Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company uses derivative financial instruments ("derivatives") primarily to manage risks to the Company associated with changing interest rates. The Company's derivatives are hedging instruments in a qualifying hedge accounting relationship (cash flow or fair value hedge).

The Company designates derivatives as cash flow hedges when they are used to manage exposure to variability in cash flows on variable rate borrowings such as the Company's trust preferred capital notes. The Company uses interest rate swap agreements as part of its hedging strategy by exchanging variable-rate interest payments on a notional amount equal to the principal amount of the borrowings for fixed-rate interest payments, with such interest rates set based on benchmarked interest rates.

All interest rate swaps were entered into with counterparties that met the Company's credit standards and the agreements contain collateral provisions protecting the at-risk party. The Company believes that the credit risk inherent in these derivative contracts is not significant.

Terms and conditions of the interest rate swaps vary and amounts receivable or payable are recognized as accrued under the terms of the agreements. The Company assesses the effectiveness of each hedging relationship on a periodic basis. In accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, the effective portions of the derivatives' unrealized gains or losses are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. Based on the Company's assessment, its cash flow hedges are highly effective, but to the extent that any ineffectiveness exists in the hedge relationships, the amounts would be recorded in interest income and interest expense in the Company's consolidated statements of income.

The following tables present information on the Company's derivative financial instruments as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):



	September 30, 2019
	Notional Amount		Positions	Assets		Liabilities		Cash Collateral Pledged
Cash flow hedges:
Interest rate swaps:
Variable-rate to fixed-rate swaps with counterparty	$	28,500	3	$	—	$	3,477	$	3,950



	December 31, 2018
	Notional Amount		Positions	Assets		Liabilities		Cash Collateral Pledged
Cash flow hedges:
Interest rate swaps:
Variable-rate to fixed-rate swaps with counterparty	$	28,500	3	$	—	$	804	$	650