ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES

The following table presents by class, the activity in the Allowance for the periods indicated:



				Real estate
	Commercial, Financial & Agricultural			Construction			Mortgage - Residential			Mortgage - Commercial			Consumer		Leases			Unallocated			Total
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
Beginning balance	$	7,569		$	10,670		$	17,846		$	20,008		$	7,330	$	1		$	3,500		$	66,924
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses	(293		)	(2,702		)	(23		)	(1,573		)	972		(28		)	—			(3,647		)
	7,276			7,968			17,823			18,435			8,302		(27		)	3,500			63,277
Charge-offs	170			—			46			—			874		—			—			1,090
Recoveries	504			283			196			3,130			317		27			—			4,457
Net charge-offs (recoveries)	(334		)	(283		)	(150		)	(3,130		)	557		(27		)	—			(3,367		)
Ending balance	$	7,610		$	8,251		$	17,973		$	21,565		$	7,745	$	—		$	3,500		$	66,644

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
Beginning balance	$	12,255		$	15,525		$	19,198		$	25,885		$	6,723	$	13		$	4,000		$	83,599
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses	(709		)	(1,728		)	(173		)	(1,372		)	2,262		(2		)	—			(1,722		)
	11,546			13,797			19,025			24,513			8,985		11			4,000			81,877
Charge-offs	471			—			—			—			928		—			—			1,399
Recoveries	789			1,100			244			14			212		1			—			2,360
Net charge-offs (recoveries)	(318		)	(1,100		)	(244		)	(14		)	716		(1		)	—			(961		)
Ending balance	$	11,864		$	14,897		$	19,269		$	24,527		$	8,269	$	12		$	4,000		$	82,838

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
Beginning balance	$	8,954		$	14,969		$	17,927		$	20,869		$	7,314	$	7		$	4,000		$	74,040
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses	(617		)	(7,588		)	(1,925		)	(6,009		)	2,960		(34		)	(500		)	(13,713		)
	8,337			7,381			16,002			14,860			10,274		(27		)	3,500			60,327
Charge-offs	5,104			—			110			—			3,929		—			—			9,143
Recoveries	4,377			870			2,081			6,705			1,400		27			—			15,460
Net charge-offs (recoveries)	727			(870		)	(1,971		)	(6,705		)	2,529		(27		)	—			(6,317		)
Ending balance	$	7,610		$	8,251		$	17,973		$	21,565		$	7,745	$	—		$	3,500		$	66,644

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
Beginning balance	$	13,196		$	2,774		$	25,272		$	29,947		$	6,576	$	55		$	6,000		$	83,820
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses	(1,163		)	10,279			(6,731		)	(4,419		)	3,032		(41		)	(2,000		)	(1,043		)
	12,033			13,053			18,541			25,528			9,608		14			4,000			82,777
Charge-offs	2,142			—			139			1,041			2,063		8			—			5,393
Recoveries	1,973			1,844			867			40			724		6			—			5,454
Net charge-offs (recoveries)	169			(1,844		)	(728		)	1,001			1,339		2			—			(61		)
Ending balance	$	11,864		$	14,897		$	19,269		$	24,527		$	8,269	$	12		$	4,000		$	82,838

Loans held for sale and other real estate assets are not included in our assessment of the Allowance.

Our Provisions were credits of $3.6 million and $13.7 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to credits of $1.7 million and $1.0 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

In determining the amount of our Allowance, we rely on an analysis of our loan portfolio, our experience and our evaluation of general economic conditions, as well as regulatory requirements and input. If our assumptions prove to be incorrect, our current Allowance may not be sufficient to cover future loan losses and we may experience significant increases to our Provision.