COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

LCNB is a party to 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. They involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheets. The Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit is represented by the contract amount of those instruments.

The Bounce Protection product, a customer deposit overdraft program, is offered as a service and does not constitute a contract between the customer and LCNB.

LCNB uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments.

Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent off-balance-sheet credit risk at December 31 were as follows (in thousands):



	2015		2014
Commitments to extend credit:
Commercial loans	$	8,160	5,152
Other loans:
Fixed rate	2,293		877
Adjustable rate	1,362		2,011
Unused lines of credit:
Fixed rate	6,378		6,496
Adjustable rate	90,153		67,981
Unused overdraft protection amounts on demand and NOW accounts	10,057		10,206
Standby letters of credit	457		563
	$	118,860	93,286

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 or agreement. Unused lines of credit include amounts not drawn on line of credit loans. Commitments to extend credit and unused lines of credit generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses.

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. These guarantees generally are fully secured and have varying maturities.

The Company evaluates each customer’s credit worthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Company, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower. Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable; inventory; property, plant and equipment; residential realty; and income-producing commercial properties.

Capital expenditures include the construction or acquisition of new office buildings, improvements to LCNB's offices,

purchases of furniture and equipment, and additions or improvements to LCNB's information technology system.

Commitments outstanding for capital expenditures as of December 31, 2015 totaled approximately $11,026,000, which includes estimated costs for a new operations center to be built in Lebanon, Ohio.

The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various claims and proceedings arising in the normal course of business. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, believes that the liabilities, if any, arising from such proceedings and claims will not be material to the consolidated financial position or results of operations.