Note 6 - Loan Servicing

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Notes to Financial Statements

Loan Servicing [Text Block]

NOTE 6 - LOAN SERVICING

Mortgage and SBA loans serviced for others are not reported as assets. The principal balances at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2021		2020
Loans serviced for others:
Mortgage loans	$	1,366,256	$	1,512,969
SBA loans		140,497		156,222
Commercial real estate loans		4,089		4,145

The fair value of servicing assets for mortgage loans was $15.7 million and $10.7 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The fair value of servicing assets for SBA loans was $4.3 million and $5.0 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Estimates of the loan servicing asset fair value are derived through a discounted cash flow analysis. Portfolio characteristics include loan delinquency rates, age of loans, note rate and geography. The assumptions embedded in the valuation are obtained from a range of metrics utilized by active buyers in the market place. The analysis accounts for recent transactions, and supply and demand within the market.

Servicing fees net of servicing asset amortization totaled $62,000 and $426,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and $546,000 and $1.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

When mortgage and SBA loans are sold with servicing retained, servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value with the income statement effect recorded in gains on sales of loans. Fair value is based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. All classes of servicing assets are subsequently measured using the amortization method which requires servicing rights to be amortized into noninterest income in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying loans.

Servicing rights are evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the rights as compared to carrying amount. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance for an individual grouping, to the extent that fair value is less than the carrying amount. If the Company later determines that all or a portion of the impairment no longer exists for a particular grouping, a reduction of the allowance may be recorded as an increase to income. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company did not record any impairment writedowns but recorded a recovery on impairments of $416,000 on mortgage servicing rights as the economic impact from pandemic eased. During three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded an impairment writedown of $50,000 and $416,000, respectively, on mortgage servicing rights due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Servicing fee income is recorded for fees earned for servicing loans. The fees are based on a contractual percentage of the outstanding principal. The amortization of mortgage servicing rights is netted against loan servicing fee income.

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2021						September 30, 2021
	Mortgage			SBA			Mortgage			SBA
(dollars in thousands)	Loans			Loans			Loans			Loans
Servicing assets:
Beginning of period	$	9,318		$	3,240		$	10,529		$	3,436
Additions		351			124			1,559			331
Disposals		(403	)		(329	)		(1,744	)		(490	)
Amortized to expense		(458	)		(118	)		(1,536	)		(360	)
Impairment		416			—			416			—
End of period	$	9,224		$	2,917		$	9,224		$	2,917

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2020						September 30, 2020
	Mortgage			SBA			Mortgage			SBA
(dollars in thousands)	Loans			Loans			Loans			Loans
Servicing assets:
Beginning of period	$	11,981		$	3,614		$	12,997		$	4,086
Additions		228			—			1,055			70
Disposals		(360	)		(5	)		(998	)		(270	)
Amortized to expense		(551	)		(133	)		(1,391	)		(410	)
Impairment		(50	)		—			(415	)		—
End of period	$	11,248		$	3,476		$	11,248		$	3,476