New Legislation

Congress is often considering new financial industry legislation, and the federal banking agencies routinely propose new regulations. The Corporation cannot predict how any new legislation, or new rules adopted by the federal banking agencies, may affect its business in the future.

Selected Statistical Information

Certain statistical information is included in this report as part of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following is a summary of the primary risks associated with the Corporation’s business, financial condition and results of operations, and common stock.

Risk Factors Relating to the Corporation

Real estate related loans are a significant portion of our loan portfolio.

The Bank offers a variety of loan products, including residential mortgage, consumer, construction and commercial loans. The Bank requires real estate as collateral for many of its loans. At December 31, 2020, approximately 72% ($722.9 million) of its loans were secured by real estate. Loans secured by real estate and the percent of the loan portfolio are reported in Table 14. These real estate loans are located primarily in the Bank’s market area of south-central Pennsylvania. Real estate values tend to follow changes in general economic cycles. If a loan becomes delinquent as the result of an economic downturn and the Bank becomes dependent on the real estate collateral as a source of repayment, it is likely that the value of the real estate collateral has also declined. A decline in real estate values means it is possible that the real estate collateral may be insufficient to cover the outstanding balance of a delinquent or foreclosed loan, resulting in a loss to the Bank. In addition, the real estate collateral is concentrated in a small market area of south- central Pennsylvania. Localized events such as plant closures or layoffs may affect real estate prices and collateral values and could have a more negative affect on the Bank as compared to other competitors with a more geographically diverse portfolio. As the Bank grows, it is expected that real estate secured loans will continue to comprise a significant part of its balance sheet. Risk of loan default is unavoidable in the banking industry, and Management tries to limit exposure to this risk by carefully monitoring the amount of loans in specific industries and by exercising prudent lending practices and securing appropriate collateral. However, this risk cannot be eliminated, and substantial credit losses could result in reduced earnings or losses.

Commercial loans are a significant portion of our loan portfolio.

The Bank continues to grow its commercial loan portfolio. Commercial purpose loans account for 85% ($859.1 million) of the total loan portfolio. These loans are made to businesses for a variety of commercial purposes and may include fixed and variable rate loans, term loans, and lines of credit. Commercial purpose loans may be secured by real estate, business assets and equipment, personal guarantees, or non-real estate collateral. Commercial purpose loans secured by real estate were $577.8 million at December 31, 2020 and account for 67% of the total commercial loan portfolio. These loans contain all the risks associated with real estate lending as discussed above. In addition, commercial real estate collateral may be more difficult to liquidate for repayment purposes than residential real estate. The repayment of commercial loans is highly dependent upon the success of the business activity and as such maybe more susceptible to risk of loss during a downturn in the economy. Because the Bank’s commercial loan portfolio is concentrated in south-central Pennsylvania, the ability to repay these loans could be affected by deterioration of the economy in this region. As commercial lending continues to be the primary driver of loan growth, these new loans may present additional risk due to a lack of repayment history with the Bank. As commercial lending continues to be the primary drive of loan growth, these new loans may present additional risk due to a lack of repayment history with the Bank. The Bank attempts to mitigate these risks through its underwriting and loan review process; however, this risk cannot be eliminated, and substantial credit losses could result in reduced earnings or losses.

The allowance for loan losses may prove to be insufficient to absorb inherent losses in our loan portfolio.

The Bank maintains an allowance for loan losses that Management believes is appropriate to provide for any inherent losses in the loan portfolio. The amount of the allowance is determined through a periodic review and consideration of several factors, including an ongoing review of the quality, size and diversity of our loan portfolio; evaluation of nonperforming loans; historical loan loss experience; and the amount and quality of collateral, including guarantees, securing the loan.

Although Management believes the loan loss allowance is adequate to absorb inherent losses in the loan portfolio, such losses cannot be predicted, and the allowance may not be adequate. Excessive loan losses could have a material adverse effect on the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.

The Bank’s lending limit is smaller than many of our competitors, which affects the size of the loans it can offer customers.

The Bank’s lending limit is approximately $36.4 million. Accordingly, the size of the loans that can be offered to customers is less than the size of loans that many of our competitors, with larger lending limits, can offer. This limit affects the Bank’s ability to seek relationships with larger businesses in its market area. Loan amounts in excess of the lending limits can be accommodated through the sale of participations in such loans to other banks. However, there can be no assurance that the Bank will be successful in attracting or maintaining customers seeking larger loans or that it will be able to engage in participation of such loans or on terms favorable to the Bank.

There is strong competition in the Bank’s primary market areas and its geographic diversification is limited.

The Bank encounters strong competition from other financial institutions in its primary market area, which consists of Franklin, Cumberland, Fulton and Huntingdon Counties, Pennsylvania. In addition, established financial institutions not already operating in the Bank’s primary market area may open branches there at future dates or can compete in the market via the Internet. In the conduct of certain aspects of banking business, the Bank also competes with credit unions, mortgage banking companies, consumer finance companies, insurance companies and other institutions, some of which are not subject to the same degree of regulation or restrictions as are imposed upon the Bank. In the conduct of certain aspects of banking business, the Bank also competes with savings institutions, credit unions, mortgage banking companies, consumer finance companies, insurance companies and other institutions, some of which are not subject to the same degree of regulation or restrictions as are imposed upon the Bank. Many of these competitors have substantially greater resources and lending limits and can offer services that the Bank does not provide. In addition, many of these competitors have numerous branch offices located throughout their extended market areas that provide them with a competitive advantage. No assurance can be given that such competition will not have an adverse effect on the Bank’s financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in interest rates could have an adverse impact upon our results of operations.

The Bank’s profitability is in part a function of the spread between interest rates earned on investments, loans and other interest-earning assets and the interest rates paid on deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the Bank’s control, including general economic conditions and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies and, in particular, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, will influence not only the interest received on loans and investment securities and the amount of interest we pay on deposits and borrowings, but will also affect the Bank’s ability to originate loans and obtain deposits and the value of our investment portfolio. If the rate of interest paid on deposits and other borrowings increases more than the rate of interest earned on loans and other investments, the Bank’s net interest income, and therefore earnings, could be adversely affected. Likewise, the Bank currently has a very low cost of funds that it may be unable to maintain in a raising rate environment. Earnings could also be adversely affected if the rates on loans and other investments fall more quickly than those on deposits and other borrowings. While Management takes measures to guard against interest rate risk, there can be no assurance that such measures will be effective in minimizing the exposure to interest rate risk.

Uncertainty about the future of LIBOR may adversely affect our business.

LIBOR and certain other interest rate “benchmarks” are the subject of recent national, international, and other regulatory guidance and proposals for reform. On November 18, 2020, the ICE Benchmark Administration stated its intention to cease publication of the one- and two-month USD LIBOR, immediately after publication on December 31, 2021, and the remaining USD LIBOR settings (3-, 6- and 12-month LIBOR) immediately following the LIBOR publication on June 30, 2023. The Corporation has material contracts that are indexed to USD-LIBOR. Industry organizations are currently working on the transition plan. While there is no consensus on what rate or rates may become accepted alternatives to LIBOR, a group of market participants convened by the Federal Reserve, the Alternative Reference Rate Committee (ARRC), has selected the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) as its recommended alternative to LIBOR. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York started to publish the SOFR April 2018. SOFR is a broad measure of the cost of overnight borrowings collateralized by Treasury securities that was selected by the ARRC due to the depth and robustness of the U.S. Treasury repurchase market. In January 2020, the ARRC released a recommendation that new SOFR-based intercompany loans use the 30- or 90-day Average SOFR set in advance with an appropriate reset period.

At this time, it is impossible to predict whether the SOFR will become an accepted alternative to LIBOR. The market transition away from LIBOR to an alternative reference rate, such as the SOFR, is complex and could have a range of adverse effects on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The market transition away from LIBOR to an alternative reference rate, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, is complex and could have a range of adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Management has formed a work group to review the Bank’s exposure to LIBOR, study replacement options and customer communication about the LIBOR change. The Corporation is currently monitoring this activity and evaluating the risks involved.

Our operational or security systems may experience interruption or breach in security, including cyber-attacks.

We rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our business. These systems include our internal network and data systems, as well as those of third-party vendors. Any failure, interruption or breach in security or these systems, including a cyber-attack, could result in the disclosure or misuse of confidential or proprietary information. Cyber security risks for financial institutions have significantly increased in recent years in part because of the proliferation of new technologies, the use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies to conduct financial transactions, and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, hackers, terrorists and other external parties, including foreign state actors. Financial services institutions have been subject to, and are likely to continue to be the target of, cyber-attacks, including computer viruses, malicious or destructive code, phishing attacks, denial of service or information or other security breaches that could result in the unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, misuse, loss or destruction of confidential, proprietary and other information of the institution, its employees or customers or of third parties, or otherwise materially disrupt network access or business operations. Cyber threats could result in unauthorized access, loss or destruction of customer data, unavailability, degradation or denial of service, introduction of computer viruses and other adverse events, causing the Corporation to incur additional costs (such as repairing systems or adding new personnel or protection technologies). Cyber threats may also subject the Corporation to regulatory investigations, litigation or enforcement, require

the payment of regulatory fines or penalties or undertaking costly remediation efforts. While we have systems, policies and procedures designed to prevent or limit the effect of the failure, interruption or security breach of our information systems, there can be no assurance that any such failures, interruptions or security breaches will not occur or, if they do occur, that they will be adequately addressed. The occurrence of any failures, interruptions or security breaches of our information systems could damage our reputation, result in a loss of client business, or expose us to civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

A large component of fee income is dependent on stock market values.

Fee income from the Bank’s Investment and Trust Services Department comprises a large percentage of total noninterest income. Fee income from Investment and Trust Services is comprised primarily of asset management fees as measured by the market value of assets under management. As such, the market values are directly related to stock market values. Therefore, any significant change in the value of assets under management due to stock market fluctuations could greatly affect fee income.

A large component of fee income is dependent on two deposit services.

Fee income from the Bank’s debit card is a significant contributor of fee income. As technology changes and consumer payment preferences change it is possible that debit card income does not continue to grow or may decline. The Bank’s overdraft protection program has also been a significant contributor of fee income. It is possible that the usage of this product slows or that regulatory changes affect the fees that can be charged for such services.

A large percentage of certificates of deposit have short-term maturities.

Seventy-five percent ($57.1 million) of the Bank’s certificates of deposit are scheduled to mature within one year. If the Bank is unable to retain these deposits, it may require the Bank to access other sources of liquidity that may carry a higher cost. However, these deposits only account for 4.2% of total deposits.

A large percentage of deposits may be highly sensitive to changes in interest rates.

Thirty-seven percent ($501.0 million) of all deposits are in the Bank’s money management product. The interest rate on these deposits generally follows market rates. A large or continuous increase in market rates could result in a rapid increase in the interest expense of these deposits. While the interest rate on this product generally follows market rates, the product is not indexed to a market rate, thereby giving the Bank more control over any rate increases.

Liquidity contingency funding is highly concentrated.

The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLB). Access to funding through the FHLB is the largest component of the Bank’s liquidity stress testing and contingency funding plans. The ability to access funding from FHLB may be critical if a funding need arises. However, there can be no assurance that the FHLB will be able to provide funding when needed, nor can there be assurance that the FHLB will provide funds to the Bank if its financial condition deteriorates. The inability to access FHLB funding, through a restriction on credit or the failure of the FHLB, could have a materially adverse effect on the Bank’s liquidity management.

Our business and financial results could be impacted materially by adverse results in legal proceedings.

The nature of the Corporation’s business generates a certain amount of litigation involving matters arising in the ordinary course of business (and, in some cases, from the activities of companies we have acquired). These legal proceedings, whether founded or unfounded, could result in reputation damage and have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation if they are not resolved in a manner favorable to the Corporation. Although we establish legal accruals for legal proceedings when information related to the loss contingencies represented by these matters indicates that both a loss is probable and that the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, we do not have accruals for all legal proceedings where we face a risk of loss. In addition, due to the inherent subjectivity of the assessments and unpredictability of outcomes of legal proceedings, any amounts that may be accrued or included in estimates of possible losses or ranges of possible losses may not represent the actual loss to the Corporation. We discuss these matters further in Part I Item 3 Legal Proceedings and in Note 20 Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Report.

Public health crisis such as epidemics or pandemics could materially and adversely impact our business.

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global, national and local economies, disrupted global and national supply chains, lowered equity market valuations, created significant volatility and disruption in financial markets, and increased unemployment levels. In addition, the pandemic resulted in temporary closures of many businesses and the institution of social distancing and sheltering in place requirements in many states and communities and may result in the same or similar restrictions in

the future. As a result, the demand for our products and services have been and may continue to be significantly impacted, which could adversely affect our revenue and results of operations. Furthermore, the pandemic could continue to result in the recognition of credit losses in our loan portfolios and increase in our allowance for credit losses, particularly if businesses remain restricted or are required to close again, the impact on the global, national, and local economies worsen, or more customers draw on their lines of credit or seek additional loans to help finance their businesses. Similarly, because of changing economic and market conditions affecting issuers, we may be required to recognize further impairments on the securities we hold as well as reductions in other comprehensive income. Our business operations may also be disrupted if significant portions of our workforce are unable to work effectively, including because of illness, quarantines, government actions, or other restrictions in connection with the pandemic. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our business, results of operations, and financial conditions, as well as our regulatory capital and liquidity ratios, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the scope and duration of the pandemic and actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic.

We continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and related risks as they evolve. The magnitude, duration, and likelihood of the current outbreak of COVID-19, further outbreaks of COVID-19, future actions taken by governmental authorities and/or other third parties in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and its future direct and indirect effects on the global, national and local economy and our business and results of operation are highly uncertain. The COVID-19 pandemic may cause prolonged global or national recessionary economic conditions or longer lasting effects on economic conditions than currently exist, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Due to the Corporation’s participation in the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), the Corporation is subject to additional risks of litigation from its clients or other parties regarding the processing of loans for the PPP and risks that the SBA may not fund some or all of PPP loan guaranties.

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was enacted, which included a $349 billion loan program administered through the SBA referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). On December 21, 2020, a second round of COVID-19 relief authorized an additional $285 billion in PPP funding. Under the PPP, small businesses and other entities and individuals could apply for loans from existing SBA lenders and other approved regulated lenders. The Corporation participated as a lender in the PPP. Because of the short timeframe between the passing of the CARES Act and the opening of the PPP, there was some ambiguity in the guidance regarding the operation of the PPP along with the continually evolving nature of SBA the rules, interpretations and guidelines concerning this program, which exposes us to risks relating to the noncompliance with the PPP. Since the launch of the PPP, several large banks have been subject to litigation regarding the process and procedures that such banks used in processing applications for the PPP. As such, we may be exposed to the risk of litigation, from both clients and non-clients that approached the Corporation regarding PPP loans, regarding its process and procedures used in processing applications for the PPP. If any such litigation is filed against us and is not resolved in a manner favorable to us, it may result in significant financial liability or adversely affect our reputation. In addition, litigation can be costly, regardless of outcome. Any financial liability, litigation costs or reputational damage caused by PPP related litigation could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The Corporation also has credit risk on PPP loans if a determination is made by the SBA that there is a deficiency in the manner in which the loan was originated, underwritten, certified by the borrower, funded, or serviced by the Corporation, such as an issue with the eligibility of a borrower to receive a PPP loan, which may or may not be related to the ambiguity in the laws, rules and guidance regarding the operation of the PPP. In the event of a loss resulting from a default on a PPP loan and a determination by the SBA that there was a deficiency in the manner in which the PPP loan was originated, certified by the borrower, funded, or serviced by the Corporation, the SBA may deny its liability under the guaranty, reduce the amount of the guaranty, or, if it has already paid under the guaranty, seek recovery of any loss related to the deficiency from us.

Risk Factors Relating to the Common Stock

The stock market can be volatile, and fluctuations in our operating results and other factors could cause our stock price to decline.

The stock market has experienced, and may continue to experience, fluctuations that significantly impact the market prices of securities issued by many companies and financial institutions specifically. Market fluctuations could adversely affect our stock price. These fluctuations have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations, as well as general economic, systemic, political and market conditions, such as recessions, loss of investor confidence, interest rate changes, government shutdowns, trade wars, pandemics or epidemics, or international currency fluctuations, may negatively affect the market price of our common stock. Moreover, our operating results may fluctuate and vary from period to period due to the risk factors set forth herein. As a result, period-to-period comparisons should not be relied upon as an indication of future performance. Our stock price could fluctuate significantly in response to our quarterly or annual results, annual projections and the impact of these risk factors on our operating results or financial position.

Although the Company’s common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market, the volume of trades on any given day has been limited historically, as a result of which shareholders might not have been able to sell or purchase the Company’s common stock at the volume, price or time desired. From time to time, our Common Stock may be included in certain and various stock market indices. Inclusion in these indices may positively impacted the price, trading volume, and liquidity of our Common Stock, in part, because index funds or other institutional investors often purchase securities that are in these indices. Conversely, if our market capitalization falls below the minimum necessary to be included in any of the indices at any annual reconstitution date, the opposite could occur. Further, our inclusion in indices may be weighted based on the size of our market capitalization, so even if our market capitalization remains above the amount required to be included on these indices, if our market capitalization is below the amount it was on the most recent reconstitution date, our Common Stock could be weighted at a lower level. If our Common Stock is weighted at a lower level, holders attempting to track the composition of these indices will be required to sell our Common Stock to match the reweighting of the indices.

The Bank's ability to pay dividends to the Corporation is subject to regulatory limitations that may affect the Corporation’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders.

As a holding company, the Corporation is a separate legal entity from the Bank and does not have significant operations of its own. It currently depends upon the Bank's cash and liquidity to pay dividends to its shareholders. The Corporation cannot assure you that in the future the Bank will have the capacity to pay dividends to the Corporation. Various statutes and regulations limit the availability of dividends from the Bank. It is possible; depending upon the Bank's financial condition and other factors, that the Bank’s regulators could assert that payment of dividends by the Bank to the Corporation would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice. In the event that the Bank is unable to pay dividends to the Corporation, the Corporation may not be able to pay dividends to its shareholders.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None