text: Year Ended December 31, 
  1 9 9 9 
  2 0 0 0 
  *(in thousands)*
  1 9 9 8 
  
  Income tax benefit at statutory rates 
  P e rmanent diff e re n c e s 
  Tax-exempt intere s t 
  Stock options exerc i s e d 
  Tax rate diff e re n c e s 
  Adjustment to deferred tax asset for 
  enacted changes in tax rates 
  (Expiration)/utilization of tax loss 
  
  $ 1 6 , 4 4 3. 
  ( 1 8 6 ) 
  —. 
  — . 
  ( 1 , 7 5 7 )  $ 1 1 , 9 33. 
  1 , 0 78 . 
  — . 
  —. 
  ( 9 3 8 )  $ 1 0 , 1 43 . 
  ( 1 , 1 9 1 ) 
  5 20 . 
  ( 9 3 1 ) 
  ( 6 3 8 ) 
  
  ( 1 , 9 0 9 ) 
  
  c a rried forw a rd 
  
  ( 7 1 6 ) 
  ( 2 , 1 1 5 ) 
  ( 1 0 , 9 4 8 )  O t h e r 
  Change in valuation allowance 