Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Many assumptions are used to calculate the impact of interest rate fluctuations on our net interest income, such as asset prepayments, non-maturity deposit price sensitivity and decay rates, and key rate drivers. Because of the inherent use of these estimates and assumptions in the model, our actual results may, and most likely will, differ from our static earnings at risk (“EAR”) results. In addition, static EAR results do not include actions that our management may undertake to manage the risks in response to anticipated changes in interest rates or client behavior. For example, as part of our asset/liability management strategy, management has the ability to increase asset duration and decrease liability duration in order to reduce asset sensitivity, or to decrease asset duration and increase liability duration in order to increase asset sensitivity.
The following table summarizes the results of our EAR analysis in simulating the change in net interest income and fair value of equity over a 12-month horizon as of December 31, 2021:
IMPACT ON NET INTEREST INCOME UNDER A STATIC BALANCE SHEET, PARALLEL INTEREST RATE SHOCK
Earnings at Risk -200 bps -100 bps Flat +100 bps +200 bps +300 bps
December 31, 2021 (4.7) % (2.3) % 0.0 % 2.9 % 7.2 % 11.7 %
Utilizing an economic value of equity (“EVE”) approach, we analyze the risk to capital from the effects of various interest rate scenarios through a long-term discounted cash flow model. This measures the difference between the economic value of our assets and the economic value of our liabilities, which is a proxy for our liquidation value. While this provides some value as a risk measurement tool, management believes EAR is more appropriate to the application of the going concern principle.
The following table illustrates the results of our EVE analysis as of December 31, 2021.
ECONOMIC VALUE OF EQUITY ANALYSIS UNDER A STATIC BALANCE SHEET, PARALLEL INTEREST RATE SHOCK
Economic Value of Equity -200 bps -100 bps Flat +100 bps +200 bps +300 bps
December 31, 2021 (6.4) % (2.2) % 0.0 % 4.7 % 8.1 % 11.3 %
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Interest Rate Sensitivity and Market Risk
A fundamental risk in banking is exposure to market risk, since a bank’s net income is largely dependent on net interest income. The Bank’s ALCO formulates and monitors the management of interest rate risk through policies and guidelines established by it and the full Board of Directors and through review of detailed reports discussed quarterly. In its consideration of risk limits, the ALCO considers the impact on earnings and capital, the level and direction of interest rates, liquidity, local economic conditions, outside threats and other factors. Banking is generally a business of managing the maturity and repricing mismatch inherent in its asset and liability cash flows and to provide net interest income growth consistent with the Company’s profit objectives.
Fluctuations in interest rates will ultimately impact both the level of income and expense recorded on most of our assets and liabilities, and the market value of all interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, other than those that have a short term to maturity. Interest rate risk is the potential of economic losses due to future interest rate changes. These economic losses can be reflected as a loss of future net interest income and/or a loss of current fair market values. The objective is to measure the effect on net interest income and to adjust the balance sheet to minimize the inherent risk while at the same time optimizing income.
We manage our exposure to interest rates by structuring our balance sheet in the ordinary course of business. We do not enter into instruments such as leveraged derivatives, financial options or financial future contracts for the purpose of reducing interest rate risk. We do hedge the interest rate risks of our available for sale mortgage pipeline by using mortgage-backed securities short positions, and of our subordinated debentures by utilizing an interest rate swap. Based on the nature of our operations, we are not subject to foreign exchange or commodity price risk. We do not own any trading assets.
The ALCO committee meets regularly to review, among other things, the sensitivity of assets and liabilities to interest rate changes, the book and market values of assets and liabilities, unrealized gains and losses, purchase and sale activities, commitments to originate loans and the maturities of investments and borrowings. Additionally, the committee reviews liquidity, cash flow flexibility, maturities of deposits and consumer and commercial deposit activity. Management employs methodologies to manage interest rate risk, which include an analysis of relationships between interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities and an interest rate shock simulation model.
The following table indicates that, for periods less than one year, rate-sensitive assets exceeded rate-sensitive liabilities, resulting in an asset-sensitive position. For a bank with an asset-sensitive position, or positive gap, rising interest rates would generally be expected to have a positive effect on net interest income, and falling interest rates would generally be expected to have the opposite effect.
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INTEREST SENSITIVITY GAP
December 31, 2021 Within One Month After One Month Through Three Months After Three Through Twelve Months Within One Year Greater Than One Year Total
(in thousands)
Assets
Interest earning assets
Loans (1)
$ 367,226 $ 184,405 $ 433,774 $ 985,405 $ 662,851 $ 1,648,256
Securities
16,100 8,530 3,777 28,407 156,048 184,455
Interest bearing deposits at other financial institutions
136,824 — — 136,824 — 136,824
Federal funds sold
3,657 — — 3,657 — 3,657
Total earning assets
$ 523,807 $ 192,935 $ 437,551 $ 1,154,293 $ 818,899 $ 1,973,192
Liabilities
Interest bearing liabilities
Interest bearing deposits
$ 11,630 $ 23,262 $ 104,677 $ 139,569 $ 692,268 $ 831,837
Time deposits
11,287 21,224 134,927 167,438 10,212 177,650
Total interest bearing deposits
22,917 44,486 239,604 307,007 702,480 1,009,487
FHLB Advances
— — — — 22,000 22,000
Other borrowed funds
— — — — 12,062 12,062
Total interest bearing liabilities
$ 22,917 $ 44,486 $ 239,604 $ 307,007 $ 736,542 $ 1,043,549
Period gap
$ 500,890 $ 148,449 $ 197,947 $ 847,286 $ 82,357 $ 929,643
Cumulative gap $ 500,890 $ 649,339 $ 847,286 $ 847,286 $ 929,643
Ratio of cumulative gap to total earning assets
25.38 % 32.91 % 42.94 % 42.94 % 47.11 %
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(1) Includes loans held for sale.
We use EAR simulations to assess the impact of changing interest rates on our earnings under a variety of scenarios and time horizons. These simulations utilize both instantaneous and parallel changes in the level of interest rates, as well as non-parallel changes such as changing slopes and twists of the yield curve. Static simulation models are based on current exposures and assume a constant balance sheet with no new growth. Dynamic simulation models are also utilized that rely on detailed assumptions regarding changes in existing lines of business, new business, and changes in management and client behavior.
We also use economic value-based methodologies to measure the degree to which the economic values of the Bank’s positions change under different interest rate scenarios. The economic-value approach focuses on a longer-term time horizon and endeavors to capture all future cash flows expected from existing assets and liabilities. The economic value model utilizes a static approach in that the analysis does not incorporate new business; rather, the analysis shows a snapshot in time of the risk inherent in the balance sheet.
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