INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	INCOME TAXES For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, income tax expense was $9.3 million and $903 thousand, respectively, and the effective tax rate was 38.9 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, income tax expense was $30.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively, and the effective tax rate was 41.3 percent and 7.1 percent, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate increased due to the release of valuation allowance during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. The Company accounts for income taxes by recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities based upon temporary differences between the amounts for financial reporting purposes and tax basis of its assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management will continue to evaluate both positive and negative evidence on a quarterly basis, including the existence of any cumulative losses in the current year and the prior two years, the amount of taxes paid in available carry-back years, future taxable income and tax planning strategies. Based on this analysis, management determined that it was more likely than not that all of the deferred tax assets would be realized. Therefore, no valuation allowance was provided against the deferred tax assets of $13.4 million and $16.4 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. ASC 740-10-25 (formerly FIN 48) relates to the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements. ASC 740-10-25 prescribes a threshold and a measurement process for recognizing in the financial statements a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company had unrecognized tax benefits of $0 and $5.4 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The Company has changed its tax accounting method for various items and filed amended state income tax returns to reflect audit adjustments. As a result, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits has decreased by $5.4 million. The Company does not believe that the unrecognized tax benefits will change within the next twelve months. As of September 30, 2015, the total unrecognized tax benefit that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate was $0. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had $0 and $23 thousand accrued for interest or penalties, respectively. In the event the Company is assessed interest and/or penalties by federal or state tax authorities, such amounts will be classified in the consolidated financial statements as income tax expense. The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. Federal income tax as well as income tax in multiple state jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to examination by U.S. Federal taxing authorities for years before 2010 (with the exception of Gateway Bancorp, a predecessor entity, which is currently under exam by the Internal Revenue Service for the 2008 and 2009 tax years).The statute of limitations for the assessment of California Franchise taxes has expired for tax years before 2010 (other state income and franchise tax statutes of limitations vary by state). ASU 2014-01 was adopted effective January 1, 2015. Under this standard, amortization of investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects is reported within income tax expense. See Note 1 for additional information.

INCOME TAXES

For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, income tax expense was $9.3 million and $903 thousand, respectively, and the effective tax rate was 38.9 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, income tax expense was $30.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively, and the effective tax rate was 41.3 percent and 7.1 percent, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate increased due to the release of valuation allowance during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

The Company accounts for income taxes by recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities based upon temporary differences between the amounts for financial reporting purposes and tax basis of its assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management will continue to evaluate both positive and negative evidence on a quarterly basis, including the existence of any cumulative losses in the current year and the prior two years, the amount of taxes paid in available carry-back years, future taxable income and tax planning strategies. Based on this analysis, management determined that it was more likely than not that all of the deferred tax assets would be realized. Therefore, no valuation allowance was provided against the deferred tax assets of $13.4 million and $16.4 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

ASC 740-10-25 (formerly FIN 48) relates to the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements. ASC 740-10-25 prescribes a threshold and a measurement process for recognizing in the financial statements a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company had unrecognized tax benefits of $0 and $5.4 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The Company has changed its tax accounting method for various items and filed amended state income tax returns to reflect audit adjustments. As a result, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits has decreased by $5.4 million. The Company does not believe that the unrecognized tax benefits will change within the next twelve months. As of September 30, 2015, the total unrecognized tax benefit that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate was $0. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had $0 and $23 thousand accrued for interest or penalties, respectively. In the event the Company is assessed interest and/or penalties by federal or state tax authorities, such amounts will be classified in the consolidated financial statements as income tax expense.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. Federal income tax as well as income tax in multiple state jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to examination by U.S. Federal taxing authorities for years before 2010 (with the exception of Gateway Bancorp, a predecessor entity, which is currently under exam by the Internal Revenue Service for the 2008 and 2009 tax years).The statute of limitations for the assessment of California Franchise taxes has expired for tax years before 2010 (other state income and franchise tax statutes of limitations vary by state).

ASU 2014-01 was adopted effective January 1, 2015. Under this standard, amortization of investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects is reported within income tax expense. See Note 1 for additional information.