MERGER RELATED EXPENSES	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
MERGER RELATED EXPENSES
MERGER RELATED EXPENSES	18.MERGER RELATED EXPENSES Merger-related expenses were recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income as a component of non-interest expense and include costs relating to the Company’s merger with Bridge, as described above. These charges represent one-time costs associated with merger activities and do not represent ongoing costs of the fully integrated combined organization. Accounting guidance requires that merger-related transactional and restructuring costs incurred by the Company be charged to expense as incurred. Costs associated with employee severance and other merger-related compensation expense incurred in connection with the merger with Bridge totaled $1.8 million and $13.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, and were recorded in merger expenses and transaction costs expense on the consolidated statements of income. Transaction costs (inclusive of costs to terminate leases) in connection with the Merger with Bridge, totaled $37 thousand and $25.9 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, and were recorded in merger expenses and transaction costs in the consolidated statements of income. There were no costs associated with employee severance and other merger-related compensation expense incurred in connection with the merger with Bridge for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively. Transaction costs (inclusive of costs to terminate leases) in connection with the Merger with Bridge, totaled $1.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and were recorded in merger expenses and transaction costs in the consolidated statements of income.

MERGER RELATED EXPENSES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2021

18.MERGER RELATED EXPENSES

Merger-related expenses were recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income as a component of non-interest expense and include costs relating to the Company’s merger with Bridge, as described above. These charges represent one-time costs associated with merger activities and do not represent ongoing costs of the fully integrated combined organization. Accounting guidance requires that merger-related transactional and restructuring costs incurred by the Company be charged to expense as incurred. Costs associated with employee severance and other merger-related compensation expense incurred in connection with the merger with Bridge totaled $1.8 million and $13.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, and were recorded in merger expenses and transaction costs expense on the consolidated statements of income. Transaction costs (inclusive of costs to terminate leases) in connection with the Merger with Bridge, totaled $37 thousand and $25.9 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, and were recorded in merger expenses and transaction costs in the consolidated statements of income. There were no costs associated with employee severance and other merger-related compensation expense incurred in connection with the merger with Bridge for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively. Transaction costs (inclusive of costs to terminate leases) in connection with the Merger with Bridge, totaled $1.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and were recorded in merger expenses and transaction costs in the consolidated statements of income.