12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company leases its premises under non-cancelable operating leases, and at December 31, 2011, the future minimum rental commitments under these leases are as follows:


	(In thousands)
2012	$	8,399
2013		7,639
2014		6,904
2015		6,219
2016		5,183
Thereafter		13,386

	$	47,730

Operating lease expense recorded under such leases in 2011, 2010 and 2009 amounted to approximately $8.6 million, $6.6 million and $6.3 million, respectively.

In the normal course of business, the Company is involved in various legal claims. Management has reviewed all legal claims against the Company with counsel for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, and has taken into consideration the views of such counsel as to the outcome of the claims. In management's opinion, the final disposition of all such claims will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded an accrued liability of $400,000 and $0, for litigation settlements.

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and other commercial letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit and other commercial letters of credit is represented by the contractual notional amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for extending loan facilities to customers. The Company evaluates each customer's creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Company upon extension of credit, is based on management's credit evaluation of the counterparty. Collateral held varies but may include accounts receivable; inventory; property, plant and equipment; and income-producing properties.

Commitments at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are summarized as follows:


	2011		2010
	(In thousands)
Commitments to extend credit	$	458,096	$	205,752
Standby letters of credit		29,028		9,777
Other commercial letters of credit		49,457		30,180

	$	536,581	$	245,709

Commitments and letters of credit generally have variable rates that are tied to the prime rate. The amount of fixed rate commitments is not considered material to this presentation. From time to time, the Company enters into certain types of contracts that contingently require the Company to indemnify parties against third party claims and other obligations customarily indemnified in the ordinary course of the Company's business. The terms of such obligations vary, and, generally, a maximum obligation is not explicitly stated. Therefore, the overall maximum amount of the obligations cannot be reasonably estimated. The most significant of these contracts relate to certain agreements with the Company's officers and directors under which the Company may be required to indemnify such persons for liabilities arising out of their employment relationship. Historically, the Company has not been obligated to make significant payments for these obligations, and no liabilities have been recorded for these obligations on its consolidated statements of financial condition as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.