Derivative Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Corporation’s derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing, and duration of the Corporation’s known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments principally to manage the Corporation’s interest rate risk. Additionally, the Corporation enters into interest rate derivatives to accommodate the business requirements of its customers. All derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and are measured at fair value.  The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative and resulting designation.

Interest Rate Risk Management Agreements

Interest rate swaps and caps are used from time to time as part of the Corporation’s interest rate risk management strategy.  Interest rate swaps are agreements in which the Corporation and another party agree to exchange interest payments (e.g., fixed-rate for variable-rate payments) computed on a notional principal amount.  Interest rate caps represent options purchased by the Corporation to manage the interest rate paid throughout the term of the option contract. The credit risk associated with these transactions is the risk of default by the counterparty.  To minimize this risk, the Corporation enters into interest rate agreements only with highly rated counterparties that management believes to be creditworthy.  The notional amounts of these agreements do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, thus, are not a measure of the potential loss exposure.

Cash Flow Hedging Instruments

As of December 31, 2014, the Bancorp had two interest rate swap contracts designated as cash flow hedges to hedge the interest rate risk associated with $22.7 million of variable rate junior subordinated debentures. During 2015, both interest rate swap contracts matured. In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Bancorp executed two interest rate caps designated as cash flow hedges to hedge the interest rate risk associated with the $22.7 million of variable rate junior subordinated debentures. The Corporation paid a premium totaling $257 thousand to obtain the right to receive the difference between 3-month LIBOR and a 4.5% strike for both of the interest rate caps. The caps mature in the fourth quarter of 2020. The effective portion of the changes in fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) and subsequently reclassified to earnings when gains or losses are realized.  The ineffective portion of changes in fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings as interest expense.

Loan Related Derivative Contracts

Interest Rate Swap Contracts with Customers

The Corporation has entered into interest rate swap contracts to help commercial loan borrowers manage their interest rate risk.  The interest rate swap contracts with commercial loan borrowers allows them to convert floating-rate loan payments to fixed-rate loan payments.  When we enter into an interest rate swap contract with a commercial loan borrower, we simultaneously enter into a “mirror” swap contract with a third party.  The third party exchanges the client’s fixed-rate loan payments for floating-rate loan payments.  We retain the risk that is associated with the potential failure of counterparties and the risk inherent in originating loans.  As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, Washington Trust had interest rate swap contracts with commercial loan borrowers with notional amounts of $302.1 million and $165.8 million, respectively, and equal amounts of “mirror” swap contracts with third-party financial institutions.  These derivatives are not designated as hedges and therefore, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings.

Risk Participation Agreements

During 2015, the Corporation entered into risk participation agreements (“RPAs”) with other banks participating in commercial loan arrangements. Participating banks guarantee the performance on borrower-related interest rate swap contracts. RPAs are derivative financial instruments and are recorded at fair value. These derivatives are not designated as hedges and therefore, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings.

Under a risk participation-out agreement, a derivative asset, the Corporation participates out a portion of the credit risk associated with the interest rate swap position executed with the commercial borrower, for a fee paid to the participating bank. Under a risk participation-in agreement, a derivative liability, the Corporation assumes, or participates in, a portion of the credit risk associated with the interest rate swap position with the commercial borrower, for a fee received from the other bank.

As of December 31, 2015, the notional amounts of the risk participation-out agreements and risk participation-in agreements were $25.3 million and $21.5 million, respectively.

Loan Commitments

Interest rate lock commitments are extended to borrowers that relate to the origination of residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale.  To mitigate the interest rate risk inherent in these rate locks, as well as closed residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale, forward commitments are established to sell individual residential real estate mortgage loans.  Both interest rate lock commitments and commitments to sell residential real estate mortgage loans are derivative financial instruments, but do not meet criteria for hedge accounting, and as such are treated as derivatives not designated as hedging instruments. These derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value and changes in fair value of these commitments are reflected in earnings in the period of change. The Corporation elected to carry certain closed residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale at fair value, as changes in fair value in these loans held for sale generally offset changes in interest rate lock and forward sale commitments.

The following table presents the fair values of derivative instruments in the Corporation’s Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(Dollars in thousands)	Asset Derivatives					Liability Derivatives
		Fair Value					Fair Value
December 31,	Balance Sheet Location	2015		2014		Balance Sheet Location	2015		2014
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate risk management contract:
Interest rate swap contracts	Other assets		$—		$—	Other liabilities		$—		$497
Interest rate caps	Other assets	187		—		Other liabilities	—		—
Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Forward loan commitments:
Interest rate lock commitments	Other assets	1,220		1,212		Other liabilities	—		20
Commitments to sell mortgage loans	Other assets	—		13		Other liabilities	2,012		2,028
Loan related derivative contracts:
Interest rate swaps with customers	Other assets	8,027		4,554		Other liabilities	—		23
Mirror swaps with counterparties	Other assets	—		28		Other liabilities	8,266		4,748
Risk participation agreements	Other assets	56		—		Other liabilities	69		—
Total			$9,490		$5,807			$10,347		$7,316

The following tables present the effect of derivative instruments in the Corporations’ Consolidated Statements of Income and Changes in Shareholders’ Equity:

(Dollars in thousands)	Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Effective Portion)							Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)	Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income (Ineffective Portion)
Years ended December 31,	2015			2014		2013			2015		2014		2013
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate risk management contracts:
Interest rate swap contracts		$288			$331		$388	Interest Expense		$—		$—		$—
Interest rate caps	(44		)	—		—		Interest Expense	—		—		—
Total		$244			$331		$388			$—		$—		$—

(Dollars in thousands)		Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative
Years ended December 31,	Statement of Income Location	2015			2014			2013
Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Forward loan commitments:
Interest rate lock commitments	Mortgage banking revenues		$28			$800			($2,121	)
Commitments to sell mortgage loans	Mortgage banking revenues	3			(1,442		)	3,618
Loan related derivative contracts:
Interest rate swaps with customers	Loan related derivative income	7,569			4,989			396
Mirror swaps with counterparties	Loan related derivative income	(4,904		)	(3,853		)	555
Risk participation agreements	Loan related derivative income	(224		)	—			—
Total			$2,472			$494			$2,448