v2.4.0.6
Fair Value Accounting and Measurement
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Accounting and Measurement
Fair Value Accounting and Measurement
The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic of the FASB ASC defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure requirements about fair value. We hold fixed and variable rate interest-bearing securities, investments in marketable equity securities and certain other financial instruments, which are carried at fair value. Fair value is determined based upon quoted prices when available or through the use of alternative approaches, such as matrix or model pricing, when market quotes are not readily accessible or available.
The valuation techniques are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our own market assumptions. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:
Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date.
Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
Level 3 – Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
Fair values are determined as follows:
Securities at fair value are priced using a combination of market activity, industry recognized information sources, yield curves, discounted cash flow models and other factors. These fair value calculations are considered a Level 2 input method under the provisions of the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic of the FASB ASC.
Interest rate contract positions are valued in models, which use as their basis, readily observable market parameters and are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy.
The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2011 and 2010 by level within the fair value hierarchy. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement:
 
 
Fair value at
December 31, 2011
 
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
 
(in thousands)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities available for sale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government agency and sponsored enterprise mortgage-back securities and collateralized mortgage obligations
 
$
695,954

 
$
—

 
$
695,954

 
$
—

State and municipal securities
 
285,763

 
—

 
285,763

 
—

U.S. government agency and government-sponsored enterprise securities
 
43,063

 
—

 
43,063

 
—

Other securities
 
3,330

 
—

 
3,330

 
—

Total securities available for sale
 
$
1,028,110

 
$
—

 
$
1,028,110

 
$
—

Other assets (Interest rate contracts)
 
$
16,302

 
$
—

 
$
16,302

 
$
—

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other liabilities (Interest rate contracts)
 
$
16,302

 
$
—

 
$
16,302

 
$
—

 
 
Fair value  at
December 31, 2010
 
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
 
(in thousands)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities available for sale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government agency and sponsored enterprise mortgage-back securities and collateralized mortgage obligations
 
$
506,642

 
$
—

 
$
506,642

 
$
—

State and municipal debt securities
 
253,981

 
—

 
253,981

 
—

Other securities
 
3,243

 
—

 
3,243

 
—

Total securities available for sale
 
$
763,866

 
$
—

 
$
763,866

 
$
—

Other assets (Interest rate contracts)
 
$
10,167

 
$
—

 
$
10,167

 
$
—

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other liabilities (Interest rate contracts)
 
$
10,167

 
$
—

 
$
10,167

 
$
—


Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis after initial recognition such as loans measured for impairment and OREO. The following methods were used to estimate the fair value of each such class of financial instrument:
Impaired loans—A loan is considered to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due (both interest and principal) according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Impaired loans are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, a loan’s observable market price, or the fair market value of the collateral if the loan is collateral-dependent loan. Generally, the Company utilizes the fair market value of the collateral to measure impairment.
Other real estate owned—OREO is real property that the Bank has taken ownership of in partial or full satisfaction of a loan or loans. OREO is recorded at the lower of the carrying amount of the loan or fair value less estimated costs to sell. This amount becomes the property’s new basis. Any write-downs based on the property fair value less estimated cost to sell at the date of acquisition are charged to the allowance for loan and lease losses. Management periodically reviews OREO in an effort to ensure the property is carried at the lower of its new basis or fair value, net of estimated costs to sell. Any write-downs subsequent to acquisition are charged to earnings.
The following table sets forth the Company’s assets that were measured using fair value estimates on a nonrecurring basis at December 31, 2011 and 2010:
 
 
Fair value  at
December 31, 2011
 
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
Losses During the Year Ended
December 31, 2011
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
 
 
(in thousands)
Impaired loans
 
$
17,755

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
17,755

 
$
5,841

Noncovered OREO
 
11,233

 
—

 
—

 
11,233

 
3,089

Covered OREO
 
2,442

 
—

 
—

 
2,442

 
644

 
 
$
31,430

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
31,430

 
$
9,574

 
 
Fair value  at
December 31, 2010
 
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
Losses During the Year Ended
December 31, 2010
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
 
 
(in thousands)
Impaired loans
 
$
65,226

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
65,226

 
$
13,906

Noncovered OREO
 
18,266

 
—

 
—

 
18,266

 
4,155

Covered OREO
 
1,422

 
—

 
—

 
1,422

 
263

 
 
$
84,914

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
84,914

 
$
18,324


The losses on impaired loans disclosed above represent the amount of the specific reserve and/or charge-offs during the period applicable to loans held at period end. The amount of the specific reserve is included in the allowance for loan and lease losses. The losses on noncovered OREO disclosed above represent the write-downs taken at foreclosure that were charged to the allowance for loan and lease losses, as well as subsequent write-downs from updated appraisals that were charged to earnings.
At each reporting period, all assets and liabilities for which the fair value measurement is based on significant unobservable inputs are classified as Level 3. Activity in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2011 is summarized in the following table:
 
 
Securities available for sale - State and municipal securities
 
 
(in thousands)
Beginning balance, January 1, 2011
 
$
—

Transfers into Level 3 (1)
 
2,950

Impairment loss included in earnings
 
(2,950
)
Ending Balance, December 31, 2011
 
$
—

_____________
(1) Transfers into Level 3 were due to a municipal security that had been categorized previously at a higher level, but the inputs to the fair value calculation for the municipal security became unobservable as the security defaulted on its principal repayment and was no longer actively traded.
Fair value of financial instruments
Because broadly traded markets do not exist for most of the Company’s financial instruments, the fair value calculations attempt to incorporate the effect of current market conditions at a specific time. These determinations are subjective in nature, involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and do not include tax ramifications; therefore, the results cannot be determined with precision, substantiated by comparison to independent markets and may not be realized in an actual sale or immediate settlement of the instruments. There may be inherent weaknesses in any calculation technique, and changes in the underlying assumptions used, including discount rates and estimates of future cash flows, could significantly affect the results. For all of these reasons, the aggregation of the fair value calculations presented herein do not represent, and should not be construed to represent, the underlying value of the Company.
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value:
Cash and due from banks and interest-earning deposits with banks—The fair value of financial instruments that are short-term or reprice frequently and that have little or no risk are considered to have a fair value that approximates carrying value.
Securities available for sale—Securities at fair value are priced using a combination of market activity, industry recognized information sources, yield curves, discounted cash flow models and other factors.
Federal Home Loan Bank stock—The fair value is based upon the par value of the stock which equates to its carrying value.
Loans—Loans are not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Nonrecurring fair value adjustments are periodically recorded on impaired loans that are measured for impairment based on the fair value of collateral. For most performing loans, fair value is estimated using expected duration and lending rates that would have been offered on December 31, 2011 for loans which mirror the attributes of the loans with similar rate structures and average maturities. The fair values resulting from these calculations are reduced by an amount representing the change in estimated fair value attributable to changes in borrowers’ credit quality since the loans were originated. For nonperforming loans, fair value is estimated by applying a valuation discount based upon loan sales data from the FDIC. For covered loans, fair value is estimated by discounting the expected future cash flows using a lending rate that would have been offered on December 31, 2011.
FDIC loss-sharing asset —The fair value of the FDIC loss-sharing asset is estimated based on discounting the expected future cash flows using an estimated market rate.
Interest rate contracts—Interest rate contracts are valued in models, which use as their basis, readily observable market parameters.
Deposits—For deposits with no contractual maturity, the fair value is equal to the carrying value. The fair value of fixed maturity deposits is based on discounted cash flows using the difference between the deposit rate and current market rates for deposits of similar remaining maturities.
FHLB advances—The fair value of FHLB advances is estimated based on discounting the future cash flows using the market rate currently offered.

Repurchase agreements—The fair value of securities sold under agreement to repurchase is estimated based on discounting the future cash flows using the market rate currently offered.
Long-term subordinated debt—The fair value of long-term subordinated debt is estimated based on discounting the future cash flows using an estimated market rate.
Other Financial Instruments—The majority of our commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit carry current market interest rates if converted to loans, as such, carrying value is assumed to equal fair value.
The following table summarizes carrying amounts and estimated fair values of selected financial instruments:
 
 
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value
 
 
(in thousands)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks
 
$
91,364

 
$
91,364

 
$
55,492

 
$
55,492

Interest-earning deposits with banks
 
202,925

 
202,925

 
458,638

 
458,638

Securities available for sale
 
1,028,110

 
1,028,110

 
763,866

 
763,866

FHLB stock
 
22,215

 
22,215

 
17,908

 
17,908

Loans held for sale
 
2,148

 
2,148

 
754

 
754

Loans
 
2,827,259

 
2,957,345

 
2,371,822

 
2,525,113

FDIC loss-sharing asset
 
175,071

 
71,788

 
205,991

 
205,991

Interest rate contracts
 
16,302

 
16,302

 
10,167

 
10,167

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
 
$
3,815,529

 
$
3,817,013

 
$
3,327,269

 
$
3,330,616

FHLB advances
 
119,009

 
119,849

 
119,405

 
122,722

Repurchase agreements
 
25,000

 
26,580

 
25,000

 
27,251

Other borrowings
 
—

 
—

 
642

 
642

Long-term subordinated debt
 
—

 
—

 
25,735

 
20,156

Interest rate contracts
 
16,302

 
16,302

 
10,167

 
10,167