NOTE 10 - RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In  June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which is essentially the final rule on use of the so-called CECL model, or current expected credit losses. Among other things, the amendments in this ASU require the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Financial institutions and other organizations will now use forward-looking information to better inform their credit loss estimates. In addition, the ASU amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration.

The CARES Act gave financial institutions the option to delay adoption of ASU 2016-13. The Company decided to delay its adoption of the update until the earlier of the date the national emergency concerning COVID-19 terminates or December 31, 2020, with an effective retrospective adoption date of January 1, 2020.

The Company’s CECL implementation team includes leadership from Accounting, Credit Administration and Risk Management. This group works closely with a third-party software solution vendor providing expertise in CECL modeling techniques to develop expected credit loss estimation models. Loans with similar risk characteristics have been evaluated in pools and, depending on the nature of each identified pool, the Company utilized a discounted cash flow (“DCF”), probability of default / loss given default (“PD/LGD”) or remaining life method. The historical loss experience estimate by pool is then adjusted by forecast factors that are quantitatively related to the Company’s historical credit loss experience, such as national unemployment rates and gross domestic product.

CECL parallel comparisons were performed at September 30, 2020 and the Company estimates the allowance for loan losses under CECL will be within five percent of the allowance for loan losses under the incurred loss methodology.  The Company forecasted an immediate reversion to longer term average historical loss experience for the reasonable and supportable forecast due to the current level of uncertainty and unprecedented effect of COVID-19 as well as the corresponding response from the federal government through the CARES Act.  Qualitative factors were adjusted for a higher level of risk associated with economic conditions with a mitigating adjustment for the regulatory environment.

Credit losses for loans that no longer share similar risk characteristics were estimated on an individual basis. Individual evaluations were performed for nonaccrual loans, loans rated substandard, and modified loans classified as troubled debt restructurings. Specific allowances were estimated based on one of several methods, including the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral, observable market value of similar debt or the present value of expected cash flows.

The estimation methodology for credit losses on lending-related commitments were similar to the process for estimating credit losses for loans, with the addition of a probability of draw estimate that will be applied to each commitment amount.

Based upon the nature and characteristics of our securities portfolios at September 30, 2020, the macroeconomic conditions and forecasts at that date, and other management judgments, the Company does not currently expect to record any allowance for credit losses on available for sale securities.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The update provides temporary optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued. The guidance is intended to help stakeholders during the global market-wide reference rate transition period. Therefore, it will be effective for a limited time, starting March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company has identified a replacement reference rate established by the American Financial Exchange. This rate is based on an active market of daily fund trading among participant banks. The Company will apply the guidance provided by this ASU in transitioning to the new reference rate.

In August 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt-Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Topic 470) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Topic 815): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. The update is intended to simplify accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current U.S. GAAP. Consequently, more convertible debt instruments will be reported as a single liability instrument and more convertible preferred stock as a single equity instrument with no separate accounting for embedded conversion features. The update removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, which will permit more equity contracts to qualify for it. The update also simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas. The update is effective for the Company for its fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption will be permitted. The Company does not currently have any convertible debt instruments outstanding so does not believe that the update will have an impact on its financial statements.