Accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or the price paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market available to the entity in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.

FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy for valuation inputs that gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

A description of the valuation methodologies and key inputs used to measure financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy, is set forth below. These valuation methodologies were applied to the following categories of the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities.

Debt securities classified as available for sale are reported at fair value. U.S. Treasuries are valued using Level 1 inputs. Other debt securities available for sale including U.S. federal agencies, registered mortgage backed securities and state and political subdivisions are valued using prices from an independent pricing service utilizing Level 2 data. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the bond’s terms and conditions, among other things. The Company also invests in private label mortgage backed debt securities for which observable information is not readily available. These debt securities are reported at fair value utilizing Level 3 inputs. For these debt securities, management determines the fair value based on replacement cost, the income approach or information provided by outside consultants or lead investors. Discount rates are primarily based on reference to interest rate spreads on comparable securities of similar duration and credit rating as determined by the nationally recognized rating agencies adjusted for a lack of trading volume. Significant unobservable inputs are developed by investment securities professionals involved in the active trading of similar securities.

The Company reviews the prices for Level 1 and Level 2 securities supplied by the independent pricing service for reasonableness and to ensure such prices are aligned with traditional pricing matrices. In general, the Company does not purchase investment portfolio securities that are esoteric or that have complicated structures. The Company’s portfolio primarily consists of traditional investments including U.S. Treasury obligations, federal agency mortgage pass-through securities, general obligation municipal bonds and a small amount of municipal revenue bonds. Pricing for such instruments is fairly generic and is easily obtained. For in-state bond issues that have relatively low issue sizes and liquidity, the Company utilizes the same parameters for pricing mentioned in the preceding paragraph adjusted for the specific issue. Periodically, the Company will validate prices supplied by the independent pricing service by comparison to prices obtained from third party sources.

The following table summarizes financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the periods presented, segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value:

	Level 1 Inputs		Level 2 Inputs		Level 3 Inputs		Total Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2020
Debt securities available for sale:
U.S. Treasury	$	475,236	$	—	$	—	$	475,236
U.S. federal agencies		—		19,638		—		19,638
Mortgage-backed securities		—		15,696		—		15,696
States and political subdivisions		—		28,793		155		28,948
Asset backed securities		—		—		12,714		12,714

December 31, 2019
Debt securities available for sale:
U.S. Treasury	$	414,449	$	—	$	—	$	414,449
U.S. federal agencies		—		23,024		—		23,024
Mortgage-backed securities		—		17,005		—		17,005
States and political subdivisions		—		22,531		—		22,531
Asset backed securities		—		—		12,714		12,714

The changes in Level 3 assets measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis during the periods presented were as follows:

The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers in and transfers out of Levels 1, 2 and 3 as of the end of the reporting period. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company transferred securities from Level 2 to Level 3 due to a review of the pricing models that determined some state and political subdivisions bonds to be Level 3. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company did not transfer any securities between levels in the fair value hierarchy.

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

Certain financial assets and financial liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment). These financial assets and financial liabilities are reported at fair value utilizing Level 3 inputs.

The Company invests in equity securities without readily determinable fair values and utilizes Level 3 inputs. These securities are reported at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. The realized and unrealized gains and losses are reported as securities transactions in the noninterest income section of the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Collateral dependent loans are reported at the fair value of the underlying collateral if repayment is dependent on liquidation of the collateral. When management determines that foreclosure is probable or when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty at the reporting date and repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral, expected credit losses are based on the fair value of the collateral at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate. In no case does the fair value of a collateral dependent loan exceed the fair value of the underlying collateral. The collateral dependent loans are adjusted to fair value through a specific allocation of the allowance for credit losses or a direct charge-down of the loan.

Impaired loans are reported at the fair value of the underlying collateral if repayment is dependent on liquidation of the collateral. In no case does the fair value of an impaired loan exceed the fair value of the underlying collateral. The impaired loans are adjusted to fair value through a specific allocation of the allowance for credit losses or a direct charge-down of the loan.

Repossessed assets, upon initial recognition, are measured and adjusted to fair value through a charge-off to the allowance for possible credit losses based upon the fair value of the repossessed asset.

Other real estate owned is revalued at fair value subsequent to initial recognition, with any losses recognized in net expense from other real estate owned.

The following table summarizes assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. The fair value represents end of period values, which approximate fair value measurements that occurred on various measurement dates throughout the period:

	Total Fair Value Level 3
	(Dollars in thousands)
As of and for the Year-to-date Period Ended December 31, 2020
Equity securities	$	21,203
Collateral dependent loans		11,347
Repossessed assets		291
Other real estate owned		32,066

As of and for the Year-to-date Period Ended December 31, 2019
Equity securities	$	10,121
Impaired loans (less specific allowance)		45,687
Repossessed assets		465
Other real estate owned		3,024

The Company is required under current authoritative accounting guidance to disclose the estimated fair value of their financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value. For the Company, as for most financial institutions, substantially all of its assets and liabilities are considered financial instruments. A financial instrument is defined as cash, evidence of an ownership interest in an entity or a contract that creates a contractual obligation or right to deliver or receive cash or another financial instrument from a second entity. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments:

Cash and Cash Equivalents Include: Cash and Due from Banks and Interest-Bearing Deposits with Banks

The carrying amount of these short-term instruments is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

For debt securities held for investment, which are generally traded in secondary markets, fair values are based on quoted market prices or dealer quotes, if available. If a quoted market price is not available, fair value is estimated using quoted market prices for similar securities making adjustments for credit or liquidity if applicable.

The Company originates mortgage loans to be sold. At the time of origination, the acquiring bank has already been determined and the terms of the loan, including interest rate, have already been set by the acquiring bank allowing the Company to originate the loan at fair value. Mortgage loans are generally sold within 30 days of origination. Loans held for sale are valued using Level 2 inputs. Gains or losses recognized upon the sale of the loans are determined on a specific identification basis. At December 31, 2020, the Company’s principal subsidiary bank, BancFirst, had approximately $21.6 million in loans at its Hugo, Oklahoma branch that it has entered into an agreement to sell to AmeriState Bank in Atoka, Oklahoma.

To determine the fair value of loans, the Company uses an exit price calculation, which takes into account factors such as liquidity, credit and the nonperformance risk of loans. For certain homogeneous categories of loans, such as some residential mortgages, fair values are estimated using the quoted market prices for securities backed by similar loans, adjusted for differences in loan characteristics. The fair values of other types of loans are estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities.

The fair values of transaction and savings accounts are the amounts payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair values of fixed-maturity certificates of deposit are estimated using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.

The amounts payable on these short-term instruments are reasonable estimates of fair value.

The fair values of junior subordinated debentures are estimated using the rates that would be charged for junior subordinated debentures of similar remaining maturities.

The fair values of commitments are estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the terms of the agreements. The fair values of letters of credit are based on fees currently charged for similar agreements.

The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments that are reported at amortized cost in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, segregated by the level of valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value, are as follows:

	December 31,
	2020				2019
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
FINANCIAL ASSETS
Level 2 inputs:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,616,912	$	1,616,912	$	1,868,281	$	1,868,281
Federal funds sold		—		—		1,000		1,000
Debt securities held for investment		59		62		1,403		1,403
Loans held for sale		53,719		53,719		11,001		11,001
Level 3 inputs:
Debt securities held for investment		2,905		2,922		500		500
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses		6,303,140		6,347,803		5,607,905		5,625,005
FINANCIAL LIABILITIES
Level 2 inputs:
Deposits		8,064,704		8,084,695		7,483,635		7,497,429
Short-term borrowings		1,100		1,100		1,100		1,100
Junior subordinated debentures		26,804		30,535		26,804		29,324
OFF-BALANCE SHEET FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Loan commitments				3,115				2,832
Letters of credit				722				485

The Company has no non-financial assets or non-financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Certain non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include intangible assets and other non-financial long-lived assets measured at fair value and adjusted for impairment. These items are evaluated at least annually for impairment, of which there were none as of December 31, 2020. The evaluation of intangible assets and goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2019 resulted in an impairment of customer relationship intangibles of approximately $353,000 related to BancFirst Insurance Services, Inc. The overall levels of non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis were not considered to be significant to the Company at December 31, 2020 or 2019.