ISBC 2017 Form 10-K & 2018 Proxy Statement

FORM 10-K INVESTORS BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements On a quarterly basis, management reviews the current status of various loan assets in order to evaluate the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. In this evaluation process, specific loans are analyzed to determine their potential risk of loss. Loans determined to be impaired are evaluated for potential loss exposure. Any shortfall results in a recommendation of a specific allowance or charge-off if the likelihood of loss is evaluated as probable. To determine the adequacy of collateral on a particular loan, an estimate of the fair value of the collateral is based on the most current appraised value available for real property or a discounted cash flow analysis on a business. The appraised value for real property is then reduced to reflect estimated liquidation expenses. The allowance contains reserves identified as unallocated. These reserves reflect management’s attempt to provide for the imprecision and the uncertainty that is inherent in estimates of probable credit losses. Our lending emphasis has been the origination of multi-family loans, commercial real estate loans, commercial and industrial loans, one- to four-family residential mortgage loans secured by one- to four-family residential real estate, construction loans and consumer loans, the majority of which are home equity loans, home equity lines of credit and cash surrender value lending on life insurance contracts. These activities resulted in a concentration of loans secured by real estate property and businesses located in New Jersey and New York. Based on the composition of our loan portfolio, we believe the primary risks to our loan portfolio are increases in interest rates, a decline in the general economy, and declines in real estate market values in New Jersey, New York and surrounding states. Any one or combination of these events may adversely affect our loan portfolio resulting in increased delinquencies, loan losses and future levels of loan loss provisions. As a substantial amount of our loan portfolio is collateralized by real estate, appraisals of the underlying value of property securing loans are critical in determining the amount of the allowance required for specific loans. Assumptions for appraisal valuations are instrumental in determining the value of properties. Negative changes to appraisal assumptions could significantly impact the valuation of a property securing a loan and the related allowance determined. The assumptions supporting such appraisals are carefully reviewed to determine that the resulting values reasonably reflect amounts realizable on the related loans. The Company obtains an appraisal for all commercial loans that are collateral dependent upon origination. An updated appraisal is obtained annually for loans rated substandard or worse with a balance of $500,000 or greater. An updated appraisal is obtained biennially for loans rated special mention with a balance of $2.0 million or greater. This is done in order to determine the specific reserve or charge off needed. As part of the allowance for loan losses process, the Company reviews each collateral dependent commercial loan classified as non- accrual and/or impaired and assesses whether there has been an adverse change in the collateral value supporting the loan. The Company utilizes information from its commercial lending officers and its credit department and special assets department’s knowledge of changes in real estate conditions in our lending area to identify if possible deterioration of collateral value has occurred. Based on the severity of the changes in market conditions, management determines if an updated appraisal is warranted or if downward adjustments to the previous appraisal are warranted. If it is determined that the deterioration of the collateral value is significant enough to warrant ordering a new appraisal, an estimate of the downward adjustments to the existing appraised value is used in assessing if additional specific reserves are necessary until the updated appraisal is received. For homogeneous residential mortgage loans, the Company’s policy is to obtain an appraisal upon the origination of the loan and an updated appraisal in the event a loan becomes 90 days delinquent. Thereafter, the appraisal is updated every two years if the loan remains in non-performing status and the foreclosure process has not been completed. Management adjusts the appraised value of residential loans to reflect estimated selling costs and declines in the real estate market. Management believes the potential risk for outdated appraisals for impaired and other non-performing loans has been mitigated due to the fact that the loans are individually assessed to determine that the loan’s carrying 98