Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Off-balance sheet commitments

First Guaranty 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 and to reduce its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby and commercial letters of credit. Those instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. The contract or notional amounts of those instruments reflect the extent of the involvement in particular classes of financial instruments.

The exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby and commercial letters of credit is represented by the contractual notional amount of those instruments. The same credit policies are used in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for balance sheet instruments. Unless otherwise noted, collateral or other security is not required to support financial instruments with credit risk.

Below is a summary of the notional amounts of the financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:

Contract Amount


(in thousands)	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Commitments to Extend Credit	$	257,034	$	304,218
Unfunded Commitments under lines of credit	$	203,631	$	214,546
Commercial and Standby letters of credit	$	14,544	$	13,971

Allowance For Credit Losses - Off- Balance-Sheet Credit Exposures

The provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments was a reversal of $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The ACL on off-balance-sheet credit exposures total $2.6 million at March 31, 2024 and $2.8 million at December 31, 2023 and is included in other liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Litigation

First Guaranty is subject to various legal proceedings in the normal course of its business. First Guaranty assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with outstanding legal proceedings. Where it is probable that First Guaranty will incur a loss and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, First Guaranty records a liability in its consolidated financial statements. First Guaranty does not record a loss if the loss is not probable or the amount of the loss is not estimable. First Guaranty Bank is a defendant in a lawsuit alleging fault for a loss of funds by a customer related to fraud by a third party with a possible loss range of $0.0 million to $1.5 million. The Bank denies the allegations and intends to vigorously defend against this lawsuit, which is in early stages and no trial date has been set. No accrued liability has been recorded related to this lawsuit. First Guaranty settled a case in the third quarter of 2021 for $1.1 million. A receivable for $0.9 million has been recorded for recovery by a claim against First Guaranty's insurer. In the opinion of management, neither First Guaranty nor First Guaranty Bank is currently involved in such legal proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, that the resolution is expected to have a material adverse effect on First Guaranty’s consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows. However, one or more unfavorable outcomes in these ordinary claims or litigation against First Guaranty or First Guaranty Bank could have a material adverse effect for the period in which they are resolved. In addition, regardless of their merits or ultimate outcomes, such matters are costly, divert management’s attention, and may materially and adversely affect the reputation of First Guaranty and First Guaranty Bank, even if resolved favorably.