Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Note 6 - Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

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Note 6 - Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Notes to Financial Statements  
Disclosure of Variable Interest Entities [Text Block]
NOTE
6.
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (VIEs)
 
The Company utilizes special purpose entities (SPEs) that constitute investments in limited partnerships that undertake certain development projects to achieve federal and state tax credits. These SPEs are typically structured as VIEs and are thus subject to consolidation by the reporting enterprise that absorbs the majority of the economic risks and rewards of the VIE. To determine whether it must consolidate a VIE, the Company analyzes the design of the VIE to identify the sources of variability within the VIE, including an assessment of the nature of risks created by the assets and other contractual obligations of the VIE, and determines whether it will absorb a majority of that variability.
 
The Company has invested in limited partnerships as a funding investor. The partnerships are single purpose entities that lend money to real estate investors for the purpose of acquiring and operating, or rehabbing, commercial property. The investments qualify for New Market Tax Credits under Internal Revenue Code Section
45D,
as amended, or Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits under Code Section
47,
as amended, or Low-Income Housing Tax Credits under Code Section
42,
as amended. For each of the partnerships, the Company acts strictly in a limited partner capacity. The Company has determined that it is
not
the primary beneficiary of these partnerships because it does
not
have the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entities’ economic performance. The amount of recorded investment in these partnerships as of
December 31, 2018
and
2017
was
$18.9
million and
$21.1
million, respectively, of which
$12.8
million and
$13.6
million as of
December 31, 2018
and
2017,
respectively, are included in loans of the Company. The remaining amounts are included in other assets.