NOTE 18. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company awards its employees and directors various forms of stock-based incentives under certain plans approved by its shareholders. Awards granted under the plans may be in the form of qualified or nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), long-term incentive compensation units consisting of cash and common stock, or any combination thereof within the limitations set forth in the plans. The plans provide that the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock which may be subject to award may not exceed 2,985,000 subject to adjustment in certain circumstances to prevent dilution. At December 31, 2014, there were 1,191,000 shares available to be issued under the plans.

All stock options have an exercise price that is equal to the closing fair market value of the Company’s stock on the date the options were granted. Options granted under the plans generally vest over a five-year period and have a 10-year maximum term. Most options granted since 2005 contain performance-based vesting conditions.

The Company did not grant any options during 2014, 2013 and 2012. As of December 31, 2014, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted related to performance or non-performance based options.

As of December 31, 2014, the Company has 323,151 outstanding restricted shares granted under the plans as compensation to certain employees. These shares carry dividend and voting rights. Sales of these shares are restricted prior to the date of vesting, which is three to five years from the date of the grant. Shares issued under the plans are recorded at their fair market value on the date of their grant. The compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the related vesting period. In 2014, 2013 and 2012, compensation expense related to these grants was approximately $2,058,000, $1,041,000 and $947,000, respectively. The total income tax benefit related to these grants was approximately $861,000, $152,000 and $170,000 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

It is the Company’s policy to issue new shares for stock option exercises and restricted stock rather than issue treasury shares. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the options’ related vesting term. The Company did not record any stock-based compensation expense related to stock options during 2014 and 2013. Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options was approximately $97,000 for 2012. The total income tax benefit related to stock options was approximately $49,000 and $1,000 in 2014 and 2012, respectively. There was no income tax benefit related to stock options in 2013.

The fair value of each stock-based compensation grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. There were no stock-based compensation grants made in 2014, 2013 and 2012.

A summary of the activity of non-performance based and performance based options as of December 31, 2014 is presented below:


	Non-Performance Based									Performance Based
	Shares			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Contractual Term		Aggregate Intrinsic Value $ (000)		Shares			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Contractual Term		Aggregate Intrinsic Value $ (000)
Under option, beginning of year		115,459		$	17.24						371,000		$	16.76
Granted		-			-						-			-
Exercised		(25,395	)		14.81			$	148		(6,477	)		11.05			$	72
Forfeited		(1,953	)		14.88						(5,192	)		25.51

Under option, end of year		88,111		$	18.00		2.71	$	884		359,331		$	16.74		2.11	$	2,955

Exercisable at end of year		88,111		$	18.00		2.71	$	884		341,030		$	17.23		2.00	$	2,629

A summary of the activity of non-performance based and performance based options as of December 31, 2013 is presented below:


	Non-Performance Based									Performance Based
	Shares			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Contractual Term		Aggregate Intrinsic Value $ (000)		Shares			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Contractual Term		Aggregate Intrinsic Value $ (000)
Under option, beginning of year		148,498		$	16.37						391,321		$	16.43
Granted		-			-						-			-
Exercised		(27,657	)		13.29			$	107		(4,524	)		7.47			$	42
Forfeited		(5,382	)		13.43						(15,797	)		13.22

Under option, end of year		115,459		$	17.24		3.04	$	641		371,000		$	16.76		3.12	$	1,401

Exercisable at end of year		115,459		$	17.24		3.04	$	641		351,856		$	17.27		3.01	$	1,145

A summary of the activity of non-performance based and performance based options as of December 31, 2012 is presented below:


	Non-Performance Based									Performance Based
	Shares			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Contractual Term		Aggregate Intrinsic Value $ (000)		Shares			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Contractual Term		Aggregate Intrinsic Value $ (000)
Under option, beginning of year		187,032		$	15.32						393,891		$	16.45
Granted		-			-						-			-
Exercised		-			-			$	-		-			-			$	-
Forfeited		(38,534	)		11.28						(2,570	)		19.67

Under option, end of year		148,498		$	16.37		3.34	$	1		391,321		$	16.43		4.16	$	774

Exercisable at end of year		148,498		$	16.37		3.34	$	1		369,766		$	17.05		4.05	$	435

A summary of the status of the Company’s restricted stock awards as of and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 is presented below:


	2014					2013					2012
	Shares			Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Shares			Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Shares			Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value

Nonvested shares at beginning of year		377,725		$	11.78		295,075		$	10.47		301,775		$	9.14
Granted		82,047			20.99		108,400			14.77		62,450			13.15
Vested		(126,050	)		13.12		(21,750	)		9.31		(68,650	)		7.06
Forfeited		(10,571	)		15.61		(4,000	)		9.88		(500	)		9.96

Nonvested shares at end of year		323,151			13.46		377,725			11.78		295,075			10.47

The balance of unearned compensation related to restricted stock grants as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $1,568,000, $2,129,000 and $1,608,000, respectively. At December 31, 2014, the cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.0 years.