FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value guidance establishes a framework for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. The Company estimates fair value based on the assumptions market participants would use when selling an asset or transferring a liability and characterizes such measurements within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to develop those assumptions and measure fair value. The hierarchy requires the Company to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:


•	Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.


•	Level 2 - Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.


•	Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

A description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value follows, as well as the classification of such instruments within the valuation hierarchy.

Recurring fair value measurements

Securities available for sale

Securities are classified within Level 1 where quoted market prices are available in an active market. Inputs include securities that have quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. If quoted market prices are unavailable, fair value is estimated using quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics, at which point the securities would be classified within Level 2 of the hierarchy.

Mortgage loans held for sale

Mortgage loans originated and held for sale are recorded at fair value under the fair value option and are based on quotes or bids received directly from the purchasing financial institutions (Level 2).

Derivative financial instruments

The Company enters into commitments to originate loans whereby the interest rate on the prospective loan is determined prior to funding. Rate locks on mortgage loans that are intended to be sold are considered to be derivatives. The Company offers its customers a certificate of deposit that provides the purchaser a guaranteed return of principal at maturity plus potential return, which allows the Company to identify a known cost of funds. The rate of return is based on an equity index, and as such represents an embedded derivative. Fair value of interest rate swaps, interest rate locks, foreign exchange contracts, forward sales commitments, and equity-linked written and purchased options are estimated using prices of financial instruments with similar characteristics, and thus are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The Company has segregated all financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to estimate the fair value at the measurement date in the tables below.



	September 30, 2015
(Dollars in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Securities available for sale	$	—	$	2,827,805	$	—	$	2,827,805
Mortgage loans held for sale	—		202,168		—		202,168
Derivative instruments	—		41,440		—		41,440
Total	$	—	$	3,071,413	$	—	$	3,071,413
Liabilities
Derivative instruments	$	—	$	38,147	$	—	$	38,147
Total	$	—	$	38,147	$	—	$	38,147



	December 31, 2014
(Dollars in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Securities available for sale	$	—	$	2,158,853	$	—	$	2,158,853
Mortgage loans held for sale	—		139,950		—		139,950
Derivative instruments	—		32,903		—		32,903
Total	$	—	$	2,331,706	$	—	$	2,331,706
Liabilities
Derivative instruments	$	—	$	31,354	$	—	$	31,354
Total	$	—	$	31,354	$	—	$	31,354

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 there were no transfers between the Level 1 and Level 2 fair value categories.

Gains and losses (realized and unrealized) included in earnings (or accumulated other comprehensive income) during the first nine months of 2015 related to assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are reported in non-interest income or other comprehensive income as follows:



(Dollars in thousands)	Non-interest income		Other comprehensive income
Net gains included in earnings	$	2,643	$	—
Change in unrealized net gains relating to assets still held at September 30, 2015	—		9,458

Non-recurring fair value measurements

Other real estate owned (OREO)

Fair values of OREO are determined by sales agreement or appraisal, and costs to sell are based on estimation per the terms and conditions of the sales agreement or amounts commonly used in real estate transactions. Inputs include appraisal values on the properties or recent sales activity for similar assets in the property’s market, and thus OREO measured at fair value would be classified within Level 2 of the hierarchy. The Company included property write-downs of $3.4 million and $1.9 million in earnings for the nine-month periods ending September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The Company has segregated all financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date in the tables below.



	September 30, 2015
(Dollars in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
OREO, net	$	—	$	1,904	$	—	$	1,904
Total	$	—	$	1,904	$	—	$	1,904



	December 31, 2014
(Dollars in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
OREO, net	$	—	$	1,483	$	—	$	1,483
Total	$	—	$	1,483	$	—	$	1,483

The tables above exclude the initial measurement of assets and liabilities that were acquired as part of the acquisitions completed in 2014 through the third quarter of 2015. These assets and liabilities were recorded at their fair value upon acquisition in accordance with U.S. GAAP and were not re-measured during the periods presented unless specifically required by U.S. GAAP. Acquisition date fair values represent either Level 2 fair value measurements (investment securities, OREO, property, equipment, and debt) or Level 3 fair value measurements (loans, deposits, and core deposit intangible asset).

The Company did not record any liabilities at fair value for which measurement of the fair value was made on a non-recurring basis at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Fair value option

The Company has elected the fair value option for certain originated residential mortgage loans held for sale, which allows for a more effective offset of the changes in fair values of the loans and the derivative instruments used to hedge them without the burden of complying with the requirements for hedge accounting.

The following table summarizes the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance for mortgage loans held for sale measured at fair value:



	September 30, 2015						December 31, 2014
(Dollars in thousands)	Aggregate Fair Value		Aggregate Unpaid Principal		Aggregate Fair Value Less Unpaid Principal		Aggregate Fair Value		Aggregate Unpaid Principal		Aggregate Fair Value Less Unpaid Principal
Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value	$	202,168	$	194,376	$	7,792	$	139,950	$	134,639	$	5,311

Interest income on mortgage loans held for sale is recognized based on contractual rates and is reflected in interest income on loans held for sale in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Net gains resulting from the change in fair value of these loans that were recorded in mortgage income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 totaled $0.6 million and $2.4 million, respectively. Net losses resulting from the change in fair value of these loans totaled $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, while net gains totaled $4.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The changes in fair value are mostly offset by economic hedging activities, with an immaterial portion of these changes attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit risk.