Bank call loans

Bank call loans, primarily payable on demand, bear interest at various rates but not exceeding the broker call rate, which was 2.50% at December 31, 2016 (2.25% at December 31, 2015). Details of the bank call loans are as follows:



(Expressed in thousands, except percentages)
	2016			2015
Year-end balance	$	145,800		$	100,200
Weighted interest rate (at end of year)	1.77		%	1.56		%
Maximum balance (at any month-end)	151,900			189,000
Average amount outstanding (during the year)	106,455			116,267
Average interest rate (during the year)	1.52		%	1.28		%

Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 on bank call loans was $1.7 million ($1.5 million in 2015 and $1.4 million in 2014).