Loan Servicing

Park serviced sold mortgage loans of $1.27 billion at March 31, 2016, $1.28 billion at December 31, 2015 and $1.26 billion at March 31, 2015. At March 31, 2016, $4.9 million of the sold mortgage loans were sold with recourse, compared to $5.4 million at December 31, 2015 and $6.3 million at March 31, 2015. Management closely monitors the delinquency rates on the mortgage loans sold with recourse. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, management had established reserves of $278,000 and $454,000, respectively, to account for expected loan repurchases.

When Park sells mortgage loans with servicing rights retained, servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value. Park selected the “amortization method” as permissible within U.S. GAAP, whereby the servicing rights capitalized are amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated future servicing income of the underlying loan. At the end of each reporting period, the carrying value of mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”) is assessed for impairment with a comparison to fair value. MSRs are carried at the lower of their amortized cost or fair value.

Activity for MSRs and the related valuation allowance follows:



	Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)	2016			2015
Mortgage servicing rights:
Carrying amount, net, beginning of period	$	9,008		$	8,613
Additions	316			313
Amortization	(375		)	(392		)
Changes in valuation allowance	—			(222		)
Carrying amount, net, end of period	$	8,949		$	8,312

Valuation allowance:
Beginning of period	$	542		$	826
Changes in valuation allowance	—			222
End of period	$	542		$	1,048

Servicing fees included in other service income were $0.8 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.