v3.25.1
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS  
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

14.  FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined under GAAP as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. GAAP requires that valuation techniques maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. GAAP also establishes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the valuation inputs into three broad levels. Based on the underlying inputs, each fair value measurement in its entirety is reported in one of three levels. These levels are:

Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1): Inputs that are quoted unadjusted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. An active market is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

Other observable inputs (Level 2): Inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets and inputs derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3): Inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

Financial instruments are presented in the tables that follow by recurring or nonrecurring measurement status. Recurring assets are initially measured at fair value and are required to be remeasured at fair value in the consolidated financial statements at each reporting date. Assets measured on a nonrecurring basis are assets that, as a result of an event or circumstance, were required to be remeasured at fair value after initial recognition in the consolidated financial statements at some time during the reporting period.

The following tables present assets that are measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis at the dates indicated (in thousands):

Total Estimated 

Estimated Fair Value Measurements Using

March 31, 2025

    

 Fair Value

    

Level 1

    

Level 2

    

Level 3

Investment securities available for sale:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Municipal securities

$

31,019

$

$

31,019

$

Agency securities

 

30,203

 

 

30,203

 

Real estate mortgage investment conduits

 

23,490

 

 

23,490

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 

10,226

 

 

10,226

 

Other mortgage-backed securities

 

24,498

 

 

24,498

 

Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis

$

119,436

$

$

119,436

$

    

Total Estimated 

    

Estimated Fair Value Measurements Using

March 31, 2024

    

 Fair Value

    

Level 1

    

Level 2

    

Level 3

Investment securities available for sale:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Municipal securities

$

35,136

$

$

35,136

$

Agency securities

 

43,577

 

 

43,577

 

Real estate mortgage investment conduits

 

25,665

 

 

25,665

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

 

12,551

 

 

12,551

 

Other mortgage-backed securities

 

26,267

 

 

26,267

 

Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis

$

143,196

$

$

143,196

$

There were no transfers of assets into or out of Levels 1, 2 or 3 during the years ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

The following methods were used to estimate the fair value of investment securities in the above table:

Investment securities are included within Level 1 of the hierarchy when quoted prices in an active market for identical assets are available. The Company uses a third-party pricing service to assist the Company in determining the fair value of its Level 2 securities, which incorporates pricing models and/or quoted prices of investment securities with similar characteristics. Investment securities are included within Level 3 of the hierarchy when there are significant unobservable inputs.

For Level 2 securities, the independent pricing service provides pricing information by utilizing evaluated pricing models supported with market data information. Standard inputs include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data from market research publications.

The Company’s third-party pricing service has established processes for the Company to submit inquiries regarding the estimated fair value. In such cases, the Company’s third-party pricing service will review the inputs to the evaluation in light of any new market data presented by the Company. The Company’s third-party pricing service may then affirm the original estimated fair value or may update the evaluation on a go-forward basis.

Management reviews the pricing information received from the third-party pricing service through a combination of procedures that include an evaluation of methodologies used by the pricing service, analytical reviews and performance analysis of the prices against statistics and trends. Based on this review, management determines whether the current placement of the security in the fair value hierarchy is appropriate or whether transfers may be warranted. As necessary, management compares prices received from the pricing service to discounted cash flow models or by performing independent valuations of inputs and assumptions similar to those used by the pricing service in order to help ensure prices represent a reasonable estimate of fair value.

There were no assets measured at estimated fair value on a nonrecurring basis at March 31, 2025 and 2024.

For information regarding the Company’s method for estimating the fair value of individually evaluated loans, see Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – ACL on Loans.

In determining the estimated net realizable value of the underlying collateral, the Company primarily uses third-party appraisals which may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including comparable sales and the income approach. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available and include consideration of variations in location, size, and income production capacity of the property. Additionally, the appraisals are periodically further adjusted by the Company in consideration of charges that may be incurred in the event of foreclosure and are based on management’s historical knowledge, changes in business factors and changes in market conditions.

Individually evaluated loans are reviewed and evaluated quarterly for additional reserve and adjusted accordingly based on the same factors identified above. Because of the high degree of judgment required in estimating the fair value of collateral underlying individually evaluated loans and because of the relationship between fair value and general economic conditions, the Company considers the fair value of individually evaluated loans to be highly sensitive to changes in market conditions.

The following disclosure of the estimated fair value of financial instruments is made in accordance with GAAP. The Company, using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies, has determined the estimated fair value amounts. However, considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data in the development of the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize in the future. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments are as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):

Carrying

Estimated

March 31, 2025

 Amount

  

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

  

Fair Value

Assets:

    

  

    

  

    

  

    

  

    

  

Cash and cash equivalents

$

29,414

$

29,414

$

$

$

29,414

Investment securities available for sale

 

119,436

 

 

119,436

 

 

119,436

Investment securities held to maturity

 

203,079

 

 

175,392

 

 

175,392

Loans receivable, net

 

1,047,086

 

 

 

974,523

 

974,523

FHLB stock

 

4,342

 

 

4,342

 

 

4,342

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

227,459

 

 

226,392

 

 

226,392

FHLB advances

 

76,400

 

 

76,316

 

 

76,316

Junior subordinated debentures

 

27,091

 

 

 

19,650

 

19,650

Carrying

Estimated

March 31, 2024

Amount

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Fair Value

    

   

    

    

    

Assets:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Cash and cash equivalents

$

23,642

$

23,642

$

$

$

23,642

Investment securities available for sale

 

143,196

 

 

143,196

 

 

143,196

Investment securities held to maturity

 

229,510

 

 

195,519

 

 

195,519

Loans receivable, net

 

1,008,649

 

 

 

909,254

 

909,254

FHLB stock

 

4,927

 

 

4,927

 

 

4,927

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

190,972

 

 

188,972

 

 

188,972

FHLB advances

88,304

 

 

88,101

 

 

88,101

Junior subordinated debentures

 

27,004

 

 

 

19,327

 

19,327

Fair value estimates were based on existing financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business. The fair value was not estimated for assets and liabilities that were not considered financial instruments.