STOCK COMPENSATION EXPENSE

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

STOCK COMPENSATION EXPENSE [Abstract]

STOCK COMPENSATION EXPENSE

NOTE 14 – STOCK COMPENSATION EXPENSE

In 2002, the Company registered 500,000 shares of its common stock to be reserved for stock based incentive programs ("the 2002 Plan").  From time to time the Company grants stock options to its employees.  The Company estimates the fair value of the options at the time they are granted to employees and expenses that fair value over the vesting period of the option grant.

On March 21, 2012, 105,700 incentive stock options were granted out of the 2002 Employee Stock Option Plan at an exercise price of $7.47, the closing market price of Premier on the grant date.  These options vest in three equal annual installments ending on March 21, 2015.  On March 16, 2011, 102,000 incentive stock options were granted out of the 2002 Employee Stock Option Plan at an exercise price of $6.95, the closing market price of Premier on the grant date.  These options vest in three equal annual installments ending on March 16, 2014.  On March 17, 2010, 47,700 incentive stock options were granted out of the 2002 Plan at an exercise price of $8.90.  These options vest in three equal annual installments ending on March 17, 2013.

The fair value of the Company's employee stock options granted is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. This model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, changes to which can materially affect the fair value estimate. Additionally, there may be other factors that would otherwise have a significant effect on the value of employee stock options granted but are not considered by the model. The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model are as follows

	2012			2011			2010
Risk-free interest rate		2.31	%		3.58	%		3.65	%
Expected option life (yrs)		10.00			10.00			10.00
Expected stock price volatility		34.93	%		30.01	%		24.67	%
Dividend yield		2.68	%		4.03	%		4.94	%
Weighted average fair value of options granted during the year	$	2.34		$	1.63		$	1.41

The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time of the grant.  The expected option life was estimated since there has been little option exercise history.  The expected stock price volatility is based on historical volatilities of the Company's common stock.  The dividend yield was estimated using historical dividends and dividend yields since at the time of the option grant the Company was restricted from paying dividends by its primary regulator.

Compensation expense of $181, $106 and $53 was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.  Stock-based compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period for all awards. Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock options totaled $138 at December 31, 2012. This unrecognized expense is expected to be recognized over the next 26 months based on the vesting periods of the options.

During the year ending December 31, 2012, 25,550 options were exercised while no options were exercised during the years ending December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

A summary of the Company's stock option activity is as follows:

	----------2012----------					----------2011----------					----------2010----------
	Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at beginning of year		350,949		$	9.69		255,649		$	10.77		212,449		$	11.18
Grants		105,700			7.47		102,000			6.95		47,700			8.90
Exercises		(25,550	)		7.52		-			-		-			-
Forfeitures or expired		(38,733	)		9.61		(6,700	)		9.10		(4,500	)		10.47
Outstanding at year-end		392,366		$	9.24		350,949		$	9.69		255,649		$	10.77
Exercisable at year-end		220,646		$	10.68		206,727		$	11.36		165,699		$	11.89
Weighted average remaining life		6.6					6.4					6.3

Options outstanding at year-end are expected to fully vest.

Additional information regarding stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2012 is provided in the following table:

	- - - - - - - - Outstanding - - - - - - - -						- - - - - - - - Currently Exercisable - - - - - - - -
Range of Exercise Prices	Number		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value		Number		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
$6.50 to $10.00		280,433	$	7.48	$	945		108,713		6.1	$	7.62	$	351
$10.01 to $12.50		23,333		11.62		-		23,333		2.1		11.62		-
$12.51 to $15.00		63,600		13.46		-		63,600		4.7		13.46		-
$15.01 to $17.50		25,000		16.00		-		25,000		3.1		16.00		-
Outstanding at Dec 31, 2012		392,366		9.24	$	945		220,646		4.9		10.68	$	351