MERGER RELATED EXPENSES	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
MERGER RELATED EXPENSES
MERGER RELATED EXPENSES	17. 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 Merger, as described in Note 2. Merger. 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 totaled $15.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and were recorded in merger expenses and transaction costs expense in the consolidated statements of income. Transaction costs (inclusive of costs to terminate leases) in connection with the Merger totaled $28.9 million and $4.7 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, and were recorded in merger expenses and transaction costs in the consolidated statements of income. There were no costs associated with merger expenses and transaction costs for the year ended December 31, 2019.

MERGER RELATED EXPENSES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

17. 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 Merger, as described in Note 2. Merger. 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 totaled $15.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and were recorded in merger expenses and transaction costs expense in the consolidated statements of income. Transaction costs (inclusive of costs to terminate leases) in connection with the Merger totaled $28.9 million and $4.7 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, and were recorded in merger expenses and transaction costs in the consolidated statements of income. There were no costs associated with merger expenses and transaction costs for the year ended December 31, 2019.