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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

   
 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

   

Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

   
 

For the transition period from__________________ to __________________

 

Commission File Number:  000-19202

 

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Michigan
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)

38-2659066
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

   

109 East Division Street, Sparta, Michigan
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

49345
(Zip Code)

 

(616) 887-7366
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

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

 

Title of each class

Trading symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common stock

COFS

NASDAQ Capital Market

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: None.

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐   No ☒

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐   No ☒

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☒   No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ☐

Accelerated filer ☐

   

Non-accelerated filer ☒

 

Emerging growth company ☐

Smaller reporting company ☒

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐  No ☒

 

As of June 30, 2020, the aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was $198.2 million. This amount is based on an average bid price of $29.56 per share for the Registrant's stock as of such date.

 

As of February 28, 2021, the Registrant had 7,801,084 shares of common stock outstanding.

  

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement of ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 27, 2021 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

1

 

 

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.

Form 10-K ANNUAL REPORT

 

Contents

 

 

   

Page

PART 1 

   

Item 1: 

Business

4

Item 1A: 

Risk Factors

13

Item 1B: 

Unresolved Staff Comments 

17

Item 2: 

Properties

17

Item 3: 

Legal Proceedings

17

Item 4: 

Mine Safety Disclosures

17

     

PART II

   

Item 5: 

Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

18

Item 6: 

Selected Financial Data 

19

Item 7: 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

20

Item 7A:

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

33

Item 8: 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

35

Item 9: 

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

73

Item 9A: 

Controls and Procedures

73

Item 9B: 

Other Information

73

     

PART III

   

Item 10: 

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

74

Item 11: 

Executive Compensation

74

Item 12: 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

74

Item 13: 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

75

Item 14: 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

75

     

PART IV

   

Item 15: 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

75

     

SIGNATURES

 

77

 


 

 

2

 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report and the documents incorporated into this report contain forward-looking statements that are based on management's beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates and projections about the financial services industry, the economy, and ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “is likely,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “may,” “could,” “estimates,” “look forward,” “continue,” “future,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Management’s determination of the provision and allowance for loan losses, the carrying value of goodwill, loan servicing rights, other real estate owned, and the fair value of investment securities (including whether any impairment on any investment security is temporary or other-than-temporary and the amount of any impairment) and management’s assumptions concerning pension and other postretirement benefit plans involve judgments that are inherently forward-looking. Examples of forward-looking statements also include, but are not limited to, statements related to the impact of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the businesses, financial condition and results of operations of ChoiceOne and its customers and statements regarding the outlook and expectations of ChoiceOne and its customers.   All of the information concerning interest rate sensitivity is forward-looking. All statements with references to future time periods are forward-looking. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions (“risk factors”) that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood, and degree of occurrence. Therefore, actual results and outcomes may materially differ from what may be expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Furthermore, ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

Risk factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A of this report. These are representative of the risk factors that could cause a difference between an ultimate actual outcome and a preceding forward-looking statement.

 

 

PART I

 

Explanatory Note

 

On July 1, 2020, ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. (“ChoiceOne” or the “Company”) completed the merger of Community Shores Bank Corporation ("Community Shores") with and into ChoiceOne with ChoiceOne surviving the merger. Accordingly, the reported consolidated financial condition and operating results as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 include the impact of the merger, which was effective as of July 1, 2020. 

 

On October 1, 2019, ChoiceOne completed the merger of County Bank Corp. ("County") with and into ChoiceOne with ChoiceOne surviving the merger. Accordingly, the reported consolidated financial condition and operating results as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020 include the impact of the merger, which was effective as of October 1, 2019.

 

For additional details regarding the mergers with Community Shores and County, see Note 21 (Business Combination) of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this report.

 

3

 

Item 1.

Business

 

General

ChoiceOne is a financial holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (“BHC Act”). The Company was incorporated on February 24, 1986, as a Michigan corporation. The Company was formed to create a bank holding company for the purpose of acquiring all of the capital stock of ChoiceOne Bank, which became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company on April 6, 1987. Effective November 1, 2006, the Company merged with Valley Ridge Financial Corp., a one-bank holding company for Valley Ridge Bank (“VRB”). In December 2006, VRB was consolidated into ChoiceOne Bank. Effective October 1, 2019, County, a one-bank holding company for Lakestone Bank & Trust (“Lakestone”), merged with and into the Company.  Lakestone was consolidated into ChoiceOne Bank in May 2020.  On July 1, 2020, Community Shores Bank Corporation ("Community Shores"), a one bank holding company for Community Shores Bank, merged with and into the Company.   Community Shores Bank was consolidated into ChoiceOne Bank in October 2020. ChoiceOne Bank owns all of the outstanding common stock of ChoiceOne Insurance Agencies, Inc., an independent insurance agency headquartered in Sparta, Michigan (the "Insurance Agency"), and all of the outstanding capital stock of Lakestone Financial Services, Inc. (“Lakestone Financial”) and Community Shores Financial Services, Inc. (“Community Shores Financial”).

 

The Company's business is primarily concentrated in a single industry segment, banking. ChoiceOne Bank (referred to as the “Bank”) is a full-service banking institution that offers a variety of deposit, payment, credit and other financial services to all types of customers. These services include time, savings, and demand deposits, safe deposit services, and automated transaction machine services. Loans, both commercial and consumer, are extended primarily on a secured basis to corporations, partnerships and individuals. Commercial lending covers such categories as business, industry, agricultural, construction, inventory and real estate. The Bank’s consumer loan departments make direct and indirect loans to consumers and purchasers of residential and real property. In addition, the Bank offers trust and wealth management services. No material part of the business of the Company or the Bank is dependent upon a single customer or very few customers, the loss of which would have a materially adverse effect on the Company.

 

The Bank’s primary market areas lie within Kent, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa counties in western Michigan, and Lapeer, Macomb, and St. Clair counties in southeastern Michigan in the communities where the Bank's respective offices are located. The Bank serves these markets through 32 full-service offices. The Company and the Bank have no foreign assets or income.

 

At December 31, 2020, the Company had consolidated total assets of $1.9 billion, net loans of $1.1 billion, total deposits of $1.7 billion and total shareholders' equity of $227.3 million. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized consolidated net income of $15.6 million. The principal source of revenue for the Company and the Bank is interest and fees on loans. On a consolidated basis, interest and fees on loans accounted for 60%, 64%, and 64% of total revenues in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Interest on securities accounted for 11%, 13%, and 14% of total revenues in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. For more information about the Company's financial condition and results of operations, see the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8 of this report.

 

The information under the heading “The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak” on page 23 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Competition

The Bank’s competition primarily comes from other financial institutions located within Kent, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa counties in western Michigan and Lapeer, Macomb, and St. Clair counties in southeastern Michigan. There are a number of larger commercial banks within the Bank’s primary market areas. The Bank also competes with a large number of other financial institutions, such as savings and loan associations, insurance companies, consumer finance companies, credit unions, internet banks and other financial technology companies, and commercial finance and leasing companies for deposits, loans and service business. Money market mutual funds, brokerage houses and nonfinancial institutions provide many of the financial services offered by the Bank. Many of these competitors have substantially greater resources than the Bank. The principal methods of competition for financial services are price (the rates of interest charged for loans, the rates of interest paid for deposits and the fees charged for services) and the convenience and quality of services rendered to customers.

 

4

 

Supervision and Regulation

Banks and bank holding companies are extensively regulated. The Company is subject to supervision and regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”). The Company's activities are generally limited to owning or controlling banks and engaging in such other activities as the Federal Reserve Board may determine to be closely related to banking. Prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board, and in some cases various other government agencies, is required for the Company to acquire control of any additional bank holding companies, banks or other operating subsidiaries. Under Federal Reserve Board policy, the Company is expected to act as a source of financial strength to the Bank and to commit resources to support it.

 

The Bank is chartered under state law and is subject to regulation by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (“DIFS”). State banking laws place restrictions on various aspects of banking, including permitted activities, loan interest rates, branching, payment of dividends and capital and surplus requirements. The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System and is also subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve Board. The Bank’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) to the maximum extent provided by law. The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank system, which provides certain advantages to the Bank, including favorable borrowing rates for certain funds.

 

The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank. The Company's primary source of funds available to pay dividends to shareholders is dividends paid to it by the Bank. There are legal limitations on the extent to which the Bank can lend or otherwise supply funds to the Company. In addition, payment of dividends to the Company by the Bank is subject to various state and federal regulatory limitations.

 

The FDIC formed the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) in accordance with the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 (“Reform Act”) to create a stronger and more stable insurance system. The FDIC maintains the insurance reserves of the DIF by assessing depository institutions an insurance premium. The DIF insures deposit accounts of the Bank up to a maximum amount of $250,000 per separately insured depositor. FDIC insured depository institutions are required to pay deposit insurance premiums based on the risk an institution poses to the DIF. In February 2011, the FDIC finalized rules, effective for assessments occurring after April 1, 2011, which redefined an institution's assessment base as average consolidated total assets minus average Tier 1 capital. The new rules also established the initial base assessment rate for Risk Category 1 institutions, such as the Bank, at 5 to 9 basis points (annualized). Effective July 1, 2016, the FDIC amended its rules to eliminate Risk Categories for small banks, replacing them with a method based on a bank’s CAMELS composite rating and several financial ratios. On that date, the Bank’s initial base assessment rate was reduced to 3 basis points, since the Federal Deposit Insurance Reserve Ratio reached 1.15% as of June 30, 2016.

 

The Deposit Insurance Funds Act of 1996 authorized the Financing Corporation (“FICO”) to impose periodic assessments on all depository institutions. The purpose of these periodic assessments is to spread the cost of the interest payments on the outstanding FICO bonds issued to recapitalize the Savings Association Insurance Fund (“SAIF”) over a larger number of institutions.

 

The federal banking agencies have adopted guidelines to promote the safety and soundness of federally-insured depository institutions. These guidelines establish standards for, among other things, internal controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, compensation, fees and benefits, asset quality and earnings.

 

The Company and the Bank are subject to regulatory “risk-based” capital guidelines. Failure to meet these capital guidelines could subject the Company or the Bank to a variety of enforcement remedies, including issuance of a capital directive, the termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC, a prohibition on accepting brokered deposits, and other restrictions on its business. In addition, the Bank would generally not receive regulatory approval of any application that requires the consideration of capital adequacy, such as a branch or merger application, unless it could demonstrate a reasonable plan to meet the capital requirement within a reasonable period of time.

 

Under Federal Reserve Board policy, the Company is expected to act as a source of financial strength to the Bank and to commit resources to support the Bank. In addition, if DIFS deems the Bank's capital to be impaired, DIFS may require the Bank to restore its capital by a special assessment on the Company as the Bank's sole shareholder. If the Company fails to pay any assessment, the Company’s directors will be required, under Michigan law, to sell the shares of the Bank's stock owned by the Company to the highest bidder at either a public or private auction and use the proceeds of the sale to restore the Bank's capital.

 

5

 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (“FDICIA”) requires, among other things, federal banking agencies to take “prompt corrective action” in respect of depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. FDICIA sets forth the following five capital categories: “well-capitalized,” “adequately-capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly-undercapitalized” and “critically-undercapitalized.” A depository institution's capital category will depend upon how its capital levels compare with various relevant capital measures as established by regulation, which include Tier 1 and total risk-based capital ratio measures and a leverage capital ratio measure. Under certain circumstances, the appropriate banking agency may treat a well-capitalized, adequately-capitalized, or undercapitalized institution as if the institution were in the next lower capital category.

 

Federal banking regulators are required to take specified mandatory supervisory actions and are authorized to take other discretionary actions with respect to institutions in the three undercapitalized categories. The severity of the action depends upon the capital category in which the institution is placed. Subject to a narrow exception, the banking regulator must generally appoint a receiver or conservator for an institution that is critically undercapitalized. An institution in any of the undercapitalized categories is required to submit an acceptable capital restoration plan to its appropriate federal banking agency. An undercapitalized institution is also generally prohibited from paying any dividends, increasing its average total assets, making acquisitions, establishing any branches, accepting or renewing any brokered deposits or engaging in any new line of business, except under an accepted capital restoration plan or with FDIC approval.

 

On July 3, 2013, the FDIC Board of Directors approved the Regulatory Capital Interim Final Rule, implementing Basel III. This rule redefines Tier 1 capital as two components (Common Equity Tier 1 and Additional Tier 1), creates a new capital ratio (Common Equity Tier 1 Risk-based Capital Ratio) and implements a capital conservation buffer. It also revises the prompt corrective action thresholds and makes changes to risk weights for certain assets and off-balance-sheet exposures. The Bank was required to transition into the new rule beginning on January 1, 2015.

 

Banks are subject to a number of federal and state laws and regulations, which have a material impact on their business. These include, among others, minimum capital requirements, state usury laws, state laws relating to fiduciaries, the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Service Members Civil Relief Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Controls, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, electronic funds transfer laws, redlining laws, predatory lending laws, antitrust laws, environmental laws, money laundering laws and privacy laws. The monetary policy of the Federal Reserve Board may influence the growth and distribution of bank loans, investments and deposits, and may also affect interest rates on loans and deposits. These policies may have a significant effect on the operating results of banks.

 

In general, the BHC Act limits the business of bank holding companies to banking, managing or controlling banks and other activities that the Federal Reserve Board has determined to be closely related to the business of banking. In addition, bank holding companies that qualify and elect to be financial holding companies may engage in any activities that are financial in nature or complementary to a financial activity and do not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system without prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board. Activities that are financial in nature include securities underwriting and dealing, insurance underwriting and making merchant banking investments.  The Company has elected to be a financial holding company.

 

In order for the Company to maintain financial holding company status, both the Company and the Bank must be categorized as "well-capitalized" and "well-managed" under applicable regulatory guidelines. If the Company or the Bank ceases to meet these requirements, the Federal Reserve Board may impose corrective capital and/or managerial requirements and place limitations on the Company’s ability to conduct the broader financial activities permissible for financial holding companies. In addition, if the deficiencies persist, the Federal Reserve Board may require the Company to divest of the Bank. The Company and the Bank were each categorized as "well-capitalized" and "well-managed" as of December 31, 2020.

 

Bank holding companies may acquire banks and other bank holding companies located in any state in the United States without regard to geographic restrictions or reciprocity requirements imposed by state banking law. Banks may also establish interstate branch networks through acquisitions of and mergers with other banks. The establishment of de novo interstate branches or the acquisition of individual branches of a bank in another state (rather than the acquisition of an out-of-state bank in its entirety) is allowed only if specifically authorized by state law.

 

6

 

Michigan banking laws do not significantly restrict interstate banking. The Michigan Banking Code permits, in appropriate circumstances and with the approval of DIFS, (1) acquisition of Michigan banks by FDIC-insured banks, savings banks or savings and loan associations located in other states, (2) sale by a Michigan bank of branches to an FDIC-insured bank, savings bank or savings and loan association located in a state in which a Michigan bank could purchase branches of the purchasing entity, (3) consolidation of Michigan banks and FDIC-insured banks, savings banks or savings and loan associations located in other states having laws permitting such consolidation, (4) establishment of branches in Michigan by FDIC-insured banks located in other states, the District of Columbia or U.S. territories or protectorates having laws permitting a Michigan bank to establish a branch in such jurisdiction, and (5) establishment by foreign banks of branches located in Michigan.

 

Banks are subject to the provisions of the Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA"). Under the terms of the CRA, the appropriate federal bank regulatory agency is required, in connection with its examination of a bank, to assess the bank's record in meeting the credit needs of the community served by that bank, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operation of the institution. Under the CRA, institutions are assigned a rating of "outstanding," "satisfactory," "needs to improve," or "substantial non-compliance." The regulatory agency's assessment of the bank's record is made available to the public. Further, a bank's federal regulatory agency is required to assess the CRA compliance record of any bank that has applied to establish a new branch office that will accept deposits, relocate an office, or merge or consolidate with, or acquire the assets or assume the liabilities of, a federally regulated financial institution. In the case of a bank holding company applying for approval to acquire a bank or another bank holding company, the Federal Reserve Board will assess the CRA compliance record of each subsidiary bank of the applicant bank holding company, and such compliance records may be the basis for denying the application. Upon receiving notice that a subsidiary bank is rated less than "satisfactory," a financial holding company will be prohibited from additional activities that are permitted to be conducted by a financial holding company and from acquiring any company engaged in such activities. The CRA rating of the Bank was "Satisfactory" as of its most recent examination.

 

Effects of Compliance With Environmental Regulations

The nature of the business of the Bank is such that it holds title, on a temporary or permanent basis, to a number of parcels of real property. These include properties owned for branch offices and other business purposes as well as properties taken in or in lieu of foreclosure to satisfy loans in default. Under current state and federal laws, present and past owners of real property may be exposed to liability for the cost of cleanup of environmental contamination on or originating from those properties, even if they are wholly innocent of the actions that caused the contamination. These liabilities can be material and can exceed the value of the contaminated property. Management is not presently aware of any instances where compliance with these provisions will have a material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company or the Bank, or where compliance with these provisions will adversely affect a borrower's ability to comply with the terms of loan contracts.

 

Employees

As of February 28, 2021, the Company, on a consolidated basis, employed 359 employees, of which 305 were full-time employees.  Our employees are not represented by any collective bargaining group. Management considers its employee relations to be good. 

 

Statistical Information

Additional statistical information describing the business of the Company appears on the following pages and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and in Item 7 of this report and in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto in Item 8 of this report. The following statistical information should be read in conjunction with Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes in this report.

 

Securities Portfolio 

The carrying value of securities categorized by type as of December 31 was as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 
                         

Equity securities

  $ 2,896     $ 2,851     $ 2,847  
                         

U.S. Government and federal agency

  $ 2,051     $ 17,215     $ 33,529  

U.S. Treasury notes and bonds

    2,056       2,008       1,947  

State and municipal

    320,368       173,924       103,928  

Mortgage-backed securities

    246,723       142,760       21,575  

Corporate

    2,589       2,672       5,102  

Trust preferred securities

    1,000       1,000       500  

Asset-backed securities

    -       -       21  

Total

  $ 574,787     $ 339,579     $ 166,602  

 

7

 

The Company did not hold investment securities from any one issuer at December 31, 2020, that were greater than 10% of the Company's shareholders' equity, exclusive of U.S. Government and U.S. Government agency securities.

 

Presented below is the fair value of securities as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, a schedule of maturities of securities as of December 31, 2020, and the weighted average yields of securities as of December 31, 2020:

 

   

Securities maturing within:

                 
                                   

Fair Value

   

Fair Value

 
   

Less than

   

1 Year -

   

5 Years -

   

More than

   

at Dec. 31,

   

at Dec. 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

1 Year

   

5 Years

   

10 Years

   

10 Years

   

2020

   

2019

 
                                                 

U.S. Government and federal agency

  $ -     $ 2,051     $ -     $ -     $ 2,051     $ 17,215  

U.S. Treasury notes and bonds

    -       2,056       -       -       2,056       2,008  

State and municipal (1)

    15,636       55,752       230,775       18,205       320,368       173,924  

Corporate

    589       959       1,041       -       2,589       2,672  

Trust preferred securities

    -       -       -       1,000       1,000       1,000  

Total debt securities

    16,225       60,818       231,816       19,205       328,064       196,819  
                                                 

Mortgage-backed securities

    3,497       81,853       154,879       6,494       246,723       142,760  

Equity securities (2)

    -       1,000       -       1,896       2,896       2,851  

Total

  $ 19,722     $ 143,671     $ 386,695     $ 27,595     $ 577,683     $ 342,430  

 

   

Weighted average yields:

 
   

Less than

   

1 Year -

   

5 Years -

   

More than

         
   

1 Year

   

5 Years

   

10 Years

   

10 Years

   

Total

 

U.S. Government and federal agency

    -

%

    1.98

%

    -

%

    -

%

    1.98

%

U.S. Treasury notes and bonds

    -       1.85       -       -       1.85  

State and municipal (1)

    2.19       3.20       2.97       2.91       2.97  

Corporate

    4.70       2.63       2.86       -       3.59  

Trust preferred securities

    -       -       -       3.75       3.75  

Mortgage-backed securities

    4.84       1.61       0.98       1.55       1.26  
Equity securities (2)     -       4.61       -       -       1.59  

 

(1) The yield is computed for tax-exempt securities on a fully tax-equivalent basis at an incremental tax rate of 21% for 2020.

(2) Equity securities are preferred and common stock that may or may not have a stated maturity.

 

8

 

Loan Portfolio

The Company's loan portfolio categorized by loan type (excluding loans held for sale and loans to other financial institutions) is presented below for the respective years ended December 31:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Agricultural

  $ 53,735     $ 57,339     $ 49,109     $ 48,464     $ 44,614  
Commercial and industrial     303,527       148,083       91,406       104,386       96,088  
Consumer     34,014       38,854       24,382       24,513       21,596  
Real estate - commercial     469,247       326,379       139,453       123,487       110,762  
Real estate - construction     16,639       13,411       8,843       6,613       6,153  
Real estate - residential     192,506       217,982       95,880       91,322       89,787  

Total loans, gross

  $ 1,069,668     $ 802,048     $ 409,073     $ 398,785     $ 369,000  

 

Maturities and Sensitivities of Loans to Changes in Interest Rates

The following schedule presents the maturities of loans (excluding residential real estate and consumer loans) as of December 31, 2020. All loans over one year in maturity (excluding residential real estate and consumer loans) are also presented classified according to the sensitivity to changes in interest rates as of December 31, 2020.

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Less than

   

1 Year -

   

More than

         
   

1 Year

   

5 Years

   

5 Years

   

Total

 

Loan Type

                               

Agricultural

  $ 13,645     $ 15,782     $ 24,308     $ 53,735  

Commercial and industrial

    50,176       200,944       52,407       303,527  

Real estate - commercial

    34,655       245,063       189,529       469,247  

Real estate - construction

    16,391       248       -       16,639  

Totals

  $ 114,867     $ 462,037     $ 266,244     $ 843,148  

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Less than

   

1 Year -

   

More than

         
   

1 Year

   

5 Years

   

5 Years

   

Total

 

Loan Sensitivity to Changes in Interest Rates

                               

Loans with fixed interest rates

  $ 37,066     $ 420,019     $ 184,418     $ 641,503  

Loans with floating or adjustable interest rates

    77,801       42,018       81,826       201,645  

Totals

  $ 114,867     $ 462,037     $ 266,244     $ 843,148  

 

Loan maturities are classified according to the contractual maturity date or the anticipated amortization period, whichever is appropriate. The anticipated amortization period is used in the case of loans where a balloon payment is due before the end of the loan’s normal amortization period. At the time the balloon payment is due, the loan can either be rewritten or payment in full can be requested. The decision regarding whether the loan will be rewritten or a payment in full will be requested will be based upon the loan’s payment history, the borrower’s current financial condition, and other relevant factors.

 

Risk Elements

The following loans were classified as nonperforming as of December 31:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Loans accounted for on a nonaccrual basis

    6,707     $ 4,687     $ 1,532     $ 1,096     $ 1,983  

Accruing loans which are contractually past due 90 days or more as to principal or interest payments

    -       -       -       258       229  

Loans defined as "troubled debt restructurings"

    1,537       1,726       2,254       2,896       2,853  

Totals

  $ 8,244     $ 6,413     $ 3,786     $ 4,250     $ 5,065  

 

A loan is placed on nonaccrual status at the point in time at which the collectability of principal or interest is considered doubtful.

 

9

 

The table below illustrates interest forgone and interest recorded on nonperforming loans for the years presented:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Interest on non-performing loans that would have been earned had the loans been in an accrual or performing status

  $ 845     $ 474     $ 224  

Interest on non-performing loans that was actually recorded when received

  $ 224     $ 104     $ 122  

 

Potential Problem Loans

At December 31, 2020, there were no loans not disclosed above where known information about possible credit problems of borrowers caused management to have serious doubts as to the ability of such borrowers to comply with the present loan repayment terms. Specific loss allocations totaling $283,000 from the allowance for loan losses had been allocated for all nonperforming and potential problem loans as of December 31, 2020. However, the entire allowance for loan losses is also available for any potential problem loans.

 

Loan Concentrations

As of December 31, 2020, there was no concentration of loans exceeding 10% of total loans that is not otherwise disclosed as a category of loans pursuant to Item III.A. of Industry Guide 3.

 

Other Interest-Bearing Assets

As of December 31, 2020, there were no other interest-bearing assets requiring disclosure under Item III.C.1. or 2. of Industry Guide 3 if such assets were loans.

 

Summary of Loan Loss Experience

The following schedule presents a summary of activity in the allowance for loan losses for the periods shown and the percentage of net charge-offs during each period to average gross loans outstanding during the period:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 
                                         

Allowance for loan losses at beginning of year

  $ 4,057     $ 4,673     $ 4,577     $ 4,277     $ 4,194  
                                         

Charge-offs:

                                       
Agricultural     15       -       -       -       -  
Commercial and industrial     148       83       58       439       37  
Consumer     329       589       282       253       218  
Real estate - commercial     254       -       -       -       -  
Real estate - construction     -       25       -       -       -  
Real estate - residential     8       292       25       43       102  
Total charge-offs     754       989       365       735       357  
                                         

Recoveries:

                                       
Agricultural     -       65       33       -       -  
Commercial and industrial     57       22       107       21       31  
Consumer     204       26       112       169       149  
Real estate - commercial     10       -       61       258       89  
Real estate - construction     -       124       -       40       -  
Real estate - residential     19       136       113       62       171  
Total recoveries     290       373       426       550       440  
                                         
Net charge-offs (recoveries)     464       616       (61 )     185       (83 )
                                         
Provision for loan losses     4,000       -       35       485       -  
                                         

Allowance for loan losses at end of year

  $ 7,593     $ 4,057     $ 4,673     $ 4,577     $ 4,277  
                                         

Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of:

                                       

Total loans as of year end

    0.71

%

    0.51

%

    1.14

%

    1.15

%

    1.16

%

Nonaccrual loans, accrual loans past due 90 days or more and troubled debt restructurings

    92

%

    63

%

    123

%

    108

%

    84

%

Ratio of net charge-offs during the period to average loans outstanding during the period

    0.05

%

    0.12

%

    (0.02

)%

    0.05

%

    (0.02

)%

Loan recoveries as a percentage of prior year's charge-offs

    29

%

    102

%

    58

%

    154

%

    95

%

 

 

Additions to the allowance for loan losses charged to operations during the periods shown were based on management’s judgment after considering factors such as loan loss experience, evaluation of the loan portfolio, and prevailing and anticipated economic conditions. The evaluation of the loan portfolio is based upon various risk factors such as the financial condition of the borrower, the value of collateral and other considerations, which, in the opinion of management, deserve current recognition in estimating loan losses.

 

10

 

The following schedule presents an allocation of the allowance for loan losses to the various loan categories as of the years ended December 31:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Agricultural

  $ 257     $ 471     $ 481     $ 506     $ 433  
Commercial and industrial     1,327       655       892       1,001       688  
Consumer     317       270       254       262       305  
Real estate - commercial     4,178       1,663       1,926       1,761       1,438  
Real estate - construction     97       76       38       35       62  
Real estate - residential     1,300       640       537       726       1,013  
Unallocated     117       282       545       286       338  

Total allowance

  $ 7,593     $ 4,057     $ 4,673     $ 4,577     $ 4,277  

 

The increase in the loan allowance for commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate loans, and residential real estate loans is largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and areas of the portfolio management feels could be the most effected.  Further details are laid out in Item 7 below.

 

Management periodically reviews the assumptions, loss ratios and delinquency trends in estimating the appropriate level of its allowance for loan losses and believes the unallocated portion of the total allowance was sufficient at December 31, 2020.

 

The following schedule presents the stratification of the loan portfolio by category, based on the amount of loans outstanding as a percentage of total loans for the respective years ended December 31:

 

   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Agricultural

    5

%

    7

%

    12

%

    12

%

    12

%

Commercial and industrial

 

28

      18       22       26       26  

Consumer

 

3

      5       6       6       6  

Real estate - commercial

 

44

      40       34       31       30  

Real estate - construction

 

2

      2       2       2       2  

Real estate - residential

 

18

      28       24       23       24  

Total loans

    100

%

    100

%

    100

%

    100

%

    100

%

 

Deposits

The following schedule presents the average deposit balances by category and the average rates paid thereon for the respective years:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                                               
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Noninterest-bearing demand

  $ 398,422       -

%

  $ 186,411       -

%

  $ 148,495       -

%

Interest-bearing demand and money market deposits

    571,693       0.32       278,444       0.56       209,542       0.33  

Savings

    267,217       0.11       109,028       0.07       76,102       0.02  

Certificates of deposit

    183,836       1.11       136,537       1.87       109,834       1.34  

Total

  $ 1,421,168       0.29

%

  $ 710,420       0.63

%

  $ 543,973       0.40

%

 

The following table illustrates the maturities of certificates of deposits issued in denominations of $100,000 or more as of December 31, 2020:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

       
         

Maturing in less than 3 months

  $ 37,889  

Maturing in 3 to 6 months

    45,258  

Maturing in 6 to 12 months

    36,724  

Maturing in more than 12 months

    19,518  

Total

  $ 139,389  

 

At December 31, 2020, the Bank had no material foreign deposits.

 

11

 

Short-Term Borrowings

Federal funds purchased by the Company are unsecured overnight borrowings from correspondent banks. Federal funds purchased are due the next business day. The table below provides additional information regarding these short-term borrowings:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Outstanding balance at December 31

  $ -     $ -     $ 4,800  

Average interest rate at December 31

    -

%

    -

%

    2.80

%

Average balance during the year

  $ 198     $ 2,289     $ 2,174  

Average interest rate during the year

    0.54

%

    2.48

%

    2.31

%

Maximum month end balance during the year

  $ -     $ 15,000     $ 13,000  

 

Repurchase agreements include advances by the Bank’s customers that are not covered by federal deposit insurance. These agreements are direct obligations of the Company and are secured by securities held in safekeeping at a correspondent bank. The table below provides additional information regarding these short-term borrowings:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Outstanding balance at December 31

  $ -     $ -     $ -  

Average interest rate at December 31

    -

%

    -

%

    -

%

Average balance during the year

  $ -     $ -     $ 1,412  

Average interest rate during the year

    -

%

    -

%

    0.05

%

Maximum month end balance during the year

  $ -     $ -     $ 7,148  

 

Federal Reserve Discount Window advances are secured loans from the Federal Reserve Bank. The advances are secured by commercial real estate loan and commercial and industrial loans and have terms from 1 to 14 days. The table below provides additional information regarding these short-term borrowings:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Outstanding balance at December 31

  $ -     $ -     $ -  

Average interest rate at December 31

    -

%

    -

%

    -

%

Average balance during the year

  $ 2,393     $ -     $ -  

Average interest rate during the year

    0.25

%

    -

%

    -

%

Maximum month end balance during the year

  $ 19,500     $ -     $ -  

 

Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) with original repayment terms less than one year are considered short-term borrowings for the Company. These advances are secured by residential real estate mortgage loans and U.S. government agency securities. The advances have maturities ranging from 1 month to 12 months from the date of issue.

 

The table below provides additional information regarding these short-term borrowings:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Outstanding balance at December 31

  $ -     $ 33,000     $ 5,000  

Average interest rate at December 31

    -

%

    2.12

%

    2.57

%

Average balance during the year

  $ 412     $ 18,765     $ 11,752  

Average interest rate during the year

    2.05

%

    2.38

%

    1.92

%

Maximum month end balance during the year

  $ 195     $ 53,000     $ 25,000  

 

There were no other categories of short-term borrowings whose average balance outstanding exceeded 30% of shareholders' equity in 2020, 2019 or 2018.

 

Long-Term Borrowings

Long-term borrowings consist of a term note obtained by the ChoiceOne in June 2020.  The note matures in June 2023 with quarterly principal and interest payments.  The table below provides additional information regarding the long-term borrowing:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Outstanding balance at December 31

  $ 9,167     $ -     $ -  

Average interest rate at December 31

    3.00

%

    -

%

    -

%

Average balance during the year

  $ 4,886     $ -     $ -  

Average interest rate during the year

    3.00

%

    -

%

    -

%

Maximum month end balance during the year

  $ 10,000     $ -     $ -  

 

12

 

Return on Equity and Assets

The following schedule presents certain financial ratios of the Company for the years ended December 31:

 

   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Return on assets (net income divided by average total assets)

    0.94

%

    0.85

%

    1.15

%

                         

Return on equity (net income dividend by average equity)

    7.28

%

    6.48

%

    9.55

%

                         

Dividend payout ratio (dividends declared per share divided by net income per share)

    39.54

%

    80.97

%

    35.08

%

                         

Equity to assets ratio (average equity divided by average total assets)

    12.97

%

    13.08

%

    12.04

%

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

The Company is subject to many risks and uncertainties. Although the Company seeks ways to manage these risks and develop programs to control risks to the extent that management can control them, the Company cannot predict the future. Actual results may differ materially from management’s expectations. Some of these significant risks and uncertainties are discussed below. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones that the Company faces. Additional risks and uncertainties of which the Company is unaware, or that it currently does not consider to be material, also may become important factors that affect the Company and its business. If any of these risks were to occur, the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Risks Related to the Companys Business 

 

The continuing outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, could adversely impact the Companys and its customers business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

The continuing outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is significantly disrupting the economy, financial markets, and societal norms in Michigan, the United States and across the world.  Due to the nature of the pandemic, uncertainty and fluidity of the spread of the virus, volatility of financial markets, and varied responses and actions from local, state and federal governments, including mandated shutdowns and other restrictive orders from Michigan’s Governor and state and local agencies and departments, it is impossible to predict the ultimate adverse impact COVID-19 could have on the Company and its customers.  The effects of COVID-19 could, among other risks, result in a material increase in requests from the Company’s customers for loan deferrals, modifications to the terms of loans, or other borrower accommodations; have a material adverse impact on the financial condition of the Company’s customers, potentially impacting their ability to make payments to the Company as scheduled and driving an increase in delinquencies and loan losses; result in additional material provision for loan losses; result in a decreased demand for the Company’s loans; or negatively impact the Company’s ability to access capital on attractive terms or at all.  Those effects could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s and its customers’ business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

Asset quality could be less favorable than expected.

 

A significant source of risk for the Company arises from the possibility that losses will be sustained because borrowers, guarantors and related parties may fail to perform in accordance with the terms of their loan agreements. Most loans originated by the Company are secured, but some loans are unsecured depending on the nature of the loan. With respect to secured loans, the collateral securing the repayment of these loans includes a wide variety of real and personal property that may be insufficient to cover the obligations owed under such loans. Collateral values may be adversely affected by changes in prevailing economic, environmental and other conditions, including declines in the value of real estate, changes in interest rates, changes in monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government, terrorist activity, environmental contamination and other external events.

 

The Company’s allowance for loan losses may not be adequate to cover actual loan losses.

 

The risk of nonpayment of loans is inherent in all lending activities and nonpayment of loans may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s earnings and overall financial condition, and the value of its common stock. The Company makes various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of its loan portfolio and provides an allowance for potential losses based on a number of factors. If its assumptions are wrong, the allowance for loan losses may not be sufficient to cover losses, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s operating results and may cause it to increase the allowance in the future. The actual amount of future provisions for loan losses cannot now be determined and may exceed the amounts of past provisions for loan losses. Federal and state banking regulators, as an integral part of their supervisory function, periodically review the allowance for loan losses. These regulatory agencies may require the Company to increase its provision for loan losses or to recognize further loan charge-offs based upon their judgments, which may be different from the Company’s judgments. Any increase in the allowance for loan losses could have a negative effect on the Company’s regulatory capital ratios, net income, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, a large portion of the loan portfolio was marked to fair value as part of the merger with County and does not carry an allowance as management determined no credit deterioration had occurred since the effective date of the merger.

 

13

 

General economic conditions in the state of Michigan could be less favorable than expected.

 

The Company is affected by general economic conditions in the United States, although most directly within Michigan. An economic downturn within Michigan could negatively impact household and corporate incomes. This impact may lead to decreased demand for both loan and deposit products and increase the number of customers who fail to pay interest or principal on their loans.

 

The Company could be adversely affected by the soundness of other financial institutions, including defaults by larger financial institutions.

 

The Company's ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institutions. Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of credit, trading, clearing, counterparty or other relationships between financial institutions. The Company has exposure to multiple counterparties, and it routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial industry. As a result, defaults by, or even rumors or questions about, one or more financial services institutions, or the financial services industry generally, could lead to market-wide liquidity problems and losses or defaults by the Company or by other institutions. This is sometimes referred to as "systemic risk" and may adversely affect financial intermediaries, such as clearing agencies, clearing houses, banks, securities firms and exchanges, with which the Company interacts on a daily basis, and therefore could adversely affect the Company.

 

If the Company does not adjust to changes in the financial services industry, its financial performance may suffer.

 

The Company’s ability to maintain its financial performance and return on investment to shareholders will depend in part on its ability to maintain and grow its core deposit customer base and expand its financial services to its existing customers. In addition to other banks, competitors include credit unions, securities dealers, brokers, mortgage bankers, investment advisors, internet banks and other financial technology companies, and finance and insurance companies. The increasingly competitive environment is, in part, a result of changes in the economic environment within the state of Michigan, regulation, changes in technology and product delivery systems and consolidation among financial service providers. New competitors may emerge to increase the degree of competition for the Company’s customers and services. Financial services and products are also constantly changing. The Company’s financial performance will also depend in part upon customer demand for the Company’s products and services and the Company’s ability to develop and offer competitive financial products and services.

 

Changes in interest rates could reduce the Company's income and cash flow.

 

The Company’s income and cash flow depends, to a great extent, on the difference between the interest earned on loans and securities, and the interest paid on deposits and other borrowings. Market interest rates are beyond the Company’s control, and they fluctuate in response to general economic conditions and the policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies including, in particular, the Federal Reserve Board. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates and interest rate relationships, will influence the origination of loans, the purchase of investments, the generation of deposits and the rate received on loans and securities and paid on deposits and other borrowings.

 

Interest rates on our outstanding financial instruments might be subject to change based on regulatory developments, which could adversely affect our revenue, expenses, and the value of those financial instruments.

 

LIBOR and certain other “benchmarks” are the subject of recent national, international, and other regulatory guidance and proposals for reform. These reforms may cause such benchmarks to perform differently than in the past or have other consequences which cannot be predicted. On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, publicly announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit LIBOR rates after 2021. In November 2020, the FCA announced that it would continue to publish LIBOR rates through June 30, 2023. It is unclear whether, or in what form, LIBOR will continue to exist after that date or if new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established. If LIBOR ceases to exist or if the methods of calculating LIBOR change from current methods for any reason, interest rates on our floating rate obligations, loans, deposits, and other financial instruments tied to LIBOR rates, as well as the revenue and expenses associated with those financial instruments, may be adversely affected. Any uncertainty regarding the continued use and reliability of LIBOR as a benchmark interest rate could adversely affect the value of our floating rate obligations, loans, deposits, and other financial instruments tied to LIBOR rates. Additionally, whether or not the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) attains market traction as a replacement to LIBOR remains in question and it remains uncertain at this time what the impact of a possible transition to SOFR or other alternative reference rates may have on our business, financial results and results of operations.

 

The Company is subject to liquidity risk in its operations, which could adversely affect its ability to fund various obligations.

 

Liquidity risk is the possibility of being unable to meet obligations as they come due or capitalize on growth opportunities as they arise because of an inability to liquidate assets or obtain adequate funding on a timely basis, at a reasonable cost and within acceptable risk tolerances. Liquidity is required to fund various obligations, including credit obligations to borrowers, loan originations, withdrawals by depositors, repayment of debt, dividends to shareholders, operating expenses and capital expenditures. Liquidity is derived primarily from retail deposit growth and earnings retention, principal and interest payments on loans and investment securities, net cash provided from operations and access to other funding. If the Company is unable to maintain adequate liquidity, then its business, financial condition and results of operations would be negatively affected.

 

14

 

The Company has significant exposure to risks associated with commercial and residential real estate.

 

A substantial portion of the Company’s loan portfolio consists of commercial and residential real estate-related loans, including real estate development, construction and residential and commercial mortgage loans.  As of December 31, 2020, the Company had approximately $486 million of commercial and construction real estate loans outstanding, which represented approximately 45% of its loan portfolio.  As of that same date, the Company had approximately $193 million in residential real estate loans outstanding, or approximately 18% of its loan portfolio. Consequently, real estate-related credit risks are a significant concern for the Company. The adverse consequences from real estate-related credit risks tend to be cyclical and are often driven by national economic developments that are not controllable or entirely foreseeable by the Company or its borrowers.

 

Commercial loans may expose the Company to greater financial and credit risk than other loans.

 

The Company’s commercial and industrial loan portfolio, including commercial mortgages, was approximately $304 million at December 31, 2020, comprising approximately 28% of its total loan portfolio. Commercial loans generally carry larger loan balances and can involve a greater degree of financial and credit risk than other loans. Any significant failure to pay on time by the Company’s customers would hurt the Company’s earnings. The increased financial and credit risk associated with these types of loans are a result of several factors, including the concentration of principal in a limited number of loans and borrowers, the size of loan balances, the effects of general economic conditions on income-producing properties and the increased difficulty of evaluating and monitoring these types of loans.

 

Legislative or regulatory changes or actions could adversely impact the Company or the businesses in which it is engaged.

 

The Company and the Bank are subject to extensive state and federal regulation, supervision and legislation that govern almost all aspects of their operations. Laws and regulations may change from time to time and are primarily intended for the protection of consumers, depositors and the deposit insurance fund, and not to benefit the Company's shareholders. The impact of any changes to laws and regulations or other actions by regulatory agencies may negatively impact the Company or its ability to increase the value of its business. Regulatory authorities have extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities, including the imposition of restrictions on the operation of an institution, the classification of assets by the institution and the adequacy of an institution's allowance for loan losses. Future regulatory changes or accounting pronouncements may increase the Company's regulatory capital requirements or adversely affect its regulatory capital levels. Additionally, actions by regulatory agencies against the Company or the Bank could require the Company to devote significant time and resources to defending its business and may lead to penalties that materially affect the Company.

 

The Company relies heavily on its management and other key personnel, and the loss of any of them may adversely affect its operations.

 

The Company is and will continue to be dependent upon the services of its management team and other key personnel. Losing the services of one or more key members of the Company’s management team could adversely affect its operations.

 

The Companys controls and procedures may fail or be circumvented.

 

Management regularly reviews and updates the Company’s internal controls, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met.  If the Company fails to identify and remediate control deficiencies, it is possible that a material misstatement of interim or annual financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.  In addition, any failure or circumvention of the Company’s other controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

The Company may be a defendant in a variety of litigation and other actions, which may have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Company and the Bank are regularly involved in a variety of litigation arising out of the normal course of business. The Company's insurance may not cover all claims that may be asserted against it, and any claims asserted against it, regardless of merit or eventual outcome, may harm its reputation or cause the Company to incur unexpected expenses, which could be material in amount. Should the ultimate expenses, judgments or settlements in any litigation exceed the Company's insurance coverage, they could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the Company may not be able to obtain appropriate types or levels of insurance in the future, nor may it be able to obtain adequate replacement policies with acceptable terms, if at all.

 

If the Company cannot raise additional capital when needed, its ability to further expand its operations through organic growth or acquisitions could be materially impaired.

 

The Company is required by federal and state regulatory authorities to maintain specified levels of capital to support its operations. The Company may need to raise additional capital to support its current level of assets or its growth. The Company’s ability to raise additional capital will depend on conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside its control, and on its financial performance. The Company cannot assure that it will be able to raise additional capital in the future on terms acceptable to it or at all. If the Company cannot raise additional capital when needed, its ability to maintain its current level of assets or to expand its operations through organic growth or acquisitions could be materially limited.

 

15

 

Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential client or customer information, whether through a breach of computer systems or otherwise, could severely harm the Company's business.

 

As part of its business, the Company collects, processes and retains sensitive and confidential client and customer information on behalf of itself and other third parties. Despite the security measures the Company has in place for its facilities and systems, and the security measures of its third party service providers, the Company may be vulnerable to security breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors or other similar events. Any security breach involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of confidential customer information, whether by the Company or by its vendors, could severely damage the Company's reputation, expose it to the risks of litigation and liability, disrupt the Company's operations and have a material adverse effect on the Company's business.

 

The Company's information systems may experience an interruption or breach in security.

 

The Company relies heavily on communications and information systems to conduct its business and deliver its products. Any failure, interruption or breach in security of these systems could result in failures or disruptions in the Company's customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, loan and other systems. While the Company has policies and procedures designed to prevent or limit the effect of the failure, interruption or security breach of its information systems, there can be no assurance that any such failures, interruptions or security breaches of the Company's information systems or its customers' information or computer systems would not damage the Company's reputation, result in a loss of customer business, subject the Company to additional regulatory scrutiny, or expose the Company to civil litigation and financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

 

Cybersecurity incidents could disrupt business operations, result in the loss of critical and confidential information, and adversely impact our reputation and results of operations.

 

Global cybersecurity threats and incidents can range from uncoordinated individual attempts to gain unauthorized access to information technology (IT) systems to sophisticated and targeted measures known as advanced persistent threats, directed at the Company and/or its third party service providers. Although we employ comprehensive measures to prevent, detect, address and mitigate these threats (including access controls, employee training, data encryption, vulnerability assessments, continuous monitoring of our IT networks and systems and maintenance of backup and protective systems), cybersecurity incidents, depending on their nature and scope, could potentially result in the misappropriation, destruction, corruption or unavailability of critical data and confidential or proprietary information (our own or that of third parties) and the disruption of business operations. The potential consequences of a material cybersecurity incident include reputational damage, litigation with third parties and increased cybersecurity protection and remediation costs, which in turn could materially adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Environmental liability associated with commercial lending could result in losses.

 

In the course of its business, the Company may acquire, through foreclosure, properties securing loans it has originated or purchased that are in default. Particularly in commercial real estate lending, there is a risk that hazardous substances could be discovered on these properties. In this event, the Company might be required to remove these substances from the affected properties at the Company's sole cost and expense. The cost of this removal could substantially exceed the value of affected properties. The Company may not have adequate remedies against the prior owner or other responsible parties and could find it difficult or impossible to sell the affected properties. These events could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

The Company depends upon the accuracy and completeness of information about customers.

 

In deciding whether to extend credit to customers, the Company relies on information provided to it by its customers, including financial statements and other financial information. The Company may also rely on representations of customers as to the accuracy and completeness of that information and on reports of independent auditors on financial statements. The Company's financial condition and results of operations could be negatively impacted to the extent that the Company extends credit in reliance on financial statements that do not comply with generally accepted accounting principles or that are misleading or other information provided by customers that is false or misleading.

 

The Company operates in a highly competitive industry and market area.

 

The Company faces substantial competition in all areas of its operations from a variety of different competitors, many of which are larger and may have more financial resources. Such competitors primarily include national and regional banks within the various markets where the Company operates, as well as internet banks and other financial technology companies. The Company also faces competition from many other types of financial institutions, including savings and loan associations, credit unions, finance companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies and other financial intermediaries. The financial services industry could become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and continued consolidation. Banks, securities firms and insurance companies can merge under the umbrella of a financial holding company, which can offer virtually any type of financial service, including banking, securities underwriting, insurance (both agency and underwriting) and merchant banking. The Company competes with these institutions both in attracting deposits and in making new loans. Technology has lowered barriers to entry into the market and made it possible for non-banks to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks, such as automatic transfer and automatic payment systems. Many of the Company's competitors have fewer regulatory constraints and may have lower cost structures, such as credit unions that are not subject to federal income tax. Due to their size, many competitors may be able to achieve economies of scale and, as a result, may offer a broader range of products and services as well as better pricing for those products and services than the Company can.

 

Severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism and other external events could significantly impact the Company's business.

 

Severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, risks posed by an outbreak of a widespread epidemic or pandemic of disease (or widespread fear thereof), including the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19, and other adverse external events could have a significant impact on the Company's ability to conduct business. Such events could affect the stability of the Company's deposit base, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans, impair the value of collateral securing loans, cause significant property damage, result in loss of revenue and/or cause the Company to incur additional expenses.

 

16

 

The Company relies on dividends from the Bank for most of its revenue.

 

The Company is a separate and distinct legal entity from the Bank. It receives substantially all of its revenue from dividends from the Bank. These dividends are the principal source of funds to pay cash dividends on the Company's common stock. Various federal and/or state laws and regulations limit the amount of dividends that the Bank may pay to the Company. If the Bank is unable to pay dividends to the Company, the Company may not be able to pay cash dividends on its common stock. The earnings of the Bank have been the principal source of funds to pay cash dividends to shareholders. Over the long-term, cash dividends to shareholders are dependent upon earnings, as well as capital requirements, regulatory restraints and other factors affecting the Company and the Bank.

 

Additional risks and uncertainties could have a negative effect on financial performance.

 

Additional factors could have a negative effect on the financial performance of the Company and the Company’s common stock. Some of these factors are financial market conditions, changes in financial accounting and reporting standards, new litigation or changes in existing litigation, regulatory actions and losses.

 

Risks Related to the Companys Common Stock

 

Investments in the Companys common stock involve risk.

 

The market price of the Company’s common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, including:

 

 

The impact associated with the novel coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19

Variations in quarterly or annual operating results

Changes in dividends per share

Changes in interest rates

New developments, laws or regulations in the banking industry

Acquisitions or business combinations involving the Company or its competition

Regulatory actions, including changes to regulatory capital levels, the components of regulatory capital and how regulatory capital is calculated

Volatility of stock market prices and volumes

Changes in market valuations of similar companies

New litigation or contingencies or changes in existing litigation or contingencies

Changes in accounting policies or procedures as may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other regulatory agencies

Rumors or erroneous information

Credit and capital availability

Issuance of additional shares of common stock or other debt or equity securities of the Company

 

 

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

 

None.

 

Item 2.

Properties

 

The Company’s headquarters are located at 109 East Division, Sparta, Michigan 49345. The headquarters location is owned by the Company and is not subject to any mortgage.

 

31 of the Company’s 34 locations are designed for use and operation as a bank, are well maintained, and are suitable for current operations. The remaining three locations are comprised of two loan offices and a wealth management center. Banking offices generally range in size from 1,200 to 3,200 square feet, based on the location and number of employees located at the facility. All of our banking offices are owned by the Bank except for 3 that are leased under various operating lease agreements.  The Company’s management believes all offices are adequately covered by property insurance.

 

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

 

As of December 31, 2020, there were no significant pending legal proceedings to which the Company or the Bank is a party or to which any of their properties were subject, except for legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, pending legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition of the Company.

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

17

 

 

PART II

 

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Stock Information

 

The Company’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol COFS.

 

As of February 28, 2021, there were 1,186 shareholders of record of ChoiceOne common stock.

 

The following table summarizes the quarterly cash dividends declared per share of common stock during 2020 and 2019:

 

   

2020

   

2019

 

First Quarter

  $ 0.20     $ 0.20  

Second Quarter

    0.20       0.20  

Third Quarter

    0.20       0.80  

Fourth Quarter

    0.22       0.20  

Total

  $ 0.82     $ 1.40  

 

ChoiceOne’s principal source of funds to pay cash dividends is the earnings and dividends paid by the Bank. The Bank is restricted in their ability to pay cash dividends under current banking regulations. See Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements for a description of these restrictions. Based on information presently available, management expects ChoiceOne to declare and pay regular quarterly cash dividends in 2021, although the amount of the quarterly dividends will be dependent on market conditions and ChoiceOne’s requirements for cash and capital, among other things.

 

Information regarding the Company’s equity compensation plans may be found in Item 12 of this report and is here incorporated by reference.

 

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

There were no purchases of the Company's common stock by the Company during the fourth quarter of 2020.  The Company was authorized to purchase up to 79,372 shares as of December 31, 2020.   

 

18

 

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

 

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.
 

Selected Financial Data

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

                                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

For the year

                                       

Net interest income

  $ 51,071     $ 27,773     $ 22,064     $ 20,563     $ 19,343  

Provision for loan losses

    4,000       -       35       485       -  

Noninterest income

    22,698       9,168       6,920       7,811       7,881  

Noninterest expense

    50,884       28,476       20,461       19,334       18,972  

Income before income taxes

    18,885       8,465       8,488       8,555       8,252  

Income tax expense

    3,272       1,294       1,155       2,387       2,162  

Net income

    15,613       7,171       7,333       6,168       6,090  

Cash dividends declared

    6,174       5,806       2,572       2,317       2,231  
                                         

Per share *

                                       

Basic earnings

  $ 2.08     $ 1.58     $ 2.03     $ 1.70     $ 1.68  

Diluted earnings

    2.07       1.58       2.02       1.70       1.68  

Cash dividends declared

    0.82       1.40       0.71       0.64       0.62  

Shareholders' equity (at year end)

    29.15       26.52       22.25       21.14       19.73  
                                         

Average for the year

                                       

Securities

  $ 388,797     $ 210,492     $ 170,461     $ 177,125     $ 173,119  

Gross loans

    1,014,959       534,646       404,494       388,609       357,880  

Deposits

    1,421,168       710,419       543,973       525,445       479,670  

Borrowings

    16,712       21,270       15,588       28,491       34,421  

Shareholders' equity

    214,591       110,610       76,801       75,026       72,134  

Assets

    1,654,873       845,851       637,790       629,748       586,299  
                                         

At year end

                                       

Securities

  $ 585,687     $ 348,888     $ 173,016     $ 159,158     $ 177,955  

Gross loans

    1,069,668       802,048       409,073       398,785       369,000  

Deposits

    1,674,578       1,154,602       577,015       539,853       512,386  

Borrowings

    9,327       33,198       10,033       27,416       20,214  

Shareholders' equity

    227,268       192,139       80,477       76,550       71,698  

Assets

    1,919,342       1,386,128       670,544       646,544       607,371  
                                         

Selected financial ratios

                                       

Return on average assets

    0.94

%

    0.85

%

    1.15

%

    0.98

%

    1.04

%

Return on average shareholders' equity

    7.28       6.48       9.55       8.22       8.44  

Cash dividend payout as a percentage of net income

    39.54       80.97       35.08       37.57       36.63  

Shareholders' equity to assets (at year end)

    11.84       13.86       12.00       11.84       11.80  

 

* Per share amounts have been adjusted for the 5% stock dividends paid in 2017 and 2018.

 

Note - 2019 financial data includes the impact of the merger with County, which was effective as of October 1, 2019, and 2020 financial data includes the impact of the merger with Community Shores, which was effective July 1, 2020.

 

19

 

Item 7.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following discussion is designed to provide a review of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of ChoiceOne, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes.

 

Explanatory Note

 

On July 1, 2020, ChoiceOne completed the merger of Community Shores Bank Corporation ("Community Shores") with and into ChoiceOne with ChoiceOne surviving the merger. Accordingly, the reported consolidated financial condition and operating results as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 include the impact of the merger, which was effective as of July 1, 2020.

 

On October 1, 2019, ChoiceOne completed the merger of County Bank Corp. ("County"), the former parent company of Lakestone Bank & Trust ("Lakestone"), with and into ChoiceOne with ChoiceOne surviving the merger.  Accordingly, the reported consolidated financial condition and operating results as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020 include the impact of the merger, which was effective as of October 1, 2019.

 

For additional details regarding the mergers with Community Shores and County, see Note 21 (Business Combination) of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this report. 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Summary 

ChoiceOne's net income for 2020 was $15,613,000, compared to $7,171,000 in 2019. Excluding $2,714,000 in merger-related expenses, after tax, net income for 2020 amounted to $18,327,000. In this report, the term merger-related expenses includes expenses related to the merger with County and the merger with Community Shores.

 

Total assets have grown to $1.9 billion as of December 31, 2020 compared to $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2019.  The increase was related to the merger with Community Shores, as well as organic growth and funds obtained from various government stimulus programs. Gross loans grew $267.6 million from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020. This loan growth coupled with a larger securities portfolio helped total interest income for 2020 to grow $23.2 million compared to the prior year. $174 million of the loan growth was attributed to the merger with Community Shores with other growth coming from Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans.   2020 interest income on loans included $721,000 of accretion of the discount recorded on the loans acquired in the mergers and PPP fee income of $3.0 million.  ChoiceOne also saw deposit growth during 2020 of $520.0 million. ChoiceOne experienced $292.1 million of organic growth partly due to how individuals and businesses have managed funds received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security ("CARES") Act, while the remainder was attributed to the merger with Community Shores. Despite the large increase in deposit balances, interest cost of deposits and other funding decreased by $56,000 in 2020 compared to 2019.

 

Total noninterest income increased $13.5 million in 2020 compared to the prior year. Mortgage servicing rights and gains on sales of loans increased due to lower interest rates encouraging refinance activity and a favorable housing market in ChoiceOne’s market areas. Customer service charges increased largely due to the impact of the mergers with Community Shores and County.  ChoiceOne also restructured the securities portfolio during the year which led to higher net gains on sales of securities of $1.3 million in 2020 compared to $22,000 in 2019.

 

Total noninterest expense increased $22.4 million in 2020 compared to 2019. Much of the increase was caused by the mergers with Community Shores and County. The increase in salaries and benefits expense was related to annual wage increases and the additions to the number of the Company's employees caused by the mergers. The growth in data processing expense in 2020 compared to 2019 resulted from the mergers noted above and one-time expenses related to the mergers and the consolidation of the banks.  Other noninterest expenses were also higher in the fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2020 compared to the same periods in the prior year due to growth in the related costs and the mergers noted above.

 

Net income for 2019 was $7,171,000, which represented a decline of $162,000 or 2% from 2018.  Total assets grew to $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2019 compared to $671 million as of December 31, 2018; the increase was primarily related to the merger with County. Net loans grew $394 million from December 31, 2018 to December 31, 2019. This loan growth coupled with a larger securities portfolio helped total interest income for 2019 to grow $7,948,000 compared to 2018. Substantially all loan growth was attributed to the merger with County.  ChoiceOne also saw deposit growth during 2019 of $578 million. ChoiceOne experienced $33 million of growth in local deposits which was offset by a reduction of $32 million of brokered deposits, while the remainder was attributed to the merger with County. The interest cost of deposits and other funding increased by $2,239,000 in 2019 compared to 2018.  Total noninterest income increased $2,248,000 in 2019 compared to 2018.  Total noninterest expense increased $8,015,000 in 2019 compared to 2018. Much of the increase in expense was caused by merger-related expenses and Lakestone's expenses included in the fourth quarter of 2019. 

 

20

 

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak

The coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Since first being reported in China, the coronavirus has spread globally, including in the United States. The coronavirus has had a substantial impact on numerous aspects of life in the United States, including threats to public health, increased volatility in markets, and severe effects on national and local economies.

 

COVID-19 has already had numerous effects on ChoiceOne. To protect the health of customers, employees, and others in its communities, ChoiceOne closed the lobbies of its branches from late March 2020 to mid-June 2020. During the period that lobbies were closed, ChoiceOne continued to provide its full scope of services to its customers through drive-up branch service, in-person meetings by appointment, and mobile banking.

 

COVID-19 has also affected ChoiceOne's customers. Although there were no material increases in delinquencies or net charge-offs during 2020, ChoiceOne increased its provision for loan losses by $4.0 million in 2020 as compared to 2019 in anticipation of an expected increase in levels of delinquencies and loan losses related to the impact of COVID-19. Consistent with federal banking agencies' revised “Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working with Customers Affected by the Coronavirus,” ChoiceOne is working with its borrowers affected by COVID-19 and has granted approximately 750 payment deferrals on numerous loans to borrowers affected by the pandemic.  Following the initial 90 day deferment period, ChoiceOne offered a second round of deferment in accordance with the CARES Act; however, significantly fewer customers requested further deferment.  Less than 40 deferments remained active with loan balances totaling just $3.2 million at December 31, 2020 with all other previous deferments resuming their payments in accordance with loan terms.  ChoiceOne will continue to attempt to assist borrowers using various means in appropriate circumstances, as needed. 

 

In addition, ChoiceOne processed over $126 million in PPP loans through December 31, 2020 and acquired an additional $37 million in PPP loans in the merger with Community Shores.  PPP loans are forgivable, in whole or in part, if the proceeds are used for payroll and other permitted purposes in accordance with the requirements of the PPP. PPP loans carry a fixed rate of 1.00% and a term of two years (loans made before June 5, 2020) or five years (loans made on or after June 5, 2020), if not forgiven in whole or in part.  Payments are deferred until either the date on which the Small Business Administration ("SBA") remits the amount of forgiveness proceeds to the lender or the date that is ten months after the last day of the covered period if the borrower does not apply for forgiveness within that ten-month period.  The loans are 100% guaranteed by the SBA.  The SBA pays the originating bank a processing fee based on the size of the loan. The initial PPP expired on August 8, 2020.  On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, was signed into law, providing additional funding for the PPP. This round of the PPP opened on February 24, 2021 and, absent extension, will expire on March 31, 2021 (or such earlier date as funds are exhausted). Gross fees associated with PPP loans originated through December 31, 2020 totaled $5.0 million.  Costs associated with these loans were approximately $199,000 and the net of $4.8 million is being recognized over the term of the loans.  Upon the SBA forgiveness, unrecognized fees are then recognized into interest income. Fee income, which was included in interest income, recognized in the year ended December 31, 2020 was $3.0 million.  $23.4 million in PPP loans were forgiven during the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Dividends

Cash dividends of $6,174,000 or $0.82 per common share were declared in 2020, compared to $5,806,000 or $1.40 per common share in 2019 and $2,572,000 or $0.71 per common share in 2018. Dividends in 2019 included a special dividend of $0.60 per share paid on September 30, 2019 in connection with the merger with County. The dividend yield on ChoiceOne’s common stock was 2.66% as of the end of 2020, compared to 4.38% in 2019, and 2.84% in 2018. The cash dividend payout as a percentage of net income was 40% in 2020, compared to 81% in 2019 and 35% in 2018.

 

21

 

Table 1 – Average Balances and Tax-Equivalent Interest Rates

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Average

                   

Average

                   

Average

                 
   

Balance

   

Interest

   

Rate

   

Balance

   

Interest

   

Rate

   

Balance

   

Interest

   

Rate

 

Assets:

                                                                       

Loans (1)

  $ 1,014,959     $ 46,893       4.62

%

  $ 534,646     $ 26,791       5.01

%

  $ 404,494     $ 20,038       4.95

%

Taxable securities (2)

    276,085       5,891       2.13       152,094       3,955       2.60       114,570       2,896       2.53  

Nontaxable securities (1)

    112,712       3,402       3.02       58,398       1,867       3.20       55,891       1,858       3.32  

Other

    71,417       266       0.37       14,992       268       1.79       7,504       131       1.74  

Interest-earning assets

    1,475,173       56,452       3.83       760,130       32,881       4.33       582,459       24,923       4.28  

Noninterest-earning assets

    179,699                       85,721                       55,331                  

Total assets

  $ 1,654,873                     $ 845,851                     $ 637,790                  
                                                                         

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:

                                                                       

Interest-bearing demand deposits

  $ 571,693     $ 1,832       0.32

%

  $ 278,444     $ 1,559       0.56

%

  $ 209,542     $ 688       0.33

%

Savings deposits

    267,217       300       0.11       109,028       79       0.07       76,102       17       0.02  

Certificates of deposit

    183,836       2,046       1.11       136,537       2,550       1.87       109,834       1,470       1.34  

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

    9,263       220       2.38       18,980       455       2.40       12,002       235       1.96  

Other

    8,981       246       2.74       2,289       57       2.48       3,586       51       1.42  

Interest-bearing liabilities

    1,040,990       4,644       0.45       545,278       4,700       0.86       411,066       2,461       0.60  

Demand deposits

    398,422                       186,411                       148,495                  

Other noninterest-bearing liabilities

    870                       3,552                       1,428                  

Total liabilities

    1,440,282                       735,241                       560,989                  

Shareholders' equity

    214,591                       110,610                       76,801                  

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

  $ 1,654,873                     $ 845,851                     $ 637,790                  
                                                                         

Net interest income (tax-equivalent basis) (Non-GAAP) (1)

          $ 51,808                     $ 28,181                     $ 22,462          
                                                                         

Net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis) (Non-GAAP) (1)

                    3.38

%

                    3.47

%

                    3.68

%

                                                                         

Reconciliation to Reported Net Interest Income

                                                                       

Net interest income (tax-equivalent basis) (Non-GAAP) (1)

          $ 51,808                     $ 28,181                     $ 22,462          

Adjustment for taxable equivalent interest

            (737 )                     (408 )                     (398 )        

Net interest income (GAAP)

          $ 51,071                     $ 27,773                     $ 22,064          

Net interest margin (GAAP)

                    3.51

%

                    3.71

%

                    3.86

%

                                                                         

 

(1)

Interest on nontaxable securities and loans has been adjusted to a fully tax-equivalent basis to facilitate comparison to the taxable interest-earning assets. The adjustment uses an incremental tax rate of 21%.

(2)

Interest on loans included net origination fees charged on loans of approximately $5,236,000, $866,000, and $1,087,000 in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

(3)

Interest on taxable securities includes dividends on Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock.

(4)

Noninterest-earning assets include loans in nonaccrual status, which averaged approximately $4,480,000, $2,965,000, and $1,266,000 in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

 

22

 

Table 2 – Changes in Tax-Equivalent Net Interest Income

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020 Over 2019

   

2019 Over 2018

 
   

Total

   

Volume

   

Rate

   

Total

   

Volume

   

Rate

 

Increase (decrease) in interest income (1)

                                               

Loans (2)

  $ 20,102     $ 22,336     $ (2,234 )   $ 6,753     $ 6,519     $ 234  

Taxable securities

    1,936       2,749       (813 )     1,059       973       86  

Nontaxable securities (2)

    1,535       1,647       (112 )     9       82       (73 )

Other

    (2 )     349       (351 )     137       133       4  

Net change in interest income

    23,571       27,081       (3,510 )     7,958       7,707       251  
                                                 

Increase (decrease) in interest expense (1)

                                               

Interest-bearing demand deposits

    273       1,143       (870 )     871       277       594  

Savings deposits

    221       156       65       62       10       52  

Certificates of deposit

    (504 )     721       (1,225 )     1,080       411       669  

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

    (235 )     (230 )     (5 )     220       159       61  

Other

    189       183       6       6       (22 )     28  

Net change in interest expense

    (56 )     1,973       (2,029 )     2,239       835       1,404  

Net change in tax-equivalent net interest income

  $ 23,627     $ 25,108     $ (1,481 )   $ 5,719     $ 6,872     $ (1,153 )

 

(1)

The volume variance is computed as the change in volume (average balance) multiplied by the previous year’s interest rate. The rate variance is computed as the change in interest rate multiplied by the previous year’s volume (average balance). The change in interest due to both volume and rate has been allocated to the volume and rate changes in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each.

(2)

Interest on tax-exempt securities and loans has been adjusted to a fully tax-equivalent basis using an incremental tax rate of 21% for 2020, 2019, and 2018.

 

Net Interest Income

The presentation of net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis is not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), but is customary in the banking industry. This non-GAAP measure ensures comparability of net interest income arising from both taxable and tax-exempt loans and investment securities. The adjustments to determine net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis were $737,000, $408,000, and $398,000 for the years ended 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. These adjustments were computed using a 21% federal income tax rate.

 

On March 3, 2020 the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee lowered the federal funds rate by 50 basis points which was followed by a reduction of 100 basis points on March 15, 2020. Operating in an environment with lower interest rates has had a negative effect on both ChoiceOne’s interest income and interest spread. ChoiceOne management continues to monitor rates and their effect on income as part of the Asset/Liability Risk Committee to determine what strategic decisions will need to be made in both higher and lower rate environments.

 

Tax-equivalent net interest income increased $23.6 million in 2020 compared to 2019. The increase was attributed to an increase of $715.0 million in average interest-earning assets.  The average balance of loans increased $480.3 million in 2020 compared to 2019.  Much of the increase was due to loans acquired from the merger with Community Shores, which were included in the last six months of 2020, and  the merger with County, which were included in all of 2020 compared to only the fourth quarter of 2019.  The remaining growth was loans from the PPP.  The average balance growth was offset by the decline in the average rate earned on loans of 39 basis points in 2020 compared to 2019 as a result of PPP loans interest rates of 1%. Tax-equivalent interest income on loans increased $20.1 million in 2020 compared to the prior year. The average balance of total securities grew $178.3 million in 2020 compared to the prior year. The inclusion of securities acquired in the mergers with Community Shores and County made up a portion of this increase but most of the increase was due to purchases during the year.  The average balance growth offset by a 33 basis point decline in the average rate earned on securities caused interest income from securities to grow $3.5 million in 2020 compared to the prior year. An average balance in other interest-earning assets of $71.4 million in 2020, as compared to the balance of $15.0 million in 2019, offset by a decline of 142 basis points in the rate earned caused interest income to remain neutral.

 

Despite large increases in deposit balances due to the mergers and organic deposit growth, a significant decline in overall market interest rates in 2020 compared to 2019 caused the interest paid on interest bearing liabilities to decline by $56,000. The average balance of interest-bearing demand deposits and savings deposits increased $451.4 million in 2020 compared to 2019. The effect of this increase, offset by a 17 basis point decline in the average rate paid, caused interest expense to be $494,000 higher in 2020 than in the prior year. The average balance of certificates of deposit was $47.3 million higher in 2020 than in 2019. Growth in the average balance was more than offset by a decline in average rate paid of 76 basis points which caused interest expense to decline by $504,000. Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank and other interest bearing liabilities caused a decline of $46,000 in interest paid in 2020 compared to 2019.

 

ChoiceOne’s tax-equivalent net interest income spread was 3.38% in 2020 and 3.47% in 2019. The decrease in the net interest income spread resulted from a lower rate earned on interest-earning assets, largely due to PPP loans and a decline in the federal funds rate.

 

Tax-equivalent net interest income increased $5.7 million in 2019 compared to 2018. The increase was attributed to an increase of $177.7 million in average interest-earning assets, partially offset by the impact of a decline of 21 basis points in ChoiceOne’s net interest spread. The reduction in the net interest spread resulted from an increase of 26 basis points in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, while the average rate earned on interest-earning assets increased 5 basis points.

 

23

 

The average balance of loans increased $130.2 million in 2019 compared to 2018, $105.8 million of which was due to loans acquired in the County merger which were included in the fourth quarter of 2019. The remaining growth was primarily from residential real estate loans, whose average balance increased $22.6 million in 2019 compared to 2018. In addition to the average balance growth, the average rate earned on loans increased 6 basis points in 2019 compared to 2018 as a result of higher general market interest rates and higher rates charged on new loan originations. Tax-equivalent interest income on loans increased $6.8 million in 2019 compared to the prior year. The average balance of total securities grew $40.0 million in 2019 compared to the prior year. The inclusion of securities acquired in the County merger in the fourth quarter of 2019 caused an average balance increase of $45.0 million, while the average balance of securities excluding those acquired securities was $5.0 million lower in 2019 than in 2018. The average balance growth and a minimal change in the average rate earned on securities caused interest income from securities to grow $1.1 million in 2019 compared to the prior year. An average balance in other interest-earning assets of $15.0 million in 2019, as compared to the balance of $7.5 million in 2018, caused interest income to increase $137,000.

Overall higher general market interest rates in 2019 compared to 2018 caused the average rate paid to be higher for all interest-bearing liability categories. The average balance of interest-bearing demand deposits increased $68.9 million in 2019 compared to 2018. The effect of this increase and a 23 basis point increase in the average rate paid caused interest expense to be $871,000 higher in 2019 than in the prior year. The average balance of certificates of deposit was $26.7 million higher in 2019 than in 2018. Growth in the average balance plus the impact of a 53 basis point increase in the average rate paid caused interest expense to grow $1.0 million. A $7.0 million increase in the average balance of Federal Home Loan Bank advances coupled with a 44 basis point increase in the average rate paid caused interest expense to grow $220,000 in 2019 compared to the prior year.

 

ChoiceOne’s tax-equivalent net interest income spread was 3.47% in 2019 and 3.68% in 2018. The decrease in the net interest income spread resulted from a lower level of growth in the average rate earned on interest-earning assets than the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.

 

Provision and Allowance For Loan Losses

 

Table 3 – Provision and Allowance For Loan Losses

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Allowance for loan losses at beginning of year

  $ 4,057     $ 4,673     $ 4,577     $ 4,277     $ 4,194  

Charge-offs:

                                       

Agricultural

    15       -       -       -       -  

Commercial and industrial

    148       83       58       439       37  

Real estate - commercial

    254       589       -       -       -  

Real estate - construction

    -       -       -       -       -  

Real estate - residential

    8       25       25       43       102  

Consumer

    329       292       282       253       218  

Total

    754       989       365       735       357  
                                         

Recoveries:

                                       

Agricultural

    -       65       33       -       -  

Commercial and industrial

    57       22       107       21       31  

Real estate - commercial

    10       26       61       258       89  

Real estate - construction

    -       -       -       40       -  

Real estate - residential

    19       124       113       62       171  

Consumer

    204       136       112       169       149  

Total

    290       373       426       550       440  
                                         

Net charge-offs (recoveries)

    464       616       (61 )     185       (83 )
                                         

Provision for loan losses

    4,000       -       35       485       -  
                                         

Allowance for loan losses at end of year

  $ 7,593     $ 4,057     $ 4,673     $ 4,577     $ 4,277  
                                         

Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of:

                                       

Total loans as of year end

    0.71

%

    0.51

%

    1.14

%

    1.15

%

    1.16

%

Nonaccrual loans, accrual loans past due 90 days or more and troubled debt restructurings

    92

%

    63

%

    123

%

    108

%

    84

%

Ratio of net charge-offs (recoveries) to average total loans outstanding during the year

    0.05

%

    0.12

%

    (0.02

)%

    0.05

%

    (0.02

)%

Loan recoveries as a percentage of prior year's charge-offs

    29

%

    102

%

    58

%

    154

%

    95

%

 

24

 

 

The provision for loan losses was $4.0 million in 2020 compared to $0 in 2019. The provision for 2020 was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, discussed above. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans increased to 0.71% of loans as of December 31, 2020, compared to 0.51% as of the end of 2019 and 1.14% as of the end of 2018. The change was due to the acquisition of $174 million of loans from the merger with Community Shores in 2020 and the acquisition of $424 million of loans from the merger with County in 2019. A fair value adjustment of $9.0 million related to these loans existed as of the end of 2020 and a fair value adjustment of $4.7 million related to these loans existed as of the end of 2019. This fair value adjustment is not considered an allowance for loan losses but was recorded upon the acquisition of the loans from Community Shores and County.    The provision in 2020 was deemed prudent due to growth in ChoiceOne’s loan portfolio and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ChoiceOne's local market areas and the national economy. Nonperforming loans were $8.2 million as of December 31, 2020, compared to $6.4 million as of December 31, 2019.  The coverage ratio of the allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans was 92% as of December 31, 2020, compared to 63% and 123% as of the end of 2019 and 2018, respectively.  If the credit mark associated with the loans acquired in the mergers were added to the allowance for loan losses, the total would have represented 1.60% of total loans at December 31, 2020.  

 

Net charge-offs were $464,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to net charge-offs of $616,000 and a net recovery of $61,000 during 2019 and 2018 respectively.  Management is aware that the economic climate in Michigan will continue to affect business and individual borrowers. Management believes that COVID-19 will also have a significant impact in 2021. Management has worked and intends to continue to work with delinquent borrowers in an attempt to lessen the negative impact of COVID-19 on ChoiceOne. ChoiceOne offered an initial 90 day deferment beginning in March 2020 to both commercial and retail borrowers where the borrower could defer either the principal portion of their payment or both the principal and interest portions. Management processed approximately 750 payment deferrals with loan balances totaling $148 million for commercial and retail borrowers through December 31, 2020. Following the initial 90 day deferment period, ChoiceOne offered a second round of deferments in accordance with the CARES Act; however, significantly fewer customers requested further deferment. Less than 40 deferments remained active with loan balances totaling just $3.2 million at December 31, 2020 with all other previous deferments resuming their payment in accordance with loan terms. ChoiceOne will continue to attempt to assist borrowers using various means in appropriate circumstances, as needed. ChoiceOne has allocated approximately $2.2 million in the allowance for loan losses to borrowers falling into industry classification codes that management believes to be highly or moderately affected by the pandemic and from which a higher concentration of deferral requests have been received during the past nine months. ChoiceOne understands that a deferral request does not automatically mean a borrower is at a risk of loss, but assumes this to be a possible indicator.

 

The following chart indicates industries management believes to be moderately or highly affected by the pandemic:

 

Highly Effected

Moderately Effected

Accommodation

Ambulatory Health Care Services

Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries

Educational Services

Food Services and Drinking Places

Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries

Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods

Rental and Leasing Services

Miscellaneous Store Retailers

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries

Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation

Real Estate

 

All loans which have requested a second deferment have an additional 500 basis points of allowance allocated to them. Loans highly affected and moderately affected based on their commercial industry category have allocated to them an additional 35 basis points and 25 basis points, respectively. ChoiceOne has also allocated 25 basis points to all retail loan categories. It is noted that this allowance amount is in addition to the regularly calculated allowance based on risk rating and qualitative factors. ChoiceOne will continue to monitor concentrations as part of its analysis on an ongoing basis. As charge-offs, changes in the level of nonperforming loans, and changes within the composition of the loan portfolio occur in the future and the impact of COVID-19 continues to become more apparent, the provision and allowance for loan losses will be reviewed by ChoiceOne's management and adjusted as determined to be necessary.

 

ChoiceOne had $431,000 of specific allowance allocations for problem loans as of the end of 2020, compared to $355,000 as of the prior year end. Special allowance amounts have been allocated where the fair values of loans were considered to be less than their carrying values. ChoiceOne obtains valuations on collateral dependent loans when the loan is considered by management to be impaired and uses the valuation amounts in the determination of fair value. Management believes the specific reserves allocated to certain problem loans at the end of 2020 and 2019 were reasonable based on the circumstances surrounding each particular borrower.

 

25

 

The following schedule presents an allocation of the allowance for loan losses to the various loan categories as of the years ended December 31:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Agricultural

  $ 257     $ 471     $ 481     $ 506     $ 433  

Commercial and industrial

    1,327       655       892       1,001       688  

Real estate - commercial

    4,178       1,663       1,926       1,761       1,438  

Real estate - construction

    97       76       38       35       62  

Real estate - residential

    1,300       640       537       726       1,013  

Consumer

    317       270       254       262       305  

Unallocated

    117       282       545       286       338  

Total allowance for loan losses

  $ 7,593     $ 4,057     $ 4,673     $ 4,577     $ 4,277  

 

Loans acquired from the mergers with Community Shores and County were considered for the allowance for loan losses but, with the exception of an immaterial number of loans which were moved to an impaired status during the year, no allowance allocation was deemed necessary as management concluded there was no deterioration in credit subsequent to the effective date of the respective merger, and the recorded fair value adjustments were adequate based on management’s assessment of losses incurred. The increase in the allowance allocation in 2020 was primarily related to the COVID-19 pandemic discussed above with other increases due to scale increase due to the mergers with Community Shores and County.

 

Management maintains the allowance at a level that it believes adequately provides for losses inherent in the loan portfolio. Such losses are estimated by a variety of factors, including specific examination of certain borrowing relationships and consideration of historical losses incurred on certain types of credits. Current economic conditions and collateral values affect loss estimates. Management focuses on early identification of problem credits through ongoing reviews by management and the independent loan review function. Based on the current state of the economy and a recent review of the loan portfolio, management believes that the allowance for loan losses as of December 31, 2020 was adequate. As charge-offs, changes in the level of nonperforming loans, and changes within the composition of the loan portfolio occur, the provision and allowance for loan losses will be reviewed by the Bank’s management and adjusted as necessary.

 

Noninterest Income

Total noninterest income increased $13.5 million in 2020 compared to 2019, a portion of which was due to the merger with Community Shores and the associated noninterest income included in the second half of 2020, and the merger with County and the associated noninterest income included in all of 2020 compared to only the fourth quarter of 2019.  Customer service charges increased $2.0 million in 2020 compared to the prior year due to higher overdraft fees, checking account service charges, and net debit card fees.  Growth in mortgage servicing rights income of $2.4 million and gains on sales of loans of $7.0 million in 2020 compared to the prior year resulted from low interest rates for residential real estate loans that increased the level of residential mortgage originations and refinancing originations.  The increase in net gains on sales of securities in 2020 compared to 2019 was caused by a restructuring of ChoiceOne's securities portfolio in the second quarter of 2020 to take advantage of the low market interest rates.   Earnings on life insurance policies would have been larger in 2020 compared to 2019 if not for a $288,000 death claim recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019.  The negative change in the market value of equity securities in 2020 compared to no change in the same period in the prior year was due primarily to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on equity market values in 2020.

 

Total noninterest income increased $2.2 million in 2019 compared to 2018, a large portion of which was due to the merger with County, for which noninterest income was included in the fourth quarter of 2019. Customer service charges increased $752,000 in 2019 compared to the prior year due to higher overdraft fees, checking account service charges, and net debit card fees. Gains on sales of loans grew $948,000 in 2019 compared to the prior year as relatively low interest rates for residential real estate loans increased the level of residential mortgage originations. Earnings on life insurance policies included $288,000 from a death claim recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019. The growth in other noninterest income was primarily due to trust income and other income from the merger with County in the fourth quarter of 2019.

 

Noninterest Expense

Total noninterest expense increased $22.4 million in 2020 compared to 2019, a large portion of which was due to the merger with Community Shores and the associated noninterest expense included in the second half of 2020, and the merger with County and the associated noninterest income included in all of 2020 compared to only the fourth quarter of 2019.  Salaries and benefits expense grew $12.1 million in 2020 compared to the prior year. The majority of the increase is related to the increased scale following the mergers with Community Shores and County; however, a portion was also due to merger-related costs. Commission, bonus expenses and health insurance expenses were higher in 2020 than the prior year. Occupancy and equipment expense grew $2.2 million in 2020 compared to 2019, with the increase caused by the mergers previously noted. An increase of $3.6 million in data processing expenses resulted from the mergers previously noted. The growth of $604,000 in professional fees in 2020 compared to the prior year was principally due to costs related to the merger with Community Shores. Intangible amortization expense also increased $1.1 million during 2020 compared to 2019 related to the timing of the mergers previously noted.  

 

Total noninterest expense increased $8,015,000 in 2019 compared to 2018, a large portion of which was due to County’s noninterest expense included in the fourth quarter of 2019. Salaries and benefits expense grew $3,404,000 in 2019 compared to the prior year. The majority of the increase was due to Lakestone’s expenses in the fourth quarter of 2019 and a portion was also due to merger-related costs. Commission and bonus expenses were higher in 2019 than 2018 while health insurance costs were lower. Occupancy and equipment expense grew $835,000 in 2019 compared to 2018, with the increase caused by Lakestone’s expenses and costs related to the two offices opened by ChoiceOne in 2018. An increase of $1,005,000 in data processing expenses resulted from Lakestone’s expenses and higher debit card processing costs. The growth of $1,763,000 in professional fees in 2019 compared to the prior year was principally due to costs related to the merger with County. Advertising and promotional expense was $220,000 higher in 2019 than 2018 due to Lakestone expenses and costs related to a checking account promotion campaign in 2019. FDIC insurance expense declined in 2019 compared to the prior year as an insurance credit was created when the FDIC insurance fund reached 1.35% of total deposits. Growth of $576,000 in other noninterest expense in 2019 compared to 2018 was caused by Lakestone expenses and various changes in general expense accounts.

 

26

 

 

Income Taxes

Income tax expense was $2.0 million higher in 2020 than in 2019. The increase was due to certain merger-related expenses incurred in 2020 which were nondeductible and increases in income before income tax due to the mergers with Community Shores and County. Income tax expense was $139,000 more in 2019 than in 2018 due to certain merger-related expenses incurred in 2019 that were nondeductible. The effective tax rate was 17% in 2020, compared to 15% in 2019 and 14% in 2018.

 

Financial Condition

 

Summary
Total assets were $1.9 billion as of December 31, 2020, which represented an increase of $533.2 million from the end of 2019. $244.0 million of the increase resulted from the merger with Community Shores noted above. Cash and due from banks increased $20.0 million.  The investment securities portfolio grew $235.2 million in 2020 compared to the balance at the end of 2019.  Net loans grew $264.1 million from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020.  $174.0 million of this loan growth came from loans acquired through the merger with Community Shores while ChoiceOne also added $126.4 million in PPP loans during 2020.  It is noted that $23.4 million of the PPP loans have been forgiven as of December 31, 2020.  Total deposits increased $520.0 million in 2020 compared to 2019, of which $227.8 million were obtained from the merger with Community Shores. 

 

Securities

The Company’s securities balances as of December 31 were as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

               
   

2020

   

2019

 

Equity securities

  $ 2,896     $ 2,851  
                 

Available for Sale Securities

               

U.S. Government and federal agency

  $ 2,051     $ 17,215  

U.S. Treasury notes and bonds

    2,056       2,008  

State and municipal

    320,368       173,924  

Mortgage-backed

    246,723       142,760  

Corporate

    2,589       2,672  

Trust preferred securities

    1,000       1,000  

Total

  $ 574,787     $ 339,579  

 

As noted above total investment securities increased $235.2 million from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020. A total of $20.0 million was obtained from the merger with Community Shores. Approximately $375.7 million of securities were purchased in 2020. Securities totaling $28.8 million were called or matured in 2020. Principal payments for municipal and mortgage-backed securities totaling $20.0 million were received during 2020. Approximately $121.9 million of securities were sold during 2020 for net gains of $1.3 million. Securities totaling $177.7 million were sold as part of the restructuring of Lakestone’s portfolio in 2019. The Bank’s Investment Committee continues to monitor the portfolio and purchases securities as it considers prudent.

 

Equity securities included a money market preferred security (MMP) of $1.0 million and common stock of $1.9 million as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2019, equity securities included an MMP of $1.0 million and common stock of $1.9 million.

 

27

 

Loans

The Company’s loan portfolio as of December 31 was as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

               
   

2020

   

2019

 

Agricultural

  $ 53,735     $ 57,339  

Commercial and industrial

    303,527       148,083  

Consumer

    34,014       38,854  

Real estate - commercial

    469,247       326,379  

Real estate - construction

    16,639       13,411  

Real estate - residential

    192,506       217,982  

Loans, gross

  $ 1,069,668     $ 802,048  

 

As noted above the loan portfolio (excluding loans held for sale and loans to other financial institutions) increased $267.6 million from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020. Growth in all categories was due to the merger with Community Shores, which attributed $174.0 million of the loan growth with other growth coming from PPP loans. 

 

The Bank entered into an agreement during 2018 to provide a line of credit to facilitate funding of residential mortgage loan originations at other financial institutions. The loans are short-term in nature and are designed to provide funding for the time period between the loan origination and its subsequent sale in the secondary market. The balance of the lines of credit held by the Bank was $35.2 million as of December 31, 2020 compared to $51.0 million as of December 31, 2019. 

 

Information regarding impaired loans can be found in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report. In addition to its review of the loan portfolio for impaired loans, management also monitors various nonperforming loans. Nonperforming loans are comprised of (1) loans accounted for on a nonaccrual basis; (2) loans, not included in nonaccrual loans, which are contractually past due 90 days or more as to interest or principal payments; and (3) loans, not included in nonaccrual or past due 90 days or more, which are considered troubled debt restructurings. Troubled debt restructurings consist of loans where the terms have been modified to assist the borrowers in making their payments. The modifications can include capitalization of interest onto the principal balance, reduction in interest rate, and extension of the loan term. 

 

The balances of these nonperforming loans as of December 31 were as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

               
   

2020

   

2019

 

Loans accounted for on a nonaccrual basis

  $ 6,707     $ 4,687  

Loans contractually past due 90 days or more as to principal or interest payments

    -       -  

Loans considered troubled debt restructurings which are not included above

    1,537       1,726  

Total

  $ 8,244     $ 6,413  

 

Nonaccrual loans included $348,000 in agricultural loans, $1,802,000 in commercial and industrial loans, $8,000 in consumer loans, $3,088,000 in commercial real estate loans, $80,000 in construction real estate loans, and $1,381,000 in residential real estate loans as of December 31, 2020. Nonaccrual loans included $379,000 in agricultural loans, $776,000 in commercial and industrial loans, $16,000 in consumer loans, $2,185,000 in commercial real estate loans, and $1,331,000 in residential real estate loans as of December 31, 2019. The primary reason for the increase in nonaccrual loans in 2020 was loans acquired from the merger of Community Shores. Loans considered troubled debt restructurings which were not on a nonaccrual basis and were not 90 days or more past due as to principal or interest payments consisted of $196,000 in commercial real estate loans and $1,341,000 in residential real estate loans at December 31, 2020, compared to $391,000 in commercial and industrial loans, and $1,335,000 in residential real estate loans at December 31, 2019.

 

The federal banking agencies issued an “Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working with Customers Affected by the Coronavirus” on March 22, 2020 and subsequently issued a revised statement on April 7, 2020. These statements encourage financial institutions to work constructively with borrowers affected by COVID-19, and provide that short-term modifications to loans made on a good faith basis to borrowers who were current as of the implementation date of the statements are not considered TDRs. Further, Section 4013 of the CARES Act states that COVID-19 related modifications on loans that were current as of December 31, 2019 are not TDRs. ChoiceOne offered an initial 90 day deferment beginning in March 2020 to both commercial and retail borrowers where the borrower could defer either the principal portion of their payments or both the principal and interest portions.  Following the initial 90 day deferment period, ChoiceOne offered a second round of deferments in accordance with the CARES Act; however, significantly fewer customers requested further deferment.  As of December 31, 2020, ChoiceOne had granted deferments on approximately 750 loans with loan balances totaling $148 million which, in reliance on the statements of federal banking agencies and the CARES Act, are not reflected as TDRs in this report.

 

Management also maintains a list of loans that are not classified as nonperforming loans but where some concern exists as to the borrowers’ abilities to comply with the original loan terms. These loans totaled $26.1 million as of December 31, 2020, compared to $14.0 million as of December 31, 2019.

 

28

 

Deposits and Other Funding Sources

The Company’s deposit balances as of December 31 were as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

               
   

2020

   

2019

 

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

  $ 477,654     $ 287,460  

Interest-bearing demand deposits

    471,346       236,154  

Money market deposits

    191,681       263,666  

Savings deposits

    337,332       206,050  

Local certificates of deposit

    196,565       158,985  

Brokered certificates of deposit

    -       2,287  

Total deposits

  $ 1,674,578     $ 1,154,602  

 

Total deposits increased $520.0 million from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020, of which $227.8 million was obtained from the merger with Community Shores.  Much of the remaining growth was due to the various stimulus programs offered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Total borrowings declined as other funding sources were replaced by local deposits growth.  The Bank’s blanket collateral agreement covering agricultural real estate loans and residential real estate loans that secured Federal Home Loan Bank advances were pledged against the Bank’s outstanding advances at the end of 2020. Approximately $85.6 million of additional advances were available as of December 31, 2020 based on the collateral pledged by the Bank.

 

In 2021, management will continue to focus its marketing efforts toward growth in local deposits. If local deposit growth is insufficient to support asset growth, management believes that advances from the FHLB and brokered certificates of deposit can address corresponding funding needs.

 

Shareholders’ Equity

Total shareholders' equity increased $35.1 million from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020. The merger with Community Shores caused $15.5 million of equity to be issued in consideration for Community Shores stock in addition to cash consideration. The remaining growth in equity resulted from the retention of earnings in 2020 as net income exceeded dividends paid by $9.4 million. Accumulated other comprehensive income increased by $9.6 million in 2020 principally as a result of available for sale securities held prior to the decrease in market interest rates to be in a larger unrealized gain position.  Equity issuances also contributed $646,000 to equity during 2020. 

 

Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements presents regulatory capital information for ChoiceOne and the Bank at the end of 2020 and 2019. Management will monitor these capital ratios during 2021 as they relate to asset growth and earnings retention. ChoiceOne’s Board of Directors and management do not plan to allow capital to decrease below those levels necessary to be considered "well capitalized" by regulatory guidelines. At December 31, 2020, the Bank was categorized as "well-capitalized" under the Basel III framework. 

 

29

 

Table 4 – Contractual Obligations

 

The following table discloses information regarding the maturity of ChoiceOne’s contractual obligations at December 31, 2020:

 

   

Payment Due by Period

 
           

Less

                   

More

 
           

than

    1 - 3     3 - 5    

than

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Total

   

1 year

   

Years

   

Years

   

5 Years

 
                                         

Time deposits

  $ 196,565     $ 156,612     $ 31,791     $ 7,837     $ 325  
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank     161       39       82       40       -  

Cumulative Preferred Securities

    3,089       (101 )     (202 )     (202 )     3,594  
BMO Harris Loan     9,167       3,333       5,834       -       -  

Operating leases

    376       138       195       43       -  

Other obligations

    494       264       138       61       31  

Total

  $ 209,852     $ 160,285     $ 37,838     $ 7,779     $ 3,950  

 

Liquidity and Interest Rate Risk

Net cash from operating activities was $8.5 million in 2020 compared to $9.2 million in 2019. Net cash used in investing activities was $250.8 million in 2020 compared to cash provided of $36.4 million in 2019. The change was caused by higher net purchases of securities in 2020 compared to 2019 and higher growth in loans in 2020 outside of Community Shores loans added, partially offset by more cash received from the Community Shores merger than the County merger. Net cash flows from financing activities were a positive $262.2 million in 2020 compared to a negative $5.7 million in 2019. The change was caused by more growth in deposits in 2020 outside of Community Shores deposits, partially offset by a higher level of net paydowns in borrowings in 2020 compared to 2019.

 

ChoiceOne's primary market risk exposure occurs in the form of interest rate risk. Liquidity risk also can have an impact but to a lesser extent. ChoiceOne's business is transacted in U.S. dollars with no foreign exchange risk exposure. Agricultural loans comprise a relatively small portion of ChoiceOne's total assets. Management believes that ChoiceOne's exposure to changes in commodity prices is insignificant.

 

Management believes that the current level of liquidity is sufficient to meet the Bank's normal operating needs. This belief is based upon the availability of deposits from both the local and national markets, maturities of securities, normal loan repayments, income retention, federal funds purchased, lines of credit from correspondent banks, and advances available from the FHLB. Liquidity risk deals with ChoiceOne's ability to meet its cash flow requirements. These requirements include depositors desiring to withdraw funds and borrowers seeking credit. Relatively short-term liquid funds exist in the form of lines of credit to purchase federal funds at correspondent banks. As of December 31, 2020, the amount of federal funds available for purchase from the Bank's correspondent banks totaled approximately $104.5 million. ChoiceOne’s federal funds purchased balance was $0 as of December 31, 2020 and $4.8 million as of December 31, 2019. The Bank also has a line of credit secured by ChoiceOne’s commercial loans with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for $148.9 million, which is designated for nonrecurring short-term liquidity needs. Longer-term liquidity needs may be met through local deposit growth, maturities of securities, normal loan repayments, advances from the FHLB, brokered certificates of deposit, and income retention. Approximately $85.6 million of borrowing capacity was available from the FHLB based on agricultural real estate loans and residential real estate loans pledged as collateral at the end of 2020. The acceptance of brokered certificates of deposit is not limited as long as the Bank is categorized as “well capitalized” under regulatory guidelines.

 

30

 

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

 

This report contains references to net income excluding tax-effected merger-related expenses, which is a financial measure that is not defined in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Management believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides additional information that is useful to investors in helping to understand the underlying financial performance of ChoiceOne.

 

Non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations. Readers should be aware of these limitations and should be cautious with respect to the use of such measures. To compensate for these limitations, we use non-GAAP measures as comparative tools, together with GAAP measures, to assist in the evaluation of our operating performance or financial condition. Also, we ensure that these measures are calculated using the appropriate GAAP or regulatory components in their entirety and that they are computed in a manner intended to facilitate consistent period-to-period comparisons. ChoiceOne’s method of calculating these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from methods used by other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for those financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP or in-effect regulatory requirements.

 

NON-GAAP Reconciliation

(Unaudited)

 

The non-GAAP measures presented in the table below reflect the adjustments of the reported U.S. GAAP results for significant items that management does not believe are reflective of the Company's current and ongoing operations.

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 

2020

   

2019

 
                 

Income before income tax

  $ 18,885     $ 8,465  

Adjustment for pre-tax merger expenses

    3,219       2,001  

Adjusted income before income tax

    22,104       10,466  
                 

Income tax expense

    3,272       1,294  

Tax impact of adjustment for pre-tax merger expenses

    505       232  

Adjusted income tax expense

    3,777       1,526  
                 

Net income

    15,613       7,171  

Adjustment for pre-tax merger expenses, net of tax impact

    2,714       1,769  

Adjusted net income

  $ 18,327     $ 8,940  
                 

Basic earnings per share

  $ 2.08     $ 1.58  

Effect of merger expenses, net of tax impact

    0.36       0.39  

Adjusted basic earnings per share

  $ 2.44     $ 1.97  
                 

Diluted earnings per share

  $ 2.07     $ 1.58  

Effect of merger expenses, net of tax impact

    0.36       0.39  

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

  $ 2.43     $ 1.97  

 

31

 

Critical Accounting Policies And Estimates

 

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations as well as disclosures found elsewhere in this report are based upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near-term relate to the determination of the market value of securities, the amount of the allowance for loan losses, loan servicing rights, carrying value of goodwill, and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Securities

Debt securities available for sale may be sold prior to maturity due to changes in interest rates, prepayment risks, yield, availability of alternative investments, liquidity needs, credit rating changes, or other factors. Debt securities classified as available for sale are reported at their fair value with changes flowing through other comprehensive income. Declines in the fair value of securities below their cost that are considered to be “other than temporary” are recorded as losses in the income statement. In estimating whether a fair value decline is considered to be “other than temporary,” management considers the length of time and extent that the security’s fair value has been less than its carrying value, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and the Bank’s ability and intent to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.

 

Market values for securities available for sale are obtained from outside sources and applied to individual securities within the portfolio. The difference between the amortized cost and the fair value of securities is recorded as a valuation adjustment and reported net of tax effect in other comprehensive income.

 

Effective January 1, 2018, equity securities are reported at their fair value with changes in market value flowing through net income. Prior to 2018, equity securities were accounted for in a manner similar to available for sale debt securities.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level believed adequate by management to absorb probable incurred losses inherent in the consolidated loan portfolio. Management’s evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is an estimate based on reviews of individual loans, assessments of the impact of current economic conditions on the portfolio and historical loss experience of seasoned loan portfolios.

 

Management believes the accounting estimate related to the allowance for loan losses is a “critical accounting estimate” because (1) the estimate is highly susceptible to change from period to period because of assumptions concerning the changes in the types and volumes of the portfolios and current economic conditions and (2) the impact of recognizing an impairment or loan loss could have a material effect on the Company’s assets reported on the balance sheet as well as its net income.

 

Loan Servicing Rights

Loan servicing rights represent the estimated value of servicing loans that are sold with servicing retained by ChoiceOne and are initially recorded at estimated fair value. Servicing rights are expensed in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing revenues. Management’s accounting treatment of loan servicing rights is estimated based on current prepayment speeds that are typically market driven.

 

Management believes the accounting estimate related to loan servicing rights is a “critical accounting estimate” because (1) the estimate is highly susceptible to change from period to period because of significant changes within long-term interest rates affecting the prepayment speeds for current loans being serviced and (2) the impact of recognizing an impairment loss could have a material effect on ChoiceOne’s net income. Management has obtained a third-party valuation of its loan servicing rights to corroborate its current carrying value at the end of each reporting period.

 

Goodwill

Generally accepted accounting principles require that the fair values of the assets and liabilities of an acquired entity be recorded at their fair value on the date of acquisition. The fair values are determined using both internal computations and information obtained from outside parties when deemed necessary. The net difference between the price paid for the acquired company and the net value of its balance sheet is recorded as goodwill. Accounting principles also require that goodwill be evaluated for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Under recently issued accounting pronouncements, ChoiceOne is permitted to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not (that is, a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of equity is less than its carrying value. If the conclusion is that it is more likely than not that the fair value of equity is more than its carrying value, no further testing in the form of a quantitative assessment is necessary. If the conclusion is that it is more likely than not that the fair value of equity is less than its carrying value, then a two-step quantitative assessment test is performed to identify any potential goodwill impairment.

 

Management hired a third party to perform a quantitative assessment of goodwill as of November 30, 2020.  The third party used an income approach to calculate cash flow based on excess capital above a required tangible equity to tangible assets ratio selected with consideration given to regulatory guidelines and the risk profile of ChoiceOne.  As a result of the income approach, no indication of goodwill impairment was noted.  The third party analysis also assessed the share price, book value, and financial results of ChoiceOne as compared to the previous year. Additionally, industry and market conditions were evaluated and compared, including the potential impact of COVID-19 on the ability of ChoiceOne’s borrowers to comply with loan terms. The third party also compared average values for recently closed bank merger and acquisition transactions to ChoiceOne's recently completed merger and acquisition transactions. In assessing the totality of the events and circumstances, management determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the Bank’s operations, from a qualitative perspective, exceeded the carrying value as of November 30, 2020 and there was no further quantitative assessment necessary.

 

Taxes

Income taxes include both a current and deferred portion. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded to account for differences in the timing of the recognition of revenues and expenses for financial reporting and tax purposes. Generally accepted accounting principles require that deferred tax assets be reviewed to determine whether a valuation allowance should be established using a “more likely than not” standard. Based on its review of ChoiceOne’s deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2020, management determined that no valuation allowance was necessary.

 

32

 

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Interest rate risk is related to liquidity because each is affected by maturing assets and sources of funds. ChoiceOne’s Asset/Liability Management Committee (the "ALCO") attempts to stabilize the interest rate spread and avoid possible adverse effects when unusual or rapid changes in interest rates occur. The ALCO uses a simulation model to measure the Bank's interest rate risk. The model incorporates changes in interest rates on rate-sensitive assets and liabilities. The degree of rate sensitivity is affected by prepayment assumptions that exist in the assets and liabilities. One method the ALCO uses of measuring interest rate sensitivity is the ratio of rate-sensitive assets to rate-sensitive liabilities. An asset or liability is considered to be rate-sensitive if it matures or otherwise reprices within a given time frame.

 

Table 5 documents the maturity or repricing schedule for ChoiceOne’s rate-sensitive assets and liabilities for selected time periods:

 

Table 5 – Maturities and Repricing Schedule

 

   

As of December 31, 2020

 

(Dollars in thousands)

  0 - 3     3 - 12     1 - 5    

Over

         
   

Months

   

Months

   

Years

   

5 Years

   

Total

 

Assets

                                       

Equity securities at fair value

  $ 2,896     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 2,896  

Securities available for sale

    88,972       38,183       140,374       307,258       574,787  

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

    3,824       -       -       -       3,824  

Federal Reserve Bank stock

    -       -       -       4,180       4,180  

Loans held for sale

    12,921       -       -       -       12,921  

Loans to other financial institutions

    35,209       -       -       -       35,209  

Loans

    301,233       242,625       469,690       56,120       1,069,668  

Cash surrender value of life insurance policies

    -       -       -       32,751       32,751  

Rate-sensitive assets

  $ 445,055     $ 280,808     $ 610,064     $ 400,309     $ 1,736,236  
                                         

Liabilities

                                       

Interest-bearing demand deposits

  $ 471,346     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 471,346  

Money market deposits

    191,681       -       -       -       191,681  

Savings deposits

    337,332       -       -       -       337,332  

Certificates of deposit

    49,346       107,266       39,628       325       196,565  

Borrowings

    843       2,529       5,955       -       9,327  
Subordinated debentures     (25 )     (76 )     (403 )     3,593       3,089  

Rate-sensitive liabilities

  $ 1,050,522     $ 109,719     $ 45,180     $ 3,918     $ 1,209,340  

Rate-sensitive assets less rate-sensitive liabilities:

                                       

Asset (liability) gap for the period

  $ (605,468 )   $ 171,089     $ 564,884     $ 396,391     $ 526,896  

Cumulative asset (liability) gap

  $ (605,468 )   $ (434,378 )   $ 130,505     $ 526,896          

 

Under this method, the ALCO measures interest rate sensitivity by focusing on the one-year repricing gap. ChoiceOne’s ratio of rate-sensitive assets to rate-sensitive liabilities that matured or repriced within a one-year time frame was 63% at December 31, 2020, compared to 65% at December 31, 2019. Table 5 above shows the entire balance of interest-bearing demand deposits, savings deposits, money market deposits, and overnight repurchase agreements in the shortest repricing term. Although these categories have the ability to reprice immediately, management has some control over the actual timing or extent of the changes in interest rates on these liabilities. The ALCO plans to continue to monitor the ratio of rate-sensitive assets to rate-sensitive liabilities on a quarterly basis in 2020. As interest rates change during 2021, the ALCO will attempt to match its maturing assets with corresponding liabilities to maximize ChoiceOne’s net interest income.

 

Another method the ALCO uses to monitor its interest rate sensitivity is to subject rate-sensitive assets and liabilities to interest rate shocks. At December 31, 2020, management used a simulation model to subject its assets and liabilities up to an immediate 400 basis point increase. The maturities of loans and mortgage-backed securities were affected by certain prepayment assumptions. Maturities for interest-bearing core deposits were based on an estimate of the period over which they would be outstanding. The maturities of advances from the FHLB were based on their contractual maturity dates. In the case of variable rate assets and liabilities, repricing dates were used to determine their values. The simulation model measures the effect of immediate interest rate changes on both net interest income and shareholders' equity.

 

33

 

Table 6 provides an illustration of hypothetical interest rate changes as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

Table 6 – Sensitivity to Changes in Interest Rates

 

   

2020

 
   

Net

           

Market

         

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Interest

   

Percent

   

Value of

   

Percent

 
   

Income

   

Change

   

Equity

   

Change

 

Change in Interest Rate

                               

400 basis point rise

  $ 57,184       8

%

  $ 394,977       5

%

300 basis point rise     55,380       5 %     404,998       8 %
200 basis point rise     54,106       3 %     405,238       8 %
100 basis point rise     53,420       1 %     398,862       6 %
Base rate scenario     52,722       - %     376,571       - %
100 basis point decline     51,341       -3 %     304,778       -19 %
200 basis point decline     50,125       -5 %     277,058       -26 %
300 basis point decline     49,177       -7 %     276,744       -27 %
400 basis point decline     48,968       -7 %     276,317       -27 %

 

   

2019

 
   

Net

           

Market

         

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Interest

   

Percent

   

Value of

   

Percent

 
   

Income

   

Change

   

Equity

   

Change

 

Change in Interest Rate

                               

400 basis point rise

  $ 46,575       4

%

  $ 258,936       1

%

300 basis point rise

    46,184       3

%

    261,284       2

%

200 basis point rise

    45,754       2

%

    260,998       2

%

100 basis point rise

    45,243       1

%

    261,204       2

%

Base rate scenario

    44,654       -

%

    256,047       -

%

100 basis point decline

    43,573       -2

%

    236,307       -8

%

200 basis point decline

    41,407       -7

%

    202,759       -21

%

300 basis point decline

    40,453       -9

%

    204,270       -20

%

400 basis point decline

    39,996       -10

%

    209,687       -18

%

 

As of December 31, 2020, the Bank was within its guidelines for immediate rate shocks up and down for all net interest income scenarios and for the up rate scenarios and the down 300 and 400 basis points scenarios for the market value of shareholders’ equity. The Bank’s percent change in the 100 and 200 basis points down scenarios for the market value of shareholders’ equity was slightly higher than the policy guidelines. As of December 31, 2019, the Bank was within its guidelines for immediate rate shocks up and down for all net interest income scenarios and for the up rate scenarios and the down 100 and down 200 basis points scenarios for the market value of shareholders’ equity. The Bank’s percent change in the 300 and 400 basis points down scenarios for the market value of shareholders’ equity was slightly higher than the policy guidelines. The ALCO plans to continue to monitor the effect of changes in interest rates on both net interest income and shareholders’ equity and will make changes in the duration of its rate-sensitive assets and rate-sensitive liabilities where necessary.

 

34

 

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.

 

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020, and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Critical Audit Matters

 

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses Current Factor Adjustments Refer to Notes 1 and 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Critical Audit Matter Description

 

The general component of management’s estimate of the allowance for loan losses covers non-classified loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for current factors.  Management’s adjustment for current factors is based on trends in delinquencies, trends in charge-offs and recoveries, trends in the volume of loans, changes in underwriting standards, trends in loan review findings, experience and ability of lending staff, national and economic trends and conditions, industry conditions, trends in real estate values, and other conditions.  Identification of factors to consider and adjustments to those factors involve management’s judgement. 

 

Given the significant estimates and assumptions management makes to estimate the current factor adjustments of the allowance for loan losses, performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s estimates and assumptions required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort.

 

 

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

 

Our audit procedures related to the current factor adjustments used in the estimate of the allowance for loan losses included the following, among others:

 

 

We obtained an understanding of management’s process for determining the current factor adjustments, which included identification of internal and external data used in the analysis and understanding how management selects inputs from a range of potential assumptions.

 

We evaluated the design of controls over management’s allowance for loan losses estimate, including those over current factor adjustments.

 

We evaluated management’s selection of factors to consider when making current factor adjustments.

 

We evaluated management's determination of adjustments for each factor, including evaluation of each adjustment for consistency with the direction and magnitude of changes in internal and external data.

 

 

35

 

Acquisition of Community Shores Bank Corporation Valuation of Loans Refer to Notes 1 and 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Critical Audit Matter Description

 

The Company completed the acquisition of Community Shores Bank Corporation (“Community Shores”) on July 1, 2020. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their acquisition date fair values.  Management utilized a third-party specialist to assist in the estimation of the fair value of loans at the acquisition date based on a discounted cash flow approach.  The fair value adjustments required management to make significant estimates and assumptions, including the probability of default, loss given default, and realizable collateral values of the acquired loans.

 

Given the significant estimates and assumptions management made to estimate the fair value of acquired loans, performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s estimates and assumptions required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialists.

 

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

 

Our audit procedures related to the evaluation of significant estimates and assumptions used in the valuation of acquired loans included the following, among others: 

 

 

We obtained an understanding of management’s process for determining the fair value of acquired loans, which included identification of internal and external data used in selecting inputs to the model and understanding how management selected inputs from a range of potential assumptions.

 

We evaluated the design of controls over management’s loan fair value estimate.

 

With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we evaluated the reasonableness of the discounted cash flow valuation methodology and significant assumptions based on unobservable data.

 

We tested the completeness and accuracy of data used by management in the fair value calculation.

 

We evaluated the significant inputs selected by management and tested the mathematical accuracy of the calculation.

 

Other Reporting Required by Government Auditing Standards

 

In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, we have also issued our report dated March 30, 2021 on our consideration of ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. internal control over financial reporting and on our tests of its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, grant agreements, and other matters. The purpose of that report is to describe the scope of our testing of internal control over financial reporting and compliance and the results of that testing, and not to provide an opinion on the internal control over financial reporting or on compliance. That report is an integral part of an audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards in considering ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. internal control over financial reporting and compliance.

 

/s/Plante & Moran, PLLC

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2006.

 

Auburn Hills, Michigan 

 

March 30, 2021

 

36

 

 

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

    December 31,  

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

 

Assets

               

Cash and due from banks

  $ 79,169     $ 59,308  

Time deposits in other financial institutions

    350       250  

Cash and cash equivalents

    79,519       59,558  
                 

Equity securities at fair value (Note 2)

    2,896       2,851  

Securities available for sale (Note 2)

    574,787       339,579  

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

    3,824       3,524  

Federal Reserve Bank stock

    4,180       2,934  

Loans held for sale

    12,921       3,095  

Loans to other financial institutions

    35,209       51,048  

Loans (Note 3)

    1,069,668       802,048  

Allowance for loan losses (Note 3)

    (7,593 )     (4,057 )

Loans, net

    1,062,075       797,991  
                 

Premises and equipment, net (Note 5)

    29,489       24,265  

Other real estate owned, net (Note 7)

    266       929  

Cash value of life insurance policies

    32,751       31,979  

Goodwill (Note 6)

    60,506       52,870  

Core deposit intangible (Note 6)

    5,269       6,006  

Other assets

    15,650       9,499  

Total assets

  $ 1,919,342     $ 1,386,128  
                 

Liabilities

               

Deposits – noninterest-bearing (Note 8)

  $ 477,654     $ 287,460  

Deposits – interest-bearing (Note 8)

    1,196,924       867,142  

Total deposits

    1,674,578       1,154,602  
                 

Borrowings (Note 9)

    9,327       33,198  
Subordinated debentures (Note 10)     3,089       -  

Other liabilities (Notes 11 and 13)

    5,080       6,189  

Total liabilities

    1,692,074       1,193,989  
                 

Shareholders' Equity

               

Preferred stock; shares authorized: 100,000; shares outstanding: none

    -       -  

Common stock and paid-in capital, no par value; shares authorized: 12,000,000; shares outstanding: 7,796,352 at December 31, 2020 and 7,245,088 at December 31, 2019 (Note 14)

    178,750       162,610  

Retained earnings

    37,490       28,051  

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net

    11,028       1,478  

Total shareholders’ equity

    227,268       192,139  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  $ 1,919,342     $ 1,386,128  

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

37

 

 

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income

 

   

Years Ended

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Interest income

                       

Loans, including fees

  $ 46,874     $ 26,777     $ 20,033  

Securities:

                       

Taxable

    5,891       3,956       2,896  

Tax exempt

    2,684       1,472       1,465  

Other

    266       268       131  

Total interest income

    55,715       32,473       24,525  
                         

Interest expense

                       

Deposits

    4,178       4,188       2,175  

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

    220       455       235  

Other

    246       57       51  

Total interest expense

    4,644       4,700       2,461  
                         

Net interest income

    51,071       27,773       22,064  

Provision for loan losses

    4,000       -       35  

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

    47,071       27,773       22,029  
                         

Noninterest income

                       

Customer service charges

    7,252       5,277       4,525  

Insurance and investment commissions

    541       310       335  
Mortgage servicing rights (Note 4)     3,180       822       441  

Gains on sales of loans (Note 4)

    8,133       1,129       562  

Net gains on sales of securities (Note 2)

    1,308       22       34  
Net (losses) gains on sales and write-downs of other assets (Note 7)     (13 )     55       83  

Earnings on life insurance policies

    772       773       385  

Trust income

    739       162       -  

Change in market value of equity securities

    (155 )     -       71  

Other

    941       618       484  

Total noninterest income

    22,698       9,168       6,920  
                         

Noninterest expense

                       

Salaries and benefits (Note 13 and 14)

    26,539       14,401       10,997  

Occupancy and equipment (Note 5)

    5,783       3,557       2,722  

Data processing

    6,765       3,210       2,205  

Professional fees

    3,716       3,112       1,349  

Supplies and postage

    844       407       408  

Advertising and promotional

    588       528       308  

Intangible amortization (Note 6)

    1,498       353       -  

FDIC insurance

    450       45       185  

Other

    4,701       2,863       2,287  

Total noninterest expense

    50,884       28,476       20,461  
                         

Income before income tax

    18,885       8,465       8,488  

Income tax expense

    3,272       1,294       1,155  
                         

Net income

  $ 15,613     $ 7,171     $ 7,333  
                         

Basic earnings per share (Note 15)

  $ 2.08     $ 1.58     $ 2.03  

Diluted earnings per share (Note 15)

  $ 2.07     $ 1.58     $ 2.02  

Dividends declared per share

  $ 0.82     $ 1.40     $ 0.71  

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

38

 

 

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

 

   

Years Ended

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Net income

  $ 15,613     $ 7,171     $ 7,333  
                         

Other comprehensive income:

                       

Changes in net unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities available for sale, net of tax expense (benefit) of $2,846, $583, and $(196) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

    10,708       2,246       (737 )
                         

Reclassification adjustment for realized gain on sale of investment securities available for sale included in net income, net of tax expense of $275, $5, and $7 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

    (1,033 )     (18 )     (27 )
                         
Change in adjustment for postretirement benefits, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(33), $(5), and $10 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.     (125 )     (18 )     39  
                         

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

    9,550       2,210       (725 )
                         

Comprehensive income

  $ 25,163     $ 9,381     $ 6,608  

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

39

 

 

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

 

                           

Accumulated

         
           

Common

           

Other

         
           

Stock and

           

Comprehensive

         
   

Number of

   

Paid in

   

Retained

   

Income/(Loss),

         

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

Shares

   

Capital

   

Earnings

   

Net

   

Total

 
Balance, January 1, 2018     3,448,569     $ 50,290     $ 26,023     $ 237     $ 76,550  
                                         

Net income

                    7,333               7,333  

Other comprehensive loss

                            (725 )     (725 )

Shares issued

    7,904       126                       126  
Shares repurchased     (20,628 )     (523 )                     (523 )

Effect of employee stock purchases

            13                       13  
Stock options exercised and issued (1)     1,241                               -  

Stock-based compensation expense

            282                       282  

Restricted stock units issued

    7,303                               -  

Adoption effect of ASU 2016-01 (3)

                    244       (244 )     -  

Stock dividend declared (5%)

    172,094       4,335       (4,342 )             (7 )

Cash dividends declared ($0.71 per share) (2)

                    (2,572 )             (2,572 )
                                         
Balance, December 31, 2018     3,616,483     $ 54,523     $ 26,686     $ (732 )   $ 80,477  
                                         

Net income

                    7,171               7,171  

Other comprehensive income

                            2,210       2,210  

Shares issued

    8,118       25                       25  
Shares repurchased     (2,228 )     (67 )                     (67 )

Effect of employee stock purchases

            14                       14  

Stock options exercised and issued (1)

    3,913       78                       78  

Stock-based compensation expense

            398                       398  
Restricted stock units issued     14,930                               -  

Merger with County Bank Corp, net of issuance costs

    3,603,872       107,639                       107,639  

Cash dividends declared ($1.40 per share)

                    (5,806 )             (5,806 )
                                         

Balance, December 31, 2019

    7,245,088     $ 162,610     $ 28,051     $ 1,478     $ 192,139  
                                         
Net income                     15,613               15,613  
Other comprehensive income                             9,550       9,550  
Shares issued     19,583       451                       451  
Effect of employee stock purchases             24                       24  
Stock options exercised and issued (1)     7,261                               -  
Stock-based compensation expense             171                       171  
Restricted stock units issued     365                               -  

Merger with Community Shores Bank Corporation

    524,055       15,494                       15,494  
Cash dividends declared ($0.82 per share)                     (6,174 )             (6,174 )
                                         

Balance, December 31, 2020

    7,796,352     $ 178,750     $ 37,490     $ 11,028     $ 227,268  

 

(1) The amount shown represents the number of shares issued in cashless transactions where some taxes are netted on a portion of the exercises.

(2) Adjusted for 5% stock dividend issued on May 31, 2018.

(3) ASU 2016-01 is further addressed in Note 1 to the financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

40

 

 

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

   

Years Ended

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                       

Net income

  $ 15,613     $ 7,171     $ 7,333  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:

                       

Provision for loan losses

    4,000       -       35  

Depreciation

    2,721       1,610       1,183  

Amortization

    4,985       1,517       893  

Compensation expense on employee and director stock purchases, stock options, and restricted stock units

    512       373       344  

Net gains on sales of securities

    (1,308 )     (22 )     (34 )

Net change in market value of equity securities

    155       -       (71 )

Gains on sales of loans

    (11,313 )     (1,951 )     (1,003 )

Loans originated for sale

    (326,286 )     (63,920 )     (33,555 )

Proceeds from loan sales

    325,306       62,763       34,872  

Earnings on bank-owned life insurance

    (772 )     (485 )     (385 )
Proceeds from BOLI policy     -       605       -  
Earnings on death benefit from bank-owned life insurance     -       (288 )     -  

(Gains) on sales of other real estate owned

    (64 )     (54 )     (79 )
Write downs of ORE     80       -       -  

Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned

    1,384       938       515  

Costs capitalized to other real estate

    (19 )     -       -  

Deferred federal income tax expense

    202       310       209  

Net change in:

                       

Other assets

    (3,186 )     2,128       (875 )

Other liabilities

    (3,532 )     (1,493 )     573  

Net cash provided by operating activities

    8,478       9,202       9,955  
                         

Cash flows from investing activities:

                       

Sales of securities available for sale

    121,942       178,450       2,634  
Sales of equity securities     -       463       91  

Maturities, prepayments and calls of securities available for sale

    48,787       47,816       13,443  

Purchases of securities available for sale

    (375,670 )     (209,763 )     (31,450 )

Purchase of Federal Reserve Bank stock

    -       (1 )     -  

Loan originations and payments, net

    (79,594 )     (485 )     (24,366 )

Additions to premises and equipment

    (1,852 )     (766 )     (4,207 )

Cash received from merger with Community Shores Bank Corporation

    35,636       -       -  
Cash received from merger with County Bank Corp     -       20,638       -  

Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities

    (250,751 )     36,352       (43,855 )
                         

Cash flows from financing activities:

                       

Net change in deposits

    292,145       3,986       37,162  
Net change in repurchase agreements     -       -       (7,148 )

Net change in fed funds purchased

    -       (8,600 )     4,800  

Proceeds from borrowings

    10,050       115,000       128,500  

Payments on borrowings

    (33,921 )     (110,035 )     (143,535 )

Repurchase of common stock

    -       (67 )     (523 )
Issuance of common stock     134       142       77  

Cash dividends and fractional shares from merger

    (6,174 )     (5,815 )     (2,580 )
Cash related to equity issuance for merger     -       (297 )     -  

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

    262,234       (5,686 )     16,753  
                         

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

    19,961       39,868       (17,147 )

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

    59,558       19,690       36,837  
                         

Ending cash and cash equivalents

  $ 79,519     $ 59,558     $ 19,690  
                         

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

                       

Cash paid for interest

  $ 4,872     $ 4,500     $ 2,300  

Cash paid for income taxes

    5,001       1,035       850  

Loans transferred to other real estate owned

    372       347       432  

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

41

 

 

Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. ("ChoiceOne"), its wholly-owned subsidiaries, ChoiceOne Bank (the "Bank"), and ChoiceOne Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiaries: ChoiceOne Insurance Agencies, Inc. (the "Insurance Agency"), Lakestone Financial Services, Inc. ("Lakestone Financial"), and Community Shores Financial Services, Inc. (“Community Shores Financial”). Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. 

 

Community Shores Capital Trust I (the “Capital Trust”) owns all of the common securities of this special purpose trust.  Under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Capital Trust is not consolidated because it is a variable interest entity and ChoiceOne is not the primary beneficiary. 

 

Recent Mergers

On  October 1, 2019, ChoiceOne completed the merger of County Bank Corp. (“County”) with and into ChoiceOne with ChoiceOne surviving the merger. Accordingly, the reported consolidated financial condition and operating results as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 include the impact of the merger, which was effective as of  October 1, 2019. For additional details regarding the merger with County, see Note 21 (Business Combination) below.  

 

On July 1, 2020, ChoiceOne completed the merger of Community Shores Bank Corporation ("Community Shores") with and into ChoiceOne with ChoiceOne surviving the merger. Accordingly, the reported consolidated financial condition and operating results as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 include the impact of the merger, which was effective as of July 1, 2020. For additional details regarding the merger with Community Shores, see Note 21 (Business Combination) below. 

 

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak

The coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Since first being reported in China, the coronavirus has spread globally, including in the United States. The coronavirus has had a substantial impact on numerous aspects of life in the United States, including threats to public health, increased volatility in markets, and severe effects on national and local economies.

 

COVID-19 has already had numerous effects on ChoiceOne. To protect the health of customers, employees, and others in its communities, ChoiceOne closed the lobbies of its branches from late March 2020 to mid- June 2020. During the period that lobbies were closed, ChoiceOne continued to provide its full scope of services to its customers through drive-up branch service, in-person meetings by appointment, and mobile banking.

 

COVID-19 has also affected ChoiceOne's customers. Although there were no material increases in delinquencies or net charge-offs during 2020, ChoiceOne increased its provision for loan losses by $4.0 million in 2020 as compared to 2019 in anticipation of an expected increase in levels of delinquencies and loan losses related to the impact of COVID-19. Consistent with federal banking agencies' revised “Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working with Customers Affected by the Coronavirus,” ChoiceOne is working with its borrowers affected by COVID-19 and has granted approximately 750 payment deferrals on numerous loans to borrowers affected by the pandemic.  Following the initial 90 day deferment period, ChoiceOne offered a second round of deferment in accordance with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act; however, significantly fewer customers requested further deferment.  Less than 40 deferments remained active with loan balances totaling just $3.2 million at December 31, 2020 with all other previous deferments resuming their payments in accordance with loan terms.  ChoiceOne will continue to attempt to assist borrowers using various means in appropriate circumstances, as needed. 

 

In addition, ChoiceOne processed over $126 million in PPP loans through December 31, 2020 and acquired an additional $37 million in PPP loans in the merger with Community Shores.  PPP loans are forgivable, in whole or in part, if the proceeds are used for payroll and other permitted purposes in accordance with the requirements of the PPP. PPP loans carry a fixed rate of 1.00% and a term of two years (loans made before June 5, 2020) or five years (loans made on or after June 5, 2020), if not forgiven in whole or in part.  Payments are deferred until either the date on which the Small Business Administration ("SBA") remits the amount of forgiveness proceeds to the lender or the date that is ten months after the last day of the covered period if the borrower does not apply for forgiveness within that ten-month period.  The loans are 100% guaranteed by the SBA.  The SBA pays the originating bank a processing fee based on the size of the loan. The initial PPP expired on August 8, 2020.  On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, was signed into law, providing additional funding for the PPP. This round of the PPP opened on February 24, 2021 and, absent extension, will expire on March 31, 2021 (or such earlier date as funds are exhausted). Gross fees associated with PPP loans originated through December 31, 2020 totaled $5.0 million.  Costs associated with these loans were approximately $199,000 and the net of $4.8 million is being recognized over the term of the loans.  Upon the SBA forgiveness, unrecognized fees are then recognized into interest income. Fee income, which was included in interest income, recognized in the year ended December 31, 2020 was $3.0 million.  $23.4 million in PPP loans were forgiven during the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Nature of Operations

The Bank is a full-service community bank that offers commercial, consumer, and real estate loans as well as traditional demand, savings and time deposits to both commercial and consumer clients within the Bank’s primary market areas in Kent, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa counties in western Michigan and Lapeer, Macomb, and St. Clair counties in southeastern Michigan. Substantially all loans are secured by specific items of collateral including business assets, consumer assets, and real estate. Commercial loans are expected to be repaid from the cash flows from operations of businesses. Real estate loans are collateralized by either residential or commercial real estate. 

 

Community Shores Financial is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank. The primary source of revenue for Community Shores Financial is referral fee income from a local insurance agency, Lakeshore Employee Benefits.  Lakeshore Employee Benefits offers, among other things, employer-sponsored benefit plans. 

 

The Insurance Agency is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank. The Insurance Agency sells insurance policies such as life and health for both commercial and consumer clients. The Insurance Agency also offers alternative investment products such as annuities and mutual funds through a registered broker. Lakestone Financial is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank, which earns revenues through the sale of annuities and other third party investment products. 

 

Together, the Bank and the other subsidiaries account for substantially all of ChoiceOne’s assets, revenues and operating income. 

 

42

 

Use of Estimates

To prepare financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, ChoiceOne’s management makes estimates and assumptions based on available information. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the disclosures provided. These estimates and assumptions are subject to many risks and uncertainties, including changes in interest rates and other general economic, business and political conditions, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its potential effects on the economic environment, our customers and our operations, as well as any changes to federal, state and local government laws, regulations and orders in connection with the pandemic. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Estimates associated with securities available for sale, the allowance for loan losses, other real estate owned, loan servicing rights, goodwill, and fair values of certain financial instruments are particularly susceptible to change.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are defined to include cash on hand, demand deposits with other banks, and federal funds sold. Cash flows are reported on a net basis for customer loan and deposit transactions, deposits with other financial institutions, and short-term borrowings with original terms of 90 days or less.

 

Securities

Debt securities are classified as available for sale because they might be sold before maturity. Debt securities classified as available for sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported separately in the accumulated other comprehensive income or loss section of shareholders’ equity, net of tax effect. Restricted investments in Federal Reserve Bank stock and Federal Home Loan Bank stock are carried at cost. Equity securities consist of investments in preferred stock and investments in common stock of other financial institutions. Effective January 1, 2018, equity securities are reported at their fair value with changes in market value flowing through net income. Prior to 2018, equity securities were accounted for in a manner similar to available for sale debt securities.

 

Interest income includes amortization of purchase premium or discount. Premiums and discounts on securities are amortized using the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments. Gains or losses on sales are recorded on the trade date based on the amortized cost of the security sold.

 

Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market conditions warrant such an evaluation. The evaluation of securities includes consideration given to the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, whether the market decline was affected by macroeconomic conditions and whether ChoiceOne has the intent to sell the security or it is more likely than not it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. In analyzing an issuer's financial condition, management may consider whether the securities are issued by the federal government or its agencies, or U.S. Government sponsored enterprises, whether downgrades by bond rating agencies have occurred, and the results of reviews of the issuer's financial condition. The assessment of whether an other-than-temporary decline exists involves a high degree of subjectivity and judgment and is based on the information available to management at a point in time.

 

When OTTI occurs, the amount of the OTTI recognized in earnings depends on whether ChoiceOne intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If ChoiceOne intends to sell or it is more likely than not it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the OTTI shall be recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the investment's amortized cost basis and its fair value at the balance sheet date. The previous amortized cost basis less the OTTI recognized in earnings becomes the new amortized cost basis of the investment. If a security is determined to be other-than-temporarily impaired, but ChoiceOne does not intend to sell the security, only the credit portion of the estimated loss is recognized in earnings, with the other portion of the loss recognized in other comprehensive income.

 

Loans

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at the principal balance outstanding, net of unearned interest, deferred loan fees and costs, remaining purchase accounting adjustments, and an allowance for loan losses. Loans held for sale are reported at the lower of cost or market, on an aggregate basis.

 

Interest income on loans is reported on the interest method and includes amortization of net deferred loan fees and costs over the estimated loan term. Interest on loans is accrued based upon the principal balance outstanding. The accrual of interest is discontinued at the time at which loans are 90 days past due unless the loan is secured by sufficient collateral and is in the process of collection. Past due status is based on the contractual terms of the loan. Loans are placed into nonaccrual status or charged off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful. Interest accrued but not received is reversed against interest income when the loans are placed into nonaccrual status. Interest received on such loans is applied to principal until qualifying for return to accrual. Loans are returned to accrual basis when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payment is reasonably assured.

 

During 2020, the Company funded loans under the Small Business Administration's ("SBA") Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") to provide liquidity to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The loans are guaranteed by the SBA and are forgivable by the SBA if certain criteria are met. The Company originated PPP loans totaling $126.4 million during 2020. PPP processing fees received from the SBA totaling $5.0 million were deferred along with loan origination costs and recognized as interest income using the effective yield method. Upon forgiveness of a loan and resulting repayment by the SBA, any unrecognized net fee for a given loan is recognized as interest income. $3.0 million of fees from the SBA were recognized in 2020.

 

No allowance for loan loss is recorded for loans acquired in a business combination unless losses are incurred subsequent to the acquisition date.

 

Acquired loans are considered purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) if as of the acquisition date, management determines the loan has evidence of deterioration in credit quality since origination and it is probable at acquisition the Company will be unable to collect all contractually required payments. The discount related to credit quality for PCI loans is recorded as an adjustment to the loan balance as of the acquisition date and is not accreted into income. Management subsequently estimates expected cash flows on an individual loan basis. If the present value of expected cash flows is less than a loan's carrying amount, an allowance for loan loss is recorded through the provision for loan losses. If the present value of expected cash flows is greater than the carrying amount, the excess may be reclassified to an accretable difference and recognized into income over the loan's remaining life.

 

For non-PCI loans, the difference between acquisition date fair value and expected cash flows is accreted into income over a pool's expected life using the level yield method.

 

43

 

Loans to Other Financial Institutions

Loans to other financial institutions are made for the purpose of providing a warehouse line of credit to facilitate funding of residential mortgage loan originations at other financial institutions. The loans are short-term in nature and are designed to provide funding for the time period between the loan origination and its subsequent sale in the secondary market. Loans to other financial institutions earn a share of interest income, determined by the contract, from when the loan is funded to when the loan is sold on the secondary market. Similar to loans held for sale, these loans are excluded from the allowance for loan losses as the risk of default is minimal during the short time period held.  Loans to other financial institutions are excluded from Note 3. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019 none of the loans to other financial institutions were classified as impaired or nonaccrual.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is a valuation allowance for probable incurred credit losses. The allowance for loan losses is increased by the provision for loan losses and decreased by loans charged off less any recoveries of charged off loans. Management estimates the allowance for loan losses balance required based on past loan loss experience, the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, information about specific borrower situations and estimated collateral values, economic conditions, and other factors. Allocations of the allowance for loan losses may be made for specific loans, but the entire allowance for loan losses is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off. Loan losses are charged against the allowance for loan losses when management believes that collection of a loan balance is not possibl

 

The allowance for loan losses consists of general and specific components. The general component covers non-classified loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for current factors. The specific component relates to loans that are individually classified as impaired or loans otherwise classified as substandard or doubtful.  The general component of management's estimate of the allowance for loan losses covers non-classified loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for current factors. Management's adjustment for current factors is based on trends in delinquencies, trends in charge-offs and recoveries, trends in the volume of loans, changes in underwriting standards, trends in loan review findings, experience and ability of lending staff, national and economic trends and conditions, industry conditions, trends in real estate values, and other conditions.

 

A loan is impaired when full payment under the loan terms is not expected. Troubled debt restructuring of loans is undertaken to improve the likelihood that the loan will be repaid in full under the modified terms in accordance with a reasonable repayment schedule. All modified loans are evaluated to determine whether the loans should be reported as Troubled Debt Restructurings (TDR). A loan is a TDR when the Bank, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the borrower by modifying a loan. To make this determination, the Bank must determine whether (a) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties and (b) the Bank granted the borrower a concession. This determination requires consideration of all facts and circumstances surrounding the modification. An overall general decline in the economy or some deterioration in a borrower’s financial condition does not automatically mean the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties. Commercial loans are evaluated for impairment on an individual loan basis. If a loan is considered impaired or if a loan has been classified as a TDR, a portion of the allowance for loan losses is allocated to the loan so that it is reported, net, at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s existing rate or at the fair value of collateral if repayment is expected solely from the collateral. Large groups of smaller-balance homogeneous loans such as consumer and residential real estate mortgage loans are collectively evaluated for impairment and, accordingly, they are not separately identified for impairment disclosures.

 

In March of 2020, the CARES Act was passed into law. Among other things, the CARES Act provides that certain loans subject to modifications related to the COVID-19 pandemic need not be classified as TDRs.   As a result of the pandemic, the Company provided a modification program to borrowers that included certain concessions such as interest only or payment deferrals. The Company granted pandemic-related modifications of loans totaling $148 million. As of December 31, 2020, there were $3.2 of loans that remained under a modification agreement but are not disclosed as TDRs pursuant to the CARES Act. Regardless of whether a modified loan is classified as a TDR, the Company continues to apply policies for risk rating, accruing interest, and classifying loans as impaired.

 

Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Land is carried at cost. Land improvements are depreciated using the straight-line method with useful lives ranging from 7 to 15 years. Building and related components are depreciated using the straight-line method with useful lives ranging from 5 to 39 years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated life or the lease term. Furniture and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method with useful lives ranging from 3 to 7 years. Fixed assets are periodically reviewed for impairment. If impaired, the assets are recorded at fair value.

 

Other Real Estate Owned

Real estate properties acquired in the collection of a loan are initially recorded at the lower of the Bank’s basis in the loans or fair value at acquisition establishing a new cost basis. Any reduction to fair value from the carrying value of the related loan is accounted for as a loan loss. After acquisition, a valuation allowance reduces the reported amount to the lower of the initial amount or fair value less costs to sell. Expenses to repair or maintain properties are included within other noninterest expenses. Gains and losses upon disposition and changes in the valuation allowance are reported net within noninterest income.

 

Bank Owned Life Insurance

Bank owned life insurance policies are stated at the current cash surrender value of the policy, or the policy death proceeds less any obligation to provide a death benefit to an insured’s beneficiaries if that value is less than the cash surrender value. Increases in the asset value are recorded as earnings in other income.

 

Loan Servicing Rights

Loan servicing rights represent the allocated value of servicing rights on loans sold with servicing retained. Servicing rights are expensed in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing revenues. Impairment is evaluated based on the fair value of the rights, using groupings of the underlying loans as to interest rates and then, secondarily, as to geographic and prepayment characteristics. Servicing rights are initially recorded at estimated fair value and fair value is determined using prices for similar assets with similar characteristics when available or based upon discounted cash flows using market-based assumptions. Any impairment of a grouping is reported as a valuation allowance.

 

Goodwill

Goodwill results from business acquisitions and represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the acquired tangible assets and liabilities and identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events and circumstances exist that indicate that a goodwill impairment test should be performed.

 

44

 

Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments

Financial instruments include off-balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit issued to meet financing needs of customers. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

 

Employee Benefit Plans

ChoiceOne’s 401(k) plan allows participants to make contributions to their individual accounts under the plan in amounts up to the IRS maximum. Employer matching contributions from ChoiceOne to its 401(k) plan are discretionary. 

 

Income Taxes

Income tax expense is the sum of the current year income tax due and the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.

 

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per common share ("EPS") is based on weighted-average common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS assumes issuance of any dilutive potential common shares issuable under stock options or restricted stock units granted.

 

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income or loss. Other comprehensive income or loss includes unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale and changes in the funded status of post-retirement plans, net of tax, which are also recognized as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income was as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

As of December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities

  $ 13,959     $ 1,713  

Unrecognized gains on post-retirement benefits

          158  

Tax effect

    (2,931 )     (393 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

  $ 11,028     $ 1,478  

 

Loss Contingencies

Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Management does not believe that there are any such matters that may have a material effect on the financial statements as of December 31, 2020.

 

Cash Restrictions

Cash on hand or on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank of $0 and $13,231,000 was required to meet regulatory reserve and clearing requirements for the Bank at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The balance in excess of the amount required was interest-bearing as of   December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

 

45

 

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company values share-based stock option awards granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company recognizes compensation expense for its awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award (straight-line attribution method), ensuring that the amount of compensation cost recognized at any date at least equals the portion of the grant-date fair value of the award that is vested at that time. Compensation costs related to stock options granted are disclosed in Note 14.

 

ChoiceOne has granted restricted stock units to a select group of employees under the Stock Incentive Plan of 2012. Each unit, once vested, is settled by delivery of one share of ChoiceOne common stock.

 

Dividend Restrictions

Banking regulations require the maintenance of certain capital levels and may limit the amount of dividends that may be paid by the Bank to ChoiceOne (see Note 20).

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, which are more fully documented in Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect the estimates.

 

Operating Segments

While ChoiceOne’s management monitors the revenue streams of various products and services for the Bank, Insurance Agency, Lakestone Financial, and Community Shores Financial, operations and financial performance are evaluated on a company-wide basis. Accordingly, all of the financial service operations are considered by management to be aggregated into one reportable operating segment.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The ASU covers various changes to the accounting, measurement, and disclosure related to certain financial instruments. The most significant change included in the update is the requirement for certain equity investments (excluding investments that are consolidated or accounted for under the equity method of accounting) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. An entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost, minus impairment. When a qualitative assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values indicates that impairment exists, an entity is required to measure the investment at fair value. The update also eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost. The new standard is effective for ChoiceOne for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within this fiscal year. Management implemented ASU 2016-01 effective January 1, 2018. A cumulative effect adjustment was recorded as of January 1, 2018 to reclassify $244,000 of unrealized gains on equity securities from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. Equity securities have been presented separately from available for sale securities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and changes in the market value of securities is presented on the Consolidated Statement of Income. In addition, the fair value of loans has been estimated using an exit price notion.

 

The FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This ASU provides financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date by replacing the incurred loss impairment methodology in current generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The new guidance attempts to reflect an entity’s current estimate of all expected credit losses and broadens the information that an entity must consider in developing its expected credit loss estimate for assets measured either collectively or individually to include forecasted information, as well as past events and current conditions. There is no specified method for measuring expected credit losses, and an entity may apply methods that reasonably reflect its expectations of the credit loss estimate. Although an entity may still use its current systems and methods for recording the allowance for credit losses, under the new rules, the inputs used to record the allowance for credit losses generally will need to change to appropriately reflect an estimate of all expected credit losses and the use of reasonable and supportable forecasts. Additionally, credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities will have to be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and for interim periods within those years for companies considered smaller reporting filers with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ChoiceOne was classified as a smaller reporting filer as of December 31, 2020. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this new ASU on its consolidated financial statements which may be significant.

 

Reclassifications
Certain amounts presented in prior year consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2020 presentation.

 

46

 
 

Note 2 – Securities

 

The fair value of equity securities and the related gross unrealized gains recognized in noninterest income at December 31 were as follows:

 

   

December 31, 2020

 
           

Gross

   

Gross

         

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amortized

   

Unrealized

   

Unrealized

   

Fair

 
   

Cost

   

Gains

   

Losses

   

Value

 

Equity securities

  $ 2,836     $ 60     $ -     $ 2,896  

 

   

December 31, 2019

 
           

Gross

   

Gross

         

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amortized

   

Unrealized

   

Unrealized

   

Fair

 
   

Cost

   

Gains

   

Losses

   

Value

 

Equity securities

  $ 2,426     $ 425     $ -     $ 2,851  

 

The fair value of securities available for sale and the related gross unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:

 

   

December 31, 2020

 
           

Gross

   

Gross

         

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amortized

   

Unrealized

   

Unrealized

   

Fair

 
   

Cost

   

Gains

   

Losses

   

Value

 

U.S. Government and federal agency

  $ 2,007     $ 44     $ -     $ 2,051  

U.S. Treasury notes and bonds

    1,996       60       -       2,056  

State and municipal

    307,201       13,191       (24 )     320,368  

Mortgage-backed

    246,085       1,510       (872 )     246,723  

Corporate

    2,539       51       (1 )     2,589  

Trust preferred securities

    1,000       -       -       1,000  

Total

  $ 560,828     $ 14,856     $ (897 )   $ 574,787  

 

   

December 31, 2019

 
           

Gross

   

Gross

         

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amortized

   

Unrealized

   

Unrealized

   

Fair

 
   

Cost

   

Gains

   

Losses

   

Value

 

U.S. Government and federal agency

  $ 17,231     $ 23     $ (39 )   $ 17,215  

U.S. Treasury notes and bonds

    1,994       14       -       2,008  

State and municipal

    172,487       2,694       (1,257 )     173,924  

Mortgage-backed

    142,504       585       (329 )     142,760  

Corporate

    2,649       24       (1 )     2,672  

Trust preferred securities

    1,000       -       -       1,000  

Total

  $ 337,865     $ 3,340     $ (1,626 )   $ 339,579  

 

Information regarding sales of equity securities and securities available for sale for the year ended December 31 follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Proceeds from sales of securities

  $ 121,942     $ 178,913     $ 2,634  

Gross realized gains

    1,308       22       42  

Gross realized losses

    -       -       8  

 

47

 

Contractual maturities of equity securities and securities available for sale at December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amortized

   

Fair

 
   

Cost

   

Value

 

Due within one year

  $ 17,050     $ 17,184  

Due after one year through five years

    59,120       60,900  

Due after five years through ten years

    221,304       231,775  

Due after ten years

    17,269       18,205  

Total debt securities

    314,743       328,064  

Mortgage-backed securities

    246,085       246,723  

Equity securities

    2,836       2,896  

Total

  $ 563,664     $ 577,683  

 

Certain securities were pledged as collateral for participation in a program that provided Community Reinvestment Act credits. The carrying amount of the securities pledged as collateral at December 31 was as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

 

Securities pledged for Community Reinvestment Act credits

  $ 278     $ 252  

 

Securities with unrealized losses at year-end 2020 and 2019, aggregated by investment category and length of time the individual securities have been in an unrealized loss position, were as follows:

 

   

2020

 
   

Less than 12 months

   

More than 12 months

   

Total

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Fair

   

Unrealized

   

Fair

   

Unrealized

   

Fair

   

Unrealized

 
   

Value

   

Losses

   

Value

   

Losses

   

Value

   

Losses

 

U.S. Government and federal agency

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  

U.S. Treasury notes and bonds

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

State and municipal

    8,950       24       -       -       8,950       24  

Mortgage-backed

    75,126       866       9,994       6       85,120       872  

Corporate

    453       1       -       -       453       1  

Total temporarily impaired

  $ 84,529     $ 891     $ 9,994     $ 6     $ 94,523     $ 897  
                                                 
   

2019

 
   

Less than 12 months

   

More than 12 months

   

Total

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Fair

   

Unrealized

   

Fair

   

Unrealized

   

Fair

   

Unrealized

 
   

Value

   

Losses

   

Value

   

Losses

   

Value

   

Losses

 

U.S. Government and federal agency

  $ 7,175     $ (39 )   $ -     $ -     $ 7,175     $ (39 )

U.S. Treasury notes and bonds

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

State and municipal

    75,099       (1,256 )     252       (1 )     75,351       (1,257 )

Mortgage-backed

    109,652       (327 )     373       (2 )     110,025       (329 )

Corporate

    -       -       300       (1 )     300       (1 )

Total temporarily impaired

  $ 191,926     $ (1,622 )   $ 925     $ (4 )   $ 192,851     $ (1,626 )

 

ChoiceOne evaluates all securities on a quarterly basis to determine whether unrealized losses are temporary or other than temporary. Consideration is given to the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and the intent and ability of ChoiceOne to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value of amortized cost basis. Management believed that unrealized losses as of December 31, 2020 were temporary in nature and were caused primarily by changes in interest rates, increased credit spreads, and reduced market liquidity and were not caused by the credit status of the issuer. No other than temporary impairments were recorded in 2020 or 2019.

 

Following is information regarding unrealized gains and losses on equity securities for the years ending December 31:

 

   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 
                         

Net gains and losses recognized during the period

  $ (155 )   $     $ 71  

Less: Net gains and losses recognized during the period on securities sold

          (5 )     9  
                         

Unrealized gains and losses recognized during the reporting period on securities still held at the reporting date

  $ (155 )   $ 5     $ 62  

 

At December 31, 2020, there were 22 securities with an unrealized loss, compared to 63 securities with an unrealized loss as of December 31, 2019.

 

48

 
 

Note 3 – Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The Bank’s loan portfolio as of December 31 was as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

               
   

2020

   

2019

 

Agricultural

  $ 53,735     $ 57,339  

Commercial and industrial

    303,527       148,083  

Consumer

    34,014       38,854  

Real estate - commercial

    469,247       326,379  

Real estate - construction

    16,639       13,411  

Real estate - residential

    192,506       217,982  

Loans, gross

  $ 1,069,668     $ 802,048  

Allowance for Loan Losses

    (7,593 )     (4,057 )

Loans, net

  $ 1,062,075     $ 797,991  

 

ChoiceOne manages its credit risk through the use of its loan policy and its loan approval process and by monitoring of loan credit performance. The loan approval process for commercial loans involves individual and group approval authorities. Individual authority levels are based on the experience of the lender. Group authority approval levels can consist of an internal loan committee that includes the applicable Bank’s President or Senior Lender and other loan officers for loans that exceed individual approval levels, or a loan committee of the Board of Directors for larger commercial loans. Most consumer loans are approved by individual loan officers based on standardized underwriting criteria, with larger consumer loans subject to approval by the internal loan committee.

 

Ongoing credit review of commercial loans is the responsibility of the loan officers. ChoiceOne’s internal credit committee meets at least monthly and reviews loans with payment issues and loans with a risk rating of 6, 7, or 8. Risk ratings of commercial loans are reviewed periodically and adjusted if needed. ChoiceOne’s consumer loan portfolio is primarily monitored on an exception basis. Loans where payments are past due are turned over to the applicable Bank’s collection department, which works with the borrower to bring payments current or take other actions when necessary. In addition to internal reviews of credit performance, ChoiceOne contracts with a third party for independent loan review that monitors the loan approval process and the credit quality of the loan portfolio.

 

The table below details the outstanding balances of the County Bank Corp. acquired portfolio and the acquisition fair value adjustments at acquisition date:

 

(Dollars in thousands)   Acquired     Acquired        
   

Impaired

   

Non-impaired

   

Total

 

Loans acquired - contractual payments

  $ 7,729     $ 387,394     $ 395,123  

Nonaccretable difference

    (2,928 )     -       (2,928 )

Expected cash flows

    4,801       387,394       392,195  

Accretable yield

    (185 )     (1,894 )     (2,079 )

Carrying balance at acquisition date

  $ 4,616     $ 385,500     $ 390,116  

 

 

The table below presents a roll-forward of the accretable yield on County Bank Corp. acquired loans for the year ended December 31, 2020:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Acquired

   

Acquired

       
   

Impaired

   

Non-impaired

   

Total

 
Balance, January 1, 2019   $ -     $ -     $ -  
Merger with County Bank Corp on October 1, 2019     185       1,894       2,079  
Accretion October 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019     -       (75 )     (75 )

Balance, January 1, 2020

    185       1,819       2,004  

Accretion January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020

    (50 )     (295 )     (345 )

Balance, December 31, 2020

  $ 135     $ 1,524     $ 1,659  

 

The table below details the outstanding balances of the Community Shores Bank Corporation acquired loan portfolio and the acquisition fair value adjustments at acquisition date:

 

(Dollars in thousands)   Acquired     Acquired        
   

Impaired

   

Non-impaired

   

Total

 

Loans acquired - contractual payments

  $ 20,491     $ 158,495     $ 178,986  

Nonaccretable difference

    (3,547 )     -       (3,547 )

Expected cash flows

    16,944       158,495       175,439  

Accretable yield

    (869 )     (596 )     (1,465 )

Carrying balance at acquisition date

  $ 16,075     $ 157,899     $ 173,974  

 

 

The table below presents a roll-forward of the accretable yield on Community Shores Bank Corporation acquired loans for the year ended December 31, 2020:

 

(Dollars in thousands)   Acquired     Acquired        
   

Impaired

   

Non-impaired

   

Total

 
Balance, January 1, 2020   $ -     $ -     $ -  

Merger with Community Shores Bank Corporation on July 1, 2020

    869       596       1,465  

Accretion July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020

    (26 )     (141 )     (167 )

Balance, December 31, 2020

  $ 843     $ 455     $ 1,298  

 

 

 

49

 

Activity in the allowance for loan losses and balances in the loan portfolio was as follows:

 

           

Commercial

                                                 

(Dollars in thousands)

         

and

           

Commercial

   

Construction

   

Residential

                 
   

Agricultural

   

Industrial

   

Consumer

   

Real Estate

   

Real Estate

   

Real Estate

   

Unallocated

   

Total

 

Allowance for Loan Losses Year Ended December 31, 2020

                                                               

Beginning balance

  $ 471     $ 655     $ 270     $ 1,663     $ 76     $ 640     $ 282     $ 4,057  

Charge-offs

    (15 )     (148 )     (329 )     (254 )           (8 )           (754 )

Recoveries

          57       204       10             19             290  

Provision

    (199 )     763       172       2,759       21       649       (165 )     4,000  

Ending balance

  $ 257     $ 1,327     $ 317     $ 4,178     $ 97     $ 1,300     $ 117     $ 7,593  
                                                                 

Individually evaluated for impairment

  $     $ 19     $ 1     $ 157     $     $ 254     $     $ 431  
                                                                 

Collectively evaluated for impairment

  $ 257     $ 1,308     $ 316     $ 4,021     $ 97     $ 1,046     $ 117     $ 7,162  
                                                                 

Loans

                                                               

December 31, 2020

                                                               

Individually evaluated for impairment

  $ 348     $ 1,663     $ 8     $ 3,032     $ 80     $ 2,720             $ 7,851  

Collectively evaluated for impairment

    53,387       295,154       33,982       453,681       16,559       186,982               1,039,745  

Acquired with deteriorated credit quality

          6,710       24       12,534             2,804               22,072  

Ending balance

  $ 53,735     $ 303,527     $ 34,014     $ 469,247     $ 16,639     $ 192,506             $ 1,069,668  

 

           

Commercial

                                                 

(Dollars in thousands)

         

and

           

Commercial

   

Construction

   

Residential

                 
   

Agricultural

   

Industrial

   

Consumer

   

Real Estate

   

Real Estate

   

Real Estate

   

Unallocated

   

Total

 

Allowance for Loan Losses Year Ended December 31, 2019

                                                               

Beginning balance

  $ 481     $ 892     $ 254     $ 1,926     $ 38     $ 537     $ 545     $ 4,673  

Charge-offs

    -       (83 )     (292 )     (589 )     -       (25 )     -       (989 )

Recoveries

    65       22       136       26       -       124       -       373  

Provision

    (75 )     (176 )     172       300       38       4       (263 )     -  

Ending balance

  $ 471     $ 655     $ 270     $ 1,663     $ 76     $ 640     $ 282     $ 4,057  
                                                                 

Individually evaluated for impairment

  $ 103     $ -     $ 4     $ 13     $ -     $ 235     $ -     $ 355  
                                                                 

Collectively evaluated for impairment

  $ 368     $ 655     $ 266     $ 1,650     $ 76     $ 405     $ 282     $ 3,702  
                                                                 
                                                                 

Loans

                                                               

December 31, 2019

                                                               

Individually evaluated for impairment

  $ 924     $ 259     $ 17     $ 2,288     $ -     $ 2,434             $ 5,922  

Collectively evaluated for impairment

    56,415       141,583       38,524       323,358       13,411       215,106               788,397  

Acquired with deteriorated credit quality

    -       6,241       313       733       -       442               7,729  

Ending balance

  $ 57,339     $ 148,083     $ 38,854     $ 326,379     $ 13,411     $ 217,982             $ 802,048  

 

 

           

Commercial

                                                 

(Dollars in thousands)

         

and

           

Commercial

   

Construction

   

Residential

                 
   

Agricultural

   

Industrial

   

Consumer

   

Real Estate

   

Real Estate

   

Real Estate

   

Unallocated

   

Total

 
Allowance for Loan Losses Year Ended December 31, 2018                                                                

Beginning balance

  $ 506     $ 1,001     $ 262     $ 1,761     $ 35     $ 726     $ 286     $ 4,577  

Charge-offs

    -       (58 )     (282 )     -       -       (25 )     -       (365 )

Recoveries

    33       107       112       61       -       113       -       426  

Provision

    (58 )     (158 )     162       104       3       (277 )     259       35  

Ending balance

  $ 481     $ 892     $ 254     $ 1,926     $ 38     $ 537     $ 545     $ 4,673  
                                                                 

Individually evaluated for impairment

  $ 94     $ 3     $ 13     $ 20     $ -     $ 167     $ -     $ 297  
                                                                 

Collectively evaluated for impairment

  $ 387     $ 889     $ 241     $ 1,906     $ 38     $ 370     $ 545     $ 4,376  
                                                                 
                                                                 

Loans

                                                               

December 31, 2018

                                                               

Individually evaluated for impairment

  $ 578     $ 21     $ 90     $ 623     $ -     $ 2,712             $ 4,024  

Collectively evaluated for impairment

    48,531       91,385       24,292       138,830       8,843       93,168               405,049  

Ending balance

  $ 49,109     $ 91,406     $ 24,382     $ 139,453     $ 8,843     $ 95,880             $ 409,073  

 

50

 

The process to monitor the credit quality of ChoiceOne’s loan portfolio includes tracking (1) the risk ratings of business loans, (2) the level of classified business loans, and (3) delinquent and nonperforming consumer loans. Business loans are risk rated on a scale of 1 to 9. A description of the characteristics of the ratings follows:

 

Risk Rating 1 through 5 or pass: These loans are considered pass credits. They exhibit acceptable credit risk and demonstrate the ability to repay the loan from normal business operations.

 

Risk rating 6 or special mention: Loans and other credit extensions bearing this grade are considered to be inadequately protected by the current sound worth and debt service capacity of the borrower or of any pledged collateral. These obligations, even if apparently protected by collateral value, have well-defined weaknesses related to adverse financial, managerial, economic, market, or political conditions that have clearly jeopardized repayment of principal and interest as originally intended. Furthermore, there is the possibility that ChoiceOne Bank will sustain some future loss if such weaknesses are not corrected. Clear loss potential, however, does not have to exist in any individual assets classified as substandard. Loans falling into this category should have clear action plans and timelines with benchmarks to determine which direction the relationship will move.


Risk rating 7 or substandard: Loans and other credit extensions graded “7” have all the weaknesses inherent in those graded “6”, with the added characteristic that the severity of the weaknesses makes collection or liquidation in full highly questionable or improbable based upon currently existing facts, conditions, and values. Loans in this classification should be evaluated for non-accrual status. All nonaccrual commercial and Retail loans must be at a minimum graded a risk code “7”.


Risk rating 8 or doubtful: Loans and other credit extensions bearing this grade have been determined to have the extreme probability of some loss, but because of certain important and reasonably specific factors, the amount of loss cannot be determined. Such pending factors could include merger or liquidation, additional capital
injection, refinancing plans, or perfection of liens on additional collateral.


Risk rating 9 or loss: Loans in this classification are considered uncollectible and cannot be justified as a viable asset of ChoiceOne Bank. This classification does not mean the loan has absolutely no recovery value, but that it is neither practical nor desirable to defer writing off this loan even though partial recovery may be obtained in the future.

 

Information regarding the Bank’s credit exposure as of December 31 was as follows:

 

Corporate Credit Exposure - Credit Risk Profile By Creditworthiness Category

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Agricultural

   

Commercial and Industrial

   

Commercial Real Estate

 
   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2020

   

2019

   

2020

   

2019

 

Pass

  $ 50,185     $ 55,866     $ 294,614     $ 146,728     $ 453,080     $ 322,105  

Special Mention

    3,202       1,094       4,101       1,081       6,006       1,332  

Substandard

    348       379       4,812       274       8,925       2,942  

Doubtful

    -       -       -       -       1,236       -  
    $ 53,735     $ 57,339     $ 303,527     $ 148,083     $ 469,247     $ 326,379  

 

Consumer Credit Exposure - Credit Risk Profile Based On Payment Activity

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Consumer

   

Construction Real Estate

   

Residential Real Estate

 
   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2020

   

2019

   

2020

   

2019

 

Performing

  $ 34,006     $ 38,838     $ 16,559     $ 13,411     $ 191,125     $ 216,651  

Nonperforming

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Nonaccrual

    8       16       80       -       1,381       1,331  
    $ 34,014     $ 38,854     $ 16,639     $ 13,411     $ 192,506     $ 217,982  

 

Included within the loan categories above were loans in the process of foreclosure. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, loans in the process of foreclosure totaled $337,000 and $173,000, respectively.

 

Loans are classified as performing when they are current as to principal and interest payments or are past due on payments less than 90 days. Loans are classified as nonperforming when they are past due 90 days or more as to principal and interest payments or are considered a troubled debt restructuring.

 

51

 

 

The following table provides information on loans that were considered troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs") that were modified during the year ended December 31, 2020. There were no new TDRs in 2019.

 

   

Year Ended December 31, 2020

 
           

Pre-

   

Post-

 
           

Modification

   

Modification

 
           

Outstanding

   

Outstanding

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Number of

   

Recorded

   

Recorded

 
   

Loans

   

Investment

   

Investment

 

Agricultural

    1     $ 62     $ 62  

Commercial and Industrial

    1       53       53  

Commercial Real Estate

    3       1,852       1,852  

Total

    5     $ 1,967     $ 1,967  

 

The following schedule provides information on TDRs as of December 31, 2020 where the borrower was past due with respect to principal and/or interest for 30 days during the year ended December 31, 2020, which loans had been modified and classified as TDRs during the year prior to the default.  There were no TDRs as of December 31, 2019 where the borrower was past due with respect to principal and/or interest for 30 days or more during year ended December 31, 2019, which loans had been modified and classified as TDRs during the year prior to the default.  

 

   

Year Ended

 
   

December 31, 2020

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Number

   

Recorded

 
   

of Loans

   

Investment

 

Commercial Real Estate

    2     $ 1,666  

Total

    2     $ 1,666  

 

The federal banking agencies issued an “Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working with Customers Affected by the Coronavirus” on March 22, 2020 and subsequently issued a revised statement on April 7, 2020. These statements encourage financial institutions to work constructively with borrowers affected by COVID-19, and provide that short-term modifications to loans made on a good faith basis to borrowers who were current as of the implementation date of the statements are not considered TDRs. Further, Section 4013 of the CARES Act states that COVID-19 related modifications on loans that were current as of December 31, 2019 are not TDRs. ChoiceOne offered an initial 90 day deferment beginning in March 2020 to both commercial and retail borrowers where the borrower could defer either the principal portion of their payments or both the principal and interest portions.  Following the initial 90 day deferment period, ChoiceOne offered a second round of deferments in accordance with the CARES Act; however, significantly fewer customers requested further deferment.  As of December 31, 2020, ChoiceOne had granted deferments on approximately 750 loans with loan balances totaling $148 million which, in reliance on the statements of federal banking agencies and the CARES Act, are not reflected as TDRs in this report.  

 

Impaired loans by loan category as of December 31 were as follows:

 

           

Unpaid

           

Average

   

Interest

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Recorded

   

Principal

   

Related

   

Recorded

   

Income

 
   

Investment

   

Balance

   

Allowance

   

Investment

   

Recognized

 

December 31, 2020

                                       

With no related allowance recorded

                                       

Agricultural

  $ 348     $ 434     $ -     $ 329     $ -  

Commercial and industrial

    1,516       1,629       -       464       2  

Consumer

    -       -       -       1       -  

Construction real estate

    80       80       -       16       -  

Commercial real estate

    1,852       2,664       -       1,495       14  

Residential real estate

    162       162       -       99       3  

Subtotal

    3,958       4,969       -       2,404       19  

With an allowance recorded

                                       

Agricultural

    -       -       -       152       -  

Commercial and industrial

    147       147       19       111       12  

Consumer

    8       8       1       16       -  

Construction real estate

    -       -       -       -       -  

Commercial real estate

    1,180       1,180       157       897       35  

Residential real estate

    2,558       2,651       254       2,330       87  

Subtotal

    3,893       3,986       431       3,506       134  

Total

                                       

Agricultural

    348       434       -       481       -  

Commercial and industrial

    1,663       1,776       19       575       14  

Consumer

    8       8       1       17       -  

Construction real estate

    80       80       -       16       -  

Commercial real estate

    3,032       3,844       157       2,392       49  

Residential real estate

    2,720       2,813       254       2,429       90  

Total

  $ 7,851     $ 8,955     $ 431     $ 5,910     $ 153  

 

 

52

 
           

Unpaid

           

Average

   

Interest

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Recorded

   

Principal

   

Related

   

Recorded

   

Income

 
   

Investment

   

Balance

   

Allowance

   

Investment

   

Recognized

 

December 31, 2019

                                       

With no related allowance recorded

                                       

Agricultural

  $ 545     $ 545     $ -     $ 146     $ 10  

Commercial and industrial

    259       340       -       104       9  

Consumer

    -       -       -       -       -  

Construction real estate

    -       -       -       -       -  

Commercial real estate

    1,882       2,471       -       782       30  

Residential real estate

    42       42       -       133       4  

Subtotal

    2,728       3,398       -       1,165       53  

With an allowance recorded

                                       

Agricultural

    379       439       103       388       -  

Commercial and industrial

    -       -       -       86       1  

Consumer

    17       18       4       48       -  

Construction real estate

    -       -       -       -       -  

Commercial real estate

    406       406       13       975       32  

Residential real estate

    2,392       2,460       235       2,486       83  

Subtotal

    3,194       3,323       355       3,983       116  

Total

                                       

Agricultural

    924       984       103       534       10  

Commercial and industrial

    259       340       -       190       10  

Consumer

    17       18       4       48       -  

Construction real estate

    -       -       -       -       -  

Commercial real estate

    2,288       2,877       13       1,757       62  

Residential real estate

    2,434       2,502       235       2,619       87  

Total

  $ 5,922     $ 6,721     $ 355     $ 5,148     $ 169  

 

 

           

Unpaid

           

Average

   

Interest

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Recorded

   

Principal

   

Related

   

Recorded

   

Income

 
   

Investment

   

Balance

   

Allowance

   

Investment

   

Recognized

 

December 31, 2018

                                       

With no related allowance recorded

                                       

Agricultural

  $ 185     $ 185     $ -     $ 291     $ -  

Commercial and industrial

    -       -       -       29       2  

Consumer

    1       1       -       2       8  

Construction real estate

    -       -       -       54       -  

Commercial real estate

    74       109       -       78       30  

Residential real estate

    250       261       -       177       114  

Subtotal

    510       556       -       631       154  

With an allowance recorded

                                       

Agricultural

    393       440       94       161       13  

Commercial and industrial

    21       21       3       296       -  

Consumer

    88       88       13       59       -  

Construction real estate

    -       -       -       -       -  

Commercial real estate

    550       609       20       692       -  

Residential real estate

    2,462       2,494       167       2,523       6  

Subtotal

    3,514       3,652       297       3,731       19  

Total

                                       

Agricultural

    578       625       94       452       13  

Commercial and industrial

    21       21       3       325       2  

Consumer

    90       90       13       61       8  

Construction real estate

    -       -       -       54       -  

Commercial real estate

    623       718       20       770       30  

Residential real estate

    2,712       2,755       167       2,700       120  

Total

  $ 4,024     $ 4,209     $ 297     $ 4,362     $ 173  

 

53

 

An aging analysis of loans by loan category as of December 31 follows:

 

                   

Loans

                                 
   

Loans

   

Loans

   

Past Due

                           

Loans

 
   

Past Due

   

Past Due

   

Greater

                           

90 Days Past

 

(Dollars in thousands)

  30 to 59     60 to 89    

Than 90

           

Loans Not

   

Total

   

Due and

 
   

Days (1)

   

Days (1)

   

Days (1)

   

Total (1)

   

Past Due

   

Loans

   

Accruing

 

December 31, 2020

                                                       

Agricultural

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 53,735     $ 53,735     $ -  

Commercial and industrial

    -       109       515       624       302,903       303,527       -  

Consumer

    39       -       -       39       33,975       34,014       -  

Commercial real estate

    532       44       1,744       2,320       466,927       469,247       -  

Construction real estate

    1,076       180       80       1,336       15,303       16,639       -  

Residential real estate

    1,563       256       352       2,171       190,335       192,506       -  
    $ 3,210     $ 589     $ 2,691     $ 6,490     $ 1,063,178     $ 1,069,668     $ -  
                                                         

December 31, 2019

                                                       

Agricultural

  $ -     $ 68     $ -     $ 68     $ 57,271     $ 57,339     $ -  

Commercial and industrial

    542       15       259       816       147,267       148,083       -  

Consumer

    121       19       11       151       38,703       38,854       -  

Commercial real estate

    -       -       1,882       1,882       324,497       326,379       -  

Construction real estate

    -       -       -       -       13,411       13,411       -  

Residential real estate

    2,466       582       393       3,441       214,541       217,982       -  
    $ 3,129     $ 684     $ 2,545     $ 6,358     $ 795,690     $ 802,048     $ -  

 

(1) Includes nonaccrual loans

 

Nonaccrual loans by loan category as of December 31 as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

           
   

2020

   

2019

 

Agricultural

  $ 348     $ 379  

Commercial and industrial

    1,802       776  

Consumer

    8       16  

Commercial real estate

    3,088       2,185  

Construction real estate

    80       -  

Residential real estate

    1,381       1,331  
    $ 6,707     $ 4,687  

 

 

Note 4 – Mortgage Banking

 

Activity in secondary market loans during the year was as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Loans originated for resale, net of principal payments

  $ 326,286     $ 63,920     $ 33,555  

Proceeds from loan sales

    325,306       62,763       34,872  

Net gains on sales of loans held for sale

    11,313       1,951       1,003  

Loan servicing fees, net of amortization

    (129 )     82       91  

 

Net gains on sales of loans held for sale include capitalization of loan servicing rights. Loans serviced for others are not reported as assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The unpaid principal balances of these loans were $404.2 million and $242.0 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Bank maintain custodial escrow balances in connection with these serviced loans; however, such escrows were immaterial at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

 

54

 

Activity for loan servicing rights (included in other assets) was as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Balance, beginning of year

  $ 2,131     $ 1,049     $ 908  

Capitalized

    3,554       822       441  

Amortization

    (1,344 )     (453 )     (300 )
Market valuation allowance change     (374 )     -       -  
Acquired from merger with County Bank Corp.     -       713       -  

Balance, end of year

  $ 3,967     $ 2,131     $ 1,049  

 

The fair value of loan servicing rights was $3,967,000 and $2,304,000 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Valuation allowances of $373,000 and $0 were recorded at  December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The fair value of the Bank’s servicing rights at  December 31, 2020 was determined using a discount rate of 7.75% and prepayment speeds ranging from 7% to 26%.  The fair value of the Bank’s servicing rights at  December 31, 2019 was determined using a discount rate of 5.51% and prepayment speeds ranging from 11% to 18%.  The fair value of Lakestone’s servicing rights at  December 31, 2019 was determined using a discount rate of 8.65% and prepayment speeds ranging from 11% to 13%.

 

 

 

Note 5 – Premises and Equipment

 

As of December 31, premises and equipment consisted of the following:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

               
   

2020

   

2019

 

Land and land improvements

  $ 8,753     $ 7,576  

Leasehold improvements

    69       38  

Buildings

    25,985       20,251  

Furniture and equipment

    10,687       11,078  

Total cost

    45,494       38,943  

Accumulated depreciation

    (16,005 )     (14,678 )

Premises and equipment, net

  $ 29,489     $ 24,265  

 

Depreciation expense was $2,721,000, $1,610,000, and $1,183,000 for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

The Bank leases certain branch properties and automated-teller machine locations in its normal course of business. Rent expense totaled $83,000, $72,000, and $108,000 for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The associated right of use assets are included in the applicable categories of fixed assets in the above table and the net book value of such assets approximates the operating lease liability. Rent commitments under non-cancelable operating leases were as follows, before considering renewal options that generally are present (dollars in thousands):

 

2021

  $ 138  

2022

    120  

2023

    75  

2024

    28  

2025

    14  

Total undiscounted cash flows

    375  

Less discount

    15  

Total operating lease liabilities

  $ 360  

 

55

 
 

Note 6 - Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill

The change in the balance for goodwill was as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

 

Balance, beginning of year

  $ 52,870     $ 13,728  
Acquired goodwill from merger with County Bank Corp.     -       39,142  
Goodwill adjustment from merger with County Bank Corp.     (277 )     -  
Acquired goodwill from merger with Community Shores Bank Corporation     7,913       -  
Balance, end of year   $ 60,506     $ 52,870  

 

Goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated annually for impairment and on an interim basis if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. The goodwill impairment test is performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, and an impairment charge would be recognized for any amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value.  Accounting pronouncements allow a company to first perform a qualitative assessment for goodwill prior to a quantitative assessment (Step 1 assessment). If the results of the qualitative assessment indicate that it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, then a quantitative assessment must be performed. If not, there is no further assessment required. The Company acquired Valley Ridge Financial Corp. in 2006, County in 2019, and Community Shores in 2020, which resulted in the recognition of goodwill of $13.7 million, $38.9 million and $7.9 million, respectively.

 

As a result of the decline in economic conditions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the market valuations, including ChoiceOne’s stock price, saw a significant decline in March 2020.  These events indicated that goodwill may be impaired and resulted in management performing a qualitative goodwill impairment assessment as of the end of the first quarter of 2020. As a result of the analysis, management concluded that it was more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit could be greater than its carrying amount.  Based on the results of its qualitative analysis, management believed that a quantitative analysis was not necessary as of March 31, 2020.

 

Management performed its annual qualitative assessment of goodwill as of June 30, 2020. In evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of ChoiceOne's operations was less than the carrying amount, management assessed the relevant events and circumstances such as the ones noted in ASC 350-20-35-3c. The analysis consisted of a review of ChoiceOne’s current and expected future financial performance, the potential impact of COVID-19 on the ability of ChoiceOne’s borrowers to comply with loan terms, and the impact that reductions in both short-term and long-term interest rates have had and may continue to have on net interest margin and mortgage sales activity. The share price and book value of ChoiceOne’s stock were also compared to the prior year. Management also compared average deal values for recent closed bank transactions to ChoiceOne transactions.  Despite ChoiceOne's market capitalization declining slightly from December 2019 to June 2020, ChoiceOne's financial performance remained positive. This was evidenced by the strong financial indicators, solid credit quality ratios, as well as the strong capital position of ChoiceOne. In addition, second quarter 2020 revenue reflected significant and continuing growth in ChoiceOne's residential mortgage banking business, as well as net SBA fees related to Payroll Protection Program ("PPP") loans funded during the second quarter of 2020. In assessing the totality of the events and circumstances, management determined that it was more likely than not that the fair value of the Bank’s operations, from a qualitative perspective, exceeded the carrying value as of June 30, 2020.

 

Due to the potential impact of COVID-19 and any long term economic fallout that might occur, ChoiceOne engaged a third-party valuation firm to perform a quantitative analysis of goodwill as of November 30, 2020 ("the valuation date"). In deriving at the fair value of the reporting unit (the Bank), the third-party firm assessed general economic conditions and outlook; industry and market considerations and outlook; the impact of recent events to financial performance; the market price of ChoiceOne’s common stock and other relevant events. In addition, the valuation relied on financial projections through 2025 and growth rates prepared by management. Based on the valuation prepared, it was determined that the ChoiceOne's estimated fair value of the reporting unit at the valuation date was greater than its book value and impairment of goodwill was not required.

 

Management concurred with the conclusion derived from the quantitative goodwill analysis as of the valuation date and determined that there were no material changes and that no triggering events have occurred that indicated impairment from the valuation date through December 31, 2020, and as a result that it is more likely than not that there was no goodwill impairment as of December 31, 2020.

 

Acquired Intangible Assets

 

Information for acquired intangible assets at December 31, 2020 follows:

 

   

2020

   

2019

 
   

Gross

           

Gross

         
   

Carrying

   

Accumulated

   

Carrying

   

Accumulated

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amount

   

Amortization

   

Amount

   

Amortization

 

Core deposit intangible

  $ 7,120     $ 1,851     $ 6,359     $ 353  

 

The core deposit intangible from the County and Community Shores mergers is being amortized on a sum-of-the-years digits basis over ten years and eight years, respectively.  Amortization expense was $1,498,000 in 2020 and $353,000 in 2019.  The estimated amortization expense for the next five years ending December 31 is as follows (dollars in thousands):  

 

2021

  $ 1,307  

2022

    1,153  

2023

    955  

2024

    757  

2025

    560  

Thereafter

    537  

Total

  $ 5,269  

 

56

 

Note 7 – Other Real Estate Owned

 

Other real estate owned represents residential and commercial properties primarily owned as a result of loan collection activities and is reported net of a valuation allowance. Activity within other real estate owned was as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 
                         

Balance, beginning of year

  $ 929     $ 102     $ 106  

Transfers from loans

    391       347       432  

Additions from merger

    346       1,364       -  

Proceeds from sales

    (1,384 )     (938 )     (515 )
Write-downs     (80 )     -       -  

Gains on sales

    64       54       79  

Balance, end of year

  $ 266     $ 929     $ 102  

 

Included in the balances above were residential real estate mortgage loans of $61,000, $175,000, and $102,000 as of December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively, and $205,000 and $754,000 of commercial real estate loans as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

 

Note 8 – Deposits

 

Deposit balances as of December 31 consisted of the following:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

 
                 

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

  $ 477,654     $ 287,460  

Interest-bearing demand deposits

    471,346       236,154  

Money market deposits

    191,681       263,666  

Savings deposits

    337,332       206,050  

Local certificates of deposit

    196,565       158,985  

Brokered certificates of deposit

    -       2,287  

Total deposits

  $ 1,674,578     $ 1,154,602  

 

Scheduled maturities of certificates of deposit at December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

       
         

2021

  $ 156,612  

2022

    22,001  

2023

    9,790  

2024

    4,181  

2025

    3,656  

Thereafter

    325  

Total

  $ 196,565  

 

The Bank had certificates of deposit issued in denominations of $250,000 or greater totaling $88.2 million and $68.3 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Bank held $0 in brokered certificates of deposit at December 31, 2020, compared to $2.3 million at December 31, 2019. In addition, the Bank had $12.7 million and $7.1 million of certificates of deposit as of December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019, respectively, that had been issued through the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS). 

 

57

 

 

Note 9 – Borrowings

 

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances

At December 31, advances from the FHLB were as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

 
                 

Maturity of November 2024 with fixed interest rate of 3.98%

  $ 161     $ 198  

Maturity of April 2020 with floating interest rate of 1.99%

    -       10,000  

Maturity of May 2020 with fixed interest rate of 2.16%

    -       23,000  

Total advances outstanding at year-end

  $ 161     $ 33,198  

 

Fees are charged on fixed rate advances that are paid prior to maturity. No fixed rate advances were paid prior to maturity in 2020 or 2019. Advances were secured by agricultural loans and residential real estate loans with a carrying value of approximately $158.2 million and $200.1 million at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Based on this collateral, the Bank was eligible to borrow an additional $85.6 million at year-end 2020.

 

The scheduled maturities of advances from the FHLB at December 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

       
         

2021

  $ 39  

2022

    40  

2023

    42  

2024

    40  

Total

  $ 161  

 

Holding Company Term Loan 

ChoiceOne obtained a $10,000,000 term note in June 2020.  Part of the proceeds from the note were used to fund the cash portion of the consideration paid in the Community Shores merger.  The note matures June 2023 with quarterly principal and interest payments.  The note carries a floating rate of 2.50% over the 1-month LIBOR with a floor of 3.00%.  At December 31, 2020 the effective rate was 3.00%.  All or part of the note can be prepaid at any time. The agreement includes certain financial covenants, including minimum capital ratios, asset quality ratios, and achieving certain profitability thresholds.  ChoiceOne was in compliance with all covenants as of December 31, 2020.

 

At  December 31, information regarding the holding company term loan was as follows: 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

 
                 

Maturity of June 2023 with floating interest rate of 3.00%

  $ 9,167     $ -  

 

The scheduled maturities of the holding company term note at December 31, 2020 were as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)

       
         

2021

  $ 3,333  

2022

    3,334  

2023

    2,500  

Total

  $ 9,167  

 

58

 
 

Note 10 – Subordinated Debentures

 

The Capital Trust, as discussed in Note 1, sold 4,500 Cumulative Preferred Securities (“trust preferred securities”) at $1,000 per security in a December 2004 offering. The proceeds from the sale of the trust preferred securities were used by the Capital Trust to purchase an equivalent amount of subordinated debentures from Community Shores. The trust preferred securities and subordinated debentures carry a floating rate of 2.05% over the 3-month LIBOR and the rate was 2.29% at  December 31, 2020 and 4.01% at  December 31, 2019. The stated maturity is December 30, 2034. The trust preferred securities are redeemable at par value on any interest payment date and are, in effect, guaranteed by ChoiceOne. Interest on the subordinated debentures is payable quarterly on March 30, June 30, September 30 and December 30. ChoiceOne is not considered the primary beneficiary of the Capital Trust (under the variable interest entity rules), therefore the Capital Trust is not consolidated in the consolidated financial statements, rather the subordinated debentures are shown as a liability, and the interest expense is recorded in the consolidated statement of income. 

 

The terms of the subordinated debentures, the trust preferred securities and the agreements under which they were issued give ChoiceOne the right, from time to time, to defer payment of interest for up to 20 consecutive quarters, unless certain specified events of default have occurred and are continuing. The deferral of interest payments on the subordinated debentures results in the deferral of distributions on the trust preferred securities. 

 

On April 27, 2016, Community Shores’ Board of Directors voted to defer regularly scheduled interest payments beginning with the payment scheduled to be made on June 30, 2016 in order to preserve its cash for general operations and potential capital support for Community Shores Bank as it grew. The deferral of interest did not constitute an event of default. ChoiceOne paid all deferred interest due as of December 30, 2020.  As a result, the accrued and unpaid interest owed on the subordinated debentures was $0 as of December 31, 2020, compared to $708,034 as of December 31, 2019. 

 

 

Note 11 – Income Taxes

 

Information as of December 31 and for the year follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Provision for Income Taxes

                       

Current federal income tax expense

  $ 3,070     $ 984     $ 946  

Deferred federal income tax expense/(benefit)

    202       310       209  

Income tax expense

  $ 3,272     $ 1,294     $ 1,155  
                         

Reconciliation of Income Tax Provision to Statutory Rate

                       

Income tax computed at statutory federal rate of 21%

  $ 3,966     $ 1,778     $ 1,783  

Tax exempt interest income

    (574 )     (320 )     (309 )

Tax exempt earnings on bank-owned life insurance

    (162 )     (162 )     (81 )

Tax credits

    (240 )     (218 )     (154 )

Nondeductible merger expenses

    182       164       -  

Other items

    100       52       (84 )

Income tax expense

  $ 3,272     $ 1,294     $ 1,155  
                         

Effective income tax rate

    17

%

    15

%

    14

%

 

(Dollars in thousands)

               
                 

Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

 

2020

   

2019

 

Deferred tax assets:

               
Purchase accounting adjustments from mergers with County                
and Community Shores   $ 1,953     $ 1,129  

Allowance for loan losses

    1,595       585  

Net operating loss carryforward

    851       -  

Deferred loan fees

    466       301  

Write-downs of other real estate owned

    326       169  

Other

    380       198  

Total deferred tax assets

    5,571       2,382  
                 

Deferred tax liabilities:

               

Unrealized gains on securities available for sale

    2,931       360  
Purchase accounting adjustments from mergers with County                
and Community Shores     1,403       1,285  

Loan servicing rights

    833       447  

Depreciation

    653       778  

Interest rate lock commitments

    177       14  

Other

    230       221  

Total deferred tax liabilities

    6,227       3,105  

Net deferred tax liability

  $ (656 )   $ (723 )

 

As of December 31, 2020, deferred tax assets included federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $4.1 million which was acquired through the merger with Community Shores.  The loss carryforwards expire at various dates from 2032 to 2036.  Deferred tax assets are recognized for net operating losses because the benefit is more likely than not to be realized.  Under Internal Revenue Service limitations, ChoiceOne is limited to applying approximately $185,000 of net operating losses per year.

 

59

 
 

Note 12 – Related Party Transactions

 

Loans to executive officers, directors and their affiliates were as follows at December 31:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2020

   

2019

 
                 

Balance, beginning of year

  $ 10,563     $ 5,343  

New loans

    12,211       2,988  

Repayments

    (5,125 )     (3,372 )

Effect of changes in related parties

    -       (4,664 )
Loans acquired from merger     3,075       10,268  

Balance, end of year

  $ 20,724     $ 10,563  

 

Deposits from executive officers, directors and their affiliates were $14.7 million and $9.0 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

 

Note 13 – Employee Benefit Plans

 

401(k) Plan:

The 401(k) plan allows employees to contribute to their individual accounts under the plan amounts up to the IRS maximum. Matching company contributions to the plan are discretionary. Expense for matching company contributions under the plan was $465,000, $233,000, and $207,000 in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

 

Post-retirement Benefits Plan:

ChoiceOne maintains an unfunded post-retirement health care plan, which permits employees (and their dependents) the ability to participate upon retirement from ChoiceOne. ChoiceOne does not pay any portion of the health care premiums charged to its retired participants. A liability has been accrued for the obligation under this plan. Effective in December 2020, ChoiceOne curtailed the plan to the extent that it would be no longer offered to future retirees.  Current retirees receiving the benefit were not affected.  As a result of the curtailment, ChoiceOne realized a recovery of post-retirement benefit expense of $222,000 in 2020, compared to recoveries of $14,000 and $12,000 in 2019 and 2018, respectively. The post-retirement obligation liability was $10,000 as of December 31, 2020 and $107,000 as of December 31, 2019. 

 

Deferred Compensation Plans:

A deferred director compensation plan covers former directors of Valley Ridge Financial Corp., which was acquired by ChoiceOne in 2006. Under the plan, ChoiceOne pays each former director the amount of director fees deferred plus interest at rates ranging from 5.50% to 5.84% over various periods as elected by each director. A liability has been accrued for the obligation under this plan. ChoiceOne incurred deferred compensation plan expense of $1,000, $3,000, and $5,000 in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. The deferred compensation liability was $8,000 as of December 31, 2020 and $33,000 as of December 31, 2019. 

 

A supplemental executive retirement plan covers four former executive officers of Valley Ridge Financial Corp. Under the plan, ChoiceOne pays these individuals a specific amount of compensation over a 15-year period commencing upon early retirement age (as defined in the plan) or normal retirement age (as defined in the plan). A liability has been accrued for the obligation under this plan. The effective interest rate used for the accrual for the retirement liability is based on long-term interest rates. ChoiceOne incurred deferred compensation plan expense of $17,000, $26,000, and $6,000 in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Liabilities related to the supplemental executive retirement plan of $306,000 and $368,000 were outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. 

 

A supplemental executive retirement plan covered one former executive officer and one current executive officer of Lakestone. Under the plan, the individuals would be paid a specific amount of compensation over a 15-year period commencing upon early or normal retirement age (as defined in the plan). A liability was accrued for the obligation under this plan. The liability was paid in the first quarter of 2020.  The liability related to this plan was $0 and $337,000 as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. 

 

60

 

 

Note 14 - Stock Based Compensation

 

Options to buy stock have been granted to key employees to provide them with additional equity interests in ChoiceOne. Compensation expense in connection with stock options granted was $15,000 in 2020, $53,000 in 2019, and $38,000 in 2018. The Stock Incentive Plan of 2012 was approved by the Company’s shareholders at the Annual Meeting held on April 25, 2012. The Stock Incentive Plan of 2012, as amended effective May 23, 2018, provides for the issuance of up to 200,000 shares of common stock. At  December 31, 2020, there were 92,482 shares available for future grants. 

 

A summary of stock options activity during the year ended December 31, 2020 was as follows:

 

           

Weighted

   

Weighted

 
           

average

   

average

 
           

exercise

   

Grant Date

 
   

Shares

   

price

   

Fair Value

 
                         

Options outstanding at January 1, 2020

    57,748     $ 23.39     $ 3.36  

Options granted

    -       -          

Options exercised

    (35,617 )     22.33       3.31  
Options forfeited or expired     (1,500 )     27.25       3.64  

Options outstanding, end of year

    20,631     $ 25.30     $ 3.46  
                         
                         

Options exercisable at December 31, 2020

    8,631     $ 22.60     $ 3.22  

 

The exercise prices for options outstanding and exercisable at the end of 2020 ranged from $20.86 to $27.25 per share. The weighted average remaining contractual life of options outstanding and exercisable at the end of 2020 was approximately 6.4 years.

 

The intrinsic value of all outstanding stock options and exercisable stock options was $82,000 and $71,000 respectively, at  December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The aggregate intrinsic values of outstanding and exercisable options at  December 31, 2020 were calculated based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2020 of $30.81 per share less the exercise price.  The grant date fair value of stock options granted in 2019 was $49,000.

 

Information pertaining to options outstanding at December 31, 2020 was as follows:

 

Exercise price of stock options:

   

Number of options outstanding at year-end

   

Number of options exercisable at year-end

   

Average remaining contractual life (in years)

 
$ 27.25       12,000       -       8.45  
$ 25.65       3,000       3,000       7.53  
$ 20.86       3,306       3,306       6.38  
$ 21.13       2,325       2,325       5.03  

 

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. ChoiceOne uses historical data to estimate the volatility of the market price of ChoiceOne stock and employee terminations within the valuation model. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. As of December 31, 2020, there was $19,000 in unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options.

 

There were no stock options granted in 2020. 

 

ChoiceOne has granted restricted stock units to a select group of employees under the Stock Incentive Plan of 2012. Beginning with the awards granted in April 2019, restricted stock units vest on the three year anniversary of the grant date. Certain additional vesting provisions apply. Each restricted stock unit, once vested, is settled by delivery of one share of ChoiceOne common stock. ChoiceOne recognized compensation expense of $157,000, $349,000, and $244,000 in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively, in connection with restricted stock units for current participants during these years. 

 

A summary of the activity for restricted stock units outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2020 is presented below:

 

Outstanding Stock Awards

 

Shares

   

Per Share

 

Outstanding at January 1, 2020

    9,000     $ 27.25  

Granted

    10,539       29.00  

Vested

    (550 )     28.05  

Forfeited

    -       -  

Outstanding at December 31, 2020

    18,989     $ 28.20  

 

At  December 31, 2020, there were 18,989 restricted stock units outstanding with an approximate stock value of $585,000 based on ChoiceOne’s  December 31, 2020 stock price. At  December 31, 2019, there were 9,000 restricted stock units outstanding with an approximate stock value of $288,000 based on ChoiceOne’s  December 31, 2019 stock price. As a result of the merger with County, all unvested stock awards granted prior to October 1, 2019 vested upon completion of the merger.  The grant date fair value of stock issued was $306,000 and $270,000 in 2020 and 2019, respectively.  The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.84 years.  As of December 31, 2020, there was $337,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested shares granted. 

 

61

 

 

Note 15 - Earnings Per Share

 

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

                       
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Basic

                       

Net income

  $ 15,613     $ 7,171     $ 7,333  
                         

Weighted average common shares outstanding

    7,521,771       4,528,786       3,614,302  
                         

Basic earnings per common shares

  $ 2.08     $ 1.58     $ 2.03  
                         

Diluted

                       

Net income

  $ 15,613     $ 7,171     $ 7,333  
                         

Weighted average common shares outstanding

    7,521,771       4,528,786       3,614,302  

Plus dilutive stock options and restricted stock units

    9,846       10,489       13,825  
                         

Weighted average common shares outstanding and potentially dilutive shares

    7,531,617       4,539,275       3,628,127  
                         

Diluted earnings per common share

  $ 2.07     $ 1.58     $ 2.02  

 

Per share amounts have been adjusted for the 5% stock dividends paid on  May 31, 2018.

 

Stock options considered anti-dilutive to earnings per share were 0, 0, and 15,000 as of December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively. This calculation is based on the average stock price during the year.

 

62

 
 

Note 16 – Condensed Financial Statements of Parent Company

 

Condensed Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands)

 

December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

 

Assets

               

Cash

  $ 11,939     $ 991  

Equity securities at fair value

    1,884       1,840  

Securities available for sale

    -       959  

Other assets

    292       468  

Investment in subsidiaries

    228,895       189,578  

Total assets

  $ 243,010     $ 193,836  
                 

Liabilities

               
Term loan   $ 9,167     $ -  
Trust preferred securities     3,089       -  

Other liabilities

    3,486       1,697  

Total liabilities

    15,742       1,697  
                 

Shareholders' equity

    227,268       192,139  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  $ 243,010     $ 193,836  

 

Condensed Statements of Income

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Years Ended December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 
Interest income                        

Interest and dividends from ChoiceOne Bank

  $ 12,942     $ 4,011     $ 2,800  

Interest and dividends from other securities

    13       50       47  

Total interest income

    12,955       4,061       2,847  
                         
Interest expense                        
Borrowings     239       -       -  
                         
Net interest income     12,716       4,061       2,847  
                         
Noninterest income                        

Gains on sales of securities

    26       8       9  

Change in market value of equity securities

    (155 )     (114 )     184  
Total noninterest income     (129 )     (106 )     193  
                         
Noninterest expense                        
Salaries and benefits     1,201       339       -  
Professional fees     1,093       1,517       -  
Other     217       492       144  

Total noninterest expense

    2,511       2,348       144  
                         

Income before income tax and equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary

    10,076       1,607       2,896  

Income tax (expense)/benefit

    431       261       (14 )

Income before equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary

    10,507       1,868       2,882  

Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary

    5,106       5,303       4,451  

Net income

  $ 15,613     $ 7,171     $ 7,333  

 

63

 

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Years Ended December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                       

Net income

  $ 15,613     $ 7,171     $ 7,333  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:

                       

Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary

    (5,106 )     (5,303 )     (4,451 )

Amortization

    51       14       18  

Compensation expense on employee and director stock purchases, stock options, and restricted stock units

    488       359       331  

Net gain on sale of securities

    (26 )     (8 )     (9 )

Change in market value of equity securities

    155       114       (184 )

Changes in other assets

    582       (344 )     66  

Changes in other liabilities

    551       1,485       (19 )

Net cash from operating activities

    12,308       3,488       3,085  
                         

Cash flows from investing activities:

                       

Sales of securities

    958       1,102       91  

Purchases of securities

    (200 )     -       -  

Cash acquired from mergers with Community Shores Bank Corporation and County Bank Corp.

    142       1,038       -  

Net cash from investing activities

    900       2,140       91  
                         

Cash flows from financing activities:

                       

Issuance of common stock

    134       142       77  

Repurchase of common stock

    -       (67 )     (523 )
Proceeds from borrowings     10,000       -       -  
Payments on borrowings     (833 )     -       -  
Cash used as part of equity issuance for merger     (5,387 )     (297 )     -  

Cash dividends paid

    (6,174 )     (5,815 )     (2,579 )

Net cash from financing activities

    (2,260 )     (6,037 )     (3,025 )
                         

Net change in cash

    10,948       (409 )     151  

Beginning cash

    991       1,400       1,249  

Ending cash

  $ 11,939     $ 991     $ 1,400  

 

64

 
 

Note 17 – Financial Instruments

 

Financial instruments as of the dates indicated were as follows:

 

                   

Quoted Prices

                 
                   

In Active

   

Significant

         
                   

Markets for

   

Other

   

Significant

 
                   

Identical

   

Observable

   

Unobservable

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Carrying

   

Estimated

   

Assets

   

Inputs

   

Inputs

 
   

Amount

   

Fair Value

   

(Level 1)

   

(Level 2)

   

(Level 3)

 

December 31, 2020

                                       

Assets

                                       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 79,519     $ 79,519     $ 79,519     $ -     $ -  

Equity securities at fair value

    2,896       2,896       1,411       -       1,485  

Securities available for sale

    574,787       574,787       -       563,364       11,423  

Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock

    8,004       8,004       -       8,004       -  

Loans held for sale

    12,921       13,350       -       13,350       -  

Loans to other financial institutions

    35,209       35,209       -       35,209       -  

Loans, net

    1,062,075       1,057,786       -       -       1,057,786  

Accrued interest receivable

    6,521       6,521       -       6,521       -  

Interest rate lock commitments

    842       842       -       842       -  
                                         

Liabilities

                                       

Noninterest-bearing deposits

    477,654       477,654       -       477,654       -  

Interest-bearing deposits

    1,196,924       1,197,964       -       1,197,964       -  

Borrowings

    9,327       9,143       -       9,143       -  
Subordinated debentures     3,089       3,089       -       3,089       -  

Accrued interest payable

    183       183       -       183       -  
                                         

December 31, 2019

                                       

Assets

                                       

Cash and due from banks

  $ 59,558     $ 59,558     $ 59,558     $ -     $ -  

Equity securities at fair value

    2,851       2,851       1,379       -       1,472  

Securities available for sale

    339,579       339,579       -       327,212       12,367  

Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock

    6,458       6,458       -       6,458       -  

Loans held for sale

    3,095       3,134       -       3,134       -  

Loans to other financial institutions

    51,048       51,048       -       51,048       -  

Loans, net

    797,991       793,270       -       -       793,270  

Accrued interest receivable

    3,965       3,965       -       3,965       -  

Interest rate lock commitments

    68       68       -       68       -  
                                         

Liabilities

                                       

Noninterest-bearing deposits

    287,460       287,460       -       287,460       -  

Interest-bearing deposits

    867,142       867,154       -       867,154       -  
Borrowings     33,198       33,243       -       33,243       -  
Accrued interest payable     411       411       -       411       -  

 

The estimated fair values approximate the carrying amounts for all financial instruments except those described later in this paragraph. The methodology for determining the estimated fair value for securities available for sale is described in Note 18. The estimated fair value for loans follows the guidance in ASU 2016-01 which prescribes an “exit price” approach, which incorporates discounts for credit, liquidity, and marketability. The allowance for loan losses is considered to be a reasonable estimate of discount for credit quality concerns. The estimated fair value of loans also included the mark to market adjustments related to the Company’s merger with County.

 

The estimated fair value of deposits is based on comparing the average rate paid on deposits compared to the three month LIBOR rate which is assumed to be the replacement value of these deposits. The estimated fair values for time deposits and FHLB advances are based on the rates paid at December 31 for new deposits or FHLB advances, applied until maturity. The estimated fair values for other financial instruments and off-balance sheet loan commitments are considered nominal.

 

65

 
 

Note 18 – Fair Value Measurements

 

The following tables present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, and the valuation techniques used by the Company to determine those fair values.

 

In general, fair values determined by Level 1 inputs use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access.

 

Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs use other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly. These Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and other inputs such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.

 

Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs, including inputs that are available in situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the related asset or liability.

 

In instances where inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels in the above fair value hierarchy, fair value measurements in their entirety are categorized based on the lowest level input that is significant to the valuation. The Company’s assessment of the significance of particular inputs to these fair value measurements requires judgment and considers factors specific to each asset or liability.

 

 

There were no liabilities measured at fair value as of December 31, 2019 or December 31, 2020. Disclosures concerning assets measured at fair value are as follows:

 

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

   

Quoted Prices

                         
   

In Active

   

Significant

                 
   

Markets for

   

Other

   

Significant

         
   

Identical

   

Observable

   

Unobservable

         

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Assets

   

Inputs

   

Inputs

   

Balance at

 
   

(Level 1)

   

(Level 2)

   

(Level 3)

   

Date Indicated

 

Equity Securities Held at Fair Value - December 31, 2020

                               

Equity securities

  $ 1,411     $ -     $ 1,485     $ 2,896  
                                 

Investment Securities, Available for Sale - December 31, 2020

                               

U. S. Government and federal agency

  $ -     $ 2,051     $ -     $ 2,051  

U. S. Treasury notes and bonds

    -       2,056       -       2,056  

State and municipal

    -       309,945       10,423       320,368  

Mortgage-backed

    -       246,723       -       246,723  

Corporate

    -       2,589       -       2,589  

Trust preferred securities

    -       -       1,000       1,000  

Total

  $ -     $ 563,364     $ 11,423     $ 574,787  
                                 

Equity Securities Held at Fair Value - December 31, 2019

                               

Equity securities

  $ 1,379     $ -     $ 1,472     $ 2,851  
                                 

Investment Securities, Available for Sale - December 31, 2019

                               

U. S. Government and federal agency

  $ -     $ 17,215     $ -     $ 17,215  

U. S. Treasury notes and bonds

    -       2,008       -       2,008  

State and municipal

    -       162,557       11,367       173,924  

Mortgage-backed

    -       142,760       -       142,760  

Corporate

    -       2,672       -       2,672  

Trust preferred securities

    -       -       1,000       1,000  

Total

  $ -     $ 327,212     $ 12,367     $ 339,579  
                                 

 

Securities classified as available for sale are generally reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 inputs. ChoiceOne’s external investment advisor obtained fair value measurements from an independent pricing service that uses matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities' relationship to other benchmark quoted securities (Level 2 inputs). The fair value measurements considered observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows and the bonds' terms and conditions, among other things. Securities classified in Level 2 included U.S. Government and federal agency securities, U.S. Treasury notes and bonds, state and municipal securities, mortgage-backed securities, corporate bonds, and asset backed securities. The Company classified certain state and municipal securities and corporate bonds, and equity securities as Level 3. Based on the lack of observable market data, estimated fair values were based on the observable data available and reasonable unobservable market data.

 

66

 

Changes in Level 3 Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

(Dollars in thousands)

         
 

2020

2019

 

Equity Securities Held at Fair Value

         

Balance, January 1

$ 1,472 $ 886  

Total realized and unrealized gains included in noninterest income

  13   114  

Net purchases, sales, calls, and maturities

  -   -  

Net transfers into Level 3

  -   -  

Acquired from merger with County Bank Corp.

  -   472  

Balance, December 31

$ 1,485 $ 1,472  
           

Investment Securities, Available for Sale

         

Balance, January 1

$ 12,367 $ 8,498  

Total realized and unrealized gains included in income

  -   -  

Total unrealized gains/(losses) included in other comprehensive income

  512   210  

Net purchases, sales, calls, and maturities

  (1,456)   1,375  

Net transfers into Level 3

  -   -  

Acquired from merger with County Bank Corp.

  -   2,284  

Balance, December 31

$ 11,423 $ 12,367  
           
           

Of the Level 3 assets that were still held by the Company at  December 31, 2020, the net unrealized gain as of  December 31, 2020 was $889,000, compared to $324,000 as of   December 31, 2019.  The change in the net unrealized gain or loss is recognized in noninterest income or other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheets and income statements. Amounts recognized in noninterest income relate to changes in equity securities based on ASU 2016-01, which was implemented by ChoiceOne effective January 1, 2018. A total of $1,642,000 and $2,091,000 of Level 3 securities were purchased in 2020 and 2019, respectively. In addition, Level 3 securities totaling $2,756,000 were obtained in 2019 from the merger with County.

 

Both observable and unobservable inputs may be used to determine the fair value of positions classified as Level 3 assets and liabilities. As a result, the unrealized gains and losses for these assets and liabilities presented in the tables above may include changes in fair value that were attributable to both observable and unobservable inputs.

 

Available for sale investment securities categorized as Level 3 assets consist of bonds issued by local municipalities and a trust-preferred security. The Company estimates the fair value of these assets based on the present value of expected future cash flows using management’s best estimate of key assumptions, including forecasted interest yield and payment rates, credit quality and a discount rate commensurate with the current market and other risks involved.

 

The Company also has assets that under certain conditions are subject to measurement at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These assets are not normally measured at fair value, but can be subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as impairment. Disclosures concerning assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis are as follows:

 

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis

     

            Quoted Prices                  
            In Active     Significant          
            Markets for     Other     Significant  
   

Balances at

   

Identical

   

Observable

   

Unobservable

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Dates

   

Assets

   

Inputs

   

Inputs

 
   

Indicated

   

(Level 1)

   

(Level 2)

   

(Level 3)

 

Impaired Loans

                               

December 31, 2020

  $ 7,851     $ -     $ -     $ 7,851  

December 31, 2019

  $ 5,922     $ -     $ -     $ 5,922  
                                 

Other Real Estate

                               

December 31, 2020

  $ 266     $ -     $ -     $ 266  

December 31, 2019

  $ 929     $ -     $ -     $ 929  
                                 
Mortgage Loan Servicing Rights                                
December 31, 2020   $ 3,967     $ -     $ 3,967     $ -  
December 31, 2019   $ 2,131     $ -     $ 2,131     $ -  
                                 

 

Impaired loans categorized as Level 3 assets consist of non-homogeneous loans that are considered impaired. The Company estimates the fair value of the loans based on the present value of expected future cash flows using management’s best estimate of key assumptions. These assumptions include future payment ability, timing of payment streams, and estimated realizable values of available collateral (typically based on outside appraisals). The changes in fair value consisted of charge-downs of impaired loans that were posted to the allowance for loan losses and write-downs of other real estate owned that were posted to a valuation account. The fair value of other real estate owned was based on appraisals or other reviews of property values, adjusted for estimated costs to sell.

 

67

 
 

Note 19 – Off-Balance Sheet Activities

 

Some financial instruments, such as loan commitments, credit lines, letters of credit, and overdraft protection, are issued to meet customers’ financing needs. These are agreements to provide credit or to support the credit of others, as long as conditions established in the contract are met, and usually have expiration dates. Commitments may expire without being used. Off-balance sheet risk to credit loss exists up to the face amount of these instruments, although material losses are not anticipated. The same credit policies are used to make such commitments as are used for loans, including obtaining collateral at exercise of the commitment.

 

The contractual amount of financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk was as follows at December 31:

 

   

2020

   

2019

 
   

Fixed

   

Variable

   

Fixed

   

Variable

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Rate

   

Rate

   

Rate

   

Rate

 
                                 
Unused lines of credit and letters of credit   $ 48,622     $ 231,667     $ 38,064     $ 177,447  
Commitments to fund loans (at market rates)     10,691       3,954       18,216       4,580  

 

Commitments to fund loans are generally made for periods of 180 days or less. The fixed rate loan commitments have interest rates ranging from 2.25% to 6.50% and maturities ranging from 1 year to 30 years.

 

68

 

 

Note 20 – Regulatory Capital

 

ChoiceOne and the Bank are subject to regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Capital adequacy guidelines and prompt corrective action regulations involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The prompt corrective action regulations provide five classifications, including well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized, although these terms are not used to represent overall financial condition. Depending upon the capital category to which an institution is assigned, the regulators' corrective powers include: prohibiting the acceptance of brokered deposits; requiring the submission of a capital restoration plan; placing limits on asset growth and restrictions on activities; requiring the institution to issue additional capital stock (including additional voting stock) or to be acquired; restricting transactions with affiliates; restricting the interest rate the institution may pay on deposits; ordering a new election of directors of the institution; requiring that senior executive officers or directors be dismissed; prohibiting the institution from accepting deposits from correspondent banks; requiring the institution to divest certain subsidiaries; prohibiting the payment of principal or interest on subordinated debt; and ultimately, appointing a receiver for the institution. At year-end 2020 and 2019, the Bank was categorized as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

 

Actual capital levels and minimum required levels for ChoiceOne and the Bank were as follows:

 

                 

Minimum Required

 
                 

to be Well

 
         

Minimum Required

 

Capitalized Under

 
         

for Capital

 

Prompt Corrective

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Actual

 

Adequacy Purposes

 

Action Regulations

 
 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

Amount

 

Ratio

 

December 31, 2020

                       

ChoiceOne Financial Services Inc.

                       

Total capital (to risk weighted assets)

$ 162,558

 

13.2

%

$ 98,835

 

8.0

%

N/A

 

N/A

 

Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)

150,465

 

12.2

 

55,595

 

4.5

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)

150,465

 

12.2

 

74,126

 

6.0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

150,465

 

8.3

 

72,281

 

4.0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 
                         

ChoiceOne Bank

                       

Total capital (to risk weighted assets)

$ 159,684

 

12.9

%

$ 98,683

 

8.0

%

$ 123,353

 

10.0

%

Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)

152,091

 

12.3

 

55,509

 

4.5

 

80,180

 

6.5

 

Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)

152,091

 

12.3

 

74,012

 

6.0

 

98,683

 

8.0

 

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

152,091

 

8.4

 

72,208

 

4.0

 

90,259

 

5.0

 
                         

December 31, 2019

                       

ChoiceOne Financial Services Inc.

                       

Total capital (to risk weighted assets)

$ 135,836

 

14.2

%

$ 76,288

 

8.0

%

N/A

 

N/A

 

Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)

131,785

 

13.8

 

42,912

 

4.5

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)

131,785

 

13.8

 

57,216

 

6.0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

131,785

 

9.6

 

54,646

 

4.0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 
                         

ChoiceOne Bank

                       

Total capital (to risk weighted assets)

$ 69,412

 

13.2

%

$ 42,039

 

8.0

%

$ 52,549

 

10.0

%

Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)

65,362

 

12.4

 

23,647

 

4.5

 

34,157

 

6.5

 

Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)

65,362

 

12.4

 

31,530

 

6.0

 

42,039

 

8.0

 

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

65,362

 

10.0

 

26,179

 

4.0

 

32,724

 

5.0

 
                         

Lakestone Bank & Trust

                       

Total capital (to risk weighted assets)

$ 63,885

 

15.0

%

$ 34,056

 

8.0

%

$ 42,570

 

10.0

%

Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)

63,885

 

15.0

 

19,156

 

4.5

 

27,670

 

6.5

 

Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)

63,885

 

15.0

 

25,542

 

6.0

 

34,056

 

8.0

 

Tier 1 capital (to average assets)

63,885

 

9.0

 

28,338

 

4.0

 

35,423

 

5.0

 

 

Banking regulations limit capital distributions by state-chartered banks. Generally, capital distributions are limited to undistributed net income for the current and prior two years. At December 31, 2020, approximately $14.9 million was available for the banks to pay dividends to ChoiceOne. ChoiceOne’s ability to pay dividends to shareholders is dependent on the payment of dividends from the Bank, which is restricted by state law and regulations.

 

69

 
 

Note 21 – Business Combination

 

Community Shores Bank Corporation

ChoiceOne completed the acquisition of Community Shores Bank Corporation (“Community Shores”) effective on July 1, 2020. Community Shores had 4 branch offices as of the date of the merger. Total assets of Community Shores as of July 1, 2020 were $244.0 million, including total loans of $174.0 million. Deposits acquired in the merger, the majority of which were core deposits, totaled $227.8 million. The impact of the merger has been included in ChoiceOne’s results of operations since the effective date of the merger. As consideration in the merger, ChoiceOne issued 524,055 shares of ChoiceOne common stock and paid cash in the amount of $5,390,000, with an approximate aggregate value of $20.9 million.  The initial accounting for the business combination has been determined provisionally for the fair value of certain assets and liabilities, including loans, core deposit intangible, and deferred taxes.  Management expects to finalize calculations supporting the fair value of these assets and liabilities during the measurement period.  Subsequent to the effective date of the merger, Community Shores Bank was consolidated into ChoiceOne Bank in October 2020.

 

Acquisition costs related to the merger amounted to $3.2 million, all of which was expensed.  The transaction created $7.9 million of goodwill, none of which is deductible for tax purposes.

 

As the transaction became effective on July 1, 2020, only earnings related to the period from July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 were included in ChoiceOne’s income for the year ended December 31, 2020. These earnings amounted to $1,041,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

The table below presents the allocation of purchase price for the merger with Community Shores (dollars in thousands):

 

Purchase Price

       
         

Consideration

  $ 20,881  
         

Net assets acquired:

       

Cash and cash equivalents

    41,023  

Securities available for sale

    20,023  

Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock

    300  

Originated loans

    173,974  

Premises and equipment

    6,204  

Other real estate owned

    346  

Deposit based intangible

    760  

Other assets

    1,345  

Total assets

    243,975  
         

Non-interest bearing deposits

    65,499  

Interest bearing deposits

    162,333  

Total deposits

    227,832  

Trust preferred securities

    3,039  

Other liabilities

    136  

Total liabilities

    231,007  
         

Net assets acquired

    12,968  
         

Goodwill

  $ 7,913  

 

 

The following table provides the unaudited pro forma information for the results of operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, as if the merger with Community Shores had occurred on January 1, 2019. These adjustments reflect the impact of certain purchase accounting fair value measurements, primarily on the loan and deposit portfolios of Community. In addition, merger-related costs are excluded from the amounts below, for comparative purposes. Further operating cost savings are expected along with additional business synergies as a result of the merger which are not presented in the pro forma amounts. These unaudited pro forma results are presented for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to represent or be indicative of the actual results of operations of the combined banking organization that would have been achieved had the merger occurred at the beginning of the period, nor are they intended to represent or be indicative of the future results of the Company. 

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

               
   

2020

   

2019

 

Net interest income

  $ 54,357     $ 51,266  

Noninterest income

    23,462       14,722  

Noninterest expense

    55,182       49,865  

Net income

    15,257       14,250  

Net income per diluted share

    1.96       1.83  

 

70

 

County Bank Corp.

ChoiceOne completed the merger of County Bank Corp. (“County”) with and into ChoiceOne on October 1, 2019. County had 14 branch offices and one loan production office as of the date of the merger. Total assets of County as of October 1, 2019 were $673 million, including total loans of $424 million. Deposits garnered in the merger, the majority of which were core deposits, totaled $574 million. The results of operations as a result of the merger have been included in ChoiceOne’s results since the effective date of the merger. As consideration in the merger, ChoiceOne issued 3,603,872 shares of ChoiceOne common stock with an approximate value of $108 million. ChoiceOne recorded a preliminary deposit based intangible of $6.4 million and goodwill of $39.1 million. Subsequent to the preliminary fair value accounting, management finalized accounting for acquired loans and deferred taxes.  As a result, the acquisition date fair value of loans was decreased by approximately $200,000, other liabilities were decreased by approximately $500,000, and goodwill was decreased by approximately $300,000.  Adjusted goodwill related to the merger with County was $38.9 million.  Subsequent to the effective date of the merger, Lakestone Bank & Trust was consolidated into ChoiceOne Bank in May 2020.

 

Acquisition costs related to the merger amounted to $2.4 million, of which $2.1 million was expensed and $297,000 was netted against stock issuance costs. The transaction created $38.9 million of goodwill, none of which is deductible for tax purposes.

 

The table below highlights the allocation of purchase price for the merger with County (dollars in thousands):

 

Purchase Price

       
         

Consideration

  $ 107,945  
         

Net assets acquired:

       

Cash and cash equivalents

    20,638  

Equity securities at fair value

    474  

Securities available for sale

    187,230  

Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock

    2,915  

Loans to other financial institutions

    33,481  

Originated loans

    390,116  

Premises and equipment

    9,271  

Other real estate owned

    1,364  

Deposit based intangible

    6,359  

Bank owned life insurance

    16,912  

Other assets

    4,002  

Total assets

    672,762  
         

Non-interest bearing deposits

    124,113  

Interest bearing deposits

    449,488  

Total deposits

    573,601  

Federal funds purchased

    3,800  

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

    23,000  

Other liabilities

    3,282  

Total liabilities

    603,683  
         

Net assets acquired

    69,079  
         

Goodwill

  $ 38,866  

 

In most instances, determining the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities required ChoiceOne to estimate the cash flows expected to result from those assets and liabilities and to discount those cash flows at appropriate rates of interest. The most significant of those determinations is related to the valuation of acquired loans. For such loans, the excess cash flows expected at the effective time of the merger over the estimated fair value is recognized as interest income over the remaining lives of the loans. The difference between contractually required payments at the effective time of the merger and the cash flows expected to be collected at the effective time of the merger reflects the impact of estimated credit losses, interest rate changes, and other factors, such as prepayments. In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance for business combinations, there was no carry-over of County’s or Community Shores' previously established allowance for loan losses.

 

71

 

 

Note 22 – Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

           

Net

           

Earnings Per Share

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

Interest

   

Interest

   

Net

           

Fully

 
   

Income

   

Income

   

Income

   

Basic

   

Diluted

 

2020

                                       

First Quarter

  $ 12,662     $ 11,138     $ 3,254     $ 0.45     $ 0.45  

Second Quarter

    12,863       11,879       4,430       0.61       0.61  

Third Quarter

    15,150       14,062       3,829       0.49       0.49  

Fourth Quarter

    15,040       13,992       4,100       0.53       0.52  
                                         

2019

                                       

First Quarter

  $ 6,477     $ 5,496     $ 1,637     $ 0.45     $ 0.45  

Second Quarter

    6,554       5,501       1,486       0.41       0.41  

Third Quarter

    6,561       5,570       1,021       0.28       0.28  

Fourth Quarter

    12,881       11,206       3,027       0.44       0.44  

 

The growth in interest income and net interest income in the first two quarters of 2020 was primarily due to growth in earning assets, which was partially offset by a tightening of ChoiceOne’s net interest spread. The increase in the third and fourth quarters of 2020 resulted primarily from the merger with County. The increase that occurred during 2019 in interest income and net interest income was due to growth in earning assets and a widening of ChoiceOne’s net interest spread resulting from rising general market interest rates.

 

72

 
 

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

None.

 

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

 

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures. Based on and as of the time of that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and principal financial officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods.

 

Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting that is designed to produce reliable financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles. The system of internal control over financial reporting as it relates to the financial statements is evaluated for effectiveness by management and tested for reliability through a program of internal audits. Actions are taken to correct potential deficiencies as they are identified. Any system of internal control, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations, including the possibility that a control can be circumvented or overridden and misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Also, because of changes in conditions, internal control effectiveness may vary over time. Accordingly, even an effective system of internal control will provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation.

 

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Management’s assessment is based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting as described in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this assessment, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, its system of internal control over financial reporting was effective and meets the criteria of the “Internal Control – Integrated Framework.  As permitted by SEC guidance, the Company has excluded the operations of County Bank Corp. and Community Shores Bank Corporation which was merged with and into the Company.  The mergers are described in Note 21 (Business Combination) of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this report, from the scope of management’s report on internal control over financial reporting.

 

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended December 31, 2020 that has materially affected, or that is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B.

Other Information

 

None.

 

73

 

PART III

 

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

The information under the captions “ChoiceOne's Board of Directors and Executive Officers and “Corporate Governance” in the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 27, 2021, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics for Executive Officers and Senior Financial Officers, which applies to the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, as well as all other senior financial and accounting officers. The Code of Ethics is posted on the Company’s website at “www.choiceone.com.” The Company intends to satisfy the disclosure requirements under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to, or a waiver from, a provision of the Code of Ethics by posting such information on its website at “www.choiceone.com.

 

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

 

The information under the captions “Executive Compensation” in the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 27 2021, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

The information under the caption "Ownership of ChoiceOne Common Stock" in the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 27, 2021, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The following table presents information regarding the equity compensation plans both approved and not approved by shareholders at December 31, 2020:

 

                   

Number of securities

 
                   

remaining available for

 
   

Number of securities to

   

Weighted-average

   

future issuance under

 
   

be issued upon exercise

   

exercise price of

   

equity compensation plans

 
   

of outstanding options,

   

outstanding options,

   

(excluding securities

 
   

warrants and rights

   

warrants and rights

   

reflected in column (a))

 
   

(a)

   

(b)

   

(c)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

    -     $ -       121,103  

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

    -       -       200,000  

Total

    -     $ -       321,103  

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders include the Stock Incentive Plan of 2012, the Amended and Restated Executive Stock Incentive Plan and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. 100,971 shares remain available for future issuance under the Stock Incentive Plan of 2012 and 20,132 shares remain available for future issuance under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, in each case other than upon the exercise of outstanding stock options. No further future issuances of shares are permitted under the Amended and Restated Executive Stock Incentive Plan other than upon the exercise of outstanding stock options.

 

The Directors’ Stock Purchase Plan and the Directors’ Equity Compensation Plan are the only equity compensation plans not approved by security holders. The Directors’ Stock Purchase Plan is designed to provide directors of the Company the option of receiving their fees in the Company’s common stock. Directors who elect to participate in the plan may elect to contribute to the plan twenty-five, fifty, seventy-five or one hundred percent of their board of director fees and one hundred percent of their director committee fees earned as directors of the Company. Contributions to the plan are made by the Company on behalf of each electing participant. Plan participants may terminate their participation in the plan at any time by written notice of withdrawal to the Company. The Directors’ Equity Compensation Plan provides for the grant and award of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock awards, and other stock-based and stock-related awards as part of director compensation. Participants will cease to be eligible to participate in both plans when they cease to serve as directors of the Company. Shares are distributed to participants on a quarterly basis. The Directors' Equity Compensation Plan provides for the issuance of a maximum of 100,000 shares of the Company's common stock thereunder and the Directors' Stock Purchase Plan provides for issuance of a maximum of 100,000 shares thereunder, in each case subject to adjustments for certain changes in the capital structure of the Company. As of December 31, 2020, 100,000 shares remained available for issuance under each plan.

 

74

 

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

The information under the captions “Related Matters - Transactions with Related Persons” and “Corporate Governance” in the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held [●], 2021, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

The information under the caption "Related Matters - Independent Certified Public Accountants" in the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held [●], 2021, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

PART IV

 

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a)

(1)

Financial Statements. The following financial statements and independent auditors' reports are filed as part of this report:

     
     

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

       
     

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

       
      Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
       
     

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

       
     

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

       
     

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

       
     

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm dated March 16, 2020.

     
 

(2)

Financial Statement Schedules. None.

 

Exhibit

Document

   

2.1

Agreement and Plan of Merger between ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. and County Bank Corp. dated March 22, 2019.  Previously filed as an exhibit to ChoiceOne’s Form 8-K filed March 25, 2019.  Here incorporated by reference.

   

2.2

Agreement and Plan of Merger between ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. and Community Shores Bank Corporation dated January 3, 2020. Previously filed as an exhibit to ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.'s Form 8-K filed January 6, 2020. Here incorporated by reference.

   

3.1

Restated Articles of Incorporation of ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. Previously filed as an exhibit to ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.'s Form 8-A filed February 4, 2020. Here incorporated by reference.

   

3.2

Bylaws of ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., as currently in effect and any amendments thereto. Previously filed as an exhibit to ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.'s Form 8-K filed December 16, 2020. Here incorporated by reference.

   

4.1

Advances, Pledge and Security Agreement between ChoiceOne Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. Previously filed as an exhibit to ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2013.  Here incorporated by reference.

   

4.2

Description of Rights of Shareholders.  Previously filed as an exhibit to ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.'s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2019.  Here incorporated by reference.

 

75

 

10.1

Employment Agreement between ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. and Kelly J. Potes, dated as of September 30, 2019. (1) Previously filed as an exhibit to ChoiceOne’s Form 8-K filed October 1, 2019. Here incorporated by reference.

   

10.2

Employment Agreement between ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. and Michael J. Burke, Jr., dated as of March 22, 2019. (1) Previously filed as exhibit to ChoiceOne’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-4 filed August 5, 2019. Here incorporated by reference.

   

10.3

Stock Incentive Plan of 2012. (1) Previously filed as Appendix A to ChoiceOne’s definitive proxy statement for ChoiceOne’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, filed on April 19, 2018. Here incorporated by reference.

   

10.4

Directors' Stock Purchase Plan, as amended. (1) Previously filed as an exhibit to ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.'s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2019.  Here incorporated by reference.

   

10.5

Director Equity Compensation Plan of 2019. (1) Previously filed as an exhibit to ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.'s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2019.  Here incorporated by reference.

   

10.6

Former Valley Ridge Executive Employee Salary Continuation Agreements, as amended. (1) Previously filed as an exhibit to ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2013. Here incorporated by reference.

   

10.7

Former Valley Ridge Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan and Agreement. (1) Previously filed as an exhibit to the ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2013. Here incorporated by reference.

   

10.8

Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan. (1) Previously filed as an exhibit to ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.'s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2016. Here incorporated by reference.

   

21

Subsidiaries of ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.

   

23

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

   

24

Powers of Attorney.

   

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer.

   

31.2

Certification of Treasurer.

   

32

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350.

 

101.INS

Inline XBRL Instance Document (the Instance Document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

   

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

   

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

   

101.DEF

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

   

101.LAB

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

   

101.PRE

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

   

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 

 

(1)

This agreement is a management contract or compensation plan or arrangement to be filed as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.

 

Copies of any exhibits will be furnished to shareholders upon written request. Requests should be directed to: Thomas L. Lampen, Treasurer, ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., 109 East Division, Sparta, Michigan, 49345.

 

76

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.

   
       

By:  

/s/ Kelly J. Potes

  March 31, 2021
 

Kelly J. Potes
Chief Executive Officer

   

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ Kelly J. Potes

 

Chief Executive Officer and

  March 31, 2021

     Kelly J. Potes

  Director (Principal Executive Officer)    
         

/s/ Thomas L. Lampen

 

Treasurer (Principal Financial and

  March 31, 2021

     Thomas L. Lampen

  Accounting Officer)    
         

*/s/ Paul L. Johnson

 

Chairman of the Board and Director

  March 31, 2021

     Paul L. Johnson

       
         

*/s/ James A. Bosserd

 

Director

  March 31, 2021

     James A. Bosserd

       
         

*/s/ Keith Brophy

 

Director

  March 31, 2021

     Keith Brophy

       
         

*/s/ Michael J. Burke, Jr.

 

President and Director

  March 31, 2021

     Michael J. Burke, Jr.

       
         

*/s/ Harold J. Burns

 

Director

  March 31, 2021

     Harold J. Burns

       
         

*/s/ Eric E. Burrough

 

Director

  March 31, 2021

     Eric E. Burrough

       
         

*/s/ David H. Bush

 

Director

  March 31, 2021

     David H. Bush

       
         

*/s/ Bruce J. Cady

 

Director

  March 31, 2021

     Bruce J. Cady

       
         

*/s/ Patrick A. Cronin

 

Director

  March 31, 2021

     Patrick A. Cronin

       
         

*/s/ Jack G. Hendon

 

Director

  March 31, 2021

     Jack G. Hendon

       
         

*/s/ Gregory A. McConnell

 

Director

  March 31, 2021

     Gregory A. McConnell

       
         

*/s/ Nels W. Nyblad

 

Director

  March 31, 2021

     Nels W. Nyblad

       
         

*/s/ Roxanne M. Page

 

Director

  March 31, 2021

     Roxanne M. Page

       
         

*By /s/ Thomas L. Lampen

       

     Attorney-in-Fact

       

 

77
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