Attached files

file filename
EX-32 - EXHIBIT 32 - ENTERPRISE BANCORP INC /MA/ebtc9302017-ex32.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - ENTERPRISE BANCORP INC /MA/ebtc9302017-ex312.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - ENTERPRISE BANCORP INC /MA/ebtc9302017-ex311.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549 
Form 10-Q
 
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017

Commission File Number:  001-33912
 Enterprise Bancorp, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Massachusetts
04-3308902
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
 
 
 
222 Merrimack Street, Lowell, Massachusetts
01852
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
 (978) 459-9000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  x Yes   o  No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files)  x Yes  o  No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definition for "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one): 
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer o
Smaller reporting company o
 
Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  ¨  Yes  x  No
 
As of November 1, 2017, there were 11,597,683 shares of the issuer's common stock outstanding- Par Value $0.01 per share.





ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
INDEX

 
 
Page Number
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



2


PART I-FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 -
Financial Statements
ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
Assets
 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents:
 
 

 
 

Cash and due from banks
 
$
35,920

 
$
33,047

Interest-earning deposits
 
14,771

 
17,428

Total cash and cash equivalents
 
50,691

 
50,475

Investment securities at fair value
 
385,942

 
374,790

Federal Home Loan Bank stock
 
7,225

 
2,094

Loans held for sale
 
876

 
1,569

Loans, less allowance for loan losses of $33,184 at September 30, 2017 and $31,342 at December 31, 2016
 
2,169,189

 
1,991,387

Premises and equipment, net
 
36,260

 
33,540

Accrued interest receivable
 
10,088

 
8,792

Deferred income taxes, net
 
15,889

 
17,020

Bank-owned life insurance
 
29,292

 
28,765

Prepaid income taxes
 
906

 
1,344

Prepaid expenses and other assets
 
13,458

 
10,837

Goodwill
 
5,656

 
5,656

Total assets
 
$
2,725,472

 
$
2,526,269

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
 

 
 

Liabilities
 
 

 
 

Deposits
 
$
2,302,673

 
$
2,268,921

Borrowed funds
 
149,255

 
10,671

Subordinated debt
 
14,844

 
14,834

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
26,540

 
16,794

Accrued interest payable
 
273

 
263

Total liabilities
 
2,493,585

 
2,311,483

Commitments and Contingencies
 


 


Stockholders' Equity
 
 

 
 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued
 

 

Common stock $0.01 par value per share; 40,000,000 shares authorized; 11,599,266 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and 11,475,742 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016
 
116

 
115

Additional paid-in-capital
 
87,492

 
85,421

Retained earnings
 
141,992

 
130,008

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
2,287

 
(758
)
Total stockholders' equity
 
231,887

 
214,786

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
2,725,472

 
$
2,526,269

 


See the accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements.

3



ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Interest and dividend income:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Loans and loans held for sale
 
$
24,892

 
$
21,466

 
$
70,544

 
$
63,379

Investment securities
 
2,017

 
1,629

 
5,901

 
4,720

Other interest-earning assets
 
136

 
96

 
302

 
189

Total interest and dividend income
 
27,045

 
23,191

 
76,747

 
68,288

Interest expense:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Deposits
 
1,509

 
1,138

 
4,117

 
3,325

Borrowed funds
 
169

 
2

 
422

 
79

Subordinated debt
 
233

 
234

 
692

 
695

Total interest expense
 
1,911

 
1,374

 
5,231

 
4,099

Net interest income
 
25,134

 
21,817

 
71,516

 
64,189

Provision for loan losses
 
1,225

 
1,386

 
1,630

 
2,503

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
 
23,909

 
20,431

 
69,886

 
61,686

Non-interest income:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Investment advisory fees
 
1,311

 
1,162

 
3,803

 
3,593

Deposit and interchange fees
 
1,527

 
1,272

 
4,389

 
3,790

Income on bank-owned life insurance, net
 
174

 
182

 
527

 
564

Net gains (losses) on sales of investment securities
 
(284
)
 
546

 
485

 
611

Net gains on sales of loans
 
88

 
198

 
359

 
392

Other income
 
628

 
588

 
1,954

 
1,786

Total non-interest income
 
3,444

 
3,948

 
11,517

 
10,736

Non-interest expense:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Salaries and employee benefits
 
12,177

 
10,948

 
36,661

 
32,458

Occupancy and equipment expenses
 
1,993

 
1,859

 
5,877

 
5,453

Technology and telecommunications expenses
 
1,601

 
1,577

 
4,789

 
4,548

Advertising and public relations expenses
 
597

 
591

 
2,013

 
2,087

Audit, legal and other professional fees
 
381

 
409

 
1,058

 
1,241

Deposit insurance premiums
 
371

 
347

 
1,130

 
997

Supplies and postage expenses
 
248

 
241

 
726

 
728

Other operating expenses
 
1,465

 
1,442

 
4,753

 
4,313

Total non-interest expense
 
18,833

 
17,414

 
57,007

 
51,825

Income before income taxes
 
8,520

 
6,965

 
24,396

 
20,597

Provision for income taxes
 
3,014

 
2,251

 
7,723

 
6,799

Net income
 
$
5,506

 
$
4,714

 
$
16,673

 
$
13,798

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share
 
$
0.48

 
$
0.41

 
$
1.44

 
$
1.28

Diluted earnings per share
 
$
0.47

 
$
0.41

 
$
1.43

 
$
1.27

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
 
11,589,039

 
11,430,134

 
11,557,054

 
10,801,278

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
 
11,669,159

 
11,498,990

 
11,640,373

 
10,869,405

 


See the accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements.

4






ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)

 
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Net income
 
$
5,506

 
$
4,714

 
$
16,673

 
$
13,798

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross unrealized holding gains (losses) on investments arising during the period
 
(1,180
)
 
(558
)
 
5,251

 
6,522

Income tax (expense) benefit
 
431

 
213

 
(1,885
)
 
(2,416
)
Net unrealized holding gains (losses), net of tax
 
(749
)
 
(345
)
 
3,366

 
4,106

Less: Reclassification adjustment for net gains (losses) included in net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net realized gains (losses) on sales of securities during the period
 
(284
)
 
546

 
485

 
611

Income tax (expense) benefit
 
112

 
(196
)
 
(164
)
 
(220
)
Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) realized, net of tax
 
(172
)
 
350

 
321

 
391

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net
 
(577
)
 
(695
)
 
3,045

 
3,715

Comprehensive income
 
$
4,929

 
$
4,019

 
$
19,718

 
$
17,513



See the accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements.

5


ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
(Unaudited)

 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Common
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss)/Income
 
Total
Stockholders'
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2016
 
$
115

 
$
85,421

 
$
130,008

 
$
(758
)
 
$
214,786

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
16,673

 
 
 
16,673

Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting pronouncement
 
 
 
13

 
(13
)
 
 
 

Other comprehensive income, net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3,045

 
3,045

Common stock dividend paid ($0.405 per share)
 
 
 
 
 
(4,676
)
 
 
 
(4,676
)
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment plan
 

 
1,118

 
 
 
 
 
1,118

Common stock issued other
 

 
61

 
 
 
 
 
61

Stock-based compensation, net
 
1

 
1,366

 
 
 
 
 
1,367

Repurchases for tax withholdings on options and restricted stock awards, net of proceeds from exercise of stock options
 

 
(487
)
 
 
 
 
 
(487
)
Balance at September 30, 2017
 
$
116

 
$
87,492

 
$
141,992

 
$
2,287

 
$
231,887


See the accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements.

6


ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
 
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2017
 
2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
16,673

 
$
13,798

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Provision for loan losses
 
1,630

 
2,503

Depreciation and amortization
 
5,250

 
4,387

Stock-based compensation expense
 
1,287

 
1,349

Mortgage loans originated for sale
 
(16,033
)
 
(19,943
)
Proceeds from mortgage loans sold
 
17,085

 
19,873

Net gains on sales of loans
 
(359
)
 
(392
)
Net gains (losses) on sales of investments
 
(485
)
 
(611
)
Income on bank-owned life insurance, net
 
(527
)
 
(564
)
Changes in:
 
 
 
 
Decrease (increase) in other assets
 
1,342

 
(1,810
)
Increase in other liabilities
 
2,458

 
497

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
28,321

 
19,087

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from sales of investment securities
 
65,114

 
4,729

Net (purchases) proceeds from FHLB capital stock
 
(5,131
)
 
1,166

Proceeds from maturities, calls and pay-downs of investment securities
 
21,135

 
16,708

Purchase of investment securities
 
(91,890
)
 
(65,846
)
Net increase in loans
 
(179,432
)
 
(125,814
)
Additions to premises and equipment, net
 
(6,253
)
 
(7,033
)
Proceeds from bank-owned life insurance
 

 
405

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(196,457
)
 
(175,685
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Net increase in deposits
 
33,752

 
203,461

Net increase (decrease) in borrowed funds
 
138,584

 
(53,000
)
Cash dividends paid
 
(4,676
)
 
(4,196
)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
 
1,179

 
20,816

Repurchases for tax withholdings on options and restricted stock awards, net of proceeds from exercise of stock options
 
(487
)
 
(47
)
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation
 

 
229

Net cash provided by financing activities
 
168,352

 
167,263

 
 
 
 
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
216

 
10,665

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
50,475

 
51,495

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
50,691

 
$
62,160

 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental financial data:
 
 
 
 
Cash Paid For: Interest
 
$
5,221

 
$
4,098

Cash Paid For: Income Taxes
 
$
7,825

 
$
8,021

 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activity:
 
 
 
 
Net purchases of investment securities not yet settled
 
$
1,631

 
$
1,215

 







See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements.

7







ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 
(1)
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Organization of Holding Company and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements and these notes should be read in conjunction with the December 31, 2016 audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company," "Enterprise," "we," or "our"), a Massachusetts corporation, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 14, 2017 (the "2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K").  The Company has not changed its accounting policies from those disclosed in its 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company's unaudited consolidated interim financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Enterprise Bank and Trust Company (the "Bank").  The Bank is a Massachusetts trust company organized in 1989. Substantially all of the Company's operations are conducted through the Bank and its subsidiaries.

The Bank's subsidiaries include Enterprise Insurance Services, LLC and Enterprise Investment Services, LLC, organized under the laws of the State of Delaware for the purposes of engaging in insurance sales activities and offering non-deposit investment products and services, respectively.  In addition, the Bank has the following subsidiaries that are incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and classified as security corporations in accordance with applicable Massachusetts General Laws: Enterprise Security Corporation; Enterprise Security Corporation II; and Enterprise Security Corporation III.  The security corporations, which hold various types of qualifying securities, are limited to conducting securities investment activities that the Bank itself would be allowed to conduct under applicable laws.

At September 30, 2017, the Company had 24 full service branches serving the Greater Merrimack Valley and North Central regions of Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire (Southern Hillsborough and Rockingham counties). Through the Bank and its subsidiaries, the Company offers a range of commercial, residential and consumer loan products, deposit products and cash management services, as well as investment advisory and wealth management, trust and insurance services.   The services offered through the Bank and its subsidiaries are managed as one strategic unit and represent the Company's only reportable operating segment.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC") and the Massachusetts Division of Banks (the "Division") have regulatory authority over the Bank.  The Bank is also subject to certain regulatory requirements of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board") and, with respect to its New Hampshire branch operations, the New Hampshire Banking Department.  The business and operations of the Company are subject to the regulatory oversight of the Federal Reserve Board.  The Division also retains supervisory jurisdiction over the Company.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the instructions for Form 10-Q through the rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under federal securities law. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements reflect all necessary adjustments consisting of normal recurring accruals for a fair presentation.  All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements. Certain previous years' amounts in the consolidated financial statements, and notes thereto, have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the entire year, or any future period.

The Company has evaluated subsequent events and transactions from September 30, 2017 through the date this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q was filed with the SEC for potential recognition or disclosure as required by GAAP and determined that there were no material subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure.

(b) Critical Accounting Estimates

In preparing the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management is required to exercise judgment in determining many of the methodologies, assumptions and estimates to be utilized.  These assumptions and estimates affect the reported values of assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date and income and expenses for the period then ended.  As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates should the assumptions and estimates used change over time due to changes in


8

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

circumstances.  Changes in those estimates resulting from continuing change in the economic environment and other factors will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements in future periods.

As discussed in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the three most significant areas in which management applies critical assumptions and estimates are the estimates of the allowance for loan losses, impairment review of investment securities and the impairment review of goodwill.  Refer to Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," to the Company's consolidated financial statements included in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K for accounting policies related to these significant estimates. The Company has not changed its significant accounting policies from those disclosed in its 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(c) Restricted Instruments

Certain of the Company's derivative agreements contain provisions that require the Company to post collateral if the derivative exposure exceeds a threshold amount. When the Company has pledged cash as collateral for this purpose, the cash is carried as restricted cash within cash and cash equivalents.

As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston ("FHLB"), the Company is required to purchase certain levels of FHLB capital stock at par value in association with outstanding advances from the FHLB.  From time-to-time, the FHLB may initiate the repurchase, at par value, of "excess" levels of its capital stock held by member banks. This stock is classified as a restricted investment and carried at cost, which management believes approximates fair value.  FHLB stock represents the only restricted investment held by the Company.
 
Management regularly reviews its holdings of FHLB stock for other-than-temporary-impairment ("OTTI"). Based on management's periodic review, the Company has not recorded any OTTI charges on this investment to date. If it was determined that a write-down of FHLB stock was required, impairment would be recognized through a charge to earnings.

See Note 2, "Investment Securities," for additional information on management's OTTI review.

(d) Income Taxes
 
The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes.  Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax expense or benefit attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities.  The deferred tax assets and liabilities are reflected at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be realized or settled.  As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities will be adjusted accordingly through the provision for income taxes in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company's policy is to classify interest resulting from underpayment of income taxes as income tax expense in the first period the interest would begin accruing according to the provisions of the relevant tax law.  The Company classifies penalties resulting from underpayment of income taxes as income tax expense in the period for which the Company claims or expects to claim an uncertain tax position or in the period in which the Company's judgment changes regarding an uncertain tax position.
 
The income tax provisions will differ from the expense that would result from applying the federal statutory rate to income before taxes, due primarily to the impact of tax-exempt interest from certain investment securities, loans and bank-owned life insurance.

The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits accrued as income tax liabilities or receivables or as deferred tax items at September 30, 2017.  The Company is subject to U.S. federal and state income tax examinations by taxing authorities for the 2013 through 2016 tax years.





9

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

(e) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting pronouncements adopted by the Company

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU" or "Update") No. 2016-09, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting." The new standard was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years.

The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-09 in the first quarter of 2017. Several aspects of the accounting are simplified including, generally: a) income tax consequences; b) classification of awards as either equity or liabilities; c) accounting for forfeitures; and d) classification on the statement of cash flows. Upon adoption, the most significant impact of this amendment resulted from the prospective application of current excess tax benefits and deficiencies being recognized in income tax expense, which would previously have been recognized in additional paid-in capital, in the reporting period in which they occur. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, this reduced the Company's provision for income taxes, increasing earnings by approximately $832 thousand. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recognized $789 thousand in additional paid-in-capital in this regard, which, if under the new ASU, would have been recognized as income tax benefit in the income statement. This amount, treated as discrete items in the period in which they occur, will vary from year to year as a function of the volume of share-based payments vested or exercised and the then current market price of the Company's stock in comparison to the compensation cost recognized in the consolidated financial statements.

Additionally upon adoption, the Company made a policy election to record forfeitures as they occur rather than make use of an estimate. Using a modified retrospective approach, the Company recorded an immaterial cumulative effect adjustment from retained earnings to additional paid-in-capital. The other provisions did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

Accounting pronouncements not yet adopted by the Company (in order of effective date of implementation)

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)." This ASU is intended to create a single source of revenue guidance which is more principles based than current revenue guidance. The guidance affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services, or enters into contracts for the transfer of non-financial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date" to amend the effective date of ASU 2014-09. The amendments in ASU 2014-09 are effective for annual and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Earlier adoption is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The FASB has since issued additional related ASUs amendments intended to clarify certain aspects and improve understanding of the implementation guidance of Topic 606 but do not change the core principles of the guidance in Topic 606. The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments are the same as the effective date and transition requirements of Topic 606.

The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the ASU and its amendments on the Company's consolidated financial statements, results of operations, and disclosures and does not currently plan to early adopt. Based on the Company's initial review, and because the largest portion of the Company's revenue, interest income and various loan fees, are specifically excluded from the scope of this ASU, and because the Company currently recognizes the majority of the remaining revenue sources in a manner that management believes is consistent with the new ASU, management believes that this new standard will not materially impact the Company's consolidated financial statements, results of operations or disclosures. The foregoing observations are subject to change as management completes their evaluation.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, "Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities," which updates certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments.

Among other things, the new guidance:
Requires equity investments (except 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;


10

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

Requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; and
Requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (i.e., securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements.

The new guidance is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years.

The Company is currently evaluating the effects of this ASU on the Company's consolidated financial statements, results of operations and disclosures. Based on the Company's evaluation to date, management believes the more significant implications upon adoption of this ASU will be the potential recognition of changes in fair value of the Company's equity portfolio in net income. Under current GAAP, net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on the equity portfolio, net of applicable income taxes, are reflected as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. The net unrealized gain or loss on equity securities will fluctuate based on changes in the market value of the mutual funds and individual securities held in the portfolio.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, other comprehensive losses, net of taxes, generated from the equity portfolio amounted to $670 thousand, compared to a gain of $178 thousand generated for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Any potential future changes in fair value of the equity portfolio recognized in net income will depend on the amount of dollars invested in the portfolio and the potential magnitude of changes in equity market values. The foregoing observations are subject to change as management completes their evaluation.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, "Statement of Cash flows (Topic 230) - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments." The amendments are intended to reduce diversity in practice related to the presentation of eight specific cash flow issues. For public business entities that are SEC filers, such as the Company, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Because this amendment primarily impacts the presentation and classification of information, the Company does not expect this ASU to have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and results of operations.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, "Statement of Cash flows-Restricted Cash (Topic 230)." The amendments in this Update clarify the inclusion of restricted cash in the cash and cash equivalents beginning-of-period and end-of period reconciliation on the statement of cash flows. For public business entities that are SEC filers, such as the Company, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Because this amendment primarily impacts the presentation and classification of information, the Company does not expect this ASU to have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and results of operations.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, "Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost." The amendments in this Update outline the presentation, classification and disclosure requirements for service cost and other components of net benefit costs. For public business entities that are SEC filers, such as the Company, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Because this amendment primarily impacts the presentation and classification of information, the Company does not expect this ASU to have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and results of operations.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting." The amendments in this Update apply to entities that change the terms of an outstanding share-based payment award. The amendments are intended to reduce diversity in practice as well as cost and complexity when applying guidance in Topic 718 to the modification of the terms and conditions of a share-based payment award. This ASU provides guidance on the three modifications to share-based payment awards and conditions that must be met in order to exempt an entity from modification accounting under topic 718. The amendments in this Update apply prospectively to award modifications on or after the adoption date, and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company currently does not expect that adoption of the ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, results of operations or disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)," which supersedes previous leasing guidance in Topic 840, Leases. Under the new guidance, lessees are required to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with


11

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the consolidated financial statements, with certain practical expedients available.

The Company is currently evaluating the effects of this ASU on the Company's consolidated financial statements, results of operations and disclosures. Based on the Company's evaluation to date, management believes the more significant implication of this ASU on the Company relates to operating leases of our facilities, mainly branch leases. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had leases on 17 of its locations, including branches and part of its main campus, and expects that upon adoption of this ASU the balance sheet will reflect both lease liabilities, equal to the present value of lease payments, and right-of-use assets, equal to the lease liability plus payments made to lessors adjusted for prepaid or accrued rent and any initial direct cost incurred. In addition, the Company will recognize lease expense in the income statement on a straight-line basis similar to current operating leases. The straight-line expense will reflect the interest expense on the lease liability (effective interest method) and amortization of the right-of-use asset. Lease expense will be presented as a single line item in the operating expense section of the income statement. Management believes that lease expense under the new standard will generally approximate lease expense under current GAAP. The foregoing observations are subject to change as management completes their evaluation.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-08, "Receivables-Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities." The amendments shorten the amortization period to the earliest call date for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. The accretion for securities held at a discount is not affected by this statement and remains unchanged. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective basis is required upon adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has assessed the impact of this ASU and does not expect that it will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements, results of operations and disclosures upon adoption.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments." The amendments in this ASU require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. Previously, when credit losses were measured under GAAP, an entity generally only considered past events and current conditions in measuring the incurred loss and generally recognition of the full amount of credit losses was delayed until the loss was probable of occurring. The amendments in this ASU eliminate the probable initial recognition threshold in current GAAP and, instead, reflect an entity’s current estimate of all expected credit losses.

The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. An entity must use judgment in determining the relevant information and estimation methods that are appropriate in its circumstances. The income statement reflects the measurement of credit losses for newly recognized financial assets, as well as the expected increases or decreases of expected credit losses that have taken place during the period. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset.

Credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities should be measured in a manner similar to current GAAP. However, the amendments in this Update require that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. Unlike current GAAP, the ASU provides for reversals of credit losses in future period net income in situations where the estimate of loss declines.

An entity will apply the amendments in this Update through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective (that is, a modified-retrospective approach). For public business entities that are SEC filers, such as the Company, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 is permitted.

The Company has established an implementation committee and an enterprise-wide implementation plan for this ASU, which will consider the impact to operations, financial results, disclosures and controls. At present, the impact of the adoption of ASU No. 2016-13 on the Company's operations, financial results, disclosures, and controls is unknown.



12

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, "Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350)-Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment." The main provision in this ASU eliminated Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test and instead requires an entity to perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge would be recognized for the amount the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit's fair value as long as the amount recognized doesn't exceed the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. For public business entities that are SEC filers, such as the Company, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. Goodwill carried on the Company’s consolidated financial statements was $5.7 million at both September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. This asset is related to the Company’s acquisition of two branch offices in July 2000. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU No. 2017-01 to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and results of operations.

(2)
Investment Securities
 
The amortized cost and carrying values of investment securities at the dates specified are summarized as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amortized
cost
 
Unrealized
gains
 
Unrealized
losses
 
Fair Value
Federal agency obligations (1)
 
$
74,763

 
$
355

 
$
46

 
$
75,072

Residential federal agency MBS (1)
 
101,241

 
260

 
543

 
100,958

Commercial federal agency MBS(1)
 
65,009

 
105

 
318

 
64,796

Municipal securities
 
127,275

 
2,654

 
167

 
129,762

Corporate bonds
 
11,278


111


33


11,356

Certificates of deposits (2)
 
950

 
2

 

 
952

Total debt securities
 
380,516

 
3,487

 
1,107

 
382,896

Equity investments
 
1,861

 
1,187

 
2

 
3,046

Total investment securities, at fair value
 
$
382,377

 
$
4,674

 
$
1,109

 
$
385,942

 
 
 
December 31, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amortized
cost
 
Unrealized
gains
 
Unrealized
losses
 
Fair Value
Federal agency obligations(1)
 
$
74,682

 
$
432

 
$
45

 
$
75,069

Residential federal agency MBS(1)
 
94,818

 
96

 
1,561

 
93,353

Commercial federal agency MBS(1)
 
71,993

 
15

 
1,730

 
70,278

Municipal securities
 
112,401

 
922

 
1,520

 
111,803

Corporate bonds
 
10,734

 
51

 
90

 
10,695

Certificates of deposits (2)
 
950

 

 
1

 
949

Total debt securities
 
365,578

 
1,516

 
4,947

 
362,147

Equity investments
 
10,413

 
2,532

 
302

 
12,643

Total investment securities, at fair value
 
$
375,991

 
$
4,048

 
$
5,249

 
$
374,790

__________________________________________
(1) 
These categories may include investments issued or guaranteed by government sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae ("FNMA"), Freddie Mac ("FHLMC"), Federal Farm Credit Bank ("FFCB"), or one of several Federal Home Loan Banks, as well as, investments guaranteed by Ginnie Mae ("GNMA"), a wholly-owned government entity. 
(2) 
Certificates of deposits ("CDs") represent term deposits issued by banks that are subject to FDIC insurance and purchased on the open market.

Included in the residential and commercial federal agency MBS categories were collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs") issued by U.S. agencies with fair values totaling $110.2 million and $107.0 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.



13

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

At September 30, 2017, the equity portfolio was comprised of investments in individual common stock of financial services entities.

As of the dates reflected in the tables above, all of the Company’s investment securities were classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value. Net unrealized appreciation and depreciation on investments available-for-sale, net of applicable income taxes, are reflected as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

The net unrealized gain or loss in the Company's debt security portfolio fluctuates as market interest rates rise and fall.  Due to the predominantly fixed rate nature of this portfolio, as market rates fall, the value of the portfolio rises, and as market rates rise, the value of the portfolio declines.  The unrealized gains or losses on debt securities will also decline as the securities approach maturity. Unrealized gains or losses will be recognized in the income statement if the securities are sold. However, if an unrealized loss on a debt security portfolio is deemed to be other than temporary, the credit loss portion is charged to earnings and the noncredit portion is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

The net unrealized gain or loss on equity securities will fluctuate based on changes in the market value of the mutual funds and individual securities held in the portfolio.  Unrealized gains or losses will be recognized in the statements of income if the securities are sold. However, if an unrealized loss on an equity security is deemed to be other than temporary prior to a sale, the loss is charged to earnings.

The following tables summarize investments (debt and equity) having temporary impairment, due to the fair market values having declined below the amortized costs of the individual investments, and the period that the investments have been temporarily impaired at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
 
 
 
September 30, 2017
 
 
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or longer
 
Total
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
# of holdings
Federal agency obligations
 
$
22,980

 
$
46

 
$

 
$

 
$
22,980

 
$
46

 
6

Residential federal agency MBS
 
57,917

 
401

 
7,454

 
142

 
65,371

 
543

 
23

Commercial federal agency MBS
 
41,007

 
318

 

 

 
41,007

 
318

 
9

Municipal securities
 
5,627

 
57

 
6,084

 
110

 
11,711

 
167

 
21

Corporate bonds
 
2,281

 
23

 
1,095

 
10

 
3,376

 
33

 
19

Equity investments
 
74

 
2

 

 

 
74

 
2

 
1

Total temporarily impaired investment securities(1)
 
$
129,886

 
$
847

 
$
14,633

 
$
262

 
$
144,519

 
$
1,109

 
79


 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or longer
 
Total
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
# of holdings
Federal agency obligations
 
$
13,956

 
$
45

 
$

 
$

 
$
13,956

 
$
45

 
3
Residential federal agency MBS
 
68,138

 
1,236

 
8,008

 
325

 
76,146

 
1,561

 
31
Commercial federal agency MBS
 
60,060

 
1,730

 

 

 
60,060

 
1,730

 
18
Municipal securities
 
60,436

 
1,520

 

 

 
60,436

 
1,520

 
107
Corporate bonds
 
5,729

 
90

 

 

 
5,729

 
90

 
37
Certificates of deposit
 
949

 
1

 

 

 
949

 
1

 
4
Equity investments
 
1,185

 
20

 
2,743

 
282

 
3,928

 
302

 
3
Total temporarily impaired investment securities
 
$
210,453

 
$
4,642

 
$
10,751

 
$
607

 
$
221,204

 
$
5,249

 
203
__________________________________________
(1) 
The Company did not hold any Certificates of deposit that had unrealized losses as of September 30, 2017.



14

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not record any fair value impairment charges on its investments. Management regularly reviews the portfolio for securities with unrealized losses that are other-than-temporarily impaired. At September 30, 2017, management attributes the unrealized losses in the portfolio to increases in current market yields compared to the yields at the time the investments were purchased by the Company for debt securities and the impact of market value fluctuations on the equity portion of our portfolio. As of September 30, 2017, management did not consider its debt securities to be other-than-temporarily impaired because (1) the decline in market value is not attributable to a fundamental deterioration in quality of the securities or the issuers, and (2) the Company did not intend to sell, and it is more likely than not that it will not be required to, sell those investments prior to a market price recovery or maturity with recovery of the amortized cost. The unrealized losses in equity investments as of September 30, 2017 were not material.

In assessing the Company's investments in federal agency mortgage-backed securities and federal agency obligations, the contractual cash flows of these investments are guaranteed by the respective government sponsored enterprise (FHLMC, FNMA, FFCB, or FHLB) or wholly-owned government corporation (GNMA). Accordingly, it is expected that the securities would not be settled at a price less than the par value of the Company's investments. Management's assessment of other debt securities within the portfolio includes reviews of market pricing, ongoing credit quality evaluations, assessment of the investments' materiality, and duration of the investments' unrealized loss position. In addition, the Company utilizes an outside registered investment adviser to manage the corporate and municipal bond portfolios, within prescribed guidelines set by management, and to provide assistance in assessing the credit risk of those portfolios. At September 30, 2017, the Company's corporate and municipal bond portfolios did not contain any securities below investment grade, as reported by major credit rating agencies. For equities and funds, management's assessment includes the severity of the declines, whether it is unlikely that the security or fund will completely recover its unrealized loss within a reasonable time period and if the equity security or fund exhibits fundamental deterioration.

See "Financial Condition," in Item 2, "Management's Discussion and Analysis," under the heading "Investments" in this Form 10-Q for additional information about changes in the net unrealized gains (losses) on investments.

The contractual maturity distribution at September 30, 2017 of total debt securities was as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
Due in one year or less
 
$
16,217

 
$
16,262

Due after one, but within five years
 
112,615

 
113,439

Due after five, but within ten years
 
117,552

 
118,680

Due after ten years
 
134,132

 
134,515

Total debt securities
 
$
380,516

 
$
382,896


Scheduled contractual maturities shown above may not reflect the actual maturities of the investments. The actual MBS/CMO cash flows likely will be faster than presented above due to prepayments and amortization. Similarly, included in the fair value of debt securities above are callable securities, comprised of municipal securities and corporate bonds totaling $68.1 million, which can be redeemed by the issuer prior to the maturity presented above.  Management considers these factors when evaluating the interest rate risk in the Company's asset-liability management program.

From time to time, the Company may pledge securities as collateral for deposit account balances of municipal customers, and for borrowing capacity with the FHLB and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (the "FRB").  The fair value of securities pledged as collateral for these purposes was $374.4 million at September 30, 2017.



15

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

Sales of investments, including pending trades based on trade date, if applicable, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 are summarized as follows:
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Amortized cost of investments sold (1)
 
$
60,834

 
$
2,354

 
$
70,202

 
$
4,118

Gross realized gains on sales
 
1,350

 
546

 
2,225

 
611

Gross realized losses on sales
 
(1,634
)
 

 
(1,740
)
 

Total proceeds from sales of investments
 
$
60,550

 
$
2,900

 
$
70,687

 
$
4,729

_________________________________________
(1) 
Amortized cost of investments sold is determined on a specific identification basis.

The losses realized in the third quarter of 2017 were predominately from a debt security portfolio restructuring, largely offset by gains on equity sales.

See Note 12, "Fair Value Measurements," below for further information regarding the Company's fair value measurements for available-for-sale securities.

(3)
Loans

The Company specializes in lending to business entities, non-profit organizations, professionals and individuals. The Company's primary lending focus is on the development of high quality commercial relationships achieved through active business development efforts, long-term relationships with established commercial developers, strong community involvement and focused marketing strategies.  Loans made to businesses include commercial mortgage loans, construction and land development loans, secured and unsecured commercial loans and lines of credit, and letters of credit.  The Company also originates equipment lease financing for businesses. Loans made to individuals include conventional residential mortgage loans, home equity loans and lines, residential construction loans on primary and secondary residences, and secured and unsecured personal loans and lines of credit. The Company manages its loan portfolio to avoid concentration by industry and relationship size to lessen its credit risk exposure.

See Note 4, "Allowance for Loan Losses," for information on the Company's credit risk management, non-accrual, impaired and troubled debt restructured loans and the allowance for loan losses.
 
Major classifications of loans at the periods indicated were as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
Commercial real estate
 
$
1,153,108

 
$
1,038,082

Commercial and industrial
 
512,736

 
490,799

Commercial construction
 
245,453

 
213,447

Total commercial loans
 
1,911,297

 
1,742,328

Residential mortgages
 
194,375

 
180,560

Home equity loans and lines
 
89,044

 
91,065

Consumer
 
10,085

 
10,845

Total retail loans
 
293,504

 
282,470

 
 
 
 
 
Gross loans
 
2,204,801

 
2,024,798

Deferred loan origination fees, net
 
(2,428
)
 
(2,069
)
Total loans
 
2,202,373

 
2,022,729

Allowance for loan losses
 
(33,184
)
 
(31,342
)
Net loans
 
$
2,169,189

 
$
1,991,387

 


16

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

Loan Categories
 
- Commercial loans:

Commercial real estate loans include loans secured by both owner-use and non-owner occupied real estate.  These loans are typically secured by a variety of commercial and industrial property types, including one-to-four and multi-family apartment buildings, office, industrial or mixed-use facilities, strip shopping centers, or other commercial properties, and are generally guaranteed by the principals of the borrower. Commercial real estate loans generally have repayment periods of approximately fifteen to twenty-five years.  Variable interest rate loans have a variety of adjustment terms and underlying interest rate indices, and are generally fixed for an initial period before periodic rate adjustments begin.
 
Commercial and industrial loans include seasonal revolving lines of credit, working capital loans, equipment financing (including equipment leases), and term loans.  Also included in commercial and industrial loans are loans partially guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration ("SBA"), and loans under various programs and agencies.  Commercial and industrial credits may be unsecured loans and lines to financially strong borrowers, loans secured in whole or in part by real estate unrelated to the principal purpose of the loan or secured by inventories, equipment, or receivables, and are generally guaranteed by the principals of the borrower.  Variable rate loans and lines in this portfolio have interest rates that are periodically adjusted, with loans generally having fixed initial periods.  Commercial and industrial loans have average repayment periods of one to seven years.
 
Commercial construction loans include the development of residential housing and condominium projects, the development of commercial and industrial use property, and loans for the purchase and improvement of raw land.  These loans are secured in whole or in part by underlying real estate collateral and are generally guaranteed by the principals of the borrowers.  Construction lenders work to cultivate long-term relationships with established developers. The Company limits the amount of financing provided to any single developer for the construction of properties built on a speculative basis.  Funds for construction projects are disbursed as pre-specified stages of construction are completed.  Regular site inspections are performed, prior to advancing additional funds, at each construction phase, either by experienced construction lenders on staff or by independent outside inspection companies.  Commercial construction loans generally are variable rate loans and lines with interest rates that are periodically adjusted and generally have terms of one to three years.

From time to time, the Company participates with other banks in the financing of certain commercial projects.  Participating loans with other institutions provide banks the opportunity to retain customer relationships and reduce credit risk exposure among each participating bank, while providing customers with larger credit vehicles than the individual bank might be willing or able to offer independently. In some cases, the Company may act as the lead lender, originating and servicing the loans, but participating out a portion of the funding to other banks.  In other cases, the Company may participate in loans originated by other institutions. In each case, the participating bank funds a percentage of the loan commitment and takes on the related pro-rata risk.  In each case in which the Company participates in a loan, the rights and obligations of each participating bank are divided proportionately among the participating banks in an amount equal to their share of ownership and with equal priority among all banks.  When the participation qualifies as a sale under GAAP, the balances participated out to other institutions are not carried as assets on the Company's financial statements.  The Company performs an independent credit analysis of each commitment and a review of the participating institution prior to participation in the loan, and an annual review thereafter of each participating institution. Loans originated by other banks in which the Company is a participating institution are carried in the loan portfolio at the Company's pro rata share of ownership.  Loans originated by other banks in which the Company is a participating institution amounted to $89.4 million at September 30, 2017 and $85.2 million at December 31, 2016. See also "Loans serviced for others" below for information related to commercial loans participated out to various other institutions.
 
Letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the financial obligation or performance of a customer to a third party.  The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers.  If the letter of credit is drawn upon, a loan is created for the customer, generally a commercial loan, with the same criteria associated with similar commercial loans.
 
- Residential loans:

Enterprise originates conventional mortgage loans on one-to-four family residential properties.  These properties may serve as the borrower's primary residence, or as vacation homes or investment properties.  Loan-to-value limits vary, generally from 75% for multi-family, owner-occupied properties, up to 97% for single family, owner-occupied properties, with mortgage


17

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

insurance coverage required for loan-to-value ratios greater than 80% based on program parameters.  In addition, financing is provided for the construction of owner-occupied primary and secondary residences.  Residential mortgage loans may have terms of up to 30 years at either fixed or adjustable rates of interest.  Fixed and adjustable rate residential mortgage loans are generally originated using secondary market underwriting and documentation standards.
 
Depending on the current interest rate environment, management projections of future interest rates and the overall asset-liability management program of the Company, management may elect to sell those fixed and adjustable rate residential mortgage loans which are eligible for sale in the secondary market, or hold some or all of this residential loan production for the Company's portfolio.  Mortgage loans are generally not pooled for sale, but instead sold on an individual basis. The Company may retain or sell the servicing when selling the loans.  Loans sold are subject to standard secondary market underwriting and eligibility representations and warranties over the life of the loan and are subject to an early payment default period covering the first four payments for certain loan sales. Loans classified as held for sale are carried as a separate line item on the balance sheet.

- Home equity loans and lines of credit:

Home equity term loans have in the past been originated for one-to-four family residential properties with maximum original loan-to-value ratios generally up to 80% of the automated valuation or appraised value of the property securing the loan.  Home equity loan payments consist of monthly principal and interest based on amortization ranging from three to fifteen years.  The rates may be variable or fixed.
 
The Company originates home equity revolving lines of credit for one-to-four family residential properties with maximum original loan-to-value ratios generally up to 80% of the automated valuation or appraised value of the property securing the loan.  Home equity lines generally have interest rates that adjust monthly based on changes in the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, although minimum rates may be applicable.  Some home equity line rates may be fixed for a period of time and then adjusted monthly thereafter. The payment schedule for home equity lines requires interest only payments for the first ten years of the lines. Generally at the end of ten years, the line may be frozen to future advances, and principal plus interest payments are collected over a fifteen-year amortization schedule or, for eligible borrowers meeting certain requirements, the line availability may be extended for an additional interest only period.
 
- Consumer loans:

Consumer loans consist primarily of secured or unsecured personal loans, loans under energy efficiency financing programs in conjunction with Massachusetts public utilities, and overdraft protection lines on checking accounts extended to individual customers. The aggregate amount of overdrawn deposit accounts are reclassified as loan balances.
 
Loans serviced for others
 
At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company was servicing residential mortgage loans owned by investors amounting to $19.1 million and $18.7 million, respectively.  Additionally, the Company was servicing commercial loans participated out to various other institutions amounting to $67.7 million and $62.3 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. See the discussion above under the heading "Commercial loans" for further information regarding commercial participations.
 
Loans serving as collateral
 
Loans designated as qualified collateral and pledged to the FHLB for borrowing capacity for the periods indicated are summarized below:

(Dollars in thousands)
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
Commercial real estate
 
$
228,710

 
$
247,664

Residential mortgages
 
181,309

 
170,247

Home equity
 
10,454

 
12,340

Total loans pledged to FHLB
 
$
420,473

 
$
430,251



18

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 


See Note 12, "Fair Value Measurements," below for further information regarding the Company's fair value measurements for loans, and Note 7, "Derivatives and Hedging Activities," below for information regarding interest-rate swap agreements related to certain commercial loans.

(4)
Allowance for Loan Losses
 
Allowance for probable loan losses methodology

On a quarterly basis, management prepares an estimate of the allowance necessary to cover estimated probable credit losses.  The Company uses a systematic methodology to measure the amount of estimated loan loss exposure inherent in the portfolio for purposes of establishing a sufficient allowance for loan losses. The methodology makes use of specific reserves for loans individually evaluated and deemed impaired, and general reserves for larger groups of homogeneous loans, which are collectively evaluated relying on a combination of qualitative and quantitative factors that may affect credit quality of the pool.

There have been no material changes to the Company's underwriting practices, credit risk management system, or to the allowance assessment methodology used to estimate loan loss exposure as reported in the 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Refer to Note 4, "Allowance for Loan Losses," to the Company's consolidated financial statements contained in the 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of management's methodology used to estimate a sufficient allowance for loan losses, the credit risk management function and adversely classified loan rating system.

The balances of loans as of September 30, 2017 by segment and evaluation method are summarized as follows: 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Loans individually
evaluated for
impairment
 
Loans collectively
evaluated for
impairment
 
Gross Loans
Commercial real estate
 
$
15,133

 
$
1,137,975

 
$
1,153,108

Commercial and industrial
 
12,098

 
500,638

 
512,736

Commercial construction
 
1,615

 
243,838

 
245,453

Residential mortgages
 
403

 
193,972

 
194,375

Home equity loans and lines
 
378

 
88,666

 
89,044

Consumer
 
36

 
10,049

 
10,085

Total gross loans
 
$
29,663

 
$
2,175,138

 
$
2,204,801


The balances of loans as of December 31, 2016 by segment and evaluation method are summarized as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Loans individually
evaluated for
impairment
 
Loans collectively
evaluated for
impairment
 
Gross Loans
Commercial real estate
 
$
14,261

 
$
1,023,821

 
$
1,038,082

Commercial and industrial
 
13,372

 
477,427

 
490,799

Commercial construction
 
3,364

 
210,083

 
213,447

Residential mortgages
 
289

 
180,271

 
180,560

Home equity loans and lines
 
509

 
90,556

 
91,065

Consumer
 
1

 
10,844

 
10,845

Total gross loans
 
$
31,796

 
$
1,993,002

 
$
2,024,798


Credit quality indicators

Early detection of credit issues is critical to minimize credit losses. Accordingly, management regularly monitors internal credit quality indicators such as the risk classification of individual loans, individual review of problem assets, past due and non-accrual loans, impaired and restructured loans, and the level of foreclosure activity, as well as trends in the general levels of these indicators. These credit quality indicators are discussed below.



19

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

Adversely classified loans

The Company's loan risk rating system classifies loans depending on risk of loss characteristics. Loans which are evaluated to be of weaker credit quality are placed on the "watch credit list" and reviewed on a more frequent basis by management. The classifications range from "substantially risk free" for the highest quality loans and loans that are secured by cash collateral, through a satisfactory range of "minimal," "moderate," "better than average," and "average" risk, to the regulatory problem-asset classifications of "criticized," for loans that may need additional monitoring, and the more severe adverse classifications of "substandard," "doubtful," and "loss" based on criteria established under banking regulations.
 
Adversely classified loans may be accruing or in non-accrual status and may be additionally designated as impaired or restructured, or some combination thereof. 
 
The following tables present the Company's credit risk profile for each class of loan in its portfolio by internally assigned adverse risk rating category as of the periods indicated. 
 
 
September 30, 2017
 
 
Adversely Classified
 
Not Adversely
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Substandard
 
Doubtful
 
Loss
 
Classified
 
Gross Loans
Commercial real estate
 
$
14,270

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,138,838

 
$
1,153,108

Commercial and industrial
 
11,287

 
51

 
1

 
501,397

 
512,736

Commercial construction
 
1,615

 

 

 
243,838

 
245,453

Residential mortgages
 
1,366

 

 

 
193,009

 
194,375

Home equity loans and lines
 
527

 

 

 
88,517

 
89,044

Consumer
 
53

 
11

 

 
10,021

 
10,085

Total gross loans
 
$
29,118

 
$
62

 
$
1

 
$
2,175,620

 
$
2,204,801


 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
Adversely Classified
 
Not Adversely
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Substandard
 
Doubtful
 
Loss
 
Classified
 
Gross Loans
Commercial real estate
 
$
16,003

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,022,079

 
$
1,038,082

Commercial and industrial
 
12,770

 
99

 
2

 
477,928

 
490,799

Commercial construction
 
3,364

 

 

 
210,083

 
213,447

Residential mortgages
 
1,414

 

 

 
179,146

 
180,560

Home equity loans and lines
 
666

 

 

 
90,399

 
91,065

Consumer
 
30

 

 

 
10,815

 
10,845

Total gross loans
 
$
34,247

 
$
99

 
$
2

 
$
1,990,450

 
$
2,024,798


Total adversely classified loans amounted to 1.32% of total loans at September 30, 2017, as compared to 1.70% at December 31, 2016.


20

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 


Past due and non-accrual loans

 The following tables present an age analysis of past due loans as of the dates indicated:  
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)
 
30-59 Days
Past Due
 
60-89 Days
Past Due
 
Past Due 90 days or more
 
Total Past
Due Loans
 
Current Loans
 
Gross
Loans
 
Non-accrual Loans
Commercial real estate
 
$
2,005

 
$
638

 
$
3,641

 
$
6,284

 
$
1,146,824

 
$
1,153,108

 
$
8,058

Commercial and industrial
 
529

 
81

 
1,095

 
1,705

 
511,031

 
512,736

 
3,428

Commercial construction
 
3,133

 

 

 
3,133

 
242,320

 
245,453

 
197

Residential mortgages
 
1,630

 
95

 
89

 
1,814

 
192,561

 
194,375

 
267

Home equity loans and lines
 
39

 

 
194

 
233

 
88,811

 
89,044

 
477

Consumer
 
57

 
27

 
31

 
115

 
9,970

 
10,085

 
62

Total gross loans
 
$
7,393

 
$
841

 
$
5,050

 
$
13,284

 
$
2,191,517

 
$
2,204,801

 
$
12,489

 
 
Balance at December 31, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
30-59 Days
Past Due
 
60-89 Days
Past Due
 
Past Due 90 days or more
 
Total Past
Due Loans
 
Current Loans
 
Gross Loans
 
Non-accrual Loans
Commercial real estate
 
$
5,993

 
$
923

 
$
1,399

 
$
8,315

 
$
1,029,767

 
$
1,038,082

 
$
4,876

Commercial and industrial
 
267

 
4

 
1,544

 
1,815

 
488,984

 
490,799

 
3,174

Commercial construction
 

 

 

 

 
213,447

 
213,447

 
519

Residential mortgages
 
648

 

 
99

 
747

 
179,813

 
180,560

 
289

Home equity loans and lines
 
270

 

 
269

 
539

 
90,526

 
91,065

 
616

Consumer
 
94

 
13

 
11

 
118

 
10,727

 
10,845

 
11

Total gross loans
 
$
7,272

 
$
940

 
$
3,322

 
$
11,534

 
$
2,013,264

 
$
2,024,798

 
$
9,485

 
At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, all loans past due 90 days or more were carried as non-accrual, in addition to those loans where reasonable doubt existed as to the full and timely collection of interest or principal that have also been designated as non-accrual, despite their payment due status shown in the tables above.

Non-accrual loans that were not adversely classified amounted to $6 thousand at September 30, 2017 and $220 thousand at December 31, 2016. These balances primarily represented the guaranteed portions of non-performing SBA loans. The majority of the non-accrual loan balances were also carried as impaired loans during the periods noted, and are discussed further below.

The ratio of non-accrual loans to total loans amounted to 0.57% at September 30, 2017, and 0.47% at December 31, 2016.

At September 30, 2017, additional funding commitments for non-accrual loans was not material.
 
Impaired loans
 
Impaired loans are individually significant loans for which management considers it probable that not all amounts due (principal and interest) in accordance with the original contractual terms will be collected. Impaired loans are individually evaluated for credit loss and a specific allowance reserve is assigned for the amount of the estimated probable credit loss.  The majority of impaired loans are included within the non-accrual balances; however, not every loan on non-accrual status has been designated as impaired.  Impaired loans include loans that have been modified in a troubled debt restructuring ("TDR"), see "Trouble debt restructurings" below. 



21

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

The carrying value of impaired loans amounted to $29.7 million and $31.8 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.  Total accruing impaired loans amounted to $17.3 million and $22.4 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, while non-accrual impaired loans amounted to $12.4 million and $9.4 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
 
The following tables set forth the recorded investment in impaired loans and the related specific allowance allocated as of the dates indicated:
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Unpaid
contractual
principal
balance
 
Total recorded
investment in
impaired loans
 
Recorded
investment
with no
allowance
 
Recorded
investment
with
allowance
 
Related specific
allowance
Commercial real estate
 
$
16,739

 
$
15,133

 
$
12,876

 
$
2,257

 
$
386

Commercial and industrial
 
12,591

 
12,098

 
8,406

 
3,692

 
1,778

Commercial construction
 
1,665

 
1,615

 
1,615

 

 

Residential mortgages
 
515

 
403

 
403

 

 

Home equity loans and lines
 
545

 
378

 
352

 
26

 
26

Consumer
 
37

 
36

 

 
36

 
36

Total
 
$
32,092

 
$
29,663

 
$
23,652

 
$
6,011

 
$
2,226

 
 
Balance at December 31, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Unpaid
contractual
principal 
balance
 
Total recorded
investment in
impaired loans
 
Recorded
investment
with no
allowance
 
Recorded
investment
with
allowance
 
Related specific
allowance
Commercial real estate
 
$
16,010

 
$
14,261

 
$
12,444

 
$
1,817

 
$
370

Commercial and industrial
 
14,291

 
13,372

 
9,366

 
4,006

 
2,222

Commercial construction
 
3,408

 
3,364

 
3,051

 
313

 
28

Residential mortgages
 
388

 
289

 
289

 

 

Home equity loans and lines
 
665

 
509

 
509

 

 

Consumer
 
2

 
1

 

 
1

 
1

Total
 
$
34,764

 
$
31,796

 
$
25,659

 
$
6,137

 
$
2,621


The following table presents the average recorded investment in impaired loans and the related interest recognized during the three months indicated:
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Average recorded
investment
 
Interest income
recognized
 
Average recorded
investment
 
Interest income (loss)
recognized
Commercial real estate
 
$
15,401

 
$
92

 
$
14,828

 
$
107

Commercial and industrial
 
12,264

 
94

 
9,889

 
69

Commercial construction
 
1,617

 
21

 
3,113

 
39

Residential mortgages
 
315

 

 
300

 

Home equity loans and lines
 
451

 
1

 
368

 
(2
)
Consumer
 
27

 

 
13

 
1

Total
 
$
30,075

 
$
208

 
$
28,511

 
$
214



22

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 


The following table presents the average recorded investment in impaired loans and the related interest recognized during the periods indicated:
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Average recorded
investment
 
Interest income (loss)
recognized
 
Average recorded
investment
 
Interest income (loss)
recognized
Commercial real estate
 
$
14,394

 
$
271

 
$
12,399

 
$
214

Commercial and industrial
 
12,503

 
275

 
8,801

 
134

Commercial construction
 
1,884

 
70

 
3,059

 
113

Residential mortgages
 
293

 

 
304

 

Home equity loans and lines
 
518

 
(1
)
 
307

 
(4
)
Consumer
 
18

 

 
18

 
1

Total
 
$
29,610

 
$
615

 
$
24,888

 
$
458


At September 30, 2017, additional funding commitments for impaired loans totaled $414 thousand. The Company's obligation to fulfill the additional funding commitments on impaired loans is generally contingent on the borrower's compliance with the terms of the credit agreement. If the borrower is not in compliance, additional funding commitments may or may not be made at the Company's discretion.

Troubled debt restructurings
 
Loans are designated as a TDR when, as part of an agreement to modify the original contractual terms of the loan as a result of financial difficulties of the borrower, the Bank grants the borrower a concession on the terms, that would not otherwise be considered.  Typically, such concessions may consist of a reduction in interest rate to a below market rate, taking into account the credit quality of the note, extension of additional credit based on receipt of adequate collateral, or a deferment or reduction of payments (principal or interest) which materially alters the Bank's position or significantly extends the note's maturity date, such that the present value of cash flows to be received is materially less than those contractually established at the loan's origination.

Total TDR loans, included in the impaired loan balances above, as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, were $23.6 million and $27.0 million, respectively. TDR loans on accrual status amounted to $17.3 million and $22.4 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. TDR loans included in non-performing loans amounted to $6.3 million and $4.6 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The Company continues to work with customers, particularly commercial relationships, and enters into loan modifications to the extent deemed to be necessary or appropriate while attempting to achieve the best mutual outcome given the individual financial circumstances and future prospects of the borrower.

At September 30, 2017, additional funding commitments for TDR loans totaled $390 thousand. The Company's obligation to fulfill the additional funding commitments on TDR loans is generally contingent on the borrower's compliance with the terms of the credit agreement. If the borrower is not in compliance, additional funding commitments may or may not be made at the Company's discretion.



23

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

The following table sets forth the post modification balances of TDRs listed by type of modification for TDRs that occurred during the periods indicated.
 
 
Nine months ended
 
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Number of
restructurings
 
Amount
 
Number of
restructurings
 
Amount
Loan advances with adequate collateral
 
1

 
$
357

 
5

 
$
7,760

Extended maturity date
 
1

 
984

 

 

Temporary payment reduction and payment re-amortization of remaining principal over extended term
 
7

 
831

 
3

 
343

Temporary interest only payment plan
 
3

 
179

 
7

 
1,150

  Total
 
12

 
$
2,351

 
15

 
$
9,253

Amount of specific reserves included in the allowance for loan losses associated with TDRs listed above
 
 
 
$
83

 
 
 
$
204


Loans modified as TDRs during the three month periods ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 are detailed below. 

 
 
Three months ended
 
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Number of
restructurings
 
Pre-modification
outstanding recorded
investment
 
Post-modification
outstanding recorded
investment
 
Number of
restructurings
 
Pre-modification
outstanding recorded
investment
 
Post-modification
outstanding recorded
investment
Commercial real estate
 
2

 
$
577

 
$
571

 
3

 
$
532

 
$
2,026

Commercial and industrial
 

 

 

 
2

 
224

 
200

Commercial construction
 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgages
 
1

 
136

 
136

 

 

 

Home equity loans and lines
 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer
 
1

 
1

 
1

 

 

 

Total
 
4

 
$
714

 
$
708

 
5

 
$
756

 
$
2,226



Payment defaults, during the three month periods ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 on loans modified as TDRs within the preceding twelve months are detailed below.

 
 
Three months ended
 
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Number of TDRs that defaulted
 
Post-
modification outstanding
recorded investment
 
Number of TDRs that defaulted
 
Post-
modification outstanding
recorded investment
Commercial real estate
 

 
$

 
1

 
$
148

Commercial and industrial
 

 

 

 

Commercial construction
 

 

 
1

 
1,188

Residential mortgages
 

 

 

 

Home equity loans and lines
 

 

 

 

Consumer
 

 

 

 

Total
 

 
$

 
2

 
$
1,336



24

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

Loans modified as TDRs during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 are detailed below.
 
 
Nine months ended
 
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Number of
restructurings
 
Pre-modification
outstanding recorded
investment
 
Post-modification
outstanding recorded
investment
 
Number of
restructurings
 
Pre-modification
outstanding recorded
investment
 
Post-modification
outstanding recorded
investment
Commercial real estate
 
3

 
$
696

 
$
689

 
7

 
$
5,624

 
$
7,016

Commercial and industrial
 
7

 
1,446

 
1,525

 
8

 
2,282

 
2,237

Commercial construction
 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgages
 
1

 
136

 
136

 

 

 

Home equity loans and lines
 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer
 
1

 
1

 
1

 

 

 

Total
 
12

 
$
2,279

 
$
2,351

 
15

 
$
7,906

 
$
9,253


There were no subsequent charge-offs associated with the new TDRs noted in the table above during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, or 2016.

Payment defaults, during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 on loans modified as TDRs within the preceding twelve months are detailed below.
 
 
Nine months ended
 
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Number of TDRs that defaulted
 
Post-
modification outstanding
recorded investment
 
Number of TDRs that defaulted
 
Post-
modification outstanding
recorded investment
Commercial real estate
 
1

 
$
585

 
1

 
$
148

Commercial and industrial
 
3

 
267

 
2

 
389

Commercial construction
 

 

 
1

 
1,188

Residential mortgages
 

 

 

 

Home equity loans and lines
 

 

 

 

Consumer
 

 

 

 

Total
 
4

 
$
852

 
4

 
$
1,725


Other real estate owned ("OREO")

The Company carried no OREO at September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016 or September 30, 2016. There were no additions, sales or write downs on OREO during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 or 2016.

At September 30, 2017, the Company had consumer mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings were in process according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdictions with carrying amounts totaling $101 thousand compared with $200 thousand at December 31, 2016.

Allowance for loan loss activity
 
The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses, a direct charge to earnings.  Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes that the collectability of the loan principal is unlikely.  Recoveries on loans previously charged-off are credited to the allowance.



25

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

The allowance for loan losses amounted to $33.2 million at September 30, 2017, compared to $31.3 million at December 31, 2016, and $31.6 million at September 30, 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, the provision for loan losses amounted to $1.6 million and $2.5 million, respectively. The decrease in the provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was due primarily to generally improving credit quality metrics and underlying collateral values, partially offset by the higher level of loan growth during the 2017 period, as compared to the 2016 period.
 
The allowance for loan losses to total loans ratio was 1.51% at September 30, 2017, 1.55% at December 31, 2016 and 1.59% at September 30, 2016. Based on management's judgment as to the existing credit risks inherent in the loan portfolio, as discussed above under the heading "Credit Quality Indicators," management believes that the Company's allowance for loan losses is adequate to absorb probable losses from specifically known and other probable credit risks associated with the portfolio as of September 30, 2017.

Changes in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three months ended September 30, 2017 are presented below: 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Cmml Real
Estate
 
Cmml and
Industrial
 
Cmml
Constr
 
Resid.
Mortgage
 
Home
Equity
 
Consumer
 
Total
Beginning Balance at June 30, 2017
 
$
15,645

 
$
10,987

 
$
3,484

 
$
989

 
$
622

 
$
231

 
$
31,958

Provision
 
475

 
216

 
432

 
32

 
42

 
28

 
1,225

Recoveries
 
61

 
48

 

 

 
1

 
1

 
111

Less: Charge offs
 

 
104

 

 

 

 
6

 
110

Ending Balance at September 30, 2017
 
$
16,181

 
$
11,147

 
$
3,916

 
$
1,021

 
$
665

 
$
254

 
$
33,184


Changes in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 are presented below: 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Cmml Real
Estate
 
Cmml and
Industrial
 
Cmml
Constr
 
Resid.
Mortgage
 
Home
Equity
 
Consumer
 
Total
Beginning Balance at December 31, 2016
 
$
14,902

 
$
11,204

 
$
3,406

 
$
960

 
$
634

 
$
236

 
$
31,342

Provision
 
1,086

 
(127
)
 
510

 
61

 
28

 
72

 
1,630

Recoveries
 
193

 
391

 

 

 
3

 
6

 
593

Less: Charge offs
 

 
321

 

 

 

 
60

 
381

Ending Balance at September 30, 2017
 
$
16,181

 
$
11,147

 
$
3,916

 
$
1,021

 
$
665

 
$
254

 
$
33,184

Ending allowance balance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allocated to loans individually evaluated for impairment
 
$
386

 
$
1,778

 
$

 
$

 
$
26

 
$
36

 
$
2,226

Allocated to loans collectively evaluated for impairment
 
$
15,795

 
$
9,369

 
$
3,916

 
$
1,021

 
$
639

 
$
218

 
$
30,958


Changes in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three months ended September 30, 2016 are presented below: 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Cmml Real
Estate
 
Cmml and
Industrial
 
Cmml
Constr
 
Resid.
Mortgage
 
Home
Equity
 
Consumer
 
Total
Beginning Balance at June 30, 2016
 
$
14,514

 
$
9,913

 
$
4,056

 
$
1,085

 
$
552

 
$
225

 
$
30,345

Provision
 
581

 
761

 
22

 
17

 
4

 
1

 
1,386

Recoveries
 

 
28

 

 

 

 
1

 
29

Less: Charge offs
 

 
151

 

 

 

 
20

 
171

Ending Balance at September 30, 2016
 
$
15,095

 
$
10,551

 
$
4,078

 
$
1,102

 
$
556

 
$
207

 
$
31,589



26

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 


Changes in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 are presented below: 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Cmml Real
Estate
 
Cmml and
Industrial
 
Cmml
Constr
 
Resid.
Mortgage
 
Home
Equity
 
Consumer
 
Total
Beginning Balance at December 31, 2015
 
$
13,514

 
$
9,758

 
$
3,905

 
$
1,061

 
$
540

 
$
230

 
$
29,008

Provision
 
1,740

 
510

 
178

 
41

 
19

 
15

 
2,503

Recoveries
 
20

 
637

 

 

 
2

 
4

 
663

Less: Charge offs
 
179

 
354

 
5

 

 
5

 
42

 
585

Ending Balance at September 30, 2016
 
$
15,095

 
$
10,551

 
$
4,078

 
$
1,102

 
$
556

 
$
207

 
$
31,589

Ending allowance balance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allocated to loans individually evaluated for impairment
 
$
518

 
$
975

 
$
473

 
$

 
$

 
$
2

 
$
1,968

Allocated to loans collectively evaluated for impairment
 
$
14,577

 
$
9,576

 
$
3,605

 
$
1,102

 
$
556

 
$
205

 
$
29,621


(5)
Deposits
 
Deposits are summarized as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Non-interest bearing demand deposits
 
$
717,879

 
$
646,115

Interest bearing checking
 
359,308

 
372,696

Savings
 
198,595

 
178,637

Money market
 
770,006

 
844,216

Certificates of deposit $250,000 or less
 
132,041

 
125,580

Certificates of deposit more than $250,000
 
42,352

 
42,315

Total customer deposits
 
2,220,181

 
2,209,559

Brokered deposits (1)
 
82,492

 
59,362

Total deposits
 
$
2,302,673

 
$
2,268,921

___________________________________
(1) 
Brokered CDs $250,000 and under

Total customer deposits (deposits excluding brokered deposits) include reciprocal money market deposits and CDs received from participating banks in nationwide deposit networks as a result of our customers electing to participate in Company offered programs which allow for full FDIC insurance. Essentially, the equivalent of the customers' original deposited funds comes back to the Company as customer deposits within the appropriate category under total deposits on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company's balances in these reciprocal products were $222.7 million and $281.6 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

See Note 12, "Fair Value Measurements," below for further information regarding the Company's fair value measurements for deposits.

(6)
Borrowed Funds and Subordinated Debt
 
Borrowed funds, consisting of FHLB borrowings, amounted to $149.3 million at September 30, 2017, compared to $10.7 million at December 31, 2016.

The Company also carried subordinated debt of $14.8 million (net of deferred issuance costs) at both September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, which consisted of $15.0 million in aggregate principal amount of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes (the "Notes"), issued in January 2015, with a 15 year term. The Notes are intended to qualify as Tier 2 capital for


27

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

regulatory purposes, and pay interest at a fixed rate of 6.00% per annum through January 30, 2025, after which floating rates apply. Refer to Note 7, "Borrowed Funds and Subordinated Debt," to the Company's consolidated financial statements contained in the 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information about the Company's subordinated debt.

See Note 12, "Fair Value Measurements," below for further information regarding the Company's fair value measurements for borrowed funds and subordinated debt.

(7)
Derivatives and Hedging Activities

Interest rate lock commitments related to the origination of mortgage loans that will be sold are considered derivative instruments.  The commitments to sell loans are also considered derivative instruments. The Company generally does not pool mortgage loans for sale, but instead, sells the loans on an individual basis. To reduce the net interest rate exposure arising from its loan sale activity, the Company enters into the commitment to sell these loans at essentially the same time that the interest rate lock commitment is quoted on the origination of the loan. The Company estimates the fair value of these derivatives based on current secondary mortgage market prices. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the estimated fair values of these derivative instruments were considered to be immaterial.

The Company may use interest-rate contract swaps as part of its interest-rate risk management strategy. Interest-rate swap agreements are entered into as hedges against future interest-rate fluctuations on specifically identified assets or liabilities. The Company did not have derivative fair value hedges or derivative cash flow hedges at either September 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016.

The Company has a “Back-to-Back Swap” program whereby the Bank enters into an interest rate swap with a qualified commercial banking customer and simultaneously enters into an equal and opposite interest rate swap with a counterparty. The customer interest rate swap agreement allows commercial banking customers to convert a floating-rate loan payment to fixed-rate payment.

The transaction structure effectively minimizes the Bank’s net risk exposure resulting from such transactions. Customer-related credit risk is minimized by the cross collateralization of the loan and the interest rate swap agreement.

Back-to-Back Swaps are not speculative but rather, result from a service the Company provides to certain customers. Back-to-Back Swaps do not meet hedge accounting requirements and therefore changes in the fair value of both the customer swaps and the counterparty swaps, which have an offsetting relationship, are recognized directly in earnings. As a result of this offsetting relationship, there were no net gains or losses recognized in income on Back-to-Back Swaps during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 or September 30, 2016.

The Company had six interest-rate swaps at September 30, 2017 with an aggregate notional amount of $29.6 million compared to four interest-rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $26.7 million at December 31, 2016.

Asset derivatives and liability derivatives are included in prepaid expenses and other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, respectively.

The table below presents the fair value and classification of the Company’s derivative financial instruments for the periods presented:
 
 
As of September 30, 2017
 
As of December 31, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
Interest rate contracts - pay floating, received fixed
 
$
65

 
$
493

 
$

 
$
610

Interest rate contracts - pay fixed, receive floating
 
428

 

 
610

 

Total interest rate swaps
 
$
493

 
$
493

 
$
610

 
$
610


By using derivative financial instruments, the Company exposes itself to counterparty credit risk. Credit risk is the risk of failure by the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative contract. When the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes the Company, which creates credit risk for the Company. When the fair value of a derivative is negative, the Company owes the counterparty and, therefore, it does not possess credit risk. The credit risk in derivative


28

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

instruments is mitigated by entering into transactions with highly-rated counterparties that management believes to be creditworthy. As the swaps are subject to master netting agreements, the Company had reduced exposure relating to interest rate swaps with institutional counterparties at September 30, 2017. The Company had unsecured counterparty credit risk exposure of $428 thousand and $610 thousand on interest rate swaps at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.  The counterparty was rated A / A2 by S&P and Moody’s, respectively, at September 30, 2017.

The table below also presents the Company's asset derivative positions and the potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position, as of the periods presented. Interest rate swaps with customers are not subject to master netting agreements and therefore are not included in the table below.
 
 
September 30, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
 
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Statement of Financial Position
Asset Derivatives
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts - pay fixed, receive floating
 
$
493

 
$
65

 
$
428


 
 
December 31, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
 
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Statement of Financial Position
Asset Derivatives
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts - pay fixed, receive floating
 
$
610

 
$

 
$
610


Certain counterparty interest rate swaps contain provisions that require the Company to post collateral if the derivative exposure exceeds a threshold amount. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company has not posted or received any collateral.

The Company has interest rate swaps with counterparties that contain credit-risk-related contingent provisions. These provisions provide the counterparty with the right to terminate its derivative positions and require the Company to settle its obligations under the agreements if the Company defaults on certain of its indebtedness.

The Company also participates in loans originated by third party banks, where the originating bank utilizes a back-to-back interest rate swap structure; however, the Company is not a party to the swap agreements. Under the terms of the loan participations, the Company has accepted contingent liabilities that would only be realized if the swaps were terminated early and there were outstanding losses not covered by the underlying borrowers and the borrowers' pledged collateral.  If applicable, the Company’s swap loss exposure would be equal to the percentage of the Company’s participation in the underlying loan applied to the originating bank's swap loss.  At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had two such participation loans and management considers the risk of material swap loss exposure to be unlikely based on the borrower's financial and collateral strength.



29

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

(8)
Stockholders' Equity

Shares authorized and share issuance

The Company’s authorized capital is divided into common stock and preferred stock. At the Company's annual meeting of shareholders held on May 2, 2017, shareholders voted to amend the Company’s Restated Articles of Organization to increase the number of shares of common stock that the Company is authorized to issue from 20,000,000 shares to 40,000,000 shares. The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock.

The Company has a shareholders rights plan. Under the plan, each share of common stock includes a right to purchase under certain circumstances one one-hundredth of a share of the Company’s Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a purchase price of $52.00 per one one-hundredth of a preferred share, subject to adjustment, or, in certain circumstances, to receive cash, property, shares of common stock or other securities of the Company. The rights are not presently exercisable and remain attached to the shares of common stock until the occurrence of certain triggering events that would ordinarily be associated with an unsolicited acquisition or attempted acquisition of 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock. The rights have no voting or dividend privileges, and unless and until they become exercisable, have no dilutive effect on the earnings of the Company. The rights will expire, unless earlier redeemed, exchanged, or otherwise rescinded by the Company, on January 13, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the renewal of the plan in anticipation of this expiration date.

The Company's stock incentive plans permit the Board of Directors to grant, under various terms, stock options (for the purchase of newly issued shares of common stock), restricted stock, restricted stock units and stock appreciation rights to officers and other employees, directors and consultants. These plans also allow for newly issued shares of common stock to be issued without restrictions to officers and other employees, directors and consultants. 

The Company issues stock options and restricted stock awards to officers and other employees and restricted stock awards and stock compensation in lieu of cash fees to non-employee directors. The restricted stock awards allow for the non-forfeitable receipt of dividends, and the voting of all shares, whether or not vested, throughout the vesting periods at the same proportional level as common shares outstanding. The unvested restricted stock awards are the Company's only participating securities and are included in shares outstanding. Unvested participating restricted awards amounted to 125,134 shares and 141,580 shares as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Upon vesting, restricted stock awards may be net share-settled to cover payment for employee tax obligations, resulting in shares of common stock being reacquired by the Company. Chapter 156D of the Massachusetts General Laws, a statute known as the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act, which applies to Massachusetts corporations such as the Company, eliminates the concept of “treasury stock” and provides that shares a Massachusetts company reacquires will be treated as authorized but unissued shares.

See Note 10, "Stock-Based Compensation," below for additional information regarding the Company's stock incentive plans.

In addition to shares issued to employees, directors and consultants and shares issued through equity offerings (see below), the Company maintains a dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan (“DRSPP”) for stockholders and new investors to reinvest or purchase additional shares of common stock directly from the Company.

Capital Raised

In the second quarter of 2016, the Company completed a combined shareholder subscription rights offering and supplemental community offering (the "Offering"), at an offering price of $21.50 per share, under its $40 million shelf registration statement (Reg No. 333-190017). The Company issued 930,232 shares of common stock and received gross proceeds of $20.0 million ($19.7 million, net of offering costs) in the Offering. The Company contributed the net proceeds to the Bank to support future asset growth and for general corporate purposes.

See Note 11, "Earnings per Share," below for addition information regarding the impact of common stock and options issued.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is defined as all changes to stockholders' equity except investments by and distributions to stockholders.  Net income is one component of comprehensive income, with other components referred to in the aggregate as other comprehensive income.  The Company's only other comprehensive income component is the net unrealized holding gains


30

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

or losses on investments available-for-sale, net of deferred income taxes. Pursuant to GAAP, the Company initially excludes these unrealized holding gains and losses from net income; however, they are later reported as reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income into net income when the securities are sold. When securities are sold, the reclassification of realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included on the Consolidated Statements of Income under the "non-interest income" subheading on the line item "net gains (losses) on sales of investment securities" and the related income tax expense is included in the line item "provision for income taxes," both of which are also detailed on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income under the subheading "reclassification adjustment for net gains (losses) included in net income."

Refer to Note 10, "Stockholders' Equity," to the Company's consolidated financial statements included in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information relating to capital adequacy requirements, dividends and the DRSPP.

(9)
Supplemental Retirement Plan and Other Post-retirement Benefit Obligations
 
Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan ("SERP")
 
The Company has salary continuation agreements with two of its current executive officers and one former executive officer. These salary continuation agreements provide for predetermined fixed-cash supplemental retirement benefits to be provided for a period of 20 years after each individual reaches a defined "benefit age." The individuals covered under the SERP have reached the defined benefit age and are receiving payments under the plan. Additionally, the Company has not recognized service costs in the current or prior year as each officer had previously attained their individually defined benefit age and was fully vested under the plan.

This non-qualified plan represents a direct liability of the Company, and as such has no specific assets set aside to settle the benefit obligation.  The funded status is the aggregate amount accrued, or the "accumulated benefit obligation," which is equal to the present value of the benefits to be provided to the employee or any beneficiary.  Because the Company's benefit obligations provide for predetermined fixed-cash payments, the Company does not have any unrecognized costs to be included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

Total net periodic benefit costs, comprised of interest costs only, were $29 thousand and $87 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to $31 thousand and $93 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

Benefits paid amounted to $69 thousand and $207 thousand for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively. The Company anticipates accruing an additional $29 thousand to the SERP during the remainder of 2017.
 
Supplemental Life Insurance
 
The Company has provided supplemental life insurance through split-dollar life insurance arrangements for certain executive and senior officers on whom the Bank owns bank-owned life insurance ("BOLI").

These arrangements provide a death benefit to the officer's designated beneficiaries that extend to postretirement periods for some of the supplemental life insurance plans. The Company has recognized a liability for these future postretirement benefits.

These non-qualified plans represent a direct liability of the Company, and as such has no specific assets set aside to settle the benefit obligation.  The funded status is the aggregate amount accrued, or the "accumulated postretirement benefit obligation," which is the present value of the post-retirement benefits associated with this arrangement.



31

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

The following table illustrates the net periodic post-retirement benefit cost for the supplemental life insurance plans for the periods indicated:
 
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Service Cost
 
$
(3
)
 
$
(2
)
 
$
(9
)
 
$
(7
)
Interest Cost
 
22

 
22

 
68

 
64

Net periodic post-retirement benefit cost
 
$
19

 
$
20

 
$
59

 
$
57

 
(10)
Stock-Based Compensation
 
The Company currently has two individual stock incentive plans: the 2009 plan, as amended in 2015, and the 2016 plan. As of September 30, 2017, an aggregate of 446,860 shares remain available for future grants under the plans.
 
The Company's stock-based compensation expense related to these plans includes stock options and stock awards to officers and other employees included in salary and benefits expense, and stock awards and stock compensation in lieu of cash fees to non-employee directors both included in other operating expenses.  Total stock-based compensation expense was $467 thousand and $1.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to $444 thousand and $1.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.
 
Stock Option Awards
 
The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock option awards of $49 thousand and $152 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to $63 thousand and $205 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option valuation model in order to determine the per share grant date fair value of option grants.

The table below provides a summary of the options granted during the periods indicated:

 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
Options granted
15,009

 
31,047

Term in years
10

 
10

Weighted average assumptions used in the fair value model:
 
 
 
Expected volatility
40
%
 
42
%
Expected dividend yield
2.09
%
 
3.02
%
Expected life in years
7

 
7

Risk-free interest rate
2.35
%
 
1.91
%
Weighted average market price on date of grants
$
30.46

 
$
21.91

Per share weighted average fair value
$
11.34

 
$
7.91

Fair value as a percentage of market value at grant date
37
%
 
36
%
 
Options granted during the first nine months of 2017 and 2016 generally vest 50% in year two and 50% in year four, on the anniversary date of the awards. Vested options are only exercisable while the employee remains employed with the Bank and for a limited time thereafter. For all awards, if a grantee’s employment or other service relationship, such as service as a director, is terminated for any reason, then any stock options granted that have not vested as of the time of such termination generally must be forfeited, unless the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, waives such forfeiture requirement.



32

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

Refer to Note 12 "Stock-Based Compensation Plans," in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a further description of the assumptions used in the valuation model.
 
Stock Awards
 
Stock-based compensation expense recognized in association with stock awards amounted to $358 thousand and $929 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to $322 thousand and $939 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

Restricted stock awards are granted at the market price on the date of the grant. Employee awards generally vest over four years in equal portions beginning on the first anniversary date of the award or are performance based awards that vest upon the Company achieving certain predefined performance objectives. Non-employee director awards generally vest over two years in equal portions beginning on the first anniversary date of the award.

The table below provides a summary of restricted stock awards granted during the periods indicated:
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
Restricted Stock Awards (no. of underlying shares)
 
2017
 
2016
Two Year Vesting
 
6,944

 
9,060

Four Year Vesting
 
16,253

 
18,298

Performance-Based Vesting
 
25,623

 
35,071

Total Restricted Stock Awards
 
48,820

 
62,429

 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average grant date fair value
 
$
30.46

 
$
21.90


If a grantee's employment or other service relationship, such as service as a director, is terminated for any reason, then any shares of restricted stock granted that have not vested as of the time of such termination generally must be forfeited, unless the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, waives such forfeiture requirement.

The restricted stock awards allow for the receipt of dividends, and the voting of all shares, whether or not vested, throughout the vesting periods at the same proportional level as common shares outstanding.

Upon vesting, restricted stock awards may be net share-settled to cover payment for employee tax obligations, resulting in shares of common stock being reacquired by the Company.

Any shares that are returned to the Company prior to vesting or as payment for employee tax obligations upon vesting shall remain available for issuance under such plan, while the plan is still open.

Stock in Lieu of Directors' Fees
 
In addition to restricted stock awards discussed above, the non-employee members of the Company's Board of Directors may opt to receive newly issued shares of the Company's common stock in lieu of cash compensation for attendance at Board and Board Committee meetings.  Stock-based compensation expense related to these directors' fees amounted to $60 thousand and $206 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to $59 thousand and $205 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and is included in other operating expenses. In January 2017, non-employee directors were issued 12,992 shares of common stock in lieu of 2016 annual cash fees of $286 thousand at a market value price of $22.04 per share, the market value of the common stock on the opt-in measurement date of January 4, 2016.

In the first quarter of 2017, the Company adopted ASU 2016-09. For further information regarding the implementation of this update and the financial statement impact, refer to Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," Item (e), "Recent Accounting Pronouncements" above.

For further information regarding the Company's stock awards, see Note 8, "Stockholders' Equity," above under the caption "Shares authorized and share issuance."


33

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 


(11)
Earnings per share
 
Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding (including participating securities) during the year.  The Company's only participating securities are unvested restricted stock awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends. See Note 8, "Stockholders' Equity," under the caption "Shares authorized and share issuance," above for further information regarding the Company's participating securities. Diluted earnings per share reflects the effect on weighted average shares outstanding of the number of additional shares outstanding if dilutive stock options were converted into common stock using the treasury stock method.

The table below presents the increase in average shares outstanding, using the treasury stock method, for the diluted earnings per share calculation for the periods indicated: 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
11,589,039

 
11,430,134

 
11,557,054

 
10,801,278

Dilutive shares
80,120

 
68,856

 
83,319

 
68,127

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
11,669,159

 
11,498,990

 
11,640,373

 
10,869,405


Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 include the full impact of the 930,232 shares of common stock issued in the Offering, while the respective weighted averages for the 2016 periods were only affected by the Offering from the issue date of June 23, 2016 through period end.
There were 14,758 options outstanding that were determined to be anti-dilutive and therefore excluded from the calculation of dilutive shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.  These options, which were not dilutive at that date, may potentially dilute earnings per share in the future.

(12)
Fair Value Measurements

The FASB defines the fair value of an asset or liability to be the price which a seller would receive in an orderly transaction between market participants (an exit price) and also establishes a fair value hierarchy segregating fair value measurements using three levels of inputs: (Level 1) quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; (Level 2) significant other observable inputs, including quoted prices for similar items in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar items in markets that are not active, inputs such as interest rates and yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, credit risks and default rates which provide a reasonable basis for fair value determination or inputs derived principally from observed market data; and (Level 3) significant unobservable inputs for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability.  Unobservable inputs must reflect reasonable assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, which are developed on the basis of the best information available under the circumstances.
 


34

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

The following tables summarize significant assets and liabilities carried at fair value and placement in the fair value hierarchy at the dates specified:
 
 
September 30, 2017
 
Fair Value Measurements using:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Fair Value
 
(level 1)
 
(level 2)
 
(level 3)
Assets measured on a recurring basis:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Debt securities
 
$
382,896

 
$

 
$
382,896

 
$

Equity securities
 
3,046

 
3,046

 

 

FHLB stock
 
7,225

 

 

 
7,225

Interest-rate swaps
 
493

 

 
493

 

Assets measured on a non-recurring basis:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Impaired loans (collateral dependent)
 
3,745

 

 

 
3,745

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities measured on a recurring basis:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-rate swaps
 
493

 

 
493

 

 
 
 
December 31,
2016
 
Fair Value Measurements using:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Fair Value
 
(level 1)
 
(level 2)
 
(level 3)
Assets measured on a recurring basis:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Debt securities
 
$
362,147

 
$

 
$
362,147

 
$

Equity investments
 
12,643

 
12,643

 

 

FHLB stock
 
2,094

 

 

 
2,094

Interest-rate swaps
 
610

 

 
610

 

Assets measured on a non-recurring basis:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Impaired loans (collateral dependent)
 
3,481

 

 

 
3,481

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities measured on a recurring basis:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-rate swaps
 
610

 

 
610

 

 
The Company did not transfer any assets between the fair value measurement levels during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 or the year ended December 31, 2016.

All of the Company's debt and equity securities that are considered "available-for-sale" are carried at fair value.  The debt security category above includes federal agency obligations, commercial and residential federal agency MBS, municipal securities, corporate bonds and certificates of deposits, as held at those dates.  The Company utilizes third-party pricing vendors to provide valuations on its debt securities.  Fair values provided by the vendors were generally determined based upon pricing matrices utilizing observable market data inputs for similar or benchmark securities in active markets and/or based on a matrix pricing methodology which employs The Bond Market Association's standard calculations for cash flow and price/yield analysis, live benchmark bond pricing and terms/condition data available from major pricing sources.  Therefore, management regards the inputs and methods used by third-party pricing vendors to be "Level 2 inputs and methods" as defined in the "fair value hierarchy." The Company periodically obtains a second price from an impartial third party on debt securities to assess the reasonableness of prices provided by the primary independent pricing vendor.

The Company's equity portfolio fair value is measured based on quoted market prices for the shares; therefore, these securities are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.
 
The Bank is required to purchase FHLB stock at par value in association with advances from the FHLB; this stock is classified as a restricted investment and carried at cost which management believes approximates fair value; therefore, these securities are categorized as Level 3 measures.  See Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," Item (c) "Restricted Instruments" for further information regarding the Company's fair value assessment of FHLB capital stock.


35

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

 
Impaired loan balances in the table above represent those collateral dependent impaired commercial loans where management has estimated the probable credit loss by comparing the loan's carrying value against the expected realizable fair value of the collateral (appraised value, or internal analysis less estimated cost to sell, adjusted as necessary for changes in relevant valuation factors subsequent to the measurement date).  Certain inputs used in these assessments, and possible subsequent adjustments, are not always observable, and therefore, collateral dependent impaired loans are categorized as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.  A specific allowance is assigned to the collateral dependent impaired loan for the amount of management's estimated probable credit loss.  The specific allowances assigned to the collateral dependent impaired loans amounted to $1.6 million at September 30, 2017 compared to $1.9 million at December 31, 2016.

The fair values for the interest-rate swap assets and liabilities represent a FASB Level 2 measurement and are based on settlement values adjusted for credit risk and observable market interest rate curves. The settlement values are based on discounted cash flow analysis, a widely accepted valuation technique, reflecting the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves. Credit risk adjustments consider factors such as the likelihood of default by the Company and its counterparties, its net exposures and remaining contractual life. The change in value of interest-rate swap assets and liabilities attributable to credit risk was not significant during the reported periods. Refer also to Note 7, "Derivatives and Hedging Activities," for additional information on the Company's interest-rate swaps.

Letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the financial obligation or performance of a customer to a third party.  The fair value of these commitments was estimated to be the fees charged to enter into similar agreements, and accordingly these fair value measures are deemed to be FASB Level 2 measurements.  In accordance with the FASB, the estimated fair values of these commitments are carried on the balance sheet as a liability and amortized to income over the life of the letters of credit, which are typically one year.  The estimated fair value of these commitments carried on the balance sheet at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were deemed immaterial.

Interest rate lock commitments related to the origination of mortgage loans that will be sold are considered derivative instruments.  The commitments to sell loans are also considered derivative instruments. The Company generally does not pool mortgage loans for sale, but instead sells the loans on an individual basis. To reduce the net interest rate exposure arising from its loan sale activity, the Company enters into the commitment to sell these loans at essentially the same time that the interest rate lock commitment is quoted on the origination of the loan. The Company estimates the fair value of these derivatives based on current secondary mortgage market prices. These commitments are accounted for in accordance with FASB guidance.  The fair values of the Company's derivative instruments are deemed to be FASB Level 2 measurements. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the estimated fair value of the Company's interest-rate lock commitments and commitments to sell these mortgages loans were deemed immaterial.

The following table presents additional quantitative information about assets measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis for which the Company utilized Level 3 inputs (significant unobservable inputs for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability) to determine fair value as of September 30, 2017:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Fair Value
 
Valuation Technique
 
Unobservable Input
 
Unobservable Input Value or Range
Assets measured on a recurring basis:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  FHLB stock
 
$
7,225

 
FHLB Stated Par Value
 
N/A
 
N/A
Assets measured on a non-recurring basis:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Impaired loans (collateral dependent)
 
$
3,745

 
Appraisal of collateral
 
Appraisal adjustments (1)
 
5% - 50%
__________________________________________
(1)    Appraisals may be adjusted by management for qualitative factors such as economic conditions and estimated liquidation expenses.

Estimated Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities

In addition to disclosures regarding the measurement of assets and liabilities carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet, the Company is also required to disclose fair value information about financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value, whether or not recognized on the balance sheet. 



36

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

The carrying values, estimated fair values and placement in the fair value hierarchy of the Company's financial instruments for which fair value is only disclosed but not recognized on the balance sheet at the dates indicated are summarized as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2017
 
Fair value measurement
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Level 1 inputs
 
Level 2 Inputs
 
Level 3 Inputs
Financial assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for sale
 
$
876

 
$
876

 
$

 
$
876

 
$

Loans, net
 
2,169,189

 
2,178,545

 

 

 
2,178,545

Financial liabilities:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Certificates of deposit (including brokered)
 
256,885

 
256,220

 

 
256,220

 

Borrowed funds
 
149,255

 
149,251

 

 
149,251

 

Subordinated debt
 
14,844

 
14,216

 

 

 
14,216

 
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
Fair value measurement
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Level 1 inputs
 
Level 2 Inputs
 
Level 3 Inputs
Financial assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for sale
 
$
1,569

 
$
1,569

 
$

 
$
1,569

 
$

Loans, net
 
1,991,387

 
1,997,887

 

 

 
1,997,887

Financial liabilities:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Certificates of deposit (including brokered)
 
227,257

 
226,536

 

 
226,536

 

Borrowed funds
 
10,671

 
10,670

 

 
10,670

 

Subordinated debt
 
14,834

 
14,011

 

 

 
14,011


Excluded from the tables above are certain financial instruments with carrying values that approximated their fair value at the dates indicated, as they were short-term in nature or payable on demand.  These include cash and cash equivalents, and non-term deposit accounts. The respective carrying values of these instruments would all be considered to be classified within Level 1 of their fair value hierarchy.

Also excluded from these tables are the fair values of commitments for the unused portion of lines of credit and letters of credit, which were estimated to be the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements and are deemed to be immaterial, as well as commitments to originate loans which were short-term, at current market rates and estimated to have no significant change in fair value.

When determining fair values noted in the tables above, in cases where quoted fair values are not available, fair values are based upon estimates using various valuation techniques.  Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows.  The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating fair values of its financial instruments:

Loans held for sale: Loans held for sale are recorded at the lower of aggregate amortized cost or market value. The fair value is based on comparable market prices for loans with similar rates and terms.

Loans: The fair value of loans was determined using discounted cash flow analysis, using interest rates currently being offered by the Company.  The incremental credit risk for adversely classified loans was considered in the determination of the fair value of the loans. 
 
Financial liabilities: The fair values of certificates of deposit and borrowings were estimated using discounted cash flow analysis using rates offered by the Bank or advance rates offered by the FHLB on September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 for similar instruments.  The fair value of subordinated debt was estimated using discounted cash flow analysis using a market rate of interest at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
 


37

ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
 

Limitations:  The estimates of fair value of financial instruments were based on information available at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and are not indicative of the fair market value of those instruments as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Company's entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. The fair value of the Company's time deposit liabilities do not take into consideration the value of the Company's long-term relationships with depositors, which may have significant value.
 
Because no active market exists for a portion of the Company's financial instruments, fair value estimates were based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors.  These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision.  Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

Fair value estimates were based on existing on and off-balance sheet financial instruments without an attempt to estimate the value of anticipated future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments, including premises and equipment and foreclosed real estate, if any.

In addition, the tax ramifications related to the realization of the unrealized appreciation and depreciation can have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered in any of the estimates.  Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company.


38


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

Management's discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company's (also referred to herein as "Enterprise," "us," "we," or "our") unaudited consolidated interim financial statements and notes thereto contained in this report and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the "2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K").

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this "Form 10-Q") contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements concerning plans, objectives, future events or performance and assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical fact. Forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "pursue," "views" and similar terms or expressions. Various statements contained in Item 2 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Item 3 - "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" of this Form 10-Q including, but not limited to, statements related to management's views on the banking environment and the economy, competition and market expansion opportunities, the interest rate environment, credit risk and the level of future non-performing assets and charge-offs, potential asset and deposit growth, future non-interest expenditures and non-interest income growth, and borrowing capacity are forward-looking statements. The Company cautions readers that such forward-looking statements reflect numerous assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q are based on information available to the Company as of the date of this Form 10-Q, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The following important factors, among others, could cause the Company's results for subsequent periods to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made herein: (i) changes in interest rates could negatively impact net interest income; (ii) changes in the business cycle and downturns in the local, regional or national economies, including deterioration in the local real estate market, could negatively impact credit and/or asset quality and result in credit losses and increases in the Company's allowance for loan losses; (iii) changes in consumer spending could negatively impact the Company's credit quality and financial results; (iv) increasing competition from larger regional and out-of-state banking organizations as well as non-bank providers of various financial services could adversely affect the Company's competitive position within its market area and reduce demand for the Company's products and services; (v) deterioration of securities markets could adversely affect the value or credit quality of the Company's assets and the availability of funding sources necessary to meet the Company's liquidity needs; (vi) technology related risk, including technological changes and technology service interruptions or failure could adversely impact the Company's operations and increase technology-related expenditures; (vii) cyber-security risk including security breaches and identity theft could impact the Company's reputation, increase regulatory oversight and impact the financial results of the Company; (viii) increases in employee compensation and benefit expenses could adversely affect the Company's financial results; (ix) changes in laws and regulations that apply to the Company's business and operations, including without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act"), and the additional regulations that may be forthcoming as a result thereof, and potential changes in tax laws, could cause the Company to incur additional costs and adversely affect the Company's business environment, operations and financial results; (x) changes in accounting and/or auditing standards, policies and practices, as may be adopted or established by the regulatory agencies, FASB, or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board could negatively impact the Company's financial results; (xi) our ability to enter new markets successfully and capitalize on growth opportunities, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals; (xii) future regulatory compliance costs, including any increase caused by new regulations imposed by the government's current administration; and (xiii) the risks and uncertainties described in the documents that the Company files or furnishes to the SEC, including those discussed under Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.  Therefore, the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking information and statements.


39


Overview


Executive Summary

Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $5.5 million, an increase of $792 thousand, or 17%, compared to the same three-month period in 2016. Diluted earnings per share were $0.47 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of 15%, compared to the same three-month period in 2016. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $16.7 million, an increase of $2.9 million, or 21%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Diluted earnings per share were $1.43 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of 13%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 include the full dilutive impact of the Company’s equity offering on June 23, 2016.

Total assets, loans, and customer deposits have increased 10%, 11%, and 3%, respectively, as compared to September 30, 2016. Loan growth was particularly strong as loans grew $88.0 million, or 4%, during the quarter. Customer deposits, whose growth trends and month end balances vary depending on market conditions, grew by 3% from a year ago and 20% from two years ago. The increase in our 2017 earnings compared to 2016 has been positively impacted by this growth.

Strategically, our focus remains on organic growth and continually planning for and investing in our future. We recently opened our 24th branch in Windham, NH and completed the relocation of our branch in Salem, NH to its new location. We expect the relocation of our Leominster branch to be completed in early 2018. The relocation of our branches in Salem, NH and Leominster, MA will provide improved and state-of-the-art branches in those communities to better serve our customers.

Composition of Earnings

The Company's earnings are largely dependent on its net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on loans and investments and the cost of funding (primarily deposits and borrowings).  Net interest income expressed as a percentage of average interest earning assets is referred to as net interest margin.  The Company reports net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis ("margin").

Net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $25.1 million, an increase of $3.3 million, or 15%, compared to the same period in 2016. Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $71.5 million, an increase of $7.3 million, or 11%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in net interest income was due primarily to loan growth. Average loan balances (including loans held for sale) increased $204.2 million and $201.6 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to the 2016 respective period averages. Margin was 4.03% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 3.90% for the three months ended June 30, 2017, while net interest margin was 3.86% for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Margin was 3.95% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to 3.96% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. See the discussion under the heading "Results of Operations" below, in this Item 2, for further information regarding changes in margin.

The re-pricing frequency of the Company’s assets and liabilities are not identical, and therefore subject the Company to the risk of adverse changes in interest rates. This is often referred to as “interest rate risk” and is reviewed in more detail in Part I, Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” of this Form 10-Q and in Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” of the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, the provision for loan losses amounted to $1.2 million and $1.4 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, the provision for loan losses amounted to $1.6 million and $2.5 million, respectively. The decrease in the provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, was due primarily to generally improved credit quality metrics and underlying collateral values, partially offset by increased loan growth compared to the prior year period.
Contributing to the provision for loan losses were:
Total non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans (a measure of credit risk) amounted to 0.57% at September 30, 2017, compared to 0.50% at September 30, 2016. Impacting the non-performing loans ratio in the current period, among other changes, were new impaired/non-accrual status classifications of two larger commercial relationships totaling approximately $4.5 million, which, based on a review of their individual business circumstances, management determined that no reserves were necessary as of September 30, 2017.


40



The balance of the allowance for loan losses allocated to impaired and adversely classified loans decreased by $761 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to an increase of $863 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

The Company recorded net recoveries of $212 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to net recoveries of $78 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Loan growth for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $179.6 million, compared to $125.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

The allowance for loan losses to total loans ratio was 1.51% at September 30, 2017, 1.55% at December 31, 2016 and 1.59% at September 30, 2016.
For further information regarding loan quality statistics and the allowance for loan losses, see the sections below under the heading "Financial Condition" titled "Asset Quality" and "Allowance for Loan Losses."

Non-interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $3.4 million, a decrease of $504 thousand, or 13%, compared to the same quarter last year. Non-interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $11.5 million, an increase of $781 thousand, or 7%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The decrease in the quarter was primarily due to net losses of $284 thousand on sales of securities compared to net gains on sales of securities of $546 thousand in the comparable prior year quarter. Additionally, loan sale income decreased while deposit and interchange fees and investment advisory fees increased in the current quarter compared to the same period in 2016. Year-to-date increases in non-interest income over the prior year-to-date period were due primarily to increases in deposit and interchange fees and investment advisory fees, partially offset by a decrease in net gains on the sales of investment securities.

Non-interest expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $18.8 million, an increase of $1.4 million, or 8%, compared to the same quarter in the prior year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, non-interest expense amounted to $57.0 million, an increase of $5.2 million, or 10%, over the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Increases in non-interest expenses over the same periods in the prior year primarily related to the Company’s strategic growth and market expansion initiatives, mainly increases in salaries and benefits expenses.

In the first quarter of 2017, the Company adopted a new accounting standard, ASU No. 2016-09 "Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting," which among other aspects relates to the tax treatment of equity compensation. Since the adoption of this standard, the provision for income taxes has decreased, increasing earnings by approximately $832 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Sources and Uses of Funds
 
The Company's primary sources of funds are customer and brokered deposits, Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") borrowings, current earnings and proceeds from the sales, maturities and pay-downs on loans and investment securities.  The Company may also, from time to time, utilize overnight borrowings from correspondent banks. Additionally, funding for the Company may be generated through equity transactions, including the dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan or exercise of stock options, and occasionally the issuance of debt securities or the sale of new stock. The Company's sources of funds are intended to be used to originate loans, purchase investment securities, conduct operations, expand the branch network, and pay dividends to stockholders.
 
The investment portfolio is primarily used to provide liquidity, manage the Company's asset-liability position and to invest excess funds, providing additional sources of revenue. Total investments, one of the key components of interest earning assets, amounted to $385.9 million at September 30, 2017, an increase of $11.2 million, or 3%, since December 31, 2016, and comprised 14% of total assets at September 30, 2017 and 15% of total assets at December 31, 2016.

Enterprise's main asset strategy is to grow loans, the largest component of interest earning assets, with a focus on high quality commercial lending relationships.  Total loans increased $179.6 million, or 9%, since December 31, 2016, and amounted to $2.20 billion at September 30, 2017, comprising 81% of total assets at September 30, 2017 and 80% of total assets at December 31, 2016. Total commercial loans amounted to $1.91 billion, or 87% of gross loans, at September 30, 2017, which was relatively consistent with the composition at December 31, 2016 of 86%.
 


41


Management's preferred strategy for funding asset growth is to grow relationship-based deposit balances, preferably transactional deposits (comprised of demand deposit accounts, checking accounts and traditional savings accounts).  Asset growth in excess of transactional deposits is typically funded through non-transactional deposits (comprised of money market accounts, commercial tiered rate or "investment savings" accounts and term certificates of deposit) and wholesale funding (brokered deposits and borrowed funds).
 
At September 30, 2017, customer deposits (total deposits excluding brokered deposits) amounted to $2.22 billion, an increase of $10.6 million, from December 31, 2016 balances. During the period, the increase was primarily due to increases in non-interest bearing checking accounts, largely offset by decreases in money market account balances.

Wholesale funding amounted to $231.7 million at September 30, 2017, comprising 9% of total assets, compared to $70.0 million at December 31, 2016, or 3% of total assets, an increase of $161.7 million. Wholesale funding included FHLB advances of $149.3 million and $10.7 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and brokered deposits of $82.5 million at September 30, 2017 compared to $59.4 million at December 31, 2016. The Company's level of wholesale funding has increased in 2017 as loan growth exceeded deposit growth.

Opportunities and Risks

This Opportunities and Risks discussion should be read in conjunction with Item 1A "Risk Factors," and the section titled "Opportunities and Risks" contained in Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations" included in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which addresses other factors and details that could adversely affect the Company's business, reputation, its future results of operations and financial condition.

Enterprise faces robust competition to attract and retain customers within existing and neighboring geographic markets. The Company's ability to achieve its long-term strategic growth and market share objectives will depend in part upon management's continued success in differentiating the Company in the market place and its ability to strengthen its competitive position. Management believes the Company has differentiated itself from the competition by building a solid reputation within the local market as a dependable commercial-focused community bank, delivering consistent and exceptional customer service, offering competitive products and taking an active role in support of the communities we serve. The Company actively seeks to increase market share and strengthen its competitive position through continuous reviews of deposit product offerings, cash management and ancillary services and state-of-the-art delivery channels, targeted to businesses, non-profits, professional practice groups, municipalities and consumers' needs. In addition, Enterprise carefully plans market expansion through new branch development, identifying branches strategically located to complement existing locations while expanding the Company's geographic market footprint. In July 2016, the Company's 23rd branch opened, on Route 101A in Nashua, NH, and in July 2017, the Company opened its 24th branch, in Windham, NH. Branch expansion is aimed at achieving not only deposit market share growth, but also is intended to contribute to loan originations and generate referrals for investment advisory and wealth management, trust and insurance services, residential mortgages and cash management products.

Management continues to undertake significant strategic initiatives, including investments in employee hiring, training and development; marketing and public relations; technology and electronic delivery methods; ongoing improvements, renovations or strategic relocation of existing facilities; and the continued development of recently added branches.  The relocation of our branches in Salem, NH and Leominster, MA will provide improved and state-of-the-art branches in prime locations in those communities to better serve our customers. In the third quarter of 2017, we relocated our Salem, NH branch, and we expect the relocation of our Leominster, MA branch to be completed in early 2018.  While management recognizes that such investments increase expenses in the short term, Enterprise believes that such initiatives are a necessary investment in the long-term growth and earnings potential of the Company and will help the Company to capitalize on opportunities in the current marketplace for community banks such as Enterprise. However, lower than expected returns on these investments, such as slower than anticipated loan and deposit growth in new branches and/or lower than expected fee or other income generated from new technology or initiatives, could decrease anticipated revenues and net income on such investments in the future.

Changes in government regulation or oversight could affect the Company in substantial and unpredictable ways. The President has signed many executive orders calling for the administration to review various U.S. financial laws and regulations. The full scope of the current administration's legislative agenda is not yet fully known, but it may include certain deregulatory measures for the banking industry, including the structure and powers of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau and other areas under the Dodd-Frank Act in addition to extensive corporate tax reform proposals. Accordingly, it is difficult to anticipate the continued impact that this expansive legislation, if or when fully enacted, will have on the Company, its customers and the financial industry generally. The Company maintains a Compliance Management Program (the "CMP") designed to meet regulatory and legislative requirements.  The CMP provides a framework for tracking and implementing regulatory changes,


42


monitoring the effectiveness of policies and procedures, conducting compliance risk assessments, and educating employees in matters relating to regulatory compliance. 

Operational risk includes the threat of loss from inadequate or failed internal processes, people, systems or external events, due to, among other things: fraud or error; the inability to deliver products or services; failure to maintain a competitive position; lack of, or insufficient information security, cyber-security or physical security; inadequate procedures or controls followed by third-party service providers; or violations of ethical standards. In addition to intensive and ongoing employee training, employee and customer awareness campaigns, controls to manage operational risk include, but are not limited to, technology administration, information security, third-party management, and disaster recovery and business continuity planning. Any system of controls or contingency plan, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the controls and procedures will be met. Any breakdown in the integrity of these information systems, infrastructure, or cyber-security measures, or the Company's inability to identify, respond and correct such breakdown, could result in a loss of customer business, expose customers' personal information to unauthorized parties, damage the Company's reputation, subject the Company to increase costs and additional regulatory scrutiny, and expose the Company to civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

Accounting Policies/Critical Accounting Estimates

As discussed in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the three most significant areas in which management applies critical assumptions and estimates that are particularly susceptible to change relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, impairment review of investment securities and the impairment review of goodwill.  The Company has not changed its significant accounting and reporting policies from those disclosed in its 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Financial Condition
 
Total assets increased $199.2 million, or 8%, since December 31, 2016, to $2.73 billion at September 30, 2017.  The balance sheet composition and changes since December 31, 2016 are discussed below.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents is comprised of cash on hand and cash items due from banks, interest-earning deposits (deposit accounts, excess reserve cash balances, money markets, and money market mutual funds accounts) and federal funds ("fed funds") sold. Cash and cash equivalents amounted to 2% of total assets at both September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Balances in cash and cash equivalents will fluctuate due primarily to the timing of net deposit flows, borrowing and loan inflows and outflows, investment purchases and maturities, calls and sales proceeds, and the immediate liquidity needs of the Company.

Investments
 
At September 30, 2017, the carrying value of the investment portfolio amounted to $385.9 million, an increase of $11.2 million, or 3%, since December 31, 2016.




43


The following table summarizes the fair value of investments at the dates indicated:
 
 
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Federal agency obligations(1)
 
$
75,072

 
19.5
%
 
$
75,069

 
20.0
%
 
$
80,145

 
23.0
%
Residential federal agency MBS(1)
 
100,958

 
26.2
%
 
93,353

 
24.9
%
 
88,706

 
25.4
%
Commercial federal agency MBS(1)
 
64,796

 
16.8
%
 
70,278

 
18.7
%
 
44,679

 
12.8
%
Municipal securities
 
129,762

 
33.6
%
 
111,803

 
29.8
%
 
111,556

 
31.9
%
Corporate bonds
 
11,356

 
2.9
%
 
10,695

 
2.9
%
 
11,131

 
3.2
%
Certificates of deposits(2)
 
952

 
0.2
%
 
949

 
0.3
%
 
970

 
0.3
%
Total debt securities
 
382,896

 
99.2
%
 
362,147

 
96.6
%
 
337,187

 
96.6
%
Equity investments
 
3,046

 
0.8
%
 
12,643

 
3.4
%
 
11,877

 
3.4
%
Total investment securities at fair value
 
$
385,942

 
100.0
%
 
$
374,790

 
100.0
%
 
$
349,064

 
100.0
%
__________________________________________ 
(1) 
These categories may include investments issued or guaranteed by government sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae ("FNMA"), Freddie Mac ("FHLMC"), Federal Farm Credit Bank ("FFCB"), or one of several Federal Home Loan Banks, as well as, investments guaranteed by Ginnie Mae ("GNMA"), a wholly-owned government entity.  
(2) 
Certificates of deposits ("CDs") represent term deposits issued by banks that are subject to FDIC insurance and purchased on the open market.

Included in the residential and commercial federal agency MBS categories were collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) issued by U.S. agencies totaling $110.2 million, $107.0 million, and $78.6 million at September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016, respectively.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company purchased $99.4 million in securities. The Company had principal pay downs, calls and maturities totaling $21.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. In addition, management sold securities with an amortized cost of approximately $70.2 million realizing net gains on sales of $485 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, predominately from gains on equity sales, largely offset by losses realized from a debt security portfolio restructuring in the third quarter of 2017.

Net unrealized gains on the investment portfolio amounted to $3.6 million at September 30, 2017 compared to net unrealized losses of $1.2 million at December 31, 2016 and unrealized gains of $9.4 million at September 30, 2016. The Company attributes the increase in net unrealized gains from December 31, 2016 primarily to the debt portfolio restructuring noted above, which mainly replaced lower yielding debt securities with higher yielding ones, and to a lesser extent lower long term interest rates. Unrealized gains or losses will only be recognized in the statements of income if the investments are sold. However, should an investment be deemed "other than temporarily impaired" ("OTTI"), the Company is required to write-down the fair value of the investment.  See “Impairment Review of Securities” under the heading “Critical Accounting Estimates” in Item 7 of the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding the accounting for OTTI.
 
See also Note 2, "Investment Securities," and Note 12, "Fair Value Measurements," to the Company's unaudited consolidated interim financial statements contained in Item 1 above for further information regarding the Company's unrealized gains and losses on debt and equity securities, including information about investments in an unrealized loss position for which an other-than-temporary impairment has or has not been recognized, and investments pledged as collateral, as well as the Company's fair value measurements for available-for-sale securities.
 
Federal Home Loan Bank Stock
 
The Bank is required to purchase stock of the FHLB at par value in association with advances from the FHLB; this stock is classified as a restricted investment and carried at cost, which management believes approximates fair value.  The carrying amount of FHLB stock was $7.2 million for the period ended September 30, 2017, $2.1 million at December 31, 2016 and $1.9 million at September 30, 2016.



44


See Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," Item (c), "Restricted Instruments," to the Company's unaudited consolidated interim financial statements contained in Item 1 above for further information regarding the Company's investment in FHLB stock.

Loans
 
Total loans represented 81% of total assets at September 30, 2017 and 80% of total assets at December 31, 2016.  Total loans increased $179.6 million, or 9%, compared to December 31, 2016, and $216.5 million, or 11%, since September 30, 2016.  The mix of loans within the portfolio remained relatively unchanged with commercial loans amounting to approximately 87% of gross loans at September 30, 2017, reflecting a continued focus on commercial loan growth.
 
The following table sets forth the loan balances by certain loan categories at the dates indicated and the percentage of each category to gross loans.

 
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
September 30, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Commercial real estate
 
$
1,153,108

 
52.3
%
 
$
1,038,082

 
51.3
%
 
$
1,008,362

 
50.7
%
Commercial and industrial
 
512,736

 
23.3
%
 
490,799

 
24.2
%
 
490,590

 
24.7
%
Commercial construction
 
245,453

 
11.1
%
 
213,447

 
10.5
%
 
215,432

 
10.9
%
Total commercial loans
 
1,911,297

 
86.7
%
 
1,742,328

 
86.0
%
 
1,714,384

 
86.3
%
Residential mortgages
 
194,375

 
8.8
%
 
180,560

 
8.9
%
 
172,556

 
8.7
%
Home equity loans and lines
 
89,044

 
4.0
%
 
91,065

 
4.5
%
 
90,116

 
4.5
%
Consumer
 
10,085

 
0.5
%
 
10,845

 
0.6
%
 
10,634

 
0.5
%
Total retail loans
 
293,504

 
13.3
%
 
282,470

 
14.0
%
 
273,306

 
13.7
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross loans
 
2,204,801

 
100.0
%
 
2,024,798

 
100.0
%
 
1,987,690

 
100.0
%
Deferred fees, net
 
(2,428
)
 
 

 
(2,069
)
 
 

 
(1,836
)
 
 

Total loans
 
2,202,373

 
 

 
2,022,729

 
 

 
1,985,854

 
 

Allowance for loan losses
 
(33,184
)
 
 

 
(31,342
)
 
 

 
(31,589
)
 
 

Net loans
 
$
2,169,189

 
 

 
$
1,991,387

 
 

 
$
1,954,265

 
 


As of September 30, 2017, commercial real estate loans increased $115.0 million, or 11%, compared to December 31, 2016, and increased 14% compared to September 30, 2016.  Commercial real estate loans are typically secured by one-to-four and multi-family apartment buildings, office, industrial or mixed-use facilities, strip shopping centers or other commercial properties and are generally guaranteed by the principals of the borrower.

Commercial and industrial loans increased $21.9 million, or 4%, compared to December 31, 2016, and increased 5% as compared to September 30, 2016.  These loans include seasonal revolving lines of credit, working capital loans, equipment financing (including equipment leases), and term loans.  Also included in commercial and industrial loans are loans partially guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration ("SBA"), and loans under various programs and agencies.

Commercial construction loans increased by $32.0 million, or 15%, since December 31, 2016, and increased 14% as compared to September 30, 2016. Commercial construction loans include the development of residential housing and condominium projects, the development of commercial and industrial use property and loans for the purchase and improvement of raw land.

Retail loan balances increased by $11.0 million, or 4%, since December 31, 2016, and have increased by 7% since September 30, 2016.  The increase over the same period in the prior year was primarily with loans secured by residential property.

At September 30, 2017, commercial loan balances participated out to various banks amounted to $67.7 million, compared to $62.3 million at December 31, 2016, and $62.4 million at September 30, 2016.  These balances participated out to other institutions are not carried as assets on the Company's financial statements. Commercial loans originated by other banks in which the Company is a participating institution are carried at the pro-rata share of ownership and amounted to $89.4 million, $85.2 million and $86.8 million at September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016, and September 30, 2016, respectively. In each case, the participating bank funds a percentage of the loan commitment and takes on the related pro-rata risk. The rights and


45


obligations of each participating bank are divided proportionately among the participating banks in an amount equal to their share of ownership and with equal priority among all banks. Participating loans with other institutions provide banks the opportunity to retain customer relationships and reduce credit risk exposure among each participating bank, while providing customers with larger credit vehicles than the individual bank might be willing or able to offer independently.
 
See Note 3, "Loans," to the Company's unaudited consolidated interim financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for information on loans serviced for others and loans pledged as collateral.

Credit Risk
 
Inherent in the lending process is the risk of loss due to customer non-payment, or "credit risk." The Company's commercial lending focus may entail significant additional credit risks compared to long-term financing on existing, owner-occupied residential real estate.  The Company seeks to lessen its credit risk exposure by managing its loan portfolio to avoid concentration by industry and relationship size, and through sound underwriting practices and the risk management function; however, management recognizes that loan losses will occur and that the amount of these losses will fluctuate depending on the risk characteristics of the loan portfolio and economic conditions.

Non-performing assets are comprised of non-accrual loans, deposit account overdrafts that are more than 90 days past due and OREO.  The designation of a loan or other asset as non-performing does not necessarily indicate that loan principal and interest will ultimately be uncollectible.  However, management recognizes the greater risk characteristics of these assets and therefore considers the potential risk of loss on assets included in this category in evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.  The level of delinquent and non-performing assets is largely a function of economic conditions and the overall banking environment and the individual business circumstances of borrowers.  Despite prudent loan underwriting, adverse changes within the Company's market area, or deterioration in local, regional or national economic conditions, could negatively impact the Company's level of non-performing assets in the future.


46


Asset Quality


The following table sets forth information regarding non-performing assets, trouble debt restructuring ("TDR") loans and delinquent loans 60-89 days past due as to interest or principal, held by the Company at the dates indicated:

(Dollars in thousands)
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2016
Non-accrual loan summary:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
 
$
8,058

 
$
4,876

 
$
5,639

Commercial and industrial
 
3,428

 
3,174

 
3,128

Commercial construction
 
197

 
519

 
209

Residential
 
267

 
289

 
297

Home equity
 
477

 
616

 
607

Consumer
 
35

 

 

Total non-accrual loans
 
12,462

 
9,474

 
9,880

Overdrafts > 90 days past due
 
27

 
11

 
8

Total non-performing loans
 
12,489

 
9,485

 
9,888

OREO
 

 

 

Total non-performing assets
 
$
12,489

 
$
9,485

 
$
9,888

Total Loans
 
$
2,202,373

 
$
2,022,729

 
$
1,985,854

Accruing TDR loans not included above
 
$
17,301

 
$
22,418

 
$
18,917

Delinquent loans 60-89 days past due and still accruing
 
$
746

 
$
940

 
$
572

Loans 60-89 days past due and still accruing to total loans
 
0.03
%
 
0.05
%
 
0.03
%
Adversely classified loans to total loans
 
1.32
%
 
1.70
%
 
1.66
%
Non-performing loans to total loans
 
0.57
%
 
0.47
%
 
0.50
%
Non-performing assets to total assets
 
0.46
%
 
0.38
%
 
0.40
%
Allowance for loan losses
 
$
33,184

 
$
31,342

 
$
31,589

Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans
 
265.71
%
 
330.44
%
 
319.47
%
Allowance for loan losses to total loans
 
1.51
%
 
1.55
%
 
1.59
%
 
The net increase in non-accrual loans since the prior periods was due primarily to the migration of two large commercial relationships in the second quarter of 2017, totaling approximately $4.5 million that were also carried as adversely rated/impaired credits on the Company's "watched" credit loan listing for closer monitoring at September 30, 2017. These additions, among others, were partially offset by principal paydowns and credit rating upgrades during the period. The majority of non-accrual loans were also carried as impaired loans during the periods and the changes since December 31, 2016 are discussed further below.

At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had adversely classified loans (loans carrying "substandard," "doubtful" or "loss" classifications) amounting to $29.2 million and $34.3 million, respectively. Total adversely classified loans amounted to 1.32% of total loans at September 30, 2017 as compared to 1.70% at December 31, 2016. Adversely classified loans that were performing but possessed potential weaknesses and, as a result, could ultimately become non-performing loans amounted to $16.7 million at September 30, 2017 and $25.1 million at December 31, 2016.  The remaining balances of adversely classified loans were non-accrual loans, amounting to $12.5 million at September 30, 2017 and $9.3 million at December 31, 2016.  Non-accrual loans that were not adversely classified amounted to $6 thousand and $220 thousand at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and primarily represented the guaranteed portions of non-performing SBA loans.

The decline in adversely classifieds was due primarily to payoffs, net principal paydowns, and net credit rating upgrades during the year, particularly of several commercial relationships based on a review of their individual business circumstances.



47


Total impaired loans amounted to $29.7 million and $31.8 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.  Total accruing impaired loans amounted to $17.3 million and $22.4 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, while non-accrual impaired loans amounted to $12.4 million and $9.4 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The increase in non-accrual impaired loans was primarily due to the two larger commercial relationships noted above, which, based on a review of their individual business circumstances, management determined that no reserves were necessary on these relationships as of September 30, 2017.

In management's opinion, the majority of impaired loan balances at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were supported by expected future cash flows or, for those collateral dependent loans, the net realizable value of the underlying collateral. Based on management's assessment at September 30, 2017, impaired loans totaling $23.7 million required no specific reserves and impaired loans totaling $6.0 million required specific reserve allocations of $2.2 million.  At December 31, 2016, impaired loans totaling $25.7 million required no specific reserves and impaired loans totaling $6.1 million required specific reserve allocations of $2.6 million.  Management closely monitors these relationships for collateral or credit deterioration.

Total TDR loans included in the impaired loan amounts above as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $23.6 million and $27.0 million, respectively.  TDR loans on accrual status amounted to $17.3 million and $22.4 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. TDR loans included in non-performing loans amounted to $6.3 million and $4.6 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.  The Company continues to work with customers, particularly commercial relationships, and enters into loan modifications to the extent deemed to be necessary or appropriate while attempting to achieve the best mutual outcome given the individual financial circumstances and future prospects of the borrower.

The Company carried no OREO at September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016. There were no additions, sales or writedowns on OREO during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 or 2016.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is an estimate of probable credit risk inherent in the loan portfolio as of the specified balance sheet dates. On a quarterly basis, management prepares an estimate of the allowance necessary to cover estimated probable credit losses.  The Company maintains the allowance at a level that it deems adequate to absorb all reasonably anticipated probable losses from specifically known and other credit risks associated with the portfolio. Management closely monitors the credit quality of individual delinquent and non-performing relationships, industry concentrations, the local and regional real estate market and current economic conditions. 

There have been no material changes to the Company's underwriting practices, credit risk management system, or to the allowance assessment methodology used to estimate loan loss exposure as reported in the 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Please refer to Note 4 "Allowance for Loan Losses," to the Company's consolidated financial statements contained in the 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of management's methodology used to estimate a sufficient allowance for loan losses, the credit risk management function and adversely classified loan rating system.

The allowance for loan losses to total loans ratio was 1.51% at September 30, 2017, 1.55% at December 31, 2016, and 1.59% at September 30, 2016. Based on management's judgment as to the existing credit risks inherent in the loan portfolio, as discussed above under the headings "Credit Risk" and "Asset Quality," management believes that the Company's allowance for loan losses is adequate to absorb probable losses from specifically known and other probable credit risks associated with the portfolio as of September 30, 2017.


48


The following table summarizes the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated: 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2017
 
2016
Balance at beginning of year
 
$
31,342

 
$
29,008

 
 
 
 
 
Provision charged to operations
 
1,630

 
2,503

  Recoveries on charged-off loans:
 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate
 
193

 
20

Commercial and industrial
 
391

 
637

Commercial construction
 

 

Residential
 

 

Home equity
 
3

 
2

Consumer
 
6

 
4

Total recoveries
 
593

 
663

  Charged-off loans
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
 

 
179

Commercial and industrial
 
321

 
354

Commercial construction
 

 
5

Residential
 

 

Home equity
 

 
5

Consumer
 
60

 
42

Total Charged off
 
381

 
585

 
 
 
 
 
Net loans recovered
 
(212
)
 
(78
)
Ending Balance
 
$
33,184

 
$
31,589

Annualized net loans recovered: Average loans outstanding
 
(0.01
)%
 
(0.01
)%
 
See Note 4, “Allowance for Loan Losses” to the Company's consolidated financial statements, contained in Item 1 in this Form 10-Q, for further information regarding credit quality and the allowance for loan losses.




49


Deposits
 
The following table sets forth the deposit balances by certain categories at the dates indicated and the percentage of each category to total deposits.
 
 
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
September 30, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Non-interest bearing demand deposits
 
$
717,879

 
31.2
%
 
$
646,115

 
28.5
%
 
$
645,907

 
29.1
%
Interest bearing checking
 
359,308

 
15.6
%
 
372,696

 
16.4
%
 
346,957

 
15.6
%
Total checking
 
1,077,187

 
46.8
%
 
1,018,811

 
44.9
%
 
992,864

 
44.7
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Savings
 
198,595

 
8.6
%
 
178,637

 
7.9
%
 
181,653

 
8.2
%
Money markets
 
770,006

 
33.4
%
 
844,216

 
37.2
%
 
815,861

 
36.7
%
Total savings/money markets
 
968,601

 
42.0
%
 
1,022,853

 
45.1
%
 
997,514

 
44.9
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Certificates of deposit (CD's)
 
174,393

 
7.6
%
 
167,895

 
7.4
%
 
171,891

 
7.7
%
Total customer deposits
 
2,220,181

 
96.4
%
 
2,209,559

 
97.4
%
 
2,162,269

 
97.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brokered deposits (1)
 
82,492

 
3.6
%
 
59,362

 
2.6
%
 
59,340

 
2.7
%
Total deposits
 
$
2,302,673

 
100.0
%
 
$
2,268,921

 
100.0
%
 
$
2,221,609

 
100.0
%
__________________________________________
(1) 
Brokered CDs $250,000 and under.

As of September 30, 2017, customer deposits (deposits, excluding brokered deposits) increased $10.6 million, since December 31, 2016, and $57.9 million, or 3%, since September 30, 2016. The increase since December 31, 2016 was primarily in non-interest bearing checking account balances, largely offset by declines in money market account balances.

Customer deposits include reciprocal money market deposits and CDs received from participating banks in nationwide deposit networks as a result of our customers electing to participate in Company offered programs which allow for full FDIC insurance. Essentially, the equivalent of the original deposited funds comes back to the Company as customer deposits within the appropriate category under total deposits on the balance sheet. The Company's balances in these reciprocal products were $222.7 million, $281.6 million and $278.4 million at September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016, respectively.

Wholesale funding, which includes brokered deposits and borrowed funds, amounted to $231.7 million at September 30, 2017, compared to $70.0 million at December 31, 2016, an increase of $161.7 million. Wholesale funding has increased as loan growth has exceeded deposit growth.

From time to time, management utilizes brokered deposits as cost effective wholesale funding sources to support continued loan growth and as part of the Company's asset-liability management strategy to protect against rising rates. Brokered deposits may be comprised of non-reciprocal overnight money market deposits and selected term CDs gathered from nationwide bank networks or from large money center banks; however, at September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016, and September 30, 2016 brokered deposits were comprised only of brokered CDs. Brokered CDs increased $23.1 million, or 39%, at September 30, 2017 compared to December 31, 2016. Brokered CDs outstanding at September 30, 2017 had a weighted average remaining life of less than 1 year.

Borrowed Funds and Subordinated Debt
 
Borrowed funds, comprised of FHLB borrowings, amounted to $149.3 million at September 30, 2017, compared to $10.7 million at December 31, 2016 and $671 thousand at September 30, 2016. Borrowed fund balances have increased $138.6 million since year end as loan growth has outpaced deposit growth.

At September 30, 2017, the Bank had the capacity to borrow additional funds from the FHLB of up to approximately $340.0 million and capacity to borrow from the FRB Discount Window of approximately $120.0 million.
 


50


The Company had $14.8 million (net of deferred issuance costs) of outstanding subordinated debt at September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016, which consisted of $15.0 million in aggregate principal amount of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes (the "Notes") issued in January 2015, in a private placement to an accredited investor. See also Note 6, "Borrowed Funds and Subordinated Debt," to the Company's unaudited consolidated interim financial statements contained in Item 1 above for further information regarding the Company's subordinated debt.

Liquidity
 
Liquidity is the ability to meet cash needs arising from, among other things, fluctuations in loans, investments, deposits and borrowings.  Liquidity management is the coordination of activities so that cash needs are anticipated and met readily and efficiently.  The Company's liquidity policies are set and monitored by the Company's Board of Directors.  The duties and responsibilities related to asset-liability management matters are also covered by the Board of Directors. The Company's asset-liability objectives are to engage in sound balance sheet management strategies, maintain liquidity, provide and enhance access to a diverse and stable source of funds, provide competitively priced and attractive products to customers and conduct funding at a low cost relative to current market conditions.  Funds gathered are used to support current commitments, to fund earning asset growth, and to take advantage of selected leverage opportunities.
 
The Company's liquidity is maintained by projecting cash needs, balancing maturing assets with maturing liabilities, monitoring various liquidity ratios, monitoring deposit flows, maintaining cash flow within the investment portfolio, and maintaining wholesale funding resources. 

At September 30, 2017, the Company's wholesale funding sources included borrowing capacity at the FHLB and brokered deposits. In addition, the Company maintains fed fund purchase arrangements with correspondent banks and access to the FRB Discount Window.

Management believes that the Company has adequate liquidity to meet its obligations. However, if, as a result of general economic conditions or other events, these sources of external funding become restricted or are eliminated, the Company may not be able to raise adequate funds or may incur substantially higher funding costs or operating restrictions in order to raise the necessary funds to support the Company's operations and growth.

The Company has in the past also increased capital and liquidity by offering shares of the Company's common stock for sale to its existing stockholders and new investors and through the issuance of subordinated debt. See "Capital Resources," below for information on the Company's capital planning.

Capital Resources
 
Capital planning by the Company and the Bank considers current needs and anticipated future growth.  Historically, the primary sources of capital for the Company and the Bank have been common stock issuances and proceeds from the issuance of subordinated debt. Ongoing sources of capital include the retention of earnings, less dividends paid, proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options and proceeds from purchases of shares pursuant to the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan and direct stock purchase plan (together, the "DRSPP"). The Company believes its current capital is adequate to support ongoing operations.

Since January 1, 2015, the Company has been subject to increasing capital ratios, with a phase in period that extends to January 2019, as a result of regulation adopted by the federal bank regulatory agencies known as the “Basel III Rules.”


51


Management believes, as of September 30, 2017, that the Company and the Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they were subject. As of September 30, 2017, the Company met the definition of "well capitalized" under the applicable Federal Reserve Board regulations and the Bank qualified as "well capitalized" under the prompt corrective action regulations of Basel III and the FDIC. The Company's and the Bank's actual capital amounts and ratios are presented as of September 30, 2017 in the tables below.
 
 
Actual
 
Minimum Capital
for Capital Adequacy
Purposes (1)
 
Minimum Capital
To Be
Well Capitalized  (2)
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
The Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Capital (to risk weighted assets)
 
$
268,379


11.57
%

$
185,640


8.00
%

N/A
 
N/A
 
Tier 1 Capital (to risk weighted assets)
 
$
223,944


9.65
%

$
139,230


6.00
%

N/A
 
N/A
 
Tier 1 Capital (to average assets) or Leverage ratio
 
$
223,944


8.40
%

$
106,611


4.00
%

N/A
 
N/A
 
Common equity tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)
 
$
223,944

 
9.65
%
 
$
104,422

 
4.50
%
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Bank
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Capital (to risk weighted assets)
 
$
267,860

 
11.54
%
 
$
185,635

 
8.00
%
 
$
232,043

 
10.00
%
 
Tier 1 Capital (to risk weighted assets)
 
$
238,270

 
10.27
%
 
$
139,226

 
6.00
%
 
$
185,635

 
8.00
%
 
Tier 1 Capital (to average assets) or Leverage ratio
 
$
238,270

 
8.94
%
 
$
106,608

 
4.00
%
 
$
133,261

 
5.00
%
 
Common equity tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)
 
$
238,270

 
10.27
%
 
$
104,419

 
4.50
%
 
$
150,828

 
6.50
%
 
_________________________________________
(1) Before application of the capital conservation buffer of 1.25% as of September 30, 2017, see discussion below.
(2) For the Bank to qualify as “well capitalized," it must maintain at least the minimum ratios listed.  This prompt corrective action framework does not apply to the Company.

Under the Basel III rules, capital ratio requirements for all banking organizations increased and include a "capital conservation buffer," of 2.50% above the regulatory minimum risk-based capital adequacy requirements shown above. The capital conservation buffer requirement began to be phased in beginning in January 2016 at 0.625% of risk-weighted assets and will increase by that amount each year until fully implemented in January 2019. If a banking organization dips into its capital conservation buffer it may be restricted in its ability to pay dividends and discretionary bonus payments to its executive officers. Both the Company's and the Bank's actual ratios, as outlined in the table above, would exceed the Basel III risk-based capital requirement with full capital conservation buffer as of September 30, 2017.

The Basel III minimum capital ratio requirements as applicable to the Company and the Bank in 2019 after the full phase-in period are summarized in the table below:
 
 
Basel III Minimum for Capital Adequacy Purposes
 
Basel III Additional Capital Conservation Buffer
 
Basel III "Adequate" Ratio with Capital Conservation Buffer
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Total Capital (to risk weighted assets)
 
8.00%
 
2.50%
 
10.50%
Tier 1 Capital (to risk weighted assets)
 
6.00%
 
2.50%
 
8.50%
Tier 1 Capital (to average assets) or Leverage ratio
 
4.00%
 
—%
 
4.00%
Common equity tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)
 
4.50%
 
2.50%
 
7.00%

The Company maintains a DRSPP which enables stockholders, at their discretion, to elect to reinvest cash dividends paid on their shares of the Company's common stock by purchasing additional shares of common stock from the Company at a purchase price equal to fair market value.  Under the DRSPP, stockholders and new investors also have the opportunity to purchase shares of the Company's common stock without brokerage fees, subject to monthly minimums and maximums.
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company paid $4.7 million in cash dividends. Stockholders utilized the dividend reinvestment portion of the DRSPP to purchase an aggregate of 34,657 shares of the Company's common stock totaling $1.1 million. The direct purchase component of the DRSPP was used by stockholders to purchase 1,386 shares of the Company's common stock totaling $47 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.



52


On October 17, 2017, the Company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.135 per share to be paid on December 1, 2017 to stockholders of record as of November 10, 2017. The 2017 dividend rate represents a 3.8% increase over the 2016 dividend rate.

For further information about the Company's capital, see Note 8, "Stockholder's Equity," to the Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Assets Under Management
 
Total assets under management, includes total assets, loans serviced for others and investment assets under management. Loans serviced for others and investment assets under management are not carried as assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheet, and as such, total assets under management is not a financial measurement recognized under GAAP.

The Company provides a wide range of investment advisory and wealth management services, including brokerage, trust, and investment management (together, "investment advisory services").  Also included in the investment assets under management total are customers' commercial sweep arrangements that are invested in third-party money market mutual funds.
 
Investment assets under management, which are reflected at fair market value, increased $75.2 million, or 10%, since December 31, 2016 and increased $90.7 million, or 13%, since September 30, 2016

Total assets under management increased $280.1 million, or 8%, since December 31, 2016 and $351.2 million, or 11%, since September 30, 2016.

The following table sets forth the value of assets under management and its components at the dates indicated:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
September 30,
2016
Total assets
 
$
2,725,472

 
$
2,526,269

 
$
2,470,849

Loans serviced for others
 
86,738

 
80,996

 
80,836

Investment assets under management
 
800,499

 
725,338

 
709,781

Total assets under management
 
$
3,612,709

 
$
3,332,603

 
$
3,261,466



Results of Operations
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 vs. Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Unless otherwise indicated, the reported results are for the three months ended September 30, 2017 with the "same period," the "comparable period," and "prior period" being the three months ended September 30, 2016. Average yields are presented on a tax equivalent basis.
 
The Company's net income for the third quarter of 2017 amounted to $5.5 million, compared to $4.7 million for the same period in 2016, an increase of $792 thousand, or 17%.  Diluted earnings per share were $0.47 and $0.41 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively, an increase of 15%.

Net Interest Income

The Company's net interest income for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $25.1 million, compared to $21.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $3.3 million, or 15%.  The increase in net interest income over the comparable period was due primarily to revenue generated from loan growth and to a lesser extent an increase in rate.
 
Net Interest Margin
 
The Company's margin was 4.03% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 3.86% for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. Margin was 3.90% for the quarter ended June 30, 2017. Margin has increased since the same period in the prior year primarily to loan and investment yields increasing at a faster rate than cost of funds.



53


 Rate / Volume Analysis
 
The following table sets forth the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in the average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities have affected interest income and expense during the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016.  For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes attributable to: (1) volume (change in average portfolio balance multiplied by prior period average rate); (2) interest rate (change in average interest rate multiplied by prior period average balance); and (3) rate and volume (the remaining difference).
 
 
 
 
 
Increase (decrease) due to
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Net
Change
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Rate/
Volume
Interest Income
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loans and loans held for sale
 
$
3,426

 
$
2,326

 
$
940

 
$
160

Investment securities
 
388

 
367

 
64

 
(43
)
Other interest earning assets (1)
 
40

 
(44
)
 
154

 
(70
)
Total interest earnings assets
 
3,854

 
2,649

 
1,158

 
47

Interest Expense
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest checking, savings and money market
 
230

 
48

 
164

 
18

Certificates of deposit
 
75

 
(1
)
 
78

 
(2
)
Brokered CDs
 
66

 
54

 
8

 
4

Borrowed funds
 
167

 
101

 
2

 
64

Subordinated debt
 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
 

Total interest-bearing funding
 
537

 
202

 
251

 
84

Change in net interest income
 
$
3,317

 
$
2,447

 
$
907

 
$
(37
)
__________________________________________
(1) 
Income on other interest-earning assets includes interest on deposits and fed funds sold, and dividends on FHLB stock.



54



The following table presents the Company's average balance sheet, net interest income and average rates for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

AVERAGE BALANCES, INTEREST AND AVERAGE YIELDS
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
 
Average
Yield(1)
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
 
Average
Yield(1)
Assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loans and loans held for sale (2)
 
$
2,149,365

 
$
24,892

 
4.65
%
 
$
1,945,196

 
$
21,466

 
4.45
%
Investments (3)
 
375,236

 
2,017

 
2.73
%
 
319,844

 
1,629

 
2.65
%
Other interest earning assets (4)
 
36,271

 
136

 
1.48
%
 
67,111

 
96

 
0.57
%
Total interest earnings assets
 
2,560,872

 
27,045

 
4.33
%
 
2,332,151

 
23,191

 
4.09
%
Other assets
 
110,750

 
 

 
 

 
108,485

 
 

 
 

Total assets
 
$
2,671,622

 
 

 
 

 
$
2,440,636

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and stockholders' equity:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Int chkg, savings and money market
 
$
1,396,589

 
883

 
0.25
%
 
$
1,300,326

 
653

 
0.20
%
Certificates of deposit
 
170,500

 
372

 
0.87
%
 
171,105

 
297

 
0.69
%
Brokered CDs
 
84,649

 
254

 
1.19
%
 
65,688

 
188

 
1.14
%
Borrowed funds
 
53,181

 
169

 
1.26
%
 
1,095

 
2

 
0.77
%
Subordinated debt (5)
 
14,842

 
233

 
6.23
%
 
14,829

 
234

 
6.26
%
Total interest-bearing funding
 
1,719,761

 
1,911

 
0.44
%
 
1,553,043

 
1,374

 
0.35
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest rate spread
 
 

 
 

 
3.89
%
 
 

 
 

 
3.74
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Demand deposits
 
704,177

 

 


 
656,158

 

 


Total deposits, borrowed funds and subordinated debt
 
2,423,938

 
1,911

 
0.31
%
 
2,209,201

 
1,374

 
0.25
%
Other liabilities
 
17,714

 
 

 
 

 
17,224

 
 

 
 

Total liabilities
 
2,441,652

 
 

 
 

 
2,226,425

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity
 
229,970

 
 

 
 

 
214,211

 
 

 
 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
2,671,622

 
 

 
 

 
$
2,440,636

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income
 
 

 
$
25,134

 
 

 
 

 
$
21,817

 
 

Net interest margin (tax equivalent)
 
 

 
 

 
4.03
%
 
 

 
 

 
3.86
%
__________________________________________
(1) 
Average yields are presented on a tax equivalent basis.  The tax equivalent effect associated with loans and investments, which was not included in the interest amount above, was $845 thousand and $778 thousand for the quarters ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively.
(2) 
Average loans and loans held for sale include non-accrual loans and are net of average deferred loan fees.
(3) 
Average investments are presented at average amortized cost.
(4) 
Average other interest earning assets include interest earning deposits, fed funds sold and FHLB stock.
(5) 
The subordinated debt issued in January 2015 is net of average deferred debt issuance costs.



55


Interest and Dividend Income

For the third quarter of 2017, total interest and dividend income amounted to $27.0 million, an increase of $3.9 million, or 17%, compared to the prior period.  The increase resulted primarily from an increase of $228.7 million, or 10%, in the average balance of interest earning assets, mainly loans, and to a lesser extent a 24 basis point increase in the average yield.
 
Interest income on loans and loans held for sale, which accounts for the majority of interest income, amounted to $24.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $3.4 million, or 16%, over the comparable period, due primarily to loan growth, and to a lesser extent an increase in average loans and loans held for sale yields. The average balances of loans and loans held for sale increased $204.2 million, or 10%, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, and average yields increased 20 basis points.

Income on investment securities amounted to $2.0 million, an increase of $388 thousand, or 24%, compared to the same period in 2016. This increase primarily resulted from an increase of $55.4 million, or 17%, in the average balance of investment securities. Average investment yields also increased 8 basis points due primarily to the debt security portfolio restructuring in the third quarter of 2017.

Income on other interest-earning assets amounted to $136 thousand, an increase of $40 thousand, or 42%, compared to the same quarter in the prior year. This increase was primarily due to an increase of 91 basis points in the average yield on other interest-earning assets due mainly to an increase in the Federal Funds rate since the prior period, partially offset by a decrease of $30.8 million, or 46%, in the average balance of other interest-earning assets.

Interest Expense
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2017, total interest expense amounted to $1.9 million, an increase of $537 thousand, or 39%, compared to the prior period. The increase in total interest expense was due to increases in both average rates and average balances. The increase in average rates resulted from higher cost of funds in the current year, primarily interest-bearing funding which increased 9 basis points over the same period in the prior year. At the same time, the average balance of interest-bearing funding increased $166.7 million, or 11% over the same period.

Interest expense on interest checking, savings and money market accounts amounted to $883 thousand, an increase of $230 thousand, or 35%, compared to the same prior year period due primarily to an increase in average rates of 5 basis points and to a lesser extent an increase in average balances of $96.3 million, or 7%.

Interest expense on CDs amounted to $372 thousand, an increase of $75 thousand, or 25%, compared to the same period in the prior year due primarily to an increase of 18 basis points in average rates.

Interest expense on brokered CDs amounted to $254 thousand, an increase of $66 thousand, or 35%, compared to the 2016 period, due primarily to an increase in average balances. Average balances increased $19.0 million, or 29%.
 
Interest expense on borrowed funds amounted to $169 thousand, an increase of $167 thousand due to increases in both average balances and average rates. Average balances increased $52.1 million, and average rates increased 49 basis points compared to prior period. Average rates increased due mainly to increases in the Fed Funds rate since the prior period.

The average balance of non-interest bearing demand deposits increased $48.0 million, or 7%, as compared to the same period in 2016.  Non-interest bearing demand deposits are an important component of the Company's core funding strategy.  This non-interest bearing funding source represented 30% of total average deposit balances for both the three months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016.

Provision for Loan Loss
 
The provision for loan losses amounted to $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of $161 thousand compared to the same period last year. 

The provision for loan losses is a significant factor in the Company's operating results. For further discussion regarding the provision for loan losses and management's assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses see "Credit Risk," "Asset Quality," and "Allowance for Loan Losses" under "Financial Condition" in this Item 2 above, and "Credit Risk," "Asset Quality," and "Allowance for Loan Losses" in the Financial Condition section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.


56



There have been no material changes to the Company's underwriting practices or to the allowance for loan loss methodology used to estimate loan loss exposure as reported in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Non-Interest Income
 
Non-interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $3.4 million, a decrease of $504 thousand, or 13%, as compared to the same period. The significant changes are discussed below:
 
Investment advisory fees increased by $149 thousand, or 13%, primarily driven by asset growth due to changes in market values.

Deposit and interchange fees increased by $255 thousand, or 20%, primarily due to increases in business checking fees and to a lesser extent ATM interchange fees and overdraft fees.

Net gains (losses) on sales of investment securities decreased by $830 thousand in the third quarter of 2017, predominately from losses of $1.6 million realized from a debt security portfolio restructuring, largely offset by gains on equity sales in the current quarter of $1.3 million.

Net gain on loan sales decreased $110 thousand, or 56%, primarily due to lower volume in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016.

Non-Interest Expense
 
Non-interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $18.8 million, an increase of $1.4 million, or 8%, compared to the prior period in 2016. The significant changes are discussed below:
 
Salaries and employee benefits increased by $1.2 million, or 11%, primarily to support the Company's strategic growth and market expansion initiatives since the prior period.

Occupancy and equipment expense increased by $134 thousand, or 7%, mainly due to investments in our facilities, including new branches, the overall branch network, and operations buildings.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2017, was 35.4%, compared to 32.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in rate was primarily due to higher levels of projected taxable income.

Results of Operations
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 vs. Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Unless otherwise indicated, the reported results are for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 with the "same period," the "comparable period," "prior year," and "prior period" being the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Average yields are presented on a tax equivalent basis.
 
The Company's net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $16.7 million compared to $13.8 million for the same period in 2016, an increase of $2.9 million, or 21%.  Diluted earnings per share were $1.43 and $1.27 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively, an increase of 13%. Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 include the full impact of the 930,232 shares of common stock issued in the Company’s 2016 equity offering, while the respective weighted average for the 2016 period was only affected from the issue date of June 23, 2016 through period end.

Net Interest Income
 
The Company's net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $71.5 million compared to $64.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $7.3 million, or 11%.  The increase in net interest income over the comparable period was due primarily to revenue generated from loan growth.
 


57


Net Interest Margin 

The Company's margin was 3.95% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, and was relatively flat compared to the margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Rate / Volume Analysis
 
The following table sets forth the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in the average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities have affected interest income and expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016.  For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes attributable to: (1) volume (change in average portfolio balance multiplied by prior period average rate); (2) interest rate (change in average interest rate multiplied by prior period average balance); and (3) rate and volume (the remaining difference).

 
 
 
 
Increase (decrease) due to
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Net
Change
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Rate/
Volume
Interest Income
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loans and loans held for sale
 
$
7,165

 
$
6,911

 
$
237

 
$
17

Investment securities
 
1,181

 
1,403

 
(46
)
 
(176
)
Other interest earning assets (1)
 
113

 
(30
)
 
170

 
(27
)
Total interest earnings assets
 
8,459

 
8,284

 
361

 
(186
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Expense
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest checking, savings and money market
 
601

 
231

 
368

 
2

Certificates of deposit
 
144

 
(12
)
 
152

 
4

Brokered CDs
 
47

 
(47
)
 
103

 
(9
)
Borrowed funds
 
343

 
127

 
83

 
133

Subordinated debt
 
(3
)
 

 
(3
)
 

Total interest-bearing funding
 
1,132

 
299

 
703

 
130

Change in net interest income
 
$
7,327

 
$
7,985

 
$
(342
)
 
$
(316
)
_________________________________
(1) 
Income on other interest-earning assets includes interest on deposits and fed funds sold, and dividends on FHLB stock.





58


The following table presents the Company's average balance sheet, net interest income and average rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

AVERAGE BALANCES, INTEREST AND AVERAGE YIELDS
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
 
Average
Yield
(1)
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
 
Average
Yield(1)
Assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loans and loans held for sale (2)
 
$
2,098,992

 
$
70,544

 
4.55
%
 
$
1,897,372

 
$
63,379

 
4.52
%
Investments (3)
 
377,273

 
5,901

 
2.65
%
 
307,203

 
4,720

 
2.67
%
Other interest earning assets (4)
 
29,748

 
302

 
1.35
%
 
35,544

 
189

 
0.71
%
Total interest earnings assets
 
2,506,013

 
76,747

 
4.23
%
 
2,240,119

 
68,288

 
4.21
%
Other assets
 
107,542

 
 

 
 

 
104,158

 
 

 
 

Total assets
 
$
2,613,555

 
 

 
 

 
$
2,344,277

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and stockholders' equity:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Int chkg, savings and money market
 
$
1,386,227

 
2,467

 
0.24
%
 
$
1,231,888

 
1,866

 
0.20
%
Certificates of deposit
 
166,546

 
986

 
0.79
%
 
168,911

 
842

 
0.67
%
Brokered CDs
 
74,584

 
664

 
1.19
%
 
80,782

 
617

 
1.02
%
Borrowed funds
 
50,179

 
422

 
1.12
%
 
19,281

 
79

 
0.55
%
Subordinated debt (5)
 
14,839

 
692

 
6.23
%
 
14,826

 
695

 
6.26
%
Total interest-bearing funding
 
1,692,375

 
5,231

 
0.41
%
 
1,515,688

 
4,099

 
0.36
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest rate spread
 
 

 
 

 
3.82
%
 
 

 
 

 
3.85
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Demand deposits
 
680,817

 

 
 
 
616,686

 

 
 
Total deposits, borrowed funds and subordinated debt
 
2,373,192

 
5,231

 
0.29
%
 
2,132,374

 
4,099

 
0.26
%
Other liabilities
 
16,732

 
 

 
 

 
15,572

 
 

 
 

Total liabilities
 
2,389,924

 
 

 
 

 
2,147,946

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity
 
223,631

 
 

 
 

 
196,331

 
 

 
 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
2,613,555

 
 

 
 

 
$
2,344,277

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income
 
 

 
$
71,516

 
 

 
 

 
$
64,189

 
 

Net interest margin (tax equivalent)
 
 

 
 

 
3.95
%
 
 

 
 

 
3.96
%
_______________________________
(1) 
Average yields are presented on a tax equivalent basis.  The tax equivalent effect associated with loans and investments, which was not included in the interest amount above, was $2.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and $2.3 million for the comparable period in 2016.
(2) 
Average loans and loans held for sale include non-accrual loans and are net of average deferred loan fees.
(3) 
Average investment balances are presented at average amortized cost.
(4) 
Average other interest earning assets includes interest-earning deposits, fed funds sold, and FHLB stock.
(5) 
The subordinated debt is net of average deferred debt issuance costs.





59


Interest and Dividend Income
 
Total interest and dividend income amounted to $76.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $8.5 million, or 12%, compared to the prior period.  The increase resulted primarily from an increase of $265.9 million, or 12%, in the average balance of interest earning assets, mainly loans.

Interest income on loans and loans held for sale, which accounts for the majority of interest income, amounted to $70.5 million, an increase of $7.2 million, or 11%, over the comparable period, due primarily to an increase of average loans and loans held for sale balances by $201.6 million, or 11%, compared to the prior period. The average yield on loans and loans held for sale also increased 3 basis points since the same period in 2016 and amounted to 4.55% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Income on investment securities amounted to $5.9 million, an increase of $1.2 million, or 25%, compared to the same period in 2016. This increase primarily resulted from an increase in the average balance of investment securities by $70.1 million, or 23%, partially offset by a 2 basis points decline in the average yield on investment securities.

Other interest earning assets income amounted to $302 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $113 thousand, or 60%, compared to the prior period. The increase resulted from a 64 basis point increase in the average yield, mainly due to an increase in the Fed Funds rates since the prior period, partially offset by a decrease of $5.8 million, or 16%, in the average balance of other interest earning assets compared to the prior period.

Interest Expense
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, total interest expense amounted to $5.2 million, an increase of $1.1 million, or 28%, over the same period in 2016 due primarily to an increase in the cost of funds, mainly interest-bearing funding, and to a lesser extent an increase in average balances. The average rate on interest-bearing funding increased by 5 basis points and the average balances increased $176.7 million, or 12%.
 
Interest expense on interest checking, savings and money market accounts amounted to $2.5 million, an increase of $601 thousand, or 32%, compared to the prior period due to both an increase in rates by 4 basis points and average balances of $154.3 million, or 13%, over the comparable period.

Interest expense on CDs amounted to $986 thousand, an increase of $144 thousand, or 17%, over the same period in 2016 due primarily to an increase in the average rate of 12 basis points.

Interest expense on brokered CDs amounted to $664 thousand, an increase of $47 thousand, or 8%, due primarily to an increase in the average rate, partially offset by a decrease in the average balance. The average rate increased 17 basis points, while the average balance decreased $6.2 million, or 8%.

Interest expense on borrowed funds amounted to $422 thousand, an increase of $343 thousand, due to increases in both average balances and average rates of borrowed funds since the prior year. Average balances increased $30.9 million and average rates increased 57 basis points since the prior period, mainly due to increases in the Fed Funds rate.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the average balance of non-interest bearing demand deposits increased $64.1 million, or 10%, as compared to the same period in 2016.  Non-interest bearing demand deposits are an important component of the Company's core funding strategy.  This non-interest bearing funding represented 29% of total average deposit balances for both the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
 
Provision for Loan Loss
 
The provision for loan losses amounted to $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of $873 thousand compared to the same period last year.  The decrease in the provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was due primarily to generally improved credit quality metrics and underlying collateral values, partially offset by increased loan growth compared to the prior year.


60


The provision for loan losses is a significant factor in the Company's operating results. For further discussion regarding the provision for loan losses and management's assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses see "Credit Risk," "Asset Quality," and "Allowance for Loan Losses" under "Financial Condition" in this Item 2 above, and "Credit Risk," "Asset Quality," and "Allowance for Loan Losses" in the Financial Condition section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
There have been no material changes to the Company's underwriting practices or to the allowance for loan loss methodology used to estimate loan loss exposure as reported in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Non-Interest Income
 
Non-interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $11.5 million, an increase of $781 thousand, or 7%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The significant changes are discussed below:

Investment advisory fees increased by $210 thousand, or 6%, primarily due to increases in investments under management from both new business and increases in market values.

Deposit and interchange fees increased by $599 thousand, or 16%, primarily due to increases in business checking fees and to a lesser extent ATM interchange fees.

Net gains (losses) on security sales decreased $126 thousand, or 21%. Net gains on securities sales were lower in the current year predominately due to gains on equity sales, largely offset by losses realized from a debt security portfolio restructuring.

Non-Interest Expense
 
Non-interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 amounted to $57.0 million, an increase of $5.2 million, or 10%, compared to the same period in 2016.  The significant changes are discussed below:
 
Salaries and employee benefits increased by $4.2 million, or 13%, since the prior period, primarily to support the Company's strategic growth and market expansion initiatives.

Occupancy and equipment expenses increased $424 thousand, or 8%, mainly due to investments in our facilities, including new branches, the overall branch network, and operations buildings.

Technology and telecommunications expense increased $241 thousand, or 5%, primarily as a result of investments in our network infrastructure and security, to improve our service capabilities and to enhance business continuity.

Audit, legal, and professional expenses decreased by $183 thousand, or 15%, primarily due to a reduction of $101 thousand in audit and related fees compared to the same period in 2016.

Deposit insurance premiums increased by $133 thousand, or 13%, due primarily to changes in the FDIC's assessment methodology in late 2016, which applied to all banks, and the Company's growth.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was 31.7%, compared to 33.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The decrease in rate was due primarily to the implementation of a new accounting pronouncement (ASU No. 2016-09) related to stock-based compensation accounting in the first quarter of 2017, which reduced tax expense and increased net income by approximately $832 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1, Item (e), “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” to the Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q for information regarding recent accounting pronouncements.



61


Item 3 -
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company's primary market risk is interest rate risk. Oversight of interest rate risk management is the responsibility of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"). Annually, the Board reviews and approves the Company's asset-liability management policy, which provides management with guidelines for controlling interest rate risk, as measured through net interest income sensitivity to changes in interest rates, within certain tolerance levels. The Board also establishes and monitors guidelines for the Company's liquidity, capital ratios and asset-liability management.

The Company's asset-liability management strategies and guidelines are reviewed on a periodic basis by management and presented and discussed with the Board. These strategies and guidelines are revised based on changes in interest rate levels, general economic conditions, competition in the marketplace, the current interest rate risk position of the Company, anticipated growth and other factors.

One of the principal factors in maintaining planned levels of net interest income is the ability to design effective strategies to manage the impact of interest rate changes on future net interest income. Quarterly, management completes a net interest income sensitivity analysis, which is regularly presented to the Board. This analysis includes a simulation of the Company's net interest income under various interest rate scenarios. Variations in the interest rate environment affect numerous factors, including prepayment speeds, reinvestment rates, maturities of investments (due to call provisions), and interest rates on various asset and liability accounts.

Under the Company's current balance sheet position, the Company's margin generally performs slightly better over time in a rising rate environment, while it generally decreases in a declining rate environment and when the yield curve is flattening or inverted. The Company can be subject to margin compression depending on the economic environment and the shape of the yield curve.

In a flattening yield curve scenario, margin compression occurs as the spread between the cost of funding and the yield on interest earning assets narrows. Under this scenario the degree of margin compression is highly dependent on the Company's ability to fund asset growth through lower cost deposits. However, if the curve is flattening, while short-term rates are rising, the adverse impact on margin may be somewhat delayed, as increases in the Prime Rate will initially result in the Company's asset yields re-pricing more quickly than funding costs. After a protracted period of flat rates, the Federal Open Market Committee had begun to increase the fed funds target rate, with three 25 basis point increases since their December 2016 meeting.

In an inverted yield curve situation, shorter-term rates exceed longer-term rates, and the impact on margin is similar but more adverse than the flat curve scenario. Again, however, the extent of the impact on margin is highly dependent on the Company's balance sheet mix.

In a declining rate environment, margin compression will eventually occur as the yield on interest earning assets decreases more rapidly than decreases in funding costs. The primary causes would be the impact of interest rate decreases (including decreases in the Prime Rate) on adjustable rate loans and the fact that decreases in deposit rates may be limited or lag decreases in the Prime Rate.

There have been no material changes in the results of the Company's net interest income sensitivity analysis as reported in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. At September 30, 2017, management continues to consider the Company's primary interest rate risk exposure to be margin compression that may result from changes in interest rates and/or changes in the mix of the Company's balance sheet components. This would include the mix of fixed versus variable rate loans and investments on the asset side, and higher cost versus lower cost deposits and overnight borrowings versus term borrowings and certificates of deposit on the liability side. Refer to heading “Results of Operations” contained within Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further discussion of margin.


62



Item 4 -
Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
The Company maintains a set of disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in reports that it files or furnishes to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.
 
The Company carried out an evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b).  Based upon that evaluation, the Company's principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of September 30, 2017.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that has occurred during the Company's most recent fiscal quarter (i.e., the three months ended September 30, 2017) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.






63


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1 -
Legal Proceedings

There are no material pending legal proceedings to which the Company or its subsidiaries are a party or to which any of its property is subject, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business of the Company. Management does not believe resolution of any present litigation will have a material adverse effect on the business, consolidated financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

Item 1A -
Risk Factors
 
Management believes that there have been no material changes in the Company's risk factors as reported in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 2 -
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
None.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Item 3 -
Defaults upon Senior Securities
 
Not Applicable.
 
Item 4 -
Mine Safety Disclosures

Not Applicable.
 
Item 5 -
Other Information

Not Applicable.



64


Item 6 -
Exhibits
 
EXHIBIT INDEX
_____________
Exhibit No.    Description








101*
The following materials from Enterprise Bancorp, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 were formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016; and (vi) Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.
____________________
*Filed herewith


65


SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
 
 
 
 
DATE:
November 7, 2017
By:
/s/ James A. Marcotte
 
 
 
James A. Marcotte
 
 
 
Executive Vice President,
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
 
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)


66