FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Note 3)

Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:



	Level 1	Unadjusted exchange quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities, or identical liabilities traded as assets that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.



	Level 2	Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly (i.e., quoted prices on similar assets), for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.



	Level 3	Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis and Non-Recurring Basis

The following tables present the assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy as reported on the consolidated statements of financial condition at December 31, 2018 and 2017. The assets presented under “non-recurring fair value measurements” in the table below are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments under certain circumstances (e.g., when an impairment loss is recognized).



			Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using:
	December 31, 2018		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(in thousands)
Recurring fair value measurements:
Assets
Investment securities:
Available for sale:
U.S. Treasury securities	$	49,306	$	49,306	$	—	$	—
U.S. government agency securities	36,277		—		36,277		—
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	197,092		—		197,092		—
Residential mortgage-backed securities	1,429,782		—		1,429,782		—
Corporate and other debt securities	37,087		—		37,087		—
Total available for sale	1,749,544		49,306		1,700,238		—
Loans held for sale ⁽¹⁾	35,155		—		35,155		—
Other assets ⁽²⁾	48,979		—		48,979		—
Total assets	$	1,833,678	$	49,306	$	1,784,372	$	—
Liabilities
Other liabilities ⁽²⁾	$	23,681	$	—	$	23,681	$	—
Total liabilities	$	23,681	$	—	$	23,681	$	—
Non-recurring fair value measurements:
Collateral dependent impaired loans ⁽³⁾	$	45,245	$	—	$	—	$	45,245
Loan servicing rights	273		—		—		273
Foreclosed assets	5,673		—		—		5,673
Total	$	51,191	$	—	$	—	$	51,191



			Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using:
	December 31, 2017		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(in thousands)
Recurring fair value measurements:
Assets
Investment securities:
Available for sale:
U.S. Treasury securities	$	49,642	$	49,642	$	—	$	—
U.S. government agency securities	42,505		—		42,505		—
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	112,884		—		112,884		—
Residential mortgage-backed securities	1,223,295		—		1,215,935		7,360
Trust preferred securities	3,214		—		3,214		—
Corporate and other debt securities	51,164		7,783		43,381		—
Equity securities	11,201		1,382		9,819		—
Total available for sale	1,493,905		58,807		1,427,738		7,360
Loans held for sale ⁽¹⁾	15,119		—		15,119		—
Other assets ⁽²⁾	26,417		—		26,417		—
Total assets	$	1,535,441	$	58,807	$	1,469,274	$	7,360
Liabilities
Other liabilities ⁽²⁾	$	24,330	$	—	$	24,330	$	—
Total liabilities	$	24,330	$	—	$	24,330	$	—
Non-recurring fair value measurements:
Collateral dependent impaired loans ⁽³⁾	$	48,373	$	—	$	—	$	48,373
Loan servicing rights	5,350		—		—		5,350
Foreclosed assets	3,472		—		—		3,472
Total	$	57,195	$	—	$	—	$	57,195


⁽¹⁾	Represents residential mortgage loans held for sale that are carried at fair value and had contractual unpaid principal balances totaling approximately $34.6 million and $14.8 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.


⁽²⁾	Derivative financial instruments are included in this category.


⁽³⁾	Excludes PCI loans.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The following valuation techniques were used for financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis. All of the valuation techniques described below apply to the unpaid principal balance excluding any accrued interest or dividends at the measurement date. Interest income and expense are recorded within the consolidated statements of income depending on the nature of the instrument using the effective interest method based on acquired discount or premium.

Available for sale securities. All U.S. Treasury securities, certain corporate and other debt securities, and certain preferred equity securities are reported at fair value utilizing Level 1 inputs. The majority of other investment securities are reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 inputs. The prices for these instruments are obtained through an independent pricing service or dealer market participants with whom Valley has historically transacted both purchases and sales of investment securities. Prices obtained from these sources include prices derived from market quotations and matrix pricing. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the bond’s terms and conditions, among other things. Management reviews the data and assumptions used in pricing the securities by its third party provider to ensure the highest level of significant inputs are derived from market observable data. In addition, Valley reviews the volume and level of activity for all available for sale securities and attempts to identify transactions which may not be orderly or reflective of a significant level of activity and volume.

For certain private mortgage-backed securities reported at December 31, 2017, Valley prepared present value cash flow models derived from unobservable market information (Level 3 inputs). During the fourth quarter of 2018, Valley sold all of the its Level 3 available for sale securities, including 4 private label mortgage-backed securities.

Loans held for sale. Residential mortgage loans originated for sale are reported at fair value using Level 2 inputs. The fair values were calculated utilizing quoted prices for similar assets in active markets. The market prices represent a delivery price, which reflects the underlying price each institution would pay Valley for an immediate sale of an aggregate pool of mortgages. Non-performance risk did not materially impact the fair value of mortgage loans held for sale at December 31, 2018 and 2017 based on the short duration these assets were held and the credit quality of these loans.

Derivatives. Derivatives are reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 inputs. The fair value of Valley’s derivatives are determined using third party prices that are based on discounted cash flow analyses using observed market inputs, such as the LIBOR and Overnight Index Swap rate curves. The fair value of mortgage banking derivatives, consisting of interest rate lock commitments to fund residential mortgage loans and forward commitments for the future delivery of such loans (including certain loans held for sale at December 31, 2018 and 2017), is determined based on the current market prices for similar instruments. The fair values of most of the derivatives incorporate credit valuation adjustments, which consider the impact of any credit enhancements to the contracts, to account for potential nonperformance risk of Valley and its counterparties. The credit valuation adjustments were not significant to the overall valuation of Valley’s derivatives at December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis

The following valuation techniques were used for certain non-financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis, including impaired loans reported at the fair value of the underlying collateral, loan servicing rights and foreclosed assets, which are reported at fair value upon initial recognition or subsequent impairment as described below.

Impaired loans. Certain impaired loans are reported at the fair value of the underlying collateral if repayment is expected solely from the collateral and are commonly referred to as “collateral dependent impaired loans.” Collateral values are estimated using Level 3 inputs, consisting of individual appraisals that are significantly adjusted based on customized discounting criteria. At December 31, 2018, certain appraisals may be discounted based on specific market data by location and property type. During 2018 and 2017, collateral dependent impaired loans were individually re-measured and reported at fair value through direct loan charge-offs to the allowance for loan losses and/or a specific valuation allowance allocation based on the fair value of the underlying collateral. The collateral dependent loan charge-offs to the allowance for loan losses totaled $638 thousand and $2.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. These collateral dependent impaired loans with a total recorded investment of $73.7 million and $57.5 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, were reduced by specific valuation allowance allocations totaling $28.5 million and $9.1 million to a reported total net carrying amount of $45.2 million and $48.4 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Loan servicing rights. Fair values for each risk-stratified group of loan servicing rights are calculated using a fair value model from a third party vendor that requires inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (Level 3). The fair value model is based on various assumptions, including but not limited to, prepayment speeds, internal rate of return (“discount rate”), servicing cost, ancillary income, float rate, tax rate, and inflation. The prepayment speed and the discount rate are considered two of the most significant inputs in the model. At December 31, 2018, the fair value model used prepayment speeds (stated as constant prepayment rates) from 0 percent up to 24 percent and a discount rate of 8 percent for the valuation of the loan servicing rights. A significant degree of judgment is involved in valuing the loan servicing rights using Level 3 inputs. The use of different assumptions could have a significant positive or negative effect on the fair value estimate. Impairment charges are recognized on loan servicing rights when the amortized cost of a risk-stratified group of loan servicing rights exceeds the estimated fair value. Valley recorded net recoveries of impairment charges on its loan servicing rights totaling $388 thousand and $429 thousand the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Foreclosed assets. Certain foreclosed assets (consisting of other real estate owned and other repossessed assets), upon initial recognition and transfer from loans, are re-measured and reported at fair value through a charge-off to the allowance for loan losses based upon the fair value of the foreclosed assets. The fair value of a foreclosed asset, upon initial recognition, is typically estimated using Level 3 inputs, consisting of an appraisal that is adjusted based on customized discounting criteria, similar to the criteria used for impaired loans described above. There were no adjustments to the appraisals of foreclosed assets at December 31, 2018. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, foreclosed assets measured at fair value upon initial recognition or subsequent re-measurement totaled $5.7 million and $3.5 million, respectively. The charge-offs of foreclosed assets to the allowance for loan losses totaled $2.0 million and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The re-measurement of foreclosed assets at fair value subsequent to their initial recognition resulted in losses of $390 thousand, $361 thousand and $1.0 million included in non-interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Other Fair Value Disclosures

ASC Topic 825, “Financial Instruments,” requires disclosure of the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities, including those financial assets and financial liabilities that are not measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis or non-recurring basis.

The fair value estimates presented in the following table were based on pertinent market data and relevant information on the financial instruments available as of the valuation date. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the entire portfolio of financial instruments. Because no market exists for a portion of the financial instruments, fair value estimates may be based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

Fair value estimates are based on existing balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments. For instance, Valley has certain fee-generating business lines (e.g., its mortgage servicing operation, trust and investment management departments) that were not considered in these estimates since these activities are not financial instruments. In addition, the tax implications related to the realization of the unrealized gains and losses can have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered in any of the estimates.

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated statements of financial condition at December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:



		December 31,
		2018				2017
	Fair Value Hierarchy	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
		(in thousands)
Financial assets
Cash and due from banks	Level 1	$	251,541	$	251,541	$	234,310	$	234,310
Interest bearing deposits with banks	Level 1	177,088		177,088		172,800		172,800
Investment securities held to maturity:
U.S. Treasury securities	Level 1	138,517		142,049		138,676		145,257
U.S. government agency securities	Level 2	8,721		8,641		9,859		9,981
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	Level 2	585,656		586,033		465,878		477,479
Residential mortgage-backed securities	Level 2	1,266,770		1,235,605		1,131,945		1,118,044
Trust preferred securities	Level 2	37,332		31,486		49,824		40,088
Corporate and other debt securities	Level 2	31,250		31,129		46,509		46,771
Total investment securities held to maturity		2,068,246		2,034,943		1,842,691		1,837,620
Net loans	Level 3	24,883,610		24,068,755		18,210,724		17,562,153
Accrued interest receivable	Level 1	95,296		95,296		73,990		73,990
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock ⁽¹⁾	Level 1	232,080		232,080		178,668		178,668
Financial liabilities
Deposits without stated maturities	Level 1	17,388,990		17,388,990		14,589,941		14,589,941
Deposits with stated maturities	Level 2	7,063,984		7,005,573		3,563,521		3,465,373
Short-term borrowings	Level 1	2,118,914		2,091,892		748,628		679,316
Long-term borrowings	Level 2	1,654,268		1,751,194		2,315,819		2,453,797
Junior subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts	Level 2	55,370		55,692		41,774		37,289
Accrued interest payable ⁽²⁾	Level 1	25,762		25,762		14,161		14,161


⁽¹⁾	Included in other assets.


⁽²⁾	Included in accrued expenses and other liabilities.