Critical accounting policies





The presentation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect many of the reported
amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from these estimates.



A material estimate that is particularly susceptible to significant change
relates to the determination of the allowance for loan losses. Management
believes that the allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2022 is adequate and
reasonable. Given the subjective nature of identifying and valuing loan losses,
it is likely that well-informed individuals could make different assumptions and
could, therefore, calculate a materially different allowance value. While
management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, changes in
economic conditions may necessitate revisions in the future. In addition,
various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process,
periodically review the Company's allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may
require the Company to recognize adjustments to the allowance based on their
judgment of information available to them at the time of their examination.



Another material estimate is the calculation of fair values of the Company's
investment securities. Fair values of investment securities are determined by
pricing provided by a third-party vendor, who is a provider of financial market
data, analytics and related services to financial institutions. Based on
experience, management is aware that estimated fair values of investment
securities tend to vary among valuation services. Accordingly, when selling
investment securities, price quotes may be obtained from more than one source.
As described in Notes 1 and 4 of the consolidated financial statements,
incorporated by reference in Part II, Item 8, the Company's investment
securities are classified as available-for-sale (AFS) or held-to-maturity (HTM).
AFS securities are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets,
with unrealized gains and losses, net of income tax, reported separately within
shareholders' equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income
(loss) (AOCI).



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The fair value of residential mortgage loans, classified as held-for-sale (HFS),
is obtained from the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal
Home Loan Bank (FHLB). Generally, the market to which the Company sells
residential mortgages it originates for sale is restricted and price quotes from
other sources are not typically obtained. On occasion, the Company may transfer
loans from the loan portfolio to loans HFS. Under these circumstances, pricing
may be obtained from other entities and the loans are transferred at the lower
of cost or market value and simultaneously sold. For a further discussion on the
accounting treatment of HFS loans, see the section entitled "Loans
held-for-sale," contained within this management's discussion and analysis.



We account for business combinations under the purchase method of accounting.
The application of this method of accounting requires the use of significant
estimates and assumptions in the determination of the fair value of assets
acquired and liabilities assumed in order to properly allocate purchase price
consideration between assets that are amortized, accreted or depreciated from
those that are recorded as goodwill. Estimates of the fair values of assets
acquired and liabilities assumed are based upon assumptions that management
believes to be reasonable.



Goodwill is tested at least annually at November 30 for impairment, or more
often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment. Impairment
write-downs are charged to the consolidated statement of income in the period in
which the impairment is determined. In testing goodwill for impairment, the
Company performed a qualitative assessment, resulting in the determination that
the fair value of its reporting unit exceeded its carrying amount. Accordingly,
there is no goodwill impairment at December 31, 2022. Other acquired intangible
assets that have finite lives, such as core deposit intangibles, are amortized
over their estimated useful lives and subject to periodic impairment testing.



All significant accounting policies are contained in Note 1, "Nature of
Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies", within the notes to
consolidated financial statements and incorporated by reference in Part II, Item
8.


The following discussion and analysis presents the significant changes in the financial condition and in the results of operations of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for each of the years then ended. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Part II, Item 8 of this report.





Non-GAAP Financial Measures



The following are non-GAAP financial measures which provide useful insight to
the reader of the consolidated financial statements but should be supplemental
to GAAP used to prepare the Company's financial statements and should not be
read in isolation or relied upon as a substitute for GAAP measures. In addition,
the Company's non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to non-GAAP measures of
other companies. The Company's tax rate used to calculate the fully-taxable
equivalent (FTE) adjustment was 21% at December 31, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
and 2018.



The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures of FTE net
interest income:




(dollars in thousands)              2022          2021          2020          2019          2018
Interest income (GAAP)            $  78,672     $  65,468     $  49,496     $  39,269     $  35,330
Adjustment to FTE                     2,738         2,135         1,095           750           718
Interest income adjusted to FTE
(non-GAAP)                           81,410        67,603        50,591        40,019        36,048
Interest expense (GAAP)               6,398         3,639         5,311         7,554         4,873
Net interest income adjusted to
FTE (non-GAAP)                    $  75,012     $  63,964     $  45,280     $  32,465     $  31,175

The efficiency ratio is non-interest expenses as a percentage of FTE net interest income plus non-interest income. The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures of the efficiency ratio to GAAP:





(dollars in thousands)              2022          2021          2020          2019          2018
Efficiency Ratio (non-GAAP)
Non-interest expenses (GAAP)      $  51,348     $  50,107     $  38,319     $  26,921     $  25,072

Net interest income (GAAP)           72,274        61,829        44,185        31,715        30,457
Plus: taxable equivalent
adjustment                            2,738         2,135         1,095           750           718
Non-interest income (GAAP)           16,642        18,287        14,668        10,193         9,200
Net interest income (FTE) plus
non-interest income (non-GAAP)    $  91,654     $  82,251     $  59,948     $  42,658     $  40,375
Efficiency ratio (non-GAAP)           56.02 %       60.92 %       63.92 %       63.11 %       62.10 %




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The following table provides a reconciliation of the tangible common equity (non-GAAP) and the calculation of tangible book value per share:





(dollars in thousands)               2022            2021            2020            2019            2018
Tangible Book Value per Share
(non-GAAP)
Total assets (GAAP)               $ 2,378,372     $ 2,419,104     $ 1,699,510     $ 1,009,927     $   981,102
Less: Intangible assets,
primarily goodwill                    (21,168 )       (21,569 )        (8,787 )          (209 )          (209 )
Tangible assets                     2,357,204       2,397,535       1,690,723       1,009,718         980,893
Total shareholders' equity
(GAAP)                                162,950         211,729         166,670         106,835          93,557
Less: Intangible assets,
primarily goodwill                    (21,168 )       (21,569 )        (8,787 )          (209 )          (209 )
Tangible common equity            $   141,782     $   190,160     $   157,883     $   106,626     $    93,348

Common shares outstanding, end
of period                           5,630,794       5,645,687       4,977,750       3,781,500       3,759,426
Tangible Common Book Value per
Share                             $     25.18     $     33.68     $     31.72     $     28.20     $     24.83




The following tables provides a reconciliation of the Company's earnings results
under GAAP to comparative non-GAAP results excluding merger-related expenses and
an FHLB prepayment penalty:



                                                                               2022
                                                                                                          Diluted
                                                Income before       Provision for                         earnings

(dollars in thousands except per share data) income taxes income taxes Net income per share Results of operations (GAAP)

$        35,468     $         5,447     $     30,021     $       5.29
Add: Merger-related expenses                                 -                   -                -                -
Add: FHLB prepayment penalty                                 -                   -                -                -
Adjusted earnings (non-GAAP)                   $        35,468     $         5,447     $     30,021     $       5.29




                                                                               2021
                                                                                                          Diluted
                                                Income before       Provision for                         earnings

(dollars in thousands except per share data) income taxes income taxes Net income per share



Results of operations (GAAP)                   $        28,009     $         4,001     $     24,008     $       4.48
Add: Merger-related expenses                             3,033                 491            2,542             0.47
Add: FHLB prepayment penalty                               369                  78              291             0.05
Adjusted earnings (non-GAAP)                   $        31,411     $         4,570     $     26,841     $       5.00




                                                                               2020
                                                                                                          Diluted
                                                Income before       Provision for                         earnings

(dollars in thousands except per share data) income taxes income taxes Net income per share



Results of operations (GAAP)                   $        15,284     $         2,249     $     13,035     $       2.82
Add: Merger-related expenses                             2,452                 426            2,026             0.44
Add: FHLB prepayment penalty                               481                 101              380             0.08
Adjusted earnings (non-GAAP)                   $        18,217     $         2,776     $     15,441     $       3.34




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           Comparison of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2022

      and 2021 and Results of Operations for each of the Years then Ended



Executive Summary



The Company generated $30.0 million in net income in 2022, or $5.29 diluted
earnings per share, up $6.0 million, or 25%, from $24.0 million, or
$4.48 diluted earnings per share, in 2021. During 2022, rising interest rates
and a well-diversified balance sheet contributed to the success of our earnings
performance. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) officials raised the federal
funds rate 425 basis points during 2022 and another 25 basis points in February
2023. The Company expects the fed funds rate to continue to rise during 2023 as
the level of inflation and the labor market remains strong. The 2023 focus is to
manage net interest income through a rising forecasted rate cycle by exercising
disciplined and proactive loan pricing and managing deposit costs to maintain a
reasonable spread. From a financial condition and performance perspective, our
mission for 2023 will be to continue to strengthen our capital position through
retained earnings by implementing creative marketing and revenue enhancing
strategies, continuing to manage the cost of deposits, growing and cultivating
more of our wealth management and business services and managing credit risk at
tolerable levels thereby maintaining overall asset quality.



Nationally, the unemployment rate fell from 3.9% at December 31, 2021 to 3.5% at
December 31, 2022. The unemployment rates in the Scranton - Wilkes-Barre -
Hazleton (market area north) and the Allentown - Bethlehem - Easton (market area
south) Metropolitan Statistical Areas (local) also decreased but the market area
north remained at a higher level than the national unemployment rate. According
to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the local unemployment rates at December
31, 2022 were 4.3% in the market area north and 3.3% in the market area south,
respectively, a decrease of 0.5 and 0.7 percentage points from the 4.8% and
4.0%, respectively, at December 31, 2021. The national and local unemployment
rates have decreased as a result of the improving economic environment. The
median home values in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton metro and
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro each increased 6.0% and 10.7% from a year ago,
according to Zillow, an online database advertising firm providing access to its
real estate search engines to various media outlets, and values are expected to
grow 3.0% and 0.8% in the next year. In light of these expectations, we are
uncertain if real estate values could continue to increase at these levels with
the continued rising rate environment, however we will continue to monitor the
economic climate in our region and scrutinize growth prospects with credit
quality as a principal consideration.



On May 1, 2020, the Company completed its acquisition of MNB Corporation ("MNB"). The merger expanded the Company's full-service footprint into Northampton County, PA and the Lehigh Valley. Non-recurring costs to facilitate the merger and integrate systems of $2.5 million were incurred during 2020.





On July 1, 2021, the Company completed its acquisition of Landmark Bancorp, Inc.
("Landmark"). Non-recurring costs to facilitate the merger and integrate systems
of $3.0 million were incurred during 2021.



Non-recurring merger-related costs and a FHLB prepayment penalty incurred during
2021 and 2020 are not a part of the Company's normal operations. There were no
non-recurring costs during 2022.



For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, tangible common book value per
share (non-GAAP) was $25.18 and $33.68, respectively, a decrease of 25.2%. The
decrease in tangible book value was due to the decline in tangible common equity
resulting within AOCI from the after-tax net unrealized losses on
available-for-sale securities. These non-GAAP measures should be reviewed in
connection with the reconciliation of these non-GAAP ratios. See "Non-GAAP
Financial Measures" located above within this management's discussion and
analysis.



During 2022, the Company's assets declined by 2% primarily from unrealized
losses in the investment portfolio. In 2023, we expect total loans to increase
and a decline in the investment portfolio. The increase in the loan portfolio is
expected to be funded primarily by deposit growth supplemented by short-term
borrowings, when necessary. No long-term FHLB advances are expected in 2023.



Non-performing assets represented 0.17% of total assets as of December 31, 2022,
down from 0.27% at the prior year end. Non-performing assets to total assets was
lower during 2022 mostly due to the amount (or dollar value) of non-performing
assets decreasing while there was growth in total assets.



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Branch managers, relationship bankers, mortgage originators and our business
service partners are all focused on developing a mutually profitable full
banking relationship with our clients. We understand our markets, offer products
and services along with financial advice that is appropriate for our community,
clients and prospects. The Company continues to focus on the trusted financial
advisor model by utilizing the team approach of experienced bankers that are
fully engaged and dedicated towards maintaining and growing profitable
relationships.



During 2023, the Company expects to operate in a higher interest rate
environment. The Company's balance sheet is positioned to improve its net
interest income performance, but increases in yields may not keep pace with
higher cost of funds which may compress net interest spread. Expectations are
for short-term rates to continue to increase throughout 2023, which could
continue to increase deposit rate pricing. The Company currently expects net
interest margin to remain unchanged for 2023.



Financial Condition



Consolidated assets decreased $40.7 million, or 2%, to $2.4 billion as of
December 31, 2022 from $2.4 billion at December 31, 2021. The decrease in assets
occurred primarily from a decrease in the investment portfolio and a reduction
in excess cash balances. Loan portfolio growth was funded by utilizing cash
balances and short-term borrowings.



The following table is a comparison of condensed balance sheet data as of
December 31:



(dollars in
thousands)
Assets:                    2022             %            2021             %            2020             %
Cash and cash
equivalents             $    29,091           1.2 %   $    96,877           4.0 %   $    69,346           4.1 %
Investment securities       643,606          27.1         738,980          30.6         392,420          23.1
Restricted
investments in bank
stock                         5,268           0.2           3,206           0.1           2,813           0.2
Loans and leases, net     1,548,662          65.1       1,449,231          59.9       1,135,236          66.8
Bank premises and
equipment                    31,307           1.3          29,310           1.2          27,626           1.6
Life insurance cash
surrender value              54,035           2.3          52,745           2.2          44,285           2.6
Other assets                 66,403           2.8          48,755           2.0          27,784           1.6
Total assets            $ 2,378,372         100.0 %   $ 2,419,104

100.0 % $ 1,699,510 100.0 %

Liabilities:


Total deposits          $ 2,166,913          91.1 %   $ 2,169,865          89.7 %   $ 1,509,505          88.8 %
Secured borrowings            7,619           0.3          10,620           0.4               -             -
Short-term borrowings        12,940           0.5               -             -               -             -
FHLB advances                     -             -               -             -           5,000           0.3
Other liabilities            27,950           1.2          26,890           1.1          18,335           1.1

Total liabilities 2,215,422 93.1 2,207,375 91.2 1,532,840 90.2 Shareholders' equity 162,950

           6.9         211,729           8.8         166,670           9.8

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 2,378,372 100.0 % $ 2,419,104 100.0 % $ 1,699,510 100.0 %






A comparison of net changes in selected balance sheet categories as of December
31, are as follows:



                                          Earning                                             Other                      FHLB
(dollars in
thousands)       Assets         %         assets*        %        Deposits        %         borrowings        %        advances        %

2022            $ (40,732 )       (2 )   $ (35,954 )       (2 )   $  (2,952 )       (0 )   $      9,939         94     $       -          -
2021              719,594         42       682,812         43       660,360         44           10,620        100        (5,000 )     (100 )
2020              689,583         68       648,880         69       673,768         81          (37,839 )     (100 )     (10,000 )      (67 )
2019               28,825          3        21,878          2        65,554          9          (38,527 )      (50 )     (16,704 )      (53 )
2018              117,465         14       112,078         14        40,037          5           57,864        313        10,500         50




* Earning assets include interest-bearing deposits with financial institutions,
gross loans and leases, loans held-for-sale, available-for-sale securities and
restricted investments in bank stock excluding loans placed on non-accrual
status.



For more information about the Company's capital, see Footnote 15, "Regulatory
Matters," of Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data",
which is incorporated herein by reference and the "Capital Resources" section of
management's discussion and analysis contained herein.

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Funds Provided:



Deposits



The Company is a community based commercial depository financial institution,
member FDIC, which offers a variety of deposit products with varying ranges of
interest rates and terms. Generally, deposits are obtained from consumers,
businesses and public entities within the communities that surround the
Company's 21 branch offices and all deposits are insured by the FDIC up to the
full extent permitted by law. Deposit products consist of transaction accounts
including: savings; clubs; interest-bearing checking; money market and
non-interest bearing checking (DDA). The Company also offers short- and
long-term time deposits or certificates of deposit (CDs). CDs are deposits with
stated maturities which can range from seven days to ten years. Cash flow from
deposits is influenced by economic conditions, changes in the interest rate
environment, pricing and competition. To determine interest rates on its deposit
products, the Company considers local competition, spreads to earning-asset
yields, liquidity position and rates charged for alternative sources of funding
such as short-term borrowings and FHLB advances.



The following table represents the components of total deposits as of December
31:



                                     2022                        2021
(dollars in thousands)        Amount           %          Amount           %

Interest-bearing checking   $   664,439        30.7 %   $   730,595        33.7 %
Savings and clubs               238,174        11.0         234,747        10.8
Money market                    544,468        25.1         475,447        21.9
Certificates of deposit         117,224         5.4         138,793         6.4
Total interest-bearing        1,564,305        72.2       1,579,582        72.8
Non-interest bearing            602,608        27.8         590,283        27.2
Total deposits              $ 2,166,913       100.0 %   $ 2,169,865       100.0 %




Total deposits decreased $3.0 million, or less than 1%, to $2.2 billion at
December 31, 2022 from $2.2 billion at December 31, 2021. During 2022, the
Company accepted various Fidelity Bank wealth managed trust accounts into a
money market account pledged by its securities portfolio which increased total
deposits by $69.2 million at December 31, 2022. Money market accounts grew
$69.0 million due to the $69.2 million from trust accounts along with a $24.0
million transfer from an interest-bearing checking account partially offset by
outflows from personal and public accounts. Non-interest bearing checking
accounts increased $12.3 million primarily due to increases in business checking
accounts.  Savings and clubs also increased $3.4 million due to personal savings
growth. Interest-bearing checking accounts decreased $66.2 million during 2022
primarily from one large public customer that withdrew $30.8 million and the
aforementioned $24.0 million transfer to a money market account plus declines in
personal and business account balances. The Company focuses on obtaining a
full-banking relationship with existing checking account customers as well as
forming new customer relationships. The Company will continue to execute on its
relationship development strategy, explore the demographics within its
marketplace and develop creative programs for its customers to maintain and grow
core deposits. For 2022, the Company experienced deposit balance declines as
clients transferred their deposits to investments to earn higher interest and
pay down debts. We currently expect this trend to continue throughout
2023. Seasonal public deposit fluctuations are expected to remain volatile and
at times may partially offset future deposit growth. The Company had
approximately $97 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds in public deposit
accounts at December 31, 2022 that may be disbursed during 2023 resulting in
declines in public deposits.



Partially offsetting these non-maturing deposit increases, CDs decreased
$21.6 million, or 16%, during 2022. CD balances continue to decline as rates
lagged capital market rate increases and CDs with promotional rates reached
maturity. Some maturing CDs were closed as customers could earn higher yields by
investing the money into other products. The Company will continue to pursue
strategies to grow and retain retail and business customers with an emphasis on
deepening and broadening existing and creating new relationships.



The Company uses the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS)
reciprocal program and Insured Cash Sweep (ICS) reciprocal program to obtain
FDIC insurance protection for customers who have large deposits that at times
may exceed the FDIC maximum insured amount of $250,000. The Company did not have
any CDARs as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021,
ICS reciprocal deposits represented $26.3 million and $27.6 million, or 1% each,
of total deposits which are included in interest-bearing checking accounts in
the table above. The $1.3 million decrease in ICS deposits is primarily due to
business deposit transfers from ICS accounts to other interest-bearing checking
accounts.



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As of December 31, 2022, total uninsured deposits were estimated to be
$985.2 million. The estimate of uninsured deposits is based on the same
methodologies and assumptions used for regulatory reporting requirements. The
Company aggregates deposit products by taxpayer identification number and
classifies into ownership categories to estimate amounts over the FDIC insurance
limit.


The maturity distribution of certificates of deposit that meet or exceed the FDIC limit, by account, at December 31, 2022 is as follows:





(dollars in thousands)
Three months or less                    $  2,168
More than three months to six months       3,377
More than six months to twelve months      6,340
More than twelve months                    9,239
Total                                   $ 21,124






Approximately 65% of the CDs, with a weighted-average interest rate of 0.51%,
are scheduled to mature in 2023 and an additional 21%, with a weighted-average
interest rate of 1.49%, are scheduled to mature in 2024. Renewing CDs are
currently expected to re-price to higher market rates depending on the rate on
the maturing CD, the pace and direction of interest rate movements, the shape of
the yield curve, competition, the rate profile of the maturing accounts and
depositor preference for alternative, non-term products. The Company plans to
continue to address repricing CDs in the ordinary course of business on a
relationship pricing basis and is prepared to match rates when prudent to
maintain relationships. Growth in CD accounts is challenged by the current and
expected rate environment and clients' preference for short-term rates. The
Company will continue to develop CD promotional programs when the Company deems
that it is economically feasible to do so or when demand exists. The Company
will consider the needs of the customers and simultaneously be mindful of the
liquidity levels, borrowing rates and the interest rate sensitivity exposure of
the Company.



Short-term borrowings


Borrowings are used as a complement to deposit generation as an alternative funding source whereby the Company will borrow under advances from the FHLB of Pittsburgh and other correspondent banks for asset growth and liquidity needs.





Short-term borrowings may include overnight balances with FHLB line of credit
and/or correspondent bank's federal funds lines which the Company may require to
fund daily liquidity needs such as deposit outflow, loan demand and operations.
The Company used $12.9 million in short-term borrowings to fund loan
growth as of December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had the
ability to borrow $112.0 million from the Federal Reserve borrower-in-custody
program, $145.9 million in overnight borrowings with the FHLB and $31.0 million
from lines of credit with correspondent banks.



Information with respect to the Company's short-term borrowing's maximum and average outstanding balances and interest rates are contained in Note 8, "Short-term Borrowings," of the notes to consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in Part II, Item 8.





Secured borrowings



As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had 9 and 11 secured borrowing
agreements with third parties with a fair value of $7.6 million and $10.6
million, respectively, related to certain sold loan participations that did not
qualify for sales treatment acquired from Landmark. Secured borrowings are
expected to decrease for 2023 from scheduled amortization and, when possible,
early pay-offs.



FHLB advances


The Company had no FHLB advances as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had the ability to borrow an additional $602.2 million from the FHLB, including any overnight borrowings. The Company does not expect to have any FHLB advances in 2023.


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Funds Deployed:



Investment Securities



The Company's investment policy is designed to complement its lending
activities, provide monthly cash flow, manage interest rate sensitivity and
generate a favorable return without incurring excessive interest rate and credit
risk while managing liquidity at acceptable levels. In establishing investment
strategies, the Company considers its business, growth strategies or
restructuring plans, the economic environment, the interest rate sensitivity
position, the types of securities in its portfolio, permissible purchases,
credit quality, maturity and re-pricing terms, call or average-life intervals
and investment concentrations. The Company's policy prescribes permissible
investment categories that meet the policy standards and management is
responsible for structuring and executing the specific investment purchases
within these policy parameters. Management buys and sells investment securities
from time-to-time depending on market conditions, business trends, liquidity
needs, capital levels and structuring strategies. Investment security purchases
provide a way to quickly invest excess liquidity in order to generate additional
earnings. The Company generally earns a positive interest spread by assuming
interest rate risk using deposits or borrowings to purchase securities with
longer maturities.



At the time of purchase, management classifies investment securities into one of
three categories: trading, available-for-sale (AFS) or held-to-maturity (HTM).
To date, management has not purchased any securities for trading purposes. Some
of the securities the Company purchases are classified as AFS even though there
is no immediate intent to sell them. The AFS designation affords management the
flexibility to sell securities and position the balance sheet in response to
capital levels, liquidity needs or changes in market conditions. Debt securities
AFS are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets with unrealized
gains and losses, net of deferred income taxes, reported separately within
shareholders' equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income
(AOCI). Securities designated as HTM are carried at amortized cost and represent
debt securities that the Company has the ability and intent to hold until
maturity. For the year ended December 31, 2022, AOCI was reduced by
$71.3 million due to the change in fair value of the Company's investment
securities.



Effective April 1, 2022, the Company transferred agency and municipal bonds with
a book value of $245.5 million from AFS to HTM in order to apply the accounting
for securities HTM to mitigate the effect AFS accounting has on the balance
sheet. The bonds that were transferred had the highest price volatility and
consisted of fixed-rate securities representing 70% of the agency portfolio, 70%
of the taxable municipal portfolio each laddered out on the short to
intermediate part of the curve and 35% of the tax-exempt municipal portfolio on
the long end of the curve were identified as the best candidates given the
Company's ability to hold those bonds to maturity. The market value of the
securities on the date of the transfer was $221.7 million, after netting
unrealized losses totaling $18.9 million. The $18.9 million, net of deferred
taxes, will be accreted into other comprehensive income over the life of the
bonds.



As of December 31, 2022, the carrying value of investment securities amounted to
$643.6 million, or 27% of total assets, compared to $739.0 million, or 31% of
total assets, at December 31, 2021. On December 31, 2022, 34% of the carrying
value of the investment portfolio was comprised of U.S. Government Sponsored
Enterprise residential mortgage-backed securities (MBS - GSE residential or
mortgage-backed securities) that amortize and provide monthly cash flow that the
Company can use for reinvestment, loan demand, unexpected deposit outflow,
facility expansion or operations. The mortgage-backed securities portfolio
includes only pass-through bonds issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the
Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA).



The Company's municipal (obligations of states and political subdivisions)
portfolio is comprised of tax-free municipal bonds with a book value of
$254.0 million and taxable municipal bonds with a book value of $86.3 million.
The overall credit ratings of these municipal bonds was as follows: 37% AAA, 62%
AA, and 1% A.



During 2022, the carrying value of total investments decreased $95.4 million, or
13%. Purchases for 2022 totaled $42.1 million, while principal reductions
totaled $40.7 million, the decline in unrealized gain/loss was $68.1 million in
the AFS portfolio and $23.9 million in unrealized losses were transferred to the
HTM portfolio. The purchases were funded principally by cash flow generated from
the portfolio and excess overnight liquidity. The Company attempts to maintain a
well-diversified and proportionate investment portfolio that is structured to
complement the strategic direction of the Company. Its growth typically
supplements the lending activities but also considers the current and forecasted
economic conditions, the Company's liquidity needs and interest rate risk
profile. During January 2023 with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield declining,
$31.2 million of securities were able to be sold yielding 3.62% (FTE yield of
4.33%) at a breakeven level. These proceeds were used to pay down FHLB overnight
borrowings costing 4.80%.



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A comparison of total investment securities as of December 31 follows:





                                                2022                                                          2021
(dollars in
thousands)             Amount          %         Book yield       Reprice term       Amount          %         Book yield      Reprice term
HTM securities:
Obligations of
states & political
subdivisions - tax
exempt                $  83,426        13.0 %            3.8 %             21.8     $       -           - %              - %               -
Obligations of
states & political
subdivisions -
taxable                  59,012         9.1              3.1               12.3             -           -                -                 -
Agency - GSE             80,306        12.5              2.6                7.4             -           -                -                 -
Total HTM
securities            $ 222,744        34.6 %            3.2 %             14.1     $       -           - %              - %               -
AFS debt
securities:
MBS - GSE
residential           $ 217,435        33.8 %            1.8 %              6.4     $ 257,267        34.8 %            1.6 %             5.1
Obligations of
states & political
subdivisions - tax
exempt                  149,131        23.2              2.6               11.4       272,909        37.0              2.4               7.3
Obligations of
states & political
subdivisions -
taxable                  22,763         3.5              1.6                6.6        91,801        12.4              1.9               8.1
Agency - GSE             31,533         4.9              1.4                4.6       117,003        15.8              1.4               5.2
Total AFS debt
securities            $ 420,862        65.4 %            2.0 %              8.0     $ 738,980       100.0 %            1.9 %             6.3
Total securities      $ 643,606       100.0 %            2.4 %              9.9     $ 738,980       100.0 %            1.9 %             6.3




The investment securities portfolio contained no private label mortgage-backed
securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, collateralized debt
obligations, or trust preferred securities, and no off-balance sheet derivatives
were in use. The portfolio had no adjustable-rate instruments as of December 31,
2022 and 2021.



Investment securities were comprised of AFS and HTM securities as of December
31, 2022 and AFS securities as of December 31, 2021. The AFS securities were
recorded with a net unrealized loss of $67.9 million and a net unrealized gain
of $0.2 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Of the
$68.1 million net decline; $30.1 million was attributable to municipal
securities; $35.9 million was attributable to mortgage-backed securities and
$2.1 million was attributable to agency securities. During the second quarter of
2022, securities with net unrealized losses totaling $23.9 million were
transferred to HTM of which subsequently $1.7 million was accreted against other
comprehensive income. The direction and magnitude of the change in value of the
Company's investment portfolio is attributable to the direction and magnitude of
the change in interest rates along the treasury yield curve. Generally, the
values of debt securities move in the opposite direction of the changes in
interest rates. As interest rates along the treasury yield curve rise,
especially at the intermediate and long end, the values of debt securities tend
to decline. Whether or not the value of the Company's investment portfolio will
change above or below its amortized cost will be largely dependent on the
direction and magnitude of interest rate movements and the duration of the debt
securities within the Company's investment portfolio. Management does not
consider the reduction in value attributable to changes in credit quality.
Correspondingly, when interest rates decline, the market values of the Company's
debt securities portfolio could be subject to market value increases.



As of December 31, 2022, the Company had $350.7 million in public deposits, or
16% of total deposits. Pennsylvania state law requires the Company to maintain
pledged securities on these public deposits or otherwise obtain a FHLB letter of
credit or FDIC insurance for these customers. As of December 31, 2022, the
balance of pledged securities required for public and trust deposits was
$407.2 million, or 63% of total securities.



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Quarterly, management performs a review of the investment portfolio to determine
the causes of declines in the fair value of each security. The Company uses
inputs provided by independent third parties to determine the fair value of its
investment securities portfolio. Inputs provided by the third parties are
reviewed and corroborated by management. Evaluations of the causes of the
unrealized losses are performed to determine whether impairment exists and
whether the impairment is temporary or other-than-temporary. Considerations such
as the Company's intent and ability to hold the securities until or sell prior
to maturity, recoverability of the invested amounts over the intended holding
period, the length of time and the severity in pricing decline below cost, the
interest rate environment, the receipt of amounts contractually due and whether
or not there is an active market for the securities, for example, are applied,
along with an analysis of the financial condition of the issuer for management
to make a realistic judgment of the probability that the Company will be unable
to collect all amounts (principal and interest) due in determining whether a
security is other-than-temporarily impaired. If a decline in value is deemed to
be other-than-temporary, the amortized cost of the security is reduced by the
credit impairment amount and a corresponding charge to current earnings is
recognized. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company did not incur
other-than-temporary impairment charges from its investment securities
portfolio.



Restricted investments in bank stock





Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock is required for membership in
the organization and is carried at cost since there is no market value
available. The amount the Company is required to invest is dependent upon the
relative size of outstanding borrowings the Company has with the FHLB of
Pittsburgh. Excess stock is repurchased from the Company at par if the amount of
borrowings decline to a predetermined level. In addition, the Company earns a
return or dividend based on the amount invested. Atlantic Community Bankers Bank
(ACBB) stock totaled $82 thousand as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. The balance
in FHLB stock was $5.2 million and $3.1 million as of December 31, 2022 and
2021, respectively. The dividends received from the FHLB totaled $164 thousand
and $130 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.



Loans and leases


As of December 31, 2022, the Company had gross loans and leases, including originated and acquired loans and leases, totaling $1.6 billion compared to $1.4 billion at December 31, 2021, an increase of $131.4 million, or 9%.





During the year ended December 31, 2022, the growth in the portfolio was
primarily attributed to the $79.6 million increase in the residential portfolio,
including $13 million in mortgage loans originated during 2021 as
available-for-sale but reclassified to the held-for-investment portfolio during
the first quarter 2022.  The Company elected to reclassify the mortgage loans,
which meet FNMA underwriting guidelines and are considered high quality, to
realize the better yields than those alternately available during the
first quarter of 2022.  This growth was supplemented by a $29.7 million increase
in the consumer portfolio and a $22.1 million increase in the commercial
portfolio during 2022.



A comparison of loan originations, net of participations is as follows for the
periods indicated:



                                   2022          2021
(dollars in thousands)            Amount        Amount
Loans:
Commercial and industrial        $  69,709     $ 128,768
Commercial real estate              77,517        89,653
Consumer                           101,394        68,482
Residential real estate            122,892       241,395
Total loans                        371,512       528,298
Lines of credit:
Commercial                         185,702        77,194
Residential construction            42,630        54,110
Home equity and other consumer      34,567        40,214
Total lines of credit              262,899       171,518
Total originations closed        $ 634,411     $ 699,816




Commercial and industrial originations decreased by $59 million, or 46%, to $70
million in 2022. This occurred because the Company recorded PPP loans in the
commercial and industrial category. PPP loan originations were $77 million in
2021 and there were no PPP loan originations in 2022.



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Commercial and industrial (C&I) and commercial real estate (CRE)





As of December 31, 2022, the commercial loan portfolio increased by $22.1
million to $841.1 million compared to the December 31, 2021 balance of $819.0
million due to the $23.9 million increase in the commercial real estate
portfolio partially offset by the $1.8 million decrease in the commercial and
industrial portfolio, which was attributed to a $38.5 million reduction in PPP
loans (net of deferred fees). Excluding the reduction in PPP loans (net of
deferred fees) during the year ended December 31, 2022, the commercial portfolio
grew $60.6 million with the growth stemming from both the C&I and CRE
portfolios.



Excluding PPP loans, C&I loans grew $36.7 million primarily due to a focus on
tax-free and municipal lending in 2022 with the addition of a public finance
department. Other C&I loan originations in various industries were offset by
scheduled and unscheduled paydowns in the portfolio.



CRE loans increased $23.9 million primarily due to growth of $22.1 million in
owner occupied CRE primarily due to one fixed commercial loan and one floating
commercial loan to unrelated borrowers during 2022.



Paycheck Protection Program Loans





The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act provided
over $2.0 trillion in emergency economic relief to individuals and businesses
impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized the Small Business
Administration (SBA) to temporarily guarantee loans under a new 7(a) loan
program called the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).



As a qualified SBA lender, the Company was automatically authorized to originate PPP loans, and during the second and third quarters of 2020, the Company originated 1,551 loans totaling $159 million under the Paycheck Protection Program.





Under the PPP, the entire principal amount of the borrower's loan, including any
accrued interest, is eligible to be reduced by the loan forgiveness amount, so
long as the employer maintains or quickly rehires employees and maintains salary
levels and 60% of the loan proceeds are used for payroll expenses, with the
remaining 40% of the loan proceeds used for other qualifying expenses.



As part of the Economic Relief Act, an additional $284 billion of federal
resources was allocated to a reauthorized and revised PPP. On January 19, 2021,
the Company began processing and originating PPP loans for this second round,
which subsequently ended on May 31, 2021, and during this round, the Company
originated 1,022 loans totaling $77 million.



Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2020 and continuing during 2022, the Company
submitted PPP forgiveness applications to the SBA, and through December 31,
2022, the Company received forgiveness or paydowns of $235.2 million, or 99%, of
the original PPP loan balances of $236.3 million with $32.1 million occurring
during the year ended December 31, 2022.



As a PPP lender, the Company received fee income of approximately $9.9 million
with $9.9 million recognized to date, including $1.2 million recognized during
2022. Unearned fees attributed to PPP loans, net of fees paid to referral
sources as prescribed by the SBA under the PPP, were $33 thousand as of December
31, 2022.


The PPP loans originated by size were as follows as of December 31, 2022:





                                      Balance                                                     SBA fee
(dollars in thousands)              originated        Current balance       Total SBA fee       recognized
$150,000 or less                   $      76,594     $             107     $         4,866     $       4,858
Greater than $150,000 but less
than $2,000,000                          128,082                 1,033               4,765             4,740
$2,000,000 or higher                      31,656                     -                 316               316
Total PPP loans originated         $     236,332     $           1,140     $         9,947     $       9,914




The table above does not include the $20.3 million in PPP loans acquired because
of the merger with Landmark during the third quarter of 2021. As of December 31,
2022, the balance of outstanding acquired PPP loans was $0.2 million.



Consumer


The consumer loan portfolio consisted of home equity installment, home equity line of credit, automobile, direct finance leases and other consumer loans.


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As of December 31, 2022, the consumer loan portfolio increased by $29.7 million,
or 12%, to $284.4 million compared to the December 31, 2021 balance of $254.7
million, primarily due to growth in the home equity installment, auto and direct
finance lease portfolios.  Auto loans grew $13.9 million from continued demand
for higher priced automobiles and new dealer relationships. Direct finance
leases increased $7.0 million primarily due to higher residual values and more
automobile leases added than expired.  Home equity installment loans also grew
$11.5 million from the spring and fall home equity campaigns.



Residential



As of December 31, 2022, the residential loan portfolio increased by $79.6
million, or 22%, to $440.4 million compared to the December 31, 2021 balance of
$360.8 million. The increase was due in part to a strategic reclassification of
$13 million in available-for-sale mortgages booked during 2021 to
held-for-investment loans during the first quarter of 2022. The remainder of the
increase was due to a shift from mortgage loans sold to loans
held-for-investment due to increased jumbo loans and the pricing of loans in the
secondary market and more adjustable rate mortgages which are not being sold in
the secondary market.


The residential loan portfolio consisted primarily of held-for-investment residential loans for primary residences. Management expects the sudden historic rise in interest rates to impact demand for residential mortgages for 2023.

A comparison of loans and related percentage of gross loans, at December 31, for the five previous periods is as follows:





                                December 31, 2022           December 31, 2021
(dollars in thousands)         Amount           %          Amount           %
Commercial and industrial    $   234,478        15.0 %   $   236,304        16.5 %
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied               316,867        20.2         312,848        21.8
Owner occupied                   270,810        17.3         248,755        17.3
Construction                      18,941         1.2          21,147         1.5
Consumer:
Home equity installment           59,118         3.8          47,571         3.3
Home equity line of credit        52,568         3.4          54,878         3.8
Auto                             131,936         8.4         118,029         8.2
Direct finance leases             33,223         2.1          26,232         1.8
Other                              7,611         0.5           8,013         0.6
Residential:
Real estate                      398,136        25.4         325,861        22.8
Construction                      42,232         2.7          34,919         2.4
Gross loans                    1,565,920       100.0 %     1,434,557       100.0 %
Less:
Allowance for loan losses        (17,149 )                   (15,624 )
Unearned lease revenue            (1,746 )                    (1,429 )
Net loans                    $ 1,547,025                 $ 1,417,504

Loans held-for-sale          $     1,637                 $    31,727




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                                       2020                         2019                        2018
(dollars in thousands)         Amount            %          Amount           %          Amount           %

Commercial and industrial    $   280,757          25.0 %   $ 122,594          16.2 %   $ 126,884          17.4 %
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied               192,143          17.1        99,801          13.2        95,515          13.1
Owner occupied                   179,923          16.1       130,558          17.3       124,092          17.0
Construction                      10,231           0.9         4,654           0.6         6,761           0.9
Consumer:
Home equity installment           40,147           3.6        36,631           4.9        32,729           4.5
Home equity line of credit        49,725           4.4        47,282           6.3        52,517           7.2
Auto                              98,386           8.8       105,870          14.0       105,576          14.5
Direct finance leases             20,095           1.8        16,355           2.2        17,004           2.3
Other                              7,602           0.7         5,634           0.7         6,314           0.9
Residential:
Real estate                      218,445          19.5       167,164          22.2       145,951          20.0
Construction                      23,357           2.1        17,770           2.4        15,749           2.2
Gross loans                    1,120,811         100.0 %     754,313         100.0 %     729,092         100.0 %
Less:
Allowance for loan losses        (14,202 )                    (9,747 )                    (9,747 )
Unearned lease revenue            (1,159 )                      (903 )                    (1,028 )
Net loans                    $ 1,105,450                   $ 743,663                   $ 718,317

Loans held-for-sale          $    29,786                   $   1,643                   $   5,707




The following table sets forth the maturity distribution of select commercial
and construction components of the loan portfolio at December 31, 2022. The
determination of maturities is based on contractual terms. Non-contractual
rollovers or extensions are included in one year or less category of the
maturity classification. Excluded from the table are residential real estate and
consumer loans:



                                                   More than          More than
                                   One year       one year to       five years to         More than
(dollars in thousands)             or less        five years        fifteen years       fifteen years        Total
Commercial and industrial         $    4,617     $      77,014     $        63,385     $        89,462     $ 234,478
Commercial real estate                20,894            40,946             341,556             184,281       587,677
Commercial real estate
construction *                        18,941                 -                   -                   -        18,941
Residential real estate
construction *                        42,232                 -                   -                   -        42,232
Total                             $   86,684     $     117,960     $       404,941     $       273,743     $ 883,328




*In the table above, both residential and CRE construction loans are included in
the one year or less category since, by their nature, these loans are converted
into residential and CRE loans within one year from the date the real estate
construction loan was consummated. Upon conversion, the residential and CRE
loans would normally mature after five years.



The following table sets forth the total amount of C&I and CRE loans due after one year which have predetermined interest rates (fixed) and floating or adjustable interest rates (variable) as of December 31, 2022:





                          One to five          Five to              Over
(dollars in thousands)       years          fifteen years       fifteen years        Total

Fixed interest rate      $      78,714     $        69,607     $        38,586     $ 186,907
Variable interest rate          39,246             335,334             235,157       609,737
Total                    $     117,960     $       404,941     $       273,743     $ 796,644




Non-refundable fees and costs associated with all loan originations are
deferred. Using either the interest method or straight-line amortization, the
deferral is released as credits or charges to loan interest income over the life
of the loan.



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There are no concentrations of loans or customers to several borrowers engaged
in similar industries exceeding 10% of total loans that are not otherwise
disclosed as a category in the tables above. There are no concentrations of
loans that, if resulted in a loss, would have a material adverse effect on the
business of the Company. The Company's loan portfolio does not have a material
concentration within a single industry or group of related industries or
customers that is vulnerable to the risk of a near-term severe negative business
impact. As of December 31, 2022, approximately 75% of the gross loan portfolio
was secured by real estate compared to 75% at December 31, 2021 and 66% at
December 31, 2020.



The Company considers its portfolio segmentation, including the real estate
secured portfolio, to be normal and reasonably diversified. The banking industry
is affected by general economic conditions including, among other things, the
effects of real estate values. The Company ensures that its mortgage lending
adheres to standards of secondary market compliance. Furthermore, the Company's
credit function strives to mitigate the negative impact of economic conditions
by maintaining strict underwriting principles for all loan types.



Loans held-for-sale



Upon origination, most residential mortgages and certain Small Business
Administration (SBA) guaranteed loans may be classified as held-for-sale (HFS).
In the event of market rate increases, fixed-rate loans and loans not
immediately scheduled to re-price would no longer produce yields consistent with
the current market. In declining interest rate environments, the Company would
be exposed to prepayment risk as rates on fixed-rate loans decrease, and
customers look to refinance loans. Consideration is given to the Company's
current liquidity position and projected future liquidity needs. To better
manage prepayment and interest rate risk, loans that meet these conditions may
be classified as HFS. Occasionally, residential mortgage and/or business loans
may be transferred from the loan portfolio to HFS. The carrying value of loans
HFS is based on the lower of cost or estimated fair value. If the fair values of
these loans decline below their original cost, the difference is written down
and charged to current earnings. Subsequent appreciation in the portfolio is
credited to current earnings but only to the extent of previous write-downs.



As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, loans HFS consisted of residential mortgages
with carrying amounts of $1.6 million and $31.7 million, respectively, which
approximated their fair values. During the year ended December 31, 2022,
residential mortgage loans with principal balances of $78.8 million were sold
into the secondary market and the Company recognized net gains of $1.6 million,
compared to $159.8 million and $4.1 million, respectively, during the year ended
December 31, 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company also
sold one SBA guaranteed loan with a principal balance of $0.2 million and
recognized a net gain of $24 thousand.



Management completed $13 million in transfers of mortgages HFS at December 31, 2021 to the held-for-investment portfolio during 2022.





The Company retains mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) on loans sold into the
secondary market. MSRs are retained so that the Company can foster
relationships. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the servicing portfolio balance of
sold residential mortgage loans was $465.7 million and $430.9 million,
respectively, with mortgage servicing rights of $1.6 million and $1.7 million
for the same periods, respectively.



Allowance for loan losses



Management evaluates the credit quality of the Company's loan portfolio and
performs a formal review of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses
(allowance) on a quarterly basis. The allowance reflects management's best
estimate of the amount of credit losses in the loan portfolio. Management's
judgment is based on the evaluation of individual loans, experience, the
assessment of current economic conditions and other relevant factors including
the amounts and timing of cash flows expected to be received on impaired loans.
Those estimates may be susceptible to significant change. The provision for loan
losses represents the amount necessary to maintain an appropriate allowance.
Loan losses are charged directly against the allowance when loans are deemed to
be uncollectible. Recoveries from previously charged-off loans are added to the
allowance when received.



Management applies two primary components during the loan review process to
determine proper allowance levels. The two components are a specific loan loss
allocation for loans that are deemed impaired and a general loan loss allocation
for those loans not specifically allocated. The methodology to analyze the
adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is as follows:



  ? identification of specific impaired loans by loan category;

? calculation of specific allowances where required for the impaired loans based

on collateral and other objective and quantifiable evidence;

? determination of loans with similar credit characteristics within each class


    of the loan portfolio segment and eliminating the impaired loans;




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? application of historical loss percentages (trailing twelve-quarter average)

to pools to determine the allowance allocation; and

? application of qualitative factor adjustment percentages to historical losses

for trends or changes in the loan portfolio, regulations, and/or current


    economic conditions.




A key element of the methodology to determine the allowance is the Company's
credit risk evaluation process, which includes credit risk grading of individual
commercial loans. Commercial loans are assigned credit risk grades based on the
Company's assessment of conditions that affect the borrower's ability to meet
its contractual obligations under the loan agreement. That process includes
reviewing borrowers' current financial information, historical payment
experience, credit documentation, public information and other information
specific to each individual borrower. Upon review, the commercial loan credit
risk grade is revised or reaffirmed. The credit risk grades may be changed at
any time management determines an upgrade or downgrade may be warranted. The
credit risk grades for the commercial loan portfolio are considered in the
reserve methodology and loss factors are applied based upon the credit risk
grades. The loss factors applied are based upon the Company's historical
experience as well as what management believes to be best practices and within
common industry standards. Historical experience reveals there is a direct
correlation between the credit risk grades and loan charge-offs. The changes in
allocations in the commercial loan portfolio from period-to-period are based
upon the credit risk grading system and from periodic reviews of the loan
portfolio.



Acquired loans are initially recorded at their acquisition date fair values with
no carryover of the existing related allowance for loan losses. Fair values are
based on a discounted cash flow methodology that involves assumptions and
judgements as to credit risk, expected lifetime losses, environmental factors,
collateral values, discount rates, expected payments and expected prepayments.
Upon acquisition, in accordance with GAAP, the Company has individually
determined whether each acquired loan is within the scope of ASC 310-30. These
loans are deemed purchased credit impaired loans and the excess of cash flows
expected at acquisition over the estimated fair value is referred to as the
accretable discount and is recognized into interest income over the remaining
life of the loan. The difference between contractually required payments at
acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition is
referred to as the non-accretable discount.



Acquired ASC 310-20 loans, which are loans that did not meet the criteria of ASC
310-30, were pooled into groups of similar loans based on various factors
including borrower type, loan purpose, and collateral type. These loans are
initially recorded at fair value and include credit and interest rate marks
associated with purchase accounting adjustments. Purchase premiums or discounts
are subsequently amortized as an adjustment to yield over the estimated
contractual lives of the loans. There is no allowance for loan losses
established at the acquisition date for acquired performing loans. An allowance
for loan losses is recorded for any credit deterioration in these loans after
acquisition.



Each quarter, management performs an assessment of the allowance for loan
losses. The Company's Special Assets Committee meets quarterly, and the
applicable lenders discuss each relationship under review and reach a consensus
on the appropriate estimated loss amount, if applicable, based on current
accounting guidance. The Special Assets Committee's focus is on ensuring the
pertinent facts are considered regarding not only loans considered for specific
reserves, but also the collectability of loans that may be past due. The
assessment process also includes the review of all loans on non-accrual status
as well as a review of certain loans to which the lenders or the Credit
Administration function have assigned a criticized or classified risk rating.



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The following table sets forth the activity in the allowance for loan losses and certain key ratios for the periods indicated:







(dollars in thousands)               2022            2021            2020           2019          2018

Balance at beginning of period $ 15,624 $ 14,202 $ 9,747 $ 9,747 $ 9,193

Charge-offs:


Commercial and industrial                (371 )          (130 )          (372 )        (184 )        (196 )
Commercial real estate                    (67 )          (491 )          (465 )        (597 )        (268 )
Consumer                                 (377 )          (206 )          (296 )        (398 )        (391 )
Residential                                 -            (162 )           (35 )        (330 )        (371 )
Total                                    (815 )          (989 )        (1,168 )      (1,509 )      (1,226 )

Recoveries:
Commercial and industrial                  11              23              26            32            77
Commercial real estate                    153             250              30           317            42
Consumer                                   74             138             120            67           211
Residential                                 2               -             197             8             -
Total                                     240             411             373           424           330
Net charge-offs                          (575 )          (578 )          (795 )      (1,085 )        (896 )
Provision for loan losses               2,100           2,000           

5,250 1,085 1,450 Balance at end of period $ 17,149 $ 15,624 $ 14,202 $ 9,747 $ 9,747



Allowance for loan losses to
total loans                              1.10 %          1.09 %          1.27 %        1.29 %        1.34 %
Net charge-offs to average
total loans outstanding                  0.04 %          0.04 %          0.08 %        0.15 %        0.13 %
Average total loans               $ 1,500,796     $ 1,299,960     $ 1,019,373     $ 732,152     $ 687,853
Loans 30 - 89 days past due and
accruing                          $     1,838     $     1,982     $     1,598     $   1,366     $   5,938
Loans 90 days or more past due
and accruing                      $        33     $        64     $        61     $       -     $       1
Non-accrual loans                 $     2,535     $     2,949     $     3,769     $   3,674     $   4,298
Allowance for loan losses to
non-accrual loans                        6.76 x          5.30 x          3.77 x        2.65 x        2.27 x
Allowance for loan losses to
non-performing loans                     6.68 x          5.19 x          3.71 x        2.65 x        2.27 x




For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, the allowance increased $1.5
million, or 10%, to $17.1 million from $15.6 million at December 31, 2021 due to
provisioning of $2.1 million partially offset by $0.6 million in net
charge-offs. The allowance for loan and lease losses increased as a percentage
of total loans at 1.10% as of December 31, 2022 compared to 1.09% at December
31, 2021 because the growth in the allowance (10%) outpaced the growth in the
total loans (9%) through 2022.



Loans acquired from the Merchants and Landmark mergers (performing and
non-performing) were initially recorded at their acquisition-date fair values.
Since there is no initial credit valuation allowance recorded under this method,
the Company established a post-acquisition allowance for loan losses to record
losses which may subsequently arise on the acquired loans.



PPP loans made to eligible borrowers have a 100% SBA guarantee. Given this guarantee, no allowance for loan and lease losses was recorded for these loans.





Management believes that the current balance in the allowance for loan losses is
sufficient to meet the identified potential credit quality issues that may arise
and other issues unidentified but inherent to the portfolio. Potential problem
loans are those where there is known information that leads management to
believe repayment of principal and/or interest is in jeopardy and the loans are
currently neither on non-accrual status nor past due 90 days or more.



During the first quarter of 2022, management increased the qualitative factors
associated with its commercial, consumer, and residential portfolios related to
the rise in rates that occurred during the quarter, and the adverse impact that
these increased rates are anticipated to have on estimated credit losses.



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During the second quarter of 2022, management increased the qualitative factors
associated with its commercial, consumer, and residential portfolios related to
the rise in rates that occurred during the quarter, and the adverse impact that
these increased rates are anticipated to have on estimated credit losses. These
increases were partially offset by a reduction in the qualitative factors for
the owner occupied CRE and residential real estate portfolios related to the
historically low delinquency observed in these portfolios.



During the third quarter of 2022, management decreased the qualitative factors
associated with its commercial, consumer, and residential portfolios related to
changes in the Company's loan policy that were expected to reduce credit losses.



During the fourth quarter of 2022, management decreased the qualitative factors
for the term and nature of its loans. Reduction of the 10 Year Constant Treasury
Rate and 30 Year Fixed Mortgage Rate lowered the risk of loss in its commercial,
consumer, and residential portfolios.



The Company has determined its CECL methodologies, validated the CECL model and
ran it concurrently for the fourth quarter of 2022. Upon adoption of CECL on
January 1, 2023, the Company estimated an adjustment for the allowance for
credit losses (ACL) which resulted in an increase in the allowance for loan
losses of $0.7 million and reserve for unfunded commitments of $1.1 million. The
Company will finalize the adoption during the first quarter of 2023.



The allocation of net charge-offs among major categories of loans are as follows
for the periods indicated:



                                                        % of Total Net                       % of Total Net
(dollars in thousands)                     2022           Charge-offs           2021           Charge-offs
Net charge-offs
Commercial and industrial               $     (360 )                  63 %   $     (107 )                  18 %
Commercial real estate                          86                   (15 )         (241 )                  42
Consumer                                      (303 )                  53            (68 )                  12
Residential                                      2                    (1 )         (162 )                  28
Total net charge-offs                   $     (575 )                 100 %   $     (578 )                 100 %




For the year ended December 31, 2022, net charge-offs against the allowance
totaled $575 thousand compared with net charge-offs of $578 thousand for the
year ended December 31, 2021, representing a $3 thousand decline as decreases in
residential and commercial real estate net charge offs were offset by increases
in commercial & industrial and consumer net charge offs. Net charge offs were
unchanged as a percentage of the total loan portfolio at 0.04% for both the
years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.



For a discussion on the provision for loan losses, see the "Provision for loan
losses," located in the results of operations section of management's discussion
and analysis contained herein.



The allowance for loan losses can generally absorb losses throughout the loan
portfolio. However, in some instances an allocation is made for specific loans
or groups of loans. Allocation of the allowance for loan losses for different
categories of loans is based on the methodology used by the Company, as
previously explained. The changes in the allocations from period-to-period are
based upon quarter-end reviews of the loan portfolio.



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Allocation of the allowance among major categories of loans for the periods
indicated, as well as the percentage of loans in each category to total loans,
is summarized in the following table. This table should not be interpreted as an
indication that charge-offs in future periods will occur in these amounts or
proportions, or that the allocation indicates future charge-off trends. When
present, the portion of the allowance designated as unallocated is within the
Company's guidelines:



                                      2022                          2021                          2020                          2019                          2018
                                            Category                      Category                      Category                      Category                      Category
                                              % of                          % of                          % of                          % of                          % of
(dollars in thousands)       Allowance        Loans        Allowance        Loans        Allowance        Loans        Allowance        Loans        Allowance        Loans
Category
Commercial real estate      $     7,162            39 %   $     7,422            41 %   $     6,383            34 %   $     3,933            31 %   $     3,901            31 %
Commercial and industrial         2,924            15           2,204            16           2,407            25           1,484            16           1,432            18
Consumer                          2,827            18           2,404            18           2,552            19           2,013            28           2,548            29
Residential real estate           4,169            28           3,508            25           2,781            22           2,278            25           1,844            22
Unallocated                          67             -              86             -              79             -              39             -              22             -
Total                       $    17,149           100 %   $    15,624           100 %   $    14,202           100 %   $     9,747           100 %   $     9,747           100 %




As of December 31, 2022, the commercial loan portfolio, consisting of CRE and
C&I loans, comprised 59% of the total allowance for loan losses compared with
62% on December 31, 2021. The commercial loan allowance allocation declined due
to the payoff of a commercial real estate loan to a single borrower with a large
specific impairment during the first quarter of 2022 and the relative decrease
in this loan category, which decreased to 54% as of December 31, 2022 from 57%
at December 31, 2021.


As of December 31, 2022, the consumer loan portfolio comprised 16% of the total allowance for loan losses compared with 15% on December 31, 2021 due to the relative growth in the consumer portfolio.







As of December 31, 2022, the residential loan portfolio comprised 24% of the
total allowance for loan losses compared with 22% on December 31, 2021. The two
percentage point increase was the result of the relative increase in this loan
category, which increased to 28% as of December 31, 2022 from 25% as of December
31, 2021.



As of December 31, 2022, the unallocated reserve, representing the portion of
the allowance not specifically identified with a loan or groups of loans, was
less than 1% of the total allowance for loan losses, unchanged from December 31,
2021.



Non-performing assets



The Company defines non-performing assets as accruing loans past due 90 days or
more, non-accrual loans, troubled debt restructurings (TDRs), other real estate
owned (ORE) and repossessed assets.



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The following table sets forth non-performing assets at December 31:





(dollars in thousands)               2022            2021            2020            2019           2018

Loans past due 90 days or more
and accruing                      $        33     $        64     $        61     $         -     $       1
Non-accrual loans *                     2,535           2,949           3,769           3,674         4,298
Total non-performing loans              2,568           3,013           3,830           3,674         4,299
Troubled debt restructurings            1,333           2,987           2,571             991         1,830
Other real estate owned and
repossessed assets                        168             434             256             369           190

Total non-performing assets $ 4,069 $ 6,434 $ 6,657 $ 5,034 $ 6,319



Total loans, including loans
held-for-sale                     $ 1,565,811     $ 1,464,855     $ 1,149,438     $   755,053     $ 755,053
Total assets                      $ 2,378,372     $ 2,419,104     $ 1,699,510     $ 1,009,927     $ 981,102
Non-accrual loans to total
loans                                    0.16 %          0.20 %          0.33 %          0.49 %        0.57 %
Non-performing loans to total
loans                                    0.16 %          0.21 %          0.33 %          0.49 %        0.57 %
Non-performing assets to total
assets                                   0.17 %          0.27 %          0.39 %          0.50 %        0.64 %



* In the table above, the amount includes non-accrual TDRs of $0.2 million, $0.6 million, $0.7 million, $0.6 million and $1.7 million as of 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.





Management continually monitors the loan portfolio to identify loans that are
either delinquent or are otherwise deemed by management unable to repay in
accordance with contractual terms. Generally, loans of all types are placed on
non-accrual status if a loan of any type is past due 90 or more days or if
collection of principal and interest is in doubt. Further, unsecured consumer
loans are charged-off when the principal and/or interest is 90 days or more past
due. Uncollected interest income accrued on all loans placed on non-accrual is
reversed and charged to interest income.



Non-performing assets represented 0.17% of total assets at December 31, 2022
compared with 0.27% at December 31, 2021. The improvement resulted from a $2.4
million, or 37%, decrease in non-performing assets. Non-performing assets
decreased due to a $1.7 million reduction in accruing troubled debt
restructurings, a $0.4 reduction in non-performing loans, and a $0.3 million
reduction in other real estate owned and repossessed assets.



From December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022, non-accrual loans decreased $0.4
million, or 14%, from $2.9 million to $2.5 million. The $0.4 million decrease in
non-accrual loans was primarily the result of $1.5 million in payments, $0.7
million in moves to ORE, $0.5 million in charge offs, and $0.1 million in moves
to accrual partially offset by $2.3 million in additions and $0.1 million in
advances.



At December 31, 2022, there were a total of 39 loans to 29 unrelated borrowers
with balances that ranged from less than $1 thousand to $0.6 million. At
December 31, 2021, there were a total of 31 loans to 28 unrelated borrowers with
balances that ranged from less than $1 thousand to $0.7 million.



There was one direct finance lease and one non-recourse auto loan totaling $33
thousand that were over 90 days past due as of December 31, 2022 compared to two
direct finance leases totaling $64 thousand that were over 90 days past due as
of December 31, 2021. All loans were well secured and in the process of
collection.



The Company seeks payments from all past due customers through an aggressive
customer communication process. Unless well-secured and in the process of
collection, past due loans will be placed on non-accrual at the 90-day point
when it is deemed that a customer is non-responsive and uncooperative to
collection efforts.



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The composition of non-performing loans as of December 31, 2022 is as follows:



                                                      Past due
                                     Gross           90 days or           Non-         Total non-        % of
                                     loan             more and          accrual        performing        gross
(dollars in thousands)             balances        still accruing        loans           loans           loans
Commercial and industrial         $   234,478     $              -     $      719     $        719          0.31 %
Commercial real estate:
Non-owner occupied                    316,867                    -            383              383          0.12 %
Owner occupied                        270,810                    -          1,066            1,066          0.39 %
Construction                           18,941                    -              -                -             -
Consumer:
Home equity installment                59,118                    -              -                -             -
Home equity line of credit             52,568                    -            211              211          0.40 %
Auto loans                            131,936                   16            153              169          0.13 %
Direct finance leases *                31,477                   17              -               17          0.05 %
Other                                   7,611                    -              -                -             -
Residential:
Real estate                           398,136                    -              3                3          0.00 %
Construction                           42,232                    -              -                -             -
Loans held-for-sale                     1,637                    -              -                -             -
Total                             $ 1,565,811     $             33     $    2,535     $      2,568          0.16 %



*Net of unearned lease revenue of $1.4 million.





Payments received from non-accrual loans are recognized on a cost recovery
method. Payments are first applied to the outstanding principal balance, then to
the recovery of any charged-off loan amounts. Any excess is treated as a
recovery of interest income. If the non-accrual loans that were outstanding as
of December 31, 2022 had been performing in accordance with their original
terms, the Company would have recognized interest income with respect to such
loans of $160 thousand.


The following tables set forth the activity in accruing and non-accruing TDRs as of the period indicated:

As of and for the years ended December 31, 2022


                                              Accruing                Non-accruing
                                             Commercial       Commercial        Commercial
(dollars in thousands)                      real estate      real estate       & industrial        Total
Troubled Debt Restructures:
Beginning balance                           $      2,987     $        419     $          135     $   3,541
Additions                                              -                -                  -             -
Transfers                                              -             (158 )                -          (158 )
Pay downs / payoffs                               (1,654 )            (71 )             (135 )      (1,860 )
Charge offs                                            -                -                  -             -
Ending balance                              $      1,333     $        190     $            -     $   1,523
Number of loans                                        6                1                  -             7



As of and for the year ended December 31, 2021


                                              Accruing                Non-accruing
                                             Commercial       Commercial       Commercial
(dollars in thousands)                      real estate      real estate      & industrial        Total
Troubled Debt Restructures:
Beginning balance                           $      2,571     $        456     $         206     $   3,233
Additions                                            519                -                 -           519
Pay downs / payoffs                                 (103 )            (37 )              (6 )        (146 )
Charge offs                                            -                -               (65 )         (65 )
Ending balance                              $      2,987     $        419     $         135     $   3,541
Number of loans                                        8                1                 2            11




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The Company reviews changes to loans to determine if they meet the definition of
a TDR, as modifications occur. TDRs arise when a borrower experiences financial
difficulty and the Company grants a concession that it would not otherwise grant
based on current underwriting standards to maximize the Company's recovery.



From December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022, TDRs declined $2.0 million, or 57%, primarily due to the payoff of two commercial real estate TDRs to a single borrower totaling $1.6 million and the payoff of two C&I TDRs to a single borrower totaling $0.1 million.





At December 31, 2022, there were a total of 7 TDRs by 6 unrelated borrowers with
balances that ranged from $87 thousand to $0.5 million. At December 31, 2021,
there were a total of 11 TDRs by 8 unrelated borrowers with balances that ranged
from $50 thousand to $1.3 million.



Loans modified in a TDR may or may not be placed on non-accrual status. At December 31, 2022, there was one TDR totaling $0.2 million that was on non-accrual status compared to three TDRs totaling $0.6 million at December 31, 2021.

Foreclosedassets held-for-sale





From December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022, foreclosed assets held-for-sale
(ORE) declined from $434 thousand to $168 thousand, a $266 thousand decrease,
which was primarily attributed to two ORE properties totaling $283 thousand that
were sold during the first quarter. Two properties totaling $595 thousand were
also added to ORE and sold during 2022.



The following table sets forth the activity in the ORE component of foreclosed
assets held-for-sale:



                                       2022                  2021
(dollars in thousands)            Amount       #       Amount       #

Balance at beginning of period $ 434 5 $ 256 6



Additions                             762        3         969        7
Pay downs                              (6 )                  -
Write downs                           (17 )                (16 )
Sold                               (1,005 )     (6 )      (775 )     (8 )
Balance at end of period         $    168        2     $   434        5




As of December 31, 2022, ORE consisted of two properties securing loans to two
unrelated borrowers totaling $168 thousand. One property ($167 thousand) was
added in 2022 and one property ($1 thousand) was added in 2017. Both properties
are listed for sale.


As of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had no other repossessed assets held-for-sale.

Cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance





The Company maintains bank owned life insurance (BOLI) for a chosen group of
employees at the time of purchase, namely its officers, where the Company is the
owner and sole beneficiary of the policies. BOLI is classified as a non-interest
earning asset. Increases in the cash surrender value are recorded as components
of non-interest income. The BOLI is profitable from the appreciation of the cash
surrender values of the pool of insurance and its tax-free advantage to the
Company. This profitability is used to offset a portion of current and future
employee benefit costs. As a result of the Landmark acquisition, the Company
acquired $7.2 million in BOLI during the third quarter of 2021. The BOLI cash
surrender value build-up can be liquidated if necessary, with associated tax
costs. However, the Company intends to hold this pool of insurance, because it
provides income that enhances the Company's capital position. Therefore, the
Company has not provided for deferred income taxes on the earnings from the
increase in cash surrender value.  The Company was notified of a pending death
benefit claim on two owned policies and received $0.8 million in return of cash
surrender value and $0.1 million in other income during the first quarter of
2023.



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Premises and equipment



Net of depreciation, premises and equipment increased $2.0 million during 2022.
The Company purchased $1.8 million in fixed assets and added $3.7 million in
construction in process during 2022. The increase in construction in process was
primarily due to the purchase of the Scranton Electric Building for a new
headquarters in Scranton, PA. These increases were partially offset by $2.2
million in depreciation expense and $1.2 million in transfers to other assets
held-for-sale. The Company is planning to open a new branch in Wilkes-Barre in
2023.  The Company has recently begun remodeling the Main Branch located in
Dunmore, PA and estimated costs for the project are currently $3.9 million. The
Company began corporate headquarters planning which may continue to increase
construction in process and is evaluating its branch network looking for
consolidation that makes sense for more efficient operations.



On December 23, 2020, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania authorized the release of
$2.0 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding for the
Company's headquarters project in Lackawanna County. On December 2, 2021, the
Company announced it would be receiving an additional $2.0 million in RACP
funding in support of the project. The $4.0 million in total RACP grant funds
will be allocated to the renovation and rehabilitation of the historic building
located in downtown Scranton which will be used for the new corporate
headquarters. The Company currently estimates net remaining costs for the
corporate headquarters could range from $15 million to $20 million. This range
estimate is subject to supply chain issues, commodities pricing and results of
final planning over approximately two years through the end of 2024. In
addition, the Company currently intends to pursue a federal historic
preservation tax credit which would provide a 20% tax credit on qualified
improvements on the historic property.



Other assets


During 2022, the $17.9 million increase in other assets was due mostly to a $16.5 million increase in deferred tax assets primarily from net unrealized losses in the investment portfolio and $0.7 million increase in prepaid dealer reserve.





Results of Operation



Earnings Summary



The Company's earnings depend primarily on net interest income. Net interest
income is the difference between interest income and interest expense. Interest
income is generated from yields earned on interest-earning assets, which consist
principally of loans and investment securities. Interest expense is incurred
from rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities, which consist of deposits and
borrowings. Net interest income is determined by the Company's interest rate
spread (the difference between the yields earned on its interest-earning assets
and the rates paid on its interest-bearing liabilities) and the relative amounts
of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Interest rate
spread is significantly impacted by: changes in interest rates and market yield
curves and their related impact on cash flows; the composition and
characteristics of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities;
differences in the maturity and re-pricing characteristics of assets compared to
the maturity and re-pricing characteristics of the liabilities that fund them
and by the competition in the marketplace.



The Company's earnings are also affected by the level of its non-interest income
and expenses and by the provisions for loan losses and income taxes.
Non-interest income mainly consists of: service charges on the Company's loan
and deposit products; interchange fees; trust and asset management service fees;
increases in the cash surrender value of the bank owned life insurance and from
net gains or losses from sales of loans and securities. Non-interest expense
consists of: compensation and related employee benefit costs; occupancy;
equipment; data processing; advertising and marketing; FDIC insurance premiums;
professional fees; loan collection; net other real estate owned (ORE) expenses;
supplies and other operating overhead.



Net interest income, net interest rate margin, net interest rate spread and the
efficiency ratio are presented in the Mangement's Discussion & Analysis on a
fully-taxable equivalent (FTE) basis. The Company believes this presentation to
be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income as it provides a
relevant comparison between taxable and non-taxable amounts.



Overview



For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company generated net income of $30.0
million, or $5.29 per diluted share, compared to $24.0 million, or $4.48 per
diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2021. The $6.0 million, or 25%,
increase in net income stemmed from $10.4 million more net interest income which
more than offset $1.6 million lower non-interest income, $1.2 million rise in
non-interest expenses and $1.4 million higher provision for income taxes.



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For the year ended December 31, 2022, return on average assets (ROA) and return
on average shareholders' equity (ROE) were 1.25% and 17.37%, respectively,
compared to 1.13% and 12.69% for the same period in 2021. The increase in ROA
was the result of the growth in net income relative to the increase in average
assets during 2022. ROE increased due to net income growth as well as average
equity decreases during 2022.


Net interest income and interest sensitive assets / liabilities





Net interest income (FTE) increased $11.0 million, or 17%, from $64.0 million
for the year ended December 31, 2021 to $75.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 2022, due to interest income increasing more than the increase in
interest expense. Total average interest-earning assets increased $310.0 million
while the FTE yields earned on these assets rose 14 basis points resulting in
$13.8 million of growth in FTE interest income. The loan portfolio contributed
the most to this growth due to average balance growth of $200.8 million which
had the effect of producing $8.7 million more FTE interest income, despite $3.9
million less in fees earned under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In the
investment portfolio, an increase in the average balances of securities was the
biggest driver of interest income growth. The average balance of total
securities grew $167.2 million supplemented by a 13 basis point increase in
yields producing $4.3 million in additional FTE interest income. Interest income
on interest-bearing cash also increased $0.7 million due to an increase in
yields.



On the liability side, total interest-bearing liabilities grew $217.3 million in
average balances with a 14 basis point increase in rates paid on these
interest-bearing liabilities which caused interest expense to increase $2.8
million. Growth in average interest-bearing deposits of $217.4 million and a 14
basis point increase in rates paid on these deposits resulted in increasing
interest expense by $2.7 million. In addition, the Company utilized more in
average overnight borrowings in 2022 at higher rates and had more interest
expense on secured borrowings compared to 2021 resulting in $0.1 million more
interest expense from borrowings.



The FTE net interest rate spread was unchanged at 3.16% for the years ended
December 31, 2022 and 2021. The FTE net interest rate margin increased by
5 basis points, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to
the year ended December 31, 2021. The yields earned on interest-earning assets
grew at the same pace as the increase in the rates paid on interest-bearing
liabilities causing the net interest rate spread to remain flat. The increase in
net interest rate margin was due to the higher average balance of non-interest
bearing deposits. The overall cost of funds, which includes the impact of
non-interest bearing deposits, increased 10 basis points for the year ended
December 31, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. The primary reason for
the increase was the higher rates paid on deposits.



During 2023, the Company expects to operate in a rising short-term interest rate
environment. A rate environment with rising interest rates positions the Company
to improve its interest income performance from new and repricing earning
assets. For 2023, the Company anticipates net interest income to grow at a
slower pace as growth in interest income would likely help mitigate an adverse
impact of rate movements on the cost of funds. The risk to continuing net
interest income improvement is rapid acceleration of deposit rates in the
Company's marketplace. The FOMC began increasing the federal funds rate during
2022, the first moves since they cut rates during the first quarter of 2020,
which began to have an effect on rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities. On
the asset side, the prime interest rate, the benchmark rate that banks use as a
base rate for adjustable rate loans was also increased 425 basis points during
2022. Consensus economic forecasts are predicting increases in short-term rates
throughout 2023. The 2023 focus is to manage net interest income and control
deposit costs through a forecasted rising short-term rate cycle for primarily
overnight to 12-month rates. Continued growth in the loan portfolios is expected
to boost interest income, and when coupled with a proactive relationship
approach to deposit cost setting strategies should help stop spread compression
and contain the interest rate margin, preventing further reductions below
acceptable levels.



The Company's cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 0.40% for the year ended
December 31, 2022, or 14 basis points higher than the cost for the year ended
December 31, 2021. The increase in interest paid on deposits contributed to the
higher cost of interest-bearing liabilities. Management currently believes the
FOMC is expected to continue to raise the federal funds rate in the immediate
future, so the Company may continue to experience pressure to further increase
rates paid on deposits. To help mitigate the impact of the imminent change to
the economic landscape, the Company has successfully developed and will continue
to strengthen its association with existing customers, develop new business
relationships, generate new loan volumes, and retain and generate higher levels
of average non-interest bearing deposit balances. Strategically deploying no-
and low-cost deposits into interest earning-assets is an effective
margin-preserving strategy that the Company expects to continue to pursue and
expand to help stabilize net interest margin.



The Company's Asset Liability Management (ALM) team meets regularly to discuss
among other things, interest rate risk and when deemed necessary adjusts
interest rates. ALM is actively addressing the Company's sensitivity to a
changing rate environment to ensure interest rate risks are contained within
acceptable levels. ALM also discusses revenue enhancing strategies to help
combat the potential for a decline in net interest income. The Company's
marketing department, together with ALM, and relationship managers, continue to
develop prudent strategies that will grow the loan portfolio and accumulate
low-cost deposits to improve net interest income performance.



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The table that follows sets forth a comparison of average balances of assets and
liabilities and their related net tax equivalent yields and rates for the years
indicated. Within the table, interest income was FTE adjusted, using the
corporate federal tax rate of 21% for 2022, 2021 and 2020, to recognize the
income from tax-exempt interest-earning assets as if the interest was taxable.
See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" within this management's discussion and
analysis for the FTE adjustments. This treatment allows a uniform comparison
among yields on interest-earning assets. Loans include loans held-for-sale (HFS)
and non-accrual loans but exclude the allowance for loan losses. HELOC are
included in the residential real estate category since they are secured by real
estate. Net deferred loan fee accretion of $0.2 million in 2022, $3.8 million
in 2021 and $2.1 million in 2020, respectively, are included in interest income
from loans. MNB and Landmark loan fair value purchase accounting adjustments of
$3.3 million, $3.0 million and $0.6 million are included in interest income from
loans and $160 thousand, $154 thousand and $213 thousand reduced interest
expense on deposits and borrowings for 2022, 2021 and 2020. Average balances are
based on amortized cost and do not reflect net unrealized gains or losses.
Residual values for direct finance leases are included in the average balances
for consumer loans. Net interest margin is calculated by dividing net interest
income-FTE by total average interest-earning assets. Cost of funds includes the
effect of average non-interest bearing deposits as a funding source:



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(dollars in thousands)                                 2022                                        2021                                        2020
                                        Average                      Yield /        Average                      Yield /        Average                      Yield /
Assets                                  balance       Interest        rate          balance       Interest        rate          balance       Interest        rate

Interest-earning assets
Interest-bearing deposits             $    53,483     $     886          1.66 %   $   111,936     $     148          0.13 %   $    76,404     $     121          0.16 %
Restricted investments in bank
stock                                       3,565           184          5.15           3,181           127          4.00           3,044           162          5.33
Investments:
Agency - GSE                              117,598         1,748          1.49          89,754         1,231          1.37          18,074           301          1.66
MBS - GSE residential                     265,993         4,573          1.72         197,556         2,837          1.44         145,343         2,896          1.99
State and municipal (nontaxable)          259,194         7,708          2.97         207,819         6,171          2.97          89,350         3,146          3.52
State and municipal (taxable)              87,954         1,795          2.04          68,343         1,281          1.87          19,555           398          2.03
Other                                           -             -             -              27             -          0.40              89             3          3.42
Total investments                         730,739        15,824          2.17         563,499        11,520          2.04         272,411         6,744          2.48
Loans and leases:
C&I and CRE (taxable)                     754,225        37,328          4.95         712,838        34,507          4.84         526,805        24,485          4.65
C&I and CRE (nontaxable)                   70,697         2,406          3.40          48,574         1,890          3.89          41,261         1,579          3.83
Consumer                                  215,740         8,326          3.86         180,991         7,100          3.92         166,389         6,690          4.02
Residential real estate                   460,133        16,456          3.58         357,557        12,311          3.44         284,918        10,810          3.79
Total loans and leases                  1,500,795        64,516         

4.30 1,299,960 55,808 4.29 1,019,373 43,564 4.27 Total interest-earning assets

           2,288,582        81,410          3.56 %     1,978,576        67,603          3.42 %     1,371,232        50,591          3.69 %
Non-interest earning assets               110,994                                     137,011                                     124,433
Total assets                          $ 2,399,576                                 $ 2,115,587                                 $ 1,495,665

Liabilities and shareholders'
equity

Interest-bearing liabilities
Deposits:
Interest-bearing checking             $   709,340     $   2,453          0.35 %   $   608,441     $   1,742          0.29 %   $   369,645     $   1,405          0.38 %
Savings and clubs                         244,038           264          0.11         209,890           113          0.05         148,505           115          0.08
MMDA                                      514,033         2,949          0.57         425,282           957          0.22         280,344         1,573          0.56
Certificates of deposit                   126,394           478          0.38         132,751           644          0.49         135,487         1,663          1.23
Total interest-bearing deposits         1,593,805         6,144          0.39       1,376,364         3,456          0.25         933,981         4,756          0.51
Secured borrowings                          8,886           209          2.35           9,122           156          1.71               -             -             -
Short-term borrowings                       1,031            45          4.37              97             1          1.06          49,165           248          0.50
FHLB advances                                   -             -             -             848            26          3.07          10,608           307          2.90

Total interest-bearing liabilities 1,603,722 6,398 0.40 % 1,386,431 3,639 0.26 % 993,754 5,311 0.53 % Non-interest bearing deposits

             594,541                                     517,599                                     340,211
Non-interest bearing liabilities           28,434                                      22,322                                      17,765
Total liabilities                       2,226,697                                   1,926,352                                   1,351,730
Shareholders' equity                      172,879                                     189,235                                     143,935
Total liabilities and shareholders'
equity                                $ 2,399,576                                 $ 2,115,587                                 $ 1,495,665
Net interest income - FTE                             $  75,012                                   $  63,964                                   $  45,280

Net interest spread                                                      3.16 %                                      3.16 %                                      3.16 %
Net interest margin                                                      3.28 %                                      3.23 %                                      3.30 %
Cost of funds                                                            0.29 %                                      0.19 %                                      0.40 %



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Changes in net interest income are a function of both changes in interest rates
and changes in volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing
liabilities. The following table presents the extent to which changes in
interest rates and changes in volumes of interest-earning assets and
interest-bearing liabilities have affected the Company's interest income and
interest expense during the periods indicated. Information is provided in each
category with respect to (1) the changes attributable to changes in volume
(changes in volume multiplied by the prior period rate), (2) the changes
attributable to changes in interest rates (changes in rates multiplied by prior
period volume) and (3) the net change. The combined effect of changes in both
volume and rate has been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume
and the change due to rate. Tax-exempt income was not converted to a
tax-equivalent basis on the rate/volume analysis:



                                                   Years ended December 31,
(dollars in
thousands)                      2022 compared to 2021                     2021 compared to 2020
                                                  Increase (decrease) due to
                         Volume         Rate          Total        Volume         Rate          Total
Interest income:
Interest-bearing
deposits                $    (116 )   $     854     $     738     $      50     $     (23 )   $      27
Restricted
investments in bank
stock                          17            40            57             7           (42 )         (35 )
Investments:
Agency - GSE                  407           110           517           992           (62 )         930
MBS - GSE residential       1,106           630         1,736           877          (936 )         (59 )
State and municipal         1,483            84         1,567         3,537          (615 )       2,922
Other                           -             -             -            (1 )          (2 )          (3 )
Total investments           2,996           824         3,820         5,405        (1,615 )       3,790
Loans and leases:
Residential real
estate                      3,652           492         4,144         2,569        (1,067 )       1,502
C&I and CRE                 3,020           199         3,219         9,102         1,177        10,279
Consumer                    1,343          (117 )       1,226           576          (167 )         409
Total loans and
leases                      8,015           574         8,589        12,247           (57 )      12,190
Total interest income      10,912         2,292        13,204        17,709        (1,737 )      15,972

Interest expense:
Deposits:
Interest-bearing
checking                      316           395           711           745          (408 )         337
Savings and clubs              21           130           151            39           (41 )          (2 )
Money market                  236         1,756         1,992           588        (1,204 )        (616 )
Certificates of
deposit                       (30 )        (136 )        (166 )         (33 )        (986 )      (1,019 )
Total deposits                543         2,145         2,688         1,339        (2,639 )      (1,300 )
Secured borrowings             (4 )          57            53           156             -           156
Overnight borrowings           33            11            44          (377 )         130          (247 )
FHLB advances                 (26 )           -           (26 )        (299 )          18          (281 )
Total interest
expense                       546         2,213         2,759           819        (2,491 )      (1,672 )
Net interest income     $  10,366     $      79     $  10,445     $  16,890     $     754     $  17,644




Provision for loan losses



The provision for loan losses represents the necessary amount to charge against
current earnings, the purpose of which is to increase the allowance for loan
losses (the allowance) to a level that represents management's best estimate of
known and inherent losses in the Company's loan portfolio. Loans determined to
be uncollectible are charged off against the allowance. The required amount of
the provision for loan losses, based upon the adequate level of the allowance,
is subject to the ongoing analysis of the loan portfolio. The Company's Special
Assets Committee meets periodically to review problem loans. The committee is
comprised of management, including credit administration officers, loan
officers, loan workout officers and collection personnel. The committee reports
quarterly to the Credit Administration Committee of the board of directors.



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Management continuously reviews the risks inherent in the loan portfolio. Specific factors used to evaluate the adequacy of the loan loss provision during the formal process include:





•     specific loans that could have loss potential;

•     levels of and trends in delinquencies and non-accrual loans;

•     levels of and trends in charge-offs and recoveries;

•     trends in volume and terms of loans;

•     changes in risk selection and underwriting standards;

•     changes in lending policies and legal and regulatory requirements;

•     experience, ability and depth of lending management;

•     national and local economic trends and conditions; and

•     changes in credit concentrations.



For the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the provision for loan losses was
$2.1 million, a $0.1 million increase compared to $2.0 million for the year
ended December 31, 2021. This amount of provisioning reflected the loan growth
achieved during 2022 and what management deemed necessary to maintain the
allowance for loan and lease losses at an adequate level.



The provision for loan losses derives from the reserve required from the
allowance for loan losses calculation. The Company continued provisioning for
the year December 31, 2022 to maintain an allowance level that management deemed
adequate.


For a discussion on the allowance for loan losses, see "Allowance for loan losses," located in the comparison of financial condition section of management's discussion and analysis contained herein.





Other income



For the year ended December 31, 2022, non-interest income amounted to
$16.6 million, a $1.6 million, or 9%, decrease compared to $18.2 million
recorded for the year ended December 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily due to
$2.5 million lower gains on loan sales and $0.7 million less loan service
charges due to scaled back demand for mortgages. Partially offsetting these
decreases, service charges on deposits increased $0.9 million. Interchange fees
grew $0.2 million due to a higher volume of debit card transactions. Fees from
trust fiduciary activities increased $0.2 million year-over-year.



Other operating expenses



For the year ended December 31, 2022, total other operating expenses totaled
$51.3 million, an increase of $1.2 million, or 2%, compared to $50.1 million for
the year ended December 31, 2021. Non-interest expenses would have increased
$3.4 million more if not for $3.0 million in merger-related expenses and a $0.4
million FHLB prepayment penalty incurred by the Company during 2021. Salaries
and employee benefit expenses grew $2.9 million, or 12%.  The increase was
primarily due to less deferred loan origination costs reducing salaries and
employee benefits expense from a lower volume of originations from mortgages and
PPP loans.  Additionally, salaries and employee benefits were higher from new
positions added and merit increases and higher group insurance from a larger
amount of claims. Premises and equipment expenses increased $0.6 million, or 9%,
due to higher expenses for lease payments, equipment maintenance and rental and
other expenses related to premises and equipment acquired from the merger with
Landmark.  PA shares tax expense was $0.3 million higher from growth in equity.



The ratios of non-interest expense less non-interest income to average assets,
known as the expense ratio, at December 31, 2022 and 2021 were 1.45% and 1.50%,
respectively. The expense ratio decreased because of increased levels of average
assets. The efficiency ratio decreased from 60.92% at December 31, 2021 to
56.02% at December 31, 2022 due to revenue increasing faster than expenses in
2022. For more information on the calculation of the efficiency ratio, see
"Non-GAAP Financial Measures" located within this management's discussion and
analysis.



Open positions and the cost of maintaining talent may increase salaries and
employee benefit expenses in 2023. Additionally, the Company's technology
platforms continue to evolve and require periodic upgrades. Therefore, the
Company continues to devote financial resources and personnel necessary to
maintain and improve the information technology systems and platforms for
optimal operational efficiency, customer convenience and compliance with
applicable laws, regulations and regulatory guidance within a secure
environment.  Although these costs are expected, the costs of software and
software subscriptions continue to rise and our ability to attract and retain
qualified information technology personnel during a historically tight labor
market may require further investment by the Company.



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Provision for income taxes



The Company's effective income tax rate approximated 15.4% in 2022 and 14.3% in
2021. The difference between the effective rate and the enacted statutory
corporate rate of 21% is due mostly to the effect of tax-exempt income in
relation to the level of pre-tax income. The provision for income taxes
increased $1.4 million, or 36%, from $4.0 million at December 31, 2021 to $5.4
million at December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher pre-tax
income in 2022. If the federal corporate tax rate is increased, the Company's
net deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets will be re-valued upon
adoption of the new tax rate. A federal tax rate increase will decrease net
deferred tax assets with a corresponding decrease to provision for income taxes.





           Comparison of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2021

      and 2020 and Results of Operations for each of the Years then Ended



Executive Summary



The Company generated $24.0 million in net income in 2021, or $4.48 diluted
earnings per share, up $11.0 million, or 84%, from $13.0 million, or $2.82
diluted earnings per share, in 2020.  In 2021, our larger and well diversified
balance sheet from organic and inorganic growth contributed to the success of
our earnings performance.  Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) officials
dropped the federal funds rate down to 0%-0.25% during the first quarter of 2020
at the start of the pandemic where it remained through 2021.



Nationally, the unemployment rate fell from 6.7% at December 31, 2020 to 3.9% at
December 31, 2021. The unemployment rates in the Scranton - Wilkes-Barre -
Hazleton and the Allentown - Bethlehem - Easton Metropolitan Statistical Areas
(local) decreased but remained at a higher level than the national unemployment
rate.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the local unemployment
rates at December 31, 2021 were 4.8% and 4.0%, respectively, a decrease of 3.2
and 2.6 percentage points from the 8.0% and 6.6%, respectively, at December 31,
2020. The national and local unemployment rates have decreased as a result of
the improving economic environment. The pandemic-related business restrictions
had been lifted in our local area and employees started heading back to work.
Stimulus payments and enhanced unemployment benefits supported the economy
throughout 2020 and 2021.  The median home values in the
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton metro and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro each
increased 20.4% and 17.9% from a year ago, according to Zillow, an online
database advertising firm providing access to its real estate search engines to
various media outlets.



Non-recurring merger-related costs and a FHLB prepayment penalty incurred during
2021 and 2020 are not a part of the Company's normal operations.  If these
expenses had not occurred, adjusted net income (non-GAAP) for the years ended
December 31, 2021 and 2020 would have been $26.8 million and $15.4 million,
respectively.  Adjusted diluted EPS (non-GAAP) would have been $5.00 and $3.34
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.  For the same time periods,
adjusted ROA (non-GAAP) would have been 1.27% and 1.03%, respectively, and
adjusted ROE (non-GAAP) would have been 14.18% and 10.73%, respectively.



For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, tangible common book value per share (non-GAAP) was $33.68 and $31.72, respectively, an increase of 6.2%.





During 2021, the Company's assets grew by 42% primarily from assets acquired
from the merger with Landmark and additional growth in deposits, which were used
to fund growth in the loan and security portfolios. Non-performing assets
represented 0.27% of total assets as of December 31, 2021, down from 0.39% at
the prior year end.  Non-performing assets to total assets was lower during 2021
mostly due to the amount (or dollar value) of non-performing assets decreasing
while there was growth in total assets.



Financial Condition



Consolidated assets increased $719.6 million, or 42%, to $2.4 billion as of
December 31, 2021 from $1.7 billion at December 31, 2020. The increase in assets
occurred primarily from assets acquired in the merger with Landmark and deposit
inflow.  The asset growth was funded by utilizing growth in deposits of $660.4
million.



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Funds Provided:



Deposits



Total deposits increased $660.4 million, or 44%, from $1.5 billion at December
31, 2020 to $2.2 billion at December 31, 2021. Non-interest bearing and
interest-bearing checking accounts contributed the most to the deposit growth
with increases of $182.8 million and $276.7 million, respectively.  The growth
in non-interest bearing checking accounts was primarily due to accounts acquired
from the Landmark merger supplemented by business and personal account growth.
The increase in interest-bearing checking accounts was primarily due to accounts
from the Landmark merger, seasonal tax cycles, business activity, federal
pandemic relief funds and shifts from maturing CDs.  Money market accounts also
increased $134.8 million, mostly due to acquired Landmark accounts, higher
balances of personal and business accounts and shifts from other types of
deposit accounts.  The Company focuses on obtaining a full-banking relationship
with existing checking account customers as well as forming new customer
relationships.  Savings accounts increased $55.1 million due to accounts added
from the Landmark merger and also an increase in personal account balances.



Additionally, CDs also increased $11.0 million due to CDs acquired from the
merger with Landmark.  Otherwise, CD balances continue to decline as rates
dropped during 2020 and 2021 and previous years' promotional CDs reached
maturity.  Of the balance of outstanding CDs at December 31, 2021, $70.8
million, or 51%, had a balance at December 31, 2020.  The majority of the
remaining maturing CD balances were transferred to transactional accounts
primarily interest-bearing checking and money market accounts.  During the third
quarter of 2021, $12.0 million in CDs from one public customer was transferred
to an interest-bearing checking account.



The Company did not have any CDARs as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. As of
December 31, 2021 and 2020, ICS reciprocal deposits represented $27.6 million
and $46.2 million, or 1% and 3%, of total deposits which are included in
interest-bearing checking accounts in the table above.  The $18.6 million
decrease in ICS deposits is primarily due to public funds deposit transfers from
ICS accounts to other interest-bearing checking accounts partially offset by ICS
accounts acquired from Landmark.



As of December 31, 2021, total uninsured deposits were estimated to be $919.3 million.





Short-term borrowings



There were no short-term borrowings as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 as growth
in deposits funded asset growth. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had the
ability to borrow $91.7 million from the Federal Reserve borrower-in-custody
program and $31.0 million from lines of credit with correspondent banks.



Secured borrowings



As of December 31, 2021, the Company had secured borrowings with a fair value of
$10.6 million related to certain sold loan participations that did not qualify
for sales treatment acquired from Landmark.



FHLB advances



The Company had no FHLB advances as of December 31, 2021.  During the first
quarter of 2021, the Company paid off $5 million in FHLB advances with a
weighted average interest rate of 3.07%.  During the third quarter of 2021, the
Company acquired $4.5 million in FHLB advances from the Landmark merger that was
subsequently paid off. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had the ability to
borrow an additional $568.9 million from the FHLB.



Funds Deployed:



Investment Securities



As of December 31, 2021, the carrying value of investment securities amounted to
$739.0 million, or 31% of total assets, compared to $392.4 million, or 23% of
total assets at December 31, 2020.



The Company's municipal (obligations of states and political subdivisions)
portfolio is comprised of tax-free municipal bonds with a book value of $267.5
million and taxable municipal bonds with a book value of $93.2 million.  The
overall credit ratings of these municipal bonds was as follows: 36% AAA, 62% AA,
1% A and 1% escrowed.



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During 2021, the carrying value of total investments increased $346.6 million,
or 88%.  Purchases for the year totaled $411.4 million, while maturities and
principal reductions totaled $54.2 million and proceeds from sales were $44.5
million. The purchases were funded principally by cash flow generated from the
portfolio and excess overnight liquidity.  The growth in the investment
portfolio was due to the increase in low earning cash that was used to purchase
higher yielding securities.  As a result of the acquisition of Landmark, the
Company acquired $49.4 million in securities of which $16.5 million was retained
and the remaining securities were liquidated and reinvested.



The investment securities portfolio contained no private label mortgage-backed
securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, collateralized debt
obligations, or trust preferred securities, and no off-balance sheet derivatives
were in use. The portfolio had no adjustable-rate instruments as of December 31,
2021 and 2020.



Investment securities were comprised of AFS securities as of December 31, 2021
and 2020. The AFS securities were recorded with a net unrealized gain of $0.2
million and a net unrealized gain of $11.3 million as of December 31, 2021 and
2020, respectively. Of the net decline in the unrealized gain position of $11.1
million: $3.3 million was attributable to municipal securities; $5.1 million was
attributable to mortgage-backed securities and $2.7 million was attributable to
agency securities.



As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $417.8 million in public deposits, or
19% of total deposits.  Pennsylvania state law requires the Company to maintain
pledged securities on these public deposits or otherwise obtain a FHLB letter of
credit or FDIC insurance for these customers.  As of December 31, 2021, the
balance of pledged securities required for public and trust deposits was $394.3
million, or 53% of total securities.



During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company did not incur other-than-temporary impairment charges from its investment securities portfolio.

Restricted investments in bank stock





Atlantic Community Bankers Bank (ACBB) stock totaled $82 thousand and $45
thousand as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.  ACBB stock totaling $37 thousand was
acquired from the merger with Landmark in 2021.  The dividends received from the
FHLB totaled $130 thousand and $203 thousand for the years ended December 31,
2021 and 2020, respectively. The balance in FHLB and ACBB stock was $3.2 million
and $2.8 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.



Loans and leases


As of December 31, 2021, the Company had gross loans and leases, including originated and acquired loans and leases, totaling $1.4 billion compared to $1.1 billion at December 31, 2020, an increase of $314 million, or 28%.





Growth in the portfolio was attributed to a $118 million, or 13%, increase in
the originated portfolio and a $196 million, or 93%, increase in the acquired
portfolio.  Growth in the originated portfolio was primarily attributed to the
$83 million increase in the commercial real estate portfolio, resulting from the
origination of several large commercial real estate loans during 2021, and the
$95 million increase in the residential portfolio, stemming from the strength of
the housing market in the Company's service area and the low interest rate
environment along with management's decision to retain a greater percentage of
potentially saleable mortgages.  Growth in the acquired portfolio was attributed
to the $299 million in loans added to the Company's balance sheet from the
Landmark merger, which closed in the third quarter of 2021.



Commercial and industrial originations decreased by $70 million, or 35%, to $129
million in 2021. This occurred because the Company recorded PPP loans in the
commercial and industrial category. PPP loan originations decreased from $159
million in 2020 to $77 million in 2021.



Commercial and industrial and commercial real estate





As of December 31, 2021, the commercial loan portfolio increased by $156
million, or 24%, to $819 million over the December 31, 2020 balance of $663
million due to $145 million in growth in the acquired portfolio and $11 million
in growth in the originated portfolio.  Excluding the $98 million reduction in
originated PPP loans (net of deferred fees) during the twelve months ended
December 31, 2021, the originated commercial portfolio grew $110 million due to
the origination of several large CRE loans during the year along with increased
overall lending activity due to the Company's larger size and market area.



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The commercial loan portfolio consisted of $513 million in originated loans, including $32 million in originated PPP loans, and $306 million in loans acquired from MNB and Landmark, including $8 million in acquired PPP loans,

as of December 31, 2021.

Paycheck Protection Program Loans





Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2020 and continuing during 2021, the Company
submitted PPP forgiveness applications to the SBA, and through December 31,
2021, the Company received forgiveness or paydowns of $203 million, or 86%, of
the original PPP loan balances of $236 million with $176 million occurring
during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021.



As a PPP lender, the Company received fee income of approximately $9.9 million
with $8.7 million recognized to date, including $3.3 million of PPP fee income
recognized during 2020 and $5.4 million recognized during 2021.  Unearned fees
attributed to PPP loans, net of $0.1 million in fees paid to referral sources as
prescribed by the SBA under the PPP, were $1.2 million as of December 31, 2021.



The PPP loans originated by size were as follows as of December 31, 2021:





                                              Balance          Current                              SBA fee
(dollars in thousands)                      originated         balance        Total SBA fee       recognized
$150,000 or less                           $      76,594     $    12,877     $         4,866     $       4,085
Greater than $150,000 but less than
$2,000,000                                       128,082          20,331               4,765             4,254
$2,000,000 or higher                              31,656               -                 316               316
Total PPP loans originated                 $     236,332     $    33,208     $         9,947     $       8,655




The table above does not include the $20.3 million in PPP loans acquired because
of the merger with Landmark during the third quarter of 2021.  As of December
31, 2021, the balance of outstanding acquired PPP loans was $7.9 million.



Consumer


As of December 31, 2021, the consumer loan portfolio increased by $39 million, or 18%, to $255 million compared to the December 31, 2020 balance of $216 million, due to $27 million in growth in the acquired portfolio, primarily automobile, related to the Landmark merger and $12 million in growth in the originated portfolio, specifically from the home equity line of credit and direct finance lease portfolios.





Residential



As of December 31, 2021, the residential loan portfolio increased by $119
million, or 49%, to $361 million compared to the December 31, 2020 balance of
$242 million.  For the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, $25 million in
growth was attributed to loans acquired in the Landmark merger and $94 million
in growth originated mainly in the Company's service area spurred by a
historically low interest rate environment, strong demand for residential loans
and management's decision to retain potentially saleable mortgages.



The residential loan portfolio consisted primarily of held-for-investment residential loans for primary residences. Originated loans totaled $298 million and acquired loans totaled $63 million as of December 31, 2021 compared to originated loans of $204 million and acquired loans of $38 million as of December 31, 2020.





Loans held-for-sale



As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, loans HFS consisted of residential mortgages
with carrying amounts of $31.7 million and $29.8 million, respectively, which
approximated their fair values. During the year ended December 31, 2021,
residential mortgage loans with principal balances of $159.8 million were sold
into the secondary market and the Company recognized net gains of $4.1 million,
compared to $155.1 million and $3.5 million, respectively, during the year ended
December 31, 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company also
sold one SBA guaranteed loan with a principal balance of $0.2 million and
recognized a net gain of $24 thousand compared to one SBA guaranteed loan with a
principal balance of $0.6 million and recognized a net gain on the sale of $93
thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020.



During 2021, management decided to hold mortgages HFS longer to earn interest
income.  Management completed a $13 million transfer of mortgages HFS to the
held-for-investment portfolio during the first quarter of 2022.



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The Company retains mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) on loans sold into the
secondary market.  MSRs are retained so that the Company can foster personal
relationships. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the servicing portfolio balance of
sold residential mortgage loans was $430.9 million and $366.5 million,
respectively, with mortgage servicing rights of $1.7 million and $1.3 million
for the same periods, respectively.



Allowance for loan losses



For the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, the allowance increased $1.4
million, or 10%, to $15.6 million from $14.2 million at December 31, 2020 due to
provisioning of $2.0 million partially offset by $0.6 million in net
charge-offs.  The allowance for loan and lease losses decreased as a percentage
of total loans to 1.09% from 1.27% at December 31, 2020 as the growth in the
loan portfolio (28%) outpaced the growth in the allowance for loan losses (10%)
during the same period.



During the first quarter of 2021, management increased the qualitative factors
associated with its commercial, consumer, and residential portfolios related to
the rise in rates that occurred during the quarter, and the adverse impact that
these increased rates are anticipated to have on estimated credit losses.



During the second quarter of 2021, management increased the qualitative factors
associated with its commercial & industrial portfolio related to the rising
delinquency observed during this period, which was on a worsening trend on both
a quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year basis.



During the third quarter of 2021, management reduced the qualitative factors
associated with its commercial, consumer, and residential portfolios related to
the improvement in the economic environment compared to the prior period, which
was attributed to the improving key risk indicators used in the analysis
including national unemployment rate, personal consumer expenditures, industrial
production and consumer sentiment.



During the fourth quarter of 2021, management reduced the qualitative factors
associated with its commercial, consumer, and residential portfolios related to
the sustained, low level of delinquency in these portfolios observed during the
year and improvement compared to the year earlier period. Management also
reduced the qualitative factors associated with its commercial portfolio related
to the improvement in the key risk indicators used in the analysis including
national unemployment rate, personal consumer expenditures, and industrial
production.



For the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, net charge-offs against the
allowance totaled $578 thousand compared with net charge-offs of $795 thousand
for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, representing a $217 thousand, or
27%, decrease.  This decrease was attributed to general economic improvement and
continued high levels of liquidity for the Company's customers.



As of December 31, 2021, the commercial loan portfolio, consisting of CRE and
C&I loans, comprised 62% of the total allowance for loan losses compared with
62% on December 31, 2020. The commercial loan allowance allocation remained
unchanged due to the greater inherent risk in this portfolio.



As of December 31, 2021, the consumer loan portfolio comprised 15% of the total
allowance for loan losses compared with 18% on December 31, 2020. The
3-percentage point decrease in the consumer loan allowance allocation was the
result of the relative reduction in this loan category, which declined from 19%
as of December 31, 2020 to 18% as of December 31, 2021.



As of December 31, 2021, the residential loan portfolio comprised 22% of the
total allowance for loan losses compared with 19% on December 31, 2020. The
3-percentage point increase was the result of the relative increase in this loan
category, which increased from 22% as of December 31, 2020 to 25% as of December
31, 2021.



As of December 31, 2021, the unallocated reserve, representing the portion of
the allowance not specifically identified with a loan or groups of loans, was
less than 1% of the total allowance for loan losses compared with less than 1%
of the total allowance for loan losses on December 31, 2020.



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Non-performing assets



Non-performing assets represented 0.27% of total assets at December 31, 2021
compared with 0.39% at December 31, 2020 with the improvement resulting from the
$0.2 million, or 3%, decrease in non-performing assets, specifically non-accrual
loans, coupled with the $720 million, or 42%, increase in total assets to $2.4
billion at December 31, 2021.



From December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021, non-accrual loans declined $0.8
million, or 21%, from $3.8 million to $3.0 million.  The $0.8 million decline in
non-accrual loans was the result of $1.3 million in payments, $0.7million in
charge-offs, $0.2 million in moves to ORE, and $0.2 million in moves back to
accrual offset by $1.6 million in additions.  At December 31, 2021, there were a
total of 31 loans to 28 unrelated borrowers with balances that ranged from less
than $1 thousand to $0.7 million. At December 31, 2020, there were a total of 46
loans to 38 unrelated borrowers with balances that ranged from less than $1
thousand to $0.5 million.



There were two direct finance leases totaling $64 thousand that were over 90
days past due as of December 31, 2021 compared to two direct finance leases
totaling $61 thousand that were over 90 days past due as of December 31,
2020. The delinquent direct finance leases are fully guaranteed under a formal
recourse agreement with the originating auto dealer and were in process of
orderly collection.



If the non-accrual loans that were outstanding as of December 31, 2021 had been performing in accordance with their original terms, the Company would have recognized interest income with respect to such loans of $169 thousand.





From December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021, TDRs increased $0.3 million, or
10%, primarily due to the addition of a $0.5 million commercial real estate TDR
in the fourth quarter offset by paydowns of $0.1 million and charge-offs for two
non-accrual commercial real estate TDRs to a single borrower totaling $0.1
million. At December 31, 2020, there were a total of 12 TDRs by 9 unrelated
borrowers with balances that ranged from $1 thousand to $1.3 million, and at
December 31, 2021, there were a total of 11 TDRs by 8 unrelated borrowers with
balances that ranged from $50 thousand to $1.3 million.



Loans modified in a TDR may or may not be placed on non-accrual status. At December 31, 2021, there were three TDRs totaling $0.6 million that were on non-accrual status compared to four TDRs totaling $0.7 million at December 31, 2020.





Beginning the week of March 16, 2020, the Company began receiving requests for
temporary modifications to the repayment structure for borrower loans.
Modification terms included interest only or full payment deferral for up to 6
months.  As of December 31, 2021, the Company had no COVID-related modifications
outstanding.


Foreclosedassets held-for-sale





From December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021, foreclosed assets held-for-sale
(ORE) increased from $256 thousand to $435 thousand, a $179 thousand increase,
which was primarily attributed to one $236 thousand ORE property that was added
during the first quarter of 2021.



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As of December 31, 2021, ORE consisted of five properties securing loans to five
unrelated borrowers totaling $435 thousand.  Four properties ($434 thousand) to
four unrelated borrowers were added in 2021 and one property ($1 thousand) was
added in 2017.  Of the five properties, three properties are under agreement of
sale and two properties are listed for sale.



As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had no other repossessed assets held-for-sale.

Cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance





In March 2019, the Company invested $2.0 million in additional BOLI as a source
of funding for additional life insurance benefits that provides for payments
upon death for officers and employee benefit expenses related to the Company's
non-qualified SERP implemented for certain executive officers.  In December
2020, the Company invested $6 million in BOLI and $5 million in BOLI with
taxable annuity rider investments.  As a result of the Landmark acquisition, the
Company acquired $7.2 million in BOLI during the third quarter of 2021.



Premises and equipment



Net of depreciation, premises and equipment increased $1.7 million during 2021.
The Company added $3.4 million in fixed assets from the Landmark merger and
purchased $2.2 million in fixed assets throughout 2021.  These increases were
partially offset by $2.2 million in depreciation expense and $1.5 million in
transfers to other assets held-for-sale.



Other assets



During 2021, the $3.2 million, or 57%, increase in other assets was due mostly
to a $3.1 million increase in deferred tax assets primarily from the reduction
in unrealized gains in the investment portfolio.



Results of Operations



Overview



For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company generated net income of $24.0
million, or $4.48 per diluted share, compared to $13.0 million, or $2.82 per
diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2020.  The $11.0 million, or 84%,
increase in net income stemmed from $17.6 million more net interest income, $3.6
million in additional non-interest income and $3.3 million lower provision for
loan losses which more than offset an $11.8 million rise in non-interest
expenses and $1.7 million higher provision for income taxes.



For the year ended December 31, 2021, return on average assets (ROA) and return
on average shareholders' equity (ROE) were 1.13% and 12.69%, respectively,
compared to 0.87% and 9.06% for the same period in 2020. The increase in ROA and
ROE was the result of the growth in net income relative to the increase in
average assets and equity during 2021.



Net interest income and interest sensitive assets / liabilities





Net interest income (FTE) increased $18.7 million, or 41%, from $45.3 million
for the year ended December 31, 2020 to $64.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 2021, due to the higher interest income and lower interest
expense.  Total average interest-earning assets increased $607.3 million while
the FTE yields earned on these assets declined 27 basis points resulting in
$17.0 million of growth in FTE interest income.  The loan portfolio contributed
the most to this growth due to average balance growth of $280.6 million which
had the effect of producing $12.2 million more FTE interest income, including
$2.0 million in additional fees earned under the Paycheck Protection Program
(PPP).  In the investment portfolio, an increase in the average balances of
municipal securities was the biggest driver of interest income growth.  The
average balance of total securities grew $291.1 million producing $4.8 million
in additional FTE interest income despite a decrease of 44 basis points in
yields earned on investments.  On the liability side, total interest-bearing
liabilities grew $392.7 million in average balances with a 27 basis point
decrease in rates paid on these interest-bearing liabilities.  Growth in average
interest-bearing deposits of $442.4 million was offset by the effect of a 26
basis point reduction in rates paid on these deposits lowering interest expense
by $1.3 million. In addition, the Company utilized $49.7 million less in average
borrowings in 2021 compared to 2020 resulting in $0.4 million less interest
expense from borrowings.



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The FTE net interest rate spread was unchanged at 3.16% for the years ended
December 31, 2021 and 2020.  The FTE net interest rate margin decreased by 7
basis points, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the
year ended December 31, 2020.  The yields earned on interest-earning assets
declined at the same pace as the decline in the rates paid on interest-bearing
liabilities causing the net interest rate spread to remain flat.  The decrease
in net interest rate margin was due to the higher average balance of
interest-bearing cash.  The overall cost of funds, which includes the impact of
non-interest bearing deposits, decreased 21 basis points for the year ended
December 31, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.  The primary reason for
the decline was the reduction in rates paid on deposits coupled with the
increased average balances of non-interest bearing deposits.



The Company's cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 0.26% for the year ended
December 31, 2021, or 27 basis points lower than the cost for the year ended
December 31, 2020. The decrease in interest paid on both deposits and borrowings
contributed to the lower cost of interest-bearing liabilities.



Provision for loan losses



For the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded a
provision for loan losses of $2.0 million and $5.3 million, respectively, a $3.3
million, or 62%, decrease.  The decrease in the provision for loan losses from
the year earlier period was primarily attributed to the COVID-related
provisioning that occurred during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020,
which was not similarly warranted during the twelve months ended December 31,
2021 due to the higher level of economic certainty in the Company's operating
area when compared to the year earlier period.



Other income



For the year ended December 31, 2021, non-interest income amounted to $18.3
million, a $3.6 million, or 25%, increase compared to $14.7 million recorded for
the year ended December 31, 2020. Interchange fees grew $1.1 million due to a
higher volume of debit card transactions. Wealth management fees (fees from
trust fiduciary activities and financial services) increased $0.7 million
year-over-year as assets under management and administration grew from $364
million to $427 million. Gains on loan sales were $0.6 million higher for the
year ended December 31, 2021 than the year earlier period due to the higher
dollar amount of loans sold.  Service charges on deposits increased $0.5
million. Earnings on bank-owned life insurance increased $0.4 million from the
larger amount of BOLI due to the Landmark acquisition.  Service charges on loans
were $0.3 million higher in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily driven by more fees
for commercial loans.



Other operating expenses



For the year ended December 31, 2021, total other operating expenses totaled
$50.1 million, an increase of $11.8 million, or 31%, compared to $38.3 million
for the year ended December 31, 2020. Merger related expenses were $0.5 million
of this increase.  Salaries and employee benefits contributed the most to the
increase rising $5.4 million, or 27%, in 2021 compared to 2020.  The basis of
the increase includes $3.0 million higher salaries with more full-time
equivalent employees, $1.7 million increase in employee bonuses, $0.8 million
more in group insurance and $0.5 million higher commissions.  These increases in
salaries and employee benefits were partially offset by $0.9 million more in
loan origination costs deferred.  Premises and equipment expenses were $1.4
million higher due to an increase in depreciation, equipment maintenance and
rental expenses.  Advertising and marketing increased $1.0 million due to more
advertising and donations in 2021.  Professional services were $0.5 million
higher due to pandemic-related expenses and higher consulting and audit
expenses.  The FDIC assessment was $0.4 million higher due to the larger average
assets. Automated transaction processing expenses increased $0.3 million.  Data
processing and communications expense increased $0.3 million during 2021
compared to 2020 because of additional costs for data center services from more
accounts and additional branches.



The ratios of non-interest expense less non-interest income to average assets,
known as the expense ratio, at December 31, 2021 and 2020 were 1.50% and 1.58%,
respectively.  The expense ratio decreased because of increased levels of
average assets.  The efficiency ratio decreased from 63.92% at December 31, 2020
to 60.92% at December 31, 2021 due to revenue increasing faster than expenses in
2021.



Provision for income taxes



The Company's effective income tax rate approximated 14.3% in 2021 and 14.7% in
2020. The difference between the effective rate and the enacted statutory
corporate rate of 21% is due mostly to the effect of tax-exempt income in
relation to the level of pre-tax income.  The provision for income taxes
increased $1.8 million, or 78%, from $2.2 million at December 31, 2020 to $4.0
million at December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to higher pre-tax
income in 2021 which partially offset the effect of higher tax-exempt interest
income.



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           Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations



The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in
the normal course of business in order to meet the financing needs of its
customers and in connection with the overall interest rate management strategy.
These instruments involve, to a varying degree, elements of credit, interest
rate and liquidity risk. In accordance with GAAP, these instruments are either
not recorded in the consolidated financial statements or are recorded in amounts
that differ from the notional amounts. Such instruments primarily include
lending commitments and lease obligations.



Lending commitments include commitments to originate loans and commitments to
fund unused lines of credit. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend
to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in
the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other
termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since some of the
commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total
commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.



In addition to lending commitments, the Company has contractual obligations
related to operating lease and capital lease commitments. Operating lease
commitments are obligations under various non-cancelable operating leases on
buildings and land used for office space and banking purposes. Capital lease
commitments are obligations on buildings and equipment.



The following table presents, as of December 31, 2022, the Company's significant determinable contractual obligations and significant commitments by payment date. The payment amounts represent those amounts contractually due to the recipient, excluding interest:





                                               Over one          Over three
                               One year      year through       years through          Over
(dollars in thousands)         or less        three years        five years         five years        Total
Contractual obligations:
Certificates of deposit       $   76,685     $      34,321     $         5,467     $        721     $  117,194
Secured borrowings                   853                20                   -            6,693          7,566
Short-term borrowings             12,940                 -                   -                -         12,940
Operating leases                     695             1,285               1,289           10,147         13,416
Finance leases                       227               332                 300              313          1,172
Commitments:
Letters of credit                  9,062             6,565                   -            1,007         16,634
Loan commitments (1)              65,151                 -                   -                -         65,151
Total                         $  165,613     $      42,523     $         7,056     $     18,881     $  234,073

(1) Available credit to borrowers in the amount of $325.5 million is excluded

from the above table since, by its nature, the borrowers may not have the

need for additional funding, and, therefore, the credit may or may not be


    disbursed by the Company.




                           Related Party Transactions



Information with respect to related parties is contained in Note 16, "Related
Party Transactions", within the notes to the consolidated financial statements,
and incorporated by reference in Part II, Item 8.



               Impact of Accounting Standards and Interpretations



Information with respect to the impact of accounting standards is contained in
Note 19, "Recent Accounting Pronouncements", within the notes to the
consolidated financial statements, and incorporated by reference in Part II,
Item 8.



                    Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices



The consolidated financial statements and notes thereto presented herein have
been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires the measurement of
the Company's financial condition and results of operations in terms of
historical dollars without considering the changes in the relative purchasing
power of money over time due to inflation. The impact of inflation is reflected
in the increased cost of our operations. Unlike industrial businesses, most all
of the Company's assets and liabilities are financial in nature. As a result,
interest rates have a greater impact on our performance than do the effects of
general levels of inflation as interest rates do not necessarily move in the
same direction or, to the same extent, as the price of goods and services.



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                               Capital Resources



The Company (on a consolidated basis) and the Bank are subject to various
regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies.
Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and
possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken,
could have a direct material effect on the Company's and the Bank's financial
statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for
prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital
guidelines that involve quantitative measures of their assets, liabilities and
certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting
practices. The capital amounts and classification are also subject to
qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk-weightings and
other factors. Prompt corrective action provisions are not applicable to bank
holding companies.



Under these guidelines, assets and certain off-balance sheet items are assigned
to broad risk categories, each with appropriate weights. The resulting ratios
represent capital as a percentage of total risk-weighted assets and certain
off-balance sheet items. The guidelines require all banks and bank holding
companies to maintain minimum ratios for capital adequacy purposes. Refer to the
information with respect to capital requirements contained in Note 15,
"Regulatory Matters", within the notes to the consolidated financial statements,
and incorporated by reference in Part II, Item 8.



During the year ended December 31, 2022, total shareholders' equity decreased
$48.8 million, or 23%, due principally to a $71.3 million after tax reduction in
the net unrealized gain position to a net unrealized loss position in the
Company's investment portfolio, $7.7 million of cash dividends declared on the
Company's common stock and $1.3 million in treasury stock purchases. Partially
offsetting these decreases, capital was enhanced by $30.0 million in net income
added into retained earnings, $0.3 million from investments in the Company's
common stock via the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) and $1.3 million from
stock-based compensation expense from the ESPP and restricted stock and SSARs.
The Company's dividend payout ratio, defined as the rate at which current
earnings are paid to shareholders, was 25.7% for the year ended December 31,
2022. The balance of earnings is retained to further strengthen the Company's
capital position. The Company's sources (uses) of capital during the previous
five years are indicated below:



                                    Cash          Other retained                        DRP            Issuance of          Changes in
                      Net         dividends          earnings          Earnings       and ESPP        common stock           AOCI and            Capital
(dollars in                                                                                                                                     retained
thousands)          income        declared         adjustments         retained       infusion       for acquisition       other changes       (utilized)
2022               $  30,021     $    (7,709 )   $              -     $   22,312     $      252     $               -     $       (71,343 )   $     (48,779 )
2021                  24,008          (6,608 )                  -         17,400            270                35,056              (7,667 )          45,059
2020                  13,035          (5,378 )                  -          7,657            219                45,408               6,551            59,835
2019                  11,576          (4,037 )                (91 )        7,448            175                     -               5,655            13,278
2018                  11,006          (3,708 )                421          7,719            460                     -              (2,005 )           6,174




As of December 31, 2022, the Company reported a net unrealized loss position of
$71.1 million, net of tax, from the securities AFS portfolio compared to a net
unrealized gain of $0.2 million as of December 31, 2021. The $71.3 million
decline during 2022 was from the $53.8 million reduction in net unrealized gains
to net unrealized losses on AFS securities, net of tax, and $17.5 million in net
unrealized losses on HTM securities transferred from AFS, net of tax. Lower
unrealized gains and higher unrealized losses on all types of securities
contributed to the net unrealized losses in investment portfolio. Management
believes that changes in fair value of the Company's securities are due to
changes in interest rates and not in the creditworthiness of the issuers.



Generally, when U.S. Treasury rates rise, investment securities' pricing
declines and fair values of investment securities also decline. While volatility
has existed in the yield curve within the past twelve months, a rising rate
environment is expected and during the period of rising rates, the Company
expects pricing in the bond portfolio to decline. There is no assurance that
future realized and unrealized losses will not be recognized from the Company's
portfolio of investment securities.



To help maintain a healthy capital position, the Company can issue stock to
participants in the DRP and ESPP plans. The DRP affords the Company the option
to acquire shares in open market purchases and/or issue shares directly from the
Company to plan participants. During 2022, the Company acquired shares in the
open market to fulfill the needs of the DRP. Both the DRP and the ESPP plans
have been a consistent source of capital from the Company's loyal employees and
shareholders and their participation in these plans will continue to help
strengthen the Company's balance sheet.



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See the section entitled "Supervision and Regulation", below for a discussion on
regulatory capital changes and other recent enactments, including a summary of
the federal banking agencies final rules to implement the Basel III regulatory
capital reforms and changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act.



                                   Liquidity



Liquidity management ensures that adequate funds will be available to meet
customers' needs for borrowings, deposit withdrawals and maturities, facility
expansion and normal operating expenses. Sources of liquidity are cash and cash
equivalents, asset maturities and pay-downs within one year, loans HFS,
investments AFS, growth of core deposits, utilization of borrowing capacities
from the FHLB, correspondent banks, ICS and IntraFi Network One-Way Buy program,
the Discount Window of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia (FRB), Atlantic
Community Bankers Bank (ACBB) and proceeds from the issuance of capital stock.
Though regularly scheduled investment and loan payments are dependable sources
of daily liquidity, sales of both loans HFS and investments AFS, deposit
activity and investment and loan prepayments are significantly influenced by
general economic conditions including the interest rate environment. During low
and declining interest rate environments, prepayments from interest-sensitive
assets tend to accelerate and provide significant liquidity that can be used to
invest in other interest-earning assets but at lower market rates. Conversely,
in periods of high or rising interest rates, prepayments from interest-sensitive
assets tend to decelerate causing prepayment cash flows from mortgage loans and
mortgage-backed securities to decrease. Rising interest rates may also cause
deposit inflow but priced at higher market interest rates or could also cause
deposit outflow due to higher rates offered by the Company's competition for
similar products. The Company closely monitors activity in the capital markets
and takes appropriate action to ensure that the liquidity levels are adequate
for funding, investing and operating activities.



The Company's contingency funding plan (CFP) sets a framework for handling
liquidity issues in the event circumstances arise which the Company deems to be
less than normal. The Company established guidelines for identifying, measuring,
monitoring and managing the resolution of potentially serious liquidity crises.
The CFP outlines required monitoring tools, acceptable alternative funding
sources and required actions during various liquidity scenarios. Thus, the
Company has implemented a proactive means for the measurement and resolution for
handling potentially significant adverse liquidity conditions. At least
quarterly, the CFP monitoring tools, current liquidity position and monthly
projected liquidity sources and uses are presented and reviewed by the Company's
Asset/Liability Committee. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had not
experienced any adverse issues that would give rise to its inability to raise
liquidity in an emergency situation.



During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company utilized $67.8 million of
cash. During the period, the Company's operations provided approximately $49.4
million mostly from $73.3 million of net cash inflow from the components of net
interest income plus $11.9 million in proceeds over originations of loans HFS
partially offset by net non-interest expense/income related payments of $33.1
million and $3.1 million in quarterly estimated tax payments. Cash inflow from
interest-earning assets, short-term borrowings and loan payments were used to
purchase investment securities and replace maturing and cash runoff of
securities, fund the loan portfolio, invest in bank premises and equipment and
make net dividend payments. The Company received a large amount of public
deposits over the past six years. The seasonal nature of deposits from
municipalities and other public funding sources requires the Company to be
prepared for the inherent volatility and the unpredictable timing of cash
outflow from this customer base, including maintaining the requirements to
pledge investment securities. Accordingly, the use of short-term overnight
borrowings could be used to fulfill funding gap needs. The CFP is a tool to help
the Company ensure that alternative funding sources are available to meet its
liquidity needs.



During January 2023, the Company sold $31.2 million in AFS securities to
generate liquidity in order to pay down overnight borrowings which will result
in interest expense savings. Management will continue to execute strategies to
generate liquidity when it makes sense for the Company's operations.



During 2021 and 2022, the Company also experienced deposit inflow resulting from
businesses and municipalities that received relief from the CARES Act, American
Rescue Plan Act and other government stimulus. There is uncertainty about the
length of time that these deposits will remain which could require the Company
to maintain elevated cash balances. The Company had approximately $97 million in
American Rescue Plan Act funds in public deposit accounts at December 31, 2022
that may be disbursed during 2023 resulting in declines in public deposits. The
Company will continue to monitor deposit fluctuation for other significant
changes.



As of December 31, 2022, the Company maintained $29.1 million in cash and cash
equivalents and $422.5 million of investments AFS and loans HFS. Also as of
December 31, 2022, the Company had approximately $602.2 million available to
borrow from the FHLB, $31.0 million from correspondent banks, $112.0 million
from the FRB and $365.4 million from the IntraFi Network One-Way Buy program.
The combined total of $1,562.2 million represented 66% of total assets at
December 31, 2022. Management believes this level of liquidity to be strong and
adequate to support current operations.



On March 12, 2023, the Federal Reserve Board announced the creation of a new
Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP). The Company would be able to borrow advances
through the BTFP using certain types of securities as collateral. The qualifying
assets used as collateral would be valued at par.



For a discussion on the Company's significant determinable contractual obligations and significant commitments, see "Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations," above.


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           Management of interest rate risk and market risk analysis



The adequacy and effectiveness of an institution's interest rate risk management
process and the level of its exposures are critical factors in the regulatory
evaluation of an institution's sensitivity to changes in interest rates and
capital adequacy. Management believes the Company's interest rate risk
measurement framework is sound and provides an effective means to measure,
monitor, analyze, identify and control interest rate risk in the balance sheet.



The Company is subject to the interest rate risks inherent in its lending,
investing and financing activities. Fluctuations of interest rates will impact
interest income and interest expense along with affecting market values of all
interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, except for those
assets or liabilities with a short term remaining to maturity. Interest rate
risk management is an integral part of the asset/liability management process.
The Company has instituted certain procedures and policy guidelines to manage
the interest rate risk position. Those internal policies enable the Company to
react to changes in market rates to protect net interest income from significant
fluctuations. The primary objective in managing interest rate risk is to
minimize the adverse impact of changes in interest rates on net interest income
along with creating an asset/liability structure that maximizes earnings.



Asset/Liability Management. One major objective of the Company when managing the
rate sensitivity of its assets and liabilities is to stabilize net interest
income. The management of and authority to assume interest rate risk is the
responsibility of the Company's Asset/Liability Committee (ALCO), which is
comprised of senior management and members of the board of directors. ALCO meets
quarterly to monitor the relationship of interest sensitive assets to interest
sensitive liabilities. The process to review interest rate risk is a regular
part of managing the Company. Consistent policies and practices of measuring and
reporting interest rate risk exposure, particularly regarding the treatment of
non-contractual assets and liabilities, are in effect. In addition, there is an
annual process to review the interest rate risk policy with the board of
directors which includes limits on the impact to earnings from shifts in
interest rates.



Interest Rate Risk Measurement. Interest rate risk is monitored through the use
of three complementary measures: static gap analysis, earnings at risk
simulation and economic value at risk simulation. While each of the interest
rate risk measurements has limitations, collectively, they represent a
reasonably comprehensive view of the magnitude of interest rate risk in the
Company and the distribution of risk along the yield curve, the level of risk
through time and the amount of exposure to changes in certain interest rate
relationships.



Static Gap. The ratio between assets and liabilities re-pricing in specific time intervals is referred to as an interest rate sensitivity gap. Interest rate sensitivity gaps can be managed to take advantage of the slope of the yield curve as well as forecasted changes in the level of interest rate changes.





To manage this interest rate sensitivity gap position, an asset/liability model
commonly known as cumulative gap analysis is used to monitor the difference in
the volume of the Company's interest sensitive assets and liabilities that
mature or re-price within given time intervals. A positive gap (asset sensitive)
indicates that more assets will re-price during a given period compared to
liabilities, while a negative gap (liability sensitive) indicates the opposite
effect. The Company employs computerized net interest income simulation modeling
to assist in quantifying interest rate risk exposure. This process measures and
quantifies the impact on net interest income through varying interest rate
changes and balance sheet compositions. The use of this model assists the ALCO
to gauge the effects of the interest rate changes on interest-sensitive assets
and liabilities in order to determine what impact these rate changes will have
upon the net interest spread. At December 31, 2022, the Company maintained a
one-year cumulative gap of negative (liability sensitive) $105.5 million, or
-4%, of total assets. The effect of this negative gap position provided a
mismatch of assets and liabilities which may expose the Company to interest rate
risk during periods of rising interest rates. Conversely, in a decreasing
interest rate environment, net interest income could be positively impacted
because more liabilities than assets will re-price downward during the one-year
period.



Certain shortcomings are inherent in the method of analysis discussed above and
presented in the next table. Although certain assets and liabilities may have
similar maturities or periods of re-pricing, they may react in different degrees
to changes in market interest rates. The interest rates on certain types of
assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market interest
rates, while interest rates on other types of assets and liabilities may lag
behind changes in market interest rates. Certain assets, such as adjustable-rate
mortgages, have features which restrict changes in interest rates on a
short-term basis and over the life of the asset. In the event of a change in
interest rates, prepayment and early withdrawal levels may deviate significantly
from those assumed in calculating the table amounts. The ability of many
borrowers to service their adjustable-rate debt may decrease in the event of an
interest rate increase.



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The following table reflects the re-pricing of the balance sheet or "gap" position at December 31, 2022:





                                                        More than
                                                          three            More than
                                    Three months        months to           one year           More than
                                                         twelve
(dollars in thousands)                or less            months          to 

three years three years Total

Cash and cash equivalents $ 25,549 $ - $

            -      $      3,542     $    29,091
Investment securities (1)(2)                8,395           24,126                60,027           556,326         648,874
Loans and leases (2)                      313,844          216,645               421,556           596,617       1,548,662
Fixed and other assets                          -           54,035                     -            97,710         151,745
Total assets                       $      347,788      $   294,806      $        481,583      $  1,254,195     $ 2,378,372
Total cumulative assets            $      347,788      $   642,594      $   

1,124,177 $ 2,378,372



Non-interest-bearing transaction
deposits (3)                       $            -      $    60,321      $        165,596      $    376,691     $   602,608
Interest-bearing transaction
deposits (3)                              591,794                -               342,114           513,173       1,447,081
Certificates of deposit                    24,308           52,478                34,337             6,101         117,224
Secured borrowings                          6,287                -                 1,332                 -           7,619
Short-term borrowings                      12,940                -                     -                 -          12,940
Other liabilities                               -                -                     -            27,950          27,950
Total liabilities                  $      635,329      $   112,799      $        543,379      $    923,915     $ 2,215,422
Total cumulative liabilities       $      635,329      $   748,128      $   

1,291,507 $ 2,215,422



Interest sensitivity gap           $     (287,541 )    $   182,007      $        (61,796 )    $    330,280
Cumulative gap                     $     (287,541 )    $  (105,534 )    $   

(167,330 ) $ 162,950



Cumulative gap to total assets              (12.1 )%          (4.4 )%               (7.0 )%            6.9 %



(1) Includes restricted investments in bank stock and the net unrealized

gains/losses on available-for-sale securities.

(2) Investments and loans are included in the earlier of the period in which

interest rates were next scheduled to adjust or the period in which they are

due. In addition, loans were included in the periods in which they are

scheduled to be repaid based on scheduled amortization. For amortizing loans

and MBS - GSE residential, annual prepayment rates are assumed reflecting

historical experience as well as management's knowledge and experience of its

loan products.

(3) The Company's demand and savings accounts were generally subject to immediate

withdrawal. However, management considers a certain amount of such accounts

to be core accounts having significantly longer effective maturities based on

the retention experiences of such deposits in changing interest rate

environments. The effective maturities presented are the recommended maturity

distribution limits for non-maturing deposits based on historical deposit


    studies.




Earnings at Risk and Economic Value at Risk Simulations. The Company recognizes
that more sophisticated tools exist for measuring the interest rate risk in the
balance sheet that extend beyond static re-pricing gap analysis. Although it
will continue to measure its re-pricing gap position, the Company utilizes
additional modeling for identifying and measuring the interest rate risk in the
overall balance sheet. The ALCO is responsible for focusing on "earnings at
risk" and "economic value at risk", and how both relate to the risk-based
capital position when analyzing the interest rate risk.



Earnings at Risk. An earnings at risk simulation measures the change in net
interest income and net income should interest rates rise and fall. The
simulation recognizes that not all assets and liabilities re-price one-for-one
with market rates (e.g., savings rate). The ALCO looks at "earnings at risk" to
determine income changes from a base case scenario under an increase and
decrease of 200 basis points in interest rate simulation models.



Economic Value at Risk. An earnings at risk simulation measures the short-term
risk in the balance sheet. Economic value (or portfolio equity) at risk measures
the long-term risk by finding the net present value of the future cash flows
from the Company's existing assets and liabilities. The ALCO examines this ratio
quarterly utilizing an increase and decrease of 200 basis points in interest
rate simulation models. The ALCO recognizes that, in some instances, this ratio
may contradict the "earnings at risk" ratio.



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The following table illustrates the simulated impact of an immediate 200 basis
points upward or downward movement in interest rates on net interest income, net
income and the change in the economic value (portfolio equity). This analysis
assumed that the adjusted interest-earning asset and interest-bearing liability
levels at December 31, 2022 remained constant. The impact of the rate movements
was developed by simulating the effect of the rate change over a twelve-month
period from the December 31, 2022 levels:



                                                                      % change
                                                            Rates +200        Rates -200
Earnings at risk:
Net interest income                                                (4.4 )%           (2.5 )%
Net income                                                         (7.5 )            (5.9 )
Economic value at risk:
Economic value of equity                                          (12.0 )             1.6
Economic value of equity as a percent of total assets              (1.8 )             0.2




Economic value has the most meaning when viewed within the context of risk-based
capital. Therefore, the economic value may normally change beyond the Company's
policy guideline for a short period of time as long as the risk-based capital
ratio (after adjusting for the excess equity exposure) is greater than 10%. At
December 31, 2022, the Company's risk-based capital ratio was 14.35%.



The table below summarizes estimated changes in net interest income over a twelve-month period beginning January 1, 2023, under alternate interest rate scenarios using the income simulation model described above:





                                      Net interest          $             %
(dollars in thousands)                   income         variance       variance
Simulated change in interest rates
+200 basis points                    $       77,526     $  (3,546 )         (4.4 )%
+100 basis points                            79,715        (1,357 )         (1.7 )%
Flat rate                                    81,072             -              - %
-100 basis points                            80,460          (612 )         (0.8 )%
-200 basis points                            79,009        (2,063 )         (2.5 )%




Simulation models require assumptions about certain categories of assets and
liabilities. The models schedule existing assets and liabilities by their
contractual maturity, estimated likely call date or earliest re-pricing
opportunity. MBS - GSE residential securities and amortizing loans are scheduled
based on their anticipated cash flow including estimated prepayments. For
investment securities, the Company uses a third-party service to provide cash
flow estimates in the various rate environments. Savings, money market and
interest-bearing checking accounts do not have stated maturities or re-pricing
terms and can be withdrawn or re-price at any time. This may impact the margin
if more expensive alternative sources of deposits are required to fund loans or
deposit runoff. Management projects the re-pricing characteristics of these
accounts based on historical performance and assumptions that it believes
reflect their rate sensitivity. The model reinvests all maturities, repayments
and prepayments for each type of asset or liability into the same product for a
new like term at current product interest rates. As a result, the mix of
interest-earning assets and interest bearing-liabilities is held constant.



                           Supervision and Regulation



The following is a brief summary of the regulatory environment in which the
Company and the Bank operate and is not designed to be a complete discussion of
all statutes and regulations affecting such operations, including those statutes
and regulations specifically mentioned herein. Changes in the laws and
regulations applicable to the Company and the Bank can affect the operating
environment in substantial and unpredictable ways. We cannot accurately predict
whether legislation will ultimately be enacted, and if enacted, the ultimate
effect that legislation or implementing regulations would have on our financial
condition or results of operations. While banking regulations are material to
the operations of the Company and the Bank, it should be noted that supervision,
regulation and examination of the Company and the Bank are intended primarily
for the protection of depositors, not shareholders.



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Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002



The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), also known as the "Public Company Accounting
Reform and Investor Protection Act," was established in 2002 and introduced
major changes to the regulation of financial practice. SOX represents a
comprehensive revision of laws affecting corporate governance, accounting
obligations, and corporate reporting. SOX is applicable to all companies with
equity or debt securities that are either registered, or file reports under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In particular, SOX establishes: (i)
requirements for audit committees, including independence, expertise, and
responsibilities; (ii) additional responsibilities regarding financial
statements for the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer
of the reporting company; (iii) standards for auditors and regulation of audits;
(iv) increased disclosure and reporting obligations for the reporting company
and its directors and executive officers; and (v) increased civil and criminal
penalties for violations of the securities laws.



Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (FDICIA)

The FDICIA established five different levels of capitalization of financial institutions, with "prompt corrective actions" and significant operational restrictions imposed on institutions that are capital deficient under the categories. The five categories are:





  ? well capitalized;


  ? adequately capitalized;


  ? undercapitalized;


  ? significantly undercapitalized, and


  ? critically undercapitalized.




To be considered well capitalized, an institution must have a total risk-based
capital ratio of at least 10%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 8%,
a leverage capital ratio of at least 5%, and must not be subject to any order or
directive requiring the institution to improve its capital level. An institution
falls within the adequately capitalized category if it has a total risk-based
capital ratio of at least 8%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6%,
and a leverage capital ratio of at least 4%. Institutions with lower capital
levels are deemed to be undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized or
critically undercapitalized, depending on their actual capital levels. In
addition, the appropriate federal regulatory agency may downgrade an institution
to the next lower capital category upon a determination that the institution is
in an unsafe or unsound condition, or is engaged in an unsafe or unsound
practice. Institutions are required under the FDICIA to closely monitor their
capital levels and to notify their appropriate regulatory agency of any basis
for a change in capital category.



Regulatory oversight of an institution becomes more stringent with each lower
capital category, with certain "prompt corrective actions" imposed depending on
the level of capital deficiency.



Recent Legislation and Rulemaking





Regulatory Capital Changes



In July 2013, the federal banking agencies issued final rules to implement the
Basel III regulatory capital reforms and changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act.
The phase-in period for community banking organizations began on January 1,
2015, while larger institutions (generally those with assets of $250 billion or
more) began compliance on January 1, 2014. The final rules call for the
following capital requirements:



? A minimum ratio of common tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 4.5%.




  ? A minimum ratio of tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 6%.

? A minimum ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets of 8% (no change from


    current rule).


  ? A minimum leverage ratio of 4%.




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In addition, the final rules established a common equity tier 1 capital
conservation buffer of 2.5% of risk-weighted assets applicable to all banking
organizations. If a banking organization fails to hold capital above the minimum
capital ratios and the capital conservation buffer, it will be subject to
certain restrictions on capital distributions and discretionary bonus payments.



The final rules will not have a material impact on the Company's capital, operations, liquidity and earnings.





JOBS Act


The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the "JOBS Act") is aimed at facilitating capital raising by smaller companies and banks and bank holding companies by implementing the following changes:

? raising the threshold requiring registration under the Securities Exchange Act

of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") for banks and bank holdings companies from 500 to

2,000 holders of record;

? raising the threshold for triggering deregistration under the Exchange Act for

banks and bank holding companies from 300 to 1,200 holders of record;

? raising the limit for Regulation A offerings from $5 million to $50 million

per year and exempting some Regulation A offerings from state blue sky laws;

? permitting advertising and general solicitation in Rule 506 and Rule 144A

offerings;

? allowing private companies to use "crowdfunding" to raise up to $1 million in

any 12-month period, subject to certain conditions; and

? creating a new category of issuer, called an "Emerging Growth Company," for

companies with less than $1 billion in annual gross revenue, which will

benefit from certain changes that reduce the cost and burden of carrying out

an equity IPO and complying with public company reporting obligations for up


    to five years.



The JOBS Act did not have any immediate application to the Company. However, management continues to monitor the implementation rules for potential effects which might benefit the Company.

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.





In 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
(Dodd-Frank) became law. Dodd-Frank is intended to effect a fundamental
restructuring of federal banking regulation. Among other things, Dodd-Frank
creates a new Financial Stability Oversight Council to identify systemic risks
in the financial system and gives federal regulators new authority to take
control of and liquidate financial firms. Dodd-Frank additionally creates a new
independent federal regulator to administer federal consumer protection laws.
Dodd-Frank is expected to have a significant impact on our business operations
as its provisions take effect. Overtime, it is expected that at a minimum they
will increase our operating and compliance costs and could increase our interest
expense. Among the provisions that are likely to affect us and the community
banking industry are the following:



Holding Company Capital Requirements. Dodd-Frank requires the Federal Reserve to
apply consolidated capital requirements to bank holding companies that are no
less stringent than those currently applied to depository institutions. Under
these standards, pooled trust preferred securities will be excluded from Tier 1
capital unless such securities were issued prior to May 19, 2010 by a bank
holding company with less than $15 billion in assets. Dodd-Frank additionally
requires that bank regulators issue countercyclical capital requirements so that
the required amount of capital increases in times of economic expansion and
decreases in times of economic contraction, consistent with safety and
soundness.



Deposit Insurance. Dodd-Frank permanently increases the maximum deposit
insurance amount for banks, savings institutions and credit unions to $250,000
per depositor, and extended unlimited deposit insurance to non-interest bearing
transaction accounts through December 31, 2012. Dodd-Frank also broadens the
base for FDIC insurance assessments. Assessments will now be based on the
average consolidated total assets less tangible equity capital of a financial
institution. Dodd-Frank requires the FDIC to increase the reserve ratio of the
Deposit Insurance Fund from 1.15% to 1.35% of insured deposits by 2020 and
eliminates the requirement that the FDIC pay dividends to insured depository
institutions when the reserve ratio exceeds certain thresholds. Dodd-Frank also
eliminated the federal statutory prohibition against the payment of interest on
business checking accounts.



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Corporate Governance. Dodd-Frank requires publicly traded companies to give
shareholders a non-binding vote on executive compensation at least every three
years, a non-binding vote regarding the frequency of the vote on executive
compensation at least every six years, and a non-binding vote on "golden
parachute" payments in connection with approvals of mergers and acquisitions
unless previously voted on by shareholders. The SEC has finalized the rules
implementing these requirements. Additionally, Dodd-Frank directs the federal
banking regulators to promulgate rules prohibiting excessive compensation paid
to executives of depository institutions and their holding companies with assets
in excess of $1.0 billion, regardless of whether the company is publicly traded.
Dodd-Frank also gives the SEC authority to prohibit broker discretionary voting
on elections of directors and executive compensation matters.



Prohibition Against Charter Conversions of Troubled Institutions. Dodd-Frank
prohibits a depository institution from converting from a state to federal
charter or vice versa while it is the subject of a cease and desist order or
other formal enforcement action or a memorandum of understanding with respect to
a significant supervisory matter unless the appropriate federal banking agency
gives notice of the conversion to the federal or state authority that issued the
enforcement action and that agency does not object within 30 days. The notice
must include a plan to address the significant supervisory matter. The
converting institution must also file a copy of the conversion application with
its current federal regulator which must notify the resulting federal regulator
of any ongoing supervisory or investigative proceedings that are likely to
result in an enforcement action and provide access to all supervisory and
investigative information relating thereto.



Interstate Branching. Dodd-Frank authorizes national and state banks to
establish branches in other states to the same extent as a bank chartered by
that state would be permitted. Previously, banks could only establish branches
in other states if the host state expressly permitted out-of-state banks to
establish branches in that state. Accordingly, banks will be able to enter new
markets more freely.



Limits on Interstate Acquisitions and Mergers. Dodd-Frank precludes a bank
holding company from engaging in an interstate acquisition - the acquisition of
a bank outside its home state - unless the bank holding company is both well
capitalized and well managed. Furthermore, a bank may not engage in an
interstate merger with another bank headquartered in another state unless the
surviving institution will be well capitalized and well managed. The previous
standard in both cases was adequately capitalized and adequately managed.



Limits on Interchange Fees. Dodd-Frank amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act
to, among other things, give the Federal Reserve the authority to establish
rules regarding interchange fees charged for electronic debit transactions by
payment card issuers having assets over $10 billion and to enforce a new
statutory requirement that such fees be reasonable and proportional to the
actual cost of a transaction to the issuer. The interchange rules became
effective on October 1, 2011.



Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Dodd-Frank creates a new, independent
federal agency called the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which is
granted broad rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement powers under various
federal consumer financial protection laws, including the Equal Credit
Opportunity Act, Truth in Lending Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act,
Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Act, the Consumer Financial
Privacy provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and certain other statutes. The
CFPB has examination and primary enforcement authority with respect to
depository institutions with $10 billion or more in assets. Smaller institutions
are subject to rules promulgated by the CFPB but continue to be examined and
supervised by federal banking regulators for consumer compliance purposes. The
CFPB has authority to prevent unfair, deceptive or abusive practices in
connection with the offering of consumer financial products. Dodd-Frank
authorizes the CFPB to establish certain minimum standards for the origination
of residential mortgages including a determination of the borrower's ability to
repay. In addition, Dodd-Frank will allow borrowers to raise certain defenses to
foreclosure if they receive any loan other than a "qualified mortgage" as
defined by the CFPB. Dodd-Frank permits states to adopt consumer protection laws
and standards that are more stringent than those adopted at the federal level
and, in certain circumstances, permits state attorneys general to enforce
compliance with both the state and federal laws and regulations.



In summary, the Dodd-Frank Act provides for sweeping financial regulatory reform
and may have the effect of increasing the cost of doing business, limiting or
expanding permissible activities and affect the competitive balance between
banks and other financial intermediaries. While many of the provisions of the
Dodd-Frank Act do not impact the existing business of the Company, the extension
of FDIC insurance to all non-interest bearing deposit accounts and the repeal of
prohibitions on the payment of interest on demand deposits, thereby permitting
depository institutions to pay interest on business transaction and other
accounts, will likely increase deposit funding costs paid by the Company in
order to retain and grow deposits. In addition, the limitations imposed on the
assessment of interchange fees have reduced the Company's ability to set revenue
pricing on debit and credit card transactions. Many aspects of the Dodd-Frank
Act are subject to rulemaking and will take effect over several years, making it
difficult to anticipate the overall financial impact on the Company, its
customers or the financial industry as a whole. The Company will continue to
monitor legislative developments and assess their potential impact on our
business.



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Department of Defense Military Lending Rule. In 2015, the U.S. Department of
Defense issued a final rule which restricts pricing and terms of certain credit
extended to active duty military personnel and their families. This rule, which
was implemented effective October 3, 2016, caps the interest rate on certain
credit extensions to an annual percentage rate of 36% and restricts other fees.
The rule requires financial institutions to verify whether customers are
military personnel subject to the rule. The impact of this final rule, and any
subsequent amendments thereto, on the Company's lending activities and the
Company's statements of income or condition has had little or no impact;
however, management will continue to monitor the implementation of the rule for
any potential side effects on the Company's business.



Future Federal and State Legislation and Rulemaking





From time-to-time, various types of federal and state legislation have been
proposed that could result in additional regulations and restrictions on the
business of the Company and the Bank. We cannot predict whether legislation will
be adopted, or if adopted, how the new laws would affect our business. As a
consequence, we are susceptible to legislation that may increase the cost of
doing business. Management believes that the effect of any current legislative
proposals on the liquidity, capital resources and the results of operations of
the Company and the Bank will be minimal.



It is possible that there will be regulatory proposals which, if implemented,
could have a material effect upon our liquidity, capital resources and results
of operations. In addition, the general cost of compliance with numerous federal
and state laws does have, and in the future may have, a negative impact on our
results of operations. As with other banks, the status of the financial services
industry can affect the Bank. Consolidations of institutions are expected to
continue as the financial services industry seeks greater efficiencies and
market share. Bank management believes that such consolidations may enhance the
Bank's competitive position as a community bank.



                                 Future Outlook



The Company is highly impacted by local economic factors that could influence
the performance and strength of our loan portfolios and results of operations.
Economic uncertainty continues due to inflationary pressures, rising interest
rates and global risks such as war, terrorism and geopolitical instability. A
consensus of economists predicts rising short-term rates during 2023.
Uncertainty surrounding the velocity and timing of rate increases and the effect
on the interest rate margin is the Company's greatest interest rate risk.
Earning-asset yields are expected to improve throughout the year stemming from
the rising rate environment while rates on interest-bearing liabilities are
expected to rise to a lesser extent. Jobs grew in December 2022 from a year
earlier in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton and Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton
metropolitan statistical areas. We believe expanding our market area gives us
opportunity for growth and we will continue to monitor the economic climate in
our region, scrutinize growth prospects and proactively observe existing credits
for early warning signs of risk deterioration.



In addition to the challenging economic environment, regulatory oversight has
changed significantly in recent years. As described in more detail in the
"supervision and regulation" section above, the federal banking agencies issued
final rules to implement the Basel III regulatory capital reforms and changes
required by the Dodd-Frank Act. The rules revise the quantity and quality of
required minimum risk-based and leverage capital requirements and revise the
calculation of risk-weighted assets.



Management believes that the Company is prepared to face the challenges ahead.
We expect that there could be a decline in asset quality from the current
historically low levels. Our conservative approach to loan underwriting we
believe will help keep non-performing asset levels at bay. The Company expects
to overcome the further inversion of the yield curve by cautiously growing the
balance sheet to enhance financial performance. We intend to grow all lending
portfolios in both the business and retail sectors using growth in market-place
low costing deposits to stabilize net interest margin and to enhance revenue
performance.

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