6. Loan sales and Securitizations

Residential Mortgage Loans

The following table summarizes activity relating to residential mortgage loans sold with servicing retained for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012:

A MSR is established only when the servicing is contractually separated from the underlying mortgage loans by sale or securitization of the loans with servicing rights retained. At initial recognition, the MSR asset is established at its fair value using assumptions consistent with assumptions used to estimate the fair value of existing MSRs. At the time of initial capitalization, MSRs are recorded using either the fair value method or the amortization method. The election of the fair value method or amortization method is made at the time each servicing asset is established. Any increase or decrease in the fair value of MSRs carried under the fair value method, as well as amortization or impairment of MSRs recorded using the amortization method, during the period is recorded as an increase or decrease in mortgage banking income, which is reflected in noninterest income in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

The following tables summarize the changes in MSRs recorded using either the fair value method or the amortization method for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012:

MSRs do not trade in an active, open market with readily observable prices. While sales of MSRs occur, the precise terms and conditions are typically not readily available. Therefore, the fair value of MSRs is estimated using a discounted future cash flow model. The model considers portfolio characteristics, contractually specified servicing fees and assumptions related to prepayments, delinquency rates, late charges, other ancillary revenues, costs to service, and other economic factors. Changes in the assumptions used may have a significant impact on the valuation of MSRs.

MSR values are very sensitive to movements in interest rates as expected future net servicing income depends on the projected outstanding principal balances of the underlying loans, which can be greatly impacted by the level of prepayments. Huntington hedges the value of certain MSRs against changes in value attributable to changes in interest rates using a combination of derivative instruments and trading securities.

For MSRs under the fair value method, a summary of key assumptions and the sensitivity of the MSR value at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, to changes in these assumptions follows:

For MSRs under the amortization method, a summary of key assumptions and the sensitivity of the MSR value at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, to changes in these assumptions follows:

Total servicing fees included in mortgage banking income amounted to $11.2 million and $11.8 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The unpaid principal balance of residential mortgage loans serviced for third parties was $15.4 billion and $15.6 billion at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

Automobile Loans and Leases

Huntington has retained servicing responsibilities on sold automobile loans and receives annual servicing fees and other ancillary fees on the outstanding loan balances. Automobile loan servicing rights are accounted for using the amortization method. A servicing asset is established at fair value at the time of the sale. The servicing asset is then amortized against servicing income. Impairment, if any, is recognized when carrying value exceeds the fair value as determined by calculating the present value of expected net future cash flows. The primary risk characteristic for measuring servicing assets is payoff rates of the underlying loan pools. Valuation calculations rely on the predicted payoff assumption and, if actual payoff is quicker than expected, then future value would be impaired.

Changes in the carrying value of automobile loan servicing rights for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, and the fair value at the end of each period were as follows:

A summary of key assumptions and the sensitivity of the automobile loan servicing rights value to changes in these assumptions at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 follows:

Servicing income, net of amortization of capitalized servicing assets and impairment, amounted to $2.7 million and $1.2 million for the three-month periods ending March 31, 2013, and 2012, respectively. The unpaid principal balance of automobile loans serviced for third parties was $2.3 billion and $2.5 billion at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.