Contingencies and loan commitments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Contingencies and loan commitments

5. Contingencies and loan commitments

In the ordinary course of business, the Corporation enters into financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk to meet the financing needs of its customers. These instruments expose the Bank to credit risk in excess of the amount recognized on the balance sheet.

The Corporation’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Corporation uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments. Total credit exposure at March 31, 2013 related to these items is summarized below:

Loan Commitments:	Contract Amount
Unused portions of loans and credit lines	$	15,704,000

Loan commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Loan commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. The Bank evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained upon extension of credit is based on management’s credit evaluation of the counter party. Collateral held is primarily residential and commercial property. Total loan commitments outstanding at March 31, 2013 consisted of fixed and adjustable rate loans at rates ranging from 4.5% to 6.5%.