6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

The Company utilizes fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures. Securities available-for-sale and trading securities are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Additionally, from time to time, the Company may be required to record at fair value other assets on a non-recurring basis, such as loans held-for-sale, loans held-for-investment and certain other assets. These non-recurring fair value adjustments typically involve application of lower of cost or market accounting or write-downs of individual assets. Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are recognized on the actual date of the event or circumstances that caused the transfer, which generally corresponds with the Company’s quarterly valuation process.

Fair Value Hierarchy

The Company groups assets and liabilities at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. These levels are:

	Level 1		Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.

	Level 2		Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

	Level 3		Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models, and similar techniques and include management judgment and estimation which may be significant.

Following is a description of valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities recorded at fair value.

Investment Securities Available-for-Sale

Investment securities available-for-sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value measurement is based upon quoted market prices, if available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are measured using independent pricing models or other model-based valuation techniques such as the present value of future cash flows, adjusted for the security’s credit rating, prepayment assumptions, and other factors such as credit loss assumptions. Level 1 securities include those traded on an active exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange, U.S. Treasury securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter markets and money market funds. Level 2 securities include mortgage-backed securities issued by government sponsored entities, municipal bonds and corporate debt securities. Securities classified as Level 3 include asset-backed securities in less liquid markets where valuations include significant unobservable assumptions.

Loans Held-for-Sale

Loans held-for-sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value. The fair value of loans held-for-sale is based on what secondary markets are currently offering for portfolios with similar characteristics. As such, the Company classifies loans subjected to non-recurring fair value adjustments as Level 2. At March 31, 2015 there were no loans held-for-sale that required a write-down.

Impaired Loans

The Company does not record loans at fair value on a recurring basis. However, from time to time, a loan is considered impaired and an allowance for loan losses is established. Loans for which it is probable that payment of interest and principal will not be made in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement are considered impaired. Once a loan is identified as individually impaired, the Company measures impairment. The fair value of impaired loans is estimated using one of several methods, including collateral value, market value of similar debt, enterprise value, liquidation value and discounted cash flows. Inputs include external appraised values, management assumptions regarding market trends or other relevant factors, selling and commission costs ranging from 6% to 7%, and amount and timing of cash flows based upon current discount rates. Those impaired loans not requiring an allowance represent loans for which the fair value of the expected repayments or collateral exceed the recorded investments in such loans.

At March 31, 2015, certain impaired loans were considered collateral dependent and were evaluated based on the fair value of the underlying collateral securing the loan. Impaired loans where an allowance is established based on the fair value of collateral require classification in the fair value hierarchy. When a loan is evaluated based on the fair value of the underlying collateral securing the loan, the Company records the impaired loan as non-recurring Level 3.

Other Real Estate Owned

Other real estate assets (“OREO”) acquired through, or in lieu of, foreclosure are held-for-sale and are initially recorded at the lower of cost or fair value, less selling costs. Any write-downs to fair value at the time of transfer to OREO are charged to the allowance for loan losses. Appraisals or evaluations are then done periodically thereafter charging any additional write-downs or valuation allowances to the appropriate expense accounts. Values are derived from appraisals of underlying collateral and discounted cash flow analysis. OREO is classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy.

Loan Servicing Rights

Loan servicing rights are subject to impairment testing. The Company utilizes a third party service provider to calculate the fair value of the Company’s loan servicing rights. Loan servicing rights are measured at fair value as of the date of sale. The Company uses quoted market prices when available. Subsequent fair value measurements are determined using a discounted cash flow model. In order to determine the fair value of the loan servicing rights, the present value of expected future cash flows is estimated. Assumptions used include market discount rates, anticipated prepayment speeds, delinquency and foreclosure rates, and ancillary fee income.

The model used to calculate the fair value of the Company’s loan servicing rights is periodically validated by an independent external model validation group. The model assumptions and the loan servicing rights fair value estimates are also compared to observable trades of similar portfolios as well as to loan servicing rights broker valuations and industry surveys, as available. If the valuation model reflects a value less than the carrying value, loan servicing rights are adjusted to fair value through a valuation allowance as determined by the model. As such, the Company classifies loan servicing rights subjected to non-recurring fair value adjustments as Level 3.

Assets Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The table below presents the recorded amount of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2015:

	(in thousands)
March 31, 2015	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Securities of U.S. government
agencies and corporations	$	33,777	$	—	$	33,777	$	—
Obligations of states and
political subdivisions		20,331		—		20,331		—
Collateralized mortgage obligations		13,909		—		13,909		—
Mortgage-backed securities		95,570		—		95,570		—

Total investments at fair value	$	163,587	$	—	$	163,587	$	—

There were no transfers of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis between level 1 and level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The table below presents the recorded amount of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014:

	(in thousands)
December 31, 2014	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Securities of U.S. government
agencies and corporations	$	28,429	$	—	$	28,429	$	—
Obligations of states and
political subdivisions		20,763		—		20,763		—
Collateralized mortgage obligations		12,553		—		12,553
Mortgage-backed securities		89,481		—		89,481		—

Total investments at fair value	$	151,226	$	—	$	151,226	$	—

Assets Recorded at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

No assets were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at March 31, 2015.

Assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis are included in the table below by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2014:

	(in thousands)
December 31, 2014	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Impaired loans	$	568	$	—	$	—	$	568
Other real estate owned		736		—		—		736

Total assets at fair value	$	1,304	$	—	$	—	$	1,304

There were no liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis at December 31, 2014.

Key methods and assumptions used in measuring the fair value of impaired loans and other real estate owned as of December 31, 2014 were as follows:

	Method	Assumption Inputs

Impaired loans	Collateral, market, income, enterprise, liquidation and discounted Cash Flows	External appraised values, management assumptions regarding market trends or other relevant factors; selling costs ranging 6% to 7%.
Other real estate owned	Collateral	External appraised values, management assumptions regarding market trends or other relevant factors; selling costs ranging 6% to 11%.