Securities Portfolio
The Company’s securities portfolio consists of AFS debt securities, HTM debt securities and equity investments. Management determines the appropriate security classification of AFS and HTM at the time of purchase. The investment securities portfolio is maintained for asset-liability management purposes, as well as for liquidity and earnings purposes.
AFS debt securities are investments carried at fair value that may be sold in response to changing market and interest rate conditions or for other business purposes. Activity in this portfolio is undertaken primarily to manage liquidity and interest rate risk, to take advantage of market conditions that create economically attractive returns and as an additional source of earnings. AFS debt securities consist primarily of obligations of U.S. Government, state and political subdivisions, mortgage-backed securities and corporate and other securities.
AFS debt securities totaled $97.7 million at September 30, 2024, an increase of $5.9 million or 6.4 percent, compared to $91.8 million at December 31, 2023. This net increase was the result of:
| ● | $10.5 million in purchases, |
| ● | $1.2 million in appreciation in the market value of the portfolio. At September 30, 2024, the portfolio had a net unrealized loss of $3.3 million compared to a net unrealized loss of $4.5 million at December 31, 2023. These net unrealized losses are reflected net of tax in shareholder’s equity as accumulated other comprehensive loss, |
| ● | Which were partially offset by $5.1 million in principal payments and maturities, |
| ● | $0.6 million provision for credit loss on AFS debt securities and |
| ● | $0.1 million in premium amortization. |
The weighted average life of AFS debt securities, adjusted for prepayments, amounted to 5.0 years and 5.6 years at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The effective duration of AFS debt securities amounted to 1.4 and 1.7 years at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
HTM debt securities, which are carried at amortized cost, are investments for which there is the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity. The portfolio is primarily comprised of obligations of U.S. Government, state and political subdivisions and mortgage-backed securities.
HTM debt securities were $36.2 million at September 30, 2024, an increase of $0.1 million or 0.3 percent, compared to $36.1 million at December 31, 2023.
The weighted average life of HTM securities, adjusted for prepayments, amounted to 16.1 years and 17.1 years at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the fair value of HTM securities was $30.5 million and $29.7 million, respectively. The effective duration of HTM securities amounted to 10.1 years and 10.9 years at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Equity securities are investments carried at fair value that may be sold in response to changing market and interest rate conditions or for other business purposes. Activity in this portfolio is undertaken primarily to manage liquidity and to take advantage of market conditions that create economically attractive returns and as an additional source of earnings. Equity securities consist of Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA") mutual fund investments and the equity holdings of other financial institutions.
Equity securities totaled $9.8 million at September 30, 2024, an increase of $2.0 million or 26.1 percent, compared to $7.8 million at December 31, 2023.
Securities with a carrying value of $11.8 million and $9.7 million at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, were held at the FHLB or FRB and were pledged for borrowing purposes; however, all securities were unencumbered by borrowings at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
Approximately 61 percent of the total debt security investment portfolio had a fixed rate of interest at September 30, 2024.