Derivatives and Hedging Activities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

The Company uses derivative financial instruments as components of its market risk management, principally to manage interest rate risk. Certain derivatives are entered into in connection with transactions with commercial customers. Derivatives are not used for speculative purposes. All derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, reported at fair value and presented on a gross basis. Until a derivative is settled, a favorable change in fair value results in an unrealized gain that is recognized as an asset, while an unfavorable change in fair value results in an unrealized loss that is recognized as a liability.

The Company generally applies hedge accounting to its derivatives used for market risk management purposes. Hedge accounting is permitted only if specific criteria are met, including a requirement that a highly effective relationship exists between the derivative instrument and the hedged item, both at inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis. Changes in the fair value of effective fair value hedges are recognized in current earnings (with the change in fair value of the hedged asset or liability also recognized in earnings). Changes in the fair value of effective cash flow hedges are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) until earnings are affected by the variability in cash flows of the designated hedged item. Ineffective portions of hedge results are recognized in current earnings. Changes in the fair value of derivatives for which hedge accounting is not applied are recognized in current earnings.

The Company formally documents at inception all relationships between the derivative instruments and the hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives that are designated as hedges to specific assets and liabilities, or to specific firm commitments. The Company also formally assesses, both at inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair values or cash flows of the hedged items. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective or has ceased to be a highly effective hedge, the Company would discontinue hedge accounting prospectively. Gains or losses resulting from the termination of a derivative accounted for as a cash flow hedge remain in other comprehensive income (loss) and is (accreted) amortized to earnings over the remaining period of the former hedging relationship.

Certain derivative financial instruments are offered to certain commercial banking customers to manage their risk of exposure and risk management strategies. These derivative instruments consist primarily of currency forward contracts and interest rate swap contracts. The risk associated with these transactions is mitigated by simultaneously entering into similar transactions having essentially offsetting terms with a third party. In addition, the Company executes interest rate swaps with third parties in order to hedge the interest rate risk of short-term FHLB advances.

Currency Forward Contracts. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had no currency forward contracts in place with commercial banking customers.

Interest Rate Swaps. At December 31, 2019 the Company had interest rate swaps in place with 22 commercial banking customers executed by offsetting interest rate swaps with third parties, with an aggregated notional amount of $169.9 million. At December 31, 2018, the Company had interest rate swaps in place with three commercial banking customers executed by offsetting interest rate swaps with third parties, with an aggregated notional amount of $36.6 million. These derivatives are not designated as hedges and are not speculative. These interest rate swaps do not meet hedge accounting requirements.

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had 29 and 24 interest rate swaps with notional amounts of $410.0 million and $320.0 million, respectively, hedging certain FHLB advances. These interest rate swaps meet the hedge accounting requirements.

Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve receipt of variable amounts from a counter-party in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the arrangements without the exchange of the underlying notional amount.

For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, September 30, 2017, and the three months ended December 31, 2017, the Company did not record any hedge ineffectiveness associated with these contracts.

(21) Derivatives and Hedging Activities (continued)

The tables below present the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at December 31, 2019 and 2018:



	December 31, 2019
	Asset Derivative			Liability Derivative
	Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition	Fair Value		Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition	Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Derivatives:
Interest rate swaps	Other Assets	$	185	Other Liabilities	$	11,546
Total derivative instruments		$	185		$	11,546

	December 31, 2018
	Asset Derivative			Liability Derivative
	Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition	Fair Value		Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition	Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Derivatives:
Interest rate swaps	Other Assets	$	1,342	Other Liabilities	$	3,944
Total derivative instruments		$	1,342		$	3,944

For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 gains (losses) of $204,000 and $(52,000) respectively, were recorded for changes in fair value of interest rate swaps with third parties. For the year ended September 30, 2017, and the three months ended December 31, 2017, no gains or losses were recorded for these transactions.

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, accrued interest was $344,000 and $65,000, respectively.

The Company has agreements with counterparties that contain a provision that if the Company defaults on any of its indebtedness, including default where repayment of the indebtedness has not been accelerated by the lender, then the Company could also be declared in default of its derivative obligations.

At December 31, 2019, the termination value of derivatives in a net liability position, which includes accrued interest, was $17.5 million. The Company has collateral posting thresholds with certain of its derivative counterparties, and has posted collateral of $18.4 million against its obligations under these agreements.