COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND RESTRICTIONS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND RESTRICTIONS [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND RESTRICTIONS

NOTE J:  COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND RESTRICTIONS

The Company 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 consist primarily of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit.  Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to customers, generally having fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses that may require payment of a fee.  These commitments consist principally of unused commercial and consumer credit lines.  Standby letters of credit generally are contingent upon the failure of the customer to perform according to the terms of an underlying contract with a third party.  The credit risks associated with commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are essentially the same as that involved with extending loans to customers and are subject to the Company's normal credit policies.  Collateral may be obtained based on management's assessment of the customer's creditworthiness.

The contract amount of commitments and contingencies are as follows:

(000's omitted)	September 30,  2011	December 31, 2010
Commitments to extend credit	$571,325	$445,625
Standby letters of credit	25,918	21,456
Total	$597,243	$467,081