SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Derivative financial instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments—As part of its asset and liability management strategy, the Company uses derivative financial instruments to mitigate exposure to interest rate and foreign currency risks. All derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, are recognized on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at fair value with the change in fair value reported in earnings. When master netting agreements exist, the Company nets counterparty positions with any cash collateral received or delivered.

The Company’s interest rate swaps on certain certificates of deposit qualify for hedge accounting treatment under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The Company documents its hedge relationships, including identification of the hedging instruments and the hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transaction at the time the derivative contract is executed. This includes designating the derivative contract as a “fair value hedge” which is a hedge of a recognized asset or liability. All derivatives designated as fair value hedges are linked to specific hedged items or to groups of specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. Both at inception and quarterly thereafter, the Company assesses whether the derivatives used in hedging transactions are highly effective (as defined in the guidance) in offsetting changes in the fair value of the hedged item. Retroactive effectiveness is also assessed as well as the continued expectation that the hedge will remain effective prospectively. Any ineffective portion of the changes of fair value hedges is recognized immediately in interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when (i) a derivative is no longer highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair value, (ii) a derivative expires or is sold, terminated, or exercised, or (iii) the Company determines that designation of a derivative as a hedge is no longer appropriate. If a fair value hedge derivative instrument is terminated or the hedge designation removed, the previous adjustments to the carrying amount of the hedged liability would be subsequently accounted for in the same manner as other components of the carrying amount of that liability. For interest-bearing liabilities, such adjustments would be amortized into earnings over the remaining life of the respective liability.

Comprehensive income

Comprehensive Income—The term “comprehensive income” describes the total of all components of comprehensive income, including net income and other comprehensive income. “Other comprehensive income” refers to revenues, expenses, and gains and losses that are included in comprehensive income but are excluded from net income because they have been recorded directly in equity under the provisions of other Financial Accounting Standards Board statements. In accordance with the adoption of ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income, the Company presents comprehensive income in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income, which was formerly presented in the condensed consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity.