13.
INCOME TAXES

The components of income tax expense (benefit) was as follows for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

    Year Ended December 31,
 
    2024     2023     2022
 
Current expense
                 
Federal
 
$
14,184
   
$
16,192
    $ 13,250  
State
   
440
     
381
      302  
Deferred expense
                       
Federal
   
(1,049
)
   
99
      1,359  
Total
 
$
13,575
   
$
16,672
    $ 14,911  

Effective tax rates differ from the federal statutory rate of 21% applied to income before income taxes due to the following for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2024
   
2023
    2022
 
Federal statutory rate times financial statement income
 
$
13,291
   
$
16,678
    $ 15,362  
Effect of:
                       
Tax-exempt income
   
(701
)
   
(836
)
    (953 )
State taxes, net of federal benefit
   
348
     
301
      239  
Earnings from bank owned life insurance
   
(326
)
   
(279
)
    (251 )
Non-deductible expenses
   
648
     
675
      409  
Other, net
   
315
     
133
      105
Total
 
$
13,575
   
$
16,672
    $ 14,911  
Effective tax rate     21.45 %     20.99 %     20.38 %

Year-end deferred tax assets and liabilities were due to the following at year-end (dollars in thousands):

   
December 31,
 
   
2024
   
2023
 
Deferred tax assets
           
Allowance for credit losses
 
$
9,080
   
$
8,895
 
Deferred compensation
   
5,884
     
5,640
 
Leases
   
197
     
200
 
Other real estate owned
    23       30
 
Nonaccrual loans
   
320
     
78
 
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities
    19,273       17,234  
Other
   
446
     
456
 
Total deferred tax assets
   
35,223
     
32,533
 
                 
Deferred tax liabilities
               
Depreciation
   
(2,457
)
   
(2,800
)
Intangibles
   
(401
)
   
(626
)
Prepaid expenses
   
(704
)
   
(564
)
Mortgage servicing rights
   
(5,521
)
   
(5,580
)
Other
   
(3,300
)
   
(3,550
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
   
(12,383
)
   
(13,120
)
Net deferred tax asset
 
$
22,840
   
$
19,413
 

About Income Taxes Disclosures

The income tax disclosure reveals how much a company actually pays in taxes versus what the statutory rate would predict. Analysts focus on the effective tax rate (ETR) reconciliation, which breaks down every item driving the gap between the 21% federal rate and the company's reported ETR — including R&D credits, foreign rate differentials, and state taxes. Deferred tax assets (DTAs) and their valuation allowances signal management's confidence in future profitability: a rising allowance suggests the company doubts it can use accumulated tax benefits. Uncertain tax benefit (UTB) reserves quantify exposure to IRS challenges on aggressive positions.

Key signals to watch: sudden ETR drops without clear operational reasons, large increases in valuation allowances, growing UTB balances, and significant unremitted foreign earnings. Post-TCJA, pay attention to GILTI and BEAT provisions that affect multinational tax structures. Compare the cash taxes paid (from the cash flow statement) against the income tax provision to gauge earnings quality.