UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

x       ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014

or

o          TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                                          to                                         

Commission File Number:  000-52598

KENTUCKY BANCSHARES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (859)987-1795

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes o No x

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (229.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o

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

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

Aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2014 was approximately $59.2 million.  For purposes of this calculation, it is assumed that the Bank’s Trust Department, directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 5% of the registrant’s outstanding voting stock are affiliates.

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 12, 2015:  2,725,648.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 27, 2015 are incorporated by reference into Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III.

PART I

Item 1.  Business

General

Kentucky Bancshares, Inc. (“Company,” “Kentucky,” “we,” “our” and “us”) is a bank holding company headquartered in Paris, Kentucky.  The Company was organized in 1981 and is registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (“BHCA”).

The Company conducts its business in the Commonwealth of Kentucky through one banking subsidiary, Kentucky Bank, and one non-bank subsidiary KBI Insurance Company.

Kentucky Bank is a commercial bank and trust company organized under the laws of Kentucky.  Kentucky Bank has its main office in Paris (Bourbon County), with additional offices in Paris, Cynthiana (Harrison County), Georgetown (Scott County), Lexington (Fayette), Morehead (Rowan County), Nicholasville (Jessamine County), Richmond (Madison County), Sandy Hook (Elliott County), Versailles (Woodford County), Wilmore (Jessamine County) and Winchester (Clark County).  The deposits of Kentucky Bank are insured up to prescribed limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).  KBI Insurance Company is a captive insurance subsidiary and was incorporated in 2014.

The Company had total assets of $855.2 million, total deposits of $654.9 million and stockholders’ equity of $77.9 million as of December 31, 2014.  The Company’s principal executive office is located at 339 Main Street, Paris, Kentucky  40361, and the telephone number at that address is (859) 987-1795.

Business Strategy

The Company’s current business strategy is to operate a well-capitalized, profitable and independent community bank with a significant presence in Central and Eastern Kentucky.  Management believes the optimum way to grow the Company is by attracting new loan and deposit customers within its existing markets through its product offerings and premier customer service.  Management continues to consider opportunities for branch expansion and will also consider acquisition opportunities that help advance its strategic objectives.

Lending

Kentucky Bank is engaged in general full-service commercial and consumer banking.  A significant part of Kentucky Bank’s operating activities include originating loans, approximately 86% of which are secured by real estate at December 31, 2014.  Kentucky Bank makes commercial, agricultural and real estate loans to its commercial customers, with emphasis on small-to-medium-sized industrial, service and agricultural businesses.  It also makes residential mortgage, installment and other loans to its individual and other non-commercial customers.

Loan Rates:  Kentucky Bank offers variable and fixed rate loans.  Loan rates on variable rate loans generally adjust upward or downward based on changes in the loan’s index.  Rate adjustments on variable rate loans are made from 1 day to 5 years.  Variable rate loans may contain provisions that cap the amount of interest rate increases or decreases over the life of the loan.  In addition to the lifetime caps and floors on rate adjustments, loans secured by residential real estate may contain provisions that limit annual increases at a maximum of 200 basis points.  There is usually no annual limit applied to loans secured by commercial real estate.

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Credit Risk:  Commercial lending and real estate construction lending, generally include a higher degree of credit risk than other loans, such as residential mortgage loans.  Commercial loans, like other loans, are evaluated at the time of approval to determine the adequacy of repayment sources and collateral requirements. Collateral requirements vary to some degree among borrowers and depend on the borrower’s financial strength, the terms and amount of the loan, and collateral available to secure the loan.  Credit risk results from the decreased ability or willingness to pay by a borrower.  Credit risk also results when a liquidation of collateral occurs and there is a shortfall in collateral value as compared to a loan’s outstanding balance.  For construction loans, inaccurate initial estimates of a project’s costs and the property’s completed value could weaken the Company’s position and lead to the property having a value that is insufficient to satisfy full payment of the amount of funds advanced for the property.  Secured and unsecured consumer loans generally are made for automobiles, boats, and other motor vehicles.  In most cases, loans are restricted to Kentucky Bank’s general market area.

Other Products:  Kentucky Bank offers its customers a variety of other services, including checking, savings, money market accounts, certificates of deposits, safe deposit facilities, credit cards and other consumer-oriented financial services.  Kentucky Bank has Internet banking, including bill payment available to its customers at www.kybank.com.  Through its Wealth Management Department, Kentucky Bank provides brokerage services, annuities, life and long term care insurance, personal trust and agency services (including management agency services).

Competition and Market Served

Competition:  The banking business is highly competitive.  Competition arises from a number of sources, including other bank holding companies and commercial banks, consumer finance companies, thrift institutions, other financial institutions and financial intermediaries.  In addition to commercial banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks and credit unions actively compete to provide a wide variety of banking services.  Mortgage banking firms, finance companies, insurance companies, brokerage companies, financial affiliates of industrial companies and government agencies provide additional competition for loans and for many other financial services.  Kentucky Bank also currently competes for interest-bearing funds with a number of other financial intermediaries, including brokerage firms and mutual funds, which offer a diverse range of investment alternatives.  Some of the Company’s competitors are not subject to the same degree of regulatory review and restrictions that apply to the Company and its subsidiary bank.  In addition, the Company must compete with much larger financial institutions that have greater financial resources than the Company.

Market Served.  We primarily conduct our business in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  Our primary market areas consist of Bourbon, Clark, Elliott, Fayette, Harrison, Jessamine, Madison, Rowan, Scott, Woodford and surrounding counties in Kentucky.  Per capita personal income for Kentucky increased from $35,857 in 2012 to $36,214 in 2013, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the unemployment rate in Kentucky has shown some improvement.  The unemployment rate in Kentucky is 5.1% for December of 2014, compared to 7.4% for December of 2013.

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Supervision and Regulation

Governing Regulatory Institutions:  As a bank holding company, the Company is subject to the regulation and supervision of the Federal Reserve Board.  The Company’s subsidiary bank is subject to supervision and regulation by applicable state and federal banking agencies, including the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions.  Kentucky Bank is also subject to various requirements and restrictions under federal and state law, including requirements to maintain reserves against deposits, restrictions on the types and amounts of loans that may be granted and the interest that may be charged thereon, and limitations on the types of investments that may be made and the types of services that may be offered.  In addition to the impact of regulation, Kentucky Bank is affected significantly by the actions of the Federal Reserve Board as it attempts to control the money supply and credit availability in order to influence the economy. The Company also has a captive insurance subsidiary which is regulated by the State of Nevada Division of Insurance.

Laws Protecting Deposits:  There are a number of obligations and restrictions imposed on bank holding companies and their depository institution subsidiaries by federal law and regulatory policy.  These obligations and restrictions are designed to reduce potential loss exposure to the depositors of such depository institutions and to the FDIC insured funds in the event the depository institution becomes in danger of default or is in default.  For example, under a policy of the Federal Reserve Board with respect to bank holding company operations, a bank holding company is required to serve as a source of financial strength to its subsidiary depository institutions and commit resources to support such institutions in circumstances where it might not do so absent such policy.  In addition, the “cross-guarantee” provisions of federal law require insured depository institutions under common control to reimburse the FDIC for any loss suffered or reasonably anticipated as a result of the default of a commonly controlled insured depository institution or for any assistance provided by the FDIC to a commonly controlled insured depository institution in danger of default.

The federal banking agencies also have broad powers under current federal law to take prompt corrective action to resolve problems of insured depository institutions.  The extent of these powers depends upon whether the institutions in question are “well capitalized”, “adequately capitalized”, “undercapitalized”, “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized”, as such terms are defined under uniform regulation defining such capital levels issued by each of the federal banking agencies.

Deposit Insurance:  The Company is subject to several deposit insurance assessments, which are described below:

FDIC Assessments.  The Company’s subsidiary bank is a member of the FDIC, and its deposits are insured by the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund up to the amount permitted by law.  The Company’s subsidiary bank is thus subject to FDIC deposit insurance assessments.  The FDIC utilizes a risk-based assessment system that imposes insurance premiums based upon a risk matrix that takes into account a bank’s capital level and supervisory rating.

On February 7, 2011, the FDIC amended its regulations to implement revisions to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act made by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”) by modifying the definition of an institution’s deposit insurance assessment base and to change the assessment rate adjustments.  Under Dodd-Frank, the assessment base must, with some possible exceptions, equal average consolidated total assets minus average tangible equity.  Previously, the assessment base was based on deposits.  Dodd-Frank also requires the FDIC to adopt a DIF restoration plan to ensure that the reserve ratio increases to 1.35% from 1.15% of insured deposits by 2020.

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Financing Corporation (“FICO”) Assessments.  FICO assessment costs were $44 thousand in 2014, $41 thousand in 2013 and $40 thousand for 2012.  FICO is a mixed-ownership government corporation established by the Competitive Equality Banking Act of 1987 possessing assessment powers in addition to the FDIC.  The FDIC acts as a collection agent for FICO, whose sole purpose is to function as a financing vehicle for the now defunct Federal Savings & Loan Insurance Corporation.  Outstanding FICO bonds, which are 30-year noncallable bonds, mature in 2017 through 2019.

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act:  Dodd-Frank was signed into law by the President on July 21, 2010, and represents a significant change in the American financial regulatory environment affecting all Federal financial regulatory agencies and affecting almost every aspect of the nation’s financial services industry.  Dodd-Frank includes, among others, the following:

·                  the creation of a Financial Stability Oversight Counsel to identify emerging systemic risks and improve interagency cooperation;

·                  the establishment of the same or strengthened capital and liquidity requirements for bank holding companies that apply to insured depository institutions;

·                  restrictions in proprietary trading and investing in or sponsoring of any hedge fund or private equity fund;

·                  the establishment of minimum credit risk retention requirements relating to securitizations;

·                  the establishment of detailed asset-level and data-level disclosure requirements relating to loan brokers and originators;

·                  codification and expansion of the “source of strength” doctrine as a statutory requirement.  The source of strength doctrine represents the long held policy view by the Federal Reserve that a bank holding company should serve as a source of financial strength for its subsidiary banks;

·                  a permanent increase of FDIC deposit insurance to $250,000;

·                  authorization for financial institutions to pay interest on business checking accounts;

·                  changes in the calculation of FDIC deposit insurance assessments;

·                  expanded restrictions on transactions with affiliates and insiders under Section 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and lending limits for derivative transactions, repurchase agreements and securities lending and borrowing transactions;

·                  provisions for new disclosure and other requirements regarding corporate governance and executive compensation;

·                  the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is authorized to promulgate consumer protection regulations relating to bank and non-bank financial products and examine and enforce these regulations on institutions with more than $10 billion in assets.

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Volcker Rule:  On December 10, 2013, in implementing section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Act, the final Volcker Rule was approved by the OCC, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, the SEC, and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”).  The Volcker Rule attempts to reduce risk and banking system instability by restricting U.S. banks from investing in or engaging in proprietary trading and speculation and imposing a strict framework to justify exemptions for underwriting, market making and hedging activities.  U.S. banks will be restricted from investing in funds with collateral comprised of less than 100% loans that are not registered with the SEC and from engaging in hedging activities that do not hedge a specific identified risk.  The Company does not believe the Volcker Rule will have a significant effect on operations.

Many of the requirements of Dodd-Frank will be implemented over time and most will be subject to regulations to be implemented or which will not become fully effective for several years.

Consumer Regulations:  In addition to the laws and regulations discussed above, Kentucky Bank is also subject to certain consumer laws and regulations that are designed to protect consumers in transactions with banks.  While the list set forth herein is not exhaustive, these laws and regulations include the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Fair Housing Act and the Fair and Accurate Transactions Act, among others.  These laws and regulations mandate certain disclosure requirements and regulate the manner in which financial institutions must deal with clients when taking deposits or making loans. These laws also limit Kentucky Bank’s ability to share information with affiliated and unaffiliated entities.  The bank must comply with the applicable provisions of these consumer protection laws and regulations as part of its ongoing business operations.

Dividend Restrictions:  There are various legal and regulatory limits on the extent to which the Company’s subsidiary bank may pay dividends or otherwise supply funds to the Company.  In addition, federal and state regulatory agencies also have the authority to prevent a bank or bank holding company from paying a dividend or engaging in any other activity that, in the opinion of the agency, would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.  Dividends paid by the subsidiary bank have provided substantially all of the Company’s operating funds, and this may reasonably be expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

Employees

At December 31, 2014, the number of full time equivalent employees of the Company was 215.

Nature of Company’s Business

The business of the Company is not seasonal.  The Company’s business does not depend upon a single customer, or a few customers, the loss of any one or more of which would have material adverse effect on the Company.

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No material portion of the Company’s business is subject to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts or subcontracts at the election of any governmental entity.

Available Information

The Company files annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The public may read and copy any material the Company files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC  20549 and may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.  The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC on its website at www.sec.gov.  The Company’s website is located at www.kybank.com.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

There are factors, many beyond our control, which may significantly affect the Company’s financial position and results of operations.  Some of these factors are described below in the sections titled financial risk, business risk and operational risk.  These risks are not totally independent of each other; some factors affect more than one type of risk.  These include regulatory, economic, and competitive environments.  As part of the annual internal audit plan, our risk management department meets with management to assess these risks throughout the Company.  Many risks are further addressed in other sections of this Form 10-K document.  Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or focused on or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair the Company’s business operations.  This report is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.

Industry Risk

Industry risk includes risks that affect the entire banking service industry.

Significant decline in general economic conditions will negatively affect the financial results of our banking operations.  Our success depends on general economic conditions both locally, nationally, and to a lesser extent, internationally.  Economic conditions in the United States and abroad deteriorated significantly in the latter part of 2008.  While economic conditions have improved slightly in 2014, business activity remains low, particularly in real estate.  Many businesses are still in serious difficulty due to reduced consumer spending and continued liquidity challenges in the market.  The housing market is still depressed as reflected by a high level of foreclosures and continued unemployment.  These factors have affected the performance of mortgage loans and resulted in financial institutions, including government-sponsored entities, in making significant write-downs of asset values of mortgage-backed securities, credit default swaps and other derivative and cash securities.  Some financial institutions have failed.  Many financial institutions and institutional investors have tightened the availability of credit to borrowers and other financial institutions, which, in turn, results in more loan defaults and decreased business activity.  Consumer confidence regarding the economy is low and the financial markets reflect this lack of confidence.  Most of our customers are in the Central Kentucky area, and have been directly affected by this recession.  Local economic conditions have affected the demand of customers for loans, the ability of some borrowers to repay these loans and the value of the collateral securing these loans.  Loan growth is critical to our profitability.

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We do not expect significant improvement in the economy in the near future, and future declines in the economy will likely make the credit market crisis worse.

The exercise of regulatory power may have negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition.  We are subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination by federal and state banking authorities.  Any change in applicable regulations or federal or state legislation could have a substantial impact on our operations.  Additional legislation and regulations may be enacted or adopted in the future that could significantly affect our powers, authority and operations, which have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations.  For example, in response to the economic downturn and financial crisis, the U.S. government has enacted legislation by passing the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (“EESA”) followed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Recovery Act”), and Dodd-Frank in 2010.  These Acts have enabled, and will enable the U.S. Treasury, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve Board to develop programs, such as the Capital Purchase Program, the Financial Stability Plan and the foreclosure prevention program, to improve funding to consumers, increase interbank lending and reduce home foreclosures.  The U.S. government continues to closely evaluate the economy, the effect of its legislation and resulting programs and initiatives on the economy.  We expect that the U.S. government will continue to refine these programs and develop new programs.  Our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and access to capital and credit will likely be negatively affected if the economy worsens or the financial markets do not stabilize.

Enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), and the promulgation of regulations thereunder could significantly increase our compliance and operating costs or otherwise have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.  The Dodd-Frank Act represents a comprehensive overhaul of the financial services industry within the United States, establishes the new federal Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (the “BCFP”), and has required and continues to require the BCFP and other federal agencies to implement many new rules.  At this time, it is difficult to predict the extent to which the Dodd-Frank Act or the resulting regulations will impact the Company’s business.   However, compliance with these new laws and regulations will result in additional costs, which may adversely impact the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or liquidity, any of which may impact the market price of the Company’s common stock.  See previous discussion under “Regulation and Supervision” for more information on the Dodd-Frank Act.

Deposit insurance premiums levied against the Company may increase if the number of bank failures increase or the cost of resolving failed banks increases.

The FDIC maintains a DIF to protect insured depositors in the event of bank failures. The DIF is funded by fees assessed on insured depository institutions including Kentucky Bank.  Future deposit premiums paid by Kentucky Bank depend on the level of the DIF and the magnitude and cost of future bank failures. Kentucky Bank may be required to pay significantly higher FDIC premiums if market developments change such that the DIF balance is reduced.

The effect of changes to banking capital standards could negatively impact the Company’s regulatory capital and liquidity.  In December 2010 and revised in June 2011, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision issued final rules related to global regulatory standards on bank capital adequacy and liquidity.  The new rules present details of the Basel III framework, which includes increased capital requirements and limits the types of instruments that can be included in Tier 1 capital.

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In July of 2013, U.S. banking regulators approved the final enhanced regulatory capital rules (“Final Capital Rules”). The Final Capital Rules substantially revise the risk-based capital requirements applicable to bank holding companies and their depository institution subsidiaries as compared to the previous U.S. risk-based capital and leverage ratio rules, and thereby implement certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act.

The Final Capital Rules, among other things, (i) introduce a new capital measure “Common Equity Tier I” (“CET1”), (ii) specify that Tier I capital consists of CET1 and “Additional Tier I capital” instruments meeting specified requirements, (iii) define CET1 narrowly by requiring that most adjustments to regulatory capital measures be made to CET1 and not to the other components of capital and (iv) expand the scope of the adjustments as compared to existing regulations. CET1 capital consists of common stock instruments that meet the eligibility criteria in the final rules, including; common stock and related surplus, net of treasury stock and retained earnings, certain minority interests and accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), if elected.

When fully phased-in on January 1, 2019, the Final Capital Rules require banking organizations to maintain (i) a minimum ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, plus a 2.5% “capital conservation buffer” (which is added to the 4.5% CET1 ratio as that buffer is phased-in, effectively resulting in a minimum ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 7.0% upon full implementation), (ii) a minimum ratio of Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 6.0%, plus the capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 6.0% Tier I capital ratio as that buffer is phased-in, effectively resulting in a minimum Tier I capital ratio of 8.5% upon full implementation), (iii) a minimum ratio of total capital (that is, Tier I plus Tier 2 capital) to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.0%, plus the capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 8.0% total capital ratio as that buffer is phased-in, effectively resulting in a minimum total capital ratio of 10.5% upon full implementation) and (iv) a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0%, calculated as the ratio of Tier I capital to adjusted average consolidated assets.

Banking institutions with a ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets above the minimum but below the conservation buffer will face limitations on the payment of dividends, common stock repurchases and discretionary cash payments to executive officers based on the amount of the shortfall.

The Final Capital Rules provide for a number of deductions from and adjustments to CET1. These include, for example, the requirement that mortgage servicing rights, deferred tax assets dependent upon future taxable income and significant investments in non-consolidated financial entities be deducted from CET1 to the extent that any one such category exceeds 10% of CET1 or all such categories in the aggregate exceed 15% of CET1. Under current capital standards, the effects of AOCI items included in capital are excluded for the purposes of determining regulatory capital ratios. Under the Final Capital Rules, the Company has a one-time election (the “Opt-out Election”) to filter certain AOCI components, comparable to the treatment under the current general risk-based capital rule.

The Final Capital Rules were effective for the Company on January 1, 2015, subject to phase-in periods for certain of their components and other provisions.  As shown in Note 19, the Company and Kentucky Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements, and management does not anticipate any adverse impact from the implementation of the new capital ratio.

Increased competition from other providers may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.  We face vigorous competition from banks and other financial institutions.  This competition may reduce or limit our margins on banking services, reduce market share and adversely affect results of operations and financial condition.

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Many other banks and financial institutions have substantially greater resources and lending limits, larger branch systems and a wider array of banking services.  Additionally, we encounter competition from both de novo and smaller community banks entering the markets we are currently in.  We also compete with other providers of financial services, such as money market mutual funds, brokerage firms, consumer finance companies and insurance companies.

Financial Risk

Financial risk components include, but are not limited to, credit risk, interest rate risk, goodwill impairment, market risk and liquidity risk.  We have adopted various policies to minimize potential adverse effects of interest rate, market and liquidity risks.  However, even with these policies in place, a change in interest rates could negatively impact our results of operations or financial position.

Defaults in the repayment of loans may negatively impact our business.  Credit risk is most closely associated with lending activities at financial institutions.  Credit risk is the risk to earnings and capital when a customer fails to meet the terms of any contract or otherwise fails to perform as agreed.  Credit risk arises from all activities where the Company is dependent on issuer, borrower, or counterparty performance, not just traditional lending activities.  For example, the investment security portfolio has inherent credit risk as do counterparties in derivative contracts.  Credit risk encompasses a broad range of financial institution activities and includes items reflected both on and off the balance sheet.

Management makes various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of our loan portfolio, including the creditworthiness of its borrowers and the value of real estate and other assets serving as collateral for repayment of many of the loans.  In determining the size of the allowance for loan losses, management considers, among other factors, the Company’s loan loss experience and an evaluation of economic conditions.  If these assumptions prove to be incorrect, the current allowance may not be sufficient to cover future loan losses and adjustments may be necessary to allow for different economic conditions or adverse developments in the loan portfolio.  Material additions to the Company’s allowance would materially decrease our net income.

Fluctuations in interest rates may negatively impact our banking business.  Interest rate risk focuses on the impact to earnings and capital arising from movements in interest rates.  Interest rate risk focuses on the value implications for accrual portfolios (e.g., available-for-sale portfolios) and includes the potential impact to the Company’s accrual earnings as well as the economic perspective of the market value of portfolio equity.  The interest rate risk is comprised of repricing risk, basis risk, yield curve risk and options risk.  Repricing risk represents the risk associated with the differences in timing of cash flows and rate changes with our products.  Basis risk represents the risk associated with changing rate relationships among varying yield curves.  Yield curve risk is associated with changing rate relationships over the maturity structure.  Options risk is associated with interest-related options, which are embedded in our products.

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Changes in market multiples may negatively affect the value of Goodwill.  Goodwill resulting from business combinations prior to January 1, 2009 represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets of businesses acquired.  Goodwill resulting from business combinations after January 1, 2009, is generally determined as the excess of the fair value of the consideration transferred, plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interests in the acquiree, over the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date.  Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but tested for impairment at least annually.  The Company has selected December 31 as the date to perform the annual impairment test.  Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values.  Goodwill is the only intangible asset with an indefinite life on our balance sheet.  At a minimum, management is required to assess goodwill and other intangible assets annually for impairment.  This assessment involves estimating cash flows for future periods, preparing analyses of market multiples for similar operations, and estimating the fair value of the reporting unit to which the goodwill is allocated.  If these variables change negatively, the Company would be required to take a charge against earnings to write down the asset to the lower fair value.

Changes in market factors may negatively affect the value of our investment assets.  Market risk focuses on the impact to earnings and capital arising from changes in market factors (e.g., interest rates, market liquidity, volatilities, etc.) that affect the value of traded instruments.  Market risk includes items reflected both on and off the balance sheet.  Market risk focuses primarily on mark-to-market portfolios (e.g., accounts revalued for financial statement presentation).

Our inability to maintain appropriate levels of liquidity may have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition.  Liquidity risk focuses on the impact to earnings and capital resulting from our inability to meet our obligations as they become due in the normal course of business without incurring significant losses.  It also includes the management of unplanned decreases or changes in funding sources as well as managing changes in market conditions, which could affect the ability to liquidate assets in the normal course of business without incurring significant losses.  Liquidity risk includes items both on and off the balance sheet.

Our results of operations and financial condition may be negatively affected if we are unable to meet a debt covenant and, correspondingly, unable to obtain a waiver regarding the debt covenant from the lender.  From time to time we may obtain financing from other lenders.  The loan documents reflecting the financing often require us to meet various debt covenants.  If we are unable to meet one or more of our debt covenants, then we will typically attempt to obtain a waiver from the lender.  If the lender does not agree to a waiver, then we will be in default under our borrowing obligation.  This default could affect our ability to fund various strategies that we may have implemented resulting in a negative impact in our results of operations and financial condition.

Business Risk

Business risk is composed mainly of legal (compliance) risk, strategic risk and reputation risk.

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Our results of operations and financial condition are susceptible to legal or compliance risks.  Legal or compliance risk is the risk to earnings or capital arising from the impact of unenforceable contracts, lawsuits, adverse judgments, violations or nonconformance with laws, rules, regulations, prescribed practices, or ethical standards.  The risk also arises in situations where laws or rules governing certain products or activities of our customers may be ambiguous or untested.  This risk is not limited to the traditional thinking that legal/compliance risk is only associated with consumer protection laws.  It includes the exposure to litigation from all aspects of both traditional and nontraditional financial institution activities.

Incorrect strategic decisions may have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

Adverse publicity may have a negative impact on our business.  Reputation risk is the risk to earnings and capital arising from negative public opinion.  This affects the ability to establish new relationships or services or to continue servicing existing relationships.  Examiners will assess reputation risk by recognizing the potential effect the public’s opinion could have on our franchise value.

Operational Risk

An inability to process transactions may have a negative impact on our business.  Operational risk is present on a daily basis through our processing of transactions and is pervasive in all products and services provided to our customers.  It can be defined as the impact to earnings and capital from problems encountered in processing transactions.  Operational risk is a function of internal controls, operating processes, management information systems, and employee integrity.

Technology Risk

Systems failure, interruption or breach of security may have a negative impact on our business.  Communications and information systems are essential to the conduct of Kentucky Bank’s business, as such systems are used to manage customer relationships, deposits, loans, general ledger accounts, financial reporting and regulatory compliance.  While Kentucky Bank has established policies and procedures to prevent or limit the impact of systems failures, interruptions, and security breaches, there can be no assurance that such events will not occur or that they will be adequately addressed if they do.  In addition, any compromise of Kentucky Bank’s information security systems could deter customers from using Kentucky Bank’s web site and its internet banking service, both of which involve the transmission of confidential information.  Although Kentucky Bank relies on commonly used security and processing systems to provide the security and authentication necessary to ensure the secure transmission and processing of data, these precautions may not protect our systems from all compromises or breaches of security.

The business continuity of third-party providers may have a negative impact on our technology operations.  Kentucky Bank outsources certain of its data processing to third-party providers.  If third-party providers encounter difficulties, or if the Bank has difficulty communicating with them, Kentucky Bank’s ability to adequately process and account for customer transactions could be affected, and its business operations could be adversely impacted.  Threats to information security also exist in the processing of customer information through various other vendors and their personnel.

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We and our subsidiary bank have addressed technology risks through the use of logon and user access controls, transaction limits, firewalls, antivirus software, intrusion protection monitoring and third party vulnerability scans.  Systems failure or interruption has been addressed by adopting a disaster recovery and contingency plan.  In addition, for all third-party providers of data processing services, we obtain and review audit reports prepared by independent registered public accounting firms regarding their financial condition and the effectiveness of their internal controls.

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 2.  Properties

The Company’s corporate headquarters is located at 339 Main Street, Paris, KY 40361, which it owns.  The main banking office of Kentucky Bank is located at 401 Main Street, Paris, Kentucky 40361.  In addition, Kentucky Bank serves customer needs at 13 other locations.  All locations offer a full range of banking services.  Kentucky Bank owns all of the properties at which it conducts its business with the exception of the Lexington and Richmond locations.  The Company owns approximately 100,000 square feet of office space and leases approximately 9,600 square feet of office space.

Note 6 to the Company’s audited and consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 (“2014 Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes”) contains additional information relating to amounts invested in premises and equipment.

Kentucky Bank Banking Offices

401 Main Street, Paris, KY 40361

2021 South Main Street, Paris, KY 40361

24 West Lexington Avenue, Winchester, KY 40391

1975 By Pass Road, Winchester, KY 40391

144 South KY 7, Sandy Hook, KY 41171

360 East Vine Street, Suite 100, Lexington, KY 40507

939 US Hwy 27 South, Cynthiana, KY 41031

920 North Main Street, Nicholasville, KY 40356

108 East Main Street, Wilmore, KY 40390

400 West First Street, Morehead, KY 40351

1500 Flemingsburg Road, Morehead, KY 40351

260 Blossom Park Drive, Georgetown, KY 40324

103 West Showalter Drive, Georgetown, KY 40324

520 Marsailles Road, Versailles, KY 40383

5008 Atwood Drive, Suite 3, Richmond, KY 40475

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

The Company and its subsidiary are from time to time involved in routine legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business that, in the aggregate, management believes will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operation.  Further, we maintain liability insurance to cover some, but not all, of the potential liabilities normally incident to the ordinary course of our businesses as well as other insurance coverage’s customary in our business, with coverage limits as we deem prudent.

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Kentucky Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) terminated the Kentucky Bancshares, Inc. Retirement Plan and Trust (the “Plan”) in a standard termination, with a termination date of December 31, 2008.  Prior to such termination, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (“PPA”) had amended Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 417(e)(3) in part by changing the definition of “applicable interest rate” in a manner that in most cases (when combined with other changes to IRC Section 417(e)(3)) would result in a decrease in the value of a participant’s or beneficiary’s plan benefits under pension plans such as the Company’s Plan with the new definition applicable (for most plans, including the Plan) to lump sums with annuity starting dates in or after the 2008 plan year.  The Plan had determined in mid-2008 to comply with IRC Section 417(e)(3), as amended by PPA, by using the assumptions governing minimum lump sums, rather than by using the pre-PPA minimum lump sum assumptions, and operated the Plan in compliance with that decision.  As permitted by the IRC, the Plan was amended on February 24, 2009 (after the termination of the Plan on December 31, 2008) to formalize that decision in accordance with Section 1107 of PPA.

The Internal Revenue Service issued a favorable determination as to the Plan termination in July 2010.  Subsequent to Plan termination and distributions to Plan participants, the Plan was selected for audit by the PBGC.  The PBGC asserted that the February, 2009 amendment to the Plan violated PBGC Regulation Section 4041.8(a) because the amendment served to lower benefits to Plan beneficiaries.  The PBGC filed a Complaint in May 2013 in United States District Court (Eastern District of Kentucky) to require the Company to make additional distributions to Plan beneficiaries.  On March 17, 2014, the United States District Court (Eastern District of Kentucky) issued an Opinion and Order entering judgment in favor of the PBGC and ruling that the Company must comply with the PBGC’s determination respecting the Plan.  The Company appealed, but the District Court’s ruling was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on January 15, 2015.

The Company accrued approximately $1.6 million as of December 31, 2013 for this matter. Moreover, the Company believes it has claims for contribution towards payment of this liability from professionals who assisted the Company in the termination of the Plan.

PART II

Item 5.  Market for Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

Market Information

There is no established public trading market for the Company’s Common Stock.  The Company’s Common Stock is not listed on any national securities exchange.  However, it is traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “KTYB”.  Trading in the Common Stock has been infrequent, with retail brokerage firms making the market.  The following table sets forth the high and low closing sales prices of the Common Stock from the OTC Bulletin Board and the dividends declared thereon, for the periods indicated as follows:

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Note 16 to the Company’s 2014 Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes included Item 8 contains additional information relating to amounts available to be paid as dividends.

Holders

As of December 31, 2014 the Company had 2,720,098 shares of Common Stock outstanding and approximately 520 holders of record of its Common Stock.

Dividends

During 2014 and 2013, the Corporation declared quarterly cash dividends aggregating $1.00 and $0.96 per share, respectively.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliates Purchasers

The table below lists issuer purchases of equity securities.

On October 25, 2000, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program.  The Company was authorized to purchase up to 100,000 shares of its outstanding common stock.  On November 11, 2002, the Board of Directors approved and authorized the Company’s repurchase of an additional 100,000 shares.  On May 20, 2008, the Board of Directors approved and authorized the purchase of an additional 100,000 shares.  On May 17, 2011, the Board of Directors approved and authorized the Company’s repurchase of an additional 100,000 shares.  Shares will be purchased from time to time in the open market depending on market prices and other considerations.

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Through December 31, 2014, 316,771 shares have been purchased, with the most recent share repurchase under the Board-approved stock repurchase program having occurred on December 12, 2014.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table sets forth certain information regarding Company compensations plans under which equity securities of the company are authorized for issuance.

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Performance Graph

The information included under the caption “Performance Graph” in this Item 5 of this Form 10-K is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filings we make under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent we specifically incorporate it by reference into such a filing.

The following graph compares the change in the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock with the cumulative total return of listed NASDAQ banks and the Russell Microcap Index from 2009 through 2014.  This comparison assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2009 in (a) our common stock,(b) NASDAQ Bank and (c) the Russell Microcap Index.

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Item 6.  Selected Financial Data (in thousands except per share data)

The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes presented in Item 8.

(1)         Tax equivalent

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Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

This section presents an analysis of the consolidated financial condition of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kentucky Bank, at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, and the consolidated results of operations for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2014.  The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the 2014 Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes included in Item 8.  When necessary, reclassifications have been made to prior years’ data throughout the following discussion and analysis for purposes of comparability with 2014 data.

Critical Accounting Policies

Overview.  The accounting and reporting policies of the Company and its subsidiary are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and conform to general practices within the banking industry.  Significant accounting policies are listed in Note 1 of the Company’s 2014 Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes included in Item 8.  Critical accounting and reporting policies include accounting for loans and the allowance for loan losses, goodwill and fair value.  Different assumptions in the application of these policies could result in material changes in the consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations.

Loan Values and Allowance for Loan Losses.  Loans are stated at the amount of unpaid principal, reduced by an allowance for loan losses.  Interest on loans is recognized on the accrual basis, except for those loans on the nonaccrual status.  Interest income received on such loans is accounted for on the cash basis or cost recovery method.  The allowance for loan losses is a valuation allowance for probable incurred credit losses.  Management estimates the allowance balance required using past loan loss experience, the nature and volume of the portfolio, information about specific borrower situations and estimated collateral values, economic conditions, and other factors.  The accounting policies relating to the allowance for loan losses involve the use of estimates and require significant judgments to be made by management.  The loan portfolio also represents the largest asset group on the consolidated balance sheets.  Additional information related to the allowance for loan losses that describes the methodology and risk factors can be found under the captions “Asset Quality” and “Loan Losses” in this management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operation, as well as Notes 1 and 4 of the Company’s 2014 Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes.

Goodwill.    Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but tested for impairment at least annually.  The Company has selected December 31 as the date to perform the annual impairment test.  Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values. Goodwill is the only intangible asset with an indefinite life on our balance sheet.

Fair Values.  Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in the description of each asset and liability category in Note 17 of the Company’s 2014 Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes.  Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items.  Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect the estimates.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This discussion contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties.  Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included herein will prove to be accurate.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:  economic conditions (both generally and more specifically in the markets, including the tobacco market, the thoroughbred horse industry and the automobile industry relating to Toyota vehicles, in which the Company and its bank operate); competition for the Company’s customers from other providers of financial and mortgage services; government legislation, regulation and monetary policy (which changes from time to time and over which the Company has no control); changes in interest rates (both generally and more specifically mortgage interest rates); material unforeseen changes in the liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of the Company’s customers; and other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company.  The Company undertakes no obligation to republish revised forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Overview

We conduct our business through our one bank subsidiary, Kentucky Bank, and our one non-bank subsidiary KBI Insurance Company.  Kentucky Bank is engaged in general full-service commercial and consumer banking.  A significant part of Kentucky Bank’s operating activities include originating loans, approximately 85% of which are secured by real estate at December 31, 2014.  Kentucky Bank makes commercial, agricultural and real estate loans to its commercial customers, with emphasis on small-to-medium-sized industrial, service and agricultural businesses.  It also makes residential mortgages, installment and other loans to its individual and other non-commercial customers.  Kentucky Bank’s primary market is Bourbon, Clark, Elliott, Fayette, Harrison, Jessamine, Madison, Rowan, Scott, Woodford and surrounding counties in Kentucky.  KBI Insurance Company is a captive insurance subsidiary and was incorporated in 2014.

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $7.1 million, or $2.60 per common share compared to $5.8 million, or $2.15 for 2013 and $7.0 million, or $2.59 for 2012.  Earnings per share assuming dilution were $2.60, $2.15 and $2.59 for 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  For 2014, net income increased $1.2 million, or 21.5%.  Net interest income increased $1.3 million, the loan loss provision decreased $100 thousand, total other income decreased $64 thousand, while total other expenses increased $12 thousand and income tax expense increased $39 thousand.

For 2013, net income decreased $1.2 million, or 16.9%.  Net interest income increased $195 thousand, the loan loss provision decreased $1.0 million, total other income decreased $1.6 million, while total other expenses increased $1.5 million and income tax expense decreased $785 thousand.

Return on average equity was 9.5% in 2014 compared to 8.1% in 2013 and 9.7% in 2012.  Return on average assets was 0.89% in 2014 compared to 0.80% in 2013 and 1.03% in 2012.

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Non-performing loans as a percentage of loans (including held for sale) were 2.36%, 2.22% and 3.51% as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Net Interest Income

Net interest income, the Company’s largest source of revenue, on a tax equivalent basis increased from $26.2 million in 2012 to $26.3 million in 2013, and to $27.6 million in 2014.  The taxable equivalent adjustment (nontaxable interest income on state and municipal obligations net of the related non-deductible portion of interest expense) is based on our Federal income tax rate of 34%.

Average earning assets and interest bearing liabilities both increased from 2013 to 2014.  Average earning assets increased $65.3 million, or 9.6%.  Average investment securities increased $14.9 million primarily due to increased deposits.  Average loans increased $50.4 million as a result of improved economic conditions, increased demand over 2013 and entering two new markets.  Average interest bearing liabilities increased $50.5 million, or 10.1% during this same period.  This change was mostly attributed to an increase of $38.5 million, or 108.7%, in Federal Home Loan Bank advances.  Average interest bearing deposits increased $10.1 million, or 2.3%.  The Company continues to actively pursue quality loans and fund these primarily with deposits and Federal Home Loan Bank advances.

The bank prime rates have declined since 2006.  Bank prime rates decreased 100 basis points in 2007, decreased another 400 basis points in 2008, and have remained unchanged since then.  The tax equivalent yield on earning assets decreased from 4.36% in 2013 to 4.19% in 2014.

The volume rate analysis for 2014 that follows indicates that $3.0 million of the increase in interest income is attributable to an increase in volume, while the change in rates contributed to a decrease of $1.4 million in interest income.  Further, decreases in rates caused a decrease in the cost of interest bearing liabilities.  The average rate of these liabilities decreased from 0.69% in 2013 to 0.68% in 2014.  Based on the volume rate analysis that follows, the lower level of interest rates contributed to a decrease of $468 thousand in interest expense and a change in volume contributed to a $768 thousand increase in interest expense.  In summary, the increase in the Company’s 2014 net interest income is attributed mostly to an increase in volume in the loan and security portfolios and decreases in rates in time deposits and Federal Home Loan Bank advances.

The volume rate analysis for 2013 that follows indicates that $2.3 million of the decrease in interest income is attributable to the decrease in rates, while the change in rates volume contributed to an increase of $2.2 million in interest income.  Further, decreases in rates caused a decrease in the cost of interest bearing liabilities.  The average rate of these liabilities decreased from 0.81% in 2012 to 0.69 in 2013.  Based on the volume rate analysis that follows, the lower level of interest rates contributed to a decrease of $577 thousand in interest expense and a change in volume contributed to a $317 thousand increase in interest expense.  As a result, the increase in the Company’s 2013 net interest income is attributed mostly to an increase in volume in the loan and security portfolios and decreases in rates in time deposits and Federal Home Loan Bank advances.

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The accompanying analysis of changes in net interest income in the following table shows the relationships of the volume and rate portions of these changes in 2014 vs. 2013 and 2013 vs. 2012.  Changes in interest income and expenses due to both rate and volume are allocated on a pro rata basis.

Changes in Interest Income and Expense

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Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis ($ in thousands)