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Investar Holding Corporation

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FY2015 Annual Report · Investar Holding Corporation
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2015 Annual Report

Dear Shareholders: 

It is my great pleasure to provide you with an update on Investar Holding Corporation, the holding company for 
Investar Bank, for 2015. During our first full year as a public company, we experienced continued organic loan 
growth  and  strong  earnings.  We  remain  committed  to  growing  organically  while  seeking  out  advantageous 
opportunities to grow through acquisition. 

Two thousand fifteen was a strong year in which our Company’s net income increased by 31% compared to the 
prior year, to $7.1 million. Diluted earnings per share was $0.97, an increase  of 4% from  2014. Furthermore, 
total assets grew 17% to $1.0 billion. Our loan growth was substantial in size and diversity and increased 20% to 
$745.5 million compared to the prior year. We ended the year with deposits of $737.4 million, a 17% increase 
compared to 2014. Noninterest-bearing deposits increased by 29% compared  to 2014 and can be attributed to 
our focus on relationship banking.  

While  enjoying  this  growth,  we  have  not  reduced  our  focus  on  asset  quality.  Our  loan  portfolio’s  risk  profile 
remained very strong and we experienced minimal loss throughout the year. Net charge-offs were an impressive 
0.05% of average loans for the year, and nonperforming loans to total loans was 0.32% at the end of the year. As 
oil  and  gas  prices  continue  to  make  headlines,  we  consider  our  exposure  to  the  energy  sector  not  to  be 
significant,  at  less  than  1%  of  total  loans  as  of  December  31,  2015.  Although  not  immune  to  these  pricing 
pressures,  Baton  Rouge  and  New  Orleans,  our  primary  operating  markets,  have  diverse  economies.  We  will 
continue to remain diligent and focus our growth on loans with good credit quality. 

We made several strategic operating decisions in 2015, including restructuring certain departments and exiting 
the indirect auto loan business. Our stated long-term strategy has always been to be a relationship-focused bank. 
Indirect auto lending is a very transactional business and was not going to be a long-term business line of the 
bank. Based on declining margins and competitive pressures primarily from national banks, we determined that 
2015 was the right time to exit this business line and increase our focus on our relationship banking strategy. 
These  and  other  moves  have  put  us  in  a  more  favorable  position  to  improve  our  performance,  maintain  our 
excellent asset quality, and grow shareholder value. 

A special thank you is due to our loyal customers and dedicated employees for making 2015 a successful year. 
We believe our customers choose our  company for their banking needs because of our focus on relationships 
and creating value and opportunities for them. We remain committed to this mission as we approach the year 
ahead. 

Sincerely, 

John J. D’Angelo 
President & Chief Executive Officer 

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

FORM 10-K  

(Mark One)  
(cid:59)  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934  

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015  

or  

(cid:133)  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: 001-36522  

Investar Holding Corporation  

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)  

Louisiana 
(State or other jurisdiction of 
incorporation or organization) 

27-1560715 
(I.R.S. Employer 
Identification No.) 

7244 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808  
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)  
(225) 227-2222  
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)  

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: 

Name of each exchange on which registered 
The NASDAQ Global Market 

Title of each class 
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes  (cid:133)    No  (cid:59)(cid:3)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes  (cid:133)    No  (cid:59) 
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  (cid:59)    No  (cid:133)  
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  (cid:59)    No  (cid:133)  
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be 
contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment 
to this Form 10-K.  (cid:59) 
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 the definitions 
of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):  

Large accelerated filer 
Non-accelerated filer 

   (cid:133) 
   (cid:133) (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) 

   Accelerated filer 
   Smaller reporting company 

   (cid:59) 
   (cid:133) 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  (cid:133)    No  (cid:59)(cid:3)

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the closing price of the common stock as of June 30, 
2015, was approximately $110,856,777.   

The  number  of  shares  outstanding  of  each  of  the  issuer’s  classes  of  common  stock,  as  of  the  latest practicable  date,  is  as  follows:  Common  stock,  $1.00 par  value, 
7,304,103 shares outstanding as of March 11, 2016.  

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 

Portions of the Proxy Statement relating to the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Investar Holding Corporation are incorporated by reference into Part III of the 
Form 10-K.  Such Definitive Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the registrant’s fiscal year 
ended December 31, 2015. 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS  

PART I 

  Page 

Item 1. 

  Business ........................................................................................................................................................................    

Item 1A. 

  Risk Factors ..................................................................................................................................................................    

Item 1B. 

  Unresolved Staff Comments .........................................................................................................................................    

Item 2. 

  Properties ......................................................................................................................................................................    

Item 3. 

  Legal Proceedings .........................................................................................................................................................    

Item 4. 

  Mine Safety Disclosures ...............................................................................................................................................    

PART II 

Item 5. 

  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities ...    

Item 6. 

  Selected Financial Data ................................................................................................................................................    

Item 7. 

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

Item 7A. 

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk .......................................................................................    

Item 8. 

  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data .............................................................................................................    

3 

15 

28 

29 

29 

29 

30 

32 

35 

62 

63 

Item 9. 

  Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure ......................................     115 

Item 9A. 

  Controls and Procedures ...............................................................................................................................................     115 

Item 9B. 

  Other Information .........................................................................................................................................................     115 

PART III 

Item 10. 

  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance ............................................................................................     116 

Item 11. 

  Executive Compensation ..............................................................................................................................................     116 

Item 12. 

  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters .....................     116 

Item 13. 

  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Directors Independence ............................................................     116 

Item 14. 

  Principal Accounting Fees and Services .......................................................................................................................     116 

Item 15. 

  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules ........................................................................................................................  117 

PART IV 

2 

 
  
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1. Business  

General  

PART I 

Investar  Holding  Corporation  (the  “Company”),  a  Louisiana  corporation  incorporated  in  2009,  is  a  financial  holding  company 
headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that conducts its operations primarily through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Investar Bank 
(the “Bank”), a Louisiana commercial bank, chartered in 2006. Through the Bank, the Company offers a wide range of commercial 
banking  products  tailored  to  meet  the  needs  of  individuals  and  small  to  medium-sized  businesses.  The  primary  markets  served  are 
Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Hammond and Lafayette, Louisiana, and their surrounding metropolitan areas. These markets are served 
from our main office located in Baton Rouge and from ten additional full service branches located throughout our market areas. As of 
December 31, 2015, on a consolidated basis, the Company had total assets of $1.0 billion, net loans, excluding loans held for sale, of 
$739.3 million, total deposits of $737.4 million, and stockholders’ equity of $109.4 million. 

Management believes that the current markets present a significant opportunity for growth and franchise expansion, both organically 
and through strategic acquisitions. Although the financial services industry is rapidly changing and intensely competitive, and likely to 
remain so, we believe that the Bank competes effectively as a local community bank and possesses the consistency of local leadership, 
the availability of local access and responsive customer service, coupled with competitively-priced products and services, necessary to 
successfully compete with other financial institutions for individual and small to medium-sized business customers.  

We have experienced significant growth since the Bank was chartered, completing acquisitions in 2011 and 2013, as described below 
in more detail, and establishing additional branches in our market areas. In 2012, we entered the New Orleans market through de novo 
branching by purchasing two closed branch locations of another financial institution in suburban New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2013, we 
entered the Lafayette market by opening a de novo branch. In addition, we opened our sixth Baton Rouge market area branch location 
in August 2014. 

We have completed construction of our seventh Baton Rouge market area branch location in Gonzales, Louisiana, which we expect to 
open  in  the  second  quarter  of  2016,  subject  to  regulatory  approval.  In  September  2015,  we  acquired  land  and  a  building  for  an 
additional branch location in the New Orleans market area. 

In  November  2013,  the  Company  and  the  Bank  completed  a  share  exchange  with  the  Bank’s  shareholders,  resulting  in  the  Bank 
becoming  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  the  Company.  In  July  2014,  the  Company  completed  the  issuance  and  sale  of  3,285,300 
shares  of  its  common  stock  in  its  initial  public  offering,  which  amount  includes  410,300  shares  sold  pursuant  to  the  underwriters’ 
exercise  of  their  option  to  purchase  additional  shares  from  the  Company,  at  a  public  offering  price  of  $14.00  per  share.  After 
deducting underwriting commissions and offering expenses, the Company received net proceeds of $41.7 million from the sale of such 
shares. 

The information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is as of March 11, 2016, unless otherwise indicated herein. 

Operations 

General. We offer a  full range of commercial and retail  lending products  throughout our  market areas, including business  loans to 
small to medium-sized businesses as well as loans to individuals. Our business lending products include owner-occupied commercial 
real estate loans, construction loans and commercial and industrial loans, such as term loans, equipment financing and lines of credit, 
while our loans to individuals include first and second mortgage loans, installment loans, auto loans and lines of credit. For business 
customers, we target businesses with $10 million in annual revenue or less but do not focus on any particular industry. We also target 
professional organizations such as law firms, accounting firms and medical practices.  

Management  considers  all  of  our  operations  to  be  aggregated  in  one  reportable  operating  segment,  and  accordingly  no  separate 
segment disclosures are presented in this report. Please refer to our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto in 
Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, for information with respect to our revenues from external customers, profit or 
loss and total assets for the last three years. Neither we nor the Bank have any foreign operations. 

Lending  Activities.  Income  generated  by  our  lending  activities  represents  a  substantial  portion  of  our  total  revenue.  For  the  years 
ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, income  from  our lending activities comprised 77%, 80% and 78%, respectively, of our 
total revenue. 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
Lending to Businesses. Our lending to small to medium-sized businesses falls into three general categories:  

(cid:120)  Commercial  real  estate  loans.  Approximately  43%  of  our  total  loans  at  December  31,  2015  were  commercial  real  estate 
loans,  which  include  multifamily,  farmland  and  commercial  real  estate  loans,  with  owner-occupied  loans  comprising 
approximately 43% of the commercial real estate loan portfolio. Commercial real estate loan terms generally are ten years or 
less, although payments may be structured on a longer amortization basis. Interest rates may be fixed or adjustable, although 
rates typically will not be fixed for a period exceeding 120 months, and we generally charge an origination fee. We do not 
offer non-recourse loans. Risks associated with commercial real estate loans include, among other things, fluctuations in the 
value of real estate, new job creation trends, tenant vacancy rates and the quality of the borrower’s management. We attempt 
to limit risk by analyzing a borrower’s cash flow and collateral value on an ongoing basis. Also, we typically require personal 
guarantees  from  the  principal  owners  of  the  property,  supported  by  a  review  of  their  personal  financial  statements,  as  an 
additional means of mitigating our risk. 

(cid:120)  Construction  and  development  loans.  Construction  and  development  loans,  which  consist  of  loans  for  the  construction  of 
commercial projects, single family residential properties and multifamily properties, accounted for approximately 11% of our 
total  loans  at  December  31,  2015.  Our  construction  and  development  loans  are  made  on  both  a  “pre-sold”  basis  and  on  a 
“speculative”  basis.  Construction  and  development  loans  are  generally  made  with  a  term  of  6  to  12  months,  with  interest 
accruing at either a fixed or floating rate and paid monthly. These loans are secured by the underlying project being built. For 
construction  loans,  loan  to  value  ratios  range  from  75%  to  80%  of  the  developed/completed  value,  while  for  development 
loans  our  loan  to  value  ratios  typically  will  not  exceed  70%  to  75%  of  such  value.  Speculative  loans  are  based  on  the 
borrower’s  financial  strength  and  cash  flow  position,  and  we  disburse  funds  in  installments  based  on  the  percentage  of 
completion and only after the project has been inspected by an experienced construction lender or third-party inspector. 

Construction lending entails significant additional risks compared to commercial real estate or residential real estate lending. 
One  such  risk  is  that  loan  funds  are  advanced  upon  the  security  of  the  property  under  construction,  which  is  of  uncertain 
value prior to the completion of construction. Thus, it is more difficult to evaluate accurately the total loan funds required to 
complete a project and to calculate related loan-to-value ratios. We attempt to minimize the risks associated with construction 
lending by limiting loan-to-value ratios as described  above. In addition, as to speculative development loans,  we generally 
make such loans only to borrowers that have a positive pre-existing relationship with us. 

(cid:120)  Commercial and industrial loans. Commercial and industrial loans primarily consist of  working capital lines of credit and 
equipment  loans.  We  often  make  commercial  loans  to  borrowers  with  whom  we  have  previously  made  a  commercial  real 
estate loan. The terms of these loans vary by purpose and by type of underlying collateral. We make equipment loans for a 
term of five years or less at fixed or variable rates, with the loan fully amortized over the term and secured by the relevant 
piece of equipment. Loans to support working capital typically have terms not exceeding one year, and such loans are secured 
by accounts receivable or inventory. Fixed rate loans are priced based on collateral, term and amortization. The interest rate 
for  floating  rate  loans  is  typically  tied  to  the  prime  rate  published  in  The  Wall  Street  Journal  with  a  floor  of  4.5%. 
Commercial and industrial loans accounted for approximately 9% of our total loans at December 31, 2015. 

Commercial  lending  generally  involves  different  risks  from  those  associated  with  commercial  real  estate  lending  or 
construction lending. Although commercial loans may be collateralized by equipment or other business assets (including real 
estate,  if  available  as  collateral),  the  repayment  of  these  types  of  loans  depends  primarily  on  the  creditworthiness  and 
projected cash flow of the borrower (and any guarantors). Thus, the general business conditions of the local economy and the 
borrower’s  ability  to  sell  its  products  and  services,  thereby  generating  sufficient  operating  revenue  to  repay  us  under  the 
agreed upon terms and conditions, are the chief considerations when assessing the risk of a commercial loan. The liquidation 
of collateral is considered a secondary source of repayment because equipment and other business assets may, among other 
things,  be  obsolete  or  of  limited  resale  value.  We  actively  monitor  certain  financial  measures  of  the  borrower,  including 
advance rate, cash flow, collateral value and other appropriate credit factors. We use commercial loan credit scoring models 
for smaller level commercial loans.  

4 

 
 
 
Lending to Individuals. We make the following types of loans to our individual customers:  

(cid:120)  Consumer loans. Consumer loans represented 16% of our total loans at December 31, 2015. We make these loans (which are 
normally  fixed-rate  loans)  to  individuals  for  a  variety  of  personal,  family  and  household  purposes,  including  auto  loans, 
secured  and  unsecured  installment  and  term  loans,  second  mortgages,  home  equity  loans  and  home  equity  lines  of  credit. 
Because many consumer loans are secured by depreciable assets such as cars, boats and trailers, the loans are amortized over 
the useful life of the asset. The amortization of second mortgages generally does not exceed 15 years and the rates generally 
are not fixed for more than 60 months. As a general matter, in underwriting these loans, our loan officers review a borrower’s 
past  credit  history,  past  income  level,  debt  history  and,  when  applicable,  cash  flow,  and  determine  the  impact  of  all  these 
factors on the ability of the borrower to make future payments as agreed. A comparison of the value of the collateral, if any, 
to the proposed loan amount, is also a consideration in the underwriting process. Repayment of consumer loans depends upon 
the  borrower’s  financial  stability  and  is  more  likely  to  be  adversely  affected  by  divorce,  job  loss,  illness  and  personal 
hardships than repayment of other loans. A shortfall in the value of any collateral also may pose a risk of loss to us for these 
types of loans. 

Auto loans comprised the largest component of our consumer loans and third largest component of our overall loan portfolio, 
representing 80% of our total consumer loans and 12% of our total loans as of December 31, 2015. We have been an indirect 
lender for our auto  loans,  meaning that the loans  have been originated by automobile dealerships and then assigned  to us. 
These  dealerships  were  selected  based  on  our  review  of  their  operating  history  and  the  dealership’s  reputation  in  the 
marketplace, which we believe helps to mitigate the risks of fraud or negligence by the dealership. At all times, the decision 
whether or not to provide financing resided with us.  

In November 2015, the Bank announced that it was exiting the indirect auto loan origination business. The Bank discontinued 
accepting  indirect  auto  loan  applications  December  31,  2015,  but  continued  to  process  and  fund  applications  that  were 
accepted on or before that date. The Bank will continue to service the current auto loan portfolio for its duration but expects 
this portfolio to decrease over time. 

(cid:120)  Residential  real  estate.  One-to-four  family  residential  real  estate  loans,  including  second  mortgage  loans,  comprised 
approximately 21% of our total loans at December 31, 2015. Second mortgage loans in this category include only loans we 
make  to  cover  the  gap  between  the  purchase  price  of  a  residence  and  the  amount  of  the  first  mortgage;  all  other  second 
mortgage loans are considered consumer loans. Long-term fixed rate mortgages are underwritten for resale to the secondary 
market;  however,  we  generally  hold  jumbo  mortgage  loans  (i.e.,  loan  amounts  above  $417,000)  in  our  portfolio  and  sell 
virtually all of our remaining mortgage loans on the secondary market. Unless the borrower has private mortgage insurance, 
loan to value ratios do not typically exceed 80%, although some of the mortgage loans that we retain in our  portfolio may 
have higher loan to value ratios. We use an independent appraiser to establish collateral values. We generate residential real 
estate  mortgage  loans  through  Bank  referrals  and  contacts  with  real  estate  agents  in  our  markets.  We  do  not  originate 
subprime residential real estate loans.  

Deposits. We offer a broad base of deposit products and services to our individual and business clients, including savings, checking, 
money  market  and  NOW  accounts,  debit  cards  and  mobile  banking  with  smartphone  deposit  capability,  as  well  as  a  variety  of 
certificates of deposit and individual retirement accounts. For our business clients, we offer a competitive suite of cash management 
products which include, but are not limited to, remote deposit capture, electronic statements, positive pay, ACH origination and wire 
transfer, investment sweep accounts and enhanced business internet banking.    

Other Banking Services. Investar Bank’s other banking services include cashiers’ checks, direct deposit of payroll and Social Security 
checks, night depository, bank-by-mail, automated teller machines with deposit automation and debit cards. We have also associated 
with nationwide networks of automated teller machines, enabling the Bank’s customers to use ATMs throughout Louisiana and other 
regions. Currently, we reimburse our customers up to $12.50 per month for any foreign ATM fees they may incur. We offer merchant 
card  services  through  a  third-party  vendor,  and,  during  2015,  launched  our  own  credit  card  product.  The  Bank  does  not  offer  trust 
services or insurance products. 

Acquisition Activity 

General. To complement our organic growth strategy, from time to time, we evaluate potential acquisition opportunities. We believe 
there are  many banking institutions that  continue to  face credit challenges, capital constraints and  liquidity issues and that lack the 
scale and management expertise to manage the increasing regulatory burden. Our management team has a long history of identifying 
targets, assessing and pricing risk and executing acquisitions in a creative, yet disciplined, manner. We seek acquisitions that provide 
meaningful financial benefits, long-term organic growth opportunities and expense reductions, without compromising our risk profile. 
Additionally,  we  seek  banking  markets  with  favorable  competitive  dynamics  and  potential  consolidation  opportunities.  All  of  our 
acquisition activity is evaluated and overseen by a standing Merger and Acquisition Committee of our board of directors. 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisition of South Louisiana Business Bank. On October 1, 2011, the Bank completed its acquisition of South Louisiana Business 
Bank  (“SLBB”),  a  Louisiana-chartered  commercial  bank  with  one  location  in  Prairieville,  Louisiana.  The  Bank  acquired  all  of  the 
outstanding common stock of the former SLBB shareholders for a total consideration of approximately $14.7 million in the form of 
1,069,065 shares of Bank common stock. Including the effect of purchase accounting adjustments, the Bank acquired assets with a fair 
value of $50.9 million, including loans with a fair value of $31.5 million, and assumed $38.6 million in deposits. The fair value of net 
assets acquired including identifiable intangible assets was approximately $12.0 million. Goodwill of approximately $2.7 million was 
recognized on the acquisition date. 

Acquisition of First  Community Bank.  On May 1, 2013, the Bank completed its acquisition of  First Community Bank (“FCB”), a 
Louisiana-chartered  commercial  bank  headquartered  in  Hammond,  Louisiana  with  one  branch  in  Mandeville,  Louisiana.  The  Bank 
acquired all of the outstanding common stock of the former FCB shareholders for a total consideration of approximately $4.5 million 
in  the  form  of  320,774  shares  of  Bank  common  stock.  Including  the  effect  of  purchase  accounting  adjustments,  the  Bank  acquired 
assets  with a  fair  value of $99.2 million, including loans  with a fair  value of $77.5 million, assumed $86.5  million  in deposits and 
recognized a $0.9 million bargain purchase gain. 

Competition  

We face competition in all major product and geographic areas in which we conduct our operations. Through the Bank, we compete 
for available loans and deposits with state, regional and national banks, as well as savings and loan associations, credit unions, finance 
companies, mortgage companies, insurance companies, brokerage firms and investment companies. All of these institutions compete 
in  the  delivery  of  services  and  products  through  availability,  quality  and  pricing,  both  with  respect  to  interest  rates  on  loans  and 
deposits and fees charged for banking services. Many of our competitors are larger and have substantially greater resources than we 
do, including higher total assets and capitalization, greater access to capital markets and a broader offering of financial services. As 
larger  institutions,  many  of  our  competitors  can  offer  more  attractive  pricing  than  we  can  offer  and  have  more  extensive  branch 
networks from which they can offer their financial services products.  

While we continually strive to offer competitive pricing for our banking products, we believe that our community bank approach to 
customers,  focusing  on  quality  customer  service  and  maintaining  strong  customer  relationships  affords  us  the  best  opportunity  to 
successfully  compete  with  other  institutions.  In  addition,  as  a  smaller  institution,  we  think  we  can  be  flexible  in  developing  and 
implementing new products and services, especially in the online banking area. Further, in recent years there has been consolidation 
activity involving banks  with a presence  in our  markets. In our  view,  mergers and other business combinations  within our  markets 
provide us with growth opportunities. Many acquisitions, especially when local institutions are acquired by institutions based outside 
our markets, result not only in customer disruption but also in a loss of market knowledge and relationships that we believe provide us 
the opportunity to acquire customers seeking a personalized approach to banking. Furthermore, acquisition activity typically  creates 
opportunities to hire talented personnel from the combining institutions.  

The following table sets forth certain information about our total deposits and our market share. The amount of total deposits in our 
markets is as of June 30, 2015, which is the latest date for which such information is available.  

Market (MSA) 

Investar Total Deposits 
(in millions) 

Investar Market Share 

Baton Rouge 
New Orleans 
Hammond 
Lafayette 

   $ 

472     
91     
52     
93     

2.5 % 
0.3 % 
3.0 % 
0.8 % 

6 

 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Supervision and Regulation 

General.  Banking  is  highly  regulated  under  federal  and  state  law.  We  are  a  financial  holding  company  registered  under  the  Bank 
Holding  Company  Act  of  1956,  as  amended,  and  are  subject  to  supervision,  regulation  and  examination  by  the  Federal  Reserve. 
Investar  Bank  is  a  commercial  bank  chartered  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Louisiana.  The  Bank  is  not  a  member  of  the  Federal 
Reserve system and is subject to supervision, regulation and examination by the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions, or OFI, and 
the  Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation,  or  FDIC.  This  system  of  supervision  and  regulation  establishes  a  comprehensive 
framework for our operations and, consequently, can have a material impact on our growth and earnings performance. 

The primary  goals of the  bank regulatory scheme are to  maintain a  safe and sound banking  system and to  facilitate  the conduct of 
sound monetary policy. This system is intended primarily for the protection of the FDIC’s deposit insurance funds, bank depositors 
and the public, rather than our shareholders and creditors. The banking agencies  have  broad enforcement power over bank  holding 
companies and banks, including the authority, among other things, to enjoin “unsafe or unsound” practices, require affirmative action 
to correct any  violation or practice, issue administrative orders that can be judicially enforced, direct increases in capital, direct the 
sale of subsidiaries or other assets, limit dividends and distributions, restrict growth, assess civil monetary penalties, remove officers 
and  directors,  and,  with  respect  to  banks,  terminate  deposit  insurance  or  place  the  bank  into  conservatorship  or  receivership.  In 
general, these enforcement actions may be initiated for violations of laws and regulations or unsafe or unsound practices. 

The Dodd-Frank Act. The Dodd-Frank Act, enacted on July 21, 2010, aims to restore responsibility and accountability to the financial 
system by significantly altering the regulation of financial institutions and the financial services industry. Full implementation of the 
Dodd-Frank  Act  will  require  many  new  rules  to  be  issued  by  federal  regulatory  agencies  over  the  next  several  years,  which  will 
profoundly  affect  how  financial  institutions  will  be  regulated  in  the  future.  The  ultimate  effect  of  the  Dodd-Frank  Act  and  its 
implementing regulations on the financial services industry in general, and on us in particular, is uncertain at this time. 

The Dodd-Frank Act, among other things: 

(cid:120)  established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an independent organization within the Federal Reserve with centralized 
responsibility  for  promulgating  and  enforcing  federal  consumer  protection  laws  applicable  to  all  entities  offering  consumer 
financial products or services; 

(cid:120)  established the Financial Stability Oversight Council, tasked with the authority to identify and monitor institutions and systems 

that pose a systemic risk to the financial system; 

(cid:120)  changed the assessment base for federal deposit insurance from the amount of insured deposits held by the depository institution 

to the institution’s average total consolidated assets less tangible equity; 

(cid:120)  increased the minimum reserve ratio for the Deposit Insurance Fund from 1.15% to 1.35%; 

(cid:120)  permanently increased the deposit insurance coverage amount from $100,000 to $250,000; 

(cid:120)  required  the  FDIC  to  make  its  capital  requirements  for  insured  depository  institutions  countercyclical,  so  that  capital 

requirements increase in times of economic expansion and decrease in times of economic contraction; 

(cid:120)  required  bank  holding  companies  and  banks  to  be  “well  capitalized”  and  “well  managed”  in  order  to  acquire  banks  located 
outside of their home state and requires any bank holding company electing to be treated as a financial holding company to be 
“well capitalized” and “well managed”; 

(cid:120)  directed the Federal Reserve to establish interchange fees for debit cards under a restrictive “reasonable and proportional cost” 

per transaction standard; 

(cid:120)  limited the ability of banking organizations to sponsor or invest in private equity and hedge funds and to engage in proprietary 

trading; 

(cid:120)  increased  regulation  of  consumer  protections  regarding  mortgage  originations,  including  originator  compensation,  minimum 

repayment standards and prepayment consideration; 

(cid:120)  restricted the preemption of select state laws by federal banking law applicable to national banks and disallow subsidiaries and 

affiliates of national banks from availing themselves of such preemption; 

(cid:120)  authorized national and state banks to establish de novo branches in any state that would permit a bank chartered in that state to 

open a branch at that location; and 

(cid:120)  repealed the federal prohibition on the payment of interest on demand deposits, thereby permitting depository institutions to pay 

interest on business transaction and other accounts. 

7 

 
Some of these provisions may have the consequence of increasing our expenses, decreasing our revenues, and changing the activities 
in  which  we  choose  to  engage.  The  environment  in  which  banking  organizations  will  operate  after  the  financial  crisis,  including 
legislative  and  regulatory  changes  affecting  capital,  liquidity,  supervision,  permissible  activities,  corporate  governance  and 
compensation,  changes  in  fiscal  policy  and  steps  to  eliminate  government  support  for  banking  organizations,  may  have  long-term 
effects on the business model and profitability of banking organizations that cannot currently be foreseen. The specific impact on our 
current activities or new financial activities  we  may consider in the  future, our financial performance and the  markets in  which  we 
operate will depend on the manner in which the relevant agencies develop and implement the required rules and the reaction of market 
participants to these regulatory developments. Many aspects of the Dodd-Frank  Act are  subject to further rulemaking  and  will take 
effect over several years. While we cannot predict what effect any presently contemplated or future changes in the laws or regulations 
or  their  interpretations  would  have  on  us,  these  changes  could  be  materially  adverse  to  our  financial  condition  and  results  of 
operations. 

The  Volcker  Rule.  On  December  10,  2013,  the  Federal  Reserve  and  the  other  federal  banking  regulators  as  well  as  the  SEC  each 
adopted  a  final  rule  implementing  Section  619  of  the  Dodd-Frank  Act,  commonly  referred  to  as  the  “Volcker  Rule.”  Generally 
speaking, the final rule prohibits a bank and its affiliates from engaging in proprietary trading and from sponsoring certain “covered 
funds” or from acquiring or retaining any ownership interest in such covered funds. Most private equity,  venture capital and hedge 
funds  are  considered  “covered  funds”  as  are  bank  trust  preferred  collateralized  debt  obligations.  The  final  rule  requires  banking 
entities to divest disallowed securities by July 21, 2015, subject to extension upon application. The Volcker Rule does not impact any 
of our current activities nor do we hold any securities that we would be required to sell under the rule, but it does limit the scope of 
permissible activities in which we might engage in the future. 

Regulatory Capital Requirements 

Capital Adequacy. The Federal Reserve Board monitors the capital adequacy of the Company, on a consolidated basis, and the FDIC 
and  the  OFI  monitor  the  capital  adequacy  of  the  Bank.  The  regulatory  agencies  use  a  combination  of  risk-based  guidelines  and  a 
leverage ratio to evaluate capital adequacy and consider these capital levels when taking action on various types of applications and 
when  conducting  supervisory  activities  related  to  safety  and  soundness.  The  risk-based  capital  standards  are  designed  to  make 
regulatory capital requirements more sensitive to differences in risk profiles among financial institutions and their holding companies, 
to account for off-balance sheet exposure, and to minimize disincentives for holding liquid assets. A financial institution’s assets  and 
off-balance  sheet  items,  such  as  letters  of  credit  and  unfunded  loan  commitments,  are  assigned  to  broad  risk  categories,  each  with 
appropriate risk  weights. Regulatory capital,  in turn, is classified in one of two tiers.  “Tier 1” capital includes two components: (1) 
common equity Tier 1 capital and (2) additional Tier 1 capital. Common equity Tier 1 capital consists solely of common stock (plus 
related surplus), retained earnings, accumulated other comprehensive income, and limited amounts of minority interests that are in the 
form of common stock. Additional Tier 1 capital includes other perpetual instruments historically included in Tier 1 capital, such as 
non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock. “Tier 2” capital includes, among other things, qualifying subordinated debt and allowances 
for  loan  and  lease  losses,  subject  to  limitations.  The  resulting  capital  ratios  represent  capital  as  a  percentage  of  total  risk-weighted 
assets and off-balance sheet items. 

Effective January 1, 2015, the minimum capital standards under Basel III, as well as the prompt corrective action standards discussed 
below, increased from previous requirements as a result of changes adopted by the federal banking agencies, which are described in 
greater detail below under “Basel III.” 

Prompt Corrective Action Regulations. Under the prompt corrective action regulations, the FDIC is required and authorized to take 
supervisory  actions  against  undercapitalized  financial  institutions.  For  this  purpose,  a  bank  is  placed  in  one  of  the  following  five 
categories based on its capital: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized,  and critically 
undercapitalized.  Under  the  prompt  corrective  action  regulations,  as  currently  in  effect,  to  be  well  capitalized,  a  bank  must  have  a 
leverage capital ratio of at least 5%, a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of at least 6.5%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 
8% and a  total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10% and  must  not be  subject to any order or  written agreement or directive by a 
federal banking agency to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure. As discussed below under “Basel III,” 
the federal banking agencies have adopted changes to the capital thresholds applicable to each of the five categories under the prompt 
corrective action regulations. 

8 

 
 
 
Federal banking regulators are required to take various mandatory supervisory actions and are authorized to take other discretionary 
actions  with  respect  to  institutions  in  the  three  undercapitalized  categories.  The  severity  of  the  action  depends  upon  the  capital 
category in  which the institution is placed. Generally, subject to a narrow exception, banking regulators  must appoint a receiver or 
conservator for an institution that is critically undercapitalized. The federal banking agencies have specified by regulation the relevant 
capital  level  for  each  category.  An  institution  that  is  categorized  as  undercapitalized,  significantly  undercapitalized,  or  critically 
undercapitalized  is  required  to  submit  an  acceptable  capital  restoration  plan  to  its  appropriate  federal  banking  agency.  An 
undercapitalized institution also is generally prohibited from increasing its average total assets, making acquisitions, establishing any 
branches  or  engaging  in  any  new  line  of  business,  except  under  an  accepted  capital  restoration  plan  or  with  FDIC  approval.  The 
regulations also establish procedures for downgrading an institution to a lower capital category based on supervisory factors other than 
capital. 

Furthermore, a bank holding company must guarantee that a subsidiary depository institution meets its capital restoration plan, subject 
to various limitations. The controlling holding company’s obligation to fund a capital restoration plan is limited to the lesser of 5% of 
an  undercapitalized  subsidiary’s  assets  at  the  time  it  became  undercapitalized  or  the  amount  required  to  meet  regulatory  capital 
requirements. 

The capital classification of a bank affects the frequency of regulatory examinations, the bank’s ability to engage in certain activities 
and the deposit insurance premiums paid by the bank. As of December 31, 2015, Investar Bank met the requirements to be categorized 
as well capitalized under the prompt corrective action framework as currently in effect. 

Basel III. On July 2, 2013, the federal banking agencies adopted a final rule revising the regulatory capital framework applicable to all 
top  tier  bank  holding  companies  with  consolidated  assets  of  $500  million  or  more  and  all  banks,  regardless  of  size.  The  Basel  III 
framework became effective on January 1, 2015, although the capital conservation buffer, which is discussed in greater detail below, 
will be phased in over a three year period, beginning January 1, 2016. 

Under the Basel III framework, we are required to maintain the following minimum regulatory capital ratios: 

(cid:120)  A new ratio of common equity Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets of not less than 4.5%; 

(cid:120)  A Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% (an increase from 4.0%); 

(cid:120)  A total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0%; and 

(cid:120)  A leverage ratio of 4.0%. 

The Basel III framework also changes the regulatory capital requirements  for purposes  of the prompt corrective action regulations. 
Accordingly,  as  of  January 1,  2015,  to  be  categorized  as  well  capitalized,  the  Bank  must  have  a  minimum  common  equity  Tier  1 
capital ratio of at least 6.5%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 8.0%, a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.0%, and a 
leverage capital ratio of at least 5.0%. 

Under  the  Basel  III  framework,  Tier 1  capital  is  redefined  to  include  two  components:  (1)  common  equity  Tier 1  capital  and  (2) 
additional  Tier 1  capital.  Common  equity  Tier 1  capital  consists  solely  of  common  stock  (plus  related  surplus),  retained  earnings, 
accumulated other comprehensive income, and limited amounts of minority interests that are in the form of common stock. Additional 
Tier 1 capital includes other perpetual instruments historically included in Tier 1 capital, such as non-cumulative perpetual preferred 
stock.  With  limited  exceptions,  trust  preferred  securities  and  cumulative  perpetual  preferred  stock  will  no  longer  qualify  as  Tier  1 
capital. Tier 2 capital consists of instruments that currently qualify as Tier 2 capital plus instruments that the rule has disqualified from 
Tier 1  capital  treatment.  In  addition,  the  Basel  III  framework  establishes  certain  deductions  from  and  adjustments  to  the  regulatory 
capital ratios. 

The Basel III framework also implements a requirement for all banking organizations to maintain a capital conservation buffer above 
the minimum capital requirements to avoid certain restrictions on capital distributions and discretionary bonus payments to executive 
officers.  The  capital  conservation  buffer  must  be  composed  of  common  equity  Tier  1  capital.  The  capital  conservation  buffer 
requirement, when fully phased in, will effectively require banking organizations to maintain regulatory capital ratios at least 50 basis 
points higher than well capitalized levels under prompt corrective action standards to avoid the restrictions on capital distributions and 
discretionary bonus payments to executive officers. 

9 

 
The Basel III framework alters the method under which banking organizations must calculate risk-weighted assets in an effort to make 
the calculation of risk-weighted assets more risk sensitive, to better account for risk mitigation techniques, and to create substitutes for 
credit  ratings  (in  accordance  with  the  Dodd-Frank  Act).  The  standardized  approach,  which  will  apply  to  us,  includes  additional 
exposure categories as compared with current standards including a new high volatility commercial real estate category that is risk-
weighted  at  150%.  Although  a  number  of  asset  classes  will  be  risk-weighted  differently,  the  Basel  III  framework  does  not  change 
standardized risk weightings for certain assets, including residential mortgages. 

Although management is continuing to evaluate the impact the Basel III framework will have on the Company and the Bank, we were 
in compliance with all applicable minimum regulatory capital requirements as of December 31, 2015, and management believes that at 
December  31,  2015,  the  Company  and  the  Bank  would  have  met  all  new  capital  adequacy  requirements  under  the  new  Basel  III 
framework on a fully phased-in basis if such requirements were then effective. 

The Basel III framework also requires banks and bank  holding companies to  measure their liquidity against  specific  liquidity  tests. 
However, the final rules adopted by the federal banking agencies in September 2014 implementing the Basel III liquidity framework 
apply only to banking organizations with $250 billion or more in consolidated assets or $10 billion or more in foreign exposures. As a 
result, unless modified, the Basel III liquidity framework does not apply to us. 

Acquisitions by Bank Holding Companies 

Federal and state laws, including the Bank Holding Company Act and the Change in Bank Control Act, impose additional prior notice 
or approval requirements and ongoing regulatory requirements on any investor that seeks to acquire direct or indirect “control” of an 
FDIC-insured  depository  institution  or  bank  holding  company.  We  must  obtain  the  prior  approval  of  the  Federal  Reserve  before 
(1) acquiring more than 5% of the voting stock of any bank or other bank holding company, (2) acquiring all or substantially all of the 
assets  of  any  bank  or  bank  holding  company,  or  (3) merging  or  consolidating  with  any  other  bank  holding  company.  The  Federal 
Reserve  may  determine  not  to  approve  any  of  these  transactions  if  it  would  result  in  or  tend  to  create  a  monopoly  or  substantially 
lessen  competition  or  otherwise  function  as  a  restraint  of  trade,  unless  the  anti-competitive  effects  of  the  proposed  transaction  are 
clearly outweighed by the public interest in meeting the convenience and needs of the community to be served. The Federal Reserve is 
also  required  to  consider  the  financial  and  managerial  resources  and  future  prospects  of  the  bank  holding  companies  and  banks 
concerned, the convenience and needs of the community to be served, and the record of a bank holding company and its subsidiary 
bank(s)  in  combating  money  laundering  activities.  In  addition,  a  failure  to  implement  and  maintain  adequate  compliance  programs 
could cause the Federal Reserve or other banking regulators not to approve an acquisition when regulatory approval is required or to 
prohibit an acquisition even if approval is not required. 

Scope of Permissible Bank Holding Company Activities 

In general, the Bank Holding Company Act limits the activities permissible for bank holding companies to the business of banking, 
managing or controlling banks and such other activities as the Federal Reserve has determined to be so closely related to banking as to 
be properly incident thereto. 

A bank holding company may elect to be treated as a financial holding company and receive expanded powers if it and its depository 
institution  subsidiaries  are  “well  capitalized”  and  “well  managed.”  We  have  elected  for  the  Company  to  be  treated  as  a  financial 
holding company. As a financial holding company, we may engage in a range of activities that are (1) financial in nature or incidental 
to  such  financial  activity  or  (2) complementary  to  a  financial  activity  and  which  do  not  pose  a  substantial  risk  to  the  safety  and 
soundness of a depository institution or to the financial system generally. These activities include securities dealing, underwriting and 
market  making,  insurance  underwriting  and  agency  activities,  merchant  banking  and  insurance  company  portfolio  investments. 
Expanded  financial  activities  of  financial  holding  companies  generally  will  be  regulated  according  to  the  type  of  such  financial 
activity: banking activities by banking regulators;  securities activities by securities regulators; and insurance activities  by  insurance 
regulators.  

The  Bank  Holding  Company  Act  does  not  place  territorial  limitations  on  permissible  non-banking  activities  of  bank  holding 
companies. The Federal Reserve has the power to order any bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or to 
terminate its ownership or control of any subsidiary when the Federal Reserve has reasonable grounds to believe that continuation of 
such  activity  or  such  ownership  or  control  constitutes  a  serious  risk  to  the  financial  soundness,  safety  or  stability  of  any  bank 
subsidiary of the bank holding company. 

10 

 
Source of Strength Doctrine for Bank Holding Companies 

Under longstanding Federal Reserve policy  which  has been codified by the Dodd-Frank Act,  we are expected to act as a source of 
financial strength to, and to commit resources to support, Investar Bank. This support may be required at times when we may not be 
inclined to provide it. In addition, any capital loans that we make to Investar Bank are subordinate in right of payment to deposits and 
to certain other indebtedness of the Bank. In the event of our bankruptcy, any commitment by us to a federal bank regulatory  agency 
to maintain the capital of the Bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to a priority of payment. 

Dividends 

As a bank holding company, we are subject to certain restrictions on dividends under applicable banking laws and regulations. The 
Federal Reserve has issued a policy statement that provides that a bank holding company should not pay dividends unless: (1) its net 
income over the last four quarters (net of dividends paid) has been sufficient to fully fund the dividends; (2) the prospective rate of 
earnings  retention  appears  to  be  consistent  with  the  capital  needs,  asset  quality  and  overall  financial  condition  of  the  bank  holding 
company  and  its  subsidiaries;  and  (3) the  bank  holding  company  will  continue  to  meet  minimum  required  capital  adequacy  ratios. 
Accordingly, a bank holding company should not pay cash dividends that exceed its net income or that can only be funded in ways 
that weaken the bank holding company’s financial health, such as by borrowing. The Dodd-Frank Act imposes, and Basel III effected, 
additional  restrictions  on  the  ability  of  banking  institutions  to  pay  dividends.  In  addition,  in  the  current  financial  and  economic 
environment, the Federal Reserve Board has indicated that bank holding companies should carefully review their dividend policy and 
has discouraged payment ratios that are at maximum allowable levels unless both asset quality and capital are very strong. 

The Bank is also subject to certain restrictions on dividends under federal and state laws, regulations and policies. In general, under 
Louisiana law, the Bank may pay dividends to us without the approval of the OFI only so long as the amount of the dividend does not 
exceed the Bank’s net profits earned during the current year combined with its retained net profits of the immediately preceding year. 
The Bank must obtain the approval of the OFI for any amount in excess of this threshold. In addition, under federal law, the Bank may 
not pay any dividend to us if it is undercapitalized or the payment of the dividend  would cause it to become  undercapitalized. The 
FDIC may further restrict the payment of dividends by requiring the Bank to maintain a higher level of capital than would otherwise 
be required to be adequately capitalized for regulatory purposes. Moreover, if, in the opinion of the FDIC, the Bank is engaged in an 
unsound  practice  (which  could  include  the  payment  of  dividends  even  within  the  legal  requirements  noted  above),  the  FDIC  may 
require, generally after notice and hearing, the Bank to cease such practice. The FDIC has indicated that paying dividends that deplete 
a depository institution’s capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe banking practice. The FDIC has also issued policy 
statements providing that insured depository institutions generally should pay dividends only out of current operating earnings. 

Restrictions on Transactions with Affiliates and Loans to Insiders 

Federal law strictly limits the ability of banks to engage in transactions with their affiliates, including their bank holding companies. 
Sections 23A  and  23B  of  the  Federal  Reserve  Act,  and  Federal  Reserve  Regulation  W,  impose  quantitative  limits,  qualitative 
standards, and collateral requirements on certain transactions by a bank with, or for the benefit of, its affiliates, and generally require 
those transactions to be on terms at least as favorable to the bank as transactions with non-affiliates and to be consistent with safe and 
sound practices. The Dodd-Frank Act significantly expands the coverage and scope of the limitations on affiliate transactions within a 
banking organization, including an expansion of what types of transactions are covered transactions to include credit exposures related 
to derivatives, repurchase agreements and securities lending arrangements and an increase in the amount of time for which collateral 
requirements regarding covered transactions must be satisfied. 

Federal  law  also  limits  a  bank’s  authority  to  extend  credit  to  its  directors,  executive  officers  and  10%  shareholders,  as  well  as  to 
entities  controlled  by  such  persons.  Among  other  things,  extensions  of  credit  to  insiders  are  required  to  be  made  on  terms  that  are 
substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable 
transactions  with  unaffiliated  persons.  Also,  the  terms  of  such  extensions  of  credit  may  not  involve  more  than  the  normal  risk  of 
repayment  or  present  other  unfavorable  features  and  may  not  exceed  certain  limitations  on  the  amount  of  credit  extended  to  such 
persons, individually and in the aggregate, which limits are based, in part, on the amount of the bank’s capital. 

Incentive Compensation Guidance  

The federal banking agencies have issued comprehensive guidance on incentive compensation policies. This guidance is designed to 
ensure that a financial institution’s incentive compensation structure does not encourage imprudent risk taking, which may undermine 
the safety and soundness of the institution. The guidance, which applies to all employees that have the ability to materially affect an 
institution’s  risk  profile,  either  individually  or  as  part  of  a  group,  is  based  upon  three  primary  principles:  (1)  balanced  risk  taking 
incentives; (2) compatibility with effective controls and risk management; and (3) strong corporate governance.  

11 

 
An institution’s supervisory ratings will incorporate any identified deficiencies in an institution’s compensation practices, and it may 
be  subject  to  an  enforcement  action  if  the  incentive  compensation  arrangements  pose  a  risk  to  the  safety  and  soundness  of  the 
institution.  Further,  a  provision  of  the  Basel  III  proposals  described  above  would  limit  discretionary  bonus  payments  to  bank 
executives if the institution’s regulatory capital ratios fail to exceed certain thresholds. 

Deposit Insurance Assessments 

FDIC insured banks are required to pay deposit insurance assessments to the FDIC. The amount of the assessment is based on the size 
of  the  bank’s  assessment  base,  which  is  equal  to  its  average  consolidated  total  assets  less  its  average  tangible  equity,  and  its  risk 
classification under an FDIC risk-based assessment system. Institutions assigned to higher risk classifications (that is, institutions that 
pose a higher risk of loss to the Deposit Insurance Fund) pay assessments at higher rates than institutions that pose a lower risk. An 
institution’s risk classification is assigned based on its capital levels and the level of supervisory concern that the institution poses to 
the  regulators.  In  addition,  the  FDIC  can  impose  special  assessments  in  certain  instances.  As  noted  above,  the  Dodd-Frank  Act 
changed the  way that deposit insurance premiums are calculated. Continued action by the FDIC to replenish the Deposit Insurance 
Fund,  as  well  as  the  changes  contained  in  the  Dodd-Frank  Act,  may  result  in  higher  assessment  rates,  which  could  reduce  our 
profitability or otherwise negatively impact our operations. 

Branching and Interstate Banking 

Under Louisiana law, Investar Bank is permitted to establish additional branch offices within Louisiana, subject to the approval of the 
OFI. As a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, the Bank may also establish additional branch offices outside of Louisiana, subject to prior 
regulatory approval, so long as the laws of the state where the branch is to be located would permit a state bank chartered in that state 
to establish a branch. We currently do not have any branches outside the state of Louisiana. The Bank may also establish offices in 
other states by merging with banks or by purchasing branches of other banks in other states, subject to certain restrictions. 

Community Reinvestment Act 

Investar  Bank  is  required  under  the  Community  Reinvestment  Act,  or  CRA,  and  related  FDIC  regulations  to  help  meet  the  credit 
needs of its communities, including low and moderate-income borrowers. In connection with its examination of the Bank, the FDIC 
assesses our record of compliance with the CRA. The Bank’s failure to comply with the provisions of the CRA could, at a minimum, 
result in denial of certain corporate applications, such as branches or mergers, or in restrictions on its or the Company’s activities. The 
Bank received a “satisfactory” CRA rating on its most recent CRA examination. The CRA requires all FDIC insured institutions to 
publicly disclose their rating. 

Concentrated Commercial Real Estate Lending Regulations 

The  federal  banking  regulatory  agencies  have  promulgated  guidance  governing  financial  institutions  with  concentrations  in 
commercial real estate lending. The guidance provides that a bank  has a concentration in commercial real estate lending if (i) total 
reported loans for construction, land development, and other land represent 100% or more of total capital or (ii) total reported loans 
secured  by  multifamily  and  nonfarm  residential  properties  and  loans  for  construction,  land  development,  and  other  land  represent 
300%  or  more  of  total  capital  and  the  bank’s  commercial  real  estate  loan  portfolio  has  increased  50%  or  more  during  the  prior 
36 months. Owner occupied loans are excluded  from this  second category. If a concentration is present,  management  must employ 
heightened  risk  management  practices  that  address,  among  other  things,  board  and  management  oversight  and  strategic  planning, 
portfolio  management,  development  of  underwriting  standards,  risk  assessment  and  monitoring  through  market  analysis  and  stress 
testing, and maintenance of increased capital levels as needed to support the level of commercial real estate lending. At December 31, 
2015, the Company did not have a concentration in commercial real estate as defined by the regulatory guidance. 

Financial Privacy Requirements 

Federal law and regulations limit a financial institution’s ability to share consumer financial information with unaffiliated third parties. 
Specifically,  these  provisions  require  all  financial  institutions  offering  financial  products  or  services  to  retail  customers  to  provide 
such customers with the financial institution’s privacy policy and provide such customers the opportunity to “opt out” of the sharing of 
personal  financial  information  with  unaffiliated  third  parties.  The  sharing  of  information  for  marketing  purposes  is  also  subject  to 
limitations. The Bank currently has a privacy protection policy in place. 

12 

 
 
Consumer Laws and Regulations 

The Bank is subject to numerous laws and regulations intended to protect consumers in transactions with the Bank, including,  among 
others,  laws  regarding  unfair,  deceptive  and  abusive  acts  and  practices,  usury  laws,  and  other  federal  consumer  protection  statutes. 
These  federal  laws  include  the  ECOA,  the  Electronic  Fund  Transfer  Act,  the  Fair  Credit  Reporting  Act,  the  Fair  Debt  Collection 
Practices Act, the Real Estate Procedures Act of 1974, the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008, the Truth in Lending Act and the 
Truth in Savings Act, among others. Many states and local jurisdictions have consumer protection laws analogous, and in addition, to 
those  enacted  under  federal  law.  These  laws  and  regulations  mandate  certain  disclosure  requirements  and  regulate  the  manner  in 
which financial institutions must deal with customers when taking deposits, making loans and conducting other types of transactions. 
Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could give rise to regulatory sanctions, customer rescission rights, action  by state 
and local attorneys general and civil or criminal liability. 

In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that has broad authority to regulate and supervise 
retail financial services activities of banks and various non-bank providers. The Bureau has authority to promulgate regulations, issue 
orders,  guidance  and  policy  statements,  conduct  examinations  and  bring  enforcement  actions  with  regard  to  consumer  financial 
products  and  services.  In  general,  however,  banks  with  assets  of  $10  billion  or  less,  such  as  Investar  Bank,  will  continue  to  be 
examined for consumer compliance by their primary federal bank regulator. 

Mortgage Lending Rules 

The Dodd-Frank Act authorized the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to establish certain minimum standards for the origination 
of residential mortgages, including a determination of the borrower’s ability to repay. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, financial institutions 
may  not  make  a  residential  mortgage  loan  unless  they  make  a  “reasonable  and  good  faith  determination”  that  the  consumer  has  a 
“reasonable ability” to repay the loan. The Dodd-Frank Act allows borrowers to raise certain defenses to foreclosure but provides a 
full or partial safe harbor from such defenses for loans that are “qualified mortgages.” On January 10, 2013, the Bureau published final 
rules to, among other things, specify the types of income and assets that may be considered in the ability-to-repay determination, the 
permissible sources for verification, and the required methods of calculating the loan’s monthly payments. Since then, the Bureau has 
made certain modifications to these rules. The rules extend the requirement that creditors verify and document a borrower’s income 
and assets to include all information that creditors rely on in determining repayment ability. The rules also provide further examples of 
third-party  documents  that  may  be  relied  on  for  such  verification,  such  as  government  records  and  check  cashing  or  funds  transfer 
service  receipts.  The  new  rules  became  effective  on  January 10,  2014.  The  rules  also  define  “qualified  mortgages,”  imposing  both 
underwriting standards, for example, a borrower’s debt-to-income ratio may not exceed 43%, and limits on the terms of their loans. 
Points and fees are subject to a relatively stringent cap, and the terms include a wide array of payments that may be made in the course 
of closing a loan. Certain loans, including interest-only loans and negative amortization loans, cannot be qualified mortgages. 

Anti-Money Laundering and OFAC 

Under  federal  law,  financial  institutions  must  maintain  anti-money  laundering  programs  that  include:  established  internal  policies, 
procedures and controls; a designated compliance officer; an ongoing employee training program; and testing of the program by an 
independent audit  function. Financial institutions are also  prohibited from entering  into  specified  financial  transactions and account 
relationships and must meet enhanced standards for due diligence and customer identification in their dealings with foreign financial 
institutions  and  foreign  customers.  Financial  institutions  must  take  reasonable  steps  to  conduct  enhanced  scrutiny  of  account 
relationships to guard against money laundering and to report any suspicious transactions, and law enforcement authorities have been 
granted increased access to financial information maintained by financial institutions. 

The Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, is responsible for helping to insure that U.S. entities do not engage in transactions 
with certain prohibited parties, as defined by various Executive Orders and Acts of Congress. OFAC publishes lists of persons and 
organizations  suspected  of  aiding,  harboring  or  engaging  in  terrorist  acts,  known  as  Specially  Designated  Nationals  and  Blocked 
Persons. Generally, if the Bank identifies a transaction, account or wire transfer relating to a person or entity on an OFAC list, it must 
freeze the account or block the transaction, file a suspicious activity report and notify the appropriate authorities. 

Bank  regulators  routinely  examine  institutions  for  compliance  with  these  obligations  and  they  must  consider  an  institution’s 
compliance  in  connection  with  the  regulatory  review  of  applications,  including  applications  for  banking  mergers  and  acquisitions. 
Failure of a  financial institution to  maintain and implement adequate programs to combat  money laundering and terrorist financing 
and  comply  with  OFAC  sanctions,  or  to  comply  with  relevant  laws  and  regulations,  could  have  serious  legal,  reputational  and 
financial consequences for the institution. 

13 

 
Safety and Soundness Standards 

Federal bank regulatory agencies have adopted guidelines that establish general standards relating to internal controls and information 
systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth and compensation, fees 
and benefits. Additionally, the agencies have adopted regulations that provide the authority to order an institution that has been given 
notice by an agency that it is not satisfying any of these safety and soundness standards to submit a compliance plan. If, after being so 
notified,  an  institution  fails  to  submit  an  acceptable  compliance  plan  or  fails  in  any  material  respect  to  implement  an  acceptable 
compliance  plan,  the  agency  must  issue  an  order  directing  action  to  correct  the  deficiency  and  may  issue  an  order  directing  other 
actions of the types to which an undercapitalized institution is subject under the “prompt corrective action” provisions of the Federal 
Deposit  Insurance  Act.  If  an  institution  fails  to  comply  with  such  an  order,  the  agency  may  seek  to  enforce  such  order  in  judicial 
proceedings and to impose civil money penalties. 

Bank  holding  companies  are  also  not  permitted  to  engage  in  unsound  banking  practices.  For  example,  the  Federal  Reserve’s 
Regulation Y requires a holding company to give the Federal Reserve prior notice of any redemption or repurchase of its own equity 
securities, if the consideration to be paid, together with the consideration paid for any repurchases in the preceding year,  is equal to 
10%  or  more  of  the  company’s  consolidated  net  worth.  The  Federal  Reserve  may  oppose  the  transaction  if  it  believes  that  the 
transaction  would  constitute  an  unsafe  or  unsound  practice  or  would  violate  any  law  or  regulation.  As  another  example,  a  holding 
company could not impair its subsidiary bank’s soundness by causing it to make funds available to non-banking subsidiaries or their 
customers if the Federal Reserve believed  it  not prudent to do so. The Federal Reserve  has broad authority to prohibit activities of 
bank  holding  companies  and  their  nonbanking  subsidiaries  that  represent  unsafe  and  unsound  banking  practices  or  that  constitute 
violations of laws or regulations. 

Effect of Governmental Monetary Policies 

The commercial banking business is affected not only by general economic conditions but also by U.S. fiscal policy and the monetary 
policies of the Federal Reserve. Some of the instruments of monetary policy available to the Federal Reserve include changes  in the 
discount  rate  on  member  bank  borrowings,  the  fluctuating  availability  of  borrowings  at  the  “discount  window,”  open  market 
operations, the imposition of and changes in reserve requirements against member banks’ deposits and assets of foreign branches, and 
the  imposition  of  and  changes  in  reserve  requirements  against  certain  borrowings  by  banks  and  their  affiliates.  These  policies 
influence to a significant extent the overall growth of bank loans, investments, and deposits and the interest rates charged  on loans or 
paid  on  deposits.  We  cannot  predict  the  nature  of  future  fiscal  and  monetary  policies  and  the  effect  of  these  policies  on  our  future 
business and earnings. 

Future Legislation and Regulatory Reform 

As  a  result  of  the  recent  economic  downturn  and  its  effect  on  financial  institutions,  regulators  have  increased  their  focus  on  the 
regulation of financial institutions. New laws, regulations and policies are regularly proposed that contain wide-ranging proposals for 
altering the structures, regulations and competitive relationships of  financial institutions  operating in the United States.  In addition, 
existing laws, regulations and policies are continually subject to modification or changes in interpretation. We cannot predict whether 
or in what form any law, regulation or policy will be adopted or modified or the extent to which our operations and activities, financial 
condition, results of operations, growth plans or future prospects may be affected by its adoption or modification. 

The cumulative effect of these laws and regulations add significantly to the cost of our operations and thus have a negative  impact on 
profitability. There has also been a tremendous expansion in recent years of financial service providers that are not subject to the same 
level  of  regulation,  examination  and  oversight  as  we  are.  Those  providers,  because  they  are  not  so  highly  regulated,  may  have  a 
competitive advantage over us and may continue to draw large amounts of funds away from traditional banking institutions, with a 
continuing adverse effect on the banking industry in general. 

Employees  

As  of  December  31,  2015,  we  had  168  full-time  equivalent  employees.  None  of  our  employees  are  represented  by  any  collective 
bargaining unit or are parties to a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that our relations with our employees are good.  

Dependence upon a Single Customer 

No material portion of our loans has been made to, nor have our deposits been obtained from, a single or small group of customers; the 
loss of any single customer or small group of customers would not have a materially adverse effect on our business. A discussion of 
concentrations  of  credit  in  our  loan  portfolio  is  set  forth  under  the  heading  Loan  Concentrations  in  “Discussion  and  Analysis  of 
Financial Condition—Loans” in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 

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Available Information 

Our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on 
Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments thereto, are available on our website as soon as reasonably practicable 
after the reports are filed with or furnished to the SEC. Copies can be obtained free of charge in the “Investor Relations” section of our 
website  at  www.investarbank.com.  Our  SEC  filings  are  also  available  through  the  SEC’s  website  www.sec.gov.  Copies  of  these 
filings are also available by writing to us at the following address: 

Investar Holding Corporation 
P.O. Box 84207 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70884-4207 

Item 1A. Risk Factors  

Our  business  is  subject  to  risk.  In  addition  to  the  other  information  contained  in  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K,  including 
management’s  discussion  and  analysis  of  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations  and  our  financial  statements  and  the  notes 
thereto, investors should consider the following risks when evaluating whether to invest in our common stock. If any of the following 
risks occur, whether alone or in combination, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and growth prospects 
could be materially and adversely affected. Additional risks that we do not presently know of or currently deem immaterial may also 
adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations cash flows and growth prospects. 

Risks Related to our Business  

As  a  business  operating  in  the  financial  services  industry,  our  business  and  operations  may  be  adversely  affected  by  current 
economic conditions.  

General business and economic conditions in the United States and abroad can materially affect our business and operations. A weak 
U.S. economy is likely to cause uncertainty about the federal fiscal policymaking process, the medium and long-term fiscal outlook of 
the  federal  government  and  future  tax  rates.  In  addition,  economic  conditions  in  foreign  countries,  including  uncertainty  over  the 
stability of the euro currency, could affect the stability of global financial markets, which could hinder U.S. economic growth.  

Weak economic conditions are characterized by deflation, fluctuations in debt and equity capital markets, a lack of liquidity and/or 
depressed prices in the secondary market for mortgage loans, increased delinquencies on mortgage, consumer and commercial loans, 
residential  and  commercial  real  estate  price  declines  and  lower  home  sales  and  commercial  activity.  The  current  economic 
environment in the United States is also characterized by interest rates at historically low levels, which impacts our ability to attract 
deposits and to generate attractive earnings through our investment portfolio. All of these factors are detrimental to our business, and 
the  interplay  between  these  factors  can  be  complex  and  unpredictable.  Our  business  is  also  significantly  affected  by  monetary  and 
related policies of the U.S. federal government and its agencies. Changes in any of these policies are influenced by macroeconomic 
conditions  and  other  factors  that  are  beyond  our  control.  Adverse  economic  conditions  and  government  policy  responses  to  such 
conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. 

15 

 
 
 
 
Our business strategy includes the continuation of growth plans, and our financial condition and results of operations could  be 
negatively affected if we fail to grow or fail to manage our growth effectively.  

We  have  grown  our  business  largely  through  the  acquisition  of  other  financial  institutions  and  through  de  novo  branching.  Since 
June 14,  2006,  we  have  opened  eight  de  novo  branches  and  acquired  South  Louisiana  Business  Bank  (“SLBB”)  in  2011  and  First 
Community Bank (“FCB”) in 2013 by merger. We intend to continue pursuing a  growth strategy for our business through de novo 
branching  and  to  evaluate  attractive  acquisition  opportunities  that  are  presented  to  us.  Our  growth  prospects  must  be  considered  in 
light  of  the  risks,  expenses  and  difficulties  frequently  encountered  by  companies  when  expanding  their  franchise,  including  the 
following:  

(cid:120)  Management of Growth. We may be unable to successfully maintain loan quality in the context of significant loan growth or 
maintain  adequate  management  personnel  and  systems  to  oversee  such  growth,  including  internal  audit,  loan  review  and 
compliance personnel. Our growth may require that we implement additional policies, procedures and operating systems, and 
we may encounter difficulties in doing so at all or in a timely manner.  

(cid:120)  Operating  Results.  There  is  no  assurance  that  existing  offices  or  future  offices  will  maintain  or  achieve  deposit  levels,  loan 
balances  or  other  operating  results  necessary  to  avoid  losses  or  produce  profits.  Our  growth  and  de  novo  branching  strategy 
necessarily  entails  growth  in  overhead  expenses  as  we  routinely  add  new  offices  and  staff.  Our  historical  results  may  not  be 
indicative  of  future  results  or  results  that  may  be  achieved  as  we  continue  to  increase  the  number  and  concentration  of  our 
branch offices. Should any new location be unprofitable or marginally profitable, or should any existing location experience  a 
decline  in  profitability  or  incur  losses,  the  adverse  effect  on  our  results  of  operations  and  financial  condition  could  be  more 
significant than would be the case for a larger company.  

(cid:120)  De Novo Branching. There are considerable costs involved in opening branches, and new branches generally do not generate 
sufficient revenues to offset their costs until they have been in operation for at least a year or more. Accordingly, our de novo 
branches can be expected to negatively impact our earnings for some period of time until the branches reach certain economies 
of scale. Our expenses could be further increased if we encounter delays in opening any of our de novo branches. We may be 
unable to accomplish future branch expansion plans due to a lack of available satisfactory sites, difficulties in acquiring such 
sites, increased expenses or loss of potential sites due to complexities associated with zoning and permitting processes, higher 
than anticipated merger and acquisition costs or other factors. Finally, we have no assurance our de novo branches or branches 
that we may acquire will be successful even after they have been established or acquired, as the case may be.  

(cid:120)  Expansion  into  New  Markets.  As  we  grow  into  new  markets  in  Louisiana  and  in  other  states,  we  are  likely  to  encounter 
customer  demographics  and  financial  services  offerings  unlike  those  found  in  our  current  markets.  In  these  markets  we  are 
likely  to  face  competition  from  a  wide  array  of  financial  institutions,  including  much  larger,  better-established  financial 
institutions.  

Failure to successfully address these issues could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, 
and could adversely affect our ability to successfully implement our business strategy. Also, if our growth occurs more slowly than 
anticipated or declines, our operating results could be materially adversely affected.  

Our success depends significantly on our management team, and the loss of our senior executive officers or other key employees 
and our inability to recruit or retain suitable replacements could adversely affect our business, results of operations and growth 
prospects.  

Our success depends significantly on the continued service and skills of our existing executive management team. The implementation 
of  our  business  and  growth  strategies  also  depends  significantly  on  our  ability  to  retain  employees  with  experience  and  business 
relationships within their respective market areas, as well as on our ability to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified senior and 
middle management. We do not have employment agreements with any of our executive officers, and our officers may terminate their 
employment  with  us  at  any  time.  Competition  for  employees  is  intense,  and  we  could  have  difficulty  replacing  such  officers  with 
personnel with the combination of skills and attributes required to execute our business and growth strategies and who have ties to the 
communities  within  our  market  areas.  The  loss  of  any  of  our  key  personnel  could  therefore  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our 
business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.  

As a community bank, our ability to maintain our reputation is critical to the growth of our business. 

16 

 
We are a community bank and our reputation is one of the most valuable components of our business. Much of our growth over the 
past several years has depended on attracting new customers from competing financial institutions and increasing our market share, 
primarily through the involvement of our employees in the communities that we serve. Also, our ability to attract and retain  highly-
skilled  management  and  employees  is  impacted  by  our  reputation.  A  negative  public  opinion  of  our  business  can  result  from  any 
number of activities, including our lending practices, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance, acquisitions, and actions taken 
by our regulators or by community organizations in response to these activities. Significant harm to our reputation could also arise as a 
result of regulatory or governmental actions, litigation, employee misconduct, or the activities of our customers, other participants in 
the financial services industry or our contractual counterparties, such as our service providers and vendors. Damage to our reputation 
could also adversely affect our credit ratings and access to capital markets. 

Our business is concentrated in southern Louisiana, and a regional or local economic downturn affecting southern Louisiana may 
magnify the adverse effects and consequences to us.  

We  conduct  our  operations  almost  exclusively  in  southern  Louisiana,  and  more  specifically,  in  the  Baton  Rouge,  New  Orleans, 
Lafayette  and  Hammond  metropolitan  areas.  At  December 31,  2015,  approximately  97%  of  the  secured  loans  in  our  total  loan 
portfolio, including loans held for sale, are secured by properties and other collateral located in Louisiana, while approximately 72% 
of the loans in our loan portfolio (measured by dollar amount) were made to borrowers who live or work in either the Baton Rouge or 
New Orleans metropolitan area. This geographic concentration imposes a greater risk to  us than to our competitors in the area who 
maintain significant operations outside of southern  Louisiana.  Accordingly, any regional or local economic downturn, or natural or 
man-made disaster, that affects southern Louisiana or existing or prospective property or borrowers in such area may affect us and our 
profitability more significantly and more adversely than our more geographically diversified competitors.  

More particularly, much of our business development and marketing strategy is directed toward fulfilling the banking and financial 
services needs of small to medium-sized businesses. Such businesses generally have fewer financial resources in terms of capital or 
borrowing  capacity  than  larger  entities.  If  general  economic  conditions  negatively  impact  our  markets  or  the  Louisiana  market 
generally and these businesses are adversely affected, our financial condition and results of operations may be negatively affected.  

Adverse economic factors affecting particular industries could have a negative effect on our customers and their ability to make 
payments to us.  

In addition to the geographic concentration of our markets, certain industry-specific economic factors also affect us. For example, a 
downturn in segments of the commercial and residential real estate industries in our markets due to adverse economic factors affecting 
particular industries could have an adverse effect on our customers. In addition, the energy sector, which is historically cyclical, has 
recently experienced significant volatility and a decline in oil and gas prices. While we consider our exposure to the energy sector to 
not be significant, less than 1% of total loans as of December 31, 2015, should the price of oil and gas decline further and/or remain at 
the  current  low  price  for  an  extended  period,  the  general  economic  conditions  in  our  south  Louisiana  markets  could  be  negatively 
affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. 

We have a significant number of loans secured by real estate, and a downturn in the real estate market could result in losses and 
negatively impact our profitability.  

At  December 31,  2015,  approximately  68%  of  our  total  loan  portfolio  had  real  estate  as  a  primary  or  secondary  component  of  the 
collateral securing the loan. The real estate provides an alternate source of repayment in the event of a default by the  borrower and 
may deteriorate in value during the time the credit is extended. Real estate values in southern Louisiana declined in the aftermath of 
Hurricane  Katrina  in  August  2005.  These  values  started  to  improve  in  2006  and  2007.  However,  in  connection  with  the  national 
recession, real estate values nationally declined severely in 2008 and 2009, including in our markets. Recently, real estate values both 
nationally and in our markets have shown improvement. Future declines in real estate values in our southern Louisiana markets could 
significantly impair the value of the particular collateral securing our loans and our ability to sell the collateral upon foreclosure for an 
amount  necessary  to  satisfy  the  borrower’s  obligations  to  us.  Furthermore,  in  a  declining  real  estate  market,  we  often  will  need  to 
further increase our allowance for loan losses to address the deterioration in the value of the real estate securing our loans. Any of the 
foregoing  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations,  cash  flows  and  growth 
prospects.  

Commercial real estate loans may expose us to greater risks than our other real estate loans.  

Our  loan  portfolio  includes  nonowner-occupied  commercial  real  estate  loans  for  individuals  and  businesses  for  various  purposes, 
which are secured by commercial properties, as well as real estate construction and development loans. As of December 31, 2015, our 
nonowner-occupied commercial real estate loans totaled $150.8 million, or 20% of our total loan portfolio.  

17 

 
Commercial real estate loans typically depend on cash flows from the property to service the debt. Cash flows, either in the form of 
rental  income  or  the  proceeds  from  sales  of  commercial  real  estate,  may  be  affected  significantly  by  general  economic  conditions. 
These loans expose a lender to greater credit risk than loans secured by residential real  estate because  the collateral  securing  these 
loans  typically  cannot  be  liquidated  as  easily  as  residential  real  estate.  If  we  foreclose  on  these  loans,  our  holding  period  for  the 
collateral  typically  is  longer  than  for  a  one-to-four  family  residential  property  because  there  are  fewer  potential  purchasers  of  the 
collateral.  Additionally,  nonowner-occupied  commercial  real  estate  loans  generally  involve  relatively  large  balances  to  single 
borrowers or related groups of borrowers. Accordingly, charge-offs on nonowner-occupied commercial real estate loans may be larger 
on a per loan basis than those incurred with our residential or consumer loan portfolios. Unexpected deterioration in the credit quality 
of  our  commercial  real  estate  loan  portfolio  would  require  us  to  increase  our  provision  for  loan  losses,  which  would  reduce  our 
profitability  and  could  materially  adversely  affect  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations,  cash  flows  and  growth 
prospects.  

We are exposed to consumer credit risk.  

Historically, we have originated a significant number of consumer installment loans, particularly with respect to automobile  finance. 
We are subject to credit risk resulting from defaults in payment or performance by customers for our loans, as well as loans that we 
sell to third parties but retain servicing rights.  A weak economic environment and high unemployment rates could exert pressure on 
our auto loan customers resulting in higher delinquencies, repossessions and losses. There can be no assurances that our monitoring of 
our  credit  risk  as  it  affects  the  value  of  these  loans  and  the  underlying  collateral  will  be  sufficient  to  prevent  an  effect  on  our 
profitability and financial condition.  

There are also risks with respect to our auto lending in particular. First, as an indirect auto lender, all of our auto loans were originated 
by  dealerships  with  which  we  have  relationships.  As  a  result,  we  do  not  have  relationships  directly  with  the  borrowers  and  are 
dependent on the relationships these dealerships have with their customers to make a determination on whether or not there are factors 
that would cause an otherwise qualified customer to not repay the loan. In addition, federal and state laws may prohibit, limit or delay 
our repossession and sale of vehicles on defaulted automobile loan contracts, which will impair our ability to recover losses on these 
loans. Additional factors that may affect our ability to recoup the full amount due on an indirect auto loan include, among other things, 
our failure to perfect our security interest in the relevant  vehicle, depreciation, obsolescence, damage or loss to the  vehicle and the 
impact of federal and state bankruptcy and insolvency laws. Furthermore, proceeds from the sale of repossessed vehicles can fluctuate 
significantly based upon market conditions. A deterioration in general economic conditions could result in a greater loss in the sale of 
repossessed vehicles than we have historically experienced.  

In  November  2015,  the  Bank  announced  that  it  was  exiting  the  indirect  auto  loan  origination  business.  The  Bank  discontinued 
accepting indirect auto loan applications December 31, 2015, but continued to process and fund applications that were accepted on or 
before  that  date.  The  Bank  will  continue  to  service  the  current  auto  loan  portfolio  for  its  duration,  which  bears  the  risks  discussed 
above.  

Our allowance for loan losses may prove to be insufficient to absorb losses inherent in our loan portfolio, and we may be required 
to further increase our provision for loan losses.  

Although  we  endeavor  to  diversify  our  loan  portfolio  in  order  to  minimize  the  effect  of  economic  conditions  within  a  particular 
industry, management also maintains an allowance for loan losses, which is a reserve established through a provision for loan losses 
charged to expense, to absorb probable credit losses inherent in the entire loan portfolio. We maintain our allowance for loan losses at 
a level considered adequate by management to absorb probable loan losses, including collateral impairment, based on our analysis of 
our  portfolio  and  market  environment,  using  relevant  information  available  to  us.  Among  other  considerations  in  establishing  the 
allowance for loan losses, management considers economic conditions reflected within industry segments, the unemployment rate in 
our markets, loan segmentation and historical losses that are inherent in the loan portfolio.  

As of December 31, 2015, our allowance for loan losses as percentages of total loans and nonperforming loans was 0.82% and 254%, 
respectively. The determination of the appropriate level of the allowance is inherently subjective and requires us to make significant 
estimates  of  current  credit  risks  and  future  trends,  all  of  which  are  subject  to  material  changes.  In  addition,  loans  acquired  in 
connection with business combination transactions are measured at fair value, based on management’s estimates related to expected 
prepayments  and  the  amount  and  timing  of  undiscounted  expected  principal,  interest  and  other  cash  flows.  Because  fair  value 
measurements incorporate assumptions regarding credit risk, no allowance for loan losses related to the acquired loans is recorded on 
the acquisition date.  

18 

 
 
Inaccurate management assumptions, including with respect to the fair value of acquired loans, continuing deterioration of economic 
conditions affecting borrowers, new information regarding existing loans, identification of additional problem loans and other factors, 
both within and outside of our control, may require us to increase our allowance for loan losses. In addition, bank regulatory agencies 
periodically review the allowance for loan losses and  may require an increase in the provision  for loan losses or the recognition of 
further  loan  charge-offs,  based  on  judgments  different  than  those  of  management.  Finally,  if  actual  charge-offs  in  future  periods 
exceed the allowance for loan losses, we will need additional provisions to increase the allowance for loan losses. Any increases in the 
allowance for loan losses will result in a decrease in net income and, possibly, capital and may have a material adverse effect on our 
business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.  

Lack of seasoning of our loan portfolio could increase the risk of future credit defaults.  

As a result of our growth over the past three years, a large portion of loans in our loan portfolio and of our lending relationships are of 
relatively recent origin. In general, loans do not begin to show signs of credit deterioration or default until they have been outstanding 
for  some  period  of  time,  a  process  referred  to  as  “seasoning.”  As  a  result,  a  portfolio  of  older  loans  will  usually  behave  more 
predictably than a newer portfolio. Because a large portion of our portfolio is relatively new, the current level of delinquencies and 
defaults may not represent the level that may prevail as the portfolio becomes more seasoned. If delinquencies and defaults increase, 
we may be required to increase our provision for loan losses, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, 
results of operations and growth prospects.  

New lines of business or new products and services may subject the Company to additional risks. 

From  time  to  time,  the  Company  may  implement  or  may  acquire  new  lines  of  business  or  offer  new  products  and  services  within 
existing lines of business. There are substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where the 
markets are not fully developed. In developing and marketing new lines of business and/or new products and services, the Company 
may invest significant time and resources. Initial timetables for the introduction and development of new lines of business and/or new 
products  or  services  may  not  be  achieved  and  price  and  profitability  targets  may  not  prove  feasible.  External  factors,  such  as 
compliance with regulations, competitive alternatives and shifting market preferences, may also impact the successful implementation 
of a new line of business or a new product or service. Furthermore, any new line of business and/or new product or service could have 
a significant impact on the effectiveness of the Company’s system of internal controls. Failure to successfully manage these  risks in 
the development and implementation of new lines of business or new products or services could have a material adverse effect on the 
Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. 

We are subject to interest rate risk.  

The majority of our banking assets are monetary in nature and subject to risk from changes in interest rates. Our earnings, like that of 
most financial institutions, are significantly dependent on our net interest income, which is the difference between our interest income 
on  interest-earning  assets,  such  as  loans  and  investment  securities,  and  our  interest  expense  on  interest-bearing  liabilities,  such  as 
deposits  and  borrowings.  We  expect  that  we  will  periodically  experience  “gaps”  in  the  interest  rate  sensitivities  of  our  assets  and 
liabilities,  meaning  that  either  our  interest-bearing  liabilities  will  be  more  sensitive  to  changes  in  market  interest  rates  than  our 
interest-earning  assets,  or  vice  versa.  In  either  event,  if  market  interest  rates  should  move  contrary  to  our  position,  this  “gap”  will 
negatively impact our earnings. At December 31, 2015, our interest sensitivity profile was somewhat liability sensitive, meaning that 
our net interest expense would increase more from rising interest rates than from falling interest rates.  

Interest rates  are  highly  sensitive to  many  factors that are  beyond our control, including governmental  monetary policies, inflation, 
recession,  changes  in  unemployment,  the  money  supply,  international  disorder  and  instability  in  domestic  and  foreign  financial 
markets. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest we receive on loans and 
securities and the interest  we pay on deposits and borrowings, but  such changes could also affect our ability to originate loans and 
obtain deposits, the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities and the average duration of our assets. Any substantial, unexpected, 
prolonged  change  in  market  interest  rates  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of 
operations and growth prospects.  

In addition, as interest rates increase, the ability of borrowers to repay  their current loan obligations could be negatively impacted, 
which  would  adversely  affect  our  results  of  operations.  These  circumstances  could  not  only  result  in  increased  loan  defaults, 
foreclosures and charge-offs but also necessitate further increases to the allowance for loan losses. At the same time, the marketability 
of the property securing a loan may be adversely affected by any reduced demand resulting from higher interest rates. Further, when 
we place a loan on nonaccrual status, we reverse any accrued but unpaid interest receivable, which decreases interest income, but we 
continue to have a cost to fund the loan, which is reflected as interest expense, without any interest income to offset the associated 
funding expense. Thus, an increase in the amount of nonperforming assets would have an adverse impact on net interest income. On 
the other hand, in a declining interest rate environment, there may be an increase in prepayments on loans as borrowers refinance their 
loans at lower rates.  

19 

 
If short-term interest rates remain at their historically low levels for a prolonged period, and assuming longer term interest rates fall 
further, we could experience net interest margin compression as our interest-earning assets would continue to reprice downward while 
our interest-bearing liability rates could fail to decline in tandem. Such an occurrence would have a material adverse effect on our net 
interest income and our results of operations.  

By engaging in derivative transactions, we are exposed to credit and market risk, which could adversely affect our profitability and 
financial condition. 

We  manage interest rate risk  by utilizing derivative instruments to  minimize  significant unplanned  fluctuations in earnings that are 
caused  by  interest  rate  volatility.  Hedging  interest  rate  risk  is  a  complex  process,  requiring  sophisticated  models  and  constant 
monitoring.  The  effect  of  this  unrealized  appreciation  or  depreciation  will  generally  be  offset  by  income  or  loss  on  the  derivative 
instruments that are linked to the hedged assets and liabilities. By engaging in derivative transactions, we are exposed to credit and 
market  risk.  If  the  counterparty  fails  to  perform,  credit  risk  exists  to  the  extent  of  the  fair  value  gain  in  the  derivative  instrument. 
Market risk exists to the extent that interest rates change  in  ways that are  significantly  different  from  what  was expected  when  we 
entered  into  the  derivative  agreement.  The  existence  of  credit  and  market  risk  associated  with  our  derivative  instruments  could 
adversely affect our profitability and financial condition. 

Breakdowns in our internal controls and procedures could have an adverse effect on us. 

Management  regularly  reviews  and  updates  our  internal  controls  over  financial  reporting,  disclosure  controls  and  procedures,  and 
corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain 
assumptions  and  can  provide  only  reasonable,  not  absolute,  assurances  that  the  objectives  of  the  system  are  met.  Any  failure  or 
circumvention of our controls and procedures or failure to comply  with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a 
material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial  condition,  and  results  of  operations.  See  Item  9A,  Controls  and  Procedures  for 
additional information. 

Hurricanes  or  other  adverse  weather  conditions,  as  well  as  man-made  disasters,  could  negatively  affect  our  local  markets  or 
disrupt our operations, which may adversely affect our business and results of operations.  

Our  business  is  concentrated  in  southern  Louisiana,  and  in  the  Baton  Rouge,  New  Orleans,  Lafayette,  and  Hammond  metropolitan 
areas  in  particular.  Southern  Louisiana  is  susceptible  to  major  hurricanes,  floods,  tropical  storms  and  other  natural  disasters  and 
adverse weather. These natural disasters can disrupt our operations, cause widespread property damage and severely depress the local 
economies  in  which  we  operate.  For  example,  Hurricane  Gustav  in  2008  severely  impacted  our  headquarters  city  of  Baton  Rouge, 
with power in many areas of the city not being restored for nearly three weeks after the hurricane. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil 
spill in the Gulf of Mexico illustrated that man-made disasters can also adversely affect economic activity in the markets in which we 
operate. Any economic decline as a result of a natural disaster, adverse weather, oil spill or other man-made disaster can reduce the 
demand for loans and our other products and services.  

Such events could also affect the stability of our deposit base, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans (resulting in 
increased delinquencies,  foreclosures and loan losses), impair the value of collateral securing such loans, cause significant property 
damage,  result  in  loss  of  revenue  and/or  cause  us  to  incur  additional  expenses.  The  occurrence  of  any  such  event  could,  therefore, 
result  in  decreased  revenue  and  loan  losses  that  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of 
operations and growth prospects.  

We are subject to a variety of risks in connection with any sale of loans we may conduct.  

As discussed elsewhere in this document, we sell certain mortgage loans that we originate as well as pools of our consumer loans. In 
connection with these sales, we are typically required to make representations and warranties to the purchaser about the loans sold and 
the procedures under which those loans have been originated. If these representations and warranties are incorrect, we may be required 
to indemnify the purchaser for its losses or we may be required to repurchase part or all of the affected loans. Borrower fraud may also 
cause us to have to repurchase loans that we have sold. If we are required to make any indemnity payments or repurchases and do not 
have a remedy available to us against a solvent counterparty, we may not be able to recover our losses resulting from these indemnity 
payments and repurchases. Consequently, our results of operations may be adversely affected.  

20 

 
Factors outside our control could result in impairment of or losses with respect to our investment securities.  

There are many factors beyond our control that can significantly influence, and adversely change, the fair value of the securities in our 
portfolio. Factors include, for example, rating agency downgrades of the securities, defaults by the issuer or continued instability in 
the capital markets. Any of these factors, among others, could cause other-than-temporary impairments and realized and/or unrealized 
losses in future periods and declines in other comprehensive income, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results 
of operations, financial condition and growth prospects. The process for determining whether impairment of a security is other-than-
temporary usually requires difficult, subjective judgments about the future financial performance and liquidity of the issuer and any 
collateral underlying the security in order to assess the probability of receiving all contractual principal and interest payments on the 
security.  

We may need to raise additional capital in the future to execute our business strategy.  

In addition to the liquidity that we require to conduct our day-to-day operations, the Company, on a consolidated basis, and Investar 
Bank, on a stand-alone basis, must meet certain regulatory  capital requirements. With the implementation of certain new regulatory 
requirements,  such  as  the  Basel  III  accord  and  the  capital  requirements  enacted  under  the  Dodd-Frank  Wall  Street  Reform  and 
Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Dodd-Frank Act, financial institutions will be required to establish higher tangible capital 
requirements. Also, we may need capital to finance acquisitions.  

Our ability to raise additional capital depends on conditions in the capital markets, economic conditions and a number of other factors, 
including  investor  perceptions  regarding  the  banking  industry,  market  conditions  and  governmental  activities,  and  on  our  financial 
condition and performance.  Accordingly, there can be no assurances that  we  will be able to raise additional capital if needed or on 
terms  acceptable  to  us.  If  we  fail  to  maintain  capital  to  meet  regulatory  requirements,  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of 
operations and growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected.  

Competition in our industry is intense, which could adversely affect our growth and profitability.  

We face substantial competition in all areas of our operations from a variety of different competitors, many of which are larger and 
have substantially greater resources than we have, including higher total assets and capitalization, a more extensive and established 
branch  network,  greater  access  to  capital  markets  and  a  broader  offering  of  financial  services.  Such  competitors  primarily  include 
national,  regional  and  community  banks  within  the  various  markets  in  which  we  operate.  Because  of  their  scale,  many  of  these 
competitors  can  be  more  aggressive  than  we  can  on  loan  and  deposit  pricing.  We  also  face  competition  from  many  other  types  of 
financial institutions, including savings and loans, credit unions, finance companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies, factoring 
companies  and  other  financial  intermediaries.  Many  of  these  entities  have  fewer  regulatory  constraints  and  may  have  lower  cost 
structures than we do.  

Our industry could become even more competitive as a result of legislative and regulatory changes as well as continued consolidation. 
The increased regulatory requirements imposed on financial institutions as well as the economic downturn in the United States in the 
2007-2009  time  frame,  and  generally  slow  recovery  thereafter,  have  already  resulted  in  the  consolidation  of  a  number  of  financial 
institutions,  in  addition  to  acquisitions  of  failed  institutions.  We  expect  additional  consolidation  to  occur.  Finally,  technology  has 
lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for non-banks to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks, such as 
automatic transfer and automatic payment systems. If we are unable to successfully compete, our business, financial condition, results 
of operations and growth prospects will be materially adversely affected.  

If the goodwill that we recorded in connection with a business acquisition becomes impaired, it could require charges to earnings, 
which would have a negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations.  

Goodwill represents the amount by which the cost of an acquisition exceeded the fair value of net assets we acquired in connection 
with the purchase of another financial institution. We review goodwill for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if events or 
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset might be impaired.  

We  determine  impairment  by  comparing  the  implied  fair  value  of  the  reporting  unit  goodwill  with  the  carrying  amount  of  that 
goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is 
recognized in an amount equal to that excess. Any such adjustments are reflected in our results of operations in the periods in which 
they become known. As of December 31, 2015, our goodwill totaled $2.7 million. While we have not recorded any such impairment 
charges since we initially recorded the goodwill, there can be no assurance that  our future evaluations of goodwill will not result in 
findings of impairment and related write-downs, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of 
operations.  

21 

 
We may face risks with respect to future acquisitions.  

When  we  attempt  to  expand  our  business  in  Louisiana  and  other  states  through  mergers  and  acquisitions,  we  seek  targets  that  are 
culturally similar to us, have experienced management and possess either significant market presence or have potential for improved 
profitability  through  economies  of  scale  or  expanded  services.  In  addition  to  the  general  risks  associated  with  our  growth  plans 
highlighted  above,  acquiring  other  banks,  businesses  or  branches  involves  various  risks  commonly  associated  with  acquisitions, 
including, among other things:  

(cid:120)  the time and costs associated with identifying and evaluating potential acquisition and merger targets;  

(cid:120)  inaccuracies in the estimates and judgments used to evaluate credit, operations, management and market risks with respect to the 

target institution;  

(cid:120)  the time and costs of evaluating new markets, hiring experienced local management and opening new bank locations, and the 
time lags between these activities and the generation of sufficient assets and deposits to support the costs of the expansion;  

(cid:120)  our ability to finance an acquisition and possible dilution to our existing shareholders;  

(cid:120)  the diversion of our management’s attention to the negotiation of a transaction;  

(cid:120)  the incurrence of an impairment of goodwill associated with an acquisition and adverse effects on our results of operations;  

(cid:120)  entry into new markets where we lack experience; and  

(cid:120)  risks  associated  with  integrating  the  operations  and  personnel  of  the  acquired  business  in  a  manner  that  permits  growth 
opportunities and does not materially disrupt existing customer relationships or result in decreased revenues resulting from any 
loss of customers.  

With  respect  to  the  risks  particularly  associated  with  the  integration  of  an  acquired  business,  we  may  encounter  a  number  of 
difficulties, such as:  

(cid:120)  customer loss and revenue loss;  

(cid:120)  the loss of key employees;  

(cid:120)  the disruption of our operations and business;  

(cid:120)  our inability to maintain and increase competitive presence;  

(cid:120)  possible inconsistencies in standards, control procedures and policies; and/or  

(cid:120)  unexpected problems with costs, operations, personnel, technology and credit.  

In addition to the risks posed by the integration process itself, the focus of management’s attention and effort on integration may result 
in  a  lack  of  sufficient  management  attention  to  other  important  issues,  causing  harm  to  our  business.  Also,  general  market  and 
economic conditions or governmental actions affecting the  financial industry  generally  may inhibit our  successful integration of an 
acquired business.  

We expect to continue to evaluate merger and acquisition opportunities that are presented to us and conduct due diligence activities 
related  to  possible  transactions  with  other  financial  institutions.  As  a  result,  merger  or  acquisition  discussions  and,  in  some  cases, 
negotiations  may  take  place  and  future  mergers  or  acquisitions  involving  cash,  debt  or  equity  securities  may  occur  at  any  time. 
Historically,  acquisitions  of  non-failed  financial  institutions  involve  the  payment  of  a  premium  over  book  and  market  values,  and, 
therefore, some dilution of our book value and net income  per common share  may occur in connection with any future transaction. 
Failure  to  realize  the  expected  revenue  increases,  cost  savings,  increases  in  geographic  or  product  presence  and/or  other  projected 
benefits from an acquisition could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth 
prospects.  

22 

 
A lack of liquidity could adversely affect our ability to fund operations and meet our obligations as they become due.  

Liquidity is essential to our business. Liquidity risk is the potential that we will be unable to meet our obligations as they come due 
because of an inability to liquidate assets or obtain adequate funding. The primary source of the Bank’s funds are customer deposits 
and  loan  repayments,  while  borrowings  are  a  secondary  source  of  liquidity.  Our  access  to  deposits  and  other  funding  sources  in 
adequate amounts and on acceptable terms is affected by a number of factors, including rates paid by competitors, returns available to 
customers on alternative investments and general economic conditions. Any decline in available funding could adversely impact our 
ability to originate loans, invest in securities, meet our expenses, pay dividends to our shareholders, or to fulfill obligations such as 
repaying our borrowings or meeting deposit withdrawal demands, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our business, 
financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.  

The Company may be materially and adversely affected by the creditworthiness and liquidity of other financial institutions. 

Financial  services  institutions  are  interrelated  as  a  result  of  trading,  clearing,  counterparty  and  other  relationships.  Our  Bank  has 
exposure  to  many  different  industries  and  counterparties,  and  routinely  executes  transactions  with  counterparties  in  the  financial 
services industry, including commercial banks, brokers  and dealers, investment banks, and other institutional clients. Many of these 
transactions expose our Bank to credit risk in the event of a default by a counterparty or client. In addition, our Bank’s credit risk may 
be increased when the collateral to which it is entitled cannot be realized upon or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the 
full  amount  of  its  credit  or  derivative  exposure.  Any  such  losses  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial 
condition, and results of operations. 

We  rely  on  information  technology  and  telecommunications  systems  and  third-party  vendors,  and  our  failure  to  effectively 
implement new technology or a breach, computer virus or disruption of service could adversely affect our operations and financial 
condition.  

Our industry is undergoing rapid technological changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. 
We  believe  that  improved  technology  allows  us  to  serve  our  customers  in  a  more  efficient  and  less  costly  manner.  Our  ability  to 
compete successfully to some extent depends on whether we can implement new technologies to provide products and services to our 
customers  while  avoiding  significant  operational  challenges  that  increase  our  costs  or  delay  full  implementation  of  technology 
enhancements  or  new  products,  especially  relative  to  our  peers  (many  of  which  have  greater  resources  to  devote  to  technological 
improvements).  

Although  new  technologies  enable  us  to  enhance  the  products  and  services  we  offer  our  customers,  this  technology  exposes  us  to 
certain  risks.  First,  the  successful  and  uninterrupted  functioning  of  our  information  technology  and  telecommunications  systems  is 
critical to our business. We outsource many of our major systems, such as data processing, loan servicing and deposit processing. If 
one  of  these  third-party  service  providers  terminates  their  relationship  with  us  or  fails  to  provide  services  to  us  for  any  reason  or 
provides such services poorly, our business will be negatively affected. In addition, we  may be forced to replace such vendor, which 
could interrupt our operations and result in a higher cost to us.  

Another risk associated with our reliance on technology is our potential vulnerability to security breaches, denial of service attacks, 
viruses,  worms  and  other  disruptive  problems  caused  by  hackers  as  well  as  to  damage  from  physical  theft,  fire,  power  loss, 
telecommunications failure or a similar catastrophic event. We have attempted to address these concerns by backing up our systems as 
well as retaining qualified third-party vendors to test and audit our network. However, there can be no guarantees that our efforts will 
be  successful  in  avoiding  material  problems  with  our  information  technology  and  telecommunications  systems.  If  our  efforts  are 
unsuccessful, security breaches, viruses and other technology disruptions could expose us to claims, regulatory scrutiny, litigation and 
other possible liabilities, in addition to a loss of the confidence of our existing customers in the reliability of our systems.  

We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with our lending activities.  

A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real property. Also, in the ordinary course of business, we may foreclose on 
and  take  title  to  properties  securing  certain  loans  or  purchase  real  estate  to  expand  our  facilities.  In  doing  so,  there  is  a  risk  that 
hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. If hazardous or toxic substances are found,  we  may be liable for 
remediation  costs,  as  well  as  for  personal  injury  and  property  damage.  Environmental  laws  may  require  us  to  incur  substantial 
expenses  and  may  materially  reduce  the  affected  property’s  value  or  limit  our  ability  to  use  or  sell  the  affected  property.  The 
remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on 
our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. In addition, future laws or more stringent interpretations 
or enforcement policies with respect to existing laws may increase our exposure to environmental liability. Although management has 
policies and procedures to perform an environmental review before the loan is recorded and before initiating any foreclosure action on 
real property, these reviews may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards.  

23 

 
Risks Related to Our Industry  
We operate in a highly regulated environment, which could restrain our growth and profitability.  

We  are  subject  to  extensive  regulation  and  supervision  that  governs  almost  all  aspects  of  our  operations,  including,  among  other 
things,  our  lending  practices,  capital  structure,  investment  practices,  dividend  policy,  operations  and  growth.  These  laws  and 
regulations, and the supervisory framework that oversees the administration of these laws and regulations, are primarily intended to 
protect  consumers,  depositors,  the  Deposit  Insurance  Fund  and  the  banking  system  as  a  whole,  and  not  shareholders  and 
counterparties.  Furthermore,  new  proposals  for  legislation  continue  to  be  introduced  in  the  U.S.  Congress  that  could  further 
substantially  increase  regulation  of  the  financial  services  industry,  impose  restrictions  on  our  operations  and  our  ability  to conduct 
business  consistent  with  historical  practices,  including  in  the  areas  of  compensation,  interest  rates,  financial  product  offerings  and 
disclosures,  and  have  an  effect  on  bankruptcy  proceedings  with  respect  to  consumer  residential  real  estate  mortgages,  among  other 
things.  

Our efforts to comply with these additional laws, regulations and standards are likely to result in increased expenses and a diversion of 
management time and attention. The information under the heading “Supervision and Regulation” in Item 1, Business, provides more 
information regarding the regulatory environment in which we and the Bank operate.  

Financial reform legislation enacted by Congress will, among other things, tighten capital standards and result in new laws and 
regulations that likely will increase our costs of operations.  

The Dodd-Frank Act was signed into law on July 21, 2010. This law significantly changed the then-existing bank regulatory structure 
and  affected  the  lending,  deposit,  investment,  trading  and  operating  activities  of  financial  institutions  and  their  holding  companies. 
The Dodd-Frank  Act changes the regulatory structure to  which  we are subject in numerous  ways, including, but not  limited to, the 
following:  

(cid:120)  The base for FDIC insurance assessments has been changed to a bank’s average consolidated total assets minus average tangible 

equity, rather than upon its deposit base, while the FDIC’s authority to raise insurance premiums has been expanded.  

(cid:120)  The current standard deposit insurance limit has been permanently raised to $250,000.  

(cid:120)  The FDIC  must raise the ratio of reserves to deposits from 1.15% to 1.35% for deposit insurance purposes by  September 30, 
2020 and to “offset the effect” of increased assessments on insured depository institutions with assets of less than $10.0 billion.  

(cid:120)  The interchange fees payable on debit card transactions have been limited.  

(cid:120)  There are multiple new provisions affecting corporate governance and executive compensation at all publicly traded companies.  

(cid:120)  All federal prohibitions on the ability of financial institutions to pay interest on commercial demand deposit accounts have been 

repealed.  

Our management continues to assess the impact on our operations of the Dodd-Frank Act and its regulations, many of which have yet 
to  be  proposed  or  adopted  or  are  to  be  phased-in  over  the  next  several  months  and  years.  Because  the  impact  of  many  of  the 
regulations adopted pursuant  to the Dodd-Frank  Act  may  not be known  for some time, it is difficult to predict at this time the  full 
impact  that  Dodd-Frank  Act  will  have  on  us.  However,  it  is  expected  that  at  a  minimum  our  operating  and  compliance  costs  will 
increase, and our interest expense could also increase.  

In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  the  Dodd-Frank  Act  established  the  Bureau  of  Consumer  Financial  Protection  (the  “CFPB”)  as  an 
independent  entity  within  the  Federal  Reserve.  The  CFPB  has  broad  rulemaking,  supervisory  and  enforcement  authority  over 
consumer  financial products  and services, including deposit products, residential  mortgages,  home-equity loans and  credit cards, as 
well as with respect to certain mortgage-related matters, such as steering incentives, determinations as to a borrower’s ability to repay 
and prepayment penalties.  

24 

 
Federal  and  state  regulators  periodically  examine  our  business,  and  we  may  be  required  to  remediate  adverse  examination 
findings.  

The  Federal  Reserve,  the  FDIC  and  the  Louisiana  Office  of  Financial  Institutions,  or  the  OFI,  periodically  examine  our  business, 
including our compliance with laws and regulations. If, as a result of an examination, a federal banking agency were to determine that 
our  financial  condition,  capital  resources,  asset  quality,  earnings  prospects,  management,  liquidity  or  other  aspects  of  any  of  our 
operations had become unsatisfactory, or that we were in violation of any law or regulation, it may take a number of different remedial 
actions as it deems appropriate. These actions include the power to enjoin “unsafe or unsound” practices, to require affirmative action 
to correct any conditions resulting from any  violation or practice, to issue an administrative order that can be judicially enforced, to 
direct an increase in our capital, to restrict our growth, to assess civil monetary penalties against our officers or directors, to remove 
officers and directors and, if it is concluded that such conditions cannot be corrected or there is an imminent risk of loss to depositors, 
to terminate our deposit insurance and place us into receivership or conservatorship. If we become subject to any regulatory actions, it 
could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and growth prospects.  

We may be required to pay significantly higher FDIC deposit insurance premiums in the future.  

The deposits of Investar Bank are insured by the FDIC up to legal limits and, accordingly, subject it to the payment of FDIC deposit 
insurance assessments. A bank’s regular assessments are determined by its risk classification, which is based on its regulatory capital 
levels and the level of supervisory concern that it poses. In connection with the most recent economic recession, insured depository 
institution failures, general deterioration in banking and economic conditions, and significantly increased losses of the FDIC, resulted 
in a decline in the designated reserve ratio of the FDIC to historical lows. To restore this reserve ratio and bolster its funding position, 
the  FDIC  imposed  a  special  assessment  on  depository  institutions  and  also  increased  deposit  insurance  assessment  rates.  Further 
increases  in  assessment  rates  are  possible  in  the  future,  especially  if  there  are  additional  bank  failures.  Any  increase  in  deposit 
insurance assessment rates, or any future special assessment, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of  operations, 
financial condition and growth prospects.  

The short-term and long-term impact of the new regulatory capital rules is uncertain.  

In July 2013, each of the U.S. federal banking agencies adopted final rules implementing the recommendations of the International 
Basel  Committee  on  Bank  Supervision  to  strengthen  the  regulatory  capital  requirements  of  all  banking  organizations  in  the  United 
States.  The  new  capital  framework,  referred  to  as  Basel  III,  replaces  the  existing  regulatory  capital  rules  for  all  banks,  savings 
associations  and  U.S.  bank  holding  companies  with  greater  than  $500  million  in  total  assets,  and  all  savings  and  loan  holding 
companies. The  final Basel III rules became effective  with respect to the Company and the Bank on January 1, 2015, although the 
rules will not be fully phased in until January 1, 2019.  

The new rules establish a new regulatory capital standard based on Tier 1 common equity, increase the minimum Tier 1 capital  risk-
based capital ratio, and impose a capital conservation buffer of at least 2.5% of common equity Tier 1 capital above the new minimum 
regulatory  capital  ratios,  when  fully  phased  in  during  2019.  Failure  to  meet  the  capital  conservation  buffer  will  result  in  certain 
limitations  on  dividends,  capital  repurchases,  and  discretionary  bonus  payments  to  executive  officers.  The  rules  also  change  the 
manner  in  which  a  number  of  our  regulatory  capital  components  are  calculated  and  the  risk  weights  applicable  to  certain  asset 
categories.  Although  there  remains  some  uncertainty  associated  with  the  implementation  and  regulatory  interpretation  of  the  newly 
adopted standards, we expect that the new rules will generally require us to maintain greater amounts of regulatory capital.  The new 
rules  may  also  limit  or  restrict  how  we  utilize  our  capital.  A  significant  increase  in  our  capital  requirements  could  have  a  material 
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects. 

25 

 
We  are  subject  to  numerous  laws  designed  to  protect  consumers,  including  the  Community  Reinvestment  Act  and  fair  lending 
laws, and failure to comply with these laws could lead to a wide variety of sanctions.  

The  Community  Reinvestment  Act,  or  CRA,  the  ECOA,  the  Fair  Housing  Act  and  other  fair  lending  laws  and  regulations  impose 
nondiscriminatory lending requirements on financial institutions. The Department of Justice and other federal agencies enforce these 
laws and regulations, but private parties may also have the ability to challenge an institution’s performance under fair lending laws in 
private  class  action  litigation.  If  an  institution’s  performance  under  the  Community  Reinvestment  Act  or  fair  lending  laws  and 
regulations is found to be deficient, the institution could be subject to damages and civil money penalties, injunctive relief, restrictions 
on mergers and acquisitions activity, restrictions on expansion and restrictions on entering new business lines, among other sanctions. 
In addition, the FDIC’s assessment of our compliance with CRA provisions is taken into account when evaluating any application we 
submit for, among other things, approval of the acquisition or establishment of a branch or other deposit facility, an office relocation, a 
merger or the acquisition of another financial institution. Our failure to satisfy our CRA obligations could, at a minimum, result in the 
denial of such applications and limit our growth.  

We face a risk of noncompliance and enforcement action with the Bank Secrecy Act and other anti-money laundering statutes and 
regulations.  

The Bank Secrecy Act, the  USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and other laws and regulations require  financial institutions, among other 
duties,  to  institute  and  maintain  an  effective  anti-money  laundering  program  and  file  suspicious  activity  and  currency  transaction 
reports as appropriate. The federal Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is authorized to impose significant civil money penalties 
for violations of those requirements and has recently engaged in coordinated enforcement efforts with the individual federal  banking 
regulators, as  well as the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service. We are also 
subject to increased scrutiny of compliance with the rules enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. If our policies, procedures 
and  systems  are  deemed  deficient,  we  would  be  subject  to  liability,  including  fines  and  regulatory  actions,  which  may  include 
restrictions  on  our  ability  to  pay  dividends  and  the  necessity  to  obtain  regulatory  approvals  to  proceed  with  certain  aspects  of  our 
business plan, including our acquisition plans. Failure to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and 
terrorist financing could also have serious reputational consequences for us. Any of these results could materially and adversely affect 
our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.  

Risks Related to an Investment in our Common Stock  

The market price of our common stock may be volatile, which may make it difficult for investors to sell their shares at the volume, 
prices and times desired.  

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate substantially due to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, 
including, without limitation:  

(cid:120)  actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly and annual operating results, financial condition or asset quality;  

(cid:120)  changes in general economic or business conditions, both domestically and internationally;  

(cid:120)  the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve, or 

in laws and regulations affecting us;  

(cid:120)  the number of securities analysts covering us;  

(cid:120)  publication of research reports about us, our competitors, or the financial services industry generally, or changes in, or failure to 
meet, securities analysts’ estimates of our financial and operating performance, or lack of research reports by industry analysts 
or ceasing of coverage;  

(cid:120)  changes in market valuations or earnings of companies that investors deemed comparable to us;  

(cid:120)  the average daily trading volume of our common stock;  

(cid:120)  future issuances of our common stock or other securities;  

(cid:120)  additions or departures of key personnel;  

(cid:120)  perceptions in the marketplace regarding our competitors and/or us;  

(cid:120)  significant acquisitions or business combinations, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments by or involving 

our competitors or us; and  

(cid:120)  other  news,  announcements  or  disclosures  (whether  by  us  or  others)  related  to  us,  our  competitors,  our  core  market  or  the 

financial services industry.  

26 

 
The stock market and, in particular, the market for financial institution stocks have experienced significant fluctuations in recent years. 
In  many cases, these changes have been  unrelated to the operating performance and prospects of particular companies. In addition, 
significant fluctuations in the trading volume in our common stock may cause significant price variations to occur. Increased market 
volatility may materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock, which may make it difficult for investors to sell 
their shares at the volume, prices and times desired.  

We are an “emerging growth company,” and the reduced  reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies may 
make our common stock less attractive to investors.  

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. While we 
retain this status, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other 
public  companies  that  are  not  emerging  growth  companies,  including  reduced  disclosure  obligations  regarding  executive 
compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory 
vote  on  executive  compensation  and  shareholder  approval  of  any  golden  parachute  payments  not  previously  approved.  We  will 
continue to be an emerging growth company until the earliest to occur of the following: (1) December 31, 2019; (2) the last day of the 
fiscal  year  in  which  we  have  more than $1.0 billion in annual revenues; (3) the date on  which  we  have  more than $700 million  in 
market  value  of  our  common  stock  held  by  non-affiliates;  or  (4)  the  date  on  which  we  have  issued  more  than  $1.0  billion  in  non-
convertible debt over a three-year period. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may 
rely on these exemptions, or if we choose to rely on additional exemptions in the future. If some investors find our common stock less 
attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.  

Shares eligible for future sale could adversely affect market prices of our common stock.  

Shares  of  our  common  stock  eligible  for  future  sale,  including  those  that  may  be  issued  in  any  private  or  public  offering  of  our 
common  stock,  as  consideration  in  acquisition  transactions,  or  as  incentives  under  incentive  plans,  could  adversely  affect  market 
prices  for  our  common  stock.  As  of  December  31,  2015,  we  had  7,264,282  shares  outstanding,  278,352  shares  subject  to  options 
granted under our incentive plan, and warrants outstanding to purchase 130,875 shares of our common stock. Because our outstanding 
shares  of  common  stock  either  were  issued  in  an  offering  registered  under  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  as  amended  (the  “Securities 
Act”) or have been held for more than one year, such shares are freely tradable, except for shares held by our affiliates (approximately 
9% of shares outstanding as of December 31, 2015) and 60,592 shares that represent unvested restricted shares under our incentive 
plan. Shares issued under our incentive plan will be available for sale into the public market, except for shares held by our affiliates. 
Shares held by our affiliates may be resold subject to the restrictions in Rule 144 of the Securities Act. In the future, we  may issue 
additional shares of common stock to raise capital for growth or as consideration in acquisition transactions or for other purposes, and 
such shares may be registered under the Securities Act and freely tradable. 

Our dividend policy may change without notice, and our future ability to pay dividends is subject to restrictions.  

Holders  of  our  common  stock  are  entitled  to  receive  only  such  cash  dividends  as  our  board  of  directors  may  declare  out  of  funds 
legally available for the payment of dividends. We have no obligation to continue paying dividends, and we may change our dividend 
policy at any time without notice to our shareholders.  

Since the Company’s primary asset is its stock of Investar Bank, we are dependent upon dividends from the Bank to pay our operating 
expenses, satisfy our obligations and to pay dividends on the Company’s common stock. Accordingly, any declaration and payment of 
dividends  on  common  stock  will  substantially  depend  upon  the  Bank’s  earnings  and  financial  condition,  liquidity  and  capital 
requirements, the general economic and regulatory climate and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Furthermore, 
consistent with our strategic plans, growth initiatives, capital availability, projected liquidity needs, and other factors, we have made, 
and  will continue to  make, capital  management decisions and policies that could adversely impact the amount of dividends, if  any, 
paid to our common shareholders.  

In addition, there are numerous laws and banking regulations that limit our and Investar Bank’s ability to pay dividends. For Investar 
Bank, federal and state statutes and regulations require, among other things, that the Bank maintain certain levels of capital in order to 
pay  a  dividend.  Further,  state  and  federal  banking  authorities  have  the  ability  to  restrict  the  payment  of  dividends  by  supervisory 
action. At the holding company level, the Federal Reserve Board has indicated that bank holding companies should carefully review 
their  dividend  policy  in  relation  to  the  organization’s  overall  asset  quality,  level  of  current  and  prospective  earnings  and  level, 
composition and quality of capital. The guidance requires that a company inform and consult with the Federal Reserve Board prior to 
declaring and paying a dividend that exceeds earnings for the period for which the dividend is being paid or that could result in an 
adverse change to its capital structure.  

27 

 
Our Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-laws, and certain banking laws applicable to us, could have an anti-takeover effect 
that decreases our chances of being acquired, even if our acquisition is in our shareholders’ best interests.  

Certain  provisions  of  our  restated  articles  of  incorporation  and  our  by-laws,  as  amended,  and  federal  banking  laws,  including 
regulatory approval requirements, could  make it  more difficult  for a third party to acquire control of our organization or conduct a 
proxy contest, even if those events were perceived by many of our shareholders as beneficial to their interests. These provisions, and 
the corporate and banking laws and regulations applicable to us:  

(cid:120)  enable our board of directors to issue additional shares of authorized, but unissued capital stock. In particular, our board  may 
issue “blank check” preferred stock with such designations, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by 
the board;  

(cid:120)  enable our board of directors to increase the size of the board and fill the vacancies created by the increase;  

(cid:120)  enable our board of directors to amend our by-laws without shareholder approval;  

(cid:120)  require advance notice for director nominations and other shareholder proposals; and  

(cid:120)  require prior regulatory application and approval of any transaction involving control of our organization.  

These  provisions  may  discourage  potential  acquisition  proposals  and  could  delay  or  prevent  a  change  in  control,  including 
circumstances in which our shareholders might otherwise receive a premium over the market price of our shares.  

Our issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect holders of our common stock and discourage a takeover.  

Our shareholders authorized our board of directors to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock without any further action on the 
part of our shareholders. The board also has the power, without shareholder approval, to set the terms of any series of preferred stock 
that may be issued, including voting rights, dividend rights, preferences over our common stock with respect to dividends or  in the 
event  of  a  dissolution,  liquidation  or  winding  up  and  other  terms.  In  the  event  that  we  issue  preferred  stock  in  the  future  that  has 
preference over our common stock with respect to payment of dividends or upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or if we 
issue preferred stock with voting rights that dilute the voting power of our common stock, the rights of the  holders of our common 
stock or the market price of our common stock could be adversely affected. In addition, the ability of our board of directors to issue 
shares of preferred stock without any action on the part of our shareholders may impede a takeover of us and prevent a transaction 
perceived to be favorable to our shareholders.  

Holders of the junior subordinated debentures have rights that are senior to those of our common shareholders.  

In connection with the FCB merger, we assumed junior subordinated debentures issued by FCB. At December 31, 2015, we had trust 
preferred securities and accompanying junior subordinated debentures with a carrying value of $3.6 million. Payments of the principal 
and  interest  on  the  trust  preferred  securities  of  these  trusts  are  conditionally  guaranteed  by  us.  Further,  the  junior  subordinated 
debentures  we  issued  to  the  trusts  are  senior  to  our  shares  of  common  stock.  As  a  result,  we  must  make  payments  on  the  junior 
subordinated debentures before any dividends can be paid on our common stock and, in the event of our bankruptcy, dissolution or 
liquidation, the holders of the junior subordinated debentures must be satisfied before any distributions can be made on our common 
stock. We have the right to defer distributions on our junior subordinated debentures (and the related trust preferred securities) for up 
to five years, during which time no dividends may be paid on our common stock.  

An investment in our common stock is not an insured deposit and is subject to risk of loss.  

Our common stock is not a bank deposit and, therefore, is not insured against loss by the FDIC, any deposit insurance fund or by any 
other  public  or  private  entity.  Investment  in  our  common  stock  is  inherently  risky  for  the  reasons  described  in  this  “Risk  Factors” 
section and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is subject to the same market forces that affect the price of common 
stock in any company. As a result, an investor may lose some or all of his or her investment in our common stock. 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments  
Not applicable.  

28 

 
 
 
 
 
Item 2. Properties  

Our main office is located at 7244 Perkins Road in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in an approximately 4,900 square foot building built in 
May 2008. In addition to our main office, we operate ten branch offices located in Ascension (1), East Baton Rouge (2), Jefferson (1), 
Lafayette (1), Livingston (1), St. Tammany (2), Tangipahoa (1) and West Baton Rouge (1) Parishes, Louisiana, as well as a mortgage 
and  loan  operations  center  and  a  separate  executive  and  operations  center,  each  in  Baton  Rouge.  We  also  have  four  stand-alone 
automated teller machines in Baton Rouge.  

We own our main office and all of our branch sites. Each branch facility is a stand-alone building, equipped with an automatic teller 
machine  and  on-site  parking  as  well  as  providing  for  drive-up  access.  We  believe  that  our  facilities  are  in  good  condition  and  are 
adequate to meet our operating needs for the foreseeable future.  

We have completed construction on a new branch location in Gonzales, Louisiana (in our Baton Rouge market area), which we expect 
to open in the second quarter of 2016, subject to regulatory approval. We also own two tracts of land in Ascension parish, one in St. 
Mary  parish,  one  in  Jefferson  parish,  one  in  Calcasieu  parish  and  one  in  Lafayette  parish,  each  of  which  has  been  designated  as  a 
future branch location, although the timing of the development of these tracts is uncertain. 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings  

From time to time we are party to ordinary routine litigation matters incidental to the conduct of our business. We are not presently 
party to, and none of our property is the subject of, any legal proceedings the resolution of which we believe would have a material 
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation, cash flows, growth prospects or capital levels nor were any 
such proceedings terminated during the fourth quarter of 2015.  

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures  

Not applicable.  

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART II 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities  

Common Stock Market Prices 

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (the “NASDAQ”) under the symbol “ISTR.” As of February 16, 
2016, there were approximately 789 holders of record of our common stock, and the closing sales price of our common stock on that 
date was $14.55.  

The  following  tables  set  forth  the  reported  high  and  low  intraday  sales  prices  for  the  Company’s  common  stock  as  reported  by 
NASDAQ during each quarter since  we completed our initial public offering and began trading on July 3, 2014. Prior to  that date, 
there was no public trading market for our common stock.  

2015 
4th quarter 
3rd quarter 
2nd quarter 
1st quarter 

2014 
4th quarter 
3rd quarter 

Dividends 

High 

Low 

$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 

$ 
$ 

18.00     
16.52     
17.20     
17.42     

15.00     
19.00     

$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 

$ 
$ 

15.39   
14.95   
14.65   
13.35   

13.00   
13.06   

The following table sets forth the amounts of dividends declared on the Company’s common stock during each quarterly period for the 
years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015.  

2015 
4th quarter 
3rd quarter 
2nd quarter 
1st quarter 
2014 
4th quarter 
3rd quarter 
2nd quarter 
1st quarter 

Dividend Policy 

   $ 

Amount Per Share 

0.0086   
0.0082   
0.0078   
0.0074   

0.0070   
0.0068   
0.0123   
0.0122   

The Company intends to declare dividends on a quarterly basis.  Since we are a holding company with no material business activities, 
our  ability  to  pay  dividends  is  substantially  dependent  upon  the  ability  of  Investar  Bank  to  transfer  funds  to  us  in  the  form  of 
dividends, loans and advances. The Bank’s ability to pay dividends and make other distributions and payments to us depends upon the 
Bank’s  earnings,  financial  condition,  general  economic  conditions,  compliance  with  regulatory  requirements  and  other  factors.  In 
addition, the Bank’s ability to pay dividends to us is itself subject to various legal, regulatory and other restrictions. See “Supervision 
and Regulation—Dividends” in Item 1, Business, above for a discussion of the restrictions on dividends under federal banking laws 
and  regulations.  In  addition,  as  a  Louisiana  corporation,  we  are  subject  to  certain  restrictions  on  dividends  under  the  Louisiana 
Business Corporation Act. Generally, a Louisiana corporation may pay dividends to its shareholders unless, after giving effect to the 
dividend,  either  (1)  the  corporation  would  not  be  able  to  pay  its  debts  as  they  come  due  in  the  usual  course  of  business  or  (2)  the 
corporations’ total assets are less than the sum of its total liabilities and the amount that would be needed, if the corporation were to be 
dissolved  at  the  time  of  the  payment  of  the  dividend,  to  satisfy  the  preferential  rights  of  shareholders  whose  preferential  rights  are 
superior to those receiving the dividend. Finally, our ability to pay dividends  may be limited on account of the junior subordinated 
debentures  that  we  assumed  in  the  FCB  acquisition.  We  must  make  payments  on  the  junior  subordinated  debentures  before  any 
dividends can be paid on our common stock. 

These  restrictions  do  not,  and  are  not  expected  in  the  future  to,  materially  limit  the  Company’s  ability  to  pay  dividends  to  its 
shareholders in an amount consistent with the Company’s history of paying dividends. 

30 

 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
    
    
  
  
    
    
    
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
Stock Performance Graph 

The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company’s common stock over a measurement  period 
beginning July 3, 2014 with (i) the cumulative total return  on the stocks included in the  Russell 3000 Index and (ii) the cumulative 
total return on the stocks included in the SNL Index of Banks with assets between $500 million and $1 billion. The performance graph 
assumes that the value of the investment in our common stock, the Russell 3000 Index and the SNL Index of Banks was $100 at July 
3, 2014, the date our common stock began publicly trading on the NASDAQ, and that all dividends were reinvested. 

ISTR

Russell 3000

SNL U.S. Bank $500M-$1B

e
u
l
a
V
x
e
d
n
I

130.00

125.00

120.00

115.00

110.00

105.00

100.00

95.00

90.00

07/03/14

09/30/14

12/31/14

03/31/15

06/30/15

09/30/15

12/31/15

Index 
Investar Holding Corporation 
Russell 3000 
SNL U.S. Bank $500M-$1B 

7/3/2014      9/30/2014      12/31/2014      3/31/2015     6/30/2015      9/30/2015      12/31/2015   
125.27   
   100.00     
101.50   
   100.00     
114.05   
   100.00     

98.58     
103.01     
103.39     

121.71     
104.37     
105.33     

108.19     
104.02     
104.93     

110.25     
96.00     
108.54     

94.66     
98.35     
99.91     

There can be no assurance that our common stock performance will continue in the future with the same or similar trends depicted in 
the performance graph above. We will not make or endorse any predictions as to future stock performance.  

The information provided under the heading “Stock Performance Graph” shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be 
“filed” with the SEC or subject to its proxy regulations or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as 
amended, other than as provided in Item 201 of Regulation S-K. The information provided in this section shall not be deemed to be 
incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as 
amended. 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 

Period 
October 1, 2015 to October 31, 2015 
November 1, 2015 to November 30, 2015 
December 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015 

(a) Total Number of 
Shares (or Units) 
Purchased(1) 

(b) Average Price 
Paid per Share (or 
Unit) 

(c ) Total Number 
of Shares (or Units) 
Purchased as Part 
of Publicly 
Announced Plans 
or Programs 

88     $ 
-       
126       
214     $ 

15.83       
-       
17.33       
16.72       

(d) Maximum Number 
(or 
Approximate Dollar 
Value) of Shares (or 
Units) That May Be 
Purchased Under the 
Plans or Programs (2)    
213,144   
213,144   
213,144   
213,144   

-     $ 
-       
-       
-     $ 

(1)  Represents shares surrendered to cover the payroll taxes due upon the vesting of restricted stock. 
(2)  On February 19, 2015, the Company announced that its board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to 250,000 shares of the Company’s common 

stock in open market transactions from time to time or through privately negotiated transactions in accordance with federal securities laws. 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities 

None. 

31 

 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
     
     
     
   
   
   
  
   
 
 
 
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans  

Please refer to the information under the heading “Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans” in Item 12, 
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters, for a discussion of the securities 
authorized for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plans.  

Item 6. Selected Financial Data  

The following table sets forth selected historical financial information and other data as of and for years ended December 31, 2015, 
2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011. As discussed in  Item 1, Business, Investar Bank did not become a subsidiary of the Company until the 
completion of the share exchange in November 2013. Accordingly, the selected financial  information below as of and for the years 
ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 relates only to the operations of the Bank, while the selected financial information below as of 
and for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 reflects the operations of  the Company and the Bank on a consolidated 
basis. The selected financial information for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 has been derived from the audited 
consolidated  financial  statements  of  the  Company  as  of  and  for  such  years,  other  than  the  performance  ratios,  and  the  selected 
financial  information  for  the  years  ended  December 31,  2012  and  2011  has  been  derived  from  the  audited  financial  statements  of 
Investar Bank as of and for such years, other than the performance ratios.  

The selected financial information below should be read in conjunction with other information contained in this report, including the 
information contained in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and the 
consolidated financial statements and related notes in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Our historical results for 
any prior period are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in any future period.  

(In thousands, except share data)(1)  

Financial Condition Data 

Total assets 
Total gross loans, net of allowance for loan losses 
Allowance for loan losses 
Investment securities 
Goodwill and other intangible assets 
Noninterest-bearing deposits 
Interest-bearing deposits 
Total deposits 
Long-term borrowings 
Total stockholders’ equity 

Income Statement Data 
Interest income 
Interest expense 
Net interest income 
Provision for loan losses 
Net interest income after provision 
Noninterest income 
Noninterest expense 
Income before income taxes 
Income tax expense 
Net income 

2015 

2014 

As of December 31, 
2013 

2012 

2011 

  $ 1,031,555     $  879,354     $  634,946     $  375,446     $  279,330   
226,209   
1,746   
28,930   
2,839   
18,208   
209,960   
228,168   
9,575   
35,166   

721,556       
4,630       
92,818       
3,216       
70,217       
557,901       
628,118       
25,055       
  $  109,350     $  103,384     $ 

505,744       
3,380       
62,752       
3,257       
72,795      
459,811      
532,606       
34,427      
55,483    $ 

303,019       
2,722       
44,326       
2,828       
37,489       
262,181       
299,670       
26,794       
43,553     $ 

819,822       
6,128       
139,779       
3,175       
90,447       
646,959       
737,406       
11,969       

As of and for the year ended December 31, 
2013 

2012 

2014 

31,369     $ 
4,675       
26,694       
1,628       
25,066       
5,860       
24,384       
6,542       
1,145       
5,397     $ 

22,472     $ 
3,460      
19,012       
1,026       
17,986      
5,354       
19,024       
4,316      
1,148       
3,168    $ 

14,587     $ 
2,542       
12,045       
685       
11,360       
3,625       
11,645       
3,340       
979       
2,361     $ 

2011 

11,302   
2,579   
8,723   
639   
8,084   
2,032   
8,615   
1,501   
502   
999   

2015 

37,340     $ 
5,882      
31,458      
1,865      
29,593      
8,344      
27,353      
10,584      
3,511      
7,073     $ 

  $ 

  $ 

32 

 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
  
    
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
  
     
  
       
  
        
  
        
  
       
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  $ 

Per Common Share Data 
Basic earnings per share 
Diluted earnings per share 
Dividends per share 
Book value per share 
Tangible book value per share(2) 
Period end common shares outstanding 
Basic weighted average common shares 
outstanding 
Diluted weighted average common shares 
outstanding 

Performance Ratios 
Return on average assets 
Return on average equity 
Net interest margin 
Efficiency ratio(3) 
Net interest income to average assets 
Dividend payout ratio 

Asset Quality Ratios 
Nonperforming assets to total assets 
Nonperforming loans to total loans 
Allowance for loan losses to total loans 
Allowance for loan losses to 
nonperforming loans 
Net charge-offs to average loans 

Capital Ratios(4) 
Total equity to total assets 
Tangible common equity to tangible 
assets(5) 
Tier 1 capital to average assets 
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio 
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets 
Total capital to risk-weighted assets 

2015 

0.98   
0.97   
0.03   
15.05   
14.62   
7,264,282   
7,214,045   

As of and for the year ended December 31, 
2013 

2012 

2014 

 $ 

 $ 

0.98   
0.93   
0.04   
14.24   
13.79   
7,262,085   
5,533,514   

 $ 

 $ 

0.86   
0.81   
0.05   
14.06   
13.24   
3,945,114   
3,667,929   

0.79   
0.71   
0.05   
13.56   
12.68   
3,210,816   
2,998,087   

2011 

0.54   
0.47   
0.07   
12.82   
11.79   
2,742,205   
1,843,180   

7,258,008   

5,777,302   

3,923,375   

3,302,661   

2,120,471   

0.77 %     
6.60 %     
3.61 %     
68.72 %     
3.42 %     
3.26 %     

0.73 %     
6.80 %     
3.85 %     
74.90 %     
3.63 %     
3.93 %     

0.64 %     
6.10 %     
4.10 %     
78.07 %     
3.83 %     
5.44 %     

0.74 %     
5.90 %     
4.04 %     
74.32 %     
3.77 %     
5.84 %     

0.44 % 
4.44 % 
4.09 % 
80.10 % 
3.86 % 
12.91 % 

0.30 %     
0.32 %     
0.82 %     
254.16 %     

0.69 %     
0.54 %     
0.74 %     
138.61 %     

0.79 %     
0.30 %     
0.67 %     
227.00 %     

0.62 %     
0.02 %     
0.94 %     
5136.00 %     

0.75 % 
0.01 % 
0.79 % 
6236.00 % 

0.05 %     

0.07 %     

0.09 %     

-0.12 %     

0.20 % 

10.60 %     
10.32 %     

11.39 %     
11.67 %   
12.05 %     
12.72 %     

11.76 %     
11.43 %     

12.61 %     
NA   
13.79 %     
14.41 %     

8.74 %     
8.27 %     

9.53 %     
NA   
10.85 %     
11.51 %     

11.60 %     
10.93 %     

11.55 %     
NA   
13.06 %     
13.95 %     

12.59 % 
11.69 % 

11.67 % 
NA   
14.36 % 
15.14 % 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

Selected consolidated financial data includes the effect of mergers from the date of each merger. On May 1, 2013, Investar Bank 
acquired  First  Community  Bank  (“FCB”),  a  Louisiana  state  bank  headquartered  in  Hammond,  Louisiana,  by  merger  of  FCB 
with  and  into  Investar  Bank.  On  October 1,  2011,  Investar  Bank  acquired  South  Louisiana  Business  Bank  (“SLBB”),  a 
Louisiana state bank headquartered in Prairieville,  Louisiana, by  merger of SLBB with and into Investar Bank. References in 
this document to assets purchased and liabilities assumed in the FCB and SLBB mergers reflect the fair value of such assets and 
liabilities  on  the  date  of  acquisition,  unless  the  context  otherwise  requires.  See  Note  2,  Acquisition  Activity,  in  the  Notes  to 
Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, for additional information about 
the FCB and SLBB transactions. 

Tangible book value per common share is a non-GAAP financial measure. Tangible book value per common share is calculated 
as total stockholders’ equity less goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by the number of common shares outstanding as 
of the balance sheet date. We believe that the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is book value per share. For 
more  information  regarding  our  use  of  non-GAAP  financial  measures,  including  a  reconciliation  of  tangible  book  value  per 
common share to book value per share, please refer to the information under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in 
Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 

Efficiency ratio represents noninterest expenses divided by the sum of net interest income (before provision for loan losses) and 
noninterest income. For more information regarding our use of non-GAAP financial measures, including our calculation of the 
efficiency ratio, please refer to the information under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in Item 7, Management’s 
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 

33 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
    
    
    
    
    
  
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
    
    
  
  
    
  
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
  
  
    
    
 
 
 
    
    
 
(4) 

(5) 

Beginning January 1, 2015, the capital ratios are calculated using the Basel III framework. Capital ratios for prior periods  were 
calculated using the Basel I framework. The Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio is a new ratio introduced under the Basel III 
framework. See discussion of Basel III framework under the heading “Regulatory Capital Requirements” in Item 1, Business. 

Tangible equity to tangible assets is a non-GAAP financial measure. Tangible equity is calculated as total stockholders’ equity 
less  goodwill  and  other  intangible  assets,  and  tangible  assets  is  calculated  as  total  assets  less  goodwill  and  other  intangible 
assets.  We  believe  that  the  most  directly  comparable  GAAP  financial  measure  is  total  equity  to  total  assets.  For  more 
information  regarding  our  use  of  non-GAAP  financial  measures,  including  a  reconciliation  of  the  ratio  of  tangible  equity  to 
tangible assets to the ratio of total equity to total assets, please refer to the information under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial 
Measures” in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 

34 

 
 
 
 
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations  

This section presents management’s perspective on the financial condition and results of operations of Investar Holding Corporation 
(the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Investar Bank (the “Bank”). The following discussion and 
analysis  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the  Company’s  consolidated  financial  statements  and  related  notes  and  other 
supplemental information included herein. As discussed in previous filings, the Company did not become the holding company of the 
Bank until the completion of the share exchange, whereby all of the Bank’s shareholders received shares of the Company’s common 
stock in exchange for the Bank’s common stock, in November 2013. Accordingly, references below to financial condition or results of 
operations or to events or circumstances relating to dates or time periods prior to this share exchange (even if “we,” “our,” or “us” 
is used) relate to the Bank alone, while references below to financial condition or results of operations or to events or circumstances 
relating to dates or time periods after the share exchange pertain to the Company and the Bank on a consolidated basis, unless the 
context explicitly dictates otherwise.  

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS  

This annual report on Form 10-K, both in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, 
and elsewhere, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements include statements relating to 
our projected growth, anticipated future financial performance, financial condition, credit quality and performance goals, as well as 
statements  relating  to  the  anticipated  effects  on  our  business,  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations  from  expected 
developments, our growth and potential acquisitions. These statements can typically be identified through the use of words or phrases 
such  as  “may,”  “should,”  “could,”  “predict,”  “potential,”  “believe,”  “think,”  “will  likely  result,”  “expect,”  “continue,”  “will,” 
“anticipate,”  “seek,”  “estimate,”  “intend,”  “plan,”  “projection,”  “would”  and  “outlook,”  or  the  negative  version  of  those  words  or 
other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature.  

Our forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions and estimates that management believes to be reasonable 
in light of the information available at this time. However, many of these statements are inherently uncertain and beyond our control 
and  could  be  affected  by  many  factors.  Factors  that  could  have  a  material  effect  on  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of 
operations, cash flows and future growth prospects can be found in Item 1A, Risk Factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, 
the following, any one or more of which could materially affect the outcome of future events:  

(cid:120)  business and economic conditions generally and in the financial services industry in particular, whether nationally, regionally or 

in the markets in which we operate;  

(cid:120)  our ability to achieve organic loan and deposit growth, and the composition of that growth;  

(cid:120)  changes  (or  the  lack  of  changes)  in  interest  rates,  yield  curves  and  interest  rate  spread  relationships  that  affect  our  loan  and 

deposit pricing;  

(cid:120)  the extent of continuing client demand for the high level of personalized service that is a key element  of our banking approach 

as well as our ability to execute our strategy generally;  

(cid:120)  our dependence on our management team, and our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;  

(cid:120)  changes  in  the  quality  or  composition  of  our  loan  or  investment  portfolios,  including  adverse  developments  in  borrower 

industries or in the repayment ability of individual borrowers;  

(cid:120)  inaccuracy of the assumptions and estimates we make in establishing reserves for probable loan losses and other estimates;  

(cid:120)  the concentration of our business within our geographic areas of operation in Louisiana;  

(cid:120)  concentration of credit exposure;  

(cid:120)  deteriorating asset quality and higher loan charge-offs, and the time and effort necessary to resolve problem assets;  

(cid:120)  a lack of liquidity, including as a result of a reduction in the amount of deposits we hold or other sources of liquidity;  

(cid:120)  our potential growth, including our entrance or expansion into new markets, and the need for sufficient capital to support that 

growth;  

(cid:120)  difficulties  in  identifying  attractive  acquisition  opportunities  and  strategic  partners  that  will  complement  our  relationship 

banking approach;  

(cid:120)  our  ability  to  efficiently  integrate  acquisitions  into  our  operations,  retain  the  customers  of  acquired  businesses  and  grow  the 

acquired operations;  

35 

 
 
(cid:120)  the impact of litigation and other legal proceedings to which we become subject;  

(cid:120)  data processing system failures and errors;  

(cid:120)  competitive  pressures  in  the  consumer  finance,  commercial  finance,  retail  banking,  mortgage  lending  and  auto  lending 

industries, as well as the financial resources of, and products offered by, competitors;  

(cid:120)  the impact of changes in laws and regulations applicable to us, including banking, securities and tax laws and regulations and 

accounting standards, as well as changes in the interpretation of such laws and regulations by our regulators;  

(cid:120)  changes in the scope and costs of FDIC insurance and other coverages;  

(cid:120)  governmental monetary and fiscal policies;  

(cid:120)  hurricanes, other natural disasters and adverse weather; oil spills and other man-made disasters; acts of terrorism, an outbreak of 

hostilities or other international or domestic calamities, acts of God and other matters beyond our control; and  

(cid:120)  other circumstances, many of which are beyond our control.  

The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included 
herein. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be 
incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what we anticipate. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such 
forward-looking statements.  

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date  on which it is made,  and we  do not undertake any obligation to publicly 
update  or  review  any  forward-looking  statement,  whether  as  a  result  of  new  information,  future  developments  or  otherwise.  New 
factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which will arise. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of 
each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ  materially 
from  those  contained  in  any  forward-looking  statements.  We  qualify  all  of  our  forward-looking  statements  by  these  cautionary 
statements.  

Overview  

Through our wholly-owned subsidiary Investar Bank, we provide full banking services, excluding trust services, tailored primarily to 
meet  the  needs  of  individuals  and  small  to  medium-sized  businesses  in  our  primary  areas  of  operation  in  South  Louisiana:  Baton 
Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, Hammond and their surrounding metropolitan areas. Our Bank commenced operations in 2006 and 
we completed our initial public offering in July 2014. Our strategy includes organic  growth through high quality loans and growth 
through acquisitions. We currently operate 11 full service branches, including a branch in Baton Rouge, Louisiana opened in August 
2014. We have completed construction of one new branch in Gonzales, Louisiana in our Baton Rouge market area and in September 
2015, acquired land and a building for an additional branch in our New Orleans market area. We continue to focus on growing our 
deposit base in our markets. We completed acquisitions in 2011 and 2013 and regularly review acquisition opportunities. 

Our  principal  business  is  lending  to  and  accepting  deposits  from  individuals  and  small  to  medium-sized  businesses  in  our  areas  of 
operation.  We  generate  our  income  principally  from  interest  on  loans  and,  to  a  lesser  extent,  our  securities  investments,  as  well  as 
from fees charged in connection with our various loan and deposit services and gains on the sale of loans and securities. Our principal 
expenses are interest expense on interest-bearing customer deposits and borrowings, salaries, employee benefits, occupancy costs, data 
processing and operating expenses. We measure our performance through our net interest margin, return on average assets, and return 
on average equity, among other metrics, while seeking to maintain appropriate regulatory leverage and risk-based capital ratios.  

Financial Condition and Results of Operations 

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2015 totaled $7.1 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, compared to $5.4 million, or $0.93 per 
diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2014. This represents a $1.7 million, or 31%, increase in net income. The increase can 
mainly be attributed to the Company’s year over year earning asset growth. 

Key components of the Company’s performance during the year ended December 31, 2015 are summarized below. 

(cid:120)  Total assets grew to $1.0 billion at December 31, 2015, an increase of 17% from $879.4 million at December 31, 2014. 

(cid:120)  Total loans, excluding held for sale, net of allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2015 were $739.3 million, an increase 

of $121.2 million, or 20% compared to $618.1 million at December 31, 3014. 

36 

 
 
 
 
(cid:120)  Total deposits were $737.4 million at December 31, 2015, an increase of  $109.3 million, or 17%, compared to deposits of 
$628.1  million  at  December  31,  2014.  Noninterest-bearing  deposits  increased  $20.2  million,  or  29%,  to  $90.4  million 
compared to $70.2 million at December 31, 2014. 

(cid:120)  Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $31.5 million, an increase of $4.8 million, or 18%, compared 
to $26.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. This increase was mainly driven by organic growth in our interest-
earning assets with an increase in net interest income of $7.1 million due to an increase in volume offset by a $2.3 million 
decrease related to a reduction in yield compared the year ended December 31, 2014. 

(cid:120)  We opened our Highland Road branch in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on August 1, 2014. This branch contributed $27.8 million 

to our total gross loans and $42.6 million to our total deposits at December 31, 2015. 

(cid:120)  We hired a number of key bankers in the past two years, including experienced commercial lenders and their teams in the 

Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette markets. 

37 

 
 
 
 
Non-GAAP Financial Measures   

Our accounting and reporting policies conform to accounting principles  generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, and  the 
prevailing  practices  in  the  banking  industry.  However,  we  also  evaluate  our  performance  based  on  certain  additional  metrics.  The 
efficiency ratio, tangible book value per share and the ratio of tangible equity to tangible assets are not financial measures recognized 
under GAAP and, therefore, are considered non-GAAP financial measures.  

Our management, banking regulators, many financial analysts and other investors use these non-GAAP financial measures to compare 
the capital adequacy of banking organizations with significant amounts of preferred equity and/or goodwill or other intangible assets, 
which typically stem  from the use of the purchase accounting  method of accounting  for  mergers and acquisitions. Tangible equity, 
tangible  assets,  tangible  book  value  per  share  or  related  measures  should  not  be  considered  in  isolation  or  as  a  substitute  for  total 
stockholders’  equity,  total  assets,  book  value  per  share  or  any  other  measure  calculated  in  accordance  with  GAAP.  Moreover,  the 
manner in which we calculate tangible equity, tangible assets, tangible book value per share and any other related measures may differ 
from that of other companies reporting measures with similar names. The following table reconciles, as of the dates set forth below, 
stockholders’ equity (on a GAAP basis) to tangible equity and total assets (on a GAAP basis) to tangible assets and calculates both our 
tangible book value per share and efficiency ratio (dollars in thousands). 

2015 

As of and for the year ended December 31, 
2013 

2012 

2014 

2011 

Total stockholders' equity - 
   GAAP 
Adjustments: 
Goodwill 
Other intangibles 

Tangible equity 

Total assets - GAAP 
Adjustments: 
Goodwill 
Other intangibles 

Tangible assets 

$ 

109,350      $ 

103,384      $ 

55,483      $ 

43,553      $ 

35,166   

2,684        
491        
106,175      $ 

2,684        
532        
100,168      $ 

2,684        
573        
52,226      $ 

2,684        
145        
40,724      $ 

2,684   
155   
32,327   

1,031,555      $ 

879,354      $ 

634,946      $ 

375,446      $ 

279,330   

2,684        
491        
1,028,380      $ 

2,684        
532        
876,138      $ 

2,684        
573        
631,689      $ 

2,684        
145        
372,617      $ 

2,684   
155   
276,491   

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Total shares outstanding 
Book value per share 
Effect of adjustment 
Tangible book value per share  $ 
Total equity to total assets 
Effect of adjustment 
Tangible equity to tangible 
   assets 

15.05      $ 
(0.43 )      
14.62      $ 
10.60 %     
(0.28 )      
10.32 %     

14.24      $ 
(0.45 )      
13.79      $ 
11.76 %     
(0.33 )      
11.43 %     

14.06      $ 
(0.82 )      
13.24      $ 
8.74 %     
(0.47 )      
8.27 %     

13.56      $ 
(0.88 )      
12.68      $ 
11.60 %     
(0.67 )      
10.93 %     

Efficiency ratio(1) 
Noninterest expense 
Net interest income 
Noninterest income 
Efficiency ratio 

$ 

27,353      $ 
31,458        
8,344        
68.72 %     

24,384      $ 
26,694        
5,860        
74.90 %     

19,024      $ 
19,012        
5,354        
78.07 %     

11,645      $ 
12,045        
3,625        
74.32 %     

12.82   
(1 ) 
11.79   
12.59 % 
(1 ) 
11.69 % 

8,615   
8,723   
2,033   
80.10 % 

(1)Calculated  as  noninterest  expense  divided  by  the  sum  of  net  interest  income  (before  provision  for  loan  losses)  and  noninterest 
income. 

Critical Accounting Policies  

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to make estimates and judgments  that 
affect  our  reported  amounts  of  assets,  liabilities,  income  and  expenses  and  related  disclosure  of  contingent  assets  and  liabilities. 
Wherever feasible, we utilize third-party information to provide management with these estimates. Although independent third parties 
are engaged to assist us in the estimation process, management evaluates the results, challenges assumptions used and considers other 
factors which could impact these estimates. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.  

38 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
         
         
         
         
  
  
  
  
    
         
         
         
         
  
    
         
         
         
         
  
  
  
  
    
         
         
         
         
  
    
         
         
         
         
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
         
         
         
         
  
    
         
         
         
         
  
  
  
  
  
    
         
         
         
         
  
  
For more detailed information about our accounting policies, please refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in 
the  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  contained  in  Item  8,  Financial Statements  and Supplementary  Data. The  following 
discussion  presents  an  overview  of  some  of  our  accounting  policies  and  estimates  that  require  us  to  make  difficult,  subjective  or 
complex  judgments  about  inherently  uncertain  matters  when  preparing  our  financial  statements.  We  believe  that  the  judgments, 
estimates and assumptions that we use in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements are appropriate.  

Allowance for Loan Losses. One of the accounting policies most important to the presentation of our financial statements relates to 
the  allowance  for  loan  losses  and  the  related  provision  for  loan  losses.  The  allowance  for  loan  losses  is  established  as  losses  are 
estimated  through  a  provision  for  loan  losses  charged  to  earnings.  The  allowance  for  loan  losses  is  based  on  the  amount  that 
management  believes  will  be  adequate  to  absorb  probable  losses  inherent  in  the  loan  portfolio  based  on,  among  other  things, 
evaluations  of  the  collectability  of  loans  and  prior  loan  loss  experience.  The  evaluations  take  into  consideration  such  factors  as 
changes  in  the  nature  and  volume  of  the  loan  portfolio,  overall  portfolio  quality,  review  of  specific  problem  loans  and  current 
economic  conditions  that  may  affect  borrowers’  ability  to  pay.  Another  component  of  the  allowance  is  losses  on  loans  assessed  as 
impaired under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 310, Receivables 
(“ASC  310”).  The  balance  of  the  loans  determined  to  be  impaired  under  ASC  310  and  the  related  allowance  is  included  in 
management’s estimation and analysis of the allowance for loan losses. Allowances for impaired loans are generally determined based 
on collateral values or the present value of estimated cash flows.  

The  determination  of  the  appropriate  level  of  the  allowance  is  inherently  subjective  as  it  requires  estimates  that  are  susceptible  to 
significant revision as  more information  becomes available. We have an established  methodology to determine the adequacy of the 
allowance  for  loan  losses  that  assesses  the  risks  and  losses  inherent  in  our  portfolio  and  portfolio  segments.  We  have  an  internally 
developed model that requires significant judgment to determine the estimation method that fits the credit risk characteristics of the 
loans in our portfolio and portfolio segments. Qualitative and environmental factors that may not be directly reflected in quantitative 
estimates include: asset quality trends, changes in loan concentrations, new products and process changes, changes and pressures from 
competition, changes in lending policies and underwriting practices, trends in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, and national 
and regional economic trends. Changes in these factors are considered in determining changes in the allowance for loan losses. The 
impact  of  these  factors  on  our  qualitative  assessment  of  the  allowance  for  loan  losses  can  change  from  period  to  period  based  on 
management’s assessment of the extent to which these factors are already reflected in historic loss rates. The uncertainty inherent in 
the estimation process is also considered in evaluating the allowance for loan losses.  

Acquisition Accounting. We account for our acquisitions under ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), which requires 
the use of the purchase  method of accounting.  All identifiable assets acquired, including loans, are recorded at fair value (which is 
discussed below). The excess purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If the fair value of the 
net assets acquired exceeds the purchase price, a bargain purchase gain is recognized. 

Because  the  fair  value  measurements  incorporate  assumptions  regarding  credit  risk,  no  allowance  for  loan  losses  related  to  the 
acquired loans is recorded on the acquisition date. The fair value  measurements of acquired loans are based on  estimates related to 
expected prepayments and the amount and timing of  undiscounted expected principal, interest and other cash  flows.  The fair value 
adjustment is amortized over the life of the loan using the effective interest method.  

The Company accounts for acquired impaired loans under ASC Topic 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated 
Credit  Quality  (“ASC  310-30”).  An  acquired  loan  is  considered  impaired  when  there  is  evidence  of  credit  deterioration  since 
origination and it is probable at the date of acquisition that we will be unable to collect all contractually required payments. ASC 310-
30  prohibits  the  carryover  of  an  allowance  for  loan  losses  for  acquired  impaired  loans.  Over  the  life  of  the  acquired  loans,  we 
continually  estimate  the  cash  flows  expected  to  be  collected  on  individual  loans  or  on  pools  of  loans  sharing  common  risk 
characteristics.  As of  the end of each  fiscal quarter,  we evaluate the present  value of the acquired loans using the effective  interest 
rates. For any increases in cash flows expected to be collected, we adjust the amount of accretable yield recognized on a prospective 
basis over the loan’s or pool’s remaining life, while we recognize a provision for loan loss in the consolidated statement of operations 
if the cash flows expected to be collected have decreased.  

39 

 
Intangible  Assets.  Our  intangible  assets  consist  of  goodwill  and  core  deposit  intangibles.  Goodwill  represents  the  excess  of  the 
purchase  price  over  the  fair  value  of  the  net  identifiable  assets  acquired  in  a  business  combination.  Goodwill  and  other  intangible 
assets deemed to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized but instead are subject to review for impairment annually, or more 
frequently  if  deemed  necessary,  in  accordance  with  ASC  Topic  350,  Intangibles  –  Goodwill  and  Other.  Intangible  assets  with 
estimable useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives and reviewed for impairment in accordance with ASC 
Topic 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment. If impaired, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value. Core deposit intangibles 
representing the value of the  acquired core deposit base are generally recorded in connection with business combinations involving 
banks and branch locations. Our policy is to amortize core deposit intangibles over the estimated useful life of the deposit base, either 
on  a  straight  line  basis  not  exceeding  15  years  or  an  accelerated  basis  over  10  years.  The  remaining  useful  lives  of  core  deposit 
intangibles  are  evaluated  periodically  to  determine  whether  events  and  circumstances  warrant  revision  of  the  remaining  period  of 
amortization. All of our core deposit intangibles are currently amortized on a straight-line basis over 15 years.  

Fair Value Measurement. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an 
orderly  transaction  between  market  participants  at  the  measurement  date,  using  assumptions  market  participants  would  use  when 
pricing an asset or liability. Fair value is best determined based upon quoted market prices. In cases where quoted market prices are 
not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly 
affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows, and the fair value estimates may not 
be realized in an immediate settlement of the instruments. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not necessarily 
represent our underlying value.  

The definition of fair value focuses on exit price in an orderly transaction (that is, not a forced liquidation or distressed sale) between 
market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. If there has been a significant decrease in the  volume 
and  level  of  activity  for  the  asset  or  liability,  a  change  in  valuation  technique  or  the  use  of  multiple  valuation  techniques  may  be 
appropriate.  In  such  instances,  determining  the  price  at  which  willing  market  participants  would  transact  at  the  measurement  date 
under current market conditions depends on the facts and circumstances and requires use of significant judgment. The fair value is a 
reasonable point within the range that is most representative of fair value under current market conditions.  

In accordance with fair value guidance, we group our 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.  

(cid:120)  Level 1 – Valuation is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the 
ability  to  access  at  the  measurement  date.  Level  1  assets  and  liabilities  generally  include  debt  and  equity  securities  that  are 
traded  in  an  active  exchange  market.  Valuations  are  obtained  from  readily  available  pricing  sources  for  market  transactions 
involving identical assets or liabilities.  

(cid:120)  Level  2—Valuation  is  based  on  inputs  other  than  quoted  prices  included  within  Level  1  that  are  observable  for  the  asset  or 
liability, either directly or indirectly. The valuation may be based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices 
in  markets  that  are  not  active;  or  other  inputs  that  are  observable  or  can  be  corroborated  by  observable  market  data  for 
substantially the full term of the asset or liability.  

(cid:120)  Level 3—Valuation is based on unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to 
the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined 
using  pricing  models,  discounted  cash  flow  methodologies,  or  similar  techniques,  as  well  as  instruments  for  which 
determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.  

A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the 
fair value measurement.  

Other-Than-Temporary-Impairment on Investment Securities. On a quarterly basis, we evaluate our investment portfolio for other-
than-temporary-impairment (“OTTI”) in accordance with ASC Topic 320,  Investments – Debt and Equity Securities. An investment 
security is considered impaired if the fair value of the security is less than its cost or amortized cost basis. When impairment of an 
equity  security  is  considered  to  be  other-than-temporary,  the  security  is  written  down  to  its  fair  value  and  an  impairment  loss  is 
recorded in earnings. When impairment of a debt security is considered to be other-than-temporary, the security is written down to its 
fair value. The amount of OTTI recorded as a loss in earnings depends on whether we intend to sell the debt security and whether it is 
more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If we intend  to sell the 
debt  security  or  more  likely  than  not  will  be  required  to  sell  the  security  before  recovery  of  its  amortized  cost  basis,  the  entire 
difference between the security’s amortized cost basis and its fair value is recorded as an impairment loss in earnings. If we do not 
intend to sell the debt security and it is  not  more likely than  not that  we  will be required to sell the  security before recovery of its 
amortized cost basis, OTTI is separated into the amount representing credit loss and the amount related to all other market factors. The 
amount  related  to  credit  loss  is  recognized  in  earnings.  The  amount  related  to  other  market  factors  is  recognized  in  other 
comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes.  

40 

 
Stock-Based Compensation. We recognize compensation expense for all stock-based payments to employees in accordance with ASC 
Topic  718,  Compensation  –  Stock  Compensation.  Under  this  accounting  guidance,  such  payments  are  measured  at  fair  value. 
Determining  the  fair  value  of,  and  ultimately  the  expense  we  recognize  related  to,  our  stock-based  payments  requires  us  to  make 
assumptions regarding dividend yields, expected stock price volatility, estimated forfeitures and, as to stock options, the expected life 
of the option. Changes in these assumptions and estimates can materially affect the calculated fair value of stock-based compensation 
and the related expense to be recognized.  

Income Taxes. Accrued taxes represent the estimated amount payable to or receivable from taxing jurisdictions, either currently or in 
the future, and are reported in our consolidated statement of operations after exclusion of non-taxable income such as interest on state 
and municipal securities. Also, certain items of income and expenses are recognized in different time periods for financial statement 
purposes than for income tax purposes. Thus, provisions for deferred taxes are recorded in recognition of such temporary differences. 
The calculation of our income tax expense is complex and requires the use of many estimates and judgments in its determination.  

Deferred  taxes  are  determined  utilizing  a  liability  method  whereby  we  recognize  deferred  tax  assets  for  deductible  temporary 
differences  and  deferred  tax  liabilities  for  taxable  temporary  differences.  Temporary  differences  are  the  differences  between  the 
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the 
opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. We adjust 
deferred tax assets and liabilities for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.  

The  Company  has  adopted  accounting  guidance  related  to  accounting  for  uncertainty  in  income  taxes,  which  sets  out  a  consistent 
framework to determine the appropriate level of tax reserves to maintain for uncertain tax positions. We recognize deferred tax assets 
if it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the tax position will be realized or sustained upon examination. The 
term  “more  likely  than  not”  means  a  likelihood  of  more  than  50%.  A  tax  position  that  meets  the  more-likely-than-not  recognition 
threshold is initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood  of being 
realized upon settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. The determination of whether or 
not a tax position has met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold considers the facts, circumstances, and information available 
at  the  reporting  date  and  is  subject  to  management’s  judgment.  Deferred  tax  assets  are  reduced  by  a  valuation  allowance  when,  if 
based on the weight of evidence available, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of deferred tax asset will not be realized.  

We recognize interest and penalties on income taxes as a component of income tax expense.  

Implications of and Elections under the JOBS Act.  Pursuant to the JOBS Act, an emerging growth company such as the Company 
can  choose  to  not  adopt  new  or  revised  accounting  standards  that  may  be  issued  by  the  FASB  until  they  would  apply  to  private 
companies. We have elected not to opt in to such extended transition period, which election is irrevocable.  As a result of this election, 
our financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of emerging growth companies that have opted in to this 
extended  transition  period,  but  they  will  be  comparable  to  those  of  other  public  companies  that  are  neither  emerging  growth 
companies nor emerging growth companies that have opted in to using the extended transition period.  In addition, we have elected to 
take advantage of the reduced disclosure requirements relating to executive compensation arrangements that is available to us so long 
as we remain an emerging growth company. 

Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition  

Total assets were $1.0 billion at December 31, 2015, an increase of 17% from total assets of $879.4 million at December 31, 2014. 
Our total assets of $879.4 million at December 31, 2014 represents a 38% increase from total assets of $634.9 million at December 31, 
2013.  The  growth  experienced  since  December  31,  2013  can  be  attributed  to  organic  growth  of  the  Company  through  de  novo 
branches and the hiring of a number of key bankers, including experienced commercial lenders. 

Loans  

General. Loans, excluding loans held for sale, constitute our most significant asset, comprising 72%, 71%, and 79% of our total assets 
at December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. Loans, excluding loans held for sale, increased $122.6 million, or 20%, to $745.4 
million  at  December 31,  2015  from  $622.8  million  at  December 31,  2014.  Loans,  excluding  loans  held  for  sale,  increased  $118.7 
million, or 24%, to $622.8 million at December 31, 2014 from $504.1 million at December 31, 2013.  

41 

 
The table below sets forth the balance of loans, excluding loans held for sale, outstanding by loan type as of the dates presented, and 
the percentage of each loan type to total loans (dollars in thousands).  

2015 

2014 

December 31, 
2013 

2012 

2011 

Amount     

Percentage of 
Total Loans     

   Amount      

Percentage of 
Total Loans     

   Amount      

Percentage of 
Total Loans     

   Amount      

Percentage of 
Total Loans     

   Amount      

Percentage of 
Total Loans     

Mortgage loans on 
     real estate: 

Construction and 
     land 
     development 
1-4 Family 
Multifamily 
Farmland 
Commercial real 
estate 

Owner- 
     occupied 
Nonowner- 
     occupied 

Commercial and 
industrial 
Consumer 

Total loans 

$  81,863      
  156,300     
   29,694     
2,955     

11.0   %   $  71,350      
    137,519      
21.0     
     17,458      
4.0     
2,919      
0.4     

11.4   %   $  63,170      
    104,685      
22.1     
     14,286      
2.8     
830      
0.5     

12.5   %   $  20,271      
     54,813      
20.8     
1,750      
2.8     
64      
0.2     

7.0   %   $  21,171      
     46,664      
1,454      
8      

19.0     
0.6     
0.0     

9.6   % 

21.2     
0.7     
0.0     

  137,752      

18.5     

    119,668      

19.2     

     78,415      

15.6     

     52,534      

18.2     

     38,397      

17.4     

  150,831      

20.2     

    105,390      

16.9     

     78,948      

15.6     

     47,393      

16.4     

     18,070      

8.2     

   69,961      
  116,085      
$ 745,441      

     54,187      
9.4     
15.5     
    114,299      
100.0    %   $ 622,790      

     32,665      
8.7     
18.4     
    131,096      
100.0    %   $ 504,095      

     15,319      
6.5     
     96,609      
26.0     
100.0    %   $ 288,753      

     11,499      
5.3     
33.5     
     82,986      
100.0    %   $ 220,249      

5.2     
37.7     
100.0    % 

As  the  table  above  indicates,  we  have  experienced  significant  growth  in  all  loan  categories,  with  the  exception  of  consumer,  from 
2013 to 2015. Our strong presence in our Baton  Rouge  market and our expansion into  the New  Orleans, Hammond, and Lafayette 
markets are the primary reasons for our loan growth from 2013 to 2015. Beyond the impact of our expansion into new markets, we 
believe our loan growth from 2013 to 2015 is due to the successful implementation of our relationship-driven banking strategy. The 
decrease  in  the  consumer  loan  portfolio  from  2013  to  2015  is  primarily  a  result  of  the  Company’s  increase  in  consumer  loan  pool 
sales.  In  addition,  the  Company  announced  in  November  2015  that  the  Bank  would  be  exiting  the  indirect  auto  loan  origination 
business based on the operating performance of the business in order to focus the Bank’s resources on relationship banking. The Bank 
discontinued accepting indirect auto loan applications on December 31, 2015, but continued to process and fund applications that were 
accepted on or before that date. Indirect auto loans represented approximately 80% of our total consumer loans at December 31, 2015. 
As a result, the Company expects its consumer loan portfolio as a percentage of the total loan portfolio to decrease over time.  

At  December  31,  2015,  the  Company’s  total  business  lending  portfolio,  which  consists  of  loans  secured  by  owner-occupied 
commercial  real  estate  properties  and  commercial  and  industrial  loans,  was  $207.7  million,  an  increase  of  $33.8  million,  or  19%, 
compared to the business lending portfolio of $173.9 million at December 31, 2014. The business lending portfolio at December 31, 
2014 increased $62.8 million, or 57%, compared to $111.1 million at December 31, 2013. 

42 

 
  
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
  
  
    
  
    
   
  
    
  
    
   
  
    
  
    
   
  
    
  
    
   
  
    
  
    
    
    
  
    
    
    
    
  
      
     
    
      
     
    
      
     
    
      
     
    
      
     
  
The following table sets forth loans outstanding at December 31, 2015, which, based on remaining scheduled repayments of principal, 
are  due  in  the  periods  indicated,  as  well  as  the  amount  of  loans  with  fixed  and  variable  rates  in  each  maturity  range.  Loans  with 
balloon payments and longer amortizations are often repriced and extended beyond the initial maturity when credit conditions remain 
satisfactory. Demand loans, loans having no stated schedule of repayments and no stated maturity and overdrafts are reported below as 
due in one year or less.  

 (dollars in thousands) 
Mortgage loans on real estate: 

Construction and land development 
1-4 Family 
Multifamily 
Farmland 
Commercial real estate 
Owner-occupied 
Nonowner-occupied 
Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 

Total loans 

Amounts with fixed rates 
Amounts with variable rates 

Total loans 

One Year or 
Less 

   After One 
Year Through 

Five Years      

After Five 
Years Through 
Ten Years 

After Ten 
Years Through 
Fifteen Years      

After Fifteen 
Years 

      Total 

 $  48,728    $ 
9,026      
2,138      
-      

25,744    $ 
26,969      
12,309      
49      

5,478     $ 
48,695       
13,522       
851       

1,913     $ 
35,866       
127       
2,055       

-     $  81,863   
35,744        156,300   
1,598        29,694   
2,955   

-       

3,832      
4,110      
13,071      
3,517      

51,741      
55,122      
31,509      
88,555      
 $  84,422    $  291,998    $ 
 $  31,210    $  259,629    $ 
32,369      
   $  84,422    $  291,998    $ 

53,212      

45,053       
69,543       
22,612       
23,615       
229,369     $ 
208,121     $ 
21,248       
229,369     $ 

31,202       
21,572       
230       
398       

5,924        137,752   
484        150,831   
2,539        69,961   
-        116,085   
93,363     $  46,289     $  745,441   
93,061     $  42,649     $  634,670   
3,640        110,771   
93,363     $  46,289     $  745,441   

302       

Loans Held for Sale. Loans held for sale, consisting of both consumer and mortgage loans, decreased $22.9 million, or 22%, to $80.5 
million at December 31, 2015 from $103.4 million at December 31, 2014. The decrease is primarily due to $99.7 million of consumer 
loans classified as held for sale at December 31, 2014 after two consumer loan pool sales were postponed by the buyer from the fourth 
quarter of 2014 to the first quarter of 2015. Consumer loans  held for sale  were $79.9 million at December 31, 2015. No consumer 
loans were classified as held for sale at December 31, 2013.  

In the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, we originated $303.1 million and $170.8 million, respectively, in consumer loans for 
sale, consisting of auto loans. There were no consumer loans originated for sale in 2013. 

We sell pools of our consumer loans, typically several times per quarter, in order to manage our concentration in consumer loans as 
well as to generate liquidity.  For the  year ended December 31, 2015, we recognized gains  from the  sales of pools of our consumer 
loans of $3.1 million. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the gains from sales of pools of our consumer loans was $1.7 million, an 
increase over gains of $0.2 from such sales for the year ended December 31, 2013, due primarily to the overall growth in consumer 
loan originations and our strategy to sell the majority of consumer loans originated. The gains from the sales of pools of our consumer 
loans are expected to decrease significantly as the result of exiting the indirect auto loan origination business, as mentioned in Loans – 
General above.  

In the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, we originated $46.6 million and $67.7 million, respectively, in mortgage loans for 
sale.  Mortgage  loans  held  for  sale  decreased  $3.1  million,  or  84%,  to  $0.6  million  at  December  31,  2015  from  $3.7  million  at 
December 31, 2014. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in originations of mortgage loans for sale and the timing of the loan 
sales. We do not expect significant growth in mortgage originations.   

One-to-four family mortgage loans not held in our portfolio are typically sold on a “best efforts” basis within 30 days after the loan is 
funded. This means that residential real estate originations are locked in at a contractual rate with a third-party investor or directly with 
government  sponsored  agencies,  and  we  are  obligated  to  sell  the  mortgage  only  if  it  is  closed  and  funded.  As  a  result,  the  risk  we 
assume is conditioned upon loan underwriting and market conditions in the national mortgage market. Although loan fees and some 
interest income are derived from mortgage loans held for sale, our main source of income on these loans is gains from the loan sales in 
the  secondary  market  which  is  recorded  in  fee  income  on  mortgage  loans  held  for  sale,  net  on  the  consolidated  statements  of 
operations.  

Loan Concentrations. Loan concentrations are considered to exist when there are amounts loaned to multiple borrowers engaged in 
similar  activities  that  would  cause  them  to  be  similarly  impacted  by  economic  or  other  conditions.  At  December 31,  2015  and 
December 31, 2014, we had no concentrations of loans exceeding 10% of total loans other than loans in the categories listed in the 
table above.  

43 

 
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
         
        
         
        
        
  
   
   
   
   
      
      
       
       
       
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Investment Securities  

We purchase investment securities primarily to provide a source for meeting liquidity needs, with return on investment a secondary 
consideration. We also use investment securities as collateral for certain deposits and other types of borrowing. Investment  securities 
represented  14%  of  our  total  assets  at  December 31,  2015  and  totaled  $139.8  million  at  December 31,  2015,  an  increase  of  $47.0 
million,  or  51%,  from  $92.8  million  at  December 31,  2014.  The  investment  securities  balance  at  December  31,  2014  represents  a 
$30.0 million, or 48%, increase from $62.8 million at December 31, 2013. The increase in investment securities at December 31, 2015 
compared to December 31, 2014 and 2013 resulted from purchases of all investment types in our current portfolio. 

The  table  below  shows  the  carrying  value  of  our  investment  securities  portfolio  by  investment  type  and  the  percentage  that  such 
investment type comprises of our entire portfolio as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands). 

Obligations of other U.S. government agencies and 
     corporations 
Obligations of state and political subdivisions 
Corporate bonds 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage backed securities 
Equity securities 
     Total 

December 31, 2015 

December 31, 2014 

     December 31, 2013 

Balance 

Percentage of 
Portfolio 

    Balance 

Percentage of 
Portfolio 

     Balance     

Percentage of 
Portfolio 

$  30,460      
   35,515      
   14,824      
   55,899      
1,989      
1,092      
$  139,779      

21.79 %    $ 
8,339      
25.41          26,811      
10.61         
5,419      
39.99          50,224      
1,491      
534      
100.00 %    $  92,818      

1.42         
0.78         

8.98 %    $  6,182      
28.89          14,100      
5.84           4,925      
54.11          36,804      
265      
476      
100.00 %    $ 62,752      

1.61          
0.57          

9.85   % 

22.47     
7.85     
58.65     
0.42     
0.76     
100.00   % 

The investment portfolio consists of available for sale and held to maturity securities.  We classify debt securities as held to maturity if 
management has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. Held to maturity securities are stated at  amortized 
cost. Securities not classified as held to maturity or trading are classified as available for sale. The carrying values of the Company’s 
available for sale securities are adjusted for unrealized gains or losses as valuation allowances, and any gains or losses are reported on 
an after-tax basis as a component of other comprehensive income. Any expected credit loss due to the inability to collect all amounts 
due according to the security’s contractual terms is recognized as a charge against earnings. Any remaining unrealized loss related to 
other factors would be recognized in other comprehensive income, net of taxes. 

In the year ended December 31, 2015, we purchased $88.6 million of investment securities, compared to purchases of $72.2 million 
and  $40.4  million  of  investment  securities  during  the  years  ended  December 31,  2014  and  2013,  respectively.  We  increased  our 
purchases of securities in 2014, which continued throughout 2015, primarily to increase the amount of liquidity on our balance sheet 
and also to reposition the portfolio to take advantage of an anticipated rising interest rate environment. Mortgage-backed securities 
represented  42%,  87%,  and  69%  of  the  available  for  sale  securities  we  purchased  in  2015,  2014,  and  2013,  respectively.  Of  the 
remaining  securities  purchased  in  2015,  2014  and  2013,  29%,  6%  and  4%,  respectively,  were  U.S.  government  agency  securities, 
while  16%,  3%,  and  18%,  respectively,  were  municipal  securities.  We  only  purchase  corporate  bonds  that  are  investment  grade 
securities issued by seasoned corporations.  

Typically, our investment securities are available for sale. Our purchases of held to maturity securities comprised only 6% of our total 
purchases  in  2015.  Our  purchases  of  held  to  maturity  securities  in  2015  consisted  only  of  mortgage-backed  securities  while  our 
purchases  of  held  to  maturity  securities  in  2014  mainly  consisted  of  U.S.  government  agency  securities.  Our  purchases  of  held  to 
maturity securities in 2013 consisted of U.S. government agency securities that we acquired in connection with our acquisition of FCB 
and mortgage-backed securities that were qualified investments for Community Redevelopment Act purposes.  

44 

 
  
  
  
   
  
    
  
   
  
   
  
    
  
  
 
The table below sets forth the stated maturities and weighted average yields of our investment debt securities based on the amortized 
cost of our investment portfolio as of December 31, 2015 (dollars in thousands).  

Held to maturity: 
Obligations of other U.S. government 
     agencies and corporations 
Obligations of states and political 
     subdivisions 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Available for sale: 
Obligations of other U.S. government 
     agencies and corporations 
Obligations of states and political 
     subdivisions 
Corporate bonds 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 

One Year or Less 
Amount       Yield 

After One Year 
Through Five Years 
      Amount       Yield 

After Five Years 
Through Ten Years 
      Amount       Yield 

      After Ten Years 
      Amount       Yield 

$ 

-       

- %   $ 

-       

- %   $ 

-       

- %   $  3,987        2.21 % 

655        7.17 
- 

-       

      2,950        7.17 
- 
-       

      3,575        7.17 
- 
-       

      6,868        4.38 
      8,373        2.65 

-       

-       
-       
-       
-       
$  655       

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

634        2.10 

      4,980        2.51 

      20,888        2.38 

      3,511        2.22 
      5,096        1.84 
- 
-       
738        2.08 

   $ 12,929       

      4,044        3.24 
      9,723        3.14 
      3,888        2.04 
      1,027        2.32 
   $ 27,237       

      13,810        4.47 
250        4.00 
      43,815        2.16 
240        1.85 

   $ 98,231       

The  maturity  of  mortgage-backed  securities  reflects  scheduled  repayments  based  upon  the  contractual  maturities  of  the  securities. 
Weighted average yields on tax-exempt obligations have been computed on a fully tax equivalent basis assuming a federal tax rate of 
35%. 

Premises and Equipment  

Bank  premises  and  equipment  increased  $2.1  million,  or  7%,  to  $30.6  million  at  December 31,  2015  from  $28.5  million  at 
December 31,  2014.  The  construction  of  a  new  branch  location  in  Gonzales,  Louisiana  and  the  purchase  of  potential  future  branch 
locations in Jefferson and Calcasieu parishes are the primary reasons for this increase.  Bank premises and equipment increased $3.8 
million, or 16%, to $28.5 million at December 31, 2014 from $24.7 million at December 31, 2013. The acquisition of a parcel of land 
in Lafayette, Louisiana for a potential future branch location and the purchase of furniture and fixtures related to the consolidation of 
our back office support staff to a central location are the primary reasons for this increase.   

Deferred Tax Asset  

At  December 31,  2015,  the  net  deferred  tax  asset  was  $1.9  million,  compared  to  $1.1  million  and  $1.2  million,  respectively,  at 
December 31, 2014 and 2013. The increase is mainly attributable to the $0.7 million increase in the deferred tax asset related to the 
provision for loan losses. 

The Bank acquired a net operating loss carryforward of approximately $1.4 million on an after-tax basis as a result of the acquisitions 
of  both  SLBB  and  FCB.  At  December 31,  2015,  we  held  approximately  $1.2  million  in  net  operating  loss  carryforwards,  with 
expiration dates ranging from 2031 to 2033. U.S. tax law imposes annual limitations under Internal Revenue Code Section 382 on the 
amount of net operating loss carryforwards that may be used to offset federal taxable income. Under these laws, we may apply up to 
approximately  $0.6  million  to  offset  our  taxable  income  each  year  through  2015,  with  declining  amounts  thereafter  as  the  net 
operating loss carryforwards are utilized. In addition to this limitation, our ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards depends 
upon the Company generating taxable income. Given the substantial amount of time before our net operating loss carryforwards begin 
to expire, we currently expect to utilize these net operating loss carryforwards in full before their expiration.  

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Deposits  

The  following  table  sets  forth  the  composition  of  our  deposits  and  the  percentage  of  each  deposit  type  to  total  deposits  at 
December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands).  

December 31, 2015 

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2013 

Noninterest-bearing demand 
     deposits 
NOW accounts 
Money market deposit accounts 
Savings accounts 
Time deposits 

Total deposits 

Amount 

$ 

$ 

90,447   
140,503   
96,113   
53,735   
356,608   
737,406   

Percentage of 
Total 
Deposits 

Percentage of 
Total 
Deposits 

Amount 

Percentage of 
Total 
Deposits 

Amount 

12.3 %      $ 
19.0            
13.0            
7.3            
48.4            
100 %      $ 

70,217   
116,644   
77,589   
53,332   
310,336   
628,118   

11.2 %      $ 
18.6           
12.4           
8.5           
49.4           
100 %      $ 

72,795   
77,190   
67,006   
52,177   
263,438   
532,606   

13.7 %  
14.5      
12.6      
9.8      
49.5      
100 %  

Total deposits were $737.4 million at December 31, 2015, an increase of $109.3 million, or 17%, from total deposits of $628.1 million 
at December 31, 2014. Total deposits at December 31, 2014 increased $95.5 million, or 18%, from total deposits of $532.6 million at 
December 31, 2013. The increase in deposits at December 31, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014 and 2013 resulted from organic 
growth in all of our markets. 

The  following  table  shows  the  contractual  maturities  of  certificates  of  deposit  and  other  time  deposits  greater  than  $100,000  at 
December 31, 2015 and 2014 (dollars in thousands).  

Time remaining until maturity: 
Three months or less 
Over three months through six months 
Over six months through twelve months 
Over one year through three years 
Over three years 

Borrowings  

December 31, 

2015 

2014 

Certificates of 
Deposit 

Other Time 
Deposits 

Certificates of 
Deposit 

Other Time 
Deposits 

$ 

$ 

4,312   
10,039   
12,809   
5,272   
1,468   
33,900   

 $ 

 $ 

363  
-  
103  
438  
-  
904  

 $ 

 $ 

24,193   
4,554   
7,617   
8,421   
1,386   
46,171   

 $ 

 $ 

-   
234   
208   
128   
123   
693   

Total  borrowings  include  securities  sold  under  agreements  to  repurchase,  advances  from  the  Federal  Home  Loan  Bank  (“FHLB”), 
lines  of  credit  with  First  National  Bankers  Bankshares,  Inc.  (“FNBB”)  and  The  Independent  Bankers  Bank  (“TIB”),  and  junior 
subordinated  debentures.  Securities  sold  under  agreements  to  repurchase  increased  $26.8  million  to  $39.1  million  at  December 31, 
2015 from $12.3 million at December 31, 2014. Our advances from the FHLB were $127.5 million at December 31, 2015, an increase 
of $1.7 million, or 1%, from FHLB advances of $125.8 million at December 31, 2014. We had no funds drawn on the lines of credit at 
December  31,  2015  or  2014.  The  $3.6  million  in  junior  subordinated  debt  at  December 31,  2015  and  2014  represents  the  junior 
subordinated  debentures  that  we  assumed  in  connection  with  our  acquisition  of  FCB.  The  overall  increase  in  borrowings  was  used 
primarily to fund loan growth. 

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Securities sold under agreements to repurchase  increased $2.1 million to $12.3 million at December 31, 2014 from $10.2 million at 
December 31, 2013 primarily a result of one new short-term repurchase agreement. Our advances from the FHLB were $125.8 million 
at December 31, 2014, an increase of $95.0 million, or 308%, from FHLB advances of $30.8 million at December 31, 2013, mainly 
resulting from the timing of our consumer loan pool sales, as short term FHLB advances were used to fund the origination of the loans 
included in the two loan sales that the buyers postponed form the fourth quarter of 2014 to the first quarter of 2015. 

The average balances and cost of funds of short-term borrowings at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are summarized in the table 
below (dollars in thousands).  

Average Balances 

Cost of Funds 

2015 

2014 

December 31, 
2015 

2013 

2014 

2013 

$  41,906   

 $  16,521   

 $ 

19   

0.20   %     

0.16   %     

0.76   % 

   19,064   
$  60,970   

    11,828   
 $  28,349   

 $ 

7,608   
7,627   

0.20     
0.20   %     

0.23     
0.19   %     

0.15     
0.15   % 

(cid:3)
Federal funds purchased and other 
     short-term borrowings 
Securities sold under agreements 
     to repurchase 

Total short-term borrowings 

Results of Operations  

Performance Summary 

2015 vs. 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, net income was $7.1 million, or $0.98 per basic share and $0.97 per diluted 
share, compared to net income of $5.4 million, or $0.98 per basic share and $0.93 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 
2014. The increase in our net income was primarily driven by higher levels of net interest income resulting from strong organic loan 
growth,  offset,  in  part,  by  a  decrease  in  yields  on  interest-earning  assets.  Return  on  average  assets  increased  to  0.77%  for  the  year 
ended December 31, 2015 from 0.73% for the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily as a result of increases in interest income and 
noninterest  income.  Return  on  average  equity  was  6.6%  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2015  as  compared  to  6.8%  for  the  year 
ended December 31, 2014. This decrease is attributable to the increase in average equity in 2015 as a result of the Company’s initial 
public offering in July 2014. 

2014 vs. 2013. For the year ended December 31, 2014, net income was $5.4 million, or $0.98 per basic share and $0.93 per diluted 
share, compared to net income of $3.2 million, or $0.86 per basic share and $0.81 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 
2013. The increase in our net income was primarily driven by higher levels of net interest income resulting from strong organic loan 
growth as  well as the increase in  loans as a result of the  FCB acquisition in 2013, offset, in part, by a  slight decrease in  yields on 
interest-earning assets. Return on average assets increased to 0.73% for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 0.64% for the year 
ended December 31, 2013 primarily on account of increases in interest income and noninterest income. Return on average equity was 
6.8% for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to 6.1% for the year ended December 31, 2013.  

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin  

Net interest income, which is the largest component of our earnings, is the difference between interest earned on assets and the cost of 
interest-bearing liabilities. The primary factors affecting net interest income are the volume, yield and mix of our rate-sensitive assets 
and liabilities as well as the amount of our nonperforming loans and the interest rate environment.  

The  primary  factors  affecting  net  interest  margin  are  changes  in  interest  rates,  competition  and  the  shape  of  the  interest  rate  yield 
curve. The decline in interest rates since 2008 has put significant downward pressure on net interest margin over the past few years. 
Each rate reduction in interest rate indices (and, in particular, the prime rate, rates paid on U.S. Treasury securities and  the London 
Interbank Offering Rate) resulted in a reduction in the yield on our variable rate loans indexed to one of these indices. However, rates 
on our deposit and other interest-bearing liabilities did not decline proportionally. To offset the effects on our net interest income and 
net interest margin from the prevailing interest rate environment, we have attempted to  focus our interest-earning assets in loans and 
shift  our  interest-bearing  liabilities  from  higher-costing  deposits,  like  certificates  of  deposit,  to  noninterest-bearing  and  other  lower 
cost deposits.  

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2015 vs. 2014. Net interest income increased 18% to $31.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $26.7 million for the 
same period in 2014. Net interest margin was 3.61% for the year ended December 31, 2015, down 24 basis points from 3.85% for the 
year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in net interest income resulted from increases in the volume of interest-earning assets, 
offset by declines in the rate earned on interest-earnings assets and an increase in the volume of interest-bearing liabilities, as well as a 
slight  decrease  in  the  rate  paid  on  such  liabilities.  These  changes  were  driven  by  organic  loan  and  deposit  growth  and  the  current 
interest  rate  environment.  For  the  year  ended  December 31,  2015,  average  loans  and  average  investment  securities  increased 
approximately $152.8 million and $19.6 million, respectively, compared to the same period in 2014, while average  interest-bearing 
deposits and average short- and long-term borrowings increased approximately $105.2 million and $30.0 million, respectively.  

Interest income was $37.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $31.4 million for the same period in 2014. Loan 
interest  income  made  up  substantially  all  of  our  interest  income  for  the  years  ended  December 31,  2015  and  2014.  Interest  on  our 
commercial  real  estate  loans,  one-to-four  family  residential  real  estate  loans  and  consumer  loans  constituted  the  three  largest 
components  of  our  loan  interest  income  for  the  years  ended  December 31,  2015  and  2014  at  77%  and  79%,  respectively,  for  such 
periods. The prolonged low interest rate environment contributed to a lower yield on earning assets, offset by the increases in interest-
earning  assets,  described  above.  The  overall  yield  on  interest-earning  assets  decreased  23  basis  points  to  4.29%  for the  year  ended 
December 31,  2015  as  compared  to  4.52%  for  the  same  period  in  2014.  The  loan  portfolio  yielded  4.65%  for  the  year  ended 
December 31,  2015  as  compared  to  4.99%  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2014,  while  the  yield  on  the  investment  portfolio  was 
2.22% for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 1.69% for the year ended December 31, 2014.  

Interest expense was $5.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, an increase of $1.2 million compared to interest expense of 
$4.7  million  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2014,  as  a  result  of  an  increase  in  volume  of  interest-bearing  liabilities  and  a  slight 
increase in cost. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased approximately $135.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 as 
compared to the same period in 2014 as a result of our organic deposit growth. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased two 
basis points to 0.82% for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014, primarily as a result of an increase 
in the cost of short-term borrowings.  

2014 vs. 2013. Net interest income increased 40% to $26.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $19.0 million for the 
same period in 2013. Net interest margin was 3.85% for the year ended December 31, 2014, down 25 basis points from 4.10% for the 
year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in net interest income resulted from increases in the  volume of interest-earning assets 
and decreases in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities, offset by decreases in the rate earned on interest-earnings assets and an increase 
in  the  volume  of  interest-bearing  liabilities.  These  changes  were  driven  both  by  the  impact  of  the  assets  acquired  and  liabilities 
assumed in connection with the FCB acquisition as well as organic loan and deposit growth. For the year ended December 31, 2014, 
average loans and average investment securities increased approximately $195.2 million and $24.4 million, respectively, compared to 
the  same  period  in  2013,  while  average  interest-bearing  deposits  and  average  short-  and  long-term  borrowings  increased 
approximately $151.5 million and $30.1 million, respectively. 

Interest income was $31.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $22.5 million for the same period in 2013. Loan 
interest  income  made  up  substantially  all  of  our  interest  income  for  the  years  ended  December 31,  2014  and  2013.  Interest  on  our 
commercial real estate loans, our one-to-four family residential real estate loans and our consumer loans constituted the three largest 
components of our loan interest income for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 at 79% each for such periods. The prolonged 
low  interest  rate  environment  contributed  to  a  lower  yield  on  earning  assets,  offset  by  the  increases  in  interest-earning  assets, 
described  above.  The  overall  yield  on  interest-earning  assets  decreased  thirty-three  basis  points  to  4.52%  for  the  year  ended 
December 31,  2014  compared  to  4.85%  for  the  same  period  in  2013.  The  loan  portfolio  yielded  4.99%  for  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2014 compared to 5.34% for the year ended December 31, 2013, while the yield on the investment portfolio was 1.69% 
for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to 1.41% for the year ended December 31, 2013.  

Interest expense was $4.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $1.2 million compared to interest expense of 
$3.5  million  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2013,  as  a  result  of  an  increase  in  volume  of  interest-bearing  liabilities,  offset  by  a 
decrease in cost. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased approximately $186.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 as 
compared to the same period in 2013 as a result of the FCB acquisition and our organic deposit growth. The cost of interest-bearing 
liabilities  decreased  seven  basis  points  to  0.80%  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2014  compared  to  the  same  period  in  2013, 
primarily as a result of lower rates overall. In particular, the weighted average rate paid on certificates of deposit decreased seven basis 
points during the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to same period in 2013. Competitive factors and the general interest rate 
environment, as well as the impact of our strategy to cross-sell using lower cost deposits, drove the decrease in deposit rates.  

48 

 
Average  Balances  and  Yields.  The  following  table  sets  forth  average  balance  sheet  data,  including  all  major  categories  of  interest-
earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, together with the interest earned or paid and the average yield or rate paid on each such 
category as of and for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. Averages presented below are daily averages (dollars in 
thousands).  

2015 
Interest 
Income/ 
Expense(1)   Yield/ Rate(1)       

As of and for the year ended December 31, 
2014 
Interest 
Income/ 
Expense(1)   Yield/ Rate(1)       

Average 
Balance     

Average 
Balance     

2013 
Interest 
Income/ 
Expense(1)   Yield/ Rate(1)     

Average 
Balance     

Assets 
Interest-earning assets: 
Loans 
Securities: 
Taxable 
Tax-exempt 

Interest-earning balances with 
banks 
Total interest-earning assets 
Cash and due from banks 
Intangible assets 
Other assets 
Allowance for loan losses 
Total assets 

Liabilities and stockholders' 
     equity 
Interest-bearing liabilities: 
Deposits: 

$ 754,056    $ 35,076     

4.65  %  $ 601,238   $ 29,979     

4.99  %  $ 405,997    $ 21,686     

5.34  % 

   80,516       1,741     
448     
   18,077      

2.16         66,384     
2.48         12,652     

945     
394     

1.42         39,957      
3.11         14,685      

402     
354     

   18,136      
75     
  870,785       37,340     

5,611      
3,194      
   46,313      
(5,636 )    
$ 920,267      

0.41         13,060      
51     
4.29        693,334       31,369     
5,668      
3,235      
         36,617      
(3,877 )    
      $ 734,977      

0.39        
30     
2,977      
4.52        463,616       22,472     
7,285      
3,124      
         25,397      
(2,737 )    
      $ 496,685      

1.04  
2.41  

0.60  
4.85  

   60,970      
   36,712      

Interest-bearing demand 
Savings deposits 
Time deposits 

$ 222,730    $  1,402     
   54,240      
367     
  343,638       3,481     
Total interest-bearing deposits    620,608       5,250     
296     
Short-term borrowings 
Long-term debt 
336     
Total interest-bearing liabilities   718,290       5,882     
Noninterest-bearing deposits 
Other liabilities 
Stockholders' equity 
Total liabilities and 
     stockholders’ equity 
Net interest income/net interest 
     margin 

   85,635      
9,256      
  107,086      

$ 920,267      

    $ 31,458     

0.63  %  $ 173,715    $  1,078     
0.68         52,881     
361     
1.01        288,837       2,834     
0.85        515,433       4,273     
54     
0.49         28,349     
0.92         39,376      
348     
0.82        583,158      4,675     

726     
0.62  %  $ 113,097    $ 
0.68         42,774      
299     
0.98        208,036       2,179     
0.83        363,907       3,204     
12     
0.19        
7,627      
0.88         24,990      
244     
0.80        396,524       3,460     

0.64  % 
0.70  
1.05  
0.88  
0.16  
0.98  
0.87  

         67,639      
4,809     
         79,371     

         47,564      
1,527      
         51,070      

     $ 734,977      

     $ 496,685      

3.61  %    

    $ 26,694     

3.85  %    

    $ 19,012     

4.10  % 

(1) 

Interest  income  and  net  interest  margin  are  expressed  as  a  percentage  of  average  interest-earning  assets  outstanding  for  the 
indicated periods. Interest expense is expressed as a percentage of average interest-bearing liabilities for the indicated periods.  

Nonaccrual loans were included in the computation of average loan balances but carry a zero yield. The yields include the effect of 
loan  fees,  $1.5  million,  $2.3  million  and  $1.5  million  for  the  years  ended  December 31,  2015,  2014  and  2013,  respectively,  and 
discounts and premiums that are amortized or accreted to interest income or expense.  

49 

 
 
  
    
  
   
 
   
 
   
  
    
        
       
         
      
       
         
        
       
   
    
        
       
         
      
       
         
        
       
   
  
      
     
        
      
     
        
      
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
     
        
     
        
     
  
 
  
     
        
     
        
     
  
 
     
     
     
  
 
  
     
        
     
        
     
  
 
     
     
     
  
 
  
  
      
     
        
      
     
        
      
     
  
 
    
     
     
  
         
    
     
  
         
     
     
  
    
  
      
     
  
       
      
     
  
       
      
     
  
    
  
      
     
  
       
      
     
  
       
      
     
  
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
     
     
  
 
  
     
        
     
        
     
  
 
     
     
     
  
 
     
  
     
  
     
  
    
  
   
Volume/Rate  Analysis.  The  following  table  sets  forth  a  summary  of  the  changes  in  interest  earned  and  interest  paid  resulting  from 
changes  in  volume  and  rates  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2015  compared  to  the  year  ended  December 31,  2014  (dollars  in 
thousands):  

Interest income: 
Loans 
Securities: 
Taxable 
Tax-exempt 

Interest-earning balances with banks 
Total interest-earning assets 

Interest expense: 
Interest-bearing demand deposits 
Savings deposits 
Time deposits 
Short-term borrowings 
Long-term debt 

Total interest-bearing liabilities 

Change in net interest income 

Year ended December 31, 2015 vs. 
Year ended December 31, 2014 
Rate 

Volume 

Net(1) 

$ 

7,620   

 $ 

(2,523 ) 

 $ 

5,097   

201   
169   
20   
8,010   

304   
9   
538   
62   
(24 ) 
889   
7,121   

 $ 

595   
(115 ) 
4   
(2,039 ) 

20   
(3 ) 
109   
180   
12   
318   
(2,357 ) 

 $ 

796   
54   
24   
5,971   

324   
6   
647   
242   
(12 ) 
1,207   
4,764   

$ 

(1) 

Changes in interest due to both volume and rate have been allocated on a pro-rata basis using the absolute ratio value of amounts 
calculated.  

Noninterest Income  

Noninterest  income  includes,  among  other  things,  fees  generated  from  our  deposit  services  and  loans  originated  and  held  for  sale, 
securities gains, gains on the sales of consumer and mortgage loans, and a non-recurring bargain purchase gain resulting from the FCB 
acquisition in May 2013. We expect to continue to develop new products that generate noninterest income, and enhance our existing 
products, in order to diversify our revenue sources.  

2015  vs.  2014.  Total  noninterest  income  increased  $2.4  million,  or  42%,  to  $8.3  million  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2015 
compared  to  $5.9  million  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  3014.  The  increase  is  primarily  due  to  the  increase  in  other  operating 
income and gain on sale of consumer loans.  

Gain on sale of loans is the largest component of our noninterest income. Gain on sale of loans increased $1.0 million to $4.4 million 
for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. These gains were generated by sales 
of mortgage loans and pools of our consumer loans and increased from the prior year as a result of the growth in our consumer loan 
originations and sales. The gain on sale of loans recognized for the  year ended December 31, 2015 directly related to sales of auto 
loans was $3.1 million, compared to $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. However, as a result of the Bank’s exit from 
the  indirect  auto  loan  origination  business  at  the  end  of  2015,  we  expect  our  gain  on  sale  of  loans  to  significantly  decrease  going 
forward.  

Service  charges  on  deposit  accounts  include  maintenance  fees  on  accounts,  account  enhancement  charges  for  additional  deposit 
account features, per item charges and overdraft fees. Service charges on deposits increased 25% to $0.4 million for the  year ended 
December 31, 2015 compared to $0.3 million for the same period in 2014 as a result of our organic deposit growth. 

Gains on the sale of investment securities for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased $0.2 million, or 44%, to $0.5 million from 
$0.3 million for the same period in 2014. We sold approximately  $27.2 million in securities for the year ended December 31, 2015, 
compared to sales of $31.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.  

Gains on the sale of other real estate owned for the year ended December 31, 2015 decreased $0.3 million, or $150%, resulting in a 
loss of $0.1 million from a gain of $0.2 million for the same period in 2014. We sold approximately $2.9 million of  other real estate 
owned for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to sales of $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. 

50 

 
  
  
  
  
     
     
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
Other operating income was $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2014. 
The increase is mainly attributable to the $1.0 million increase in loan servicing fees on sold loans. This increase is a direct result of 
the increase in consumer loan pools and the corresponding growth in our servicing portfolio. In addition to loan servicing fees, other 
operating income consists of interchange fees, ATM surcharge income and credit card fees.  

2014  vs.  2013.  Total  noninterest  income  increased  $0.5  million,  or  9%,  to  $5.9  million  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2014 
compared  to  $5.4  million  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2013.  The  increase  is  primarily  due  to  the  increase  in  gain  on  sale  of 
consumer loans.  

Gain on sale of loans is the largest component of our noninterest income. Gain on sale of loans increased $0.8 million to $3.4 million 
for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. These gains were generated by sales 
of pools of our consumer loans and increased from the prior year as a result of the growth in our consumer loan originations.  

Service  charges  on  deposit  accounts  include  maintenance  fees  on  accounts,  account  enhancement  charges  for  additional  deposit 
account features, per item charges and overdraft fees. Service charges on deposits increased 43% to $0.3 million for the year ended 
December 31,  2014  as  compared  to  $0.2  million  for  the  same  period  in  2013  as  a  result  of  opening  two  new  branches,  one  in 
Lafayette,  Louisiana  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  2013  and  one  in  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana  in  the  third  quarter  of  2014,  as  well  as  our 
organic deposit growth. 

Gains on the sale of investment securities for the year ended December 31, 2014 decreased $0.1 million, or 24%, to $0.3 million from 
$0.4 million for the same period in 2013. We sold approximately $31.6 million in securities for the year ended December 31, 2014, 
compared to sales of $16.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.  

Gains on the sale of other real estate owned for the year ended December 31, 2014 increased $0.1 million, or $137%, to $0.2 million 
from  $0.1  million  for  the  same  period  in  2013.  We  sold  approximately  $1.3  million  of  other  real  estate  owned  for  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2014, compared to sales of $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. 

Other operating income was $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $0.6 million for the same period in 2013. 
Other operating income consists of interchange fees, ATM surcharge income, loan servicing fees and rental income.  

Noninterest Expense  

Noninterest expense includes salaries and benefits and other costs associated with the conduct of our operations. We are committed to 
managing our costs within the framework of our operating strategy. However, since we are focused on growth both organically and 
through acquisition, we expect our expenses to continue to increase as we add employees and physical locations to accommodate our 
growing franchise.  

2015 vs. 2014. Total noninterest expense  was $27.4  million  for the  year ended December 31, 2015, an increase of $3.0 million, or 
12%,  from  $24.4  million  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2014.  This  increase  was  a  result  of  increased  costs  associated  with  our 
expanded  operations,  including  the  opening  of  our  Highland  branch  in  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana  in  the  third  quarter  of  2014,  our 
organic growth, as well as increased costs related to being a publicly-traded company since the Company’s initial public offering in 
July 2014, including implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.  

Salaries and employee benefits increased $1.8 million, or 13%, to $16.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to 
$14.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Staff levels decreased to 168 full-time equivalent employees at December 31, 
2015 compared to 179 full-time equivalent employees at December 31, 2014. The decrease in staffing did not occur until late in the 
second half of 2015 with the restructuring of certain departments and the Bank’s exit from the indirect auto loan origination business. 
In addition, in May 2014, the Company became self-insured for a substantial portion of its potential claims. The Company recognizes 
these costs, up to a specified deductible limit, in the period in which a claim is incurred, including with respect to both reported claims 
and claims incurred but not yet reported. Costs related to these claims increased $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 
compared  to  the  same  period  2014.  Also,  the  Company  incurred  severance  expense  of  approximately  $0.2  million  related  to  the 
restructuring of certain departments, including the Bank’s exit from the indirect auto loan origination business at the end of 2015. 

Net occupancy and equipment expense increased 9% to $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $2.2 million for the 
year ended December 31, 2014. This increase is primarily attributable to the costs associated with our newest branch Baton Rouge, 
which opened in the third quarter of 2014.  

51 

 
Data  processing  expenses  increased  to  $1.5  million  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2015  from  $1.3  million  for  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2014. This increase is primarily a result of organic growth of our loans and deposits. Data processing expenses are also 
related to the number of consumer loans that we service, and fluctuations in this portfolio will affect the amount of data processing 
expense.  

Other  operating  expenses  include  security,  business  development,  FDIC  and  OFI  assessments,  bank  shares  tax,  charitable 
contributions, personnel training and development, filing fees and duplicating costs. Other operating expenses increased $0.9 million 
to $5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $4.8 million for the  same period  in 2014. The increase  is primarily the 
result  of  our  organic  growth.  Included  in  other  operating  expenses  for  2015  is  $41,000  of  amortization  expense  related  to  the 
amortization of our core deposit intangible associated with the FCB and SLBB acquisitions.  

2014 vs. 2013. Total noninterest expense  was $24.4  million  for the  year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $5.4 million, or 
28%,  from  $19.0  million  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2013.  This  increase  was  a  result  of  increased  costs  associated  with  our 
expanded operations as a result of the FCB acquisition, the expansion into the Lafayette market including the opening of our Lafayette 
branch, the opening of our Highland branch in Baton Rouge, and our organic growth.  

Salaries and employee benefits increased $2.8 million, or 24%, to $14.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to 
$11.8 million  for the  year ended December 31, 2013. Staff levels increased to 179 full-time equivalent employees at December 31, 
2014  compared  to  163  full-time  equivalent  employees  at  December 31,  2013,  accounting  for  most  of  the  increase  in  salary  and 
benefits  expense.  Twenty-four  employees  joined  the  Bank  upon  the  completion  of  the  FCB  acquisition.  Another  component  of  the 
increase was the opening of the Lafayette branch in the fourth quarter of 2013.  

Net occupancy and equipment expense increased 29% to $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $1.7 million for the 
year ended December 31, 2013. This increase is primarily attributable to the costs associated with the two branches we acquired in the 
FCB acquisition and the costs associated with our new branches in Lafayette and Baton Rouge.  

Data  processing  expenses  increased  to  $1.3  million  for  the  year  ended  December 31,  2014  from  $0.8  million  for  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2013. This increase is primarily a result of the growth resulting from the FCB merger, the opening of two new branches 
in Lafayette and Baton Rouge, as well as our organic growth. Data processing expenses are also related to the number of consumer 
loans that we service, and fluctuations in this portfolio will affect the amount of data processing expense.  

Other expenses include an  increase in  FDIC and OFI assessments of $0.2  million to $0.5  million for the  year ended  December 31, 
2014 compared to $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 due to our increase in average total assets.  

Other operating expenses include security, business development, charitable contributions,  training, filing fees and duplicating costs. 
Other operating expenses increased $1.1 million to $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $3.9 million for the same 
period in 2013. The increase is primarily the result of the FCB acquisition, the opening of two new branches and our organic growth. 
Included  in  other  operating  expenses  for  2014  is  $41,000  of  amortization  expense  related  to  the  amortization  of  our  core  deposit 
intangible associated with the FCB and SLBB acquisitions.  

Income Tax Expense  

Income tax expense for each of the year ended December 31, 2015 was $3.5 million, compared to $1.1 million at December 31, 2014. 
The effective tax rate for the year ending December 31, 2015 and 2014 was 33% and 18%, respectively. The increase in the effective 
tax rate is mainly due to the Company’s utilization of its Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit for the year ended December 31, 2014. 

Income tax expense for each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was $1.1 million. The effective tax rate 
for the year ending December 31, 2014 and 2013 was 18% and 26%, respectively. As mentioned above, the decrease in the effective 
tax rate is mainly due to the Company’s utilization of its Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit. 

Risk Management  

The primary risks associated with our operations are credit, interest rate and liquidity risk. Credit and interest rate risk  are discussed 
below, while liquidity risk is discussed in this section under the heading Liquidity and Capital Resources below.  

52 

 
Credit Risk and the Allowance for Loan Losses  

General. The risk of loss should a borrower default on a loan is inherent in any lending activity. Our portfolio and related credit  risk 
are monitored and managed on an ongoing basis by our risk management department, the board of directors’ loan committee and the 
full board of directors. We utilize a ten point risk-rating system, which assigns a risk grade to each borrower based on a number of 
quantitative  and  qualitative  factors  associated  with  a  loan  transaction.  The  risk  grade  categorizes  the  loan  into  one  of  five  risk 
categories,  based  on  information  about  the  ability  of  borrowers  to  service  the  debt.  The  information  includes,  among  other  factors, 
current financial information about the borrower, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information and current 
economic  trends.  These  categories  assist  management  in  monitoring  our  credit  quality.  The  following  describes  each  of  the  risk 
categories, which are consistent with the definitions used in guidance promulgated by federal banking regulators:  

(cid:120)  Pass (Loan grades 1-6)—Loans not meeting the criteria below are considered pass. These loans have high credit characteristics 
and financial strength. The borrowers at least generate profits and cash flow that are in line with peer and industry standards and 
have debt service coverage ratios above loan covenants and our policy guidelines. For some of these loans, a guaranty from a 
financially capable party mitigates characteristics of the borrower that might otherwise result in a lower grade.  

(cid:120)  Special Mention (grade 7)—Loans classified as special  mention possess  some credit deficiencies  that  need to be corrected to 
avoid a greater risk of default in the future. For example, financial ratios relating to the borrower may have deteriorated. Often, a 
special  mention  categorization  is  temporary  while  certain  factors  are  analyzed  or  matters  addressed  before  the  loan  is  re-
categorized as either pass or substandard.  

(cid:120)  Substandard (grade 8)—Loans classified as substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity 
of the borrower or the liquidation value of any collateral. If deficiencies are not addressed, it is likely that this category of loan 
will result in the Bank incurring a loss. Where a borrower has been unable to adjust to industry or general economic conditions, 
the borrower’s loan is often categorized as substandard.  

(cid:120)  Doubtful  (grade  9)—Doubtful  loans  are  substandard  loans  with  one  or  more  additional  negative  factors  that  makes  full 
collection of amounts outstanding, either through repayment or liquidation of collateral, highly questionable and improbable.  

(cid:120)  Loss (grade 10)—Loans classified as loss have deteriorated to such a point that it is not practicable to defer writing off the loan. 
For these loans, all efforts to remediate the loan’s negative characteristics have failed and the value of the collateral, if any, has 
severely  deteriorated  relative  to  the  amount  outstanding.  Although  some  value  may  be  recovered  on  such  a  loan,  it  is  not 
significant in relation to the amount borrowed.  

At December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there were no loans classified as doubtful or loss, while there were $6.7 million and 
$5.6  million,  respectively,  of  loans  classified  as  substandard  and  $1.4  million  and  $0.5  million,  respectively,  of  loans  classified  as 
special mention as of such dates. Of our substandard and special mention loans at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, $1.6 
million and $3.7 million, respectively, were acquired in the FCB acquisition and marked to fair value at the time of their acquisition. 
At December 31, 2013, we had no doubtful or loss loans, and we had substandard and special mention loans of $4.2 million and  $1.2 
million, respectively. 

An  external  loan  review  consultant  is  engaged  annually  by  the  risk  management  department  to  review  approximately  40%  of 
commercial loans, utilizing a risk-based approach designed to maximize the effectiveness of the review. In addition, credit analysts 
periodically  review  smaller  dollar  commercial  loans  to  identify  negative  financial  trends  related  to  any  one  borrower,  any  related 
groups of borrowers or an industry. All loans not categorized as pass are put on an internal watch list,  with quarterly reports to the 
board of directors. In addition, a written status report is maintained by our special assets division for all commercial loans categorized 
as substandard or worse. We use this information in connection with our collection efforts.  

If our collection efforts are unsuccessful, collateral securing loans may be repossessed and sold or, for loans secured by real estate, 
foreclosure proceedings initiated. The collateral is sold at public auction for fair market value (based upon recent appraisals), with fees 
associated with the foreclosure being deducted from the sales price. The purchase price is applied to the outstanding loan balance. If 
the loan balance is greater than the sales proceeds, the deficient balance is charged-off.  

53 

 
Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses is an amount that management believes will be adequate to absorb probable 
losses inherent in the entire loan portfolio. The appropriate level of the allowance is based on an ongoing analysis of the loan portfolio 
and  represents  an  amount  that  management  deems  adequate  to  provide  for  inherent  losses,  including  collective  impairment  as 
recognized  under  ASC  Topic  450,  Contingencies.  Collective  impairment  is  calculated  based  on  loans  grouped  by  grade.  Another 
component of the allowance is losses on loans assessed as impaired under ASC Topic 310,  Receivables. The balance of these loans 
and their related allowance is included in management’s estimation and analysis of the allowance for loan losses. Other considerations 
in establishing the allowance for loan losses include the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, overall  portfolio quality, historical 
loan loss, review of specific problem loans and current economic conditions that may affect the borrower’s ability to pay, as well as 
trends  within  each  of  these  factors.  The  allowance  for  loan  losses  is  established  after  input  from  management  as  well  as  our  risk 
management department and our special assets committee. We evaluate the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly 
basis. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information 
becomes available. The allowance for loan losses was $6.1 million at December 31, 2015, up from $4.6 million at December 31, 2014 
and $3.4 million at December 31, 2013, as we increased our loan loss provisioning to reflect our organic loan growth.  

A  loan  is  considered  impaired  when,  based  on  current  information  and  events,  it  is  probable  that  we  will  be  unable  to  collect  the 
scheduled  payments  of  principal  and  interest  when  due  according  to  the  contractual  terms  of  the  loan  agreement.  Determination  of 
impairment is treated the same across all classes of loans. Impairment is measured on a loan-by-loan basis for, among others, all loans 
of $500,000 or greater, nonaccrual loans and a sample of loans between $250,000 and $500,000. When we identify a loan as impaired, 
we measure the extent of the impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan’s effective 
interest rate, except  when the sole (remaining) source of repayment for the loans is the  operation or liquidation of the collateral. In 
these cases when foreclosure is probable, we use the current fair value of the collateral, less selling costs, instead of discounted cash 
flows. For real estate collateral, the fair value of the collateral is based upon a recent appraisal by a qualified and licensed appraiser. If 
we determine that the value of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan (net of previous charge-offs, deferred 
loan  fees  or  costs  and  unamortized  premium  or  discount),  we  recognize  impairment  through  an  allowance  estimate  or  a  charge-off 
recorded against the allowance. When the ultimate collectability of the total principal of an impaired loan is in doubt and the loan is on 
nonaccrual,  all  payments  are  applied  to  principal,  under  the  cost  recovery  method.  When  the  ultimate  collectability  of  the  total 
principal of an impaired loan is not in doubt and the loan  is on nonaccrual, contractual  interest is credited to interest income  when 
received, under the cash basis method.  

Impaired loans at December 31, 2015 were $4.0 million, including impaired loans acquired in the FCB acquisition in the amount of 
$1.5 million, compared to $3.6 million, including impaired loans acquired in the FCB acquisition in the amount of $1.3 million, at 
December 31, 2014. Impaired loans were $4.2 million, including impaired loans acquired in the FCB acquisition in the amount of $3.8 
million  at  December  31,  2013.  At  December 31,  2015  and  December 31,  2014,  $0.2  million  and  $0.1  million,  respectively,  of  the 
allowance for loan losses were specifically allocated to impaired loans, while $37,000 of the allowance was specifically allocated to 
such loans at December 31, 2013.  

The  provision  for  loan  losses  is  a  charge  to  income  in  an  amount  that  management  believes  is  necessary  to  maintain  an  adequate 
allowance for loan losses. The provision is based on management’s regular evaluation of current economic conditions in our specific 
markets  as  well  as  regionally  and  nationally,  changes  in  the  character  and  size  of  the  loan  portfolio,  underlying  collateral  values 
securing  loans,  and  other  factors  which  deserve  recognition  in  estimating  loan  losses.  For  the  year  ended  December 31,  2015  and 
2014, the provision for loan losses was $1.9 million and $1.6 million, respectively, up from $1.0 million in 2013. The increase is due 
primarily to the overall growth in our loan portfolio, including our commercial real estate loans.  

Acquired SLBB loans had a carrying value of $31.3 million and a fair value of $31.5 million on the acquisition date, while acquired 
FCB  loans  had  a  carrying  value  of  $78.4  million  and  a  fair  value  of  $77.5  million  on  the  acquisition  date.  Acquired  loans  that  are 
accounted  for  under  ASC  310-30,  Loans  and  Debt  Securities  Acquired  with  Deteriorated  Credit  Quality  (“ASC  310-30”),  were 
marked to  market on the date  we acquired the loans to values  which, in  management’s  opinion, reflected the estimated future cash 
flows, based on the facts and circumstances surrounding each respective loan at the date of acquisition. We continually monitor these 
loans as part of our normal credit review and monitoring procedures for changes in the estimated future cash flows. Because ASC 310-
30  does  not  permit  carry  over  or recognition  of  an  allowance  for  loan  losses,  we  may  be  required  to  reserve  for  these  loans  in  the 
allowance for loan losses through future provision for loan losses if future cash flows deteriorate below initial projections. We did not 
increase the allowance for loan losses for loans accounted for under ASC 310-30 during 2015, 2014 or 2013. There was no provision 
for loan losses charged to operating expense attributable to loans accounted for under ASC 310-30 for the years ended December 31, 
2015, 2014 and 2013.  

54 

 
The  following  table  presents  the  allocation  of  the  allowance  for  loan  losses  by  loan  category  as  of  the  dates  indicated  (dollars  in 
thousands).  

Mortgage loans on real estate: 

Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Multifamily 
Farmland 
Commercial real estate 
Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 
Total 

2015 

2014 

December 31, 
2013 

2012 

2011 

$ 

$ 

644   
1,213   
246   
22   
2,156     
513     
1,334     
6,128     

 $ 

$ 

526   
909   
137   
18   
1,571     
390     
1,079     
4,630     

 $ 

$ 

420   
567   
101   
4   
992     
397     
899     
3,380     

 $ 

$ 

276   
415   
18   
-   
977     
332     
704     
2,722     

 $ 

$ 

385   
194   
5   
-   
506   
306   
350   
1,746   

The following table presents the amount of the allowance for loan losses allocated to each loan category as a percentage of total loans 
as of the dates indicated.  

Mortgage loans on real estate: 

Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Multifamily 
Farmland 
Commercial real estate 
Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 
Total 

2015 

2014 

December 31, 
2013 

2012 

2011 

0.09   % 
0.16     
0.03     
-     
0.29     
0.07     
0.18     
0.82   %   

0.09   % 
0.15     
0.02     
-     
0.25     
0.06     
0.17     
0.74   %   

0.08   % 
0.11     
0.02     
-     
0.20     
0.08     
0.18     
0.67   %   

0.10   % 
0.14     
0.01     
-     
0.33     
0.12     
0.24     
0.94   %   

0.18   % 
0.09     
-     
-     
0.22     
0.14     
0.16     
0.79   % 

55 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
     
  
     
  
    
  
     
  
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
     
  
     
  
     
  
     
  
     
  
     
 
     
     
    
     
    
     
    
     
    
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
As discussed above, the balance in the allowance for loan losses is principally influenced by the provision for loan losses and by net 
loan loss experience. Additions to the allowance are charged to the provision for loan losses. Losses are charged to the allowance as 
incurred and recoveries on losses previously charged to the allowance are credited to the allowance at the time recovery is collected. 
The table below reflects the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands).  

Allowance at beginning of period 
Provision for loan losses 
Charge-offs: 

Mortgage loans on real estate: 

Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Multifamily 
Farmland 
Commercial real estate 
Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 
Total charge-offs 
Recoveries 

Mortgage loans on real estate: 

Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Multifamily 
Farmland 
Commercial real estate 
Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 
Total recoveries 
Net (charge-offs) recoveries 
Balance at end of period 

Net charge-offs to: 
Loans - average 
Allowance for loan losses 
Allowance for loan losses to: 

Total loans 
Nonperforming loans 

2015 

2014 

Year ended December 31, 
2013 

2012 

2011 

$ 

4,630      
1,865      

$ 

3,380      
1,628      

$ 

2,722      
1,026      

$ 

1,746      
685      

$ 

1,476   
639   

(17 )    
(78 )    
-      
-      
-      
(58 )    
(477 )    
(630 )    

25      
12      
-      
-      
1      
197      
28      
263      
(367 )    
6,128      

0.05 %   
5.99 %   

0.82 %   
254 %   

$ 

-      
(123 )    
-      
-      
(3 )    
(16 )    
(317 )    
(459 )    

1      
4      
-      
-      
1      
17      
58      
81      
(378 )    
4,630      

0.07 %   
8.16 %   

0.74 %   
139 %   

$ 

-      
-      
-      
-      
-      
(118 )    
(271 )    
(389 )    

-      
-      
-      
-      
-      
-      
21      
21      
(368 )    
3,380      

0.09 %   
10.89 %   

0.67 %   
227 %   

$ 

-      
-      
(15 )    
-      
-      
-      
(166 )    
(181 )    

-      
-      
-      
-      
448      
2      
22      
472      
291      
2,722      

-0.12 %   
-10.69 %   

0.94 %   
5136 %   

$ 

-   
(63 ) 
-   
-   
(20 ) 
(218 ) 
(77 ) 
(378 ) 

-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
9   
9   
(369 ) 
1,746   

0.20 % 
21.13 % 

0.79 % 
6236 % 

$ 

The allowance for loan losses to total loans ratio increased to 0.82% at December 31, 2015 compared to 0.74% at December 31, 2014. 
The  allowance  for  loan  losses  to  nonperforming  loans  ratio  increased  to  254%  at  December 31,  2015  from  139%  at  December 31, 
2014  as  the  result  of  a  $0.9  million  decrease  in  nonperforming  loans.  The  decrease  in  the  ratio  of  the  allowance  for  loan  losses  to 
nonperforming loans at December 31, 2014 compared to December 31, 2013 was due  to  a $1.9 million decrease in  nonperforming 
loans.  

Charge-offs reflect the realization of losses in the portfolio that were recognized previously through the provision for loan losses. Net 
charge-offs  for  each  of  the  years  ended  December 31, 2015,  2014  and 2013  were  $0.4 million,  equal  to  0.05%,  0.07%  and  0.09%, 
respectively,  of  our  average  loan  balance  for  the  respective  periods.  For  the  years  ended  December 31,  2015,  2014  and  2013,  the 
majority of our charge-offs were indirect consumer loans. Net charge-offs of our indirect consumer loans as a percentage of average 
indirect consumer loans for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were 0.26%, 0.16% and 0.22%, respectively. 

Management believes the allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2015 is sufficient to provide adequate protection against losses in 
our  portfolio.  Although  the  allowance  for  loan  losses  is  considered  adequate  by  management,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  this 
allowance will prove to be adequate over time to cover ultimate losses in connection with our loans. This allowance may prove to be 
inadequate  due  to  unanticipated  adverse  changes  in  the  economy  or  discrete  events  adversely  affecting  specific  customers  or 
industries. Our results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected to the extent that the allowance is 
insufficient to cover such changes or events.  

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Nonperforming  assets  and  restructured  loans.  Nonperforming  assets  consist  of  nonperforming  loans  and  other  real  estate  owned. 
Nonperforming  loans  are  those  on  which  the  accrual  of  interest  has  stopped  or  loans  which  are  contractually  90  days  past  due  on 
which interest continues to accrue. Loans are ordinarily placed on nonaccrual when a loan is specifically determined to be impaired or 
when  principal  and  interest  is  delinquent  for  90  days  or  more.  However,  management  may  elect  to  continue  the  accrual  when  the 
estimated  net  available  value  of  collateral  is  sufficient  to  cover  the  principal  balance  and  accrued  interest.  It  is  our  policy  to 
discontinue the accrual of interest income on any loan for which we have reasonable doubt as to the payment of interest or principal. 
Nonaccrual  loans  are  returned  to  an  accrual  status  when  the  financial  position  of  the  borrower  indicates  there  is  no  longer  any 
reasonable doubt as to the payment of principal or interest.  

Another category of assets which contribute to our credit risk is troubled debt restructurings, or restructured loans. A restructured loan 
is  a  loan  for  which  a  concession  that  is  not  insignificant  has  been  granted  to  the  borrower  due  to  a  deterioration  of the  borrower’s 
financial condition and which are performing in accordance with the new terms. Such concessions may include reduction in interest 
rates, deferral of interest or principal payments, principal forgiveness and other actions intended to minimize the economic loss and to 
avoid foreclosure or repossession of the collateral. We strive to identify borrowers in financial difficulty early and work  with them to 
modify their loans to more affordable terms before such loan reaches nonaccrual status. In evaluating whether to restructure  a loan, 
management  analyzes  the  long-term  financial  condition  of  the  borrower,  including  guarantor  and  collateral  support,  to  determine 
whether the proposed concessions will increase the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest. Restructured loans that are not 
performing in accordance with their restructured terms that are either contractually 90 days past due or placed on nonaccrual status are 
reported as nonperforming loans.  

There were eleven loans classified as TDRs at December 31, 2015 that totaled approximately $2.2 million compared to $0.6 million at 
December 31,  2014.  Nine  of  the  eleven  TDRs  were  acquired  from  FCB.  Ten  of  the  eleven  TDRs  were  considered  troubled  debt 
restructurings due to a modification of term through adjustments to maturity.  One restructured loan was considered a TDR due to a 
modification of terms through principal payment forbearance, paying interest only for a specified period of time. As of December 31, 
2015, three of the restructured loans with a balance of $0.5 million were in default of their modified terms and had been placed on 
nonaccrual. As of December 31, 2014, one of the restructured loans with a balance of $0.4 million was in default of its modified terms 
and had been placed on nonaccrual.  

The following table shows the principal amounts of nonperforming and restructured loans as of the dates indicated. All loans  where 
information exists about possible credit problems that would cause us to have serious doubts about the borrower’s ability to  comply 
with the current repayment terms of the loan have been reflected in the table below (dollars in thousands).  

2015 

2014 

December 31, 
2013 

2012 

2011 

Nonaccrual loans 
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more 
Total nonperforming loans 
Restructured loans 
Total nonperforming and restructured loans 
Interest income recognized on nonperforming 
     and restructured loans 
Interest income foregone on nonperforming 
     and restructured loans 

$ 

$ 

2,411      $ 
-        
2,411        
1,629        
4,040      $ 

3,340      $ 
-        
3,340        
226        
3,566      $ 

1,489      $ 
-        
1,489        
815        
2,304      $ 

174        

105        

100        

252        

169        

281        

53      $ 
-        
53        
-        
53      $ 

2        

4        

28   
-   
28   
-   
28   

1   

4   

Of the total nonaccrual loans at both December 31, 2015 and 2014, $1.1 million, were acquired in the acquisition of  FCB. We  had 
$1.2 million in nonaccrual loans acquired through acquisition at December 31, 2013. Nonperforming loans are comprised of accruing 
loans  past  due  90  days  or  more  and  nonaccrual  loans.  Nonperforming  loans  outstanding  represented  0.32%  of  total  loans  at 
December 31, 2015, nonperforming loans other than those acquired through an acquisition were 0.17%, and nonperforming acquired 
loans  were  0.15%  at  such  date.  Nonperforming  loans  outstanding,  including  acquired  nonperforming  loans,  represented  0.54%  and 
0.30% of total loans at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. 

Other Real Estate Owned. Other real estate owned consists of properties acquired through foreclosure or acceptance of a deed in lieu 
of foreclosure. These properties are carried at the lower of cost or fair market  value based on appraised value less estimated selling 
costs. Losses arising at the time of foreclosure of properties are charged against the allowance for loan losses. Other real estate owned 
with  a  cost  basis  of  $2.9  million  and  $1.3  million  was  sold  during  the  years  ended  December 31,  2015  and  2014,  respectively, 
resulting in a net loss of $0.1 million and a net gain of $0.2 million for the respective period, compared to a cost basis of $1.6 million 
and a net gain of $0.1 million at December 31, 2013. At December 31, 2015, $0.6 million of our other real estate owned was related to 
our acquisition of FCB compared to $1.3 million at December 31, 2014.  

57 

 
 
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
The following table provides details of our other real estate owned as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).  

Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
     Total other real estate owned 

December 31, 2015 

December 31, 2014 

$ 

$ 

616      $ 
109     
725      $ 

2,130   
605   
2,735   

Changes in our other real estate owned are summarized in the table below for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands). 

Balance, beginning of period 
Transfers from loans 
Transfers from acquired loans 
Sales of other real estate owned 
Write-downs 
Balance, end of period 

Interest Rate Risk  

Year ended 
December 31, 2015 

Year ended 
December 31, 2014 

$ 

$ 

2,735      $ 
950     
55     
(2,961 )   
(54 )   
725      $ 

3,515   
-   
706   
(1,276 ) 
(210 ) 
2,735   

Market  risk  is  the  risk  of  loss  from  adverse  changes  in  market  prices  and  rates.  Since  the  majority  of  our  assets  and  liabilities  are 
monetary in nature, our market risk arises primarily from interest rate risk inherent in our lending and deposit activities. A sudden and 
substantial change in interest rates may adversely impact our earnings and profitability because the interest rates borne by  assets and 
liabilities do not change at the same speed, to the same extent or on the same basis. Accordingly, our ability to proactively structure 
the  volume  and  mix  of  our  assets  and  liabilities  to  address  anticipated  changes  in  interest  rates,  as  well  as  to  react  quickly  to  such 
fluctuations, can significantly impact our financial results. To that end, management actively monitors and manages our interest rate 
risk exposure.  

The Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”) has been authorized by the board of directors to implement our asset/liability management 
policy, which establishes guidelines with respect to our exposure to interest rate fluctuations, liquidity, loan limits as a percentage of 
funding sources, exposure to correspondent banks and brokers and reliance on non-core deposits. The goal of the policy is to enable us 
to maximize our interest income and maintain our net interest margin without exposing the Bank to excessive interest rate risk, credit 
risk  and  liquidity  risk.  Within  that  framework,  the  ALCO  monitors  our  interest  rate  sensitivity  and  makes  decisions  relating  to  our 
asset/liability composition.  

We monitor the impact of changes in interest rates on our net interest income using gap analysis. The gap represents the net position of 
our assets and liabilities subject to repricing in specified time periods. During any given time period, if the amount of rate-sensitive 
liabilities  exceeds  the  amount  of  rate-sensitive  assets,  a  financial  institution  would  generally  be  considered  to  have  a  negative  gap 
position and would benefit from falling rates over that period of time. Conversely, a financial institution with a positive gap position 
would generally benefit from rising rates.  

Within  the  gap  position  that  management  directs,  we  attempt  to  structure  our  assets  and  liabilities  to  minimize  the  risk  of  either  a 
rising or falling interest rate environment. We manage our gap position for time horizons of one  month, two months, three months, 
four to six months, seven to twelve months, 13-24 months, 25-36 months, 37-60 months and more than 60 months. The goal of our 
asset/liability management is for the Bank to maintain a net interest income at risk in an up or down 100 basis point environment at 
less than (5)%. At December 31, 2015, the Bank was within the policy guidelines for asset/liability management. 

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The following table depicts the estimated impact on net interest income of immediate changes in interest rates at the specified levels 
for the periods presented.  

Changes in Interest Rates 
(in basis points) 

As of December 31, 2015 

Estimated 
Increase/Decrease in 
Net Interest Income (1) 

+400 
+300 
+200 
+100 
-100 
-200 
-300 

(4.10 )% 
(3.00 )% 
(1.90 )% 
(1.00 )% 
3.60 % 
0.70 % 
0.50 % 

(1) 

The percentage change in this column represents the projected net interest income  for 12 months on a  flat balance sheet in a 
stable interest rate environment versus the projected net interest income in the various rate scenarios.  

The  computation  of  the  prospective  effects  of  hypothetical  interest  rate  changes  requires  numerous  assumptions  regarding 
characteristics  of  new  business  and  the  behavior  of  existing  positions.  These  business  assumptions  are  based  upon  our  experience, 
business plans and published industry experience. Key assumptions include asset prepayment speeds, competitive factors, the relative 
price sensitivity of certain assets and liabilities, and the expected life of non-maturity deposits. However, there a  number of factors 
that  influence  the  effect  of  interest  rate  fluctuations  on  us  which  are  difficult  to  measure  and  predict.  For  example,  a  rapid  drop  in 
interest rates might cause our loans to repay at a more rapid pace and certain mortgage-related investments to prepay more quickly 
than projected. This could mitigate some of the benefits of falling rates as are expected when we are in a negatively-gapped position. 
Conversely, a rapid rise in rates could give us an opportunity to increase our margins and stifle the rate of repayment on our mortgage-
related  loans  which  would  increase  our  returns.  As  a  result,  because  these  assumptions  are  inherently  uncertain,  actual  results  will 
differ from simulated results.  

Liquidity and Capital Resources  

Liquidity. Liquidity is a measure of the ability to fund loan commitments and meet deposit maturities and withdrawals in a timely and 
cost-effective way. Cash flow requirements can be met by generating net income, attracting new deposits, converting assets to cash or 
borrowing  funds.  While  maturities  and  scheduled  amortization  of  loans  and  securities  are  predictable  sources  of  funds,  deposit 
outflows, loan prepayments, loan sales and borrowings are greatly influenced by general interest rates, economic conditions and the 
competitive environment in which we operate. To minimize funding risks, we closely monitor our liquidity position through periodic 
reviews of maturity profiles, yield and rate behaviors, and loan and deposit forecasts. Excess short-term liquidity is usually invested in 
overnight federal funds sold.  

Our core deposits, which are deposits excluding time deposits greater than $250,000 and deposits of municipalities and other political 
entities, are our most stable source of liquidity to meet our cash flow needs due to the nature of the long-term relationships generally 
established  with our customers. Maintaining the ability to acquire these funds as needed in a variety of  markets, and within  ALCO 
compliance  targets,  is  essential  to  ensuring  our  liquidity.  At  December 31,  2015  and  2014,  69%  and  67%  of  our  total  assets, 
respectively, were funded by core deposits.  

Our  investment  portfolio  is  another  alternative  for  meeting  our  cash  flow  requirements.  Investment  securities  generate  cash  flow 
through principal payments and maturities, and they generally have readily available markets that allow for their conversion to cash. 
Some securities are pledged to secure certain deposit types or short-term borrowings (such as FHLB advances), which impacts their 
liquidity.  At  December 31,  2015,  securities  with  a  carrying  value  of  $88.1  million  were  pledged  to  secure  deposits  or  borrowings, 
compared to $63.1 million in pledged securities as of December 31, 2014.  

59 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Other sources available for meeting liquidity needs include advances from the FHLB, repurchase agreements and other borrowings. 
FHLB advances are primarily used to match-fund fixed rate loans in order to minimize interest rate risk and also may be used to meet 
day  to  day  liquidity  needs,  particularly  if  the  prevailing  interest  rate  on  an  FHLB  advance  compares  favorably  to  the  rates  that  we 
would  be  required  to  pay  to  attract  deposits.  At  December 31,  2015,  the  balance  of  our  outstanding  advances  with  the  FHLB  was 
$127.5 million, an increase from $125.8 million at December 31, 2014. The total amount of the remaining credit available to us from 
the FHLB at December 31, 2015 was $174.1 million. Repurchase agreements are contracts for the sale of securities  which  we own 
with  a  corresponding  agreement  to  repurchase  those  securities  at  an  agreed  upon  price  and  date.  Our  policies  limit  the  use  of 
repurchase  agreements  collateralized  by  U.S.  Treasury  and  agency  securities.  We  had  $39.1  million  of  repurchase  agreements 
outstanding  as  of  December 31,  2015,  compared  to  $12.3  million  of  outstanding  repurchase  agreements  as  December 31,  2014. 
Finally,  we  maintain  unsecured  lines  of  credit  with  other  commercial  banks  totaling  $35.0  million.  The  lines  of  credit  mature  at 
various times within the next twelve months. There were no amounts outstanding under these lines of credit at December 31, 2015 or 
2014.  

Our liquidity strategy is focused on using the least costly funds available to us in the context of our balance sheet composition and 
interest  rate  risk  position.  Accordingly,  we  target  growth  of  noninterest-bearing  deposits.  Although  we  cannot  directly  control  the 
types of deposit instruments our customers choose, we can influence those choices with the interest rates and deposit specials we offer. 
We do not hold any brokered deposits, as defined for federal regulatory purposes, although we do hold QwikRate® deposits which we 
obtain via the internet to address liquidity needs when rates on such deposits compare favorably with deposit rates in in our markets. 
At December 31, 2015, we held $79.3 million of QwikRate® deposits, up from $52.7 million at December 31, 2014.  

The  following  tables  presents,  by  type,  our  funding  sources,  which  consist  of  total  average  deposits  and  borrowed  funds,  as  a 
percentage of total funds and the total cost of each funding source for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.  

Noninterest-bearing demand 
Interest-bearing demand 
Savings 
Time deposits 
Short-term borrowings 
Borrowed funds 
Total deposits and borrowed funds 

Percentage of Total 
Year ended 
December 31, 

Cost of Funds 
Year ended 
December 31, 

2015 

2014 

2015 

2014 

11 %   
28      
7      
43      
7      
4      
100 %   

11 %   
27     
8     
44     
4     
6     
100 %   

- %   
0.6      
0.7      
1.0      
0.5      
0.9      
0.7 %   

- %  
0.6     
0.7     
1.0     
0.2     
0.9     
0.7 %  

We are subject to certain restrictions on dividends under applicable banking laws and regulations.  Please refer to the discussion under 
the  heading  “Supervision  and  Regulation  –  Dividends”  in  Item  1,  Business,  for  more  information  regarding  the  restrictions  on 
dividends applicable to the Company and the Bank. 

Capital  Management.  Our  primary  sources  of  capital  include  retained  earnings,  capital  obtained  through  acquisitions  and  proceeds 
from the sale of our capital stock. We are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the Federal Reserve and 
the  FDIC.  These  requirements  are  described  in  greater  detail  under  the  heading  “Supervision  and  Regulation  –  Regulatory  Capital 
Requirements” of Item 1, Business. Those guidelines specify capital tiers, which include the following classifications:  

Capital Tiers 
Well capitalized 
Adequately capitalized 
Undercapitalized 
Significantly undercapitalized 
Critically undercapitalized 

Tier 1 Leverage 
Ratio 
5% or above 
4% or above 
   Less than 4% 
   Less than 3% 

Tier 1 Capital 
Ratio 

Common Equity 
Tier 1 Capital 
Ratio 
   8% or above 
   6.5% of above 
   4.5% or above    
6% or above 
   Less than 4.5%     Less than 6% 
   Less than 4% 
   Less than 3% 

  Total Capital Ratio 
   10% or above 
   8% or above 
   Less than 8% 
   Less than 6% 

2% or less 

60 

 
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
    
   
     
  
    
   
     
  
    
   
     
  
    
   
     
  
    
   
     
  
    
   
     
  
    
   
     
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
The Company and the Bank each were in compliance with all regulatory capital requirements as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and 
the Bank was in compliance with all regulatory capital requirements as of December 31, 2013. The Bank also was considered “well-
capitalized” under the FDIC’s prompt corrective action regulations as of these dates. The following table presents the actual capital 
amounts and regulatory capital ratios for the Company and the Bank as of the dates presented (dollars in thousands).  

December 31, 2015 
Investar Holding Corporation: 
Tier 1 capital to average assets (leverage) 
Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets 
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets 
Total capital to risk-weighted assets 
Investar Bank: 
Tier 1 capital to average assets (leverage) 
Tier 1 common equity to risk-weighted assets 
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets 
Total capital to risk-weighted assets 

December 31, 2014 
Investar Holding Corporation: 
Tier 1 capital to average assets (leverage) 
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets 
Total capital to risk-weighted assets 
Investar Bank: 
Tier 1 capital to average assets (leverage) 
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets 
Total capital to risk-weighted assets 

Off-Balance Sheet Transactions  

Actual 

Minimum Capital 
Requirement to be 
Well Capitalized 

Amount 

Ratio 

Amount 

Ratio 

$ 

110,574       
107,074       
110,574       
116,702       

107,209       
107,209       
107,209       
113,337        

$ 

103,535        
103,535       
108,165        

73,870        
73,870        
78,500        

11.39 %   $ 
11.67         
12.05         
12.72         

11.07         
11.71         
11.71         
12.38         

12.61 %   $ 
13.79         
14.41         

9.00         
9.86         
10.48         

-        
-        
-        
-        

-   
-   
-   
-   

48,436        
59,511        
73,244        
91,555        

5.00   
6.50   
8.00   
10.00   

-        
-        
-        

-   
-   
-   

41,026        
44,959        
74,931        

5.00   
6.00   
10.00   

The Bank entered into forward starting interest rate swap contracts to manage exposure against the variability in the expected future 
cash  flows  (future  interest  payments)  attributable  to  changes  in  the  1-month  LIBOR  associated  with  the  forecasted  issuances  of  1-
month fixed rate debt arising from a rollover strategy. An interest rate swap is an agreement whereby one party agrees to pay a fixed 
rate of interest on a notional principal amount in exchange for receiving a floating rate of interest on the same notional amount for a 
predetermined  period  of  time,  from  a  second  party.  The  maximum  length  of  time  over  which  the  Bank  is  currently  hedging  its 
exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions is approximately 4.5 years. The total notional amount of the 
derivative contracts is $30.0 million. 

For each of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, a loss of $0.2 million, net of a $0.1 million tax benefit, was recognized in 
“Other comprehensive (loss) income” in the accompanying consolidated statement of other comprehensive income for the change in 
fair value of the interest rate swap. The swap contract had a negative fair value of $0.6 million and $0.3 million as of December 31, 
2015 and 2014, respectively and has been recorded in “Accrued taxes and other liabilities” in the accompanying consolidated balance 
sheets. The Bank expects the hedge to remain fully effective during the remaining term of the swap contract. 

The Bank enters into loan commitments and standby letters of credit in the normal course of its business. Loan commitments are made 
to  meet  the  financing  needs  of  our  customers,  while  standby  letters  of  credit  commit  the  Bank  to  make  payments  on  behalf  of 
customers when certain specified future events occur. The credit risks associated with loan commitments and standby letters of credit 
are essentially the same as those involved in making loans to our customers. Accordingly, our normal credit policies apply to these 
arrangements.  Collateral  (e.g.,  securities,  receivables,  inventory,  equipment,  etc.)  is  obtained  based  on  management’s  credit 
assessment of the customer.  

Loan  commitments  and  standby  letters  of  credit  do  not  necessarily  represent  future  cash  requirements,  in  that  while  the  customer 
typically has the ability to draw upon these commitments at any time, these commitments often expire without being drawn upon in 

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full or at all. Virtually all of our standby letters of credit expire within one year. Our unfunded loan commitments and standby letters 
of credit outstanding are summarized below as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands). 

Commitments to extend credit: 
Loan commitments 
Standby letters of credit 

December 31, 2015 

December 31, 2014 

$ 

149,561      $ 
382     

90,946   
534   

The Company closely monitors the amount of remaining future commitments to borrowers in light of prevailing economic conditions 
and adjusts these commitments as necessary. The Company will continue this process as new commitments are entered into or existing 
commitments are renewed.  

Additionally, at December 31, 2015, the Company had unfunded commitments of $0.9 million for its investment in Small Business 
Investment Company qualified funds. 

For each of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, we engaged in no off-balance sheet transactions reasonably likely to have a 
material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows currently or in the future.  

Contractual Obligations  

The following table presents, as of December 31, 2015, significant fixed and determinable contractual obligations to third parties by 
payment date (dollars in thousands). 

Deposits without a stated maturity(1) 
Time deposits 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances 
Junior subordinated debentures 
Total contractual obligations 

(1) 

Excludes interest.  

Less Than 
One Year    
$  380,798   
   191,896   
39,099   
   119,137   
-   
$  730,930   

One to 
Three Years   
 $ 
-   
    143,812   
-   
5,260   
-   
 $  149,072   

 $ 

Payments Due In: 
Three to 
Five Years    
-   
20,900   
-   
3,100   
-   
24,000   

 $ 

Over Five 
Years 

 $ 

 $ 

-   
-   
-   
-   
3,609   
3,609   

Total 
 $  380,798   
    356,608   
39,099   
    127,497   
3,609   
 $  907,611   

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk  

The information contained in the  section captioned  “Management’s Discussion and  Analysis of Financial  Condition and Results of 
Operations – Risk Management” in Item 7 hereof is incorporated herein by reference.  

62 

 
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
       
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data  

REPORT ON MANAGEMENT’S ASSESSMENT OF INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING 

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors 
Investar Holding Corporation 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

Investar Holding Corporation (the “Company”) is responsible for the preparation, integrity and fair presentation of the consolidated 
financial statements included in this annual report. The consolidated financial statements and notes included in this annual report have 
been prepared in conformity  with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and  necessarily include 
some amounts that are based on management’s best estimates and judgments. 

Management  of  the  Company  is  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting 
designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for 
external  purposes  in  accordance  with  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the  United  States  of  America.  The  Company’s 
internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in 
reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of  the assets of the Company; (2) provide reasonable 
assurance  that  transactions  are  recorded  as  necessary  to  permit  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  accounting 
principles generally accepted in the United States of America and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only 
in  accordance  with  authorizations  of  management  and  directors  of  the  Company;  and  (3)  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding 
prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect 
on the financial statements. 

The  system  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  it  relates  to  the  financial  statements  is  evaluated  for  effectiveness  by 
management and tested for reliability through a program of internal audits. Actions are taken to correct potential deficiencies as they 
are identified. Any system of internal control, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations, including the possibility that a 
control can be circumvented or overridden, and misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Also, because of 
changes in conditions, internal control effectiveness may vary over time. Accordingly, even an effective system of internal control will 
provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. 

Management,  with  the  participation  of  the  Company’s  principal  executive  officer  and  principal  financial  officer,  conducted  an 
assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based 
on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in the  “Internal Control  - Integrated Framework,” (2013) 
issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission.  Based  on  this  assessment,  management  has 
concluded that, as of December 31, 2015, the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting is effective and meets the 
criteria of the “Internal Control  – Integrated Framework.”  Postethwaite  & Netterville,  the Company’s independent registered public 
accounting firm that has audited the Company’s financial statements included in this annual report, has issued an attestation report on 
the Company’s internal control over financial reporting which is included herein. 

Date: March 11, 2016 

Date: March 11, 2016 

By: /s/ John J. D’Angelo 
   John J. D’Angelo 
   President and Chief Executive Officer 

By: /s/ Christopher L. Hufft 
   Christopher L. Hufft 
   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 

63 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT 

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors 
Investar Holding Corporation 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Investar Holding Corporation (the Company) as of  December 31, 
2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes  in  stockholders’ equity, and 
cash  flows  for  each  of  the  years  in  the  three-year  period  ended  December  31,  2015.  We  have  also  audited  Investar  Holding 
Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control  – 
Integrated Framework  issued by the  Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the 
COSO criteria). Investar Holding  Corporation’s  management is responsible for these  financial statements, for  maintaining effective 
internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  and  for  its  assessment  of  the  effectiveness  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting, 
included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express  an 
opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. 

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United  States).  
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial 
statements  are  free  of  material  misstatement  and  whether  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  was  maintained  in  all 
material  respects.  Our  audits  of  the  financial  statements  included  examining,  on  a  test  basis,  evidence  supporting  the  amounts  and 
disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and 
evaluating  the  overall  financial  statement  presentation.  Our  audit  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  included  obtaining  an 
understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating 
the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other 
procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions. 

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of 
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting 
principles.  A  company's  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  includes  those  policies  and  procedures  that  (1)  pertain  to  the 
maintenance  of  records  that,  in  reasonable  detail,  accurately  and  fairly  reflect  the  transactions  and  dispositions  of  the  assets  of  the 
company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in 
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in 
accordance  with  authorizations  of  management  and  directors  of  the  company;  and  (3)  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding 
prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect 
on the financial statements. 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections 
of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in 
conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial  position of 
Investar Holding Corporation as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of its operations and cash flows for each of the years 
in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of 
America.  Also  in  our  opinion,  Investar  Holding  Corporation  maintained,  in  all  material  respects,  effective  internal  control  over 
financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on the COSO criteria. 

/s/ Postlethwaite & Netterville 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 
March 11, 2016 

64 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
(Amounts in thousands, except share data) 

December 31, 

2015 

2014 

ASSETS 

Cash and due from banks 
Interest-bearing balances due from other banks 
Federal funds sold 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Available for sale securities at fair value (amortized cost of $113,828 and $69,838, 
   respectively) 
Held to maturity securities at amortized cost (estimated fair value of $26,271 and 
   $22,301, respectively) 
Loans held for sale 
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $6,128 and $4,630, respectively 
Other equity securities 
Bank premises and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $5,368 and $3,964, 
   respectively 
Other real estate owned, net 
Accrued interest receivable 
Deferred tax asset 
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 
Other assets 

Total assets 

LIABILITIES 
Deposits: 
Noninterest-bearing 
Interest-bearing 
Total deposits 
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank 
Repurchase agreements 
Junior subordinated debt 
Accrued taxes and other liabilities 

Total liabilities 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 

Preferred stock, $1.00 par value per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized 
Common stock, $1.00 par value per share; 40,000,000 shares authorized; 7,305,213 
     and 7,263,698 shares issued and 7,264,282 and 7,262,085 shares outstanding, 
     respectively 
Treasury stock 
Surplus 
Retained earnings 
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income 

Total stockholders' equity 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

 $ 

6,313   
14,472   
181   
20,966   

113,371   

26,408   
80,509   
739,313   
5,835   

30,630   
725   
2,831   
1,915   
3,175   
5,877   
1,031,555   

90,447   
646,959   
737,406   
127,497   
39,099   
3,609   
14,594   
922,205   

 $ 

 $ 

5,519   
13,493   
500   
19,512   

70,299   

22,519   
103,396   
618,160   
5,566   

28,538   
2,735   
2,435   
1,097   
3,216   
1,881   
879,354   

70,217   
557,901   
628,118   
125,785   
12,293   
3,609   
6,165   
775,970   

-   

-   

7,305   
(634 ) 
84,692   
18,650   
(663 ) 
109,350   
1,031,555   

 $ 

7,264   
(23 ) 
84,213   
11,809   
121   
103,384   
879,354   

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

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INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
(Amounts in thousands, except share data) 

For the years ended 
December 31, 
2014 

2013 

2015 

INTEREST INCOME 

Interest and fees on loans 
Interest on investment securities 
Other interest income 

Total interest income 

INTEREST EXPENSE 
Interest on deposits 
Interest on borrowings 

Total interest expense 
     Net interest income 

Provision for loan losses 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses 

NONINTEREST INCOME 

Service charges on deposit accounts 
Gain on sale of investment securities, net 
(Loss) gain on sale of other real estate owned, net 
Gain on sale of loans, net 
Bargain purchase gain 
Fee income on loans held for sale, net 
Other operating income 

Total noninterest income 
Income before noninterest expense 

NONINTEREST EXPENSE 

Depreciation and amortization 
Salaries and employee benefits 
Occupancy 
Data processing 
Marketing 
Professional fees 
Impairment on investment in tax credit entity 
Acquisition expense, including legal 
Other operating expenses 

Total noninterest expense 
Income before income tax expense 

Income tax expense 
     Net income 

EARNINGS PER SHARE 
Basic earnings per share 
Diluted earnings per share 
Cash dividends declared per common share 

$ 

 $ 

35,076   
2,189   
75   
37,340   

 $ 

29,979   
1,339   
51   
31,369   

5,250   
632   
5,882   
31,458   

1,865   
29,593   

380   
489   
(105 ) 
4,368   
-   
979   
2,233   
8,344   
37,937   

1,446   
16,398   
951   
1,508   
248   
1,075   
54   
-   
5,673   
27,353   
10,584   
3,511   
7,073   

0.98   
0.97   
0.03   

 $ 

 $ 
 $ 
 $ 

4,273   
402   
4,675   
26,694   

1,628   
25,066   

305   
340   
230   
3,449   
-   
329   
1,207   
5,860   
30,926   

1,326   
14,565   
833   
1,289   
329   
599   
690   
-   
4,753   
24,384   
6,542   
1,145   
5,397   

0.98   
0.93   
0.04   

 $ 

 $ 
 $ 
 $ 

$ 

$ 
$ 
$ 

21,686   
756   
30   
22,472   

3,204   
256   
3,460   
19,012   

1,026   
17,986   

214   
449   
97   
2,634   
906   
457   
597   
5,354   
23,340   

893   
11,772   
793   
782   
320   
295   
-   
250   
3,919   
19,024   
4,316   
1,148   
3,168   

0.86   
0.81   
0.05   

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

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INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 
(Amounts in thousands) 

Net income 
Other comprehensive income (loss): 

Unrealized (loss) gains on investment securities: 

Unrealized (loss) gain, available for sale, net of tax (benefit) expense of 
   ($153), $463 and ($381), respectively 
Reclassification of realized gains, net of tax expense of $171, $116 and 
   $153, respectively 
Unrealized (loss) gains, transfer from available for sale to 
   held to maturity, net of tax (benefit) expense of ($2), ($1), and $10, 
   respectively 

Fair value of derivative financial instruments: 

Change in fair value of interest rate swap designated as a 
   cash flow hedge, net of tax benefit of $95, $103, and $0, 
   respectively 

Total other comprehensive (loss) income 

Total comprehensive income 

For the years ended 
December 31, 
2014 

2013 

2015 

$ 

7,073   

 $ 

5,397   

 $ 

3,168   

(283 ) 

(318 ) 

898   

(224 ) 

(739 ) 

(296 ) 

(5 ) 

(3 ) 

20   

(178 ) 
(784 ) 
6,289   

 $ 

(200 ) 
471   
5,868   

 $ 

-   
(1,015 ) 
2,153   

$ 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

67 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
  
  
  
  
       
  
       
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
(Amounts in thousands, except share data) 

Common 
Stock 

   Treasury 

Stock 

Surplus 

Balance, December 31, 2012 
Proceeds from sale of stock 
Common stock issued for acquisition 
Stock issuance cost 
Dividends declared, $0.05 per share 
Stock-based compensation 
Net Income 
Other comprehensive loss, net 

Balance, December 31, 2013 
Common stock issued in offering, net 
  of direct cost of $4,266 
Warrants exercised 
Surrendered shares 
Shares repurchased 
Dividends declared, $0.04 per share 
Stock-based compensation 
Net income 
Other comprehensive income, net 
Balance, December 31, 2014 

Surrendered shares 
Shares repurchased 
Options exercised 
Dividends declared, $0.03 per share 
Stock-based compensation 
Net income 
Other comprehensive income, net 
Balance, December 31, 2015 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

3,208   
382   
320   
-   
-   
33   
-   
-   
3,943   

3,285   
22   
-   
-   
-   
14   
-   
-   
7,264   
-   
-   
10   
-   
31   
-   
-   
7,305   

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   

 $ 

 $ 

-   
-   
(17 ) 
(6 ) 
-   
-   
-   
-   
(23 ) 
(39 ) 
(572 ) 
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
(634 ) 

 $ 

 $ 

36,060  
4,957  
4,170  
(23 ) 
-  
117  
-  
-  
45,281  

38,443  
275  
-  
-  
-  
214  
-  
-  
84,213  
-  
-  
125  
-  
354  
-  
-  
84,692  

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

   Retained 
   Earnings 
 $ 

   Accumulated    
Other 
  Comprehensive   
   Income (Loss)    
665   
 $ 
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
(1,015 ) 
(350 ) 

 $ 

3,620   
-   
-   
-   
(179 ) 
-   
3,168   
-   
6,609   

-   
-   
-   
-   
(197 ) 
-   
5,397   
-   
11,809   
-   
-   
-   
(232 ) 
-   
7,073   
-   
18,650   

 $ 

 $ 

-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
471   
121   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
(784 ) 
(663 ) 

Total 
   Stockholders'    
Equity 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

43,553   
5,339   
4,490   
(23 ) 
(179 ) 
150   
3,168   
(1,015 ) 
55,483   

41,728   
297   
(17 ) 
(6 ) 
(197 ) 
228   
5,397   
471   
103,384   
(39 ) 
(572 ) 
135   
(232 ) 
385   
7,073   
(784 ) 
109,350   

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

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INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 
(Amounts in thousands) 

Cash flows from operating activities 

Net income 

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

For the years ended December 31, 
2014 

2013 

2015 

$ 

7,073   

 $ 

5,397   

 $ 

3,168   

Depreciation and amortization 
Provision for loan losses 
Amortization of purchase accounting adjustments 
Provision for other real estate owned 
Net amortization of securities 
Bargain purchase gain 
Gain on sale of securities, net 
Impairment of investment in tax credit entity 

Loans held for sale: 

Originations 
Proceeds from sales 
Gain on sale of loans 

Loss (gain) on sale of other real estate owned, net 
FHLB stock dividend 
Stock-based compensation 
Deferred taxes 
Other 

Net change in: 
Accrued interest receivable 
Other assets 
Accrued taxes and other liabilities 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities 

Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale 
Funds invested in securities available for sale 
Funds invested in securities held to maturity 
Proceeds from maturities, prepayments and calls of investment securities available for sale 
Proceeds from maturities, prepayments and calls of investment securities held to maturity 
Proceeds from sale of loans 
Proceeds from redemption of other equity securities 
Purchase of other equity securities 
Net increase in loans 
Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned 
Proceeds from sales of bank premises and equipment 
Purchases of bank premises and equipment 
Cash received in acquisition 
Purchase of investment in tax credit entity 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 
Net increase in customer deposits 
Net increase in repurchase agreements 
Net increase (decrease) in short-term FHLB advances 
Proceeds from long-term FHLB advances 
Repayment of long-term FHLB advances 
Cash dividends paid on common stock 
Payments to repurchase common stock 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in initial public offering 
Proceeds from sales of common stock 
Proceeds from stock options and warrants exercised 
Stock issuance cost 

Net cash provided by financing activities 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 

$ 

1,446   
1,865   
(186 ) 
54   
1,051   
-   
(489 ) 
54   

(349,684 ) 
376,939   
(4,368 ) 
105   
(14 ) 
385   
(386 ) 
(4 ) 

(396 ) 
(4,015 ) 
8,086   
37,516   

27,187   
(82,945 ) 
(5,622 ) 
11,224   
1,663   
-   
6,813   
(7,067 ) 
(124,041 ) 
2,857   
696   
(4,079 ) 
-   
-   
(173,314 ) 

109,391   
26,807   
13,141   
3,000   
(14,429 ) 
(221 ) 
(572 ) 
-   
-   
135   
-   
137,252   
1,454   
19,512   
20,966   

 $ 

1,326   
1,628   
(366 ) 
210   
1,087   
-   
(340 ) 
690   

(238,471 ) 
141,893   
(3,449 ) 
(230 ) 
(8 ) 
228   
(134 ) 
(3 ) 

(600 ) 
(71 ) 
3,615   
(87,598 ) 

31,603   
(55,901 ) 
(16,348 ) 
10,465   
385   
105,241   
1,972   
(5,509 ) 
(223,132 ) 
1,506   
3   
(5,142 ) 
-   
(766 ) 
(155,623 ) 

95,648   
2,089   
90,639   
7,500   
(3,171 ) 
(194 ) 
(6 ) 
41,728   
-   
297   
-   
234,530   
(8,691 ) 
28,203   
19,512   

 $ 

893   
1,026   
(657 ) 
121   
833   
(906 ) 
(449 ) 
-   

(88,210 ) 
102,557   
(2,634 ) 
(97 ) 
(4 ) 
150   
773   
(2 ) 

(365 ) 
(560 ) 
285   
15,922   

16,626   
(40,384 ) 
-   
8,530   
170   
59,333   
828   
(1,312 ) 
(197,974 ) 
1,642   
1,306   
(9,389 ) 
9,293   
-   
(151,331 ) 

146,632   
6,169   
(12,120 ) 
20,700   
(7,557 ) 
(169 ) 
-   
-   
5,339   
-   
(23 ) 
158,971   
23,562   
4,641   
28,203   

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

69 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
     
  
 
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED) 
(Amounts in thousands) 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION 

Cash payments for: 
Income taxes 

Interest on deposits and borrowings 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NONCASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES 
Transfer from loans to other real estate owned 

Loans originated to sell other real estate owned 

For the years ended December 31, 
2014 

2013 

2015 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

4,000       $ 

5,833       $ 

1,005       $ 

-       $ 

1,336       $ 

4,675       $ 

706       $ 

-       $ 

1,727   

3,301   

1,287   

100   

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

70 

 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
         
         
  
   
         
         
  
    
     
     
     
     
  
  
    
     
     
     
     
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  
Nature of Operations  

Investar  Holding  Corporation  (the  “Company”)  was  incorporated  in  2009  to  serve  as  a  holding  company  for  Investar  Bank  (the 
“Bank”), a Louisiana-chartered commercial bank founded in 2006. On November 15, 2013, the Company completed a share exchange 
with the shareholders of the Bank, which resulted in the Bank becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Pursuant to this 
share exchange, all issued and outstanding common stock of the Bank, and all outstanding and unexercised warrants and options to 
purchase  additional  shares  of  common  stock  of  the  Bank,  were  exchanged  for  a  like  number  of  shares  of  common  stock  of  the 
Company, and respectively, a like number of warrants and options to purchase additional shares of common stock of the Company.  

In  July  2014,  the  Company  completed  the  issuance  and  sale  of  3,285,300  shares  of  its  common  stock  in  its  initial  public  offering, 
which amount includes 410,300 shares sold pursuant to the underwriters’ exercise of their option to purchase additional shares from 
the  Company,  at  a  public  offering  price  of  $14.00  per  share.  The  shares  were  offered  pursuant  to  the  Company’s  Registration 
Statement  on  Form  S-1.  After  deducting  underwriting  commissions  and  offering  expenses,  the  Company  received  net  proceeds  of 
$41.7 million from the sale of such shares. 

The consolidated financial statements of Investar Holding Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary, the Bank, have been prepared 
in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).  

Segments  

All  of  the  Company’s  banking  operations  are  considered  by  management  to  be  aggregated  in  one  reportable  operating 
segment. Because  the  overall  banking  operations  comprise  substantially  all  of  the  consolidated  operations,  no  separate  segment 
disclosures are presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.  

Principles of Consolidation  

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, the Bank. All significant 
intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  

Use of Estimates  

The preparation of statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the 
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as 
well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates, 
and such differences could be material.  

Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses. 
While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, future additions to the allowance may be necessary based 
on changes in local economic conditions. In addition, regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically 
review  the  Company’s  allowance  for  loan  losses.  Such  agencies  may  require  the  Company  to  recognize  additions  to  the  allowance 
based  on  their  judgments  about  information  available  to  them  at  the  time  of  their  examination.  Because  of  these  factors,  it  is 
reasonably possible that the allowance for loan losses may change materially in the near term. However, the amount of the change that 
is reasonably possible cannot be estimated.  

Other  estimates  that  are  susceptible  to  significant  change  in  the  near  term  relate  to  the  determination  of  other-than-temporary 
impairments of securities and the fair value of financial instruments.  

71 

 
 
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Investment Securities  

The  Company’s  investments  in  securities  are  accounted  for  in  accordance  with  applicable  guidance  contained  in  the  Financial 
Accounting  Standards  Board  (“FASB”)  Accounting  Standards  Codification  (“ASC”),  which  requires  the  classification  of  securities 
into one of the following categories:  

(cid:120)  Securities to be held to maturity: bonds, notes, and debentures for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold 
to maturity are reported at cost, adjusted for premiums and discounts that are recognized in interest income  using the  interest 
method over the period to maturity.  

(cid:120)  Securities available for sale: available for sale securities consist of bonds, notes, and debentures that are available to meet the 

Company’s operating needs. These securities are reported at fair value.  

Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of tax, on available for sale securities are reported as a net amount in other comprehensive 
income. Purchase premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the terms of the securities. 
Realized gains and losses on the sale of investment securities are determined using the specific-identification method.  

The Company follows FASB guidance related to the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairment. The guidance 
specifies that if an entity does not have the intent to sell a debt security prior to recovery, the security would not be considered other-
than-temporarily impaired unless there is a credit loss. When an entity does not intend to sell the security, and it is more likely than not 
that the entity will not have to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis, it will recognize the credit component of an  other-
than-temporary impairment of a debt security in earnings and the remaining portion in other comprehensive income. 

Other Equity Securities 

Other  equity  securities  include  investments  in  Federal  Home  Loan  Bank  (“FHLB”),  Independent  Bankers  Financial  Corporation 
(“IBFC”), and First National Bankers Bankshares (“FNBB”) stock, which investments are restricted. These investments are carried at 
cost which approximated fair value at December 31, 2015 and 2014.  

Loans  

The Company’s loan portfolio categories include real estate, commercial and consumer loans. Real estate loans are further categorized 
into  construction  and  development,  one-to-four  family  residential,  multifamily,  farmland  and  commercial  real  estate  loans.  The 
consumer loan category includes loans originated through indirect lending. Indirect lending,  which is lending initiated through third-
party business partners, is largely comprised of loans made through automotive dealerships.  

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off are  stated at unpaid 
principal balances, adjusted by an allowance for loan losses.  Interest on loans is calculated by  using the  simple interest  method on 
daily balances of the principal amount outstanding. Loans are ordinarily placed on nonaccrual when a loan is specifically determined 
to be impaired or when principal or interest is delinquent for 90 days or more; however, management may elect to continue the accrual 
when the estimated net realizable value of collateral is sufficient to cover the principal balance and the accrued interest. Any unpaid 
interest  previously  accrued  on  nonaccrual  loans  is  reversed  from  income.  Interest  income,  generally,  is  not  recognized  on  specific 
impaired loans unless the likelihood of further loss is remote. Interest payments received on such loans are applied as a reduction of 
the loan principal balance. Interest income on other nonaccrual loans is recognized only to the extent of interest payments received.  

The  Company  considers  a  loan  to  be  impaired  when,  based  upon  current  information  and  events,  it  believes  it  is  probable  that  the 
Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by 
management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal 
and  interest  payments  when  due. Loans  that  experience  insignificant  payment  delays  and  payment  shortfalls  generally  are  not 
classified as impaired. The Company’s impaired loans include troubled debt restructurings and performing and non-performing major 
loans  for  which  full  payment  of  principal  or  interest  is  not  expected. Large  groups  of  smaller  balance  homogenous  loans  are 
collectively evaluated for impairment. The Company calculates an allowance required for impaired loans based on the present value of 
expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of its 
collateral. If the recorded investment in the impaired loan exceeds the  measure of fair value, a valuation allowance is required as a 
component of the allowance for loan losses. Changes to the valuation allowance are recorded as a component of the provision for loan 
losses.  

72 

 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

The Company follows the FASB accounting guidance on sales of financial assets, which includes participating interests in loans. For 
loan  participations  that  are  structured  in  accordance  with  this  guidance,  the  sold  portions  are  recorded  as  a  reduction  of  the  loan 
portfolio. Loan participations that do not meet the criteria are accounted for as secured borrowings.  

Loans Held for Sale  

Loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of cost or fair value. For loans carried at the 
lower of cost or fair value, gains and losses on loan sales (sales proceeds minus carrying value) are recorded in noninterest income, 
and direct loan origination costs and fees are deferred at origination of the loan and are recognized in noninterest income upon sale of 
the loan.  

Loans Sold with Recourse  

The  Company  has  an  obligation  to  repurchase  certain  mortgage  loans  and  indirect  loans  sold  and  to  refund  certain  fees  to  the 
purchaser if the loans fail to perform or prepay within prescribed time periods after the date of sale. Prepayment penalty features also 
exist for certain conforming loans as defined in each agreement with investors. Accounting guidance requires a guarantor to recognize, 
at  the  inception  of  a  guarantee,  a  liability  in  an  amount  equal  to  the  fair  value  of  the  obligation  undertaken  in  issuing  the 
guarantee. The Company considers loans sold with recourse to be guarantees. 

Allowance for Loan Losses  

The  adequacy  of  the  allowance  for  loan  losses  is  determined  in  accordance  with  U.S.  GAAP.  The  allowance  for  loan  losses  is 
estimated through a provision for loan losses charged to earnings. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management 
believes the loan balance is uncollectable. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.  

The allowance is an amount that management believes will be adequate to absorb probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of 
the  balance  sheet  date  based  on  evaluations  of  the  collectability  of  loans  and  prior  loan  loss  experience.  The  evaluations  take  into 
consideration  such  factors  as  changes  in  the  nature  and  volume  of  the  loan  portfolio,  overall  portfolio  quality,  review  of  specific 
problem loans, and current economic conditions that may affect the borrower’s ability to pay. This evaluation is inherently subjective 
as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as  more information  becomes available.  Allowances for impaired 
loans are generally determined based on collateral values or the present value of estimated cash flows. Credits deemed uncollectible 
are charged to the allowance. Provisions for loan losses and recoveries on loans previously charged off are adjusted to the allowance. 
Past due status is determined based on contractual terms.  

The allowance consists of allocated and general components. The allocated component relates to loans that are classified as impaired. 
For loans that are classified as impaired, an allowance is established when the discounted cash flows (or collateral value observable 
market price) of the impaired loan is lower than the carrying value of that loan. The general component covers non-classified loans 
and  is  based  on  historical  loss  experience  adjusted  for  qualitative  factors.  Based  on  management’s  review  and  observations  made 
through  qualitative  review,  management  may  apply  qualitative  adjustments  to  determine  loss  estimates  at  a  group  and/or  portfolio 
segment level as deemed appropriate. Management has an established methodology to determine the adequacy of the  allowance for 
loan  losses  that  assesses  the  risks  and  losses  inherent  in  its  portfolio  and  portfolio  segments.  The  Company  utilizes  an  internally 
developed model that requires significant judgment to determine the estimation method that fits the credit risk characteristics of the 
loans in its portfolio and portfolio segments. Qualitative and environmental factors that may not be directly reflected in quantitative 
estimates include: asset quality trends, changes in loan concentrations, new products and process changes, changes and pressures from 
competition, changes in lending policies and underwriting practices, trends in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, changes in 
experience  and  depth  of  lending  staff  and  management  and  national  and  regional  economic  trends.  Changes  in  these  factors  are 
considered in determining the directional consistency of changes in the allowance for loan losses. The impact of these factors  on the 
Company’s  qualitative  assessment  of  the  allowance  for  loan  losses  can  change  from  period  to  period  based  on  management’s 
assessment of the extent to which these factors are already reflected in historic loss rates. The uncertainty inherent in the estimation 
process is also considered in evaluating the allowance for loan losses.  

73 

 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Troubled Debt Restructurings  

The  Company  periodically  grants  concessions  to  its  customers  in  an  attempt  to  protect  as  much  of  its  investment  as  possible  and 
minimize the risk of loss. These concessions may include restructuring the terms of a customer loan, thereby adjusting the customer’s 
payment requirements. In accordance with the FASB’s Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-02, Receivables (Topic 310): A 
Creditor’s  Determination  of  Whether  a  Restructuring  is  a  Troubled  Debt  Restructuring,  in  order  to  be  considered  a  troubled  debt 
restructuring (a “TDR”), the Company must conclude that the restructuring constitutes a concession and the customer is experiencing 
financial difficulties. The Company defines a concession to a customer as a modification of existing loan terms for economic  or legal 
reasons  that  it  would  otherwise  not  consider.  Concessions  are  typically  granted  through  an  agreement  with  the  customer  or  are 
imposed by a court of law. Concessions include modifying original loan terms to reduce or defer cash payments required as part of the 
loan  agreement,  including  but  not  limited  to  a  reduction  of  the  stated  interest  rate  for  the  remaining  original  life  of  the  debt,  an 
extension  of  the  maturity  date  or  dates  at  a  stated  interest  rate  lower  than  the  current  market  rate  for  new  debt  with  similar  risk 
characteristics, a reduction of the face amount or maturity amount of the debt, or a reduction of accrued interest receivable on a debt. 
In  its  determination  of  whether  the  customer  is  experiencing  financial  difficulties,  the  Company  considers  numerous  indicators, 
including  but  not  limited  to,  whether  the  customer  has  declared  or  is  in  the  process  of  declaring  bankruptcy,  whether  there  is 
substantial doubt about  the customer’s ability to continue  as a  going concern,  whether the Company believes the customer’s future 
cash  flows  will  be  insufficient  to  service  the  debt  in  accordance  with  the  contractual  terms  of  the  existing  agreement  for  the 
foreseeable future, and  whether without modification the customer cannot obtain sufficient funds from other sources at an effective 
interest rate equal to the current market rate for similar debt for a non-troubled debtor.  

If  the  Company  concludes  that  both  a  concession  has  been  granted  and  the  concession  was  granted  to  a  customer  experiencing 
financial difficulties, the Company identifies the loan as a TDR. For purposes of the determination of an allowance for loan losses on 
these TDRs, the loan is reviewed for specific impairment in accordance with the Company’s allowance for loan loss methodology. If it 
is determined that losses are  probable on such TDRs, either because of delinquency or other credit quality indicators, the Company 
establishes specific reserves for these loans.  

Servicing Rights  

Primary  servicing  rights  represent  the  Company’s  right  to  service  consumer  automobile  loans  for  third-party  whole-loan  sales  and 
loans sold as participations. Primary servicing involves the collection of payments from individual borrowers and the distribution of 
these payments to the investors.  

The  Company  capitalizes  the  value  expected  to  be  realized  from  performing  specified  automobile  servicing  activities  for  others  as 
automobile  servicing  rights  (“ASRs”)  when  the  expected  future  cash  flows  from  servicing  are  projected  to  be  more  than  adequate 
compensation for such activities. These capitalized servicing rights are purchased or retained upon sale of consumer automobile loans.  

The Company measures all consumer automobile servicing assets and liabilities at fair value. The Company defines servicing rights 
based  on  both  the  availability  of  market  inputs  and  the  manner  in  which  the  Company  manages  the  risks  of  servicing  assets  and 
liabilities. The  Company leverages all available relevant  market data to determine the fair value of recognized servicing assets and 
liabilities.  

The  Company  calculates  the  fair  value  of  ASRs  using  various  assumptions  including  future  cash  flows,  market  discount  rates, 
expected prepayments, servicing costs and other factors. A significant change in prepayments of loans in the servicing portfolio could 
result in significant changes in the valuation adjustments, thus creating potential volatility in the carrying amount of ASRs.  

As  of  the  years  ended  December 31,  2015,  2014,  and  2013,  expected  future  cash  flows  from  ASRs  approximated  adequate 
compensation for such activities. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded an asset or liability. Total income earned from servicing 
activities  was  approximately  $1.6  million,  $0.6  million  and  $0.1  million  for  the  years  ended  December 31,  2015,  2014,  and  2013, 
respectively.  

Other Real Estate Owned  

Real  estate  acquired  through,  or  in  lieu  of,  foreclosure,  or  other  real  estate  owned  on  the  consolidated  balance  sheets,  is  initially 
recorded at fair value at the time of foreclosure, less estimated selling cost, and any related write down is charged to the allowance for 
loan losses. Valuations are periodically performed by management and provisions for estimated losses on other real estate owned are 
charged to income when fair value is determined to be less than the carrying value.  

74 

 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Costs  relative  to  the  development  and  improvement  of  properties  are  capitalized  to  the  extent  realizable,  whereas  ordinary  upkeep 
disbursements are charged to expense. The ability of the  Company to recover the carrying value of real estate is based upon future 
sales of the other real estate owned. The ability to affect such sales is subject to market conditions and other factors, many of which 
are  beyond  the  Company’s  control.  Operating  income  and  expense  of  such  properties  is  included  in  other  operating  income  or 
expense, respectively, on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Gain or loss on the disposition of such properties is 
included in noninterest income on the consolidated statements of operations.  

Bank Premises and Equipment  

Bank premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is computed by the straight-line 
method  and  is  charged  to  expense  over  the  estimated  useful  lives  of  the  assets,  which  range  from  1  to  39  years.  Costs  of  major 
additions and improvements are capitalized. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.  

Bank Owned Life Insurance 

The Company invests in bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) policies that provide earnings to help cover the cost of employee benefit 
plans. The Company is the owner and beneficiary of the life insurance policies it purchased directly on a chosen group of employees. 
The policies are carried on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at their cash surrender value and are subject to regulatory capital 
requirements.  The  determination  of  the  cash  surrender  value  includes  a  full  evaluation  of  the  contractual  terms  of  each  policy  and 
assumes the surrender of policies on an individual-life by individual-life basis.  Additionally, the Company periodically reviews the 
creditworthiness of the insurance companies that have underwritten the policies. Earnings accruing to the  Company are derived from 
the general account investments of the insurance companies. Increases in the net cash surrender value of BOLI policies and insurance 
proceeds received are not taxable and are recorded in noninterest income in the consolidated statements of operations. 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets  

Goodwill  represents  the  excess  of  the  purchase  price  over  the  fair  value  of  the  net  identifiable  assets  acquired  in  a  business 
combination. Goodwill and other intangible assets deemed to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized but instead are subject to 
review for impairment annually, or more frequently if deemed necessary, in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 350, 
Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. Intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful 
lives and reviewed for impairment in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment. If impaired, the asset is 
written  down  to  its  estimated  fair  value.  No  impairment  charges  have  been  recognized  through  December 31,  2015.  Core  deposit 
intangibles representing the value of the acquired core deposit base are generally recorded in connection with business combinations 
involving banks and branch locations. The Company’s policy is to amortize core deposit intangibles over the estimated useful life of 
the deposit base. The remaining  useful lives of core deposit  intangibles are evaluated periodically  to determine  whether events and 
circumstances warrant revision of the remaining period of amortization. All of the Company’s core deposit intangibles are currently 
amortized on a straight-line basis over 15 years. See Note 8, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, for additional information.  

Repurchase Agreements  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase are secured borrowings treated as financing activities and are carried at the amounts at 
which the securities will be subsequently reacquired as specified in the respective agreements.  

Stock-Based Compensation  

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation under the provisions of ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. 
Under this accounting guidance, fair value is established as the measurement objective in accounting for stock awards and requires the 
application of a fair value based measurement method in accounting for compensation costs, which is recognized over the requisite 
service period. See Note 14, Stockholders’ Equity, for further disclosures regarding stock-based compensation.  

Off-Balance Sheet Credit-Related Financial Instruments  

The Company accounts for its guarantees in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 460, Guarantees. In the ordinary course of 
business,  the  Company  has  entered  into  commitments  to  extend  credit,  including  commitments  under  credit  card  agreements, 
commercial letters of credit and standby letters of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.  

75 

 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Derivative Financial Instruments  

ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, requires that all derivatives be recognized as assets or liabilities in the balance sheet at fair 
value.  

In the course of its business operations, the Company is exposed to certain risks, including interest rate, liquidity and credit risk. The 
Company manages its risks through the use of derivative financial instruments, primarily through management of exposure due to the 
receipt  or  payment  of  future  cash  amounts  based  on  interest  rates.  The  Company’s  derivative  financial  instruments  manage  the 
differences in the timing, amount and duration of expected cash receipts and payments.  

Derivatives which are designated and qualify as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of 
forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. The effective portion of the derivative’s gain or loss is initially reported as a 
component  of  other  comprehensive  income  and  subsequently  reclassified  into  earnings  when  the  forecasted  transaction  affects 
earnings or when the hedge is terminated. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss is reported in earnings immediately.  

In  applying  hedge  accounting  for  derivatives,  the  Company  establishes  a  method  for  assessing  the  effectiveness  of  the  hedging 
derivative and a  measurement approach for determining the ineffective aspect of the hedge upon  the  inception of  the hedge. These 
methods  are  consistent  with  the  Company’s  approach  to  managing  risk.  Note  13,  Derivative  Financial  Instruments,  describes  the 
derivative instruments currently used by the  Company and discloses how these derivatives impact the Company’s financial position 
and results of operations.  

Income Taxes  

The  provision  for  income  taxes  is  based  on  amounts  reported  in  the  consolidated  statements  of  operations  after  exclusion  of 
nontaxable income such as interest on state and  municipal securities. Also, certain items of income and expenses are recognized in 
different time periods for financial statement purposes than for income tax purposes. Thus, provisions for deferred taxes are  recorded 
in recognition of such temporary differences.  

Deferred  taxes  are  determined  utilizing  a  liability  method  whereby  deferred  tax  assets  are  recognized  for  deductible  temporary 
differences  and  deferred  tax  liabilities  are  recognized  for  taxable  temporary  differences.  Temporary  differences  are  the  differences 
between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a  valuation allowance 
when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.  

The  Company  has  adopted  accounting  guidance  related  to  accounting  for  uncertainty  in  income  taxes,  which  sets  out  a  consistent 
framework to determine the appropriate level of tax reserves to maintain for uncertain tax positions.  

Deferred tax assets are recognized if it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the tax position will be realized or 
sustained upon examination. The term “more likely than not” means a likelihood of more than 50 percent. A tax position that meets 
the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a 
greater  than  50  percent  likelihood  of  being  realized  upon  settlement  with  a  taxing  authority  that  has  full  knowledge  of  all  relevant 
information. The determination of whether or not a tax position has met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold considers the 
facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting date and is subject to management’s judgment. Deferred tax assets are 
reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of evidence available, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of 
deferred tax asset will not be realized.  

The Company recognizes interest and penalties on income taxes as a component of income tax expense.  

Earnings Per Share  

Basic earnings per share represents income available to common  shareholders divided by the weighted average number of shares of 
common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the additional potential common shares that would 
have  been  outstanding  if  dilutive  potential  common  shares  had  been  issued,  as  well  as  any  adjustment  to  income  that  would  result 
from the assumed issuance.  

76 

 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Statements of Cash Flows  

For purposes of the statements of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash and amounts due from banks and federal funds 
sold due to the short-term nature of these items.  

Advertising Costs  

Advertising  and  marketing  costs  are  recorded  as  expenses  in  the  year  in  which  they  are  incurred.  Advertising  and  marketing  costs 
charged to operations were approximately $0.2 million, $0.3 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 
and 2013, respectively.  

Comprehensive Income  

Comprehensive  income  includes  net  income  and  other  comprehensive  income  or  loss,  which  in  the  case  of  the  Company  includes 
unrealized gains and losses on securities and changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps, net of related income taxes.  

Acquisition Accounting  

Acquisitions are accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Purchased assets and assumed liabilities are recorded at their 
respective acquisition date fair values, and identifiable intangible assets are recorded at fair value. If the consideration given exceeds 
the fair value of the net assets received, goodwill is recognized.  If the fair value of the net assets received exceeds the consideration 
given,  a  bargain  purchase  gain  is  recognized.  Fair  values  are  subject  to  refinement  for  up  to  one  year  after  the  closing  date  of  an 
acquisition as information relative to closing date fair values becomes available.  

Purchased loans acquired in a business combination are recorded at their estimated fair value as of the acquisition date. The fair value 
of  loans  acquired  is  determined  using  a  discounted  cash  flow  model  based  on  assumptions  regarding  the  amount  and  timing  of 
principal and interest prepayments, estimated payments, estimated default rates, estimated loss severity in the event of defaults, and 
current market rates. Estimated credit losses are included in the determination of fair value; therefore, an allowance for loan losses is 
not  recorded  on  the  acquisition  date.  The  fair  value  adjustment  is  amortized  over  the  life  of  the  loan  using  the  effective  interest 
method.  

Acquired Impaired Loans  

The  Company  accounts  for  acquired  impaired  loans  under  FASB  ASC  Topic  310-30,  Loans  and  Debt  Securities  Acquired  with 
Deteriorated Credit Quality (“ASC 310-30”). An acquired loan is considered impaired when there is evidence of credit deterioration 
since  origination  and  it  is  probable  at  the  date  of  acquisition  that  the  Company  will  be  unable  to  collect  all  contractually  required 
payments. For acquired impaired loans, the Company (a) calculates the contractual amount and timing of undiscounted principal and 
interest  payments  (the  “undiscounted  contractual  cash  flows”)  and  (b) estimates  the  amount  and  timing  of  undiscounted  expected 
principal  and  interest  payments  (the  “undiscounted  expected  cash  flows”).  Under  ASC  310-30,  the  difference  between  the 
undiscounted  contractual  cash  flows  and  the  undiscounted  expected  cash  flows  is  the  nonaccretable  difference.  The  nonaccretable 
difference represents an estimate of the loss exposure of principal and interest related to the acquired impaired loan portfolio, and such 
amount is subject to change over time based on the performance of such loans.  

The excess of expected cash flows at acquisition over the initial fair value of acquired impaired loans is referred to as the “accretable 
yield” and is recorded as interest income over the estimated life of the loans using the effective yield method if the timing and amount 
of  the  future  cash  flows  is  reasonably  estimable.  As  required  by  ASC  310-30,  the  Company  periodically  re-estimates  the  expected 
cash  flows to be collected over the life of  the acquired impaired loans. Improvements in expected cash  flows over those originally 
estimated increase the accretable yield and are recognized as interest income prospectively. Decreases in the amount and changes in 
the  timing  of  expected  cash  flows  compared  to  those  originally  estimated  decrease  the  accretable  yield  and  usually  result  in  a 
provision  for  loan  losses  and  the  establishment  of  an  allowance  for  loan  losses  with  respect  to  the  acquired  impaired  loan.  The 
carrying value of acquired impaired loans is reduced by payments received, both principal and interest, and increased by the portion of 
the accretable yield recognized as interest income.  

Reclassifications  
Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2014 and 2013 financial statements to be consistent with the 2015 presentation.  

77 

 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements  

This section briefly describes accounting standards that have been issued, but are not yet adopted, that could have a material effect on 
the Company’s financial statements. 

FASB ASC Topic 810 “Consolidation” Update No. 2015-02.  The FASB issued Update No. 2015-02 in February 2015 to respond to 
stakeholders’ concerns about the current accounting for consolidation of certain legal entities. The amendments in the update change 
the  analysis  that  a  reporting  entity  must  perform  to  determine  whether  it  should  consolidate  certain  types  of  legal  entities  and  are 
effective for public entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The 
adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position. 

FASB  ASC  Topic  835-30  “Interest  –  Imputation  of  Interest”  Update  No.  2015-03. The  FASB  issued  Update  No.  2015-03  in  April 
2015  to  simplify  presentation  of  debt  issuance  costs.  The  amendments  in  this  Update  require  that  debt  issuance  costs  related  to  a 
recognized  debt  liability  be  presented  in  the  balance  sheet  as  a  direct  deduction  from  the  carrying  amount  of  that  debt  liability, 
consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments 
in  this  Update.  For  public  entities,  the  amendments  in  this  Update  are  effective  for  financial  statements  issued  for  fiscal  years 
beginning  after  December  15,  2015,  and  interim  periods  within  those  fiscal  years.  The  adoption  of  this  standard  is  not  expected  to 
have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position. 

FASB  ASC  Topic  820  “Fair  Value  Measurement”  Update  No.  2015-07.  The  FASB  issued  Update  No.  2015-07  in  May  2015  to 
address diversity in practice related to how certain investments  measured at net asset value  with redemption dates in  the  future are 
categorized within the fair value hierarchy. The amendments in this Update remove the requirement to categorize within the fair value 
hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The amendments 
also remove the requirement to make certain disclosures for all investments that are eligible to be measured at fair value using the net 
asset  value  per  share  practical  expedient.  For  public  entities,  the  amendments  in  this  Update  are  effective  for  financial  statements 
issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this standard 
is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position. 

FASB  ASC  Topic  606  “Revenue  from  Contracts  with  Customers”  Update  No.  2015-14.  The  FASB  issued  Update  No.  2015-14  in 
August 2015 to defer the effective date of the guidance issued in Update 2014-09, issued in May 2014, in consideration of feedback 
received  through  extensive  outreach  with  preparers,  practitioners,  and  users  of  financial  statements.  The  guidance  in  this  Update 
affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of 
nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (for example, insurance contracts or lease contracts). 
The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to 
customers  in  an  amount  that  reflects  the  consideration  to  which  the  entity  expects  to  be  entitled  in  exchange  for  those  goods  or 
services.  The  guidance  provides  steps  to  follow  to  achieve  the  core  principle.  An  entity  should  disclose  sufficient  information  to 
enable users of the  financial  statements to understand the  nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising 
from  contracts  with  customers.  For  public  entities,  the  amendments  in  this  Update  are  effective  for  financial  statements  issued  for 
fiscal  years  beginning  after  December  15,  2017,  and  interim  periods  within  those  fiscal  years.  The  adoption  of  this  standard  is  not 
expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position. 

FASB ASC Topic 805 “Business Combinations” Update No. 2015-16. The FASB issued Update No. 2015-16 in August 2015 to defer 
the  effective  date  of  the  guidance  issued  in  Update  2014-09,  issued  in  May  2014,  in  consideration  of  feedback  received  through 
extensive outreach with preparers, practitioners, and users of financial statements. The amendments in ASU 2015-16 require that an 
acquirer  recognize  adjustments  to  estimated  amounts  that  are  identified  during  the  measurement  period  in  the  reporting  period  in 
which  the  adjustment  amounts  are  determined.  The  amendments  require  that  the  acquirer  record,  in  the  same  period’s  financial 
statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of  the change to 
the estimated amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. For public entities, the amendments 
in this  Update are effective  for financial  statements issued for fiscal  years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim  periods 
within  those  fiscal  years.  The  adoption  of  this  standard  is  not  expected  to  have  a  material  impact  on  the  Company’s  consolidated 
financial position. 

78 

 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

FASB ASC Topic 825 “Financial Instruments – Overall” Update No. 2016-01. The FASB issued Update No. 2016-01 in January 2016 
to  address  certain  aspects  of  recognition,  measurement,  presentation,  and  disclosure  of  financial  instruments.  The  main  provisions 
require  investments  in  equity  securities  to  be  measured  at  fair  value  through  net  income,  unless  they  qualify  for  a  practicability 
exception,  and  require  fair  value  changes  arising  from  changes  in  instrument-specific  credit  risk  for  financial  liabilities  that  are 
measured  under  the  fair  value  option  to  be  recognized  in  other  comprehensive  income.  For  public  entities,  the  amendments  in  this 
Update  are  effective  for  financial  statements  issued  for fiscal  years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods  within 
those fiscal years. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a  material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial 
position. 

NOTE 2. ACQUISITION ACTIVITY  

The  Company  takes  advantage  of  opportunities  to  acquire  other  banking  franchises  in  order  to  pursue  its  strategy  of  increasing  its 
market presence both within and outside of the Company’s current geographical footprint. Since 2006, the Company has completed 
two acquisitions that the Company believes have enhanced shareholder value and the Company’s market presence.  

On May 1, 2013, the Bank acquired First Community Bank (“FCB”), which had two locations, one in Hammond, Louisiana, and one 
in  Mandeville,  Louisiana.  In  connection  with  the  acquisition,  the  Company  recorded  approximately  $77.5  million  in  loans,  $86.5 
million in deposits, a $0.5 million core deposit intangible, and other assets and liabilities of $13.9 million, net. The Bank acquired all 
of  the  outstanding  common  stock  of  FCB  in  a  tax-free  exchange  which  resulted  in  a  bargain  purchase  gain  of  approximately  $0.9 
million, recorded in noninterest income for the year ended December 31, 2013. Included in the noninterest expense during 2013 are 
non-routine FCB acquisition expenses totaling approximately $0.3 million. 

On October 1, 2011, the Bank acquired South Louisiana Business Bank (“SLBB”), a full service commercial bank headquartered in 
Prairieville, Louisiana. Both the purchased assets and liabilities assumed were recorded at fair value as of October 1, 2011. The Bank 
acquired  all  of  the  outstanding  common  stock  of  the  former  SLBB  shareholders  for  a  total  consideration  of  approximately  $14.7 
million.  Fair  value  of  net  assets  assumed  including  identifiable  intangible  assets  was  approximately  $12.0  million,  and  goodwill  of 
approximately $2.7 million was recognized as a result of the acquisition. 

NOTE 3. INVESTMENT SECURITIES  

The amortized cost and approximate fair value of investment securities classified as available for sale are summarized below as of the 
dates presented (dollars in thousands). 

December 31, 2015 
Obligations of other U.S. government agencies and corporations 
Obligations of state and political subdivisions 
Corporate bonds 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Equity securities 

Total available for sale securities 

December 31, 2014 
Obligations of other U.S. government agencies and corporations 
Obligations of state and political subdivisions 
Corporate bonds 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Equity securities 

Total available for sale securities 

Gross 

Gross 

Amortized 
Cost 

   Unrealized 

   Unrealized 

Gains 

Losses 

Fair 
Value 

26,502   
 $ 
21,365        
15,069        
47,703        
2,005        
1,184        
113,828      $ 

 $ 

73  
125   
1  
72   
-   
8   
279      $ 

 $ 

(102 ) 
(23 ) 
(246 ) 
(249 ) 
(16 ) 
(100 ) 
(736 )    $ 

26,473   
21,467   
14,824   
47,526   
1,989   
1,092   
113,371   

Gross 

Gross 

Amortized 
Cost 

   Unrealized 

   Unrealized 

Gains 

Losses 

Fair 
Value 

 $ 
4,351   
11,616        
5,416        
46,406        
1,497        
552        
69,838      $ 

 $ 

31   
181  
23   
364  
1  
-  
600      $ 

 $ 

(22 ) 
(57 ) 
(20 ) 
(15 ) 
(7 ) 
(18 ) 

(139 )    $ 

4,360   
11,740   
5,419   
46,755   
1,491   
534   
70,299   

   $ 

   $ 

   $ 

   $ 

79 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
   
   
     
   
   
     
   
   
     
   
   
     
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
     
   
   
     
   
   
     
   
   
     
   
   
     
   
   
  
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

The amortized cost and approximate fair value of investment securities classified as held to maturity are summarized below as of the 
dates presented (dollars in thousands).  

December 31, 2015 
Obligations of other U.S. government agencies and corporations 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Obligations of state and political subdivisions 

Total held to maturity securities 

December 31, 2014 
Obligations of other U.S. government agencies and corporations 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Obligations of state and political subdivisions 

Total held to maturity securities 

Gross 

Gross 

Amortized 
Cost 

   Unrealized 

   Unrealized 

Gains 

Losses 

Fair 
Value 

3,987      $ 
8,373        
14,048        
26,408      $ 

-  
 $ 
5       
18   
23     $ 

(64 ) 
 $ 
(91 )      
(5 ) 
(160 )    $ 

3,923   
8,287   
14,061   
26,271   

Gross 

Gross 

Amortized 
Cost 

   Unrealized 

   Unrealized 

Gains 

Losses 

Fair 
Value 

3,979      $ 
3,469        
15,071        
22,519      $ 

 $ 

-  
5  
-  
5     $ 

 $ 

(165 ) 
(58 ) 
-   
(223 )    $ 

3,814   
3,416   
15,071   
22,301   

   $ 

   $ 

   $ 

   $ 

The  aggregate  fair  values  and  aggregate  unrealized  losses  on  securities  whose  fair  values  are  below  book  values  are  summarized 
below. Due to the nature of the investment and current market prices, these unrealized losses are considered a temporary impairment 
of the securities.  

The  following  table  presents,  by  type  and  number  of  securities,  the  age  of  gross  unrealized  losses  and  fair  value  by  investment 
category for securities available for sale as of the dates presented (dollars in thousands).  

December 31, 2015 
Obligations of other U.S. government 
     agencies and corporations 
Obligations of state and political 
     subdivisions 
Corporate bonds 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Equity securities 

Total 

December 31, 2014 
Obligations of other U.S. government 
     agencies and corporations 
Obligations of state and political 
     subdivisions 
Corporate bonds 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Equity securities 

Total 

     Less than 12 Months 

12 Months or More 

     Unrealized        

     Unrealized        

Total 
     Unrealized   

   Count 

     Fair Value       Losses 

     Fair Value       Losses 

     Fair Value       Losses 

28     $  14,792     $ 

(93 )   $ 

592     $ 

(9 )   $  15,384     $ 

(102 ) 

14        2,312       
29        10,888      
62        31,836       
3        1,989      
517      
8       
144     $  62,334     $ 

(11 )      1,322       
(222 )      1,225       
326       
(245 )     
(16 )     
-       
485       
(79 )     
(666 )   $  3,950     $ 

(12 )      3,634       
(24 )      12,113       
(4 )      32,162       
-        1,989       
(21 )      1,002       
(70 )   $  66,284     $ 

(23 ) 
(246 ) 
(249 ) 
(16 ) 
(100 ) 
(736 ) 

     Less than 12 Months 

12 Months or More 

     Unrealized        

     Unrealized        

Total 
     Unrealized   

   Count 

     Fair Value       Losses 

     Fair Value       Losses 

     Fair Value       Losses 

5     $  1,770     $ 

(10 )   $ 

469     $ 

(12 )   $  2,239     $ 

(22 ) 

15       
813      
6        1,782       
9        1,339       
-      
1       
1       
488      
37     $  6,192     $ 

(18 )     

(6 )      3,021       
547       
(1 )      1,898       
252       
-       
(18 )     
-       
(53 )   $  6,187     $ 

(51 )      3,834       
(2 )      2,329       
(14 )      3,237       
252       
488       
(86 )   $  12,379     $ 

(7 )     
-       

(57 ) 
(20 ) 
(15 ) 
(7 ) 
(18 ) 
(139 ) 

80 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
   
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
     
   
   
     
   
   
  
  
  
       
     
     
  
  
       
       
  
  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  
  
       
     
     
  
  
       
       
  
  
  
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

The  following  table  presents,  by  type  and  number  of  securities,  the  age  of  gross  unrealized  losses  and  fair  value  by  investment 
category for securities held to maturity as of the dates presented (dollars in thousands).  

December 31, 2015 
Obligations of other U.S. government 
     agencies and corporations 
Obligations of state and political subdivisions 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 

Total 

December 31, 2014 
Obligations of other U.S. government 
     agencies and corporations 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 

Total 

     Less than 12 Months 

12 Months or More 

     Unrealized        

     Unrealized        

Total 
     Unrealized   

   Count 

     Fair Value       Losses 

     Fair Value       Losses 

     Fair Value       Losses 

2     $  1,958     $ 
6,862     
1      
7        4,469       
10     $  13,289     $ 

(36 )   $  1,965     $ 
-      
(5 )    
(37 )      1,932       
(78 )   $  3,897     $ 

-      

(28 )   $  3,923     $ 
6,862      
(54 )      6,401       
(82 )   $  17,186     $ 

(64 ) 
(5 ) 
(91 ) 
(160 ) 

     Less than 12 Months 

12 Months or More 

     Unrealized        

     Unrealized        

Total 
     Unrealized   

   Count 

     Fair Value       Losses 

     Fair Value       Losses 

     Fair Value       Losses 

2     $ 
3       
5     $ 

-     $ 
-       
-     $ 

-     $  3,814     $ 
-        2,343       
-     $  6,157     $ 

(165 )   $  3,814     $ 
(58 )      2,343       
(223 )   $  6,157     $ 

(165 ) 
(58 ) 
(223 ) 

The unrealized losses in the  Bank’s investment portfolio, caused by interest rate increases, are not credit issues. The Bank  does not 
intend to sell the securities and it is not more likely than not that the Bank will be required to sell the investments before recovery of 
their amortized cost bases. The Bank does not consider these securities to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2015 or 
December 31, 2014.  

The  weighted  average  tax  equivalent  yield,  amortized  cost  and  approximate  fair  value  of  investment  debt  securities,  by  contractual 
maturity (including mortgage-backed securities), are shown below as of the dates presented (dollars in thousands). Actual maturities 
will  differ  from  contractual  maturities  because  borrowers  may  have  the  right  to  call  or  prepay  obligations  with  or  without  call  or 
prepayment penalties.  

December 31, 2015 
Due within one year 
Due after one year through five years 
Due after five years through ten years 
Due after ten years 

Total debt securities 

Securities Available For Sale 

Securities Held To Maturity 

   Weighted 
   Average T.E.   
Yield 

   Amortized    
Cost 

Fair 
Value 

      Weighted 
      Average T.E.   

Yield 

   Amortized    
Cost 

Fair 
Value 

- % 

2.01   
2.81   
2.63   

 $ 

-   
9,979   
23,662   
79,003   
 $  112,644   

 $ 

-   
9,984  
23,494  
78,801   
 $  112,279   

7.17 % 
7.17   
7.17   
3.17   

 $ 

 $ 

655   
2,950   
3,575   
19,228   
26,408   

 $ 

 $ 

657   
2,958   
3,584   
19,072   
26,271   

December 31, 2014 
Due within one year 
Due after one year through five years 
Due after five years through ten years 
Due after ten years 

Total debt securities 

Securities Available For Sale 

Securities Held To Maturity 

   Weighted 
   Average T.E.   
Yield 

   Amortized    
Cost 

Fair 
Value 

      Weighted 
      Average T.E.   

Yield 

   Amortized    
Cost 

Fair 
Value 

1.21 % 
1.66   
2.48   
2.33   

 $ 

 $ 

100   
1,871   
17,324   
49,991   
69,286   

 $ 

 $ 

100   
1,868  
17,433   
50,364  
69,765   

7.07 % 
7.07   
7.07   
3.31   

 $ 

 $ 

620   
2,815   
4,365   
14,719   
22,519   

 $ 

 $ 

620   
2,815   
4,365   
14,501   
22,301   

81 

 
  
  
       
     
     
  
  
       
       
  
  
  
  
    
    
    
    
  
 
  
       
     
     
  
  
       
       
  
  
  
  
    
    
    
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
     
  
  
    
  
  
     
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
  
  
     
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
     
  
  
    
  
  
     
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
  
  
     
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

NOTE 4. LOANS  

The Company’s loan portfolio, excluding loans held for sale, consists of the  following categories of loans as of the dates presented 
(dollars in thousands).  

Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Multifamily 
Farmland 
Commercial real estate 

Total mortgage loans on real estate 

Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 

Total loans 

December 31, 

2015 

2014 

$ 

$ 

81,863   
156,300   
29,694   
2,955   
288,583   
559,395   
69,961   
116,085   
745,441   

 $ 

 $ 

71,350   
137,519   
17,458   
2,919   
225,058   
454,304   
54,187   
114,299   
622,790   

The table below provides an analysis of the aging of loans as of the dates presented (dollars in thousands).  

Past Due and Accruing 

December 31, 2015 

Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Multifamily 
Farmland 
Commercial real estate 

Total mortgage loans on real 
estate 

Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 

Total loans 

$ 

   90 or more    
days 

 $ 

30-59 days    
129   
$ 
222   
-   
-   
-   

   60-89 days    
-   
 $ 
-   
-   
-   
-   

351   
26   
292   
669   

 $ 

-   
1,779   
179   
1,958   

 $ 

   Total Past    
   Due & 
   Nonaccrual    
1,190   
 $ 
760   
-   
-   
97   

   Nonaccrual    
1,061   
 $ 
538   
-   
-   
97   

   Current 
 $  80,673   
    155,540   
29,694   
2,955   
    288,486   

   Total Loans    
 $ 
81,863   
    156,300   
29,694   
2,955   
    288,583   

1,696   
-   
715   
2,411   

 $ 

2,047   
1,805   
1,186   
5,038   

    557,348   
68,156   
    114,899   
 $  740,403   

    559,395   
69,961   
    116,085   
 $  745,441   

 $ 

Past Due and Accruing 

December 31, 2014 

Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Multifamily 
Farmland 
Commercial real estate 

Total mortgage loans on real 
estate 

Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 

Total loans 

$ 

   90 or more    
days 

 $ 

30-59 days    
106   
$ 
179   
-   
-   
-   

   60-89 days    
14   
 $ 
-   
-   
-   
-   

285   
2   
239   
526   

 $ 

14   
-   
47   
61   

 $ 

   Total Past    
   Due & 
   Nonaccrual    
1,483   
 $ 
1,016   
-   
-   
749   

   Nonaccrual    
1,363   
 $ 
837   
-   
-   
749   

   Current 
 $  69,867   
    136,503   
17,458   
2,919   
    224,309   

   Total Loans    
 $ 
71,350   
    137,519   
17,458   
2,919   
    225,058   

2,949   
178   
213   
3,340   

 $ 

3,248   
180   
499   
3,927   

    451,056   
54,007   
    113,800   
 $  618,863   

    454,304   
54,187   
    114,299   
 $  622,790   

 $ 

The total December 31, 2015 balance in the table above includes approximately $37.0 million of loans acquired from the FCB and 
SLBB  acquisitions  that  were  recorded  at  fair  value  as  of  the  acquisition  dates.  Included  in  the  acquired  loan  balances  as  of 
December 31, 2015 were approximately $0.2 million in loans 30-59 days past due and $1.1 million in nonaccrual loans.  

82 

-   
-   
-   
-   
-   

-   
-   
-   
-   

-   
-   
-   
-   
-   

-   
-   
-   
-   

 
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

The total December 31, 2014 balance in the table above includes approximately $45.0 million of loans acquired from the FCB and 
SLBB  acquisitions  that  were  recorded  at  fair  value  as  of  the  acquisition  dates.  Included  in  the  acquired  loan  balances  as  of 
December 31, 2014 were approximately $0.3 million in loans 30-59 days past due and $1.1 million in nonaccrual loans.  

Credit Quality Indicators  

Loans are categorized into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt, such as 
current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information, and current economic trends, 
among  other  factors.  The  following  definitions  are  utilized  for  risk  ratings,  which  are  consistent  with  the  definitions  used  in 
supervisory guidance:  

Pass – Loans not meeting the criteria below are considered pass. These loans have high credit characteristics and financial strength. 
The borrowers at least generate profits and cash flow that are in line with peer and industry standards and have debt service coverage 
ratios above loan covenants and our policy guidelines. For some of these loans, a guaranty from a financially capable party mitigates 
characteristics of the borrower that might otherwise result in a lower grade.  

Special Mention – Loans classified as special mention possess some credit deficiencies that need to be corrected to avoid a greater 
risk  of  default  in  the  future.  For  example,  financial  ratios  relating  to  the  borrower  may  have  deteriorated.  Often,  a  special  mention 
categorization is temporary while certain factors are analyzed or matters addressed before the loan is re-categorized as either pass or 
substandard.  

Substandard  –  Loans  classified  as  substandard  are  inadequately  protected  by  the  current  net  worth  and  paying  capacity  of  the 
borrower or the liquidation value of any collateral. If deficiencies are not addressed, it is likely that this category of loan will result in 
the Bank incurring a loss. Where a borrower has been unable to adjust to industry or general economic conditions, the borrower’s loan 
is often categorized as substandard.  

Doubtful  –  Loans  classified  as  doubtful  have  all  the  weaknesses  inherent  in  those  classified  as  substandard,  with  the  added 
characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, 
highly questionable and improbable.  

Loss –  Loans classified as  loss are considered uncollectible and of  such little  value that their continuance as recorded assets  is  not 
warranted. This classification does not mean that the assets have absolutely no recovery or salvage value, but rather it is not practical 
or desirable to defer writing off these assets.  

The tables below present a summary of the Company’s loan portfolio by credit quality indicator as of the dates presented (dollars in 
thousands). 

December 31, 2015 

Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Multifamily 
Farmland 
Commercial real estate 

Total mortgage loans on real estate 

Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 

Total loans 

Pass 

Special 
      Mention 

$ 

$ 

80,759   
154,741   
29,694   
2,955   
287,853   
556,002   
66,694   
114,684   
737,380   

 $ 

 $ 

15  
719   
-   
-   
-   
734  
-  
647   
1,381  

83 

   Substandard 
 $ 

1,089   
840   
-   
-   
730   
2,659   
3,267   
754   
6,680   

Total 

81,863   
156,300   
29,694   
2,955   
288,583   
559,395   
69,961   
116,085   
745,441   

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
 
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

December 31, 2014 

Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Multifamily 
Farmland 
Commercial real estate 

Total mortgage loans on real estate 

Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 

Total loans 

Pass 

Special 
      Mention 

$ 

$ 

69,361   
135,898   
16,403   
2,919   
224,192   
448,773   
54,007   
113,832   
616,612   

 $ 

 $ 

340  
-  
-  
-  
-  
340  
-  
208  
548   

 $ 

   Substandard 
 $ 

1,649   
1,621   
1,055   
-   
866   
5,191   
180   
259   
5,630   

Total 

71,350   
137,519   
17,458   
2,919   
225,058   
454,304   
54,187   
114,299   
622,790   

 $ 

 $ 

The Company had no loans that were classified as doubtful or loss as of December 31, 2015 or 2014.  

Loan participations and whole loans sold to and serviced for others are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. 
The balances of the participations and whole loans sold were $383.7 million and $189.6 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, 
respectively.  The  unpaid  principal  balances  of  these  loans  were  approximately  $426.9  million  and  $218.6  million  at  December  31, 
2015 and 2014, respectively. 

In  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  the  Company  makes  loans  to  its  executive  officers,  principal  shareholders,  directors  and  to 
companies in which these borrowers are principal owners. Loans outstanding to such borrowers (including companies in which they 
are principal owners) amounted to approximately $18.0 million and $14.6 million as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, 
respectively. These loans are all current and performing according to the original terms. These loans were made on substantially the 
same terms, including interest rate and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with persons  not related 
to the Company or the Bank and did not involve more than normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. 

The table below shows the aggregate amount of loans to such related parties for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 (dollars 
in thousands).  

Balance, beginning of period 
New loans 
Repayments 
Balance, end of period 

Loans Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality 

December 31, 

2015 

2014 

$ 

$ 

14,631   
6,600   
(3,239 ) 
17,992   

 $ 

 $ 

11,781   
6,793   
(3,943 ) 
14,631   

The Company elected to account for certain loans acquired in the FCB acquisition as acquired impaired loans under ASC 310-30 due 
to  evidence  of  credit  deterioration  at  acquisition  and  the  probability  that  the  Company  will  be  unable  to  collect  all  contractually 
required payments.  

84 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
     
 
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

The  following  table  presents  changes  in  the  carrying  value,  net  of  allowance  for  loan  losses,  of  acquired  impaired  loans,  or  loans 
accounted for under ASC 310-30, for the periods presented (dollars in thousands).  

Carrying value, net at December 31, 2013 
Accretion to interest income 
Net transfers from (to) nonaccretable difference to (from) accretable yield 
Payments received 
Charge-offs 
Transfers to other real estate owned 
Carrying value, net at December 31, 2014 
Accretion to interest income 
Net transfers from (to) nonaccretable difference to (from) accretable yield 
Payments received 
Charge-offs 
Transfers to other real estate owned 
Carrying value, net at December 31, 2015 

Acquired 
Impaired 

4,032   
161   
316   
(1,044 ) 
(59 ) 
(628 ) 
2,778   
140   
110   
(232 ) 
(61 ) 
(45 ) 
2,690   

$ 

$ 

$ 

The  table  below  shows  the  changes  in  the  accretable  yield  on  acquired  impaired  loans  for  the  periods  presented  below  (dollars  in 
thousands).  

Balance, year ended December 31, 2013 
Net transfers from (to) nonaccretable difference to (from) accretable yield 
Accretion to interest income 
Balance, year ended December 31, 2014 
Net transfers from (to) nonaccretable difference to (from) accretable yield 
Accretion to interest income 
Balance, year ended December 31, 2015 

Acquired 
Impaired 

270   
316   
(161 ) 
425   
110   
(140 ) 
395   

$ 

$ 

$ 

NOTE 5. ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES  

The table below shows a summary of the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014  and 
2013 (dollars in thousands).  

Balance, beginning of period 
Provision for loan losses 
Loans charged-off 
Recoveries 
Balance, end of period 

2015 

December 31, 
2014 

2013 

$ 

$ 

4,630   
1,865   
(630 ) 
263   
6,128   

 $ 

 $ 

3,380   
1,628   
(459 ) 
81   
4,630   

 $ 

 $ 

2,722   
1,026   
(389 ) 
21   
3,380   

85 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

The following tables outline the activity in the allowance for loan losses by collateral type for the years ended December 31, 2015, 
2014 and 2013, and show both the allowance and portfolio balances for loans individually and collectively evaluated for impairment 
as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands).  

Allowance for Loan Losses and Recorded Investment in Loans Receivable  

December 31, 2015 

Construction &      
Development     Farmland   1-4 Family    Multifamily   Real Estate   

  Commercial   Commercial &      

Industrial 

   Consumer     Total 

Allowance for loan losses: 
Beginning balance 
Charge-offs 
Recoveries 
Provision 
Ending balance 
Ending allowance balance for loans 
      individually evaluated for 
      impairment 
Ending allowance balance for loans 
     collectively evaluated for 
     impairment 
Ending allowance balance for loans 
     acquired with deteriorated credit 
     quality 
Loans receivable: 
Balance of loans individually 
     evaluated for impairment 
Balance of loans collectively 
     evaluated for impairment 
Total period-end balance 
Balance of loans acquired with 
     deteriorated credit quality 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

526    $ 
(17 )    
25      
110      
644    $ 

909    $ 
18   $ 
(78 )    
-     
12      
-     
4     
370      
22   $  1,213    $ 

137   $ 
-     
-     
109     
246   $ 

1,571   $ 
-     
1     
584     
2,156   $ 

390    $  1,079    $  4,630   
(630 ) 
(477 )    
(58 )    
263   
28      
197      
(16 )    
1,865   
704      
513    $  1,334    $  6,128   

-      

-     

-      

-     

-     

-    $ 

220    $ 

220   

644    $ 

22   $  1,213    $ 

246   $ 

2,156   $ 

513    $  1,114    $  5,908   

-    $ 

-   $ 

-    $ 

-   $ 

-   $ 

-    $ 

-    $ 

-   

1,242    $ 

-   $  1,419    $ 

-   $ 

630   $ 

-    $ 

754    $  4,045   

80,621       2,955     154,881       29,694      287,953     
81,863    $  2,955   $ 156,300    $  29,694   $  288,583   $ 

69,961      115,331      741,396   
69,961    $ 116,085    $ 745,441   

737    $ 

-   $ 

852    $ 

1,062   $ 

-   $ 

-    $ 

39    $  2,690   

86 

 
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
     
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
      
     
      
     
     
      
      
   
  
  
  
  
  
      
     
      
     
     
      
      
   
  
 
Allowance for loan losses: 
Beginning balance 
Charge-offs 
Recoveries 
Provision 
Ending balance 
Ending allowance balance for loans 
      individually evaluated for 
      impairment 
Ending allowance balance for loans 
     collectively evaluated for 
     impairment 
Ending allowance balance for loans 
     acquired with deteriorated credit 
     quality 
Loans receivable: 
Balance of loans individually 
     evaluated for impairment 
Balance of loans collectively 
     evaluated for impairment 
Total period-end balance 
Balance of loans acquired with 
     deteriorated credit quality 

Allowance for loan losses: 
Beginning balance 
Charge-offs 
Recoveries 
Provision 
Ending balance 
Ending allowance balance for loans 
      individually evaluated for 
      impairment 
Ending allowance balance for loans 
     collectively evaluated for 
     impairment 
Ending allowance balance for loans 
     acquired with deteriorated credit 
     quality 
Loans receivable: 
Balance of loans individually 
     evaluated for impairment 
Balance of loans collectively 
     evaluated for impairment 
Total period-end balance 
Balance of loans acquired with 
     deteriorated credit quality 

INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

December 31, 2014 

Construction &     
Development    Farmland   1-4 Family    Multifamily  Real Estate    

 Commercial    Commercial &      

Industrial 

   Consumer     Total 

$ 

$ 

420   $ 
-     
1     
105     
526   $ 

4   $ 
-     
-     
14     
18   $ 

567    $ 
(123 )    
4      
461      
909    $ 

101  $ 
-   
-   
36   
137  $ 

992    $ 
(3 )    
1      
581      
1,571    $ 

397    $ 
(16 )    
17      
(8 )    

899    $  3,380   
(459 ) 
(317 )    
81   
58      
439      
1,628   
390    $  1,079    $  4,630   

$  

-   $ 

-   $ 

-    $ 

-  $ 

-    $  

-    $ 

70    $ 

70   

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

526   $ 

18   $ 

909    $ 

137  $ 

1,571    $ 

390    $  1,009    $  4,560   

-   $ 

-   $ 

-    $ 

-  $ 

-    $ 

-    $ 

-    $ 

-   

1,543   $ 

-   $ 

837    $ 

-  $ 

749    $ 

179    $ 

260    $  3,568   

69,807      2,919     136,682       17,458    224,309      
71,350   $  2,919   $ 137,519    $  17,458  $  225,058    $ 

54,008      114,039      619,222   
54,187    $ 114,299    $ 622,790   

820   $ 

-   $ 

858    $ 

1,054  $ 

-    $ 

-    $ 

46    $  2,778   

December 31, 2013 

Construction &     
Development    Farmland   1-4 Family   Multifamily   Real Estate   

  Commercial   Commercial &      

Industrial 

   Consumer     Total 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

276   $ 
-     
-     
144     
420   $ 

-   $ 
-     
-     
4     
4   $ 

415   $ 
-     
-     
152     
567   $ 

18   $ 
-     
-     
83     
101   $ 

977   $ 
-     
-     
15     
992   $ 

332    $ 
(118 )    
-      
183      
397    $ 

704    $  2,722   
(389 ) 
(271 )    
21   
21      
445      
1,026   
899    $  3,380   

-   $ 

-   $ 

-   $ 

-   $ 

-   $ 

-    $ 

37    $ 

37   

420   $ 

4   $ 

567   $ 

101   $ 

992   $ 

397    $ 

862    $  3,343   

-   $ 

-   $ 

-   $ 

-   $ 

-   $ 

-    $ 

-    $ 

-   

1,649   $ 

-   $  1,040   $ 

969   $ 

555   $ 

140    $ 

157    $  4,510   

61,521     
63,170   $ 

830     103,645      13,317      156,808     
830   $ 104,685   $  14,286   $  157,363   $ 

32,525      130,939      499,585   
32,665    $ 131,096    $ 504,095   

1,477   $ 

-   $ 

996   $ 

967   $ 

545   $ 

-    $ 

47    $  4,032   

87 

 
  
  
  
  
    
  
     
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
      
   
      
      
      
   
  
  
  
  
     
     
      
   
      
      
      
   
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
    
  
    
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
     
      
      
   
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
     
      
      
   
  
  
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Impaired Loans  

The Company considers a loan to be impaired when, based on current information and events, the Company determines that it will not 
be  able  to  collect  all  amounts  due  according  to  the  loan  agreement,  including  scheduled  interest  payments.  Determination  of 
impairment  is  treated  the  same  across  all  classes  of  loans.  When  the  Company  identifies  a  loan  as  impaired,  it  measures  the 
impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, except when the 
sole (remaining) source of repayment for the loans is the operation or liquidation of the collateral. In these cases when foreclosure is 
probable, the Company uses the current fair value of the collateral, less selling costs, instead of discounted cash flows. If the Company 
determines that the value of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan (net of previous charge-offs, deferred 
loan fees or costs and  unamortized premium or discount),  the Company recognizes impairment through an allowance estimate or a 
charge-off to the allowance.  

When the ultimate collectability of the total principal of an impaired loan is in doubt and the loan is on nonaccrual, all payments are 
applied to principal, under the cost recovery method. When the ultimate collectability of the total principal of an impaired loan is not 
in doubt and the loan is on nonaccrual, contractual interest is credited to interest income when received, under the cash basis method.  

The following tables include the recorded investment and unpaid principal balances for impaired loans with the associated allowance 
amount,  if  applicable.  Also  presented  is  the  average  recorded  investment  of  the  impaired  loans  and  the  related  amount  of  interest 
recognized during the time within the period that the impaired loans were impaired. The average balances are calculated based on the 
month-end balances of the loans during the period reported (dollars in thousands).  

Recorded 
Investment 

As of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 

Unpaid 
Principal 
Balance 

Related 
Allowance 

Average 
Recorded 
Investment 

Interest 
Income 
Recognized 

With no related allowance recorded: 
Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Commercial real estate 

Total mortgage loans on real estate 

$ 

Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 
Total 

With related allowance recorded: 
Consumer 
Total 

Total loans: 
Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Commercial real estate 

Total mortgage loans on real estate 

Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 
Total 

$ 

1,242   
1,419   
630   
3,291   
-   
159   
3,450   

595   
595   

1,242   
1,419   
630   
3,291   
-   
754   
4,045   

 $ 

 $ 

1,241   
1,416   
629   
3,286   
-   
159   
3,445   

595   
595   

1,241   
1,416   
629   
3,286   
-   
754   
4,040   

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   

220   
220   

-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
220   
220   

 $ 

1,349   
1,522   
844   
3,715   
66   
266   
4,047   

210   
210   

1,349   
1,522   
844   
3,715   
66   
476   
4,257   

 $ 

 $ 

17   
52   
49   
118   
45   
26   
189   

15   
15   

17   
52   
49   
118   
45   
41   
204   

88 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Recorded 
Investment 

As of and for the year ended December 31, 2014 

Unpaid 
Principal 
Balance 

Related 
Allowance 

Average 
Recorded 
Investment 

Interest 
Income 
Recognized 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

With no related allowance recorded: 
Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Commercial real estate 

Total mortgage loans on real estate 

$ 

Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 
Total 

With related allowance recorded: 
Consumer 
Total 

Total loans: 
Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Commercial real estate 

Total mortgage loans on real estate 

Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 
Total 

With no related allowance recorded: 
Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Multifamily 
Commercial real estate 

Total mortgage loans on real estate 

Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 
Total 

With related allowance recorded: 
Consumer 
Total 

$ 

$ 

Total loans: 
Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Multifamily 
Commercial real estate 

Total mortgage loans on real estate 

Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 
Total 

$ 

1,543   
837   
749   
3,129   
179   
79   
3,387   

180   
180   

1,543   
837   
749   
3,129   
179   
260   
3,568   

Recorded 
Investment 

1,649   
1,040   
969   
555   
4,213   
140   
21   
4,374   

136   
136   

1,649   
1,040   
969   
555   
4,213   
140   
157   
4,510   

1,542   
837   
749   
3,128   
179   
79   
3,386   

180   
180   

1,542   
837   
749   
3,128   
179   
259   
3,566   

 $ 

 $ 

-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   

70   
70   

-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
70   
70   

 $ 

 $ 

1,530   
900   
764   
3,194   
312   
97   
3,603   

179   
179   

1,530   
900   
764   
3,194   
312   
276   
3,782   

As of and for the year ended December 31, 2013 

Unpaid 
Principal 
Balance 

Related 
Allowance 

Average 
Recorded 
Investment 

1,409   
1,018   
967   
545   
3,939   
122   
18   
4,079   

133   
133   

1,409   
1,018   
967   
545   
3,939   
122   
151   
4,212   

 $ 

 $ 

-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   

37   
37   

-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
-   
37   
37   

 $ 

 $ 

1,425   
1,025   
910   
563   
3,923   
133   
76   
4,132   

138   
138   

1,425   
1,025   
910   
563   
3,923   
133   
214   
4,270   

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

41   
30   
24   
95   
1   
10   
106   

4   
4   

41   
30   
24   
95   
1   
14   
110   

Interest 
Income 
Recognized 

25   
45   
671   
19   
760   
-   
2   
762   

5   
5   

25   
45   
671   
19   
760   
-   
7   
767   

 $ 

89 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Troubled Debt Restructurings  

In situations where, for economic or legal reasons related to a borrower’s financial difficulties, the Company grants a concession for 
other than an insignificant period of time to the borrower that the Company would not otherwise consider, the related loan is classified 
as a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”). The Company strives to identify borrowers in financial difficulty early and work with them 
to  modify  their  loans  to  more  affordable  terms  before  such  loans  reach  nonaccrual  status.  These  modified  terms  may  include  rate 
reductions,  principal  forgiveness,  payment  forbearance  and  other  actions  intended  to  minimize  the  economic  loss  and  to  avoid 
foreclosure or repossession of the collateral. In cases where the Company grants the borrower new terms that provide for a reduction 
of either interest or principal, the Company measures any impairment on the restructuring as previously noted for impaired loans. 

Loans classified as TDRs, consisting of eleven credits, totaled approximately $2.2 million at December 31, 2015 compared to $0.6  
million at December 31, 2014. Nine of the eleven of the Company’s TDRs were acquired from FCB. Ten of the eleven credits were 
considered  troubled  debt  restructurings  due  to  a  modification  of  term  through  adjustments  to  maturity.  One  restructured  loan  was 
considered a TDR due to a modification of terms through principal payment forbearance, paying interest only for a specified period of 
time. As of December 31, 2015, three of the restructured loans with a balance of $0.5 million were in default of their modified terms 
and had been placed on nonaccrual. As of December 31, 2014, one of the restructured loans  with a balance of $0.4 million  was in 
default of its modified terms and had been placed on nonaccrual. 

The table below presents the TDR pre- and post-modification outstanding recorded investments by loan categories for loans modified 
during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 (dollars in thousands). 

December 31, 2015 

December 31, 2014 

Pre- 

Post- 

 Modification    Modification     
 Outstanding    Outstanding     

Pre- 

Post- 

 Modification    Modification   
 Outstanding    Outstanding   

Troubled debt restructurings 
Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Commercial real estate 
Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 

 $ 

    Recorded 

    Recorded 

    Number of   Recorded 

  Number of   Recorded 
  Contracts   Investment       Investment       Contracts    Investment       Investment    
180  
28    
355  
981    
-  
630    
-    
1  
45  
-    
581   
1,639     

28    $ 
981    $ 
630      
-      
-      
1,639    $ 

180    $ 
355      
-      
1      
45      
581    $ 

1 
3 
2 
- 
- 

4 
1 
- 
1 
1 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

At December 31, 2015, there were no loans modified under troubled debt restructurings during the previous twelve  month period that 
subsequently defaulted during the year ended December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2014, there was one one-to-four family loan in the 
amount  of  $0.4  million  that  was  modified  under  troubled  debt  restructurings  during  the  previous  twelve  month  period  that 
subsequently defaulted during the year ended December 31, 2014. 

90 

 
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
 
   
    
  
 
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
    
  
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

The following is a summary of accruing and nonaccrual TDRs and the related loan losses by portfolio type as of the dates presented 
(dollars in thousands). 

December 31, 2015 
Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Commercial real estate 
Consumer 
Total 

December 31, 2014 
Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 
Total 

TDRs 

Accruing 

Nonaccrual 

Total 

Related 
Allowance 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

180   
878   
532   
39   
1,629   

180   
-   
1   
45   
226   

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

-   
449   
97   
-   
546   

-   
355   
-   
-   
355   

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

180   
1,327   
629   
39   
2,175   

180   
355   
1   
45   
581   

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

-   
-   
-   

-   

-   
-   
-   
-   
-   

The table below includes the average recorded investment and interest income recognized for TDRs for the years ended December 31, 
2015 and December 31, 2014 (dollars in thousands).  

December 31, 2015 
Construction and development 
1-4 Family 
Commercial real estate 
Consumer 
Total 

December 31, 2014 
Construction and development 
Commercial real estate 
Commercial and industrial 
Consumer 
Total 

December 31, 2013 
Construction and development 
Commercial real estate 
Commercial and industrial 

Total 

TDRs 

Average Recorded 
Investment 

Interest Income 
Recognized 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

181   
1,240   
371   
42   
1,834   

187   
359   
2   
48   
596   

459   
360   
4   
823   

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

13   
52   
9   
6   
80   

11   
19   
-   
4   
34   

19   
14   
-   
33   

91 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
  
   
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

NOTE 6. OTHER REAL ESTATE OWNED  

The table below shows the activity in other real estate owned for the periods presented (dollars in thousands).  

Balance, beginning of period 

Transfers from non-acquired loans 
Transfers from acquired loans 
Other real estate sold 
Write-downs 

Balance, end of period 

December 31, 

2015 

2014 

$ 

$ 

2,735      $ 
950        
55        
(2,961 )      
(54 )      
725      $ 

3,515   
-   
706   
(1,276 ) 
(210 ) 
2,735   

As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, other real estate owned related to the acquisition of FCB totaled  approximately 
$0.6 million and $1.3 million, respectively. There was no other real estate owned related to the acquisition of SLBB at December 31, 
2015 or December 31, 2014. 

NOTE 7. BANK PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT  

Bank premises and equipment consisted of the following as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).  

Land 
Buildings and improvements 
Furniture and equipment 
Software 
Construction-in-progress 
Less:  Accumulated depreciation and amortization 

Bank premises and equipment, net 

December 31, 

2015 

2014 

$ 

$ 

10,460      $ 
16,887        
6,350        
668        
1,633        
(5,368 )      
30,630      $ 

9,035   
15,808   
5,932   
548   
1,179   
(3,964 ) 
28,538   

Depreciation and amortization charged to noninterest expense was approximately $1.4 million, $1.3 million and $0.9 million for the 
years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  

NOTE 8. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS  

Goodwill  was  acquired  during  the  year  ended  December 31,  2011  as  a  result  of  the  SLBB  acquisition  on  October 1,  2011.  The 
carrying amount of goodwill as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $2.7 million.  

For  the  purposes  of  evaluating  goodwill,  the  Company  has  determined  that  it  operates  only  one  reporting  unit.  The  Company 
performed a qualitative assessment of goodwill and determined that it was not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting 
unit was less than the carrying amount at December 31, 2015 or 2014.  

The table below shows a summary of the core deposit intangible assets activity for the periods presented (dollars in thousands).  

Gross carrying amount 
Accumulated amortization 
Net carrying amount 

December 31, 

2015 

2014 

$ 

$ 

617      $ 
(126 )      
491      $ 

617   
(85 ) 
532   

Amortization expense on  the  core deposit intangible assets recorded in other operating  expenses totaled approximately $41,000 for 
each of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, and $31,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013. Amortization of the core 
deposit intangible assets is estimated to be approximately $41,000 each year for the next twelve years.  

92 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

NOTE 9. INVESTMENT IN TAX CREDIT ENTITY 

In  December  2014,  the  Company  acquired  a  limited  partner  interest  in  a  tax-advantaged  limited  partnership  whose  purpose  was  to 
invest  in  an  approved  Federal  Historic  Rehabilitation  tax  credit  project.  This  investment  is  accounted  for  using  the  cost  method  of 
accounting and is included in “Other assets” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The limited partnership is considered 
to  be  a  variable  interest  entity  (“VIE”).  The  VIE  has  not  been  consolidated  because  the  Company  is  not  considered  the  primary 
beneficiary. The Company’s investment in the limited partnership  was evaluated for impairment at the end of the reporting period, 
and, as a result, the Company recorded impairment expense of $0.1 million and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 
and 2014, respectively. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had $0.9 million invested in this partnership. The investment 
generated historic tax credits of $1.0 million, all of which was recognized in the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company did not 
make  any  loans  related  to  this  real  estate  project.  Based  on  the  structure  of  this  transaction,  the  Company  expects  to  recover  its 
investment solely through use of the tax credits that were generated by the investment.  

NOTE 10. DEPOSITS  

Deposits consisted of the following as of the dates presented (dollars in thousands).  

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits 
NOW accounts 
Money market deposit accounts 
Savings accounts 
Time deposits 

Total deposits 

December 31, 

2015 

2014 

$ 

$ 

90,447      $ 
140,503        
96,113        
53,735        
356,608        
737,406      $ 

70,217   
116,644   
77,589   
53,332   
310,336   
628,118   

The table below summarizes outstanding time deposits as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands). 

$0 to $99,999 
$100,000 to $249,999 
$250,000 and above 

December 31, 

2015 

2014 

$ 

$ 

321,804      $ 
13,395        
21,409        
356,608      $ 

263,472   
13,714   
33,150   
310,336   

The  contractual  maturities  of  time  deposits  of  $100,000  or  more  outstanding  are  summarized  in  the  table  below  as  of  the  dates 
presented (dollars in thousands).  

Time remaining until maturity: 
Three months or less 
Over three through six months 
Over six through twelve months 
Over one year through three years 
Over three years 

December 31, 

2015 

2014 

$ 

$ 

4,675      $ 
10,039        
12,912        
5,710        
1,468        
34,804      $ 

24,193   
4,788   
7,825   
8,549   
1,509   
46,864   

93 

 
 
 
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
     
  
    
         
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
The approximate scheduled maturities of time deposits for each of the next five years are shown below (dollars in thousands).  

INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

2016 
2017 
2018 
2019 
2020 

$ 

$ 

191,896   
123,308   
20,504   
13,186   
7,714   
356,608   

Public  fund  deposits  as  of  December 31,  2015  and  December 31,  2014  totaled  approximately  $17.5  million,  and  $6.9  million, 
respectively.  The  funds  were  secured  by  U.S.  government  securities  with  a  fair  value  of  approximately  $16.9  million  as  of 
December 31, 2015 and $7.1 million as of December 31, 2014.  

As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, total deposits outstanding to executive officers, principal shareholders, directors 
and to companies in which they are principal owners amounted to approximately $28.1 million and $48.9 million, respectively.  

NOTE 11. SECURITIES SOLD UNDER AGREEMENTS TO REPURCHASE  

Securities  sold  under  agreements  for  repurchase  amounted  to  $39.1  million  and  $12.3  million  as  of  December 31,  2015  and 
December 31, 2014, respectively, and mature on a daily basis. These funds were secured by investment securities with fair values of 
approximately $41.9 million and $12.7 million as of December 31, 2015 and December 31,  2014, respectively. The interest rate on 
these agreements was 0.20% at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.  

NOTE 12. OTHER BORROWED FUNDS  

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances 

Maturity  amounts  and  the  weighted  average  rate  of  FHLB  advances  by  year  of  maturity  were  as  follows  as  of  the  dates  presented 
(dollars in thousands).  

Fixed rate advances maturing: 
2015 
2016(a) 
2017(b) 
2018 
2020 

Amount 

Weighted Average Rate 

December 31, 2015 

December 31, 2014 

December 31, 2015 

December 31, 2014 

-        
119,137        
4,160        
1,100        
3,100        
127,497      $ 

104,339        
15,534        
4,712        
850        
350        
125,785        

-         

0.40  
0.97  
1.00  
1.52  
0.45 %      

0.16  
0.75  
0.96  
0.93  
1.50  
0.27 % 

   $ 

(a) Amortizing advances due 2016, requiring monthly principal and interest of $15  
(b) Amortizing advances due 2017, requiring monthly principal and interest of $47  

As  of  December 31,  2015,  these  advances  are  collateralized  by  approximately  $272.3  million  of  the  Company’s  loan  portfolio  and 
$29.3  million  of  the  Company’s  investment  securities  in  accordance  with  the  Advance  Security  and  Collateral  Agreement  with  the 
FHLB.  

As of December 31, 2015, the Company had an additional $174.1 million available under its line of credit with the FHLB. In addition, 
the Company has outstanding  unsecured lines of credit with its correspondent banks available to assist in the management of short-
term liquidity. At December 31, 2015, the available lines of credit totaled approximately $35.0 million, with no outstanding balance 
reflected on the consolidated balance sheet.  

94 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
    
    
     
  
 
  
  
       
  
       
  
        
  
  
 
  
 
  
     
  
  
     
 
  
     
 
  
     
  
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Junior Subordinated Debt 

On  May 1,  2013,  in  connection  with  the  acquisition  of  FCB,  the  Company  assumed  the  common  securities  of  First  Community 
Louisiana  Statutory  Trust  I,  a  Delaware  statutory  trust,  that  was  initially  established  in  March  2006  by  First  Community  Holding 
Company,  the  parent  bank  holding  company  for  FCB,  for  the  purpose  of  issuing  corporation-obligated  mandatorily  redeemable 
preferred capital securities to third-party investors. The trust used the proceeds from the issuance of their preferred capital securities 
and common securities (collectively referred to as “capital securities”) to buy floating rate junior subordinated debentures  issued by 
FCB (subsequently assumed by the Company through their acquisition of FCB). The debentures are the trust’s only assets and interest 
payments from the debentures finance the distributions paid on the capital securities. Distributions on the capital securities are payable 
quarterly at a floating rate of three month LIBOR + 1.77%. The capital securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in 
part, upon repayment of the debentures. Under the terms of the Indenture dated March 27, 2006, the junior subordinated debentures 
will mature on June 15, 2036. Under applicable regulatory guidelines, these junior subordinated debentures qualify as Tier 1 Capital.  

NOTE 13. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

The Company currently holds interest rate swap contracts to manage exposure against the variability in the expected future cash flows 
(future interest payments) attributable to changes in  the 1-month  LIBOR associated  with the  forecasted issuances of  1-month fixed 
rate debt arising from a rollover strategy. An interest rate swap is an agreement whereby one party agrees to pay a fixed rate of interest 
on a notional principal amount in exchange for receiving a floating rate of interest on the same notional amount, for a predetermined 
period of time, from a second party. The amounts relating to the notional principal amount are not actually exchanged. The maximum 
length  of  time  over  which  the  Company  is  currently  hedging  its  exposure  to  the  variability  in  future  cash  flows  for  forecasted 
transactions is approximately 4.5 years. The total notional amount of the derivative contracts is $30.0 million.  

For each of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, a loss of $0.2 million, net of a $0.1 million tax benefit, was recognized in 
“Other comprehensive income (loss)” (“OCI”) in the accompanying consolidated statements of other comprehensive income for the 
change in fair value of the interest rate swap. There was no gain or loss recognized in OCI related to the swap contracts for the year 
ended December 31, 2013 as the contracts were effective until 2014. The swap contract had a negative fair value of $0.6 million and 
$0.3  million  at  December 31,  2015  and  2014,  respectively,  and  has  been  recorded  in  “Accrued  taxes  and  other  liabilities”  in  the 
accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets.  The  accumulated  loss  of  $0.4  million  included  in  “Accumulated  other  comprehensive 
(loss)  income”  in  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets  would  be  reclassified  to  current  earnings  if  the  hedge  transaction 
becomes probable of not occurring. The Company expects the hedge to remain fully effective during the remaining term of the swap 
contract.  

95 

 
 
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

NOTE 14. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  

Preferred Stock 

The  Company’s  Articles  of  Incorporation  give  the  Company’s  board  of  directors  the  authority  to  issue  up  to  5,000,000  shares  of 
preferred  stock.  As  of  December 31,  2015,  there  are  no  preferred  shares  outstanding.  The  preferred  shares  are  considered  “blank 
check”  preferred  stock.  This  type  of  preferred  stock  allows  the  board  of  directors  to  fix  the  designations,  preferences  and  relative, 
participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications and limitations or restrictions of any series of preferred stock without 
further shareholder approval.  

Common Stock 

The table below displays the Company’s common stock activity for the periods indicated. 

Common Stock Outstanding 

Outstanding at December 31, 2012 
Issuances 
Stock warrant activity 
Restricted stock activity 
Outstanding at December 31, 2013 
Issuances 
Stock warrant activity 
Restricted stock activity 
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 
Issuances 
Repurchases 
Stock option activity 
Restricted stock activity 
Outstanding at December 31, 2015 

Shares 

3,210,816   
708,397   
200   
25,701   
3,945,114   
3,296,176   
21,996   
(1,201 ) 
7,262,085   
11,225   
(36,856 ) 
10,125   
17,703   
7,264,282   

In July 2014, the Company issued 3,285,300 shares of its common stock as a result of its initial public offering (the “IPO”). 

Warrants 

On  October 1,  2011,  in  connection  with  the  SLBB  acquisition,  the  Bank  issued  130,875  stock  warrants  with  an  exercise  price  of 
$13.33 per share. In connection with the share exchange discussed above in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, the 
warrants were exchanged for a like amount of warrants to acquire shares of Company common stock at the same exercise price. These 
warrants,  which  are  currently  exercisable,  expire  on  July  1,  2018.  All  other  warrants  to  acquire  shares  of  Company  common  stock 
expired on or before December 31, 2014.  

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The following table summarizes the Company’s warrant activity for the periods indicated. 

INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

$13.50 Per Share 
Issued September 1, 2007, expired September 30, 2014(1) 
Balance, beginning of period 

Issued 
Forfeited 
Exercised 

Balance, end of period 

$13.50 Per Share 
Issued March 21, 2009, expired December 31, 2014 
Balance, beginning of period 

Issued 
Forfeited 
Exercised 

Balance, end of period 

$13.33 Per Share 
Issued October 1, 2011, expire July 1, 2018 
Balance, beginning of period 

Issued 
Forfeited 
Exercised 

Balance, end of period 

2015 

December 31, 
2014 

2013 

-        
-        
-        
-        
-        

-        
-        
-        
-        
-        

49,903        
-        
(34,990 )      
(14,913 )      
-        

12,720        
-        
(5,637 )      
(7,083 )      
-        

50,103   
-   
(200 ) 
-   
49,903   

12,720   
-   
-   
-   
12,720   

130,875        
-        
-        
-        
130,875        

130,875        
-        
-        
-        
130,875        

130,875   
-   
-   
-   
130,875   

(1) The original expiration date of April 30, 2014 was extended in connection with the IPO. 

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INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Stock Options 

At  the  completion  of  the  IPO  in  July  2014,  the  Company  issued  216,000  stock  options  to  key  personnel  that  vest  at  one-sixth 
increments on the grant date anniversary of each of the following six years. 

In 2015, the Company issued 64,333 stock options to key personnel that vest at one-fifth increments on the grant date anniversary of 
each of the following five years. 

The table below summarizes the Company’s stock option activity for the periods indicated. 

Outstanding at December 31, 2012 
Issued 
Forfeited 
Exercised 
Outstanding at December 31, 2013 
Issued 
Forfeited 
Exercised 
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 
Issued 
Forfeited 
Exercised 
Outstanding at December 31, 2015 
Exercisable at December 31, 2015 

   Weighted 

Average 

   Weighted 
Average 

Remaining 
   Contractual 

Shares 

Price 

   Term (Years) 

30,311      $ 
-        
-        
(7,500 )      
22,811      $ 
216,000        
-        
-        
238,811      $ 
64,333        
(14,667 )      
(10,125 )      
278,352      $ 
47,351        

13.33     

-          
-          
13.33          
13.33        
14.00          
-          
-          

13.94        
15.74          
14.00          
13.33          
14.37        
13.82        

5.88   

4.88   

8.96   

8.42   
7.00   

At  December 31,  2015,  the  shares  underlying  total  outstanding  stock  options  had  an  intrinsic  value  of  $0.9  million.  The  shares 
underlying exercisable stock options had an intrinsic value of approximately $0.2 million. 

Stock-Based Compensation 

Equity  Incentive  Plan. The  Company’s  2014  Long-Term  Incentive  Compensation  Plan  (the  “Plan”)  authorizes  the  grant  of  various 
types of equity grants and awards, such as restricted stock, stock options and stock appreciation rights, to eligible participants, which 
include all of the Company’s and Bank’s employees and non-employee directors. The Plan has reserved 600,000 shares of common 
stock for grant, award or issuance to directors and employees, including shares underlying granted options. The Plan is administered 
by  the  Compensation  Committee  of  the  Company’s  board  of  directors,  which  determines,  within  the  provision  of  the  Plan,  those 
eligible employees to whom, and the times at which, awards shall be  granted. The Compensation Committee, in its discretion, may 
delegate its authority and duties under the Plan to specified officers;  however, only the  Compensation  Committee  may approve the 
terms of grants and awards to the Company’s executive officers.  

Stock Options. The Company uses a Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock-based awards. The Black-
Scholes option pricing model incorporates various and highly subjective assumptions, including expected term and expected volatility. 
Stock option expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 
was $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively. There was no stock option expense recognized for the year ended December 31, 2013. 
At  December  31,  2015,  there  was  $0.7  million  of  unrecognized  compensation  cost  related  to  stock  options  that  is  expected  to  be 
recognized over a weighted average period of 4.4 years. 

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The table below shows the assumptions used for the stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.  

INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Dividend yield 
Expected volatility 
Risk-free interest rate 
Expected term (in years) 
Weighted-average grant date fair value 

2015 

2014 

0.17   %    
18.48   %    
1.79   %    
7.0     
3.75     

   $ 

0.36   % 
19.01   % 
2.17   % 
7.0     
3.44      

$ 

Time Vested Restricted Stock Awards. The Company has issued shares of time vested restricted stock with vesting terms ranging from 
one  to  six  years.  The  total  stock-based  compensation  expense  for  these  awards  is  determined  based  on  the  market  price  of  the 
Company’s common stock at the grant date applied to the total number of shares granted and is amortized over the vesting period.  

The Company issued a total of 36,434 shares of restricted stock to employees and directors for the year ended December 31, 2015. Of 
the restricted stock granted in 2015, 30,305 shares will vest over five years and 6,129 shares will vest over two years. 

The Company issued a total of 11,824 shares of restricted stock to employees for the year ended December 31, 2014. Of the restricted 
stock granted in 2014, 3,335 shares will vest over five years and 8,489 shares will vest over six years.  

The Company issued a total of 31,572 shares of restricted stock to employees and directors for the year ended December 31, 2013. Of 
the restricted stock granted in 2013, 2,450 shares vested in one year and 29,122 shares will vest over five years. These restricted shares 
were  exchanged  for  a  like  number  of  restricted  shares  of  the  Company  common  stock  in  connection  with  the  share  exchange  on 
November 15, 2013.  

No  shares  of  restricted  stock  may  be  sold,  assigned,  transferred or pledged  until  vested. The  holders  of  the  restricted  stock  receive 
dividends  and  have  the  right  to  vote  the  shares.  The  unearned  compensation  related  to  these  awards  is  amortized  to  compensation 
expense over the vesting period.  

As of December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 unearned  stock-based compensation associated  with these awards totaled approximately 
$0.8 million, $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively. The $0.8 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to time vested 
restricted stock at December 31, 2015 is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.5 years. 

The  following  table  summarizes  the  unvested  restricted  stock  award  activity  for  the  years  ended  December 31,  2015  and 
December 31, 2014. 

Balance, beginning of period 

Granted 
Forfeited 
Earned and issued 
Balance, end of period 

December 31, 

2015 

2014 

Shares 

Weighted Avg 
Grant Date 
Fair Value 

Shares 

Weighted Avg 
Grant Date 
Fair Value 

42,889      $ 
36,434        
(5,044 )      
(13,687 )      
60,592      $ 

13.96       
15.50       
14.29        
13.99        
14.85        

44,090      $ 
11,824        
(536 )      
(12,489 )      
42,889      $ 

13.99   
13.85   
14.00   
13.97   
13.96   

NOTE 15. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS  

The  Company  maintains  a  401(k)  defined  contribution  plan  (the  “Plan”)  which  covers  employees  over  the  age  of  twenty-one  who 
have completed 90 days of credited service, as defined by the Plan. The Plan allows employees to defer a percentage of their salaries 
subject to certain limits based on federal tax laws. The Company makes matching contributions up to 4% of the employee’s annual 
salary (subject to certain maximum compensation amounts as prescribed in Internal Revenue Service guidance). Contributions by the 
Company and participants are immediately vested. The Plan also allows for a discretionary Company contribution. Although no such 
contribution has been made as of December 31, 2015, the discretionary component vests in increments of 20% annually over a period 
of five years based on the employees’ years of service. 

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INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Employer  matching  contributions  to  the  Plan  for  the  years  ended  December 31,  2015,  2014  and  2013  were  approximately  $0.4 
million, $0.4 million and $0.2 million respectively.  

The Company maintains a deferred compensation plan for a former FCB employee. A single premium immediate annuity policy was 
purchased  in  which  the  former  employee  is  the  beneficiary.  Under  this  policy,  the  beneficiary  will  receive  monthly  payments  of 
$2,000 through 2020.  

NOTE 16. INCOME TAXES  

The  income  tax  expense  included  in  the  consolidated  statements  of  operations  is  displayed  in  the  table  below  for  the  years  ended 
December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands).  

Current 
Deferred 

2015 

December 31, 
2014 

2013 

$ 

$ 

 $ 

3,897   
(386 ) 
3,511      $ 

 $ 

1,279   
(134 ) 
1,145      $ 

375   
773   
1,148   

The provision for federal income taxes differs from that computed by  applying the federal statutory rate of 35% in 2015 and 34% in 
both  2014  and  2013,  as  indicated  in  the  following  analysis  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2015,  2014  and  2013  (dollars  in 
thousands).  

Tax based on statutory rate 
(Decrease) increase resulting from: 

Effect of tax-exempt income 
Purchase accounting 
Acquisition cost 
Historical tax credits 
Other 

Total income tax expense 
Effective rate 

2015 

December 31, 
2014 

2013 

$ 

3,704       $ 

2,224       $ 

(142 )       
-         
-         
(62 )       
11         
3,511       $ 
33.2 %      

(118 )       
-         
-         
(1,002 )       
41         
1,145       $ 
17.5 %      

$ 

1,468   

(112 ) 
(300 ) 
48   
-   
44   
1,148   

26.1 % 

The Company records deferred income tax on the tax effect of changes in timing differences.  

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The net deferred tax asset was comprised of the following items as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).  

INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Deferred tax liabilities: 

Depreciation 
FHLB stock dividend 
Basis difference in acquired assets and liabilities 
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities 

Gross deferred tax liability 

Deferred tax assets: 

Provision for loan losses 
Provision for other real estate losses 
Unrealized loss on available for sale securities 
Unamortized start-up cost 
Net operating loss carryforward 
Deferred gain on sale of other real estate 
Basis difference in acquired assets and liabilities 
Historical tax credit 
Other 

Gross deferred tax assets 
Net deferred tax asset 

2015 

December 31, 
2014 

2013 

   $ 

   $ 

   $ 

(1,402 )    $ 
(5 )      
(26 )      
-        
(1,433 )    $ 

1,588        
328        
357        
147        
412        
35        
-        
247        
234        
3,348        
1,915      $ 

(1,435 )    $ 
(16 )      
-        
(62 )      
(1,513 )    $ 

879        
517        
-        
165        
617        
-        
46        
226        
160        
2,610        
1,097      $ 

(1,303 ) 
(30 ) 
-   
-   
(1,333 ) 

377   
544   
180   
187   
833   
90   
180   
-   
147   
2,538   
1,205   

The  Company  acquired  net  operating  loss  (“NOL”)  carryforwards  through  the  tax  free  acquisitions  of  FCB  and  SLBB.  As  of 
December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company’s NOL carryforwards were approximately $1.2 million and $1.8 million, 
respectively, with expiration dates as follows: $0.2 million in 2031; and $1.0 million in 2033.  

As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company’s general business credit was $12,000 which expires in 2028.  

The Company files income tax returns under U.S. federal jurisdiction and the state of Louisiana, although the state of Louisiana does 
not assess an income tax on income resulting from banking operations. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. 
federal and state examinations by tax authorities for years before 2011.  

NOTE 17. FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS  

In  accordance  with  FASB  ASC  Topic  820,  Fair  Value  Measurement  and  Disclosure,  disclosure  of  fair  value  information  about 
financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the balance sheet, is required. Fair value of a financial instrument is the price that 
would  be  received  to  sell  an  asset  or  paid  to  transfer  a  liability  in  an  orderly  transaction  between  market  participants  at  the 
measurement  date.  Fair  value  is  best  determined  based  upon  quoted  market  prices.  In  cases  where  quoted  market  prices  are  not 
available,  fair  values  are  based  on  estimates  using  present  value  or  other  valuation  techniques.  Those  techniques  are  significantly 
affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows, and the fair value estimates may not 
be realized in an immediate settlement of the instruments. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent 
the underlying value of the Company.  

The fair value guidance provides a consistent definition of fair value, which focuses on exit price in an orderly transaction (that is, not 
a forced liquidation or distressed sale) between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. If there 
has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability, a change in valuation technique or the use 
of  multiple  valuation  techniques  may  be  appropriate.  In  such  instances,  determining  the  price  at  which  willing  market  participants 
would transact at the measurement date under current market conditions depends on the facts and circumstances and requires use of 
significant  judgment.  The  fair  value  is  a  reasonable  point  within  the  range  that  is  most  representative  of  fair  value  under  current 
market conditions.  

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INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Fair Value Hierarchy  

In  accordance  with  this  guidance,  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.  

Level 1—Valuation is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability 
to access at the measurement date. Level 1 assets and liabilities generally include debt and equity securities that are traded in an active 
exchange market. Valuations are obtained from readily available pricing sources for market transactions involving identical assets or 
liabilities.  

Level 2—Valuation is based on inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, 
either directly or indirectly. The valuation may be based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that 
are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of 
the asset or liability.  

Level 3—Valuation is based on unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair 
value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing 
models,  discounted  cash  flow  methodologies,  or  similar  techniques,  as  well  as  instruments  for  which  determination  of  fair  value 
requires significant management judgment or estimation.  

A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the 
fair value measurement.  

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating fair value disclosures for financial instruments:  

Cash and Due from Banks – For these short-term instruments, fair value is the carrying value. Cash and due from banks is classified in 
level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.  

Federal Funds Sold/Purchased and Securities Sold under Repurchase Agreements – The fair value is the carrying value based on the 
short-term nature of these items. The Company classifies these assets in level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. 

Investments  –  Where  quoted  prices  are  available  in  an  active  market,  the  Company  classifies  these  securities  within  level  1  of  the 
valuation hierarchy. Securities are defined as both long and short positions. Level 1 securities include highly liquid government bonds 
and exchange-traded equities.  

If  quoted  market  prices  are  not  available,  the  Company  estimates  fair  values  using  pricing  models  and  discounted  cash  flows  that 
consider standard input factors such as observable market data, benchmark yields, interest rate volatilities, broker/dealer quotes, and 
credit spreads. Examples of such instruments, which would generally be classified within level 2 of the valuation hierarchy,  include 
Government Sponsored Enterprise obligations, corporate bonds and other securities. Mortgage-backed securities are included in level 
2 if observable inputs are available. In certain cases where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to  the valuation, 
the Company classifies these securities in level 3.  

Loans – For variable-rate loans that re-price frequently and with no significant change in credit risk, fair values are based on carrying 
values.  Fair  values  for  certain  mortgage  loans  (for  example,  one-to-four  family  residential),  credit  card  loans,  and  other  consumer 
loans  are  based  on  quoted  market  prices  of  similar  instruments  sold  in  conjunction  with  securitization  transactions,  adjusted  for 
differences in loan characteristics. Fair values for other loans (for example, commercial real estate and investment property mortgage 
loans, commercial and industrial loans) are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, using market interest rates for comparable 
loans. Fair values for nonperforming loans are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses or underlying collateral values, where 
applicable. The Company classifies loans in level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.  

Loans held for sale are  measured using quoted market prices when available. If quoted market prices are not available, comparable 
market  values  or  discounted  cash  flow  analyses  may  be  utilized.  The  Company  classifies  these  assets  in  level  3  of  the  fair  value 
hierarchy.  

102 

 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Other  Real  Estate  Owned  –  The  fair  values  are  estimated  based  on  recent  appraisal  values  of  the  property  less  costs  to  sell  the 
property, as other real estate owned is valued at the lower of cost or fair value of the property, less estimated costs to sell. Certain 
inputs used in appraisals are not always observable, and therefore other real estate owned may be classified in level 3 within the fair 
value hierarchy. When inputs are observable, these assets are classified in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. 

Deposit Liabilities—The fair values disclosed for noninterest-bearing demand deposits are, by definition, equal to the amount payable 
on demand at the reporting date (that is, their carrying amounts). These noninterest-bearing deposits are classified in level 2 of the fair 
value hierarchy. The carrying amounts of variable-rate deposit accounts (for example interest-bearing checking, savings and money 
market  accounts),  fixed-term  money  market  accounts  and  certificates  of  deposit  approximate  their  fair  values  at  the  reporting  date. 
Fair  values  for  fixed-rate  certificates  of  deposit  are  estimated  using  a  discounted  cash  flow  calculation  that  applies  market  interest 
rates  on  comparable  instruments  to  a  schedule  of  aggregated  expected  monthly  maturities  on  time  deposits.  All  interest-bearing 
deposits are classified in level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.  

Short-Term Borrowings—The carrying amounts of federal funds purchased, borrowings under repurchase agreements, and other short-
term borrowings maturing within 90 days approximate their fair values. The Company classifies these borrowings in level 2 of the fair 
value hierarchy.  

Long-Term Borrowings – The fair values of long-term borrowings are estimated using discounted cash flows analyses based on the 
Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. The fair value of the Company’s long-
term debt is therefore classified in level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.  

Commitments – The fair value of commitments to extend credit was not significant.  

Derivative Instruments – The fair value for interest rate swap agreements are based upon the amounts required to settle the contracts. 
These derivative instruments are classified in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.  

103 

 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis  

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).  

     Quoted Prices in        
    Active Markets for      Significant Other      Unobservable    

     Significant 

   Fair Value 

Identical Assets 
(Level 1) 

    Observable Inputs     
(Level 2) 

Inputs 
(Level 3) 

December 31, 2015 
Assets: 

Obligations of other U.S. government agencies and corporations    $ 
Obligations of state and political subdivisions 
Corporate bonds 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Equity securities 
Total assets 

  $ 

26,473     $ 
21,467       
14,824       
47,526       
1,989       
1,092       
113,371     $ 

-     $ 
-       
-       
-       
-       
1,092       
1,092     $ 

26,473     $ 
11,072       
13,688       
47,526       
1,989       
-       
100,748     $ 

-   
10,395   
1,136   
-   
-   
-   
11,531   

Liabilities: 

Derivative financial instruments 

  $ 

581     $ 

-     $ 

581     $ 

December 31, 2014 
Assets: 

Obligations of other U.S. government agencies and corporations    $ 
Obligations of state and political subdivisions 
Corporate bonds 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Equity securities 
Total assets 

  $ 

4,360     $ 
11,740       
5,419       
46,755       
1,491       
534       
70,299     $ 

-     $ 
-       
-       
-       
-       
534       
534     $ 

4,360     $ 
11,740       
5,419       
46,755       
1,491       
-       
69,765     $ 

Liabilities: 

Derivative financial instruments 

  $ 

303     $ 

-     $ 

303     $ 

-   

-   

-   
-   
-   
-   
-   

-   

The Company reviews fair value hierarchy classifications on a quarterly basis. Changes in the Company’s ability to observe inputs to 
the  valuation  may  cause  reclassification  of  certain  assets  or  liabilities  within  the  fair  value  hierarchy.  The  table  below  provides  a 
reconciliation for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs, or Level 3 inputs (dollars in 
thousands). 

Obligations of 
State and Political 
Subdivisions 

Corporate 
Bonds 

Total 

Balance at December 31, 2014 
Realized gains (losses) included in net income 
Unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive 
    income          
Purchases 
Sales 
Transfers into Level 3 
Transfers out of Level 3 
Balance at December 31, 2015 

$ 

$ 

-      $ 
-        

-        
10,395        
-        
-        
-        
10,395      $ 

-      $ 
-        

-        
1,136        
-        
-        
-        
1,136      $ 

-   
-   

-   
11,531   
-   
-   
-   
11,531   

There were no liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. For 
the  year  ended  December  31,  2015,  there  were  no  gains  or  losses  included  in  earnings,  nor  were  there  unrealized  gains  or  losses 
related to the change in fair value of the assets measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs held at the end of 
the period. 

104 

 
 
  
    
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
    
  
  
    
     
     
  
    
       
       
       
   
    
       
       
       
   
    
    
    
    
    
    
       
       
       
   
  
    
       
       
       
   
    
       
       
       
   
    
       
       
       
   
    
   
    
    
    
    
    
       
       
       
   
 
 
 
  
  
       
          
  
  
  
  
  
       
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
         
         
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Fair Value of Assets Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis  

Assets  measured  at  fair  value  on  a  nonrecurring  basis  are  summarized  below  as  of  the  dates  indicated;  there  were  no  liabilities 
measured on a nonrecurring basis at December 31, 2015 or 2014 (dollars in thousands).  

      Quoted Prices in         
     Active Markets for       Significant Other       Unobservable    
      Identical Assets 

      Significant 

     Observable Inputs      
(Level 2) 

Inputs 
(Level 3) 

   Fair Value 

(Level 1) 

December 31, 2015 
Impaired loans 
Other real estate owned 
Total 

December 31, 2014 
Impaired loans 
Other real estate owned 
Total 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

335     $ 
35       
370     $ 

78     $ 
2,210       
2,288     $ 

-     $ 
-       
-     $ 

-     $ 
-       
-     $ 

-     $ 
-       
-     $ 

-     $ 
-       
-     $ 

335   
35   
370   

78   
2,210   
2,288   

The  estimated  fair  values  of  the  Company’s  financial  instruments  at  December 31,  2015  and  December 31,  2014  are  shown  below 
(dollars in thousands).  

Financial assets: 
Cash and due from banks 
Federal funds sold 
Investment securities 
Other equity securities 
Loans, net of allowance 
Loan held for sale 

Financial liabilities: 
Deposits, noninterest-bearing 
Deposits, interest-bearing 
FHLB short-term advances and repurchase agreements 
FHLB long-term advances 
Junior subordinated debt 
Derivative financial instruments 

$ 

$ 

Carrying 
Amount 

      Estimated 
      Fair Value 

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

December 31, 2015 

20,785     $ 
181       
139,779       
5,835       
739,313       
80,509       

20,785     $ 
181       
139,642       
5,835       
738,614       
80,509       

20,785     $ 
181       
1,092       
-       
-       
-       

-     $ 
-       
112,958       
5,835       
-       
-       

-   
-   
25,592   
-   
738,614   
80,509   

90,447     $ 
646,959       
158,236       
8,360       
3,609       
581       

89,427     $ 
630,613       
158,236       
8,455       
3,217       
581       

 $ 
-   
-       
-       
-       
-       
-       

89,427   

 $ 
-       
158,236       
-       
-       
581       

-   
630,613   
-   
8,455   
3,217   
-   

105 

 
 
  
    
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
     
     
     
  
    
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
  
    
  
      
         
         
        
  
    
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
  
    
  
 
  
  
  
         
          
           
  
  
     
    
     
  
    
        
        
        
        
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
        
        
        
        
  
    
        
        
        
        
  
  
  
  
  
  
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Financial assets: 
Cash and due from banks 
Federal funds sold 
Investment securities 
Other equity securities 
Loans, net of allowance 
Loans held for sale 

Financial liabilities: 
Deposits, noninterest-bearing 
Deposits, interest-bearing 
FHLB short-term advances and repurchase agreements 
FHLB long-term advances 
Junior subordinated debt 
Derivative financial instruments 

NOTE 18. REGULATORY MATTERS  

$ 

$ 

Carrying 
Amount 

      Estimated 
      Fair Value 

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

December 31, 2014 

19,012     $ 
500       
92,818       
5,566       
618,160       
103,396       

19,012     $ 
500       
92,600       
5,566       
619,279       
103,396       

19,012     $ 
500       
534       
-       
-       
-       

-     $ 
-       
92,066       
5,566       
-       
-       

-   
-   
-   
-   
619,279   
103,396   

70,217     $ 
557,901       
116,632       
21,446       
3,609       
303       

70,217     $ 
560,667       
116,632       
21,493       
3,608       
303       

-   
 $ 
-       
-       
-       
-       
-       

70,217   

 $ 
-       
116,632       
-       
-       
303       

-   
560,667   
-   
21,493   
3,608   
-   

The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum 
capital  requirements  can  initiate  certain  mandatory  and  possibly  additional  discretionary  actions  by  regulators  that,  if  undertaken, 
could have a direct material effect on the financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines, the Bank must meet specific capital 
guidelines that involve quantitative  measures of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory 
accounting  practices.  The  capital  amounts  and  classification  are  also  subject  to  qualitative  judgments  by  the  regulators  about 
components, risk weightings, and other factors.  

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios 
(set  forth  in  the  table  below)  of  total  and  Tier  1  capital  (as  defined  in  the  regulations)  to  risk-weighted  assets  (as  defined)  and  to 
average assets (as defined).  

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the most recent notifications from the FDIC categorized the Bank  as well capitalized under the 
regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized the Bank must maintain minimum total risk-
based, Tier 1 leverage capital ratios as set  forth in the table below. There are  no conditions or events since those  notifications that 
management believes have changed the Bank’s category.  

106 

 
 
  
  
  
         
          
           
  
  
     
    
     
  
    
        
        
        
        
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
        
        
        
        
  
    
        
        
        
        
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

The Company’s and the Bank’s actual capital amounts and ratios as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are presented in 
the tables below (dollars in thousands).  

Actual 

Capital Adequacy 

Well Capitalized 

Amount 

Ratio 

Amount 

Ratio 

Amount 

Ratio 

December 31, 2015 
Tier 1 leverage capital 
Investar Holding Corporation 
Investar Bank 

Common Equity Tier 1 risk-
based capital 
Investar Holding Corporation 
Investar Bank 

Tier 1 risk-based capital 
Investar Holding Corporation 
Investar Bank 

Total risk-based capital 
Investar Holding Corporation 
Investar Bank 

December 31, 2014 
Tier 1 leverage capital 
Investar Holding Corporation 
Investar Bank 

Tier 1 risk-based capital 
Investar Holding Corporation 
Investar Bank 

Total risk-based capital 
Investar Holding Corporation 
Investar Bank 

   $ 
   $ 

110,574       
107,209       

11.39 %   $ 
11.07 %   $ 

38,836       
38,749       

4.00 %   
4.00 %   $ 

NA     
48,436       

NA   
5.00 % 

   $ 
   $ 

107,074       
107,209       

11.67 %   $ 
11.71 %   $ 

41,281       
41,200       

4.50 %   
4.50 %   $ 

NA     
59,511       

NA   
6.50 % 

   $ 
   $ 

110,574       
107,209       

12.05 %   $ 
11.71 %   $ 

55,042       
54,933       

6.00 %   
6.00 %   $ 

NA     
73,244       

NA   
8.00 % 

   $ 
   $ 

116,702       
113,337       

12.72 %   $ 
12.38 %   $ 

73,389       
73,244       

8.00 %   
8.00 %   $ 

NA     
91,555       

NA   
10.00 % 

   $ 
   $ 

103,535       
73,870       

12.61 %   $ 
9.00 %   $ 

32,843       
32,821       

4.00 %   
4.00 %   $ 

NA     
41,026       

NA   
5.00 % 

   $ 
   $ 

103,535       
73,870       

13.79 %   $ 
9.86 %   $ 

30,029       
29,973       

4.00 %   
4.00 %   $ 

NA     
44,959       

NA   
6.00 % 

   $ 
   $ 

108,165       
78,500       

14.41 %   $ 
10.48 %   $ 

60,058       
59,945       

8.00 %   $ 
8.00 %   $ 

74,931     
74,931       

NA   
10.00 % 

Applicable  Federal  and  State  statutes  and  regulations  impose  restrictions  on  the  amounts of  dividends  that  may  be  declared  by  the 
Company. In addition to the formal statutes and regulations, regulatory authorities also consider the adequacy of the Company’s total 
capital in relation to its assets, deposits and other such items and, as a result, capital adequacy considerations could further limit the 
availability of dividends from the Company. In the event the Company is in default or has deferred interest payments on subordinated 
debentures, the Company would be restricted from paying dividends.  

In July 2013, the federal banking regulatory agencies issued a final rule which revises the regulatory capital framework for financial 
institutions. The final rule (also known as the Basel III capital rules) covers a number of aspects pertaining to capital requirements. 

These include:  

(cid:120)  Prompt Corrective Action Capital Category Thresholds - The following thresholds have been established for an institution to be 

deemed adequately capitalized:  

Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio 
Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio 
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio 
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio 

    8.0 % 
    6.0 % 
    4.5 % 
    4.0 % 

(cid:120)  Establishment of a Capital Conservation Buffer - The Capital Conservation Buffer is phased in through 2019.  
(cid:120)  Changes in risk-weighting of assets.  

107 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
     
  
  
     
  
       
        
         
        
         
        
  
       
        
         
        
         
        
  
  
       
        
         
        
       
       
   
       
        
         
        
       
       
   
  
       
        
         
        
       
       
   
       
        
         
        
       
       
   
  
       
        
         
        
       
       
   
       
        
         
        
       
       
   
  
       
        
         
        
       
       
   
       
        
         
        
       
       
   
       
        
         
        
       
       
   
  
       
        
         
        
       
       
   
       
        
         
        
       
       
   
  
       
        
         
        
       
       
   
       
        
         
        
       
       
   
 
  
  
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

(cid:120)  Opt-out Election of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income from Common Equity Tier 1 Capital.  

Financial institutions became subject to the final rule on January 1, 2015, although the rules will not be fully phased in until January 1, 
2019.  

Management  is  currently  evaluating  the  provisions  of  the  final  rule  and  its  expected  impact  on  the  Company  and  the  Bank. 
Management believes that at December 31, 2015, the Company and the Bank would have met all new capital adequacy requirements 
on a fully phased-in basis if such requirements were then effective. There can be no assurances that the Basel III capital rules will not 
be revised before the effective date and expiration of the phase-in periods.  

NOTE 19. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES  

Unfunded Commitments 

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk entered into in the normal course of business to meet the 
financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit consisting of loan commitments 
and standby letters of credit, which are not included in the accompanying financial statements.  

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend money with fixed expiration dates or termination clauses. The Company applies 
the same credit standards used in the lending process when extending these commitments, and periodically reassesses the customer’s 
creditworthiness through ongoing credit reviews. Since some commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total 
commitment  amounts  do  not  necessarily  represent  future  cash  requirements.  Collateral  is  obtained  based  on  the  Company’s 
assessment of the transaction. Essentially all standby letters of credit issued have expiration dates within one year. At December 31, 
2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company’s commitments to extend credit totaled approximately $149.9 million and $91.5 million, 
respectively.  

Additionally, at December 31, 2015, the Company had unfunded commitments of $0.9 million for its investment in Small Business 
Investment Company qualified funds. 

Required Reserves 

The  Company  is  required  to  maintain  average  reserves  at  the  Federal  Reserve  Bank.  There  were  approximately  $12.7  million  and 
$12.9 million in reserves required at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.  

Bank Premises 

In August 2014, the Company entered into an agreement to construct a 2,240 square foot building located at 525 East New River Road 
in  Gonzales,  Louisiana.  The  Company  was  approved  by  the  FDIC  to  open  a  new  branch  facility.  The  Company  has  submitted  an 
application and is awaiting approval from the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. The cost to construct the branch facility was 
approximately $1.1 million. Opening date of this location is estimated to be in the second quarter of 2016.   

Insurance  

Effective  May  1,  2014,  the  Company  is  obligated  for  certain  costs  associated  with  its  insurance  program  for  employee  health.  The 
Company is self-insured for a substantial portion of its potential claims. The Company recognizes its obligation associated with these 
costs, up to specified deductible limits in the period in which a claim is incurred, including with respect to both reported  claims and 
claims  incurred  but  not  reported.  The  claims  costs  are  estimated  based  on  historical  claims  experience.  The  reserves  for  insurance 
claims are reviewed and updated by management on a quarterly basis. 

NOTE 20. CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT  

Substantially  all  of  the  Company’s  loans  and  commitments  have  been  granted  to  customers  in  the  Company’s  market  area.  The 
concentrations of credit by type of loan are set forth in Note 4, Loans. The distribution of commitments to extend credit approximates 
the distribution of loans outstanding.  

The  Company  maintains  deposit  accounts  and  federal  funds  sold  with  correspondent  banks  which  may,  periodically,  exceed  the 
federally insured amount.  

108 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

NOTE 21. TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES  

The Bank has made, and expects in the future to continue to make in the ordinary course of business, loans to directors and executive 
officers of the  Company, the  Bank, and their affiliates. In  management’s opinion,  these  loans  were  made in the ordinary course  of 
business at normal credit terms, including interest rate and collateral requirements, and do not represent more than normal credit risk. 
See Note 4, Loans, for more information regarding lending transactions between the Company and these related parties. 

During 2015 and 2014, certain executive officers and directors of the Company and the Bank, including companies with which they 
are affiliated, were deposit customers of the Bank. See Note 10, Deposits, regarding total deposits outstanding to these related parties. 

The Company has transactions with related parties for which the Company believes the terms and conditions are comparable to terms 
that would have been available from a third party that was unaffiliated with the Company. The following describes transactions since 
January 1, 2013, in addition to the ordinary banking relationships described above, in which the Company has participated in which 
one or more of its directors, executive officers or other related persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. 

Thomas C. Besselman, Sr., one of the Company’s directors, is the former owner and previously served as president of The Besselman 
& Little Agency, Inc. Mr. Besselman sold his interest in The Besselman & Little Agency, Inc. in 2012. Gallagher Benefit Services, 
successor  in  interest  to  The  Besselman  &  Little  Agency,  wrote  the  Company’s  employee  benefits  insurance  until  it  became  self-
insured, effective May 1, 2014. The Company paid commissions of approximately $70,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013 for 
such insurance. Effective May 1, 2014, the Company pays Gallagher Benefit Services an annual fee of $60,000 for the administration 
of its benefit programs. 

Both The Besselman & Little Agency and Gallagher Benefit Services paid a referral fee to the Company for referrals of clients to The 
Besselman  &  Little  Agency  or  Gallagher  Benefit  Services  for  their  insurance  needs.  The  Company  received  referral  fees  of 
approximately $70,000, $74,000 and $60,000 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, from Gallagher 
Benefit Services.  

Mr. Besselman is also the owner of H.R. Solutions, LLC, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which provides the Company’s payroll 
processing services. The Company paid fees of approximately $76,000, $44,000 and $98,000 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 
2014 and 2013, respectively, to H.R. Solutions, LLC. 

The Company has engaged in a number of transactions with Joffrion Commercial Division, LLC and Joffrion Construction, Inc., each 
a  commercial  construction  company  owned  and  managed  by  Gordon  H.  Joffrion,  one  of  the  Company’s  directors.  The  Company 
selected  Joffrion  Commercial  Division,  LLC’s  bid  to  construct  a  building  in  Lafayette,  Louisiana,  to  serve  as  the  Company’s  first 
branch in the Lafayette area. The Company paid approximately $1.7 million to Joffrion Commercial Division, LLC for construction of 
this facility, which was completed in 2013.  

Joffrion Commercial Division, LLC was awarded the bid in the amount of $1.0 million for demolition and renovation of the third floor 
of the Clerk of Court building the Company purchased in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to serve as the Company’s Operations Center. The 
Company paid approximately $0.9 million to Joffrion Commercial Division, LLC for the demolition and renovation of this facility, 
which was completed in 2014.  

In December 2013, the Company selected Joffrion Commercial Division, LLC’s bid to construct a new Baton Rouge branch located at 
18101 Highland Market Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Company paid approximately $0.9 million for the construction of this 
branch which was completed in 2014. 

Joffrion Commercial Division, LLC was awarded the bid in the amount of $0.9 million for the construction of the new location for the 
Prairieville branch. The Company paid Joffrion Commercial Division, LLC $0.9 million related to the construction of the new branch 
location, which was completed in February 2015. 

In  August  2014,  the  Company  selected  Joffrion  Commercial  Division,  LLC’s  bid  to  construct  a  building  in  Gonzales,  Louisiana, 
which was completed in 2015 and is expected to open in 2016. The Company paid approximately $1.1 million for the construction of 
this branch.  

The Company believes that the terms and conditions of all of its transactions with Joffrion Commercial Division, LLC are comparable 
to terms that would have been available from a third party unaffiliated with the Company or the Bank. 

109 

 
 
 
  
  
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

NOTE 22. PARENT ONLY BALANCE SHEETS, STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND STATEMENTS OF CASH 
FLOWS  

BALANCE SHEETS 

(dollars in thousands) 
ASSETS 
Cash and due from bank 
Available for sale securities at fair value (amortized cost of $677 and $0, respectively) 
Accounts receivable 
Federal income tax receivable 
Investment in bank subsidiary 
Investment in trust 
Investment in tax credit entity 
Deferred tax asset 
Other assets 

Total assets 

LIABILITIES 
Junior subordinated debt 
Accounts payable 
Accrued interest payable 
Due to bank subsidiary 
Dividend payable 

Total liabilities 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
Common stock 
Treasury stock 
Surplus 
Retained earnings 
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income 

Total stockholders’ equity 

$ 

$ 

$ 

December 31, 

2015 

2014 

1,901      $ 
607        
100        
512        
109,485        
109        
169        
258        
58        
 $ 

113,199   

3,609      $ 
170        
4        
3        
63        

3,849   

7,305        
(634 )      
84,692        
18,650        
(663 )      

109,350   

27,995   
-   
29   
1,167   
77,442   
109   
162   
238   
-   
107,142   

3,609   
94   
4   
-   
51   
3,758   

7,264   
(23 ) 
84,213   
11,809   
121   
103,384   

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity 

$ 

113,199   

 $ 

107,142   

110 

 
  
    
         
  
  
  
     
  
    
         
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
     
  
    
         
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
    
  
     
  
    
         
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
    
  
     
  
  
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 

(dollars in thousands) 
Revenue 
Dividends received from bank subsidiary 
Dividends on corporate stock 
Gain on sale of investment securities, net 
Undistributed net income of bank subsidiary 
Partnership income 
Interest income from investment in trust 

Total revenue 

Expense 
Interest on junior subordinated debt 
Management fees to bank subsidiary 
Impairment of investment in tax credit entity 
Other expense 

Total expense 

Income before income tax benefit 

Income tax benefit 
Net income 

For the year ended December 31, 
2014 
2015 

$ 

$ 

-      $ 
8        
68        
7,504        
2        
2        
7,584        

75        
366        
54        
358        
853        
6,731        

342        
7,073      $ 

498   
-   
-   
4,640   
24   
2   
5,164   

76   
245   
690   
141   
1,152   
4,012   

1,385   
5,397   

111 

 
 
    
         
  
  
  
     
  
    
         
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
         
  
    
         
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
         
  
  
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 

(dollars in thousands) 
CASH FLOWS FROM  OPERATING ACTIVITIES 

Net income 
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: 

For the year ended December 31, 
2014 
2015 

$ 

7,073      $ 

5,397   

Undistributed earnings of bank subsidiary 
Gain on sale of available for sale securities 
Impairment of investment in tax credit entity 

Net change in: 

Income tax receivable 
Other assets 
Deferred tax asset 
Accrued other liabilities 

Net cash provided by operating activities 

CASH FLOWS FROM  INVESTING ACTIVITIES 

Capital contributed to bank subsidiary 
Purchases of investment securities available for sale 
Proceeds from the sale of investment securities available for sale 
Investment in tax credit entity 

Net cash used in investing activities 

CASH  FLOWS FROM  FINANCING  ACTIVITIES 

Proceeds from short-term borrowing 
Repayment of short-term borrowing 
Cash dividends paid on common stock 
Payment to repurchase common stock 
Proceeds from stock options and warrants exercised 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in IPO 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities 

Net (decrease) increase in cash 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: 
Cash payments for: 
Interest on borrowings 

(7,504 )      
(68 )      
54        

655        
257        
5        
200        
672        

(25,500 )      
(972 )      
364        
-        
(26,108 )      

-        
-        
(221 )      
(572 )      
135        
-        
(658 )      

(26,094 )      
27,995        
1,901      $ 

(4,640 ) 
-   
690   

(1,160 ) 
86   
(226 ) 
7   
154   

(13,300 ) 
-   
-   
(766 ) 
(14,066 ) 

5,000   
(5,000 ) 
(194 ) 
(6 ) 
297   
41,728   
41,825   

27,913   
82   
27,995   

75      $ 

76   

$ 

$ 

112 

 
  
    
         
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
         
  
    
         
  
  
  
  
    
         
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
         
  
    
         
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
         
  
    
         
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
         
  
  
  
  
    
         
  
    
         
  
    
         
  
 
 
INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

NOTE 23. EARNINGS PER SHARE  

The following is a summary of the information used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the  years 
ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands, except share data).  

Net income available to common stockholders 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 
   used in computation of basic earnings per common share 
Effect of dilutive securities: 

Restricted stock 
Stock options 
Stock warrants 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 
   plus effect of dilutive securities used in computation 
   of diluted earnings per common share 
Basic earnings per share 
Diluted earnings per share 

2015 

December 31, 
2014 

2013 

$ 

7,073   

 $ 

5,397   

 $ 

3,168   

7,214,045        

5,533,514        

3,667,929   

5,861        
21,150        
16,952        

41,467        
22,811        
179,510        

32,141   
29,773   
193,532   

7,258,008        
0.98      $ 
0.97      $ 

5,777,302        
0.98      $ 
0.93      $ 

3,923,375   
0.86   
0.81   

$ 
$ 

NOTE 24. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) 

 (dollars in thousands, except per share data) 
Year Ended December 31, 2015 
Total interest income 
Total interest expense 
Net interest income 
Provision for loan losses 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses 

Noninterest income 
Noninterest expense 
Income before income taxes 
Income tax expense 
Net income 
Earnings per common share - basic 
Earnings per common share - diluted 

 (dollars in thousands, except per share data) 
Year Ended December 31, 2014 
Total interest income 
Total interest expense 
Net interest income 
Provision for loan losses 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses 

Noninterest income 
Noninterest expense 
Income before income taxes 
Income tax expense (benefit) 
Net income 
Earnings per common share - basic 
Earnings per common share - diluted 

First Quarter       Second Quarter       Third Quarter       Fourth Quarter   

$ 

$ 
$ 
$ 

8,800      $ 
1,301        
7,499        
700        
6,799        
2,540        
6,424        
2,915        
965        
1,950      $ 
0.27      $ 
0.27      $ 

9,187      $ 
1,407        
7,780        
400        
7,380        
2,066        
6,682        
2,764        
951        
1,813      $ 
0.25      $ 
0.25      $ 

9,480      $ 
1,528        
7,952        
400        
7,552        
2,167        
7,013        
2,706        
850        
1,856      $ 
0.26      $ 
0.26      $ 

9,873   
1,646   
8,227   
365   
7,862   
1,571   
7,234   
2,199   
745   
1,454   
0.20   
0.20   

First Quarter       Second Quarter       Third Quarter       Fourth Quarter   

7,407      $ 
1,158        
6,249        
448        
5,801        
1,509        
5,729        
1,581        
514        
1,067      $ 
0.27      $ 
0.26      $ 

8,182      $ 
1,182        
7,000        
505        
6,495        
1,959        
6,313        
2,141        
699        
1,442      $ 
0.20      $ 
0.20      $ 

8,822   
1,245   
7,577   
430   
7,147   
1,325   
6,955   
1,517   
(491 ) 
2,008   
0.28   
0.27   

$ 

$ 
$ 
$ 

6,957      $ 
1,090        
5,867        
245        
5,622        
1,066        
5,385        
1,303        
424        
879      $ 
0.23      $ 
0.21      $ 

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INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

NOTE 25. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS  

Management has evaluated all subsequent events and transactions that occurred after December 31, 2015 up through the date that the 
financial statements were available to be issued and determined that there were no events that require disclosure. No events or changes 
in circumstances were identified that would have an adverse impact on the financial statements.  

114 

 
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures  
None.  

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures  

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures 

As  of  the  end  of  the  period  covered  by  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K,  the  Company  carried  out  an  evaluation  under  the 
supervision  and  with  the  participation  of  its  management,  including  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  (the 
Company’s principal executive and financial officers), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure 
controls and procedures as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive 
Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective for ensuring that 
information  the  Company  is  required  to  disclose  in  reports  that  it  files  or  submits  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as 
amended,  is  recorded,  processed,  summarized  and  reported  within  the  time  periods  specified  in  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission’s rules and forms. 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting 

There were no changes to internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2015 that have materially affected, or 
are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting 

Management’s  annual  report  on  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  and  the  report  thereon  of  Postlethwaite  &  Netterville  are 
included herein under Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. 

Item 9B. Other Information  
None.  

115 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART III  

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance  

Except  as  provided  below,  the  information  required  by  Item  10  is  incorporated  by  reference  to  the  Company’s  Definitive  Proxy 
Statement for its 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2016 Proxy Statement”). 

Code of Conduct and Ethics 

The  Company  has  adopted  a  Code  of  Ethics  for  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Senior  Financial  Officers  that  applies  to  its  chief 
executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer and any other senior financial officers, and the Company has also 
adopted a Code of Conduct that applies to all of the Company’s directors, officers and employees.  The full text of the Code of Ethics 
for  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Senior  Financial  Officers  and  the  Code  of  Conduct  can  be  found  by  clicking  on  “Corporate 
Governance” under the “Investor Relations” tab on the Company’s website, www.investarbank.com, and then by clicking on “Code of 
Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers” or “Code of Conduct,” as applicable.  The Company intends to 
satisfy  the  disclosure  requirement  under  Item  5.05(c)  of  Form  8-K  regarding  an  amendment  to,  or  waiver  from,  a  provision  of  the 
Company’s Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers by posting such information on its website, 
at the address specified above. 

Item 11. Executive Compensation  
The information required by Item 11 is incorporated by reference to the Company’s 2016 Proxy Statement. 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters  

Stock Ownership 

Except as provided below, the information required by Item 12 is incorporated by reference to the Company’s 2016 Proxy Statement. 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans  

The following table presents certain information regarding our equity compensation plan as of December 31, 2015. 

Plan category 
Equity compensation plans approved 
    by security holders 
Equity compensation plans not 
    approved by security holders(1) 
Total 

Number of securities to be issued 
upon exercise of outstanding 
options, warrants and rights 

Weighted-average exercise price 
of outstanding options, warrants 
and rights 

Number of securities remaining 
available for future issuance 
under equity compensation plans   

-       

278,352     $ 
278,352     $ 

-       

14.37       
14.37       

-   

230,431   
230,431   

(1)  The Investar Holding Corporation 2014 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”) was adopted by 
the Company’s board of directors on January 15, 2014, and the plan was amended on March 13, 2014. Because the Company was 
a private corporation at the time of the adoption of the Equity Incentive Plan, shareholder approval of the plan was not required, 
nor was such approval obtained. A total of 600,000 shares of common stock has been reserved for grant, award or issuance in the 
form  of  stock  options  and  restricted  stock  under  the  Equity  Incentive  Plan.  As  of  December  31,  2015,  230,431  shares  remain 
available for grant, award or issuance. 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Directors Independence 

The information required by Item 13 is incorporated by reference to the Company’s 2016 Proxy Statement. 

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 

The information required by Item 14 is incorporated by reference to the Company’s 2016 Proxy Statement. 

116 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
     
     
    
    
    
 
 
 
 
 
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules  

(a)  Documents Filed as Part of this Report. 

PART IV  

(1)  The following financial statements are incorporated by reference from Item 8 hereof: 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

(2)  All schedules  for  which provision  is  made in  the applicable  accounting regulations of the SEC are omitted because  of the 
absence  of  conditions  under  which  they  are  required  or  because  the  required  information  is  included  in  the  consolidated 
financial statements and related notes thereto. 

(3)  The following exhibits are filed as part of this Form 10-K, and this list includes the Exhibit Index. 

117 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXHIBIT INDEX 

Exhibit 
Number 
2.1 

Description 
  Agreement  and  Plan  of  Exchange  dated  August  1,  2013,  by  and 
between  Investar  Holding  Corporation  and  Investar  Bank,  as 
amended (the “Agreement and Plan of Exchange”) 

Location 
  Exhibit  2.1  to  the  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-1 
of  the  Company  filed  May  16,  2014  and  incorporated 
herein by reference 

3.1 

  Restated Articles of Incorporation of Investar Holding Corporation   Exhibit  3.1  to  the  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-1 
of  the  Company  filed  May  16,  2014  and  incorporated 
herein by reference 

3.2 

  By-laws of Investar Holding Corporation 

4.1 

  Specimen Common Stock Certificate 

  Exhibit  3.2  to  the  Pre-Effective  Amendment  No.  1  to 
the  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-1/A  of  the 
Company filed June 4, 2014 and incorporated herein by 
reference 

  Exhibit  4.1  to  the  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-1 
of  the  Company  filed  May  16,  2014  and  incorporated 
herein by reference 

10.1* 

10.2* 

Incentive 
  Investar  Holding  Corporation  2014  Long-Term 
Compensation Plan, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Investar 
Holding Corporation 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan 

  Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 
of  the  Company  filed  May  16,  2014  and,  as  to 
Amendment  No.1,  Exhibit  99.2  to  the  Registration 
Statement  on  Form  S-8  of  the  Company  filed  October 
31,  2014,  each  of  which  is  incorporated  herein  by 
reference 

  Form  of  Stock  Option  Grant  Agreement  under  2014  Long-Term 
Incentive Compensation Plan 

  Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 
of  the  Company  filed  May  16,  2014  and  incorporated 
herein by reference 

10.3* 

  Form  of  Restricted  Stock  Award  Agreement  under  2014  Long-
Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Employees 

  Filed herewith 

10.4* 

  Form  of  Restricted  Stock  Award  Agreement  under  2014  Long-
Term Incentive Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors 

  Filed herewith 

10.5 

10.6 

10.7 

  Form  of  Notice  of  Exchange  and  Assumption  relating  to  options 
exchanged in connection with Agreement and Plan of Exchange 

  Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 
of  the  Company  filed  May  16,  2014  and  incorporated 
herein by reference 

  Form of Notice of Exchange and Assumption relating to restricted 
stock  exchanged  in  connection  with  Agreement  and  Plan  of 
Exchange 

  Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 
of  the  Company  filed  May  16,  2014  and  incorporated 
herein by reference 

  Form of Notice of Exchange and Assumption relating to warrants 
exchanged in connection with Agreement and Plan of Exchange 

  Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 
of  the  Company  filed  May  16,  2014  and  incorporated 
herein by reference 

21 

  Subsidiaries of the Registrant 

  Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of 
the  Company  filed  May  16,  2014  and  incorporated 
herein by reference 

23 

  Consent of Postlethwaite and Netterville, APAC  

  Filed herewith 

31.1 

31.2 

32.1 

  Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer of the 
Company  in  accordance  with  Section  302  of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley 
Act of 2002 

  Filed herewith 

  Rule  13a-14(a)  Certification  of  Principal  Financial  Officer  of  the 
Company  in  accordance  with  Section  302  of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley 
Act of 2002 

  Filed herewith 

  Section  1350  Certification  of  Principal  Executive  Officer  of  the 
Company  in  accordance  with  Section  906  of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley 
Act of 2002 

  Filed herewith 

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32.2 

  Section  1350  Certification  of  Principal  Financial  Officer  of  the 
Company  in  accordance  with  Section  906  of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley 
Act of 2002 

  Filed herewith 

101.INS   XBRL Instance Document 

101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document 

  Filed herewith 

  Filed herewith 

101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document 

  Filed herewith 

101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document 

  Filed herewith 

101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document 

  Filed herewith 

101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document 

  Filed herewith 

*  Management  contract  or  compensatory  plan  or  arrangement  required  to  be  filed  as  an  exhibit  to  this  Form  10-K  pursuant  to 

Item 15(b) of Form 10-K. 

The Company does not have any long-term debt instruments under which securities are authorized exceeding ten percent of the total 
assets  of  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  on  a  consolidated  basis.  The  Company  will  furnish  to  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission, upon its request, a copy of all long-term debt instruments. 

119 

 
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report 
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. 

SIGNATURES 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/John J. D’Angelo 

INVESTAR HOLDING CORPORATION 

John J. D’Angelo 
President and 
Chief Executive Officer 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on 
behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated. 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/John J. D’Angelo 

John J. D’Angelo 
President, Chief Executive  
Officer and Director 

(Principal Executive Officer) 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/Christopher L. Hufft 

Christopher L. Hufft 
Executive Vice President and 
Chief Financial Officer 

(Principal Financial Officer) 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/Rachel P. Cherco 

Rachel P. Cherco 
Executive Vice President and 
Chief Accounting Officer 
(Principal Accounting Officer)  

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/James M. Baker 

James M. Baker 
Director 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/Thomas C. Besselman, Sr. 

Thomas C. Besselman, Sr. 
Director 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/James H. Boyce, III 

James H. Boyce, III 
Director 

120 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
             
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/Robert M. Boyce, Sr. 

Robert M. Boyce, Sr. 
Director 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/Robert L. Freeman 

Robert L. Freeman 
Director 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/William H. Hidalgo, Sr. 

William H. Hidalgo, Sr. 
Chairman of the Board 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/Gordon H. Joffrion, III 

Gordon H. Joffrion, III 
Director 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/David J. Lukinovich 

David J. Lukinovich 
Director 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/Suzanne O. Middleton 

Suzanne O. Middleton 
Director 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/Andrew C. Nelson, M.D. 

Andrew C. Nelson, M.D. 
Director 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

by:    /s/Carl R. Schneider, Jr. 

Date:  March 11, 2016 

Carl R. Schneider, Jr. 
Director 

by:    /s/Frank L. Walker 

Frank L. Walker 
Director 

121 

 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investar Holding Corporation
7244 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808
(225) 227-2222
www.investarbank.com