LOAN POLICIES (Policies) | 3 Months Ended |
Mar. 31, 2015 |
LOAN POLICIES | LOAN POLICIES |
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The loan portfolio consists of real estate, commercial and other loans to the Company’s customers in our primary market areas in eastern Massachusetts. The ability of the Company’s debtors to honor their contracts is dependent upon the economy in general and the real estate and construction sectors within our markets. |
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Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future, or until maturity or pay-off, are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balances adjusted for charge-offs, the allowance for loan losses, and any deferred loan origination fees or costs. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized as an adjustment of the related loan yield using the interest method. |
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Interest is generally not accrued on loans which are identified as impaired or loans which are ninety days or more past due. Past due status is based on the contractual terms of the loan. Interest income previously accrued on such loans is reversed against current period interest income. Interest income on non-accrual loans is recognized only to the extent of interest payments received and is first applied to the outstanding principal balance when collectibility of principal is in doubt. Loans are returned to accrual status when all principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured through sustained payment performance for at least six months. |
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Allowance for loan losses |
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The allowance for loan losses is established as losses are estimated to have occurred through a provision for loan losses charged to earnings. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of the loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. |
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The allowance for loan losses is evaluated on a regular basis by management. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available. The allowance consists of general, allocated and unallocated components. |
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General component |
The general component is based on the following loan segments: residential real estate, commercial real estate, construction, commercial, home equity lines of credit and other consumer. Management considers a rolling average of historical losses for each segment based on a time frame appropriate to capture relevant loss data for each loan segment, generally 3 and 10 years. This historical loss factor is adjusted for the following qualitative factors: levels/trends in delinquencies; trends in volume, concentrations and terms of loans; effects of changes in risk selection and underwriting standards and other changes in lending policies, procedures and practices; experience/ability/depth of lending management and staff; and national and local economic trends and conditions. There were no significant changes to the Company’s policies or methodology pertaining to the general component of the allowance during the first quarter of 2015. |
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The qualitative factor adjustments are determined based on the various risk characteristics of each loan segment. Risk characteristics relevant to each portfolio segment are as follows: |
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Residential real estate – The Company generally does not originate loans with a loan-to-value ratio greater than 80 percent and does not originate subprime loans. Most loans in this segment are collateralized by one- to four-family residential real estate and repayment is dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower. The overall health of the economy, including unemployment rates and housing prices, will have an effect on the credit quality in this segment. |
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Commercial real estate – Loans in this segment are primarily income-producing properties in the Company’s primary market areas in eastern Massachusetts. The underlying cash flows generated by the properties are adversely impacted by a downturn in the economy as evidenced by increased vacancy rates, which in turn, will have an effect on the credit quality in this segment. Management typically obtains rent rolls annually and continually monitors the cash flows of these loans. |
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Construction – Loans in this segment primarily include speculative real estate development loans primarily on residential properties loans for which payment is derived from sale of the property. Credit risk is affected by cost overruns, time to sell at an adequate price, and market conditions. Residential construction loans in this segment also include loans to build one-to-four family owner-occupied properties which are subject to the same credit quality factors as residential real estate. |
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Commercial – Loans in this segment are made to businesses and are generally secured by assets of the business. Repayment is expected from the cash flows of the business. A weakened economy, and resultant decreased consumer spending, will have an effect on the credit quality in this segment. |
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Home equity lines of credit – Loans in this segment are collateralized by one-to-four family residential real estate and repayment is dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower. The Company generally does not hold a first mortgage position on homes that secure home equity lines of credit. The overall health of the economy, including unemployment rates and housing prices, will have an effect on the credit quality in this segment. |
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Other consumer – Loans in this segment are generally unsecured and repayment is dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower. |
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Allocated component |
The allocated component relates to loans that are classified as impaired. Impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or, if the loan is collateral dependent, by the fair value of the collateral, less estimated costs to sell. An allowance is established when the discounted cash flows (or collateral value) of the impaired loan are lower than the carrying value of that loan. Large groups of smaller-balance homogeneous loans are collectively evaluated for impairment. Accordingly, the Company does not separately identify performing individual residential and consumer loans for impairment disclosures, unless such loans are subject to a troubled debt restructuring agreement. |
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A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. |
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The Company periodically may agree to modify the contractual terms of loans. When a loan is modified and a concession is made to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty, the modification is considered a troubled debt restructuring ("TDR"). All TDRs are initially classified as impaired. |
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Unallocated component |
An unallocated component is maintained to cover uncertainties that could affect management’s estimate of probable losses. The unallocated component of the allowance reflects the margin of imprecision inherent in the underlying assumptions used in the methodologies for estimating allocated and general reserves in the portfolio. |
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | COMPREHENSIVE INCOME |
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Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses be included in net income. Although certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, are reported as a separate component of the stockholders’ equity section of the consolidated balance sheets, such items, along with net income, are components of comprehensive income/loss. |
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The components of accumulated other comprehensive income and related tax effects are as follows: |
| | March 31, | | | December 31, | |
| | 2015 | | | 2014 | |
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Unrealized holding gains on securities available for sale | | $ | 900 | | | $ | 672 | |
Tax effect | | | (345 | ) | | | (255 | ) |
Net of tax amount | | $ | 555 | | | $ | 417 | |
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RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS | RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS |
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In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-04, Receivables-Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40). This Update clarifies when an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, that is, when a creditor should be considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan such that the loan receivable should be derecognized and the real estate property recognized. The amendments in this Update are effective for public business entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company adopted this standard for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 with no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. |
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In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The amendments in this Update create Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and supersede the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, including most industry-specific revenue recognition guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. The core principle of Topic 606 is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. For public companies, this ASU is effective for annual reporting periods, including interim periods, beginning after December 15, 2016. On April 1, 2015, the FASB voted to defer the effective date of this guidance by one year. Early application is not permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact to the consolidated financial statements of adopting this Update. |
Fair value hierarchy | Fair value hierarchy |
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The Company groups its assets generally measured at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. |
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Level 1 – Valuation is based on quoted market prices in active exchange markets for identical assets and liabilities. Valuations are obtained from readily available pricing sources. |
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Level 2 – Valuation is based on observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets and liabilities. Valuations are obtained from readily available pricing sources. |
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Level 3 – Valuation is based on unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets and liabilities. Level 3 assets include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as those for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. |
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE | EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE |
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Basic earnings per share represents income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued, as well as any adjustment to income that would result from the assumed issuance. Under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan, stock awards granted contain non-forfeitable dividend rights. Accordingly, these shares are considered outstanding for computation of basic earnings per share. Potential common shares that may be issued by the Company relate to outstanding stock options and are determined using the treasury stock method. |
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Earnings per common share have been computed as follows: |
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| | | Three Months | | | | Three Months | |
| | | Ended | | | | Ended | |
| | | 31-Mar-15 | | | | 31-Mar-14 | |
| | | (Dollars in thousands) | |
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Net income applicable to common stock | | $ | 459 | | | $ | 394 | |
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Average number of common shares outstanding | | | 2,459,138 | | | | 2,454,549 | |
Less: Average unallocated ESOP shares | | | (152,454 | ) | | | (165,292 | ) |
Average number of common shares outstanding used to | | | | | | | | |
calculate basic earnings per common share | | | 2,306,684 | | | | 2,289,257 | |
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Effect of dilutive of stock options | | | 11,910 | | | | 1,167 | |
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Average number of common shares outstanding used to | | | | | | | | |
calculate diluted earnings per common share | | | 2,318,594 | | | | 2,290,424 | |
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Earnings per common share: | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 0.2 | | | $ | 0.17 | |
Diluted | | $ | 0.2 | | | $ | 0.17 | |