NOTE 8 - DERIVATIVES

The Company periodically enters into derivative contracts to manage exposures to movements in interest rates. The Company purchased an interest rate cap in May of 2020 to limit exposures to increases in interest rates. The interest rate cap was not designated as a hedging instrument but rather as a stand-alone derivative. The interest rate cap had an original term of 3 three years, a notional amount of $300 million and was tied to the one-month LIBOR rate with a strike rate of 0.50%. The fair value of the interest rate cap was carried on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other assets and the change in fair value was recognized in noninterest income each quarter. The interest rate cap had a fair value of $1.2 million and remaining term of one month at March 31, 2023, and expired on May 4, 2023.

The Company has entered into forward loan sale commitments with secondary market investors to deliver loans on a “best efforts delivery” basis, which do not meet the definition of a derivative instrument. When a rate is committed to a borrower, it is based on the best price that day and locked with the investor for the customer for a 30-day period. In the event the loan is not delivered to the investor, the Company has no risk or exposure with the investor. The interest rate lock commitments related to loans that are originated for later sale are classified as derivatives. The fair values of the Company’s agreements with investors and rate lock commitments to customers as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were not material.