Note 3 - Investment Securities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block]

3. Investment Securities

The following tables summarize the amortized cost and estimated fair values of the securities portfolio at December 31, 2014 and 2013 and the corresponding amounts of gross unrealized gains and losses. The summary is divided into available for sale and held to maturity securities.

December 31, 2014 (In thousands)	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
Available For Sale
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored entities	$	110,094	$	369	$	1,015	$	109,448
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		133,563		2,600		397		135,766
Mortgage-backed securities – residential		363,729		7,959		1,199		370,489
Mortgage-backed securities – commercial		2,515		7		10		2,512
Corporate debt securities		6,639		26		358		6,307
Mutual funds and equity securities		1,889		2		25		1,866
Total securities – available for sale	$	618,429	$	10,963	$	3,004	$	626,388
Held To Maturity
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	$	3,728	$	195	$	-	$	3,923

December 31, 2013 (In thousands)	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
Available For Sale
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored entities	$	96,750	$	155	$	3,155	$	93,750
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		132,311		2,056		2,397		131,970
Mortgage-backed securities – residential		379,238		5,071		6,232		378,077
Mortgage-backed securities – commercial		748		-		59		689
Corporate debt securities		7,266		40		1,049		6,257
Mutual funds and equity securities		2,082		15		20		2,077
Total securities – available for sale	$	618,395	$	7,337	$	12,912	$	612,820
Held To Maturity
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	$	765	$	62	$	-	$	827

At year-end 2014 and 2013, the Company held no investment securities of any single issuer, other than the U.S. Government and its agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of shareholders’ equity.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of the securities portfolio at December 31, 2014, by contractual maturity, are detailed below. The summary is divided into available for sale and held to maturity securities. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Mutual funds and equity securities in the available for sale portfolio at December 31, 2014 consist of investments by the Company’s captive insurance subsidiary. These securities have no stated maturity and are not included in the maturity schedule that follows.

Mortgage-backed securities are stated separately due to the nature of payment and prepayment characteristics of these securities, as principal is not due at a single date.

	Available For Sale				Held To Maturity
December 31, 2014 (In thousands)	Amortized Cost		Estimated Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Estimated Fair Value
Due in one year or less	$	7,951	$	7,970	$	-	$	-
Due after one year through five years		144,282		144,933		-		-
Due after five years through ten years		82,454		82,996		705		799
Due after ten years		15,609		15,622		3,023		3,124
Mortgage-backed securities		366,244		373,001		-		-
Total	$	616,540	$	624,522	$	3,728	$	3,923

Gross realized gains and losses on the sale of available for sale investment securities were as follows for the year indicated.

(In thousands)	2014			2013			2012
Gross realized gains	$	190		$	14		$	1,349
Gross realized losses		253			64			140
Net realized (loss) gain	$	(63	)	$	(50	)	$	1,209
Income tax (benefit) provision related to net realized (loss) gain	$	(22	)	$	(18	)	$	423

Investment securities with a carrying value of $294 million and $277 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013 were pledged to secure public and trust deposits, repurchase agreements, and for other purposes.

Investment securities with unrealized losses at year-end 2014 and 2013 not recognized in income are presented in the tables below. The tables segregate investment securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months from those that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or more. The table also includes the fair value of the related securities.

	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or More				Total
December 31, 2014 (In thousands)	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored entities	$	22,696	$	76	$	60,892	$	939	$	83,588	$	1,015
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		20,746		81		21,272		316		42,018		397
Mortgage-backed securities – residential		37,451		82		71,311		1,117		108,762		1,199
Mortgage-backed securities – commercial		-		-		723		10		723		10
Corporate debt securities		76		4		5,525		354		5,601		358
Mutual funds and equity securities		305		11		95		14		400		25
Total	$	81,274	$	254	$	159,818	$	2,750	$	241,092	$	3,004

	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or More				Total
December 31, 2013 (In thousands)	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored entities	$	65,094	$	2,434	$	11,830	$	721	$	76,924	$	3,155
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		48,715		1,594		15,095		803		63,810		2,397
Mortgage-backed securities – residential		219,032		5,199		16,306		1,033		235,338		6,232
Mortgage-backed securities – commercial		689		59		-		-		689		59
Corporate debt securities		80		-		4,816		1,049		4,896		1,049
Mutual funds and equity securities		716		17		22		3		738		20
Total	$	334,326	$	9,303	$	48,069	$	3,609	$	382,395	$	12,912

Unrealized losses included in the tables above have not been recognized in income since they have been identified as temporary. The Company evaluates investment securities for other-than-temporary impairment at least quarterly, and more frequently when economic or market conditions warrant. Many factors are considered, including: (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, (3) whether the market decline was effected by macroeconomic conditions, and (4) whether the Company has the intent to sell the debt security or more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery. The assessment of whether an OTTI charge exists involves a high degree of subjectivity and judgment and is based on the information available to the Company at a point in time.

At December 31, 2014, the Company’s investment securities portfolio had gross unrealized losses of $3.0 million, a decrease of $9.9 million compared to year-end 2013. Of the total gross unrealized losses at December 31, 2014, $2.8 million or 91.5% relates to investments that have been in a continuous loss position for 12 months or more. Unrealized losses on mortgage-backed securities make up $1.1 million of the total unrealized loss on investment securities in a continuous loss position of 12 months or more.

Corporate debt securities in the Company’s investment securities portfolio at December 31, 2014 include single-issuer trust preferred capital securities with an unrealized loss of $354 thousand and a carrying value of $5.5 million. This is an improvement in the unrealized loss of $694 thousand or 66.2% from year end 2013. These securities were issued by a national and global financial services firm and were purchased by the Company during 2007. The securities are currently performing and continue to be rated as investment grade by major rating agencies. The issuer of the securities announced in the first quarter of 2014 an increase in per share common dividend payments and authorization of a common equity purchase plan. The Company does not intend to sell these securities nor does it believe it is likely that it will be required to sell these securities prior to their anticipated recovery. The Company believes these securities are not impaired due to reasons of credit quality or other factors, but rather the unrealized loss is primarily attributed to continuing uncertainties in both international and domestic economies and market volatility. The Company believes that it will collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of these securities and that the fair values of these securities will recover as they approach their maturity dates.

The Company attributes the unrealized losses in other sectors of its investment securities portfolio to changes in market interest rates and volatility. Investment securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2014 are performing according to their contractual terms, and the Company does not expect to incur a loss on these securities unless they are sold prior to maturity. The Company does not have the intent to sell these securities nor does it believe it is likely that it will be required to sell these securities prior to their anticipated recovery. The Company does not consider any of the securities to be impaired due to reasons of credit quality or other factors.