Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement ("ASC 820") defines fair value 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. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active exchange markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

Level 2: Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active and other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

The Company has established and documented the process for determining the fair values of its assets and liabilities, where applicable. Fair value is based on quoted market prices, when available, for identical or similar assets or liabilities. In the absence of quoted market prices, fair value is determined using valuation models or third-party appraisals. The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used to measure and report the fair value of financial assets and liabilities on a recurring or nonrecurring basis.

Measured on a Recurring Basis

Available-for-sale investment securities and derivative contracts

Securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value of debt securities are priced using model pricing based on the securities' relationship to other benchmark quoted prices as provided by an independent third party, and under GAAP are considered a Level 2 input method. Securities that are traded on active exchanges, including the Company's equity securities, are measured using the closing price in an active market and are considered a Level 1 input method.

Certain loans acquired in the Merger which were designated as held for sale were recorded at fair value to be remeasured on a recurring basis until sold. The fair value of these loans was based on observable market data including dealer quotes and bids from third parties. These were considered a Level 2 input method.

The Company offers interest rate swaps to its variable rate borrowers who want to manage their interest rate risk. At the same time, the Company enters into the opposite trade with a counterparty to offset its interest rate risk. The Company has also entered various forms of fair value hedges and cash flow hedges using interest rate swaps. The fair value of these interest rate swaps are estimated by a third party pricing service using a discounted cash flow technique. These are considered a Level 2 input method.

The following tables present the balance and level in the fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (with the exception of those measured using the NAV practical expedient).


	September 30, 2024
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities

U.S. government and agency securities	$	—	$	314,204	$	—	$	314,204
Asset-backed securities	—		540,125				540,125
Municipal bonds	—		35,073		—		35,073

Corporate debt securities	—		296,282		—		296,282
Mortgage-backed securities
Agency pass-through certificates	—		1,387,025		—		1,387,025


Total Available-for-sale securities	—		2,572,709		—		2,572,709
Client swap program hedges	—		46,758		—		46,758
Commercial loan hedges	—		1,595		—		1,595

Borrowings cash flow hedges	—		117,271		—		117,271
Total Financial Assets	$	—	$	2,738,333	$	—	$	2,738,333

Financial Liabilities
Client swap program hedges	$	—	$	47,388	$	—	$	47,388

Mortgage loan fair value hedges	—		667		—		667

Total Financial Liabilities	$	—	$	48,055	$	—	$	48,055


	September 30, 2023
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities

U.S. government and agency securities	$	—	$	217,053	$	—	$	217,053
Asset-backed securities	—		588,016		—		588,016
Municipal bonds	—		34,662		—		34,662

Corporate debt securities	—		242,522		—		242,522
Mortgage-backed securities
Agency pass-through certificates	—		912,844		—		912,844


Total Available-for-sale securities	—		1,995,097		—		1,995,097
Client swap program hedges	—		78,797		—		78,797
Commercial loan fair value hedges	—		3,405		—		3,405
Mortgage loan fair value hedge	—		46,396		—		46,396
Borrowings cash flow hedges	—		184,373		—		184,373
Total Financial Assets	$	—	$	2,308,068	$	—	$	2,308,068

Financial Liabilities
Client swap program hedges	$	—	$	79,668	$	—	$	79,668



Total Financial Liabilities	$	—	$	79,668	$	—	$	79,668

There were no transfers between, into and/or out of Level 1, 2 or 3 during the year ended September 30, 2024 or September 30, 2023.

Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis after initial recognition such as collateral dependent loans and real estate owned ("REO"). REO consists principally of properties acquired through foreclosure. From time to time, and on a nonrecurring basis, adjustments using fair value measurements are recorded to reflect increases or decreases based on the discounted cash flows, the current appraisal or estimated value of the collateral or REO property.

When management determines that the fair value of the collateral or the REO requires additional adjustments, either as a result of an updated appraised value or when there is no observable market price, the Company classifies the collateral dependent loan or real estate owned as Level 3. Level 3 assets recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis includes loans for which an allowance was established or a partial charge-off was recorded based on the fair value of collateral, as well as real estate owned where the fair value of the property was less than the cost basis.

The following tables present the aggregated balance of assets that were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for the periods presented, and the total gains (losses) resulting from those fair value adjustments during the respective periods. The estimated fair value measurements are shown gross of estimated selling costs.


	September 30, 2024								Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2024
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Total Gains (Losses)
	(In thousands)
Loans receivable (1)	$	—	$	—	$	4,345	$	4,345	$	(3,225)
Real estate owned (2)	—		—		1,460		1,460		(1,910)
Balance at end of period	$	—	$	—	$	5,805	$	5,805	$	(5,135)

(1)The gains (losses) represent re-measurements of collateral-dependent impaired loans.

(2)The gains (losses) represent aggregate write-downs and charge-offs on real estate owned.


	September 30, 2023								Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2023
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Total Gains (Losses)
	(In thousands)
Loans receivable (1)	$	—	$	—	$	35,627	$	35,627	$	(46,079)
Real estate owned (2)	—		—		3,857		3,857		(181)
Balance at end of period	$	—	$	—	$	39,484	$	39,484	$	(46,260)

(1)The gains (losses) represent re-measurements of collateral-dependent impaired loans.

(2)The gains (losses) represent aggregate write-downs and charge-offs on real estate owned.

At September 30, 2024, there was $681,000 in foreclosed residential real estate properties held as REO. The recorded investment of consumer mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings were in process was $6,184,000.

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

U. S. GAAP requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized on the statement of financial condition, for which it is practicable to estimate those values. Certain financial instruments and all non-financial instruments are excluded from the disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value estimates presented do not reflect the underlying fair value of the Company. Although management is not aware of any factors that would materially affect the estimated fair value amounts presented below, such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purposes of these financial statements since the dates shown, and therefore, estimates of fair value subsequent to those dates may differ significantly from the amounts presented below.


		September 30, 2024				September 30, 2023
	Level	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
		(In thousands)
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents	1	$	2,381,102	$	2,381,102	$	980,649	$	980,649
Available-for-sale securities:

U.S. government and agency securities	2	314,204		314,204		217,053		217,053
Asset-backed securities	2	540,125		540,125		588,016		588,016
Municipal bonds	2	35,073		35,073		34,662		34,662

Corporate debt securities	2	296,282		296,282		242,522		242,522
Mortgage-backed securities
Agency pass-through certificates	2	1,387,025		1,387,025		912,844		912,844

Total available-for-sale securities		2,572,709		2,572,709		1,995,097		1,995,097
Held-to-maturity securities:





Mortgage-backed securities
Agency pass-through certificates	2	436,972		401,046		423,586		355,188

Total held-to-maturity securities		436,972		401,046		423,586		355,188

Loans receivable	3	20,916,354		20,269,059		17,476,550		16,559,758

FHLB stock	2	95,617		95,617		126,820		126,820

Other assets - client swap program hedges	2	46,758		46,758		78,797		78,797
Other assets - commercial loan fair value hedges	2	1,595		1,595		3,405		3,405
Other assets - mortgage loan fair value hedges	2	—		—		46,396		46,396
Other assets - borrowings cash flow hedges	2	117,271		117,271		184,373		184,373

Financial liabilities
Time deposits	2	9,556,785		9,787,187		5,305,016		5,232,689
Borrowings	2	3,267,589		3,276,122		3,650,000		3,653,229
Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures	3	50,718		50,240		—		—
Other liabilities - client swap program hedges	2	47,388		47,388		79,668		79,668

Other liabilities - mortgage loan fair value hedges	2	667		667		—		—

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments:

Cash and cash equivalents – The carrying amount of these items is a reasonable estimate of their fair value.

Available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity securities – Securities at fair value are primarily priced using model pricing based on the securities' relationship to other benchmark quoted prices as provided by an independent third party and are considered a Level 2 input method. Equity securities which are exchange traded are considered a Level 1 input method.

Loans receivable – Fair values are estimated first by stratifying the portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics. Loans are segregated by type such as multi-family real estate, residential mortgage, construction, commercial, consumer and land loans. Each loan category is further segmented into fixed- and adjustable-rate interest terms. For residential mortgages and multi-family loans, the bank determined that its best exit price was by securitization. MBS benchmark prices are used as a base price, with further loan level pricing adjustments made based on individual loan characteristics such as FICO score, LTV, Property Type and occupancy. For all other loan categories an estimate of fair value is then calculated based on discounted cash flows using a discount rate offered and observed in the market on similar products, plus an adjustment for liquidity to reflect the non-homogeneous nature of the loans, as well as, an annual loss rate based on historical losses to arrive at an estimated exit price fair value. Fair value for impaired loans is also based on recent appraisals or estimated cash flows discounted using rates commensurate with risk associated with the estimated cash flows. Assumptions regarding credit risk, cash flows and discount rates are judgmentally determined using available market information and specific borrower information.

FHLB stock – The fair value is based upon the par value of the stock which equates to its carrying value.

Time deposits – The fair value of fixed-maturity time deposits is estimated by discounting the estimated future cash flows using the rates currently offered for deposits with similar remaining maturities.

Borrowings – The fair value of FHLB advances and FRB borrowings is estimated by discounting the estimated future cash flows using rates currently available to the Company for debt with similar remaining maturities.

Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures - The fair value of junior subordinated debentures is estimated using an income approach valuation technique. The significant unobservable input utilized in the estimation of fair value of these instruments is the credit risk adjusted spread. The credit risk adjusted spread represents the nonperformance risk of the liability, contemplating the inherent risk of the obligation. The ending carrying (fair) value of the junior subordinated debentures measured at fair value represents the estimated amount that would be paid to transfer these liabilities in an orderly transaction amongst market participants. Due to credit concerns in the capital markets and inactivity in the trust preferred markets that have limited the observability of market spreads, the Company has classified this as a Level 3 fair value measurement.

Interest rate swaps – The Company offers interest rate swaps to its variable rate borrowers who want to manage their interest rate risk. At the same time, the Bank enters into the opposite trade with a counterparty to offset its interest rate risk. The Company also uses interest rate swaps for various fair value hedges and cash flow hedges. The fair value of interest rate swaps are estimated by a third-party pricing service using a discounted cash flow technique.