Note 5 – Loans and allowance for loan losses

Loans classified by type as of September 30, 2020  and December 31, 2019 are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

The Bank has a purchased portfolio of rehabilitated student loans guaranteed by the Department of Education (“DOE”). The guarantee covers approximately 98% of principal and accrued interest. The loans are serviced by a third-party servicer that specializes in handling the special needs of the DOE student loan programs.

The Bank had originated $185,137,000 in loans through the Small Business Administration’s ("SBA") Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") as of September 30, 2020, which have provided essential funds to approximately 1,500 businesses and nonprofits and protected more than 20,000 jobs in our community. The processing fees earned on the PPP loans will help to support the Bank's loan deferral program and potential credit losses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a breakdown of PPP loans by loan size including SBA fees expected to be earned as of September 30, 2020 (dollars in thousands):

 

Loans pledged as collateral with the FHLB as part of their lending arrangement with the Company totaled $57,423,000 and $49,736,000 as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. 

Loans are considered past due if the required principal and interest payments have not been received as of the date such payments were due. Loans are placed on nonaccrual status when, in management’s opinion, the borrower may be unable to meet payment obligations as they become due, as well as when required by regulatory provisions. Loans may be placed on nonaccrual status regardless of whether or not such loans are considered past due as long as the remaining recorded investment in the loan is deemed fully collectible. When interest accrual is discontinued, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed. Interest income is subsequently recognized only to the extent cash payments are received in excess of principal due. Loans are returned to accrual status when all principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

The following table provides information on nonaccrual loans segregated by type at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

The Company assigns risk rating classifications to its loans. These risk ratings are divided into the following groups:

The following tables provide information on the risk rating of loans at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

The following table presents the aging of the recorded investment in past due loans and leases as of the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Loans greater than 90 days past due are student loans that are guaranteed by the DOE which covers approximately 98% of the principal and interest. Accordingly, these loans will not be placed on nonaccrual status and are not considered to be impaired.

Loans are considered impaired when, based on current information and events it is probable the Company will be unable to collect all amounts when due in accordance with the original contractual terms of the loan agreement, including scheduled principal and interest payments. Loans evaluated individually for impairment include non-performing loans, such as loans on non-accrual, loans past due by 90 days or more, restructured loans and other loans selected by management. The evaluations are based upon discounted expected cash flows or collateral valuations. If the evaluation shows that a loan is individually impaired, then a specific reserve is established for the amount of impairment. Impairment is evaluated in total for smaller-balance loans of a similar nature and on an individual loan basis for other loans. If a loan is impaired, a specific valuation allowance is allocated, if necessary, so that the loan 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. Interest payments on impaired loans are typically applied to principal unless collectability of the principal amount is reasonably assured, in which case interest is recognized on a cash basis. Impaired loans, or portions thereof, are charged off when deemed uncollectible. Impaired loans are set forth in the following table as of the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

The following is a summary of average recorded investment in impaired loans with and without a valuation allowance and interest income recognized on those loans for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Included in impaired loans are loans classified as TDRs. A modification of a loan’s terms constitutes a TDR if the creditor grants a concession to the borrower for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties that it would not otherwise consider. For loans classified as impaired TDRs, the Company further evaluates the loans as performing or nonaccrual. To restore a nonaccrual loan that has been formally restructured in a TDR to accrual status, we perform a current, well documented credit analysis supporting a return to accrual status based on the borrower’s financial condition and prospects for repayment under the revised terms. Otherwise, the TDR must remain in nonaccrual status. The analysis considers the borrower’s sustained historical repayment performance for a reasonable period to the return-to-accrual date, but may take into account payments made for a reasonable period prior to the restructuring if the payments are consistent with the modified terms. A sustained period of repayment performance generally would be a minimum of six months and would involve payments in the form of cash or cash equivalents.

An accruing loan that is modified in a TDR can remain in accrual status if, based on a current well-documented credit analysis, collection of principal and interest in accordance with the modified terms is reasonably assured, and the borrower has demonstrated sustained historical repayment performance for a reasonable period before modification. The following is a summary of performing and nonaccrual TDRs and the related specific valuation allowance by portfolio segment for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands).

 

 

 

The following table provides information about TDRs identified during the indicated periods (dollars in thousands).

 

 

There were no TDR’s identified during the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

There were no defaults on TDRs that were modified as TDRs during the prior twelve month period ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.

Activity in the allowance for loan losses is as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

The amount of the loan loss provision (recovery) is determined by an evaluation of the level of loans outstanding, the level of nonperforming 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 risk, 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 judgement, should be charged off.  While management utilizes its best judgement 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 provision for loan losses of $950,000 for the nine month period ended September 30, 2020. The provision for loan losses was driven primarily by an increase in the qualitative factors as a result of the continued economic uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. The increase in the qualitative factors due to COVID-19 were a result of deterioration in local economic factors such as the higher levels of unemployment and the increased credit risk due to loan payment deferrals under the CARES Act. The Company believes the current level of allowance for loan loss reserves are adequate to cover anticipated losses. However, the full economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is currently unknown and the Company will continue to monitor our loan portfolio for loss indicators which may have the potential for further provisions for loan losses through 2020 and beyond. The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $135,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019 because of an increase in the specific reserves associated with a relationship evaluated individually for impairment. The Company did not record a provision for loan losses for the nine month period ended September 30, 2019 because of minimal net charge-offs, no significant changes in qualitative factors and stable asset quality.

The allowance for loan losses at each of the periods presented includes an amount that could not be identified to individual types of loans referred to as the unallocated portion of the allowance.  We recognize the inherent imprecision in estimates of losses due to various uncertainties and the variability related to the factors used in calculation of the allowance. The allowance for loan losses included an unallocated portion of approximately $273,000,  $24,000, and $190,000 at September 30, 2020, December 31, 2019, and September 30, 2019, respectively.

Loans were evaluated for impairment as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):