cbna201110q3rdqrt.htm

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

FORM 10-Q


x   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011
 
 
OR
 
 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.  
                      (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)  
         
     NONE    
     (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)  
 
 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 whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted to its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be 
was submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant required to submit and post such files). Yes  x   No 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 the 
definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “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.
     (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)  
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes  x  No  o
 
 Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 36,846,681 shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value, were outstanding on October 31, 2011.
 


        

 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS



Part I.
   Financial Information
Page
     
Item 1.
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Condition
 
 
September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­                                                                                                                                                                             
3
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
 
 
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010                                                                                                                                                 
4
     
 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2011                                                                                                                                                                                    
5
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
 
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010                                                                                                                                                 
6
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010                                                                                                                                                                    
7
     
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
September 30, 2011                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
8
     
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations                                                                                          
25
     
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk                                                                                                                                                
41
     
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures                                                                                                                                                                                                              
42
     
Part II.
   Other Information
 
     
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
42
     
Item 1A.
Risk Factors                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
42
     
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds                                                                                                                                               
42
     
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities                                                                                                                                                                                                 
42
     
Item 4.
(Removed and Reserved)                                                                                                                                                                                                             
42
     
Item 5.
Other Information                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
42
     
Item 6.
Exhibits                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
43


 
2

 

Part I.   Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION (Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
 
September 30,
December 31,
 
2011
2010
Assets:
   
   Cash and cash equivalents
$425,877
$211,837
     
   Held-to-maturity investment securities (fair value of $619,821 and $625,789, respectively)
558,591
602,908
     
   Available-for-sale investment securities (cost of $1,379,911 and $1,076,030, respectively)
1,457,788
1,085,963
     
   Other securities, at cost
58,904
53,453
     
   Loans held for sale, at fair value
167
3,952
     
   Loans
3,476,469
3,026,363
   Allowance for loan losses
(42,463)
(42,510)
     Net loans
3,434,006
2,983,853
     
   Core deposit intangibles, net
12,383
10,897
   Goodwill
344,229
297,692
   Other intangibles, net
3,616
3,125
     Intangible assets, net
360,228
311,714
     
   Premises and equipment, net
85,724
81,561
   Accrued interest receivable
27,755
26,136
   Other assets
94,814
83,129
     
        Total assets
$6,503,854
$5,444,506
     
Liabilities:
   
   Noninterest-bearing deposits
$887,009
$741,166
   Interest-bearing deposits
3,951,744
3,192,879
      Total deposits
4,838,753
3,934,045
     
  Borrowings
728,335
728,460
  Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
102,042
102,024
  Accrued interest and other liabilities
79,091
72,719
     Total liabilities
5,748,221
4,837,248
     
Commitments and contingencies (See Note J)
   
     
Shareholders' equity:
   
  Preferred stock $1.00 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued
-
-
  Common stock, $1.00 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 37,638,843 and
   
     34,131,289 shares issued, respectively
37,639
34,131
  Additional paid-in capital
309,881
225,543
  Retained earnings
402,426
374,700
  Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
23,418
(9,340)
  Treasury stock, at cost (810,327 and 812,346 shares, respectively)
(17,731)
(17,776)
     Total shareholders' equity
755,633
607,258
     
     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$6,503,854
$5,444,506





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

 
3

 

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

   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
   
September 30,
 
September 30,
   
2011
2010
 
2011
2010
Interest income:
         
 
Interest and fees on loans
$50,702
$45,094
 
$142,470
$134,618
 
Interest and dividends on taxable investments
14,278
11,928
 
41,147
35,029
 
Interest and dividends on nontaxable investments
5,438
5,575
 
16,938
16,625
 
     Total interest income
70,418
62,597
 
200,555
186,272
 
 
         
Interest expense:
         
 
Interest on deposits
6,887
7,296
 
19,684
23,646
 
Interest on borrowings
7,466
7,468
 
22,146
22,617
 
Interest on subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
1,497
1,509
 
4,447
4,458
 
     Total interest expense
15,850
16,273
 
46,277
50,721
             
Net interest income
54,568
46,324
 
154,278
135,551
Less:  provision for loan losses
1,043
1,400
 
3,143
5,270
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
53,525
44,924
 
151,135
130,281
             
Noninterest income:
         
 
Deposit service fees
11,134
11,180
 
31,307
33,036
 
Mortgage banking and other services
1,499
2,078
 
3,920
4,116
 
Benefit plan administration, consulting and actuarial fees
7,685
7,256
 
23,722
22,415
 
Wealth management services
2,904
2,400
 
7,866
7,442
 
Gain (loss) on investment securities & debt extinguishments, net
(6)
0
 
8
0
Total noninterest income
23,216
22,914
 
66,823
67,009
             
Operating expenses:
         
 
Salaries and employee benefits
26,543
23,056
 
75,185
68,501
 
Occupancy and equipment
6,103
5,575
 
18,413
17,414
 
Data processing and communications
5,330
5,430
 
15,278
15,853
 
Amortization of intangible assets
1,161
1,277
 
3,251
4,985
 
Legal and professional fees
1,640
1,014
 
4,286
3,819
 
Office supplies and postage
1,300
1,382
 
3,873
3,942
 
Business development and marketing
1,096
1,250
 
4,534
3,995
 
Acquisition expenses and special charges
381
57
 
4,689
256
 
Other
4,539
5,311
 
13,026
14,000
 
     Total operating expenses
48,093
44,352
 
142,535
132,765
             
Income before income taxes
28,648
23,486
 
75,423
64,525
Income taxes
8,640
6,224
 
21,269
17,099
Net income
$20,008
$17,262
 
$54,154
$47,426
             
Basic earnings per share
$0.54
$0.52
 
$1.52
$1.43
Diluted earnings per share
$0.54
$0.51
 
$1.50
$1.42
Dividends declared per share
$0.26
$0.24
 
$0.74
$0.70
           




The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
4

 
 
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited)
Nine months ended September 30, 2011
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)


         
Accumulated
   
 
Common Stock
Additional
 
Other
   
 
Shares
Amount
Paid-In
Retained
Comprehensive
Treasury
 
 
Outstanding
Issued
Capital
Earnings
Income(Loss)
Stock
Total
               
Balance at December 31, 2010
          33,318,943
$34,131
$225,543
$374,700
($9,340)
($17,776)
$607,258
               
Net income
     
54,154
   
54,154
               
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
       
32,758
 
32,758
               
Dividends declared:
             
Common, $0.74 per share
     
(26,428)
   
(26,428)
               
Common stock issued under Stock Plan,
             
  including tax benefits of $355
156,772
155
2,073
   
45
2,273
               
Stock-based compensation
   
3,038
     
3,038
 
             
Stock issued for acquisition
3,352,801
3,353
79,227
     
82,580
               
Balance at September 30, 2011
36,828,516
$37,639
$309,881
$402,426
$23,418
($17,731)
$755,633































The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
5

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


   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
   
September 30,
 
September 30,
   
2011
2010
 
2011
2010
             
Other comprehensive income, before tax:
           
Change in pension liabilities
 
($18,157)
$298
 
($17,808)
$894
Change in unrealized loss on derivative instruments used in cash flow hedges
 
871
401
 
2,463
1,045
Unrealized gains on securities:
           
     Unrealized holding gains arising during period
 
39,642
7,920
 
68,043
28,972
     Reclassification adjustment for gains/(losses) included in net income
 
6
0
 
(99)
0
Other comprehensive income, before tax:
 
22,362
8,619
 
52,599
30,911
Income tax expense related to other comprehensive income
 
(8,400)
(3,034)
 
(19,841)
(11,207)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 
13,962
5,585
 
32,758
19,704
Net income
 
20,008
17,262
 
54,154
47,426
Comprehensive income
 
$33,970
$22,847
 
$86,912
$67,130






































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

 
6

 

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(In Thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2011
2010
Operating activities:
   
  Net income
$54,154
$47,426
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
   
     Depreciation
8,608
7,447
     Amortization of intangible assets
3,251
4,985
     Net (accretion) amortization of premiums & discounts on securities, loans and borrowings
(1,356)
1,957
     Stock-based compensation
3,038
2,767
     Provision for loan losses
3,143
5,270
     Amortization of mortgage servicing rights
667
574
     Income on bank-owned life insurance policies
(581)
(356)
     Gain on investment securities and debt extinguishments, net
(8)
0
     Net gain on sale of loans and other assets
(281)
(46)
     Net change in loans held for sale
4,410
1,011
     Change in other assets and liabilities
5,556
495
       Net cash provided by operating activities
80,600
71,530
Investing activities:
   
  Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investment securities
13,371
0
  Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity investment securities
54,152
60,039
  Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale investment securities
151,997
116,889
  Purchases of held-to-maturity investment securities
(7,424)
(323,745)
  Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities
(176,188)
(109,227)
  Sales of other securities
1,197
1,061
  Purchases of other securities
(3,075)
(5)
  Net decrease in loans
9,038
14,519
  Cash received from acquisition, net of cash paid of $20,704 and $0
6,197
0
  Purchases of premises and equipment
(6,895)
(11,497)
       Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
42,370
(251,966)
Financing activities:
   
  Net increase in deposits
133,154
41,849
  Net decrease in borrowings
(19,884)
(25,271)
  Issuance of common stock
2,273
3,388
  Cash dividends paid
(24,828)
(22,434)
  Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
355
584
       Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
91,070
(1,884)
Change in cash and cash equivalents
214,040
(182,320)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
211,837
361,876
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$425,877
$179,556
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
   
  Cash paid for interest
$45,970
$51,145
  Cash paid for income taxes
14,750
6,050
Supplemental disclosures of noncash financing and investing activities:
   
  Dividends declared and unpaid
9,575
7,959
  Transfers from loans to other real estate
4,011
3,639
  Acquisitions:
   
     Fair value of assets acquired, excluding acquired cash and intangibles
815,828
0
     Fair value of liabilities assumed
791,222
0







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

 
7

 

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
September 30, 2011

NOTE A:  BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The interim financial data as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 is unaudited; however, in the opinion of Community Bank System, Inc. (the “Company”), the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).  The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other interim period.  Certain prior year amounts in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.

NOTE B:  ACQUISITIONS

On April 8, 2011, the Company acquired The Wilber Corporation (“Wilber”), parent company of Wilber National Bank, for approximately $103 million in stock and cash, comprised of $20.4 million in cash and the issuance of 3.35 million additional shares of the Company’s common stock.  Based in Oneonta, New York, Wilber operated 22 branches in the Central, Greater Capital District, and Catskill regions of Upstate New York.  Wilber was merged into the Company and Wilber National Bank was merged into Community Bank, N.A.

The assets and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values based on management's best estimates using information available at April 8, 2011, the acquisition date, and Wilber’s results of operations have been included in the Company’s financial statements since that date.  The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

(000’s omitted)
 
Consideration paid:
 
   Community Bank System, Inc. common stock
$82,580
   Cash
20,372
   Total consideration paid
102,952
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
 
   Cash and cash equivalents
26,901
   Investment securities
297,573
   Loans
462,334
   Premises and equipment
6,213
   Accrued interest receivable
2,615
   Other assets and liabilities, net
47,095
   Core deposit intangibles
4,016
   Other intangibles
890
   Deposits
(771,554)
   Borrowings
(19,668)
    Total identifiable assets
56,415
      Goodwill
$  46,537

The above recognized amounts of assets and liabilities, at fair value, are subject to adjustment based on updated information not available at the time of acquisition.

Acquired loans that have evidence of deterioration in credit quality since origination and for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the Company will be unable to collect all contractually required payments were aggregated by comparable characteristics and  recorded at fair value without a carryover of the related allowance for loan losses.  Cash flows for each pool were determined using an estimate of future credit losses and an estimated rate of prepayments.  Projected monthly cash flows were then discounted to present value using a market-based discount rate.  The excess of the undiscounted expected cash flows over the estimated fair value is referred to as the “accretable yield” and is recognized into interest income over the remaining lives of the acquired loans.


 
8

 

The following is a summary of the loans acquired in the Wilber acquisition:
 
(000’s omitted)
Acquired Impaired Loans
Acquired
Non-Impaired
Loans
Total  
Acquired
Loans
Contractually required principal and interest at acquisition
$41,730
$680,516
$722,246
Contractual cash flows not expected to be collected
         (20,061)
(31,115)
(51,176)
    Expected cash flows at acquisition
21,669
649,401
671,070
Interest component of expected cash flows
(2,509)
(206,227)
(208,736)
   Fair value of acquired loans
$19,160
$443,174
$462,334

The core deposit intangible and customer list are being amortized over their estimated useful life of approximately eight years, using an accelerated method.  The goodwill, which is not amortized for book purposes, was assigned to the Banking segment and is not deductible for tax purposes.

The fair value of checking, savings and money market deposit accounts acquired from Wilber were assumed to approximate the carrying value as these accounts have no stated maturity and are payable on demand.  Certificate of deposit accounts were valued as the present value of the certificates expected contractual payments discounted at market rates for similar certificates.

Direct costs related to the Wilber acquisition were expensed as incurred.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 the Company incurred $0.4 million and $4.7 million, respectively, of merger and acquisition integration related expenses and have been separately stated in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Pro Forma condensed Combined Financial Information
If the Wilber acquisition had been completed on January 1, 2010, total revenue, net of interest expense, would have been approximately $230.4 million and $233.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and net income from continuing operations would have been approximately $49.9 million and $52.7 million for the same periods.  Pro forma results of operations do not include the impact of conforming certain acquiree accounting policies to the Company’s policies.  The pro forma financial information does not indicate the impact of possible business model changes nor does it consider any potential impacts of current market condition or revenues, expenses efficiencies, or other factors.

NOTE C:  ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting policies of the Company, as applied in the consolidated interim financial statements presented herein, are substantially the same as those followed on an annual basis as presented on pages 53 through 58 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 15, 2011, with the addition of the acquired loans policy below.

Critical Accounting Policies

Acquired Loans
Acquired loans are initially recorded at their acquisition date fair values.  The carryover of allowance for loan losses is prohibited as any credit losses in the loans are included in the determination of the fair value of the loans at the acquisition date.  Fair values for acquired loans are based on a discounted cash flow methodology that involves assumptions and judgments as to credit risk, prepayment risk, liquidity risk, default rates, loss severity, payment speeds, collateral values and discount rate.

Acquired loans that have evidence of deterioration in credit quality since origination and for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the Company will be unable to collect all contractually required payments are aggregated by comparable characteristics.  The excess of cash flows expected at acquisition over the estimated fair value is referred to as the accretable discount and is recognized into interest income over the remaining life of the loans. The difference between contractually required payments at acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition is referred to as the non-accretable discount. The non-accretable discount represents estimated future credit losses expected to be incurred over the life of the loan. Subsequent decreases to the expected cash flows require the Company to evaluate the need for an allowance for loan losses on these loans. Subsequent improvements in expected cash flows result in the reversal of a corresponding amount of the non-accretable discount which the Company then reclassifies as an accretable discount that is recognized into interest income over the remaining life of the loans using the interest method. The Company’s evaluation of the amount of future cash flows that it expects to collect is performed in a similar manner as that used to determine its allowance for loan losses. Charge-offs of the principal amount on acquired loans would be first applied to the non-accretable discount portion of the fair value adjustment.

Acquired loans that met the criteria for non-accrual of interest prior to acquisition may be considered performing upon acquisition, regardless of whether the customer is contractually delinquent, if the Company can reasonably estimate the timing and amount of the expected cash flows on such loans and if the Company expects to fully collect the new carrying value of the loans. As such, the Company may no longer consider the loan to be non-accrual or non-performing and may accrue interest on these loans, including the impact of any accretable discount.
 
 
9

 
 
For acquired loans that are not deemed impaired at acquisition, credit discounts representing the principal losses expected over the life of the loan are a component of the initial fair value and amortized over the life of the asset.  Subsequent to the purchase date, the methods utilized to estimate the required allowance for loan losses for these loans is similar to originated loans, however, the Company records a provision for loan losses only when the required allowance exceeds any remaining credit discounts.

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 incurred 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 five main loan segments:  business lending; consumer installment – direct; consumer installment – indirect; home equity; and consumer mortgage.  The first calculation determines an allowance level based on 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 eight qualitative environmental factors:  levels and trends in delinquencies and impaired loans; levels of and trends in charge-offs and recoveries; trends in volume and terms of loans; effects of any changes in risk selection and underwriting standards, and other changes in lending policies, procedure, and practices; experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; national and local economic trends and conditions; industry condition; and effects of changes in credit concentrations. 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 or collateral shortfalls.  The allowance levels computed from the specific and general loan loss allocation methods are combined with unallocated allowances, if any, to derive the required allowance for loan losses to be reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Condition. As it has in prior periods, the Company strives to continually refine and enhance its loss evaluation and estimation processes.

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.

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 September 30, 2011.  Certain 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.

Fair values for investment securities are based upon quoted market prices, where available.  If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based upon quoted market prices of comparable instruments, or a discounted cash flow model using market estimates of interest rates and volatility.  See Notes D and K for further information.

The Company conducts an assessment of all securities in an unrealized loss position to determine if other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) exists on a monthly basis. An unrealized loss exists when the current fair value of an individual security is less than its amortized cost basis.  The OTTI assessment considers the security structure, recent security collateral performance metrics if applicable, external credit ratings, failure of the issuer to make scheduled interest or principal payments, judgment and expectations of future performance, and relevant independent industry research, analysis and forecasts. The severity of the impairment and the length of time the security has been impaired is also considered in the assessment.  The assessment of whether an OTTI decline exists is performed on each security, regardless of the classification of the security as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity and involves a high degree of subjectivity and judgment that is based on the information available to management at a point in time.

An OTTI loss must be recognized for a debt security in an unrealized loss position if there is intent to sell the security or it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost basis. In this situation, the amount of loss recognized in income is equal to the difference between the fair value and the amortized cost basis of the security. Even if it is not expected that the security will be sold, an evaluation of the expected cash flows to be received is performed to determine if a credit loss has occurred. For debt securities, a critical component of the evaluation for OTTI is the identification of credit-impaired securities, where the Company does not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security.  In the event of a credit loss, only the amount of impairment associated with the credit loss would be recognized in income. The portion of the unrealized loss relating to other factors, such as liquidity conditions in the market or changes in market interest rates, is recorded in “accumulated other comprehensive loss”.


 
10

 

Equity securities are also evaluated to determine whether the unrealized loss is expected to be recoverable based on whether evidence exists to support a realizable value equal to or greater than the amortized cost basis. If it is probable that the amortized cost basis will not be recovered, taking into consideration the estimated recovery period and the ability to hold the equity security until recovery, OTTI is recognized in earnings equal to the difference between the fair value and the amortized cost basis of the security.

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

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.

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.

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. The initial and ongoing 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.

The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment.  The fair value of each reporting unit is compared to the carrying amount of that reporting unit in order to determine if impairment is indicated.  If so, the fair value of the reporting units’ goodwill is compared to its carrying amount and the impairment loss is measured by the excess of the carrying value over fair value.

Retirement Benefits
The Company provides defined benefit pension benefits to eligible employees and post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to certain eligible retirees.  The Company also provides deferred compensation and supplemental executive retirement plans for selected current and former employees, officers and directors.  Expense related to 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.

New Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) - Presentation of Comprehensive Income.  This guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of equity and requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements.  The amendments are effective retrospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011.  On October 21, 2011 the FASB decided to propose a deferral of the new requirement to present reclassifications of other comprehensive income on the face of the income statement.  Companies would still be required to adopt the other requirements contained in the new standard for the presentation of comprehensive income. The guidance requires changes in presentation only and will have no significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). On May 12, 2011, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board both issued new guidance that results in a consistent definition of fair value and common requirements for measurement of and disclosures about fair value between GAAP and IFRS. While many of the amendments to GAAP are not expected to have a significant effect on practice, the new guidance changes some fair value measurement principles and disclosure requirements currently in GAAP. The new guidance goes into effect on January 1, 2012 for the Company and will be applied prospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the adoption of this guidance on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.


 
11

 

In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-8, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment.  This pronouncement amends its guidance for goodwill impairment testing by allowing entities to first assess qualitative factors in determining whether or not the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value. If an entity concludes from this qualitative assessment that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, then performing a two-step impairment test is unnecessary. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

NOTE D:  INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 are as follows:

 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
   
Gross
Gross
Estimated
   
Gross
Gross
Estimated
 
Amortized
Unrealized
Unrealized
Fair
 
Amortized
Unrealized
Unrealized
Fair
(000's omitted)
Cost
Gains
Losses
Value
 
Cost
Gains
Losses
Value
Held-to-Maturity Portfolio:
                 
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
$448,170
$55,045
$0
$503,215
 
$478,100
$21,571
$29
$499,642
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
40,181
2,189
0
42,370
 
56,891
2,753
0
59,644
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
70,204
3,996
0
74,200
 
67,864
277
1,691
66,450
Other securities
36
0
0
36
 
53
0
0
53
Total held-to-maturity portfolio
$558,591
$61,230
$0
$619,821
 
$602,908
$24,601
$1,720
$625,789
                   
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
                 
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
$384,189
$51,207
$0
$435,396
 
$281,826
$22,231
$0
$304,057
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
520,753
24,374
313
544,814
 
518,216
10,197
6,195
522,218
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
332,740
21,535
1
354,274
 
170,673
9,159
116
179,716
Pooled trust preferred securities
68,487
0
21,464
47,023
 
69,508
0
27,515
41,993
Corporate debt securities
24,007
1,484
0
25,491
 
25,523
1,634
0
27,157
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
49,354
1,230
193
50,391
 
9,904
491
0
10,395
Marketable equity securities
380
93
74
399
 
380
54
7
427
Total available-for-sale portfolio
$1,379,910
$99,923
$22,045
$1,457,788
 
$1,076,030
$43,766
$33,833
$1,085,963

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 September 30, 2011
   
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Longer
 
Total
     
Gross
   
     Gross
   
Gross
   
Fair
Unrealized
 
       Fair
 Unrealized
 
Fair
Unrealized
(000's omitted)
 
Value
Losses
 
     Value
    Losses
 
Value
Losses
                   
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
                 
 Obligations of state and political subdivisions
 
$3,752
$32
 
$7,620
$281
 
$11,372
$313
 Government agency mortgage-backed securities
 
46
1
 
0
0
 
46
1
 Pooled trust preferred securities
 
0
0
 
47,023
21,464
 
47,023
21,464
 Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
 
12,765
193
 
0
0
 
12,765
193
Marketable equity securities
 
153
74
 
0
0
 
153
74
    Total available-for-sale portfolio/investment portfolio
 
$16,716
$300
 
$54,643
$21,745
 
$71,359
$22,045


 
12

 

As of December 31, 2010
   
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Longer
 
Total
     
Gross
   
Gross
   
Gross
   
Fair
Unrealized
 
Fair
Unrealized
 
Fair
Unrealized
(000's omitted)
 
Value
Losses
 
Value
Losses
 
Value
Losses
                   
Held-to-Maturity Portfolio:
                 
  U.S. Treasury and agency securities
 
$14,967
$29
 
$0
$0
 
$14,967
$29
  Obligations of state and political subdivisions
 
43,851
1,691
 
0
0
 
43,851
1,691
     Total held-to-maturity portfolio
 
58,818
1,720
 
0
0
 
58,818
1,720
                   
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
                 
 Obligations of state and political subdivisions
 
197,066
5,705
 
4,049
490
 
201,115
6,195
 Pooled trust preferred securities
 
0
0
 
41,993
27,515
 
41,993
27,515
 Government agency mortgage-backed securities
 
14,690
116
 
0
0
 
14,690
116
 Marketable equity securities
 
210
2
 
11
5
 
221
7
   Total available-for-sale portfolio
 
211,966
5,823
 
46,053
28,010
 
258,019
33,833
                   
    Total investment portfolio
 
$270,784
$7,543
 
$46,053
$28,010
 
$316,837
$35,553

Included in the available-for-sale portfolio are pooled trust preferred, class A-1 securities with a current total par value of $70.0 million and unrealized losses of $21.5 million at September 30, 2011.  The underlying collateral of these assets is principally trust-preferred securities of smaller regional banks and insurance companies.  The Company’s securities are in the super-senior cash flow tranche of the investment pools.  All other tranches in these pools will incur losses before the super senior tranche is impacted.  As of September 30, 2011, an additional 35% - 38% of the underlying collateral in these securities would have to be in deferral or default concurrently to result in an expectation of non-receipt of contractual cash flows.

In determining if unrealized losses are other-than-temporary, management considers the following factors: the length of time and extent that fair value has been less than cost; the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuers; any external credit ratings; the level of excess cash flows generated from the underlying collateral supporting the principal and interest payments of the debt securities; and the level of credit enhancement provided by the structure.  A detailed review of the pooled trust preferred securities was completed for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.  This review included an analysis of collateral reports, a cash flow analysis, including varying degrees of projected deferral/default scenarios, and a review of various financial ratios of the underlying banks and insurance companies that make up the collateral pool.  Based on the analysis performed, significant further deferral/defaults and further erosion in other underlying performance conditions would have to exist before the Company would incur a loss.  Therefore, the Company determined OTTI did not exist at September 30, 2011.  To date, the Company has received all scheduled principal and interest payments and expects to fully collect all future contractual principal and interest payments. The Company does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the underlying securities.   Subsequent changes in market or credit conditions could change those evaluations.

Management does not believe any individual unrealized loss as of September 30, 2011 represents OTTI.  The unrealized losses reported pertaining to government guaranteed mortgage-backed securities relate primarily to securities issued by GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC, who are currently rated AAA by Moody’s Investor Services, AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and are guaranteed by the U.S. government.  The obligations of state and political subdivisions are general purpose debt obligations of various states and political subdivisions.  The unrealized losses in the portfolios are primarily attributable to changes in interest rates.  The Company does not intend to sell these securities, nor is it more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell these securities prior to recovery of the amortized cost.
 
 

 
13

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities at September 30, 2011, 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.  Securities not due at a single maturity date are shown separately.

   
Held-to-Maturity
 
Available-for-Sale
   
Amortized
Fair
 
Amortized
Fair
(000's omitted)
 
Cost
Value
 
Cost
Value
Due in one year or less
 
$10,678
$10,761
 
$68,510
$69,277
Due after one through five years
 
34,388
37,771
 
185,972
196,938
Due after five years through ten years
 
403,747
452,320
 
274,974
302,262
Due after ten years
 
69,597
76,599
 
467,980
484,247
     Subtotal
 
518,410
577,451
 
997,436
1,052,724
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
 
0
0
 
49,354
50,391
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
 
40,181
42,370
 
332,740
354,274
     Total
 
$558,591
$619,821
 
$1,379,530
$1,457,389

NOTE E:  LOANS

The segments of the Company’s loan portfolio are disaggregated into levels that allow management to monitor risk and performance.  Consumer mortgages consist primarily of fixed rate residential instruments, typically 15 – 30 years in contractual term, secured by first liens on real property.  Business lending is comprised of general purpose commercial and industrial loans including agricultural-related and dealer floor plans, as well as mortgages on commercial property.  Consumer installment – indirect consists primarily of loans originated through selected dealerships and are secured by automobiles, marine and other recreational vehicles.  Home equity products are consumer purpose installment loans or lines of credit most often secured by a first or second lien position on residential real estate with terms of 15 years or less.  Consumer installment – direct are all other loans to consumers such as personal installment loans and lines of credit.  Loans are summarized as follows:
 
September 30,
December 31,
(000's omitted)
2011
2010
Consumer mortgage
$1,167,781
$1,057,332
Business lending
1,261,125
1,023,286
Consumer installment - indirect
564,423
494,813
Home equity
328,468
305,936
Consumer installment - direct
154,672
144,996
  Gross loans, including deferred origination costs
3,476,469
3,026,363
Allowance for loan losses
(42,463)
(42,510)
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses
$3,434,006
$2,983,853

The changes in the accretable discount related to the credit impaired acquired loans are as follows:

Balance at December 31, 2010
$0
Wilber acquisition
2,509
Accretion recognized, to-date
(507)
Net reclassification from accretable to nonaccretable
(52)
Balance at September 30, 2011
$1,950
 
 
Credit Quality
Management monitors the credit quality of its loan portfolio on an ongoing basis.  Measurement of delinquency and past due status are based on the contractual terms of each loan.  Past due loans are reviewed on a monthly basis to identify loans for non-accrual status.  The following is an aged analysis of the Company’s past due loans, by class as of September 30, 2011:

(000’s omitted)
30 - 89 Days
90+ Days Past
Due and
 Still Accruing
Nonaccrual
 
Total
Past Due
Purchased Impaired
Current
Total Loans
Consumer mortgage
$16,861
$1,769
$5,696
$24,326
$0
$1,143,455
$1,167,781
Business lending
5,551
246
9,793
15,590
17,969
1,227,566
1,261,125
Consumer installment - indirect
7,538
43
3
7,584
0
556,839
564,423
Home equity
3,506
173
1,010
4,689
0
323,779
328,468
Consumer installment – direct
2,029
88
0
2,117
0
152,555
 154,672
Total
$35,485
$2,319
$16,502
$54,306
$17,969
$3,404,194
 $3,476,469
 
 
14

 
 
The following is an aged analysis of the Company’s past due loans by class as of December 31, 2010:

(000’s omitted)
30 - 89 Days
90+ Days Past
Due and
Still Accruing
Nonaccrual
Total
Past Due
Current
Total Loans
Consumer mortgage
    $16,614
$2,308
         $4,737
       $23,659
  $1,033,673
$1,057,332 
Business lending
        5,965
             247
       9,715
         15,927
    1,007,359
1,023,286 
Consumer installment – indirect
10,246
131
0
10,377
484,436
494,813 
Home equity
  3,960
            309
             926
           5,195
300,741
305,936 
Consumer installment – direct
2,514
96
2,610 
142,386
144,996 
Total
    $39,299
$3,091
      $15,378
       $57,768
  $2,968,595
$3,026,363 

The Company uses several credit quality indicators to assess credit risk in an ongoing manner.  The Company’s primary credit quality indicator for its business lending portfolio is an internal credit risk rating system that categorizes loans as “pass”, “special mention”, or “classified”.  Credit risk ratings are applied individually to those classes of loans that have significant or unique credit characteristics that benefit from a case-by-case evaluation.  The following are the definitions of the Company’s credit quality indicators:

 
 Pass    In general, the condition of the borrower and the performance of the loans are satisfactory or better.
   
 Special Mention    In general, the condition of the borrower has deteriorated although the loan performs as agreed.
   
 Classified  In general, the condition of the borrower has significantly deteriorated and the performance of the loan could further deteriorate if deficiencies are not corrected.
   
The following table shows the amount of business lending loans by credit quality category:

(000’s omitted)
September 30, 2011
December 31, 2010
Pass
$932,504
$753,252
Special mention
160,202
159,906
Classified
150,450
110,128
Purchased impaired
17,969
0
Total
$1,261,125
$1,023,286

All other loans are underwritten and structured using standardized criteria and characteristics, primarily payment performance, and are normally risk rated and monitored collectively on a monthly basis.  These are typically loans to individuals in the consumer categories and are delineated as either performing or nonperforming.   Performing loans include current, 30 – 89 days past due and purchased impaired loans.  Nonperforming loans include 90+ days past due and still accruing and non-accrual loans.

The following table details the balances in all other loan categories at September 30, 2011:

(000’s omitted)
Consumer
Mortgage
Indirect
Consumer
Home
Equity
Direct
Consumer
Total
Performing
$1,160,316
$564,377
$327,285
$154,584
$2,206,562
Nonperforming
7,465
46
1,183
88
8,782
Total
$1,167,781
$564,423
$328,468
$154,672
$2,215,344

The following table details the balances in all other loan categories at December 31, 2010:

(000’s omitted)
Consumer
Mortgage
Indirect
Consumer
Home
Equity
Direct
Consumer
Total
Performing
$1,050,287
$494,682
$304,701
$144,900
$1,994,570
Nonperforming
7,045
131
1,235
96
8,507
Total
$1,057,332
$494,813
$305,936
$144,996
$2,003,077


 
15

 

All loan classes are collectively evaluated for impairment except business lending, as described in Note B.  A summary of individually evaluated impaired loans as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 follows:

 
   September 30,  December 31,
(000’s omitted)
 2011  2010
Loans with reserve
 $0 $1,465
Loans without reserve
 2,379 3,846
Carrying balance
 2,379 5,311
Contractual balance
 3,399  7,042
Specifically allocated allowance
 0  762

Allowance for Loan Losses

The following presents by class the activity in the allowance for loan losses:

    Three Months Ended September 30, 2011
 
Consumer
Business
Home
Direct
Indirect
 
Acquired
 
(000’s omitted)
Mortgage
Lending
Equity
Installment
Installment
Unallocated
Impaired
Total
Beginning balance
$3,286
$20,949
$911
$3,878
$10,277
$3,230
 $0
$42,531
Charge-offs
(157)
(249)
(43)
(283)
(1,294)
0
0
(2,026)
Recoveries
2
88
6
151
668
0
0
915
Provision
1,056
105
126
(224)
(210)
(53)
243
1,043
Ending balance
$4,187
$20,893
$1,000
$3,522
$9,441
$3,177
$243
$42,463

    Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
Consumer
Business
Home
Direct
Indirect
 
Acquired
 
(000’s omitted)
Mortgage
Lending
Equity
Installment
Installment
Unallocated
Impaired
Total
Beginning balance
$1,654
$23,619
$457
$3,762
$9,796
$3,315
 $0
$42,603
Charge-offs
(94)
(869)
(12)
(357)
(819)
0
0
(2,151)
Recoveries
4
86
1
137
530
0
0
758
Provision
442
(375)
110
609
390
224
0
1,400
Ending balance
$2,006
$22,461
$556
$4,151
$9,897
$3,539
 $0
$42,610

 
Nine months ended September 30, 2011
 
Consumer
Business
Home
Direct
Indirect
 
Acquired
 
(000’s omitted)
Mortgage
Lending
Equity
Installment
Installment
Unallocated
Impaired
Total
Beginning balance
$2,451
$22,326
$689
$3,977
$9,922
$3,145
$0
$42,510
Charge-offs
(501)
(1,819)
(174)
(904)
(3,249)
0
0
(6,647)
Recoveries
28
406
17
545
2,461
0
0
3,457
Provision
2,209
(20)
468
(96)
307
32
243
3,143
Ending balance
$4,187
$20,893
$1,000
$3,522
$9,441
$3,177
$243
$42,463

 
Nine months ended September 30, 2010
 
Consumer
Business
Home
Direct
Indirect
 
Acquired
 
(000’s omitted)
Mortgage
Lending
Equity
Installment
Installment
Unallocated
Impaired
Total
Beginning balance
$1,127
$23,577
$374
$3,660
$10,004
$3,168
$0
$41,910
Charge-offs
(503)
(3,007)
(115)
(1,184)
(2,778)
0
0
(7,587)
Recoveries
39
486
5
538
1,949
0
0
3,017
Provision
1,343
1,405
292
1,137
722
371
0
5,270
Ending balance
$2,006
$22,461
$556
$4,151
$9,897
$3,539
$0
$42,610

          Despite the above allocation, the allowance for loan losses is general in nature and is available to absorb losses from any loan type.


 
16

 

NOTE F:  GOODWILL AND IDENTIFIABLE INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for each type of identifiable intangible asset are as follows:
   
As of September 30, 2011
 
As of December 31, 2010
   
Gross
 
Net
 
Gross
 
Net
   
Carrying
Accumulated
Carrying
 
Carrying
Accumulated
Carrying
(000's omitted)
 
Amount
Amortization
Amount
 
Amount
Amortization
Amount
Amortizing intangible assets:
               
  Core deposit intangibles
 
$64,610
($52,227)
$12,383
 
$60,595
($49,698)
$10,897
  Other intangibles
 
9,107
(5,491)
3,616
 
7,894
(4,769)
3,125
 Total amortizing intangibles
 
$73,717
($57,718)
$15,999
 
$68,489
($54,467)
$14,022

The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years ended December 31 is as follows:

Oct – Dec 2011
$1,118
2012
3,971
2013
3,180
2014
2,473
2015
1,817
Thereafter
3,440
Total
$15,999

Shown below are the components of the Company’s goodwill at September 30, 2011:

(000’s omitted)
December 31, 2010
Activity
September 30, 2011
Goodwill
$302,516
46,537
$349,053
Accumulated impairment
(4,824)
0
(4,824)
Goodwill, net
$297,692
46,537
$344,229

NOTE G:  MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SECURITIES

The Company sponsors two business trusts, Community Statutory Trust III and Community Capital Trust IV (“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 quarterly at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate being earned by the trust on the debentures held by that trust and are recorded as interest expense in the consolidated financial statements.  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
Par
 
Maturity
   
Trust
Date
Amount
Interest Rate
Date
Call Provision
Call Price
III
7/31/2001
$24.5 million
3 month LIBOR plus 3.58% (3.83%)
7/31/2031
  5 year beginning 2006
Par
IV
12/8/2006
$75 million
3 month LIBOR plus 1.65% (2.00%)
12/15/2036
  5 year beginning 2012
Par

Upon the issuance of Trust IV, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to convert the variable rate trust preferred securities into a fixed rate security for a term of five years at a fixed rate of 6.43%.  Additional interest expense of approximately $865,000 and $2,554,000 was recognized based on the interest rate swap agreement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to $821,000 and $2,517,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.


 
17

 

NOTE H:  BENEFIT PLANS

The Company provides a qualified defined benefit pension to qualified employees and retirees, and other post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to certain retirees, an unfunded supplemental pension plan for certain key executives, and an unfunded stock balance plan for certain of its nonemployee directors.  The Company accrues for the estimated cost of these benefits through charges to expense during the years that employees earn these benefits.  The net periodic benefit cost for the three and nine months ended September 30 is as follows:
 
   Pension Benefits    Post-retirement Benefits
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine months ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted)
2011
2010
 
2011
2010
 
2011
2010
 
2011
2010
Service cost
$735
$666
 
$2,205
$1,996
 
$0
$0
 
$0
$0
Interest cost
1,191
977
 
3,344
2,932
 
38
49
 
115
147
Expected return on plan assets
(2,167)
(1,618)
 
(6,101)
(4,853)
 
0
0
 
0
0
Amortization of unrecognized net loss
474
605
 
1,422
1,816
 
2
4
 
6
13
Amortization of prior service cost
(37)
(47)
 
(112)
(141)
 
(264)
(264)
 
(793)
(793)
Net periodic benefit cost
$196
$583
 
$758
$1,750
 
($224)
($211)
 
($672)
($633)

Effective September 30, 2011, the Wilber National Bank Retirement Plan was merged into the Community Bank System, Inc. Pension Plan and the combined plan was revalued resulting in an additional unamortized actuarial loss of approximately $17 million, due primarily to a loss on plan assets for the first nine months of 2011 and lowering the discount rate to 4.4% from 5.0% at December 31, 2010.

NOTE I:  EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted-average of the common shares outstanding for the period.  Diluted earnings per share are based on the weighted-average of the shares outstanding adjusted for the dilutive effect of restricted stock and the assumed exercise of stock options during the year.  The dilutive effect of options is calculated using the treasury stock method of accounting.  The treasury stock method determines the number of common shares that would be outstanding if all the dilutive options (those where the average market price is greater than the exercise price) were exercised and the proceeds were used to repurchase common shares in the open market at the average market price for the applicable time period.  There were approximately 0.6 million weighted-average anti-dilutive stock options outstanding at September 30, 2011 compared to approximately 1.7 million weighted-average anti-dilutive stock options outstanding at September 30, 2010 that were not included in the computation below.

The following is a reconciliation of basic to diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
(000's omitted, except per share data)
2011
2010
 
2011
2010
Net income
$20,008
$17,262
 
$54,154
$47,426
Income attributable to unvested stock-based compensation awards
(147)
 (150)
 
(414)
 (405)
Income available to common shareholders
19,861
17,112
 
53,740
47,021
           
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – basic
36,679
32,987
 
35,436
32,920
Basic earnings per share
$0.54
$0.52 
 
$1.52
$1.43 
           
Net income
$20,008
$17,262
 
$54,154
$47,426
Income attributable to unvested stock-based compensation awards
(147)
 (150)
 
(414)
 (405)
Income available to common shareholders
19,861
17,112
 
53,740
47,021
           
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
36,679
32,987
 
35,436
32,920
Assumed exercise of stock options
362
330
 
403
273
Weighted-average shares – diluted
37,041
 33,317
 
35,839
 33,193
Diluted earnings per share
$0.54
$0.51
 
$1.50
$1.42


 
18

 

Stock Repurchase Program
On July 22, 2009, the Company announced an authorization to repurchase up to 1,000,000 of its outstanding shares in open market transactions or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with securities laws and regulations through December 31, 2011.  Any repurchased shares will be used for general corporate purposes, including those related to stock plan activities.  The timing and extent of repurchases will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations as determined at the Company’s discretion.  No repurchases have been made under the repurchase authorization since it was approved, and the full 1,000,000 shares of common shares remain available to be purchased under the authorization.

NOTE J:  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 the Company’s normal credit policies.  Collateral may be obtained based on management’s assessment of the customer’s creditworthiness.

The contract amount of commitments and contingencies are as follows:

(000's omitted)
September 30,
 2011
December 31,
2010
Commitments to extend credit
$571,325
$445,625
Standby letters of credit
25,918
21,456
     Total
$597,243
$467,081

NOTE K:  FAIR VALUE

Accounting standards allow entities an irrevocable option to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value.  Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings.  The Company has elected to value loans held for sale at fair value in order to more closely match the gains and losses associated with loans held for sale with the gains and losses on forward sales contracts.  Accordingly, the impact on the valuation will be recognized in the Company’s consolidated statement of income.  All mortgage loans held for sale are current and in performing status.

Accounting standards establish a framework for measuring fair value and require certain disclosures about such fair value instruments.  It defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price).  Inputs used to measure fair value are classified into the following hierarchy:
 
 ·   Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 ·  Level 2 – Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted
                    prices that are observable for the asset or liability.
 ·   Level 3 – Significant valuation assumptions not readily observable in a market.
 
A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.    The following tables set forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis.   There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 for any of the periods presented.

 
19

 


 
September 30, 2011
(000's omitted)
   Level 1
   Level 2
   Level 3
   Total Fair   Value
Available-for-sale investment securities:
       
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
$181,349
$254,047
$0
$435,396
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
0
544,814
0
544,814
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
0
354,274
0
354,274
Pooled trust preferred securities
0
0
47,023
47,023
Corporate debt securities
0
25,491
0
25,491
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
0
50,391
0
50,391
Marketable equity securities
399
0
0
399
   Total available-for-sale investment securities
181,748
1,229,017
47,023
1,457,788
Mortgage loans held for sale
0
167
0
167
Interest rate swap
0
(769)
0
            (769)
   Total
$181,748
$1,228,415
$47,023
$1,457,186

 
December 31, 2010
(000's omitted)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total Fair Value
Available-for-sale investment securities:
       
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
$1,026
$303,031
$0
$304,057
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
0
522,218
0
522,218
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
0
179,716
0
179,716
Pooled trust preferred securities
0
0
41,993
41,993
Corporate debt securities
0
27,157
0
27,157
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
0
10,395
0
10,395
Marketable equity securities
427
0
0
427
   Total available-for-sale investment securities
1,453
1,042,517
41,993
1,085,963
Forward sales commitments
0
322
0
322
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale
0
0
58
58
Mortgage loans held for sale
0
3,952
0
3,952
Interest rate swap
0
          (3,232)
0
          (3,232)
   Total
$1,453
$1,043,559
$42,051
$1,087,063

The valuation techniques used to measure fair value for the items in the table above are as follows:
·  
Available for sale investment securities – The fair value of available-for-sale investment securities is based upon quoted prices, if available.  If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using quoted market prices for similar securities or model-based valuation techniques.  Level 1 securities include U.S. Treasury obligations and marketable equity securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter markets.  Level 2 securities include U.S. agency securities, mortgage-backed securities issued by government-sponsored entities, municipal securities and corporate debt securities that are valued by reference to prices for similar securities or through model-based techniques in which all significant inputs, such as reported trades, trade execution data, LIBOR swap yield curve, market prepayment speeds, credit information, market spreads, and security’s terms and conditions, are observable.  Securities classified as Level 3 include pooled trust preferred securities in less liquid markets.  The value of these instruments is determined using multiple pricing models or similar techniques as well as significant unobservable inputs such as judgment or estimation by the Company in the weighting of the models.

·  
Mortgage loans held for sale – Mortgage loans held for sale are carried at fair value, which is determined using quoted secondary-market prices of loans with similar characteristics and, as such, have been classified as a Level 2 valuation.  The unpaid principal value of mortgage loans held for sale at September 30, 2011 is approximately $167,000.  The unrealized gain on mortgage loans held for sale was immaterial at September 30, 2011.   Unrealized gains and losses on mortgage loans held for sale, when they occur, are recognized in mortgage banking and other services income in the consolidated statement of income.

·  
Forward sales contracts – The Company enters into forward sales contracts to sell certain residential real estate loans.  Such commitments are considered to be derivative financial instruments and, therefore, are carried at estimated fair value in the other asset or other liability section of the consolidated balance sheet.  The fair value of these forward sales contracts is primarily measured by obtaining pricing from certain government-sponsored entities and reflects the underlying price the entity would pay the Company for an immediate sale of these mortgages.  These instruments are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
 
 
20

 
 
·  
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale – The Company enters into various commitments to originate residential real estate loans for sale.  Such commitments are considered to be derivative financial instruments and, therefore, are carried at estimated fair value in the other asset or other liability section of the consolidated balance sheet.  The estimated fair value of these commitments is determined using quoted secondary market prices obtained from certain government-sponsored entities.  Additionally, accounting guidance requires the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of the loan to be included in the fair value measurement of the derivative.  The expected net future cash flows are based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated net servicing income.  The valuation model incorporates assumptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income.  Such assumptions include estimates of the realization rate, cost of servicing loans, appropriate discount rate and prepayment speeds.  The determination of expected net cash flows is considered a significant unobservable input contributing to the Level 3 classification of commitments to originate real estate loans for sale.

·  
Interest rate swap – The Company utilizes interest rate swap agreements to modify the repricing characteristics of certain of its interest-bearing liabilities.  The fair value of these interest rate swaps, which are traded in over-the-counter markets, where quoted market prices are not readily available, are measured using models for which the significant assumptions such as yield curves and option volatilities are market observable and, therefore, classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

The changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized in the following tables:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
(000's omitted)
Pooled trust preferred securities
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale
Total
 
Pooled trust preferred securities
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale
Total
Beginning balance
$48,972
$142
$49,114
 
$47,343
$367
$47,710
Total gains (losses) included in earnings (1)
23
  (142)
(119)
 
24
(367)
(343)
Total losses included in other comprehensive income
  (1,627)
0
(1,627)
 
(2,661)
0
(2,661)
Sales/calls/principal reductions
(345)
0
(345)
 
(411)
0
(411)
Commitments to originate real estate loans held for
     sale, net
0
0
0
 
0
917
917
Ending balance
$47,023
$0
$47,023
 
$44,295
$917
$45,212
(1) Amounts included in earnings associated with the pooled trust preferred securities relate to accretion of related discount.
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2011
 
2010
(000's omitted)
Pooled trust preferred securities
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale
Total
 
Pooled trust preferred securities
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale
Total
Beginning balance
$41,993
$58
$42,051
 
$44,014
  $31
$44,045
Total gains (losses) included in earnings (1)
71
(258)
(187)
 
73
(31)
42
Total gains included in other comprehensive income
6,052
0
6,052
 
1,376
0
1,376
Sales/calls/principal reductions
(1,093)
0
(1,093)
 
(1,168)
0
(1,168)
Commitments to originate real estate loans held for
     sale, net
0
200
200
 
0
917
917
Ending balance
$47,023
$0
$47,023
 
$44,295
$917
$45,212
(1) Amounts included in earnings associated with the pooled trust preferred securities relate to accretion of related discount.

Assets and liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis:

 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
(000's omitted)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total Fair
Value
 
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total Fair Value
Impaired loans
$0
$0
$0
$0
 
$0
$0
$703
$703
Other real estate owned
0
0
2,776
2,776
 
0
0
2,011
2,011
Mortgage servicing rights
0
0
1,258
1,258
 
0
0
2,422
2,422
   Total
$0
$0
$4,034
$4,034
 
$0
$0
$5,136
$5,136
 
 
21

 

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 estimated period of net servicing income.  In accordance with GAAP, the Company must record impairment charges, on a nonrecurring basis, when the carrying value of certain strata exceed their estimated fair value.  The fair value of mortgage servicing rights is based on a valuation model incorporating inputs that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income.  Such inputs include estimates of the cost of servicing loans, appropriate discount rate and prepayment speeds and are considered to be unobservable and contribute to the Level 3 classification of mortgage servicing rights.  The amount of impairment recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the capitalized servicing rights for a stratum exceeds estimated fair value.  Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance.  There is a valuation allowance of approximately $87,000 at September 30, 2011.

Loans are generally not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.  Periodically, the Company records nonrecurring adjustments to the carrying value of loans based on fair value measurements for partial charge-offs of the uncollectible portions of those loans.  Nonrecurring adjustments also include certain impairment amounts for collateral-dependent loans calculated when establishing the allowance for credit losses. Such amounts are generally based on the fair value of the underlying collateral supporting the loan and, as a result, the carrying value of the loan less the calculated valuation amount does not necessarily represent the fair value of the loan. Real estate collateral is typically valued using independent appraisals or other indications of value based on recent comparable sales of similar properties or assumptions generally observable in the marketplace, adjusted based on non-observable inputs and the related nonrecurring fair value measurement adjustments are generally classified as Level 3. Estimates of fair value used for other collateral supporting commercial loans generally are based on assumptions not observable in the marketplace and, therefore, such valuations classify as Level 3.

The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment.  The fair value of each reporting unit is compared to the carrying amount of that reporting unit in order to determine if impairment is indicated.  If so, the implied fair value of the reporting units’ goodwill is compared to its carrying amount and the impairment loss is measured by the excess of the carrying value of the goodwill over fair value of the goodwill.  In such situations, the Company performs a discounted cash flow modeling technique that requires management to make estimates regarding the amount and timing of expected future cash flows of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit that enable the Company to calculate the implied fair value of the goodwill.  It also requires use of a discount rate that reflects the current return requirement of the market in relation to present risk-free interest rates, required equity market premiums and company-specific risk indicators.  The Company did not recognize an impairment charge during 2010 or the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

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, but not limited to, 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.  Certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments are excluded from fair value disclosure requirements.  Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company.  The fair value of investment securities has been disclosed in Note D.

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s other financial instruments that are not accounted for at fair value at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 are as follows:

   
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
   
Carrying
Fair
 
Carrying
Fair
(000's omitted)
 
Value
Value
 
Value
Value
Financial assets:
           
   Net loans
 
$3,476,469
      $3,483,693
 
$2,983,853
$2,996,821
Financial liabilities:
           
   Deposits
 
4,838,753
4,855,455
 
3,934,045
3,944,261
   Borrowings
 
728,335
831,688
 
728,460
808,902
   Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
 
102,042
72,970
 
102,024
82,490
             
The following is a further description of the principal valuation methods used by the Company to estimate the fair values of its financial instruments.
 
Loans – 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.

Deposits – The fair value of demand deposits, interest-bearing checking deposits, savings accounts and money market deposits is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date.  The fair value of time deposit obligations are based on current market rates for similar products.
 
 
22

 
 
Borrowings – Fair values for long-term borrowings are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered on similar borrowings.

Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts – The fair value of subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered on similar securities.

Other financial assets and liabilities – Cash and cash equivalents, accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable have fair values which approximate the respective carrying values because the instruments are payable on demand or have short-term maturities and present relatively low credit risk and interest rate risk.

NOTE L:  DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company is party to derivative financial instruments in the normal course of its business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to manage its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates.  These financial instruments have been limited to interest rate swap agreements, commitments to originate real estate loans held for sale, and forward sales commitments.  The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.

The Company enters into forward sales commitments for the future delivery of residential mortgage loans, and interest rate lock commitments to fund loans at a specified interest rate.  The forward sales commitments are utilized to reduce interest rate risk associated with interest rate lock commitments and loans held for sale.  Changes in the estimated fair value of the forward sales commitments and interest rate lock commitments subsequent to inception are based on changes in the fair value of the underlying loan resulting from the fulfillment of the commitment and changes in the probability that the loan will fund within the terms of the commitment, which is affected primarily by changes in interest rates and the passage of time.  At inception and during the life of the interest rate lock commitment, the Company includes the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of the loan as part of the fair value measurement of the interest rate lock commitments.  These derivatives are recorded at fair value.

The Company utilizes interest rate swap agreements as part of the management of interest rate risk to modify the repricing characteristics of certain of its borrowings.  The interest rate swap has been designated as a qualifying cash flow hedge.  See further details of interest rate swap agreements in Note G.

The following table presents the Company’s derivative financial instruments, their estimated fair values, and balance sheet location as of September 30, 2011:

   
Liability Derivatives
(000's omitted)
 
Location
Notional
Fair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
       
   Interest rate swap agreement
 
Other liabilities
$75,000
$769
Total derivatives
     
$769

The following table presents the Company’s derivative financial instruments and the location of the net gain or loss recognized in the statement of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011:
     
Loss recognized in the Statement of Income
(000's omitted)
Location
 
Three Months Ending September 30, 2011
Nine Months Ending September 30, 2011
Interest rate swap agreement
Interest on subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
 
($865)
($2,554)
Interest rate lock commitments
Mortgage banking and other services
 
(142)
(58)
Forward sales commitments
Mortgage banking and other services
 
0
(322)
Total
   
($1,007)
($2,934)

The amount of gain recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 in other comprehensive income related to the interest rate swap accounted for as a hedging instrument was approximately $871,000 and $2,463,000, respectively.  The amount of loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income (effective portion) amounted to approximately $865,000 and $2,554,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and is located in interest expense on subordinated debt held by unconsolidated trusts.


 
23

 

NOTE M:  SEGMENT INFORMATION

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.  Community Bank N.A. (“CBNA”) operates the banking segment that provides full-service banking to consumers, businesses and governmental units in northern, central 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 include administration, consulting and actuarial services to sponsors of employee benefit plans, 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, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the most recent Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on March 15, 2011).

Information about reportable segments and reconciliation of the information to the consolidated financial statements follows:
 
(000's omitted) 
Banking
Other
Eliminations
Consolidated
Total
Three Months Ended September 30, 2011
       
Net interest income
$54,539
$29
$0
$54,568
Provision for loan losses
1,043
0
0
1,043
Noninterest income
12,632
11,022
(432)
23,222
Loss on investment securities & debt extinguishments
(6)
0
0
(6)
Amortization of intangible assets
908
253
0
1,161
Other operating expenses
38,449
8,915
(432)
46,932
Income before income taxes
$26,765
$1,883
$0
$28,648
Assets
$6,480,206
$35,896
($12,248)
$6,503,854
Goodwill
$333,948
$10,281
$0
$344,229
         
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
       
Net interest income
$46,296
$28
$0
$46,324
Provision for loan losses
1,400
0
0
1,400
Noninterest income
13,258
10,033
(377)
22,914
Amortization of intangible assets
1,067
210
0
1,277
Other operating expenses
35,582
7,870
(377)
43,075
Income before income taxes
$21,505
$1,981
$0
$23,486
Assets
$5,472,371
$35,535
($11,689)
$5,496,217
Goodwill
$287,411
$10,281
$0
$297,692
         
Nine months ended September 30, 2011
       
Net interest income
$154,202
$76
$0
$154,278
Provision for loan losses
3,143
0
0
3,143
Noninterest income
35,225
32,947
(1,357)
66,815
Gain on investment securities & debt extinguishments
8
0
0
8
Amortization of intangible assets
2,529
722
0
3,251
Other operating expenses
114,776
25,865
(1,357)
139,284
Income before income taxes
$68,987
$6,436
$0
$75,423
         
Nine months ended September 30, 2010
       
Net interest income
$135,473
$78
$0
$135,551
Provision for loan losses
5,270
0
0
5,270
Noninterest income
37,150
31,009
(1,150)
67,009
Amortization of intangible assets
4,319
666
0
4,985
Other operating expenses
104,678
24,252
(1,150)
127,780
Income before income taxes
$58,356
$6,169
$0
$64,525


 
 

 
24

 

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Introduction

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” or “CBSI”) as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, although in some circumstances the fourth quarter of 2010 is also discussed in order to more fully explain recent trends.  The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes that appear on pages 3 through 24.  All references in the discussion to the financial condition and results of operations are to those of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.  Unless otherwise noted, the term “this year” refers to results in calendar year 2011, “third quarter” refers to the quarter ended September 30, 2011, and earnings per share (“EPS”) figures refer to diluted EPS.
 
 
This MD&A contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company.  These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties.  Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those proposed by such forward-looking statements are set herein under the caption, “Forward-Looking Statements,” on page 40.

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 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 critical accounting estimates include:

·  
Acquired loans - Acquired loans are initially recorded at their acquisition date fair values.  The carryover of allowance for loan losses is prohibited as any credit losses in the loans are included in the determination of the fair value of the loans at the acquisition date.  Fair values for acquired loans are based on a discounted cash flow methodology that involves assumptions and judgments as to credit risk, prepayment risk, liquidity risk, default rates, loss severity, payment speeds, collateral values and discount rate.  For acquired loans that are not deemed impaired at acquisition, credit discounts representing the principal losses expected over the life of the loan are a component of the initial fair value.  Subsequent to the purchase date, the methods utilized to estimate the required allowance for loan losses for these loans is similar to originated loans, however, the Company records a provision for loan losses only when the required allowance exceeds any remaining credit discounts.

·  
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.
 
 
·  
Investment securities – Investment securities are classified as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, or trading.  The appropriate classification is based partially on the Company’s ability to hold the securities to maturity and largely on management’s intentions with respect to either holding or selling the securities.  The classification of investment securities is significant since it directly impacts the accounting for unrealized gains and losses on securities.  Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, as a separate component of shareholders’ equity and do not affect earnings until realized.  The fair values of investment securities are generally determined by reference to quoted market prices, where available.  If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments, or a discounted cash flow model using market estimates of interest rates and volatility.  Investment securities with significant declines in fair value are evaluated to determine whether they should be considered other-than–temporarily impaired (“OTTI”).  An unrealized loss is generally deemed to be other-than-temporary and a credit loss is deemed to exist if the present value of the expected future cash flows is less than the amortized cost basis of the debt security.  The credit loss component of an OTTI write-down is recorded in earnings, while the remaining portion of the impairment loss is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), provided the Company does not intend to sell the underlying debt security and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery.


 
25

 

·  
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, but not limited to, discount rate, rate of future compensation increases, mortality rates, future health care costs and expected return on plan assets.

·  
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.

·  
Intangible assets – As a result of acquisitions, the Company has acquired goodwill and identifiable intangible assets.  Goodwill represents the cost of acquired companies in excess of the fair value of net assets at the acquisition date.  Goodwill is evaluated at least annually, or when business conditions suggest impairment may have occurred and will be reduced to its carrying value through a charge to earnings if impairment exists.  Core deposits and other identifiable intangible assets are amortized to expense over their estimated useful lives.  The determination of whether or not impairment exists 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, all of which are susceptible to change based on changes in economic conditions and other factors.  Future events or changes in the estimates used to determine the carrying value of goodwill and identifiable intangible assets could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations.

A summary of the accounting policies used by management is disclosed in Note A, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” on pages 53-58 of the most recent Form 10-K (fiscal year ended December 31, 2010) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2011.

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 banking subsidiary is Community Bank, N.A. (“CBNA”), which operates in Pennsylvania under the name First Liberty Bank and Trust.

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 high-quality, profitable loan and deposit portfolios using both organic and acquisition strategies, (iii) increase the noninterest 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 continually improve operating efficiency.

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; 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.

On April 8, 2011 the Company acquired The Wilber Corporation (“Wilber”), the parent company of Wilber National Bank, for $103 million in stock and cash, comprised of $20.4 million in cash and the issuance of 3.35 million additional shares of the Company’s common stock.  Based in Oneonta, New York, Wilber operated 22 branches in the Central, Greater Capital District and Catskills regions of Upstate New York.  The acquisition added approximately $462 million of loans, $297 million of investment securities and $772 million of deposits.

Third quarter and September year-to-date net income of $20.0 million and $54.2 million, respectively, was $2.7 million or 16% and $6.7 million or 14% higher than the respective prior year periods.  Earnings per share were $0.54 and $1.50 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, an increase of $0.03 and $0.08 from the equivalent prior year periods, respectively.  These increases were due in large part to higher net interest income that resulted from earning asset growth, principally from the Wilber acquisition, partially offset by a slightly lower net interest margin.  Also contributing to higher net income was a lower provision for loan losses.  These were partially offset by a decline in deposit service fee income as a result of lower volume in certain customer activities.  Total operating expenses increased, reflective of the additional operating costs from the Wilber acquisition, partially offset by a decline in FDIC insurance costs and lower intangible amortization.  The third quarter and September year-to-date earnings included $0.4 million, or $0.01 per share and $4.7 million, or $0.09 per share of acquisition expenses, respectively.
 
 
26

 
 
Asset quality in the third quarter of 2011 remained stable and favorable in comparison to averages for peer financial organizations.  Third quarter loan net charge-off  ratios were below those experienced in the third quarter of 2010.  Non performing loan ratios were below those experienced in the last eight quarters.  The current quarter provision for loan losses was also below that recorded in the previous eight quarters.  Delinquency ratios increased slightly from the second quarter of 2011, but were below those experienced in the third quarter of 2010.  The Company experienced year-over-year growth in third quarter average interest-earning assets, reflective of the Wilber acquisition which added approximately $421 million of loans and $297 million of investments, as well as nearly $21 million of organic loan growth in the legacy portfolio during the quarter.  Average deposits in the third quarter of 2011 were higher than the third quarter of 2010 driven by the Wilber acquisition and higher than the second quarter of 2011 from organic deposit growth.  Average borrowings were consistent with both the second quarter of 2011 and the third quarter of 2010.

The Company, through its Benefit Plans Administrative Services Inc. (“BPAS”) subsidiary, recently announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CAI Benefits, Inc. (“CAI”), a provider of actuarial, consulting and retirement plan administration services with offices in New York City and Northern New Jersey.  The transaction, which is expected to close in 2011, subject to customary closing conditions, provides the Company with a presence in an important strategic market.  It also adds valuable service capacity and enhances distribution prospects in support of the Company’s broader-based employee benefits businesses including daily valuation plan and collective investment fund administration.  The transaction is expected to add over $4 million of service revenue in 2012.

Net Income and Profitability

As shown in Table 1, net income for the third quarter and September YTD of $20.0 million and $54.2 million, respectively, increased 16% and 14%, respectively, versus the comparable periods of 2010.  Earnings per share for the third quarter of $0.54 were $0.03 higher than the EPS generated in the third quarter of 2010, and earnings per share of $1.50 for the first nine months of 2011 increased $0.08 from the amount earned in the first nine months of 2010.  Included in these results were $0.4 million and $4.7 million of acquisition expenses for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2011, respectively.  Excluding these acquisition expenses, net income and earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2011were up $9.9 million or 21% and $0.17 or 12%, respectively.

 As reflected in Table 1, third quarter net interest income of $54.6 million was up $8.2 million or 18% from the comparable prior year period, and net interest income for the first nine months of 2011 increased $18.7 million, or 14% over the first nine months of 2010, resulting from an increase in interest-earning assets primarily due to the Wilber acquisition, and a higher net interest margin for the YTD period.  The current quarter’s provision for loan losses decreased $0.4 million and $2.1 million as compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively, reflective of lower levels of net charge-offs and a generally stable asset quality profile.  Third quarter noninterest income was $23.2 million, up $0.3 million or 1.3%, from the third quarter of 2010, while year-to-date noninterest income of $66.8 million decreased  $0.2 million or 0.3% from the prior year level. The increase in third quarter noninterest income was primarily due to the Wilber acquisition.  Contributing to the decrease in noninterest income for the year-to-date period was lower mortgage-banking related revenues, as well as lower deposit service fees, which have been impacted by certain amendments to Regulation E (a Federal Reserve Board Regulation) processing changes and general economic conditions, which have resulted in lower net service utilization.  Offsetting these declines was a 5.8% increase in the revenues generated by the Company’s employee benefits consulting and plan administration business and a 5.7% increase in revenue generated from the Company’s wealth management group, principally from activities related to the Wilber acquisition.

Operating expenses of $48.1 million for the third quarter and $142.5 million for the first nine months of 2011 increased $3.7 million or 8.4%, and $9.8 million or 7.4%, respectively, from the comparable prior year periods, reflective of additional operating costs and non-recurring acquisition expenses associated with the Wilber acquisition completed in early April, partially offset by lower amortization of intangibles and FDIC insurance costs.
 
 
A condensed income statement is as follows:

Table 1: Condensed Income Statements

   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine months ended
   
September 30,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted, except per share data)
 
2011
2010
 
2011
2010
Net interest income
 
$54,568
$46,324
 
$154,278
$135,551
Provision for loan losses
 
1,043
1,400
 
3,143
5,270
Noninterest income
 
23,222
22,914
 
66,815
67,009
Gain on sale of investment securities
 
(6)
0
 
8
0
Operating expenses
 
48,093
44,352
 
142,535
132,765
Income before taxes
 
28,648
23,486
 
75,423
64,525
Income taxes
 
8,640
6,224
 
21,269
17,099
Net income
 
$20,008
$17,262
 
$54,154
$47,426
             
Diluted earnings per share
 
$0.54
$0.51
 
$1.50
$1.42
 
 
27

 
 
Net Interest Income

Net interest income is the amount by which interest and fees on earning assets (loans, investments and cash equivalents) exceed the cost of funds, primarily 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 shown in Table 2a, net interest income (with nontaxable income converted to a fully tax-equivalent basis) for the third quarter of 2011 was $58.4 million, an $8.3 million or 17% increase from the same period last year.  The increase was a result of an $867.4 million increase in third quarter interest-earning assets versus the prior year having a greater impact than the $708.6 million increase in average interest-bearing liabilities and a four-basis point decrease in the net interest margin.  As reflected in Table 3, the third quarter volume increase from interest-bearing assets combined with the rate decrease on interest-bearing liabilities had a $14.4 million favorable impact on net interest income, while the rate decrease on interest bearing assets and the volume increase on interest bearing liabilities had a $6.1 million unfavorable impact on net interest income.  The lower cost of funding had a greater favorable impact on the net interest margin than the negative impact from lower yields on interest-bearing assets.  September YTD net interest income of $166.1 million increased $19.2 million or 13% from the year-earlier period.  A $577.2 million increase in interest bearing assets and a four-basis point increase in net interest margin more than offset a $439.2 million increase in interest-bearing liabilities.  The increase in interest-earning assets and the lower rate on interest-bearing liabilities had a $32.3 million favorable impact that was partially offset by a $13.1 million unfavorable impact from the decrease in rate on interest-bearing assets and the increase in interest-bearing liability balances.

Average investments, including cash equivalents, for the third quarter and YTD periods were $474.9 million and $341.4 million, respectively, higher than the comparable periods of 2010, reflective of the acquired Wilber portfolio.  Third quarter and YTD average loan balances increased $392.5 million and $235.8 million, respectively, as compared to the comparable periods of 2010, due to the approximately $421 million of acquired Wilber loans, partially offset by an organic decline in the lending portfolio as a result of lower demand characteristics due to current economic conditions and the sale of a substantial portion of mortgage originations into the secondary market.  In comparison to the prior year, total average interest-bearing deposits were up $708.6 million or 22%, and $447.3 million or 14%, for the quarter and YTD periods, respectively, primarily as a result of the Wilber acquisition.  Quarterly average borrowings remained consistent with the prior year quarter and YTD average borrowings declined $8.1 million or 1.0% as compared to the first nine months of 2010, reflective of the maturity of $25 million of term borrowings in the second quarter of 2010.

The net interest margin of 4.04% for the third quarter and 4.08% for the year-to-date period, decreased four basis points as compared to the third quarter of 2010, and increased four basis points as compared to the YTD period of the prior year.  Low market interest rates and continued disciplined deposit pricing resulted in a 23-basis point reduction in the total cost of funds in comparison to the third quarter of 2010.  However, this was more than offset by a 28-basis point decline in earning asset yields, reflective of lower yields on investment securities, and a $190 million increase in low-rate cash equivalent balances versus last year’s third quarter.  The improvement for the YTD period was attributable to a 25-basis point decrease in the cost of funds as compared to the prior year period, partially offset by a 21-basis point decrease in earning-asset yields as compared to the prior year period.

The decrease in the earning-asset yield was driven by a 62-basis point and 34-basis point decrease in investment yield, including cash equivalents, for the quarter and YTD periods, respectively, as compared to the prior year periods.  Additionally, contributing to the decrease in earning-asset yield for the YTD period was a nine-basis point decline in the loan yield for the YTD period as compared to the like period of 2010, as a result of lower rates on fixed rate new loan volume due to the decline in interest rates to levels below those prevalent in prior years and certain adjustable-rate loans repricing downward.  The loan yield for the third quarter of 2011 was consistent with the loan yield for the third quarter of 2010 at 5.81%, primarily related to accretion of certain loan marks required for acquired loan accounting offsetting the declines in loans yields previously mentioned.  The decline in the yield on the investment portfolio throughout the last year was largely a result of a higher level of invested cash balances and the maturity of longer term investments.

The third quarter cost of funds decreased versus the prior year quarter due to a 20-basis point decrease in interest-bearing deposit rates, a higher proportion of funding being supplied from low and noninterest bearing deposits and a one-basis point decrease in the average interest rate paid on external borrowings.  The YTD cost of funds decreased 25 basis points as compared to the prior year, driven by a 26-basis point decrease in average interest-bearing deposit rates and a four-basis point decrease in the average rate paid on external borrowings.  The decreases in the cost of funds were reflective of disciplined deposit pricing, whereby interest rates on selected categories of deposit accounts were lowered throughout 2010 and the first nine months of 2011 in response to market conditions.  Additionally, the proportion of customer deposits held in higher cost time deposits has continued to decline over the last twelve months.

 
28

 

Table 2 below sets forth information related to average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and their associated yields and rates for the periods indicated.  Interest income and yields are on a fully tax-equivalent basis (“FTE”) using a marginal income tax rate of 38.53% and 38.46% in 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Average balances are computed by accumulating 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, deferred loan costs and accretion of acquired loan marks.  Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale.

Table 2a: Quarterly Average Balance Sheet

 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
September 30, 2011
 
September 30, 2010
     
Avg.
     
Avg.
 
Average
 
Yield/Rate
 
Average
 
Yield/Rate
 (000's omitted except yields and rates)
Balance
Interest
Paid
 
Balance
Interest
Paid
Interest-earning assets:
             
   Cash equivalents
$240,127
$149
0.25%
 
$50,484
$34
0.27%
   Taxable investment securities (1)
1,458,127
14,591
3.97%
 
1,182,243
12,252
4.11%
   Nontaxable investment securities (1)
560,051
8,554
6.06%
 
550,660
8,873
6.39%
   Loans (net of unearned discount)(2)
3,481,087
50,960
5.81%
 
3,088,590
45,226
5.81%
       Total interest-earning assets
5,739,392
74,254
5.13%
 
4,871,977
66,385
5.41%
Noninterest-earning assets
707,818
     
602,975
   
     Total assets
$6,447,210
     
$5,474,952
   
               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
             
   Interest checking, savings and money market deposits
$2,747,371
2,675
0.39%
 
$2,218,640
2,824
0.51%
   Time deposits
1,179,086
4,212
1.42%
 
999,191
4,472
1.78%
   Borrowings
832,505
8,963
4.27%
 
832,568
8,977
4.28%
     Total interest-bearing liabilities
4,758,962
15,850
1.32%
 
4,050,399
16,273
1.59%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
             
   Noninterest checking deposits
867,373
     
736,203
   
   Other liabilities
77,145
     
81,438
   
Shareholders' equity
743,730
     
606,912
   
     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$6,447,210
     
$5,474,952
   
               
Net interest earnings
 
$58,404
     
$50,112
 
Net interest spread
   
3.81%
     
3.82%
Net interest margin on interest-earning assets
   
4.04%
     
4.08%
               
Fully tax-equivalent adjustment
 
$3,836
     
$3,788
 
               
               
 (1) Averages for investment securities are based on historical cost basis and the yields do not give effect to changes in fair value that is
         reflected as a component of shareholders’ equity and deferred taxes.
  (2) The impact of interest and fees not recognized on nonaccrual loans was immaterial.

 
29

 


Table 2b: Year-to-Date Average Balance Sheet

 
Nine months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30, 2011
 
September 30, 2010
     
Avg.
     
Avg.
 
Average
 
Yield/Rate
 
Average
 
Yield/Rate
 (000's omitted except yields and rates)
Balance
Interest
Paid
 
Balance
Interest
Paid
Interest-earning assets:
             
   Cash equivalents
$192,405
$354
0.25%
 
$100,248
$189
0.25%
   Taxable investment securities (1)
1,365,697
42,171
4.13%
 
1,153,321
35,885
4.16%
   Nontaxable investment securities (1)
568,450
26,669
6.27%
 
531,555
26,535
6.67%
   Loans (net of unearned discount)(2)
3,315,494
143,184
5.77%
 
3,079,738
134,999
5.86%
       Total interest-earning assets
5,442,046
212,378
5.22%
 
4,864,862
197,608
5.43%
Noninterest-earning assets
644,209
     
586,677
   
     Total assets
$6,086,255
     
$5,451,539
   
               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
             
   Interest checking, savings and money market deposits
$2,589,779
7,654
0.40%
 
$2,169,083
8,518
0.53%
   Time deposits
1,088,125
12,030
1.48%
 
1,061,551
15,128
1.91%
   Borrowings
833,995
26,593
4.26%
 
842,107
27,075
4.30%
     Total interest-bearing liabilities
4,511,899
46,277
1.37%
 
4,072,741
50,721
1.67%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
             
   Noninterest checking deposits
807,360
     
723,256
   
   Other liabilities
77,497
     
67,860
   
Shareholders' equity
689,499
     
587,682
   
     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$6,086,255
     
$5,451,539
   
               
Net interest earnings
 
$166,101
     
$146,887
 
Net interest spread
   
3.85%
     
3.76%
Net interest margin on interest-earning assets
   
4.08%
     
4.04%
               
Fully tax-equivalent adjustment
 
$11,823
     
$11,336
 
 
 
 (1) Averages for investment securities are based on historical cost basis and the yields do not give effect to changes in fair value that is
         reflected as a component of shareholders’ equity and deferred taxes.
 (2) The impact of interest and fees not recognized on nonaccrual loans was immaterial.
 
 
30

 

 As discussed above and disclosed in Table 3 below, the quarterly 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 3: Rate/Volume

 
 Three months ended September 30, 2011 versus September 30, 2010
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus September 30, 2010
 
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:
             
  Cash equivalents
$118
($3)
$115
 
$170
($5)
$165
  Taxable investment securities
2,777
(438)
2,339
 
6,560
(274)
6,286
  Nontaxable investment securities
149
(468)
(319)
 
1,783
(1,649)
134
  Loans (net of unearned discount)
5,745
(11)
5,734
 
10,205
(2,020)
8,185
Total interest-earning assets (2)
11,379
(3,510)
7,869
 
22,781
(8,011)
14,770
               
Interest paid on:
             
  Interest checking, savings and money market deposits
594
(744)
(150)
 
1,472
(2,336)
(864)
  Time deposits
728
(988)
(260)
 
370
(3,468)
(3,098)
  Borrowings
(1)
(12)
(13)
 
(260)
(222)
(482)
Total interest-bearing liabilities (2)
2,601
(3,024)
(423)
 
5,103
(9,547)
(4,444)
               
Net interest earnings (2)
8,836
(544)
8,292
 
17,607
1,607
19,214
 
 (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 such change in each component.
 
 (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.
 
Noninterest Income

The Company’s sources of noninterest income are of three primary types: 1) general banking services related to deposits, loans and other core customer activities typically provided through the branch network and electronic banking channels (performed by CBNA); 2) employee benefit trust, administration, actuarial and consulting services (performed by BPAS); and 3) wealth management services, comprised of trust services (performed by the trust unit within CBNA), investment and insurance products (performed by Community Investment Services, Inc. and CBNA Insurance Agency, Inc.) and asset management (performed by Nottingham Advisors, Inc. or “Nottingham”).  Additionally, the Company has periodic transactions, most often net gains or losses from the sale of investment securities and prepayment of debt instruments.
Table 4: Noninterest Income

   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine months ended
   
September 30,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted)
 
2011
2010
 
2011
2010
Deposit service fees
 
$11,134
$11,180
 
$31,307
$33,036
Benefit trust, administration, consulting and actuarial fees
 
7,685
7,256
 
23,722
22,415
Wealth management services
 
2,904
2,400
 
7,866
7,442
Other banking services
 
1,179
863
 
2,222
1,826
Mortgage banking
 
320
1,215
 
1,698
2,290
     Subtotal
 
23,222
22,914
 
66,815
67,009
Gain/(Loss) on investment securities & debt extinguishments, net
 
(6)
0
 
8
0
     Total noninterest income
 
$23,216
$22,914
 
$66,823
$67,009
             
Noninterest income/total income (FTE)
 
28.5%
31.4%
 
28.7%
31.3%


 
31

 

As displayed in Table 4, noninterest income was $23.2 million in the third quarter and $66.8 million for the first nine months of 2011.  This represents an increase of $0.3 million or 1.3% for the quarter and a decrease of $0.2 million or 0.3% for the YTD period in comparison to 2010.  General recurring banking fees of $12.3 million for the third quarter were $0.3 million or 2.2% higher than the third quarter of 2010 primarily due to the Wilber acquisition.  General recurring banking fees of $33.5million for the first nine months of 2011 were  $1.3 million or 3.8%lower than the prior year period, reflective of lower service utilization due to economic conditions and regulatory and process changes.  Effective in the third quarter of 2010, Regulation E (a Federal Reserve Board Regulation) prohibited financial institutions from charging consumers fees for paying overdrafts on ATM and debit card transactions unless the customer formally consents.  Although the majority of customers who have responded have consented to protecting their accounts from electronic transaction rejection, lower utilization of this customer service has been experienced.  Partially offsetting this decline are increased fees from electronic banking activity and expanded debit-card usage.

Residential mortgage banking revenue decreased $0.9 million for the quarter and $0.6 million for the nine months in comparison to the prior year periods, reflective of the very robust demand conditions in the second half of 2010.  Residential mortgage banking income totaled $0.3 million for the third quarter of 2011 and $1.7 million for the first nine months as compared to $1.2 million in the third quarter of 2010 and $2.3 million for the first nine months of 2010.  Residential mortgage banking income consists of realized gains or losses from the sale of residential mortgage loans and the origination of mortgage loan servicing rights, unrealized gains and losses on residential mortgage loans held for sale and related commitments, mortgage loan servicing fees and other mortgage loan-related fee income.  Included in the nine months of 2011 mortgage banking income is a $0.3 million recovery of impairment charges taken in prior periods for the fair value of the mortgage servicing rights due primarily to a decrease in the expected prepayment speed of the Company’s sold loan portfolio with servicing retained.  Residential mortgage loans sold to investors, primarily Fannie Mae, totaled $34.5 million in the first nine months of 2011 as compared to $52.7 million for the comparable 2010 period.  Residential mortgage loans held for sale and recorded at fair value at September 30, 2011 totaled $0.2 million.  Realization of the unrealized gains on mortgage loans held for sale and the related commitments, as well as future revenue generation from mortgage banking activities, will be dependent on market conditions and long-term interest rate trends.

Benefit trust, administration, consulting and actuarial fees increased $0.4 million and $1.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to the prior year periods, driven by a combination of new client generation, expanded service offerings and increased asset-based revenue.  The Company recently announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a metro New York based actuarial consulting and retirement plan administration firm.  The Company expects to close the transaction prior to December 31, 2011 and it estimates that the newly acquired business may add over four million of revenue in 2012.  Wealth management services revenue increased $0.5 million, or 21% and $0.4 million or 5.7%, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2011, respectively, principally from personal trust activities related to the Wilber acquisition, partially offset by lower production levels for branch-based advisory services.

The ratio of noninterest income to total income (FTE basis) was 28.5% for the quarter and 28.7% for the year-to-date period, versus 31.4% and 31.3% for the comparable periods of 2010.  The decrease is a function of the decline in deposit service fees, combined with higher net interest income being generated due to earning asset growth and a higher net interest margin for the YTD period.

Operating Expenses

Table 5 below sets forth the quarterly results of the major operating expense categories for the current and prior year, as well as efficiency ratios (defined below), a standard measure of expense utilization effectiveness commonly used in the banking industry.

Table 5: Operating Expenses

     Three Months Ended    Nine months ended
     September 30,    September 30,
(000's omitted)
 
2011
2010
 
2011
2010
Salaries and employee benefits
 
$26,543
$23,056
 
$75,185
$68,501
Occupancy and equipment
 
6,103
5,575
 
18,413
17,414
Data processing and communications
 
5,330
5,430
 
15,278
15,853
Amortization of intangible assets
 
1,161
1,277
 
3,251
4,985
Legal and professional fees
 
1,640
1,014
 
4,286
3,819
Office supplies and postage
 
1,300
1,382
 
3,873
3,942
Business development and marketing
 
1,096
1,250
 
4,534
3,995
FDIC insurance premiums
 
544
1,599
 
3,082
4,656
Acquisition expenses/special charges
 
381
57
 
4,689
256
Other
 
3,995
3,712
 
9,944
9,344
  Total operating expenses
 
$48,093
$44,352
 
$142,535
$132,765
             
Operating expenses/average assets
 
2.86%
3.07%
 
2.96%
3.10%
Efficiency ratio
 
57.0%
57.9%
 
57.8%
59.1%


 
32

 

As shown in Table 5, third quarter 2011 operating expenses were $48.1 million, an increase of $3.7 million or 8.4% from the prior year level.  Year-to-date operating expenses of $142.5 million increased $9.8 million or 7.4% as compared to the same period in 2010.  Included in operating expenses for the quarter and year-to-date periods is $0.4 million and $4.7 million, respectively, of non-recurring expenses related to the acquisition of Wilber.  Excluding these non-recurring acquisition costs, operating expenses increased $3.4 million and $5.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the comparable periods of 2010.  The increase is primarily attributable to additional operating costs associated with the Wilber acquisition, partially offset by a decline in FDIC insurance and employee post-retirement costs and lower amortization of intangibles.

Salaries and employee benefits increased $3.5 million and $6.7 million fom the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively, from the comparable prior year periods, primarily due to the addition of approximately 200 employees as a result of the Wilber acquisition, as well as the impact of annual merit increases.  Additional changes to operating expenses can be attributable to higher occupancy and equipment costs ($0.5 million for the quarter, $1.0 million YTD), legal and professional fees ($0.6 million for the quarter and $0.5 million YTD), property related write-downs ($0.4 million for the quarter and YTD), and business development and marketing (down $0.2 million for the quarter, up $0.5 million YTD), partially offset by lower amortization of intangible assets ($0.1 million for the quarter, $1.7 million YTD), FDIC insurance premiums ($1.1 million for the quarter, $1.6 million YTD), and data processing and communications costs ($0.1 million for the quarter, $0.6 million YTD).  Amortization of intangibles decreased principally as a result of the core deposit intangible from a 2001 branch acquisition becoming fully amortized during 2010 having a greater impact than the intangible amortization added as a result of the Wilber acquisition.

The Company’s efficiency ratio (recurring operating expenses excluding intangible amortization, acquisition expenses and special charges divided by the sum of net interest income (FTE) and noninterest income excluding gain/(loss) on investment securities) was 57.0% for the third quarter, 0.9 percentage points favorable to the comparable quarter of 2010.  This resulted from operating expenses (as described above) increasing 10.0%, while recurring operating income increased at a higher 11.8% rate, driven by a 17% increase in net interest income, in part due to the Wilber acquisition.  The efficiency ratio of 57.8% for the first nine months of 2011 improved by 1.3 percentage points from a year earlier due to core operating expense increasing at 6.4% rate, while recurring operating income increased 8.9%.  Operating expenses, excluding intangible amortization and acquisition expenses, as a percentage of average assets decreased 21 basis points and 14 basis points for the quarter and year-to-date periods, respectively.  Operating expenses (as defined above) increased 6.4% for the quarter and 10.0% year-to-date, while average assets increased 18% and 11.6%, respectively, during the same time periods.

Income Taxes

The third quarter and YTD effective income tax rates were 30.2% and 28.2%, respectively, up from the 26.5% effective tax rate for both of the comparable periods of 2010.  The higher effective tax rate for 2011 was principally a result of a higher proportion of income being generated from fully taxable sources.

Investments

As reflected in Table 6 below, the carrying value of investments (including unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities) was $2.08 billion at the end of the third quarter, an increase of $333.0 million from December 31, 2010 and an increase of $306.1 million from September 30, 2010.  The book value (excluding unrealized gains) of investments increased $265.0 million from December 31, 2010 and $270.0 million from September 30, 2010.  In April 2011, investments increased by $297 million from the Wilber acquisition, primarily in government agency mortgage-backed securities, government agency collateralized mortgage obligations and U.S. Treasury and agency securities.  The overall mix of securities within the portfolio over the last year has changed, with an increase in the proportion of government agency mortgage-backed securities and government agency collateralized mortgage obligations and a decrease in the proportion of obligations of state and political subdivisions and corporate securities.  The change in the carrying value of investments is impacted by the amount of net unrealized gains in the available-for-sale portfolio at a point in time.  At September 30, 2011, the portfolio had a $77.9 million net unrealized gain, an increase of $67.9 million from the unrealized gain at December 31, 2010 and up $36.2 million from the unrealized gain at September 30, 2010.  This increase in the unrealized gain is indicative of favorable interest rate movements during the respective time periods and changes in the size and composition of the portfolio.  Although not reflected in the financial results of the Company, the held-to-maturity portfolio had an additional $61.2 million of net unrealized gains as of September 30, 2011.

 
33

 


Table 6: Investment Securities
 
   
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
September 30, 2010
   
Amortized
   
Amortized
   
Amortized
 
   
Cost/Book
Fair
 
Cost/Book
Fair
 
Cost/Book
Fair
(000's omitted)
 
Value
Value
 
Value
Value
 
Value
Value
                   
Held-to-Maturity Portfolio:
                 
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
 
$448,170
$503,215
 
$478,100
$499,642
 
$463,171
$504,903
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
 
40,181
42,370
 
56,891
59,644
 
69,775
73,100
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
 
70,204
74,200
 
67,864
66,450
 
64,943
67,795
Other securities
 
36
36
 
53
53
 
58
58
     Total held-to-maturity portfolio
 
558,591
619,821
 
602,908
625,789
 
597,947
645,856
                   
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
                 
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
 
384,189
435,396
 
281,826
304,057
 
289,219
320,989
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
 
520,753
544,814
 
518,216
522,218
 
500,701
521,736
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
 
332,740
354,274
 
170,673
179,716
 
180,026
191,729
Pooled trust preferred securities
 
68,487
47,023
 
69,508
41,993
 
69,908
44,296
Corporate debt securities
 
24,007
25,491
 
25,523
27,157
 
25,533
27,827
Government agency collateralized mortgage  obligations
 
49,354
50,391
 
9,904
10,395
 
10,129
10,720
Marketable equity securities
 
380
399
 
380
427
 
380
308
     Available-for-sale portfolio
 
1,379,910
1,457,788
 
1,076,030
1,085,963
 
1,075,896
1,117,605
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale portfolio
 
77,878
0
 
9,933
0
 
41,709
0
     Total available-for-sale portfolio
 
1,457,788
1,457,788
 
1,085,963
1,085,963
 
1,117,605
1,117,605
                   
Other Securities:
                 
Federal Home Loan Bank common stock
 
38,345
38,345
 
37,301
37,301
 
37,349
37,349
Federal Reserve Bank common stock
 
15,450
15,450
 
12,378
12,378
 
12,378
12,378
Other equity securities
 
5,109
5,109
 
3,774
3,774
 
3,870
3,870
     Total other securities
 
58,904
58,904
 
53,453
53,453
 
53,597
53,597
Total investments
 
$2,075, 283
$2,136,513
 
$1,742,324
$1,765,205
 
$1,769,149
$1,817,058

Included in the available-for-sale portfolio, as detailed in Table 7, are pooled trust preferred, class A-1 securities with a current par value of $70.0 million and unrealized losses of $21.5 million at September 30, 2011.  The underlying collateral of these assets is principally trust preferred securities of smaller regional banks and insurance companies.  The Company’s securities are in the super-senior cash flow tranche of the investment pools.  All other tranches in these pools will incur losses before this tranche is impacted.  As of September 30, 2011, an additional 35% - 38% of the underlying collateral would have to be in deferral or default concurrently to result in the potential non-receipt of contractual cash flows.  The market for these securities at September 30, 2011 is not active and markets for similar securities are also not active.  The inactivity was evidenced first by a significant widening of the bid-ask spread in the brokered markets in which these securities trade and then by a significant decrease in the volume of trades relative to historical levels.

The fair value of these securities was determined by external pricing sources using a discounted cash flow model that incorporated market estimates of interest rates and volatility, as well as observable quoted prices for similar assets in markets that have not been active.  These assumptions may have a significant effect on the reported fair values.  The use of different assumptions, as well as changes in market conditions, could result in materially different fair values.

A detailed review of the pooled trust preferred securities was completed for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.  This review included an analysis of collateral reports, a cash flow analysis, including varying degrees of projected deferral/default scenarios, and a review of various financial ratios of the underlying issuers.  Based on the analysis performed, significant further deferral/defaults and further erosion in other underlying performance conditions would have to exist before the Company would incur a loss.  Based on the analysis performed, the Company determined an OTTI did not exist at September 30, 2011.  To date, the Company has received all scheduled principal and interest payments and expects to fully collect all future contractual principal and interest payments.  The Company does not intend to sell the underlying securities.  These securities represent less than 1% of the Company’s earning-assets as of September 30, 2011 and thus, are not relied upon for meeting the daily liquidity needs of the Company.  Subsequent changes in market or credit conditions could change these evaluations.

 
34

 

Table 7: Pooled Trust Preferred Securities as of September 30, 2011

(000’s omitted)
 
    PreTSL XXVI
 
PreTSL XXVII
 
    PreTSL XXVIII
             
Single issuer or pooled
 
Pooled
 
Pooled
 
Pooled
Class
 
A-1
 
A-1
 
A-1
Book value at 9/30/11
 
$21,948
 
$23,003
 
$23,536
Fair value at 9/30/11
 
  14,721
 
  16,138
 
  16,164
Unrealized loss at 9/30/11
 
$7,227
 
$6,865
 
$7,372
Rating (Moody’s/Fitch/S&P)
 
(Ba1/BB/CCC)
 
(Baa3/BB/CCC+)
 
(Baa3/BB/CCC)
Number of depository institutions/companies in issuance
 
62/72
 
42/49
 
45/56
Deferrals and defaults as a percentage of collateral
 
28.3%
 
28.1%
 
24.9%
Excess subordination
 
30.5%
 
31.0%
 
33.9%

Loans

As shown in Table 8, loans ended the third quarter at $3.48 billion, up $450.1 million (15%) from year-end 2010 and $396.1 million (13%) higher than one year earlier.  The growth during 2011 was primarily attributable to the acquisition of Wilber and came from the business lending portfolio ($237.8 million), the consumer mortgage portfolio ($110.4 million), the consumer installment portfolio ($79.3 million) and the home equity portfolio ($22.5 million).

Table 8: Loans

(000's omitted)
 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
September 30, 2010
Business lending
 
$1,261,125
36.3%
 
$1,023,286
33.8%
 
$1,045,849
34.0%
Consumer mortgage
 
1,167,781
33.6%
 
1,057,332
34.9%
 
1,065,297
34.6%
Consumer installment
 
719,095
20.7%
 
639,809
21.2%
 
656,855
21.3%
Home equity
 
328,468
9.4%
 
305,936
10.1%
 
312,396
10.1%
  Total loans
 
$3,476,469
100.0%
 
$3,026,363
100.0%
 
$3,080,397
100.0%

The combined total of general-purpose business lending to commercial and industrial customers and mortgages on commercial property is characterized as the Company’s business lending activity.  The business lending portfolio increased $217.9 million versus one year ago and decreased $29.8 million from June 30, 2011.  The decline was due to contractual and other principal reductions including the disposition of certain Wilber impaired loans.  Excluding loans acquired from Wilber, business lending declined $54.2 million from one year ago and declined $15.3 million from June 30, 2011.  Customer demand has remained soft due primarily to general economic conditions.  The third quarter and first nine months of 2011 included certain unscheduled payoffs as well as limited increases in general line utilization.  The Company 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.  The Company continues to invest in additional personnel, technology and business development resources to further strengthen its capabilities in this important product category.

Consumer mortgages increased $102.5 million year-over-year.  Excluding mortgage loans acquired from Wilber, mortgage lending increased $19.4 million from one year ago and increased $20.8 million from June 30, 2011.  During the third quarter of 2011, the Company originated and sold $6.6 million of residential mortgages, principally to Fannie Mae, as compared to $30.2 million in the third quarter of 2010 and $119.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010.  Consumer mortgage volume has been relatively strong over the last year due to continued low long-term interest rates and comparatively stable real estate valuations in the Company’s primary markets.  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 testament to the stable, low-risk profile of its portfolio and its ability to successfully meet customer needs.  Interest rates and expected duration continue to be the most significant factors in determining whether the Company chooses to retain, versus sell and service, portions of its new mortgage production.

Consumer installment loans, both those originated directly (such as personal installment and lines of credit), and indirectly (originated predominantly in automobile, marine and recreational vehicle dealerships), increased $58.3 million on a year-over-year basis.  Excluding the impact of consumer installment loans acquired from Wilber, the consumer installment lending portfolio increased $23.6 million from one year ago.  During the third quarter of 2011, the consumer installment portfolio had organic growth of $16.8 million after a year of somewhat softer demand due to consumers spending less and conducting deleveraging activities.  The volume of new and used vehicle sales to upper tier credit profile customers in the Company’s primary markets has improved modestly in recent periods.  The Company is focused on maintaining the solid profitability produced by its in-market and contiguous market indirect portfolio, while continuing to pursue its disciplined, long-term approach to expanding its dealer network.  It is expected that continued improvement in the automotive market will create the opportunity for the Company to produce indirect loan growth that is consistent with its longer-term historical experience.
 
 
35

 
 
Home equity loans increased $17.4 million or 5.6% from one year ago.  Excluding the home equity loans acquired from Wilber, the home equity portfolio decreased $13.5 million from one year ago, in part due to home equity loans being paid off or down as part of the high level of mortgage refinancing activity that occurred in late 2010 and the first nine months of 2011 in the low rate environment.  In addition, home equity utilization has been adversely impacted by the heightened level of consumer deleveraging that is occurring in response to the continued weak economic conditions.

Asset Quality

Table 9 below exhibits the major components of nonperforming loans and assets and key asset quality metrics for the periods ending September 30, 2011 and 2010 and December 31, 2010.
 
Table 9: Nonperforming Assets

   
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted)
 
2011
 
2010
 
2010
Nonaccrual loans
           
  Consumer mortgage
 
$5,696
 
$4,737
 
$4,680
  Business lending
 
9,793
 
9,715
 
10,463
  Consumer installment
 
3
 
0
 
12
  Home equity
 
1,010
 
926
 
870
     Total nonaccrual loans
 
16,502
 
15,378
 
16,025
Accruing loans 90+ days delinquent
           
  Consumer mortgage
 
1,769
 
2,308
 
1,358
  Business lending
 
246
 
247
 
145
  Consumer installment
 
131
 
227
 
120
  Home equity
 
173
 
309
 
240
     Total accruing loans 90+ days delinquent
 
2,319
 
3,091
 
1,863
Nonperforming loans
           
  Consumer mortgage
 
7,465
 
7,045
 
6,038
  Business lending
 
10,039
 
9,962
 
10,608
  Consumer installment
 
134
 
227
 
132
  Home equity
 
1,183
 
1,235
 
1,110
     Total nonperforming loans
 
18,821
 
18,469
 
17,888
             
Other real estate (OREO)
 
2,776
 
2,011
 
2,689
     Total nonperforming assets
 
$21,597
 
$20,480
 
$20,577
             
Allowance for loan losses / total loans
 
1.22%
 
1.40%
 
1.38%
Allowance for legacy loan losses / total legacy loans (1)
 
 1.38%
 
1.40%
 
 1.38%
Allowance for loan losses / nonperforming loans
 
226%
 
230%
 
238%
Allowance for legacy loans  / nonperforming loans (1)
 
224%
 
230%
 
238%
Nonperforming loans / total loans
 
0.54%
 
0.61%
 
0.58%
Nonperforming assets / total loans and other real estate
 
0.62%
 
0.68%
 
0.67%
Delinquent loans (30 days old to nonaccruing) to total loans
 
1.56%
 
1.91%
 
1.64%
Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding (quarterly)
 
0.13%
 
0.27%
 
0.18%
Net charge-offs to average legacy loans outstanding (quarterly)
 
0.14%
 
0.27%
 
0.18%
Loan loss provision to net charge-offs (quarterly)
 
94%
 
95%
 
100%
Legacy loan loss provision to net charge-offs (quarterly) (1)
 
72%
 
95%
 
100%
             
(1)Legacy loans exclude loans acquired after January 1, 2009.  These ratios are included for comparative purposes to prior periods.
             
As displayed in Table 9, nonperforming assets at September 30, 2011 were $21.6 million, a $1.1 million increase versus the level at the end of 2010 and a $1.0 million increase as compared to the level one year earlier.  Other real estate owned (“OREO”) of $2.8 million increased $0.8 million from year-end 2010 and $0.1 million from one-year ago.  The Company is managing 29 OREO properties at September 30, 2011 as compared to 22 OREO properties at December 31, 2010 and 27 OREO properties at September 30, 2010.  Excluding the OREO properties acquired from Wilber, OREO declined $0.2 million from year-end and $0.9 million from one year ago.  Nonperforming loans were 0.54% of total loans outstanding at the end of the third quarter, seven and four basis points lower than the levels at December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010, respectively.


 
36

 

Approximately 53% of the nonperforming loans at September 30, 2011 are related to the business lending portfolio, which is comprised of business loans broadly diversified by industry type.  The increase in nonperforming loans in the business lending portfolio is primarily related to relationships acquired in the Wilber acquisition that did not qualify for impaired loan accounting.  Despite the relatively weak economic conditions, the Company has successfully reduced the level of nonperforming business loans from the legacy portfolio over the last year.  Approximately 40% of nonperforming loans at September 30, 2011 are related to the consumer mortgage portfolio.  Collateral values of residential properties within the Company’s market area have generally trended lower, although have not experienced the significant decline in values that other parts of the country have encountered.  However, the continued soft economic conditions and high unemployment levels have adversely impacted consumers and businesses alike, and have resulted in higher mortgage nonperforming levels.  The remaining seven percent of nonperforming loans relate to consumer installment and home equity loans.  The allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans ratio, a general measure of coverage adequacy, was 226% at the end of the third quarter, compared to 230% at year-end 2010 and 238% at September 30, 2010.

Members of senior management, special asset officers and lenders review all delinquent and nonaccrual loans and OREO regularly, in order to identify deteriorating situations, monitor known problem credits and discuss any needed changes to collection efforts, if warranted.  Based on the group’s consensus, a relationship may be assigned a special assets officer or other senior lending officer to review the loan, meet with the borrowers, assess the collateral and recommend an action plan.  This plan could include foreclosure, restructuring loans, issuing demand letters or other actions.  The Company’s larger criticized credits are also reviewed on a quarterly basis by senior credit administration, special assets and commercial lending management to monitor their status and discuss relationship management plans.  Commercial lending management reviews the criticized loan portfolio on a monthly basis.

Delinquent loans (30 days through nonaccruing) as a percent of total loans was 1.56% at the end of the third quarter, 35 basis points below the 1.91% at year-end 2010 and eight basis points lower than the 1.64% at September 30, 2010.  The commercial loan and consumer installment loan delinquency ratios at the end of the third quarter decreased in comparison to both December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010.  The delinquency rate for consumer mortgage and home equity loans decreased as compared to December 31, 2010, but increased as compared to September 30, 2010.  Delinquency ratios for the last two quarters of 2010 were higher due to collection efforts being temporarily impacted by the core accounting system conversion in late 2010.  The Company’s success at keeping the non-performing and delinquency ratios at manageable levels despite weak economic conditions has been the result of its continued focus on maintaining strict underwriting standards, as well as the effective utilization of its collection and recovery capabilities.

Table 10: Allowance for Loan Losses Activity

   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine months ended
   
September 30,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted)
 
2011
2010
 
2011
2010
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period
 
$42,531
$42,603
 
$42,510
$41,910
Charge-offs:
           
  Business lending
 
249
869
 
1,819
3,007
  Consumer mortgage
 
157
94
 
501
503
  Consumer installment
 
1,577
1,176
 
4,153
3,962
  Home equity
 
43
12
 
174
115
     Total charge-offs
 
2,026
2,151
 
6,647
7,587
Recoveries:
           
  Business lending
 
88
86
 
406
486
  Consumer mortgage
 
2
4
 
28
39
  Consumer installment
 
819
667
 
3,006
2,487
  Home equity
 
6
1
 
17
5
     Total recoveries
 
915
758
 
3,457
3,017
Net charge-offs
 
1,111
1,393
 
3,190
4,570
Provision for loans losses
 
1,043
1,400
 
3,143
5,270
Allowance for loan losses at end of period
 
$42,463
$42,610
 
$42,463
$42,610
             
Net charge-offs (annualized) to average loans outstanding:
           
  Business lending
 
0.05%
0.29%
 
0.16%
0.32%
  Consumer mortgage
 
0.05%
0.03%
 
0.06%
0.06%
  Consumer installment
 
0.42%
0.31%
 
0.22%
0.30%
  Home equity
 
0.04%
0.01%
 
0.07%
0.05%
  Total loans
 
0.13%
0.18%
 
0.13%
0.20%


 
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As displayed in Table 10, net charge-offs during the third quarter of 2011 were $1.1 million, $0.3 million lower than the equivalent 2010 period.  Net charge-offs for the business lending portfolio decreased as compared to the equivalent prior year period, while the other portfolios experienced higher levels of net charge-offs in the third quarter of 2011 as compared to the third quarter of 2010.  The net charge-off ratio (net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans outstanding) for the third quarter was 0.13%, five basis points higher than the linked quarter and five basis points lower than the comparable quarter of 2010.  Net charge-offs and the corresponding net charge-off ratios continue to be below average long-term historical levels.

An $0.8 million loan loss provision for legacy loans and a $0.2 million provision for acquired impaired loans was recorded in the third quarter.  The combined provision was $0.4 million below the equivalent prior year period. The third quarter 2011 loan loss provision for legacy loans was $0.3 million below the level of net charge-offs for the quarter, reflective of lower net charge-offs and the continuation of generally stable and favorable asset quality metrics.  The allowance for loan losses of $42.5 million as of September 30, 2011 declined slightly from the level one year ago, while the legacy loan portfolio declined 0.8% during the same time period.  Continued weak economic conditions and periodic increases in nonperforming and delinquency levels over the last twelve months contributed to these changes and resulted in the allowance for loan loss to total legacy loans ratio of 1.38% at September 30, 2011, two basis points lower than  year-end  and consistent with the 1.38% at September 30, 2010.  As of September 30, 3011, fair value-based loan marks related to the $444 million of remaining balances acquired from Wilber approximated $23 million or 5.1% of the portfolio, consistent with June 30, 2011 levels.

Deposits

As shown in Table 11, average deposits of $4.79 billion in the third quarter were up $839.8 million compared to the third quarter of 2010 and $843.8 million versus the fourth quarter of last year.  Excluding the impact of the Wilber acquisition, average quarterly deposits increased $76.7 million or 1.9% from the third quarter of 2010.  The mix of average deposits changed throughout 2010 and this continued in the first nine months of 2011.  The weightings of non-time deposits (interest checking, noninterest checking, savings and money markets accounts) have increased from their year-ago levels, while the proportion of time deposits decreased.  This change in deposit mix reflects the Company’s goal of expanding core account relationships and reducing higher cost time deposit balances, as well as the preference of certain customers to hold more funds in liquid accounts in the low interest rate environment.  This shift in mix, combined with the Company’s ability to reduce rates due to market conditions, resulted in the quarterly cost of interest-bearing deposits to decline from 0.90% in the third quarter of 2010 to 0.70% in the most recent quarter.  The Company continues to focus heavily on growing its core (non-time) deposits through its proactive marketing efforts, competitive product offerings and high quality customer service.

Average third quarter non-public fund deposits increased $730.3 million or 20% versus the fourth quarter of 2010 and $720.2 million or 20% compared to the year earlier period.  Excluding the impact of the Wilber acquisition, average non-public fund deposits increased $56.8 million or 1.6% from the third quarter of 2010.   Average public fund deposits in the second quarter increased $113.5 million, or 33%, from the fourth quarter 2010 and $119.6 million, or 36%, from the third quarter of 2010 in large part due to the Wilber acquisition.  Excluding the impact of the Wilber acquisition, average public fund deposits increased $19.8 million or 5.9% from the third quarter of 2010.  Public fund deposits as a percentage of total deposits increased slightly from 8.5% in the third quarter 2010 to 9.5% in the current quarter.

Table 11: Quarterly Average Deposits

   
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted)
 
2011
 
2010
 
2010
Noninterest checking deposits
 
$867,373
 
$743,698
 
$736,203
Interest checking deposits
 
903,481
 
720,034
 
717,900
Regular savings deposits
 
655,511
 
543,507
 
539,290
Money market deposits
 
1,188,379
 
1,002,463
 
961,450
Time deposits
 
1,179,086
 
940,323
 
999,191
  Total deposits
 
$4,793,830
 
$3,950,025
 
$3,954,034
             
Nonpublic deposits
 
$4,337,264
 
$3,606,972
 
$3,617,112
Public fund deposits
 
456,566
 
343,053
 
336,922
  Total deposits
 
$4,793,830
 
$3,950,025
 
$3,954,034


 
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Borrowings

At the end of the third quarter external borrowings of $830.4 million were consistent with borrowings at December 31, 2010, and declined $1.1 million versus the end of the third quarter of 2010.  The cost of funds on total borrowings in the third quarter of 4.27% was one basis point below that of the year-earlier period.  This decline was mostly attributable to the maturing of $25 million of higher fixed-rate term borrowings.

Shareholders’ Equity

Total shareholders’ equity of $755.6 million at the end of the third quarter rose $148.4 million from the balance at December 31, 2010.  This increase consisted of $82.6 million from shares issued in conjunction with the acquisition of Wilber, net income of $54.2 million, $2.3 million from shares issued under the employee stock plan, $3.0 million from employee stock options earned and an $32.8 million increase in other comprehensive income, partially offset by dividends declared of $26.4 million.  The change in other comprehensive income/(loss) was comprised of a $42.2  million increase in the after-tax market value adjustment on the available for sale investment portfolio, a negative $10.9 million adjustment to the funded status of the Company’s retirement plans, and a $1.5 million increase in the after-tax market value adjustment on the interest rate swap.  Effective September 30, 2011 the Wilber National Bank Retirement Plan was merged into the Community Bank System, Inc. Pension Plan and the combined plan was revalued resulting in an additional unamortized actuarial loss of approximately $17 million.  Over the past 12 months, total shareholders’ equity increased by $139.8 million, as net income, the change in the funded status of the Company’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, shares issued under the employee stock plan, and a higher market value adjustment on investments more than offset dividends declared.

The Company’s Tier I leverage ratio, a primary measure of regulatory capital for which 5% is the requirement to be “well-capitalized”, was 8.17% at the end of the third quarter, down six basis points from year-end 2010 and was 18 basis points higher than its level one year ago.  The decrease in the Tier I leverage ratio compared to December 31, 2010 is the result of shareholders’ equity excluding intangibles and other comprehensive income items increasing 16.5% while average assets excluding intangibles and the market value adjustment on investments increased at a faster pace of 17.5%.  A significant portion of these changes were attributable to the impact of the Wilber acquisition.  The Tier I leverage ratio increased as compared to the prior year’s third quarter as shareholders’ equity, excluding intangibles and other comprehensive income increased at a 20% rate, while average assets excluding intangibles and the market value adjustment increased at a slower 18% rate. The net tangible equity-to-assets ratio (a non-GAAP measure) of 6.79% increased 65 basis points from December 31, 2010 and increased 58 basis points versus September 30, 2010.  The increase in the tangible equity ratio from the prior year was mostly attributable to an increase in the investment market value adjustment and the building of capital through higher retained earnings.

The dividend payout ratio (dividends declared divided by net income) for the first six months of 2011 was 48.8%, consistent with the first nine months of 2010.  Net income increased 14.2%, while dividends declared increased 14.0%.  The Company’s quarterly dividend was raised from $0.22 to $0.24 per share in May 2010 and from $0.24 to $0.26 in July 2011 and the number of common shares outstanding increased 11.1% over the last twelve months, primarily due to the shares issues in conjunction with the acquisition of Wilber.

Liquidity

Liquidity risk is measured by the Company’s ability to raise cash when needed at a reasonable cost and minimize any loss.  CBNA maintains appropriate liquidity levels in both normal operating environments as well as stressed environments.  The Company is capable of meeting all obligations to its customers at any time and, therefore, the active management of its liquidity position remains an important management role.  CBNA has appointed the Asset Liability Committee to manage liquidity risk using policy guidelines and limits on indicators of a potential liquidity risk.  The indicators are monitored using a scorecard with three risk level limits tested.  These risk indicators measure core liquidity and funding needs, capital at risk and change in available funding sources.  These risk indicators also monitor such statistics as the core basic surplus ratio, unencumbered securities to average assets, free loan collateral to average assets, loans to deposits ratio, deposits to total funding ratios and borrowings to total funding.

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 accessed 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 the 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.

CBNA’s primary sources of liquidity are its liquid assets and unencumbered securities to be used to obtain additional funding.  At September 30, 2011, CBNA had $426 million of cash and cash equivalents of which $310 million are interest earning deposits held at the Federal Reserve.  CBNA also had $420 million in additional Federal Home Loan Bank borrowing capacity based on the Company’s quarter-end collateral levels.  Additionally, the Company has $1.1 billion of unencumbered securities that could be pledged at the Federal Home Loan Bank or Federal Reserve to obtain additional funding.  There is $65 million available in unsecured lines of credit with other correspondent banks.
 
 
39

 
 
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 September 30, 2011, this ratio was 19.6% and 19.5% 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 internal policy that requires a minimum of 7.5%.

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 and other asset growth over the next five years.

CBNA manages liquidity risk by preparing a sources and uses statement over the next year.  The report will show management if there is a potential for a liquidity short fall within the next year.   In addition, stress tests on the cash flows are performed in various scenarios ranging from high probability events and low impact to low probability events and high impact.  The results of the stress tests as of September 30, 2011 indicate CBNA has sufficient sources of funds for the next year.

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.

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, but not limited to, features, pricing and quality) compared to competing products and services;  (6) changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits;  (7) technological changes and implementation and cost/financial risks with respect to transitioning to new computer and technology based systems involving large multi-year contracts;  (8) any acquisitions or mergers that might be considered or consummated by the Company and the costs and factors associated therewith, including differences in the actual financial results of the acquisition or merger compared to expectations and the realization of anticipated cost savings and revenue enhancements;  (9) the ability to maintain and increase market share and control expenses;  (10) the nature, timing and effect of changes in banking regulations or other regulatory or legislative requirements affecting the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, including changes in laws and regulations  concerning taxes, accounting, banking, securities and other aspects of the financial services industry, specifically the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010;  (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 outcome of pending or future litigation and government proceedings ; (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 all-inclusive.  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 would make additional updates or corrections with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements.





 
40

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about 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 the MD&A.  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 has a minimal amount of credit risk in its investment portfolio because essentially all of the fixed-income securities in the portfolio are AA or higher rated.  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 Company’s Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors delegates responsibility for carrying out the policies to the Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”), which meets each month and 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.  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, which enables it to identify and quantify sources of interest rate risk in varying rate environments.  The primary tool used by the Company in managing interest rate risk is income simulation.

While a wide variety of strategic balance sheet and treasury yield curve scenarios are tested on an ongoing basis, the following reflects the Company's projected net interest income sensitivity over the subsequent twelve months based on:

·  
Asset and liability levels using September 30, 2011 as a starting point.

·  
There are assumed to be conservative levels of balance sheet growth—low to mid single digit growth in loans and deposits, while using the cash flows from investment contractual maturities and prepayments to repay short-term capital market borrowings or reinvest into securities or cash equivalents.

·  
In the +200 basis points scenario the prime rate and federal funds rates are assumed to move up 200 basis points over a 12-month period.   In the 0 basis points scenario the prime rate and federal funds rates are unchanged.  The rising rate scenarios shifts the long end of the treasury curve to spreads over federal funds that are more consistent with historical norms.  The 0 basis point scenario decreases the treasury curve to the historical low level seen in the 3rd quarter of 2011.  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.

·  
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
 Change in interest rates  Calculated annualized
  increase (decrease) in
  projected net interest income
  at September 30, 2011
+200 basis points
$1,729,000
0 basis points
($1,029,000)

The modeled net interest income (NII) increases in a rising rate environment from a flat rate scenario.  The increase is largely due to slower investment cash flows and assets repricing upward partially offset by increased liability rates.  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 0 basis points scenario, the decrease in NII is largely due to faster investment of cash flows and the decrease of reinvestment rates.  CBNA shows interest rate sensitivity to a flatter yield, as seen in mid-September 2011.  Despite Fed Funds trading near 0%, the Company believes intermediate and longer-term treasury rates could potentially fall again, and thus, the 0 basis point model tests the impact of this lower treasury rate scenario.

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: 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.

 
41

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a -15(e) and 15d – 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”), designed to ensure information required to be disclosed by the Company in reporting that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is : (i) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Based on management’s evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, it has concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2011.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company regularly assesses the adequacy of its internal controls over financial reporting.  There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting in connection with the evaluation referenced in the paragraph above that occurred during the Company’s quarter ended September 30, 2011 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Part II.      Other Information

Item 1.       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 1A.    Risk Factors

There has not been any material change in the risk factors disclosure from that contained in the Company’s  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on March 15, 2011.

Item 2.       Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

a)  Not applicable.

b)  Not applicable.
 
c)  On July 22, 2009, the Company announced an authorization to repurchase up to 1,000,000 of its outstanding shares in open market transactions or privately negotiated transactions in accordance
     with securities laws and regulations through December 31, 2011.  Any repurchased shares will be used for general corporate purposes, including those related to stock plan activities.  The timing and
     extent of repurchases will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations as determined at the Company’s discretion.  No repurchases have been made under the repurchase
     authorization since it was approved, and the full 1,000,000 shares of common shares remain available to be purchased under the authorization. 
 
Item 3.       Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.

Item 4.       (Removed and Reserved)

Item 5.       Other Information
Not applicable.

 
42

 


Item 6.        Exhibits

Exhibit No.                                                                Description

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.**

101
Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T:  (i) the Consolidated Statements of Condition, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Changes of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements tagged as blocks of text .(1)

* Filed herewith.

**Furnished herewith.

(1)Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the interactive data files on Exhibit 101 are not deemed to be filed or part of the registration statement for purposes of Section 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

 
43

 

Signatures


Pursuant to the requirements 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.



 
 
Date: November 9, 2011
   /s/ Mark E. Tryniski
     Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief
     Executive Officer
     
     
     
Date: November 9, 2011      /s/ Scott Kingsley
     Scott Kingsley, Treasurer and Chief
     Financial Officer
                                                                                                              
 
44