

11.	Fair Value

The Company holds mortgage-backed securities, fixed-income securities, derivatives (see Note 7, Derivative Instruments) and certain other financial instruments that are carried at fair value. The Company determines fair value based upon quoted prices when available or through the use of alternative approaches, such as model pricing, when market quotes are not readily accessible or available. Various factors are considered in determining the fair value of the Company’s obligations, including: closing exchange or over-the-counter market price quotations; time value and volatility factors underlying options and derivatives; price activity for equivalent instruments; and the Company’s own credit standing.

These valuation techniques may be based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s market assumptions. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:


•	Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.


•	Level 2 – 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 or whose significant value drivers are observable.


•	Level 3 – Instruments whose significant value drivers are unobservable.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. We did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy during either of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 or September 30, 2017.

The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value and the related hierarchy levels:



(In thousands)	Fair Value Hierarchy	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
Assets
Municipal bonds	2	$	400	$	534
Asset-backed securities	2	319		345
Mortgage-backed securities	2	275		305
Fixed-income mutual fund	1	23,094		22,174
Investment securities ^(a)		$	24,088	$	23,358
Executive deferred compensation plan trust ^(b)	1	$	6,971	$	6,798
Interest rate swaps ^(c)	2	$	34,014	$	19,595
Liabilities
Interest rate swaps ^(d)	2	$	—	$	5,373

^(a)Not deemed available for current operations and have been classified as long-term assets.

^(b) The fair value of these instruments is recorded in other assets.

^(c)The fair value of these instruments is recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets or other assets depending on the timing of expected discounted cash flows.

^(d)The fair value of these instruments is recorded in other current liabilities based on the timing of expected discounted cash flows.

Investment Securities

When available, the Company uses quoted market prices to determine the fair value of investment securities; such inputs are classified as Level 1 of the fair-value hierarchy. These securities primarily consist of an open-ended mutual fund, which is invested in fixed-income securities and is held in order to satisfy the regulatory requirements of WEX Bank. For mortgage-backed and asset-backed debt securities and municipal bonds, the Company generally uses quoted prices for recent trading activity of assets with similar characteristics to the debt security or bond being valued. The securities and bonds priced using such methods are generally valued using Level 2 inputs.

Executive Deferred Compensation Plan Trust

The investments held in the executive deferred compensation plan trust are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy because the fair value is determined using quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Interest Rate Swaps

The Company determines the fair value of its interest rate swaps based on the discounted cash flows of the difference between the projected fixed payments on the swaps and the implied floating payments using the current LIBOR curve, which are Level 2 inputs of the fair value hierarchy.

Notes Outstanding

The Notes outstanding had a fair value of $401.0 million and $410.0 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The fair value of the Notes is based on market rates for the issuance of our debt and is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

2016 Credit Agreement

The Company determines the fair value of the amount outstanding under its 2016 Credit Agreement based on the market rates for the issuance of the Company’s debt, which are Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. As of both September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the carrying value of the 2016 Credit Agreement approximated its fair value.

Other Assets and Liabilities

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities approximate their respective fair values due to the short-term nature of such instruments. The carrying values of certificates of deposit, interest-bearing brokered money market deposits, securitized debt, participation debt and borrowed federal funds approximate their respective fair values, as the interest rates on these financial instruments are variable market-based rates. All other financial instruments are reflected at fair value on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.