Commitments and Off-balance Sheet Items

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 13 – Commitments and Off-balance Sheet Items

In the normal course of business, there are various commitments and contingent liabilities, such as commitments to extend credit and commitments to sell loans, which are not reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instruments for commitments to make loans and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policy to make commitments as it uses for on-balance sheet items.

The Company’s exposure to credit risk for commitments to sell loans is dependent upon the ability of the counter-party to purchase the loans. This is generally assured by the use of government sponsored entity counterparts. These commitments are subject to market risk resulting from fluctuations in interest rates. Commitments to sell loans are not mandatory (i.e., do not require net settlement with the counter-party to cancel the commitment).

Commitments and contingent liabilities are summarized as follows, at December 31:

	2012				2011
	Fixed		Variable		Fixed		Variable
	Rate		Rate		Rate		Rate
Commitments to Fund Loans:
Consumer Lines	$	6,013	$	137,668	$	3,498	$	126,807
Commercial Operating Lines		13,444		187,829		5,341		179,790
Residential Mortgages		33,004		676		30,459		489
Total Commitments to Fund Loans	$	52,461	$	326,173	$	39,298	$	307,086
Commitments to Sell Loans	$	52,511	$	—	$	55,098	$	—
Standby Letters of Credit	$	1,408	$	4,279	$	850	$	4,559

The fixed rate commitments to fund loans have interest rates ranging from 2.25% to 18.00% and maturities ranging from less than 1 year to 21 years. Since many commitments to make loans expire without being used, these amounts do not necessarily represent future cash commitments. Collateral obtained upon exercise of the commitment is determined using management’s credit evaluation of the borrower, and may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, land, and other items.