Employee Benefits	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS	15. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Equity Incentive Plan — The 2014 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and shareholders on July 28, 2014 and became effective immediately prior to the initial public offering on August 7, 2014. A total of 1,273,838 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan, which permits the grant of incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the IRS Code, to the Company’s employees, and the grant of non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, performance shares and other forms of equity-based awards to the Company’s employees, directors, consultants and independent contractors. The 2014 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, who may select which eligible participants receive awards, the types of awards to be granted, the purchase price, if any, to be paid for shares covered by the awards and the vesting, forfeiture, cancellation and other terms and conditions of the awards. Stock Options. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were 164,000 and 173,500 time based options outstanding under the 2014 Plan, respectively. The Company has three additional stock options plans, all of which are frozen to further issuance. The Green Bancorp, Inc. 2010 Stock Option Plan (the “2010 Option Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on June 30, 2010, permitted the grant of up to 2,239,906 options. The non-qualified stock options granted were in the form of time-based options and performance options and may have been granted to a director, officer or employee of the Company. Time-based options under the 2010 Option Plan vest over a period of four years and expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of the grant. Performance options under the 2010 Option Plan vest upon the occurrence of a liquidity event, with the vested amounts determined based on the achievement of specified performance and market metrics. The 2010 Option Plan was frozen to further issuance upon approval of the 2014 Omnibus Plan. At March 31, 2016, there were 380,902 time based options, 1,223,234 performance options and 379,529 super-performance options outstanding under the 2010 Option Plan. At December 31, 2015, there were 381,071 time based options, 1,223,234 performance options and 379,529 super-performance options outstanding under the 2010 Option Plan. The Green Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Stock Option Plan (the “2006 Option Plan”), which was approved by the shareholders of the Company on June 21, 2006, permitted the grant of up to 450,000 options. The options granted may have been in the form of nonqualified stock options, which may have been granted to a director, officer or employee of the Company, or incentive stock options, which may have been granted only to officers of the Company. Awards under the 2006 Option Plan vest over a four-year period, which began on the first anniversary of the grant date, and must be exercised within 10 years from the grant date. The 2006 Option Plan was frozen to further issuance upon approval of the 2010 Option Plan. At both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were 292,757 options outstanding under the 2006 Option Plan. In addition to the 2006 Option Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Redstone Bank 2004 Stock Option Plan (the “Redstone Option Plan”) and froze the plan to further issuance, following the Company’s acquisition of Redstone Bank. At the time of adoption, all options to acquire stock of Redstone Bank were converted to options to acquire stock of the Company and adjusted in terms of number and exercise price based on the terms of the merger agreement. All options issued under the Redstone Option Plan are fully vested as a result of the 2006 change of control event. At both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were 234,573 options outstanding under the Redstone Option Plan. Restricted Stock Units. In connection with the initial public offering, 275,000 restricted stock units were granted under the 2014 Plan. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were 280,000 and 292,500 restricted stock units outstanding under the 2014 Plan, respectively. Total restricted stock units compensation expense was $212 thousand and $206 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Stock Appreciation Rights Plan — On May 18, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Green Bancorp Stock Appreciation Rights Plan (the “SAR Plan”). The SAR Plan provided for the issuance of up to 200,000 units to plan participants at an exercise price of no less than the fair market value of the common stock of the Company at the time of grant. Units are redeemable by SAR Plan participants under certain circumstances whereby the participant will be paid the excess, if any, of the market value of the Company’s common stock at the time of exercise over the exercise price. The SAR Plan provides for a 10-year maximum term for units issued, vesting and exercisability limitations and accelerated vesting and deemed exercise in the event of a change of control. The SAR Plan was frozen to further issuance upon approval of the 2014 Omnibus Plan. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were 93,000 and 103,000 units outstanding under the SAR Plan, respectively. Prior to the initial public offering, the Company elected to account for the accrued SAR Plan liability under the intrinsic-value method as allowed for non-public companies by FASB ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. During the quarter ended September 30, 2014, the Company began to account for the accrued SAR Plan liability utilizing the fair value method. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, a $22 thousand and $108 thousand reversal of stock based compensation expense to reflect the fair value of the SARs was recorded, respectively. Benefit Plan — The Company sponsors a 401(k) plan (the “401k Plan”), which is a defined contribution plan available to substantially all employees. Participants in the 401k Plan may make salary deferral contributions up to the amount allowed by law. The Company makes safe harbor matching contributions to the 401k Plan equal to 100% of the participant’s elective contribution for the plan year up to a maximum of 6% of the participant’s salary. The Company contributions are fully vested at the date of contribution. The total of Company contributions for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, were $326 thousand and $243 thousand, respectively.

15. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Equity Incentive Plan — The 2014 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and shareholders on July 28, 2014 and became effective immediately prior to the initial public offering on August 7, 2014. A total of 1,273,838 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan, which permits the grant of incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the IRS Code, to the Company’s employees, and the grant of non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, performance shares and other forms of equity-based awards to the Company’s employees, directors, consultants and independent contractors. The 2014 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, who may select which eligible participants receive awards, the types of awards to be granted, the purchase price, if any, to be paid for shares covered by the awards and the vesting, forfeiture, cancellation and other terms and conditions of the awards.

Stock Options. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were 164,000 and 173,500 time based options outstanding under the 2014 Plan, respectively. The Company has three additional stock options plans, all of which are frozen to further issuance.

The Green Bancorp, Inc. 2010 Stock Option Plan (the “2010 Option Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on June 30, 2010, permitted the grant of up to 2,239,906 options. The non-qualified stock options granted were in the form of time-based options and performance options and may have been granted to a director, officer or employee of the Company. Time-based options under the 2010 Option Plan vest over a period of four years and expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of the grant. Performance options under the 2010 Option Plan vest upon the occurrence of a liquidity event, with the vested amounts determined based on the achievement of specified performance and market metrics. The 2010 Option Plan was frozen to further issuance upon approval of the 2014 Omnibus Plan. At March 31, 2016, there were 380,902 time based options, 1,223,234 performance options and 379,529 super-performance options outstanding under the 2010 Option Plan. At December 31, 2015, there were 381,071 time based options, 1,223,234 performance options and 379,529 super-performance options outstanding under the 2010 Option Plan.

The Green Bancorp, Inc. 2006 Stock Option Plan (the “2006 Option Plan”), which was approved by the shareholders of the Company on June 21, 2006, permitted the grant of up to 450,000 options. The options granted may have been in the form of nonqualified stock options, which may have been granted to a director, officer or employee of the Company, or incentive stock options, which may have been granted only to officers of the Company. Awards under the 2006 Option Plan vest over a four-year period, which began on the first anniversary of the grant date, and must be exercised within 10 years from the grant date. The 2006 Option Plan was frozen to further issuance upon approval of the 2010 Option Plan. At both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were 292,757 options outstanding under the 2006 Option Plan.

In addition to the 2006 Option Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Redstone Bank 2004 Stock Option Plan (the “Redstone Option Plan”) and froze the plan to further issuance, following the Company’s acquisition of Redstone Bank. At the time of adoption, all options to acquire stock of Redstone Bank were converted to options to acquire stock of the Company and adjusted in terms of number and exercise price based on the terms of the merger agreement. All options issued under the Redstone Option Plan are fully vested as a result of the 2006 change of control event. At both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were 234,573 options outstanding under the Redstone Option Plan.

Restricted Stock Units. In connection with the initial public offering, 275,000 restricted stock units were granted under the 2014 Plan. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were 280,000 and 292,500 restricted stock units outstanding under the 2014 Plan, respectively. Total restricted stock units compensation expense was $212 thousand and $206 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Stock Appreciation Rights Plan — On May 18, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Green Bancorp Stock Appreciation Rights Plan (the “SAR Plan”). The SAR Plan provided for the issuance of up to 200,000 units to plan participants at an exercise price of no less than the fair market value of the common stock of the Company at the time of grant. Units are redeemable by SAR Plan participants under certain circumstances whereby the participant will be paid the excess, if any, of the market value of the Company’s common stock at the time of exercise over the exercise price. The SAR Plan provides for a 10-year maximum term for units issued, vesting and exercisability limitations and accelerated vesting and deemed exercise in the event of a change of control. The SAR Plan was frozen to further issuance upon approval of the 2014 Omnibus Plan. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were 93,000 and 103,000 units outstanding under the SAR Plan, respectively.

Prior to the initial public offering, the Company elected to account for the accrued SAR Plan liability under the intrinsic-value method as allowed for non-public companies by FASB ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. During the quarter ended September 30, 2014, the Company began to account for the accrued SAR Plan liability utilizing the fair value method. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, a $22 thousand and $108 thousand reversal of stock based compensation expense to reflect the fair value of the SARs was recorded, respectively.

Benefit Plan — The Company sponsors a 401(k) plan (the “401k Plan”), which is a defined contribution plan available to substantially all employees. Participants in the 401k Plan may make salary deferral contributions up to the amount allowed by law. The Company makes safe harbor matching contributions to the 401k Plan equal to 100% of the participant’s elective contribution for the plan year up to a maximum of 6% of the participant’s salary. The Company contributions are fully vested at the date of contribution. The total of Company contributions for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, were $326 thousand and $243 thousand, respectively.