Note 5. Financial Instruments with Off‑Balance Sheet Risk

The Company is party to credit‑related financial instruments with off‑balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Such commitments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheet.

The Company’s exposure to credit loss is represented by the contractual amount of these commitments. The Company follows the same credit policies in making commitments as it does for on‑balance sheet instruments.

At June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the following financial instruments were outstanding which contract amounts represent credit risk:


(In thousands)	June 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Commitments to grant loans	$	29,948	$	22,349
Unused commitments to fund loans and lines of credit		258,134		216,043
Commercial and standby letters of credit		10,772		9,383

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. The commitments for equity lines of credit may expire without being drawn upon. Therefore, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The amount of collateral obtained, if it is deemed necessary by the Company, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer.

Unfunded commitments under commercial lines of credit, revolving credit lines and overdraft protection agreements are commitments for possible future extensions of credit to existing customers. These lines of credit usually do not contain a specified maturity date and may not be drawn upon to the total extent to which the Company is committed. The amount of collateral obtained, if it is deemed necessary by the Company, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer.

Commercial and standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Those letters of credit are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements. Essentially all letters of credit issued have expiration dates within one year. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. The Company generally holds collateral supporting those commitments, if deemed necessary.

The Company maintains its cash accounts with the Federal Reserve and correspondent banks. The total amount of cash on deposit in correspondent banks exceeding the federally insured limits was $10.8 million and $5.1 million at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.