Derivative Financial Instruments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments

Note 17 – Derivative Financial Instruments

Trustmark maintains an overall interest rate risk management strategy that incorporates the use of derivative instruments to minimize significant unplanned fluctuations in earnings and cash flows caused by interest rate volatility.  Trustmark's interest rate risk management strategy involves modifying the repricing characteristics of certain assets and liabilities so that changes in interest rates do not adversely affect the net interest margin and cash flows.  Under the guidelines of FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” all derivative instruments are required to be recognized as either assets or liabilities and be carried at fair value on the balance sheet.  The fair value of derivative positions outstanding is included in other assets and/or other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and in the net change in these financial statement line items in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows as well as included in noninterest income in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

As part of Trustmark's risk management strategy in the mortgage banking area, derivative instruments such as forward sales contracts are utilized.  Trustmark's obligations under forward contracts consist of commitments to deliver mortgage loans, originated and/or purchased, in the secondary market at a future date.  These derivative instruments are designated as fair value hedges under FASB ASC Topic 815.  The ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the forward contracts and changes in the fair value of the loans designated as loans held for sale are recorded in noninterest income in mortgage banking, net.  Trustmark's off-balance sheet obligations under these derivative instruments totaled $272.0 million at March 31, 2012, with a positive valuation adjustment of $176 thousand, compared to $199.5 million, with a negative valuation adjustment of $2.2 million as of December 31, 2011.

Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments

Trustmark utilizes a portfolio of exchange-traded derivative instruments, such as Treasury note futures contracts and option contracts, to achieve a fair value return that offsets the changes in fair value of MSR attributable to interest rates.  These transactions are considered freestanding derivatives that do not otherwise qualify for hedge accounting.  Changes in the fair value of these exchange-traded derivative instruments are recorded in noninterest income in mortgage banking, net and are offset by changes in the fair value of MSR.  The MSR fair value represents the present value of future cash flows, which among other things includes decay and the effect of changes in interest rates.  Ineffectiveness of hedging the MSR fair value is measured by comparing the change in value of hedge instruments to the change in the fair value of the MSR asset attributable to changes in interest rates and other market driven changes in valuation inputs and assumptions.  The impact of this strategy resulted in a net negative ineffectiveness of $1.0 million and a net positive ineffectiveness of $263 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Trustmark also utilizes derivative instruments such as interest rate lock commitments in its mortgage banking area.  Rate lock commitments are residential mortgage loan commitments with customers, which guarantee a specified interest rate for a specified time period.  Changes in the fair value of these derivative instruments are recorded in noninterest income in mortgage banking, net and are offset by the changes in the fair value of forward sales contracts.  Trustmark's off-balance sheet obligations under these derivative instruments totaled $169.7 million at March 31, 2012, with a positive valuation adjustment of $502 thousand, compared to $117.5 million, with a positive valuation adjustment of $702 thousand as of December 31, 2011.

Trustmark offers certain derivatives products such as interest rate swaps directly to qualified commercial borrowers seeking to manage their interest rate risk.  Trustmark economically hedges interest rate swap transactions executed with commercial borrowers by entering into offsetting interest rate swap transactions with third parties.  Derivative transactions executed as part of this program are not designated as qualifying hedging relationships and are, therefore, carried at fair value with the change in fair value recorded in noninterest income in bank card and other fees.  Because these derivatives have mirror-image contractual terms, the changes in fair value substantially offset.  In conjunction with the FASB's fair value measurement guidance, Trustmark made an accounting policy election to measure the credit risk of these derivative financial instruments, which are subject to master netting agreements, on a net basis by counterparty portfolio.  As of March 31, 2012, Trustmark had interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $94.4 million related to this program, compared to $71.2 million as of December 31, 2011.  The fair value of these derivatives was immaterial at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

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

As of March 31, 2012, the termination value of interest rate swaps in a liability position, which includes accrued interest but excludes any adjustment for nonperformance risk, related to these agreements was $1.7 million compared to $1.8 million as of December 31, 2011.  As of March 31, 2012, Trustmark has not posted collateral against its obligations because of negotiated thresholds and minimum transfer amounts under these agreements.  If Trustmark had breached any of these triggering provisions at March 31, 2012, it could have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements at the termination value.

Tabular Disclosures

The following tables disclose the fair value of derivative instruments in Trustmark's balance sheets as well as the effect of these derivative instruments on Trustmark's results of operations for the periods presented ($ in thousands):

	March 31,			December 31,
	2012			2011
Derivatives in hedging relationships
Interest rate contracts:
Forward contracts included in other liabilities	$	(176	)	$	2,217
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Interest rate contracts:
Futures contracts included in other assets	$	(970	)	$	986
Exchange traded purchased options included in other assets		359			144
OTC written options (rate locks) included in other assets		502			702
Interest rate swaps included in other assets		1,613			1,689
Exchange traded written options included in other liabilities		361			694
Interest rate swaps included in other liabilities		1,657			1,769

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012			2011
Derivatives in hedging relationships
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in mortgage banking, net	$	2,393		$	(3,253	)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Amount of loss recognized in mortgage banking, net	$	(1,467	)	$	(382	)
Amount of gain recognized in bankcard and other fees		35			-