BANCO SANTANDER CHILE | CIK:0001027552 |

ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFairValueMeasurementExplanatory

NOTE 36

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The measurement of fair value assumes the sale transaction of an asset or the transference of the liability happens within the main asset or liability market, or the most advantageous market for the asset or liability.

For financial instruments with no available market prices, fair values have been estimated by using recent transactions in analogous instruments, and in the absence thereof, the present values or other valuation techniques based on mathematical valuation models sufficiently accepted by the international financial community. In the use of these models, consideration is given to the specific particularities of the asset or liability to be valued, and especially to the different kinds of risks associated with the asset or liability.

These techniques are significantly influenced by the assumptions used, including the discount rate, the estimates of future cash flows and prepayment expectations. Hence, the fair value estimated for an asset or liability may not coincide exactly with the price at which that asset or liability could be delivered or settled on the date of its valuation, and may not be justified in comparison with independent markets.

Except as detailed in the following table, management considers that the carrying amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities recognised in the consolidated financial statements approximate their fair values.

Determination of fair value of financial instruments

Below is a comparison between the value at which the Bank’s financial assets and liabilities are recorded and their fair value as of December 31, 2017 and 2016:

The fair value approximates the carrying amount of the following line items due to their short-term nature: cash and deposits-banks, cash items in process of collection and investments under resale or repurchase agreements.

In addition, the fair value estimates presented above do not attempt to estimate the value of the Bank’s profits generated by its business activity, nor its future activities, and accordingly, they do not represent the Bank’s value as a going concern. Below is a detail of the methods used to estimate the financial instruments’ fair value.

The estimated fair value of these financial instruments was established using market values or estimates from an available dealer, or quoted market prices of similar financial instruments. Investments are evaluated at recorded value since they are considered as having a fair value not significantly different from their recorded value. To estimate the fair value of debt investments or representative values in these lines of businesses, we take into consideration additional variables and elements, as long as they apply, including the estimate of prepayment rates and credit risk of issuers.

Fair value of commercial, mortgage and consumer loans and credit cards is measured through a discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis. To do so, we use current market interest rates considering product, term, amount and similar loan quality. Fair value of loans with 90 days or more of delinquency are measured by means of the market value of the associated guarantee, minus the rate and term of expected payment. For variable rate loans whose interest rates change frequently (monthly or quarterly) and that are not subjected to any significant credit risk change, the estimated fair value is based on their book value.

Disclosed fair value of deposits that do not bear interest and saving accounts is the amount payable at the reporting date and, therefore, equals the recorded amount. Fair value of time deposits is calculated through a discounted cash flow calculation that applies current interest rates from a monthly calendar of scheduled maturities in the market.

The fair value of these financial instruments is calculated by using a discounted cash flow analysis based on the current incremental lending rates for similar types of loans having similar maturities.

The estimated fair value of financial derivative contracts is calculated using the prices quoted on the market for financial instruments having similar characteristics.

The fair value of interest rate swaps represents the estimated amount that the Bank determines as exit price in accordance with IFRS 13.

If there are no quoted prices from the market (either direct or indirect) for any derivative instrument, the respective fair value estimates have been calculated by using models and valuation techniques such as Black-Scholes, Hull, and Monte Carlo simulations, taking into consideration the relevant inputs/outputs such as volatility of options, observable correlations between underlying assets, counterparty credit risk, implicit price volatility, the velocity with which the volatility reverts to its average value, and the straight-line relationship (correlation) between the value of a market variable and its volatility, among others.

Measurement of fair value and hierarchy

IFRS 13 - Fair Value Measurement, provides a hierarchy of reasonable values which separates the inputs and/or valuation technique assumptions used to measure the fair value of financial instruments. The hierarchy reflects the significance of the inputs used in making the measurement. The three levels of the hierarchy of fair values are the following:

• Level 1: the inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) on active markets for identical assets and liabilities that the Bank can access on the measurement date.

• Level 2: inputs other than the quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

• Level 3: inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability i.e. they are not based on observable market data.

The hierarchy level within which the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety is determined based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

The best evidence of a financial instrument’s fair value at the initial time is the transaction price.

In cases where quoted market prices cannot be observed, Management makes its best estimate of the price that the market would set using its own internal models which in most cases use data based on observable market parameters as a significant input (Level 2) and, in very specific cases, significant inputs not observable in market data (Level 3). Various techniques are employed to make these estimates, including the extrapolation of observable market data.

Financial instruments at fair value and determined by quotations published in active markets (Level 1) include:

Instruments which cannot be 100% observable in the market are valued according to other inputs observable in the market (Level 2).

The following financial instruments are classified under Level 2:

In limited occasions significant inputs not observable in market data are used (Level 3). To carry out this estimate, several techniques are used, including extrapolation of observable market data or a mix of observable data.

The following financial instruments are classified under Level 3:

The Bank does not believe that any change in unobservable inputs with respect to level 3 instruments would result in a significantly different fair value measurement.

The following table presents the assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurrent basis, as of December 31, 2017 and 2016:

The following table presents assets or liabilities which are not measured at fair value in the statement of financial position but for which the fair value is disclosed, as of December 31, 2017 and 2016:

The fair values of others assets and other liabilities approximate their carrying values.

The methods and assumptions to estimate the fair value are defined below:

- Loans and amounts due from credit institutions and from customers – Fair value are estimated for groups of loans with similar characteristics. The fair value was measured by discounting estimated cash flow using the interest rate of new contracts. That is, the future cash flow of the current loan portfolio is estimated using the contractual rates, and then the new loans spread over the risk free interest rate are incorporated to the risk free yield curve in order to calculate the loan portfolio fair value. In terms of behavior assumptions, it is important to underline that a prepayment rate is applied to the loan portfolio, thus a more realistic future cash flow is achieved.

- Deposits and interbank borrowings – The fair value of deposits was calculated by discounting the difference between the cash flows on a contractual basis and current market rates for instruments with similar maturities. For variable-rate deposits, the carrying amount was considered to approximate fair value.

- Issued debt instruments and other financial liabilities – The fair value of long-term loans were estimated by cash flow discounted at the interest rate offered on the market with similar terms and maturities.

The valuation techniques used to estimate each level are defined in note 1.h.i)

There were no transfer between levels 1 and 2 for the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

The table below shows the effect, at December 31, 2017 and 2016, on the fair value of the main financial instruments classified as Level 3 of a reasonable change in the assumptions used in the valuation. This effect was determined by a sensitivity analysis under a 1bp scenario, detailed in the following table:

The following table presents the Bank’s activity for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurrent basis using unobserved significant inputs (Level 3) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016:

The realized and unrealized profits (losses) included in comprehensive income for 2017 and 2016, in the assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurrent basis through unobservable market data (Level 3) are recorded in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

The potential effect as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 on the valuation of assets and liabilities valued at fair value on a recurrent basis through unobservable significant inputs (level 3), generated by changes in the principal assumptions if other reasonably possible assumptions that are less or more favorable were used, is not considered by the Bank to be significant.

The following tables show the financial instruments subject to compensation in accordance with IAS 32, for 2017 and 2016:

As of December 2017 

The Bank, in order to reduce its credit exposure in its financial derivative operations, has entered into collateral contracts with its counterparties, in which it establishes the terms and conditions under which they operate. In terms collateral (received/delivered) operates when the net of the fair value of the financial instruments held exceed the thresholds defined in the respective contracts.