text: Other Real Estate 
  
  Other real estate is foreclosed property held pending disposition and is valued at the lower of its fair value or the 
  recorded investment in the related loan. At foreclosure, if the fair value, less estimated costs to sell, of the real estate 
  acquired is less than the Company’s recorded investment in the related loan, a write-down is recognized through a 
  charge to the allowance for loan losses. Any subsequent reduction in value is recognized by a charge to income. 
  Operating expenses of such properties, net of related income, and gains and losses on their disposition are included 
  in noninterest expense. 
  
  Bank Premises and Equipment 
  
  Bank premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and 
  amortization are computed principally on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. 
  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the respective lease or the estimated useful lives of the 
  improvements, whichever is shorter. 
  
  Business Combinations, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets 
  
  Goodwill, relating to acquisitions of certain subsidiary banks, was amortized by the straight-line method over 
  periods of 15 and 40 years during the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000. 