Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses for Loans | (6) Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses for Loans Loans: A summary of loans is as follows: March 31, December 31, (In thousands) 2024 2023 Commercial real estate $ 478,293 $ 468,928 Construction and land development 76,785 77,851 Residential real estate 6,932 7,169 Mortgage warehouse 212,389 166,567 Commercial 164,789 176,124 Enterprise value 407,233 433,633 Digital asset 10,071 12,289 Consumer 88 168 1,356,580 1,342,729 Allowance for credit losses on loans ( 16,006 ) ( 21,571 ) Net loans $ 1,340,574 $ 1,321,158 Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at amortized cost net of the allowance for credit losses for loans. Amortized cost is the principal balance outstanding, net of purchase premiums and discounts and deferred loan fees and costs. Accrued interest receivable on loans totaled $ 5.8 million and $ 5.9 million at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and was reported as accrued interest receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses. Interest income is accrued on unpaid principal balance. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income using either the level-yield or straight-line method without anticipating prepayments. At the time a loan is place on non-accrual, generally at 90 days past due, or earlier if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful, all interest accrued but not received is reversed against interest income. Interest received on such loans is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Under the cost-recovery method, interest income is not recognized until the loan balance is reduced to zero. Under the cash-basis method income is recorded when the payment is received in cash. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured. Allowance for Credit Losses for Loans: The allowance for credit losses for loans (“ACLL”) is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the loans to present the net amount expected to be collected. Loans are charged off against the allowance when management believes the un-collectability of a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance and do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off. The Company employs a process and methodology to estimate the ACLL that evaluates both quantitative and qualitative factors. The methodology for evaluating quantitative factors involves pooling loans into portfolio segments for loans that share similar risk characteristics. The allowance for credit losses is measured on a collective (pool) basis when similar risk characteristics exist. The Company has identified the following portfolio segments: Commercial real estate: Loans in this segment are primarily income-producing properties throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The underlying cash flows generated by the properties can be adversely impacted by a downturn in the economy as evidenced by increased vacancy rates, which in turn, can have an effect on the credit quality in this segment. Management periodically obtains rent rolls and continually monitors the cash flows of these loans. Construction and land development: Loans in this segment primarily include speculative and pre-sold real estate development loans for which payment is derived from sale of the property and a conversion of the construction loans to permanent loans for which payment is then derived from cash flows of the property. Credit risk is affected by cost overruns, time to sell at an adequate price, and market conditions. Residential real estate: All loans in this segment are collateralized by owner-occupied 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. We no longer originate residential real estate loans, and previously we did not typically originate loans with a loan-to-value ratio greater than 80% or grant subprime loans. Loans with loan to value ratios greater than 80% required the purchase of private mortgage insurance. Mortgage warehouse: Loans in this segment are primarily facility lines to non-bank mortgage origination companies. The underlying collateral of these loans are residential real estate loans. Loans are originated by the mortgage companies for sale into secondary markets, which is typically within 15 days of the loan closing. The primary source of repayment is the cash flow upon the sale of the loans. The credit risk associated with this type of lending is the risk that the mortgage companies are unable to sell the loans. 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, can have an effect on the credit quality in this segment. Enterprise value: Loans in this segment are made to small- and medium-size businesses in a senior secure position and are generally secured by the enterprise value of the business. The enterprise value consists of the going concern value of the business and takes into account the value of business assets (both tangible and intangible). Repayment is expected from the cash flows of the business. Economic and industry specific conditions can have an effect on the credit quality of this segment. Digital asset: We no longer originate digital asset loans. Loans in this segment were made to businesses in the digital asset space and are generally secured by digital asset mining equipment or by the United States dollar value of digital currency assets of the business. Repayment is expected from the cash flows of the business. A weakened economy, resultant decreased consumer spending as well as decreases in the value of digital currency can have an effect on the credit quality of this segment. Consumer: Loans in this segment are generally unsecured and repayment is dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower. Management estimates the ACLL balance using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. Adjustments to historical loss information are made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics such as portfolio mix, delinquency levels, or term as well as for changes in economic conditions, such as changes in unemployment rates, property values, gross domestic product (“GDP”), home pricing index (“HPI”), or other relevant factors. Incorporated in the estimate for the ACLL is consideration of qualitative factors, which include the following for all loan pools: Changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collections, charge offs, and recovery practices. Changes in the experience, depth, and ability of lending management. Changes in the quality of the organization's loan review system. The existence and effect of any concentrations of credit and changes in the levels of such concentrations. The effect of other external factors (i.e. legal and regulatory requirements) on the level of estimated credit losses. In addition to the above, the mortgage warehouse pool includes a qualitative factor for changes in international, national, regional, and local conditions as the ACLL model for this loan pool does not apply an economic regression model in the calculation of the historical loss rate. The determination of qualitative factors involves significant judgment. The allowance for unfunded commitments is maintained at a level by the Company to be sufficient to absorb expected lifetime losses related to unfunded credit facilities (including unfunded loan commitments and letters of credit). The Company measures the ACLL using the following methods: Portfolio Segment Measurement Method Loss Driver Commercial real estate Discounted cash flow National unemployment rate, national GDP Construction and land development Discounted cash flow National unemployment rate, national GDP Residential real estate Discounted cash flow National unemployment rate, national HPI Mortgage warehouse Remaining life method Not applicable Commercial Discounted cash flow National unemployment rate, national GDP Enterprise value Discounted cash flow National unemployment rate, national GDP Digital asset Discounted cash flow National unemployment rate, national GDP Consumer Discounted cash flow National unemployment rate, national GDP When the discounted cash flow method is used to determine the allowance for credit losses, management adjusts the effective interest rate used to discount expected cash flows to incorporate expected prepayments. Expected credit losses are estimated over the contractual term of the loans, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate. The contractual term excludes expected extensions, renewals, and modifications unless either of the following applies: management has a reasonable expectation at the reporting date that a restructuring will be executed with an individual borrower or the extension or renewal options are included in the original or modified contract at the reporting date and are not unconditionally cancellable by the Company. When the remaining life method is used to determine the allowance for credit losses, a calculated loss rate is applied to the pool of loans based on the remaining life expectation of the pool. The remaining life expectation is based on management’s reasonable expectation at the reporting date. Loans that do not share risk characteristics, whether or not they are performing in accordance with their loan terms, are evaluated on an individual basis. Loans evaluated individually are not included in the collective evaluation. The Company will individually evaluate a loan when, based on current information and events, it is probable that it 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 making this determination include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not considered reason enough to individually analyze a loan. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration 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. When management determines that a loan should be individually analyzed, expected credit losses are based on either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or the fair value of the collateral at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs, as appropriate. The following table presents the activity in the allowance for credit losses for loans by portfolio segment for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023: Commercial Construction real and land Residential Mortgage Enterprise Digital (In thousands) estate development real estate warehouse Commercial value asset Consumer Total Balance at December 31, 2023 $ 4,471 $ 407 $ 75 $ 42 $ 2,493 $ 8,166 $ 5,915 $ 2 $ 21,571 Charge-offs — — — — ( 5 ) — — ( 18 ) ( 23 ) Recoveries — — — — — — — 1 1 Provision (credit) 50 ( 18 ) ( 3 ) 12 ( 210 ) ( 1,599 ) ( 3,791 ) 16 ( 5,543 ) Balance at March 31, 2024 $ 4,521 $ 389 $ 72 $ 54 $ 2,278 $ 6,567 $ 2,124 $ 1 $ 16,006 Balance at December 31, 2022 $ 5,062 $ 909 $ 43 $ 213 $ 3,582 $ 7,712 $ 10,493 $ 55 $ 28,069 Impact of adopting ASC 326 ( 745 ) ( 513 ) 18 ( 159 ) ( 711 ) ( 270 ) ( 157 ) ( 51 ) ( 2,588 ) Charge-offs — — — — ( 41 ) ( 3,560 ) — ( 16 ) ( 3,617 ) Recoveries — — — — 10 — — 3 13 Provision (credit) ( 68 ) 74 ( 4 ) ( 16 ) ( 225 ) 6,279 ( 3,117 ) 12 2,935 Balance at March 31, 2023 $ 4,249 $ 470 $ 57 $ 38 $ 2,615 $ 10,161 $ 7,219 $ 3 $ 24,812 The following table presents loan delinquencies by portfolio segment at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023: 90 Days Total 30 - 59 60 - 89 or More Past Total Total (In thousands) Days Days Past Due Due Current Loans March 31, 2024 Commercial real estate $ 761 $ — $ — $ 761 $ 477,532 $ 478,293 Construction and land development — — — — 76,785 76,785 Residential real estate 69 — 211 280 6,652 6,932 Mortgage warehouse — — — — 212,389 212,389 Commercial 96 — 1,729 1,825 162,964 164,789 Enterprise value 999 — — 999 406,234 407,233 Digital asset — — — — 10,071 10,071 Consumer — — 2 2 86 88 Total $ 1,925 $ — $ 1,942 $ 3,867 $ 1,352,713 $ 1,356,580 December 31, 2023 Commercial real estate $ 18,226 $ — $ — $ 18,226 $ 450,702 $ 468,928 Construction and land development — — — — 77,851 77,851 Residential real estate — — 236 236 6,933 7,169 Mortgage warehouse — — — — 166,567 166,567 Commercial 5 100 1,813 1,918 174,206 176,124 Enterprise value 3,348 — — 3,348 430,285 433,633 Digital asset — — — — 12,289 12,289 Consumer 2 3 4 9 159 168 Total $ 21,581 $ 103 $ 2,053 $ 23,737 $ 1,318,992 $ 1,342,729 The following table presents the amortized cost basis of loans on non-accrual and loans past due over 89 days but still accruing as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023: Non-accrual 90 Days With No or More Allowance Non-accrual Past Due (In thousands) for Credit Loss Loans and Accruing March 31, 2024 Residential real estate $ — $ 357 $ — Commercial 1,923 1,923 Digital asset — 10,071 — Consumer — 1 — Total $ 1,923 $ 12,352 $ — December 31, 2023 Residential real estate $ — $ 376 $ — Commercial 1,857 1,857 Enterprise value — 1,991 — Digital asset — 12,289 — Consumer — 4 — Total $ 1,857 $ 16,517 $ — The Company did no t recognize interest income on nonaccrual loans during the three months ended March 31, 2024 or 2023. The following tables present the amortized cost basis of collateral-dependent loans by class as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023: Commercial Cryptocurrency Real Business Mining Rigs (In thousands) Estate Assets and Other (1) March 31, 2024 Commercial real estate $ 19,694 $ — $ — Commercial — 1,718 — Digital asset — — 10,071 $ 19,694 $ 1,718 $ 10,071 December 31, 2023 Commercial real estate $ 19,693 $ — $ — Commercial — 1,652 — Enterprise value — 1,991 — Digital asset — — 12,289 $ 19,693 $ 3,643 $ 12,289 (1) Other collateral includes the United States dollar value of Bitcoin held in control accounts, an interest in a joint venture partnership, as well as cash accounts held at the Bank. Occasionally, the Company modifies loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty by providing the following modifications: principal forgiveness, other-than-insignificant payment delays, term extensions, interest rate reductions, or a combination of modifications. When principal forgiveness is provided, the amount of forgiveness is charged-off against the allowance for credit losses on loans. 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. The following table presents the amortized cost basis of loans at March 31, 2024 and 2023 that were both experiencing financial difficulty and modified during the three months ended March 31 2024 and 2023, respectively, by class and by type of modification. The percentage of the amortized cost basis of loans that were modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty as compared to the amortized cost basis of each class of financing receivable is also presented below: (Dollars in thousands) Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delay Combination Term Extension and Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delay Total Class of Financing Receivable Total Class of Financing Receivable March 31, 2024 Commercial real estate $ 1,785 $ 18,227 $ 20,012 4.18 % Commercial 1,816 — 1,816 1.10 Total $ 3,601 $ 18,227 $ 21,828 1.61 March 31, 2023 Enterprise value $ 3,506 $ — $ — 0.80 % Total $ 3,506 $ — $ — 0.26 The Company has not committed to lend any additional funds to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty whose loans had been modified during the three months ended March 31, 2024. At March 31, 2023 the Company had committed to lend $ 50,000 based on fund availability through a then existent line or credit to the borrower who had received a modification due to financial difficulty during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The following table presents the financial effect of the loan modifications presented above to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty for the three months ended: Weighted-Average Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delay Combination Weighted-Average Term Extension and Other-Than-Insignificant Payment Delay Months Months Months March 31, 2024 Commercial real estate 5.47 6.00 6.00 Commercial 3.00 — — March 31, 2023 Enterprise value 10.00 — — The Company closely monitors the performance of loans that are modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty to understand the effectiveness of its modification efforts. The following table depicts the performance of loans that have been modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty in the twelve months preceding March 31, 2024 and 2023: 90 Days Total Total 30 - 59 60 - 89 or More Past (In thousands) Current Days Days Past Due Due March 31, 2024 Commercial real estate $ 20,012 $ — $ — $ — $ — Commercial 1,830 — — — — Enterprise value 17,587 — — — — Digital asset 10,071 — — — — Total $ 49,500 $ — $ — $ — $ — March 31, 2023 Enterprise value 3,506 — — — — Total $ 3,506 $ — $ — $ — $ — As of March 31, 2024 and 2023, there were no subsequent defaults related to loans modified within the preceding 12 months. Credit Quality Information The Company utilizes a seven grade internal loan risk rating system for commercial real estate, construction and land development, commercial, enterprise value and digital asset loans as follows: Loans rated 1-3 : Loans in these categories are considered “pass” rated loans with low to average risk. Loans rated 4 : Loans in this category are considered “special mention.” These loans are starting to show signs of potential weakness and are being closely monitored by management. Loans rated 5 : Loans in this category are considered “substandard.” Generally, a loan is considered substandard if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligors and/or the collateral pledged. There is a distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the weakness is not corrected. Loans rated 6 : Loans in this category are considered “doubtful.” Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, highly questionable and improbable. Loans rated 7 : Loans in this category are considered uncollectible “loss” and of such little value that their continuance as loans is not warranted. On an annual basis, or more often if needed, the Company formally reviews the ratings on all commercial real estate, construction and land development, commercial, enterprise value and digital asset loans. On an annual basis, or more often if needed, the Company completes a credit recertification on all mortgage warehouse originators. For residential real estate loans, the Company initially assesses credit quality based upon the borrower’s ability to pay and rates such loans as pass. Ongoing monitoring is based upon the borrower’s payment activity. Consumer loans are not formally rated. Based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk category of loans by class of loans and their corresponding gross write offs for the three months ended March 31, 2024 is as follows: Term Loans at Amortized Cost by Origination Year (In thousands) 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 Prior Revolving Loans Amortized Cost Revolving Loans Converted to Term Loans Total Commercial real estate Pass $ 12,093 $ 35,249 $ 55,084 $ 106,431 $ 29,684 $ 187,511 $ 19,269 $ — $ 445,321 Special mention — — — — — 6,203 — — 6,203 Substandard — — — — 1,048 25,302 419 — 26,769 Total commercial real estate 12,093 35,249 55,084 106,431 30,732 219,016 19,688 — 478,293 Commercial real estate Current period gross write offs — — — — — — — — — Construction and land development Pass 834 4,217 51,357 17,265 — 1,425 1,687 — 76,785 Total construction and land development 834 4,217 51,357 17,265 — 1,425 1,687 — 76,785 Construction and land development Current period gross write offs — — — — — — — — — Residential real estate Pass — — — — 5 4,019 2,561 — 6,585 Substandard — — — — — 280 67 — 347 Total residential real estate — — — — 5 4,299 2,628 — 6,932 Residential real estate Current period gross write offs — — — — — — — — — Mortgage Warehouse Pass — — — — — — 212,389 — 212,389 Total mortgage warehouse — — — — — — 212,389 — 212,389 Mortgage warehouse Current period gross write offs — — — — — — — — — Commercial Pass 692 6,193 13,678 49,754 11,171 38,141 31,226 — 150,855 Special mention — — — — — 7,147 2,801 — 9,948 Substandard — — — 205 — 3,556 225 — 3,986 Total commercial 692 6,193 13,678 49,959 11,171 48,844 34,252 — 164,789 Commercial Current period gross write offs — — — — — 5 — — 5 Enterprise Value Pass 4,443 83,352 83,657 107,871 42,498 24,490 12,064 — 358,375 Special mention — — 14,813 10,547 5,880 3,555 1,961 — 36,756 Substandard — — 741 521 1,826 1,469 7,545 — 12,102 Total enterprise value 4,443 83,352 99,211 118,939 50,204 29,514 21,570 — 407,233 Enterprise value Current period gross write offs — — — — — — — — — Digital asset Substandard — — 10,071 — — — — — 10,071 Total digital asset — — 10,071 — — — — — 10,071 Digital asset Current period gross write offs — — — — — — — — — Consumer Not formally rated — — — — — 47 41 — 88 Total consumer — — — — — 47 41 — 88 Consumer Current period gross write offs 11 — — — — 7 — — 18 Total loans $ 18,062 $ 129,011 $ 229,401 $ 292,594 $ 92,112 $ 303,145 $ 292,255 $ — $ 1,356,580 Total current period gross write offs $ 11 $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 12 $ — $ — $ 23 The following table presents the risk category of loans by class of loans as of December 31, 2023 and their corresponding gross write offs for the year then ended: Term Loans at Amortized Cost by Origination Year (In thousands) 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 Prior Revolving Loans Amortized Cost Revolving Loans Converted to Term Loans Total Commercial real estate Pass $ 35,966 $ 50,608 $ 107,593 $ 30,236 $ 59,578 $ 132,219 $ 19,617 $ — $ 435,817 Special mention — — — — 2,898 3,373 — — 6,271 Substandard — — — 1,048 4,436 21,356 — — 26,840 Total commercial real estate 35,966 50,608 107,593 31,284 66,912 156,948 19,617 — 468,928 Commercial real estate Current period gross write offs — — 1 — — — — — 1 Construction and land development Pass 3,701 54,925 17,015 — — 1,429 781 — 77,851 Total construction and land development 3,701 54,925 17,015 — — 1,429 781 — 77,851 Construction and land development Current period gross write offs — — — — — — — — — Residential real estate Pass — — — 5 179 3,183 2,579 871 6,817 Substandard — — — — — 284 68 — 352 Total residential real estate — — — 5 179 3,467 2,647 871 7,169 Residential real estate Current period gross write offs — — — — — — — — — Mortgage Warehouse Pass — — — — — — 166,567 — 166,567 Total mortgage warehouse — — — — — — 166,567 — 166,567 Mortgage warehouse Current period gross write offs — — — — — — — — — Commercial Pass 6,398 14,000 48,922 13,233 16,491 22,483 37,920 28 159,475 Special mention — — — — — 9,932 2,674 — 12,606 Substandard — — 205 — 1,815 1,798 225 — 4,043 Total commercial 6,398 14,000 49,127 13,233 18,306 34,213 40,819 28 176,124 Commercial Current period gross write offs — — — — 102 67 — — 169 Enterprise Value Pass 85,412 97,942 119,126 48,427 23,186 3,346 16,026 — 393,465 Special mention — 11,768 4,838 2,424 753 3,001 1,619 — 24,403 Substandard 1,991 790 1,464 1,870 1,595 — 8,055 — 15,765 Total enterprise value 87,403 110,500 125,428 52,721 25,534 6,347 25,700 — 433,633 Enterprise value Current period gross write offs — 3,561 — 2 — 1,225 — — 4,788 Digital asset Substandard — 12,289 — — — — — — 12,289 Total digital asset — 12,289 — — — — — — 12,289 Digital asset Current period gross write offs — — — — — — — — — Consumer Not formally rated — — — — — 121 45 2 168 Special mention — — — — — — — — — Total consumer — — — — — 121 45 2 168 Consumer Current period gross write offs 30 — — — — 15 — — 45 Total loans $ 133,468 $ 242,322 $ 299,163 $ 97,243 $ 110,931 $ 202,525 $ 256,176 $ 901 $ 1,342,729 Total current period gross write offs $ 30 $ 3,561 $ 1 $ 2 $ 102 $ 1,307 $ — $ — $ 5,003 |