The Company uses derivative financial instruments primarily to manage risks to the Company associated with changing interest rates, and to assist customers with their risk management objectives. The Company designates certain interest rate swaps as hedging instruments in qualifying cash flow hedges. The changes in fair value of these designated hedging instruments is reported as a component of other comprehensive income. Customer accommodation loan swaps are derivative contracts that are not designated in a qualifying hedging relationship.

Cash flow hedges. The Company designates interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges when they are used to manage exposure to variability in cash flows on variable rate borrowings such as the Company’s junior subordinated debt. These interest rate swaps are derivative financial instruments that manage the risk of variability in cash flows by exchanging variable-rate interest payments on a notional amount of the Company’s borrowings for fixed-rate interest payments. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges are expected to be highly effective in offsetting the effect of changes in interest rates on the amount of variable-rate interest payments, and the Company assesses the effectiveness of each hedging relationship quarterly. If the Company determines that a cash flow hedge is no longer highly effective, future changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument would be reported in earnings. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had a designated cash flow hedge to manage its exposure to variability in cash flows

on certain variable rate borrowings through 2036. In anticipation of terminating the borrowing position, such hedge position was liquidated in the first quarter of 2023 for a gain of $479 thousand. There were no hedges in place as of December 31, 2023.

Unrealized gains or losses recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) related to cash flow hedges are reclassified into earnings in the same period(s) during which the hedged interest payments affect earnings. When a designated hedging instrument is terminated and the hedged interest payments remain probable of occurring, any remaining unrecognized gain or loss in other comprehensive income is reclassified into earnings in the period(s) during which the forecasted interest payments affect earnings. Amounts reclassified into earnings and interest receivable or payable under designated interest rate swaps are reported in interest expense. The Company does not expect any unrealized losses related to cash flow hedges to be reclassified into earnings in the next twelve months.

Cash collateral held at other banks for these swaps was $580 thousand at December 31, 2022. Related to the liquidation of the hedge as noted above, the cash collateral was returned to the Company. Collateral was dependent on the market valuation of the underlying hedges.

Loan swap agreements. Note that the Company offers loan swap agreements to commercial loan customers who are eligible contract participants as expanded under the Dodd-Frank Act, whereby a contracted third party accepts the interest rate risk as part of a separate agreement with the customer. For these arrangements, the Company underwrites the credit risk, books a floating rate loan and does not carry the derivative on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The follow table summarizes the Company’s derivative instruments as of December 31, 2022:

         
        December 31, 2022

        (Dollars in thousands)

        Notional/ Contract Amount

        Fair Value

        Fair Value Balance Sheet Location

        Expiration Date

Interest rate forward swap - cash flow

4,000

506

Junior subordinated debt

June 15, 2031