form10q-103832_ubnk.htm


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



FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
 
T           Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009
 
OR
 
o           Transition report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from ______________ to _____________

Commission File Number 000-52947

United Financial Bancorp, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland
 
74-3242562
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

95 Elm Street, West Springfield, Massachusetts 01089
(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (413) 787-1700

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

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

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

Large accelerated filer ¨
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company ¨

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 
Common stock, $0.01 par value
16,075,650 shares outstanding as of November 3, 2009
 


 
 

 

United Financial Bancorp, Inc.

   
Page
     
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   
         
Item 1.
     
         
     
1
         
     
2
         
     
3
         
     
4
         
     
6
         
Item 2.
   
20
         
Item 3.
   
36
         
Item 4.
   
36
         
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
   
         
Item 1.
   
36
         
Item 1A.
   
36
         
Item 2.
   
38
         
Item 3.
   
38
         
Item 4.
   
39
         
Item 5.
   
39
         
Item 6.
   
39
         
         
 
40
 
 
 


PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.

UNITED FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
             
Cash and due from banks
  $ 10,516     $ 10,356  
Interest-bearing deposits
    2,462       3,216  
Total cash and cash equivalents
    12,978       13,572  
                 
Short-term investments
    1,091       1,071  
Securities available for sale, at fair value
    240,631       313,506  
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost  (fair value of $40,956 at September 30, 2009 and $3,238 at December 31, 2008)
    40,505       3,191  
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of  $9,497 at September 30, 2009 and $8,250 at December 31, 2008
    879,443       864,421  
Other real estate owned
    556       998  
Accrued interest receivable
    4,484       4,706  
Deferred tax asset, net
    10,026       7,969  
Stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston
    12,223       12,223  
Banking premises and equipment, net
    14,046       12,125  
Bank-owned life insurance
    28,143       27,173  
Other assets
    3,347       2,179  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 1,247,473     $ 1,263,134  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
                 
Liabilities:
               
Deposits:
               
Interest-bearing
  $ 725,109     $ 668,485  
Non-interest-bearing
    115,216       114,178  
Total deposits
    840,325       782,663  
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston advances
    145,342       208,564  
Repurchase agreements
    30,130       28,042  
Escrow funds held for borrowers
    2,130       1,667  
Capitalized lease obligations
    5,173       3,129  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    7,939       11,355  
                 
Total liabilities
    1,031,039       1,035,420  
                 
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, authorized 50,000,000 shares; none issued
    -       -  
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, authorized 100,000,000 shares; 17,763,747 shares issued at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008
    178       178  
Paid-in capital
    166,326       164,358  
Retained earnings
    77,609       75,888  
Unearned compensation
    (11,613 )     (12,144 )
Treasury stock, at cost (1,594,302 shares at September 30, 2009 and  261,798 shares at December 31, 2008)
    (21,460 )     (3,497 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes
    5,394       2,931  
Total stockholders’ equity
    216,434       227,714  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  $ 1,247,473     $ 1,263,134  
 
See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements

 
1

 
UNITED FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Interest and dividend income:
                       
Loans
  $ 12,036     $ 12,835     $ 35,808     $ 37,676  
Investments
    3,282       3,886       10,543       10,064  
Other interest-earning assets
    7       90       24       450  
Total interest and dividend income
    15,325       16,811       46,375       48,190  
                                 
Interest expense:
                               
Deposits
    3,454       4,217       10,923       13,549  
Borrowings
    1,897       2,058       5,780       5,166  
Total interest expense
    5,351       6,275       16,703       18,715  
                                 
Net interest income before provision for loan losses
    9,974       10,536       29,672       29,475  
                                 
Provision for loan losses
    800       644       2,015       1,479  
                                 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    9,174       9,892       27,657       27,996  
                                 
Non-interest income:
                               
Fee income on depositors’ accounts
    1,257       1,219       3,526       3,452  
Net gain on sale of loans
    -       -       363       -  
Net gain on sale of securities
    -       -       461       8  
Wealth management income
    136       313       480       599  
Income from bank-owned life insurance
    372       14       1,026       159  
Other income
    220       187       575       608  
Total non-interest income
    1,985       1,733       6,431       4,826  
                                 
Non-interest expense:
                               
Salaries and benefits
    4,625       4,523       13,904       12,763  
Occupancy expenses
    598       636       1,904       1,723  
Marketing expenses
    337       302       1,093       1,101  
Data processing expenses
    877       804       2,518       2,338  
Professional fees
    211       321       929       1,136  
Merger related expenses
    270       -       1,431       -  
FDIC insurance assessments
    83       196       1,313       381  
Other expenses
    1,092       1,024       3,186       3,090  
Total non-interest expense
    8,093       7,806       26,278       22,532  
                                 
Income before income taxes
    3,066       3,819       7,810       10,290  
                                 
Income tax expense
    1,165       1,455       3,226       3,951  
                                 
Net income
  $ 1,901     $ 2,364     $ 4,584     $ 6,339  
                                 
Earnings per share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.13     $ 0.14     $ 0.30     $ 0.39  
Diluted
  $ 0.13     $ 0.14     $ 0.30     $ 0.39  
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding (1):
                               
Basic
    14,997,836       16,383,949       15,293,117       16,442,151  
Diluted
    15,004,694       16,385,242       15,303,060       16,442,582  
                                 

(1)
Prior period basic and diluted share data were revised as required by the Earnings Per Share Topic of FASB ASC and in accordance with the provisions of "Determining Whether Instruments Issued in Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating Securities" which require that share-based compensation awards that qualify as participating securities (entitled to receive non-forfeitable dividends) be included in basic earnings per share using the two-class method. This revision decreased earnings per share $0.01 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and had no impact on earnings per share for the nine months ended as previously reported.

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 
2


UNITED FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited)
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 and 2008
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

   
Common Shares Outstanding
   
Common Stock
   
Paid-In Capital
   
Retained Earnings
   
Unearned Compensation
   
Treasury Stock
   
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
   
Total
 
                                                 
Balances at December 31, 2007
    17,763,747     $ 178     $ 165,920     $ 73,026     $ (12,835 )   $ -     $ (169 )   $ 226,120  
Net income
    -       -       -       6,339       -       -       -       6,339  
Other comprehensive loss
    -       -       -       -       -       -       (2,057 )     (2,057 )
Total comprehensive income
                                                            4,282  
                                                                 
Cash dividends paid ($0.20 per share)
    -       -       -       (3,295 )     -       -       -       (3,295 )
Net costs from issuance of common stock pursuant to second-step conversion
    -       -       (26 )     -       -       -       -       (26 )
Repurchase of stock to fund the 2008
                                                               
Equity Incentive Plan
    (359,581 )     -       -       -       -       (4,240 )     -       (4,240 )
Shares repurchased in connection with restricted stock forfeited for tax purposes
    (10,086 )     -       -       -       -       (125 )     -       (125 )
Reissuance of treasury shares in connection with restricted stock grants
    313,500       -       (3,697 )     -       -       3,697       -       -  
Stock-based compensation
    -       -       1,380       -       -       -       -       1,380  
ESOP shares committed to be released
    -       -       99       -       524       -       -       623  
                                                                 
Balances at September 30, 2008
    17,707,580     $ 178     $ 163,676     $ 76,070     $ (12,311 )   $ (668 )   $ (2,226 )   $ 224,719  
                                                                 
                                                                 
Balances at December 31, 2008
    17,501,949     $ 178     $ 164,358     $ 75,888     $ (12,144 )   $ (3,497 )   $ 2,931     $ 227,714  
                                                                 
Noncredit-related OTTI (1)
    -       -       -       337       -       -       (337 )     -  
Net income
    -       -       -       4,584       -       -       -       4,584  
Other comprehensive income
    -       -       -       -       -       -       2,800       2,800  
Total comprehensive income
                                                            7,384  
                                                                 
Cash dividends paid ($0.21 per share)
    -       -       -       (3,200 )     -       -       -       (3,200 )
Treasury stock purchases
    (1,311,979 )     -       -       -       -       (17,697 )     -       (17,697 )
Shares repurchased in connection with restricted stock forfeited for tax purposes
    (20,923 )     -       -       -       -       (271 )     -       (271 )
Tax benefit from MRP vesting
    -       -       33       -       -       -       -       33  
                                                                 
Reissuance of treasury shares in connection with restricted stock grants
    398       -       (5 )     -       -       5       -       -  
Stock-based compensation
    -       -       1,753       -       -       -       -       1,753  
ESOP shares committed to be released
    -       -       187       -       531       -       -       718  
                                                                 
Balances at September 30, 2009
    16,169,445     $ 178     $ 166,326     $ 77,609     $ (11,613 )   $ (21,460 )   $ 5,394     $ 216,434  
                                                                 

(1)
As required by the Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments ("OTTI") Topic of FASB ASC, reflects noncredit-related OTTI on securities not expected to be sold in other comprehensive income (loss), effective April 1, 2009.
 
The components of other comprehensive income and related tax effects are as follows:
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
Change in unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities
  $ 5,002     $ (3,415 )
Reclassification adjustment for gains realized in income
    (461 )     (8 )
Net change in unrealized gains (losses)
    4,541       (3,423 )
                 
Tax effect
    1,741       (1,366 )
                 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 2,800     $ (2,057 )
 
See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 
3


UNITED FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 and 2008
(Dollars in thousands) 

   
2009
   
2008
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 4,584     $ 6,339  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Provision for loan losses
    2,015       1,479  
ESOP expense
    718       623  
Stock-based compensation
    1,753       1,380  
Amortization of premiums and discounts
    262       138  
Depreciation and amortization
    793       652  
Amortization of intangible assets
    17       23  
Provision for other real estate owned
    55       -  
Net loss on sale of other real estate owned
    27       45  
Net gain on sale of securities
    (461 )     (8 )
Loans originated for sale
    (16,018 )     -  
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale
    16,381       -  
Net gain on sale of loans
    (363 )     -  
Increase in cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance
    (970 )     (308 )
Merger related expenses
    1,431       -  
Decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivable
    222       (388 )
Increase in other assets
    (4,982 )     (2,954 )
Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities
    (3,168 )     (2,237 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    2,296       4,784  
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of securities available for sale
    (4,599 )     (203,411 )
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale
    24,386       30,274  
Proceeds from maturities, calls and principal repayments of securities
               
available for sale
    57,897       58,425  
Purchases of securities held to maturity
    (38,856 )     -  
Proceeds from  maturities, calls and principal repayments of securities held to maturity
    1,472       385  
Investment in short term time deposits
    (20 )     (33 )
Purchases of Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston stock
    -       (1,966 )
Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned
    514       655  
Net loan originations, purchases and principal repayments
    (30,828 )     (39,708 )
Proceeds from sales of loans
    13,637       -  
Purchases of property and equipment
    (586 )     (1,059 )
Cash paid on merger related expenses
    (1,431 )     -  
Cash paid to acquire Levine Financial Group
    (92 )     -  
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    21,494       (156,438 )
 
(Continued)

 
4


UNITED FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 and 2008 (Concluded)
(Dollars in thousands)

   
2009
   
2008
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
           
Net increase in deposits
    57,662       42,205  
Net (decrease) increase in short-term borrowings from Federal
               
Home Loan Bank of Boston
    (42,000 )     52,145  
Proceeds of Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston long-term advances
    -       85,000  
Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston long-term advances
    (21,222 )     (19,012 )
Net increase (decrease) in repurchase agreements
    2,088       (2,499 )
Net increase in escrow funds held for borrowers
    463       453  
Payments on capitalized lease obligations
    (240 )     (162 )
Repurchases of common stock to fund the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan
    -       (3,697 )
Tax benefit from MRP vesting
    33       -  
Treasury stock purchases
    (17,968 )     (668 )
Cash dividends paid
    (3,200 )     (3,295 )
Costs from issuance of common stock pursuant to second-step conversion
    -       (26 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (24,384 )     150,444  
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (594 )     (1,210 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    13,572       14,254  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 12,978     $ 13,044  
                 
                 
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
               
Cash paid during the period:
               
Interest on deposits, borrowings and other interest bearing liabilities
  $ 11,341     $ 18,531  
Income taxes – net
    9,680       9,676  
Non-cash items:
               
Capitalized lease assets and obligations
    2,119       1,308  
Transfer of loans to other real estate owned
    123       150  
 
See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 
5


UNITED FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
Dollars in Thousands (except per share amounts)
 

 
NOTE A – BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of United Financial Bancorp, Inc. (“United Financial”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, United Bank. The consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of United Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary, UCB Securities, Inc., which is engaged in buying, selling and holding investment securities. These entities are collectively referred to herein as “the Company.” All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and with general practices within the banking industry. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial condition as of September 30, 2009 and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008. The interim results of operations presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2008 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2009.

Amounts reported for prior periods are reclassified as necessary to conform to the current period presentation.

NOTE B – PENDING ACQUISITION

On June 25, 2009, United Financial entered into a definitive agreement with CNB Financial Corp. (“CNB Financial”), the holding company for Commonwealth National Bank, pursuant to which CNB Financial will merge with and into the Company. Concurrent with the merger, it is expected that Commonwealth National Bank will merge with and into United Bank. Under the terms of the merger agreement, CNB Financial shareholders will have the opportunity to elect to receive either: (1) $10.75 per share in cash for each CNB Financial share; (2) 0.8257 United Financial shares for each CNB Financial share; or (3) a combination of United Financial common stock and cash.  All CNB Financial shareholder elections will be subject to the allocation and proration procedures set forth in the merger agreement to ensure that 50% of the shares of CNB Financial common stock will be exchanged for United Financial common stock and 50% of the shares of CNB Financial common stock will be exchanged for cash.  As of the date of the merger agreement, the transaction value represented 125.6% of CNB Financial’s tangible book value and a 3.8% premium to core deposits measured as of March 31, 2009.
 
CNB Financial, a publicly traded bank holding company, operates six branches in Worcester, Massachusetts, and had total assets of $297 million, total loans of $242 million and total deposits of $202 million at March 31, 2009. United Financial will acquire the outstanding shares of CNB Financial for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $24 million (based upon United Financials’ closing stock price of $11.58 at September 30, 2009), which includes outstanding stock options and warrants.
 
 
6


The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals and approval by the shareholders of CNB Financial, and is intended to qualify as a tax free reorganization for federal income tax purposes, with shares of CNB Financial exchanged for Company shares on a tax free basis. The merger is currently expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2009.
 
The Company’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 26, 2009 contains additional information regarding our pending acquisition of CNB Financial.

 
NOTE C – RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In February 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance in accordance with and as required by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) which permits a one-year deferral in applying the measurement provisions to non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities (non-financial items) that are not recognized or disclosed at fair value in an entity’s financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). Therefore, if the change in fair value of a non-financial item is not required to be recognized or disclosed in the financial statements on an annual basis or more frequently, the effective date of application to that item is deferred until fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption on January 1, 2009, had no material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued new guidance in accordance with and as required by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of FASB ASC, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly”, which provides additional guidance for estimating fair value when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased.  This guidance also includes identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. This guidance emphasizes that even if there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability and regardless of the valuation technique(s) used, the objective of a fair value measurement remains the same.  Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction (that is, not a forced liquidation or distressed sale) between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. This new guidance is effective for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009.  The adoption of this new guidance in the second quarter of 2009 had no material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued new guidance in accordance with and as required by the Investments-Debt and Equity Securities Topic of FASB ASC, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments”, in which the objective of an other-than-temporary impairment analysis under existing GAAP is to determine whether the holder of an investment in a debt or equity security for which changes in fair value are not regularly recognized in earnings (such as securities classified as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale) should recognize a loss in earnings when the investment is impaired.  An investment is impaired if the fair value of the investment is less than its amortized cost basis. This new guidance amends the other-than-temporary impairment guidance in GAAP for debt securities to make the guidance more operational and to improve the presentation and disclosure of other-than-temporary impairments on debt and equity securities in the financial statements. This guidance does not amend existing recognition and measurement guidance related to other-than-temporary impairments of equity securities.  This new guidance is effective for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of this new guidance in the second quarter of 2009 has been applied in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as disclosed in Note F.
 
 
7


In April 2009, the FASB issued new guidance in accordance with and as required by the Financial Instruments Topic of FASB ASC, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” which amends “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies as well as in annual financial statements.  This guidance also amends “Interim Financial Reporting,” to require those disclosures in summarized financial information at interim reporting periods and is effective for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009.  The adoption of this new guidance in the second quarter of 2009 had no material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In June 2009, the FASB issued “The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”. The FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) will be the single source of authoritative nongovernmental GAAP. Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. FASB ASC is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. All existing accounting standards are superseded as described in the FASB ASC. All other accounting literature not included in the FASB ASC is nonauthoritative. The adoption of the FASB ASC in the third quarter of 2009 had no material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update 2009-05 (ASU 2009-05) “Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value”, in accordance with and as required by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of FASB ASC. This ASU was issued in response to the credit crisis and will reduce potential differences in measuring liabilities at fair value and thus promote comparability of companies’ financial statements.  This update is effective for interim and fiscal periods beginning after October 1, 2009. The Company is evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2009-05 will have on its financial statements.

NOTE D – CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Critical accounting policies are those that involve significant judgments and assumptions by management and that have, or could have, a material impact on our income or the carrying value of our assets.  Our critical accounting policies are those related to our allowance for loan losses and the evaluation of the investment portfolio for other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”).

Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses is the amount estimated by management as necessary to cover credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio at the balance sheet date.  The allowance is established through the provision for loan losses which is charged against income.  The methodology for determining the allowance for loan losses is considered a critical accounting policy by management due to the high degree of judgment involved, the subjectivity of the assumptions utilized and the potential for changes in the economic environment that could result in adjustments to the amount of the recorded allowance for loan losses.

As a substantial amount of our loan portfolio is collateralized by real estate, appraisals of the underlying value of property securing loans and discounted cash flow valuations of properties are critical in determining the amount of the allowance required for specific loans.  Assumptions for appraisals and discounted cash flow valuations are instrumental in determining the value of properties.  Overly optimistic assumptions or negative changes to assumptions could significantly affect the valuation of a property securing a loan and the related allowance determined.  The assumptions supporting such appraisals and discounted cash flow valuations are reviewed by management to determine that the resulting values reasonably reflect amounts realizable on the related loans.

 
8


Management performs a quarterly evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.  We consider a variety of factors in establishing this estimate including, but not limited to, current economic conditions, delinquency statistics, geographic and industry concentrations, the adequacy of the underlying collateral, the financial strength of the borrower, results of internal loan reviews and other relevant factors.  This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates by management that may be susceptible to significant change based on changes in economic and real estate market conditions.

The allowance has a specific and general component. The specific component relates to loans that are delinquent or otherwise identified as potential problem loans through the application of our loan review process and our loan grading system. All such loans are evaluated individually, with principal consideration given to the value of the collateral securing the loans. Specific allowances are established as required by this analysis. The general component is determined by segregating the remaining loans by type of loan, credit grade and payment history.  We also analyze historical loss experience, delinquency trends, general economic conditions and geographic and industry concentrations.  This analysis establishes factors that are applied to the loan groups to determine the amount of the general component of the allowance for loan losses.

Although management uses available information to establish the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses, future additions or reductions to the allowance may be necessary based on estimates that are susceptible to change as a result of changes in economic conditions and other factors.  As a result, our allowance for loan losses may not be sufficient to cover actual loan losses, and future provisions for loan losses could materially adversely affect United Financial’s operating results.  In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review United Financial’s allowance for loan losses.  Such agencies may require United Financial to recognize adjustments to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.

Evaluation of the Investment Portfolio for Other-Than-Temporary Impairment. The evaluation of the investment portfolio for other-than-temporary impairment is also a critical accounting estimate.  In evaluating the investment portfolio for other-than-temporary impairment, management considers the issuer’s credit rating, credit outlook, payment status and financial condition, the length of time the security has been in a loss position, the size of the loss position, our intent and ability to hold the securities to expected recovery of value and other meaningful information.  If a decline in the fair value of an investment security below its cost is judged to be other-than-temporary the cost basis of the investment security is written down to fair value as a new cost basis and the amount of the credit related impairment write-down is included in the results of operations and the non-credit related impairment for securities not expected to be sold is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss).  A number of factors or combinations of factors could cause us to conclude in one or more future reporting periods that an unrealized loss that exists with respect to these securities constitutes an impairment that is other than temporary. These factors include, but are not limited to, failure to make scheduled principal and/or interest payments, an increase in the severity of the unrealized loss on a particular security, an increase in the continuous duration of the unrealized loss without an improvement in value or changes in market conditions and/or industry or issuer specific factors that would render us unable to forecast a full recovery in value.

 
9


NOTE E – EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
Earnings per share (“EPS”) have been computed as required by the Earnings Per Share Topic of FASB ASC. Basic earnings per share have been calculated by dividing net income by weighted average shares outstanding before any dilution and are adjusted to exclude the weighted average number of unallocated shares held by the ESOP. Diluted earnings per share have been calculated by dividing net income by weighted average shares outstanding after giving effect to the potential dilution that could occur if potential common shares were converted into common stock using the treasury stock method.
 
The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the periods indicated is presented below.

   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Net income
  $ 1,901     $ 2,364     $ 4,584     $ 6,339  
Weighted average common shares applicable to basic EPS (3)
    14,997,836       16,383,949       15,293,117       16,442,151  
Effect of dilutive potential common shares (1, 2)
    6,858       1,293       9,943       431  
Weighted average common shares applicable to diluted EPS (3)
    15,004,694       16,385,242       15,303,060       16,442,582  
                                 
Earnings per share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.13     $ 0.14     $ 0.30     $ 0.39  
Diluted
  $ 0.13     $ 0.14     $ 0.30     $ 0.39  
                                 

(1)
Options to purchase 1,302,863 and 1,469,543 shares for three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and 1,302,863 and 1,534,592 shares for nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of earnings per share because they were antidilutive.
(2)
Includes incremental shares related to dilutive stock options.
(3)
Prior period basic and diluted share data were revised as required by the Earnings Per Share Topic of FASB ASC and in accordance with the provisions of "Determining Whether Instruments Issued in Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating Securities" which require that share-based compensation awards that qualify as participating securities (entitled to receive non-forfeitable dividends) be included in basic EPS using the two-class method. This revision decreased earnings per share $0.01 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and had no impact on earnings per share for the nine months ended as previously reported.

 
10


NOTE F – INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The amortized cost and fair value of securities classified as available for sale and held to maturity are as follows:
 
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
       
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Fair Value
 
Securities Available for Sale
                       
September 30, 2009:
                       
Debt Securities:
                       
Government-sponsored enterprises
  $ 362     $ 14     $ -     $ 376  
Mortgage-backed securities
    217,518       10,058       (35 )     227,541  
Municipal bonds
    10,504       516       (80 )     10,940  
Corporate bonds
    1,533       241       -       1,774  
Total securities available for sale
  $ 229,917     $ 10,829     $ (115 )   $ 240,631  
                                 
December 31, 2008:
                               
Debt Securities:
                               
Government-sponsored enterprises
  $ 467     $ -     $ (2 )   $ 465  
Mortgage-backed securities
    294,824       6,601       (314 )     301,111  
Municipal bonds
    10,504       83       (195 )     10,392  
Corporate bonds
    1,538       -       -       1,538  
Total securities available for sale
  $ 307,333     $ 6,684     $ (511 )   $ 313,506  

 
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
       
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Fair Value
 
Securities Held to Maturity
                       
September 30, 2009:
                       
Mortgage-backed securities
  $ 37,346     $ 348     $ (29 )   $ 37,665  
IRB
    1,093       -       -       1,093  
Municipal bonds
    2,066       132       -       2,198  
Total
  $ 40,505     $ 480     $ (29 )   $ 40,956  
                                 
December 31, 2008:
                               
IRB
  $ 1,122     $ -     $ -     $ 1,122  
Municipal bonds
    2,069       49       (2 )     2,116  
Total
  $ 3,191     $ 49     $ (2 )   $ 3,238  
 
The Company’s portfolio of mortgage-backed securities, which represent interests in pools of residential mortgage loans, consists solely of securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), and the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), all of which are federal government owned or sponsored enterprises.
 

 
11

 
 
Gross unrealized losses and fair values at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 aggregated by investment category and the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position follow:
 
   
Less than 12 months
   
12 months or longer
   
Total
 
       
Unrealized
       
Unrealized
   
Number of
     
Unrealized
 
   
Fair Value
 
Losses
   
Fair Value
 
Losses
   
Securities
 
Fair Value
 
Losses
 
At September 30, 2009:
                                 
Securities Available for Sale
                                 
Debt Securities:
                                 
    Government-sponsored enterprises
 
 $                        -
 
 $                        -
   
 $                        -
 
 $                         -
   
              -
 
 $                        -
 
 $                        -
 
    Mortgage-backed securities
 
        2,980
 
            (32
 
           168
 
              (3
 
               5
 
        3,148
 
            (35
    Municipal bonds
 
        1,125
 
            (63
 
        1,011
 
            (17
 
               6
 
        2,136
 
            (80
         Total
 
 $                 4,105
 
 $                    (95
 
 $                 1,179
 
 $                   (20
 
             11
 
 $                 5,284
 
 $                  (115
                                   
Securities Held to Maturity
                                 
    Mortgage-backed securities
 
 $                 7,326
 
 $                    (29
 
 $                        -
 
 $                         -
   
               3
 
 $                 7,326
 
 $                    (29
    Municipal bonds
 
              -
 
              -
   
              -
 
              -
   
              -
 
              -
 
              -
 
         Total
 
 $                 7,326
 
 $                    (29
 
 $                        -
 
 $                         -
   
               3
 
 $                 7,326
 
 $                    (29
                                   
                                   
At December 31, 2008:
                                 
Securities Available for Sale
                                 
Debt Securities:
                                 
    Government-sponsored enterprises
 
 $                    465
 
 $                      (2
 
 $                        -
 
 $                         -
   
               1
 
 $                    465
 
 $                      (2
    Mortgage-backed securities
 
      17,654
 
          (216
 
        4,256
 
            (98
 
             28
 
      21,910
 
          (314
    Municipal bonds
 
        5,652
 
          (195
 
              -
 
              -
   
             17
 
        5,652
 
          (195
        Total
 
 $               23,771
 
 $                  (413
 
 $                 4,256
 
 $                   (98
 
             46
 
 $               28,027
 
 $                  (511
                                   
Securities Held to Maturity
                                 
   Municipal bonds
 
 $                    385
 
 $                      (2
 
 $                        -
 
 $                         -
   
               1
 
 $                    385
 
 $                      (2
        Total
 
 $                    385
 
 $                      (2
 
 $                        -
 
 $                         -
   
               1
 
 $                    385
 
 $                      (2
                                   
 
Management has determined that no declines in the fair value of the Company’s securities portfolio are deemed to represent an other-than temporary impairment as of September 30, 2009. In its evaluation, management considered the types of securities, including if the securities were U.S. Government issued, the credit rating on the securities, credit outlook, payment status and financial condition, the length of time the security has been in a loss position, the size of the loss position, our intent and ability to hold the securities to expected recovery of value and other meaningful information. The Company does not intend to sell any debt securities and is unlikely to be required to sell any security before its maturity or market price recovery.
 
The table below indicates the other comprehensive income (“OCI”) rollforward as of September 30, 2009:
 
   
Non
 
   
Credit-related
 
   
OTTI
 
       
       
Beginning balance
  $ -  
Additions
    337  
Reductions
    -  
Ending balance
  $ 337  
 
 

 
12


NOTE G – LOANS

The components of the loan portfolio were as follows at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
Residential mortgages
  $ 327,765     $ 356,428  
Commercial mortgages
    289,196       248,457  
Construction
    32,903       32,082  
Home equity
    123,807       120,724  
Commercial and industrial
    88,307       84,919  
Automobile
    15,534       17,332  
Consumer
    9,297       10,334  
Total loans
    886,809       870,276  
                 
Net deferred loan costs and fees
    2,131       2,395  
Allowance for loan losses
    (9,497 )     (8,250 )
Loans, net
  $ 879,443     $ 864,421  
 
NOTE H – NON-PERFORMING ASSETS

The table below sets forth the amounts and categories of non-performing assets at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
       
Non-accrual loans:
           
Residential mortgages
  $ 1,617     $ 1,244  
Commercial mortgages
    8,230       2,544  
Construction
    446       444  
Home equity
    -       -  
Commercial and industrial
    616       425  
Automobile
    1       -  
Other consumer
    40       140  
Total non-accrual loans
    10,950       4,797  
                 
Other real estate owned
    556       998  
Total non-performing assets
  $ 11,506     $ 5,795  
                 
Ratios:
               
Total non-performing loans to total loans
    1.23 %     0.55 %
Total non-performing assets to total assets
    0.92 %     0.46 %
 
 
 
13

 
 
NOTE I – ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

A summary of the activity in the allowance for loan losses is as follows:

   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 8,250     $ 7,714  
Provision for loan losses
    2,015       1,479  
Charge-offs:
               
Residential mortgages
    (21 )     -  
Commercial mortgages
    (442 )     (6 )
Construction
    (135 )     (327 )
Home equity
    -       (42 )
Commercial and industrial
    (243 )     (440 )
Automobile
    (5 )     (8 )
Other consumer
    (1 )     (9 )
Total charge-offs
    (847 )     (832 )
Recoveries:
               
Commercial mortgages
    5       -  
Home equity
    -       5  
Commercial and industrial
    71       16  
Automobile
    3       2  
Other consumer
    -       1  
Total recoveries
    79       24  
Net charge-offs
    (768 )     (808 )
Balance at end of period
  $ 9,497     $ 8,385  
Ratios:
               
Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding (annualized)
    0.12 %     0.13 %
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans at end of period
    86.73 %     254.48 %
Allowance for loan losses to total loans at end of period
    1.07 %     0.97 %
 
NOTE J – COMMITMENTS

Financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows:
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
Unused lines of credit
  $ 170,443     $ 155,448  
Amounts due mortgagors
    23,374       14,479  
Standby letters of credit
    3,841       1,156  
Commitments to originate loans
    12,006       10,458  
 
The Company has a commitment to invest up to $1.0 million in a venture capital fund. As of September 30, 2009 the Company has contributed $200 to the fund.

 
14


NOTE K – DEPOSITS

Deposit accounts, by type, are summarized as follows at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
Demand
  $ 115,216     $ 114,178  
NOW
    31,783       32,390  
Savings
    134,784       99,492  
Money market
    190,145       160,736  
Certificates of deposit
    368,397       375,867  
    $ 840,325     $ 782,663  

 
NOTE L – CONTINGENCIES
 
The Company is a defendant in certain claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, the ultimate disposition of these matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

NOTE M - FAIR VALUES OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

In accordance with and as required by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of FASB ASC, the Company groups its financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value, as follows:
 
Level 1 – Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in active exchange markets, such as the New York Stock Exchange. Level 1 also includes U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government and government-sponsored enterprises and agency mortgage-backed securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active markets.  Valuations are obtained from readily available pricing sources for market transactions involving identical assets or liabilities.
 
Level 2 – Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in less active dealer or broker markets. Valuations are obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets or liabilities.
 
Level 3 – Valuations for assets and liabilities that are derived from other valuation methodologies, including option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, and not based on market exchange, dealer, or broker-traded transactions.  Level 3 valuations incorporate certain assumptions and projections in determining the fair value assigned to such assets and liabilities.
 
 
15

 
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis, are summarized below:
 
                     
Total
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Fair Value
 
At September 30, 2009
                       
Securities available for sale
  $ 376     $ 238,162     $ 2,093     $ 240,631  
Mortgage servicing rights
    -       -       316       316  
                                 
Total
  $ 376     $ 238,162     $ 2,409     $ 240,947  
                                 
At December 31, 2008
                               
Securities available for sale
  $ 465     $ 311,209     $ 1,832     $ 313,506  
Mortgage servicing rights
    -       -       124       124  
                                 
Total
  $ 465     $ 311,209     $ 1,956     $ 313,630  
 
The Company had no liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2009.
 
The table below presents the changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
Balance at December 31, 2008
  $ 1,956  
Total realized/unrealized losses included in net income
    (32 )
Change in unrealized gain
    261  
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements
    224  
Transfers in and out of Level 3
    -  
         
Balance at September 30, 2009
  $ 2,409  

 
The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale. If a quoted market price is available for an instrument, the fair value to be disclosed for that instrument is the product of the number of trading units of the instrument times that market price.

Also, the Company may be required, from time to time, to measure at fair value certain other financial and non-financial assets on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with GAAP. These adjustments to fair value usually result from application of lower-of-cost-or-fair value accounting or write-downs of individual assets. The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy used to determine the adjustment and the carrying value of the related individual asset for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
                     
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
                     
2009
   
2009
 
   
At September 30, 2009
   
Total
   
Total
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Gains/(Losses)
   
Gains/(Losses)
 
Assets:
                             
Loans
  $ -     $ 10,950     $ -     $ (1,121 )   $ (1,579 )
Other real estate owned
    -       556       -       (68 )     (82 )
Other assets
    -       -       1,420       -       -  
Total assets
  $ -     $ 11,506     $ 1,420     $ (1,189 )   $ (1,661 )

 
16


The amount of loans represents the carrying value and related write-down and valuation allowance of impaired loans for which adjustments are based on the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral. The other real estate owned amount represents the carrying value for which adjustments are also based on the estimated fair value of the property. Other assets consist of equity securities accounted for at cost which approximates fair value.

The Company is required to provide supplemental financial statement disclosures of the estimated fair value of its financial instruments.  Financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, investment and mortgage-backed securities, loans, deposits, borrowings and certain off-balance sheet items such as loan commitments.  Other assets significant to the Company, including bank premises and equipment, deferred tax assets, as well as core deposit and other intangible assets are not considered financial instruments and are excluded from the fair value disclosures. In addition, the tax ramifications related to the realization of unrealized gains and losses can have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered in the estimates.

Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Bank’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because a market may not readily exist for a significant portion of the Bank’s financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating fair values of its financial instruments:

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments.  For cash and short term investments having maturities of 90 days or less, the carrying amounts reported in the balance sheets approximate fair values. The carrying amount of short-term investments held at September 30, 2009 and at December 31, 2008 also approximates fair value.

Investment Securities and FHLBB Stock.  The fair value of securities to be held to maturity and securities available for sale is estimated based on quoted market prices, where available.  If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments.  Ownership of Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (FHLBB) stock is restricted to member banks; therefore, the stock is not traded.  The estimated fair value of FHLBB stock is equal to its carrying value, which represents the price at which the FHLBB is obligated to redeem its stock.

Loans.  For valuation purposes, the loan portfolio was segregated into its significant categories, which are residential mortgage, commercial real estate, commercial and consumer loans. These categories were further segregated, where appropriate, into components based on significant financial characteristics such as type of interest rate (fixed or adjustable). Fair values were estimated for each component using a valuation method selected by management. The fair values of residential mortgage, commercial real estate, commercial and consumer loans were estimated by discounting the anticipated cash flows from the respective portfolios. Estimates of the timing and amount of these cash flows considered factors such as future loan prepayments. The discount rates reflected current market rates for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality. The fair value of home equity lines of credit was based on the outstanding loan balances, as required by the Financial Instruments Topic of FASB ASC.

Accrued Interest Receivable and Payable.  The carrying amount of accrued interest receivable on investments and loans and accrued interest payable on deposits and borrowings, included in other liabilities, approximates their fair values.

 
17


Deposits.  The fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as demand deposits, NOW, regular savings, and money market deposit accounts, is equal to the amount payable on demand.  The fair value estimates do not include the benefit that results from the generally lower cost of funding provided by the deposit liabilities compared to the cost of borrowing funds in the market.  The fair value estimate of time deposits is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows.  The discount rate is estimated using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.

Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Advances.  The fair value estimate of the borrowings from the FHLBB is determined by discounting the anticipated future cash payments by using the rates currently available to the Bank for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.

Repurchase Agreements.  The Company enters into overnight repurchase agreements with its customers. Since these agreements are short-term instruments, the fair value of these agreements approximates their recorded balance. The Company also secures term repurchase agreements through other financial institutions. The fair value of these agreements are determined by discounting the anticipated future cash payments using rates currently available to the Bank for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.

Off-Balance Sheet Instruments.  Fair value of off-balance-sheet mortgage lending commitments are based on fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the counterparties’ credit standing.  In the case of the commitments discussed in Note J, the fair value equals the carrying amounts which are not significant.

The fair value of the Company’s financial instruments is as follows at dates indicated:
 
   
At September 30, 2009
   
At December 31, 2008
 
   
Carrying
   
Estimated
   
Carrying
   
Estimated
 
   
Value
   
Fair Value
   
Value
   
Fair Value
 
Financial Assets:
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 12,978     $ 12,978     $ 13,572     $ 13,572  
Short-term investments
    1,091       1,091       1,071       1,071  
Securities available for sale
    240,631       240,631       313,506       313,506  
Securities held to maturity
    40,505       40,956       3,191       3,238  
Stock in Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston
    12,223       12,223       12,223       12,223  
Net loans
    879,443       867,591       864,421       870,731  
Accrued interest receivable
    4,484       4,484       4,706       4,706  
                                 
Financial Liabilities:
                               
Deposits (with no stated maturity)
    471,929       471,929       406,796       406,796  
Time deposits
    368,396       373,527       375,867       378,424  
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston advances
    145,342       149,061       208,564       217,236  
Repurchase agreements
    30,130       29,208       28,042       28,021  
Accrued interest payable
    572       572       627       627  

 
18


NOTE N – PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

The Company maintains a Senior Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) and a Director Retirement Plan. These plans had no assets at September 30, 2009 and 2008. The following table presents the components of the net periodic benefit cost for the indicated periods:
 
   
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
   
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
         
Director
         
Director
         
Director
         
Director
 
         
Retirement
         
Retirement
         
Retirement
         
Retirement
 
   
SERP
   
Plan
   
SERP
   
Plan
   
SERP
   
Plan
   
SERP
   
Plan
 
Periodic benefit cost:
                                               
Service cost
  $ 69     $ 15     $ 77     $ 14     $ 207     $ 45     $ 229     $ 43  
Interest cost
    35       9       34       8       105       27       103       23  
Total pension cost
    104       24       111       22       312       72       332       66  
Prior service cost amortization
    19       9       19       9       57       27       57       27  
Net loss amortization
    -       -       6       -       -       -       18       -  
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 123     $ 33     $ 136     $ 31     $ 369     $ 99     $ 407     $ 93  

 
Benefits expected to be paid over the next five years as presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 have not changed. These plans are funded on a pay-as-you-go-basis and the Company does not expect to make any contributions to these plans in 2009.

NOTE O – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
In connection with the preparation of these financial statements, the Company has evaluated events and transactions through November 6, 2009, which is the date the financial statements were issued.

Cash dividend declared.  On October 16, 2009, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.07 per share. The dividend is payable on December 1, 2009 to stockholders of record as of November 6, 2009.

Share repurchase plan.  On October 16, 2009, the Board of Directors approved a plan to repurchase up to an additional 5%, or approximately 798,055 shares, of the Company’s common stock.  This repurchase program will become effective and repurchases will commence after the completion of the current stock repurchase plan which was previously approved on February 19, 2009.  The Company currently has 208,338 shares remaining under the existing program.
 
Pending merger approved. At a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on October 22, 2009, shareholders of CNB Financial approved the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") dated June 25, 2009 with United Financial.

 
19


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements
 
This report may contain, and from time to time, the Company may disclose, forward-looking statements relating to such matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects, technological developments, new products, and similar matters.  The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided that the Company notes that a variety of factors could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results expressed in the Company’s forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions that are less favorable than expected, changes in market interest rates that result in reduced interest margins, risks in the loan portfolio, including prepayments that are greater than expected, the enactment of legislation or regulatory changes that have a less than favorable impact on the business of the Company, and significant increases in competitive pressures. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 under “Item 1A. Risk Factors”.  These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date of the forward-looking statements or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Accordingly, past results and trends should not be used by investors to anticipate future results or trends.
 
Comparison of Financial Condition at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008
 
Total assets decreased $15.7 million, or 1.2%, to $1.247 billion at September 30, 2009 from $1.263 billion at December 31, 2008 mainly due to a decrease in the balances of available for sale investment securities, partially offset by increases in held to maturity investment securities and net loans.  Securities available for sale decreased $72.9 million, or 23.2%, to $240.6 million at September 30, 2009 from $313.5 million at December 31, 2008, as a result of sales of mortgage-backed securities totaling $23.9 million and repayments, maturities and calls on existing bonds totaling $57.9 million.  These securities were sold in connection with an investment strategy to recognize gains on longer-duration, higher-coupon bonds which were prepaying at very high levels. Securities held to maturity increased $37.3 million to $40.5 million at September 30, 2009 due to purchases of mortgage-backed securities classified as held to maturity. Net loans increased $15.0 million, or 1.7%, to $879.4 million at September 30, 2009 from $864.4 million at December 31, 2008, mainly due to growth of $40.7 million in commercial real estate loans.  The increase in loans was offset in part by the sale of $29.5 million of historically low-coupon, long-term, fixed-rate residential mortgages in accordance with an asset-liability management strategy.  A portion of the cash flows received from the sales of investments and loans was used to pay down FHLBB advances and to fund the repurchase of 1,332,902 shares of United Financial’s common stock at a total cost of $18.0 million.
 
Total deposits increased $57.7 million, or 7.4%, to $840.3 million at September 30, 2009 compared to $782.7 million at December 31, 2008 mainly due to growth in core account balances (primarily in savings and money market accounts), partially offset by a decrease of $7.5 million in certificates of deposit. Core deposit balances grew $65.1 million, or 16.0%, to $471.9 million at September 30, 2009 from $406.8 million at December 31, 2008 reflecting competitive products and pricing, attention to excellence in customer service and targeted promotional activities. The increase in core deposits was partially offset by a decrease in certificates of deposit of $7.5 million, or 2.0%, to $368.4 at September 30, 2009 compared to $375.9 million at December 31, 2008.  FHLBB advances were reduced by $63.2 million, or 30.3%, to $145.3 million at September 30, 2009 from $208.6 million at December 31, 2008 reflecting pay downs of overnight borrowings utilizing cash flows from the investment and loan portfolios.
 
 
20


Total stockholders’ equity decreased $11.3 million, or 5.0%, to $216.4 million at September 30, 2009 from $227.7 million at December 31, 2008 as a result of repurchases of our common stock totaling $18.0 million and cash dividend payments amounting to $3.2 million. These decreases were partially offset by net income of $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, an increase of $2.8 million in net unrealized gains on securities available for sale, stock-based compensation expense totaling $1.8 million and employee stock ownership plan (‘ESOP”) compensation expense of $718,000.
 
Credit Quality

The Company actively manages credit risk through its underwriting practices and collection operations and it does not offer nor has it historically offered residential mortgage and other consumer loans to subprime or Alt-A borrowers.  Non-performing loans totaled $11.0 million, or 1.23%, of total loans, at September 30, 2009 compared to $4.8 million, or 0.55%, of total loans, at December 31, 2008.  The increase of $6.2 million in loans delinquent for 90 days and over was primarily due to a $5.5 million commercial real estate loan secured by a multi-tenant, retail center.  See also “Note H – Non-Performing Assets” in the Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Delinquent Loans. The following table sets forth our loan delinquencies by type and by amount at the dates indicated.
 
   
Loans Delinquent For
 
   
60 - 89 Days
   
90 Days and Over
   
Total
 
   
Number
   
Amount
   
Number
   
Amount
   
Number
   
Amount
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
At September 30, 2009
                                   
Residential mortgages
    9     $ 1,523       7     $ 1,617       16     $ 3,140  
Commercial mortgages
    8       2,407       10       8,230       18       10,637  
Construction
    1       140       2       446       3       586  
Home equity
    1       3       -       -       1       3  
Commercial and industrial
    4       207       12       616       16       823  
Automobile
    2       11       2       1       4       12  
Other consumer
    1       1       1       40       2       41  
Total
    26     $ 4,292       34     $ 10,950       60     $ 15,242  
                                                 
At December 31, 2008
                                               
Residential mortgages
    7     $ 939       7     $ 1,244       14     $ 2,183  
Commercial mortgages
    3       772       8       2,544       11       3,316  
Construction
    1       140       3       444       4       584  
Home equity
    2       126       -       -       2       126  
Commercial and industrial
    5       242       15       425       20       667  
Automobile
    1       8       -       -       1       8  
Other consumer
    1       2       2       140       3       142  
Total
    20     $ 2,229       35     $ 4,797       55     $ 7,026  

 
21

 
Classified Assets.  The following table shows the aggregate amount of our classified assets at the date indicated for both loans and foreclosed assets. The total amount of loans in the table below at September 30, 2009 includes fifteen relationships which represent 67% of the classified asset total. Construction loans for one- to-four family or condominium development represent 21% of the total classified asset total.  The increase in classified assets is primarily due to downgrades within the commercial real estate portfolio.
 

   
At September 30,
   
At December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Classified Loans:
           
Special mention
  $ 33,842     $ 18,363  
Substandard
    29,601       24,527  
Doubtful
    334       894  
Loss
    -       -  
                 
Total classified loans
  $ 63,777     $ 43,784  
                 
                 
Foreclosed Assets:
               
Other real estate owned
    556       998  
                 
Total classified assets
  $ 64,333     $ 44,782  
 
 
Comparison of Operating Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008

Overview
 
Our results of operations depend primarily on our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income earned on interest-earning assets, consisting primarily of loans, investment securities and other interest-earning assets, and the interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities, consisting primarily of deposits and Federal Home Loan Bank advances.

Our results of operations also are affected by provisions for loan losses, non-interest income and non-interest expense. Non-interest income consists primarily of deposit account fees, gain on sale of loans and securities, wealth management fees, increases in the cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance and miscellaneous other income. Non-interest expense consists primarily of salaries and benefits, data processing, occupancy, marketing, professional fees, FDIC insurance assessment, postage, printing, office supplies, and other operating expenses.  In 2009, our non-interest expenses also included merger related expenses relating to our pending acquisition of CNB Financial. Our results of operations also may be affected significantly by general and local economic and competitive conditions, changes in market interest rates, governmental policies and actions of regulatory authorities.

Net Income.  The Company’s net income was $1.9 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2009 compared to net income of $2.4 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the same period in 2008.  The current period results include non-deductible expenses totaling $270,000 related to the pending acquisition of CNB Financial.  Excluding these non-deductible expenses, net income would have been $2.2 million, or $0.14 per diluted share.  The results for the 2009 period were also affected by a decrease in net interest income and an increase in provision for loan losses, offset in part by higher non-interest income.
 
 
22


Average Balances and Yields.  The following table sets forth average balances, average yields and costs, and certain other information for the periods indicated. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments were made, as the effect thereof was not material. All average balances are daily average balances. Non-accrual loans were included in the computation of average balances, but have been reflected in the table as loans carrying a zero yield.
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
         
Interest
               
Interest
       
   
Average
   
and
   
Yield/
   
Average
   
and
   
Yield/
 
   
Balance
   
Dividends
   
Cost
   
Balance
   
Dividends
   
Cost
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)
       
Interest-earning assets:
                                   
Loans:
                                   
Residential real estate
  $ 330,943     $ 4,545       5.49 %   $ 361,428     $ 5,151       5.70 %
Commercial real estate
    312,799       4,643       5.94 %     268,026       4,235       6.32 %
Home equity
    122,292       1,356       4.44 %     120,793       1,704       5.64 %
Commercial and industrial
    86,646       1,120       5.17 %     84,595       1,312       6.20 %
Consumer and other
    26,003       372       5.72 %     30,211       433       5.73 %
Total loans
    878,683       12,036       5.48 %     865,053       12,835       5.93 %
Investment securities
    279,442       3,282       4.70 %     306,499       3,886       5.07 %
Other interest-earning assets
    23,522       7       0.12 %     13,692       90       2.63 %
Total interest-earning assets
    1,181,647       15,325       5.19 %     1,185,244       16,811       5.67 %
Noninterest-earning assets(1)
    62,259                       40,006                  
Total assets
  $ 1,243,906                     $ 1,225,250                  
                                                 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Savings accounts
  $ 127,949       347       1.08 %   $ 92,919       300       1.29 %
Money market accounts
    189,243       531       1.12 %     166,772       773       1.85 %
NOW accounts
    29,871       36       0.48 %     33,208       45       0.54 %
Certificates of deposit
    364,061       2,540       2.79 %     363,886       3,099       3.41 %
Total interest-bearing deposits
    711,124       3,454       1.94 %     656,785       4,217       2.57 %
FHLB advances
    155,946       1,644       4.22 %     214,005       1,959       3.66 %
Other interest-bearing liabilities
    36,471       253       2.77 %     12,461       99       3.18 %
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    903,541       5,351       2.37 %     883,251       6,275       2.84 %
Demand deposits
    117,029                       109,013                  
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities
    9,036                       8,971                  
Total liabilities
    1,029,606                       1,001,235                  
Stockholders' equity
    214,300                       224,015                  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,243,906                     $ 1,225,250                  
                                                 
Net interest income
          $ 9,974                     $ 10,536          
Interest rate spread(2)
                    2.82 %                     2.83 %
Net interest-earning assets(3)
  $ 278,106                     $ 301,993                  
Net interest margin(4)
                    3.38 %                     3.56 %
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities
                    130.78 %                     134.19 %
                                                 

 
(1)
Includes bank-owned life insurance, the income on which is classified as non-interest income.
 
(2)
Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.
 
(3)
Net interest-earning assets represents total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities.
 
(4)
Net interest margin represents annualized net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.

 
23


Rate/Volume Analysis. The following table presents the effects of changing rates and volumes on our net interest income for the periods indicated. The rate column shows the effects attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume). The volume column shows the effects attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate). The net column represents the sum of the prior columns. For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately, based on the changes due to rate and the changes due to volume.
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2009 vs. 2008
 
   
Increase (Decrease) Due to
       
   
Volume
   
Rate
   
Net
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                   
Interest-earning assets:
                 
Loans:
                 
Residential real estate
  $ (423 )   $ (183 )   $ (606 )
Commercial real estate
    675       (267 )     408  
Home equity
    21       (369 )     (348 )
Commercial and industrial
    31       (223 )     (192 )
Consumer and other
    (60 )     (1 )     (61 )
Total loans
    244       (1,043 )     (799 )
Investment securities
    (329 )     (275 )     (604 )
Other interest-earning assets
    38       (121 )     (83 )
Total interest-earning assets
    (47 )     (1,439 )     (1,486 )
                         
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                       
Savings accounts
    100       (53 )     47  
Money market accounts
    94       (336 )     (242 )
NOW accounts
    (5 )     (4 )     (9 )
Certificates of deposit
    1       (560 )     (559 )
Total interest-bearing deposits
    190       (953 )     (763 )
FHLB advances
    (583 )     268       (315 )
Other interest-bearing liabilities
    169       (15 )     154  
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    (224 )     (700 )     (924 )
                         
Change in net interest income
  $ 177     $ (739 )   $ (562 )
 
Net Interest Income Before Provision for Loan Losses.  Net interest income before provision for loan losses decreased $562,000, or 5.3%, to $10.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 from the same period in 2008 as a result of net interest margin contraction. Net interest margin decreased 18 basis points to 3.38% for the three-month period ended September 30, 2009 compared to 3.56% for the same period in 2008 reflecting a substantial amount of loan refinancing activity, an increase in funds held in lower-yielding cash equivalents, the elimination of the FHLB stock dividend beginning with the fourth quarter 2008 payment, and the cost to fund the purchase of bank-owned life insurance and share repurchases.

 
24


Interest Income.  Interest income decreased $1.5 million, or 8.8%, to $15.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 from $16.8 million for the prior year period primarily due to a lower yield on average interest-earning assets and, to a lesser extent, a decrease in average interest-earning assets.  The yield on average interest-earning assets decreased by 48 basis points to 5.19% for the third quarter of 2009 in connection with the lower interest rate environment. The decrease in market rates contributed to the downward repricing of a portion of the Company’s existing assets and to lower rates for new assets. Since a significant amount of the Company’s average interest-earning assets are fixed rate and the impact of Federal Reserve Board actions was less pronounced on the long end of the yield curve, the effect of the repricing of the Company’s existing loans was primarily limited to home equity and commercial loans due to the significant number of those loans tied to the prime rate or a shorter-term index. The lower yield on earning assets was also due to the suspension of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston stock dividend for the third quarter of 2009, which the Company expects will remain in effect for the remainder of the year.  In the comparable 2008 period, we received $78,000 in stock dividends from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston.  Total average interest-earning asset balances decreased $3.6 million, or 0.3%, to $1.2 billion mainly due to a decrease in investment securities, partially offset by loan growth and an increase in other interest-earning assets. Total average investment securities decreased by $27.1 million, or 8.8%, to $279.4 million mainly due to sales of mortgage-backed securities and principal repayments of existing securities. Total average loans increased $13.6 million, or 1.6%, to $878.7 million for the third quarter of 2009 as a result of growth in commercial real estate loans and origination activity, partially offset by scheduled amortization, prepayments of existing loans and residential real estate loan sales during the second quarter of 2009.  The expansion in other interest-earning assets of $9.8 million, or 71.8%, to $23.5 million for the third quarter of 2009 is due to an increase in excess cash held in lower-yielding cash equivalents.
 
Interest Expense.  Interest expense decreased $924,000, or 14.7%, to $5.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 from $6.3 million for the prior year period reflecting a decrease in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by an increase in average interest-bearing liabilities. The average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities declined 47 basis points to 2.37% for the three months ended September 30, 2009 reflecting the repricing of savings, money market and certificate of deposit balances in response to interest rate cuts initiated by the Federal Reserve Board.  These items were partially offset by a 56 basis point increase in the average rate paid on FHLB advances to 4.22% for the third quarter of 2009 reflecting paydowns of lower rate short-term advances.  Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $20.3 million, or 2.3%, to $903.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 from $883.3 million for the prior year period reflecting growth in interest-bearing deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by a decrease in average FHLB advances. Total average interest-bearing deposits increased $54.3 million, or 8.3%, to $711.1 million for the third quarter of 2009 as compared to $656.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, mainly attributable to an increase of $57.5 in savings and money market account balances related to new branches opened in 2008 and 2009, attractive products, competitive pricing and excellent customer service. Total other interest-bearing liabilities increased $24.0 million, or 192.7%, to $36.5 million reflecting the use of repurchase agreements to support balance sheet expansion and lengthen the duration of borrowings at attractive rates. Total average FHLB advances decreased $58.1 million, or 27.1%, to $155.9 million due to the use of cash flows from investment securities and loans to pay down short-term borrowings.
 
Provision for Loan Losses. The provision for loan losses increased $156,000, or 24.2%, to $800,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to $644,000 for the same period in 2008. The increase in the provision for the third quarter of 2009 reflects the impact of an increase in non-accrual and classified loans and the continuing shift to a more commercially oriented loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses is based on management’s estimate of the probable losses inherent in the portfolio, considering the impact of certain factors.  Among the factors management may consider are prior loss experience, current economic conditions and their effect on borrowers, the character and size of the portfolio, trends in nonperforming loans and delinquency rates and the performance of individual loans in relation to contractual terms.  The provision for loan losses reflects adjustments to the allowance based on management’s review of the loan portfolio in light of those conditions. The allowance for loan losses was $9.5 million, or 1.07%, of loans outstanding at September 30, 2009.

 
25


Non-interest Income.  Non-interest income increased $252,000, or 14.5%, to $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 from $1.7 million for the comparable period in 2008 due to an increase of $358,000 in income from bank-owned life insurance, partially offset by a decrease of $177,000 in wealth management income. The expansion in income from bank-owned life insurance reflects the purchase of an additional $20.0 million of insurance in November of 2008.  The decline in wealth management income was driven by the effect of the lower market valuations on assets under management and lower transaction fees earned from annuity sales.
 
Non-interest Expense.  Non-interest expense increased $287,000, or 3.7%, to $8.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 from $7.8 million for the prior year period.  Excluding acquisition-related costs totaling $270,000, total non-interest expenses would have been $7.8 million, or 0.2% higher than the same period last year as increases in salaries and benefits and data processing costs were offset by decreases in professional services fees and FDIC insurance assessments.  Salaries and benefits increased $102,000, or 2.3%, reflecting annual wage increases and staffing costs related to a new branch opened in 2009, offset in part by lower stock-based compensation costs.  Data processing costs increased $73,000, or 9.1%, reflecting a larger loan and deposit base and new branches opened in 2008 and 2009.  Professional services expenses declined $110,000, or 34.3%, reflecting lower legal and consulting costs.  FDIC insurance assessment expense declined $113,000, or 57.7%, primarily attributable to a $257,000 adjustment in the third quarter of 2009 to reduce expense recorded earlier in 2009.  Excluding the adjustment, the expense would have been approximately $250,000, or $54,000 above the amount recorded in the 2008 period due to an increase in the assessment rate.
 
Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense decreased $290,000 to $1.2 million for three months ended September 30, 2009 from the comparable 2008 period as a result of lower pretax income.
 
Comparison of Operating Results for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008
 
Net Income.  The Company’s net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 amounted to $4.6 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, compared to $6.3 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, for the same period in 2008.  Current period results include non-deductible expenses totaling $1.4 million related to the pending acquisition of CNB Financial and a special FDIC insurance assessment of $538,000 ($312,000 net of taxes). Excluding these items, net income for the 2009 period would have been $6.3 million, or $0.41 per diluted share. The results for the 2009 period includes benefits from gains of $461,000 from sales of securities and $363,000 from sales of loans as well as an increase in income from bank-owned life insurance, offset by an increase in the provision for loan losses and higher non-interest expenses.
 
26

 
Average Balances and Yields.  The following table sets forth average balances, average yields and costs, and certain other information for the periods indicated. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments were made, as the effect thereof was not material. All average balances are daily average balances. Non-accrual loans were included in the computation of average balances, but have been reflected in the table as loans carrying a zero yield.
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
         
Interest
               
Interest
       
   
Average
   
and
   
Yield/
   
Average
   
and
   
Yield/
 
   
Balance
   
Dividends
   
Cost
   
Balance
   
Dividends
   
Cost
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)
       
Interest-earning assets:
                                   
Loans:
                                   
Residential real estate(1)
  $ 342,312     $ 14,168       5.52 %   $ 355,655     $ 14,999       5.62 %
Commercial real estate
    295,305       13,027       5.88 %     258,309       12,266       6.33 %
Home equity loans
    121,459       4,139       4.54 %     118,394       5,140       5.79 %
Commercial and industrial
    83,900       3,344       5.31 %     83,406       4,002       6.40 %
Consumer and other
    26,772       1,130       5.63 %     30,525       1,269       5.54 %
Total loans
    869,748       35,808       5.49 %     846,289       37,676       5.94 %
Investment securities
    291,956       10,543       4.81 %     269,097       10,064       4.99 %
Other interest-earning assets
    20,900       24       0.15 %     16,017       450       3.75 %
Total interest-earning assets
    1,182,604       46,375       5.23 %     1,131,403       48,190       5.68 %
Noninterest-earning assets(2)
    57,816                       37,053                  
Total assets
  $ 1,240,420                     $ 1,168,456                  
                                                 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Savings accounts
  $ 116,645       965       1.10 %   $ 80,979       701       1.15 %
Money market accounts
    180,891       1,760       1.30 %     171,825       2,566       1.99 %
NOW accounts
    29,941       104       0.46 %     32,824       130       0.53 %
Certificates of deposit
    364,138       8,094       2.96 %     360,656       10,152       3.75 %
Total interest-bearing deposits
    691,615       10,923       2.11 %     646,284       13,549       2.80 %
FHLB advances
    174,956       5,084       3.87 %     167,031       4,863       3.88 %
Other interest-bearing liabilities
    33,814       696       2.74 %     12,213       303       3.31 %
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    900,385       16,703       2.47 %     825,528       18,715       3.02 %
Demand deposits
    114,172                       106,391                  
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities
    8,725                       9,990                  
Total liabilities
    1,023,282                       941,909                  
Stockholders' equity
    217,138                       226,547                  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,240,420                     $ 1,168,456                  
                                                 
Net interest income
          $ 29,672                     $ 29,475          
Interest rate spread(3)
                    2.76 %                     2.66 %
Net interest-earning assets(4)
  $ 282,219                     $ 305,875                  
Net interest margin(5)
                    3.35 %                     3.47 %
Average interest-bearing assets to average interest-bearing liabilities
                    131.34 %                     137.05 %
                                                 

(1)
Includes loans held for sale.
(2)
Includes bank-owned life insurance, the income on which is classified as non-interest income.
(3)
Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.
(4)
Net interest-earning assets represents total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities.
(5)
Net interest margin represents annualized net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.

 
27


Rate/Volume Analysis.  The following table presents the effects of changing rates and volumes on our net interest income for the periods indicated. The rate column shows the effects attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume). The volume column shows the effects attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate). The net column represents the sum of the prior columns. For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately, based on the changes due to rate and the changes due to volume.
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2009 vs. 2008
 
   
Increase (Decrease) Due to
       
   
Volume
   
Rate
   
Net
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                   
Interest-earning assets:
                 
Loans:
                 
Residential real estate(1)
  $ (556 )   $ (275 )   $ (831 )
Commercial real estate
    1,673       (912 )     761  
Home equity loans
    130       (1,131 )     (1,001 )
Commercial and industrial
    24       (682 )     (658 )
Consumer and other
    (158 )     19       (139 )
Total loans
    1,113       (2,981 )     (1,868 )
Investment securities
    834       (355 )     479  
Other interest-earning assets
    105       (531 )     (426 )
Total interest-earning assets
    2,052       (3,867 )     (1,815 )
                         
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                       
Savings accounts
    296       (32 )     264  
Money market accounts
    129       (935 )     (806 )
NOW accounts
    (11 )     (15 )     (26 )
Certificates of deposit
    97       (2,155 )     (2,058 )
Total interest-bearing deposits
    511       (3,137 )     (2,626 )
FHLB advances
    231       (10 )     221  
Other interest-bearing liabilities
    453       (60 )     393  
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    1,195       (3,207 )     (2,012 )
                         
Change in net interest income
  $ 857     $ (660 )   $ 197  
                         
                         
(1)  Includes loans held for sale.                        
 
 
Net Interest Income Before Provision for Loan Losses.  Net interest income before provision for loan losses increased $197,000, or 0.7%, to $29.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 from $29.5 million for the comparable 2008 period reflecting growth in average earning assets, partially offset by net interest margin contraction. Average earning assets increased $51.2 million, or 4.5%, to $1.2 billion, mainly due to purchases of mortgage-backed securities and loan growth. Net interest margin decreased 12 basis points to 3.35% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 from 3.47% for the prior year period reflecting a substantial amount of loan refinancing activity, an increase in funds held in lower-yielding cash equivalents, the elimination of the FHLB stock dividend beginning with the fourth quarter 2008 payment and the cost to fund the purchase of bank-owned life insurance and share repurchases.
 
 
28


Interest Income.  Interest income decreased $1.8 million, or 3.8%, to $46.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 from $48.2 million for the prior year period reflecting a decrease in the yield on average interest-earning assets, partially offset by an increase in total average interest-earning asset balances. The yield on average interest-earning assets decreased 45 basis points to 5.23% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 in connection with the lower interest rate environment. The decrease in market rates contributed to the downward repricing of a portion of the Company’s existing assets and to lower rates for new assets. Since a significant amount of the Company’s average interest-earning assets are fixed rate and the impact of Federal Reserve Board actions was less pronounced on the long end of the yield curve, the effect of the decrease in market rates was primarily limited to home equity and commercial loans as a significant number of those loans are tied to the prime rate or a shorter-term index.  Total average interest-earning asset balances increased $51.2 million, or 4.5%, to $1.2 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 due in large part to loan growth and purchases of investment securities. Total average loans increased $23.5 million, or 2.8%, to $869.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as a result of origination activity, partially offset by loan sales, prepayments and normal amortization. Total average investment securities increased by $22.9 million, or 8.5%, to $292.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily due to purchases of mortgaged-backed securities, partially offset by sales of mortgaged-backed securities and principal repayments on existing securities.
 
Interest Expense.  Interest expense decreased $2.0 million, or 10.8%, to $16.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 from $18.7 million for the prior year period due to a decrease in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by growth in average interest-bearing liabilities. The average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities declined 55 basis points to 2.47% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 reflecting the repricing of money market and certificate of deposit balances in response to interest rate cuts initiated by the Federal Reserve Board. Since a large portion of the Company’s interest-bearing liabilities are short-term, the impact of the expansion in market rates was significant. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $74.9 million, or 9.1%, to $900.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 reflecting growth in interest-bearing deposits, other interest-bearing liabilities and FHLB advances. Total average interest-bearing deposits increased $45.3 million, or 7.0%, to $691.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 mainly attributable to an increase in savings and money market accounts and certificate of deposit balances related to new branches opened in 2008 and 2009, attractive products, competitive pricing and excellent customer service.  Other interest-bearing liabilities increased $21.6 million or 176.9% reflecting the use of repurchase agreements to support balance sheet expansion and lengthen the duration of borrowings at attractive rates. Total average FHLB advances increased $7.9 million, or 4.7%, to $175.0 million to fund asset growth and to take advantage of lower interest rates.
 
Provision for Loan Losses.  The provision for loan losses was $2.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to $1.5 million for the same period in 2008. The increase in the 2009 provision reflects the impact of an expansion in non-accrual and classified assets and the continuing shift to a more commercially oriented loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses was $9.5 million, or 1.07%, of loans outstanding at September 30, 2009.

Non-interest Income.  Non-interest income increased $1.6 million, or 33.3%, to $6.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 due to net gains of $461,000 realized from sales of securities and $363,000 realized from loan sales as well as an increase of $867,000 in bank-owned life insurance income, partially offset by a decrease of $119,000 in wealth management income. The expansion in income from bank-owned life insurance reflects the purchase of an additional $20.0 million of insurance in November 2008. The decline in wealth management income was driven by the effect of the lower market valuations on assets under management and lower transaction fees earned from annuity sales.
 
 
29


Non-interest Expense.  Non-interest expense increased $3.7 million, or 16.6%, to $26.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 from $22.5 million for the prior year period. Current period expenses include acquisition-related costs totaling $1.4 million and a special FDIC insurance assessment of $538,000.  Excluding these items, total non-interest expense would have increased $1.8 million or 7.9%, from the prior year period. Total salaries and benefits increased $1.1 million, or 8.9%, mainly due to staffing costs for new branches opened in 2008 and 2009, new employees hired to support and facilitate the growth of the Company, annual wage increases and an increase in stock related compensation expense.  Occupancy costs grew $181,000, or 10.5%, principally attributable to the new branches opened in 2008 and 2009. Data processing costs expanded $180,000, or 7.7%, reflecting a larger loan and deposit base and new branches opened in 2008 and 2009.  In addition to the $538,000 special assessment, the FDIC insurance assessment increased $394,000 in connection with higher premiums that became effective in 2009.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in professional fees of $207,000 as a result of lower legal and consulting costs.

Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense decreased $725,000 to $3.2 million for nine months ended September 30, 2009 from $4.0 million for the comparable 2008 period due in large part to a decrease in income before income taxes offset by an increase in the effective tax rate from 38.4% to 41.3%. The increase in the effective tax rate was mainly attributable to the non-deductible acquisition-related expenses totaling $1.4 million offset by an increase of $867,000 in bank-owned life insurance income.

 
Market Risk, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Market Risk

The majority of our assets and liabilities are monetary in nature. Consequently, our most significant form of market risk is interest rate risk (“IRR”). Our assets, consisting primarily of mortgage loans, have longer maturities than our liabilities, consisting primarily of deposits. As a result, a principal part of our business strategy is to manage IRR and reduce the exposure of our net interest income (“NII”) to changes in market interest rates. Accordingly, our Board of Directors has established an Asset/Liability Management Committee which is responsible for evaluating the IRR inherent in our assets and liabilities, for determining the level of risk that is appropriate given our business strategy, operating environment, capital, liquidity and performance objectives, and for managing this risk consistent with the guidelines approved by the Board of Directors.  With the assistance of an IRR management consultant, the committee monitors the level of IRR on a regular basis and meets at least on a quarterly basis to review our asset/liability policies and IRR position.

We have sought to manage our IRR in order to minimize the exposure of our earnings and capital to changes in interest rates. As part of our ongoing asset-liability management, we currently use the following strategies to manage our IRR: (i) using alternative funding sources, such as advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, to “match fund” certain longer-term one- to four-family residential mortgage loans; (ii) continued emphasis on increasing core deposits; (iii) offering adjustable rate and shorter-term home equity loans, commercial real estate loans, construction loans and commercial and industrial loans; (iv) offering a variety of consumer loans, which typically have shorter-terms and (v ) investing in mortgage-backed securities with variable rates or fixed rates with shorter durations. Reducing the average maturity of our interest-earning assets by increasing our investments in shorter-term loans and securities, as well as loans and securities with variable rates of interest, helps to better match the maturities and interest rates of our assets and liabilities, thereby reducing the exposure of our NII to changes in market interest rates.
 
 
30


Net interest income at-risk measures the risk of a decline in earnings due to potential short-term and long term changes in interest rates. The table below represents an analysis of our IRR as measured by the estimated changes in NII for the following twelve months, resulting from an instantaneous and sustained parallel shift in the yield curve of +200 and -100 basis points at September 30, 2009 and +200 basis points at December 31, 2008. Due to the historically low level of interest rates at December 31, 2008, a model reflecting a downward shift in the yield curve was not relevant and was not produced.
 
Net Interest Income At-Risk
         
Change in Interest Rates
 
Estimated Increase (Decrease) in NII
 
Estimated Increase (Decrease)in NII
(Basis Points)
 
(September 30, 2009)
 
(December 31, 2008)
         
-100
 
(3.9)%
 
NA
Stable
 
0.0%
 
0.0%
+200
 
3.9%
 
(3.3)%
 
 
The preceding income simulation analysis is for United Bank and its subsidiary only and does not represent a forecast of NII and should not be relied upon as being indicative of expected operating results. These hypothetical estimates are based upon numerous assumptions, which are subject to change, including: the nature and timing of interest rate levels including the yield curve shape, prepayments on loans and securities, deposit decay rates, pricing decisions on loans and deposits, reinvestment/replacement of asset and liability cash flows, and others.  Also, market conditions, prepayment/refinancing levels, the varying impact of interest rate changes on caps and floors embedded in adjustable rate loans, early withdrawal of deposits, changes in product preferences, and other internal/external variables may vary significantly from assumptions used.
 
Net Portfolio Value Simulation Analysis.  The Office of Thrift Supervision requires the computation of amounts by which the net present value of an institution’s cash flow from assets, liabilities and off balance sheet items (the institution’s net portfolio value or “NPV”) would change in the event of a range of assumed changes in market interest rates. The Office of Thrift Supervision provides all institutions that file a Consolidated Maturity/Rate Schedule as a part of their quarterly Thrift Financial Report an interest rate sensitivity report of net portfolio value. The Office of Thrift Supervision simulation model uses a discounted cash flow analysis and an option-based pricing approach to measuring the interest rate sensitivity of net portfolio value. Historically, the Office of Thrift Supervision model estimated the economic value of each type of asset, liability and off-balance sheet contract under the assumption that the United States Treasury yield curve increases or decreases instantaneously by 100 to 300 basis points in 100 basis point increments. However, given the low level of market interest rates at December 31, 2008, The Office of Thrift Supervision did not require a net portfolio value calculation for interest rate decreases. A basis point equals one-hundredth of one percent, and 200 basis points equals two percent. An increase in interest rates from 3% to 5% would mean, for example, a 200 basis point increase in the “Change in Interest Rates” column below. The Office of Thrift Supervision provides us the results of the interest rate sensitivity model, which is based on information we provide to the Office of Thrift Supervision to estimate the sensitivity of our net portfolio value.

 
31


The tables below set forth, at the dates indicated, the estimated changes in our net portfolio value that would result from the designated instantaneous changes in the United States Treasury yield curve. Computations of prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on numerous assumptions, including relative levels of market interest rates, loan prepayments and deposit decay, and should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results. This data is for United Bank and its subsidiary only and does not include any yield curve changes in the assets of United Financial Bancorp, Inc.
 
     
September 30, 2009
 
                       
NPV as a Percentage of Present
 
                       
Value of Assets (3)
 
           
Estimated Increase (Decrease) in
             
Change in
         
NPV
         
Increase
 
Interest Rates
   
Estimated
                     
(Decrease)
 
(basis points) (1)
   
NPV (2)
   
Amount
   
Percent
   
NPV Ratio (4)
   
(basis points)
 
      (Dollars in thousands)              
                                 
+300     $ 127,887     $ (45,913 )     (26 )%     11.16 %     (282 )
+200       146,939       (26,861 )     (15 )     12.46       (152 )
+100       163,097       (10,704 )     (6 )     13.44       (54 )
0       173,800                       13.98          
-100       183,367       9,566       6       14.48       (50 )

 

     
December 31, 2008
 
                       
NPV as a Percentage of Present
 
                       
Value of Assets (3)
 
           
Estimated Increase (Decrease) in
             
Change in
         
NPV
         
Increase
 
Interest Rates
   
Estimated
                     
(Decrease)
 
(basis points) (1)
   
NPV (2)
   
Amount
   
Percent
   
NPV Ratio (4)
   
(basis points)
 
      (Dollars in thousands)              
                                 
+300     $ 122,901     $ (66,712 )     (35 )%     10.52 %     (424 )
+200       147,220       (42,393 )     (22 )     12.19       (257 )
+100       170,707       (18,906 )     (10 )     13.68       (108 )
0       189,613                       14.76          
                                           

(1)
Assumes an instantaneous uniform change in interest rates at all maturities.
(2)
NPV is the discounted present value of expected cash flows from assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet contracts.
(3)
Present value of assets represents the discounted present value of incoming cash flows on interest-earning assets.
(4)
NPV ratio represents NPV divided by the present value of assets.


The tables above indicate that at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, in the event of a 300 basis point increase in interest rates, we would experience a 26% and 35%, respectively, decrease in net portfolio value. In the event of a 100 basis point decrease in interest rates at September 30, 2009, we would experience a 6% increase in net portfolio value. A net portfolio value calculation for interest rate decreases at December 31, 2008 was not required, due to the historically low interest rate environment.

 
32


Certain shortcomings are inherent in the methodology used in the above interest rate risk measurement. Modeling changes in net portfolio value require making certain assumptions that may or may not reflect the manner in which actual yields and costs respond to changes in market interest rates. In this regard, the net portfolio value table presented assumes that the composition of our interest-sensitive assets and liabilities existing at the beginning of a period remains constant over the period being measured and assumes that a particular change in interest rates is reflected uniformly across the yield curve regardless of the duration or repricing of specific assets and liabilities. Accordingly, although the net portfolio value table provides an indication of our interest rate risk exposure at a particular point in time, such measurements are not intended to and do not provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in market interest rates on our net interest income and will differ from actual results.

Liquidity
 
Liquidity is the ability to meet current and future financial obligations of a short-term nature. Our primary sources of funds consist of deposit inflows, advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, loan and mortgage-backed securities repayments and maturities and sales of loans and other investment securities. While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans and securities are predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and mortgage prepayments are greatly influenced by market interest rates, economic conditions and competition. Our Asset/Liability Management Committee is responsible for establishing and monitoring our liquidity targets and strategies in order to ensure that sufficient liquidity exists for meeting the borrowing needs of our customers as well as unanticipated contingencies. We seek to maintain a liquidity ratio of 10% or greater. At September 30, 2009 our liquidity ratio was 24.65%, compared to 35.02% at December 31, 2008.
 
We regularly adjust our investments in liquid assets based upon our assessment of (1) expected loan demand, (2) expected deposit flows, (3) yields available on interest-earning deposits and securities, and (4) the objectives of our asset/liability management program. Excess liquid assets are generally invested in interest-earning deposits and short- and intermediate-term securities.
 
Our most liquid assets are cash and cash equivalents. The levels of these assets are dependent on our operating, financing, lending and investing activities during any given period. At September 30, 2009, cash and cash equivalents totaled $13.0 million. Securities classified as available-for-sale and held-to-maturity, which provide additional sources of liquidity, totaled $240.6 million and $40.5 million, respectively, at September 30, 2009. In addition, at September 30, 2009, we had the ability to borrow a total of approximately $408.7 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston. On that date, we had $145.3 million in advances outstanding.

Our cash flows are derived from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included in our Consolidated Financial Statements.

At September 30, 2009, we had $12.0 million in loan commitments outstanding. In addition to commitments to originate loans, we had $170.4 million in unused lines of credit to borrowers and $23.4 million to be disbursed under existing construction loan commitments. Certificates of deposit due within one year of September 30, 2009 totaled $236.3 million, or 28.1% of total deposits. If these deposits do not remain with us, we will be required to seek other sources of funds, including other certificates of deposit and Federal Home Loan Bank advances. Depending on market conditions, we may be required to pay higher rates on such deposits or other borrowings than we currently pay on the certificates of deposit due on or before September 30, 2010. We believe however, based on past experience that a significant portion of our certificates of deposit will remain with us. We have the ability to attract and retain deposits by adjusting the interest rates offered.

 
33


Our primary investing activities are the origination of loans and the purchase of securities.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we originated $208.0 million of loans and purchased $43.5 million of securities. In the comparable 2008 period, we originated $235.5 million of loans and purchased $203.4 million of securities.

Financing activities consist primarily of activity in deposit accounts and Federal Home Loan Bank advances. We experienced a net increase in total deposits of $57.7 million and $42.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Deposit flows are affected by the overall level of interest rates, the interest rates and products offered by us and our local competitors and other factors.

Liquidity management is both a daily and long-term function of business management. If we require funds beyond our ability to generate them internally, borrowing agreements exist with the Federal Home Loan Bank, which provides an additional source of funds. Federal Home Loan Bank advances decreased by $63.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 reflecting the use of cash flows received from the loan and investment portfolios to pay down short term Federal Home Loan Bank advances. For the same period in 2008, Federal Home Loan Bank advances increased $118.1 million. Federal Home Loan Bank advances have primarily been used to fund loan demand and investment security purchases. We have also used Federal Home Loan Bank advances to “match-fund” certain longer-term one- to four-family residential mortgage loans and commercial real estate loans. The Bank’s unused borrowing capacity with the FHLBB, excluding its $12.4 million line of credit, was approximately $251.6 million at September 30, 2009 and $282.1 million at December 31, 2008. At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Bank had no borrowing against the line of credit. We also have access to funding through the repurchase agreement and brokered CD markets and have received approval from the Federal Reserve Bank to access its discount window. The Bank’s unused borrowing capacity with the FRB was approximately $65.4 million at September 30, 2009.

United Financial is a separate legal entity from the Bank and must provide for its own liquidity. In addition to its operating expenses, United Financial is responsible for paying any dividends declared to its shareholders.  United Financial also has repurchased shares of its common stock.  At September 30, 2009, United Financial had liquid assets of $30.1 million.
 
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations

Commitments

As a financial services provider, we routinely are a party to various financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risks, such as commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and unused lines of credit. While these contractual obligations represent our future cash requirements, a significant portion of commitments to extend credit may expire without being drawn upon. Such commitments are subject to the same credit policies and approval process accorded to loans made by us. We consider commitments to extend credit in determining our allowance for loan losses.

 
34

 
Contractual Obligations

 In the ordinary course of our operations, we enter into certain contractual obligations. Such obligations include operating leases for premises and equipment. The following table summarizes our significant fixed and determinable contractual obligations and other funding needs by payment date at September 30, 2009. The payment amounts represent those amounts due to the recipient and do not include any unamortized premiums or discounts or other similar carrying amount adjustments.
 
   
Payments Due by Period (in thousands)
 
   
Less Than One Year
   
One to Three Years
   
Three to Five Years
   
More than Five Years
   
Total
 
Contractual Obligations:
                             
Certificates of deposit
  $ 236,282     $ 98,656     $ 33,459     $ -     $ 368,397  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    18,816       53,355       45,610       27,561       145,342  
Repurchase agreements
    10,130       -       -       20,000       30,130  
Standby letters of credit
    3,841       -       -       -       3,841  
Operating leases
    585       837       691       2,667       4,780  
Capitalized leases
    406       812       813       6,864       8,895  
Future benefits to be paid under retirement plans
    198       3,064       1,037       760       5,059  
Total
  $ 270,258     $ 156,724     $ 81,610     $ 57,852     $ 566,444  
Commitments:
                                       
Commitments to extend credit
  $ 209,664     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 209,664  
Commitment to invest in venture capital fund
    800       -       -       -       800  
Total
  $ 210,464     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 210,464  


Capital Resources
 
United Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements, including a risk-based capital measure. The risk-based capital guidelines include both a definition of capital and a framework for calculating risk-weighted assets by assigning balance sheet assets and off-balance sheet items to broad risk categories. At September 30, 2009, the Bank exceeded all regulatory capital requirements. United Bank is considered “well capitalized” under regulatory requirements.
 
   
Actual
   
For Capital Adequacy Purposes
   
To Be Well Capitalized Under Regulatory Framework
 
As of September 30, 2009:
                 
                   
Total risk-based capital
    19.10 %     8.00 %     10.00 %
                         
Tier 1 risk-based capital
    18.05 %     4.00 %     6.00 %
                         
Tier 1 (core) capital
    13.25 %     4.00 %     5.00 %
                         
Tangible equity
    13.25 %     1.50 %     N/A  
                         
As of December 31, 2008:
                       
                         
Total risk-based capital
    18.71 %     8.00 %     10.00 %
                         
Tier 1 risk-based capital
    17.76 %     4.00 %     6.00 %
                         
Tier 1 (core) capital
    12.31 %     4.00 %     5.00 %
                         
Tangible equity
    12.31 %     1.50 %     N/A  

 
35


Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The information required by this item is included above in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, under the caption “Market Risk, Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 
Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation 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 recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and in a timely manner alerting them to material information relating to the Company (or its consolidated subsidiary) required to be filed in its periodic SEC filings.

No change in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.  In the ordinary course of business, we routinely enhance our internal controls and procedures for financial reporting by either upgrading our current systems or implementing new systems. Changes have been made and will be made to our internal controls and procedures for financial reporting as a result of these efforts.

 
PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 
Legal Proceedings

At September 30, 2009, the Company was not involved in any legal proceedings, the outcome of which would be material to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. At September 30, 2009, the risk factors for the Company have not changed materially from those reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, except for those related to our pending acquisition of CNB Financial and detailed below. In addition, the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.
 
 
36


Failure to complete the merger could negatively impact the stock price and the future business and financial results of United Financial.
 
If the merger is not completed, the ongoing business of United Financial may be adversely affected and United Financial will be subject to several risks, including the following:
 
 
· 
having to pay certain costs relating to the proposed merger, such as legal, accounting, financial advisor, filing, printing and mailing fees, and
 
 
· 
diverting the focus of management from pursuing other opportunities that could be beneficial to United Financial without realizing any of the benefits of having the merger completed.
 
The integration of the operations of United Financial and CNB Financial may be more difficult than anticipated.
 
The success of the merger will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, United Financial’s ability to:
 
 
· 
timely and successfully integrate the operations of United Financial and CNB Financial;
 
 
· 
maintain existing relationships with Commonwealth National Bank’s depositors and to minimize withdrawals of deposits subsequent to the merger;
 
 
· 
maintain and enhance existing relationships with borrowers to limit potential losses from loans made by Commonwealth National Bank;
 
 
· 
control the incremental non-interest expense of United Financial to maintain overall operating efficiencies;
 
 
· 
retain key personnel; and
 
 
· 
compete effectively in the communities served by Commonwealth National Bank.
 
The process of integrating operations could cause an interruption of, or loss of momentum in, the activities of the business and the loss of key personnel.  The integration of the two companies will require the experience and expertise of certain key employees of CNB Financial who are expected to be retained by United Financial.  United Financial may not be successful in retaining these employees for the time period necessary to successfully integrate CNB Financial’s operations with those of United Financial.  The diversion of management’s attention and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with the merger and the integration of the two companies’ operations could have an adverse effect on the business and results of operation of United Financial following the merger.
 
United Financial and CNB Financial will be subject to business uncertainties while the merger is pending that could adversely affect their businesses.
 
Uncertainty among employees, depositors, vendors and others about the effect of the merger may have an adverse effect on United Financial and CNB Financial and, consequently, on the combined company.  Although United Financial and CNB Financial intend to take actions to reduce any adverse effects, these uncertainties may impair their ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel until the merger is completed and for a period of time thereafter, and could cause depositors, vendors and others that do business with United Financial and CNB Financial to seek to change existing business relationships with either or both companies.
 
 
37


United Financial and CNB Financial will incur significant transaction costs which may diminish the anticipated benefits of the merger.
 
United Financial and CNB Financial expect to incur merger-related costs totaling approximately $4.1 million in connection with completing the merger, including the expenses related to integrating the operations of the two companies.  Substantially all merger-related costs to be incurred by the two companies will be charged to operations and will not be included as a component of the purchase price under purchase accounting.  The amount of merger-related costs expected to be incurred by United Financial and CNB Financial are preliminary estimates and are subject to change.
 
United Financial and CNB Financial are continuing to assess the magnitude of these costs, and, therefore, these estimates may change substantially as additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in the integration of the businesses of the two companies.  Although United Financial and CNB Financial believe that the elimination of duplicative costs, as well as the realization of other efficiencies related to the integration of the businesses, will offset merger-related costs over time, this net benefit may not be achieved in the near term, or at all.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(a) No unregistered securities were sold by the Company during the quarter ended September 30, 2009.
 
(b) Not applicable
 
(c) The following table provides certain information with regard to shares repurchased by the Company in the third quarter of 2009.
 
Period
 
(a)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased
   
(b)
Average Price Paid Per Share (or Unit)
   
(c)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
   
(d)
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1)
 
                         
July 1 - 31, 2009
    60,000     $ 13.26       60,000       208,338  
                                 
August 1 - 31, 2009
    10,464 (2)     12.78       -       208,338  
                                 
September 1 - 30, 2009
    -       -       -       208,338  
Total
    70,464     $ 13.19       60,000          
                                 

(1)
On February 19, 2009, the Board of Directors approved a plan to repurchase up to 5%, or approximately 841,138 shares, of the Company’s common stock. Under the plan, the Company intends to repurchase shares from time to time, depending on market conditions and will continue until it is completed.

(2)
Includes the withholding of 10,464 shares at $12.78 per share subject to restricted stock awards under the United Bank 2006 Stock-Based Incentive Plan as payment of taxes due upon the vesting of the restricted stock awards.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not applicable.

 
38


Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Not applicable.

Other Information

Not applicable.

Exhibits.
 
3.1
 
Articles of Incorporation of United Financial Bancorp, Inc. (1)
3.2
 
Amended and Restated Bylaws of United Financial Bancorp, Inc. (2)
4
 
Form of Common Stock Certificate of United Financial Bancorp, Inc. (1)
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer
 
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
     
     
(1)
 
Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of United Financial Bancorp, Inc. (File No. 333-144245), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2007.
(2)
 
Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-K of United Financial Bancorp, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2009.
     

 
39


SIGNATURES

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


  United Financial Bancorp, Inc.
     
Date: November 6, 2009
By:
/s/ Richard B. Collins
   
Richard B. Collins
   
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
     
     
Date: November 6, 2009
By:
/s/ Mark A. Roberts
   
Mark A. Roberts
   
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
40