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 September 30, 2018
Beginning balance	$	7,525		$	1,811		$	14,252		$	3,168		$	15,094		$	6,331	$	—	$	48,181
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses	495			(526		)	(168		)	544			(1,632		)	1,228		—		(59		)
	8,020			1,285			14,084			3,712			13,462			7,559		—		48,122
Charge-offs	731			—			—			—			—			1,762		—		2,493
Recoveries	578			6			51			6			8			548		—		1,197
Net charge-offs (recoveries)	153			(6		)	(51		)	(6		)	(8		)	1,214		—		1,296
Ending balance	$	7,867		$	1,291		$	14,135		$	3,718		$	13,470		$	6,345	$	—	$	46,826

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
Beginning balance	$	8,598		$	3,212		$	14,034		$	3,370		$	18,184		$	5,430	$	—	$	52,828
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses	(690		)	(207		)	(526		)	(134		)	(541		)	1,972		—		(126		)
	7,908			3,005			13,508			3,236			17,643			7,402		—		52,702
Charge-offs	429			—			—			—			—			1,709		—		2,138
Recoveries	165			40			124			6			7			311		—		653
Net charge-offs (recoveries)	264			(40		)	(124		)	(6		)	(7		)	1,398		—		1,485
Ending balance	$	7,644		$	3,045		$	13,632		$	3,242		$	17,650		$	6,004	$	—	$	51,217



				Real Estate
	Commercial, Financial & Agricultural			Construction			Residential Mortgage			Home Equity			Commercial Mortgage			Consumer		Leases		Total
	(dollars in thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
Beginning balance	$	7,594		$	1,835		$	14,328		$	3,317		$	16,801		$	6,126	$	—	$	50,001
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses	1,227			(1,749		)	(291		)	383			(3,383		)	4,075		—		262
	8,821			86			14,037			3,700			13,418			10,201		—		50,263
Charge-offs	1,971			—			—			—			—			5,424		—		7,395
Recoveries	1,017			1,205			98			18			52			1,568		—		3,958
Net charge-offs (recoveries)	954			(1,205		)	(98		)	(18		)	(52		)	3,856		—		3,437
Ending balance	$	7,867		$	1,291		$	14,135		$	3,718		$	13,470		$	6,345	$	—	$	46,826

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Beginning balance	$	8,637		$	4,224		$	15,055		$	3,502		$	19,104		$	6,109	$	—	$	56,631
Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses	(403		)	(1,296		)	(2,280		)	(295		)	(1,600		)	3,386		—		(2,488		)
	8,234			2,928			12,775			3,207			17,504			9,495		—		54,143
Charge-offs	1,266			—			—			—			—			4,676		—		5,942
Recoveries	676			117			857			35			146			1,185		—		3,016
Net charge-offs (recoveries)	590			(117		)	(857		)	(35		)	(146		)	3,491		—		2,926
Ending balance	$	7,644		$	3,045		$	13,632		$	3,242		$	17,650		$	6,004	$	—	$	51,217

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 and a debit of $0.3 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to a credit of $0.1 million and a credit of $2.5 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.