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FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING AND MEASUREMENT
The following table presents estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, whether or not recognized or recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (dollars in thousands):
 March 31, 2024December 31, 2023
 LevelCarrying ValueEstimated Fair ValueCarrying ValueEstimated Fair Value
Assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents1$209,276 $209,276 $254,464 $254,464 
Securities—available-for-sale22,219,582 2,219,582 2,348,479 2,348,479 
Securities—available-for-sale325,357 25,357 25,304 25,304 
Securities—held-to-maturity21,031,324 862,143 1,052,028 900,522 
Securities—held-to-maturity36,988 6,954 7,027 6,992 
Loans held for sale29,357 9,441 11,170 11,219 
Loans receivable, net310,717,956 10,296,927 10,660,812 10,250,271 
Equity securities1387 387 449 449 
FHLB stock311,741 11,741 24,028 24,028 
Bank-owned life insurance1306,600 306,600 304,366 304,366 
Mortgage servicing rights313,444 36,755 13,909 35,794 
SBA servicing rights3849 849 740 740 
Investments in limited partnerships312,975 12,975 13,475 13,475 
Derivatives:
Interest rate swaps
222,848 22,848 15,129 15,129 
Interest rate lock and forward sales commitments
2,3285 285 275 275 
Liabilities:    
Demand, interest checking and money market accounts28,500,958 8,500,958 8,571,500 8,571,500 
Regular savings23,171,933 3,171,933 2,980,530 2,980,530 
Certificates of deposit21,485,880 1,473,413 1,477,467 1,465,612 
FHLB advances252,000 52,000 323,000 323,000 
Other borrowings2183,341 183,341 182,877 182,877 
Subordinated notes, net289,456 86,598 92,851 85,536 
Junior subordinated debentures366,586 66,586 66,413 66,413 
Derivatives:
Interest rate swaps
240,099 40,099 29,809 29,809 
Interest rate lock and forward sales commitments
2,3110 110 185 185 
Risk participation agreement218 18 42 42 

The Company measures and discloses certain assets and liabilities at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (that is, not a forced liquidation or distressed sale). When measuring fair value, management will maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs whenever possible. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s estimates for market assumptions.

The estimated fair value amounts of financial instruments have been determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies.  However, considerable judgment is required to interpret data to develop the estimates of fair value.  Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize at a future date.  The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.  In addition, reasonable comparability between financial institutions may not be likely due to the wide range of permitted valuation techniques and numerous estimates that must be made given the absence of active secondary markets for many of the financial instruments.  This lack of uniform valuation methodologies also introduces a greater degree of subjectivity to these estimated fair values.
Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis:

The following tables present financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy of the fair value measurements for those assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands):
 March 31, 2024
 Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Assets:    
Securities—available-for-sale    
U.S. Government and agency obligations$— $8,893 $— $8,893 
Municipal bonds— 127,009 — 127,009 
Corporate bonds— 94,084 25,357 119,441 
Mortgage-backed or related securities— 1,776,385 — 1,776,385 
Asset-backed securities— 213,211 — 213,211 
 — 2,219,582 25,357 2,244,939 
Loans held for sale(1)
— 7,208 — 7,208 
Equity securities387 — — 387 
SBA servicing rights— — 849 849 
Investment in limited partnerships— — 12,975 12,975 
Derivatives    
Interest rate swaps— 22,848 — 22,848 
Interest rate lock and forward sales commitments— — 285 285 
$387 $2,249,638 $39,466 $2,289,491 
Liabilities:    
Junior subordinated debentures
$— $— $66,586 $66,586 
Derivatives    
Interest rate swaps— 40,099 — 40,099 
Interest rate lock and forward sales commitments— 43 67 110 
Risk participation agreement— 18 — 18 
 $— $40,160 $66,653 $106,813 
 December 31, 2023
 Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Assets:    
Securities—available-for-sale    
U.S. Government and agency obligations$— $34,189 $— $34,189 
Municipal bonds— 132,905 — 132,905 
Corporate bonds— 93,819 25,304 119,123 
Mortgage-backed or related securities— 1,866,714 — 1,866,714 
Asset-backed securities— 220,852 — 220,852 
 — 2,348,479 25,304 2,373,783 
Loans held for sale(1)
— 9,105 — 9,105 
Equity securities449 — — 449 
SBA servicing rights— — 740 740 
Investment in limited partnerships— — 13,475 13,475 
Derivatives    
Interest rate swaps— 15,129 — 15,129 
Interest rate lock and forward sales commitments— — 275 275 
 $449 $2,372,713 $39,794 $2,412,956 
Liabilities:    
Junior subordinated debentures$— $— $66,413 $66,413 
Derivatives    
Interest rate swaps— 29,809 — 29,809 
Interest rate lock and forward sales commitments— 161 24 185 
Risk participation agreement— 42 — 42 
 $— $30,012 $66,437 $96,449 

(1)    The unpaid principal balance of residential mortgage loans held for sale carried at fair value on a recurring basis was $7.0 million and $8.8 million at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

The following methods were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments above:

Securities:  The estimated fair values of investment securities and mortgage-backed securities are priced using current active market quotes, if available, which are considered Level 1 measurements.  For most of the portfolio, matrix pricing based on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted prices is used to establish the fair value.  These measurements are considered Level 2.  Due to the continued limited activity in the trust preferred markets that have limited the observability of market spreads for some of the Company’s trust preferred securities (TPS), management has classified these securities, included in Corporate Bonds, as a Level 3 fair value measure. Management periodically reviews the pricing information received from third-party pricing services and tests those prices against other sources to validate the reported fair values.

Loans Held for Sale: Fair values for residential mortgage loans held for sale are determined by comparing actual loan rates to current secondary market prices for similar loans.

Equity Securities: Equity securities are invested in a publicly traded stock. The fair value of these securities is based on daily quoted market prices.

SBA Servicing Rights: Fair values are estimated based on an independent dealer analysis by discounting estimated net future cash flows from servicing. The evaluation utilizes assumptions market participants would use in determining fair value including prepayment speeds, delinquency and foreclosure rates, the discount rate, servicing costs, and the timing of cash flows.  The SBA servicing portfolio is stratified by loan type and fair value estimates are adjusted up or down based on the serviced loan interest rates versus current rates on new loan originations since the most recent independent analysis.

Junior Subordinated Debentures:  The fair value of junior subordinated debentures is estimated using an income approach technique. The significant inputs included in the estimation of fair value are the credit risk adjusted spread and three month SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate). The credit risk adjusted spread represents the nonperformance risk of the liability. The Company utilizes an external valuation firm to validate the reasonableness of the credit risk adjusted spread used to determine the fair value. The junior subordinated debentures are carried at fair value which represents the estimated amount that would be paid to transfer these liabilities in an orderly transaction amongst market participants. Due to inactivity in the trust preferred markets that have limited the observability of market spreads, management has classified this as a Level 3 fair value measurement.
Derivatives: Derivatives include interest rate swap agreements, interest rate lock commitments to originate loans held for sale, forward sales contracts to sell loans and securities related to mortgage banking activities and risk participation agreements. Fair values for these instruments, which generally change as a result of changes in the level of market interest rates, are estimated based on dealer quotes and secondary market sources. As the interest rate lock commitments use a pull-through rate that is considered an unobservable input, these derivatives are classified as a level 3 fair value measurement.

Off-Balance Sheet Items: Off-balance sheet financial instruments include unfunded commitments to extend credit, including standby letters of credit, and commitments to purchase investment securities. The fair value of these instruments is not considered to be material.

Limitations: The fair value estimates presented herein are based on pertinent information available to management as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.  The factors used in the fair value estimates are subject to change subsequent to the dates the fair value estimates are completed, therefore, current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3):

The following table provides a description of the valuation technique, unobservable inputs, and quantitative and qualitative information about the unobservable inputs for the Company’s assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 and measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
Weighted Average Rate or Range
Financial InstrumentsValuation TechniqueUnobservable InputsMarch 31, 2024December 31, 2023
Corporate bonds (TPS)Discounted cash flowsDiscount rate10.81 %10.84 %
Junior subordinated debenturesDiscounted cash flowsDiscount rate10.81 %10.84 %
Loans individually evaluatedCollateral valuationsDiscount to appraised value0% to 80%8.75% to 25%
Interest rate lock commitmentsPricing modelPull-through rate91.41 %88.24 %
SBA servicing rightsDiscounted cash flowsConstant prepayment rate17.92 %16.92 %

Trust preferred securities: Management believes that the credit risk-adjusted spread used to develop the discount rate utilized in the fair value measurement of TPS is indicative of the risk premium a willing market participant would require under current market conditions for instruments with similar contractual rates and terms and conditions and issuers with similar credit risk profiles and with similar expected probability of default. Management attributes the change in fair value of these instruments, compared to their par value, primarily to perceived general market adjustments to the risk premiums for these types of assets subsequent to their issuance.

Junior subordinated debentures: Similar to the TPS discussed above, management believes that the credit risk-adjusted spread utilized in the fair value measurement of the junior subordinated debentures is indicative of the risk premium a willing market participant would require under current market conditions for an issuer with Banner’s credit risk profile. Management attributes the change in fair value of the junior subordinated debentures, compared to their par value, primarily to perceived general market adjustments to the risk premiums for these types of liabilities subsequent to their issuance. Future contractions in the risk adjusted spread relative to the spread currently utilized to measure the Company’s junior subordinated debentures at fair value as of March 31, 2024, or the passage of time, will result in negative fair value adjustments. At March 31, 2024, the discount rate utilized was based on a credit spread of 526 basis points and three-month SOFR of 530 basis points.

Interest rate lock commitments: The fair value of the interest rate lock commitments is based on secondary market sources adjusted for an estimated pull-through rate. The pull-through rate is based on historical loan closing rates for similar interest rate lock commitments. An increase or decrease in the pull-through rate would have a corresponding, positive or negative fair value adjustment.

SBA servicing asset: The constant prepayment rate (CPR) is set based on industry data. An increase in the CPR would result in a negative fair value adjustment, where a decrease in CPR would result in a positive fair value adjustment.
The following tables provide a reconciliation of the assets and liabilities measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) on a recurring basis during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2024
 Level 3 Fair Value Inputs
 TPS SecuritiesBorrowings—Junior Subordinated DebenturesInterest Rate Lock and Forward Sales CommitmentsInvestments in Limited PartnershipsSBA Servicing Asset
Beginning balance$25,304 $66,413 $251 $13,475 $740 
Net change recognized in earnings64 — (33)(930)109 
Net change recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI)(11)173 — — — 
Purchases, issuances and settlements— — — 430 — 
Ending balance at March 31, 2024$25,357 $66,586 $218 $12,975 $849 
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2023
Level 3 Fair Value Inputs
TPS SecuritiesBorrowings—Junior Subordinated DebenturesInterest Rate Lock and Forward Sales CommitmentsInvestments in Limited PartnershipsSBA Servicing Asset
Beginning balance$28,694 $74,857 $39 $12,427 $835 
Net change recognized in earnings(103)— 441 (520)119 
Net change recognized in AOCI— (154)— — — 
Purchases, issuances and settlements— — — 487 — 
Ending balance at March 31, 2023$28,591 $74,703 $480 $12,394 $954 

Interest income and dividends from TPS are recorded as a component of interest income. Interest expense related to the junior subordinated debentures is measured based on contractual interest rates and reported in interest expense. The change in fair value of the junior subordinated debentures, which represents changes in instrument specific credit risk, is recorded in other comprehensive income. The change in fair value of TPS securities, investments in limited partnerships and the SBA servicing asset are recorded as a component of non-interest income. The change in fair value of the interest rate lock and forward sales commitments are included in mortgage banking operations in non-interest income.

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis:

The following tables present financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy of the fair value measurements for those assets as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands):
 March 31, 2024
 Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Loans individually evaluated$— $— $4,484 $4,484 
Real Estate Owned (REO)$— $— $448 $448 
 December 31, 2023
 Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Loans individually evaluated$— $— $8,308 $8,308 
REO— — 526 526 
Loans individually evaluated: Expected credit losses for loans evaluated individually are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate or when the Bank determines that foreclosure is probable, the expected credit loss is measured based on the fair value of the collateral as of the reporting date, less estimated selling costs, as applicable. As a practical expedient, the Bank measures the expected credit loss for a loan using the fair value of the collateral, if repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty based on the Bank’s assessment as of the reporting date. In both cases, if the fair value of the collateral is less than the amortized cost basis of the loan, the Bank will recognize an allowance as the difference between the fair value of the collateral, less costs to sell (if applicable) and the amortized cost basis of the loan. If the fair value of the collateral exceeds the amortized cost basis of the loan, any expected recovery added to the amortized cost basis will be limited to the amount previously charged-off. Subsequent changes in the expected credit losses for loans evaluated individually are included within the provision for credit losses in the same manner in which the expected credit loss initially was recognized or as a reduction in the provision that would otherwise be reported.
REO: The Company records REO (acquired through a lending relationship) at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Fair value adjustments on REO are based on updated real estate appraisals which are based on current market conditions. All REO properties are recorded at the lower of the estimated fair value of the real estate, less expected selling costs, or the carrying amount of the defaulted loans. From time to time, non-recurring fair value adjustments to REO are recorded to reflect partial write-downs based on an observable market price or current appraised value of property. Banner considers any valuation inputs related to REO to be Level 3 inputs. The individual carrying values of these assets are reviewed for impairment at least annually and any additional impairment charges are expensed.