Note 15 - Derivatives and Hedging Activities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Notes to Financial Statements

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 15 – DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

We are exposed to certain risks arising from both business operations and economic conditions. We principally manage the exposure to a wide variety of operational risks through core business activities. Economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity and credit risk, are primarily administered via the amount, sources and duration of assets and liabilities. Derivative financial instruments may also be used to assist in managing economic risks.

Derivatives not designated as hedges are not speculative and result from a service provided to certain commercial loan borrowers. We execute interest rate swaps with commercial banking customers desiring longer-term fixed rate loans, while simultaneously entering into interest rate swaps with correspondent banks to offset the impact of the interest rate swaps with the commercial banking customers. The net result is the desired floating rate loans and a minimization of the risk exposure of the interest rate swap transactions.

As the interest rate swaps associated with this program do not meet the strict hedge accounting requirements, changes in the fair value of both the commercial banking customer interest rate swaps and the offsetting interest rate swaps with the correspondent banks are recognized directly to earnings. Fees paid to us by the correspondent banks are recognized as noninterest income on our Consolidated Statements of Income on the settlement date.

MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2022

NOTE 15 – DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Continued)

The fair values of derivative instruments as of December 31, 2022, are reflected in the following table.

	Notional Amount		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
Derivative Assets
Interest rate swaps	$	401,572,000	Other Assets	$	25,697,000
Derivative Liabilities
Interest rate swaps		401,572,000	Other Liabilities		25,900,000

The effect of interest rate swaps that are not designated as hedging instruments resulted in income of less than $0.1 million during the year-ended December 31, 2022 that was recorded in other noninterest expense on our Consolidated Statements of Income. The fair value of interest rate swaps in a liability position, which includes accrued interest, was $25.9 million as of December 31, 2022. We have master netting arrangements with our correspondent banks that allow us to net receivables and payables. The netting agreement also allows us to net related cash collateral received and transferred up to the fair value exposure amount. We have elected to not offset these transactions on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2022, the gross amount of derivative assets subject to master netting agreements presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $25.3 million, while cash collateral reflecting cash requirements from our counterparties to us totaled $25.2 million, and the net amount of derivative assets not offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $0.1 million. As of December 31, 2022, the gross amount of derivative liabilities subject to master netting agreements presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $0.4 million, while cash collateral reflecting cash requirements from us to our counterparties totaled $0.4 million, and the net amount of derivative liabilities not offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $0. Cash collateral amounts, which are based on daily fair value calculations, are adjusted daily if fair value changes exceed an aggregate of $250,000. Interest rate swaps entered into with commercial loan customers had notional amounts aggregating $402 million as of December 31, 2022. Associated credit exposure is generally mitigated by securing the interest rates swaps with the underlying collateral of the loan instruments.

The fair values of derivative instruments as of December 31, 2021, are reflected in the following table.

	Notional Amount		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
Derivative Assets
Interest rate swaps	$	279,419,000	Other Assets	$	4,609,000
Derivative Liabilities
Interest rate swaps		279,419,000	Other Liabilities		4,857,000

MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2022

NOTE 15 – DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Continued)

The effect of interest rate swaps that are not designated as hedging instruments resulted in expense of $0.2 million during the year-ended December 31, 2021 recognized in other noninterest expense on our Consolidated Statements of Income. The fair value of interest rate swaps in a liability position, which includes accrued interest, was $4.9 million as of December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the gross amount of derivative assets subject to master netting agreements presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $0.8 million, while cash collateral reflecting cash requirements from our counterparties to us totaled $0.7 million, and the net amount of derivative assets not offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $0.1 million. As of December 31, 2021, the gross amount of derivative liabilities subject to master netting agreements presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $4.1 million, while cash collateral reflecting cash requirements from us to our counterparties totaled $4.3 million, and the net amount of derivative liabilities not offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $0.2 million. Interest rate swaps entered into with commercial loan customers had notional amounts aggregating $279 million as of December 31, 2021. Associated credit exposure is generally mitigated by securing the interest rates swaps with the underlying collateral of the loan instruments.

MERCANTILE BANK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2022