ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

Changes in the allowance for loan losses for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 were as follows, in thousands:



	2018			2017			2016
Balance at beginning of year	$	55,686		$	54,324		$	48,685
Provision for loan losses	24,013			15,563			11,694
Recoveries on loans previously charged-off	3,549			3,670			5,339
Loans charged-off	(21,285		)	(17,871		)	(11,394		)
Balance at end of year	$	61,963		$	55,686		$	54,324

Changes in the allowance for loan losses by loan category for the years ended December 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, were as follows, in thousands:



	Commercial			Commercial Real Estate			Agricultural			Residential Real Estate			Consumer			Total
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	18,098		$	21,950		$	4,258		$	2,224		$	9,156		$	55,686
Charge-offs	(7,916		)	(1,977		)	(1,437		)	(372		)	(9,583		)	(21,285		)
Recoveries	978			1,047			13			96			1,415			3,549
Provision	13,345			4,518			2,119			(163		)	4,194			24,013
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	24,505		$	25,538		$	4,953		$	1,785		$	5,182		$	61,963



	Commercial			Commercial Real Estate			Agricultural			Residential Real Estate			Consumer			Total
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	14,765		$	24,319		$	4,210		$	2,263		$	8,767		$	54,324
Charge-offs	(4,640		)	(2,712		)	(2,916		)	(800		)	(6,803		)	(17,871		)
Recoveries	811			1,192			18			358			1,291			3,670
Provision	7,162			(849		)	2,946			403			5,901			15,563
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	18,098		$	21,950		$	4,258		$	2,224		$	9,156		$	55,686

Management allocates the allowance for loan losses by pools of risk within each loan portfolio. The allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan portfolio is made for analytical purposes and is not necessarily indicative of the trend of future loan losses in any particular category. The total allowance for loan losses is available to absorb losses from any segment of the loan portfolio.