Financial Instruments With Off-Balance-Sheet Risk

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business in order to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized on the consolidated balance sheet.

The Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party for commitments to extend credit and letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and letters of credit as it does for loans included on the consolidated balance sheet.

The following financial instruments represent off-balance-sheet credit risk, in thousands:

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. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since some of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company evaluates each customer's creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Company upon extension of credit, is based on management's credit evaluation of the borrower. Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable, crops, inventory, equipment, income-producing commercial properties, farmland and residential properties.

Letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers. The fair value of the liability related to these letters of credit, which represents the fees received for issuing the guarantees, was not significant at December 31, 2025 and 2024. The Company recognizes these fees as revenues over the term of the commitment or when the commitment is used.

At December 31, 2025, consumer loan commitments represent approximately 3% of total commitments and are generally unsecured. Commercial and agricultural loan commitments represent approximately 52% of total commitments and are generally secured by various assets of the borrower. Real estate loan commitments, including consumer home equity lines of credit, represent the remaining 45% of total commitments and are generally secured by property with a loan-to-value ratio not to exceed 80%. In addition, the majority of the Company’s commitments have variable interest rates.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

The Company grants real estate mortgage, real estate construction, commercial, agricultural and consumer loans to customers throughout Plumas, Nevada, Placer, Lassen, Sierra, Shasta, Sutter, Tehama and Modoc counties in California and Washoe and Carson City counties in Northern Nevada. Although the Company has a diversified loan portfolio, a substantial portion of its portfolio is secured by commercial and residential real estate. A continued substantial decline in the economy in general, or a continued decline in real estate values in the Company’s primary market areas in particular, could have an adverse impact on the collectability of these loans. However, personal and business income represents the primary source of repayment for a majority of these loans.

Contingencies

The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the amount of ultimate liability with respect to such actions will not materially affect the financial position or results of operations of the Company.