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		Leases		Total
	(dollars in thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Beginning balance	$	7,594		$	1,835		$	14,328		$	3,317		$	16,801		$	6,126	$	—	$	50,001
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses	236			(1,314		)	(147		)	8			(630		)	1,636		—		(211		)
	7,830			521			14,181			3,325			16,171			7,762		—		49,790
Charge-offs	498			—			—			—			—			1,933		—		2,431
Recoveries	144			1,193			26			3			15			477		—		1,858
Net charge-offs (recoveries)	354			(1,193		)	(26		)	(3		)	(15		)	1,456		—		573
Ending balance	$	7,476		$	1,714		$	14,207		$	3,328		$	16,186		$	6,306	$	—	$	49,217

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Beginning balance	$	8,637		$	4,224		$	15,055		$	3,502		$	19,104		$	6,109	$	—	$	56,631
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses	(66		)	(527		)	(259		)	(79		)	72			779		—		(80		)
	8,571			3,697			14,796			3,423			19,176			6,888		—		56,551
Charge-offs	500			—			—			—			—			1,497		—		1,997
Recoveries	275			21			96			2			11			410		—		815
Net charge-offs (recoveries)	225			(21		)	(96		)	(2		)	(11		)	1,087		—		1,182
Ending balance	$	8,346		$	3,718		$	14,892		$	3,425		$	19,187		$	5,801	$	—	$	55,369

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

Our Provision was a credit of $0.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to a credit of $0.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2017.