Investments
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Investments [Abstract]  
Investments

Note 5 – Investments

 

The investment portfolio is classified and accounted for based on the guidance of ASC Topic 320, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities.

 

The amortized cost of debt securities classified as available-for-sale is adjusted for the amortization of premiums to the first call date, if applicable, or to maturity, and for the accretion of discounts to maturity, or, in the case of mortgage-backed securities, over the estimated life of the security. Such amortization and accretion is included in interest income from investments. Interest and dividends are included in interest income from investments. Gains and losses on the sale of securities are recorded using the specific identification method.

 

The following table shows a comparison of amortized cost and fair values of investment securities at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

 

Proceeds from sales of securities and the realized gains and losses are as follows:

         

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

Three Months Ended

June 30,

(in thousands)

2012

2011

2012

2011

Proceeds

$10,454

$29,115

$0

$7,067

Realized gains

663

367

0

130

Realized losses

64

101

0

19

 The following table shows the Corporation's securities with gross unrealized losses and fair values at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:

 

             Management believes that the valuation of certain securities is a critical accounting policy that requires significant estimates in preparation of its consolidated financial statements.  Management utilizes an independent third party to prepare both the impairment valuations and fair value determinations for its collateralized debt obligation ("CDO") portfolio consisting of pooled trust preferred securities.  Based on management's review of the assumptions and results of the third-party review, it does not believe that there were any material differences in the valuations between June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.
 

 U.S. Government AgenciesThree U.S. government agencies have been in a slight unrealized loss position for less than 12 months as of June 30, 2012.  The securities are of the highest investment grade and the Corporation does not intend to sell them, and it is not more likely than not that the Corporation will be required to sell them before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be at maturity. Therefore, no OTTI exists at June 30, 2012.

 

 Residential Mortgage-Backed AgenciesFive residential mortgage-backed agencies have been in a slight unrealized loss position for less than 12 months as of June 30, 2012. There were no residential mortgage-backed agency securities in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. The securities are of the highest investment grade and the Corporation does not intend to sell them, and it is not more likely than not that the Corporation will be required to sell the securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be at maturity. Therefore, no OTTI exists at June 30, 2012.

 

  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations – The collateralized mortgage obligation portfolio consisted of one security at June 30, 2012 that has been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. The security with an unrealized loss of greater than 12 months is a private label residential mortgage-backed security and is reviewed for factors such as loan to value ratio, credit support levels, borrower FICO scores, geographic concentration, prepayment speeds, delinquencies, coverage ratios and credit ratings. Management believes that this security continues to demonstrate collateral coverage ratios that are adequate to support the Corporation's investment. At the time of purchase, this security was of the highest investment grade and was purchased at a discount relative to its face amount. As of June 30, 2012, this security remains at investment grade and continues to perform as expected at the time of purchase. The Corporation does not intend to sell this security and it is not more likely than not that the Corporation will be required to sell the investment before recovery of its amortized cost basis, which may be at maturity. Accordingly, management does not consider this investment to be other-than-temporarily impaired at June 30, 2012.

               

Obligations of State and Political Subdivisions – The unrealized losses on the Corporation's investments in state and political subdivisions were $9,759 at June 30, 2012.  One security has been in an unrealized loss position for less than 12 months.  There are no securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more.  This investment is of investment grade as determined by the major rating agencies and management reviews the ratings of the underlying issuers.  Management believes that this portfolio is well-diversified throughout the United States, and all bonds continue to perform according to their contractual terms.  The Corporation does not intend to sell this investment and it is not more likely than not that the Corporation will be required to sell the investment before recovery of its amortized cost basis, which may be at maturity.  Accordingly, management does not consider this investment to be other-than-temporarily impaired at June 30, 2012.

 

.Collateralized Debt Obligations - The $27.2 million in unrealized losses greater than 12 months at June 30, 2012 relates to 18 pooled trust preferred securities that comprise the CDO portfolio. See Note 8 for a discussion of the methodology used by management to determine the fair values of these securities. Based upon a review of credit quality and the cash flow tests performed by the independent third party, management determined that there were no securities that had credit-related non-cash OTTI charges during the first half of 2012. The unrealized losses on the remaining securities in the portfolio are primarily attributable to continued depression in market interest rates, marketability, liquidity and the current economic environment. The following tables present a cumulative roll-forward of the amount of non-cash OTTI charges related to credit losses which have been recognized in earnings for the trust preferred securities in the CDO portfolio held and not intended to be sold for the three- and six- month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011:        

                                                        

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities by contractual maturity at June 30, 2012 is shown in the following table. Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because the issuers of the securities may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.