Note 9 - Fair Value Accounting and Measurement

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Notes to Financial Statements

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

Note 9 - Fair Value Accounting and Measurement

Fair value is the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the Company’s principal market. The Company has established and documented its process for determining the fair values of its assets and liabilities, where applicable. Fair value is based on quoted market prices, when available, for identical or similar assets or liabilities. In the absence of quoted market prices, management determines the fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities using valuation models or third-party pricing services, both of which rely on market-based parameters when available, such as interest rate yield curves, option volatilities and credit spreads, or unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs may be based on management’s judgment, assumptions, and estimates related to credit quality, liquidity, interest rates, and other relevant inputs.

Any changes to valuation methodologies are reviewed by management to ensure they are relevant and justified. Valuation methodologies are refined as more market-based data becomes available.

A three-level valuation hierarchy is used in determining fair value that is based on the transparency of the inputs used in the valuation process. The inputs used in determining fair value in each of the three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Either: (i) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; (ii) observable inputs, such as interest rates or yield curves; or (iii) inputs derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs.

The hierarchy gives the highest ranking to Level 1 inputs and the lowest ranking to Level 3 inputs. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the overall fair value measurement.

Qualitative disclosures of valuation techniques - Securities available for sale: where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities are classified as Level 1. Level 1 instruments include highly liquid government bonds, securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, and exchange-traded equity securities.

If quoted prices are not available, management determines fair value using pricing models, quoted prices of similar securities, which are considered Level 2, or discounted cash flows. In certain cases, where there is limited activity in the market for an instrument, assumptions must be made to determine their fair value. Such instruments are classified as Level 3.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis - Assets and liabilities are considered to be valued on a recurring basis if fair value is measured regularly (i.e., daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly). The following tables show the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at the dates indicated:

	September 30, 2021
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities		Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total
	(In thousands)
Securities available-for-sale
Municipal bonds	$	—	$	110,265	$	—	$	110,265
Agency bonds		—		1,940		—		1,940
ABS corporate		—		11,016		—		11,016
Corporate debt		—		55,946		—		55,946
SBA		—		15,842		—		15,842
MBS agency		—		75,091		—		75,091
MBS corporate		—		55,790		—		55,790
	$	—	$	325,890	$	—	$	325,890

	December 31, 2020
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities		Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total
	(In thousands)
Securities available-for-sale
Municipal bonds	$	—	$	127,862	$	—	$	127,862
ABS agency		—		63,820		—		63,820
ABS corporate		—		29,280		—		29,280
Corporate debt		—		32,970		2,540		35,510
SBA		—		18,564		—		18,564
MBS agency		—		62,683		—		62,683
MBS corporate		—		20,205		6,372		26,577
	$	—	$	355,384	$	8,912	$	364,296

The significant unobservable inputs in the fair value measurement of the Company's Level 3 securities are noted below. Significant fluctuations in any of those inputs in isolation would result in a significantly different fair value measurement.

The following table presents quantitative information about recurring Level 3 fair value measurements at the date indicated:

December 31, 2020	Fair Value (In thousands)	Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Range (a)
Corporate debt	$ 1,540	Consensus pricing	Offered quotes	89 - 91
			Comparability adjustments (%)	-0.7% - +1.3%
	1,000	Consensus pricing	Offered quotes	92 - 100
			Comparability adjustments (%)	-7.4% - 0%
MBS corporate	6,372	Consensus pricing	Offered quotes	104 - 107
			Comparability adjustments (%)	-1.5% - +1.5%
(a) Unobservable inputs were weighted by the relative fair value of the instruments.

The following tables summarize the changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at the dates indicated:

	September 30, 2021
	Balance at January 1, 2021		Transfers Out of Level 3 (1)			Purchases		Unrealized		Total
	(In thousands)
Securities available for sale
Corporate debt	$	2,540	$	(2,540	)	$	—	$	—	$	—
MBS corporate		6,372		(6,372	)		—		—		—
	$	8,912	$	(8,912	)	$	—	$	—	$	—
(1) Transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 after obtaining observable market data.

	December 31, 2020
	Balance at January 1, 2020		Transfers Into Level 3 (1)		Purchases		Unrealized		Total
	(In thousands)
Securities available for sale
Corporate debt	$	—	$	1,540	$	1,000	$	—	$	2,540
MBS corporate		—		—		6,372		—		6,372
	$	—	$	1,540	$	7,372	$	—	$	8,912
(1) Transferred from Level 2 to Level 3 because of a lack of observable market data, resulting from little to no market activity for the securities.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis - Assets are considered to be valued on a nonrecurring basis if the fair value measurement of the instrument does not necessarily result in a change in the amount recorded on the consolidated balance sheets. Generally, nonrecurring valuation is the result of the application of other accounting pronouncements that require assets or liabilities to be assessed for impairment or recorded at the lower of cost or fair value.

The following tables present the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at the dates indicated:

	September 30, 2021
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Impaired loans	$	—	$	—	$	4,134	$	4,134

	December 31, 2020
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Impaired loans	$	—	$	—	$	5,511	$	5,511

At  September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were no impaired loans with discounts to appraisal disposition value or other unobservable inputs.

The following tables present the carrying value and estimated fair value of financial instruments at the dates indicated:

	September 30, 2021
					Fair Value Measurements Using:
	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	76,120	$	76,120	$	76,120	$	—	$	—
Investment securities available for sale		325,890		325,890		—		325,890		—
Loans held for sale		2,231		2,231		—		2,231		—
Loans receivable, net		1,345,126		1,326,567		—		—		1,326,567
FHLB stock		4,397		4,397		—		4,397		—
Accrued interest receivable		5,775		5,775		—		5,775		—
Mortgage servicing rights, net		2,934		3,270		—		—		3,270
Financial liabilities
Demand deposits	$	1,277,836	$	1,277,836	$	1,277,836	$	—	$	—
Time deposits		245,080		245,937		—		245,937		—
FHLB Borrowings		60,000		60,882		—		60,882		—
Subordinated debt		39,261		39,493		—		39,493		—
Accrued interest payable		29		29		—		29		—

	December 31, 2020
					Fair Value Measurements Using:
	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	65,155	$	65,155	$	65,155	$	—	$	—
Investment securities available for sale		364,296		364,296		—		355,384		8,912
Loans held for sale		3,753		3,753		—		3,753		—
Loans receivable, net		1,141,969		1,129,570		—		—		1,129,570
FHLB stock		5,977		5,977		—		5,977		—
Accrued interest receivable		6,966		6,966		—		6,966		—
Mortgage servicing rights, net		2,120		2,189		—		—		2,189
Financial liabilities
Demand deposits	$	1,024,748	$	1,024,748	$	1,024,748	$	—	$	—
Time deposits		308,769		310,992		—		310,992		—
FHLB Borrowings		109,977		111,462		—		111,462		—
Accrued interest payable		53		53		—		53		—

Financial assets and liabilities other than investment securities are not traded in active markets. Estimated fair values require subjective judgments and are approximate. The estimates of fair value in the previous table are not necessarily representative of amounts that could be realized in actual market transactions, or of the underlying value of the Company. The methods and assumptions used by the Company in estimating fair values of financial instruments as set forth below in accordance with ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, as amended by ASU 2016-01 requiring public entities to use the exit price notion effective January 1, 2018, are as follows:

Securities - Fair values for investment securities are primarily measured using information from a third-party pricing service. The pricing service uses pricing models based on market data. In the event that limited or less transparent information is provided by the third-party pricing service, fair value is estimated using secondary pricing services or non-binding third-party broker quotes.

Loans receivable, net - At September 30, 2021, the fair value of loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rate at which similar loans and leases would be made to borrowers with similar credit and for the same remaining maturities. Additionally, to be consistent with the requirements under FASB ASC Topic 820 for Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, the loans were valued at a price that represents the Company’s exit price or the price at which these instruments would be sold or transferred.

Mortgage servicing rights, net - The estimated fair value of mortgage servicing rights is based on market prices for comparable mortgage servicing contracts when available. If no comparable contract is available, the estimated fair value is based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income.