-date Charge-offs — — — — — (3 ) — (3 ) Year-to-date Recoveries — — — — — — — — Year-to-date Net Charge-offs — — — — — (3 ) — (3 ) Residential Construction Pass $ 3,714 $ 1,991 $ 3,198 $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 8,903 Special Mention — — — — — — — — Substandard — 3,420 — — — — — 3,420 Doubtful/Loss — — — — — — — — Total Residential Construction loans $ 3,714 $ 5,411 $ 3,198 $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 12,323 Year-to-date Charge-offs — — — — — — — — Year-to-date Recoveries — — — — — — — — Year-to-date Net Charge-offs — — — — — — — — Consumer Pass $ 350 $ 758 $ 133 $ 149 $ 70 $ 273 $ 12,516 $ 14,249 Special Mention — — — — — — — — Substandard — — — — — — 619 619 Doubtful/Loss — — — — — — — — Total Consumer loans $ 350 $ 758 $ 133 $ 149 $ 70 $ 273 $ 13,135 $ 14,868 Year-to-date Charge-offs (13 ) — — — — — — (13 ) Year-to-date Recoveries — — — — — 1 — 1 Year-to-date Net Charge-offs (13 ) — — — — 1 — (12 ) Total Loans Pass $ 166,728 $ 235,519 $ 258,011 $ 78,972 $ 67,637 $ 141,266 $ 75,471 $ 1,023,604 Special Mention — 3,059 12,974 235 3,177 2,337 2,936 24,718 Substandard 395 3,452 3,849 2,226 8,530 1,402 807 20,661 Doubtful/Loss — — — — — — — — Total Loans $ 167,123 $ 242,030 $ 274,834 $ 81,433 $ 79,344 $ 145,005 $ 79,214 $ 1,068,983 Year-to-date Charge-offs $ (1,885 ) $ (196 ) $ (36 ) $ — $ (87 ) $ (3 ) $ (742 ) $ (2,949 ) Year-to-date Recoveries $ 1,825 $ — $ — $ — $ 87 $ 149 $ 742 $ 2,803 Year-to-date Net Charge-offs $ (60 ) $ (196 ) $ (36 ) $ — $ — $ 146 $ — $ (146 ) The following table presents the risk ratings by loan class as of December 31, 2022. Pass Special Mention Substandard Doubtful Loss Total December 31, 2022 Commercial $ 106,643 $ — $ 128 $ — $ — $ 106,771 Commercial Real Estate 631,693 6,748 6,725 — — 645,166 Agriculture 105,560 1,064 7,416 — — 114,040 Residential Mortgage 92,299 207 163 — — 92,669 Residential Construction 10,167 — — — — 10,167 Consumer 14,650 — 637 — — 15,287 Total $ 961,012 $ 8,019 $ 15,069 $ — $ — $ 984,100 |