19. Derivative Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Investments, All Other Investments [Abstract]

Derivative financial instruments

We use derivative instruments primarily to protect against the risk of adverse interest rate movements on the cash flows of certain liabilities.  Derivative instruments represent contracts between parties that usually require little or no initial net investment and result in one party delivering cash or another type of asset to the other party based upon a notional amount and an underlying as specified in the contract.  A notional amount represents the number of units of a specific item, such as currency units.  An underlying represents a variable, such as an interest rate or price index.  The amount of cash or other asset delivered from one party to the other is determined based upon the interaction of the notional amount of the contract with the underlying.  Derivatives can also be implicit in certain contracts and commitments.

As with any financial instrument, derivative instruments have inherent risks, primarily market and credit risk.  Market risk associated with changes in interest rates is managed by establishing and monitoring limits as to the degree of risk that may be undertaken as part of our overall market risk monitoring process.  Credit risk occurs when a counterparty to a derivative contract with an unrealized gain fails to perform according to the terms of the agreement.  Credit risk is managed by monitoring the size and maturity structure of the derivative portfolio, and applying uniform credit standards to all activities with credit risk.

In accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, all derivative instruments are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value.  Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in current earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if it is, depending on the type of hedge transaction.

Fair-value hedges – For transactions in which we are hedging changes in fair value of an asset, liability, or a firm commitment, changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument are generally offset in the income statement by changes in the hedged item’s fair value.

Cash-flow hedges – For transactions in which we are hedging the variability of cash flows related to a variable-rate asset, liability, or a forecasted transaction, changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument are reported in other comprehensive income.  The gains and losses on the derivative instrument, which are reported in comprehensive income, are reclassified to earnings in the periods in which earnings are impacted by the variability of cash flows of the hedged item.

The ineffective portion of all hedges is recognized in current period earnings.

Other derivative instruments – For risk management purposes that do not meet the hedge accounting criteria and, therefore, do not qualify for hedge accounting.  These derivative instruments are accounted for at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in the income statement.

We have entered into two forward-starting, pay-fixed/receive LIBOR interest rate swaps.  $40 million notional with an effective date of July 18, 2016, was designated as a cash flow hedge of $40 million of forecasted variable rate Federal Home Loan Bank advances.  Under the terms of this swap we will pay a fixed rate of 2.98% for a 3 year period.  $30 million notional with an effective date of April 18, 2016, was designated as a cash flow hedge of $30 million of forecasted variable rate Federal Home Loan Bank advances.  Under the terms of this swap we will pay a fixed rate of 2.89% for a 4.5 year period.

A summary of our derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2013 follows:

	December 31, 2013
			Derivative				Net Ineffective
	Notional		Fair Value				Hedge Gains
Dollars in thousands	Amount		Asset		Liability		(Losses)
CASH FLOW HEDGES
Pay-fixed/receive-variable interest rate swaps
Long term borrowings	$	70,000	$	803	$	-	$	-
	$	70,000	$	803	$	-	$	-