10-K
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015,
or
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
for the transition period from           N/A           to                                 .
Commission File Number: 0-23695
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation of organization)
 
04-3402944
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
131 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
02116
(Zip Code)
(617) 425-4600
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, par value of $0.01 per share
 
Nasdaq Global Select Market
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1934. YES o    NO x
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934. YES o    NO x
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 requirement for the past 90 days. YES x    NO o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendments to this Form 10-K. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) 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 x    NO o
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 definition of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12-b of the Exchange Act (Check one).
Large accelerated filer x
 
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer o
 (Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). YES o    NO x
As of June 30, 2015, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the shares of common stock held by nonaffiliates, based upon the closing price per share of the registrant's common stock as reported on NASDAQ, was approximately $776.8 million.
As of February 29, 2016, there were 75,744,445 and 70,396,856 shares of the registrant's common stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued and outstanding, respectively.
 


Table of Contents

BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
2015 FORM 10-K
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. These statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe Brookline Bancorp, Inc.'s (the "Company's") future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of the words "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "plan," "potential," "estimate," "project," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "expect," "target" and similar expressions. These statements include, among others, statements regarding the Company's intent, belief or expectations with respect to economic conditions, trends affecting the Company's financial condition or results of operations, and the Company's exposure to market, liquidity, interest-rate and credit risk.
Forward-looking statements are based on the current assumptions underlying the statements and other information with respect to the beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions of Management and the financial condition, results of operations, future performance and business are only expectations of future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the Company's forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, adverse conditions in the capital and debt markets; changes in interest rates; competitive pressures from other financial institutions; weakness in general economic conditions on a national basis or in the local markets in which the Company operates, including changes which adversely affect borrowers' ability to service and repay their loans and leases; changes in the value of securities and other assets in the Company's investment portfolio; changes in loan and lease default and charge-off rates; the adequacy of allowances for loan and lease losses; deposit levels necessitating increased borrowing to fund loans and investments; changes in government regulation; the risk that goodwill and intangibles recorded in the Company's financial statements will become impaired; and changes in assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements, as well as the other risks and uncertainties detailed in Item 1A, "Risk Factors." Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.
PART I
Item 1.    Business
General
Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, operates as a multi-bank holding company for Brookline Bank and its subsidiaries, Bank Rhode Island ("BankRI") and its subsidiaries, First Ipswich Bank ("First Ipswich") and its subsidiaries, and Brookline Securities Corp.
Brookline Bank, which includes its wholly-owned subsidiaries, BBS Investment Corp. and Longwood Securities Corp., and its 84.5%-owned subsidiary, Eastern Funding LLC ("Eastern Funding"), operates 25 full-service banking offices in the greater Boston metropolitan area. Brookline Bank was established as a savings bank in 1871 under the name Brookline Savings Bank. The Company was organized in November 1997 for the purpose of acquiring all of the capital stock of Brookline Savings Bank on completion of the reorganization of Brookline Savings Bank from a mutual savings bank into a mutual holding company structure and partial public offering. In 2002, the Company became fully public. In January 2003, Brookline Savings Bank changed its name to Brookline Bank.
On February 28, 2011, the Company acquired First Ipswich Bancorp, the holding company for First Ipswich, headquartered in Ipswich, Massachusetts. First Ipswich, which includes its wholly-owned subsidiaries, First Ipswich Insurance Agency and First Ipswich Securities II Corp. , operates 5 full-service banking offices on the north shore of eastern Massachusetts. In June 2012, the First National Bank of Ipswich changed its name to First Ipswich Bank.
On January 1, 2012, the Company acquired Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc., a Rhode Island corporation and holding company for BankRI, headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. BankRI, which includes its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Acorn Insurance Agency, BRI Realty Corp., Macrolease Corporation ("Macrolease"), and BRI Investment Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, BRI MSC Corp., operates 19 full-service banking offices in the greater Providence, Rhode Island area.
As a commercially-focused financial institution with 49 full-service banking offices throughout greater Boston, the north shore of Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, the Company, through Brookline Bank, BankRI and First Ipswich (individually and collectively, the "Banks"), offers a wide range of commercial, business and retail banking services, including a full complement of cash management products, on-line banking services, consumer and residential loans and investment services, designed to

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meet the financial needs of small- to mid-sized businesses and individuals throughout central New England. Specialty lending activities including equipment financing are focused primarily in the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area.
The Company focuses its business efforts on profitably growing its commercial lending businesses, both organically and through acquisitions. The Company's customer focus, multi-bank structure, and risk management are integral to its organic growth strategy and serve to differentiate the Company from its competitors. As full-service financial institutions, the Banks and their subsidiaries focus on the continued addition of well-qualified customers, the deepening of long-term banking relationships through a full complement of products and excellent customer service, and strong risk management. The Company's multi-bank structure retains the local-bank orientation while relieving local bank management of the responsibility for most back-office functions, which are consolidated at the holding company level. Branding and decision-making, including credit decisions and pricing, remain largely local in order to better meet the needs of bank customers and further motivate the Banks' commercial, business and retail bankers.
The Company, has, from time to time, acquired other business lines or financial institutions that it believes share the Company's relationship and customer service orientations and provide access to complementary markets, customers, products and services. The Company expanded its geographic footprint with the acquisitions of First Ipswich in February 2011 and BankRI in January 2012.
The Company's headquarters and executive management are located at 131 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 and its telephone number is 617-425-4600.
The loan and lease portfolio grew $172.9 million, or 3.6%, to $5.0 billion as of December 31, 2015 from $4.8 billion as of December 31, 2014. The Company's commercial loan portfolios, which are comprised of commercial real estate loans and commercial loans and leases, continued to exhibit growth. The $403.8 million increase in the commercial loan portfolios in 2015 was partially offset by a $303.3 million decrease in the indirect automobile portfolio due to the sale in the first quarter of 2015 of more than 90% of the indirect automobile portfolio. The Company's commercial loan portfolios, which totaled $4.0 billion, or 80.8% of total loans and leases, as of December 31, 2015, increased $403.8 million, or 11.1%, from $3.6 billion, or 75.4% of total loans and leases, as of December 31, 2014.
Total deposits increased $347.9 million, or 8.8%, to $4.3 billion as of December 31, 2015 from $4.0 billion as of December 31, 2014. Core deposits, which include demand checking, NOW, money market and savings accounts, increased 6.9% to $3.2 billion as of December 31, 2015. The Company's core deposits decreased as a percentage of total deposits to 74.7% as of December 31, 2015 from 76.1% as of December 31, 2014.
Throughout 2015, the Company added $7.4 million to its allowance for loan and lease losses and experienced net charge-offs of $4.3 million to bring the balance to $56.7 million as of December 31, 2015. The ratio of the allowance for loan and lease losses to total loans and leases was 1.14% as of December 31, 2015 compared to 1.11% as of December 31, 2014. Excluding the loans acquired from BankRI and First Ipswich, the ratio of the allowance for loan and lease losses related to originated loans and leases was 1.20% as of December 31, 2015 and 1.20% as of December 31, 2014 respectively. Nonperforming assets as of December 31, 2015 were $20.7 million, up from $15.2 million at the end of 2014. Nonperforming assets were 0.34% and 0.26% of total assets as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The Company's credit quality compares favorably to its peers, and remains a top priority within the Company.
Net interest income increased in 2015 $5.3 million, or 2.8%, to $194.4 million compared to $189.1 million in 2014. The net interest margin decreased 7 basis points to 3.54% in 2015 from 3.61% in 2014. Net income for 2015 increased $6.5 million, or 15.0%, to $49.8 million from $43.3 million for 2014. Basic and fully diluted earnings per common share ("EPS") increased to $0.71 for 2015 from $0.62 for 2014.
Competition
The Company provides banking alternatives in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island, metropolitan marketplaces, each of which is dominated by several large national banking institutions. Based on total deposits at June 30, 2015, the Company ranks eighteenth in deposit market share among bank holding companies in the Massachusetts market area and fifth in deposit market share among bank holding companies in the Rhode Island market area. The Company faces considerable competition in its market area for all aspects of banking and related service activities. Competition from both bank and non-bank organizations is expected to continue with the Company facing strong competition in generating loans and attracting deposits.
In addition to other commercial banks, the Company's main competition for generating loans includes savings banks, credit unions, mortgage banking companies, insurance companies, and other financial services companies. Competitive factors considered for loan generation include product offerings, interest rates, terms offered, services provided and geographic locations. Lending services for the Company are concentrated in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode

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Island, metropolitan areas, eastern Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, and other Rhode Island areas, while the Company's equipment financing activities are primarily concentrated in the greater New York and New Jersey metropolitan markets.
The Company's primary competitors for attracting deposits are savings banks, commercial banks, credit unions, and other non-depository institutions such as securities and brokerage firms and insurance companies. Competitive factors considered in attracting and retaining deposits include product offerings and rate of return, convenient branch locations and automated teller machines and online access to accounts. Deposit customers are generally in communities where banking offices are located.
Market Area and Credit Risk Concentration
As of December 31, 2015, the Company, through its Banks, operated 49 full-service banking offices in greater Boston, Massachusetts, and greater Providence, Rhode Island. The Banks' deposits are gathered from the general public primarily in the communities in which the banking offices are located. The deposit market in Massachusetts and Rhode Island is highly concentrated. Based on June 30, 2015 FDIC statistics, the five largest banks in Massachusetts have an aggregate market share of approximately 66%, and the three largest banks in Rhode Island have an aggregate deposit market share of approximately 73%. The Banks' lending activities are concentrated primarily in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island, metropolitan areas, eastern Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and other Rhode Island areas. In addition, the Company, through subsidiaries of Brookline Bank and BankRI, conducts equipment financing activities in the greater New York and New Jersey metropolitan area and elsewhere in the United States.
Commercial real estate loans. Multi-family and commercial real estate mortgage loans typically generate higher yields, but also involve greater credit risk. In addition, many of the Banks' borrowers have more than one multi-family or commercial real estate loan outstanding. The Banks manage this credit risk by prudent underwriting: conservative debt service coverage, and LTV ratios at origination, lending to seasoned real estate owners/managers, using reasonable capitalization ratios, cross-collateralizing loans to one borrower when deemed prudent, and limiting the amount and types of construction lending. As of December 31, 2015, the largest commercial real estate relationship in the Company’s portfolio was $57.0 million. Many of the Banks’ commercial real estate customers have other commercial borrowing relationships with the Banks.
Commercial loans and equipment leasing. Brookline Bank and First Ipswich originate commercial loans and leases for working capital and other business-related purposes, and concentrate such lending to companies located primarily in Massachusetts, and, in the case of Eastern Funding, in New York and New Jersey. BankRI originates commercial loans and lines of credit for various business-related purposes, for businesses located primarily in Rhode Island, and engages in equipment financing through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Macrolease, in New York and New Jersey.
Because commercial loans are typically made on the basis of the borrower's ability to make repayment from the cash flow of the business, the availability of funds for the repayment of commercial and industrial loans may be significantly dependent on the success of the business itself. Further, the collateral securing the loans may be difficult to value, may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business and may deteriorate over time. For this reason, these loans and leases involve greater credit risk. Loans and leases originated by Eastern Funding generally earn higher yields because the borrowers are typically small businesses with limited capital such as laundries, dry cleaners, fitness centers, convenience stores and tow truck operators. The Macrolease equipment financing portfolio is comprised of small- to medium-sized businesses such as fitness centers, restaurants and other commercial equipment. The Banks manage the credit risk inherent in commercial lending by requiring strong debt service coverage ratios; limiting loan-to-value ratios; securing personal guarantees from borrowers; limiting industry concentrations; franchisee concentrations and duration of loan maturities; and employing adjustable rates without interest rate caps. As of December 31, 2015, the largest commercial relationship in the Company’s portfolio was $21.5 million.
Indirect auto loans. As of December 2014, Management ceased the origination of indirect automobile loans. Until December 2014, most of Brookline Bank's indirect automobile loans were originated through automobile dealerships located in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. In March 2015, the Company made the decision and sold $255.2 million of the indirect automobile portfolio. As of December 31, 2015, the largest indirect automobile loan in Brookline Bank's portfolio was $42.0 thousand. For regulatory purposes, Brookline Bank's indirect automobile loan portfolio is not classified as "subprime lending". Prior to Management's decision to cease originating indirect automobile loans, Brookline Bank had in place policies and procedures for loan underwriting and monitoring. Brookline Bank continues to carefully monitor the remaining indirect auto loan portfolio performance and the effect of economic conditions on consumers and the automobile industry. First Ipswich and BankRI do not engage in indirect automobile lending.
Consumer loans. Retail customers of Brookline Bank and First Ipswich live and work in the Boston metropolitan area and eastern Massachusetts, are financially active and value personalized service and easy branch access. Retail customers of BankRI live and work throughout Rhode Island and value easy branch access, personalized service, and knowledge of local

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communities. The Banks' consumer loan portfolios, which include residential mortgage loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, and other consumer loans, cater to the borrowing needs of this customer base. Credit risk in these portfolios is managed by limiting loan-to-value ratios at loan origination and by requiring borrowers to demonstrate strong credit histories. As of December 31, 2015, the largest consumer relationship in the Company’s portfolio was $8.3 million.
Economic Conditions and Governmental Policies
Repayment of multi-family and commercial real estate loans is generally dependent on the properties generating sufficient income to cover operating expenses and debt service. Repayment of commercial loans and equipment financing loans and leases generally is dependent on the demand for the borrowers' products or services and the ability of borrowers to compete and operate on a profitable basis. Repayment of residential mortgage loans, home equity loans and indirect automobile loans generally is dependent on the financial well-being of the borrowers and their capacity to service their debt levels. The asset quality of the Company's loan and lease portfolio, therefore, is greatly affected by the economy.
Economic activity in the United States has shown continuous improvement since the latter half of 2009 after slowing significantly as a result of the 2008 financial crisis. According to the Department of Labor, the national unemployment rate peaked at 10.0% in October 2009. In December 2015, the unemployment rate was 5.0% nationally, down from 5.6% at the end of 2014.
The Company's primary geographic footprints are the Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island, metropolitan areas. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest employment sectors in both Massachusetts and Rhode island are, in order: education and health services; business and professional services; and trade; transportation and utilities, a sector that includes wholesale and retail trade. The unemployment rate in Massachusetts decreased to 4.7% in December 2015 from 5.5% in December 2014, slightly lower than the national average. The unemployment rate in Rhode Island decreased to 5.1% in December 2015 from 6.8% in December 2014, slightly higher than the national average.
Should there be any setback in the economy or increase in the unemployment rates in the Boston, Massachusetts, or Providence, Rhode Island, metropolitan areas, the resulting negative consequences could affect occupancy rates in the properties financed by the Company and cause certain individual and business borrowers to be unable to service their debt obligations.
The earnings and business of the Company are affected by external influences such as general economic conditions and the policies of governmental authorities, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "FRB"). The FRB regulates the supply of money and bank credit to influence general economic conditions throughout the United States of America. The instruments of monetary policy employed by the FRB affect interest rates earned on investment securities and loans and interest rates paid on deposits and borrowed funds. The rate-setting actions of the Federal Open Market Committee of the FRB have a significant effect on the Company's operating results and the level of growth in its loans and leases and deposits.
Personnel
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had 675 full-time employees and 43 part-time employees. The employees are not represented by a collective bargaining unit and the Company considers its relationship with its employees to be good.
Access to Information
As a public company, Brookline Bancorp, Inc. is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy and information statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Company makes available on or through its internet website, www.brooklinebancorp.com, without charge, its annual reports on Form 10-K, proxy, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The Company’s reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC are also available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . Press releases are also maintained on the Company’s website. Additional information for Brookline Bank, BankRI and First Ipswich can be found at www.brooklinebank.com, www.bankri.com and www.firstipswich.com, respectively. Information on the Company’s and any subsidiary's website is not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this Report.
The Company’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select MarketSM under the symbol “BRKL.”

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Supervision and Regulation
The following discussion addresses elements of the regulatory framework applicable to bank holding companies and their subsidiaries. This regulatory framework is intended primarily for the protection of the safety and soundness of depository institutions, the federal deposit insurance system, and depositors, rather than for the protection of shareholders of a bank holding company such as the Company.
As a bank holding company, the Company is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the FRB under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”), and by the Massachusetts Division of Banks (the “MDOB”) under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 167A. The FRB is also the primary federal regulator of the Banks. In addition, Brookline Bank and First Ipswich are subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the MDOB, and BankRI is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Banking Division of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (the “RIBD”).
The following is a summary of certain aspects of various statutes and regulations applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries. This summary is not a comprehensive analysis of all applicable law, and is qualified by reference to the applicable statutes and regulations.
Regulation of the Company
The Company is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the FRB, which has the authority, among other things, to order bank holding companies to cease and desist from unsafe or unsound banking practices; to assess civil money penalties; and to order termination of non-banking activities or termination of ownership and control of a non-banking subsidiary by a bank holding company.
Source of Strength
Pursuant to the BHCA, as amended by the Dodd-Frank Act, the Company is required to serve as a source of financial strength for the Banks in the event of the financial distress of the Banks. This provision of the Dodd-Frank Act codifies the longstanding policy of the FRB. This support may be required at times when the bank holding company may not have the resources to provide the additional financial support required by its subsidiary banks. In the event of a bank holding company’s bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a bank subsidiary will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment.
Acquisitions and Activities
The BHCA prohibits a bank holding company, without prior approval of the FRB, from acquiring all or substantially all the assets of a bank, acquiring control of a bank, merging or consolidating with another bank holding company, or acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of any voting shares of another bank or bank holding company if, after such acquisition, the acquiring bank holding company would control more than 5% of the voting shares of such other bank or bank holding company. Further, as a Massachusetts bank holding company, the Company must obtain the prior approval of the Massachusetts Board of Bank Incorporation to acquire ownership or control of more than 5% of any voting stock in any other banking institution, acquire substantially all the assets of a bank, or merge with another bank holding company.
The BHCA prohibits a bank holding company from engaging directly or indirectly in activities other than those of banking, managing or controlling banks or furnishing services to its subsidiary banks. However, a bank holding company may engage in and may own shares of companies engaged in certain activities that the FRB determines to be so closely related to banking or managing and controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto.
Limitations on Acquisitions of Company Common Stock
The Change in Bank Control Act prohibits a person or group of persons from acquiring “control” of a bank holding company unless the FRB has been notified and has not objected to the transaction. Under a rebuttable presumption established by the FRB, the acquisition of 10% or more of a class of voting securities of a bank holding company, such as the Company, with a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, would, under the circumstances set forth in the presumption, constitute the acquisition of control of a bank holding company. In addition, the BHCA prohibits any company from acquiring control of a bank or bank holding company without first having obtained the approval of the FRB. Pursuant to the BHCA, a company is deemed to have control of a bank or bank holding company in a number of ways including: if the company owns, controls or holds with power to vote 25% or more of a class of voting securities of the bank or bank holding company; controls in any manner the election of a majority of directors or trustees of the bank or bank holding company; or the

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FRB has determined, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that the company has the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of the bank or bank holding company.
Regulation of the Banks
Brookline Bank and First Ipswich are subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the FRB and the MDOB. BankRI is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the FRB and the RIBD. The enforcement powers available to federal and state banking regulators include, among other things, the ability to issue cease and desist or removal orders to terminate insurance of deposits; to assess civil money penalties; to issue directives to increase capital; to place the bank into receivership; and to initiate injunctive actions against banking organizations and institution-affiliated parties.
Deposit Insurance
Deposit obligations of the Banks are insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund and are subject to deposit insurance assessments to maintain the Deposit Insurance Fund. The Dodd-Frank Act permanently increased the FDIC deposit insurance limit to $250,000 per depositor for deposits maintained in the same right and capacity at a particular insured depository institution. The Federal Deposit Insurance Act (the “FDIA”), as amended by the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act and the Dodd-Frank Act, requires the FDIC to take steps as may be necessary to cause the ratio of deposit insurance reserves to estimated insured deposits - the designated reserve ratio - to reach 1.35% by September 30, 2020, and it mandates that the reserve ratio designated by the FDIC for any year may not be less than 1.35%. The FDIC utilizes a risk-based assessment system that imposes insurance premiums based upon a risk matrix that takes into account a bank’s capital level and supervisory rating (“CAMELS rating”). CAMELS ratings reflect the applicable bank regulatory agencies’ evaluation of the financial institution’s capital, asset quality, management, earnings, liquidity and sensitivity to risk. Assessment rates may also vary for certain institutions based on long-term debt issuer ratings, issuance of unsecured debt and levels of brokered deposits. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, deposit premiums are based on assets rather than insurable deposits. To determine their actual deposit insurance premiums, each of the Banks computes its base amount on its average consolidated assets less its average tangible equity (defined as the amount of Tier 1 capital) and its applicable assessment rate. The Company’s FDIC deposit insurance costs totaled $3.5 million in 2015. The FDIC has the power to adjust the assessment rates at any time.
Under the FDIA, the FDIC may terminate deposit insurance upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe and unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC.
Cross-Guarantee
Similar to the source of strength doctrine discussed above in “Regulation of the Company-Source of Strength,” under the cross-guarantee provisions of the FDIA, the FDIC can hold any FDIC-insured depository institution liable for any loss suffered or anticipated by the FDIC in connection with (i) the “default” of a commonly controlled FDIC-insured depository institution; or (ii) any assistance provided by the FDIC to a commonly controlled FDIC-insured depository institution “in danger of default.”
Acquisitions and Branching
The Banks must seek prior regulatory approval from the FRB to acquire another bank or establish a new branch office. Brookline Bank and First Ipswich must also seek prior regulatory approval from the MDOB to acquire another bank or establish a new branch office and BankRI must also seek prior regulatory approval from the RIBD to acquire another bank or establish a new branch office. Well capitalized and well managed banks may acquire other banks in any state, subject to certain deposit concentration limits and other conditions, pursuant to the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994, as amended by the Dodd-Frank Act. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act authorizes a state-chartered bank to establish new branches on an interstate basis to the same extent a bank chartered by the host state may establish branches.
Activities and Investments of Insured State-Chartered Banks
Section 24 of the FDIA generally limits the types of equity investments that FDIC-insured state-chartered banks, such as the Banks, may make and the kinds of activities in which such banks may engage, as a principal, to those that are permissible for national banks. Further, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (the “GLBA”) permits state banks, to the extent permitted under state law, to engage through “financial subsidiaries” in certain activities which are permissible for subsidiaries of a financial holding company. In order to form a financial subsidiary, a state-chartered bank must be well capitalized, and must comply with certain capital deduction, risk management and affiliate transaction rules, among other requirements.

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Brokered Deposits
Section 29 of the FDIA and federal regulations generally limit the ability of an insured depository institution to accept, renew or roll over any brokered deposit unless the institution’s capital category is “well capitalized” or, with regulatory approval, “adequately capitalized.” Depository institutions, other than those in the lowest risk category, that have brokered deposits in excess of 10% of total deposits will be subject to increased FDIC deposit insurance premium assessments. Additionally, depository institutions considered “adequately capitalized” that need regulatory approval to accept, renew or roll over any brokered deposits are subject to additional restrictions on the interest rate they may pay on deposits. As of December 31, 2015, none of the Banks had brokered deposits in excess of 10% of total deposits.
The Community Reinvestment Act
The Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) requires the FRB to evaluate each of the Banks with regard to their performance in helping to meet the credit needs of the communities each of the Banks serve, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound banking operations, and to take this record into consideration when evaluating certain applications. The FRB’s CRA regulations are generally based upon objective criteria of the performance of institutions under three key assessment tests: (i) a lending test, to evaluate the institution’s record of making loans in its service areas; (ii) an investment test, to evaluate the institution’s record of investing in community development projects, affordable housing, and programs benefiting low or moderate income individuals and businesses; and (iii) a service test, to evaluate the institution’s delivery of services through its branches, ATMs, and other offices. Failure of an institution to receive at least a “Satisfactory” rating could inhibit the Banks or the Company from undertaking certain activities, including engaging in activities permitted as a financial holding company under GLBA and acquisitions of other financial institutions. Each Bank has achieved a rating of “Satisfactory” on its most recent CRA examination. Both Massachusetts and Rhode Island have adopted specific community reinvestment requirements which are substantially similar to those of the FRB.
Lending Restrictions
Federal law limits a bank’s authority to extend credit to its directors, executive officers and holders of more than 10% of the Company's common stock, as well as to entities controlled by such persons. Among other things, extensions of credit to insiders are required to be made on terms that are substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons. Also, the terms of such extensions of credit may not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features and may not exceed certain limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons, individually and in the aggregate, which limits are based, in part, on the amount of the bank’s capital. The Dodd-Frank Act explicitly provides that an extension of credit to an insider includes credit exposure arising from a derivatives transaction, repurchase agreement, reverse repurchase agreement, securities lending transaction or securities borrowing transaction. Additionally, the Dodd-Frank Act requires that asset sale transactions with insiders must be on market terms, and if the transaction represents more than 10% of the capital and surplus of the bank, be approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the bank.
Capital Adequacy and Safety and Soundness
Regulatory Capital Requirements
The FRB has issued risk-based and leverage capital rules applicable to U.S. banking organizations such as the Company and the Banks. These guidelines are intended to reflect the relationship between the banking organization’s capital and the degree of risk associated with its operations based on transactions recorded on-balance sheet as well as off-balance sheet items. The FRB may from time to time require that a banking organization maintain capital above the minimum levels discussed below, due to the banking organization’s financial condition or actual or anticipated growth.
The capital adequacy rules define qualifying capital instruments and specify minimum amounts of capital as a percentage of assets that banking organizations are required to maintain. Common equity Tier 1 capital generally includes common stock and related surplus, retained earnings and, in certain cases and subject to certain limitations, minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries, less goodwill, other non-qualifying intangible assets and certain other deductions. Tier 1 capital for banks and bank holding companies generally consists of the sum of common equity Tier 1 elements, non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, and related surplus in certain cases and subject to limitations, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries that do not qualify as common equity Tier 1 capital, less certain deductions. Tier 2 capital generally consists of hybrid capital instruments, perpetual debt and mandatory convertible debt securities, cumulative perpetual preferred stock, term subordinated debt and intermediate-term preferred stock, and, subject to limitations, allowances for loan losses. The sum of Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital less certain required deductions represents qualifying total risk-based capital. Prior to the effectiveness of certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, bank holding companies were permitted to include trust preferred securities and cumulative perpetual

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preferred stock in Tier 1 capital, subject to limitations. However, the FRB’s capital rule applicable to bank holding companies permanently grandfathers nonqualifying capital instruments, including trust preferred securities, issued before May 19, 2010 by depository institution holding companies with less than $15 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2009, subject to a limit of 25% of Tier 1 capital. In addition, under rules that became effective January 1, 2015, accumulated other comprehensive income (positive or negative) must be reflected in Tier 1 capital; however, the Company was permitted to make a one-time, permanent election to continue to exclude accumulated other comprehensive income from capital. The Company has made this election.
Under the capital rules, risk-based capital ratios are calculated by dividing common equity Tier 1, Tier 1, and total risk-based capital, respectively, by risk-weighted assets. Assets and off-balance sheet credit equivalents are assigned to one of several categories of risk-weights, based primarily on relative risk. Under the FRB's rules, the Company and the Banks are each required to maintain a minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio requirement of 4.5%, a minimum Tier 1 capital ratio requirement of 6%, a minimum total capital requirement of 8% and a minimum leverage ratio requirement of 4%. Additionally subject to a transition schedule, these rules require an institution to establish a capital conservation buffer of common equity Tier 1 capital in an amount above the minimum risk-based capital requirements for "adequately capitalized" institutions equal to 2.5% of total risk weighted assets, or face restrictions on the ability to pay dividends, pay discretionary bonuses, and to engaged in share repurchases.
A bank holding company, such as the Company, is considered "well capitalized" if the bank holding company (i) has a total risk based capital ratio of at least 10%, (ii) has a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6%, and (iii) is not subject to any written agreement order, capital directive or prompt corrective action directive to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure. In addition, under the FRB's prompt corrective action rules, a state member bank is considered “well capitalized” if it (i) has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater; (ii) a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater; (iii) a common Tier 1 equity ratio of at least 6.5% or greater, (iv) a leverage capital ratio of 5.0% or greater; and (iv) is not subject to any written agreement, order, capital directive, or prompt corrective action directive to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure. The FRB also considers: (i) concentrations of credit risk; (ii) interest rate risk; and (iii) risks from non-traditional activities, as well as an institution’s ability to manage those risks. When determining the adequacy of an institution’s capital, this evaluation is a part of the institution’s regular safety and soundness examination. Each of the Banks is currently considered well-capitalized under all regulatory definitions.
Generally, a bank, upon receiving notice that it is not adequately capitalized (i.e., that it is “undercapitalized”), becomes subject to the prompt corrective action provisions of Section 38 of FDIA that, for example, (i) restrict payment of capital distributions and management fees, (ii) require that the FRB monitor the condition of the institution and its efforts to restore its capital, (iii) require submission of a capital restoration plan, (iv) restrict the growth of the institution’s assets and (v) require prior regulatory approval of certain expansion proposals. A bank that is required to submit a capital restoration plan must concurrently submit a performance guarantee by each company that controls the bank. A bank that is “critically undercapitalized” (i.e., has a ratio of tangible equity to total assets that is equal to or less than 2.0%) will be subject to further restrictions, and generally will be placed in conservatorship or receivership within 90 days.
The Banks are considered “well capitalized” under the FRB's prompt corrective action rules and the Company is considered “well capitalized” under the FRB's rules applicable to bank holding companies.
Safety and Soundness Standards
The FDIA requires the federal bank regulatory agencies to prescribe standards, by regulations or guidelines, relating to internal controls, information systems and internal audit systems, risk management, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate risk exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings, stock valuation and compensation, fees and benefits, and such other operational and managerial standards as the agencies deem appropriate. Guidelines adopted by the federal bank regulatory agencies establish general standards relating to internal controls and information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth and compensation, fees and benefits. In general, these guidelines require, among other things, appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risk and exposures specified in the guidelines. The guidelines prohibit excessive compensation as an unsafe and unsound practice and describe compensation as excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director or principal stockholder. In addition, the federal banking agencies adopted regulations that authorize, but do not require, an agency to order an institution that has been given notice by an agency that it is not satisfying any of such safety and soundness standards to submit a compliance plan. If, after being so notified, an institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan or fails in any material respect to implement an acceptable compliance plan, the agency must issue an order directing action to correct the deficiency and may issue an order directing other actions of the types to which an undercapitalized institution is subject under the “prompt corrective action” provisions of FDIA. See “Regulatory Capital Requirements” above. If an institution fails to comply with such an order, the agency may seek to enforce such order in judicial proceedings and to impose civil money penalties.

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Dividend Restrictions
The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Banks. The revenue of the Company (on a parent company only basis) is derived primarily from dividends paid to it by the Banks. The right of the Company, and consequently the right of shareholders of the Company, to participate in any distribution of the assets or earnings of the Banks through the payment of such dividends or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of the Banks (including depositors), except to the extent that certain claims of the Company in a creditor capacity may be recognized.
Restrictions on Bank Holding Company Dividends
The FRB has authority to prohibit bank holding companies from paying dividends if such payment is deemed to be an unsafe or unsound practice. The FRB has indicated generally that it may be an unsafe or unsound practice for bank holding companies to pay dividends unless the bank holding company’s net income for the prior year is sufficient to fund the dividends and the expected rate of earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. Further, the Company's ability to pay dividends will be restricted if it does not maintain the required capital conservation buffer. See “Capital Adequacy and Safety and Soundness-Regulatory Capital Requirements” above.
Restrictions on Bank Dividends
The FRB has the authority to use its enforcement powers to prohibit a bank from paying dividends if, in its opinion, the payment of dividends would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice. Federal law also prohibits the payment of dividends by a bank that will result in the bank failing to meet its applicable capital requirements on a pro forma basis. Payment of dividends by a bank is also restricted pursuant to various state regulatory limitations.
Certain Transactions by Bank Holding Companies with their Affiliates
There are various statutory restrictions on the extent to which bank holding companies and their non-bank subsidiaries may borrow, obtain credit from or otherwise engage in “covered transactions” with their insured depository institution subsidiaries. The Dodd-Frank Act amended the definition of affiliate to include an investment fund for which the depository institution or one of its affiliates is an investment adviser. An insured depository institution (and its subsidiaries) may not lend money to, or engage in covered transactions with, its non-depository institution affiliates if the aggregate amount of covered transactions outstanding involving the bank, plus the proposed transaction, exceeds the following limits: (i) in the case of any one such affiliate, the aggregate amount of covered transactions of the insured depository institution and its subsidiaries cannot exceed 10% of the capital stock and surplus of the insured depository institution; and (ii) in the case of all affiliates, the aggregate amount of covered transactions of the insured depository institution and its subsidiaries cannot exceed 20% of the capital stock and surplus of the insured depository institution. For this purpose, “covered transactions” are defined by statute to include a loan or extension of credit to an affiliate, a purchase of or investment in securities issued by an affiliate, a purchase of assets from an affiliate unless exempted by the FRB, the acceptance of securities issued by an affiliate as collateral for a loan or extension of credit to any person or company, the issuance of a guarantee, acceptance or letter of credit on behalf of an affiliate, securities borrowing or lending transactions with an affiliate that creates a credit exposure to such affiliate, or a derivatives transaction with an affiliate that creates a credit exposure to such affiliate. Covered transactions are also subject to certain collateral security requirements. Covered transactions as well as other types of transactions between a bank and a bank holding company must be on market terms and not otherwise unduly favorable to the holding company or an affiliate of the holding company. As of December 31, 2015, there were no such transactions. Moreover, Section 106 of the BHCA provides that, to further competition, a bank holding company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in certain tying arrangements in connection with any extension of credit, lease or sale of property of any kind, or furnishing of any service. As of December 31, 2015, there were no such transactions.
Consumer Protection Regulation
The Company and the Banks are subject to a number of federal and state laws designed to protect consumers and prohibit unfair or deceptive business practices. These laws include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Housing Act, Home Ownership Protection Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, as amended by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (the “FACT Act”), GLBA, Truth in Lending Act, the CRA, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, National Flood Insurance Act and various state law counterparts. These laws and regulations mandate certain disclosure requirements and regulate the manner in which financial institutions must interact with customers when taking deposits, making loans, collecting loans and providing other services. Further, the Dodd-Frank Act established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB"), which has the responsibility for making rules and regulations under the federal consumer protection laws relating to financial products and services. The CFPB also has a broad mandate to prohibit unfair or deceptive acts and practices and is specifically empowered to require certain disclosures to consumers and draft model

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disclosure forms. Failure to comply with consumer protection laws and regulations can subject financial institutions to enforcement actions, fines and other penalties. The FRB examines the Banks for compliance with CFPB rules and enforce CFPB rules with respect to the Banks.
Mortgage Reform
The Dodd-Frank Act prescribes certain standards that mortgage lenders must consider before making a residential mortgage loan, including verifying a borrower’s ability to repay such mortgage loan, and allows borrowers to assert violations of certain provisions of the Truth-in-Lending Act as a defense to foreclosure proceedings. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, prepayment penalties are prohibited for certain mortgage transactions and creditors are prohibited from financing insurance policies in connection with a residential mortgage loan or home equity line of credit. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act prohibits mortgage originators from receiving compensation based on the terms of residential mortgage loans and generally limits the ability of a mortgage originator to be compensated by others if compensation is received from a consumer. The Dodd-Frank Act requires mortgage lenders to make additional disclosures prior to the extension of credit, in each billing statement and for negative amortization loans and hybrid adjustable rate mortgages. Additionally, the CFPB’s qualified mortgage rule, (the “QM Rule”), requires creditors, such as the Banks, to make a reasonable good faith determination of a consumer's ability to repay any consumer credit transaction secured by a dwelling prior to making the loan. 
Privacy and Customer Information Security
The GLBA requires financial institutions to implement policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of nonpublic personal information about consumers to nonaffiliated third parties. In general, the Banks must provide their customers with an annual disclosure that explains their policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of such nonpublic personal information, and, except as otherwise required or permitted by law, the Banks are prohibited from disclosing such information except as provided in such policies and procedures. If the financial institution only discloses information under exceptions from the GLBA that do not require an opt out to be provided and if there has been no change in the financial institutions privacy policies and practices since its most recent disclosures provide to customers, an annual disclosure is not required to be provided by the financial institution. The GLBA also requires that the Banks develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program designed to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information (as defined under GLBA), to protect against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information and to protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer. The Banks are also required to send a notice to customers whose “sensitive information” has been compromised if unauthorized use of this information is “reasonably possible.” Most of the states, including the states where the Banks operate, have enacted legislation concerning breaches of data security and the duties of the Banks in response to a data breach. Congress continues to consider federal legislation that would require consumer notice of data security breaches. Pursuant to the FACT Act, the Banks must also develop and implement a written identity theft prevention program to detect, prevent, and mitigate identity theft in connection with the opening of certain accounts or certain existing accounts. Additionally, the FACT Act amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to generally prohibit a person from using information received from an affiliate to make a solicitation for marketing purposes to a consumer, unless the consumer is given notice and a reasonable opportunity and a reasonable and simple method to opt out of the making of such solicitations.
Anti-Money Laundering
The Bank Secrecy Act
Under the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”), a financial institution is required to have systems in place to detect certain transactions, based on the size and nature of the transaction. Financial institutions are generally required to report to the United States Treasury any cash transactions involving more than $10,000. In addition, financial institutions are required to file suspicious activity reports for any transaction or series of transactions that involve more than $5,000 and which the financial institution knows, suspects or has reason to suspect involves illegal funds, is designed to evade the requirements of the BSA or has no lawful purpose. The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA PATRIOT Act”), which amended the BSA, is designed to deny terrorists and others the ability to obtain anonymous access to the U.S. financial system. The USA PATRIOT Act has significant implications for financial institutions and businesses of other types involved in the transfer of money. The USA PATRIOT Act, together with the implementing regulations of various federal regulatory agencies, has caused financial institutions, such as the Banks, to adopt and implement additional policies or amend existing policies and procedures with respect to, among other things, anti-money laundering compliance, suspicious activity, currency transaction reporting, customer identity verification and customer risk analysis. In evaluating an application under Section 3 of the BHCA to acquire a bank or an application under the Bank Merger Act to merge banks or effect a purchase of assets and assumption of deposits and other liabilities, the applicable federal banking

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regulator must consider the anti-money laundering compliance record of both the applicant and the target. In addition, under the USA PATRIOT Act, financial institutions are required to take steps to monitor their correspondent banking and private banking relationships as well as, if applicable, their relationships with “shell banks.”
Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”)
The U.S. has imposed economic sanctions that affect transactions with designated foreign countries, nationals and others. These sanctions, which are administered by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), take many different forms. Generally, however, they contain one or more of the following elements: (i) restrictions on trade with or investment in a sanctioned country, including prohibitions against direct or indirect imports from and exports to a sanctioned country and prohibitions on “U.S. persons” engaging in financial or other transactions relating to a sanctioned country or with certain designated persons and entities; (ii) a blocking of assets in which the government or specially designated nationals of the sanctioned country have an interest, by prohibiting transfers of property subject to U.S. jurisdiction (including property in the possession or control of U.S. persons); and (iii) restrictions on transactions with or involving certain persons or entities. Blocked assets (for example, property and bank deposits) cannot be paid out, withdrawn, set off or transferred in any manner without a license from OFAC. Failure to comply with these sanctions could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the Company. As of December 31, 2015, the Company did not have any transactions with sanctioned countries, nationals, and others.
Regulation of Other Activities
Volcker Rule Restrictions on Proprietary Trading and Sponsorship of Hedge Funds and Private Equity Funds
The Dodd-Frank Act prohibits banking organizations, such as the Company and the Banks, from engaging in proprietary trading and from sponsoring and investing in hedge funds and private equity funds, except as permitted under certain limited circumstances, in a provision commonly referred to as the “Volcker Rule.” Under the Dodd-Frank Act, proprietary trading generally means trading by a banking entity or its affiliate for its trading account. Hedge funds and private equity funds are described by the Dodd-Frank Act as funds that would be registered under the Investment Company Act but for certain enumerated exemptions. The Volcker Rule restrictions apply to the Company, the Banks and all of their subsidiaries and affiliates.
Item 1A.    Risk Factors
Before deciding to invest in us or deciding to maintain or increase your investment, you should carefully consider the risks described below, in addition to the other information contained in this report and in our other filings with the SEC. The risks and uncertainties described below and in our other filings are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business. If any of these known or unknown risks or uncertainties actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be seriously harmed. In that event, the market price for our common stock could decline and you may lose your investment.
We operate in a highly regulated industry, and laws and regulations, or changes in them, could limit or restrict our activities and could have an adverse impact in our operations.
We and our banking subsidiaries are subject to regulation and supervision by the FRB. Our banking subsidiaries are also subject to regulation and supervision by state banking regulators and the FRB. Federal and state laws and regulations govern numerous matters affecting us, including changes in the ownership or control of banks and bank holding companies, maintenance of adequate capital and the financial condition of a financial institution, permissible types, amounts and terms of extensions of credit and investments, permissible non-banking activities, the level of reserves against deposits and restrictions on dividend payments. The FRB and the state banking regulators have the power to issue cease and desist orders to prevent or remedy unsafe or unsound practices or violations of law by banks subject to their regulation, and the FRB possesses similar powers with respect to bank holding companies. These and other restrictions limit the manner in which we and our banking subsidiaries may conduct business and obtain financing.
Our business is also affected by the monetary policies of the FRB. Changes in monetary or legislative policies may affect the interest rates that our banking subsidiaries must offer to attract deposits and the interest rates it must charge on loans, as well as the manner in which it offers deposits and makes loans. These monetary policies have had, and are expected to continue to have, significant effects on the operating results of depository institutions generally, including our banking subsidiaries.
As a highly regulated business, the laws, rules, regulations, and supervisory guidance and policies applicable to us are subject to regular modification and change. It is impossible to predict the competitive impact that any such changes would have on the banking and financial services industry in general, or on our business in particular. Such changes may, among other

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things, increase the cost of doing business, limit permissible activities, or affect the competitive balance between banks and other financial institutions. The Dodd-Frank Act instituted major changes to the banking and financial institutions regulatory regimes in light of government intervention in the financial services sector following the 2008 financial crisis. Other changes to statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations, or policies, or supervisory guidance could affect in enforcement and other legal actions by federal or state authorities, including criminal and civil penalties, the loss of FDIC insurance, revocation of a banking charter, other sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil money penalties, and/or reputational damage, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. See the "Supervision and Regulation" section of Item 1, "Business."
We have become subject to more stringent capital requirements.
The federal banking agencies issued a joint final rule, or the “Final Capital Rule,” that implemented the Basel III capital standards and established the minimum capital levels required under the Dodd-Frank Act. As of January 1, 2015 we are required to comply with the Final Capital Rule. The Final Capital Rule requires banks and bank holding companies to maintain a minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5% of risk-weighted assets, a minimum Tier 1 capital ratio of 6% of risk-weighted assets, a total capital ratio of 8% of risk-weighted assets, and a leverage ratio of 4%.  In addition, in connection with implementing the Final Capital Rule, the FDIC revised its prompt corrective action regulations for state nonmember banks to require a minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.5% of risk-weighted assets for a “well capitalized” institution and increased the minimum Tier 1 capital ratio for a “well capitalized” institution from 6% to 8%. Additionally, subject to a transition period, the Final Capital Rule requires banks and bank holding companies to maintain a 2.5% common equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer above the minimum risk-based capital requirements for adequately capitalized institutions to avoid restrictions on the ability to pay dividends, discretionary bonuses, and to engage in share repurchases. The Company and the Banks met these requirements as of December 31, 2015. The Final Capital Rule permanently grandfathered trust preferred securities issued before May 19, 2010 for institutions with less than $15 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2009, subject to a limit of 25% of Tier 1 capital. The Final Capital Rule increased the required capital for certain categories of assets, including high volatility construction real estate loans and certain exposures related to securitizations; however, the Final Capital Rule retained the previous capital treatment of residential mortgages. Under the Final Capital Rule, the Company was permitted to make a one-time, permanent election to continue to exclude accumulated other comprehensive income from capital. The Company has made this election. Implementation of these standards, or any other new regulations, may adversely affect our ability to pay dividends, or require us to reduce business levels or raise capital, including in ways that may adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.
We face significant legal risks, both from regulatory investigations and proceedings and from private actions brought against us.
From time to time we are named as a defendant or are otherwise involved in various legal proceedings, including class actions and other litigation or disputes with third parties. There is no assurance that litigation with private parties will not increase in the future. Actions against us may result in judgments, settlements, fines, penalties or other results adverse to us, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, or cause serious reputational harm to us. As a participant in the financial services industry, it is likely that we could continue to experience a high level of litigation related to our businesses and operations.
Our businesses and operations are also subject to increasing regulatory oversight and scrutiny, which may lead to additional regulatory investigations or enforcement actions. These and other initiatives from federal and state officials may subject us to further judgments, settlements, fines or penalties, or cause us to be required to restructure our operations and activities, all of which could lead to reputational issues, or higher operational costs, thereby reducing our revenue.
We may incur fines, penalties and other negative consequences from regulatory violations, possibly even inadvertent or unintentional violations.
We maintain systems and procedures designed to ensure that we comply with applicable laws and regulations. However, some legal/regulatory frameworks provide for the imposition of fines or penalties for noncompliance even though the noncompliance was inadvertent or unintentional and even though there was in place at the time systems and procedures designed to ensure compliance. For example, we are subject to regulations issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, or “OFAC,” that prohibit financial institutions from participating in the transfer of property belonging to the governments of certain foreign countries and designated nationals of those countries and certain other persons or entities whose interest in property is blocked by OFAC-administered sanctions. OFAC may impose penalties for inadvertent or unintentional violations even if reasonable processes are in place to prevent the violations. There may be other negative consequences resulting from a finding of noncompliance, including restrictions on certain activities. Such a finding may also damage our reputation as described below and could restrict the ability of institutional investment managers to invest in our securities.

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Our business may be adversely affected by conditions in the financial markets and by economic conditions generally.
Weakness in the U.S. economy may adversely affect our business. While in recent years there has been a gradual improvement in the U.S. economy, the outlook remains uncertain amid concerns about short- and long-term interest rates, debt and equity capital markets and financial market conditions generally. A deterioration of business and economic conditions could adversely affect the credit quality of our loans, results of operations and financial condition. Increases in loan delinquencies and default rates could adversely impact our loan charge-offs and provision for loan and lease losses. Deterioration or defaults made by issuers of the underlying collateral of our investment securities may cause additional credit-related other-than-temporary impairment charges to our income statement. Our ability to borrow from other financial institutions or to access the debt or equity capital markets on favorable terms or at all could be adversely affected by disruptions in the capital markets or other events, including actions by rating agencies and deteriorating investor expectations.
Deterioration in local economies or real estate market may adversely affect our business.
We primarily serve individuals and businesses located in the greater Boston metropolitan area, eastern Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. Our success is largely dependent on the economic conditions, including employment levels, population growth, income levels, savings trends and government policies, in those market areas. Weaker economic conditions caused by recession, unemployment, inflation, a decline in real estate values or other factors beyond our control may adversely affect the ability of our borrowers to service their debt obligations, and could result in higher loan and lease losses and lower net income for us.
If our allowance for loan and lease losses is not sufficient to cover actual loan and lease losses, our earnings may decrease.
We are exposed to the risk that our borrowers may default on their obligations. A borrower's default on its obligations under one or more loans or leases may result in lost principal and interest income and increased operating expenses as a result of the allocation of management time and resources to the collection and work-out of the loan or lease. In certain situations, where collection efforts are unsuccessful or acceptable work-out arrangements cannot be reached, we may have to write off the loan or lease in whole or in part. In such situations, we may acquire real estate or other assets, if any, that secure the loan or lease through foreclosure or other similar available remedies, and often the amount owed under the defaulted loan or lease exceeds the value of the assets acquired.
We periodically make a determination of an allowance for loan and lease losses based on available information, including, but not limited to, the quality of the loan and lease portfolio as indicated by loan risk ratings, economic conditions, the value of the underlying collateral and the level of nonaccruing and criticized loans and leases. Management relies on its loan officers and credit quality reviews, its experience and its evaluation of economic conditions, among other factors, in determining the amount of provision required for the allowance for loan and lease losses. Provisions to this allowance result in an expense for the period. If, as a result of general economic conditions, previously incorrect assumptions, or an increase in defaulted loans or leases, we determine that additional increases in the allowance for loan and lease losses are necessary, additional expenses may be incurred.
Determining the allowance for loan and lease losses inherently involves a high degree of subjectivity and requires us to make significant estimates of current credit risks and trends, all of which may undergo material changes. At any time, there are likely to be loans and/or leases in our portfolio that will result in losses but that have not been identified as nonperforming or potential problem credits. We cannot be sure that we will be able to identify deteriorating credits before they become nonperforming assets or that we will be able to limit losses on those loans and leases that are identified. We have in the past been, and in the future may be, required to increase our allowance for loan and lease losses for any of several reasons. State and federal regulators, in reviewing our loan and lease portfolio as part of a regulatory examination, may request that we increase the allowance for loan and lease losses. Changes in economic conditions or individual business or personal circumstances affecting borrowers, new information regarding existing loans and leases, identification of additional problem loans and leases and other factors, both within and outside of our control, may require an increase in the allowance for loan and lease losses. In addition, if charge-offs in future periods exceed the allowance for loan and lease losses, we will need additional increases in its allowance for loan and lease losses. Any increases in the allowance for loan and lease losses may result in a decrease in our net income and, possibly, our capital, and could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our loan and lease portfolios include commercial real estate mortgage loans and commercial loans and leases, which are generally riskier than other types of loans.
Our commercial real estate and commercial loan and lease portfolios currently comprise 80.8% of total loans and leases. Commercial loans and leases generally carry larger balances and involve a higher risk of nonpayment or late payment than residential mortgage loans. Most of the commercial loans and leases are secured by borrower business assets such as accounts receivable, inventory, equipment and other fixed assets. Compared to real estate, these types of collateral are more difficult to monitor, harder to value, may depreciate more rapidly and may not be as readily saleable if repossessed. Repayment of

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commercial loans and leases is largely dependent on the business and financial condition of borrowers. Business cash flows are dependent on the demand for the products and services offered by the borrower's business. Such demand may be reduced when economic conditions are weak or when the products and services offered are viewed as less valuable than those offered by competitors. Because of the risks associated with commercial loans and leases, we may experience higher rates of default than if the portfolio were more heavily weighted toward residential mortgage loans. Higher rates of default could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Environmental liability associated with our lending activities could result in losses.
In the course of business, we may acquire, through foreclosure, properties securing loans originated or purchased that are in default. Particularly in commercial real estate lending, there is a risk that material environmental violations could be discovered on these properties. In this event, we might be required to remedy these violations at the affected properties at our sole cost and expense. The cost of remedial action could substantially exceed the value of affected properties. We may not have adequate remedies against the prior owner or other responsible parties and could find it difficult or impossible to sell the affected properties. These events could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Competition in the financial services industry could make it difficult for us to sustain adequate profitability.
We face significant competition for loans, leases and deposits from other banks and financial institutions both within and beyond our local marketplace. Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources and higher lending limits than we do and may offer products and services that we do not, or cannot, provide. There is also increased competition by out-of-market competitors through the internet. The ability of non-banking financial institutions to provide services previously limited to commercial banks has intensified competition. Because non-banking financial institutions are not subject to the same regulatory restrictions as banks and bank holding companies, they can often operate with greater flexibility and lower cost structures. Securities firms and insurance companies that elect to become financial holding companies may acquire banks and other financial institutions. This may significantly change the competitive environment in which we conduct our business. As a result of these various sources of competition, we could lose business to competitors or could be forced to price products and services on less advantageous terms to retain or attract clients, either of which would adversely affect our profitability.
Market changes may adversely affect demand for our services and impact results of operations.
Channels for servicing our customers are evolving rapidly, with less reliance on traditional branch facilities, more use of online and mobile banking, and increased demand for universal bankers and other relationship managers who can service multiples product lines. We compete with larger providers who are rapidly evolving their service channels and escalating the costs of evolving the service process. We have a process for evaluating the profitability of our branch system and other office and operational facilities. The identification of unprofitable operations and facilities can lead to restructuring charges and introduce the risk of disruptions to revenues and customer relationships.
Changes to interest rates could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Our consolidated results of operations depend, on a large part, on net interest income, which is the difference between (i) interest income on interest-earning assets, such as loans, leases and securities, and (ii) interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowed funds. As a result, our earnings and growth are significantly affected by interest rates, which are subject to the influence of economic conditions generally, both domestic and foreign, to events in the capital markets and also to the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States and its agencies, particularly the FRB. The nature and timing of any changes in such policies or general economic conditions and their effect on us cannot be controlled and are extremely difficult to predict. An increase in interest rates could also have a negative impact on our results of operations by reducing the ability of borrowers to repay their current loan obligations, which could not only result in increased loan defaults, foreclosures and charge-offs, but also necessitate further increases to our allowances for loan losses. A decrease in interest rates may trigger loan prepayments, which may serve to reduce net interest income if we are unable to lend those funds to other borrowers or invest the funds at the same or higher interest rates.
Our securities portfolio performance in difficult market conditions could have adverse effects on our results of operations.
Unrealized losses on investment securities result from changes in credit spreads and liquidity issues in the marketplace, along with changes in the credit profile of individual securities issuers. Under GAAP, we are required to review our investment portfolio periodically for the presence of other-than-temporary impairment of our securities, taking into consideration current market conditions, the extent and nature of changes in fair value, issuer rating changes and trends, volatility of earnings, current analysts' evaluations, our ability and intent to hold investments until a recovery of fair value, as well as other factors. Adverse developments with respect to one or more of the foregoing factors may require us to deem particular securities to be other-than-temporarily impaired, with the credit-related portion of the reduction in the value recognized as a charge to our earnings.

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Subsequent valuations, in light of factors prevailing at that time, may result in significant changes in the values of these securities in future periods. Any of these factors could require us to recognize further impairments in the value of our securities portfolio, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations in future periods.
Wholesale funding sources may prove insufficient to replace deposits at maturity and support our operations and future growth.
We and our banking subsidiaries must maintain sufficient funds to respond to the needs of depositors and borrowers. To manage liquidity, we draw upon a number of funding sources in addition to core deposit growth and repayments and maturities of loans and investments. These sources include Federal Home Loan Bank advances, proceeds from the sale of investments and loans, and liquidity resources at the holding company. Our ability to manage liquidity will be severely constrained if we are unable to maintain access to funding or if adequate financing is not available to accommodate future growth at acceptable costs. In addition, if we are required to rely more heavily on more expensive funding sources to support future growth, our revenues may not increase proportionately to cover our costs. In this case, operating margins and profitability would be adversely affected. Turbulence in the capital and credit markets may adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition and the willingness of certain counterparties and customers to do business with us.
The soundness of other financial institutions could adversely affect us.
Our ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institutions.  Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty and other relationships.  We have exposure to many different counterparties, and we routinely execute transactions with counterparties in the financial industry, including brokers and dealers, other commercial banks, investment banks, mutual and hedge funds, and other financial institutions.  As a result, defaults by, or even rumors or questions about, one or more financial services institutions, or the financial services industry generally, could lead to market-wide liquidity problems and losses or defaults by us or by other institutions and organizations.  Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk in the event of default of our counterparty or client.  In addition, our credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held by us cannot be liquidated or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the financial instrument exposure due to us.  There is no assurance that any such losses would not materially and adversely affect our results of operations.
Damage to our reputation could significantly harm our business, including our competitive position and business prospects.
We are dependent on our reputation within our market area, as a trusted and responsible financial company, for all aspects of our relationships with customers, employees, vendors, third-party service providers, and others, with whom we conduct business or potential future business. Our ability to attract and retain customers and employees could be adversely affected if our reputation is damaged. Our actual or perceived failure to address various issues could give rise to reputational risk that could cause harm to us and our business prospects. These issues also include, but are not limited to, legal and regulatory requirements; properly maintaining customer and employee personal information; record keeping; money-laundering; sales and trading practices; ethical issues; appropriately addressing potential conflicts of interest; and the proper identification of the legal, reputational, credit, liquidity and market risks inherent in our products. Failure to appropriately address any of these issues could also give rise to additional regulatory restrictions and legal risks, which could, among other consequences, increase the size and number of litigation claims and damages asserted or subject us to enforcement actions, fines and penalties and incur related costs and expenses.
Our ability to service our debt and pay dividends is dependent on capital distributions from our subsidiary banks, and these distributions are subject to regulatory limits and other restrictions.
We are a legal entity that is separate and distinct from the Banks. Our revenue (on a parent company only basis) is derived primarily from dividends paid to us by the Banks. Our right, and consequently the right of our shareholders, to participate in any distribution of the assets or earnings of the Banks through the payment of such dividends or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of the Banks (including depositors), except to the extent that certain claims of ours in a creditor capacity may be recognized. It is possible, depending upon the financial condition of our subsidiary banks and other factors, that applicable regulatory authorities could assert that payment of dividends or other payments is an unsafe or unsound practice. If one or more of our subsidiary banks is unable to pay dividends to us, we may not be able to service our debt or pay dividends on our common stock. Further, as a result of the capital conservation buffer requirement of the Final Capital Rule, our ability to pay dividends on our common stock or service our debt could be restricted if we do not maintain a capital conservation buffer. A reduction or elimination of dividends could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and would adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. See Item 1, “Business-Supervision and Regulation-Dividend Restrictions” and “Business-Supervision and Regulation-Capital Adequacy and Safety and Soundness-Regulatory Capital Requirements.”

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To the extent that we acquire other companies, our business may be negatively impacted by certain risks inherent with such acquisitions.
We have acquired and will continue to consider the acquisition of other financial services companies. To the extent that we acquire other companies in the future, our business may be negatively impacted by certain risks inherent with such acquisitions. Some of these risks include the following:
The risk that the acquired business will not perform in accordance with Management's expectations;
The risk that difficulties will arise in connection with the integration of the operations of the acquired business with the operations of our businesses;
The risk that Management will divert its attention from other aspects of our business;
The risk that we may lose key employees of the combined business; and
The risks associated with entering into geographic and product markets in which we have limited or no direct prior experience.
We may be required to write down goodwill and other acquisition-related identifiable intangible assets.
When we acquire a business, a portion of the purchase price of the acquisition may be allocated to goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired determines the amount of the purchase price that is allocated to goodwill acquired. As of December 31, 2015, goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets were $148.5 million. Under current accounting guidance, if we determine that goodwill or intangible assets are impaired, we would be required to write down the value of these assets. We conduct an annual review to determine whether goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets are impaired. We conduct a quarterly review for for indicators of impairment of goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets. The Company's Management recently completed these reviews and concluded that no impairment charge was necessary for the year ended December 31, 2015. We cannot provide assurance whether we will be required to take an impairment charge in the future. Any impairment charge would have a negative effect on stockholders' equity and financial results and may cause a decline in our stock price.
Systems failures, interruptions or breaches of security and other cyber security risks could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to certain operational risks, including, but not limited to, data processing system failures and errors, cyber security breaches, inadequate or failed internal processes, customer or employee fraud and catastrophic failures resulting from terrorist acts or natural disasters.  We depend upon data processing, software, communication, and information exchange on a variety of computing platforms and networks and over the Internet, and we rely on the services of a variety of vendors to meet our data processing and communication needs.  Despite instituted safeguards, we cannot be certain that all of our systems are entirely free from vulnerability to attack or other technological difficulties or failures. Information security risks have increased significantly due to the use of online, telephone and mobile banking channels by clients and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, hackers, terrorists and other external parties. Our technologies, systems, networks and our clients’ devices have been subject to, and are likely to continue to be the target of, cyber-attacks, computer viruses, malicious code, phishing attacks or information security breaches that could result in the unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, misuse, loss or destruction of our or our clients’ confidential, proprietary and other information, the theft of client assets through fraudulent transactions or disruption of our or our clients’ or other third parties’ business operations. If information security is breached or other technology difficulties or failures occur, information may be lost or misappropriated, and services and operations may be interrupted. A security breach could result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws, financial loss to us or to our customers, loss of confidence in our security measures, significant litigation exposure, and harm to our reputation. While we maintain a system of internal controls and procedures, any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
We rely on other companies to provide key components of our business infrastructure.
Third party vendors provide key components of our business infrastructure such as internet connections, network access and core application processing. While we have selected these third party vendors carefully, we do not control their actions. Any problems caused by these third parties, including as a result of their not providing us their services for any reason or their performing their services poorly, could adversely affect our ability to deliver products and services to our customers or otherwise conduct our business efficiently and effectively. Replacing these third party vendors could also entail significant delay and expense.
Our internal controls, procedures and policies may fail or be circumvented.

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Management regularly reviews and updates our internal controls, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, however well-designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure or circumvention of the controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If our risk management framework does not effectively identify or mitigate our risks, we could suffer losses.
Our risk management framework seeks to mitigate risk and appropriately balance risk and return. We have established processes and procedures intended to identify, measure, monitor and report the types of risk to which we are subject, including credit risk, operations risk, compliance risk, reputation risk, strategic risk, market risk and liquidity risk. We seek to monitor and control our risk exposure through a framework of policies, procedures and reporting requirements. Management of our risks in some cases depends upon the use of analytical and/or forecasting models. If the models used to mitigate these risks are inadequate, we may incur losses. In addition, there may be risks that exist, or that develop in the future, that we have not appropriately anticipated, identified or mitigated. If our risk management framework does not effectively identify or mitigate our risks, we could suffer unexpected losses and could be materially adversely affected.
We may be unable to attract and retain qualified key employees, which could adversely affect our business prospects, including our competitive position and results of operations.
Our success is dependent upon our ability to attract and retain highly skilled individuals. There is significant competition for those individuals with the experience and skills required to conduct many of our business activities. We may not be able to hire or retain the key personnel that we depend upon for success. The unexpected loss of services of one or more of these or other key personnel could have a material adverse impact on our business because of their skills, knowledge of the markets in which we operate, years of industry experience and the difficulty of promptly finding qualified replacement personnel.
Our financial statements are based in part on assumptions and estimates, which, if wrong, could cause unexpected losses in the future.
Pursuant to accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., we are required to use certain assumptions and estimates in preparing our financial statements, including in determining loan loss and litigation reserves, goodwill impairment and the fair value of certain assets and liabilities, among other items. If assumptions or estimates underlying our financial statements are incorrect, we may experience material losses. See the "Critical Accounting Policies" section in Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
Changes in generally accepted accounting principles can be difficult to predict and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations.
Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. From time to time, the Financial Accounting Standards Board changes the financial accounting and reporting principles that govern the preparation of our financial statements. These changes can be hard to anticipate and implement, and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations.
Future capital offerings may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources or, if our or our banking subsidiaries' capital ratios fall below required minimums, we could be forced to raise additional capital by making additional offerings of debt, common or preferred stock, trust preferred securities, and senior or subordinated notes. Upon liquidation, holders of our debt securities and shares of preferred stock and lenders with respect to other borrowings will receive distributions of our available assets prior to the holders of our common stock. Additional equity offerings may dilute the holdings of our existing stockholders or reduce the market price of our common stock, or both. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Moreover, we cannot assure you that such capital will be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. Our inability to raise sufficient additional capital on acceptable terms when needed could adversely affect our businesses, financial condition and results of operations.
The market price and trading volume of our common stock may be volatile.
The market price of our common stock may be volatile. In addition, the trading volume in our common stock may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur. We cannot assure you that the market price of our common stock will not fluctuate or decline significantly in the future. Some of the factors that could negatively affect our share price or result in fluctuations in the price or trading volume of our common stock include:

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quarterly variations in our operating results or the quality of our assets;
operating results that vary from the expectations of Management, securities analysts and investors;
changes in expectations as to our future financial performance;
announcements of innovations, new products, strategic developments, significant contracts, acquisitions and other
material events by us or our competitors;
the operating and securities price performance of other companies that investors believe are comparable to us;
our past and future dividend practices;
future sales of our equity or equity-related securities; and
changes in global financial markets and global economies and general market conditions, such as interest rates, stock,
commodity or real estate valuations or volatility.
Anti-takeover provisions could negatively impact our stockholders.
Provisions of Delaware law and provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us or have the effect of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire control of us, even if an acquisition might be in the best interest of our stockholders.
Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.    Properties
The Company’s executive administration offices are located at 131 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts, which is owned by Brookline Bank, as well as its corporate operations center in Lincoln, Rhode Island, which is owned by BankRI, with other administrative and operations functions performed at several different locations. 
Brookline Bank conducts its business from 25 banking offices, 4 of which are owned and 21 of which are leased. Brookline Bank's main banking office is leased and located in Brookline, Massachusetts. Brookline Bank also has 2 remote ATM locations, both of which are leased. Eastern Funding conducts its business from leased premises in New York City, New York and in Melville, New York.
BankRI conducts its business from 19 banking offices, 6 of which are owned and 13 of which are leased. BankRI's main banking office, is leased and located in Providence, Rhode Island. BankRI also has 3 remote ATM locations, all of which are leased. Macrolease conducts its business from leased premises in Plainview, New York.
First Ipswich conducts its business from 5 banking offices, 1 of which is owned and 4 of which are leased. First Ipswich's main banking office, is owned and located in Ipswich, Massachusetts. First Ipswich also has 1 remote ATM location which is leased.
Refer to Note 13, "Commitments and Contingencies," to the consolidated financial statements for information regarding the Company's lease commitments as of December 31, 2015.
Item 3.    Legal Proceedings
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Company was not involved in any legal proceedings other than routine legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that those routine legal proceedings involve, in the aggregate, amounts that are immaterial to the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.

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PART II
Item 5.    Market for the Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
(a)
The common stock of the Company is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol BRKL. The approximate number of registered holders of common stock as of February 29, 2016 was 2,021. Market prices for the Company's common stock and dividends paid per quarter during 2015 and 2014 follow.
 
Market Prices
 
Dividend Paid
Per Share
 
High
 
Low
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
$
10.05

 
$
9.29

 
$
0.085

Second Quarter
11.54

 
10.10

 
0.090

Third Quarter
11.66

 
10.09

 
0.090

Fourth Quarter
11.89

 
10.19

 
0.090

2014
 
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
$
9.70

 
$
8.66

 
$
0.085

Second Quarter
9.63

 
8.83

 
0.085

Third Quarter
9.51

 
8.55

 
0.085

Fourth Quarter
10.15

 
8.56

 
0.085

Five-Year Performance Comparison
The following graph compares total shareholder return on the Company's common stock over the last five years with the the S&P 500 Index, the Russell 2000 Index and the SNL Index of Banks with assets between $5 billion and $10 billion. Index values are as of December 31 of each of the indicated years.


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At December 31,
Index
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 
2014
 
2015
Brookline Bancorp, Inc.
100.00

 
113.22

 
91.41

 
95.69

 
111.62

 
121.67

Russell 2000
100.00

 
126.86

 
121.56

 
141.43

 
196.34

 
205.95

SNL Bank $5B-$10B
100.00

 
108.48

 
107.66

 
126.64

 
195.38

 
201.25

S&P 500
100.00

 
115.06

 
117.49

 
136.30

 
180.44

 
205.14

The graph assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2010 in each of the Company's common stock, the S&P 500 Index, the Russell 2000 Index and the SNL Index of Banks with assets between $5 billion and $10 billion. The graph also assumes reinvestment of all dividends.
(b)
Not applicable.
(c)
There were no purchases made during the year ended December 31, 2015 by or on behalf of the Company of the Company's common stock. As of December 31, 2015, the Company was authorized to repurchase $10.0 million of total outstanding shares of the Company's common stock.

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Item 6.    Selected Financial Data
The selected financial and other data of the Company set forth below are derived in part from, and should be read in conjunction with, the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and Notes thereto presented elsewhere herein.
 
At or for the year ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
FINANCIAL CONDITION DATA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets (*)
$
6,042,338

 
$
5,800,948

 
$
5,325,651

 
$
5,147,450

 
$
3,299,417

Total loans and leases
4,995,540

 
4,822,607

 
4,362,465

 
4,175,712

 
2,720,821

Allowance for loan and lease losses
56,739

 
53,659

 
48,473

 
41,152

 
31,703

Investment securities available-for-sale
513,201

 
550,761

 
492,428

 
481,323

 
217,431

Goodwill and identified intangible assets
148,523

 
151,434

 
154,777

 
159,400

 
51,013

Total deposits
4,306,018

 
3,958,106

 
3,835,006

 
3,616,259

 
2,252,331

Core deposits (1)
3,218,146

 
3,011,398

 
2,900,338

 
2,605,318

 
1,446,659

Certificates of deposit
1,087,872

 
946,708

 
934,668

 
1,010,941

 
805,672

Total borrowed funds
983,029

 
1,126,404

 
812,555

 
853,969

 
506,919

Stockholders' equity (*)
667,485

 
641,818

 
614,412

 
612,013

 
504,006

Tangible stockholders' equity (*)(**)
518,962

 
490,384

 
459,635

 
452,613

 
452,993

Nonperforming loans and leases (2)
19,333

 
13,714

 
16,501

 
22,246

 
7,530

Nonperforming assets (3)
20,676

 
15,170

 
18,079

 
23,737

 
8,796

EARNINGS DATA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest and dividend income
$
226,910

 
$
218,482

 
$
206,384

 
$
213,200

 
$
140,535

Interest expense
32,545

 
29,414

 
30,166

 
35,832

 
30,336

Net interest income
194,365

 
189,068

 
176,218

 
177,368

 
110,199

Provision for credit losses
7,451

 
8,477

 
10,929

 
15,888

 
3,631

Non-interest income (*)
20,184

 
20,180

 
15,619

 
18,782

 
5,715

Non-interest expense (*)
125,377

 
129,160

 
122,442

 
119,858

 
62,907

Provision for income taxes (*)
29,353

 
26,286

 
20,664

 
22,523

 
20,581

Net income (*)
49,782

 
43,288

 
36,015

 
36,654

 
27,800

Operating earnings (**)
49,782

 
43,288

 
36,610

 
40,626

 
29,102

PER COMMON SHARE DATA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share - Basic (*)
$
0.71

 
$
0.62

 
$
0.52

 
$
0.53

 
$
0.47

Earnings per share - Diluted (*)
0.71

 
0.62

 
0.52

 
0.53

 
0.47

Dividends paid per common share
0.36

 
0.34

 
0.34

 
0.34

 
0.34

Book value per share (end of period) (*)
9.51

 
9.16

 
8.79

 
8.77

 
8.59

Tangible book value per share (*)(**)
7.39

 
7.00

 
6.58

 
6.49

 
7.72

Stock price (end of period)
11.50

 
10.03

 
9.55

 
8.50

 
8.44

PERFORMANCE RATIOS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest margin
3.54
%
 
3.61
%
 
3.64
%
 
3.85
%
 
3.76
%
Return on average assets (*)
0.85
%
 
0.78
%
 
0.70
%
 
0.73
%
 
0.91
%
Operating return on average assets (*)(**)
0.85
%
 
0.78
%
 
0.71
%
 
0.81
%
 
0.95
%
Return on average tangible assets (*)(**)
0.87
%
 
0.80
%
 
0.72
%
 
0.76
%
 
0.92
%
Operating return on average tangible assets (*)(**)
0.87
%
 
0.80
%
 
0.73
%
 
0.84
%
 
0.97
%
Return on average stockholders' equity (*)
7.57
%
 
6.86
%
 
5.84
%
 
6.04
%
 
5.55
%
Operating return on average stockholders' equity (*)(**)
7.57
%
 
6.86
%
 
5.94
%
 
6.69
%
 
5.81
%

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At or for the year ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
Return on average tangible stockholders' equity (*)(**)
9.80
%
 
9.06
%
 
7.84
%
 
8.28
%
 
6.17
%
Operating return on average tangible stockholders' equity (*)(**)
9.80
%
 
9.06
%
 
7.97
%
 
9.18
%
 
6.46
%
Dividend payout ratio (*)(**)
50.15
%
 
55.16
%
 
66.20
%
 
64.87
%
 
72.20
%
Efficiency ratio (4)(*)
58.44
%
 
61.73
%
 
63.83
%
 
61.11
%
 
54.27
%
GROWTH RATIOS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loan and lease growth (5)
3.59
%
 
10.55
%
 
4.47
%
 
53.47
%
 
20.74
%
Organic loan and lease growth (6)
3.59
%
 
10.55
%
 
4.47
%
 
11.73
%
 
11.72
%
Total deposit growth (5)
8.79
%
 
3.21
%
 
6.05
%
 
60.56
%
 
24.38
%
Organic deposit growth (6)
8.79
%
 
3.21
%
 
6.05
%
 
10.24
%
 
12.66
%
ASSET QUALITY RATIOS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loan and lease charge-offs as a percentage of average loans and leases
0.09
%
 
0.07
%
 
0.08
%
 
0.16
%
 
0.08
%
Nonperforming loans and leases as a percentage of total loans and leases
0.39
%
 
0.28
%
 
0.38
%
 
0.53
%
 
0.28
%
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets (*)
0.34
%
 
0.26
%
 
0.34
%
 
0.46
%
 
0.27
%
Total allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of total loans and leases
1.14
%
 
1.11
%
 
1.11
%
 
0.99
%
 
1.17
%
Allowance for loan and lease losses related to originated loans and leases as a percentage of originated loans and leases (**)
1.20
%
 
1.20
%
 
1.32
%
 
1.32
%
 
1.26
%
CAPITAL RATIOS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity to total assets (*)
11.05
%
 
11.06
%
 
11.54
%
 
11.89
%
 
15.28
%
Tangible equity ratio (*)(**)
8.81
%
 
8.68
%
 
8.89
%
 
9.07
%
 
13.95
%
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
9.37
%
 
9.01
%
 
9.36
%
 
9.44
%
 
14.37
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
10.91
%
 
10.55
%
 
11.01
%
 
10.85
%
 
15.91
%
Total risk-based capital ratio
13.54
%
 
13.24
%
 
12.15
%
 
11.83
%
 
17.05
%
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio (***)
10.62
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

_______________________________________________________________________________
(1)
Core deposits consist of demand checking, NOW, money market and savings accounts.
(2)
Nonperforming loans and leases consist of nonaccrual loans and leases.
(3)
Nonperforming assets consist of nonperforming loans and leases, other real estate owned and other repossessed assets.
(4)
The efficiency ratio is calculated by dividing non-interest expense by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income for the period.
(5)
Total growth is calculated by dividing the change in the balance during the period by the balance at the beginning of the period.
(6)
Organic growth is calculated by dividing the change in the balance during the period less the fair value of acquired loan and deposit balances at the date of acquisition by the balance at the beginning of the period.
(*)    Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in
accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer
to Note 10, "Other Assets".
(**)    Refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliation to GAAP.
(***)
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio is calculated by dividing common equity Tier 1 capital by risk-weighted assets. The ratio was established as part of the implementation of Basel III, effective January 1, 2015.


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Item 7.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Introduction
Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, operates as a multi-bank holding company for Brookline Bank and its subsidiaries; Bank Rhode Island ("BankRI") and its subsidiaries; First Ipswich Bank ("First Ipswich") and its subsidiaries; and Brookline Securities Corp.
As a commercially-focused financial institution with 49 full-service banking offices throughout greater Boston, the north shore of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the Company, through Brookline Bank, BankRI and First Ipswich (the “Banks”), offers a wide range of commercial, business and retail banking services, including a full complement of cash management products, on-line and mobile banking services, consumer and residential loans and investment services, designed to meet the financial needs of small- to mid-sized businesses and individuals throughout central New England. Specialty lending activities include equipment financing primarily in the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area.

The Company focuses its business efforts on profitably growing its commercial lending businesses, both organically and
through acquisitions. The Company’s customer focus, multi-bank structure, and risk management are integral to its organic
growth strategy and serve to differentiate the Company from its competitors. As full-service financial institutions, the Banks
and their subsidiaries focus on the continued acquisition of well-qualified customers, the deepening of long-term banking
relationships through a full complement of products and excellent customer service, and strong risk management.
The Company manages the Banks under uniform strategic objectives, with one set of uniform policies consistently applied by one executive management team. Within this environment, the Company believes that the ability to make customer decisions locally enhances Management's motivation, service levels and, as a consequence, the Company's financial results. As such, while most back-office functions are consolidated at the holding company level, branding and decision-making, including credit decisions and pricing, remain largely local in order to better meet the needs of bank customers and further motivate the Banks’ commercial, business and retail bankers.
The competition for loans and leases and deposits remains intense. While there are signs that the economy has improved in 2015, the Company expects the operating environment in 2016 to remain challenging. The volume of loan and lease originations and loan and lease losses will depend, to a large extent, on how the economy performs. Loan and lease growth and deposit growth are also greatly influenced by the rate-setting actions of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”). The low interest rate environment has had and may continue to have a negative impact on the Company's yields and net interest margin. Conversely, rising rates in the future could cause changes in the mix and volume of the Company's deposits and make it more difficult for certain borrowers to be eligible for new loans or leases or to service their existing debt. The future operating results of the Company will depend on its ability to maintain net interest margin, while minimizing exposure to credit risk, along with increasing sources of non-interest income, while controlling the growth of non-interest or operating expenses.
The Company and the Banks are supervised, examined and regulated by the FRB. As a Massachusetts-chartered savings bank and trust company, respectively, Brookline Bank and First Ipswich are also subject to regulation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Division of Banks. As a Rhode Island-chartered financial institution, BankRI is also subject to regulation under the laws of the State of Rhode Island and the jurisdiction of the Banking Division of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") continues to insure each of the Banks’ deposits up to $250,000 per depositor. Additionally, as a Massachusetts-chartered savings bank, Brookline Bank is also insured by the Depositors Insurance Fund (“DIF”), a private industry-sponsored company. The DIF insures savings bank deposits in excess of the FDIC insurance limits. As such, Brookline Bank offers 100% insurance on all deposits as a result of a combination of insurance from the FDIC and the DIF.
The Company’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select MarketSM under the symbol “BRKL.”
Executive Overview
Growth
Total assets of $6.0 billion as of December 31, 2015 increased $241.4 million, or 4.2%, from December 31, 2014. The increase was primarily driven by increases in investment securities and loans and leases, partly offset by decreases in cash and cash equivalents.
Total loans and leases of $5.0 billion as of December 31, 2015 increased $172.9 million, or 3.6%, from December 31, 2014. The Company's commercial loan portfolios, which are comprised of commercial real estate loans and commercial loans and leases, continued to exhibit growth. The Company's commercial loan portfolios, which totaled $4.0 billion, or 80.8%, of

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total loans and leases as of December 31, 2015, increased $403.8 million, or 11.1%, from $3.6 billion, or 75.4% of total loans and leases, as of December 31, 2014. The $403.8 million increase in the commercial loan portfolios was partially offset by the $303.3 million decrease in the indirect automobile portfolio in 2015 due to the sale during the first quarter of 2015 of over 90% of the indirect automobile portfolio.
Total deposits of to $4.3 billion as of December 31, 2015 increased $347.9 million, or 8.8%, from $4.0 billion as of December 31, 2014. Core deposits, which include demand checking, NOW, money market and savings accounts, increased to $3.2 billion to 6.9% as of December 31, 2015.
Asset Quality
The ratio of the allowance for loan and lease losses to total loans and leases was 1.14% as of December 31, 2015, compared to 1.11% as of December 31, 2014. The allowance for loan and lease losses related to originated loans and leases as a percentage of the total originated loan and lease portfolio, was 1.20% as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. The Company continued to employ its historical ALLL methodology and in the third quarter 2014, incorporated a loss emergence period ("LEP") to its ALLL methodology. The LEP incorporates a study of the time period from the first indication of elevated risk of repayment (or other early event indicating a problem) to eventual charge-off to support the LEP considered in the ALLL calculation. During the third quarter of 2015, the Company enhanced and refined its general allowance methodology to provide further quantification of probable losses in the portfolio. Under this enhanced methodology, Management combined the historical loss histories of the Banks to generate a single set of ratios.
Nonperforming assets as of December 31, 2015 totaled $20.7 million, or 0.34% of total assets, compared to $15.2 million, or 0.26% of total assets, as of December 31, 2014. Net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2015 were $4.3 million, or 0.09% of average loans and leases, compared to $3.1 million, or 0.07%, for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Capital Strength
The Company is a "well-capitalized" bank holding company as defined in the Federal Reserve Board's Regulation Y. The Company's common equity tier 1 capital ratio was 10.62% as of December 31, 2015. Common equity tier 1 capital ratio is calculated by dividing common equity Tier 1 capital by risk-weighted assets. The ratio was established as part of the implementation of Basel III, effective January 1, 2015. The Company's Tier 1 leverage ratio was 9.37% as of December 31, 2015, up from 9.01% as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, the Company's Tier 1 risk-based ratio was 10.91% as of December 31, 2015, compared to 10.55% as of December 31, 2014. The Company's Total risk-based ratio was 13.54% as of December 31, 2015, compared to 13.24% as of December 31, 2014. The ratio of stockholders' equity to total assets was 11.05% and 11.06% as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The Company's tangible equity ratio was 8.81% and 8.68% as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
Net Income
For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company reported net income of $49.8 million, or $0.71 per basic and diluted share, an increase of $6.5 million, or 15.0%, from $43.3 million, or $0.62 per basic and diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in net income is primarily the result of an increase in net interest income of $5.3 million, a decrease in the provision for credit losses of $1.0 million, a decrease in non-interest expense of $3.8 million offset by an increase in provision for income taxes of $3.1 million.
The return on average assets was 0.85% for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to 0.78% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The return on average stockholders' equity was 7.57% for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to 6.86% for the year ended December 31, 2014.
The net interest margin was 3.54% for the year ended December 31, 2015 down from 3.61% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The compression in the net interest margin is a result of a decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets by 7 basis points to 4.12% in 2015 from 4.19% in 2014, and an increase of 3 basis points in the Company's overall cost of funds to 0.63% in 2015 from 0.60% in 2014. The decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets was largely due to continued rate pressures on the loan portfolio. The Company continued to experience competitive pressure in all categories in 2015 including the continuation of a low interest-rate environment and the Company's diminishing ability to reduce its costs, all of which contributed to the decline in the net interest margin.  Despite these challenges, the Company’s net interest income increased $5.3 million due to growth in interest earning assets and a shift in the mix of those assets from lower yielding indirect auto loans to higher yielding commercial loans.
Results for 2015 included a $7.5 million provision for credit losses, discussed in the "Allowance for Credit Losses—Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses" section below.

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Non-interest income remained consistent at $20.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. Several factors contributed to the year over year increase, including an increase of $2.5 million in loan level derivative income, an increase of $0.6 million in gain on sales of loans and leases held-for-sale, offset by a decrease of $1.5 million in gain on sale of premises and equipment, and a decrease of $1.7 million in other non-interest income.
Non-interest expense decreased $3.8 million, to $125.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $129.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease was largely attributable to a decrease of $2.2 million in equipment and data processing, a decrease of $1.2 million in professional services, and a decrease of $0.5 million in compensation and employee benefit expense.
Critical Accounting Policies
The accounting policies described below are considered critical to understanding the Company's financial condition and operating results. Such accounting policies are considered to be especially important because they involve a higher degree of complexity and require Management to make difficult and subjective judgments which often require assumptions or estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. The use of different judgments, assumptions and estimates could result in material differences in the Company's operating results or financial condition.
Investment Securities
Investment securities classified as available-for-sale are carried at estimated fair value, with any unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in stockholders' equity. Debt securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as "held-to-maturity" and are carried at amortized cost.
The market values of the Company's investment securities, particularly its fixed-rate securities, are affected by changes in market interest rates as determined by the term structure of risk-free rates and the credit spreads associated with different investment categories. In general, as interest rates rise, the fair value of fixed-rate securities will decrease; as interest rates fall, the fair value of fixed-rate securities will increase. On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews and evaluates fair value based on market data obtained from independent sources or, in the absence of active market data, from model-derived valuations based on market assumptions. If the Company deems any decline to be other-than-temporary, the amount of impairment loss recorded in earnings for a debt security is the entire difference between the security's cost and its fair value if the Company intends to sell the debt security prior to recovery or it is more likely than not that the Company will have to sell the debt security prior to recovery. If, however, the Company does not intend to sell the debt security or it concludes that it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the debt security prior to recovery, the credit loss component of an other-than-temporary impairment of a debt security is recognized as a charge to earnings and the remaining portion of the impairment loss is recognized as a reduction in comprehensive income. The credit loss component of an other-than-temporary loss is determined based on the Company's best estimate of cash flows expected to be collected. There were no impairment losses charged to earnings in 2015, 2014 and 2013.
See Note 21, "Fair Value of Financial Instruments" to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on how Management determines the fair value of its financial instruments.
Acquired Loans
Loans that the Company acquired are initially recorded at fair value with no carryover of the related allowance for loan and lease losses. Determining the fair value of the acquired loans involves estimating the amount and timing of principal and interest cash flows initially expected to be collected on the loans and discounting those cash flows at an appropriate market rate of interest. The Company continues to evaluate the reasonableness of expectations for the timing and the amount of cash to be collected. Subsequent decreases in expected cash flows may result in changes in the amortization or accretion of fair market value adjustments, and in some cases may result in a loan being considered impaired.
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
The allowance for loan and lease losses represents Management's estimate of probable losses inherent in the loan and lease portfolio. Additions to the allowance for loan and lease losses are made by charges to the provision for credit losses. Losses on loans and leases are deducted from the allowance when all or a portion of a loan or lease is considered uncollectable. The determination of the loans on which full collectability is not reasonably assured, the estimates of the fair value of the underlying collateral, and the assessment of economic and other conditions are subject to assumptions and judgments by Management. Valuation allowances could differ materially as a result of changes in, or different interpretations of, these assumptions and judgments.

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Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance on a quarterly basis and reviews its conclusion as to the amount to be established with the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors.
See Note 7, "Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses," to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on how Management determines the balance of the allowance for loan and lease losses for each portfolio and class of loans.
Goodwill
Goodwill is presumed to have an indefinite useful life and is tested at least annually for impairment. Impairment exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. If fair value exceeds the carrying amount at the time of testing, goodwill is not considered impaired. Quoted market prices in active markets are the best evidence of fair value and are considered to be used as the basis for measurement, when available. Other acceptable valuation methods include present-value measurements based on multiples of earnings or revenues, or similar performance measures. Differences in valuation techniques could result in materially different evaluations of impairment. In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2011-08 which provides guidance for companies when testing goodwill for impairment. The objective of the ASU is to simplify how entities test goodwill for impairment. Pursuant to the ASU, entities may now assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50%.
To determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, an entity should consider the extent to which each of the adverse events or circumstances identified could affect the comparison of a reporting unit's fair value with its carrying amount.
Pursuant to the ASU, an entity should place more weight on the events and circumstances that have the greatest impact on a reporting unit's fair value or the carrying amount of its net assets; and may affect its determination of whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount.
Qualitative factors that have been assessed to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount including goodwill: general economic conditions, regulatory environment, share price, real estate values, lending concentrations, interest-rate environment, asset quality, capital, financial performance, integration of acquired companies and conversion to a new data processing system.
The Company has evaluated the qualitative factors discussed above and assessed the effect identified adverse events or circumstances could have, and based on this analysis has concluded there was no indication of goodwill impairment as of December 31, 2015. Further analysis of the Company’s goodwill can be found in Note 9 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” within notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Identified Intangible Assets
Identified intangible assets are assets resulting from acquisitions that are being amortized over their estimated useful lives. The recoverability of identified intangible assets is evaluated for impairment at least annually. If impairment is deemed to have occurred, the amount of impairment is charged to expense when identified.
Income Taxes
Certain areas of accounting for income taxes require Management's judgment, including determining the expected realization of deferred tax assets and the adequacy of liabilities for uncertain tax positions. Judgments are made regarding various tax positions, which are often subjective and involve assumptions about items that are inherently uncertain. If actual factors and conditions differ materially from estimates made by Management, the actual realization of the net deferred tax assets or liabilities for uncertain tax positions could vary materially from the amounts previously recorded.
Deferred tax assets arise from items that may be claimed as a tax deduction or credit in future income tax returns, for which a financial statement tax benefit has been recognized. The Company’s realization of the deferred tax asset depends upon future levels of its taxable income and the existence of prior years' taxable income for which claims for refunds can be carried back. Where necessary, valuation allowances are recorded against those deferred tax assets which a Company has determined will not be realized. Deferred tax liabilities represent items that will require a future tax payment. Deferred tax liabilities generally represent tax expense recognized in the Company's financial statements for which payment has been deferred, or a deduction claimed on the Company's tax return but not yet recognized as an expense in the Company's financial statements. Deferred tax liabilities are also recognized for certain non-cash items such as goodwill.
Recent Accounting Developments

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See Note 1, “Basis of Presentation” within notes to the consolidated financial statements for information regarding recent accounting developments.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliation to GAAP
In addition to evaluating the Company's results of operations in accordance with GAAP, Management periodically supplements this evaluation with an analysis of certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as operating earnings metrics, the return on tangible assets or equity, the tangible equity ratio, tangible book value per share, dividend payout ratio and the ratio of the allowance for loan and lease losses related to originated loans and leases as a percentage of originated loans and leases. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors for understanding the Company's underlying operating performance and trends. These non-GAAP financial measures may also aid investors in facilitating comparisons with the performance assessment of the Company's financial performance, including non-interest expense control, while the tangible equity ratio and tangible book value per share are used to analyze the relative strength of the Company's capital position.
In light of diversity in presentation among financial institutions, the methodologies used by the Company for determining the non-GAAP financial measures discussed above may differ from those used by other financial institutions.
Operating Earnings
Operating earnings exclude compensation-related and acquisition-related items from net income. By excluding such items, the Company's results can be measured and assessed on a more consistent basis from period to period. Items excluded from operating earnings are also excluded when calculating the operating return and operating efficiency ratios.
The following table summarizes the Company's operating earnings and operating earnings per share ("EPS") as of the dates indicated:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015

2014

2013

2012

2011
 
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
Net income, as reported*
$
49,782

 
$
43,288

 
$
36,015

 
$
36,654

 
$
27,800

Adjustments to arrive at operating earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation-related expenses (1)

 

 
911

 

 

Acquisition-related expenses (2)

 

 

 
5,396

 
2,201

Total pre-tax adjustments

 

 
911

 
5,396

 
2,201

Tax effect:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation-related expenses (1)

 

 
(316
)
 

 

Acquisition-related expenses (2)

 

 

 
(1,424
)
 
(899
)
Total adjustments, net of tax

 

 
595

 
3,972

 
1,302

Operating earnings*
$
49,782

 
$
43,288

 
$
36,610

 
$
40,626

 
$
29,102

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share, as reported*
$
0.71

 
$
0.62

 
$
0.52

 
$
0.53

 
$
0.47

Adjustments to arrive at operating earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation-related expenses (1)

 

 
0.01

 

 

Acquisition-related expenses (2)

 

 

 
0.06

 
0.02

Total adjustments per share

 

 
0.01

 
0.06

 
0.02

Operating earnings per share*
$
0.71

 
$
0.62

 
$
0.53

 
$
0.59

 
$
0.49

(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".
(1) Compensation-related expenses include expense related to the departure of the Company's Chief Financial Officer in 2013.
(2) Acquisition-related expenses include expenses related to the acquisition of BankRI in January 2012 and First Ipswich in February 2011.




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The following table summarizes the Company's operating return on average assets, operating return on average tangible assets, operating return on average stockholders' equity and operating return on average tangible stockholders' equity as of the dates indicated:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015

2014

2013

2012

2011
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Operating earnings (*)
$
49,782

 
$
43,288

 
$
36,610

 
$
40,626

 
$
29,102

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average total assets (*)
$
5,840,749

 
$
5,556,224

 
$
5,174,232

 
$
4,992,952

 
$
3,062,151

Less: Average goodwill and average identified intangible assets, net
150,020

 
153,170

 
157,187

 
164,301

 
50,876

Average tangible assets (*)
$
5,690,729

 
$
5,403,054

 
$
5,017,045

 
$
4,828,651

 
$
3,011,275

 


 


 


 


 


Operating return on average assets (*)
0.85
%
 
0.78
%
 
0.71
%
 
0.81
%
 
0.95
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating return on average tangible assets (*)
0.87
%
 
0.80
%
 
0.73
%
 
0.84
%
 
0.97
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average total stockholders' equity (*)
$
657,841

 
$
630,966

 
$
616,473

 
$
606,821

 
$
501,259

Less: Average goodwill and average identified intangible assets, net
150,020

 
153,170

 
157,187

 
164,301

 
50,876

Average tangible stockholders' equity (*)
$
507,821

 
$
477,796

 
$
459,286

 
$
442,520

 
$
450,383

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating return on average stockholders' equity (*)
7.57
%
 
6.86
%
 
5.94
%
 
6.69
%
 
5.81
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating return on average tangible stockholders' equity (*)
9.80
%
 
9.06
%
 
7.97
%
 
9.18
%
 
6.46
%
(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The following table summarizes the Company’s return on average tangible assets and return on average tangible
stockholders’ equity:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Net income, as reported (*)
$
49,782

 
$
43,288

 
$
36,015

 
$
36,654

 
$
27,800

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average total assets (*)
$
5,840,749

 
$
5,556,224

 
$
5,174,232

 
$
4,992,952

 
$
3,062,151

Less: Average goodwill and average identified intangible assets, net
150,020


153,170


157,187


164,301


50,876

Average tangible assets (*)
5,690,729

 
5,403,054

 
5,017,045

 
4,828,651

 
3,011,275

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return on average tangible assets (*)
0.87
%
 
0.80
%
 
0.72
%
 
0.76
%
 
0.92
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average total stockholders' equity (*)
657,841

 
630,966

 
616,473

 
606,821

 
501,259

Less: Average goodwill and average identified intangible assets,net
150,020

 
153,170

 
157,187

 
164,301

 
50,876

Average tangible stockholders' equity (*)
507,821

 
477,796

 
459,286

 
442,520

 
450,383

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return on average tangible stockholders' equity (*)
9.80
%
 
9.06
%
 
7.84
%
 
8.28
%
 
6.17
%
(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".
The following tables summarize the Company's tangible equity ratio and tangible book value per share as of the dates indicated.
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Total stockholders' equity (*)
$
667,485

 
$
641,818

 
$
614,412

 
$
612,013

 
$
504,006

Less: Goodwill and identified intangible assets, net
148,523

 
151,434

 
154,777

 
159,400

 
51,013

Tangible stockholders' equity (*)
$
518,962

 
$
490,384

 
$
459,635

 
$
452,613

 
$
452,993

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets (*)
$
6,042,338

 
$
5,800,948

 
$
5,325,651

 
$
5,147,450

 
$
3,299,417

Less: Goodwill and identified intangible assets, net
148,523

 
151,434

 
154,777

 
159,400

 
51,013

Tangible assets (*)
$
5,893,815

 
$
5,649,514

 
$
5,170,874

 
$
4,988,050

 
$
3,248,404

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tangible equity ratio (*)
8.81
%
 
8.68
%
 
8.89
%
 
9.07
%
 
13.95
%
(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".

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Table of Contents

 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Tangible stockholders' equity (*)
$
518,962

 
$
490,384

 
$
459,635

 
$
452,613

 
$
452,993

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common shares issued
75,744,445

 
75,744,445

 
75,744,445

 
75,749,825

 
64,597,180

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Treasury shares
4,861,554

 
5,040,571

 
5,171,985

 
5,373,733

 
5,373,733

Unallocated ESOP
213,066

 
251,382

 
291,666

 
333,918

 
378,215

Unvested restricted stocks
486,035

 
419,702

 
409,068

 
295,055

 
185,291

Common shares outstanding
70,183,790

 
70,032,790

 
69,871,726

 
69,747,119

 
58,659,941

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tangible book value per share (*)
$
7.39

 
$
7.00

 
$
6.58

 
$
6.49

 
$
7.72

(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".
The following table summarizes the Company's dividend payout ratio:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015

2014

2013

2012

2011
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Dividends paid
$
24,967

 
$
23,876

 
$
23,841

 
$
23,777

 
$
20,072

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income, as reported (*)
$
49,782

 
$
43,288

 
$
36,015

 
$
36,654

 
$
27,800

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividend payout ratio (*)
50.15
%
 
55.16
%
 
66.20
%
 
64.87
%
 
72.20
%
(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".
The following table summarizes the Company’s allowance for loan and lease losses related to originated loans and leases as a percentage of total originated loans and leases:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan and lease losses
$
56,739

 
$
53,659

 
$
48,473

 
$
41,152

 
$
31,703

Less: Allowance for acquired loan and lease losses
1,752

 
2,848

 
1,629

 

 

Allowance for originated loan and lease losses
$
54,987


$
50,811


$
46,844


$
41,152


$
31,703

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans and leases
$
4,995,540

 
$
4,822,607

 
$
4,362,465

 
$
4,175,712

 
$
2,720,821

Less: Total acquired loans and leases
422,652

 
590,654

 
815,412

 
1,059,611

 
198,936

Total originated loan and leases
$
4,572,888


$
4,231,953


$
3,547,053


$
3,116,101


$
2,521,885

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan and lease losses related to originated loans and leases as a percentage of originated loan and leases
1.20
%

1.20
%

1.32
%

1.32
%

1.26
%


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Table of Contents

Financial Condition
Loans and Leases
The following table summarizes the Company's portfolio of loans and leases receivables at the dates indicated:
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
Balance
 
Percent
of Total
 
Balance
 
Percent
of Total
 
Balance
 
Percent
of Total
 
Balance
 
Percent
of Total
 
Balance
 
Percent
of Total
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Commercial real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
1,875,592

 
37.5
%
 
$
1,680,082

 
34.8
%
 
$
1,461,985

 
33.5
%
 
$
1,301,233

 
31.1
%
 
$
748,736

 
27.5
%
Multi-family mortgage
658,480

 
13.2
%
 
639,706

 
13.2
%
 
627,933

 
14.4
%
 
606,533

 
14.5
%
 
481,459

 
17.7
%
Construction
130,322

 
2.6
%
 
148,013

 
3.1
%
 
113,705

 
2.6
%
 
98,197

 
2.3
%
 
40,798

 
1.5
%
Total commercial real estate loans
2,664,394

 
53.3
%
 
2,467,801

 
51.1
%
 
2,203,623

 
50.5
%
 
2,005,963

 
47.9
%
 
1,270,993

 
46.7
%
Commercial loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
592,531

 
11.9
%
 
514,077

 
10.7
%
 
407,792

 
9.3
%
 
382,277

 
9.1
%
 
150,895

 
5.5
%
Equipment financing
721,890

 
14.5
%
 
601,424

 
12.5
%
 
513,024

 
11.8
%
 
420,991

 
10.1
%
 
246,118

 
9.1
%
Condominium association
59,875

 
1.2
%
 
51,593

 
1.1
%
 
44,794

 
1.0
%
 
44,187

 
1.1
%
 
46,953

 
1.7
%
Total commercial loans and leases
1,374,296

 
27.6
%
 
1,167,094

 
24.3
%
 
965,610

 
22.1
%
 
847,455

 
20.3
%
 
443,966

 
16.3
%
Indirect automobile
13,678

 
0.3
%
 
316,987

 
6.6
%
 
400,531

 
9.2
%
 
542,344

 
13.0
%
 
573,350

 
21.1
%
Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
616,449

 
12.3
%
 
571,920

 
11.9
%
 
528,185

 
12.1
%
 
511,109

 
12.3
%
 
350,213

 
12.9
%
Home equity
314,553

 
6.3
%
 
287,058

 
5.9
%
 
257,461

 
5.9
%
 
261,562

 
6.3
%
 
76,527

 
2.8
%
Other consumer
12,170

 
0.2
%
 
11,747

 
0.2
%
 
7,055

 
0.2
%
 
7,279

 
0.2
%
 
5,772

 
0.2
%
Total consumer loans
943,172

 
18.8
%
 
870,725

 
18.0
%
 
792,701

 
18.2
%
 
779,950

 
18.8
%
 
432,512

 
15.9
%
Total loans and leases
4,995,540

 
100.0
%
 
4,822,607

 
100.0
%
 
4,362,465

 
100.0
%
 
4,175,712

 
100.0
%
 
2,720,821

 
100.0
%
Allowance for loan and lease losses
(56,739
)
 
 
 
(53,659
)
 
 
 
(48,473
)
 
 
 
(41,152
)
 
 
 
(31,703
)
 
 
Net loans and leases
$
4,938,801

 
 
 
$
4,768,948

 
 
 
$
4,313,992

 
 
 
$
4,134,560

 
 
 
$
2,689,118

 
 
The Company's loan portfolio consists primarily of first mortgage loans secured by commercial, multi-family and residential real estate properties located in the Company's primary lending area, loans to business entities, including commercial lines of credit, loans to condominium associations and loans and leases used to finance equipment used by small businesses. The Company also provides financing for construction and development projects, home equity and other consumer loans.
The Company employs seasoned commercial lenders and retail bankers who rely on community and business contacts as well as referrals from customers, attorneys and other professionals to generate loans and deposits. Existing borrowers are also an important source of business since many of them have more than one loan outstanding with the Company. The Company's ability to originate loans depends on the strength of the economy, trends in interest rates, and levels of customer demand and market competition.

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Table of Contents

The Company's current policy is that the aggregate amount of loans outstanding to any one borrower or related entities may not exceed $35.0 million unless approved by the Board Credit Committee, a committee of the Company's Board of Directors.
As of December 31, 2015, there were two borrowers with aggregated loans outstanding of $35.0 million or greater. The total of those loans was $95.1 million or 1.90% of total loans outstanding as of December 31, 2015.
The Company has written underwriting policies to control the inherent risks in loan origination. The policies address approval limits, loan-to-value ratios, appraisal requirements, debt service coverage ratios, loan concentration limits and other matters relevant to loan underwriting.
Commercial Real Estate Loans
The commercial real estate portfolio is comprised of commercial real estate loans, multi-family mortgage loans, and construction loans and is the largest component of the Company's overall loan portfolio, representing 53.3% of total loans and leases outstanding as of December 31, 2015.
Typically, commercial real estate loans are larger in size and involve a greater degree of risk than owner-occupied residential mortgage loans. Loan repayment is usually dependent on the successful operation and management of the properties and the value of the properties securing the loans. Economic conditions can greatly affect cash flows and property values.
A number of factors are considered in originating commercial real estate and multi-family mortgage loans. The qualifications and financial condition of the borrower (including credit history), as well as the potential income generation and the value and condition of the underlying property, are evaluated. When evaluating the qualifications of the borrower, the Company considers the financial resources of the borrower, the borrower's experience in owning or managing similar property and the borrower's payment history with the Company and other financial institutions. Factors considered in evaluating the underlying property include the net operating income of the mortgaged premises before debt service and depreciation, the debt service coverage ratio (the ratio of cash flow before debt service to debt service), the use of conservative capitalization rates, and the ratio of the loan amount to the appraised value. Generally, personal guarantees are obtained from commercial real estate loan borrowers.
Commercial real estate and multi-family mortgage loans are typically originated for terms of five years with amortization periods of 20 to 30 years. Many of the loans are priced at inception on a fixed-rate basis generally for periods ranging from two to five years with repricing periods for longer-term loans. When possible, prepayment penalties are included in loan covenants on these loans. For commercial customers who are interested in loans with terms longer than five years, the Company offers interest rate swaps to accommodate customer need.
The Company's urban and suburban market area is characterized by a large number of apartment buildings, condominiums and office buildings. As a result, commercial real estate and multi-family mortgage lending has been a significant part of the Company's activities for many years. These types of loans typically generate higher yields, but also involve greater credit risk. Many of the Company's borrowers have more than one multi-family or commercial real estate loan outstanding with the Company.
The commercial real estate portfolio was composed primarily of loans secured by apartment buildings ($679.4 million), office buildings ($628.5 million), retail stores ($511.4 million), industrial properties ($299.2 million) and mixed-use properties ($201.5 million) as of December 31, 2015. At that date, over 97% of the commercial real estate loans outstanding were secured by properties located in New England.
Construction and development financing is generally considered to involve a higher degree of risk than long-term financing on improved, occupied real estate and thus has lower concentration limits than do other commercial credit classes. Risk of loss on a construction loan is largely dependent upon the accuracy of the initial estimate of construction costs, the estimated time to sell or rent the completed property at an adequate price or rate of occupancy, and market conditions. If the estimates and projections prove to be inaccurate, the Company may be confronted with a project which, upon completion, has a value that is insufficient to assure full loan repayment.
Criteria applied in underwriting construction loans for which the primary source of repayment is the sale of the property are different from the criteria applied in underwriting construction loans for which the primary source of repayment is the stabilized cash flow from the completed project. For those loans where the primary source of repayment is from resale of the property, in addition to the normal credit analysis performed for other loans, the Company also analyzes project costs, the attractiveness of the property in relation to the market in which it is located and demand within the market area. For those construction loans where the source of repayment is the stabilized cash flow from the completed project, the Company analyzes

32

Table of Contents

not only project costs but also how long it might take to achieve satisfactory occupancy and the reasonableness of projected rental rates in relation to market rental rates.
Commercial Loans
The commercial loan and lease portfolio is comprised of commercial loans, equipment financing loans and leases and condominium association loans and represented 27.6% of total loans outstanding as of December 31, 2015.
The Company provides commercial banking services to companies in its market area. Over 50% of the commercial loans outstanding as of December 31, 2015 were made to borrowers located in New England. Over 17% of the outstanding balances were made to borrowers in New York and New Jersey by the Company's equipment financing divisions. The remaining 50% of the commercial loans outstanding were made to borrowers in other areas in the United States of America. Product offerings include lines of credit, term loans, letters of credit, deposit services and cash management. These types of credit facilities have as their primary source of repayment cash flows from the operations of a business. Interest rates offered are available on a floating basis tied to the prime rate or a similar index or on a fixed-rate basis referenced on the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston ("FHLBB") index.
Credit extensions are made to established businesses on the basis of loan purpose and assessment of capacity to repay as determined by an analysis of their financial statements, the nature of collateral to secure the credit extension and, in most instances, the personal guarantee of the owner of the business as well as industry and general economic conditions. The Company also participates in U.S. Government programs such as the Small Business Administration (the "SBA") in both the 7A program and as an SBA preferred lender.
The Company’s equipment financing divisions focus on market niches in which its lenders have deep experience and industry contacts, and on making loans to customers with business experience. An important part of the Company’s equipment financing loan origination volume comes from equipment manufacturers and existing customers as they expand their operations. The equipment financing portfolio is composed primarily of loans to finance laundry, tow trucks, fitness, dry cleaning and convenience store equipment. The borrowers are located primarily in the greater New York and New Jersey metropolitan area, although the customer base extends to locations throughout the United States. Typically, the loans are priced at a fixed rate of interest and require monthly payments over their three- to seven-year life. The yields earned on equipment financing loans are higher than those earned on the commercial loans made by the Banks because they involve a higher degree of credit risk. Equipment financing customers are typically small-business owners who operate with limited financial resources and who face greater risks when the economy weakens or unforeseen adverse events arise. Because of these characteristics, personal guarantees of borrowers are usually obtained along with liens on available assets. The size of loan is determined by an analysis of cash flow and other characteristics pertaining to the business and the equipment to be financed, based on detailed revenue and profitability data of similar operations.
Loans to condominium associations are for the purpose of funding capital improvements, are made for five- to ten-year terms and are secured by a general assignment of condominium association revenues. Among the factors considered in the underwriting of such loans are the level of owner occupancy, the financial condition and history of the condominium association, the attractiveness of the property in relation to the market in which it is located and the reasonableness of estimates of the cost of capital improvements to be made. Depending on loan size, funds are advanced as capital improvements are made and, in more complex situations, after completion of engineering inspections.
Consumer Loans
The consumer loan portfolio is comprised of residential mortgage loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, other consumer loans, and indirect automobile loans and represented 19.1% of total loans outstanding as of December 31, 2015. The Company focuses its mortgage loans on existing and new customers within its branch networks in its urban and suburban marketplaces in the greater Boston and Providence metropolitan areas. Loans outstanding in the indirect automobile portfolio totaled $13.7 million as of December 31, 2015, down from $317.0 million as of December 31, 2014. In December 2014, the Company ceased the origination of indirect automobile loans and in March 2015 sold $255.2 million of the indirect automobile loan portfolio. As of December 31, 2015, the Company continues to service the remaining portfolio.The Company originates adjustable- and fixed-rate residential mortgage loans secured by one- to four-family residences. Each residential mortgage loan granted is subject to a satisfactorily completed application, employment verification, credit history and a demonstrated ability to repay the debt. Generally, loans are not made when the loan-to-value ratio exceeds 80% unless private mortgage insurance is obtained and/or there is a financially strong guarantor. Appraisals are performed by outside independent fee appraisers.
In general, the Company maintains three-, five- and seven-year adjustable-rate mortgage loans and ten-year fixed-rate fully amortizing mortgage loans in its portfolio. Fixed-rate mortgage loans with maturities beyond ten years, such as 15- and 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, are generally sold into the secondary market on a servicing-released basis. The Banks act as

33

Table of Contents

correspondent banks in these secondary-market transactions. Loan sales in the secondary market provide funds for additional lending and other banking activities.
Underwriting guidelines for home equity loans and lines of credit are similar to those for residential mortgage loans. Home equity loans and lines of credit are limited to no more than 80% of the appraised value of the property securing the loan including the amount of any existing first mortgage liens.
Other consumer loans have historically been a modest part of the Company's loan originations. As of December 31, 2015, other consumer loans equaled $12.2 million, or 0.2% of total loans outstanding. Consumer equity and debt securities were pledged as collateral for a substantial part of the total of those loans.
Loans to Insiders
Refer to Note 6, “Loans and Leases” within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding loans to insiders.
Loan Maturities and Repricing
The following table shows the contractual maturity and repricing dates of the Company's loans as of December 31, 2015. The table does not include projected prepayments or scheduled principal amortization.
 
Amount due at December 31, 2015
 
Within One
Year
 
More than
One Year to
Three Years
 
More than
Three Years
to Five Years
 
More than
Five Years to
Fifteen Years
 
More than
Fifteen Years
 
Total after
One Year
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Commercial real estate
$
540,646

 
$
520,253

 
$
637,176

 
$
172,909

 
$
4,608

 
$
1,334,946

 
$
1,875,592

Multi-family mortgage
225,190

 
198,207

 
178,979

 
54,528

 
1,576

 
433,290

 
658,480

Construction
93,165

 
28,281

 
4,871

 
4,005

 

 
37,157

 
130,322

Commercial
209,289

 
100,904

 
124,785

 
92,772

 
64,781

 
383,242

 
592,531

Equipment financing
94,057

 
160,157

 
328,341

 
139,335

 

 
627,833

 
721,890

Condominium association
5,869

 
8,517

 
20,376

 
25,113

 

 
54,006

 
59,875

Indirect automobile
910

 
6,843

 
5,882

 
43

 

 
12,768

 
13,678

Residential mortgage
148,059

 
138,814

 
180,884

 
99,930

 
48,762

 
468,390

 
616,449

Home equity
185,043

 
1,982

 
3,778

 
68,032

 
55,718

 
129,510

 
314,553

Other consumer
5,935

 
380

 
40

 

 
5,815

 
6,235

 
12,170

Total
$
1,508,163

 
$
1,164,338

 
$
1,485,112

 
$
656,667

 
$
181,260

 
$
3,487,377

 
$
4,995,540


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Table of Contents

The following table sets forth as of December 31, 2015 the dollar amount of loans contractually due or scheduled to reprice after one year and whether such loans have fixed interest rates or adjustable interest rates.
 
Due after One Year
 
Fixed
 
Adjustable
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
319,238

 
$
889,551

 
$
1,208,789

Multi-family mortgage
78,352

 
334,592

 
412,944

Construction
9,548

 
27,379

 
36,927

Commercial
207,081

 
163,907

 
370,988

Equipment financing
535,185

 
84,879

 
620,064

Condominium association
22,533

 
31,473

 
54,006

Indirect automobile
12,768

 

 
12,768

Residential mortgage
48,197

 
369,470

 
417,667

Home equity
26,310

 
21,232

 
47,542

Other consumer
471

 
5,761

 
6,232

Total originated
$
1,259,683

 
$
1,928,244

 
$
3,187,927

Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
43,088

 
$
83,068

 
$
126,156

Multi-family mortgage
11,162

 
9,184

 
20,346

Construction

 
230

 
230

Commercial
6,197

 
6,058

 
12,255

Equipment financing
7,768

 

 
7,768

Residential mortgage
29,915

 
20,808

 
50,723

Home equity
37,465

 
44,504

 
81,969

Other consumer
3

 

 
3

Total acquired
$
135,598

 
$
163,852

 
$
299,450

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans
$
1,395,281

 
$
2,092,096

 
$
3,487,377


35

Table of Contents

Asset Quality
Criticized and Classified Assets
The Company's Management rates certain loans and leases as "other assets especially mentioned ("OAEM")", "substandard" or "doubtful" based on criteria established under banking regulations. Refer to Note 7, "Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses," to the consolidated financial statements for more information on the Company's risk rating system. These loans and leases are collectively referred to as "criticized" assets. Loans and leases rated OAEM have potential weaknesses that deserve Management's close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects of the loan or lease at some future date. Loans and leases rated as substandard are inadequately protected by the payment capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Substandard loans and leases have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of debt and are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if existing deficiencies are not corrected. Loans and leases rated as doubtful have well-defined weaknesses that jeopardize the orderly liquidation of debt and partial loss of principal is likely. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had $49.0 million of total assets, including acquired assets, that were designated as criticized. This compares to $71.4 million of assets designated as criticized as of December 31, 2014.
Nonperforming Assets
"Nonperforming assets" consist of nonperforming loans and leases, other real estate owned ("OREO") and other repossessed assets. Under certain circumstances, the Company may restructure the terms of a loan or lease as a concession to a borrower, except for acquired loans and leases which are individually evaluated against expected performance on the date of acquisition. These restructured loans and leases are generally considered "nonperforming loans and leases" until a history of collection of at least six months on the restructured terms of the loan or lease has been established. OREO consists of real estate acquired through foreclosure proceedings and real estate acquired through acceptance of a deed in lieu of foreclosure. Other repossessed assets consist of assets that have been acquired through foreclosure that are not real estate and are included in other assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
Accrual of interest on loans generally is discontinued when contractual payment of principal or interest becomes past due 90 days or, if in Management's judgment, reasonable doubt exists as to the full timely collection of interest. Exceptions may be made if the loan has matured and is in the process of renewal or is well-secured and in the process of collection. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, interest accruals cease and uncollected accrued interest is reversed and charged against current interest income. Interest payments on nonaccrual loans are generally applied to principal. If collection of the principal is reasonably assured, interest payments are recognized as income on the cash basis. Loans are generally returned to accrual status when principal and interest payments are current, full collectability of principal and interest is reasonably assured and a consistent record of at least six months of performance has been achieved.
In cases where a borrower experiences financial difficulties and the Company makes certain concessionary modifications to contractual terms, the loan is classified as a troubled debt restructured loan. In determining whether a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties, the Company considers, among other factors, if the debtor is in payment default or is likely to be in payment default in the foreseeable future without the modification, the debtor declared or is in the process of declaring bankruptcy, there is substantial doubt that the debtor will continue as a going concern, the debtor's entity-specific projected cash flows will not be sufficient to service its debt, or the debtor cannot obtain funds from sources other than the existing creditors at market terms for debt with similar risk characteristics.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had nonperforming assets of $20.7 million, representing 0.34% of total assets, compared to nonperforming assets of $15.2 million, or 0.26% of total assets, as of December 31, 2014.
The Company evaluates the underlying collateral of each nonperforming loan and lease and continues to pursue the collection of interest and principal. Management believes that the current level of nonperforming assets remains manageable relative to the size of the Company's loan and lease portfolio. If economic conditions were to worsen or if the marketplace were to experience prolonged economic stress, Management believes it is likely that the level of nonperforming assets would increase, as would the level of charged-off loans.            
Past Due and Accruing
Accrual of interest on loans generally is discontinued when contractual payment of principal or interest becomes past due 90 days or, if in Management's judgment, reasonable doubt exists as to the full timely collection of interest. Exceptions may be made if the loan has matured and is in the process of renewal or is well-secured and in the process of collection. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, interest accruals cease and uncollected accrued interest is reversed and charged against current interest income. Interest payments on nonaccrual loans are generally applied to principal. If collection of the principal is reasonably assured, interest payments are recognized as income on the cash basis. Loans are generally returned to accrual status

36

Table of Contents

when principal and interest payments are current, full collectability of principal and interest is reasonably assured and a consistent record of at least six consecutive months of performance has been achieved.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had loans and leases greater than 90 days past due and accruing of $8.7 million, or 0.17% of total loans and leases, compared to $6.0 million, or 0.12% of total loans and leases, as of December 31, 2014, representing an increase of $2.7 million. The increase was related primarily to one loan which was over 90 days past due and accruing with an outstanding balance of $2.8 million as of December 31, 2015.
The following table sets forth information regarding nonperforming assets as of the dates indicated:
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Nonperforming loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nonaccrual loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
5,482

 
$
1,009

 
$
1,098

 
$
4,014

 
$
1,608

Multi-family mortgage
291

 

 

 
4,233

 
1,380

Construction

 

 

 

 
352

Total commercial real estate loans
5,773

 
1,009

 
1,098

 
8,247

 
3,340

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
6,264

 
5,196

 
6,148

 
5,454

 
5

Equipment financing
2,610

 
3,223

 
4,115

 
3,873

 
1,925

Condominium association

 

 
1

 
8

 
15

Total commercial loans and leases
8,874

 
8,419

 
10,264

 
9,335

 
1,945

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indirect automobile
675

 
645

 
259

 
99

 
111

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
2,225

 
1,682

 
2,875

 
3,804

 
1,979

Home equity
1,757

 
1,918

 
1,987

 
716

 
145

Other consumer
29

 
41

 
18

 
45

 
10

Total consumer loans
4,011

 
3,641

 
4,880

 
4,565

 
2,134

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total nonaccrual loans and leases
19,333

 
13,714

 
16,501

 
22,246

 
7,530

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other real estate owned
729

 
953

 
577

 
903

 
845

Other repossessed assets
614

 
503

 
1,001

 
588

 
421

Total nonperforming assets
$
20,676

 
$
15,170

 
$
18,079

 
$
23,737

 
$
8,796

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans and leases past due greater than 90 days and accruing
$
8,690

 
$
6,008

 
$
10,913

 
$
17,581

 
$
4,769

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total nonperforming loans and leases as a percentage of total loans and leases
0.39
%
 
0.28
%
 
0.38
%
 
0.53
%
 
0.28
%
Total nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets
0.34
%
 
0.26
%
 
0.34
%
 
0.46
%
 
0.27
%
Troubled Debt Restructured Loans and Leases
As of December 31, 2015, restructured loans included $5.6 million of commercial real estate loans, $0.9 million of multi-family mortgage loans, $10.6 million of commercial loans, $2.3 million of equipment financing loans and leases, $2.0 million of residential mortgage loans and $1.5 million of home equity loans. As of December 31, 2014, restructured loans included $8.9 million of commercial real estate loans, $0.9 million of multi-family mortgage loans, $8.4 million of commercial loans,

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Table of Contents

$2.7 million of equipment financing loans and leases, $2.7 million of residential mortgage loans and $0.9 million of home equity loans. A restructured loan is a loan for which the maturity date was extended, the principal was reduced, and/or the interest rate was modified to drop the required monthly payment to a more manageable amount for the borrower.
The following table sets forth information regarding troubled debt restructured loans and leases at the dates indicated:
 
At December 31, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Troubled debt restructurings:
 

 
 

On accrual
$
17,953

 
$
14,815

On nonaccrual
4,965

 
5,625

Total troubled debt restructurings
$
22,918

 
$
20,440


Changes in troubled debt restructured loans and leases were as follows for the periods indicated:

 
Year ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Balance at beginning of period
$
20,440

 
$
18,348

Additions
6,873

 
8,657

Net charge-offs (recoveries)
(135
)
 
(391
)
Repayments
(4,260
)
 
(195
)
Other reductions (1)

 
(5,979
)
Balance at end of period
$
22,918

 
$
20,440

(1) Other reductions include transfers to OREO and change in troubled debt restructuring status.
Allowances for Credit Losses
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
The allowance for loan and lease losses consists of general and specific allowances and reflects Management's estimate of probable loan and lease losses inherent in the loan portfolio at the balance sheet date. Management uses a consistent and systematic process and methodology to evaluate the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses on a quarterly basis. The allowance is calculated by loan type: commercial real estate loans, commercial loans and leases, and consumer loans, each category of which is further segregated. A formula-based credit evaluation approach is applied to each group that is evaluated collectively, primarily by loss factors, which includes estimates of incurred losses over an estimated LEP, assigned to each risk rating by type, coupled with an analysis of certain loans individually evaluated for impairment. Management continuously evaluates and challenges inputs and assumptions in the allowance for loan and lease loss.
The process to determine the allowance for loan and lease losses requires Management to exercise considerable judgment regarding the risk characteristics of the loan portfolios and the effect of relevant internal and external factors. While Management evaluates currently available information in establishing the allowance for loan and lease losses, future adjustments to the allowance for loan and lease losses may be necessary if conditions differ substantially from the assumptions used in making the evaluations. Management performs a comprehensive review of the allowance for loan and lease losses on a quarterly basis. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review a financial institution's allowance for loan and lease losses and carrying amounts of other real estate owned. Such agencies may require the financial institution to recognize additions to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination. See Note 1, "Basis of Presentation," and Note 7, "Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses," to the consolidated financial statements for descriptions of how Management determines the balance of the allowance for loan and lease losses for each portfolio and class of loans.
During the third quarter of 2015, the Company enhanced and refined its general allowance methodology to provide further quantification of probable losses in the portfolio. Under the enhanced methodology, Management combined the historical loss histories of the Banks to generate a single set of ratios. Management believes it is appropriate to aggregate the ratios as the Banks share common environmental factors, operate in similar geographic markets, and utilize common underwriting standards in accordance with the Company's Credit Policy. In prior periods, a historical loss history applicable to each Bank was used.

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Table of Contents


Management employed a similar analysis for the consolidation of the qualitative factors as it did for the quantitative factors. Again, Management believes the combination of the existing nine qualitative factors used at each of the Banks into a single group of nine factors used across the Company is appropriate based on the commonality of environmental factors, markets and underwriting standards among the Banks. In prior periods each of the Banks utilized a set of qualitative factors applicable to each Bank.

The Company’s December 31, 2015 allowance calculation included a further segmentation of the commercial loans and leases to reflect the increased risk in the Company’s taxi medallion portfolio. As of December 31, 2015, this portfolio is approximately $35.8 million. Based on industry conditions, Management established a specific loss factor for this portfolio that best represents the changing risks associated with it.

Based on the refinements to the Company’s allowance methodology discussed above, Management determined that the potential risks anticipated by the unallocated allowance are now incorporated into the qualitative and quantitative components, making the unallocated allowance unnecessary. In prior years, the unallocated allowance was used to recognize the estimated risk associated with the allocated general and specific allowances. It incorporated Management’s evaluation of existing conditions that were not included in the allocated allowance determinations and provided for losses that arise outside of the ordinary course of business.
The following tables present the changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses by portfolio category for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.
 
Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Commercial
 
Indirect
Automobile
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2014
$
29,594

 
$
15,957

 
$
2,331

 
$
3,359

 
$
2,418

 
$
53,659

Charge-offs
(550
)
 
(3,634
)
 
(1,788
)
 
(582
)
 

 
(6,554
)
Recoveries

 
667

 
1,442

 
102

 

 
2,211

Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses
1,107

 
9,028

 
(1,716
)
 
1,422

 
(2,418
)
 
7,423

Balance at December 31, 2015
$
30,151

 
$
22,018

 
$
269

 
$
4,301

 
$

 
$
56,739

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans and leases
$
2,664,394

 
$
1,374,296

 
$
13,678

 
$
943,172

 
N/A

 
$
4,995,540

Total allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of total loans and leases
1.13
%
 
1.60
%
 
1.97
%
 
0.46
%
 
N/A

 
1.14
%
 
Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Commercial
 
Indirect
Automobile
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
23,022

 
$
15,220

 
$
3,924

 
$
3,375

 
$
2,932

 
$
48,473

Charge-offs
(130
)
 
(2,507
)
 
(1,163
)
 
(650
)
 

 
(4,450
)
Recoveries
4

 
801

 
434

 
158

 

 
1,397

Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses
6,698

 
2,443

 
(864
)
 
476

 
(514
)
 
8,239

Balance at December 31, 2014
$
29,594

 
$
15,957

 
$
2,331

 
$
3,359

 
$
2,418

 
$
53,659

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans and leases
$
2,467,801

 
$
1,167,094

 
$
316,987

 
$
870,725

 
N/A

 
$
4,822,607

Total allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of total loans and leases
1.20
%
 
1.37
%
 
0.74
%
 
0.39
%
 
N/A

 
1.11
%

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Table of Contents

 
Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Commercial
 
Indirect
Automobile
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2012
$
20,018

 
$
10,655

 
$
5,304

 
$
2,545

 
$
2,630

 
$
41,152

Charge-offs
(88
)
 
(2,077
)
 
(1,714
)
 
(909
)
 

 
(4,788
)
Recoveries
13

 
657

 
501

 
263

 

 
1,434

Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses
3,079

 
5,985

 
(167
)
 
1,476

 
302

 
10,675

Balance at December 31, 2013
$
23,022

 
$
15,220

 
$
3,924

 
$
3,375

 
$
2,932

 
$
48,473

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans and leases
$
2,203,623

 
$
965,610

 
$
400,531

 
$
792,701

 
N/A

 
$
4,362,465

Allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of total loans and leases
1.04
%
 
1.58
%
 
0.98
%
 
0.43
%
 
N/A

 
1.11
%
 
Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Commercial
 
Indirect
Automobile
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2011
$
15,477

 
$
5,997

 
$
5,604

 
$
1,577

 
$
3,048

 
$
31,703

Charge-offs

 
(5,347
)
 
(2,153
)
 
(592
)
 

 
(8,092
)
Recoveries
118

 
417

 
969

 
26

 

 
1,530

Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses
4,423

 
9,588

 
884

 
1,534

 
(418
)
 
16,011

Balance at December 31, 2012
$
20,018

 
$
10,655

 
$
5,304

 
$
2,545

 
$
2,630

 
$
41,152

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans and leases
$
2,005,963

 
$
847,455

 
$
542,344

 
$
779,950

 
N/A

 
$
4,175,712

Allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of total loans and leases
1.00
%
 
1.26
%
 
0.98
%
 
0.33
%
 
N/A

 
0.99
%
 
Year Ended December 31, 2011
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Commercial
 
Indirect
Automobile
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2010
$
12,398

 
$
5,293

 
$
6,952

 
$
1,638

 
$
3,414

 
$
29,695

Charge-offs
(30
)
 
(773
)
 
(2,076
)
 
(12
)
 

 
(2,891
)
Recoveries

 
330

 
605

 
8

 

 
943

Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses
3,109

 
1,147

 
123

 
(57
)
 
(366
)
 
3,956

Balance at December 31, 2011
$
15,477

 
$
5,997

 
$
5,604

 
$
1,577

 
$
3,048

 
$
31,703

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans and leases
$
1,270,993

 
$
443,966

 
$
573,350

 
$
432,512

 
N/A

 
$
2,720,821

Allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of total loans and leases
1.22
%
 
1.35
%
 
0.98
%
 
0.36
%
 
N/A

 
1.17
%
The allowance for loan and lease losses was $56.7 million as of December 31, 2015, or 1.14% of total loans and leases outstanding. This compared to an allowance for loan and lease losses of $53.7 million, or 1.11% of total loans and leases outstanding, as of December 31, 2014. The increase in the allowance for loan and lease losses and in the allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of total loans and leases from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2015 is due to loan growth of $172.9 million during the year, a specific reserve recorded for a commercial relationship which was downgraded in the first

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Table of Contents

quarter, and an increase in reserves for taxi medallion loans, which were partially offset by the release of reserves related to the sale of the indirect automobile portfolio during the first quarter and a reduction of the reserves for the acquired loan portfolios.
Management believes that the allowance for loan and lease losses as of December 31, 2015 is appropriate based on the facts and circumstances discussed further below.
Commercial Real Estate Loans
The allowance for commercial real estate loan losses was $30.2 million, or 1.13% of total commercial real estate loans outstanding, as of December 31, 2015. This compared to an allowance for commercial real estate loan losses of $29.6 million, or 1.20% of total commercial real estate loans outstanding, as of December 31, 2014. Specific reserves on commercial real estate loans were $2.3 million and $0.1 million as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The $0.6 million increase in the allowance for commercial real estate loan losses during 2015 was primarily driven by originated loan growth of $287.2 million, or 13.4% from December 31, 2014 and the deterioration of one relationship in the commercial real estate loan portfolio during the first quarter of 2015, partially offset by the improved credit quality of other commercial real estate loans.
The ratio of total criticized and classified commercial real estate loans to total commercial real estate loans decreased to 1.03% as of December 31, 2015 from 1.81% as of December 31, 2014. The ratio of originated commercial real estate loans on nonaccrual to total originated commercial real estate loans increased to 0.13% as of December 31, 2015 from 0.05% as of December 31, 2014.
Net charge-offs was $0.6 million, or 0.02% of average commercial real estate loans, for the year ended December 31, 2015. As a percentage of average commercial real estate loans, net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2014 was negligible. Provisions for commercial real estate loans recorded in these periods more than adequately covered charge-offs during those periods. See the "Results of Operations—Provision for Credit Losses" section below for additional information.
Commercial Loans and Leases
The allowance for commercial loan and lease losses was $22.0 million, or 1.60% of total commercial loans and leases outstanding, as of December 31, 2015, compared to $16.0 million, or 1.37% of total commercial loans and leases outstanding, as of December 31, 2014. Specific reserves on commercial loans and leases increased from $1.0 million as of December 31, 2014 to $1.3 million as of December 31, 2015. The $6.1 million increase in the allowance for commercial loans and lease losses during 2015 was primarily driven by originated loan growth of $247.6 million, or 22.5%, and the deterioration of one relationship in the commercial loans and leases portfolio during the first quarter of 2015.
The ratio of total criticized and classified commercial loans and leases to total commercial loans and leases was 1.57% as of December 31, 2015, compared to 2.28% as of December 31, 2014. The ratio of originated commercial loans and leases on nonaccrual to total originated commercial loans and leases decreased to 0.46% as of December 31, 2015 from 0.54% as of December 31, 2014.
Net charge-offs increased $1.3 million to $3.0 million, or 0.23% of average commercial loans and leases, for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared with net charge-offs of $1.7 million, or 0.16% of average commercial loans and leases, for the year ended December 31, 2014. Provisions for commercial loans recorded in these periods more than adequately covered charge-offs during those periods. See the "Results of Operations—Provision for Credit Losses" section below for additional information.
Indirect Automobile Loans
The allowance for indirect automobile loan losses was $0.3 million, or 1.97% of total indirect automobile loans outstanding, as of December 31, 2015, compared to $2.3 million, or 0.74% of the indirect automobile portfolio outstanding, as of December 31, 2014. The $2.0 million decrease in the allowance for indirect automobile loan losses was primarily a result of the sale of the majority of the indirect automobile portfolio in the first quarter of 2015. Loans outstanding decreased $303.3 million, or 95.7%, to $13.7 million as of December 31, 2015 from $317.0 million as of December 31, 2014. Based on a review of the credit metrics of the remaining indirect automobile portfolio, and a change in the reserve factor, the allowance ratio increased for the remaining portfolio. There were no loans individually evaluated for impairment in the indirect automobile portfolio as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
The ratio of indirect automobile loans with borrower credit scores below 660 to the total indirect automobile portfolio increased to 45.5% as of December 31, 2015 from 3.1% as of December 31, 2014. The ratio of indirect automobile loans on nonaccrual to total indirect automobile loans increased to 4.93% as of December 31, 2015 compared to 0.20% as of December 31, 2014.

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Table of Contents

Net charge-offs in the indirect automobile portfolio totaled $0.3 million, or 0.36% of average indirect automobile loans, for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared with net charge-offs of $0.7 million, or 0.20% of average indirect automobile loans, for the year ended December 31, 2014. Provisions for indirect automobile loans recorded in these periods covered charge-offs during those periods. See the "Results of Operations—Provision for Credit Losses" section below for additional information.
Consumer Loans
The allowance for consumer loan losses, including residential loans and home equity loans and lines of credit, was $4.3 million, or 0.46% of total consumer loans outstanding, as of December 31, 2015, compared to $3.4 million, or 0.39% of consumer loans outstanding, as of December 31, 2014. There was nominal reserve for loans individually evaluated for impairment as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. The $0.9 million increase in the allowance for consumer loans during 2015 was primarily driven by originated loan growth of $109.4 million, or 16.4%, from December 31, 2014. The ratio of originated consumer loans on nonaccrual to total originated consumer loans increased to 0.29% as of December 31, 2015 from 0.23% as of December 31, 2014. The risk of loss on a home equity loan is higher since the property securing the loan has often been previously pledged as collateral for a first mortgage loan. The Company gathers and analyzes delinquency data, to the extent that data are available on these first liens, for purposes of assessing the collectability of the second liens held by the Company even if these home equity loans are not delinquent. This data are further analyzed for performance differences between amortizing and non-amortizing home equity loans, the percentage borrowed to total loan commitment and by the amount of payments made by the borrowers. The loss exposure is not considered to be high due to the combination of current property values, the historically low loan-to-value ratios, the low level of losses experienced in the past few years and the low level of loan delinquencies as of December 31, 2015. If the local economy weakens, however, a rise in losses in those loan classes could occur. Historically, losses in these classes have been low.
Net charge-offs in the consumer loan portfolio totaled $0.5 million, or 0.05% of average consumer loans, for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared with net charge-offs of $0.5 million, or 0.06% of average consumer loans, for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Unallocated Allowance
As a result of the changes to the methodology described above, the reserve for unallocated allowance for loan and lease losses as of December 31, 2015 was reduced to zero, as compared to $2.4 million as of December 31, 2014.
The following tables set forth the Company's percent of allowance for loan and lease losses to the total allowance for loan and lease losses and the percent of loans to total loans for each of the categories listed at the dates indicated.

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Table of Contents

 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
Amount
 
Percent of
Allowance
to Total
Allowance
 
Percent of
Loans
in Each
Category to
Total
Loans
 
Amount
 
Percent of
Allowance
to Total
Allowance
 
Percent of
Loans
in Each
Category to
Total
Loans
 
Amount
 
Percent of
Allowance
to Total
Allowance
 
Percent of
Loans
in Each
Category to
Total
Loans
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Commercial real estate
$
21,100

 
37.3
%
 
37.5
%
 
$
20,858

 
38.9
%
 
34.8
%
 
$
14,883

 
30.7
%
 
33.5
%
Multi-family mortgage
6,376

 
11.2
%
 
13.2
%
 
5,057

 
9.4
%
 
13.2
%
 
4,890

 
10.1
%
 
14.4
%
Construction
2,675

 
4.7
%
 
2.6
%
 
3,679

 
6.9
%
 
3.1
%
 
3,249

 
6.7
%
 
2.6
%
Total commercial real estate loans
30,151

 
53.2
%
 
53.3
%
 
29,594

 
55.2
%
 
51.1
%
 
23,022

 
47.5
%
 
50.5
%
Commercial
12,745

 
22.5
%
 
11.9
%
 
7,463

 
13.9
%
 
10.7
%
 
6,724

 
13.9
%
 
9.3
%
Equipment financing
8,809

 
15.5
%
 
14.5
%
 
8,112

 
15.1
%
 
12.5
%
 
8,161

 
16.8
%
 
11.8
%
Condominium association
464

 
0.8
%
 
1.2
%
 
382

 
0.7
%
 
1.1
%
 
335

 
0.7
%
 
1.0
%
Total commercial loans and leases
22,018

 
38.8
%
 
27.6
%
 
15,957

 
29.7
%
 
24.3
%
 
15,220

 
31.4
%
 
22.1
%
Indirect automobile
269

 
0.5
%
 
0.3
%
 
2,331

 
4.3
%
 
6.6
%
 
3,924

 
8.1
%
 
9.2
%
Residential mortgage
2,069

 
3.6
%
 
12.3
%
 
1,392

 
2.6
%
 
11.9
%
 
1,431

 
3.0
%
 
12.1
%
Home equity
2,149

 
3.8
%
 
6.3
%
 
1,846

 
3.5
%
 
5.9
%
 
1,324

 
2.7
%
 
5.9
%
Other consumer
83

 
0.1
%
 
0.2
%
 
121

 
0.2
%
 
0.2
%
 
620

 
1.3
%
 
0.2
%
Total consumer loans
4,301

 
7.5
%
 
18.8
%
 
3,359

 
6.3
%
 
18.0
%
 
3,375

 
7.0
%
 
18.2
%
Unallocated

 
%
 

 
2,418

 
4.5
%
 

 
2,932

 
6.0
%
 

Total
$
56,739

 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
$
53,659

 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
$
48,473

 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%


43

Table of Contents

 
At December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
 
Amount
 
Percent of
Allowance
to Total
Allowance
 
Percent of
Loans
in Each
Category to
Total
Loans
 
Amount
 
Percent of
Allowance
to Total
Allowance
 
Percent of
Loans
in Each
Category to
Total
Loans
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Commercial real estate
$
12,993

 
31.6
%
 
31.1
%
 
$
9,936

 
31.3
%
 
27.5
%
Multi-family mortgage
4,541

 
11.0
%
 
14.5
%
 
4,459

 
14.1
%
 
17.7
%
Construction
2,484

 
6.0
%
 
2.4
%
 
1,082

 
3.4
%
 
1.5
%
Total commercial real estate loans
20,018

 
48.6
%
 
48.0
%
 
15,477

 
48.8
%
 
46.7
%
Commercial
3,870

 
9.4
%
 
9.2
%
 
1,505

 
4.8
%
 
5.5
%
Equipment financing
6,454

 
15.7
%
 
10.1
%
 
4,128

 
13.0
%
 
9.1
%
Condominium association
331

 
0.8
%
 
1.1
%
 
364

 
1.1
%
 
1.7
%
Total commercial loans and leases
10,655

 
25.9
%
 
20.4
%
 
5,997

 
18.9
%
 
16.3
%
Indirect automobile
5,304

 
12.9
%
 
12.9
%
 
5,604

 
17.7
%
 
21.1
%
Residential mortgage
1,516

 
3.7
%
 
12.2
%
 
828

 
2.6
%
 
12.9
%
Home equity
970

 
2.4
%
 
6.3
%
 
696

 
2.2
%
 
2.8
%
Other consumer
59

 
0.1
%
 
0.2
%
 
53

 
0.2
%
 
0.2
%
Total consumer loans
2,545

 
6.2
%
 
18.7
%
 
1,577

 
5.0
%
 
15.9
%
Unallocated
2,630

 
6.4
%
 

 
3,048

 
9.6
%
 

Total
$
41,152

 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
$
31,703

 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%

Liability for Unfunded Credit Commitments
The liability for unfunded credit commitments, which is included in other liabilities, was $1.3 million as of December 31, 2015, $1.3 million as of December 31, 2014 and $1.0 million as of December 31, 2013. The changes in the liability for unfunded credit commitments reflect changes in the estimate of loss exposure associated with certain credit unfunded credit commitments.
See the subsections "Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014—Provision for Credit Losses" and "Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013—Provision for Credit Losses" appearing elsewhere in this report for a discussion of the provision for loan and lease losses and loan and lease charge-offs recognized in the Company's consolidated financial statements during the past three years.
Investment Securities and Restricted Equity Securities
The investment portfolio exists primarily for liquidity purposes, and secondarily as sources of interest and dividend income, interest-rate risk management and tax planning as a counterbalance to loan and deposit flows. Investment securities are utilized as part of the Company's asset/liability management and may be sold in response to, or in anticipation of, factors such as changes in market conditions and interest rates, security prepayment rates, deposit outflows, liquidity concentrations and regulatory capital requirements.
The investment policy of the Company, which is reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors on an annual basis, specifies the types of investments that are acceptable, required investment ratings by at least one nationally recognized rating agency, concentration limits and duration guidelines. Compliance with the investment policy is monitored on a regular basis. In general, the Company seeks to maintain a high degree of liquidity and targets cash, cash equivalents and investment securities available-for-sale balances between 10% and 30% of total assets.
Cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities increased $68.5 million, or 11.2%, to $682.4 million as of December 31, 2015 from $614.0 million as of December 31, 2014. The increase was primarily driven by the sale of the indirect automobile portfolio, offset by growth in the loans and leases portfolio, security portfolio and the maturity of FHLBB advances. Cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities were 11.3% of total assets as of December 31, 2015, compared to 10.6% of total assets at December 31, 2014.

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The following table sets forth certain information regarding the amortized cost and market value of the Company's investment securities at the dates indicated:
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair Value
 
(In Thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSEs
$
40,658

 
$
40,627

 
$
22,929

 
$
22,988

 
$
12,138

 
$
12,180

GSE CMOs
198,000

 
193,816

 
238,910

 
234,169

 
254,331

 
243,644

GSE MBSs
230,213

 
229,881

 
249,329

 
250,981

 
202,478

 
199,401

Private-label CMOs

 

 

 

 
3,258

 
3,355

SBA commercial loan asset- backed securities
148

 
147

 
205

 
203

 
245

 
243

Auction-rate municipal obligations

 

 

 

 
1,900

 
1,775

Municipal obligations

 

 

 

 
1,068

 
1,086

Corporate debt obligations
46,160

 
46,486

 
39,805

 
40,207

 
27,751

 
28,224

Trust preferred securities and pools
1,466

 
1,267

 
1,463

 
1,240

 
1,461

 
1,210

Total debt securities
516,645

 
512,224

 
552,641

 
549,788

 
504,630

 
491,118

Marketable equity securities
956

 
977

 
947

 
973

 
1,259

 
1,310

Total investment securities available-for-sale
$
517,601

 
$
513,201

 
$
553,588

 
$
550,761

 
$
505,889

 
$
492,428

Investment securities held-to-maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSEs
$
34,915

 
$
34,819

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

GSE MBSs
19,291

 
18,986

 

 

 

 

Municipal Obligations
39,051

 
39,390

 

 

 

 

Foreign Government Obligations
500

 
500

 
500

 
500

 
500

 
500

Total investment securities held-to-maturity
$
93,757

 
$
93,695

 
$
500

 
$
500

 
$
500

 
$
500

Restricted equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FHLBB stock
$
48,890

 
 

 
$
58,326

 
 

 
$
50,081

 
 

FRB stock
16,752

 
 

 
16,003

 
 

 
16,003

 
 

Other
475

 
 

 
475

 
 

 
475

 
 

Total restricted equity securities
$
66,117

 
 

 
$
74,804

 
 

 
$
66,559

 
 

Total investment securities and restricted equity securities primarily consist of investment securities available-for-sale, investment securities held-to-maturity, stock in the FHLBB and stock in the FRB. The total securities portfolio increased $47.0 million, or 7.5% since December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, total securities portfolio was 11.1% of total assets, compared to 10.8% of total assets as of December 31, 2014.
The fair value of investment securities is based principally on market prices and dealer quotes received from third-party, nationally-recognized pricing services for identical investment securities such as U.S. Treasury and agency securities. The Company's marketable equity securities are priced this way and are included in Level 1. These prices are validated by comparing the primary pricing source with an alternative pricing source when available. When quoted market prices for identical securities are unavailable, the Company uses market prices provided by independent pricing services based on recent trading activity and other observable information, including but not limited to market interest-rate curves, referenced credit spreads and estimated prepayment speeds where applicable. These investments include certain U.S. and government agency debt securities, municipal and corporate debt securities, GSE residential MBSs and CMOs, and trust preferred securities, all of

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which are included in Level 2. Certain fair values are estimated using pricing models (such as auction-rate municipal securities) and are included in Level 3.

Additionally, Management reviews changes in fair value from period to period and performs testing to ensure that prices received from the third parties are consistent with their expectation of the market. Changes in the prices obtained from the pricing service are analyzed from month to month, taking into consideration changes in market conditions including changes in mortgage spreads, changes in U.S. Treasury security yields and changes in generic pricing of 15-year and 30-year securities. Additional analysis may include a review of prices provided by other independent parties, a yield analysis, a review of average life changes using Bloomberg analytics and a review of historical pricing for the particular security.

During the second quarter of 2014, to better align the Company’s investment portfolio with Management’s strategic focus, the Company liquidated all private-label CMOs, auction-rate municipal obligations and municipal obligations, all of which are 100% risk weighted. Proceeds from the investment securities sales were used to reinvest in GSE securities, which are risk weighted at 20%.

Maturities, calls and principal repayments for investment securities available-for-sale and investment securities held-to-maturity totaled $107.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $84.6 million for the same period in 2014. There were no sales of investment securities available-for-sale in 2015, as compared to sales of $5.5 million in investment securities available-for-sale and gains of $0.1 million for 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company purchased $63.6 million of investment securities available-for-sale and $102.8 million of investment securities held-to-maturity, compared to $139.9 million of investment securities available-for-sale and $0.5 million of investment securities held-to-maturity in 2014.
As of December 31, 2015, the fair value of all investment securities available-for-sale was $513.2 million and carried a total of $4.4 million of net unrealized losses, compared to a fair value of $550.8 million and net unrealized losses of $2.8 million as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, $368.6 million, or 71.8%, of the portfolio, had gross unrealized losses of $6.0 million. This compares to $335.7 million, or 60.9%, of the portfolio with gross unrealized losses of $6.0 million as of December 31, 2014. The Company's unrealized loss position increased in 2015 driven by a higher year over year interest rates and a change in the portfolio mix from shorter duration MBS to longer duration agency debentures and municipal securities.
Management believes that these negative differences between amortized cost and fair value do not include credit losses, but rather differences in interest rates between the time of purchase and the time of measurement. It is more likely than not that the Company will not sell the investment securities before recovery, and, as a result, it will recover the amortized cost basis of the investment securities. As such, Management has determined that the securities are not other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2015. If market conditions for securities worsen or the creditworthiness of the underlying issuers deteriorates, it is possible that the Company may recognize additional other-than-temporary impairments in future periods. For additional discussion on how the Company validates fair values provided by the third-party pricing service, see Note 21, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments.”
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale
U.S. Government-Sponsored Enterprises
The Company invests in securities issued by U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises ("GSEs"), including GSE debt securities, mortgage-backed securities ("MBSs"), and collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"). GSE securities include obligations issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC"), the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"), the Federal Home Loan Banks ("FHLB") and the Federal Farm Credit Bank. As of December 31, 2015, only GNMA MBSs and CMOs, and Small Business Administration ("SBA") commercial loan asset-backed securities with an estimated fair value of $21.8 million were backed explicitly by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, compared to $26.2 million as of December 31, 2014.
GSE securities are considered attractive investments because they (1) generate positive yields with minimal administrative expense, (2) impose minimal credit risk as a result of the guarantees usually provided, (3) can be utilized as collateral for borrowings, (4) generate cash flows useful for liquidity management and (5) are ‘‘qualified investments’’ as designated for regulatory purposes that the Company is obligated to meet.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned GSE debentures with a total fair value of $40.6 million, which approximated amortized cost. As of December 31, 2014, the Company held GSE debentures with a total fair value of $23.0 million, which approximated amortized cost. As of December 31, 2015, seven of the thirteen securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. As of December 31, 2014, four of the eight securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. All securities are performing and backed by the implicit (FHLB/FNMA/FHLMC) or explicit (GNMA/SBA) guarantee of the U.S Government.

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During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company purchased a total of $24.9 million GSE debentures. This compares to $21.0 million purchased during the same period in 2014.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned GSE mortgage-related securities with a total fair value of $423.7 million and a net unrealized loss of $4.5 million. This compares to a total fair value of $485.2 million and a net unrealized loss of $3.1 million as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, 101 of the 249 securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. As of December 31, 2014, 79 of the 250 securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. All securities are performing and backed by the implicit (FHLB/FNMA/FHLMC) or explicit (GNMA) guarantee of the U.S Government. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company purchased a total of $29.5 million and $106.9 million, respectively, in GSE CMOs and GSE MBSs.
SBA Commercial Loan Asset-Backed
As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company owned SBA securities with a total fair value of $0.1 million, which approximated amortized cost. As of December 31, 2015, six of the seven securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. As of December 31, 2014, seven of the eight securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. All securities are performing and backed by the explicit (SBA) guarantee of the U.S Government.
Mortgage-related securities are created by the pooling of mortgages and the issuance of a security with an interest rate that is less than the average interest rate on the underlying mortgages. Mortgage related securities purchased by the Company generally are comprised of a pool of single-family mortgages. The issuers of such securities are generally GSEs such as FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA, which pool and resell participation interests in the form of securities to investors and guarantee the payment of principal and interest to the investors.

Investments in mortgage-related securities issued and guaranteed by GSEs generally do not entail significant credit risk. Such investments, however, are susceptible to significant interest rate and cash flow risks when actual cash flows from the investments differ from cash flows estimated at the time of purchase. Additionally, the market value of such securities can be affected adversely by market changes in interest rates. Prepayments that are faster than anticipated may shorten the life of a security and result in the accelerated expensing of any premiums paid, thereby reducing the net yield earned on the
security. Although prepayments of underlying mortgages depend on many factors, the difference between the interest rates on the underlying mortgages and prevailing mortgage interest rates generally is the most significant determinant of the rate of prepayments. During periods of declining interest rates, refinancing generally increases and accelerates the prepayment of underlying mortgages and the related security. Such an occurrence can also create reinvestment risk because of the unavailability of other investments with a comparable rate of return in relation to the nature and maturity of the alternative investment. Conversely, in a rising interest-rate environment, prepayments may decline, thereby extending the estimated life of the security and depriving the Company of the ability to reinvest cash flows at the higher market rates of interest.
Private-Label CMOs
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company did not own any private-issuer CMO-related securities. All private-label CMOs were sold during the second quarter of 2014.
Auction-Rate Municipal Obligations and Municipal Obligations
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company did not own any auction-rate municipal obligations and municipal obligations. All auction-rate municipal obligations and municipal obligations were sold during the second quarter of 2014.
Corporate Obligations
From time to time, the Company will invest in high-quality corporate obligations to provide portfolio diversification and improve the overall yield on the portfolio. The Company owned fifteen corporate obligation securities with a total fair value of $46.5 million and a net unrealized gain of $0.3 million as of December 31, 2015. This compares to thirteen corporate obligation securities with a total fair value of $40.2 million and a net unrealized gain of $0.4 million as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, two of the fifteen securities in this portfolio was in an unrealized loss position. As of December 31, 2014, one of the thirteen securities in this portfolio was in an unrealized loss position. Full collection of the obligations is expected because the financial condition of the issuers is sound and has not defaulted on scheduled payments, the obligations are rated investment grade and the Company has the ability and intent to hold the obligations for a period of time to recover the amortized cost. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company purchased $9.3 million in corporate obligations compared to $12.0 million in the same period in 2014.
Trust Preferred Securities and PreTSLs

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Trust preferred securities represent subordinated debt issued by financial institutions. These securities are sometimes pooled and sold to investors through structured vehicles known as trust preferred pools (“PreTSLs”). When issued, PreTSLs are divided into tranches or segments that establish priority rights to cash flows from the underlying trust preferred securities. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company owned two trust preferred securities and no PreTSL pools.
Marketable Equity Securities
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company owned marketable equity securities with a fair value of $1.0 million, which approximated amortized cost. As of December 31, 2015, none of the two securities in this portfolio was in an unrealized loss position. As of December 31, 2014, none of the four securities in this portfolio were in an unrealized loss position.
Investment Securities Held-to-Maturity
U.S. Government-Sponsored Enterprises
The Company invests in securities issued by U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises ("GSEs") including GSE debt securities, mortgage-backed securities ("MBSs"), and collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"). GSE securities include obligations issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC"), the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"), the Federal Home Loan Banks ("FHLB"), and the Federal Farm Credit Bank. As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned GSE debentures and GSE MBS with a total fair value of $34.8 million and $19.0 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned GSE mortgage-related securities with a total amortized cost of $19.3 million. As of December 31, 2014, the Company did not own any GSE mortgage-related securities. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company purchased a total of $42.4 million and $21.3 million, in GSEs and GSE MBSs, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, 16 of the 22 securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. All securities are performing and backed by the implicit (FHLB/FNMA/FHLMC) or explicit (GNMA) guarantee of the U.S Government.
Municipal Obligations
As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned 72 municipal obligation securities with a total fair value and total amortized cost of $39.4 million and 39.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, the Company did not own any municipal obligation securities. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company purchased a total of $39.2 million of municipal obligations. As of December 31, 2015, 15 of the 72 securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions.
Foreign Government Obligations
As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company owned 1 foreign government obligation security with a fair value and amortized cost of $0.5 million. As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, this security was not in an unrealized loss position. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company did not purchase any foreign government obligation securities. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company purchased $0.5 million of foreign government obligation securities.
Restricted Equity Securities
FHLBB Stock—The Company invests in the stock of the FHLBB as one of the requirements to borrow. The Company maintains an excess balance of capital stock of $4.3 million which allows for additional borrowing capacity at each of the Banks.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned stock in the FHLBB with a carrying value of $48.9 million, a decrease of $9.4 million from $58.3 million as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, the FHLBB had total assets of $58.1 billion and total capital of $3.0 billion, of which $1.1 billion was retained earnings. The FHLBB stated that it remained in compliance with all regulatory capital ratios as of December 31, 2015 and was classified as "adequately capitalized" by its regulator, based on the FHLBB's financial information as of September 30, 2015. See Note 5, "Restricted Equity Securities" to the consolidated financial statements for further information about the FHLBB.
Federal Reserve Bank Stock—The Company invests in the stock of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, as a condition of the membership for the Banks in the Federal Reserve System. In 2015, the Company maintained its investment in the stock of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston to adjust for deposit growth. The FRB is now the primary federal regulator for the Company and the Banks.

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Table of Contents

Carrying Value, Weighted Average Yields, and Contractual Maturities of Investment and Restricted Equity Securities
The table below sets forth certain information regarding the carrying value, weighted average yields and contractual maturities of the Company's investment and restricted equity securities portfolio at the date indicated.
 
Balance at December 31, 2015
 
One Year or Less
 
After One Year
Through Five Years
 
After Five Years
Through Ten Years
 
After Ten Years
 
Total
 
Carrying
Value
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
Carrying
Value
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
Carrying
Value
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
Carrying
Value
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
Carrying
Value
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSEs
$

 
%
 
$
12,697

 
1.72
%
 
$
27,930

 
2.30
%
 
$

 
%
 
$
40,627

 
2.12
%
GSE CMOs

 

 
1,895

 
1.51
%
 
34

 
5.19
%
 
191,887

 
1.83
%
 
193,816

 
1.82
%
GSE MBSs
6

 
0.02
%
 
8,416

 
3.98
%
 
66,489

 
1.87
%
 
154,970

 
2.16
%
 
229,881

 
2.15
%
SBA commercial loan asset- backed securities

 

 

 
%
 
130

 
0.88
%
 
17

 
0.60
%
 
147

 
0.85
%
Corporate debt obligations
2,997

 
2.09
%
 
37,241

 
2.18
%
 
6,248

 
2.85
%
 

 

 
46,486

 
2.27
%
Trust preferred securities

 

 

 

 

 

 
1,267

 
1.13
%
 
1,267

 
1.13
%
Total debt securities
$
3,003

 
2.09
%
 
$
60,249

 
2.32
%
 
$
100,831

 
2.05
%
 
$
348,141

 
1.97
%
 
512,224

 
2.03
%
Marketable equity securities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
977

 
1.77
%
Total investment securities available-for-sale
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
$
513,201

 
2.03
%
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

GSEs
$

 

 
$
9,500

 
2.01
%
 
$
25,415

 
2.28
%
 
$

 

 
$
34,915

 
2.21
%
GSE MBSs
151

 
1.82
%
 

 

 

 

 
19,140

 
1.82
%
 
19,291

 
1.82
%
Municipal Obligations

 

 
14,389

 
1.19
%
 
24,662

 
1.70
%
 

 

 
39,051

 
1.52
%
Foreign Government Obligations
500

 
1.30
%
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
500

 
1.30
%
Total investment securities held-to-maturity
$
651

 
1.42
%
 
$
23,889

 
1.52
%
 
$
50,077

 
2.00
%
 
$
19,140

 
1.82
%
 
$
93,757

 
1.83
%
Restricted equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FHLBB stock
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
$
48,890

 
2.54
%
FRB stock
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
16,752

 
6.00
%
Other stock
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
475

 
%
Total restricted equity securities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
$
66,117

 
3.42
%
_______________________________________________________________________________
(1)
Yields have been calculated on a tax-equivalent basis.

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Deposits
The following table presents the Company's deposit mix at the dates indicated.
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
Amount
 
Percent
of Total
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
Amount
 
Percent
of Total
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
Amount
 
Percent
of Total
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Non-interest-bearing deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Demand checking accounts
$
799,117

 
18.6
%
 
%
 
$
726,118

 
18.3
%
 
%
 
$
707,023

 
18.4
%
 
%
Interest-bearing deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOW accounts
283,972

 
6.6
%
 
0.07
%
 
235,063

 
6.0
%
 
0.07
%
 
210,602

 
5.5
%
 
0.07
%
Savings accounts
540,788

 
12.6
%
 
0.25
%
 
531,727

 
13.4
%
 
0.21
%
 
494,734

 
12.9
%
 
0.25
%
Money market accounts
1,594,269

 
37.0
%
 
0.44
%
 
1,518,490

 
38.4
%
 
0.52
%
 
1,487,979

 
38.8
%
 
0.54
%
Certificate of deposit accounts
1,087,872

 
25.3
%
 
0.93
%
 
946,708

 
23.9
%
 
0.88
%
 
934,668

 
24.4
%
 
0.91
%
Total interest-bearing deposits
3,506,901

 
81.4
%
 
0.53
%
 
3,231,988

 
81.7
%
 
0.54
%
 
3,127,983

 
81.6
%
 
0.57
%
Total deposits
$
4,306,018

 
100.0
%
 
0.43
%
 
$
3,958,106

 
100.0
%
 
0.43
%
 
$
3,835,006

 
100.0
%
 
0.47
%
The Company seeks to increase its core (non-certificate of deposit) deposits and decrease its loan-to-deposit ratio over time, while continuing to increase deposits as a percentage of total funding sources. The Company's loan-to-deposit ratio decreased to 116.0% as of December 31, 2015, from 121.8% as of December 31, 2014.
Total deposits increased $0.3 billion, or 8.8%, to $4.3 billion as of December 31, 2015, compared to $4.0 billion as of December 31, 2014. Deposits as a percentage of total assets increased from 68.2% as of December 31, 2014 to 71.3% as of December 31, 2015. The increase in deposits as a percentage of total assets is primarily due to the growth in brokered deposits, non-interest-bearing accounts and the maturity of FHLBB advances using the excess liquidity generated by the sale of the indirect auto loans in the first quarter of 2015.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had $252.3 million of brokered deposits compared to $62.0 million as of December 31, 2014. Brokered deposits allow the Company to seek additional funding by attracting deposits from outside the Company's core market. The Company's investment policy limits the amount of brokered deposits to 15% of total assets. Brokered deposits are included in the certificate of deposit balance, which increased $141.2 million, or 14.9%, during 2015. Certificates of deposit have also increased as a percentage of total deposits to 25.3% as of December 31, 2015 from 23.9% as of December 31, 2014.
In 2015, core deposits increased $206.7 million, or 6.9%. The ratio of core deposits to total deposits decreased from 76.1% as of December 31, 2014 to 74.7% as of December 31, 2015, primarily due to the shift in deposit mix and increase in brokered deposits.
The Company's growth in deposits and the shift in the mix of deposits in 2015 and 2014 were due in part to expansion of the Company's cash management services and increased efforts in seeking deposits from existing customer relationships. A rise in interest rates could cause a shift from core deposit accounts to certificate of deposit accounts with longer maturities. Generally, the rates paid on certificates of deposit are higher than those paid on core deposit accounts.
The following table sets forth the distribution of the average balances of the Company's deposit accounts for the years indicated and the weighted average interest rates on each category of deposits presented. Averages for the years presented are based on daily balances.

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Table of Contents

 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
Average
Balance
 
Percent
of Total
Average
Deposits
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
Average
Balance
 
Percent
of Total
Average
Deposits
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
Average
Balance
 
Percent
of Total
Average
Deposits
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Core deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-interest-bearing demand checking accounts
$
770,045

 
18.5
%
 
%
 
$
700,815

 
18.1
%
 
%
 
$
648,852

 
17.5
%
 
%
NOW accounts
249,204

 
6.0
%
 
0.07
%
 
220,377

 
5.7
%
 
0.08
%
 
205,922

 
5.6
%
 
0.09
%
Savings accounts
532,496

 
12.8
%
 
0.21
%
 
518,741

 
13.4
%
 
0.23
%
 
509,436

 
13.7
%
 
0.25
%
Money market accounts
1,560,437

 
37.5
%
 
0.44
%
 
1,526,915

 
39.3
%
 
0.51
%
 
1,370,195

 
37.0
%
 
0.60
%
Total core deposits
3,112,182

 
74.9
%
 
0.26
%
 
2,966,848

 
76.5
%
 
0.31
%
 
2,734,405

 
73.8
%
 
0.35
%
Certificate of deposit accounts
1,045,328

 
25.1
%
 
0.78
%
 
911,072

 
23.5
%
 
0.86
%
 
971,044

 
26.2
%
 
0.94
%
Total deposits
$
4,157,510

 
100.0
%
 
0.44
%
 
$
3,877,920

 
100.0
%
 
0.51
%
 
$
3,705,449

 
100.0
%
 
0.61
%
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had outstanding certificate of deposit of $250,000 or more, maturing as follows:
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Amount
 
Weighted
Average Rate
 
Amount
 
Weighted
Average Rate
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Maturity period:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six months or less
$
67,361

 
0.67
%
 
$
81,937

 
0.66
%
Over six months through 12 months
54,135

 
1.03
%
 
33,602

 
0.93
%
Over 12 months
46,856

 
1.52
%
 
43,298

 
1.30
%
Total certificate of deposit of $250,000 or more
$
168,352

 
1.02
%
 
$
158,837

 
0.89
%

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Table of Contents

Borrowed Funds
The following table sets forth certain information regarding FHLBB advances, subordinated debentures and notes and other borrowed funds for the dates indicated:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Borrowed funds:
 
 
 
 
 
Average balance outstanding
$
957,437

 
$
994,734

 
$
808,007

Maximum amount outstanding at any month end during the year
1,094,459

 
1,132,957

 
838,588

Balance outstanding at end of year
983,029

 
1,126,404

 
812,555

Weighted average interest rate for the period
1.55
%
 
1.22
%
 
1.39
%
Weighted average interest rate at end of period
1.55
%
 
1.37
%
 
1.36
%
Advances from the FHLBB
On a long-term basis, the Company intends to continue to increase its core deposits. The Company also uses FHLBB borrowings and other wholesale borrowing as part of the Company's overall strategy to fund loan growth and manage interest-rate risk and liquidity. The advances are secured by a blanket security agreement which requires the Banks to maintain certain qualifying assets as collateral, principally mortgage loans and securities in an aggregate amount at least equal to outstanding advances. The maximum amount that the FHLBB will advance to member institutions, including the Company, fluctuates from time to time in accordance with the policies of the FHLBB. The Company may also borrow from the FRB's "discount window" as necessary.
FHLBB borrowings decreased by $142.2 million to $0.9 billion as of December 31, 2015 from the December 31, 2014 balance of $1.0 billion. The decrease in FHLBB borrowings was primarily due to maturities of advances from the FHLBB.
Repurchase Agreements
The Company periodically enters into repurchase agreements with its larger deposit and commercial customers as part of its cash management services which are typically overnight borrowings. Short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements with Company customers decreased $1.4 million to $38.2 million as of December 31, 2015 from $39.6 million as of December 31, 2014.
Subordinated Debentures and Notes
In connection with the acquisition of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc., the Company assumed three subordinated debentures issued by a subsidiary of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. One of these subordinated debenture in the amount of $3.0 million was called in the first quarter of 2013 due to its high fixed rate.
On September 15, 2014, the Company offered $75.0 million of 6.0% fixed-to-floating subordinated notes due September
15, 2029. The Company is obligated to pay 6.0% interest semiannually between September 2014 and September 2024. Subsequently, the Company is obligated to pay 3-month LIBOR plus 3.315% quarterly until the notes mature in September 2029. As of December 31, 2015, the Company capitalized $1.4 million in relation to the issuance of these subordinated notes.

The following table summarizes the Company's subordinated debentures and notes at the dates indicated.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carrying Amount
Issue Date
 
Rate
 
Maturity Date
 
Next Call Date
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
June 26, 2003
 
Variable;
3-month LIBOR + 3.10%
 
June 26, 2033
 
March 28, 2016
 
$
4,725

 
$
4,696

March 17, 2004
 
Variable;
3-month LIBOR + 2.79%
 
March 17, 2034
 
March 17, 2016
 
$
4,589

 
$
4,543

September 15, 2014
 
6.0% Fixed-to-Variable;
3-month LIBOR + 3.315%
 
September 15, 2029
 
September 15, 2024
 
$
73,624

 
$
73,524


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Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company has entered into interest-rate swaps with certain of its commercial customers and concurrently enters into offsetting swaps with third-party financial institutions. The Company did not have derivative fair value hedges or derivative cash flow hedges at December 31, 2015 or 2014. The following table summarizes certain information concerning the Company's interest-rate swaps at December 31, 2015 and 2014:
 
At December 31, 2015
At December 31, 2014
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Notional principal amounts
$
490,632

$
109,362

Fixed weighted average interest rate from the Company to counterparty
4.30
%
4.72
%
Floating weighted average interest rate from counterparty to the Company
2.40
%
2.12
%
Weighted average remaining term to maturity (in months)
100

100

Fair value:
 
 
Recognized as an asset
$
8,656

$
2,676

Recognized as a liability
$
8,781

$
2,714

Stockholders' Equity and Dividends
The Company's total stockholders' equity was $667.5 million as of December 31, 2015, representing a $25.7 million increase compared to $641.8 million at December 31, 2014. The increase is due to net income of $49.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, which was partially offset by dividends paid by the Company of $25.0 million in 2015.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, the dividend payout ratio was 50.2%, compared to 55.2% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The dividends paid in the fourth quarter of 2015 represented the Company's 67th consecutive quarter of dividend payments. Additionally, the Company increased the quarterly dividend distribution from $0.085 per share to $0.09 per share in the second quarter of 2015.
In 2015, 2014 and 2013, no shares of the Company's common stock were repurchased by the Company. On October 29, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to acquire up to $10.0 million of total outstanding shares of the Company's common stock over a period of fourteen months ending on December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, no shares were repurchased under the stock repurchase program. 
On February 4, 2016, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to acquire up to $10.0 million of total outstanding shares of the Company's common stock over a period of twelve months ending on January 31, 2017. Repurchases may be made from time to time depending on market conditions and other factors, and will be conducted through open market or private transactions, through block trades, and pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b5-1. There is no guarantee as to the exact number of shares, if any, to be repurchased by the Company. 
Stockholders' equity represented 11.05% of total assets as of December 31, 2015 and 11.06% of total assets as of December 31, 2014. Tangible stockholders' equity (total stockholders' equity less goodwill and identified intangible assets, net) represented 8.81% of tangible assets (total assets less goodwill and identified intangible assets, net) as of December 31, 2015 and 8.68% as of December 31, 2014.
Results of Operations
The primary drivers of the Company's net income are net interest income, which is strongly affected by the net yield on and growth of interest-earning assets and liabilities ("net interest margin"), the quality of the Company's assets, its levels of non-interest income and non-interest expense, and its tax provision.
The Company's net interest income represents the difference between interest income earned on its investments, loans and leases, and its cost of funds. Interest income is dependent on the amount of interest-earning assets outstanding during the period and the yield earned thereon. Cost of funds is a function of the average amount of deposits and borrowed money outstanding during the year and the interest rates paid thereon. The net interest margin is calculated by dividing net interest income by average interest-earning assets. Net interest spread is the difference between the average rate earned on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. The increases or decreases, as applicably in the components of interest income and interest expense, expressed in terms of fluctuation in average volume and rate, are

53

Table of Contents

summarized under "Rate/Volume Analysis" below. Information as to the components of interest income, interest expense and average rates is provided under "Average Balances, Net Interest Income, Interest-Rate Spread and Net Interest Margin" below.
Because the Company's assets and liabilities are not identical in duration and in repricing dates, the differential between the two is vulnerable to changes in market interest rates as well as the overall shape of the yield curve. These vulnerabilities are inherent to the business of banking and are commonly referred to as "interest-rate risk." How interest-rate risk is measured and, once measured, how much interest-rate risk is taken are based on numerous assumptions and other subjective judgments. See the discussion in the "Measuring Interest-Rate Risk" section of Item 7A, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" below.
The quality of the Company's assets also influences its earnings. Loans and leases that are not paid on a timely basis and exhibit other weaknesses can result in the loss of principal and/or interest income. Additionally, the Company must make timely provisions to the allowance for loan and lease losses based on estimates of probable losses inherent in the loan and lease portfolio. These additions, which are charged against earnings, are necessarily greater when greater probable losses are expected. Further, the Company incurs expenses as a result of resolving troubled assets. These variables reflect the "credit risk" that the Company takes on in the ordinary course of business and are further discussed under "Financial Condition—Asset Quality" above.
Average Balances, Net Interest Income, Interest-Rate Spread and Net Interest Margin
The following table sets forth information about the Company's average balances, interest income and interest rates earned on average interest-earning assets, interest expense and interest rates paid on average interest-bearing liabilities, interest-rate spread and net interest margin for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. Average balances are derived from daily average balances and yields include fees, costs and purchase-accounting-related premiums and discounts which are considered adjustments to coupon yields in accordance with GAAP. Certain amounts previously reported have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

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Table of Contents

 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest (1)
 
Average
Yield/
Cost
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest (1)
 
Average
Yield/
Cost
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest (1)
 
Average
Yield/
Cost
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-earning assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
$
583,921

 
$
11,521

 
1.97
%
 
$
518,920

 
$
9,531

 
1.84
%
 
$
476,387

 
$
7,983

 
1.68
%
Marketable and restricted equity securities
73,808

 
2,793

 
3.78
%
 
72,151

 
2,112

 
2.93
%
 
68,306

 
1,223

 
1.79
%
Short-term investments
56,520

 
128

 
0.23
%
 
45,560

 
102

 
0.22
%
 
62,258

 
111

 
0.18
%
Total investments
714,249

 
14,442

 
2.02
%
 
636,631

 
11,745

 
1.84
%
 
606,951

 
9,317

 
1.54
%
Commercial real estate loans (2)
2,529,566

 
106,447

 
4.21
%
 
2,324,934

 
103,324

 
4.42
%
 
2,091,860

 
98,245

 
4.67
%
Commercial loans (2)
636,084

 
26,590

 
4.13
%
 
522,208

 
21,341

 
4.04
%
 
435,184

 
20,580

 
4.68
%
Equipment financing (2)
650,376

 
44,468

 
6.84
%
 
554,240

 
39,807

 
7.18
%
 
452,601

 
31,076

 
6.87
%
Indirect automobile loans (2)
83,218

 
2,686

 
3.23
%
 
366,217

 
11,812

 
3.23
%
 
475,387

 
17,355

 
3.65
%
Residential mortgage loans (2)
600,072

 
21,455

 
3.58
%
 
551,481

 
19,957

 
3.62
%
 
511,348

 
19,926

 
3.90
%
Other consumer loans (2)
311,855

 
11,792

 
3.78
%
 
280,663

 
11,189

 
3.98
%
 
263,955

 
10,624

 
4.02
%
Total loans and leases
4,811,171

 
213,438

 
4.44
%
 
4,599,743

 
207,430

 
4.51
%
 
4,230,335

 
197,806

 
4.68
%
Total interest-earning assets
5,525,420

 
227,880

 
4.12
%
 
5,236,374

 
219,175

 
4.19
%
 
4,837,286

 
207,123

 
4.28
%
Allowance for loan and lease losses
(55,950
)
 
 
 
 
 
(51,480
)
 
 
 
 
 
(44,008
)
 
 
 
 
Non-interest-earning assets
371,279

 
 
 
 
 
371,330

 
 
 
 
 
380,954

 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
5,840,749

 
 
 
 
 
$
5,556,224

 
 
 
 
 
$
5,174,232

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOW accounts
$
249,204

 
179

 
0.07
%
 
$
220,377

 
171

 
0.08
%
 
$
205,922

 
173

 
0.08
%
Savings accounts
532,496

 
1,094

 
0.21
%
 
518,741

 
1,197

 
0.23
%
 
509,436

 
1,288

 
0.25
%
Money market accounts
1,560,437

 
6,935

 
0.44
%
 
1,526,915

 
7,846

 
0.51
%
 
1,370,195

 
8,220

 
0.60
%
Certificate of deposit
1,045,328

 
9,272

 
0.78
%
 
911,072

 
7,846

 
0.86
%
 
971,044

 
9,092

 
0.94
%
Total interest-bearing deposits (3)
3,387,465

 
17,480

 
0.52
%
 
3,177,105

 
17,060

 
0.54
%
 
3,056,597

 
18,773

 
0.61
%
Advances from the FHLBB
840,123

 
9,950

 
1.17
%
 
935,400

 
10,535

 
1.11
%
 
759,640

 
10,886

 
1.43
%
Subordinated debentures and notes
82,846

 
5,001

 
6.04
%
 
30,766

 
1,740

 
5.66
%
 
9,548

 
439

 
4.60
%
Other borrowed funds
34,468

 
114

 
0.33
%
 
28,568

 
79

 
0.28
%
 
38,819

 
68

 
0.18
%
Total borrowed funds
957,437

 
15,065

 
1.55
%
 
994,734

 
12,354

 
1.22
%
 
808,007

 
11,393

 
1.39
%
Total interest-bearing liabilities
4,344,902

 
32,545

 
0.75
%
 
4,171,839

 
29,414

 
0.71
%
 
3,864,604

 
30,166

 
0.78
%
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-interest-bearing demand checking accounts (3)
770,045

 
 

 
 

 
700,815

 
 

 
 

 
648,852

 
 

 
 

Other non-interest-bearing liabilities
62,914

 
 

 
 

 
48,378

 
 

 
 

 
40,574

 
 

 
 

Total liabilities
5,177,861

 
 

 
 

 
4,921,032

 
 

 
 

 
4,554,030

 
 

 
 

Brookline Bancorp, Inc. stockholders' equity
657,841

 
 

 
 

 
630,966

 
 

 
 

 
616,473

 
 

 
 

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
5,047

 
 

 
 

 
4,226

 
 

 
 

 
3,729

 
 

 
 

Total liabilities and equity
$
5,840,749

 
 

 
 

 
$
5,556,224

 
 

 
 

 
$
5,174,232

 
 

 
 

Net interest income (tax-equivalent basis) / Interest-rate spread (4)
 

 
195,335

 
3.37
%
 
 

 
189,761

 
3.48
%
 
 

 
176,957

 
3.50
%
Less adjustment of tax-exempt income
 

 
970

 
 

 
 

 
693

 
 

 
 

 
739

 
 

Net interest income
 

 
$
194,365

 
 

 
 

 
$
189,068

 
 

 
 

 
$
176,218

 
 

Net interest margin (5)
 

 
 

 
3.54
%
 
 

 
 

 
3.61
%
 
 

 
 

 
3.64
%

(1)
Tax-exempt income on debt securities, equity securities and revenue bonds included in commercial real estate loans is included on a tax-equivalent basis.
(2)
Loans on nonaccrual status are included in the average balances.
(3)
Including non-interest-bearing checking accounts, the average interest rate on total deposits was 0.42%, 0.44% and 0.51% in the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
(4)
Interest-rate spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(5)
Net interest margin represents net interest income (tax equivalent basis) divided by average interest-earning assets.

55

Table of Contents

See "Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014" and "Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013" below for a discussion of average assets and liabilities, net interest income, interest-rate spread and net interest margin.
Rate/Volume Analysis
The following table presents, on a tax-equivalent basis, the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities have affected the Company's interest income and interest expense during the periods indicated. Information is provided in each category with respect to: (i) changes attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate), (ii) changes attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume), and (iii) the net change. The changes attributable to the combined impact of volume and rate have been allocated proportionately to the changes due to volume and the changes due to rate.

56

Table of Contents

 
Year Ended 
 December 31, 2015 
 Compared to Year Ended 
 December 31, 2014
 
Year Ended 
 December 31, 2014 
 Compared to Year Ended 
 December 31, 2013
 
Increase
(Decrease) Due To
 
 
 
Increase
(Decrease) Due To
 
 
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Net Change
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Net Change
 
(In Thousands)
Interest and dividend income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
$
1,196

 
$
794

 
1,990

 
$
749

 
$
799

 
$
1,548

Marketable and restricted equity securities
49

 
632

 
681

 
72

 
817

 
889

Short-term investments
24

 
2

 
26

 
(32
)
 
23

 
(9
)
Total investments
1,269

 
1,428

 
2,697

 
789

 
1,639

 
2,428

Loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate loans
9,045

 
(5,922
)
 
3,123

 
10,458

 
(5,379
)
 
5,079

Commercial loans and leases
4,601

 
648

 
5,249

 
3,752

 
(2,991
)
 
761

Equipment financing
6,903

 
(2,242
)
 
4,661

 
7,255

 
1,476

 
8,731

Indirect automobile loans
(9,141
)
 
15

 
(9,126
)
 
(3,691
)
 
(1,852
)
 
(5,543
)
Residential mortgage loans
1,759

 
(261
)
 
1,498

 
1,502

 
(1,471
)
 
31

Other consumer loans
1,241

 
(638
)
 
603

 
677

 
(112
)
 
565

Total loans
14,408

 
(8,400
)
 
6,008

 
19,953

 
(10,329
)
 
9,624

Total change in interest and dividend income
15,677

 
(6,972
)
 
8,705

 
20,742

 
(8,690
)
 
12,052

Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOW accounts
23

 
(15
)
 
8

 
8

 
(10
)
 
(2
)
Savings accounts
32

 
(135
)
 
(103
)
 
24

 
(115
)
 
(91
)
Money market accounts
171

 
(1,082
)
 
(911
)
 
905

 
(1,279
)
 
(374
)
Certificate of deposit
724

 
702

 
1,426

 
(537
)
 
(709
)
 
(1,246
)
Total deposits
950

 
(530
)
 
420

 
400

 
(2,113
)
 
(1,713
)
Borrowed funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advances from the FHLBB
(1,058
)
 
473

 
(585
)
 
2,293

 
(2,644
)
 
(351
)
Subordinated debentures and notes
2,948

 
313

 
3,261

 
1,179

 
122

 
1,301

Other borrowed funds
17

 
18

 
35

 
(21
)
 
32

 
11

Total borrowed funds
1,907

 
804

 
2,711

 
3,451

 
(2,490
)
 
961

Total change in interest expense
2,857

 
274

 
3,131

 
3,851

 
(4,603
)
 
(752
)
Change in tax-exempt income

 
(277
)
 
(277
)
 

 
46

 
46

Change in net interest income
$
12,820

 
$
(7,523
)
 
$
5,297

 
$
16,891

 
$
(4,041
)
 
$
12,850

See "Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014" and "Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013" below for a discussion of changes in interest income, interest-rate spread and net interest margin resulting from changes in rates and volumes.

57

Table of Contents

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014
Net Interest Income
Net interest income increased $5.3 million to $194.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $189.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase year over year reflects a $5.8 million increase in interest income on loans and leases, a $1.9 million increase in interest income on debt securities, offset by a $3.1 million increase in interest expense on deposit and borrowings, which is reflective of the various portfolios repricing and replacing balances into the current low interest rate environment.
Net interest margin decreased by 7 basis points, to 3.54% in 2015 from 3.61% in 2014. Competitive pressures on loan pricing resulted in decreases in the Company's weighted average interest rate on loans (prior to purchase accounting adjustments) to 4.44% for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 4.51% for the year ended December 31, 2014. Interest amortization and accretion on acquired loans totaled $4.5 million and contributed 9 basis points to 2015 loan yields, compared to $8.4 million and 16 basis points in 2014. The decrease in the net interest margin is the result of repricing interest-earning assets in a lower interest rate environment without a comparable offset in lower funding costs.
The yield on interest-earning assets decreased to 4.12% for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 4.19% for the year ended December 31, 2014. This decrease is the result of the continued pricing pressure due to the low interest rate environment and the intense competition in most loan categories, as well as a decrease in accretion on acquired loans and leases, offset by an increase in prepayment penalties and late charges. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded $3.2 million in prepayment penalties and late charges, which contributed 6 basis points to yields on interest-earning assets, in the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to $2.2 million, or 4 basis points, for the year ended December 31, 2014.

The overall cost of funds (including non-interest-bearing demand checking accounts) increased 4 basis points to 0.75% for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 0.71% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase was primarily driven by the issuance of the $75.0 million subordinated notes in September 2014. Refer to "Financial Condition - Borrowed Funds" above for more details.
Future net interest income, net interest spread and net interest margin may continue to be negatively affected by a number of factors including: the low interest-rate environment, ongoing pricing pressures in both loan and deposit portfolios, the ability of the Company to increase its core deposit ratio, the ability of the Company to increase its non-interest-bearing deposits as a percentage of total deposits, decrease its loan-to-deposit ratio, or decrease its reliance on FHLBB advances. It may also be negatively affected by changes in the amount of purchase accounting accretion and amortization included in interest income and interest expense.
Interest Income—Loans and Leases
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Interest income—loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate loans
$
106,447

 
$
102,852

 
$
3,595

 
3.5
 %
Commercial loans
25,756

 
21,164

 
4,592

 
21.7
 %
Equipment financing
44,468

 
39,807

 
4,661

 
11.7
 %
Indirect automobile loans
2,686

 
11,812

 
(9,126
)
 
(77.3
)%
Residential mortgage loans
21,455

 
19,957

 
1,498

 
7.5
 %
Other consumer loans
11,792

 
11,189

 
603

 
5.4
 %
Total interest income—loans and leases
$
212,604

 
$
206,781

 
$
5,823

 
2.8
 %
Interest income from loans and leases was $212.6 million for 2015, and represented a yield on total loans of 4.44%. This compares to $206.8 million of interest on loans and a yield of 4.51% for 2014. This $5.8 million increase in interest income from loans and leases was attributable to an increase of $14.4 million of increased origination volume, which was offset by a decrease of $8.4 million due to the changes in interest rates. The $9.1 million decrease in interest income from the indirect automobile portfolio was the result of the sale of most of the portfolio in the first quarter of 2015 and Management's decision to cease origination indirect automobile loans in December 31, 2014.

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Accretion on acquired loans and leases of $4.5 million contributed 9 basis points to the Company's net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to 8.4 million and 16 basis points for the year ended December 31, 2014. This decrease was due to a reforecast of certain acquired loans in the equipment financing portfolio, improved credit quality and expected cash flows on certain acquired commercial real estate loans and leases as well as higher amount of loan payoffs during 2014.
Interest Income—Investments
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Interest income—investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
$
11,416

 
$
9,527

 
$
1,889

 
19.8
%
Marketable and restricted equity securities
2,762

 
2,072

 
690

 
33.3
%
Short-term investments
128

 
102

 
26

 
25.5
%
Total interest income—investments
$
14,306

 
$
11,701

 
$
2,605

 
22.3
%
Total investment income was $14.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $11.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, the yield on total investments was 2.02% as compared to 1.84% as of December 31, 2014. This year over year increase in total investment income of $2.6 million, or 22.3%, was driven by a $1.3 million increase due to rates and a $1.4 million increase due to volume. In 2015, the yield on total investments was 2.02% as compared to 1.84% in 2014.
Interest Expense—Deposits and Borrowed Funds
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOW accounts
$
179

 
$
171

 
$
8

 
4.7
 %
Savings accounts
1,094

 
1,197

 
(103
)
 
(8.6
)%
Money market accounts
6,935

 
7,846

 
(911
)
 
(11.6
)%
Certificate of deposit
9,272

 
7,846

 
1,426

 
18.2
 %
Total interest expense—deposits
17,480

 
17,060

 
420

 
2.5
 %
Borrowed funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advances from the FHLBB
9,950

 
10,535

 
(585
)
 
(5.6
)%
Subordinated debentures and notes
5,001

 
1,740

 
3,261

 
187.4
 %
Other borrowed funds
114

 
79

 
35

 
44.3
 %
Total interest expense—borrowed funds
15,065

 
12,354

 
2,711

 
21.9
 %
Total interest expense
$
32,545

 
$
29,414

 
$
3,131

 
10.6
 %
Deposits
Except for certificate of deposits, ongoing declines in the interest rates paid on deposits contributed to reductions in the Company’s overall cost of deposits.
In 2015, interest paid on deposits increased $0.4 million, or 2.5%, as compared to 2014. Interest expense increased $1.0 million due to the growth in deposits, offset by a $0.5 million decrease in deposit-related interest expense driven by a decrease in interest rates. Purchase accounting accretion on acquired deposits was $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Purchase accounting accretion did not impact the Company's net interest margin in either year.


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Borrowed Funds
As of December 31, 2015 the Company's borrowed funds include: $0.9 billion in FHLBB advances, $82.9 million in subordinated debentures and notes, and $38.2 million in other borrowed funds. In 2015, the average balance of FHLBB advances decreased $95.3 million, or 10.2%, while the average balance of subordinated debentures and notes increased $52.1 million, or 169.3%. Other borrowed funds, which include repurchase agreements, increased $5.9 million, or 20.7% for the year ended December 31, 2015.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, interest paid on borrowed funds increased $2.7 million, or 21.9% year over year, primarily driven by liabilities on subordinated notes issued during the third quarter of 2014. The cost of borrowed funds was 1.55% for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to 1.22% for the year ended December 31, 2014. This change was driven by an increase of $0.8 million due to borrowing rates and an increase of $1.9 million in interest expense due to volume. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the purchase accounting accretion on acquired borrowed funds was $2.8 million which contributed 5 basis points to the Company's net interest margin in both years.
Provision for Credit Losses
The provisions for credit losses are set forth below:
 
Originated
 
Acquired
 
Total
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In Thousands)
Provision for loan and lease losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
1,459

 
$
5,009

 
$
(352
)
 
$
1,689

 
$
1,107

 
$
6,698

Commercial
9,077

 
2,030

 
(49
)
 
413

 
9,028

 
2,443

Indirect automobile
(1,716
)
 
(864
)
 

 

 
(1,716
)
 
(864
)
Consumer
953

 
417

 
469

 
59

 
1,422

 
476

Unallocated
(2,418
)
 
(514
)
 

 

 
(2,418
)
 
(514
)
Total provision for loan and lease losses
7,355

 
6,078

 
68

 
2,161

 
7,423

 
8,239

Unfunded credit commitments
28

 
238

 

 

 
28

 
238

Total provision for credit losses
$
7,383

 
$
6,316

 
$
68

 
$
2,161

 
$
7,451

 
$
8,477


For the year ended December 31, 2015, the provision for credit losses decreased $1.0 million, or 12.1%, to $7.5 million from $8.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease in the provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2015 was primarily driven by a decrease in the provision related to improved credit characteristics and the continued strong credit quality of the portfolio, as well as a decrease in the provision for the indirect automobile portfolio related to the sale of most of the indirect automobile portfolio in the first quarter of 2015, all of which were partially offset by an increase in the specific reserves for one commercial loan relationship and increases in the reserves for taxi medallion loans as well as net charge offs. See Management's discussion in "Allowances for Credit Losses-Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses" and Note 7, "Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses," to the consolidated financial statements for a description of how Management determined the allowance for loan and lease losses for each portfolio and class of loans.
The liability for unfunded credit commitments, which is included in other liabilities, was $1.3 million as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the provision for unfunded credit commitments decreased by $0.2 million related to changes in the estimate of loss exposure associated with certain unfunded credit commitments. No credit commitments were charged off against the Company's liability account for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.


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Table of Contents

Non-Interest Income
The following table sets forth the components of non-interest income:
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Deposit fees
$
8,730

 
$
8,692

 
$
38

 
0.4
 %
Loan fees
1,186

 
1,010

 
176

 
17.4
 %
Loan level derivative income, net
3,397

 
946

 
2,451

 
259.1
 %
Gain on sales of loans and leases held-for-sale
2,208

 
1,651

 
557

 
33.7
 %
Gain on sales of investment securities, net

 
65

 
(65
)
 
(100.0
)%
Gain on sale/disposals of premises and equipment, net

 
1,502

 
(1,502
)
 
(100.0
)%
Other
4,663

 
6,314

 
(1,651
)
 
(26.1
)%
Total non-interest income
$
20,184

 
$
20,180

 
$
4

 
 %
Total non-interest income remained consistent at $20.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Loan level derivative income, net increased $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 primarily driven by new loan level interest rate swap agreements completed in the year.
Gain on sale/disposals of premises and equipment decreased $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 primarily due to the sale of a building in 2014 which resulted in a gain of $1.6 million.
Other income decreased $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 primarily driven by a $1.4 million legal settlement the Company received from an insurance carrier in relation to litigation in 2014.
Non-Interest Expense
The following table sets forth the components of non-interest expense:
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Compensation and employee benefits
$
71,272

 
$
71,801

 
$
(529
)
 
(0.7
)%
Occupancy
13,926

 
14,294

 
(368
)
 
(2.6
)%
Equipment and data processing
14,837

 
17,020

 
(2,183
)
 
(12.8
)%
Professional services
4,192

 
5,357

 
(1,165
)
 
(21.7
)%
FDIC insurance
3,510

 
3,362

 
148

 
4.4
 %
Advertising and marketing
3,352

 
3,058

 
294

 
9.6
 %
Amortization of identified intangible assets
2,911

 
3,343

 
(432
)
 
(12.9
)%
Other
11,377

 
10,925

 
452

 
4.1
 %
Total non-interest expense
$
125,377

 
$
129,160

 
$
(3,783
)
 
(2.9
)%
For the year ended December 31, 2015, non-interest expense decreased $3.8 million, or 2.9%, to $125.4 million as compared to the same period in 2014. This decrease is primarily due to a $2.2 million decrease in equipment and data processing expense, a $1.2 million decrease in professional service expense, and a $0.5 million decrease in compensation and employee benefits expense.
The efficiency ratio decreased to 58.44% for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 61.73% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The efficiency ratio improved in 2015 due to a decrease in non-interest expense and an increase in net interest income as a result of continued efforts to drive revenue growth while controlling expenses.

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Table of Contents

Equipment and data processing expense for the year ended December 31, 2015 decreased $2.2 million compared to the same period in 2014. This decrease was primarily driven by the decrease of core processing system expenses resulting from the sale of the indirect automobile loan portfolio in the first quarter of 2015.
Expenses related to Professional Services for the year ended December 31, 2015 decreased $1.2 million compared to the same period in 2014. The decrease was largely due to lower audit, tax and legal fees incurred in 2015.
Compensation and employee benefits expense for the year ended December 31, 2015 decreased $0.5 million compared to the same period in 2014. The decrease was primarily driven by a decrease in the Company's liability related to a supplemental executive retirement plan and a decrease in employee headcount in 2015.
Provision for Income Taxes
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Income before provision for income taxes
$
81,721

 
$
71,611

 
$
10,110

 
14.1
 %
Provision for income taxes
29,353

 
26,286

 
3,067

 
11.7
 %
Net income, before non-controlling interest in subsidiary
$
52,368

 
$
45,325

 
$
7,043

 
15.5
 %
Effective tax rate *
35.9
%
 
36.7
%
 
N/A

 
(2.1
)%

(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01.
The Company recorded income tax expense of $29.4 million for 2015, compared to $26.3 million for 2014. This represents a total effective tax rates of 35.9% and 36.7% for 2015 and 2014, respectively. The decrease in the Company's effective tax rate from 2014 was primarily driven by investments in municipal bonds and the formation of a new security corporation in Massachusetts.
Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013
Net Interest Income
For the year ended December 31, 2014, net interest income increased $12.9 million to $189.1 million from $176.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The year over year increase reflects a $9.7 million increase in interest income on loans and leases, a $1.6 million increase in interest income on debt securities, and lower interest expense on deposits and borrowings of $0.8 million which is reflective of the various portfolios repricing and replacing balances in the current low interest rate environment.
Net interest margin decreased by 3 basis points to 3.61% in 2014 from 3.64% in 2013. Competitive pressures on loan pricing resulted in a decrease in the Company's weighted average interest rate on loans (prior to purchase accounting adjustments) to 4.49% for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 4.66% for the year ended December 31, 2013. Interest amortization and accretion on acquired loans totaled $8.4 million and contributed 16 basis points to loan yields in 2014, compared to $4.7 million and 10 basis points in 2013, primarily due to changes in expected cash flows.
The decrease in asset yields in 2014 was offset by a decrease in the total cost of interest-bearing liabilities of 7 basis points, the Company's total cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 0.71% in 2014 compared to 0.78% in 2013. The decrease in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities was driven by a reduction in replacement rates on FHLB borrowings and the interest rates provided for certain deposit products. The cost of interest-bearing deposits decreased 8 basis points to 0.54% in 2014 from 0.62% in 2013 as customers continued to shift funds from certificates of deposits to non-maturity deposit products. For the year ended December 31, 2014, interest amortization and accretion on purchase accounting marks on borrowed funds and certificates of deposits totaled $3.1 million and contributed 5 basis points to the 2014 net interest margin compared to $3.8 million and 8 basis points in 2013.
Future net interest income, net interest spread and net interest margin may continue to be negatively affected by the low interest-rate environment, ongoing pricing pressures in both loan and deposit portfolios, and the ability of the Company to increase its core deposit ratio, increase its non-interest-bearing deposits as a percentage of total deposits, decrease its loan-to-deposit ratio, or decrease its reliance on FHLBB advances. It may also be negatively affected by changes in the amount of purchase accounting accretion and amortization included in interest income and interest expense.

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Table of Contents



Interest Income—Loans and Leases
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Interest income—loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate loans
$
102,852

 
$
97,550

 
$
5,302

 
5.4
 %
Commercial loans
21,164

 
20,567

 
597

 
2.9
 %
Equipment financing
39,807

 
31,076

 
8,731

 
28.1
 %
Indirect automobile loans
11,812

 
17,355

 
(5,543
)
 
(31.9
)%
Residential mortgage loans
19,957

 
19,926

 
31

 
0.2
 %
Other consumer loans
11,189

 
10,624

 
565

 
5.3
 %
Total interest income—loans
$
206,781

 
$
197,098

 
$
9,683

 
4.9
 %

Except for equipment financing, declines in the yields on all portfolios reflect the high rate of loan refinancings in a low rate environment and the intense pricing competition which affected the Company’s lending markets.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, interest income from loans and leases was $206.8 million , and represented a yield on total loans of 4.49% as compared to $197.1 million or 4.66% for 2013. The $9.7 million increase in interest income from loans and leases in 2014 was attributable to an increase of $20.0 million in origination volume which was offset by a decrease of $10.4 million due to the lower rate environment. The $5.5 million decrease in interest income from the indirect automobile portfolio is related to a run off of the indirect automobile loans and the shift to a higher yielding portfolio mix.
Accretion on acquired loans and leases of $8.4 million contributed 16 basis points to net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $4.7 million and 10 basis points for the year ended December 31, 2013. This increase was primarily due to a reforecast of certain acquired loans in the equipment financing portfolio, improved credit quality, and expected cash flows on certain acquired commercial real estate loans and leases.
Interest Income—Investments
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Interest income—investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
$
9,527

 
$
7,963

 
$
1,564

 
19.6
 %
Marketable and restricted equity securities
2,072

 
1,212

 
860

 
71.0
 %
Short-term investments
102

 
111

 
(9
)
 
(8.1
)%
Total interest income—investments
$
11,701

 
$
9,286

 
$
2,415

 
26.0
 %
In 2014, the total investment income was $11.7 million compared to $9.3 million in 2013. The increase in total investment income of $2.4 million, or 26.0%, was driven by a $1.6 million increase due to rates and a $0.8 million increase due to volume. The yield on total investments was 1.88% for 2014 as compared to 1.57% for 2013.


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Table of Contents

Interest Expense—Deposits and Borrowed Funds
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOW accounts
$
171

 
$
173

 
$
(2
)
 
(1.2
)%
Savings accounts
1,197

 
1,288

 
(91
)
 
(7.1
)%
Money market accounts
7,846

 
8,220

 
(374
)
 
(4.5
)%
Certificates of deposit
7,846

 
9,092

 
(1,246
)
 
(13.7
)%
Total interest expense—deposits
17,060

 
18,773

 
(1,713
)
 
(9.1
)%
Borrowed funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advances from the FHLBB
10,535

 
10,886

 
(351
)
 
(3.2
)%
Subordinated debentures and notes
1,740

 
439

 
1,301

 
296.4
 %
Other borrowed funds
79

 
68

 
11

 
16.2
 %
Total interest expense—borrowed funds
12,354

 
11,393

 
961

 
8.4
 %
Total interest expense
$
29,414

 
$
30,166

 
$
(752
)
 
(2.5
)%
Deposits
Ongoing declines in the interest rates paid on deposits and continued declines in certificate of deposit balances as a
percentage of total deposits contributed to reductions in the Company’s overall cost of deposits.
Interest paid on deposits decreased $1.7 million, or 9.1%, in 2014 as compared to 2013. In 2014, interest expense increased $0.4 million due to the growth in deposits, which was offset by a $2.1 million decrease in deposit-related interest expense resulting from decreases in interest rates. Accretion on acquired deposits was $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Accretion did not impact the Company's net interest margin during the same period. While interest-bearing deposit balances increased during this period, the increases in interest expense on deposits due to volume were offset by decreases in interest expense due to deposit offering rates.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, interest-bearing deposit average balances grew $120.4 million, or 3.9%, which was attributable to increases in money market accounts, NOW accounts, and savings accounts of $156.7 million, or 11.4%; $14.4 million, or 7.2% and $9.3 million, or 1.8%, respectively, offset by a decline in certificate of deposit of $60.0 million, or 6.2%. The reduction in rates offered on certificate of deposit accounts contributed significantly to the reduction in the cost of interest-bearing deposits to 0.54% in 2014 from 0.62% in 2013.

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Table of Contents

Borrowed Funds
The Company's funds as of December 31, 2014 included $1.0 billion in FHLBB advances, $9.2 million in subordinated debt acquired in the BankRI acquisition, $73.5 million in newly issued subordinated debt, and $39.6 million in repurchase agreements. The average balance of FHLBB advances increased $175.8 million, or 23.1%, in 2014, average balance of subordinated debentures and notes increased $21.2 million, or 222.2%, while other borrowed funds, which include repurchase agreements, decreased $10.3 million, or 26.4% in 2014.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, interest paid on borrowed funds increased $1.0 million, or 8.4%,compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase was primarily due to the new subordinated notes issued during the third quarter of 2014. Debt-related interest expenses decreased $2.4 million as a result of decreases in the Company's borrowing rates from 1.41% in 2013 to 1.24% in 2014, which was offset by an increase in interest expense due to an increase of $3.4 million in the debt levels in 2014 . The decrease in the cost of borrowed funds was driven by maturing borrowings which were replaced at lower costs due to the current low rate environment. Interest amortization and accretion on acquired borrowed funds totaled $2.8 million and contributed 5 basis points to the 2014 net interest margin as compared to $3.4 million and 7 basis points in 2013.


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Table of Contents

Provision for Credit Losses
The provisions for credit losses are set forth below:
 
Originated
 
Acquired
 
Total
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Provision for loan and lease losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
5,009

 
$
2,563

 
$
1,689

 
$
516

 
$
6,698

 
$
3,079

Commercial
2,030

 
4,917

 
413

 
1,068

 
2,443

 
5,985

Indirect automobile
(864
)
 
(167
)
 

 

 
(864
)
 
(167
)
Consumer
417

 
286

 
59

 
1,190

 
476

 
1,476

Unallocated
(514
)
 
302

 

 

 
(514
)
 
302

Total provision for loan and lease losses
6,078

 
7,901

 
2,161

 
2,774

 
8,239

 
10,675

Unfunded credit commitments
238

 
254

 



 
238

 
254

Total provision for credit losses
$
6,316

 
$
8,155

 
$
2,161

 
$
2,774

 
$
8,477

 
$
10,929

The provision for credit losses in 2014 and 2013 was $8.5 million and $10.9 million, respectively. The provision of loan and lease losses decreased approximately $2.5 million in 2014 compared to 2013 primarily due to the continued favorable trends in the credit characteristics of the commercial construction, equipment financing and indirect automobile portfolios. The decrease was partially offset by additional reserves required for loan growth in the originated portfolios and credit deterioration in the acquired portfolios in 2014. See Management's discussion in "Allowances for Credit Losses—Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses" and Note 7, "Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses," to the consolidated financial statements for a description of how Management determined the allowance for loan and lease losses for each portfolio and class of loans.
The liability for unfunded credit commitments, which is included in other liabilities, was $1.3 million as of December 31, 2014 and $1.0 million as of December 31, 2013. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the liability for unfunded credit commitments increased by $0.3 million to reflect changes in the estimate of loss exposure associated with certain unfunded credit commitments which increased the provision for credit losses by the same amount in 2014. No credit commitments were charged off against the Company's liability account for the years ended December 31, 2014 or 2013.
Non-Interest Income
The following table sets forth the components of non-interest income:
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Deposit fees
$
8,692

 
$
8,172

 
$
520

 
6.4
 %
Loan fees
1,010

 
1,415

 
(405
)
 
(28.6
)%
Loan level derivative income, net
946

 

 
946

 
100.0
 %
Gain on sales of loans and leases held-for-sale
1,651

 
794

 
857

 
107.9
 %
Gain on sales of investment securities, net
65

 
397

 
(332
)
 
(83.6
)%
Gain on sale/disposals of premises and equipment, net
1,502

 

 
1,502

 
100.0
 %
Other
6,314

 
4,841

 
1,473

 
30.4
 %
Total non-interest income
$
20,180

 
$
15,619

 
$
4,561

 
29.2
 %
For the year ended December 31, 2014, non-interest income increased $4.6 million, or 29.2%, to $20.2 million from $15.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.


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Table of Contents

Loan level derivative income, net increased $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily driven by the execution of new loan level interest rate swap agreements completed in the year.
Gain on sales of loans and leases held for sale increased $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily driven by the participation sale of certain pools of equipment financing to manage concentration risk.
Gain on sale/disposals of premises and equipment increased $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily due to the sale of a building in 2014 which resulted in a gain of $1.6 million.
Other income increased $1.5 million to $6.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily due to a $1.4 million legal settlement the company received from an insurance carrier in relation to litigation in 2014.

Non-Interest Expense
The following table sets forth the components of non-interest expense:
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Compensation and employee benefits
$
71,801

 
$
65,261

 
$
6,540

 
10.0
 %
Occupancy
14,294

 
12,616

 
1,678

 
13.3
 %
Equipment and data processing
17,020

 
16,899

 
121

 
0.7
 %
Professional services
5,357

 
5,673

 
(316
)
 
(5.6
)%
FDIC insurance
3,362

 
3,102

 
260

 
8.4
 %
Advertising and marketing
3,058

 
3,003

 
55

 
1.8
 %
Amortization of identified intangible assets
3,343

 
4,623

 
(1,280
)
 
(27.7
)%
Other
10,925

 
11,265

 
(340
)
 
(3.0
)%
Total non-interest expense
$
129,160

 
$
122,442

 
$
6,718

 
5.5
 %
For the year ended December 31, 2014, non-interest expense increased 5.5% to $129.2 million, primarily due to increases in compensation and employee benefits expenses. The efficiency ratio decreased to 61.73% for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 63.83% for the year ended December 31, 2013. Improvements in the efficiency ratio in 2014 were driven by increases in net interest income and non-interest income which were primarily offset by increases in non-interest expense.
In 2014, compensation and employee benefits expense increased $6.5 million, or 10.0%. Several factors contributed to the increase. The Company recorded an additional $3.6 million in incentive plan expenses in 2014. Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan expenses increased $1.3 million due to a decrease in the discount rate. Additionally, the Company suspended the indirect automobile lending line of business during the fourth quarter of 2014 and recognized a $0.2 million severance charge. There were also increases in overall compensation and employee benefits expense for additional staffing for the opening of the Wakefield, Rhode Island, branch of BankRI during the second quarter of 2014 and to support the growth in equipment financing.
Occupancy expense increased $1.7 million, or 13.3%, compared to 2013. The increase was primarily due to additional expenses associated with the newly opened branch in Wakefield, Rhode Island, as well as the recognition of future lease obligation associated with the consolidation of an operations center, offices for indirect automobile operations and two discontinued branch properties.
The increases in occupancy cost were offset by decreases in amortization of identified intangible assets due to the accelerated method of amortization for certain intangible assets and that several intangible assets that were fully amortized as of December 31, 2013.

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Provision for income taxes
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Income before provision for income taxes
$
71,611

 
$
58,466

 
$
13,145

 
22.5
%
Provision for income taxes
26,286

 
20,664

 
5,622

 
27.2
%
Net income
$
45,325

 
$
37,802

 
$
7,523

 
19.9
%
Effective tax rate
36.7
%
 
35.3
%
 
N/A

 
3.9
%
    
The Company recorded income tax expense of $26.3 million for 2014, compared to $20.7 million for 2013 which represents a total effective tax rates of 36.7% and 35.3%, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the tax credit received in 2013 for the rehabilitation of the Company's headquarters.


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Table of Contents

Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
Liquidity is defined as the ability to meet current and future financial obligations of a short-term nature. The Company further defines liquidity as the ability to respond to the needs of depositors and borrowers, as well as to earnings enhancement opportunities, in a changing marketplace. Liquidity management is monitored by an Asset/Liability Committee ("ALCO"), consisting of members of Management, which is responsible for establishing and monitoring liquidity targets as well as strategies and tactics to meet these targets.
The primary source of funds for the payment of dividends and expenses by the Company is dividends paid to it by the Banks and Brookline Securities Corp. The primary sources of liquidity for the Banks consist of deposit inflows, loan repayments, borrowed funds and maturing investment securities.
Deposits, which are considered the most stable source of liquidity, totaled $4.3 billion as of December 31, 2015 and represented 81.4% of total funding (the sum of total deposits and total borrowings), compared to deposits of $4.0 billion, or 77.8% of total funding, as of December 31, 2014. Core deposits, which consist of demand checking, NOW, savings and money market accounts, totaled $3.2 billion as of December 31, 2015 and represented 74.7% of total deposits, compared to core deposits of $3.0 billion, or 76.1% of total deposits, as of December 31, 2014. Additionally, the Company had $252.3 million of brokered deposits as of December 31, 2015, which represented 5.9% of total deposits, compared to $62.0 million or 1.6% of total deposits, as of December 31, 2014. The Company offers attractive interest rates based on market conditions to increase deposits balances, while managing cost of funds.
Borrowings are used to diversify the Company's funding mix and to support asset growth. When profitable lending and investment opportunities exist, access to borrowings provides a means to grow the balance sheet. Borrowings totaled $1.0 billion as of December 31, 2015, representing 18.6% of total funding, compared to $1.1 billion, or 22.2% of total funding, as of December 31, 2014. The decrease was due to decreased FHLBB borrowings of $142.2 million using the excess liquidity generated by the sale of the indirect automobile portfolio.
As members of the FHLBB, the Banks have access to both short- and long-term borrowings. As of December 31, 2015, the Company's total borrowing limit from the FHLBB for advances and repurchase agreements was $1.3 billion as compared to $1.5 billion as of December 31, 2014, based on the level of qualifying collateral available for these borrowings.
As of December 31, 2015, the Banks also have access to funding through certain uncommitted lines of credit of $119.0 million. The Company had a $12.0 million committed line of credit for contingent liquidity as of December 31, 2015.
The Company has access to the Federal Reserve Bank "discount window" to supplement its liquidity. The Company has $81.0 million of borrowing capacity at the Federal Reserve Bank as of December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, the Company did not have any borrowings with the Federal Reserve Bank outstanding.
Additionally, the Banks have access to liquidity through repurchase agreements and brokered deposits.
In general, the Company seeks to maintain a high degree of liquidity and targets cash, cash equivalents and investment securities available-for-sale balances of between 10% and 30% of total assets. As of December 31, 2015, cash, cash equivalents and investment securities available-for-sale totaled $588.7 million, or 9.7% of total assets. This compares to $613.5 million, or 10.6% of total assets as of December 31, 2014.
While Management believes that the Company has adequate liquidity to meet its commitments, and to fund the Banks' lending and investment activities, the availabilities of these funding sources are subject to broad economic conditions and could be restricted in the future. Such restrictions would impact the Company's immediate liquidity and/or additional liquidity needs.
Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company and the Banks were under the primary regulation of and required to comply with the capital requirements of the FRB. At those dates, the Company, Brookline Bank, BankRI and First Ipswich exceeded all regulatory capital requirements and the banks were considered "well-capitalized." See details in "Supervision and Regulation" in Item 1.

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The Company's and the Banks' actual and required capital amounts and ratios were as follows:
 
 
Actual
 
Minimum Required for
Capital Adequacy
Purposes
 
Minimum Required
To Be
Considered "Well-
Capitalized" Under Prompt Corrective Action Rules
 
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
At December 31, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brookline Bancorp, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio
(1)
$
530,505

 
10.62
%
 
$
225,214

 
4.50
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(2)
545,035

 
9.37
%
 
231,930

 
4.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(3)
545,035

 
10.91
%
 
300,019

 
6.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Total risk-based capital ratio
(4)
676,709

 
13.54
%
 
401,013

 
8.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Brookline Bank
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio
(1)
$
374,002

 
11.89
%
 
$
141,548

 
4.50
%
 
$
204,459

 
6.50
%
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(2)
380,003

 
10.78
%
 
141,003

 
4.00
%
 
176,254

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(3)
380,003

 
12.08
%
 
188,743

 
6.00
%
 
251,658

 
8.00
%
Total risk-based capital ratio
(4)
417,270

 
13.27
%
 
251,557

 
8.00
%
 
314,446

 
10.00
%
BankRI
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio
(1)
$
171,967

 
10.63
%
 
$
72,799

 
4.50
%
 
$
105,154

 
6.50
%
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(2)
171,967

 
8.51
%
 
80,831

 
4.00
%
 
101,038

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(3)
171,967

 
10.63
%
 
97,065

 
6.00
%
 
129,420

 
8.00
%
Total risk-based capital ratio
(4)
189,953

 
11.74
%
 
129,440

 
8.00
%
 
161,800

 
10.00
%
First Ipswich
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio
(1)
$
32,831

 
13.87
%
 
$
10,652

 
4.50
%
 
$
15,386

 
6.50
%
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(2)
32,831

 
9.26
%
 
14,182

 
4.00
%
 
17,727

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(3)
32,831

 
13.87
%
 
14,202

 
6.00
%
 
18,936

 
8.00
%
Total risk-based capital ratio
(4)
35,617

 
15.05
%
 
18,933

 
8.00
%
 
23,666

 
10.00
%
At December 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brookline Bancorp, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(1)
$
504,964

 
9.01
%
 
$
224,179

 
4.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(2)
504,964

 
10.55
%
 
191,456

 
4.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Total risk-based capital ratio
(3)
633,421

 
13.24
%
 
382,732

 
8.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Brookline Bank
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(1)
$
336,513

 
9.60
%
 
$
140,214

 
4.00
%
 
$
175,267

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(2)
336,513

 
10.72
%
 
125,565

 
4.00
%
 
188,347

 
6.00
%
Total risk-based capital ratio
(3)
373,312

 
11.90
%
 
250,966

 
8.00
%
 
313,708

 
10.00
%
BankRI
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(1)
$
150,403

 
8.43
%
 
$
71,366

 
4.00
%
 
$
89,207

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(2)
150,403

 
10.70
%
 
56,225

 
4.00
%
 
84,338

 
6.00
%
Total risk-based capital ratio
(3)
166,135

 
11.82
%
 
112,443

 
8.00
%
 
140,554

 
10.00
%
First Ipswich
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(1)
$
29,962

 
9.27
%
 
$
12,929

 
4.00
%
 
$
16,161

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(2)
29,962

 
12.40
%
 
9,665

 
4.00
%
 
14,498

 
6.00
%
Total risk-based capital ratio
(3)
32,375

 
13.40
%
 
19,328

 
8.00
%
 
24,160

 
10.00
%
_______________________________________________________________________________


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Table of Contents

(1)
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio is calculated by dividing common equity Tier 1 capital by risk-weighted assets. The ratio was established as part of the implementation of Basel III, effective January 1, 2015.
(2)
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio is calculated by dividing Tier 1 capital by average assets.
(3)
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is calculated by dividing Tier 1 capital by risk-weighted assets.
(4)
Total risk-based capital ratio is calculated by dividing total capital by risk-weighted assets.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements
The Company is party to off-balance sheet financial instruments in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to reduce its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments include loan commitments, standby and commercial letters of credit and interest rate swaps. According to GAAP, these financial instruments are not recorded in the financial statements until they are funded or related fees are incurred or received. The effect of such activity on the Company's financial condition and results of operations, such as recorded liability for unfunded credit commitment, is immaterial. See Note 13, "Commitments and Contingencies," to the consolidated financial statements for a description of off-balance-sheet financial instruments.
Contractual Obligations
A summary of contractual obligations by the expected payment period for the date indicated follows.
 
Payment Due by Period
 
Less Than
One Year
 
One to
Three Years
 
More than Three Years to
Five Years
 
Over Five
Years
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
At December 31, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advances from the FHLBB
$
575,749

 
$
264,898

 
$
5,433

 
$
15,786

 
$
861,866

Subordinated debentures and notes

 

 

 
82,936

 
82,936

Other borrowed funds
38,227

 

 

 

 
38,227

Loan commitments(1)
1,089,038

 

 

 

 
1,089,038

Occupancy lease commitments(2)
4,933

 
8,543

 
5,884

 
13,521

 
32,881

Service provider contracts(3)
7,516

 
22,904

 
2,212

 
1,069

 
33,701

Postretirement benefit obligations(4)
451

 
1,329

 
959

 
18,157

 
20,896

 
$
1,715,914

 
$
297,674

 
$
14,488

 
$
131,469

 
$
2,159,545

_______________________________________________________________________________
(1)
These amounts represent commitments made by the Company to extend credit to borrowers as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses. Since some of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amount does not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
(2)
The Company leases certain office space under various noncancellable operating leases. These leases have original terms ranging from 5 years to over 25 years. Certain leases contain renewal options and escalation clauses for real estate taxes and other expenditures which can increase rental expenses based principally on the consumer price index and fair market rental value provisions.
(3)
Payments to service providers under most of the existing contracts are based on the volume of accounts served or transactions processed. Some contracts also call for higher required payments when there are increases in the Consumer Price Index. The expected payments shown in this table are based on an estimate of the number of accounts to be served or transactions to be processed, but do not include any projection of the effect of changes in the Consumer Price Index.
(4)
These amounts represent commitments made by the Company for a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan as part of the acquisition of BankRI and a Postretirement Benefits Plan, at Brookline Bank, that provides part of the annual expense of health insurance premiums for retired employees and their dependents.

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Table of Contents

Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market Risk
Market risk is the risk that the market value or estimated fair value of the Company's assets, liabilities, and derivative financial instruments will decline as a result of changes in interest rates or financial market volatility, or that the Company's net income will be significantly reduced by interest-rate changes.
Interest-Rate Risk
The principal market risk facing the Company is interest-rate risk, which can occur in a variety of forms, including repricing risk, yield-curve risk, basis risk and prepayment risk. Repricing risk occurs when the change in the average yield of either interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities is more sensitive than the other to changes in market interest rates. Such a change in sensitivity could reflect a number of possible mismatches in the repricing opportunities of the Company's assets and liabilities. Yield-curve risk reflects the possibility that changes in the shape of the yield curve could have different effects on the Company's assets and liabilities. Basis risk occurs when different parts of the balance sheet are subject to varying base rates reflecting the possibility that the spread from those base rates will deviate. Prepayment risk is associated with financial instruments with an option to prepay before the stated maturity, often a disadvantage to person selling the option; this risk is most often associated with the prepayment of loans, callable investments, and callable borrowings.
Asset/Liability Management
Market risk and interest-rate risk management is governed by the Company's Asset/Liability Committee ("ALCO"). The ALCO establishes exposure limits that define the Company's tolerance for interest-rate risk. The ALCO and the Company's Treasury Group measure and manage the composition of the balance sheet over a range of possible changes in interest rates while remaining responsive to market demand for loan and deposit products. The ALCO monitors current exposures versus limits and reports those results to the Board of Directors. The policy limits and guidelines serve as benchmarks for measuring interest-rate risk and for providing a framework for evaluation and interest-rate risk-management decision-making. The Company measures its interest-rate risk by using an asset/liability simulation model. The model considers several factors to determine the Company's potential exposure to interest-rate risk, including measurement of repricing gaps, duration, convexity, value-at-risk, market value of portfolio equity under assumed changes in the level of interest rates, the shape of yield curves, and general market volatility.
Management controls the Company's interest-rate exposure using several strategies, which include adjusting the maturities of securities in the Company's investment portfolio, limiting or expanding the terms of loans originated, limiting fixed-rate deposits with terms of more than five years, and adjusting maturities of FHLBB advances. The Company limits this risk by restricting the types of MBSs it invests in to those with limited average life changes under certain interest-rate-shock scenarios, or securities with embedded prepayment penalties. The Company also places limits on holdings of fixed-rate mortgage loans with maturities greater than five years. The Company may also use derivative instruments, principally interest-rate swaps, to manage its interest-rate risk; however, the Company had no derivative fair value hedges or derivative cash flows hedges as of December 31, 2015 or 2014. See Note 16, "Derivatives and Hedging Activities," to the consolidated financial statements.
Measuring Interest-Rate Risk
As noted above, interest-rate risk can be measured by analyzing the extent to which the repricing of assets and liabilities are mismatched to create an interest-rate sensitivity gap. An asset or liability is said to be interest-rate sensitive within a specific period if it will mature or reprice within that period. The interest-rate sensitivity gap is defined as the difference between the amount of interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within a specific time period and the amount of interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within that same time period. A gap is considered positive when the amount of interest-rate-sensitive assets exceeds the amount of interest-rate-sensitive liabilities. A gap is considered negative when the amount of interest-rate-sensitive liabilities exceeds the amount of interest-rate-sensitive assets. During a period of falling interest rates, therefore, a positive gap would tend to adversely affect net interest income. Conversely, during a period of rising interest rates, a positive gap position would tend to result in an increase in net interest income.
The Company's interest-rate risk position is measured using both income simulation and interest-rate sensitivity "gap" analysis. Income simulation is the primary tool for measuring the interest-rate risk inherent in the Company's balance sheet at a given point in time by showing the effect on net interest income, over a twelve-month period, of a variety of interest-rate shocks. These simulations take into account repricing, maturity, and prepayment characteristics of individual products. The ALCO reviews simulation results to determine whether exposure resulting from changes in market interest rates remains within established tolerance levels over a twelve-month horizon, and develops appropriate strategies to manage this exposure. The Company's interest-rate risk analysis remains modestly asset-sensitive as of December 31, 2015.

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Table of Contents

The assumptions used in the Company’s interest-rate sensitivity simulation discussed above are inherently uncertain and, as a result, the simulations cannot precisely measure net interest income or precisely predict the impact of changes in interest rates.
As of December 31, 2015, net interest income simulation indicated that the Company's exposure to changing interest rates was within tolerance. The ALCO reviews the methodology utilized for calculating interest-rate risk exposure and may periodically adopt modifications to this methodology. The following table presents the estimated impact of interest-rate changes on the Company's estimated net interest income over the twelve-month periods indicated:
 
Estimated Exposure to Net Interest Income
over Twelve-Month Horizon Beginning
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Gradual Change in Interest Rate Levels
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Up 300 basis points
$
11,616

 
5.9
 %
 
$
1,882

 
1.0
 %
Up 200 basis points
8,144

 
4.2
 %
 
1,327

 
0.7
 %
Up 100 basis points
4,246

 
2.2
 %
 
693

 
0.4
 %
Down 100 basis points
(8,852
)
 
(4.5
)%
 
(2,828
)
 
(1.5
)%

The estimated impact of a 300 basis points increase in market interest rates on the Company's estimated net interest income over a twelve-month horizon was a positive 5.9% as of December 31, 2015, compared to a positive 1.0% as of December 31, 2014, the increase in asset sensitivity was due to a change in the funding mix, as deposits replaced wholesale funding.

Economic Value of Equity ("EVE") at Risk Simulation is conducted in tandem with net interest income simulations to ascertain a longer term view of the Company’s interest-rate risk position by capturing longer-term repricing risk and options risk embedded in the balance sheet. It measures the sensitivity of the economic value of equity to changes in interest rates. The EVE at Risk Simulation values only the current balance sheet and does not incorporate growth assumptions. As with the net interest income simulation, this simulation captures product characteristics such as loan resets, repricing terms, maturity dates, and rate caps and floors. Key assumptions include loan prepayment speeds, deposit pricing elasticity, and non-maturity deposit attrition rates. These assumptions can have significant impacts on valuation results as the assumptions remain in effect for the entire life of each asset and liability. The Company conducts non-maturity deposit behavior studies on a periodic basis to support deposit assumptions used in the valuation process. All key assumptions are subject to a periodic review.

EVE at Risk is calculated by estimating the net present value of all future cash flows from existing assets and liabilities using current interest rates as well as parallel shocks to the current interest-rate environment. The following table sets forth the estimated percentage change in the Company’s EVE at Risk, assuming various shifts in interest rates. Given the interest rate environment as of December 31, 2015, simulations for interest rate declines of more than 100 basis points were not deemed to be meaningful.
 
 
Estimated Percent Change in Economic Value of Equity
Parallel Shock in Interest Rate Levels
 
At December 31, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
Up 300 basis points
 
7.1
 %
 
(2.6
)%
Up 200 basis points
 
4.2
 %
 
(2.5
)%
Up 100 basis points
 
2.0
 %
 
(1.0
)%
Down 100 basis points
 
(7.7
)%
 
(5.4
)%
The Company also uses interest-rate sensitivity "gap" analysis to provide a more general overview of its interest-rate risk profile. The interest-rate sensitivity gap is defined as the difference between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within a given time period. The table below shows the Company's interest-rate sensitivity gap position as of December 31, 2015.

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Table of Contents

 
One Year
or Less
 
More than
One Year to
Two Years
 
More than
Two Years
to Three
Years
 
More than
Three Years
to Five Years
 
More than
Five Years
 
Total
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Interest-earning assets(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term investments
$
46,736

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
46,736

Weighted average rate

 

 

 

 

 

Investment securities(1) (3)
97,566

 
65,373

 
77,667

 
123,358

 
242,994

 
606,958

Weighted average rate
1.97
 %
 
1.96
%
 
2.02
%
 
1.85
%
 
2.08
 %
 
2.00
%
Commercial real estate loans(1)
1,261,145

 
488,896

 
384,988

 
465,273

 
64,092

 
2,664,394

Weighted average rate
3.57
 %
 
4.25
%
 
4.26
%
 
4.38
%
 
4.61
 %
 
3.96
%
Commercial loans and leases(1)
794,541

 
263,850

 
172,593

 
138,325

 
4,987

 
1,374,296

Weighted average rate
5.35
 %
 
6.20
%
 
5.92
%
 
5.61
%
 
(16.55
)%
 
5.53
%
Indirect automobile loans(1)
8,604

 
3,420

 
1,148

 
298

 
208

 
13,678

Weighted average rate
5.09
 %
 
5.35
%
 
4.91
%
 
4.28
%
 
 %
 
5.04
%
Consumer loans(1)
524,446

 
128,595

 
100,041

 
119,059

 
71,031

 
943,172

Weighted average rate
3.46
 %
 
3.82
%
 
3.78
%
 
3.87
%
 
3.26
 %
 
3.58
%
Total interest-earning assets
2,733,038

 
950,134

 
736,437

 
846,313

 
383,312

 
5,649,234

Weighted average rate
3.95
 %
 
4.58
%
 
4.35
%
 
4.14
%
 
2.48
 %
 
4.04
%
Interest-bearing liabilities(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOW accounts

 

 

 

 
283,972

 
283,972

Weighted average rate

 

 

 

 
0.06
 %
 
0.06
%
Savings accounts

 

 

 

 
540,788

 
540,788

Weighted average rate

 

 

 

 
0.25
 %
 
0.25
%
Money market savings accounts
1,589,076

 

 

 

 
5,193

 
1,594,269

Weighted average rate
0.44
 %
 

 

 

 

 
0.44
%
Certificates of deposit(1)
718,317

 
227,297

 
61,279

 
77,981

 
2,998

 
1,087,872

Weighted average rate
0.75
 %
 
1.02
%
 
1.40
%
 
1.99
%
 
 %
 
0.93
%
Borrowed funds(1)
639,696

 
211,916

 
42,730

 
2,909

 
85,778

 
983,029

Weighted average rate
0.92
 %
 
2.91
%
 
2.50
%
 
4.17
%
 
5.70
 %
 
1.85
%
Total interest-bearing liabilities
2,947,089

 
439,213

 
104,009

 
80,890

 
918,729

 
4,489,930

Weighted average rate
0.62
 %
 
1.93
%
 
1.85
%
 
2.06
%
 
0.70
 %
 
0.82
%
Interest sensitivity gap(2)
$
(214,051
)
 
$
510,921

 
$
632,428

 
$
765,423

 
$
(535,417
)
 
$
1,159,304

Cumulative interest sensitivity gap
$
(214,051
)
 
$
296,870

 
$
929,298

 
$
1,694,721

 
$
1,159,304

 
 

Cumulative interest sensitivity gap as a percentage of total assets
(3.54
)%
 
4.91
%
 
15.38
%
 
28.05
%
 
19.19
 %
 
 

Cumulative interest sensitivity gap as a percentage of total interest-earning assets
(3.79
)%
 
5.26
%
 
16.45
%
 
30.00
%
 
20.52
 %
 
 

_______________________________________________________________________________
(1)
Interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities are included in the period in which the balances are expected to be redeployed and/or repriced as a result of anticipated prepayments, scheduled rate adjustments and contractual maturities.
(2)
Interest sensitivity gap represents the difference between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.
(3)
Investment securities include all debt, equity and restricted equity securities and unrealized gains and losses on investment securities.
As of December 31, 2015, interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within one year amounted to $2.7 billion and interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within one year amounted to $2.9 billion, resulting in a cumulative one-year negative gap position of $214.1 million or 3.79% of total interest-earning assets. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had a cumulative one-year negative gap position of $371.2 million, or 6.88% of total interest-earning assets. The change in the cumulative one-year gap position from December 31, 2014 was due to increased FHLB borrowings.
Interest rates paid on NOW accounts, savings accounts and money market accounts are subject to change at any time and such deposits are available for immediate withdrawal. A review of rates paid on these deposit categories over the last several years indicated that the amount and timing of rate changes did not coincide with the amount and timing of rate changes on other deposits when the FRB adjusted its benchmark federal funds rate.
Management views NOW and savings accounts to be less sensitive to interest rates than money market accounts and these accounts are therefore characterized as stable long-term funding sensitive beyond five years. Management views money

74

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market accounts to be more volatile deposits and these accounts are therefore characterized as sensitive to changes in interest rates within the first year.

75

Table of Contents

Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The following financial statements and supplementary data required by this item are presented on the following pages which appear elsewhere herein:
 
Pages
F-7 - F-9
F-10 - F-11
F-12 - F-96

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Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's Management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer), the Company has evaluated the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company's Management, including its Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There has been no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the quarterly evaluation that occurred during the Company's last fiscal quarter that has materially and detrimentally affected, or is reasonably likely to materially and detrimentally affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
The Company's Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). The Company's internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to its Management and the Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. The Company's Management assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this report. In addition, the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this report has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm as stated in its report which is included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
On May 14, 2013, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) issued an updated version of its Internal Control - Integrated Framework, referred to as the 2013 COSO Framework. Management assessed the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, in relation to criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting as described in “Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992),” issued by COSO. Management has adopted the 2013 COSO Framework and deemed the change from the 1992 COSO Framework to the 2013 COSO Framework not significant to the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting as of December 31, 2015 appears on page F-1 herein and the related Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm thereon appears on page F-2 herein.
Item 9B.    Other Information
None.
PART III
Item 10.    Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders ("Proxy Statement").
Item 11.    Executive Compensation
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to Proxy Statement.
Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to Proxy Statement.
Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to Proxy Statement.
Item 14.    Principal Accounting Fees and Services

77

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The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to Proxy Statement.
PART IV
Item 15.    Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
(a)
Financial Statements
All financial statements are included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules
All financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not required, not applicable or are included in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.
(3)
Exhibits
The exhibits listed in paragraph (b) below are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference to other filings.
(b)
Exhibits
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
 
Description
1.1

 
Underwriting Agreement, dated September 11, 2014, by and among Brookline Bancorp, Inc., Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc. and Sandler O’Neil + Partners, L.P., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 12, 2014)
2.1

 
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 19, 2011, by and between Brookline Bancorp, Inc. and Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 22, 2011)
3.1

 
Certificate of Incorporation of Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 (included in Exhibit 2) of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company on April 10, 2002 (Registration No. 333-85980))
3.2

 
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.02 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 10, 2013)
4

 
Form of Common Stock Certificate of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company on April 10, 2002 (Registration No. 333-85980))
4.1

 
Subordinated Indenture, dated as of September 16, 2014, between Brookline Bancorp, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 17, 2014)
4.2

 
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 16, 2014, between Brookline Bancorp, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 17, 2014)
4.3

 
Form of Global Note to represent the 6.000% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due September 15, 2029 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 17, 2014)
10.1+

 
Brookline Bancorp, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan effective January 1, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 16, 2010)
10.2+

 
Brookline Bancorp, Inc. 2003 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A of the Company's Proxy Statement filed on July 23, 2003)
10.3+

 
Brookline Bancorp, Inc. 2003 Recognition and Retention Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit B of the Company's Proxy Statement filed on July 23, 2003)
10.4+

 
Brookline Bancorp, Inc. 2011 Restricted Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company's Proxy Statement filed on March 17, 2011)
10.5+

 
Brookline Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2014)
10.6+

 
Employment Agreement, dated as of April 11, 2011, by and among Brookline Bancorp, Inc., Brookline Bank and Paul A. Perrault (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 15, 2011)

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Table of Contents

Exhibit
 
Description
10.7+

 
Retirement Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2010, by and between Brookline Bancorp, Inc., Brookline Bank and Charles H. Peck (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 27, 2010)
10.8+

 
Employment Letter Agreement, dated as of April 19, 2011, by and between Brookline Bancorp, Inc. and Mark J. Meiklejohn (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the Company on July 25, 2011 (Registration Number 333-174731))
10.9+

 
Form of Amended Change in Control Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 9, 2014)
14.1

 
Code of Ethics for Financial Professionals (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 to Form 10-K filed on March 10, 2006)
21

 
Subsidiaries of the Registrant (incorporated by reference in Part I, Item 1. "Business—General" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K)
23*

 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
31.1*

 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*

 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1**

 
Rule 13a-14(b) Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2**

 
Rule 13a-14(b) Certifications of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101

 
The following materials from Brookline Bancorp, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 were formatted in xBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i)  Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
_______________________________________________________________________________
*
Filed herewith
**
Furnished herewith
+
Management contract or compensatory plan or agreement
(c)
Other Required Financial Statements and Schedules
Not applicable.

79

Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
Date: February 29, 2016
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC.
 
By:
/s/ PAUL A. PERRAULT
 
 
Paul A. Perrault
 President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By:
 
/s/ PAUL A. PERRAULT
 
By:
 
/s/ CARL M. CARLSON
 
 
Paul A. Perrault,
 President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
Carl M. Carlson,
 Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ MARGARET BOLES FITZGERALD
 
By:
 
/s/ CHARLES H. PECK
 
 
Margaret Boles Fitzgerald,
 Director
 
 
 
Charles H. Peck,
Director
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
Date: February 26, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ DAVID C. CHAPIN
 
By:
 
/s/ JOHN M. PEREIRA
 
 
David C. Chapin,
 Director
 
 
 
John M. Pereira,
 Director
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ JOHN J. DOYLE, JR.
 
By:
 
/s/ MERRILL W. SHERMAN
 
 
John J. Doyle, Jr.,
 Director
 
 
 
Merrill W. Sherman,
 Director
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ JOHN A. HACKETT
 
By:
 
/s/ JOSEPH J. SLOTNIK
 
 
John A. Hackett,
 Director
 
 
 
Joseph J. Slotnik,
 Chairman and Director
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ JOHN L. HALL, II
 
By:
 
/s/ ROSAMOND B. VAULE
 
 
John L. Hall, II,
 Director
 
 
 
Rosamond B. Vaule,
 Director
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ THOMAS J. HOLLISTER
 
By:
 
/s/ PETER O. WILDE
 
 
Thomas J. Hollister,
 Director
 
 
 
Peter O. Wilde,
 Director
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ BOGDAN NOWAK
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bogdan Nowak,
Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: February 29, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

80

Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT'S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL
OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The Management of Brookline Bancorp, Inc. is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Brookline Bancorp Inc.'s internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company's Management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.
All internal control systems, no matter how well-designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
Brookline Bancorp, Inc.'s Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessment, we believe that, as of December 31, 2015, the Company's internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.
Brookline Bancorp, Inc.'s independent registered public accounting firm has issued an audit report on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. This report appears on page F-2.
/s/ PAUL A. PERRAULT
 
/s/ CARL M. CARLSON
Paul A. Perrault
 
Carl M. Carlson
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

F-1

Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Brookline Bancorp, Inc.:
We have audited Brookline Bancorp, Inc.’s (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s Management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Brookline Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015, and our report dated February 29, 2016 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 29, 2016

F-2

Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Brookline Bancorp, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Brookline Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2015. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s Management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by Management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Brookline Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 29, 2016 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 29, 2016

F-3

Table of Contents

BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In Thousands Except Share Data)
ASSETS
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks
$
28,753

 
$
36,893

Short-term investments
46,736

 
25,830

Total cash and cash equivalents
75,489

 
62,723

Investment securities available-for-sale
513,201

 
550,761

Investment securities held-to-maturity (fair value of $93,695 and $500, respectively)
93,757

 
500

Total investment securities
606,958

 
551,261

Loans held-for-sale
13,383

 
1,537

Loans and leases:
 
 
 
Commercial real estate loans
2,664,394

 
2,467,801

Commercial loans and leases
1,374,296

 
1,167,094

Indirect automobile loans
13,678

 
316,987

Consumer loans
943,172

 
870,725

Total loans and leases
4,995,540

 
4,822,607

Allowance for loan and lease losses
(56,739
)
 
(53,659
)
Net loans and leases
4,938,801

 
4,768,948

Restricted equity securities
66,117

 
74,804

Premises and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $51,722 and $44,668, respectively
78,156

 
80,619

Deferred tax asset
26,817

 
27,687

Goodwill
137,890

 
137,890

Identified intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $29,149 and $26,238, respectively
10,633

 
13,544

Other real estate owned ("OREO") and repossessed assets, net
1,343

 
1,456

Other assets*
86,751

 
80,479

Total assets
$
6,042,338

 
$
5,800,948

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
Non-interest-bearing deposits:
 
 
 
Demand checking accounts
$
799,117

 
$
726,118

Interest-bearing deposits:
 
 
 
NOW accounts
283,972

 
235,063

Savings accounts
540,788

 
531,727

Money market accounts
1,594,269

 
1,518,490

Certificate of deposit accounts
1,087,872

 
946,708

Total interest-bearing deposits
3,506,901

 
3,231,988

Total deposits
4,306,018

 
3,958,106

Borrowed funds:
 
 
 
Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston ("FHLBB")
861,866

 
1,004,026

Subordinated debentures and notes
82,936

 
82,763

Other borrowed funds
38,227

 
39,615

Total borrowed funds
983,029

 
1,126,404

Mortgagors' escrow accounts
7,516

 
8,501

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
72,289

 
61,332

Total liabilities
5,368,852

 
5,154,343

 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)

 

Stockholders' Equity:
 
 
 
Brookline Bancorp, Inc. stockholders' equity:
 
 
 
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 75,744,445 shares issued
757

 
757

Additional paid-in capital
616,899

 
617,475

Retained earnings, partially restricted*
109,675

 
84,860

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(2,476
)
 
(1,622
)
Treasury stock, at cost; 4,861,554 shares and 5,040,571 shares, respectively
(56,208
)
 
(58,282
)
Unallocated common stock held by Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP"); 213,066 shares and 251,382 shares, respectively
(1,162
)
 
(1,370
)
Total Brookline Bancorp, Inc. stockholders' equity*
667,485

 
641,818

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
6,001

 
4,787

Total stockholders' equity*
673,486

 
646,605

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity*
$
6,042,338

 
$
5,800,948

 
 
 
 
(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4

Table of Contents

BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands Except Share Data)
Interest and dividend income:
 
 
 
 
 
Loans and leases
$
212,604

 
$
206,781

 
$
197,098

Debt securities
11,416

 
9,527

 
7,963

Marketable and restricted equity securities
2,762

 
2,072

 
1,212

Short-term investments
128

 
102

 
111

Total interest and dividend income
226,910

 
218,482

 
206,384

Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
17,480

 
17,060

 
18,773

Borrowed funds
15,065

 
12,354

 
11,393

Total interest expense
32,545

 
29,414

 
30,166

Net interest income
194,365

 
189,068

 
176,218

Provision for credit losses
7,451

 
8,477

 
10,929

Net interest income after provision for credit losses
186,914

 
180,591

 
165,289

Non-interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
Deposit fees
8,730

 
8,692

 
8,172

Loan fees
1,186

 
1,010

 
1,415

Loan level derivative income, net
3,397

 
946

 

Gain on sales of investment securities, net

 
65

 
397

Gain on sales of loans and leases held-for-sale
2,208

 
1,651

 
794

Gain on sale/disposals of premises and equipment, net

 
1,502

 

Other
4,663

 
6,314

 
4,841

Total non-interest income*
20,184

 
20,180

 
15,619

Non-interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and employee benefits
71,272

 
71,801

 
65,261

Occupancy
13,926

 
14,294

 
12,616

Equipment and data processing
14,837

 
17,020

 
16,899

Professional services
4,192

 
5,357

 
5,673

FDIC insurance
3,510

 
3,362

 
3,102

Advertising and marketing
3,352

 
3,058

 
3,003

Amortization of identified intangible assets
2,911

 
3,343

 
4,623

Other
11,377

 
10,925

 
11,265

Total non-interest expense
125,377

 
129,160

 
122,442

Income before provision for income taxes*
81,721

 
71,611

 
58,466

Provision for income taxes*
29,353

 
26,286

 
20,664

Net income before noncontrolling interest in subsidiary*
52,368

 
45,325

 
37,802

Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
2,586

 
2,037

 
1,787

Net income attributable to Brookline Bancorp, Inc.*
$
49,782

 
$
43,288

 
$
36,015

Earnings per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.71

 
$
0.62

 
$
0.52

Diluted
0.71

 
0.62

 
0.52

Weighted average common shares outstanding during the year:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
70,098,561

 
69,945,028

 
69,808,164

Diluted
70,235,868

 
70,054,815

 
69,883,924

Dividends declared per common share
$
0.355

 
$
0.340

 
$
0.340

 
 
 
 
 
 
(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5

Table of Contents

BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Net income before noncontrolling interest in subsidiary*
$
52,368

 
$
45,325

 
$
37,802

 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized securities holding (losses) gains
(1,573
)
 
10,699

 
(18,710
)
Income tax benefit (expense)
479

 
(4,058
)
 
7,275

Net unrealized securities holding (losses) gains before reclassification adjustments
(1,094
)
 
6,641

 
(11,435
)
Less reclassification adjustments for securities gains included in net income:
 
 
 
 
 
Gain on sales of securities, net

 
65

 
397

Income tax expense

 
(23
)
 
(142
)
Net reclassification adjustments for securities gains included in net income

 
42

 
255

Net unrealized securities holding (losses) gains
(1,094
)
 
6,599

 
(11,690
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postretirement benefits:
 
 
 
 
 
Adjustment of accumulated obligation for postretirement benefits
353

 
(498
)
 
468

Income tax (expense) benefit
(113
)
 
192

 
(176
)
Net adjustment of accumulated obligation for postretirement benefits
240

 
(306
)
 
292

 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of taxes
(854
)
 
6,293

 
(11,398
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income*
51,514

 
51,618

 
26,404

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
2,586

 
2,037

 
1,787

Comprehensive income attributable to Brookline Bancorp, Inc.*
$
48,928

 
$
49,581

 
$
24,617

 
(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-6

Table of Contents

BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
Year Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
 
Common
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings*
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Unallocated
Common Stock
Held by ESOP
 
Total Brookline
Bancorp, Inc.
Stockholders'
Equity*
 
Noncontrolling
Interest in
Subsidiary
 
Total Stockholders'
Equity*
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2014
$
757

 
$
617,475

 
$
84,860

 
$
(1,622
)
 
$
(58,282
)
 
$
(1,370
)
 
$
641,818

 
$
4,787

 
$
646,605

Net income attributable to Brookline Bancorp, Inc. 

 

 
49,782

 

 

 

 
49,782

 

 
49,782

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
2,586

 
2,586

Issuance of noncontrolling units

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
65

 
65

Other comprehensive income

 

 


 
(854
)
 

 

 
(854
)
 

 
(854
)
Common stock dividends of $0.355 per share

 

 
(24,967
)
 

 

 

 
(24,967
)
 

 
(24,967
)
Dividend distribution to owners of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(1,437
)
 
(1,437
)
Compensation under recognition and retention plan

 
(763
)
 

 

 
2,074

 

 
1,311

 

 
1,311

Common stock held by ESOP committed to be released (38,316 shares)

 
187

 

 

 

 
208

 
395

 

 
395

Balance at December 31, 2015
$
757

 
$
616,899

 
$
109,675

 
$
(2,476
)
 
$
(56,208
)
 
$
(1,162
)
 
$
667,485

 
$
6,001

 
$
673,486

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-7

Table of Contents

BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Continued)
Year Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
 
Common
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings*
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (loss)
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Unallocated
Common Stock
Held by ESOP
 
Total Brookline
Bancorp, Inc.
Stockholders'
Equity*
 
Noncontrolling
Interest in
Subsidiary
 
Total Stockholders'
Equity*
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
757

 
$
617,538

 
$
65,448

 
$
(7,915
)
 
$
(59,826
)
 
$
(1,590
)
 
$
614,412

 
$
4,304

 
$
618,716

Net income attributable to Brookline Bancorp, Inc. 

 

 
43,288

 

 

 

 
43,288

 

 
43,288

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
2,037

 
2,037

Issuance of non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
60

 
60

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 
6,293

 

 

 
6,293

 

 
6,293

Common stock dividends of $0.34 per share

 

 
(23,876
)
 

 

 

 
(23,876
)
 

 
(23,876
)
Dividend distribution to owners of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(1,195
)
Compensation under recognition and retention plans

 
(339
)
 

 

 
1,544

 

 
1,205

 
(1,614
)
 
(409
)
Common stock held by ESOP committed to be released (40,284 shares)

 
276

 

 

 

 
220

 
496

 

 
496

Balance at December 31, 2014
$
757

 
$
617,475

 
$
84,860

 
$
(1,622
)
 
$
(58,282
)
 
$
(1,370
)
 
$
641,818

 
$
4,787

 
$
646,605

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-8

Table of Contents

BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Continued)
Year Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
 
Common
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings*
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Unallocated
Common Stock
Held by ESOP
 
Total Brookline
Bancorp, Inc.
Stockholders'
Equity*
 
Noncontrolling
Interest in
Subsidiary
 
Total Stockholders'
Equity*
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2012
$
757

 
$
618,426

 
$
53,274

 
$
3,483

 
$
(62,107
)
 
$
(1,820
)
 
$
612,013

 
$
3,712

 
$
615,725

Net income attributable to Brookline Bancorp, Inc. 

 

 
36,015

 

 

 

 
36,015

 

 
36,015

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
1,787

 
1,787

Issuance of shares of common stock (10,997,840 shares)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 
(11,398
)
 

 

 
(11,398
)
 

 
(11,398
)
Common stock dividends of $0.34 per share

 

 
(23,841
)
 

 

 

 
(23,841
)
 

 
(23,841
)
Dividend distribution to owners of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(1,195
)
 
(1,195
)
Compensation under recognition and retention plans

 
1,393

 

 

 

 

 
1,393

 

 
1,393

Restricted stock awards issued, net of awards surrendered

 
(2,281
)
 

 

 
2,281

 

 

 
 
 

Common stock held by ESOP committed to be released (38,306 shares)

 

 

 

 

 
230

 
230

 

 
230

Balance at December 31, 2013
$
757

 
$
617,538

 
$
65,448

 
$
(7,915
)
 
$
(59,826
)
 
$
(1,590
)
 
$
614,412

 
$
4,304

 
$
618,716

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-9

Table of Contents

BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (1)
$
49,782

 
$
43,288

 
$
36,015

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities:

 

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in
subsidiary
2,586

 
2,037

 
1,787

Provision for credit losses
7,451

 
8,477

 
10,929

Origination of loans and leases held-for-sale
(74,841
)
 
(21,365
)
 
(52,485
)
Proceeds from sales of loans and leases held-for-sale, net
64,398

 
34,717

 
56,326

Deferred income tax expense
1,239

 
125

 
2,398

Depreciation of premises and equipment
7,074

 
7,020

 
6,291

Amortization of investment securities premiums and discounts, net
1,841

 
2,656

 
3,200

Amortization of deferred loan and lease origination costs, net
4,775

 
9,890

 
7,749

Amortization of identified intangible assets
2,911

 
3,343

 
4,623

Amortization of debt issuance costs
100

 
29

 

Accretion of acquisition fair value adjustments, net
(7,242
)
 
(11,217
)
 
(6,193
)
Gain on sales of investment securities, net

 
(65
)
 
(397
)
Gain on sales of loans and leases held-for-sale
(2,208
)
 
(1,651
)
 
(794
)
Gain on sales/disposals of premises and equipment, net

 
(1,502
)
 

Loss (gain) on sales of OREO and other repossessed assets, net
102

 
11

 
(2
)
Write-down of OREO and other repossessed assets
229

 
381

 
263

Compensation under recognition and retention plans
1,276

 
1,205

 
1,393

ESOP shares committed to be released
395

 
496

 
230

Net change in:

 

 

Cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance
(1,049
)
 
(1,054
)
 
(1,093
)
Other assets (1)
(5,135
)
 
(1,700
)
 
6,581

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
10,920

 
9,166

 
(2,804
)
Net cash provided from operating activities (1) (2)
64,604

 
84,287

 
74,017

 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

Proceeds from sales of investment securities available-for-sale

 
5,485

 
1,210

Proceeds from maturities, calls, and principal repayments of investment securities available-for-sale
97,771

 
84,091

 
137,275

Purchases of investment securities available-for-sale
(63,615
)
 
(139,866
)
 
(171,231
)
Proceeds from maturities, calls, and principal repayments of investment securities held to maturity
9,579

 
500

 

Purchases of investment securities held-to-maturity
(102,847
)
 
(500
)
 

Proceeds from redemption of restricted equity securities (FHLBB stock)
9,924

 

 
2,107

Purchase of restricted equity securities
(1,237
)
 
(8,245
)
 
(5
)
Proceeds from sales of loans and leases held-for-investment, net
273,688

 

 

Net increase in loans and leases
(457,460
)
 
(477,128
)
 
(219,835
)
Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment

 
1,972

 
260

Purchase of premises and equipment, net
(4,775
)
 
(7,782
)
 
(16,443
)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-10

Table of Contents

BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Proceeds from sales of OREO and other repossessed assets (2)
7,152

 
12,317

 
11,857

Net cash used for investing activities (2)
(231,820
)
 
(529,156
)
 
(254,805
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

Increase in demand checking, NOW, savings and money market accounts
206,748

 
111,060

 
295,020

Increase (decrease) in certificates of deposit
141,338

 
12,271

 
(76,620
)
Proceeds from FHLBB advances
4,018,000

 
2,214,931

 
2,363,200

Repayment of FHLBB advances
(4,157,392
)
 
(1,976,848
)
 
(2,381,917
)
Proceeds from issuance of subordinated notes

 
73,495

 

Repayment of subordinated debentures

 

 
(3,000
)
(Decrease) increase in other borrowed funds, net
(1,388
)
 
4,996

 
(16,394
)
(Decrease) increase in mortgagors' escrow accounts, net
(985
)
 
612

 
943

Payment of dividends on common stock
(24,967
)
 
(23,876
)
 
(23,841
)
Proceeds from issuance of noncontrolling units
65

 
60

 

Payment of dividends to owners of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
(1,437
)
 
(1,614
)
 
(1,195
)
Net cash provided from financing activities
179,982

 
415,087

 
156,196

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
12,766

 
(29,782
)
 
(24,592
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
62,723

 
92,505

 
117,097

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
$
75,489

 
$
62,723

 
$
92,505

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

Cash paid during the year for:

 

 

Interest on deposits, borrowed funds and subordinated debt
$
35,522

 
$
31,303

 
$
34,303

Income taxes
26,694

 
21,207

 
19,137

Non-cash investing activities:

 

 

Transfer from loans and leases to loan and leases held-for-sale
$

 
$

 
$
13,372

Transfer from loans to other real estate owned
7,370

 
12,587

 
12,205

 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".
(2) Cash flows resulting from the sales of OREO and other repossessed assets which had been recorded as cash flows from operating activities in prior filings have been revised to cash flows from investing activities in 2015 to properly reflect the cash flow activity. There is no impact to the Company's net income or related per share amounts for the year ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013.


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-11

Table of Contents

BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
(1) Basis of Presentation
Overview
Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") is a bank holding company (within the meaning of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended) and the parent of Brookline Bank, a Massachusetts-chartered savings bank; Bank Rhode Island ("BankRI"), a Rhode Island-chartered financial institution; and First Ipswich Bank ("First Ipswich"), a Massachusetts-chartered trust company (collectively referred to as the "Banks"). The Banks are all members of the Federal Reserve System. The Company is also the parent of Brookline Securities Corp. ("BSC"). The Company's primary business is to provide commercial, business and retail banking services to its corporate, municipal and individual customers through its banks and non-bank subsidiaries.
Brookline Bank, which includes its wholly-owned subsidiaries BBS Investment Corp., Longwood Securities Corp. and its 84.5%-owned subsidiary, Eastern Funding LLC ("Eastern Funding"), operates 25 full-service banking offices in the greater Boston metropolitan area. BankRI, which includes its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Acorn Insurance Agency, BRI Realty Corp., Macrolease Corporation ("Macrolease"), BRI Investment Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, BRI MSC Corp., operates 19 full-service banking offices in the greater Providence area. First Ipswich, which includes its wholly-owned subsidiaries, First Ipswich Insurance Agency and First Ipswich Securities II Corp. , operates 5 full-service banking offices on the north shore of eastern Massachusetts.
The Company's activities include acceptance of commercial, municipal and retail deposits, origination of mortgage loans on commercial and residential real estate located principally in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, origination of commercial loans and leases to small- and mid-sized businesses, investment in debt and equity securities, and the offering of cash management and investment advisory services. The Company also provides specialty equipment financing through its subsidiaries Eastern Funding, which is based in New York City, New York, and Macrolease, which is based in Plainview, New York. The Company ceased the origination of indirect automobile loans in December 2014.
The Company and the Banks are supervised, examined and regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("FRB"). As Massachusetts-chartered savings bank and trust company, Brookline Bank and First Ipswich, respectively, are also subject to regulation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Division of Banks. As a Rhode Island-chartered financial institution, BankRI is subject to regulation under the laws of the State of Rhode Island and the jurisdiction of the Banking Division of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") offers insurance coverage on all deposits up to $250,000 per depositor at each of the Banks. As FDIC-insured depository institutions, the Banks are also secondarily subject to supervision, examination and regulation by the FDIC. Additionally, as a Massachusetts-chartered savings bank, Brookline Bank is also insured by the Depositors Insurance Fund ("DIF"), a private industry-sponsored insurance company. The DIF insures savings bank deposits in excess of the FDIC insurance limits. As such, Brookline Bank offers 100% insurance on all deposits as a result of a combination of insurance from the FDIC and the DIF. Brookline Bank is required to file reports with the DIF.
Basis of Financial Statement Presentation
The Company's consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") as set forth by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") in its Accounting Standards Codification and through the rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the authority of federal securities laws.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.
In preparing these consolidated financial statements, Management is required to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income, expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates based upon changing conditions, including economic conditions and future events. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near-term include the determination of the allowance for loan and lease losses, the determination of fair market values of assets and liabilities, including acquired loans, the review of goodwill and intangibles for impairment and the review of deferred tax assets for valuation allowance.

F-12

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

The judgments used by Management in applying these critical accounting policies may be affected by a further and prolonged deterioration in the economic environment, which may result in changes to future financial results. For example, subsequent evaluations of the loan and lease portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses in future periods, and the inability to collect outstanding principal may result in increased loan and lease losses.
Reclassification
Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation. Except for the adoption of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-01, there were no changes to stockholders' equity and net income reported. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets" for the impact the adoption had on the Company's financial statements.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of reporting asset balances and cash flows, cash and cash equivalents includes cash on hand and due from banks (including cash items in process of clearing), interest-bearing deposits with banks, federal funds sold, money market mutual funds and other short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less.
Investment Securities
Investment securities, other than those reported as short-term investments, are classified at the time of purchase as "available-for-sale," or "held-to-maturity." Classification is periodically re-evaluated for consistency with the Company's goals and objectives. Equity investments in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston ("FHLBB") and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston are discussed in more detail in Note 5, "Restricted Equity Securities."
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale and Held-to-Maturity
Investment securities for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost. Those investment securities held for indefinite periods of time but not necessarily to maturity are classified as available-for-sale. Investment securities held for indefinite periods of time include investment securities that Management intends to use as part of its asset/liability, liquidity, and/or capital management strategies and may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, maturities, asset/liability mix, liquidity needs, regulatory capital needs or other business factors. Investment securities available-for-sale are carried at estimated fair value, primarily obtained from a third-party pricing service, with unrealized gains and losses reported on an after-tax basis in stockholders' equity as accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company did not make any adjustments to the prices provided by the third-party pricing service.
Security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains and losses are determined using the specific identification method and are recorded in non-interest income. Interest and dividends on securities are recorded using the accrual method. Premiums and discounts on securities are amortized or accreted into interest income using the level-yield method over the remaining period to contractual maturity, adjusted for the effect of actual prepayments in the case of mortgage-backed securities ("MBSs") and collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"). These estimates of prepayment assumptions are made based upon the actual performance of the underlying security, current interest rates, the general market consensus regarding changes in mortgage interest rates, the contractual repayment terms of the underlying loans, the priority rights of the investors to the cash flows from the mortgage securities and other economic conditions. When differences arise between anticipated prepayments and actual prepayments, the effective yield is recalculated to reflect actual payments to date and anticipated future payments. Unamortized premium or discount is adjusted to the amount that would have existed had the new effective yield been applied since purchase, with a corresponding charge or credit to interest income.
Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") on a periodic basis. Factors considered in determining whether an impairment is OTTI include: (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost, (2) projected future cash flows, (3) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuers, and (4) the intent and ability of the Company to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. The Company records an OTTI loss in an amount equal to the entire difference between the fair value and amortized cost if: (1) the Company intends to sell an impaired investment security, (2) it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the investment security before its amortized costs, or (3) for debt securities, the present value of expected future cash flows is not sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis. If an investment security is determined

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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

to be OTTI but the Company does not intend to sell the investment security, only the credit portion of the estimated loss is recognized in earnings, with the non credit portion of the loss recognized in other comprehensive income.
Restricted Equity Securities
The Company invests in the stock of the FHLBB, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and a small amount of other restricted securities. No ready market exists for these stocks, and they have no quoted market values. The Banks, as members of the FHLBB, are required to maintain investments in the capital stock of the FHLBB equal to their membership base investments plus an activity-based investment determined according to the Banks' level of outstanding FHLBB advances. Federal Reserve Bank of Boston stock was purchased at par and is redeemable at par. The Company reviews for impairment of these securities based on the ultimate recoverability of the cost basis in the stock. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, no impairment has been recognized.
Loans
Originated Loans
Loans the Company originates for the portfolio, and for which it has the intent and ability to hold to maturity, are reported at amortized cost, inclusive of deferred loan origination fees and expenses, less unadvanced funds due borrowers on loans and the allowance for loan and lease losses.
Interest income on loans and leases originated for the portfolio is accrued on unpaid principal balances as earned. Loan origination fees and direct loan origination costs are deferred, and the net fee or cost is recognized in interest income using the interest method. Deferred amounts are recognized for fixed-rate loans over the contractual life of the loans and for adjustable-rate loans over the period of time required to adjust the contractual interest rate to a yield approximating a market rate at the origination date. If a loan is prepaid, the unamortized portion of the loan origination costs, including third party referral related costs not subject to rebate from the dealer, is charged to income.
Loans and Leases Held-for-Sale
Management identifies and designates certain newly originated loans and leases for sale to specific financial institutions, subject to the underwriting criteria of those financial institutions. These loans and leases are held for sale and are carried at the lower of cost or market as determined in the aggregate. Deferred loan fees and costs are included in the determination of the gain or loss on sale.
Acquired Loans
Acquired loans that have evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination and for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the Company will be unable to collect all contractually required payments receivable are initially recorded at fair value (as determined by the present value of expected future cash flows) with no valuation allowance. The difference between the undiscounted cash flows expected at acquisition and the recorded fair value of the loan, or the “accretable yield,” is recognized as interest income on a level-yield method over the life of the loan. Contractually required payments for interest and principal that exceed the undiscounted cash flows expected at acquisition, or the “nonaccretable difference,” are not recognized as a yield adjustment or as a loss accrual or a valuation allowance. Increases in expected cash flows subsequent to the initial investment are recognized prospectively through adjustment of the yield on the loan over its remaining life. Decreases in expected cash flows are recognized as impairment. Valuation allowances on these impaired loans reflect only losses incurred after the acquisition (meaning the present value of all cash flows expected at acquisition that ultimately are not to be received).
Nonperforming Loans
Nonaccrual Loans
Accrual of interest on loans generally is discontinued when contractual payment of principal or interest becomes past due 90 days or, if in Management's judgment, reasonable doubt exists as to the full timely collection of interest. Exceptions may be made if the loan has matured and is in the process of renewal or is well-secured and in the process of collection. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, interest accruals cease and uncollected accrued interest is reversed and charged against current interest income. Interest payments on nonaccrual loans are generally applied to principal. If collection of the principal is reasonably assured, interest payments are recognized as income on the cash basis. Loans are generally returned to accrual status

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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

when principal and interest payments are current, full collectability of principal and interest is reasonably assured and a consistent record of at least six consecutive months of performance has been achieved.
Impaired Loans
A loan is considered to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due (both interest and principal) according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Smaller-balance, homogeneous loans that are evaluated collectively for impairment, such as residential, home equity and other consumer loans are specifically excluded from the impaired loan portfolio except where the loan is classified as a troubled debt restructuring. The Company has defined the population of impaired loans to include nonaccrual loans and troubled debt restructured ("TDR") loans.
When the ultimate collectability of the total principal of an impaired loan or lease is in doubt and the loan is on nonaccrual status, all payments are applied to principal, under the cost recovery method. When the ultimate collectability of the total principal of an impaired loan or lease is not in doubt and the loan or lease is on nonaccrual status, contractual interest is credited to interest income when received, under the cash basis method.
The value of an impaired loan is measured based upon the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral-dependent and its payment is expected solely based on the underlying collateral. For impaired loans deemed collateral dependent, where impairment is measured using the fair value of the collateral, the Company will either obtain a new appraisal or use another available source of collateral assessment to determine a reasonable estimate of the fair value of the collateral.
Interest collected on impaired loans is either applied against principal or reported as income according to Management's judgment as to the collectability of principal. If Management does not consider a loan ultimately collectible within an acceptable time frame, payments are applied as principal to reduce the loan balance. If full collection of the remaining recorded investment should subsequently occur, interest receipts are recorded as interest income on a cash basis.
Troubled Debt Restructured Loans
In cases where a borrower experiences financial difficulties and the Company makes certain concessionary modifications to contractual terms, the loan is classified as a TDR loan. In determining whether a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties, the Company considers, among other factors, whether the debtor is in payment default or is likely to be in payment default in the foreseeable future without the modification, if the debtor declared or is in the process of declaring bankruptcy, there is substantial doubt that the debtor will continue as a going concern, the debtor's entity-specific projected cash flows will not be sufficient to service its debt, or the debtor cannot obtain funds from sources other than the existing creditors at market terms for debt with similar risk characteristics.
Large groups of small-balance homogeneous loans such as residential real estate, residential construction, home equity and other consumer portfolios are collectively evaluated for impairment. As such, the Company does not typically identify individual loans within these groupings as impaired loans or for impairment evaluation and disclosure. However, the Company evaluates all TDRs for impairment on an individual loan basis regardless of loan type.
Modifications may include interest-rate reductions, short-term (defined as one year or less) changes in payment structure to interest-only payments, short-term extensions of the loan's original contractual term, or less frequently, principal forgiveness, interest capitalization, forbearance and other actions intended to minimize economic loss and avoid foreclosure or repossession of collateral. Typically, TDRs are placed on nonaccrual status and reported as nonperforming loans. Generally, a nonaccrual loan that is restructured remains on nonaccrual for a period of six months to demonstrate that the borrower can meet the restructured terms; however, performance prior to the restructuring, or significant events that coincide with the restructuring, are considered in assessing whether the borrower can meet the new terms and may result in the loan being returned to accrual status at the time of restructuring or after a shorter performance period. If the borrower's ability to meet the revised payment schedule is not reasonably assured, the loan remains classified as a nonaccrual loan.
Loans restructured at an interest rate equal to or greater than that of a new loan with comparable risk at the time the loan agreement is modified may be excluded from restructured loan disclosures in years subsequent to the restructuring if they are in compliance with the modified terms.
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Management has established a methodology to determine the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses that assesses the risks and losses inherent in the loan and lease portfolio. Additions to the allowance for loan and lease losses are made by charges to the provision for credit losses. Losses on loans and leases are charged off against the allowance when all or a portion of a loan or lease is considered uncollectible. Subsequent recoveries on loans previously charged off, if any, are credited to the allowance when realized.
Management uses a consistent and systematic process and methodology to evaluate the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses on a quarterly basis. For purposes of determining the allowance for loan and lease losses, the Company has segmented certain loans and leases in the portfolio by product type into the following segments: (1) commercial real estate loans, (2) commercial loans and leases, (3) and consumer loans. Portfolio segments are further disaggregated into classes based on the associated risks within the segments. Commercial real estate loans are divided into three classes: commercial real estate mortgage loans, multi-family mortgage loans, and construction loans. Commercial loans and leases are divided into three classes: commercial loans which includes taxi medallion loans, equipment financing, and loans to condominium associations. Consumer loans are divided into four classes: residential mortgage loans, home equity loans, indirect automobile loans, and other consumer loans. A formula-based credit evaluation approach is applied to each group, coupled with an analysis of certain loans for impairment.
 The general allowance related to loans collectively evaluated for impairment is determined using a formula-based approach utilizing the risk ratings of individual credits and loss factors derived from historic portfolio loss rates, which include estimates of incurred losses over an estimated loss emergence period (“LEP”). The LEP was generated utilizing a charge-off look-back analysis which studied the time from the first indication of elevated risk of repayment (or other early event indicating a problem) to eventual charge-off to support the LEP considered in the allowance calculation. This reserving methodology established the approximate number of months of LEP that represents incurred losses for each portfolio. In addition to quantitative measures, relevant qualitative factors include, but are not limited to: (1) levels and trends in past due and impaired loans, (2) levels and trends in charge-offs, (3) changes in underwriting standards, policy exceptions, and credit policy, (4) experience of lending management and staff, (5) economic trends, (6) industry conditions, (7) effects of changes in credit concentrations, (8) interest rate environment, and (9) regulatory and other changes. The general allowance related to the acquired loans collectively evaluated for impairment is determined based upon the degree, if any, of deterioration in the pooled loans subsequent to acquisition. The qualitative factors used in the determination are the same as those used for originated loans.
During 2015, the Company enhanced and refined its general allowance methodology. Under the enhanced methodology, Management combined the historical loss histories of the Banks to generate a single set of historical loss ratios. Management believes it is appropriate to aggregate the ratios as the Banks share common environmental factors, operate in similar geographic markets, and utilize common underwriting standards in accordance with the Company's Credit Policy. In prior periods, a historical loss history applicable to each Bank was used.
Management employed a similar analysis for the consolidation of the qualitative factors as it did for the quantitative factors. Again, Management believes the realignment of the existing nine qualitative factors used at each of the Banks into a single group of factors used for the Company is appropriate based on the commonality of environmental factors, markets and underwriting standards among the Banks. In prior periods each of the Banks utilized a set of qualitative factors applicable to each Bank.
The Company’s December 31, 2015 allowance calculation included a further segmentation of the commercial loans and leases to reflect the increased risk in the Company’s taxi medallion portfolio. As of December 31, 2015, this portfolio is approximately $35.8 million. Based on industry conditions, Management established a specific loss factor for this portfolio that best represents the changing risks associated with it.
Based on the refinements to the Company’s allowance methodology discussed above, Management determined that the potential risks anticipated by the unallocated allowance are now incorporated into the allowance methodology, making the unallocated allowance unnecessary. In prior periods, the unallocated allowance was used to recognize the estimated risk associated with the allocated general and specific allowances. It incorporated Management’s evaluation of existing conditions that were not included in the allocated allowance determinations and provided for losses that arise outside of the ordinary course of business.
Specific valuation allowances are established for impaired originated loans with book values greater than the discounted present value of expected future cash flows or, in the case of collateral-dependent impaired loans, for any excess of a loan's

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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

book balance and the fair value of its underlying collateral. Specific valuation allowances are established for acquired loans with deterioration in the discounted present value of expected future cash flows since acquisitions or, in the case of collateral dependent impaired loans, for any increase in the excess of a loan's book balance greater than the fair value of its underlying collateral. A specific valuation allowance for losses on TDR loans is determined by comparing the net carrying amount of the troubled debt restructured loan with the restructured loan's cash flows discounted at the original effective rate. Impaired loans are reviewed quarterly with adjustments made to the calculated reserve as necessary.
As of December 31, 2015, Management believes that the methodology for calculating the allowance is sound and that the allowance provides a reasonable basis for determining and reporting on probable losses in the Company’s loan portfolios.
Liability for Unfunded Commitments
In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into commitments to extend credit, commercial letters of credit, and standby letters of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded in the financial statements when they become payable. The credit risk associated with these commitments is evaluated in a manner similar to the allowance for loan losses.
Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization, except for land which is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvements.
Costs related to internal-use software development projects that provide significant new functionality are capitalized. Internal-use software is software acquired or modified solely to meet the Company's needs and for which there is no plan to market the software externally. Direct and indirect costs associated with the application development stage of internal use software are capitalized until such time that the software is substantially complete and ready for its intended use. Capitalized costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining estimated life of the software. Computer software and development costs incurred in the preliminary project stage, as well as training and maintenance costs, are expensed as incurred.
Leases
The Company leases properties for offices and branches in the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. Lease terms range from five years to over 25 years with options to renew. Management performs an analysis to determine proper lease accounting at lease inception and for each renewal. If a lease meets any of the following four criteria, the lease is classified as capital lease. The four criteria are: transfer of ownership by the end of lease term; contains bargain purchase option; lease term is at least 75% of the property’s estimated remaining economic life; or present value of the minimum lease payment is at least 90% of the fair value of the leased property. The Company did not have any capital leases as of December 31, 2015 or 2014. All leases are classified as operating leases and rental payments are expensed as incurred. Certain leases contain rent escalation clauses which are amortized over the life of the lease under the straight-line method.
Bank-Owned Life Insurance
The Company acquired bank-owned life insurance ("BOLI") plans as part of its acquisitions of First Ipswich and BankRI. BOLI represents life insurance on the lives of certain current and former employees who have provided positive consent allowing their employer to be the beneficiary of such policies. BankRI and First Ipswich are the beneficiaries of their respective policies. BankRI and First Ipswich utilize BOLI as tax-efficient financing for their benefit obligations to their employees, including their retirement obligations and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans ("SERPs").
Since BankRI and First Ipswich are the primary beneficiaries of their respective insurance policies, increases in the cash value of the policies, as well as insurance proceeds received, are recorded in non-interest income and are not subject to income taxes. BOLI is recorded at the cash value of the policies, less any applicable cash surrender charges, and is reflected as an asset in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Cash proceeds, if any, are classified as cash flows from investing activities.
The Company reviews the financial strength of the insurance carriers prior to the purchase of BOLI to ensure minimum credit ratings of at least investment grade. The financial strength of the carriers is reviewed at least annually, and BOLI with any individual carrier is limited to 10% of the Company's capital and 25% of the Company's capital in the aggregate.

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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Goodwill and Other Identified Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill and indefinite-lived identified intangible assets are not subject to amortization. Definite-lived identified intangible assets are assets resulting from acquisitions that are being amortized over their estimated useful lives. The recoverability of goodwill and identified intangible assets is evaluated for impairment at least annually. As part of this evaluation, the Company makes a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an acquired asset is greater than its carrying amount. If the Company qualitatively concludes that it is more likely than not that the fair value of an acquired asset is greater than its carrying amount, no further testing is necessary. If, however, the Company qualitatively concludes that it is more likely than not that the fair value of an acquired asset is less than its carrying value, the Company performs a two-step quantitative impairment test to determine whether the asset is impaired. If impairment is deemed to have occurred, the amount of impairment is charged to expense when identified. The Company did not have any impairment as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
OREO and Other Repossessed Assets
OREO and other repossessed assets consists of properties acquired through foreclosure, real estate acquired through acceptance of a deed in lieu of foreclosure and loans determined to be substantively repossessed. Real estate loans that are substantively repossessed include only those loans for which the Company has taken possession of the collateral. OREO and other repossessed assets which consist of vehicles and equipment, if any, are recorded initially at estimated fair value less costs to sell, resulting in a new cost basis. The amount by which the recorded investment in the loan exceeds the fair value (net of estimated cost to sell) of the foreclosed or repossessed asset is charged to the allowance for loan and lease losses. Such evaluations are based on an analysis of individual properties/assets as well as a general assessment of current real estate market conditions. Subsequent declines in the fair value of the foreclosed or repossessed asset below the new cost basis are recorded through the use of a valuation allowance. Subsequent increases in the fair value are recorded as reductions in the allowance, but not below zero. Rental revenue received on foreclosed or repossessed assets is included in other non-interest income, whereas operating expenses and changes in the valuation allowance relating to foreclosed and repossessed assets are included in other non-interest expense. Certain costs used to improve such properties are capitalized. Gains and losses from the sale of OREO and other repossessed assets are reflected in non-interest expense when realized. Together with nonperforming loans, OREO and repossessed assets comprise nonperforming assets.
Derivatives
The Company enters into interest rate swap agreements as part of the Company's interest-rate risk management strategy for certain assets and liabilities and not for speculative purposes. Based on the Company's intended use for the interest rate swap at inception, the Company designates the derivative as either an economic hedge of an asset or liability, or a hedging instrument subject to the hedge accounting provisions of FASB ASC Topic 815, "Derivatives and Hedging."
Interest rate swaps designated as economic hedges are recorded at fair value within other assets or liabilities. Changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recorded directly through earnings at each reporting period.
Transfer of Financial Assets
Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from the Company, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.
Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase
The Company enters into sales of securities under agreements to repurchase with the Banks' commercial customers. These agreements are treated as financings, and the obligations to repurchase securities sold are reflected as a liability in the consolidated balance sheets. Securities pledged as collateral under agreements to repurchase are reflected as assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Employee Benefits

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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Costs related to the Company's 401(k) plan are recognized in current operations. Costs related to the Company's nonqualified deferred compensation plan, SERPs and postretirement benefits are recognized over the vesting period or the related service periods of the participating employees. Changes in the funded status of postretirement benefits are recognized through comprehensive income in the year in which changes occur.
Compensation expense for the Company's Employee Stock Ownership Program ("ESOP") is recorded at an amount equal to the shares allocated by the ESOP multiplied by the average fair market value of the shares during the year. The Company recognizes compensation expense ratably over the year based upon the Company's estimate of the number of shares expected to be allocated by the ESOP. The difference between the average fair market value and the cost of the shares allocated by the ESOP is recorded as an adjustment to additional paid-in capital.
The fair value of restricted stock awards and stock option grants are determined as of the grant date and are recorded as compensation expense over the period in which the shares of restricted stock awards and stock options vest. Forfeitures are estimated in determining compensation expense.
Fair Value Measurements
ASC 820-10, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures," defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. A fair value measurement assumes that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability. The price in the principal (or most advantageous) market used to measure the fair value of the asset or liability is not adjusted for transaction costs. An orderly transaction is a transaction that assumes exposure to the market for a period prior to the measurement date to allow for marketing activities that are usual and customary for transactions involving such assets and liabilities. It is not a forced transaction. Market participants are buyers and sellers in the principal market that are independent, knowledgeable, able to transact, and willing to transact.
A fair-value hierarchy for valuation inputs that gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs are included in ASC 820. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:
Level 1: Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for assets and liabilities identical to those reported at fair value.
Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1. Level 2 inputs are observable either directly or indirectly. These inputs might include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (such as interest rates, volatilities, prepayment speeds, credit risks, etc.) or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by market data by correlation or other means.
Level 3: Inputs are unobservable inputs for an asset or liability that reflect an entity's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities. These inputs are used to determine fair value only when observable inputs are not available.
Earnings per Common Share
Basic earnings per share ("EPS") is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the applicable period, exclusive of Treasury shares, unearned ESOP shares and unvested shares of restricted stock. Diluted EPS is calculated after adjusting the denominator of the basic EPS calculation for the effect of all potential dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. The dilutive effects of options and unvested restricted stock awards are computed using the "treasury stock" method. Management evaluated the "two class" method and concluded that the method did not apply to the Company's EPS calculation.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.

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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
Tax positions that are more likely than not to be sustained upon a tax examination are recognized in the Company's financial statements to the extent that the benefit is greater than 50% likely of being recognized. Interest resulting from underpayment of income taxes is classified as income tax expense in the first period the interest would begin accruing according to the provision of the relevant tax law. Penalties resulting from underpayment of income taxes are classified as income tax expense in the period for which the Company claims or expects to claim an uncertain tax position or in the period in which the Company's judgment changes regarding an uncertain tax position.
Treasury Stock
Any shares repurchased under the Company's share repurchase programs were purchased in open-market transactions and are held as treasury stock. Treasury stock also consists of common stock withheld to satisfy federal, state and local income tax withholding requirements for employee restricted stock awards upon vesting. All treasury stock is held at cost.
Segment Reporting
An operating segment is defined as a component of a business for which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision-maker in deciding how to allocate resources and evaluate performance. The Company is a bank holding company with subsidiaries engaged in the business of banking and activities closely related to banking. The Company's banking business provided substantially all of its total revenues and pre-tax income in 2015, 2014 and 2013. Therefore, the Company has determined there to be a single segment.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-02, Leases. This ASU requires lessees to put most leases on their balance sheet but recognize expenses on their income statements in a manner similar to today's accounting. This ASU also eliminates today's real estate-specific provisions for all companies. For lessors, this ASU modifies the classification criteria and the accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the applicability of this ASU and has not determined the impact, if any, as of December 31, 2015.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments. This ASU significantly revises an entity’s accounting related to (1) the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and (2) the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. It also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods therein. The Company is currently assessing the applicability of this ASU and has not determined the impact, if any, as of December 31, 2015.

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements. This ASU was issued to clarify the presentation and subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements, since this was not addressed in the guidance in ASU 2015-03, which requires entities to present debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. Given the absence of authoritative guidance with ASU 2015-03, ASU 2015-15 states that the SEC staff will not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the terms of the line-of-credit arrangement. As of December 31, 2015, the Company has accounted for the debt issuance costs related to the line-of-credit arrangement as a reduction of the debt liability, consistent with ASU 2015-03 and with the Company’s accounting treatment for other debt issuance costs. Management has determined that this ASU had no impact to the Company.

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. This ASU was issued to defer the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for all entities by one year. In effect, public business entities, certain not-for-profit entities, and certain employee benefit plans should apply the guidance in ASU 2014-09

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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

to annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those period) beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently assessing the applicability of this ASU and has not determined the impact, if any, as of December 31, 2015.

In June 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-10, Technical Corrections and Improvements. This ASU represent changes to clarify the Codification, correct unintended application of guidance, or make minor improvements to the Codification that are not expected to have a significant effect on current accounting practice or create a significant administrative cost to most entities. This ASU is effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. All other amendments will be effective upon issuance. Management has determined that this ASU had no impact to the Company as of December 31, 2015.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This ASU requires that all debt issuance costs be presented in the balance sheet as direct deductions from the carrying amount of the related debt liability. Amortization of the costs is reported as interest expense. This ASU is applied retrospectively for the first interim or annual period presented beginning after December 15, 2015, early adoption is permitted. As of December 31, 2015, the Company has accounted for its debt issuance cost as a reduction of the debt liability.

In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-01, Income Statement - Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20): Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items. This ASU eliminates from U.S. GAAP the concept of extraordinary items. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. A reporting entity may apply the amendments prospectively. Management has determined that this ASU had no impact to the Company as of December 31, 2015.
(2) Acquisitions
Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc.
On January 1, 2012 (the "BankRI Acquisition Date"), the Company acquired all the assets and liabilities of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc., the bank holding company for BankRI. As part of the acquisition, Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. was merged into the Company and no longer exists as a separate entity. BankRI, a commercial bank with 19 branches serving businesses and individuals in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, continues to operate as a separate bank subsidiary of the Company.
Total consideration paid in the acquisition was $205.8 million, which consisted of approximately 11 million shares of stock with a total par value of approximately $0.1 million and a fair value of $92.8 million and $113.0 million in cash. Stock consideration was paid at the rate of 4.686 shares of Brookline Bancorp common stock per share of Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. common stock. The assets acquired and the liabilities assumed in the acquisition were recorded by the Company at their estimated fair values as of the BankRI Acquisition Date.
(3) Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
The Banks are required to maintain average reserve balances with the Federal Reserve Bank based upon a percentage of certain of the Banks' deposits. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the average amount required to be held was $6.2 million and $7.4 million, respectively. Aggregate reserve balances included in cash and cash equivalents were $45.5 million and $33.6 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Short-term investments are summarized as follows:
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In Thousands)
FRB interest bearing reserve
$
34,575

 
$
19,789

FHLB overnight deposits
9,573

 
5,708

Federal funds sold
2,588

 
322

Other interest bearing deposits

 
11

Total short-term investments
$
46,736

 
$
25,830

Short-term investments are stated at cost which approximates market value.
(4) Investment Securities
The following tables set forth investment securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity at the dates indicated:
 
At December 31, 2015
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
(In Thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSEs
$
40,658

 
$
141

 
$
172

 
$
40,627

GSE CMOs
198,000

 
45

 
4,229

 
193,816

GSE MBSs
230,213

 
1,098

 
1,430

 
229,881

SBA commercial loan asset-backed securities
148

 

 
1

 
147

Corporate debt obligations
46,160

 
344

 
18

 
46,486

Trust preferred securities
1,466

 

 
199

 
1,267

Total debt securities
516,645

 
1,628

 
6,049

 
512,224

Marketable equity securities
956

 
21

 

 
977

Total investment securities available-for-sale
$
517,601

 
$
1,649

 
$
6,049

 
$
513,201

Investment securities held-to-maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSEs
$
34,915

 
$
9

 
$
105

 
$
34,819

GSEs MBSs
19,291

 

 
305

 
18,986

Municipal obligations
39,051

 
364

 
25

 
39,390

Foreign government securities
500

 

 

 
500

Total investment securities held-to-maturity
$
93,757


$
373


$
435


$
93,695



F-22

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
At December 31, 2014
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
(In Thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSEs
$
22,929

 
$
88

 
$
29

 
$
22,988

GSE CMOs
238,910

 
80

 
4,821

 
234,169

GSE MBSs
249,329

 
2,531

 
879

 
250,981

SBA commercial loan asset-backed securities
205

 

 
2

 
203

Corporate debt obligations
39,805

 
403

 
1

 
40,207

Trust preferred securities
1,463

 

 
223

 
1,240

Total debt securities
552,641

 
3,102

 
5,955

 
549,788

Marketable equity securities
947

 
26

 

 
973

Total investment securities available-for-sale
$
553,588

 
$
3,128

 
$
5,955

 
$
550,761

Investment securities held-to-maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign government securities
$
500

 
$

 
$

 
$
500

Total investment securities held-to-maturity
$
500

 
$

 
$

 
$
500

As of December 31, 2015, the fair value of all investment securities available-for-sale was $513.2 million, with net unrealized losses of $4.4 million, compared to a fair value of $550.8 million and net unrealized losses of $2.8 million as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, $368.6 million, or 71.8% of the portfolio, had gross unrealized losses of $6.0 million, compared to $335.7 million, or 60.9% of the portfolio, with gross unrealized losses of $6.0 million as of December 31, 2014.
As of December 31, 2015, the fair value of all investment securities held-to-maturity was $93.7 million, with net unrealized losses of $62.0 thousand, compared to a fair value of $0.5 million with no unrealized gains as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, $52.3 million, or 55.8% of the portfolio, had gross unrealized losses of $0.4 million. There were no investment securities held-to-maturity with net unrealized losses as of December 31, 2014.
Investment Securities as Collateral
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, $486.4 million and $473.1 million of investment securities were pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements; municipal deposits; treasury, tax and loan deposits; swap agreements; and FHLBB borrowings. The Banks did not have any outstanding FRB borrowings as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment ("OTTI")

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Investment securities as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months or twelve months or longer are as follows:
 
At December 31, 2015
 
Less than
Twelve Months
 
Twelve Months
or Longer
 
Total
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
(In Thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSEs
$
19,633

 
$
172

 
$

 
$

 
$
19,633

 
$
172

GSE CMOs
89,680

 
1,294

 
100,473

 
2,935

 
190,153

 
4,229

GSE MBSs
133,779

 
845

 
16,968

 
585

 
150,747

 
1,430

SBA commercial loan asset-backed securities

 

 
139

 
1

 
139

 
1

Corporate debt obligations
6,181

 
18

 

 

 
6,181

 
18

Trust preferred securities

 

 
1,267

 
199

 
1,267

 
199

Temporarily impaired debt securities available-for-sale
249,273

 
2,329

 
118,847

 
3,720

 
368,120

 
6,049

Investment securities held-to-maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSEs
25,837

 
105

 

 

 
25,837


105

GSEs MBSs
18,834

 
305

 

 

 
18,834

 
305

Municipal obligations
7,629

 
25

 

 

 
7,629

 
25

Temporarily impaired debt securities held-to-maturity
52,300


435






52,300


435

Total temporarily impaired securities
$
301,573


$
2,764


$
118,847


$
3,720


$
420,420


$
6,484

 
At December 31, 2014
 
Less than
Twelve Months
 
Twelve Months
or Longer
 
Total
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
(In Thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSEs
$
11,086

 
$
29

 
$

 
$

 
$
11,086

 
$
29

GSE CMOs
39,095

 
179

 
190,345

 
4,642

 
229,440

 
4,821

GSE MBSs
50,099

 
84

 
39,555

 
795

 
89,654

 
879

SBA commercial loan asset-backed securities
8

 

 
186

 
2

 
194

 
2

Corporate debt obligations
4,069

 
1

 

 

 
4,069

 
1

Trust preferred securities and pools

 

 
1,240

 
223

 
1,240

 
223

Total temporarily impaired investment securities available-for-sale
$
104,357

 
$
293

 
$
231,326

 
$
5,662

 
$
335,683

 
$
5,955

The Company performs regular analysis on the investment securities available-for-sale portfolio to determine whether a decline in fair value indicates that an investment security is OTTI. In making these OTTI determinations, Management considers, among other factors, the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost; projected future cash flows; credit subordination and the creditworthiness; capital adequacy and near-term prospects of the issuers.

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Management also considers the Company's capital adequacy, interest-rate risk, liquidity and business plans in assessing whether it is more likely than not that the Company will sell or be required to sell the investment securities before recovery. If the Company determines that a decline in fair value is OTTI and that it is more likely than not that the Company will not sell or be required to sell the investment security before recovery of its amortized cost, the credit portion of the impairment loss is recognized in the Company's consolidated statement of income and the noncredit portion is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income. The credit portion of the OTTI impairment represents the difference between the amortized cost and the present value of the expected future cash flows of the investment security. If the Company determines that a decline in fair value is OTTI and it is more likely than not that it will sell or be required to sell the investment security before recovery of its amortized cost, the entire difference between the amortized cost and the fair value of the security will be recognized in the Company's consolidated statement of income.
Investment Securities Available-For-Sale Impairment Analysis
The following discussion summarizes, by investment security type, the basis for evaluating if the applicable investment securities within the Company’s available-for-sale portfolio were OTTI as of December 31, 2015. Based on the analysis below and the determination that, it is more likely than not that the Company will not sell or be required to sell the investment securities before recovery of its amortized cost. The Company's ability and intent to hold these investment securities until recovery is supported by the Company's strong capital and liquidity positions as well as its historically low portfolio turnover. As such, Management has determined that the investment securities are not OTTI as of December 31, 2015. If market conditions for investment securities worsen or the creditworthiness of the underlying issuers deteriorates, it is possible that the Company may recognize additional OTTI in future periods.
U.S. Government-Sponsored Enterprises
The Company invests in securities issued by U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises ("GSEs"), including GSE debt securities, mortgage-backed securities ("MBSs"), and collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"). GSE securities include obligations issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC"), the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"), the Federal Home Loan Banks ("FHLB") and the Federal Farm Credit Bank. As of December 31, 2015, only GNMA MBSs and CMOs, and Small Business Administration ("SBA") commercial loan asset-backed securities with an estimated fair value of $21.8 million were backed explicitly by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, compared to $26.2 million as of December 31, 2014.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned GSE debentures with a total fair value of $40.6 million, which approximated amortized cost. As of December 31, 2014, the Company held GSE debentures with a total fair value of $23.0 million, which approximated amortized cost. As of December 31, 2015, seven of the thirteen securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. As of December 31, 2014, four of the eight securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. All securities are performing and backed by the implicit (FHLB/FNMA/FHLMC) or explicit (GNMA/SBA) guarantee of the U.S Government. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company purchased a total of $24.9 million GSE debentures. This compares to $21.0 million purchased during the same period in 2014.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned GSE mortgage-related securities with a total fair value of $423.7 million and a net unrealized loss of $4.5 million. This compares to a total fair value of $485.2 million and a net unrealized loss of $3.1 million as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, 101 of the 249 securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. As of December 31, 2014, 79 of the 250 securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. All securities are performing and backed by the implicit (FHLB/FNMA/FHLMC) or explicit (GNMA) guarantee of the U.S Government. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company purchased a total of $29.5 million and $106.9 million, respectively, in GSE CMOs and GSE MBSs.
SBA Commercial Loan Asset-Backed
As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company owned SBA securities with a total fair value of $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, which approximated amortized cost. As of December 31, 2015, six of the seven securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. As of December 31, 2014, seven of the eight securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. All securities are performing and backed by the explicit (SBA) guarantee of the U.S Government.
Corporate Obligations

F-25

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

From time to time, the Company may invest in high-quality corporate obligations to provide portfolio diversification and improve the overall yield on the portfolio. The Company owned fifteen corporate obligation securities with a total fair value of $46.5 million and a net unrealized gain of $0.3 million as of December 31, 2015. This compares to thirteen corporate obligation securities with a total fair value of $40.2 million and a net unrealized gain of $0.4 million as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, two of the fifteen securities in this portfolio were in an unrealized loss position. As of December 31, 2014, one of the thirteen securities in this portfolio was in an unrealized loss position. Full collection of the obligations is expected because the financial condition of the issuers is sound, they have not defaulted on scheduled payments, the obligations are rated investment grade, and the Company has the ability and intent to hold the obligations for a period of time to recover the amortized cost. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company purchased $9.3 million in corporate obligations compared to $12.0 million in the same period in 2014.
Trust Preferred Securities
Trust preferred securities represent subordinated debt issued by financial institutions. As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned two trust preferred securities with a total fair value of $1.3 million and a net unrealized loss of $0.2 million. This compares to two trust preferred securities with a total fair value of $1.2 million and a net unrealized loss of $0.2 million as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, both of the securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. Full collection of the obligations is expected because the financial condition of the issuers is sound, neither of the
issuers has defaulted on scheduled payments, the obligations are rated investment grade, and the Company has the ability and
intent to hold the obligations for a period of time to recover the amortized cost.
Marketable Equity Securities
As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned marketable equity securities with a fair value of $1.0 million, which approximated amortized cost, compared to a fair value of $1.0 million, which approximated cost as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, none of the two securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. As of December 31, 2014, none of the four securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions.




Investment Securities Held-to-Maturity Impairment Analysis
U.S. Government-Sponsored Enterprises
The Company invests in securities issued by U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises ("GSEs") including GSE debt securities, mortgage-backed securities ("MBSs"), and collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"). GSE securities include obligations issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC"), the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"), the Federal Home Loan Banks ("FHLB"), and the Federal Farm Credit Bank. As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned GSE debentures and GSE MBS with a total fair value of $34.8 million and $19.0 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned GSE mortgage-related securities with a total amortized cost of $19.3 million. As of December 31, 2014, the Company did not own any GSE mortgage-related securities. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company purchased a total of $42.4 million and $21.3 million, in GSEs and GSE MBSs, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, 16 of the 22 securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions. All securities are performing and backed by the implicit (FHLB/FNMA/FHLMC) or explicit (GNMA) guarantee of the U.S Government.
Municipal Obligations
As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned 72 municipal obligation securities with a total fair value and total amortized cost of $39.4 million and 39.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, the Company did not own any municipal obligation securities. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company purchased a total of $39.2 million of municipal obligations. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company did not purchase any municipal obligations. As of December 31, 2015, 15 the 72 securities in this portfolio were in unrealized loss positions.

F-26

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Foreign Government Obligations
As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company owned one foreign government obligation security with a fair value and amortized cost of $0.5 million. As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the security was not in an unrealized loss position. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company did not purchase any foreign government obligation securities. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company purchased $0.5 million of foreign government obligation securities.

Portfolio Maturities
The final stated maturities of the debt securities are as follows at the dates indicated:
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Within 1 year
$
2,999

 
$
3,003

 
2.09
%
 
$
3,057

 
$
3,081

 
3.00
%
After 1 year through 5 years
59,729

 
60,249

 
2.32
%
 
55,631

 
56,586

 
2.48
%
After 5 years through 10 years
100,658

 
100,833

 
2.05
%
 
103,268

 
104,208

 
2.00
%
Over 10 years
353,259

 
348,139

 
1.97
%
 
390,685

 
385,913

 
1.91
%
 
$
516,645

 
$
512,224

 
2.03
%
 
$
552,641

 
$
549,788

 
1.99
%
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Within 1 year
$
651

 
$
651

 
1.00
%
 
$

 
$

 
%
After 1 year through 5 years
23,888

 
23,866

 
1.52
%
 
500

 
500

 
1.30
%
After 5 years through 10 years
50,078

 
50,344

 
2.00
%
 
$

 
$

 
%
Over 10 years
19,140

 
18,834

 
1.82
%
 
$

 
$

 
%
 
$
93,757

 
$
93,695

 
1.83
%
 
$
500

 
$
500

 
%
Actual maturities of debt securities will differ from those presented above since certain obligations amortize and may also provide the issuer the right to call or prepay the obligation prior to scheduled maturity without penalty. MBSs and CMOs are included above based on their final stated maturities; the actual maturities, however, may occur earlier due to anticipated prepayments and stated amortization of cash flows.
As of December 31, 2015, issuers of debt securities with an estimated fair value of $48.5 million had the right to call or prepay the obligations. Of the $48.5 million, approximately $15.5 million matures in 1 - 5 years, $31.8 million matures in 6 - 10 years, and $1.3 million matures after ten years. As of December 31, 2014, issuers of debt securities with an estimated fair value of approximately $16.1 million had the right to call or prepay the obligations. Of the $16.1 million, $5.0 million matures in 1-5 years, $9.9 million matures in 6-10 years, and $1.2 million matures after ten years.
Security Sales
Security transactions are recorded on the trade date. When securities are sold, the adjusted cost of the specific security sold is used to compute the gain or loss on the sale. Sales of investment securities are summarized as follows:

F-27

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Sales of debt securities
$

 
$
5,084

 
$
1,210

Sales of marketable equity securities

 
401

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross gains from sales

 
380

 
626

Gross losses from sales

 
315

 
229

Gain on sales of securities, net
$

 
$
65

 
$
397



(5) Restricted Equity Securities
Investments in the restricted equity securities of various entities are as follows:
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In Thousands)
FHLBB stock
$
48,890

 
$
58,326

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston stock
16,752

 
16,003

Other restricted equity securities
475

 
475

 
$
66,117

 
$
74,804

The Company invests in the stock of FHLBB as one of the requirements to borrow. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, FHLBB stock is recorded at its carrying value, which is equal to cost and which Management believes approximates its fair value. The FHLBB stated that it remained in compliance with all regulatory capital ratios as of December 31, 2015 and was classified as "adequately capitalized" by its regulator, based on the FHLBB's financial information as of September 30, 2015. The FHLBB paid a dividend to member banks at an annualized rate of 254 basis points in 2015. The FHLBB increased its dividend from 174 basis points in the first quarter of 2015 to 332 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2015. As of December 31, 2015, the Company's investment in FHLBB stock exceeded its required investment which provides for additional borrowing capacity.
The Company invests in the stock of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston as required by its the Banks' membership in the Federal Reserve system. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston stock is recorded at its carrying value, which is equal to cost and which Management believes approximates its fair value.

F-28

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

(6) Loans and Leases
The following tables present loan and lease balances and weighted average coupon rates for the originated and acquired loan and lease portfolios at the dates indicated:
 
At December 31, 2015
 
Originated
 
Acquired
 
Total
 
Balance
 
Weighted
Average
Coupon
 
Balance
 
Weighted
Average
Coupon
 
Balance
 
Weighted
Average
Coupon
 
(Dollars In Thousands)
Commercial real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
1,684,548

 
4.00
%
 
$
191,044

 
4.15
%
 
$
1,875,592

 
4.02
%
Multi-family mortgage
620,865

 
3.92
%
 
37,615

 
4.35
%
 
658,480

 
3.94
%
Construction
129,742

 
3.60
%
 
580

 
5.08
%
 
130,322

 
3.61
%
Total commercial real estate loans
2,435,155

 
3.96
%
 
229,239

 
4.19
%
 
2,664,394

 
3.98
%
Commercial loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
576,599

 
3.90
%
 
15,932

 
5.65
%
 
592,531

 
3.95
%
Equipment financing
712,988

 
7.05
%
 
8,902

 
6.14
%
 
721,890

 
7.04
%
Condominium association
59,875

 
4.50
%
 

 
%
 
59,875

 
4.50
%
Total commercial loans and leases
1,349,462

 
5.59
%
 
24,834

 
5.83
%
 
1,374,296

 
5.59
%
Indirect automobile loans
13,678

 
5.53
%
 

 
%
 
13,678

 
5.53
%
Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
527,846

 
3.64
%
 
88,603

 
3.85
%
 
616,449

 
3.67
%
Home equity
234,708

 
3.35
%
 
79,845

 
3.99
%
 
314,553

 
3.51
%
Other consumer
12,039

 
4.77
%
 
131

 
17.40
%
 
12,170

 
4.91
%
Total consumer loans
774,593

 
3.57
%
 
168,579

 
3.93
%
 
943,172

 
3.63
%
Total loans and leases
$
4,572,888

 
4.38
%
 
$
422,652

 
4.18
%
 
$
4,995,540

 
4.36
%

F-29

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
At December 31, 2014
 
Originated
 
Acquired
 
Total
 
Balance
 
Weighted
Average
Coupon
 
Balance
 
Weighted
Average
Coupon
 
Balance
 
Weighted
Average
Coupon
 
(Dollars In Thousands)
Commercial real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
1,425,621

 
4.18
%
 
$
254,461

 
4.29
%
 
$
1,680,082

 
4.20
%
Multi-family mortgage
576,214

 
4.11
%
 
63,492

 
4.50
%
 
639,706

 
4.15
%
Construction
146,074

 
3.79
%
 
1,939

 
5.50
%
 
148,013

 
3.81
%
Total commercial real estate loans
2,147,909

 
4.13
%
 
319,892

 
4.34
%
 
2,467,801

 
4.16
%
Commercial loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
462,730

 
3.88
%
 
51,347

 
4.14
%
 
514,077

 
3.91
%
Equipment financing
587,496

 
6.92
%
 
13,928

 
6.22
%
 
601,424

 
6.90
%
Condominium association
51,593

 
4.60
%
 

 
%
 
51,593

 
4.60
%
Total commercial loans and leases
1,101,819

 
5.53
%
 
65,275

 
4.58
%
 
1,167,094

 
5.48
%
Indirect automobile loans
316,987

 
4.47
%
 

 
%
 
316,987

 
4.47
%
Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
472,078

 
3.60
%
 
99,842

 
3.77
%
 
571,920

 
3.63
%
Home equity
181,580

 
3.35
%
 
105,478

 
3.85
%
 
287,058

 
3.53
%
Other consumer
11,580

 
5.13
%
 
167

 
16.35
%
 
11,747

 
5.29
%
Total consumer loans
665,238

 
3.56
%
 
205,487

 
3.82
%
 
870,725

 
3.62
%
Total loans and leases
$
4,231,953

 
4.43
%
 
$
590,654

 
4.19
%
 
$
4,822,607

 
4.40
%
The net unamortized deferred loan origination fees and costs included in total loans and leases were $12.8 million and $15.0 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
The Company's Banks and subsidiaries lend primarily in eastern Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and Rhode Island, with the exception of equipment financing, 32.8% of which is in the greater New York and New Jersey metropolitan area and 67.2% of which is in other areas in the United States of America as of December 31, 2015, as compared to 35.9% of which is in the greater New York and New Jersey metropolitan area and 64.1% of which is in other areas in the United States of America as of December 31, 2014.
Competition for indirect automobile loans increased significantly in recent years as credit unions and large national banks entered indirect automobile lending. That competition drove interest rates down and, in some cases, changed the manner in which interest rates are developed, from including a dealer-shared spread to imposing a dealer-based fee to originate the loan. Given this market condition, Management ceased the Company's origination of indirect automobile loans in December 2014. For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company sold over 90% of the portfolio for $255.2 million, which resulted in a loss of $11.8 thousand excluding the impact on the allowance for loan and lease losses. Refer to Note 7, "Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses" for the impact of the sale on the Company's allowance for loan and lease losses.

F-30

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Accretable Yield for the Acquired Loan Portfolio
The following table summarizes activity in the accretable yield for the acquired loan portfolio for the periods indicated:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at beginning of year
$
32,044

 
$
45,789

 
$
57,812

Accretion
(10,467
)
 
(15,805
)
 
(20,500
)
Reclassification from nonaccretable difference for loans with improved cash flows
4,483

 
2,060

 
8,477

Changes in expected cash flows that do not affect nonaccretable difference (1)
(5,264
)
 

 

Balance at end of year
$
20,796

 
$
32,044

 
$
45,789

(1) Represents changes in interest cash flows due to changes in interest rates on variable rate loans.
On a quarterly basis, subsequent to acquisition, Management reforecasts the expected cash flows for acquired ASC 310-30 loans, taking into account prepayment speeds, probability of default and loss given defaults. Management compares cash flow projections per the reforecast to the original cash flow projections and determines whether any reduction in cash flow expectations are due to deterioration, or if the change in cash flow expectation is related to noncredit events. This cash flow analysis is used to evaluate the need for a provision for loan and lease losses and/or prospective yield adjustments. During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, accretable yield adjustments totaling $4.5 million, $2.1 million, and $8.5 million, respectively, were made for certain loan pools. These accretable yield adjustments, which are subject to continued re-assessment, will be recognized over the remaining lives of those pools.
The aggregate remaining nonaccretable difference applicable to acquired loans and leases totaled $2.9 million and $3.6 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Related Party Loans
The Banks' authority to extend credit to their respective directors and executive officers, as well as to entities controlled by such persons, is currently governed by the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Regulation O of the FRB. Among other things, these provisions require that extensions of credit to insiders (1) be made on terms that are substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons and that do not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features; and (2) not exceed certain limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons, individually and in the aggregate, which limits are based, in part, on the amount of the Banks' capital. In addition, the extensions of credit to insiders must be approved by the applicable Bank's Board of Directors.
The following table summarizes the change in the total amounts of loans and advances, to directors, executive officers and their affiliates for the periods indicated. All loans were performing as of December 31, 2015.
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at beginning of year
$
8,574

 
$
4,783

New loans granted during the year
9,931

 
2,375

Loans reclassified as insider loans
21,481

 

Advances on lines of credit
840

 
1,787

Repayments
(1,344
)
 
(182
)
Loan no longer classified as an insider loan
(2,107
)
 
(189
)
Balance at end of year
$
37,375

 
$
8,574


F-31

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Unfunded commitments on extensions of credit to insiders totaled $14.8 million and $11.7 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Loans and Leases Pledged as Collateral
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, there were $1.8 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively, of loans and leases pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements; municipal deposits; treasury, tax and loan deposits; swap agreements; and FHLBB borrowings. The Banks did not have any outstanding FRB borrowings as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
(7) Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
The following tables present the changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses and the recorded investment in loans and leases by portfolio segment for the periods indicated:
 
Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Commercial
 
Indirect
Automobile
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2014
$
29,594

 
$
15,957

 
$
2,331

 
$
3,359

 
$
2,418

 
$
53,659

Charge-offs
(550
)
 
(3,634
)
 
(1,788
)
 
(582
)
 

 
(6,554
)
Recoveries

 
667

 
1,442

 
102

 

 
2,211

Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses
1,107

 
9,028

 
(1,716
)
 
1,422

 
(2,418
)
 
7,423

Balance at December 31, 2015
$
30,151

 
$
22,018

 
$
269

 
$
4,301

 
$

 
$
56,739

 
Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Commercial
 
Indirect
Automobile
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
23,022

 
$
15,220

 
$
3,924

 
$
3,375

 
$
2,932

 
$
48,473

Charge-offs
(130
)
 
(2,507
)
 
(1,163
)
 
(650
)
 

 
(4,450
)
Recoveries
4

 
801

 
434

 
158

 

 
1,397

Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses
6,698

 
2,443

 
(864
)
 
476

 
(514
)
 
8,239

Balance at December 31, 2014
$
29,594

 
$
15,957

 
$
2,331

 
$
3,359

 
$
2,418

 
$
53,659

 
Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Commercial
 
Indirect
Automobile
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2012
$
20,018

 
$
10,655

 
$
5,304

 
$
2,545

 
$
2,630

 
$
41,152

Charge-offs
(88
)
 
(2,077
)
 
(1,714
)
 
(909
)
 

 
(4,788
)
Recoveries
13

 
657

 
501

 
263

 

 
1,434

Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses
3,079

 
5,985

 
(167
)
 
1,476

 
302

 
10,675

Balance at December 31, 2013
$
23,022

 
$
15,220

 
$
3,924

 
$
3,375

 
$
2,932

 
$
48,473

The liability for unfunded credit commitments, which is included in other liabilities, was $1.3 million, $1.3 million and $1.0 million at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The changes in the liability for unfunded credit commitments reflect changes in the estimate of loss exposure associated with certain unfunded credit commitments. No credit commitments were charged off against the liability account in the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.

F-32

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Provision for Credit Losses
The provisions for credit losses are set forth below for the periods indicated:
 
Originated
 
Acquired
 
Total
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
1,459

 
$
5,009

 
$
2,563

 
$
(352
)
 
$
1,689

 
$
516

 
$
1,107

 
$
6,698

 
$
3,079

Commercial
9,077

 
2,030

 
4,917

 
(49
)
 
413

 
1,068

 
9,028

 
2,443

 
5,985

Indirect automobile
(1,716
)
 
(864
)
 
(167
)
 

 

 

 
(1,716
)
 
(864
)
 
(167
)
Consumer
953

 
417

 
286

 
469

 
59

 
1,190

 
1,422

 
476

 
1,476

Unallocated
(2,418
)
 
(514
)
 
302

 

 

 

 
(2,418
)
 
(514
)
 
302

Total provision for loan and lease losses
7,355

 
6,078

 
7,901

 
68

 
2,161

 
2,774

 
7,423

 
8,239

 
10,675

Unfunded credit commitments
28

 
238

 
254

 

 

 

 
28

 
238

 
254

Total provision for credit losses
$
7,383

 
$
6,316

 
$
8,155

 
$
68

 
$
2,161

 
$
2,774

 
$
7,451

 
$
8,477

 
$
10,929

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses Methodology
Management has established a methodology to determine the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses that assesses the risks and losses inherent in the loan and lease portfolio. Additions to the allowance for loan and lease losses are made by charges to the provision for credit losses. Losses on loans and leases are charged off against the allowance when all or a portion of a loan or lease is considered uncollectible. Subsequent recoveries on loans previously charged off, if any, are credited to the allowance when realized.

Management uses a consistent and systematic process and methodology to evaluate the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses on a quarterly basis. For purposes of determining the allowance for loan and lease losses, the Company has segmented certain loans and leases in the portfolio by product type into the following segments: (1) commercial real estate loans, (2) commercial loans and leases, (3) consumer loans. Portfolio segments are further disaggregated into classes based on the associated risks within the segments. Commercial real estate loans are divided into three classes: commercial real estate loans, multi-family mortgage loans, and construction loans. Commercial loans and leases are divided into three classes: commercial loans which includes taxi medallion loans, equipment financing, and loans to condominium associations. Consumer loans are divided into four classes: residential mortgage loans, home equity loans, indirect automobile loans, and other consumer loans. A formula-based credit evaluation approach is applied to each group, coupled with an analysis of certain loans for impairment. For each class of loan, Management makes significant judgments in selecting the estimation method that fits the credit characteristics of its class and portfolio segment as set forth below. Also refer to Note 1, "Basis of Presentation," in the consolidated financial statements for more information on the Company's allowance of loan and lease losses methodology.

The general allowance related to loans collectively evaluated for impairment is determined using a formula-based approach utilizing the risk ratings of individual credits and loss factors derived from historic portfolio loss rates, which include estimates of incurred losses over an estimated loss emergence period (“LEP”). The LEP was generated utilizing a charge-off look-back analysis which studied the time from the first indication of elevated risk of repayment (or other early event indicating a problem) to eventual charge-off to support the LEP considered in the allowance calculation. This reserving methodology established the approximate number of months of LEP that represents incurred losses for each portfolio. In addition to quantitative measures, relevant qualitative factors include, but are not limited to: (1) levels and trends in past due and impaired loans, (2) levels and trends in charge-offs, (3) changes in underwriting standards, policy exceptions, and credit policy, (4) experience of lending management and staff, (5) economic trends, (6) industry conditions, (7) effects of changes in credit concentrations, (8) interest rate environment, and (9) regulatory and other changes. The general allowance related to the acquired loans collectively evaluated for impairment is determined based upon the degree, if any, of deterioration in the pooled

F-33

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

loans subsequent to acquisition. The qualitative factors used in the determination are the same as those used for originated loans.

During the third quarter of 2015, the Company enhanced and refined its general allowance methodology to provide further quantification of probable losses in the portfolio. Under the enhanced methodology, Management combined the historical loss histories of the Banks to generate a single set of ratios. Management believes it is appropriate to aggregate the ratios as the Banks share common environmental factors, operate in similar geographic markets, and utilize common underwriting standards in accordance with the Company's Credit Policy. In prior periods, a historical loss history applicable to each Bank was used.

Management employed a similar analysis for the consolidation of the qualitative factors as it did for the quantitative factors. Again, Management believes the realignment of the existing nine qualitative factors used at each of the Banks into a single group of factors for use across the Company is appropriate based on the commonality of environmental factors, markets and underwriting standards among the Banks. In prior periods each of the Banks utilized a set of qualitative factors applicable to each Bank.

The Company’s December 31, 2015 allowance calculation included a further segmentation of the commercial loans and leases to reflect the increased risk in the Company’s taxi medallion portfolio. As of December 31, 2015, this portfolio is approximately $35.8 million. Based on industry conditions, Management established a specific loss factor for this portfolio that best represents the changing risks associated with it.

Based on the refinements to the Company’s allowance methodology discussed above, Management determined that the potential risks anticipated by the unallocated allowance are now incorporated into the allowance methodology, making the unallocated allowance unnecessary. In prior periods, the unallocated allowance was used to recognize the estimated risk associated with the allocated general and specific allowances. It incorporated Management’s evaluation of existing conditions that were not included in the allocated allowance determinations and provided for losses that arise outside of the ordinary course of business.

Specific valuation allowances are established for impaired originated loans with book values greater than the discounted present value of expected future cash flows or, in the case of collateral-dependent impaired loans, for any excess of a loan's book balance and the fair value of its underlying collateral. Specific valuation allowances are established for acquired loans with deterioration in the discounted present value of expected future cash flows since acquisitions or, in the case of collateral dependent impaired loans, for any increase in the excess of a loan's book balance greater than the fair value of its underlying collateral. A specific valuation allowance for losses on TDR loans is determined by comparing the net carrying amount of the troubled debt restructured loan with the restructured loan's cash flows discounted at the original effective rate. Impaired loans are reviewed quarterly with adjustments made to the calculated reserve as necessary.

As of December 31, 2015, Management believes that the methodology for calculating the allowance is sound and that the allowance provides a reasonable basis for determining and reporting on probable losses in the Company’s loan portfolios.

The general allowance for loan and lease losses was $53.1 million as of December 31, 2015, compared to $50.1 million as of December 31, 2014. The general portion of the allowance for loan and lease losses increased by $3.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2015, as a result of growth in the commercial real estate and commercial and industrial portfolios partially offset by the decrease in the indirect auto portfolios, which resulted in a release of $1.9 million in the general allowance for loan and lease losses in the first quarter of 2015.

The specific allowance for loan and lease losses was $3.6 million as of December 31, 2015, compared to $1.2 million as of December 31, 2014. The specific allowance increased by $2.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to one commercial relationship which was downgraded during the year ended December 31, 2015.

The changes to the methodology described above resulted in a reallocation of reserve from unallocated to specific loan segments. As such, the reserve for unallocated allowance for loan and lease losses as of December 31, 2015 was reduced to zero, compared to $2.4 million as of December 31, 2014.

Credit Quality Assessment

F-34

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

At the time of loan origination, a rating is assigned based on the capacity to pay and general financial strength of the borrower, the value of assets pledged as collateral, and the evaluation of third party support such as a guarantor. The Company continually monitors the quality of the loan portfolio using all available information. The officer responsible for handling each loan is required to initiate changes to risk ratings when changes in facts and circumstances occur that warrant an upgrade or downgrade in a loan rating. Based on this information, loans demonstrating certain payment issues or other weaknesses may be categorized as delinquent, impaired, nonperforming and/or put on nonaccrual status. Additionally, in the course of resolving such loans, the Company may choose to restructure the contractual terms of certain loans to match the borrower's ability to repay the loan based on their current financial condition. If a restructured loan meets certain criteria, it may be categorized as a troubled debt restructuring.
The Company reviews numerous credit quality indicators when assessing the risk in its loan portfolio. For all loans, the Company utilizes an eight-grade loan rating system, which assigns a risk rating to each borrower based on a number of quantitative and qualitative factors associated with a loan transaction. Factors considered include industry and market conditions; position within the industry; earnings trends; operating cash flow; asset/liability values; debt capacity; guarantor strength; management and controls; financial reporting; collateral; and other considerations. In addition, the Company's independent loan review group evaluates the credit quality and related risk ratings in all loan portfolios. The results of these reviews are reported to the Risk Committee of the Board of Directors on a periodic basis and annually to the Board of Directors. For the consumer loans, the Company heavily relies on payment status for calibrating credit risk.
The ratings categories used for assessing credit risk in the commercial real estate, multi-family mortgage, construction, commercial, equipment financing, condominium association and other consumer loan and lease classes are defined as follows:
1 -4 Rating—Pass
Loan rating grades "1" through "4" are classified as "Pass," which indicates borrowers are performing in accordance with the terms of the loan and are less likely to result in loss due to the capacity of the borrower to pay and the adequacy of the value of assets pledged as collateral.
5 Rating—Other Assets Especially Mentioned ("OAEM")
Borrowers exhibit potential credit weaknesses or downward trends deserving Management's attention. If not checked or corrected, these trends will weaken the Company's asset and position. While potentially weak, currently these borrowers are marginally acceptable; no loss of principal or interest is envisioned.
6 Rating—Substandard
Borrowers exhibit well defined weaknesses that jeopardize the orderly liquidation of debt. Substandard loans may be inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligors or by the collateral pledged, if any. Normal repayment from the borrower is in jeopardy. Although no loss of principal is envisioned, there is a distinct possibility that a partial loss of interest and/or principal will occur if the deficiencies are not corrected. Collateral coverage may be inadequate to cover the principal obligation.
7 Rating—Doubtful
Borrowers exhibit well-defined weaknesses that jeopardize the orderly liquidation of debt with the added provision that the weaknesses make collection of the debt in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable. Serious problems exist to the point where partial loss of principal is likely.
8 Rating—Definite Loss
Borrowers deemed incapable of repayment. Loans to such borrowers are considered uncollectible and of such little value that continuation as active assets of the Company is not warranted.
Assets rated as "OAEM," "substandard" or "doubtful" based on criteria established under banking regulations are collectively referred to as "criticized" assets.

F-35

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013


Credit Quality Information
The following tables present the recorded investment in loans in each class as of December 31, 2015 by credit quality indicator.
 
At December 31, 2015
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Multi-
Family
Mortgage
 
Construction
 
Commercial
 
Equipment
Financing
 
Condominium
Association
 
Other
Consumer
 
(In Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan rating:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
$
1,668,891

 
$
619,786

 
$
129,534

 
$
562,615

 
$
709,381

 
$
59,875

 
$
12,017

OAEM
12,781

 
788

 
208

 
9,976

 
804

 

 

Substandard
780

 
291

 

 
1,714

 
1,414

 

 
22

Doubtful
2,096

 

 

 
2,294

 
1,389

 

 

Total originated
1,684,548

 
620,865

 
129,742

 
576,599

 
712,988

 
59,875

 
12,039

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan rating:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
182,377

 
35,785

 
580

 
11,959

 
8,902

 

 
131

OAEM
1,202

 
612

 

 
902

 

 

 

Substandard
7,066

 
1,218

 

 
3,071

 

 

 

Doubtful
399

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total acquired
191,044

 
37,615

 
580

 
15,932

 
8,902

 

 
131

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans
$
1,875,592

 
$
658,480

 
$
130,322

 
$
592,531

 
$
721,890

 
$
59,875

 
$
12,170


As of December 31, 2015, there were no loans categorized as definite loss.

 
At December 31, 2015
 
Indirect Automobile
 
($ In Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
Credit score:
 
 
 
Over 700
$
5,435

 
39.7
%
661-700
1,965

 
14.4
%
660 and below
6,217

 
45.5
%
Data not available
61

 
0.4
%
Total loans
$
13,678

 
100.0
%



F-36

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
 
At December 31, 2015
 
 
Residential Mortgage
 
Home Equity
 
 
($ In Thousands)
 
($ In Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan-to-value ratio:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Less than 50%
 
$
118,628

 
19.2
%
 
$
131,584

 
41.8
%
50% - 69%
 
214,390

 
34.8
%
 
51,492

 
16.4
%
70% - 79%
 
173,774

 
28.2
%
 
32,916

 
10.5
%
80% and over
 
17,808

 
2.9
%
 
18,082

 
5.7
%
Data not available
 
3,246

 
0.5
%
 
634

 
0.2
%
Total originated
 
527,846

 
85.6
%
 
234,708

 
74.6
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquired:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Loan-to-value ratio:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Less than 50%
 
18,857

 
3.1
%
 
48,563

 
15.4
%
50%—69%
 
32,986

 
5.3
%
 
20,623

 
6.6
%
70%—79%
 
17,883

 
2.9
%
 
7,144

 
2.3
%
80% and over
 
14,011

 
2.3
%
 
2,650

 
0.8
%
Data not available
 
4,866

 
0.8
%
 
865

 
0.3
%
Total acquired
 
88,603

 
14.4
%
 
79,845

 
25.4
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans
 
$
616,449

 
100.0
%
 
$
314,553

 
100.0
%

F-37

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

The following tables present the recorded investment in loans in each class as of December 31, 2014 by credit quality indicator.
 
At December 31, 2014
 
Commercial
Real Estate
 
Multi-
Family
Mortgage
 
Construction
 
Commercial
 
Equipment
Financing
 
Condominium
Association
 
Other
Consumer
 
(In Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan rating:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
$
1,402,121

 
$
574,972

 
$
146,074

 
$
447,778

 
$
583,340

 
$
51,593

 
$
11,540

OAEM
22,491

 
1,242

 

 
12,193

 
932

 

 

Substandard
1,009

 

 

 
1,671

 
2,338

 

 
40

Doubtful

 

 

 
1,088

 
886

 

 

Total originated
1,425,621

 
576,214

 
146,074

 
462,730

 
587,496

 
51,593

 
11,580

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan rating:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
237,439

 
60,837

 
1,709

 
43,925

 
13,795

 

 
167

OAEM
8,351

 
713

 
230

 
1,852

 

 

 

Substandard
8,250

 
1,942

 

 
5,424

 
133

 

 

Doubtful
421

 

 

 
146

 

 

 

Total acquired
254,461

 
63,492

 
1,939

 
51,347

 
13,928

 

 
167

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans
$
1,680,082

 
$
639,706

 
$
148,013

 
$
514,077

 
$
601,424

 
$
51,593

 
$
11,747


As of December 31, 2014, there were no loans categorized as definite loss.

 
At December 31, 2014
 
Indirect Automobile
 
($ In Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
Credit score:
 
 
 
Over 700
$
262,160

 
82.7
%
661-700
43,422

 
13.7
%
660 and below
9,927

 
3.1
%
Data not available
1,478

 
0.5
%
Total loans
$
316,987

 
100.0
%


F-38

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
 
At December 31, 2014
 
 
Residential Mortgage
 
Home Equity
 
 
($ In Thousands)
 
($ In Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan-to-value ratio:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Less than 50%
 
$
105,342

 
18.4
%
 
$
113,541

 
39.5
%
50%—69%
 
179,319

 
31.4
%
 
35,660

 
12.4
%
70%—79%
 
166,467

 
29.1
%
 
27,123

 
9.4
%
80% and over
 
19,335

 
3.4
%
 
4,195

 
1.5
%
Data not available
 
1,615

 
0.3
%
 
1,061

 
0.4
%
Total originated
 
472,078

 
82.6
%
 
181,580

 
63.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquired:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Loan-to-value ratio:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Less than 50%
 
19,574

 
3.4
%
 
70,293

 
24.5
%
50%—69%
 
35,131

 
6.2
%
 
22,581

 
7.9
%
70%—79%
 
22,972

 
4.0
%
 
10,569

 
3.7
%
80% and over
 
16,268

 
2.8
%
 
1,178

 
0.4
%
Data not available
 
5,897

 
1.0
%
 
857

 
0.3
%
Total acquired
 
99,842

 
17.4
%
 
105,478

 
36.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans
 
$
571,920

 
100.0
%
 
$
287,058

 
100.0
%

The following table presents information regarding foreclosed residential real estate property at the dates indicated:
 
At December 31, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
 
(In Thousands)
Foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor
$
362

 
$
410

Recorded investment in mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure
298

 









F-39

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Age Analysis of Past Due Loans and Leases
The following tables present an age analysis of the recorded investment in total loans and leases as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
 
At December 31, 2015
 
Past Due
 
 
 
 
 
Loans and
Leases Past
Due Greater
Than 90 Days
and Accruing
 
 
 
31-60
Days
 
61-90
Days
 
Greater
Than
90 Days
 
Total
 
Current
 
Total Loans
and Leases
 
 
Nonaccrual
Loans and
Leases
 
(In Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
1,782

 
$

 
$
2,097

 
$
3,879

 
$
1,680,669

 
$
1,684,548

 
$

 
$
2,876

Multi-family mortgage

 

 
16

 
16

 
620,849

 
620,865

 
16

 
291

Construction
652

 

 

 
652

 
129,090

 
129,742

 

 

Total commercial real estate loans
2,434

 

 
2,113

 
4,547

 
2,430,608

 
2,435,155

 
16

 
3,167

Commercial loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
4,578

 
1,007

 
2,368

 
7,953

 
568,646

 
576,599

 
24

 
3,586

Equipment financing
1,681

 
595

 
2,143

 
4,419

 
708,569

 
712,988

 
77

 
2,610

Condominium association
205

 
124

 

 
329

 
59,546

 
59,875

 

 

Total commercial loans and leases
6,464

 
1,726

 
4,511

 
12,701

 
1,336,761

 
1,349,462

 
101

 
6,196

Indirect automobile
1,058

 
335

 
106

 
1,499

 
12,179

 
13,678

 

 
675

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
1,384

 

 
229

 
1,613

 
526,233

 
527,846

 

 
1,873

Home equity
390

 
237

 
9

 
636

 
234,072

 
234,708

 

 
319

Other consumer
19

 
2

 
25

 
46

 
11,993

 
12,039

 

 
29

Total consumer loans
1,793

 
239

 
263

 
2,295

 
772,298

 
774,593

 


2,221

Total originated loans and leases
$
11,749

 
$
2,300

 
$
6,993

 
$
21,042

 
$
4,551,846

 
$
4,572,888

 
$
117

 
$
12,259


F-40

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
At December 31, 2015
 
Past Due
 
 
 
 
 
Loans and
Leases Past
Due Greater
Than 90 Days
and Accruing
 
 
 
31-60
Days
 
61-90
Days
 
Greater
Than
90 Days
 
Total
 
Current
 
Total Loans
and Leases
 
 
Nonaccrual
Loans and
Leases
 
(In Thousands)
Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
1,336

 
$
369

 
$
7,588

 
$
9,293

 
$
181,751

 
$
191,044

 
$
4,982

 
$
2,606

Multi-family mortgage

 

 
1,077

 
1,077

 
36,538

 
37,615

 
1,077

 

Construction

 

 

 

 
580

 
580

 

 

Total commercial real estate loans
1,336

 
369

 
8,665

 
10,370

 
218,869

 
229,239

 
6,059

 
2,606

Commercial loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
351

 
23

 
2,967

 
3,341

 
12,591

 
15,932

 
325

 
2,678

Equipment financing

 

 

 

 
8,902

 
8,902

 

 

Total commercial loans and leases
351

 
23

 
2,967

 
3,341

 
21,493

 
24,834

 
325

 
2,678

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage
326

 
216

 
2,399

 
2,941

 
85,662

 
88,603

 
2,047

 
352

Home equity
1,012

 
386

 
460

 
1,858

 
77,987

 
79,845

 
142

 
1,438

Other consumer

 

 

 

 
131

 
131

 

 

Total consumer loans
1,338

 
602

 
2,859

 
4,799

 
163,780

 
168,579

 
2,189

 
1,790

Total acquired loans and leases
$
3,025

 
$
994

 
$
14,491

 
$
18,510

 
$
404,142

 
$
422,652

 
$
8,573

 
$
7,074

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans and leases
$
14,774

 
$
3,294

 
$
21,484

 
$
39,552

 
$
4,955,988

 
$
4,995,540

 
$
8,690

 
$
19,333



F-41

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
At December 31, 2014
 
Past Due
 
 
 
 
 
Loans and
Leases Past
Due Greater
Than 90 Days
and Accruing
 
 
 
31-60
Days
 
61-90
Days
 
Greater
Than
90 Days
 
Total
 
Current
 
Total Loans
and Leases
 
 
Nonaccrual
Loans and
Leases
 
(In Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
1,631

 
$
416

 
$
160

 
$
2,207

 
$
1,423,414

 
$
1,425,621

 
$

 
$
1,009

Multi-family mortgage
385

 

 

 
385

 
575,829

 
576,214

 

 

Construction

 

 

 

 
146,074

 
146,074

 

 

Total commercial real estate loans
2,016

 
416

 
160

 
2,592

 
2,145,317

 
2,147,909

 

 
1,009

Commercial loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
758

 
876

 
1,499

 
3,133

 
459,597

 
462,730

 
2

 
2,722

Equipment financing
1,534

 
138

 
2,392

 
4,064

 
583,432

 
587,496

 

 
3,214

Condominium association
501

 

 

 
501

 
51,092

 
51,593

 

 

Total commercial loans and leases
2,793

 
1,014

 
3,891

 
7,698

 
1,094,121

 
1,101,819

 
2

 
5,936

Indirect automobile
4,635

 
923

 
166

 
5,724

 
311,263

 
316,987

 

 
645

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage

 

 
501

 
501

 
471,577

 
472,078

 

 
1,340

Home equity
75

 
52

 
129

 
256

 
181,324

 
181,580

 

 
161

Other consumer
17

 
5

 
30

 
52

 
11,528

 
11,580

 

 
41

Total consumer loans
92

 
57

 
660

 
809

 
664,429

 
665,238

 

 
1,542

Total originated loans and leases
$
9,536

 
$
2,410

 
$
4,877

 
$
16,823

 
$
4,215,130

 
$
4,231,953

 
$
2

 
$
9,132


F-42

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
At December 31, 2014
 
Past Due
 
 
 
 
 
Loans and
Leases Past
Due Greater
Than 90 Days
and Accruing
 
 
 
31-60
Days
 
61-90
Days
 
Greater
Than
90 Days
 
Total
 
Current
 
Total Loans
and Leases
 
 
Nonaccrual
Loans and
Leases
 
(In Thousands)
Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
989

 
$
3,705

 
$
2,387

 
$
7,081

 
$
247,380

 
$
254,461

 
$
2,387

 
$

Multi-family mortgage
195

 
729

 
363

 
1,287

 
62,205

 
63,492

 
363

 

Construction

 

 

 

 
1,939

 
1,939

 

 

Total commercial real estate loans
1,184

 
4,434

 
2,750

 
8,368

 
311,524

 
319,892

 
2,750

 

Commercial loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
712

 
488

 
3,033

 
4,233

 
47,114

 
51,347

 
624

 
2,474

Equipment financing
2

 
52

 
66

 
120

 
13,808

 
13,928

 
73

 
9

Total commercial loans and leases
714

 
540

 
3,099

 
4,353

 
60,922

 
65,275

 
697

 
2,483

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage

 

 
2,715

 
2,715

 
97,127

 
99,842

 
2,372

 
342

Home equity
1,005

 
733

 
923

 
2,661

 
102,817

 
105,478

 
187

 
1,757

Other consumer

 

 

 

 
167

 
167

 

 

Total consumer loans
1,005

 
733

 
3,638

 
5,376

 
200,111

 
205,487

 
2,559

 
2,099

Total acquired loans and leases
$
2,903

 
$
5,707

 
$
9,487

 
$
18,097

 
$
572,557

 
$
590,654

 
$
6,006

 
$
4,582

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans and leases
$
12,439

 
$
8,117

 
$
14,364

 
$
34,920

 
$
4,787,687

 
$
4,822,607

 
$
6,008

 
$
13,714

Commercial Real Estate Loans—As of December 31, 2015, loans outstanding in the three classes within this segment expressed as a percentage of total loans and leases outstanding were as follows: commercial real estate loans -- 37.5%; multi-family mortgage loans -- 13.2%; and construction loans -- 2.6%.
Loans in this portfolio that are on nonaccrual status and/or risk-rated "substandard" or worse are evaluated on an individual loan basis for impairment. For non-impaired commercial real estate loans, loss factors are applied to outstanding loans by risk rating for each of the three classes in the portfolio. The factors applied are based primarily on historic loan loss experience and an assessment of internal and external factors and other relevant information.
Commercial Loans and Leases—As of December 31, 2015, loans and leases outstanding in the three classes within this segment expressed as a percent of total loans and leases outstanding were as follows: commercial loans and leases -- 11.9%; equipment financing loans -- 14.5%; and loans to condominium associations -- 1.2%.
Loans and leases in this portfolio that are on nonaccrual status and/or risk-rated "substandard" or worse are evaluated on an individual basis for impairment. For non-impaired commercial loans and leases, loss factors are applied to outstanding loans by risk rating for each of the three classes in the portfolio.
Consumer Loans—As of December 31, 2015, loans outstanding within the four classes within this segment expressed as a percent of total loans and leases outstanding were as follows: residential mortgage loans -- 12.3%, home equity loans -- 6.3%, indirect automobile loans -- 0.3%, and other consumer loans -- 0.2%.
Significant risk characteristics related to the residential mortgage and home equity loan portfolios are the geographic concentration of the properties financed within selected communities in the greater Boston and Providence metropolitan areas.

F-43

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

The payment status and loan-to-value ratio are the primary credit quality indicator used for residential mortgage loans and home equity loans. Generally, loans are not made when the loan-to-value ratio exceeds 80% unless private mortgage insurance is obtained and/or there is a financially strong guarantor. Consumer loans that become 90 days or more past due, or are placed on nonaccrual regardless of past due status, are reviewed on an individual basis for impairment by assessing the net realizable value of underlying collateral and the economic condition of the borrower. Determination of the allowance for loan and lease losses for indirect automobile loans is based primarily on payment status and historical loss rates.
Impaired Loans and Leases
A loan is considered to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due (both interest and principal) according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The Company has defined the population of impaired loans to include nonaccrual loans and troubled debt restructured loans.
When the ultimate collectability of the total principal of an impaired loan or lease is in doubt and the loan is on nonaccrual status, all payments are applied to principal, under the cost recovery method. When the ultimate collectability of the total principal of an impaired loan or lease is not in doubt and the loan or lease is on nonaccrual status, contractual interest is credited to interest income when received, under the cash basis method.
The following tables include the recorded investment and unpaid principal balances of impaired loans and leases with the related allowance amount, if applicable, for the originated and acquired loan and lease portfolios at the dates indicated. Also presented are the average recorded investments in the impaired loans and leases and the related amount of interest recognized during the period that the impaired loans were impaired.


F-44

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
At December 31, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
 
Recorded
Investment
(1)
 
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
 
Related
Allowance
 
Recorded
Investment (2)
 
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
 
Related
Allowance
 
(In Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With no related allowance recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
2,758

 
$
2,756

 
$

 
$
2,751

 
$
2,748

 
$

Commercial
14,097

 
14,074

 

 
13,440

 
13,421

 

Consumer
4,582

 
4,575

 

 
3,055

 
3,048

 

Total originated with no related allowance recorded
21,437

 
21,405

 

 
19,246

 
19,217

 

With an allowance recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
6,150

 
6,150

 
2,167

 
4,119

 
4,119

 
108

Commercial
2,215

 
2,213

 
1,202

 
2,019

 
2,011

 
768

Consumer

 

 

 
176

 
176

 
10

Total originated with an allowance recorded
8,365

 
8,363

 
3,369

 
6,314

 
6,306

 
886

Total originated impaired loans and leases
29,802

 
29,768

 
3,369

 
25,560

 
25,523

 
886

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With no related allowance recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
7,035

 
7,035

 

 
9,413

 
9,428

 

Commercial
4,053

 
4,052

 

 
6,049

 
6,047

 

Consumer
7,549

 
7,565

 

 
6,688

 
6,688

 

Total acquired with no related allowance recorded
18,637

 
18,652

 

 
22,150

 
22,163

 

With an allowance recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
2,606

 
2,606

 
148

 
244

 
244

 
22

Commercial
486

 
486

 
112

 
478

 
478

 
214

Consumer
174

 
174

 
9

 
225

 
225

 
41

 Total acquired with an allowance recorded
3,266

 
3,266

 
269

 
947

 
947

 
277

Total acquired impaired loans and leases
21,903

 
21,918

 
269

 
23,097

 
23,110

 
277

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total impaired loans and leases
$
51,705

 
$
51,686

 
$
3,638

 
$
48,657

 
$
48,633

 
$
1,163

(1) Includes originated and acquired nonaccrual loans of $9.3 million and $7.1 million, respectively as of December 31, 2015.
(2) Includes originated and acquired nonaccrual loans of $7.1 million and $4.6 million, respectively as of December 31, 2014.

F-45

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
Year Ended
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
(In Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With no related allowance recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
3,999

 
$
86

 
$
2,786

 
$
102

 
$
2,184

 
$
92

Commercial
15,143

 
641

 
11,840

 
343

 
4,257

 
144

Consumer
4,267

 
65

 
3,166

 
42

 
1,077

 
30

Total originated with no related allowance recorded
23,409

 
792

 
17,792

 
487

 
7,518

 
266

With an allowance recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
5,132

 
197

 
3,223

 
69

 
1,464

 
43

Commercial
5,650

 
10

 
2,285

 
51

 
1,781

 
29

Consumer
84

 

 
458

 
15

 
3,210

 
97

Total originated with an allowance recorded
10,866

 
207

 
5,966

 
135

 
6,455

 
169

Total originated impaired loans and leases
34,275

 
999

 
23,758

 
622

 
13,973

 
435

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With no related allowance recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
9,200

 
125

 
10,884

 
350

 
9,639

 
251

Commercial
4,428

 
65

 
6,875

 
122

 
5,205

 
129

Consumer
7,837

 
62

 
6,701

 
28

 
1,333

 
20

Total acquired with no related allowance recorded
21,465

 
252

 
24,460

 
500

 
16,177

 
400

With an allowance recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
713

 

 
942

 
76

 
2,765

 
42

Commercial
638

 

 
631

 
15

 
577

 
5

Consumer
249

 
8

 
281

 
3

 

 

  Total acquired with an allowance recorded
1,600

 
8

 
1,854

 
94

 
3,342

 
47

Total acquired impaired loans and leases
23,065

 
260

 
26,314

 
594

 
19,519

 
447

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total impaired loans and leases
$
57,340

 
$
1,259

 
$
50,072

 
$
1,216

 
$
33,492

 
$
882


F-46

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

The following tables present information regarding impaired and non-impaired loans and leases at the dates indicated:
 
At December 31, 2015
 
Commercial Real Estate
 
Commercial
 
Indirect Automobile
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
$
2,167

 
$
1,202

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
3,369

Collectively evaluated for impairment
26,857

 
20,545

 
269

 
3,947

 

 
51,618

Total originated loans and leases
29,024

 
21,747

 
269

 
3,947

 

 
54,987

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
148

 
112

 

 
9

 

 
269

Collectively evaluated for impairment
333

 
71

 

 
45

 

 
449

Acquired with deteriorated credit quality
646

 
88

 

 
300

 

 
1,034

Total acquired loans and leases
1,127

 
271

 

 
354

 

 
1,752

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total allowance for loan and lease losses
$
30,151

 
$
22,018

 
$
269

 
$
4,301

 
$

 
$
56,739

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans and Leases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
$
8,907

 
$
15,806

 
$

 
$
4,471

 
$

 
$
29,184

Collectively evaluated for impairment
2,426,248

 
1,333,656

 
13,678

 
770,122

 

 
4,543,704

Total originated loans and leases
2,435,155

 
1,349,462

 
13,678

 
774,593

 

 
4,572,888

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
3,188

 
4,090

 

 
2,606

 

 
9,884

Collectively evaluated for impairment
63,857

 
12,081

 

 
105,146

 

 
181,084

Acquired with deteriorated credit quality
162,194

 
8,663

 

 
60,827

 

 
231,684

Total acquired loans and leases
229,239

 
24,834

 

 
168,579

 

 
422,652

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans and leases
$
2,664,394

 
$
1,374,296

 
$
13,678

 
$
943,172

 
$

 
$
4,995,540


F-47

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
At December 31, 2014
 
Commercial Real Estate
 
Commercial
 
Indirect Automobile
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
$
108

 
$
768

 
$

 
$
10

 
$

 
$
886

Collectively evaluated for impairment
27,457

 
14,631

 
2,331

 
3,088

 
2,418

 
49,925

Total originated loans and leases
27,565

 
15,399

 
2,331

 
3,098

 
2,418

 
50,811

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment

 
144

 

 
41

 

 
185

Collectively evaluated for impairment
648

 
222

 

 
2

 

 
872

Acquired with deteriorated credit quality
1,381

 
192

 

 
218

 

 
1,791

Total acquired loans and leases
2,029

 
558

 

 
261

 

 
2,848

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total allowance for loan and lease losses
$
29,594

 
$
15,957

 
$
2,331

 
$
3,359

 
$
2,418

 
$
53,659

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans and Leases:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
$
6,870

 
$
15,459

 
$

 
$
3,231

 
$

 
$
25,560

Collectively evaluated for impairment
2,141,039

 
1,086,360

 
316,987

 
662,007

 

 
4,206,393

Total originated loans and leases
2,147,909

 
1,101,819

 
316,987

 
665,238

 

 
4,231,953

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
626

 
4,458

 

 
2,562

 

 
7,646

Collectively evaluated for impairment
97,141

 
38,504

 

 
134,973

 

 
270,618

Acquired with deteriorated credit quality
222,125

 
22,313

 

 
67,952

 

 
312,390

Total acquired loans and leases
319,892

 
65,275

 

 
205,487

 

 
590,654

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans and leases
$
2,467,801

 
$
1,167,094

 
$
316,987

 
$
870,725

 
$

 
$
4,822,607

Troubled Debt Restructured Loans and Leases
A specific valuation allowance for losses on troubled debt restructured loans is determined by comparing the net carrying amount of the troubled debt restructured loan with the restructured loan's cash flows discounted at the original effective rate.

F-48

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

The following table sets forth information regarding troubled debt restructured loans and leases at the dates indicated:
 
At December 31, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
 
(In Thousands)
Troubled debt restructurings:
 
 
 
On accrual
$
17,953

 
$
14,815

On nonaccrual
4,965

 
5,625

Total troubled debt restructurings
$
22,918

 
$
20,440

The recorded investment in troubled debt restructurings and the associated specific allowances for loan and lease losses, in the originated and acquired loan and lease portfolios, that were modified during the periods indicated, are as follows.
 
At and for the Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
 
 
Recorded Investment
 
Specific
Allowance for
Loan and
Lease Losses
 
 
 
 
 
Defaulted (1)
 
Number of
Loans/
Leases
 
At
Modification
 
At End of
Period
 
 
Nonaccrual
Loans and
Leases
 
Additional
Commitment
 
Number of
Loans/
Leases
 
Recorded
Investment
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 

 
$

Commercial
9

 
5,757

 
5,497

 
119

 
258

 

 
1

 
237

Equipment financing
1

 
112

 
100

 

 

 

 

 

Residential mortgage
1

 
100

 
150

 

 
151

 

 

 

Home equity
3

 
353

 
298

 

 
99

 

 
1

 
28

Total originated
14

 
6,322

 
6,045

 
119

 
508

 

 
2

 
265

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
4

 
642

 
632

 

 

 

 
1

 
11

Home equity
2

 
200

 
196

 

 

 

 
1

 
24

Total acquired
6

 
842

 
828

 

 

 

 
2

 
35

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans and leases
20

 
$
7,164

 
$
6,873

 
$
119

 
$
508

 
$

 
4

 
$
300

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1) Includes loans and leases that have been modified within the past twelve months and subsequently had payment defaults during the period indicated.

F-49

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
At and for the Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
 
 
Recorded Investment
 
Specific
Allowance for
Loan and
Lease Losses
 
 
 
 
 
Defaulted (1)
 
Number of
Loans/
Leases
 
At
Modification
 
At End of
Period
 
 
Nonaccrual
Loans and
Leases
 
Additional
Commitment
 
Number of
Loans/
Leases
 
Recorded
Investment
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
1

 
$
953

 
$
932

 
$

 
$

 
$

 

 
$

Commercial
6

 
2,884

 
2,948

 

 
628

 

 
3

 
615

Equipment financing
6

 
984

 
936

 
15

 
169

 

 
4

 
636

Residential mortgage
1

 
496

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home Equity
2

 
400

 
402

 

 

 

 

 

Total originated
16

 
5,717

 
5,218

 
15

 
797

 

 
7

 
1,251

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
6

 
1,369

 
1,406

 

 
66

 

 
1

 
419

Home Equity
1

 
190

 
189

 

 

 

 

 

Total acquired
7

 
1,559

 
1,595

 

 
66

 

 
1

 
419

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans and leases
23

 
$
7,276

 
$
6,813

 
$
15

 
$
863

 
$

 
8

 
$
1,670


(1) Includes loans and leases that have been modified within the past twelve months and subsequently had payment defaults during the period indicated.

 
At and for the Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
 
 
Recorded Investment
 
Specific
Allowance for
Loan and
Lease Losses
 
 
 
Defaulted (1)
 
Number of
Loans/
Leases
 
At
Modification
 
At End of
Period
 
 
Nonaccrual
Loans and
Leases
 
Number of
Loans/
Leases
 
Recorded
Investment
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Originated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
1

 
$
1,039

 
$

 
$

 
$

 

 
$

Commercial
2

 
926

 
918

 

 

 

 

Equipment financing
5

 
1,557

 
1,415

 
77

 
861

 
2

 
371

Residential mortgage
1

 
415

 
353

 

 
353

 

 

Total originated
9

 
3,937

 
2,686

 
77

 
1,214

 
2

 
371

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquired:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
1

 
737

 
727

 

 

 

 

Commercial
6

 
3,209

 
3,135

 

 
1,335

 
1

 
1,335

Total acquired
7

 
3,946

 
3,862

 

 
1,335

 
1

 
1,335

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans and leases
16

 
$
7,883

 
$
6,548

 
$
77

 
$
2,549

 
3

 
$
1,706


(1) Includes loans and leases that have been modified within the past twelve months and subsequently had payment defaults during the period indicated.

The following table sets forth the Company's end-of-period balances for troubled debt restructurings that were modified during the periods indicated, by type of modification.

F-50

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Loans with one modification:
 
 
 
 
 
Extended maturity
$
2,215

 
$
3,241

 
$
3,841

Adjusted principal

 

 
908

Adjusted interest rate

 

 
755

Interest only
1,335

 
16

 

Combination maturity, principal, interest rate
692

 
479

 
554

Total loans modified once
$
4,242

 
$
3,736

 
$
6,058

 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans with more than one modification:
 
 
 
 
 
Extended maturity
$
2,598

 
$
1,951

 
$
490

Interest only

 
292

 

Combination maturity, principal, interest rate
33

 
834

 

Total loans modified more than once
$
2,631

 
$
3,077

 
$
490

The net charge-offs of the performing and nonperforming troubled debt restructuring loans and leases for the years ending December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively. There was no charge-offs or recoveries for troubled debt restructurings for the year ending December 31, 2013.
As of December 31, 2015, there were no commitments to lend funds to debtors owing receivables whose terms had been modified in troubled debt restructurings.
(8) Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment consist of the following:
 
At December 31,
 
Estimated
Useful Life
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
(In Thousands)
 
(In Years)
Land
$
7,562

 
$
7,562

 
NA
Office building and improvements
81,466

 
78,461

 
10 to 40
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
13,019

 
12,224

 
5 to 25
Vehicles
221

 
144

 
3 to 5
Computer Equipment
8,677

 
8,400

 
3
Core processing system and software
18,933

 
18,496

 
3 to 7.5
Total
129,878

 
125,287

 
 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization
51,722

 
44,668

 
 
Total premises and equipment
$
78,156

 
$
80,619

 
 
Depreciation and amortization expense is calculated using the straight-line method and is included in occupancy and equipment and data processing expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, depreciation and amortization expense related to premises and equipment totaled $7.2 million, $7.0 million, and $6.3 million, respectively.
In January 2014, the Company completed a transaction to sell a facility located in Brookline, MA, for $2.2 million. The carrying value of the property, including land, building, and furniture, fixtures, and equipment, was $0.4 million. After costs to sell of $0.2 million, the Company recorded a gain on sale in the amount of $1.6 million during the year ended December 31,

F-51

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

2014, which is included in gain on sale/disposals of premises and equipment, net in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. There were no sales of premises and equipment during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2013.
(9) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The changes in the carrying value of goodwill for the periods indicated were as follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at beginning of year
$
137,890

 
$
137,890

 
$
137,890

Additions

 

 

Adjustments to original goodwill

 

 

Balance at end of year
$
137,890

 
$
137,890

 
$
137,890

The following is a summary of the Company's other intangible assets:
 
At December 31, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
 
Gross
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Gross
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Carrying
Amount
 
(In Thousands)
Other intangible assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Core deposits
$
36,172

 
$
26,628

 
$
9,544

 
$
36,172

 
$
23,717

 
$
12,455

Trade name
1,600

 
511

 
1,089

 
1,600

 
511

 
1,089

Trust relationship
1,568

 
1,568

 

 
1,568

 
1,568

 

Other intangible
442

 
442

 

 
442

 
442

 

Total other intangible assets
$
39,782

 
$
29,149

 
$
10,633

 
$
39,782

 
$
26,238

 
$
13,544


At December 31, 2013, the Company concluded that the BankRI name would continue to be utilized in its marketing strategies; therefore, the trade name with carrying value of $1.1 million, has an indefinite life and ceased to amortize.
The weighted-average amortization period for core deposit intangible and trust relationships is 11.0 and 1.0 years, respectively. There were no impairment losses relating to other acquisition-related intangible assets recorded during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
The estimated aggregate future amortization expense for other intangible assets for each of the next five years and thereafter is as follows:
Year ended December 31:
Amount
 
(In Thousands)

2016
$
2,500

2017
2,089

2018
1,669

2019
1,295

2020
944

Thereafter
1,047

Total
$
9,544


F-52

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

(10) Other Assets
BOLI
BOLI is recorded at the cash surrender value of the policies, less any applicable cash surrender charges, and is recorded in other assets. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, BankRI owned seven policies with a net cash surrender value of $36.8 million and $35.8 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, First Ipswich owned two policies with a net cash surrender value of $0.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively.
The Company recorded a total of $1.0 million, $1.1 million, and $1.1 million of tax exempt income from these nine policies in 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. They are included in the Company’s other non-interest income in the consolidated statements of income.
Affordable Housing Investments
The Company began investing in affordable housing projects that benefit low- and moderate-income individuals in 2009. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had investments in ten of these projects. The project sponsor or general partner controls the project's management. In each case, the Company is a limited partner with less than 50% of the outstanding equity interest in any single project.
On January 1, 2015, the Company adopted ASU 2014-01, Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects, which required retrospective application. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2014-01, the Company’s investments in qualified affordable housing projects were accounted for using the equity method. Under the equity method, operating losses or gains from these investments were included as a component of non-interest income in the Company's consolidated statements of income. ASU 2014-01 calls for the use of the proportional amortization method calculation and the operating losses or gains for these investments are included as a component of the provision for income taxes in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. Under the proportional amortization method, the initial costs of the investment in qualified affordable housing projects is amortized based on the tax credits and other benefits received.

Further information regarding the Company's investments in affordable housing projects follows:
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Investments in affordable housing projects included in other assets
$
11,604

 
$
10,131

 
$
10,301

Unfunded commitments related to affordable housing projects included in other liabilities
3,163

 
2,608

 
2,904

Investment in affordable housing tax credits included in other liabilities
1,588

 
1,432

 
1,105

Investment in affordable housing tax benefits included in other liabilities
656

 
669

 
553

 
For the year ended December 31, 2015
 
(In Thousands)
Investment amortization included in provision for income taxes
$
1,654

Amount recognized as income tax benefit
656


ASU 2014-01 was applied retrospectively to all periods presented. The cumulative effect on retained earnings was $1.1 million at January 1, 2015.


F-53

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

The following table illustrates the prior period adjustments related to the adoption of ASU 2014-01.
 
At December 31, 2014
 
(In Thousands)
Other assets, as reported
$
79,411

Prior period adjustment
1,068

Other assets, as adjusted
$
80,479

 
 
Retained earnings, as reported
$
83,792

Prior period adjustment
1,068

Retained earnings, as adjusted
$
84,860

 
For the year ended
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Loss from investments in affordable housing projects, as reported
$
(2,060
)
 
$
(1,812
)
Prior period adjustment
2,060

 
1,812

Loss from investments in affordable housing projects, as adjusted
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
Provision for income taxes, as reported
$
24,749

 
$
19,481

Prior period adjustment
1,537

 
1,183

Provision for income taxes, as adjusted
$
26,286

 
$
20,664

 
 
 
 
Net income, as reported
$
42,765

 
$
35,386

Prior period adjustment
523

 
629

Net income, as adjusted
$
43,288

 
$
36,015

 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share, as reported
$
0.61

 
$
0.51

Prior period adjustment
0.01

 
0.01

Basic earnings per share, as adjusted
$
0.62

 
$
0.52

 
 
 
 
Effective tax rate, as reported
35.5
%
 
34.4
%
Prior period adjustment
1.2
%
 
0.9
%
Effective tax rate, as adjusted
36.7
%
 
35.3
%

F-54

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

(11) Deposits
A summary of deposits follows:
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Amount
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
Amount
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Demand checking accounts
$
799,117

 

 
$
726,118

 

NOW accounts
283,972

 
0.07
%
 
235,063

 
0.07
%
Savings accounts
540,788

 
0.25
%
 
531,727

 
0.21
%
Money market accounts
1,594,269

 
0.44
%
 
1,518,490

 
0.52
%
Total core deposit accounts
3,218,146

 
0.26
%
 
3,011,398

 
0.31
%
Certificate of deposit accounts maturing:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Within six months
320,975

 
0.65
%
 
363,258

 
0.70
%
After six months but within 1 year
395,516

 
0.83
%
 
258,379

 
0.72
%
After 1 year but within 2 years
226,513

 
1.02
%
 
232,658

 
1.08
%
After 2 years but within 3 years
60,730

 
1.42
%
 
36,685

 
1.49
%
After 3 years but within 4 years
30,002

 
1.78
%
 
24,059

 
1.32
%
After 4 years but within 5 years
53,717

 
1.88
%
 
31,630

 
1.75
%
5+ Years
419

 
1.82
%
 
39

 
1.34
%
Total certificate of deposit accounts
1,087,872

 
0.93
%
 
946,708

 
0.88
%
Total deposits
$
4,306,018

 
0.43
%
 
$
3,958,106

 
0.44
%
Certificate of deposit accounts issued in amounts of $250,000 or more totaled $168.4 million and $222.2 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Interest expense on deposit balances is summarized as follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Interest-bearing deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
NOW accounts
$
179

 
$
171

 
$
173

Savings accounts
1,094

 
1,197

 
1,288

Money market accounts
6,935

 
7,846

 
8,220

Certificate of deposit accounts
9,272

 
7,846

 
9,092

Total interest-bearing deposits
$
17,480

 
$
17,060

 
$
18,773

Related Party Deposits
Deposit accounts of directors, executive officers and their affiliates totaled $40.5 million and $16.1 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Collateral Pledged to Deposits
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, $170.4 million and $93.0 million, respectively, of collateral was pledged for municipal deposits and TT&L (Treasury Tax and Loan Deposits).

F-55

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

(12) Borrowed Funds
Borrowed funds are comprised of the following:
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In Thousands)
Advances from the FHLBB
$
861,866

 
$
1,004,026

Subordinated debentures and notes
82,936

 
82,763

Other borrowed funds
38,227

 
39,615

Total borrowed funds
$
983,029

 
$
1,126,404

Interest expense on borrowed funds for the periods indicated is as follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Advances from the FHLBB
$
9,950

 
$
10,535

 
$
10,886

Subordinated debentures and notes
5,001

 
1,740

 
439

Other borrowed funds
114

 
79

 
68

Total interest expense on borrowed funds
$
15,065

 
$
12,354

 
$
11,393

Investment Securities and Loans Pledged as Collateral
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, $2.3 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively, of investment securities and loans and leases, were pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements, swap agreements, FHLBB borrowings, and municipal deposits and TT&L (Treasury Tax and Loan Deposits). The Banks did not have any outstanding FRB borrowings as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
FHLBB Advances
FHLBB advances mature as follows:
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Amount
 
Callable
Amount
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
Amount
 
Callable
Amount
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
Within 1 year
$
575,749

 
$
30,599

 
0.70
%
 
$
583,000

 
$

 
0.52
%
Over 1 year to 2 years
228,422

 
114,922

 
1.89
%
 
217,054

 
31,353

 
0.89
%
Over 2 years to 3 years
36,476

 
10,038

 
2.46
%
 
145,326

 
116,828

 
2.43
%
Over 3 years to 4 years
5,342

 

 
2.17
%
 
36,550

 
10,054

 
2.46
%
Over 4 years to 5 years
91

 

 
2.04
%
 
5,416

 

 
2.21
%
Over 5 years
15,786

 

 
4.21
%
 
16,680

 

 
4.18
%
 
$
861,866

 
$
155,559

 
1.16
%
 
$
1,004,026

 
$
158,235

 
1.02
%
Actual maturities of the advances may differ from those presented above since the FHLBB has the right to call certain advances prior to the scheduled maturity.
The FHLBB advances are secured by blanket pledge agreements which require the Banks to maintain certain qualifying assets as collateral. The Banks did not have any FRB borrowings as of December 31, 2015. Total available borrowing capacity

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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

for advances from the FHLBB and FRB was $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2015 for the Banks. The total amount of qualifying collateral for FHLBB and FRB borrowings was $2.1 billion as of December 31, 2015.
Repurchase Agreements
Information concerning repurchase agreements is as follows for the periods indicated below:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(Dollars In Thousands)
Outstanding at end of year
$
38,227

 
$
39,633

Average outstanding for the year
34,468

 
28,724

Maximum outstanding at any month-end
38,231

 
39,633

Weighted average rate at end of year
0.19
%
 
0.16
%
Weighted average rate paid for the year
0.33
%
 
0.28
%
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase are funds borrowed from customers on an overnight basis that are secured by GSEs in the same amount. The obligations to repurchase the identical securities that were sold are reflected as liabilities and the securities remain in the asset accounts.
Subordinated Debentures and Notes
On September 15, 2014, the Company issued $75.0 million of 6.0% fixed-to-floating subordinated notes due September
15, 2029. The Company is obligated to pay 6.0% interest semiannually between September 2014 and September 2024. Subsequently, the Company is obligated to pay 3-month LIBOR plus 3.315% quarterly until the notes mature in September 2029.

The following table summarizes the Company's subordinated debentures and notes at the dates indicated.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carrying Amount
Issue Date
 
Rate
 
Maturity Date
 
Next Call Date
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
June 26, 2003
 
Variable;
3-month LIBOR + 3.10%
 
June 26, 2033
 
March 28, 2016
 
$
4,725

 
$
4,696

March 17, 2004
 
Variable;
3-month LIBOR + 2.79%
 
March 17, 2034
 
March 17, 2016
 
$
4,589

 
$
4,543

September 15, 2014
 
6.0% Fixed-to-Variable;
3-month LIBOR + 3.315%
 
September 15, 2029
 
September 15, 2024
 
$
73,624

 
$
73,524

The above carrying amounts of the acquired subordinated debentures included $0.7 million of accretion adjustments and $1.4 million of capitalized debt issuance costs as of December 31, 2015. This compares to $0.8 million of accretion adjustments and $1.5 million of capitalized debt issuance costs as of December 31, 2014.
(13) Commitments and Contingencies
Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments
The Company is party to off-balance sheet financial instruments in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to reduce its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments include loan commitments, standby and commercial letters of credits, and interest rate swaps. According to GAAP, these financial instruments are not recorded in the financial statements until they are funded or related fees are incurred or received.
The contract amounts reflect the extent of the involvement the Company has in particular classes of these instruments. Such commitments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk and interest-rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparty

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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

is represented by the fair value of the instruments. The Company uses the same policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments.
Financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk at the dates indicated follow:
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In Thousands)
Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk:
 
 
 
Commitments to originate loans and leases:
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
$
36,000

 
$
107,179

Commercial
78,017

 
102,353

Residential mortgage
19,430

 
20,520

Unadvanced portion of loans and leases
648,291

 
629,351

Unused lines of credit:
 
 
 
Home equity
280,786

 
244,603

Other consumer
12,383

 
10,876

Other commercial
529

 
728

Unused letters of credit:
 
 
 
Financial standby letters of credit
12,389

 
16,762

Performance standby letters of credit
392

 
3,126

Commercial and similar letters of credit
821

 
50

Back-to-back interest rate swaps
490,632

 
109,362

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require the payment of a fee by the customer. Since some of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company evaluates each customer's creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if any, is based on Management's credit evaluation of the borrower.
Standby and commercial letters of credits are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee performance of a customer to a third party. These standby and commercial letters of credit are primarily issued to support the financing needs of the Company's commercial customers. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers.
The liability for unfunded credit commitments, which is included in other liabilities, was $1.3 million as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
From time to time the Company enters into back-to-back interest rate swaps with commercial customers and third-party financial institutions. These swaps allow the Company to offer long-term fixed-rate commercial loans while mitigating the interest-rate risk of holding those loans. In a back-to-back interest rate swap transaction, the Company lends to a commercial customer on a floating-rate basis and then enters into an interest rate swap with that customer. Concurrently, the Company enters into offsetting swaps with a third-party financial institution, effectively minimizing its net interest-rate risk exposure resulting from such transactions.
The fair value of interest rate swap assets and liabilities was $8.7 million and $8.8 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2015. The fair value of interest rate swap assets and liabilities was $2.7 million and $2.7 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2014.
Lease Commitments

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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

The Company leases certain office space under various noncancellable operating leases. These leases have original terms ranging from 5 years to over 25 years. Certain leases contain renewal options and escalation clauses which can increase rental expenses based principally on the consumer price index and fair market rental value provisions.
A summary of future minimum rental payments under such leases at the dates indicated follows:
Year ended December 31,
Minimum Rental Payments
 
(In Thousands)
2016
$
4,933

2017
4,472

2018
4,071

2019
3,220

2020
2,664

Thereafter
13,521

Total
$
32,881

Certain leases contain escalation clauses for real estate taxes and other expenditures, which are not included above. Total rental expense was $5.5 million in 2015, which included $0.2 million in lease acceleration related to the sale of $255.2 million of the indirect automobile loan portfolio in March 2015. This compares to total rent expense of $6.5 million in 2014, which included $0.8 million in lease acceleration related to a relocation of an operations center and the closure of a branch property. In 2013, total rent expense was $5.2 million.
A portion of the Company's headquarters was rented to third-party tenants which generated rental income of $0.4 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively. Rental income was reported in non-interest income in the Company's consolidated statements of income.
Legal Proceedings
In the normal course of business, there are various outstanding legal proceedings. In the opinion of Management, after consulting with legal counsel, the consolidated financial position and results of operations of the Company are not expected to be affected materially by the outcome of such proceedings.
(14) Earnings per Share ("EPS")
The following table is a reconciliation of basic EPS and diluted EPS:
 
For the year ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
Basic
 
Fully
Diluted
 
Basic
 
Fully
Diluted
 
Basic
 
Fully
Diluted
 
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income*
$
49,782

 
$
49,782

 
$
43,288

 
$
43,288

 
$
36,015

 
$
36,015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding
70,098,561

 
70,098,561

 
69,945,028

 
69,945,028

 
69,808,164

 
69,808,164

Effect of dilutive securities

 
137,307

 

 
109,787

 

 
75,760

Adjusted weighted average shares outstanding
70,098,561

 
70,235,868

 
69,945,028

 
70,054,815

 
69,808,164

 
69,883,924

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EPS *
$
0.71

 
$
0.71

 
$
0.62

 
$
0.62

 
$
0.52

 
$
0.52


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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013


(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".
(15) Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) represents the sum of net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss). For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s other comprehensive income (loss) include the following two components: (i) unrealized holding gains (losses) on investment securities available-for-sale; and (ii) adjustment of accumulated obligation for postretirement benefits.
 
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income by component, net of tax, were as follows for the periods indicated:

 
Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
Investment
Securities
 Available-for-Sale
 
Postretirement
Benefits
 
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
(Loss)/Income
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2014
$
(1,733
)
 
$
111

 
$
(1,622
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income
(1,094
)
 
240

 
(854
)
Balance at December 31, 2015
$
(2,827
)
 
$
351

 
$
(2,476
)
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
Investment
Securities
 Available-for-Sale
 
Postretirement
Benefits
 
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income/(Loss)
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
(8,332
)
 
$
417

 
$
(7,915
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)

6,599

 
(306
)
 
6,293

Balance at December 31, 2014
$
(1,733
)
 
$
111

 
$
(1,622
)
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
Investment
Securities
 Available-for-Sale
 
Postretirement
Benefits
 
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income
 
(In Thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2012
$
3,358

 
$
125

 
$
3,483

Other comprehensive (loss) income
(11,690
)
 
292

 
(11,398
)
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
(8,332
)
 
$
417

 
$
(7,915
)
 

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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

The following is a summary of the amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013.

 
Year Ended December 31,
 
Income Statement Line Affected by Reclassification
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
(In Thousands)
 
 
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Component
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains on investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$

 
$
65

 
$
397

 
Gain on sales of securities,net
 

 
(23
)
 
(142
)
 
Provision for income taxes
Total reclassifications for the period
$

 
$
42

 
$
255

 
Net income
(16) Derivatives and Hedging Activities
The Company may use interest-rate contracts (swaps, caps and floors) as part of interest-rate risk management strategy. Interest-rate swap, cap and floor agreements are entered into as hedges against future interest-rate fluctuations on specifically identified assets or liabilities. The Company did not have derivative fair value hedges or derivative cash flow hedges as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Derivatives not designated as hedges are not speculative but rather, result from a service the Company provides to certain customers for a fee. The Company executes interest-rate swaps with commercial banking customers to aid them in managing their interest-rate risk. The interest-rate swap contracts allow the commercial banking customers to convert floating-rate loan payments to fixed-rate loan payments. The Company concurrently enters into offsetting swaps with a third-party financial institution, effectively minimizing its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions. The third-party financial institution exchanges the customer's fixed-rate loan payments for floating-rate loan payments. As the interest-rate swaps associated with this program do not meet hedge accounting requirements, changes in the fair value of both the customer swaps and the offsetting swaps are recognized directly in earnings. The Company had 64 interest-rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $490.6 million and 22 interest-rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $109.4 million related to this program as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Asset derivatives and liability derivatives are included in other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities on the
consolidated balance sheets, respectively. The table below presents the fair value and classification of the Company’s derivative
financial instruments as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
 
At December 31, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
 
Asset
Derivatives
 
Liability
Derivatives
 
Asset
Derivatives
 
Liability
Derivatives
 
(In Thousands)
Total derivatives (interest-rate products) not designated as hedging instruments
$
8,656

 
$
8,781

 
$
2,676

 
$
2,714


Changes in the fair value are recognized directly in the Company's unaudited consolidated statements of income and are included in other non-interest income in the consolidated statements of income. The table below presents the gain (loss) recognized in income due to changes in the fair value for the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In Thousands)
Gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives
$
86

 
$
(8
)

By using derivative financial instruments, the Company exposes itself to credit risk which is the risk of failure by the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative contract. When the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the

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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

counterparty owes the Company, which creates credit risk for the Company. When the fair value of a derivative is negative, the Company owes the counterparty and, therefore, it does not possess credit risk. The credit risk in derivative instruments is mitigated by entering into transactions with highly-rated counterparties that Management believes to be creditworthy and by limiting the amount of exposure to each counterparty by either cross collateralizing the underlying hedged loan or through bilateral posting of collateral to cover exposure. As the swaps are subject to master netting agreements, the Company had limited exposure relating to interest rate swaps with institutional counterparties as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. The estimated net credit risk exposure for derivative financial instruments was $125.0 thousand and $38.0 thousand as of December 31, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
Certain derivative agreements contain provisions that require the Company to post collateral if the derivative exposure exceeds a threshold amount. The Company posted collateral of $14.7 million and $5.4 million in the normal course of business as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
The tables below present the offsetting of derivatives and amounts subject to master netting agreements not offset in the consolidated balance sheet at the dates indicated.
 
At December 31, 2015
 
Gross
Amounts Recognized
 
Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Statement of Financial Position
 
Net Amounts  Presented in the Statement of Financial Position
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
Statement of Financial Position
 
Net Amount
 
 
 
 
Financial Instruments Pledged
 
Cash Collateral Pledged
 
 
(In Thousands)
Asset Derivatives
$
8,656

 
$

 
$
8,656

 
$

 
$

 
$
8,656

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liability Derivatives
$
8,781

 
$

 
$
8,781

 
$
9,873

 
$
4,790

 
$

 
 
At December 31, 2014
 
Gross
Amounts Recognized
 
Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Statement of Financial Position
 
Net Amounts  Presented in the Statement of Financial Position
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
Statement of Financial Position
 
Net Amount
 
 
 
 
Financial Instruments Pledged
 
Cash Collateral Pledged
 
 
(In Thousands)
Asset Derivatives
$
2,676

 
$

 
$
2,676

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,676

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liability Derivatives
$
2,714

 
$

 
$
2,714

 
$
4,173

 
$
1,180

 
$

     
The Company has agreements with certain of its derivative counterparties that contain credit-risk-related contingent provisions. These provisions provide the counterparty with the right to terminate its derivative positions and require the Company to settle its obligations under the agreements if the Company defaults on certain of its indebtedness or if the Company fails to maintain its status as a well-capitalized institution.

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

(17) Income Taxes
Income tax expense is comprised of the following amounts:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Current provision:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal *
$
23,340

 
$
20,862

 
$
13,968

State *
4,774

 
5,299

 
4,298

Total current provision
28,114

 
26,161

 
18,266

Deferred provision (benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
Federal *
679

 
244

 
2,537

State *
560

 
(119
)
 
(139
)
Total deferred provision
1,239

 
125

 
2,398

Total provision for income taxes
$
29,353

 
$
26,286

 
$
20,664

Total provision for income taxes differed from the amounts computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate 35.0% to income before tax expense as a result of the following:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Expected income tax expense at statutory federal tax rate *
$
28,603

 
$
25,049

 
$
20,492

State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit *
3,467

 
3,377

 
2,713

Bank-owned life insurance
(367
)
 
(369
)
 
(383
)
Tax-exempt interest income
(622
)
 
(341
)
 
(310
)
Income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
(994
)
 
(831
)
 
(768
)
Tax credit—premises and equipment

 

 
(453
)
Tax credits from investments in affordable housing projects *
(526
)
 
(667
)
 
(537
)
Other, net *
(208
)
 
68

 
(90
)
Total provision for income taxes *
$
29,353

 
$
26,286

 
$
20,664

Effective income tax rate *
35.9
%
 
36.7
%
 
35.3
%

(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01.
The Company's effective tax rate was 35.9% as of December 31, 2015 compared to 36.7% as of December 31, 2014. The decrease in the Company's effective tax rate from 2014 was primarily driven by investments in municipal bonds and the formation of a new security corporation in Massachusetts.



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BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities at the dates indicated are as follows:
 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In Thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
Allowance for credit losses
$
22,741

 
$
21,770

Acquisition fair value adjustments
606

 
3,066

Unrealized loss on investment securities available-for-sale
1,577

 
1,086

Retirement and postretirement benefits
4,677

 
4,794

Deferred compensation
4,966

 
3,686

Net operating loss and contribution carryovers
1,335

 
1,614

Nonaccrual interest
352

 
814

Restricted stock and stock option plans
812

 
708

Accrued expenses
387

 
407

Alternative minimum tax credits
31

 
31

Other
103

 
63

Total gross deferred tax assets
37,587

 
38,039

Deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
 
Identified intangible assets and goodwill
5,392

 
6,311

Depreciation
2,957

 
2,740

Deferred loan origination costs, net
2,218

 
930

Unrecognized gain relating to postretirement obligation
203

 
70

Other *

 
301

Total gross deferred tax liabilities
10,770

 
10,352

Net deferred tax asset
$
26,817

 
$
27,687

(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of $3.7 million which are available to offset future federal taxable income, if any, through 2020. In addition, the Company has alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards of $31.0 thousand, which are available to reduce future federal income taxes, if any, over an indefinite period. According to Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, the net operating loss carryforwards and credit are subject to an annual limitation of $0.9 million.
The Company has determined that a valuation allowance is not required for any of its deferred tax assets because it believes that it is more likely than not that these assets will reverse against future taxable income.
For federal income tax purposes, the Company has a $1.8 million reserve for credit losses which remains subject to recapture. If any portion of the reserve is used for purposes other than to absorb the losses for which it was established, approximately 150% of the amount actually used (limited to the amount of the reserve) would be subject to taxation in the year in which used. As the Company intends to use the reserve only to absorb credit losses, no provision has been made for the $1.0 million liability that would result if 100% of the reserve were recaptured.
The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits accrued as income tax receivables or as deferred tax items as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
The Company files U.S. federal and state income tax returns. As of December 31, 2015, the Company is subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and Massachusetts and Rhode Island tax authorities for tax years after

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2015, the Company is also subject to examination for several other state tax authorities for tax years after December 31, 2009.

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

(18) Stockholders' Equity
Preferred Stock
The Company is authorized to issue 50,000,000 shares of serial preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, from time to time in one or more series subject to limitations of law. The Board of Directors is authorized to fix the designations, powers, preferences, limitations and rights of the shares of each such series. As of December 31, 2015, there were no shares of preferred stock issued.
Capital Distributions and Restrictions Thereon
The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from each of the Banks and Brookline Securities Corp. The Company's primary source of revenue is dividends paid to it by the Banks and Brookline Securities Corp.
The FRB has authority to prohibit the Company from paying dividends to the Company's shareholders if such payment is deemed to be an unsafe or unsound practice. The FRB has indicated generally that it may be an unsafe or unsound practice for bank holding companies to pay dividends unless the bank holding company's net income over the preceding year is sufficient to fund the dividends and the expected rate of earnings retention is consistent with the organization's capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition.
The FRB also has the authority to use its enforcement powers to prohibit the Banks from paying dividends to the Company if, in its opinion, the payment of dividends would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice. Federal law also prohibits the payment of dividends by a bank that will result in the bank failing to meet its applicable capital requirements on a pro forma basis. Payment of dividends by a bank is also restricted pursuant to various state regulatory limitations, including the Massachusetts Division of Banks in the case of Brookline Bank and First Ipswich, and the Banking Division of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation in the case of BankRI.
Common Stock Repurchases
In 2015, 2014 and 2013, no shares of the Company's common stock were repurchased by the Company. On October 29, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to acquire up to $10.0 million of total outstanding shares of the Company's common stock over a period of fourteen months ending on December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, no shares were repurchased under the stock repurchase program.
On February 4, 2016, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to acquire up to $10.0 million of total outstanding shares of the Company's common stock over a period of twelve months ending on January 31, 2017. Repurchases may be made from time to time depending on market conditions and other factors, and will be conducted through open market or private transactions, through block trades, and pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b5-1. There is no guarantee as to the exact number of shares, if any, to be repurchased by the Company.
Restricted Retained Earnings
As part of the stock offering in 2002 and as required by regulation, Brookline Bank established a liquidation account for the benefit of eligible account holders and supplemental eligible account holders who maintain their deposit accounts at Brookline Bank after the stock offering. In the unlikely event of a complete liquidation of Brookline Bank (and only in that event), eligible depositors who continue to maintain deposit accounts at Brookline Bank shall be entitled to receive a distribution from the liquidation account.
Accordingly, retained earnings of the Company are deemed to be restricted up to the balance of the liquidation account. The liquidation account balance is reduced annually to the extent that eligible depositors have reduced their qualifying deposits as of each anniversary date. Subsequent increases in deposit account balances do not restore an account holder's interest in the liquidation account
The liquidation account totaled $16.6 million (unaudited), $18.4 million (unaudited), and $20.6 million (unaudited) at
December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
(19) Regulatory Capital Requirements

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

The Company's primary source of cash is dividends from the Banks and Brookline Securities Corp. The Banks are subject to certain restrictions on the amount of dividends that they may declare without prior regulatory approval. In addition, the dividends declared cannot be in excess of the amount which would cause the Banks to fall below the minimum required for capital adequacy purposes.
The Company is a bank holding company within the meaning of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHCA") and as such, must comply with the capital requirements of the Federal Reserve Bank (the "FRB") at the consolidated level. As member banks of the FRB, Brookline Bank, BankRI and First Ipswich are also required to comply with the regulatory capital requirement of the FRB.
The FRB has promulgated regulations imposing minimum capital requirements for bank holding companies and state member banks as well as prompt corrective action regulations for state member banks that implement the system of prompt corrective action established by Section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended (the "FDIA"). Under the prompt corrective action regulations in effect as of December 31, 2015, a bank is "well-capitalized" if it has: (1) a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater; (2) a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater; (3) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.5% or greater; (4) a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 5.0% or greater; and (5) is not subject to any written agreement, order, capital directive or prompt corrective action directive to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure.
Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company's financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines, the Company and each of the Banks must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company's and the Banks' assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. In addition, the prompt corrective action rules applicable to state member banks establish a framework of supervisory actions for state member banks that are not at least adequately capitalized. The Company's and the Banks' capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors. Prompt corrective action provisions are not applicable to bank holding companies. Bank holding companies are not subject to prompt corrective action requirements. However, a bank holding company is considered "well capitalized" for purpose of the FRB's Regulation Y (which can affect eligibility for expedited application processes to make acquisitions and engage in new activities) if the bank holding company maintains on a consolidated basis a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater and a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or greater and is not subject to any written agreement under capital directive or prompt correction action directive issued by the FRB to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company, Brookline Bank, BankRI and First Ipswich met all applicable minimum capital requirements and the banks were considered "well-capitalized" by their respective regulators. The Company's and the Banks' actual and required capital amounts and ratios are as follows:

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
 
Actual
 
Minimum Required for
Capital Adequacy
Purposes
 
Minimum Required
To Be Considered
"Well-Capitalized" Under Prompt Corrective Action Rules
 
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
At December 31, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brookline Bancorp, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio
(1
)
$
530,505

 
10.62
%
 
$
225,214

 
4.50
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(2
)
545,035

 
9.37
%
 
231,930

 
4.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(3
)
545,035

 
10.91
%
 
300,019

 
6.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Total risk-based capital ratio
(4
)
676,709

 
13.54
%
 
401,013

 
8.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Brookline Bank
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio
(1
)
$
374,002

 
11.89
%
 
$
141,548

 
4.50
%
 
$
204,459

 
6.50
%
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(2
)
380,003

 
10.78
%
 
141,003

 
4.00
%
 
176,254

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(3
)
380,003

 
12.08
%
 
188,743

 
6.00
%
 
251,658

 
8.00
%
Total risk-based capital ratio
(4
)
417,270

 
13.27
%
 
251,557

 
8.00
%
 
314,446

 
10.00
%
BankRI
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio
(1
)
$
171,967

 
10.63
%
 
$
72,799

 
4.50
%
 
$
105,154

 
6.50
%
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(2
)
171,967

 
8.51
%
 
80,831

 
4.00
%
 
101,038

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(3
)
171,967

 
10.63
%
 
97,065

 
6.00
%
 
129,420

 
8.00
%
Total risk-based capital ratio
(4
)
189,953

 
11.74
%
 
129,440

 
8.00
%
 
161,800

 
10.00
%
First Ipswich
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio
(1
)
$
32,831

 
13.87
%
 
$
10,652

 
4.50
%
 
$
15,386

 
6.50
%
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(2
)
32,831

 
9.26
%
 
14,182

 
4.00
%
 
17,727

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(3
)
32,831

 
13.87
%
 
14,202

 
6.00
%
 
18,936

 
8.00
%
Total risk-based capital ratio
(4
)
35,617

 
15.05
%
 
18,933

 
8.00
%
 
23,666

 
10.00
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brookline Bancorp, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(2
)
$
504,964

 
9.01
%
 
$
224,179

 
4.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(3
)
504,964

 
10.55
%
 
191,456

 
4.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Total risk-based capital ratio
(4
)
633,421

 
13.24
%
 
382,732

 
8.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Brookline Bank
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(2
)
$
336,513

 
9.60
%
 
$
140,214

 
4.00
%
 
$
175,267

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(3
)
336,513

 
10.72
%
 
125,565

 
4.00
%
 
188,347

 
6.00
%
Total risk-based capital ratio
(4
)
373,312

 
11.90
%
 
250,966

 
8.00
%
 
313,708

 
10.00
%
BankRI
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(2
)
$
150,403

 
8.43
%
 
$
71,366

 
4.00
%
 
$
89,207

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(3
)
150,403

 
10.70
%
 
56,225

 
4.00
%
 
84,338

 
6.00
%
Total risk-based capital ratio
(4
)
166,135

 
11.82
%
 
112,443

 
8.00
%
 
140,554

 
10.00
%
First Ipswich
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
(2
)
$
29,962

 
9.27
%
 
$
12,929

 
4.00
%
 
$
16,161

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
(3
)
29,962

 
12.40
%
 
9,665

 
4.00
%
 
14,498

 
6.00
%
Total risk-based capital ratio
(4
)
32,375

 
13.40
%
 
19,328

 
8.00
%
 
24,160

 
10.00
%
_______________________________________________________________________________

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

(1)
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio is calculated by dividing common equity Tier 1 capital by risk-weighted assets. The ratio was established as part of the implementation of Basel III, effective January 1, 2015.
(2)
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio is calculated by dividing Tier 1 capital by average assets.
(3)
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is calculated by dividing Tier 1 capital by risk-weighted assets.
(4)
Total risk-based capital ratio is calculated by dividing total capital by risk-weighted assets.

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

(20) Employee Benefit Plans
Postretirement Benefits
Postretirement benefits are provided for part of the annual expense of health insurance premiums for certain retired employees and their dependents. No contributions are made by the Company to invest in assets allocated for the purpose of funding this benefit obligation.
The following table presents the components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost and other amounts recognized in other comprehensive income:
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Net periodic benefit expense:
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
55

 
$
45

 
$
61

Interest cost
49

 
47

 
47

Prior service credit
(21
)
 
(21
)
 
(21
)
Actuarial gain
(20
)
 
(40
)
 
(16
)
Net periodic benefit expense
$
63

 
$
31

 
$
71

Changes in postretirement benefit obligation recognized in other comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
 
Net actuarial loss (gain)
$
374

 
$
(477
)
 
$
489

Prior service credit
(21
)
 
(21
)
 
(21
)
Total pre-tax changes in postretirement benefit obligation recognized in other comprehensive income
$
353

 
$
(498
)
 
$
468

The discount rate used to determine the actuarial present value of projected postretirement benefit obligations was 4.35% in 2015, 4.00% in 2014 and 4.9% in 2013. The estimated prior service credit that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost in 2016 is $54.0 thousand. The liability for the postretirement benefits included in accrued expenses and other liabilities was $1.2 million as of December 31, 2015 and $1.6 million as of December 31, 2014.
The actual health care trend used to measure the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation in 2015 for plan participants below age 65 and for plan participants over age 65 was 7.4% and 5.0%, respectively. In 2014, the rate for plan participants below age 65 and for plan participants over age 65 was 6.6% and less than zero percent, respectively. In 2015, there was a lower than expected increase in per capita medical expenses as compared to 2014, which created a smaller gap in the health care trend range. The rates to be used in 2016 through 2020 are expected to be in the range of 6.9% to 5.9% and to decline gradually thereafter to 5.1%. Assumed health care trend rates may have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the postretirement benefit plan. A 1% change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:
 
1% Increase
 
1% Decrease
 
(In Thousands)
Effect on total service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement benefit costs
$
26

 
$
(24
)
Effect on the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation
268

 
(208
)
401(k) Plans
The Company administers one 401(k) plan (the "Plan"), which is a qualified, tax-exempt profit-sharing plan with a salary deferral feature under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Each employee, excluding temporary employees, who has attained the age of 21 is eligible to participate in the plan by making voluntary contributions, subject to certain limits based on federal tax laws. In the Plan, the Company makes a matching contribution of the amount contributed by eligible employees, up

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

to 5% of the employee's yearly compensation. Contributions to the Plan are subject to certain limits based on federal tax laws. Expenses associated with the plans were $2.3 million in 2015, $2.4 million in 2014, and $2.0 million in 2013.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
The Company also maintains a Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Nonqualified Plan") under which certain participants may contribute the amounts they are precluded from contributing to the Company's 401(k) plan because of the qualified plan limitations, and additional compensation deferrals that may be advantageous for personal income tax or other planning reasons. Expenses associated with the Nonqualified Plan were nominal in 2015, 2014 and 2013. Accrued liabilities associated with the Nonqualified Plan in 2015, 2014, and 2013 were $0.2 million, $0.3 million, and $0.4 million, respectively.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreements
The Company acquired two Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (the "SERPs") as part of its acquisition of BankRI. The Company maintains the SERPs for certain senior executives under which participants are entitled to an annual retirement benefit. As of December 31, 2015, there are 13 participants in the SERPs. The Company funded a Rabbi Trust to provide a partial funding source for the Company's liabilities under the SERPs. The Company records annual amounts related to the SERPs based on an actuarial calculation. Actuarial gains and losses are reflected immediately in the statement of income.
Total expenses for benefits payable under the SERPs for the years ended December 31, 2015, and 2014 were $0.1 million and $1.9 million, respectively. Aggregate benefits payable included in accrued expenses and other liabilities as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $11.2 million and $11.6 million, respectively.
The nominal discount rate used to determine the actuarial present value of projected benefits under the agreements was 4.3% and 4.0% in the year 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Brookline Bank established an Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") on November 1, 1997. The Company's ESOP loan to Brookline Bank to purchase 546,986 shares of Company common stock is payable in quarterly installments over 30 years, bears interest at 8.50% per annum, matures December 31, 2021, and can be prepaid without penalty. The loan is repaid to the Company in the form of cash contributions from Brookline Bank, subject to federal tax law limits. The outstanding balance of the loan as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, was $1.8 million and $2.0 million, respectively, and is eliminated in consolidation.
Shares of common stock used as collateral to secure the loan are released and available for allocation to eligible employees as the principal and interest on the loan is paid. The ESOP was amended in 2015 to permit all eligible participants in the ESOP as of July 1, 2015 or any eligible participants after July 1, 2015 to be fully vested in the ESOP upon the date of eligibility.
Dividends on released shares are credited to the participants' ESOP accounts. Dividends on unallocated shares of common stock are generally applied towards payment of the loan. ESOP shares committed to be released are considered outstanding in determining earnings per share.
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the ESOP held 213,066 and 251,382 unallocated shares, respectively at an aggregate cost of $1.1 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The market value of such shares as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $2.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively. Compensation and employee benefits expense related to the ESOP was $0.4 million in 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively, based on the commitment to release to eligible employees 38,316 shares in 2015, 40,284 shares in 2014 and 42,252 shares in 2013.
Recognition and Retention Plans
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had three active recognition and retention plans: the 2003 Recognition and Retention Plan (the "2003 RRP") with 1,250,000 authorized shares, the 2011 Restricted Stock Award Plan ("2011 RSA") with 500,000 authorized shares and the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan ("2014 Plan") with 1,750,000 authorized shares. The 2003 RRP, the 2011 RSA and the 2014 Plan are collectively referred to as the "Plans". The purpose of the Plans is to promote the long-term financial success of the Company and its subsidiaries by providing a means to attract, retain and reward individuals who contribute to such success and to further align their interests with those of the Company's stockholders.

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Of the awarded shares, generally 50% vest ratably over three years with one-third of such shares vesting at each of the first, second and third anniversary dates of the awards. These are referred to as "time-based shares". The remaining 50% of each award has a cliff vesting schedule and will vest three years after the award date based on the level of the Company's achievement of identified performance targets in comparison to the level of achievement of such identified performance targets by a defined peer group comprised of financial institutions. These are referred to as "performance-based shares". The specific performance measure targets relate to return on assets, return on tangible equity, asset quality and total stockholder return (share price appreciation from date of award plus dividends paid as a percent of the Company's common stock share price on the date of award). If a participant leaves the Company prior to the third anniversary date of an award, any unvested shares are forfeited. Dividends declared with respect to shares awarded will be held by the Company and paid to the participant only when the shares vest.
Under all the Plans, shares of the Company's common stock were reserved for issuance as restricted stock awards to officers, employees, consultants and non-employee directors of the Company. Shares issued upon vesting may be either authorized but unissued shares or reacquired shares held by the Company as treasury shares. Any shares not issued because vesting requirements are not met will be retired back to treasury and be made available again for issuance under the Plans.
Total expense for the Plans was $1.4 million in 2015, $1.2 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively. Total income tax benefits on vested awards was $0.3 million in 2015, $0.4 million in 2014, and $0.2 million in 2013. Dividends paid on unvested RRP shares, which are recognized as compensation expense, were $0.1 million in 2015, $0.2 million in 2014, and $30.0 thousand in 2013.
Activity under the recognition and retention plans was as follows:
 
Restricted Stock Awards Outstanding
 
Weighted Average Price
per Share
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
 
 
Recognition and Retention Plans:
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2014
419,702

 
$
9.17

 
 

Granted
247,790

 
11.36

 
 

Vested
(126,193
)
 
9.02

 
 

Forfeited / Canceled
(55,264
)
 
8.66

 
 

Outstanding at December 31, 2015
486,035

 
$
10.37

 
 
Unrecognized compensation cost
 
 
 
 
$
3,045

Weighted average remaining recognition period (months)
 
 
 
 
28

Stock Option Plans
The Company has an active equity incentive plan, the 2014 Plan. The prior plans, the "2003 Option Plan" and the "1999 Option Plan" were terminated on October 16, 2013 and April 19, 2009, respectively. The 2014 plan is an omnibus plan from which the Company may award shares of restricted stock or stock options among other types of awards. Under all the stock option plans, shares of the Company's common stock were reserved for issuance to directors, employees, consultants and non-employee directors of the Company. Shares issued upon the exercise of a stock option may be either authorized but unissued shares or reacquired shares held by the Company as treasury shares. Any shares subject to an award which expire or are terminated unexercised will again be available for issuance under the plans.
The exercise price of options awarded is the fair market value of the common stock of the Company on the date the award is made. Certain of the options include a reload feature whereby an optionee exercising an option by delivery of shares of common stock would automatically be granted an additional option at the fair market value of stock when such additional option is granted equal to the number of shares so delivered. If an individual to whom a stock option was granted ceases to maintain continuous service by reason of normal retirement, death or disability, or following a change in control, all options and rights granted and not fully exercisable become exercisable in full upon the happening of such an event and shall remain exercisable for a period ranging from 3 months to 5 years.

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

No options were granted in 2015, 2014, or 2013. There was no expense for the stock option plans in 2015, 2014, and 2013. In accordance with the terms of the Plans, no dividend equivalent rights were paid to holders of unexercised vested options in 2015, 2014 or 2013.
Activity under the option plans was as follows:
 
Options
Outstanding
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
Weighted
Average
Contractual
Term (In Years)
 
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Employee Stock Options:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2014
227,345

 
$
10.43

 
 

 
 
Granted

 

 
 

 
 
Exercised

 

 
 

 
 
Forfeited / Canceled

 

 
 

 
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2015
227,345

 
$
10.43

 
$

 
3.7
Exercisable at December 31, 2015
227,345

 
$
10.43

 
$

 
3.7
 
 
(21) Fair Value of Financial Instruments
A description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy, is set forth below. There were no changes in the valuation techniques used during 2015 and 2014.
Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following table set forth the carrying value of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2015 and 2014:
 
Carrying Value as of December 31, 2015
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Assets:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSEs
$

 
$
40,627

 
$

 
$
40,627

GSE CMOs

 
193,816

 

 
193,816

GSE MBSs

 
229,881

 

 
229,881

SBA commercial loan asset-backed securities

 
147

 

 
147

Corporate debt obligations

 
46,486

 

 
46,486

Trust preferred securities

 
1,267

 

 
1,267

Total debt securities

 
512,224

 

 
512,224

Marketable equity securities
977

 

 

 
977

Total investment securities available-for-sale
$
977

 
$
512,224

 
$

 
$
513,201

Interest-rate swaps
$

 
$
8,656

 
$

 
$
8,656

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-rate swaps
$

 
$
8,781

 
$

 
$
8,781


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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
Carrying Value as of December 31, 2014
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSEs
$

 
$
22,988

 
$

 
$
22,988

GSE CMOs

 
234,169

 

 
234,169

GSE MBSs

 
250,981

 

 
250,981

SBA commercial loan asset-backed securities

 
203

 

 
203

Corporate debt obligations

 
40,207

 

 
40,207

Trust preferred securities

 
1,240

 

 
1,240

Total debt securities

 
549,788

 


549,788

Marketable equity securities
973

 

 

 
973

Total investment securities available-for-sale
$
973

 
$
549,788

 
$


$
550,761

Interest-rate swaps
$

 
$
2,676

 
$

 
$
2,676

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-rate swaps
$

 
$
2,714

 
$

 
$
2,714

Investment Securities Available-for-Sale
The fair value of investment securities is based principally on market prices and dealer quotes received from third-party and nationally-recognized pricing services for identical investment securities such as U.S. Treasury and agency securities. The Company's marketable equity securities are priced this way and are included in Level 1. These prices are validated by comparing the primary pricing source with an alternative pricing source when available. When quoted market prices for identical securities are unavailable, the Company uses market prices provided by independent pricing services based on recent trading activity and other observable information, including but not limited to market interest-rate curves, referenced credit spreads and estimated prepayment speeds where applicable. These investments include GSE debentures, GSE mortgage-related securities, SBA commercial loan asset backed securities, corporate debt securities, and trust preferred securities, all of which are included in Level 2. As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, no investment securities were valued using pricing models included in Level 3.
Additionally, Management reviews changes in fair value from period to period and performs testing to ensure that prices received from the third parties are consistent with Management's expectation of the market. Changes in the prices obtained from the pricing service are analyzed from month to month, taking into consideration changes in market conditions including changes in mortgage spreads, changes in U.S. Treasury security yields and changes in generic pricing of 15-year and 30-year securities. Additional analysis may include a review of prices provided by other independent parties, a yield analysis, a review of average life changes using Bloomberg analytics and a review of historical pricing for a particular security.
Interest-Rate Swaps
The fair values for the interest-rate swap assets and liabilities represent a Level 2 valuation and are based on settlement values adjusted for credit risks associated with the counterparties and the Company and observable market interest rate curves. Credit risk adjustments consider factors such as the likelihood of default by the Company and its counterparties, its net exposures and remaining contractual life. To date, the Company has not realized any losses due to a counterparty's inability to pay any net uncollateralized position. Refer also to Note 16, "Derivatives and Hedging Activities."
The reconciliation of all assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows for the year ended December 31, 2014:

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
2014
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale, beginning of year
$

$
1,775

$
2,917

Investment security sales

(1,658
)

Principal paydowns and other


(1,150
)
Total realized losses included in other income

(242
)

Total unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income

125

8

Investment securities available-for-sale, end of year
$

$

$
1,775

There were no transfers between levels for assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis during 2015 or 2014.
Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 are summarized below:
 
Carrying Value as of December 31, 2015
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateral-dependent impaired loans and leases
$

 
$

 
$
12,137

 
$
12,137

OREO

 

 
729

 
729

Repossessed assets

 
614

 

 
614

Total assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis
$

 
$
614

 
$
12,866

 
$
13,480

 
Carrying Value as of December 31, 2014
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
(In Thousands)
Assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateral-dependent impaired loans and leases
$

 
$

 
$
6,376

 
$
6,376

OREO

 

 
953

 
953

Repossessed assets

 
503

 

 
503

Total assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis
$

 
$
503

 
$
7,329

 
$
7,832

Collateral-Dependent Impaired Loans and Leases
For nonperforming loans and leases where the credit quality of the borrower has deteriorated significantly, fair values of the underlying collateral were estimated using purchase and sales agreements (Level 2), or comparable sales or recent appraisals (Level 3), adjusted for selling costs and other expenses.

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Other Real Estate Owned
The Company records OREO at the lower of cost or fair value. In estimating fair value, the Company utilizes purchase and sales agreements (Level 2) or comparable sales, recent appraisals or cash flows discounted at an interest rate commensurate with the risk associated with these cash flows (Level 3), adjusted for selling costs and other expenses.
Repossessed Assets
Repossessed assets are carried at estimated fair value less costs to sell based on auction pricing (Level 2).
The table below presents quantitative information about significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at the dates indicated.
 
Fair Value
 
Valuation Technique
 
At December 31, 2015
 
At December 31, 2014
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
 
Collateral-dependent impaired loans and leases
$
12,137

 
$
6,376

 
Appraisal of collateral (1)
Other real estate owned
$
729

 
$
953

 
Appraisal of collateral (1)
(1) Fair value is generally determined through independent appraisals of the underlying collateral. The Company may also use another available source of collateral assessment to determine a reasonable estimate of the fair value of the collateral. Appraisals may be adjusted by Management for qualitative factors such as economic factors and estimated liquidation expenses. The range of these possible adjustments may vary.
Summary of Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments
The following table presents the carrying amount, estimated fair value, and placement in the fair value hierarchy of the Company's financial instruments at the dates indicated. This table excludes financial instruments for which the carrying amount approximates fair value. Financial assets for which the fair value approximates carrying value include cash and cash equivalents, FHLBB and FRB stock and accrued interest receivable. Financial liabilities for which the fair value approximates carrying value include non-maturity deposits, short-term borrowings and accrued interest payable.

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
Carrying
Value
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Level 1
Inputs
 
Level 2
Inputs
 
Level 3
Inputs
 
(In Thousands)
At December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
GSE
$
34,915

 
$
34,819

 
$

 
$
34,819

 
$

GSE MBSs
19,291

 
18,986

 

 
18,986

 

Municipal Obligations
39,051

 
39,390

 

 
39,390

 

Foreign Government Obligations
500

 
500

 

 

 
500

Loans held-for-sale
13,383

 
13,383

 

 
13,383

 

Loans and leases, net
4,938,801

 
4,857,060

 

 

 
4,857,060

Financial liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Certificates of deposit
1,087,872

 
1,091,906

 

 
1,091,906

 

Borrowed funds
983,029

 
981,349

 

 
981,349

 

At December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities held-to-maturity
$
500

 
$
500

 
$


$


$
500

Loans held-for-sale
1,537

 
1,537

 

 
1,537

 

Loans and leases, net
4,768,948

 
4,753,605

 

 

 
4,753,605

Financial liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Certificates of deposit
946,708

 
949,320

 

 
949,320

 

Borrowed funds
1,126,404

 
1,132,940

 

 
1,132,940

 

Investment Securities Held-to-Maturity
The fair values of certain investment securities held-to-maturity are estimated using market prices provided by independent pricing services based on recent trading activity and other observable information, including but not limited to market interest-rate curves, referenced credit spreads and estimated prepayment speeds where applicable. These investments include GSE debentures, GSE MBSs, and municipal obligations, all of which are included in Level 2. Additionally, fair values of foreign government obligations are based on comparisons to market prices of similar securities and are considered to be Level 3.
Loans Held-for-Sale
Fair value is measured using quoted market prices when available. These assets are typically categorized as Level 1. If quoted market prices are not available, comparable market values may be utilized. These assets are typically categorized as Level 2.
Loans and Leases
The fair values of performing loans and leases was estimated by segregating the portfolio into its primary loan and lease categories—commercial real estate mortgage, multi-family mortgage, construction, commercial, equipment financing, condominium association, indirect automobile, residential mortgage, home equity and other consumer. These categories were further disaggregated based upon significant financial characteristics such as type of interest rate (fixed / variable) and payment status (current / past-due). The Company discounts the contractual cash flows for each loan category using interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar quality and incorporates estimates of future loan prepayments. This method of estimating fair value does not incorporate the exit price concept of fair value.
Deposits

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

The fair values of deposit liabilities with no stated maturity (demand, NOW, savings and money market savings accounts) are equal to the carrying amounts payable on demand. The fair value of certificates of deposit represents contractual cash flows discounted using interest rates currently offered on deposits with similar characteristics and remaining maturities. The fair value estimates for deposits do not include the benefit that results from the low-cost funding provided by the Company's core deposit relationships (deposit-based intangibles).
Borrowed Funds
The fair value of federal funds purchased is equal to the amount borrowed. The fair value of FHLBB advances and repurchase agreements represents contractual repayments discounted using interest rates currently available for borrowings with similar characteristics and remaining maturities. The fair values reported for retail repurchase agreements are based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. The discount rates used are representative of approximate rates currently offered on borrowings with similar characteristics and maturities. The fair values reported for subordinated deferrable interest debentures are based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. The discount rates used are representative of approximate rates currently offered on instruments with similar terms and maturities.
(22) Condensed Parent Company Financial Statements
Condensed Parent Company Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are as follows. The Statement of Stockholders' Equity is not presented below as the parent company's stockholders' equity is that of the consolidated company.
Balance Sheets

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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
At December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In Thousands)
ASSETS
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks
$
590

 
$
3,293

Short-term investments
27,513

 
49,008

Total cash and cash equivalents
28,103

 
52,301

ESOP loan to Brookline Bank
1,752

 
2,002

Restricted equity securities
100

 
100

Premises and equipment, net
9,040

 
11,026

Investment in subsidiaries, at equity
681,504

 
628,531

Goodwill
35,267

 
35,267

Other assets *
2,631

 
4,366

Total assets *
$
758,397

 
$
733,593

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
Borrowed funds
$
82,936

 
$
82,745

Deferred tax liability
435

 
721

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
7,541

 
8,309

Total liabilities
90,912

 
91,775

 
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity:
 
 
 
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 75,744,445 shares issued
757

 
757

Additional paid-in capital
616,899

 
617,475

Retained earnings, partially restricted *
109,675

 
84,860

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(2,476
)
 
(1,622
)
Treasury stock, at cost; 4,861,554 shares and 5,040,571 shares, respectively
(56,208
)
 
(58,282
)
Unallocated common stock held by Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP"); 213,066 shares and 251,382 shares, respectively
(1,162
)
 
(1,370
)
Total Brookline Bancorp, Inc. stockholders' equity *
667,485

 
641,818

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity *
$
758,397

 
$
733,593

 
 
 
 
(*) Previously reported amounts prior to January 1, 2015 have been restated to reflect a retrospective change in accounting principle for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, in accordance with ASU 2014-01. Refer to Note 10, "Other Assets".

F-79

Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Statements of Income
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Interest and dividend income:
 
 
 
 
 
Dividend income from subsidiaries
$

 
$
24,700

 
$
30,000

Marketable and restricted equity securities
97

 

 

ESOP loan to Brookline Bank
162

 
183

 
205

Total interest and dividend income
259

 
24,883

 
30,205

Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
Borrowed funds
5,063

 
1,746

 
442

Net interest income
(4,804
)
 
23,137

 
29,763

Non-interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
Other
5

 

 

Total non-interest income
5

 

 

Non-interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and employee benefits
205

 
2,357

 
2,305

Occupancy
22

 
38

 
16

Equipment and data processing
687

 
1,499

 
4,263

Directors' fees
688

 
656

 
590

Franchise taxes
113

 
252

 
223

Insurance
490

 
472

 
352

Professional services(1)
185

 
(113
)
 
583

Other(2)
(1,289
)
 
751

 
2,040

Total non-interest expense
1,101

 
5,912

 
10,372

Income before income taxes
(5,900
)
 
17,225

 
19,391

Credit for income taxes
(1,854
)
 
(2,705
)
 
(4,035
)
Income before equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries
(4,046
)
 
19,930

 
23,426

Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries
53,828

 
23,358

 
12,589

Net income
$
49,782

 
$
43,288

 
$
36,015


(1) The Parent Company received a net benefit in 2014 from the intercompany allocation of expense that is eliminated in consolidation.
(2) The Parent Company received a net benefit in 2015 from the intercompany allocation of expense that is eliminated in consolidation.



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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

Statements of Cash Flows
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In Thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to parent company
$
49,782

 
$
43,288

 
$
36,015

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries
(53,828
)
 
(23,358
)
 
(12,589
)
Depreciation of premises and equipment
2,728

 
2,563

 
1,810

Amortization of debt issuance costs
100

 
29

 

Other operating activities, net
2,479

 
(30,822
)
 
14,745

Net cash provided from (used for) operating activities
1,261

 
(8,300
)
 
39,981

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Repayment of ESOP loan by Brookline Bank
250

 
250

 
250

Purchase of premises and equipment
(742
)
 
(1,739
)
 
(5,458
)
Net cash used for investing activities
(492
)
 
(1,489
)
 
(5,208
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease in demand deposit, NOW, savings and money market accounts

 

 
(41
)
Proceeds from issuance of subordinated notes

 
73,495

 

Repayment of subordinated debentures

 

 
(3,000
)
Payment of dividends on common stock
(24,967
)
 
(23,876
)
 
(23,841
)
Net cash (used for) provided from used for financing activities
(24,967
)
 
49,619

 
(26,882
)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(24,198
)
 
39,830

 
7,891

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
52,301

 
12,471

 
4,580

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
$
28,103

 
$
52,301

 
$
12,471


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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

(23) Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)
 
2015 Quarters
 
Fourth
 
Third
 
Second
 
First
 
(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Data)
Interest and dividend income
$
58,448

 
$
56,687

 
$
55,166

 
$
56,609

Interest expense
8,370

 
8,100

 
7,994

 
8,081

Net interest income
50,078

 
48,587

 
47,172

 
48,528

Provision for credit losses
1,520

 
1,755

 
1,913

 
2,263

Net interest income after provision for credit losses
48,558

 
46,832

 
45,259

 
46,265

Loan level derivative income
1,556

 
900

 
941

 

Gain on sale of loans and leases held-for-sale
614

 
446

 
279

 
869

Other non-interest income
3,893

 
3,438

 
3,647

 
3,601

Amortization of identified intangible assets
(724
)
 
(725
)
 
(724
)
 
(738
)
Other non-interest expense
(31,605
)
 
(30,545
)
 
(29,728
)
 
(30,588
)
Income before provision for income taxes
22,292

 
20,346

 
19,674

 
19,409

Provision for income taxes
8,237

 
6,897

 
7,115

 
7,104

Net income
14,055

 
13,449

 
12,559

 
12,305

Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
728

 
561

 
694

 
602

Net income attributable to Brookline Bancorp, Inc. 
$
13,327

 
$
12,888

 
$
11,865

 
$
11,703

Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.19

 
$
0.18

 
$
0.17

 
$
0.17

Diluted
0.19

 
0.18

 
0.17

 
0.17

Average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
70,177,382

 
70,129,056

 
70,049,829

 
70,036,090

Diluted
70,318,657

 
70,240,020

 
70,215,850

 
70,164,105

Common stock price:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
$
11.89

 
$
11.66

 
$
11.54

 
$
10.05

Low
10.19

 
10.09

 
10.10

 
9.29

Dividends per share
$
0.090

 
$
0.090

 
$
0.090

 
$
0.085


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Table of Contents
BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013

 
2014 Quarters
 
Fourth
 
Third
 
Second
 
First
 
(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Data)
Interest and dividend income
$
55,826

 
$
54,616

 
$
53,346

 
$
54,694

Interest expense
8,250

 
7,292

 
6,912

 
6,960

Net interest income
47,576

 
47,324

 
46,434

 
47,734

Provision for credit losses
1,724

 
2,034

 
2,276

 
2,443

Net interest income after provision for credit losses
45,852

 
45,290

 
44,158

 
45,291

Loan level derivative income
562

 
322

 
62

 

Gain on sales of investment securities, net
78

 

 
(13
)
 

Gain on sales of loans and leases held-for-sale
368

 
564

 
92

 
627

Other non-interest income
3,533

 
5,303

 
3,681

 
5,001

Amortization of identified intangible assets
(827
)
 
(828
)
 
(827
)
 
(861
)
Other non-interest expense
(31,628
)
 
(31,086
)
 
(30,388
)
 
(32,715
)
Income before provision for income taxes
17,938

 
19,565

 
16,765

 
17,343

Provision for income taxes
6,586

 
7,163

 
6,158

 
6,379

Net income
11,352

 
12,402

 
10,607

 
10,964

Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
477

 
662

 
476

 
422

Net income attributable to Brookline Bancorp, Inc. 
$
10,875

 
$
11,740

 
$
10,131

 
$
10,542

Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.16

 
$
0.17

 
$
0.15

 
$
0.15

Diluted
0.16

 
0.17

 
0.14

 
0.15

Average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
70,024,495

 
69,989,909

 
69,886,576

 
69,875,473

Diluted
70,130,243

 
70,088,987

 
70,012,377

 
69,983,999

Common stock price:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
$
10.15

 
$
9.51

 
$
9.63

 
$
9.70

Low
8.56

 
8.55

 
8.83

 
8.66

Dividends per share
$
0.085

 
$
0.085

 
$
0.085

 
$
0.085



F-83