CHFC 2018 Annual Report

required. Credit actions exceeding Chemical Bank's internal lending limit require the approval of the board of directors of Chemical Bank. The majority of the Corporation's consumer loan portfolio is comprised of secured loans that are relatively small. The Corporation's consumer loan portfolio has a centralized approval process which utilizes standardized underwriting criteria. The ongoing measurement of credit quality of the consumer loan portfolio is largely done on an exception basis. If payments are made on schedule, as agreed, then no further monitoring is performed. However, if delinquency occurs, the delinquent loans are turned over to the Corporation's collection department for resolution, resulting in repossession or foreclosure if payments are not brought current. Credit quality for the entire consumer loan portfolio is measured by the periodic delinquency rate, nonaccrual amounts and actual losses incurred. Loans in the commercial loan portfolio tend to be larger and more complex than those in the consumer loan portfolio, and therefore, are subject to more intensive monitoring. All loans in the commercial loan portfolio have an assigned relationship manager, and most borrowers provide periodic financial and operating information that allows the relationship managers to stay abreast of credit quality during the life of the loans. The risk ratings of loans in the commercial loan portfolio are reassessed at least annually, with loans below an acceptable risk rating reassessed more frequently and reviewed by various loan committees within the Corporation at least quarterly. The Corporation maintains a centralized independent loan review function that monitors the approval process and ongoing asset quality of the loan portfolio, including the accuracy of loan grades. The Corporation also maintains an independent appraisal review function that participates in the review of all appraisals obtained by the Corporation for loans in the commercial loan portfolio. Credit Quality Indicators Commercial Loan Portfolio Risk categories for the Corporation's commercial loan portfolio establish the credit quality of a borrower by measuring liquidity, debt capacity, coverage and payment behavior as shown in the borrower's financial statements. The risk categories also measure the quality of the borrower's management and the repayment support offered by any guarantors. Risk categories for the Corporation's commercial loan portfolio are described as follows: Pass: Includes all loans without weaknesses or potential weaknesses identified in the categories of special mention, substandard or doubtful. Special Mention: Loans with potential credit weakness or credit deficiency, which, if not corrected, pose an unwarranted financial risk that could weaken the loan by adversely impacting the future repayment ability of the borrower. Substandard: Loans with a well-defined weakness, or weaknesses, such as loans to borrowers who may be experiencing losses from operations or inadequate liquidity of a degree and duration that jeopardizes the orderly repayment of the loan. Substandard loans also are distinguished by the distinct possibility of loss in the future if these weaknesses are not corrected. Doubtful: Loans with all the characteristics of a loan classified as Substandard, with the added characteristic that credit weaknesses make collection in full highly questionable and improbable. The primary source of repayment is nonexistent and there is doubt as to the value of the secondary source of repayments. A doubtful asset has a high probability of total or substantial loss, but because of pending events that may strengthen the asset, its classification as loss is deferred. Loss: An asset classified as loss is considered uncollectible and of such little value that the continuance as a bankable asset is not warranted. This classification does not mean that an asset has absolutely no recovery or salvage value, but rather that it is not practical or desirable to defer writing off this basically worthless asset even through partial recovery may occur in the future. Chemical Financial Corporation Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements December 31, 2018 119