Note 4 — Fair Value

Fair value is 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. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

Level 2: Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

The Company used the following methods and significant assumptions to estimate fair value:

Investment Securities: The fair values for investment securities are determined by quoted market prices, if available (Level 1). For securities where quoted prices are not available, fair values are calculated based on market prices of similar securities (Level 2), using matrix pricing. Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique commonly used to price debt securities that are not actively traded, values debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities (Level 2 inputs). For securities where quoted prices or market prices of similar securities are not available, fair values are calculated using discounted cash flows or other market indicators (Level 3).

Individually Evaluated, or Collateral Dependent Loans and Other Real Estate Owned: The fair value of collateral dependent loans that are individually evaluated for impairment is generally based on recent real estate appraisals. These appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including comparable sales and the income approach and resulted in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value. Non-real estate collateral may be valued using an appraisal, net book value per the borrower’s financial statements, or aging reports, adjusted or discounted based on management’s historical knowledge, changes in market conditions from the time of the valuation, and management’s expertise and knowledge of the client and client’s business, resulting in a Level 3 fair value classification. Collateral dependent loans are evaluated on a quarterly basis for additional impairment and adjusted in accordance with the allowance policy.

Appraisals are performed by certified general appraisers (for commercial properties) or certified residential appraisers (for residential properties) whose qualifications and licenses have been reviewed and verified by a third-party appraisal management company that the Company has engaged in accordance with internal vendor management policies and approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. Once received, the appraisal review function is conducted by the appraisal management company and consists of a review of the assumptions and approaches utilized in the appraisal as well as the overall resulting fair value in comparison with independent data sources such as recent market data or industry-wide statistics. Through this review, the appraisal management company evaluates the validity of the appraised value and the strength of the conclusions; which are subsequently confirmed by a member of the Credit Department. Discounts to the appraised value are then applied to recognize the carrying costs incurred until disposition, realtor fees, deterioration in the quality of the asset, and the age of the appraisal. The net effect of these adjustments were included in the charge-off to the allowance upon acquisition of the foreclosed property and/or upon partial charge-off of the collateral dependent loan. The most recent analysis of property appraisals including the appropriate discount rates are incorporated into the allowance methodology for the respective loan portfolio segments.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

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There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. The Level 3 amount reflects the fair value of certain subordinated notes with limited availability of market pricing and determined based on discounted cash flows and other market value indicators.

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There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during 2024. The Level 3 amount reflects the fair value of certain subordinated notes with limited availability of market pricing and determined based on discounted cash flows and other market value indicators.

Assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 are summarized below:

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The fair value amounts shown in the above table are individually evaluated loans net of reserves allocated to said loans. The total reserves allocated to these loans were $794 thousand and $563 thousand at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.

The following table presents additional quantitative information about level 3 fair value measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024:

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(1)     Fair value is generally determined through independent appraisals of the underlying collateral that generally include various level 3 inputs which are not identifiable.

(2)     Appraisals may be adjusted downward by management for qualitative factors such as economic conditions and estimated liquidation expenses. The range of liquidation expenses and other appraisal adjustments are presented as a percent of the appraisal.

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The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments not carried at fair value are as follows at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024:

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