UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
     (Mark One)
 
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT  OF 1934
   
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009
 
or

 
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
For the transition period from _______________ to _________________________.

Commission file number: 000-16084

CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
         
 
PENNSYLVANIA
 
23-2451943
 
 
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer
 
 
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)
 

90-92 MAIN STREET, WELLSBORO, PA 16901
(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip code)
570-724-3411
(Registrant's telephone number including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes  x  No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes  ¨  No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
   Large accelerated filer ¨     Accelerated filer x     Non-accelerated filer  ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ¨ No x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Common Stock ($1.00 par value)
9,235,611 Shares Outstanding on November 2, 2009
 
 

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION
Index

   
     
   
     
 
Page 3
 
Page 4
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Page 6
 
Pages 7 through 24
     
 
Pages 25 through 44
     
 
Pages 44 through 47
     
 
Page 47
     
   
     
 
Page 48
     
 
Page 48
     
 
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Page 49
     
 
Page 49

2

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Financial Statements
 
 
 
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
(In Thousands Except Share Data)
 
2009
   
2008
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Note)
 
ASSETS
           
Cash and due from banks:
           
Noninterest-bearing
  $ 16,184     $ 18,105  
Interest-bearing
    31,783       5,923  
Total cash and cash equivalents
    47,967       24,028  
Trading securities
    0       2,306  
Available-for-sale securities
    399,112       419,688  
Held-to-maturity securities
    301       406  
Loans, net
    720,291       735,687  
Bank-owned life insurance
    22,681       22,297  
Accrued interest receivable
    5,727       5,846  
Bank premises and equipment, net
    24,784       25,909  
Foreclosed assets held for sale
    1,408       298  
Deferred tax asset, net
    31,107       16,389  
Intangible asset - Core deposit intangibles
    583       826  
Intangible asset - Goodwill
    11,942       12,014  
Other assets
    17,475       15,943  
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 1,283,378     $ 1,281,637  
                 
LIABILITIES
               
Deposits:
               
Noninterest-bearing
  $ 129,476     $ 124,922  
Interest-bearing
    767,390       739,135  
Total deposits
    896,866       864,057  
Dividends payable
    2,355       2,147  
Short-term borrowings
    33,053       48,547  
Long-term borrowings
    216,451       236,926  
Accrued interest and other liabilities
    8,600       7,934  
TOTAL LIABILITIES
    1,157,325       1,159,611  
                 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Preferred stock, $1,000 par value; authorized 30,000 shares; $1,000 liquidation preference per share; 26,440 shares issued at September 30, 2009 and no shares issued at December 31, 2008
    25,706       0  
Common stock, par value $1.00 per share; authorized 20,000,000 shares in 2009 and 2008; issued 9,399,101 at September 30, 2009 and 9,284,148 at December 31, 2008
    9,399       9,284  
Paid-in capital
    47,227       44,308  
Retained earnings
    48,781       97,757  
Unamortized stock compensation
    (61 )     (48 )
Treasury stock, at cost; 290,406 shares at September 30, 2009 and 348,041 shares at December 31, 2008
    (5,056 )     (6,061 )
Sub-total
    125,996       145,240  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
               
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities (including an unrealized loss of $548 at September 30, 2009 for which a portion of an other-than-temporary impairment loss has been recognized in earnings)
    403       (23,120 )
  Defined benefit plans
    (346 )     (94 )
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    57       (23,214 )
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    126,053       122,026  
TOTAL LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  $ 1,283,378     $ 1,281,637  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 2008 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all the information and notes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

 
3 Months Ended
   
Fiscal Year To Date
 
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
 
Sept. 30
   
Sept. 30,
   
9 Months Ended Sept. 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
 
(Current)
   
(Prior Year)
   
(Current)
   
(Prior Year)
 
INTEREST INCOME
                       
   Interest and fees on loans
  $ 11,314     $ 12,255     $ 34,027     $ 36,836  
   Interest on balances with depository institutions
    24       9       28       27  
   Interest on loans to political subdivisions
    436       406       1,244       1,116  
   Interest on federal funds sold
    0       42       15       116  
   Interest on trading securities
    2       19       33       62  
   Income from available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities:
                               
      Taxable
    3,726       4,815       12,648       14,574  
      Tax-exempt
    1,186       828       3,246       2,267  
      Dividends
    120       201       479       650  
   Total interest and dividend income
    16,808       18,575       51,720       55,648  
 INTEREST EXPENSE
                               
   Interest on deposits
    3,578       4,557       11,258       14,941  
   Interest on short-term borrowings
    121       218       431       761  
   Interest on long-term borrowings
    2,317       2,699       7,097       8,152  
   Total interest expense
    6,016       7,474       18,786       23,854  
   Interest margin
    10,792       11,101       32,934       31,794  
   Provision for loan losses
    634       141       554       669  
   Interest margin after provision for loan losses
    10,158       10,960       32,380       31,125  
                                 
 OTHER INCOME
                               
   Trust and financial management revenue
    757       845       2,396       2,697  
   Service charges on deposit accounts
    1,317       1,191       3,514       3,240  
   Service charges and fees
    198       208       615       569  
   Insurance commissions, fees and premiums
    69       77       226       246  
   Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance
    107       190       384       580  
   Other operating income
    834       551       1,967       2,372  
    Sub-total
    3,282       3,062       9,102       9,704  
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses on available-for-sale securities
    (38,679 )     (4,747 )     (81,634 )     (6,167 )
Portion of (gain) recognized in other comprehensive loss (before taxes)
    (9,268 )     0       (2,773 )     0  
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
    (47,947 )     (4,747 )     (84,407 )     (6,167 )
   Realized gains on available-for-sale securities, net
    99       264       885       707  
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings and realized gains on available-for-sale securities
    (47,848 )     (4,483 )     (83,522 )     (5,460 )
   Total other income
    (44,566 )     (1,421 )     (74,420 )     4,244  
OTHER EXPENSES
                               
   Salaries and wages
    3,334       3,892       9,993       11,319  
   Pensions and other employee benefits
    918       1,082       3,237       3,312  
   Occupancy expense, net
    652       689       2,073       2,160  
   Furniture and equipment expense
    690       692       2,066       1,982  
   FDIC assessments
    393       114       1,651       161  
   Pennsylvania shares tax
    318       292       954       876  
   Other operating expense
    1,972       1,975       6,099       5,647  
   Total other expenses
    8,277       8,736       26,073       25,457  
   (Loss) income before income tax (credit) provision
    (42,685 )     803       (68,113 )     9,912  
   Income tax (credit) provision
    (14,491 )     (209 )     (24,163 )     2,031  
   Net (loss) income
    (28,194 )     1,012       (43,950 )     7,881  
   U.S Treasury preferred dividends
    373       0       1,055       0  
NET (LOSS) INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
  $ (28,567 )   $ 1,012     $ (45,005 )   $ 7,881  
                                 
PER SHARE DATA:
                               
Net (loss) income per average common share - basic
  $ (3.17 )   $ 0.11     $ (5.01 )   $ 0.88  
Net (loss) income per average common share - diluted
  $ (3.17 )   $ 0.11     $ (5.01 )   $ 0.88  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

 
9 Months Ended
 
(In Thousands)
 
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
   Net (loss) income
  $ (43,950 )     7,881  
   Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
     Provision for loan losses
    554       669  
     Realized losses on available-for-sale securities, net
    83,522       5,460  
     Loss (gain) on sale of foreclosed assets, net
    11       (46 )
     Depreciation expense
    2,159       2,174  
     Loss on disposition of premises and equipment
    8       0  
     Accretion and amortization on securities, net
    220       136  
     Accretion and amortization on loans, deposits and borrowings, net
    (266 )     (314 )
     Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance
    (384 )     (580 )
     Stock-based compensation
    336       274  
     Amortization of core deposit intangibles
    243       414  
     Deferred income taxes
    (27,928 )     (1,159 )
     Net decrease (increase) in trading securities
    663       (1,722 )
     Increase in accrued interest receivable and other assets
    (1,521 )     (549 )
     Increase in accrued interest payable and other liabilities
    557       1,067  
       Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
    14,224       13,705  
 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
   Proceeds from maturity of held-to-maturity securities
    105       2  
   Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities
    16,936       22,682  
   Proceeds from calls and maturities of available-for-sale securities
    50,301       44,525  
   Purchase of available-for-sale securities
    (89,633 )     (79,737 )
   Purchase of Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh stock
    (4 )     (2,629 )
   Redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh stock
    0       3,299  
   Net decrease (increase) in loans
    13,493       (22,706 )
   Purchase of premises and equipment
    (1,042 )     (878 )
   Return of principal on limited partnership investment
    25       34  
   Proceeds from sale of foreclosed assets
    336       374  
        Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
    (9,483 )     (35,034 )
 CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
   Net increase in deposits
    32,789       18,045  
   Net (decrease) increase in short-term borrowings
    (15,494 )     11,972  
   Proceeds from long-term borrowings
    0       29,703  
   Repayments of long-term borrowings
    (20,297 )     (39,592 )
   Issuance of US Treasury preferred stock and warrant
    26,409       0  
   Issuance of common stock
    1,840       0  
   Purchase of treasury stock
    0       (1,567 )
   Sale of treasury stock
    30       154  
   Tax benefit from compensation plans
    143       0  
   US Treasury preferred dividends paid
    (768 )     0  
   Common dividends paid
    (5,454 )     (5,887 )
        Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
    19,198       12,828  
 INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH  AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    23,939       (8,501 )
 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR
    24,028       31,661  
 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
  $ 47,967     $ 23,160  
 SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
               
   Assets acquired through foreclosure of real estate loans
  $ 1,457     $ 382  
   Securities transferred from trading to available-for-sale
  $ 1,643     $ 3,072  
   Interest paid
  $ 19,117     $ 24,097  
   Income taxes paid
  $ 3,475     $ 3,492  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

5

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
                                               
in Stockholders' Equity
                                               
(In Thousands Except Per Share Data)
                         
Accumulated
                   
                           
Other
   
Unamortized
             
   
Preferred
   
Common
   
Paid-in
   
Retained
   
Comprehensive
   
Stock
   
Treasury
       
   
Stock
   
Stock
   
Capital
   
Earnings
   
Income (Loss)
   
Compensation
   
Stock
   
Total
 
Balance, December 31, 2008
  $ 0     $ 9,284     $ 44,308     $ 97,757     $ (23,214 )   $ (48 )   $ (6,061 )   $ 122,026  
Comprehensive (loss) income:
                                                               
     Net loss
                            (43,950 )                             (43,950 )
Unrealized gain on securities, net of reclassification and tax
                                    25,901                       25,901  
Change in value of FASB 158 adjustment to equity
                                        (252 )                       (252 )
Total comprehensive loss
                                                              (18,301 )
Reclassify non-credit portion of other- than-temporary impairment losses recognized in prior period
                            2,378       (2,378 )                     0  
Issuance of U.S. Treasury preferred stock
    25,588               821                                       26,409  
Accretion of discount associated with U.S. Treasury preferred stock
    118                       (118 )                             0  
Cash dividends on U.S. Treasury preferred stock
                            (937 )                             (937 )
Cash dividends declared on common stock, $.72 per share
                            (6,490 )                             (6,490 )
Common shares issued
            115       1,725                                       1,840  
Common shares issued for dividend reinvestment plan
                    93                               904       997  
Common shares issued from treasury related to exercise of stock options
                    (4 )                             34       30  
Restricted stock granted
                    10                       (79 )     69       0  
Forfeiture of restricted stock
                    (1 )                     3       (2 )     0  
Stock-based compensation expense
                    273                       63               336  
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation
                    2                                       2  
Tax benefit from employee benefit plan
                               141                                  141  
Balance, September 30, 2009
  $ 25,706     $ 9,399     $ 47,227     $ 48,781     $ 57     $ (61 )   $ (5,056 )   $ 126,053  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

6


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. BASIS OF INTERIM PRESENTATION

The financial information included herein, with the exception of the consolidated balance sheet dated December 31, 2008, is unaudited; however, such information reflects all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for the interim periods.  Certain 2008 information has been reclassified for consistency with the 2009 presentation.

Results reported for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 might not be indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2009.

This document has not been reviewed or confirmed for accuracy or relevance by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other regulatory agency.

2. CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting pronouncement establishing the “FASB Accounting Standards Codification” (the “ASC”) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities.  The pronouncement was effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009, for most entities.  The Corporation adopted this new accounting pronouncement for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009, as required, and adoption did not have any material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

As of January 1, 2009, the Corporation adopted the following new accounting pronouncements:

 
·
FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments” was subsequently incorporated into ASC topic 320, “Investments – Debt and Equity Securities.” The ASC amends other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) accounting guidance for debt securities, requires new disclosures and changes the presentation and amount of OTTI recognized in the income statement.  The ASC requires impairment of debt securities be separated into (a) the amount of the total impairment related to credit loss, which is recognized in the income statement, and (b) the amount of the total impairment related to all other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income.  The total OTTI is presented in the income statement with an offset for the amount of total OTTI recognized in other comprehensive income.  As required, the Corporation recognized the cumulative effect of adopting this ASC as an increase in retained earnings of $2,378,000, and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss of the same amount, as of January 1, 2009.  For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009, the effect of adopting this ASC was to increase the amount of impairment losses recognized in earnings by $2,773,000, and decrease the income tax provision by $943,000, resulting in a reduction in net income (larger net loss) of $1,830,000, or $0.20 per average common share.  For the three-month period ended September 30, 2009, the effect of adopting this ASC was to increase impairment losses recognized in earnings by $9,268,000, and reduce the income tax provision by $3,151,000, resulting in a reduction in net income (larger net loss) of $6,117,000, or $0.68 per average common share.  Additional disclosures required by this ASC are provided in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
·
New guidance impacting FASB ASC topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” was initially provided by FSP FAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly.”  The ASC provides additional guidance for estimating fair value in accordance with FASB Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased.  The ASC also includes guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly.  There were no changes in the Corporation’s valuation techniques or their application that resulted from adoption of this ASC.  The ASC amends the disclosure requirements of FASB Statement No. 157 to require the Corporation to disclose in interim and annual periods the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value and to discuss changes in valuation techniques and related inputs during the period.  Further, the ASC requires presentation of information concerning securities in more detailed “major security types” than had been required in the past.  Disclosures required by this ASC are provided in Notes 5 and 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

7

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
 
·
FASB ASC 825-1050 guidance on “Financial Instruments” was adopted with FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Values of Financial Instruments,” and requires the Corporation to provide disclosures each quarter that had previously been required only on an annual basis, about the fair value of financial instruments.  The required disclosures are provided in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

3. PER COMMON SHARE DATA

Basic net (loss) income per average common share represents income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding.  As shown in the table that follows, diluted net income per common share for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 was computed using weighted average common shares outstanding, plus weighted-average common shares available from the exercise of all dilutive stock options, less the number of common shares that could be repurchased with the proceeds of stock option exercises based on the average share price of the Corporation's common stock during the period.  For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, outstanding stock options and the warrant (issued in January 2009) are anti-dilutive, and are therefore excluded in determining diluted loss per common share.

         
Weighted-
   
Net
 
   
Net
   
Average
   
(Loss)
 
   
(Loss)
   
Common
   
Income Per
 
   
Income
   
Shares
   
Share
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
                 
                         
Earnings per common share – basic and diluted
  $ (45,005,000 )     8,978,665     $ (5.01 )
                         
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
                       
                         
Earnings per share – basic
  $ 7,881,000       8,965,230     $ 0.88  
Dilutive effect of potential common stock arising from stock options:
                       
                         
  Exercise of outstanding stock options
            145,729          
  Hypothetical share repurchase at $ 19.88
             (125,748 )          
Earnings per share – diluted
  $ 7,881,000       8,985,211     $ 0.88  
                         
Quarter Ended September 30, 2009
                       
                         
Earnings per common share – basic and diluted
  $ (28,567,000 )     9,005,850     $ (3.17 )
                         
Quarter Ended September 30, 2008
                       
                         
Earnings per share – basic
  $ 1,012,000       8,957,774     $ 0.11  
Dilutive effect of potential common stock arising from stock options:
                       
                         
  Exercise of outstanding stock options
            174,332          
  Hypothetical share repurchase at $ 21.41
             (145,853 )         
Earnings per share – diluted
  $ 1,012,000       8,986,253     $ 0.11  

8

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
4. COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

Comprehensive (loss) income is the total of (1) net (loss) income, and (2) all other changes in equity from non-stockholder sources, which are referred to as other comprehensive income.  The components of comprehensive (loss) income, and the related tax effects, are as follows:

(In Thousands)
 
3 Months Ended
   
9 Months Ended
 
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Net (loss) income
  $ (28,194 )   $ 1,012     $ (43,950 )   $ 7,881  
                                 
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
                               
  Unrealized holding losses on available-for-sale securities
    (20,631 )     (15,623 )     (44,278 )     (30,452 )
  Reclassification adjustment for losses realized in income
    47,848       4,483       83,522       5,460  
Other comprehensive gain (loss) before income tax
    27,217       (11,140 )     39,244       (24,992 )
Income tax related to other comprehensive gain (loss)
    9,254       (3,787 )     13,343       (8,497 )
Other comprehensive gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities
    17,963       (7,353 )     25,901       (16,495 )
                                 
Unfunded pension and postretirement obligations:
                               
 
                             
 
  Change in items from defined benefit plans included in accumulated other comprehensive loss
    0       0       (462 )     0  
  Amortization of net transition obligation, prior service cost and net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost
    14       444       80       455  
Other comprehensive gain (loss) before income tax
    14       444       (382 )     455  
Income tax related to other comprehensive gain (loss)
    5       163       (130 )     165  
Other comprehensive gain (loss) on unfunded retirement obligations
    9       281       (252 )     290  
                                 
Net other comprehensive income (loss)
    17,972       (7,072 )     25,649       (16,205 )
                                 
Total comprehensive loss
  $ (10,222 )   $ (6,060 )   $ (18,301 )   $ (8,324 )

In the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009, the Corporation recognized other comprehensive income of $2,773,000 before income tax, or $1,830,000 after income tax, related to available-for-sale debt securities for which a portion of an OTTI loss has been recognized in earnings.  In the third quarter 2009, the Corporation recognized other comprehensive income of $9,268,000 before income tax, or $6,117,000 after income tax, related to available-for-sale debt securities for which a portion of an OTTI loss has been recognized in earnings.

5. ASSETS MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE ON A RECURRING BASIS

The Corporation measures certain assets at fair value on a recurring basis.  Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  FASB ASC topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (formerly Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157) establishes a framework for measuring fair value that includes a hierarchy used to classify the inputs used in measuring fair value.  The hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used in determining valuations into three levels.  The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  The levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1 – Fair value is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible to the Corporation for identical assets.  These generally provide the most reliable evidence and are used to measure fair value whenever available.

9

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
Level 2 – Fair value is based on significant inputs, other than Level 1 inputs, that are observable either directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the asset through corroboration with observable market data.  Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices in active markets for similar assets, quoted market prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets and other observable inputs.

Level 3 – Fair value is based on significant unobservable inputs.  Examples of valuation methodologies that would result in Level 3 classification include option pricing models, discounted cash flows and other similar techniques.

At September 30, 2009, assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the valuation methods used are as follows:

         
September 30, 2009
       
         
Market Values Based on:
       
   
Quoted
Prices
   
Other
             
   
in Active
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
   
Total
 
   
Markets
   
Inputs
   
Inputs
   
Fair
 
(In Thousands)
 
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
   
Value
 
                         
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:
                       
Obligations of other U.S. Government agencies
  $ 2,386     $ 30,752     $ 0     $ 33,138  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    3,214       104,172       0       107,386  
Mortgage-backed securities
    0       162,386       0       162,386  
Collateralized mortgage obligations:
                               
     Issued by U.S. Government agencies
    196       33,680       0       33,876  
     Private label
    13,629       20,385       0       34,014  
Corporate bonds
    0       1,044       0       1,044  
Trust preferred securities issued by individual institutions
    0       4,831       0       4,831  
Collateralized debt obligations:
                               
     Pooled trust preferred securities - senior tranches
    0       0       8,370       8,370  
     Pooled trust preferred securities - mezzanine tranches
    0       0       759       759  
     Other collateralized debt obligations
    0       704       0       704  
Total debt securities
    19,425       357,954       9,129       386,508  
Marketable equity securities
    12,604       0       0       12,604  
Total available-for-sale securities
  $ 32,029     $ 357,954     $ 9,129     $ 399,112  

Management determined there were virtually no trades of pooled trust-preferred securities in the second half of 2008 or the first nine months of 2009, except for a limited number of transactions that took place as a result of bankruptcies, forced liquidations or similar circumstances.  Also, in management’s judgment, there were no available quoted market prices in active markets for assets sufficiently similar to the Corporation’s pooled trust-preferred securities to be reliable as observable inputs.  Accordingly, in the third quarter of 2008, the Corporation changed its method of valuing pooled trust-preferred securities from a Level 2 methodology that had been used in prior periods, based on price quotes received from pricing services, to a Level 3 methodology, using discounted cash flows.

At September 30, 2009, management calculated the fair values of pooled trust-preferred securities by applying discount rates to estimated cash flows for each security.  Management used the cash flow estimates for each security determined using the process described in Note 6.  At September 30, 2009, management made significant changes in assumptions regarding future deferrals and defaults in comparison to assumptions used in the previous four quarters’ analyses.  These changes had the effect of increasing estimated future defaults, which resulted in lower levels of future cash flows expected to be received, as compared to estimated future cash flows to be received based on the assumptions used in previous quarters.  The Corporation’s process for evaluating pooled trust-preferred securities for OTTI is described in more detail in Note 6.  Management used discount rates considered reflective of a market participant’s expectations regarding the extent of credit and liquidity risk inherent in the securities.  In establishing the discount rates, management considered: (1) the implied discount rates as of the end of 2007, prior to the market for trust-preferred securities becoming inactive; (2) adjustment to the year-end 2007 discount rates for the change in the spread between indicative market rates (3-month LIBOR, for most of the Corporation’s securities) over corresponding risk-free rates (3-month U.S. Treasury Bill, for most of the Corporation’s securities) in 2009; and (3) an additional adjustment – an increase of 2% in the discount rate – for liquidity risk.  Management considered the additional 2% increase in the discount rate necessary in order to give some consideration to price estimates based on trades made under distressed conditions, as reported by brokers and pricing services.  Management’s estimates of cash flows and discount rates used to calculate fair values of pooled trust-preferred securities were based on sensitive assumptions, and market participants might use substantially different assumptions, which could result in calculations of fair values that would be substantially different than the amounts calculated by management.

10

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
Following is a reconciliation of activity for assets (pooled trust-preferred securities) measured at fair value based on significant unobservable information:

   
3 Months Ended
   
Fiscal Year To Date
 
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
9 Months Ended Sept. 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(Current)
   
(Prior Year)
   
(Current)
   
(Prior Year)
 
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 37,470     $ 0     $ 58,914     $ 0  
Transfers
    0       73,018       0       73,018  
Purchases, issuances and settlements
    34       13       75       13  
Realized losses
    0       0       (335 )     0  
Unrealized losses included in earnings
    (42,495 )     (4,289 )     (72,776 )     (4,289 )
Unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income
    14,120       (5,498 )     23,251       (5,498 )
Balance, end of period
  $ 9,129     $ 63,244     $ 9,129     $ 63,244  

Unrealized losses included in earnings are from the Corporation’s other-than-temporary impairment analysis of securities, as described in Note 6, and are included in net impairment losses recognized in earnings in the consolidated statement of earnings.

6. SECURITIES

The Corporation held no trading assets at September 30, 2009. The Corporation’s trading assets during the first nine months of 2009 and at December 31, 2008 were composed exclusively of municipal bonds. Gains and losses from trading activities are included in other operating income in the consolidated statement of earnings as follows (in thousands):

   
3 Months Ended
   
Fiscal Year To Date
 
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
9 Months Ended Sept. 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(Current)
   
(Prior Year)
   
(Current)
   
(Prior Year)
 
Gross realized gains
  $ 20     $ 20     $ 61     $ 60  
Gross realized losses
    0       0       (104 )     (63 )
Net change in unrealized gains/(losses)
    (2 )     (140 )     64       (141 )
Net gains (losses)
  $ 18     $ (120 )   $ 21     $ (144 )
Income taxes related to net gains/(losses)
  $ 6     $ (41 )   $ 7     $ (49 )

Amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are summarized as follows:

11

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
         
September 30, 2009
       
         
Gross
   
Gross
       
         
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
       
   
Amortized
   
Holding
   
Holding
   
Fair
 
(In Thousands)
 
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
 
                         
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:
                       
Obligations of other U.S. Government agencies
  $ 32,777     $ 362     $ (1 )   $ 33,138  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    108,590       2,722       (3,926 )     107,386  
Mortgage-backed securities
    156,342       6,045       (1 )     162,386  
Collateralized mortgage obligations:
                               
     Issued by U.S. Government agencies
    33,086       842       (52 )     33,876  
     Private label
    34,252       3       (241 )     34,014  
Corporate bonds
    1,000       44       0       1,044  
Trust preferred securities issued by individual institutions
    7,062       0       (2,231 )     4,831  
Collateralized debt obligations:
                               
     Pooled trust preferred securities - senior tranches
    11,742       0       (3,372 )     8,370  
     Pooled trust preferred securities - mezzanine tranches
    1,589       0       (830 )     759  
     Other collateralized debt obligations
    704       0       0       704  
Total debt securities
    387,144       10,018       (10,654 )     386,508  
Marketable equity securities
    11,335       1,871       (602 )     12,604  
Total
  $ 398,479     $ 11,889     $ (11,256 )   $ 399,112  
                                 
HELD-TO-MATURITY SECURITIES,
                               
Obligations of the U.S. Treasury
  $ 301     $ 6     $ 0     $ 307  

         
December 31, 2008
       
         
Gross
   
Gross
       
         
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
       
   
Amortized
   
Holding
   
Holding
   
Fair
 
(In Thousands)
 
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
 
                         
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:
                       
Obligations of other U.S. Government agencies
  $ 15,500     $ 701     $ 0     $ 16,201  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    80,838       197       (6,812 )     74,223  
Mortgage-backed securities
    171,453       2,632       (229 )     173,856  
Collateralized mortgage obligations:
                               
     Issued by U.S. Government agencies
    24,082       181       (1 )     24,262  
     Private label
    46,537       6       (2,571 )     43,972  
Corporate bonds
    1,000       117       0       1,117  
Trust preferred securities issued by individual institutions
    10,436       0       (2,835 )     7,601  
Collateralized debt obligations:
                               
     Pooled trust preferred securities - senior tranches
    11,938       0       (3,296 )     8,642  
     Pooled trust preferred securities - mezzanine tranches
    70,826       0       (20,554 )     50,272  
     Other collateralized debt obligations
    692       0       0       692  
Total debt securities
    433,302       3,834       (36,298 )     400,838  
Marketable equity securities
    21,405       1,918       (4,473 )     18,850  
Total
  $ 454,707     $ 5,752     $ (40,771 )   $ 419,688  
HELD-TO-MATURITY SECURITIES:
                               
Obligations of the U.S. Treasury
  $ 304     $ 16     $ 0     $ 320  
Obligations of other U.S. Government agencies
    100       4       0       104  
Mortgage-backed securities
    2       0       0       2  
Total
  $ 406     $ 20     $ 0     $ 426  
 
12

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
The following table presents gross unrealized losses and fair value of available-for-sale investments aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

September 30, 2009
 
Less Than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
(In Thousands)
 
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
                                     
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:
                                   
Obligations of other U.S. Government agencies
  $ 2,828     $ (1 )   $ 0     $ 0     $ 2,828     $ (1 )
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
    1,492       (52 )     37,991       (3,874 )     39,483       (3,926 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    3,620       (1 )     20       0       3,640       (1 )
Collateralized mortgage obligations:
                                               
     Issued by U.S. Government agencies
    9,366       (52 )     0       0       9,366       (52 )
     Private label
    0       0       16,535       (241 )     16,535       (241 )
Trust preferred securities issued by individual institutions
    0       0       4,031       (2,231 )     4,031       (2,231 )
Collateralized debt obligations:
                                               
     Pooled trust preferred securities - senior tranches
    0       0       8,370       (3,372 )     8,370       (3,372 )
     Pooled trust preferred securities - mezzanine tranches
    0       0       759       (830 )     759       (830 )
Total debt securities
    17,306       (106 )     67,706       (10,548 )     85,012       (10,654 )
Marketable equity securities
    134       (9 )     1,526       (593 )     1,660       (602 )
Total temporarily impaired available-for-sale Securities
  $ 17,440     $ (115 )   $ 69,232     $ (11,141 )   $ 86,672     $ (11,256 )

December 31, 2008
 
Less Than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
(In Thousands)
 
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
                                     
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:
                                   
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
  $ 29,867     $ (3,202 )   $ 26,679     $ (3,610 )   $ 56,546     $ (6,812 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    21,746       (137 )     6,713       (92 )     28,459       (229 )
Collateralized mortgage obligations:
                                               
     Issued by U.S. Government agencies
    0       0       68       (1 )     68       (1 )
     Private label
    26,117       (1,054 )     17,576       (1,517 )     43,693       (2,571 )
Trust preferred securities issued by individual institutions
    3,810       (1,201 )     3,791       (1,634 )     7,601       (2,835 )
Collateralized debt obligations:
                                               
     Pooled trust preferred securities - senior tranches
    8,642       (3,296 )     0       0       8,642       (3,296 )
     Pooled trust preferred securities - mezzanine tranches
    0       0       41,911       (20,554 )     41,911       (20,554 )
Total debt securities
    90,182       (8,890 )     96,738       (27,408 )     186,920       (36,298 )
Marketable equity securities
    4,062       (1,080 )     6,407       (3,393 )     10,469       (4,473 )
Total temporarily impaired available-for-sale Securities
  $ 94,244     $ (9,970 )   $ 103,145     $ (30,801 )   $ 197,389     $ (40,771 )

Management evaluates securities for OTTI at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market conditions warrant such evaluation. Consideration is given to (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and (3) whether the Corporation intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before its anticipated recovery.  The Corporation recognized net impairment losses in earnings, as follows:
 
13

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
(In Thousands)
 
3 Months Ended
   
9 Months Ended
 
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Pooled trust preferred securities - mezzanine tranches
  $ (42,495 )   $ (4,289 )   $ (72,776 )   $ (4,289 )
Marketable equity securities (bank stocks)
    (87 )     (458 )     (6,266 )     (1,878 )
Trust preferred securities issued by individual institutions
    (3,209 )     0       (3,209 )     0  
Private label collateralized mortgage obligations
    (2,156 )     0       (2,156 )     0  
                                 
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
  $ (47,947 )   $ (4,747 )   $ (84,407 )   $ (6,167 )

A summary of information management considered in evaluating debt and equity securities for OTTI at September 30, 2009 is provided below.

Debt Securities

In addition to the effects of volatility in interest rates on individual debt securities, management believes valuations of debt securities have been negatively impacted by events affecting the overall credit markets during the last quarter of 2007, all of 2008 and the first nine months of 2009.  There have been widespread disruptions to the normal operation of bond markets.  Particularly with regard to pooled trust-preferred securities, trading volume has been limited and consisted almost entirely of sales by distressed sellers.

At September 30, 2009, management performed an assessment for possible OTTI of the Corporation’s investments in U.S. Government agency bonds and mortgage-backed securities, obligations of state and political subdivisions, collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and trust preferred securities issued by individual issuers (banking companies) on an issue-by-issue basis, relying on information obtained from various sources, including publicly available financial data, ratings by external agencies, brokers and other sources.  The extent of individual analysis applied to each security depended on the size of the Corporation’s investment, as well as management’s perception of the credit risk associated with each security.  Except as reflected in the table above and described below, based on the results of the assessment, management believes impairment of these debt securities at September 30, 2009 to be temporary.

In the third quarter 2009, the Corporation recorded OTTI of $2,156,000 related to private label CMOs.  In 2009, several of the Corporation’s private label CMO holdings were downgraded from AAA by one or more rating agency, including three securities that were downgraded to less than investment grade.  In October 2009, management decided to sell four private label CMOs, including the three that were rated below investment grade.  Accordingly, the Corporation recorded OTTI for the amount of unrealized loss on the four securities identified for sale as of September 30, 2009.

The following table provides information related to trust preferred securities issued by individual institutions as of September 30, 2009:

(In Thousands)
                           
Moody's/
                         
Cumulative
 
S&P/
                   
Unrealized
   
Realized
 
Fitch
       
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Gain
   
Credit
 
Credit
Name of Issuer
 
Issuer's Parent Company
 
Cost
   
Value
   
(Loss)
   
Losses
 
Ratings
Astoria Capital Trust I
 
Astoria Financial Corporation
  $ 5,262     $ 3,441     $ (1,821 )   $ 0  
Baa2/BB-/BB-
Carolina First Mortgage Loan Trust
 
The South Financial Group, Inc.
    800       800       0       (3,209 )
NR
Patriot Capital Trust I
 
Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc.
    1,000       590       (410 )     0  
NR
Total
      $ 7,062     $ 4,831     $ (2,231 )   $ (3,209 )  

NR = not rated.

14

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
None of the issuers of trust preferred securities described in the table above have deferred or defaulted on payments associated with the Corporation’s securities.  Management assesses each of the trust preferred securities issued by individual institutions for the possibility of OTTI by reviewing financial information that is publicly available.  In October 2009, management decided to attempt to sell the security issued by the Carolina First Mortgage Loan Trust, and recorded OTTI to write down amortized cost to the estimated fair value that could be received from selling the security.

Pooled trust-preferred securities are very long-term (usually 30-year maturity) instruments with characteristics of both debt and equity, mainly issued by banks.  The Corporation’s investments in pooled trust-preferred securities are each made up of companies with geographic and size diversification.  Almost all of the Corporation’s pooled trust-preferred securities are composed of debt issued by banking companies, with lesser amounts issued by insurance companies and real estate investment trusts.

All of the Corporation’s pooled trust-preferred securities were deemed investment grade by Moody’s and/or Fitch when they were purchased; however, all of the rated securities have been downgraded by Moody’s and by Fitch.  As of September 30, 2009, the Corporation’s investment in a senior tranche security has an investment grade rating; however, all the mezzanine tranche securities have ratings several levels below investment grade or are not rated.  In 2008 and the first nine months of 2009, some of the issuers of trust-preferred securities that are included in the Corporation’s pooled investments have elected to defer payment of interest on these obligations (trust-preferred securities typically permit deferral of quarterly interest payments for up to five years), and some issuers have defaulted.  Trust-preferred securities are structured so that the issuers pay more interest into the trusts than would be required for pass through to the investors in the rated notes (such as the Corporation), with the excess used to cover administrative and other expenses, and to provide a cushion for some protection against the risk of loss for investors in the rated notes.

As of September 30, 2009, management evaluated the pooled trust-preferred securities for OTTI by estimating the cash flows expected to be received from each security, taking into account estimated levels of deferrals and defaults by the underlying issuers.  In determining cash flows, management assumed all issuers currently deferring or in default would make no future payments, and assigned estimated future default levels for the remaining issuers in each security based on financial strength ratings assigned by a national ratings service.  Management calculated the present value of each security based on the current book yield, adjusted for future changes in 3-month LIBOR (which is the index rate on the Corporation’s adjustable rate pooled trust-preferred securities) based on the applicable forward curve.

Management made significant changes in assumptions regarding future deferrals and defaults at September 30, 2009, in comparison to assumptions used in the previous four quarters’ analyses.  These changes had the effect of increasing estimated future defaults, which resulted in lower levels of future cash flows expected to be received, as compared to estimated future cash flows to be received based on the assumptions used in previous quarters.  Management selected several of the trust preferred offerings in which the Corporation holds securities, and analyzed the change in deferral or default status, and the change in financial strength rating from the national ratings service used in its quarterly analyses, over the period starting in the third quarter 2008 (which was the first quarter in which the Corporation performed the detailed cash flow analysis for each security) through the second quarter 2009.  Management believes the results of its analysis of the securities selected to be similar to the results that would be produced in an analysis of all of the Corporation’s pooled trust-preferred securities.  The analysis demonstrated that significant credit deterioration had occurred over the previous four quarterly periods, as evidenced in the data by average higher deferrals and defaults, and lower financial strength ratings.  In determining how to apply the results of this analysis, management made two critical assumptions: (1) the deteriorating trend will continue at approximately the same rate over the next four quarters, and (2) every issuer (bank) that would be assumed to defer payment within the next four quarters, based on the trend reflected in the data, would eventually default with no recovery.

The detailed table below shows that for the Corporation’s pooled trust-preferred securities, actual deferrals and defaults by the underlying banks and other issuers as a percentage of outstanding collateral ranged from 9.2% to 35.5% at September 30, 2009.  At June 30, 2009, the range (not presented in the table) was 9.1% to 28.8%.  The detailed table also shows the range of expected additional (future) net deferrals and defaults as a percentage of performing collateral ranged from 39.4% to 64.1% at September 30, 2009, which is significantly higher than the range of expected additional net deferrals and defaults as a percentage of performing collateral of 14.9% to 25.9% that was used in the estimated cash flow calculations at June 30, 2009 (again, June 30, 2009 detail is not presented in the table).  The higher expected additional deferrals and defaults in the third quarter 2009 resulted from the changes in assumptions described in the preceding paragraph.

15

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
Management’s estimates of cash flows used to evaluate other-than-temporary impairment of pooled trust-preferred securities were based on sensitive assumptions regarding the timing and amounts of defaults that may occur, and changes in those assumptions could produce different conclusions for each security.
 
For the senior tranche security with an amortized cost of $11,742,000, the present value at September 30, 2009 determined based on estimated cash flows had not declined from management’s previous assumptions used to determine book value, and accordingly, impairment was deemed temporary.  However, for all of the mezzanine tranche securities, the present values declined, including twelve securities which have been deemed worthless.  As shown in the table above, the Corporation wrote the amortized cost basis of pooled trust-preferred securities down to present value by $72,776,000 (pre-tax) in the first nine months of 2009, including $42,495,000 in the third quarter.

The following table provides detailed information related to pooled trust preferred securities – mezzanine tranches as of September 30, 2009:
 
(In Thousands)
                   
Cumulative
 
               
Unrealized
   
Realized
 
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Gain
   
Credit
 
Description
 
Cost
   
Value
   
(Loss)
   
Losses
 
ALESCO Preferred Funding II, Ltd.
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ (4,992 )
ALESCO Preferred Funding III, Ltd.
    0       0       0       (7,512 )
ALESCO Preferred Funding VI, Ltd.
    0       0       0       (2,018 )
ALESCO Preferred Funding IX, Ltd.
    0       0       0       (2,988 )
ALESCO Preferred Funding X, Ltd.
    0       0       0       (5,122 )
MMCAPS Funding I, Ltd.
    577       153       (424 )     (5,254 )
Preferred Term Securities, Ltd. (Pre TSL I)
    208       76       (132 )     (2,865 )
Preferred Term Securities XVIII, Ltd.
    0       0       0       (7,293 )
Preferred Term Securities XXI, Ltd.
    0       0       0       (1,502 )
Preferred Term Securities XXIII, Ltd. (C-1)
    0       0       0       (3,466 )
Preferred Term Securities XXIII, Ltd. (D-1)
    0       0       0       (5,024 )
TPREF Funding II, Ltd.
    251       168       (83 )     (1,744 )
TPREF Funding III, Ltd. (B-1)
    24       24       0       (1,970 )
TPREF Funding III, Ltd. (B-2)
    62       61       (1 )     (4,924 )
Trapeza CDO II, LLC
    0       0       0       (1,989 )
Tropic CDO III, Ltd.
    0       0       0       (6,970 )
U.S. Capital Funding II, Ltd. (B-1)
    187       111       (76 )     (1,823 )
U.S. Capital Funding II, Ltd. (B-2)
    280       166       (114 )     (2,720 )
U.S. Capital Funding IV, Ltd.
    0       0       0       (4,963 )
Total
  $ 1,589     $ 759     $ (830 )   $ (75,139 )
(Table continued)
 
                 
Expected
       
           
Actual
   
Additional
       
           
Deferrals
   
Net Deferrals
       
           
and
   
and
   
Excess
 
   
Number
 
Moody's/
 
Defaults
   
Defaults
   
Subordination
 
   
of Banks
 
Fitch
 
as % of
   
as % of
   
as % of
 
   
Currently
 
Credit
 
Outstanding
   
Performing
   
Performing
 
Description
 
Performing
 
Ratings (1)
 
Collateral
   
Collateral
   
Collateral
 
ALESCO Preferred Funding II, Ltd.
    36  
Ca/CC
    19.4 %     55.2 %     -17.9 %
ALESCO Preferred Funding III, Ltd.
    35  
Ca/CC
    27.0 %     58.2 %     -30.1 %
ALESCO Preferred Funding VI, Ltd.
    29 (a)
Ca/CC
    29.8 %     (2 )     -23.1 %
ALESCO Preferred Funding IX, Ltd.
    38 (b)
Ca/CC
    22.3 %     52.8 %     -14.0 %
ALESCO Preferred Funding X, Ltd.
    38 (c)
Ca/CC
    18.2 %     44.0 %     -9.6 %
MMCAPS Funding I, Ltd.
    26  
Ca/CCC
    9.2 %     49.5 %     1.6 %
Preferred Term Securities, Ltd. (Pre TSL I)
    28  
Caa1/CC
    19.5 %     46.7 %     -5.1 %
Preferred Term Securities XVIII, Ltd.
    52 (d)
NR/C
    18.9 %     (2 )     -15.6 %
Preferred Term Securities XXI, Ltd.
    43 (e)
Ca/CC
    27.1 %     39.4 %     -20.5 %
Preferred Term Securities XXIII, Ltd. (C-1)
    94 (f)
C/CCC
    18.2 %     41.2 %     -7.0 %
Preferred Term Securities XXIII, Ltd. (D-1)
    94 (f)
NR/CC
    18.2 %     41.2 %     -16.2 %
TPREF Funding II, Ltd.
    24  
Caa3/CC
    26.6 %     63.5 %     -21.0 %
TPREF Funding III, Ltd. (B-1)
    27  
Ca/CC
    26.3 %     64.1 %     -21.5 %
TPREF Funding III, Ltd. (B-2)
    27  
Ca/CC
    26.3 %     64.1 %     -21.5 %
Trapeza CDO II, LLC
    21  
Caa2/CCC
    33.4 %     53.4 %     -28.2 %
Tropic CDO III, Ltd.
    33  
Ca/CC
    29.1 %     51.2 %     -32.9 %
U.S. Capital Funding II, Ltd. (B-1)
    46  
Ca/CC
    12.5 %     51.0 %     -6.3 %
U.S. Capital Funding II, Ltd. (B-2)
    46  
Ca/CC
    12.5 %     51.0 %     -6.3 %
U.S. Capital Funding IV, Ltd.
    44 (g)
Ca/CC
    35.5 %     56.9 %     -44.1 %
 
16

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
(1)
The table above presents ratings information as of September 30, 2009.  The securities had "investment grade" ratings by Moody's (Baa2 or better) and/or Fitch (BBB or better) at the time of purchase, but have since been downgraded by the ratings agencies.

(2)
For securities written off completely prior to the most recent quarter, management did not update its previous estimates of net deferrals and defaults.

NR = not rated.

(a)
In addition to banks, there are 15 insurance companies currently performing in ALESCO Preferred Funding VI, Ltd.
(b)
In addition to banks, there are 15 insurance companies currently performing in ALESCO Preferred Funding IX, Ltd.
(c)
In addition to banks, there are 20 insurance companies currently performing in ALESCO Preferred Funding X, Ltd.
(d)
In addition to banks, there are 9 insurance companies and 3 pooled trust preferred entities currently performing in Preferred Term Securities XVIII, Ltd.
(e)
In addition to banks, there are 14 insurance companies and 1 real estate investment trust (REIT) currently performing in Preferred Term Securities XXI, Ltd.
(f)
In addition to banks, there are 12 insurance companies and 1 real estate investment trust (REIT) currently performing in Preferred Term Securities XXIII, Ltd.
(g)
In addition to banks, there are 2 pooled trust preferred entities currently performing in U.S. Capital Funding IV, Ltd.

In determining the amount of “currently performing” collateral for purposes of the table above, the total amount of issuers’ balances outstanding have been reduced by the amount in default or deferral.  Also, for some of the securities, management further reduced the total performing balance for the effects of issuers’ subsequent announcements of their intent to defer on the next applicable payment, and for other relevant circumstances.  Management considered all such announcements and circumstances known to us in evaluating the pooled trust preferred securities for OTTI as of September 30, 2009.

In the table above, “Excess Subordination as % of Performing Collateral” (Excess Subordination Ratio) was calculated as follows:  (Total face value of performing collateral – Face value of all outstanding note balances not subordinate to our investment)/Total face value of performing collateral.

The Excess Subordination Ratio measures the extent to which there may be tranches within each pooled trust preferred structure available to absorb credit losses before the Corporation’s securities would be impacted.  In 2008 and the first nine months of 2009, the amount of deferrals and defaults on the pools described above has risen significantly, which has resulted in substantial reductions in the amounts of performing collateral.  As a result, the negative and small positive Excess Subordination Ratio percentages shown in the table signify there is little-to-no support from subordinate tranches available to absorb losses before the Corporation’s securities would be impacted.   A low or negative Excess Subordination Ratio is not definitive, in isolation, for determining whether or not OTTI should be recorded for a pooled trust preferred security.  Other factors affect the timing and amount of cash flows available for payments to the note holders (investors), including the excess interest paid by the issuers (the issuers typically pay higher rates of interest than are paid out to the note holders).

As described in Note 2, the Corporation adopted provisions of ASC topic 320, “Investments – Debt and Equity Securities,” effective January 1, 2009, which resulted in the Corporation separating OTTI related to the trust-preferred securities into (a) the amount of the total impairment related to credit loss, which is recognized in the statement of earnings, and (b) the amount of the total impairment related to all other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income.  The Corporation measured the credit loss component of OTTI based on the difference between: (1) the present value of estimated cash flows, at the book yield in effect prior to recognition of any OTTI, as of September 30, 2009, and (2) the present value of estimated cash flows as of the end of the immediate prior quarter using book yield and management’s cash flow assumptions at that time.  For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009, the effect of adopting the new accounting principle was to increase pre-tax impairment losses recognized in earnings by $2,773,000.  For the three-month period ended September 30, 2009, the effect of adopting this FSP was to increase impairment losses recognized in earnings by $9,268,000.

17

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
A roll-forward of the OTTI amount related to credit losses for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 is as follows:

(In Thousands)
 
3 Months
   
9 Months
 
   
Ended
   
Ended
 
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
 
   
2009
   
2009
 
Balance of credit losses on debt securities for which a portion of OTTI was recognized in other comprehensive income, beginning of period (as measured effective January 1, 2009 upon adoption of ASC Topic 320)
  $ (23,332 )   $ (2,362 )
                 
Additional credit loss for which an OTTI was not previously Recognized
    (38,168 )     (61,188 )
                 
Reduction for securities losses realized during the period
    44,526       53,837  
                 
Additional credit loss for which an OTTI was previously recognized when the Corporation does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not the Corporation will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis
    (4,328 )     (11,589 )
                 
Balance of credit losses on debt securities for which a portion of OTTI was recognized in other comprehensive income, end of period
  $ (21,302 )   $ (21,302 )

Write-downs associated with securities deemed worthless are included in the line item labeled “Reduction for securities losses realized during the period” in the table immediately above.

Equity Securities

The Corporation’s marketable equity securities include stocks of banking companies, and to a lesser extent, a mix of non-financial equities which include large cap domestic and foreign companies, as well as equity-based mutual funds and similar instruments.  At September 30, 2009, the fair value of bank equities was $10,189,000, and the fair value of non-bank equities was $2,415,000.  Management evaluates the financial condition, earnings, dividend payment prospects and other relevant factors related to each issuer for which the stock is in an unrealized loss position, to determine whether the Corporation can realistically expect to recover its cost basis without realizing a loss.

Management’s decision to record OTTI losses on bank stocks in 2009 was based on a combination of: (1) significant market depreciation in market prices in the first quarter 2009 (with some improvement in the second and third quarters of 2009), and (2) management’s intent to sell some of the stocks in 2009 to generate capital losses, which could be carried back and offset against capital gains generated in 2006, 2007 and 2008 to realize tax refunds.  Realized gains from sales of bank stocks totaled $1,094,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2009, including $361,000 from stocks for which an OTTI had been previously recognized, and $733,000 from stocks for which no OTTI had been previously recognized.  In the three months ended September 30, 2009, the Corporation realized gains from sales of bank stocks totaling $70,000, all from stocks for which an OTTI had been previously recognized.  After the impact of the impairment charges and sales, for the Corporation’s remaining bank stocks, there were no unrealized losses at September 30, 2009.

Consistent with declines in U.S. and worldwide equity markets, the values of the non-financial equities fell in the last half of 2008 and first quarter 2009, and appreciated in the second and third quarters of 2009.  At September 30, 2009, the total amortized cost basis of investments in non-bank equities in an unrealized loss position was $2,262,000, with an aggregate fair value of $1,660,000 and an unrealized loss of $602,000, or 27% of cost.  There were 37 non-bank equities in an unrealized loss position at September 30, 2009.  The largest unrealized loss amounts were from: (1) Federated Index Trust Mid-Cap Fund, which is indexed to the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index, with an unrealized loss of $166,000 or 32% of cost, and (2) iShares MCSI EAFE Index Funds, an exchange traded fund indexed to international stocks, with an unrealized loss of $115,000, or 32% of cost.  In the case of these two securities, as well as the rest of the non-bank equities, management believes the impairment to be a product of the current, cyclical downturn in equity markets, and management expects the Corporation to hold the securities until its cost basis can be recovered.

18


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
7. GOODWILL

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisitions over the fair value of the net assets acquired.  Goodwill is tested at least annually for impairment, or more often if events or circumstances indicate that there may be an impairment.   In light of the Corporation’s net loss for the 3-month and 9-month periods ended September 30, 2009, recent declines in the Corporation’s common stock price (including a few days in October 2009 when the price closed below the book value as of the end of the prior quarter) and adverse overall market conditions, management determined it appropriate to perform an interim goodwill impairment test as of September 30, 2009.  Based on the results of its impairment analysis, the Corporation determined that the fair value of its only reporting unit, its community banking operation, exceeded its book value, and there was no goodwill impairment at September 30, 2009.

8. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The fair value of a financial instrument is the current amount that would be exchanged between willing parties, other than in a forced liquidation.  When possible, fair value is determined based upon quoted market prices.  However, in many instances, there are no quoted market prices for the Corporation’s financial instruments.  In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques.  Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. Accordingly, the fair value estimates may not be realized in an immediate settlement of the instrument.  SFAS No. 107 excludes certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments from its disclosure requirements.  Therefore, the aggregate fair value amounts presented may not represent the underlying fair value of the Corporation.

The Corporation used the following methods and assumptions in estimating fair value disclosures for financial instruments:

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - The carrying amounts of cash and short-term instruments approximate fair values.

SECURITIES - Fair values for securities, excluding restricted equity securities, are based on quoted market prices or other methods as described in Note 5.  The carrying value of restricted equity securities approximates fair value based on applicable redemption provisions.

LOANS - Fair values are estimated for portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics. Loans are segregated by type such as commercial, commercial real estate, residential mortgage and other consumer. Each loan category is further segmented into fixed and adjustable rate interest terms and by performing and nonperforming categories. The fair value of performing loans is calculated by discounting contractual cash flows, adjusted for estimated prepayments based on historical experience, using estimated market discount rates that reflect the credit and interest rate risk inherent in the loans.  Fair value of nonperforming loans is based on recent appraisals or estimates prepared by the Corporation’s lending officers.

DEPOSITS - The fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as noninterest-bearing demand deposits, savings, money market and interest checking accounts, is (by definition) equal to the amount payable on demand at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. The fair value of all other deposit categories is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. The discount rate is estimated using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities. The fair value estimates of deposits do not include the benefit that results from the low-cost funding provided by the deposit liabilities compared to the cost of borrowing funds in the market, commonly referred to as the core deposit intangible.

BORROWED FUNDS - The fair value of borrowings is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on rates currently available to the Corporation for similar types of borrowing arrangements. As shown in the table below, the fair value of long-term borrowings exceeded the carrying amount by $20,630,000 at September 30, 2009 compared to $3,595,000 at December 31, 2008. This increase resulted from changes in management’s assumptions related to certain callable borrowings during 2009. At December 31, 2008, management expected these borrowings to be called, but market interest rates at September 30, 2009 indicate that the borrowings will not be called in the foreseeable future.

19

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
ACCRUED INTEREST - The carrying amounts of accrued interest receivable and payable approximate fair values.

The estimated fair values, and related carrying amounts, of the Corporation’s financial instruments are as follows:

(In Thousands)
 
September 30, 2009
   
December 31, 2008
 
   
Carrying
   
Fair
   
Carrying
   
Fair
 
   
Amount
   
Value
   
Amount
   
Value
 
Financial assets:
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 47,967     $ 47,967     $ 24,028     $ 24,028  
Trading securities
    0       0       2,306       2,306  
Available-for-sale securities
    399,112       399,112       419,688       419,688  
Held-to-maturity securities
    301       307       406       426  
Restricted equity securities
    8,970       8,970       8,954       8,954  
Loans, net
    720,291       721,517       735,687       725,586  
Accrued interest receivable
    5,727       5,727       5,846       5,846  
                                 
Financial liabilities:
                               
Deposits
    896,866       907,692       864,057       870,767  
Short-term borrowings
    33,053       32,806       48,547       47,653  
Long-term borrowings
    216,451       237,081       236,926       240,521  
Accrued interest payable
    783       783       956       956  

9. DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS

The Corporation sponsors a defined benefit health care plan that provides postretirement medical benefits and life insurance to employees who meet certain age and length of service requirements. This plan contains a cost-sharing feature, which causes participants to pay for all future increases in costs related to benefit coverage. Accordingly, actuarial assumptions related to health care cost trend rates do not affect the liability balance at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, and will not affect the Corporation's future expenses. The Corporation uses a December 31 measurement date for the postretirement plan.

The Corporation’s defined benefit pension plan was frozen and terminated, effective December 31, 2007.  In September 2008, the Corporation funded and settled substantially all of its obligations under the Plan.

In 2007, the Corporation assumed the Citizens Trust Company Retirement Plan, a defined benefit pension plan for which benefit accruals and participation were frozen in 2002.  Information related to the Citizens Trust Company Retirement Plan has been included in the table that follows for 2009, but was insignificant for 2008.  The Corporation uses a December 31 measurement date for this plan.

The components of net periodic benefit costs from these defined benefit plans are as follows:

Defined Benefit Plans
 
Pension
   
Postretirement
 
(In Thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Service  cost
  $ 0     $ 29     $ 56     $ 52  
Interest cost
    49       446       70       59  
Expected return on plan assets
    (33 )     (230 )     0       0  
Amortization of transition (asset) obligation
    0       (17 )     28       27  
Amortization of prior service cost
    0       0       10       7  
Loss from partial settlement
    39       0       0       0  
Recognized net actuarial loss
    3       0       0       0  
Gain on pension plan settlement
    0       (71 )     0       0  
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 58     $ 157     $ 164     $ 145  

20

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
(In Thousands)
 
Pension
   
Postretirement
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Service  cost
  $ 0     $ 9     $ 19     $ 17  
Interest cost
    16       148       23       20  
Expected return on plan assets
    (11 )     (77 )     0       0  
Amortization of transition (asset) obligation
    0       (5 )     10       9  
Amortization of prior service cost
    0       0       3       2  
Loss from partial settlement
    0       0       0       0  
Recognized net actuarial loss
    1       0       0       0  
Gain on pension plan settlement
    0       (71 )     0       0  
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 6     $ 4     $ 55     $ 48  

In the first nine months of 2009, the Corporation funded postretirement contributions totaling $45,000, with estimated annual postretirement contributions of $60,000 expected in 2009 for the full year.  In the first nine months of 2009, the Corporation made contributions totaling $220,000 to the Citizens Trust Company Retirement Plan, including $200,000 for the 2008 plan year and $20,000 for the 2009 plan year.  The amount funded for the 2008 plan year exceeded legal minimum funding requirements, which ranged from $38,000 to $41,000, depending on timing of the contributions.  There are no additional contributions expected to be required for the 2009 plan year.

10. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

In January 2009, the Corporation granted options to purchase a total of 79,162 shares of common stock through its Stock Incentive and Independent Directors Stock Incentive Plans.  In January 2008, the Corporation granted options to purchase a total of 83,257 shares of common stock.  The exercise price for the 2009 awards is $19.88 per share, and the exercise price for the 2008 awards is $17.50 per share, based on the market price as of the date of each grant.  The Corporation records stock option expense based on estimated fair value calculated using an option valuation model.

In calculating the fair value, the Corporation utilized the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.  The calculated fair value of each option granted, and significant assumptions used in the calculations, are as follows:

   
2009
   
2008
 
Fair value of each option granted
  $ 4.21     $ 3.15  
Volatility
    28 %     23 %
Expected option lives
 
9 Years
   
9 Years
 
Risk-free interest rate
    3.15 %     4.05 %
Dividend yield
    3.94 %     3.74 %

In calculating the estimated fair value of stock option awards, management based its estimates of volatility and dividend yield on the Corporation’s experience over the immediately prior period of time consistent with the estimated lives of the options.  The risk-free interest rate was based on the published yield of zero-coupon U.S. Treasury strips with an applicable maturity as of the grant dates.  The 9-year expected option life used for both 2009 and 2008 awards was based on management’s estimates of the average term for all options issued under both plans.  For the 2009 and 2008 awards, management assumed a 23% forfeiture rate for options granted under the Stock Incentive Plan, and a 0% forfeiture rate for the Directors Stock Incentive Plan.  These estimated forfeiture rates were determined based on the Corporation’s historical experience.

Also, the Corporation awarded a total of 3,890 shares in January 2009 and 5,062 shares in January 2008 of restricted stock under the Stock Incentive and Independent Directors Stock Incentive Plans.  Compensation cost related to restricted stock is recognized based on the market price of the stock at the grant date over the vesting period.

21

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
Total stock-based compensation is as follows:

(In Thousands)
 
3 Months Ended
   
Fiscal Year To Date
 
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
9 Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Stock options
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 273     $ 209  
Restricted stock
    22       18       63       65  
                                 
Total
  $ 22     $ 18     $ 336     $ 274  

11.  INCOME TAXES

The following temporary differences gave rise to the net deferred tax asset at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

(In Thousands)
 
Sept. 30,
   
Dec. 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Deferred tax assets:
           
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities
  $ 231     $ (11,899 )
Defined benefit plans - FASB 158
    (183 )     (52 )
Net realized losses on securities
    (30,343 )     (3,014 )
Allowance for loan losses
    (2,857 )     (2,725 )
Other deferred tax assets
    (1,273 )     (1,418 )
      (34,425 )     (19,108 )
Valuation allowance
    886       0  
                 
Total deferred tax assets
    (33,539 )     (19,108 )
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
Bank premises and equipment
    1,896       2,137  
Core deposit intangibles
    214       302  
Other deferred tax liabilities
    322       280  
Total deferred tax liabilities
    2,432       2,719  
Deferred tax asset, net
  $ (31,107 )   $ (16,389 )
 
Realization of deferred tax assets ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income, including taxable income in prior carryback years, as well as future taxable income.  The deferred tax asset from realized losses on securities resulted primarily from OTTI charges for financial statement purposes that are not deductible for income tax reporting purposes through September 30, 2009.  Of the total deferred tax asset from realized losses on securities, a portion is from securities that, if the Corporation were to sell them, would be classified as capital losses for income tax reporting purposes.  The valuation allowance at September 30, 2009 reflects the excess of the tax benefit that would be generated from selling all of the capital assets, over the amount that could be realized from available carryback and offset against capital gains generated from 2006 through 2008.  Realization of the remaining $886,000 of tax benefits associated with capital assets is dependent upon realization of future capital gains.
 
The credit or provision for income tax for the 3-month and 9-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 is based on the Corporation’s estimate of the effective tax rate expected to be applicable for the full year.  The effective tax rates of 33.9% for the 3-month period ended September 30, 2009 and 35.5% for the 9-month period ended September 30, 2009 differ from the statutory rate of 35% principally because of the effects of tax-exempt interest income and recording the valuation allowance described above.  The effective tax rates of (26.0%) for the 3-month period ended September 30, 2008 and 20.5% for the 9-month period ended September 30, 2008 differ from the statutory rate of 35% principally because of the effects of tax-exempt interest income.

22

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
The Corporation has no unrecognized tax benefits, nor pending examination issues related to tax positions taken in preparation of its income tax returns.

12. ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK AND WARRANT UNDER THE TARP CAPITAL PURCHASE PROGRAM

On January 16, 2009, the Corporation issued 26,440 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (“Preferred Stock”) and a Warrant to purchase up to 194,794 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $20.36 per share. The Corporation sold the Preferred Stock and Warrant to the United States Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) under the TARP Capital Purchase Program (the “Program”) for an aggregate price of $26,440,000.

The Preferred Stock has no maturity date.  The Preferred Stock has a par value of $1,000 per share and a liquidation preference amount of $1,000 per share. The Preferred Stock pays a cumulative dividend rate of 5% per annum for the first five years and will reset to a rate of 9% per annum after year five. The dividend is payable quarterly in arrears.  The Treasury may transfer the Preferred Stock to a third party at any time.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which became effective in February 2009, included a change to the Program that permits the Corporation to redeem the Preferred Stock at any time, subject to approval of banking regulators, for a price equal to the original issue price plus any accrued but unpaid dividends.  If the Corporation were to redeem all the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock by December 31, 2009, 50% of the common shares issuable pursuant to the Warrant would be cancelled.

The shares of Preferred Stock are non-voting, other than class voting rights on (i) any authorization or issuance of shares ranking senior to the Preferred Stock, (ii) any amendment to the rights of the shares of Preferred Stock, or (iii) any merger, exchange or similar transaction which would adversely affect the rights of the Preferred Stock.  If dividends on the Preferred Stock are not paid in full for six dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the holders of the Preferred Stock will have the right to elect 2 directors. The right to elect directors will end when full dividends have been paid for four consecutive dividend periods.  As of September 30, 2009, no dividends on the preferred stock were in arrears.

Pursuant to participation in the Program, the Corporation may continue to pay dividends on its common stock, subject to the following requirements and limitations: (1) all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past dividend periods on the Preferred Stock must be fully paid; and (2) consent of the Treasury is required for any increase in the per share dividends on common shares until January 16, 2012, unless prior to that date, the Corporation has redeemed the Preferred Stock in whole or the Treasury has transferred all of the Preferred Stock to third parties.  Also, until January 16, 2012 (unless prior to that date, the Corporation has redeemed the Preferred Stock in whole or the Treasury has transferred all of the Preferred Stock to third parties) the Treasury’s consent is required for any repurchases of common stock, except for repurchases of shares in connection with employee benefit plans in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

The Warrant is exercisable and has a term of 10 years.  The number of common shares that could be acquired upon exercise was based on 15% of the total proceeds, with the exercise price determined using the average market price of the Corporation’s common stock for the 20 trading days immediately prior to issuance.  The Warrant is not subject to restrictions on transfer, except that Treasury may only transfer or exercise the Warrant with respect to one-half of the shares underlying the Warrant prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which the Corporation has received proceeds of at least $26,440,000 from a qualifying equity offering of Tier 1 perpetual preferred stock or common stock and (ii) December 31, 2009.  Treasury has agreed that it will not vote any of the shares of common stock that it acquires upon exercise of the Warrant. This does not apply to any other person who acquires from Treasury any portion of the Warrant, or the shares of common stock underlying the Warrant.

In 2009, the Corporation recorded issuance of the Preferred Stock and Warrant as increases in stockholders’ equity.  Proceeds from the transaction, net of direct issuance costs of $31,000, have been allocated between Preferred Stock and the Warrant based on their respective fair values at the date of issuance.  The fair value of the Preferred Stock was estimated based on dividend rates on recent preferred stock and other capital issuances by banking companies, and the fair value of the Warrant was estimated using the Black-Scholes option model.  The amount allocated to the Warrant (recorded as an increase in Paid in Capital) was $821,000, and the amount initially allocated to Preferred Stock was $25,588,000.  As a result, the Preferred Stock’s initial carrying value was at a discount to the liquidation value or stated value of $26,440,000.  In accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 68, “Increasing Rate Preferred Stock,” the discount is considered an unstated dividend cost that shall be accreted over the period preceding commencement of the perpetual dividend using the effective interest method, by charging the imputed dividend cost against retained earnings and increasing the carrying amount of the Preferred Stock by a corresponding amount. The discount is therefore being accreted over five years, resulting in an effective dividend rate (including stated dividends and the accretion of the discount on Preferred Stock) of 5.80%.  In 2009, total dividends on Preferred Stock of $1,055,000, which has been deducted from net income to arrive at net income available to common shareholders in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings, included quarterly dividends paid of $768,000, dividends accrued based on the stated value of $169,000 and accretion of the discount on Preferred Stock of $118,000.

23

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
13.  CONTINGENCIES

In the normal course of business, the Corporation may be subject to pending and threatened lawsuits in which claims for monetary damages could be asserted.  In management’s opinion, the Corporation’s financial position and results of operations would not be materially affected by the outcome of such pending legal proceedings.

14.  SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Corporation has evaluated and disclosed all material subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed as of September 30, 2009.  The Corporation evaluated these subsequent events through November 6, 2009, the date on which the financial statements contained herein were issued.

24

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

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

Certain statements in this section and elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements. Citizens & Northern Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the Corporation) intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, which are not historical facts, are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, business objectives and expectations, and are generally identifiable by the use of words such as, "should", “likely”, "expect", “plan”, "anticipate", “target”, “forecast”, and “goal”.  These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, may be beyond management’s control and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Factors which could have a material, adverse impact on the operations and future prospects of the Corporation include, but are not limited to, the following:

·
changes in monetary and fiscal policies of the Federal Reserve Board and the U. S. Government, particularly related to changes in interest rates
·
changes in general economic conditions
·
legislative or regulatory changes
·
downturn in demand for loan, deposit and other financial services in the Corporation’s market area
·
increased competition from other banks and non-bank providers of financial services
·
technological changes and increased technology-related costs
·
changes in accounting principles, or the application of generally accepted accounting principles.

These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.

EARNINGS OVERVIEW
 
The Corporation reported a net loss available to common shareholders of $45,005,000, or $5.01 per share, in the first nine months of 2009, primarily attributable to other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) charges on available-for-sale securities of $56,356,000. For the first nine months of 2008, the Corporation reported net income of $7,881,000, or $0.88 per diluted share. For the third quarter 2009, the net loss available to common shareholders was $28,567,000, or $3.17 per share. In the third quarter 2008, net income available to common shareholders was $1,012,000, or $0.11 per share.
 
Core Earnings is an earnings performance measurement which the Corporation’s management has defined to exclude the effects of OTTI losses on available-for-sale securities and realized gains on securities for which OTTI has previously been recognized.  Core Earnings is a performance measurement that is not based on U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  Management believes Core Earnings information is meaningful for evaluating the Corporation’s operating performance, because it excludes some of the impact of market volatility as it relates to investments in pooled trust-preferred securities and other securities.  More information concerning Core Earnings, including a reconciliation to the Corporation’s earnings results based on U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, is provided in the following section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis. The Corporation’s results for the first nine months of 2009 included positive Core Earnings available to common shareholders of $11,351,000 ($1.26 per diluted share), reduced by after-tax OTTI charges on available-for-sale securities (net of subsequent gains from selling some of the securities) of $56,356,000. For the first nine months of 2008, the Corporation had Core Earnings of $11,951,000 ($1.33 per diluted share). Third quarter 2009 results included Core Earnings of $3,918,000 ($0.43 per diluted share), offset by after-tax OTTI charges on available-for-sale securities (net of subsequent gains from selling some of the securities) of $32,485,000. In the third quarter of 2008, Core Earnings was $4,145,000 ($0.46 per diluted share).
 
Pre-tax OTTI charges in the first nine months of 2009 totaled $84,407,000, including $47,947,000 in the third quarter 2009.  A summary of pre-tax OTTI charges for the 3-month and 9-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 is as follows:

 
 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
(In Thousands)
 
3 Months Ended
   
9 Months Ended
 
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Pooled trust preferred securities - mezzanine tranches
  $ (42,495 )   $ (4,289 )   $ (72,776 )   $ (4,289 )
Marketable equity securities (bank stocks)
    (87 )     (458 )     (6,266 )     (1,878 )
Trust preferred securities issued by individual institutions
    (3,209 )     0       (3,209 )     0  
Private label collateralized mortgage obligations
    (2,156 )     0       (2,156 )     0  
                                 
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
  $ (47,947 )   $ (4,747 )   $ (84,407 )   $ (6,167 )

Pooled trust-preferred securities are very long-term (usually 30-year maturity) instruments with characteristics of both debt and equity, mainly issued by banks.  The Corporation’s investments in pooled trust-preferred securities are each made up of companies with geographic and size diversification.  Almost all of the Corporation’s pooled trust-preferred securities are composed of debt issued by banking companies, with lesser amounts issued by insurance companies and real estate investment trusts.  Management evaluates the pooled trust-preferred securities for OTTI by estimating the cash flows expected to be received from each security, taking into account estimated levels of deferrals and defaults by the underlying issuers.  In determining cash flows, management assumes all issuers currently deferring or in default would make no future payments, and assigns estimated future default levels for the remaining issuers in each security based on financial strength ratings assigned by a national ratings service.  At September 30, 2009, management made significant changes in assumptions regarding future deferrals and defaults in comparison to assumptions used in the previous four quarters’ analyses.  These changes had the effect of increasing estimated future defaults, which resulted in lower levels of future cash flows expected to be received, as compared to estimated future cash flows to be received based on the assumptions used in previous quarters.  The Corporation’s process for evaluating pooled trust-preferred securities for OTTI is described in more detail in Note 6 to the unaudited, consolidated financial statements.  After the impact of the impairment charges, the Corporation’s cost basis in pooled trust-preferred securities at September 30, 2009 totaled $13.3 million, including senior tranche assets of $11.7 million and mezzanine tranche assets of $1.6 million.  The estimated fair value at September 30, 2009 of pooled trust-preferred securities was $9.1 million.

As described in more detail in Notes 2 and 6 to the unaudited, consolidated financial statements, the Corporation adopted new accounting principles in the first quarter 2009, which resulted in the impairment of debt securities being separated into (a) the amount of the total impairment related to credit loss, which is recognized in the income statement, and (b) the amount of the total impairment related to all other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income.  For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009, the effect of the new principles was to increase impairment losses recognized in earnings by $2,773,000, and decrease the income tax provision by $943,000, resulting in a decrease in net income (higher net loss) of $1,830,000, or $0.20 per average common share.  For the three-month period ended September 30, 2009, the effect of adopting the new principles was to increase impairment losses recognized in earnings by $9,268,000, and reduce the income tax provision by $3,151,000, resulting in a reduction in net income (larger net loss) of $6,117,000, or $0.68 per average common share.

STATEMENT REGARDING NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASUREMENT

This report contains supplemental financial information determined by a method other than in accordance with Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).  Management uses this non-GAAP measure in its analysis of the Corporation’s performance.  This measure, Core Earnings, excludes the effects of OTTI losses on available-for-sale securities and realized gains on securities for which OTTI has previously been recognized.  Management believes the presentation of this financial measure, which excludes the impact of the specified items, provides useful supplemental information that is essential to a proper understanding of the financial results of the Corporation.  The Core Earnings measure provides a method to assess operating performance excluding the impact of market volatility related to investments in pooled trust-preferred securities and other securities. This disclosure should not be viewed as a substitute for results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor is it necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. The table below provides a reconciliation of Core Earnings to net (loss) income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

26

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURE (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except per-share data)
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(Loss)/
   
Diluted
   
(Loss)/
   
Diluted
 
   
Income
   
EPS
   
Income
   
EPS
 
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30:
                       
                         
Net (loss) income available to common shareholders
  $ (28,567 )   $ (3.17 )   $ 1,012     $ 0.11  
                                 
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on available-for-sale securities
    (47,947 )             (4,747 )        
Realized gains on related bank stock sales
    70               0          
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on available-for-sale securities, net of related gains
    (47,877 )             (4,747 )        
Income taxes (1)
    15,392               1,614          
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, net
    (32,485 )             (3,133 )        
                                 
Core earnings available to common shareholders
  $ 3,918     $ 0.43     $ 4,145     $ 0.46  
                                 
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30:
                               
                                 
Net (loss) income available to common shareholders
  $ (45,005 )   $ (5.01 )   $ 7,881     $ 0.88  
                                 
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on available-for-sale securities
    (84,407 )             (6,167 )        
Realized gains on related bank stock sales
    361               0          
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on available-for-sale securities, net of related gains
    (84,046 )             (6,167 )        
Income taxes (1)
    27,690               2,097          
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, net
    (56,356 )             (4,070 )        
                                 
Core earnings available to common shareholders
  $ 11,351     $ 1.26     $ 11,951     $ 1.33  

(1) Income tax has been allocated to the non-core losses at 34%, adjusted for a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets associated with losses from securities classified as capital assets for federal income tax reporting purposes.  The valuation allowance, which was recorded in the third quarter 2009, is described in more detail in Note 11 to the unaudited, consolidated financial statements.

Significant changes in the Corporation's operating results for the first nine months of 2009, as compared to the corresponding period in 2008, were as follows:

 
·
The interest margin increased $1,140,000, or 3.6%.  On a fully taxable-equivalent basis, the interest margin increased $1,688,000, or 5.1%.  The interest margin has been positively impacted by lower short-term market interest rates, which have reduced interest rates paid on deposits and borrowings. The interest margin has also been positively impacted by increased levels of investments and high yields on municipal bonds.  The interest margin has been negatively impacted by weak consumer loan demand, as average loans outstanding have shrunk approximately $11.3 million for the first nine months of 2009 as compared to the same period in 2008.

 
·
Non-interest income decreased $602,000, or 6.2%.  In the first nine months of 2008, non-interest income included a gain of $533,000 from redemption of restricted shares of Visa, resulting from Visa’s initial public offering.  Also, in the first nine months of 2009, the Corporation received no dividend income on its investment in restricted stock issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, while dividend income on this stock was $282,000 in the first nine months of 2008.

 
·
The provision for loan losses was $115,000 lower in the first nine months of 2009. The ratio of nonperforming loans (including nonaccrual loans and loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest) and other real estate owned, as a percentage of assets, was 0.77% at September 30, 2009, higher than the 0.69% level at December 31, 2008, but still relatively low by historical standards.

27

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
 
·
Non-interest expense increased $616,000, or 2.4%.  FDIC insurance costs increased $1,490,000 in the first nine months of 2009, to $1,651,000 from $161,000 in the same period of 2008.  The higher FDIC costs included the effects of premium increases and a special assessment of $589,000.  Excluding FDIC costs, total non-interest expense was 3.5% lower in the first nine months of 2009 as compared to the corresponding period in 2008.

 
·
Dividends were paid on preferred stock issued to the U.S. Treasury under the TARP Capital Purchase Program of $1,055,000 for the first nine months of 2009.

Significant changes in the Corporation's operating results for the third quarter 2009, as compared to the third quarter 2008, were as follows:

 
·
The interest margin decreased $309,000, or 2.8%.  On a fully taxable-equivalent basis, the interest margin decreased $124,000, or 1.1%.  The interest margin has been positively impacted by lower short-term market interest rates and high returns on municipal bonds, and negatively affected by lower average loans outstanding and high average balances of liquid assets at low yields (primarily balances at the Federal Reserve).

 
·
Non-interest income increased $220,000, or 7.2%, including rental revenues of $184,000 from the temporary operation of a foreclosed commercial real estate property initiated in the third quarter 2009, and an increase of $126,000 in service charges on deposit accounts.

 
·
The provision for loan losses was $493,000 higher in the third quarter, as compared to the third quarter 2008.  In the third quarter 2009, SFAS No. 114 allowances on commercial loans increased $439,000, including an allowance of $500,000 established for one commercial relationship.

 
·
The amount of realized gains from available-for-sale securities included in Core Earnings totaled $29,000 in the third quarter 2009, down from $264,000 in the third quarter 2008.

 
·
Non-interest expense decreased $459,000, or 5.3%.  Lower personnel costs were the major source of expense reductions, stemming from reductions in number of personnel attributable to an operational process review conducted in 2008.

 
·
Dividends were paid on preferred stock issued to the U.S. Treasury under the TARP Capital Purchase Program of $373,000 for the third quarter of 2009.

TABLE I - QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(In Thousands)
   
Sept. 30,
   
June 30,
   
Mar. 31,
   
Dec 31,
   
Sept. 30,
   
June 30,
   
Mar. 31,
 
   
2009
   
2009
   
2009
   
2008
   
2008
   
2008
   
2008
 
Interest income
  $ 16,808     $ 17,341     $ 17,571     $ 18,589     $ 18,575     $ 18,373     $ 18,700  
Interest expense
    6,016       6,164       6,606       7,195       7,474       7,724       8,656  
Interest margin
    10,792       11,177       10,965       11,394       11,101       10,649       10,044  
Provision (credit) for loan losses
    634       93       (173 )     240       141       (376 )     904  
Interest margin after provision for loan losses
    10,158       11,084       11,138       11,154       10,960       11,025       9,140  
Other income
    3,282       3,054       2,766       3,179       3,062       3,155       3,487  
Net losses on available-for-sale securities
    (47,848 )     (18,995 )     (16,679 )     (3,878 )     (4,483 )     (867 )     (110 )
Other expenses
    8,277       9,158       8,638       7,989       8,736       8,257       8,464  
(Loss) income before income tax provision
    (42,685 )     (14,015 )     (11,413 )     2,466       803       5,056       4,053  
Income tax (credit) provision
    (14,491 )     (5,284 )     (4,388 )     288       (209 )     1,303       937  
Net (loss) income
    (28,194 )     (8,731 )     (7,025 )     2,178       1,012       3,753       3,116  
US Treasury preferred dividends
    373       373       309       0       0       0       0  
Net (loss) income available to common shareholders
  $ (28,567 )   $ (9,104 )   $ (7,334 )   $ 2,178     $ 1,012     $ 3,753     $ 3,116  
Net (loss) income per common share – basic
  $ (3.17 )   $ (1.01 )   $ (0.82 )   $ 0.24     $ 0.11     $ 0.42     $ 0.35  
Net (loss) income per common share – diluted
  $ (3.17 )   $ (1.01 )   $ (0.82 )   $ 0.24     $ 0.11     $ 0.42     $ 0.35  

28

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
Prospects for the Remainder of 2009

As described in the “Earnings Overview” section above, the Corporation reported a net loss for each of the first three quarters of 2009, primarily because of substantial securities write-downs.  While management cannot guarantee there will be no additional securities losses, based on the relatively small ($1.6 million) remaining cost basis of mezzanine pooled trust-preferred securities as of September 30, 2009, we believe the vast majority of losses have been realized.  Results for 2009 reflect the impact of significant operational changes made in 2007 and 2008, including successful implementation of an overdraft privilege program, as well as other enhancements to noninterest revenue sources.Management also improved efficiency of various operational activities, which has resulted in significant expense reductions.  Management expects the Corporation’s earnings results for the fourth quarter 2009 to continue to reflect the positive effects of these changes.

A major variable that affects the Corporation’s earnings is securities gains and losses.  The Corporation’s losses from trust-preferred securities and other securities stem from the much-publicized economic problems affecting the national and international economy, which have particularly hurt the banking industry.  Although management believes these conditions to be cyclical, the Corporation has exposure to the possibility of future losses from investments in bank stocks, private label CMOs, trust-preferred securities issued by individual banks, and other securities.  Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements provides more detail concerning the Corporation’s investment securities.

The Corporationhas benefited in 2009 and 2008 from a relatively low (by historical standards) provision for loan losses.  Issues related to larger commercial borrowers can significantly affect the Corporation’s provision for loan losses in any particular period.  Accordingly, the amount of loan loss provision for the remainder of 2009 will depend substantially on the credit status of the commercial portfolio.  Although management is concerned about the condition of the national economy and the potential for problems in our market area, to date the Corporation has not experienced significant deterioration in loan delinquencies, or a noticeable change in volume of activity related to troubled loans or foreclosures.  The Corporation has not originated interest only mortgages, loans without documentation of the borrowers’ sources of income or net worth, or other types of subprime mortgage loans that have received negative publicity.  However, if economic conditions deteriorate significantly, the Corporation may need to increase the provision for loan losses for the impact on the residential mortgage and consumer portions of the loan portfolio.

Management estimates total capital purchases for 2009 to be approximately $1.5 - $2 million, with computer software and hardware the largest planned categories of expenditure.  Total capital purchases for the first nine months of 2009 totaled $1.042 million.  Management does not expect capital expenditures to have a material, detrimental effect on the Corporation’s financial condition in 2009 or in the year ending December 31, 2010.

In July 2009, the Corporation amended its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase and Sale Plan.  One of the effects of the plan amendments was to permit the Corporation to sell common shares directly under the plan at a discount, with the initial percentage discount set at 5%.  In October 2009, the Corporation suspended the 5% discount until further notice.  The Corporation raised a total of $3.087 million from sales of common stock at the discounted price, including $1.840 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

A material estimate that is particularly susceptible to significant change is the determination of the allowance for loan losses.  Management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate and reasonable. The Corporation’s methodology for determining the allowance for loan losses is described in a separate section later in Management’s Discussion and Analysis.  Given the very subjective nature of identifying and valuing loan losses, it is likely that well-informed individuals could make materially different assumptions, and could, therefore calculate a materially different allowance value.  While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, changes in economic conditions may necessitate revisions in future years. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Corporation’s allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require the Corporation to recognize adjustments to the allowance based on their judgments of information available to them at the time of their examination.

29

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
Another material estimate is the calculation of fair values of the Corporation’s debt securities.  For most of the Corporation’s debt securities, the Corporation receives estimated fair values of debt securities from an independent valuation service, or from brokers.  In developing fair values, the valuation service and the brokers use estimates of cash flows, based on historical performance of similar instruments in similar interest rate environments.  Based on experience, management is aware that estimated fair values of debt securities tend to vary among brokers and other valuation services.  Accordingly, when selling debt securities, management typically obtains price quotes from more than one source.

As described in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, in 2008, the Corporation changed its method of valuing pooled trust-preferred securities from using price quotes received from pricing services, to a Level 3 (as described in SFAS No. 157) methodology, using discounted cash flows.  At both September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, management calculated the fair values of pooled trust-preferred securities by applying discount rates to estimated cash flows for each security.  Management estimated the cash flows expected to be received from each security, taking into account estimated levels of deferrals and defaults by the underlying issuers, and used discount rates considered reflective of a market participant’s expectations regarding the extent of credit and liquidity risk inherent in the securities.  Management’s estimates of cash flows and discount rates used to calculate fair values of pooled trust-preferred securities were based on sensitive assumptions, and use of different assumptions could result in calculations of fair values that would be substantially different than the amounts calculated by management.

As described in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements, management evaluates securities for OTTI.  In making that evaluation, consideration is given to (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and (3) whether the Corporation intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before its anticipated recovery.  Management’s assessments of the likelihood and potential for recovery in value of securities are subjective and based on sensitive assumptions.  Also, management’s estimates of cash flows used to evaluate other-than-temporary impairment of pooled trust-preferred securities are based on sensitive assumptions, and use of different assumptions could produce different conclusions for each security.  Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements includes details concerning significant changes made at September 30, 2009, as compared to the previous four quarterly analyses, that resulted in increased amounts of estimated future defaults on pooled trust-preferred securities.

NET INTEREST MARGIN

The Corporation’s primary source of operating income is represented by the net interest margin.  The net interest margin is equal to the difference between the amounts of interest income and interest expense.  Tables II, III and IV include information regarding the Corporation’s net interest margin for the three-month and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008.  In each of these tables, the amounts of interest income earned on tax-exempt securities and loans have been adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis.  Accordingly, the net interest margin amounts reflected in these tables exceed the amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements.  The discussion that follows is based on amounts in the related Tables.

Nine-Month Periods Ending September 30, 2009 and 2008

For the nine-month periods, the fully taxable equivalent net interest margin was $35,062,000 in 2009, $1,688,000 (5.1%) higher than in 2008.  As shown in Table IV, net increases in volume had the effect of increasing net interest income $735,000 in 2009 over 2008, and interest rate changes had the effect of increasing net interest income $953,000. The most significant component of the volume change in interest income in 2009 was an increase of $1,372,000 attributable to growth in the tax-exempt portion of the available-for-sale securities portfolio. The most significant volume change in interest expense in 2009 was a decrease of $956,000 resulting from a decrease in borrowed funds.  As presented in Table III, the “Interest Rate Spread” (excess of average rate of return on earning assets over average cost of funds on interest-bearing liabilities) was 3.44% in 2009, as compared to 3.23% in 2008.

INTEREST INCOME AND EARNING ASSETS

Interest income totaled $53,848,000 in 2009, a decrease of 5.9% from 2008.  Income from available-for-sale securities decreased $626,000 (3.4%), while interest and fees from loans decreased $2,611,000, or 6.8%.  As indicated in Table III, total average available-for-sale securities (at amortized cost) in 2009 rose to $455,604,000, an increase of $8,250,000, or 1.8% from 2008.  During 2009, the Corporation has increased the size of its tax-exempt municipal security portfolio, while shrinking the taxable available-for-sale securities portfolio. The Corporation’s yield on taxable securities fell in 2009 primarily because of low market interest rates, including the effects of management’s decision to limit purchases of taxable securities to investments that mature or are expected to repay a substantial portion of principal within approximately four years or less. Also, interest rates on variable-rate trust preferred securities have decreased consistent with short-term global interest rates. The average rate of return on available-for-sale securities was 5.25% for 2009 and 5.53% in 2008.

30

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
The average balance of gross loans decreased 1.5% to $730,738,000 in 2009 from $742,018,000 in 2008.  Due to the challenging economic environment, the Corporation has experienced contraction in the balance of its mortgage and consumer loan portfolios, with slight growth in average commercial and tax-exempt loan balances. The Corporation’s yield on loans fell as rates on new loans as well as existing, variable-rate loans have decreased. The average rate of return on loans was 6.56% in 2009 and 6.92% in 2008.

The average balance of interest-bearing due from banks, which in 2009 has consisted primarily of balances held by the Federal Reserve, increased to $19,026,000 in 2009 from $1,302,000 in 2008. Also, the average balance of federal funds sold increased to $11,975,000 in 2009 from $6,135,000 in 2008. Although the rates of return are low, the Corporation has maintained relatively high levels of these liquid assets in 2009 (as opposed to increasing long-term, available-for-sale securities at higher yields) due to management’s concern about the possibility of substantial increases in interest rates in 2010 or 2011.

INTEREST EXPENSE AND INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES

For the nine-month period, interest expense fell $5,068,000, or 21.3%, to $18,786,000 in 2009 from $23,854,000 in 2008.  Table III shows that the overall cost of funds on interest-bearing liabilities fell to 2.47% in 2009 from 3.14% in 2008.

Total average deposits (interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing) increased 4.2%, to $879,324,000 in 2009 from $843,950,000 in 2008.  This increase has come mainly in interest checking, money market, and individual retirement accounts and is partially offset by a reduction in the balance in certificates of deposit. Consistent with substantial reductions in short-term global interest rates, the average rates incurred on deposit accounts have decreased significantly in 2009 as compared to 2008. As shown in Table IV, decreases in rates reduced interest expense on deposits by $3,988,000.

Total average borrowed funds decreased $30,576,000 to $265,639,000 in 2009 from $296,215,000 in 2008.  During 2008 and early 2009, the Corporation has generally paid off long-term borrowings as they matured using the cash flow received from loans, mortgage-backed securities, and growth in deposit balances. The average rate on borrowed funds was 3.79% in 2009, down from 4.02% in 2008.  This change primarily reflects lower rates being paid on customer repurchase agreements, which make up most of the Corporation’s short-term borrowed funds.

Three-Month Periods Ending September 30, 2009 and 2008

Except as noted below, significant changes in the three-month results are consistent with the discussion of the nine-month results provided in the previous section.

For the three-month periods, the fully taxable equivalent net interest margin was $11,557,000 in 2009, $124,000 (1.1%) lower than in 2008.  As shown in Table IV, net changes in volume had the effect of decreasing net interest income $195,000 in 2009 compared to 2008, and interest rate changes had the effect of increasing net interest income $71,000. As presented in Table III, the “Interest Rate Spread” was 3.44% in 2009, as compared to 3.38% in 2008.

Interest income totaled $17,573,000 in 2009, a decrease of 8.3% from 2008.  Income from available-for-sale securities decreased $635,000, while interest and fees from loans decreased $894,000, or 7.0%.  As indicated in Table III, total average available-for-sale securities (at amortized cost) in 2009 decreased to $438,555,000, a decrease of $13,116,000, or 2.9% from 2008.  The average rate of return on available-for-sale securities was 5.06% for 2009 and 5.48% in 2008. For the three-month period, the average balance of gross loans decreased 3.2% to $726,304,000 in 2009 from $750,481,000 in 2008. The average rate of return on loans was 6.53% in 2009 and 6.81% in 2008. The average balance of interest-bearing due from banks, mainly from balances held by the Federal Reserve, increased to $40,616,000 in 2009 from $1,253,000 in 2008.

For the three-month period, interest expense fell $1,458,000, or 19.5%, to $6,016,000 in 2009 from $7,474,000 in 2008. Total average deposits (interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing) increased 4.0%, to $895,427,000 in 2009 from $860,734,000 in 2008.  Total average borrowed funds decreased $38,825,000 to $254,476,000 in 2009 from $293,301,000 in 2008.

31

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
TABLE II -  ANALYSIS OF INTEREST INCOME AND EXPENSE

   
Three Months Ended
         
Nine Months Ended
       
   
September 30,
   
Increase/
   
September 30,
   
Increase/
 
(In Thousands)
 
2009
   
2008
   
(Decrease)
   
2009
   
2008
   
(Decrease)
 
                                     
INTEREST INCOME
                                   
Available-for-sale securities:
                                   
Taxable
  $ 3,841     $ 5,010     $ (1,169 )   $ 13,110     $ 15,206     $ (2,096 )
Tax-exempt
    1,747       1,213       534       4,778       3,308       1,470  
Total available-for-sale securities
    5,588       6,223       (635 )     17,888       18,514       (626 )
Held-to-maturity securities,
                                               
Taxable
    5       6       (1 )     17       18       (1 )
Trading securities
    2       27       (25 )     48       90       (42 )
Interest-bearing due from banks
    24       9       15       28       27       1  
Federal funds sold
    0       42       (42 )     15       116       (101 )
Loans:
                                               
Taxable
    11,314       12,255       (941 )     34,027       36,836       (2,809 )
Tax-exempt
    640       593       47       1,825       1,627       198  
Total loans
    11,954       12,848       (894 )     35,852       38,463       (2,611 )
Total Interest Income
    17,573       19,155       (1,582 )     53,848       57,228       (3,380 )
                                                 
INTEREST EXPENSE
                                               
Interest-bearing deposits:
                                               
Interest checking
    235       307       (72 )     659       794       (135 )
Money market
    449       961       (512 )     1,671       3,265       (1,594 )
Savings
    59       87       (28 )     229       249       (20 )
Certificates of deposit
    1,608       2,107       (499 )     5,150       6,978       (1,828 )
Individual Retirement Accounts
    1,225       1,093       132       3,544       3,650       (106 )
Other time deposits
    2       2       0       5       5       0  
Total interest-bearing deposits
    3,578       4,557       (979 )     11,258       14,941       (3,683 )
Borrowed funds:
                                               
Short-term
    121       218       (97 )     431       761       (330 )
Long-term
    2,317       2,699       (382 )     7,097       8,152       (1,055 )
Total borrowed funds
    2,438       2,917       (479 )     7,528       8,913       (1,385 )
Total Interest Expense
    6,016       7,474       (1,458 )     18,786       23,854       (5,068 )
                                                 
Net Interest Income
  $ 11,557     $ 11,681     $ (124 )   $ 35,062     $ 33,374     $ 1,688  

Note: Interest income from tax-exempt securities and loans has been adjusted to a fully tax-equivalent basis, using the Corporation’s marginal federal income tax rate of 34%.

32

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
Table IIl - Analysis of Average Daily Balances and Rates
(Dollars in Thousands)
   
3 Months
         
3 Months
           
9 Months
         
9 Months
       
   
Ended
   
Rate of
   
Ended
   
Rate of
     
Ended
   
Rate of
   
Ended
   
Rate of
 
   
9/30/2009
   
Return/
   
9/30/2008
   
Return/
     
9/30/2009
   
Return/
   
9/30/2008
   
Return/
 
   
Average
   
Cost of
   
Average
   
Cost of
     
Average
   
Cost of
   
Average
   
Cost of
 
   
Balance
   
Funds %
   
Balance
   
Funds %
     
Balance
   
Funds %
   
Balance
   
Funds %
 
EARNING ASSETS
                                                 
Available-for-sale securities, at amortized cost:
                                                 
Taxable
  $ 335,134       4.55 %   $ 380,031       5.24 %     $ 361,894       4.84 %   $ 380,650       5.34 %
Tax-exempt
    103,421       6.70 %     71,640       6.74 %       93,710       6.82 %     66,704       6.62 %
Total available-for-sale securities
    438,555       5.06 %     451,671       5.48 %       455,604       5.25 %     447,354       5.53 %
Held-to-maturity securities,
                                                                 
Taxable
    384       5.16 %     408       5.85 %       398       5.71 %     408       5.89 %
Trading securities
    231       3.43 %     1,836       5.85 %       1,022       6.28 %     1,972       6.10 %
Interest-bearing due from banks
    40,616       0.23 %     1,253       2.86 %       19,026       0.20 %     1,302       2.77 %
Federal funds sold
    64       0.00 %     7,892       2.12 %       11,975       0.17 %     6,135       2.53 %
Loans:
                                                                 
Taxable
    684,723       6.56 %     714,504       6.82 %       690,834       6.59 %     708,714       6.94 %
Tax-exempt
    41,580       6.11 %     35,977       6.56 %       39,904       6.11 %     33,304       6.53 %
Total loans
    726,304       6.53 %     750,481       6.81 %       730,738       6.56 %     742,018       6.92 %
Total Earning Assets
    1,206,154       5.78 %     1,213,539       6.28 %       1,218,763       5.91 %     1,199,189       6.37 %
Cash
    17,232               21,994                 16,921               20,111          
Unrealized gain/loss on securities
    (24,407 )             (31,590 )               (32,092 )             (20,535 )        
Allowance for loan losses
    (7,693 )             (8,572 )               (7,789 )             (8,875 )        
Bank premises and equipment
    25,102               26,880                 25,442               27,305          
Intangible Asset - Core Deposit Intangible
    628               1,051                 711               1,182          
Intangible Asset - Goodwill
    11,941               12,014                 11,957               12,026          
Other assets
    66,507               54,737                 62,261               51,148          
Total Assets
  $ 1,295,464             $ 1,290,054               $ 1,296,174             $ 1,281,551          
                                                                   
INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES
                                                                 
Interest-bearing deposits:
                                                                 
Interest checking
  $ 108,096       0.86 %   $ 88,855       1.37 %     $ 100,809       0.87 %   $ 81,302       1.30 %
Money market
    203,126       0.88 %     200,202       1.91 %       200,960       1.11 %     192,528       2.27 %
Savings
    69,292       0.34 %     69,272       0.50 %       69,111       0.44 %     66,859       0.50 %
Certificates of deposit
    225,294       2.83 %     231,083       3.63 %       226,781       3.04 %     239,971       3.88 %
Individual Retirement Accounts
    156,421       3.11 %     139,668       3.11 %       152,415       3.11 %     137,785       3.54 %
Other time deposits
    1,892       0.42 %     1,943       0.41 %       1,443       0.46 %     1,474       0.45 %
Total interest-bearing deposits
    764,120       1.86 %     731,023       2.48 %       751,519       2.00 %     719,919       2.77 %
Borrowed funds:
                                                                 
Short-term
    34,383       1.40 %     39,775       2.18 %       39,065       1.48 %     39,904       2.55 %
Long-term
    220,093       4.18 %     253,526       4.24 %       226,574       4.19 %     256,311       4.25 %
Total borrowed funds
    254,476       3.80 %     293,301       3.96 %       265,639       3.79 %     296,215       4.02 %
Total Interest-bearing Liabilities
    1,018,596       2.34 %     1,024,324       2.90 %       1,017,158       2.47 %     1,016,134       3.14 %
Demand deposits
    131,307               129,711                 127,805               124,031          
Other liabilities
    6,516               8,452                 7,413               7,892          
Total Liabilities
    1,156,419               1,162,486                 1,152,376               1,148,057          
Stockholders' equity, excluding other comprehensive income/loss
    155,324               148,806                 165,222               147,445          
Other comprehensive income/loss
    (16,279 )             (21,239 )               (21,424 )             (13,951 )        
Total Stockholders' Equity
    139,045               127,567                 143,798               133,494          
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
  $ 1,295,464             $ 1,290,054               $ 1,296,174             $ 1,281,551          
Interest Rate Spread
            3.44 %             3.38 %               3.44 %             3.23 %
Net Interest Income/Earning Assets
            3.80 %             3.83 %               3.85 %             3.72 %
                                                                   
Total Deposits (Interest-bearing and Demand)
  $ 895,427             $ 860,734               $ 879,324             $ 843,950          

(1) Rates of return on tax-exempt securities and loans are presented on a fully taxable-equivalent basis.
(2) Nonaccrual loans have been included with loans for the purpose of analyzing net interest earnings.

33

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
TABLE IV -  ANALYSIS OF VOLUME AND RATE CHANGES

(In Thousands)
 
3 Months Ended 9/30/09 vs. 9/30/08
   
9 Months Ended 9/30/09 vs. 9/30/08
 
   
Change in
   
Change in
   
Total
   
Change in
   
Change in
   
Total
 
   
Volume
   
Rate
   
Change
   
Volume
   
Rate
   
Change
 
EARNING ASSETS
                                   
Available-for-sale securities:
                                   
Taxable
  $ (550 )   $ (619 )   $ (1,169 )   $ (730 )   $ (1,366 )   $ (2,096 )
Tax-exempt
    540       (6 )     534       1,372       98       1,470  
Total available-for-sale securities
    (10 )     (625 )     (635 )     642       (1,268 )     (626 )
Held-to-maturity securities,
                                               
Taxable
    0       (1 )     (1 )     0       (1 )     (1 )
Trading securities
    (17 )     (8 )     (25 )     (45 )     3       (42 )
Interest-bearing due from banks
    30       (15 )     15       48       (47 )     1  
Federal funds sold
    (21 )     (21 )     (42 )     58       (159 )     (101 )
Loans:
                                               
Taxable
    (485 )     (456 )     (941 )     (924 )     (1,885 )     (2,809 )
Tax-exempt
    90       (43 )     47       305       (107 )     198  
Total loans
    (395 )     (499 )     (894 )     (619 )     (1,992 )     (2,611 )
Total Interest Income
    (413 )     (1,169 )     (1,582 )     84       (3,464 )     (3,380 )
                                                 
INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES
                                               
Interest-bearing deposits:
                                               
Interest checking
    58       (130 )     (72 )     164       (299 )     (135 )
Money market
    14       (526 )     (512 )     137       (1,731 )     (1,594 )
Savings
    0       (28 )     (28 )     8       (28 )     (20 )
Certificates of deposit
    (51 )     (448 )     (499 )     (368 )     (1,460 )     (1,828 )
Individual Retirement Accounts
    134       (2 )     132       364       (470 )     (106 )
Other time deposits
    0       0       0       0       0       0  
Total interest-bearing deposits
    155       (1,134 )     (979 )     305       (3,988 )     (3,683 )
Borrowed funds:
                                               
Short-term
    (27 )     (70 )     (97 )     (16 )     (314 )     (330 )
Long-term
    (346 )     (36 )     (382 )     (940 )     (115 )     (1,055 )
Total borrowed funds
    (373 )     (106 )     (479 )     (956 )     (429 )     (1,385 )
Total Interest Expense
    (218 )     (1,240 )     (1,458 )     (651 )     (4,417 )     (5,068 )
                                                 
Net Interest Income
  $ (195 )   $ 71     $ (124 )   $ 735     $ 953     $ 1,688  

(1) Changes in income on tax-exempt securities and loans are presented on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, using the Corporation’s marginal federal income tax rate of 34%.

(2) The change in interest due to both volume and rates has been allocated to volume and rate changes in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amount of the change in each.

34

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
TABLE V - COMPARISON OF NON-INTEREST INCOME
(In Thousands)
 
Quarter Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
                         
Service charges on deposit accounts
  $ 1,317     $ 1,191     $ 3,514     $ 3,240  
Service charges and fees
    198       208       615       569  
Trust and financial management revenue
    757       845       2,396       2,697  
Insurance commissions, fees and premiums
    69       77       226       246  
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance
    107       190       384       580  
Other operating income
    834       551       1,967       2,372  
Total other operating income, before realized losses on available-for-sale securities, net
  $ 3,282     $ 3,062     $ 9,102     $ 9,704  

NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 AND 2008:

Table V excludes realized losses on available-for-sale securities, which are discussed in the “Earnings Overview” section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis.  Total non-interest income shown in Table V decreased $602,000 or 6.2%, in 2009 compared to 2008.  Items of significance are as follows:

 
·
Service charges on deposit accounts increased $274,000, or 8.5%, in 2009 as compared to 2008.  In 2009, Overdraft fee revenues associated with a new overdraft privilege program implemented in the first quarter of 2008 increased $274,000.

 
·
Service charges and fees increased $46,000, or 8.1%, in 2009 over 2008.  Within this category, letter of credit fees increased $25,000 and ATM surcharges increased $29,000 in 2009.

 
·
Trust and financial management revenue decreased $301,000, or 11.2%, in 2009 as compared to 2008.  Trust and financial management revenues are significantly affected by the value of assets under management which have been generally lower throughout most of 2009.  Over the second and third quarters of 2009, the market values of equity securities have recovered a substantial portion of prior losses in value.  Total trust assets under management of $592,841,000 are 1.5% lower than one year earlier.

 
·
The increase in the cash surrender value of life insurance decreased $196,000, or 33.8%, in 2009 over 2008.  The decrease primarily relates to the changes in the earnings credit rate for the underlying contracts.

 
·
Other operating income decreased $405,000, or 17.1%, in 2009 as compared to 2008.  This category included a gain in 2008 of $533,000 from the redemption of restricted shares of Visa, resulting from Visa’s initial public offering.  In 2009, the Corporation received no dividend income on its investment in restricted stock issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, while dividend income on this stock was $282,000 in the first nine months of 2008.  In 2009, other operating income included $184,000 of rental revenues from the temporary operation of a foreclosed commercial real estate property.

QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 AND 2008:

Total non-interest income shown in Table V increased $220,000 or 7.2%, in 2009 compared to 2008.  Items of significance are as follows:

 
·
Service charges on deposit accounts increased $126,000, or 10.6%, in 2009 as compared to 2008.  Overdraft fee revenues associated with the new overdraft privilege program increased $108,000.

35

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

 
·
Trust and financial management revenue decreased $88,000, or 10.4%, in 2009 as compared to 2008.  The decrease in such revenues corresponds with the general decrease in the value of assets under management (especially equity securities) throughout most of this period.

 
·
The increase in the cash surrender value of life insurance decreased $83,000, or 43.7%, in 2009 over 2008.  The decrease primarily relates to the changes in the earnings credit rate for the underlying contracts.

 
·
Other operating income increased $283,000, or 51.4%, in 2009 as compared to 2008.  In 2009, the most significant source of such increased revenues represents rental revenues ($184,000) from the temporary operation of a foreclosed commercial real estate property initiated in the current quarter.

TABLE VI- COMPARISON OF NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

(In Thousands)
 
Quarter Ended
   
9 Months Ended
 
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
                         
Salaries and wages
  $ 3,334     $ 3,892     $ 9,993     $ 11,319  
Pensions and other employee benefits
    918       1,082       3,237       3,312  
Occupancy expense, net
    652       689       2,073       2,160  
Furniture and equipment expense
    690       692       2,066       1,982  
Pennsylvania shares tax
    318       292       954       876  
Other operating expense
    2,365       2,089       7,750       5,808  
Total Other Expense
  $ 8,277     $ 8,736     $ 26,073     $ 25,457  

NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 AND 2008:

Total non-interest expense increased $616,000, or 2.4%, in 2009 over 2008.  Significant changes in 2009 as compared to 2008 include the following:

 
·
Salaries and wages decreased $1,326,000, or 11.7%.  The primary decrease in salaries and wages relates to the reductions in personnel from an operational process review initiated in 2008.   In addition, salaries and wages for 2008 include severance costs of approximately $348,000, or $340,000 more than in 2009.

 
·
FDIC Insurance costs increased $1,490,000 to $1,651,000 in 2009.  The 2009 FDIC insurance costs reflect the impact of higher rates and higher levels of insured deposits, as well as additional costs of $589,000 associated with a special assessment imposed by the FDIC.

 
·
Other operating expense increased $452,000, or 8.0%.  This category includes many varieties of expenses, with the most significant increases and decreases in some of the individual expenses, as follows:

 
o
Operating expenses in 2008 were reduced by an insurance claim recovery of $174,000 related to expense that had originally been recorded in the third quarter of 2007.

 
o
Other operating expenses include an increase of $158,000 in foreclosed real estate expenses in 2009, primarily associated with one large commercial property.

 
o
Attorney fees increased $119,000 in 2009, primarily as a result of commercial loan collection activities.

 
o
Professional fees associated with the overdraft privilege program increased $59,000 in 2009.

 
o
Amortization of core deposit intangibles decreased $171,000 in 2009.

36


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 AND 2008:

Total non-interest expense decreased $459,000, or 5.3%, in 2009 as compared to 2008.  Significant changes in 2009 as compared to 2008 include the following:

 
·
Salaries and wages decreased $558,000, or 14.3%.  The decrease in salaries and wages includes the impact of reductions in personnel from an operational process review initiated in the third quarter 2008.  Also, salaries and wages for the third quarter 2008 included approximately $269,000 for severance costs, with minimal severance costs incurred in the third quarter 2009.

 
·
Pensions and other employee benefits decreased $164,000, or 15.2%.  Within this category, the most significant changes are summarized as follows:

 
o
Group health insurance expense was $73,000 lower in 2009, primarily due to the reduction in personnel referred to above, and favorable experience rate adjustments under the current contract.

 
o
Payroll taxes, primarily for social security and medicare, were $38,000 lower in 2009 than 2008, primarily due to the reduction in personnel referred to above.

 
o
Employer contributions expense associated with the Savings & Retirement Plan (a 401(k) plan) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan was $26,000 lower in 2009 than in 2008.  The decrease is primarily associated with matching contributions related to the reductions in personnel discussed above.

 
·
FDIC Insurance costs increased $279,000 to $393,000 in 2009.  The 2009 FDIC insurance costs reflect the impact of higher rates and higher levels of insured deposits.

 
·
Other operating expense decreased $3,000, or 0.2%.  This category includes many varieties of expenses, with the most significant increases and decreases in some of the individual expenses, as follows:

 
o
Collection expenses increased $235,000 in 2009, and attorney fees increased $53,000 in 2009.  Both increases are primarily related to commercial loan collection activities.

 
o
Professional fees of $251,000 in 2008 were associated with an operational process review.  In 2009, certain consulting fees related to lending operations were $45,000.

 
o
Amortization of core deposit intangibles decreased $57,000 in 2009.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Significant changes in the average balances of the Corporation’s earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities are described in the “Net Interest Margin” section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis.  Other significant balance sheet items, including the allowance for loan losses and stockholders’ equity, are discussed in separate sections of Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

Total capital purchases for 2009 are estimated at approximately $1.5 million - $2 million.  Management does not expect capital expenditures to have a material, detrimental effect on the Corporation’s financial condition in 2009.

37


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

PROVISION AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level which, in management’s judgment, is adequate to absorb credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The amount of the allowance is based on management’s evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio.  In evaluating collectability, management considers a number of factors, including the status of specific impaired loans, trends in historical loss experience, delinquency trends, credit concentrations, and economic conditions within the Corporation’s market area.  Allowances for impaired loans are determined based on collateral values or the present value of estimated cash flows. The allowance is increased by a provision for loan losses, which is charged to expense, and reduced by charge-offs, net of recoveries.

There are two major components of the allowance – (1) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 114 allowances – on larger loans, mainly commercial purpose, determined on a loan-by-loan basis; and (2) SFAS 5 allowances – estimates of losses incurred on the remainder of the portfolio, determined based on collective evaluation of impairment for various categories of loans.  SFAS 5 allowances include a portion based on historical net charge-off experience, and a portion based on evaluation of qualitative factors.

Each quarter, management performs a detailed assessment of the allowance and provision for loan losses. A management committee called the Watch List Committee performs this assessment.  Quarterly, the Watch List Committee and the applicable Lenders discuss each loan relationship under review, and reach a consensus on the appropriate SFAS 114 estimated loss amount for the quarter.  The Watch List Committee’s focus is on ensuring that all pertinent facts have been considered, and that the SFAS 114 loss amounts are reasonable.  The assessment process includes review of certain loans reported on the “Watch List.”  All loans, which Lenders or the Credit Administration staff has assigned a risk rating of Special Mention, Substandard, Doubtful or Loss, are included in the Watch List.  The scope of loans evaluated individually for impairment (SFAS 114 evaluation) include all loan relationships greater than $200,000 for C&N Bank loans, and $50,000 for First State Bank, for which there is at least one extension of credit graded Special Mention, Substandard, Doubtful or Loss.  Also, loan relationships less than $200,000 in the aggregate, but with an estimated loss of $100,000 or more, are individually evaluated for impairment.

Since 2007, the Banks’ Risk Management personnel have performed annual, independent credit reviews of large credit relationships.  In prior years, outside consulting firms were retained to perform such functions.  Management gives substantial consideration to the classifications and recommendations of the credit reviewers in determining the allowance for loan losses.

The SFAS 5 component of the allowance includes estimates of losses incurred on loans that have not been individually evaluated for impairment.  Management uses loan categories included in the Call Report (a quarterly report filed by FDIC-insured banks) to identify categories of loans with similar risk characteristics, and multiplies the loan balances for each category as of each quarter-end by two different factors to determine the SFAS 5 allowance amounts.  These two factors are based on: (1) historical net charge-off experience, and (2) qualitative factors.  The sum of the allowance amounts calculated for each risk category, including both the amount based on historical net charge-off experience and the amount based on evaluation of qualitative factors, is equal to the total SFAS 5 component of the allowance.

The historical net charge-off portion of the SFAS 5 allowance component is calculated by the Accounting Department as of the end of the applicable quarter.  For each loan classification category used in the Call Report, the Accounting Department multiplies the outstanding balance as of the quarter-end (excluding loans individually evaluated for impairment) by the ratio of net charge-offs to average quarterly loan balances for the previous three calendar years.

Effective in the second quarter 2005, management began to calculate the effects of specific qualitative factors criteria to determine a percentage increase or decrease in the SFAS 5 allowance, in relation to the historical net charge-off percentage.  The qualitative factors analysis involves assessment of changes in factors affecting the portfolio, to provide for estimated differences between losses currently inherent in the portfolio and the amounts determined based on recent historical loss rates and from identification of losses on specific individual loans.  A management committee called the Qualitative Factors Committee meets quarterly, near the end of the final month of each quarter.  The Qualitative Factors Committee discusses several qualitative factors, including economic conditions, lending policies, changes in the portfolio, risk profile of the portfolio, competition and regulatory requirements, and other factors, with consideration given to how the factors affect three distinct parts of the loan portfolio: Commercial, Mortgage and Consumer.  During or soon after completion of the meeting, each member of the Committee prepares an update to his or her recommended percentage adjustment for each qualitative factor, and average qualitative factor adjustments are calculated for Commercial, Mortgage and Consumer loans.  The Accounting Department multiplies the outstanding balance as of the quarter-end (excluding loans individually evaluated for impairment) by the applicable qualitative factor percentages, to determine the portion of the SFAS 5 allowance attributable to qualitative factors.

38


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

The allocation of the allowance for loan losses table (Table VIII) includes the SFAS 114 component of the allowance on the line item called “Impaired Loans.”  SFAS 5 estimated losses, including both the portion determined based on historical net charge-off results, as well as the portion based on management’s assessment of qualitative factors, are allocated in Table VIII to the applicable categories of commercial, consumer mortgage and consumer loans.  Table VIII shows an increase in the allowance on impaired loans of $663,000, to $1,119,000 at September 30, 2009 from $456,000 at December 31, 2008.  The net increase in the allowance on impaired loans includes the establishment of an allowance of approximately $716,000 on two commercial loan relationships, and a decrease of approximately $250,000 on another commercial relationship for which management perceives conditions to be improving.

The allowance for loan losses was $8,188,000 at September 30, 2009, up from the balance of $7,857,000 at December 31, 2008.  The aggregate increase in the allowance at September 30, 2009 compared to December 31, 2008 resulted mainly from the net increase in allowance on impaired commercial loans, as described above.  The total amount of the provision for loan losses for each period is determined based on the amount required to maintain an appropriate allowance in light of all of the factors described above.  The provision for loan losses of $554,000 in the first nine months of 2009 reflected the impact of credit issues associated with impaired commercial loan relationships.  The provision for loan losses of $669,000 in the first nine months of 2008 included the effects of establishing an SFAS 114 allowance on a commercial loan relationship of $250,000, as well as an increase in the SFAS 5 allowance from qualitative factors and an increase in the unallocated portion of the allowance of $381,000.

Table IX presents information related to past due and impaired loans. Over the period shown in the table, each period includes a few large commercial relationships that have required significant monitoring and workout efforts.  As a result, a limited number of relationships may significantly impact category fluctuations within Table IX.   As of September 30, 2009, total impaired loans amounted to $5,655,000, which is comparable to the December 31, 2008 total of $5,665,000, but down from $6,218,000 at December 31, 2007, $8,011,000 at December 31, 2006 and $8,216,000 at December 31, 2005. Nonaccrual loans totaled $8,091,000 at September 30, 2009 compared to the December 31, 2008 balance of $7,200,000 with the increase primarily associated with two commercial loan relationships that total $1,734,000.  Management believes it has been conservative in its decisions concerning identification of impaired loans, estimates of loss, and nonaccrual status; however, the actual losses realized from these relationships could vary materially from the amounts determined as of September 30, 2009.  Management continues to closely monitor its commercial and other loan relationships for possible credit losses, and will adjust its estimates of loss and decisions concerning nonaccrual status, if appropriate.

Tables VII through X present historical data related to the allowance for loan losses:

39


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

TABLE VII- ANALYSIS OF THE ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
(In Thousands)
 
9 Months
   
9 Months
       
   
Ended
   
Ended
       
   
Sept. 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004
 
Balance, beginning of year
  $ 7,857     $ 8,859     $ 8,859     $ 8,201     $ 8,361     $ 6,787     $ 6,097  
Charge-offs:
                                                       
Real estate loans
    94       670       1,457       196       611       264       375  
Installment loans
    236       143       254       216       259       224       217  
Credit cards and related plans
    0       7       5       5       22       198       178  
Commercial and other loans
    12       305       323       127       200       298       16  
Total charge-offs
    342       1,125       2,039       544       1,092       984       786  
Recoveries:
                                                       
Real estate loans
    6       17       20       8       27       14       3  
Installment loans
    90       61       83       41       65       61       32  
Credit cards and related plans
    0       3       4       9       25       30       23  
Commercial and other loans
    23       14       21       28       143       50       18  
Total recoveries
    119       95       128       86       260       155       76  
Net charge-offs
    223       1,030       1,911       458       832       829       710  
Allowance for loan losses recorded in acquisitions
    0       0       0       587       0       377       0  
Provision for loan losses
    554       669       909       529       672       2,026       1,400  
Balance, end of period
  $ 8,188     $ 8,498     $ 7,857     $ 8,859     $ 8,201     $ 8,361     $ 6,787  

 
TABLE VIII – ALLOCATION OF THE ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES BY TYPE
(In Thousands)
 
As of
                               
   
Sept. 30,
   
As of December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004
 
Commercial
  $ 2,587     $ 2,654     $ 1,870     $ 2,372     $ 2,705     $ 1,909  
Consumer mortgage
    3,811       3,920       4,201       3,556       2,806       513  
Impaired loans
    1,119       456       2,255       1,726       2,374       1,378  
Consumer
    309       399       533       523       476       409  
Unallocated
    362       428       0       24       0       2,578  
Total Allowance
  $ 8,188     $ 7,857     $ 8,859     $ 8,201     $ 8,361     $ 6,787  

TABLE IX – PAST DUE AND IMPAIRED LOANS
(In Thousands)
 
As of
                               
   
Sept. 30,
   
As of December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004
 
Impaired loans without a valuation allowance
  $ 3,069     $ 3,435     $ 857     $ 2,674     $ 910     $ 3,552  
Impaired loans with a valuation allowance
    2,586       2,230       5,361       5,337       7,306       4,709  
Total impaired loans
  $ 5,655     $ 5,665     $ 6,218     $ 8,011     $ 8,216     $ 8,261  
                                                 
Valuation allowance related to impaired loans
  $ 1,119     $ 456     $ 2,255     $ 1,726     $ 2,374     $ 1,378  
                                                 
Total nonaccrual loans
  $ 8,091     $ 7,200     $ 6,955     $ 8,506     $ 6,365     $ 7,796  
Total loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing
  $ 370     $ 1,305     $ 1,200     $ 1,559     $ 1,369     $ 1,307  

40


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

TABLE X – SUMMARY OF LOANS BY TYPE
(In Thousands)
 
Sept. 30,
   
As of December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004
 
                                     
Real estate - residential mortgage
  $ 420,754     $ 433,377     $ 441,692     $ 387,410     $ 361,857     $ 347,705  
Real estate - commercial mortgage
    163,406       165,979       144,742       178,260       153,661       128,073  
Real estate - construction
    26,036       24,992       22,497       10,365       5,552       4,178  
Consumer
    21,033       26,732       37,193       35,992       31,559       31,702  
Agricultural
    3,755       4,495       3,553       2,705       2,340       2,872  
Commercial
    49,413       48,295       52,241       39,135       69,396       43,566  
Other
    1,213       884       1,010       1,227       1,871       1,804  
Political subdivisions
    42,869       38,790       33,013       32,407       27,063       19,713  
Total
    728,479       743,544       735,941       687,501       653,299       579,613  
Less: allowance for loan losses
    (8,188 )     (7,857 )     (8,859 )     (8,201 )     (8,361 )     (6,787 )
Loans, net
  $ 720,291     $ 735,687     $ 727,082     $ 679,300     $ 644,938     $ 572,826  

LIQUIDITY

Liquidity is the ability to quickly raise cash at a reasonable cost.  An adequate liquidity position permits the Corporation to pay creditors, compensate for unforeseen deposit fluctuations and fund unexpected loan demand.  At September 30, 2009, the Corporation maintained overnight interest-bearing deposits with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and other correspondent banks totaling $31,783,000.

The Corporation maintains overnight borrowing facilities with several correspondent banks that provide a source of day-to-day liquidity.  Also, the Corporation maintains borrowing facilities with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, secured by various mortgage loans.

The Corporation has a line of credit with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Discount Window. Management intends to use this line of credit as a contingency funding source. As collateral for the line, the Corporation has pledged available-for-sale securities with a carrying value of $49,462,000 at September 30, 2009.

The Corporation’s outstanding, available, and total credit facilities are presented in the following table.

   
Outstanding
   
Available
   
Total Credit
 
(In Thousands)
 
Sept. 30,
   
Dec. 31,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Dec. 31,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Dec. 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh
  $ 138,750     $ 159,547     $ 183,974     $ 238,806     $ 322,724     $ 398,353  
Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window
    0       0       46,107       63,698       46,107       63,698  
Other correspondent banks
    0       0       29,964       30,726       29,964       30,726  
Total credit facilities
  $ 138,750     $ 159,547     $ 260,045     $ 333,230     $ 398,795     $ 492,777  

At September 30, 2009, the Corporation’s outstanding credit facilities with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh consisted of long-term borrowings with a total notional amount of $123,750,000 and a letter of credit in the amount of $15 million.

Additionally, the Corporation uses repurchase agreements placed with brokers to borrow funds secured by investment assets, and uses “RepoSweep” arrangements to borrow funds from commercial banking customers on an overnight basis.  If required to raise cash in an emergency situation, the Corporation could sell non-pledged investment securities to meet its obligations. At September 30, 2009, the carrying value of non-pledged available-for-sale securities was $69,368,000.
 
 
41


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND CAPITAL ADEQUACY

The Corporation and the subsidiary banks (Citizens & Northern Bank and First State Bank) are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies.  Details concerning the Corporation’s and the subsidiary banks’ capital ratios at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are presented below.  The consolidated capital ratios as of September 30, 2009 are estimated amounts.  The Corporation’s consolidated capital ratios, and the separate company capital ratios for Citizens & Northern (C&N) Bank have been negatively affected by the financial statement losses incurred in the first nine months of 2009.  Despite the impact of the losses, management believes, as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, that the Corporation and subsidiary banks meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.

(Dollars in Thousands)
                         
Minimum
 
                           
To Be Well
 
               
Minimum
   
Capitalized Under
 
               
Capital
   
Prompt Corrective
 
   
Actual
   
Requirement
   
Action Provisions
 
   
Amount
   
Ratio
   
Amount
   
Ratio
   
Amount
   
Ratio
 
September 30, 2009:
                                   
Total capital to risk-weighted assets:
                                   
Consolidated
  $ 106,302       13.58 %   $ 62,618       ³8 %     n/a       n/a  
C&N Bank
    81,637       10.82 %     60,352       ³8 %   $ 75,440       ³10 %
First State Bank
    4,506       23.43 %     1,539       ³8 %     1,924       ³10 %
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets:
                                               
Consolidated
    97,543       12.46 %     31,309       ³4 %     n/a       n/a  
C&N Bank
    73,316       9.72 %     30,176       ³4 %     45,264       ³6 %
First State Bank
    4,353       22.63 %     769       ³4 %     1,154       ³6 %
Tier 1 capital to average assets:
                                               
Consolidated
    97,543       7.60 %     51,326       ³4 %     n/a       n/a  
C&N Bank
    73,316       5.98 %     49,066       ³4 %     61,332       ³5 %
First State Bank
    4,353       9.23 %     1,887       ³4 %     2,359       ³5 %
                                                 
December 31, 2008:
                                               
Total capital to risk-weighted assets:
                                               
Consolidated
  $ 138,571       14.84 %   $ 74,725       ³8 %     n/a       n/a  
C&N Bank
    112,985       12.53 %     72,126       ³8 %   $ 90,158       ³10 %
First State Bank
    4,507       24.00 %     1,503       ³8 %     1,878       ³10 %
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets:
                                               
Consolidated
    130,714       13.99 %     37,362       ³4 %     n/a       n/a  
C&N Bank
    105,301       11.68 %     36,063       ³4 %     54,095       ³6 %
First State Bank
    4,334       23.08 %     751       ³4 %     1,127       ³6 %
Tier 1 capital to average assets:
                                               
Consolidated
    130,714       10.12 %     51,675       ³4 %     n/a       n/a  
C&N Bank
    105,301       8.51 %     49,492       ³4 %     61,866       ³5 %
First State Bank
    4,334       9.75 %     1,778       ³4 %     2,223       ³5 %

Management expects the Corporation and the subsidiary banks to maintain capital levels that exceed the regulatory standards for well-capitalized institutions for the next 12 months.  Planned capital expenditures are not expected to have a significantly detrimental effect on capital ratios.

Historically, the Corporation has paid cash dividends on common stock on a quarterly basis. The most recent quarterly cash dividend was $0.24 per share declared for the third quarter of 2009. Declaration of future dividends will depend on a number of factors, including capital requirements, regulatory limitations, operating results and financial condition and general economic conditions. Under guidance issued by the Federal Reserve, as a  bank holding company the Corporation is to consult the Federal Reserve before declaring dividends and is to strongly consider eliminating, deferring, or reducing dividends we pay to our shareholders if (1) net income available to shareholders for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid during that period, is not sufficient to fully fund the dividends, (2) the Corporation’s prospective rate of earnings retention is not consistent with capital needs and the Corporation’s overall current and prospective financial condition, or (3) the Corporation will not meet, or is in danger of not meeting, minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios.  This Federal Reserve guidance is relevant not only to dividends paid on common stock, but also to those payable in respect of our Series A Preferred Stock held by the U.S. Treasury.

42


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

INCOME TAXES
 
The Corporation recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. At September 30, 2009, the net deferred tax asset was $31,107,000, up from a balance of $16,389,000 at December 31, 2008.  The increase in net deferred tax asset in 2009 resulted mainly from OTTI losses on securities for financial reporting purposes, which are not currently deductible for federal income tax reporting purposes.  As presented in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements, the net deferred tax asset balance at September 30, 2009 attributable to realized securities losses was $30,343,000.
 
 
Management regularly reviews the Corporation’s deferred tax assets for recoverability based on history of earnings, expectations for future earnings and expected timing of reversals of temporary differences. Realization of deferred tax assets ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income, including taxable income in prior carryback years, as well as future taxable income.  Of the total deferred tax asset from realized losses on securities, a portion is from securities that, if the Corporation were to sell them, would be classified as capital losses for income tax reporting purposes.  The valuation allowance at September 30, 2009 reflects the excess of the tax benefit that would be generated from selling all of the capital assets, over the amount that could be realized from available carryback and offset against capital gains generated from 2006 through 2008.  Realization of the remaining $886,000 of tax benefits associated with capital assets is dependent upon realization of future capital gains.  After adjustment for the valuation allowance on capital assets, management believes the recorded net deferred tax asset at September 30, 2009 is fully recoverable.
 
The credit or provision for income tax for the 3-month and 9-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 is based on the Corporation’s estimate of the effective tax rate expected to be applicable for the full year.  The effective tax rates of 33.9% for the 3-month period ended September 30, 2009 and 35.5% for the 9-month period ended September 30, 2009 differ from the statutory rate of 35% principally because of the effects of tax-exempt interest income and recording the valuation allowance described above.  The effective tax rates of (26.0%) for the 3-month period ended September 30, 2008 and 20.5% for the 9-month period ended September 30, 2008 differ from the statutory rate of 35% principally because of the effects of tax-exempt interest income.

INFLATION

The Corporation is significantly affected by the Federal Reserve Board’s efforts to control inflation through changes in short-term interest rates. Beginning in September 2007, in response to concerns about weakness in the U.S. economy, the Federal Reserve lowered the fed funds target rate numerous times; in December 2008, it took the unusual step of establishing a target range of 0% to 0.25%. Also, the Federal Reserve has injected massive amounts of liquidity into the nation’s monetary system through a variety of programs.

The current low short-term rate environment and liquidity injections could, in the future, lead to inflationary pressures which would force the Fed to change course and begin raising rates, which management would expect to be adverse to the Corporation’s cost of funds and net interest margin. Although management cannot predict future changes in the rates of inflation, management monitors the impact of economic trends, including any indicators of inflationary pressures, in managing interest rate and other financial risks.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

This section provides a summary description of recent accounting standards that have significant implications (elected or required) within the consolidated financial statements, or that management expects may have a significant impact on financial statements issued in the near future.

On June 30, 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting pronouncement establishing the “FASB Accounting Standards Codification” (the “ASC”) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities.  The pronouncement was effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009, for most entities.  On the effective date, all non-SEC accounting and reporting standards were superceded.  The Corporation adopted this new accounting pronouncement for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009, as required, and adoption did not have any material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

43


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

In April 2009, the FASB issued new guidance impacting FASB ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly”).  FSP FAS 157-4 provides updated guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly.  The disclosures required by SFAS No. 157 are presented in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued new guidance impacting FASB ASC 320-10, “Investments – Debt and Equity Securities” (FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments”).  The guidance amends the other-than-temporary impairment guidance in U.S. GAAP for debt securities to make the guidance more operational and to improve the presentation and disclosure of other-than-temporary impairments on debt and equity securities in the financial statements. The FSP does not amend existing recognition and measurement guidance related to other-than-temporary impairments of equity securities.  The disclosures required by the FSP are presented in Notes 2 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements.

In January 2009, the FASB amended the guidance related to FASB ASC 325-40-35, “Investments – Other, Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets, Subsequent Measurement”.  The guidance permits the use of reasonable management judgment regarding cash flows to be received, consistent with the methodology employed for other debt securities provided in FASB ASC 320-10, “Investments – Debt and Equity Securities”, and other related guidance.  Effective in the first quarter of 2009, the Corporation has applied the provisions of the guidance in its evaluation of pooled trust-preferred securities. The Corporation’s analysis of pooled trust-preferred securities is discussed more fully in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, FASB established the guidance for FASB ASC 855, “Subsequent Events” (SFAS No. 165 “Subsequent Events”) which establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosures of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. In particular, this Statement sets forth the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements, and the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date.  SFAS 165 was effective for annual and interim financial statement periods ending after June 15, 2009, and did not have a significant impact on the Corporation’s financial statements.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

MARKET RISK

Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices of the Corporation’s financial instruments.  In addition to the effects of interest rates, the market prices of the Corporation’s debt securities within the available-for-sale securities portfolio are affected by fluctuations in the risk premiums (amounts of spread over risk-free rates) demanded by investors.

Management cannot control changes in market prices of securities based on fluctuations in the risk premiums demanded by investors, nor can management control the volume of deferrals or defaults by other entities on trust-preferred securities. However, management attempts to limit the risk that economic conditions would force the Corporation to sell securities for realized losses by maintaining a strong capital position (discussed in the “Stockholders’ Equity and Capital Adequacy” section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis) and ample sources of liquidity (discussed in the “Liquidity” section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis).

The Corporation’s two major categories of market risk are interest rate risk and equity securities risk, which are discussed in the following sections.

INTEREST RATE RISK

Business risk arising from changes in interest rates is an inherent factor in operating a bank. The Corporation’s assets are predominantly long-term, fixed rate loans and debt securities. Funding for these assets comes principally from shorter-term deposits and borrowed funds. Accordingly, there is an inherent risk of lower future earnings or decline in fair value of the Corporation’s financial instruments when interest rates change.

44


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

The Corporation uses a simulation model to calculate the potential effects of interest rate fluctuations on net interest income and the market value of portfolio equity. For purposes of these calculations, the market value of portfolio equity includes the fair values of financial instruments, such as securities, loans, deposits and borrowed funds, and the book values of nonfinancial assets and liabilities, such as premises and equipment and accrued expenses. The model measures and projects potential changes in net interest income, and calculates the discounted present value of anticipated cash flows of financial instruments, assuming an immediate increase or decrease in interest rates. Management ordinarily runs a variety of scenarios within a range of plus or minus 50-300 basis points of current rates.

The Corporation’s Board of Directors has established policy guidelines for acceptable levels of interest rate risk, based on an immediate increase or decrease in interest rates. The policy provides limits at +/- 100, 200 and 300 basis points from current rates for fluctuations in net interest income from the baseline (flat rates) one-year scenario. The policy also limits acceptable market value variances from the baseline values based on current rates. As indicated in the table, the Corporation is liability sensitive, and therefore net interest income and market value generally increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. The table shows that as of July 31, 2009, the changes in net interest income and changes in market value were within the policy limits in all scenarios. As of November 30, 2008, the changes in net interest income were within the policy limits in all scenarios, and changes in market value were within the policy limits in all scenarios except an immediate rate increase of 300 basis points.

In December 2007, the Corporation entered into repurchase agreements (borrowings) totaling $80 million to fund the purchase of investment securities. In addition to generating positive earnings from the spread of the return on the investment securities over the current cost of the borrowings, the transaction reduces the magnitude of the Corporation’s overall liability sensitive position. Specifically, the borrowings include embedded caps providing that, if 3-month LIBOR were to exceed 5.15%, the interest rate payable on the repurchase agreements would fall, down to a minimum of 0%, based on parameters included in the repurchase agreements.  The embedded cap on one of the $40 million borrowings expires in December 2010, and the embedded cap on the other $40 million borrowing expires in December 2012.

Three-month LIBOR has not exceeded 5.15% since the embedded caps were acquired; therefore, they have not affected interest expense to date. The 3-month LIBOR was 0.48% at July 31, 2009 and 2.22% at November 30, 2008.  Since the embedded caps are effective only when 3-month LIBOR exceeds 5.15%, the Corporation would be unable to realize an interest expense reduction in any scenario at July 2009 and would be unable to realize an interest expense reduction in any scenario at November 2008 except an immediate rate increase of 300 basis points.

The table that follows was prepared using the simulation model described above. The model makes estimates, at each level of interest rate change, regarding cash flows from principal repayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities and call activity on other investment securities. Actual results could vary significantly from these estimates, which could result in significant differences in the calculations of projected changes in net interest margin and market value of portfolio equity. Also, the model does not make estimates related to changes in the composition of the deposit portfolio that could occur due to rate competition, and the table does not necessarily reflect changes that management would make to realign the portfolio as a result of changes in interest rates.

45


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

TABLE XII – THE EFFECT OF HYPOTHETICAL CHANGES IN INTEREST RATES
July 31, 2009 Data
                               
(In Thousands)
         
Period Ending July 31, 2010
             
                                 
     
Interest
   
Interest
   
Net Interest
   
NII
   
NII
 
Basis Point Change in Rates
   
Income
   
Expense
   
Income (NII)
   
% Change
   
Risk Limit
 
                                 
 +300
    $ 73,938     $ 35,164     $ 38,774       -7.9 %     20.0 %
 +200
      71,187       30,293       40,894       -2.8 %     15.0 %
 +100
      68,121       26,476       41,645       -1.1 %     10.0 %
 0
      64,937       22,845       42,092       0.0 %     0.0 %
 -100
      61,670       20,945       40,725       -3.2 %     10.0 %
 -200
      59,214       20,458       38,756       -7.9 %     15.0 %
 -300
      57,430       20,232       37,198       -11.6 %     20.0 %

     
Market Value of Portfolio Equity
 
     
at July 31, 2009
       
                     
     
Present
   
Present
   
Present
 
     
Value
   
Value
   
Value
 
Basis Point Change in Rates
   
Equity
   
% Change
   
Risk Limit
 
                     
 +300
    $ 69,408       -37.1 %     45.0 %
 +200
      87,352       -20.9 %     35.0 %
 +100
      100,284       -9.2 %     25.0 %
 0
      110,391       0.0 %     0.0 %
 -100
      111,414       0.9 %     25.0 %
 -200
      118,843       7.7 %     35.0 %
 -300
      137,900       24.9 %     45.0 %

November 30, 2008 Data
                               
(In Thousands)
         
Period Ending November 30, 2009
       
                                 
     
Interest
   
Interest
   
Net Interest
   
NII
   
NII
 
Basis Point Change in Rates
   
Income
   
Expense
   
Income (NII)
   
% Change
   
Risk Limit
 
                                 
 +300
    $ 78,329     $ 40,471     $ 37,858       -12.3 %     20.0 %
 +200
      75,939       35,404       40,535       -6.2 %     15.0 %
 +100
      73,487       31,528       41,959       -2.9 %     10.0 %
 0
      71,031       27,839       43,192       0.0 %     0.0 %
 -100
      67,988       24,738       43,250       0.1 %     10.0 %
 -200
      64,702       22,465       42,237       -2.2 %     15.0 %
 -300       62,034       21,909       40,125       -7.1 %     20.0 %

     
Market Value of Portfolio Equity
 
     
at November 30, 2008
 
                     
     
Present
   
Present
   
Present
 
     
Value
   
Value
   
Value
 
Basis Point Change in Rates
   
Equity
   
% Change
   
Risk Limit
 
                     
 +300
    $ 54,899       -50.9 %     45.0 %
 +200
      74,010       -33.9 %     35.0 %
 +100
      92,314       -17.5 %     25.0 %
 0
      111,889       0.0 %     0.0 %
 -100
      126,637       13.2 %     25.0 %
 -200
      134,146       19.9 %     35.0 %
 -300
      145,401       30.0 %     45.0 %

46


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q

EQUITY SECURITIES RISK

The Corporation’s equity securities portfolio consists primarily of investments in stock of banks and bank holding companies.  The Corporation also owns some other stocks and mutual funds.

Investments in bank stocks are subject to risk factors that affect the banking industry in general, including credit risk, competition from non-bank entities, interest rate risk and other factors, which could result in a decline in market prices. Also, losses could occur in individual stocks held by the Corporation because of specific circumstances related to each bank. Most U.S. bank stock prices fell in value significantly during the past year.  As discussed further in the “Earnings Overview” section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis, the Corporation has recognized OTTI charges on bank stocks totaling $6,266,000 in the first nine months of 2009.

Table XIII presents quantitative data concerning the effects of a decline in fair value of the Corporation’s equity securities of 10% or 20%.  The data in Table XIII does not reflect the effects of any appreciation in value that may occur, nor does it present the Corporation’s maximum exposure to loss on equity securities, which would be 100% of their fair value as of September 30, 2009.

Equity securities held as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are presented in Table XIII.

TABLE XIII - EQUITY SECURITIES RISK
(In Thousands)
             
Hypothetical
   
Hypothetical
 
               
10%
   
20%
 
               
Decline In
   
Decline In
 
         
Fair
   
Market
   
Market
 
At September 30, 2009
 
Cost
   
Value
   
Value
   
Value
 
Banks and bank holding companies
  $ 8,472     $ 10,189     $ (1,019 )   $ (2,038 )
Other equity securities
    2,863       2,415       (242 )     (483 )
     Total
  $ 11,335     $ 12,604     $ (1,261 )   $ (2,521 )

               
Hypothetical
   
Hypothetical
 
               
10%
   
20%
 
               
Decline In
   
Decline In
 
         
Fair
   
Market
   
Market
 
At December 31, 2008
 
Cost
   
Value
   
Value
   
Value
 
Banks and bank holding companies
  $ 18,602     $ 16,864     $ (1,686 )   $ (3,373 )
Other equity securities
    2,803       1,986       (199 )     (397 )
     Total
  $ 21,405     $ 18,850     $ (1,885 )   $ (3,770 )

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Corporation’s management, under the supervision of and with the participation of the Corporation’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has carried out an evaluation of the design and effectiveness of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as of the end of period covered by this report.  Based upon that evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that all material information required to be disclosed in reports the Corporation files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

There were no significant changes in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

47


CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Legal Proceedings
The Corporation and the subsidiary banks are involved in various legal proceedings incidental to their business.  Management believes the aggregate liability, if any, resulting from such pending and threatened legal proceedings will not have a material, adverse effect on the Corporation’s financial condition or results of operations.

Risk Factors
The following additional risk factor is provided as a supplement to those previously disclosed in Item 1A of the Corporation’s Form 10-K filed March 6, 2009. There have been no other material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Corporation’s Form 10-K filed March 6, 2009.
 
Realization of Deferred Tax Asset – The Corporation recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. At September 30, 2009, the net deferred tax asset was $31.1 million, up from a balance of approximately $16.4 million at December 31, 2008. The increase in net deferred tax asset resulted mainly from other than temporary impairment losses on securities for financial reporting purposes, which are not currently deductible for federal income tax reporting purposes. The net deferred tax asset balance at September 30, 2009 attributable to realized securities losses was $30.3 million, exclusive of a valuation allowance of $886,000.
 
The Corporation regularly reviews deferred tax assets for recoverability based on history of earnings, expectations for future earnings and expected timing of reversals of temporary differences. Realization of deferred tax assets ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income, including taxable income in prior carryback years, as well as future taxable income. Of the total deferred tax asset from realized losses on securities, a portion is from securities that, if the Corporation were to sell them, would be classified as capital losses for income tax reporting purposes.  The valuation allowance at September 30, 2009 reflects the excess of the tax benefit that would be generated from selling all of the capital assets, over the amount that could be realized from available carryback and offset against capital gains generated from 2006 through 2008.  Realization of the remaining $886,000 of tax benefits associated with capital assets is dependent upon realization of future capital gains.  After adjustment for the valuation allowance on capital assets, management believes the recorded net deferred tax asset at September 30, 2009 is fully realizable; however, if management determines the Corporation will be unable to realize all or part of the net deferred tax asset, the Corporation would adjust the deferred tax asset, which would negatively impact earnings or increase the net loss.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 
c.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On August 21, 2008, the Corporation announced the extension and amendment of a plan that permitted the repurchase of shares of its outstanding common stock, up to an aggregate total of $10 million, through August 31, 2009. The Board of Directors authorized repurchase from time to time at prevailing market prices in open market or in privately negotiated transactions as, in management’s sole opinion, market conditions warrant and based on stock availability, price and the Corporation’s financial performance.  At August 31, 2009 the stock repurchase program expired. No repurchases were made in the third quarter 2009.

Pursuant to participation in the TARP Program, until January 16, 2012 (unless prior to that date, the Corporation has redeemed the preferred stock issued to the Treasury in whole or the Treasury has transferred all of the preferred stock to third parties) the Treasury’s consent is required for any repurchases of common stock, except for repurchases of shares in connection with employee benefit plans in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None

Other Information
None                      

48

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION – FORM 10-Q
 
Item 6. Exhibits
 
3. (i) Articles of Incorporation
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of
   
the Corporation's Form 8-K filed
   
September 21, 2009
     
3. (ii) By-laws
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of
   
the Corporation's Form 8-K filed September 21, 2009
     
4. Instruments defining the rights of security holders,
   
including indentures:
   
4.1 Certificate of Designation establishing the Series A
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of
Preferred Stock
 
the Corporation's Form 8-K filed
   
September 21, 2009
     
4.2 Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of
   
the Corporation's Form 8-K filed
   
January 22, 2009
     
11. Statement re: computation of per share earnings
 
Information concerning the computation of
   
earnings per share is provided in Note 3
   
to the Consolidated Financial Statements,
   
which is included in Part I, Item 1 of
   
Form 10-Q.
     
31. Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) certifications:
   
31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 
Filed herewith
31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
 
Filed herewith
     
32. Section 1350 certifications
 
Filed herewith

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
CITIZENS & NORTHERN CORPORATION
 
       
November 6, 2009
By:
/s/ Craig G. Litchfield
 
Date
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
       
November 6, 2009
By:
 /s/ Mark A. Hughes
 
Date
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
 

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