Note 17 - 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 and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis

The following table presents 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, 2019:


					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	$	5,019	$	—	$	5,019	$	—	$	—
AFS Securities - mortgage-backed securities		7,887		—		7,887		—		—
LHFS		10,910		—		10,910		—		(5)
MSRs		323		—		—		323		(114)
IRLCs		179		—		—		179		79
Best efforts forward contracts		23		—		23		—		23
Mandatory forward contracts		23		—		23		—		39

The following table presents 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, 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 notes	$	1,981	$	1,981	$	—	$	—	$	—
AFS Securities - U.S. government agency notes		9,997		—		9,997		—		—
LHFS		9,686		—		9,686		—		192
MSRs		437		—		—		437		(40)
IRLCs		100		—		—		100		78
Liabilities:
Mandatory forward contracts		16		—		16		—		(30)
Best efforts forward contracts		—		—		—		—		(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)
December 31, 2019:	(dollars in thousands)
MSRs	$	323	Market Approach	Weighted average prepayment speed	11.10	%
IRLCs		179	Market Approach	Range of pull through rate	70% - 95	%
				Average pull through rate	83	%

December 31, 2018:
MSRs	$	437	Market Approach	Weighted average prepayment speed	9.80	%
IRLCs		100	Market Approach	Range of pull through rate	70% - 95	%
				Average pull through rate	84	%

The activity in MSRs was as follows for the years ended December 31:



	2019		2018
	(dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance	$	437	$	477
Valuation adjustment		(114)		(40)
Ending balance	$	323	$	437

The activity in IRLCs was as follows for the years ended December 31:


	2019		2018
	(dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance	$	100	$	22
Valuation adjustment		79		78
Ending balance	$	179	$	100

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. We consider our U.S. Treasury securities to be Level 1. 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 quarterly 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 we measure and report 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 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 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 as of December 31:


	2019
					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	$	4,437	$	—	$	—	$	4,437	0% - 160%	8	%
Real estate acquired through foreclosure		1,174		—		—		1,174	0% - 16%	10	%

2018

Significant

Other

Significant

Quoted

Observable

Unobservable

Carrying

Prices

Inputs

Range of

Weighted

Value

(Level 1)

(Level 2)

(Level 3)

Discount (1)

Average

(dollars in thousands)

Impaired loans

5,678

—

5,678

0% - 16%

6.7

(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 the LCM. Collateral may be in the form of real estate or business assets including equipment, inventory, and 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 estimated 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 real estate acquired through foreclosure are included in the discussions above.


	2019
	Carrying		Fair Value
	Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:	(dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	88,193	$	88,193	$	—	$	—	$	88,193
Certificates of deposit held for investment		7,540		7,540		—		—		7,540
AFS securities		12,906		—		12,906		—		12,906
HTM securities		25,960		1,008		25,150		—		26,158
LHFS		10,910		—		10,910		—		10,910
Loans receivable, net		638,547		—		—		647,238		647,238
Restricted stock investments		2,431		—		2,431		—		2,431
Accrued interest receivable		2,458		—		2,458		—		2,458
ROU asset		2,538		—		2,538		—		2,538
MSRs		323		—		—		323		323
IRLCs		179		—		—		179		179
Best effort forward contracts		23		—		23		—		23
Mandatory forward contracts		23		—		23		—		23
Liabilities:
Deposits		661,049		—		662,418		—		662,418
Accrued interest payable		317		—		317		—		317
Borrowings		35,000		—		35,063		—		35,063
Subordinated debentures		20,619		—		—		16,754		16,754
Lease liability		2,597		—		2,597		—		2,597


	2018
	Carrying		Fair Value
	Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:	(dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	188,340	$	188,340	$	—	$	—	$	188,340
Certificates of deposit held for investment		8,780		8,780		—		—		8,780
AFS securities		11,978		1,981		9,997		—		11,978
HTM securities		38,912		2,008		36,204		—		38,212
LHFS		9,686		—		9,686		—		9,686
Loans receivable, net		674,305		—		—		670,512		670,512
Restricted stock investments		3,766		—		3,766		—		3,766
Accrued interest receivable		2,848		—		2,848		—		2,848
MSRs		437		—		—		437		437
IRLCs		100		—		—		100		100
Liabilities:
Deposits		779,506		—		778,313		—		778,313
Accrued interest payable		419		—		419		—		419
Borrowings		73,500		—		69,210		—		69,210
Subordinated debentures		20,619		—		—		20,619		20,619
Mandatory forward contracts		16		—		16		—		16

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Bank had loan funding commitments of $113.5 million and $115.0 million, respectively, and standby letters of credit outstanding of $3.3 million at both December 31, 2019 and 2018. 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 years ended December 31, 2019 or 2018.