UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K


x

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

 

 

o

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 001-13695


(COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC. LOGO)

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


 

 

 

Delaware

 

16-1213679


 


(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New York

 

13214-1883


 


(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)


 

 

(315) 445-2282


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

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

 

 

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered


 


Common Stock, Par Value $1.00

 

New York Stock Exchange

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

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

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 o     No x.

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 x     No o.

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment of this Form 10-K. o.

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

Large accelerated filer o     Accelerated filer x     Non-accelerated filer o     Smaller reporting company o.

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

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and ask price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter
$ 580,390,070.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

29,765,278 shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value, were outstanding on February 29, 2008.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE.

          Portions of Definitive Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 21, 2008 (the “Proxy Statement”) is incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Exhibit Index is located on page 76 of 85

1




TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 


PART I

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item

1.

Business

3

Item

1A.

Risk Factors

7

Item

1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

8

Item

2.

Properties

8

Item

3.

Legal Proceedings

8

Item

4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

8

Item

4A.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

8

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item

5.

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

9

Item

6.

Selected Financial Data

12

Item

7.

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

13

Item

7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

38

Item

8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data:

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Condition

41

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

42

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

43

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

44

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

45

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

46

 

 

Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

72

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

73

 

 

Two Year Selected Quarterly Data

74

 

Item

9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

74

Item

9A.

Controls and Procedures

74

Item

9B.

Other Information

74

 

 

 

 

PART III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item

10.

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

75

Item

11.

Executive Compensation

75

Item

12.

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

75

Item

13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

75

Item

14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

75

 

 

 

 

PART IV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item

15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K

76

Signatures

 

 

79

2



Part I

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Community Bank System, Inc. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements are set forth herein under the caption “Forward-Looking Statements.” The share and per-share information in this document has been adjusted to give effect to a two-for-one stock split of the Company’s common stock effected as of April 12, 2004.

Item 1. Business

Community Bank System, Inc. (“the Company”) was incorporated on April 15, 1983, under the Delaware General Corporation Law. Its principal office is located at 5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New York 13214. The Company maintains a website at communitybankna.com and firstlibertybank.com. Annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, are available on the Company’s web-site free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports or amendments are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The information on the website is not part of this filing. Copies of all documents filed with the SEC can also be obtained by visiting the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549, by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or by accessing the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Company’s business philosophy is to operate as a community bank with local decision-making, principally in non-metropolitan markets, providing a broad array of banking and financial services to retail, commercial, and municipal customers.

Community Bank System, Inc. is a single bank holding company which wholly-owns five subsidiaries: Community Bank, N.A. (“the Bank”), Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. (“BPAS”), CFSI Closeout Corp. (“CFSICC”), First of Jermyn Realty Co. (“FJRC”) and Town & Country Agency LLC (“T&C”). BPAS owns three subsidiaries, Benefit Plans Administrative Services LLC (“BPA”), Harbridge Consulting Group LLC (“Harbridge”) and Hand Benefit & Trust Company (“HBT”). BPAS provides administration, consulting and actuarial services to sponsors of employee benefit plans. CFSICC, FJRC and T&C are inactive companies. The Company also wholly-owns three unconsolidated subsidiary business trusts formed for the purpose of issuing mandatorily redeemable preferred securities which are considered Tier I capital under regulatory capital adequacy guidelines.

The Bank operates 131 customer facilities throughout 25 counties of Upstate New York and five counties of Northeastern Pennsylvania offering a range of commercial and retail banking services. The Bank owns the following subsidiaries: Community Investment Services, Inc. (“CISI”), CBNA Treasury Management Corporation (“TMC”), CBNA Preferred Funding Corporation (“PFC”), Nottingham Advisors, Inc. (“Nottingham”), First Liberty Service Corp. (“FLSC”), Brilie Corporation (“Brilie”) and CBNA Insurance Agency, Inc (“CBNA Insurance”). CISI provides broker-dealer and investment advisory services. TMC provides cash management, investment, and treasury services to the Bank. PFC primarily acts as an investor in residential real estate loans. Nottingham provides asset management services to individuals, corporate pension and profit sharing plans, and foundations. FLSC provides banking-related services to the Pennsylvania branches of the Bank. Brilie is an inactive company. CBNA Insurance is a full-service property and casualty insurance agency.

Acquisition History (2003-2007)

Hand Benefits & Trust, Inc.

On May 18, 2007, Benefit Plan Administrative Services (“BPAS”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired Hand Benefits & Trust, Inc. (“HBT”) in an all cash transaction. HBT is a Houston, Texas based provider of employee benefit plan administration and trust services.

TLNB Financial Corporation

On June 1, 2007, the Company acquired TLNB Financial Corporation, parent company of Tupper Lake National Bank (“TLNB”), in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $17.8 million. Based in Tupper Lake, N.Y., TLNB operated five branches in the northeastern New York State cities of Tupper Lake, Plattsburgh and Saranac Lake, as well as an insurance subsidiary, TLNB Insurance Agency, Inc.

ONB Corporation

On December 1, 2006, the Company acquired ONB Corporation (“ONB”), the parent company of Ontario National Bank, a federally-chartered national bank, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $16 million. ONB operated four branches in the villages of Clifton Springs, Phelps, and Palmyra, New York.

3



ES&L Bancorp, Inc.

On August 11, 2006, the Company acquired ES&L Bancorp, Inc. (“Elmira”), the parent company of Elmira Savings and Loan, F.A., a federally-chartered thrift, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $40 million. Elmira operated two branches in the cities of Elmira and Ithaca, New York.

Dansville Branch Acquisition

On December 3, 2004, the Company acquired a branch office in Dansville, N.Y. (“Dansville”) from HSBC Bank USA, N.A with deposits of $32.6 million and loans of $5.6 million.

First Heritage Bank

On May 14, 2004, the Company acquired First Heritage Bank (“First Heritage”), a closely held bank headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, PA with three branches in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. First Heritage’s three branches operate as part of First Liberty Bank & Trust, a division of Community Bank, N.A. Consideration included 2,592,213 shares of common stock with a fair value of $52 million, employee stock options with a fair value of $3.0 million, and $7.0 million of cash (including capitalized acquisition costs of $1.0 million).

Grange National Banc Corp.

On November 24, 2003, the Company acquired Grange National Banc Corp. (“Grange”), a $280 million-asset bank holding company based in Tunkhannock, P.A. Grange’s 12 branches operate as part of First Liberty Bank & Trust, a division of Community Bank, N.A. The Company issued approximately 2,294,000 shares of its common stock to certain of the former shareholders with a fair value of $55 million. The remaining shareholders received $21.25 per share in cash or approximately $20.9 million. In addition, Grange stock options representing $5.4 million of fair value were exchanged for options to purchase shares in the Company.

Peoples Bankcorp Inc.

On September 5, 2003, the Company acquired Peoples Bankcorp, Inc. (“Peoples”), a $29 million-asset savings and loan holding company based in Ogdensburg, New York. Peoples’ single branch is being operated as a branch of the Bank’s network of branches in Northern New York.

Harbridge Consulting Group

On July 31, 2003, the BPAS acquired PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Upstate New York Global Human Resource Solutions consulting group. This practice has been renamed Harbridge Consulting Group (“Harbridge”) and is a leading provider of retirement and employee benefits actuarial consulting services throughout Upstate New York, and is complementary to BPA, the Company’s employee benefits plan administration subsidiary.

Services

The Bank is a community bank committed to the philosophy of serving the financial needs of customers in local communities. The Bank’s branches are generally located in smaller towns and cities within its geograph­ic market areas of Upstate New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Company believes that the local character of its business, knowledge of the customers and their needs, and its comprehensive retail and business products, together with responsive decision-making at the branch and regional levels, enable the Bank to compete effectively in its geographic market. The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLB”), and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to applicable limits.

Competition

The banking and financial services industry is highly competitive in the New York and Pennsylvania markets. The Company competes actively for loans, deposits and customers with other national and state banks, thrift institutions, credit unions, retail brokerage firms, mortgage bankers, finance companies, insurance companies, and other regulated and unregulated providers of financial services. In order to compete with other financial service providers, the Company stresses the community nature of its operations and the development of profitable customer relationships across all lines of business.

4



The table below summarizes the Bank’s deposits and market share by the thirty counties of New York and Pennsylvania in which it has customer facilities. Market share is based on deposits of all commercial banks, credit unions, savings and loan associations, and savings banks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



County

 

State

 

Deposits as of
6/30/2007
(000’s omitted) (1)

 

Market
Share

 

Facilities

 

ATM’s

 

Towns/
Cities

 

Towns Where
Company
Has 1st or 2nd
Market Position

 

















Allegany

 

 

NY

 

 

$

194,112

 

 

 

 

47.1

%

 

9

 

 

8

 

 

8

 

 

8

 

 

Seneca

 

 

NY

 

 

 

159,547

 

 

 

 

40.6

%

 

4

 

 

3

 

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

Lewis

 

 

NY

 

 

 

86,342

 

 

 

 

35.2

%

 

4

 

 

2

 

 

3

 

 

3

 

 

Yates

 

 

NY

 

 

 

78,042

 

 

 

 

30.5

%

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

Cattaraugus

 

 

NY

 

 

 

272,094

 

 

 

 

28.5

%

 

10

 

 

7

 

 

8

 

 

7

 

 

Franklin

 

 

NY

 

 

 

138,827

 

 

 

 

26.4

%

 

7

 

 

4

 

 

5

 

 

5

 

 

St. Lawrence

 

 

NY

 

 

 

347,245

 

 

 

 

24.8

%

 

12

 

 

7

 

 

11

 

 

9

 

 

Wyoming

 

 

PA

 

 

 

88,475

 

 

 

 

22.6

%

 

4

 

 

2

 

 

4

 

 

3

 

 

Chautauqua

 

 

NY

 

 

 

221,190

 

 

 

 

14.1

%

 

12

 

 

11

 

 

10

 

 

6

 

 

Schuyler

 

 

NY

 

 

 

18,750

 

 

 

 

12.6

%

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

0

 

 

Livingston

 

 

NY

 

 

 

82,315

 

 

 

 

12.4

%

 

3

 

 

4

 

 

3

 

 

3

 

 

Steuben

 

 

NY

 

 

 

181,329

 

 

 

 

11.4

%

 

9

 

 

6

 

 

8

 

 

5

 

 

Jefferson

 

 

NY

 

 

 

140,329

 

 

 

 

10.5

%

 

5

 

 

5

 

 

4

 

 

2

 

 

Ontario

 

 

NY

 

 

 

158,286

 

 

 

 

10.5

%

 

7

 

 

12

 

 

6

 

 

4

 

 

Lackawanna

 

 

PA

 

 

 

476,302

 

 

 

 

10.2

%

 

12

 

 

12

 

 

8

 

 

4

 

 

Chemung

 

 

NY

 

 

 

115,501

 

 

 

 

8.4

%

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

0

 

 

Tioga

 

 

NY

 

 

 

34,056

 

 

 

 

8.3

%

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

1

 

 

Herkimer

 

 

NY

 

 

 

38,533

 

 

 

 

6.3

%

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

Wayne

 

 

NY

 

 

 

57,825

 

 

 

 

6.0

%

 

2

 

 

4

 

 

2

 

 

1

 

 

Luzerne

 

 

PA

 

 

 

260,249

 

 

 

 

4.4

%

 

7

 

 

8

 

 

6

 

 

2

 

 

Oswego

 

 

NY

 

 

 

45,206

 

 

 

 

4.1

%

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

Susquehanna

 

 

PA

 

 

 

22,601

 

 

 

 

4.1

%

 

2

 

 

0

 

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

Cayuga

 

 

NY

 

 

 

32,907

 

 

 

 

3.7

%

 

2

 

 

1

 

 

2

 

 

1

 

 

Essex

 

 

NY

 

 

 

16,965

 

 

 

 

3.5

%

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

Bradford

 

 

PA

 

 

 

22,641

 

 

 

 

2.6

%

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

1

 

 




























 

 

 

 

 

 

$

3,289,669

 

 

 

 

11.3

%

 

124

 

 

109

 

 

106

 

 

76

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clinton

 

 

NY

 

 

 

15,404

 

 

 

 

1.2

%

 

2

 

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

0

 

 

Oneida

 

 

NY

 

 

 

55,967

 

 

 

 

1.2

%

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

1

 

 

Tompkins

 

 

NY

 

 

 

15,547

 

 

 

 

0.9

%

 

1

 

 

0

 

 

1

 

 

0

 

 

Onondaga

 

 

NY

 

 

 

12,604

 

 

 

 

0.2

%

 

1

 

 

2

 

 

1

 

 

0

 

 

Erie

 

 

NY

 

 

 

31,503

 

 

 

 

0.1

%

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

1

 

 




























Total

 

 

 

 

 

$

3,420,694

 

 

 

 

4.4

%

 

131

 

 

115

 

 

112

 

 

78

 

 




























(1) Deposit market share data as of June 30, 2007, the most recent information available. Source: SNL Financial LLC

Employees

As of December 31, 2007, the Company employed 1,453 full-time equivalent employees. The Company offers a variety of employment benefits and considers its relationship with its employees to be good.

Supervision and Regulation

Bank holding companies and national banks are regulated by state and federal law. The following is a summary of certain laws and regulations that govern the Company and the Bank. To the extent that the following information describes statutory or regulatory provisions, it is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual statutes and regulations thereunder.

5



Federal Bank Holding Company Regulation

The Company is registered under, and is subject to, the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. This Act limits the type of companies that Community Bank System, Inc. may acquire or organize and the activities in which it or they may engage. In general, the Company and the Bank are prohibited from engaging in or acquiring direct or indirect control of any corporation engaged in non-banking activities unless such activities are so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto. In addition, the Company must obtain the prior approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “FRB”) to acquire control of any bank; to acquire, with certain exceptions, more than five percent of the outstanding voting stock of any other corporation; or to merge or consolidate with another bank holding company. As a result of such laws and regulation, the Company is restricted as to the types of business activities it may conduct and the Bank is subject to limitations on, among others, the types of loans and the amounts of loans it may make to any one borrower. The Financial Modernization Act of 1999 created, among other things, the “financial holding company”, a new entity which may engage in a broader range of activities that are “financial in nature”, including insurance underwriting, securities underwriting and merchant banking. Bank holding companies which are well capitalized and well managed under regulatory standards may convert to financial holding companies relatively easily through a notice filing with the FRB, which acts as the “umbrella regulator” for such entities. The Company may seek to become a financial holding company in the future.

Federal Reserve System

The Company is required by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to maintain cash reserves against its deposits. After exhausting other sources of funds, the Company may seek borrowings from the Federal Reserve for such purposes. Bank holding companies registered with the FRB are, among other things, restricted from making direct investments in real estate. Both the Company and the Bank are subject to extensive supervision and regulation, which focus on, among other things, the protection of depositors’ funds.

The Federal Reserve System also regulates the national supply of bank credit in order to influence general economic conditions. These policies have a significant influence on overall growth and distribution of loans, investments and deposits, and affect the interest rates charged on loans or paid for deposits.

Fluctuations in interest rates, which may result from government fiscal policies and the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve System, have a strong impact on the income derived from loans and securities, and interest paid on deposits and borrowings. While the Company and the Bank strive to anticipate changes and adjust their strategies for such changes, the level of earnings can be materially affected by economic circumstances beyond their control.

The Company and the Bank are subject to minimum capital requirements established, respectively, by the FRB, the OCC (as defined below) and the FDIC. For information on these capital requirements and the Company’s and the Bank’s capital ratios see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Capital” and Note P to the Financial Statements.

Office of Comptroller of the Currency

The Bank is supervised and regularly examined by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”). The various laws and regulations administered by the OCC affect corporate practices such as payment of dividends, incurring debt, and acquisition of financial institutions and other companies. It also affects business practices, such as payment of interest on deposits, the charging of interest on loans, types of business conducted and location of offices. There are no regulatory orders or outstanding issues resulting from regulatory examinations of the Bank.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) implemented a broad range of corporate governance, accounting and reporting reforms for companies that have securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In particular, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act established, among other things: (i) new requirements for audit and other key Board of Directors committees involving independence, expertise levels, and specified responsibilities; (ii) additional responsibilities regarding the oversight of financial statements by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the reporting company; (iii) the creation of an independent accounting oversight board for the accounting industry; (iv) new standards for auditors and the regulation of audits, including independence provisions which restrict non-audit services that accountants may provide to their audit clients; (v) increased disclosure and reporting obligations for the reporting company and its directors and executive officers including accelerated reporting of company stock transactions; (vi) a prohibition of personal loans to directors and officers, except certain loans made by insured financial institutions on nonpreferential terms and in compliance with other bank regulator requirements; and (vii) a range of new and increased civil and criminal penalties for fraud and other violation of the securities laws.

6



Item 1A. Risk Factors

Community Bank System, Inc. and its subsidiaries could be adversely impacted by various risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect the Company are described below. Adverse experience with these or other risks could have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

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

The Company’s main markets are located in the states of New York and Pennsylvania. The local economic conditions in these areas have a significant impact on the demand for the Company’s products and services as well as the ability of the Company’s customers to repay loans, the value of the collateral securing loans and the stability of the Company’s deposit funding sources. A prolonged economic downturn in these markets could negatively impact the Company.

The Company’s business depends on the creditworthiness of its customers. The Company periodically reviews the allowance for loan losses for adequacy considering economic conditions and trends, collateral values and credit quality indicators, including past charge-off experience and levels of past due loans and nonperforming assets. There is no certainty that the allowance for loan losses will be adequate over time to cover credit losses in the portfolio because of unanticipated adverse changes in the economy, market conditions or events adversely affecting specific customers, industries or markets.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to extensive state and federal regulation, supervision and legislation that govern nearly every aspect of its operations. Changes to these laws could affect the Company’s ability to deliver or expand its services and adversely impact its operations and financial condition.

The business strategy of the Company includes growth through acquisition. Any future acquisitions will be accompanied by the risks commonly encountered in acquisitions. These risks include among other things: the difficulty of integrating operations and personnel, the potential disruption of our ongoing business, the inability of our management to maximize our financial and strategic position, and the inability to maintain uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies and the impairment of relationships with employees and customers as a result of changes in management.

The Company relies on communication, information, operating and financial control systems from third-party service providers. Any failure or interruption or breach in security of these systems could result in failures or interruptions in our customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, servicing and/or loan origination systems. While the Company has policies and procedures designed to prevent or limit the effect of a failure, interruption or security breach, there can be no assurance that any such failures, interruptions or security breaches will not occur or, if they do occur, that their impact can be adequately mitigated.

The financial services industry is continually undergoing rapid technological change with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and to reduce costs. The Company’s future success depends, in part, upon its ability to address the needs of its customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands as well as to create additional efficiencies in the Company’s operations.

The market price of the Company’s common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of other factors including, but not limited to:

 

 

 

 

Changes in securities analysts’ expectations of financial performance

 

 

 

 

Volatility of stock market prices and volumes

 

 

 

 

Incorrect information or speculation

 

 

 

 

Changes in industry valuations

 

 

 

 

Variations in operating results from general expectations

 

 

 

 

Actions taken against the Company by various regulatory agencies

 

 

 

 

Changes in authoritative accounting guidance by Financial Accounting Standards Board or other regulatory agencies

 

 

 

 

Changes in general domestic economic conditions such as inflation rates, tax rates, unemployment rates, labor and healthcare cost trend rates, recessions, and changing government policies, laws and regulations

 

 

 

 

Severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism and other external events

7



Readers are cautioned that it is not possible to predict or identify all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect future results and that the above list should not be considered to be a complete list.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None

Item 2. Properties

The Company’s primary headquarters is located at 5790 Widewaters Parkway, Dewitt, New York, which is leased. In addition, the Company has 148 properties, of which 97 are owned and 51 are located in long-term leased premises. Real property and related banking facilities owned by the Company at December 31, 2007 had a net book value of $46.9 million and none of the properties was subject to any material encumbrances. For the year ended December 31, 2007, rental fees of $3.0 million were paid on facilities leased by the Company for its operations. The Company believes that its facilities are suitable and adequate for the Company’s current operations.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject in the normal course of business to various pending and threatened legal proceedings in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not anticipate that the aggregate liability, if any, arising out of litigation pending against the Company or its subsidiaries will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

There were no matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders during the quarter ended December 31, 2007.

Item 4A.Executive Officers of the Registrant

The executive officers of the Company and the Bank who are elected by the Board of Directors are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position


 


 


 

Mark E. Tryniski

 

47

 

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Tryniski assumed his current position in August 2006. He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from March 2004 to July 2006 and as the Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer from June 2003 to March 2004. He previously served as a partner in the Syracuse office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

 

 

 

 

 

Scott Kingsley

 

43

 

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank. Mr. Kingsley joined the Company in August 2004 in his current position. He served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Carlisle Engineered Products, Inc., a subsidiary of the Carlisle Companies, Inc., from 1997 until joining the Company.

 

 

 

 

 

Brian D. Donahue

 

51

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer. Mr. Donahue assumed his current position in August 2004. He served as the Bank’s Chief Credit Officer from February 2000 to July 2004 and as the Senior Lending Officer for the Southern Region of the Bank from 1992 until June 2004.

 

 

 

 

 

George J. Getman

 

51

 

Executive Vice President and General Counsel. Mr. Getman assumed his current position in January 2008. Prior to joining the Company, he was a partner with Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC and served as corporate counsel to the Company.

8



Part II

Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Stock, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company’s common stock has been trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CBU” since December 31, 1997. Prior to that, the common stock traded over-the-counter on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol “CBSI” beginning on September 16, 1986. There were 29,634,733 shares of common stock outstanding on December 31, 2007, held by approximately 3,530 registered shareholders of record. The following table sets forth the high and low prices for the common stock, and the cash dividends declared with respect thereto, for the periods indicated. The prices do not include retail mark-ups, mark-downs or commissions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year / Qtr

 

High
Price

 

Low
 Price

 

Quarterly
Dividend

 












2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4th

 

$

21.85

 

$

17.70

 

 

$

0.21

 

 

3rd

 

$

21.69

 

$

16.61

 

 

$

0.21

 

 

2nd

 

$

21.38

 

$

19.63

 

 

$

0.20

 

 

1st

 

$

23.63

 

$

19.64

 

 

$

0.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4th

 

$

25.11

 

$

21.79

 

 

$

0.20

 

 

3rd

 

$

22.84

 

$

19.45

 

 

$

0.20

 

 

2nd

 

$

22.38

 

$

18.75

 

 

$

0.19

 

 

1st

 

$

24.31

 

$

20.64

 

 

$

0.19

 

 

The Company has historically paid regular quarterly cash dividends on its common stock, and declared a cash dividend of $0.21 per share for the first quarter of 2008. The Board of Directors of the Company presently intends to continue the payment of regular quarterly cash dividends on the common stock, as well as to make payment of regularly scheduled dividends on the trust preferred stock when due, subject to the Company’s need for those funds. However, because substantially all of the funds available for the payment of dividends by the Company are derived from the Bank, future dividends will depend upon the earnings of the Bank, its financial condition, its need for funds and applicable governmental policies and regulations.

9



The following graph compares cumulative total shareholders returns on the Company’s common stock over the last five fiscal years to the S&P Small Cap Commercial Banks Index, the NASDAQ Bank Index, the S&P 500 Index, and the KBW Regional Banking Index. Total return values were calculated as of December 31 of each indicated year assuming a $100 investment on December 31, 2002 and reinvestment of dividends. The following table provides information as of December 31, 2007 with respect to shares of common stock that may be issued under the Company’s existing equity compensation plans:

CBU Long-term Total Return Performance Vs. Indices

(LINE GRAPH)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12/31/02

 

12/31/03

 

12/31/04

 

12/31/05

 

12/31/06

 

12/31/07

 















Community Bank System, Inc.

 

100.00

 

 

161.13

 

 

191.13

 

 

157.44

 

 

166.44

 

 

149.76

 

 

NASDAQ Bank Index

 

100.00

 

 

133.04

 

 

151.18

 

 

148.26

 

 

168.72

 

 

135.16

 

 

S&P Small Cap Commercial Bank Index

 

100.00

 

 

134.03

 

 

162.59

 

 

148.07

 

 

159.20

 

 

118.52

 

 

KBW Regional Banking Index

 

100.00

 

 

128.43

 

 

151.51

 

 

152.28

 

 

160.83

 

 

121.54

 

 

S&P 500 Index

 

100.00

 

 

128.68

 

 

142.65

 

 

149.65

 

 

173.27

 

 

182.78

 

 

10



The following table provides information as of December 31, 2007 with respect to shares of common stock that may be issued under the Company’s existing equity compensation plans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan Category

 

Number of
Securities to be
Issued upon
Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights (1)

 

Weighted-average
Exercise Price
on Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights

 

Number of
Securities
Remaining
Available for
Future Issuance

 













Equity compensation plans approved by security holders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1994 Long Term Incentive Plan

 

1,464,194

 

 

$

17.12

 

 

0

 

 

2004 Long Term Incentive Plan

 

1,314,325

 

 

$

22.79

 

 

2,626,579

 

 













Total

 

2,778,519

 

 

$

19.80

 

 

2,626,579

 

 














 

 

(1)

The number of securities includes unvested restricted stock issued of 57,240.

The following table shows treasury stock purchases during the fourth quarter 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of
Shares
Purchased

 

Average Price
Paid
Per share

 

Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs

 

Maximum Number
of Shares
That May Yet
be Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs

 
















October 1-31, 2007 (1)

 

0

 

 

 

$

0.00

 

 

1,379,811

 

1,020,189

 

 

November 1-30, 2007 (1)

 

0

 

 

 

 

0.00

 

 

1,379,811

 

1,020,189

 

 

December 1-31, 2007 (1)

 

85,000

 

 

 

 

19.87

 

 

1,464,811

 

935,189

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

85,000

 

 

 

$

19.87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

(1)

All shares were repurchased through the Company’s publicly announced share repurchase program. On April 20, 2005, the Company announced a twenty-month authorization to repurchase up to 1,500,000 of its outstanding shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions. On December 20, 2006, the Company extended the program through December 31, 2008. Also, on December 20, 2006, the Company announced an additional two-year authorization to repurchase up to 900,000 of its outstanding shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions. These repurchases will be for general corporate purposes, including those related to stock plan activities.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following table sets forth selected consolidated historical financial data of the Company as of and for each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2007. The historical information set forth under the captions “Income Statement Data” and “Balance Sheet Data” is derived from the audited financial statements while the information under the captions “Capital and Related Ratios”, “Selected Performance Ratios” and “Asset Quality Ratios” for all periods is unaudited. All financial information in this table should be read in conjunction with the information contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

11



SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


(In thousands except per share data and ratios)

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

2005

2004

 

2003

 













Income Statement Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loan interest income

 

$

186,784

 

$

167,113

 

$

147,608

 

$

137,077

 

$

125,256

 

Investment interest income

 

 

69,453

 

 

64,788

 

 

71,836

 

 

75,770

 

 

65,915

 

Interest expense

 

 

120,263

 

 

97,092

 

 

75,572

 

 

61,752

 

 

59,301

 

Net interest income

 

 

135,974

 

 

134,809

 

 

143,872

 

 

151,095

 

 

131,870

 

Provision for loan losses

 

 

2,004

 

 

6,585

 

 

8,534

 

 

8,750

 

 

11,195

 

Noninterest income

 

 

63,260

 

 

51,679

 

 

48,401

 

 

44,321

 

 

37,887

 

Gain (loss) on investment securities & early retirement of long-term borrowings

 

 

(9,974

)

 

(2,403

)

 

12,195

 

 

72

 

 

(2,698

)

Special charges/acquisition expenses

 

 

382

 

 

647

 

 

2,943

 

 

1,704

 

 

498

 

Noninterest expenses

 

 

141,692

 

 

126,556

 

 

124,446

 

 

118,195

 

 

102,213

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

45,182

 

 

50,297

 

 

68,545

 

 

66,839

 

 

53,153

 

Net income

 

 

42,891

 

 

38,377

 

 

50,805

 

 

50,196

 

 

40,380

 

 

Diluted earnings per share (1)

 

 

1.42

 

 

1.26

 

 

1.65

 

 

1.64

 

 

1.49

 

 

Diluted earnings per share – cash (1) (3)

 

 

1.62

 

 

1.47

 

 

1.84

 

 

1.81

 

 

1.64

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment securities

 

 

1,391,872

 

 

1,229,271

 

 

1,303,117

 

 

1,584,633

 

 

1,329,645

 

Loans, net of unearned discount

 

 

2,821,055

 

 

2,701,558

 

 

2,411,769

 

 

2,358,420

 

 

2,128,446

 

Allowance for loan losses

 

 

(36,427

)

 

(36,313

)

 

(32,581

)

 

(31,778

)

 

(29,095

)

Intangible assets

 

 

256,216

 

 

246,136

 

 

224,878

 

 

232,500

 

 

196,111

 

Total assets

 

 

4,697,502

 

 

4,497,797

 

 

4,152,529

 

 

4,393,295

 

 

3,854,984

 

Deposits

 

 

3,228,464

 

 

3,168,299

 

 

2,983,507

 

 

2,927,524

 

 

2,723,950

 

Borrowings

 

 

929,328

 

 

805,495

 

 

653,090

 

 

920,511

 

 

667,786

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

478,784

 

 

461,528

 

 

457,595

 

 

474,628

 

 

404,828

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital and Related Ratios:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividend declared per share (1)

 

$

0.82

 

$

0.78

 

$

0.74

 

$

0.68

 

$

0.61

 

Book value per share (1)

 

 

16.16

 

 

15.37

 

 

15.28

 

 

15.49

 

 

14.29

 

Tangible book value per share (1)

 

 

7.51

 

 

7.17

 

 

7.77

 

 

7.90

 

 

7.37

 

Market capitalization (in millions)

 

 

589

 

 

690

 

 

676

 

 

866

 

 

694

 

Tier 1 leverage ratio

 

 

7.77

%

 

8.81

%

 

7.57

%

 

6.94

%

 

7.26

%

Total risk-based capital to risk-adjusted assets

 

 

14.05

%

 

15.47

%

 

13.64

%

 

13.18

%

 

13.01

%

Tangible equity to tangible assets

 

 

5.01

%

 

5.07

%

 

5.93

%

 

5.82

%

 

5.70

%

Dividend payout ratio

 

 

57.1

%

 

60.7

%

 

43.9

%

 

40.9

%

 

40.2

%

Period end common shares outstanding (1)

 

 

29,635

 

 

30,020

 

 

29,957

 

 

30,642

 

 

28,330

 

Diluted weighted-average shares
outstanding (1)

 

 

30,232

 

 

30,392

 

 

30,838

 

 

30,670

 

 

27,035

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selected Performance Ratios:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets

 

 

0.93

%

 

0.90

%

 

1.19

%

 

1.20

%

 

1.16

%

Return on average equity

 

 

9.20

%

 

8.36

%

 

10.89

%

 

11.39

%

 

11.78

%

Net interest margin

 

 

3.64

%

 

3.91

%

 

4.17

%

 

4.45

%

 

4.68

%

Noninterest income/operating income (FTE)

 

 

26.1

%

 

24.8

%

 

27.7

%

 

21.1

%

 

19.6

%

Efficiency ratio(2)

 

 

63.3

%

 

59.9

%

 

56.8

%

 

52.8

%

 

53.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asset Quality Ratios:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for loan loss/total loans

 

 

1.29

%

 

1.34

%

 

1.35

%

 

1.35

%

 

1.37

%

Nonperforming loans/total loans

 

 

0.32

%

 

0.47

%

 

0.55

%

 

0.55

%

 

0.62

%

Allowance for loan loss/nonperforming loans

 

 

410

%

 

288

%

 

245

%

 

245

%

 

219

%

Net charge-offs/average loans

 

 

0.10

%

 

0.24

%

 

0.33

%

 

0.37

%

 

0.54

%

Loan loss provision/net charge-offs

 

 

76

%

 

108

%

 

110

%

 

104

%

 

109

%

(1) All share and share-based amounts reflect the two-for-one stock split effected as a 100% stock dividend on April 12, 2004.

(2) Efficiency ratio excludes intangible amortization, gain (loss) on investment securities & debt extinguishments and special charges/acquisition expenses.

(3) Cash earnings are reconciled to GAAP net income in Table 1 on page 15.

12



Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) primarily reviews the financial condition and results of operations of Community Bank System, Inc. (“the Company”) for the past two years, although in some circumstances a period longer than two years is covered in order to comply with Securities and Exchange Commission disclosure requirements or to more fully explain long-term trends. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Selected Consolidated Financial Information on page 12 and the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes that appear on pages 41 through 71. All references in the discussion to the financial condition and results of operations are to the consolidated position and results of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Unless otherwise noted, all earnings per share (“EPS”) figures disclosed in the MD&A refer to diluted EPS; interest income, net interest income and net interest margin are presented on a fully tax-equivalent (“FTE”) basis. The term “this year” and equivalent terms refer to results in calendar year 2007, “last year” and equivalent terms refer to calendar year 2006, and all references to income statement results correspond to full-year activity unless otherwise noted.

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Community Bank System, Inc. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements are set herein under the caption “Forward-Looking Statements” on page 37.

Critical Accounting Policies

As a result of the complex and dynamic nature of the Company’s business, management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying the most appropriate accounting policies for its various areas of operations. The policy decision process not only ensures compliance with the latest generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), but also reflects on management’s discretion with regard to choosing the most suitable methodology for reporting the Company’s financial performance. It is management’s opinion that the accounting estimates covering certain aspects of the business have more significance than others due to the relative importance of those areas to overall performance, or the level of subjectivity in the selection process. These estimates affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Management believes that the critical accounting estimates include:

 

 

Allowance for loan losses – The allowance for loan losses reflects management’s best estimate of probable loan losses in the Company’s loan portfolio. Determination of the allowance for loan losses is inherently subjective. It requires significant estimates including the amounts and timing of expected future cash flows on impaired loans and the amount of estimated losses on pools of homogeneous loans which is based on historical loss experience and consideration of current economic trends, all of which may be susceptible to significant change.

 

 

Actuarial assumptions associated with pension, post-retirement and other employee benefit plans – These assumptions include discount rate, rate of future compensation increases and expected return on plan assets. Specific discussion of the assumptions used by management is discussed in Note K on pages 61 through 64.

 

 

Provision for income taxes – The Company is subject to examinations from various taxing authorities. Such examinations may result in challenges to the tax return treatment applied by the Company to specific transactions. Management believes that the assumptions and judgments used to record tax-related assets or liabilities have been appropriate. Should tax laws change or the taxing authorities determine that management’s assumptions were inappropriate, an adjustment may be required which could have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations.

 

 

Carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets – The carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets is based upon discounted cash flow modeling techniques that require management to make estimates regarding the amount and timing of expected future cash flows. It also requires them to select a discount rate that reflects the current return requirements of the market in relation to present risk-free interest rates, required equity market premiums and company-specific risk indicators.

A summary of the accounting policies used by management is disclosed in Note A, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”, starting on page 46.

13



Executive Summary

The Company’s business philosophy is to operate as a community bank with local decision-making, principally in non-metropolitan markets, providing a broad array of banking and financial services to retail, commercial, and municipal customers.

The Company’s core operating objectives are: (i) grow the branch network, primarily through a disciplined acquisition strategy, and certain selective de novo expansions, (ii) build profitable loan and deposit volume using both organic and acquisition strategies, (iii) increase the non-interest income component of total revenues through development of banking-related fee income, growth in existing financial services business units, and the acquisition of additional financial services and banking businesses, and (iv) utilize technology to deliver customer-responsive products and services and to reduce operating costs.

Significant factors management reviews to evaluate achievement of the Company’s operating objectives and its operating results and financial condition include, but are not limited to: net income and earnings per share, return on assets and equity, net interest margins, noninterest income, operating expenses, asset quality, loan and deposit growth, capital management, performance of individual banking and financial services units, performance of specific product lines, liquidity and interest rate sensitivity, enhancements to customer products and services, technology advancements, market share, peer comparisons, and the performance of acquisition and integration activities.

The Company’s reported net income for the year of $42.9 million, or $1.42 per share, was 12% above 2006’s reported earnings of $38.4 million, or $1.26 per share. The 2007 results include a $6.9 million benefit related to the settlement and a related change in a position taken on certain previously unrecognized tax positions, higher noninterest income, excluding securities gains and debt extinguishments costs, improved asset quality, and organic and acquired loan and deposit growth. This was partially offset by a $9.9 million pretax charge related to the early redemption of $25 million of variable-rate, trust preferred obligations, and the refinancing of $150 million of Federal Home Loan Bank advances into lower cost instruments, and higher operating expenses. Last year’s results included a $2.4 million charge related to the early redemption of fixed rate, trust-preferred obligations. Noninterest income, excluding gain/loss on investment securities and debt extinguishments, increased 22% over 2006 as a result of strong growth from both banking and non-banking sources. Capital levels remained strong.

Asset quality continued to improve in 2007, with a reduction in the loan charge-off, delinquency and nonperforming loan ratios versus 2006. The Company experienced year-over-year loan growth in all portfolios: consumer installment, consumer mortgage and business lending, due to both the TLNB acquisition and organic loan growth. The investment portfolio increased from the prior year due to the reinvestment of portfolio cash flows as well as a $200 million short-term investment leverage strategy implemented in the third quarter. Average deposits increased in 2007 as compared to 2006 as the result of organic growth and the TLNB, ONB and Elmira acquisitions. External borrowings increased from the end of December 2006 due primarily to the short-term investment leverage strategy, partially offset by the early redemption of the $30 million of fixed-rate trust preferred securities in January 2007.

Net Income and Profitability

Net income for 2007 was $42.9 million, or $1.42 per share, up $4.5 million, or 11.8%, from 2006’s earnings of $38.4 million, or $1.26 per share. The 2007 results include a $9.9 million, or $0.20 per share, pre-tax charge related to the early redemption of $25 million of variable-rate, trust preferred obligations, as well as the refinancing of $150 million of Federal Home Loan Bank advances into lower cost instruments. The 2007 results also included a $6.9 million, or $0.23 per share, benefit related to the settlement and a related change in a position taken on certain previously unrecognized tax positions. The 2006 earnings included a $2.4 million, or $0.06 per share, charge related to the early redemption of fixed rate, trust-preferred obligations.

In addition to the earnings results presented above in accordance with GAAP, the Company provides cash earnings per share which excludes the after-tax effect of the amortization of intangible assets, the market value adjustments on net assets acquired in mergers, and the noncash portion of debt extinguishments costs. Management believes that this information helps investors understand the effect of acquisition activity and certain noncash transactions in reported results. Cash earnings per share for 2007 were $1.62, up 10.2% from $1.47 for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Net income and earnings per share for 2006 were $38.4 million and $1.26, down 24% from 2005 results. In 2005, the Company generated a $0.29 per share after-tax gain through the sale of securities that had optimized their total return and interest-rate sensitivity characteristics. The 2006 earnings included incremental stock option expense of $1.8 million, or $0.05 per share, a $2.4 million, or $0.06 per share, charge related to the early redemption of fixed rate, trust-preferred obligations, as well as $0.6 million, or $0.02 per share, of acquisition expenses and special charges. The 2005 results were impacted by a $2.9 million, or $0.07 per share, nonrecurring charge related to the early retirement of certain executives.

14



Table 1: Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income To Non-GAAP Cash Net Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 













Net income

 

$

42,891

 

$

38,377

 

$

50,805

 

$

50,196

 

$

40,380

 

After-tax adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net amortization of market value adjustments on net assets acquired in mergers

 

 

701

 

 

813

 

 

655

 

 

(126

)

 

72

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

4,808

 

 

4,598

 

 

5,281

 

 

5,568

 

 

3,869

 

Noncash portion of debt extinguishments charge

 

 

466

 

 

794

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

0

 


















Net income – cash

 

$ 48,866

 

$ 44,582

 

$ 56,741

 

$ 55,638

 

$ 44,321

 


















Table 2: Condensed Income Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


(000’s omitted, except per share data)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 









Net interest income

 

$

135,974

 

$

134,809

 

$

143,872

 

Loan loss provision

 

 

2,004

 

 

6,585

 

 

8,534

 

Noninterest income

 

 

53,286

 

 

49,276

 

 

60,596

 

Operating expenses

 

 

142,074

 

 

127,203

 

 

127,389

 












Income before taxes

 

 

45,182

 

 

50,297

 

 

68,545

 

Income taxes

 

 

2,291

 

 

11,920

 

 

17,740

 












Net income

 

$

42,891

 

$

38,377

 

$

50,805

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

1.42

 

$

1.26

 

$

1.65

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share-cash(1)

 

$

1.62

 

$

1.47

 

$

1.84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Cash earnings are reconciled to GAAP net income in Table 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The primary factors explaining 2007 performance are discussed in detail in the remaining sections of this document and are summarized as follows:

 

 

As shown in Table 2 above, net interest income increased $1.2 million, or 0.9%, due to a $321 million increase in average earning assets, partially offset by a 27 basis point decrease in the net interest margin. Average loans grew $230 million or 9.1%, primarily due to strong consumer installment and retail mortgage growth as well as the addition of TLNB in June 2007, ONB in December 2006, and Elmira in August 2006. Average investments increased $48 million, or 3.8% in 2007. Short-term cash equivalents also increased $43 million as compared to the end of 2006. A majority of the growth in earning assets was funded by $188 million, or 6.1%, higher average deposits, primarily due to the acquisitions of TLNB, ONB and Elmira. Average borrowings increased $148 million due to the incremental investment leverage, as well as the three acquisitions completed since August 2006.

 

 

The loan loss provision of $2.0 million decreased $4.6 million, or 70%, from the prior year level. Net charge-offs of $2.6 million decreased by $3.4 million from 2006, reducing the net charge-off ratio (net charge-offs / total average loans) to 0.10% for the year. The Company’s asset quality became even more favorable in 2007 as evidenced by improvement in key metrics such as nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans, nonperforming assets as a percentage of loans and other real estate owned, and delinquent loans (30+ days through nonaccruing) as a percentage of total loans. Additional information on trends and policy related to asset quality is provided in the asset quality section on pages 28 through 31.

 

 

Noninterest income for 2007 of $53.3 million increased by $4.0 million, or 8.1%, from 2006’s level, due both to organic growth and the acquisitions of HBT, TLNB, ONB and Elmira, partially offset by a $9.9 million debt refinancing charge, comprised of the refinance of certain Federal Home Loan Bank advances and the early redemption of $25 million of trust preferred securities. Fees from banking services were up $4.2 million or 14%, primarily due to several revenue enhancement initiatives implemented over the last two years, as well as the acquisitions completed in 2007 and 2006. Financial services revenue was $7.4 million, or 36% higher, mostly from strong growth at the Company’s benefit plan administration and consulting business and the acquisition of HBT. In 2006 the Company also incurred a $2.4 million charge related to the early redemption of $30 million of fixed-rate trust preferred obligations.

15



 

 

Total operating expenses increased $14.9 million or 11.7% in 2007 to $142.1 million. The increase was primarily attributable to incremental operating expenses related to the TLNB, HBT, Elmira and ONB acquisitions. Additionally, expenses were up due to higher business development costs, a more robust marketing strategy, higher volume based processing costs, and increased expenses related to investments in the technology and facilities infrastructure.

 

 

The Company’s combined effective federal and state income tax rate decreased 18.6 percentage points in 2007 to 5.1%, primarily as a result of a settlement of certain previously unrecognized tax positions and a higher proportion of tax exempt income in part due to the higher debt restructuring charges in 2007.

Selected Profitability and Other Measures

Return on average assets, return on average equity, dividend payout and equity to asset ratios for the years indicated are as follows:

Table 3: Selected Ratios

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 









Return on average assets

 

 

0.93

%

 

0.90

%

 

1.19

%

Return on average equity

 

 

9.20

%

 

8.36

%

 

10.89

%

Dividend payout ratio

 

 

57.1

%

 

60.7

%

 

43.9

%

Average equity to average assets

 

 

10.14

%

 

10.80

%

 

10.93

%

As displayed in Table 3 above, the return on average assets increased in 2007 as compared to 2006 and decreased as compared to 2005. The increase in comparison to 2006 was a result of higher net income primarily due to the 2007 and 2006 acquisitions and the improved asset quality. The decrease from 2005 to 2006 was a result of lower net income primarily due to lower gains on sale of investment securities and lower net interest income. Reported return on equity in 2007 was higher than 2006, but below 2005’s level.

The dividend payout ratio for 2007 was below 2006’s level due to a larger increase in net income than the 5.0% increase in dividends declared. The dividend payout ratio increased in 2006 as compared to 2005, due to the decrease in net income and the 5.3% increase in the quarterly dividend rate.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income is the amount that interest and fees on earning assets (loans and investments) exceeds the cost of funds, which consists primarily of interest paid to the Company’s depositors and interest on external borrowings. Net interest margin is the difference between the gross yield on earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing funds as a percentage of earning assets.

As disclosed in Table 4, net interest income (with nontaxable income converted to a fully tax-equivalent basis) totaled $150.8 million in 2007, up $1.3 million, or 0.9%, from the prior year. A $321 million increase in average interest-earning assets more than offset a $337 million increase in average interest-bearing liabilities and a 27 basis point decrease in the net interest margin. As reflected in Table 5, the volume changes mentioned above increased net interest income by $12.1 million, while the lower net interest margin had a $10.8 million negative impact.

The net interest margin declined 27 basis points from 3.91% in 2006 to 3.64% in 2007. This decline was primarily attributable to a 35 basis point increase in the cost of funds having a greater impact than the nine basis point increase in earning-asset yields. The increased cost of funds was due to rising rates on deposit products, primarily time deposits in the first three quarters of the year, as the rates on new volume were above those of maturing time deposits, in part due to increases in short-term market rates in 2005 and 2006. The rates on external borrowings decreased throughout the year, as a result of the early redemption of fixed rate trust preferred securities in the first quarter of 2007 and four rate reductions by the Federal Reserve to the overnight federal funds rates since August of 2007. The yield on loans increased 16 basis points in 2007. The yield on investments decreased from 6.04% in 2006 to 5.98% in 2007 as the yields on the investments increased in the first half of the year and declined during the third and fourth quarters, due mostly to the leveraging strategy undertaken in mid-2007, as well as declines in short and medium term rates in the second half of the year.

16



The net interest margin in 2006 was 3.91%, compared to 4.17% in 2005. This 26 basis point decline was primarily attributable to the four rate hikes (25 basis points each) by the Federal Reserve to the overnight federal funds rates in the first half of 2006, having a greater impact on funding costs (up 58 basis points) than earning-asset yields (up 29 basis points). The rising short-term market rates resulted in steady increases to rates throughout the year (2006) on interest-bearing deposits (up 67 basis points) and total external borrowings (up 98 basis points). The yield on loans increased 43 basis points, with the majority of the increases occurring in the second and third quarters, reflective of the timing of the Federal Reserve’s rate increases. The yield on investments increased slightly from 6.03% in 2005 to 6.04% in 2006 as the sold, maturing and called securities had yields similar to those of the overall portfolio.

As shown in Table 4, total interest income increased by $24.5 million, or 9.9%, in 2007. Table 5 reveals that higher average earning assets contributed a positive $21.0 million variance and higher yields contributed $3.5 million. Average loans grew a total of $229.6 million in 2007, as a result of $186.5 million from the acquisitions of TLNB in June 2007, ONB in December 2006 and Elmira in August 2006 as well as $43.1 million of organic growth in the consumer mortgage and consumer installment portfolios. Interest and fees on loans increased $19.8 million or 11.8%. The increase was attributable to higher average loan balances as well as a 16 basis point increase in loan yields due to the increase in short-term rates in the first half of the year. Total interest income increased by $12.8 million, or 5.5% in 2006. Table 5 indicates that higher average earning assets contributed a positive $1.5 million variance and higher yields contributed $11.3 million or 88% of the improvement. Average loans grew $139.3 million in 2006 over 2005, as a result of $78.9 million from the acquisitions of Elmira and ONB and $60.4 million of total organic growth from all portfolios. Interest and fees on loans increased $19.6 million, or 13.2%, in 2006 as compared to 2005. The increase was attributable to higher average loan balances, as well as a 43 basis point increase in loan yields due to increases in short-term rates.

In 2005, the Company sold certain investment securities in the then flat yield environment, to take advantage of market conditions to shorten the average life of the portfolio and to maximize its total return. In 2006, the portfolio continued to decline due to the contractual maturing and early calling of securities. The cash flows were used to pay down short-term borrowings and the excess funds invested in short-term cash equivalents, as long-term investments were not attractive due to market conditions. As a result, average investments for 2006 decreased $142.3 million versus 2005, partially offset by an increase in cash equivalents of $27.6 million. The expected life-to-maturity of the investment portfolio was reduced from 5.3 years at December 31, 2005 to 4.7 at December 31, 2006. Refer to the “Investments” section of the MD&A on pages 34 through 36 for further information. During the third quarter of 2007, a $200 million short-term investment leverage strategy was initiated, which produced positive net interest income and served to demonstrate the company’s ability to freely access liquidity sources despite tightened credit market conditions.

Investment interest income in 2007 of $83.6 million was $4.7 million, or 5.9%, higher than the prior year as a result of a larger portfolio (positive $4.5 million impact), partially offset by a six basis point decrease in the investment yield. The increase in the portfolio was a result of the short-term leverage strategy implemented in the third quarter of 2007. Investment interest income in 2006 of $78.9 million was $6.8 million, or 7.9%, lower than the prior year as a result of a smaller portfolio (negative $6.8 million impact). The performance of the investment portfolio in 2007 and 2006 remained strong despite the interest rate environment.

The average earning asset yield grew nine basis points to 6.54% in 2007 because of the previously mentioned increase in loan yields, partially offset by the decrease in the investment yields. The average earning asset yield grew 29 basis points to 6.45% in 2006 from 6.16% in 2005. During 2005, changes in market interest rates combined with the strategic investment portfolio actions previously discussed resulted in the yield on the loan portfolio being higher than the investment portfolio by 21 basis points. This gap widened in 2006 as the yield on the loan portfolio expanded and investment portfolio yield stabilized resulting in loan yields being 63 basis points higher than the yield on the investment portfolio. In 2007, the gap increased to 85 basis points as the yield on the loan portfolio continued to expand while the yield on the investment portfolio decreased slightly reflective of the loan portfolio having a significant proportion of variable and adjustable rate loans which benefited from higher rates, principally in the first half of the year, whereas the investment portfolio was predominately comprised of fixed rate instruments.

Total average funding (deposits and borrowings) in 2007 increased $336.4 million or 9.0%. Deposits increased $188.3 million, $170.8 million attributable to the acquisitions of TLNB, ONB and Elmira and $17.5 million to organic deposit growth. Interest bearing deposits increased $188.8 million as a result of acquisitions, the continued emphasis of new interest bearing checking account products, and customers shifting funds from noninterest checking deposits to time and other higher rate deposit products as rates rose. Average external borrowings increased $148.1 million in 2007 as compared to the prior year due primarily to the incremental leverage strategy in the third quarter. In 2006 total average funding remained consistent with 2005’s level. Deposits increased $88.5 million, $52.6 million attributable to the acquisitions of Elmira and ONB and $35.9 million due to organic deposit growth. Average external borrowings declined $88.6 million in 2006 as compared to the prior year as cash flows from the maturing securities were used to reduce short-term borrowings.

17



The cost of funding increased 15 basis points during the first half of 2007 and decreased five basis points in the fourth quarter of 2007 reflective of the increases to short-term rates by the Federal Reserve in 2006 and the subsequent decreases experienced in the second half of 2007. Interest rates on deposit accounts were raised throughout the first half of the year, with increases in all product offerings. The primary drivers of the increase in deposit cost of funds were customers transferring funds from non interest checking and lower-rate interest accounts to higher yielding time deposit accounts, as well as transferring noninterest bearing accounts to new interest-bearing checking products. This trend is demonstrated by the percentage of average deposits that were in time deposit accounts and interest bearing checking accounts increasing from 44.0% and 11.3%, respectively, in 2006 to 44.8% and 13.6%, respectively, in 2007, while noninterest checking deposits, savings and money market accounts decreased from 18.5%, 15.2% and 11.0%, respectively, in 2006, to 17.4%, 14.1% and 10.1%, respectively, in 2007. The prepayment of trust preferred securities in early 2007 and the inverted yield curve that existed throughout 2007 contributed to the decrease in the interest rate differential between short and long-term debt instruments.

Total interest expense increased by $23.2 million to $120.3 million in 2007. As shown in Table 5, higher interest rates on deposits and external borrowings resulted in $12.3 million of this increase, while the higher deposit and borrowings balances accounted for $10.9 million of the increase in interest expense. Interest expense as a percentage of earning assets increased by 36 basis points to 2.90%. The rate on interest-bearing deposits increased 43 basis points to 2.89%, due largely to increases in time deposits and money market rates throughout 2007 and the previously discussed shifting of funds to higher rate deposit products. The rate on external borrowings decreased 10 basis points to 5.19% because of the aforementioned early redemption of fixed-rate trust preferred obligations as well as the favorable rates on borrowings associated with the leverage strategy undertaken in mid-2007. Total interest expense increased by $21.5 million to $97.1 million in 2006 as compared to 2005. Higher interest rates accounted for the vast majority of the increase. The rate on interest-bearing deposits increased 67 basis points to 2.46% and the rate on external borrowings increased 98 basis points to 5.29% in 2006.

18



The following table sets forth information related to average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and their associated yields and rates for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. Interest income and yields are on a fully tax-equivalent basis using marginal income tax rates of 38.8% in 2007, 38.4% in 2006, and 38.6% in 2005. Average balances are computed by totaling the daily ending balances in a period and dividing by the number of days in that period. Loan yields and amounts earned include loan fees. Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 4: Average Balance Sheet

 

(000’s omitted except yields and rates)

 

Year Ended December 31, 2007

 

Year Ended December 31, 2006

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

 

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest

 

Avg.
Yield/Rate
Paid

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest

 

Avg.
Yield/Rate Paid

 

Average
Balance

 

Interest

 

Avg.
Yield/Rate
Paid

 




















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents

 

$

79,827

 

$

4,019

 

5.03

%

$

36,458

 

$

1,824

 

5.00

%

$

8,867

 

$

281

 

3.17

%

Taxable investment securities (1)

 

 

830,315

 

 

46,048

 

5.55

%

 

754,618

 

 

41,702

 

5.53

%

 

881,696

 

 

49,739

 

5.64

%

Nontaxable investment securities (1)

 

 

488,154

 

 

33,540

 

6.87

%

 

515,459

 

 

35,418

 

6.87

%

 

530,639

 

 

35,704

 

6.73

%

Loans (net of unearned discount)

 

 

2,743,804

 

 

187,480

 

6.83

%

 

2,514,173

 

 

167,676

 

6.67

%

 

2,374,832

 

 

148,075

 

6.24

%

 

 






 

 

 






 

 

 






 

 

 

Total interest-earning assets

 

 

4,142,100

 

 

271,087

 

6.54

%

 

3,820,708

 

 

246,620

 

6.45

%

 

3,796,034

 

 

233,799

 

6.16

%

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Noninterest-earning assets

 

 

455,123

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

431,940

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

470,966

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

4,597,223

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,252,648

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,267,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest checking, savings and money market deposits

 

$

1,228,447

 

 

13,634

 

1.11

%

$

1,149,236

 

 

11,792

 

1.03

%

$

1,175,818

 

 

8,959

 

0.76

%

Time deposits

 

 

1,457,768

 

 

64,048

 

4.39

%

 

1,348,167

 

 

49,752

 

3.69

%

 

1,214,719

 

 

33,793

 

2.78

%

Short-term borrowings

 

 

257,874

 

 

10,644

 

4.13

%

 

144,043

 

 

5,513

 

3.83

%

 

366,775

 

 

11,249

 

3.07

%

Long-term borrowings

 

 

562,672

 

 

31,937

 

5.68

%

 

528,355

 

 

30,035

 

5.68

%

 

394,195

 

 

21,571

 

5.47

%

 

 






 

 

 






 

 

 






 

 

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

 

3,506,761

 

 

120,263

 

3.43

%

 

3,169,801

 

 

97,092

 

3.06

%

 

3,151,507

 

 

75,572

 

2.40

%

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Noninterest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noninterest checking deposits

 

 

566,981

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

567,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

585,913

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other liabilities

 

 

57,283

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

56,149

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

63,004

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

466,198

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

459,198

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

466,576

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

4,597,223

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,252,648

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,267,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest earnings

 

 

 

 

$

150,824

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

149,528

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

158,227

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest spread

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.11

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.39

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.76

%

Net interest margin on interest-earning assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.64

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.91

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.17

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fully tax-equivalent adjustment

 

 

 

 

$

14,850

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

14,719

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

14,355

 

 

 


(1) Averages for investment securities are based on historical cost and the yields do not give effect to changes in fair value that is reflected as a component of shareholders’ equity and deferred taxes.

19



As discussed above, the change in net interest income (fully tax-equivalent basis) may be analyzed by segregating the volume and rate components of the changes in interest income and interest expense for each underlying category.

Table 5: Rate/Volume

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2007 Compared to 2006

 

2006 Compared to 2005

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

Increase (Decrease) Due to Change in (1)

 

Increase (Decrease) Due to Change in (1)

 

 

 


 


 

(000’s omitted)

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Net
Change

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Net
Change

 

 

 


 


 

Interest earned on:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time deposits in other banks

 

 

$

2,184

 

 

 

$

11

 

 

 

$

2,195

 

 

 

$

1,300

 

 

 

$

243

 

 

 

$

1,543

 

 

Taxable investment securities

 

 

 

4,197

 

 

 

 

149

 

 

 

 

4,346

 

 

 

 

(7,041

)

 

 

 

(996

)

 

 

 

(8,037

)

 

Nontaxable investment securities

 

 

 

(1,876

)

 

 

 

(2

)

 

 

 

(1,878

)

 

 

 

(1,034

)

 

 

 

748

 

 

 

 

(286

)

 

Loans (net of unearned discount)

 

 

 

15,611

 

 

 

 

4,193

 

 

 

 

19,804

 

 

 

 

8,965

 

 

 

 

10,636

 

 

 

 

19,601

 

 

Total interest-earning assets (2)

 

 

 

20,994

 

 

 

 

3,473

 

 

 

 

24,467

 

 

 

 

1,529

 

 

 

 

11,292

 

 

 

 

12,821

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid on:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest checking, savings and money market deposits

 

 

 

843

 

 

 

 

999

 

 

 

 

1,842

 

 

 

 

(207

)

 

 

 

3,040

 

 

 

 

2,833

 

 

Time deposits

 

 

 

4,276

 

 

 

 

10,020

 

 

 

 

14,296

 

 

 

 

4,017

 

 

 

 

11,942

 

 

 

 

15,959

 

 

Short-term borrowings

 

 

 

4,667

 

 

 

 

464

 

 

 

 

5,131

 

 

 

 

(8,033

)

 

 

 

2,297

 

 

 

 

(5,736

)

 

Long-term borrowings

 

 

 

1,947

 

 

 

 

(45

)

 

 

 

1,902

 

 

 

 

7,598

 

 

 

 

866

 

 

 

 

8,464

 

 

Total interest-bearing liabilities (2)

 

 

 

10,902

 

 

 

 

12,269

 

 

 

 

23,171

 

 

 

 

441

 

 

 

 

21,079

 

 

 

 

21,520

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest earnings (2)

 

 

 

12,099

 

 

 

 

(10,803

)

 

 

 

1,296

 

 

 

 

1,022

 

 

 

 

(9,721

)

 

 

 

(8,699

)

 

(1) The change in interest due to both rate and volume has been allocated to volume and rate changes in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of change in each.

(2) Changes due to volume and rate are computed from the respective changes in average balances and rates of the totals; they are not a summation of the changes of the components.

20



Noninterest Income

The Company’s sources of noninterest income are of three primary types: general banking services related to loans, deposits and other core customer activities typically provided through the branch network; financial services, comprised of employee benefit plan administration, actuarial and consulting services (generated by BPAS which includes BPA, Harbridge and HBT), trust services, investment and insurance products (generated by CISI and CBNA Insurance), asset management (generated by Nottingham), and periodic transactions, most often net gains (losses) from the sale of investments and prepayment of debt instruments.

Table 6: Noninterest Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

(000’s omitted except ratios)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 









Deposit service charges and fees

 

 

$

24,178

 

 

 

$

22,183

 

 

 

$

21,961

 

 

Benefit plan administration, consulting and actuarial fees

 

 

 

19,700

 

 

 

 

13,205

 

 

 

 

11,193

 

 

Trust, investment and asset management fees

 

 

 

8,264

 

 

 

 

7,396

 

 

 

 

7,307

 

 

Commissions and other

 

 

 

5,561

 

 

 

 

4,713

 

 

 

 

4,630

 

 

Electronic banking

 

 

 

4,595

 

 

 

 

3,443

 

 

 

 

2,788

 

 

Mortgage banking

 

 

 

962

 

 

 

 

739

 

 

 

 

522

 

 


















Subtotal

 

 

 

63,260

 

 

 

 

51,679

 

 

 

 

48,401

 

 

Gain (loss) on investment securities & debt extinguishments

 

 

 

(9,974

)

 

 

 

(2,403

)

 

 

 

12,195

 

 


















Total noninterest income

 

 

$

53,286

 

 

 

$

49,276

 

 

 

$

60,596

 

 


















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noninterest income/operating income (FTE)

 

 

 

26.1

%

 

 

 

24.8

%

 

 

 

27.7

%

 

As displayed in Table 6, noninterest income, excluding security gains and debt extinguishments costs, increased by 22% to $63.3 million largely as a result of growth in recurring bank fees and benefit plan administration, consulting and actuarial fees and the acquisition of HBT in May 2007. The loss on the sale of investment securities and debt extinguishments increased $7.6 million as 2007 included a one-time $9.9 million charge related to the early redemption of $25 million of variable-rate trust preferred obligations, as well as the refinance of $150 million of Federal Home Loan Bank advances into lower cost instruments and 2006 included a $2.4 million charge related to the early retirement of $30 million of fixed-rate trust preferred securities. Refer to the “Investments” section of the MD&A on pages 34 through 36 for further information. Total noninterest income, excluding security gains and debt extinguishments costs, of $51.7 million for 2006 increased by 6.8% over 2005, largely as a result of higher utilization of bank services and growth at BPAS.

Noninterest income as a percent of operating income (FTE basis) was 26.1% in 2007, up 1.3 percentage points from the prior year. Excluding the gain (loss) on investment securities and debt extinguishments, noninterest income as a percent of operating income (FTE basis) was 29.5% in 2007, a 3.8 percentage point increase from 25.7% for 2006. This increase was primarily driven by the aforementioned strong growth in recurring bank fees, BPAS income, as well as the adverse impact the 27-basis point decrease in the net interest margin had on that segment of revenue. This ratio is considered an important measure for determining the progress the Company is making on one of its primary long-term strategies, which is the expansion of noninterest income in order to diversify its revenue sources and reduce reliance on net interest margins that may be strongly impacted by general interest rate and other market conditions.

The largest portion of the Company’s recurring noninterest income is the wide variety of fees earned from general banking services, which reached $35.3 million in 2007, up 13.6% from the prior year. A large portion of the income growth was attributable to electronic banking fees, up $1.2 million, or 33%, over 2006’s level, due in large part to a concerted effort to increase the penetration and utilization of consumer debit cards as well as the introduction of a business debit card program. Overdraft fees were also up $1.1 million, or 6.7%, over 2006’s level, driven by core deposit account growth. Mortgage banking fees increased $0.2 million, or 30%, primarily due to the addition of a $300 million serviced loan portfolio in conjunction with the Elmira acquisition in August 2006.Fees from general banking services were $31.1 million in 2006, up $1.2 million or 3.9% from 2005, primarily driven by growth in overdraft fees, commissions and electronic banking, generated from several revenue enhancement initiatives put into place during 2005 and core deposit account growth.

21



As disclosed in Table 6, noninterest income from financial services (including revenues from benefit plan consulting and administration and wealth management services) rose $7.4 million, or 36%, in 2007 to $28.0 million. Financial services revenue now comprises 44% of total noninterest income, excluding net gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities and debt extinguishments. Strong performance at BPAS generated revenue growth of $6.5 million, or 49%, for the 2007 year, achieved primarily through the acquisition of HBT, new product offerings and expanded market coverage. BPAS offers their clients daily valuation, actuarial and employee benefit consulting services on a national basis from offices in Upstate New York, Houston, and Pittsburgh. BPAS revenue of $13.2 million in 2006 was $2.0 million higher than 2005’s results, driven by enhanced service offerings to both new and existing clients.

CISI generated revenue growth of $652,000, or 17%, in 2007 primarily through the addition of new financial consultants and improved sales penetration. Nottingham generated revenue growth of 3.2%, in 2007, achieved primarily through the attraction of net new client assets and market appreciation. Revenue at personal trust declined $188,000, or 8.5%, during 2007. Excluding certain estate fees generated in the first quarter of 2006, trust services income increased slightly. CBNA Insurance, acquired in June of 2007, generated revenue of $364,000. In 2006, personal trust had positive revenue growth of $210,000 or, 10.5%, achieved primarily through the generation of estate settlement fees. CISI generated revenue growth of $117,000, or 3.1% in 2006 primarily through the addition of new financial consultants. Revenues at Nottingham declined $238,000 or 16% during 2006 as it transitioned to a new management team, new branding and the broadening of its product offerings.

Assets under management and administration at the Company’s financial services businesses rose considerably over the last two years, reaching $4.7 billion at the end of 2007, up from $3.2 billion at year-end 2006 and $2.5 billion at year-end 2005. Market-driven gains in equity-based assets were augmented by attraction of new client assets and the acquisition of HBT. BPA, in particular, was successful at growing its asset base, as demonstrated by the approximately $500 million increase in its assets under administration during 2007, excluding assets added through the acquisition of HBT.

In the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company incurred a $2.1 million charge related to the early redemption of its $25 million, variable-rate trust preferred obligations, which included a premium call provision at 6.15%. Additionally, the Company incurred a $7.8 million charge to refinance $150 million of Federal Home Loan Bank advances into similar duration, lower cost instruments. In 2006 the Company incurred a $2.4 million charge related to the early redemption of its $30 million, 9.75% fixed-rate trust preferred obligations, which included a premium call provision at 4.54%. There were no gains or losses on security transactions in 2006 as compared to gains of $12.2 million in 2005, as the Company took advantage of market conditions in 2005 to sell certain securities in order to maximize their expected total return. Securities sold included $173.2 million of U.S. Treasury and Agency securities, $46.1 million of AAA-rated obligations of state and political subdivisions and $24.4 million of investment grade corporate bonds. The corresponding gains recognized on these sales were $7.0 million, $2.2 million and $3.0 million, respectively.

The security and debt gains and losses taken over the last three years are illustrative of the Company’s active management of its investment portfolio and external borrowings to achieve a desirable total return through the combination of net interest income, transaction gains/losses and changes in market value across financial market cycles, as well as achieving an appropriate interest-rate sensitivity profile in changing rate environments.

Operating Expenses

As shown in Table 7, operating expenses increased $14.9 million, or 11.7%, in 2007 to $142.1 million primarily due to the four acquisitions completed in 2007 and 2006, as well as higher merit-based personnel expenses, business development and volume-based processing costs. Operating expenses in 2006 declined $0.2 million or 0.1% from 2005. Excluding special charges/acquisition expenses, operating expenses were up $2.1 million, or 1.7%, in 2006, primarily attributable to the effect of adopting SFAS 123(R), increased business development and marketing expenses, and operating expenses related to the acquisitions of Elmira and ONB, partially offset by lower amortization of intangible assets. Operating expenses for 2007 as a percent of average assets were 3.09%, up 10 basis points from 2.99% in both 2006 and 2005. This ratio was impacted by the comparatively high growth rates of the financial service businesses, which are less asset-intensive with higher efficiency ratio attributes.

The efficiency ratio, a performance measurement tool widely used by banks, is defined by the Company as operating expenses (excluding special charges/acquisition expenses and intangible amortization) divided by operating income (fully tax-equivalent net interest income plus noninterest income, excluding net securities and debt gains and losses). Lower ratios are often correlated to higher efficiency. In 2007 the efficiency ratio increased 3.4 percentage points to 63.3% due to a 12.4% increase in operating expenses having a greater impact than a 0.9% increase in net interest income and a 22% increase in noninterest income (excluding net securities gains and debt extinguishments costs). The efficiency ratio for 2006 was 3.1 percentage points higher than the 56.8% ratio for 2005 due to a 2.7% increase in operating expenses and a 5.5% decline in the net interest income having a greater impact than a 6.8% increase in noninterest income (excluding net securities gains and debt extinguishments costs). In both periods, operating income growth was inhibited by the contraction of the net interest margin. In addition, the efficiency ratios were adversely affected by the growing proportion of financial services activities, which due to the differing nature of their business carry high efficiency ratios.

22



Table 7: Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 



(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 









Salaries and employee benefits

 

$

75,714

 

$

67,103

 

$

65,059

 

Occupancy and equipment

 

 

18,961

 

 

17,884

 

 

17,756

 

Customer processing and communications

 

 

15,691

 

 

12,934

 

 

13,565

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

6,269

 

 

6,027

 

 

7,125

 

Legal and professional fees

 

 

4,987

 

 

4,593

 

 

4,540

 

Office supplies and postage

 

 

4,303

 

 

4,035

 

 

3,804

 

Business development and marketing

 

 

5,420

 

 

4,251

 

 

2,771

 

Foreclosed property

 

 

382

 

 

858

 

 

1,312

 

Special charges/acquisition expenses

 

 

382

 

 

647

 

 

2,943

 

Other

 

 

9,965

 

 

8,871

 

 

8,514

 












Total operating expenses

 

$

142,074

 

$

127,203

 

$

127,389

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses/average assets

 

 

3.09

%

 

2.99

%

 

2.99

%

Efficiency ratio

 

 

63.3

%

 

59.9

%

 

56.8

%

Salaries and benefits increased $8.6 million or 13% in 2007, of which approximately half was the result of the four acquisitions in the last two years. Additionally, approximately $2.3 million of the increase can be attributed to annual merit increases, along with $0.9 million higher medical costs and increased headcount, excluding the acquisitions. Salaries and benefits increased $2.0 million or 3.1% in 2006 primarily due to costs associated with the acquisition of Elmira and ONB, higher stock option and retirement plan expense, partially offset by higher deferred loan origination costs. The increase of stock option expense of $1.7 million related to the adoption of SFAS 123(R), which required the recognition of expense based on the fair value of the options on the grant date. Total full-time equivalent staff at the end of 2007 was 1,453 compared to 1,352 at December 31, 2006 and 1,299 at the end of 2005.

Medical expenses increased $1.1 million in 2007, or 28%, due to a general rise in the cost of medical care, administration and insurance, as well as a greater number of insured employees. Additional vision and dental coverage were added in 2007 at an incremental cost of $0.2 million to bring the Company’s benefit offerings more closely in line with peers. Medical expenses declined 2.6% in 2006 as a result of proactive claims management, lower utilization, and a change in plan administrators. Qualified and nonqualified pension expenses decreased in 2007 principally due to the return on assets for contributions made to the plan in 2007, partially offset by increases in retiree medical expense due to the general rise in the cost of medical care. In 2006, qualified and nonqualified pension expense was $1.0 million lower than 2005 due to the special charge taken in 2005 related to certain early retirement actions. The three assumptions that have the largest impact on the calculation of annual pension expense are the discount rate utilized, the rate applied to future compensation increases and the expected rate of return on plan assets. See Note K to the financial statements for further information concerning the pension plan.

Total non-personnel operating expense increased $6.3 million or 10.4% in 2007. As displayed in Table 7, this was largely caused by higher customer processing and communication expense (up $2.8 million), business development and marketing (up $1.2 million), other expenses (up $1.1 million), occupancy and equipment expense (up $1.1 million), legal and professional (up $0.4 million), office supplies and postage (up $0.3 million), and, amortization of intangible assets (up $0.2 million), partially offset by decreases in, foreclosed property expenses (down $0.5 million). The increase in data processing and communications costs as well as the increase in business development and marketing expenses reflects the Company’s continued investments in strategic technology and business development initiatives to grow and enhance its service offerings. A majority of the remaining increase in nonpersonnel operating costs is attributable to $2.9 million of expenses added as a result of the four acquisitions in 2007 and 2006.

The Company continually evaluates all aspects of its operating expense structure and is diligent about identifying opportunities to improve operating efficiencies. Over the last two years, the Company has consolidated four of its branch offices. This realignment will reduce market overlap and further strengthen its branch network, and reflects management’s focus on achieving long-term performance improvements through proactive strategic decision making.

23



Total non-personnel operating expense decreased $2.1 million or 1.7% in 2006, compared to 2005. Excluding special charges/acquisition expense, nonpersonnel expenses were consistent with 2005’s level. As displayed in Table 7, this was largely caused by higher business development and marketing (up $1.2 million), other expenses (up $0.4 million), office and supplies (up $0.2 million), and occupancy and equipment expense (up $0.1 million), partially offset by decreases in amortization of intangible assets (down $1.1 million), foreclosed property expenses (down $0.5 million) and data processing and communication expense (down $0.4 million). Business and marketing costs were up mostly due to the initiation of a bankwide core deposit generation program. A majority of the remaining increase in nonpersonnel operating costs is attributable to $0.3 million of expenses added as a result of the Elmira and ONB acquisitions in the second half of 2006. The amortization of intangibles decreased as certain core deposit and customer relationship intangibles arising from prior acquisitions became fully amortized.

Special charges/acquisition expense totaled $0.4 million in 2007, down $0.3 million from 2006 and relate solely to acquisitions. Special charges/acquisition expenses totaled $0.6 million in 2006, down $2.3 million from $2.9 million in 2005. The 2006 special charge related to early retirement of certain long-service employees and acquisition expenses of $0.3 million. The 2005 special charge related to the early retirement of certain long-service executives and included severance and certain benefit plan enhancements.

Income Taxes

The Company estimates its tax expense based on the amount it expects to owe the respective tax authorities, plus the impact of deferred tax items. Taxes are discussed in more detail in Note I of the Consolidated Financial Statements beginning on page 59. Accrued taxes represent the net estimated amount due or to be received from taxing authorities. In estimating accrued taxes, management assesses the relative merits and risks of the appropriate tax treatment of transactions taking into account statutory, judicial and regulatory guidance in the context of the Company’s tax position. If the final resolution of taxes payable differs from its estimates due to regulatory determination or legislative or judicial actions, adjustments to tax expense may be required.

The effective tax rate for 2007 decreased by 18.6 percentage points to 5.1% as a result of a $6.9 million benefit related to the settlement and a related change in a position taken on certain previously unrecognized tax positions and a higher proportion of tax exempt income, due in part to the higher debt restructuring charges in 2007. The effective tax rate for 2006 decreased by 2.2 percentage point from 2005’s level to 23.7%. The lower effective tax rate for 2006 compared to 2005 was principally a result of a higher proportion of income being generated from tax-exempt securities and loans.

Capital

Shareholders’ equity ended 2007 at $478.8 million, up $17.3 million, or 3.7%, from one year earlier. This increase reflects net income of $42.9 million, $3.3 million from the issuance of shares through employee stock plans, $2.2 million from stock based compensation and a $5.4 million increase in other comprehensive income. These increases were partially offset by common stock dividends declared of $24.5 million and treasury share purchases of $12.0 million. The other comprehensive income is comprised of a $6.0 million increase in the market value adjustment (“MVA”, represents the after-tax, unrealized change in value of available-for-sale securities in the Company’s investment portfolio), a $1.2 million benefit based on the funded status of the Company’s employee retirement plans, partially offset by a $1.8 million decrease in the fair value of interest rate swaps designated as a cash flow hedges.

Shareholders’ equity ended 2006 at $461.5, up $3.9 million, or 0.9% from one year earlier. This increase reflects net income of $38.4 million and $7.5 million from the issuance of shares through employee stock plans. These increases were partially offset by common stock dividends declared of $23.3 million, treasury share purchases of $5.5 million and a $13.1 million decrease in other comprehensive loss. The other comprehensive loss is comprised of a $9.9 million charge for the adoption of SFAS 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans an Amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) (“SFAS 158”), a $3.6 million decline in the MVA, partially offset by a $0.5 million increase in the fair value of interest rate swaps. The adoption of SFAS 158 required that the funded status of all defined benefit pension and postretirement plans be recorded as an asset or liability on the Company’s consolidated statement of condition with a corresponding offset, net of taxes recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income within shareholders’ equity. Excluding accumulated other comprehensive income in both 2007 and 2006, capital rose by $11.9 million, or 2.5%. Shares outstanding decreased by 385,000 during the year, comprised of 227,000 added through employee stock plans, offset by the purchase of 612,000 treasury shares.

24



The Company’s ratio of Tier 1 capital to assets (or tier 1 leverage ratio), the basic measure for which regulators have established a 5% minimum for an institution to be considered “well-capitalized,” decreased 104 basis points at year-end 2007 to 7.77%. This was primarily the result of the early call of the $30 million of fixed-rate trust preferred securities in the first quarter and assets from the ONB and TLNB being included in average assets for the entire quarter versus only one month of ONB assets included in the ratio for December 31, 2006. The tangible equity/tangible assets ratio was 5.00% at the end of 2007 versus 5.07% one year earlier. The decline was due to a larger increase in total assets as a result of the acquisition of HBT and TLNB, and organic growth resulting in the assets growing at a faster rate than shareholders’ equity, whose growth was dampened by treasury stock purchases. The Company manages organic and acquired growth in a manner that enables it to continue to build upon its strong capital base, and maintain the Company’s ability to take advantage of future strategic growth opportunities.

Cash dividends declared on common stock in 2007 of $24.5 million represented an increase of 5.0% over the prior year. This growth was mostly a result of dividends per share of $0.82 for 2007 increasing from $0.78 in 2006, a result of quarterly dividends per share being raised from $0.20 to $0.21 (+5.0%) in the third quarter of 2007 and from $0.19 to $0.20 (+5.3%) in the third quarter of 2006. Partially offsetting the increase in the dividend was a 1.3% decrease in the number of shares outstanding due to treasury stock purchases. The dividend payout ratio for this year was 57.1% compared to 60.8% in 2006, and 43.9% in 2005. The change in 2007 is a result of the aforementioned increase in dividends declared being smaller than the 12% increase in net income. The significant change in 2006 was a result of a 4.6% increase in dividends declared combined with a 24% decrease in net income.

Liquidity

Liquidity risk is measured by the Company’s ability to raise cash when needed at a reasonable cost and minimize any loss. The Company must be capable of meeting all obligations to its customers at any time and, therefore, the active management of its liquidity position is critical. Given the uncertain nature of our customers’ demands as well as the Company’s desire to take advantage of earnings enhancement opportunities, the Company must have available adequate sources of on and off-balance sheet funds that can be acquired in time of need. Accordingly, in addition to the liquidity provided by balance sheet cash flows, liquidity must be supplemented with additional sources such as credit lines from correspondent banks, the Federal Home Loan Bank, and Federal Reserve Bank. Other funding alternatives may also be appropriate from time to time, including wholesale and retail repurchase agreements, large certificates of deposit, and brokered CD relationships.

The Company’s primary approach to measuring liquidity is known as the Basic Surplus/Deficit model. It is used to calculate liquidity over two time periods: first, the amount of cash that could be made available within 30 days (calculated as liquid assets less short-term liabilities as a percentage of total assets); and second, a projection of subsequent cash availability over an additional 60 days. As of December 31, 2007, this ratio was 12.6% and 12.5% for the respective time periods, excluding the Company’s capacity to borrow additional funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank and other sources, as compared to the Bank policy that requires a minimum of 7.5%. There is currently $318 million in additional Federal Home Loan Bank borrowing capacity based on the Company’s year-end collateral levels. Additionally, the Company has $11 million in unused capacity at the Federal Reserve Bank and $100 million in unused capacity from unsecured lines of credit with other correspondent banks.

In addition to the 30 and 90-day basic surplus/deficit model, longer-term liquidity over a minimum of five years is measured and a liquidity analysis projecting sources and uses of funds is prepared. To measure longer-term liquidity, a baseline projection of loan and deposit growth for five years is made to reflect how liquidity levels could change over time. This five-year measure reflects ample liquidity for loan growth over the next five years.

Though remote, the possibility of a funding crisis exists at all financial institutions. Accordingly, management has addressed this issue by formulating a Liquidity Contingency Plan, which has been reviewed and approved by both the Board of Directors and the Company’s Asset/Liability Management Committee. The plan addresses those actions the Company would take in response to both a short-term and long-term funding crisis.

A short-term funding crisis would most likely result from a shock to the financial system, either internal or external, which disrupts orderly short-term funding operations. Such a crisis should be temporary in nature and would not involve a change in credit ratings. A long-term funding crisis would most likely be the result of drastic credit deterioration at the Company. Management believes that both circumstances have been fully addressed through detailed action plans and the establishment of trigger points for monitoring such events.

25



Intangible Assets

Intangible assets at the end of 2007 totaled $256.2 million, an increase of $10.1 million from the prior year-end due to $16.3 million of additional intangible assets arising from the acquisitions of HBT and TLNB, and minor adjustments to the intangible assets from the Elmira and ONB acquisitions, offset by $6.3 million of amortization during the year.

Intangible assets consist of goodwill, core deposit value and customer relationships arising from acquisitions. Goodwill represents the excess cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill at December 31, 2007 amounted to $234 million, comprised of $221 million related to banking acquisitions and $13 million arising from the acquisition of financial services businesses. Goodwill is subjected to periodic impairment analysis to determine whether the carrying value of the acquired net assets exceeds their fair value, which would necessitate a write-down of the goodwill. The Company completed its goodwill impairment analyses during 2007 and 2006 and no adjustments were necessary. The impairment analysis was based upon discounted cash flow modeling techniques that require management to make estimates regarding the amount and timing of expected future cash flows. It also requires them to select a discount rate that reflects the current return requirements of the market in relation to present risk-free interest rates, required equity market premiums and company-specific risk indicators. Management believes that there is a low probability of future impairment with regard to the goodwill associated with whole-bank and branch acquisitions. The performance of Nottingham (previously Elias Asset Management) weakened subsequent to its acquisition in 2000 as a result of adverse market conditions, however, its performance stabilized in 2006 and improved in 2007. Certain organizational and structural changes were made late in 2005 and 2006, including re-branding efforts that included changing its name from Elias Asset Management to Nottingham, to underscore the enhanced product and service offerings it has recently developed. However, declines in Nottingham’s operating results may cause future impairment to its recorded goodwill of $7.3 million.

Core deposit intangibles represent the premium the Company has paid for deposits acquired in excess of the cost that would have been incurred had the funds been purchased in the capital markets. Core deposit intangibles are amortized on either an accelerated or straight-line basis over periods ranging from seven to twenty years. The recognition of customer relationship intangibles arose due to the acquisitions of Harbridge and HBT. These assets were determined based on a methodology that calculates the present value of the projected future revenue derived from the acquired customer base. These assets are being amortized over twelve years on an accelerated basis.

Loans

The Company’s loans outstanding, by type, as of December 31 are as follows:

Table 8: Loans Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

 

2007

 

 

2006

 

 

2005

 

 

2004

 

 

2003

 

















 

Consumer mortgage

 

$

977,553

 

$

912,505

 

$

815,463

 

$

801,069

 

$

739,318

 

Business lending

 

 

984,780

 

 

960,034

 

 

819,605

 

 

831,244

 

 

689,436

 

Consumer installment

 

 

858,722

 

 

829,019

 

 

776,701

 

 

726,107

 

 

699,692

 

















 

Net loans

 

 

2,821,055

 

 

2,701,558

 

 

2,411,769

 

 

2,358,420

 

 

2,128,446

 

Allowance for loans

 

 

36,427

 

 

36,313

 

 

32,581

 

 

31,778

 

 

29,095

 

















 

Loans, net of allowance for loan losses

 

$

2,784,628

 

$

2,665,245

 

$

2,379,188

 

$

2,326,642

 

$

2,099,351

 


















As disclosed in Table 8 above, gross loans outstanding reached a record level of $2.8 billion as of year-end 2007, up $119.5 million or 4.4% compared to twelve months earlier. The acquisition of TLNB accounted for $55.5 million of the growth. Excluding the impact of the TLNB, ONB and Elmira acquisitions, total loans rose $82.3 million or 3.4%. The organic loan growth was produced in each of business lending, consumer mortgage and consumer installment portfolios.

The compounded annual growth rate (“CAGR”) for the Company’s total loan portfolio between 2003 and 2007 was 7.3% comprised of approximately 2.3% organic growth, with the remainder coming from acquisitions. The greatest overall expansion occurred in the business lending segment, which grew at a 9.1% CAGR (including the impact of acquisitions) over that time frame. The consumer mortgage segment grew at a compounded annual growth rate of 7.2% from 2003 to 2007. The consumer mortgage growth was primarily driven by record mortgage refinancing volumes over the last five years, as well as the acquisition of consumer-oriented banks and branches in that time period. Business lending balances accounted for 35% of total loans at year-end 2007 compared to 32% at December 31, 2003, mostly due to the high proportion of business loans in the portfolios of two of the acquisitions completed during this time period. Consumer installment loans, largely home equity loans and borrowings originated in automobile, marine and recreational vehicle dealerships experienced a compounded annual growth rate of 5.3% over the last 5 years.

26



The weighting of retail lending in the Company’s loan portfolio enables it to be highly diversified. Approximately 65% of loans outstanding at the end of 2007 were made to consumers borrowing on an installment, line of credit or residential mortgage loan basis. The business lending portfolio is also broadly diversified by industry type as demonstrated by the following distributions at year-end 2007: commercial real estate (27%), healthcare (10%), general services (9%), retail trade (8%), construction (6%), agriculture (6%), manufacturing (6%), motor vehicle and parts dealers (5%), restaurant & lodging (5%), and wholesale trade (4%). A variety of other industries with less than a 3% share of the total portfolio comprise the remaining 14%.

The consumer mortgage portion of the Company’s loan portfolio is comprised of fixed (94%) and adjustable rate (6%) residential lending. Consumer mortgages increased $65.0 million or 7.1% in 2007. Excluding the impact of the TLNB, ONB and Elmira acquisitions, the consumer mortgage portfolio was up $39.4 million or 4.7% in 2007. During 2003 and 2004, record levels of refinancing activity were driven by mortgage rates that were at or near 40-year lows. Consumer mortgage growth has returned closer to historic levels since 2005, as the pace of refinancing slowed after an extended period of elevated demand in the low-rate environment. Consumer mortgage growth was comparatively stronger over the last year despite relatively stable long-term interest rates. The consumer real estate portfolio does not include exposure to subprime, Alt-A, or other higher-risk mortgage products. The Company’s solid performance during a tumultuous period in the overall industry is a reflection of the stable, low-risk profile of its portfolio and its ability to successfully meet customer needs at a time when some national mortgage lenders are restricting their lending activities in many of the Company’s markets. Growth in the consumer mortgage portfolio in 2007 would have been 9.1% if the sale of $17.8 million of longer-term, fixed-rate mortgages in the secondary market had not been conducted. These mortgages were sold in the secondary market to improve the Company’s interest rate risk position.

The combined total of general-purpose business lending, dealer floor plans and mortgages on commercial property is characterized as the Company’s business lending activity. The business-lending portfolio increased $24.7 million or 2.6% in 2007. Excluding the impact of the TLNB, ONB, and Elmira acquisitions, this segment increased $18.4 million or 2.3% as compared to the prior year. The organic growth generated in 2007 was contributed by every major product line within business lending except dealer floor plans, where levels have been purposely managed downwards over the last few years due to the competitive weakness in this sector. The Company continues to face competitive conditions in most of its markets and it maintains its commitment to generating growth in its business portfolio in a manner that adheres to its twin goals of maintaining strong asset quality and producing profitable margins.

Consumer installment loans, both those originated directly (such as personal loans and home equity loans and lines of credit), and indirectly (originated predominantly in automobile, marine and recreational vehicle dealerships), rose $29.7 million or 3.6% from one year ago. Excluding the impact of the TLNB, ONB and Elmira acquisitions, this segment increased $24.5 million or 3.0%. Continued moderate interest rates by historical standards, aggressive dealer and manufacturer incentives on new vehicles, and enhanced business development efforts have helped drive strong growth in this segment over the last several years.

The following table shows the maturities and type of interest rates for business and construction loans as of December 31, 2006:

Table 9: Maturity Distribution of Business and Construction Loans (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

Maturing in
One Year or
Less

 

Maturing After
One but Within
Five Years

 

Maturing After
Five Years

 











 

Commercial, financial and agricultural

 

 

$

317,499

 

 

 

$

462,477

 

 

 

$

183,810

 

 

Real estate – construction

 

 

 

20,994

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

















 

Total

 

 

$

338,493

 

 

 

$

462,477

 

 

 

$

183,810

 

 

















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed or predetermined interest rates

 

 

$

146,175

 

 

 

$

299,684

 

 

 

$

67,994

 

 

Floating or adjustable interest rates

 

 

 

192,318

 

 

 

 

162,793

 

 

 

 

115,816

 

 

















 

Total

 

 

$

338,493

 

 

 

$

462,477

 

 

 

$

183,810

 

 



















 

 

 

(1) Scheduled repayments are reported in the maturity category in which the payment is due.

27



Asset Quality

The following table presents information concerning nonperforming assets:

Table 10: Nonperforming Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 


















Nonaccrual loans

 

$

7,140

 

$

10,107

 

$

10,857

 

$

11,798

 

$

11,940

 

Accruing loans 90+ days delinquent

 

 

622

 

 

1,207

 

 

1,075

 

 

1,158

 

 

1,307

 

Restructured loans

 

 

1,126

 

 

1,275

 

 

1,375

 

 

0

 

 

28

 


















Total nonperforming loans

 

 

8,888

 

 

12,589

 

 

13,307

 

 

12,956

 

 

13,275

 

Other real estate

 

 

1,007

 

 

1,838

 

 

1,048

 

 

1,645

 

 

1,077

 


















Total nonperforming assets

 

$

9,895

 

$

14,427

 

$

14,355

 

$

14,601

 

$

14,352

 


















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for loan losses / total loans

 

 

1.29

%

 

1.34

%

 

1.35

%

 

1.35

%

 

1.37

%

Allowance for loan losses / nonperforming loans

 

 

410

%

 

288

%

 

245

%

 

245

%

 

219

%

Nonperforming loans / total loans

 

 

0.32

%

 

0.47

%

 

0.55

%

 

0.55

%

 

0.62

%

Nonperforming assets / total loans and other real estate

 

 

0.35

%

 

0.53

%

 

0.59

%

 

0.62

%

 

0.67

%

The Company places a loan on nonaccrual status when the loan becomes ninety days past due or sooner, if management concludes collection of interest is doubtful, except when, in the opinion of management, it is well-collateralized and in the process of collection. As shown in Table 10 above, nonperforming loans, defined as nonaccruing loans plus accruing loans 90 days or more past due, ended 2007 at $8.9 million, down approximately $3.7 million or 29% from one year earlier. The ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans decreased 15 basis points from the prior year to 0.32%. The ratio of nonperforming assets (which includes troubled debt restructuring and other real estate owned, or “OREO”, in addition to nonperforming loans) to total loans plus OREO decreased to 0.35% at year-end 2007, down 18 basis points from one year earlier. The improvement was driven by continued focus on maintaining strict underwriting standards, enhanced collection and recovery efforts, and the charge-off and disposition of certain problematic loans in prior years. Had nonaccrual loans for the year ended December 31, 2007 been current in accordance with their original terms, additional interest income of approximately $0.8 million would have been recorded. At year-end 2007, the Company was managing 14 OREO properties with a value of $1.0 million, as compared to 23 OREO properties with a value of $1.8 million a year earlier.

Total delinquencies, defined as loans 30 days or more past due or in nonaccrual status, finished the current year at 1.10% of total loans outstanding versus 1.33% at the end of 2006. As of year-end 2007, total delinquency ratios for commercial loans, consumer loans, and real estate mortgages were 1.05%, 1.22%, and 1.04%, respectively. These measures were 1.62%, 1.33% and 1.03%, respectively, as of December 31, 2006. Delinquency levels, particularly in the 30 to 89 days category, tend to be somewhat volatile due to their measurement at a point in time, and therefore management believes that it is useful to evaluate this ratio over a longer period. The average quarter-end delinquency ratio for total loans in 2007 was 1.04%, down from an average of 1.24% in 2006.

28



The changes in the allowance for loan losses for the last five years is as follows:

Table 11: Allowance for Loan Loss Activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


(000’s omitted except for ratios)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 


















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period

 

$

36,313

 

$

32,581

 

$

31,778

 

$

29,095

 

$

26,331

 


















Charge-offs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business lending

 

 

1,088

 

 

3,787

 

 

2,639

 

 

3,621

 

 

5,521

 

Consumer mortgage

 

 

387

 

 

344

 

 

522

 

 

535

 

 

239

 

Consumer installment

 

 

4,965

 

 

5,902

 

 

8,071

 

 

7,624

 

 

7,351

 


















Total charge-offs

 

 

6,440

 

 

10,033

 

 

11,232

 

 

11,780

 

 

13,111

 


















Recoveries:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business lending

 

 

844

 

 

930

 

 

730

 

 

871

 

 

417

 

Consumer mortgage

 

 

86

 

 

107

 

 

142

 

 

48

 

 

78

 

Consumer installment

 

 

2,873

 

 

2,925

 

 

2,629

 

 

2,437

 

 

2,353

 


















Total recoveries

 

 

3,803

 

 

3,962

 

 

3,501

 

 

3,356

 

 

2,848

 


















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net charge-offs

 

 

2,637

 

 

6,071

 

 

7,731

 

 

8,424

 

 

10,263

 

Provision for loan losses

 

 

2,004

 

 

6,585

 

 

8,534

 

 

8,750

 

 

11,195

 

Allowance on acquired loans (1)

 

 

747

 

 

3,218

 

 

0

 

 

2,357

 

 

1,832

 


















Allowance for loan losses at end of period

 

$

36,427

 

$

36,313

 

$

32,581

 

$

31,778

 

$

29,095

 


















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount of loans outstanding at end of period

 

$

2,821,055

 

$

2,701,558

 

$

2,411,769

 

$

2,358,420

 

$

2,128,446

 

Daily average amount of loans (net of unearned discount)

 

 

2,743,804

 

 

2,514,173

 

 

2,374,832

 

 

2,264,791

 

 

1,885,541

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net charge-offs / average loans outstanding

 

 

0.10

%

 

0.24

%

 

0.33

%

 

0.37

%

 

0.54

%


 

 

(1)

This reserve addition is attributable to loans acquired from TLNB in 2007, Elmira and ONB in 2006, First Heritage Bank in 2004, and Peoples Bankcorp Inc. and Grange National Banc Corp in 2003.

As displayed in Table 11 above, total net charge-offs in 2007 were $2.6 million, down $3.4 million from the prior year, principally due to significantly improved results in the business lending and consumer installment portfolios, partially offset by a slight increase in consumer mortgage. Net charge-offs in 2006 were $1.7 million below 2005’s level, benefiting from improved results in the consumer installment portfolio, offset by increased net charge-offs in the business-lending portfolio. A period of economic weakness in our markets from late 2000 through early 2003 impacted the net charge-off levels in 2003, with the greatest impact being realized in the business loan and consumer installment segments.

Due to the significant increases in average loan balances over time due to acquisition and organic growth, management believes that net charge-offs as a percent of average loans (“net charge-off ratio”) offers a more meaningful representation of asset quality trends. The net charge-off ratio for 2007 was down 14 basis points from 2006, to 0.10%. This year’s ratio benefited from improved gross charge-off and recovery performance. Gross charge-offs as a percentage of average loans dropped 17 basis points to 0.23% in 2007. Enhanced recovery efforts were evidenced by recoveries of $3.8 million, representing 46% of average gross charge-offs for the latest two years, compared to 37% in 2006.

Business loan net charge-offs decreased in 2007, totaling $0.2 million or 0.03% of average business loans outstanding versus $2.9 million or 0.33% in 2006. The higher net charge-off ratio in 2006 was primarily attributable to loans associated with three commercial relationships in the auto industry. Consumer installment loan net charge-offs decreased to $2.1 million this year from $3.0 million in 2006, reducing the 2007 net charge-off ratio 12 basis points to 0.25%, due to improved collection efforts and disciplined underwriting processes. Consumer mortgage net charge-offs increased $0.1 million to $0.3 million in 2007, and the net charge-off ratio remained consistent at 0.03%.

Management continually evaluates the credit quality of the Company’s loan portfolio and conducts a formal review of the allowance for loan loss adequacy on a quarterly basis. The two primary components of the loan review process that are used to determine proper allowance levels are specific and general loan loss allocations.

29



Measurement of specific loan loss allocations is typically based on expected future cash flows, collateral values and other factors that may impact the borrower’s ability to pay. Impaired loans greater than $0.5 million are evaluated for specific loan loss allocations, as defined in SFAS No. 114, Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan, as amended. Consumer mortgages and consumer installment loans are considered smaller balance homogeneous loans and are evaluated collectively. The Company considers a loan to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement or the loan is delinquent 90 days or more.

The second component of the allowance establishment process, general loan loss allocations, is composed of two calculations that are computed on the four main loan segments: business lending, consumer direct, consumer indirect and residential real estate. The first calculation determines an allowance level based on the latest three years of historical net charge-off data for each loan category (commercial loans exclude balances with specific loan loss allocations). The second calculation is qualitative and takes into consideration five major factors affecting the level of loan loss risk: portfolio risk migration patterns (internal credit quality trends); the growth of the segments of the loan portfolio; economic and business environment trends in the Company’s markets (includes review of bankruptcy, unemployment, population, consumer spending and regulatory trends); industry, geographical and product concentrations in the portfolio; and the perceived effectiveness of managerial resources and lending practices and policies. These two allowance calculations are added together to determine the general loan loss allocation. The allowance levels computed from the specific and general loan loss allocation methods are combined to derive the necessary allowance for loan loss to be reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Condition.

The loan loss provision is calculated by subtracting the previous period allowance for loan loss, net of the interim period net charge-offs, from the current required allowance level. This provision is then recorded in the income statement for that period.

Members of senior management and the Loan/ALCO Committee of the Board of Directors review the adequacy of the allowance for loan loss quarterly. Management is committed to continually improving the credit assessment and risk management capabilities of the Company and has dedicated the resources necessary to ensure advancement in this critical area of operations.

The allowance for loan loss increased to $36.4 million at year-end 2007 from $36.3 million at the end of 2006. The $0.1 million increase was due to the $55 million additional loans from the TLNB acquisition as well as $82 million of organic loan growth, partially offset by the Company’s improving asset quality profile. The allowance level was also impacted by the increased proportion of low-risk consumer mortgage and home equity loans in the overall loan portfolio, as a result of both organic and acquired growth. The ratio of the allowance for loan loss to total loans decreased five basis points to 1.29% for year-end 2007 as compared to 1.34% for 2006 and 1.35% for 2005 primarily due to the improved asset quality profile. Management believes the year-end 2007 allowance for loan losses to be adequate in light of the probable losses inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio.

The loan loss provision of $2.0 million in 2007 decreased by $4.6 million or 70% as a result of management’s assessment of the probable losses in the loan portfolio, and the reduced level of charge-offs in 2007, as discussed above. The loan loss provision as a percentage of average loans decreased from 0.26% in 2006 to 0.07% this year in most part due to the improving asset quality trends. The loan loss provision was 76% of net charge-offs this year versus 108% in 2006, reflective of an improving asset quality profile, particularly in the commercial segment of the portfolio.

The following table sets forth the allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan category as of the dates indicated, as well as the percentage of loans in each category to total loans. This allocation is based on management’s assessment, as of a given point in time, of the risk characteristics of each of the component parts of the total loan portfolio and is subject to changes when the risk factors of each component part change. The allocation is not indicative of either the specific amounts of the loan categories in which future charge-offs may be taken, nor should it be taken as an indicator of future loss trends. The allocation of the allowance to each category does not restrict the use of the allowance to absorb losses in any category.

30



Table 12: Allowance for Loan Losses by Loan Type

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

(000’s omitted except for ratios)

 

Allowance

 

Loan
Mix

 

Allowance

 

Loan
Mix

 

Allowance

 

Loan
Mix

 

Allowance

 

Loan
Mix

 

Allowance

 

Loan
Mix

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

 

Consumer mortgage

 

 

$

3,843

 

 

34.7

%

 

 

$

3,519

 

 

33.8

%

 

 

$

2,991

 

 

33.8

%

 

 

$

1,810

 

 

34.0

%

 

 

$

1,724

 

 

34.7

%

 

Business lending

 

 

 

17,284

 

 

34.9

%

 

 

 

17,700

 

 

35.5

%

 

 

 

15,917

 

 

34.0

%

 

 

 

16,439

 

 

35.2

%

 

 

 

15,549

 

 

32.4

%

 

Consumer installment

 

 

 

8,260

 

 

30.4

%

 

 

 

10,258

 

 

30.7

%

 

 

 

12,005

 

 

32.2

%

 

 

 

11,487

 

 

30.8

%

 

 

 

11,112

 

 

32.9

%

 

Unallocated

 

 

 

7,040

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,836

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,668

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,042

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

710

 

 

 

 

 


 








 








 








 








 








 

Total

 

 

$

36,427

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

$

36,313

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

$

32,581

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

$

31,778

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

$

29,095

 

 

100.0

%

 


 








 








 








 








 








 

As demonstrated in Table 12 above and discussed previously, business lending by its nature carries higher credit risk than consumer mortgage or consumer installment loans, and as a result a disproportionate amount of the allowance for loan losses is deemed necessary for this portfolio. The unallocated allowance increased from $4.8 million in 2006 to $7.0 million in 2007. As in prior years, the unallocated allowance is maintained for inherent losses in the portfolio not reflected in the historical loss ratios, model imprecision and for the acquired loan portfolios, including TLNB, ONB and Elmira.

Funding Sources

The Company utilizes a variety of funding sources to support the earning asset base as well as to achieve targeted growth objectives. Overall funding is comprised of three primary sources that possess a variety of maturity, stability, and price characteristics: deposits of individuals, partnerships and corporations (IPC deposits); collateralized municipal deposits (public funds); and external borrowings.

The average daily amount of deposits and the average rate paid on each of the following deposit categories are summarized below for the years indicated:

Table 13: Average Deposits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 


 

(000’s omitted, except rates)

 

Average
Balance

 

Average
Rate Paid

 

Average
Balance

 

Average
Rate Paid

 

Average
Balance

 

Average
Rate Paid

 


 


 


 


 

Noninterest checking deposits

 

$

566,981

 

0.00

%

 

$

567,500

 

0.00

%

 

$

585,913

 

0.00

%

 

Interest checking deposits

 

 

440,855

 

0.58

%

 

 

346,618

 

0.44

%

 

 

309,617

 

0.25

%

 

Regular savings deposits

 

 

457,681

 

0.83

%

 

 

465,058

 

0.76

%

 

 

511,907

 

0.67

%

 

Money market deposits

 

 

329,911

 

2.20

%

 

 

337,560

 

2.00

%

 

 

354,294

 

1.34

%

 

Time deposits

 

 

1,457,768

 

4.39

%

 

 

1,348,167

 

3.69

%

 

 

1,214,719

 

2.78

%

 


 



 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Total deposits

 

$

3,253,196

 

2.39

%

 

$

3,064,903

 

2.01

%

 

$

2,976,450

 

1.44

%

 


 



 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

As displayed in Table 13 above, total average deposits for 2007 equaled $3.25 billion, up $188.3 million or 6.1% from the prior year. Excluding the average deposits acquired from TLNB, ONB and Elmira, average deposits increased $17.5 million or 0.6%. Average deposits in 2006 were up $88.5 million or 3.0% from 2005. The majority of the increase was the result of deposits obtained through the Elmira and ONB acquisitions in the second and fourth quarters of 2006, respectively.

The Company’s funding composition continues to benefit from a high level of IPC deposits, which reached an all-time high in 2007 with an average balance of $3.04 billion, an increase of $200.6 million or 7.1% over the comparable 2006 period. This increase was comprised of $43.5 million from the acquisitions of TLNB, ONB and Elmira, with the remaining increase derived from organic growth. IPC deposits are frequently considered to be a bank’s most attractive source of funding because they are generally stable, do not need to be collateralized, have a relatively low cost, and provide a strong customer base for which a variety of loan, deposit and other financial service-related products can be sold.

Full-year average deposits of local municipalities declined $12.3 million or 5.4% during 2007, with the TLNB, ONB and Elmira acquisitions accounting for $13.6 million of additional municipal deposits. Municipal deposit balances tend to be more volatile than IPC deposits because they are heavily impacted by the seasonality of tax collection and fiscal spending patterns, as well as the longer-term financial position of the government entities, which can change significantly from year to year. The Company is required to collateralize all local government deposits with marketable securities from its investment portfolio. Because of this stipulation, as well as the competitive bidding nature of this product, management considers municipal time deposit funding to be similar to external borrowings and thus prices these products on a consistent basis.

31



The mix of average deposits in 2007 changed slightly in comparison to 2006. The weightings of interest checking and time deposits increased from their 2006 levels, while noninterest checking deposits, savings, and money market weightings decreased. This change in deposit mix reflects new product introductions, proactive marketing and increasing yields on time deposit accounts throughout the year. The average balance for time deposit accounts increased from 44.0% of the total deposits in 2006 to 44.8% of total deposits this year. The average balance for interest checking accounts increased from 11.3% of the total deposits in 2006 to 13.6% of total deposits this year. This shift in mix, combined with higher average interest rates in all interest-bearing deposit product categories caused the cost of interest bearing deposits to rise to 2.89% in 2007, as compared to 2.46% in 2006 and 1.79% in 2005.

The remaining maturities of time deposits in amounts of $100,000 or more outstanding as of December 31 are as follows:

Table 14: Time Deposit > $100,000 Maturities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 







Less than three months

 

$

84,586

 

$

92,930

 

Three months to six months

 

 

53,741

 

 

40,358

 

Six months to one year

 

 

73,534

 

 

77,581

 

Over one year

 

 

69,155

 

 

54,915

 









Total     

 

$

281,016

 

$

265,784

 









External borrowings are defined as funding sources available on a national market basis, generally requiring some form of collateralization. Borrowing sources for the Company include the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as well as access to the repurchase market through established relationships with primary market security dealers. The Company also had approximately $128 million in fixed and floating-rate subordinated debt outstanding at the end of 2007 that is held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts. In the first quarter of 2008, the Company elected to redeem early $25 million of variable-rate trust preferred securities. The Company also elected to redeem early $30 million of fixed-rate trust preferred securities in January 2007. In December 2006, the Company completed a sale of $75 million of trust preferred securities. The securities mature on December 15, 2036 at an annual rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 1.65%. The Company used the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes including the early call of the $30 million of fixed-rate trust preferred securities. At the time of the offering, the Company also entered into an interest rate swap agreement to convert the variable rate trust preferred securities into a fixed rate obligation for a term of five years at a fixed rate of 6.43%.

External borrowings averaged $821 million or 20% of total funding sources for all of 2007 as compared to $672 million or 18% of total funding sources for 2006. The increase in this ratio was primarily attributable to both investment leveraging activities and the funding of acquisitions with cash over the past two years. As shown in Table 15 on page 33, at year-end 2007, $486 million or 52% of external borrowings had remaining terms of one year or less, up considerably from $186 million or 23% at December 31, 2006 and $191 million or 29% at the end of 2005. This change in external funding mix is the result of a $200 million short-term leverage strategy entered into in the third quarter of 2007 funded with certain callable debt obligations classified as short-term.

As displayed in Table 4 on page 19, the overall mix of funding has shifted in 2007. The percentage of funding derived from deposits decreased to 80% in 2007 from 82% in 2006 and 80% in 2005. FHLB borrowings increased during 2007 as the Company took advantage of improving spreads between short-term convertible advances and certain short-term investment opportunities. This strategy not only produced positive net interest income, but it also served to demonstrate the Company’s ability to freely access liquidity sources despite tightened credit market conditions. At December 31, 2007, borrowings are up $123.8 million from December 31, 2006.

32



The following table summarizes the outstanding balance of short-term borrowings of the Company as of December 31:

Table 15: Short-term Borrowings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted, except rates)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 












Federal funds purchased

 

$

27,285

 

$

0

 

$

36,300

 

Term borrowings at banks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

90 days or less

 

 

17,972

 

 

20,300

 

 

55,000

 

Over 90 days

 

 

415,000

 

 

135,000

 

 

100,000

 

Commercial loans sold with recourse

 

 

8

 

 

143

 

 

190

 

Capital lease obligation

 

 

37

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts

 

 

25,774

 

 

30,928

 

 

0

 












Balance at end of period

 

$

486,076

 

$

186,371

 

$

191,490

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily average during the year

 

$

257,874

 

$

144,043

 

$

366,775

 

Maximum month-end balance

 

$

486,076

 

$

192,000

 

$

552,500

 

Weighted-average rate during the year

 

 

4.13

%

 

3.83

%

 

3.07

%

Weighted-average year-end rate

 

 

4.35

%

 

4.90

%

 

3.67

%

The following table shows the maturities of various contractual obligations as of December 31, 2007:

Table 16: Maturities of Contractual Obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

Maturing
Within
One Year
Or Less

 

Maturing
After One
Year but
Within
Three Years

 

Maturing
After Three
Years but
Within
Five Years

 

Maturing
After
Five Years

 

Total

 


























Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

 

$

460,257

 

 

 

$

32,257

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

308,964

 

 

$

801,478

 

Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts

 

 

 

25,774

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

101,950

 

 

 

127,724

 

Commercial loans sold with recourse

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

52

 

Capital lease obligation

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

74

 

Operating leases

 

 

 

2,864

 

 

 

 

4,529

 

 

 

 

3,021

 

 

 

 

3,394

 

 

 

13,808

 


























Total

 

 

$

488,940

 

 

 

$

36,841

 

 

 

$

3,035

 

 

 

$

414,320

 

 

$

943,136

 


























Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments consist primarily of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to customers, generally having fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses that may require payment of a fee. These commitments consist principally of unused commercial and consumer credit lines. Standby letters of credit generally are contingent upon the failure of the customer to perform according to the terms of an underlying contract with a third party. The credit risks associated with commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are essentially the same as that involved with extending loans to customers and are subject to normal credit policies. Collateral may be obtained based on management’s assessment of the customer’s creditworthiness. The fair value of these commitments is immaterial for disclosure in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others”.

The contract amount of these off-balance sheet financial instruments as of December 31 is as follows:

Table 17: Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 









Commitments to extend credit

 

$

482,517

 

$

443,367

 

Standby letters of credit

 

 

10,121

 

 

10,082

 









Total

 

$

492,638

 

$

453,449

 









33



Investments

The objective of the Company’s investment portfolio is to hold low-risk, high-quality earning assets that provide favorable returns and provide another effective tool to actively manage its asset/liability position to maximize future net interest income opportunities. This must be accomplished within the following constraints: (a) implementing certain interest rate risk management strategies which achieve a relatively stable level of net interest income; (b) providing both the regulatory and operational liquidity necessary to conduct day-to-day business activities; (c) considering investment risk-weights as determined by the regulatory risk-based capital guidelines; and (d) generating a favorable return without undue compromise of the other requirements.

As displayed in Table 18 below, the book value of the Company’s investment portfolio increased $153.2 million or 12.5% during the year to $1.375 billion. In the second half of 2007, the Company took advantage of certain investment opportunities to increase the portfolio through a short-term leverage strategy. This strategy produced positive net interest income and served to demonstrate the Company’s ability to freely access liquidity sources despite tightened credit market conditions. As of December 31, 2007, the expected life-to-maturity of the portfolio was 4.9 years versus 4.7 years as of December 31, 2006. Average investment balances (book value basis) for 2007 increased $91.8 million or 7.0% versus the prior year. Investment interest income in 2007 was $4.7 million or 5.9% higher than the prior year as a result of the higher average balances in the portfolio, partially offset by a six basis point decrease in the average investment yield from 6.04% to 5.98% due in part to having a higher proportion of cash equivalent securities that carried a comparatively lower yield than the overall investment portfolio.

The Company executed a number of sales strategies during 2005 with a focus on maximizing the total return performance of the portfolio. During 2005, sales of U.S. Treasury and Agency securities, AAA rated obligations of state and political subdivisions, and investment grade corporate bonds were $173.2 million, $46.1 million and $24.4 million, respectively. The corresponding pre-tax gains on investment securities recognized on these sales were $7.0 million, $2.2 million and $3.0 million, respectively. All proceeds from these sales were used to repay short-term borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. During 2006, the investment portfolio continued to decline due to the contractual runoff of securities. Cash flows from the maturing securities were used to pay down short-term borrowings and the excess were invested in short-term interest bearing cash equivalents, as the long-term investments alternatives were not attractive in the then flat yield curve environment.

The investment portfolio has limited credit risk due to the composition continuing to heavily favor U.S. Agency debentures, U.S. Agency mortgage-backed pass-throughs, U.S. Agency CMOs and municipal bonds. The U. S. Agency debentures, U.S. Agency mortgage-backed pass-throughs and U.S. Agency CMOs are all AAA-rated (highest possible rating). The majority of the municipal bonds are AAA-rated. The portfolio does not include any private label mortgage backed securities (MBOs) or collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs).

Ninety percent of the investment portfolio was classified as available-for-sale at year-end 2007 versus 88% at the end of 2006. The net pre-tax market value gain over book value for the available-for-sale portfolio as of December 31, 2007 was $17.2 million, up $9.4 million from one year earlier. This increase is indicative of the interest rate movements during the respective time periods and the changes in the size and composition of the portfolio.

34



The following table sets forth the amortized cost and market value for the Company’s investment securities portfolio:

Table 18: Investment Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 


 


 



(000’s omitted)

 

Amortized
Cost/Book
Value

 

Fair
Value

 

Amortized
Cost/Book
Value

 

Fair
Value

 

Amortized
Cost/Book
Value

 

Fair
Value

 


 




 




 





Held-to-Maturity Portfolio:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury and agency securities

 

$

127,055

 

$

127,382

 

$

127,200

 

$

124,020

 

$

127,345

 

$

124,326

 

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

 

 

6,207

 

 

6,289

 

 

7,242

 

 

7,257

 

 

5,709

 

 

5,735

 

Other securities

 

 

3,988

 

 

3,988

 

 

11,417

 

 

11,417

 

 

9,451

 

 

9,451

 


 






 






 







Total held-to-maturity portfolio

 

 

137,250

 

 

137,659

 

 

145,859

 

 

142,694

 

 

142,505

 

 

139,512

 


 






 






 







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-Sale Portfolio:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury and agency securities

 

 

432,832

 

 

438,526

 

 

372,706

 

 

370,787

 

 

420,062

 

 

420,808

 

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

 

 

532,431

 

 

543,963

 

 

502,677

 

 

514,647

 

 

519,661

 

 

532,708

 

Corporate debt securities

 

 

40,457

 

 

40,270

 

 

35,603

 

 

35,080

 

 

35,744

 

 

35,559

 

Collateralized mortgage obligations

 

 

34,451

 

 

34,512

 

 

43,768

 

 

43,107

 

 

78,710

 

 

78,468

 

Asset-backed securities

 

 

73,089

 

 

72,300

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

72,655

 

 

73,525

 

 

76,266

 

 

75,181

 

 

53,019

 

 

53,363

 


 






 






 







Subtotal

 

 

1,185,915

 

 

1,203,096

 

 

1,031,020

 

 

1,038,802

 

 

1,107,196

 

 

1,120,906

 

Equity securities (1)

 

 

40,944

 

 

40,944

 

 

34,028

 

 

34,028

 

 

29,841

 

 

29,841

 

Federal Reserve Bank common stock

 

 

10,582

 

 

10,582

 

 

10,582

 

 

10,582

 

 

9,865

 

 

9,865

 


 






 






 







Total available-for-sale portfolio

 

 

1,237,441

 

 

1,254,622

 

 

1,075,630

 

 

1,083,412

 

 

1,146,902

 

 

1,160,612

 


 






 






 







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale portfolio

 

 

17,181

 

 

0

 

 

7,782

 

 

0

 

 

13,710

 

 

0

 


 






 






 







Total

 

$

1,391,872

 

$

1,392,281

 

$

1,229,271

 

$

1,226,106

 

$

1,303,117

 

$

1,300,124

 


 






 






 







(1)Includes $39,770, $32,717 and $28,791 of FHLB common stock at December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively.

35



The following table sets forth as of December 31, 2007, the maturities of investment securities and the weighted-average yields of such securities, which have been calculated on the cost basis, weighted for scheduled maturity of each security:

Table 19: Maturities of Investment Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted, except rates)

 

Maturing
Within
One Year
or Less

 

Maturing
After One
Year but
Within
Five Years

 

Maturing
After Five
Years but
Within
Ten Years

 

Maturing
After
Ten Years

 

Total
Amortized
Cost/Book
Value

 













Held-to-Maturity Portfolio:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury and agency securities

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

112,055

 

 

 

$

15,000

 

 

$

127,055

 

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

 

 

 

4,595

 

 

 

 

1,536

 

 

 

 

76

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

6,207

 

Other securities

 

 

 

816

 

 

 

 

42

 

 

 

 

34

 

 

 

 

3,096

 

 

 

3,988

 


























Total held-to-maturity portfolio

 

 

$

5,411

 

 

 

$

1,578

 

 

 

$

112,165

 

 

 

$

18,096

 

 

$

137,250

 


























 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average yield (1)

 

 

 

5.31

%

 

 

 

5.15

%

 

 

 

5.00

%

 

 

 

5.42

%

 

 

5.07

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-Sale Portfolio:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury and agency securities

 

 

$

162,655

 

 

 

$

91,258

 

 

 

$

136,117

 

 

 

$

42,802

 

 

$

432,832

 

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

 

 

 

6,422

 

 

 

 

134,472

 

 

 

 

224,266

 

 

 

 

167,271

 

 

 

532,431

 

Corporate debt securities

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

25,477

 

 

 

 

14,980

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

40,457

 

Collateralized mortgage obligations (2)

 

 

 

362

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

29,168

 

 

 

 

4,921

 

 

 

34,451

 

Asset-backed securities

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

73,089

 

 

 

73,089

 

Mortgage-backed securities (2)

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

 

430

 

 

 

 

6,520

 

 

 

 

65,665

 

 

 

72,655

 


























Total available-for-sale portfolio

 

 

$

169,479

 

 

 

$

251,637

 

 

 

$

411,051

 

 

 

$

353,748

 

 

$

1,185,915

 


























 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average yield (1)

 

 

 

4.75

%

 

 

 

4.65

%

 

 

 

4.71

%

 

 

 

5.34

%

 

 

4.89

%


 

 

(1)

Weighted-average yields are an arithmetic computation of accrued income divided by average balance; they may differ from the yield to maturity, which considers the time value of money.

 

 

(2)

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations are listed based on the contractual maturity. Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without penalties.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

The Company’s financial statements have been prepared in terms of historical dollars, without considering changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. Unlike most industrial companies, virtually all of the assets and liabilities of a financial institution are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates have a more significant impact on a financial institution’s performance than the effect of general levels of inflation. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or in the same magnitude as the prices of goods and services. Notwithstanding this, inflation can directly affect the value of loan collateral, in particular real estate.

New Accounting Pronouncements

See “New Accounting Pronouncements” Section of Note A of the notes to the consolidated financial statements on page 51 for additional accounting pronouncements.

36



Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains comments or information that constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, the Company’s plans, objectives and intentions are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s control). Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include: (1) risks related to credit quality, interest rate sensitivity and liquidity; (2) the strength of the U.S. economy in general and the strength of the local economies where the Company conducts its business; (3) the effect of, and changes in, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (4) inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; (5) the timely development of new products and services and customer perception of the overall value thereof (including features, pricing and quality) compared to competing products and services; (6) changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; (7) technological changes; (8) any acquisitions or mergers that might be considered or consummated by the Company and the costs and factors associated therewith; (9) the ability to maintain and increase market share and control expenses; (10) the effect of changes in laws and regulations (including laws and regulations concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance) and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; (11) changes in the Company’s organization, compensation and benefit plans and in the availability of, and compensation levels for, employees in its geographic markets; (12) the costs and effects of litigation and of any adverse outcome in such litigation; (13) other risk factors outlined in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time; and (14) the success of the Company at managing the risks of the foregoing.

The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made. If the Company does update or correct one or more forward-looking statements, investors and others should not conclude that the Company will make additional updates or corrections with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements.

37



Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market Risk

Market risk is the risk of loss in a financial instrument arising from adverse changes in market rates, prices or credit risk. Credit risk associated with the Company’s loan portfolio has been previously discussed in the asset quality section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations starting on page 28. Although more than a third of the securities portfolio at year-end 2007 was invested in municipal bonds, management believes that the tax risk of the Company’s municipal investments associated with potential future changes in statutory, judicial and regulatory actions is minimal. The Company also believes that it has an insignificant amount of credit risk in its investment portfolio because essentially all of the fixed-income securities in the portfolio are AAA-rated (highest possible rating). The Company does not have any material foreign currency exchange rate risk exposure. Therefore, almost all the market risk in the investment portfolio is related to interest rates.

The ongoing monitoring and management of both interest rate risk and liquidity, in the short and long term time horizons is an important component of the Company’s asset/liability management process, which is governed by limits established in the policies reviewed and approved annually by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors delegates responsibility for carrying out the policies to the Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”), which meets each month. The committee is made up of the Company’s senior management as well as regional and line-of-business managers who oversee specific earning asset classes and various funding sources.

Asset/Liability Management

The primary objective of the Company’s asset/liability management process is to maximize earnings and return on capital within acceptable levels of risk. As the Company does not believe it is possible to reliably predict future interest rate movements, it has maintained an appropriate process and set of measurement tools that enable it to identify and quantify sources of interest rate risk in varying rate environments. The primary tools used by the Company in managing interest rate risk are the income simulation model and economic value of equity modeling.

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk (“IRR”) can result from: the timing differences in the maturity/repricing of an institution’s assets, liabilities, and off-balance sheet contracts; the effect of embedded options, such as loan prepayments, interest rate caps/floors, and deposit withdrawals; and differences in the behavior of lending and funding rates, sometimes referred to as basis risk. An example of basis risk would occur if floating rate assets and liabilities, with otherwise identical repricing characteristics, were based on market indexes that were imperfectly correlated.

Given the potential types and differing related characteristics of IRR, it is important that the Company maintain an appropriate process and set of measurement tools that enable it to identify and quantify its primary sources of IRR. The Company also recognizes that effective management of IRR includes an understanding of when potential adverse changes in interest rates will flow through the income statement. Accordingly, the Company will manage its position so that it monitors its exposure to net interest income over both a one year planning horizon and a longer-term strategic horizon.

It is the Company’s objective to manage its exposure to interest rate risk, bearing in mind that it will always be in the business of taking on rate risk and that rate risk immunization is not possible. Also, it is recognized that as exposure to interest rate risk is reduced, so too may net interest margin be reduced.

Income Simulation

Income simulation is tested on a wide variety of balance sheet and treasury yield curve scenarios. The simulation projects changes in net interest income caused by the effect of changes in interest rates. The model requires management to make assumptions about how the balance sheet is likely to evolve through time in different interest rate environments. Loan and deposit growth rate assumptions are derived from management’s outlook, as are the assumptions used for new loan yields and deposit rates. Loan prepayment speeds are based on a combination of current industry averages and internal historical prepayments. Balance sheet and yield curve assumptions are analyzed and reviewed by the ALCO Committee regularly.

The following table reflects the Company’s one-year net interest income sensitivity, using December 31, 2007 asset and liability levels as a starting point.

The prime rate and federal funds rates are assumed to move up 200 basis points and down 100 basis points over a 12-month period while the treasury curve shifts to spreads over federal funds that are more consistent with historical norms. Deposit rates are assumed to move in a manner that reflects the historical relationship between deposit rate movement and changes in the federal funds rate, generally reflecting 10%-65% of the movement of the federal funds rate.

38



Cash flows are based on contractual maturity, optionality and amortization schedules along with applicable prepayments derived from internal historical data and external sources.

Net Interest Income Sensitivity Model

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calculated increase (decrease) in Projected

 

 

 

Net Interest Income at December 31

 

 




Changes in Interest Rates

 

2007

 

2006

 







 

+200 basis points

 

 

$

1,114,000

 

 

 

($

668,000

)

 

 

-100 basis points

 

 

($

853,000

)

 

 

($

1,155,000

)

 

In the 2007 model, the rising rate environment reflects an increase in net interest income (“NII”) from a flat rate environment while NII decreases if rates were to fall. The change in NII in both environments is largely due to assets repricing faster than corresponding liabilities. Over a longer time period the growth in NII improves significantly in a rising rate environment as lower yielding assets mature and are replaced at higher rates.

In the 2006 model, both the rising and falling rate environments reflect a reduction in NII from a flat rate environment. Initially, the rising rate environment reflects a decrease in NII from a flat rate environment largely due to short-term capital market borrowings repricing as rates rise. Over a longer time period the growth in NII improves significantly in a rising rate environment as lower yielding assets mature and are replaced at higher rates. In a falling rate environment, NII decreases as a result of assets repricing faster than liabilities.

The analysis does not represent a Company forecast and should not be relied upon as being indicative of expected operating results. These hypothetical estimates are based upon numerous assumptions including: the nature and timing of interest rate levels (including yield curve shape); prepayments on loans and securities; deposit decay rates; pricing decisions on loans and deposits; reinvestment/replacement of asset and liability cash flows; and other factors. While the assumptions are developed based upon current economic and local market conditions, the Company cannot make any assurances as to the predictive nature of these assumptions, including how customer preferences or competitor influences might change. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis does not reflect actions that ALCO might take in responding to or anticipating changes in interest rates.

Management uses a “value of equity” model to supplement the modeling technique described above. Those supplemental analyses are based on discounted cash flows associated with on and off-balance sheet financial instruments. Such analyses are modeled to reflect changes in interest rates and shifts in the maturity curve of interest rates and provide management with a long-term interest rate risk metric.

39



Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The following consolidated financial statements and independent auditor’s reports of Community Bank System, Inc. are contained on pages 41 through 71 of this item.

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Condition,
December 31, 2007 and 2006

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Income,
Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity,
Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income,
Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows,
Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,
December 31, 2007

 

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Quarterly Selected Data (Unaudited) for 2007 and 2006 are contained on page 74.

40



COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 






 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

$

130,823

 

 

 

$

232,032

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale investment securities

 

 

 

1,254,622

 

 

 

 

1,083,412

 

 

Held-to-maturity investment securities

 

 

 

137,250

 

 

 

 

145,859

 

 












 

Total investment securities (fair value of $1,392,281 and $1,226,106, respectively)

 

 

 

1,391,872

 

 

 

 

1,229,271

 

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans

 

 

 

2,821,055

 

 

 

 

2,701,558

 

 

Allowance for loan losses

 

 

 

(36,427

)

 

 

 

(36,313

)

 












 

Net loans

 

 

 

2,784,628

 

 

 

 

2,665,245

 

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Core deposit intangibles, net

 

 

 

19,765

 

 

 

 

24,665

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

 

234,449

 

 

 

 

220,290

 

 

Other intangibles, net

 

 

 

2,002

 

 

 

 

1,181

 

 












 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

 

256,216

 

 

 

 

246,136

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premises and equipment, net

 

 

 

69,685

 

 

 

 

66,199

 

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

 

 

25,531

 

 

 

 

26,797

 

 

Other assets

 

 

 

38,747

 

 

 

 

32,117

 

 












 

Total assets

 

 

$

4,697,502

 

 

 

$

4,497,797

 

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noninterest bearing deposits

 

 

$

584,921

 

 

 

$

578,951

 

 

Interest-bearing deposits

 

 

 

2,643,543

 

 

 

 

2,589,348

 

 












 

Total deposits

 

 

 

3,228,464

 

 

 

 

3,168,299

 

 

Borrowings

 

 

 

801,604

 

 

 

 

647,481

 

 

Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts

 

 

 

127,724

 

 

 

 

158,014

 

 

Accrued interest and other liabilities

 

 

 

60,926

 

 

 

 

62,475

 

 












 

Total liabilities

 

 

 

4,218,718

 

 

 

 

4,036,269

 

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (See Note N)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock $1.00 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

Common stock, $1.00 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 32,999,544 and 32,773,320 shares issued in 2007 and 2006, respectively

 

 

 

33,000

 

 

 

 

32,773

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

 

208,429

 

 

 

 

203,197

 

 

Retained earnings

 

 

 

310,281

 

 

 

 

291,871

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)

 

 

 

702

 

 

 

 

(4,697

)

 

Treasury stock, at cost (3,364,811 and 2,753,161 shares, respectively)

 

 

 

(73,628

)

 

 

 

(61,616

)

 












 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

478,784

 

 

 

 

461,528

 

 












 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

 

$

4,697,502

 

 

 

$

4,497,797

 

 












 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

41



COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In Thousands, Except Per-Share Data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 








 

Interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and fees on loans

 

$

186,784

 

$

167,113

 

$

147,608

 

Interest and dividends on taxable investments

 

 

48,032

 

 

41,869

 

 

48,543

 

Interest and dividends on nontaxable investments

 

 

21,421

 

 

22,919

 

 

23,293

 











 

Total interest income

 

 

256,237

 

 

231,901

 

 

219,444

 











 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on deposits

 

 

77,682

 

 

61,544

 

 

42,752

 

Interest on short-term borrowings

 

 

10,644

 

 

5,513

 

 

11,249

 

Interest on subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts

 

 

9,936

 

 

8,022

 

 

6,676

 

Interest on long-term borrowings

 

 

22,001

 

 

22,013

 

 

14,895

 











 

Total interest expense

 

 

120,263

 

 

97,092

 

 

75,572

 











 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

 

135,974

 

 

134,809

 

 

143,872

 

Less: provision for loan losses

 

 

2,004

 

 

6,585

 

 

8,534

 











 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

 

133,970

 

 

128,224

 

 

135,338

 











 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noninterest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposit service fees

 

 

32,012

 

 

28,348

 

 

27,108

 

Other banking services

 

 

3,284

 

 

2,730

 

 

2,793

 

Trust, investment and asset management fees

 

 

8,264

 

 

7,396

 

 

7,307

 

Benefit plan administration, consulting and actuarial fees

 

 

19,700

 

 

13,205

 

 

11,193

 

(Loss) gain on investment securities and debt extinguishments

 

 

(9,974

)

 

(2,403

)

 

12,195

 











 

Total noninterest income

 

 

53,286

 

 

49,276

 

 

60,596

 











 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

 

 

75,714

 

 

67,103

 

 

65,059

 

Occupancy and equipment

 

 

18,961

 

 

17,884

 

 

17,756

 

Customer processing and communications

 

 

15,691

 

 

12,934

 

 

13,565

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

6,269

 

 

6,027

 

 

7,125

 

Legal and professional fees

 

 

4,987

 

 

4,593

 

 

4,540

 

Office supplies and postage

 

 

4,303

 

 

4,035

 

 

3,804

 

Business development and marketing

 

 

5,420

 

 

4,251

 

 

2,771

 

Special charges/acquisition expenses

 

 

382

 

 

647

 

 

2,943

 

Other

 

 

10,347

 

 

9,729

 

 

9,826

 











 

Total operating expenses

 

 

142,074

 

 

127,203

 

 

127,389

 











 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

45,182

 

 

50,297

 

 

68,545

 

Income taxes

 

 

2,291

 

 

11,920

 

 

17,740

 











 

Net income

 

$

42,891

 

$

38,377

 

$

50,805

 











 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

1.43

 

$

1.28

 

$

1.68

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

1.42

 

$

1.26

 

$

1.65

 

Cash dividends declared per share

 

$

0.82

 

$

0.78

 

$

0.74

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

42



COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Additional
Paid-In
Capital

 

Retained
Earnings

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss)/Income

 

Treasury
Stock

 

Employee
Stock Plan
-Unearned

 

Total

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares
Outstanding

 

Amount
Issued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2004

 

 

30,641,591

 

$

32,042

 

$

190,769

 

$

248,295

 

 

$

34,200

 

 

($

30,199

)

 

($

479

)

 

$

474,628

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50,805

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50,805

 

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(25,780

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(25,780

)

Dividends declared:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common, $0.74 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(22,291

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(22,291

)

Common stock issued under employee stock plan, including tax benefits of $1,369

 

 

408,972

 

 

409

 

 

5,543

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

156

 

 

 

6,108

 

Treasury stock purchased

 

 

(1,093,711

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(25,875

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(25,875

)































Balance at December 31, 2005

 

 

29,956,852

 

$

32,451

 

$

196,312

 

$

276,809

 

 

$

8,420

 

 

($

56,074

)

 

($

323

)

 

$

457,595

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38,377

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38,377

 

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,226

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,226

)

Adjustment for initial adoption of SFAS 158

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9,891

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9,891

)

Dividends declared:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common, $0.78 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(23,315

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(23,315

)

Common stock issued under employee stock plan, including tax benefits of $936

 

 

322,757

 

 

322

 

 

5,024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

161

 

 

 

5,507

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,023

 

Treasury stock purchased

 

 

(259,450

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,542

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,542

)

Reclassification of unearned restricted stock awards to additional paid-in capital in accordance with SFAS 123(R)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(162

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

162

 

 

 

 

 































Balance at December 31, 2006

 

 

30,020,159

 

 

32,773

 

 

203,197

 

 

291,871

 

 

 

(4,697

)

 

 

(61,616

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

461,528

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42,891

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42,891

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,399

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,399

 

Dividends declared:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common, $0.82 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(24,481

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(24,481

)

Common stock issued under employee stock plan, including tax benefits of $949

 

 

226,224

 

 

227

 

 

3,055

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,282

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,177

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,177

 

Treasury stock purchased

 

 

(611,650

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12,012

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12,012

)































Balance at December 31, 2007

 

 

29,634,733

 

$

33,000

 

$

208,429

 

$

310,281

 

 

$

702

 

 

($

73,628

)

 

$

0

 

 

$

478,784

 































The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

43



COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 


Change in accumulated unrealized losses for pension and other postretirement obligations

 

$

2,005

 

($

118

)

$

0

 

Change in unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments used in cash flow hedging relationships

 

 

(2,994

)

 

750

 

 

0

 

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period

 

 

9,376

 

 

(5,928

)

 

(29,887

)

Reclassification adjustment for losses (gains) included in net income

 

 

22

 

 

0

 

 

(12,195

)












Other comprehensive gain (loss), before tax

 

 

8,409

 

 

(5,296

)

 

(42,082

)

Income tax (expense) benefit related to other comprehensive loss

 

 

(3,010

)

 

2,070

 

 

16,302

 












Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

 

5,399

 

 

(3,226

)

 

(25,780

)

Net income

 

 

42,891

 

 

38,377

 

 

50,805

 












Comprehensive income

 

$

48,290

 

$

35,151

 

$

25,025

 












The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

44



COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In Thousands of Dollars, except Share Data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 


Operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

42,891

 

$

38,377

 

$

50,805

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

 

Depreciation

 

 

9,323

 

 

8,613

 

 

8,616

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

6,269

 

 

6,027

 

 

7,125

 

Net amortization of premiums and discounts on securities and loans

 

 

(6,987

)

 

1,094

 

 

1,066

 

Amortization of unearned compensation and discount on subordinated debt

 

 

405

 

 

160

 

 

288

 

Provision for loan losses

 

 

2,004

 

 

6,585

 

 

8,534

 

Provision for deferred taxes

 

 

742

 

 

(999

)

 

(519

)

Loss (gain) on investment securities and debt extinguishments

 

 

9,955

 

 

2,403

 

 

(12,195

)

Gain on sale of loans and other assets

 

 

(118

)

 

(116

)

 

(15

)

Proceeds from the sale of loans held for sale

 

 

17,943

 

 

31,567

 

 

3,329

 

Origination of loans held for sale

 

 

(17,823

)

 

(31,446

)

 

(3,320

)

Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements

 

 

(409

)

 

(420

)

 

0

 

Change in other operating assets and liabilities

 

 

(13,590

)

 

11,256

 

 

8,251

 












Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

50,605

 

 

73,101

 

 

71,965

 












Investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investment securities

 

 

15,900

 

 

37,866

 

 

324,752

 

Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity investment securities

 

 

13,244

 

 

5,950

 

 

4,984

 

Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale investment securities

 

 

564,351

 

 

121,949

 

 

116,835

 

Purchases of held-to-maturity investment securities

 

 

(4,780

)

 

(9,449

)

 

(9,991

)

Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities

 

 

(706,130

)

 

(78,776

)

 

(186,037

)

Net increase in loans

 

 

(66,610

)

 

(39,347

)

 

(61,060

)

Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired of $21,873, $29,831, and $0

 

 

(12,499

)

 

(26,989

)

 

0

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(9,777

)

 

(6,494

)

 

(10,275

)












Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

 

 

(206,301

)

 

4,710

 

 

179,208

 












Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in demand deposits, NOW accounts, and savings accounts

 

 

10,379

 

 

(43,652

)

 

(19,906

)

Net change in time deposits

 

 

(34,334

)

 

7,203

 

 

75,889

 

Net change in federal funds purchased

 

 

0

 

 

(36,300

)

 

23,100

 

Net change in short-term borrowings

 

 

312,767

 

 

(35,100

)

 

(313,000

)

Change in long-term borrowings (net of payments of $150,845, $1,283 and $290)

 

 

(193,860

)

 

171,037

 

 

22,423

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

(9,344

)

 

0

 

 

0

 

Issuance of common stock

 

 

4,713

 

 

4,571

 

 

4,507

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 

 

(12,012

)

 

(5,542

)

 

(25,874

)

Cash dividends paid

 

 

(24,231

)

 

(23,021

)

 

(22,112

)

Tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements

 

 

409

 

 

420

 

 

0

 












Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

54,487

 

 

39,616

 

 

(254,973

)












Change in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(101,209

)

 

117,427

 

 

(3,800

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

 

232,032

 

 

114,605

 

 

118,405

 












Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

130,823

 

$

232,032

 

$

114,605

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

122,071

 

$

95,529

 

$

73,899

 

Cash paid for income taxes

 

 

8,985

 

 

7,266

 

 

15,452

 

Supplemental disclosures of noncash financing and investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared and unpaid

 

 

6,239

 

 

5,989

 

 

5,695

 

Acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of assets acquired, excluding acquired cash and intangibles

 

 

87,910

 

 

273,588

 

 

0

 

Fair value of liabilities assumed

 

 

91,665

 

 

273,884

 

 

0

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

45



COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

NOTE A: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations

Community Bank System, Inc. (the “Company”) is a single bank holding company which wholly-owns five consolidated subsidiaries: Community Bank, N.A. (the “Bank”), Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. (“BPAS”), CFSI Closeout Corp. (“CFSICC”), First of Jermyn Realty Co. (“FJRC”), and Town & Country Agency LLC (“T&C”). BPAS owns three subsidiaries, Benefit Plans Administrative Services LLC, Harbridge Consulting Group LLC, and Hand Benefits & Trust, Inc. (“HBT”), which owns two subsidiaries Hand Securities Inc. (“HSI”), and Flex Corporation (“Flex”). BPAS provides administration, consulting and actuarial services to sponsors of employee benefit plans. CFSICC, FJRC and T&C are inactive companies. The Company also wholly-owns three unconsolidated subsidiary business trusts formed for the purpose of issuing mandatorily redeemable preferred securities which are considered Tier I capital under regulatory capital adequacy guidelines (see Note H).

The Bank operates 131 customer facilities throughout 25 counties of Upstate New York and five counties of Northeastern Pennsylvania offering a range of commercial and retail banking services. The Bank owns the following subsidiaries: Community Investment Services, Inc. (“CISI”), CBNA Treasury Management Corporation (“TMC”), CBNA Preferred Funding Corporation (“PFC”), Nottingham Advisors, Inc. (“Nottingham”), First Liberty Service Corp. (“FLSC”), Brilie Corporation (“Brilie”) and CBNA Insurance Agency (“CBNA Insurance”). CISI provides broker-dealer and investment advisory services. TMC provides cash management, investment, and treasury services to the Bank. PFC primarily is an investor in residential real estate loans. Nottingham provides asset management services to individuals, corporate pension and profit sharing plans, and foundations. FLSC provides banking-related services to the Pennsylvania branches of the Bank. CBNA Insurance is a full service property and casualty insurance agency.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation 46 Revised (“FIN 46R”), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (VIE) provides guidance on when a company should include in its financial statements the assets, liabilities, and activities of another corporation, partnership, trust or any other legal structure used for business purposes that either does not have equity investors with voting rights or has equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. FIN 46R requires a VIE to be consolidated by a company if that company is subject to a majority of the risk of loss or receives a majority of the entity’s residual returns or both. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries Community Capital Trusts II through IV are VIEs for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, the accounts of these entities are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Critical Accounting Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Critical accounting estimates include the allowance for loan losses, actuarial assumptions associated with the pension, post-retirement and other employee benefit plans, the provision for income taxes, and the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets.

Risk and Uncertainties

In the normal course of its business, the Company encounters economic and regulatory risks. There are three main components of economic risk: interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk. The Company is subject to interest rate risk to the degree that its interest-bearing liabilities mature or reprice at different speeds, or on different basis, from its interest-earning assets. The Company’s primary credit risk is the risk of default on the Company’s loan portfolio that results from the borrowers’ inability or unwillingness to make contractually required payments. Market risk reflects potential changes in the value of collateral underlying loans, the fair value of investment securities, and loans held for sale.

The Company is subject to regulations of various governmental agencies. These regulations can and do change significantly from period to period. The Company also undergoes periodic examinations by the regulatory agencies which may subject it to further changes with respect to asset valuations, amounts of required loan loss allowances, and operating restrictions resulting from the regulators’ judgments based on information available to them at the time of their examinations.

46



Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes income on an accrual basis. CISI recognizes fee income when investment and insurance products are sold to customers. Nottingham provides asset management services to brokerage firms and clients and recognizes income ratably over the contract period during which service is performed. Revenue from BPA’s administration and recordkeeping services is recognized ratably over the service contract period. Revenue from consulting and actuarial services is recognized when services are rendered. CBNA Insurance recognizes commission revenue at the later of the effective date of the insurance policy, or the date on which the policy premium is billed to the customer. At that date, the earnings process has been completed and the impact of refunds for policy cancellations can be reasonably estimated to establish reserves. The reserve for policy cancellations is based upon historical cancellation experience adjusted by known circumstances. All inter-company revenue and expense among related entities are eliminated in consolidation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks and highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than ninety days. The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash and cash equivalents approximate those assets' fair values.

Investment Securities

The Company has classified its investments in debt and equity securities as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale. Held-to-maturity securities are those for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity, and are reported at cost, which is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Securities not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair market value with net unrealized gains and losses reflected as a separate component of shareholders' equity, net of applicable income taxes. None of the Company's investment securities have been classified as trading securities at December 31, 2007. Equity securities are stated at cost and include restricted stock of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. Investment securities are reviewed regularly for other than temporary impairment. Where there is other than temporary impairment, the carrying value of the investment security is reduced to the estimated fair value, with the impairment loss recognized in the consolidated statements of income as other expense.

The specific identification method is used in determining the realized gains and losses on sales of investment securities and other than temporary impairment charges. Premiums and discounts on securities are amortized and accreted, respectively, on a systematic basis over the period to maturity, estimated life, or earliest call date of the related security. Purchases and sales of securities are recognized on a trade date basis.

Fair values for investment securities are based on quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company utilizes interest rate swap agreements, considered to be cash flow hedges, as part of the management of interest rate risk to modify the repricing characteristics of certain portions of its portfolios of interest-bearing liabilities. Under the guidelines of SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, (“SFAS 133”), as amended, all derivative instruments are required to be carried at fair value on the balance sheet.

Cash flow hedges are accounted for by recording the fair value of the derivative instrument on the balance sheet as either a freestanding asset or liability, with a corresponding offset recorded in other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity, net of tax. Amounts are reclassified from other comprehensive income to the income statement in the period or periods the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. Derivative gains and losses not effective in hedging the expected cash flows of the hedged item are recognized immediately in the income statement. At the hedge’s inception and at least quarterly thereafter, a formal assessment is performed to determine the effectiveness of the cash flow hedge. If it is determined that a derivative instrument has not been or will not continue to be highly effective as a hedge, hedge accounting is discontinued.

Loans

Loans are stated at unpaid principal balances, net of unearned income. Mortgage loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value and are included in loans as the balance of such loans was not significant. Fair values for variable rate loans that reprice frequently are based on carrying values. Fair values for fixed rate loans are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality. The carrying amount of accrued interest approximates its fair value.

47



Interest on loans is accrued and credited to operations based upon the principal amount outstanding. Unearned discount on installment loans is recognized as income over the term of the loan, principally by the interest method. Nonrefundable loan fees and related direct costs are included in the loan balances and are deferred and amortized over the life of the loan as an adjustment to loan yield using the effective interest method. Premiums and discounts on purchased loans are amortized using the effective yield method over the life of the loans.

Impaired and Other Nonaccrual Loans

The Company places a loan on nonaccrual status when the loan becomes ninety days past due (or sooner, if management concludes collection is doubtful), except when, in the opinion of management, it is well-collateralized and in the process of collection. A loan may be placed on nonaccrual status earlier than ninety days past due if there is deterioration in the financial position of the borrower or if other conditions of the loan so warrant. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, uncollected accrued interest is reversed against interest income and the deferral and amortization of nonrefundable loan fees and related direct costs is discontinued. Interest income during the period the loan is on nonaccrual status is recorded on a cash basis after recovery of principal is reasonably assured. Nonaccrual loans are returned to accrual status when management determines that the borrower’s performance has improved and that both principal and interest are collectible. This generally requires a sustained period of timely principal and interest payments.

Commercial loans greater than $500,000 are evaluated individually for impairment in accordance with FASB No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan.” A loan is considered impaired, based on current information and events, if it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The measurement of impaired loans is generally based upon the present value of expected future cash flows or the fair value of the collateral, if the loan is collateral-dependent.

The Company’s charge-off policy by loan type is as follows:

 

 

Commercial loans are generally charged-off to the extent outstanding principal exceeds the fair value of estimated proceeds from collection efforts, including liquidation of collateral. The charge-off is recognized when the loss becomes reasonably quantifiable.

 

 

Consumer installment loans are generally charged-off to the extent outstanding principal balance exceeds the fair value of collateral, and are recognized by the end of the month in which the loan becomes 120 days past due.

 

 

Loans secured by 1-4 family residential real estate are generally charged-off to the extent outstanding principal exceeds the fair value of the property, and are recognized when the loan becomes 180 days past due.

Allowance for Loan Losses

Management continually evaluates the credit quality of the Company’s loan portfolio, and performs a formal review of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis. The allowance reflects management’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. Determination of the allowance is subjective in nature and requires significant estimates. The Company’s allowance methodology consists of two broad components, general and specific loan loss allocations.

The general loan loss allocation is composed of two calculations that are computed on four main loan segments: commercial, consumer direct, consumer indirect and residential real estate. The first calculation determines an allowance level based on the latest three years of historical net charge-off data for each loan category (commercial loans exclude balances with specific loan loss allocations). The second calculation is qualitative and takes into consideration five major factors affecting the level of loan loss risk: portfolio risk migration patterns (internal credit quality trends); the growth of the segments of the loan portfolio; economic and business environment trends in the Company’s markets (includes review of bankruptcy, unemployment, population, consumer spending and regulatory trends); industry, geographical and product concentrations in the portfolio; and the perceived effectiveness of managerial resources and lending practices and policies. These two calculations are added together to determine the general loan loss allocation. The specific loan loss allocation relates to individual commercial loans that are both greater than $0.5 million and in a nonaccruing status with respect to interest. Specific losses are based on discounted estimated cash flows, including any cash flows resulting from the conversion of collateral.

Loan losses are charged off against the allowance, while recoveries of amounts previously charged off are credited to the allowance. A provision for loan loss is charged to operations based on management’s periodic evaluation of factors previously mentioned.

48



Intangible Assets

Intangible assets include core deposit intangibles, customer relationship intangibles and goodwill arising from acquisitions. Core deposit intangibles and customer relationship intangibles are amortized on either an accelerated or straight-line basis over periods ranging from 7 to 20 years. Goodwill is evaluated at least annually for impairment. The carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets is based upon discounted cash flow modeling techniques that require management to make estimates regarding the amount and timing of expected future cash flows. It also requires use of a discount rate that reflects the current return requirements of the market in relation to present risk-free interest rates, required equity market premiums, and company-specific risk indicators.

Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Computer software costs that are capitalized only include external direct costs of obtaining and installing the software. The Company has not developed any internal use software. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Useful lives range from five to ten years for equipment; three to five years for software and hardware; and 10 to 40 years for building and building improvements. Land improvements are depreciated over 15 years and leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the respective lease plus any optional renewal periods that are reasonably assured or life of the asset if shorter. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.

Long-lived depreciable assets are evaluated periodically for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Impairment exists when the expected undiscounted future cash flows of a long-lived asset are less than its carrying value. In that event, the Company recognizes a loss for the difference between the carrying amount and the estimated fair value of the asset based on a quoted market price, if applicable, or a discounted cash flow analysis. Impairment losses are recorded in other expenses on the income statement.

Other Real Estate

Properties acquired through foreclosure, or by deed in lieu of foreclosure, are carried at the lower of the unpaid loan balance or fair value less estimated costs of disposal. Subsequent changes in value are reported as adjustments to the carrying amount, not to exceed the initial carrying value of the asset at the time of transfer. Changes in value subsequent to transfer are recorded in operating expenses on the income statement. Gains or losses not previously recognized resulting from the sale of other real estate are recognized as an expense on the date of sale. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, other real estate, included in other assets, amounted to $1,007,000 and $1,838,000, respectively.

Mortgage Servicing Rights

Originated mortgage servicing rights are recorded at their fair value at the time of sale of the underlying loan, and are amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing income or loss. The Company uses a valuation model that calculates the present value of future cash flows to determine the fair value of servicing rights. In using this valuation method, the Company incorporates assumptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income, which includes estimates of the servicing cost per loan, the discount rate, and prepayment speeds. The carrying value of the originated mortgage servicing rights is evaluated quarterly for impairment using these same market assumptions.

Deposits

The fair value of deposit obligations are based on current market rates for alternative funding sources, principally the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. The carrying value of accrued interest approximates fair value.

Borrowings

The carrying amounts of federal funds purchased and short-term borrowings approximate their fair values. Fair values for long-term borrowings are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered on similar borrowings. Since the Company considers debt extinguishments to be a component of its interest rate risk management, any related gains or losses are not deemed extraordinary and are presented in the noninterest income section of the consolidated statements of income.

Treasury Stock

Repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock are recorded at cost as a reduction of stockholders’ equity. Reissuance of shares of treasury stock are recorded at average cost.

On April 20, 2005 the Board of Directors authorized a twenty-month program to repurchase up to 1,500,000 shares of its outstanding shares. On December 20, 2006 the Company extended the program through December 31, 2008. As of December 31, 2007, the Company has repurchased 1,464,811 shares at an aggregate cost of $31.5 million, or $21.51 per share. The repurchases were for general corporate purposes, including those related to stock plan activities. On December 20, 2006 the Company announced an additional two-year authorization, through December 31, 2008, to repurchase up to 900,000 of its outstanding shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions.

49



Income Taxes

The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. Provisions for income taxes are based on taxes currently payable or refundable as well as deferred taxes that are based on temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are reported in the financial statements at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. This interpretation specifies that benefits from tax positions should be recognized in the financial statements only when it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority having full knowledge of all relevant information. A tax position meeting the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be measured at the largest amount of benefit for which the likelihood of realization upon ultimate settlement exceeds 50 percent. The adoption of FIN 48 did not result in any change to the Company’s liability for uncertain tax positions as of January 1, 2007 (See Note I).

Retirement Benefits

The Company provides defined benefit pension benefits and post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to eligible employees. The Company also provides deferred compensation and supplemental executive retirement plans for selected current and former employees and officers. Expense under these plans is charged to current operations and consists of several components of net periodic benefit cost based on various actuarial assumptions regarding future experience under the plans, including discount rate, rate of future compensation increases and expected return on plan assets.

Assets Under Management or Administration

Assets held in fiduciary or agency capacities for customers are not included in the accompanying consolidated statements of condition as they are not assets of the Company. Substantially all fees associated with providing asset management services are recorded on an accrual basis of accounting and are included in noninterest income. Assets under management or administration at December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $4,695,000,000 and $3,154,000,000, respectively.

Advertising

Advertising costs amounting to approximately $2,436,000, $2,093,000 and $2,106,000 for the years ending December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, are nondirect response in nature and expensed as incurred.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average common shares plus common stock equivalents computed using the Treasury Share method (See Note M). All earnings per share disclosures appearing in these financial statements, related notes and management’s discussion and analysis, are computed using dilution unless otherwise indicated.

Stock-Based Compensation

On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123(R)”), which replaced the existing SFAS 123 and Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, (“APB 25”). SFAS 123(R) requires companies to measure and record compensation expense for stock options and other share-based payments based on the instruments’ fair value on the date of grant. The Company adopted this standard using the modified prospective method. Under this method, expense is recognized for awards that are granted, modified, or settled after December 31, 2005, as well as for unvested awards that were granted prior to January 1, 2006. Stock based compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period for all awards (see Note L).

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The Company determines fair values based on quoted market values where available or on estimates using present values or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. In that regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, could not be realized in immediate settlement of the instrument. SFAS 107, Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments, excludes certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments from its disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company. The fair values of investment securities, loans, deposits, and borrowings have been disclosed in footnotes C, D, G, and H, respectively.

50



New Accounting Pronouncements

SFAS No. 157

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. This statement establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

SFAS No. 159

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This statement provides entities the option to measure certain financial instruments at fair value. SFAS No. 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

SFAS No. 141(R)

In December 2007, FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), Business Combinations. This statement provides new accounting guidance and disclosure requirements for business combinations. The Company will be required to apply SFAS No. 141(R) to all business combinations completed on or after January 1, 2009.

SFAS No. 160

In December 2007, FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51. This statement provides new accounting guidance and disclosure and presentation requirements for noncontrolling interests in a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company is currently assessing the effect of SFAS No. 160 on its financial statements.

SAB No. 109

In November 2007, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB No. 109), Written Loan Commitments Recorded at Fair Value Through Earnings. This bulletin provides guidance on the accounting for written loan commitments recorded at fair value. The provisions of SAB No. 109 are applicable on a prospective basis to written loan commitments recorded at fair value under GAAP that are issued or modified in fiscal quarters beginning after December 15, 2007. SAB No. 109 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

NOTE B: ACQUISITIONS

Hand Benefits & Trust, Inc.

On May 18, 2007, BPAS acquired Hand Benefits & Trust, Inc. (HBT), a Houston, Texas based provider of employee benefit plan administration and trust services, in an all cash transaction. The results of HBT’s operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.

TLNB Financial Corporation

On June 1, 2007, the Company acquired TLNB Financial Corporation, parent company of Tupper Lake National Bank (TLNB), in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $17.6 million. Based in Tupper Lake, N.Y., TLNB operated five branches in the northeastern New York State cities of Tupper Lake, Plattsburgh and Saranac Lake, as well as an insurance subsidiary, TLNB Insurance Agency, Inc. The results of TLNB’s operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.

ONB Corporation

On December 1, 2006, the Company acquired ONB Corporation (ONB) in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $16 million. ONB, the parent company of Ontario National Bank, a federally chartered national bank operated four branches in the villages of Clifton Springs, Phelps and Palmyra, New York. The results of ONB’s operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.

ES&L Bancorp

On August 11, 2006, the Company acquired ES&L Bancorp (Elmira), the parent company of Elmira Savings and Loan, F.A., a federally chartered thrift in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $40 million. Elmira operated two branches in the cities of Elmira and Ithaca, New York. The results of Elmira’s operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.

51



2007 Acquisition Summary

The purchase price allocation of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including capitalized acquisition costs, for all 2007 acquisitions is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

 

 

 





 

Cash and due from banks

 

$

9,374

 

Investment securities

 

 

28,830

 

Loans, net of allowance for loan losses

 

 

54,768

 

Premises and equipment, net

 

 

3,034

 

Other assets

 

 

1,279

 

Core deposits intangibles

 

 

1,017

 

Customer list intangible

 

 

1,173

 

Goodwill

 

 

14,159

 





 

Total assets acquired

 

 

113,634

 





 

Deposits

 

 

84,120

 

Borrowings

 

 

4,288

 

Other liabilities

 

 

3,353

 





 

Total liabilities assumed

 

 

91,761

 





 

Net assets acquired

 

$

21,873

 





 

NOTE C: INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities as of December 31 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 

(000’s omitted)

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized Losses

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

 

 








 








 

Held-to-Maturity Portfolio:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. treasury and agency securities

 

$

127,055

 

 

$

881

 

 

 

$

554

 

 

$

127,382

 

$

127,200

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

3,180

 

 

$

124,020

 

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

 

 

6,207

 

 

 

82

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

6,289

 

 

7,242

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

7,257

 

Other securities

 

 

3,988

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

3,988

 

 

11,417

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

11,417

 


















 

















Total held-to-maturity portfolio

 

 

137,250

 

 

$

963

 

 

 

$

554

 

 

 

137,659

 

 

145,859

 

 

$

26

 

 

 

$

3,191

 

 

 

142,694

 


















 

















 

Available-for-Sale Portfolio:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. treasury and agency securities

 

 

432,832

 

 

 

5,747

 

 

 

 

53

 

 

 

438,526

 

 

372,706

 

 

 

680

 

 

 

 

2,599

 

 

 

370,787

 

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

 

 

532,431

 

 

 

11,976

 

 

 

 

444

 

 

 

543,963

 

 

502,677

 

 

 

12,475

 

 

 

 

505

 

 

 

514,647

 

Corporate debt securities

 

 

40,457

 

 

 

212

 

 

 

 

399

 

 

 

40,270

 

 

35,603

 

 

 

447

 

 

 

 

970

 

 

 

35,080

 

Collateralized mortgage obligations

 

 

34,451

 

 

 

180

 

 

 

 

119

 

 

 

34,512

 

 

43,768

 

 

 

64

 

 

 

 

725

 

 

 

43,107

 

Asset-backed securities

 

 

73,089

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

789

 

 

 

72,300

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

72,655

 

 

 

1,070

 

 

 

 

200

 

 

 

73,525

 

 

76,266

 

 

 

374

 

 

 

 

1,459

 

 

 

75,181

 


















 

















Subtotal

 

 

1,185,915

 

 

 

19,185

 

 

 

 

2,004

 

 

 

1,203,096

 

 

1,031,020

 

 

 

14,040

 

 

 

 

6,258

 

 

 

1,038,802

 

Equity securities

 

 

51,526

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

51,526

 

 

44,610

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

44,610

 



































Total available-for-sale portfolio

 

 

1,237,441

 

 

$

19,185

 

 

 

$

2,004

 

 

 

1,254,622

 

 

1,075,630

 

 

$

14,040

 

 

 

$

6,258

 

 

 

1,083,412

 



































 

Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale portfolio

 

 

17,181

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

7,782

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Total

 

$

1,391,872

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,392,281

 

$

1,229,271

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,226,106

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

52



A summary of investment securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than or greater than twelve months is as follows:

As of December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less than 12 Months

 

12 Months or Longer

 

Total

 

 

 






 






 






 

(000’s omitted)

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 


 




 




 




 

Held-to-Maturity Portfolio:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. treasury and agency securities / total held-to-maturity portfolio

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

74,446

 

 

($

554

)

 

$

74,446

 

 

($

554

)

 


 






 







 

 







 

 

 

Available-for-Sale Portfolio:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. treasury and agency securities

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

15,436

 

 

($

53

)

 

$

15,436

 

 

($

53

)

 

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

 

 

54,201

 

 

(357

)

 

23,716

 

 

 

(87

)

 

 

77,917

 

 

 

(444

)

 

Corporate debt securities

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

21,565

 

 

 

(399

)

 

 

21,565

 

 

 

(399

)

 

Collateralized mortgage obligations

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

19,934

 

 

 

(119

)

 

 

19,934

 

 

 

(119

)

 

Asset-backed securities

 

 

72,300

 

 

(789

)

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

72,300

 

 

 

(789

)

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

12,901

 

 

(11

)

 

10,473

 

 

 

(189

)

 

 

23,374

 

 

 

(200

)

 


 






 







 

 







 

 

Total available-for-sale portfolio

 

$

139,402

 

($

1,157

)

$

91,124

 

 

($

847

)

 

$

230,526

 

 

($

2,004

)

 


 






 







 

 







 

 

As of December 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less than 12 Months

 

12 Months or Longer

 

Total

 

 

 

 






 






 






 

(000’s omitted)

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair
Value

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 


 




 




 




 

Held-to-Maturity Portfolio:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. treasury and agency securities

 

$

21,933

 

($

267

)

$

102,087

 

 

($

2,913

)

 

$

124,020

 

 

($

3,180

)

 

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

 

 

3,776

 

 

(10

)

 

207

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

3,983

 

 

 

(11

)

 


 






 







 

 







 

 

Total held-to-maturity portfolio

 

$

25,709

 

($

277

)

$

102,294

 

 

($

2,914

)

 

$

128,003

 

 

($

3,191

)

 


 






 







 

 







 

 

 

Available-for-Sale Portfolio:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. treasury and agency securities

 

$

28,918

 

($

106

)

$

170,691

 

 

($

2,493

)

 

$

199,609

 

 

($

2,599

)

 

Obligations of state and political subdivisions

 

 

3,739

 

 

(14

)

 

52,980

 

 

 

(490

)

 

 

56,719

 

 

 

(504

)

 

Corporate debt securities

 

 

2,970

 

 

(35

)

 

23,649

 

 

 

(936

)

 

 

26,619

 

 

 

(971

)

 

Collateralized mortgage obligations

 

 

234

 

 

0

 

 

33,350

 

 

 

(725

)

 

 

33,584

 

 

 

(725

)

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

40,659

 

 

(676

)

 

13,867

 

 

 

(783

)

 

 

54,526

 

 

 

(1,459

)

 


 






 







 

 







 

 

Total available-for-sale portfolio

 

$

76,520

 

($

831

)

$

294,537

 

 

($

5,427

)

 

$

371,057

 

 

($

6,258

)

 


 






 







 

 







 

 

Management does not believe any individual unrealized loss as of December 31, 2007 or 2006 represents an other than temporary impairment. The unrealized losses reported for the agency and mortgage-backed securities relate primarily to securities issued by FHLB, FNMA and FHLMC and are currently rated AAA by Moody’s Investor Services and Standards & Poor. The unrealized losses in the portfolios are primarily attributable to changes in interest rates. The Company has both the intent and ability to hold these securities for the time necessary to recover the amortized cost.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities at December 31, 2007, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

53



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Held-to-Maturity

 

Available-for-Sale

 

 

 


 



(000’s omitted)

 

Carrying
Value

 

Fair
Value

 

Carrying
Value

 

Fair
Value

 


 




 





Due in one year or less

 

$

5,411

 

$

5,438

 

$

169,078

 

$

169,179

 

Due after one through five years

 

 

1,578

 

 

1,627

 

 

251,207

 

 

256,349

 

Due after five years through ten years

 

 

112,165

 

 

112,804

 

 

375,362

 

 

382,698

 

Due after ten years

 

 

18,096

 

 

17,790

 

 

283,162

 

 

286,833

 


 






 







Subtotal

 

 

137,250

 

 

137,659

 

 

1,078,809

 

 

1,095,059

 

Collateralized mortgage obligations

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

34,451

 

 

34,512

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

72,655

 

 

73,525

 


 






 







Total

 

$

137,250

 

$

137,659

 

$

1,185,915

 

$

1,203,096

 


 






 







Cash flow information on investment securities for the years ended December 31 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 












Proceeds from the sales of investment securities

 

$

15,900

 

$

0

 

$

324,752

 

Gross gains on sales of investment securities

 

 

22

 

 

0

 

 

12,205

 

Gross losses on sales of investment securities

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

10

 

Proceeds from the maturities of mortgage-backed securities and CMO’s

 

 

23,198

 

 

51,588

 

 

40,140

 

Purchases of mortgage-backed securities and CMO’s

 

 

10,923

 

 

40,712

 

 

51,142

 

Investment securities with a carrying value of $693,555,000 and $670,506,000 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, were pledged to collateralize certain deposits and borrowings.

NOTE D: LOANS

Major classifications of loans at December 31 are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 






 

Consumer mortgage

 

$

977,553

 

$

912,505

 

Business lending

 

 

984,780

 

 

960,034

 

Consumer installment

 

 

858,722

 

 

829,019

 








 

Gross loans

 

 

2,821,055

 

 

2,701,558

 

Allowance for loan losses

 

 

36,427

 

 

36,313

 








 

Loans, net of allowance for loan losses

 

$

2,784,628

 

$

2,665,245

 








 

The estimated fair value of loans at December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $2.9 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively. Nonaccrual loans of $8,266,000 and $11,382,000 and accruing loans ninety days past due of $622,000 and $1,207,000 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, are included in net loans.

Changes in loans to directors and officers and other related parties for the years ended December 31 are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 







Balance at beginning of year

 

$

21,788

 

$

14,932

 

New loans

 

 

7,387

 

 

8,048

 

Payments

 

 

(4,756

)

 

(1,192

)









Balance at end of year

 

$

24,419

 

$

21,788

 









The Company sells consumer mortgage loans in the secondary market and typically retains the right to service the loans sold. Upon sale, a mortgage servicing right (MSR) is established, which represents the then current fair value of future net cash flows expected to be realized for performing the servicing activities. The Company stratifies these assets based on predominant risk characteristics, namely expected term of the underlying financial instruments, and uses a valuation model that calculates the present value of future cash flows to determine the fair value of servicing rights. MSRs are carried at the lower of the initial capitalized amount, net of accumulated amortization or fair value. Mortgage loans serviced for others are not included in the accompanying consolidated statements of condition.

54



The following table summarizes the changes in carrying value of MSRs and the associated valuation allowance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 







Balance at beginning of period

 

$

2,638

 

$

506

 

Additions

 

 

108

 

 

124

 

Amortization

 

 

(803

)

 

(377

)

Obtained via acquisition

 

 

102

 

 

2,312

 









Carrying value before valuation allowance at end of period

 

 

2,045

 

 

2,565

 









Valuation allowance balance at beginning of period

 

 

0

 

 

(73

)

Impairment charges

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

Impairment recoveries

 

 

0

 

 

73

 









Valuation allowance balance at end of period

 

 

0

 

 

0

 









Net carrying value at end of period

 

$

2,045

 

$

2,638

 









 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of MSRs at end of period

 

$

3,091

 

$

2,640

 









 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unpaid principal balance of loans serviced by others

 

$

329,476

 

$

333,521

 









The following table summarizes the key economic assumptions used to estimate the value of the MSRs at December 31:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 







Weighted-average life (in years)

 

 

20.3

 

 

20.9

 

Weighted-average constant prepayment rate (CPR)

 

 

8.4

%

 

13.0

%

Weighted-average discount rate

 

 

5.26

%

 

5.37

%

The following table summarizes the key economic assumptions used to estimate the fair value of MSRs capitalized during the year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 







Weighted-average life (in years)

 

 

29.81

 

 

28.48

 

Weighted-average constant prepayment rate (CPR)

 

 

8.98

%

 

12.53

%

Weighted-average discount rate

 

 

5.40

%

 

5.39

%

Custodial escrow balances maintained in connection with the foregoing loan servicing, and included in noninterest deposits, were approximately $6,041,000 and $5,968,000 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Changes in the allowance for loan losses for the years ended December 31 are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 









Balance at beginning of year

 

$

36,313

 

$

32,581

 

$

31,778

 

Provision for loan losses

 

 

2,004

 

 

6,585

 

 

8,534

 

Reserve on acquired loans

 

 

747

 

 

3,218

 

 

0

 

Charge-offs

 

 

(6,440

)

 

(10,033

)

 

(11,232

)

Recoveries

 

 

3,803

 

 

3,962

 

 

3,501

 












Balance at end of year

 

$

36,427

 

$

36,313

 

$

32,581

 












As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had impaired loans of $1,126,000 and $2,563,000, respectively. The specifically allocated allowance for loan loss recognized on these impaired loans was $423,000 and $675,000 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 the Company had average impaired loans of $1,190,000 and $2,303,000. Interest income recognized on these loans in 2007 and 2006 was $49,000 and $34,000, respectively. Included in total impaired loans at December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $1.1 million and $1.3 million of restructured loans.

55



NOTE E: PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT

Premises and equipment consist of the following at December 31:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 









Land and land improvements

 

$

10,755

 

$

10,277

 

Bank premises owned

 

 

69,155

 

 

63,895

 

Equipment and construction in progress

 

 

56,036

 

 

51,443

 









Premises and equipment, gross

 

 

135,946

 

 

125,615

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation

 

 

(66,261

)

 

(59,416

)









Premises and equipment, net

 

$

69,685

 

$

66,199

 









NOTE F: INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for each type of intangible asset are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2007

 

As of December 31, 2006

 

 

 


 



(000’s omitted)

 

Gross
Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Net
Carrying
Amount

 

Gross
Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Net
Carrying
Amount

 


 






 







Amortizing intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Core deposit intangibles

 

$

66,368

 

 

($

46,603

)

 

$

19,765

 

$

65,351

 

 

($

40,686

)

 

$

24,665

 

Other intangibles

 

 

3,923

 

 

 

(1,921

)

 

 

2,002

 

 

2,750

 

 

 

(1,569

)

 

 

1,181

 


 











 












Total amortizing intangibles

 

 

70,291

 

 

 

(48,524

)

 

 

21,767

 

 

68,101

 

 

 

(42,255

)

 

 

25,846

 

Nonamortizing intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

234,449

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

234,449

 

 

220,290

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

220,290

 


 











 












Total intangible assets, net

 

$

304,740

 

 

($

48,524

)

 

$

256,216

 

$

288,391

 

 

($

42,255

)

 

$

246,136

 


 











 












The changes in the gross carrying amount of core deposit and goodwill relate to the 2007 acquisitions of TLNB and HBT. No goodwill impairment adjustments were recognized in 2007 or 2006. The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years ended December 31 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

$

6,058

 

2009

 

 

5,470

 

2010

 

 

3,553

 

2011

 

 

1,460

 

2012

 

 

1,204

 

Thereafter

 

 

4,022

 






Total

 

$

21,767

 






NOTE G: DEPOSITS

Deposits consist of the following at December 31:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 







Noninterest checking

 

$

584,921

 

$

578,951

 

Interest checking

 

 

467,450

 

 

406,041

 

Savings

 

 

453,274

 

 

461,346

 

Money market

 

 

324,975

 

 

327,557

 

Time

 

 

1,397,844

 

 

1,394,404

 









Total deposits

 

$

3,228,464

 

$

3,168,299

 









The estimated fair value of deposits at December 31, 2007 and 2006 was approximately $3.1 billion and $2.9 billion, respectively.

56



At December 31, 2007 and 2006, time certificates of deposit in denominations of $100,000 and greater totaled $281,016,000 and $265,784,000 respectively. The approximate maturities of time deposits at December 31, 2007 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

Amount

 





2008

 

$

1,018,606

 

2009

 

 

220,397

 

2010

 

 

60,625

 

2011

 

 

20,294

 

2012

 

 

77,236

 

Thereafter

 

 

686

 






Total

 

$

1,397,844

 






NOTE H: BORROWINGS

Outstanding borrowings at December 31 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 







Short-term borrowings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal funds purchased

 

$

27,285

 

$

0

 

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

 

432,972

 

 

155,300

 

Commercial loans sold with recourse

 

 

8

 

 

143

 

Capital lease obligation

 

 

37

 

 

0

 

Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts

 

 

25,774

 

 

30,928

 









Total short-term borrowings

 

 

486,076

 

 

186,371

 









 

Long-term borrowings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

 

341,221

 

 

491,686

 

Capital lease

 

 

37

 

 

0

 

Commercial loans sold with recourse

 

 

44

 

 

352

 

Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts, net of discount of $577 and $1,215

 

 

101,950

 

 

127,086

 









Total long-term borrowings

 

 

443,252

 

 

619,124

 









  Total borrowings

 

$

929,328

 

$

805,495

 









The weighted-average interest rates on short-term borrowings for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were 4.13% and 3.83%, respectively. Federal Home Loan Bank advances are collateralized by a blanket lien on the Company’s residential real estate loan portfolio and various investment securities.

57



Long-term borrowings at December 31, 2007 have maturity dates as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted, except rate)

 

Notional
Amount

 

Weighted -
average Rate

 







March 19, 2009

 

$

1,000

 

 

3.29

%

March 24, 2009

 

 

2,500

 

 

3.22

%

October 1, 2009

 

 

495

 

 

6.28

%

November 18, 2009

 

 

1,000

 

 

5.04

%

December 15, 2009

 

 

37

 

 

6.25

%

January 19, 2010

 

 

569

 

 

3.35

%

February 18, 2010

 

 

693

 

 

3.26

%

April 14, 2010 (Callable)

 

 

25,000

 

 

6.35

%

November 18, 2010

 

 

1,000

 

 

5.09

%

July 1, 2011

 

 

8

 

 

3.00

%

January 17, 2013

 

 

964

 

 

4.00

%

November 23, 2014

 

 

36

 

 

2.75

%

May 19, 2016 (Callable)

 

 

100,000

 

 

4.72

%

October 11, 2016 (Callable)

 

 

25,000

 

 

4.62

%

October 11, 2016 (Callable)

 

 

25,000

 

 

4.35

%

December 21, 2017 (Callable)

 

 

31,600

 

 

3.16

%

December 21, 2017 (Callable)

 

 

126,400

 

 

3.40

%

July 31, 2031 (Callable)

 

 

24,630

 

 

8.54

%

December 15, 2036 (Callable)

 

 

77,320

 

 

6.64

%





 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

443,252

 

 

4.83

%









The estimated fair value of long-term borrowings at December 31, 2007 and 2006 was approximately $442.1 million and $639.7 million, respectively.

The Company sponsors three business trusts, Community Capital Trust II, Community Statutory Trust III, and Community Capital Trust IV of which 100% of the common stock is owned by the Company. The trusts were formed for the purpose of issuing company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities to third-party investors and investing the proceeds from the sale of such preferred securities solely in junior subordinated debt securities of the Company. The debentures held by each trust are the sole assets of that trust. Distributions on the preferred securities issued by each trust are payable semi-annually at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate being earned by the trust on the debentures held by that trust. The preferred securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment of the debentures. The Company has entered into agreements which, taken collectively, fully and unconditionally guarantee the preferred securities subject to the terms of each of the guarantees. The terms of the preferred securities of each trust are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance
Date

 

Amount

 

Interest
Rate

 

Maturity
Date

 

Call
Provision

 

Call
Price

 















II

 

7/16/2001

 

25,000

 

6 month LIBOR plus 3.75% (9.06%)

 

7/16/2031

 

5 year beginning 2006

 

107.6875% declining to par in 2011

 

III

 

7/31/2001

 

24,450

 

3 month LIBOR plus 3.58% (8.54%)

 

7/31/2031

 

5 year beginning 2006

 

107.5000% declining to par in 2011

 

IV

 

12/8/2006

 

75,000

 

3 month LIBOR plus 1.65% (6.64%)

 

12/15/2036

 

5 year beginning 2012

 

Par

 















On December 8, 2006, the Company established Community Capital Trust IV, which completed the sale of $75 million of trust preferred securities. At the time of the offering, the Company also entered into an interest rate swap agreement to convert the variable rate trust preferred securities into fixed rate securities for a term of five years at a fixed rate of 6.43%. A net gain of $470,000 and $27,000 was recognized for the interest rate swap agreement as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and was used to offset the interest expense for the trust preferred securities. The Company has announced it will early redeem Community Capital Trust II in January 2008 and a $2.1 million pre-tax charge was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007.

58



NOTE I: INCOME TAXES

The 2007 provision for income taxes includes a $6.9 million benefit, recorded in the fourth quarter, related to the settlement and a related change in a position taken on certain previously unrecognized tax positions. The provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 









Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

9,257

 

$

11,563

 

$

15,838

 

State and other

 

 

(7,708

)

 

1,356

 

 

2,421

 

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

 

152

 

 

(1,198

)

 

231

 

State and other

 

 

590

 

 

199

 

 

(750

)












Provision for income taxes

 

$

2,291

 

$

11,920

 

$

17,740

 












Components of the net deferred tax liability, included in other liabilities, as of December 31 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 







Allowance for loan losses

 

$

14,022

 

$

13,934

 

Employee benefits

 

 

3,053

 

 

3,575

 

Pension

 

 

5,996

 

 

5,678

 

Tax credits

 

 

296

 

 

1,016

 

Debt extinguishment

 

 

3,604

 

 

0

 

Other

 

 

1,443

 

 

1,590

 









Deferred tax asset

 

 

28,414

 

 

25,793

 









 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment securities

 

 

9,715

 

 

5,214

 

Intangible assets

 

 

11,766

 

 

10,505

 

Loan origination costs

 

 

5,697

 

 

5,085

 

Depreciation

 

 

4,195

 

 

4,393

 

Mortgage servicing rights

 

 

788

 

 

1,012

 









Deferred tax liability

 

 

32,161

 

 

26,209

 









Net deferred tax liability

 

($

3,747

)

($

416

)









The Company has determined that no valuation allowance is necessary as it is more likely than not that the gross deferred tax assets will be realized through carryback of future deductions to taxable income in prior years, future reversals of existing temporary differences, and through future taxable income.

A reconciliation of the differences between the federal statutory income tax rate and the effective tax rate for the years ended December 31 is shown in the following table:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 









Federal statutory income tax rate

 

35.0

%

35.0

%

35.0

%

Increase (reduction) in taxes resulting from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax-exempt interest

 

(14.6

)

(14.0

)

(10.8

)

State income taxes, net of federal benefit

 

(15.7

)

0.1

 

0.1

 

Other

 

0.4

 

2.6

 

1.6

 









Effective income tax rate

 

5.1

%

23.7

%

25.9

%









59



The adoption of FIN 48 as of January 1, 2007 did not result in any change to the Company’s liability for uncertain tax positions as of that date. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

Federal,
State and
Local Tax

 

Accrued
Interest

 

Unrecognized
Income Tax
Benefit

 









Unrecognized tax benefits at January 1, 2007

 

 

$

9,235

 

 

$

2,939

 

 

$

12,174

 

 

Changes related to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Positions taken during the current year

 

 

 

189

 

 

 

135

 

 

 

324

 

 

Positions taken during a prior period

 

 

 

(5,042

)

 

 

(916

)

 

 

(5,959

)

 

Settlements with taxing authorities

 

 

 

(1,366

)

 

 

(1,174

)

 

 

(2,539

)

 

Lapse of statutes of limitation

 

 

 

(315

)

 

 

(93

)

 

 

(408

)

 
















Unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2007

 

 

$

2,701

 

 

$

891

 

 

$

3,592

 

 
















As of December 31, 2007, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized is $2.7 million.

The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income taxes in the consolidated statement of income. The Company’s federal and state income tax returns are routinely subject to examinations from various governmental taxing authorities. Such examinations may result in challenges to the tax return treatment applied by the Company to specific transactions. Management believes that the assumptions and judgment used to record tax-related assets or liabilities have been appropriate. Future examinations by taxing authorities of the Company’s federal or state tax returns could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations. The Company’s federal income tax returns for years after 2003 may still be examined by the Internal Revenue Service. New York State income tax examinations are underway for years 2000 through 2004. Years after 2004 are open for New York State income tax examination. It is not possible to estimate when those examinations may be completed.

NOTE J: LIMITS ON DIVIDENDS AND OTHER REVENUE SOURCES

The Company’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders is largely dependent on the Bank’s ability to pay dividends to the Company. In addition to state law requirements and the capital requirements discussed below, the circumstances under which the Bank may pay dividends are limited by federal statutes, regulations, and policies. For example, as a national bank, the Bank must obtain the approval of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for payments of dividends if the total of all dividends declared in any calendar year would exceed the total of the Bank’s net profits, as defined by applicable regulations, for that year, combined with its retained net profits for the preceding two years. Furthermore, the Bank may not pay a dividend in an amount greater than its undivided profits then on hand after deducting its losses and bad debts, as defined by applicable regulations. At December 31, 2007, the Bank had approximately $2,537,000 in undivided profits legally available for the payments of dividends.

In addition, the Federal Reserve Board and the OCC are authorized to determine under certain circumstances that the payment of dividends would be an unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit payment of such dividends. The Federal Reserve Board has indicated that banking organizations should generally pay dividends only out of current operating earnings.

There are also statutory limits on the transfer of funds to the Company by its banking subsidiary, whether in the form of loans or other extensions of credit, investments or assets purchases. Such transfer by the Bank to the Company generally is limited in amount to 10% of the Bank’s capital and surplus, or 20% in the aggregate. Furthermore, such loans and extensions of credit are required to be collateralized in specific amounts.

60



NOTE K: BENEFIT PLANS

Pension and post-retirement plans

The Company provides a qualified defined benefit pension and other post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to qualified employees and retirees. As of December 31, 2007 the Ontario National Bank Retirement Plan and the Hand Benefits & Trust, Inc. Retirement Plan were merged into the Company’s plan. Using a measurement date of December 31, the following table shows the funded status of the Company’s plans reconciled with amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated statements of condition:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Post-retirement Benefits

 

 

 


 


 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 










 

Change in benefit obligation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at the beginning of year

 

$

51,390

 

$

48,922

 

 

$

9,298

 

 

 

$

8,266

 

 

Service cost

 

 

3,186

 

 

2,920

 

 

 

593

 

 

 

 

521

 

 

Interest cost

 

 

2,720

 

 

2,537

 

 

 

522

 

 

 

 

474

 

 

Participant contributions

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

 

481

 

 

 

 

376

 

 

Plan amendment/merger

 

 

3,977

 

 

1,234

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

25

 

 

Deferred actuarial (gain) loss

 

 

(1,733

)

 

945

 

 

 

(212

)

 

 

 

342

 

 

Benefits paid

 

 

(3,514

)

 

(5,168

)

 

 

(855

)

 

 

 

(706

)

 


 






 










 

Benefit obligation at end of year

 

 

56,026

 

 

51,390

 

 

 

9,827

 

 

 

 

9,298

 

 


 






 










 

Change in plan assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

 

 

47,213

 

 

44,160

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

Actual return of plan assets

 

 

3,084

 

 

4,480

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

Participant contributions

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

 

481

 

 

 

 

376

 

 

Employer contributions

 

 

9,200

 

 

2,100

 

 

 

374

 

 

 

 

330

 

 

Plan merger

 

 

2,552

 

 

1,385

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

Transfer of deferred compensation balances

 

 

62

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

Benefits paid

 

 

(3,111

)

 

(4,912

)

 

 

(855

)

 

 

 

(706

)

 


 






 










 

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

 

59,000

 

 

47,213

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

0

 

 


 






 










 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funded status at year end

 

$

2,974

 

($

4,177

)

 

($

9,827

)

 

 

($

9,298

)

 


 






 










 

An asset is recognized for an overfunded plan and a liability is recognized for an underfunded plan. The funded status of the pension and other postretirement benefit plans has been recognized as follows in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2007 and 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Post-retirement Benefits

 

 

 


 



(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 











Other assets

 

$

7,617

 

$

576

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

$

0

 

 

Other liabilities

 

 

(4,643

)

 

(4,753

)

 

 

(9,827

)

 

 

 

(9,298

)

 



















Funded status

 

$

2,974

 

($

4,177

)

 

($

9,827

)

 

 

($

9,298

)

 



















The Company has unfunded supplemental pension plans for certain key executives. The projected benefit obligation and accrued benefit cost included in the preceding table related to these plans was $4,643,000 and $4,209,000 for 2007 and $4,753,000 and $4,103,000 for 2006, respectively. The benefit obligation for the defined benefit pension plan was $51,382,000 and $46,637,000 as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 respectively.

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, as of December 31, are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Post-retirement Benefits

 

 

 


 



(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 


 




 





Prior service cost

 

$

126

 

$

(606

)

 

$

(69

)

 

 

$

537

 

 

Transition obligation

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

 

(26

)

 

 

 

151

 

 

Net (gain) or loss

 

 

(1,119

)

 

8,333

 

 

 

(209

)

 

 

 

1,440

 

 


 






 











Total

 

($

993

)

$

7,727

 

 

($

304

)

 

 

$

2,128

 

 


 






 











61



The estimated costs, net of tax, that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss into net periodic (income) cost over the next fiscal year are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

Pension
Benefits

 

Post-retirement
Benefits

 







Prior service cost

 

 

($ 

52

)

 

 

$

25

 

 

Transition obligation

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

68

 

 

Net (gain) or loss

 

 

 

358

 

 

 

 

48

 

 













Total

 

 

306

 

 

 

$

141

 

 













The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations as of December 31 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Post-retirement Benefits

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 


 




 




 

Discount rate

 

6.10

%

 

5.60

%

 

6.10

%

 

5.60

%

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

8.00

%

 

8.00

%

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

 

Rate of compensation increase

 

4.00

%

 

4.00

%

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

 

The net periodic benefit cost as of December 31 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Post-retirement Benefits

 

 

 


 



(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 


 






 







Service cost

 

$

3,186

 

$

2,920

 

$

2,799

 

$

593

 

$

521

 

$

440

 

Interest cost

 

 

3,014

 

 

2,537

 

 

2,605

 

 

523

 

 

474

 

 

415

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(4,340

)

 

(3,309

)

 

(3,714

)

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

Amortization of unrecognized net loss

 

 

1,101

 

 

1,163

 

 

1,271

 

 

118

 

 

107

 

 

77

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

 

(69

)

 

(31

)

 

618

 

 

110

 

 

110

 

 

110

 

Amortization of transition (asset) obligation

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

41

 

 

41

 

 

41

 

Other expense

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

515

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

0

 


 









 










Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

2,892

 

$

3,280

 

$

4,094

 

$

1,385

 

$

1,253

 

$

1,083

 


 









 










Other expense represents a $515,000 charge recorded in the fourth quarter of 2005 to reflect special termination benefits associated with certain early retirement actions.

Prior service costs in which all or almost all of the plan’s participants are fully eligible for benefits under the plan are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected future working years of all active plan participants. Prior service costs associated with transferring individual nonqualified plans are amortized on a straight-line basis over a three-year period. Unrecognized gains or losses are amortized using the “corridor approach”, which is the minimum amortization required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87. Under the corridor approach, the net gain or loss in excess of 10 percent of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the market-related value of the assets is amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected future working years of all active plan participants.

The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic pension cost for the years ended December 31 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Post-retirement Benefits

 

 

 


 



 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 


 






 







Discount rate

 

5.60

%

 

5.60

%

 

5.60

%

 

5.60

%

 

5.60

%

 

5.60

%

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

8.00

%

 

8.00

%

 

8.75

%

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

 

Rate of compensation increase

 

4.00

%

 

4.00

%

 

4.00

%

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

 

62



The amount of benefit payments that are expected to be paid over the next ten years are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

Pension
Benefits

 

Post-retirement
Benefits

 







2008

 

 

$

4,969

 

 

 

$

471

 

 

2009

 

 

 

4,440

 

 

 

 

542

 

 

2010

 

 

 

4,517

 

 

 

 

614

 

 

2011

 

 

 

5,561

 

 

 

 

691

 

 

2012

 

 

 

5,503

 

 

 

 

766

 

 

2013-2017

 

 

 

29,915

 

 

 

 

4,539

 

 

The payments reflect future service and are based on various assumptions including retirement age and form of payment (lump-sum versus annuity). Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The assumed discount rate is used to reflect the time value of future benefit obligations. The discount rate was determined based upon the yield on high-quality fixed income investments expected to be available during the period to maturity of the pension benefits. This rate is sensitive to changes in interest rates. A decrease in the discount rate would increase the Company’s obligation and future expense while an increase would have the opposite effect. The expected long-term rate of return was estimated by taking into consideration asset allocation, reviewing historical returns on the type of assets held and current economic factors.

The asset allocation for the defined benefit pension plan as of December 31, by asset category, is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 







Equity securities

 

70

%

 

73

%

 

Debt securities

 

25

%

 

22

%

 

Cash

 

5

%

 

5

%

 









Total

 

100

%

 

100

%

 









Plan assets included $3,533,000 (6%) and $3,105,000 (7%) of Community Bank System, Inc. stock at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The investment objective for the defined benefit pension plan is to achieve an average annual total return over a five-year period equal to the assumed rate of return used in the actuarial calculations. At a minimum performance level, the portfolio should earn the return obtainable on high quality intermediate-term bonds. The Company’s perspective regarding portfolio assets combines both preservation of capital and moderate risk-taking. Asset allocation favors equities, with a target allocation of approximately 75% equity securities, 20% fixed income securities and 5% cash. No more than 10% of the portfolio can be in stock of the Company. Due to the volatility in the market, the target allocation is not always desirable and asset allocations will fluctuate between acceptable ranges. Prohibited transactions include purchase of securities on margin, uncovered call options, short sale transactions, and use of real estate, unlisted limited partnerships, derivative products or venture capital loans as fixed income investment vehicles.

The Company makes contributions to its funded qualified pension plan as required by government regulation or as deemed appropriate by management after considering the fair value of plan assets, expected return on such assets, and the value of the accumulated benefit obligation. The Company funds the payment of benefit obligations for the supplemental pension and post-retirement plans because such plans do not hold assets for investment.

TLNB participated in a multi-employer tax qualified defined benefit pension plan. All employees of TLNB who met minimum service requirements participate in the plan. Contributions for 2007 were $57,000.

The assumed health care cost trend rate used in the post-retirement health plan at December 31, 2007 was 9.00% for the pre-65 participants and 7.50% for the post-65 participants for medical costs and 11.00% for prescription drugs. The rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate) and the year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate is 5.0% and 2015, respectively.

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the health care plan. A one-percentage-point increase in the trend rate would increase the service and interest cost components by $59,000 and increase the benefit obligation by $380,000. A one-percentage-point decrease in the trend rate would decrease the service and interest cost components by $54,000 and decrease the benefit obligation by $346,000.

63



401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan

The Company has a 401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan in which employees can contribute from 1% to 90% of eligible compensation, with up to 6% being eligible for 50% matching contributions in the form of Company common stock. The Plan also permits the Company to distribute a discretionary profit-sharing component in the form of Company common stock to all participants except certain executive employees. The expense recognized under this plan for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $1,821,000, $1,750,000 and $1,763,000, respectively.

Deferred Compensation Plan for Certain Executive Employees

The Company has a Deferred Compensation Plan for Certain Executive Employees in which participants may contribute up to 15% of their eligible compensation less any amounts contributed to the 401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Any discretionary profit-sharing amounts that the executive receives from the Company must be contributed to the Deferred Compensation Plan. The expense recognized under this plan for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $66,000, $71,000 and $201,000, respectively.

Other Deferred Compensation Arrangements

In addition to the supplemental pension plans for certain executives, the Company has nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements for several former directors, officers and key employees. All benefits provided under these plans are unfunded and payments to plan participants are made by the Company. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company has recorded a liability of $6,823,000 and $6,557,000, respectively. The expense recognized under these plans for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005 was $673,000, $934,000 and $1,102,000, respectively.

Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors

Directors may defer all or a portion of their director fees under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors. Under this plan, there is a separate account for each participating director which is credited with the amount of shares which could have been purchased with the director’s fees as well as any dividends on such shares. On the distribution date, the director will receive common stock equal to the accumulated share balance in his account. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, there were 90,359 and 81,226 shares credited to the participants’ accounts, for which a liability of $1,702,000 and $1,499,000 was accrued, respectively. The expense recognized under the plan for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, was $256,000, $251,000, and $238,000, respectively.

Director Stock Balance Plan

The Company has a Stock Balance Plan for nonemployee directors who have completed six months of service. The Plan is a nonqualified, noncontributory defined benefit plan. The Plan provides benefits for service prior to January 1, 1996 based on a predetermined formula and benefits for service after January 1, 1996 based on the performance of the Company’s common stock. Participants become fully vested after six years of service. The directors can elect to receive offset stock options that may reduce the Company’s liability under the Plan. These options vest immediately and expire one year after the date the director retires or two years in the event of death. Benefits are payable in the form of cash and/or Company stock (as elected by the director) on January 1st of the year after the director retires from the Board. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, the accrued pension liability was $439,000 and $452,000, respectively. The expense recognized under this plan for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, was $17,000, $50,000 and $10,000, respectively. The expense and related liability were calculated using a dividend rate of 3.00%, stock price appreciation of 6.00%, and a discount rate of 6.10% for 2007, and 5.6% for 2006, and 2005.

NOTE L: STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

The Company has a long-term incentive program for directors, officers and employees. Under this program, the Company authorized 4,000,000 shares of Company common stock for the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock awards, retroactive stock appreciation rights. As of December 31, 2007, the Company has authorization to grant up to 2,626,579 additional shares of Company common stock for these instruments. The nonqualified (offset) stock options in its Director’s Stock Balance Plan vest and become exercisable immediately and expire one year after the date the director retires or two years in the event of death. The remaining options have a ten-year term, and vest and become exercisable on a grant-by-grant basis, ranging from immediate vesting to ratably over a five-year period.

64



Activity in this long-term incentive program is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Options

 

 

 


 

 

 

Outstanding

 

Weighted-average
Exercise Price of
Shares

 







December 31, 2005

 

 

 

2,545,690

 

 

 

$

18.23

 

 

Granted

 

 

 

392,211

 

 

 

 

23.61

 

 

Exercised

 

 

 

(335,589

)

 

 

 

14.27

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

(18,468

)

 

 

 

22.82

 

 

Expired

 

 

 

(8,881

)

 

 

 

15.73

 

 







 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2006

 

 

 

2,574,963

 

 

 

$

19.54

 

 

Granted

 

 

 

349,927

 

 

 

 

22.83

 

 

Exercised

 

 

 

(176,935

)

 

 

 

15.01

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

(26,676

)

 

 

 

23.44

 

 







 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2007

 

 

 

2,721,279

 

 

 

 

20.22

 

 













Exercisable at December 31, 2007

 

 

 

1,880,249

 

 

 

$

18.91

 

 













The following table summarizes the information about stock options outstanding under the Company’s stock option plan at December 31, 2007:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options outstanding

 

Options exercisable

 

 

 


 


 

Range of
Exercise Price

 

Shares

 

Weighted -
average
Exercise
Price

 

Weighted-
average
Remaining
Life (years)

 

Shares

 

Weighted -
average
Exercise
Price

 

 

 


 


 

$7.75 – $10.33

 

 

 

27,179

 

 

 

 

9.32

 

 

 

 

1.7

 

 

 

 

27,179

 

 

 

 

9.32

 

 

$10.33 – $12.91

 

 

 

261,704

 

 

 

 

12.16

 

 

 

 

2.7

 

 

 

 

261,704

 

 

 

 

12.16

 

 

$12.91 – $15.49

 

 

 

281,967

 

 

 

 

13.63

 

 

 

 

3.0

 

 

 

 

281,967

 

 

 

 

13.63

 

 

$15.49 – $18.07

 

 

 

457,326

 

 

 

 

16.39

 

 

 

 

6.0

 

 

 

 

412,189

 

 

 

 

16.47

 

 

$18.07 – $20.66

 

 

 

36,611

 

 

 

 

19.19

 

 

 

 

7.5

 

 

 

 

14,333

 

 

 

 

19.06

 

 

$20.66 – $23.24

 

 

 

485,125

 

 

 

 

22.95

 

 

 

 

9.4

 

 

 

 

187,185

 

 

 

 

22.98

 

 

$23.24 – $25.82

 

 

 

1,171,367

 

 

 

 

24.26

 

 

 

 

7.0

 

 

 

 

695,692

 

 

 

 

24.32

 

 

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

2,721,279

 

 

 

$

20.22

 

 

 

 

6.4

 

 

 

 

1,880,249

 

 

 

$

18.91

 

 




























The weighted-average remaining contractual term of outstanding and exercisable stock options at December 31, 2007 is 6.4 years and 5.8 years, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding and exercisable stock options at December 31, 2007 is $5.7 million and $5.5 million, respectively.

The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123(R)”), on January 1, 2006 using the modified prospective method. Under this method, awards that are granted, modified, or settled after December 31, 2005, are measured and accounted for in accordance with SFAS 123(R). Also under this method, expense is recognized for unvested awards that were granted prior to January 1, 2006, based upon the fair value determined at the grant date under SFAS 123(R). Stock based compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period for all awards. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123(R), the Company accounted for stock compensation under the intrinsic value method permitted by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (“APB No. 25”) and related interpretations. Accordingly, the Company previously recognized no compensation cost for employee stock options that were granted with an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.

As a result of applying the provisions of SFAS 123(R), the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense related to incentive and non-qualified stock options of $2.2 million and $2.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. A related income tax benefit was recognized of $472,000 and $286,000 for the 2007 and 2006 years, respectively. Compensation expense related to restricted stock vesting recognized in the income statement for 2007 and 2006 was $300,000 and $62,000, respectively.

65



The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the fair value based method established in SFAS No. 123(R) had been applied in 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted except per share amounts)

 

2005

 








Net income, as reported

 

 

$

50,805

 

 

Plus: stock-based compensation expense as reported, net of tax

 

 

 

158

 

 

Less: stock-based compensation expense determined under
fair value method, net of tax

 

 

 

(2,962

)

 








Pro forma net income

 

 

$

48,001

 

 








 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

$

1.68

 

 

Diluted

 

 

$

1.65

 

 

Pro forma:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

$

1.58

 

 

Diluted

 

 

$

1.56

 

 

Management estimated the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. This model was originally developed to estimate the fair value of exchange-traded equity options, which (unlike employee stock options) have no vesting period or transferability restrictions. As a result, the Black-Scholes model is not necessarily a precise indicator of the value of an option, but it is commonly used for this purpose. The Black-Scholes model requires several assumptions, which management developed based on historical trends and current market observations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 


















Weighted-average Fair Value of Options Granted

 

 

$

6.14

 

 

 

$

6.10

 

 

 

$

6.26

 

 

Assumptions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average expected life (in years)

 

 

 

7.89

 

 

 

 

7.78

 

 

 

 

7.70

 

 

Future dividend yield

 

 

 

3.00

%

 

 

 

3.00

%

 

 

 

3.00

%

 

Share price volatility

 

 

 

26.15

%

 

 

 

26.46

%

 

 

 

26.71

%

 

Weighted-average risk-free interest rate

 

 

 

4.87

%

 

 

 

4.37

%

 

 

 

4.26

%

 

Unrecognized stock based compensation expense related to non-vested stock options totaled $3.7 million at December 31, 2007, which will be recognized as expense over the next five years. The weighted-average period over which this unrecognized expense would be recognized is 2.8 years. The total fair value of shares vested during 2007, 2006, and 2005 were $1.9 million, $1.7 million and $3.9 million, respectively.

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, proceeds from stock option exercises totaled $2.7 million and $4.5 million, respectively, and the related windfall tax benefits from exercise were approximately $410,000 and $444,000, respectively. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, 176,935 and 335,589 shares, respectively, were issued in connection with stock option exercise. All shares issued were new shares issued from available authorized shares. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during 2007, 2006 and 2005 were $1.2 million, $2.8 million and $5.0 million, respectively.

During the fourth quarter 2005, certain executive officers elected early retirement as of December 31, 2005 and the Company announced the planned retirement of its chief executive officer in July 2006. In connection with these actions, the Company accelerated the vesting of 254,163 options and granted an additional 80,633 fully vested options. Additionally, the Company granted 70,593 options to certain directors in the Directors Stock Balance Plan (see Note K). The effect of these option modifications and issuances resulted in the foregoing of future after-tax stock-based compensation expense of approximately $1.2 million.

66



A summary of the status of the Company’s unvested stock awards as of December 31, 2007, and changes during the twelve months ended December 31, 2007, is presented below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted
Shares

 

Weighted-average
grant date fair value

 







Unvested at January 1, 2006

 

21,094

 

 

$

23.56

 

 

Awards

 

100

 

 

 

23.20

 

 

Cancellations

 

(4,206

)

 

 

24.39

 

 

Vestings

 

(7,545

)

 

 

23.09

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

Unvested at December 31, 2006

 

9,443

 

 

$

23.56

 

 

Awards

 

54,238

 

 

 

22.60

 

 

Cancellations

 

(1,624

)

 

 

22.97

 

 

Vestings

 

(4,817

)

 

 

22.77

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

Unvested at December 31, 2007

 

57,240

 

 

$

22.73

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE M: EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following is a reconciliation of basic to diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted, except per share data)

 

Income

 

Shares

 

Per Share
Amount

 









Year Ended December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS

 

$

42,891

 

29,918

 

 

$

1.43

 

 

Stock awards

 

 

 

 

314

 

 

 

 

 

 







 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

$

42,891

 

30,232

 

 

$

1.42

 

 







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS

 

$

38,377

 

29,976

 

 

$

1.28

 

 

Stock awards

 

 

 

 

416

 

 

 

 

 

 







 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

$

38,377

 

30,392

 

 

$

1.26

 

 







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS

 

$

50,805

 

30,294

 

 

$

1.68

 

 

Stock awards

 

 

 

 

544

 

 

 

 

 

 







 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

$

50,805

 

30,838

 

 

$

1.65

 

 







 

 

 

 

 

 

There were 1,662,701, 1,375,748, and 831,351 anti-dilutive stock options outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

NOTE N: COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND RESTRICTIONS

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments consist primarily of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to customers, generally having fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses that may require payment of a fee. These commitments consist principally of unused commercial and consumer credit lines. Standby letters of credit generally are contingent upon the failure of the customer to perform according to the terms of an underlying contract with a third party. The credit risks associated with commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are essentially the same as that involved with extending loans to customers and are subject to normal credit policies. Collateral may be obtained based on management’s assessment of the customer’s creditworthiness. The fair value of the standby letters of credit is immaterial for disclosure in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others. The contract amount of commitment and contingencies is as follows:

67



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 







Commitments to extend credit

 

$

482,517

 

$

443,367

 

Standby letters of credit

 

 

10,121

 

 

10,082

 









Total

 

$

492,638

 

$

453,449

 









The Company believes that the carrying amounts, which are included in other liabilities, are reasonable estimates of the fair value of these financial instruments.

The Company has unused lines of credit of $100.0 million at December 31, 2007. The Company has unused borrowing capacity of approximately $318,142,000 through collateralized transactions with the Federal Home Loan Bank and $10,905,000 through collateralized transactions with the Federal Reserve Bank.

The Company is required to maintain a reserve balance, as established by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The required average total reserve for the 14-day maintenance period of December 20, 2007 through January 2, 2008 was $45,472,000 of which $2,000,000 was required to be on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The remaining $43,472,000 was represented by cash on hand.

NOTE O: LEASES

The Company leases buildings and office space under agreements that expire in various years. Rental expense included in operating expenses amounted to $3,006,000, $2,710,000 and $2,661,000 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The future minimum rental commitments as of December 31, 2007 for all noncancelable operating leases are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

 

$

2,864

 

2009

 

 

 

2,515

 

2010

 

 

 

2,014

 

2011

 

 

 

1,669

 

2012

 

 

 

1,352

 

Thereafter

 

 

 

3,394

 







Total

 

 

$

13,808

 







NOTE P: REGULATORY MATTERS

The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s and the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’s and the Bank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company and Bank to maintain minimum total core capital to risk-weighted assets of 8%, and Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets and Tier I capital to average assets of 4%. Management believes, as of December 31, 2007, that the Company and Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, the most recent notification from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency categorized the Company and Bank as “well capitalized” under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as “well capitalized,” the Company and Bank must maintain minimum total core capital to risk-weighted assets of 10%, Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets of 6% and Tier I capital to average assets of 5%. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the institution’s category. In addition, there were no significant capital requirements imposed or agreed to during the regulatory approval process of any of our acquisitions.

68



The capital ratios and amounts of the Company and the Bank as of December 31 are presented below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 


 


 

(000’s omitted)

 

Company

 

Bank

 

Company

 

Bank

 


 








 

Tier 1 capital to average assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

 

$

344,436

 

$

281,354

 

$

367,175

 

$

292,087

 

Ratio

 

 

7.77

%

 

6.37

%

 

8.81

%

 

7.04

%

Minimum required amount

 

$

177,297

 

$

176,811

 

$

166,739

 

$

166,034

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

 

$

344,436

 

$

281,354

 

$

367,175

 

$

292,087

 

Ratio

 

 

12.80

%

 

10.48

%

 

14.22

%

 

11.34

%

Minimum required amount

 

$

107,637

 

$

107,417

 

$

103,298

 

$

103,015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total core capital to risk-weighted assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

 

$

378,107

 

$

314,957

 

$

399,507

 

$

324,331

 

Ratio

 

 

14.05

%

 

11.73

%

 

15.47

%

 

12.59

%

Minimum required amount

 

$

215,275

 

$

214,835

 

$

206,597

 

$

206,029

 

NOTE Q: PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS

The condensed balance sheets of the parent company at December 31 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 







Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

51,228

 

$

80,754

 

Investment securities

 

 

4,317

 

 

5,320

 

Investment in and advances to subsidiaries

 

 

548,094

 

 

540,226

 

Other assets

 

 

16,293

 

 

4,801

 









Total assets

 

$

619,932

 

$

631,101

 









 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued interest and other liabilities

 

$

13,424

 

$

11,559

 

Borrowings

 

 

127,724

 

 

158,014

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

478,784

 

 

461,528

 









Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

619,932

 

$

631,101

 









69



The condensed statements of income of the parent company for the years ended December 31 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 









Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends from subsidiaries

 

$

43,000

 

$

39,750

 

$

55,000

 

Interest and dividends on investments

 

 

385

 

 

236

 

 

204

 

Gain on sale of fixed asset

 

 

26

 

 

204

 

 

0

 

Other income

 

 

11

 

 

24

 

 

24

 












Total revenues

 

 

43,422

 

 

40,214

 

 

55,228

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on long-term notes and debentures

 

 

9,973

 

 

8,441

 

 

7,141

 

Loss on early debt extinguishments

 

 

2,128

 

 

1,498

 

 

0

 

Other expenses

 

 

100

 

 

124

 

 

45

 












Total expenses

 

 

12,201

 

 

10,063

 

 

7,186

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before tax benefit and equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries

 

 

31,221

 

 

30,151

 

 

48,042

 

Income tax benefit

 

 

12,629

 

 

2,299

 

 

1,801

 












Income before equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries

 

 

43,850

 

 

32,450

 

 

49,843

 

Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries

 

 

(959

)

 

5,927

 

 

962

 












Net income

 

$

42,891

 

$

38,377

 

$

50,805

 












The statements of cash flows of the parent company for the years ended December 31 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 


 

Operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

42,891

 

$

38,377

 

$

50,805

 

Gain on sale of fixed assets/investment securities

 

 

(24

)    

 

(204

)   

  

0

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries

 

 

959

 

 

(5,927

)

 

(962

)

Net change in other assets and other liabilities

 

 

(10,483

)

 

4,096

 

 

2,112

 


 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

33,343

 

 

36,342

 

 

51,955

 


 

Investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of investment securities

 

 

0

 

 

(2,423

)

 

0

 

Proceeds from sale of investment securities

 

 

1,009

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

Proceeds from sale of fixed assets

 

 

180

 

 

260

 

 

0

 

Advances to subsidiaries

 

 

(1,600

)

 

0

 

 

0

 

Capital contributions to subsidiaries

 

 

0

 

 

(24,000

)

 

0

 


 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(411

)

 

(26,163

)

 

0

 


 

Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in short-term borrowings

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

(3,000

)

Proceeds for long-term borrowings

 

 

(30,928

)

 

77,320

 

 

0

 

Issuance of common stock

 

 

4,713

 

 

4,571

 

 

4,507

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 

 

(12,012

)

 

(5,542

)

 

(25,875

)

Cash dividends paid

 

 

(24,231

)

 

(23,021

)

 

(22,112

)


 

Net cash (used) provided by financing activities

 

 

(62,458

)

 

53,328

 

 

(46,480

)


 

Change in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(29,526

)

 

63,507

 

 

5,475

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

 

80,754

 

 

17,247

 

 

11,772

 


 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

51,228

 

$

80,754

 

$

17,247

 


 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

11,903

 

$

7,814

 

$

6,838

 

Supplemental disclosures of noncash financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared and unpaid

 

$

6,239

 

$

5,989

 

$

5,695

 

70



NOTE R: SEGMENT INFORMATION

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131 (SFAS 131), Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information has established standards for public companies relating to the reporting of financial and descriptive information about their operating segments in financial statements. Operating segments are components of an enterprise, which are evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

The Company has identified Banking as its reportable operating business segment. The banking segment provides full-service banking to consumers, businesses and governmental units in northern and western New York as well as Northern Pennsylvania.

Immaterial operating segments of the Company’s operations, which do not have similar characteristics to the banking segment and do not meet the quantitative thresholds requiring disclosure, are included in the Other category. Revenues derived from these segments includes administration, consulting and actuarial services to sponsors of employee benefit plans, broker-dealer and investment advisory services, asset management services to individuals, corporate pension and profit sharing plans, trust services and insurance commissions from various insurance related products and services. The accounting policies used in the disclosure of business segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies (See note A). Information about reportable segments and reconciliation of the information to the consolidated financial statements follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted) 

 

Banking

 

Other

 

Consolidated
Total

 












2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

$

135,530

 

$

444

 

$

135,974

 

Provision for loan losses

 

 

2,004

 

 

0

 

 

2,004

 

Noninterest income excluding loss on investment securities and debt extinguishments

 

 

34,952

 

 

28,308

 

 

63,260

 

Loss on investment securities and debt extinguishments

 

 

(9,972

)

 

(2

)

 

(9,974

)

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

5,917

 

 

352

 

 

6,269

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

113,379

 

 

22,426

 

 

135,805

 












Income before income taxes

 

$

39,210

 

$

5,972

 

$

45,182

 












Assets

 

$

4,676,129

 

$

21,373

 

$

4,697,502

 












Goodwill

 

$

221,224

 

$

13,225

 

$

234,449

 













2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

$

134,385

 

$

24

 

$

134,809

 

Provision for loan losses

 

 

6,585

 

 

0

 

 

6,585

 

Noninterest income excluding loss on investment securities and debt extinguishments

 

 

30,786

 

 

20,893

 

 

51,679

 

Loss on investment securities and debt extinguishments

 

 

(2,403

)

 

0

 

 

(2,403

)

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

5,672

 

 

355

 

 

6,027

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

104,591

 

 

16,585

 

 

121,176

 












Income before income taxes

 

$

45,920

 

$

4,377

 

$

50,297

 












Assets

 

$

4,482,030

 

$

15,767

 

$

4,497,797

 












Goodwill

 

$

208,954

 

$

11,336

 

$

220,290

 












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

$

143,544

 

$

328

 

$

143,872

 

Provision for loan losses

 

 

8,534

 

 

0

 

 

8,534

 

Noninterest income excluding gain on investment securities and debt extinguishments

 

 

29,880

 

 

18,521

 

 

48,401

 

Gain on investment securities and debt extinguishments

 

 

12,195

 

 

0

 

 

12,195

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

6,675

 

 

450

 

 

7,125

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

102,934

 

 

17,330

 

 

120,264

 












Income before income taxes

 

$

67,476

 

$

1,069

 

$

68,545

 












Assets

 

$

4,139,180

 

$

13,349

 

$

4,152,529

 












Goodwill

 

$

183,859

 

$

11,336

 

$

195,195

 












71



Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a – 15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2007. Additionally, there were no changes in internal control during the quarter ended December 31, 2007 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.

The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm that was engaged to express an opinion as to the fairness of presentation of such financial statements. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was also engaged to assess the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP follows this report.

Community Bank System, Inc.

 

 

By: /s/ Mark E. Tryniski

 


 

Mark E. Tryniski,

 

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

By: /s/ Scott Kingsley

 


 

Scott Kingsley,

 

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

72



Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Community Bank System, Inc.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the accompanying index present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Community Bank System, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Buffalo, New York
March 13, 2008

73



TWO YEAR SELECTED QUARTERLY DATA (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007 Results

 

4th

 

3rd

 

2nd

 

1st

 

 

 

(000’s omitted, except per share data)

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Total

 


















Net interest income

 

$

34,989

 

$

34,280

 

$

33,338

 

$

33,367

 

$

135,974

 

Provision for loan losses

 

 

880

 

 

510

 

 

414

 

 

200

 

 

2,004

 


















Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

 

34,109

 

 

33,770

 

 

32,924

 

 

33,167

 

 

133,970

 

Noninterest income

 

 

7,217

 

 

17,572

 

 

15,018

 

 

13,479

 

 

53,286

 

Operating expenses

 

 

37,258

 

 

36,765

 

 

34,132

 

 

33,919

 

 

142,074

 


















Income before income taxes

 

 

4,068

 

 

14,577

 

 

13,810

 

 

12,727

 

 

45,182

 

Income taxes

 

 

(7,779

)

 

3,548

 

 

3,451

 

 

3,071

 

 

2,291

 


















Net income

 

$

11,847

 

$

11,029

 

$

10,359

 

$

9,656

 

$

42,891

 


















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

0.40

 

$

0.37

 

$

0.34

 

$

0.32

 

$

1.43

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

0.39

 

$

0.37

 

$

0.34

 

$

0.32

 

$

1.42

 



















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 Results

 

4th

 

3rd

 

2nd

 

1st

 

 

 

 

(000’s omitted, except per share data)

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Total

 













Net interest income

 

$

33,723

 

$

33,793

 

$

33,609

 

$

33,684

 

$

134,809

 

Provision for loan losses

 

 

1,410

 

 

1,300

 

 

1,725

 

 

2,150

 

 

6,585

 


















Net interest income after provision for loan losses

 

 

32,313

 

 

32,493

 

 

31,884

 

 

31,534

 

 

128,224

 

Noninterest income

 

 

10,672

 

 

13,744

 

 

12,345

 

 

12,515

 

 

49,276

 

Operating expenses

 

 

32,720

 

 

31,840

 

 

31,207

 

 

31,436

 

 

127,203

 


















Income before income taxes

 

 

10,265

 

 

14,397

 

 

13,022

 

 

12,613

 

 

50,297

 

Income taxes

 

 

2,112

 

 

3,517

 

 

3,137

 

 

3,154

 

 

11,920

 


















Net income

 

$

8,153

 

$

10,880

 

$

9,885

 

$

9,459

 

$

38,377

 


















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

0.27

 

$

0.36

 

$

0.33

 

$

0.32

 

$

1.28

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

0.27

 

$

0.36

 

$

0.33

 

$

0.31

 

$

1.26

 


















Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a - 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based upon this evaluation, our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report. Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting is included under the heading “Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” at Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The attestation report of the registered public accounting firm is included under the heading “Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” at Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company continually assesses the adequacy of its internal control over financial reporting and enhances its controls in response to internal control assessments, and internal and external audit and regulatory recommendations. No change in internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2007 or through the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate due to changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Item 9B. Other Information

None

74



Part III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The information concerning Directors of the Company required by this Item 10 is incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled “Nominees for Director and Directors Continuing in Office” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Company’s Proxy Statement. The information concerning executive officers of the Company required by this Item 10 is incorporated by reference to Item 4A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. The text of the code of ethics is posted on the Company’s website at www.communitybankna.com, and is available free of charge in print to any person who requests it. The Company intends to satisfy the requirements under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to, or a waiver from, the code of ethics that relates to certain elements thereof, by posting such information on its website referenced above. In addition, information concerning Audit Committee and Audit Committee Financial Expert is included in the Proxy Statement under the caption “Audit Committee Report” and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The information required by this Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Compensation of Executive Officers” in the Company’s Proxy Statement.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information required by this Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Nominees for Director and Directors Continuing in Office” in the Company’s Proxy Statement.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

The information required by this Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled “Corporate Governance” and “Transactions with Related Parties” in the Company’s Proxy Statement.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Audit Fees” in the Company’s Proxy Statement.

75



Part IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

 

 

 

 

A.

Documents Filed

 

 

1.

The following consolidated financial statements of Community Bank System, Inc. and subsidiaries are included in Item 8:

 

 

 

-

Consolidated Statements of Condition,

 

 

 

December 31, 2007 and 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

Consolidated Statements of Income,

 

 

 

Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity,

 

 

 

Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income,

 

 

 

Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows,

 

 

 

Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,

 

 

 

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

Quarterly selected data,

 

 

 

Years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

2.

Schedules are omitted since the required information is either not applicable or shown elsewhere in the financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

3.

The exhibits filed as part of this report and exhibits incorporated herein by reference to other documents are listed below:

 

 

 

 

2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated August 2, 2006, by and among Community Bank System, Inc., Seneca Acquisition Corp. and ONB Corporation. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 8, 2006 (Registration No. 001-13695).

 

 

 

2.2 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated April 20, 2006, by and among Community Bank System, Inc., ESL Acquisition Corp., and ES&L Bancorp, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Form 8-K filed on April 25, 2006 (Registration No. 001-13695).

 

 

 

3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of Community Bank System, Inc., as amended. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on October 20, 2000 (Registration No. 333-48374).

 

 

 

3.2 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of Community Bank System, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 5, 2004 (Registration No. 001-13695).

 

 

 

3.3 Bylaws of Community Bank System, Inc., amended July 18, 2007. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Form 8-K filed on July 24, 2007. (Registration No. 001-13695)

 

 

 

4.1 Form of Common Stock Certificate. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.1 to the Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on October 24, 2001 (Registration No. 333-68866).

76




 

 

 

10.1 Supplemental Retirement Plan Agreement, by and between Community Bank System, Inc. and Mark E. Tryniski. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 8, 2007 (Registration No. 001-13695).**

 

 

 

10.2 Indenture dated as of December 8, 2006, between Community Bank System, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.1 to the Form 8-K filed on December 12, 2006 (Registration No. 001-13695).

 

 

 

10.3 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of December 8, 2006, among Community Bank System, Inc., as sponsor, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as institutional trustee, and Mark E. Tryniski, Scott A. Kingsley, and Joseph J. Lemchak as administrators. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed on December 12, 2006 (Registration No. 001-13695).

 

 

 

10.4 Guarantee Agreement dated as of December 8, 2006, between Community Bank System, Inc., as guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as guarantee trustee. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed on December 12, 2006 (Registration No. 001-13695).

 

 

 

10.5 Employment Agreement, dated December 1, 2005, by and between Community Bank System, Inc., Community Bank, N.A. and Mark E. Tryniski. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.29 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant filed on January 6, 2006 (Registration No. 001-13695). **

 

 

 

10.6 Post-2004 Supplemental Retirement Agreement, effective January 1, 2005, by and between Community Bank System, Inc., Community Bank, N.A. and Sanford Belden. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 15, 2005 (Registration No. 001-13695). **

 

 

 

10.7 Pre-2005 Supplemental Retirement Agreement, effective December 31, 2004, by and between Community Bank System, Inc., Community Bank, N.A. and Sanford Belden. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.3 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 15, 2005 (Registration No. 001-13695).**

 

 

 

10.8 Employment Agreement, effective August 2, 2004, by and between Community Bank System, Inc., Community Bank, N.A. and Scott A. Kingsley. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2004 (Registration No. 001-13695). **

 

 

 

10.9 Supplemental Retirement Plan Agreement, effective August 2, 2004, by and between Community Bank System Inc. and Scott A. Kingsley. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2004 (Registration No. 001-13695). **

 

 

 

10.10 Employment Agreement, effective August 1, 2004, by and between Community Bank System, Inc., Community Bank N.A. and Brian D. Donahue. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 8, 2004 (Registration No. 001-13695). **

 

 

 

10.11 Employment Agreement, effective November 21, 2003, by and between Community Bank System, Inc. and Thomas A. McCullough. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.10 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 12, 2004 (Registration No. 001-13695). **

 

 

 

10.12 Supplemental Retirement Plan Agreement, effective March 26, 2003, by and between Community Bank System Inc. and Thomas McCullough. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.11 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 12, 2004 (Registration No. 001-13695). **

 

 

 

10.13 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program. Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 15, 2004 (Registration No. 001-13695). **

 

 

 

10.14 Stock Balance Plan for Directors, as amended. Incorporated by reference to Annex I to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 31, 1998 (Registration No. 001-13695). **

 

 

 

10.15 Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, as amended. Incorporated by reference to Annex I to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 31, 1998 (Registration No. 001-13695). **

77




 

 

 

10.16 Community Bank System, Inc. Pension Plan Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2004. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.27 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 15, 2005 (Registration No. 001-13695). **

 

 

 

10.17 Amendment #1 to the Community Bank System, Inc. Pension Plan, as amended and restated as of January 1, 2004 (“Plan”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.27 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 15, 2005 (Registration No. 001-13695). **

 

 

 

10.18 Amendment #1 to the Deferred Compensation Plan For Certain Executive Employees of Community Bank System, Inc., as amended and restated as of January 1, 2002. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.33 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 15, 2005 (Registration No. 001-13695). **

 

 

 

14.1 Community Bank System, Inc., Code of Ethics. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 15, 2005 (Registration No. 001-13695).

 

 

 

21.1 Subsidiaries of Community Bank System, Inc.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

Jurisdiction of Incorporation

 

 


 


 

 

Community Bank, N.A.

 

 

New York

 

 

Community Capital Trust II

 

 

Delaware

 

 

Community Statutory Trust III

 

 

Connecticut

 

 

Community Capital Trust IV

 

 

Delaware

 

 

Community Financial Services, Inc.

 

 

New York

 

 

Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc.

 

 

New York

 

 

Benefit Plans Administrative Services LLC

 

 

New York

 

 

Harbridge Consulting Group LLC

 

 

New York

 

 

CBNA Treasury Management Corporation

 

 

New York

 

 

Community Investment Services, Inc.

 

 

New York

 

 

CBNA Preferred Funding Corp.

 

 

Delaware

 

 

CFSI Close-Out Corp.

 

 

New York

 

 

Nottingham Advisors, Inc.

 

 

Delaware

 

 

First Liberty Service Corporation

 

 

Delaware

 

 

First of Jermyn Realty Co.

 

 

Delaware

 

 

Brilie Corporation

 

 

New York

 

 

Town & Country Agency LLC

 

 

New York

 


 

 

 

23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. *

 

 

 

31.1 Certification of Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

 

 

 

31.2 Certification of Scott Kingsley, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

 

 

 

32.1 Certification of Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

 

 

 

32.2 Certification of Scott Kingsley, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

 

 

 

* Filed herewith

 

 

 

**Denotes management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement


 

 

B.

Not applicable

78



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.

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark E. Tryniski

 


Mark E. Tryniski

President and Chief Executive Officer

March 13, 2008

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on the 13th day of March 2008.

 

/s/ Mark E. Tryniski


Mark E. Tryniski
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

/s/ Scott Kingsley


Scott Kingsley

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and

Principal Accounting Officer)

 

Directors:

 

/s/ Brian R. Ace


Brian R. Ace, Director

 

/s/ Paul M. Cantwell, Jr.


Paul M. Cantwell, Jr., Director and

Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

/s/ William M. Dempsey


William M. Dempsey, Director

 

/s/ Nicholas A. DiCerbo


Nicholas A. DiCerbo, Director

 

/s/ James A. Gabriel


James A. Gabriel, Director

 

/s/ Charles E. Parente


Charles E. Parente, Director

 

/s/ David C. Patterson


David C. Patterson, Director

 

/s/ Sally A. Steele


Sally A. Steele, Director

79



NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

The undersigned Chief Executive Officer of Community Bank System, Inc. (the “Company”) certifies to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) that, as of the date of this certification, he is unaware of any violation by Community Bank System, Inc. of the NYSE’s corporate governance listing standards in effect as of the date of this certification.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Company submitted the required certification to the NYSE (as required pursuant to Section 303A.12 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual) without qualification to the NYSE for the year ended December 31, 2007. In addition, the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “SOX 302 certifications”) with respect to the Company’s disclosures in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 were filed as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to such Annual Report on Form 10-K. The SOX 302 Certifications with respect to the Company’s disclosures in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 are being filed as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Date: March 13, 2008

 

/s/ Mark E. Tryniski


Mark E. Tryniski,

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

80