FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Investments, All Other Investments [Abstract]

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

NOTE 19 - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Bank 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 originate loans, standby letters of credit and unadvanced funds on loans. The instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheets. The contract amounts of those instruments reflect the extent of involvement the Bank has in particular classes of financial instruments.

The Bank's exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for loan commitments and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amounts of those instruments. The Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments.

Commitments to originate loans are agreements to lend to a customer provided 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. 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 Bank evaluates each customer's creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Bank upon extension of credit, is based on management's credit evaluation of the borrower. Collateral held varies, but may include secured interests in mortgages, accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment and income producing properties.

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Bank to guarantee the performance by a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the maximum potential amount of the Bank’s obligation was $3,422,000 and $53,000, respectively, for financial, commercial and standby letters of credit. If a letter of credit is drawn upon, the Bank may seek recourse through the customer’s underlying line of credit. If the customer’s line of credit is also in default, the Bank may take possession of the collateral, if any, securing the line of credit.

Financial instrument liabilities with off-balance sheet credit risk are as follows:

December 31, (in thousands)		2014		2013
Residential	$	3,030	$	314
Home equity credit		25,882		28,377
Commercial		16,751		9,900
Land		5		10
Real estate secured		45,668		38,601
Commercial and industrial		57,905		17,563
Consumer		1,537		1,321
Unadvanced portions of loans		105,110		57,485
Commitments to originate loans		20,953		9,730
Standby letters of credit		3,422		53
Total	$	129,485	$	67,268

There is no material difference between the notional amounts and the estimated fair values of the off-balance sheet liabilities.