1 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MASSBANK CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (IN THOUSANDS) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BALANCE SHEET DATA: Total assets $946,625 $925,403 $888,237 $854,542 $843,647 Mortgage loans 283,654 248,798 224,139 220,603 220,269 Other loans 21,335 23,505 25,522 28,582 30,547 Allowance for loan losses 2,450 2,334 2,237 2,529 2,566 Investments(1) 624,082 635,694 622,645 586,768 568,635 Real estate acquired through foreclosure 86 -- 503 255 129 Deposits 824,031 809,850 788,350 753,657 759,676 Stockholders' equity 110,489 103,779 92,250 90,817 74,504 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (IN THOUSANDS) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPERATING DATA: Interest and dividend income $ 59,834 $ 60,733 $ 58,109 $ 56,611 $ 51,451 Interest expense 34,320 34,681 33,062 30,896 26,152 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net interest income 25,514 26,052 25,047 25,715 25,299 Provision for loan losses 193 260 160 170 705 Gains (losses) on securities, net 2,893 1,939 868 92 (533) Other non-interest income 1,697 1,859 1,797 1,856 3,070 Non-interest expense 12,515 13,425 12,124 13,178 14,213 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income before income taxes 17,396 16,165 15,428 14,315 12,918 Income tax expense 6,482 5,998 6,001 5,556 4,733 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income $ 10,914 $ 10,167 $ 9,427 $ 8,759 $ 8,185 ===================================================================================================================== - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OTHER DATA: Yield on average interest-earning assets 6.56% 6.81% 6.84% 6.90% 6.22% Cost of average interest-bearing liabilities 4.23 4.30 4.27 4.11 3.41 Interest rate spread 2.33 2.51 2.57 2.79 2.81 Net interest margin 2.81 2.93 2.96 3.15 3.07 Non-interest expense to average assets(5) 1.35 1.39 1.40 1.57 1.67 Efficiency ratio(2)(5)(6) 41.4 43.0 43.5 47.4 50.8 Return on assets (net income/average assets) 1.17 1.12 1.08 1.04 0.96 Return on equity (net income/average stockholders' equity) 10.05 10.51 10.65 10.65 10.62 Return on average realized equity(3) 11.08 11.11 11.01 10.81 10.62 Percent non-performing loans to total loans 0.33 0.65 0.64 0.97 0.84 Percent non-performing assets to total assets 0.12 0.19 0.24 0.31 0.26 Stockholders' equity to assets, at year-end 11.67 11.21 10.39 10.63 8.83 Book value per share, at year-end(4) $ 31.58 $ 29.06 $ 25.75 $ 24.84 $ 20.09 Earnings per share:(4) Basic 3.09 2.88 2.65 2.43 2.19 Diluted 2.97 2.77 2.58 2.34 2.13 Cash dividends declared per share(4) 1.02 0.885 0.69 0.5475 0.45 Dividend payout ratio 33% 31% 26% 23% 21% ===================================================================================================================== (1) Consists of securities held to maturity and available for sale, trading securities, short-term investments, term federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits in banks. (2) Determined by dividing non-interest expense by fully taxable equivalent net interest income plus non-interest income. (3) Excludes average net unrealized gains or losses on securities available for sale. (4) All share information presented has been adjusted to reflect the 4-for-3 and 3-for-2 split of the Company's common stock effective September 15, 1997 and September 9, 1994, respectively. (5) Excludes non-recurring non-interest expense of $778 thousand in 1997. (6) Excludes $620 thousand in market appreciation on securities contributed to the Massbank Charitable Foundation in 1997. 2 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS GENERAL The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this report. Certain amounts reported for prior years have been reclassified to conform to the 1998 presentation. The discussion contains certain forward-looking statements regarding the future performance of the Company. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and actual results may differ substantially from the assumptions, estimates, or expectations reflected or contained in the forward-looking information. The financial condition and results of operations of MASSBANK Corp. (the "Company") essentially reflect the operations of its subsidiary, MASSBANK (the "Bank"). The Company's consolidated net income depends largely upon net interest income, which is the difference between interest income from loans and investments ("interest-earning assets") and interest expense on deposits and borrowed funds ("interest-bearing liabilities"). Net interest income is significantly affected by general economic conditions, policies established by regulatory authorities and competition. The Company's earnings results are also affected by the provision for loan losses; non-interest income, such as fee-based revenues and net securities gains; non-interest expense; and income taxes. FINANCIAL CONDITION Total assets at December 31, 1998 were $946.6 million, up $21.2 million or 2.3% from $925.4 million a year ago. The growth in total assets was driven by $32.7 million growth in the loan portfolio, offset by a decline of $11.6 million in the investment portfolio. Other assets increased by $0.1 million in 1998. The Bank's total loan portfolio at December 31, 1998 amounted to $305.0 million compared with $272.3 million at December 31, 1997, an increase of $32.7 million or 12.0%. MASSBANK benefited from the favorable mortgage interest rate environment in 1998. Loan originations reached record levels in 1998 due to an increased volume of home mortgage refinancing. Loan originations totaled $105.2 million in 1998, up 79.5% or $46.6 million, compared with $58.6 million in 1997. The increase in the total loan portfolio was achieved despite a continued high level of principal amortization and payoffs in the Bank's loan portfolio, making it more difficult to grow the portfolio. This is due in part to the shorter term mortgages the Bank originates and the prevailing low interest rates which encourage borrowers to prepay higher rate mortgages. Total investments consisting of investment securities and other short-term investments, including term federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits, decreased from $635.7 million at December 31, 1997 to $624.1 million at December 31, 1998. The decrease is mainly attributable to a decrease in mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasury and government agency securities, offset by an increase in trading and equity securities, and term federal funds sold. The primary component of the Bank's investment securities portfolio, mortgage-backed securities, accounted for 43.7% of total investments at December 31, 1998, down from 52.0% at year-end 1997. Mortgage-backed securities which totaled $330.7 million at year-end 1997 decreased to $272.6 million at year-end 1998 due primarily to the significant pre-payments received during 1998. This decrease in total investments was offset in part by a change in net unrealized gains on securities available for sale from $15.5 million at December 31, 1997 to $19.8 million at December 31, 1998, a net increase in market value of $4.3 million. The increase in market value of the Bank's investment securities available for sale portfolio is directly related to the upward movement in both bond and stock prices in 1998. The change in the market value of the Bank's securities available for sale also had the effect of increasing stockholders' equity by $2.6 million since year-end 1997. The net unrealized gains on securities available for sale, net of tax effect reported as part of stockholders' equity totaled $11.7 million at year-end 1998, up from $9.1 million at December 31, 1997. Total stockholder s' equity was $110.5 million at December 31, 1998, up $6.7 million from $103.8 million at December 31, 1997. Also contributing to the increase in stockholders' equity was the Company's record net income of $10.9 million in 1998 and the issuance of common stock under the Company's stock option plan. These were partially offset by the payment of $3.6 million in dividends to stockholders and the cost of additional shares of treasury stock repurchased during the year in the amount of $4.7 million. The Company's book value per share at December 31, 1998 was $31.58, up $2.52 or 8.7% from the prior year. Deposit accounts of all types have traditionally been the primary source of funds for the Bank's lending and investment activities. The Bank's deposit flows are influenced by prevailing interest rates, competition and other market conditions. The Bank's management attempts to manage its deposits through selective pricing and marketing. Total deposits increased $14.1 million during 1998 to $824.0 million at December 31, 1998 from $809.9 million at year-end 1997. 9 3 ASSET QUALITY Asset quality continued to improve during 1998. Nonaccrual loans, generally those loans which are 90 days or more delinquent, amounted to only $1.0 million at December 31, 1998, compared to $1.8 million at December 31, 1997. The bank's provision for loan losses, which amounted to $260 thousand in 1997, decreased by $67 thousand to $193 thousand in 1998, partially as a result of lower net loan charge-offs. Loan charge-offs, net of recoveries, amounted to $77 thousand in 1998, down from $268 thousand in 1997 and $452 thousand in 1996. The Bank continued to add to its allowance for loan losses in 1998 in response to increased residential lending. The bank's allowance for loan losses at December 31, 1998 totaled approximately $2.5 million, representing 244.0% of nonaccrual loans and 0.80% of total loans. The bank believes that its allowance for loan losses is adequate to cover the risks inherent in the loan portfolio under current conditions. Real estate acquired through foreclosure totaled $86 thousand at year-end 1998. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS COMPARISON OF THE YEARS 1998 AND 1997 MASSBANK Corp. recorded net income for the year ended December 31, 1998 of $10.9 million or $3.09 in basic earnings per share compared to $10.2 million or $2.88 in basic earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 1997. This was the sixth consecutive year of record net income for the Company. Diluted earnings per share for 1998 increased to $2.97 from $2.77 in the prior year. In 1998, MASSBANK's return on average assets rose to 1.17% from 1.12% in the prior year. Return on average realized equity was 11.08% in 1998, down slightly from 11.11% in 1997. The Company's favorable earnings performance in 1998 is mainly attributable to higher securities gains and lower non-interest expenses and provision for loan losses, partially offset by a decrease in net interest income and non-interest income (exclusive of securities gains). NET INTEREST INCOME The Company's net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent ("FTE") basis was $25.7 million in 1998, a decrease of $0.5 million from the prior year. The decrease is the result of a lower net interest margin, due mainly to the flattening of the yield curve which was seen in 1998, partially offset by the positive effect of earning asset growth. The Company's net interest margin was 2.81% in 1998, down from its prior year net interest margin of 2.93%. The Company's average earning assets increased $18.3 million or 2.0% to $912.9 million in 1998, from $894.6 million in 1997. The tables on pages 19 and 20 set forth, among other things, the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in the average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities have effected interest income and expense during the years indicated. For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes due to (1) changes in volume and (2) changes in interest rates. INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME Interest and dividend income on a fully taxable equivalent basis was $60.0 million for the year ended December 31, 1998, compared to $60.9 million for the year ended December 31, 1997. The average total earning assets of the Company increased to $912.9 million in 1998, up $18.3 million from $894.6 million in 1997. As reflected in the table on page 19, the Company saw a decline in yield in all categories of earning assets this past year. This resulted in an overall decline in yield on total average earning assets of 25 basis points in 1998. The yield on average earning assets for the year ended December 31, 1998 was 6.56% compared to 6.81% in the prior year. As exhibited in the rate volume analysis table on page 20, the total effect of lower market interest rates on interest income in 1998 was a $1.9 million decline from 1997. Conversely, the total effect of higher average earning assets on interest income in 1998 was a $1.0 million increase over 1997, resulting in a net decrease in total interest and dividend income of $899 thousand from 1997. INTEREST EXPENSE Total interest expense decreased 1.0% to $34.3 million for the year ended December 31, 1998 from $34.7 million for the year ended December 31, 1997. This decrease is due to a decrease in the Company's average cost of funds from 4.30% in 1997 to 4.23% in 1998, partially offset by the higher interest expense resulting from an increase in the Company's average total deposits, from $807.3 million in 1997 to $811.6 million in 1998. The principal reason for the Company's lower cost of funds was lower market interest rates in 1998. 10 4 INTEREST EXPENSE (CONTINUED) As exhibited in the rate/volume analysis table on page 20, the effect on total interest expense from changes in interest-bearing deposit rates from a year ago was a $522 thousand decrease from 1997. Conversely, the total effect of higher average deposits on interest expense in 1998 was a $161 thousand increase over 1997, resulting in a net decrease in total interest expense of $361 thousand from 1997. PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES The provision for loan losses in 1998 was $193 thousand compared to $260 thousand in 1997. In determining the amount to provide for loan losses, the key factor is the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. In making its decision, management considers a number of factors, including the risk characteristics of the loan portfolio, underlying collateral, current and anticipated economic conditions, and trends in loan delinquencies and charge-offs. At December 31, 1998, the allowance for loan losses was approximately $2.5 million representing 244.0% of non-performing loans. The Bank's non-performing loans totaled $1.0 million at December 31, 1998 compared to $1.8 million a year earlier. Net charge-offs totaled $77 thousand in 1998 compared to $268 thousand in 1997. Management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate to cover the risks inherent in the loan portfolio under current conditions. NON-INTEREST INCOME Non-interest income consists of gains or losses on securities, deposit account service fees, and other non-interest income. Non-interest income increased to $4.6 million for the year ended December 31, 1998, from $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 1997. This improvement is due to an increase in securities gains in 1998. Net gains on securities totaled $2.9 million in 1998 compared to $1.9 million in the prior year. The bank's equity securities portfolio continued to contribute significant returns in 1998 through a combination of gains on the sale of securities in the amount of $2.6 million and unrealized gains. The pretax unrealized gains in the bank's equity securities portfolio amounted to $10.5 million at year-end 1998, up from $8.2 million at December 31, 1997. All other non-interest income combined decreased $162 thousand to $1.7 million from $1.9 million in the prior year. NON-INTEREST EXPENSE One measure often used in the banking industry to assess the level of non-interest expense is the efficiency ratio. The efficiency ratio measures how much it cost to generate one dollar of revenue. MASSBANK's efficiency ratio continued its steady improvement of the past several years, reaching 41.4% in 1998. MASSBANK's non-interest expenses (i.e., operating expenses) decreased by $910 thousand to $12.5 million in 1998, from $13.4 million a year ago. This decrease is due largely to non-recurring expenses incurred in 1997, summarized below, and to a decrease in compensation expenses which are tied to the Company's stock performance. Salaries and employee benefits decreased by $317 thousand or 4.1%, to $7.4 million in 1998, from $7.7 million in 1997. The decrease reflects a reduction of $311 thousand in Deferred Compensation Plan expenses which are tied to the Company's stock performance. The price of MASSBANK Corp. stock decreased by $8.50 or 17.8% in 1998, from $47.62 at December 31, 1997 to $39.12 at December 31, 1998. Conversely, in 1997 the Company saw the price of it's common stock increase by $19.03 or 66.6%. This significantly increased Deferred Compensation Plan expenses in 1997. Normal salary increases and higher employee benefit costs, in 1998, were partly offset by staff reductions and more loan origination related salary expenses (which are amortized over the life of the loan) being deferred due to increased residential lending activity in 1998. Occupancy and equipment expense decreased by $37 thousand to $2.1 million in 1998. This decrease reflects a reduction in utilities expenses and a drop in real estate tax expenses due to real estate tax abatements received in 1998. Data processing expenses increased by $72 thousand to $510 thousand in 1998, from $438 thousand in the previous year. 1997 expenses, however, reflect a reduction $150 thousand due to a one-time credit the bank negotiated as part of its initial contract with a new service bureau. This temporary reduction in data processing expense was used in part to defray nonrecurring expenses the bank incurred in converting to the new service bureau. Professional services expenses increased by $54 thousand to $461 thousand in 1998, from $407 thousand in 1997. This increase was due mostly to higher legal fees. In 1998, the Company did not incur any merger and acquisition related expenses. As a result, 1998 expenses when compared to the prior year, show a decrease of $156 thousand due to the nonrecurring merger and acquisition related expenses incurred in 1997 in connection with the bank's acquisition of the Glendale Co-operative Bank ("Glendale"). Advertising and marketing expenses declined slightly in 1998 to $171 thousand, from $187 thousand in the prior year. The amortization of intangibles expense increased by $51 thousand to $302 thousand in 1998, from $251 thousand in 1997. The increase reflects the additional amortization of goodwill recorded in 1998 in connection with the Glendale acquisition. In 1997, the goodwill was only amortized for a partial year since the acquisition was completed in July of that year. 11 5 NON-INTEREST EXPENSE (CONTINUED) Deposit insurance expense totaled $116 thousand in 1998, unchanged from the prior year. The bank's contributions expense decreased by $650 thousand to $14 thousand in 1998, from $664 thousand in the prior year. This decrease is due to a significant contribution made in the prior year. The bank, in 1997, contributed appreciated securities valued at $622 thousand to establish and endow a tax exempt private foundation. The establishment of the MASSBANK Charitable Foundation benefits the bank by reducing its contributions expense in 1998 and future years, since many of the contributions previously made by the bank are now made by the Foundation. Other expenses increased by $89 thousand to $1.5 million in 1998, from $1.4 million in 1997 due to increases in several other non-interest expense categories. INCOME TAX EXPENSE The Company recorded a tax expense of $6.5 million in 1998 compared to $6.0 million in 1997. The increase in income tax expense is due primarily to higher pretax earnings and a slight increase in the Company's effective income tax rate. The effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 1998 was 37.3%, up from 37.1% in the prior year. The increase in the Company's effective income tax rate in 1998 was due to a non-recurring tax benefit in the amount of $260 thousand the Company recorded in 1997 as a result of having donated appreciated securities to establish and endow a tax exempt private foundation. This reduced the effective income tax rate for 1997. In 1998, there were two factors which reduced the effective income tax rate for the year. The Company, in 1998, received a state tax refund, net of federal tax, of approximately $44 thousand due to the settlement of a state tax issue from prior years. It also changed its year-end for tax filing purposes from October 31 to December 31. This change, because of the bank tax reform legislation signed into law in 1995 which lowered the bank tax rate from 12.54% to 10.50% over five years, accelerated the scheduled reduction in the Bank's state excise tax rate by one full year from 11.32% to 10.91%. For years beginning after 1998, the rate is 10.50%. For further information on income taxes, see Note 12 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Comparison of the Years 1997 and 1996 MASSBANK Corp. recorded record net income for the year ended December 31, 1997 of $10.2 million or $2.88 in basic earnings per share compared to $9.4 million or $2.65 in basic earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 1996. On a diluted basis, the Company earned $2.77 per share in 1997, up 7.4% or $0.19 per share from the $2.58 in diluted earnings per share reported in 1996. In 1997, MASSBANK achieved record breaking results in net income, earnings per share and return on average realized equity, and increased its return on average assets. Return on average realized equity and return on average assets improved to 11.11% and 1.12% in 1997 from 11.01% and 1.08% in 1996, respectively. The Company's favorable financial performance in 1997 can be attributed to an improvement in net interest income and higher securities gains, partially offset by an increase in non-interest expenses and provision for loan losses. Also, in 1997, the Bank received a non-recurring tax benefit of approximately $260 thousand from a donation of appreciated securities made to endow the Massbank Charitable Foundation, a tax exempt private foundation established for the purpose of making grants in future years to benefit the Bank's local communities. NET INTEREST INCOME The Company's net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent ("FTE") basis was $26.2 million in 1997, an increase of $1.0 million over the prior year. This year's improvement in net interest income reflects the positive effect of earning asset growth exceeding the negative effect of a slightly lower net interest margin. The Company's average earning assets increased $42.3 million or 5% to $894.6 million in 1997, up from $852.3 million in 1996. The Company's net interest margin was 2.93% in 1997, slightly below its 1996 net interest margin of 2.96%. The tables on pages 19 and 20 set forth, among other things, the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in the average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities have affected interest income and expense during the years indicated. For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes due to (1) changes in volume and (2) changes in interest rates. INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME Interest and dividend income on a fully taxable equivalent basis was $60.9 million for the year ended December 31, 1997, compared to $58.3 million for the year ended December 31, 1996. The average total earning assets of the Company increased to $894.6 million in 1997, up $42.3 million from $852.3 million in 1996. As reflected in the table on page 19, the combination of yield declines in loans and investment securities, partially offset by yield increases in federal funds sold and short-term investments, resulted in an overall decline in yield on total average earning assets of 3 basis points. The weighted average yield on earning assets for the year ended December 31, 1997 was 6.81% compared to 6.84% in the prior year. 12 6 INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME (CONTINUED) As exhibited in the rate/volume analysis table on page 20, the total effect of lower market interest rates on interest income in 1997 was a $270 thousand decline from 1996. Conversely, the total effect of higher average earning assets on interest income in 1997 was a $2.9 million increase over 1996, resulting in a net increase in total interest and dividend income of $2.6 million over 1996. INTEREST EXPENSE Total interest expense increased 4.9% to $34.7 million for the year ended December 31, 1997 from $33.1 million for the year ended December 31, 1996. This increase is due to an increase in the Company's average deposits, from $774.4 million in 1996 to $807.3 million in 1997, coupled with an increase in the Company's average cost of funds from 4.27% in 1996 to 4.30% in 1997. The increase in the Company's average total deposits in 1997 is attributable to the deposits acquired in connection with the Glendale purchase and internal growth. As reflected in the table on page 19, the migration from lower cost savings deposits to higher cost CDs, combined with the growth in CDs in 1997, contributed significantly to the Company's increased cost of funds in 1997. As exhibited in the rate/volume analysis table on page 20, the effect on total interest expense from changes in interest bearing deposit rates from a year ago was a $219 thousand decrease from 1996. Conversely, the total effect of higher average deposits on interest expense in 1997 was a $1.8 million increase over 1996, resulting in a net increase in total interest expense of $1.6 million over 1996. PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES The provision for loan losses in 1997 was $260 thousand compared to $160 thousand in 1996. In determining the amount to provide for loan losses, the key factor is the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. In making its decision, management considers a number of factors, including the risk characteristics of the portfolio, underlying collateral, current and anticipated economic conditions, and trends in loan delinquencies and charge-offs. At December 31, 1997, the allowance for loan losses was $2.3 million representing 131.8% of non-performing loans. The Bank's non-performing loans totaled $1.8 million at December 31, 1997 compared to $1.6 million a year earlier. Net charge-offs totaled $268 thousand in 1997 compared to $452 thousand in 1996. Management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate to cover the risks inherent in the loan portfolio under current conditions. NON-INTEREST INCOME Non-interest income consists of gains or losses on securities, deposit account service fees, and other non-interest income. Non-interest income increased to $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 1997, from $2.7 million for the year ended December 31, 1996. This improvement is due to an increase in securities gains in 1997. Net gains on securities totaled $1.9 million in 1997 compared to $868 thousand in 1996. Included in the $1.9 million in securities gains is $620 thousand in market appreciation on securities contributed to the Massbank Charitable Foundation. All other non-interest income combined increased $62 thousand to $1.9 million from $1.8 million in the prior year. NON-INTEREST EXPENSE Non-interest expenses (i.e., operating expenses) increased by $1.3 million in 1997, from $12.1 million a year ago. This increase is due largely to an increase in those expenses which are tied to the Company's stock performance and non-recurring expenses incurred in 1997 which are summarized below: Salaries and employee benefits increased by $528 thousand or 7.3%, to $7.7 million in 1997, from $7.2 million in 1996. The increase reflects a $247 thousand increase in Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") and Deferred Compensation Plan expenses which are tied to MASSBANK Corp.'s stock performance. The price of MASSBANK Corp. stock increased by $19.03 or 66.6% in 1997, from $28.59 at December 31, 1996 to $47.62 at December 31, 1997. In addition, salaries increased by $289 thousand due primarily to normal salary increases granted to employees. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the costs of employee retirement benefits of $86 thousand. The expense for all other employee benefits combined increased $78 thousand over 1996. Occupancy and equipment expense increased by $119 thousand to $2.1 million in 1997. This is due largely to an increase in depreciation expense resulting from building and leasehold improvements and the computer equipment that the bank purchased in conjunction with its computer conversion in July, 1997. The Bank made this change to its computer systems to enhance its technological capabilities in order to better service its customers and continue to provide increased efficiencies throughout the bank. Data processing expenses were reduced by $170 thousand to $438 thousand in 1997, from $608 the previous year. This decrease reflects $150 thousand in total credits the bank negotiated as part of its initial contract with a new data center which it converted to in July, 1997. The temporary reduction in data processing expense was used to defray nonrecurring expenses which the bank incurred in converting to the new data center. 13 7 NON-INTEREST EXPENSE (CONTINUED) Professional services expenses increased by $67 thousand to $407 thousand in 1997, from $340 thousand in 1996. This increase was due mostly to an increase of $40 thousand in legal fees. The non-recurring merger and acquisition related expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition of the Glendale Co-operative Bank totaled $156 thousand in 1997. Advertising and marketing expenses were reduced by $33 thousand to $187 thousand in 1997, from $220 thousand in 1996. The amortization of intangibles expense was $251 thousand in 1997, up from $230 thousand in 1996. This increase is due to the Glendale acquisition. Deposit insurance expense in 1997 increased $103 thousand over 1996 due to increases in the FDIC deposit insurance and Depositors Insurance Fund ("DIF") assessments. The DIF insures customer deposits in excess of the FDIC insurance limits. The increased assessments are attributable to higher deposit volume and the FDIC's Financing Corporation (FICO) debt service assessment which became applicable to all insured institutions as of January 1, 1997, in accordance with the Deposit Insurance Act of 1996. The bank's contributions expense increased to $664 thousand in 1997, from $60 thousand in the prior year. In the second quarter 1997, the bank established and endowed a tax exempt private foundation the "MASSBANK Charitable Foundation" for the purpose of making grants in future years to benefit the bank's local communities. The bank contributed appreciated equity securities valued at $622 thousand. This expense will benefit the bank by reducing its contributions expense in future years, since many of the contributions previously made by the bank will now be made by the Foundation. Other expenses were reduced by $94 thousand to $1.4 million in 1997, from $1.5 million in 1996. This decrease is essentially due to a reduction in real estate acquired through foreclosure expenses. INCOME TAX EXPENSE The Company recorded a tax expense of $6.0 million in 1997 and 1996. The effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 1997 was 37.1%, a decrease from 38.9% in 1996. In 1997, the Bank received a non-recurring tax benefit of approximately $260 thousand as a result of having donated appreciated securities to establish and endow the MASSBANK Charitable Foundation. For further information on income taxes, see Note 12 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES The Bank must maintain a sufficient level of cash and assets which can readily be converted into cash in order to meet cash outflows from normal depositor requirements and loan demands. The Bank's primary sources of funds are deposits, loan amortization and prepayments, sales or maturities of investment securities and income on earning assets. In addition to loan payments and maturing investment securities, which are relatively predictable sources of funds, the Bank maintains a high percentage of its assets invested in overnight federal funds sold, which can be immediately converted into cash, and United States Treasury and Government agency securities, which can be sold or pledged to raise funds. At December 31, 1998, the Bank had $123.2 million or 13.0% of total assets and $124.0 million or 13.1% of total assets invested, respectively, in overnight federal funds sold and United States obligations. The Bank is a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured institution subject to the FDIC regulatory capital requirements. The FDIC regulations require all FDIC insured institutions to maintain minimum levels of Tier I capital. Highly rated banks (i.e., those with a composite rating of 1 under the CAMELS rating system) are required to maintain a minimum leverage ratio of Tier I capital to total average assets of at least 3.00%. An additional 100 to 200 basis points are required for all but these most highly rated institutions. The Bank is also required to maintain a minimum level of risk-based capital. Under the new risk-based capital standards, FDIC insured institutions must maintain a Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 4.00% and are generally expected to meet a minimum total qualifying capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 8.00%. The new risk-based capital guidelines take into consideration risk factors, as defined by the regulators, associated with various categories of assets, both on and off the balance sheet. Under the guidelines, capital strength is measured in two tiers which are used in conjunction with risk adjusted assets to determine the risk-based capital ratios. Tier II capital components include supplemental capital components such as qualifying allowance for loan losses, qualifying subordinated debt and up to 45 percent of the pretax net unrealized holding gains on certain available for sale equity securities. Tier I capital plus the Tier II capital components are referred to as total qualifying capital. The capital ratios of the Bank and the Company currently exceed the minimum regulatory requirements. At December 31, 1998, the Bank had a leverage Tier I capital to average assets ratio of 10.34%, a Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 31.59% and a total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 34.00%. The Company, on a consolidated basis, had ratios of leverage Tier I capital to average assets of 10.61%, Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets of 32.40% and total capital to risk-weighted assets of 34.81% at December 31, 1998. 14 8 YEAR 2000 ISSUE As we near the 21st century, MASSBANK is taking important steps to tackle the computer glitch dubbed the Year 2000 Problem, Y2K, or Millennium Bug. The problem originated from software designers' attempt to save memory by recording years in a two digit format "98" instead of "1998" for example which didn't take into account that the year 2000, or "00" could also be interpreted, by any system that has time sensitive software, as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000. This could result in a system failure or in miscalculations. In May 1997, the Company organized a Year 2000 project team to address the Y2K critical issues in order to resolve its Year 2000 computer problems. The project team provides direct oversight of the Year 2000 initiative. The Company's Board of Directors receives project updates on a quarterly basis and the Bank's Board of Directors receives a monthly project update. The project team has completed its assessment of the Company's technology and non-information technology systems, such as vault doors, elevators, and security systems, to identify the systems that could be affected by the Year 2000 issue and has developed a plan to address this issue. The project plan, which incorporates the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council ("FFIEC") recommended guidelines, encompasses a service bureau for systems that are outsourced, in-house systems, vendors, customers and suppliers (including correspondent banks). In addition to addressing the Company's technology issues, the project plan includes a customer awareness program designed to keep the bank's customers informed about the Year 2000 issue and the Company's state of readiness. The Company has incurred and will continue to incur expenses in connection with the testing and upgrading of its computer systems to prepare for the Year 2000. Year 2000 project expenditures approximated $53 thousand in 1998. Approximately $33 thousand of the expenditures were expensed as incurred, while the cost of new hardware and software of approximately $20 thousand was capitalized and will be amortized over the software and hardware's useful life. The capitalized expenditures represent the cost of a new general ledger system and the replacement of some personal computers that were not Year 2000 ready. Expenses for the remainder of the Year 2000 project are not expected to exceed $300 thousand. This includes an estimated $150 thousand to upgrade the Bank's check processing equipment. Since the majority of these expenditures will be to replace or upgrade existing hardware and software, the majority of these expenditures will be capitalized and amortized in accordance with the Company's standard accounting practices. The Company relies on a third party service bureau for its primary business processes (e.g., loans and deposits applications). It continues to work closely with the service bureau to monitor the progress of their Year 2000 efforts. The service bureau's Y2K remediation efforts are also being monitored by the federal banking regulators. The service bureau expects to have substantially completed the remediation and testing of all its applications by the end of the first quarter of 1999. The Company's testing with the service bureau that began April 1998 is expected to be substantially completed by the end of the second quarter of 1999. However, the Company expects to continue testing into the third quarter of 1999. The Company has made significant progress in testing, upgrading, and/or replacing its information systems to assure Y2K compliance. The testing of all of the Company's computer hardware and mission critical internal information systems has been substantially completed, with the exception of its trust and items processing department systems. These systems are being replaced with hardware and software that is Year 2000 ready. The delivery of these systems is expected by May 1999 and the Company expects testing to be substantially completed by the end of the second quarter of 1999. Most of the Company's other date sensitive systems operate on software supported by outside vendors. The Company continues to monitor the progress of their Year 2000 efforts and is seeking to receive written verification from these vendors as to their Year 2000 readiness. Testing of the Company's non-mission critical internal information systems and interfaces is expected to be substantially completed by June 30, 1999. Examination of the Company's non-information technology systems indicated that no significant replacements are required for Year 2000 readiness. While the Company continues to receive written verification from its service bureau and vendors as to their Year 2000 compliance, and continues to test their systems, there is no guarantee that these systems will not fail in the Year 2000. Also, there can be no assurance that the systems of other companies, banks, government agencies, etc. that interface with the Company will be timely remediated. If they are not successful, the Year 2000 problem could have a material effect on the Company's operations. The Company, therefore, has drafted contingency and business resumption plans for its primary lines of business. These plans are being enhanced to address potential Year 2000 scenarios. This process will be completed by the end of the second quarter of 1999. The expenditures of the project and the dates on which the Bank plans to complete Year 2000 testing and contingency and business resumption plans, are based on management's best estimates, which were derived utilizing numerous assumptions of future events including the continued availablility of certain resources, third party modification plans and other factors. Management presently does not believe that the Year 2000 issue will result in significant operational problems for the Company. In addition, the Company's efforts to address the Year 2000 issue are being monitored by its federal banking regulators. Failure to be Year 2000 compliant on a timely basis could subject the Company to formal supervisory or enforcement actions. 15 9 ASSET AND LIABILITY MANAGEMENT The goal of asset/liability management is to ensure that liquidity, capital and market risk are prudently managed. Asset/liability management is governed by policies reviewed and approved annually by the Bank's Board of Directors (the "Board"). The Board establishes policy limits for long-term interest rate risk assumption and delegates responsibility for monitoring and measuring the Company's exposure to interest rate risk to the Asset/Liability Committee ("ALCO"). The ALCO which is comprised of members of the Company's Board of Directors, members of senior management and the bank's comptroller, generally meets quarterly to review the economic environment and the volume, mix and maturity of the Company's assets and liabilities. INTEREST RATE RISK The primary goal of interest-rate risk management is to control the Company's exposure to interest rate risk both within limits approved by the Board and within narrower guidelines approved by ALCO. These limits and guidelines reflect the Company's tolerance for interest rate risk over both short-term and long-term time horizons. The Company monitors its interest rate exposures using a variety of financial tools. It also produces a GAP analysis quarterly, reflecting the known or assumed maturity, repricing and other cash flow characteristics of the Company's interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Interest rate risk materializes in two forms, market value risk and reinvestment risk. Financial instruments calling for future cash flows show market value increases or decreases when rates change. Management monitors the potential change in market value of the Company's debt securities assuming an immediate (parallel) shift in interest rates of up to 200 basis points up or down. Results are calculated using industry standard modeling analytics and securities data from The Bloomberg. The Company uses the results to review the potential changes in market value resulting from immediate rate shifts and to manage the effect of market value changes on the Company's capital position. Reinvestment risk occurs when an asset and the liability funding the asset do not reprice and/or mature at the same time. The difference or mismatch with respect to repricing frequency and/or maturity is a risk to net interest income. Complicating management's efforts to control the Company's exposure to interest rate risk is the fundamental uncertainty of the maturity, repricing and/or runoff characteristics of a significant portion of the Company's assets and liabilities. This uncertainty often reflects optional features embedded in these financial instruments. The most important optional features are embedded in the Company's deposits, loans and mortgage-backed securities. For example, many of the Company's interest-bearing deposit products (e.g., savings, money market deposit accounts and NOW accounts) have no contractual maturity. Customers have the right to withdraw funds from these deposit accounts freely. Deposit balances may therefore run off unexpectedly due to changes in competitive or market conditions. In addition, when market interest rates rise, customers with time certificates of deposit ("CDs") often pay a penalty to redeem their CDs and reinvest at higher rates. Given the uncertainties surrounding deposit runoff and repricing, the interest rate sensitivity of the Company's liabilities cannot be determined precisely. Similarly, customers have the right to prepay loans, particularly residential mortgage loans, usually without penalty. As a result, the Company's mortgage based assets (i.e., mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities) are subject to prepayment risk. This risk tends to increase when interest rates fall due to the benefits of refinancing. Since the future prepayment behavior of the Company's customers is uncertain, the interest rate sensitivity of mortgage based assets cannot be determined exactly. Management monitors and adjusts the difference between the Company's interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities repricing within various time frames ("GAP position"). GAP analysis provides a static view of the maturity and repricing characteristics of the Company's balance sheet positions. The interest rate GAP is prepared by scheduling all interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities according to scheduled or anticipated repricing or maturity. The GAP analysis identifies the difference between an institution's assets and liabilities that will react to a change in market rates. GAP analysis theory postulates that if the GAP is positive and rates increase, profits will increase as more assets than liabilities react to the rate change. If the GAP is negative, more liabilities than assets will react to a change in market rates. If rates rise, the institution's profits will fall as more liabilities react to market rates than assets. In contrast, however, the Company's one-year GAP position in recent years has been negative and its net interest income has moved in the same direction as the change in market rates rather than in the opposite direction as GAP analysis theory postulates. One of the more significant reasons for this is the fact that a GAP presentation does not reflect the degrees to which interest earning assets and deposit costs respond to changes in market interest rates. The rates on all financial instruments do not always move by the same amount as the general change in market rates. In addition, the Company has elected, in recent years, either not to raise rates or to raise rates by a modest amount on its savings and transaction-oriented accounts in response to a change in market rates. It should be noted that for the above two reasons, among others, the Company's net interest income has moved in the same direction as market interest rates in the past and are likely to in the near future despite having a negative cumulative one-year GAP position. 16 10 INTEREST RATE RISK (CONTINUED) The Company's policy is to limit its one-year GAP position to 15 percent of total assets. The Company has historically managed its interest rate GAP primarily by lengthening or shortening the maturity structure of its securities portfolio, by continually modifying the composition of its securities portfolio and by selectively pricing and marketing its various deposit products. The following table summarizes the Company's GAP position at December 31, 1998. As of this date, the Company's one-year cumulative GAP position was negative $21.6 million, or approximately 2.28% of total assets. The cumulative GAP-asset ratio measures the direction and extent of imbalance between an institution's assets and liabilities repricing through the end of a particular period. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTEREST SENSITIVITY PERIODS 3 MONTHS 3 TO 6 6 MONTHS 1 TO 5 OVER (IN THOUSANDS) OR LESS MONTHS TO 1 YEAR YEARS 5 YEARS TOTAL - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS: Loans $ 32,525 $ 14,469 $ 30,637 $165,685 $ 61,673 $304,989 Short-term investments: Federal funds sold 123,207 -- -- -- -- 123,207 Investment in money market funds 24,569 -- -- -- -- 24,569 Term federal funds sold 25,000 -- -- -- -- 25,000 Interest-bearing deposits in banks 544 749 -- 740 -- 2,033 Securities held to maturity 42 82 -- 230 -- 354 Securities available for sale 60,306 27,401 48,818 212,210 69,391 418,126 Trading securities 30,793 -- -- -- -- 30,793 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total interest-earning assets $296,986 $ 42,701 $ 79,455 $378,865 $131,064 $929,071 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES: Deposits $277,176 $ 83,556 $ 79,989 $ 99,968 $260,931 $801,620 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total interest-bearing liabilities $277,176 $ 83,556 $ 79,989 $ 99,968 $260,931 $801,620 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GAP for period $ 19,810 $(40,855) $ (534) $278,897 $129,867) $127,451 Cumulative GAP $ 19,810 $(21,045) $(21,579) $257,318 $127,451 Cumulative GAP as a percent of total assets 2.09% (2.22%) (2.28%) 27.18% 13.46% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cumulative GAP - December 31, 1997 $(52,503) $(85,716) $(99,394) $186,310 $115,560 ============================================================================================================================== 17 11 INTEREST RATE RISK (CONTINUED) The following table shows the Company's financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates, categorized by expected maturity, and the instruments' fair values as of December 31, 1998. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXPECTED MATURITY DATE AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FAIR VALUE (IN THOUSANDS) 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 THEREAFTER TOTAL AT 12/31/98 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTEREST SENSITIVE ASSETS: Fixed rate securities $111,888 $ 81,582 $56,145 $48,685 $26,028 $ 69,391 $393,719 $393,719 Average interest rate(1) 6.40% 6.56% 6.54% 6.58% 6.77% 6.61% 6.54% Variable rate securities 52,373 979 -- -- -- 2,202 55,554 55,554 Average interest rate(1) 4.18% 4.61% -- -- -- 6.49% 4.28% Fixed rate loans 50,443 39,631 32,807 28,677 30,437 59,948 241,943 248,997 Average interest rate 6.99% 6.99% 7.01% 7.04% 6.99% 6.93% 6.98% Variable rate loans 13,313 10,501 7,562 5,720 4,353 21,597 63,046 63,841 Average interest rate 7.64% 7.61% 7.62% 7.67% 7.74% 8.13% 7.81% Other fixed rate assets 26,293 639 101 -- -- -- 27,033 27,033 Average interest rate 5.54% 6.11% 5.50% -- -- -- 5.55% Other variable rate assets 147,776 -- -- -- -- -- 147,776 147,776 Average interest rate 4.96% -- -- -- -- -- 4.96% - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total interest sensitive assets $402,086 $133,332 $96,615 $83,082 $60,818 $153,138 $929,071 $936,920 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTEREST SENSITIVE LIABILITIES: Savings and money market deposit accounts $ 5,504 $ 3,901 $ 3,804 $ 3,714 $ 3,631 $327,495 $348,049 $348,049 Average interest rate 3.23% 3.20% 3.21% 3.21% 3.22% 3.44% 3.43% Fixed rate certificates of deposit 251,132 56,103 9,428 1,134 538 156 318,491 320,007 Average interest rate 5.22% 5.26% 5.25% 5.40% 5.19% 4.92% 5.23% Variable rate certificates of deposit 33,730 28,772 19,415 116 -- -- 82,033 82,033 Average interest rate 5.79% 5.90% 6.02% 6.02% -- -- 5.88% NOW accounts -- -- -- -- -- 52,324 52,324 52,324 Average interest rate -- -- -- -- -- 1.16% 1.16% Escrow deposits of borrowers 1,438 -- -- -- -- -- 1,438 1,438 Average interest rate 0.25% -- -- -- -- -- 0.25% Deposit acquisition premium, net of amortization (226) (230) (230) (29) -- -- (715) -- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total interest sensitive liabilities $291,578 $ 88,546 $32,417 $ 4,935 $ 4,169 $379,975 $801,620 $803,851 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (1) Securities rates presented are on a tax equivalent basis. The Company uses certain assumptions to estimate fair values and expected maturities. For interest-sensitive assets, expected maturities are based upon contractual maturity, and projected repayments and prepayments of principal. For interest-sensitive deposit liabilities, maturities are based on contractual maturity and estimated deposit runoff based on the Bank's own historical experience. The actual maturity of the Company's financial instruments could vary significantly from what has been presented in the above table if actual experience differs from the assumptions used. OTHER MARKET RISKS The Company's investment securities portfolio includes equity securities with a market value of approximately $21.6 million at December 31, 1998. The net unrealized gains on these securities totaled $10.5 million at year-end 1998. Movements in equity prices may effect the amount of securities gains or losses which the Company realizes from the sale of these securities and thus may have an impact on earnings. 18 12 AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS ================================================================================================================================== (IN THOUSANDS) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTEREST AVERAGE INTEREST AVERAGE INTEREST AVERAGE AVERAGE INCOME/ YIELD/ AVERAGE INCOME/ YIELD/ AVERAGE INCOME/ YIELD/ BALANCE(4) EXPENSE RATE(4) BALANCE(4) EXPENSE RATE(4) BALANCE(4) EXPENSE RATE(4) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS: Earning assets: Federal funds sold $ 137,123 $ 7,316 5.34% $106,890 $ 5,840 5.46% $ 95,253 $ 5,084 5.34% Short-term investments(2) 26,792 1,440 5.37 26,369 1,459 5.53 23,656 1,259 5.32 Investment securities 145,863 8,473 5.81 166,949 10,554 6.32 194,229 12,586 6.48 Mortgage-backed securities 299,368 20,496 6.85 321,521 22,368 6.96 277,409 19,353 6.98 Trading securities 16,460 819 4.98 12,741 735 5.77 9,719 563 5.79 Mortgage loans(1) 264,898 19,413 7.33 235,587 17,704 7.51 225,005 16,933 7.53 Other loans(1) 22,375 2,021 9.03 24,584 2,224 9.05 26,993 2,481 9.19 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total earning assets 912,879 59,978 6.56% 894,641 60,884 6.81% 852,264 58,259 6.84% ================================================================================================================================== Allowance for loan losses (2,375) (2,245) (2,414) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total earning assets less allowance for loan losses 910,504 892,396 849,850 Other assets 19,512 18,956 19,194 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets $ 930,016 $911,352 $869,044 ================================================================================================================================== LIABILITIES: Deposits: Demand and NOW $ 70,159 554 0.79% $ 65,895 536 0.81% $ 63,969 574 0.90% Savings 349,637 11,959 3.42 355,395 12,240 3.44 358,056 12,268 3.43 Time certificates of deposit 391,816 21,807 5.57 386,062 21,905 5.67 352,385 20,220 5.74 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deposits 811,612 34,320 4.23 807,352 34,681 4.30 774,410 33,062 4.27 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other liabilities 9,776 7,296 6,106 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities 821,388 814,648 780,516 ================================================================================================================================== STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: 108,628 96,704 88,528 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 930,016 $911,352 $869,044 ================================================================================================================================== Net interest income (tax- equivalent basis) 25,658 26,203 25,197 Less adjustment of tax- exempt interest income (144) (151) (150) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net interest income $ 25,514 $ 26,052 $ 25,047 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interest rate spread 2.33% 2.51% 2.57% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net interest margin(3) 2.81% 2.93% 2.96% ================================================================================================================================== (1) Loans on nonaccrual status are included in the average balance. (2) Short-term investments consist of interest-bearing deposits in banks and investments in money market funds. (3) Net interest income (tax equivalent basis) before provision for loan losses divided by average interest-earning assets. (4) Includes the effects of SFAS No. 115. 19 13 RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS The following table presents, for the years indicated, the changes in interest and dividend income and the changes in interest expense attributable to changes in interest rates and changes in the volume of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. A change attributable to both volume and rate has been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and the change due to rate. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1998 COMPARED TO 1997 1997 COMPARED TO 1996 (IN THOUSANDS) INCREASE (DECREASE) INCREASE (DECREASE) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, DUE TO DUE TO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VOLUME RATE TOTAL VOLUME RATE TOTAL - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME: Federal funds sold $ 1,616 $ (140) $ 1,476 $ 634 $ 122 $ 756 Short-term investments 23 (42) (19) 148 52 200 Investment securities (1,248) (826) (2,074) (1,708) (325) (2,033) Trading securities 194 (110) 84 174 (2) 172 Mortgage-backed securities (1,521) (351) (1,872) 3,069 (54) 3,015 Mortgage loans 2,157 (448) 1,709 795 (24) 771 Other loans (200) (3) (203) (218) (39) (257) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total interest and dividend income 1,021 (1,920) (899) 2,894 (270) 2,624 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTEREST EXPENSE: Deposits: Demand and NOW 34 (16) 18 17 (55) (38) Savings (197) (84) (281) (92) 64 (28) Time certificates of deposit 324 (422) (98) 1,913 (228) 1,685 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total interest expense 161 (522) (361) 1,838 (219) 1,619 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net interest income $ 860 $(1,398) $ (538) $ 1,056 $ (51) $ 1,005 ============================================================================================================== IMPACT OF INFLATION AND CHANGING PRICES MASSBANK Corp.'s financial statements presented herein have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles which require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars, without considering changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time, due to the fact that substantially all of the assets and liabilities of a financial institution are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates have a more significant impact on a financial institution's performance than the effects of general levels of inflation. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or in the same magnitude as the prices of goods and services. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." This Statement establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, (collectively referred to as derivatives) and for hedging activities. It requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in its balance sheet and measure those instruments at fair market value. Under this Statement, an entity that elects to apply hedge accounting is required to establish at the inception of the hedge the method it will use for assessing the effectiveness of the hedging derivative and the measurement approach for determining the ineffective aspect of the hedge. This Statement is effective for all fiscal quarters of fiscal years beginning after June 15, 1999. This Statement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements. 20 14 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT [KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP LOGO OMITTED] The Board of Directors and Stockholders MASSBANK Corp.: We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of MASSBANK Corp. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of MASSBANK Corp. and subsidiaries at December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Boston, Massachusetts January 11, 1999 21 15 MASSBANK CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE DATA) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS: Cash and due from banks $ 7,038 $ 6,808 Short-term investments (Note 2) 147,776 109,755 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total cash and cash equivalents 154,814 116,563 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Term federal funds sold 25,000 20,000 Interest-bearing deposits in banks 2,033 2,083 Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost (market value of $354 in 1998 and $372 in 1997) (Note 3) 354 372 Securities available for sale, at market value (amortized cost of $398,343 in 1998 and $466,749 in 1997) (Note 3) 418,126 482,224 Trading securities, at market value (Note 4) 30,793 21,260 Loans (Notes 5, 7 and 11): Mortgage loans 283,654 248,798 Other loans 21,335 23,505 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total loans 304,989 272,303 Less: allowance for loan losses (Note 6) (2,450) (2,334) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net loans 302,539 269,969 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Premises and equipment (Note 9) 4,320 4,369 Real estate acquired through foreclosure (Note 7) 86 -- Accrued interest receivable 5,058 5,395 Goodwill 1,387 1,487 Other assets 2,115 1,681 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets $946,625 $925,403 ===================================================================================================== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Deposits (Notes 10 and 11): Demand and NOW $ 76,173 $ 66,859 Savings 348,049 352,875 Time certificates of deposit 400,524 391,034 Deposit acquisition premium, net of amortization (715) (918) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deposits 824,031 809,850 Escrow deposits of borrowers 1,438 1,502 Employee stock ownership plan liability (Note 15) 625 781 Accrued and deferred income taxes payable (Note 12) 7,484 6,167 Other liabilities 2,558 3,324 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities 836,136 821,624 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commitments and contingent liabilities (Notes 8 and 9) Stockholders' equity (Notes 12, 14, 15 and 16): -- -- Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized, none issued -- -- Common stock, par value $1.00 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized, 7,384,332 and 7,336,800 shares issued, respectively 7,384 7,337 Additional paid-in capital 60,003 58,737 Retained earnings 78,308 70,984 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 145,695 137,058 Treasury stock at cost, 3,885,222 and 3,766,022 shares, respectively (46,272) (41,569) Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note 1) 11,691 9,071 Common stock acquired by ESOP (Note 15) (625) (781) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total stockholders' equity 110,489 103,779 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $946,625 $925,403 ===================================================================================================== See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 22 16 MASSBANK CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE DATA) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME: Mortgage loans $ 19,413 $ 17,704 $ 16,933 Other loans 2,021 2,224 2,481 Securities available for sale: Mortgage-backed securities 20,496 22,368 19,353 Other securities 8,310 10,385 12,425 Trading securities 819 735 563 Federal funds sold 7,316 5,840 5,084 Other investments 1,459 1,477 1,270 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total interest and dividend income 9,834 60,733 58,109 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTEREST EXPENSE: Deposits: NOW 554 536 574 Savings 11,959 12,240 12,268 Time certificates of deposit 21,807 21,905 20,220 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total interest expense 34,320 34,681 33,062 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net interest income 25,514 26,052 25,047 PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES (NOTE 6) 193 260 160 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net interest income after provision for loan losses 25,321 25,792 24,887 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NON-INTEREST INCOME: Deposit account service fees 811 924 932 Gains on securities, net 2,893 1,939 868 Other 886 935 865 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total non-interest income 4,590 3,798 2,665 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NON-INTEREST EXPENSE: Salaries and employee benefits 7,426 7,743 7,215 Occupancy and equipment 2,059 2,096 1,977 Data processing 510 438 608 Professional services 461 407 340 Merger and acquisition related expense -- 156 -- Advertising and marketing 171 187 220 Amortization of intangibles 302 251 230 Deposit insurance 116 116 13 Contributions 14 664 60 Other 1,456 1,367 1,461 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total non-interest expense 12,515 13,425 12,124 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Income before income taxes 17,396 16,165 15,428 INCOME TAX EXPENSE (NOTE 12) 6,482 5,998 6,001 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net income $ 10,914 $ 10,167 $ 9,427 ====================================================================================================== WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING: Basic 3,528,817 3,524,657 3,556,660 Diluted 3,676,642 3,663,310 3,658,505 EARNINGS PER SHARE (IN DOLLARS): Basic $ 3.09 $ 2.88 $ 2.65 Diluted 2.97 2.77 2.58 ====================================================================================================== See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 23 17 MASSBANK CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (IN THOUSANDS) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 10,914 $ 10,167 $ 9,427 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 928 853 735 Loan interest capitalized (88) -- -- Amortization of ESOP shares committed to be released 243 184 63 Charitable contribution of appreciated securities -- 622 5 Decrease in accrued interest receivable 337 464 1,633 (Decrease) increase in other liabilities (734) 56 (388) (Decrease) increase in current income taxes payable (517) 435 (75) Accretion of discounts on securities, net of amortization of premiums (1,152) (1,178) (1,052) Net trading securities activity (8,671) (16,480) 2,065 Gains on securities available for sale (2,798) (1,831) (950) (Gains) losses on trading securities (95) (108) 82 Increase in deferred mortgage loan origination fees, net of amortization 231 168 114 Deferred income tax (benefit) expense 146 (372) 238 Decrease (increase) in other assets 85 553 (74) Loans originated for sale (129) (770) (215) Loans sold 129 770 378 Provision for loan losses 193 260 160 Provisions for losses and writedowns on real estate acquired through foreclosure -- (21) 32 Gains on sales of real estate acquired through foreclosure (5) (34) (26) Gains on sales of premises and equipment -- (1) (2) (Decrease) increase in escrow deposits of borrowers (64) 231 279 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities (1,047) (6,032) 12,429 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Cash and cash equivalents for acquisitions -- (2,874) -- Purchases of term federal funds (35,000) (30,000) Proceeds from maturities of term federal funds 30,000 20,000 5,000 Increase in interest-bearing bank deposits (766) (1,649) (810) Proceeds from maturities of interest-bearing bank deposits 816 1,240 -- Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale 26,580 42,741 49,940 Proceeds from maturities of investment securities held to maturity and available for sale 43,650 59,000 86,225 Purchases of investment securities available for sale (59,291) (63,696) (56,196) Purchases of investment securities held to maturity -- (230) -- Purchases of mortgage-backed securities (10,043) (63,661) (135,854) Principal repayments of mortgage-backed securities 70,203 42,246 36,858 Principal repayments of securities held to maturity 18 18 17 Principal repayments of securities available for sale 4 85 -- Loans originated (105,103) (57,787) (51,152) Loan principal payments received 71,687 48,560 49,118 Loans purchased -- (201) -- Purchases of premises and equipment (508) (491) (310) Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment -- 9 2 Proceeds from sale of real estate acquired through foreclosure 316 964 511 Net advances on real estate acquired through foreclosure (20) (30) -- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 32,543 (5,756) (26,651) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Continued) 24 18 MASSBANK CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (IN THOUSANDS) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net increase (decrease) in deposits 13,978 (8,523) 34,463 Payments to acquire treasury stock (4,703) (1,665) (3,534) Issuance of common stock under stock option plan 741 466 738 Tax benefit resulting from stock options exercised 329 260 266 Cash dividends paid on common stock (3,605) (3,124) (2,459) Tax benefit resulting from dividends paid on unallocated shares held by the ESOP 15 15 15 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 6,755 (12,571) 29,489 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 38,251 (24,359) 15,267 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 116,563 140,922 125,655 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 154,814 $ 116,563 $ 140,922 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURES: CASH TRANSACTIONS: Cash paid during the year for interest $ 34,319 $ 34,671 $ 33,026 Cash paid during the year for taxes 6,185 5,237 5,557 NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS: SFAS 115: Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity 2,620 5,070 (3,239) Increase (decrease) in deferred tax liabilities 1,688 3,510 (2,329) Securities reclassified from available for sale to trading 1,111 -- -- Transfers from loans to real estate acquired through foreclosure 377 376 765 Transfers from loans to other assets 56 -- -- Transfers from premises and equipment to other assets 9 -- -- Purchases of securities incomplete (not settled) at beginning of year which settled during the year 32 -- -- Purchase of securities incomplete (not settled) as of year-end 129 32 -- Sales of securities incomplete (not settled) as of year-end 583 -- 30 Cost of donated securities -- 2 -- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In connection with the acquisition of Glendale Co-operative Bank in July, 1997, assets acquired and liabilities assumed were as follows: Assets acquired -- $ 31,561 -- Goodwill -- 1,530 -- Liabilities assumed -- 30,217 -- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 25 19 MASSBANK CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE DATA) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACCUMULATED COMMON ADDITIONAL OTHER STOCK COMMON PAID-IN RETAINED TREASURY COMPREHENSIVE ACQUIRED STOCK CAPITAL EARNINGS STOCK INCOME BY ESOP TOTAL - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at December 31, 1995 $5,425 $56,842 $ 58,773 $(36,370) $ 7,240 $(1,093) $ 90,817 Net Income -- -- 9,427 -- -- -- 9,427 Other comprehensive income, net of tax: Unrealized gains on securities, net of reclassification adjustment -- -- -- -- (3,239) -- (3,239) ------- Comprehensive income -- -- -- -- -- -- 6,188 Cash dividends declared ($0.69 per share) -- -- (2,459) -- -- -- (2,459) Tax benefit resulting from dividends paid on unallocated shares held by the ESOP -- -- 15 -- -- -- 15 Net decrease in liability to ESOP -- -- -- -- -- 156 156 Amortization of ESOP shares committed to be released -- 63 -- -- -- -- 63 Purchase of treasury stock -- -- -- (3,534) -- -- (3,534) Exercise of stock options and related tax benefits 51 953 -- -- -- -- 1,004 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at December 31, 1996 5,476 57,858 65,756 (39,904) 4,001 (937) 92,250 Net Income -- -- 10,167 -- -- -- 10,167 Other comprehensive income, net of tax: Unrealized gains on securities, net of reclassification adjustment (Note 1) -- -- -- -- 5,070 -- 5,070 ------- Comprehensive income -- -- -- -- -- -- 15,237 Cash dividends declared ($0.885 per share) -- -- (3,124) -- -- -- (3,124) Tax benefit resulting from dividends paid on unallocated shares held by the ESOP -- -- 15 -- -- -- 15 Net decrease in liability to ESOP -- -- -- -- -- 156 156 Amortization of ESOP shares committed to be released -- 184 -- -- -- -- 184 Purchase of treasury stock -- -- -- (1,665) -- -- (1,665) Exercise of stock options and related tax benefits 31 695 -- -- -- -- 726 Transfer resulting from four-for-three stock split 1,830 -- (1,830) -- -- -- -- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at December 31, 1997 7,337 58,737 70,984 (41,569) 9,071 (781) 103,779 Net Income -- -- 10,914 -- -- -- 10,914 Other comprehensive income, net of tax: Unrealized gains on securities, net of reclassification adjustment (Note 1) -- -- -- -- 2,620 -- 2,620 ------- Comprehensive income -- -- -- -- -- -- 13,534 Cash dividends declared ($1.02 per share) -- -- (3,605) -- -- -- (3,605) Tax benefit resulting from dividends paid on unallocated shares held by the ESOP -- -- 15 -- -- -- 15 Net decrease in liability to ESOP -- -- -- -- -- 156 156 Amortization of ESOP shares committed to be released -- 243 -- -- -- -- 243 Purchase of treasury stock -- -- -- (4,703) -- -- (4,703) Exercise of stock options and related tax benefits 47 1,023 -- -- -- -- 1,070 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at December 31, 1998 $7,384 $60,003 $ 78,308 $(46,272) $ 11,691 $ (625) $ 110,489 =================================================================================================================================== See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 26 20 MASSBANK CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies MASSBANK Corp. (the "Company") is a Delaware chartered holding company whose principal subsidiary is MASSBANK (the "Bank"). The Bank operates fifteen full service banking offices in Reading, Melrose, Stoneham, Wilmington, Medford, Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Westford, Dracut, Lowell and Everett providing a variety of deposit, lending and trust services. As a Massachusetts chartered savings bank whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") and the Depositors Insurance Fund ("DIF"), the activities of the Bank are subject to regulation, supervision and examination by federal and state regulatory authorities, including, but not limited to the FDIC, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks and the DIF. In addition, as a bank holding company, the Company is subject to supervision, examination and regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. BASIS OF PRESENTATION The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary MASSBANK and its subsidiaries: Readibank Properties, Inc., Readibank Investment Corporation and Melbank Investment Corporation. The accounts of MASSBANK'S subsidiary, Readibank Equipment Corporation, which was sold in October, 1997 are also included through the sale date. The Company has one reportable operating segment. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to generally accepted accounting principles and to general practices within the banking industry. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and income and expenses for the period. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses. Certain amounts in the prior years' consolidated financial statements were reclassified to permit comparison with the current fiscal year. The Company's reported per share amounts and average common and common equivalent shares outstanding for 1997 and prior years have been restated to reflect the Company's four-for-three stock split of September 15, 1997. INVESTMENTS IN DEBT AND EQUITY SECURITIES Under its investment policy, management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of purchase. Those debt securities that the Company has the intent and the ability to hold to maturity are classified as securities held to maturity and are carried at amortized historical cost. Those securities held for indefinite periods of time and not intended to be held to maturity are classified as available for sale. Securities held for indefinite periods of time include securities that management intends to use as part of its asset/liability management strategy and that may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, changes in prepayment risk, the need to increase regulatory capital and other similar factors. The Company records investment securities available for sale at aggregate market value with the net unrealized holding gains or losses reported, net of tax effect, as a separate component of stockholders' equity until realized. As of December 31, 1998, stockholders' equity included approximately $11.7 million, representing the net unrealized gains on securities available for sale, less applicable income taxes. Investments classified as trading securities are stated at market value with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. Income on debt securities is accrued and included in interest and dividend income. The specific identification method is used to determine realized gains and losses on sales of securities available for sale which are also reported in non-interest income under the caption "gains on securities." When a security suffers a loss in value which is considered other than temporary, such loss is recognized by a charge to earnings. LOANS Loans are reported at the principal amount outstanding, net of unearned fees. Loan origination fees and related direct incremental loan origination costs are offset and the resulting net amount is deferred and amortized over the life of the loan using the level-yield method. The Bank generally does not accrue interest on loans which are 90 days or more past due. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, all interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed from income and all amortization of deferred loan fees is discontinued. Interest received on nonaccrual loans is either applied against principal or reported as income according to management's judgment as to the collectibility of principal. Interest accruals are resumed on such loans only when they are brought current with respect to interest and principal and when, in the judgment of management, the loans are estimated to be fully collectible as to both principal and interest. Impairment on loans for which it is probable that the creditor will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement are measured on a discounted cash flow method, or at the loan's observable market price, or at the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. However, impairment must be measured based on the fair value of the collateral if it is determined that foreclosure is probable. Impaired loans consist of all nonaccrual commercial loans. 27 21 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES The Company maintains an allowance for probable losses that are inherent in the Company's loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses is increased by provisions charged to operations based on management's assessment of many factors including the risk characteristics of the portfolio, underlying collateral, current and anticipated economic conditions that may affect the borrower's ability to pay, and trends in loan delinquencies and charge-offs. Realized losses, net of recoveries, are charged directly to the allowance. While management uses the information available in establishing the allowance for loan losses, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary if economic conditions differ substantially from the assumptions used in making the evaluation. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank's allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require the Bank to recognize additions to the allowance based on judgments different from those of management. PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT Land is carried at cost. Premises, equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization computed primarily by use of the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets or terms of the related leases. REAL ESTATE ACQUIRED THROUGH FORECLOSURE Real estate acquired through foreclosure is comprised of foreclosed properties where the Bank has actually received title and loans determined to be substantially repossessed. Real estate loans that are substantially repossessed include only those loans for which the Bank has taken possession of the collateral but has not completed legal foreclosure proceedings. Loan losses arising from the acquisition of such properties are charged against the allowance for loan losses. Real estate acquired through foreclosure is recorded at the lower of the carrying value of the loan or the fair value of the property constructively or actually received, less estimated costs to sell the property following foreclosure. Operating expenses and any subsequent provisions to reduce the carrying value to fair value are charged to current period earnings. Gains and losses upon disposition are reflected in earnings as realized. GOODWILL The excess of purchase price over the fair value of net assets of acquired companies is classified and reported as goodwill. Goodwill is being amortized using the straight-line method, over 15 years. DEPOSIT ACQUISITION PREMIUM The deposit acquisition premium arising from acquisitions is reported net of accumulated amortization. Such premium is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 10 years. PENSION PLAN The Bank accounts for pension benefits on the net periodic pension cost method for financial reporting purposes. This method recognizes the compensation cost of an employee's pension benefit over that employee's approximate service period. Pension costs are funded in the year of accrual using the aggregate cost method. EMPLOYEES' STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN ("ESOP") The Company recognizes compensation cost equal to the fair value of the ESOP shares committed to be released. Dividends on unallocated ESOP shares are reported as a reduction of accrued interest on the ESOP loan. The Company reports loans from outside lenders to its ESOP as a liability on its balance sheet and reports interest cost on the debt. For earnings per share (EPS) computations, ESOP shares that have been committed to be released are considered outstanding. ESOP shares that have not been committed to be released are not considered outstanding. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION On January 1, 1996, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." The Statement establishes financial accounting and reporting standards for stock-based compensation plans. SFAS No. 123 encourages, but does not require, a fair value based method of accounting for stock-based compensation plans. The Statement allows an entity to continue to measure compensation cost for those plans using the intrinsic value based method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25. For those entities electing to use the intrinsic value based method, SFAS No. 123 requires pro forma disclosures of net income and earnings per share computed as if the fair value based method had been applied. The Company continues to account for stock-based compensation costs under APB Opinion No. 25. 28 22 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." This Statement supersedes APB Opinion No. 15 regarding the presentation of earnings per share ("EPS") on the face of the income statement. SFAS No. 128 replaces the presentation of Primary EPS with a Basic EPS calculation that excludes the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents. The Statement requires a dual presentation of Basic and Diluted EPS, which is computed similarly to Fully Diluted EPS pursuant to APB Opinion No. 15 for all entities with complex capital structures. For earnings per share computations, ESOP shares that have been committed to be released are considered outstanding. ESOP shares that have not been committed to be released are not considered outstanding. All share information set forth herein has been adjusted to reflect the 4-for-3 split of the Company's common stock effective September 15, 1997. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and due from banks,and short-term investments with original maturities of less than 90 days. As a nonmember of the Federal Reserve System, the Bank is required to maintain certain reserve requirements of vault cash and/or deposits with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The amount of this reserve requirement, included in "Cash and Due from Banks," was $2.7 million and $3.6 million at December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively. INCOME TAXES The Bank recognizes income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are established for the temporary differences between the accounting basis and the tax basis of the Bank's assets and liabilities at enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the amounts related to such temporary differences are realized or settled. The Bank's deferred tax asset is reviewed and adjustments to such asset are recognized as deferred income tax expense or benefit based upon management's judgment relating to the realizability of such asset. Based on the Bank's historical and current pretax earnings, management believes it is more likely than not that the Bank will realize its existing gross deferred tax asset. REPORTING COMPREHENSIVE INCOME The Company has adopted SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income." This Statement establishes standards for the reporting and displaying of comprehensive income. Comprehensive income is defined as "the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources." It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by and distributions to shareholders. The term "comprehensive income" is used in the Statement to describe the total of all components of comprehensive income including net income. Comparative financial statements provided for earlier periods have been reclassified to reflect application of the provisions of the Statement. The adoption of this Statement did not have a material impact on the Company's financial presentation. The Company's other comprehensive income and related tax effect for the year ended December 31, 1998 and the year ended December 31, 1997 is as follows: - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (IN THOUSANDS) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TAX NET- TAX NET- BEFORE-TAX (EXPENSE) OF-TAX BEFORE-TAX (EXPENSE) OF-TAX AMOUNT OR BENEFIT AMOUNT AMOUNT OR BENEFIT AMOUNT - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unrealized gains on securities: Unrealized holding gains arising during period $ 7,106 $(2,864) $ 4,242 $ 10,411 $(4,290) $ 6,121 Less: reclassification adjustment for gains realized in net income (2,798) 1,176 (1,622) (1,831) 780 (1,051) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net unrealized gains 4,308 (1,688) 2,620 8,580 (3,510) 5,070 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other comprehensive income $ 4,308 $(1,688) $ 2,620 $ 8,580 $(3,510) $ 5.070 ====================================================================================================================== 29 23 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) EMPLOYERS' DISCLOSURES ABOUT PENSIONS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS Effective January 1, 1998, the Company adopted SFAS No. 132, "Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits, an amendment of SFAS Nos. 87, 88 and 106." SFAS No. 132 standardizes the disclosure requirements for pensions and other postretirement benefits to the extent practicable, requires additional information on changes in the benefit obligations and fair values of plan assets that will facilitate financial analysis, and eliminates certain disclosures required by SFAS Nos. 87, 88 and 106. The adoption of this pronouncement also requires restatement of disclosures for earlier periods. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a material impact on the Company's financial presentation. 2. SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS Short-term investments consist of the following: - ------------------------------------------------------------ (In thousands) At December 31, 1998 1997 - ------------------------------------------------------------ Federal funds sold (overnight) $123,207 $ 85,241 Money market funds 24,569 24,514 - ------------------------------------------------------------ Total short-term investments $147,776 $109,755 ============================================================ The investments above are stated at cost which approximates market value. 3. INVESTMENT SECURITIES The amortized cost and market value of investment securities follows: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GROSS GROSS AMORTIZED UNREALIZED UNREALIZED MARKET (IN THOUSANDS) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 COST GAINS LOSSES VALUE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Securities held to maturity: Other bonds and obligations $ 354 $ -- $ -- $ 354 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total securities held to maturity 354 -- -- 354 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Securities available for sale: Debt securities: U.S. Treasury obligations 112,627 2,354 -- 114,981 U.S. Government agency obligations 8,966 26 -- 8,992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 121,593 2,380 -- 123,973 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mortgage-backed securities: Government National Mortgage Association 48,347 1,517 -- 49,864 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation 205,949 5,116 (6) 211,059 Federal National Mortgage Association 4,984 181 -- 5,165 Collateralized mortgage obligations 6,193 60 (3) 6,250 Other 223 12 -- 235 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total mortgage-backed securities 265,696 6,886 (9) 272,573 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total debt securities 387,289 9,266 (9) 396,546 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Equity securities 11,054 10,579 (53) 21,580 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total securities available for sale 398,343 $19,845 $ (62) $418,126 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net unrealized gains on securities: available for sale 19,783 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total securities available for sale, net 418,126 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total investment securities, net $418,480 ============================================================================================== 30 24 3. INVESTMENT SECURITIES (CONTINUED) The amortized cost and market value of investment securities follows: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GROSS GROSS AMORTIZED UNREALIZED UNREALIZED MARKET (IN THOUSANDS) AT DECEMBER 31, 1997 COST GAINS LOSSES VALUE - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Securities held to maturity: Other bonds and obligations $ 372 $ -- $ -- $ 372 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total securities held to maturity 372 -- -- 372 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Securities available for sale: Debt securities: U.S. Treasury obligations 121,399 1,622 -- 123,021 U.S. Government agency obligations 9,800 24 (11) 9,813 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 131,199 1,646 (11) 132,834 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mortgage-backed securities: Government National Mortgage Association 60,493 1,247 (31) 61,709 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation 248,744 4,257 (180) 252,821 Federal National Mortgage Association 7,733 258 -- 7,991 Collateralized mortgage obligations 7,836 62 -- 7,898 Other 298 14 -- 312 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total mortgage-backed securities 325,104 5,838 (211) 330,731 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total debt securities 456,303 7,484 (222) 463,565 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investments in mutual funds 1,110 4 -- 1,114 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Equity securities 9,336 8,227 (18) 17,545 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total securities available for sale 466,749 $15,715 $(240) $482,224 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net unrealized gains on securities available for sale 15,475 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total securities available for sale, net 482,224 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total investment securities, net $482,596 =================================================================================================================== During the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, the Company realized gains and losses on sales of securities available for sale as follows: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (IN THOUSANDS) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REALIZED Realized Realized GAINS LOSSES Gains Losses Gains Losses - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Treasury obligations $ 180 $-- $ 38 $ (35) $ 118 $(103) Mortgage-backed securities -- -- -- (301) -- (166) Marketable equity securities 3,577 (959) 2,201 (96) 1,146 (45) Other equity securities -- -- 25 -- -- -- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total realized gains (losses) $3,757 $(959) $2,264 $(432) $1,264 $(314) ================================================================================================= Proceeds from sales of debt securities available for sale during 1998, 1997 and 1996 were $13.1 million, $34.1 million and $40.8 million, respectively. Proceeds from sales of equity securities available for sale during 1998, 1997 and 1996, were $13.7 million, $8.6 million and $9.1 million, respectively. There were no sales of investment securities held-to-maturity during 1998, 1997 and 1996. 31 25 3. INVESTMENT SECURITIES (CONTINUED) The amortized cost and market value of debt securities held to maturity and debt securities available for sale by contractual maturity are as follows: - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (IN THOUSANDS) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMORTIZED MARKET AMORTIZED MARKET COST VALUE COST VALUE - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investment securities held to maturity: Other bonds and obligations: Maturing after 1 year but within 5 years $ 230 $ 230 $ 230 $ 230 Maturing after 5 years but within 10 years 82 82 97 97 Maturing after 10 years but within 15 years 42 42 45 45 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total debt securities held to maturity 354 354 372 372 =================================================================================================== Investment securities available for sale: U.S. Treasury obligations: Maturing within 1 year 50,876 51,260 35,869 36,001 Maturing after 1 year but within 5 years 58,790 60,557 85,530 87,020 Maturing after 5 years but within 10 years 2,961 3,164 -- -- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 112,627 114,981 121,399 123,021 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Government agency obligations: Maturing within 1 year 2,000 2,006 2,000 2,006 Maturing after 1 year but within 5 years 6,771 6,788 6,600 6,614 Maturing after 5 years but within 10 years -- -- 1,000 994 Maturing after 15 years 195 198 200 199 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 8,966 8,992 9,800 9,813 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mortgage-backed securities: Maturing within 1 year 371 367 312 311 Maturing after 1 year but within 5 years 6,014 6,155 8,826 8,984 Maturing after 5 years but within 10 years 35,087 36,073 30,677 31,617 Maturing after 10 years but within 15 years 219,579 225,298 279,147 283,631 Maturing after 15 years 4,645 4,680 6,142 6,188 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 265,696 272,573 325,104 330,731 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total debt securities available for sale 387,289 396,546 456,303 463,565 =================================================================================================== Net unrealized gains on debt securities available for sale 9,257 -- 7,262 -- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total debt securities available for sale, net carrying value $396,546 $396,546 $463,565 $463,565 =================================================================================================== Mortgage-backed securities are shown at their contractual maturity but are expected to have shorter average lives due to normal principal amortization and prepayments. 32 26 4. TRADING SECURITIES The amortized cost and market values of trading securities are as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMORTIZED MARKET AMORTIZED MARKET COST VALUE COST VALUE - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Treasury obligations $29,690 $29,707 $18,548 $18,542 Investments in mutual funds 1,112 1,086 2,757 2,718 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total trading securities $30,802 $30,793 $21,305 $21,260 ========================================================================================= During the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, the Company realized gains and losses on sales of trading securities as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REALIZED REALIZED REALIZED GAINS LOSSES GAINS LOSSES GAINS LOSSES - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Treasury obligations $ 48 $ -- $22 $ -- $-- $ -- Investments in mutual funds 11 (35) -- (33) -- (44) Marketable equity securities 55 (20) 46 -- 65 -- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total realized gains (losses) $114 $(55) $68 $(33) $65 $(44) ========================================================================================= Proceeds from sales of trading securities during 1998, 1997 and 1996 were $50.2 million, $16.3 million and $3.1 million, respectively. Unrealized gains or (losses) included in income in 1998, 1997 and 1996 were $36 thousand, $73 thousand and $(103) thousand, respectively. 5. LOANS The Bank's lending activities are conducted principally in the local communities in which it operates banking offices, and to a lesser extent, in selected areas of Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. The Bank offers single family and multi-family residential mortgage loans, mortgage loans secured by commercial or investment property such as apartment buildings and commercial or corporate facilities, and a variety of consumer loans. The Bank also offers loans for the construction of residential homes, multi-family properties and for land development. Most loans granted by the Bank are either collateralized by real estate or guaranteed by federal or local governmental authorities. The ability of single family residential and consumer borrowers to honor their repayment commitments is generally dependent on the level of overall economic activity within the borrowers' geographic areas. The ability of commercial real estate and construction loan borrowers to honor their repayment commitments is generally dependent on the economic health of the real estate sector in the borrowers' geographic areas and the overall economy. 33 27 5. LOANS (continued) The composition of the Bank's loan portfolio is summarized as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mortgage loans: Residential: Conventional: Fixed rate $237,979 $193,319 Variable rate 42,702 50,163 FHA and VA 1,181 1,843 Commercial 2,257 3,861 Construction 730 492 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total mortgage loans 284,849 249,678 Add: premium on loans 259 343 Less: deferred mortgage loan origination fees (1,454) (1,223) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mortgage loans, net 283,654 248,798 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other loans: Consumer: Installment 1,547 2,199 Guaranteed education 7,967 8,934 Other secured 1,366 1,600 Home equity lines of credit 10,159 10,470 Unsecured 235 266 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total consumer loans 21,274 23,469 Commercial 61 36 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total other loans 21,335 23,505 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total loans $304,989 $272,303 ========================================================================================= In the ordinary course of business, the Bank makes loans to its directors, officers and their associates and affiliated companies ("related parties") at substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time of origination for comparable transactions with unrelated borrowers. An analysis of total related party loans for the year ended December 31, 1998 follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at December 31, 1997 $340 Additions 342 Repayments (120) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at December 31, 1998 $562 ========================================================================================= 34 28 6. ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES An analysis of the activity in the allowance for loan losses is as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at beginning of year $2,334 $2,237 $2,529 Glendale Co-operative Bank acquisition -- 105 -- Provision for loan losses 193 260 160 Recoveries of loans previously charged-off 26 59 90 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 2,553 2,661 2,779 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Less charge-offs: Mortgage loans (81) (221) (480) Other loans (22) (106) (62) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at end of year $2,450 $2,334 $2,237 ========================================================================================= The following table shows the allocation of the allowance for loan losses by category of loans at December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE OF LOANS OF LOANS OF LOANS AMOUNT TO TOTAL AMOUNT TO TOTAL AMOUNT TO TOTAL - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mortgage loans: Residential $1,786 92% $1,544 90% $1,915 88% Commercial 2 1 12 1 3 2 Consumer loans 153 7 160 9 119 10 Other loans 25 -- -- -- 57 -- Unallocated 484 -- 618 -- 143 -- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total $2,450 100% $2,334 100% $2,237 100% ========================================================================================= 7. NON-PERFORMING ASSETS The following schedule summarizes non-performing assets at the dates shown: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total nonaccrual loans $1,004 $1,771 $1,601 Total real estate acquired through foreclosure 86 -- 503 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total non-performing assets $1,090 $1,771 $2,104 ========================================================================================= Percent of non-performing loans to total loans 0.33% 0.65% 0.64% Percent of non-performing assets to total assets 0.12% 0.19% 0.24% The reduction in interest income associated with nonaccrual loans is as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interest income that would have been recorded under original terms $84 $163 $149 Interest income actually recorded 61 97 78 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reduction in interest income $23 $ 66 $ 71 ========================================================================================= During 1998, 1997 and 1996 the Company had no impaired loans. 35 29 8. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISK The Bank is party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to reduce its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheet. The contract or notional amounts reflect the extent of involvement the Bank has in particular classes of these instruments. The Bank's exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument is represented by the contractual or notional amount of those instruments. The Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTRACT OR NOTIONAL AMOUNT (In thousands) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk: Commitments to originate residential mortgage loans $ 7,941 $ 4,090 Unadvanced portions of construction loans 281 496 Unused credit lines, including unused portions of equity lines of credit 29,163 19,445 ========================================================================================= Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee by the customer. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Bank evaluates each customer's credit-worthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if any, is based on management's credit evaluation of the borrower. 9. PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT A summary of premises and equipment and their estimated useful lives used for depreciation purposes is as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESTIMATED USEFUL LIFE (IN THOUSANDS) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 (IN YEARS) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Premises: Land $1,227 $1,227 -- Buildings 3,637 3,642 25-45 Building and leasehold improvements 1,937 1,635 1-20 Equipment 3,606 3,405 1-30 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10,407 9,909 Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization 6,087 5,540 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total premises and equipment, net $4,320 $4,369 ========================================================================================= The Bank is obligated under a number of noncancelable operating leases for various banking offices. These operating leases expire at various dates through 2006 with options for renewal. Rental expenses for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 amounted to $518 thousand, $522 thousand and $508 thousand, respectively. The minimum rental commitments, with initial or remaining terms of one year or more exclusive of operating costs and real estate taxes to be paid by the Bank under these leases, as of December 31, 1998, are as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) YEARS ENDING DECEMBER 31, PAYMENTS - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1999 $ 465 2000 252 2001 252 2002 165 2003 110 Later years 98 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total $1,342 ========================================================================================= 36 30 10. DEPOSITS Deposits are summarized as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMOUNT RATE AMOUNT RATE - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Demand and NOW: NOW accounts $ 52,324 1.16% $ 47,944 1.14% Demand accounts 23,849 -- 18,915 -- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total demand and NOW 76,173 0.80 66,859 0.82 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Savings: Regular savings and special notice accounts 326,192 3.46 329,348 3.47 Money market accounts 21,857 2.99 23,527 3.09 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total savings 348,049 3.43 352,875 3.44 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Time certificates: Fixed rate certificates 318,491 5.23 316,368 5.53 Variable rate certificates 82,033 5.88 74,666 6.48 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total time certificates 400,524 5.36 391,034 5.71 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deposit acquisition premium, net of amortization (715) -- (918) -- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deposits $824,031 4.13% $809,850 4.32% ========================================================================================= The maturity distribution and related rate structure of the Bank's time certificates at December 31, 1998 follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AVERAGE AMOUNT INTEREST RATE - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Due within 3 months $103,985 5.34% Due within 3-6 months 87,696 5.10 Due within 6-12 months 93,181 5.41 Due within 1-2 years 84,874 5.48 Due within 2-3 years 28,843 5.77 Due within 3-5 years 1,789 5.38 Thereafter 156 4.92 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total $400,524 5.36% ========================================================================================= At December 31, the Bank had individual time certificates of deposit of $100 thousand or more maturing as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Due within 3 months $24,283 $22,757 Due within 3-6 months 13,338 9,298 Due within 6-12 months 15,511 17,969 Due within 1-2 years 16,997 12,293 Due within 2-3 years 6,759 8,602 Due within 3-5 years 100 114 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total $76,988 $71,033 ========================================================================================= 37 31 11. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS SFAS No. 107, "Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments," requires that the Bank disclose estimated fair values for its financial instruments. Fair value estimates, methods, and assumptions are set forth below for the Bank's financial instruments. CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS AND ACCRUED INTEREST RECEIVABLE The carrying amounts for these financial instruments approximate fair value because they mature in 90 days or less. INTEREST-BEARING DEPOSITS IN BANKS AND TERM FEDERAL FUNDS SOLD The carrying amounts of the interest-bearing deposits in banks and term federal funds sold reported in the balance sheet at December 31, 1998 and 1997 approximate fair value. SECURITIES The fair value of investment securities is estimated based on bid prices published in financial newspapers or bid quotations received from securities dealers. Statement 107 specifies that fair values should be calculated based on the value of one unit without regard to any premium or discount that may result from concentrations of ownership of a financial instrument, possible tax ramifications, or estimated transaction costs. The carrying amount and estimated fair values of the Company's investment securities are as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CARRYING CALCULATED CARRYING CALCULATED AMOUNT FAIR VALUE AMOUNT FAIR VALUE - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Securities held to maturity $ 354 $ 354 $ 372 $ 372 Securities available for sale 418,126 418,126 482,224 482,224 Trading securities 30,793 30,793 21,260 21,260 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total securities $449,273 $449,273 $503,856 $503,856 ========================================================================================= LOANS Fair values are estimated for portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics. Loans are segregated by type such as residential mortgage, commercial real estate, consumer and other. The fair values of residential, commercial, and certain consumer and other loans are calculated by discounting scheduled cash flows through the estimated maturity using estimated market discount rates that reflect the credit and interest rate risk inherent in the loan. The estimate of maturity is based on the Bank's historical experience with repayments for each loan classification, modified, as required, by an estimate of the effect of current economic and lending conditions. For certain variable rate consumer loans, including home equity lines of credit, carrying value approximates fair value. Assumptions regarding credit risk, cash flows, and discount rates are judgmentally determined using available market information. The following table presents information for loans: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CARRYING CALCULATED CARRYING CALCULATED AMOUNT FAIR VALUE AMOUNT FAIR VALUE - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Real estate: Residential: Variable $ 42,617 $ 43,142 $ 50,068 $ 50,709 Fixed 238,787 245,858 194,881 199,220 Commercial: Variable 2,243 2,267 3,833 3,867 Fixed 7 7 16 16 Consumer and other 21,335 21,564 23,505 23,438 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total loans 304,989 312,838 272,303 277,250 Less: allowance for loan losses (2,450) -- (2,334) -- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net loans $302,539 $312,838 $269,969 $277,250 ========================================================================================= 38 32 11. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued) DEPOSITS Under Statement 107, the fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as demand deposits, NOW accounts, regular savings and special notice accounts, and money market accounts, is equal to the amount payable on demand as of December 31, 1998 and 1997. The fair value of certificates of deposit is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. The discount rate is estimated using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CARRYING CALCULATED CARRYING CALCULATED AMOUNT FAIR VALUE AMOUNT FAIR VALUE - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Demand accounts $ 23,849 $ 23,849 $ 18,915 $ 18,915 NOW accounts 52,324 52,324 47,944 47,944 Regular savings and special notice accounts 326,192 326,192 329,348 329,348 Money market accounts 21,857 21,857 23,527 23,527 Time certificates 400,524 402,040 391,034 391,926 Deposit acquisition premium, net of amortization (715) -- (918) -- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deposits 824,031 826,262 809,850 811,660 Escrow deposits of borrowers 1,438 1,438 1,502 1,502 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total $825,469 $827,700 $811,352 $813,162 ======================================================================================== The fair value estimates and the carrying amounts above do not include the benefit that results from the low-cost funding provided by the deposit liabilities compared to the cost of borrowing funds in the market. COMMITMENTS TO EXTEND CREDIT The fair value of commitments to extend credit is estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present creditworthiness of the counterparties. For fixed rate loan commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates. The Bank estimates the fair value of the cost to terminate commitments to advance funds on construction loans and for residential mortgage loans in the pipeline at December 31, 1998 and 1997 to be immaterial. Unused credit lines, including unused portions of equity lines of credit, are at floating interest rates and therefore there is no fair value adjustment. LIMITATIONS Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Bank's entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no active market exists for a significant portion of the Bank's financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates. Fair value estimates are based on existing on and off-balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments. For example, the Bank has a trust department that contributes net fee income annually. The trust department is not considered a financial instrument, and its value has not been incorporated into the fair value estimates. Other significant assets and liabilities that are not considered financial assets or liabilities include deferred tax liabilities, premises and equipment and goodwill. In addition, the tax ramifications related to the realization of the unrealized gains and losses can have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered in many of the estimates. 39 33 12. INCOME TAXES Income tax payable was allocated as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Current income tax payable (receivable): Federal $1,010 $1,192 State (287) 48 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total current income tax payable 723 1,240 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deferred income tax payable: Federal 5,298 3,735 State 1,463 1,192 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deferred income tax payable 6,761 4,927 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total income tax payable $7,484 $6,167 ========================================================================================= Income tax expense (benefit) was allocated as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Current income tax expense: Federal $5,565 $5,096 $4,641 State 771 1,034 1,122 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total current tax expense 6,336 6,130 5,763 ========================================================================================= Deferred income tax expense (benefit): Federal 110 (102) 194 State 40 (26) 53 Change in valuation reserve (4) (4) (9) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deferred tax expense (benefit) 146 (132) 238 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total income tax expense $6,482 $5,998 $6,001 ========================================================================================= Income tax expense attributable to income from operations for the years ended December 31, differed from the amounts computed by applying the federal income tax rate of 35 percent as a result of the following: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computed "expected" income tax expense at statutory rate $6,089 $5,658 $5,400 Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from: State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit 527 656 764 Dividends received deduction (87) (95) (94) Other (43) (217) (60) Change in valuation reserve (4) (4) (9) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income tax expense $6,482 $5,998 $6,001 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Effective income tax rate 37.26% 37.10% 38.90% ========================================================================================= 40 34 12. INCOME TAXES (continued) At December 31, 1998 and 1997, the Bank had gross deferred tax assets and gross deferred tax liabilities as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deferred tax assets: Loan losses $ 431 $ 257 Deferred loan fees, net 100 195 Deferred compensation and pension cost 463 546 Depreciation 33 83 Purchase accounting 419 468 Other 6 26 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross deferred tax asset 1,452 1,575 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deferred tax liabilities: Valuation of securities 8,092 6,404 Other unrealized securities gains 102 86 Other 19 12 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross deferred tax liability 8,213 6,502 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net deferred tax liability $6,761 $4,927 ========================================================================================= Based on the Company's historical and current pretax earnings, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the gross deferred tax asset existing at December 31, 1998. The primary sources of recovery of the gross federal deferred tax asset are federal income taxes paid in 1998, 1997 and 1996 that are available for carryback and the expectation that the existing net deductible temporary differences will reverse during periods in which the Company generates net taxable income. Since there is no carryback provision for state income tax purposes, management believes the existing net deductible temporary differences which give rise to the gross deferred state income tax asset will reverse during periods in which the Company generates net taxable income. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will generate any earnings or any specific level of continuing earnings. As a result of the Tax Reform Act of 1996, the special tax bad debt provisions were amended to eliminate the reserve method. However, the tax effect of the pre-1988 bad debt reserve amount of approximately $7.3 million remains subject to recapture in the event that the Bank pays dividends in excess of its reserves and profits. 13. EARNINGS PER SHARE The following is a calculation of earnings per share for the years indicated: - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Years Ended December 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands except share data) Basic Diluted Basic Diluted Basic Diluted - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income $ 10,914 $ 10,914 $ 10,167 $ 10,167 $ 9,427 $ 9,427 Average shares outstanding 3,571,298 3,571,298 3,575,962 3,575,962 3,616,769 3,616,769 Dilutive stock options -- 147,825 -- 138,653 -- 101,845 Unallocated Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") shares not committed to be released (42,481) (42,481) (51,305) (51,305) (60,109) (60,109) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weighted average shares outstanding 3,528,817 3,676,642 3,524,657 3,663,310 3,556,660 3,658,505 Earnings per share (in dollars) $ 3.09 $ 2.97 $ 2.88 $ 2.77 $ 2.65 $ 2.58 ====================================================================================================================== 41 35 14. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY The Company may not declare or pay cash dividends on its shares of common stock if the effect thereof would cause its stockholders' equity to be reduced below or to otherwise violate legal or regulatory requirements. Substantially all of the Company's retained earnings are unrestricted at December 31, 1998. The Bank is a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured institution subject to the FDIC regulatory capital requirements. The FDIC regulations require all FDIC insured institutions to maintain minimum levels of Tier I capital. Highly rated banks (i.e., those with a composite rating of 1 under the CAMELS rating system) are required to maintain a minimum leverage ratio of Tier I capital to total average assets of at least 3.00%. An additional 100 to 200 basis points are required for all but these most highly rated institutions. The Bank is also required to maintain a minimum level of risk-based capital. Under the new risk-based capital standards, FDIC insured institutions must maintain a Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 4.00% and are generally expected to meet a minimum total qualifying capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 8.00%. The new risk-based capital guidelines take into consideration risk factors, as defined by the regulators, associated with various categories of assets, both on and off the balance sheet. Under the guidelines, capital strength is measured in two tiers which are used in conjunction with risk adjusted assets to determine the risk-based capital ratios. Tier II capital components include supplemental capital components such as qualifying allowance for loan losses, qualifying subordinated debt and up to 45 percent of the pretax net unrealized holding gains on certain available for sale equity securities. Tier I capital plus the Tier II capital components are referred to as total qualifying capital. The capital ratios of the Company and its principal subsidiary "Massbank" set forth below currently exceed the minimum ratios for "well capitalized" banks as defined by federal regulators. (IN THOUSANDS) FOR CAPITAL TO BE WELL - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 ACTUAL ADEQUACY PURPOSES CAPITALIZED(1) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AMOUNT RATIO AMOUNT RATIO AMOUNT RATIO - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER I CAPITAL (TO AVERAGE ASSETS): Massbank Corp. (consolidated) $ 96,696 10.61% $27,349 3.00 N/A -- Massbank (the "Bank") 94,305 10.34 27,349 3.00 $45,583 5.00% TIER I CAPITAL (TO RISK-WEIGHTED ASSETS): Massbank Corp. (consolidated) 96,696 32.40 11,936 4.00 N/A -- Massbank (the "Bank") 94,305 31.59 11,939 4.00 17,909 6.00 TOTAL CAPITAL (TO RISK-WEIGHTED ASSETS): Massbank Corp. (consolidated) 103,883 34.81 23,872 8.00 N/A -- Massbank (the "Bank") 101,492 34.00 23,878 8.00 29,848 10.00 =========================================================================================================== (1) This column presents the minimum amounts and ratios that a financial institution must have to be categorized as adequately capitalized. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (IN THOUSANDS) FOR CAPITAL TO BE WELL AT DECEMBER 31, 1997 ACTUAL ADEQUACY PURPOSES CAPITALIZED(1) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AMOUNT RATIO AMOUNT RATIO AMOUNT RATIO - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIER I CAPITAL (TO AVERAGE ASSETS): Massbank Corp. (consolidated) $92,303 10.23% $27,071 3.00% N/A -- Massbank (the "Bank") 88,852 9.85 27,071 3.00 $45,118 5.00% TIER I CAPITAL (TO RISK-WEIGHTED ASSETS): Massbank Corp. (consolidated) 92,303 34.14 10,814 4.00 N/A -- Massbank (the "Bank") 88,852 32.87 10,814 4.00 16,221 6.00 TOTAL CAPITAL (TO RISK-WEIGHTED ASSETS): Massbank Corp. (consolidated) 94,637 35.01 21,628 8.00 N/A -- Massbank (the "Bank") 91,186 33.73 21,628 8.00 27,035 10.00 ============================================================================================================ (1) This column presents the minimum amounts and ratios that a financial institution must have to be categorized as adequately capitalized. 42 36 15. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PENSION PLAN The Bank sponsors a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan that covers all employees who meet specified age and length of service requirements, which is administered by the Savings Banks Employees Retirement Association ("SBERA"). The plan provides for benefits to be paid to eligible employees at retirement based primarily upon their years of service with the Bank and compensation levels near retirement. Contributions to the plan reflect benefits attributed to employees' service to date, as well as services expected to be earned in the future. Pension plan assets consist principally of government and agency securities, equity securities (primarily common stocks) and short-term investments. The following table sets forth the plan's funded status and amounts recognized in the Company's consolidated financial statements for the plan years ended October 31, 1998 and 1997, the plan's latest valuation dates: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Actuarial present value of vested benefits $4,442 $4,028 $3,636 Total accumulated benefit obligation 4,481 4,063 3,661 Change in benefit obligation Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year $4,990 $4,287 $4,622 Service cost 443 367 309 Interest cost 362 321 308 Actuarial loss (gain) 283 221 (742) Benefits paid (290) (206) (210) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Projected benefit obligation at end of year $5,788 $4,990 $4,287 ================================================================================================= Change in plan assets Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $5,810 $5,090 $4,181 Actual return on plan assets 469 926 667 Employer contribution 254 -- 452 Benefits paid (290) (206) (210) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fair value of plan assets at end of year $6,243 $5,810 $5,090 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excess of plan assets over projected benefit obligation $ 455 $ 820 $ 803 ================================================================================================= Certain changes in the items shown are not recognized as they occur, but are amortized systematically over subsequent periods. Unrecognized amounts to be amortized and the amounts included in the consolidated balance sheets are shown below: Unrecognized net actuarial gain $ 487 $ 886 $ 670 Transition asset 190 211 232 Accrued benefit cost (222) (277) (99) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excess of plan assets over projected benefit obligation $ 455 $ 820 $ 803 ================================================================================================= Assumptions used in determining the actuarial present value of the projected benefit obligation were as follows: Discount rate 6.75% 7.25% 7.50% Rate of compensation increase 4.50% 4.50% 4.50% Assumptions used to develop the net periodic benefit cost data were: Discount rate 7.25% 7.50% 7.00% Expected return on plan assets 8.00% 8.00% 8.00% Rate of compensation increase 4.50% 4.50% 4.50% Components of net periodic benefit cost Service cost $ 443 $ 367 $ 309 Interest cost 362 322 308 Expected return on plan assets (465) (407) (335) Transition obligation (21) (21) (21) Recognized net actuarial (gain) loss (119) (84) 7 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net periodic benefit cost $ 200 $ 177 $ 268 ================================================================================================= 43 37 15. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (CONTINUED) PROFIT SHARING AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION BONUS PLANS The Bank's Profit Sharing and Incentive Compensation Bonus Plans provide for payments to employees under certain circumstances based upon a year-end measurement of the Company's net income and attainment of individual goals and objectives by certain key officers. Payments of $399 thousand, $417 thousand and $418 thousand were awarded under the plan in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN The Bank has an Employees' Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") for the benefit of each employee who has completed at least 1,000 hours of service with the Company in the previous twelve months. Under the plan, the ESOP has borrowed funds from a third party bank to invest in the Company's common stock. As this obligation will be liquidated primarily through future contributions to the ESOP by the Bank, the obligation is reflected as a liability of the Company and a reduction of stockholders' equity on the consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 1998 and 1997, such outstanding liabilities totaled $625 thousand and $781 thousand, respectively. Shares of the Company's common stock purchased with the loan proceeds are held in a suspense account. As the loan is repaid, a proportionate number of shares are released for allocation to plan participants. The shares are allocated to plan participants annually, on a pro rata basis, based on compensation. The ESOP acquired unallocated shares in 1986 when the plan was first established and more recently in 1993. At December 31, 1998, the ESOP held 35,200 unallocated shares and 123,563 shares which have been allocated to participants. The fair value of the unallocated shares at December 31, 1998 was approximately $1.4 million. Dividends on unallocated shares are used to offset a portion of the interest paid on the ESOP loan. Dividends on allocated shares held by the ESOP are allocated to plan participants proportionately based on the number of shares in the participant's allocated account. Total compensation and interest expense applicable to the ESOP amounted to $462 thousand, $398 thousand and $314 thousand for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. EMPLOYEE AGREEMENTS The Bank has entered into employment agreements with certain executive officers which provide that the officer will receive a minimum amount of annual compensation from the Bank for a specified period. The agreements also provide for the continued payment of compensation to the officer for a specified period after termination under certain circumstances, including if the officer's termination follows a "change of control," generally defined to mean a person or group attaining ownership of 25% or more of the shares of the Company. EXECUTIVE SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT AGREEMENTS The Bank maintains executive supplemental retirement agreements for certain executive officers. These agreements provide retirement benefits designed to supplement benefits available through the Bank's retirement plan for employees. Total expenses for benefits payable under the agreements amounted to $105 thousand, $132 thousand and $99 thousand in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. STOCK OPTION PLAN Effective May 28, 1986, the Board of Directors of the Bank adopted a stock option plan for the benefit of its officers and other employees. In January, 1991, the plan was amended to authorize the grant of options to non-employee Directors of the Company. All but 42/3 of the 690,000 shares reserved for issuance under the plan were issued. On April 19, 1994, shareholders approved and the Bank adopted the Company's 1994 Stock Incentive Plan. The total number of shares of common stock that can be issued under this plan is 360,000 shares. Both incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options may be granted under the plans. As of December 31, 1998, there were 141,010.7 non-qualified stock options and 206,906.6 incentive stock options granted and outstanding to purchase shares under the plans. The maximum option term is ten years. Further stock options may be granted pursuant to the 1994 Stock Incentive Plan and will generally have an exercise price equal to, or in excess of, the fair market value of a share of common stock of the Company on the date the option is granted. 44 38 15. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (CONTINUED) A summary of the status of the Company's fixed stock option plan as of December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, and changes during the years ended on those dates is presented below:(1) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WEIGHTED WEIGHTED WEIGHTED SHARES AVERAGE SHARES AVERAGE SHARES AVERAGE UNDER EXERCISE UNDER EXERCISE UNDER EXERCISE FIXED OPTIONS OPTION PRICE OPTION PRICE OPTION PRICE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Outstanding at beginning of year 360,200 $17.65 347,166.7 $ 15.46 369,776 $13.60 Granted 35,250 44.25 48,333.3 30.09 46,000 23.40 Exercised (47,532) 15.59 (35,300) 13.19 (68,605.3) 10.74 Forfeited (0.7) 30.09 -- -- (4) 8.63 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Outstanding at end of year 347,917.3 $20.62 360,200 $17.65 347,166.7 $15.46 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Options exercisable at year-end 347,917.3 360,200 347,166.7 -- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following table summarizes information about fixed stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 1998: - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 OPTIONS OUTSTANDING OPTIONS EXERCISABLE - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WEIGHTED AVG. WEIGHTED AVG. WEIGHTED AVG. RANGE OF NUMBER REMAINING EXERCISE NUMBER EXERCISE EXERCISE PRICES OUTSTANDING CONTRACTUAL LIFE PRICE EXERCISABLE PRICE - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $6.88 to $10.75 61,700 2.6 years $ 8.66 61,700 $ 8.66 16.00 to $17.34 159,884 4.8 years 16.62 159,884 16.62 18.28 to $19.88 3,666.7 6.5 years 19.44 3,666.7 19.44 23.25 to $44.25 122,666.6 8.0 years 31.89 122,666.6 31.89 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $6.88 to $44.25 347,917.3 5.5 years $20.62 347,917.3 $20.62 ======================================================================================== (1) All share information presented has been adjusted to reflect the 4-for-3 and 3-for-2 split of the Company's common stock effective September 15, 1997 and September 9, 1994, respectively. As discussed in Note 1, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123 on January 1, 1996, but continues to account for its stock option plan using the intrinsic value based method prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25. Accordingly, no compensation cost for this plan has been recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income for 1998. In determining the pro forma disclosures required by SFAS No. 123, the fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The following table presents pro forma net income and earnings per share assuming the stock option plan was accounted for using the fair value method prescribed by SFAS No. 123, the weighted average assumptions used and the grant date fair value of options granted in 1998, 1997 and 1996: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands except per share data) Years Ended December 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income As reported $ 10,914 $ 10,167 $9,427 Pro forma 0,743 9,916 9,230 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Basic earnings per share As reported $ 3.09 $ 2.88 $ 2.65 Pro forma 3.04 2.81 2.60 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diluted earnings per share As reported $ 2.97 $ 2.77 $ 2.58 Pro forma 2.92 2.70 2.52 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weighted average fair value $ 8.23 $ 8.84 $ 8.04 Expected life 7.3 years 7.4 years 7.2 years Risk-free interest rate 5.53% 6.47% 5.64% Expected volatility 23.0% 22.0% 23.0% Expected dividend yield 2.7% 2.3% 2.7% =========================================================================================== 45 39 16. SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT In January, 1990, the Board of Directors adopted a Shareholders Rights Plan. Under the Plan, the Rights automatically become part of and trade with the Company's shares of common stock. Although the Rights are not exercisable initially, they become exercisable upon the occurrence of one of three triggering events as specified in the Plan. In the event they become exercisable, each holder of a Right would then be entitled to buy a unit consisting of one one-hundredth of a share of the Company's preferred stock at an exercise price of $70. The provisions of the Rights Plan, including the time periods set forth therein, generally may be extended or amended by the Board of Directors. The Rights will expire January 16, 2000, but they may be redeemed at the option of the Board of Directors for $0.01 per Right until ten days after a person becomes a 15% shareholder of Massbank Corp. or until certain other triggering events have occurred. 17. PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The following are the condensed financial statements for MASSBANK Corp. (the "Parent Company") only: Balance Sheets - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands except share data) AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assets: Cash $ 1 $ 13 Interest-bearing deposits in banks 2,324 3,390 Investment in subsidiaries 108,724 101,109 Due from subsidiaries 45 -- Other assets 53 77 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets $111,147 $104,589 ===================================================================================== Liabilities: Employee stock ownership plan liability (Note 15) $ 625 $ 781 Other liabilities 33 29 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities 658 810 ===================================================================================== Stockholders' equity (Notes 12, 14, 15 and 16): Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share; -- -- 2,000,000 shares authorized, none issued -- -- Common stock, par value $1.00 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized, 7,384,332 and 7,336,800 shares issued, respectively 7,384 7,337 Additional paid-in capital 60,003 58,737 Retained earnings 78,308 70,984 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 145,695 137,058 Treasury stock at cost, 3,885,222 and 3,766,022 shares, respectively (46,272) (41,569) Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note 1) 11,691 9,071 Common stock acquired by ESOP (Note 15) (625) (781) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total stockholders' equity 110,489 103,779 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $111,147 $104,589 ===================================================================================== 46 40 17. PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) STATEMENTS OF INCOME - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income: Dividends received from subsidiaries $ 6,400 $ 6,400 $5,750 Interest and dividend income 96 56 20 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total interest and dividend income 6,496 6,456 5,770 Non-interest expense 99 118 103 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income before income taxes 6,397 6,338 5,667 Income tax benefit 28 40 14 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income before equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries 6,425 6,378 5,681 Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries 4,489 3,789 3,746 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income $10,914 $10,167 $9,427 ====================================================================================== The Parent Company only Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity are identical to the consolidated statements and therefore are not presented here. STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $10,914 $10,167 $ 9,427 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries (4,489) (3,789) (3,746) Decrease in other assets -- -- 25 Increase (decrease) in accrued income taxes payable 25 (59) (21) Deferred income tax benefit (1) (4) (2) Increase in other liabilities 4 13 6 Increase in amount due from subsidiaries (45) -- -- Decrease in amount due to subsidiaries -- (3) (121) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash provided by operating activities 6,408 6,325 5,568 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash flow from financing activities: Payments to acquire treasury stock (4,703) (1,665) (3,534) Issuance of common stock under stock option plan 741 467 738 Tax benefit resulting from stock options exercised 66 -- 28 Dividends paid on common stock (3,605) (3,124) (2,459) Tax benefit resulting from dividends paid on unallocated shares held by the ESOP 15 15 15 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash used in financing activities (7,486) (4,307) (5,212) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net change in cash and cash equivalents (1,078) 2,018 356 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 3,403 1,385 1,029 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 2,325 $ 3,403 $ 1,385 ======================================================================================================= During the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, the Company made cash payments for income taxes of $24 thousand, $16 thousand and $23 thousand, respectively, and no payments for interest. In addition, the Company made cash payments to the state of Delaware for franchise taxes in the amount of $29 thousand, $42 thousand and $41 thousand during the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. 47 41 18. TEN-YEAR STATISTICAL SUMMARY (UNAUDITED) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands except per share data) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income $10,914 $10,167 $9,427 $ 8,759 $8,185 $6,695 $ 4,677 $ 2,250 $ 725 $2,668 Basic earnings per share(2) 3.09 2.88 2.65 2.43 2.19 1.71 1.22 0.59 0.16 0.50 Cash dividends declared per share(2) 1.02 0.88 1/2 0.69 0.54 3/4 0.45 0.34 0.26 1/2 0.22 1/4 0.22 0.21 Book value per share, at year end(2) 31.58 29.06 25.75 24.84 20.09 20.46 18.37 17.54 16.20 15.16 Return on average assets 1.17% 1.12% 1.08% 1.04% 0.96% 0.79% 0.61% 0.60% 0.23% 0.86% Return on average realized equity(1) 11.08% 11.11% 11.01% 10.81% 10.62% 8.98% 6.79% 3.39% 1.03% 3.38% ================================================================================================================================ (1) Excludes average net unrealized gains or losses on securities available for sale. (2) All share information presented has been adjusted to reflect the 4-for-3 and 3-for-2 split of the Company's common stock effective September 15, 1997 and September 9, 1994, respectively. 19. QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands except 4th 3rd 2nd 1st 4th 3rd 2nd 1st per share data) Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interest and dividend income $14,721 $14,995 $15,025 $15,093 $15,496 $15,460 $15,017 $14,760 Interest expense 8,534 8,703 8,562 8,521 8,840 8,937 8,555 8,349 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net interest income 6,187 6,292 6,463 6,572 6,656 6,523 6,462 6,411 Provision for loan losses 88 15 45 45 95 45 52 68 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses 6,099 6,277 6,418 6,527 6,561 6,478 6,410 6,343 Non-interest income 1,447 796 1,101 1,246 882 886 1,136 894 Non-interest expense 3,269 2,871 3,119 3,256 3,115 3,191 3,924 3,195 Income before income taxes 4,277 4,202 4,400 4,517 4,328 4,173 3,622 4,042 Income tax expense 1,598 1,507 1,694 1,683 1,672 1,584 1,173 1,569 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income $ 2,679 $ 2,695 $ 2,706 $ 2,384 $ 2,656 $ 2,589 $ 2,449 $ 2,473 ============================================================================================================================= Earnings per share (in dollars):(1) Basic $ 0.77 $ 0.76 $ 0.76 $ 0.80 $ 0.75 $ 0.74 $ 0.69 $ 0.70 Diluted 0.74 0.73 0.73 0.77 0.72 0.70 0.67 0.68 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weighted average common shares outstanding:(1) Basic 3,487 3,548 3,546 3,535 3,521 3,520 3,529 3,530 Diluted 3,610 3,692 3,709 3,697 3,683 3,671 3,653 3,647 ============================================================================================================================= (1) Computation of earnings per share is further described in Note 1. 48 42 MASSBANK CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES STOCKHOLDER DATA YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 MASSBANK Corp.'s common stock is currently traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol "MASB." At December 31, 1998 there were 3,499,110 shares outstanding and 925 shareholders of record. Shareholders of record do not reflect the number of persons or entities who hold their stock in nominee or "street" name. The following table includes the quarterly ranges of high and low sales prices for the common stock, as reported by Nasdaq, and dividends declared per share for the periods indicated. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRICE PER SHARE(1) CASH --------------------- DIVIDENDS HIGH LOW DECLARED - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fourth Quarter 40 1/2 29 1/2 $ 0.27 Third Quarter 50 3/4 38 3/4 0.25 Second Quarter 54 1/4 47 1/2 0.25 First Quarter 51 1/4 43 3/4 0.25 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fourth Quarter 48 1/4 41 $ 0.24 Third Quarter 47 1/2 35 5/8 0.24 Second Quarter 35 13/16 29 29/32 0.2025 First Quarter 31 7/8 28 1/8 0.2025 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (1) Stock prices have been adjusted to reflect the 4-for-3 split of the Company's common stock effective September 15, 1997. 49 43 MASSBANK BRANCH OFFICES d/b/a MASSBANK of Reading* MASSBANK of Melrose 123 Haven Street 476 Main Street Reading, MA 01867 Melrose, MA 02176 (781) 942-8188 (781) 662-0100 (978) 446-9200 27 Melrose Street MASSBANK of Chelmsford Towers Plaza Melrose, MA 02176 296 Chelmsford Street (781) 662-0165 Eastgate Plaza Chelmsford, MA 01824 MASSBANK of Stoneham (978) 256-3751 240 Main Street 17 North Road Stoneham, MA 02180 Chelmsford, MA 01824 (781) 662-0177 (978) 256-3733 MASSBANK of Tewksbury MASSBANK of Dracut 1800 Main Street 45 Broadway Road Tewksbury, MA 01876 Dracut, MA 01826 (978) 851-0300 (978) 441-0040 MASSBANK of Westford MASSBANK of Everett 203 Littleton Road 738 Broadway Westford, MA 01886 Everett, MA 02149 (978) 692-3467 (617) 387-5115 MASSBANK of Wilmington MASSBANK of Lowell 370 Main Street 50 Central Street Wilmington, MA 01887 Lowell, MA 01852 (978) 658-4000 (978) 446-9200 219 Lowell Street 755 Lakeview Avenue Lucci's Plaza Lowell, MA 01850 Wilmington, MA 01887 (978) 446-9216 (978) 658-5775 MASSBANK of Medford 4110 Mystic Valley Parkway Wellington Circle Plaza Medford, MA 02155 (781) 395-4899 * Main Office 50 44 CORPORATE INFORMATION MASSBANK CORP. Form 10-K Independent Auditors 123 Haven Street Shareholders may obtain without KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Reading, MA 01867 charge a copy of the Company's 1998 99 High Street (781) 662-0100 Form 10-K. Written requests Boston, MA 02110 (978) 446-9200 should be addressed to: FAX (781) 942-1022 Shareholder Services Legal Counsel Massbank Corp. Savings and Mortgage 159 Haven Street Goodwin, Procter & Hoar 24-Hour-Rate Lines Reading, MA 01867 Exchange Place (781) 662-0154 Boston, MA 02109 (978) 446-9285 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan Reports on Effectiveness Notice of Shareholders' Meeting of Internal Control Structure Shareholders may obtain a brochure Over Financial Reporting The Annual Meeting of the containing a detailed description Shareholders of Massbank Corp. of the plan by writing to: Shareholders may obtain without will be held at 10:00 Shareholder Services charge a copy of Management's and A.M. on Tuesday, Massbank Corp. the Independent Auditors' 1998 April 20, 1999 at the 159 Haven Street Reports on the Effectiveness of Tara Ferncroft Conference Center Reading, MA 01867 the Company's Internal Control 50 Ferncroft Road Structure Over Financial Reporting. Danvers, MA 01923 Transfer Agent Written requests should be addressed to: Shareholder Services Trademark EquiServe Massbank Corp. Boston EquiServe Division 159 Haven Street MASSBANK and its logo are Shareholder Services Reading, MA 01867 registered trademarks of P.O. Box 644 the Company Boston, MA 02102-0644 51 45 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS MASSBANK CORP. OFFICERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS *Robert S. Cummings Senior Partner, Peabody and Brown Gerard H. Brandi Samuel Altschuler Chairman, President and Executive Vice President Louise A. Hickey Chief Executive Officer and Director, Retired, Melrose-Wakefield Hospital Sanmina Corp. Reginald E. Cormier Leonard Lapidus Vice President, Treasurer and *Mathias B. Bedell United States Government Official Chief Financial Officer Retired, Bedell Brothers Insurance Agency, Inc. *Stephen E. Marshall Robert S. Cummings President, C.H. Cleaves Insurance Secretary *Gerard H. Brandi Agency, Inc. Chairman, President and Donna H. West Chief Executive Officer, +Arthur W. McPherson Assistant Secretary MASSBANK Corp. Certified Financial Planner Allan S. Bufferd Nancy L. Pettinelli Treasurer, Executive Director, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Visiting Nurse Association +Peter W. Carr +*Herbert G. Schurian Retired, Guilford Transportation Certified Public Accountant Industries *Dr. Donald B. Stackhouse Alexander S. Costello Dentist Editorial Page Editor, Lowell Sun Publishing Co., Inc. *Member, Executive Committee +Member, Audit Committee OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS MASSBANK OFFICERS Gerard H. Brandi Gregory W. Bowe Ana M. Foster Alice B. Sweeney Chairman, President and Assistant Vice President Compliance and Assistant Comptroller Chief Executive Officer Security Officer Ernest G. Campbell, Jr. Richard A. Tatarczuk Donald R. Washburn Collections Officer Gerard F. Frechette Assistant Vice President Senior Vice President, Lending Loan Officer and Comptroller Marianne J. Carpenter Donna H. West Assistant Treasurer Rachael E. Garneau Francis J. Walsh Senior Vice President, Assistant Treasurer Operations Officer Community Banking Charles F. Coupe Information Officer Margo E. Higgins Margaret E. White Reginald E. Cormier Assistant Vice President Assistant Treasurer Vice President, Treasurer Janet L. Daniels and Human Resources Officer and Chief Financial Officer Assistant Vice President Patricia A. Witts Aunali Dohadwala Brian W. Hurley Assistant Treasurer David F. Carroll Auditor Assistant Vice President Vice President, Operations Michael J. Woods Karen J. Downs Kenneth A. Masson Assistant Vice President Thomas J. Queeney Assistant Treasurer Assistant Vice President Vice President and BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND Senior Trust Officer Karen L. Flammia Mindy S. Peloquin EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Assistant Vice President Assistant Treasurer Marilyn H. Abbott Mathias B. Bedell Assistant Treasurer Melissa J. Flanagan Renald A. Robillard Gerard H. Brandi, Chairman Assistant Treasurer Assistant Treasurer Robert S. Cummings, Clerk Andrea S. Bradford Stephen E. Marshall Assistant Vice President Richard J. Flannigan Lisa A. Sawyer Herbert G. Schurian Vice President, Trust Assistant Treasurer Dr. Donald B. Stackhouse Donna H. West 52