Note 16 - Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]

Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Text Block]

16.      Fair Value Measurements

The Company adopted ASC Topic 820 on January 1, 2008, and determined the fair values of our financial instruments based on the following:

● Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

● Level 2 – Observable prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; directly observable market inputs for substantially the full term of the asset and liability; market inputs that are not directly observable but are derived from or corroborated by observable market data.

● Level 3 – Unobservable inputs based on the Company’s own judgments about the assumptions that a market participant would use.

The Company uses the following methodologies to measure the fair value of its financial assets and liabilities on a recurring basis:

Securities Available for Sale. For certain actively traded agency preferred stocks, mutual funds, and U.S. Treasury securities, the Company measures the fair value based on quoted market prices in active exchange markets at the reporting date, a Level 1 measurement. The Company also measures securities by using quoted market prices for similar securities or dealer quotes, a Level 2 measurement. This category generally includes U.S. Government agency securities, state and municipal securities, mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), commercial MBS, collateralized mortgage obligations, asset-backed securities, corporate bonds and trust preferred securities.

Warrants. The Company measures the fair value of warrants based on unobservable inputs based on assumption and management judgment, a Level 3 measurement.

Currency Option Contracts and Foreign Exchange Contracts. The Company measures the fair value of currency option and foreign exchange contracts based on observable market rates on a recurring basis, a Level 2 measurement.

The valuation techniques for the assets and liabilities valued on a nonrecurring basis are as follows:

Impaired Loans. The Company does not record loans at fair value on a recurring basis. However, from time to time, nonrecurring fair value adjustments to collateral dependent impaired loans are recorded based on either the current appraised value of the collateral, a Level 2 measurement, or management’s judgment and estimation of value reported on old appraisals which are then adjusted based on recent market trends, a Level 3 measurement.

Loans Held for Sale. The Company records loans held for sale at fair value based on quoted prices from third party sale analysis, existing sale agreements, or appraisal reports adjusted by sales commission assumption, a Level 3 measurement.

Goodwill. The Company completes “step one” of the impairment test by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit (as determined based on the discussion below) with the recorded book value (or “carrying amount”) of its net assets, with goodwill included in the computation of the carrying amount.  If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of that reporting unit is not considered impaired, and “step two” of the impairment test is not necessary.  If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, step two of the impairment test is performed to determine the amount of impairment.  Step two of the impairment test compares the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill to the “implied fair value” of that goodwill.  The implied fair value of goodwill is computed by assuming all assets and liabilities of the reporting unit would be adjusted to the current fair value, with the offset as an adjustment to goodwill.  This adjusted goodwill balance is the implied fair value used in step two.  An impairment charge is then recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. In connection with the determination of fair value, certain data and information was utilized, including earnings forecasts at the reporting unit level for the next four years.  Other key assumptions include terminal values based on future growth rates and discount rates for valuing the cash flows, which have inputs for the risk-free rate, market risk premium and adjustments to reflect inherent risk and required market returns. Because of the significance of unobservable inputs in the valuation of goodwill impairment, goodwill subject to nonrecurring fair value adjustments is classified as Level 3 measurement.

Core Deposit Intangibles. Core deposit intangibles is initially recorded at fair value based on a valuation of the core deposits acquired and is amortized over its estimated useful life to its residual value in proportion to the economic benefits consumed. The Company assesses the recoverability of this intangible asset on a nonrecurring basis using the core deposits remaining at the assessment date and the fair value of cash flows expected to be generated from the core deposits, a Level 3 measurement.

Other Real Estate Owned. Real estate acquired in the settlement of loans is initially recorded at fair value based on the appraised value of the property on the date of transfer, less estimated costs to sell, a Level 2 measurement. From time to time, nonrecurring fair value adjustments are made to other real estate owned based on the current updated appraised value of the property, also a Level 2 measurement, or management’s judgment and estimation of value reported on old appraisals which are then adjusted based on recent market trends, a Level 3 measurement.

Investments in Venture Capital. The Company periodically reviews for OTTI on a nonrecurring basis. Investments in venture capital were written down to their fair value based on available financial reports from venture capital partnerships and management’s judgment and estimation, a Level 3 measurement.

The following tables present the Company’s hierarchy for its assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2015, and at December 31, 2014:

As of December 31, 2015	Fair Value Measurements Using						Total at
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Assets
Securities available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury securities	$	284,288	$	-	$	-	$	284,288
U.S. government sponsored entities		-		148,160		-		148,160
Mortgage-backed securities		-		1,062,269		-		1,062,269
Collateralized mortgage obligations		-		36		-		36
Corporate debt securities		-		73,855		-		73,855
Mutual funds		5,833		-		-		5,833
Preferred stock of government sponsored entities		-		3,216		-		3,216
Other equity securities		-		8,695		-		8,695
Total securities available-for-sale		290,121		1,296,231		-		1,586,352
Warrants		-		-		62		62
Foreign exchange contracts		-		3,339		-		3,339
Total assets	$	290,121	$	1,299,570	$	62	$	1,589,753
Liabilities
Option contracts	$	-	$	28	$	-	$	28
Interest rate swaps		-		6,496		-		6,496
Foreign exchange contracts		-		4,124		-		4,124
Total liabilities	$	-	$	10,648	$	-	$	10,648

As of December 31, 2014	Fair Value Measurements Using						Total at
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Assets
Securities available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury securities	$	664,004	$	-	$	-	$	664,004
Mortgage-backed securities		-		544,303		-		544,303
Collateralized mortgage obligations		-		45		-		45
Corporate debt securities		-		94,472		-		94,472
Mutual funds		5,866		-		-		5,866
Preferred stock of government sponsored entities		-		3,224		-		3,224
Other equity securities		-		7,021		-		7,021
Total securities available-for-sale		669,870		649,065		-		1,318,935
Warrants		-		-		27		27
Foreign exchange contracts		-		1,876		-		1,876
Total assets	$	669,870	$	650,941	$	27	$	1,320,838
Liabilities
Interest rate swaps	$	-	$	4,626	$	-	$	4,626
Foreign exchange contracts		-		5,007		-		5,007
Total liabilities	$	-	$	9,633	$	-	$	9,633

For financial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis that were still reflected in the balance sheet at December 31, 2015 and 2014, the following tables provide the level of valuation assumptions used to determine each adjustment and the carrying value of the related individual assets at December 31, 2015, and at December 31, 2014, and the total losses for the periods indicated:

	As of December 31, 2015								Total Losses/(Gains)
	Fair Value Measurements Using						Total at		For the Twelve Months Ended
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value		December 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
	(In thousands)
Assets
Impaired loans by type:
Commercial loans	$	-	$	-	$	6,317	$	6,317	$	806	$	17
Commercial mortgage loans		-		-		20,359		20,359		598		3,914
Residential mortgage and equity lines		-		-		13,009		13,009		146		27
Total impaired loans		-		-		39,685		39,685		1,550		3,958
Other real estate owned (1		-		10,047		4,235		14,282		404		202
Investments in venture capital and private company stock		-		-		4,922		4,922		553		436
Total assets	$	-	$	10,047	$	48,842	$	58,889	$	2,507	$	4,596

(1) Other real estate owned balance of $24.7. million in the Consolidated Balance Sheets is net of estimated disposal costs.

	As of December 31, 2014								Total Losses/(Gains)
	Fair Value Measurements Using						Total at		For the Twelve Months Ended
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value		December 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	(In thousands)
Assets
Impaired loans by type:
Commercial loans	$	-	$	-	$	3,774	$	3,774	$	17	$	5,731
Commercial mortgage loans		-		-		25,029		25,029		3,914		125
Construction- other		-		-		7,625		7,625		-		-
Residential mortgage and equity lines		-		-		13,126		13,126		27		213
Total impaired loans		-		-		49,554		49,554		3,958		6,069
Other real estate owned (1)		-		16,458		4,110		20,568		202		(3,134	)
Investments in venture capital and private company stock		-		-		5,495		5,495		436		409
Equity investments		-		-		617		617		-		-
Total assets	$	-	$	16,458	$	59,776	$	76,234	$	4,596	$	3,344

(1) Other real estate owned balance of $31.5 million in the Consolidated Balance Sheets is net of estimated disposal costs.

The significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs used in the fair value measurement of collateral for collateral-dependent impaired loans was primarily based on the appraised value of collateral adjusted by estimated sales cost and commissions. The Company generally obtains new appraisal reports every six months. As the Company’s primary objective in the event of default would be to monetize the collateral to settle the outstanding balance of the loan, less marketable collateral would receive a larger discount. During the reported periods, collateral discounts ranged from 45% in the case of accounts receivable collateral to 65% in the case of inventory collateral.

The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of other real estate owned (“OREO”) was primarily based on the appraised value of OREO adjusted by estimated sales cost and commissions.

The Company applies estimated sales cost and commission ranging from 3% to 6% of collateral value of impaired loans, quoted price or loan sale price of loans held for sale, and appraised value of OREOs.

The significant unobservable inputs in the Black-Scholes option pricing model for the fair value of warrants are the expected life of warrant ranging from 1 to 8 years, risk-free interest rate from 1.06% to 2.11%, and stock volatility of the Company from 11.9% to 18.7%.