Provision for (recovery of) Credit losses
On January 1, 2023, the Commercial Banking Segment adopted the CECL methodology for estimating credit losses, which resulted in an increase of $150,000 in the allowance for credit losses on January 1, 2023. The Allowance for Credit Losses included an allowance for credit losses on loans of $3.24 million and a reserve for unfunded commitments of $277,000.
As of March 31, 2023, the Allowance for Credit Losses was $3.53 million and included an allowance for credit losses on loans of $3.27 million and a reserve for unfunded commitments of $254,000.
The Company is utilizing a third-party model to tabulate its estimate of current expected credit losses, using a WARM methodology. In accordance with ASC 326, the Company has segmented its loan portfolio based on similar risk characteristics by call report code. The Company primarily utilizes the short-term natural rate of unemployment forecast based on the Federal Open Market Committee’s projection of unemployment for its reasonable and supportable forecasting of current expected credit losses. To further adjust the allowance for credit losses for expected losses not already included within the quantitative component of the calculation, the Company may consider the following qualitative adjustment factors: changes in lending policies and procedures including changes in underwriting standards, and collections, charge-offs, and recovery practices, changes in international, national, regional, and local conditions, changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio and terms of loans, changes in experience, depth, and ability of lending management, changes in the volume and severity of past due loans and other similar conditions, changes in the quality of the organization’s loan review system, changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans, the existence and effect of any concentrations of credit and changes in the levels of such concentrations, and the effect of other external factors (i.e. competition, legal and regulatory requirements) on the level of estimated credit losses.
The provision for credit for loans was driven by the increase in loan balances at March 31, 2023, while the recovery of credit losses for unfunded commitments was a result of the reduction in the total balance outstanding at March 31, 2023. The lack of an overall provision for credit losses was driven by stable local economic conditions and credit quality remaining strong. While higher inflation and the speed at which interest rates have been rising remain a risk to credit quality, we believe our current level of allowance for credit losses is sufficient.
The following information is presented prior to the adoption of ASC 326.
The amount of the allowance for loan losses is determined by an evaluation of the level of loans outstanding, the level of non-performing loans, historical loan loss experience, delinquency trends, underlying collateral values, the amount of actual losses charged to the reserve in a given period and assessment of present and anticipated economic conditions.
The level of the allowance reflects changes in the size of the portfolio or in any of its components as well as management’s continuing evaluation of industry concentrations, specific credit risks, loan loss experience, current loan portfolio quality, and present economic, political and regulatory conditions. Portions of the allowance may be allocated for specific credits; however, the entire allowance is available for any credit that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off. While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond the Company’s control, including the performance of the Company’s loan portfolio, the economy, changes in interest rates and the view of the regulatory authorities toward loan classifications.
The Company recorded a recovery of provision for loan losses expense of $400,000 for the three month period ended March 31, 2022. The recovery of provision for the three month period ended March 31, 2022 was driven by improving macroeconomic conditions and credit quality remaining strong.
For more financial data and other information about the allowance for credit losses refer to section, “Balance Sheet Analysis” under this Item 2 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, and Note 5 “Loans and allowance for credit losses” in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” contained in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.