XML 61 R12.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Note 4 - Derivatives
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]  
Derivatives and Fair Value [Text Block]

Note 4. Derivatives


As part of its mortgage banking activities, the Bank enters into interest rate lock commitments, which are commitments to originate loans where the interest rate on the loan is determined prior to funding and the customers have locked into that interest rate. The Bank then commits the specific loan for sale with an investor if and only if settlement occurs (“best efforts”) or alternatively commits to deliver the locked loan in a binding (“mandatory”) delivery program with an investor. Certain loans under interest rate lock commitments are covered under forward sales contracts of mortgage backed securities (“MBS”) which provides a hedge against interest rate changes between the time the individual loan interest rate is locked with the borrower and the time the loan is sold to the investor. Forward sales contracts of MBS are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in noninterest income. Interest rate lock commitments and commitments to deliver loans to investors are considered derivatives. The market value of interest rate lock commitments and best efforts contracts are not readily ascertainable with precision because they are not actively traded in stand-alone markets. The Bank determines the fair value of interest rate lock commitments and delivery contracts by measuring the fair value of the underlying asset, which is impacted by current interest rates, taking into consideration the probability that the interest rate lock commitments will close or will be funded.


Certain additional risks arise from forward delivery contracts in that the counterparties to the contracts may not be able to meet the terms of the contracts. The Bank does not expect any counterparty to any MBS to fail to meet its obligation. Additional risks inherent in mandatory delivery programs include the risk that, if the Bank does not close the loans subject to interest rate risk lock commitments, it may have a mismatch in its hedged position which could negatively impact earnings.


The fair value of the derivatives is recorded as a freestanding asset or liability with the change in value being recognized in current earnings during the period of change.


At March 31, 2015 the Bank had derivative financial instruments with a notional value of $62.4 million related to its forward contracts. The net fair value of these derivative instruments at March 31, 2015 was $219 thousand, which is included in other assets and $140 thousand included in other liabilities. There were no derivative instruments outstanding during the first quarter of 2014.


Included in other noninterest income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was a gain of $30 thousand, relating to derivative instruments. The amount included in other noninterest income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 pertaining to its hedging activities was a gain of $171 thousand. There were no derivative instruments or hedging activities outstanding during the first quarter of 2014.