Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

NOTE 19: Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. GAAP requires that valuation techniques maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. GAAP also establishes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the valuation inputs into three broad levels. Based on the underlying inputs, each fair value measurement in its entirety is reported in one of the three levels. These levels are:

● Level 1—Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets. Level 1 assets and liabilities include debt securities traded in an active exchange market, as well as U.S. Treasury securities.

● Level 2—Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

● Level 3—Valuation is determined using model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect the Corporation’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the respective asset or liability. Valuation techniques may include the use of pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.

GAAP allows an entity the irrevocable option to elect fair value (the fair value option) for the initial and subsequent measurement for certain financial assets and liabilities on a contract-by-contract basis. The Corporation has elected to use fair value accounting for its entire portfolio of LHFS.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The following describes the valuation techniques and inputs used by the Corporation in determining the fair value of certain assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis in the financial statements.

Securities available for sale. The Corporation primarily values its investment portfolio using Level 2 fair value measurements, but may also use Level 1 or Level 3 measurements if required by the composition of the portfolio. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Corporation’s entire securities portfolio was comprised of investments in debt securities classified as available for sale, which were valued using Level 2 fair value measurements. The Corporation has contracted with third party portfolio accounting service vendors for valuation of its securities portfolio. The vendors’ sources for security valuation are ICE Data Services (ICE), Refinitiv and Bloomberg Valuation Service (BVAL).  Each source provides opinions, known as evaluated prices, as to the value of individual securities based on model-based pricing techniques that are partially based on available market data, including prices for similar instruments in active markets and prices for identical assets in markets that are not active. ICE provides evaluated prices for the Corporation's obligations of states and political subdivisions category of securities.  ICE uses proprietary pricing models and pricing systems, mathematical tools and judgment to determine an evaluated price for a security based upon a hierarchy of market information regarding that security or securities with similar characteristics.  Refinitiv and BVAL provide evaluated prices for the Corporation’s U.S. treasury, government agencies and corporations, mortgage-backed and corporate categories of securities.  U.S. treasury securities and fixed-rate callable securities of U.S. government agencies and corporations are individually evaluated on an option adjusted spread basis for callable issues or on a nominal spread basis incorporating the term structure of agency market spreads and the appropriate risk free benchmark curve for non-callable issues.  Pass-through mortgage-backed securities (MBS) in the mortgage-backed category are grouped into aggregate categories defined by issuer program, weighted average coupon, and weighted average maturity.  Each aggregate is benchmarked to relative to-be-announced mortgage backed securities (TBA securities) or other benchmark prices. TBA securities prices are obtained from market makers and live trading systems. Collateralized mortgage obligations in the mortgage-backed category are individually evaluated based upon a hierarchy of security specific information and market data regarding that security or securities with similar characteristics.  Each evaluation is determined using an option adjusted spread and prepayment model based on volatility-driven, multi-dimensional spread tables. Fixed-rate securities issued by the Small Business Association in the mortgage backed category are individually evaluated based upon a hierarchy of security specific information and market data regarding that security or securities with similar characteristics.

Other investments. The Corporation holds equity investments in funds that provide debt and equity financing to small businesses.  These investments are recorded at fair value and included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  Changes in fair value are recognized in net income. The funds are managed by investment companies, and the net asset value of each fund is reported regularly by the investment companies. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the combined fair value of these investments was $1.93 million and $2.16 million, respectively. These investments, measured at net asset value, are not presented in the tables below related to fair value measurements. Changes in fair value of these investments resulted in the recognition of unrealized losses of $58,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 and unrealized losses of $204,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022.  

The Corporation also holds certain equity investments consisting of equity interests in an independent insurance agency and a full service title and settlement agency (collectively, the agencies). These investments are subject to contractual sale restrictions that only permit the sale of the investments back to the agencies themselves.  Prior to the fourth quarter of 2022, these investments were recorded at cost. In connection with a change in accounting policy for these investments,

fair value adjustments were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022, which resulted in the one-time recognition of additional other income of $2.7 million ($2.2 million after income taxes). At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the fair value of these investments was $3.75 million and $3.65 million, respectively. These investments are recorded at fair value based on the contractual redemption value of Corporation’s proportionate share of the agencies equity and included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  Changes in fair value are recognized in net income and resulted in the recognition of unrealized gains of $103,000 and $2.86 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.  The Corporation’s investments in these agencies are classified as Level 2.

Loans held for sale. Fair value of the Corporation’s LHFS is based on observable market prices for similar instruments traded in the secondary mortgage loan markets in which the Corporation conducts business. The Corporation’s portfolio of LHFS is classified as Level 2.

Derivative asset - IRLCs. The Corporation recognizes IRLCs at fair value. Fair value of IRLCs is based on either (i) the price of the underlying loans obtained from an investor for loans that will be delivered on a best efforts basis or (ii) the observable price for individual loans traded in the secondary market for loans that will be delivered on a mandatory basis. All of the Corporation’s IRLCs are classified as Level 2.

Derivative asset/liability – interest rate swaps on loans. The Corporation recognizes interest rate swaps at fair value. The Corporation has contracted with a third party vendor to provide valuations for these interest rate swaps using the discounted cash flow method.  All of the Corporation’s interest rate swaps on loans are classified as Level 2.

Derivative asset/liability - cash flow hedges. The Corporation recognizes cash flow hedges at fair value.  The Corporation has contracted with  a third party vendor to provide valuations for these cash flow hedges using the discounted cash flow method.  All of the Corporation’s cash flow hedges are classified as Level 2.

The following table presents the balances of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value of forward sales of mortgage loans were not material to the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation at December 31, 2023 or 2022.

	December 31, 2023
	Fair Value Measurements Classified as						Assets/Liabilities at
(Dollars in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value
Assets:
Securities available for sale
U.S. Treasury securities	$	—	$	45,103	$	—	$	45,103
U.S. government agencies and corporations		—		87,094		—		87,094
Mortgage-backed securities		—		161,696		—		161,696
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		—		147,111		—		147,111
Corporate and other debt securities		—		21,440		—		21,440
Total securities available for sale		—		462,444		—		462,444
Loans held for sale		—		14,176		—		14,176
Other investments		—		3,751		—		3,751
Derivatives
IRLC		—		335		—		335
Interest rate swaps on loans		—		6,110		—		6,110
Cash flow hedges		—		1,415		—		1,415
Total assets	$	—	$	488,231	$	—	$	488,231
Liabilities:
Derivatives
Interest rate swaps on loans	$	—	$	6,110	$	—	$	6,110
Total liabilities	$	—	$	6,110	$	—	$	6,110

	December 31, 2022
	Fair Value Measurements Classified as						Assets/Liabilities at
(Dollars in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value
Assets:
Securities available for sale
U.S. Treasury securities	$	—	$	58,833	$	—	$	58,833
U.S. government agencies and corporations		—		130,274		—		130,274
Mortgage-backed securities		—		179,918		—		179,918
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		—		120,827		—		120,827
Corporate and other debt securities		—		22,739		—		22,739
Total securities available for sale		—		512,591		—		512,591
Loans held for sale		—		14,259		—		14,259
Other investments		—		3,649		—		3,649
Derivatives
IRLC		—		391		—		391
Interest rate swaps on loans		—		6,328		—		6,328
Cash flow hedges		—		1,941		—		1,941
Total assets	$	—	$	539,159	$	—	$	539,159
Liabilities:
Derivatives
Interest rate swaps on loans	$	—	$	6,328	$	—	$	6,328
Total liabilities	$	—	$	6,328	$	—	$	6,328

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

The Corporation may be required, from time to time, to measure and recognize certain assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with GAAP. The following describes the valuation techniques and inputs used by the Corporation in determining the fair value of certain assets recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in the financial statements.

OREO. Assets acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are held for sale and are initially recorded at fair value less estimated costs to sell at the date of foreclosure. Initial fair value is based upon appraisals the Corporation obtains from independent licensed appraisers. Subsequent to foreclosure, management periodically performs valuations of the foreclosed assets based on updated appraisals, general market conditions, recent sales of similar properties, length of time the properties have been held, and our ability and intent with regard to continued ownership of the properties. The Corporation may incur additional write-downs of foreclosed assets to fair value less estimated costs to sell if valuations indicate a further deterioration in market conditions. As such, the Corporation records OREO as a nonrecurring fair value measurement classified as Level 3.

There was no OREO that was measured at fair value at December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

FASB ASC 825, Financial Instruments, requires disclosure about fair value of financial instruments, including those financial assets and financial liabilities that are not required to be measured and reported at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis. ASC 825 excludes certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments from its disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented may not necessarily represent the underlying fair value of the Corporation. The Corporation uses the exit price notion in calculating the fair values of financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

The following tables reflect the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Corporation’s financial instruments whether or not recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value.

	Carrying		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2023 Classified as						Total Fair
(Dollars in thousands)	Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Value
Financial assets:
Cash and short-term investments	$	77,403	$	75,159	$	2,244	$	—	$	77,403
Securities available for sale		462,444		—		462,444		—		462,444
Loans, net		1,702,488		—		—		1,643,462		1,643,462
Loans held for sale		14,176		—		14,176		—		14,176
Other investments		3,751		—		3,751		—		3,751
Derivatives
IRLC		335		—		335		—		335
Interest rate swaps on loans		6,110		—		6,110		—		6,110
Cash flow hedges		1,415		—		1,415		—		1,415
Bank-owned life insurance		21,464		—		21,464		—		21,464
Accrued interest receivable		10,398		10,398		—		—		10,398
Financial liabilities:
Demand and savings deposits		1,392,931		1,392,931		—		—		1,392,931
Time deposits		673,199		—		668,965		—		668,965
Borrowings		103,618		—		90,120		—		90,120
Derivatives
Interest rate swaps on loans		6,110		—		6,110		—		6,110
Accrued interest payable		3,493		3,493		—		—		3,493

	Carrying		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2022 Classified as						Total Fair
(Dollars in thousands)	Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Value
Financial assets:
Cash and short-term investments	$	28,898	$	26,661	$	2,189	$	—	$	28,850
Securities available for sale		512,591		—		512,591		—		512,591
Loans, net		1,595,200		—		—		1,538,062		1,538,062
Loans held for sale		14,259		—		14,259		—		14,259
Other investments		3,649		—		3,649		—		3,649
Derivatives
IRLC		391		—		391		—		391
Interest rate swaps on loans		6,328		—		6,328		—		6,328
Cash flow hedges		1,941		—		1,941		—		1,941
Bank-owned life insurance		20,909		—		20,909		—		20,909
Accrued interest receivable		8,982		8,982		—		—		8,982
Financial liabilities:
Demand and savings deposits		1,622,566		1,622,566		—		—		1,622,566
Time deposits		381,294		—		374,267		—		374,267
Borrowings		85,943		—		71,906		—		71,906
Derivatives
Interest rate swaps on loans		6,328		—		6,328		—		6,328
Accrued interest payable		950		950		—		—		950

The Corporation assumes interest rate risk (the risk that general interest rate levels will change) in the normal course of operations. As a result, the fair values of the Corporation’s financial instruments will change when interest rate levels change and that change may be either favorable or unfavorable to the Corporation. Management attempts to match maturities of assets and liabilities to the extent believed necessary to balance minimizing interest rate risk and increasing net interest income in current market conditions. However, borrowers with fixed rate obligations are less likely to prepay in a rising rate environment and more likely to prepay in a falling rate environment. Conversely, depositors who are

receiving fixed rates are more likely to withdraw funds before maturity in a rising rate environment and less likely to do so in a falling rate environment. Management monitors interest rates, maturities and repricing dates of assets and liabilities and attempts to manage interest rate risk by adjusting terms of new loans, deposits and borrowings and by investing in securities with terms that mitigate the Corporation’s overall interest rate risk.