def14aformarch312012.htm

 
UNITED STATES
 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
SCHEDULE 14A
 
(Rule 14a-101)
 
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Filed by the Registrant [X]  
     
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [   ]  
 
Check the appropriate box:
 
 
[   ]
 
Preliminary Proxy Statement
 
  [   ]
 
Confidential, for Use of the Commission
 
[X]
 
Definitive Proxy Statement
     
Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
 
[   ]
 
Definitive Additional Materials
       
 
[   ]
 
Soliciting Material Pursuant to
       
     
§240.14a-12
       
 
 
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.
 
 
     
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
 
     
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
[X]
 
No fee required.
       
 
[   ]
 
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
   
(1)
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
   
(2)
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
   
(3)
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
   
(4)
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
   
(5)
Total fee paid:
       
 
[   ]
 
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
       
 
[   ]
 
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
   
(1)
Amount Previously Paid:
   
(2)
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
   
(3)
Filing Party:
   
(4)
Date Filed:
 
 
 
 
 

 


 

 
     
     
 
PEOPLES BANCORP
 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Notice of 2012 Annual Meeting,
 
 
Proxy Statement and
 
 
Annual Report
 
     




 
 
 

 

 
   
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
   
         
   
PROXY STATEMENT
   
         
   
Table of Contents
   
         
   
Pa
ge
 
         
NOTICE OF 2012 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
ii
 
         
PROXY STATEMENT
1
 
         
 
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
5
 
         
 
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
8
 
         
 
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
8
 
   
Director Nominees
8
 
         
 
Our Board of Directors and Its Committees
10
 
         
 
Executive Committee
10
 
         
 
Governance Committee
10
 
         
 
Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee
11
 
         
 
Report of Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee
11
 
         
 
Compensation Committee
12
 
         
 
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
16
 
         
 
Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight
16
 
         
 
Director and Executive Compensation and Benefits
17
 
   
Director Compensation
17
 
   
Executive Officers
19
 
   
Management Compensation
19
 
   
Employment Agreements
21
 
   
Omnibus Stock Option and Long Term Incentive Plan
22
 
   
Incentive Compensation Plans
25
 
   
Deferred Compensation Plan
27
 
   
Supplemental Retirement Plan
27
 
   
Discretionary Bonuses and Service Awards
27
 
   
Profit Sharing Plan and 401(k) Plan
27
 
         
 
Indebtedness of and Transactions with Management and Directors
27
 
         
 
Proposal 2 - Advisory (Non-Binding) Proposal to Approve the Compensation of the Company's Named
   
   
Executive Officers
28
 
         
 
Proposal 3 - Ratification of Selection of Independent Auditor
29
 
   
Audit Fees
29
 
   
Audit Related Fees
29
 
   
Tax Fees
29
 
   
All Other Fees
29
 
         
 
Date for Receipt of Shareholder Proposals
30
 
         
 
Other Matters
30
 
         
 
Miscellaneous
30
 
         
APPENDIX A
31
 
 
 
 
i

 
 
 
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
Post Office Box 467
518 West C Street
Newton, North Carolina 28658-0467
(828) 464-5620
     
NOTICE OF 2012 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on May 3, 2012
 
 
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (the "Company") will be held as follows:
       
   
Place:
Catawba Country Club
     
1154 Country Club Road
     
Newton, North Carolina
       
   
Date:
May 3, 2012
       
   
Time:
11:00 a.m., Eastern Time
 
                       The purposes of the Annual Meeting are to consider and vote upon the following matters:
 
·       
To elect ten persons who will serve as members of the Board of Directors until the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified;
 
·       
To participate in an advisory (non-binding) vote to approve the compensation of the Company’s executive officers, as disclosed in the Proxy Statement;
 
·       
To ratify the appointment of Porter Keadle Moore, LLC (“PKM”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012; and
 
·       
To consider and act on any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment.
 
The Board of Directors has established March 16, 2012, as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.  If an insufficient number of shares is present in person or by proxy to constitute a quorum at the time of the Annual Meeting, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned in order to permit further solicitation of proxies by the Company.

Your vote is important. We urge you to vote as soon as possible so that your shares may be voted in accordance with your wishes. You may vote by executing and returning your proxy card in the accompanying envelope, or by voting electronically over the Internet or by telephone. Please refer to the proxy card enclosed for information on voting electronically. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote in person and the proxy will not be used.
 
 

   
By Order of the Board of Directors,
 
       
       
   
/s/ Tony W. Wolfe
 
   
Tony W. Wolfe
 
   
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
       
Newton, North Carolina
   
April 2, 2012
   
 
 
ii

 
 
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
 
______________________________________
 
PROXY STATEMENT
______________________________________
 
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
To Be Held On May 3, 2012
_____________________________________
 
This Proxy Statement is being mailed to our shareholders on or about April 2, 2012, for solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.  Our principal executive offices are located at 518 West C Street, Newton, North Carolina 28658.  Our telephone number is (828) 464-5620.
 
In this Proxy Statement, the terms “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.  The term “Bank” means Peoples Bank, our wholly-owned, North Carolina-chartered bank subsidiary. The terms “you” and “your” refer to the shareholders of the Company.

 
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on May 3, 2012. The Notice, Proxy Statement and the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2011 are also available at https://www.snl.com/IRWebLinkX/GenPage.aspx?IID=4050385&GKP=202713
You may also access the above off-site website by going to www.peoplesbanknc.com and click on the link.
 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
 
Your vote is very important.  For this reason, our Board of Directors is requesting that you allow your common stock to be represented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders by the proxies named on the enclosed proxy card.
 
 
When is the Annual Meeting?
 
May 3, 2012, at 11 a.m., Eastern Time.
       
Where will the Annual Meeting be held?
 
At the Catawba Country Club, 1154 Country Club Road,
   
Newton, North Carolina.
       
What items will be voted on at the
     
Annual Meeting?
 
1.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.  To elect ten directors to serve until the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders;
       
   
2.
PARTICIPATION IN ADVISORY VOTE.  To participate in an advisory (non-binding) vote to approve the compensation of the Company's executive officers, as disclosed in the Proxy Statement;
       
   
3.
RATIFICATION OF REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.  To ratify the appointment of Porter Keadle Moore, LLC ("PKM") as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2012; and
       
    4. OTHER BUSINESS.  To consider any other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment.
 
 
 
1

 
 
 
Who can vote?
 
Only holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on March 16, 2012 (the "Record Date") will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment of the Annual Meeting.  On the Record Date, there were 5,544,160 shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote and 723 shareholders of record.
     
How do I vote by proxy?
 
You may vote your shares by marking, signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope or by voting electronically over the Internet or by telephone using the information on the proxy card.  If you return your signed proxy card before the Annual Meeting, the proxies will vote your shares as you direct.  The Board of Directors has appointed proxies to represent shareholders who cannot attend the Annual Meeting in person.
     
   
For the election of directors, you may vote for (1) all of the nominees, (2) none of the nominees, or (3) all of the nominees except those you designate.  If a nominee for election as a director becomes unavailable for election at any time at or before the Annual Meeting, the proxies will vote your shares for a substitute nominee.  For each other item of business, you may vote "FOR" or "AGAINST" or you may "ABSTAIN" from voting.
     
   
If you return your signed proxy card but do not specify how you want to vote your shares, the proxies will vote them "FOR" the election of all of our nominees for directors and "FOR" all other proposals presented in this Proxy Statement in accordance with recommendations from the Board of Directors.
     
   
If your shares are held in the name of a broker or other nominee (i.e., held in "street name"), you will need to obtain a proxy instruction card from the broker holding your shares and return the card as directed by your broker.  Your broker is no longer permitted to vote on your behalf on the election of directors or on the advisory vote on executive compensation unless you provide specific instructions by following the instructions from your broker about voting your shares by telephone or Internet or completing and returning the voting instruction card provided by your broker.  For your vote to be counted in the election of directors and the advisory vote on executive compensation, you now will need to communicate your voting decision to your bank, broker or other holder of record before the date of the Annual Meeting.
   
 
   
We are not aware of any other matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting.  If matters other than those discussed above are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, the proxies may vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment.
     
How do I change or revoke my proxy?   You can change or revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting in any of three ways: (1) by delivering a written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company; (2) by delivering another properly signed proxy card to the Secretary of the Company with a more recent date than
 
 
 
2

 
 
 
   
your first proxy card or by changing your vote by telephone or the Internet; or (3) by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.  You should deliver your written notice or superseding proxy to the Secretary of the Company at our principal executive offices listed above.
     
How many votes can I cast?
 
You are entitled to one vote for each share held as of the Record Date on each nominee for election and each other matter presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting.  You may not vote your shares cumulatively in the election of directors.
     
How many votes are required to approve the proposals?
 
If a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, each director nominee will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in person or by proxy.  If you withhold your vote on a nominee, your shares will not be counted as having voted for that nominee.
     
   
The proposal to approve the compensation of the Company's Named Executive Officers is advisory only; however, the Company's Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of the vote when evaluating compensation arrangements for executive compensation.
     
   
The proposal to ratify the appointment of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for 2012 will be approved if the votes cast in favor exceed the votes cast in opposition.
     
   
Any other matters properly coming before the Annual Meeting for a vote will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares represented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on that matter.
     
   
Abstentions and broker non-votes are not treated as votes cast on any proposal.  As a result, neither will have an effect on the vote for the election of any director, the non-binding advisory vote to approve executive compensation, or the ratification of our independent registered public accounting firm.
     
   
A broker non-vote occurs when a broker does not vote on a particular matter bacause the broker does not have discretionary authority on that matter and has not received instructions from the owner of the shares.  Under new rules changes, brokers are no longer able to vote for directors without instructions from the record holder or on the advisory vote on executive compensation.
     
   
In the event there are insufficient votes present at the Annual Meeting for a quorum or to approve or ratify any proposal, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned in order to permit the further solicitation of proxies.
     
What constitutes a "quorum" for the Annual Meeting?   A majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, constitutes a quorum (a quorum is necessary to conduct business at the Annual Meeting).  Your
 
 
 
3

 
 
 
   
shares will be considered part of the quorum if you have voted your shares by proxy or by telephone or Internet.  Abstentions, broker non-votes and votes withheld from any director nominee count as shares present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining a quorum.
     
Who pays for the solicitation of proxies?
 
We will pay the cost of preparing, printing and mailing materials in connection with this solicitation of proxies.  In addition to solicitation by mail, our officers, directors and regular employees, as well as those of the Bank, may make solicitations personally, by telephone or otherwise without additional compensation for doing so.  We reserve the right to engage a proxy solicitation firm to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting.  We will, upon request, reimburse brokerage firms, banks and others for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of stock or otherwise in connection with this solicitation of proxies.
     
When are proposals for the 2013 Annual Meeting due?
 
To be considered either for inclusion in the proxy materials solicited by the Board of Directors for the 2013 Annual Meeting, proposals must be received by the Secretary of the Company at our principal executive offices at 518 West C Street, Newton, North Carolina 28658 (or at P.O. Box 467, Newton, North Carolina 28658-0467) no later than December 6, 2012.  To be included in the proxy materials, a proposal must comply with our Bylaws, Rule 14a-8 and all other applicable provisions of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").
     
   
Any proposal not intended to be included in the Company's proxy statement for the 2013 Annual Meeting, but intended to be presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting, must be received by us at our principal executive offices listed above no later than February 19, 2013.
 
 
 
4

 
 
 
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND MANAGEMENT

The Exchange Act requires that any person who acquires the beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the Company’s common stock notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the Company.  Following is certain information, as of the Record Date, regarding those persons or groups who held of record, or who are known to the Company to own beneficially, more than five percent of the Company’s outstanding common stock.
 
Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner
Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership1
Percent
of Class
     
Christine S. Abernethy
P.O. Box 386
Newton, NC  28658
 
659,495 2
11.90%3
Tontine Financial Partners, L.P.
55 Railroad Avenue, 3rd Floor
Greenwich, CT 06830-6378
 
353,0764
6.37%3
Tontine Management, L.L.C.
55 Railroad Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830
 
353,0764
6.37%3
Jeffrey L. Gendell
55 Railroad Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830
 
508,5934
9.17%3
U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220
357,2345
6.05%6

 
1
Unless otherwise noted, all shares are owned directly of record by the named individuals, by their spouses and minor children, or by other entities controlled by the named individuals.  Voting and investment power is not shared unless otherwise indicated.
 
 
2
Carolina Glove Company, Inc. owns 107,604 shares of common stock.  These shares are included in the calculation of Ms. Abernethy’s total beneficial ownership interest.  Ms. Abernethy owns approximately 50% of the stock of Carolina Glove Company, Inc.  The business is operated by a family committee.  Ms. Abernethy has no active day-to-day participation in the business affairs of Carolina Glove Company, Inc.
 
 
3
Based upon a total of 5,544,160 shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date.
 
 
4
Based on a Schedule 13G/A (Amendment No. 4) filed by Tontine Financial Partners, L.P., Tontine Management, L.L.C., Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C., Tontine Asset Associates, LLC and Jeffrey L. Gendell with the SEC on February 10, 2012.
 
 
5
The amount represents a warrant to purchase 357,234 shares of common stock issued to the U.S. Department of the Treasury on December 28, 2008.  As of the Record Date, the U.S. Department of the Treasury had not exercised the warrant.  A description of the Company’s participation in the Troubled Asset Relief Program and Capital Purchase Program can be found on page 14.
 
 
6
Based upon a total of 5,901,394 shares of common stock, which is the sum of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date 5,544,160 and the shares of common stock underlying the warrant which is currently exercisable 357,234.
 
 
 
5

 
 
 
Set forth below is certain information, as of the Record Date, regarding those shares of common stock owned beneficially by each of the persons who currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors, is a nominee for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting, or is a named executive officer (“NEO”) of the Company.  Also shown is the number of shares of common stock owned by the directors and executive officers of the Company as a group.
 
 
Amount and Nature
 
Percentage
 
of Beneficial
 
of
Name and Address
Ownership1
 
Class2
       
James S. Abernethy
171,4143
 
3.06%
Post Office Box 327
     
Newton, NC  28658
     
       
Robert C. Abernethy
154,3524
 
2.76%
Post Office Box 366
     
Newton, NC  28658
     
       
Joseph F. Beaman, Jr.
15,4605
 
*
Post Office Box 467
     
Newton, NC  28658
     
       
William D. Cable, Sr.
28,0016
 
*
Post Office Box 467
     
Newton, NC  28658
     
       
Douglas S. Howard
12,9657
 
*
Post Office Box 587
     
Denver, NC  28037
     
       
A. Joseph Lampron, Jr.
15,9388
 
*
Post Office Box 467
     
Newton, NC  28658
     
       
John W. Lineberger, Jr.
2,299
 
*
Post Office Box 481
     
Lincolnton, NC  28092
     
       
Gary E. Matthews
21,540
 
*
210 First Avenue South
     
Conover, NC  28613
     
       
Billy L. Price, Jr., M.D.
5,206
 
*
540 11th Ave. Place NW
     
Hickory, NC  28601
     
       
Larry E. Robinson
49,6579
 
*
Post Office Box 723
     
Newton, NC  28658
     
       
Lance A. Sellers
19,94510
 
*
Post Office Box 467
     
Newton, NC  28658
     
       
William Gregory Terry
14,647
 
*
Post Office Box 395
     
Conover, NC  28613
     
       
Dan Ray Timmerman, Sr.
83,58911
 
1.49%
Post Office Box 1148
     
Conover, NC  28613
     
       
Tony W. Wolfe
14,65112
 
*
Post Office Box 467
     
Newton, NC  28658
     
 
 
 
6

 
 
 
       
 
Amount and Nature
 
Percentage
 
of Beneficial
 
of
 Name and Address
Ownership1
 
Class2
       
 Benjamin I. Zachary
82,47713
 
1.47%
 Post Office Box 277
     
 Taylorsville, NC  28681
     
       
 All current directors and nominees and
628,10314,15
 
11.33%
 executive officers as a group (15 people)
     
       
 *Does not exceed one percent of the common stock outstanding.
 
       
       
1
Unless otherwise noted, all shares are owned directly of record by the named individuals, by their spouses and minor children, or by other entities controlled by the named individuals.  Voting and investment power is not shared unless otherwise indicated.

2
Based upon a total of 5,544,160 shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date and 50,820 stock options exercisable within 60 days with respect to the designated recipient(s).

3
Includes 64,038 shares of common stock owned by Alexander Railroad Company.  Mr. J. Abernethy is Vice President, Secretary and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alexander Railroad Company.

4
Includes 5,730 shares of common stock owned by Mr. R. Abernethy’s spouse, for which Mr. R. Abernethy disclaims beneficial ownership.

5
Includes 7,260 shares of common stock in which Mr. Beaman has the right to acquire beneficial interest within 60 days by the exercise of stock options granted under the Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long Term Incentive Plan.

6
Includes 10,890 shares of common stock in which Mr. Cable has the right to acquire beneficial interest within 60 days by the exercise of stock options granted under the Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long Term Incentive Plan.

7
Includes 2,475 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Howard’s mother over which Mr. Howard holds a power of attorney.  Includes 450 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Howard’s spouse, for which Mr. Howard disclaims beneficial ownership.

8
Includes 10,890 shares of common stock in which Mr. Lampron has the right to acquire beneficial interest within 60 days by the exercise of stock options granted under the Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long Term Incentive Plan.

9
Includes 8,835 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Robinson’s spouse, for which Mr. Robinson disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
10
Includes 12,705 shares of common stock in which Mr. Sellers has the right to acquire beneficial interest within 60 days by the exercise of stock options granted under the Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long Term Incentive Plan.

11
Includes 2,722 shares of common stock owned by Timmerman Manufacturing, Inc.  Mr. Timmerman is President and a Director of Timmerman Manufacturing, Inc.

12
Includes 9,075 shares of common stock in which Mr. Wolfe has the right to acquire beneficial interest within 60 days by the exercise of stock options granted under the Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long Term Incentive Plan.

13
Includes 64,038 shares of common stock owned by Alexander Railroad Company.  Mr. Zachary is President, Treasurer, General Manager and a Director of Alexander Railroad Company.

14
The 64,038 shares owned by Alexander Railroad Company and attributed to Mr. J. Abernethy and Mr. Zachary are only included once in calculating this total.

15
Includes 50,820 shares of common stock in which the executive officers, as a group, have the right to acquire beneficial interest within 60 days by the exercise of stock options granted under the Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long Term Incentive Plan.
 
Directors James S. Abernethy and Robert C. Abernethy are brothers and are sons of Christine S. Abernethy, who owns in excess of 10% of the common stock.

 
 
7

 
 
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of the common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC.  Executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Company and written representations from the Company’s executive officers and directors, the Company believes that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, its executive officers and directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements.
 

PROPOSAL 1
 
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our Board of Directors has set its number at ten members.  Our current Bylaws provide that in order to be eligible for consideration at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, all nominations of directors, other than those made by the Governance Committee or the Board of Directors, must be in writing and must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company not less than 50 days nor more than 90 days prior to the meeting at which such nominations will be made; provided, however, that if less than 60 days’ notice of the meeting is given to the shareholders, such nominations must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the notice of meeting was mailed.

Information about the nominees for election to the Board of Directors for a one-year term until the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders appears below. All of the nominees are currently serving on the Board of Directors.
 
Director Nominees
 
James S. Abernethy, age 57 (as of March 1, 2012), is employed by Carolina Glove Company, Inc., a glove manufacturing company as its Vice President.  Mr. Abernethy continues to serve as President and Assistant Secretary of Midstate Contractors, Inc., a paving company and also as Vice President, Secretary and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alexander Railroad Company.  Mr. Abernethy is also a director of Burke Mills, a public company.  He has served as a director of the Company since 1992.  Mr. Abernethy has a total of 19 years of banking experience and is a graduate of the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College and attended the initial Advanced Directors’ Training session offered by the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College in association with the College of Management at North Carolina State University.  Mr. Abernethy earned a business administration degree from Gardner Webb University in North Carolina.  Over his 19 years of service on the Board of Directors, Mr. Abernethy has served on all the Bank’s and the Company’s committees.

Robert C. Abernethy, age 61 (as of March 1, 2012), is employed by Carolina Glove Company, Inc., a glove manufacturing company, as its President, Secretary and Treasurer.  Mr. Abernethy continues to serve as Secretary and Assistant Treasurer of Midstate Contractors, Inc., a paving company.  He has served as a director of the Company since 1976 and as Chairman since 1991.  Mr. Abernethy has a total of 35 years of banking experience and is a graduate of the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College and attended the initial Advanced Directors’ Training session offered by the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College in association with the College of Management at North Carolina State University.  Mr. Abernethy earned a B.S. degree from Gardner Webb University in North Carolina.  He serves on the Finance Committee and Investment Committee of Grace United Church of Christ.  Mr. Abernethy also serves on the board of directors of Carolina Glove Company, Inc. and Midstate Contractors, Inc. both privately held companies.

Douglas S. Howard, age 53 (as of March 1, 2012), is the owner of Howard Ventures.  He is also employed by Denver Equipment of Charlotte, Inc. as Secretary/Treasurer. Mr. Howard is currently serving as the President of Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry.  He has served as a director of the Company since 2004.  Mr. Howard has a total of 13 years of banking experience and is a graduate of the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College and attended the initial Advanced Directors’ Training session offered by the NC Bank Directors’ College in association with the College
 
 
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of Management at North Carolina State University.  He also serves on the Western NC Methodist Church Board of Finance. Mr. Howard also serves on the boards of other privately-held companies.

John W. Lineberger, Jr., age 61 (as of March 1, 2012), is employed by Lincoln Bonded Warehouse Company, a commercial warehousing facility, as President.  He has served as a director of the Company since 2004.  Mr. Lineberger has a total of seven years of banking experience and is a graduate of the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College and attended the initial Advanced Directors’ Training session offered by the NC Bank Directors’ College in association with the College of Management at North Carolina State University.   Mr. Lineberger earned a B.S. degree in business administration from Western Carolina University.

Gary E. Matthews, age 56 (as of March 1, 2012), is employed by Matthews Construction Company, Inc. as its President and a Director.  He has served as a director of the Company since 2001.  Mr. Matthews has a total of ten years of banking experience, is a graduate of the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College, and attended the initial Advanced Directors’ Training session offered by the NC Bank Directors’ College in association with the College of Management at North Carolina State University.  Mr. Matthews is also a director of Conover Metal Products, a privately held company.  Mr. Matthews earned a B.S. degree in civil engineering/construction from North Carolina State University.

Billy L. Price, Jr., M.D., age 55 (as of March 1, 2012), is the Managing Partner and Practitioner of Internal Medicine at Catawba Valley Internal Medicine, PA.  Dr. Price also serves on the Board of Trustees of Catawba Valley Medical Center.  He has served as a director of the Company since 2004.  Dr. Price has a total of seven years of banking experience and is a graduate of the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College and attended the initial Advanced Directors’ Training session offered by the NC Bank Directors’ College in association with the College of Management at North Carolina State University.  Dr. Price was previously the owner/pharmacist of Conover Drug Company. He is also a director of Primary Physician Care, a private company.  Dr. Price earned a B.S. degree in pharmacy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his MD from East Carolina University School of Medicine.

Larry E. Robinson, age 66 (as of March 1, 2012), is employed by The Blue Ridge Distributing Company, Inc., a beer and wine distributor, as the President and Chief Executive Officer.  He is a partner and Chief Operating Officer of United Beverages of North Carolina, LLC, a beer distributor.  He has served as a director of the Company since 1993.  Mr. Robinson has a total of 18 years of banking experience and is a graduate of the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College. Mr. Robinson attended Western Carolina University and received an Associate Degree in Business and Accounting  from Catawba Valley Community College in North Carolina.

William Gregory Terry, age 44 (as of March 1, 2012), is employed by Drum & Willis-Reynolds Funeral Homes and Crematory as Executive Vice President.  He has served as a director of the Company since 2004.  Mr. Terry has a total of seven years of banking experience and is a graduate of the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College and attended the initial Advanced Directors’ Training session offered by the NC Bank Directors’ College in association with the College of Management at North Carolina State University.  Mr. Terry graduated with a B.S. degree in business management from Clemson University in South Carolina.  Mr. Terry serves on numerous civic and community boards.

Dan Ray Timmerman, Sr., age 64 (as of March 1, 2012), is employed by Timmerman Manufacturing, Inc., a wrought iron furniture, railings and gates manufacturer, as its President and Chief Executive Officer.  He has served as a director of the Company since 1995.  Mr. Timmerman has a total of 16 years of banking experience and is a graduate of the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College and attended the initial Advanced Directors’ Training session offered by the NC Bank Directors’ College in association with the College of Management at North Carolina State University.  Mr. Timmerman earned a B.S. degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina.

Benjamin I. Zachary, age 56 (as of March 1, 2012), is employed by Alexander Railroad Company as its President, Treasurer, General Manager and Director.  He has served as a director of the Company since 1995.  Mr. Zachary has a total of 16 years of banking experience and is a graduate of the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College.  Mr. Zachary earned a B.S. degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He worked as a CPA for a national accounting firm for eight years following graduation where his assignments included financial statement audits of several banks.  He formerly served as Treasurer and a
 
 
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member of the Finance Committee of First United Methodist Church of Taylorsville for many years.  Mr. Zachary is a member of the Taylorsville Rotary Club and also serves as Treasurer.

We have no reason to believe that any of the nominees for election will be unable or will decline to serve if elected.  In the event of death or disqualification of any nominee or the refusal or inability of any nominee to serve as a director, however, the proxies will vote for the election of another person as they determine in their discretion or may allow the vacancy to remain open until filled by the Board of Directors.  In no circumstance will any proxy be voted for more than two nominees who are not named in this proxy statement.  Properly executed and returned proxies, unless revoked, will be voted as directed by you or, in the absence of direction, will be voted in favor of the election of the recommended nominees.  An affirmative vote of a plurality of votes cast at the Annual Meeting is necessary to elect a nominee as a director.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE “FOR” ALL OF THE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE AS DIRECTORS

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AND ITS COMMITTEES

How often did our Board of Directors meet during 2011?

Our Board of Directors held 14 meetings during 2011.  All incumbent directors attended more than 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees on which they served during the year.

What committees does our Board of Directors have?

During 2011, our Board of Directors had five standing committees, the Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee, the Governance Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Loan Sub-Committee and the Executive Committee.  In addition, in 2011, the Board of Directors upon the recommendation of the Governance Committee, created a Succession Committee to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling a search for a successor to Mr. Wolfe as the President and Chief Executive Officer upon Mr. Wolfe’s retirement in 2012. The voting members of these Committees are appointed by the Board of Directors annually from among its members.  Certain of our executive officers also serve as non-voting, advisory members of these committees.

Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee performs duties as assigned by the full Board of Directors.  Actions taken by the Executive Committee must be approved by the full Board of Directors.  The Executive Committee consists of Directors R. Abernethy, J. Abernethy, Lineberger, Matthews and Howard, as well as Mr. Wolfe, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  It meets on an “as needed” basis and did not meet during 2011.

Governance Committee.  The Governance Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors, as defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASDAQ’s listing standards.  During fiscal year 2011 the following persons served on the Committee: Directors R. Abernethy, J. Abernethy, Lineberger, Robinson, Terry, and Timmerman.  The Governance Committee is responsible for developing and maintaining the corporate governance policy, as well as acting as the nominating committee for the Board of Directors.

The Governance Committee, serving as the nominating committee of the Board of Directors, interviews candidates for membership to the Board of Directors, recommends candidates to the full Board of Directors, slates candidates for shareholder votes, and fills any vacancies on the Board of Directors which occur between shareholder meetings.  The Governance Committee’s identification of candidates for director typically results from the business interactions of the members of the Governance Committee or from recommendations received by the committee from other directors or from the Company’s management.

If a shareholder recommends a director candidate to the Governance Committee in accordance with the Company’s Bylaws, the Governance Committee will consider the candidate and apply the same considerations that it would to its own candidates. The recommendation of a candidate by a shareholder should be made in writing, addressed to the attention of the Governance Committee at the Company’s corporate headquarters.  The recommendation should
 
 
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include a description of the candidate’s background, his or her contact information, and any other information the shareholder considers useful and appropriate for the Governance Committee’s consideration of the candidate.  The criteria which have been established by the Governance Committee as bearing on the consideration of a candidate’s qualification to serve as a director include the following: the candidate’s ethics, integrity, involvement in the community, success in business, relationship with the Bank, investment in the Company, place of residence (i.e., proximity to the Bank’s market area), and financial expertise.

The Governance Committee has no written diversity policy; however, the Governance Committee defines diversity broadly to include, in addition to race, gender, ethnicity and age, differences in professional experience, educational background, geographic mix within the Company’s market area, skills and other individual qualities and attributes that foster board heterogeneity in order to encourage and maintain board effectiveness.  While there are currently no women or minorities serving on the Board of Directors, any qualified candidate receives consideration regardless of race, gender or national origin.
 
The Governance Committee met four times during fiscal year 2011.
 
A copy of the Company’s Governance Committee Charter, which contains the Company’s and the Bank’s governance policies and nomination policies, is reviewed annually and amended as needed, by the Governance Committee.  Shareholders may obtain a copy of the Governance Committee Charter from the Bank’s website (www.peoplesbanknc.com) under Investor Relations.
 
Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee.  The Company has a separately designated standing audit committee which was established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act.  The Audit and Enterprise Committee’s responsibilities include oversight of enterprise risk. The Committee has a written charter which is reviewed annually, and amended as needed, by the Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee.  A copy of the Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee Charter is available on the Bank’s website (www.peoplesbanknc.com) under Investor Relations.  The Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee consists of Directors R. Abernethy, Howard, Matthews, Price, Timmerman and Zachary.  The Board of Directors has determined that these members are independent as that term is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASDAQ’s listing standards and the SEC’s regulations.

The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee named above qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” based on each of the member’s educational background and business experience.

The Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee meets at least quarterly and, among other responsibilities, oversees (i) the independent auditing of the Company; (ii) the system of internal controls that management has established; and (iii) the quarterly and annual financial information to be provided to shareholders and the SEC.  The Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee met ten times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.
 
REPORT OF AUDIT AND ENTERPRISE RISK COMMITTEE

The Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management of the Company and has discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standards No. 61 as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1 AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T.  In addition, the Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountants required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent accountant the independent accountant’s independence. Based upon these reviews and discussions, the Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.
 
 
 
Robert C. Abernethy
 
Gary E. Matthews
 
 
Benjamin I. Zachary
Douglas S. Howard
 
Dan R. Timmerman, Sr.
Billy L Price, Jr. MD
 
 
 
 
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Compensation Committee. The Company’s Compensation Committee is responsible for developing, reviewing, implementing and maintaining the Bank’s salary, bonus, and incentive award programs and for making recommendations to the Company’s and the Bank’s Board of Directors regarding compensation of the executive officers.  Upon recommendation from the Compensation Committee, the Company’s Board of Directors ultimately determines such compensation.

All of the members of the Compensation Committee are independent as defined in Section 4200(a)(15) of the NASDAQ’s listing standards. The Board of Directors determines on an annual basis each director’s independence.  The members of the Compensation Committee in fiscal year 2011 were Directors R. Abernethy, J. Abernethy, Lineberger, Robinson, Terry and Timmerman.  The Compensation Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.
 
A copy of the Company’s Compensation Committee Charter, which contains the Company’s and the Bank’s compensation policies and nomination policies, is reviewed annually and amended as needed, by the Compensation Committee and is available on the Bank’s website (www.peoplesbanknc.com) under Investor Relations.
 
What follows below is a discussion of the Company’s and the Bank’s compensation policies and practices and the review process used by the Compensation Committee.
 
In 2011, the Committee engaged a compensation consultant, Matthews Young & Associates, Inc. (“Matthews Young”), to help evaluate the Company’s compensation design, process and decisions.  Fees paid to Matthews Young did not exceed $120,000.  Tony Wolfe, President and CEO of the Company and the Bank, makes recommendations to the Committee regarding the compensation of the executive officers other than his own.  Mr. Wolfe participates in the deliberations, but not in the decisions, of the Compensation Committee regarding compensation of executive officers.  He does not participate in the Compensation Committee’s discussion or decisions regarding his own compensation. The Compensation Committee also considers the results of the shareholders’ non-binding vote on executive compensation. Last year the Company’s executive compensation as described in the 2011 Proxy Statement received a 67% approval rating from the shareholders.
 
The overall objective of our compensation program is to align total compensation so that the individual executive believes it is fair and equitable and provides the highest perceived value to our shareholders and to that individual.  In order to accomplish this overall objective, our compensation program is designed to: (i) attract the qualified executives necessary to meet our needs as defined by the Company’s strategic plans, and (ii) retain and motivate executives whose performance supports the achievement of our long-term plans and short-term goals.

The Compensation Committee considers a number of factors specific to each executive’s role when determining the amount and mix of compensation to be paid.  These factors are:
 
    Compensation of the comparable executives at comparable financial institutions;
    Financial performance of the Company (especially on a "net operating" basis, which excludes the effect of one-time gains and expenses) over the most recent fiscal year and the prior three years;
    Composition of earnings;
    Asset quality relative to the banking industry;
    Responsiveness to the economic environment;
    The Company's achievement compared to its corporate, financial, strategic and operational objectives and business plans; and
    Cumulative shareholder return.
 
The Company’s and the Bank’s compensation program consists of the following elements:
 
 
 (i)
 
Base Salary.  The salaries of our NEOs are designed to provide a reasonable level of compensation that is affordable to the Company and fair to the executive.
 
 
 
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Salaries are reviewed annually, and adjustments, if any, are made based on the review of competitive salaries in our peer group, as well as an evaluation of the individual officer’s responsibilities, job scope, and individual performance.  For example, we assess each officer’s success in achieving budgeted earnings and return ratios, business conduct and integrity, and leadership and team building skills.

(ii)      
Annual Cash Incentive Awards.  We believe that annual cash incentive awards encourage our NEOs to achieve short–term targets that are critical to achievement of our long-term strategic plan.  The following officers are eligible to receive annual cash incentive awards under our Management Incentive Plan, which provides for cash awards to the following NEOs upon achievement of certain financial objectives:
 
 
      Tony W. Wolfe, President and Chief Executive Officer
      A. Joseph Lampron, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
      Lance A. Sellers, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer
      William D. Cable, Sr., Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
      Joseph F. Beaman, Jr., Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary
     
    We seek to ensure that a significant portion of each executive officer's total annual cash compensation is linked to
       the attainment of the annual performance objectives determined by the executive officer and the Compensation Committee
       under the Management Incentive Plan.
 
(iii)     
Discretionary Bonus and Service Awards.  From time to time the Compensation Committee may recommend to the Board of Directors that additional bonuses be paid based on accomplishments that significantly exceed expectations during the fiscal year. These bonuses are totally discretionary as to who will receive a bonus and the amount of any such bonus.  No discretionary bonuses were awarded to NEOs in 2011.  Under the Service Recognition Program, the Bank gives service awards to each employee and director for every five years of service with the Bank to promote longevity of service for both directors and employees. Service awards are made in the form of shares of the Company’s common stock plus cash in the amount necessary to pay taxes on the award. The number of shares awarded increases with the number of years of service to the Bank.
 
(iv)     
Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards.  The Company maintains the 2009 Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long Term Incentive Plan (“Omnibus Plan”), under which it is permitted to grant incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, book value shares, and performance units.  The purpose of the Omnibus Plan is to promote the interests of the Company by attracting and retaining directors and employees of outstanding ability and to provide executives of the Company greater incentive to make material contributions to the success of the Company by providing them with stock-based compensation which will increase in value based upon the market performance of the common stock and/or the corporate achievement of financial and other performance objectives.  The Compensation Committee is reviewing the use of long-term equity incentives, with the intent to associate the vesting of awards to the achievement of selected financial performance goals. No rights under the Omnibus Plan were granted to any NEO in 2011.
 
 
 
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                Under the terms of the Omnibus Plan, option exercise prices are always based upon the closing trading price of the
      Company's common stock on the date of grant by the Board of Directors.
 
(v)     
Retirement Benefits.  The Company maintains supplemental executive retirement agreements (SERPs) for the benefit of Messrs. Wolfe, Lampron, Sellers, Cable and Beaman.  The Committee’s goal is to provide competitive retirement benefits given the restrictions on executives within tax-qualified plans.  The Compensation Committee worked with Matthews Young in analyzing the possible benefits of using SERPs to address the issues of internal and external equity in terms of retirement benefits offered to all employees at the Company as a percentage of final average pay and executives in our peer group.  The Compensation Committee approved supplemental retirement benefits targeting 40% of the final average pay for all NEOs.  The Compensation Committee selected a target of 40% to match such benefits offered to other employees fully participating in qualified retirement plans offered by the Company.  For more information on the SERPs, see page 27 of this Proxy Statement.
 
(vi)    
Employment Agreements.  The Company has employment agreements with our NEOs which we believe serve a number of functions, including (i) retention of our executive team; (ii) mitigation of any uncertainty about future employment and continuity of management in the event of a change in control; and (iii) protection of the Company and customers through non-compete and non-solicitation covenants.  Additional information regarding the employment agreements, including a description of key terms may be found on page 21 of this Proxy Statement.
 
Under the provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (“EESA”) enacted in 2008 to stabilize the US financial system, the United States Treasury (the “US Treasury”) developed the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”) which includes the Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”).  On December 23, 2008, the US Treasury under the CPP invested $25,054,000 in the Company’s preferred stock and common stock warrants.  As a participant in the CPP, we have adopted certain requirements for executive compensation and corporate governance in accordance with the US Treasury’s interim final rule implementing the compensation and corporate governance requirements under EESA, as amended by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2010, as well as additional guidance issued by the US Treasury from time to time following the issuance of the interim final rule. These rules were subject to a public comment period which has expired, but no final rule has been adopted. The Board of Directors directed management to take all steps necessary to ensure that the Company complies with ESSA, and the rules and regulations of the US Treasury and the SEC, including by complying with the following limitations:

·      
No unnecessary and excessive risk or plans that encourage earnings manipulation. The Compensation Committee is required to review no less than every six months the Company’s senior executive officers compensation programs with the Company’s senior risk officers and certify that the Company has made reasonable efforts to ensure that its compensation arrangements do not encourage unnecessary risks that threaten the Company’s value.  Further, the Compensation Committee must examine the Company’s compensation programs to ensure that the Company’s plans do not encourage manipulation of the Company’s reported earnings in or to enhance the compensation of any of its employees.

·      
Prohibition on bonuses, retention awards and other incentive compensation. The Company is prohibited from paying or accruing any bonus retention award or incentive compensation to any senior executive officer or any of the five next most highly compensated employees subject to certain exceptions. The Company is permitted to award restricted stock that has a value not exceeding one-third of the employee’s total annual compensation, so long as the stock is not paid out during the period the Company is participating in the CPP.
 
 
 
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·      
Clawback. The Company must recover bonuses, retention awards and incentive compensation paid to senior executive officers and the next 20 most highly compensated employees if they were based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other materially inaccurate performance metric criteria whether or not the employee was at fault, any misconduct occurred or the financial statements were restated.

·      
Prohibition on Severance. The Company is prohibited from making severance payments to the senior executive officers and the next five most highly compensated employees other than payments for services performed or benefits accrued.

·      
Luxury policy. The Company has adopted a companywide policy regarding excessive or luxury expenditures.

Under the CPP rules, the term “senior executive officer” or “SEO” is defined as the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the next three most highly compensated employees. In 2008 at the time of entering into the CPP, each of the Company’s named executive officers signed an agreement with the Company agreeing to modify their compensation arrangements to the extent applicable to comply with these requirements. The CPP requirements remain in effect during the period that the US Treasury holds equity or debt securities of the Company.

The current compensation program has been and will continue to be limited as necessary to comply with the CPP restrictions including the elimination of cash bonuses and accruals, limiting the value of equity compensation awards, and the elimination of parachute payments as well as the other restrictions described above.

As noted above, participation in the CPP also requires that the Compensation Committee, in conjunction with the Company’s senior risk officer, at least every six months discuss, evaluate, and review (1) the Company’s SEO compensation plans to ensure that those plans do not encourage the SEOs to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the Company, (2) the Company’s employee compensation plans in light of the risks posed to the Company by such plans and how to limit such risks, and (3) the Company’s employee compensation plans to ensure that those plans do not encourage the manipulation of the Company’s reported earnings to enhance the compensation of any employee. Further, the Compensation Committee must annually provide a narrative description of how the SEO compensation plans do not encourage the SEOs to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the Company (including how the SEO plans do not encourage behavior focused on short-term results rather than long-term value creation), the risks posed by the employee compensation plans and how these risks were limited (including how the employee compensation plans do not encourage behavior focused on short-term results rather that long-term value creation), and how the Company has ensured that the employee compensation plans do not encourage the manipulation of the Company’s reported earnings to enhance the compensation of any employee. Within this framework, the Compensation Committee discussed a variety of topics including:

·      
The parameters of acceptable and excessive risk taking in light of a number of considerations, including the understanding that some risk taking is an inherent part of the operations of a financial institution;
·      
The other controls that the Company and the Bank have established (other than reviews of the Company’s compensation practices) that limit undesirable risk taking; and
·      
The general business goals and concerns of the Company, ranging from growth and profitability to the need to attract, retain and incentivize top tier talent.

The Compensation Committee has determined that the design and goals of the existing SEO and employee incentive compensation arrangements do not create an incentive for the SEOs or employees to engage in unnecessary and excessive risk taking; encourage behavior that is focused on short-term results rather than long-term value creation; or encourage the manipulation of the Company’s reported earnings to enhance the compensation of any employee.  The Compensation Committee believes that the discretionary nature of its decision-making process in determining the amount of any incentive compensation awards based upon its after-the-fact assessment of a variety of financial and other performance factors serves to mitigate the potential for excessive risk taking.
 
 
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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
 
No member of the Compensation Committee is now, or formerly was, an officer or employee of the Company or the Bank. None of the NEOs serves as a member of the board of directors of another entity whose executive officers or directors serve on the Company’s Board of Directors.

Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight

Our Company and the Bank have traditionally operated with separate Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors positions.  We believe it is our Chief Executive Officer’s responsibility to manage the Company and the Chairman’s responsibility to lead the Board of Directors.  Robert Abernethy is currently serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors.  All of the members of the Board of Directors are independent under NASDAQ listing requirements. The Company has four standing committees:  Executive, Governance, Audit and Enterprise Risk and Compensation.  All but the Executive Committee is made up entirely of independent directors.  Mr. Wolfe, the Chief Executive Officer, serves on the Executive Committee.  The Bank in addition to the above-named committees has a Loan Committee and a Loan Sub-Committee. The duties of the Company’s committees and the qualifications of the independent directors have been described above.  Each of the Company’s and the Bank’s committees considers risk within its area of responsibility. The Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee and the full Board of Directors focus on the Company’s most significant risks in the areas of liquidity, credit, interest rate and general risk management strategy. The Board of Directors sets policy guidelines in the areas of loans and asset/liability management which are reviewed on an on-going basis. While the Board of Directors oversees the Company’s risk management, the Company’s and the Bank’s management are responsible for day-to-day risk management following the dictates of the policy decisions set by the Board of Directors.

The Governance Committee, as part of its annual review, evaluates the Board of Directors leadership structure and performance and reports its findings to the whole Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors believes that having separate persons serving as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman and all independent directors provides the optimal board leadership structure for the Company and its shareholders.

Does the Company have a Code of Ethics?

The Company and the Bank have a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for its directors, officers and employees.  The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics requires that individuals avoid conflicts of interest, comply with all laws and other legal requirements, conduct business in an honest and ethical manner and otherwise act with integrity and in the best interests of the Company and the Bank.  The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is a guide to help ensure that all employees live up to the highest ethical standards of behavior.

A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on the Company’s website at www.peoplesbanknc.com.

As is permitted by SEC rules, the Company intends to post on its website any amendment to or waiver from any provision in the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller, or persons performing similar functions, and that relates to any element of the standards enumerated in the rules of the SEC.

How can you communicate with the Board or its members?

We do not have formal procedures for shareholder communication with our Board of Directors.  In general, our directors and officers are easily accessible by telephone, postal mail or e-mail.  Any matter intended for your Board of Directors, or any individual director, can be directed to Tony Wolfe, our President and Chief Executive Officer or Joe Lampron, our Chief Financial Officer, at our principal executive offices at 518 West C Street, Newton, North Carolina 28658.  You also may direct correspondence to our Board of Directors, or any of its members, in care of the Company at the foregoing address.  Your communication will be forwarded to the intended recipient unopened.
 
 
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What is our policy for director attendance at Annual Meetings?

Although it is customary for all of our directors to attend Annual Meetings of Shareholders, we have no formal policy in place requiring attendance. All members of the Board of Directors attended our 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 5, 2011.

How can a shareholder nominate someone for election to the Board of Directors?

Our Bylaws provide that in order to be eligible for consideration at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, all nominations of directors, other than those made by the Governance Committee or the Board of Directors, must be in writing and must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company not less than 50 days nor more than 90 days prior to the meeting at which such nominations will be made. However, if less than 60 days’ notice of the meeting is given to the shareholders, such nominations must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the notice of meeting was mailed.

The Board of Directors may disregard any nominations that do not comply with these requirements.  Upon the instruction of the Board of Directors, the inspector of voting for the Annual Meeting may disregard all votes cast for a nominee if the nomination does not comply with these requirements. Written notice of nominations should be directed to the Secretary of the Company.

Who serves on the Board of Directors of the Bank?

The Bank has ten directors currently serving on its Board of Directors, who are the same people who are currently directors of the Company.

DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Director Compensation
 
Directors’ Fees.  Members of the Company’s Board of Directors receive no fees or compensation for their service.  However, all members of the Board of Directors are also directors of the Bank and are compensated for that service.  Each director receives a fee of $600 for each Bank Board of Directors meeting attended.  An additional fee of $300 is paid to committee members for each committee meeting attended.  In addition to these meeting fees, each director also received an annual retainer of $9,000. The Chairman of the Bank’s Board of Directors receives an additional $250 per meeting attended and the chairpersons of each committee receive an additional $150 per meeting attended.  Directors who are members of the Board of Directors of Real Estate Advisory Services, Inc., and Peoples Investment Services, Inc., subsidiaries of the Bank, and Community Bank Real Estate Solutions, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, received $500 per meeting.  Directors received $375 for special meetings via conference call rather than the normal committee or Board of Director meeting fees.

The Bank maintains a Service Recognition Program, under which directors, officers and employees are eligible for awards.  Under the Service Recognition Program, directors, officers and employees are awarded a combination of common stock of the Company and cash in the amount necessary to pay taxes on the award, with the amount of the award based upon the length of service to the Bank.  Any common stock awarded under the Service Recognition Program is purchased by the Bank on the open market, and no new shares are issued by the Company under the Service Recognition Program.

Directors’ Stock Benefits Plan.  Members of the Board of Directors are eligible to participate in the Company’s Omnibus Plan.  All grants to directors awarded previously have been paid out and no awards were made to any directors under the Omnibus Plan in 2011.

 Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan. The Bank maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for all of its directors.  The Bank’s directors are also directors of the Company.  Under the deferred compensation plan, each director may defer all or a portion of his fees to the plan each year.  The director may elect to invest the deferred compensation in a restricted list of investment funds.  The Bank may make matching contributions to the plan for the benefit of the director from time to time at the discretion of the Bank.  Directors are fully vested in all amounts they
 
 
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contribute to the plan and in any amounts contributed by the Bank. The Bank has established a Rabbi Trust to hold the directors’ accrued benefits under the plan.  There are no “above-market” returns provided for in the deferred compensation plan. The Bank made no contributions to this plan in 2011.

Benefits under the plan are payable in the event of the director’s death, resignation, removal, failure to be re-elected, retirement or in cases of hardship.  Directors may elect to receive deferred compensation payments in one lump sum or in installments.

Directors’ Supplemental Retirement Plan. The Bank maintains a non-qualified supplemental retirement benefits plan for all its directors. The supplemental retirement benefits plan is designed to provide a retirement benefit to the directors while at the same time minimizing the financial impact on the Bank’s earnings. Under the supplemental retirement benefits plan, the Company purchased life insurance contracts on the lives of each director. The increase in cash surrender value of the contracts constitutes the Company’s contribution to the supplemental retirement benefits plan each year. The Bank will pay annual benefits to each director for 15 years beginning upon retirement from the Board of Directors. The Bank is the sole owner of all of the insurance contracts.

The following table reports all forms of compensation paid to or accrued for the benefit of each director during the 2011 fiscal year.
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
                 
                 
Name
Fees
Stock
Option
Non-Equity
Change in
All Other
Total
 
Earned
Awards
Awards
Incentive Plan
Pension Value
Compensation
($)
 
or Paid
($)
($)
Compensation
and
($)
 
 
in Cash
   
($)
Nonqualified
   
 
($)
     
Deferred
   
         
Compensation
   
         
Earnings1
   
         
($)
   
(a)
(b)
(c )
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
                 
James S. Abernethy
20,700
0
0
0
3,861
 
0
24,561
Robert C. Abernethy
29,000
5,000
0
0
6,128
 
0
40,128
Douglas S. Howard
21,300
0
0
0
2,257
 
0
23,557
John W. Lineberger, Jr.
21,000
0
0
0
5,934
 
0
26,934
Gary E. Matthews
20,400
650
0
0
3,459
 
0
24,509
Billy L. Price, Jr., M.D.
23,475
0
0
0
3,089
 
0
26,564
Larry E. Robinson
21,000
0
0
0
11,761
 
0
32,761
William Gregory Terry
20,400
0
0
0
1,000
 
0
21,400
Dan Ray Timmerman, Sr.
24,300
0
0
0
8,945
 
0
33,245
Benjamin I. Zachary
20,700
0
0
0
3,106
 
0
23,806
_________________________
1  
Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings represents the expense accrued by the Bank for each director under the Directors’ Supplemental Retirement Plan as described above.
 

 
 
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Executive Officers

Tony W. Wolfe, age 65 (as of March 1, 2012), serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank.  He has been employed by the Company and the Bank since 1990, where he served as Vice President-Commercial Loans and Senior Vice President-Lending.  Mr. Wolfe served in the past on the boards of directors of the Community Trust of the Southeast and Community Financial Services, Inc., the holding company for The Bankers Bank.  Mr. Wolfe has a total of 42 years of banking experience.  Mr. Wolfe is a graduate of Lenoir Rhyne University, the North Carolina School of Banking and the School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University.  On December 7, 2011, Mr. Wolfe announced his intention to retire in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Joseph F. Beaman, Jr., age 62 (as of March 1, 2012), serves as Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the Company and Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Secretary of the Bank.  He has been employed by the Company and the Bank since 1977, where he has served as Vice President-Operations and Senior Vice President.  Mr. Beaman has a total of 39 years of banking experience.  He is a graduate of Pfeiffer University, the North Carolina School of Banking, and the Graduate School of Financial Management at the University of Texas in Austin.

William D. Cable, Sr., age 43 (as of March 1, 2012), serves as Executive Vice President and Assistant Corporate Treasurer of the Company and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank.  He has been employed by the Company and the Bank since 1995, where he has served as Senior Vice President-Information Services.  Mr. Cable has a total of 20 years of banking experience.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Cable was a regulatory examiner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  He is a graduate of Western Carolina University and the School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University.

A. Joseph Lampron, Jr., age 57 (as of March 1, 2012), serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Treasurer of the Company and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank.  He has been employed by the Company and the Bank since 2001.  Mr. Lampron is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and upon graduation worked as a certified public accountant with a national accounting firm.  His work with the firm included audits of banks and thrift institutions.  Mr. Lampron has also served as Chief Financial Officer of a thrift institution and as a senior change manager in the finance group of a large North Carolina bank.  Mr. Lampron has a total of 32 years of banking experience.

Lance A. Sellers, age 49 (as of March 1, 2012), serves as Executive Vice President and Assistant Corporate Secretary of the Company and Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Bank.  He has been employed by the Company and the Bank since 1998.  Mr. Sellers has a total of 27 years of banking experience. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and upon graduation served as a senior credit officer at a regional bank headquartered in North Carolina.

Management Compensation

The executive officers of the Company are not paid any cash compensation by the Company.  However, the executive officers of the Company also are executive officers of the Bank and receive compensation from the Bank.

The table on the following page shows, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the cash compensation received by, as well as certain other compensation paid or accrued for those years, the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer and the Bank’s executive officers whose total annual salary and bonus exceeded $100,000.


 
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Summary Compensation Table
                         
Name and Principal
Position
(a)
Year
(b)
Salary
(c)
Bonus
(d)
Stock Awards
(e)
Option Awards
(f)
Non-Equity
 Incentive Plan Compensation
(g)
Change in
Pension Value
and Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
(h)
All Other
Compensation1
(i)
Total
(j)
                         
Tony W. Wolfe
2011
$290,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
 
$0
 
$34,2372
 
$324,237
President and Chief
2010
$290,000
$0
$2,0007
$0
$0
 
$269,720
 
$33,6992
 
$595,419
Executive Officer
                       
                         
A. Joseph Lampron, Jr.
2011
$152,934
$0
$5007
$0
$0
 
$22,288
 
$8,7903
 
$184,512
Executive Vice President,
2010
$152,934
$0
$0
$0
$0
 
$24,959
 
$8,7923
 
$186,685
Chief Financial Officer
                       
                         
Joseph F. Beaman, Jr.
2011
$125,373
$0
$0
$0
$0
 
$32,378
 
$8,6254
 
$166,376
Executive Vice President,
2010
$125,373
$0
$0
$0
$0
 
$33,464
 
$8,9914
 
$167,828
Chief Administrative Officer
                       
and Corporate Secretary
                       
                         
Lance A. Sellers
2011
$194,371
$0
$0
$0
                      $0
 
$17,049
 
$13,1795
 
$224,599
Executive Vice President,
2010
$194,371
$0
$0
$0
                      $0
 
$19,494
 
$13,5635
 
$227,428
Chief Credit Officer
                       
                         
William D. Cable, Sr.
2011
$156,835
$0
$0
$0
$0
 
$5,349
 
$7,8266
 
$170,010
Executive Vice President,
2010
$156,835
$0
$1,0007
$0
$0
 
$6,238
 
$8,7576
 
$172,830
Chief Operating Officer
                       

 
 
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1
Perquisites for the fiscal year did not exceed $10,000 for any NEO other than Mr. Wolfe.
 
2
For Mr. Wolfe, includes for 2011: $6,125 under the 401(k) plan, $5,466 premium paid for group term life insurance in excess of $50,000 and $2,429 paid for the Split Dollar Death Benefit, and perquisites consisting of country club dues of $3,468, car allowance of $1,088 and disability insurance premium of $15,662; and for 2010: $6,683 under the 401(k) plan, $2,772 premium paid for group term life insurance in excess of $50,000 and $2,271 paid for the Split Dollar Death Benefit, and perquisites consisting of country club dues of $3,618, car allowance of $2,193 disability insurance premium of $15,662 and $500 to pay taxes associated with the award of 384 shares of stock under the Bank’s Service Recognition Program.
 
3
For Mr. Lampron, includes for 2011: $3,823 under the 401(k) plan, $1,321 premium paid for group term life insurance in excess of $50,000, $396 paid for the Split Dollar Death Benefit and $150 to pay taxes associated with the award of 89 shares of  stock  under the Bank’s Service Recognition Program; and for 2010: $4,117 under the 401(k) plan, $1,321 premium paid for group term life insurance in excess of $50,000 and $374 paid for the Split Dollar Death Benefit.
 
4
For Mr. Beaman, includes for 2011: $3,140 under the 401(k) plan, $1,596 premium paid for group term life insurance in excess of $50,000 and $420 paid for the Split Dollar Death Benefit; and for 2010: $3,375 under the 401(k) plan, $1,600 premium paid for group term life insurance in excess of $50,000 and $398 paid for the Split Dollar Death Benefit.
 
5
For Mr. Sellers, includes for 2011: $4,859 under the 401(k) plan, $612 premium paid for group term life insurance in excess of $50,000 and $349 paid for the Split Dollar Death Benefit; and for 2010: $5,233 under the 401(k) plan, $612 premium paid for group term life insurance in excess of $50,000 and $328 paid for the Split Dollar Death Benefit.
 
6
For Mr. Cable, includes for 2011: $3,921  under the 401(k) plan, $317 premium paid for group term life insurance in excess of $50,000, $120 paid for the Split Dollar Death Benefit; and for 2010: $4,222  under the 401(k) plan, $317 premium paid for group term life insurance in excess of $50,000, $115 paid for the Split Dollar Death Benefit and $275 to pay taxes associated with the award of 192 shares of stock under the Bank’s Service Recognition Program.
 
7
In 2011, Mr. Lampron received 89 shares for 10 years of service and $150 in cash to pay the taxes associated with the award under the Bank’s Service Recognition Program.  In 2010, Mr. Wolfe received 384 shares of stock for 20 years of service and $500 in cash to pay the taxes associated with the award under the Bank’s Service Recognition Program; Mr. Cable received 192 shares of stock for 15 years of service and $275 in cash to pay the taxes associated with the award under the Bank’s Service Recognition Plan.
 
Employment Agreements

The Bank has entered into employment agreements with Tony W. Wolfe, President and Chief Executive Officer; Joseph F. Beaman, Jr., Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary; Lance A. Sellers, Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer and Assistant Corporate Secretary; A. Joseph Lampron, Jr., Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Treasurer; and William D. Cable, Sr., Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Assistant Corporate Treasurer, in order to establish their duties and compensation and to provide for their continued employment with the Bank.  The agreements provide for an initial term of employment of three years. Commencing on the first anniversary date and continuing on each anniversary date thereafter, unless notice of a non-extension is given by either party, each agreement is automatically extended for an additional year so that the remaining term is always no less than two and no more than three years.  The agreements also provide that the base salary will be reviewed by the Board of Directors not less often than annually.  In addition, the employment agreements provide for discretionary bonuses and participation in other management incentive, pension, profit-sharing, medical or retirement plans maintained by the Bank, as well as fringe benefits normally associated with such employee’s office.  Mr. Wolfe’s agreement provides for a company automobile.  The employment agreements provide that they may be terminated by the Bank for cause, as defined in the agreements, and that they may otherwise be terminated by the Bank (subject to vested rights) or by the employee.

In the event of a change in control, the term of the employment agreements will be automatically extended for three years from the date of the change of control.  For purposes of the employment agreement, a change in control generally will occur if (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than a person who beneficially owned as of January 1, 1998, more than 5% of the Bank’s securities, acquires beneficial ownership of
 
 
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voting stock and irrevocable proxies representing 20% or more of any class of voting securities of either the Company or the Bank, (ii) the election of directors constituting more than one-half of the Board of Directors of the Company or the Bank who, prior to their election, were not nominated for election or approved by at least three-fourths of the Board of Directors of the Company as then constituted; (iii) either the Company or the Bank consolidates or merges with or into another corporation, association or entity or is otherwise reorganized, where neither the Company nor the Bank, respectively, is the surviving corporation in the transaction; or (iv) all or substantially all of the assets of either the Company or the Bank are sold or otherwise transferred to or acquired by any other entity or group.

In addition, the employee may voluntarily terminate his employment at any time following a change in control and continue to receive his base salary for the remainder of the term of the employment agreement, if, after the change in control, (i) the employee is assigned duties and/or responsibilities that are inconsistent with his position prior to the change in control or that are inconsistent with his reporting responsibilities at that time, (ii) the employee’s compensation or benefits are reduced, or (iii) the employee is transferred, without his consent, to a location which is an unreasonable distance from his current principal work location.

An additional thirteen (13) middle management officers had employment agreements during 2011.  The term of these agreements is until December 1, 2012, renewed annually and the agreements contain provisions similar to those discussed above.

Under the terms of the CPP, none of the NEOs would have been entitled to payments had a termination of employment occurred during 2011.

Omnibus Stock Option and Long Term Incentive Plan

The purpose of the Omnibus Plan is to promote the interests of the Company by attracting and retaining directors and employees of outstanding ability and to provide executive and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries greater incentive to make material contributions to the success of the Company by providing them with stock-based compensation which will increase in value based upon the market performance of the common stock and/or the corporate achievement of financial and other performance objectives.

Rights Which May Be Granted.  Under the Omnibus Plan, the Committee may grant or award eligible participants stock options, rights to receive restricted shares of common stock, restricted stock units, performance units (each equivalent to one share of common stock), SARs, and/or book value shares.  These grants and awards are referred to herein as “Rights.”  All Rights must be granted or awarded by February 19, 2019, the tenth anniversary of the date the Board of Directors adopted the Omnibus Plan.  The Board of Directors has provided for 360,000 shares of the Company’s common stock be included in the Omnibus Plan to underlie Rights which may be granted thereunder.

Options.  Options granted under the Omnibus Plan to eligible directors and employees may be either incentive stock options (“ISOs”) or non-qualified stock options (“NSOs”).  The exercise price of an ISO or NSO may not be less than 100% of the last-transaction price for the common stock quoted by the NASDAQ Market on the date of grant.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.  The Committee may award Rights to acquire shares of common stock or restricted stock units, subject to certain transfer restrictions (“Restricted Stock” or “Restricted Stock Unit”) to eligible participants under the Omnibus Plan for such purchase price per share, if any, as the Committee, in its discretion, may determine appropriate.  The Committee will determine the expiration date for each Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit award, up to a maximum of ten years from the date of grant.  In the Committee’s discretion, it may specify the period or periods of time within which each Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit award will first become exercisable, which period or periods may be accelerated or shortened by the Committee.  Under the terms of the Omnibus Plan, the Committee also has the discretion to pay out awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units in the Company’s common stock, cash or a combination of stock and cash.

Performance Units.  Under the Omnibus Plan, the Committee may grant to eligible directors and employees awards of long term incentive performance units, each equivalent in value to one share of common stock (“Units”).  Except as otherwise provided, Units awarded may be distributed only after the end of a performance period of two or more years, as determined by the Committee, beginning with the year in which the awards are granted.
 
 
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The percentage of the Units awarded that are to be distributed will depend on the level of financial and other performance goals achieved by the Company during the performance period.  The Committee may adopt one or more performance categories in addition to, or in substitution for, a performance category or may eliminate all performance categories other than financial performance.

As soon as practicable after each performance period, the percentage of Units awarded that are to be distributed, based on the levels of performance achieved, will be determined and distributed to the recipients of such awards in the form of a combination of shares of common stock and cash or cash only.  Units awarded, but which the recipients are not entitled to receive, will be cancelled.

In the event of the death or disability of a Unit recipient prior to the end of any performance period, the number of Units awarded for such performance period will be reduced in proportion to the number of months remaining in the performance period after the date of death or disability. The remaining portion of the award, if any, may, in the discretion of the Committee, be adjusted based upon the levels of performance achieved prior to the date of death or disability, and distributed within a reasonable time after death or disability.  In the event a recipient of Units ceases to be an eligible director or employee for any reason other than death or disability, all Units awarded, but not yet distributed, will be cancelled.

In the event of a change in control (as that term is defined in the Omnibus Plan), any outstanding Units will immediately and automatically be reduced as appropriate to reflect a shorter performance period.

An amount equal to the dividend payable on one share of common stock (a “dividend equivalent credit”) will be determined and credited on the payment date to each Unit recipient’s account for each Unit awarded and not yet distributed or cancelled.  Such amount will be converted within the account to an additional number of Units equal to the number of shares of common stock which could be purchased at the last-transaction price of the common stock on the NASDAQ Market on the dividend payment date.

No dividend equivalent credits or distribution of Units may be credited or made if, at the time of crediting or distribution, (i)  the regular quarterly dividend on the common stock has been omitted and not subsequently paid or there exists any default in payment of dividends on any such outstanding shares of common stock; (ii)  the rate of dividends on the common stock is lower than at the time the Units to which the dividend equivalent credit relates were awarded, adjusted for certain changes; (iii)  estimated consolidated net income of the Company for the twelve-month period preceding the month the dividend equivalent credit or distribution would otherwise have been made is less than the sum of the amount of the dividend equivalent credits and Units eligible for distribution under the Omnibus Plan in that month plus all dividends applicable to such period on an accrual basis, either paid, declared or accrued at the most recently paid rate, on all outstanding shares of common stock; or (iv)  the dividend equivalent credit or distribution would result in a default in any agreement by which the Company is bound.

If an extraordinary event occurs during a performance period which significantly alters the basis upon which the performance levels were established, the Committee may make adjustments which it deems appropriate in the performance levels.  Such events may include changes in accounting practices, tax, financial institution laws or regulations or other laws or regulations, economic changes not in the ordinary course of business cycles, or compliance with judicial decrees or other legal requirements.

Stock Appreciation Rights.  The Omnibus Plan provides that the Committee may award to eligible directors and employees Rights to receive cash based upon increases in the market price of common stock over the last transaction price of the common stock on the NASDAQ Market (the “Base Price”) on the date of the award.  The Committee may adjust the Base Price of a stock appreciation right (“SAR”) based upon the market value performance of the common stock in comparison with the aggregate market value performance of a selected index or at a stated annual percentage rate.  The expiration date of a SAR may be no more than ten years from the date of award.

Each SAR awarded by the Committee may be exercisable immediately or may become vested over such period or periods as the Committee may establish, which periods may be accelerated or shortened in the Committee’s discretion.  Each SAR awarded will terminate upon the expiration date established by the Committee, termination of the employment
 
 
23

 
 
or directorship of the SAR recipient, or in the event of a change in control, as described above in connection with the termination of Options.

Book Value Shares.  The Omnibus Plan provides that the Committee may award to eligible directors and eligible employees long term incentive units, each equivalent in value to the book value of one share of common stock on the date of award (“Book Value Shares”).  The Committee will specify the period or periods of time within which each Book Value Share will vest, which period or periods may be accelerated or shortened by the Committee.  Upon redemption, the holder of a Book Value Share will receive an amount equal to the difference between the book value of the common stock at the time the Book Value Share is awarded and the book value of the common stock at the time the Book Value Share is redeemed, adjusted for the effects of dividends, new share issuances, and mark-to-market valuations of the Company’s investment securities portfolio in accordance with FASB 115.

The expiration date of each Book Value Share awarded will be established by the Committee, up to a maximum of ten years from the date of award.  However, awards of Book Value Shares will earlier terminate in the same manner as described above in connection with the termination of Options.

Adjustments.  In the event the outstanding shares of the common stock are increased, decreased, changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of securities as a result of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, share exchange acquisition, or reclassification, appropriate proportionate adjustments will be made in (i) the aggregate number or kind of shares which may be issued pursuant to exercise of, or which underlie, Rights; (ii) the exercise or other purchase price, or Base Price, and the number and/or kind of shares acquirable under, or underlying, Rights; and (iii) rights and matters determined on a per share basis under the Omnibus Plan.  Any such adjustment will be made by the Committee, subject to ratification by the Board of Directors.  As described above, the Base Price of a SAR may also be adjusted by the Committee to reflect changes in a selected index.  Except with regard to Units and Book Value Shares awarded under the Omnibus Plan, no adjustment in the Rights will be required by reason of the issuance of common stock, or securities convertible into common stock, by the Company for cash or the issuance of shares of common stock by the Company in exchange for shares of the capital stock of any corporation, financial institution or other organization acquired by the Company or a subsidiary thereof in connection therewith.

Any shares of common stock allocated to Rights granted under the Omnibus Plan which are subsequently cancelled or forfeited will be available for further allocation upon such cancellation or forfeiture.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

Options.  Under current provisions of the Code, the federal income tax treatment of ISOs and NSOs is different.  Options granted to employees under the Omnibus Plan may be ISOs which are designed to result in beneficial tax treatment to the employee but not a tax deduction to the Company.

The holder of an ISO generally is not taxed for federal income tax purposes on either the grant or the exercise of the option.  However, the optionee must include in his or her federal alternative minimum tax income any excess (the “Bargain Element”) of the acquired common stock’s fair market value at the time of exercise over the exercise price paid by the optionee.  Furthermore, if the optionee sells, exchanges, gives or otherwise disposes of such common stock (other than in certain types of transactions) either within two years after the option was granted or within one year after the option was exercised (an “Early Disposition”), the optionee generally must recognize the Bargain Element as compensation income for regular federal income tax purposes.  Any gain realized on the disposition in excess of the Bargain Element is subject to recognition under the usual rules applying to dispositions of property.  If a taxable sale or exchange is made after such holding periods are satisfied, the difference between the exercise price and the amount realized upon the disposition of the common stock generally will constitute a capital gain or loss for tax purposes.

Options granted to directors under the Omnibus Plan would be “NSOs.”  In general, the holder of an NSO will recognize at the time of exercise of the NSO, compensation income equal to the amount by which the fair market value of the common stock received on the date of exercise exceeds the sum of the exercise price and any amount paid for the NSO.
 
 
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If an optionee exercises an ISO or NSO and delivers shares of common stock as payment for part or all of the exercise price of the stock purchased (the “Payment Stock”), no gain or loss generally will be recognized with respect to the Payment Stock; provided, however, if the Payment Stock was acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO, the optionee will be subject to recognizing as compensation income the Bargain Element on the Payment Stock as an Early Disposition if the exchange for the new shares occurs prior to the expiration of the holding periods for the Payment Stock.

The Company generally would not recognize gain or loss or be entitled to a deduction upon either the grant of an ISO or NSO or the optionee’s exercise of an ISO. The Company generally will recognize gain or loss or be entitled to a deduction upon the exercise of an NSO. If there is an Early Disposition, the Company generally would be entitled to deduct the Bargain Element as compensation paid to the optionee.

The above and other descriptions of federal income tax consequences are necessarily general in nature and do not purport to be complete.  Moreover, statutory provisions are subject to change, as are their interpretations, and their application may vary in individual circumstances.  Such descriptions may not be used to avoid any federal tax penalty.  Each taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayer’s particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.  Finally, the consequences under applicable state and local income tax laws may not be the same as under federal income tax laws.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.  Pursuant to Section 83 of the Code, recipients of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit awards under the Omnibus Plan will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares of common stock granted to them at the time that the shares vest and become transferable. The Company will be entitled to deduct as a compensation expense for tax purposes the same amounts recognized as income by recipients of Restricted Stock awards in the year in which such amounts are included in income.

Units.  The Company expects that participants generally will not be taxed on the award of Units.  Instead, any cash and the then fair market value of any common stock received by the participants upon the distribution of a Unit generally will be taxable to the participants as compensation income upon such distribution.  At that time, the Company generally will be entitled to claim a deduction in an amount equal to the compensation income.

SARs.   Pursuant to Section 83 of the code, recipients of SARs under the Omnibus Plan will recognize, at the time a SAR award is exercised, ordinary income in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the common stock at the time of award of the SAR and the fair market value of the common stock at the time that the SAR is exercised.  The Company will be entitled to deduct as a compensation expense for tax purposes the same amounts recognized as income by recipients of SAR awards in the year in which such amounts are included in income.

Book Value Shares. The Company expects that participants generally will not be taxed on the award of Book Value Shares.  Instead, any cash received by the participants upon redemption of the Book Value Shares generally will be taxable to the participant as compensation income upon distribution.  At that time, the Company generally will be entitled to claim a deduction in an amount equal to the compensation income.
 
Incentive Compensation Plans

The Bank also has a Management Incentive Plan for officers and an Employee Incentive Plan for employees of the Bank.  Eligibility under the Employee Incentive Plan is granted to all employees upon ninety (90) days of service with the Bank.  Participants in the Employee Incentive Plan are entitled to receive quarterly cash incentives based upon a graduated schedule indexed to attainment of corporate budget.  Participants in the Management Incentive Plan are recommended annually by the President and Chief Executive Officer to the Bank’s Board of Directors. Each individual’s incentive pool is determined by a formula which links attainment of corporate budget with attainment of individual goals and objectives.  Incentives under the Management Incentive Plan are paid annually. No payments under the Management Incentive Plan can be paid to NEOs so long as the CPP requirements remain in effect during the period the US Treasury holds equity or debt securities of the Company.
 
 
25

 
 
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End.  The table below gives information related to equity awards held by the Company’s NEOs at the end of fiscal year 2011:
 
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
 
 
Option Awards 
Stock Awards
     
Name
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a)
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
(#)
Exercisable1
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
(b)
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
(#)
Unexercisable
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
(c)
Equity
Incentive Plan Awards:
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned
Options
         (#)
 
 
 
 
 
(d)
Option
Exercise Price
($)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(e)
Option
Expiration
Date
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(f)
Number of Shares or
Units of
Stock That Have Not Vested
(#)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(g)
Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
That Have
Not Vested
($)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(h)
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards: Number of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
 
 
 
 
(i)
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That Have
Not Vested
($)
(j)
 
Tony W. Wolfe
9,075
--
--
$7.77
12/17/2012
--
--
--
--
A. Joseph Lampron, Jr.
10,890
--
--
$7.77
12/17/2012
--
--
--
--
Joseph F. Beaman, Jr.
7,260
--
--
$7.77
12/17/2012
--
--
--
--
Lance A. Sellers
12,705
--
--
$7.77
12/17/2012
--
--
--
--
William D. Cable, Sr.
10,890
--
--
$7.77
12/17/2012
--
--
--
--

1
Securities underlying options have been adjusted for the three-for-two stock split on June 15, 2007.
 
 
 
26

 
 
Deferred Compensation Plan

The Bank maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for directors and certain officers. Eligible officers selected by the Bank’s Board of Directors may elect to contribute a percentage of their compensation to the plan.  Participating officers may elect to invest their deferred compensation in a restricted list of 11 investment funds. The Bank may make matching or other contributions to the plan as well, in amounts determined at the discretion of the Bank.  Participants are fully vested in all amounts contributed to the plan by them or on their behalf.  The Bank has established a Rabbi Trust to hold the accrued benefits of the participants under the plan. There are no “above-market” returns provided for in this plan. The Bank made no contributions to the plan in 2011.

Benefits under the plan are payable in the event of the participant’s retirement, death, termination, or as a result of hardship.  Benefit payments may be made in a lump sum or in installments, as selected by the participant.

Supplemental Retirement Plan
 
The Bank maintains a non-qualified supplemental retirement benefits plan (“SERP”) for certain officers.  The plan is designed to provide a retirement benefit to the officers while at the same time minimizing the financial impact on the Bank’s earnings. Under the Plan, the Company purchased life insurance contracts on the lives of certain officers. The increase in cash surrender value of the contracts constitutes the Company’s contribution to the plan each year. The Bank will pay benefits to participating officers for a period between 13 years and the life of the officer. The Bank is the sole owner of all of the insurance contracts. Each NEO is fully vested in the benefits provided under the SERP.

Discretionary Bonuses and Service Awards

In the past, the Bank has paid bonuses to its employees in amounts determined in the discretion of the Bank’s Board of Directors.  The Bank anticipates that discretionary bonuses will continue to be paid to its employees in the future. The Bank also gives service awards to each employee for every five years of service with the Bank. Service awards are made in the form of shares of the Company’s common stock. The number of shares awarded increases with the years of service to the Bank.

Profit Sharing Plan and 401(k) Plan

The Bank has a Profit Sharing Plan and 401(k) Plan for all eligible employees.  The Bank made no contribution to the Profit Sharing Plan for the year ended December 31, 2011.  No investments in Bank stock have been made by the plan.

Under the Bank’s 401(k) Plan, the Bank matches employee contributions to a maximum of 2.50% of annual compensation.  The Bank’s 2011 contribution to the 401(k) Plan pursuant to this formula was approximately $219,420.  All contributions to the 401(k) Plan are tax deferred.

The Profit Sharing Plan and 401(k) Plan permit participants to choose from investment funds which are selected by a committee comprised of senior management.  Employees are eligible to participate in both the 401(k) Plan and Profit Sharing Plan beginning in the second month of employment. Both plans provide for vesting of 20% of the benefit after two years employment and 20% each year thereafter until participants are 100% vested after six years employment.

Indebtedness of and Transactions with Management and Directors

The Company is a “listed issuer” under the rules and regulations of the Exchange Act whose common stock is listed on NASDAQ. The Company uses the definition of independence contained in NASDAQ’s listing standards to determine the independence of its directors and that the Board of Directors and each standing committee of the Board of Directors is in compliance with NASDAQ listing standards for independence.

Certain directors and executive officers of the Bank and their immediate families and associates were customers of and had transactions with the Bank in the ordinary course of business during 2011.  All outstanding loans, extensions
 
 
27

 
 
of credit or overdrafts, endorsements and guarantees outstanding at any time during 2011 to the Bank’s executive officers and directors and their family members were made in the ordinary course of its business.  These loans are currently made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those then prevailing for comparable transactions with persons not related to the lender, and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present any other unfavorable features.
 
The Bank leases two of its facilities from Shortgrass Associates, L.L.C. (“Shortgrass”).  Director John W. Lineberger, Jr., owns 25% of the membership interests in Shortgrass.  Pursuant to the terms of the leases for the two facilities leased by the Bank, during 2011 the Bank paid a total of $202,260 to Shortgrass in lease payments for these facilities.  Each of the facilities is subject to a 20-year lease between the Bank and Shortgrass. The Board of Directors routinely, and no less than annually, reviews all transactions, direct and indirect, between the Company or the Bank and any employee or director, or any of such person’s immediate family members. Transactions are reviewed as to comparable market values for similar transactions. All material facts of the transactions and the director’s interest are discussed by all disinterested directors and a decision made about whether the transaction is fair to the Company and the Bank. A majority vote of all disinterested directors is required to approve the transaction.

The Board of Directors also evaluates the influence family relationships may have on the independence of directors who are related by blood or marriage. Christine S. Abernethy, a greater than ten percent shareholder of the Company, has two sons, Robert C. Abernethy and James S. Abernethy, who serve on the Board of Directors. All of the non-related directors have determined that the family relationships among Christine S. Abernethy, James S. Abernethy and Robert C. Abernethy do not affect the brothers’ independence as directors.

PROPOSAL 2
 
ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
The Company believes that our 2011 compensation policies and procedures are centered on a pay-for-performance culture and are strongly aligned with the long-term interests of our shareholders.  These policies and procedures are described in detail in this Proxy Statement.

The ARRA provides that all participants in the TARP permit a non-binding shareholder vote to approve the compensation of the participant’s executives.  Therefore, the Board of Directors is providing our shareholders with the right to cast an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s NEOs at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives you as a shareholder the opportunity to vote on the compensation of our NEOs through the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the shareholders of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. approve the compensation of its Named Executive Officers named in the Summary Compensation Table in this Proxy Statement, as described in the narrative and the tabular disclosure regarding the compensation of the Named Executive Officers contained in this Proxy Statement.”

Under the ARRA, your vote on this matter is advisory and will therefore not be binding upon the Board of Directors. However, the Compensation Committee will take the outcome of the vote into account when determining further executive compensation arrangements.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL.

 
 
28

 
 
PROPOSAL 3
 
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
 
Porter Keadle Moore, LLC, of Atlanta, Georgia, has been selected by the Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee as the Company’s and the Bank’s independent auditor for the year ending December 31, 2012.  Such selection is being submitted to the Company’s shareholders for ratification.  Representatives of PKM are expected to attend the Annual Meeting and will be afforded an opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire, and to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

Audit Fees

The aggregate fees billed by PKM for professional services rendered in connection with the (i) audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for 2011 and 2010; (ii) review of the financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly filings on Form 10-Q during those fiscal years; and (iii) review of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting in 2011 and 2010 were approximately $168,000 and $167,000, respectively.
 
Audit Related Fees

The aggregate fees billed by PKM in 2011 and 2010 for professional services rendered for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements and not included in “Audit Fees” above were approximately $59,000 and $59,000, respectively.  These fees were primarily related to the audit of the Company’s Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan and the testing of management’s assertions regarding internal controls in accordance with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act.
 
Tax Fees
 
The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by PKM for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were approximately $30,000 and $28,000 in 2011 and 2010, respectively.  These fees were primarily related to the preparation of the Company’s income tax returns, assistance with quarterly income tax estimates and preparation of Forms 5500 for various benefit plans.

All Other Fees

In addition to the fees outlined above, PKM billed fees in the amount of approximately $0 in 2011 and $1,600 in 2010.

The fees billed by PKM are pre-approved by the Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee of the Company in accordance with the policies and procedures for the Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee set forth in its charter.  The Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee typically pre-approves all audit and non-audit services provided by the Company’s independent auditors and may not engage the independent auditors to perform any prohibited non-audit services.  For 2011, 100% of the total fees paid for audit, audit related and tax services were pre-approved.  For 2010, 99% of the total fees paid for audit, audit related and tax services were pre-approved. The Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee has determined that the rendering of non-audit professional services by PKM, as identified above, is compatible with maintaining PKM’s independence.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF PKM AS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR FOR THE COMPANY AND THE BANK FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2012.
 
 
 
29

 
 
DATE FOR RECEIPT OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

It is presently anticipated that the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company will be held on May 2, 2013.  In order for shareholder proposals to be included in the Company’s proxy materials for that meeting, such proposals must be received by the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal executive office no later than December 6, 2012 and meet all other applicable requirements for inclusion in the Proxy Statement.

In the alternative, a shareholder may commence his or her own proxy solicitation and present a proposal from the floor at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company.  In order to do so, the shareholder must notify the Secretary of the Company in writing, at the Company’s principal executive office no later than February 19, 2013, of his or her proposal.  If the Secretary of the Company is not notified of the shareholder’s proposal by February 19, 2013, the Board of Directors may vote on the proposal pursuant to the discretionary authority granted by the proxies solicited by the Board of Directors for the 2013 Annual Meeting.

OTHER MATTERS

Management knows of no other matters to be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.  If any other matters shall properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the proxyholders named in the enclosed form of proxy will vote the shares represented thereby in accordance with their judgment, pursuant to the discretionary authority granted therein.

MISCELLANEOUS

The Annual Report of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2011, which includes financial statements audited and reported upon by the Company’s independent auditor, is being mailed as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement; however, it is not intended that the Annual Report be deemed a part of this Proxy Statement or a solicitation of proxies.

THE FORM 10-K FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES THERETO, WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST DIRECTED TO:  PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC., POST OFFICE BOX 467, 518 WEST C STREET, NEWTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28658-0467, ATTENTION:    A. JOSEPH LAMPRON, JR.
 
 

 

  By Order of the Board of Directors,  
     
     
     
 
 /s/ Tony W. Wolfe
 
 
Tony W. Wolfe
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Newton, North Carolina
April 2, 2012
 
 

 
 
30

 
 
 
 
 
APPENDIX A
 
 
ANNUAL REPORT
OF
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.

General Description of Business
                Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (the “Company”), was formed in 1999 to serve as the holding company for Peoples Bank (the “Bank”).  The Company is a bank holding company registered with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”).  The Company’s  principal source of  income is  dividends  declared and  paid by  the Bank on its capital stock, if any.  The Company has no operations and conducts no business of its own other than owning the Bank and Community Bank Real Estate Solutions, LLC ("CBRES").  Accordingly, the discussion of the business which follows concerns the business conducted by the Bank, unless otherwise indicated.
 
The Bank, founded in 1912, is a state-chartered commercial bank serving the citizens and business interests of the Catawba Valley and surrounding communities through 22 banking offices located in Lincolnton, Newton, Denver, Catawba, Conover, Maiden, Claremont, Hiddenite, Hickory, Charlotte, Monroe, Cornelius, Mooresville and Raleigh, North Carolina.  The Bank also operates a loan production office in Denver, North Carolina.  At December 31, 2011, the Company had total assets of $1.1 billion, net loans of $653.9 million, deposits of $827.1 million, total securities of $327.1 million, and shareholders’ equity of $103.0 million.

The Bank operates four offices focused on the Latino population under the name Banco de la Gente (“Banco”).  These offices are operated as a division of the Bank.  Banco offers normal and customary banking services as are offered in the Bank’s other branches such as the taking of deposits and the making of loans and therefore is not considered a reportable segment of the Company.

                The Bank has a diversified loan portfolio, with no foreign loans and few agricultural loans.  Real estate loans are predominately variable rate commercial property loans, which include residential development loans to commercial customers.  Commercial loans are spread throughout a variety of industries with no one particular industry or group of related industries accounting for a significant portion of the commercial loan portfolio.  The majority of the Bank’s deposit and loan customers are individuals and small to medium-sized businesses located in the Bank’s market area.  The Bank’s loan portfolio also includes Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) mortgage loans generated thorough the Bank’s Banco offices.  Additional discussion of the Bank’s loan portfolio and sources of funds for loans can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” on pages A-4 through A-27 of the Annual Report, which is included in this Form 10-K as Exhibit 13.

The operations of the Bank and depository institutions in general are significantly influenced by general economic conditions and by related monetary and fiscal policies of depository institution regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks (the “Commissioner”).
 
 At December 31, 2011, the Company employed 247 full-time employees and 45 part-time employees, which equated to 277 full-time equivalent employees.
 
Subsidiaries
The Bank is a subsidiary of the Company.  The Bank has two subsidiaries, Peoples Investment Services, Inc. and Real Estate Advisory Services, Inc.  Through a relationship with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Peoples Investment Services, Inc. provides the Bank’s customers access to investment counseling and non-deposit investment products such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, tax deferred annuities, and related brokerage services.  Real Estate Advisory Services, Inc. provides real estate appraisal and real estate brokerage services.
 
In June 2006, the Company formed a wholly owned Delaware statutory trust, PEBK Capital Trust II (“PEBK Trust II”), which issued $20.0 million of guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in the Company’s junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures.  All of the common securities of PEBK Trust II are owned by the Company.  The proceeds from the issuance of the common securities and the trust preferred securities were used by PEBK Trust II to purchase $20.6 million of junior subordinated debentures of the Company, which pay a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 163 basis points.  The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the junior subordinated debentures were used in December 2006 to repay the trust preferred securities issued in December 2001 by PEBK Capital Trust, a wholly owned Delaware statutory trust of the Company, in December 2001 and for general purposes.  The debentures represent the sole asset of PEBK Trust II.  PEBK Trust II is not included in the consolidated financial statements.
 
The trust preferred securities issued by PEBK Trust II accrue and pay quarterly at a floating rate of three-month LIBOR plus 163 basis points.  The Company has guaranteed distributions and other payments due on the trust preferred securities to the extent PEBK Trust II does not have funds with which to make the distributions and other payments.  The net
 
 
A-1

 
 
combined effect of the trust preferred securities transaction is that the Company is obligated to make the distributions and other payments required on the trust preferred securities.
 
These trust preferred securities are mandatorily redeemable upon maturity of the debentures on June 28, 2036, or upon earlier redemption as provided in the indenture.  The Company had the right to redeem the debentures purchased by PEBK Trust II, in whole or in part, on or after June 28, 2011.  As specified in the indenture, if the debentures are redeemed prior to maturity, the redemption price will be the principal amount and any accrued but unpaid interest.
 
The Company established a new subsidiary, CBRES, in 2009. CBRES serves as a “clearing-house” for appraisal services for community banks.  Other banks are able to contract with CBRES to find and engage appropriate appraisal companies in the area where the property is located.  This type of service ensures that the appraisal process remains independent from the financing process within the bank.
 
This report contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company.  These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management of the Company and on the information available to management at the time that these disclosures were prepared. These statements can be identified by the use of words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate” and “believe,” variations of these words and other similar expressions.  Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, (1) competition in the markets served by the Bank, (2) changes in the interest rate environment, (3) general national, regional or local economic conditions may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and the possible impairment of collectibility of loans, (4) legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards, (5) significant changes in the federal and state legal and regulatory environment and tax laws, (6) the impact of changes in monetary and fiscal policies, laws, rules and regulations and (7) other risks and factors identified in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
 
 
 
 
A-2

 
 
 
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts
             
   
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
Summary of Operations
           
Interest income
$
       45,259
       47,680
       50,037
       56,322
       61,732
Interest expense
 
       10,946
       14,348
       17,187
       23,526
       27,585
Net interest earnings
 
       34,313
       33,332
       32,850
       32,796
       34,147
Provision for loan losses
 
       12,632
       16,438
       10,535
         4,794
         2,038
Net interest earnings after provision
           
for loan losses
 
       21,681
       16,894
       22,315
       28,002
       32,109
Non-interest income
 
       14,513
       13,884
       11,823
       10,495
         8,816
Non-interest expense
 
       29,572
       28,948
       29,883
       28,893
       25,993
Earnings before taxes
 
         6,622
         1,830
         4,255
         9,604
       14,932
Income taxes
 
         1,463
            (11)
         1,339
         3,213
         5,340
Net earnings
 
         5,159
         1,841
         2,916
         6,391
         9,592
Dividends and accretion of preferred stock
         1,393
         1,394
         1,246
              -   
              -   
Net earnings available to common
           
shareholders
$
         3,766
           447
         1,670
         6,391
         9,592
             
Selected Year-End Balances
           
Assets
$
  1,067,063
  1,067,652
  1,048,494
     968,762
     907,262
Available for sale securities
 
     321,388
     272,449
     195,115
     124,916
     120,968
Loans, net
 
     653,893
     710,667
     762,643
     770,163
     713,174
Mortgage loans held for sale
 
         5,146
         3,814
         2,840
              -   
              -   
Interest-earning assets
 
  1,004,131
  1,010,983
     988,017
     921,101
     853,878
Deposits
 
     827,111
     838,712
     809,343
     721,062
     693,639
Interest-bearing liabilities
 
     820,452
     850,233
     826,838
     758,334
     718,870
Shareholders' equity
$
     103,027
       96,858
       99,223
     101,128
       70,102
Shares outstanding*
 
  5,544,160
  5,541,413
  5,539,056
  5,539,056
  5,624,234
             
Selected Average Balances
           
Assets
$
  1,074,250
  1,078,136
  1,016,257
     929,799
     846,836
Available for sale securities
 
     295,413
     219,797
     161,135
     115,853
     120,296
Loans
 
     697,527
     757,532
     782,464
     747,203
     665,379
Interest-earning assets
 
  1,015,451
     999,054
     956,680
     876,425
     801,094
Deposits
 
     835,550
     840,343
     772,075
     720,918
     659,174
Interest-bearing liabilities
 
     836,382
     849,870
     796,260
     740,478
     665,727
Shareholders' equity
$
     102,568
     101,529
     101,162
       76,241
       70,586
Shares outstanding*
 
  5,542,548
  5,539,308
  5,539,056
  5,588,314
  5,700,860
             
Profitability Ratios
           
Return on average total assets
 
0.48%
0.17%
0.29%
0.69%
1.13%
Return on average shareholders' equity
5.03%
1.81%
2.88%
8.38%
13.59%
Dividend payout ratio**
 
11.78%
100.11%
86.22%
41.93%
24.30%
             
Liquidity and Capital Ratios (averages)
         
Loan to deposit
 
83.48%
90.15%
101.35%
103.65%
100.94%
Shareholders' equity to total assets
 
9.55%
9.42%
9.95%
8.20%
8.34%
             
Per share of Common Stock*
           
Basic net income
$
          0.68
          0.08
          0.30
          1.14
          1.68
Diluted net income
$
          0.68
          0.08
          0.30
          1.13
          1.65
Cash dividends
$
          0.08
          0.08
          0.26
          0.48
          0.41
Book value
$
         14.06
         12.96
         13.39
         13.73
         12.46
             
*Shares outstanding and per share computations have been retroactively restated to reflect a
 3-for-2 stock split which occurred in the second quarter of 2007.
   
             
**As a percentage of net earnings available to common shareholders.
   
 
 
 
A-3

 
 
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following is a discussion of our financial position and results of operations and should be read in conjunction with the information set forth under Item 1A Risk Factors and the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto on pages A-28  through A-63.

Introduction
Management’s discussion and analysis of earnings and related data are presented to assist in understanding the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Company, for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.  The Company is a registered bank holding company operating under the supervision of the Federal Reserve Board and the parent company of Peoples Bank (the “Bank”). The Bank is a North Carolina-chartered bank, with offices in Catawba, Lincoln, Alexander, Mecklenburg, Iredell, Union and Wake counties, operating under the banking laws of North Carolina and the rules and regulations of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”).

Overview
Our business consists principally of attracting deposits from the general public and investing these funds in commercial loans, real estate mortgage loans, real estate construction loans and consumer loans. Our profitability depends primarily on our net interest income, which is the difference between the income we receive on our loan and investment securities portfolios and our cost of funds, which consists of interest paid on deposits and borrowed funds. Net interest income also is affected by the relative amounts of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. When interest-earning assets approximate or exceed interest-bearing liabilities, a positive interest rate spread will generate net interest income. Our profitability is also affected by the level of other income and operating expenses. Other income consists primarily of miscellaneous fees related to our loans and deposits, mortgage banking income and commissions from sales of annuities and mutual funds. Operating expenses consist of compensation and benefits, occupancy related expenses, federal deposit and other insurance premiums, data processing, advertising and other expenses.

Our operations are influenced significantly by local economic conditions and by policies of financial institution regulatory authorities. The earnings on our assets are influenced by the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), inflation, interest rates, market and monetary fluctuations.  Lending activities are affected by the demand for commercial and other types of loans, which in turn is affected by the interest rates at which such financing may be offered.  Our cost of funds is influenced by interest rates on competing investments and by rates offered on similar investments by competing financial institutions in our market area, as well as general market interest rates. These factors can cause fluctuations in our net interest income and other income. In addition, local economic conditions can impact the credit risk of our loan portfolio, in that (1) local employers may be required to eliminate employment positions of individual borrowers, and (2) small businesses and commercial borrowers may experience a downturn in their operating performance and become unable to make timely payments on their loans. Management evaluates these factors in estimating the allowance for loan losses and changes in these economic factors could result in increases or decreases to the provision for loan losses.

The unfavorable economic conditions experienced from 2008 to 2010 eased up slightly in 2011 but continue to have a negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations.  Unfavorable economic indicators, such as high unemployment, falling real estate prices and higher than normal levels of loan defaults demonstrate the difficult business conditions that are affecting the general economy and therefore our operating results.  The unemployment rates in our primary market area have been higher than state and national averages throughout 2011.

Although we are unable to control the external factors that influence our business, by maintaining high levels of balance sheet liquidity, managing our interest rate exposures and by actively monitoring asset quality, we seek to minimize the potentially adverse risks of unforeseen and unfavorable economic trends.

Our business emphasis has been to operate as a well-capitalized, profitable and independent community-oriented financial institution dedicated to providing quality customer service. We are committed to meeting the financial needs of the communities in which we operate. We believe that we can be more effective in serving our customers than many of our non-local competitors because of our ability to quickly and effectively provide senior management responses to customer needs and inquiries. Our ability to provide these services is enhanced by the stability of our senior management team.
 
The Federal Reserve has maintained the Federal Funds Rate at 0.25% since December 31, 2007.  This has had a negative impact on 2009, 2010 and 2011 earnings and will continue to have a negative impact on the Bank’s net interest income in the future periods.  The negative impact from the Federal Funds Rate has been partially offset by the increase
 
 
A-4

 
 
in earnings realized on interest rate contracts, including interest rate swaps and interest rate floors, utilized by the Bank.  Additional information regarding the Bank’s interest rate contacts is provided below in the section entitled “Asset Liability and Interest Rate Risk Management.”

On December 23, 2008, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”) with the United States Department of the Treasury (“UST”) pursuant to the Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”) under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”).  Under  the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue and sell 25,054 shares of Series A preferred stock and a warrant to purchase 357,234 shares of the Company's common stock.  Proceeds from this issuance of Series A preferred shares were allocated between preferred stock and the warrant based on their relative fair values at the time of the sale.  Of the $25.1 million in proceeds, $24.4 million was allocated to the Series A preferred stock and $704,000 was allocated to the warrant.  The discount recorded on the Series A preferred stock that resulted from allocating a portion of the proceeds to the warrant is being accreted directly to retained earnings over a five-year period applying a level yield.  As of December 31, 2011, the Company has accreted a total of $408,000 of the discount related to the Series A preferred stock.  The Company paid dividends of $1.3 million on the Series A preferred stock during 2011, and cumulative undeclared dividends at December 31, 2011 were $157,000.

The Series A preferred stock qualifies as Tier 1 capital and will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per annum for the first five years and 9% per annum thereafter.  The Series A preferred stock may be redeemed at the stated amount of $1,000 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends.  Under the terms of the original Purchase Agreement, the Company could not redeem the Series A preferred shares until December 23, 2011 unless the total amount of the issuance, $25.1 million, was replaced with the same amount of other forms of capital that would qualify as Tier 1 capital.  However, with the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”), the Company can now redeem the Series A preferred shares at any time, if approved by the Company’s primary regulator.  The Series A preferred stock is non-voting except for class voting rights on matters that would adversely affect the rights of the holders of the Series A preferred stock.

The exercise price of the warrant is $10.52 per common share and it is exercisable at anytime on or before December 18, 2018.

The Company is subject to the following restrictions while the Series A preferred stock is outstanding: 1) UST approval is required for the Company to repurchase shares of outstanding common stock; 2) the full dividend for the latest completed CPP dividend period must be declared and paid in full before dividends may be paid to common shareholders; 3) UST approval is required for any increase in common dividends per share above the last quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share paid prior to December 23, 2008; and 4) the Company may not take tax deductions for any senior executive officer whose compensation is above $500,000.  There were additional restrictions on executive compensation added in the ARRA for companies participating in the TARP, including participants in the CPP.

The Company uses the CPP capital infusion as additional Tier I capital to protect the Bank from potential losses that may be incurred during this current recessionary period.  The Company has utilized CPP funds to provide capital to support making loans to qualified borrowers in our market area.  The funds have been and will continue to be used to absorb losses incurred when modifying loans or making concessions to borrowers in order to keep borrowers out of foreclosure.  We are also working with our current builders and contractors to provide financing for potential buyers who may not be able to qualify for financing in the current mortgage market in order to help these customers sell existing single family homes.  It is the desire of the Company to repay the CPP funds without raising additional equity capital.  The Company anticipates being able to repay the CPP funds from future earnings and existing capital.  However, the funds will not be repaid until the Company achieves more consistent levels of earnings.

The Company continues to face challenges resulting from the impact of the current economy on the housing and real estate markets.  The Bank continues to monitor and evaluate all significant loans in its portfolio, and will continue to manage its credit risk exposure with the expectation that stabilization of the real estate market will not occur within the next 18 to 24 months.  The CPP funds have enhanced our capital position as the Company infused the Bank with $8.0 million additional regulatory capital. The Company has $15.0 million available that can be infused into the Bank as additional capital if needed to maintain its position as a well-capitalized bank.  We anticipate loan losses at a level higher than historical norms in the short run and have prepared for that expectation. We have quality individuals managing our past due loans and foreclosed properties to minimize our potential losses. As the economy recovers, we believe we are well positioned to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves.  We anticipate that the net interest margin will remain at or near the 3.55% net margin for 2012. The amount and timing of any future Federal Reserve rate adjustment remains uncertain, and may further impact the Bank if those adjustments are significant.
 
Management expects to look for branching opportunities in nearby markets in the future but there are no additional offices planned in 2012.
 
 
A-5

 

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, the Bank and Community Bank Real Estate Solutions, LLC, along with the Bank’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Peoples Investment Services, Inc. and Real Estate Advisory Services, Inc. (collectively called the “Company”).  All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company’s accounting policies are fundamental to understanding management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition.  Many of the Company’s accounting policies require significant judgment regarding valuation of assets and liabilities and/or significant interpretation of specific accounting guidance.  The following is a summary of some of the more subjective and complex accounting policies of the Company.  A more complete description of the Company’s significant accounting policies can be found in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report to Shareholders which is Appendix A to the Proxy Statement for the May 3, 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Many of the Company’s assets and liabilities are recorded using various techniques that require significant judgment as to recoverability.  The collectability of loans is reflected through the Company’s estimate of the allowance for loan losses.  The Company performs periodic and systematic detailed reviews of its lending portfolio to assess overall collectability.  In addition, certain assets and liabilities are reflected at their estimated fair value in the consolidated financial statements.  Such amounts are based on either quoted market prices or estimated values derived from dealer quotes used by the Company, market comparisons or internally generated modeling techniques.  The Company’s internal models generally involve present value of cash flow techniques.  The various techniques are discussed in greater detail elsewhere in management’s discussion and analysis and the notes to consolidated financial statements.

There are other complex accounting standards that require the Company to employ significant judgment in interpreting and applying certain of the principles prescribed by those standards.  These judgments include, but are not limited to, the determination of whether a financial instrument or other contract meets the definition of a derivative in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”).

The disclosure requirements for derivatives and hedging activities have the intent to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of: (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. The disclosure requirements include qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about the fair value of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative instruments.

The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value.  The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the Company has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge or the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge.  The Company may enter into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain of its risks, even though hedge accounting does not apply or the Company elects not to apply hedge accounting.

The Company has an overall interest rate risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to minimize significant unplanned fluctuations in earnings that are caused by interest rate volatility.  By using derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to credit and market risk.  If the counterparty fails to perform, credit risk is equal to the extent of the fair-value gain in the derivative.  The Company minimizes the credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high-quality counterparties that are reviewed periodically by the Company.  The Company had an interest rate swap contract that expired in June 2011.  The Company did not have any interest rate derivatives outstanding as of December 31, 2011.
 
 
A-6

 
 
The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification on the Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
 
(Dollars in thousands)
           
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
As of December 31,
2010
 
As of December
31, 2011
 
As of December 31,
2010
 
Balance
Sheet
Location
 
 
Fair Value
 
Balance
Sheet
Location
 
 
Fair Value
 
Balance
Sheet
Location
 
 
Fair Value
 
Balance
Sheet
Location
 
 
Fair Value
Interest rate
                     
derivative
                     
contracts
Other assets
 $            -
 
Other assets
 $        648    
 
N/A
 $           -
 
N/A
 $           -     
 
The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to interest income and expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps and floors as part of its interest rate risk management strategy.  For hedges of the Company’s variable-rate loan assets, interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of fixed-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making variable-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount.  For hedges of the Company’s variable-rate loan assets, the interest rate floor designated as a cash flow hedge involves the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty if interest rates fall below the strike rate on the contract in exchange for an up front premium.

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. During 2011 and 2010, such derivatives were used to hedge the variable cash inflows associated with existing pools of prime-based loan assets.  The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings.  The Company’s derivatives did not have any hedge ineffectiveness recognized in earnings during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

The tables below present the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments on the Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

(Dollars in thousands)
       
                   
 
Amount of Gain
(Loss) Recognized in
Accumulated OCI on
Derivatives 
 
Location of Gain
(Loss) Reclassified
from Accumulated
OCI into Income
 
Amount of Gain
(Loss) Reclassified
from Accumulated
OCI into Income 
 
Years ended
December 31,
     
Years ended
December 31,
 
2011
 
2010
     
2011
 
2010
Interest rate derivative contracts
 $      (20)
 
 $      404
 
Interest income
 
 $      628
 
 $    1,518         
 
Relating to the post retirement benefit plan, the Company is required to recognize an obligation for either the present value of the entire promised death benefit or the annual “cost of insurance” required to keep the policy in force during the post-retirement years.  The Company reduced retained earnings by $467,000 in 2008 pursuant to the guidance of the pronouncement to record the portion of the death benefit earned by participants prior to adoption of the pronouncement.   In 2009, the Company increased retained earnings by $358,000 to reflect an adjustment of the cumulative effect due to amendments to the individual split-dollar plans implemented during 2009.

GAAP establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  There is a three-level fair value hierarchy for fair value measurements.  Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that a company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.   The table below presents the balance of securities available for sale and derivatives, which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
 
A-7

 
 

(Dollars in thousands)
             
 
December 31, 2011
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
Level 1
Valuation
 
Level 2
Valuation
 
Level 3
Valuation
Mortgage-backed securities
$ 213,693   -   208,349   5,344
U.S. Government
               
sponsored enterprises
$ 7,694   -   7,694   -
State and political subdivisions
$ 97,097   -   97,097   -
Corporate bonds
$ 543   -   543   -
Trust preferred securities
$ 1,250   -   -   1,250
Equity securities
$ 1,111   1,111   -   -
Mortgage loans held for sale
$ 5,146   -   5,146   -
                 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
             
 
December 31, 2010
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
Level 1
Valuation
 
Level 2
Valuation
 
Level 3
Valuation
Mortgage-backed securities
$ 139,361   -   139,361   -
U.S. Government
               
sponsored enterprises
$ 42,640   -   42,640   -
State and political subdivisions
$ 87,829   -   87,829   -
Trust preferred securities
$ 1,250   -   -   1,250
Equity securities
$ 1,369   1,369   -   -
Mortgage loans held for sale
$ 3,814   -   3,814   -
Market value of derivatives (in other assets)
$ 648   -   648   -
 
Fair values of investment securities available for sale are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges when available.  If quoted prices are not available, fair value is determined using matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique used widely in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities.  Fair values of derivative instruments are determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves and implied volatilities.

The following is an analysis of fair value measurements of investment securities available for sale using Level 3, significant unobservable inputs, for the year ended December 31, 2011:

(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
Investment Securities Available for Sale
 
Level 3 Valuation
Balance, beginning of period
$ 1,250
Change in book value
  -
Change in gain/(loss) realized and unrealized
  -
Purchases/(sales)
  -
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
  5,344
Balance, end of period
$ 6,594
     
Change in unrealized gain/(loss) for assets still held in Level 3
$ -
 
 
 
A-8

 
 
The Bank’s December 31, 2011 and 2010 fair value measurement for impaired loans and other real estate on a non-recurring basis is presented below:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
         
 
Fair Value
Measurements
December 31, 2011
Level 1
Valuation
Level 2
Valuation
Level 3
Valuation
Total Gains/(Losses) for
the Year Ended
December 31, 2011
Impaired loans
$ 49,901 - 431 49,470 (11,864)
Other real estate
$ 7,576 - - 7,576 (1,322)
             
(Dollars in thousands)
           
 
Fair Value
Measurements
December 31, 2010
Level 1
Valuation
Level 2
Valuation
Level 3
Valuation
Total Gains/(Losses) for
the Year Ended
December 31, 2010
Impaired loans
$ 51,673 - 6,643 45,030 (10,591)
Other real estate
$ 6,673 - - 6,673 (704)
 
At each reporting period, the Bank determines which loans are impaired.  Accordingly, the Bank’s impaired loans are reported at their estimated fair value on a non-recurring basis.  An allowance for each impaired loan, which is generally collateral-dependent, is calculated based on the fair value of its collateral.  The fair value of the collateral is based on appraisals performed by third-party valuation specialists.  Factors including the assumptions and techniques utilized by the appraiser are considered by management.  If the recorded investment in the impaired loan exceeds the measure of fair value of the collateral, a valuation allowance is recorded as a component of the allowance for loan losses.  Accruing impaired loans amounted to $30.6 million and $17.0 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Interest income recognized on accruing impaired loans was $1.7 million  and $966,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  No interest income is recognized on non-accrual impaired loans subsequent to their classification as impaired.

The following table presents the Bank’s impaired loans as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

December 31, 2011
               
(Dollars in thousands)
               
 
Unpaid Contractual Principal
Balance
 
Recorded Investment
With No Allowance
 
Recorded Investment
With
Allowance
 
Recorded
Investment
in Impaired
Loans
 
Related
Allowance
 
Average Outstanding Impaired
Loans
Real Estate Loans
                     
     Construction and land development
$ 28,721   14,484   6,098   20,582   3,264   17,848
     Single-family residential
  26,382   969   24,719   25,688   1,427   25,102
     Commercial
  7,717   3,845   3,139   6,984   77   4,518
     Multifamily and farmland
  209   -   209   209   1   214
          Total impaired real estate loans
  63,029   19,298   34,165   53,463   4,769   47,682
                         
Commercial loans (not secured by real estate)
  1,111   -   1,083   1,083   26   1,485
Consumer loans (not secured by real estate)
  157   -   152   152   2   140
     Total impaired loans
$ 64,297   19,298   35,400   54,698   4,797   49,307
                         
                         
December 31, 2010
               
(Dollars in thousands)
               
 
Unpaid Contractual Principal
Balance
 
Recorded Investment
With No Allowance
 
Recorded Investment
With
Allowance
 
Recorded
Investment
in Impaired
Loans
 
Related
Allowance
 
Average Outstanding Impaired
Loans
Real estate loans
              -        
     Construction and land development
  31,551   19,422   3,698   23,120   3,177   18,870
     Single-family residential
  26,834   1,738   23,558   25,296   1,613   26,558
     Commercial
  6,911   4,424   1,819   6,243   218   4,992
     Multifamily and farmland
  223   -   223   223   4   254
          Total impaired real estate loans
  65,519   25,584   29,298   54,882   5,012   50,674
                         
Commercial loans (not secured by real estate)
  2,145   648   1,072   1,720   55   1,705
Consumer loans (not secured by real estate)
  152   -   142   142   4   79
     Total impaired loans
$ 67,816   26,232   30,512   56,744   5,071   52,458
 
 
 
A-9

 
 
In April 2011, the Financial Accounting Standard Accounting Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-02, A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring is a Troubled Debt Restructuring. ASU No. 2011-02 provides additional guidance for determining what constitutes a troubled debt restructuring.  ASU No. 2011-02 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2011.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or disclosures.

In May 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”).  ASU No. 2011-04 is intended to result in convergence between GAAP and IFRS requirements for measurement of and disclosures about fair value. The amendments are not expected to have a significant impact on companies applying U.S. GAAP.  ASU No. 2011-04 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or disclosures.

In June 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income.  ASU No. 2011-05 will require companies to present the components of net income and other comprehensive income either as one continuous statement or as two consecutive statements.  It eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity.  ASU No. 2011-05 does not change the items which must be reported in other comprehensive income, how such items are measured or when they must be reclassified to net income. This standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  Because ASU No. 2011-05 impacts presentation only, it will have no impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

In December 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05.  ASU No. 2011-12 defers the effective date of the requirement to present separate line items on the income statement for reclassification adjustments of items out of accumulated other comprehensive income into net income.  This deferral is temporary until the FASB reconsiders the operational concerns and needs of financial statement users.  The FASB has not yet established a timetable for its reconsideration.  Entities are still required to present reclassification adjustments within other comprehensive income either on the face of the statement that reports other comprehensive income or in the notes to the financial statements.  The requirement to present comprehensive income in either a single continuous statement or two consecutive condensed statements remains for both annual and interim reporting.  Because ASU No. 2011-12 impacts presentation only, it will have no impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or disclosures.
 
        Management  of  the  Company  has  made a  number of  estimates and  assumptions  relating to  reporting of  assets and  liabilities  and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The remainder of management’s discussion and analysis of the Company’s results of operations and financial position should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes presented on pages A-28 through A-63.

Results of Operations
Summary.  The Company reported earnings of $5.2 million in 2011, or $0.93 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, as compared to $1.8 million, or $0.33 basic and diluted net earnings per share, for the same period one year ago.  After adjusting for dividends and accretion on preferred stock, net earnings available to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2011 were $3.8 million or $0.68 basic and diluted net earnings per common share as compared to $447,000, or $0.08 basic and diluted net earnings per common share, for the same period one year ago.  The increase in year-to-date earnings is primarily attributable to aggregate increases in net interest income and non-interest income and a decrease in the provision for loan losses, which were partially offset by an increase in non-interest expense.

Net earnings for 2010 represented a decrease of 37% as compared to 2009 net earnings of $2.9 million or $0.30 basic and diluted net earnings per common share.  The decrease in 2010 net earnings was primarily attributable to  an increase in provision for loan losses, which was partially offset by an increase in net interest income, an increase in non-interest income and a decrease in non-interest expense.
 
 
A-10

 
 
The return on average assets in 2011 was 0.48%, compared to 0.17% in 2010 and 0.29% in 2009. The return on average shareholders’ equity was 5.03% in 2011 compared to 1.81% in 2010 and 2.88% in 2009.
Net Interest Income.  Net interest income, the major component of the Company’s net income, is the amount by which interest and fees generated by interest-earning assets exceed the total cost of funds used to carry them.  Net interest income is affected by changes in the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, as well as changes in the yields earned and rates paid.  Net interest margin is calculated by dividing tax-equivalent net interest income by average interest-earning assets, and represents the Company’s net yield on its interest-earning assets.

Net interest income for 2011 increased to $34.3 million compared to $33.3 million in 2010.  This increase is primarily attributable to a reduction in interest expense due to a decrease in the cost of funds for time deposits.  Net interest income increased slightly in 2010 from $32.9 million in 2009.

Table 1 sets forth for each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, the average amounts outstanding, the interest incurred on such amounts and the average rate earned or incurred for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. The table also sets forth the average rate earned on total interest-earning assets, the average rate paid on total interest-bearing liabilities, and the net yield on average total interest-earning assets for the same periods.  Yield information does not give effect to changes in fair value that are reflected as a component of shareholders’ equity.  Yields and interest income on tax-exempt investments have been adjusted to tax equivalent basis using an effective tax rate of 38.55% for securities that are both federal and state tax exempt and an effective tax rate of 6.90% for state tax exempt securities.  Non-accrual loans and the interest income that was recorded on these loans, if any, are included in the yield calculations for loans in all periods reported.

Table 1- Average Balance Table
                       
                                   
 
December 31, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
December 31, 2009
(Dollars in thousands)
Average
Balance
Interest
Yield /
Rate
Average Balance
Interest
Yield /
Rate
Average Balance
Interest
Yield /
Rate
Interest-earning assets:
                                 
Interest and fees on loans
$ 697,527     36,407   5.22%   757,532   40,267   5.32%   782,464   43,211   5.52%
Investments - taxable
  166,870     4,588   2.75%   110,493   3,490   3.16%   81,642   3,477   4.26%
Investments - nontaxable*
  128,543     5,865   4.56%   109,304   5,096   4.66%   79,493   4,226   5.32%
Other
  22,511     100   0.44%   21,725   103   0.48%   13,081   54   0.41%
                                       
Total interest-earning assets
  1,015,451     46,960   4.62%   999,054   48,956   4.90%   956,680   50,968   5.33%
                                       
Cash and due from banks
  23,844             46,124           31,225        
Other assets
  50,829             49,765           41,866        
Allowance for loan losses
  (15,874 )           (16,807 )         (13,514 )      
                                       
Total assets
$ 1,074,250             1,078,136           1,016,257        
                                       
                                       
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                     
                                       
NOW, MMDA & savings deposits
$ 344,860     2,263   0.66%   312,155   3,472   1.11%   242,751   2,965   1.22%
Time deposits
  357,094     5,035   1.41%   405,300   6,786   1.67%   412,127   9,687   2.35%
FHLB / FRB borrowings
  70,027     2,956   4.22%   71,989   3,285   4.56%   84,547   3,596   4.25%
Demand notes payable to U.S. Treasury
  885     -   0.00%   815   -   0.00%   805   -   0.00%
Trust preferred securities
  20,619     407   1.97%   20,619   411   1.99%   20,619   546   2.65%
Other
  42,897     285   0.66%   38,991   394   1.01%   35,411   393   1.11%
                                       
Total interest-bearing liabilities
  836,382     10,946   1.31%   849,870   14,348   1.69%   796,260   17,187   2.16%
                                       
Demand deposits
  133,596             122,887           117,197        
Other liabilities
  4,174             3,513           2,428        
Shareholders' equity
  102,568             101,529           101,162        
                                       
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity
$ 1,076,720             1,077,799           1,017,047        
                                       
Net interest spread
      $ 36,014   3.31%       34,608   3.21%       33,781   3.17%
                                       
Net yield on interest-earning assets
            3.55%           3.46%           3.53%
                                       
Taxable equivalent adjustment
                                     
        Investment securities
      $ 1,700           1,276           931    
                                       
Net interest income
      $ 34,314           33,332           32,850    
                                       
*Includes U.S. government agency securities that are non-taxable for state income tax purposes of $39.0 million in 2011, $50.3 million in 2010 and $45.5 million in 2009. An effective tax rate of 6.90% was used to calculate the tax equivalent yield on these securities.
 
 
 
A-11

 
 
          Changes in interest income and interest expense can result from variances in both volume and rates.  Table 2 describes the impact on the Company’s tax equivalent net interest income resulting from changes in average balances and average rates for the periods indicated.  The changes in interest due to both volume and rate have been allocated to volume and rate changes in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the changes in each.
 
Table 2 - Rate/Volume Variance Analysis-Tax Equivalent Basis
             
                                   
                                   
 
December 31, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
(Dollars in thousands)
Changes in
average volume
 
Changes in
average rates
 
Total Increase (Decrease)
 
Changes in
average volume
 
Changes in
average rates
 
Total Increase (Decrease)
Interest income:
                                 
Loans: Net of unearned income
$ (3,161 )   (699 )   (3,860 )   (1,351 )   (1,593 )   (2,944 )
                                     
Investments - taxable
  1,665     (567 )   1,098     1,070     (1,057 )   13  
Investments - nontaxable
  887     (118 )   769     1,487     (617 )   870  
Other
  4     (7 )   (3 )   42     7     49  
Total interest income
  (605 )   (1,391 )   (1,996 )   1,248     (3,260 )   (2,012 )
                                     
Interest expense:
                                   
NOW, MMDA & savings deposits
  289     (1,498 )   (1,209 )   770     (263 )   507  
Time deposits
  (744 )   (1,007 )   (1,751 )   (137 )   (2,764 )   (2,901 )
FHLB / FRB Borrowings
  (86 )   (243 )   (329 )   (554 )   243     (311 )
Trust Preferred Securities
  -     (4 )   (4 )   -     (135 )   (135 )
Other
  33     (142 )   (109 )   38     (37 )   1  
Total interest expense
  (508 )   (2,894 )   (3,402 )   117     (2,956 )   (2,839 )
Net interest income
$ (97 )   1,503     1,406     1,131     (304 )   827  
 
          Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis totaled $36.0 million in 2011 as compared to $34.6 million in 2010.  The interest rate spread, which represents the rate earned on interest-earning assets less the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, was 3.31% in 2011, an increase from the 2010 net interest spread of 3.21%.  The net yield on interest-earning assets in 2011 increased to 3.55% from the 2010 net yield on interest-earning assets of 3.46%.

Tax equivalent interest income decreased $2.0 million or 4% in 2011 primarily due to a reduction in loan balances.  The yield on interest-earning assets decreased to 4.62% in 2011 from 4.90% in 2010.  Average interest-earning assets increased $16.4 million primarily as the result of a $75.6 million increase in average investment securities, which was partially offset by a $60.0 million decrease in the average outstanding balance of loans.  All other interest-earning assets including federal funds sold were $22.5 million in 2011 and $21.7 million in 2010.

Interest expense decreased $3.4 million or 24% in 2011 due to a decrease in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.  The cost of funds decreased to 1.31% in 2011 from 1.69% in 2010.  This decrease in the cost of funds was primarily attributable to decreases in the average rate paid on interest-bearing checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit.  The $13.5 million decrease in average interest-bearing liabilities in 2011 was primarily attributable to a $48.2 million decrease in certificates of deposit, which was partially offset by a $32.7 million increase in interest-bearing checking and savings accounts.

In 2010 net interest income on a tax equivalent basis increased to $34.6 million in 2010 from $33.8 million in 2009.  The interest rate spread was 3.21% in 2010, an increase from the 2009 net interest spread of 3.17%.  The net yield on interest-earning assets in 2010 decreased to 3.46% from the 2009 net yield on interest-earning assets of 3.53%.

Provision for Loan Losses.  Provisions for loan losses are charged to income in order to bring the total allowance for loan losses to a level deemed appropriate by management of the Company based on factors such as management’s judgment as to losses within the Bank’s loan portfolio, including the valuation of impaired loans, loan growth, net charge-offs, changes in the composition of the loan portfolio, delinquencies and management’s assessment of the quality of the loan portfolio and general economic climate.

The provision for loan losses was $12.6 million, $16.4 million, and $10.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The decrease in the provision for loan losses is primarily attributable to a $18.3 million reduction in non-accrual loans from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2011 and a $4.8 million decrease in net charge-offs during the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to the same period last year.  Please see the section below entitled “Allowance for Loan Losses” for a more complete discussion of the Bank’s policy for addressing potential loan losses.
 
 
A-12

 
 
Non-Interest Income.  Non-interest income for 2011 totaled $14.5 million, an increase of $600,000 or 5% from non-interest income of $13.9 million for 2010.  This increase is primarily attributable to a $1.2 million increase in gains on the sale of securities, which was partially offset by a $625,000 reduction in service charges and fees.
 
Non-interest income for 2010 increased $2.1 million or 17% from non-interest income of $11.8 million for 2009. The increase in non-interest income for 2010 is primarily due to an increase in gains on the sale of securities.

The Company periodically evaluates its investments for any impairment which would be deemed other-than-temporary.   As part of its evaluation in 2011, the Company determined that the fair value of one equity security was less than the original cost of the investment and that the decline in fair value was not temporary in nature.  As a result, the Company wrote down its investment by $144,000.  The remaining fair value of the investment at December 31, 2011 was approximately $264,000.  Similarly, as part of its evaluation in 2010, the Company wrote down two equity securities by $291,000.  The remaining fair value of the investments at December 31, 2010 was $409,000.  During the year ended 2009, the Company wrote down three  investments by $723,000.  The remaining fair value of the investments at December 31, 2009 was $11,000.
 
Net losses on other real estate and repossessed assets were $1.3 million, $704,000 and $501,000 for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The increases in net losses on other real estate and repossessed assets during 2011, 2010 and 2009 were primarily attributable to increased write-downs on foreclosed property during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.  Management determined that the market value of these assets had decreased significantly and charges were appropriate in 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Table 3 presents a summary of non-interest income for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Table 3 - Non-Interest Income
           
             
(Dollars in thousands)
2011
2010
2009
Service charges
$ 5,106   $ 5,626   5,573  
Other service charges and fees
  2,090     2,195   2,058  
Other than temporary impairment losses
  (144 )   (291 ) (723 )
Gain on sale of securities
  4,406     3,348   1,795  
Mortgage banking income
  757     532   827  
Insurance and brokerage commissions
  471     390   414  
Loss on foreclosed and repossessed assets
  (1,322 )   (704 ) (501 )
Miscellaneous
  3,149     2,788   2,380  
Total non-interest income
$ 14,513   $ 13,884   11,823  
 
Non-Interest Expense.  Total non-interest expense amounted to $29.6 million for 2011, an increase of 2% from 2010.  Non-interest expense for 2010 decreased 3% to $28.9 million from non-interest expense of $29.9 million for 2009.

Salary and employee benefit expense was $14.8 million in 2011, compared to $14.1 million during 2010, an increase of $642,000 or 5%, following a $634,000 or 4% decrease in salary and employee benefit expense in 2010 from 2009.  The increase in salary and employee benefits in 2011 was primarily due to salary increases given in 2011 along with an increase in commissions on mortgage, real estate and investment sales.  The decrease in salary and employee benefits in 2010 was primarily attributable to a reduction in supplemental retirement plan expense.
 
 
A-13

 
 
Table 4 presents a summary of non-interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.
 
Table 4 - Non-Interest Expense
         
           
(Dollars in thousands)
2011
2010
2009
Salaries and wages
$ 12,003   $ 11,408   $ 11,530
Employee benefits
  2,763     2,716     3,228
     Total personnel expense
  14,766     14,124     14,758
Occupancy expense
  5,339     5,436     5,409
Office supplies
  403     391     426
FDIC deposit insurance
  1,061     1,434     1,766
Professional services
  428     467     358
Postage
  326     352     342
Telephone
  605     629     616
Director fees and expense
  223     263     350
Advertising
  662     714     860
Consulting fees
  316     288     198
Taxes and licenses
  289     320     248
Other operating expense
  5,154     4,530     4,552
Total non-interest expense
$ 29,572   $ 28,948   $ 29,883
 
Income Taxes.  The Company reported income tax expense of $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 and an income tax benefit of $11,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010.  Total income tax expense was $1.3 million in 2009.   The Company’s effective tax rates were 22.09%, -0.60% and 31.47% in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The 2011 and 2010 effective tax rates are lower than historical levels due to increases in tax exempt investment income, which had a greater impact on the effective tax rate at the reduced level of earnings before income taxes as experienced in 2011 and 2010.

Liquidity. The objectives of the Company’s liquidity policy are to provide for the availability of adequate funds to meet the needs of loan demand, deposit withdrawals, maturing liabilities and to satisfy regulatory requirements.  Both deposit and loan customer cash needs can fluctuate significantly depending upon business cycles, economic conditions and yields and returns available from alternative investment opportunities.  In addition, the Company’s liquidity is affected by off-balance sheet commitments to lend in the form of unfunded commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit.  As of December 31, 2011, such unfunded commitments to extend credit were $131.6 million, while commitments in the form of standby letters of credit totaled $3.3 million.

The Company  uses  several  sources to meet its  liquidity  requirements.  The  primary  source is core deposits, which  includes demand deposits, savings accounts and non-brokered certificates of deposits of denominations less than $100,000.  The Company considers these to be a stable portion of the Company’s liability mix and the result of on-going consumer and commercial banking relationships.  As of December 31, 2011, the Company’s core deposits totaled $633.0 million, or 77% of total deposits.

The other sources of funding for the Company are through large denomination certificates of deposit, including brokered deposits, federal funds purchased, securities under agreement to repurchase and Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) borrowings.  The Bank is also able to borrow from the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) on a short-term basis.  The Bank’s policies include the ability to access wholesale funding up to 40% of total assets.  The Bank’s wholesale funding includes FHLB borrowings, FRB borrowings, brokered deposits, internet certificates of deposit.  The Company’s ratio of wholesale funding to total assets was 11.11% as of December 31, 2011.

At December 31, 2011, the Bank had a significant amount of deposits in amounts greater than $100,000, including brokered deposits of $47.0 million, which have an average original term of 15 months.  Brokered deposits include certificates of deposit participated through the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS) on behalf of local customers.  CDARS balances totaled $28.6 million as of December 31, 2011.  The balance and cost of brokered deposits are more susceptible to changes in the interest rate environment than other deposits.   Access to the brokered deposit market could be restricted if the Bank were to fall below the well capitalized level.  For additional information, please see the section below entitled “Deposits.”

The Bank has a line of credit with the FHLB equal to 20% of the Bank’s total assets, with an outstanding balance of $70.0 million at December 31, 2011.  At December 31, 2011, the carrying value of loans pledged as collateral totaled approximately $153.7 million.  As additional collateral, the Bank has pledged securities to the FHLB.  At
 
 
A-14

 
 
December 31, 2011, the market value of securities pledged to the FHLB totaled $13.2 million.  The remaining availability under the line of credit with the FHLB was $17.1 million at December 31, 2011.  The Bank had no borrowings from the FRB at December 31, 2011.  The FRB borrowings are collateralized by a blanket assignment on all qualifying loans that the Bank owns which are not pledged to the FHLB.  At December 31, 2011, the carrying value of loans pledged as collateral to the FRB totaled approximately $342.2 million.

The Bank also had the ability to borrow up to $47.5 million for the purchase of overnight federal funds from five correspondent financial institutions as of December 31, 2011.

The liquidity ratio for the Bank, which is defined as net cash, interest-bearing deposits with banks, federal funds sold and certain investment securities, as a percentage of net deposits and short-term liabilities was 32.19% at December 31, 2011, 25.87% at December 31, 2010 and 19.10% at December 31, 2009.  The minimum required liquidity ratio as defined in the Bank’s Asset/Liability and Interest Rate Risk Management Policy for on balance sheet liquidity is 10%.

As disclosed in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included elsewhere herein, net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $22.4 million during 2011.  Net cash used in investing activities of $7.7 million consisted primarily of purchases of available for sale investments totaling $208.9 million, which were partially offset by maturities, calls and sales of available for sale investments, which totaled $165.0 million.  Net cash used by financing activities amounted to $9.4 million, primarily due to a $11.6 million net decrease in deposits, which was partially offset by an increase in securities sold under agreement to repurchase of $5.5 million.

Asset Liability and Interest Rate Risk Management.  The objective of the Company’s Asset Liability and Interest Rate Risk strategies is to identify and manage the sensitivity of net interest income to changing interest rates and to minimize the interest rate risk between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities at various maturities.  This is done in conjunction with the need to maintain adequate liquidity and the overall goal of maximizing net interest income. Table 5 presents an interest rate sensitivity analysis for the interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Table 5 - Interest Sensitivity Analysis
           
                       
(Dollars in thousands)
Immediate
1-3
months
4-12
months
Total
Within One
Year  
Over One
Year & Non-sensitive
Total
Interest-earning assets:
                     
Loans
$ 359,316   3,347   17,096   379,759   290,738   670,497
Mortgage loans held for  sale
  5,146   -   -   5,146   -   5,146
Investment securities available for sale
  -   12,284   40,661   52,945   268,443   321,388
Interest-bearing deposit accounts
  769   -   -   769   -   769
Certificates of deposit
  -   -   -   -   -   -
Other interest-earning assets
  -   -   -   -   6,331   6,331
                         
Total interest-earning assets
  365,231   15,631   57,757   438,619   565,512   1,004,131
                         
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                       
NOW, savings, and money market deposits
  366,133   -   -   366,133   -   366,133
Time deposits
  11,332   61,507   180,306   253,145   70,955   324,100
Other short term borrowings
  -   -   -   -   -   -
FHLB borrowings
  -   -   -   -   70,000   70,000
Securities sold under
                       
agreement to repurchase
  39,600   -   -   39,600   -   39,600
Trust preferred securities
  -   20,619   -   20,619   -   20,619
                         
Total interest-bearing liabilities
  417,065   82,126   180,306   679,497   140,955   820,452
                         
Interest-sensitive gap
$ (51,834 ) (66,495 ) (122,549 ) (240,878 ) 424,557   183,679
                         
Cumulative interest-sensitive gap
$ (51,834 ) (118,329 ) (240,878 ) (240,878 ) 183,679    
                         
Interest-earning assets as a percentage of
               
interest-bearing liabilities   87.57%   19.03%   32.03%   64.55%   401.20%    
 
 
 
A-15

 
 
         The Company manages its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates through policies established by the Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”) of the Bank.  The ALCO meets quarterly and has the responsibility for approving asset/liability management policies, formulating and implementing strategies to improve balance sheet positioning and/or earnings and reviewing the interest rate sensitivity of the Company.  ALCO tries to minimize interest rate risk between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities by attempting to minimize wide fluctuations in net interest income due to interest rate movements.  The ability to control these fluctuations has a direct impact on the profitability of the Company. Management monitors this activity on a regular basis through analysis of its portfolios to determine the difference between rate sensitive assets and rate sensitive liabilities.

The Company’s rate  sensitive assets are those  earning interest at  variable rates and  those with contractual maturities within one year.  Rate sensitive assets therefore include both loans and available-for-sale securities.  Rate sensitive liabilities include interest-bearing checking accounts, money market deposit accounts, savings accounts, time deposits and borrowed funds.  Rate sensitive assets at December 31, 2011 totaled $1.0 billion, exceeding rate sensitive liabilities of $820.5 million by $183.7 million.

Included in the rate sensitive assets are $372.4 million in variable rate loans indexed to prime rate subject to immediate repricing upon changes by the Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”).  The Bank utilizes interest rate floors on certain variable rate loans to protect against further downward movements in the prime rate.  At December 31, 2011, the Bank had $280.8 million in loans with interest rate floors.  The floors were in effect on $279.9 million of these loans pursuant to the terms of the promissory notes on these loans.   The weighted average rate on these loans is 1.11% higher than the indexed rate on the promissory notes without interest rate floors.

The Company has an overall interest rate risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to minimize significant unplanned fluctuations in earnings that are caused by interest rate volatility.  By using derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to credit and market risk.  If the counterparty fails to perform, credit risk is equal to the extent of the fair-value gain in the derivative.  The Company minimizes the credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high-quality counterparties that are reviewed periodically by the Company. The Company did not have any interest rate derivatives outstanding as of December 31, 2011.

An analysis of the Company’s financial condition and growth can be made by examining the changes and trends in interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  A discussion of these changes and trends follows.

Analysis of Financial Condition
Investment Securities.  The composition of the investment securities portfolio reflects the Company’s investment strategy of maintaining an appropriate level of liquidity while providing a relatively stable source of income.  The investment portfolio also provides a balance to interest rate risk and credit risk in other categories of the balance sheet while providing a vehicle for the investment of available funds, furnishing liquidity, and supplying securities to pledge as required collateral for certain deposits.

All of the Company’s investment securities are held in the available for sale (“AFS”) category. At December 31, 2011, the market value of AFS securities totaled $321.4 million, compared to $272.4 million and $195.1 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The increase in 2011 AFS securities reflects the investment of additional funds received from growth in deposits and a decrease in loans.  Table 6 presents the market value of the AFS securities held at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Table 6 - Summary of Investment Portfolio
         
           
(Dollars in thousands)
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
         
U.S. Government sponsored enterprises
$ 7,694   $ 42,640   41,142
State and political subdivisions
  97,097     87,829   44,336
Mortgage-backed securities
  213,693     139,361   107,526
Corporate bonds
  543     -     -  
Trust preferred securities
  1,250     1,250   1,250
Equity securities
  1,111     1,369   861
Total securities
$ 321,388   $ 272,449   195,115
 
The Company’s investment portfolio consists of U.S. Government sponsored enterprise securities, municipal securities, U.S. Government enterprise sponsored mortgage-backed securities, corporate bonds, trust preferred securities and equity securities.  AFS securities averaged $295.4 million in 2011, $219.8 million in 2010 and $161.1 million in 2009.  Table 7 presents the amortized cost of AFS securities held by the Company by maturity category at December 31, 2011.   Yield information does not give effect to changes in fair value that are reflected as a component of shareholders’
 
 
A-16

 
 
equity.  Yields are calculated on a tax equivalent basis.  Yields and interest income on tax-exempt investments have been adjusted to a tax equivalent basis using an effective tax rate 38.55% for securities that are both federal and state tax exempt and an effective tax rate of 6.90% for state tax exempt securities.

Table 7 - Maturity Distribution and Weighted Average Yield on Investments
                   
                                       
         
After One Year
 
After 5 Years
               
 
One Year or Less
 
Through 5 Years
 
Through 10 Years
 
After 10 Years
 
Totals
(Dollars in thousands)
Amount
 
Yield
 
Amount
 
Yield
 
Amount
 
Yield
 
Amount
 
Yield
 
Amount
 
Yield
Book value:
                                     
U.S. Government
                                     
sponsored enterprises
$ -   -   3,706   4.03%   3,988   3.40%   -   -   7,694   3.71%
States and political subdivisions
  4,690   3.80%   14,531   3.25%   65,677   3.46%   12,198   3.88%   97,097   3.61%
Mortgage-backed securities
  48,254   2.59%   117,037   2.57%   25,197   2.86%   23,206   2.72%   213,693   2.63%
Corporate bonds
  -   -   543   1.90%   -   -   -   -   543   1.90%
Trust preferred securities
  -   -   -   -   1,000   4.36%   250   5.27%   1,250   4.91%
Equity securities
  -   -   -   -   -   -   1,112   0.00%   1,112   0.00%
Total securities
$ 52,944   2.70%   135,817   2.68%   95,860   3.07%   36,765   2.95%   321,388   2.79%
 
           Loans.  The loan portfolio is the largest category of the Company’s earning assets and is comprised of commercial loans, real estate mortgage loans, real estate construction loans and consumer loans. The Bank grants loans and extensions of credit primarily within the Catawba Valley region of North Carolina, which encompasses Catawba, Alexander, Iredell and Lincoln counties and also in Mecklenburg, Union and Wake counties in North Carolina.

Although the Bank has a diversified loan portfolio, a substantial portion of the loan portfolio is collateralized by real estate, which is dependent upon the real estate market.  Real estate mortgage loans include both commercial and residential mortgage loans.  At December 31, 2011, the Bank had $117.4 million in residential mortgage loans, $92.1 million in home equity loans and $277.0 million in commercial mortgage loans, which include $219.2 million using commercial property as collateral and $57.8 million using residential property as collateral.   Residential mortgage loans include $62.9 million made to customers in the Bank’s traditional banking offices and $54.5 million in mortgage loans originated in the Bank’s Latino banking operations.  All residential mortgage loans are originated as fully amortizing loans, with no negative amortization.

At December 31, 2011, the Bank had $93.8 million in construction and land development loans.  Table 8 presents a breakout of these loans.

Table 8 - Construction and Land Development Loans
         
           
(Dollars in thousands)
Number of Loans
 
Balance Outstanding
 
Non-accrual Balance
Land acquisition and development - commercial purposes
72   $ 20,932   $ 2,441
Land acquisition and development - residential purposes
330     61,920     10,816
1 to 4 family residential construction
26     7,971     -
Commercial construction
8     2,989     -
Total acquisition, development and construction
436   $ 93,812   $ 13,257
 
The mortgage loans originated in the traditional banking offices are generally 15 to 30 year fixed rate loans with attributes that  prevent the loans from being sellable in the secondary market.  These factors may include higher loan-to-value ratio, limited documentation on income, non-conforming appraisal or non-conforming property type;  these loans are generally made to existing Bank customers.  These loans have been originated throughout the Bank’s five county service area, with no geographic concentration.  At December 31, 2011, there were 23 mortgage loans originated in the traditional banking offices with an outstanding balance of $2.7 million that were 30 days or more past due and nine loans with an outstanding balance of $743,000 in non-accrual.

The mortgage loans originated in the Bank’s Latino operations from 2005 to 2009 were primarily adjustable rate mortgage loans that adjust annually after the end of the first five years of the loan.  The loans are tied to the one-year T-Bill index and, if they were to adjust at December 31, 2011, would have a reduction in the interest rate on the loan.  The underwriting on these loans includes both full income verification and no income verification, with loan-to-value ratios of up to 95% without private mortgage insurance.  A majority of these loans would be considered subprime loans, as they were underwritten using stated income rather than fully documented income verification.  No other loans in the Bank’s
 
 
A-17

 
 
portfolio would be considered subprime.  The majority of these loans have been originated within the Charlotte, North Carolina metro area (Mecklenburg County).  At this time, Charlotte has experienced a decline in values within the residential real estate market.  At December 31, 2011, there were 163 loans with an outstanding balance of $17.0 million 30 days or more past due and 37 loans with an outstanding balance of $3.3 million in non-accrual.  Total losses on this portfolio, since the first loans were originated in 2004, have amounted to approximately $2.1 million through December 31, 2011.
 
As a recipient of CPP funds, the Bank will continue to work with delinquent borrowers in an attempt to mitigate foreclosure.  The funds have been used to absorb losses incurred when modifying loans or making concessions to borrowers in order to keep borrowers out of foreclosure.

The composition of the Bank’s loan portfolio is presented in Table 9.
 
Table 9 - Loan Portfolio
                                     
                                       
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
2008
 
2007
(Dollars in thousands)
Amount
 
% of Loans
 
Amount
 
% of Loans
 
Amount
 
% of Loans
 
Amount
 
% of Loans
 
Amount
 
% of Loans
Real estate loans
                                     
     Construction and land development
$ 93,812   13.99%   124,048   17.08%   169,680   21.81%   216,188   27.67%   209,645   29.02%
     Single-family residential
  267,051   39.83%   287,307   39.57%   281,686   36.20%   256,686   32.86%   229,651   31.80%
     Commercial
  214,415   31.98%   213,487   29.40%   224,975   28.92%   211,835   27.12%   180,184   24.95%
     Multifamily and farmland
  4,793   0.71%   6,456   0.89%   6,302   0.81%   6,232   0.80%   7,873   1.09%
          Total real estate loans
  580,071   86.51%   631,298   86.94%   682,643   87.74%   690,941   88.45%   627,353   86.86%
                                         
Commercial loans (not secured by real estate)
  60,646   9.05%   60,994   8.40%   67,487   8.67%   76,842   9.82%   82,090   11.36%
Farm loans (not secured by real estate)
  -   0.00%   -   0.00%   -   0.00%   81   0.01%   100   0.01%
Consumer loans (not secured by real estate)
  10,490   1.56%   11,500   1.58%   12,943   1.66%   12,088   1.55%   11,531   1.60%
All other loans (not secured by real estate)
  19,290   2.88%   22,368   3.08%   14,983   1.93%   1,236   0.16%   1,203   0.17%
Total loans
  670,497   100.00%   726,160   100.00%   778,056   100.00%   781,188   100.00%   722,277   100.00%
                                         
Less: Allowance for loan losses
  16,604       15,493       15,413       11,025       9,103    
                                         
Net loans
$ 653,893       710,667       762,643       770,163       713,174    
 
   As of December 31, 2011, gross  loans  outstanding  were  $670.5 million, a  decrease of $55.7 million  from  the  December 31, 2010 balance  of  $726.2 million.  This decrease was primarily due to a $51.2 million reduction in real estate loans.  Loans originated or renewed during the year ended December 31, 2011 were $84.4 million and were offset by paydowns, payoffs and charge-offs of existing loans.  Average loans represented 69% and 76% of total earning assets for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  The Bank had $5.1 million and $3.8 million in mortgage loans held for sale as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

At December 31, 2011, troubled debt restructured (“TDR”) loans amounted to $44.1 million, including $15.1 million in performing TDR loans.  The terms of these loans have been renegotiated to provide a reduction in principal or interest as a result of the deteriorating financial position of the borrower.  At December 31, 2010, TDR loans amounted to $56.7 million, including $10.0 million in performing TDR loans.

Table 10 identifies the maturities of all loans as of December 31, 2011 and addresses the sensitivity of these loans to changes in interest rates.
 
Table 10 - Maturity and Repricing Data for Loans
             
               
(Dollars in thousands)
Within one
year or less
 
After one year through five
years
 
After five
years
 
Total loans
Real estate loans
             
    Construction and land development
$ 80,943   10,312   2,557   93,812
    Single-family residential
  132,590   68,101   66,359   267,050
    Commercial
  129,381   66,933   18,101   214,415
    Multifamily and farmland
  2,593   1,815   385   4,793
          Total real estate loans
  345,507   147,161   87,402   580,070
                 
Commercial loans (not secured by real estate
  52,032   7,928   688   60,648
Consumer loans (not secured by real estate
  5,186   4,984   320   10,490
All other loans (not secured by real estate
  12,332   5,182   1,775   19,289
Total loans
$ 415,057   165,255   90,185   670,497
                 
Total fixed rate loans
$ 35,298   141,702   90,185   267,185
Total floating rate loans
  379,759   23,553   -   403,312
                 
Total loans
$ 415,057   165,255   90,185   670,497
 
 
 
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In the normal course of business, there are various commitments outstanding to extend credit that are not reflected in the financial statements. At December 31, 2011, outstanding loan commitments totaled $131.6 million.  Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the commitment contract.  Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee.  Since many of the commitments may expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.  Additional information regarding commitments is provided below in the section entitled “Contractual Obligations” and in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Allowance for Loan Losses.  The allowance for loan losses reflects management’s assessment and estimate of the risks associated with extending credit and its evaluation of the quality of the loan portfolio.  The Bank periodically analyzes the loan portfolio in an effort to review asset quality and to establish an allowance for loan losses that management believes will be adequate in light of anticipated risks and loan losses.  In assessing the adequacy of the allowance, size, quality and risk of loans in the portfolio are reviewed. Other factors considered are:

·  
the Bank’s loan loss experience;
·  
the amount of past due and non-performing loans;
·  
specific known risks;
·  
the status and amount of other past due and non-performing assets;
·  
underlying estimated values of collateral securing loans;
·  
current and anticipated economic conditions; and
·  
other factors which management believes affect the allowance for potential credit losses.

Management uses several measures to assess and monitor the credit risks in the loan portfolio, including a loan grading system that begins upon loan origination and continues until the loan is collected or collectibility becomes doubtful. Upon loan origination, the Bank’s originating loan officer evaluates the quality of the loan and assigns one of nine risk grades. The loan officer monitors the loan’s performance and credit quality and makes changes to the credit grade as conditions warrant. When originated or renewed, all loans over a certain dollar amount receive in-depth reviews and risk assessments by the Bank’s Credit Administration. Before making any changes in these risk grades, management considers assessments as determined by the third party credit review firm (as described below), regulatory examiners and the Bank’s Credit Administration. Any issues regarding the risk assessments are addressed by the Bank’s senior credit administrators and factored into management’s decision to originate or renew the loan. The Bank’s Board of Directors reviews, on a monthly basis, an analysis of the Bank’s reserves relative to the range of reserves estimated by the Bank’s Credit Administration.

As an additional measure, the Bank engages an independent third party to review the underwriting, documentation and risk grading analyses. This independent third party reviews and evaluates all loan relationships greater than $1.0 million.  The third party’s evaluation and report is shared with management and the Bank’s Board of Directors.

Management considers certain commercial loans with weak credit risk grades to be individually impaired and measures such impairment based upon available cash flows and the value of the collateral. Allowance or reserve levels are estimated for all other graded loans in the portfolio based on their assigned credit risk grade, type of loan and other matters related to credit risk.

Management uses the information developed from the procedures described above in evaluating and grading the loan portfolio. This continual grading process is used to monitor the credit quality of the loan portfolio and to assist management in estimating the allowance for loan losses.

The allowance for loan losses is comprised of three components: specific reserves, general reserves and unallocated reserves.  After a loan has been identified as impaired, management measures impairment.  When the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, the amount of the impairment is recorded as a specific reserve. These specific reserves are determined on an individual loan basis based on management’s current evaluation of the Bank’s loss exposure for each credit, given the appraised value of any underlying collateral. Loans for which specific reserves are provided are excluded from the general allowance calculations as described below.

The general allowance reflects reserves established for collective loan impairment.  These reserves are based upon historical net charge-offs using the last two years’ experience.  This charge-off experience may be adjusted to reflect the effects of current conditions.  The Bank considers information derived from its loan risk ratings and external data related to industry and general economic trends.
 
 
A-19

 
 
The unallocated allowance is determined through management’s assessment of probable losses that are in the portfolio but are not adequately captured by the other two components of the allowance, including consideration of current economic and business conditions and regulatory requirements. The unallocated allowance also reflects management’s acknowledgement of the imprecision and subjectivity that underlie the modeling of credit risk.  Due to the subjectivity involved in determining the overall allowance, including the unallocated portion, this unallocated portion may fluctuate from period to period based on management’s evaluation of the factors affecting the assumptions used in calculating the allowance.

Management considers the allowance for loan losses adequate to cover the estimated losses inherent in the Bank’s loan portfolio as of the date of the financial statements. Management believes it has established the allowance in accordance with GAAP and in consideration of the current economic environment. Although management uses the best information available to make evaluations, significant future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in economic and other conditions, thus adversely affecting the operating results of the Company.

There were no significant changes in the estimation methods or fundamental assumptions used in the evaluation of the allowance for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2011 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2010. Such revisions, estimates and assumptions are made in any period in which the supporting factors indicate that loss levels may vary from the previous estimates.

Additionally, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank’s allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require adjustments to the allowance based on their judgments of information available to them at the time of their examinations.  Management believes it has established the allowance for credit losses pursuant to GAAP, and has taken into account the views of its regulators and the current economic environment.

Net charge-offs for 2011 were $11.5 million.  The ratio of net charge-offs to average total loans was 1.65% in 2011, 2.16% in 2010 and 0.79% in 2009.  The Bank strives to proactively work with its customers to identify potential problems.  If found, the Bank works to quickly recognize identifiable losses and to establish a plan, with the borrower, if possible, to have the loans paid off.  This process increased the levels of charge-offs and provision for loan losses in 2010 and 2011.  Management expects the ratio of net charge-offs to average total loans to remain at a level above historical norms in 2012 due to the recessionary economic conditions and the continuing decline in real estate values and new home sales.   The allowance for loan losses was $16.6 million or 2.48% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2011.  For December 31, 2010 and 2009, the allowance for loan losses amounted to $15.5 million or 2.13% of total loans outstanding and $15.4 million, or 1.98% of total loans outstanding, respectively.  The allowance for loan losses increased in 2011 even as the provision for loan losses decreased due to Management’s  concern that the  length and depth of the current economic downturn will continue to negatively impact borrowers.  Management believes the increase in the allowance for loan losses is appropriate given the current economic environment.

Table 11 presents the percentage of loans assigned to each risk grade along with the general reserve percentage applied to loans in each risk grade at December 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
Table 11 - Loan Risk Grade Analysis
   
 
Percentage of Loans
 
By Risk Grade
Risk Grade
2011            
2010            
Risk Grade 1 (Excellent Quality)
3.12%
3.36%
Risk Grade 2 (High Quality)
16.58%
16.60%
Risk Grade 3 (Good Quality)
49.30%
47.00%
Risk Grade 4 (Management Attention)
19.65%
21.36%
Risk Grade 5 (Watch)
4.76%
2.84%
Risk Grade 6 (Substandard)
6.21%
8.12%
Risk Grade 7 (Low Substandard)
0.00%
0.37%
Risk Grade 8 (Doubtful)
0.00%
0.07%
Risk Grade 9 (Loss)
0.00%
0.00%

 
 
A-20

 
 
Table 12 presents an analysis of the allowance for loan losses, including charge-off activity.
 
Table 12 - Analysis of Allowance for Loan Losses
           
                   
(Dollars in thousands)
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
2008
 
2007
Allowance for loan losses at beginning
$ 15,493   15,413   11,025   9,103   8,303
                     
Loans charged off:
                   
Commercial
  313   1,730   697   249   414
Real estate - mortgage
  4,197   4,194   3,384   1,506   471
Real estate - construction
  7,164   10,224   1,754   644   252
Consumer
  586   763   835   748   489
                     
Total loans charged off
  12,260   16,911   6,670   3,147   1,626
                     
Recoveries of losses previously charged off:
                   
Commercial
  121   62   111   87   86
Real estate - mortgage
  226   162   161   8   21
Real estate - construction
  241   89   36   30   102
Consumer
  151   240   215   150   179
                     
Total recoveries
  739   553   523   275   388
                     
Net loans charged off
  11,521   16,358   6,147   2,872   1,238
                     
Provision for loan losses
  12,632   16,438   10,535   4,794   2,038
                     
Allowance for loan losses at end of year
$ 16,604   15,493   15,413   11,025   9,103
                     
Loans charged off net of recoveries, as
                   
a percent of average loans outstanding
  1.65%   2.16%   0.79%   0.38%   0.19%
                     
Allowance for loan losses as a percent
                   
of total loans outstanding at end of year
  2.48%   2.13%   1.98%   1.41%   1.26%
 
Non-performing Assets.  Non-performing assets totaled $32.1 million at December 31, 2011 or 3.01% of total assets, compared to $46.9 million at December 31, 2010, or 4.40% of total assets.  Non-accrual loans were $21.8 million at December 31, 2011 and $40.1 million at December 31, 2010.  As a percentage of total loans outstanding, non-accrual loans were 3.25% at December 31, 2011 compared to 5.52% at December 31, 2010.  Non-performing loans include $13.2 million in construction and land development loans, $10.7 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $554,000 in other loans at December 31, 2011, as compared to $23.1 million in construction and land development loans, $16.2 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $1.0 million in other loans as of December 31, 2010.  The Bank had loans 90 days past due and still accruing totaling $2.7 million and $210,000 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  Other real estate owned totaled $7.6 million as of December 31, 2011 as compared to $6.7 million at December 31, 2010. The Bank had no repossessed assets as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

At December 31, 2011, the Bank had non-performing loans, defined as non-accrual and accruing loans past due more than 90 days, of $24.5 million or 3.65% of total loans.  Non-performing loans at December 31, 2010 were $40.3 million, or 5.55% of total loans.

Management continually monitors the loan portfolio to ensure that all loans potentially having a material adverse impact on future operating results, liquidity or capital resources have been classified as non-performing.  Should economic conditions deteriorate, the inability of distressed customers to service their existing debt could cause higher levels of non-performing loans.  Management anticipates continued weakness in the housing market, which combined with the current economic conditions could result in higher levels of non-performing loans in 2012.
 
 
A-21

 

It is the general policy of the Bank to stop accruing interest income when a loan is placed on non-accrual status and any interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed against current income.  Generally a loan is placed on non-accrual status when it is over 90 days past due and there is reasonable doubt that all principal will be collected.

A summary of non-performing assets at December 31 for each of the years presented is shown in Table 13.

Table 13 - Non-performing Assets
                 
                   
(Dollars in thousands)
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
2008
 
2007
Non-accrual loans
$ 21,785   40,062   22,789   11,815   7,987
Loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing
  2,709   210   1,977   514   -
Total non-performing loans
  24,494   40,272   24,766   12,329   7,987
All other real estate owned
  7,576   6,673   3,997   1,867   483
Total non-performing assets
$ 32,070   46,945   28,763   14,196   8,470
                     
As a percent of total loans at year end
                   
Non-accrual loans
  3.25%   5.52%   2.93%   1.51%   1.11%
Loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing
  0.40%   0.03%   0.25%   0.07%   0.00%
Total non-performing assets
  4.78%   6.46%   3.70%   1.82%   1.17%
                     
Total non-performing assets
                   
as a percent of total assets at year end
  3.01%   4.40%   2.74%   1.47%   0.93%
                     
Total non-performing loans
                   
 as a percent of total loans at year-end
  3.65%   5.55%   3.18%   1.58%   1.11%
 
                Deposits.  The Company primarily uses deposits to fund its loan and investment portfolios. The Company offers a variety of deposit accounts to individuals and businesses. Deposit accounts include checking, savings, money market and time deposits. As of December 31, 2011, total deposits were $827.1 million, compared to $838.7 million at December 31, 2010.  Core deposits, which include demand deposits, savings accounts and non-brokered certificates of deposits of denominations less than $100,000, amounted to $633.0 million at December 31, 2011, compared to $592.7 million at December 31, 2010.

Time deposits in  amounts of $100,000 or  more  totaled $193.0 million and $241.4 million  at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  At December 31, 2011,  brokered  deposits amounted to $47.0 million as compared to $87.4 million at December 31, 2010.  CDARS balances included in brokered deposits amounted to $28.6 million and $53.0 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Brokered deposits are generally considered to be more susceptible to withdrawal as a result of interest rate changes and to be a less stable source of funds, as compared to deposits from the local market.  Brokered deposits outstanding as of December 31, 2011 have a weighted average rate of 0.99% with a weighted average original term of 15 months.

Table 14 is a summary of the maturity distribution of time deposits in amounts of $100,000 or more as of December 31, 2011.

Table 14 - Maturities of Time Deposits over $100,000
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
2011
Three months or less
$ 39,416
Over three months through six months
  40,266
Over six months through twelve months
  73,565
Over twelve months
  39,798
Total
$ 193,045
 
Borrowed Funds. The Company has access to various short-term borrowings, including the purchase of federal funds and borrowing arrangements from the FHLB and other financial institutions.  At December 31, 2011 and 2010, FHLB borrowings totaled $70.0 million compared to $77.0 million at December 31, 2009. Average FHLB borrowings for 2011 were $70.0 million, compared to average balances of $72.0 million for 2010 and $77.3 million for 2009. The maximum amount of outstanding FHLB borrowings was $75.0 million in 2011, $77.0 million in 2010 and $87.9 million in 2009. The FHLB borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2011 had interest rates ranging from 2.23% to 4.45%.  At December 31, 2011, all of the Bank’s FHLB borrowings had maturities exceeding one year.  The FHLB has the option to
 
 
A-22

 
 
convert $15.0 million of the total advances to a floating rate and, if converted, the Bank may repay advances without a prepayment fee.  Additional information regarding FHLB borrowings is provided in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Bank had no borrowings from the FRB at December 31, 2011 and 2010.  FRB borrowings are collateralized by a blanket assignment on all qualifying loans that the Bank owns which are not pledged to the FHLB.  At December 31, 2011, the carrying value of loans pledged as collateral totaled approximately $342.2 million.

Demand  notes  payable to the U.S. Treasury,  which represent  treasury  tax and  loan  payments  received from  customers, amounted  to  $636,000 at  December 31, 2010.   The Company did not have any demand notes payable to the U.S. Treasury outstanding at December 31, 2011.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase amounted to $39.6 million and $34.1 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Junior Subordinated Debentures (related to Trust Preferred Securities).  In June 2006, the Company formed a wholly owned Delaware statutory trust, PEBK Capital Trust II (“PEBK Trust II”), which issued $20.0 million of guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in the Company’s junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures.  All of the common securities of PEBK Trust II are owned by the Company.  The proceeds from the issuance of the common securities and the trust preferred securities were used by PEBK Trust II to purchase $20.6 million of junior subordinated debentures of the Company, which pay a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 163 basis points.  The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the junior subordinated debentures were used to repay in December 2006 the trust preferred securities issued in December 2001 by PEBK Capital Trust, a wholly owned Delaware statutory trust of the Company, in December 2001 and for general purposes.  The debentures represent the sole asset of PEBK Trust II.  PEBK Trust II is not included in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The trust preferred securities issued by PEBK Trust II accrue and pay quarterly at a floating rate of three-month LIBOR plus 163 basis points.  The Company has guaranteed distributions and other payments due on the trust preferred securities to the extent PEBK Trust II has funds with which to make the distributions and other payments.  The net combined effect of the trust preferred securities transaction is that the Company is obligated to make the distributions and other payments required on the trust preferred securities.

These trust preferred securities are mandatorily redeemable upon maturity of the debentures on June 28, 2036, or upon earlier redemption as provided in the indenture.  The Company had the right to redeem the debentures purchased by PEBK Trust II, in whole or in part, on or after June 28, 2011.  As specified in the indenture, if the debentures are redeemed prior to maturity, the redemption price will be the principal amount and any accrued but unpaid interest.

Contractual Obligations and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.  The Company’s contractual obligations and other commitments as of December 31, 2011 are summarized in Table 15 below.  The Company’s contractual obligations include the repayment of principal and interest related to FHLB advances and junior subordinated debentures, as well as certain payments under current lease agreements.  Other commitments include commitments to extend credit.  Because not all of these commitments to extend credit will be drawn upon, the actual cash requirements are likely to be significantly less than the amounts reported for other commitments below.

Table 15 - Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments
               
                   
(Dollars in thousands)
Within One
Year
One to
Three Years
Three to
Five Years
Five Years
or More
Total
Contractual Cash Obligations
                 
Long-term borrowings
$ -   5,000   15,000   50,000   70,000
Junior subordinated debentures
  -   -   -   20,619   20,619
Operating lease obligations
  507   892   816   2,111   4,326
Total
$ 507   5,892   15,816   72,730   94,945
                     
Other Commitments
                   
Commitments to extend credit
$ 36,744   2,544   1,430   90,847   131,565
Standby letters of credit
                   
and financial guarantees written
  3,288   -   -   -   3,288
Total
$ 40,032   2,544   1,430   90,847   134,853
 
 
 
A-23

 
 
The Company enters into derivative contracts to manage various financial risks.  A derivative is a financial instrument that derives its cash flows, and therefore its value, by reference to an underlying instrument, index or referenced interest rate.  Derivative contracts are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet with the fair value representing the net present value of expected future cash receipts or payments based on market interest rates as of the balance sheet date.  Derivative contracts are written in amounts referred to as notional amounts, which only provide the basis for calculating payments between counterparties and are not a measure of financial risk.  Therefore, the derivative amounts recorded on the balance sheet do not represent the amounts that may ultimately be paid under these contracts.  Further discussions of derivative instruments are included above in the section entitled “Asset Liability and Interest Rate Risk Management” beginning on page A-15 and in Notes 1, 10, 11 and 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Capital Resources.  Shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2011 was $103.0 million compared to $96.9 million at December 31, 2010 and $99.2 million at December 31, 2009.  Unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 amounted to gains of $3.1 million, $387,000 and $2.9 million, respectively.  Average shareholders’ equity as a percentage of total average assets is one measure used to determine capital strength.   Average shareholders’ equity as a percentage of total average assets was 9.55%, 9.42% and 9.95% for 2011, 2010 and 2009.   The return on average shareholders’ equity was 5.03% at December 31, 2011 as compared to 1.81% and 2.88% as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  Total cash dividends paid on common stock amounted to $443,000 during 2011 and 2010.  Cash dividends totaling $1.4 million were paid on common stock during 2009.  The Company paid dividends totaling $1.3 million, $1.3 million and $1.1 million on preferred stock during 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

In March 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 100,000 common shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock through its existing Stock Repurchase Plan effective through the end of March 2009.  The Company repurchased 65,500 shares, or $776,000, of its common stock under this plan as of December 31, 2008.  Because of the Company’s participation in the UST’s CPP, discussed below, the Company can no longer repurchase shares of its common stock under the Stock Repurchase Plan without UST approval.

The Board of Directors, at its discretion, can issue shares of preferred stock up to a maximum of 5,000,000 shares.  The Board is authorized to determine the number of shares, voting powers, designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights.

On December 23, 2008, the Company entered into a Purchase Agreement  with the UST pursuant to the CPP under TARP.  Under the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue and sell 25,054 shares of Series A preferred stock and a warrant to purchase 357,234 shares of the Company's common stock.  Proceeds from this issuance of preferred shares were allocated between preferred stock and the warrant based on their relative fair values at the time of the sale.  Of the $25.1 million in proceeds, $24.4 million was allocated to the Series A preferred stock and $704,000 was allocated to the common stock warrant.  The discount recorded on the Series A preferred stock that resulted from allocating a portion of the proceeds to the warrant is being accreted directly to retained earnings over a five-year period applying a level yield.  As of December 31, 2011, the Company has accreted a total of $408,000 of the discount related to the Series A preferred stock.  The Company paid dividends of $1.3 million on the Series A preferred stock during 2011 and cumulative undeclared dividends at December 31, 2011 were $157,000.

The Series A preferred stock qualifies as Tier 1 capital and will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per annum for the first five years and 9% per annum thereafter.  The Series A preferred stock may be redeemed at the stated amount of $1,000 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends.  Under the terms of the original Purchase Agreement, the Company could not redeem the preferred shares until December 23, 2011 unless the total amount of the issuance, $25.1 million, was replaced with the same amount of other forms of capital that would qualify as Tier 1 capital.  However, with the enactment of the ARRA, the Company can now redeem the preferred shares at any time, if approved by the Company’s primary regulator.  The Series A preferred stock is non-voting except for class voting rights on matters that would adversely affect the rights of the holders of the Series A preferred stock.

The exercise price of the warrant is $10.52 per common share and it is exercisable at anytime on or before December 18, 2018.

The Company is subject to the following restrictions while the Series A preferred stock is outstanding: 1) UST approval is required for the Company to repurchase shares of outstanding common stock; 2) the full dividend for the latest completed CPP dividend period must declared and paid in full before dividends may be paid to common shareholders; 3) UST approval is required for any increase in common dividends per share above the last quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share paid prior to December 23, 2008; and 4) the Company may not take tax deductions for any senior executive officer whose compensation is above $500,000.  There were additional restrictions on executive compensation added in the ARRA for companies participating in the TARP, including participants in the CPP.
 
 
A-24

 
 
Under regulatory capital guidelines, financial institutions are currently required to maintain a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, with a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.0% or greater.  Tier 1 capital is generally defined as shareholders’ equity and trust preferred securities less all intangible assets and goodwill.  Tier 1 capital at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 includes $20.0 million in trust preferred securities. The Company’s Tier 1 capital ratio was 16.01%, 14.24% and 13.74% at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Total risk-based capital is defined as Tier 1 capital plus supplementary capital.  Supplementary capital, or Tier 2 capital, consists of the Company’s allowance for loan losses, not exceeding 1.25% of the Company’s risk-weighted assets. Total risk-based capital ratio is therefore defined as the ratio of total capital (Tier 1 capital and Tier 2 capital) to risk-weighted assets.  The Company’s total risk-based capital ratio was 17.38%, 15.51% and 15.00% at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  In addition to the Tier 1 and total risk-based capital requirements, financial institutions are also required to maintain a leverage ratio of Tier 1 capital to total average assets of 4.0% or greater.  The Company’s Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 11.06%, 10.70% and 11.42% at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The Bank’s Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 13.76%, 11.87% and 11.22% at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The total risk-based capital ratio for the Bank was 15.04%, 13.15% and 12.48% at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.   The Bank’s Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 9.44%, 8.91% and 9.33% at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 respectively.

A bank is considered to be "well capitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0 % or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or greater, and has a leverage ratio of 5.0% or greater.  Based upon these guidelines, the Bank was considered to be ”well capitalized” at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

The Company’s key equity ratios as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 are presented in Table 16.

Table 16 - Equity Ratios
         
           
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
Return on average assets
0.48%   0.17%   0.29%
Return on average equity
5.03%   1.81%   2.88%
Dividend payout ratio *
11.78%   100.11%   86.22%
Average equity to average assets
9.55%   9.42%   9.95%
           
* As a percentage of net earnings available to common shareholders.
         
 
Quarterly Financial Data.  The Company’s consolidated quarterly operating results for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 are presented in Table 17.

Table 17 - Quarterly Financial Data
                   
                                 
 
2011
 
2010
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
First
Second
Third
Fourth
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Total interest income
$ 11,558   11,422   11,291   10,988   $ 11,930   11,879   11,995   11,876  
Total interest expense
  3,044   2,809   2,673   2,420     3,825   3,682   3,516   3,325  
Net interest income
  8,514   8,613   8,618   8,568     8,105   8,197   8,479   8,551  
                                     
Provision for loan losses
  2,950   3,368   3,378   2,936     2,382   3,179   4,656   6,221  
Other income
  3,602   2,736   3,722   4,453     2,610   3,130   3,857   4,287  
Other expense
  7,400   7,408   7,164   7,600     7,189   7,057   7,182   7,520  
Income (loss) before income taxes
  1,766   573   1,798   2,485     1,144   1,091   498   (903 )
                                     
Income taxes
  405   (56 ) 406   708     269   227   (42 ) (465 )
Net earnings (loss)
  1,361   629   1,392   1,777     875   864   540   (438 )
                                     
Dividends and accretion of preferred stock
  348   348   348   349     348   349   348   349  
Net earnings (loss) available
                                   
to common shareholders
$ 1,013   281   1,044   1,428   $ 527   515   192   (787 )
                                     
Basic earnings (loss) per common share
$ 0.18   0.05   0.19   0.26   $ 0.10   0.09   0.03   (0.14 )
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
$ 0.18   0.05   0.19   0.26   $ 0.10   0.09   0.03   (0.14 )
 
 
 
A-25

 
 
QUANTATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market risk reflects the risk of economic loss resulting from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates.  This risk of loss can be reflected in either diminished current market values or reduced potential net interest income in future periods.

The Company’s market risk arises primarily from interest rate risk inherent in its lending and deposit taking activities. The structure of the Company’s loan and deposit portfolios is such that a significant decline (increase) in interest rates may adversely (positively) impact net market values and interest income. Management seeks to manage the risk through the utilization of its investment securities and off-balance sheet derivative instruments. During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company used interest rate contracts to manage market risk as discussed above in the section entitled “Asset Liability and Interest Rate Risk Management.”

Table 18 presents in tabular form the contractual balances and the estimated fair value of the Company’s on-balance sheet financial instruments at their expected maturity dates for the period ended December 31, 2011. The expected maturity categories take into consideration historical prepayment experience as well as management’s expectations based on the interest rate environment at December 31, 2011.  For core deposits without contractual maturity (i.e. interest bearing checking, savings, and money market accounts), the table presents principal cash flows based on management’s judgment concerning their most likely runoff or repricing behaviors.

Table 18 - Market Risk Table
                         
                           
(Dollars in thousands)
Principal/Notional Amount Maturing in Year Ended December 31,
 
Loans Receivable
2012
2013
2014
2015 &
2016
Thereafter
Total
Fair Value
Fixed rate
$ 69,244   35,092   42,376   53,602   68,855   269,169   263,915
Average interest rate
  5.66%   6.20%   5.69%   5.85%   6.15%        
Variable rate
$ 103,864   60,908   54,712   61,827   125,163   406,474   406,474
Average interest rate
  4.75%   4.70%   4.71%   4.89%   4.63%        
                        675,643   670,389
Investment Securities
                           
Interest bearing cash
$ 6,704   -   -   -   -   6,704   6,704
Average interest rate
  0.22%   -   -   -   -        
Federal funds sold
$ -   -   -   -   -   -   -
Average interest rate
  -   -   -   -   -        
Securities available for sale
$ 35,212   32,852   28,645   40,954   183,726   321,388   321,388
Average interest rate
  4.25%   5.20%   4.94%   4.87%   4.91%        
Nonmarketable equity securities
$ -   -   -   -   5,712   5,712   5,712
Average interest rate
  -   -   -   -   0.88%        
                             
Debt Obligations
                           
Deposits
$ 252,857   39,348   14,134   17,761   503,011   827,111   826,810
Average interest rate
  1.19%   1.69%   1.90%   1.93%   0.31%        
Advances from FHLB
$ -   -   5,000   15,000   50,000   70,000   75,046
Average interest rate
  -   -   2.23%   3.88%   3.93%        
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
$ 39,600                   39,600   39,600
Average interest rate
  0.39%                        
Junior subordinated debentures
$ -   -   -   -   20,619   20,619   20,619
Average interest rate
  -   -   -   -   2.02%        
 
 
 
A-26

 
 
Table 19 presents the simulated impact to net interest income under varying interest rate scenarios and the theoretical impact of rate changes over a twelve-month period referred to as “rate ramps.”  The table shows the estimated theoretical impact on the Company’s tax equivalent net interest income from hypothetical rate changes of plus and minus 1%, 2% and 3% as compared to the estimated theoretical impact of rates remaining unchanged.  The table also shows the simulated impact to market value of equity under varying interest rate scenarios and the theoretical impact of immediate and sustained rate changes referred to as “rate shocks” of plus and minus 1%, 2% and 3% as compared to the theoretical impact of rates remaining unchanged.  The prospective effects of the hypothetical interest rate changes are based upon various assumptions, including relative and estimated levels of key interest rates.  This type of modeling has limited usefulness because it does not allow for the strategies management would utilize in response to sudden and sustained rate changes.  Also, management does not believe that rate changes of the magnitude presented are likely in the forecast period presented.
 
Table 19 - Interest Rate Risk
 
     
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
Estimated Resulting Theoretical Net
Interest Income
Hypothetical rate change (ramp over 12 months)
Amount
% Change
+3% $ 32,672 -4.43%
+2% $ 32,803 -4.04%
+1% $ 33,111 -3.14%
0% $ 34,185 0.00%
-1% $ 33,845 -0.99%
-2% $ 32,951 -3.61%
-3% $ 32,365 -5.32%
       
       
       
 
Estimated Resulting Theoretical
Market Value of Equity
Hypothetical rate change (immediate shock)
Amount
% Change
+3% $ 86,725 -14.89%
+2% $ 93,761 -7.98%
+1% $ 98,847 -2.99%
0% $ 101,896 0.00%
-1% $ 94,968 -6.80%
-2% $ 88,939 -12.72%
-3% $ 84,431 -17.14%
 
 
 
 
A-27

 
 
 
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
     
     
INDEX
   
PAGE(S)
     
     
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Consolidated Financial Statements
A-29
     
Financial Statements
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2011 and 2010
A-30
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
A-31
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
A-32
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
A-33
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
A-34 - A-35
     
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
A-36 - A-63
 
 
 
A-28

 
 
 
 
Porter Keadle Moore
 
 
CPAs
 
Advisors
 
www.pkm.com
 

 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM



To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.
Newton, North Carolina

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, changes in shareholders’ equity, comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 


 
  /s/ Porter Keadle Moore, LLC  
 




Atlanta, Georgia
March 27, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
235 Peachtree Street NE
 
Suite 1800
 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
 
Phone 404-588-4200
 
Fax 404-588-4222
 
 
 
 
A-29

 
 
 
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
         
Consolidated Balance Sheets
         
December 31, 2011 and 2010
         
(Dollars in thousands)
Assets
2011
 
2010
 
         
         
Cash and due from banks, including reserve requirements
$ 22,532     22,521  
of $8,492 and $8,698
           
Interest bearing deposits
  6,704     1,456  
Cash and cash equivalents
  29,236     23,977  
             
Certificates of deposit
  -       735  
             
Investment securities available for sale
  321,388     272,449  
Other investments
  5,712     5,761  
Total securities
  327,100     278,210  
             
Mortgage loans held for sale
  5,146     3,814  
             
Loans
  670,497     726,160  
Less allowance for loan losses
  (16,604 )   (15,493 )
Net loans
  653,893     710,667  
             
Premises and equipment, net
  16,896     17,334  
Cash surrender value of life insurance
  12,835     7,539  
Other real estate
  7,576     6,673  
Accrued interest receivable and other assets
  14,381     18,703  
Total assets
$ 1,067,063     1,067,652  
             
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
           
             
Deposits:
           
Non-interest bearing demand
$ 136,878     114,792  
NOW, MMDA & savings
  366,133     332,511  
Time, $100,000 or more
  193,045     241,366  
Other time
  131,055     150,043  
Total deposits
  827,111     838,712  
             
Demand notes payable to U.S. Treasury
  -       1,600  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
  39,600     34,094  
FHLB borrowings
  70,000     70,000  
Junior subordinated debentures
  20,619     20,619  
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities
  6,706     5,769  
Total liabilities
  964,036     970,794  
             
Commitments
           
             
Shareholders' equity:
           
             
Series A preferred stock, $1,000 stated value; authorized
           
5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
           
25,054 shares in 2011 and 2010
  24,758     24,617  
Common stock, no par value; authorized
           
20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
           
5,544,160 shares in 2011 and 5,541,413 shares in 2010
  48,298     48,281  
Retained earnings
  26,895     23,573  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
  3,076     387  
Total shareholders' equity
  103,027     96,858  
             
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$ 1,067,063     1,067,652  
             
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
           
 
 
 
A-30

 
 
 
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
             
For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
             
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
             
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
             
             
Interest income:
           
Interest and fees on loans
$ 36,407     40,267     43,211  
Interest on investment securities:
                 
U.S. Government sponsored enterprises
  5,414     5,035     5,461  
States and political subdivisions
  3,180     2,173     1,242  
Other
  258     205     123  
Total interest income
  45,259     47,680     50,037  
                   
Interest expense:
                 
NOW, MMDA & savings deposits
  2,263     3,472     2,965  
Time deposits
  5,035     6,786     9,687  
FHLB borrowings
  2,956     3,285     3,577  
Junior subordinated debentures
  407     411     546  
Other
  285     394     412  
Total interest expense
  10,946     14,348     17,187  
                   
Net interest income
  34,313     33,332     32,850  
                   
Provision for loan losses
  12,632     16,438     10,535  
                   
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
  21,681     16,894     22,315  
                   
Non-interest income:
                 
Service charges
  5,106     5,626     5,573  
Other service charges and fees
  2,090     2,195     2,058  
Other than temporary impairment losses
  (144 )   (291 )   (723 )
Gain on sale of securities
  4,406     3,348     1,795  
Mortgage banking income
  757     532     827  
Insurance and brokerage commissions
  471     390     414  
Loss on sale and write-down of
                 
other real estate 
  (1,322 )   (704 )   (501 )
Miscellaneous
  3,149     2,788     2,380  
Total non-interest income
  14,513     13,884     11,823  
                   
Non-interest expense:
                 
Salaries and employee benefits
  14,766     14,124     14,758  
Occupancy
  5,339     5,436     5,409  
Other
  9,467     9,388     9,716  
Total non-interest expense
  29,572     28,948     29,883  
                   
Earnings before income taxes
  6,622     1,830     4,255  
                   
Income tax expense (benefit)
  1,463     (11 )   1,339  
                   
Net earnings
  5,159     1,841     2,916  
                   
Dividends and accretion of preferred stock
  1,393     1,394     1,246  
                   
Net earnings available to common shareholders
$ 3,766     447     1,670  
                   
Basic net earnings per common share
$ 0.68     0.08     0.30  
Diluted net earnings per common share
$ 0.68     0.08     0.30  
Cash dividends declared per common share
$ 0.08     0.08     0.26  
                   
                   
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
             
 
 
 
A-31

 
 
 
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                               
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
                               
For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
                               
(Dollars in thousands)
                          Accumulated    
                          Other    
        Stock Shares      Stock Amount      Retained     Comprehensive    
   
Preferred
 
Common
 
Preferred
 
Common
 
Earnings
 
Income
Total
 
Balance, December 31, 2008
  25,054   5,539,056   $ 24,350   48,269   22,985   5,524   101,128  
                                 
Adjustment to the
                               
cumulative effect of
                               
adoption of EITF 06-4
  -   -     -   -   358   -   358  
Accretion of Series A
                               
preferred stock
  -   -     126   -   (126 ) -   -  
Cash dividends declared on
                               
Series A preferred stock
  -   -     -   -   (1,120 ) -   (1,120 )
Cash dividends declared on
                               
common stock
  -   -     -   -   (1,440 ) -   (1,440 )
Net earnings
  -   -     -   -   2,916   -   2,916  
Change in accumulated other
                               
comprehensive income,
                               
net of tax
  -   -     -   -   -   (2,619 ) (2,619 )
Balance, December 31, 2009
  25,054   5,539,056   $ 24,476   48,269   23,573   2,905   99,223  
                                 
Accretion of Series A
                               
preferred stock
  -   -     141   -   (141 ) -   -  
Cash dividends declared on
                               
Series A preferred stock
  -   -     -   -   (1,253 ) -   (1,253 )
Cash dividends declared on
                               
common stock
  -   -     -   -   (447 ) -   (447 )
Restricted stock payout
  -   2,357     -   12   -   -   12  
Net earnings
  -   -     -   -   1,841   -   1,841  
Change in accumulated other
                               
comprehensive income,
                               
net of tax
  -   -     -   -   -   (2,518 ) (2,518 )
Balance, December 31, 2010
  25,054   5,541,413   $ 24,617   48,281   23,573   387   96,858  
                                 
Accretion of Series A
                               
preferred stock
  -   -     141   -   (141 ) -   -  
Cash dividends declared on
                               
Series A preferred stock
  -   -     -   -   (1,253 ) -   (1,253 )
Cash dividends declared on
                               
common stock
  -   -     -   -   (443 ) -   (443 )
Restricted stock payout
  -   2,747     -   17   -   -   17  
Net earnings
  -   -     -   -   5,159   -   5,159  
Change in accumulated other
                               
comprehensive income,
                               
net of tax
  -   -     -   -   -   2,689   2,689  
Balance, December 31, 2011
  25,054   5,544,160   $ 24,758   48,298   26,895   3,076   103,027  
                                 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
                 
 
 
 
A-32

 
 
 
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
             
For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
             
(Dollars in thousands)
             
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
             
             
Net earnings
$ 5,159     1,841     2,916  
                   
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                 
Unrealized holding gains on securities
                 
available for sale
  9,316     46     214  
Reclassification adjustment for other than temporary
                 
impairment losses included in net earnings
  144     291     723  
Reclassification adjustment for gains on sales
                 
and write-downs of securities available for sale
                 
        included in net earnings   (4,406 )    (3,348 )   (1,795 )
Unrealized holding losses on derivative
                 
financial instruments qualifying as cash flow
                 
hedges
  (648 )   (1,114 )   (2,726 )
Reclassification adjustment for gains on
                 
derivative financial instruments qualifying as
                 
cash flow hedges included in net earnings
  -       -       (1 )
                   
Total other comprehensive income (loss),
                 
before income taxes
  4,406     (4,125 )   (3,585 )
                   
Income tax expense (benefit) related to other
                 
comprehensive income (loss):
                 
                   
Unrealized holding gains on securities
                 
available for sale
  3,629     18     83  
Reclassification adjustment for gains on sales
                 
and write-downs of securities available for sale
                 
included in net earnings
  (1,660 )   (1,191 )   (417 )
Unrealized holding losses on derivative
                 
financial instruments qualifying as cash flow
                 
hedges
  (252 )   (434 )   (632 )
                   
Total income tax expense (benefit) related to
                 
other comprehensive income
  1,717     (1,607 )   (966 )
                   
Total other comprehensive income (loss),
                 
net of tax
  2,689     (2,518 )   (2,619 )
                   
Total comprehensive income (loss)
$ 7,848     (677 )   297  
                   
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
             
 
 
 
A-33

 
 
 
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
             
For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
             
(Dollars in thousands)
             
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
             
             
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net earnings
$ 5,159     1,841     2,916  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to
                 
net cash provided by operating activities:
                 
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
  6,226     4,971     2,931  
Provision for loan losses
  12,632     16,438     10,535  
Deferred income taxes
  (678 )   (523 )   (1,720 )
Gain on sale of investment securities
  (4,406 )   (3,348 )   (1,795 )
Write-down of investment securities
  144     291     723  
Gain on ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments
  -       -       (1 )
Loss/(Gain) on sale of other real estate and repossessions
  272     (191 )   24  
Write-down of other real estate 
  1,050     895     477  
Restricted stock expense
  7     10     4  
Change in:
                 
Mortgage loans held for sale
  (1,332 )   (974 )   (2,840 )
Cash surrender value of life insurance
  (296 )   (257 )   (263 )
Other assets
  2,644     (2,316 )   (6,581 )
Other liabilities
  930     961     300  
                   
Net cash provided by operating activities
  22,352     17,798     4,710  
                   
Cash flows from investing activities:
                 
Net change in certificates of deposit
  735     2,610     (3,345 )
Purchases of investment securities available for sale
  (208,863 )   (232,915 )   (141,770 )
Proceeds from calls, maturities and paydowns of investment securities
                 
available for sale
  54,041     86,935     40,629  
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale
  110,978     65,774     30,743  
Purchases of other investments
  (215 )   -       (1,426 )
Proceeds from sale of other investments
  290     585     809  
Net change in loans
  38,561     28,703     (7,916 )
Purchases of premises and equipment
  (1,601 )   (1,441 )   (1,614 )
Purchases of bank owned life insurance
  (5,000 )   -       -    
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment
  -       -       24  
Proceeds from sale of other real estate and repossessions
  3,355     5,725     3,435  
                   
Net cash used by investing activities
  (7,719 )   (44,024 )   (80,431 )
                   
Cash flows from financing activities:
                 
Net change in deposits
  (11,601 )   29,369     88,281  
Net change in demand notes payable to U.S. Treasury
  (1,600 )   964     (964 )
Net change in securities sold under agreement to repurchase
  5,506     (2,782 )   (625 )
Proceeds from FHLB borrowings
  40,000     -       24,100  
Repayments of FHLB borrowings
  (40,000 )   (7,000 )   (24,100 )
Proceeds from FRB borrowings
  1     -       45,000  
Repayments of FRB borrowings
  (1 )   -       (50,000 )
Restricted stock payout
  17     12     -    
Cash dividends paid on Series A preferred stock
  (1,253 )   (1,253 )   (1,120 )
Cash dividends paid on common stock
  (443 )   (447 )   (1,440 )
                   
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities
  (9,374 )   18,863     79,132  
                   
Net change in cash and cash equivalent
  5,259     (7,363 )   3,411  
                   
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
  23,977     31,340     27,929  
                   
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$ 29,236     23,977     31,340  
 
 
 
A-34

 
 
 
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, continued
                 
For the Years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
                 
(Dollars in thousands)
                 
                 
 
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                 
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid during the year for:
               
Interest
$ 10,900     14,419     17,541  
Income taxes
$ 283     1,700     2,230  
                   
Noncash investing and financing activities:
                 
Change in unrealized gain on investment securities
                 
 available for sale, net
$ (3,087 )   1,838     (524 )
Change in unrealized gain on derivative financial
                 
 instruments, net
$ 398     680     (2,095 )
Transfer of loans to other real estate and repossessions
$ 10,787     9,105     6,067  
Financed portion of sale of other real estate
$ 5,208     2,270     1,166  
Accretion of Series A preferred stock
$ 141     141     126  
Cumulative effect and resulting adjustment of
                 
adoption of EITF 06-4
$ -       -       (358 )
                   
                   
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
                 
 
 
 
A-35

 
 
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(1)
    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
 
    Organization
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (“Bancorp”) received regulatory approval to operate as a bank holding company on July 22, 1999, and became effective August 31, 1999.  Bancorp is primarily regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and serves as the one-bank holding company for Peoples Bank (the “Bank”).

The Bank commenced business in 1912 upon receipt of its banking charter from the North Carolina State Banking Commission (the “SBC”). The Bank is primarily regulated by the SBC and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and undergoes periodic examinations by these regulatory agencies. The Bank, whose main office is in Newton, North Carolina, provides a full range of commercial and consumer banking services primarily in Catawba, Alexander, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Iredell, Union and Wake counties in North Carolina.

Peoples Investment Services, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank and began operations in 1996 to provide investment and trust services through agreements with an outside party.

Real Estate Advisory Services, Inc. (“REAS”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank and began operations in 1997 to provide real estate appraisal and property management services to individuals and commercial customers of the Bank.

Community Bank Real Estate Solutions, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bancorp and began operations in 2009 as a “clearing house” for appraisal services for community banks.  Other banks are able to contract with Community Bank Real Estate Solutions, LLC to find and engage appropriate appraisal companies in the area where the property is located.

Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Bancorp and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, the Bank and Community Bank Real Estate Solutions, LLC, along with the Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, Peoples Investment Services, Inc. and REAS (collectively called the “Company”).  All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Basis of Presentation
The accounting principles followed by the Company, and the methods of applying these principles, conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and with general practices in the banking industry. In preparing the financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Material estimates common to the banking industry that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term include, but are not limited to, the determination of the allowance for loan losses and valuation of real estate acquired in connection with or in lieu of foreclosure on loans.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and due from banks and interest bearing deposits are considered cash and cash equivalents for cash flow reporting purposes.

Investment Securities
There are three classifications the Company is able to use to for its investment securities: trading, available for sale, or held to maturity. Trading securities are bought and held principally for sale in the near term. Held to maturity securities are those securities for which the Company has the ability and intent to hold until maturity. All other securities not included in trading or held to maturity are classified as available for sale. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company classified all of its investment securities as available for sale.

Available for sale securities are recorded at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related tax effect, are excluded from earnings and are reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized.

Management evaluates investment securities for other-than-temporary impairment on an annual basis.  A decline in the market value of any investment below cost that is deemed other-than-temporary is charged to earnings for
 
 
A-36

 
 
the decline in value deemed to be credit related and a new cost basis in the security is established .  The decline in value attributed to non-credit related factors is recognized in comprehensive income.

Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over the life of the related security as an adjustment to the yield.  Realized gains and losses for securities classified as available for sale are included in earnings and are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold.

Other Investments
Other investments include equity securities with no readily determinable fair value.  These investments are carried at cost.

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
Mortgage loans held for sale are carried at lower of aggregate cost or market value.  The cost of mortgage loans held for sale approximates the market value.

Loans
Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity are reported at the principal amount outstanding, net of the allowance for loan losses. Interest on loans is calculated by using the simple interest method on daily balances of the principal amount outstanding.   The recognition of certain loan origination fee income and certain loan origination costs is deferred when such loans are originated and amortized over the life of the loan.

Impaired loans are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, or at the loan’s observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. A loan is impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan will not be collected.

Accrual of interest is discontinued on a loan when management believes, after considering economic conditions and collection efforts, that the borrower’s financial condition is such that collection of interest is doubtful. Interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed against current period earnings.

Allowance for Loan Losses
The allowance for loan losses reflects management’s assessment and estimate of the risks associated with extending credit and its evaluation of the quality of the loan portfolio.  The Bank periodically analyzes the loan portfolio in an effort to review asset quality and to establish an allowance for loan losses that management believes will be adequate in light of anticipated risks and loan losses.  In assessing the adequacy of the allowance, size, quality and risk of loans in the portfolio are reviewed. Other factors considered are:

·  
the Bank’s loan loss experience;
·  
the amount of past due and non-performing loans;
·  
specific known risks;
·  
the status and amount of other past due and non-performing assets;
·  
underlying estimated values of collateral securing loans;
·  
current and anticipated economic conditions; and
·  
other factors which management believes affect the allowance for potential credit losses.

The allowance for loan losses is comprised of three components: specific reserves, general reserves and unallocated reserves.  After a loan has been identified as impaired, management measures impairment.  When the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, the amount of the impairment is recorded as a specific reserve. These specific reserves are determined on an individual loan basis based on management’s current evaluation of the Bank’s loss exposure for each credit, given the appraised value of any underlying collateral.  Loans for which specific reserves are provided are excluded from the general allowance calculations as described below.

The general allowance reflects reserves established under GAAP for collective loan impairment.  These reserves are based upon historical net charge-offs using the last two years’ experience.  This charge-off experience may be adjusted to reflect the effects of current conditions.  The Bank considers information derived from its loan risk ratings and external data related to industry and general economic trends in establishing reserves.
 
The unallocated allowance is determined through management’s assessment of probable losses that are in the portfolio but are not adequately captured by the other two components of the allowance, including consideration
 
 
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of current economic and business conditions and regulatory requirements. The unallocated allowance also reflects management’s acknowledgement of the imprecision and subjectivity that underlie the modeling of credit risk.  Due to the subjectivity involved in determining the overall allowance, including the unallocated portion, this unallocated portion may fluctuate from period to period based on management’s evaluation of the factors affecting the assumptions used in calculating the allowance.
 
Management considers the allowance for loan losses adequate to cover the estimated losses inherent in the Bank’s loan portfolio as of the date of the financial statements. Management believes it has established the allowance in accordance with GAAP and in consideration of the current economic environment. Although management uses the best information available to make evaluations, significant future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in economic and other conditions, thus adversely affecting the operating results of the Company.

There were no significant changes in the estimation methods or fundamental assumptions used in the evaluation of the allowance for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2011 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2010.   Such revisions, estimates and assumptions are made in any period in which the supporting factors indicate that loss levels may vary from the previous estimates.

Additionally, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank’s allowances for loan losses. Such agencies may require adjustments to the allowances based on their judgments of information available to them at the time of their examinations.  Also, an independent loan review process further assists with evaluating credit quality and assessing potential performance issues.

Mortgage Banking Activities
Mortgage banking income represents net gains from the sale of mortgage loans and fees received from borrowers and loan investors related to the Bank's origination of single-family residential mortgage loans.

Mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”) represent the unamortized cost of purchased and originated contractual rights to service mortgages for others in exchange for a servicing fee.  MSRs are amortized over the period of estimated net servicing income and are periodically adjusted for actual prepayments of the underlying mortgage loans.  The Company recognized no servicing assets during 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Mortgage loans serviced for others are not included in the accompanying balance sheets. The unpaid principal balances of mortgage loans serviced for others was approximately $4.0 million, $5.3 million and $6.6 million at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The Bank originates certain fixed rate mortgage loans and commits these loans for sale.  The commitments to originate fixed rate mortgage loans and the commitments to sell these loans to a third party are both derivative contracts.  The fair value of these derivative contracts is immaterial and has no effect on the recorded amounts in the financial statements.

Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed primarily using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any gain or loss is reflected in earnings for the period. The cost of maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the useful life of the respective asset is charged to earnings as incurred, whereas significant renewals and improvements are capitalized. The range of estimated useful lives for premises and equipment are generally as follows:
 
Buildings and improvements   10 - 50 years
Furniture and equipment   3 - 10 years
 
Other Real Estate
Foreclosed assets include all assets received in full or partial satisfaction of a loan and include real and personal property.  Foreclosed assets are reported at fair value less estimated selling costs.  The balance of other real estate owned was $7.6 million and $6.7 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Additionally, the recognition of future tax benefits, such as net operating loss carryforwards, is required to the extent that the realization of such benefits is more likely than not.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured
 
 
A-38

 
 
using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the assets and liabilities are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income tax expense in the period that includes the enactment date.

In the event the future tax consequences of differences between the financial reporting bases and the tax bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities results in a deferred tax asset, an evaluation of the probability of being able to realize the future benefits indicated by such asset is required. A valuation allowance is provided for the portion of the deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the realizability of a deferred tax asset, management considers the scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies.

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with income tax accounting guidance, Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification 740, Income Taxes.  On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the accounting guidance related to accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, which sets out a consistent framework to determine the appropriate level of tax reserves to maintain for uncertain tax positions.  This guidance prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.  Benefits from tax positions should be recognized in the financial statements only when it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority that would have full knowledge of all relevant information.  A tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.  Tax positions that previously failed to meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met.  Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met.  This guidance also provides disclosure guidelines for unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties.  The Company assessed the impact of this guidance and determined that it did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or disclosures.

Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into derivative contracts to manage interest rate risk by modifying the characteristics of the related balance sheet instruments in order to reduce the adverse effect of changes in interest rates. All derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value in the financial statements.

On the date a derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, or a trading instrument. Changes in the fair value of instruments used as fair value hedges are accounted for in the earnings of the period simultaneous with accounting for the fair value change of the item being hedged. Changes in the fair value of the effective portion of cash flow hedges are accounted for in other comprehensive income rather than earnings. Changes in fair value of instruments that are not intended as a hedge are accounted for in the earnings of the period of the change.

If a derivative instrument designated as a fair value hedge is terminated or the hedge designation removed, the difference between a hedged item’s then carrying amount and its face amount is recognized into income over the original hedge period. Likewise, if a derivative instrument designated as a cash flow hedge is terminated or the hedge designation removed, related amounts accumulated in other accumulated comprehensive income are reclassified into earnings over the original hedge period during which the hedged item affects income.

The Company formally documents all hedging relationships, including an assessment that the derivative instruments are expected to be highly effective in offsetting the changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged items.

Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
At December 31, 2011, accumulated other comprehensive income consisted of net unrealized gains on securities available for sale of $3.1 million.  At December 31, 2010, accumulated other comprehensive income consisted of net unrealized losses on securities available for sale of $8,000 and net unrealized gains on derivatives of $395,000.
 
 
A-39

 
 
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company has an Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long Term Incentive Plan (the “1999 Plan”) whereby certain stock-based rights, such as stock options, restricted stock, performance units, stock appreciation rights, or book value shares, may be granted to eligible directors and employees.  The 1999 Plan expired on May 13, 2009.

Under the 1999 Plan, the Company granted incentive stock options to certain eligible employees in order that they may purchase Company stock at a price equal to the fair market value on the date of the grant.  The options granted in 1999 vested over a five-year period.  Options granted subsequent to 1999 vest over a three-year period.

 All options expire after ten years.  A summary of the stock option activity in the 1999 Plan is presented below:
 
Stock Option Activity
For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
           
 
Shares
 
Weighted
Average Option
Price Per Share
 
Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Term (in
years)
Outstanding, December 31, 2008
184,945   $ 8.24    
             
Granted during the period
-     $ -      
Expired during the period
(15,483 ) $ 9.02    
Exercised during the period
-     $ -      
             
Outstanding, December 31, 2009
169,462   $ 8.17    
             
Granted during the period
-     $ -      
Expired during the period
(19,391 ) $ 6.99    
Exercised during the period
-     $ -      
             
Outstanding, December 31, 2010
150,071   $ 8.32    
             
Granted during the period
-     $ -      
Expired during the period
(71,054 ) $ 8.71    
Exercised during the period
-     $ -      
             
Outstanding, December 31, 2011
79,017   $ 7.97  
                            1.09
             
Exercisable, December 31, 2011
79,017   $ 7.97  
                            1.09
 
Options outstanding at December 31, 2011 are exercisable at option prices ranging from $7.76 to $10.57.  As of December 31, 2011, the exercise price on options outstanding is more than the current market value; therefore, options outstanding as of December 31, 2011 have no intrinsic value.  Such options have a weighted average remaining contractual life of approximately one year.  No options were granted or exercised during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

The Company recognized compensation expense for restricted stock awards of $7,000, $10,000 and $4,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock awards.

The Company granted 3,000 shares of restricted stock in 2007 at a grant date fair value of $17.40 per share. The Company granted 1,750 shares of restricted stock at a grant date fair value of $12.80 per share during the third quarter of 2008 and 2,000 shares of restricted stock at a fair value of $11.37 per share during the fourth quarter of 2008. The Company recognizes compensation expense on the restricted stock grants over the period of time the restrictions are in place (three years from the grant date for the grants to date).  The amount of expense recorded each period reflects the changes in the Company’s stock price during the period.  As of December 31, 2011, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock grants.  As of December 31, 2010, there was $4,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock grants.

The Company has a new Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long Term Incentive Plan, which was approved by shareholders on May 7, 2009 (the “2009 Plan”) whereby certain stock-based rights, such as stock options, restricted stock, performance units, stock appreciation rights, or book value shares, may be granted to eligible
 
 
A-40

 
 
directors and employees.  A total of 360,000 shares are currently reserved for possible issuance under the 2009 Plan.   All rights must be granted or awarded by May 7, 2019, or ten years from the effective date of the 2009 Plan.  The Company has not granted any awards under the 2009 Plan.

Net Earnings Per Share
Net earnings per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period while the effects of potential common shares outstanding during the period are included in diluted earnings per common share. The average market price during the year is used to compute equivalent shares.

The reconciliations of the amounts used in the computation of both “basic earnings per common share” and “diluted earnings per common share” for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

For the year ended December 31, 2011:
Net Earnings Available to Common Shareholders (Dollars in thousands)
 
Common
Shares
 
Per Share Amount
Basic earnings per common share
$ 3,766   5,542,548   $ 0.68
Effect of dilutive securities:
             
Stock options
  -     1,301      
Diluted earnings per common share
$ 3,766   5,543,849   $ 0.68
 
For the year ended December 31, 2010:
Net Earnings Available to Common Shareholders (Dollars in thousands)
 
Common
Shares
 
Per Share Amount
Basic earnings per common share
$ 447   5,539,308   $ 0.08
Effect of dilutive securities:
             
Stock options
  -     4,107      
Diluted earnings per common share
$ 447   5,543,415   $ 0.08
 
For the year ended December 31, 2009:
Net Earnings Available to Common Shareholders (Dollars in thousands)
 
Common
Shares
 
Per Share Amount
Basic earnings per common share
$ 1,670   5,539,056   $ 0.30
Effect of dilutive securities:
             
Stock options
  -     3,681      
Diluted earnings per common share
$ 1,670   5,542,737   $ 0.30
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2011, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-02, A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring is a Troubled Debt Restructuring. ASU No. 2011-02 provides additional guidance for determining what constitutes a troubled debt restructuring.  ASU No. 2011-02 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2011.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or disclosures.

In May 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”).  ASU No. 2011-04 is intended to result in convergence between U.S. GAAP and IFRS requirements for measurement of and disclosures about fair value. The amendments are not expected to have a significant impact on companies applying U.S. GAAP.  ASU No. 2011-04 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or disclosures.
 
 
A-41

 
 
In June 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income.  ASU No. 2011-05 will require companies to present the components of net income and other comprehensive income either as one continuous statement or as two consecutive statements.  It eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity.  ASU  No. 2011-05 does not change the items which must be reported in other comprehensive income, how such items are measured or when they must be reclassified to net income. This standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  Because ASU No. 2011-05 impacts presentation only, it will have no impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

In December 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05.  ASU No. 2011-12 defers the effective date of the requirement to present separate line items on the income statement for reclassification adjustments of items out of accumulated other comprehensive income into net income.  This deferral is temporary until FASB reconsiders the operational concerns and needs of financial statement users.  FASB has not yet established a timetable for its reconsideration.  Entities are still required to present reclassification adjustments within other comprehensive income either on the face of the statement that reports other comprehensive income or in the notes to the financial statements.  The requirement to present comprehensive income in either a single continuous statement or two consecutive condensed statements remains for both annual and interim reporting.  Because ASU No. 2011-12 impacts presentation only, it will have no impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or disclosures.

(2)
    Investment Securities

Investment securities available for sale at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
   
 
December 31, 2011
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated Fair
Value
Mortgage-backed securities
$ 213,378   1,371   1,056   213,693
U.S. Government
               
sponsored enterprises
  7,429   265   -     7,694
State and political subdivisions
  92,996   4,157   56   97,097
Corporate bonds
  546   -     3   543
Trust preferred securities
  1,250   -     -     1,250
Equity securities
  748   363   -     1,111
                 
Total
$ 316,347   6,156   1,115   321,388
 
(Dollars in thousands)
   
 
December 31, 2010
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated Fair Value
Mortgage-backed securities
$ 137,811   2,119   569   139,361
U.S. Government
               
sponsored enterprises
  42,933   393   686   42,640
State and political subdivisions
  89,486   793   2,450   87,829
Trust preferred securities
  1,250   -     -     1,250
Equity securities
  982   387   -     1,369
                 
Total
$ 272,462   3,692   3,705   272,449
 
The current fair value and associated unrealized losses on investments in debt securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are summarized in the tables below, with the length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous loss position.
 
 
A-42

 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
                     
 
December 31, 2011
 
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
Mortgage-backed securities
$ 95,122   991   4,125   65   99,247   1,056
State and political subdivisions
  4,444   56   -     -     4,444   56
Corporate bonds   542   3   -     -     542   3
Total
$ 100,108   1,050   4,125   65   104,233   1,115
 
(Dollars in thousands)
                     
 
December 31, 2010
 
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
Mortgage-backed securities
$ 59,471   569   -     -     59,471   569
U.S. Government
                       
sponsored enterprises
  24,123   686   -     -     24,123   686
State and political subdivisions
  56,374   2,450   -     -     56,374   2,450
Total
$ 139,968   3,705   -     -     139,968   3,705
 
At December 31, 2011, unrealized losses in the investment securities portfolio relating to debt securities totaled $1.1 million.  The unrealized losses on these debt securities arose due to changing interest rates and are considered to be temporary.  At December 31, 2011, six out of 147 securities issued by state and political subdivisions contained unrealized losses and 43 out of 105 securities issued by U.S. Government sponsored enterprises, including mortgage-backed securities, contained unrealized losses.  These unrealized losses are considered temporary because of acceptable investment grades on each security and the repayment sources of principal and interest are government backed.

The Company periodically evaluates its investments for any impairment which would be deemed other-than-temporary.   As part of its evaluation in 2011, the Company determined that the fair value of one equity security was less than the original cost of the investment and that the decline in fair value was not temporary in nature.  As a result, the Company wrote down its investment by $144,000.  The remaining fair value of the investment at December 31, 2011 was approximately $264,000.  Similarly, as part of its evaluation in 2010, the Company wrote down two equity securities by $291,000.  The remaining fair value of the investments at December 31, 2010 was $409,000.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities available for sale at December 31, 2011, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities of mortgage-backed securities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

(Dollars in thousands)
     
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Estimated Fair
Value
Due within one year
$ 4,649   4,690
Due from one to five years
  18,249   18,780
Due from five to ten years
  67,562   70,665
Due after ten years
  11,761   12,449
Mortgage-backed securities
  213,378   213,693
Equity securities
  748   1,111
Total
$ 316,347   321,388
 
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale during 2011 were $111.0 million and resulted in gross gains of $4.4 million and gross losses of $9,000.  During 2010 and 2009, the proceeds from sales of securities available for sale were $65.8 million and $30.7 million, respectively and resulted in gross gains of $3.3 million and $1.8 million, respectively.

Securities with a fair value of approximately $83.6 million and $75.5 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, were pledged to secure public deposits, FHLB borrowings and for other purposes as required by law.
 
 
A-43

 
 
GAAP establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. There is a three-level fair value hierarchy for fair value measurements.  Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that a company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.  The table below presents the balance of securities available for sale and derivatives, which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
(Dollars in thousands)
       
  December 31, 2011
 
Fair Value Measurements 
 
Level 1 Valuation
 
Level 2 Valuation
 
Level 3
Valuation
Mortgage-backed securities
$ 213,693   -   208,349   5,344
U.S. Government
               
sponsored enterprises
$ 7,694   -   7,694   -
State and political subdivisions
$ 97,097   -   97,097   -
Corporate bonds
$ 543   -   543   -
Trust preferred securities
$ 1,250   -   -   1,250
Equity securities
$ 1,111   1,111   -   -
Mortgage loans held for sale
$ 5,146   -   5,146   -
 
(Dollars in thousands)
       
  December 31, 2010
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
Level 1
Valuation
 
Level 2
Valuation
 
Level 3
Valuation
Mortgage-backed securities
$ 139,361   -   139,361   -
U.S. Government
               
sponsored enterprises
$ 42,640   -   42,640   -
State and political subdivisions
$ 87,829   -   87,829   -
Trust preferred securities
$ 1,250   -   -   1,250
Equity securities
$ 1,369   1,369   -   -
Mortgage loans held for sale
$ 3,814   -   3,814   -
Market value of derivatives (in other assets)
$ 648   -   648   -
 
Fair values of investment securities available for sale are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges when available.  If quoted prices are not available, fair value is determined using matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique used widely in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities.  Fair values of derivative instruments are determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves and implied volatilities.

The following is an analysis of fair value measurements of investment securities available for sale using Level 3, significant unobservable inputs, for the year ended December 31, 2011:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
Investment Securities Available for Sale
 
Level 3 Valuation
Balance, beginning of period
$ 1,250
Change in book value
  -
Change in gain/(loss) realized and unrealized
  -
Purchases/(sales)
  -
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
  5,344
Balance, end of period
$ 6,594
     
Change in unrealized gain/(loss) for assets still held in Level 3
$ -
 
 
 
A-44

 
 
(3)
    Loans

Major classifications of loans at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are summarized as follows:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
     
 
December 31, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
Real estate loans
     
     Construction and land development
$ 93,812   124,048
     Single-family residential
  267,051   287,307
     Commercial
  214,415   213,487
     Multifamily and farmland
  4,793   6,456
          Total real estate loans
  580,071   631,298
         
Commercial loans (not secured by real estate)
  60,646   60,994
Consumer loans (not secured by real estate)
  10,490   11,500
All other loans (not secured by real estate)
  19,290   22,368
         
     Total loans
  670,497   726,160
         
Less allowance for loan losses
  16,604   15,493
         
     Total net loans
$ 653,893   710,667
 
The Bank grants loans and extensions of credit primarily within the Catawba Valley region of North Carolina, which encompasses Catawba, Alexander, Iredell and Lincoln counties and also in Mecklenburg, Union and Wake counties of North Carolina.  Although the Bank has a diversified loan portfolio, a substantial portion of the loan portfolio is collateralized by improved and unimproved real estate, the value of which is dependent upon the real estate market.  Risk characteristics of the major components of the Bank’s loan portfolio are discussed below:

·  
Construction and land development loans – The risk of loss is largely  dependent on the  initial estimate of whether the property’s value at completion equals
or  exceeds the cost of  property  construction and the  availability of take-out  financing.   During the  construction  phase, a  number of  factors can result in
delays or  cost overruns.   If the  estimate is   inaccurate or if actual  construction  costs exceed  estimates, the value of the property securing our loan may be
insufficient to ensure  full repayment  when  completed through a  permanent loan, sale of the property, or by  seizure of collateral.   As of December 31, 2011,
construction and land development loans comprised approximately 14% of the Bank’s total loan portfolio.

·  
Single-family  residential  loans –  Declining  home  sales volumes,  decreased  real   estate  values and  higher  than  normal  levels  of  unemployment  could
contribute to losses on these loans.  As of December 31, 2011, single-family residential loans comprised approximately 40% of the Bank’s total loan portfolio.

·  
Commercial  real  estate  loans – Repayment is  dependent on  income  being  generated in  amounts  sufficient to cover operating expenses and debt service.  
These loans  also involve  greater risk because  they are  generally not fully amortizing over a loan period, but rather have a balloon payment due at maturity.
A borrower’s ability to make a balloon  payment typically will depend on being able to either refinance the loan or timely sell the underlying property.  As of
December 31, 2011, commercial real estate loans comprised approximately 32% of the Bank’s total loan portfolio.

·  
Commercial loans – Repayment is  generally  dependent  upon the successful  operation of the borrower’s business.   In addition, the collateral securing the
loans may  depreciate  over time, be  difficult to appraise, be illiquid, or fluctuate  in value based  on the success of the  business.   As of December 31, 2011,
commercial loans comprised approximately 9% of the Bank’s total loan portfolio.
 
Loans are considered past due if the required principal and interest payments have not been received as of the date such payments were due. Loans are placed on non-accrual status when, in management’s opinion, the borrower may be unable to meet payment obligations as they become due, as well as when required by regulatory provisions. Loans may be placed on non-accrual status regardless of whether or not such loans are considered past due. When interest accrual is discontinued, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed. Interest income is subsequently recognized only to the extent cash payments are received in excess of principal due. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.
 
 
A-45

 
 
The following tables present an age analysis of past due loans, by loan type, as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:
 
December 31, 2011
                   
(Dollars in thousands)
                   
 
Loans 30-89
Days Past
Due
 
Loans 90 or
More Days
Past Due
 
Total Past
Due
Loans
 
Total
Current
Loans
 
Total Loans
 
Accruing
Loans 90 or
More Days
Past Due
Real estate loans
                     
     Construction and land development
$ 10,033   3,338   13,371   80,441   93,812   -  
     Single-family residential
  16,536   6,189   22,725   244,326   267,051   2,709
     Commercial
  1,002   958   1,960   212,455   214,415   -  
     Multifamily and farmland
  13   -     13   4,780   4,793   -  
          Total real estate loans
  27,584   10,485   38,069   542,002   580,071   2,709
                         
Commercial loans (not secured by real estate)
  576   9   585   60,061   60,646   -  
Consumer loans (not secured by real estate)
  116   36   152   10,338   10,490   -  
All other loans (not secured by real estate)
  -     -     -     19,290   19,290   -  
     Total loans
$ 28,276   10,530   38,806   631,691   670,497   2,709
 
December 31, 2010
                   
(Dollars in thousands)
                   
 
Loans 30-89
Days Past
Due
 
Loans 90 or
More Days
Past Due
 
Total Past
Due
Loans
 
Total
Current
Loans
 
Total Loans
 
Accruing
Loans 90 or
More Days
Past Due
Real estate loans
                     
     Construction and land development
$ 2,306   8,870   11,176   112,872   124,048   197
     Single-family residential
  19,377   5,936   25,313   261,994   287,307   -  
     Commercial
  382   1,482   1,864   211,623   213,487   -  
     Multifamily and farmland
  -     -     -     6,456   6,456   -  
          Total real estate loans
  22,065   16,288   38,353   592,945   631,298   197
                         
Commercial loans (not secured by real estate)
  1,098   720   1,818   59,176   60,994   13
Consumer loans (not secured by real estate)
  98   13   111   11,389   11,500   -  
All other loans (not secured by real estate)
  -     -     -     22,368   22,368   -  
     Total loans
$ 23,261   17,021   40,282   685,878   726,160   210
 
The following tables present the Bank’s non-accrual loans as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
     
 
December 31, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
Real estate loans
     
     Construction and land development
$ 13,257   22,916
     Single-family residential
  5,522   10,837
     Commercial
  2,451   5,351
     Multifamily and farmland
  -   -
          Total real estate loans
  21,230   39,104
         
Commercial loans (not secured by real estate)
  403   816
Consumer loans (not secured by real estate)
  152   142
All other loans (not secured by real estate)
  -   -
     Total
$ 21,785   40,062
 
At each reporting period, the Bank determines which loans are impaired.  Accordingly, the Bank’s impaired loans are reported at their estimated fair value on a non-recurring basis.  An allowance for each impaired loan, which is generally collateral-dependent, is calculated based on the fair value of its collateral.  The fair value of the collateral is based on appraisals performed by REAS, a subsidiary of the Bank.  REAS is staffed by certified appraisers that also perform appraisals for other companies.   Factors including the assumptions and techniques utilized by the appraiser are considered by management.  If the recorded investment in the impaired loan exceeds the measure of fair value of the collateral, a valuation allowance is recorded as a component of the allowance for loan losses.   Accruing impaired loans amounted to $30.6 million and $17.0 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Interest income recognized on accruing impaired loans was $1.7 million and $966,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  No interest income is recognized on non-accrual impaired loans subsequent to their classification as impaired.
 
 
A-46

 
 
The following tables presents the Bank’s impaired loans as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

December 31, 2011
                   
(Dollars in thousands)
                   
 
Unpaid Contractual Principal
Balance
 
Recorded Investment
With No Allowance
 
Recorded Investment
With
Allowance
 
Recorded Investment
in Impaired
Loans
 
Related
Allowance
 
Average Outstanding Impaired
Loans
Real Estate Loans
                     
     Construction and land development
$ 28,721   14,484   6,098   20,582   3,264   17,848
     Single-family residential
  26,382   969   24,719   25,688   1,427   25,102
     Commercial
  7,717   3,845   3,139   6,984   77   4,518
          Total impaired real estate loans
  63,029   19,298   34,165   53,463   4,769   47,682
                         
Commercial loans (not secured by real estate)
  1,111   -      1,083   1,083   26   1,485
Consumer loans (not secured by real estate)
  157   -      152   152   2   140
     Total impaired loans
$ 64,297   19,298   35,400   54,698   4,797   49,307
 
December 31, 2010
                   
(Dollars in thousands)
                   
 
Unpaid Contractual Principal
Balance
 
Recorded Investment
With No Allowance
 
Recorded Investment
With
Allowance
 
Recorded Investment
in Impaired
Loans
 
Related
Allowance
 
Average Outstanding Impaired
Loans
Real estate loans
                     
     Construction and land development
$ 31,551   19,422   3,698   23,120   3,177   18,870
     Single-family residential
  26,834   1,738   23,558   25,296   1,613   26,558
     Commercial
  6,911   4,424   1,819   6,243   218   4,992
     Multifamily and farmland
  223   -     223   223   4   254
          Total impaired real estate loans
  65,519   25,584   29,298   54,882   5,012   50,674
                         
Commercial loans (not secured by real estate)
  2,145   648   1,072   1,720   55   1,705
Consumer loans (not secured by real estate)
  152   -     142   142   4   79
     Total impaired loans
$ 67,816   26,232   30,512   56,744   5,071   52,458
 
The Bank’s December 31, 2011 and 2010 fair value measurement for impaired loans and other real estate is presented below.   Valuations supported by current certified appraisals are considered Level 2.  All other valuation methods are considered Level 3.
 
(Dollars in thousands)
                 
 
Fair Value Measurements December 31, 2011
 
Level 1
Valuation
 
Level 2
Valuation
 
Level 3
Valuation
 
Total Gains/(Losses) for
the Year Ended
December 31, 2011
Impaired loans
$ 49,901   -   431   49,470   (11,864 )
Other real estate
$ 7,576   -   -     7,576   (1,322 )
 
(Dollars in thousands)
                 
 
Fair Value Measurements December 31, 2010
 
Level 1
Valuation
 
Level 2
Valuation
 
Level 3
Valuation
 
Total Gains/(Losses) for
the Year Ended
December 31, 2010
Impaired loans
$ 51,673   -   6,643   45,030   (10,591 )
Other real estate
$ 6,673   -   -     6,673   (704 )
 
 
 
A-47

 
 
Changes in the allowance for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2011 were as follows:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
                         
                                 
 
Real Estate Loans
                 
 
Construction
and Land Development
 
Single
Family Residential
 
Commercial
 
Multifamily
& Farmland
 
Commercial
 
Consumer and All
Other
 
Unallocated
 
Total
 
Allowance for loan losses:
                               
Beginning balance
$ 5,774   6,097   1,409   17   1,174   430   592   15,493  
Charge-offs
  (7,164 ) (2,925 ) (1,271 ) -   (314 ) (586 ) -   (12,260 )
Recoveries
  241   201   24   -   121   152   -   739  
Provision
  8,331   1,984   1,569   (4 ) 48   259   445   12,632  
Ending balance
$ 7,182   5,357   1,731   13   1,029   255   1,037   16,604  
                                   
Ending balance: individually
                                 
evaluated for impairment
$ 1,250   1,289   -   -   -   -   -   2,539  
Ending balance: collectively
                                 
 evaluated for impairment
  5,932   4,068   1,731   13   1,029   255   1,037   14,065  
Ending balance
$ 7,182   5,357   1,731   13   1,029   255   1,037   16,604  
                                   
Loans:                                  
Ending balance
$
93,812    267,051    214,415    4,793    60,646    29,780    -      670,497  
                                   
Ending balance: individually                                  
     evaluated for impairment $  20,280    20,661    3,845    -      -      -      -      44,786  
Ending balance: collectively                                  
     evaluated for impairment $  73,532    246,390    210,570    4,793    60,646    29,780    -      625,711  
 
Changes in the allowance for loan losses for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:
 
(Dollars in thousands) 2010   2009  
         
Balance at beginning of year $ 15,413   11,025  
Amounts charged off   (16,911 ) (6,670 )
Recoveries on amounts previously charged off   553   523  
Provision for loan losses   16,438   10,535  
           
Balance at end of year $ 15,493   15,413  
 
The Bank utilizes an internal risk grading matrix to assign a risk grade to each of its loans.  Loans are graded on a scale of 1 to 9.  These risk grades are evaluated on an ongoing basis.   A description of the general characteristics of the nine risk grades is as follows:

·  
Risk Grade 1 – Excellent Quality: Loans are well above average quality and a minimal amount of credit risk exists.  CD or cash secured loans or properly margined actively traded stock or bond secured loans would fall in this grade.
·  
Risk Grade 2 – High Quality: Loans are of good quality with risk levels well within the Bank’s range of acceptability.  The company or individual is established with a history of successful performance though somewhat susceptible to economic changes.
·  
Risk Grade 3 – Good Quality: Loans of average quality with risk levels within the Bank’s range of acceptability but higher than normal. This may be a new company or an existing company in a transitional phase (e.g. expansion, acquisition, market change).
·  
Risk Grade 4 – Management Attention: These loans have very high risk and servicing needs but still are acceptable. Evidence of marginal performance or deteriorating trends are evident.  These are not problem credits presently, but may be in the future if the borrower is unable to change its present course.
·  
Risk Grade 5 – Watch: These loans are currently performing satisfactorily, but there are potential weaknesses that may, if not corrected, weaken the asset or inadequately protect the Bank’s position at some future date.  This frequently results from deviating from prudent lending practices, for instance over-advancing on collateral.
·  
Risk Grade 6 – Substandard: A Substandard loan is inadequately protected by the current sound net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or the collateral pledged (if there is any).  There is a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt.  There is a distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.
 
 
 
A-48

 
 

·  
Risk Grade 7 – Low Substandard: These loans have the general characteristics of a Grade 6 Substandard loan, with heightened potential concerns.  The exact amount of loss is not yet known because neither the liquidation value of the collateral nor the borrower’s predicted repayment ability is known with confidence.
·  
Risk Grade 8 – Doubtful: Loans classified as Doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in loans classified Substandard, plus the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values highly questionable and improbable.  Doubtful is a temporary grade where a loss is expected but is presently not quantified with any degree of accuracy. Once the loss position is determined, the amount is charged off.
·  
Risk Grade 9 – Loss: Loans classified as Loss are considered uncollectable and of such little value that their continuance as bankable assets is not warranted.  This classification does not mean that the asset has absolutely no recovery or salvage value, but rather that it is not practical or desirable to defer writing off this worthless loan even though partial recovery may be effected in the future.  Loss is a temporary grade until the appropriate authority is obtained to charge the loan off.
 
The following tables present the credit risk profile of each loan type based on internally assigned risk grade as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
December 31, 2011
                       
(Dollars in thousands)
                       
 
Real Estate Loans
               
 
Construction
and Land Development
 
Single
Family Residential
 
Commercial
 
Multifamily
& Farmland
 
Commercial
 
Consumer
 
All Other
 
Total
                               
1- Excellent Quality
$ 197   25,474   -   -   715   1,344   -   27,730
2- High Quality
$ 5,183   64,817   25,506   50   8,801   4,070   2,774   111,201
3- Good Quality
$ 27,675   100,388   136,137   3,448   36,585   4,259   16,509   325,001
4- Management Attention
$ 28,138   50,253   40,312   358   12,882   429   7   132,379
5- Watch
$ 15,923   11,767   2,795   728   622   89   -   31,924
6- Substandard
$ 16,696   14,352   9,665   209   1,041   154   -   42,117
7- Low Substandard
$ -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
8- Doubtful
$ -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
9- Loss
$ -   -   -   -   -   145   -   145
      Total
$ 93,812   267,051   214,415   4,793   60,646   10,490   19,290   670,497
 
December 31, 2010
                       
(Dollars in thousands)
                       
 
Real Estate Loans
               
 
Construction
and Land Development
 
Single
Family Residential
 
Commercial
 
Multifamily
& Farmland
 
Commercial
 
Consumer
 
All Other
 
Total
                               
1- Excellent Quality
$ 19   27,698   102   -   630   1,006   -   29,455
2- High Quality
$ 5,789   70,990   21,591   2,856   9,673   4,491   5,145   120,535
3- Good Quality
$ 33,991   109,800   129,530   2,256   39,248   5,360   17,223   337,408
4- Management Attention
$ 46,283   55,001   43,731   1,121   8,143   454       154,733
5- Watch
$ 8,076   7,959   5,569   -   1,590   38       23,232
6- Substandard
$ 29,502   15,022   12,605   223   1,678   145       59,175
7- Low Substandard
$ -   756   359   -   -   -       1,115
8- Doubtful
$ 388   81   -   -   17   -       486
9- Loss
$ -   -   -   -   15   6   -   21
      Total
$ 124,048   287,307   213,487   6,456   60,994   11,500   22,368   726,160
 
At December 31, 2011, troubled debt restructured (“TDR”) loans amounted to $44.1 million, including $15.1 million in performing TDR loans.  The terms of these loans have been renegotiated to provide a reduction in principal or interest as a result of the deteriorating financial position of the borrower.  At December 31, 2010, TDR loans amounted to $56.7 million, including $10.0 million in performing TDR loans.
 
 
A-49

 
 
The following tables present an analysis of TDR loans by loan type as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
December 31, 2011          
(Dollars in thousands)
         
 
Number of Contracts
 
Pre-Modification Outstanding
 Recorded
Investment
 
Post-Modification Outstanding
Recorded
Investment
Real Estate Loans
         
     Construction and land development
29   $ 19,762   12,840
     Single-family residential
241     25,541   24,846
     Commercial
15     7,200   5,013
     Multifamily and Farmland
1     322   209
          Total real estate TDR loans
286     52,825   42,908
             
Commercial loans (not secured by real estate)
21     1,711   1,083
Consumer loans (not secured by real estate)
8     124   142
All other loans (not secured by real estate)
-       -     -  
     Total TDR loans
315   $ 54,660   44,133
 
December 31, 2010          
(Dollars in thousands)
         
 
Number of Contracts
 
Pre-Modification Outstanding
 Recorded
Investment
 
Post-Modification Outstanding
Recorded
Investment
Real Estate Loans
         
     Construction and land development
47   $ 27,901   23,121
     Single-family residential
221     26,808   25,296
     Commercial
17     8,155   6,243
     Multifamily and Farmland
1     322   223
          Total real estate TDR loans
286     63,186   54,883
             
Commercial loans (not secured by real estate)
26     6,196   1,719
Consumer loans (not secured by real estate)
12     148   142
All other loans (not secured by real estate)
-       -     -  
     Total TDR loans
324   $ 69,530   56,744
 
(4)
    Premises and Equipment

Major classifications of premises and equipment are summarized as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
     
 
2011
 
2010
       
Land
$ 3,581   3,581
Buildings and improvements
  14,771   14,759
Furniture and equipment
  16,874   15,575
         
Total premises and equipment
  35,226   33,915
         
Less accumulated depreciation
  18,330   16,581
         
Total net premises and equipment
$ 16,896   17,334
 
Depreciation expense was approximately $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The Company recognized approximately $2.1 and $1.9 million in depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
 
A-50

 

 
(5)
    Time Deposits

At December 31, 2011, the scheduled maturities of time deposits are as follows:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
   
2012
$ 253,146
2013
  39,067
2014
  14,126
2015
  8,732
2016 and thereafter
  9,029
     
Total
$ 324,100
 
At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had approximately $47.0 million and $87.4 million, respectively, in time deposits purchased through third party brokers, including certificates of deposit participated through the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (“CDARS”) on behalf of local customers.  CDARS balances totaled $28.6 million and $53.0 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  The weighted average rate of brokered deposits as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 was 0.99% and 1.20%, respectively.
 
(6)
    Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank Borrowings

The Bank has borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (“FHLB”) with monthly or quarterly interest payments at December 31, 2011.  The FHLB borrowings are collateralized by a blanket assignment on all residential first mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit and loans secured by multi-family real estate that the Bank owns.  At December 31, 2011, the carrying value of loans pledged as collateral totaled approximately $153.7 million.  As additional collateral, the Bank has pledged securities to the FHLB.  At December 31, 2011, the market value of securities pledged to the FHLB totaled $13.2 million.

Borrowings from the FHLB outstanding at December 31, 2011 consist of the following:

(Dollars in thousands)
         
           
Maturity Date
Call Date
 
Rate
Rate Type
Amount
           
June 24, 2015
N/A   3.710%
Convertible
$ 5,000
             
March 25, 2019
N/A   4.260%
Convertible
  5,000
             
October 5, 2016
N/A   4.450%
Convertible
  5,000
             
November 12, 2014
N/A   2.230%
Fixed Rate Hybrid
  5,000
             
November 13, 2017
N/A   4.260%
Fixed Rate Hybrid
  15,000
             
October 17, 2016
N/A   3.893%
Adjustable Rate Hybrid
  5,000
             
October 17, 2018
N/A   3.573%
Adjustable Rate Hybrid
  5,000
             
October 17, 2018
N/A   3.813%
Adjustable Rate Hybrid
  15,000
             
October 17, 2018
N/A   3.588%
Adjustable Rate Hybrid
  5,000
             
October 17, 2018
N/A   3.643%
Adjustable Rate Hybrid
  5,000
             
          $ 70,000
 
The FHLB has the option to convert $15.0 million of the total advances to a floating rate and, if converted, the Bank may repay advances without a prepayment fee.  

The Bank is required to purchase and hold certain amounts of FHLB stock in order to obtain FHLB borrowings. No ready market exists for the FHLB stock, and it has no quoted market value. The stock is redeemable at $100 per share subject to certain limitations set by the FHLB. The Bank owned FHLB stock amounting to $4.9 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
 
A-51

 
 
As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Bank had no borrowings from the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”).  FRB borrowings are collateralized by a blanket assignment on all qualifying loans that the Bank owns which are not pledged to the FHLB.  At December 31, 2011, the carrying value of loans pledged as collateral totaled approximately $342.2 million.

(7)
    Junior Subordinated Debentures

In June 2006, the Company formed a second wholly-owned Delaware statutory trust, PEBK Capital Trust II (“PEBK Trust II”), which issued $20.0 million of guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in the Company’s junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures.  All of the common securities of PEBK Trust II are owned by the Company.  The proceeds from the issuance of the common securities and the trust preferred securities were used by PEBK Trust II to purchase $20.6 million of junior subordinated debentures of the Company, which pay a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 163 basis points.  The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the junior subordinated debentures were used to repay in December 2006 the trust preferred securities issued in December 2001 by PEBK Capital Trust, a wholly owned Delaware statutory trust of the Company, and for general purposes.  The debentures represent the sole assets of PEBK Trust II.  PEBK Trust II is not included in the consolidated financial statements.

The trust preferred securities issued by PEBK Trust II accrue and pay interest quarterly at a floating rate of three-month LIBOR plus 163 basis points.  The Company has guaranteed distributions and other payments due on the trust preferred securities to the extent PEBK Trust II has funds with which to make the distributions and other payments.  The net combined effect of all the documents entered into in connection with the trust preferred securities is that the Company is liable to make the distributions and other payments required on the trust preferred securities.

These trust preferred securities are mandatorily redeemable upon maturity of the debentures on June 28, 2036, or upon earlier redemption as provided in the indenture.  The Company had the right to redeem the debentures purchased by PEBK Trust II, in whole or in part, on or after June 28, 2011.  As specified in the indenture, if the debentures are redeemed prior to maturity, the redemption price will be the principal amount plus any accrued but unpaid interest.

(8)
    Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes in summarized as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
           
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
Current
$ 2,141     512     3,059  
Deferred
  (678 )   (523 )   (1,720 )
Total
$ 1,463     (11 )   1,339  
 
The differences between the provision for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to earnings before income taxes are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
           
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
Pre-tax income at statutory rate (34%)
$ 2,251     622     1,447  
Differences:
                 
Tax exempt interest income
  (1,052 )   (721 )   (429 )
Nondeductible interest and other expense
  62     58     38  
Cash surrender value of life insurance
  (101 )   (87 )   (89 )
State taxes, net of federal benefits
  233     (8 )   100  
Nondeductible capital losses
  49     99     234  
Other, net
  21     26     38  
Total
$ 1,463     (11 )   1,339  
 
The following summarizes the tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities.  The net deferred tax asset is included as a component of other assets at December 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
 
A-52

 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
       
 
2011
 
2010
 
Deferred tax assets:
       
Allowance for loan losses
$ 6,401   5,973  
Accrued retirement expense
  1,213   1,086  
Other real estate
  454   215  
Other
  204   335  
Total gross deferred tax assets
  8,272   7,609  
           
Deferred tax liabilities:
         
Deferred loan fees
  1,082   1,259  
Premises and equipment
  655   493  
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities
  1,964   (5 )
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges
  -     252  
Total gross deferred tax liabilities
  3,701   1,999  
Net deferred tax asset
$ 4,571   5,610  
 
(9)
    Related Party Transactions
 
The Company conducts transactions with its directors and executive officers, including companies in which they have beneficial interests, in the normal course of business. It is the policy of the Bank that loan transactions with directors and officers are made on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time made for comparable loans to other persons. The following is a summary of activity for related party loans for 2011:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
   
     
Beginning balance
$ 6,048  
New loans
  7,008  
Repayments
  (6,933
       
Ending balance
$ 6,123  
 
At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Bank had deposit relationships with related parties of approximately $15.1 million and $15.4 million, respectively.

(10)
    Commitments and Contingencies

The Company leases various office spaces for banking and operational facilities and equipment under operating lease arrangements. Future minimum lease payments required for all operating leases having a remaining term in excess of one year at December 31, 2011 are as follows:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
   
Year ending December 31,
 
2012
$ 507
2013
  453
2014
  439
2015
  409
2016
  407
Thereafter
  2,111
     
Total minimum obligation
$ 4,326
 
Total rent expense was approximately $735,000, $815,000 and $922,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The Bank is party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers.  These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and financial guarantees.  Those instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheet.  The contract amounts of those instruments reflect the extent of involvement the Bank has in particular classes of financial instruments.
 
 
A-53

 

The exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit and financial guarantees written is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments.

In most cases, the Bank requires collateral or other security to support financial instruments with credit risk.

(Dollars in thousands)
     
 
Contractual Amount
 
2011
 
2010
Financial instruments whose contract amount represent credit risk:
     
       
Commitments to extend credit
$ 131,565   137,015
         
Standby letters of credit and financial guarantees written
$ 3,288   3,590
 
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 and because they may expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amount of $134.9 million does not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

Standby letters of credit and financial guarantees written are conditional commitments issued by the Bank to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Those guarantees are primarily issued to businesses in the Bank’s delineated market area. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. The Bank holds real estate, equipment, automobiles and customer deposits as collateral supporting those commitments for which collateral is deemed necessary.

In the normal course of business, the Company is a party (both as plaintiff and defendant) to a number of lawsuits. In the opinion of management and counsel, none of these cases should have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Company.

Bancorp and the Bank have employment agreements with certain key employees. The agreements, among other things, include salary, bonus, incentive stock option, and change in control provisions.

The Company has $47.5 million available for the purchase of overnight federal funds from five correspondent financial institutions.

(11)
    Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Transactions

Accounting Policy for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
The disclosure requirements for derivatives and hedging activities have the intent to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of: (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows.  The disclosure requirements include qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about the fair value of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative instruments.

The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value.  The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the Company has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge or the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge.  The Company may enter into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain of its risks, even though hedge accounting does not apply or the Company elects not to apply hedge accounting.
 
 
A-54

 
 
Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives
The Company has an overall interest rate risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to minimize significant unplanned fluctuations in earnings that are caused by interest rate volatility.  By using derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to credit and market risk.  If the counterparty fails to perform, credit risk is equal to the extent of the fair-value gain in the derivative.  The Company minimizes the credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high-quality counterparties that are reviewed periodically by the Company.  The Company had an interest rate swap contract that expired in June 2011.  The Company did not have any interest rate derivatives outstanding as of December 31, 2011.

Fair Values of Derivative Instruments on the Balance Sheet
The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.

(Dollars in thousands)
             
 
Asset Derivatives
 
As of December 31, 2011
 
As of December 31, 2010
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
Fair Value
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
Fair Value
Interest rate derivative contracts
Other assets
  $ -       
Other assets
  $ 648     
 
Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk
The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to interest income and expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps and floors as part of its interest rate risk management strategy.  For hedges of the Company’s variable-rate loan assets, interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of fixed-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making variable-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount.  For hedges of the Company’s variable-rate loan assets, the interest rate floors designated as a cash flow hedge involves the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty if interest rates fall below the strike rate on the contract in exchange for an up front premium.  The Company had an interest rate swap contract that expired in June 2011.  The Company did not have any interest rate derivatives outstanding as of December 31, 2011.

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings.  During 2011, 2010 and 2009, such derivatives were used to hedge the variable cash inflows associated with existing pools of prime-based loan assets.  The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings.  The Company’s derivatives did not have any hedge ineffectiveness recognized in earnings during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.  The Company recognized hedge ineffectiveness gains of $1,000 in earnings during the year ended December 31, 2009.

Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statement of Earnings
The table below presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments on the Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
(Dollars in thousands)
                         
   
Amount of Gain
 
Location of Gain
 
Amount of Gain
   
(Loss) Recognized in
 
(Loss) Reclassified
 
(Loss) Reclassified
    Accumulated OCI on    from Accumulated    from Accumulated 
   
Derivatives
 
OCI into Income
 
OCI into Income
   
Years ended
     
Years ended
   
December 31,
     
December 31,
   
2011
 
2010
     
2011
 
2010
Interest rate derivative contracts
$
(20)
 
$
404
 
Interest income
 
$
628
 
$
1,518
 
(12)
    Employee and Director Benefit Programs

The Company has a profit sharing and 401(k) plan for the benefit of substantially all employees subject to certain minimum age and service requirements. Under the 401(k) plan, the Company matched employee contributions to a maximum of 2.50% of annual compensation for 2011 and 2010, and 5.00% of annual compensation for 2009.  The Company’s contribution pursuant to this formula was approximately $219,000, $208,000 and $482,000 for
 
 
A-55

 
 
the years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Investments of the 401(k) plan are determined by the compensation committee consisting of selected outside directors and senior executive officers.  No investments in Company stock have been made by the 401(k) plan. The vesting schedule for the 401(k) plan begins at 20 percent after two years of employment and graduates 20 percent each year until reaching 100 percent after six years of employment.

In December 2001, the Company initiated a postretirement benefit plan to provide retirement benefits to key officers and its Board of Directors and to provide death benefits for their designated beneficiaries.  Under the postretirement benefit plan, the Company purchased life insurance contracts on the lives of the key officers and each director.  The increase in cash surrender value of the contracts constitutes the Company’s contribution to the postretirement benefit plan each year.  Postretirement benefit plan participants are to be paid annual benefits for a specified number of years commencing upon retirement. Expenses incurred for benefits relating to the postretirement benefit plan were approximately $355,000, $279,000 and $609,000 for the years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The Company is currently paying medical benefits for certain retired employees. Postretirement medical benefits expense, including amortization of the transition obligation, as applicable, was approximately $23,000 for each of the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

The following table sets forth the change in the accumulated benefit obligation for the Company’s two postretirement benefit plans described above:

(Dollars in thousands)
       
 
2011
 
2010
 
         
Benefit obligation at beginning of period
$ 2,607   2,355  
Service cost
  303   244  
Interest cost
  64   53  
Benefits paid
  (51 ) (45 )
           
Benefit obligation at end of period
$ 2,923   2,607  
 
The amounts recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 are shown in the following two tables:

(Dollars in thousands)
       
 
2011
 
2010
 
         
Benefit obligation
$ 2,923   2,607  
Fair value of plan assets
  -     -    
 
(Dollars in thousands)
       
 
2011
 
2010
 
         
Funded status
$ (2,923 ) (2,607 )
Unrecognized prior service cost/benefit
  -     -    
Unrecognized net actuarial loss
  -     -    
           
Net amount recognized
$ (2,923 ) (2,607 )
           
Unfunded accrued liability
$ (2,923 ) (2,607 )
Intangible assets
  -     -    
           
Net amount recognized
$ (2,923 ) (2,607 )
 
 
 
A-56

 
 
Net periodic benefit cost of the Company’s two post retirement benefit plans for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 consisted of the following:

(Dollars in thousands)
     
 
2011
 
2010
       
Service cost
$ 303   244
Interest cost
  64   53
         
Net periodic cost
$ 367   297
         
Weighted average discount rate assumption used to
       
determine benefit obligation
  6.59%   6.65%
 
During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company paid benefits under the two postretirement plans totaling $51,000.  Information about the expected benefit payments for the Company’s two postretirement benefit plans is as follows:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
   
     
Year ending December 31,
   
2012
$ 86  
2013
$ 201  
2014
$ 224  
2015
$ 255  
2016
$ 256  
Thereafter
$ 9,203  
 
Relating to the postretirement benefit plan, the Company is required to recognize an obligation for either the present value of the entire promised death benefit or the annual “cost of insurance” required to keep the policy in force during the postretirement years.  The Company made a $467,000 reduction to retained earnings in 2008 pursuant to the guidance of the pronouncement to record the portion of this benefit earned by participants prior to adoption of this pronouncement.   In 2009, the Company made a $358,000 addition to retained earnings to reflect an adjustment of the cumulative effect due to policy amendments to the individual split-dollar plans implemented during 2009.

Members of the Board of Directors are eligible to participate in the Company’s Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Stock Benefits Plan”).  Each director was awarded 9,737 book value shares (adjusted for stock dividends and stock splits) under the Stock Benefits Plan.  The book value of the shares awarded ranged from $6.31 to $8.64.  All book value shares were fully vested on May 6, 2009 and were exercised in 2009.  The Company did not record any expenses associated with the Stock Benefits Plan in 2011 and 2010.  The Company recorded expenses of approximately $59,000 associated with the benefits of the Stock Benefits Plan in the year ended December 31, 2009.

A summary of book value shares activity under the Stock Benefits Plan for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 is presented below.

 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
Shares
 
Weighted
 Average
Price of
Book Value
Shares
 
Shares
 
Weighted
 Average
Price of
Book Value
Shares
 
Shares
 
Weighted
 Average
Price of
Book Value
Shares
Outstanding, beginning of period
-   $ -   -   $ -   97,377   $ 7.38
Exercised during the period
-   $ -   -   $ -   (97,377 ) $ 7.38
                             
Outstanding, end of period
-   $ -   -   $ -   -     $ -  
                             
Number of shares exercisable
-   $ -   -   $ -   -     $ -  
 
 
 
A-57

 

(13)
    Regulatory Matters

The Company is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the 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.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of capital in relation to both on- and off-balance sheet items at various risk weights. Total capital consists of two tiers of capital. Tier 1 Capital includes common shareholders’ equity and trust preferred securities less adjustments for intangible assets. Tier 2 Capital consists of the allowance for loan losses up to 1.25% of risk-weighted assets and other adjustments.  Management believes, as of December 31, 2011, that the Company and the Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.

As of December 31, 2011, the most recent notification from the FDIC categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized the Bank must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the table. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the Bank’s category.

The Company’s and the Bank’s actual capital amounts and ratios are presented below:

(Dollars in thousands)
               
 
Actual
 
For Capital
Adequacy Purposes
 
To Be Well
Capitalized Under
Prompt Corrective
Action Provisions
                       
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
                       
As of December 31, 2011:
                     
                       
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
                     
Consolidated
$ 129,495   17.38%   59,607   8.00%   N/A   N/A
Bank
$ 111,807   15.04%   59,463   8.00%   74,329   10.00%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
                       
Consolidated
$ 119,950   16.10%   29,804   4.00%   N/A   N/A
Bank
$ 102,264   13.76%   29,731   4.00%   44,597   6.00%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)
                       
Consolidated
$ 119,950   11.06%   43,379   4.00%   N/A   N/A
Bank
$ 102,264   9.44%   43,328   4.00%   54,160   5.00%
                         
As of December 31, 2010:
                       
                         
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
                       
Consolidated
$ 126,912   15.51%   65,455   8.00%   N/A   N/A
Bank
$ 107,294   13.15%   65,291   8.00%   81,614   10.00%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
                       
Consolidated
$ 116,470   14.24%   32,728   4.00%   N/A   N/A
Bank
$ 96,853   11.87%   32,646   4.00%   48,968   6.00%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)
                       
Consolidated
$ 116,470   10.70%   43,533   4.00%   N/A   N/A
Bank
$ 96,853   8.91%   43,491   4.00%   54,363   5.00%
 
 
 
A-58

 
 
(14)
    Shareholders’ Equity

The Board of Directors, at its discretion, can issue shares of preferred stock up to a maximum of 5,000,000 shares. The Board of Directors is authorized to determine the number of shares, voting powers, designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights.

On December 23, 2008, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”) with the United States Treasury (the “UST”) pursuant to the Capital Purchase Program ("CPP") under the Troubled Asset Relief Program ("TARP").  Under the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue and sell 25,054 shares of Series A preferred stock and a warrant to purchase 357,234 shares of the Company's common stock.  Proceeds from the issuance of Series A preferred shares were allocated between Series A preferred stock and the warrant based on their relative fair values at the time of the sale.  Of the $25.1 million in proceeds, $24.4 million was allocated to the Series A preferred stock and $704,000 was allocated to the common stock warrant.  The discount recorded on the Series A preferred stock that resulted from allocating a portion of the proceeds to the warrant is being accreted directly to retained earnings over a five-year period applying a level yield.  As of December 31, 2011, the Company has accreted a total of $408,000 of the discount related to the Series A preferred stock.  The Company paid dividends of $1.3 million on the Series A preferred stock during 2011 and cumulative undeclared dividends at December 31, 2011 were $157,000.

The Series A preferred stock qualifies as Tier 1 capital and will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per annum for the first five years and 9% per annum thereafter.  The Series A preferred stock may be redeemed at the stated amount of $1,000 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends.  Under the terms of the original Purchase Agreement, the Company could not redeem the Series A preferred shares until December 23, 2011 unless the total amount of the issuance, $25.1 million, was replaced with the same amount of other forms of capital that would qualify as Tier 1 capital.  However, with the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”), the Company can now redeem the Series A preferred shares at any time, if approved by the Company’s primary regulator.  The Series A preferred stock is non-voting except for class voting rights on matters that would adversely affect the rights of the holders of the Series A preferred stock.

The exercise price of the warrant is $10.52 per common share and it is exercisable at anytime on or before December 18, 2018.

The Company is subject to the following restrictions while the Series A preferred stock is outstanding: 1) UST approval is required for the Company to repurchase shares of outstanding common stock; 2) the full dividend for the latest completed CPP dividend period must be declared and paid in full before dividends may be paid to common shareholders; 3) UST approval is required for any increase in common dividends per share above the last quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share paid prior to December 23, 2008; and 4) the Company may not take tax deductions for any senior executive officer whose compensation is above $500,000.  There were additional restrictions on executive compensation added in the ARRA for companies participating in the TARP, including participants in the CPP.

The Board of Directors of the Bank may declare a dividend of all of its retained earnings as it may deem appropriate, subject to the requirements of the General Statutes of North Carolina, without prior approval from the requisite regulatory authorities.  As of December 31, 2011, this amount was approximately $49.0 million.

(15)
    Other Operating Expense

Other operating expense for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 included the following items that exceeded one percent of total revenues at some point during the following three-year period:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
         
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
Advertising
$ 660   714   860
FDIC insurance
$ 1,061   1,434   1,766
Visa debit card expense
$ 658   606   1,064
Telephone
$ 605   629   616
Foreclosure/OREO Expense
$ 904   569   326
 
 
 
A-59

 
 
(16)
    Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company is required to disclose fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized on the face of the balance sheet, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. The assumptions used in the estimation of the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments are detailed below. Where quoted prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using discounted cash flows and other valuation techniques. The use of discounted cash flows can be significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. The following disclosures should not be considered a surrogate of the liquidation value of the Company, but rather a good faith estimate of the increase or decrease in value of financial instruments held by the Company since purchase, origination, or issuance.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
For cash, due from banks and interest bearing deposits, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Certificates of Deposit
The carrying amount of certificates of deposits is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Investment Securities Available for Sale
Fair values for investment securities are based on quoted market prices.

Other Investments
For other investments, the carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
Mortgage loans held for sale are carried at lower of aggregate cost or market value.  The cost of mortgage loans held for sale approximates the market value.

Loans
The fair value of fixed rate loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings. For variable rate loans, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance
For cash surrender value of life insurance, the carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Derivative Instruments
For derivative instruments, fair value is estimated as the amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the contracts at the reporting date, taking into account the current unrealized gains or losses on open contracts.

Deposits and Demand Notes Payable
The fair value of demand deposits, interest-bearing demand deposits, savings, and demand notes payable to the UST is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of certificates of deposit is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.

Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase
For securities sold under agreements to repurchase, the carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

FHLB Borrowings
The fair value of FHLB borrowings is estimated based upon discounted future cash flows using a discount rate comparable to the current market rate for such borrowings.

Junior Subordinated Debentures
Because the Company’s junior subordinated debentures were issued at a floating rate, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Commitments to Extend Credit and Standby Letters of Credit
Commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are generally short-term and at variable interest rates. Therefore, both the carrying value and estimated fair value associated with these instruments are immaterial.
 
 
A-60

 
 
Limitations
Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Company’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a significant portion of the Company’s financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on many judgments. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

Fair value estimates are based on existing on and off-balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments. Significant assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments include the deferred income taxes and premises and equipment. In addition, the tax ramifications related to the realization of the unrealized gains and losses can have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered in the estimates.
 
The carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

 
December 31, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
(Dollars in thousands)
               
Assets:
             
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 29,236   29,236   23,977   23,977
Certificates of deposit
$ -   -   735   735
Investment securities available for sale
$ 321,388   321,388   272,449   272,449
Other investments
$ 5,712   5,712   5,761   5,761
Mortgage loans held for sale
$ 5,146   5,146   3,814   3,814
Loans, net
$ 653,893   648,640   710,667   710,880
Cash surrender value of life insurance
$ 12,835   12,835   7,539   7,539
Derivative instruments
$ -   -   648   648
                 
Liabilities:
               
Deposits and demand notes payable
$ 827,111   826,810   840,312   839,379
Securities sold under agreements
               
to repurchase
$ 39,600   39,600   34,094   34,094
FHLB borrowings
$ 70,000   75,046   70,000   79,950
Junior subordinated debentures
$ 20,619   20,619   20,619   20,619
 
 
 
A-61

 
 
 
(17)
    Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (Parent Company Only) Condensed Financial Statements
 
 
Balance Sheets
         
December 31, 2011 and 2010
(Dollars in thousands)
         
Assets
2011
 
2010
 
         
Cash
$ 316     425  
Interest-bearing time deposit
  15,000     17,000  
Investment in subsidiaries
  106,469     98,164  
Investment securities available for sale
  1,520     1,659  
Other assets
  341     393  
             
Total assets
$ 123,646     117,641  
             
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
           
             
Accrued expenses
$ -       164  
Junior subordinated debentures
  20,619     20,619  
Shareholders' equity
  103,027     96,858  
             
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$ 123,646     117,641  
 
 
 
Statements of Earnings
             
For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
(Dollars in thousands)
             
Revenues:
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
             
Interest and dividend income
$ 226     311     454  
Loss on sale and impairment of securities
  (144 )   (291 )   (149 )
                   
Total revenues
  82     20     305  
                   
Expenses:
                 
                   
Interest
  407     411     546  
Other operating expenses
  190     191     230  
                   
Total expenses
  597     602     776  
                   
Loss before income tax benefit and equity in
                 
undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
  (515 )   (582 )   (471 )
                   
Income tax benefit
  56     24     84  
                   
Loss before equity in undistributed
                 
earnings of subsidiaries
  (459 )   (558 )   (387 )
                   
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
  5,618     2,399     3,303  
                   
Net earnings
$ 5,159     1,841     2,916  
 
 
 
A-62

 
 
 
Statements of Cash Flows
             
For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
(Dollars in thousands)
             
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
             
Net earnings
$ 5,159     1,841     2,916  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net
                 
cash (used) provided by operating activities:
                 
Book value shares accrual
  -       -       (720 )
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
  (5,618 )   (2,399 )   (3,303 )
Deferred income tax benefit
  -       -       278  
Loss on sale of investment securities
  144     291     149  
Change in:
                 
Other assets
  112     (66 )   (319 )
Accrued income
  (11 )   -       17  
Accrued expense
  (216 )   147     252  
                   
Net cash (used) provided by operating activities
  (430 )   (186 )   (730 )
                   
Cash flows from investing activities:
                 
                   
Purchases of investment securities available for sale
  -       (36,000 )   (15,000 )
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities available for sale
  -       36,000     15,000  
Net change in interest-bearing time deposit
  2,000     2,000     (14,000 )
Payments for investments in subsidiaries
  -       -       (8,010 )
                   
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities
  2,000     2,000     (22,010 )
                   
Cash flows from financing activities:
                 
                   
Cash dividends paid on Series A preferred stock
  (1,253 )   (1,253 )   (1,120 )
Cash dividends paid on common stock
  (443 )   (448 )   (1,440 )
Restricted stock payout
  17     12     -    
                   
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities
  (1,679 )   (1,689 )   (2,560 )
                   
Net change in cash
  (109 )   125     (25,300 )
                   
Cash at beginning of year
  425     300     25,600  
                   
Cash at end of year
$ 316     425     300  
                   
Noncash investing and financing activities:
                 
Change in unrealized gain on investment securities
                 
 available for sale, net
$ (3 )   (172 )   3  
 
 
 
A-63

 
 
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

DIRECTORS

Robert C. Abernethy – Chairman
Chairman of the Board, Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. and Peoples Bank;
President, Secretary and Treasurer, Carolina Glove Company, Inc. (glove manufacturer)
Secretary and Assistant Treasurer, Midstate Contractors, Inc. (paving company)

James S. Abernethy
Vice President, Carolina Glove Company, Inc. (glove manufacturer)
President and Assistant Secretary, Midstate Contractors, Inc. (paving company)
Vice President, Secretary and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Alexander Railroad Company

Douglas S. Howard
Owner, Howard Ventures (asset management firm)
Secretary and Treasurer, Denver Equipment of Charlotte, Inc.

John W. Lineberger, Jr.
President, Lincoln Bonded Warehouse Company (commercial warehousing facility)

Gary E. Matthews
President and Director, Matthews Construction Company, Inc. (general contractor)

Billy L. Price, Jr. MD
Managing Partner and Practitioner of Internal Medicine, Catawba Valley Internal Medicine, PA

Larry E. Robinson
President and Chief Executive Officer, The Blue Ridge Distributing Co., Inc. (beer and wine distributor)
Partner and Chief Operating Officer, United Beverages of North Carolina, LLC (beer distributor)

William Gregory (Greg) Terry
Executive Vice President, Drum & Willis-Reynolds Funeral Homes and Crematory

Dan Ray Timmerman, Sr.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Timmerman Manufacturing, Inc. (wrought iron furniture, railings and gates manufacturer)

Benjamin I. Zachary
President, Treasurer, General Manager and Director, Alexander Railroad Company



OFFICERS

Tony W. Wolfe
President and Chief Executive Officer

A. Joseph Lampron, Jr.
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Treasurer

Joseph F. Beaman, Jr.
Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary

Lance A. Sellers
Executive Vice President and Assistant Corporate Secretary

William D. Cable, Sr.
Executive Vice President and Assistant Corporate Treasurer
 
 
 
 
A-64

 
 
 
Proxy Card Page 1
 
 
 
Proxy Card Page 2