FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, defines fair value as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants (fair values are not adjusted for transaction costs). ASC 820 also establishes a framework (fair value hierarchy) for measuring fair value under U.S. GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.

ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation methods 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 as follows:

An asset’s or liability’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The measurement of fair value should be consistent with one of the following valuation techniques: market approach, income approach, and/or cost approach. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities (including a business). For example, valuation techniques consistent with the market approach often use market multiples derived from a set of comparables. Multiples might lie in ranges with a different multiple for each comparable. The selection of where within the range the appropriate multiple falls requires judgment, considering factors specific to the measurement (qualitative and quantitative). Valuation techniques consistent with the market approach include matrix pricing. Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique used principally to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities, but rather by relying on the security’s relationship to other benchmark quoted securities.

The following table sets forth QNB’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis and the fair value measurements by level within the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2019:

September 30, 2019	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable input (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)		Balance at end of period
Recurring fair value measurements
Equity securities	$	5,850	$	—	$	—	$	5,850
Available-for-sale securities:
U.S. Treasury securities		—		5,281		—		5,281
U.S. Government agency securities		—		68,349		—		68,349
State and municipal securities		—		51,104		—		51,104
U.S. Government agencies and sponsored enterprises (GSEs):
Mortgage-backed securities		—		140,553		—		140,553
Collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs)		—		87,652		—		87,652
Pooled trust preferred securities		—		—		78		78
Corporate debt securities		—		8,140		—		8,140
Total debt securities available-for-sale		—		361,079		78		361,157
Total recurring fair value measurements	$	5,850	$	361,079	$	78	$	367,007

Nonrecurring fair value measurements
Impaired loans	$	—	$	—	$	4,520	$	4,520
Mortgage servicing rights		—		—		7		7
Total nonrecurring fair value measurements	$	—	$	—	$	4,527	$	4,527

There were no transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2019. There were also no transfers in or out of Level 3 for the same period. There were no losses included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to the available-for-sale securities above with fair value measurements utilizing significant unobservable inputs for the three- or nine-month period ended September 30, 2019.

The following table sets forth QNB’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis, the fair value measurements by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2018:

December 31, 2018	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable input (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)		Balance at end of period
Recurring fair value measurements
Equity securities	$	9,421	$	—	$	—	$	9,421
Debt securities available-for-sale
U.S. Government agency securities		—		68,409		—		68,409
State and municipal securities		—		66,313		—		66,313
U.S. Government agencies and sponsored enterprises (GSEs):
Mortgage-backed securities		—		125,913		—		125,913
Collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs)		—		75,491		—		75,491
Pooled trust preferred securities		—		—		116		116
Corporate debt securities		—		7,979		—		7,979
Total debt securities available-for-sale		—		344,105		116		344,221
Total recurring fair value measurements	$	9,421	$	344,105	$	116	$	353,642

Nonrecurring fair value measurements
Impaired loans	$	—	$	—	$	3,055	$	3,055
Mortgage servicing rights		—		—		5		5
Total nonrecurring fair value measurements	$	—	$	—	$	3,060	$	3,060

The following table presents additional quantitative information about assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and for which QNB has utilized Level 3 inputs to determine fair value:

Quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements

September 30, 2019

Fair value

Valuation

techniques

Unobservable

input

Value or range

of values

Impaired loans

3,909

Appraisal of collateral

(1)

Appraisal adjustments

(2)

-10.0% to -40.0%

Liquidation expenses

(3)

-10.0

Impaired loans

611

Financial statement values for UCC collateral

Financial statement value discounts

(5)

-30.0% to -100.0%

Mortgage servicing rights

Discounted cash flow

Remaining term

1 - 26 years

Discount rate

12.0% to 12.5%

Quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements

December 31, 2018

Fair value

Valuation

techniques

Unobservable

input

Value or range

of values

Impaired loans

1,632

Appraisal of collateral

(1)

Appraisal adjustments

(2)

-20.0% to -90.0%

Liquidation expenses

(3)

-10.0

Impaired loans

1,415

Financial statement values for UCC collateral

Financial statement value discounts

(5)

-25.0% to -100.0%

Impaired loans

Used commercial vehicle guides

Guide value discounts

(4)

-10%

Mortgage servicing rights

Discounted cash flow

Remaining term

2 to 26 years

Discount rate

12.0% to 12.5%

(1)	Fair value is primarily determined through appraisals of the underlying collateral by independent parties, which generally includes various level 3 inputs which are not always identifiable.

(2)	Appraisals may be adjusted by management for qualitative factors such as economic conditions and the age of the appraisal. The range is presented as a percent of the initial appraised value.

(3)	Appraisals and pending agreements of sale are adjusted by management for estimated liquidation expenses. The range is presented as a percent of the initial appraised value.

(4)	If lendable value (lower than wholesale) is utilized then no additional discounts are taken. If lendable value is not provided, additional discounts are applied.

(5)	Values obtained from financial statements for UCC collateral (fixed assets and inventory) are discounted to estimated realizable liquidation value.

The following table presents additional information about the available-for-sale securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which QNB utilized significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs) to determine fair value for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:

The Level 3 securities consist of one collateralized debt obligation security, the PreTSL security, which is backed by trust preferred securities issued by banks. The market for this security at September 30, 2019 was not active and markets for similar securities also are not active. The new issue market is also inactive and there are currently very few market participants who are willing and or able to transact for these securities.

Given conditions in the debt markets today and the absence of observable transactions in the secondary and new issue markets, we determined:

QNB used an independent third party to value this security using a discounted cash flow analysis. Based on management’s review of the bond’s three underlying issuers, there are no expected credit losses or prepayments; cashflows used were contractual based on the Bloomberg YA screen. The assumed cashflows have been discounted using and estimated market discount rate based on the 30-year swap rate. The 30-year is used as the reference rate since it is indicative of market expectation for short-term rates in the future. This is consistent with the 30-year nature of the PreTSL security, which is priced using the 3-month LIBOR as a reference rate. The discount rate of 5.12% includes the risk-free rate, a credit component and a spread for illiquidity.

The following information should not be interpreted as an estimate of the fair value of the entire Company since a fair value calculation is only provided for a limited portion of QNB’s assets and liabilities. Due to a wide range of valuation techniques and the degree of subjectivity used in making the estimates, comparisons between QNB’s disclosures and those of other companies may not be meaningful.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair values of each major classification of financial instrument and non-financial asset at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018:

Cash and cash equivalents, accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable (carried at cost): The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet approximate those assets’ fair value.

Investment securities (carried at fair value): The fair value of securities are primarily determined by obtaining quoted market prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges (Level 1), or matrix pricing (Level 2), which is a mathematical technique used widely in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted market prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted prices. Level 2 debt securities are valued by a third-party pricing service commonly used in the banking industry. Level 2 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 date, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the security’s terms and conditions, among other things. For certain securities which are not traded in active markets or are subject to transfer restrictions, valuations are adjusted to reflect illiquidity and/or non-transferability, and such adjustments are generally based on available market evidence (Level 3). In the absence of such evidence, management’s best estimate is used. Management’s best estimate consists of both internal and external support on certain Level 3 investments. Cash flow models using a present value formula that includes assumptions market participants would use along with indicative exit pricing obtained from broker/dealers (where available) were used to support fair values of certain Level 3 investments.

Restricted investment in stocks (carried at cost): The fair value of stock in Atlantic Community Bankers Bank, the Federal Home Loan Bank and VISA Class B is the carrying amount, based on redemption provisions, and considers the limited marketability of and restrictions on such securities.

Loans Receivable (carried at cost): The fair values of loans are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, using market rates at the balance sheet date that reflect the liquidity, credit and interest rate-risk inherent in the loans. Projected future cash flows are calculated based upon contractual maturity or call dates, projected repayments and prepayments of principal. Generally, for variable rate loans that reprice frequently and with no significant change in credit risk, fair values are based on carrying values.

Impaired Loans (generally carried at fair value): Impaired loans are loans, in which the Company has measured impairment generally based on the fair value of the loan’s collateral. Fair value is generally determined based upon independent third-party appraisals of the properties, or discounted cash flows based upon the expected proceeds. These assets are included as Level 3 fair values, based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements.

Mortgage Servicing Rights (carried at lower of cost or fair value): The fair value of mortgage servicing rights is based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated net servicing income. The mortgage servicing rights are stratified into tranches based on predominant characteristics, such as interest rate, loan type and investor type. The valuation incorporates assumptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income.

Deposit liabilities (carried at cost): The fair value of deposits with no stated maturity (e.g. demand deposits, interest-bearing demand accounts, money market accounts and savings accounts) are by definition, equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date (i.e. their carrying amounts). This approach to estimating fair value excludes the significant benefit that results from the low-cost funding provided by such deposit liabilities, as compared to alternative sources of funding. Deposits with a stated maturity (time deposits) have been valued using the present value of cash flows discounted at rates approximating the current market for similar deposits.

Short-term borrowings (carried at cost): The carrying amount of short-term borrowings approximates their fair values.

Off-balance-sheet instruments (disclosed at cost): The fair values for QNB’s off-balance sheet instruments (lending commitments and letters of credit) are based on fees currently charged in the market to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the counterparties’ credit standing.

Management uses its best judgment in estimating the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments; however, there are inherent weaknesses in any estimation technique. Therefore, for substantially all financial instruments, the fair value estimates herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could have realized in sales transaction on the dates indicated. The estimated fair value amounts have been measured as of the respective period ends and have not been re-evaluated or updated for purposes of these financial statements subsequent to those respective dates. As such, the estimated fair values of these financial instruments subsequent to the respective reporting dates may be different than the amounts reported at each period end.

The estimated fair values and carrying amounts of the Company’s financial and off-balance sheet instruments are summarized as follows:

					Fair value measurements
September 30, 2019	Carrying amount		Fair value		Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	20,787	$	20,787	$	20,787	$	—	$	—
Investment securities:
Equities		5,850		5,850		5,850		—		—
Available-for-sale		361,157		361,157		—		361,079		78
Restricted investment in stocks		2,081		2,081		—		2,081		—
Net loans		821,062		838,492		—		—		838,492
Mortgage servicing rights		437		539		—		—		539
Accrued interest receivable		3,276		3,276		—		3,276		—

Financial liabilities
Deposits with no stated maturities	$	812,358	$	812,358	$	812,358	$	—	$	—
Deposits with stated maturities		235,831		236,041		—		236,041		—
Short-term borrowings		69,945		69,945		69,945		—		—
Accrued interest payable		790		790		—		790		—

Off-balance sheet instruments
Commitments to extend credit	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Standby letters of credit		—		38		—		38		—

					Fair value measurements
December 31, 2018	Carrying amount		Fair value		Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	13,458	$	13,458	$	13,458	$	—	$	—
Investment securities:
Equities		9,421		9,421		9,421		—		—
Available-for-sale		344,221		344,221		—		344,105		116
Restricted investment in stocks		797		797		—		797		—
Net loans		776,614		771,685		—		—		771,685
Mortgage servicing rights		451		604		—		—		604
Accrued interest receivable		2,852		2,852		—		2,852		—

Financial liabilities
Deposits with no stated maturities	$	791,810	$	791,810	$	791,810	$	—	$	—
Deposits with stated maturities		223,788		220,876		—		220,876		—
Short-term borrowings		50,872		50,872		50,872		—		—
Accrued interest payable		449		449		—		449		—

Off-balance sheet instruments
Commitments to extend credit	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Standby letters of credit		—		31		—		31		—