Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Interest Rate Risk
Management considers interest rate risk to be the most significant market risk for the Corporation. Market risk is the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and rates. Interest rate risk is the exposure to adverse changes in the net income of the Corporation as a result of changes in interest rates.
The Corporation’s primary earnings source is net interest income, which is affected by changes in the level of interest rates, the relationship between rates, the impact of interest rate fluctuations on asset prepayments, the level and composition of deposits and liabilities, and credit quality of interest-earning assets.
The Corporation’s objectives in its asset and liability management are to maintain a strong, stable net interest margin, to utilize its capital effectively without taking undue risks, to maintain adequate liquidity, and to reduce vulnerability of its operations to changes in interest rates. The Corporation's ALCO has the strategic responsibility for setting the policy guidelines on acceptable exposure to interest rate risk. These guidelines contain specific measures and limits regarding the risks, which are monitored on a regular basis. The ALCO is made up of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Asset Liability Management Officer, and other officers representing key functions.
Interest rate risk is the risk that net interest income will fluctuate as a result of a change in interest rates. It is the assumption of interest rate risk, along with credit risk, that drives the net interest margin of a financial institution. For that reason, the ALCO has established tolerance limits based upon various basis point changes in interest rates, with appropriate floors set for interest-bearing liabilities. At December 31, 2021, it is estimated that an immediate 100-basis point decrease in interest rates would negatively impact the next 12 months net interest income by 6.52% and an immediate 200-basis point increase would positively impact the next 12 months net interest income by 8.71%. Both are within the Corporation's policy guidelines.
A related component of interest rate risk is the expectation that the market value of the Corporation’s capital account will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. This component is a direct corollary to the earnings-impact component: an institution exposed to earnings erosion is also exposed to shrinkage in market value. At December 31, 2021, it is estimated that an immediate 100-basis point decrease in interest rates would negatively impact the market value of the Corporation’s capital account by 5.94%. An immediate 200-basis point increase in interest rates would positively impact the market value by 1.55%, which is within the Corporation’s policy guidelines.
Management does recognize the need for certain hedging strategies during periods of anticipated higher fluctuations in interest rates and the Funds Management Policy provides for limited use of certain derivatives in asset liability management.
Credit Risk
The Corporation manages credit risk consistent with state and federal laws governing the making of loans through written policies and procedures; loan review to identify loan problems at the earliest possible time; collection procedures (continued even after a loan is charged off); an adequate allowance for loan losses; and continuing education and training to ensure lending expertise. Diversification by loan product is maintained through offering commercial loans, 1-4 family mortgages, and a full range of consumer loans.
The Corporation monitors its loan portfolio carefully. The Loan Committee of the Corporation's Board of Directors is designated to receive required loan reports, oversee loan policy, and approve loans above authorized individual and Senior Loan Committee lending limits. The Senior Loan Committee, consisting of the President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (non-voting member), Chief Credit and Risk Officer, Business Client Division Manager, Divisional President, and Commercial Loan Manager, implements the Board-approved loan policy.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements listed in Part IV, Item 15 are filed as part of this report and appear on pages F-1 through F-60.
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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.