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11. 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. ASC 820 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:

Level 1  Valuation is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

Level 2  Valuation is based on observable inputs including quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in less active markets, and model-based valuation techniques for which significant assumptions can be derived primarily from or corroborated by observable data in the markets.

Level 3  Valuation is based on model-based techniques that use one or more significant inputs or assumptions that are unobservable in the market. These unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s assumptions about what market participants would use and information that is reasonably available under the circumstances without undue cost and effort.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

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 9 “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. No material differences were identified during the validation as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. 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. Mortgage banking derivatives as of September 30, 2019 did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

During the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into interest rate lock commitments related to the origination of mortgage loans held for sale, as well as best efforts or mandatory delivery programs and forward sales contracts of MBS. These instruments are used to mitigate interest rate risk. The Company determines the fair value of these instruments by measuring the fair value of the underlying asset, which in turn is based on quoted prices for similar loans in the secondary market. This value, however, is adjusted by a pull-through rate applied at the loan level, 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, as well as input from third party sources, and is adjusted using significant management judgment. It 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. An increase in the pull-through rate utilized in the fair value measurement of the interest rate lock commitment derivative will result in positive fair value adjustments, while a decrease in the pull-through rate will result in a negative fair value adjustment. As of September 30, 2019, the weighted average pull-through rate was approximately 90%. As a result of the UMG wind-down, at December 31, 2018, the Company had no interest rate locks.

AFS Securities

AFS securities 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 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 primarily 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 September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

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 table below.

Loans Held for Sale

Loans held for sale are carried at fair 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). Gains and losses on the sale of loans are recorded in current period earnings as a component of "Mortgage banking income, net" on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income.

The following table presents the balances of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):

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Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

Certain assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with U.S. 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.

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). At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Level 3 weighted average adjustments related to impaired loans were 0.0% and 5.3%, respectively. 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 ALL 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.

Foreclosed Properties & Former Bank Premises

Foreclosed properties and former bank premises are 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. Foreclosed properties and former bank premises 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. The Level 3 weighted average adjustments related to foreclosed property were approximately 3.7% for both September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, there were no Level 3 weighted average adjustments related to former bank premises.

Total valuation expenses related to foreclosed properties for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 totaled $62,000, $546,000, $42,000 and $1.2 million, respectively. Total valuation expenses related to former bank premises for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 totaled $247,000 and $615,000. There were no valuation expenses related to former bank premises for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

The following tables summarize the Company’s financial assets that were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments

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.

HTM Securities

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 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 primarily 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 September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. The Company’s level 3 securities are a result of the Access acquisition and are comprised of asset-backed securities and municipal bonds. Valuations of the asset-backed securities are provided by a third party vendor specializing in the SBA markets, and are based on underlying loan pool information, market data, and recent trading activity for similar securities. Valuations of the municipal bonds are provided by a third party vendor that specializes in hard-to-value securities, and are based on a discounted cash flow model and considerations for the complexity of the instrument, likelihood it will be called and credit ratings. The Company reviews the valuation of both security types for reasonableness in the context of market conditions and to similar bonds in the Company’s portfolio. 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 September 30, 2019.

Loans

With the adoption of ASU No. 2016-01 in 2018, the fair value of loans at September 30, 2019 were estimated using an exit price, representing the amount that would be expected to be received if the Company sold the loans. Beginning in the first quarter of 2019, the fair value of performing loans were estimated by utilizing two data sources for the selection of discount rates: either the recent origination rates from the Company over a 12-month period or an index to use recent originations from the market over a three-month period. At December 31, 2018, the fair value of performing loans were estimated by discounting expected future cash flows using a yield curve that was constructed by adding a loan spread to a market yield curve. Loan spreads were based on spreads 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.

BOLI

The carrying value of BOLI 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 deposits were valued using a discounted cash flow calculation that includes a market rate analysis of the current rates offered by market participants for certificates of deposits that mature in the same period.

Accrued Interest

The carrying amounts of accrued interest approximate fair value.

The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are as follows (dollars in thousands):

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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. Borrowers with fixed rate obligations, however, 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.

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