Commitments

In the normal course of business, we offer off-balance sheet credit arrangements to enable our customers to meet their financing objectives. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the financial statements. Our exposure to credit loss, in the event the customer does not satisfy the terms of the agreement, equals the contractual amount of the obligation less the value of any collateral. We apply the same credit policies in making commitments and standby letters of credit that are used for the underwriting of loans to customers. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates, annual renewals 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. Our allowance for unfunded commitments totaled $2.1 million at September 30, 2017 and $2.6 million at December 31, 2016. The allowance for unfunded commitments is included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The allowance for unfunded commitments is determined using a similar methodology as our ALL methodology. The reserve is calculated by applying historical loss rates and qualitative adjustments to our unfunded commitments.

Estimates of the fair value of these off-balance sheet items were not made because of the short-term nature of these arrangements and the credit standing of the counterparties.

The following table sets forth our commitments and letters of credit as of the dates presented:



(dollars in thousands)	September 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
Commitments to extend credit	$	1,421,906	$	1,509,696
Standby letters of credit	85,389		84,534
Total	$	1,507,295	$	1,594,230

Litigation

In the normal course of business, we are subject to various legal and administrative proceedings and claims. While any type of litigation contains a level of uncertainty, we believe that no outcome of any such proceedings or claims pending will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.