13.FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The Company follows ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,  to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures.  This codification clarifies that fair value of certain assets and liabilities is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants.

 

ASC 820 specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable.  Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s market assumptions.  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under ASC 820 based on these two types of inputs are as follows:

 

 

The following describes the valuation techniques used by the Company to measure certain financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis in the financial statements.

 

Derivative instruments

As discussed in Note 10, “Derivatives,” the Company records derivative instruments at fair value on a recurring basis.  The Company utilizes derivative instruments as part of the management of interest rate risk to modify the re-pricing characteristics of certain portions of the Company’s interest-bearing assets and liabilities.  The Company has contracted with a third party vendor to provide valuations for derivatives using standard valuation techniques and therefore classifies such valuations as Level 2.  Third party valuations are validated by the Company using Bloomberg Valuation Service’s derivative pricing functions.  The Company has considered counterparty credit risk in the valuation of its derivative assets and has considered its own credit risk in the valuation of its derivative liabilities.

 

During the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into interest rate lock commitments related to the origination of mortgage loans held for sale that are recorded at estimated fair value based on the value of the underlying loan, which in turn is based on quoted prices for similar loans in the secondary market.  However, this value is adjusted by a pull-through rate which considers the likelihood that the loan in a lock position will ultimately close.  The pull-through rate is derived from the Company’s internal data and is adjusted using significant management judgment.  The pull-through rate is largely dependent on the loan processing stage that a loan is currently in and the change in prevailing interest rates from the time of the rate lock.  As such, interest rate lock commitments are classified as Level 3.  The Company used a weighted average pull-through rate of approximately 90%.  As of December 31, 2014, these derivatives are recorded as a component of “Other Assets” on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Securities available for sale

Securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.  Fair value measurement is based upon quoted market prices, when available (Level 1).  If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are measured utilizing independent valuation techniques of identical or similar securities for which significant assumptions are derived primarily from or corroborated by observable market data (Level 2).  If the inputs used to provide the evaluation for certain securities are unobservable and/or there is little, if any, market activity then the security would fall to the lowest level of the hierarchy (Level 3).

The Company’s investment portfolio is primarily valued using fair value measurements that are considered to be Level 2.  The Company has contracted with a third party portfolio accounting service vendor for valuation of its securities portfolio.  The vendor’s primary source for security valuation is Interactive Data Corporation (“IDC”), which evaluates securities based on market data.  IDC utilizes evaluated pricing models that vary by asset class and include available trade, bid, and other market information.  Generally, the methodology includes broker quotes, proprietary models, vast descriptive terms and conditions databases, as well as extensive quality control programs.

The vendor utilizes proprietary valuation matrices for valuing all municipals securities.  The initial curves for determining the price, movement, and yield relationships within the municipal matrices are derived from industry benchmark curves or sourced from a municipal trading desk.  The securities are further broken down according to issuer, credit support, state of issuance, and rating to incorporate additional spreads to the industry benchmark curves.

The Company uses Bloomberg Valuation Service, an independent information source that draws on quantitative models and market data contributed from over 4,000 market participants, to validate third party valuations.  Any material differences between valuation sources are researched by further analyzing the various inputs that are utilized by each pricing source.  No material differences were identified during the validation as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.  

 

The carrying value of restricted Federal Reserve Bank and FHLB stock approximates fair value based on the redemption provisions of each entity and is therefore excluded from the following table.

 

The following table presents the balances of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Certain assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with GAAP.  Adjustments to the fair value of these assets usually result from the application of lower-of-cost-or-market accounting or write-downs of individual assets.

 

The following describes the valuation techniques used by the Company to measure certain assets recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in the financial statements.

Loans held for sale

Loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or market value.  These loans currently consist of residential loans originated for sale in the secondary market.  Fair value is based on the price secondary markets are currently offering for similar loans using observable market data which is not materially different than cost due to the short duration between origination and sale (Level 2).  As such, the Company records any fair value adjustments on a nonrecurring basis.  Nonrecurring fair value adjustments of $286,000 and $363,000 were recorded on loans held for sale during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  Gains and losses on the sale of loans are recorded within the mortgage segment and are reported on a separate line item in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

Impaired loans

Loans are designated as impaired when, in the judgment of management based on current information and events, it is probable that all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreements will not be collected.  The measurement of loss associated with impaired loans can be based on either the observable market price of the loan or the fair value of the collateral.  Collateral dependent loans are reported at the fair value of the underlying collateral if repayment is solely from the underlying value of the collateral.  Collateral may be in the form of real estate or business assets including equipment, inventory, and accounts receivable. The vast majority of the Company’s collateral is real estate.  The value of real estate collateral is determined utilizing an income or market valuation approach based on an appraisal conducted by an independent, licensed appraiser using observable market data.  When evaluating the fair value, management may discount the appraisal further if, based on their understanding of the market conditions, it is determined the collateral is further impaired below the appraised value (Level 3).  The value of business equipment is based upon an outside appraisal, of one year or less, if deemed significant, or the net book value on the applicable business’s financial statements if not considered significant using observable market data.  Likewise, values for inventory and accounts receivables collateral are based on financial statement balances or aging reports (Level 3).  Collateral dependent impaired loans allocated to the allowance for loan losses are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.  Any fair value adjustments are recorded in the period incurred as provision for loan losses on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income.

Other real estate owned

OREO is evaluated for impairment at least quarterly by the Bank’s Special Asset Loan Committee and any necessary write downs to fair values are recorded as impairment and included as a component of noninterest expense.  Fair values of OREO are carried at fair value less selling costs. Fair value is based upon independent market prices, appraised values of the collateral, or management’s estimation of the value of the collateral.  When an appraised value is not available or management determines the fair value of the collateral is further impaired below the appraised value and there is no observable market price, the Company records the foreclosed asset as Level 3 valuation. 

 

Total valuation expenses related to OREO properties for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 totaled $7.6 million and $791,000, respectively. During the third quarter of 2014, the Company reevaluated its OREO sales strategies in light of limited progress in selling properties in inactive rural markets that have continued to struggle coming out of the economic downturn and for which transaction volume for comparable sales has been slow or nonexistent.  With the shift in strategy to more aggressively market this OREO, the Company obtained appraisals that reflect the newly determined highest and best use of the underlying assets.

 

The following tables summarize the Company’s financial assets that were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at December 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following table displays quantitative information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements for December 31, 2014 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

The following table displays quantitative information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements for December 31, 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

ASC 825, Financial Instruments, requires disclosure about fair value of financial instruments for interim periods and excludes certain financial instruments and all non-financial instruments from its disclosure requirements.  Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented may not necessarily represent the underlying fair value of the Company.

Cash and cash equivalents

For those short-term instruments, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Loans

The fair value of performing loans is estimated by discounting expected future cash flows using a yield curve that is constructed by adding a loan spread to a market yield curve.  Loan spreads are based on spreads currently observed in the market for loans of similar type and structure.  Fair value for impaired loans and their respective level within the fair value hierarchy, are described in the previous disclosure related to fair value measurements of assets that are measured on a nonrecurring basis.

Bank owned life insurance

The carrying value of bank owned life insurance approximates fair value.  The Company records these policies at their cash surrender value, which is estimated using information provided by insurance carriers.

Deposits

The fair value of demand deposits, savings accounts, and certain money market deposits is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date.  The fair value of certificates of deposit is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.

Borrowings

The carrying value of the Company’s repurchase agreements is a reasonable estimate of fair value.  Other borrowings are discounted using the current yield curve for the same type of borrowing.  For borrowings with embedded optionality, a third party source is used to value the instrument. The Company validates all third party valuations for borrowings with optionality using Bloomberg’s derivative pricing functions.

Accrued interest

The carrying amounts of accrued interest approximate fair value.

Commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit

The fair value of commitments is estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present creditworthiness of the counterparties. For fixed-rate loan commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates.  The fair value of letters of credit is based on fees currently charged for similar agreements or on the estimated cost to terminate them or otherwise settle the obligations with the counterparties at the reporting date.  At December 31, 2014  and 2013, the fair value of loan commitments and standby letters of credit was immaterial.

 

The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

The Company assumes interest rate risk (the risk that general interest rate levels will change) as a result of its normal operations.  As a result, the fair values of the Company’s financial instruments will change when interest rate levels change and that change may be either favorable or unfavorable to the Company.  Management attempts to match maturities of assets and liabilities to the extent believed necessary to minimize interest rate risk.  However, borrowers with fixed rate obligations are less likely to prepay in a rising rate environment and more likely to prepay in a falling rate environment.  Conversely, depositors who are receiving fixed rates are more likely to withdraw funds before maturity in a rising rate environment and less likely to do so in a falling rate environment.  Management monitors rates and maturities of assets and liabilities and attempts to minimize interest rate risk by adjusting terms of new loans and deposits and by investing in securities with terms that mitigate the Company’s overall interest rate risk.