MERGER RELATED EXPENSES	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
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 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. There were no costs associated with merger expenses and transaction costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. Costs associated with employee severance and other merger-related compensation expense incurred in connection with the Merger 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 in the consolidated statements of income. Transaction costs (inclusive of costs to terminate leases) in connection with the Merger 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.

MERGER RELATED EXPENSES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

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 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. There were no costs associated with merger expenses and transaction costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. Costs associated with employee severance and other merger-related compensation expense incurred in connection with the Merger 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 in the consolidated statements of income. Transaction costs (inclusive of costs to terminate leases) in connection with the Merger 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.