Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) Stock

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) Stock [Abstract]

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) Stock

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK (FHLB) STOCK

As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh ("FHLB"), the Corporation is required to purchase and hold stock in the FHLB to satisfy membership and borrowing requirements. This stock is restricted in that it can only be sold to the FHLB or to another member institution, and all sales of FHLB stock must be at par. As a result of these restrictions, FHLB stock is unlike other investment securities insofar as there is no trading market for FHLB stock and the transfer price is determined by FHLB membership rules and not by market participants.

As of September 30, 2011, the Corporation holds $5,502 of stock in FHLB. In December 2008, the FHLB voluntarily suspended dividend payments on its stock, as well as the repurchase of excess stock from members. The FHLB cited a significant reduction in the level of core earnings resulting from lower short-term interest rates, the increased cost of liquidity, and constrained access to the debt markets at attractive rates and maturities as the main reasons for the decision to suspend dividends and the repurchase of excess capital stock. The FHLB last paid a dividend in the third quarter of 2008.

FHLB stock is held as a long-term investment and its value is determined based on the ultimate recoverability of the par value. The Company evaluates impairment quarterly. The decision of whether impairment exists is a matter of judgment that reflects our view of the FHLB's long-term performance, which includes factors such as the following:

• its operating performance;

• the severity and duration of declines in the fair value of its net assets related to its capital stock amount;

• its commitment to make payments required by law or regulation and the level of such payments in relation to its operating performance;

• the impact of legislative and regulatory changes on the FHLB, and accordingly, on the members of FHLB; and

• its liquidity and funding position.

After evaluating all of these considerations, the Corporation concluded that the par value of its investment in FHLB stock will be recovered. Accordingly, no impairment charge was recorded on these securities. Our evaluation of the factors described above in future periods could result in the recognition of impairment charges on FHLB stock.