Note 18 - Fair Value and Interest Rate Risk

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

Note 18. Fair Value and Interest Rate Risk

The Company uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures. A fair value hierarchy has been established that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value, requiring entities to maximize the use of observable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs generally require significant management judgment.

The three levels within the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

● Level 1- Unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access at the measurement date (such as active exchange-traded equity securities and certain U.S. and government agency debt securities).

● Level 2- Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as:

■ quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets (such as U.S. agency and government sponsored mortgage-backed securities)

■ quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in less active markets (such as certain U.S. and government agency debt securities, and corporate and municipal debt securities that trade infrequently)

■ Other inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability (i.e. interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates, etc.)

● Level 3- Valuation techniques that require unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value measurement of the asset or liability (such as pricing and discounted cash flow models that typically reflect management’s estimates of the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the asset or liability).

A description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities recorded at fair value, and for estimating fair value for financial and non-financial instruments not recorded at fair value, is set forth below.

Cash and due from banks, federal funds sold, short-term investments and accrued interest receivable and payable: The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value and accordingly these are classified as Level 1. These financial instruments are not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.

Available-for-Sale Securities: The fair value of securities available for sale (carried at fair value) and held to maturity (carried at amortized cost) are determined by obtaining quoted market prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges (Level 1), or matrix pricing (Level 2), which is a mathematical technique used widely in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted market prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities' relationship to other benchmark quoted prices.

Other Investments: The Bank’s investment portfolio includes the Solomon Hess SBA Loan Fund totaling $4.5 million. This investment is utilized for the purposes of the Bank satisfying its CRA lending requirements. As this fund operates as a private fund, shares in the Fund are not publicly traded and therefore have no readily determinable market value. An investment in the Fund is reported in the financial statements at cost, as adjusted for income, losses, and cash distributions attributable to the investment.

Loans: For variable rate loans, which reprice frequently and have no significant change in credit risk, carrying values are a reasonable estimate of fair values, adjusted for credit losses inherent in the portfolios. The fair value of fixed rate loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the period end rates, estimated by using local market data, at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities, adjusted for credit losses inherent in the portfolios. As estimates are dependent on management’s observations, loans are classified as Level 3. The Company does not record loans at fair value on a recurring basis. However, from time to time, nonrecurring fair value adjustments to collateral-dependent impaired loans are recorded to reflect partial write-downs based on the observable market price or current appraised value of collateral. Fair values estimated in this manner do not fully incorporate an exit-price approach to fair value, but instead are based on a comparison to current market rates for comparable loans.

Other Real Estate Owned: The fair value of OREO properties the Company may obtain is based on the estimated current property valuations less estimated selling costs. When the fair value is based on current observable appraised values, OREO is classified within Level 2. The Company classifies the OREO within Level 3 when unobservable adjustments are made to appraised values. The Company does not record other real estate owned at fair value on a recurring basis.

Deposits: The fair value of demand deposits, regular savings and certain money market deposits is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of certificates of deposit and other time deposits is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies interest rates currently being offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities, estimated using local market data, to a schedule of aggregated expected maturities on such deposits. The Company does not record deposits at fair value on a recurring basis.

Junior Subordinated Debt: Junior subordinated debt reprices quarterly and as a result the carrying amount is considered a reasonable estimate of fair value. The Company does not record junior subordinated debt at fair value on a recurring basis.

Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings: The fair value of the advances is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies current Federal Home Loan Bank interest rates for advances of similar maturity to a schedule of maturities of such advances. The Company does not record these borrowings at fair value on a recurring basis.

Off-balance sheet instruments: Fair values for the Company’s off-balance-sheet instruments (lending commitments) are based on interest rate changes and fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the counterparties’ credit standing. The Company does not record its off-balance-sheet instruments at fair value on a recurring basis.

The following table details the financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine fair value:

	Quoted Prices in		Significant		Significant
(in thousands)	Active Markets		Observable		Unobservable		Balance
	for Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs		as of
December 31, 2015	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		December 31, 2015
U.S. Government agency bonds	$	-		4,954		-		4,954
U.S. Government agency mortgage-backed securities		-		13,413		-		13,413
Corporate bonds		-		9,010		-		9,010
Subordinate notes		-		2,000		-		2,000
Securities available for sale	$	-	$	29,377	$	-	$	29,377

	Quoted Prices in		Significant		Significant
	Active Markets		Observable		Unobservable		Balance
	for Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs		as of
December 31, 2014	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		December 31, 2014
U.S. Government agency bonds	$	-	$	7,409	$	-	$	7,409
U.S. Government agency mortgage-backed securities		-		17,337		-		17,337
Corporate bonds		-		8,936		-		8,936
Securities available for sale	$	-	$	33,682	$	-	$	33,682

Certain financial assets and financial liabilities are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis; that is, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment).

The following table reflects assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value:

	Quoted Prices in		Significant		Significant
(in thousands)	Active Markets		Observable		Unobservable
	for Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs		Balance
Asset Description	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
December 31, 2015
Impaired loans	$	-	$	-	$	363	$	363
December 31, 2014
Impaired loans	$	-	$	-	$	859	$	859

(dollars in thousands)	Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
Asset Description	Fair Value		Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Range (Weighted Average )
December 31, 2015
Impaired loans	$	363	Appraised Value of Collateral (1)	Liquidation Costs (2)	8%			(8%)	(3)
December 31, 2014
Impaired loans	$	859	Appraised Value of Collateral (1)	Liquidation Costs (2)	8%	-	22%	(13%)	(3)

(1) Fair value is generally determined through independent appraisals of the underlying collateral, which include Level 3 inputs that are not identifiable.

(2) Appraisals may be adjusted by management for qualitative factors such as economic conditions and estimated liquidation expenses.

(3) The range and weighted average of qualitative factors such as economic conditions and estimated liquidation expenses are presented as a percent of the appraised value.

The Company discloses fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the consolidated balance sheet, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. Certain financial instruments are excluded from disclosure requirements and, accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company.

The estimated fair value amounts have been measured as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and have not been reevaluated or updated for purposes of these financial statements subsequent to those respective dates. As such, the estimated fair values of these financial instruments subsequent to the respective reporting dates may be different than amounts reported on those dates.

The information presented should not be interpreted as an estimate of the fair value of the Company since a fair value calculation is only required for a limited portion of the Company’s assets and liabilities. Due to the wide range of valuation techniques and the degree of subjectivity used in making the estimates, comparisons between the Company’s disclosures and those of other bank holding companies may not be meaningful.

The following is a summary of the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments not measured and not reported at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2015 and 2014:

		December 31, 2015				December 31, 2014
(in thousands)	Fair Value	Carrying		Estimated		Carrying		Estimated
	Hierarchy	Amount		Fair Value		Amount		Fair Value
Financial Assets:
Cash and noninterest bearing balances due from banks	Level 1	$	2,588	$	2,588	$	2,095		2,095
Interest-bearing deposits due from banks	Level 1		82,812		82,812		71,163		71,163
Other investments	Level 2		4,450		4,450		4,450		4,450
Federal Reserve Bank stock	Level 2		2,075		2,075		2,058		2,058
Federal Home Loan Bank stock	Level 2		6,570		6,570		6,628		6,628
Loans receivable, net	Level 3		479,127		478,160		471,984		476,631
Accrued interest receivable	Level 2		2,010		2,010		1,918		1,918
Financial Liabilities:
Demand deposits	Level 2	$	85,065	$	85,065	$	63,398	$	63,398
Savings deposits	Level 2		108,658		108,658		93,790		93,790
Money market deposits	Level 2		19,522		19,522		24,650		24,650
NOW accounts	Level 2		28,684		28,684		26,269		26,269
Time deposits	Level 2		156,964		156,363		204,216		204,262
Brokered Deposits	Level 1		48,154		48,062		30,710		30,710
FHLB Borrowings	Level 2		132,000		131,903		120,000		120,000
Subordinated debentures	Level 2		8,248		8,248		8,248		8,248
Note Payable	Level 3		1,939		1,904		-		-
Accrued interest payable	Level 2		532		532		167		167

The Company assumes interest rate risk (the risk that general interest rate levels will change) as a result of its normal operations. As a result, the fair values of the Company’s financial instruments will change when interest rate levels change and that change may be either favorable or unfavorable to the Company. Management attempts to match maturities of assets and liabilities to the extent possible to mitigate interest rate risk. However, borrowers with fixed rate obligations are less likely to prepay in a rising rate environment and more likely to prepay in a falling rate environment. Conversely, depositors who are receiving fixed rates are more likely to withdraw funds before maturity in a rising rate environment and less likely to do so in a falling rate environment. Management monitors rates and maturities of assets and liabilities and attempts to minimize interest rate risk by adjusting terms of new loans and deposits and by investing in securities with terms that mitigate the Company’s overall interest rate risk.

Off-balance-sheet instruments

Loan commitments on which the committed interest rate is less than the current market rate were insignificant at December 31, 2015 and 2014. The estimated fair value of fee income on letters of credit at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was insignificant.