Kentucky First Federal Bancorp

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE A - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Kentucky First Federal Bancorp (the “Company”) is a savings and loan holding company whose activities are primarily limited to holding the stock and managing the operations of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Hazard, Kentucky (“First Federal of Hazard”) and Frankfort First Bancorp, Inc., (“Frankfort First”) the holding company for First Federal Savings Bank of Kentucky (“First Federal of Kentucky”). First Federal of Hazard and First Federal of Kentucky are collectively referred to herein as “the Banks.” First Federal of Hazard is a community-oriented savings and loan association dedicated to serving consumers in Perry and surrounding counties in eastern Kentucky, while First Federal of Kentucky operates through six banking offices located in Frankfort, Danville and Lancaster, Kentucky. Both institutions engage primarily in the business of attracting deposits from the general public and applying those funds to the origination of loans for residential and consumer purposes. First Federal of Kentucky also originates, to a lesser extent, church loans, home equity and other loans. Other than a predominance of one- to four-family residential property, which is common in most thrifts, there are no significant concentrations of loans to any one industry or customer. However, the customers’ ability to repay their loans is dependent on the real estate and general economic conditions in the Banks’ specific operating areas. The Banks’ profitability is significantly dependent on net interest income, which is the difference between interest income generated from interest-earning assets (i.e. loans and investments) and the interest expense paid on interest-bearing liabilities (i.e. customer deposits and borrowed funds). Net interest income is affected by the relative amount of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the interest received or paid on these balances. The level of interest rates paid or received by the Banks can be significantly influenced by a number of environmental factors, such as governmental monetary policy, that are outside of management’s control.

The following is a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies which have been consistently applied in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

1. Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, First Federal of Hazard, Frankfort First and First Federal of Kentucky. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

2. Use of Estimates: The consolidated financial information presented herein has been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP.”) To prepare financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management makes estimates and assumptions based on available information. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the disclosures provided, and actual results could differ. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, the allowance for credit losses, goodwill, and deferred taxes.

3. Debt Securities: Debt securities are classified as held to maturity or available for sale. Securities classified as held to maturity are to be carried at cost only if the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold these securities to maturity. Securities designated as available for sale are carried at fair value with resulting unrealized gains or losses recorded to shareholders’ equity, net of tax.

Interest income includes amortization of purchase premium or discount. Premiums and discounts on securities are amortized on the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments, except for mortgage-backed securities where prepayments are anticipated. Gains and losses on sales are recorded on the trade date and determined using the specific identification method.

Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market conditions warrant such an evaluation. For securities in an unrealized loss position, management considers the extent and duration of the unrealized loss, and the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer. Management also assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell, a security in an unrealized loss position before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the entire difference between amortized cost and fair value is recognized as impairment through earnings. For debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the amount of impairment is split into two components as follows: 1) OTTI related to credit loss, which must be recognized in the income statement and 2) OTTI related to other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income. The credit loss is defined as the difference between the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected and the amortized cost basis.

4. Loans: Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at the principal amount outstanding, adjusted for deferred loan origination costs, net, discounts on purchased loans, and the allowance for loan losses. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance unless the collectability of the loan is in doubt. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income using the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments. Interest income on one- to four-family residential loans is generally discontinued at the time a loan is 180 days delinquent and on other loans at the time a loan is 90 days delinquent. All other loans are moved to non-accrual status in accordance with the Company’s policy, typically 90 days after the loan becomes delinquent. Past due status is based on the contractual terms of the loan. In all cases, loans are placed on nonaccrual or charged-off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful. Nonaccrual loans and loans past due 90 days still on accrual include both smaller balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually classified impaired loans.

All interest accrued but not received for loans placed on nonaccrual is reversed against interest income. Interest received on such loans is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

5. Loans held for sale, Mortgage Servicing Rights, and Lender Risk Account: Loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost (less principal payments received) or fair value, calculated on an aggregate basis. At June 30, 2024 and 2023 the Company had $110,000 and $0 in loans held for sale, respectively.

In selling loans, the Company utilizes a program with the Federal Home Loan Bank, retaining servicing on loans sold. Mortgage servicing rights on originated loans that have been sold are initially recorded at fair value. Capitalized servicing rights are amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated servicing revenues. The Company recorded amortization related to mortgage servicing rights totaling $17,000 and $14,000 during the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The carrying value of the Company’s mortgage servicing rights totaled approximately $163,000 and $174,000 at June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The fair value of the Company’s mortgage servicing rights totaled approximately $207,000 and $262,000 at June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The Company was servicing mortgage loans of approximately $20.4 million and $21.7 million that had been sold to the Federal Home Loan Bank at June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Servicing rights are evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the rights as compared to carrying amount. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance for an individual grouping, to the extent that fair value is less than the carrying amount. If the Company later determines that all or a portion of the impairment no longer exists for a particular grouping, a reduction of the allowance may be recorded as an increase to income. Changes in valuation allowances are reported with other non-interest income on the income statement. The fair values of servicing rights are subject to significant fluctuations as a result of changes in estimated and actual prepayment speeds and default rates and losses.

Servicing fee income which is reported on the income statement as other non-interest income is recorded for fees earned for servicing loans. The fees are based on a contractual percentage of the outstanding principal and are recorded as income when earned. The amortization of mortgage servicing rights is netted against loan servicing fee income. Servicing fees totaled $3,000 and $42,000 for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Late fees and ancillary fees related to loan servicing are not material.

Certain loan sale transactions with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati (“FHLB”) provide for the establishment of a Lender Reserve Account (“LRA”). The LRA consists of amounts withheld by FHLB from loan sale proceeds for absorbing inherent losses that are probable on those sold loans. These withheld funds are an asset to the Company, as they are scheduled to be paid to the Company in future years, net of any credit losses on those loans sold. The receivables are initially measured at fair value. The fair value is estimated by discounting the cash flows over the life of each master commitment contract. The accretable yield is amortized over the life of the master commitment contract. Expected cash flows are reevaluated at each measurement date. If there is an adverse change in expected cash flows, the accretable yield would be adjusted on a prospective basis and the asset evaluated for impairment. The level of LRA held was $331,000 at June 30, 2024 and $333,000 at June 30, 2023.

6. Allowance for Credit Losses: The allowance for credit losses is a valuation allowance for probable incurred credit losses. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectability of a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. Management estimates the allowance balance required using past loss experience, the nature and volume of the portfolio, trends in the level of delinquent and problem loans, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral and current and anticipated economic conditions in the primary lending area. Allocations of the allowance may be made for specific loans, but the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off.