Note 8 — Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments to extend credit — In the normal course of business, the Company has outstanding commitments and contingent liabilities, such as commitments to extend credit and unused credit card lines, which are not included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by other parties to the financial instruments for commitments to extend credit and unused credit card lines is represented by the contractual or notional amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making such commitments as it does for instruments that are included in the consolidated balance sheets.

Note 8 — Commitments and Contingencies – Continued

Contractual amounts of off-balance sheet financial instruments were as follows:

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. The commitments to extend credit may expire without being drawn upon. Therefore, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The amount of collateral obtained, if it is deemed necessary by the Company, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer.

Unused credit card lines are commitments for possible future extensions of credit to existing customers. These lines of credit are uncollateralized and usually do not contain a specified maturity date and may not be drawn upon to the total extent to which the Company is committed.

The Company has entered into agreements to construct two branch facilities scheduled to open in 2017.  Estimated construction costs for the two branches are expected to be approximately $1.8 million.