Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

v3.10.0.1
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Notes to Financial Statements  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
NOTE
1.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Nature of Operations
 
ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) was formed on
August 16, 2007
and is a bank holding company whose business is conducted by its wholly-owned subsidiary ServisFirst Bank (the “Bank”). The Bank is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and has provided a full range of banking services to individual and corporate customers throughout the Birmingham market since opening for business in
May 2005.
The Bank has since expanded into the Huntsville, Montgomery, Dothan and Mobile, Alabama, Pensacola and Tampa Bay, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, Charleston, South Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee markets. The Bank owns all of the stock of SF Intermediate Holding Company, Inc., which, in turn, owns all of the stock of SF Holding
1,
Inc., which, in turn, owns all of the common stock of the Company’s real estate investment trusts, SF Realty
1,
Inc., SF FLA Realty, Inc., SF GA Realty, Inc. and SF TN Realty, Inc. More details about SF Intermediate Holding Company, Inc. and its subsidiaries are included in Note
10.
 
Reclassification
 
Certain amounts reported in prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. These reclassifications had
no
effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position, or net cash flow.
 
Basis of Presentation and Accounting Estimates
 
To prepare consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, management makes estimates and assumptions based on available information. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the disclosures provided, and future results could differ. The allowance for loan losses, valuation of foreclosed real estate, goodwill and other intangible assets and fair values of financial instruments are particularly subject to change. All numbers are in thousands except share and per share data.
 
Cash, Due from Banks, Interest-Bearing Balances due from Financial Institutions
 
Cash and due from banks includes cash on hand, cash items in process of collection, amounts due from banks and interest bearing balances due from financial institutions. For purposes of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash and due from banks and federal funds sold. Generally, federal funds are purchased and sold for
one
-day periods. Cash flows from loans, mortgage loans held for sale, federal funds sold, and deposits are reported net.
 
The Bank is required to maintain reserve balances in cash or on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank based on a percentage of deposits. The total of those reserve balances was approximately
$51.0
million at
December 31, 2018
and
$51.8
million at
December 31, 2017.
 
Debt Securities
 
Securities are classified as available-for-sale when they might be sold before maturity. Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of tax, on securities available for sale are reported as a net amount in a separate component of stockholders’ equity until realized. Gains and losses on the sale of securities available for sale are determined using the specific-identification method. The amortization of premiums and the accretion of discounts are recognized in interest income using methods approximating the interest method over the period to maturity.
 
Declines in the fair value of available-for-sale securities below their cost that are deemed to be other than temporary are reflected in earnings as realized losses. Securities are classified as held-to-maturity when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are reported at amortized cost. In determining the existence of other-than-temporary impairment losses, management considers (
1
) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (
2
) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and (
3
) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.
 
Investments in Equity Securities Carried at Cost
 
Investments in restricted equity securities without a readily determinable market value are carried at cost.
 
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
 
The Company classifies certain residential mortgage loans as held for sale. Typically mortgage loans held for sale are sold to a
third
party investor within a very short time period. The loans are sold without recourse and servicing is
not
retained. Net fees earned from this banking service are recorded in noninterest income.
 
In the course of originating mortgage loans and selling those loans in the secondary market, the Company makes various representations and warranties to the purchaser of the mortgage loans. Each loan is underwritten using government agency guidelines. Any exceptions noted during this process are remedied prior to sale. These representations and warranties also apply to underwriting the real estate appraisal opinion of value for the collateral securing these loans. Under the representations and warranties, failure by the Company to comply with the underwriting and/or appraisal standards could result in the Company being required to repurchase the mortgage loan or to reimburse the investor for losses incurred (make whole requests) if such failure cannot be cured by the Company within the specified period following discovery. The Company continues to experience an insignificant level of investor repurchase demands. There were
no
expenses incurred as part of these buyback obligations for the years ended
December 31, 2018
and
2017.
 
Loans
 
Loans are reported at unpaid principal balances, less unearned fees and the allowance for loan losses. Interest on all loans is recognized as income based upon the applicable rate applied to the daily outstanding principal balance of the loans. Interest income on nonaccrual loans is recognized on a cash basis or cost recovery basis until the loan is returned to accrual status. A loan
may
be returned to accrual status if the Company is reasonably assured of repayment of principal and interest and the borrower has demonstrated sustained performance for a period of at least
six
months. Loan fees, net of direct costs, are reflected as an adjustment to the yield of the related loan over the term of the loan. The Company does
not
have a concentration of loans to any
one
industry.
 
The accrual of interest on loans is discontinued when there is a significant deterioration in the financial condition of the borrower and full repayment of principal and interest is
not
expected or the principal or interest is more than
90
days past due, unless the loan is both well-collateralized and in the process of collection. Generally, all interest accrued but
not
collected for loans that are placed on nonaccrual status are reversed against current interest income. Interest collections on nonaccrual loans are generally applied as principal reductions. The Company determines past due or delinquency status of a loan based on contractual payment terms.
 
A loan is considered impaired when it is probable the Company will be unable to collect all principal and interest payments due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Individually identified impaired loans are measured based on the present value of expected payments using the loan’s original effective rate as the discount rate, the loan’s observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. If the recorded investment in the impaired loan exceeds the measure of fair value, a valuation allowance
may
be established as part of the allowance for loan losses. Changes to the valuation allowance are recorded as a component of the provision for loan losses.
 
Impaired loans also include troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”). In the normal course of business management grants concessions to borrowers, which would
not
otherwise be considered, where the borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty. The concessions granted most frequently for TDRs involve reductions or delays in required payments of principal and interest for a specified time, the rescheduling of payments in accordance with a bankruptcy plan or the charge-off of a portion of the loan. In some cases, the conditions of the credit also warrant nonaccrual status, even after the restructure occurs. As part of the credit approval process, the restructured loans are evaluated for adequate collateral protection in determining the appropriate accrual status at the time of restructure. TDR loans
may
be returned to accrual status if there has been at least a
six
month sustained period of repayment performance by the borrower.
 
Acquired loans are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition, and accordingly
no
allowance for loan losses is transferred to the acquiring entity in connection with acquisition accounting. The fair values of loans with evidence of credit deterioration (purchased, credit impaired loans) are initially recorded at fair value, but thereafter accounted for differently than purchased, non-credit impaired loans. For purchased credit impaired loans, cash flows are estimated at Day
1
and discounted at a market interest rate which creates accretable yield to be recognized over the life of the loan. Contractual principal and interest payments
not
expected to be collected are considered non-accretable difference. Subsequent to the acquisition date, management continues to monitor cash flows on a quarterly basis, to determine the performance of each purchased credit impaired loan in comparison to management’s initial performance expectations.
 
Subsequent decreases to the expected cash flows will generally result in a provision for loan losses. Subsequent significant increases in cash flows result in a reversal of the provision for loan losses to the extent of prior provisions or a reclassification of amount from non-accretable difference to accretable yield, with a positive impact on the accretion of interest income in future periods.
 
Acquired performing loans are accounted for using the contractual cash flows method of recognizing discount accretion based on the acquired loans’ contractual cash flows. Acquired performing loans are recorded as of the acquisition date at fair value, considering credit and other risks, with
no
separate allowance for loan losses account. Credit losses on the acquired performing loans are estimated in future periods based on analysis of the performing portfolio. A provision for loan losses is recognized for any further credit deterioration that occurs in these loans subsequent to the acquisition date. Fair value discounts on Day
1
are accreted as interest income over the life of the loans.
 
Allowance for Loan Losses
 
The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level which, in management’s judgment, is adequate to absorb credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The amount of the allowance is based on management’s evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio, including the nature of the portfolio, credit concentrations, trends in historical loss experience, specific impaired loans, economic conditions, and other risks inherent in the portfolio. Allowances for impaired loans are generally determined based on collateral values or the present value of the estimated cash flows. The allowance is increased by a provision for loan losses, which is charged to expense, and reduced by charge-offs, net of recoveries. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the allowance for losses on loans. Such agencies
may
require the Company to recognize adjustments to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.
 
Foreclosed Real Estate
 
Foreclosed real estate includes both formally foreclosed property and in-substance foreclosed property. At the time of foreclosure, foreclosed real estate is recorded at fair value less cost to sell, which becomes the property’s new basis. Any write downs based on the asset’s fair value at date of acquisition are charged to the allowance for loan losses. After foreclosure, these assets are carried at the lower of their new cost basis or fair value less cost to sell. Costs incurred in maintaining foreclosed real estate and subsequent adjustments to the carrying amount of the property are included in other operating expenses.
 
Premises and Equipment
 
Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for additions and major improvements that significantly extend the useful lives of the assets are capitalized. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Assets which are disposed of are removed from the accounts and the resulting gains or losses are recorded in operations. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets (
3
to
39.5
years).
 
Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the lease terms or the estimated useful lives of the improvements.
 
Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets
 
Other identifiable intangible assets include a core deposit intangible recorded in connection with the acquisition of Metro Bancshares, Inc. The core deposit intangible is being amortized over
7
years and the estimated useful life is periodically reviewed for reasonableness.
 
The Company has recorded
$13.6
million of goodwill at
December 31, 2018
in connection with the acquisition of Metro Bancshares, Inc. in
2015.
The Company tests its goodwill for impairment annually unless interim events or circumstances make it more likely than
not
that an impairment loss has occurred. Impairment is defined as the amount by which the implied fair value of the goodwill is less than the goodwill’s carrying value. Impairment losses, if incurred, would be charged to operating expense. For the purposes of evaluating goodwill, the Company has determined that it operates only
one
reporting unit.
 
Derivatives and Hedging Activities
 
As part of its overall interest rate risk management, the Company uses derivative instruments, which can include interest rate swaps, caps, and floors. Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC
815
-
10,
Derivatives and Hedging, requires all derivative instruments to be carried at fair value on the balance sheet. This accounting standard provides special accounting provisions for derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting. To be eligible, the Company must specifically identify a derivative as a hedging instrument and identify the risk being hedged. The derivative instrument must be shown to meet specific requirements under this accounting standard.
 
The Company designates the derivative on the date the derivative contract is entered into as (
1
) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (a “fair-value” hedge) or (
2
) a hedge of a forecasted transaction of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (a “cash-flow” hedge). Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective as a fair-value hedge, and that is designated and qualifies as a fair-value hedge, along with the loss or gain on the hedged asset or liability that is attributable to the hedged risk (including losses or gains on firm commitments), are recorded in current-period earnings. The effective portion of the changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and that is designated and qualifies as a cash-flow hedge is recorded in other comprehensive income, until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows (e.g., when periodic settlements on a variable-rate asset or liability are recorded in earnings). The remaining gain or loss on the derivative, if any, in excess of the cumulative change in the present value of future cash flows of the hedged item is recognized in earnings.
 
The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives that are designated as fair-value or cash-flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. The Company also formally assessed, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis (if the hedges do
not
qualify for short-cut accounting), whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. When it is determined that a derivative is
not
highly effective as a hedge or that it has ceased to be a highly effective hedge, the Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively, as discussed below. The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when: (
1
) it is determined that the derivative is
no
longer effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of a hedged item (including firm commitments or forecasted transactions); (
2
) the derivative expires or is sold, terminated, or exercised; (
3
) the derivative is re-designated as a hedge instrument, because it is unlikely that a forecasted transaction will occur; (
4
) a hedged firm commitment
no
longer meets the definition of a firm commitment; or (
5
) management determines that designation of the derivative as a hedge instrument is
no
longer appropriate.
 
When hedge accounting is discontinued because it is determined that the derivative
no
longer qualifies as an effective fair-value hedge, hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively and the derivative will continue to be carried on the balance sheet at its fair value with all changes in fair value being recorded in earnings but with
no
offsetting being recorded on the hedged item or in other comprehensive income for cash flow hedges.
 
The Company uses derivatives to hedge interest rate exposures associated with mortgage loans held for sale and mortgage loans in process. The Company regularly enters into derivative financial instruments in the form of forward contracts, as part of its normal asset/liability management strategies. The Company’s obligations under forward contracts consist of “best effort” commitments to deliver mortgage loans originated in the secondary market at a future date. Interest rate lock commitments related to loans that are originated for later sale are classified as derivatives. In the normal course of business, the Company regularly extends these rate lock commitments to customers during the loan origination process. The fair values of the Company’s forward contract and rate lock commitments to customers as of
December 31, 2018
and
2017
were
not
material and have
not
been recorded.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic
606,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC
606”
)
, provides guidance for reporting revenue from the entity’s contracts to provide goods or services to customers. The guidance requires recognition of revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that it expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services recognized as performance obligations are satisfied.
 
The majority of revenue-generating transactions are excluded from the scope of ASC
606,
including revenue generated from financial instruments, such as securities and loans. Revenue-generating transactions that are within the scope of ASC
606,
classified within non-interest income, are described as follows:
 
 
Deposit account service charges – represent service fees for monthly activity and maintenance on customer accounts. Attributes can be transaction-based, item-based or time-based. Revenue is recognized when our performance obligation is completed which is generally monthly for maintenance services or when a transaction is processed. Payment for such performance obligations are generally received at the time the performance obligations are satisfied.
 
 
Credit card rewards program membership fees – represent memberships in our credit card rewards program and are paid annually by our cardholders at the time they open an account and on each anniversary. Revenue is recognized ratably over the membership period.
 
Other non-interest income primarily includes income on bank owned life insurance contracts, letter of credit fees and gains on sale of loans held for sale,
none
of which are within the scope of ASC
606.
 
Adoption of ASC
606
 
The Company adopted ASC
606
as of
January 1, 2018
for all contracts as of the effective date. Prior period amounts were reclassified to conform to the guidance requirements related to the net presentation of certain costs associated with interchange fees for credit and debit cards. The reclassification of prior period amounts reduced noninterest income and noninterest expense by
$1.7
million and
$1.1
million for the years ended
December 31, 2017
and
2016,
respectively, and had
no
impact on net income in either year. There was
no
cumulative adjustment made to opening retained earnings as of
January 1, 2018.
 
Income Taxes
 
Income tax expense is the total of the current year income tax due or refundable and the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax amounts for the temporary differences between carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
;
The Company follows the provisions of ASC
740
-
10,
Income Taxes.
ASC
740
-
10
establishes a single model to address accounting for uncertain tax positions. ASC
740
-
10
clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. ASC
740
-
10
also provides guidance on derecognition measurement classification interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. ASC
740
-
10
provides a
two
-step process in the evaluation of a tax position. The
first
step is recognition. A Company determines whether it is more likely than
not
that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including a resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based upon the technical merits of the position. The
second
step is measurement. A tax position that meets the more likely than
not
recognition threshold is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than
50%
likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
 
Stock-Based Compensation
 
At
December 31, 2018,
the Company had
two
stock-based compensation plans for grants of equity compensation to key employees and directors. These plans have been accounted for under the provisions of FASB ASC
718
-
10,
Compensation – Stock Compensation with respect to employee stock options and under the provisions of FASB ASC
505
-
50,
Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees, with respect to non-employee stock options. Specifically, awards to employees are accounted for using the fair value based method of accounting. Stock compensation costs are recognized prospectively for all new awards granted under the stock-based compensation plans. Compensation expense related to share options is calculated using a method that is based on the underlying assumptions of the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model and is charged to expense over the requisite service period (e.g. vesting period). Compensation expense related to restricted stock awards is based upon the fair value of the awards on the date of grant and is charged to earnings over the requisite service period of the award.
 
Earnings per Common Share
 
Basic earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share include the dilutive effect of additional potential common shares issuable under stock options and warrants.
 
Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments
 
Financial instruments, which include credit card arrangements, commitments to make loans and standby letters of credit, are issued to meet customer financing needs. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded. Instruments such as stand-by letters of credit are considered financial guarantees in accordance with FASB ASC
460
-
10.
The fair value of these financial guarantees is
not
material.
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in Note
21.
Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect the estimates.
 
Comprehensive Income
 
Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income. Accumulated comprehensive income, which is recognized as a separate component of equity, includes unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale.
 
Advertising
 
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense for the years ended
December 31, 2018,
2017
and
2016
was
$557,000,
$716,000
and
$544,000,
respectively. Advertising typically consists of local print media aimed at businesses that the Company targets as well as sponsorships of local events in which the Company’s clients and prospects are involved.
 
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
 
In
May 
2014,
the FASB issued ASU
2014
-
09,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic
606
)
, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU replaces most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP. The new standard was effective for the Company on
January 
1,
2018.
Adoption of ASU
2014
-
09
did
not
have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures as the Company’s primary sources of revenues are derived from interest and dividends earned on loans, investment securities, and other financial instruments that are
not
within the scope of ASU
2014
-
09.
The Company’s revenue recognition pattern for revenue streams within the scope of ASU
2014
-
09,
including but
not
limited to service charges on deposit accounts and credit card fees, did
not
change significantly from current practice.
 
In
January 2017,
the FASB issued ASU
2017
-
03,
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections
 (Topic
250
) and
 Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures
 (Topic
323
– Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the
September 22, 2016
and
November 17, 2016
EITF Meetings.
ASU
2017
-
03
provides amendments that add paragraph
250
-
10
-
S99
-
6
which includes the text of "SEC Staff Announcement: Disclosure of the Impact That Recently Issued Accounting Standards Will Have on the Financial Statements of a Registrant When Such Standards Are Adopted in a Future Period” (in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) Topic
11.M
). Registrants are required to disclose the effect that recently issued accounting standards will have on their financial statements when adopted in a future period. In cases where a registrant cannot reasonably estimate the impact of the adoption, then additional qualitative disclosures should be considered to assist the reader in assessing the significance of the standard's impact on its financial statements. The Company has enhanced its disclosures regarding the impact recently issued accounting standards adopted in a future period will have on its accounting and disclosures.
 
In
February 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
02,
Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income
(Topic
220
);
Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
.  The amendments in this ASU require a reclassification from / to accumulated other comprehensive income and to / from retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the change in the newly enacted federal corporate income tax rate.  Consequently, the amendments in this ASU eliminate the stranded tax effects associated with the change in the federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of
2017.
  The amendments in this ASU are effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2018
with early adoption allowed.  The Bank elected to early adopt this ASU as of
December 31, 2017. 
The effect of the adoption of this ASU was to decrease accumulated other comprehensive income by
$43,000
with the offset to retained earnings as recorded in the statement of changes in stockholders' equity.  This represents the difference between the historical corporate income tax rate and the newly enacted
21%
corporate income tax rate.
 
In
January 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
01,
Financial Instruments Overall (Topic
825
): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
. The amendments in ASU
2016
-
01:
(a) require equity investments (except for those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (b) simplify the impairment assessment of equity securities without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment; (c) eliminate the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet; (d) require public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; (e) require an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income, the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments; (f) require separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial assets on the balance sheet or the notes to the financial statements; and (g) clarify that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. The amendments in this ASU became effective for the Company on
January 1, 2018.
Accordingly, the calculation of fair value of the loan portfolio was refined to incorporate exit pricing, but had
no
material impact on our fair value disclosures. See Note
21
– Fair Value Measurement.
 
In
March 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
09,
Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic
718
): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting
(“ASU
2016
-
09”
), which is intended to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU
2016
-
09
is effective for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2016,
and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption was permitted. The Company elected to early adopt the provisions of this ASU during the
second
quarter of
2016,
and retrospectively apply the changes in accounting for stock compensation back to the
first
quarter of
2016.
Accordingly, the Company recognized a reduction in its provision for income taxes for
2018,
2017
and
2016
of
$3.9
million,
$4.6
million and
$4.8
million, respectively. Prior to the adoption of ASU
2016
-
09,
such tax benefits were recorded as an increase to additional paid-in capital.
 
In
March 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
07
, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic
323
), Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting
. The amendments eliminate the requirement that when an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence, an investor must adjust the investment, results of operations, and retained earnings retroactively on a step-by-step basis as if the equity method had been in effect during all previous periods that the investment had been held. The amendments require that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. The amendments require that an entity that has an available-for-sale equity security that becomes qualified for the equity method of accounting recognize through earnings the unrealized holding gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income at the date the investment becomes qualified for use of the equity method. The amendments became effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after
December 15, 2016.
The amendments should be applied prospectively upon their effective date to increase the level of ownership interest or degree of influence that result in the adoption of the equity method. Adoption of this standard has
not
affected the consolidated financial statements.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In
February 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
02,
 
Leases (Topic
842
)
. The FASB issued this ASU to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under current U.S. GAAP and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The amendments in this ASU are effective for public business entities for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2018.
Early application of this ASU is permitted for all entities. The Company will adopt the amendments in this ASU by applying the alternative transition method allowing comparative periods to
not
be restated and any cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings to be recognized as of
January 1, 2019.
The Company will elect the
three
practical expedients allowed by the amendments as follows:
1
) forego an assessment of whether any existing contracts are or contain leases,
2
) forego an assessment of the classification of existing leases as to whether they are operating leases or capital leases, and
3
) forego an assessment of direct costs for any existing leases. The Company continues to assess and implement changes to its accounting processes and internal controls for leases to help ensure that it meets the reporting and disclosure requirements of this ASU. Upon adoption on
January 1, 2019
the Company expects to record right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities in the range of
$13
to
$16
million. The Company believes the impact of the additional right-of-use assets will decrease its capital ratios by approximately
3
basis points.
 
In
June 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
13,
Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic
326
): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
, which is essentially the final rule on use of the so-called CECL model, or current expected credit losses. Among other things, the amendments in this ASU require the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Financial institutions and other organizations will now use forward-looking information to better inform their credit loss estimates. Many of the loss estimation techniques applied today will still be permitted, although the inputs to those techniques will change to reflect the full amount of expected credit losses. In addition, the ASU amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. For SEC filers, the amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2019,
with later effective dates for non-SEC registrant public companies and other organizations. Early adoption will be permitted for all organizations for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2018.
The Company has contracted with a
third
-party provider for enhanced modeling techniques that incorporate the loss measurement requirements in these amendments. The Company is currently working through its implementation plan and is near completion of an initial CECL estimate and plans to test the effectiveness of the new model through analytics and comparison with its existing incurred loss model throughout
2019.
 
In
March 2017,
the FASB issued ASU
2017
-
08,
Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic
310
-
20
), Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities.
The amendments shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amendments require the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The amendments do
not
require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity. The amendments in this ASU are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after
December 15, 2018.
Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied on a modified retrospective basis, with a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The amendments in this ASU will
not
impact the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, as it has always amortized premiums to the
first
call date.
 
In
June 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
07,
Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic
718
), Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting.
These amendments expand the scope of Topic
718,
Compensation - Stock Compensation, which currently only includes share-based payments to employees, to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees will be substantially aligned. The ASU supersedes Subtopic
505
-
50,
Equity – Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees. The amendments in this ASU are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after
December 15, 2018.
Early adoption is permitted, but
no
earlier than a company’s adoption date of Topic
606,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company will adopt this ASU effective
January 1, 2019.
The amendments will
not
have an impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements because it does
not
have any stock-based payment awards currently outstanding to nonemployees.
 
In
July 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
10,
Codification Improvements to Topic
842,
Leases (Topic
842
).
These amendments affect narrow aspects of the guidance issued in ASU
2016
-
02,
including those regarding residual value guarantees, rate implicit in the lease, lessee reassessment of lease classification, lessor reassessment of lease term and purchase option, variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate, investment tax credits, lease term and purchase option, transition guidance for amounts previously recognized in business combinations, certain transition adjustments, transition guidance for leases previously classified as capital leases under Topic
840,
transition guidance for modifications to leases previously classified as direct financing or sales-type leases under Topic
840,
transition guidance for sale and leaseback transactions, impairment of net investment in the lease, unguaranteed residual asset, effect of initial direct costs on rate implicit in the lease, and failed sale and leaseback transactions. For entities that early adopted Topic
842,
the amendments are effective upon issuance of ASU
2018
-
10,
and the transition requirements are the same as those in Topic
842.
For entities that have
not
adopted Topic
842,
the effective date and transition requirements will be the same as the effective date and transition requirements in Topic
842.
Management is reviewing the amendments to determine what impact, if any, they will have beyond the impact that existing, but
not
-yet-adopted, amendments under Topic
842
will have on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
In
July 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
13,
Fair Value Measurement (Topic
820
): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.
This ASU eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. Among the changes, entities will
no
longer be required to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level
1
and Level
2
of the fair value hierarchy, however, entities will be required to disclose the range and weighted average used to develop significant unobservable inputs for Level
3
fair value measurements. ASU
No.
2018
-
13
is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after
December 15, 2019;
early adoption is permitted. Entities are also allowed to elect early adoption of the eliminated or modified disclosure requirements and delay adoption of the new disclosure requirements until their effective date. As ASU
No.
2018
-
13
only revises disclosure requirements, it will
not
have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.