COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES	17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES The Company incurs off-balance sheet risks in the normal course of business in order to meet the financing needs of its customers. These risks derive from commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Such commitments and standby letters of credit involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated financial statements. Commitments to extend credit are obligations to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the loan agreement. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Because many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. Commitments to extend credit are issued both on an unsecured and secured basis. Collateral which secures these types of commitments is the same as for other types of secured lending such as accounts receivable, inventory, fixed assets, and real estate. Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Those guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements, including normal business activities, bond financings, and similar transactions. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers. Letters of credit are issued both on an unsecured and secured basis. Collateral securing these types of transactions is similar to collateral securing the Company’s commercial loans. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to these commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by their contractual amounts. The Company uses the same credit and collateral policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as for all other lending. At December 31, 2023, the Company had various outstanding commitments to extend credit approximating $236.6 million and standby letters of credit of $8.2 million, compared to commitments to extend credit of $227.6 million and standby letters of credit of $9.0 million at December 31, 2022. Standby letters of credit had terms ranging from one to five years with annual extension options available. Standby letters of credit of approximately $5.7 million and $5.6 million were secured as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company estimates expected credit losses over the contractual period in which it is exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable. The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures is adjusted through the provision for credit losses line on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life. The Company recorded a provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments for the year ended December 31, 2023 of $17,000. The carrying amount of the allowance for credit losses for the Company’s obligations related to unfunded commitments and standby letters of credit, which is reported in other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, was $940,000 at December 31, 2023 and $746,000 at December 31, 2022. Pursuant to its bylaws, the Company provides indemnification to its directors and officers against certain liabilities incurred as a result of their service on behalf of the Company. In connection with this indemnification obligation, the Company can advance on behalf of covered individuals costs incurred in defending against certain claims. Additionally, the Company is also subject to a number of asserted and unasserted potential claims encountered in the normal course of business. Neither the resolution of these claims nor the funding of these credit commitments is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

The Company incurs off-balance sheet risks in the normal course of business in order to meet the financing needs of its customers. These risks derive from commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Such commitments and standby letters of credit involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated financial statements. Commitments to extend credit are obligations to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the loan agreement. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Because many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. Commitments to extend credit are issued both on an unsecured and secured basis. Collateral which secures these types of commitments is the same as for other types of secured lending such as accounts receivable, inventory, fixed assets, and real estate.

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Those guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements, including normal business activities, bond financings, and similar transactions. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers. Letters of credit are issued both on an unsecured and secured basis. Collateral securing these types of transactions is similar to collateral securing the Company’s commercial loans.

The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to these commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by their contractual amounts. The Company uses the same credit and collateral policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as for all other lending. At December 31, 2023, the Company had various outstanding commitments to extend credit approximating $236.6 million and standby letters of credit of $8.2 million, compared to commitments to extend credit of $227.6 million and standby letters of credit of $9.0 million at December 31, 2022.

Standby letters of credit had terms ranging from one to five years with annual extension options available. Standby letters of credit of approximately $5.7 million and $5.6 million were secured as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The Company estimates expected credit losses over the contractual period in which it is exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable. The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures is adjusted through the provision for credit losses line on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life. The Company recorded a provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments for the year ended December 31, 2023 of $17,000. The carrying amount of the allowance for credit losses for the Company’s obligations related to unfunded commitments and standby letters of credit, which is reported in other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, was $940,000 at December 31, 2023 and $746,000 at December 31, 2022.

Pursuant to its bylaws, the Company provides indemnification to its directors and officers against certain liabilities incurred as a result of their service on behalf of the Company. In connection with this indemnification obligation, the Company can advance on behalf of covered individuals costs incurred in defending against certain claims. Additionally, the Company is also subject to a number of asserted and unasserted potential claims encountered in the normal course of business. Neither the resolution of these claims nor the funding of these credit commitments is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.