Affordable Housing Projects Tax Credit Partnerships

The Company makes equity investments in various limited partnerships that sponsor affordable housing projects utilizing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) pursuant to Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code. The purpose of these investments is to achieve a satisfactory return on capital, to facilitate the sale of affordable housing product offerings, and to assist in achieving goals associated with the Community Reinvestment Act. The primary activities of the limited partnerships include the identification, development, and operation of multi-family housing that is leased to qualifying residential tenants. Generally, these types of investments are funded through a combination of debt and equity.

The Company is a limited partner in each LIHTC limited partnership. Each limited partnership is managed by an unrelated third party general partner who exercises full control over the affairs of the limited partnership. The general partner has all the rights, powers and authority granted or permitted to be granted to a general partner of a limited partnership. Duties entrusted to the general partner of each limited partnership include, but are not limited to: investment in operating companies, company expenditures, investment of excess funds, borrowing funds, employment of agents, disposition of fund property, prepayment and refinancing of liabilities, votes and consents, contract authority, disbursement of funds, accounting methods, tax elections, bank accounts, insurance, litigation, cash reserve, and use of working capital reserve funds. Except for limited rights granted to the limited partner(s) relating to the approval of certain transactions, the limited partner(s) may not participate in the operation, management, or control of the limited partnership’s business, transact any business in the limited partnership’s name or have any power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the limited partnership. In addition, the general partner may only be removed by the limited partner(s) in the event the general partner fails to comply with the terms of the agreement or is negligent in performing its duties.

The general partner of each limited partnership has both the power to direct the activities which most significantly affect the performance of each partnership and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be significant to the entities. Therefore, the Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of any LIHTC partnership. The Company uses the effective yield method to account for its pre-2015 investments in these entities. Beginning January 1, 2015, any new investments that meet the requirements of the proportional amortization method are recognized using the proportional amortization method. The Company’s net affordable housing tax credit investments and related unfunded commitments were $71.7 million and $66.6 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and are included in other assets in the consolidated statements of condition.

Unfunded Commitments

As of December 31, 2017, the expected payments for unfunded affordable housing commitments were as follows:



(dollars in thousands)	Amount
2018	$	13,647
2019	2,893
2020	51
2021	27
2022	33
Thereafter	802
Total Unfunded Commitments	$	17,453

The following table presents tax credits and other tax benefits recognized and amortization expense related to affordable housing for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015.



(dollars in thousands)	2017		2016		2015
Effective Yield Method
Tax credits and other tax benefits recognized	$	13,569	$	13,996	$	13,448
Amortization Expense in Provision for Income Taxes	8,373		7,886		7,735

Proportional Amortization Method
Tax credits and other tax benefits recognized	$	1,040	$	—	$	—
Amortization Expense in Provision for Income Taxes	800		—		—

There were no impairment losses related to LIHTC investments for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015.