PROPERTY PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

Property Plant And Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 11 – PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT

Premises and equipment comprise:

	Useful Life In Years		As of December 31,
	Useful Life In Years			2014		2013
			(Dollars in thousands)

Buildings and improvements		10-35	$	140,592	$	141,836
Leasehold improvements		1-10		63,065		57,833
Furniture and equipment		2-10		161,865		147,640
				365,522		347,309

Accumulated depreciation				(232,272)		(216,170)

				133,250		131,139
Land				25,655		25,655
Projects in progress				8,021		10,152
Total premises and equipment, net			$	166,926	$	166,946

Depreciation and amortization expense amounted to $21.0 million, $24.0 million, and $24.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. During 2013, the Corporation reclassified at fair value approximately $2.2 million to other assets held for sale certain fixed assets no longer being used for operations after the consolidation of certain bank branches. This resulted in a charge of $0.5 million recorded as part of “other non-interest income” on the statement of income (loss).

- Definition

The entire disclosure for long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Includes, but is not limited to, accounting policies and methodology, roll forwards, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, including composite depreciation, accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, useful lives and method used, income statement disclosures, assets held for sale and public utility disclosures.

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