Derivative Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Derivative Instruments

Derivative Instruments

Note D: Derivative Instruments

The Company, which uses derivative financial instruments in its normal course of operations, has no derivative financial instruments that are held for trading purposes.

The contract or notional amounts of these financial instruments were as follows:

	DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands)		2011		2010
Mortgage interest rate lock commitments	$	114,583	$	95,019
Hedging contracts:
Forward-delivery contracts	$	56,500	$	63,595
Options on futures contracts		–		10,000

IRLCs represent loan commitments with customers at market rates generally up to 180 days before settlement. IRLCs expose the Company to market risk if mortgage rates increase. IRLCs had interest rates generally ranging from 3.7 percent to 4.8 percent at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Hedging contracts are regularly entered into by the Company for the purpose of mitigating its exposure to movement in interest rates on IRLCs. The selection of these hedging contracts is based upon the Company's secondary marketing strategy, which establishes a risk-tolerance level. Major factors influencing the use of various hedging contracts include general market conditions, interest rates, types of mortgages originated and the percentage of IRLCs expected to fund. The market risk assumed while holding the hedging contracts generally mitigates the market risk associated with IRLCs. The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to certain hedging contracts. Credit risk is limited to those instances where the Company is in a net unrealized gain position. The Company manages this credit risk by entering into agreements with counterparties meeting its credit standards and by monitoring position limits.

During 2006, the Company terminated its treasury lock commitments that were deemed to be highly effective cash flow hedges related to future senior note issuances. The gain resulting from these settlements was recorded, net of income tax effect, in "Accumulated other comprehensive income" and will be amortized until the maturity of the senior notes in 2013. The Company amortized $1.2 million of the gain in each of the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.