DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

As part of its overall asset and liability management strategy, the Bank periodically uses derivative instruments to minimize significant unplanned fluctuations in earnings and cash flows caused by interest rate volatility. The Bank’s interest rate risk management strategy involves modifying the re-pricing characteristics of certain assets or liabilities so the changes in interest rates do not have a significant effect on net interest income.

The Company recognizes its derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value. On the date the derivative instrument is entered into, the Bank designates whether the derivative is part of a hedging relationship (i.e., cash flow or fair value hedge). The Bank formally documents relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking hedge transactions. The Bank also assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting the changes in cash flows or fair values of hedged items.

Changes in fair value of derivative instruments that are highly effective and qualify as cash flow hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income or loss. Any ineffective portion is recorded in earnings. The Bank discontinues hedge accounting when it is determined the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes of the hedged risk on the hedged item, or management determines the designation of the derivative as a hedging instrument is no longer appropriate.

Information about derivative assets and liabilities at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, was as follows:



	March 31, 2018
	Notional Amount		Weighted Average Maturity	Estimated Fair Value Asset (Liability)
	(in thousands)		(in years)	(in thousands)
Cash flow hedges:
Interest rate caps agreements	$	90,000	4.9	$	1,215
Total cash flow hedges	90,000		4.9	1,215

Economic hedges:
Forward sale commitments	5,658		0.2	(51		)
Total economic hedges	5,658		0.2	(51		)

Non-hedging derivatives:
Interest rate lock commitments	4,375		0.2	7
Total non-hedging derivatives	4,375		0.2	7

Total	$	100,033		$	1,171



	December 31, 2017
	Notional Amount		Weighted Average Maturity	Estimated Fair Value Asset (Liability)
	(in thousands)		(in years)	(in thousands)
Cash flow hedges:
Interest rate caps agreements	$	90,000	5.1	$	669
Total cash flow hedges	90,000		5.1	669

Economic hedges:
Forward sale commitments	20,352		0.2	(221		)
Total economic hedges	20,352		0.2	(221		)

Non-hedging derivatives:
Interest rate lock commitments	19,853		0.2	(1		)
Total non-hedging derivatives	19,853		0.2	(1		)

Total	$	130,205		$	447

Information about derivative assets and liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, was as follows:



	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2018			2017
Cash flow hedges:
Interest rate cap agreements
Realized (loss) in interest expense	$	(108	)	$	(39	)

Economic hedges:
Forward commitments
Realized gain/(loss) in other non-interest income	170			(78		)

Non-hedging derivatives:
Interest rate lock commitments
Realized gain in other non-interest income	8			2

Cash flow hedges

In 2014, interest rate cap agreements were purchased to limit the Bank’s exposure to rising interest rates on four rolling, three-month borrowings indexed to three-month LIBOR. Under the terms of the agreements, the Bank paid total premiums of $4.6 million for the right to receive cash flow payments if 3-month LIBOR rises above the caps of 3.00%, thus effectively ensuring interest expense on the borrowings at maximum rates of 3.00% for the duration of the agreements. The interest rate cap agreements were designated as cash flow hedges. The fair values of the interest rate cap agreements are included in other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair value, representing unrealized gains or losses, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. The premiums paid on the interest rate cap agreements are being recognized as increases in interest expense over the duration of the agreements using the caplet method.

Economic hedges

The Company utilizes forward sale commitments to hedge interest rate risk and the associated effects on the fair value of interest rate lock commitments and loans originated for sale. The forward sale commitments are accounted for as derivatives with changes in fair value recorded in current period earnings. The Company typically uses mandatory delivery contracts, which are loan sale agreements where the Company commits to deliver a certain principal amount of mortgage loans to an investor at a specified price on or before a specified date. Generally, the Company may enter into mandatory delivery contracts shortly after the loan closes with a customer.

Non-hedging derivatives

The Company enters into interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”) for residential mortgage loans, which commit the Company to lend funds to a potential borrower at a specific interest rate and within a specified period of time. IRLCs relate to the origination of mortgage loans will be held for sale are considered derivative financial instruments under applicable accounting guidance. Outstanding IRLCs expose the Company to the risk that the price of the mortgage loans underlying the commitments may decline due to increases in mortgage interest rates from inception of the rate lock to the funding of the loan. The IRLCs are free-standing derivatives which are carried at fair value with changes recorded in non-interest income in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. Changes in the fair value of IRLCs subsequent to inception are based on changes in the fair value of the underlying loan resulting from the fulfillment of the commitment and changes in the probability when the loan will fund within the terms of the commitment, which is affected primarily by changes in interest rates and the passage of time.