Note 9 – Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments to extend credit
The Company is a party to 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. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized on the balance sheet. The contract, or notional, amounts of these instruments reflect the extent of involvement the Company has in particular classes of financial instruments.
The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counterparty to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit written is represented by the contractual notional amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as they do for
on-balance-sheet
instruments.
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 by the counterparty. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
The Company evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a
basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Company upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the counterparty. Collateral held varies, but primarily includes residential and income-producing real estate.
Standby letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The majority of these standby letters of credit expire within the next twelve months. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending other loan commitments. The Company requires collateral supporting these letters of credit as deemed necessary. Management believes that the proceeds obtained through a liquidation of such collateral should be sufficient to cover the maximum potential amount under the corresponding guarantees.
The Company had the following
off-balance
sheet financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk at December 31:
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(In thousands) |
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| Performance and standby letters of credit |
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$ |
700 |
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$ |
1,010 |
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| |
|
|
61,223 |
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|
|
89,258 |
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| Commitments to fund loans |
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|
51,883 |
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|
38,863 |
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| Unfunded commitments under lines of credit |
|
|
18,801 |
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|
|
4,697 |
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| Total |
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$ |
132,607 |
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|
$ |
133,828 |
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The Company is a limited partner in a Small Business Investment Company (“SBIC”) and committed to contribute capital of $5.0 million to the partnership. At December 31, 2024, the SBIC had a book value of $3.3 million. The unfunded commitment to the partnership was $1.7 million at December 31, 2024.
The Company invested in a CRA eligible investment that acquires SBA loans within qualifying census tracts in which the Company operates. The Company decides which loans are included in its investment. The Company has an outstanding commitment to fund up to $6.9 million and currently has $6.9 million funded. There is currently no unfunded commitment at December 31, 2024.
From time to time the Company is a defendant in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. However, in the opinion of management of the Company, there are no proceedings pending to which the Company is a party or to which its property is subject, which, if determined adversely to the Company, would be material in relation to the Company’s profits or financial condition, nor are there any proceedings pending other than ordinary routine litigation incident to the business of the Company. In addition, no material proceedings are pending or are known to be threatened or contemplated against the Company by government authorities or others.