Note 10. Fair Value Measurements

FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, (“ASC 820”) defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the reporting date. The methodology establishes consistency and comparability by providing a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques into three broad levels, which are described below:

A description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy, is set forth below.

In general, fair value is based upon quoted market prices, where evaluated. If such quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based upon internally developed models that primarily use, as inputs, observable market-based parameters. Valuation adjustments may be made to ensure the financial instruments are recorded at fair value.

While management believes the Company’s valuation methodologies are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date.

Mortgage loans held for sale – The fair value of mortgage loans held for sale is determined, when possible, using quoted secondary-market prices or purchaser commitments. If no such quoted price exists, the fair value of a loan is determined using quoted prices for a similar asset or assets, adjusted for the specific attributes of that loan, which would be used by other market participants. The loans are considered Level 2 on the fair value hierarchy.

Derivative financial instruments – Derivative financial instruments are reported at fair value. Fair value is determined using a pricing model with inputs that are unobservable in the market or cannot be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. These instruments are Level 3 on the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value determination of each derivative financial instrument categorized as Level 3 required one or more of the following unobservable inputs:

The following are major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (amounts in thousands):

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The Company enters into IRLCs to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale, at specified interest rates and within a specific period of time (generally between 30 and 90 days), with customers who have applied for a loan and meet certain credit and underwriting criteria. These IRLCs meet the definition of a derivative and are reflected on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in other service revenue on the consolidated statements of operations. Unrealized gains and losses on the IRLCs, reflected as derivative assets and derivative liabilities, respectively, are measured based on the fair value of the underlying mortgage loan, quoted agency mortgage-backed security (“MBS”) prices, estimates of the fair value of the mortgage servicing rights and the probability that the mortgage loan will fund within the terms of the IRLC, net of commission expense and broker fees. The fair value of the forward loan sales commitment and mandatory delivery commitments being used to economically hedge the IRLCs and mortgage loans held for sale not committed to purchasers are based on quoted agency MBS prices.