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DERIVATIVES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
DERIVATIVES [Abstract]  
DERIVATIVES
 
11.
DERIVATIVES

We utilize various designated and undesignated derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to movements in interest rates including interest rate swaps, interest rate lock commitments and forward sale commitments. We measure all derivatives at fair value on our consolidated balance sheet. At each reporting period, we record the derivative instruments in other assets or other liabilities depending on whether the derivatives are in an asset or liability position. For derivative instruments that are designated as hedging instruments, we record the effective portion of the changes in the fair value of the derivative in AOCI, net of tax, until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows of the hedged transaction. We immediately recognize the portion of the gain or loss in the fair value of the derivative that represents hedge ineffectiveness in current period earnings. For derivative instruments that are not designated as hedging instruments, changes in the fair value of the derivative are included in current period earnings.

Interest Rate Swap

In January 2008, we entered into a derivative transaction to hedge future cash flows from a portion of our then existing variable rate loan portfolio. Under the terms of the arrangement, we would receive payments equal to a fixed interest rate of 6.25% from January 2008 through January 2013 from the counterparty on a notional amount of $400 million. In return, we would pay the counterparty a floating rate, namely our prime rate, on the same notional amount. The purpose of the derivative transaction was to minimize the risk of fluctuations in interest payments received on our variable rate loan portfolio. The derivative transaction was designated as a cash flow hedge.
 
On September 1, 2009, we terminated the derivative transaction with the counterparty at its then fair market value of $18.0 million. As a result of the termination, we recorded an unrealized gain related to hedge effectiveness of $12.5 million as a component of AOCI and $5.5 million of hedge ineffectiveness as other operating income. The unrealized gain will be recognized into income using the effective yield method over the original contract period, which ends in January 2013. Over the next 12 months, we expect to reclassify $0.4 million of the unrealized gain into earnings.

Interest Rate Lock and Forward Sale Commitments

We enter into interest rate lock commitments on certain mortgage loans that are intended to be sold. To manage interest rate risk on interest rate lock commitments, we also enter into forward loan sale commitments. The interest rate lock and forward loan sale commitments are accounted for as undesignated derivatives and are recorded at their respective fair values in other assets or other liabilities, with changes in fair value recorded in current period earnings. These instruments serve to reduce our exposure to movements in interest rates. At December 31, 2011, we were a party to interest rate lock and forward sale commitments on $69.0 million and $33.8 million of mortgage loans, respectively. At December 31, 2010, we were a party to interest rate lock and forward sale commitments on $64.0 million and $40.7 million of mortgage loans, respectively.

The following table presents the location of all assets and liabilities associated with our derivative instruments within the consolidated balance sheet:
 
      
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
Derivatives not designated
as hedging instruments
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
Fair Value at
December 31, 2011
 
Fair Value at
December 31, 2010
 
Fair Value at
December 31, 2011
 
Fair Value at
December 31, 2010
      
(Dollars in thousands)
Interest rate contracts
 
Other assets /
        
   
other liabilities
 $545 $1,035 $443 $523
 
The following tables present the impact of derivative instruments and their location within the consolidated statements of operations:
 
Derivatives in Cash Flow
Hedging Relationship
 
Amount of Gain Reclassified
from AOCI into Earnings
(Effective Portion)
   
(Dollars in thousands)
Year Ended December 31, 2011
  
Interest rate contracts
 $3,236
     
Year Ended December 31, 2010
   
Interest rate contracts
 $6,720
 
Amounts reclassified from AOCI into income are included in interest income in the consolidated statements of operations. The ineffective portion has been recognized as other operating income in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
Derivatives not in Cash
Flow Hedging Relationship
 
Location of Gain Recognized
in Earnings on Derivatives
 
Amount of Gain Recognized
in Earnings on Derivatives
    
(Dollars in thousands)
Year Ended December 31, 2011
     
Interest rate contracts
 
 Other operating income
 $401
        
Year Ended December 31, 2010
      
Interest rate contracts
 
 Other operating income
 $790