Community Bank System (CBU) 10-Q 2020 Q3 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020

OR

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

For the transition period from to .

Commission File Number: 001-13695

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	16-1213679
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New York	13214-1883
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(315) 445-2282

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NONE

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share	CBU	New York Stock Exchange

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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ⌧  No ◻

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	◻

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 is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ◻  No ⌧

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. 53,541,669 shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share, were outstanding on October 31, 2020.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
Part I.	Financial Information
Item 1.	Financial Statements (Unaudited)
	Consolidated Statements of Condition September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019	3
	Consolidated Statements of Income Three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019	4
	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019	5
	Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity Three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019	6
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019	8
	Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2020	9
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	42
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	69
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	70
Part II.	Other Information	71
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	71
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	71
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	72
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	72
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	72
Item 5.	Other Information	73
Item 6.	Exhibits	73

2

Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION (Unaudited)

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,836,521	$	205,030
Available-for-sale investment securities (cost of $3,068,406 and $3,011,551, respectively)		3,222,722		3,044,428
Equity and other securities (cost of $46,419 and $42,965, respectively)		47,341		43,915
Loans held for sale, at fair value		8,151		0
Loans		7,458,643		6,890,543
Allowance for credit losses		(64,962)		(49,911)
Net loans		7,393,681		6,840,632
Goodwill, net		793,749		773,810
Core deposit intangibles, net		15,186		16,418
Other intangibles, net		41,279		46,695
Intangible assets, net		850,214		836,923
Premises and equipment, net		165,342		164,638
Accrued interest and fees receivable		41,420		31,647
Other assets		279,933		243,082
Total assets	$	13,845,325	$	11,410,295
Liabilities:
Noninterest-bearing deposits	$	3,326,517	$	2,465,902
Interest-bearing deposits		7,794,073		6,529,065
Total deposits		11,120,590		8,994,967
Overnight Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings		0		8,300
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase, short-term		280,767		241,708
Other Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings		7,681		3,750
Subordinated notes payable		13,735		13,795
Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts		77,320		77,320
Accrued interest and other liabilities		246,572		215,221
Total liabilities		11,746,665		9,555,061
Commitments and contingencies (See Note J)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued		0		0
Common stock, $1.00 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized; 53,697,919 and 51,974,726 shares issued, respectively		53,698		51,975
Additional paid-in capital		1,021,798		927,337
Retained earnings		936,273		882,851
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)		83,962		(10,226)
Treasury stock, at cost (160,326 shares, including 160,311 shares held by deferred compensation arrangements at September 30, 2020 and 180,803 shares including 179,548 shares held by deferred compensation arrangements at December 31, 2019, respectively)		(6,131)		(6,823)
Deferred compensation arrangements (160,311 and 179,548 shares, respectively)		9,060		10,120
Total shareholders' equity		2,098,660		1,855,234
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	13,845,325	$	11,410,295

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

3

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)

(In Thousands, Except Per-Share Data)

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans	$	79,646	$	79,931	$	236,931	$	227,701
Interest and dividends on taxable investments		14,881		15,862		45,633		49,376
Interest and dividends on nontaxable investments		2,963		2,854		9,113		8,603
Total interest income		97,490		98,647		291,677		285,680
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits		3,655		5,859		13,373		14,526
Interest on borrowings		292		347		1,280		1,397
Interest on subordinated notes payable		184		161		553		161
Interest on subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts		394		1,004		1,501		3,161
Total interest expense		4,525		7,371		16,707		19,245
Net interest income		92,965		91,276		274,970		266,435
Provision for credit losses		1,945		1,751		17,313		5,573
Net interest income after provision for credit losses		91,020		89,525		257,657		260,862
Noninterest revenues:
Deposit service fees		14,260		16,920		42,722		48,780
Mortgage banking		3,908		(138)		6,199		276
Other banking services		924		1,083		2,574		3,352
Employee benefit services		25,159		24,329		74,593		72,170
Insurance services		8,531		8,527		24,772		24,718
Wealth management services		6,889		6,363		20,389		19,290
Gain on sale of investment securities, net		0		0		0		4,882
Unrealized (loss) gain on equity securities		(12)		10		(30)		28
Total noninterest revenues		59,659		57,094		171,219		173,496
Noninterest expenses:
Salaries and employee benefits		57,280		56,061		170,252		163,448
Occupancy and equipment		10,134		9,801		30,627		29,708
Data processing and communications		12,096		10,675		33,342		30,475
Amortization of intangible assets		3,581		3,960		10,772		11,994
Legal and professional fees		2,365		2,595		8,577		7,999
Business development and marketing		3,145		2,604		7,162		8,532
Litigation accrual		2,950		0		2,950		0
Acquisition expenses		796		6,061		4,537		7,789
Other expenses		4,619		5,172		13,313		16,812
Total noninterest expenses		96,966		96,929		281,532		276,757
Income before income taxes		53,713		49,690		147,344		157,601
Income taxes		10,904		10,472		29,153		31,422
Net income	$	42,809	$	39,218	$	118,191	$	126,179
Basic earnings per share	$	0.80	$	0.76	$	2.23	$	2.44
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.79	$	0.75	$	2.22	$	2.41

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

4

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)

(In Thousands)

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Pension and other post retirement obligations:
Amortization of actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost, gross	$	820	$	651	$	2,460	$	1,954
Tax effect		(197)		(158)		(591)		(477)
Amortization of actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost, net		623		493		1,869	$	1,477
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic pension cost, gross		15		(28)		46		(86)
Tax effect		(4)		6		(11)		21
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic pension cost, net		11		(22)		35		(65)
Other comprehensive income related to pension and other post-retirement obligations, net of taxes		634		471		1,904		1,412
Unrealized (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities:
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, gross		(8,821)		8,756		121,439		66,208
Tax effect		2,118		(2,136)		(29,155)		(16,157)
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, net		(6,703)		6,620		92,284		50,051
Reclassification adjustment for net gains included in net income, gross		0		0		0		(4,882)
Tax effect		0		0		0		1,194
Reclassification adjustment for net gains included in net income, net		0		0		0		(3,688)
Other comprehensive income related to unrealized (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes		(6,703)		6,620		92,284		46,363
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax		(6,069)		7,091		94,188		47,775
Net income		42,809		39,218		118,191		126,179
Comprehensive income	$	36,740	$	46,309	$	212,379	$	173,954

	As of
	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) By Component:
Unrealized (loss) for pension and other post-retirement obligations	$	(43,669)	$	(46,175)
Tax effect		10,691		11,293
Net unrealized (loss) for pension and other post-retirement obligations		(32,978)		(34,882)
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities		154,316		32,877
Tax effect		(37,376)		(8,221)
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities		116,940		24,656
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	$	83,962	$	(10,226)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

5

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)

Three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

								Accumulated
	Common Stock			Additional				Other				Deferred
	Shares	Amount		Paid-In		Retained		Comprehensive		Treasury		Compensation
	Outstanding	Issued		Capital		Earnings		Income (Loss)		Stock		Arrangements		Total
Balance at June 30, 2020	53,514,216	$	53,672	$	1,019,291	$	916,002	$	90,031	$	(6,066)	$	8,995	$	2,081,925
Net income							42,809								42,809
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax									(6,069)						(6,069)
Cash dividends declared:
Common, $0.42 per share							(22,538)								(22,538)
Common stock activity under
employee stock ownership plans	24,584		26		1,092										1,118
Stock-based compensation					1,415										1,415
Treasury stock issued to benefit plans, net	(1,207)										(65)		65		0
Balance at September 30, 2020	53,537,593	$	53,698	$	1,021,798	$	936,273	$	83,962	$	(6,131)	$	9,060	$	2,098,660
Balance at June 30, 2019	51,570,608	$	51,806	$	917,855	$	843,288	$	(4,621)	$	(8,797)	$	9,979	$	1,809,510
Net income							39,218								39,218
Other comprehensive income, net of tax									7,091						7,091
Cash dividends declared:
Common, $0.41 per share							(21,252)								(21,252)
Common stock activity under
employee stock ownership plans	37,542		37		1,254										1,291
Stock-based compensation					1,241										1,241
Treasury stock issued to benefit plans, net	51,904				1,332						1,922		68		3,322
Balance at September 30, 2019	51,660,054	$	51,843	$	921,682	$	861,254	$	2,470	$	(6,875)	$	10,047	$	1,840,421

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

6

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)

Nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

								Accumulated
	Common Stock			Additional				Other				Deferred
	Shares	Amount		Paid-In		Retained		Comprehensive		Treasury		Compensation
	Outstanding	Issued		Capital		Earnings		(Loss) Income		Stock		Arrangements		Total
Balance at December 31, 2019	51,793,923	$	51,975	$	927,337	$	882,851	$	(10,226)	$	(6,823)	$	10,120	$	1,855,234
Net income							118,191								118,191
Other comprehensive income, net of tax									94,188						94,188
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
Principle - Current Expected Credit Losses							1,140								1,140
Cash dividends declared:
Common, $1.24 per share							(65,909)								(65,909)
Common stock activity under
employee stock ownership plans	359,934		360		13,781										14,141
Stock-based compensation					4,648										4,648
Stock issued for acquisition	1,363,259		1,363		75,579										76,942
Distribution of stock under deferred
compensation arrangements	22,497				415						849		(1,264)		0
Treasury stock issued to benefit plans, net	(2,020)				38						(157)		204		85
Balance at September 30, 2020	53,537,593	$	53,698	$	1,021,798	$	936,273	$	83,962	$	(6,131)	$	9,060	$	2,098,660
Balance at December 31, 2018	51,257,824	$	51,577	$	911,748	$	795,563	$	(45,305)	$	(11,528)	$	11,728	$	1,713,783
Net income							126,179								126,179
Other comprehensive income, net of tax									47,775						47,775
Cash dividends declared:
Common, $1.17 per share							(60,488)								(60,488)
Common stock activity under
employee stock ownership plans	266,127		266		2,246										2,512
Stock-based compensation					3,998										3,998
Distribution of stock under deferred
compensation arrangements	32,431				1,064						830		(1,894)		0
Treasury stock issued to benefit plans, net	103,672				2,626						3,823		213		6,662
Balance at September 30, 2019	51,660,054	$	51,843	$	921,682	$	861,254	$	2,470	$	(6,875)	$	10,047	$	1,840,421

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

7

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(In Thousands)

	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2020		2019
Operating activities:
Net income	$	118,191	$	126,179
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		11,946		11,781
Amortization of intangible assets		10,772		11,994
Net accretion on securities, loans and borrowings		(7,954)		(4,545)
Stock-based compensation		4,648		3,998
Provision for credit losses		17,313		5,573
Amortization of mortgage servicing rights		266		285
Gain on sale of investment securities, net		0		(4,882)
Unrealized loss (gain) on equity securities		30		(28)
Income from bank-owned life insurance policies		(1,398)		(1,215)
Net gain on sale of loans and other assets		(1,633)		(2)
Change in other assets and other liabilities		(26,944)		(20,152)
Net cash provided by operating activities		125,237		128,986
Investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investment securities		0		590,179
Proceeds from maturities, calls, and paydowns of available-for-sale investment securities		219,503		153,785
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions of equity and other investment securities		436		3,258
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities		(91,381)		(86,073)
Purchases of equity and other securities		(3,064)		(144)
Net increase in loans		(228,235)		(100,020)
Cash received (paid) for acquisitions, net of cash acquired of $55,973 and $90,381, respectively		34,360		(4,653)
Settlement of bank-owned life insurance policies		0		1,597
Purchases of premises and equipment, net		(8,727)		(5,025)
Real estate tax credit investments		(1,071)		(1,342)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(78,179)		551,562
Financing activities:
Net increase in deposits		1,609,349		277,833
Net increase (decrease) in borrowings		28,690		(80,502)
Payments on subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts		(2,062)		(22,681)
Issuance of common stock		14,141		2,512
Purchases of treasury stock		(204)		(213)
Sales of treasury stock		85		6,662
Increase in deferred compensation arrangements		204		213
Cash dividends paid		(64,593)		(59,014)
Withholding taxes paid on share-based compensation		(1,177)		(3,150)
Net cash provided by financing activities		1,584,433		121,660
Change in cash and cash equivalents		1,631,491		802,208
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		205,030		211,834
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	1,836,521	$	1,014,042
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	$	16,927	$	18,455
Cash paid for income taxes		28,705		34,150
Supplemental disclosures of noncash financing and investing activities:
Dividends declared and unpaid		22,658		21,282
Transfers from loans to other real estate		1,192		1,833
Acquisitions:
Common stock issued		76,942		0
Fair value of assets acquired, excluding acquired cash and intangibles		547,623		548,856
Fair value of liabilities assumed		529,441		589,396

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

8

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

NOTE A: BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The interim financial data as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 is unaudited; however, in the opinion of Community Bank System, Inc. (the “Company”), the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other interim period.

NOTE B: ACQUISITIONS

On June 12, 2020, the Company completed its merger with Steuben Trust Corporation (“Steuben”), parent company of Steuben Trust Company, a New York State chartered bank headquartered in Hornell, New York, for $98.6 million in Company stock and cash, comprised of $21.6 million in cash and the issuance of 1.36 million shares of common stock. The merger extended the Company’s footprint into 2 new counties in Western New York State, and enhanced the Company’s presence in 4 Western New York State counties in which it currently operates. In connection with the merger, the Company added 11 full-service offices to its branch service network and acquired $607.7 million of assets, including $339.5 million of loans and $180.5 million of investment securities, as well as $516.3 million of deposits. Goodwill of $20.3 million was recognized as a result of the merger. The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date. Revenues, excluding interest income on acquired investments, interest income on acquired consumer indirect loans, and revenues associated with acquired loans and deposits consolidated into the legacy branch network, of approximately $3.8 million and $4.5 million, and direct expenses, which may not include certain shared expenses, of approximately $ 1.1 million and $1.4 million from Steuben were included in the consolidated income statement for three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. The Company incurred certain one-time, transaction-related costs in 2020 in connection with the Steuben acquisition.

On September 18, 2019, the Company, through its subsidiary, Community Investment Services, Inc. (“CISI”), completed its acquisition of certain assets of a practice engaged in the financial services business headquartered in Syracuse, New York. The Company paid $0.5 million in cash to acquire a customer list, and recorded a $0.5 million customer list intangible asset in conjunction with the acquisition. The effects of the acquired assets have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.

On July 12, 2019, the Company completed its merger with Kinderhook Bank Corp. (“Kinderhook”), parent company of The National Union Bank of Kinderhook, headquartered in Kinderhook, New York, for $93.4 million in cash. The merger added 11 branch locations across a 5 county area in the Capital District of Upstate New York. The merger resulted in the acquisition of $642.8 million of assets, including $479.9 million of loans and $39.8 million of investment securities, as well as $568.2 million of deposits. Goodwill of $40.0 million was recognized as a result of the merger. The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date. Revenues, excluding interest income on acquired investments, of approximately $3.8 million, and direct expenses, which may not include certain shared expenses, of approximately $2.2 million from Kinderhook were included in the consolidated income statement for the three months ended September 30, 2020. Revenues, excluding interest income on acquired investments, of approximately $12.7 million, and direct expenses, which may not include certain shared expenses, of approximately $5.8 million from Kinderhook were included in the consolidated income statement for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

On January 2, 2019, the Company, through its subsidiary, CISI, completed its acquisition of certain assets of Wealth Resources Network, Inc. (“Wealth Resources”), a financial services business headquartered in Liverpool, New York. The Company paid $1.2 million in cash to acquire a customer list from Wealth Resources, and recorded a $1.2 million customer list intangible asset in conjunction with the acquisition. The effects of the acquired assets have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.

9

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

The assets and liabilities assumed in the acquisitions were recorded at their estimated fair values based on management’s best estimates using information available at the dates of the acquisitions, and were subject to adjustment based on updated information not available at the time of the acquisitions. During the first quarter of 2020, the carrying amount of other liabilities associated with the Kinderhook acquisition decreased by $0.3 million as a result of an adjustment to accrued income taxes and deferred income taxes. Goodwill associated with the Kinderhook acquisition decreased $0.3 million as a result of this adjustment. During the third quarter of 2020, associated with the Steuben acquisition, the carrying amount of loans decreased by $0.2 million, premises and equipment decreased by $0.5 million, other assets decreased by $1.7 million, and accrued interest and other liabilities decreased by $1.3 million as a result of updated information not available at the time of acquisition. Goodwill associated with the Steuben acquisition increased $1.1 million as a result of these adjustments.

The above referenced acquisitions generally expanded the Company’s geographical presence in New York and management expects that the Company will benefit from greater geographic diversity and the advantages of other synergistic business development opportunities.

The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed after considering the measurement period adjustments described above:

	2020		2019
(000s omitted)	Steuben		Kinderhook		Other (1)		Total
Consideration paid :
Cash	$	21,613	$	93,384	$	1,650	$	95,034
Community Bank System, Inc. common stock		76,942		0		0		0
Total net consideration paid		98,555		93,384		1,650		95,034
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
Cash and cash equivalents		55,973		90,381		0		90,381
Investment securities		180,497		39,770		0		39,770
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses on PCD loans (2)		339,017		479,877		0		479,877
Premises and equipment, net		7,764		13,970		0		13,970
Accrued interest and fees receivable		2,712		1,130		0		1,130
Other assets		17,633		14,109		0		14,109
Core deposit intangibles		2,928		3,573		0		3,573
Other intangibles		1,196		0		1,650		1,650
Deposits		(516,274)		(568,161)		0		(568,161)
Other liabilities		(5,105)		(2,922)		0		(2,922)
Other Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings		(6,000)		(2,420)		0		(2,420)
Subordinated notes payable		0		(13,831)		0		(13,831)
Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts		(2,062)		(2,062)		0		(2,062)
Total identifiable assets, net		78,279		53,414		1,650		55,064
Goodwill	$	20,276	$	39,970	$	0	$	39,970

(1) Includes amounts related to both acquisitions completed by CISI in 2019.

(2) Acquisition-related allowance for credit losses on purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans applicable beginning in 2020.

Under ASC 310-30, acquired loans that have evidence of deterioration in credit quality since origination and for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the Company will be unable to collect all contractually required payments were aggregated by comparable characteristics and recorded at fair value without a carryover of the related allowance for credit losses. Cash flows for each loan were determined using an estimate of credit losses and rate of prepayments. Projected monthly cash flows were then discounted to present value using a market-based discount rate. The excess of the undiscounted expected cash flows over the estimated fair value is referred to as the “accretable yield” and is recognized into interest income over the remaining lives of the acquired loans.

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) which replaces the ASC 310-30 acquired impaired loans methodology described above with the purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) methodology discussed in Note C: Accounting Policies.

10

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

The Company has acquired loans from Steuben for which there was evidence of a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination. There were no investment securities acquired from Steuben for which there was evidence of a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination. The carrying amount of those loans is as follows at the date of acquisition:

(000s omitted)	PCD Loans
Par value of PCD loans at acquisition	$	24,415
Allowance for credit losses at acquisition		(524)
Non-credit discount at acquisition		(115)
Fair value of PCD loans at acquisition	$	23,776

The following is a summary of the remaining loans acquired from Steuben for which there was no evidence of a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination at the date of acquisition:

(000s omitted)	Non-PCD Loans
Contractually required principal and interest at acquisition	$	416,230
Contractual cash flows not expected to be collected		(3,131)
Expected cash flows at acquisition		413,099
Interest component of expected cash flows		(97,858)
Fair value of non-PCD loans at acquisition	$	315,241

The following is a summary of the loans acquired from Kinderhook at the date of acquisition:

	Acquired		Acquired		Total
	Impaired		Non-impaired		Acquired
(000s omitted)	Loans		Loans		Loans
Contractually required principal and interest at acquisition	$	13,350	$	636,384	$	649,734
Contractual cash flows not expected to be collected		(4,176)		(5,472)		(9,648)
Expected cash flows at acquisition		9,174		630,912		640,086
Interest component of expected cash flows		(551)		(159,658)		(160,209)
Fair value of acquired loans	$	8,623	$	471,254	$	479,877

The fair value of the Company’s common stock issued for the Steuben acquisition was determined using the market close price of the stock on June 12, 2020.

The fair value of checking, savings and money market deposit accounts acquired were assumed to approximate the carrying value as these accounts have no stated maturity and are payable on demand. Certificate of deposit accounts were valued at the present value of the certificates’ expected contractual payments discounted at market rates for similar certificates. The fair value of subordinated notes payable was estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates being offered on similar securities.

Subordinated notes payable assumed with the Kinderhook acquisition included $3.0 million of subordinated notes with a fixed interest rate of 6.0% maturing in February 2028 and $10.0 million of subordinated notes with a fixed interest rate of 6.375% maturing in November 2025.

The core deposit intangibles and other intangibles related to the Steuben acquisition, both acquisitions completed by CISI in 2019 and the Kinderhook acquisition are being amortized using an accelerated method over their estimated useful life of eight years. The goodwill, which is not amortized for book purposes, was assigned to the Banking segment for the Steuben and Kinderhook acquisitions. Goodwill arising from the Steuben and Kinderhook acquisitions is not deductible for tax purposes.

11

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

Direct costs related to the acquisitions were expensed as incurred. Merger and acquisition integration-related expenses amount to $0.8 million and $4.5 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, and have been separately stated in the consolidated statements of income. Merger and acquisition integration-related expenses amount to $6.1 million and $7.8 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and have been separately stated in the consolidated statements of income.

Supplemental Pro Forma Financial Information

The following unaudited condensed pro forma information assumes the Steuben acquisition had been completed as of January 1, 2019 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019. The table below has been prepared for comparative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the actual results that would have been attained had the acquisition occurred as of the beginning of the year presented, nor is it indicative of the Company’s future results. Furthermore, the unaudited pro forma information does not reflect management’s estimate of any revenue-enhancing opportunities nor anticipated cost savings that may have occurred as a result of the integration and consolidation of the acquisitions.

The pro forma information set forth below reflects the historical results of Steuben combined with the Company’s consolidated statements of income with adjustments related to (a) certain purchase accounting fair value adjustments and (b) amortization of customer lists and core deposit intangibles. Acquisition-related expenses totaling $0.8 million and $4.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, related to Steuben were included in the pro forma information as if they were incurred in the first quarter of 2019.

	Pro Forma (Unaudited)				Pro Forma (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
(000’s omitted)	September 30, 2020		September 30, 2019		September 30, 2020		September 30, 2019
Total revenue, net of interest expense	$	152,634	$	154,221	$	456,740	$	457,399
Net income		43,472		40,695		124,338		126,874

NOTE C: ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting policies of the Company, as applied in the consolidated interim financial statements presented herein, are substantially the same as those followed on an annual basis as presented on pages 65 through 75 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 2, 2020 except as noted below. The accounting policies of the Company effective for the comparative periods presented prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) are presented on the Form 10-K referenced above.

The extent to which the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") impacts the Company’s business and financial results will depend on numerous evolving factors including, but not limited to: the magnitude and duration of COVID-19, the extent to which it will impact national and international macroeconomic conditions including interest rates, unemployment rates, the speed of the anticipated recovery, and governmental and business reactions to the pandemic. The Company assessed certain accounting matters that generally require consideration of forecasted financial information in context with the information reasonably available to the Company and the unknown future impacts of COVID-19 as of September 30, 2020 and through the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The accounting matters assessed included, but were not limited to, the Company’s allowance for credit losses, decrease in fee and interest income, and the carrying value of the goodwill and other long-lived assets. While there was not a material impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, the Company’s future assessment of the magnitude and duration of COVID-19, as well as other factors, could result in material impacts to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods.

12

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

Investment Securities

The Company can classify its investments in debt securities as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, or trading. Held-to-maturity securities are those for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity, and are reported at cost, which is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. The Company did not use the held-to-maturity classification in 2019 or through September 30, 2020. Available-for-sale debt securities are reported at fair value with net unrealized gains and losses reflected as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, net of applicable income taxes. None of the Company’s investment securities have been classified as trading securities at September 30, 2020 or December 31, 2019. Equity securities with a readily determinable fair value are reported at fair value with net unrealized gains and losses recognized in the consolidated statements of income. Certain equity securities that do not have a readily determinable fair value are stated at cost, adjusted for observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer. These securities include restricted stock of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“Federal Reserve”) and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (collectively referred to as “FHLB”), as well as other equity securities.

Fair values for investment securities are based upon quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based upon quoted market prices of comparable instruments, or a discounted cash flow model using market estimates of interest rates and volatility.

Allowance for Credit Losses – Debt Securities

For held-to-maturity debt securities, the Company measures expected credit losses on a collective basis by major security type. The estimates of expected credit losses considers historical credit loss information that is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Accrued interest receivable on held-to-maturity securities is excluded from the estimates of credit losses.

For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether it intends to sell, or it more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. For available-for-sale debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, management considers the security structure, recent security collateral performance metrics, if applicable, external credit ratings, failure of the issuer to make scheduled interest or principal payments, judgment about and expectations of future performance, and relevant independent industry research, analysis, and forecasts. The severity of the impairment and the length of time the security has been impaired is also considered in the assessment. This assessment involves a high degree of subjectivity and judgment that is based on the information available to management at a point in time. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected from the security is less than the amortized cost basis of the security, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income.

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

Accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale debt securities, included in accrued interest and fees receivable on the consolidated statements of condition, totaled $14.2 million at September 30, 2020 and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

Loans

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 allowance for credit losses. Amortized cost is the principal balance outstanding, net of purchase premiums and discounts, and deferred loan fees and costs.

13

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

Mortgage loans held for sale are carried at fair value and are included in loans held for sale on the consolidated statements of condition. Fair values for variable rate loans that reprice frequently are based on carrying values. Fair values for fixed rate loans are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality. The carrying amount of accrued interest approximates its fair value.

Interest on loans is accrued and credited to operations based upon the principal amount outstanding. Nonrefundable loan fees and related direct costs are deferred and included in the loan balances where they are amortized over the life of the loan as an adjustment to loan yield using the effective yield method. Premiums and discounts on purchased loans are amortized using the effective yield method over the life of the loans.

Accrued interest receivable on loans, included in accrued interest and fees receivable on the consolidated statements of condition, totaled $23.8 million at September 30, 2020 and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses and amortized cost basis of loans. An allowance for credit losses is not measured for accrued interest receivable on loans as the Company writes off the uncollectible accrued interest balance in a timely manner.

The Company places a loan on nonaccrual status when the loan becomes 90 days past due (or sooner, if management concludes collection is doubtful), except when, in the opinion of management, it is well-collateralized and in the process of collection. A loan may be placed on nonaccrual status earlier than 90 days past due if there is deterioration in the financial position of the borrower or if other conditions of the loan so warrant. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, uncollected accrued interest is reversed against interest income and the amortization of nonrefundable loan fees and related direct costs is discontinued. Interest income during the period the loan is on nonaccrual status is recorded on a cash basis after recovery of principal is reasonably assured. Nonaccrual loans are returned to accrual status when management determines that the borrower’s performance has improved and that both principal and interest are collectible. This generally requires a sustained period of timely principal and interest payments and a well-documented credit evaluation of the borrower’s financial condition.

The Company’s charge-off policy by loan type is as follows:

● Business lending loans are generally charged-off to the extent outstanding principal exceeds the fair value of estimated proceeds from collection efforts, including liquidation of collateral. The charge-off is recognized when the loss becomes reasonably quantifiable.

● Consumer installment loans are generally charged-off to the extent outstanding principal exceeds the fair value of collateral, and are recognized by the end of the month in which the loan becomes 90 days past due.

● Consumer mortgage and home equity loans are generally charged-off to the extent outstanding principal exceeds the fair value of the property, less estimated costs to sell, and are recognized when the loan becomes 180 days past due.

Allowance for Credit Losses – Loans

The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is netted against the loans’ amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loans are charged off against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is confirmed.

Management estimates the allowance 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 are made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics such as differences in underwriting standards, portfolio mix, acquired loans, delinquency level, risk ratings or term of loans as well as changes in macroeconomic conditions, such as changes in unemployment rates, property values such as home prices, commercial real estate prices and automobile prices, gross domestic product, recession probability, and other relevant factors.

14

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

The segments of the Company’s loan portfolio are disaggregated into the following classes that allow management to monitor risk and performance:

● Business lending is comprised of general purpose commercial and industrial loans including, but not limited to agricultural-related and dealer floor plans, loans to not-for-profit enterprises, as well as mortgages on commercial property and Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans. The portfolio segment is further broken into portfolio classes based on risks associated with the collateral supporting the loans. Each class of business lending can also have different payment structures. Business lending loans are generally higher dollar loans and a large portion are risk rated at least annually.

● Consumer mortgages consist primarily of fixed rate residential instruments, typically 10 – 30 years in contractual term, secured by first liens on real property. FICO scores are used to monitor higher risks related to this type of lending with FICO AB referring to higher tiered loans with FICO scores greater than or equal to 720 as compared to FICO CDE with lower FICO scores less than 720 and potentially higher risk.

● Consumer indirect consists primarily of installment loans originated through selected dealerships and are generally secured by automobiles, marine and other recreational vehicles. Collateral securing the loans was used to further disaggregate this portfolio as charge-offs can vary depending on the purpose of the loan. Non-auto loans often have longer terms, and generally have higher risk due to declines in collateral value given the nature of the property.

● Consumer direct consists of all other loans to consumers such as personal installment loans and check credit lines of credit.

● Home equity products are installment loans or lines of credit most often secured by a first or second lien position on residential real estate with terms up to 30 years.

The allowance for credit losses is measured on a collective (pool) basis when similar risk characteristics exist, including collateral type, credit ratings/scores, size, duration, interest rate structure, industry, geography, origination vintage, and payment structure. The Company has identified the following portfolio segments and classes and measures the allowance for credit losses using the following methods:

Loan Portfolio Segment	Loan Portfolio Class	Allowance for Credit Losses Methodology
Business lending	Commercial real estate multi family	Cumulative loss rate
Business lending	Commercial real estate non-owner occupied	Cumulative loss rate
Business lending	Commercial real estate owner occupied	Cumulative loss rate
Business lending	Commercial and industrial loans	Vintage loss rate
Business lending	Commercial and industrial lines of credit	Line loss
Business lending	Municipal	Cumulative loss rate
Business lending	Other business	Cumulative loss rate
Business lending	Paycheck Protection Program	Cumulative loss rate
Consumer mortgage	Consumer mortgage FICO AB	Cumulative loss rate
Consumer mortgage	Consumer mortgage FICO CDE	Cumulative loss rate
Consumer indirect	Indirect new auto	Vintage loss rate
Consumer indirect	Indirect used auto	Vintage loss rate
Consumer indirect	Indirect non-auto	Vintage loss rate
Consumer direct	Consumer check credit	Line loss
Consumer direct	Consumer direct	Vintage loss rate
Home equity	Home equity fixed rate	Vintage loss rate
Home equity	Home equity lines of credit	Line loss

The cumulative loss rate method uses historical loss data applied against multiple pools of loans and uses a quantitatively based management overlay in order to capture the risk for a loan’s entire expected life. These loss rates are then applied to current balances to achieve a required reserve before qualitative adjustments.

The line loss method calculates the quantitative required reserve for lines of credit. This method contains several different underlying calculations including average annual loss rate, pay-down rate, cumulative loss, average draw percentage, and undrawn liability reserve.

15

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

The vintage loss rate method calculates annual loss rates by origination year. The results of this model are then applied to outstanding balances, which correspond to the origination period for each annual loss rate.

In addition to the risk characteristics noted above, management considers the portion of acquired loans to the overall segment balance, as well as current delinquency and charge-off trends compared to historical time periods.

Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. Loans evaluated individually are not also included in the collective evaluation. When management determines that foreclosure is probable or when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty at the reporting date and repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral, expected credit losses are based on the fair value of the collateral at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate.

Expected credit losses are estimated over the contractual term of the loans and adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate. The contractual term excludes expected extensions, renewals, and modifications unless management has a reasonable expectation at the reporting date that a troubled debt 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.

Certain business lending, consumer direct, and home equity loans do not have stated maturities. In determining the estimated life of these loans, management first estimates the future cash flows expected to be received and then applies those expected future cash flows to the balance. Expected credit losses for lines of credit with no stated maturity are determined by estimating the amount and timing of all principal payments expected to be received after the reporting period and allocating those principal payments between the balance outstanding as of the reporting period and the balance of future receivables expected to be originated through subsequent usage of the unconditionally cancellable loan commitment associated with the account until the expected payments have been fully allocated. An additional allowance for credit loss is recorded for the excess of the balance outstanding as of the reporting period over the expected principal payments allocated to that balance.

Troubled Debt Restructuring

A loan for which the terms have been modified resulting in a concession, and for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, is considered to be a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”). The allowance for credit loss on a TDR is measured using the same method as all other loans, except when the value of a concession cannot be measured using a method other than the discounted cash flow method. When the value of a concession is measured using the discounted cash flow method, the allowance for credit loss is determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at the original interest rate of the loan. Refer to Note E: Loans for the Company’s policy regarding COVID-19 related financial hardship payment deferrals.

Allowance for Credit Losses – Off-balance-sheet credit exposures

The Company estimates expected credit losses over the contractual period in which the Company is exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Company. There are unfunded commitments for lines of credit within each of the Company’s loan portfolio segments except consumer indirect. The allowance for credit losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures is adjusted as a provision for (or reversal of) credit losses. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life. Management estimates the allowance 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 that are the same as the adjustments considered for the loan portfolio.

16

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

Purchased Credit Deteriorated (PCD) Loans

The Company has purchased loans, some of which have experienced a more-than-insignificant credit deterioration since origination. The Company’s policy for reviewing what meets the threshold of the definition of a more-than-insignificant credit deterioration includes loans that are delinquent more than 30 days, loans that have historical delinquencies of more than 30 days at least three times since origination, risk rating downgrades since origination, loans with multiple payment deferrals, loans considered to be troubled debt restructurings, specifically impaired loans or loans with certain documented policy exceptions, further refined based on loan-specific facts and circumstances. PCD loans are initially recorded at the amount paid. An allowance for credit losses is determined using the same methodology as other loans. The initial allowance for credit losses determined on a collective basis is allocated to individual loans. The sum of the loan’s purchase price and allowance for credit losses becomes its initial amortized cost basis. The difference between the initial amortized cost basis and the par value of the loan is a noncredit discount or premium, which is amortized into interest income over the life of the loan. Subsequent changes to the allowance for credit losses are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit losses.

Contract Balances

A contract asset balance occurs when an entity performs a service for a customer before the customer pays consideration (resulting in a contract receivable) or before payment is due (resulting in a contract asset). A contract liability balance is an entity’s obligation to transfer a service to a customer for which the entity has already received payment (or payment is due) from the customer. The Company’s noninterest revenue streams are largely based on transactional activity, or standard month-end revenue accruals such as asset management fees based on month-end market values. Consideration is often received immediately or shortly after the Company satisfies its performance obligation and revenue is recognized. The Company does not typically enter into long-term revenue contracts with customers, and therefore, does not experience significant contract balances. As of September 30, 2020, $28.5 million of accounts receivable, including $8.3 million of unbilled fee revenue, and $2.0 million of unearned revenue was recorded in the consolidated statements of condition. As of December 31, 2019, $26.8 million of accounts receivable, including $7.5 million of unbilled fee revenue, and $1.8 million of unearned revenue was recorded in the consolidated statements of condition.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) (“ASU No. 2016-13”). This new guidance significantly changes how entities measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. This ASU replaces the incurred loss methodology with a current expected credit loss (“CECL”) methodology for instruments measured at amortized cost, and requires entities to record allowances for available-for-sale debt securities rather than reduce the carrying amount, as they do under the other-than-temporary impairment model. CECL simplifies the accounting model for purchased credit-impaired debt securities and loans and also applies to off-balance-sheet credit exposures not accounted for as insurance. CECL requires adoption through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years.

The Company adopted ASC 326 on January 1, 2020 using a modified retrospective approach for all financial assets measured at amortized cost and off-balance-sheet credit exposures. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2020 are presented under ASC 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. The Company recorded a net cumulative-effect adjustment that increased retained earnings by $1.1 million. This adjustment was a result of a $3.1 million adjustment to loans, partially offset by a $1.4 million increase in the allowance for credit losses and a $0.6 million increase in other liabilities related to the allowance for off-balance-sheet credit exposures and deferred taxes. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-13 did not result in a material allowance for credit losses on the Company’s available-for-sale debt securities or its other instruments carried at amortized cost. The Company’s regulators permit financial institutions to “phase-in” the impact of CECL on its regulatory capital ratios for up to 5 years with transitional relief of incremental capital requirements. The Company did not utilize the phased-in approach and recorded the entire cumulative-effect adjustment against its regulatory capital at the time of adoption.

17

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

The Company adopted ASC 326 using the prospective transition approach for financial assets purchased with credit deterioration (“PCD”) that were previously classified as purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) and accounted for under ASC 310-30. In accordance with this standard, management did not reassess whether PCI assets met the criteria of PCD assets as of the date of adoption. On January 1, 2020, the amortized cost basis of the PCD assets were adjusted to reflect the addition of $3.1 million of allowance for credit losses. The remaining noncredit discount (based on the adjusted amortized cost basis) will be accreted into interest income at the effective interest rate beginning on January 1, 2020.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). The amendments simplify how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating the requirement to measure a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Instead, an entity will perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, and recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value. Impairment loss recognized under this new guidance will be limited to the goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. This ASU is effective prospectively for the Company for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2020 and determined the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820). The updated guidance removed the requirement to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the policy for timing of transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy, and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. The updated guidance clarifies that the measurement uncertainty disclosure is to communicate information about the uncertainty in measurements as of the reporting date. Further, the updated guidance requires disclosure of changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and how the weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements was calculated. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2020 and determined the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans (Subtopic 715-20). The updated guidance removed the requirements to identify amounts that are expected to be reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income and recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost in the next fiscal year, as well as the effects of a one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates on service and interest cost and on the postretirement benefit obligation. The updated guidance added disclosure requirements for the weighted-average interest crediting rates for cash balance plans and other plans with interest crediting rates, and explanations for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period. This new guidance is effective retrospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impacts the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740). The updated guidance simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740, and clarifying and amending existing guidance to improve consistent application. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in any interim periods for which financial statements have not been issued. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

18

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (Topic 848). The updated guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments in this guidance apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. This new guidance is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Adoption is permitted in any interim periods for which financial statements have not been issued. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

NOTE D: INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 are as follows:

	September 30, 2020								December 31, 2019
			Gross		Gross				Gross		Gross
	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair		Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
(000's omitted)	Cost		Gains		Losses		Value		Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
U.S. Treasury and agency securities	$	2,034,512	$	114,658	$	0	$	2,149,170	$	2,030,060	$	21,674	$	7,975	$	2,043,759
Obligations of state and political subdivisions		470,518		22,978		0		493,496		497,852		14,382		26		512,208
Government agency mortgage-backed securities		508,738		15,514		278		523,974		428,491		5,478		1,107		432,862
Corporate debt securities		4,504		98		0		4,602		2,527		1		0		2,528
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations		50,134		1,354		8		51,480		52,621		482		32		53,071
Total available-for-sale portfolio	$	3,068,406	$	154,602	$	286	$	3,222,722	$	3,011,551	$	42,017	$	9,140	$	3,044,428
Equity and other Securities:
Equity securities, at fair value	$	251	$	192	$	20	$	423	$	251	$	200	$	0	$	451
Federal Home Loan Bank common stock		7,545		0		0		7,545		7,246		0		0		7,246
Federal Reserve Bank common stock		33,916		0		0		33,916		30,922		0		0		30,922
Other equity securities, at adjusted cost		4,707		750		0		5,457		4,546		750		0		5,296
Total equity and other securities	$	46,419	$	942	$	20	$	47,341	$	42,965	$	950	$	0	$	43,915

19

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

A summary of investment securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position is as follows:

As of September 30, 2020

	Less than 12 Months						12 Months or Longer					Total
				Gross					Gross					Gross
		Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized
(000's omitted)	#	Value		Losses		#	Value		Losses		#	Value		Losses
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
U.S. Treasury and agency securities	1	$	1,010	$	0	0	$	0	$	0	1	$	1,010	$	0
Obligations of state and political subdivisions	1		196		0	0		0		0	1		196		0
Government agency mortgage-backed securities	91		62,318		278	2		14		0	93		62,332		278
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations	14		4,244		8	1		0		0	15		4,244		8
Total available-for-sale investment portfolio	107	$	67,768	$	286	3	$	14	$	0	110	$	67,782	$	286
Equity and other Securities:
Equity securities, at fair value	1	$	81	$	20	0	$	0	$	0	1	$	81	$	20
Total equity and other securities	1	$	81	$	20	0	$	0	$	0	1	$	81	$	20

As of December 31, 2019

	Less than 12 Months					12 Months or Longer					Total
				Gross					Gross					Gross
		Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized
(000's omitted)	#	Value		Losses		#	Value		Losses		#	Value		Losses
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
U.S. Treasury and agency securities	12	$	592,678	$	7,970	5	$	25,998	$	5	17	$	618,676	$	7,975
Obligations of state and political subdivisions	21		22,716		26	0		0		0	21		22,716		26
Government agency mortgage-backed securities	50		89,237		341	52		52,975		766	102		142,212		1,107
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations	5		5,971		14	5		4,405		18	10		10,376		32
Total available-for-sale investment portfolio	88	$	710,602	$	8,351	62	$	83,378	$	789	150	$	793,980	$	9,140

20

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

The unrealized losses reported pertaining to securities issued by the U.S. government and its sponsored entities, include treasuries, agencies, and mortgage-backed securities issued by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, which are currently rated AAA by Moody’s Investor Services, AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and are guaranteed by the U.S. government. The majority of the obligations of state and political subdivisions and corporations carry a credit rating of A or better. Additionally, a majority of the obligations of state and political subdivisions carry a secondary level of credit enhancement. The Company does not intend to sell these securities, nor is it more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell these securities prior to recovery of the amortized cost. Timely principal and interest payments continue to be made on the securities. The unrealized losses in the portfolios are primarily attributable to changes in interest rates. As such, management does not believe any individual unrealized loss as of September 30, 2020 represents credit losses and no unrealized losses have been recognized in the provision for credit losses. Accordingly, there is 0 allowance for credit losses on the Company’s available-for-sale portfolio as of September 30, 2020. As of December 31, 2019, management did not believe any individual unrealized loss represents other-than-temporary impairment.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities at September 30, 2020, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Securities not due at a single maturity date are shown separately.

	Available-for-Sale
	Amortized		Fair
(000's omitted)	Cost		Value
Due in one year or less	$	760,019	$	765,009
Due after one through five years		802,750		843,487
Due after five years through ten years		461,012		503,778
Due after ten years		485,753		534,994
Subtotal		2,509,534		2,647,268
Government agency mortgage-backed securities		508,738		523,974
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations		50,134		51,480
Total	$	3,068,406	$	3,222,722

As of September 30, 2020, $295.5 million of U.S. Treasury securities were pledged as collateral for securities sold under agreement to repurchase. All securities sold under agreement to repurchase as of September 30, 2020 have an overnight and continuous maturity.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company sold $590.2 million of U.S. Treasury and agency securities, recognizing $5.0 million of gross realized gains and $0.1 million of gross realized losses.

NOTE E: LOANS

The segments of the Company’s loan portfolio are summarized as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(000's omitted)	2020		2019
Business lending	$	3,433,565	$	2,775,876
Consumer mortgage		2,410,249		2,430,902
Consumer indirect		1,039,925		1,113,062
Consumer direct		161,639		184,378
Home equity		413,265		386,325
Gross loans, including deferred origination costs		7,458,643		6,890,543
Allowance for credit losses		(64,962)		(49,911)
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses	$	7,393,681	$	6,840,632

21

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

The following table presents the aging of the amortized cost basis of the Company’s past due loans, including purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans, by segment as of September 30, 2020:

	Past Due		90+ Days Past
	30 – 89		Due and				Total
(000’s omitted)	Days		Still Accruing		Nonaccrual		Past Due		Current		Total Loans
Business lending	$	3,151	$	39	$	11,750	$	14,940	$	3,418,625	$	3,433,565
Consumer mortgage		11,449		3,182		14,821		29,452		2,380,797		2,410,249
Consumer indirect		8,711		12		1		8,724		1,031,201		1,039,925
Consumer direct		1,060		34		3		1,097		160,542		161,639
Home equity		2,179		220		2,181		4,580		408,685		413,265
Total	$	26,550	$	3,487	$	28,756	$	58,793	$	7,399,850	$	7,458,643

The following is an aged analysis of the Company’s past due loans by segment as of December 31, 2019:

Legacy Loans (excludes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

	Past Due		90+ Days Past
	30 – 89		Due and				Total
(000’s omitted)	Days		Still Accruing		Nonaccrual		Past Due		Current		Total Loans
Business lending	$	3,936	$	126	$	3,840	$	7,902	$	1,848,683	$	1,856,585
Consumer mortgage		10,990		2,052		10,131		23,173		1,973,543		1,996,716
Consumer indirect		12,673		125		0		12,798		1,094,510		1,107,308
Consumer direct		1,455		76		0		1,531		174,445		175,976
Home equity		1,508		328		1,444		3,280		310,727		314,007
Total	$	30,562	$	2,707	$	15,415	$	48,684	$	5,401,908	$	5,450,592

Acquired Loans (includes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

	Past Due		90+ Days Past
	30 – 89		Due and				Total		Acquired
(000’s omitted)	Days		Still Accruing		Nonaccrual		Past Due		Impaired(1)		Current		Total Loans
Business lending	$	8,518	$	2,173	$	570	$	11,261	$	11,797	$	896,233	$	919,291
Consumer mortgage		890		277		2,386		3,553		0		430,633		434,186
Consumer indirect		79		31		0		110		0		5,644		5,754
Consumer direct		59		0		52		111		0		8,291		8,402
Home equity		744		238		412		1,394		0		70,924		72,318
Total	$	10,290	$	2,719	$	3,420	$	16,429	$	11,797	$	1,411,725	$	1,439,951

(1) Acquired impaired loans were not classified as nonperforming assets as the loans are considered to be performing under ASC 310-30. As a result interest income, through the accretion of the difference between the carrying amount of the loans and the expected cashflows, is being recognized on all acquired impaired loans.

The delinquency status for loans on payment deferment due to COVID-19 financial hardship were reported at September 30, 2020 based on their delinquency status at the execution date of the payment deferment, unless subsequent to the execution date of the payment deferment, the borrower made all required past due payments to bring the loan to current status.

NaN interest income on nonaccrual loans was recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. An immaterial amount of accrued interest was written off on nonaccrual loans by reversing interest income.

22

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

The Company uses several credit quality indicators to assess credit risk in an ongoing manner. The Company’s primary credit quality indicator for its business lending portfolio is an internal credit risk rating system that categorizes loans as “pass”, “special mention”, “classified”, or “doubtful”. Credit risk ratings are applied individually to those classes of loans that have significant or unique credit characteristics that benefit from a case-by-case evaluation. Loans that were granted initial COVID-19 related financial hardship payment deferrals were not automatically downgraded into lower credit risk ratings, but will continue to be monitored for indications of deterioration that could result in future downgrades. In general, the following are the definitions of the Company’s credit quality indicators:

Pass	The condition of the borrower and the performance of the loans are satisfactory or better.
Special Mention	The condition of the borrower has deteriorated although the loan performs as agreed. Loss may be incurred at some future date, if conditions deteriorate further.
Classified	The condition of the borrower has significantly deteriorated and the performance of the loan could further deteriorate and incur loss, if deficiencies are not corrected.
Doubtful	The condition of the borrower has deteriorated to the point that collection of the balance is improbable based on current facts and conditions and loss is likely.

The following tables show the amount of business lending loans by credit quality category at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

													Revolving
													Loans
(000’s omitted)	Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year												Amortized
September 30, 2020	2020		2019		2018		2017		2016		Prior		Cost Basis		Total
Business lending:
Risk rating
Pass	$	783,726	$	351,036	$	337,662	$	243,816	$	246,551	$	576,220	$	483,163	$	3,022,174
Special mention		14,008		39,130		20,714		19,157		29,987		65,627		53,293		241,916
Classified		5,942		2,852		28,228		14,084		14,363		61,121		41,996		168,586
Doubtful		0		0		0		0		0		0		889		889
Total business lending	$	803,676	$	393,018	$	386,604	$	277,057	$	290,901	$	702,968	$	579,341	$	3,433,565

	December 31, 2019
(000’s omitted)	Legacy		Acquired		Total
Pass	$	1,655,280	$	832,693	$	2,487,973
Special mention		98,953		45,324		144,277
Classified		102,352		29,477		131,829
Doubtful		0		0		0
Acquired impaired		0		11,797		11,797
Total	$	1,856,585	$	919,291	$	2,775,876

All other loans are underwritten and structured using standardized criteria and characteristics, primarily payment performance, and are normally risk rated and monitored collectively on a monthly basis. These are typically loans to individuals in the consumer categories and are delineated as either performing or nonperforming. Performing loans include loans classified as current as well as those classified as 30 - 89 days past due. Nonperforming loans include 90+ days past due and still accruing and nonaccrual loans.

23

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

The following table details the balances in all other loan categories at September 30, 2020:

													Revolving
													Loans
(000’s omitted)	Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year												Amortized
September 30, 2020	2020		2019		2018		2017		2016		Prior		Cost Basis		Total
Consumer mortgage:
FICO AB
Performing	$	182,675	$	237,891	$	176,837	$	175,605	$	170,844	$	664,129	$	582	$	1,608,563
Nonperforming		0		0		329		444		311		3,556		0		4,640
Total FICO AB		182,675		237,891		177,166		176,049		171,155		667,685		582		1,613,203
FICO CDE
Performing		75,419		106,072		84,280		79,292		87,578		337,097		13,945		783,683
Nonperforming		0		647		482		813		1,530		9,891		0		13,363
Total FICO CDE		75,419		106,719		84,762		80,105		89,108		346,988		13,945		797,046
Total consumer mortgage	$	258,094	$	344,610	$	261,928	$	256,154	$	260,263	$	1,014,673	$	14,527	$	2,410,249
Consumer indirect:
Performing	$	227,697	$	338,279	$	230,246	$	100,529	$	73,331	$	69,830	$	0	$	1,039,912
Nonperforming		0		5		0		4		1		3		0		13
Total consumer indirect	$	227,697	$	338,284	$	230,246	$	100,533	$	73,332	$	69,833		0	$	1,039,925
Consumer direct:
Performing	$	42,905	$	53,421	$	32,359	$	14,773	$	6,707	$	4,722	$	6,715	$	161,602
Nonperforming		0		4		9		0		24		0	��	0		37
Total consumer direct	$	42,905	$	53,425	$	32,368	$	14,773	$	6,731	$	4,722	$	6,715	$	161,639
Home equity:
Performing	$	40,760	$	51,240	$	29,904	$	25,286	$	19,964	$	39,429	$	204,281	$	410,864
Nonperforming		0		0		82		110		212		481		1,516		2,401
Total home equity	$	40,760	$	51,240	$	29,986	$	25,396	$	20,176	$	39,910	$	205,797	$	413,265

The following table details the balances in all other loan categories at December 31, 2019:

Legacy Loans (excludes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

	Consumer		Consumer		Consumer		Home
(000’s omitted)	Mortgage		Indirect		Direct		Equity		Total
Performing	$	1,984,533	$	1,107,183	$	175,900	$	312,235	$	3,579,851
Nonperforming		12,183		125		76		1,772		14,156
Total	$	1,996,716	$	1,107,308	$	175,976	$	314,007	$	3,594,007

Acquired Loans (includes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

	Consumer		Consumer		Consumer		Home
(000’s omitted)	Mortgage		Indirect		Direct		Equity		Total
Performing	$	431,523	$	5,723	$	8,350	$	71,668	$	517,264
Nonperforming		2,663		31		52		650		3,396
Total	$	434,186	$	5,754	$	8,402	$	72,318	$	520,660

24

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

All loan classes are collectively evaluated for impairment except business lending. A summary of individually evaluated impaired business lending loans as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(000’s omitted)	2020		2019
Loans with allowance allocation	$	6,842	$	0
Loans without allowance allocation		1,414		1,414
Carrying balance		8,256		1,414
Contractual balance		10,558		2,944
Specifically allocated allowance		882		0

The average carrying balance of individually evaluated impaired loans was $8.8 million and $5.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively. The average carrying balance of individually evaluated impaired loans was $4.2 million and $5.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively. NaN interest income was recognized on individually evaluated impaired loans for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019.

In the course of working with borrowers, the Company may choose to restructure the contractual terms of certain loans. In this scenario, the Company attempts to work-out an alternative payment schedule with the borrower in order to optimize collectability of the loan. Any loans that are modified are reviewed by the Company to identify if a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) has occurred, which is when, for economic or legal reasons related to a borrower’s financial difficulties, the Company grants a concession to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider. Terms may be modified to fit the ability of the borrower to repay in line with its current financial standing and the restructuring of the loan may include the transfer of assets from the borrower to satisfy the debt, a modification of loan terms, or a combination of the two.

In accordance with the clarified guidance issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), loans that have been discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but not reaffirmed by the borrower, are classified as TDRs, irrespective of payment history or delinquency status, even if the repayment terms for the loan have not been otherwise modified. The Company’s lien position against the underlying collateral remains unchanged. Pursuant to that guidance, the Company records a charge-off equal to any portion of the carrying value that exceeds the net realizable value of the collateral. The amount of loss incurred in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was immaterial.

TDRs that are less than $0.5 million are collectively included in the allowance for credit loss estimate. TDRs that are commercial loans and greater than $0.5 million are individually evaluated for impairment, and if necessary, a specific allocation of the allowance for credit losses is provided. As a result, the determination of the amount of allowance for credit losses related to TDRs is the same as detailed in the critical accounting policies.

With respect to the Company’s lending activities, the Company implemented a customer payment deferral program for deferrals up to three months per request during the first nine months of 2020 to assist both consumer and business borrowers that may be experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 related challenges. Business lending, consumer direct, and consumer indirect loans in deferment status will continue to accrue interest on the deferred principal during the deferment period unless otherwise classified as nonaccrual. Consumer mortgage and home equity loans will not accrue interest on the deferred payments during the deferment period. Consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act") and industry regulatory guidance, borrowers that were otherwise current on loan payments that were granted COVID-19 related financial hardship payment deferrals will continue to be reported as current loans throughout the agreed upon deferral period. These payment deferrals were also deemed to be an insignificant borrower concession, and therefore, not classified as TDR loans during the first nine months of 2020. Borrowers that were delinquent in their payments to Community Bank, N.A. (the "Bank") prior to requesting a COVID-19 related financial hardship payment deferral were reviewed on a case by case basis for troubled debt restructure classification and non-performing loan status.

25

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

Information regarding TDRs as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 is as follows:

	September 30, 2020									December 31, 2019
(000’s omitted)	Nonaccrual			Accruing			Total			Nonaccrual			Accruing			Total
	#	Amount		#	Amount		#	Amount		#	Amount		#	Amount		#	Amount
Business lending	8	$	602	3	$	195	11	$	797	8	$	681	3	$	201	11	$	882
Consumer mortgage	57		2,478	47		2,330	104		4,808	59		2,638	47		1,892	106		4,530
Consumer indirect	0		0	85		935	85		935	0		0	84		941	84		941
Consumer direct	0		0	24		94	24		94	0		0	23		101	23		101
Home equity	11		277	13		272	24		549	13		290	11		238	24		528
Total	76	$	3,357	172	$	3,826	248	$	7,183	80	$	3,609	168	$	3,373	248	$	6,982

The following table presents information related to loans modified in a TDR during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. Of the loans noted in the table below, all consumer mortgage loans for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were modified due to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy as described previously. The financial effects of these restructurings were immaterial.

	Three Months Ended			Three Months Ended
	September 30, 2020			September 30, 2019
	Number of	Outstanding		Number of	Outstanding
(000’s omitted)	loans modified	Balance		loans modified	Balance
Business lending	0	$	0	1	$	415
Consumer mortgage	8		646	8		464
Consumer indirect	14		131	10		116
Consumer direct	1		2	2		25
Home equity	2		56	0		0
Total	25	$	835	21	$	1,020

	Nine Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2020			September 30, 2019
	Number of	Outstanding		Number of	Outstanding
(000’s omitted)	loans modified	Balance		loans modified	Balance
Business lending	0	$	0	3	$	660
Consumer mortgage	17		1,378	19		1,271
Consumer indirect	25		261	22		206
Consumer direct	2		12	5		35
Home equity	2		56	4		72
Total	46	$	1,707	53	$	2,244

26

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

Allowance for Credit Losses

The following presents by segment the activity in the allowance for credit losses:

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
	Beginning		Charge-						Ending
(000’s omitted)	balance		offs		Recoveries		Provision		balance
Business lending	$	24,204	$	(736)	$	67	$	3,539	$	27,074
Consumer mortgage		13,088		(248)		23		(599)		12,264
Consumer indirect		15,866		(1,281)		1,111		(963)		14,733
Consumer direct		4,028		(340)		225		(120)		3,793
Home equity		2,690		(24)		5		(124)		2,547
Unallocated		1,000		0		0		4		1,004
Purchased credit deteriorated		3,561		(91)		32		45		3,547
Allowance for credit losses		64,437		(2,720)		1,463		1,782		64,962
Liabilities for off-balance-sheet credit exposures		1,452		0		0		163		1,615
Total allowance for credit losses and liabilities for off-balance-sheet credit exposures	$	65,889	$	(2,720)	$	1,463	$	1,945	$	66,577

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
	Business		Consumer		Consumer		Consumer		Home				Acquired
(000’s omitted)	Lending		Mortgage		Indirect		Direct		Equity		Unallocated		Impaired		Total
Beginning balance	$	17,769	$	10,763	$	14,345	$	3,184	$	2,103	$	991	$	155	$	49,310
Charge-offs		(305)		(200)		(2,224)		(456)		(45)		0		0		(3,230)
Recoveries		290		8		1,095		167		32		0		0		1,592
Provision		301		(94)		1,221		383		(8)		(53)		1		1,751
Ending balance	$	18,055	$	10,477	$	14,437	$	3,278	$	2,082	$	938	$	156	$	49,423

27

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
	Beginning				Beginning
	balance,				balance,
	prior to the				after
	adoption of		Impact of		adoption of						Steuben				Ending
(000’s omitted)	ASC 326		ASC 326		ASC 326		Charge-offs		Recoveries		acquisition		Provision		balance
Business lending	$	19,426	$	288	$	19,714	$	(919)	$	289	$	2,483	$	5,507	$	27,074
Consumer mortgage		10,269		(1,051)		9,218		(668)		67		146		3,501		12,264
Consumer indirect		13,712		(997)		12,715		(4,791)		3,107		183		3,519		14,733
Consumer direct		3,255		(643)		2,612		(1,214)		578		87		1,730		3,793
Home equity		2,129		808		2,937		(178)		23		235		(470)		2,547
Unallocated		957		43		1,000		0		0		0		4		1,004
Purchased credit deteriorated		0		3,072		3,072		(91)		80		528		(42)		3,547
Purchased credit impaired		163		(163)		0		0		0		0		0		0
Allowance for credit losses		49,911		1,357		51,268		(7,861)		4,144		3,662		13,749		64,962
Liabilities for off-balance-sheet credit exposures		0		1,185		1,185		0		0		67		363		1,615
Total allowance for credit losses and liabilities for off-balance-sheet credit exposures	$	49,911	$	2,542	$	52,453	$	(7,861)	$	4,144	$	3,729	$	14,112	$	66,577

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
	Business		Consumer		Consumer		Consumer		Home				Acquired
(000’s omitted)	Lending		Mortgage		Indirect		Direct		Equity		Unallocated		Impaired		Total
Beginning balance	$	18,522	$	10,124	$	14,366	$	3,095	$	2,144	$	1,000	$	33	$	49,284
Charge-offs		(1,774)		(1,040)		(5,529)		(1,436)		(223)		0		0		(10,002)
Recoveries		593		44		3,296		567		68		0		0		4,568
Provision		714		1,349		2,304		1,052		93		(62)		123		5,573
Ending balance	$	18,055	$	10,477	$	14,437	$	3,278	$	2,082	$	938	$	156	$	49,423

The allowance for credit losses to total loans ratio of 0.87% at September 30, 2020 was 15 basis points higher than the level at both September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2019, primarily due to the decline in economic conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under CECL, the Company utilizes the historical loss rate on its loan portfolio as the initial basis for the estimate of credit losses using the cumulative loss, vintage loss and line loss methods which is derived from the Company’s historical loss experience from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2019. Adjustments to historical loss experience were made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics and to address current period delinquencies, charge-off rates, risk ratings, lack of loan level data through an entire economic cycle, changes in loan sizes and underwriting standards as well as the addition of acquired loans which were not underwritten by the Company. The Company considered historical losses immediately prior, through and following the Great Recession of 2008 compared to the historical period used for modeling to adjust the historical information to account for longer-term expectations for loan credit performance. Under CECL, the Company is required to consider future economic conditions to determine expected losses under a life of loan concept. Management selected an eight quarter reasonable and supportable forecast period using a two quarter lag adjustment with a four quarter reversion to the historical mean to use as part of the economic forecast. Management determined that these qualitative adjustments were needed to adjust historical information to reflect changes as a result of current conditions.

28

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

The Company uses third party forecasted economic data scenarios utilizing a base scenario and two alternative scenarios that were weighted based on guidance from the third party provider, with forecasts available as of September 30, 2020. These forecasts were factored into the qualitative portion of the calculation of the estimated credit losses and included the impact of COVID-19 and current and future Federal stimulus packages. The scenarios utilized outline a continued weakness in economic activity with peak unemployment ranging from 7% to 11% in the third quarter of 2021 and a general improvement in unemployment levels over the subsequent three quarters. In addition to the economic forecast, the Company also considered additional qualitative adjustments as a result of COVID-19 and the impact on all industries, loan deferrals, delinquencies and downgrades, and the risk that Paycheck Protection Program will not be forgiven.

Management developed expected loss estimates considering factors for segments as outlined below:

● Business lending – non real estate: The Company considered projected unemployment and GDP as possible indicators of forecasted losses related to business lending and selected projected unemployment as the best leading indicator given the current economic environment. The Company also considered delinquencies, the level of loan deferrals, risk rating changes, recent charge-off history and acquired loans as part of the review of estimated losses.

● Business lending – real estate: The Company considered projected unemployment and real estate values as possible indicators of forecasted losses related to commercial real estate loans and selected projected unemployment as the best leading indicator given the current economic environment. The Company also considered the factors noted in business lending – non real estate.

● Consumer mortgages and home equity: The Company considered projected unemployment and real estate values as possible indicators of forecasted losses related to mortgage lending and selected projected unemployment as the best leading indicator given the current economic environment. In addition, current delinquencies, the level of loan deferrals, charge-offs and acquired loans were considered.

● Consumer indirect: The Company considered projected unemployment and vehicle valuation indices as possible indicators of forecasted losses related to indirect lending and selected projected unemployment as the best leading indicator given the current economic environment. In addition, current delinquencies, the level of loan deferrals, charge-offs and acquired loans were considered.

● Consumer direct: The Company considered and selected projected unemployment as a possible indicator of forecasted losses related to direct lending. In addition, current delinquencies, the level of loan deferrals, charge-offs and acquired loans were considered.

The following table presents the carrying amounts of loans purchased and sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 by portfolio segment:

	Business		Consumer		Consumer		Consumer		Home
(000’s omitted)	lending		mortgage		indirect		direct		equity		Total
Purchases	$	253,368	$	26,721	$	13,926	$	5,994	$	39,554	$	339,563
Sales		0		37,409		0		0		0		37,409

All the purchases during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were associated with the Steuben acquisition on June 12, 2020 and all the sales during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were sales of secondary market eligible residential mortgage loans.

29

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

NOTE F: GOODWILL AND IDENTIFIABLE INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for each type of identifiable intangible asset are as follows:

	September 30, 2020						December 31, 2019
	Gross				Net		Gross				Net
	Carrying		Accumulated		Carrying		Carrying		Accumulated		Carrying
(000's omitted)	Amount		Amortization		Amount		Amount		Amortization		Amount
Amortizing intangible assets:
Core deposit intangibles	$	69,403	$	(54,217)	$	15,186	$	66,475	$	(50,057)	$	16,418
Other intangibles		90,462		(49,183)		41,279		89,266		(42,571)		46,695
Total amortizing intangibles	$	159,865	$	(103,400)	$	56,465	$	155,741	$	(92,628)	$	63,113

The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years ended December 31 is as follows:

	(000's omitted)
Oct - Dec 2020	$	3,525
2021		12,640
2022		10,844
2023		9,082
2024		7,551
Thereafter		12,823
Total	$	56,465

Shown below are the components of the Company’s goodwill at December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2020:

(000’s omitted)	December 31, 2019		Activity		September 30, 2020
Goodwill, net	$	773,810	$	19,939	$	793,749

30

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

NOTE G: MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SECURITIES

As of September 30, 2020, the Company sponsors 1 business trust, Community Capital Trust IV (“CCT IV”), of which 100% of the common stock is owned by the Company. The Company previously sponsored Steuben Statutory Trust ("SST II ") until September 15, 2020 when the Company exercised its right to redeem all of the SST II debentures and associated preferred securities for a total of $2.1 million. The Company previously sponsored MBVT Statutory Trust I (“MBVT I”) and Kinderhook Capital Trust (“KCT”) until September 16, 2019 when the Company exercised its right to redeem all of the MBVT I and KCT debentures and associated preferred securities for a total of $20.6 million and $2.1 million, respectively. The common stock of MBVT I was acquired in the Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (“Merchants”) acquisition, the common stock of KCT was acquired in the Kinderhook acquisition and the common stock of SST II was acquired in the Steuben acquisition. The trusts were formed for the purpose of issuing company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities to third-party investors and investing the proceeds from the sale of such preferred securities solely in junior subordinated debt securities of the Company. The debentures held by each trust are the sole assets of such trust. Distributions on the preferred securities issued by each trust are payable quarterly at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate being earned by the trust on the debentures held by that trust and are recorded as interest expense in the consolidated financial statements. The preferred securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment of the debentures. The Company has entered into agreements which, taken collectively, fully and unconditionally guarantee the preferred securities subject to the terms of each of the guarantees. As of September 30, 2020, the terms of the preferred securities of CCT IV are as follows:

	Issuance	Par			Maturity
Trust	Date	Amount		Interest Rate	Date	Call Price
CCT IV	12/8/2006	$	75.0 million	3 month LIBOR plus 1.65% (1.90%)	12/15/2036	Par

NOTE H: BENEFIT PLANS

The Company provides a qualified defined benefit pension to eligible employees and retirees, other post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to certain retirees, an unfunded supplemental pension plan for certain key executives, and an unfunded stock balance plan for certain of its nonemployee directors. The Company accrues for the estimated cost of these benefits through charges to expense during the years that employees earn these benefits. The service cost component of net periodic benefit income is included in the salaries and employee benefits line of the consolidated statements of income, while the other components of net periodic benefit income are included in other expenses. The Company made a $3.9 million contribution to its defined benefit pension plan in the second quarter of 2020, and made a $3.5 million contribution to the Steuben Trust Company Pension Plan in the third quarter of 2020. The Company made a $7.3 million contribution to its defined benefit pension plan in the first quarter of 2019.

The net periodic benefit cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:

	Pension Benefits								Post-retirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended				Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,				September 30,				September 30,
(000's omitted)	2020		2019		2020			2019	2020			2019		2020	2019
Service cost	$	1,438	$	1,270	$	4,313	$	3,811	$	0	$	0	$	0	$	0
Interest cost		1,356		1,566		4,068		4,698		15		18		43		53
Expected return on plan assets		(3,932)		(3,578)		(11,796)		(10,733)		0		0		0		0
Amortization of unrecognized net loss		810		642		2,430		1,926		10		9		30		28
Amortization of prior service cost		60		17		180		48		(45)		(45)		(134)		(134)
Net periodic benefit	$	(268)	$	(83)	$	(805)	$	(250)	$	(20)	$	(18)	$	(61)	$	(53)

NOTE I: EARNINGS PER SHARE

The two class method is used in the calculations of basic and diluted earnings per share. Under the two class method, earnings available to common shareholders for the period are allocated between common shareholders and participating securities according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The Company has determined that all of its outstanding non-vested stock awards are participating securities as of September 30, 2020.

31

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted-average of the common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share are based on the weighted-average of the shares outstanding and the assumed exercise of stock options during the year. The dilutive effect of options is calculated using the treasury stock method of accounting. The treasury stock method determines the number of common shares that would be outstanding if all the dilutive options (those where the average market price is greater than the exercise price) were exercised and the proceeds were used to repurchase common shares in the open market at the average market price for the applicable time period. There were approximately 0.5 million and 0.7 million weighted-average anti-dilutive stock options outstanding for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, compared to 0.5 million weighted-average anti-dilutive stock options outstanding for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019 that were not included in the computation below.

The following is a reconciliation of basic to diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
(000's omitted, except per share data)	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net income	$	42,809	$	39,218	$	118,191	$	126,179
Income attributable to unvested stock-based compensation awards		(147)		(102)		(432)		(331)
Income available to common shareholders	$	42,662	$	39,116	$	117,759	$	125,848
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – basic		53,650		51,750		52,727		51,644
Basic earnings per share	$	0.80	$	0.76	$	2.23	$	2.44
Net income	$	42,809	$	39,218	$	118,191	$	126,179
Income attributable to unvested stock-based compensation awards		(147)		(102)		(432)		(331)
Income available to common shareholders	$	42,662	$	39,116	$	117,759	$	125,848
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – basic		53,650		51,750		52,727		51,644
Assumed exercise of stock options		324		496		356		522
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – diluted		53,974		52,246		53,083		52,166
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.79	$	0.75	$	2.22	$	2.41

Stock Repurchase Program

At its December 2018 meeting, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to 2.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock in accordance with securities laws and regulations, through December 31, 2019. At its December 2019 meeting, the Board approved a similar program for 2020, authorizing the repurchase of up to 2.6 million shares of the Company’s common stock through December 31, 2020. Any repurchased shares will be used for general corporate purposes, including those related to stock plan activities. The timing and extent of repurchases will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations as determined at the Company’s discretion. The Company did 0t repurchase any shares under the authorized plan during the first nine months of 2020 or 2019.

NOTE J: COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND RESTRICTIONS

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments consist primarily of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to customers, generally having fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses that may require payment of a fee. These commitments consist principally of unused commercial and consumer credit lines. Standby letters of credit generally are contingent upon the failure of the customer to perform according to the terms of an underlying contract with a third party. The credit risks associated with commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are essentially the same as that involved with extending loans to customers and are subject to the Company’s normal credit policies. Collateral may be obtained based on management’s assessment of the customer’s creditworthiness. The fair value of the standby letters of credit is immaterial for disclosure.

32

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

The contract amounts of commitments and contingencies are as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(000's omitted)	2020		2019
Commitments to extend credit	$	1,201,285	$	1,143,780
Standby letters of credit		43,283		37,872
Total	$	1,244,568	$	1,181,652

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject in the normal course of business to various pending and threatened legal proceedings in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. As of September 30, 2020, management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not anticipate that the aggregate ultimate liability arising out of litigation pending or threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position. On at least a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with such legal proceedings. For those matters where it is probable that the Company will incur losses and the amounts of the losses can be reasonably estimated, the Company records an expense and corresponding liability in its consolidated financial statements. To the extent the pending or threatened litigation could result in exposure in excess of that liability, the amount of such excess is not currently estimable. The range of reasonably possible losses for matters where an exposure is not currently estimable or considered probable, beyond the existing recorded liabilities, is believed to be between $0 and $1 million in the aggregate. Although the Company does not believe that the outcome of pending litigation will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, it cannot rule out the possibility that such outcomes will be material to the consolidated results of operations for a particular reporting period in the future.

During the three months and nine months ending September 30, 2020, the Company recorded $3.0 million in litigation accrual related to an anticipated settlement, following mediation, of a purported class action lawsuit regarding the Bank’s deposit account terms and overdraft disclosures and certain overdraft fees assessed pursuant to such terms and disclosures. The Company anticipates it will execute a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs on the matter in the fourth quarter of 2020 and does not anticipate that additional amounts will be accrued for this matter in future periods. The settlement, which is subject to documentation and Court approval, will provide for a release of all claims asserted by class members in the action.

NOTE K: FAIR VALUE

Accounting standards establish a framework for measuring fair value and require certain disclosures about such fair value instruments. It defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e. exit price). Inputs used to measure fair value are classified into the following hierarchy:

●    Level 1 -	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
●    Level 2 -	Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.
●    Level 3 -	Significant valuation assumptions not readily observable in a market.

33

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following tables set forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis. There were no transfers between any of the levels for the periods presented.

	September 30, 2020
(000's omitted)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Fair Value
Available-for-sale investment securities:
U.S. Treasury and agency securities	$	1,982,893	$	166,277	$	0	$	2,149,170
Obligations of state and political subdivisions		0		493,496		0		493,496
Government agency mortgage-backed securities		0		523,974		0		523,974
Corporate debt securities		0		4,602		0		4,602
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations		0		51,480		0		51,480
Total available-for-sale investment securities		1,982,893		1,239,829		0		3,222,722
Equity securities		423		0		0		423
Mortgage loans held for sale		0		8,151		0		8,151
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale		0		0		2,684		2,684
Forward sales commitments		0		510		0		510
Interest rate swap agreements asset		0		1,756		0		1,756
Interest rate swap agreements liability		0		(1,194)		0		(1,194)
Total	$	1,983,316	$	1,249,052	$	2,684	$	3,235,052

	December 31, 2019
(000's omitted)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Fair Value
Available-for-sale investment securities:
U.S. Treasury and agency securities	$	1,878,705	$	165,054	$	0	$	2,043,759
Obligations of state and political subdivisions		0		512,208		0		512,208
Government agency mortgage-backed securities		0		432,862		0		432,862
Corporate debt securities		0		2,528		0		2,528
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations		0		53,071		0		53,071
Total available-for-sale investment securities		1,878,705		1,165,723		0		3,044,428
Equity securities		451		0		0		451
Interest rate swap agreements asset		0		851		0		851
Interest rate swap agreements liability		0		(586)		0		(586)
Total	$	1,879,156	$	1,165,988		0	$	3,045,144

The valuation techniques used to measure fair value for the items in the table above are as follows:

● Available-for-sale investment securities and equity securities – The fair values of available-for-sale investment securities are based upon quoted prices, if available. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using quoted market prices for similar securities or model-based valuation techniques. Level 1 securities include U.S. Treasury obligations and marketable equity securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter markets. Level 2 securities include U.S. agency securities, mortgage-backed securities issued by government-sponsored entities, municipal securities and corporate debt securities that are valued by reference to prices for similar securities or through model-based techniques in which all significant inputs, such as reported trades, trade execution data, LIBOR swap yield curve, market prepayment speeds, credit information, market spreads, and security’s terms and conditions, are observable. See Note D for further disclosure of the fair value of investment securities.

34

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

● Mortgage loans held for sale –The Company has elected to value loans held for sale at fair value in order to more closely match the gains and losses associated with loans held for sale with the gains and losses on forward sales contracts. Accordingly, the impact on the valuation will be recognized in the Company’s consolidated statement of income. All mortgage loans held for sale are current and in performing status. The fair value of mortgage loans held for sale is determined using quoted secondary-market prices of loans with similar characteristics and, as such, has been classified as a Level 2 valuation. The unpaid principal value of mortgage loans held for sale was approximately $7.9 million at September 30, 2020. The Company did 0t have any mortgage loans held for sale at December 31, 2019. The unrealized gain on mortgage loans held for sale was recognized in mortgage banking revenues in the consolidated statements of income and is immaterial.

● Forward sales commitments – The Company enters into forward sales commitments to sell certain residential real estate loans. Such commitments are considered to be derivative financial instruments and, therefore, are carried at estimated fair value in the other asset or other liability section of the consolidated statement of condition. The fair value of these forward sales commitments is primarily measured by obtaining pricing from certain government-sponsored entities and reflects the underlying price the entity would pay the Company for an immediate sale on these mortgages. As such, these instruments are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

● Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale – The Company enters into various commitments to originate residential real estate loans for sale. Such commitments are considered to be derivative financial instruments and, therefore, are carried at estimated fair value in the other asset or other liability section of the consolidated statement of condition. The estimated fair value of these commitments is determined using quoted secondary market prices obtained from certain government-sponsored entities. Additionally, accounting guidance requires the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of the loan to be included in the fair value measurement of the derivative. The expected net future cash flows are based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated net servicing income. The valuation model incorporates assumptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income. Such assumptions include estimates of the cost of servicing loans, appropriate discount rate and prepayment speeds. The determination of expected net cash flows is considered a significant unobservable input contributing to the Level 3 classification of commitments to originate real estate loans for sale.

● Interest rate swaps – The interest rate swaps are reported at their fair value utilizing Level 2 inputs from third parties. The fair value of the interest rate swaps are determined using prices obtained from a third party advisor. The fair value measurement of the interest rate swap is determined by netting the discounted future fixed cash payments and the discounted expected variable cash receipts. The variable cash receipts are based on the expectation of future interest rates derived from observed market interest rate curves.

The changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are immaterial.

The fair value information of assets and liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis presented below is not as of the period-end, but rather as of the date the fair value adjustment was recorded closest to the date presented.

	September 30, 2020								December 31, 2019
(000's omitted)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Fair Value
Impaired loans	$	0	$	0	$	6,808	$	6,808	$	0	$	0	$	848	$	848
Other real estate owned		0		0		1,209		1,209		0		0		1,270		1,270
Mortgage servicing rights		0		0		460		460		0		0		56		56
Total	$	0	$	0	$	8,477	$	8,477	$	0	$	0	$	2,174	$	2,174

35

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

Loans are generally not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Periodically, the Company records nonrecurring adjustments to the carrying value of loans based on fair value measurements for partial charge-offs of the uncollectible portions of those loans. Nonrecurring adjustments also include certain impairment amounts for collateral-dependent loans calculated when establishing the allowance for credit losses. Such amounts are generally based on the fair value of the underlying collateral supporting the loan and, as a result, the carrying value of the loan less the calculated valuation amount does not necessarily represent the fair value of the loan. Real estate collateral is typically valued using independent appraisals or other indications of value based on recent comparable sales of similar properties or assumptions generally observable in the marketplace, adjusted for non-observable inputs. Thus, the resulting nonrecurring fair value measurements are generally classified as Level 3. Estimates of fair value used for other collateral supporting commercial loans generally are based on assumptions not observable in the marketplace and, therefore, such valuations are classified as Level 3.

Other real estate owned (“OREO”) is valued at the time the loan is foreclosed upon and the asset is transferred to OREO. The value is based primarily on third party appraisals, less costs to sell. The appraisals are sometimes further discounted based on management’s historical knowledge, changes in market conditions from the time of valuation, and/or management’s expertise and knowledge of the customer and customer’s business. Such discounts are significant, ranging from 15.2% to 53.5% at September 30, 2020 and result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value. OREO is reviewed and evaluated on at least a quarterly basis for additional impairment and adjusted accordingly, based on the same factors identified above. The Company recovers the carrying value of OREO through the sale of the property. The ability to affect future sales prices is subject to market conditions and factors beyond the Company’s control and may impact the estimated fair value of a property.

Originated mortgage servicing rights are recorded at their fair value at the time of sale of the underlying loan, and are amortized in proportion to and over the estimated period of net servicing income. The fair value of mortgage servicing rights is based on a valuation model incorporating inputs that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income. Such inputs include estimates of the cost of servicing loans, appropriate discount rate and prepayment speeds and are considered to be unobservable and contribute to the Level 3 classification of mortgage servicing rights. In accordance with GAAP, the Company must record impairment charges, on a nonrecurring basis, when the carrying value of a stratum exceeds its estimated fair value. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance. There is a valuation allowance of approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

The Company determines fair values based on quoted market values, where available, estimates of present values, or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including, but not limited to, the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. In that regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, may not be realized in immediate settlement of the instrument. The significant unobservable inputs used in the determination of fair value of assets classified as Level 3 on a recurring or non-recurring basis are as follows:

					Significant
					Unobservable Input
	Fair Value at				Range
(000's omitted)	September 30, 2020		Valuation Technique	Significant Unobservable Inputs	(Weighted Average)
Impaired loans	$	6,808	Fair value of collateral	Estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment		9.0% - 78.7% (58.8%)
Other real estate owned		1,209	Fair value of collateral	Estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment		15.2% - 53.5% (31.3%)
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale		2,684	Discounted cash flow	Embedded servicing value		1.0	%
Mortgage servicing rights		460	Discounted cash flow	Weighted average constant prepayment rate		13.8% - 14.7% (14.6%)
				Weighted average discount rate		1.22% - 1.98% (1.92%)
				Adequate compensation	$	7/loan

36

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

					Significant
					Unobservable Input
	Fair Value at				Range
(000's omitted)	December 31, 2019		Valuation Technique	Significant Unobservable Inputs	(Weighted Average)
Impaired loans	$	848	Fair value of collateral	Estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment		9.0% - 35.0% (27.9%)
Other real estate owned		1,270	Fair value of collateral	Estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment		9.0% - 85.7% (37.1%)
Mortgage servicing rights		56	Discounted cash flow	Weighted average constant prepayment rate		52.8	%
				Weighted average discount rate		3.00	%
				Adequate compensation	$	7/loan

The significant unobservable inputs used in the determination of the fair value of assets classified as Level 3 have an inherent measurement uncertainty that if changed could result in higher or lower fair value measurements of these assets as of the reporting date. The weighted average of the estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment for impaired loans was calculated by dividing the total of the book value of the collateral of the impaired loans classified as Level 3 by the total of the fair value of the collateral of the impaired loans classified as Level 3. The weighted average of the estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment for other real estate owned was calculated by dividing the total of the differences between the appraisal values of the real estate and the book values of the real estate divided by the totals of the appraisal values of the real estate.

The weighted average of the constant prepayment rate for mortgage servicing rights was calculated by adding the constant prepayment rates used in each loan pool weighted by the balance in each loan pool. The weighted average of the discount rate for mortgage servicing rights was calculated by adding the discount rates used in each loan pool weighted by the balance in each loan pool.

Certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments are excluded from fair value disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company. The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s other financial instruments that are not accounted for at fair value at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 are as follows:

	September 30, 2020				December 31, 2019
	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
(000's omitted)	Value		Value		Value		Value
Financial assets:
Net loans	$	7,393,681	$	7,710,461	$	6,840,632	$	7,028,663
Financial liabilities:
Deposits		11,120,590		11,135,779		8,994,967		8,997,551
Overnight Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings		0		0		8,300		8,300
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase, short-term		280,767		280,767		241,708		241,708
Other Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings		7,681		7,810		3,750		3,755
Subordinated notes payable		13,735		13,735		13,795		13,795
Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts		77,320		77,320		77,320		77,320

The following is a further description of the principal valuation methods used by the Company to estimate the fair values of its financial instruments.

Loans have been classified as a Level 3 valuation. Fair values for variable rate loans that reprice frequently are based on carrying values. Fair values for fixed rate loans are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality.

Deposits have been classified as a Level 2 valuation. The fair value of demand deposits, interest-bearing checking deposits, savings accounts, and money market deposits is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of time deposit obligations are based on current market rates for similar products.

37

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

Borrowings and subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts have been classified as a Level 2 valuation. The fair value of short-term borrowings and securities sold under agreement to repurchase, short-term, is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. Fair values for long-term debt and subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered on similar securities. The difference between the carrying values of long-term borrowings and subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts, and their fair values, are not material as of the reporting dates.

Other financial assets and liabilities – Cash and cash equivalents have been classified as a Level 1 valuation, while accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable have been classified as a Level 2 valuation. The fair values of each approximate the respective carrying values because the instruments are payable on demand or have short-term maturities and present relatively low credit risk and interest rate risk.

NOTE L: DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company is party to derivative financial instruments in the normal course of its business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to manage its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments have been limited to interest rate swap agreements, commitments to originate real estate loans held for sale and forward sales commitments. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.

The Company enters into forward sales commitments for the future delivery of residential mortgage loans, and interest rate lock commitments to fund loans at a specified interest rate. The forward sales commitments are utilized to reduce interest rate risk associated with interest rate lock commitments and loans held for sale. Changes in the estimated fair value of the forward sales commitments and interest rate lock commitments subsequent to inception are based on changes in the fair value of the underlying loan resulting from the fulfillment of the commitment and changes in the probability that the loan will fund within the terms of the commitment, which is affected primarily by changes in interest rates and the passage of time. At inception and during the life of the interest rate lock commitment, the Company includes the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of the loan as part of the fair value measurement of the interest rate lock commitments. These derivatives are recorded at fair value, which were immaterial at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The effect of the changes to these derivatives for the three and nine months then ended was also immaterial.

The Company acquired interest rate swaps in 2017 with notional amounts with certain commercial customers which totaled $14.8 million at September 30, 2020 and $16.4 million at December 31, 2019. In order to minimize the Company’s risk, these customer derivatives (pay floating/receive fixed swaps) have been offset with essentially matching interest rate swaps (pay fixed/receive floating swaps) with the Company’s counterparty totaling $14.8 million at September 30, 2020 and $16.4 million at December 31, 2019. At September 30, 2020, the weighted average receive rate of these interest rate swaps was 2.10%, the weighted average pay rate was 4.43% and the weighted average maturity was 5.5 years. At December 31, 2019, the weighted average receive rate of these interest rate swaps was 3.72%, the weighted average pay rate was 4.39% and the weighted average maturity was 6.1 years. Hedge accounting has not been applied for these derivatives. Since the terms of the swaps with the customer and the other financial institution offset each other, with the only difference being counterparty credit risk, changes in the fair value of the underlying derivative contracts are not materially different and do not significantly impact the Company’s results of operations.

The Company also acquired interest rate swaps in 2017 with notional amounts totaling $5.7 million at September 30, 2020, and $6.2 million at December 31, 2019, that were designated as fair value hedges of certain fixed rate loans with municipalities which are recorded in loans in the consolidated statements of condition. At September 30, 2020, the weighted average receive rate of these interest rate swaps was 1.42%, the weighted average pay rate was 3.11% and the weighted average maturity was 12.8 years. At December 31, 2019, the weighted average receive rate of these interest rate swaps was 2.47%, the weighted average pay rate was 3.11% and the weighted average maturity was 13.5 years. The Company includes the gain or loss on the hedged items in interest and fees on loans, the same line item as the offsetting gain or loss on the related interest rate swaps. The effects of fair value accounting in the consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 are immaterial.

38

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the following amounts were recorded in the consolidated statement of condition related to cumulative basis adjustments for fair value hedges:

(000’s omitted)					Cumulative Amount of Fair Value
	Carrying Amount of the Hedged				Hedging Adjustment Included in the
Line Item in the Consolidated	Assets				Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets
Statement of Condition in Which	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
the Hedged Item Is Included	2020		2019		2020		2019
Loans	$	5,611	$	6,390	$	(562)	$	(265)

Fair values of derivative instruments as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 are as follows:

(000’s omitted)	September 30, 2020
	Derivative Assets			Derivative Liabilities
	Consolidated Statement	Fair		Consolidated Statement of	Fair
	of Condition Location	Value		Condition Location	Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under Subtopic 815-20
Interest rate swaps	Other assets	$	562
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under Subtopic 815-20
Interest rate swaps	Other assets		1,194	Accrued interest and other liabilities	$	1,194
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale	Other assets		2,684
Forward sales commitments	Other assets		510
Total derivatives		$	4,950		$	1,194

(000’s omitted)	December 31, 2019
	Derivative Assets			Derivative Liabilities
	Consolidated Statement	Fair		Consolidated Statement of	Fair
	of Condition Location	Value		Condition Location	Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under Subtopic 815-20
Interest rate swaps	Other assets	$	265
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under Subtopic 815-20
Interest rate swaps	Other assets		586	Accrued interest and other liabilities	$	586
Total derivatives		$	851		$	586

The Company assessed its counterparty risk at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 and determined any credit risk inherent in our derivative contracts was not material. Information about the fair value of derivative financial instruments can be found in Note K to these consolidated financial statements.

39

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

NOTE M: SEGMENT INFORMATION

Operating segments are components of an enterprise, which are evaluated regularly by the “chief operating decision maker” in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Company has identified Banking, Employee Benefit Services and All Other as its reportable operating business segments. Community Bank, N.A. operates the Banking segment that provides full-service banking to consumers, businesses, and governmental units in Upstate New York as well as Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts. Employee Benefit Services, which includes the operating subsidiaries Benefit Plans Administrative Services, LLC, BPAS Actuarial and Pension Services, LLC, BPAS Trust Company of Puerto Rico, Northeast Retirement Services, LLC (“NRS”), Global Trust Company, Inc. (“GTC”), and Hand Benefits & Trust Company, provides employee benefit trust, collective investment fund, retirement plan administration, fund administration, transfer agency, actuarial, VEBA/HRA, and health and welfare consulting services. The All Other segment is comprised of: (a) wealth management services including trust services provided by the personal trust unit within the Bank, broker-dealer and investment advisory services provided by CISI, The Carta Group, Inc. and OneGroup Wealth Partners, Inc. as well as asset management provided by Nottingham Advisors, Inc., and (b) full-service insurance, risk management and employee benefit services provided by OneGroup. The accounting policies used in the disclosure of business segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies (See Note A, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the most recent Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 2, 2020).

Information about reportable segments and reconciliation of the information to the consolidated financial statements follows:

			Employee						Consolidated
(000's omitted)	Banking		Benefit Services		All Other		Eliminations		Total
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
Net interest income	$	92,642	$	256	$	67	$	0	$	92,965
Provision for credit losses		1,945		0		0		0		1,945
Noninterest revenues		19,756		25,651		15,706		(1,454)		59,659
Amortization of intangible assets		1,379		1,409		793		0		3,581
Acquisition expenses		796		0		0		0		796
Other operating expenses		67,193		15,078		11,772		(1,454)		92,589
Income before income taxes	$	41,085	$	9,420	$	3,208	$	0	$	53,713
Assets	$	13,674,995	$	210,679	$	80,528	$	(120,877)	$	13,845,325
Goodwill	$	690,162	$	83,275	$	20,312	$	0	$	793,749
Core deposit intangibles & Other intangibles	$	15,186	$	33,461	$	7,818	$	0	$	56,465
Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
Net interest income	$	91,018	$	209	$	49	$	0	$	91,276
Provision for credit losses		1,751		0		0		0		1,751
Noninterest revenues		17,790		24,830		15,143		(669)		57,094
Amortization of intangible assets		1,439		1,667		854		0		3,960
Acquisition expenses		6,061		0		0		0		6,061
Other operating expenses		61,839		14,721		11,017		(669)		86,908
Income before income taxes	$	37,718	$	8,651	$	3,321	$	0	$	49,690
Assets	$	11,398,191	$	201,442	$	74,169	$	(76,505)	$	11,597,297
Goodwill	$	670,023	$	83,275	$	20,312	$	0	$	773,610
Core deposit intangibles & Other intangibles	$	17,872	$	39,440	$	9,763	$	0	$	67,075

40

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

September 30, 2020

			Employee						Consolidated
(000's omitted)	Banking		Benefit Services		All Other		Eliminations		Total
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
Net interest income	$	274,051	$	742	$	177	$	0	$	274,970
Provision for credit losses		17,313		0		0		0		17,313
Noninterest revenues		53,428		76,080		46,058		(4,347)		171,219
Amortization of intangible assets		4,160		4,314		2,298		0		10,772
Acquisition expenses		4,537		0		0		0		4,537
Other operating expenses		190,523		45,157		34,890		(4,347)		266,223
Income before income taxes	$	110,946	$	27,351	$	9,047	$	0	$	147,344
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
Net interest income	$	265,860	$	448	$	127	$	0	$	266,435
Provision for credit losses		5,573		0		0		0		5,573
Noninterest revenues		57,059		73,919		44,749		(2,231)		173,496
Amortization of intangible assets		4,297		5,105		2,592		0		11,994
Acquisition expenses		7,789		0		0		0		7,789
Other operating expenses		182,186		43,985		33,034		(2,231)		256,974
Income before income taxes	$	123,074	$	25,277	$	9,250	$	0	$	157,601

41

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) primarily reviews the financial condition and results of operations of Community Bank System, Inc. (the “Company” or “CBSI”) as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, although in some circumstances the second and first quarters of 2020 are also discussed in order to more fully explain recent trends. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes that appear on pages 3 through 41. All references in the discussion of the financial condition and results of operations refer to the consolidated position and results of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Unless otherwise noted, the term “this year” and equivalent terms refers to results in calendar year 2020, “third quarter” refers to the three months ended September 30, 2020, “YTD” refers to the nine months ended September 30, 2020, and earnings per share (“EPS”) figures refer to diluted EPS.

This MD&A contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, and business of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements are set herein under the caption, “Forward-Looking Statements,” on page 66.

Critical Accounting Policies

As a result of the complex and dynamic nature of the Company’s business, management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying the most appropriate accounting policies for its various areas of operations. The policy decision process not only ensures compliance with the current accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), but also reflects management’s discretion with regard to choosing the most suitable methodology for reporting the Company’s financial performance. It is management’s opinion that the accounting estimates covering certain aspects of the business have more significance than others due to the relative importance of those areas to overall performance, or the level of subjectivity in the selection process. These estimates affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as well as disclosures of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could meaningfully differ from these estimates. Management believes that the critical accounting estimates include the allowance for credit losses, actuarial assumptions associated with the pension, post-retirement and other employee benefit plans, the provision for income taxes, investment valuation, the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets, and acquired loan valuations. A summary of the accounting policies used by management is disclosed in Note A, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” on pages 65-75 of the most recent Form 10-K (fiscal year ended December 31, 2019) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 2, 2020. A summary of new accounting policies used by management is disclosed in Note C, “Accounting Policies” on pages 12-19 of this Form 10-Q.

Supplemental Reporting of Non-GAAP Results of Operations

The Company also provides supplemental reporting of its results on an “operating,” “adjusted” or “tangible” basis, from which it excludes the after-tax effect of amortization of core deposit and other intangible assets (and the related goodwill, core deposit intangible and other intangible asset balances, net of applicable deferred tax amounts), accretion on non-impaired purchased loans, expenses associated with acquisitions, acquisition-related provision for credit losses, the unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities, net gain on sale of investments and litigation accrual. In addition, the Company provides supplemental reporting for “adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenues,” which excludes the provision for credit losses, acquisition expenses, net gain on sale of investments, unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities and litigation accrual from income before income taxes. The amounts for such items are presented in the tables that accompany this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Although these items are non-GAAP measures, the Company’s management believes this information helps investors understand the effect of acquisition and other non-recurring activity in its reported results. Diluted adjusted net earnings per share were $0.88 in the third quarter of 2020, up $0.08, or 10.0%, from the second quarter of 2020 and consistent with the $0.88 in the third quarter of 2019. Adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue was $1.10 per share, up $0.02, or 1.9%, from the second quarter of 2020 and consistent with the third quarter of 2019. Reconciliations of GAAP amounts with corresponding non-GAAP amounts are presented in Table 11.

Executive Summary

The Company’s business philosophy is to operate as a diversified financial services enterprise providing a broad array of banking and other financial services to retail, commercial and municipal customers. The Company’s banking subsidiary is Community Bank, N.A. (the “Bank” or “CBNA”). The Company also provides employee benefit and trust related services via its Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. (“BPAS”) subsidiary, and wealth management and insurance-related services.

42

The Company’s core operating objectives are: (i) optimize the branch network and digital banking delivery systems, primarily through disciplined acquisition strategies and divestitures/consolidations and certain selective de novo expansions, (ii) build profitable loan and deposit volume using both organic and acquisition strategies, (iii) manage an investment securities portfolio to complement the Company’s loan and deposit strategies and optimize interest rate risk, yield and liquidity, (iv) increase the noninterest component of total revenues through development of banking-related fee income, growth in existing financial services business units, and the acquisition of additional financial services and banking businesses, and (v) utilize technology to deliver customer-responsive products and services and improve efficiencies.

Significant factors reviewed by management to evaluate achievement of the Company’s operating objectives and its operating results and financial condition include, but are not limited to: net income and earnings per share; return on assets and equity; components of net interest margin; noninterest revenues; noninterest expenses; asset quality; loan and deposit growth; capital management; performance of individual banking and financial services units; performance of specific product lines and customers; liquidity and interest rate sensitivity; enhancements to customer products and services and their underlying performance characteristics; technology advancements; market share; peer comparisons; and the performance of recently acquired businesses.

On June 12, 2020, the Company completed its merger with Steuben Trust Corporation (“Steuben”), parent company of Steuben Trust Company, a New York State chartered bank headquartered in Hornell, New York, for $98.6 million in Company stock and cash, comprised of $21.6 million in cash and the issuance of 1.36 million shares of common stock. The merger extended the Company’s footprint into two new counties in Western New York State, and enhanced the Company’s presence in four Western New York State counties in which it currently operates. In connection with the merger, the Company added 11 full-service offices to its branch service network and acquired $607.7 million of assets, including $339.0 million of loans and $180.5 million of investment securities, as well as $516.3 million of deposits. Goodwill of $20.3 million was recognized as a result of the merger.

On September 18, 2019, the Company, through its subsidiary, Community Investment Services, Inc. (“CISI”), completed its acquisition of certain assets of a practice engaged in the financial services business headquartered in Syracuse, New York. The Company paid $0.5 million in cash to acquire a customer list, and recorded a $0.5 million customer list intangible asset in conjunction with the acquisition.

On July 12, 2019, the Company completed its merger with Kinderhook Bank Corp. (“Kinderhook”), parent company of The National Union Bank of Kinderhook, headquartered in Kinderhook, New York, for $93.4 million in cash. The merger added 11 branch locations across a five county area in the Capital District of Upstate New York. The merger resulted in the acquisition of $642.8 million of assets, including $479.9 million of loans and $39.8 million of investment securities, as well as $568.2 million of deposits. Goodwill of $40.0 million was recognized as a result of the merger.

On January 2, 2019, the Company, through its subsidiary, CISI, completed its acquisition of certain assets of Wealth Resources Network, Inc. (“Wealth Resources”), a financial services business headquartered in Liverpool, New York. The Company paid $1.2 million in cash to acquire a customer list from Wealth Resources, and recorded a $1.2 million customer list intangible asset in conjunction with the acquisition.

Third quarter net income increased compared to the third quarter of 2019 by $3.6 million, or 9.2%, and YTD net income decreased compared to 2019 YTD by $8.0 million, or 6.3%. Earnings per share of $0.79 for the third quarter of 2020 was $0.04 more than the third quarter of 2019, and 2020 YTD earnings per share of $2.22 was $0.19 lower than 2019 YTD earnings per share.

43

Third quarter and YTD net income adjusted to exclude noninterest expenses associated with acquisitions, acquisition-related provision for credit losses, the unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities, net gain on sale of investments and litigation accrual expense (“operating net income”), a non-GAAP measure, of $45.8 million and $126.7 million, respectively, increased $1.8 million, or 4.1%, as compared to the third quarter of 2019 and decreased $1.7 million, or 1.3%, compared to September YTD 2019. Earnings per share adjusted to exclude noninterest expenses associated with acquisitions, acquisition-related provision for credit losses, the unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities, net gain on sale of investments and litigation accrual expense (“operating earnings per share”), a non-GAAP measure, of $0.85 for the third quarter increased $0.01 compared to the third quarter of 2019. Operating earnings per share of $2.38 for the first nine months of 2020 decreased $0.07 compared to the prior year period. The declines in operating net income and operating earnings per share on a YTD basis were primarily due to expected credit losses related to the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic and its associated persistent adverse impact on economic and business operating conditions.

Third quarter and YTD net income adjusted to exclude income taxes, provision for credit losses, noninterest expenses associated with acquisitions, the unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities, net gain on sale of investments and litigation accrual expense (“adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue”), a non-GAAP measure, of $59.4 million for the third quarter increased $1.9 million, or 3.3%, as compared to the third quarter of 2019. Adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue of $172.2 million for the first nine months of 2020 increased $6.1 million, or 3.7%, as compared to the first nine months of 2019. Earnings per share adjusted to exclude income taxes, provision for credit losses, expenses associated with acquisitions, the unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities, net gain on sale of investments and litigation accrual expense (“adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue per share”), a non-GAAP measure, of $1.10 for the third quarter of 2020 was consistent with the third quarter of 2019, and 2020 YTD adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue per share of $3.23 was $0.06 higher than the prior YTD period.

Loans and deposits increased on both an average and ending basis as compared to the prior year third quarter due to the Steuben acquisition in the second quarter of 2020 and a significant increase in government stimulus-related deposit funding, including from Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) lending, in the second and third quarters of 2020. Market interest rates for loans, investments and deposits have decreased over the past year. In connection with these lower rates, the Company’s interest-earning asset yield for the first nine months of 2020 decreased 48 basis points from the year-earlier period, as the rate earned on loans and investments both decreased from the prior year period. The Company’s total cost of funds for the first nine months of 2020 decreased seven basis points from the year earlier period, as the Company’s deposit funding cost and the rate on borrowings both decreased from the prior year period. The majority of borrowings are customer repurchase agreements, rather than wholesale borrowings obtained through capital markets and correspondent banks. Customer repurchase agreements have deposit-like features and typically bear lower rates of interest than other types of wholesale borrowings.

The provision for credit losses of $1.9 million for the third quarter and $17.3 million for YTD 2020, were $0.1 million and $11.7 million higher than comparable prior year periods, respectively. The YTD increase was driven by $3.2 million of acquisition-related provision due to the Steuben transaction and an increase in expected credit losses largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Net charge-offs were $1.3 million for the third quarter and $3.7 million for the first nine months of 2020, compared to $1.6 million of net charge-offs for the prior year third quarter and $5.4 million for the first nine months of 2019. The third quarter 2020 nonperforming loans to total loans ratio of 0.43% increased one basis point in comparison to the third quarter of 2019 and the delinquent loans to total loans ratio of 0.79% decreased six basis points versus one year earlier. The delinquency status for loans on payment deferment due to COVID-19 financial hardship were reported at September 30, 2020 based on their delinquency status at the execution date of the payment deferment, unless subsequent to the execution date of the payment deferment, the borrower made all required past due payments to bring the loan to current status.

COVID-19 Pandemic

As the COVID-19 events unfolded throughout the first nine months of 2020, the Company implemented various plans, strategies and protocols to protect its employees, maintain services for customers, assure the functional continuity of the Company’s operating systems, controls and processes, and mitigate financial risks posed by changing market conditions. In order to protect its employees and assure workforce continuity and operational redundancy, the Company imposed business travel restrictions, implemented quarantine and work from home protocols and physically separated, to the extent possible, the critical operations workforce that are unable to work remotely. To limit the risk of virus spread, the Company implemented drive-thru only and by appointment operating protocols for its extensive bank branch network in the first quarter of 2020. The Company also maintained active communications with its primary regulatory agencies and critical vendors to assure all mission-critical activities and functions are being performed in line with regulatory expectations and the Company’s service standards. Late in the second quarter, the Company implemented a return-to-work plan and currently has the majority of its employees working in a traditional office environment. In addition, it re-opened the majority of its customer service facilities to the public.

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Although there remains uncertainty around the magnitude and duration of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company’s management believes that its financial position, including high levels of capital and liquidity, will allow it to successfully endure the negative economic impacts of the crisis. The Company’s capital planning and management activities, coupled with its historically strong earnings performance, diversified streams of revenue and prudent dividend practices, have allowed it to build and maintain strong capital reserves. Shareholders’ equity of $2.10 billion at September 30, 2020 was $17.3 million, or 0.8%, higher than the second quarter of 2020 and $258.2 million, or 14.0%, higher than September 30, 2019. The increase in shareholders’ equity over the last four quarters was primarily driven by earnings retention, as well as the Steuben acquisition and an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income due primarily to an increase in net unrealized gains on the Company’s available-for-sale investment securities portfolio. At September 30, 2020, all of the Company’s regulatory capital ratios significantly exceeded well-capitalized standards. More specifically, the Company’s Tier 1 Leverage Ratio, a common measure to evaluate a financial institutions capital strength, was 10.21% at September 30, 2020, which represents more than two times the regulatory well-capitalized standard of 5.0%. This compares to 10.76% at the end of the third quarter of 2019 and 10.79% at the end of the second quarter of 2020, with the modest declines in the ratio primarily being driven by stimulus-aided organic asset growth generated from the significant deposit inflows largely resulting from federal government stimulus programs associated with the pandemic. The Company’s net tangible equity to net tangible assets ratio was 9.92% at September 30, 2020, up from 9.68% a year earlier and down from 10.08% at the end of the second quarter of 2020. The decrease in the net tangible equity to net tangible assets ratio during the third quarter was due to the significant organic growth in total assets between the comparable periods as a result of the strong inflow of deposits noted above, and the year-over-year increase was partially driven by the substantial increase in net unrealized gains on the Company’s available-for-sale investment securities.

The Company’s liquidity position remains extremely strong. The Bank, the Company’s primary subsidiary, maintains a funding base largely comprised of core noninterest bearing demand deposit accounts and low cost interest-bearing savings, interest checking and money market deposit accounts with customers that operate, reside or work within its branch footprint. At September 30, 2020, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents balances, net of float, were $1.73 billion. The Company also maintains an available-for-sale investment securities portfolio, comprised primarily of highly-liquid U.S. Treasury securities, highly-rated municipal securities and U.S. agency-backed mortgage backed securities. At September 30, 2020, the Company’s available-for-sale investment securities portfolio totaled $3.22 billion, $1.28 billion of which was unpledged as collateral. Net unrealized gains on the portfolio were $154.3 million. The Bank’s unused borrowing capacity at the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York at September 30, 2020 was $1.65 billion and it maintained $259.4 million of availability at the Federal Reserve Bank’s discount window. Furthermore, the Company has not experienced significant draws on available business and consumer lines of credit or observed any significant or unusual customer activity that portends unmanageable levels of stress on the Company’s liquidity profile since the inception of the pandemic.

The Company participated in both rounds of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), a specialized low-interest loan program funded by the U.S. Treasury Department and administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”). The PPP provides borrower guarantees for lenders, as well as loan forgiveness incentives for borrowers that utilize the loan proceeds to cover employee compensation-related business operating costs. As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s business lending portfolio included 3,473 PPP loans with a total balance of $507.2 million. This includes 204 loans with a total balance of $14.8 million acquired in connection with the Steuben acquisition. The Company experienced high levels of customer utilization of the PPP loan program, but also believes that its liquidity resources are more than sufficient to meet these and other funding requirements of its borrowers. The Company anticipates that the SBA will grant forgiveness for the majority of the PPP loans over the next several quarters resulting in a significant reduction in business lending balances and accelerated recognition of net deferred PPP origination fees of $11.1 million at September 30, 2020.

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From a credit risk and lending perspective, the Company has taken actions to identify, assess and monitor its COVID-19 related credit exposures based on asset class and borrower type. No specific credit impairment has been identified within the Company’s investment securities portfolio, including the Company’s municipal securities portfolio since the onset of the pandemic. With respect to the Company’s lending activities, the Company implemented a customer forbearance program to assist both consumer and business borrowers that may be experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 related challenges. The Company processed more than 5,000 borrower forbearance requests granting approximately $950 million in deferrals through the first nine months of the year. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had 216 borrowers in forbearance due to COVID-19, representing approximately $193 million in outstanding loan balances, or 2.6% of total loans outstanding. These forbearances were comprised of 156 business borrowers representing approximately $189 million in outstanding loan balances and 60 consumer borrowers representing approximately $4 million in outstanding loan balances. Business lending, consumer direct, and consumer indirect loans in deferment status will continue to accrue interest on the deferred principal during the deferment period unless otherwise classified as nonaccrual. Consumer mortgage and home equity loans will not accrue interest on the deferred payments during the deferment period. Borrowers that were otherwise current on loan payments that were granted COVID-19 related financial hardship payment deferrals will continue to be reported as current (non-delinquent and performing) loans throughout the agreed upon deferral period unless otherwise classified as nonaccrual. Through the end of the third quarter, the payment deferrals granted under COVID-19 related forbearance were deemed to be an insignificant borrower concession, and therefore, not classified as troubled-debt restructured ("TDR") loans. Borrowers that were delinquent in their payments to the Bank prior to requesting a COVID-19 related financial hardship payment deferral were reviewed on a case-by-case basis for TDR classification and nonperforming loan status. The delinquency status for loans on payment deferment due to COVID-19 financial hardship were reported at September 30, 2020 based on their delinquency status at the execution date of the payment deferment, unless subsequent to the execution date of the payment deferment, the borrower made all required past due payments to bring the loan to current status. The Company anticipates that the number and amount of COVID-19 financial hardship forbearance agreements will decrease during the fourth quarter of 2020, but also anticipates that delinquent and nonperforming loans will increase in future periods as borrowers that continue to experience COVID-19 related financial hardship will be unable to resume loan payments consistent with their contractual obligations. While the deferrals are still ongoing, it is difficult to assess whether a customer will be able to perform under the original terms of the loan once the deferral period expires. Once these deferrals expire, it may become apparent that more customers than expected are unable to fully meet their lending obligations and the Company may be required to make additional provisions for credit losses.

The COVID-19 crisis is expected to continue to impact the Company’s financial results, as well as demand for its services and products during the remainder of the fourth quarter of 2020 and likely for a significant portion of 2021. The CARES Act is expected to have an immaterial impact as it relates to income taxes and the Company will continue to assess impacts in future periods. The short and long-term implications of the COVID-19 crisis, and related government monetary and fiscal stimulus measures, on the Company’s future operations, revenues, earnings, allowance for credit losses, capital reserves, and liquidity are difficult to assess and remain uncertain at this time.

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Net Income and Profitability

As shown in Table 1, net income for the third quarter and September YTD of $42.8 million and $118.2 million, respectively, increased $3.6 million, or 9.2%, as compared to the third quarter of 2019 and decreased $8.0 million, or 6.3%, compared to September 2019 YTD. Earnings per share of $0.79 for the third quarter was $0.04 higher than the third quarter of 2019, while earnings per share for the first nine months of 2020 of $2.22 was $0.19 lower than the first nine months of 2019. The increase in net income and earnings per share for the quarter are primarily the result of increases in noninterest revenues and net interest income, lower acquisition expenses and a lower effective tax rate, partially offset by increases in noninterest expenses, provision for credit losses, and diluted shares outstanding. The YTD decrease in net income and earnings per share are primarily the result of a higher provision for credit losses, higher noninterest expenses, lower noninterest revenues and an increase in diluted shares outstanding, partially offset by higher net interest income, lower acquisition expenses and a lower effective tax rate. Operating net income of $45.8 million and $126.7 million for the third quarter and September YTD, respectively, increased $1.8 million, or 4.1%, as compared to the third quarter of 2019 and decreased $1.7 million, or 1.3%, compared to September YTD 2019. Operating earnings per share of $0.85 for the third quarter, was up $0.01 compared to the third quarter of 2019, while operating earnings per share of $2.38 for the first nine months of 2020, was down $0.07 compared to the first nine months of 2019. The YTD decreases in operating net income and earnings per share are primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on credit loss expectations and noninterest revenues. See Table 11 for Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures.

As reflected in Table 1, third quarter net interest income of $93.0 million was up $1.7 million, or 1.9%, from the comparable prior year period. Net interest income for the first nine months of 2020 increased $8.5 million, or 3.2%, versus the first nine months of 2019. The quarterly and year-over-year improvement resulted from an increase in interest-earning asset balances and a decrease in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by a decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets and an increase in interest-bearing liability balances.

The provision for credit losses for the third quarter and September YTD increased $0.2 million and $11.7 million as compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2019, respectively. The YTD increase is reflective of expected credit losses related to COVID-19 and the associated persistent adverse impact on economic and business operating conditions and $3.2 million of provision for credit losses recorded in the second quarter of 2020 related to acquired non-purchased credit deteriorated loans associated with the Steuben acquisition. The Company recorded $5.6 million in the provision for credit losses during the first quarter of 2020 and $9.8 million in the second quarter of 2020. The second quarter provision for credit losses included the aforementioned $3.2 million of provision for credit losses associated with the acquisition of Steuben with the remaining $6.6 million largely attributable to COVID-19 related factors. The decrease in the provision for credit losses during the third quarter, as compared to the prior two quarters, was due to improving economic conditions, modest levels of delinquent and nonperforming loans, a decrease in loans outstanding, low levels of net charge-offs and a large decrease in the number and balances of loans subject to borrower forbearance. During the first two quarters of 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, financial conditions deteriorated rapidly as state governments shutdown business activities in the Company’s markets and unemployment levels spiked. These conditions drove the Company to build its allowance for credit losses during the first two quarters of 2020 to account for increased expected life of loan losses in the loan portfolio. It is expected that improving conditions, including a continued decline in unemployment rates, will have a dampening impact on provision amounts in the coming quarters, potentially resulting in a reversal of credit losses. However, this may be offset by the Company’s anticipation that there may be a significant increase in delinquency and nonperforming loan balances in future quarters due to it being unlikely that all COVID-affected borrowers will resume full payment of contractual amounts upon expiration of their forbearance agreement.

Third quarter and year-to-date noninterest revenues were $59.7 million and $171.2 million, respectively, up $2.6 million, or 4.5%, from the third quarter of 2019 and down $2.3 million, or 1.3%, from the first nine months of 2019. The increase compared to the prior year’s third quarter was primarily a result of increases in mortgage banking revenue, employee benefit services revenue, debit interchange and ATM fees, wealth management services revenue and insurance services revenue, partially offset by declines in deposit service charges and fees, other banking revenue and unrealized gains and losses on equity securities. The YTD decrease was due to declines in deposit service charges and fees, the absence of a net gain on the sale of available-for-sale investment securities, and declines in other banking revenues and unrealized gains and losses on equity securities, partially offset by increases in mortgage banking revenue, employee benefit services revenue, wealth management services revenue, debit interchange and ATM fees, and insurance services revenue.

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Noninterest expenses of $97.0 million and $281.5 million for the third quarter and September YTD periods, respectively, reflected a slight increase from the third quarter of 2019 and an increase of $4.8 million, or 1.7%, from the first nine months of 2019. The slight increase in noninterest expenses for the quarter was due to increases in litigation accrual expense, data processing and communications expenses, salaries and employee benefits primarily related to annual merit-based personnel cost increases, business development and marketing expenses and occupancy and equipment expenses, partially offset by decreases in acquisition-related expenses associated with the Steuben and Kinderhook acquisitions, other expenses, amortization of intangible assets, and legal and professional fees. The YTD increase in noninterest expenses was due to increases in salaries and benefits primarily related to annual merit-based personnel cost increases, litigation accrual expense, data processing and communications expenses, occupancy and equipment expenses and legal and professional fees partially offset by decreases in other expenses, acquisition-related expenses associated with the Steuben and Kinderhook acquisitions, business development and marketing expenses, and amortization of intangible assets. Excluding litigation accrual and acquisition-related expenses, 2020 operating expenses were $2.4 million, or 2.6%, higher for the third quarter and $5.1 million, or 1.9%, higher for the year-to-date timeframe.

The effective income tax rates were 20.3% and 19.8% for the third quarter and YTD 2020, respectively, as compared to 21.1% and 19.9% for the comparable prior year periods. The decrease in effective tax rates compared to the prior year periods was due to the impact of changes in state apportionment partially offset by lower levels of tax benefits related to stock-based compensation activity.

A condensed income statement is as follows:

Table 1: Condensed Income Statements

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
(000's omitted, except per share data)	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net interest income	$	92,965	$	91,276	$	274,970	$	266,435
Provision for credit losses		1,945		1,751		17,313		5,573
Noninterest revenues		59,659		57,094		171,219		173,496
Noninterest expenses		96,966		96,929		281,532		276,757
Income before income taxes		53,713		49,690		147,344		157,601
Income taxes		10,904		10,472		29,153		31,422
Net income	$	42,809	$	39,218	$	118,191	$	126,179
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		54,159		52,382		53,276		52,301
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.79	$	0.75	$	2.22	$	2.41

Net Interest Income

Net interest income is the amount by which interest and fees on earning assets (loans, investments, and cash equivalents) exceeds the cost of funds, which consists primarily of interest paid to the Company's depositors and on borrowings. Net interest margin is the difference between the yield on earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing funds as a percentage of earning assets.

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As shown in Table 2a, net interest income (with nontaxable income converted to a fully tax-equivalent basis) for the third quarter was $93.9 million, a $1.7 million, or 1.8%, increase from the same period last year. The increase was driven by a $2.15 billion increase in average interest-earning assets and a 20 basis point decrease in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities from the third quarter of 2019, partially offset by a 75 basis point decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets and a $1.16 billion increase in average interest-bearing liabilities. As reflected in Table 3, net interest income for the third quarter was favorably impacted by $19.6 million due to the volume increase in interest-earning assets and $4.0 million due to a decrease in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by unfavorable impacts on net interest income of $20.8 million due to the decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets and $1.1 million due to the volume increase in interest-bearing liabilities. September YTD net interest income (with nontaxable income converted to a fully tax-equivalent basis), as reflected in Table 2b, of $278.0 million, increased $8.6 million, or 3.2%, from the year-earlier period. The September YTD increase resulted from a $1.50 billion increase in average interest-earning assets and a nine basis point decrease in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by a 48 basis point decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets and an $859.9 million increase in average interest-bearing liabilities. As reflected in Table 3, the favorable impacts on net interest income for September YTD was due to the volume increase in interest-earning assets of $42.4 million and decrease in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities of $4.8 million, partially offset by unfavorable impacts on net interest income of the decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets of $36.3 million and the volume increase in interest-bearing liabilities of $2.3 million.

The net interest margin of 3.12% for the third quarter of 2020 was 61 basis points lower as compared to the third quarter of 2019. The decrease was the result of a 75 basis point decrease in the interest-earning asset yield, partially offset by a 20 basis point decrease in the average rate on interest-bearing liabilities. The net interest margin of 3.36% for the first nine months of 2020 was 42 basis points lower than the comparable period of 2019. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased 48 basis points, while the rate on interest-bearing liabilities decreased by nine basis points for the first nine months of 2020 as compared to the prior year period.

The 75 basis point decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets for the quarter was the result of a decrease in the average yield on loans and investments. For the third quarter, the average yield on loans decreased by 49 basis points and the average yield on investments, including cash equivalents, decreased 85 basis points compared to the prior year. The 48 basis point decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets for the first nine months of 2020 was the result of a 33 basis point decrease in the average yield on loans and a 61 basis point decrease in the average yield on investments, including cash equivalents, compared to the comparable period of 2019. The decrease in the loan and investment yields were driven by declines in market rates and a significant increase in the amount of low-rate cash equivalents held, included the impact of a $0.9 million YTD decrease in loan pre-payment fees and a $0.1 million YTD decrease in acquired non-impaired loan accretion.

The average rate on interest-bearing liabilities decreased by 20 basis points compared to the prior year quarter as the average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits decreased 20 basis points and the average rate paid on external borrowings decreased 87 basis points from the prior year quarter. For the first nine months of 2020, the average rate on interest-bearing liabilities decreased by nine basis points from the comparable prior year period as the average rate on interest-bearing deposits decreased six basis points and the average rate on external borrowings decreased 50 basis points. The decrease in the average cost of borrowings was primarily the result of a decrease in the variable rates paid on overnight borrowings and subordinated debt due to decreases in market interest rates.

The third quarter and YTD average balance of investments, including cash equivalents, increased $1.38 billion and $733.6 million, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year periods. The cash equivalents component of average earning assets increased $635.2 million and $372.4 million for the third quarter and YTD periods, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. The increase in cash equivalents was primarily due to an influx of CARES Act-related Federal stimulus payments during the second quarter. Average loan balances increased $773.1 million for the quarter and $766.4 million YTD as compared to the prior year, with growth for both periods driven by the Steuben acquisition in the second quarter of 2020 and a significant increase in business lending due to $492.4 million of PPP loan originations during the second quarter of 2020.

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Average interest-bearing deposits increased $1.16 billion compared to the prior year quarter and $875.5 million compared to the prior YTD period. The increase in average interest-bearing deposits was due to increases in interest checking, savings, time, and money market deposits due primarily to the Kinderhook acquisition in the third quarter of 2019, the Steuben acquisition in the second quarter of 2020 and larger than anticipated net inflows of funds associated with government stimulus programs in the second quarter of 2020. The average borrowing balance, including borrowings at the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (collectively referred to as “FHLB”), subordinated notes payable, subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts and securities sold under agreement to repurchase (customer repurchase agreements), increased $0.3 million and decreased $15.6 million for the quarter and YTD periods respectively. The decrease from the prior YTD period was primarily due to the redemption of trust preferred subordinated debt held by MBVT Statutory Trust I and Kinderhook Capital Trust, unconsolidated subsidiary trusts, during the third quarter of 2019, the redemption of trust preferred subordinated debt held by Steuben Statutory Trust II, an unconsolidated subsidiary trust, during the third quarter of 2020 and a decrease in average customer repurchase agreement balances, partially offset by the addition of subordinated notes payable and other FHLB borrowings assumed with the Kinderhook acquisition during the third quarter of 2019 and the addition of other FHLB borrowings assumed with the Steuben acquisition during the second quarter of 2020.

Tables 2a and 2b below sets forth information related to average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and their associated yields and rates for the periods indicated. Interest income and yields are on a fully tax-equivalent basis (“FTE”) using marginal income tax rates of 24.0% and 24.5% in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Average balances are computed by totaling the daily ending balances in a period and dividing by the number of days in that period. Loan interest income and yields include amortization of deferred loan income and costs, loan prepayment and other fees and the accretion of acquired loan marks. Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale.

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Table 2a: Quarterly Average Balance Sheet

	Three Months Ended						Three Months Ended
	September 30,2020						September 30,2019
					Avg.						Avg.
	Average				Yield/Rate		Average				Yield/Rate
(000's omitted except yields and rates)	Balance		Interest		Paid		Balance		Interest		Paid
Interest-earning assets:
Cash equivalents	$	1,300,981	$	332	0.10	%	$	665,862	$	3,670	2.19	%
Taxable investment securities (1)		2,686,120		14,549	2.15	%		1,990,979		12,192	2.43	%
Nontaxable investment securities (1)		461,963		3,747	3.23	%		413,437		3,608	3.46	%
Loans (net of unearned discount) (2)		7,508,895		79,825	4.23	%		6,735,776		80,162	4.72	%
Total interest-earning assets		11,957,959		98,453	3.28	%		9,806,054		99,632	4.03	%
Noninterest-earning assets		1,585,501						1,423,865
Total assets	$	13,543,460					$	11,229,919
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest checking, savings, and money market deposits	$	6,658,778		966	0.06	%	$	5,542,323		2,808	0.20	%
Time deposits		962,428		2,689	1.11	%		919,820		3,051	1.32	%
Customer repurchase agreements		190,781		250	0.52	%		179,062		329	0.73	%
FHLB borrowings		7,689		42	2.14	%		4,020		18	1.78	%
Subordinated notes payable		13,748		184	5.33	%		11,851		161	5.40	%
Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts		79,023		394	1.98	%		96,034		1,004	4.15	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		7,912,447		4,525	0.23	%		6,753,110		7,371	0.43	%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
Noninterest checking deposits		3,312,841						2,458,831
Other liabilities		222,961						193,109
Shareholders' equity		2,095,211						1,824,869
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	13,543,460					$	11,229,919
Net interest earnings			$	93,928					$	92,261
Net interest spread					3.05	%					3.60	%
Net interest margin on interest-earning assets					3.12	%					3.73	%
Fully tax-equivalent adjustment (3)			$	963					$	985

(1) Averages for investment securities are based on historical cost basis and the yields do not give effect to changes in fair value that is reflected as a component of noninterest-earning assets, shareholders’ equity, and deferred taxes.

(2) Includes nonaccrual loans. The impact of interest and fees not recognized on nonaccrual loans was immaterial.

(3) The fully-tax equivalent adjustment represents taxes that would have been paid had nontaxable investment securities and loans been taxable. The adjustment attempts to enhance the comparability of the performance of assets that have different tax liabilities.

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Table 2b: Year-to-Date Average Balance Sheet

	Nine Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2020						September 30,2019
					Avg.						Avg.
	Average				Yield/Rate		Average				Yield/Rate
(000's omitted except yields and rates)	Balance		Interest		Paid		Balance		Interest		Paid
Interest-earning assets:
Cash equivalents	$	748,236	$	794	0.14	%	$	375,818	$	6,339	2.26	%
Taxable investment securities (1)		2,627,302		44,839	2.28	%		2,319,994		43,037	2.48	%
Nontaxable investment securities (1)		458,617		11,520	3.36	%		404,741		10,879	3.59	%
Loans (net of unearned discount) (2)		7,202,830		237,534	4.41	%		6,436,474		228,408	4.74	%
Total interest-earning assets		11,036,985		294,687	3.57	%		9,537,027		288,663	4.05	%
Noninterest-earning assets		1,527,615						1,361,493
Total assets	$	12,564,600					$	10,898,520
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest checking, savings, and money market deposits	$	6,187,919		4,672	0.10	%	$	5,436,854		7,825	0.19	%
Time deposits		935,783		8,701	1.24	%		811,346		6,701	1.10	%
Customer repurchase agreements		208,317		1,108	0.71	%		215,459		1,189	0.74	%
FHLB borrowings		11,988		172	1.92	%		10,990		208	2.53	%
Subordinated notes payable		13,767		553	5.37	%		3,994		161	5.40	%
Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts		78,027		1,501	2.57	%		97,297		3,161	4.34	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		7,435,801		16,707	0.30	%		6,575,940		19,245	0.39	%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
Noninterest checking deposits		2,913,492						2,361,569
Other liabilities		212,510						185,456
Shareholders' equity		2,002,797						1,775,555
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	12,564,600					$	10,898,520
Net interest earnings			$	277,980					$	269,418
Net interest spread					3.27	%		��			3.66	%
Net interest margin on interest-earning assets					3.36	%					3.78	%
Fully tax-equivalent adjustment (3)			$	3,010					$	2,983

(1) Averages for investment securities are based on historical cost basis and the yields do not give effect to changes in fair value that is reflected as a component of noninterest-earning assets, shareholders’ equity, and deferred taxes.

(2) Includes nonaccrual loans. The impact of interest and fees not recognized on nonaccrual loans was immaterial.

(3) The fully-tax equivalent adjustment represents taxes that would have been paid had nontaxable investment securities and loans been taxable. The adjustment attempts to enhance the comparability of the performance of assets that have different tax liabilities.

As discussed above and disclosed in Table 3 below, the change in net interest income (fully tax-equivalent basis) may be analyzed by segregating the volume and rate components of the changes in interest income and interest expense for each underlying category.

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Table 3: Rate/Volume

	Three months ended September 30, 2020						Nine months ended September 30, 2020
	versus September 30, 2019						versus September 30, 2019
	Increase (Decrease) Due to Change in (1)						Increase (Decrease) Due to Change in (1)
					Net						Net
(000's omitted)	Volume		Rate		Change		Volume		Rate		Change
Interest earned on:
Cash equivalents	$	1,831	$	(5,169)	$	(3,338)	$	3,256	$	(8,801)	$	(5,545)
Taxable investment securities		3,887		(1,530)		2,357		5,416		(3,614)		1,802
Nontaxable investment securities		405		(266)		139		1,385		(744)		641
Loans (net of unearned discount)		8,692		(9,029)		(337)		25,989		(16,863)		9,126
Total interest-earning assets (2)		19,640		(20,819)		(1,179)		42,341		(36,317)		6,024
Interest paid on:
Interest checking, savings and money market deposits		477		(2,319)		(1,842)		965		(4,118)		(3,153)
Time deposits		136		(498)		(362)		1,099		901		2,000
Customer repurchase agreements		21		(100)		(79)		(39)		(42)		(81)
FHLB borrowings		19		5		24		18		(54)		(36)
Subordinated notes payable		26		(3)		23		393		(1)		392
Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts		(154)		(456)		(610)		(543)		(1,117)		(1,660)
Total interest-bearing liabilities (2)		1,109		(3,955)		(2,846)		2,301		(4,839)		(2,538)
Net interest earnings (2)	$	18,338	$	(16,671)	$	1,667	$	39,653	$	(31,091)	$	8,562

(1) The change in interest due to both rate and volume has been allocated to volume and rate changes in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of such change in each component.

(2) Changes due to volume and rate are computed from the respective changes in average balances and rates of the totals; they are not a summation of the changes of the components.

Exclusive of the impact of PPP loans, the Company expects its fourth quarter net interest margin to remain depressed due to the significant and precipitous drop in the overnight Federal Funds and Prime interest rates in the latter half of the first quarter which are expected to remain in place. In the near term, expected decreases in average earning asset yields are unlikely to be fully offset by expected decreases in the average cost of funds. While the Company anticipates assisting the majority of the Company’s PPP borrowers with forgiveness requests during the fourth quarter of 2020 and throughout 2021, the eligibility of the borrowers’ forgiveness requests and the SBA’s ability to provide loan forgiveness in a timely manner is uncertain at this time. For these reasons, although the stated interest rate on PPP loans is fixed at 1.0%, it is uncertain as to the timing for which the Company’s remaining $11.3 million in net deferred PPP origination fees will be recognized as interest income and may cause earnings asset yield volatility as loans are forgiven by the SBA.

Noninterest Revenues

The Company’s sources of noninterest revenues are of four primary types: 1) general banking services related to loans, including mortgage banking, deposits, and other core customer activities typically provided through the branch network and digital banking channels (performed by CBNA); 2) employee benefit trust and benefit plan administration services (performed by BPAS and its subsidiaries); 3) wealth management services, comprised of personal trust services (performed by the trust unit within CBNA), investment products and services (performed by Community Investment Services Inc. (“CISI”), OneGroup Wealth Partners, Inc., and The Carta Group, Inc.) and asset management services (performed by Nottingham Advisors, Inc.); and 4) insurance products and services (performed by OneGroup NY, Inc.). Additionally, the Company has other transactions, including both realized and unrealized gains or losses on equity securities and investment securities.

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Table 4: Noninterest Revenues

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
(000's omitted)	2020			2019			2020				2019
Employee benefit services	$	25,159		$	24,329			$	74,593			$	72,170
Deposit service charges and fees		7,899			11,322				25,318				32,435
Mortgage banking		3,908			(138)				6,199				276
Debit interchange and ATM fees		6,361			5,598				17,404				16,345
Insurance services		8,531			8,527				24,772				24,718
Wealth management services		6,889			6,363				20,389				19,290
Other banking revenues		924			1,083				2,574				3,352
Subtotal		59,671			57,084				171,249				168,586
Gain on sale of investment securities, net		0			0				0				4,882
Unrealized (loss) gain on equity securities		(12)			10				(30)				28
Total noninterest revenues	$	59,659		$	57,094			$	171,219			$	173,496
Noninterest revenues/operating revenues (FTE basis) (1)		39.2	%		38.6	%			38.5	%			38.9	%

(1) For purposes of this ratio noninterest revenues exclude net gain on sale of investment securities and unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities. Operating revenues, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net interest income on a fully-tax equivalent basis excluding acquired non-impaired loan accretion plus noninterest revenues excluding net gain on sale of investment securities and unrealized gains and losses on equity securities. See Table 11 for Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures.

As displayed in Table 4, noninterest revenues, excluding net gain on sale of investment securities and unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities, were $59.7 million for the third quarter of 2020 and $171.2 million for the first nine months of 2020. This represents an increase of $2.6 million, or 4.5%, for the quarter and an increase of $2.7 million, or 1.6%, for the YTD period in comparison to the equivalent 2019 periods. The increase for the quarterly period was driven by increases in banking noninterest revenue, employee benefit services revenue, wealth management services revenue and insurance services revenue. The increase for the YTD period was due to increases in employee benefit services revenue, wealth management services revenue and insurance services revenue, partially offset by a decrease in banking noninterest revenue. In addition to noninterest revenues from recurring banking noninterest revenue and financial services revenues, the Company sold $590.2 million of its available-for-sale Treasury securities in the second quarter of 2019 resulting in a net realized gain of $4.9 million.

Banking noninterest revenue of $19.1 million for the third quarter and $51.5 million for the first nine months of 2020 increased $1.2 million, or 6.9%, and decreased $0.9 million, or 1.7%, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year periods. The quarterly increase was primarily driven by an increase in mortgage banking revenues, reflective of the Company’s increased commitment to sell secondary market eligible residential mortgage loans and changes in market interest rates during the quarter, as well as an increase in debit interchange and ATM fees that benefitted from the addition of new deposit relationships from the Steuben acquisition, partially offset by decreases in deposit service charges and fees and other banking revenues due to a precipitous drop in deposit transaction activity due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The YTD decline was primarily driven by decreases in deposit services charges and fees and other banking revenues due to the aforementioned precipitous drop in deposit transaction activity, partially offset by an increase in mortgage banking revenues, reflective of the Company’s increased commitment to sell secondary market eligible residential mortgage loans and the benefit derived from interest rate movements, and debit interchange and ATM fees, reflective of the addition of new deposit relationships from the Kinderhook and Steuben acquisitions.

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Employee benefit services revenue increased $0.8 million, or 3.4%, and $2.4 million, or 3.4%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, as compared to the prior year periods. This growth primarily related to increases in plan administration, recordkeeping and trustee fees. Insurance services revenue for the third quarter was consistent with the prior year period and was up $0.1 million, or 0.2%, from the prior year YTD period. Wealth management services revenue was up $0.5 million, or 8.3%, for the third quarter of 2020 and was up $1.1 million, or 5.7%, for September 2020 YTD as compared to the same time periods of 2019, and was attributable to organic growth.

The ratio of noninterest revenues to operating revenues (FTE basis) was 39.2% for the quarter and 38.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, versus 38.6% and 38.9% for the comparable periods of 2019. The decrease for the year-to-date period is a function of a 3.2% increase in adjusted net interest income (FTE basis) while adjusted noninterest revenues increased 1.6%.

As the economy continues the re-opening process during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company anticipates that its deposit service charges and fees revenue and debit interchange and ATM fees revenue will increase slightly in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to the third quarter of 2020, barring another shut-down of nonessential businesses in the Company’s market footprint. The Company expects its mortgage banking revenues to decrease in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to the third quarter of 2020 as the Company plans to decrease the amount of sales of secondary market eligible residential mortgage loans.

Noninterest Expenses

Table 5 below sets forth the quarterly results of the major noninterest expense categories for the current and prior year, as well as efficiency ratios (defined below), a standard measure of expense utilization effectiveness commonly used in the banking industry.

Table 5: Noninterest Expenses

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
(000's omitted)	2020			2019			2020			2019
Salaries and employee benefits	$	57,280		$	56,061		$	170,252		$	163,448
Occupancy and equipment		10,134			9,801			30,627			29,708
Data processing and communications		12,096			10,675			33,342			30,475
Amortization of intangible assets		3,581			3,960			10,772			11,994
Legal and professional fees		2,365			2,595			8,577			7,999
Business development and marketing		3,145			2,604			7,162			8,532
Litigation accrual		2,950			0			2,950			0
Acquisition expenses		796			6,061			4,537			7,789
Other		4,619			5,172			13,313			16,812
Total noninterest expenses	$	96,966		$	96,929		$	281,532		$	276,757
Operating expenses(1)/average assets		2.63	%		3.07	%		2.80	%		3.15	%
Efficiency ratio(2)		58.9	%		58.8	%		59.2	%		59.2	%

(1) Operating expenses, a non-GAAP measure, is calculated as total noninterest expenses less acquisition expenses, amortization of intangibles, and litigation accrual expense. See Table 11 for Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures.

(2) Efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP measure, is calculated as operating expenses as defined in ⁽¹⁾ above divided by net interest income on a fully tax-equivalent basis excluding acquired non-impaired loan accretion plus noninterest revenues excluding net gain on sale of investment securities and unrealized gains and losses on equity securities. See Table 11 for Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures.

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As shown in Table 5, the Company recorded noninterest expenses of $97.0 million and $281.5 million for the third quarter and YTD periods of 2020, respectively, representing a slight increase from the prior year quarter and an increase of $4.8 million, or 1.7%, from the prior YTD period. Acquisition-related expenses of $0.8 million and $4.5 million are included in third quarter and YTD 2020 noninterest expenses, respectively. This compares to acquisition related expenses of $6.1 million and $7.8 million for the comparable periods of 2019, respectively. The Company recorded $3.0 million of litigation accrual expense in third quarter and YTD 2020 periods due to the accrual of estimated loss from an overdraft disclosure class action lawsuit brought against the Company. Salaries and employee benefits increased $1.2 million, or 2.2%, and $6.8 million, or 4.2%, for the third quarter and YTD periods of 2020, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods of 2019. The increase in salaries and benefits was due primarily to annual merit-based personnel cost increases and an increase in payroll costs associated with the third quarter 2019 Kinderhook acquisition and the second quarter 2020 Steuben acquisition. The remaining change to noninterest expenses can be attributed to occupancy and equipment (up $0.3 million for the quarter and up $0.9 million YTD), data processing and communications (up $1.4 million for the quarter and $2.9 million YTD), amortization of intangible assets (down $0.4 million for the quarter and $1.2 million YTD), legal and professional fees (down $0.2 million for the quarter and up $0.6 million YTD), business development and marketing (up $0.5 million for the quarter and down $1.4 million YTD) and other expenses (down $0.6 million for the quarter and $3.5 million YTD) largely attributable to decreased levels of business activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Included in other expenses was an increase in non-service related components of the net periodic pension benefit credit (up $0.5 million for the quarter and $1.2 million YTD).

The Company’s efficiency ratio (as defined in the table above) was 58.9% for the third quarter versus 58.8% for the comparable quarter of 2019 as operating expenses (as described above) and operating revenues (as described above) both increased 3.1%. The efficiency ratio of 59.2% for the first nine months of 2020 was consistent with the first nine months of 2019 due to 2.5% higher operating expenses (as described above), while operating revenues (as described above) increased by 2.6%. Current year operating expenses, excluding intangible amortization, litigation accrual expense and acquisition expenses, as a percentage of average assets decreased 44 basis points versus the prior year quarter and was 35 basis points lower than the prior year-to-date period. Operating expenses (as defined above) increased 3.1% for the quarter and increased 2.5% for the year-to-date period, while average assets increased 20.6% for the quarter and increased 15.3% for the year-to-date period, with the higher asset growth being primarily driven by the large inflow of government stimulus-related deposits.

While the Company remains focused on containing operating expenses, the Company expects operating expenses to be similar in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to the third quarter of 2020 due to the resumption of certain marketing and business development endeavors that were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and both quarters including the incremental expenses associated with operating an expanded branch network as a result of the Steuben acquisition.

Income Taxes

The third quarter and YTD 2020 effective income tax rates were 20.3% and 19.8%, respectively, as compared to the 21.1% and 19.9% for the comparable periods of 2019. The decrease in the third quarter and YTD 2020 effective income tax rate was attributable to changes in state apportionment partially offset by lower levels of tax benefits related to stock-based compensation activity. The effective tax rates adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation tax benefits for the third quarter and YTD 2020 were 20.4% and 20.7%, respectively, as compared to 21.5% for both comparable periods of 2019.

Investment Securities

The carrying value of investment securities (including unrealized gains and losses) was $3.27 billion at the end of the third quarter, an increase of $181.7 million from December 31, 2019 and $788.3 million higher than September 30, 2019. The book value of investment securities (excluding unrealized gains and losses) of $3.11 billion at the end of the third quarter increased $60.3 million from December 31, 2019 and increased $679.1 million from September 30, 2019. During the first nine months of 2020, the Company purchased $77.1 million of government agency mortgage-backed securities with an average yield of 2.14%, $11.3 million of obligations of state and political subdivisions with an average yield of 3.37%, and $3.0 million of corporate debt securities with an average yield of 5.38%. Additionally, the Company acquired $180.5 million of investments from Steuben during the second quarter of 2020. These additions were partially offset by $219.9 million of investment maturities, calls, and principal payments during the first nine months of 2020. The effective duration of the investment securities portfolio was 3.2 years at the end of the third quarter of 2020, as compared to 4.3 years at the end of 2019 and 2.5 years at the end of the third quarter of 2019.

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The change in the carrying value of investment securities is also impacted by the amount of net unrealized gains or losses. At September 30, 2020, the portfolio had a $155.2 million net unrealized gain, an increase of $121.4 million from the net unrealized gain at December 31, 2019 and a $109.2 million increase from the net unrealized gain at September 30, 2019. These changes in the net unrealized position of the portfolio were principally driven by the movements in market interest rates.

Table 6: Investment Securities

	September 30, 2020				December 31, 2019				September 30, 2019
	Amortized		Fair		Amortized		Fair		Amortized		Fair
(000's omitted)	Cost		Value		Cost		Value		Cost		Value
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
U.S. Treasury and agency securities	$	2,034,512	$	2,149,170	$	2,030,060	$	2,043,759	$	1,482,739	$	1,506,647
Obligations of state and political subdivisions		470,518		493,496		497,852		512,208		442,942		458,090
Government agency mortgage-backed securities		508,738		523,974		428,491		432,862		406,329		411,816
Corporate debt securities		4,504		4,602		2,527		2,528		2,542		2,540
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations		50,134		51,480		52,621		53,071		57,452		58,009
Total available-for-sale portfolio		3,068,406		3,222,722		3,011,551		3,044,428		2,392,004		2,437,102
Equity and other Securities:
Equity securities, at fair value		251		423		251		451		251		461
Federal Home Loan Bank common stock		7,545		7,545		7,246		7,246		6,912		6,912
Federal Reserve Bank common stock		33,916		33,916		30,922		30,922		31,992		31,992
Other equity securities, at adjusted cost		4,707		5,457		4,546		5,296		4,525		5,275
Total equity and other securities		46,419		47,341		42,965		43,915		43,680		44,640
Total investment securities	$	3,114,825	$	3,270,063	$	3,054,516	$	3,088,343	$	2,435,684	$	2,481,742

Loans

As shown in Table 7, loans ended the third quarter at $7.46 billion, up $605.5 million, or 8.8%, from one year earlier and up $568.1 million, or 8.2%, from the end of 2019. The growth during the last twelve months was primarily attributable to the Steuben acquisition in the second quarter of 2020, as well as a significant increase in the business lending portfolio due to $492.4 million of PPP loan originations during the first half of 2020. The growth during the first nine months of 2020 was primarily due to the Steuben acquisition as well as the PPP loan originations during 2020.

Table 7: Loans

(000's omitted)	September 30, 2020				December 31, 2019				September 30, 2019
Business lending	$	3,433,565	46.0	%	$	2,775,876	40.3	%	$	2,779,612	40.6	%
Consumer mortgage		2,410,249	32.3	%		2,430,902	35.3	%		2,405,191	35.1	%
Consumer indirect		1,039,925	13.9	%		1,113,062	16.1	%		1,091,980	15.9	%
Consumer direct		161,639	2.2	%		184,378	2.7	%		187,379	2.7	%
Home equity		413,265	5.6	%		386,325	5.6	%		389,029	5.7	%
Total loans	$	7,458,643	100.0	%	$	6,890,543	100.0	%	$	6,853,191	100.0	%

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The business lending portfolio consists of general-purpose business lending to commercial and industrial customers, municipal lending, mortgages on commercial property, and dealer floor plan financing, as well as PPP loans. The business lending portfolio increased $654.0 million, or 23.5%, from September 30, 2019 and increased $657.7 million from December 31, 2019. The growth in the business lending portfolio during the last twelve months includes $492.4 million of PPP loans originated during the first half of 2020 and $253.4 million of loans acquired from Steuben in the second quarter of 2020. Ending loans in the municipal sector of the business lending portfolio increased $32.1 million from June 30, 2020, as certain municipal customers repay short-term loans and lines of credit annually at the end of the second quarter to meet their fiscal cycle requirements and advance on new loans and lines of credit in the third quarter for the next annual fiscal cycle. Highly competitive conditions for business lending continue to prevail in the markets in which the Company operates. The Company strives to generate growth in its business portfolio in a manner that adheres to its goals of maintaining strong asset quality and producing profitable margins. The Company continues to invest in additional personnel, technology and business development resources to further strengthen its capabilities in this important product category.

Consumer mortgages increased $5.1 million, or 0.2%, from one year ago and decreased $20.7 million, or 0.8%, from December 31, 2019. The increase in the consumer mortgage portfolio during the last twelve months included $26.7 million of loans acquired from Steuben in the second quarter of 2020. With the precipitous drop in mortgage interest rates during the latter half of the first quarter, coupled with currently strong housing prices in the Company’s primary markets, the Company has seen a large increase in mortgage refinance activity in 2020. Interest rate levels, secondary market premiums and expected duration continue to be the most significant factors in determining whether the Company chooses to retain, versus sell and service, portions of its new mortgage production. Due to very low market interest rates and an increase in secondary market premiums for residential mortgage loans, the Company sold $37.4 million of its originations during the first nine months of 2020 as compared to $1.7 million of its originations during the first nine months of 2019. Home equity loans increased $24.2 million, or 6.2%, from one year ago and increased $26.9 million, or 7.0%, from December 31, 2019. The increase in the home equity portfolio during the last twelve months includes $39.6 million of loans acquired from Steuben in the second quarter of 2020. The Company continues to experience paydowns in its home equity portfolio due in part to balances being rolled into re-financed first lien consumer mortgages that offer attractive attributes to customers.

Consumer installment loans, both those originated directly in the branches (referred to as “consumer direct”) and indirectly in automobile, marine, and recreational vehicle dealerships (referred to as “consumer indirect”), decreased $77.8 million, or 6.1%, from one year ago and decreased $95.9 million, or 7.4%, from December 31, 2019. Consumer installment loans of $19.9 million were acquired from Steuben in the second quarter of 2020. Although the consumer indirect loan market is highly competitive, the Company is focused on maintaining a profitable, in-market and contiguous market indirect portfolio, while continuing to pursue the expansion of its dealer network. Consumer direct loans provide attractive returns, and the Company is committed to providing competitive market offerings to its customers in this important loan category. Despite the strong competition the Company faces from the financing subsidiaries of vehicle manufacturers and other financial intermediaries, the Company will continue to strive to grow these key portfolios through varying market conditions over the long term.

In the first two quarters of 2020, due to the COVID-19 crisis and its related impact on economic activity, the demand for consumer loans and credit has decreased significantly. Demand increased during the third quarter, however the ultimate impact the COVID-19 pandemic will have on loan demand and the Company’s loan balances in future quarters is uncertain at this time. The Company’s business lending balances will be unfavorably impacted as PPP loans are forgiven by the SBA. The Company anticipates assisting the majority of the Company’s PPP borrowers with forgiveness requests during the fourth quarter of 2020 and throughout 2021. However, the eligibility of the borrowers’ forgiveness requests and the SBA’s ability to provide loan forgiveness in a timely manner is uncertain at this time. The longer-term implications that COVID-19 and the repayment of PPP loans will have on business lending loan demand are also uncertain at this time.

Asset Quality

Table 8 below exhibits the major components of nonperforming loans and assets and key asset quality metrics for the periods ending September 30, 2020 and 2019 and December 31, 2019.

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Table 8: Nonperforming Assets

	September 30,			December 31,			September 30,
(000's omitted)	2020			2019			2019
Nonaccrual loans
Business lending	$	11,750		$	4,410		$	8,547
Consumer mortgage		14,821			12,517			13,059
Consumer indirect		1			0			0
Consumer direct		3			52			54
Home equity		2,181			1,856			1,950
Total nonaccrual loans		28,756			18,835			23,610
Accruing loans 90+ days delinquent
Business lending		39			2,299			1,186
Consumer mortgage		3,182			2,329			3,147
Consumer indirect		12			156			209
Consumer direct		34			76			43
Home equity		220			566			479
Total accruing loans 90+ days delinquent		3,487			5,426			5,064
Nonperforming loans
Business lending		11,789			6,709			9,733
Consumer mortgage		18,003			14,846			16,206
Consumer indirect		13			156			209
Consumer direct		37			128			97
Home equity		2,401			2,422			2,429
Total nonperforming loans		32,243			24,261			28,674
Other real estate owned (OREO)		1,209			1,270			1,258
Total nonperforming assets	$	33,452		$	25,531		$	29,932
Nonperforming loans / total loans		0.43	%		0.35	%		0.42	%
Nonperforming assets / total loans and other real estate		0.45	%		0.37	%		0.44	%
Delinquent loans (30 days old to nonaccruing) to total loans		0.79	%		0.94	%		0.85	%
Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding (quarterly)		0.07	%		0.14	%		0.10	%
Provision for credit losses to net charge-offs (quarterly)		155	%		121	%		107	%

The Company’s asset quality profile in the third quarter of 2020 continued to illustrate the long-term effectiveness of the Company’s disciplined credit risk management and underwriting standards. As displayed in Table 8, nonperforming assets at September 30, 2020 were $33.5 million, a $7.9 million increase versus the level at the end of 2019 and a $3.5 million increase as compared to one year earlier. Nonperforming loans increased $8.0 million from year-end 2019 and increased $3.6 million from September 30, 2019. Loans acquired in the Steuben acquisition attributed to $1.1 million of the increase in nonperforming loans. The delinquency status for loans on payment deferment due to COVID-19 financial hardship were reported at September 30, 2020 based on their delinquency status at the execution date of the payment deferment, unless subsequent to the execution date of the payment deferment, the borrower made all required past due payments to bring the loan to current status. Other real estate owned (“OREO”) at September 30, 2020 of $1.2 million decreased $0.1 million from December 31, 2019 and decreased $0.1 million from September 30, 2019. At September 30, 2020, OREO consisted of nine residential properties with a total value of $0.6 million and one commercial property with a value of $0.6 million. This compares to 16 residential properties with a total value of $1.0 million and two commercial properties with a value of $0.3 million at December 31, 2019, and 17 residential properties with a total value of $1.0 million and two commercial properties with a value of $0.3 million at September 30, 2019. Nonperforming loans were 0.43% of total loans outstanding at the end of the third quarter, eight basis points higher than the level at December 31, 2019 and a one basis point increase from the level at September 30, 2019.

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With respect to the Company’s lending activities, the Company implemented a customer forbearance program to assist both consumer and business borrowers that may be experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 related challenges. The Company processed more than 5,000 borrower forbearance requests granting approximately $950 million in deferrals through the first nine months of the year. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had 216 borrowers in forbearance due to COVID-19, representing approximately $193 million in outstanding loan balances, or 2.6% of total loans outstanding. These forbearances were comprised of 156 business borrowers representing approximately $189 million in outstanding loan balances and 60 consumer borrowers representing approximately $4 million in outstanding loan balances.  

Approximately 56% of nonperforming loans at September 30, 2020 are related to the consumer mortgage portfolio. Collateral values of residential properties within the Company’s market area have generally remained stable over the past several years. Additionally, strong economic conditions prior to COVID-19, including lower unemployment levels, positively impacted consumers and had resulted in more favorable nonperforming consumer mortgage ratios. Approximately 37% of the nonperforming loans at September 30, 2020 were related to the business lending portfolio, which is comprised of business loans broadly diversified by industry type. Economic conditions impacted by COVID-19, including increased unemployment rates, travel restrictions, and state government shutdowns of business activities, have caused a slight increase in nonperforming loans in the consumer mortgage and business lending portfolios. The Company will continue to monitor the impact that the decline in economic conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic could have on its level of delinquent loans, nonperforming assets and ultimately credit-related losses. The remaining 7% of nonperforming loans relate to consumer installment and home equity loans, with home equity non-performing loan levels being driven by the same factors identified for consumer mortgages. The allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans ratio, a general measure of coverage adequacy, was 201% at the end of the third quarter, as compared to 206% at year-end 2019 and 172% at September 30, 2019.

The Company’s senior management, special asset officers and lenders review all delinquent and nonaccrual loans and OREO regularly in order to identify deteriorating situations, monitor known problem credits and discuss any needed changes to collection efforts, if warranted. Based on the group’s consensus, a relationship may be assigned a special assets officer or other senior lending officer to review the loan, meet with the borrowers, assess the collateral and recommend an action plan. This plan could include foreclosure, restructuring loans, issuing demand letters or other actions. The Company’s larger criticized credits are also reviewed on a quarterly basis by senior credit administration management, special assets officers and commercial lending management to monitor their status and discuss credit management plans. Commercial lending management reviews the criticized business loan portfolio on a monthly basis.

Delinquent loans (30 days past due through nonaccruing) as a percent of total loans was 0.79% at the end of the third quarter, 15 basis points below the 0.94% at year-end 2019 and six basis points below the 0.85% at September 30, 2019. The business lending delinquency ratio at the end of the third quarter was 25 basis points below the level at December 31, 2019 and three basis points below the level at September 30, 2019. The consumer direct delinquency ratio at the end of the third quarter was 21 basis points below the level at December 31, 2019 and two basis points above the level at September 30, 2019. The consumer indirect delinquency ratio at the end of the third quarter was 32 basis points below the level at December 31, 2019 and 13 basis points below the level at September 30, 2019. The delinquency ratio for the home equity loan portfolio at the end of the third quarter was 10 basis points below the level at December 31, 2019, but was three basis points higher than the delinquency ratio at September 30, 2019. The delinquency ratio for the consumer mortgage portfolio increased by 12 basis points as compared to December 31, 2019 and was two basis points higher than the delinquency ratio at September 30, 2019. The Company’s historic success at keeping the nonperforming and delinquency ratios at favorable levels has been the result of its continued focus on maintaining strict underwriting standards, as well as the effective utilization of its collection and recovery capabilities. The delinquency status for loans on payment deferment due to COVID-19 financial hardship were reported at September 30, 2020 based on their delinquency status at the execution date of the payment deferment, unless subsequent to the execution date of the payment deferment, the borrower made all required past due payments to bring the loan to current status.

While the Company will continue to adapt to changing economic and market conditions and remain very focused on asset quality, the Company expects that the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to negatively impact the level of business activity and employment which will continue to adversely affect certain borrower’s ability to service debt and may increase loan delinquency, nonaccrual and credit loss levels for the remaining quarter of 2020 and potentially beyond. Additionally, the Company anticipates that the number and amount of COVID-19 financial hardship forbearance agreements will decrease during the fourth quarter of 2020, which may increase loan delinquency and nonperforming loan levels as the status of some of the borrowers could change after deferment expires. Many of these customers were otherwise current on loan payments and were granted COVID-19 related financial hardship payment deferrals and had been reported as current loans throughout the agreed upon deferral period. Their credit classification will change after deferment ends if they are not able to meet their contractual obligations.

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Table 9: Allowance for Credit Losses Activity

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
(000's omitted)	2020			2019			2020			2019
Allowance for credit losses at beginning of period	$	64,437		$	49,310		$	49,911		$	49,284
Impact of adopting ASC 326		0			0			1,357			0
Charge-offs:
Business lending		827			305			1,010			1,774
Consumer mortgage		248			200			668			1,040
Consumer indirect		1,281			2,224			4,791			5,529
Consumer direct		340			456			1,214			1,436
Home equity		24			45			178			223
Total charge-offs		2,720			3,230			7,861			10,002
Recoveries:
Business lending		99			290			369			593
Consumer mortgage		23			8			67			44
Consumer indirect		1,111			1,095			3,107			3,296
Consumer direct		225			167			578			567
Home equity		5			32			23			68
Total recoveries		1,463			1,592			4,144			4,568
Net charge-offs		1,257			1,638			3,717			5,434
Allowance for credit losses on acquired PCD loans		0			0			528			0
Provision for credit losses related to loans		1,782			1,751			13,749			5,573
Acquisition-related provision for credit losses related to loans		0			0			3,134			0
Allowance for credit losses at end of period	$	64,962		$	49,423		$	64,962		$	49,423
Liabilities for off-balance-sheet credit exposures at beginning of period	$	1,452		$	0		$	0		$	0
Impact of adopting ASC 326		0			0			1,185			0
Provision for credit losses related to off-balance sheet credit exposures		163			0			363			0
Acquisition-related provision for credit losses related to off-balance sheet credit exposures		0			0			67			0
Liabilities for off-balance-sheet credit exposures at end of period	$	1,615		$	0		$	1,615		$	0
Allowance for credit losses / total loans		0.87	%		0.72	%		0.87	%		0.72	%
Allowance for credit losses / nonperforming loans		201	%		172	%		201	%		172	%
Net charge-offs (annualized) to average loans outstanding:
Business lending		0.08	%		0.00	%		0.03	%		0.06	%
Consumer mortgage		0.04	%		0.03	%		0.03	%		0.06	%
Consumer indirect		0.07	%		0.41	%		0.21	%		0.28	%
Consumer direct		0.26	%		0.59	%		0.47	%		0.63	%
Home equity		0.02	%		0.01	%		0.05	%		0.05	%
Total loans		0.07	%		0.10	%		0.07	%		0.11	%

As displayed in Table 9, net charge-offs during the third quarter of 2020 were $1.3 million, $0.4 million lower than the third quarter of 2019. Net charge-offs for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were $3.7 million, a $1.7 million decrease from the first nine months of 2019. The consumer indirect, business lending, consumer mortgage, and consumer direct portfolios experienced lower levels of net charge-offs through the first nine months of 2020, as compared to the first nine months of 2019, while the home equity portfolio experienced consistent net charge-offs as compared to the prior year-to-date period. The annualized net charge-off ratio (net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans outstanding) for the third quarter of 2020 was 0.07%, three basis points lower than the third quarter of 2019. Net charge-off ratios for the third quarter of 2020 for all loan portfolios were below the Company’s average for the trailing eight quarters. The September YTD annualized net charge-off ratio of 0.07% for total loans was four basis points lower than the equivalent prior year period.

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The provision for credit losses was $1.9 million in the third quarter, $0.7 million more than the level of net charge-offs for the quarter. This amount is significantly less than the amounts recorded in the prior two quarters of 2020 and only $0.1 million greater than the amount recorded in the third quarter of 2019. The Company recorded $5.6 million in the provision for credit losses during the first quarter of 2020 and $9.8 million in the second quarter of 2020. The second quarter provision for credit losses included $3.2 million of acquisition-related provision for credit losses associated with the acquisition of Steuben with the remaining $6.6 million largely attributable to COVID-19 related factors. The decrease in the provision for credit losses during the third quarter, as compared to the prior two quarters, was due to improving economic conditions, modest levels of delinquent and nonperforming loans, a decrease in loans outstanding, low levels of net charge-offs and a large decrease in the number and balances of loans subject to borrower forbearance. During the first two quarters of 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, financial conditions deteriorated rapidly as state governments shutdown business activities in the Company’s markets and unemployment levels spiked. These conditions drove the Company to build its allowance for credit losses during the first two quarters of 2020 to account for increased expected life of loan losses in the loan portfolio. It is expected that improving conditions, including a continued decline in unemployment rates, will have a dampening impact on provision amounts in the coming quarters, potentially resulting in a reversal of credit losses. However, this may be offset by the Company’s anticipation that there may be a significant increase in delinquency and nonperforming loan balances in future quarters due to it being unlikely that all COVID-affected borrowers will resume full payment of contractual amounts upon expiration of their forbearance agreement.

The allowance for credit losses of $65.0 million as of September 30, 2020 increased $15.5 million from the level one year ago. The deterioration of economic conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased unemployment rates and their potential impact on future credit losses, have resulted in an allowance for credit losses to total loans ratio of 0.87% at September 30, 2020, 15 basis points higher than the level at September 30, 2019 and 15 basis points higher than the level at December 31, 2019.

Refer to Note E: Loans of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of management’s methodology used to estimate the allowance for credit losses.

As of September 30, 2020, the net purchase discount related to the $1.48 billion of remaining non-PCD loan balances acquired from Steuben Trust Company in 2020, the National Union Bank of Kinderhook in 2019, Merchants Bank in 2017, Oneida Savings Bank in 2015, HSBC Bank USA, N.A. in 2012, First Niagara Bank, N.A. in 2012, and Wilber National Bank in 2011 was approximately $13.2 million, or 0.90% of that portfolio.

Deposits

As shown in Table 10, average deposits of $10.93 billion in the third quarter were $2.01 billion, or 22.6%, higher than the third quarter of 2019. This compares to an increase of $1.83 billion, or 20.1%, from the fourth quarter of last year. The increase from the third quarter of 2019 was primarily due to larger than anticipated net inflows of government stimulus funds and the addition of acquired Steuben deposit balances between the periods. Deposits of $516.3 million were acquired from Steuben during the second quarter of 2020. Average noninterest checking deposits as a percentage of average total deposits was 30.3% in the third quarter compared to 27.6% in the third quarter of 2019 and 27.7% in the fourth quarter of last year. In the third quarter, non-maturity deposits (noninterest checking, interest checking, savings and money markets) represent 91.2% of the Company’s deposit funding base, while time deposits represent 8.8% of total average deposits. The average cost of deposits was 0.13% for the third quarter of 2020, compared to 0.26% in the third quarter of 2019, reflective of market-driven decreases in deposit interest rates between the periods and an increase in the proportion of noninterest checking deposits. The Company continues to focus heavily on growing its core deposit relationships through its proactive marketing efforts, competitive product offerings, convenient digital interface options and high quality customer service.

Average nonpublic fund deposits for the third quarter of 2020 increased $1.71 billion, or 21.1%, versus the fourth quarter of 2019 and increased $1.79 billion, or 22.4%, versus the year-earlier period. Nonpublic fund deposits of $375.1 million were acquired from Steuben during the second quarter of 2020. Average public fund deposits for the third quarter increased $125.8 million, or 12.2%, from the fourth quarter of 2019 and increased $220.9 million, or 23.7%, from the third quarter of 2019. Public fund deposits of $141.2 million were acquired from Steuben during the second quarter of 2020. Public fund deposits as a percentage of total deposits of 10.5% for the third quarter of 2020 decreased from 11.3% in the fourth quarter of 2019 and was consistent with the third quarter of 2019.

The Company is uncertain as to whether the relatively high levels of deposits will be maintained, spent down, or increased further by additional inflows of funds associated with COVID-19 related government stimulus funds.

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Table 10: Quarterly Average Deposits

	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,
(000's omitted)	2020		2019		2019
Noninterest checking deposits	$	3,312,841	$	2,519,645	$	2,458,831
Interest checking deposits		2,676,279		2,131,866		2,075,009
Savings deposits		1,859,544		1,536,271		1,540,896
Money market deposits		2,122,955		1,976,819		1,926,418
Time deposits		962,428		937,023		919,820
Total deposits	$	10,934,047	$	9,101,624	$	8,920,974
Nonpublic fund deposits	$	9,780,843	$	8,074,262	$	7,988,718
Public fund deposits		1,153,204		1,027,362		932,256
Total deposits	$	10,934,047	$	9,101,624	$	8,920,974

Borrowings

Borrowings, excluding securities sold under agreement to repurchase, at the end of the third quarter of 2020 totaled $98.7 million. This was $4.4 million, or 4.3%, lower than borrowings at December 31, 2019 and $3.3 million, or 3.4%, above the end of the third quarter of 2019. The slight increase from the prior year third quarter was primarily due to the addition of FHLB borrowings assumed with the Steuben acquisition during the third quarter of 2020. The decrease from the fourth quarter of 2019 was related to an $8.3 million decrease in overnight FHLB borrowings, partially offset by the addition of FHLB borrowings assumed with the Steuben acquisition during the third quarter of 2020.

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase, also referred to as customer repurchase agreements, represent collateralized municipal and commercial customer accounts that price and operate similar to a deposit instrument. Customer repurchase agreements were $280.8 million at the end of the third quarter of 2020, an increase of $39.1 million from December 31, 2019 due primarily to the seasonal characteristics of this portfolio, and were $47.4 million above their level at September 30, 2019.

Shareholders’ Equity

Total shareholders’ equity was $2.10 billion at the end of the third quarter. This was up $243.4 million from the balance at December 31, 2019. During the first nine months of 2020, the Company recorded net income of $118.2 million, issued $76.9 million of common stock as consideration for the Steuben acquisition, issued $0.1 million from treasury stock to the Company’s benefit plans, had net activity under the Company’s employee stock plan of $14.1 million, recorded $4.6 million from employee stock options earned and accumulated other comprehensive income increased $94.2 million. Further, the implementation of CECL on January 1, 2020 resulted in a $1.1 million increase to retained earnings. These amounts were partially offset by dividends declared of $65.9 million. The change in accumulated other comprehensive income was comprised of a $92.3 million increase in the after-tax market value adjustment on the available-for-sale investment portfolio and a positive $1.9 million adjustment to the funded status of the Company’s retirement plans. Over the past 12 months, total shareholders’ equity increased by $258.2 million, as net income, the issuance of common stock in association with the Steuben acquisition, activity associated with the Company’s long-term incentive stock plan and the Company’s benefit plans and an increase in the after-tax market value adjustment on investments, more than offset dividends declared and the change in the funded status of the Company’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans.

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The Company’s Tier 1 leverage ratio, a primary measure of regulatory capital for which 5% is the requirement to be “well-capitalized”, was 10.21% at the end of the third quarter, down 59 basis points from year-end 2019 and 55 basis points below its level one year earlier. The decrease in the Tier 1 leverage ratio in comparison to December 31, 2019 was primarily due to ending shareholders’ equity, excluding intangibles and other comprehensive income items, increasing 11.8%, primarily from net earnings retention and the issuance of shares in connection with the Steuben acquisition, while average assets, excluding intangibles and the market value adjustment on investments, increased at a higher 18.2% primarily because of the large inflow of stimulus-related deposits. The Tier 1 leverage ratio decreased compared to the prior year’s third quarter as shareholders’ equity, excluding intangibles and other comprehensive income, increased 14.8% primarily due to earnings retention and the issuance of shares in connection with the Steuben acquisition, while average assets excluding intangibles and the market value adjustment on investments, increased 21.0%. The net tangible equity-to-assets ratio (a non-GAAP measure) of 9.92% decreased nine basis points from December 31, 2019 and increased 24 basis points versus September 30, 2019 (See Table 11 for Reconciliation of Quarterly GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures). The decrease in the tangible equity ratio over the past 12 months was due to a proportionally larger increase in tangible assets than the increase in tangible equity levels, primarily driven by the Steuben acquisition in the third quarter of 2020 and a significant increase in government stimulus-related deposit funding in the second and third quarters of 2020.

The dividend payout ratio (dividends declared divided by net income) for the first nine months of 2020 was 55.8%, compared to 47.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Dividends declared for the first nine months of 2020 increased 9.0% compared to the first nine months of 2019, as the Company’s quarterly dividend per share was raised from $0.38 to $0.41 in August 2019 and from $0.41 to $0.42 in August 2020, while net income decreased 6.3% versus the equivalent year-to-date period due in most part to higher provision for credit losses due to COVID-19, as well as the litigation accrual expense incurred and the absence of realized investment gains. The 2020 dividend increase marked the Company’s 28^th consecutive year of increased dividend payouts to common shareholders. Additionally, the number of common shares outstanding increased 3.6% over the last twelve months, most of which pertained to the issuance of common shares in connection with the Steuben acquisition.

Liquidity

Liquidity risk is a measure of the Company’s ability to raise cash when needed at a reasonable cost and minimize any loss. The Company maintains appropriate liquidity levels in both normal operating environments as well as stressed environments. The Company must be capable of meeting all obligations to its customers at any time and, therefore, the active management of its liquidity position remains an important management objective. The Bank has appointed the Asset Liability Committee (“ALCO”) to manage liquidity risk using policy guidelines and limits on indicators of potential liquidity risk. The indicators are monitored using a scorecard with three risk level limits. These risk indicators measure core liquidity and funding needs, capital at risk and change in available funding sources. The risk indicators are monitored using such statistics as the core basic surplus ratio, unencumbered securities to average assets, free loan collateral to average assets, loans to deposits, deposits to total funding and borrowings to total funding ratios.

Given the uncertain nature of the Company’s customers' demands, as well as the Company's desire to take advantage of earnings enhancement opportunities, the Company must have adequate sources of on and off-balance sheet funds available that can be utilized in time of need. Accordingly, in addition to the liquidity provided by balance sheet cash flows, liquidity must be supplemented with additional sources such as credit lines from correspondent banks and borrowings from the FHLB and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“Federal Reserve”). Other funding alternatives may also be appropriate from time to time, including wholesale and retail repurchase agreements, large certificates of deposit and the brokered CD market. The primary source of non-deposit funds is FHLB overnight advances, of which there were no outstanding borrowings at September 30, 2020.

The Company’s primary sources of liquidity are its liquid assets, as well as unencumbered loans and securities that can be used to collateralize additional funding. At September 30, 2020, the Bank had $1.8 billion of cash and cash equivalents of which $1.6 billion are interest-earning deposits held at the Federal Reserve, FHLB and other correspondent banks. The Company also had $1.7 billion in unused FHLB borrowing capacity based on the Company’s quarter-end loan collateral levels. Additionally, the Company has $1.3 billion of unencumbered securities that could be pledged at the FHLB or Federal Reserve to obtain additional funding. There is $25.0 million available in unsecured lines of credit with other correspondent banks at quarter-end.

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The Company’s primary approach to measuring short-term liquidity is known as the Basic Surplus/Deficit model. It is used to calculate liquidity over two time periods: first, the amount of cash that could be made available within 30 days (calculated as liquid assets less short-term liabilities as a percentage of average assets); and second, a projection of subsequent cash availability over an additional 60 days. As of September 30, 2020, this ratio was 18.4% for 30-days and 18.6% for 90-days, excluding the Company's capacity to borrow additional funds from the FHLB and other sources. This is considered to be a sufficient amount of liquidity based on the Company’s internal policy requirement of 7.5%.

A sources and uses statement is used by the Company to measure intermediate liquidity risk over the next twelve months. As of September 30, 2020, there is more than enough liquidity available during the next year to cover projected cash outflows. In addition, stress tests on the cash flows are performed in various scenarios ranging from high probability events with a low impact on the liquidity position to low probability events with a high impact on the liquidity position. The results of the stress tests as of September 30, 2020 indicate the Company has sufficient sources of funds for the next year in all simulated stressed scenarios.

To measure longer-term liquidity, a baseline projection of loan and deposit growth for five years is made to reflect how liquidity levels could change over time. This five-year measure reflects ample liquidity for loan and other asset growth over the next five years.

Though remote, the possibility of a funding crisis exists at all financial institutions. Accordingly, management has addressed this issue by formulating a Liquidity Contingency Plan, which has been reviewed and approved by both the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and the Company’s ALCO. The plan addresses the actions that the Company would take in response to both a short-term and long-term funding crisis.

A short-term funding crisis would most likely result from a shock to the financial system, either internal or external, which disrupts orderly short-term funding operations. Such a crisis would likely be temporary in nature and would not involve a change in credit ratings. A long-term funding crisis would most likely be the result of drastic credit deterioration at the Company. Management believes that both potential circumstances have been fully addressed through detailed action plans and the establishment of trigger points for monitoring such events.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains comments or information that constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which involve significant risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements often use words such as “anticipate,” “could,” “target,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “forecast,” “believe,” or other words of similar meaning. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, the Company’s plans, objectives and intentions are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s control). Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include: (1) the macroeconomic and other challenges and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the negative impacts and disruptions on public health, the Company’s corporate and consumer customers, the communities the Company serves, and the domestic and global economy, which may have an adverse effect on the Company’s business; (2) current and future economic and market conditions, including the effects of declines in housing prices, high unemployment rates, U.S. fiscal debt, budget and tax matters, geopolitical matters, and any slowdown in global economic growth; (3) changes to the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”), including to the rules under which the PPP is administered, with respect to the origination, servicing, or forgiveness of PPP loans, whether now existing or originated in the future, or the terms and conditions of any guaranteed payments due to the Company from the SBA with respect to PPP loans; (4) the effect of, and changes in, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (5) the effect of changes in the level of checking or savings account deposits on the Company’s funding costs and net interest margin; (6) future provisions for credit losses on loans and debt securities; (7) changes in nonperforming assets; (8) the effect of a fall in stock market prices on the Company’s fee income businesses, including its employee benefit services, wealth management, and insurance businesses; (9) risks related to credit quality; (10) inflation, interest rate, liquidity, market and monetary fluctuations; (11) the strength of the U.S. economy in general and the strength of the local economies where the Company conducts its business; (12) the timely development of new products and services and customer perception of the overall value thereof (including features, pricing and quality) compared to competing products and services; (13) changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; (14) technological changes and implementation and financial risks associated with transitioning to new technology-based systems involving large multi-year contracts; (15) the ability of the Company to maintain the security of its financial, accounting, technology, data processing and other operating systems and facilities; (16) effectiveness of the Company’s risk management processes and procedures, reliance on models which may be inaccurate or misinterpreted, the Company’s ability to manage its credit or interest rate risk, the sufficiency of its allowance for credit losses and the accuracy of the assumptions or estimates used in preparing the Company’s financial statements and disclosures; (17) failure of third parties to provide various services that are important to the Company’s operations; (18) any acquisitions or mergers that might be considered or consummated by the Company and the costs and factors associated therewith, including differences in the actual financial results of the acquisition or merger compared to expectations and the realization of anticipated cost savings and revenue enhancements; (19) the ability to maintain and increase market share and control expenses; (20) the nature, timing and effect of changes in banking regulations or other regulatory or legislative requirements affecting the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, including changes in laws and regulations concerning taxes, accounting, banking, risk management, securities and other aspects of the financial services industry, specifically the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 or those emanating from COVID-19; (21) changes in the Company’s organization, compensation and benefit plans and in the availability of, and compensation levels for, employees in its geographic markets; (22) the outcome of pending or future litigation and government proceedings; (23) other risk factors outlined in the Company’s filings with the SEC from time to time; and (24) the success of the Company at managing the risks of the foregoing.

The foregoing list of important factors is not all-inclusive. For more information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations, refer to the “Risk Factors” discussion set forth in Part II of this Form 10-Q, as well as the reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020, and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at www.sec.gov. Further, any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made. If the Company does update or correct one or more forward-looking statements, investors and others should not conclude that the Company will make additional updates or corrections with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements.

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Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures

Table 11: GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
(000's omitted)	2020		2019		2020		2019
Income statement data
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue
Net income (GAAP)	$	42,809	$	39,218	$	118,191	$	126,179
Income taxes		10,904		10,472		29,153		31,422
Income before income taxes		53,713		49,690		147,344		157,601
Provision for credit losses		1,945		1,751		17,313		5,573
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue (non-GAAP)		55,658		51,441		164,657		163,174
Acquisition expenses		796		6,061		4,537		7,789
Gain on sale of investments, net		0		0		0		(4,882)
Unrealized loss (gain) on equity securities		12		(10)		30		(28)
Litigation accrual		2,950		0		2,950		0
Adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue (non-GAAP)	$	59,416	$	57,492	$	172,174	$	166,053
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue per share
Diluted earnings per share (GAAP)	$	0.79	$	0.75	$	2.22	$	2.41
Income taxes		0.20		0.20		0.55		0.60
Income before income taxes		0.99		0.95		2.77		3.01
Provision for credit losses		0.04		0.03		0.32		0.11
Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue per share (non-GAAP)		1.03		0.98		3.09		3.12
Acquisition expenses		0.02		0.12		0.09		0.15
Gain on sale of investments, net		0.00		0.00		0.00		(0.10)
Unrealized loss (gain) on equity securities		0.00		0.00		0.00		0.00
Litigation accrual		0.05		0.00		0.05		0.00
Adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue per share (non-GAAP)	$	1.10	$	1.10	$	3.23	$	3.17
Net income
Net income (GAAP)	$	42,809	$	39,218	$	118,191	$	126,179
Acquisition expenses		796		6,061		4,537		7,789
Tax effect of acquisition expenses		(162)		(1,277)		(915)		(1,618)
Subtotal (non-GAAP)		43,443		44,002		121,813		132,350
Acquisition-related provision for credit losses		0		0		3,201		0
Tax effect of acquisition-related provision for credit losses		0		0		(649)		0
Subtotal (non-GAAP)		43,443		44,002		124,365		132,350
Gain on sale of investment securities, net		0		0		0		(4,882)
Tax effect of gain on sale of investment securities, net		0		0		0		988
Subtotal (non-GAAP)		43,443		44,002		124,365		128,456
Unrealized loss (gain) on equity securities		12		(10)		30		(28)
Tax effect of unrealized loss (gain) on equity securities		(2)		2		(6)		5
Subtotal (non-GAAP)		43,453		43,994		124,389		128,433
Litigation accrual		2,950		0		2,950		0
Tax effect of litigation accrual		(599)		0		(599)		0
Operating net income (non-GAAP)		45,804		43,994		126,740		128,433
Amortization of intangibles		3,581		3,960		10,772		11,994
Tax effect of amortization of intangibles		(727)		(835)		(2,130)		(2,390)
Subtotal (non-GAAP)		48,658		47,119		135,382		138,037
Acquired non-impaired loan accretion		(1,326)		(1,637)		(4,156)		(4,269)
Tax effect of acquired non-impaired loan accretion		269		345		821		854
Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)	$	47,601	$	45,827	$	132,047	$	134,622

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	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
(000's omitted)	2020			2019			2020			2019
Return on average assets
Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)	$	47,601		$	45,827		$	132,047		$	134,622
Average total assets		13,543,460			11,229,919			12,564,600			10,898,520
Adjusted return on average assets (non-GAAP)		1.40	%		1.62	%		1.40	%		1.65	%
Return on average equity
Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)	$	47,601		$	45,827		$	132,047		$	134,622
Average total equity		2,095,211			1,824,869			2,002,797			1,775,555
Adjusted return on average equity (non-GAAP)		9.04	%		9.96	%		8.81	%		10.14	%
Earnings per common share
Diluted earnings per share (GAAP)	$	0.79		$	0.75		$	2.22		$	2.41
Acquisition expenses		0.02			0.12			0.09			0.15
Tax effect of acquisition expenses		0.00			(0.03)			(0.02)			(0.03)
Subtotal (non-GAAP)		0.81			0.84			2.29			2.53
Acquisition-related provision for credit losses		0.00			0.00			0.06			0.00
Tax effect of acquisition-related provision for credit losses		0.00			0.00			(0.01)			0.00
Subtotal (non-GAAP)		0.81			0.84			2.34			2.53
Gain on sale of investment securities, net		0.00			0.00			0.00			(0.10)
Tax effect of gain on sale of investment securities, net		0.00			0.00			0.00			0.02
Subtotal (non-GAAP)		0.81			0.84			2.34			2.45
Unrealized loss (gain) on equity securities		0.00			0.00			0.00			0.00
Tax effect of unrealized loss (gain) on equity securities		0.00			0.00			0.00			0.00
Subtotal (non-GAAP)		0.81			0.84			2.34			2.45
Litigation accrual		0.05			0.00			0.05			0.00
Tax effect of litigation accrual		(0.01)			0.00			(0.01)			0.00
Operating earnings per share (non-GAAP)		0.85			0.84			2.38			2.45
Amortization of intangibles		0.07			0.08			0.21			0.23
Tax effect of amortization of intangibles		(0.01)			(0.02)			(0.03)			(0.05)
Subtotal (non-GAAP)		0.91			0.90			2.56			2.63
Acquired non-impaired loan accretion		(0.03)			(0.03)			(0.09)			(0.08)
Tax effect of acquired non-impaired loan accretion		0.00			0.01			0.01			0.02
Diluted adjusted net earnings per share (non-GAAP)	$	0.88		$	0.88		$	2.48		$	2.57
Noninterest operating expenses
Noninterest expenses (GAAP)	$	96,966		$	96,929		$	281,532		$	276,757
Amortization of intangibles		(3,581)			(3,960)			(10,772)			(11,994)
Acquisition expenses		(796)			(6,061)			(4,537)			(7,789)
Litigation accrual		(2,950)			0			(2,950)			0
Total adjusted noninterest expenses (non-GAAP)	$	89,639		$	86,908		$	263,273		$	256,974
Efficiency ratio
Adjusted noninterest expenses (non-GAAP) - numerator	$	89,639		$	86,908		$	263,273		$	256,974
Fully tax-equivalent net interest income		93,928			92,261			277,980			269,418
Noninterest revenues		59,659			57,094			171,219			173,496
Acquired non-impaired loan accretion		(1,326)			(1,637)			(4,156)			(4,269)
Gain on sale of investment securities, net		0			0			0			(4,882)
Unrealized loss (gain) on equity securities		12			(10)			30			(28)
Operating revenues (non-GAAP) - denominator	$	152,273		$	147,708		$	445,073		$	433,735
Efficiency ratio (non-GAAP)		58.9	%		58.8	%		59.2	%		59.2	%

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	September 30,			December 31,			September 30,
(000's omitted)	2020			2019			2019
Balance sheet data – at end of quarter
Total assets
Total assets (GAAP)	$	13,845,325		$	11,410,295		$	11,597,297
Intangible assets		(850,214)			(836,923)			(840,685)
Deferred taxes on intangible assets		44,733			44,742			46,048
Total tangible assets (non-GAAP)	$	13,039,844		$	10,618,114		$	10,802,660
Total common equity
Shareholders' Equity (GAAP)	$	2,098,660		$	1,855,234		$	1,840,421
Intangible assets		(850,214)			(836,923)			(840,685)
Deferred taxes on intangible assets		44,733			44,742			46,048
Total tangible common equity (non-GAAP)	$	1,293,179		$	1,063,053		$	1,045,784
Net tangible equity-to-assets ratio at quarter end
Total tangible common equity (non-GAAP) - numerator	$	1,293,179		$	1,063,053		$	1,045,784
Total tangible assets (non-GAAP) - denominator	$	13,039,844		$	10,618,114		$	10,802,660
Net tangible equity-to-assets ratio at quarter end (non-GAAP)		9.92	%		10.01	%		9.68	%

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk is the risk of loss in a financial instrument arising from adverse changes in market rates, prices or credit risk. Credit risk associated with the Company’s loan portfolio has been previously discussed in the asset quality section of the MD&A. Management believes that the tax risk of the Company’s municipal investments associated with potential future changes in statutory, judicial and regulatory actions is minimal. Treasury, agency, mortgage-backed and CMO securities issued by government agencies comprise 83% of the total portfolio and are currently rated AAA by Moody’s Investor Services and AA+ by Standard & Poor’s. Municipal and corporate bonds account for 15% of the total portfolio, of which, 98% carry a minimum rating of A-. The remaining 2% of the portfolio is comprised of other investment grade securities. The Company does not have material foreign currency exchange rate risk exposure. Therefore, almost all the market risk in the investment portfolio is related to interest rates.

The ongoing monitoring and management of both interest rate risk and liquidity, in the short and long term time horizons is an important component of the Company's asset/liability management process, which is governed by limits established in the policies reviewed and approved annually by the Company’s Board. The Board delegates responsibility for carrying out the policies to the ALCO, which meets each month. The committee is made up of the Company's senior management as well as regional and line-of-business managers who oversee specific earning asset classes and various funding sources. As the Company does not believe it is possible to reliably predict future interest rate movements, it has maintained an appropriate process and set of measurement tools, which enables it to identify and quantify sources of interest rate risk in varying rate environments. The primary tool used by the Company in managing interest rate risk is income simulation.

While a wide variety of strategic balance sheet and treasury yield curve scenarios are tested on an ongoing basis, the following reflects the Company's estimated net interest income sensitivity over the subsequent twelve months based on:

● Asset and liability levels using September 30, 2020 as a starting point.

● The model assumes the Company’s average deposit balances will decrease approximately 1.9% over the next twelve months due primarily to expectations that recent government stimulus-related deposit balances will be spent down over the four quarter forecast period reducing average total deposit balances.

● The model assumes the Company’s average earning asset balances will decrease approximately 1.9% over the next twelve months.

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● The model assumes that nearly all of the $507.2 million of PPP loan originations completed during the second quarter of 2020 will have forgiveness and full repayment of the balances would occur over the next 12 months. Upon repayment, the PPP loan balances are largely anticipated to be reinvested in cash equivalents. All other loan balances are generally projected to remain flat or increase modestly throughout the forecast period due to lower anticipated levels of loan demand reflective of an expected decline in economic activity and other COVID-19 related factors. Cash flows from investment contractual maturities and prepayments are reinvested into securities or cash equivalents and used to repay short-term capital market borrowings.

● In the rising rates scenarios, the prime rate and federal funds rates are assumed to move up over a 12-month period while moving the long end of the treasury curve to spreads over the three month treasury that are more consistent with historical norms based on the last three years (normalized yield curve). Deposit rates are assumed to move in a manner that reflects the historical relationship between deposit rate movement and changes in the federal funds rate. In the 0 basis point model, the prime and federal funds rate are held at current levels and the treasury yield curve is assumed to move to zero basis points.

● Cash flows are based on contractual maturity, optionality, and amortization schedules along with applicable prepayments derived from internal historical data and external sources.

Net Interest Income Sensitivity Model

	Calculated annualized increase
	(decrease) in projected net interest
	income at September 30, 2020
Interest rate scenario	(000’s omitted)
+200 basis points	$	9,630
+100 basis points	$	4,426
0 basis points	$	(1,871)

Projected net interest income (NII) over the 12-month forecast period increases in the rising rate environments largely due to higher rates earned on significant levels of cash equivalents and assumed higher rates on new loans, including variable and adjustable rate loans. These increases are partially offset by anticipated increases in deposit and borrowing costs. Over the longer time period, the growth in NII continues to improve in both rising rate environments as lower yielding assets mature and are replaced at higher rates.

In the zero basis points scenario, in which all Treasury security yields decrease to zero percent, the Company shows interest rate risk exposure to lower short term rates. During the first twelve months, net interest income declines largely due to lower assumed rates on reinvestment opportunities and new loans, including adjustable and variable rate assets. Modestly lower funding costs associated with deposits and borrowings only partially offset the decrease in interest income.

The analysis does not represent a Company forecast and should not be relied upon as being indicative of expected operating results. These hypothetical estimates are based upon numerous assumptions: the nature and timing of interest rate levels (including yield curve shape), prepayments on loans and securities, deposit decay rates, pricing decisions on loans and deposits, reinvestment/replacement of asset and liability cash flows, and other factors. While the assumptions are developed based upon reasonable economic and local market conditions, the Company cannot make any assurances as to the predictive efficacy of these assumptions, including how customer preferences or competitor influences might change. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis does not reflect actions that the ALCO might take in responding to or anticipating changes in interest rates.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a -15(e) and 15d – 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), designed to ensure information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is: (i) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, it has concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2020.

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Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The Company regularly assesses the adequacy of its internal controls over financial reporting. There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting in connection with the evaluation referenced in the paragraph above that occurred during the Company’s quarter ended September 30, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Part II.Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject in the normal course of business to various pending and threatened legal proceedings in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. As of September 30, 2020, management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not anticipate that the aggregate ultimate liability arising out of litigation pending or threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position. On at least a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with such legal proceedings. For those matters where it is probable that the Company will incur losses and the amounts of the losses can be reasonably estimated, the Company records an expense and corresponding liability in its consolidated financial statements. To the extent the pending or threatened litigation could result in exposure in excess of that liability, the amount of such excess is not currently estimable. The range of reasonably possible losses for matters where an exposure is not currently estimable or considered probable, beyond the existing recorded liabilities, is believed to be between $0 and $1 million in the aggregate. Information on current legal proceedings is set forth in Note J to the consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1, including a litigation related accrual for $3.0 million in the third quarter of 2020. Although the Company does not believe that the outcome of pending litigation will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, it cannot rule out the possibility that such outcomes will be material to the consolidated results of operations for a particular reporting period in the future.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the following risk factor represents material updates and additions to the risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 2, 2020, and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on May 11, 2020, and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, as filed with the SEC on August 10, 2020. These are not the only risks the Company faces. Additional risks not presently known to the Company, or that are currently deemed immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations. Further, to the extent that any of the information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q constitutes forward-looking statements, the risk factor set forth below also is a cautionary statement identifying important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company.

The Company faces significant risks related to the continued spread of COVID-19 and the recent developments surrounding the global pandemic have had, and will continue to have, significant effects on its business, financial condition, and results of operations. These risks include materially increased credit losses and reduced profitability due to a decrease in net interest income.

Concern about the continued spread of COVID-19, and heightened fears about the resurgence of the virus during the winter season, have caused and is likely to continue to cause business shutdowns and slowdowns, limitations on commercial activity and financial transactions, increased unemployment, commercial property vacancy rates, reduced profitability and ability for property owners to make mortgage payments, and overall economic and financial market instability, which may affect individuals, households and businesses differently, and decreased consumer confidence generally, all of which may cause the Company’s customers to be unable to make scheduled loan payments. The Company instituted a deferral program which granted customers impacted by COVID-19 deferrals of loan principal and/or interest payments provided that such customers met certain requirements. While the deferrals are still ongoing, it is difficult to assess whether a customer will be able to perform under the original terms of the loan once the deferral period expires. Once these deferrals expire, it may become apparent that more customers than expected are unable to perform and the Company may be required to classify these loans as nonaccrual, make additional provisions for credit losses and net charge-offs. If these deferrals were not effective in mitigating the effect of COVID-19 on the Company’s customers, it will adversely affect the Company’s business and results of operations more substantially over a longer period of time.

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Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the financial markets and has resulted in a number of Federal Reserve actions. On March 15, 2020, the Federal Reserve further reduced the target federal funds rate by 100 basis points to 0.00% to 0.25% and maintained this target range as of June 30, 2020. Further, the Federal Reserve reduced the interest that it pays on excess reserves from 1.60% to 1.10% on March 3, 2020, and then to 0.10% on March 15, 2020. The Company expects that these reductions in interest rates, especially if prolonged, could adversely affect its net interest income and margins and its profitability. A prolonged period of extremely volatile and unstable market conditions would likely negatively affect market risk mitigation strategies. Fluctuations in interest rates will impact both the level of income and expense recorded on most of the Company’s assets and liabilities and the market value of all interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s net income, results of operations and financial condition. Low rates increase the risk in the United States of a negative interest rate environment in which interest rates drop below zero, either broadly or for some types of instruments. Such an occurrence would likely further reduce the interest the Company earns on loans and other earning assets, while also likely requiring the Company to pay to maintain its deposits with the Federal Reserve. The Company cannot predict the nature or timing of future changes in monetary policies in response to the outbreak or the precise effects that they may have on the Company’s activities and financial results.

In addition, the pandemic has also increased the likelihood that federal and state taxes may increase as a result of the effects of the pandemic on governmental budgets, which could reduce the Company’s net income.

Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

a) Not applicable.

b) Not applicable.

c) At its December 2019 meeting, the Board approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase, at the discretion of senior management, of up to 2,600,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, in accordance with securities laws and regulations, during a twelve-month period beginning January 1, 2020. Any repurchased shares will be used for general corporate purposes, including those related to stock plan activities. The timing and extent of repurchases will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations as determined at the Company’s discretion.

The following table presents stock purchases made during the third quarter of 2020:

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

	Total			Total Number of Shares	Maximum Number of
	Number of	Average		Purchased as Part of	Shares That May Yet Be
	Shares	Price Paid		Publicly Announced	Purchased Under the Plans
Period	Purchased	Per Share		Plans or Programs	or Programs
July 1-31, 2020	1,207	$	54.05	0	2,600,000
August 1-31, 2020	0		0.00	0	2,600,000
September 1-30, 2020	0		0.00	0	2,600,000
Total (1)	1,207	$	54.05

(1) Included in the common shares repurchased were 1,207 shares acquired by the Company in connection with the administration of a deferred compensation plan. These shares were not repurchased as part of the publicly announced repurchase plan described above.

Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not applicable.

Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

72

Item 5.Other Information

Not applicable.

Item 6.Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
31.1	Certification of Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (1)
31.2	Certification of Joseph E. Sutaris, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (1)
32.1	Certification of Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (2)
32.2	Certification of Joseph E. Sutaris, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (2)
101.INS	Inline 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. (3)
101.SCH	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (3)
101.CAL	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (3)
101.DEF	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (3)
101.LAB	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (3)
101.PRE	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (3)
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) (3)

(1) Filed herewith.

(2) Furnished herewith.

(3) XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Community Bank System, Inc.

Date: November 9, 2020	/s/ Mark E. Tryniski
	Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief Executive
	Officer

Date: November 9, 2020	/s/ Joseph E. Sutaris
	Joseph E. Sutaris, Treasurer and Chief
	Financial Officer

74