STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS [Abstract]  
Options valuation assumptions
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of each option granted with the following weighted average assumptions:
 
   
Quarters Ended
  
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
  
September 30,
 
Valuation Assumptions
 
2011 (5)
  
2012 (5)
  
2011
  
2012
 
              
Expected life (1)
  -   -   2.97   5.11 
Risk-free interest rate (2)
  -   -   1.25%  0.90%
Expected volatility (3)
  -   -   57%  50%
Expected dividend yield
  -   -   4.46%  4.83%
Expected Forfeiture (4)
  -   -   10.50%  - 
 
__________________________________________________________________________________
 
(1) The expected life, in years, of stock options is estimated based on historical experience.
(2) The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury bills whose term is consistent with the expected life of the stock options.
(3) The expected volatility is estimated based on historical and current stock price data for the Company.
(4) Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience.
(5) The Company did not issue any options during the quarters ended September 30, 2011 and 2012.
 
Summary of option activity
A summary of option activity as of September 30, 2012, and changes during the nine months then ended, is presented below:
 
Number of Options
 
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
 
 
Range of Exercise Prices
 
 
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)
 
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (thousands)
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2011
 
 
410,689
 
 
$
18.41
 
 
$
10.20 - $21.85
 
 
 
4.0
 
 
$
219
 
Granted
 
 
112,000
 
 
$
18.23
 
 
$
16.88 - $18.39
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercised
 
 
(34,422
)
 
$
14.35
 
 
$
10.20 - $17.61
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2012
 
 
488,267
 
 
$
18.65
 
 
$
10.75 - $21.85
 
 
 
4.2
 
 
$
189
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercisable at September 30, 2012
 
 
254,937
 
 
$
19.02
 
 
$
10.75 - $21.85
 
 
 
3.0
 
 
$
120