Investments

The investment portfolio consists primarily of U.S. Government sponsored entity and agency securities collateralized by residential mortgage obligations, private label residential mortgage backed securities (PLRMBS), and obligations of states and political subdivisions securities. As of March 31, 2017, $105,494,000 of these securities were held as collateral for borrowing arrangements, public funds, and for other purposes.

The fair value of the available-for-sale investment portfolio reflected a net unrealized gain of $2,562,000 at March 31, 2017 compared to an unrealized loss of $891,000 at December 31, 2016. The unrealized gain recorded is net of $1,077,000 and $(375,000) in tax liabilities (benefits) as accumulated other comprehensive income within shareholders’ equity at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

The following table sets forth the carrying values and estimated fair values of our investment securities portfolio at the dates indicated (in thousands):



	March 31, 2017
Available-for-Sale Securities	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Estimated Fair Value
Debt securities:
U.S. Government agencies	$	66,472	$	258	$	(192	)	$	66,538
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	265,764		7,017		(2,846		)	269,935
U.S. Government sponsored entities and agencies collateralized by residential mortgage obligations	185,219		532		(3,108		)	182,643
Private label residential mortgage backed securities	1,723		985		—			2,708
Other equity securities	7,500		—		(84		)	7,416
Total available-for-sale	$	526,678	$	8,792	$	(6,230	)	$	529,240



	December 31, 2016
Available-for-Sale Securities	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Estimated Fair Value
Debt securities:
U.S. Government agencies	$	69,005	$	242	$	(277	)	$	68,970
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	288,543		6,109		(4,353		)	290,299
U.S. Government sponsored entities and agencies collateralized by residential mortgage obligations	181,785		484		(4,048		)	178,221
Private label residential mortgage backed securities	1,807		1,036		—			2,843
Other equity securities	7,500		—		(84		)	7,416
Total available-for-sale	$	548,640	$	7,871	$	(8,762	)	$	547,749

Proceeds and gross realized gains (losses) from the sales or calls of investment securities for the periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 are shown below (in thousands):



	For the Quarter Ended Ended March 31,
Available-for-Sale Securities	2017			2016
Proceeds from sales or calls	$	24,922		$	25,353
Gross realized gains from sales or calls	732			545
Gross realized losses from sales or calls	(250		)	(111		)



	For the Quarter Ended Ended March 31,
Held-to-Maturity Securities	2017		2016
Proceeds from sales or calls	$	—	$	9,257
Gross realized gains from sales or calls	—		696

During 2014, to better manage our interest rate risk, the Company transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity selected municipal securities in our portfolio having a book value of approximately $31 million, a market value of approximately $32 million, and a net unrecognized gain of approximately $163,000. This transfer was completed after careful consideration of our intent and ability to hold these securities to maturity. During the first quarter of 2016, management sold certain investment securities of which management identified that five of the 13 securities sold were previously designated as held-to-maturity (HTM). Through an oversight during the portfolio restructuring analysis related to this transaction, management unintentionally sold these five HTM securities. The book value of the HTM securities sold was $8.5 million. The gain realized on the sale of the HTM securities was $696,000. As such, management was required to reclassify the remaining HTM securities with a fair value of $23.1 million to the available-for-sale designation.

Losses recognized in 2017 and 2016 were incurred in order to reposition the investment securities portfolio based on the current rate environment. The securities which were sold at a loss were acquired when the rate environment was not as volatile. As market interest rates or risks associated with a security's issuer continue to change and impact the actual or perceived values of investment securities, management may determine that selling these securities and using proceeds to purchase securities that fit with the Company’s current risk profile is appropriate and beneficial to the Company.

The provision for income taxes includes $203,000 and $465,000 income tax impact from the reclassification of unrealized net gains on securities to realized net gains on securities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Investment securities, aggregated by investment category, with unrealized losses as of the dates indicated are summarized and classified according to the duration of the loss period as follows (in thousands):



	March 31, 2017
	Less than 12 Months					12 Months or More					Total
	Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized
Available-for-Sale Securities	Value		Losses			Value		Losses			Value		Losses
Debt securities:
U.S. Government agencies	$	16,341	$	(61	)	$	21,667	$	(131	)	$	38,008	$	(192	)
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	95,913		(2,846		)	—		—			95,913		(2,846		)
U.S. Government sponsored entities and agencies collateralized by residential mortgage obligations	114,660		(2,963		)	6,946		(145		)	121,606		(3,108		)
Other equity securities	7,416		(84		)	—		—			7,416		(84		)
Total available-for-sale	$	234,330	$	(5,954	)	$	28,613	$	(276	)	$	262,943	$	(6,230	)



	December 31, 2016
	Less than 12 Months					12 Months or More					Total
	Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized			Fair		Unrealized
Available-for-Sale Securities	Value		Losses			Value		Losses			Value		Losses
Debt securities:
U.S. Government agencies	$	34,586	$	(198	)	$	10,438	$	(79	)	$	45,024	$	(277	)
Obligations of states and political subdivisions	122,522		(4,353		)	—		—			122,522		(4,353		)
U.S. Government sponsored entities and agencies collateralized by residential mortgage obligations	118,719		(3,866		)	7,666		(182		)	126,385		(4,048		)
Other equity securities	7,416		(84		)	—		—			7,416		(84		)
Total available-for-sale	$	283,243	$	(8,501	)	$	18,104	$	(261	)	$	301,347	$	(8,762	)

We periodically evaluate each investment security for other-than-temporary impairment, relying primarily on industry analyst reports, observation of market conditions and interest rate fluctuations. The portion of the impairment that is attributable to a shortage in the present value of expected future cash flows relative to the amortized cost should be recorded as a current period charge to earnings. The discount rate in this analysis is the original yield expected at time of purchase.

As of March 31, 2017, the Company performed an analysis of the investment portfolio to determine whether any of the investments held in the portfolio had an other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI). Management evaluated all individual available-for-sale investment securities with an unrealized loss at March 31, 2017 and identified those that had an unrealized loss for at least a consecutive 12 month period, which had an unrealized loss at March 31, 2017 greater than 10% of the recorded book value on that date, or which had an unrealized loss of more than $10,000. Management also analyzed any securities that may have been downgraded by credit rating agencies.

For those bonds that met the evaluation criteria, management obtained and reviewed the most recently published national credit ratings for those bonds. For those bonds that were obligations of states and political subdivisions with an investment grade rating by the rating agencies, management also evaluated the financial condition of the municipality and any applicable municipal bond insurance provider and concluded during March 2016 that a $136,000 credit related impairment related to one security with a fair value of $2,995,000 and a pre-impairment amortized cost of $3,131,000 existed. The Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment loss of $136,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2016. There were no OTTI losses recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

U.S. Government Agencies

At March 31, 2017, the Company held 21 U.S. Government agency securities, of which three were in a loss position for less than 12 months and seven were in a loss position or had been in a loss position for 12 months or more. The unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in direct obligations of U.S. government agencies were caused by interest rate changes. The contractual terms of those investments do not permit the issuer to settle the securities at a price less than the amortized costs of the investment. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality, and because the Company has the ability and intent to hold, and it is more likely than not that it will not be required to sell, those investments until a recovery of fair value, which may be the maturity date, the Company does not consider those investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2017.

Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions

At March 31, 2017, the Company held 163 obligations of states and political subdivision securities of which 44 were in a loss position for less than 12 months and none were in a loss position or had been in a loss position for 12 months or more. The unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in obligations of states and political subdivision securities were caused by interest rate changes. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality, and because the Company has the ability to hold and does not intend to sell, and it is more likely than not that it will not be required to sell those investments until a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, the Company does not consider those investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2017.

U.S. Government Sponsored Entities and Agencies Collateralized by Residential Mortgage Obligations

At March 31, 2017, the Company held 144 U.S. Government sponsored entity and agency securities collateralized by residential mortgage obligations of which 33 were in a loss position for less than 12 months and nine have been in a loss position for more than 12 months. The unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in U.S. Government sponsored entities and agencies collateralized by residential mortgage obligations were caused by interest rate changes. The contractual cash flows of those investments are guaranteed by an agency or sponsored entity of the U.S. Government. Accordingly, it is expected that the securities would not be settled at a price less than the amortized cost of the Company’s investment. Because the decline in market value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality, and because the Company has the ability to hold and does not intend to sell, and it is more likely than not that it will not be required to sell those investments until a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, the Company does not consider those investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2017.

Private Label Residential Mortgage Backed Securities

At March 31, 2017, the Company had a total of 14 PLRMBS with a remaining principal balance of $1,723,000 and a net unrealized gain of approximately $985,000. None of these securities was recorded with an unrealized loss at March 31, 2017. Ten of these PLRMBS with a remaining principal balance of $1,578,000 had credit ratings below investment grade. The Company continues to monitor these securities for indications that declines in value, if any, may be other-than-temporary.

Other Equity Securities

At March 31, 2017, the Company had one mutual fund equity investment which had an unrealized loss at March 31, 2017.

The following tables provide a roll forward for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 of investment securities credit losses recorded in earnings. The beginning balance represents the credit loss component for which OTTI occurred on debt securities in prior periods. Additions represent the first time a debt security was credit impaired or when subsequent credit impairments have occurred on securities for which OTTI credit losses have been previously recognized.



	For the Quarter Ended Ended March 31,
(In thousands)	2017		2016
Beginning balance	$	874	$	747
Amounts related to credit loss for which an OTTI charge was not previously recognized	—		136
Increases to the amount related to credit loss for which OTTI was previously recognized	—		—
Realized gain for securities sold	—		(9		)
Ending balance	$	874	$	874

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale investment securities at March 31, 2017 by contractual maturity is shown below (in thousands). Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because the issuers of the securities may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.



	March 31, 2017
Available-for-Sale Securities	Amortized Cost		Estimated Fair Value
Within one year	$	455	$	466
After one year through five years	15,656		16,035
After five years through ten years	41,922		42,645
After ten years	207,731		210,789
	265,764		269,935
Investment securities not due at a single maturity date:
U.S. Government agencies	66,472		66,538
U.S. Government sponsored entities and agencies collateralized by residential mortgage obligations	185,219		182,643
Private label residential mortgage backed securities	1,723		2,708
Other equity securities	7,500		7,416
Total available-for-sale	$	526,678	$	529,240