CHFC 2018 Annual Report

The Corporation determines the fair value of its financial instruments based on a three-level hierarchy established by GAAP. The classification and disclosure of assets and liabilities within the hierarchy is based on whether the inputs to the valuation methodology used for measurement are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market-derived or market-based information obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect management's estimates about market data. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value within the GAAP hierarchy are as follows: Level 1 Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets. Level 2 Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments inmarkets that are not active, andmodel-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market. Level 2 valuations for the Corporation include government and government-sponsored enterprise debt obligations, including securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB"), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal Farm Credit Bank, Student Loan Marketing Corporation and the Small Business Administration, securities issued by certain state and political subdivisions, residential mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, corporate bonds, preferred stock and available-for-sale trust preferred securities. Valuations are obtained from a third-party pricing service for these investment securities. Additionally included in Level 2 valuations are loans held-for-sale and derivative assets and liabilities. Level 3 Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include use of option pricing models, discounted cash flowmodels, yield curves and similar techniques. The determination of fair value requires management judgment or estimation and generally is corroborated by external data, which includes third-party pricing services. Level 3 valuations for the Corporation include impaired loans, goodwill, core deposit intangible assets, non-compete intangible assets, LSRs and other real estate and repossessed assets. A description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy, is set forth below. These valuation methodologies were applied to all of the Corporation's financial assets and financial liabilities carried at fair value and all financial instruments disclosed at fair value. Transfers of asset or liabilities between levels of the fair value hierarchy are recognized at the beginning of the reporting period, when applicable. In general, fair value is based upon quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based upon third-party pricing services when available. Fair value may also be based on internally developed models that primarily use, as inputs, observablemarket-based parameters.Valuation adjustmentsmay be required to record financial instruments at fair value. Any such valuation adjustments are applied consistently over time. The Corporation's valuation methodologies may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. While management believes the Corporation's valuation methodologies are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date. Furthermore, the fair value amounts may change significantly after the date of the statement of financial position from the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes. Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Investment securities: Investment securities are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis with the exception of those classified as held-to-maturity. Fair value measurement is based upon quoted prices, if available. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are generally measured using independent pricing models or other model-based valuation techniques that include market inputs, such as benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, reference data and industry and economic events. Loans held-for-sale: The Corporation has elected the fair value option for all loans held-for-sale. Accordingly, loans held- for-sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair values of loans held-for-sale are based on the market price for similar loans sold in the secondary market, and therefore, are classified as Level 2 valuations. Chemical Financial Corporation Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements December 31, 2018 105