Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

v3.8.0.1
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Significant Accounting Policies Policies  
Nature of Operations

Nature of Operations

Capital City Bank Group, Inc. (“CCBG” or the “Company”) provides a full range of banking and banking-related services to individual and corporate clients through its subsidiary, Capital City Bank, with banking offices located in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. The Company is subject to competition from other financial institutions, is subject to regulation by certain government agencies and undergoes periodic examinations by those regulatory authorities.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Capital City Bank Group, Inc. (CCBG), and its wholly owned subsidiary, Capital City Bank (CCB or the Bank and together with CCBG, the Company).  All material inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company, which operates a single reportable business segment that is comprised of commercial banking within the states of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, follows accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and reporting practices applicable to the banking industry.  The principles which materially affect the financial position, results of operations and cash flows are summarized below.

The Company determines whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity or a variable interest entity under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Voting interest entities are entities in which the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance itself independently and provide the equity holders with the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns and the right to make decisions about the entity’s activities.  The Company consolidates voting interest entities in which it has all, or at least a majority of, the voting interest.  As defined in applicable accounting standards, variable interest entities (“VIE’s”) are entities that lack one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity.  A controlling financial interest in an entity is present when an enterprise has a variable interest, or a combination of variable interests, that will absorb a majority of the entity’s expected losses, receive a majority of the entity’s expected residual returns, or both. The enterprise with a controlling financial interest, known as the primary beneficiary, consolidates the VIE.  CCBG's wholly owned subsidiaries, CCBG Capital Trust I (established November 1, 2004) and CCBG Capital Trust II (established May 24, 2005) are VIEs for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary.  Accordingly, the accounts of these entities are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. The Company has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition and/or disclosure through the date the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K were filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.  

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could vary from these estimates.  Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant changes in the near-term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, pension expense, income taxes, loss contingencies, valuation of other real estate owned, and valuation of goodwill and their respective analysis of impairment.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and due from banks, interest-bearing deposits in other banks, and federal funds sold. Generally, federal funds are purchased and sold for one-day periods and all other cash equivalents have a maturity of 90 days or less.  The Company is required to maintain average reserve balances with the Federal Reserve Bank based upon a percentage of deposits.  The average amounts of these required reserve balances for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were $18.8 million and $15.3 million, respectively.

Investment Securities

Investment Securities

Securities are classified as held to maturity and carried at amortized cost when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold them until maturity. Securities not classified as held to maturity or trading securities are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value, with the unrealized holding gains and losses reported as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax. The Company determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of purchase. Securities with limited marketability, such as stock in the Federal Reserve Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank, are carried at cost. Securities transferred from available for sale to held to maturity are recorded at fair value at the time of transfer. The respective gain or loss is reclassified as a separate component of other comprehensive income and amortized as an adjustment to interest income over the remaining life of the security.

Interest income includes amortization of purchase premiums and discounts. Realized gains and losses are derived from the amortized cost of the security sold. Declines in the fair value of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities below their cost that are deemed to be other than temporary are reflected in earnings as realized losses. In estimating other-than-temporary impairment losses, the Company considers, (i) whether it has decided to sell the security, (ii) whether it is more likely than not that the Company will have to sell the security before its market value recovers, and (iii) whether the present value of expected cash flows is sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis. When assessing the security’s expected cash flows, the Company considers, among other things, (i) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost and (ii) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer.

Loans Held For Sale

Loans Held For Sale

Certain residential mortgage loans are originated for sale in the secondary mortgage loan market.  Additionally, certain other loans are periodically identified to be sold.  The Company has the ability and intent to sell these loans and they are classified as loans held for sale and carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value.  Fair value is determined on the basis of rates quoted in the respective secondary market for the type of loan held for sale.  Loans are generally sold with servicing released at a premium or discount from the carrying amount of the loans. Such premium or discount is recognized as mortgage banking revenue at the date of sale.  Fixed commitments are generally used at the time loans are originated or identified for sale to mitigate interest rate risk.  The fair value of fixed commitments to originate and sell loans held for sale is not material.

Loans

Loans

Loans are stated at the principal amount outstanding, net of unearned income. Interest income is accrued on the effective yield method based on outstanding balances, and includes loan late fees.  Fees charged to originate loans and direct loan origination costs are deferred and amortized over the life of the loan as a yield adjustment.

The Company defines loans as past due when one full payment is past due or a contractual maturity is over 30 days late.  The accrual of interest is generally suspended on loans more than 90 days past due with respect to principal or interest.  When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, all previously accrued and uncollected interest is reversed against current income.  Interest income on nonaccrual loans is recognized when the ultimate collectability is no longer considered doubtful.  Loans are returned to accrual status when the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current or when future payments are reasonably assured.

Loan charge-offs on commercial and investor real estate loans are recorded when the facts and circumstances of the individual loan confirm the loan is not fully collectible and the loss is reasonably quantifiable. Factors considered in making these determinations are the borrower’s and any guarantor’s ability and willingness to pay, the status of the account in bankruptcy court (if applicable), and collateral value. Charge-off decisions for consumer loans are dictated by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s (FFIEC) Uniform Retail Credit Classification and Account Management Policy which establishes standards for the classification and treatment of consumer loans, which generally require charge-off after 120 days of delinquency.

Allowance for Loan Losses

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is a reserve established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense, which represents management’s best estimate of probable losses within the existing portfolio of loans.  The allowance is that amount considered adequate to absorb losses inherent in the loan portfolio based on management’s evaluation of credit risk as of the balance sheet date.

The allowance for loan losses includes allowance allocations calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 310 – Receivables and ASC Topic 450 - Contingencies.  The level of the allowance reflects management’s continuing evaluation of specific credit risks, loan loss experience, current loan portfolio quality, present economic conditions and unidentified losses inherent in the current loan portfolio, as well as trends in the foregoing.  This evaluation is inherently subjective, as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.

The Company’s allowance for loan losses consists of two components: (i) specific reserves established for probable losses on impaired loans; and (ii) general reserve for non-homogenous loans not deemed impaired and homogenous loan pools based on, but not limited to, historical loan loss experience, current economic conditions, levels of past due loans, and levels of problem loans.

Loans are deemed to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will not be able to collect all amounts due (principal and interest payments), according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Loans to borrowers who are experiencing financial difficulties and whose loans were modified with concessions are classified as troubled debt restructurings and measured for impairment. Loans to borrowers that have filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but continue to perform as agreed are classified as troubled debt restructurings and measured for impairment.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-Lived Assets

Premises and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation, computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives for each type of asset with premises being depreciated over a range of 10 to 40 years, and equipment being depreciated over a range of 3 to 10 years.  Additions, renovations and leasehold improvements to premises are capitalized and depreciated over the lesser of the useful life or the remaining lease term.  Repairs and maintenance are charged to noninterest expense as incurred.

Long-lived assets are evaluated for impairment if circumstances suggest that their carrying value may not be recoverable, by comparing the carrying value to estimated undiscounted cash flows.  If the asset is deemed impaired, an impairment charge is recorded equal to the carrying value less the fair value.

Bank Owned Life Insurance [Policy Text Block]

Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI)

The Company, through its subsidiary bank, has purchased life insurance policies on certain key officers. Bank owned life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or other amounts due that are probable at settlement.

Goodwill

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of businesses acquired over the fair value of the net assets acquired. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350, the Company determined it has one goodwill reporting unit. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually during the fourth quarter or on an interim basis if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying value. See Note 5 – Goodwill for additional information.

Other Real Estate Owned

Other Real Estate Owned

Assets acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are held for sale and are initially recorded at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated selling costs, establishing a new cost basis.  Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.  The valuation of foreclosed assets is subjective in nature and may be adjusted in the future because of changes in economic conditions. Revenue and expenses from operations and changes in value are included in noninterest expense. 

Loss Contingencies

Loss Contingencies

Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue as it is earned based on contractual terms, as transactions occur, or as services are provided and collectability is reasonably assured. Certain specific policies include the following:

Deposit Fees. Deposit fees are primarily overdraft and insufficient fund fees and monthly transaction-based fees. These fees are recognized as earned or as transactions occur and services are provided.

Bank Card Fees. Bank card fees primarily include interchange income from client use of consumer and business debit cards. Interchange income is a fee paid by a merchant bank to the card-issuing bank through the interchange network. Interchange fees are set by the credit card associations and are based on cardholder purchase volumes. The Company records interchange income as transactions occur.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Income tax expense is the total of the current year income tax due or refundable and the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities (excluding deferred tax assets and liabilities related to business combinations or components of other comprehensive income). Deferred tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax amounts for the temporary differences between carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the expected amount most likely to be realized. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of a sufficient level of future taxable income and recoverable taxes paid in prior years. The income tax effects related to settlements of share-based payment awards are reported in earnings as an increase or decrease in income tax expense. Prior to 2017, income tax benefits at settlement of an award were reported as an increase or decrease to additional paid-in capital to the extent that those benefits were greater than (or less than) the income tax benefits recognized in earnings during the award’s vesting period.

On December 22, 2017, H.R.1, commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), was signed into law. Among other things, the Tax Act reduced the Company's corporate federal tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. As a result, the Company was required to re-measure, through income tax expense, its deferred tax assets and liabilities using the enacted rate at which they are expected to be recovered or settled. Further discussion is provided in Note 10 – Income Taxes.

The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return and each subsidiary files a separate state income tax return.

Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is based on net income divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period excluding non-vested stock.  Diluted earnings per common share include the dilutive effect of stock options and non-vested stock awards granted using the treasury stock method.  A reconciliation of the weighted-average shares used in calculating basic earnings per common share and the weighted average common shares used in calculating diluted earnings per common share for the reported periods is provided in Note 13 — Earnings Per Share.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income includes all changes in shareowners’ equity during a period, except those resulting from transactions with shareowners.  Besides net income, other components of the Company’s comprehensive income include the after tax effect of changes in the net unrealized gain/loss on securities available for sale and changes in the funded status of defined benefit and supplemental executive retirement plans.  Comprehensive income is reported in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and Changes in Shareowners’ Equity.

The Company elected to early adopt FASB ASU 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income and reclassify to retained earnings the stranded effects in accumulated other comprehensive income related to the Tax Act. Further discussion is provided in Note 15Other Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Stock Based Compensation

Stock Based Compensation

Compensation cost is recognized for share-based awards issued to employees, based on the fair value of these awards at the date of grant. Compensation cost is recognized over the requisite service period, generally defined as the vesting period. The market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of the grant is used for restricted stock awards. For stock purchase plan awards, a Black-Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of the award. The impact of forfeitures of share-based awards on compensation expense is recognized as forfeitures occur.

NEW AUTHORITATIVE ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE

NEW AUTHORITATIVE ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE

ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).” ASU 2014-09 implements a common revenue standard that clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.  A significant portion of the Company’s revenue is comprised of net interest income on financial instruments, which is explicitly excluded from the scope of ASU 2014-09.  In addition to interest income, the Company has various noninterest income revenue streams that required assessment. The Company formed a revenue recognition working group that has completed its scoping and walk-through of noninterest income revenue streams. Amongst non-interest income revenue streams, mortgage banking fees are not in the scope of the standard.  Management has also completed its detailed contract review for the remaining revenue streams. Management has determined that ASU 2014-09 will not have a significant impact on its financial statements. ASU 2014-09 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018 and must be retrospectively applied. 

ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”. ASU 2016-1, among other things, (i) requires equity investments, with certain exceptions, to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income, (ii) simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment, (iii) eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet, (iv) requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes, (v) requires an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments, (vi) requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements and (viii) clarifies that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale. ASU 2016-1 will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2018 and is not expected to have a significant impact on its financial statements.

ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” ASU 2016-02 requires the lease rights and obligations arising from lease contracts, including existing and new arrangements, to be recognized as assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2019 and is not expected to have a significant impact on its financial statements.

ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Statements.” ASU 2016-13 requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts and requires enhanced disclosures related to the significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an organization’s portfolio. In addition, ASU 2016-13 amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. ASU 2016-13 will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of ASU 2016-13 on its financial statements and related disclosures. As part of its implementation efforts to date, management has formed a cross-functional implementation team, developed a project plan, and selected a vendor to provide a solution to assist in model development. The Company expects the new guidance will result in an increase in the allowance for credit losses given the change from accounting for losses inherent in the loan portfolio to accounting for losses over the remaining expected life of the portfolio. However, since the magnitude of the anticipated increase in the allowance for credit losses will be impacted by economic conditions and trends in the Company’s portfolio at the time of adoption, the quantitative impact cannot yet be reasonably estimated.

ASU 2017-05, “Other Income-Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20) - Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Asset.” ASU 2017-05 clarifies the scope of Subtopic 610-20 and adds guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets, including partial sales of real estate. Historically, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) contained several different accounting models to evaluate whether the transfer of certain assets qualified for sale treatment. ASU 2017-05 reduces the number of potential accounting models that might apply and clarifies which model does apply in various circumstances. ASU 2017-05 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018 and is not expected to have a significant impact on its financial statements.

ASU 2017-07, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715).” ASU 2017-07 requires that an employer report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost as defined in paragraphs 715-30-35-4 and 715-60-35-9 are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. If a separate line item or items are used to present the other components of net benefit cost, that line item or items must be appropriately described. If a separate line item or items are not used, the line item or items used in the income statement to present the other components of net benefit cost must be disclosed. ASU 2017-07 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018 and is not expected to have a significant impact on its financial statements.

ASU 2017-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718).” ASU 2017-09 clarifies when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Modification accounting is required only if the fair value, or calculated intrinsic value if it is used to measure the award, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award as equity or liability changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. ASU 2017-09 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018 and is not expected to have a significant impact on its financial statements.

ASU 2017-11, “Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815).” ASU 2017-11 has two parts (i) Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features and (ii) Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception. Part (i) changes the classification analysis of certain equity-linked financial instruments with down round features. When determining whether certain financial instruments should be classified as liabilities or equity instruments, a down round feature no longer precludes equity classification when assessing whether the instrument is indexed to an entity’s own stock. The amendments also clarify existing disclosure requirements for equity-classified instruments. Part (ii) re-characterizes the indefinite deferral of certain provisions of Topic 480 that are now presented as pending continent in the Codification, to a scope exception. Those amendments do not have an accounting effect. ASU 2017-11 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2019 and is not expected to have a significant impact on its financial statements.

ASU 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815).” ASU 2017-12 amends the hedge accounting recognition and presentation requirements in ASC 815. The amendments objectives are to (1) improve the transparency and understandability of information conveyed to financial statement users about an entity’s risk management activities by better aligning the entity’s financial reporting for hedging relationships with those risk management activities and (2) reduce the complexity of and to simplify the application of hedge accounting by preparers. ASU 2017-12 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2019 and is not expected to have a significant impact on its financial statements.

ASU 2018-02, “Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” ASU 2018-02 allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The amendments will improve the usefulness of information reported to the users of the financial statements. The underlying guidance that requires that the effect of a change in tax laws or rates be included in income from continuing operations is not affected. The amendments in this update are effective for all organizations for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2018-02 was early adopted by the Company and is included in its financial statements as of December 31, 2017. The adoption of this standard resulted in the reclassification of $5.6 million from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.