INCOME TAXES	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
INCOME TAXES [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	7. INCOME TAXES The deferred tax assets and liabilities are netted and presented in a single amount which is included in deferred taxes in the accompanying consolidated statements of condition. The realization of deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) (net of a recorded valuation allowance) is largely dependent upon future taxable income, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and the ability to carry back losses to available tax years. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, the Company considers positive and negative evidence, including taxable income in carryback years, scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, expected future taxable income and tax planning strategies. At June 30, 2014 the Company had no remaining Federal net operating loss carryforwards and had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $17.2 million for New York State (“NYS”) income tax purposes, which may be applied against future taxable income. The Company has a full valuation allowance of $400 thousand, tax effected, on the NYS net operating loss carryforward due to the Company’s significant tax-exempt investment income. The valuation allowance may be reversed to income in future periods to the extent that the related DTAs are realized or when the Company returns to consistent, taxable earnings in NYS. The NYS unused net operating loss carryforwards are expected to expire in varying amounts through the year 2032. On March 31, 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to implement the New York State fiscal plan for 2014 – 2015. This legislation encompasses significant changes to New York’s bank tax regime, most notably by merging the bank tax into the general corporate tax law. In addition, the new budget law simplifies the code by setting forth a single apportionment factor. The corporate tax rate will be lowered from 7.1% to 6.5% in 2016. Furthermore, for community banks (all banks and thrifts with $8 billion or less in assets) there is a subtraction modification for a portion of interest earned on all residential and small business loans with a principal amount of up to $5 million made to New York borrowers. All banks in this category that have a REIT on April 1, 2014, and in the applicable tax year would instead get a deduction based on their REIT's dividends paid deduction. The Company had a qualifying REIT on April 1, 2014 and is less than $8 billion in assets. If a change in a tax law or rate occurs, any existing deferred tax liability or asset must be adjusted. The effect is reflected in operations in the period of the enactment of the change in the tax law or rate. As such, the Company made an adjustment to increase its DTAs resulting in a net income tax credit of $612 thousand in 2014. Offsetting the net income tax credit, was a $454 thousand income tax expense related to an adjustment of the Company’s stock based compensation included in the DTAs primarily for stock options that had expired or been forfeited by former employees. The adjustment relates primarily to prior periods, but management has determined that it is not material, and as such, included it in the 2014 first quarter’s results. The Company had unrecognized tax benefits including interest of approximately $34 thousand for all periods presented. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued relating to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. There is no accrued interest relating to uncertain tax positions as of June 30, 2014. The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and in New York State. Federal returns are subject to audits by tax authorities and the Company was audited for the tax years 2010 through 2012. The Company does not expect a significant change in income taxes as a result of this audit as the tax authorities have tentatively accepted the tax returns with no proposed changes. In 2012, New York State audited the Company and Suffolk Greenway, Inc., a subsidiary of the Bank, for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 and there was no change as a result of these audits. It is not anticipated that the unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change over the next 12 months.

7. INCOME TAXES

The deferred tax assets and liabilities are netted and presented in a single amount which is included in deferred taxes in the accompanying consolidated statements of condition. The realization of deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) (net of a recorded valuation allowance) is largely dependent upon future taxable income, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and the ability to carry back losses to available tax years. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, the Company considers positive and negative evidence, including taxable income in carryback years, scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, expected future taxable income and tax planning strategies. At June 30, 2014 the Company had no remaining Federal net operating loss carryforwards and had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $17.2 million for New York State (“NYS”) income tax purposes, which may be applied against future taxable income. The Company has a full valuation allowance of $400 thousand, tax effected, on the NYS net operating loss carryforward due to the Company’s significant tax-exempt investment income. The valuation allowance may be reversed to income in future periods to the extent that the related DTAs are realized or when the Company returns to consistent, taxable earnings in NYS. The NYS unused net operating loss carryforwards are expected to expire in varying amounts through the year 2032.

On March 31, 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to implement the New York State fiscal plan for 2014 – 2015. This legislation encompasses significant changes to New York’s bank tax regime, most notably by merging the bank tax into the general corporate tax law. In addition, the new budget law simplifies the code by setting forth a single apportionment factor. The corporate tax rate will be lowered from 7.1% to 6.5% in 2016. Furthermore, for community banks (all banks and thrifts with $8 billion or less in assets) there is a subtraction modification for a portion of interest earned on all residential and small business loans with a principal amount of up to $5 million made to New York borrowers. All banks in this category that have a REIT on April 1, 2014, and in the applicable tax year would instead get a deduction based on their REIT's dividends paid deduction. The Company had a qualifying REIT on April 1, 2014 and is less than $8 billion in assets. If a change in a tax law or rate occurs, any existing deferred tax liability or asset must be adjusted. The effect is reflected in operations in the period of the enactment of the change in the tax law or rate. As such, the Company made an adjustment to increase its DTAs resulting in a net income tax credit of $612 thousand in 2014.

Offsetting the net income tax credit, was a $454 thousand income tax expense related to an adjustment of the Company’s stock based compensation included in the DTAs primarily for stock options that had expired or been forfeited by former employees. The adjustment relates primarily to prior periods, but management has determined that it is not material, and as such, included it in the 2014 first quarter’s results.

The Company had unrecognized tax benefits including interest of approximately $34 thousand for all periods presented.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued relating to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. There is no accrued interest relating to uncertain tax positions as of June 30, 2014. The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and in New York State. Federal returns are subject to audits by tax authorities and the Company was audited for the tax years 2010 through 2012. The Company does not expect a significant change in income taxes as a result of this audit as the tax authorities have tentatively accepted the tax returns with no proposed changes. In 2012, New York State audited the Company and Suffolk Greenway, Inc., a subsidiary of the Bank, for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 and there was no change as a result of these audits. It is not anticipated that the unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change over the next 12 months.