NOTE 11.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurements defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities using a hierarchy system and requires disclosures about fair value measurement. It clarifies that fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the market in which the reporting entity transacts.

The fair value hierarchy is as follows:

Level 1 Inputs – Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets that the Company has the ability to access at measurement date.

Level 2 Inputs – Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which significant assumptions are observable in the market.

Level 3 Inputs – Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market and are used only to the extent that observable inputs are not available. These unobservable assumptions reflect the Company’s own estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.

Securities Available for Sale and Held to Maturity. Securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and securities held to maturity are carried at amortized cost. Fair value measurement is based upon quoted prices, if available. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using an independent pricing service. For both Level 1 and Level 2 securities, management uses various methods and techniques to corroborate prices obtained from the pricing service, including but not limited to reference to dealer or other market quotes, and by reviewing valuations of comparable instruments. The Company’s Level 1 securities include equity securities and mutual funds. Level 2 securities include U.S. Government agency and instrumentality securities, U.S. Government agency and instrumentality mortgage-backed securities, municipal bonds, corporate debt securities and trust preferred securities. The Company had no Level 3 securities at March 31, 2015 or September 30, 2014.

The fair values of securities are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges (Level 1 inputs), or valuation based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model based valuation techniques for which significant assumptions are observable in the market (Level 2 inputs). The Company considers these valuations supplied by a third party provider which utilizes several sources for valuing fixed-income securities. These sources include Interactive Data Corporation, Reuters, Standard and Poor’s, Bloomberg Financial Markets, Street Software Technology, and the third party provider’s own matrix and desk pricing. The Company, no less than annually, reviews the third party’s methods and source’s methodology for reasonableness and to ensure an understanding of inputs utilized in determining fair value. Sources utilized by the third party provider include but are not limited to pricing models that vary based by asset class and include available trade, bid, and other market information. This methodology includes but is not limited to broker quotes, proprietary models, descriptive terms and conditions databases, as well as extensive quality control programs. Monthly, the Company receives and compares prices provided by multiple securities dealers and pricing providers to validate the accuracy and reasonableness of prices received from the third party provider. On a monthly basis, the Investment Committee reviews mark-to-market changes in the securities portfolio for reasonableness.

The following table summarizes the fair values of securities available for sale and held to maturity at March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014. Securities available for sale are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, while securities held to maturity are carried at amortized cost in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

	Fair Value at March 31, 2015
	Available For Sale								Held to Maturity
(Dollars in Thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Debt securities
Trust preferred and corporate securities	$	21,169	$	-	$	21,169	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Small business administration securities		37,367		-		37,367		-		-		-		-		-
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		-		-		-		-		19,254		-		19,254		-
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions		466,875		-		466,875		-		224,667		-		224,667		-
Mortgage-backed securities		676,159		-		676,159		-		68,078		-		68,078		-
Total debt securities		1,201,570		-		1,201,570		-		311,999		-		311,999		-
Common equities and mutual funds		966		966		-		-		-		-		-		-
Total securities	$	1,202,536	$	966	$	1,201,570	$	-	$	311,999	$	-	$	311,999	$	-

	Fair Value at September 30, 2014
	Available For Sale								Held to Maturity
(Dollars in Thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Debt securities
Trust preferred and corporate securities	$	46,929	$	-	$	46,929	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Small business administration securities		67,012		-		67,012		-		-		-		-		-
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		-		-		-		-		18,980		-		18,980		-
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions		367,580		-		367,580		-		192,160		-		192,160		-
Mortgage-backed securities		657,870		-		657,870		-		68,172		-		68,172		-
Total debt securities		1,139,391		-		1,139,391		-		279,312		-		279,312		-
Common equities and mutual funds		825		825		-		-		-		-		-		-
Total securities	$	1,140,216	$	825	$	1,139,391	$	-	$	279,312	$	-	$	279,312	$	-

Foreclosed Real Estate and Repossessed Assets. Real estate properties and repossessed assets are initially recorded at the fair value less selling costs at the date of foreclosure, establishing a new cost basis. The carrying amount represents the lower of the new cost basis or the fair value less selling costs of foreclosed assets that were measured at fair value subsequent to their initial classification as foreclosed assets.

Loans. The Company does not record loans at fair value on a recurring basis. However, if a loan is considered impaired, an allowance for loan losses is established. Once a loan is identified as individually impaired, management measures impairment in accordance with ASC 310, Receivables.

The following table summarizes the assets of the Company that are measured at fair value in the consolidated statements of financial condition on a non-recurring basis as of March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014.

	Fair Value at March 31, 2015
(Dollars in Thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Impaired Loans, net
One to four family residential mortgage loans	$	54	$	-	$	-	$	54
Commercial and multi-family real estate loans		662		-		-		662
Agricultural operating loans		5,808		-		-		5,808
Total Impaired Loans		6,524		-		-		6,524
Foreclosed Assets, net		-		-		-		-
Total	$	6,524	$	-	$	-	$	6,524

	Fair Value at September 30, 2014
(Dollars in Thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Impaired Loans, net
One to four family residential mortgage loans	$	222	$	-	$	-	$	222
Commercial and multi-family real estate loans		930		-		-		930
Total Impaired Loans		1,152		-		-		1,152
Foreclosed Assets, net		15		-		-		15
Total	$	1,167	$	-	$	-	$	1,167

	Quantitative Information About Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
(Dollars in Thousands)	Fair Value at March 31, 2015		Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input

Impaired Loans, net	$	6,524	Market approach	Appraised values ⁽¹⁾
Foreclosed Assets, net		-	Market approach	Appraised values ⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾	The Company generally relies on external appraisers to develop this information. Management reduced the appraised value by estimated selling costs in a range of 4% to 10%.

	Quantitative Information About Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
(Dollars in Thousands)	Fair Value at September 30, 2014		Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input

Impaired Loans, net	$	1,152	Market approach	Appraised values ⁽¹⁾
Foreclosed Assets, net		15	Market approach	Appraised values ⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾	The Company generally relies on external appraisers to develop this information. Management reduced the appraised value by estimated selling costs in a range of 4% to 10%.

The following table discloses the Company’s estimated fair value amounts of its financial instruments. It is management’s belief that the fair values presented below are reasonable based on the valuation techniques and data available to the Company as of March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014, as more fully described below. The operations of the Company are managed from a going concern basis and not a liquidation basis. As a result, the ultimate value realized for the financial instruments presented could be substantially different when actually recognized over time through the normal course of operations. Additionally, a substantial portion of the Company’s inherent value is the Bank’s capitalization and franchise value. Neither of these components have been given consideration in the presentation of fair values below.

The following presents the carrying amount and estimated fair value of the financial instruments held by the Company at March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014.

	March 31, 2015
	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(Dollars in Thousands)
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	24,883	$	24,883	$	24,883	$	-	$	-

Securities available for sale		1,202,536		1,202,536		966		1,201,570		-
Securities held to maturity		311,062		311,999		-		311,999		-
Total securities		1,513,598		1,514,535		966		1,513,569		-

Loans receivable:
One to four family residential mortgage loans		115,741		111,355		-		-		111,355
Commercial and multi-family real estate loans		260,537		270,464		-		-		270,464
Agricultural real estate loans		65,720		66,500		-		-		66,500
Consumer loans		30,535		30,889		-		-		30,889
Commercial operating loans		27,266		21,746		-		-		21,746
Agricultural operating loans		41,749		43,101		-		-		43,101
Premium finance		83,191		86,196		-		-		86,196
Total loans receivable		624,739		630,251		-		-		630,251

Federal Home Loan Bank stock		13,250		13,250		-		13,250		-
Accrued interest receivable		12,466		12,466		12,466		-		-

Financial liabilities
Noninterest bearing demand deposits		1,558,459		1,558,459		1,558,459		-		-
Interest bearing demand deposits, savings, and money markets		110,541		110,541		110,541		-		-
Certificates of deposit		61,672		61,790		-		61,790		-
Total deposits		1,730,672		1,730,791		1,669,001		61,790		-

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank		7,000		8,741		-		8,741		-
Federal funds purchased		261,000		261,000				261,000
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		11,637		11,637		-		11,637		-
Subordinated debentures		10,310		10,413		-		10,413		-
Accrued interest payable		160		160		160		-		-

	September 30, 2014
	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(Dollars in Thousands)
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	29,832	$	29,832	$	29,832	$	-	$	-

Securities available for sale		1,140,216		1,140,216		825		1,139,391		-
Securities held to maturity		282,933		279,312		-		279,312		-
Total securities		1,423,149		1,419,528		825		1,418,703		-

Loans receivable:
One to four family residential mortgage loans		116,395		111,254		-		-		111,254
Commercial and multi-family real estate loans		224,302		234,845		-		-		234,845
Agricultural real estate loans		56,071		58,651		-		-		58,651
Consumer loans		29,329		29,580		-		-		29,580
Commercial operating loans		30,846		25,660		-		-		25,660
Agricultural operating loans		42,258		44,398		-		-		44,398
Total loans receivable		499,201		504,388		-		-		504,388

Federal Home Loan Bank stock		21,245		21,245		-		21,245		-
Accrued interest receivable		11,222		11,222		11,222		-		-

Financial liabilities
Noninterest bearing demand deposits		1,126,715		1,126,715		1,126,715		-		-
Interest bearing demand deposits, savings, and money markets		105,273		105,273		105,273		-		-
Certificates of deposit		134,553		134,746		-		134,746		-
Total deposits		1,366,541		1,366,734		1,231,988		134,746		-

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank		7,000		8,789		-		8,789		-
Federal funds purchased		470,000		470,000		-		470,000		-
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		10,411		10,411		-		10,411		-
Subordinated debentures		10,310		10,415		-		10,415		-
Accrued interest payable		318		318		318		-		-

The following sets forth the methods and assumptions used in determining the fair value estimates for the Company’s financial instruments at March 31, 2015 and September 30, 2014.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The carrying amount of cash and short-term investments is assumed to approximate the fair value.

SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE AND HELD TO MATURITY

Securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and securities held to maturity are carried at amortized cost. Fair values for investment securities are based on obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges, or matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities, but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities.

LOANS RECEIVABLE, NET

The fair value of loans is estimated using a historical or replacement cost basis concept (i.e. an entrance price concept). The fair value of loans was estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers and for similar remaining maturities. When using the discounting method to determine fair value, loans were grouped by homogeneous loans with similar terms and conditions and discounted at a target rate at which similar loans would be made to borrowers at March 31, 2015 or September 30, 2014. In addition, when computing the estimated fair value for all loans, allowances for loan losses have been subtracted from the calculated fair value as a result of the discounted cash flow which approximates the fair value adjustment for the credit quality component.

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK (“FHLB”) STOCK

The fair value of such stock is assumed to approximate book value since the Company is only able to redeem this stock at par value.

ACCRUED INTEREST RECEIVABLE

The carrying amount of accrued interest receivable is assumed to approximate the fair value.

DEPOSITS

The carrying values of non-interest bearing checking deposits, interest bearing checking deposits, savings, and money markets is assumed to approximate fair value, since such deposits are immediately withdrawable without penalty. The fair value of time certificates of deposit was estimated by discounting expected future cash flows by the current rates offered on certificates of deposit with similar remaining maturities.

In accordance with ASC 825, Financial Instruments, no value has been assigned to the Company’s long-term relationships with its deposit customers (core value of deposits intangible) since such intangible is not a financial instrument as defined under ASC 825.

ADVANCES FROM FHLB

The fair value of such advances was estimated by discounting the expected future cash flows using current interest rates for advances with similar terms and remaining maturities.

FEDERAL FUNDS PURCHASED

The carrying amount of federal funds purchased is assumed to approximate the fair value.

SECURITIES SOLD UNDER AGREEMENTS TO REPURCHASE AND SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

The fair value of these instruments was estimated by discounting the expected future cash flows using derived interest rates approximating market over the contractual maturity of such borrowings.

ACCRUED INTEREST PAYABLE

The carrying amount of accrued interest payable is assumed to approximate the fair value.

LIMITATIONS

It must be noted that fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information about the financial instrument. Additionally, fair value estimates are based on existing on- and off-balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business, customer relationships and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering the Company’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument for sale at one time. Furthermore, since no market exists for certain of the Company’s financial instruments, fair value estimates may be based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with a high level of precision. Changes in assumptions as well as tax considerations could significantly affect the estimates. Accordingly, based on the limitations described above, the aggregate fair value estimates are not intended to represent the underlying value of the Company, on either a going concern or a liquidation basis.