The Bank uses derivative financial instruments to help manage exposure to interest rate risk and the effects that changes in interest rates may have on net income and the fair value of assets and liabilities. The Bank enters into interest rate swap agreements as part of its asset/liability management strategy to help manage its interest rate risk position.

The Bank entered into three pay-fixed receive variable interest rate swap transactions, with a combined notional value of $100 million, designated and qualifying as accounting hedges during the last quarter of 2023. Designating an interest rate swap as an accounting hedge allows the Company to recognize gains and losses, less any ineffectiveness, in the Company's consolidated statement of income within the same period that the hedged item affects earnings. The Company includes the gain or loss on the hedged items in the same line item as the offsetting loss or gain on the related interest rate swaps. The fair value of interest rate swaps with a positive fair value are reported in other assets in the Company's consolidated balance sheets while interest rate swaps with a negative fair value are reported in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

The following table presents amounts that were recorded on the Company's consolidated balance sheets related to cumulative basis adjustments for interest rate swap derivatives designated as fair value accounting hedges as of December 31, 2023. There were no interest rate swaps during the year ending December 31, 2022.


	(In Thousands)
	Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets		Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets
Line Item in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in which the Hedged Item is Included	December 31, 2023		December 31, 2023
Loans	$	276,991	$	2,719

The following table presents a summary of interest rate swap derivatives designated as fair value accounting hedges of fixed-rate receivables used in the Bank's asset/liability management activities at December 31, 2023, identified by the underlying interest rate-sensitive instruments.


Instruments Associated With	Notional Value (000's)		Weighted Average Remaining Maturity (years)		Fair Value (000's)		Receive	Pay
Loans	$	100,000		3.6	$	2,719	USD-SOFR-OIS		4.47	%
Total swap portfolio at December 31, 2023	$	100,000		3.6	$	2,719	USD-SOFR-OIS		4.47	%

These derivative financial instruments were entered into for the purpose of managing the interest rate risk of certain assets and liabilities. The Bank pledged $2.8 million of cash collateral to counterparties as security for its obligations related to these interest rate swap transactions at December 31, 2023 which yielded $144 thousand of other interest income. Collateral posted and received is dependent on the market valuation of the underlying hedges.

The following table presents the notional amount and fair value of interest rate swaps utilized by the Bank at December 31, 2023.


	(In Thousands)
	December 31, 2023
	Notional Amount		Fair Value
Asset Derivatives
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Interest rate swaps associated with loans	$	-	$	-
Total contracts	$	-	$	-
Liability Derivatives
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Interest rate swaps associated with loans	$	100,000	$	(2,679	)
Total contracts	$	100,000	$	(2,679	)

The following table presents the effects of the Bank's interest rate swap agreements on the Company’s consolidated statement of income during the year ended December 31, 2023.


	(In Thousands)
Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of Income	December 31, 2023
Interest Income
Loans, including fees	$	40
Other		144
Total interest income	$	184