FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Investments, All Other Investments [Abstract]

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

NOTE 20 - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Bank, in the normal course of business and to meet the financing needs of its customers, is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk.    These financial instruments include commitments to originate loans, 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 are no violations of any conditions 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 may 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, 2016 and 2015, the maximum potential amount of the Bank's obligation was $1,112,000 and $1,401,000, 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)		2016		2015
Residential	$	6,150	$	6,620
Home equity lines of credit		26,491		25,912
Commercial		5,624		13,922
Land		116		218
Real estate secured		38,381		46,672
Commercial and industrial		56,178		67,725
Municipal		250		790
Consumer		1,464		1,507
Unadvanced portions of loans		96,273		116,694
Commitments to originate loans		30,776		37,688
Letters of credit		1,112		1,401
Total	$	128,161	$	155,783

The allowance for off balance sheet commitments is calculated by applying a reserve percentage discounted by a utilization factor to the sum of unguaranteed unused lines of credit and loan contracts that the Bank has committed to but not funded as of year-end. The allowance for off-balance sheet commitments was $81,000 and $93,000 as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.