Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

(15) Fair Value Measurements

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. A fair market measurement assumes that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability. The price in the principal (or the most advantageous) market used to measure the fair value of the asset or liability shall not be adjusted for transaction costs. An orderly transaction is a transaction that assumes exposure to the market for a period prior to the measurement date to allow for marketing activities that are usual and customary for transactions involving such assets and liabilities; it is not a forced transaction. Market participants are buyers and sellers in the principal market that are (i) independent, (ii) knowledgeable, (iii) able to transact and (iv) willing to transact.

The Company uses valuation techniques that are consistent with the market approach, the income approach and/or the cost approach. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets and liabilities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts, such as cash flows or earnings, to a single present amount on a discounted basis. The cost approach is based on the amount that currently would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset (replacement costs). Valuation techniques should be consistently applied. Inputs to valuation techniques refer to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Inputs may be observable, meaning those that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and developed based on market data obtained from independent sources, or unobservable, meaning those that reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. In that regard, a fair value hierarchy has been established for valuation inputs that gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. Movements within the fair value hierarchy are recognized at the end of the applicable reporting period. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:

Level 1 Inputs - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 Inputs - Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (for example, interest rates, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlations or other means.

Level 3 Inputs - Significant unobservable inputs that reflect an entity's own assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities.

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, is set forth below.

Transfers between levels are recognized at the end of the reporting period. Securities classified as available for sale are reported at fair value utilizing Level 1 and Level 2 inputs. In general, fair value is based upon quoted market prices, where available. Most of the Company's investment and mortgage-backed securities, however, are fixed income instruments that are not quoted on an exchange, but are bought and sold in active markets. Prices for these instruments are obtained through third party pricing vendors or security industry sources that actively participate in the buying and selling of securities. Prices obtained from these sources include market quotations and matrix pricing. Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique used principally to value certain securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities, but comparing the securities to benchmark or comparable securities.

Fair value estimates are made at a point in time, based on relevant market data as well as the best information available about the security. Illiquid credit markets have resulted in inactive markets for certain of the Company's securities. As a result, there is limited observable market data for these assets. Fair value estimates for securities for which limited observable market data is available are based on judgments regarding current economic conditions, liquidity discounts, credit and interest rate risks, and other factors. These estimates involve significant uncertainties and judgments and cannot be determined with precision. As a result, such calculated fair value estimates may not be realizable in a current sale or immediate settlement of the security.

The Company utilizes third party pricing services to obtain market values for its corporate bonds. Management's policy is to obtain and review all available documentation from the third party pricing service relating to their market value determinations, including their methodology and summary of inputs. Management reviews this documentation, makes inquiries of the third party pricing service and makes a determination as to the level of the valuation inputs. Based on the Company's review of the available documentation from the third party pricing service, management concluded that Level 2 inputs were utilized. The significant observable inputs include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, benchmark securities and observations of equity and credit default swap curves related to the issuer.

Real estate owned and loans measured for impairment based on the fair value of the underlying collateral are recorded at estimated fair value, less estimated selling costs. Fair value is based on independent appraisals.

The following table summarizes financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value (dollars in thousands):

	Level 1 Inputs		Level 2 Inputs		Level 3 Inputs		Total Fair Value
December 31, 2011
Items measured on a recurring basis:
Investment securities available for sale:
U.S. Agency obligations	$	—	$	102,776	$	—	$	102,776
State and municipal obligations		—		18,544		—		18,544
Corporate debt securities		—		39,449		—		39,449
Equity investments		4,510		—		—		4,510
Mortgage-backed securities available for sale		—		364,931		—		364,931
Items measured on a non-recurring basis:
Real estate owned		—		—		1,513		1,513
Loans measured for impairment based on the fair value of the underlying collateral		—		—		8,773		8,773
December 31, 2010
Items measured on a recurring basis:
Investment securities available for sale:
U.S. Agency obligations	$	—	$	41,132	$	—	$	41,132
State and municipal obligations		—		10,615		—		10,615
Corporate debt securities		—		39,856		—		39,856
Equity investments		315		—		—		315
Mortgage-backed securities available for sale		—		341,175		—		341,175
Items measured on a non-recurring basis:
Real estate owned		—		—		2,295		2,295
Loans measured for impairment based on the fair value of the underlying collateral		—		—		4,673		4,673

Certain financial assets and financial liabilities are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis, that is, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment). See "Limitations" under Note 16 to these financial statements.