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Investment Securities
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investment Securities

Note 6. Investment Securities

As of September 30, 2013, Valley had approximately $1.7 billion, $910.8 million, and $14.3 million in held to maturity, available for sale, and trading investment securities, respectively. Valley records impairment charges on its investment securities when the decline in fair value is considered other-than-temporary. Numerous factors, including lack of liquidity for re-sales of certain investment securities; decline in the creditworthiness of the issuer; absence of reliable pricing information for investment securities; adverse changes in business climate; adverse actions by regulators; prolonged decline in value of equity investments; or unanticipated changes in the competitive environment could have a negative effect on Valley’s investment portfolio and may result in other-than-temporary impairment on certain investment securities in future periods. Valley’s investment portfolios include private label mortgage-backed securities, trust preferred securities principally issued by bank holding companies (including three pooled trust preferred securities), corporate bonds primarily issued by banks, and perpetual preferred and common equity securities issued by banks. These investments may pose a higher risk of future impairment charges by Valley as a result of the unpredictable nature of the U.S. economy and its potential negative effect on the future performance of the security issuers and, if applicable, the underlying mortgage loan collateral of the security. See the “Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Analysis” section below for further discussion.

 

Held to Maturity

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value of securities held to maturity at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value  
     (in thousands)  

September 30, 2013

          

U.S. Treasury securities

   $ 99,752       $ 8,279       $ —        $ 108,031   

Obligations of states and political subdivisions:

             —     

Obligations of states and state agencies

     193,196         2,726         (4,603     191,319   

Municipal bonds

     329,594         6,868         (4,410     332,052   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total obligations of states and political subdivisions

     522,790         9,594         (9,013     523,371   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     925,577         14,953         (18,450     922,080   

Trust preferred securities

     103,455         312         (12,733     91,034   

Corporate and other debt securities

     52,205         4,772         (1     56,976   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment securities held to maturity

   $ 1,703,779       $ 37,910       $ (40,197   $ 1,701,492   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

December 31, 2012

          

U.S. Treasury securities

   $ 99,869       $ 15,460       $ —        $ 115,329   

Obligations of states and political subdivisions:

          

Obligations of states and state agencies

     180,304         11,817         (105     192,016   

Municipal bonds

     326,169         13,873         (92     339,950   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total obligations of states and political subdivisions

     506,473         25,690         (197     531,966   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     813,647         24,824         (355     838,116   

Trust preferred securities

     127,505         930         (14,778     113,657   

Corporate and other debt securities

     52,213         6,669         —          58,882   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment securities held to maturity

   $ 1,599,707       $ 73,573       $ (15,330   $ 1,657,950   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The age of unrealized losses and fair value of related securities held to maturity at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     Less than
Twelve Months
    More than
Twelve Months
    Total  
     Fair Value      Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value      Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value      Unrealized
Losses
 
     (in thousands)  

September 30, 2013

               

Obligations of states and political subdivisions:

               

Obligations of states and state agencies

   $ 75,201       $ (4,603   $ —         $ —        $ 75,201       $ (4,603

Municipal bonds

     61,225         (4,316     1,342         (94     62,567         (4,410
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total obligations of states and political subdivisions

     136,426         (8,919     1,342         (94     137,768         (9,013
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     434,690         (18,450     —           —          434,690         (18,450

Trust preferred securities

     14,884         (289     50,942         (12,444     65,826         (12,733

Corporate and other debt securities

     49         (1     —           —          49         (1
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 586,049       $ (27,659   $ 52,284       $ (12,538   $ 638,333       $ (40,197
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

December 31, 2012

               

Obligations of states and political subdivisions:

               

Obligations of states and state agencies

   $ 7,463       $ (105   $ —         $ —        $ 7,463       $ (105

Municipal bonds

     8,055         (92     —           —          8,055         (92
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total obligations of states and political subdivisions

     15,518         (197     —           —          15,518         (197
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     80,152         (355     —           —          80,152         (355

Trust preferred securities

     28,690         (208     48,802         (14,570     77,492         (14,778
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 124,360       $ (760   $ 48,802       $ (14,570   $ 173,162       $ (15,330
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The unrealized losses on investment securities held to maturity are primarily due to changes in interest rates (including, in certain cases, changes in credit spreads) and, in some cases, lack of liquidity in the marketplace. The total number of security positions in the securities held to maturity portfolio in an unrealized loss position at September 30, 2013 was 104 as compared to 34 at December 31, 2012. The increase in long-term market interest rates since June 2013 materially decreased the fair value of lower yielding obligations of states and political subdivisions and residential mortgage-backed securities classified as held to maturity. The investments in obligations of states and political subdivisions are all investment grade with no bankruptcies or defaults.

The unrealized losses for the residential mortgage-backed securities category of the held to maturity portfolio at September 30, 2013 are all within the less than twelve months category and relate to investment grade mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae and government sponsored enterprises.

The unrealized losses for trust preferred securities at September 30, 2013 primarily related to 4 non-rated single-issuer securities, issued by bank holding companies. All single-issuer trust preferred securities classified as held to maturity are paying in accordance with their terms, have no deferrals of interest or defaults and, if applicable, the issuers meet the regulatory capital requirements to be considered “well-capitalized institutions” at September 30, 2013.

Management does not believe that any individual unrealized loss as of September 30, 2013 included in the table above represents other-than-temporary impairment as management mainly attributes the declines in fair value to changes in interest rates, widening credit spreads, and lack of liquidity in the market place, not credit quality or other factors. Based on a comparison of the present value of expected cash flows to the amortized cost, management believes there are no credit losses on these securities. Valley does not have the intent to sell, nor is it more likely than not that Valley will be required to sell, the securities contained in the table above before the recovery of their amortized cost basis or maturity.

As of September 30, 2013, the fair value of investments held to maturity that were pledged to secure public deposits, repurchase agreements, lines of credit, and for other purposes required by law, was $769.0 million.

The contractual maturities of investments in debt securities held to maturity at September 30, 2013 are set forth in the table below. Maturities may differ from contractual maturities in residential mortgage-backed securities because the mortgages underlying the securities may be prepaid without any penalties. Therefore, residential mortgage-backed securities are not included in the maturity categories in the following summary.

 

     September 30, 2013  
     Amortized
Cost
     Fair
Value
 
     (in thousands)  

Due in one year

   $ 133,726       $ 134,039   

Due after one year through five years

     43,702         48,325   

Due after five years through ten years

     254,295         266,007   

Due after ten years

     346,479         331,041   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     925,577         922,080   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investment securities held to maturity

   $ 1,703,779       $ 1,701,492   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Actual maturities of debt securities may differ from those presented above since certain obligations provide the issuer the right to call or prepay the obligation prior to scheduled maturity without penalty.

The weighted-average remaining expected life for residential mortgage-backed securities held to maturity was 5.8 years at September 30, 2013.

 

Available for Sale

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value of securities available for sale at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair Value  
     (in thousands)  

September 30, 2013

          

U.S. Treasury securities

   $ 99,837       $ —         $ (12,161   $ 87,676   

U.S. government agency securities

     50,886         1,017         (634     51,269   

Obligations of states and political subdivisions:

          

Obligations of states and state agencies

     11,500         —           (828     10,672   

Municipal bonds

     27,785         603         (1,507     26,881   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total obligations of states and political subdivisions

     39,285         603         (2,335     37,553   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     547,303         3,928         (15,948     535,283   

Trust preferred securities*

     65,294         6,828         (4,216     67,906   

Corporate and other debt securities

     84,172         1,970         (2,038     84,104   

Equity securities

     47,927         991         (1,900     47,018   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment securities available for sale

   $ 934,704       $ 15,337       $ (39,232   $ 910,809   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

December 31, 2012

          

U.S. Treasury securities

   $ 99,843       $ —         $ (2,218   $ 97,625   

U.S. government agency securities

     44,215         1,547         —          45,762   

Obligations of states and political subdivisions:

          

Obligations of states and state agencies

     207         6         —          213   

Municipal bonds

     16,003         411         —          16,414   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total obligations of states and political subdivisions

     16,210         417         —          16,627   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     506,695         6,818         (3,359     510,154   

Trust preferred securities*

     68,931         240         (11,739     57,432   

Corporate and other debt securities

     28,274         2,728         (294     30,708   

Equity securities

     49,306         2,071         (1,869     49,508   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment securities available for sale

   $ 813,474       $ 13,821       $ (19,479   $ 807,816   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Includes three pooled trust preferred securities, principally collateralized by securities issued by banks and insurance companies.

 

The age of unrealized losses and fair value of related securities available for sale at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

     Less than
Twelve Months
    More than
Twelve Months
    Total  
     Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Losses
 
     (in thousands)  

September 30, 2013

               

U.S. Treasury securities

   $ 87,676       $ (12,161   $ —         $ —        $ 87,676       $ (12,161

U.S. government agency securities

     27,447         (634     —           —          27,447         (634

Obligations of states and political subdivisions:

               

Obligations of states and state agencies

     10,626         (828     —           —          10,626         (828

Municipal bonds

     13,335         (1,507     —           —          13,335         (1,507
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total obligations of states and political subdivisions

     23,961         (2,335     —           —          23,961         (2,335
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     412,356         (14,340     12,585         (1,608     424,941         (15,948

Trust preferred securities

     769         (18     31,718         (4,198     32,487         (4,216

Corporate and other debt securities

     54,087         (1,948     2,410         (90     56,497         (2,038

Equity securities

     1,402         (129     12,688         (1,771     14,090         (1,900
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 607,698       $ (31,565   $ 59,401       $ (7,667   $ 667,099       $ (39,232
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

December 31, 2012

               

U.S. Treasury securities

   $ 97,625       $ (2,218   $ —         $ —        $ 97,625       $ (2,218

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     269,895         (1,256     21,089         (2,103     290,984         (3,359

Trust preferred securities

     760         (511     27,865         (11,228     28,625         (11,739

Corporate and other debt securities

     5,394         (58     2,264         (236     7,658         (294

Equity securities

     969         (75     12,664         (1,794     13,633         (1,869
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 374,643       $ (4,118   $ 63,882       $ (15,361   $ 438,525       $ (19,479
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The unrealized losses on investment securities available for sale are primarily due to changes in interest rates (including, in certain cases, changes in credit spreads) and, in some cases, lack of liquidity in the marketplace. The total number of security positions in the securities available for sale portfolio in an unrealized loss position at September 30, 2013 was 108 as compared to 74 at December 31, 2012. The increase in long-term market interest rates since June 30, 2013 materially decreased the fair value of lower yielding U.S. Treasury securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions, and residential mortgage-backed securities classified as available for sale. The investments in obligations of states and political subdivisions are all investment grade with no bankruptcies or defaults.

The unrealized losses within the residential mortgage-backed securities category of the available for sale portfolio at September 30, 2013 included $4.4 million related to three investment grade private label mortgage-backed securities, and $1.0 million of unrealized losses related to three private label mortgage-backed securities that were previously other-than-temporarily impaired. The remaining $10.5 million related to several investment grade residential mortgage-backed securities mainly issued by Ginnie Mae.

The unrealized losses for trust preferred securities at September 30, 2013 in the table above relate to 3 pooled trust preferred and 10 single-issuer bank issued trust preferred securities. The unrealized losses include $3.1 million attributable to 3 pooled trust preferred securities with an amortized cost of $13.8 million and a fair value of $10.7 million and $255 thousand attributable to trust preferred securities of one issuance by one deferring bank holding company with an amortized cost of $16.5 million and a fair value of $16.3 million. The three pooled trust preferred securities included one security with an unrealized loss of $1.8 million and an investment grade rating at September 30, 2013. The other two pooled trust preferred securities had non-investment grade ratings and were initially other-than-temporarily impaired in 2008 with additional estimated credit losses recognized during the period 2009 through 2011. The trust preferred issuances by one deferring holding company were initially other-than-temporarily impaired in 2011 with additional estimated credit impairments recognized during 2012. See “Other-Than-Temporarily Impaired Analysis” section below for more details. All of the remaining single-issuer trust preferred securities are all paying in accordance with their terms and have no deferrals of interest or defaults and, if applicable, meet the regulatory capital requirements to be considered “well-capitalized institutions” at September 30, 2013.

 

The unrealized losses within the corporate and other debt securities category (mostly existing for less than twelve months) totaling $2.0 million at September 30, 2013 mainly resulted from an increase in long-term market interest rates since June 30, 2013, which decreased their fair values.

The unrealized losses existing for more than twelve months for equity securities are mostly related to two perpetual preferred security positions with a combined $10.0 million amortized cost and a $1.5 million unrealized loss. At September 30, 2013, these perpetual preferred securities had investment grade ratings and are currently performing and paying quarterly dividends.

Management does not believe that any individual unrealized loss as of September 30, 2013 represents an other-than-temporary impairment, as management mainly attributes the declines in value to changes in interest rates and recent market volatility and wider credit spreads, not credit quality or other factors. Based on a comparison of the present value of expected cash flows to the amortized cost, management believes there are no credit losses on these securities. Valley has no intent to sell, nor is it more likely than not that Valley will be required to sell, the securities contained in the table above before the recovery of their amortized cost basis or, if necessary, maturity.

As of September 30, 2013, the fair value of securities available for sale that were pledged to secure public deposits, repurchase agreements, lines of credit, and for other purposes required by law, was $404.1 million.

The contractual maturities of investment securities available for sale at September 30, 2013 are set forth in the following table. Maturities may differ from contractual maturities in residential mortgage-backed securities because the mortgages underlying the securities may be prepaid without any penalties. Therefore, residential mortgage-backed securities are not included in the maturity categories in the following summary.

 

     September 30, 2013  
     Amortized
Cost
     Fair
Value
 
     (in thousands)  

Due in one year

   $ 150       $ 151   

Due after one year through five years

     56,119         55,262   

Due after five years through ten years

     106,520         103,815   

Due after ten years

     176,685         169,280   

Residential mortgage-backed securities

     547,303         535,283   

Equity securities

     47,927         47,018   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investment securities available for sale

   $ 934,704       $ 910,809   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Actual maturities of debt securities may differ from those presented above since certain obligations provide the issuer the right to call or prepay the obligation prior to scheduled maturity without penalty.

The weighted average remaining expected life for residential mortgage-backed securities available for sale at September 30, 2013 was 4.1 years.

Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Analysis

To determine whether a security’s impairment is other-than-temporary, Valley considers several factors that include, but are not limited to the following:

 

    The severity and duration of the decline, including the causes of the decline in fair value, such as an issuer’s credit problems, interest rate fluctuations, or market volatility;

 

    Adverse conditions specifically related to the issuer of the security, an industry, or geographic area;

 

    Failure of the issuer of the security to make scheduled interest or principal payments;

 

    Any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency or, if applicable, any regulatory actions impacting the security issuer;

 

    Recoveries or additional declines in fair value after the balance sheet date;

 

    Our ability and intent to hold equity security investments until they recover in value, as well as the likelihood of such a recovery in the near term; and

 

    Our intent to sell debt security investments, or if it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell such securities before recovery of their individual amortized cost basis.

For debt securities, the primary consideration in determining whether impairment is other-than-temporary is whether or not we expect to collect all contractual cash flows.

In assessing the level of other-than-temporary impairment attributable to credit loss for debt securities, Valley compares the present value of cash flows expected to be collected with the amortized cost basis of the security. The portion of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to credit loss is recognized in earnings, while the amount related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income or loss. The total other-than-temporary impairment loss is presented in the consolidated statements of income, less the portion recognized in other comprehensive income or loss. Subsequent assessments may result in additional estimated credit losses on previously impaired securities. These additional estimated credit losses are recorded as reclassifications from the portion of other-than-temporary impairment previously recognized in other comprehensive income or loss to earnings in the period of such assessments. The amortized cost basis of an impaired debt security is reduced by the portion of the total impairment related to credit loss.

At September 30, 2013, approximately 55 percent of the $562.1 million carrying value of obligations of states and political subdivisions were issued by the states of (or municipalities within) New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The obligations of states and political subdivisions mainly consist of general obligation bonds and, to much lesser extent, special revenue bonds which had an aggregated amortized cost and fair value of $18.4 million and $18.0 million, respectively, at September 30, 2013. The special revenue bonds were mainly issued by the Port Authorities of New York and New Jersey, as well as various school districts. The gross unrealized losses associated with the obligations of states and political subdivisions totaling $11.4 million as of September 30, 2013 were primarily driven by changes in interest rates and not due to the credit quality of the issuer. Substantially all of these investments are investment grade. The securities were generally underwritten in accordance with Valley’s investment standards prior to the decision to purchase. As part of Valley’s pre-purchase analysis and on-going quarterly assessment of impairment of the obligations of states and political subdivisions, our Credit Risk Management (CRM) Department conducts an independent financial analysis and risk rating assessment of each security issuer based on the issuer’s most recently issued financial statements and other publicly available information. The internal risk rating was developed by CRM using a risk acceptance criteria (RAC) score which considers a multitude of credit factors, including the issuer’s operating results, debt levels, liquidity and debt service capacity. The analysis of debt levels includes unfunded liabilities and assesses these obligations relative to the economy and aggregate debt burden on a per capita basis, if applicable. The RAC score is used as a guideline by CRM for determining the final internal risk rating assigned to the issuer. CRM also obtains the external credit rating agencies’ debt ratings for the issuer and incorporates the lowest external debt rating in the RAC score. Specifically, the external debt rating is one of eight credit factors assessed in the development of the RAC score and represents, along with the rating agency outlook for the issuer, 25 percent of the final composite RAC score. As a result, Valley does not solely rely on external credit ratings in determining our final internal risk rating. For many securities, Valley believes the external credit ratings may not accurately reflect the actual credit quality of the security and therefore should not be viewed in isolation as a measure of the quality of our investments. Additionally, CRM does not consider potential credit support offered by insurance guarantees on certain bond securities in determining the internal risk rating, either at the date of the pre-purchase investment analysis or in subsequent assessments of impairment. Obligations of states and political subdivisions will continue to be monitored as part of our ongoing impairment analysis, and as of September 30, 2013 are expected to perform in accordance with their contractual terms. As a result, Valley expects to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities.

For residential mortgage-backed securities, Valley estimates loss projections for each security by stressing the cash flows from the individual loans collateralizing the security using expected default rates, loss severities, and prepayment speeds, in conjunction with the underlying credit enhancement (if applicable) for each security. Based on collateral and origination vintage specific assumptions, a range of possible cash flows is identified to determine whether other-than-temporary impairment exists. No other-than-temporary impairment losses were recognized as a result of our impairment analysis of these securities at September 30, 2013.

 

For the single-issuer trust preferred securities and corporate and other debt securities, Valley reviews each portfolio to determine if all the securities are paying in accordance with their terms and have no deferrals of interest or defaults. Over the past several years, an increasing number of banking institutions have been required to defer trust preferred payments and various banking institutions have been put in receivership by the FDIC. A deferral event by a bank holding company for which Valley holds trust preferred securities may require the recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment charge if Valley determines that it is more likely than not that all contractual interest and principal cash flows may not be collected. Among other factors, the probability of the collection of all interest and principal determined by Valley in its impairment analysis declines if there is an increase in the estimated deferral period of the issuer. Additionally, a FDIC receivership for any single-issuer would result in an impairment and significant loss. Including the other factors outlined above, Valley analyzes the performance of the issuers on a quarterly basis, including a review of performance data from the issuers’ most recent bank regulatory report, if applicable, to assess their credit risk and the probability of impairment of the contractual cash flows of the applicable security. All of the issuers had capital ratios at September 30, 2013 that were at or above the minimum amounts to be considered a “well-capitalized” financial institution, if applicable, and/or have maintained performance levels adequate to support the contractual cash flows of the trust preferred securities.

Within the available for sale portfolio, Valley has other-than-temporarily impaired trust preferred securities issued by one deferring bank holding company with a combined amortized cost and fair value of $41.8 million and $48.3 million, respectively, after credit impairment charges prior to September 30, 2013. (During October 2013, Valley sold its entire position for these impaired trust preferred securities for net proceeds of $52.5 million and will realize a gain of $10.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2013.) The issuer of the trust preferred securities has deferred interest payments on these securities since late 2009 as required by an operating agreement with its bank regulators. In assessing whether a credit loss exists for the securities of the deferring issuer, Valley considers numerous other factors, including but not limited to, such factors highlighted in the bullet points above. From the dates of deferral up to and including the bank holding company’s most recent regulatory filing, the bank issuer continued to accrue and capitalize the interest owed, but has not remitted the interest to its trust preferred security holders. Additionally, the bank subsidiary of the issuer continued to report capital ratios that were above the minimum amounts to be considered a “well-capitalized” financial institution in its most recent regulatory filing. During the fourth quarter of 2011, Valley estimated a decline in the expected cash flows from the securities as it lengthened the estimate of the timeframe over which it could reasonably anticipate receiving such cash flows, and during the third quarter of 2012, Valley estimated an additional decline in cash flows under one of three weighted alternative scenarios utilized to assess impairment of the securities. The declines in estimated cash flows, after careful assessment of all other available factors, resulted in credit impairment charges of $18.3 million and $4.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2011 and third quarter of 2012, respectively. Valley no longer accrued interest on the securities after the initial impairment in 2011. No additional impairment was recognized as a result of our impairment analysis of these securities at September 30, 2013. See Note 5 for information regarding the Level 3 valuation technique used to measure the fair value of these trust preferred securities at September 30, 2013.

For the three pooled trust preferred securities, Valley evaluates the projected cash flows from each of its tranches in the three securities to determine if they are adequate to support their future contractual principal and interest payments. Valley assesses the credit risk and probability of impairment of the contractual cash flows by projecting the default rates over the life of the security. Higher projected default rates will decrease the expected future cash flows from each security. If the projected decrease in cash flows affects the cash flows projected for the tranche held by Valley, the security would be considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired. Two of the pooled trust preferred securities were initially impaired in 2008 with additional estimated credit losses recognized during 2009 and 2011, and are not accruing interest.

The perpetual preferred securities, reported in equity securities, are hybrid investments that are assessed for impairment by Valley as if they were debt securities. Therefore, Valley assessed the creditworthiness of each security issuer, as well as any potential change in the anticipated cash flows of the securities as of September 30, 2013. Based on this analysis, management believes the declines in fair value of these securities are attributable to a lack of liquidity in the marketplace and are not reflective of any deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuers.

 

Other-Than-Temporarily Impaired Securities

The following table provides information regarding our other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities recognized in earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2013      2012      2013      2012  
     (in thousands)  

Available for sale:

           

Residential mortgage-backed securities

   $ —         $ 172       $ —         $ 722   

Trust preferred securities

     —           4,525         —           4,525   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net impairment losses on securities recognized in earnings

   $ —         $ 4,697       $ —         $ 5,247   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

There were no other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities recognized in earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, Valley recognized net impairment losses on residential mortgage backed securities in earnings, due to additional estimated credit losses on one of six previously impaired private label mortgage-backed securities, as well as additional estimated credit losses related to the trust preferred securities issued by one bank holding company due to further credit deterioration in financial condition of the issuer. At September 30, 2013, the previously impaired private label mortgage-backed securities had a combined amortized cost of $26.7 million and fair value of $25.9 million, while all previously impaired trust preferred securities (including two impaired pooled trust preferred securities) had a combined amortized cost and fair value of $47.2 million and $52.3 million, respectively.

Realized Gains and Losses

Gross gains (losses) realized on sales, maturities and other securities transactions related to investment securities included in earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2013      2012     2013     2012  
     (in thousands)  

Sales transactions:

         

Gross gains

   $ 1       $ 4,513      $ 3,382      $ 5,887   

Gross losses

     —           —          —          (298
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 1       $ 4,513      $ 3,382      $ 5,589   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Maturities and other securities transactions:

         

Gross gains

   $ 8       $ 2,242      $ 657      $ 2,261   

Gross losses

     —           (5,259     (31     (5,307
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 8       $ (3,017   $ 626      $ (3,046
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total gains on securities transactions, net

   $ 9       $ 1,496      $ 4,008      $ 2,543   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Valley recognized gross losses totaling $5.3 million for the third quarter of 2012 due to the early redemption of trust preferred securities issued by one bank holding company.

 

The following table presents the changes in the credit loss component of cumulative other-than-temporary impairment losses on debt securities classified as either held to maturity or available for sale that Valley has recognized in earnings, for which a portion of the impairment loss (non-credit factors) was recognized in other comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2013     2012     2013     2012  
     (in thousands)  

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 33,102      $ 29,251      $ 33,290      $ 29,070   

Additions:

        

Subsequent credit impairments

     —          4,697        —          5,247   

Reductions:

        

Accretion of credit loss impairment due to an increase in expected cash flows

     (190     (590     (378     (959
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

   $ 32,912      $ 33,358      $ 32,912      $ 33,358   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The credit loss component of the impairment loss represents the difference between the present value of expected future cash flows and the amortized cost basis of the security prior to considering credit losses. The beginning balance represents the credit loss component for debt securities for which other-than-temporary impairment occurred prior to each period presented. Other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings for credit impaired debt securities are presented as additions in two components based upon whether the current period is the first time the debt security was credit impaired (initial credit impairment) or is not the first time the debt security was credit impaired (subsequent credit impairment). The credit loss component is reduced if Valley sells, intends to sell or believes it will be required to sell previously credit impaired debt securities. Additionally, the credit loss component is reduced if (i) Valley receives cash flows in excess of what it expected to receive over the remaining life of the credit impaired debt security, (ii) the security matures or (iii) the security is fully written down.

Trading Securities

The fair value of trading securities (consisting of 2 single-issuer bank trust preferred securities) was $14.3 million at September 30, 2013 and $22.2 million (consisting of 3 single-issuer bank trust preferred securities) at December 31, 2012. Interest income on trading securities totaled $290 thousand and $442 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $1.1 million and $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.