Derivatives are used by the Company to reduce risks from changes in interest rates and limit exposure to severe equity market changes. The Company has interest rate swaps with terms to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed rate and floating rate interest amounts as calculated by reference to an agreed notional amount. Beginning with the quarter ended September 30, 2019, the Company began to utilize exchange-traded futures contracts, which give the holder the right and obligation to participate in market movements at a future date, to allow the Company to react faster to market conditions. The Company posts collateral and settles variation margin in cash on a daily basis equal to the amount of the futures contracts’ change in value scaled by a multiplier.

The Company accounts for the interest rate swaps and futures as non-hedge instruments and recognizes the fair value of the interest rate swaps in other assets or other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets with the changes in fair value recognized as net realized investment gains or losses in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company is ultimately responsible for the valuation of the interest rate swaps. To aid in determining the estimated fair value of the interest rate swaps, the Company relies on the forward interest rate curve and information obtained from a third party financial institution. The fair value of the exchange-traded futures contracts are based on quoted market prices.

The following table summarizes information on the location and the gross amount of the derivatives’ fair value on the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018:

(Dollars in thousands)		September 30, 2019					December 31, 2018
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments under ASC 815	Balance Sheet Location	Notional Amount		Fair Value			Notional Amount		Fair Value
Interest rate swap agreements	Other assets/liabilities	$	200,000	$	(12,422	)	$	200,000	$	(4,062	)
Futures contracts on bonds ₍₁₎	Other assets/liabilities		20,726		—			—		—
Futures contracts on equities ₍₁₎	Other assets/liabilities		11,388		—			—		—
Total		$	232,114	$	(12,422	)	$	200,000	$	(4,062	)

(1)	Futures are settled daily such that their fair value is not reflected in the consolidated statements of financial position

The following table summarizes the net gains (losses) included in the consolidated statements of operations for changes in the fair value of the derivatives and the periodic net interest settlements under the derivatives for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:

		Quarters Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	Consolidated Statements of Operations Line	2019			2018		2019			2018
Interest rate swap agreements	Net realized investment gains (losses)	$	(1,831	)	$	1,311	$	(9,064	)	$	6,959
Futures contracts on bonds	Net realized investment gains (losses)		15			—		15			—
Futures contracts on equities	Net realized investment gains (losses)		(355	)		—		(355	)		—
Total		$	(2,171	)	$	1,311	$	(9,404	)	$	6,959

As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company is due $3.6 million and $2.6 million for funds it needed to post to execute the swap transaction and $14.3 million and $3.7 million, respectively, for margin calls made in connection with the interest rate swaps. These amounts are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

As of September 30, 2019, the Company posted initial margin of $1.1 million in securities for trading futures contracts and has a variation margin receivable of $0.1 million in connection with the futures contracts. Variation margin is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.