Derivative Financial Instruments

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments

Note 16 — Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company is exposed to interest rate risk in the course of its business operations and manages a portion of this risk through the use of a derivative financial instrument, in the form of an interest rate swap (cash flow hedge). The Company accounts for its interest rate swap in accordance with FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, which requires that all derivatives be recognized as assets or liabilities in the balance sheet at fair value. For more information regarding the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments, see Note 15 to these financial statements. The only type of derivative currently used by the Company is an interest rate swap agreement.

The Company utilizes the interest rate swap agreement to essentially convert a portion of its variable-rate debt to a fixed rate (cash flow hedge). For derivatives designated as hedging exposure to variable cash flows of a forecasted transaction (cash flow hedge), the effective portion of the derivative’s gain or loss is initially reported as a component of other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified into earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings or when the hedge is terminated. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss is reported in earnings immediately. For derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recognized in earnings immediately.

In applying hedge accounting for derivatives, the Company establishes a method for assessing the effectiveness of the hedging derivative and a measurement approach for determining any ineffective aspect of the hedge upon the inception of the hedge.

Cash Flow Hedge of Interest Rate Risk

During 2009, the Company entered into a forward starting interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $8.0 million to manage interest rate risk due to periodic rate resets on its junior subordinated debt issued by SCBT Capital Trust II, an unconsolidated subsidiary of the Company established for the purpose of issuing trust preferred securities. The Company hedges the variable rate cash flows of subordinated debt against future interest rate increases by using an interest rate swap to effectively fix the rate on the debt beginning on June 15, 2010, at which time the debt contractually converted from a fixed interest rate to a variable interest rate. This hedge expires on June 15, 2019. The notional amount on which the interest payments are based will not be exchanged. This derivative contract calls for the Company to pay a fixed rate of 4.06% on $8.0 million notional amount and receive a variable rate of three-month LIBOR on the $8.0 million notional amount.

The Company recognized an after-tax unrealized loss on its cash flow hedge in other comprehensive income of $477,000 and $523,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company recognized a $740,000 and an $831,000 cash flow hedge liability in other liabilities on the balance sheet at June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. There was no ineffectiveness in the cash flow hedge during the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010.

Credit risk related to the derivative arises when amounts receivable from the counterparty (derivative dealer) exceed those payable. The Company controls the risk of loss by only transacting with derivative dealers that are national market makers whose credit ratings are strong. Each party to the interest rate swap is required to provide collateral in the form of cash or securities to the counterparty when the counterparty’s exposure to a mark-to-market replacement value exceeds certain negotiated limits. These limits are typically based on current credit ratings and vary with ratings changes. As of June 30, 2011 and 2010, SCBT was required to provide $900,000 and $150,000 of collateral, respectively. Also, the Company has a netting agreement with the counterparty.