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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q


[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2007

or

[   ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Commission File Number: 0-12507



ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


New York


22-2448962

(State or other jurisdiction of


(IRS Employer Identification

incorporation or organization)


Number)


250 GLEN STREET, GLENS FALLS, NEW YORK 12801

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   (518) 745-1000


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 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.

 x   Yes          No


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer     

Accelerated filer   x 

Non-accelerated filer     


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

     Yes      x   No


Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.


Class




Outstanding as of October 31, 2007

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share




10,610,438




1







ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

September 30, 2007


INDEX



PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Page

Item 1.

Financial Statements:

 
 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

    as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006


3

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

    for the Three and Nine-Month Periods Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006


4

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

    for the Nine-Month Period Ended September 30, 2007


5

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

    for the Nine-Month Periods Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006


6

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements


7

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


11

Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of

   Financial Condition and Results of Operations


12

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk


37

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures


38

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings


38

Item 1.A.

Risk Factors


38

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds


38

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities


39

Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders


39

Item 5.

Other Information


39

Item 6.

Exhibits


39

SIGNATURES


39




2






ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Thousands) (Unaudited)


 

September 30,

2007   

December 31,

2006      

ASSETS

  

Cash and Due from Banks

$    42,219 

$    34,995 

Federal Funds Sold

        4,000 

        9,000 

  Cash and Cash Equivalents

      46,219 

      43,995 

Securities Available-for-Sale

336,055 

315,886 

Securities Held-to-Maturity  (Approximate Fair Value of $115,446

   at September 30, 2007 and $108,270 at December 31, 2006)

115,702 

108,498 

Loans

1,034,548 

1,008,999 

  Allowance for Loan Losses

     (12,341)

     (12,278)

     Net Loans

1,022,207 

996,721 

Premises and Equipment, Net

 16,385 

 15,608 

Other Real Estate and Repossessed Assets, Net

89 

 392 

Goodwill

14,614 

14,503 

Other Intangible Assets, Net

2,085 

2,422 

Other Assets

      23,693 

      22,192 

      Total Assets

$1,577,049 

$1,520,217 

LIABILITIES          

  

Deposits:            

  

  Demand

$  191,125 

$  183,492 

  Regular Savings, N.O.W. & Money Market Deposit Accounts

607,180 

559,132 

  Time Deposits of $100,000 or More

166,916 

187,777 

  Other Time Deposits

     252,281 

     255,996 

      Total Deposits

  1,217,502 

  1,186,397 

Short-Term Borrowings:

  

  Federal Funds Purchased and Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase

47,576 

47,566 

  Other Short-Term Borrowings

 1,215 

 758 

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances

150,000 

125,000 

Junior Subordinated Obligations Issued to Unconsolidated Subsidiary Trusts

20,000 

20,000 

Other Liabilities

      21,882 

      22,366 

      Total Liabilities

 1,458,175 

 1,402,087 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

  

Preferred Stock, $5 Par Value; 1,000,000 Shares Authorized

--- 

--- 

Common Stock, $1 Par Value; 20,000,000 Shares Authorized

   (14,728,543 Shares Issued at September 30, 2007 and

   14,299,556 Shares Issued at December 31, 2006)

14,729 

14,300 

Surplus

160,912 

150,919 

Undivided Profits

13,410 

17,619 

Unallocated ESOP Shares (109,885 Shares at September 30, 2007

    and 62,811 Shares at December 31, 2006)

(2,042)

(862)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

 (6,157)

(7,965)

Treasury Stock, at Cost (4,006,352 Shares at September 30,    

  2007 and 3,649,803 Shares at December 31, 2006)

      (61,978)

      (55,881)

      Total Shareholders’ Equity

     118,874 

     118,130 

      Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

$1,577,049 

$1,520,217 



 









See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.



3






ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)(Unaudited)


 

Three Months

Nine Months

 

Ended September 30,

Ended September 30,

 

2007

2006

2007

2006

INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME

    

Interest and Fees on Loans

$16,675

$15,547

$48,991

$45,433

Interest on Federal Funds Sold

212

100

703

216

Interest and Dividends on Securities Available-for-Sale

3,941

3,888

11,286

11,093

Interest on Securities Held-to-Maturity

   1,093

      905

   3,166

   3,038

Total Interest and Dividend Income

 21,921

 20,440

 64,146

 59,780

     

INTEREST EXPENSE

    

Interest on Deposits:

    

Time Deposits of $100,000 or More

2,333

1,808

6,599

5,145

Other Deposits

5,550

4,567

16,342

13,023

Interest on Short-Term Borrowings:  

    

Federal Funds Purchased and Securities Sold   

    

Under Agreements to Repurchase

357

322

1,026

775

Other Short-Term Borrowings

6

5

18

24

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances

 1,671

 1,833

4,831

5,261

Junior Subordinated Obligations Issued to Unconsolidated

   Subsidiary Trusts

      355

      358

   1,054

   1,027

Total Interest Expense

 10,272

   8,893

 29,870

 25,255

NET INTEREST INCOME

11,649

11,547

34,276

34,525

Provision for Loan Losses

      136

      186

      322

      560

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER

    

  PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES

 11,513

 11,361

 33,954

 33,965

     

NONINTEREST INCOME

    

Income from Fiduciary Activities

1,334

1,196

4,206

3,806

Fees for Other Services to Customers

2,097

2,163

6,041

5,976

Net Losses on Securities Transactions

---

---

--- 

(118)

Insurance Commissions

472

458

1,435

1,362

Other Operating Income

      186

      213

       590

       782

Total Noninterest Income

   4,089

   4,030

  12,272

  11,808

     

NONINTEREST EXPENSE  

    

Salaries and Employee Benefits

5,442

5,546

16,198

16,497

Occupancy Expense of Premises, Net

750

712

2,393

2,332

Furniture and Equipment Expense

720

776

2,261

2,346

Other Operating Expense

   2,311

   2,168

   7,305

   6,512

Total Noninterest Expense

   9,223

   9,202

 28,157

 27,687

     

INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

6,379

6,189

18,069

18,086

Provision for Income Taxes

   1,869

   1,928

   5,218

   5,489

NET INCOME

$ 4,510

$ 4,261

 $12,851

 $12,597

     

Average Shares Outstanding:

    

  Basic

10,628

10,878

10,746

10,931

  Diluted

10,697

11,031

10,821

11,085

     

Per Common Share:   

    

  Basic Earnings

$    .42

$    .39

$   1.20

$   1.15

  Diluted Earnings

    .42

    .39

 1.19

 1.14


Share and Per Share amounts have been restated for the September 2007 3% stock dividend.

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.



4






ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)


 

Shares

Issued

Common

Stock

Surplus

Undivided

Profits

Unallo-

cated

ESOP

Shares

Accumulated

Other Com-

prehensive

(Loss)

Treasury

Stock

Total

Balance at December 31, 2006

14,299,556 

$14,300 

$150,919 

$17,619 

$  (862)

$ (7,965)

$(55,881)

$118,130 

Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax:

        

  Net Income

--- 

--- 

--- 

12,851 

--- 

--- 

--- 

    12,851 

  Amortization of Net Pension

    Plan Actuarial Loss

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

184 

--- 

184 

  Accretion of Net Pension

    Plan Prior Service Credit

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

(110)

--- 

(110)

  Net Unrealized Securities Holding

    Gains Arising During the Period,

    Net of Tax (Pre-tax $2,872)

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

1,734 

--- 

     1,734 

        Comprehensive Income

       

   14,659 

         

3% Stock Dividend

428,987

429

9,148 

(9,577)

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

Cash Dividends Paid,

  $.70 per Share

--- 

--- 

--- 

(7,483)

--- 

--- 

--- 

(7,483)

Stock Options Exercised

  (24,912 Shares)

--- 

--- 

199 

--- 

--- 

--- 

187 

386 

Shares Issued Under the Directors’

  Stock Plan (3,293 Shares)

--- 

--- 

48 

--- 

--- 

--- 

25 

73 

Shares Issued Under the Employee

  Stock Purchase Plan (16,769

  Shares)

--- 

--- 

231 

--- 

--- 

--- 

131 

362 

Stock-Based Compensation

  Expense

--- 

--- 

49 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

49 

Tax Benefit for Disposition of

  Stock Options

--- 

--- 

37 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

37 

Acquisition by ESOP of Arrow Stock

  (67,190 Shares)

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

(1,500)

--- 

--- 

(1,500)

Allocation of ESOP Stock

  (23,317 Shares)

--- 

--- 

202 

--- 

320 

--- 

--- 

522 

Acquisition of Subsidiary

  (4,317 Shares)

--- 

--- 

79 

--- 

--- 

--- 

32 

111 

Purchase of Treasury Stock

  (289,150 Shares)

              --- 

         --- 

           --- 

         --- 

        --- 

        --- 

    (6,472)

    (6,472)

Balance at September 30, 2007

14,728,543 

$14,729 

$160,912 

$13,410 

$(2,042)

$(6,157)

$(61,978)

$118,874 



Cash dividends declared have been adjusted for the September 2007 3% stock dividend.

Included in the shares issued for the 3% stock dividend in 2007 were treasury shares of 116,690 and unallocated ESOP shares of 3,201.

























See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.



5






 ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in Thousands)(Unaudited)

 

Nine Months    

 

Ended September 30,

 

2007

2006

Operating Activities:

  

Net Income

$12,851 

$12,597 

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash

  

Provided by Operating Activities:

  

Provision for Loan Losses

  322 

  560 

Depreciation and Amortization

2,212 

2,357 

Compensation Expense for Allocated ESOP Shares

202 

269 

Gains on the Sale of Securities Available-for-Sale

--- 

(14)

Losses on the Sale of Securities Available-for-Sale

--- 

132 

Loans Originated and Held-for-Sale

(1,428)

(4,915)

Proceeds from the Sale of Loans Held-for-Sale

3,665 

5,333 

Net Gains on the Sale of Loans

(33)

(63)

Net Losses (Gains) on the Sale of  Fixed Assets,

Other Real Estate Owned and Repossessed Assets

13 

(224)

Contributions to Pension Plans

(2,375)

(2,323)

Deferred Tax Expense

969 

666 

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

49 

--- 

Shares Issued Under the Directors’ Stock Plan

73 

65 

Net Increase in Other Assets

(1,988)

(1,280)

Net (Decrease) Increase in Other Liabilities

       (18)

    4,366 

Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities

  14,514 

  17,526 

Investing Activities:

  

Proceeds from the Sale of Securities Available-for-Sale

   2,225 

   25,302 

Proceeds from the Maturities and Calls of Securities Available-for-Sale

   38,689 

   21,914 

Purchases of Securities Available-for-Sale

 (58,588)

 (61,737)

Proceeds from the Maturities of Securities Held-to-Maturity

  9,046 

  28,113 

Purchases of Securities Held-to-Maturity

 (16,418)

 (1,767)

Net (Increase) Decrease in Loans

  (28,513)

  2,322 

Proceeds from the Sales of Premises and Equipment,

Other Real Estate Owned and Repossessed Assets

   793 

   1,089 

Purchases of Premises and Equipment

  (1,746)

  (1,460)

Net Cash (Used In) Provided By Investing Activities

(54,512)

 13,776 

Financing Activities:

  

Net Increase (Decrease) in Deposits

31,105 

(2,679)

Net Increase in Short-Term Borrowings

  467 

  12,242 

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances

30,000 

40,000 

Federal Home Loan Bank Repayments

(5,000)

(52,000)

Purchases of Treasury Stock

(6,472)

(4,042)

Treasury Stock Issued for Stock-Based Plans

   748 

   398 

Tax Benefit from Exercise of Stock Options

37 

Common Stock Purchased by ESOP

(1,500)

--- 

Allocation of ESOP Shares

     320 

     301 

Cash Dividends Paid

  (7,483)          (6,663)

  (7,375)          (6,663)

Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Financing Activities

 42,222 

(13,150)

Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

2,224 

18,152 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

 43,995 

 35,558 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

$46,219 

$53,710 

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

  

Cash Paid During the Period for:

  

Interest on Deposits and Borrowings

 $29,369 

$23,434 

Income Taxes

   5,902 

3,260 

Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities:

  

Transfer of Loans to Other Real Estate Owned and Repossessed Assets

     501 

666 

Changes in the Valuation Allowance for Securities Available-for-Sale, Net of Tax     

1,734 

(224)

Shares Issued for CFG Acquisition

111 

41 

     Change in Pension Liability Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income

74 

(83)


See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.



6






ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2007



1.   Financial Statement Presentation   


In the opinion of the management of Arrow Financial Corporation (Arrow), the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements contain all of the adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006; the results of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006; the change in shareholders’ equity for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 and the cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.  All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.  The unaudited consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual consolidated financial statements of Arrow for the year ended December 31, 2006, included in Arrow’s 2006 Form 10-K.



2.   Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (In Thousands)


The following table presents the components, net of tax, of accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006:


 

2007

2006

Excess of Additional Pension Liability Over Unrecognized Prior Service Cost

$(4,164)

$(4,238)

Net Unrealized Holding Losses on Securities Available-for-Sale

  (1,993)

  (3,727)

  Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

$(6,157)

$(7,965)



3.   Earnings Per Common Share (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)


The following table presents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share (EPS) for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:


 

Income

Shares

Per Share

 

(Numerator)

(Denominator)

Amount

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2007:

   

Basic EPS

$4,510

 10,628

$.42

Dilutive Effect of Stock Options

      ---

       69

 

Diluted EPS

$4,510

10,697

$.42

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2006:

   

Basic EPS

$4,261

 10,878

$.39

Dilutive Effect of Stock Options

      ---

    153

 

Diluted EPS

$4,261

11,031

$.39


For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007:

   

Basic EPS

$12,851

 10,746

$1.20

Dilutive Effect of Stock Options

         ---

       75

 

Diluted EPS

$12,851

10,821

$1.19

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006:

   

Basic EPS

$12,597

 10,931

$1.15

Dilutive Effect of Stock Options

         ---

    154

 

Diluted EPS

$12,597

11,085

$1.14





7






4.   Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Dollars In Thousands)


On January 1, 2006, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123(R) “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” using the “modified prospective” method.  Under this method, SFAS No. 123(R) requires that we measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award on the grant date for all awards granted after December 31, 2005.  That cost will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award (i.e. the vesting period), which is typically four years for Arrow.  Under our 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan, we granted options to purchase 46,350 shares of our common stock in 2006.  The amount expensed for the three- and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2007 was $16 and $49, respectively.  There was no expense in the 2006 periods until the fourth quarter.


No stock options have been granted in 2007, to date.  The weighted-average fair value of options granted during 2006, as adjusted, was $5.69.  The fair value was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: dividend yield - 3.86%; expected volatility - 27.2%; risk free interest rate - 4.81%; and an expected life of 7.42 years.  


Arrow also sponsors an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) under which employees purchase Arrow’s common stock at a 5% discount below market price.  Under SFAS No. 123(R), a stock purchase plan with a discount of 5% or less is not considered a compensatory plan.   


The following table presents the activity in Arrow’s stock option plans for the first nine months of 2007 and 2006:


 

2007

2006




Options:




Shares

Weighted-

Average

Exercise

Price




Shares

Weighted-

Average

Exercise

Price

  Outstanding at January 1

551,154 

$20.01 

569,582 

$18.73 

  Granted

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

  Exercised

(25,658)

15.04 

(2,724)

12.21 

  Forfeited

  (6,115)

24.74 

         --- 

--- 

  Outstanding at September 30

519,381 

20.20 

566,858 

18.76 

  Exercisable at September 30

472,939 

19.82 

566,858 

18.76 


5.   Guarantees (In Thousands)


We do not issue any guarantees that would require liability-recognition or disclosure, other than standby and other letters of credit.  Standby and other letters of credit are conditional commitments that are issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party.  Those guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements, including bond financing and similar transactions.  The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers.  Typically, these instruments have terms of twelve months or less.  A large percentage expire unused, and therefore, the total amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.  Some have automatic renewal provisions.


For letters of credit, the amount of the collateral obtained, if any, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the counter-party.  We had approximately $1,801 of standby letters of credit outstanding on September 30, 2007, most of which will expire within one year and some of which were not collateralized.  At that date, all the letters of credit were for private borrowing arrangements.  The fair value of our standby letters of credit at September 30, 2007 was insignificant.




8






6.   Retirement Plans (In Thousands)


The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit costs for the three months ended September 30:


 

Pension

Benefits

Postretirement

Benefits

 

2007

2006

2007

2006

Service Cost

$249 

$227 

$ 41 

$ 40 

Interest Cost

405 

295 

95 

141 

Expected Return on Plan Assets

(626)

(428)

--- 

--- 

Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)

(31)

(21)

(30)

(19)

Amortization of Transition Obligation

--- 

--- 

--- 

10 

Amortization of Net Loss

   82 

   93 

   30 

   45 

  Net Periodic Benefit Cost

$ 79 

$166 

$136 

$217 

     


The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit costs for the nine months ended September 30:


 

Pension

Benefits

Postretirement

Benefits

 

2007

2006

2007

2006

Service Cost

$  746 

$  808 

$124 

$108 

Interest Cost

1,216 

1,055 

287 

369 

Expected Return on Plan Assets

(1,849)

(1,529)

--- 

--- 

Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)

(91)

(73)

(89)

(50)

Amortization of Transition Obligation

--- 

--- 

--- 

28 

Amortization of Net Loss

    244 

    332 

   89 

  115 

  Net Periodic Benefit Cost

$  266 

$  593 

$411 

$570 

     


During 2007 we made a contribution to our qualified pension plan in the amount of $2 million.  In addition, through September 30, 2007, we contributed $375 to the nonqualified pension plan.  We contributed $226 to our postretirement benefit plans for the first nine months of 2007 and expect the total for 2007 to amount to $302.


7. Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes


On January 1, 2007 we adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (FIN 48).  The adoption of FIN 48 did not result in an increase or decrease to our income tax liability.  Our accounting policy calls for any interest expense and/or penalties related to the underpayment of income taxes to be recorded as a component of the provision for income taxes.  There was no material accrual for interest expense or penalties at January 1, 2007 or at September 30, 2007.


Also, there was no material interest expense or penalties recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2007.  There were no material unrecognized tax benefits as a result of tax positions taken prior to January 1, 2007, or for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.  At September 30, 2007, tax returns for calendar years 2003 to 2005 were open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.  During the second quarter of 2007, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance began an examination of our bank franchise tax returns filed for 2003 to 2005, the only years open to examination at that time.


8. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements


FASB Statement No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (FAS No. 159) issued in February 2007, permits entities to choose to measure eligible items at fair value at specified election dates. A business entity shall report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings (or another performance indicator if the business entity does not report earnings) at each subsequent reporting date.  The fair value option may be applied instrument by instrument, with a few exceptions, such as investments otherwise accounted for by the equity method.  The election is irrevocable (unless a new election date occurs) and is applied only to entire instruments and not to portions of instruments.  FAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material effect on Arrow’s results of operations or financial position.



9






On December 31, 2006, Arrow adopted the recognition requirements of SFAS Statement No. 158, “Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans (an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132R).”  Issued in September 2006, SFAS No. 158 completed the first phase of FASB's comprehensive project to improve the accounting and reporting for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans.  FAS No. 158 requires an employer to:

·

Recognize the funded status of a benefit plan—measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value (with limited exceptions) and the benefit obligation—in its consolidated balance sheet. For a pension plan, the benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation; for any other postretirement benefit plan, such as a retiree health care plan, the benefit obligation is the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation.

·

Recognize as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, the gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that arise during the period but are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost pursuant to FASB Statement No. 87, Employers’ Accounting for Pensions, or No. 106, Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions. Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, including the gains or losses, prior service costs or credits, and the transition assets or obligations remaining from the initial application of Statements 87 and 106, are adjusted as they are subsequently recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost pursuant to the recognition and amortization provisions of those Statements.

·

Measure defined benefit plan assets and obligations as of the date of the employer’s fiscal year-end consolidated balance sheet (with limited exceptions).

·

Disclose in the notes to financial statements additional information about certain effects on net periodic benefit cost for the next fiscal year that arise from delayed recognition of the gains or losses, prior service costs or credits, and transition assets or obligations.

Effective December 31, 2006, SFAS No. 158 required Arrow to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of our single employer defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability on its consolidated balance sheet and to recognize changes in the funded status in comprehensive income in the year in which the change occurred.  However, gains or losses, prior services costs or credits, and transition assets or obligations that were not included in net periodic benefit cost as of the end of 2006, the fiscal year in which SFAS No. 158 is initially applied, were recognized as components of the ending balance of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax.  Amortization subsequent to December 31, 2006 has been recognized as a component of other comprehensive income.

Arrow currently complies with the future requirement to measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of the employer’s fiscal year-end balance sheet.


FASB Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (FAS No. 157) issued in September 2006, defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. FAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the Board having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevant measurement attribute.  The provisions of FAS No. 157 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material effect on Arrow’s results of operations or financial position.


FASB Statement No. 155 “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140” (FAS No. 155) was issued in February 2006.  FAS No. 155 amends FASB Statements No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, and No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities”. FAS No. 155 resolves issues addressed in Statement 133 Implementation Issue No. D1, “Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets.”   For Arrow, FAS No. 155 is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after December 31, 2006.  FAS No. 155 did not have any material impact on Arrow’s results of operations or financial position in the period of adoption.





10






Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Arrow Financial Corporation:


We have reviewed the consolidated balance sheet of Arrow Financial Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, the consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  


We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.


Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.


We have previously audited, in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Arrow Financial Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated March 12, 2007, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2006, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.



/s/ KPMG LLP



Albany, New York

November 5, 2007



11






Item 2.

ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007


Note on Terminology - In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the terms “Arrow,” “the registrant,” “the company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” generally refer to Arrow Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries as a group, except where the context indicates otherwise.  Arrow is a two-bank holding company headquartered in Glens Falls, New York.  Our banking subsidiaries are Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company (Glens Falls National) whose main office is located in Glens Falls, New York, and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company (Saratoga National) whose main office is located in Saratoga Springs, New York.  Our non-bank subsidiaries include Capital Financial Group, Inc. (an insurance agency specializing in selling and servicing group health care policies), North Country Investment Advisers, Inc. (a registered investment adviser that provides investment advice to our proprietary mutual funds) and Arrow Properties, Inc., (a real estate investment trust, or REIT), all of which are subsidiaries of Glens Falls National.


At certain points in this Report, our performance is compared with that of our “peer group” of financial institutions.  Unless otherwise specifically stated, this peer group is comprised of the group of 266 domestic bank holding companies with $1 to $3 billion in total consolidated assets as identified in the Federal Reserve Board’s “Bank Holding Company Performance Report” for June 2007, and peer group data has been derived from such Report.  


Forward Looking Statements - The information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains statements that are not historical in nature but rather are based on our beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections about the future.  These statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and involve a degree of uncertainty and attendant risk.  Words such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  Some of these statements, such as those included in the interest rate sensitivity analysis in Item 3, entitled “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” are merely presentations of what future performance or changes in future performance would look like based on hypothetical assumptions and on simulation models.  Other forward-looking statements are based on our general perceptions of market conditions and trends in business activity, both our own and in the banking industry generally, as well as current management strategies for future operations and development.


Certain forward-looking statements in this Report are referenced in the table below:

Topic

Page

Location

Impact of market rate structure on net interest margin,

   loan yields and deposit rates

21

4th & 5th paragraphs

 

22

1st paragraph

 

24

1st paragraph under table

 

24

Last paragraph

 

31

2nd paragraph under table

 

34

2nd paragraph under table

 

37

Last 3 paragraphs

Change in the level of loan losses and nonperforming

   loans and assets

26

1st paragraph

 

26

4th paragraph

 

27

Last paragraph

Estimated provision and allowance for loan losses

26  

3rd paragraph

Future level of residential real estate loans

23

2nd paragraph

Impact of competition for indirect loans

23

6th paragraph

Liquidity

30

4th paragraph


These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to quantify or, in some cases, to identify.  In the case of all forward-looking statements, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what the statements predict or forecast.  Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, unexpected changes in economic and market conditions, including unanticipated fluctuations in interest rates, economic activity, or consumer spending patterns; sudden changes in the market for products we provide, such as real estate loans; new developments in state and federal regulation; enhanced competition from unforeseen sources; new emerging technologies; unexpected loss of key personnel; unanticipated business opportunities; and similar uncertainties inherent in banking operations or business generally.  



12






Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  We undertake no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect the future occurrence of unanticipated events.  This Quarterly Report should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.


USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES


The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted Regulation G, which applies to all public disclosures, including earnings releases, made by registered companies that contain “non-GAAP financial measures.”  GAAP is generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.  Under Regulation G, companies making public disclosures containing non-GAAP financial measures must also disclose, along with each non-GAAP financial measure, certain additional information, including a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the closest comparable GAAP financial measure and a statement of the company’s reasons for utilizing the non-GAAP financial measure as part of its financial disclosures.  As a parallel measure with Regulation G, the SEC stipulated in Item 10 of its Regulation S-K that public companies must make the same types of supplemental disclosures whenever they include non-GAAP financial measures in their filings with the SEC.  The SEC has exempted from the definition of “non-GAAP financial measures” certain commonly used financial measures that are not based on GAAP.  When these exempted measures are included in public disclosures or SEC filings, supplemental information is not required.  The following measures used in this Report, which although commonly utilized by financial institutions have not been specifically exempted by the SEC, may constitute "non-GAAP financial measures" within the meaning of the SEC's new rules, although we are unable to state with certainty that the SEC would so regard them.


Tax-Equivalent Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin: Net interest income, as a component of the tabular presentation by financial institutions of Selected Financial Information regarding their recently completed operations, is commonly presented on a tax-equivalent basis.  That is, to the extent that some component of the institution's net interest income which is presented on a before-tax basis, is exempt from taxation (e.g., is received by the institution as a result of its holdings of state or municipal obligations), an amount equal to the tax benefit derived from that component is added back to the net interest income total.  This adjustment is considered helpful in comparing one financial institution's net interest income to that of another institution, to correct any distortion that might otherwise arise from the fact that the two institutions typically will have different proportions of tax-exempt items in their portfolios.  Moreover, net interest income is itself a component of a second financial measure commonly used by financial institutions, net interest margin, which is the ratio of net interest income to average earning assets.  For purposes of this measure as well, tax-equivalent net interest income is generally used by financial institutions, again to provide a better basis of comparison from institution to institution.  We follow these practices.


The Efficiency Ratio: Financial institutions often use an "efficiency ratio" as a measure of expense control.  The efficiency ratio typically is defined as the ratio of noninterest expense to net interest income and noninterest income.  Net interest income as utilized in calculating the efficiency ratio is typically expressed on a tax-equivalent basis.  Moreover, most financial institutions, in calculating the efficiency ratio, also adjust both noninterest expense and noninterest income to exclude from these items (as calculated under GAAP) certain component elements, such as intangible asset amortization (deducted from noninterest expense) and securities gains or losses (excluded from noninterest income).  We follow these practices.


Tangible Book Value per Share:  Tangible equity is total shareholders’ equity less intangible assets.  Tangible book value per share is tangible equity divided by total shares issued and outstanding.  Tangible book value per share is often regarded as a more meaningful comparative ratio than book value per share as calculated under GAAP, that is, total shareholders’ equity including intangible assets divided by total shares issued and outstanding.  Intangible assets as a category of assets includes many items, such as goodwill.




13






OVERVIEW


Selected Quarterly Information:

(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

Share and Per Share amounts have been restated for the September 2007 3% stock dividend.


 

Sep 2007

Jun 2007

Mar 2007

Dec 2006

Sep 2006

Net Income

$4,510

$4,210

$4,131

$4,295

$4,261

      

Transactions Recorded in Net Income (Net of Tax):

     

Net Securities Gains

---

---

---

10

---

Net Gains on Sales of Loans

2

14

3

7

5

      

Period End Shares Outstanding

10,612

10,689

10,807

10,905

10,879

Basic Average Shares Outstanding

10,628

10,732

10,881

10,895

10,878

Diluted Average Shares Outstanding

10,697

10,804

10,966

11,021

11,031

Basic Earnings Per Share

.42

.39

.38

$.39

$.39

Diluted Earnings Per Share

.42

.39

.38

.39

.39

Cash Dividends Per Share

.23

.23

.23

.23

.23

Stock Dividends/Splits

3%

---

---

---

3%

      

Average Assets

$1,566,329

$1,539,278

$1,525,423

$1,530,566

$1,515,722

Average Equity

116,362

116,998

118,532

120,097

116,683

Return on Average Assets

1.14%

1.10%

1.10%

1.11%

1.12%

Return on Average Equity

15.38

14.43

14.13

14.19

14.49

      

Average Earning Assets

$1,494,744

$1,469,060

$1,456,018

$1,458,211

$1,444,772

Average Paying Liabilities

1,231,812

1,218,644

1,202,593

1,203,444

1,190,138

Interest Income, Tax-Equivalent 1

22,669

22,126

21,530

21,388

20,986

Interest Expense

10,272

9,984

9,614

9,488

8,893

Net Interest Income, Tax-Equivalent 1

12,397

12,142

11,916

11,900

12,093

Tax-Equivalent Adjustment

748

717

714

557

546

Net Interest Margin 1


3.29%

3.32%

3.32%

3.24%

3.32%


Efficiency Ratio Calculation:1

     

Noninterest Expense

$  9,223 

$  9,573 

$  9,361 

$  9,120 

$  9,202 

Less: Intangible Asset Amortization

       (96)

       (96)

     (106)

     (107)

     (106)

   Net Noninterest Expense

    9,127 

    9,477 

    9,255 

    9,013 

     9,096

Net Interest Income, Tax-Equivalent 1

12,397 

12,142 

11,916 

11,900 

12,093 

Noninterest Income

4,089 

4,171 

4,012 

3,973 

4,030 

Less: Net Securities (Gains) Losses

         --- 

         --- 

         --- 

       (16)

         --- 

   Net Gross Income

  16,486 

  16,313 

  15,928 

  15,857 

  16,123 

Efficiency Ratio 1

55.36%

58.10%

58.11%

56.84%

56.42%


Period-End Capital Information:

     

Tier 1 Leverage Ratio

8.39%

8.51%

8.62%

8.63%

8.51%

Total Shareholders’ Equity (i.e. Book Value)

$118,874

$115,911

$118,380

$118,130

$119,373

Book Value per Share

11.20

10.84

10.95

10.83

10.97

Intangible Assets

16,699

16,808

16,917

16,925

17,044

Tangible Book Value per Share1

9.63

9.27

9.39

9.28

9.41

      

Asset Quality Information:

     

Net Loans Charged-off as a

  Percentage of Average Loans, Annualized

.04%

.03%

.03%

.10%

.07%

Provision for Loan Losses as a

  Percentage of Average Loans, Annualized

 .05   

 .04   

 .04   

 .11   

 .07   

Allowance for Loan Losses as a

  Percentage of Loans, Period-end

1.19   

1.21   

1.21   

1.22   

1.24   

Allowance for Loan Losses as a

  Percentage of Nonperforming Loans, Period-end

610.64   

614.22   

603.43   

442.12   

928.41   

Nonperforming Loans as a

  Percentage of Loans, Period-end

 .20   

 .20   

 .20   

 .28   

 .13   

Nonperforming Assets as a

  Percentage of Total Assets, Period-end

 .13   

 .15   

 .15   

 .21   

 .11   


1 See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” on page 13.



14








Selected Nine-Month Period Information:

(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

Share and Per Share amounts have been restated for the September 2007 3% stock dividend.


    

Sep 2007

Sep 2006

Net Income

   

$12,851 

$12,597 

      

Transactions Recorded in Net Income (Net of Tax):

     

Net Securities Losses

   

  --- 

  (71)

Net Gains on Sales of Loans

   

19 

38 

Net Gains on the Sale of Other Real Estate Owned

   

--- 

Net Gains on the Sale of Premises

   

--- 

136 

      

Period End Shares Outstanding

   

10,612

10,879

Basic Average Shares Outstanding

   

10,746

10,930

Diluted Average Shares Outstanding

   

10,821

10,085

Basic Earnings Per Share

   

1.20  

1.15  

Diluted Earnings Per Share

   

1.19  

1.14  

Cash Dividends

   

.70  

.68  

      

Average Assets

   

$1,543,826

$1,519,551

Average Equity

   

117,289

116,580

Return on Average Assets

   

1.11%

1.11%

Return on Average Equity

   

14.65   

14.45   

      

Average Earning Assets

   

$1,473,415

$1,449,446

Average Paying Liabilities

   

1,217,789

1,200,992

Interest Income, Tax-Equivalent 1

   

66,325

61,611

Interest Expense

   

29,870

25,255

Net Interest Income, Tax-Equivalent 1

   

36,455

36,356

Tax-Equivalent Adjustment

   

2,179

1,831

Net Interest Margin 1


   

3.31%

3.35%


Efficiency Ratio Calculation 1

     

Noninterest Expense

   

$28,157

$27,687

Less: Intangible Asset Amortization

   

     (299)

     (329)

   Net Noninterest Expense 1

   

 27,858

 27,358

Net Interest Income, Tax-Equivalent

   

36,455

36,356

Noninterest Income

   

12,272

11,808

Less Net Securities Losses

   

         --- 

       118 

   Net Gross Income, Adjusted 1

   

 48,727

 48,282

Efficiency Ratio 1

   

57.17%

56.66%


Period-End Capital Information:

     

Tier 1 Leverage Ratio

   

8.39%

8.51%

Total Shareholders’ Equity (i.e. Book Value)

   

$118,874

$119,373

Book Value per Share

   

11.20

10.97

Intangible Assets

   

16,699

17,044

Tangible Book Value per Share

   

9.63

9.41

      

Net Loans Charged-off as a

  Percentage of Average Loans, Annualized

   

.03%

.07%

Provision for Loan Losses as a

  Percentage of Average Loans, Annualized

   

 .04

 .08

Allowance for Loan Losses as a

  Percentage of Period-end Loans

   

1.19

1.24

Allowance for Loan Losses as a

  Percentage of Nonperforming Loans

   

610.64

928.41

Nonperforming Loans as a

  Percentage  of Period-end Loans

   

 .20

 .13

Nonperforming Assets as a

  Percentage of Period-end Total Assets

   

 .13

 .11

      


 

1 See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” on page 13.



15






Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Income Analysis

(see “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” on page 13)

(Fully Taxable Basis using a marginal tax rate of 35%)

(Dollars In Thousands)


Quarter Ended September 30,

2007

2006

  

Interest

Rate

 

Interest

Rate

 

Average

Income/

Earned/

Average

Income/

Earned/

 

Balance

Expense

Paid

Balance

Expense

Paid

Federal Funds Sold

$    16,013

$    211

5.23%

$     7,587

$    100

5.23%

       

Securities Available-for-Sale:

      

  Taxable

317,111

 3,682

4.611  

327,110

 3,648

4.421  

  Non-Taxable

25,848

  387

5.94  

22,719

  273

4.77  

Securities Held-to-Maturity:

      

  Taxable

    308

 4

5.15  

    344

 4

4.61  

  Non-Taxable

114,065

1,630

5.67  

95,343

1,337

5.56  

       

Loans

 1,021,399

 16,755

6.51  

   991,669

 15,624

6.25  

       

  Total Earning Assets

1,494,744

 22,669

6.02  

1,444,772

 20,986

5.76  

       

Allowance For Loan Losses

(12,325)

  

(12,273)

  

Cash and Due From Banks

33,854

  

34,076

  

Other Assets

       50,056

  

       49,147

  

  Total Assets

$1,566,329

  

$1,515,722

  
       

Deposits:

      

 Interest-Bearing  NOW Deposits

$  310,219

1,687

2.16  

$  269,103

1,111

1.64  

 Regular and Money  Market Savings

263,620

  1,006

1.51  

281,958

  932

1.31  

 Time Deposits of  $100,000 or More

189,685

2,333

4.88  

154,929

1,808

4.63  

 Other Time Deposits

  257,056

  2,857

4.41  

  255,491

  2,524

3.92  

   Total Interest-Bearing Deposits

1,020,580

 7,883

3.06  

961,481

 6,375

2.63  

 

      

Short-Term Borrowings

 49,976

  363

2.88  

 50,062

  327

2.59  

FHLB Advances and Other Long-Term Debt

   161,256

  2,026

4.98  

   178,595

  2,191

4.87  

  Total Interest-Bearing Liabilities

1,231,812

 10,272

3.31  

1,190,138

  8,893

2.96  

       

Demand Deposits

194,628

  

187,764

  

Other Liabilities

      23,527

  

      21,137

  

  Total Liabilities

1,449,967

  

1,399,039

  

Shareholders’ Equity

    116,362

  

    116,683

  

  Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

$1,566,329

  

$1,515,722

  
       

Net Interest Income (Fully Taxable Basis)

 

12,397

  

12,093

 

Net Interest Spread

  

2.71

  

2.80

Net Interest Margin

  

3.29

  

3.32

       

Reversal of Tax-Equivalent Adjustment

 

     (748)

(.20)

 

     (546)

(.15)

Net Interest Income, As Reported

 

$11,649

  

$11,547

 



16






Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Income Analysis

(see “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” on page 13)

(Fully Taxable Basis using a marginal tax rate of 35%)

(Dollars In Thousands)


Nine Months Ended September 30,

2007

2006

  

Interest

Rate

 

Interest

Rate

 

Average

Income/

Earned/

Average

Income/

Earned/

 

Balance

Expense

Paid

Balance

Expense

Paid

Federal Funds Sold

$    17,900

$     703

5.25%

$     5,817

$     216

4.96%

       

Securities Available-for-Sale:

      

  Taxable

305,722

10,566

4.621  

325,359

10,690

4.391  

  Non-Taxable

23,801

   1,085

6.09  

16,801

   523

4.16  

Securities Held-to-Maturity:

      

  Taxable

    314

12

5.11  

    368

13

4.72  

  Non-Taxable

110,149

4,724

5.73  

105,523

4,499

5.70  

       

Loans

   1,015,529

 49,235

6.48  

     995,578

 45,670

6.13  

       

  Total Earning Assets

1,473,415

 66,325

6.02  

1,449,446

 61,611

5.68  

       

Allowance For Loan Losses

(12,313)

  

(12,257)

  

Cash and Due From Banks

32,746

  

33,797

  

Other Assets

       49,978

  

       48,565

  

  Total Assets

$1,543,826

  

$1,519,551

  
       

Deposits:

      

 Interest-Bearing  NOW Deposits

$   302,794

4,778

2.11  

$   287,266

3,544

1.65  

 Regular and Money  Market Savings

266,756

2,959

1.48  

287,994

2,670

1.24  

 Time Deposits of  $100,000 or More

182,524

6,599

4.83  

158,811

5,145

4.33  

 Other Time Deposits

    260,665

   8,605

4.41  

    245,121

   6,809

3.71  

   Total Interest-Bearing Deposits

1,012,739

22,941

3.03  

979,192

18,168

2.48  

 

      

Short-Term Borrowings

 48,515

  1,044

2.88  

 44,107

  799

2.42  

FHLB Advances and Other Long-Term Debt

    156,535

   5,885

5.03  

    177,693

   6,288

4.73  

  Total Interest-Bearing Liabilities

1,217,789

 29,870

3.28  

1,200,992

 25,255

2.81  

       

Demand Deposits

185,285

  

182,180

  

Other Liabilities

      23,463

  

      19,799

  

  Total Liabilities

1,426,537

  

1,402,971

  

Shareholders’ Equity

    117,289

  

    116,580

  

  Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

$1,543,826

  

$1,519,551

  
       

Net Interest Income (Fully Taxable Basis)

 

36,455

  

36,356

 

Net Interest Spread

  

2.74

  

2.87

Net Interest Margin

  

3.31

  

3.35

       

Reversal of Tax-Equivalent Adjustment

 

  (2,179)

(.20)

 

  (1,831)

(.17)

Net Interest Income, As Reported

 

$34,276

  

$34,525

 



17






OVERVIEW


We reported earnings of $4.510 million for the third quarter of 2007, an increase of $249 thousand, or 5.8%, as compared to $4.261 million for the third quarter of 2006.  Diluted earnings per share were $.42 and $.39 for the respective quarters.  Average diluted shares outstanding decreased by 3.0% from the third quarter of 2006 to the third quarter of 2007, as repurchases of shares under our common stock repurchase program exceeded the issuance of shares under our compensatory stock plans.  For the first nine months of 2007 we reported earnings of $12.851 million, an increase of $254 thousand, or 2.0%, as compared to $12.597 million for the first nine months of 2006.  Diluted earnings per share were $1.19 and $1.14 for the respective 2007 and 2006 nine-month periods.


Accompanying growth in our net earnings and earnings per share for the quarter and for the nine-month period was an increase in our earning assets and total assets.  Our average equity changed little between the two periods, both on a quarter-to-date and a year-to-date basis.  These patterns are reflected in the return on average assets and the return on average equity.


The return on average assets for the third quarter of 2007 was 1.14%, compared to 1.12% for the third quarter of 2006, an increase of 2 basis points, or 1.8%.  The return on average equity for the third quarter of 2007 was 15.38%, compared to 14.49% for the third quarter of 2006, an increase of 89 basis points, or 6.1%.  For the first nine months of 2007 and 2006, the return on average assets was 1.11%.  The return on average equity for the first nine months of 2007 was 14.65%, compared to 14.45% for the prior year period, an increase of 20 basis points, or 1.4%.


We achieved these improvements in return despite the fact that net interest margin was down 3 basis points, to 3.29%, in the quarter-to-quarter comparison and down 4 basis points, to 3.31%, in the year-to-year comparison.  However, the negative impact of a decrease in net interest margin was more than offset by the increase in average earning assets and our growth in noninterest income.


Our asset quality remained strong and our net charge-offs for the quarter and year-to-date are still near historic lows, at .04% of average loans for the quarter and .03% for the nine-month period.


Total assets were $1.58 billion at September 30, 2007, an increase of $56.8 million, or 3.7%, from December 31, 2006, and an increase of $53.7 million, or 3.5%, above the level at September 30, 2006.


Total shareholders’ equity was $118.9 million at September 30, 2007, an increase of $744 thousand, or 0.6%, from December 31, 2006.  This modest increase was the result of the fact that earnings and additions to equity resulting from our compensatory stock plans were nearly offset by cash dividends, repurchases of common stock and our guarantee of a loan to our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) (which requires a reduction in shareholders’ equity for the shares that have not been yet been allocated to employees).  Our risk-based capital ratios and Tier 1 leverage ratio continued to exceed regulatory minimum requirements at period-end.  At September 30, 2007 both our banks qualified as "well-capitalized" as defined under regulatory capital guidelines.  


CHANGE IN FINANCIAL CONDITION


Summary of Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data

(Dollars in Thousands)


At Period-End

$ Change

$ Change

% Change

% Change

 

Sep 2007

Dec 2006

Sep 2006

From Dec

From Sep

From Dec

From Sep

Federal Funds Sold

$      4,000 

$       9,000 

$    12,000 

$(5,000)

$(8,000)

(55.6)%

(66.7)%

Securities Available-for-Sale

 336,055 

 315,886 

 339,812 

20,169 

(3,757)

6.4 

(1.1)

Securities Held-to-Maturity

115,702 

108,498 

91,607 

7,204 

24,095 

6.6

26.3

Loans (1)

 1,034,548 

 1,008,999 

 992,675 

25,549 

41,873 

2.5

4.2

Allowance for Loan Losses

12,341 

12,278 

12,274 

63 

   67 

0.5

0.5

Earning Assets (1)

1,490,305 

1,442,383 

1,436,094 

47,922 

54,211 

3.3

3.8

Total Assets

1,577,049 

1,520,217 

1,523,376 

56,832 

53,673 

3.7

3.5

     

Demand Deposits

$   191,125 

$   183,492 

$   184,773 

$  7,633 

$  6,352 

4.2

3.4

NOW, Regular Savings & Money

  Market Deposit Accounts

 607,180 

 559,132 

 566,578 

48,048 

40,602 

8.6

7.2

Time Deposits of $100,000 or More

166,916 

187,777 

147,409 

(20,861)

19,507 

(11.1)

13.2

Other Time Deposits

     252,281 

     255,996 

     264,324 

  (3,715)

(12,043)

(1.5)

(4.6)

Total Deposits

$1,217,502 

$1,186,397 

$1,163,084 

$ 31,105 

$54,418 

2.6

4.7

Short-Term Borrowings

 $     48,791 

$  48,324 

 $     55,296 

$     467 

$(6,505)

1.0

(11.8)

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances:

       

  Term Advances

150,000 

125,000 

145,000 

25,000 

 5,000     

20.0

3.4

Shareholders' Equity

  118,874 

118,130 

  119,373 

     744 

  (499)

0.6

(0.4)

(1) Includes Nonaccrual Loans



18







Flat to Inverted Yield Curve:  The shape of the yield curve (i.e. the line depicting interest rates being paid on low- or no-risk securities, such as U.S. Treasury bills, of different maturities, with the rate identified on the vertical axis and maturity on the horizontal axis) typically turns upward.  For much of the preceding twelve-month period the yield curve was flat and at times became inverted, that is, the rates for long-term bonds like U.S. Treasury notes were actually lower than the rate for overnight federal funds.   Typically, our net interest income reflects the opportunity to invest some portion of our shorter-term deposits (typically at lower rates) in longer-term loans and investments (typically at higher rates).  During periods when the yield curve was flat or inverted, this opportunity was more limited.  Our net interest margin compressed and our net interest income was adversely affected as a consequence.  Only at the end of the second quarter of 2007 did the yield curve begin to develop some minimal upward slope.  This positive development was enhanced when long-term rates held steady after the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) lowered short-term rates in September 2007.  


Municipal Deposits:  Fluctuations in balances of our NOW accounts and time deposits of $100,000 or more are largely the result of municipal deposit fluctuations.  Municipal deposits on average represent 15% to 20% of our total deposits.  Municipal deposits are typically placed in NOW accounts and time deposits of short duration.  Many of our municipal deposit relationships are subject to annual renewal, by formal or informal agreements.  


In general, there is a seasonal pattern to municipal deposits starting with a low point during July and August.  Account balances tend to increase throughout the fall and into the winter months from tax deposits and receive an additional boost at the end of March from the electronic deposit of state funds.  In addition to these seasonal fluctuations within accounts, the overall level of municipal deposit balances fluctuates from year-to-year as some municipalities move their accounts in and out of our banks due to competitive factors.  Often, the balances of municipal deposits at the end of a quarter are not representative of the average balances for that quarter.  


No Subprime Consumer Real Estate Loans: Recent industry headlines have focused on problems arising from subprime consumer real estate lending.  We have not engaged in the origination or purchase of subprime loans, as that term is commonly used, as a business line and our asset quality ratios remain strong.  Also, we have not invested in nor do we hold any of the mortgage-backed securities products in our investment portfolios that are comprised of underlying subprime mortgages, which have lately experienced substantial losses and credit downgrades.


Changes in Sources of Funds:  We experienced an increase in internally generated deposit balances of $31.1 million, or 2.6%, from December 31, 2006 to September 30, 2007.  This increase was attributable to a $10 million increase in municipal balances and a $21 million increase in non-municipal balances.  The amount of other borrowed funds (“Short-Term Borrowings,” in the summary table on page 18) was essentially unchanged from December 31, 2006 and FHLB advances increased by $25 million.  


Changes in Earning Assets:  Our loan portfolio increased by $25.5 million, or 2.5%, from December 31, 2006 to September 30, 2007 reflecting the following trends in our three largest segments:

1.

Indirect loans – we experienced originations in the first nine months of 2007 exceeding originations in the first nine months of 2006 by $32.7 million, or 34.8%.  For the first nine months of 2007, originations of $126.6 million out-paced prepayments and normal principal amortization.

2.

Residential real estate loans – originations of $36.8 million exceeded prepayments and normal principal amortization by $2.4 million.

3.

Commercial and commercial real estate loans (including multi-family housing) – period-end balances for this segment increased by $10.2 million over the period.  Steady growth in this portfolio was partially offset by the payoff of one large commercial relationship in the first quarter of 2007.


During those recent periods when the yield curve was flat to inverted, we only had limited opportunities to reinvest cashflow from maturing investment securities in medium- or long-term bonds.  Our investment securities portfolio decreased by $9.2 million during the first quarter.  However, during the second and third quarters of this year, as the upward sloping yield curve began to reappear, our securities portfolio increased as we began to replace maturities from our municipal securities and reinvest the cashflow from our mortgage-backed securities.  The balance of our investment securities portfolios increased $27.4 million from year-end 2006 to September 30, 2007.



19






Deposit Trends


The following two tables provide information on trends in the balance and mix of our deposit portfolio by presenting, for each of the last five quarters, the quarterly average balances by deposit type and the percentage of total deposits represented by each deposit type.


Quarterly Average Deposit Balances

(Dollars in Thousands)


  

Quarter Ended

  

Sep 2007

Jun 2007

Mar 2007

Dec 2006

Sep 2006

Demand Deposits

 

$   194,628

$   181,282

$   179,781

$   184,267

$   187,764

Interest-Bearing Demand Deposits

 

310,219

305,409

292,559

301,519

269,103

Regular and Money Market Savings

 

263,620

268,823

267,877

269,186

281,958

Time Deposits of $100,000 or More

 

189,685

175,550

182,254

170,388

154,929

Other Time Deposits

 

     257,056

     265,056

     259,913

     259,346

     255,491

  Total Deposits

 

$1,215,208

$1,196,120

$1,182,384

$1,184,706

$1,149,245


Percentage of Average Quarterly Deposits

  

Quarter Ended

  

Sep 2007

Jun 2007

Mar 2007

Dec 2006

Sep 2006

Demand Deposits

 

16.0%

15.2%

15.2%

15.6%

16.3%

Interest-Bearing Demand Deposits

 

25.5   

25.5   

24.7   

25.5

23.4   

Regular and Money Market Savings

 

21.7   

22.5   

22.7   

22.7

24.5   

Time Deposits of $100,000 or More

 

15.6   

14.7   

15.4   

14.4

13.5   

Other Time Deposits

 

  21.2   

  22.1   

  22.0   

 21.8

  22.3   

  Total Deposits

 

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%


For a variety of reasons, including the seasonality of municipal deposits, we typically experience little net growth measured by average deposit balances in the first quarter of the year, but more significant growth in the second and third quarters.  Deposit balances generally followed this pattern in the first three quarters of 2007.  In the first quarter, the average balance decreased $2.3 million, or 0.2%, from the fourth quarter of 2006, but rebounded in the second quarter with a $13.7 million, or 1.2%, increase in average balances over the first quarter of 2007.  Average deposit balances for the third quarter of 2007 increased by $19.1 million, or 1.6%, over the second quarter of 2007.  The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in municipal balances, but non-municipal balances also increased during the quarter.


During the uninterrupted period of declining interest rates from May 2000 through the first half of 2004, we experienced a trend (typical for financial institutions) where maturing time deposits were transferred to non-maturity interest-bearing transaction accounts.  This period of declining rates ended in June 2004 as the Fed initiated a series of seventeen 25 basis point increases in prevailing rates extending through June 2006.  


As a result of this rising short-term rate environment commencing in mid-2004, we began to experience a reversal of the prior trend in deposit account migration as our customers, including municipal accounts, started to transfer some of their non-maturity balances back into time deposits.  At September 30, 2007 time deposits represented 34.4% of total deposits, up from 22.5% at June 30, 2004.  Although this ratio is now approaching the high-water mark for recent years of 40.8% at June 30, 2000 the ratio actually decreased from June 30, 2007 when it was 37.7%.  At the same time, the percentage of interest-bearing demand deposits to total deposits has stabilized and even increased slightly in the past four quarters.


We opened a new branch in South Plattsburgh, NY in the first quarter of 2007 and one in Wilton, NY at the beginning of the second quarter of 2007.  Otherwise, the increase in deposits between the two periods was achieved through our existing base of branches.  We have no brokered deposits.




20






Quarterly Average Rate Paid on Deposits

  

Quarter Ended

  

Sep 2007

Jun 2007

Mar 2007

Dec 2006

Sep 2006

Demand Deposits

 

---%

---%

---%

---%

---%

Interest-Bearing Demand Deposits

 

2.16

2.18

1.98

2.04

1.64

Regular and Money Market Savings

 

1.51

1.48

1.45

1.36

1.31

Time Deposits of $100,000 or More

 

4.88

4.81

4.81

4.69

4.63

Other Time Deposits

 

4.41

4.42

4.41

4.23

3.92

  Total Deposits

 

2.57

2.58

2.53

2.43

2.20


Impact of Interest Rate Changes 2000 – 2007


From mid-2000 to mid-2003 the federal funds target rate decreased from 6.50% to an almost unprecedented low of 1.00%.  In mid-2004 rates began to increase, in 25 basis point increments, to 5.25% by mid-2006.  From mid-2006 to fall 2007, the Fed did not take any actions to change short-term rates.  In September 2007, however, in response to perceptions of a weakening economy and a loss of liquidity in the short-term credit market, precipitated in a large part by problems related to subprime residential real estate lending, the Fed lowered the federal funds target rate by 50 basis points to 4.75%.


Our net interest margin has traditionally been sensitive to and impacted by changes in prevailing market interest rates.  The following analysis of the relationship between prevailing rates (and changes in rates) and our net interest margin and net interest income covers the period from 2000 to the present.


The most important recent development with regard to the effect of rate changes in our profitability is the so-called “flattening” of the yield curve.  After the Fed began increasing short-term interest rates in June 2004, the yield curve did not maintain its traditional upward curve but flattened; that is, as short-term rates increased, longer-term rates stayed unchanged or decreased.  Therefore, the traditional spread between short-term rates and long-term rates (the upward yield curve) essentially disappeared, i.e., the curve had flattened.  Late in 2006 and in early 2007, the yield curve was occasionally inverted, with short-term rates exceeding long-term rates.  This flattening of the yield curve was the most significant factor in reducing our net interest income in each of the past two years.   Only at the end of the second quarter of 2007 did the yield on longer-term securities began to increase over short-term investments.  This was further enhanced when long-term rates held steady after the Fed lowered short-term rates in September 2007.


Nevertheless, longer-term rates have been resistant to increases, both due to borrower expectations and to a widespread perception in the credit markets of limited risk of default.  To the extent these perceptions and expectations are now changing, the yield curve may be expected to return to a more traditional shape with consequent benefit to banks’ margins.  No assurances can be given on this recent development, however, particularly as aggregate levels of borrowing, especially consumer mortgage related borrowing may be expected to diminish.


In addition to the shape of the yield curve, our net interest margin has traditionally been sensitive to and impacted by changes in prevailing market interest rates.  Generally, there has been a negative correlation between changes in prevailing interest rates and our net interest margin, especially when rates begin to move in a different direction.  When prevailing rates begin to decline, our net interest margin generally increases in immediately ensuing periods, and vice versa, as in each case earning assets reprice more slowly than interest-bearing sources of funds.  This was the case for our net interest margin during the 2001-2002 period, when prevailing market rates were declining and our margin increased, and during the 2003-2004 period, when the rate decline began to decelerate and rates then reversed and began to increase and our margins experienced a negative effect.  In 2005 and 2006, however, as the Fed’s push to increase prevailing rates matured, our net interest margin continued to suffer as a result of the flattening yield curve.  


The net interest margin for the full year of 2002 was 4.50%.  In ensuing years, our margin steadily decreased, during an extended period of increasing short-term interest rates.  Our margin reached a low point in the fourth quarter of 2006, at 3.24%.  The margin for the first two quarters of 2007 was 3.32%, but dropped back to 3.29% for the third quarter of 2007 primarily due to an increase in high-costing municipal deposits.  In general, the recovery from the fourth quarter of 2006 was due to the fact that a portion of our earning assets repriced upwards at a rate faster than the rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities.




21






In both rising and falling rate environments, we face significant competitive pricing pressures in the marketplace for our deposits and loans.  Ultimately, we expect that our earning assets and paying liabilities, including long-term earning assets, will reprice proportionately in response to changes in market rates.


Non-Deposit Sources of Funds


Historically, we have regularly borrowed funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") under a variety of programs, including fixed and variable rate short-term borrowings and borrowings in the form of "structured advances."  Our structured advances have original maturities of 3 to 10 years and are callable by the FHLB at certain dates.  If the advances are called, we may elect to receive replacement advances from the FHLB at the then prevailing FHLB rates of interest.


The $20 million of Junior Subordinated Obligations Issued to Unconsolidated Subsidiary Trusts (trust preferred securities) identified on our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2007 qualify as regulatory capital under the bank regulators’ capital adequacy guidelines, as discussed under “Capital Resources” beginning on page 28 of this Report.  These trust preferred securities are redeemable by us in 2008 and 2010, and are subject to early redemption by us if the proceeds cease to qualify as Tier 1 capital of Arrow for any reason, including if bank regulatory authorities were to reverse their current position and decide that trust preferred securities do not qualify as regulatory capital, or in the event of an adverse change in tax laws.



Loan Trends


The following two tables present, for each of the last five quarters, the quarterly average balances by loan type and the percentage of total loans represented by each loan type.


Quarterly Average Loan Balances

(Dollars in Thousands)

  

Quarter Ended

  

Sep 2007

Jun 2007

Mar 2007

Dec 2006

Sep 2006

Commercial and Commercial Real Estate

 

$   265,060

$   265,076

$  262,937

$260,416

$254,837

Residential Real Estate

 

315,576

313,239

310,404

305,926

303,509

Home Equity

 

 45,864

 47,065

 48,366

 49,224

 49,847

Indirect Consumer Loans

 

339,955

335,318

335,004

331,972

333,596

Other Consumer Loans 1

 

       54,944

       53,789

       53,874

    52,138

    49,880

 Total Loans

 

$1,021,399

$1,014,487

$1,010,585

$999,676

$991,669


Percentage of Quarterly Average Loans

  

Quarter Ended

  

Sep 2007

Jun 2007

Mar 2007

Dec 2006

Sep 2006

Commercial and Commercial Real Estate

 

25.9%

26.1%

26.0%

26.1%

25.7%

Residential Real Estate

 

30.9   

30.9   

30.7   

30.6

30.6   

Home Equity

 

4.5   

4.6   

4.8   

4.9

5.0   

Indirect Consumer Loans

 

33.3   

33.1   

33.2   

33.2

33.7   

Other Consumer Loans

 

    5.4   

    5.3   

    5.3   

   5.2

    5.0   

 Total Loans

 

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%


1 Other Consumer Loans includes certain home improvement loans, secured by mortgages, in this table of average loan balances.




22






Residential Real Estate Loans: Residential real estate and home equity loans taken together represent the largest segment of our loan portfolio.  Residential mortgage demand has been moderate since 2004, after a period in the preceding years when demand was high.  However, during 2004 and 2005 and the first quarter of 2006, we sold many of our 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage originations, while retaining the servicing.  None of these sold loans were subprime loans (see “No Subprime Consumer Real Estate Loans” below), and we have no guarantee or repurchase obligations with respect to any of these loans.  By the end of the first quarter of 2006, as yields on longer-term residential real estate loans began to rise, we decided to stop selling our 30-year mortgage originations and retain them in our portfolio.  During the first nine months of 2007, the $36.8 million of new residential real estate loan originations more than offset normal principal amortization on the pre-existing loans in the portfolio and prepayments.  


We expect that, if we continue to retain all or most of our mortgage originations, we will be able to maintain the current level of residential real estate loans and may experience some continued growth.  However, if the demand for residential real estate loans decreases, due to mortgage rate increases or a softening of the real estate market or the economy generally, our portfolio also may decrease, which may negatively impact our financial performance.


Indirect Loans: For several years prior to 2003, indirect consumer loans (consisting principally of auto loans financed through local dealerships where we acquire the dealer paper) was the largest segment of our loan portfolio.  Prior to mid-2001, indirect consumer loans were also the fastest growing segment of our loan portfolio, both in terms of absolute dollar amount and as a percentage of the overall portfolio.  In the succeeding years, this segment of the portfolio generally has ceased to grow in absolute terms and decreased as a percentage of the overall portfolio.  The principal reason for this slowdown in our indirect loan portfolio has been the increasing utilization by auto manufacturers and their financing affiliates of subsidized, low-rate loan programs to enhance sales of their cars, light trucks and SUV’s.


At the end of the first quarter of 2005, we did experience an increase in indirect loans, which did not have a large impact on the average balance for the quarter but did cause the balance at period-end to rise sharply to $312.9 million.  Moreover, we continued to experience strong demand for indirect loans throughout the second and third quarters of 2005, for a variety of factors, including the decision by the automobile manufacturers to be less aggressive with their subsidized financing programs.  Our average balances increased by $21.7 million, or 7.1%, from the first quarter to the second quarter of 2005 and by another $29.8 million, or 9.1%, in the third quarter.  In the fourth quarter of 2005, however, indirect loan balances declined by $7.0 million, or 4.3%, measured at quarter-end (although the average balance for the fourth quarter was slightly higher than the average balance for the third quarter).


During the first three quarters of 2006, we elected not to compete aggressively in the indirect loan sector, in the face of a resurgence of extremely low rates being offered by automobile manufacturers, their finance affiliates and other lenders in the marketplace.  As a result, principal amortization and prepayments exceeded our originations and indirect balances decreased by $25.7 million from December 31, 2005 to the end of the third quarter of 2006.  In the fourth quarter of 2006 and the first three quarters of 2007, we saw our outstanding indirect loan balances increase.  At September 30, 2007 balances were $9.1 million above prior year-end balances.


At September 30, 2007, indirect loans continued to represent the second largest category of loans in our portfolio and a significant component of our business.  However, if auto manufacturers and their finance affiliates persist in marketing heavily subsidized financing programs, our indirect loan portfolio is likely to continue to experience rate pressure and limited, if any, overall growth as a percentage of the total portfolio.  Moreover, as noted above for residential real estate loans, if the national or regional economy weakens in upcoming periods, we may experience a weakened demand for indirect loans, which could negatively impact our financial performance.


Commercial, Commercial Real Estate and Construction and Land Development Loans: We have experienced strong to moderate demand for commercial loans for the past several years, and thus commercial and commercial real estate loan balances have grown significantly, both in dollar amount and as a percentage of the overall loan portfolio.  This pattern continued during the first nine months of 2007, despite one large commercial loan payoff in the first quarter.  The balance of commercial loans increased by $10.2 million from year-end 2006 to September 30, 2007.  Substantially all commercial and commercial real estate loans in our portfolio are extended to businesses or borrowers located in our regional market.  Many of the loans in the commercial portfolio have variable rates tied to prime, Federal Home Loan Bank or U.S. Treasury indices.




23






Quarterly Taxable Equivalent Yield on Loans

  

Quarter Ended

  

Sep 2007

Jun 2007

Mar 2007

Dec 2006

Sep 2006

Commercial and Commercial Real Estate

 

7.26%

7.31%

7.28%

7.24%

7.27%

Residential Real Estate

 

6.03   

6.02   

6.08   

5.93

5.93   

Home Equity

 

7.82   

7.77   

7.70   

7.53

7.43   

Indirect Consumer Loans

 

6.05   

6.00   

5.80   

5.61

5.44   

Other Consumer Loans

 

7.35   

7.29   

7.20   

7.16

7.25   

 Total Loans

 

6.51   

6.50   

6.44   

6.31

6.25   


In general, the yield on our loan portfolio (tax-equivalent interest income divided by average loans) like the yield on our other earning assets has been impacted by changes in prevailing interest rates and the yield curve, as previously discussed on page 21 under the heading "Impact of Interest Rate Changes 2000 - 2007."  We expect that such will continue to be the case, that is, that loan yields will continue to rise and fall with changes in prevailing short- and long-term market rates, although the timing and degree of responsiveness will continue to be influenced by a variety of other factors, including the makeup of the loan portfolio, consumer expectations and preferences and the rate at which the portfolio expands.  Additionally, there is a significant amount of cash flow from normal amortization and prepayments in all loan categories, and this cash flow reprices at current rates as new loans are generated at the current yields.  


On June 30, 2004, the Fed ended the period of falling rates with a 25 basis point increase in the targeted federal funds rates, followed by sixteen additional 25 basis point rate increases through June 29, 2006. The Fed did not change the targeted federal funds rate until it lowered the target rate by 50 basis points in September 2007.  Although our deposit rates began to creep upward, the yield on our loan portfolio not only failed to rise, but continued to fall during the second quarter of 2004 and into the third quarter of 2004.  However, the decrease in the earning assets portfolio yield came to a halt in the first half of 2005 and then began to slowly increase during successive quarters through first three quarters of 2007, although as noted above increases in rates for earning assets of longer maturities have still not matched the full extent of the rate increases previously experienced for shorter-term liabilities.


In summary, the flat or inverted yield curve has hampered loan repricing during this current period of rising short-term rates in all segments of our loan portfolio, aside from those loans that are indexed to the prime rate.  While we expect that the yield on our loan portfolio will continue to slowly reprice upward and believe that the recent increase in the slope of the yield curve will have a positive impact on our loan yields, we also continue to experience competitive pressures on deposit pricing which may continue to drive up our interest expense.  If so, the pressure on our net interest income and net interest margin will also persist.




24






Asset Quality


The following table presents information related to our allowance and provision for loan losses for the past five quarters.  


Summary of the Allowance and Provision for Loan Losses

(Dollars in Thousands)


 

Sep 2007

Jun 2007

Mar 2007

Dec 2006

Sep 2006

Loan Balances:

     

Period-End Loans

$1,034,548 

$1,017,989 

$1,014,592 

$1,008,999 

$  992,675 

Average Loans, Year-to-Date

1,015,529 

1,012,546 

1,010,585 

 996,611 

 995,578 

Average Loans, Quarter-to-Date

1,021,399 

1,014,487 

1,010,585 

999,676 

991,669 

Period-End Assets

1,577,049 

1,541,933 

1,543,154 

1,520,217 

1,523,376 

      

Allowance for Loan Losses, Year-to-Date:

     

Allowance for Loan Losses, Beginning of Period

 $12,278 

 $12,278 

 $12,278 

 $12,241 

 $12,241 

Provision for Loan Losses, YTD

  322 

  186 

   94 

 826 

   560 

Loans Charged-off, YTD

(610)

(426)

(212)

(1,137)

(784)

Recoveries of Loans Previously Charged-off

       351 

       277 

       138 

       348 

       257 

  Net Charge-offs, YTD

     (259)

     (149)

        (74)

      (789)

      (527)

Allowance for Loan Losses, End of Period

 $12,341 

 $12,315 

 $12,298 

 $12,278 

 $12,274 

      

Allowance for Loan Losses, Quarter-to-Date:

     

Allowance for Loan Losses, Beginning of Period

 $12,315 

 $12,298 

 $12,278 

 $12,274 

 $12,265 

Provision for Loan Losses, QTD

  136 

   92 

   94 

   266 

   186 

Loans Charged-off, QTD

(185)

(214)

(212)

(353)

(240)

Recoveries of Loans Previously Charged-off

         75 

       139 

       138 

         91 

        63 

  Net Charge-offs, QTD

      (110)

        (75)

        (74)

      (262)

     (177)

Allowance for Loan Losses, End of Period

 $12,341 

 $12,315 

 $12,298 

 $12,278 

 $12,274 

      

Nonperforming Assets, at Period-End:

     

Nonaccrual Loans

 $1,900 

 $1,883 

 $1,782 

 $2,038 

 $1,263 

Loans Past due 90 Days or More

     

 

and Still Accruing Interest

      121 

      122 

      256 

     739 

       59 

Total Nonperforming Loans

 2,021 

 2,005 

 2,038 

 2,777 

 1,322 

Repossessed Assets

63 

62 

107 

144 

82 

Other Real Estate Owned

       26 

     200 

     200 

     248 

     200 

Total Nonperforming Assets

$2,110 

$2,267 

$2,345 

$3,169 

$1,604 

      

Asset Quality Ratios:

     

Allowance to Nonperforming Loans

610.64% 

614.22% 

603.43% 

442.12% 

928.41% 

Allowance to Period-End Loans

  1.19    

  1.21    

  1.21    

  1.22    

  1.24    

Provision to Average Loans (Quarter)

 0.05    

 0.04    

 0.04    

 0.11    

 0.07    

Provision to Average Loans (YTD)

 0.04    

 0.04    

 0.04    

 0.08    

 0.08    

Net Charge-offs to Average Loans (Quarter)

    0.04    

    0.03    

    0.03    

    0.10    

    0.07    

Net Charge-offs to Average Loans (YTD)

    0.03    

    0.03    

    0.03    

    0.08    

    0.07    

Nonperforming Loans to Total Loans

0.20    

0.20    

0.20    

0.28    

0.13    

Nonperforming Assets to Total Assets

0.13    

0.15    

0.15    

0.21    

0.11    




25






Provision for Loan Losses


Through the provision for loan losses, an allowance is maintained that reflects our best estimate of probable incurred loan losses related to specifically identified loans as well as the remaining portfolio.  Loan charge-offs are recorded to this allowance when loans are deemed uncollectible.


We use a two-step process to determine the provision for loans losses and the amount of the allowance for loan losses.  We evaluate impaired commercial and commercial real estate loans over $250,000 under SFAS No. 114, “Accounting for Creditors for Impairment of a Loan.”   We evaluate the remainder of the portfolio under SFAS No. 5 “Accounting for Contingencies.”


Under our SFAS No. 5 analysis, we group loans by type, each with its own loss-rate.  Estimated losses under our SFAS No. 5 evaluation, as of September 30, 2007, reflect consideration of all significant factors that affect collectibility of loans in these groups.  Quantitatively, we determined the historical loss rate for each of these homogeneous groups or pools of loans.


During the past five years we have had little charge-off activity on loans secured by residential real estate.  Automobile lending represents a significant component of our total loan portfolio and is the only category of loans that has a history of losses that lends itself to a trend analysis.  We have had one loss on commercial real estate loans in the past five years.  Losses on commercial loans (other than those secured by real estate) are also historically low, but can vary widely from year to year, which makes this the most complex category of loans in our loss analysis.


Our net charge-offs for the past five years have been at or near historical lows for our company.  Annualized net charge-offs have ranged from .03% to .11% of average loans during this period.   In prior years this ratio was significantly higher.  For example, in the mid to late 1990’s, the charge-off ratio ranged from .16% to .32% for our company.  The loss ratio of .03% for the first two quarters of 2007 was unusually low due to a low level of total charges-offs and a high level of recoveries during this period.  The loss ratio of .04% for the third quarter of 2007 was low due to a lower than average level of total charge-offs for the quarter.  The loss ratio for bank holding companies in our peer group was .13% at June 30, 2007, the most recent reporting period, which were also near historical lows.  The peer group loss ratio ranged from .07% to .30% in the five years preceding 2007.


While historical loss experience provides a reasonable starting point for our analysis, historical losses, or even recent trends in losses, do not by themselves form a sufficient basis to determine the appropriate level for the allowance.  Therefore, in performing our analysis of the provision for loan losses and the allowance, we also consider and adjust historical loss factors for qualitative and environmental factors that are likely to cause credit losses within our existing portfolio.  In our most recent analysis, these factors included:


·

Changes in the volume and severity of past due, nonaccrual and adversely classified loans

·

Changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio and in the terms of loans

·

Changes in the value of the underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans

·

Changes in international, national, regional, and local economic and business conditions and developments that affect the collectibility of the portfolio

·

Changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collection, charge-off, and recovery practices not considered elsewhere in estimating credit losses

·

Changes in the quality of the our loan review system

·

Changes in the experience, ability, and depth of our lending management and other relevant staff

·

The existence and effect of any concentrations of credit, and changes in the level of such concentrations

·

The effect of other external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in our existing portfolio


For each homogeneous loan pool, we assign a loss factor expressed in basis points for each of the qualitative factors above, and for historical credit losses.  We update and change, if necessary, the loss-rates assigned to various pools based on the analysis of loss trends and the change in qualitative and environmental factors.  In order to more accurately estimate probable loan losses, we determined to segment the loan loss reserve pools for our commercial loan portfolio between commercial loans and commercial loans secured by real estate, and updated our loss rates primarily related to criticized commercial loans and indirect consumer loans accounted for under SFAS No. 5.  These enhancements did not result in a material change to the provision for loan losses in the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 or in the allowance for loan losses.



26






Risk Elements


Our nonperforming assets at September 30, 2007 amounted to $2.1 million, a decrease of $1.1 million, or 33.4%, from the December 31, 2006 total, and an increase of $506 thousand, or 31.6%, from the September 30, 2006 total.  In both comparisons the change was primarily attributable to two large commercial loans which were first included in nonperforming assets during the fourth quarter of 2006 but only one of which was still included in nonperforming assets as of September 30, 2007, as the other migrated from 90 days past due (and still accruing) to 30-89 days past due status during the first quarter of 2007.


At September 30, 2007, nonperforming assets represented .13% of total assets, an 8 basis point decrease from .21% at year-end 2006 and a 2 basis point increase from .11% at September 30, 2006.  Our September 30, 2007 ratio was still near our historical low.  At June 30, 2007 the ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets for our peer group was .64%.  


The balance of other non-current loans at period-end as to which interest income was being accrued (i.e. loans 30 to 89 days past due, as defined in bank regulatory guidelines) totaled $6.0 million and represented 0.58% of loans outstanding at that date, substantially unchanged from the approximately $6.0 million of such loans at December 31, 2006, which represented 0.60% of loans then outstanding.  These non-current loans at September 30, 2007 were composed of approximately $4.3 million of consumer loans, principally indirect automobile loans, $.7 million of residential real estate loans and $1.0 million of commercial loans.


The percentage of our performing loans that demonstrate characteristics of potential weakness from time to time, typically a very small percentage, depends principally on economic conditions in our geographic market area of northeastern New York State.  In general, the economy in this area has been relatively stable in recent periods, extending back two or three years.  


To the extent that the strength of our residential real estate and commercial real estate loan portfolios reflects not only the strength of the regional economy but more particularly the strength of local and regional real estate markets, it should be noted that residential and commercial real estate prices in our market, northeastern New York State, while stable or rising in the years preceding 2007, did not generally experience the rapid and significant increases seen in larger metropolitan areas on the East and West Coasts, and that the current downturn in real estate market prices experienced nationwide may be expected for this reason to be less severe in our market area than elsewhere, and to have a lesser impact on our portfolios.  To date, we have not experienced any significant erosion in the quality of our real estate loan portfolios, nor do we anticipate significant increases in our nonperforming assets, other non-current loans as to which interest income is still being accrued or potential problem loans.  However, if the regional or national economy weakens in upcoming periods, any or all of these measures may show increases relatively quickly.




27






CAPITAL RESOURCES


Shareholders' equity increased $744 thousand during the first nine months of 2007.  Components of the change in shareholders' equity are presented in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity, on page 5 of this report.


Components of other comprehensive income or loss, which are taken into account in determining total shareholders’ equity, are presented in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity.  We adopted the recognition requirements of SFAS No. 158 for our pension and post-retirement benefit plans on December 31, 2006.  Beginning in 2007, the amortization of actuarial losses and the accretion of prior service credits are now components of other comprehensive income or loss and recognized as a component of net periodic benefit costs.


During the first nine months of 2007, we paid cash dividends of $.70 per share.


During the first quarter of 2007, Arrow guaranteed a $1.5 million loan made by our subsidiary bank, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company, to our ESOP.  The loan proceeds were used by the ESOP to purchase shares of Arrow Common Stock which will be allocated to individual employee accounts in future periods.  As long as the shares remain unallocated, the value of the unallocated shares is reflected as a reduction in shareholders’ equity.  


In April 2007, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase, at the discretion of senior management, of amounts up to $6 million of Arrow’s common stock over the next twelve months in open market or negotiated transactions.  Through September 30, 2007, we had used $4.6 million of this $6.0 million in the repurchase of shares.  The 2007 program replaced a similar $5 million repurchase program approved one year earlier, in April 2006, of which approximately $4.2 million was used to make repurchases.  See Part II, Item 2 of this Report for further information on stock repurchases and the repurchase programs.


The following discussion of capital focuses on regulatory capital ratios, as defined and mandated for financial institutions by federal bank regulatory authorities.  Regulatory capital, although a financial measure that is not provided for or governed by GAAP, nevertheless has been exempted by the SEC from the definition of "non-GAAP financial measures" in the SEC's Regulation G governing disclosure of non-GAAP financial measures.  (See the note on page 13 regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures.)  Thus, certain information which is required to be presented in connection with disclosure of non-GAAP financial measures need not be provided, and has not been provided, for the regulatory capital measures discussed below.  


Our holding company and our subsidiary banks are currently subject to two sets of regulatory capital measures, a leverage ratio test and risk-based capital guidelines.  The risk-based guidelines assign risk weightings to all assets and certain off-balance sheet items of financial institutions and establish an 8% minimum ratio of qualified total capital to risk-weighted assets.  At least half of total capital must consist of "Tier 1" capital, which comprises common equity and common equity equivalents, retained earnings, a limited amount of permanent preferred stock and a limited amount of trust preferred securities, less intangible assets.  Up to half of total capital may consist of so-called "Tier 2" capital, comprising a limited amount of subordinated debt, other preferred stock, certain other instruments and a limited amount of the allowance for loan losses.


The second regulatory capital measure, the leverage ratio test, establishes minimum limits on the ratio of Tier 1 capital to total tangible assets, without risk weighting.  For top-rated companies, the minimum leverage ratio is 3%, but lower-rated or rapidly expanding companies may be required to meet substantially higher minimum leverage ratios.  Federal banking law mandates certain actions to be taken by banking regulators for financial institutions that are deemed undercapitalized as measured by these ratios.  The law establishes five levels of capitalization for financial institutions ranging from "critically undercapitalized" to "well-capitalized."  Federal banking law also conditions the ability of banking organizations to engage in certain types of non-banking financial activities on such organizations' continuing to qualify as "well-capitalized" under these standards.  


In both 2003 and 2004 we issued $10 million of trust preferred securities in private placements.  Under final capital rules issued by the Federal Reserve Board, trust preferred securities may qualify as Tier 1 capital in an amount not to exceed 25% of total Tier 1 capital for bank holding companies such as ours, net of goodwill less any associated deferred tax liability.



28






As of September 30, 2007, the Tier 1 leverage and risk-based capital ratios for our holding company and our subsidiary banks were as follows:  


Summary of Capital Ratios

  

Tier 1

Total

 

Tier 1

Risk-Based

Risk-Based

 

Leverage

Capital

Capital

 

   Ratio

     Ratio

     Ratio

Arrow Financial Corporation

8.39%

12.63%

13.82%

Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co.

8.47

12.97

14.14

Saratoga National Bank & Trust Co.

8.65

11.71

13.32

 

Regulatory Minimum

3.00

4.00

8.00

FDICIA's "Well-Capitalized" Standard

5.00

6.00

10.00


As the above table indicates, all capital ratios of our bank holding company and our subsidiary banks at September 30, 2007 were above the minimum bank regulatory capital standards for financial institutions.  Additionally, at such date our bank holding company and our subsidiary banks qualified as “well-capitalized” under FDICIA, based on their capital ratios on that date.


Arrow’s common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select MarketSM under the symbol “AROW.”  The high and low sales prices listed below represent actual sales transactions, as reported by Nasdaq.


On October 24, 2007, our Board of Directors approved a fourth quarter cash dividend of $.24 per share, payable on December 14, 2007.


Quarterly Per Share Stock Prices and Dividends

(Restated for the September 2007 3% stock dividend)



  


Cash

Dividends

  Declared

   
 

Sales Price

 

Low

High

2006

   

First Quarter

$24.225

$26.393

$.226

Second Quarter

22.434

26.393

.226

Third Quarter

23.565

26.082

.226

Fourth Quarter

22.699

25.971

.233

    

2007

   

First Quarter

$20.583

$24.553

$.233

Second Quarter

20.825

22.990

.233

Third Quarter

19.417

25.810

.233

Fourth Quarter (payable December 14, 2007)

  

.240



Quarter Ended September 30,

2007

2006

Dividends Per Share

$.23

$.23

Diluted Earnings Per Share

.42

.39

Dividend Payout Ratio

54.76%

58.97%

Total Equity (in thousands)

$118,874

$119,373

Shares Issued and Outstanding (in thousands)

10,612

10,879

Book Value Per Share

$11.20

$10.97

Intangible Assets (in thousands)

$16,699

$17,044

Tangible Book Value Per Share

$9.63

$9.41




29






LIQUIDITY


Liquidity is measured by the ability of our company to raise cash when we need it at a reasonable cost.  We must be capable of meeting expected and unexpected obligations to our customers at any time.   Given the uncertain nature of customer demands as well as the desire to maximize earnings, we must have available sources of funds, on- and off-balance sheet, that can be accessed in time of need.  We measure and monitor our basic liquidity as a ratio of liquid assets to short-term liabilities, both with and without the availability of borrowing arrangements.


In addition to regular loan repayments, securities available-for-sale represent a primary source of on-balance sheet cash flow.  Certain securities are designated by us at the time of purchase as available-for-sale.  Selection of such securities is based on their ready marketability, ability to collateralize borrowed funds, yield and maturity.


In addition to liquidity arising from balance sheet cash flows, we have supplemented liquidity with off-balance sheet sources such as credit lines with the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB").  We have established both overnight and 30 day term lines of credit with the FHLB, each in the amount of $122.1 million at September 30, 2007.  If advanced, such lines of credit are collateralized by our pledge of mortgage-backed securities, loans and FHLB stock.  In addition, we have in place borrowing facilities from correspondent banks and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and also have identified repurchase agreements and brokered certificates of deposit as appropriate potential sources of funding, although we have not used either of these vehicles to raise liquid funds in the past.


We are not aware of any known trends, events or uncertainties that will have or are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect or make material demands on our liquidity in upcoming periods.  

 


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:

Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared With

Three Months Ended September 30, 2006


Summary of Earnings Performance

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)


Quarter Ended

  
 

Sep 2007

Sep 2006

Change

% Change

Net Income

$4,510

$4,261

$249 

5.8%

Diluted Earnings Per Share

.42

.39

.03 

7.7

Return on Average Assets

1.14%

1.12%

.02 %

1.8

Return on Average Equity

15.38%

14.49%

 .89 %

6.1


We reported earnings (net income) of $4.5 million for the third quarter of 2007, an increase of $249 thousand, or 5.8%, from the third quarter of 2006.   Diluted earnings per share were $.42 and $.39 for the respective quarters.  The 7.7% increase in diluted earnings per share exceeded the 5.8% increase in net income due to a reduction in the 2007 period of average shares outstanding, resulting primarily from our continuing share repurchases.  The increase in net income was primarily attributable to an increase in net interest income, even though we experienced a decrease in net interest margin, as discussed below.  The increase was also attributable to gains in noninterest income, which was greater than the increase in noninterest expense, both in dollars and in percentage terms.




30






The following narrative discusses the quarter-to-quarter changes in net interest income, other income, other expense and income taxes.


Net Interest Income


Summary of Net Interest Income

(Taxable Equivalent Basis)

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Quarter Ended

  
 

Sep 2007

Sep 2006

Change  

% Change

Interest and Dividend Income

$22,669 

$20,986 

$1,683 

8.0%

Interest Expense

  10,272 

   8,893 

  1,379 

15.5

Net Interest Income

  $12,397 

  $12,093 

$   304 

 2.5 

    

Taxable Equivalent Adjustment

       $748 

       $546 

$202 

  37.0 

    

Average Earning Assets (1)

  $1,494,744 

  $1,444,772 

 $49,972 

    3.5

Average Paying Liabilities

 1,231,812 

 1,190,138 

  41,674 

    3.5

    

Yield on Earning Assets (1)

      6.02%

      5.76%

    0.26% 

    4.5

Cost of Paying Liabilities

      3.31   

      2.96   

  0.35

     11.8

Net Interest Spread

      2.71   

      2.80   

 (0.09)

 (3.2)

Net Interest Margin

      3.29  

      3.32  

    (0.03)

(0.9)

(1) Includes Nonaccrual Loans


Our net interest margin (net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis divided by average earning assets, annualized) decreased from 3.32% for the third quarter of 2006 to 3.29% for the third quarter of 2007.  (See the discussion under “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” on page 13, regarding net interest income and net interest margin, which are commonly used non-GAAP financial measures.)  Our net interest margin was also down from 3.32% for each of the first two quarters of 2007.  While the yields on our loan portfolio continued to increase, as lower yielding loans repriced at higher rates, the cost increases on new time deposits and the increase in our competitive money market products offset the loan yield increases.


The negative impact of this decrease in net interest margin on net interest income was, however more than offset by the positive impact from a $50.0 million, or 3.5%, increase in average earning assets between the third quarter of 2006 and the third quarter of 2007.  As a result, net interest income, on a taxable equivalent basis, increased $304 thousand from the 2006 quarter to the 2007 quarter.  Our net interest margin was significantly influenced by the interest rate environment during the period, which was discussed above in this Report under the sections entitled “Deposit Trends,” “Impact of Interest Rate Changes 2000-2007" and “Loan Trends.”   As we state in those sections, recent changes in the yield curve (to the more traditional upward sloping curve) and decreases in the federal funds rate provide some optimism for possible margin improvement in upcoming periods, but there are many other factors affecting margins, including product mix and competition, and no assurances can be given in this regard.  


The provisions for loan losses were $136 thousand and $186 thousand for the quarters ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  Our method to determine the provision for loan losses was discussed previously under the heading "Provision for Loan Losses" beginning on page 26.



Other Income


Summary of Other Income

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Quarter Ended

  
 

Sep 2007

Sep 2006

Change

% Change

Income From Fiduciary Activities

  $1,334 

  $1,196 

$138 

   11.5%

Fees for Other Services to Customers

   2,097 

   2,163 

  (66)

    (3.1)

Insurance Commissions

472 

458 

14 

3.1

Other Operating Income

    186 

    213 

       (27)

     (12.7)

Total Other Income

$4,089 

$4,030 

$  59 

1.5 




31






Income from fiduciary activities totaled $1.3 million for the third quarter of 2007, an increase of $138 thousand, or 11.5%, from the third quarter of 2006.  The principal causes of the increase were an increase in the pricing of fiduciary services and an increase in the assets under trust administration and investment management.  The market value of assets under trust administration and investment management at September 30, 2007, amounted to $987.4 million, an increase of $113.9 million, or 13.0%, from September 30, 2006.  The increase was significantly impacted by the rising prices in the equity markets.


Income from fiduciary activities includes fee income from the investment advisory services performed by our affiliated investment advisor of our proprietary mutual funds.  These mutual funds are the North Country Funds, which include the North Country Equity Growth Fund (NCEGX) and the North Country Intermediate Bond Fund (NCBDX).  The combined funds represented a market value of $211.2 million at September 30, 2007.  The funds were introduced in March 2001, and are advised by our subsidiary investment adviser, North Country Investment Advisers, Inc.  Currently, the majority of the balances in the funds are derived from trust accounts at our subsidiary banks.  The funds are also offered on a retail basis at most of the branch locations of our subsidiary banks.


Fees for other services to customers (primarily service charges on deposit accounts, credit card merchant fee income, revenues related to the sale of mutual funds and servicing income on sold loans) were $2.1 million for the third quarter of 2007, a decrease of $66 thousand, or 3.1%, from the 2006 quarter.  The decrease was primarily attributable a decrease in overdraft fee income.


There were no gains or losses on the sale of investment securities in either the 2006 or the 2007 quarter.


Following our November 2004 acquisition of an insurance agency, Capital Financial Group, Inc (Capital Financial), insurance commissions became a significant source of other income.  Capital Financial specializes in group health insurance.


Other operating income includes data processing servicing fee income received from one unaffiliated upstate New York bank, and net gains or losses on the sale of loans, other real estate owned and other assets.  However, the data processing servicing fee came to an end in the second quarter of 2007, following the acquisition of that institution by an unrelated company.  This was the primary factor in the $27 thousand decrease in other operating income from the third quarter of 2006 to the third quarter of 2007.


During the first quarter of 2006, we sold into the secondary market $3.0 million of newly originated 30 year, fixed-rate residential real estate loans, but we did not engage in any such sales during the remainder of 2006 or for any of the 2007 quarters.  During both quarters we sold all student loan originations along with the servicing rights and completed certain pre-arranged sales of residential real estate loan originations and servicing rights, which we would not have otherwise originated.  We provided no guarantees and have no repurchase obligations with respect to any of these sold loans.  Net gains on the sale of loans for the 2007 third quarter was $4 thousand compared to $8 thousand for the 2006 quarter.  



Other Expense


Summary of Other Expense

(Dollars in Thousands)


 

Quarter Ended

  
 

Sep 2007

Sep 2006

Change

% Change

Salaries and Employee Benefits

  $5,442 

  $5,546 

    $(104)

(1.9)%

Occupancy Expense of Premises, Net

     750 

     712 

     38 

5.3 

Furniture and Equipment Expense

     720 

     776 

   (56)

  (7.2)

Other Operating Expense

  2,311 

  2,168 

     143 

  6.6 

Total Other Expense

  $9,223 

  $9,202 

   $   21 

      0.2 

    

Efficiency Ratio

55.36%

56.42%

(1.06)%

 (1.9)




32






Noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2007 was $9.2 million, an increase of $21 thousand, or 0.2%, over the expense for the third quarter of 2006.  For the third quarter of 2007, our efficiency ratio was 55.36%.  This ratio, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, is a comparative measure of a financial institution's operating efficiency.  The efficiency ratio (a ratio where lower is better) is the ratio of noninterest expense (excluding intangible asset amortization) to net interest income (on a tax-equivalent basis) and noninterest income (excluding net securities gains or losses).  See the discussion on page 13 of this report under the heading “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”  The efficiency ratio included by the Federal Reserve Board in its "Peer Holding Company Performance Reports" excludes net securities gains or losses, but does not exclude intangible asset amortization, which may result in slightly higher ratios.   Although our efficiency ratio increased from 2006 to 2007, it still compares favorably to the June 30, 2007 peer group ratio of 63.40%.


Salaries and employee benefits expense decreased $104 thousand, or 1.9%, from the third quarter of 2006 to the third quarter of 2007.  The decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in expenses for pension and post-retirement benefits from the reduction of covered postretirement benefits for new hires.  On an annualized basis, the ratio of total personnel expense (salaries and employee benefits) to average assets was 1.38% for the third quarter of 2007, 22 basis points less than the ratio for our peer group of 1.60% at June 30, 2007.


The increase in occupancy expense was primarily in the area of building maintenance expenses and real estate taxes, while the decrease in furniture and equipment expense was primarily attributable to savings in data processing expenses.  


Other operating expense was $2.3 million for the third quarter of 2007, an increase of $143 thousand, or 6.6%, from the third quarter of 2006.  The increase was spread among several areas, including marketing, postage, telephone and supplies.


Income Taxes


Summary of Income Taxes

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Quarter Ended

  
 

Sep 2007

Sep 2006

Change

% Change

Provision for Income Taxes

  $1,869

  $1,928

    $(59)

(3.1)%

Effective Tax Rate

 29.30%

 31.15%

    (1.85)%

 (5.9)


The difference between the statutory income tax rate and our effective tax rate is primarily due to the impact of tax exempt income.



RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared With

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006


Summary of Earnings Performance

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

Nine Months Ended

  
 

Sep 2007

Sep 2006

Change

% Change

Net Income

$12,851

$12,597

$254 

2.0 %

Diluted Earnings Per Share

1.19

1.14

.05 

4.4 

Return on Average Assets

1.11%

1.11%

---%

---

Return on Average Equity

14.65%

14.45%

.20 %

1.4 


We reported earnings (net income) of $12.9 million for the first nine months of 2007, an increase of $254 thousand, or 2.0%, from the first nine months of 2006.   Diluted earnings per share were $1.19 and $1.14 for the respective periods.  The 4.4% increase in diluted earnings per share exceeded the 2.0% increase in net income primarily due to the impact of shares we repurchased under our 2006 and 2007 repurchase programs.  The increase in net income was primarily attributable to an increase in net interest income, although we did experience a decrease in net interest margin, as discussed below.  The increase was also attributable to gains in noninterest income, which, expressed as a percentage increase, was greater than the increase in noninterest expense.


The following narrative discusses the nine-month to nine-month changes in net interest income, other income, other expense and income taxes.




33






Net Interest Income


Summary of Net Interest Income

(Taxable Equivalent Basis)

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Nine Months Ended

  
 

Sep 2007

Sep 2006

Change  

% Change

Interest and Dividend Income

$66,325

$61,611

$4,714 

7.7%

Interest Expense

  29,870

  25,255

  4,615 

18.3

Net Interest Income

  $36,455

  $36,356

$     99 

  0.3 

    

Taxable Equivalent Adjustment

 $2,179

 $1,831

$348 

  19.0 

    

Average Earning Assets (1)

$1,473,415

$1,449,446

 $23,969

   1.7

Average Paying Liabilities

1,217,789

1,200,992

  16,797

   1.4

    

Yield on Earning Assets (1)

      6.02%

      5.68%

    0.34%

    6.0

Cost of Paying Liabilities

      3.28   

      2.81   

    0.47

    16.7

Net Interest Spread

      2.74   

      2.87   

 (0.13)

 (4.5)

Net Interest Margin

      3.31   

      3.35   

    (0.04)

(1.2)

(1) Includes Nonaccrual Loans


Our net interest margin (net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis divided by average earning assets, annualized) decreased from 3.35% for the first nine months of 2006 to 3.31% for the first nine months of 2007.  (See the discussion under “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” on page 13, regarding net interest income and net interest margin, which are commonly used non-GAAP financial measures.)  While the yields on our loan portfolio continued to increase, as lower yielding loans repriced at higher rates, the cost increases on new time deposits and the increase in our competitive money market products offset the loan yield increases.


The negative impact of this decrease in net interest margin on net interest income was, however more than offset by the positive impact of a $24.0 million, or 1.7%, increase in average earning assets between the first nine months of 2006 and the first nine months of 2007.  As a result, net interest income, on a taxable equivalent basis, increased $99 thousand from the 2006 period to the 2007 period.  Our net interest margin was significantly influenced by the interest rate environment during the period, which was discussed above in this Report under the sections entitled “Deposit Trends,” “Impact of Interest Rate Changes 2000-2007" and “Loan Trends.”   As we state in those sections, recent changes in the yield curve (to the more traditional upward sloping curve) and decreases in the federal funds rate provide some optimism for possible margin improvement in upcoming periods, but there are many other factors affecting margins, including product mix and competition, and no assurances can be given in this regard.


The provisions for loan losses were $322 thousand and $560 thousand for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  Our method to determine the provision for loan losses was discussed previously under the heading "Provision for Loan Losses" beginning on page 26.


Noninterest Income


Summary of Noninterest Income

(Dollars in Thousands)


 

Nine Months Ended

  
 

Sep 2007

Sep 2006

Change

% Change

Income From Fiduciary Activities

  $ 4,206 

  $ 3,806 

$400 

   10.5%

Fees for Other Services to Customers

   6,041 

   5,976 

  65 

     1.1 

Net Losses on Securities Transactions

    --- 

    (118)

    118 

--- 

Insurance Commissions

1,435 

1,362 

73 

5.4

Other Operating Income

      590 

      782 

     (192)

     (24.6)

  Total Noninterest Income

$12,272 

$11,808 

$464 

3.9




34






Income from fiduciary activities totaled $4.2 million for the first nine months of 2007, an increase of $400 thousand, or 10.5%, from the first nine months of 2006.  The principal causes of the increase were an increase in the pricing of fiduciary services and an increase in the assets under trust administration and investment management.  The market value of assets under trust administration and investment management at September 30, 2007, amounted to $987.4 million, an increase of $113.9 million, or 13.0%, from September 30, 2006.  Income from fiduciary activities includes fee income from the investment advisory services performed by our affiliated investment advisor of our proprietary mutual funds.  The combined funds represented a market value of $211.2 million at September 30, 2007.  The increase was significantly impacted by the rising prices in the equity markets.


Fees for other services to customers (primarily service charges on deposit accounts, credit card merchant fee income, revenues related to the sale of mutual funds and servicing income on sold loans) were $6.0 million for the first nine months of 2007, an increase of $65 thousand, or 1.1%, from the 2006 period.  The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in referral fees for mutual fund sales.


For the first nine months of 2006, total other income included net securities losses of $118 thousand on the sale of $25.4 million of securities available-for-sale (primarily U.S. agency securities).  There were no gains or losses on securities sales for the 2007 period.  The following table presents sales and purchases in the available-for-sale investment portfolio for the first nine months of 2007 and 2006:


Investment Sales and Purchases: Available-for-Sale Portfolio

(In Thousands)


 

Nine Months Ended

 

Sep 2007

Sep 2006

Investment Sales

  

U.S. Agency Securities

$     ---

$10,000

Other

  2,225

  15,420

  Total Sales

$2,225

$25,420

Net Losses

$---

$(118)

   

Investment Purchases

  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

$       ---

$19,746

Other Mortgage-Backed Securities

39,494

5,914

U.S. Agency Securities

500

5,000

State and Municipal Obligations

8,975

15,430

Other

    9,619

  15,647

  Total Purchases

$58,588

$61,737

   


The sale of U.S. agency securities, undertaken in the second quarter of 2006, was part of a strategy to replace short-term agency securities with longer-term and higher yielding mortgage-backed securities.  


Following our November 2004 acquisition of an insurance agency, Capital Financial Group, Inc (Capital Financial), insurance commissions became a significant source of other income.  Capital Financial specializes in group health insurance.


Other operating income includes data processing servicing fee income received from one unaffiliated upstate New York bank, and net gains or losses on the sale of loans, other real estate owned and other assets.  However, the data processing servicing fee came to an end in the second quarter of 2007, following the acquisition of that institution by an unrelated company.  


The primary reason for the decrease in other operating income from the 2006 to the 2007 period was our sale, in the 2006 period, to a third party of a parcel of land we had earlier purchased to serve as premises for a new branch, resulting in a gain of $227 thousand (pre-tax).




35






During the first quarter of 2006, we sold into the secondary market $3.0 million of newly originated 30 year, fixed-rate residential real estate loans, but we did not engage in any such sales during the remainder of 2006 or for any of the 2007 quarters.  During both periods we sold all student loan originations along with the servicing rights and completed certain pre-arranged sales of residential real estate loan originations and servicing rights, which we would not have otherwise originated.  We provided no guarantees and have no repurchase obligations with respect to any of these sold loans.  Net gains on the sale of loans for the first nine months of 2007 was $32 thousand compared to $63 thousand for the 2006 period.  


Noninterest Expense


Summary of Noninterest Expense

(Dollars in Thousands)


 

Nine Months Ended

  
 

Sep 2007

Sep 2006

Change

% Change

Salaries and Employee Benefits

  $16,198

  $16,497

    $(299)

(1.8)%

Occupancy Expense of Premises, Net

   2,393

   2,332

    61 

2.6

Furniture and Equipment Expense

   2,261

   2,346

     (85)

   (3.6)

Other Operating Expense

   7,305

   6,512

    793 

  12.2

Total Noninterest Expense

  $28,157

  $27,687

   $ 470 

      1.7

    

Efficiency Ratio

57.17%

56.66%

.51%

 0.9 


Noninterest expense for the first nine months of 2007 was $28.2 million, an increase of $470 thousand, or 1.7%, over the expense for the first nine months of 2006.  For the first nine months of 2007, our efficiency ratio was 57.17%.  This ratio, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, is a comparative measure of a financial institution's operating efficiency.  The efficiency ratio (a ratio where lower is better) is the ratio of noninterest expense (excluding intangible asset amortization) to net interest income (on a tax-equivalent basis) and noninterest income (excluding net securities gains or losses).  See the discussion on page 13 of this report under the heading “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”  The efficiency ratio included by the Federal Reserve Board in its "Peer Holding Company Performance Reports" excludes net securities gains or losses, but does not exclude intangible asset amortization, which may result in slightly higher ratios.   Although our efficiency ratio increased from 2006 to 2007, it still compares favorably to the June 30, 2007 peer group ratio of 63.40%.


Salaries and employee benefits expense decreased $299 thousand, or 1.8%, from the first nine months of 2006 to the first nine months of 2007.  The decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in expenses for pension and post-retirement benefits from the reduction of covered postretirement benefits for new hires.  On an annualized basis, the ratio of total personnel expense (salaries and employee benefits) to average assets was 1.40% for the first nine months of 2007, 20 basis points less than the ratio for our peer group of 1.60% at June 30, 2007.


The increase in occupancy expense was primarily in the area of building maintenance expenses and real estate taxes, while the decrease in furniture and equipment expense was primarily attributable to savings in data processing expenses.  


Other operating expense was $7.3 million for the first nine months of 2007, an increase of $793 thousand, or 12.2%, from the first nine months of 2006.  The increase was spread among several areas, including marketing, legal, postage, telephone and supplies.



Income Taxes


Summary of Income Taxes

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

Nine Months Ended

  
 

Sep 2007

Sep 2006

Change

% Change

Provision for Income Taxes

  $5,218

  $5,489

    $(271)

(4.9)%

Effective Tax Rate

 28.88%

 30.35%

    (1.47)%

 (4.8)


The difference between the statutory income tax rate and our effective tax rate is primarily due to the impact of tax exempt income.





36






Item 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK


In addition to credit risk in our loan portfolio and liquidity risk, discussed earlier, our business activities also involve market risk.  Market risk is the possibility that changes in future market rates or prices will make our position less valuable.  The ongoing monitoring and management of risk is an important component of our asset/liability management process, which is governed by policies that are reviewed and approved annually by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors delegates responsibility for carrying out asset/liability oversight and control to management’s Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”).  In this capacity, ALCO develops guidelines and strategies impacting our asset/liability profile based upon estimated market risk sensitivity, policy limits and overall market interest rate levels and trends.  We have not made use of derivatives, such as interest rate swaps, in our risk management process.


Interest rate risk is the most significant market risk affecting us.  Interest rate risk is the exposure of our net interest income to changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is directly related to the different maturities and repricing characteristics of interest-bearing assets and liabilities, as well as to the risk of prepayment of loans and early withdrawal of time deposits, and the fact that the speed and magnitude of responses to interest rate changes varies by product.


The ALCO utilizes the results of a detailed and dynamic simulation model to quantify the estimated exposure of net interest income to sustained interest rate changes.  While ALCO routinely monitors simulated net interest income sensitivity over a rolling two-year horizon, it also utilizes additional tools to monitor potential longer-term interest rate risk.


The simulation model attempts to capture the impact of changing interest rates on the interest income received and interest expense paid on all interest-sensitive assets and liabilities reflected on our consolidated balance sheet.  This sensitivity analysis is compared to ALCO policy limits which specify a maximum tolerance level for net interest income exposure over a one year horizon, assuming no balance sheet growth and a 200 basis point upward and downward shift in interest rates, and a repricing of interest-bearing assets and liabilities at their earliest possible repricing date.  A parallel and pro rata shift in rates over a 12 month period is assumed.  Applying the simulation model analysis as of September 30, 2007 to our lead bank, Glens Falls National, a 200 basis point increase in interest rates demonstrated a 6.1% decrease in net interest income, and a 200 basis point decrease in interest rates demonstrated a 3.3% increase in net interest income.  These amounts were within our ALCO policy limits.  Historically there has existed an inverse relationship between changes in prevailing rates and our net interest income, reflecting the fact that our liabilities and sources of funds generally reprice more quickly than our earning assets.  


The preceding sensitivity analysis does not represent a forecast on our part and should not be relied upon as being indicative of expected operating results.  As noted elsewhere in this Report, the Fed took certain actions from June 2004 through June 2006 that resulted in an aggregate 425 basis point increase in the targeted federal funds rate, and then made no changes until September 2007 when in response to perceived weakening in the economy, the Fed cut the discount rate by 50 basis points and took action to bring about a similar decrease in the overnight federal funds rate.  We believe that increases in prevailing interest rates will generally have a short to medium-term negative impact on our net interest margin and net interest income, which would subsequently diminish and then lead to a positive impact on net interest margin and net interest income in ensuing years.  Conversely, we believe that decreases in prevailing rates will generally have a positive impact on our margin and net interest income in the short-term, but would be mitigated over the mid- to longer-term.  


In either case, however, whether prevailing rates are increasing or decreasing, the slope of the yield curve and changes in the slope of the yield curve will also affect net interest income and the net interest margin.  That is, our model assumes that interest rate changes of a given magnitude will be experienced equally across different maturities of earning assets and paying liabilities without significantly impacting the yield curve.  Whereas, if a change in the shape of the yield curve accompanies a change in prevailing rates, the effect on net interest income, in the short run and longer term, will be different, particularly if earning assets and paying liabilities are not evenly matched from a maturity standpoint, as is usually the case.  We are not able to predict with certainty what the magnitude of the effect on net interest income would be if prevailing interest rates change by specified amounts but the yield curve simultaneously changes shape, i.e., the specified rate change is not experienced evenly across all maturities.


The hypothetical estimates underlying the sensitivity analysis are based upon numerous other assumptions including: the nature and timing of changes in interest rates, prepayments on loans and securities, deposit decay rates, pricing decisions on loans and deposits, reinvestment/replacement of asset and liability cash flows, and others.  While assumptions are developed based upon current economic and local market conditions, we cannot make any assurance as to the predictive nature of these assumptions including how customer preferences or competitor influences might change.




37






As market conditions vary from those assumed in the sensitivity analysis, actual results will differ. Variations in market conditions could include: prepayment/refinancing levels deviating from those assumed, the varying impact of interest rate changes on caps or floors on adjustable rate assets, the potential effect of changing debt service levels on customers with adjustable rate loans, depositor early withdrawals and product preference changes, and other internal/external variables.  Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis does not reflect actions that ALCO might take in responding to or anticipating changes in interest rates.


Item 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES


Senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of Arrow's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of September 30, 2007. Based upon that evaluation, senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. Further, there were no changes made in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that had materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings


We are not the subject of any material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary litigation occurring in the normal course of our business.  On an ongoing basis, we are the subject of or a party to various legal claims, which arise in the normal course of our business.  The various pending legal claims against us will not, in the opinion of management based upon consultation with counsel, result in any material liability.


Item 1.A.

Risk Factors


There have been no material changes to the risk factors as presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A (for the year ended December 31, 2006) and our most recent prior Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (for the quarter ended June 30, 2007).  Please refer to the Risk Factors listed in our previously filed Form 10-K for December 31, 2006.


Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds - None


Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities


The following table presents information about our purchases of our own equity securities (i.e. Arrow’s common stock) during the three months ended September 30, 2007:

Third Quarter 2007

Calendar Month

(A)

Total Number of

Shares Purchased1

(B)

Average Price

Paid Per Share1

(C)

Total Number of

Shares Purchased as

Part of Publicly

Announced

Plans or Programs2

(D)

Maximum

Approximate Dollar

Value of Shares that

May Yet be

Purchased Under the

Plans or Programs3

July

75,468

$20.61

73,130

$1,630,189

August

11,579

20.89

10,300

1,415,439

September

  19,521

22.08

       ---

1,415,439

Total

106,568

20.91

83,430

 


1Share amounts and average prices listed in columns A and B (total number of shares purchased and the average price paid per share) include, in addition to shares repurchased under the company’s 2007 stock repurchase program (see Note 2), shares purchased in open market transactions under the Arrow Financial Corporation Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) by the administrator of the DRIP and shares surrendered (or deemed surrendered) to Arrow by holders of options to acquire Arrow common stock in connection with the exercise of such options.  In the months indicated, the listed number of shares purchased included the following numbers of shares purchased through such additional methods:  July – DRIP purchases (2,338 shares); August – DRIP purchases (1,279 shares); September – DRIP purchases (19,521 shares).

2Share amounts listed in column C include only shares repurchased under the company’s publicly-announced stock repurchase programs.  On April 25, 2007 the Board of Directors authorized a new $6 million stock repurchase program (the 2007 repurchase program) effective immediately, which replaced the previous repurchase program approved in April 2006.  

3Dollar amount of repurchase authority remaining at month-end as listed in column D represents the amount remaining under the 2007 repurchase program, the company’s only publicly-announced stock repurchase program in effect during the third quarter.



38






Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities – None


Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders – None


Item 5.

Other Information  

(a)

None

(b)

None


Item 6.

Exhibits


Exhibit 15

Awareness Letter

Exhibit 31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer under SEC Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)

Exhibit 31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer under SEC Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)

Exhibit 32

Certification of Chief Executive Officer under 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 and

Certification of Chief Financial Officer under 18 U.S.C. Section 1350



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.


ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Registrant



Date:    November 5, 2007

 

 /s/ Thomas L. Hoy


 

Thomas L. Hoy, President,

 

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

 

Date:    November 5, 2007

/s/Terry R. Goodemote


 

Terry R. Goodemote, Senior Vice President,

 

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

 

(Principal Financial Officer and

 

Principal Accounting Officer)




39