Hanmi Financial Corporation Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Hanmi Financial Corporation (“Hanmi Financial,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) was formed as a holding company of Hanmi Bank (the “Bank”) and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act on March 17, 2001. Our primary operations are related to traditional banking activities, including the acceptance of deposits and the lending and investing of money through operation of the Bank.

On October 27, 2016, the Bank acquired certain leases of Irvine, California-based Banc of California ("Banc") and on August 31, 2014, Hanmi Financial completed its acquisition of Central Bancorp, Inc., a Texas corporation (“CBI”). See “Note 2 — Acquisitions.” During the second quarter of 2014, we sold two subsidiaries, Chun-Ha Insurance Services, Inc., a California corporation (“Chun-Ha”), and All World Insurance Services, Inc., a California corporation (“All World”). See “Note 3 — Sale of Insurance Subsidiaries and Discontinued Operations.”

Effective July 19, 2016, the Bank converted from a state member bank to a state nonmember bank and, as a result, the FDIC is now its primary federal bank regulator. The California Department of Business Oversight remains the Bank's primary state bank regulator. During the third quarter in 2016, the Federal Reserve canceled the Bank's holdings of Federal Reserve stock for $14.4 million in cash.

The Bank is a community bank conducting general business banking, with its primary market encompassing the Korean-American community as well as other ethnic communities across California, Texas, Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York. The Bank’s full-service offices are located in markets where many of the businesses are run by immigrants and other minority groups. The Bank’s client base reflects the multi-ethnic composition of these communities. The Bank is a California state-chartered financial institution insured by the FDIC. As of December 31, 2016, the Bank maintained a network of 41 full-service branch offices and 6 loan production offices in California, Texas, Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Georgina and Washington State.

Basis of Presentation

The accounting and reporting policies of Hanmi Financial and subsidiaries conform, in all material respects, to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and general practices within the banking industry. The information set forth in the following notes is presented on a continuing operations basis, unless otherwise noted. The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies consistently applied in the preparation of the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Hanmi Financial and our wholly-owned subsidiary, the Bank. In addition, the accounts of Chun-Ha and All World are included for all periods presented through the date of sale, June 30, 2014. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant areas where estimates are made consist of the allowance for loan and lease losses, other-than-temporary impairment, securities valuations, purchase credit impaired loans, the fair values of assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the prior years' financial statements and related disclosures were reclassified to conform to the current year presentation with no effect on previously reported net income, stockholders’ equity or cash flows.

Segment Reporting

Through our branch network and lending units, we provide a broad range of financial services to individuals and companies. These services include demand, time and savings deposits; and commercial and industrial, real estate and consumer lending. While our chief decision makers monitor the revenue streams of our various products and services, operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated on a company-wide basis. Accordingly, we consider all of our operations to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash, due from banks, overnight federal funds sold and Treasury bills, all of which have original or purchased maturities of less than 90 days.

Securities

Securities are classified into three categories and accounted for as follows:


(i)	Securities that we have the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as “held to maturity” and reported at amortized cost;


(ii)	Securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near future are classified as “trading securities” and reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are recognized in earnings; and


(iii)	Securities not classified as held to maturity or trading securities are classified as “available for sale” and reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income taxes.

Accreted discounts and amortized premiums on securities are included in interest income using the effective interest method over the remaining period to the call date or contractual maturity and, in the case of mortgage-backed securities and securities with call features, adjusted for anticipated prepayments. Unrealized and realized gains or losses related to holding or selling of securities are calculated using the specific-identification method.

We review securities on an ongoing basis for the presence of other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) or permanent impairment, taking into consideration current market conditions, fair value in relationship to cost, extent and nature of the change in fair value, issuer rating changes and trends, whether we intend to sell a security or if it is likely that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of our amortized cost basis of the investment, which may be maturity, and other factors.

For debt securities, the classification of OTTI depends on whether we intend to sell the security or if it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis, and on the nature of the impairment. If we intend to sell a security or if it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery, an OTTI write-down is recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the security’s amortized cost basis and its fair value. If we do not intend to sell the security or it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery, the OTTI write-down is separated into an amount representing credit loss, which is recognized in earnings, and the amount related to all other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income net of tax. A credit loss is the difference between the cost basis of the security and the present value of cash flows expected to be collected, discounted at the security’s effective interest rate at the date of acquisition. The cost basis of an other than temporarily impaired security is written down by the amount of impairment recognized in earnings. The new cost basis is not adjusted for subsequent recoveries in fair value.

Loans and Leases Receivable

Loans and leases receivable

Originated loans and leases: Loans and leases are originated by the Company with the intent to hold them for investment and are stated at the principal amount outstanding, net of unearned income. Unearned income includes deferred unamortized nonrefundable loan fees and direct loan origination costs. Net deferred fees or costs are recognized as an adjustment to interest income over the contractual life of the loans using the effective interest method or taken into income when the related loans are paid off or sold. The amortization of loan fees or costs is discontinued when a loan is placed on nonaccrual status. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis in accordance with the terms of the respective loan and includes prepayment penalties.

Purchased loans: Purchased loans are stated at the principal amount outstanding, net of unearned discounts or unamortized premiums. All loans acquired in our acquisitions are initially measured and recorded at their fair value on the acquisition date. A component of the initial fair value measurement is an estimate of the loan losses over the life of the purchased loans. Purchased loans are also evaluated for impairment as of the acquisition date and are accounted for as “acquired non-impaired” or “purchased credit impaired” loans.

Leases Receivable: As described in “Note 2 — Acquisitions” to the consolidated financial statements, we purchased a portfolio of leases receivable during the fourth quarter of 2016. These receivables include equipment finance agreements with terms ranging from 1 to 7 years. The acquired leases receivable were measured and recorded at fair value on the date of acquisition. Leases originated by the Bank subsequent to acquisition are recorded based on the principal amount outstanding, net of unearned income, if any.

Equipment leases are similar to commercial business loans in that the leases are typically made on the basis of the borrower’s ability to make repayment from the cash flow of the borrower’s business. As a result, the availability of funds for the repayment of commercial equipment leases may be substantially dependent on the success of the business itself, which in turn, is often dependent in part upon general economic conditions.

Acquired non-impaired loans and leases: Acquired non-impaired loans and leases are those loans for which there was no evidence of credit deterioration at their acquisition date and it was probable that we would be able to collect all contractually required payments. Acquired non-impaired loans and leases, together with originated loans and leases, are referred to as non-purchased credit impaired (“Non-PCI”) loans and leases. Purchase discount or premium on acquired non-impaired loans and leases is recognized as an adjustment to interest income over the contractual life of such loans and leases using the effective interest method or taken into income when the related loans or leases are paid off or sold.

Purchased credit impaired loans. Purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) loans are accounted for in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Subtopic 310-30, “Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality.” A purchased loan is deemed to be credit impaired when there is evidence of credit deterioration since its origination and it is probable at the acquisition date that we would be unable to collect all contractually required payments. We apply PCI loan accounting when (i) we acquire loans deemed to be impaired, and (ii) as a general policy election for non-impaired loans that we acquire in a distressed bank acquisition.

For PCI loans, at the time of acquisition we (i) calculated the contractual amount and timing of undiscounted principal and interest payments (the “undiscounted contractual cash flows”) and (ii) estimated the amount and timing of undiscounted expected principal and interest payments (the “undiscounted expected cash flows”). The difference between the undiscounted contractual cash flows and the undiscounted expected cash flows is the nonaccretable difference. The nonaccretable difference represents an estimate of the loss exposure of principal and interest related to the PCI loan portfolios; such amount is subject to change over time based on the performance of such loans. The carrying value of PCI loans is reduced by payments received, both principal and interest, and increased by the portion of the accretable yield recognized as interest income.

The excess of expected cash flows at acquisition over the initial fair value of acquired impaired loans is referred to as the “accretable yield” and is recorded as interest income over the estimated life of the loans using the effective yield. If estimated cash flows are indeterminable, the recognition of interest income will cease to be recognized.

At acquisition, the Company may aggregate PCI loans into pools having common credit risk characteristics such as product type, geographic location and risk rating. Increases in expected cash flows over those previously estimated increase the accretable yield and are recognized as interest income prospectively. Decreases in the amount and changes in the timing of expected cash flows compared to those previously estimated decrease the accretable yield and usually result in a provision for loan losses and the establishment of an allowance for loan losses. As the accretable yield increases or decreases from changes in cash flow expectations, the offset is a decrease or increase to the nonaccretable difference. The accretable yield is measured at each financial reporting date based on information then currently available and represents the difference between the remaining undiscounted expected cash flows and the current carrying value of the loans.

The Company removes loans from loan pools when the Company receives payment in settlement with the borrower, sells the loan, or foreclose upon the collateral securing the loan. The Company recognizes "Disposition gain on Purchased Credit Impaired Loans" when the cash proceeds or the amount received are in excess of the loan's carrying amount. The removal of the loan from the loan pool and the recognition of disposition gains do not affect the then applicable loan pool accretable yield.

PCI loans that are contractually past due are still considered to be accruing and performing as long as there is an expectation that the estimated cash flows will be received. If the timing and amount of cash flows is not reasonably estimable, the loans may be classified as nonaccrual with interest income recognized on either a cash basis or as a reduction of the principal amount outstanding.

Non-PCI loans are placed on nonaccrual status when, in the opinion of management, the full timely collection of principal or interest is in doubt. Generally, the accrual of interest is discontinued when principal or interest payments become more than 90 days past due. However, in certain instances, we may place a particular loan on nonaccrual status earlier, depending upon the individual circumstances surrounding the loan’s delinquency. When an asset is placed on nonaccrual status, previously accrued but unpaid interest is reversed against current income. Subsequent collections of cash are applied as principal reductions when received, except when the ultimate collectability of principal is probable, in which case interest payments are credited to income. Nonaccrual assets may be restored to accrual status when principal and interest become current and full repayment is expected, which generally occurs after sustained payment of 6 months. Interest income is recognized on the accrual basis for impaired loans not meeting the criteria for nonaccrual.

Nonperforming assets consist of loans and leases on nonaccrual status, loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest, loans restructured with troubled borrowers where the terms of repayment have been renegotiated resulting in a reduction or deferral of interest or principal, and other real estate owned (“OREO”). Loans are generally placed on nonaccrual status when they become 90 days past due unless management believes the loan is adequately collateralized and in the process of collection. Additionally, the Bank may place loans that are not 90 days past due on nonaccrual status, if management reasonably believes the borrower will not be able to comply with the contractual loan repayment terms and collection of principal or interest is in question.

Loans Held for Sale

Loans originated, or transferred from loans and leases receivable, and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or fair market value. Fair market value, if lower than cost, is determined based on valuations obtained from market participants or the value of underlying collateral, calculated individually. A valuation allowance is established if the market value of such loans is lower than their cost and net unrealized losses, if any, are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income. Origination fees on loans held for sale, net of certain costs of processing and closing the loans, are deferred until the time of sale and are included in the computation of the gain or loss from the sale of the related loans.

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses on Non-PCI Loans

Management believes the allowance for loan and lease losses is appropriate to provide for probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. However, the allowance is an estimate that is inherently uncertain and depends on the outcome of future events. Management’s estimates are based on previous loss experience; volume, growth and composition of the loan portfolio; the value of collateral; and current economic conditions. Our lending is concentrated generally in real estate, commercial, SBA and trade finance lending to small and middle market businesses primarily in California, Illinois, and Texas.

The Bank charges or credits the income statement for provisions to the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for off-balance sheet items at least quarterly based upon the allowance need. The allowance is determined through an analysis involving quantitative calculations based on historic loss rates and qualitative adjustments for general reserves and individual impairment calculations for specific allocations. The Bank charges the allowance for actual losses on loans and credits the allowance for recoveries on loans previously charged-off.

The Bank evaluates the allowance methodology at least annually. For the fourth quarter of, the Bank utilized a 24-quarter look-back period with equal weighting to all quarters. For the fourth quarter of 2015, the Bank utilized a 20-quarter look-back period. In addition, the estimated loss emergence period utilized in the Bank’s loss migration analysis changed to 2.5 years in 2016 from estimated 1.0 year in 2015. Moreover, in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Bank reevaluated the qualitative adjustments, reducing their affect in light of the lengthening of the business cycle and the continued improvement in credit metrics. In the first quarter of 2014, based upon a similar evaluation, the Bank utilized a 16-quarter look-back period, weighting the loss factors 46 percent for the most recent four-quarter period and 31 percent, 15 percent, and 8 percent for each of the following four-quarter periods, respectively. The change in methodology did not materially affect the amount of the allowance at December 31, 2016, 2015 or 2014.

To determine general reserve requirements, in 2016 existing loans were divided into eleven general loan pools of risk-rated loans as well as three homogenous loan pools and in 2015, existing loans were divided into fourteen general loan pools of risk-rated loans as well as three homogenous loan pools. In 2016, the pooling was revised to eliminate loan types that can be combined under a broader category in order to maintain an accurate analysis of the defined segmentation. For risk-rated loans, migration analysis allocates historical losses by loan pool and risk grade to determine risk factors for potential loss inherent in the current outstanding loan portfolio. Since the homogeneous loans are bulk graded, the risk grade is not factored into the historical loss analysis. In addition, specific reserves are allocated for loans deemed “impaired.”

When determining the appropriate level for allowance for loan losses, management considers qualitative adjustments for any factors that are likely to cause estimated loan losses associated with the Bank’s current portfolio to differ from historical loss experience, including, but not limited to, national and local economic and business conditions, volume and geographic concentrations, and problem loan trends.

To systematically quantify the credit risk impact of trends and changes within the loan portfolio, a credit risk matrix is utilized. The qualitative factors are considered on a loan pool by loan pool basis subsequent to, and in conjunction with, a loss migration analysis. The credit risk matrix provides various scenarios with positive or negative impact on the portfolio along with corresponding basis points for qualitative adjustments.

Loan losses are charged off, and recoveries are credited, to the allowance account. Additions to the allowance account are charged to earnings through a provision for loan losses while reductions are credited to earnings. The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level considered adequate by management to absorb probable losses in the loan portfolio. The adequacy of the allowance is determined by management based upon an evaluation and review of the loan portfolio, consideration of historical loan loss experience, current economic conditions, changes in the composition of the loan portfolio, analysis of collateral values and other pertinent factors.

Loans are measured for impairment when it is probable that not all amounts, including principal and interest, will be collected in accordance with the original contractual terms of the loan agreement. The amount of impairment and any subsequent changes are recorded through the provision for loan losses as an adjustment to the allowance for loan losses.

The Bank follows the “Interagency Policy Statement on the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses” and, as an integral part of the quarterly credit review process, the allowance for loan losses and allowance for off-balance sheet items are reviewed for adequacy. The California Department of Business Oversight and/or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation require the Bank to recognize additions to the allowance for loan losses based upon their assessment of the information available to them at the time of their examinations.

In general, the Bank will charge off a loan and declare a loss when its collectability is questionable and when the Bank can no longer justify presenting the loan as an asset on its balance sheet. To determine if a loan should be charged off, all possible sources of repayment are analyzed, including the potential for future cash flow from income or liquidation of other assets, the value of any collateral, and the strength of co-makers or guarantors. When these sources do not provide a reasonable probability that principal can be collected in full, the Bank will fully or partially charge off the loan.

For a real estate loan, including commercial term loans secured by collateral, any impaired portion is considered as loss if the loan is more than 90 days past due. In a case where the fair value of collateral is less than the loan balance and the borrower has no other assets or income to support repayment, the amount of the deficiency is considered a loss and charged off.

For a commercial and industrial loan other than those secured by real estate, if the borrower is in the process of a bankruptcy filing in which the Bank is an unsecured creditor or deemed virtually unsecured by lack of collateral equity or lien position and the borrower has no realizable equity in assets and prospects for recovery are negligible, the loan is considered a loss and charged off. Additionally, a commercial and industrial unsecured loan that is more than 120 days past due is considered a loss and charged off.

For an unsecured consumer loan where a borrower files for bankruptcy, the loan is considered a loss within 60 days of receipt of notification of filing from the bankruptcy court. Other consumer loans are considered a loss if they are more than 90 days past due. Other events, such as bankruptcy, fraud, or death result in charge offs being recorded in an earlier period.

Allowance for Loan Losses on PCI Loans

The PCI loans are subject to our internal and external credit review. If deterioration in the expected cash flows results in a reserve requirement, a provision for loan losses is charged to earnings. For PCI loans, the allowance for loan losses is measured at the end of each financial reporting period based on expected cash flows. Decreases or increases in the amount and changes in the timing of expected cash flows on the PCI loans as of the financial reporting date compared to those previously estimated are usually recognized by recording a provision or a negative provision for loan losses on such loans.

Impaired Loans

Loans are identified and classified as impaired when it is probable that not all amounts, including principal and interest, will be collected in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The Bank will consider the following loans as impaired: nonaccrual loans or loans where principal or interest payments have been contractually past due for 90 days or more, unless the loan is both well-collateralized and in the process of collection; loans classified as troubled debt restructuring loans.

The Bank considers whether the borrower is experiencing problems such as operating losses, marginal working capital, inadequate cash flow or business deterioration in realizable value. The Bank also considers the financial condition of a borrower who is in industries or countries experiencing economic or political instability.

When a loan is considered impaired, any future cash receipts on such loans will be treated as either interest income or return of principal depending upon management’s opinion of the ultimate risk of loss on the individual loan. Cash payments are treated as interest income where management believes the remaining principal balance is fully collectible.

We evaluate loan impairment in accordance with applicable GAAP. Impaired loans are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or, as a practical expedient, at the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent, less costs to sell. If the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, the deficiency will be charged off against the allowance for loan losses or, alternatively, a specific allocation will be established. Additionally, impaired loans are specifically excluded from the quarterly migration analysis when determining the amount of the allowance for loan losses required for the period.

For impaired loans where the impairment amount is measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate, any impairment that represents the change in present value attributable to the passage of time is recognized as provision for loan losses.

Troubled Debt Restructuring

A loan is identified as a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulties and, for economic or legal reasons related to these difficulties, the Bank grants a concession to the borrower in the restructuring that it would not otherwise consider. The Bank has granted a concession when, as a result of the restructuring, it does not expect to collect all amounts due, including principal and/or interest accrued at the original terms of the loan. The concessions may be granted in various forms, including a below-market change in the stated interest rate, a reduction in the loan balance or accrued interest, an extension of the maturity date, or a note split with principal forgiveness. TDRs are reviewed for potential impairment. Generally, a nonaccrual loan that is restructured remains on nonaccrual status for a period of six months to demonstrate that the borrower can perform under the restructured terms. If the borrower’s performance under the new terms is not reasonably assured, the loan remains classified as a nonaccrual loan. Loans classified as TDRs are reported as impaired loans.

Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the various classes of assets. The ranges of useful lives for the principal classes of assets are as follows:



Buildings and improvements		10 to 30 years
Furniture and equipment		3 to 10 years
Leasehold improvements		Term of lease or useful life, whichever is shorter
Software		3 years

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We account for long-lived assets in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment.” This requires that long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.

Other Real Estate Owned

Assets acquired through loan foreclosure are recorded at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated costs to sell when acquired. If fair value declines subsequent to foreclosure, valuation impairment is recorded through expense. Operating costs after acquisition are expensed.

Servicing Assets and Servicing liabilities

Servicing assets and servicing liabilities are initially recorded at fair value in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 860, “Transfers and Servicing.” The fair values of servicing assets and servicing liabilities represent either the price paid if purchased, or the allocated carrying amounts based on relative values when retained in a sale. Servicing assets and servicing liabilities are amortized in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing income. The fair value of servicing assets and servicing liabilities are determined based on the present value of estimated net future cash flows related to contractually specified servicing fees and costs.

The servicing assets and servicing liabilities are recorded based on the present value of the contractually specified servicing fee, net of adequate compensation cost, for the estimated life of the loan, using a discount rate and a constant prepayment rate. Management periodically evaluates the servicing assets and servicing liabilities for impairment. Impairment, if it occurs, is recognized in a valuation allowance in the period of impairment.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets consist of acquired intangible assets arising from acquisitions, including core deposit intangibles and third-party originators intangible. The acquired intangible assets were initially measured at fair value and then are amortized on the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives while goodwill is not amortized.

Goodwill and other intangible assets are assessed for impairment or recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock

The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) of San Francisco and is required to own common stock in the FHLB based upon the Bank’s balance of outstanding FHLB advances. FHLB stock is carried at cost and may be sold back to the FHLB at its carrying value. FHLB stock is periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value. Both cash and stock dividends received are reported as dividend income.

Federal Reserve Bank Stock

The Bank was a member of the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) of San Francisco and was required to maintain stock in the FRB based on a specified ratio relative to the Bank’s capital. Effective July 19, 2016, the Bank converted from a state member bank to a state nonmember bank and, as a result, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is now its primary federal bank regulator. Our holdings of FRB stock were canceled by the Federal Reserve. FRB stock is carried at cost as of December 31, 2015. Both cash and stock dividends received are reported as dividend income.

Bank-Owned Life Insurance

We have purchased single premium life insurance policies (“bank-owned life insurance”) on certain officers. The Bank is the beneficiary under the policy. In the event of the death of a covered officer, we will receive the specified insurance benefit from the insurance carrier. Bank-owned life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or other amounts due, if any, that are probable at settlement.

Income Tax

We provide for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Affordable Housing Investments

The Bank has invested in limited partnerships formed to develop and operate affordable housing units for lower income tenants throughout California. The partnership interests are accounted for utilizing the proportional amortization method with amortization expense and tax benefits recognized through the income tax provision in accordance with Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2014-1, Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for share-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation,” During the first quarter in 2016, the Company early adopted ASU 2016-09 which provides improvements to the accounting for employee share-based payments. As a result of this new standard, excess tax benefits from exercise or vesting of share-based awards are included as a reduction in provision for income tax expense in the period in which the exercise or vesting occurs. As a result of adoption of this ASU, excess tax benefits related to the Company's share-based compensation were recognized as income tax expense in the consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated on both a basic and a diluted basis. Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted from the issuance of common stock that then shared in earnings, excluding common shares in treasury.

For diluted EPS, weighted-average number of common shares included the impact of restricted stock under the treasury method. The Company amended all restricted stock agreements with time-based vesting criterion as of September 1, 2015 to allow for the payment of non-forfeitable dividends on unvested restricted stock, accordingly, we adopted the two-class method for EPS calculation pursuant to ASC 260-10, Earnings Per Share. Unvested restricted stock containing rights to non-forfeitable dividends are considered participating securities prior to vesting and have been included in the earnings allocation in computing basic and diluted EPS under the two-class method. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income, net of income allocated to participating securities, by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock. For diluted EPS, weighted-average number of common shares include the diluted effect of stock options.

Treasury Stock

We use the cost method of accounting for treasury stock. The cost method requires us to record the reacquisition cost of treasury stock as a deduction from stockholders’ equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Business Combinations

For business combinations that are accounted for under the acquisition method, the acquiring entity in a business combination recognizes 100 percent of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, regardless of the percentage owned, at their estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition. Any excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets and other identifiable intangible assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. To the extent the fair value of net assets acquired, including other identifiable assets, exceeds the purchase price, a bargain purchase gain is recognized. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed from contingencies must also be recognized at fair value, if the fair value can be determined during the measurement period. Results of operations of an acquired business are included in the statement of earnings from the date of acquisition. Acquisition-related costs, including conversion and restructuring charges, are expensed as incurred.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

FASB ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), replaces existing revenue recognition guidance for contracts to provide goods or services to customers and amends existing guidance related to recognition of gains and losses on the sale of certain nonfinancial assets such as real estate. ASU 2014-09 established a principles-based approach to recognizing revenue that applies to all contracts other than those covered by other authoritative U.S. GAAP guidance. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are also required. ASU 2014-09 was to be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and was to be applied on either a modified retrospective or full retrospective basis. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which defers the original effective date for all entities by one year. Public business entities should apply the guidance in ASU 2015-14 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period.

While the guidance will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP, the ASU is not applicable to financial instruments and, therefore, will not impact a majority of the Company’s revenue, including net interest income. While in scope of the new guidance, the Company does not expect a material change in the timing or measurement of revenues related to deposit account fees. The Company will continue to evaluate the effect that this guidance will have on other revenue streams within its scope, as well as changes in disclosures required by the new guidance. However, we do not expect adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Subtopic 825-10), Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, amends the guidance in U.S. GAAP on the accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements of financial instruments. The FASB additionally clarified guidance related to the valuation allowance assessment when recognizing deferred tax assets resulting from unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities. ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for the accounting guidance on financial liabilities under the fair value option. While we are currently evaluating the impact of this ASU, we do not expect its adoption to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), introduces the most significant change for lessees including the requirement under the new guidance to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases not considered short-term leases. By definition, a short-term lease is one in which: (a) the lease term is 12 months or less; and (b) there is not an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise. For short-term leases, lessees may elect an accounting policy by class of underlying asset under which right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are not recognized and lease payments are generally recognized as expense over the lease term on a straight-line basis. This change will result in lessees recognizing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for most leases currently accounted for as operating leases under the legacy lease accounting guidance. Examples of changes in the new guidance affecting both lessees and lessors include: (a) defining initial direct costs to only include those incremental costs that would not have been incurred if the lease had not been entered into, (b) requiring related party leases to be accounted for based on their legally enforceable terms and conditions, (c) eliminating the additional requirements that must be applied today to leases involving real estate and (d) revising the circumstances under which the transfer contract in a sale-leaseback transaction should be accounted for as the sale of an asset by the seller-lessee and the purchase of an asset by the buyer-lessor. In addition, both lessees and lessors are subject to new disclosure requirements. ASU 2016-02 is effective for public entities for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018.

As a lessee in several operating lease arrangements that are not considered short-tem, effective January 1, 2019, the Company expects to recognize a lease liability for the present value of future such lease commitments and a right of use asset for the same leases. While the Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance, the adoption will result in an increase in the Company’s assets and liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets and it will likely not have a significant impact on our consolidated net income, stockholders’ equity or cash flows.

FASB ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, introduces new guidance for the accounting for credit losses on instruments within its scope. The new guidance introduces an approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments. It also modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale (AFS) debt securities and provides for a simplified accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. Current expected credit losses (“CECL”) model, will apply to: (1) financial assets subject to credit losses and measured at amortized cost; and (2) certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. This includes loans, held-to-maturity debt securities, loan commitments, financial guarantees, and net investments in leases, as well as reinsurance and trade receivables. Upon initial recognition of the exposure, the CECL model requires an entity to estimate the credit losses expected over the life of an exposure (or pool of exposures). The estimate of expected credit losses (ECL) should consider historical information, current information, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, including estimates of prepayments. Financial instruments with similar risk characteristics should be grouped together when estimating ECL. ASU 2016-13 is effective for public entities for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early application of the guidance will be permitted for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently of evaluating the impact of this ASU on our consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force), addresses eight classification issues related to the statement of cash flows: (1) Debt prepayment of debt extinguishment costs; (2) Settlement of zero-coupon bonds: (3) Contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; (4) Proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; (5) Proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, including bank-owned life insurance policies; (6) Distributions received from equity method investees; (7) Beneficial interests in securitization transactions; and (8) Separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. ASU 2016-15 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force), requires that the statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Entities will also be required to reconcile such total to amounts on the balance sheet and disclose the nature of the restrictions. ASU 2016-18 is effective for public business entities for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of Business, provides guidance on evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The new standard clarifies that when substantially all of the fair value of gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single asset, or a group of similar assets, the asset acquired would not represent a business. The new ASU introduces this initial required screen, if met, eliminates the need for further assessment. For public business entities with a calendar year end, the standard is effective in 2018. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The amendments can be applied to transactions occurring before the guidance was issued, as long as the applicable financial statements have not been issued. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill impairment by eliminating the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill (i.e., the current Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test) to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Under this ASU, the impairment test is simply the comparison of the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount (the current Step 1), with the impairment charge being the deficit in fair value but not exceeding the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The simplified one-step impairment test applies to all reporting units (including those with zero or negative carrying amounts). An entity should apply the amendments in this ASU on a prospective basis. An entity is required to disclose the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle upon transition. That disclosure should be provided in the first annual period and in the interim period within the first annual period when the entity initially adopts the amendments in this standard. Public business entities should adopt the amendments in this ASU for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The three-level fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are defined as follows:


•	Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.


•	Level 2 - Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, and other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.


•	Level 3 - Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

Fair value is used on a recurring basis for certain assets and liabilities in which fair value is the primary basis of accounting. Additionally, fair value is used on a non-recurring basis to evaluate assets or liabilities for impairment or for disclosure purposes.

We record securities available for sale at fair value on a recurring basis. Certain other assets, such as loans held for sale, impaired loans, OREO, goodwill and other intangible assets, are recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Non-recurring fair value measurements typically involve assets that are periodically evaluated for impairment and for which any impairment is recorded in the period in which the re-measurement is performed.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument below:

Securities available for sale - The fair values of securities available for sale are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique used widely in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities, or other model-based valuation techniques requiring observable inputs other than quoted prices such as yield curve, prepayment speeds, and default rates. Level 1 securities include U.S. treasury securities and mutual funds that are traded on an active exchange or by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter markets. The fair value of these securities is determined by quoted prices on an active exchange or over-the-counter market. Level 2 securities primarily include mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, U.S. government agency securities, SBA loan pool securities, municipal bonds and corporate bonds in markets that are not active. In determining the fair value of the securities categorized as Level 2, we obtain reports from nationally recognized broker-dealers detailing the fair value of each investment security held as of each reporting date. The broker-dealers use prices obtained from nationally recognized pricing services to value our fixed income securities. The fair value of the municipal bonds is determined based on a proprietary model maintained by the broker-dealers. We review the prices obtained for reasonableness based on our understanding of the marketplace, and also consider any credit issues related to the bonds. As we have not made any adjustments to the market quotes provided to us and as they are based on observable market data, they have been categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Level 3 securities are instruments that are not traded in the market. As such, no observable market data for the instrument is available, which necessitates the use of significant unobservable inputs.

Loans held for sale – All loans held for sale are SBA loans carried at the lower of cost or fair value. Management obtains quotes, bids or pricing indication sheets on all or part of these loans directly from the purchasing financial institutions. Premiums received or to be received on the quotes, bids or pricing indication sheets are indicative of the fact that cost is lower than fair value.

The estimated fair value of financial instruments has been determined by using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. However, considerable judgment is required to interpret market data in order to develop estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that we could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.