Note 13. Fair Value

Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. The fair value hierarchy ranks the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

The Company uses fair value measurements to record adjustments to certain financial assets and liabilities on a recurring basis. The Company may be required to record certain assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in specific circumstances, such as evidence of impairment. Methodologies used to determine fair value might be highly subjective and judgmental in nature; therefore, valuations may not be precise. If the Company determines that a valuation technique change is necessary, the change is assumed to have occurred at the end of the respective reporting period. The following discussion describes the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments under the valuation hierarchy.

Assets and Liabilities Reported at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

Available-for-sale Debt Securities

Fair value models may be required when trading activity has declined significantly or does not exist, prices are not current, or pricing variations are significant. For Level 3 securities, the Company obtains the cash flow of specific securities from third parties that use modeling software to determine cash flows based on market participant data and knowledge of the structures of each individual security. The fair values of Level 3 securities are determined by applying proper market observable discount rates to the cash flow derived from third-party models.  Securities with increased uncertainty about the receipt of cash flows are discounted at higher rates due to the addition of a deal specific credit premium based on assumptions about the performance of the underlying collateral. Finally, internal fair value model pricing and external pricing observations are combined by assigning weights to each pricing observation. Pricing is reviewed for reasonableness based on the direction of specific markets and the general economic indicators.

Equity Securities. Equity securities are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company uses Level 1 inputs to value equity securities that are traded in active markets. Equity securities that are not actively traded are classified in Level 2.

Loans Held for Investment. Loans held for investment that are subject to a fair value hedge are reported at fair value derived from third-party models. Loans designated in fair value hedges are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.

Deferred Compensation Assets and Liabilities. Securities held for trading purposes are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. These securities include assets related to employee deferred compensation plans, which are generally invested in Level 1 equity securities. The liability associated with these deferred compensation plans is carried at the fair value of the obligation to the employee, which corresponds to the fair value of the invested assets.

Derivative Assets and Liabilities. Derivatives are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The Company obtains dealer quotes, Level 2 inputs, based on observable data to value derivatives.

The following tables summarize financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, by the level of valuation inputs in the fair value hierarchy, as of the dates indicated:

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

Collateral Dependent Loans and OREO:  The fair value of collateral-dependent loans and OREO is measured on a nonrecurring basis using Level 3 inputs, which typically include appraised values of collateral that are adjusted for estimated selling costs and other qualitative factors.

The following table presents assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, by the level of valuation inputs in the fair value hierarchy, as the date indicated.   The Company had no collateral-dependent loans or OREO measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of  December 31, 2025.  

Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements

The following table provides quantitative information for assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using Level 3 valuation inputs as of the date indicated:

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following tables present the carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments, by the level of valuation inputs in the fair value hierarchy, as of the dates indicated: