5. 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			Residential Mortgage			Home Equity			Commercial Mortgage			Consumer - Auto		Consumer - Other		Leases		Unallocated			Total
	(dollars in thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Beginning balance	$	8,637		$	4,224		$	15,055		$	3,502		$	19,104		$	3,000	$	3,109	$	—	$	—		$	56,631
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses	(66		)	(527		)	(259		)	(79		)	72			302		477		—		—			(80		)
	8,571			3,697			14,796			3,423			19,176			3,302		3,586		—		—			56,551
Charge-offs	500			—			—			—			—			520		977		—		—			1,997
Recoveries	275			21			96			2			11			194		216		—		—			815
Net charge-offs (recoveries)	225			(21		)	(96		)	(2		)	(11		)	326		761		—		—			1,182
Ending balance	$	8,346		$	3,718		$	14,892		$	3,425		$	19,187		$	2,976	$	2,825	$	—	$	—		$	55,369

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
Beginning balance	$	6,905		$	8,454		$	14,642		$	3,096		$	21,847		$	2,891	$	3,339	$	—	$	2,140		$	63,314
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses	98			(4,335		)	21			209			3,313			19		68		—		(140		)	(747		)
	7,003			4,119			14,663			3,305			25,160			2,910		3,407		—		2,000			62,567
Charge-offs	352			—			—			—			—			380		732		—		—			1,464
Recoveries	349			9			33			4			13			193		445		—		—			1,046
Net charge-offs (recoveries)	3			(9		)	(33		)	(4		)	(13		)	187		287		—		—			418
Ending balance	$	7,000		$	4,128		$	14,696		$	3,309		$	25,173		$	2,723	$	3,120	$	—	$	2,000		$	62,149

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

Our Provision was a credit of $0.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to a credit of $0.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2016.

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.