Note 4 — Fair Value Measurement and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

In determining the fair value of financial instruments, the Company uses various methods including market and income approaches. Based on these approaches, the Company utilizes certain assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable. The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy noted below is based on the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair value. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices available in active markets and the lowest priority to data lacking transparency. The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities is classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:



•	Level 1	—	Valuation is based on quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.
•	Level 2	—	Valuation is based on quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable and can be corroborated by market data.
•	Level 3	—	Valuation is based on significant unobservable inputs for determining the fair value of assets or liabilities. These significant unobservable inputs reflect assumptions that market participants may use in pricing the assets or liabilities.

In determining the appropriate hierarchy levels, the Company performs an analysis of the assets and liabilities that are subject to fair value disclosure. The Company’s assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to their fair value measurements.

The following tables present financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:




	Assets (Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis as of September 30, 2017
($ in thousands)	Fair Value Measurements			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Available-for-sale investment securities:
U.S. Treasury securities	$	526,332		$	526,332	$	—		$	—
U.S. government agency and U.S. government sponsored enterprise debt securities	189,185			—		189,185			—
U.S. government agency and U.S. government sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities:
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	315,172			—		315,172			—
Residential mortgage-backed securities	1,150,934			—		1,150,934			—
Municipal securities	117,242			—		117,242			—
Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities:
Investment grade	9,694			—		9,694			—
Corporate debt securities:
Investment grade	2,327			—		2,327			—
Non-investment grade	9,615			—		9,615			—
Foreign bonds:
Investment grade	489,140			—		489,140			—
Other securities	147,135			31,418		102			115,615		⁽¹⁾
Total available-for-sale investment securities	$	2,956,776		$	557,750	$	2,283,411		$	115,615

Derivative assets:
Interest rate swaps and options	$	64,822		$	—	$	64,822		$	—
Foreign exchange contracts	14,187			—		14,187			—
Credit risk participation agreements (“RPAs”)	2			—		2			—
Warrants	1,455			—		856			599
Total derivative assets	$	80,466		$	—	$	79,867		$	599

Derivative liabilities:
Interest rate swaps on certificates of deposit	$	(6,648	)	$	—	$	(6,648	)	$	—
Interest rate swaps and options	(64,212		)	—		(64,212		)	—
Foreign exchange contracts	(20,054		)	—		(20,054		)	—
RPAs	(1		)	—		(1		)	—
Total derivative liabilities	$	(90,915	)	$	—	$	(90,915	)	$	—


(1)	During the third quarter of 2017, the Company transferred a non-agency commercial mortgage-backed security with a net carrying amount of $115.6 million from held- to-maturity to available-for-sale.




	Assets (Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis as of December 31, 2016
($ in thousands)	Fair Value Measurements			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Available-for-sale investment securities:
U.S. Treasury securities	$	720,479		$	720,479	$	—		$	—
U.S. government agency and U.S. government sponsored enterprise debt securities	274,866			—		274,866			—
U.S. government agency and U.S. government sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities:
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	266,799			—		266,799			—
Residential mortgage-backed securities	1,258,747			—		1,258,747			—
Municipal securities	147,654			—		147,654			—
Non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities:
Investment grade	11,477			—		11,477			—
Corporate debt securities:
Investment grade	222,377			—		222,377			—
Non-investment grade	9,173			—		9,173			—
Foreign bonds:
Investment grade	383,894			—		383,894			—
Other securities	40,329			30,991		9,338			—
Total available-for-sale investment securities	$	3,335,795		$	751,470	$	2,584,325		$	—

Derivative assets:
Foreign currency forward contracts	$	4,325		$	—	$	4,325		$	—
Interest rate swaps and options	67,578			—		67,578			—
Foreign exchange contracts	11,874			—		11,874			—
RPAs	3			—		3			—
Total derivative assets	$	83,780		$	—	$	83,780		$	—

Derivative liabilities:
Interest rate swaps on certificates of deposit	$	(5,976	)	$	—	$	(5,976	)	$	—
Interest rate swaps and options	(65,131		)	—		(65,131		)	—
Foreign exchange contracts	(11,213		)	—		(11,213		)	—
RPAs	(3		)	—		(3		)	—
Total derivative liabilities	$	(82,323	)	$	—	$	(82,323	)	$	—

At each reporting period, all assets and liabilities for which the fair value measurement is based on significant unobservable inputs are classified as Level 3. There were no assets or liabilities measured using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2016, and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for other securities and warrants measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017:



	Three Months Ended September 30, 2017				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
($ in thousands)	Other securities		Warrants		Other securities		Warrants
Beginning balance	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Issuances	—		599		—		599
Transfer from held-to-maturity investment security to available-for-sale investment security	115,615		—		115,615		—
Ending balance	$	115,615	$	599	$	115,615	$	599

Transfers into or out of fair value hierarchy classifications are made if the significant inputs used in the financial models measuring the fair values of the assets and liabilities become unobservable or observable in the current marketplace. The Company’s policy, with respect to transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy, is to recognize transfers into and out of each level as of the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers of assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis into and out of Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company transferred a non-agency commercial mortgage-backed security with a net carrying amount of $115.6 million from held-to-maturity to available-for-sale to reflect the Company’s intent to sell the security under active liquidity management.

The following table presents quantitative information about significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of assets measured on a recurring basis classified as Level 3 as of September 30, 2017. Significant unobservable inputs presented in the table below are those that the Company considers significant to the fair value of the Level 3 assets or liabilities. The Company considers unobservable inputs to be significant if, by their exclusion, the fair value of the Level 3 assets or liabilities would be impacted by a predetermined percentage change.




($ in thousands)	Fair Value Measurements (Level 3)		Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input(s)	Weighted Average
Available-for-sale investment securities:
Other securities	$	115,615	Discounted cash flows	Discount margin	191 Basis points

Derivative assets:
Warrants	$	599	Black-Scholes option pricing model	Volatility	44%
				Liquidity discount	47%

Assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include certain non-purchased credit impaired (“non-PCI”) loans that were impaired, OREO and loans held-for-sale. These fair value adjustments result from impairments recognized during the period on certain non-PCI impaired loans, application of fair value less cost to sell on OREO and application of the lower of cost or fair value on loans held-for-sale.

The following tables present the carrying amounts of assets included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets that had fair value changes measured on a nonrecurring basis as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:




	Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis as of September 30, 2017
($ in thousands)	Fair Value Measurements		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Non-PCI impaired loans:
Commercial real estate (“CRE”)	$	9,172	$	—	$	—	$	9,172
Commercial and industrial (“C&I”)	32,053		—		—		32,053
Residential	6,079		—		—		6,079
Consumer	633		—		—		633
Total non-PCI impaired loans	$	47,937	$	—	$	—	$	47,937
OREO	$	1,789	$	—	$	—	$	1,789




	Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis as of December 31, 2016
($ in thousands)	Fair Value Measurements		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Non-PCI impaired loans:
CRE	$	14,908	$	—	$	—	$	14,908
C&I	52,172		—		—		52,172
Residential	2,464		—		—		2,464
Consumer	610		—		—		610
Total non-PCI impaired loans	$	70,154	$	—	$	—	$	70,154
OREO	$	345	$	—	$	—	$	345
Loans held-for-sale	$	22,703	$	—	$	22,703	$	—

The following table presents the fair value adjustments of assets measured on a nonrecurring basis recognized during the three and nine months ended and which were included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2017 and 2016:




	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
($ in thousands)	2017			2016			2017			2016
Non-PCI impaired loans:
CRE	$	6		$	(282	)	$	(66	)	$	1,741
C&I	(16,954		)	77			(17,648		)	(5,497		)
Residential	(3		)	(14		)	49			(14		)
Consumer	—			—			25			17
Total non-PCI impaired loans	$	(16,951	)	$	(219	)	$	(17,640	)	$	(3,753	)
OREO	$	(285	)	$	(41	)	$	(286	)	$	(994	)
Loans held-for-sale	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	(2,351	)

The following table presents the quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of assets measured on a nonrecurring basis classified as Level 3 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:




($ in thousands)	Fair Value Measurements (Level 3)		Valuation Technique(s)	Unobservable Input(s)	Range of Input(s)	Weighted Average
September 30, 2017
Non-PCI impaired loans	$	30,563	Discounted cash flows	Discount	0% — 82%	19%
	$	17,374	Market comparables	Discount ⁽¹⁾	0% — 100%	40%
OREO	$	1,789	Appraisal	Selling cost	8%	8%
December 31, 2016
Non-PCI impaired loans	$	31,835	Discounted cash flows	Discount	0% — 62%	7%
	$	38,319	Market comparables	Discount ⁽¹⁾	0% — 100%	18%
OREO	$	345	Appraisal	Selling cost	8%	8%


(1)	Discount is adjusted for factors such as liquidation cost of collateral and selling cost.

The following tables present the carrying and fair values per the fair value hierarchy of certain financial instruments, excluding those measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:




($ in thousands)	September 30, 2017
($ in thousands)	Carrying Amount		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Estimated Fair Value
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,736,749	$	1,736,749	$	—	$	—	$	1,736,749
Interest-bearing deposits with banks	$	404,946	$	—	$	404,946	$	—	$	404,946
Resale agreements ⁽¹⁾	$	1,250,000	$	—	$	1,236,413	$	—	$	1,236,413
Restricted equity securities	$	73,322	$	—	$	73,322	$	—	$	73,322
Loans held-for-sale	$	178	$	—	$	178	$	—	$	178
Loans held-for-investment, net	$	28,239,431	$	—	$	—	$	27,635,961	$	27,635,961
Accrued interest receivable	$	111,710	$	—	$	111,710	$	—	$	111,710
Financial liabilities:
Customer deposits:
Demand, checking, savings and money market deposits	$	25,517,121	$	—	$	25,517,121	$	—	$	25,517,121
Time deposits	$	5,794,541	$	—	$	5,787,188	$	—	$	5,787,188
Short-term borrowings	$	24,813	$	—	$	24,813	$	—	$	24,813
FHLB advances	$	323,323	$	—	$	336,741	$	—	$	336,741
Repurchase agreements ⁽¹⁾	$	50,000	$	—	$	105,269	$	—	$	105,269
Long-term debt	$	176,513	$	—	$	139,649	$	—	$	139,649
Accrued interest payable	$	11,017	$	—	$	11,017	$	—	$	11,017


(1)	Resale and repurchase agreements are reported net pursuant to ASC 210-20-45, Balance Sheet Offsetting. As of September 30, 2017, $400.0 million out of $450.0 million of repurchase agreements were eligible for netting against resale agreements.




($ in thousands)	December 31, 2016
($ in thousands)	Carrying Amount		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Estimated Fair Value
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,878,503	$	1,878,503	$	—	$	—	$	1,878,503
Interest-bearing deposits with banks	$	323,148	$	—	$	323,148	$	—	$	323,148
Resale agreements ⁽¹⁾	$	2,000,000	$	—	$	1,980,457	$	—	$	1,980,457
Held-to-maturity investment security	$	143,971	$	—	$	—	$	144,593	$	144,593
Restricted equity securities	$	72,775	$	—	$	72,775	$	—	$	72,775
Loans held-for-sale	$	23,076	$	—	$	23,076	$	—	$	23,076
Loans held-for-investment, net	$	25,242,619	$	—	$	—	$	24,915,143	$	24,915,143
Accrued interest receivable	$	100,524	$	—	$	100,524	$	—	$	100,524
Financial liabilities:
Customer deposits:
Demand, checking, savings and money market deposits	$	24,275,714	$	—	$	24,275,714	$	—	$	24,275,714
Time deposits	$	5,615,269	$	—	$	5,611,746	$	—	$	5,611,746
Short-term borrowings	$	60,050	$	—	$	60,050	$	—	$	60,050
FHLB advances	$	321,643	$	—	$	334,859	$	—	$	334,859
Repurchase agreements ⁽¹⁾	$	350,000	$	—	$	411,368	$	—	$	411,368
Long-term debt	$	186,327	$	—	$	186,670	$	—	$	186,670
Accrued interest payable	$	9,440	$	—	$	9,440	$	—	$	9,440


(1)	Resale and repurchase agreements are reported net pursuant to ASC 210-20-45, Balance Sheet Offsetting. As of December 31, 2016, $100.0 million out of $450.0 million of repurchase agreements were eligible for netting against resale agreements.

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies and significant assumptions used to measure financial assets and liabilities at fair value, and to estimate fair value for certain financial instruments not recorded at fair value. The description also includes the level of the fair value hierarchy in which the assets or liabilities are classified.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. As such, the estimated fair value is classified as Level 1.

Interest-bearing Deposits with Banks — The fair value of interest-bearing deposits with banks generally approximates their book value due to their short maturities. In addition, due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the estimated fair value, these instruments are classified as Level 2.

Resale Agreements — The fair value of resale agreements is estimated by discounting the cash flows based on expected maturities or repricing dates utilizing estimated market discount rates. In addition, due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the estimated fair value, these instruments are classified as Level 2.

Held-to-Maturity Investment Security — The held-to-maturity investment security as of December 31, 2016 was comprised of a floating rate non-agency commercial mortgage-backed security that was subsequently transferred from held-to-maturity to available-for-sale during the three months ended September 30, 2017. This security was categorized under Available-for-sale investment securities — other securities as of September 30, 2017. The fair value of this security is estimated by discounting the future expected cash flows utilizing the underlying index and a discount margin. Other unobservable inputs include conditional prepayment rate, constant default rate and loss severity. Due to the significant unobservable inputs used in estimating the fair value, this security is classified as Level 3.

Available-for-Sale Investment Securities — When available, the Company uses quoted market prices to determine the fair value of available-for-sale investment securities, which are classified as Level 1. Level 1 available-for-sale investment securities are primarily comprised of U.S. Treasury securities. Other than the non-agency commercial mortgage-backed security, the fair value of which is described above, the fair value of other available-for-sale investment securities are generally determined by independent external pricing service providers who have experience in valuing these securities or by the average quoted market prices obtained from independent external brokers. In obtaining such valuation information from third parties, the Company reviewed the methodologies used to develop the resulting fair values. The available-for-sale investment securities valued using such methods are classified as Level 2.

Loans Held-for-Sale — The Company’s loans held-for-sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value. Loans held-for-sale were comprised of single-family residential loans as of September 30, 2017, and were primarily comprised of consumer loans as of December 31, 2016. The fair value of loans held-for-sale is derived from current market prices and comparative current sales. The Company records any fair value adjustments on a nonrecurring basis. Loans held-for-sale are classified as Level 2.

Non-PCI Impaired Loans — The fair value of non-PCI impaired loans is measured using the market comparables or discounted cash flow techniques. For CRE and C&I loans, the fair value is based on each loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral less cost to sell, if the loan is collateral dependent. The fair value of collateral is generally based on third party appraisals (or internal evaluation if third party appraisal is not required by regulations) which utilize one or more valuation techniques (income, market and/or cost approaches). All third party appraisals and evaluations are reviewed and validated by independent appraisers or the Company’s appraisal department staffed by licensed appraisers and/or experienced real estate reviewers. The third party appraisals are ordered through the appraisal department (except for one-to-four unit residential appraisals which are typically ordered through an approved appraisal management company or an approved residential appraiser) at the inception, renewal or, for all real estate related loans, upon the occurrence of any events causing a downgrade to an adverse grade (i.e., “substandard” or “doubtful”). Updated appraisals and evaluations are generally obtained within the last 12 months. The Company increases the frequency of obtaining updated appraisals for adversely graded credits when declining market conditions exist. All appraisals include an “as is” market value without conditions as of the effective date of the appraisal. For certain impaired loans, the Company utilizes the discounted cash flow approach and applies a discount derived from historical data. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of non-PCI impaired loans are discounts applied based on the liquidation cost of collateral and selling cost. On a quarterly basis, all nonperforming assets are reviewed to assess whether the current carrying value is supported by the collateral or cash flow and to ensure that the current carrying value is appropriate. Non-PCI impaired loans are classified as Level 3.

Loans Held-for-Investment, net — The fair value of loans held-for-investment other than non-PCI impaired loans is determined based on a discounted cash flow approach considered for an exit price value. The discount rate is derived from the associated yield curve plus spreads that reflect the rates in the market for loans with similar financial characteristics. No adjustments have been made for changes in credit within any of the loan portfolios. It is management’s opinion that the allowance for loan losses pertaining to performing and nonperforming loans results in a fair value adjustment of credit for such loans. Due to the unobservable nature of the inputs used in deriving the estimated fair value, these instruments are classified as Level 3.

Other Real Estate Owned — The Company’s OREO represents properties acquired through foreclosure, or through full or partial satisfaction of loans held-for-investment, which are recorded at estimated fair value less cost to sell at the time of foreclosure and at the lower of cost or estimated fair value less the cost to sell subsequent to acquisition. The fair values of OREO properties are based on third party appraisals or accepted written offers. Refer to the Non-PCI Impaired Loans section above for a detailed discussion on the Company’s policies and procedures related to appraisals and evaluations. On a monthly basis, the current fair market value of each OREO property is reviewed to ensure that the current carrying value is appropriate. The significant unobservable input used is the selling cost. OREO properties are classified as Level 3.

Restricted Equity Securities — Restricted equity securities are comprised of Federal Reserve Bank stock and FHLB stock. Ownership of these securities is restricted to member banks and these securities do not have a readily determinable fair value. Purchases and sales of these securities are at par value. The carrying amounts of the Company’s restricted equity securities approximate fair value. The valuation of these investments is classified as Level 2.

Accrued Interest Receivable — The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Considering the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the estimated fair value, these instruments are classified as Level 2.

Interest Rate Swaps and Options — The Company enters into interest rate swap and option contracts with institutional counterparties to hedge against interest rate swap and option products offered to bank customers. These products allow borrowers to lock in attractive intermediate and long-term interest rates by entering into an interest rate swap or option contract with the Company, resulting in the customer obtaining a synthetic fixed rate loan. The Company also enters into interest rate swap contracts with institutional counterparties to hedge against certificates of deposit issued. This product allows the Company to lock in attractive floating rate funding. The fair value of the interest rate swaps is determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash payments (or receipts) and the discounted expected variable cash receipts (or payments). The variable cash receipts (or payments) are based on the expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observed market interest rate curves. The fair value of the interest rate options, consisting of floors and caps, is determined using the market standard methodology of discounting the future expected cash receipts that would occur if variable interest rates fell below (rise above) the strike rate of the floors (caps). The variable interest rates used in the calculation of projected receipts on the floor (cap) are based on an expectation of future interest rates derived from observable market interest rate curves and volatilities. In addition, to comply with the provisions of ASC 820, the Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements of its derivatives. The credit valuation adjustments associated with the Company’s derivatives utilize Level 3 inputs, model-derived credit spreads. As of September 30, 2017, the Company has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of these interest rate contracts and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of its derivative portfolios. As a result, the Company classifies these derivative instruments as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy due to the observable nature of the significant inputs utilized.

Foreign Exchange Contracts — The Company enters into short-term foreign exchange contracts to purchase/sell foreign currencies at set rates in the future. These contracts economically hedge against foreign exchange rate fluctuations. The Company also enters into contracts with institutional counterparties to hedge against foreign exchange products offered to bank customers. These products allow customers to hedge the foreign exchange risk of their deposits and loans denominated in foreign currencies. The Company assumes minimal foreign exchange rate risk because the contracts with the customer and the institutional party mirror each other. The fair value is determined at each reporting period based on changes in the foreign exchange rate. These are over-the-counter contracts where quoted market prices are not readily available. Valuation is measured using conventional valuation methodologies with observable market data. Valuation depends on the type of derivative, and the nature of the underlying rate and contractual terms including period of maturity, price and index upon which the derivative’s value is based. Key inputs include foreign exchange rates (spot and/or forward rates), volatility of currencies and the correlation of such inputs. Due to the short-term nature of the majority of these contracts, the counterparties’ credit risks are considered nominal and resulted in no adjustments to the valuation of the foreign exchange contracts. Due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the fair value of these contracts, the valuation of foreign exchange contracts is classified as Level 2. As of September 30, 2017, foreign exchange forward contracts used to economically hedge the Company’s net investment in East West Bank (China) Limited, a non-U.S. Dollar (“USD”) functional currency subsidiary in China, are included in this caption. See Foreign Currency Forward Contracts in the section below for details on valuation methodologies and significant assumptions.

Customer Deposits — The fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as noninterest-bearing demand deposits, interest-bearing checking, savings and money market deposits, approximates the carrying amount as these deposits are payable on demand at the measurement date. Due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the estimated fair value, these instruments are classified as Level 2. For time deposits, the fair value is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows using current market rates for instruments with similar maturities. Due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the estimated fair value, time deposits are classified as Level 2.

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances — The fair value of FHLB advances is estimated based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows, using rates currently offered by the FHLB of San Francisco for advances with similar remaining maturities at each reporting date. Due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the estimated fair value, these instruments are classified as Level 2.

Repurchase Agreements — The fair value of the repurchase agreements is calculated by discounting future cash flows based on expected maturities or repricing dates, utilizing estimated market discount rates and taking into consideration the call features of each instrument. Due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the estimated fair value, these instruments are classified as Level 2.

Accrued Interest Payable — The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the estimated fair value, these instruments are classified as Level 2.

Long-Term Debt — The fair value of long-term debt is estimated by discounting the cash flows through maturity based on current market rates the Company would pay for new issuances. Due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the estimated fair value, long-term debt is classified as Level 2.

Foreign Currency Forward Contracts — During the three months ended December 31, 2015, the Company began entering into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge its net investment in its China subsidiary, East West Bank (China) Limited. Previously, the foreign currency forward contracts were eligible for hedge accounting. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the foreign currency forward contracts were dedesignated when the hedge relationship ceased to be highly effective. The Company continues to economically hedge its foreign currency exposure resulting from East West Bank (China) Limited and the foreign currency forward contracts are included as part of the “Foreign Exchange Contracts” caption as of September 30, 2017. The fair value of foreign currency forward contracts is valued by comparing the contracted foreign exchange rate to the current market foreign exchange rate. Inputs include spot rates, forward rates and the interest rate curves of the domestic and foreign currency. Interest rate forward curves are used to determine which forward rate pertains to a specific maturity. Due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the estimated fair value, these instruments are classified as Level 2.

Credit Risk Participation Agreements — The Company enters into RPAs, under which the Company assumes its pro-rata share of the credit exposure associated with the borrower’s performance related to interest rate derivative contracts. The fair value of RPAs is calculated by determining the total expected asset or liability exposure of the derivatives to the borrowers and applying the borrowers’ credit spread to that exposure. Total expected exposure incorporates both the current and potential future exposure of the derivatives, derived from using observable inputs, such as yield curves and volatilities. The credit spreads of the borrowers used in the calculation are estimated by the Company based on current market conditions, including consideration of current borrowing spreads for similar customers and transactions, review of existing collateralization or other credit enhancements, and changes in credit sector and entity-specific credit information. The Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value RPAs are observable. Accordingly, RPAs fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Warrants — The Company obtained warrants to purchase preferred and common stock of technology and life sciences companies as part of the loan origination process. As of September 30, 2017, the warrants included on the Consolidated Financial Statements were from public and private companies. The Company valued these warrants based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model. For warrants from public companies, the model uses the underlying stock price, stated strike price, warrant expiration date, risk-free interest rate based on duration-matched U.S. Treasury rate and market-observable company-specific option volatility as inputs to value the warrants. Due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the estimated fair value, warrants from public companies are classified as Level 2. For warrants from private companies, the model uses inputs such as the offering price observed in the most recent round of funding, stated strike price, warrant expiration date, risk-free interest rate based on duration-matched U.S. Treasury rate and option volatility. The option volatility assumption was based on public market indices that include members that operate in similar industries as the companies in our private company portfolio. The model values were further adjusted for a general lack of liquidity due to the private nature of the underlying companies. Due to the unobservable nature of the option volatility and liquidity discount assumptions used in deriving the estimated fair value, warrants from private companies are classified as Level 3. There is a direct correlation between changes in the volatility assumption and the fair value measurement of warrants from private companies, while there is an inverse correlation between changes in the liquidity discount assumption and the fair value measurement of warrants from private companies. On a quarterly basis, the changes in the fair value of warrants from private companies are reviewed for reasonableness, and a sensitivity analysis on the option volatility and liquidity discount assumptions is performed.

The fair value estimates presented herein are based on pertinent information available to management as of each reporting date. Although the Company is not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the estimated fair value amounts, such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purposes of these Consolidated Financial Statements since that date, and therefore, current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein.