NOTE 10. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

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. 

Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value are grouped in three levels within the fair value hierarchy based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value.

The fair value hierarchy is as follows:

A description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy at the reporting date, is set forth below.

Available-for-Sale Securities – Securities classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair value utilizing Level 1 (nationally recognized securities exchanges) and Level 2 inputs. For Level 2 inputs securities, the Company obtains fair value measurements from an independent pricing service. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include but is not limited to dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayments speeds, credit information and the bond’s terms and conditions.

Loans Held-for-Sale – These loans are reported at fair value. Fair value is determined based on expected proceeds based on committed sales contracts and commitments of similar loans if not already committed and are considered Level 2 inputs.

Derivative Instruments – The fair value of the interest rate lock commitments, forward TBA mortgage-backed securities and mandatory forward commitments are estimated using quoted or published market prices for similar instruments and adjusted for factors, such as pull-through rate assumptions based on historical information, where appropriate. Interest rate lock commitments are considered Level 3 inputs and forward TBA mortgage-backed securities and mandatory forward commitments are considered Level 2 inputs.

Collateral-Dependent Loans – Individually reviewed collateral-dependent loans are reported at the fair value of the underlying collateral less costs to sell. Collateral-dependent loans are considered Level 3 inputs of the fair value hierarchy. Collateral values are estimated using values determined in loan underwriting and discounted based on internally customized discounting criteria.

Real Estate and Other Repossessed Assets – Fair values are determined at the time the loan is foreclosed upon and the asset is transferred from loans. The value is based primarily on third-party appraisals, less costs to sell and are considered Level 3 inputs of the fair value hierarchy. Repossessed assets are reviewed and evaluated periodically for additional impairment and adjusted accordingly.

Mortgage Servicing Rights – The fair value of mortgage servicing rights are estimated using net present value of expected cash flows based on a third party model that incorporates industry assumptions and is adjusted for factors such as prepayment speeds and are considered Level 3 inputs.

The following tables summarize financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value.

Certain financial assets may be measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. These assets are subject to fair value adjustments that result from the application of lower of cost or fair value accounting or write-downs of individual assets, such as impaired loans that are collateral-dependent, real estate and other repossessed assets and mortgage servicing rights.

The following tables summarize financial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for which a nonrecurring change in fair value has been recorded during the reporting periods presented:  

The following table represents the Bank's financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis, the valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of those assets and liabilities, and the significant unobservable inputs and the ranges of values for those inputs.

The following table provides a reconciliation of assets and liabilities measured at fair value using significant unobservable Level 3 inputs on a recurring basis.

The tables below summarize the estimated fair values of financial instruments of the Company, whether or not recognized at fair value on the condensed consolidated statements of condition.