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.

All derivative instruments are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value in either other assets or other liabilities. 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 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.

Our derivatives are governed by the terms of ISDA Master netting agreements and Credit Support Annexes. The ISDA Master agreements allow counterparties to offset trades in a gain against trades in a loss to determine net exposure and allow for the right of offset in the event of either a default or an additional termination event. Credit Support Annexes govern the terms of daily collateral posting practices. Collateral practices mitigate the potential loss impact to affected parties by requiring liquid collateral to be posted on a scheduled basis to secure the aggregate net unsecured exposure. In addition to collateral, the right of offset allows counterparties to offset net derivative values with a defaulting party against certain other contractual receivables from other obligations due to the defaulting party in determining the net termination amount.

We have entered into three 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. $40 million notional with an effective date of October 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 2.84% for a 3 year period.

We have entered into two pay fixed/receive variable interest rate swaps to hedge the fair value variability of two commercial fixed rate loans with the same principal, amortization and maturity terms of the underlying loans, which are designated as fair value hedges. Under the terms of a $9.95 million original notional swap with an effective date of January 15, 2015, we will pay a fixed rate of 4.33% for a 10 year period. Under the terms of an $11.3 million original notional swap with an effective date of December 18, 2015, we will pay a fixed rate of 4.30% for a 10 year period.

A summary of our derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 follows:



	December 31, 2018
			Derivative Fair Value				Net Ineffective
Dollars in thousands	Notional Amount		Asset		Liability		Hedge Gains/(Losses)
CASH FLOW HEDGES
Pay-fixed/receive-variable interest rate swaps
Short term borrowings	$	110,000	$	—	$	411	$	—

FAIR VALUE HEDGES
Pay-fixed/receive-variable interest rate swaps
Commercial real estate loans	$	19,399	$	555	$	—	$	—



	December 31, 2017
			Derivative Fair Value				Net Ineffective
Dollars in thousands	Notional Amount		Asset		Liability		Hedge Gains/(Losses)
CASH FLOW HEDGES
Pay-fixed/receive-variable interest rate swaps
Short term borrowings	$	110,000	$	—	$	2,057	$	—

FAIR VALUE HEDGES
Pay-fixed/receive-variable interest rate swaps
Commercial real estate loans	$	19,965	$	312	$	—	$	—

Loan commitments: ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, requires that commitments to make mortgage loans be accounted for as derivatives if the loans are to be held for sale, because the commitment represents a written option and accordingly is recorded at the fair value of the option liability.