The Company enters into interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”) with customers to originate residential mortgage loans at a specific interest rate that are ultimately sold in the secondary market. These commitments, which contain fixed expiration dates, offer the borrower an interest rate guarantee provided the loan meets underwriting guidelines and closes within the timeframe established by the Company.

The Company purchases forward mortgage-backed securities contracts to manage the changes in fair value associated with changes in interest rates related to a portion of the IRLCs. These instruments are typically entered into at the time the IRLC is made in the aggregate.

The fair values of IRLCs are based on current secondary market prices for underlying loans and estimated servicing value with similar coupons, maturity and credit quality, subject to the anticipated loan funding probability (pull-through rate) net of estimated costs to originate the loan. The fair value of IRLCs is subject to change primarily due to changes in interest rates and the estimated pull-through rate. These commitments are classified as Level 3 in the fair value disclosures (see Note 9).

Forward mortgage-backed securities contracts are exchange-traded or traded within highly active dealer markets. In order to determine the fair value of these instruments, the Company utilizes the exchange price or dealer market price for the particular derivative contract and these instruments are therefore classified as Level 2 in the fair value disclosures (see Note 9). The estimated fair values are subject to change primarily due to changes in interest rates. The impact of these forward contracts is included in gain on sale and fees on mortgage loans in the statement of earnings.

These financial instruments are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. All derivatives are carried at fair value in either other assets or other liabilities and are reflected in the gain on sale and fees on mortgage loans in the consolidated statement of earnings.

The following tables provide the outstanding notional balances and fair values of outstanding derivative positions (dollars in thousands):


March 31, 2024:	Outstanding Notional Balance		Asset Derivative Fair Value		Liability Derivative Fair Value
IRLCs	$	53,206	$	803	$	—
Forward mortgage-backed securities trades		70,000		—		91


March 31, 2023:	Outstanding Notional Balance		Asset Derivative Fair Value		Liability Derivative Fair Value
IRLCs	$	58,706	$	827	$	—
Forward mortgage-backed securities trades		69,500		—		334


December 31, 2023:	Outstanding Notional Balance		Asset Derivative Fair Value		Liability Derivative Fair Value
IRLCs	$	28,956	$	427	$	—
Forward mortgage-backed securities trades		35,000		—		288