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Note 6 - Debt and Equity Securities
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block]
6. Debt and Equity Securities

The Company’s investments in equity securities that have readily determinable fair values and all investments in debt securities are classified in one of the following three categories and accounted for accordingly: (1) trading securities, (2) securities available for sale and (3) securities held-to-maturity.

The Company did not hold any trading securities or securities held-to-maturity during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011. Securities available for sale are recorded at fair value.

The following table summarizes the Company’s portfolio of securities available for sale at December 31, 2012:

   
Amortized
Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
   
(In thousands)
 
U.S. government agencies
  $ 31,409     $ 31,513     $ 104     $ -  
Corporate
    83,389       87,485       4,096       -  
Municipals
    74,228       75,297       1,152       83  
Mutual funds
    21,843       21,843       -       -  
Other
    17,797       13,315       17       4,499  
Total other securities
    228,666       229,453       5,369       4,582  
REMIC and CMO
    453,468       474,050       23,690       3,108  
GNMA
    43,211       46,932       3,721       -  
FNMA
    168,040       175,929       7,971       82  
FHLMC
    22,562       23,202       640       -  
Total mortgage-backed securities
    687,281       720,113       36,022       3,190  
Total securities available for sale
  $ 915,947     $ 949,566     $ 41,391     $ 7,772  

Mortgage-backed securities shown in the table above include two private issue collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMO”) that are collateralized by commercial real estate mortgages with an amortized cost and market value of $15.2 million and $15.7 million, respectively, at December 31, 2012.  The remaining private issue mortgage-backed securities are backed by one-to-four family residential mortgage loans.

The following table shows the Company’s available for sale securities with gross unrealized losses and their fair value, aggregated by category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at December 31, 2012.

   
Total
   
Less than 12 months
   
12 months or more
 
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Municipals
  $ 9,782     $ 83     $ 9,782     $ 83     $ -     $ -  
Other
    5,064       4,499       -       -       5,064       4,499  
Total other securities
    14,846       4,582       9,782       83       5,064       4,499  
                                                 
REMIC and CMO
    64,126       3,108       40,651       155       23,475       2,953  
FNMA
    10,331       82       10,331       82       -       -  
Total mortgage-backed  securities
    74,457       3,190       50,982       237       23,475       2,953  
Total securities available for sale
  $ 89,303     $ 7,772     $ 60,764     $ 320     $ 28,539     $ 7,452  

OTTI losses on impaired securities must be fully recognized in earnings if an investor has the intent to sell the debt security or if it is more likely than not that the investor will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost. However, even if an investor does not expect to sell a debt security, the investor must evaluate the expected cash flows to be received and determine if a credit loss has occurred. In the event that a credit loss has occurred, only the amount of impairment associated with the credit loss is recognized in earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Amounts relating to factors other than credit losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) within Stockholders’ Equity. Additional disclosures regarding the calculation of credit losses as well as factors considered by the investor in reaching a conclusion that an investment is not other-than-temporarily impaired are required.

The Company reviewed each investment that had an unrealized loss at December 31, 2012. An unrealized loss exists when the current fair value of an investment is less than its amortized cost basis. Unrealized losses on available for sale securities, that are deemed to be temporary, are recorded in AOCI, net of tax.  Unrealized losses that are considered to be other-than-temporary are split between credit related and noncredit related impairments, with the credit related impairment being recorded as a charge against earnings and the noncredit related impairment being recorded in AOCI, net of tax.

The Company evaluates its pooled trust preferred securities, included in the table above in the row labeled “Other”, using an impairment model through an independent third party, which includes evaluating the financial condition of each counterparty.  For single issuer trust preferred securities, the Company evaluates the issuer’s financial condition. The Company evaluates its mortgage-backed securities by reviewing the characteristics of the securities, including delinquency and foreclosure levels, projected losses at various loss severity levels and credit enhancement and coverage. In addition, private issue CMOs are evaluated using an impairment model through an independent third party. When an OTTI is identified, the portion of the impairment that is credit related is determined by management by using the following methods: (1) for trust preferred securities, the credit related impairment is determined by using a discounted cash flow model from an independent third party, with the difference between the present value of the projected cash flows and the amortized cost basis of the security recorded as a credit related loss against earnings; (2) for mortgage-backed securities, credit related impairment is determined for each security by estimating losses based on a set of assumptions, which includes delinquency and foreclosure levels, projected losses at various loss severity levels, credit enhancement and coverage and (3) for private issue CMOs, through an impairment model from an independent third party and then recording those estimated losses as a credit related loss against earnings.

Municipal Securities:

The unrealized losses in Municipal securities at December 31, 2012, consist of losses on four municipal securities. The unrealized losses were caused by movements in interest rates. It is not anticipated that these securities would be settled at a price that is less than the amortized cost of the Company’s investment. Each of these securities is performing according to its terms and, in the opinion of management, will continue to perform according to its terms. The Company does not have the intent to sell these securities and it is more likely than not the Company will not be required to sell the securities before recovery of the securities amortized cost basis. This conclusion is based upon considering the Company’s cash and working capital requirements and contractual and regulatory obligations, none of which the Company believes would cause the sale of the securities. Therefore, the Company did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2012.

Other Securities:

The unrealized losses in Other Securities at December 31, 2012, consist of losses on one single issuer trust preferred security and two pooled trust preferred securities. The unrealized losses on such securities were caused by market interest volatility, a significant widening of credit spreads across markets for these securities and illiquidity and uncertainty in the financial markets. These securities are currently rated below investment grade. The pooled trust preferred securities do not have collateral that is subordinate to the classes the Company owns. The Company’s management evaluates these securities using an impairment model, through an independent third party, that is applied to debt securities. In estimating OTTI losses, management considers: (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost; (2) the current interest rate environment; (3) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, if applicable; and (4) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. Additionally, management reviews the financial condition of each individual issuer within the pooled trust preferred securities. All of the issuers of the underlying collateral of the pooled trust preferred securities we reviewed are banks.

For each bank, our review included the following performance items of the banks:

Ratio of tangible equity to assets

Tier 1 Risk Weighted Capital

Net interest margin

Efficiency ratio for most recent two quarters

Return on average assets for most recent two quarters

Texas Ratio (ratio of non-performing assets plus assets past due over 90 days divided by tangible equity plus the reserve for loan losses)

Credit ratings (where applicable)

Capital issuances within the past year (where applicable)

Ability to complete Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) assisted acquisitions (where applicable)

Based on the review of the above factors, we concluded that:

All of the performing issuers in our pools are well capitalized banks, and do not appear likely to be closed by their regulators.

All of the performing issuers in our pools will continue as a going concern and will not default on their securities.

In order to estimate potential future defaults and deferrals, we segregated the performing underlying issuers by their Texas Ratio. The Texas Ratio is a key indicator of the health of the institution and the likelihood of failure. This ratio compares the problem assets of the institution to the institution’s available capital and reserves to absorb losses that are likely to occur in these assets. There were no issuers in our pooled trust preferred securities which had a Texas Ratio in excess of 50.00%. We assigned a zero default rate to these issuers. Our analysis also assumed that issuers currently deferring would default with no recovery, and issuers that have defaulted will have no recovery.

We had an independent third party prepare a discounted cash flow analysis for each of these pooled trust preferred securities based on the assumptions discussed above. Other significant assumptions were: (1) two issuers totaling $21.5 million will prepay in five years and two issuers totaling $18.7 million will prepay at their next quarterly payment date; (2) senior classes will not call the debt on their portions; and (3) use of the forward London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) curve. The cash flows were discounted at the effective rate for each security.

One of the pooled trust preferred securities is over 90 days past due and the Company has stopped accruing interest. The remaining pooled trust preferred security, as well as the single issuer trust preferred security, are performing according to their terms.  Based on these reviews, a credit related OTTI charge was not recorded on the single issuer trust preferred security or the two pooled trust preferred securities during the year ended December 31, 2012. During the year ended December 31, 2011, a credit related OTTI charge was not recorded on the single issuer trust preferred security or the two pooled trust preferred securities. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company recorded $1.0 million in credit related OTTI charges on one of the pooled trust preferred securities.

The Company also owns a pooled trust preferred security that is carried under the fair value option, where the unrealized losses are included in the Consolidated Statements of Income.  This security is over 90 days past due and the Company has stopped accruing interest.

It is not anticipated at this time that the one single issuer trust preferred security and the two pooled trust preferred securities, would be settled at a price that is less than the amortized cost of the Company’s investment. Each of these securities is performing according to its terms; except for the pooled trust preferred securities for which the Company has stopped accruing interest as discussed above, and, in the opinion of management based on the review performed at December 31, 2012, will continue to perform according to its terms. The Company does not have the intent to sell these securities and it is more likely than not the Company will not be required to sell the securities before recovery of the securities amortized cost basis. This conclusion is based upon considering the Company’s cash and working capital requirements, and contractual and regulatory obligations, none of which the Company believes would cause the sale of the securities. Therefore, the Company did not consider one single issuer trust preferred securities and the two pooled trust preferred securities to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2012.

At December 31, 2012, the Company held six trust preferred issues which had a current credit rating of at least one rating below investment grade. Two of those issues are carried under the fair value option and therefore, changes in fair value are included in the Consolidated Statement of Income – Net gain (loss) from fair value adjustments.

The following table details the remaining four trust preferred issues that were evaluated to determine if they were other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2012. The class the Company owns in pooled trust preferred securities does not have any excess subordination.

                                 
Deferrals/Defaults
       
Issuer
Type
 
Class
   
Performing
Banks
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Fair
Value
   
Cumulative
Credit Related
OTTI
   
Actual as a
Percentage
of Original
Security
   
Expected
Percentage
of Performing
Collateral
   
Current
Lowest
Rating
 
                (Dollars in thousands)                    
                                                 
Single issuer
  n/a     1       300       289       -    
None
   
None
   
BB-
 
Single issuer
  n/a     1       500       517       -    
None
   
None
    B+  
Pooled issuer
  B1     17       5,617       2,600       2,196     24.8%     0.0%     C  
Pooled issuer
  C1     18       3,645       2,175       1,542     22.6%     0.0%     C  
Total
              $ 10,062     $ 5,581     $ 3,738                    

REMIC and CMO:

The unrealized losses in Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (“REMIC”) and CMO securities at December 31, 2012 consist of three issues from the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), four issues from the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and five private issues.

The unrealized losses on the REMIC and CMO securities issued by FHLMC and FNMA were caused by movements in interest rates. It is not anticipated that these securities would be settled at a price that is less than the amortized cost of the Company’s investment. Each of these securities is performing according to its terms, and, in the opinion of management, will continue to perform according to its terms. The Company does not have the intent to sell these securities and it is more likely than not the Company will not be required to sell the securities before recovery of the securities amortized cost basis. This conclusion is based upon considering the Company’s cash and working capital requirements, and contractual and regulatory obligations, none of which the Company believes would cause the sale of the securities.  Therefore, the Company did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2012.

The unrealized losses at December 31, 2012 on REMIC and CMO securities issued by private issuers were caused by movements in interest rates, a significant widening of credit spreads across markets for these securities, and illiquidity and uncertainty in the financial markets. Each of these securities has some level of credit enhancements, and none are collateralized by sub-prime loans.  Currently, one of these securities is performing according to its terms, with four securities remitting less than the full principal amount due.  The principal loss for these four securities totaled $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.  These losses were anticipated in the cumulative OTTI charges recorded for these four securities.

Credit related impairment for mortgage-backed securities are determined for each security by estimating losses based on the following set of assumptions, (1) delinquency and foreclosure levels, (2) projected losses at various loss severity levels and, (3) credit enhancement and coverage. Based on these reviews, an OTTI charge was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2012, on five private issue CMOs of $3.1 million before tax, of which $0.8 million was charged against earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Income and $2.4 million before tax ($1.3 million after-tax) was recorded in AOCI. The Company recorded credit related OTTI charges totaling $1.6 million and $1.1 million on four private issue CMOs during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The portion of the above mentioned OTTI, recorded during the year ended December 31, 2012, that was related to credit losses was calculated using the following significant assumptions:  (1) delinquency and foreclosure levels of 11%-18%; (2) projected loss severity of 40%-50%; (3) assumed default rates of 6%-10% for the first 12 months, 2%-7% for the next 12 months, 2%-8% for the next 12 months and 2% thereafter; and (4) prepayment speeds of 6%-20%.

It is not anticipated at this time that the one private issue CMO for which an OTTI charge during the year ended December 31, 2012 was not recorded, would be settled at a price that is less than the current amortized cost of the Company’s investment. This security is performing according to its terms and in the opinion of management, will continue to perform according to its terms. The Company does not have the intent to sell this security and it is more likely than not the Company will not be required to sell the security before recovery of the security’s amortized cost basis. This conclusion is based upon considering the Company’s cash and working capital requirements, and contractual and regulatory obligations, none of which the Company believes would cause the sale of the security.  Therefore, the Company did not consider the security to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2012.

At December 31, 2012, the Company held five private issue CMOs which had a current credit rating of at least one rating below investment grade.


The following table details the five private issue CMOs that were evaluated to determine if they were other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2012:

                     
Cumulative
                                                         
                     
OTTI
           
Current
                                       
Average
 
   
Amortized
   
Fair
   
Outstanding
   
Charges
   
Year of
     
Lowest
   
Collateral Located in:
   
FICO
 
Security
 
Cost
   
Value
   
Principal
   
Recorded
   
Issuance
 
Maturity
 
Rating
   
CA
   
FL
   
VA
   
NY
   
NJ
   
CO
   
Score
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
                                                         
                                                                                 
1
  $ 9,883     $ 8,715     $ 10,891     $ 3,470     2006  
05/25/36
  D     40%                 16%                 717  
2
    4,223       3,525       4,358       727     2006  
08/19/36
  D     58%                             10%     737  
3
    4,637       4,359       5,131       1,107     2006  
08/25/36
  D     36%     16%                             713  
4
    3,408       3,190       3,946       780     2006  
08/25/36
  D     40%     14%           13%                 724  
5
    4,277       3,687       4,553       222     2006  
03/25/36
 
CC
    24%           21%     12%     12%           709  
Total
  $ 26,428     $ 23,476     $ 28,879     $ 6,306                                                          

FNMA:

The unrealized losses in FNMA securities at December 31, 2012 consist of losses on one security. The unrealized losses were caused by movements in interest rates. It is not anticipated that this security would be settled at a price that is less than the amortized cost of the Company’s investment. This security is performing according to its terms and, in the opinion of management, will continue to perform according to its terms. The Company does not have the intent to sell this security and it is more likely than not the Company will not be required to sell the security before recovery of the security’s amortized cost basis. This conclusion is based upon considering the Company’s cash and working capital requirements and contractual and regulatory obligations, none of which the Company believes would cause the sale of the security. Therefore, the Company did not consider this security to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2012.

The following table details gross unrealized losses recorded in AOCI and the ending credit loss amount on debt securities, as of December 31, 2012, for which the Company has recorded a credit related OTTI charge in the Consolidated Statements of Income:

(in thousands)
 
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Gross Unrealized
Losses Recorded
In AOCI
   
Ending Credit
Loss Amount
 
                         
Private issued CMO's (1)
  $ 26,428     $ 23,476     $ 2,953     $ 2,440  
Trust preferred securities (1)
    9,262       4,775       4,487       3,738  
Total
  $ 35,690     $ 28,251     $ 7,440     $ 6,178  

(1)
The Company has recorded OTTI charges in the Consolidated Statements of Income on five private issue CMOs and two pooled trust preferred securities for which a portion of the OTTI is currently recorded in AOCI.

The following table represents the activity related to the credit loss component recognized in earnings on debt securities held by the Company for which a portion of OTTI was recognized in AOCI for the period indicated:

(in thousands)
 
For the
year ended
December 31, 2012
 
Beginning balance
  $ 6,922  
         
Recognition of actual losses
    (1,271 )
OTTI charges due to credit loss recorded in earnings
    776  
Securities sold during the period
    (249 )
Securities where there is an intent to sell or requirement to sell
    -  
Ending balance
  $ 6,178  

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of the Company’s securities, classified as available for sale at December 31, 2012, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

   
Amortized
Cost
   
Fair Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
             
Due in one year or less
  $ 24,227     $ 24,233  
Due after one year through five years
    59,018       61,668  
Due after five years through ten years
    39,831       41,002  
Due after ten years
    105,590       102,550  
                 
Total other securities
    228,666       229,453  
Mortgage-backed securities
    687,281       720,113  
Total securities available for sale
  $ 915,947     $ 949,566  

There were $0.2 million and $0.5 million in gross gains realized from the sale of securities available for sale for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2010, respectively.  There were $0.1 million and $0.5 million in gross losses realized from the sale of securities available for sale for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2010, respectively.  There were no gross gains or losses realized on sales of securities available for sale for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The following table summarizes the Company’s portfolio of securities available for sale at December 31, 2011:

   
Amortized
Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
   
(In thousands)
 
U.S. government agencies
  $ 1,980     $ 2,039     $ 59     $ -  
Other
    26,557       21,242       9       5,324  
Corporate
    20,777       20,592       -       185  
Mutual funds
    21,369       21,369       -       -  
Total other securities
    70,683       65,242       68       5,509  
REMIC and CMO
    460,824       473,639       22,796       9,981  
GNMA
    62,040       67,632       5,592       -  
FNMA
    175,627       182,630       7,003       -  
FHLMC
    22,556       23,387       831       -  
Total mortgage-backed securities
    721,047       747,288       36,222       9,981  
Total securities available for sale
  $ 791,730     $ 812,530     $ 36,290     $ 15,490  

Mortgage-backed securities shown in the table above include two private issue collateralized mortgage obligation (“CMO”) that are collateralized by commercial real estate mortgages with an amortized cost and market value of $19.0 million and $19.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2011.  The remaining private issue mortgage-backed securities are backed by one-to-four family residential mortgage loans.

The following table shows the Company’s available for sale securities with gross unrealized losses and their fair value, aggregated by category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at December 31, 2011.

   
Total
   
Less than 12 months
   
12 months or more
 
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Other
  $ 6,238     $ 5,324     $ 1,997     $ 2     $ 4,241     $ 5,322  
Corporate
    17,980       185       17,980       185       -       -  
Total other securities
    24,218       5,509       19,977       187       4,241       5,322  
REMIC and CMO
    38,684       9,981       12,560       124       26,124       9,857  
Total securities available for sale
  $ 62,902     $ 15,490     $ 32,537     $ 311     $ 30,365     $ 15,179  

Other Securities:

The unrealized losses in Other securities at December 31, 2011, consisted of losses on two municipal securities, one single issuer trust preferred security and two pooled trust preferred securities.

The unrealized losses on the two municipal securities were caused by movements in interest rates. It was not anticipated that these securities would be settled at a price that was less than the amortized cost of the Company’s investment. Each of these securities was performing according to its terms, and, in the opinion of management, would continue to perform according to its terms. The Company did not have the intent to sell these securities and it was more likely than not the Company would not be required to sell the securities before recovery of the securities amortized cost basis. This conclusion was based upon considering the Company’s cash and working capital requirements, and contractual and regulatory obligations, none of which the Company believes would cause the sale of the securities. Therefore, the Company did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2011.

The unrealized losses on the single issuer trust preferred securities and two pooled trust preferred securities were caused by market interest volatility, a significant widening of credit spreads across markets for these securities, and illiquidity and uncertainty in the financial markets. These securities were rated below investment grade. The pooled trust preferred securities do not have collateral that is subordinate to the classes we own. The Company evaluated these securities using an impairment model, through an independent third party, that was applied to debt securities. In estimating other-than-temporary impairment losses, management considered (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value had been less than amortized cost, (2) the interest rate environment, (3) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, if applicable, and (4) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. Additionally, management reviewed the financial condition of each individual issuer within the pooled trust preferred securities. All of the issuers of the underlying collateral of the pooled trust preferred securities we reviewed are banks. For each bank, our review included the following performance items of the banks:

Ratio of tangible equity to assets

Tier 1 Risk Weighted Capital

Net interest margin

Efficiency ratio for most recent two quarters

Return on average assets for most recent two quarters

Texas Ratio (ratio of non-performing assets plus assets past due over 90 days divided by tangible equity plus the reserve for loan losses)

Credit ratings (where applicable)

Capital issuances within the past year (where applicable)

Ability to complete FDIC assisted acquisitions (where applicable)

Based on the review of the above factors, we concluded that:

All of the performing issuers in our pools are well capitalized banks, and do not appear likely to be closed by their regulators.

All of the performing issuers in our pools will continue as a going concern and will not default on their securities.

Corporate:

The unrealized losses in corporate securities at December 31, 2011 consisted of two private issues. The unrealized losses were caused by movements in interest rates. It was not anticipated that these securities would be settled at a price that was less than the amortized cost of the Company’s investment. Each of these securities was performing according to its terms, and, in the opinion of management, would continue to perform according to its terms. The Company did not have the intent to sell these securities and it was more likely than not the Company would not be required to sell the securities before recovery of the securities amortized cost basis. This conclusion was based upon considering the Company’s cash and working capital requirements, and contractual and regulatory obligations, none of which the Company believed would cause the sale of the securities.  Therefore, the Company did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2011.

REMIC and CMO:

The unrealized losses in Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (“REMIC”) and CMO securities at December 31, 2011 consisted of six issues from the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), six issues from the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), seven issues from the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) and eight private issues.

The unrealized losses on the REMIC and CMO securities issued by FHLMC, FNMA and GNMA were caused by movements in interest rates. It was not anticipated that these securities would be settled at a price that was less than the amortized cost of the Company’s investment. Each of these securities was performing according to its terms, and, in the opinion of management, would continue to perform according to its terms. The Company did not have the intent to sell these securities and it was more likely than not the Company would not be required to sell the securities before recovery of the securities amortized cost basis. This conclusion was based upon considering the Company’s cash and working capital requirements, and contractual and regulatory obligations, none of which the Company believes would cause the sale of the securities. Therefore, the Company did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2011.

The unrealized losses at December 31, 2011 on REMIC and CMO securities issued by private issuers were caused by movements in interest rates, a significant widening of credit spreads across markets for these securities, and illiquidity and uncertainty in the financial markets. Each of these securities had some level of credit enhancements, and none were collateralized by sub-prime loans.  Six of these securities were performing according to their terms, with two securities remitting less than the full principal amount due.  The principal loss for these two securities totaled $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2011.  These losses were anticipated in the cumulative OTTI charges recorded for these two securities.

Credit related impairment for mortgage-backed securities were determined for each security by estimating losses based on the following set of assumptions, (1) delinquency and foreclosure levels, (2) projected losses at various loss severity levels and, (3) credit enhancement and coverage. Based on these reviews, an OTTI charge was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2011, on four private issue CMOs of $4.6 million before tax, of which $1.1 million was charged against earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Income and $3.5 million before tax ($2.0 million after-tax) was recorded in AOCI. The Company recorded credit related OTTI charges totaling $3.1 million on four private issue CMOs during the year ended December 31, 2010.

The portion of the above mentioned OTTI, recorded during the year ended December 31, 2011, that was related to credit losses was calculated using the following significant assumptions:  (1) delinquency and foreclosure levels of 10%-20%, (2) projected loss severity of 30%- 50%, (3) assumed default rates of 5%-12% for the first 12 months, 2%-10% for the next 12 months, 2%-8% for the next six months, 2%-4% for the next six months and 2% thereafter, and prepayment speeds of 10%-30%.

It was not anticipated at that the four private issue securities for which an OTTI charge during the year ended December 31, 2011 was not recorded, would be settled at a price that was less than the current amortized cost of the Company’s investment.  Each of these securities was performing according to its terms and in the opinion of management, will continue to perform according to their terms. The Company did not have the intent to sell these securities and it was more likely than not the Company would not be required to sell the securities before recovery of the securities amortized cost basis. This conclusion was based upon considering the Company’s cash and working capital requirements, and contractual and regulatory obligations, none of which the Company believes would cause the sale of the securities. Therefore, the Company did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2011.