Note 9 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments

A fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation methods is 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 market hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e. supported with little or no market activity).

An asset 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.

We record transfers between levels at the end of the reporting period in which the change in significant inputs occurs.

Assets Measured on a Recurring Basis

The following tables present fair value measurements for assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2018:


					Significant
					Other		Significant		Total Changes
			Quoted		Observable		Unobservable		In Fair Values
	Carrying		Prices		Inputs		Inputs		Included In
	Value		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Period Income
Assets:	(dollars in thousands)
AFS Securities - U.S. Treasury and government agency notes	$	11,975	$	1,973	$	10,002	$	—	$	—
Loans held for sale ("LHFS")		9,444		—		9,444		—		179
Mortgage servicing rights ("MSRs")		501		—		—		501		24
Interest-rate lock commitments ("IRLCs")		168		—		—		168		146
Mandatory forward contracts		26		—		26		—		13
Best efforts forward contracts		12		—		12		—		9

The following tables present fair value measurements for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017:


					Significant
					Other		Significant		Total Changes
			Quoted		Observable		Unobservable		In Fair Values
	Carrying		Prices		Inputs		Inputs		Included In
	Value		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Period Income
Assets:	(dollars in thousands)
AFS Securities - U.S. government agency notes	$	10,119	$	—	$	10,119	$	—	$	—
LHFS		4,530		—		4,530		—		131
MSRs		477		—		—		477		(80)
IRLCs		22		—		—		22		(140)
Mandatory forward contracts		13		—		13		—		(140)
Best efforts forward contracts		3		—		3		—		3

The following table provides additional quantitative information about assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and for which we have utilized Level 3 inputs to determine fair value:


	Fair Value		Valuation	Unobservable	Range
	Estimate		Technique	Input	(Weighted-Average)
June 30, 2018:	(dollars in thousands)
MSRs	$	501	Market Approach	Weighted average prepayment speed	3.94	%
IRLCs		168	Market Approach	Range of pull through rate	80% - 95	%
				Average pull through rate	90	%

December 31, 2017:
MSRs	$	477	Market Approach	Weighted average prepayment speed	3.94	%
IRLCs		22	Market Approach	Range of pull through rate	80% - 95	%
				Average pull through rate	90	%

The following table shows the activity in the MSRs:


	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance	$	499	$	546	$	477	$	557
Valuation adjustment		2		(35)		24		(46)
Ending balance	$	501	$	511	$	501	$	511

The following table shows the activity in the IRLCs:


	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance	$	184	$	169	$	22	$	162
Valuation adjustment		(16)		(146)		146		(139)
Ending balance	$	168	$	23	$	168	$	23

AFS Securities

The estimated fair values of AFS debt securities are obtained from a nationally-recognized pricing service. This pricing service develops estimated fair values by analyzing like securities and applying available market information through processes such as benchmark curves, benchmarking of like securities, sector groupings, and matrix pricing to prepare valuations. Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities, but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities. The 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 data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information, and the bond’s terms and conditions, among other things, and are based on market data obtained from sources independent from the Bank. U.S Treasury Securities are considered Level 1 and all of our other securities are considered Level 2. The Level 2 investments in the Bank’s portfolio are priced using those inputs that, based on the analysis prepared by the pricing service, reflect the assumptions that market participants would use to price the assets. The Bank has determined that the Level 2 designation is appropriate for these securities because, as with most fixed-income securities, those in the Bank’s portfolio are not exchange-traded, and such nonexchange-traded fixed income securities are typically priced by correlation to observed market data.

LHFS

LHFS are carried at fair value, which is determined based on outstanding investor commitments or, in the absence of such commitments, on current investor yield requirements or third party pricing models.

MSRs

The fair value of MSRs is determined using a valuation model administered by a third party that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. The model incorporates assumptions that market participants use in estimating future net servicing income, including estimates of prepayment speeds, discount rate, default rates, cost to service (including delinquency and foreclosure costs), escrow account earnings, contractual servicing fee income, and other ancillary income such as late fees. Management reviews all significant assumptions on a monthly basis. Mortgage loan prepayment speed, a key assumption in the model, is the annual rate at which borrowers are forecasted to repay their mortgage loan principal. The discount rate used to determine the present value of estimated future net servicing income, another key assumption in the model, is an estimate of the required rate of return investors in the market would require for an asset with similar risk. Both assumptions can, and generally will, change as market conditions and interest rates change.

IRLCs

We utilize a third party specialist model to estimate the fair value of our IRLCs, which are valued based upon mandatory pricing quotes from correspondent lenders less estimated costs to process and settle the loan. Fair value is adjusted for the estimated probability of the loan closing with the borrower.

Forward Contracts

To avoid interest rate risk, we enter into best efforts forward sales commitments with investors at the time we make an IRLC to a borrower. Once a loan has been closed and funded, the best efforts commitments convert to mandatory forward sales commitments. The mandatory commitments are derivatives, and the bank measures and reports them at fair value. Fair value is based on the gain or loss that would occur if we were to pair-off the transaction with the investor at the measurement date. This is a level 2 input. We have elected to measure and report best efforts commitments at fair value using a valuation methodology similar to that used for our mandatory commitments.

Assets Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis

We may be required, from time to time, to measure certain other assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. These adjustments to fair value usually result from application of lower-of-cost-or-market value (“LCM”) accounting or write-downs of individual assets. For assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, the following tables provide the level of valuation assumptions used to determine each adjustment and the carrying value of assets:


	June 30, 2018
					Significant
					Other		Significant
			Quoted		Observable		Unobservable
	Carrying		Prices		Inputs		Inputs		Range of	Weighted
	Value		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Discount (1)	Average
	(dollars in thousands)
Impaired loans	$	9,305	$	—	$	—	$	9,305	0% - 27%	11.0	%
Real estate acquired through foreclosure		171		—		—		171	0% - 9%	8.6	%

(1)

Discount based on current market conditions and estimated selling costs


	December 31, 2017
					Significant
					Other		Significant
			Quoted		Observable		Unobservable
	Carrying		Prices		Inputs		Inputs		Range of	Weighted
	Value		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Discount (1)	Average
	(dollars in thousands)
Impaired loans	$	2,793	$	—	$	—	$	2,793	0% - 33%	14.5	%
Real estate acquired through foreclosure		178		—		—		178	0% - 22%	11.5	%

(1)

Discount based on current market conditions and estimated selling costs

Impaired Loans

Impaired loans are those for which we have measured impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows or 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. If it is determined that the repayment of the loan will be provided solely by the underlying collateral, and there are no other available and reliable sources of repayment, the loan is considered collateral dependent. Impaired loans that are considered collateral dependent are carried at LCM. Collateral may be in the form of real estate or business assets including equipment, inventory, and/or accounts receivable. The use of independent appraisals and management’s best judgment are significant inputs in arriving at the fair value measure of the underlying collateral and impaired loans are therefore classified within level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

For such loans that are classified as impaired, an Allowance is established when the present value of the expected future cash flows of the impaired loan is lower than the carrying value of that loan. For such impaired loans that are classified as collateral dependent, an Allowance is established when the current market value of the underlying collateral less its estimated disposal costs has not been finalized, but management determines that it is likely that the value is lower than the carrying value of that loan. Once the net collateral value has been determined, a charge-off is taken for the difference between the net collateral value and the carrying value of the loan.

Real Estate Acquired Through Foreclosure

We record foreclosed real estate assets at the fair value less estimated selling costs on their acquisition dates and at the lower of such initial amount or estimated fair value less estimated selling costs thereafter. We generally obtain certified external appraisals of real estate acquired through foreclosure and estimate fair value using those appraisals. Other valuation sources may be used, including broker price opinions, letters of intent, and executed sale agreements.

Fair Value of All Financial Instruments

The carrying value and fair value of all financial instruments are summarized in the following tables. The descriptions of the fair value calculations for AFS securities, LHFS, MSRs, IRLCs, best efforts forward contracts, mandatory forward contracts, impaired loans, and impaired real estate are included in the discussions above.


	June 30, 2018
	Carrying		Fair Value
	Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:	(dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	22,165	$	22,165	$	—	$	—	$	22,165
Certificates of deposit held for investment		8,780		8,780		—		—		8,780
AFS securities		11,975		1,973		10,002		—		11,975
HTM securities		46,487		5,013		40,419		—		45,432
LHFS		9,444		—		9,444		—		9,444
Loans receivable, net		678,655		—		—		677,594		677,594
Restricted stock investments		4,227		—		4,227		—		4,227
Accrued interest receivable		2,604		—		2,604		—		2,604
MSRs		501		—		—		501		501
IRLCs		168		—		—		168		168
Mandatory forward contracts		26		—		26		—		26
Best effort forward contracts		12		—		12		—		12
Liabilities:
Deposits		621,615		—		613,690		—		613,690
Accrued interest payable		425		—		425		—		425
Borrowings		82,000		—		75,032		—		75,032
Subordinated debentures		20,619		—		—		20,619		20,619


	December 31, 2017
	Carrying		Fair Value
	Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:	(dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	21,853	$	21,853	$	—	$	—	$	21,853
Certificates of deposit held for investment		8,780		8,780		—		—		8,780
AFS securities		10,119		—		10,119		—		10,119
HTM securities		54,303		5,056		48,948		—		54,004
LHFS		4,530		—		4,530		—		4,530
Loans receivable, net		660,096		—		—		672,349		672,349
Restricted stock investments		4,489		—		4,489		—		4,489
Accrued interest receivable		2,640		—		2,640		—		2,640
MSRs		477		—		—		477		477
IRLCs		22		—		—		22		22
Mandatory forward contracts		13		—		13		—		13
Best effort forward contracts		3		—		3		—		3
Liabilities:
Deposits		602,228		—		594,659		—		594,659
Accrued interest payable		395		—		395		—		395
Borrowings		88,500		—		81,303		—		81,303
Subordinated debentures		20,619		—		—		20,619		20,619

At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Bank had loan funding commitments of $90.5 million and $105.2 million million, respectively, and standby letters of credit outstanding of $9.2 million and $3.5 million, respectively. The fair value of these commitments is nominal.

Limitations

Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about financial instruments. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from a one-time sale of our total holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a significant portion of our financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect estimates. The above information should not be interpreted as an estimate of the fair value of the Company since a fair value calculation is only provided for a limited portion of our assets and liabilities. Due to a wide range of valuation techniques and the degree of subjectivity used in making the estimates, comparisons between our disclosures and those of other companies may not be meaningful.

There were no transfers between any of Levels 1, 2, and 3 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 or 2017 or for the year ended December 31, 2017.