24. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISK

We are a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of our customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and financial guarantees written, forward foreign exchange contracts, and interest rate contracts. Those instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, interest rate and foreign exchange risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. The contract or notional amounts of those instruments reflect the extent of involvement we have in particular classes of financial instruments.

Our exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counterparty to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit and financial guarantees written is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. For forward foreign exchange contracts and interest rate contracts, the contract amounts do not represent exposure to credit loss. We control the credit risk of these contracts through credit approvals, limits and monitoring procedures. We use the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as we do for on-balance sheet instruments.

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. We evaluate each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary, 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 commercial properties.

Standby letters of credit and financial guarantees written are conditional commitments issued by us to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. We hold collateral supporting those commitments for which collateral is deemed necessary.

Interest rate options issued on residential mortgage loans expose us to interest rate risk, which is economically hedged with forward interest rate contracts. These derivatives are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recorded as a component of other operating income in the consolidated statements of operations.

Forward interest rate contracts represent commitments to purchase or sell loans at a future date at a specified price. Risks arise from the possible inability of counter-parties to meet the terms of their contracts and from movements in market rates. Management reviews and approves the creditworthiness of the counterparties to its forward interest rate contracts.

Forward foreign exchange contracts represent commitments to purchase or sell foreign currencies at a future date at a specified price. Risks arise from the possible inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts and from movements in foreign currency exchange rates. Management reviews and approves the creditworthiness of its forward foreign exchange counterparties.

At December 31, 2012 and 2011, financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk were as follows:

	December 31,
	2012		2011
	(Dollars in thousands)
Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk:
Commitments to extend credit	$	554,477	$	451,378
Standby letters of credit and financial guarantees written	13,813		13,159

Financial instruments whose contract amounts exceed the amount of credit risk:
Interest rate options	67,072		68,979
Forward interest rate contracts	49,222		33,776
Forward foreign exchange contracts	—		547