Note 18.  Commitments, Contingencies and Credit Risk

 

Legal Matters

 

The Company is a party to legal actions which arise in the normal course of its business activities.  In the opinion of management, the ultimate resolution of these matters is not expected to have a material effect on the financial position or the results of operations of the Company.

 

Credit Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Company is a party to credit-related financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers.  These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit.  Those instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

The Company’s exposure to credit loss is represented by the contractual amount of those commitments.  The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments.  A summary of the contractual amount of the Company’s exposure to off-balance-sheet risk relating to the Company’s commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit follows:

 

 

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as no condition established in the contract has been violated.  These commitments are generally at variable interest rates and generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee.  The commitments for equity lines of 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 upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer.

 

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer’s obligation to a third party.  Those guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements, including bond financing and similar transactions and primarily have terms of one year or less.  The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers.  The Company holds collateral, which may include accounts receivable, inventory, property and equipment, and income producing properties, supporting those commitments if deemed necessary.  In the event the customer does not perform in accordance with the terms of the agreement with the third party, the Company would be required to fund the commitment.  The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make is represented by the contractual amount shown in the summary above.  If the commitment is funded, the Company would be entitled to seek recovery from the customer. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, no amounts were recorded as liabilities for the Bank’s potential obligations under these guarantees.

 

Lease Commitments

 

At December 31, 2014, the Company was obligated under noncancelable operating leases for office space and other commitments. Rent expense under operating leases, included in net occupancy and equipment expense, was $1.5 million, $1.6 million, and $2.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

The projected minimum rental payments under the terms of the leases at December 31, 2014 in thousands, are as follows: