Management’s Discussion and Analysis
U.S. Bancorp and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) reported net income attributable to U.S. Bancorp of $1.2 billion for the first quarter of 2020, or $0.72 per diluted common share, compared with $1.7 billion, or $1.00 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2019. Return on average assets and return on average common equity were 0.95 percent and 9.7 percent, respectively, for the first quarter of 2020, compared with 1.49 percent and 14.3 percent, respectively, for the first quarter of 2019. During a challenging period adversely impacted by the
COVID-19
pandemic, the Company’s diversified business mitigated the potential loss of revenue and supported a provision for credit losses of $993 million resulting in a $600 million increase in the allowance for credit losses in the first quarter of 2020.
Total net revenue for the first quarter of 2020 was $195 million (3.5 percent) higher than the first quarter of 2019, reflecting a 10.2 percent increase in noninterest income, partially offset by a 1.1 percent decrease in net interest income (1.2 percent on a taxable-equivalent basis). The decrease in net interest income from the first quarter of 2019 was mainly a result of the impact of the yield curve due to declining interest rates, partially offset by changes in deposit and funding mix, loan growth and one additional day in the first quarter of 2020. The noninterest income increase was driven by significant growth in mortgage banking revenue due to refinancing activities as well as strong growth in trust and investment management fees, and commercial products revenue. Growth in these fee categories was partially offset by a decline in payment services revenue as consumer and commercial spending declined dramatically during the last several weeks of the first quarter of 2020.
Noninterest expense in the first quarter of 2020 was $229 million (7.4 percent) higher than the first quarter of 2019, including costs related to
COVID-19
and revenue-related production expenses that are reflected in the first quarter of 2020. Additionally, noninterest expense reflected an increase in personnel and technology and communications expense related to developing digital capabilities and related business investment, partially offset by lower marketing and business development expense.
The provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2020 of $993 million was $616 million higher than the first quarter of 2019, reflecting an increase in the allowance for credit losses during the first quarter of 2020 due to deteriorating economic conditions driven by the impact of
COVID-19
on the domestic and global economies. Net charge-offs in the first quarter of 2020 were $393 million, compared with $367 million in the first quarter of 2019. Refer to “Corporate Risk Profile” for further information on the provision for credit losses, net charge-offs, nonperforming assets and other factors considered by the Company in assessing the credit quality of the loan portfolio and establishing the allowance for credit losses.
STATEMENT OF INCOME ANALYSIS
Net interest income, on a taxable-equivalent basis, was $3.2 billion in the first quarter of 2020, representing a decrease of $39 million (1.2 percent) compared with the first quarter of 2019. The decrease was principally driven by the impact on the yield curve of declining interest rates on earnings assets, partially offset by changes in deposit and funding mix, loan growth, and one additional day in the first quarter of 2020. Average earning assets were $28.2 billion (6.7 percent) higher than the first quarter of 2019, reflecting increases of $11.5 billion (4.0 percent) in loans, $6.7 billion (5.8 percent) in investment securities and $7.4 billion (43.3 percent) in other earning assets. The net interest margin, on a taxable-equivalent basis, in the first quarter of 2020 was 2.91 percent, compared with 3.16 percent in the first quarter of 2019. The decrease in the net interest margin from the first quarter of 2019 was primarily due to the impact of declining interest rates and a lower yield curve, partially offset by changes in deposit and funding mix. The Company expects to see more downward pressure on its net interest margin in the second quarter of 2020 primarily due to the timing and extent of changes in interest rates late in the first quarter of 2020, the significant increase in cash needed to provide liquidity to support the significant loan demand being experienced, changes in loan mix, and the impact of floors on deposit pricing. Refer to the “Consolidated Daily Average Balance Sheet and Related Yields and Rates” table for further information on net interest income.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
(Dollars in Millions) | | 2020 | | | 2019 | | | Percent Change | |
Credit and debit card revenue | | $ | 304 | | | $ | 304 | | | | — | % |
Corporate payment products revenue | | | 145 | | | | 162 | | | | (10.5 | ) |
Merchant processing services | | | 337 | | | | 378 | | | | (10.8 | ) |
Trust and investment management fees | | | 427 | | | | 399 | | | | 7.0 | |
| | | 209 | | | | 217 | | | | (3.7 | ) |
| | | 143 | | | | 146 | | | | (2.1 | ) |
Commercial products revenue | | | 246 | | | | 219 | | | | 12.3 | |
| | | 395 | | | | 169 | | | | * | |
| | | 49 | | | | 45 | | | | 8.9 | |
Securities gains (losses), net | | | 50 | | | | 5 | | | | * | |
| | | 220 | | | | 247 | | | | (10.9 | ) |
| | $ | 2,525 | | | $ | 2,291 | | | | 10.2 | % |
Average total loans in the first quarter of 2020 were $11.5 billion (4.0 percent) higher than the first quarter of 2019. The increase was primarily due to higher commercial loans (3.9 percent), as business customers utilized bank credit facilities to support liquidity requirements, along with growth in residential mortgages (8.1 percent) given the lower interest rate environment. Credit card loans increased (5.5 percent) reflecting higher consumer spending throughout most of 2019, while other retail loans were higher (0.6 percent) primarily related to high credit quality auto lending activities.
Average investment securities in the first quarter of 2020 were $6.7 billion (5.8 percent) higher than the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to purchases of mortgage-backed securities, net of prepayments and maturities.
Average total deposits for the first quarter of 2020 were $27.4 billion (8.2 percent) higher than the first quarter of 2019. Average total savings deposits were $30.5 billion (14.1 percent) higher than the prior year, driven by increases in Wealth Management and Investment Services, Corporate and Commercial Banking, and Consumer and Business Banking balances. Average noninterest-bearing deposits were $709 million (1.0 percent) higher than the prior year, primarily due to an increase in Consumer and Business Banking balances, partially offset by a decrease in Corporate and Commercial Banking balances. Average time deposits for the first quarter of 2020 were $3.8 billion (8.4 percent) lower than the first quarter of 2019, primarily driven by decreases in those deposits managed as an alternative to other funding sources, based largely on relative pricing and liquidity characteristics, partially offset by an increase in Consumer and Business Banking balances.
Provision for Credit Losses
The provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2020 was $993 million, an increase of $616 million from the first quarter of 2019.
During the first quarter of 2020, the Company adopted accounting guidance which changed previous impairment recognition to a model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company recognized a $600 million increase in the allowance for credit losses due to deteriorating economic conditions driven by the impact of
COVID-19
on the domestic and global economies. The expected loss estimates considered both the decrease in economic activity, and the mitigating effects of government stimulus and industrywide loan modification efforts designed to limit long term effects of the pandemic. The increase in the allowance for credit losses resulted from the estimated impact of deteriorating economic conditions and higher unemployment, partially offset by the benefits of government stimulus programs. Net charge-offs increased $26 million (7.1 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to higher retail leasing and credit card loan net charge-offs. The increase in retail leasing charge-offs reflected the inclusion of end of term losses on residual lease values as of January 1, 2020. Refer to “Corporate Risk Profile” for further information on the provision for credit losses, net charge-offs, nonperforming assets and other factors considered by the Company in assessing the credit quality of the loan portfolio and establishing the allowance for credit losses.
expense decreased $15 million (16.9 percent) due to the timing of marketing campaigns.
The provision for income taxes was $260 million (an effective rate of 18.1 percent) for the first quarter of 2020, compared with $378 million (an effective rate of 18.1 percent) for the first quarter of 2019. For further information on income taxes, refer to Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company’s loan portfolio was $318.3 billion at March 31, 2020, compared with $296.1 billion at December 31, 2019, an increase of $22.2 billion (7.5 percent). The increase was driven by higher commercial loans, commercial real estate loans and residential mortgages, partially offset by lower credit card loans and other retail loans.
Commercial loans increased $22.5 billion (21.6 percent) at March 31, 2020, compared with December 31, 2019, as business customers utilized bank credit facilities to
support liquidity requirements given the current economic environment related to
COVID-19.
Commercial real estate loans increased $1.2 billion (3.1 percent) at March 31, 2020, compared with December 31, 2019, primarily the result of new originations, partially offset by customers paying down balances.
Residential mortgages held in the loan portfolio increased $589 million (0.8 percent) at March 31, 2020, compared with December 31, 2019, as origination activity more than offset the effect of customers paying down balances in the first quarter of 2020 given the lower interest rate environment. Residential mortgages originated and placed in the Company’s loan portfolio include well-secured jumbo mortgages and branch-originated first lien home equity loans to borrowers with high credit quality.
Credit card loans decreased $2.0 billion (8.1 percent) at March 31, 2020, compared with December 31, 2019, reflecting the result of customers seasonally paying down balances, as well as reduced consumer spending late in the first quarter of 2020 driven by the impact of
COVID-19.
Other retail loans decreased $66 million (0.1 percent) at March 31, 2020, compared with December 31, 2019, the result of decreases in auto loans, home equity loans and revolving credit balances, partially offset by an increase in installment loans.
The Company generally retains portfolio loans through maturity; however, the Company’s intent may change over time based upon various factors such as ongoing asset/liability management activities, assessment of product profitability, credit risk, liquidity needs, and capital implications. If the Company’s intent or ability to hold an existing portfolio loan changes, it is transferred to loans held for sale.
Loans held for sale, consisting primarily of residential mortgages to be sold in the secondary market, were $4.6 billion at March 31, 2020, compared with $5.6 billion at December 31, 2019. The decrease in loans held for sale was principally due to a lower level of mortgage loan closings in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the fourth quarter of 2019. Almost all of the residential mortgage loans the Company originates or purchases for sale follow guidelines that allow the loans to be sold into existing, highly liquid secondary markets; in particular in government agency transactions and to government-sponsored enterprises (“GSEs”).
| | |
| | Available-for-Sale Investment Securities |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | March 31, 2020 | | | | | | December 31, 2019 | |
(Dollars in Millions) | | Amortized Cost | | | Fair Value | | | Weighted- Average Maturity in Years | | | Weighted- Average Yield (d) | | | | | | Amortized Cost | | | Fair Value | | | Weighted- Average Maturity in Years | | | Weighted- Average Yield (d) | |
U.S. Treasury and agencies | | $ | 18,518 | | | $ | 19,109 | | | | 2.6 | | | | 1.69 | % | | | | | | $ | 19,845 | | | $ | 19,839 | | | | 2.7 | | | | 1.68 | % |
Mortgage-backed securities (a) | | | 94,489 | | | | 96,733 | | | | 3.4 | | | | 2.31 | | | | | | | | 95,385 | | | | 95,564 | | | | 4.4 | | | | 2.39 | |
Asset-backed securities (a) | | | 367 | | | | 376 | | | | 3.0 | | | | 3.04 | | | | | | | | 375 | | | | 383 | | | | 3.1 | | | | 3.09 | |
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (b) (c) | | | 7,064 | | | | 7,454 | | | | 6.6 | | | | 4.24 | | | | | | | | 6,499 | | | | 6,814 | | | | 6.6 | | | | 4.29 | |
| | | 9 | | | | 9 | | | | .3 | | | | 2.44 | | | | | | | | 13 | | | | 13 | | | | .3 | | | | 2.66 | |
Total investment securities | | $ | 120,447 | | | $ | 123,681 | | | | 3.4 | | | | 2.33 | % | | | | | | $ | 122,117 | | | $ | 122,613 | | | | 4.2 | | | | 2.38 | % |
(a) | Information related to asset and mortgage-backed securities included above is presented based upon weighted-average maturities that take into account anticipated future prepayments. |
(b) | Information related to obligations of state and political subdivisions is presented based upon yield to first optional call date if the security is purchased at a premium, and yield to maturity if the security is purchased at par or a discount. |
(c) | Maturity calculations for obligations of state and political subdivisions are based on the first optional call date for securities with a fair value above par and the contractual maturity date for securities with a fair value equal to or below par. |
(d) | Yields on investment securities are computed based on amortized cost balances. Weighted-average yields for obligations of state and political subdivisions are presented on a fully-taxable equivalent basis based on a federal income tax rate of 21 percent. |
investment securities totaled $123.7 billion at March 31, 2020, compared with $122.6 billion at December 31, 2019. The $1.1 billion (0.9 percent) increase was primarily due to a $2.7 billion favorable change in net unrealized gains (losses) on
investment securities, partially offset by $1.6 billion of net investment sales. The Company had no outstanding investment securities classified as
at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
The Company’s
investment securities are carried at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in other comprehensive income (loss) unless a portion of a security’s unrealized loss is related to credit and an allowance for credit losses is necessary. At March 31, 2020, the Company’s net unrealized gains on
investment securities were $3.2 billion, compared with $496 million at December 31, 2019. The favorable change in net unrealized gains was primarily due to increases in the fair value of U.S. Treasury and mortgage-backed securities as a result of changes in interest rates. Gross unrealized losses on
investment securities totaled $152 million at March 31, 2020, compared with $448 million at December 31, 2019. At March 31, 2020, the Company had no plans to sell securities with unrealized losses, and believes it is more likely than not that it would not be required to sell such securities before recovery of their amortized cost.
Refer to Notes 3 and 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on investment securities.
Total deposits were $394.9 billion at March 31, 2020, compared with $361.9 billion at December 31, 2019. The $32.9 billion (9.1 percent) increase in total deposits reflected increases in total savings deposits and noninterest-bearing deposits, partially offset by a decrease in time deposits. Money market deposit balances increased $8.1 billion (6.8 percent) at March 31, 2020, compared with December 31, 2019, primarily due to higher Corporate and Commercial Banking, and Wealth Management and Investment Services balances. Interest checking balances increased $7.8 billion (10.3 percent), primarily due to higher Corporate and Commercial Banking, and Consumer and Business Banking balances. Savings account balances increased $1.6 billion (3.4 percent), primarily due to higher Consumer and Business Banking balances. Noninterest-bearing deposits increased $15.8 billion (21.0 percent) at March 31, 2020, compared with December 31, 2019, primarily due to higher Wealth Management and Investment Services, Corporate and Commercial Banking, and Consumer and Business Banking balances. Time deposits decreased $422 million (1.0 percent) at March 31, 2020, compared with December 31, 2019, driven by a decrease in those deposits managed as an alternative to other funding sources, based largely on relative pricing and liquidity characteristics.
The Company utilizes both short-term and long-term borrowings as part of its asset/liability management and funding strategies. Short-term borrowings, which include federal funds purchased, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, borrowings secured by high-grade assets and other short-term borrowings, were $26.3 billion at March 31, 2020, compared with $23.7 billion at December 31, 2019. The $2.6 billion (11.0 percent) increase in short-term borrowings was primarily due to higher commercial paper, repurchase agreement and other short-term borrowings balances. Long-term debt was $52.3 billion at March 31, 2020, compared with $40.2 billion at December 31, 2019. The $12.1 billion (30.2 percent) increase was primarily due to an $8.0 billion increase in Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances and $3.3 billion of bank note issuances. Refer to the “Liquidity Risk Management” section for discussion of liquidity management of the Company.
Managing risks is an essential part of successfully operating a financial services company. The Company’s Board of Directors has approved a risk management framework which establishes governance and risk management requirements for all risk-taking activities. This framework includes Company and business line risk appetite statements which set boundaries for the types and amount of risk that may be undertaken in pursuing business objectives and initiatives. The Board of Directors, primarily through its Risk Management Committee, oversees performance relative to the risk management framework, risk appetite statements, and other policy requirements.
The Executive Risk Committee (“ERC”), which is chaired by the Chief Risk Officer and includes the Chief Executive Officer and other members of the executive management team, oversees execution against the risk management framework and risk appetite statements. The ERC focuses on current and emerging risks, including strategic and reputation risks, by directing timely and comprehensive actions. Senior operating committees have also been established, each responsible for overseeing a specified category of risk.
The Company’s most prominent risk exposures are credit, interest rate, market, liquidity, operational, compliance, strategic, and reputation. Leveraging the Company’s risk management framework, COVID-19 specific impacts and related risks are identified for each of the most prominent exposures. Oversight and governance is managed through a centralized command center which escalates through the ERC. The Board of Directors also oversees the Company’s responsiveness to the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit risk is the risk of not collecting the interest and/or the principal balance of a loan, investment or derivative contract when it is due. Interest rate risk is the potential reduction of net interest income or market valuations as a result of changes in interest rates. Market risk arises from fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and security prices that may result in changes in the values of financial instruments, such as trading and
securities, mortgage loans held for sale (“MLHFS”), MSRs and derivatives that are accounted for on a fair value basis. Liquidity risk is the possible inability to fund obligations or new business at a reasonable cost and in a timely manner. Operational risk is the risk of loss arising from inadequate or failed internal processes or systems, people, or adverse external events, including the risk of loss resulting from breaches in data security. Operational risk can also include the risk of loss due to failures by third parties with which the Company does business. Compliance risk is the risk that the Company may suffer legal or regulatory sanctions, material financial loss, or loss to reputation through failure to comply with laws, regulations, rules, standards of good practice, and codes of conduct. Strategic risk is the risk to current or projected financial condition arising from adverse business decisions, poor implementation of business decisions, or lack of responsiveness to changes in the banking industry and operating environment. Reputation risk is the risk to current or anticipated earnings, capital, or franchise or enterprise value arising from negative public opinion. This risk may impair the Company’s competitiveness by affecting its ability to establish new customer relationships, offer new services or continue serving existing customer relationships. In addition to the risks identified above, other risk factors exist that may impact the Company. Refer to “Risk Factors” in this report and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019, for a detailed discussion of these factors.
The Company’s Board and management-level governance committees are supported by a “three lines of defense” model for establishing effective checks and balances. The first line of defense, the business lines, manages risks in conformity with established limits and policy requirements. In turn, business line leaders and their risk officers establish programs to ensure conformity with these limits and policy requirements. The second line of defense, which includes the Chief Risk Officer’s organization as well as policy and oversight activities of corporate support functions, translates risk appetite and strategy into actionable risk limits and policies. The second line of defense monitors first line of defense conformity with limits and policies, and provides reporting and escalation of emerging risks and other concerns to senior management and the Risk Management Committee of the Board of Directors. The third line of defense, internal audit, is responsible for providing the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and senior management with independent assessment and assurance regarding the effectiveness of the Company’s governance, risk management and control processes.
Management regularly provides reports to the Risk Management Committee of the Board of Directors. The Risk Management Committee discusses with management the Company’s risk management performance, and provides a summary of key risks to the entire Board of Directors, covering the status of existing matters, areas of potential future concern and specific information on certain types of loss events. The Risk Management Committee considers quarterly reports by management assessing the Company’s performance relative to the risk appetite statements and the associated risk limits, including:
• | | Macroeconomic environment and other qualitative considerations, such as regulatory and compliance changes, litigation developments, and technology and cybersecurity; |
• | | Credit measures, including adversely rated and nonperforming loans, leveraged transactions, credit concentrations and lending limits; |
• | | Interest rate and market risk, including market value and net income simulation, and trading-related Value at Risk (“VaR”); |
• | | Liquidity risk, including funding projections under various stressed scenarios; |
• | | Operational and compliance risk, including losses stemming from events such as fraud, processing errors, control breaches, breaches in data security or adverse business decisions, as well as reporting on technology performance, and various legal and regulatory compliance measures; |
• | | Capital ratios and projections, including regulatory measures and stressed scenarios; and |
• | | Strategic and reputation risk considerations, impacts and responses. |
The Company’s strategy for credit risk management includes well-defined, centralized credit policies, uniform underwriting criteria, and ongoing risk monitoring and review processes for all commercial and consumer credit exposures. In evaluating its credit risk, the Company considers changes, if any, in underwriting activities, the loan portfolio composition (including product mix and geographic, industry or customer-specific concentrations), collateral values, trends in loan performance and macroeconomic factors, such as changes in unemployment rates, gross domestic product and consumer bankruptcy filings, as well as the potential impact on customers and the domestic economy resulting from new tariffs or increases in existing tariffs, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The Risk Management Committee oversees the Company’s credit risk management process.
In addition, credit quality ratings as defined by the Company, are an important part of the Company’s overall credit risk management and evaluation of its allowance for credit losses. Loans with a pass rating represent those loans not classified on the Company’s rating scale for problem credits, as minimal risk has been identified. Loans with a special mention or classified rating, including loans that are 90 days or more past due and still accruing, nonaccrual loans, those loans considered troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”), and loans in a junior lien position that are current but are behind a modified or delinquent loan in a first lien position, encompass all loans held by the Company that it considers to have a potential or well-defined weakness that may put full collection of contractual cash flows at risk. The Company’s internal credit quality ratings for consumer loans are primarily based on delinquency and nonperforming status, except for a limited population of larger loans within those portfolios that are individually evaluated. For this limited population, the determination of the internal credit quality rating may also consider collateral value and customer cash flows. Refer to Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the Company’s loan portfolios including internal credit quality ratings. In addition, refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Credit Risk Management” in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019, for a more detailed discussion on credit risk management processes.
The Company manages its credit risk, in part, through diversification of its loan portfolio which is achieved through limit setting by product type criteria, such as industry, and identification of credit concentrations. As part of its normal business activities, the Company offers a broad array of lending products. The Company categorizes its loan portfolio into two segments, which is the level at which it develops and documents a systematic methodology to determine the allowance for credit losses. The Company’s two loan portfolio segments are commercial lending and consumer lending.
The commercial lending segment includes loans and leases made to small business, middle market, large corporate, commercial real estate, financial institution,
non-profit
and public sector customers. Key risk characteristics relevant to commercial lending segment loans include the industry and geography of the borrower’s business, purpose of the loan, repayment source, borrower’s debt capacity and financial flexibility, loan covenants, and nature of pledged collateral, if any. These risk characteristics, among others, are considered in determining estimates about the likelihood of default by the borrowers and the severity of loss in the event of default. The Company considers these risk characteristics in assigning internal risk ratings to, or forecasting losses on, these loans, which are the significant factors in determining the allowance for credit losses for loans in the commercial lending segment.
The consumer lending segment represents loans and leases made to consumer customers, including residential mortgages, credit card loans, and other retail loans such as revolving consumer lines, auto loans and leases, home equity loans and lines, and student loans, a
run-off
portfolio. Home equity or second mortgage loans are junior lien
closed-end
accounts fully disbursed at origination. These loans typically are fixed rate loans, secured by residential real estate, with a
10-
or
15-year
fixed payment amortization schedule. Home equity lines are revolving accounts giving the borrower the ability to draw and repay balances repeatedly, up to a maximum commitment, and are secured by residential real estate. These include accounts in either a first or junior lien position. Typical terms on home equity lines in the portfolio are variable rates benchmarked to the prime rate, with a
10-
or
15-year
draw period during which a minimum payment is equivalent to the monthly interest, followed by a
20-
or
10-year
amortization period, respectively. At March 31, 2020, substantially all of the Company’s home equity lines were in the draw period. Approximately $1.3 billion, or 10 percent, of the outstanding home equity line balances at March 31, 2020, will enter the amortization period within the next 36 months. Key risk characteristics relevant to consumer lending segment loans primarily relate to the borrowers’ capacity and willingness to repay and include unemployment rates and other economic factors, customer payment history and credit scores, and in some cases, updated
(“LTV”) information
reflecting current market conditions on real estate-based loans. These risk characteristics, among others including elevated risk resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, are reflected in forecasts of delinquency levels, bankruptcies and losses which are the primary factors in determining the allowance for credit losses for the consumer lending segment.
The Company further disaggregates its loan portfolio segments into various classes based on their underlying risk characteristics. The two classes within the commercial lending segment are commercial loans and commercial real estate loans. The three classes within the consumer lending segment are residential mortgages, credit card loans and other retail loans.
The Company’s consumer lending segment utilizes several distinct business processes and channels to originate consumer credit, including traditional branch lending, mobile and
on-line
banking, indirect lending, correspondent banks and loan brokers. Each distinct underwriting and origination activity manages unique credit risk characteristics and prices its loan production commensurate with the differing risk profiles.
Residential mortgage originations are generally limited to prime borrowers and are performed through the Company’s branches, loan production offices, mobile and
on-line
services and a wholesale network of originators. The Company may retain residential mortgage loans it originates on its balance sheet or sell the loans into the secondary market while retaining the servicing rights and customer relationships. Utilizing the secondary markets enables the Company to effectively reduce its credit and other asset/liability risks. For residential mortgages that are retained in the Company’s portfolio and for home equity and second mortgages, credit risk is also diversified by geography and managed by adherence to LTV and borrower credit criteria during the underwriting process.
The Company estimates updated LTV information on its outstanding residential mortgages quarterly, based on a method that combines automated valuation model updates and relevant home price indices. LTV is the ratio of the loan’s outstanding principal balance to the current estimate of property value. For home equity and second mortgages, combined
(“CLTV”) is the combination of the first mortgage original principal balance and the second lien outstanding principal balance, relative to the current estimate of property value. Certain loans do not have an LTV or CLTV, primarily due to lack of availability of relevant automated valuation model and/or home price indices values, or lack of necessary valuation data on acquired loans.
The following tables provide summary information of residential mortgages and home equity and second mortgages by LTV and borrower type at March 31, 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Amortizing | | | Total | | | Percent of Total | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less than or equal to 80% | | $ | 2,702 | | | $ | 57,964 | | | $ | 60,666 | | | | 85.2 | % |
| | | 20 | | | | 6,160 | | | | 6,180 | | | | 8.7 | |
| | | 1 | | | | 776 | | | | 777 | | | | 1.1 | |
| | | – | | | | 172 | | | | 172 | | | | .3 | |
| | | – | | | | 23 | | | | 23 | | | | – | |
Loans purchased from GNMA mortgage pools (a) | | | – | | | | 3,357 | | | | 3,357 | | | | 4.7 | |
| | $ | 2,723 | | | $ | 68,452 | | | $ | 71,175 | | | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 2,723 | | | $ | 64,514 | | | $ | 67,237 | | | | 94.5 | % |
| | | – | | | | 581 | | | | 581 | | | | .8 | |
Loans purchased from GNMA mortgage pools (a) | | | – | | | | 3,357 | | | | 3,357 | | | | 4.7 | |
| | $ | 2,723 | | | $ | 68,452 | | | $ | 71,175 | | | | 100.0 | % |
(a) | Represents loans purchased from Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) mortgage pools whose payments are primarily insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Home Equity and Second Mortgages | | Lines | | | Loans | | | Total | | | Percent of Total | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less than or equal to 80% | | $ | 10,910 | | | $ | 896 | | | $ | 11,806 | | | | 79.5 | % |
| | | 1,736 | | | | 638 | | | | 2,374 | | | | 16.0 | |
| | | 355 | | | | 58 | | | | 413 | | | | 2.8 | |
| | | 119 | | | | 10 | | | | 129 | | | | .9 | |
| | | 109 | | | | 5 | | | | 114 | | | | .8 | |
| | $ | 13,229 | | | $ | 1,607 | | | $ | 14,836 | | | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 13,198 | | | $ | 1,571 | | | $ | 14,769 | | | | 99.5 | % |
| | | 31 | | | | 36 | | | | 67 | | | | .5 | |
| | $ | 13,229 | | | $ | 1,607 | | | $ | 14,836 | | | | 100.0 | % |
Home equity and second mortgages were $14.8 billion at March 31, 2020, compared with $15.0 billion at December 31, 2019, and included $3.8 billion of home equity lines in a first lien position and $11.0 billion of home equity and second mortgage loans and lines in a junior lien position. Loans and lines in a junior lien position at March 31, 2020, included approximately $4.4 billion of loans and lines for which the Company also serviced the related first lien loan, and approximately $6.6 billion where the Company did not service the related first lien loan. The Company was able to determine the status of the related first liens using information the Company has as the servicer of the first lien or information reported on customer credit bureau files. The Company also evaluates other indicators of credit risk for these junior lien loans and lines including delinquency, estimated average CLTV ratios and updated weighted-average credit scores in making its assessment of credit risk, related loss estimates and determining the allowance for credit losses.
The following table provides a summary of delinquency statistics and other credit quality indicators for the Company’s junior lien positions at March 31, 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Junior Liens Behind | | | | |
(Dollars in Millions) | | | | | Third Party First Lien | | | Total | |
| | $ | 4,398 | | | $ | 6,664 | | | $ | 11,062 | |
Percent 30—89 days past due | | | .33 | % | | | .52 | % | | | .44 | % |
Percent 90 days or more past due | | | .04 | % | | | .06 | % | | | .05 | % |
| | | 69 | % | | | 67 | % | | | 68 | % |
Weighted-average credit score | | | 779 | | | | 775 | | | | 777 | |
See the “Analysis and Determination of the Allowance for Credit Losses” section for additional information on how the Company determines the allowance for credit losses for loans in a junior lien position.
Trends in delinquency ratios are an indicator, among other considerations, of credit risk within the Company’s loan portfolios. The Company measures delinquencies, both including and excluding nonperforming loans, to enable comparability with other companies. Accruing loans 90 days or more past due totaled $579 million at March 31, 2020, compared with $605 million at December 31, 2019. These balances exclude loans purchased from Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) mortgage pools whose repayments are primarily insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Accruing loans 90 days or more past due are not included in nonperforming assets and continue to accrue interest because they are adequately secured by collateral, are in the process of collection and are reasonably expected to result in repayment or restoration to current status, or are managed in homogeneous portfolios with specified
charge-off
timeframes adhering to regulatory guidelines. The ratio of accruing loans 90 days or more past due to total loans was 0.18 percent at March 31, 2020, compared with 0.20 percent at December 31, 2019.
| | |
| | Delinquent Loan Ratios as a Percent of Ending Loan Balances |
| | | | | | | | |
90 days or more past due excluding nonperforming loans | | March 31, 2020 | | | December 31, 2019 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | .07 | % | | | .08 | % |
| | | – | | | | – | |
| | | .06 | | | | .08 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | – | | | | .01 | |
Construction and development | | | .02 | | | | – | |
Total commercial real estate | | | – | | | | .01 | |
Residential Mortgages (a) | | | .15 | | | | .17 | |
| | | 1.29 | | | | 1.23 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | .04 | | | | .05 | |
Home equity and second mortgages | | | .30 | | | | .32 | |
| | | .14 | | | | .13 | |
| | | .17 | | | | .17 | |
| | | .18 | % | | | .20 | % |
| | |
90 days or more past due including nonperforming loans | | March 31, 2020 | | | December 31, 2019 | |
| | | .31 | % | | | .27 | % |
| | | .25 | | | | .21 | |
Residential mortgages (a) | | | .49 | | | | .51 | |
| | | 1.29 | | | | 1.23 | |
| | | .45 | | | | .46 | |
| | | .44 | % | | | .44 | % |
(a) | Delinquent loan ratios exclude $1.6 billion at March 31, 2020, and $1.7 billion at December 31, 2019, of loans purchased from GNMA mortgage pools whose repayments are primarily insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Including these loans, the ratio of residential mortgages 90 days or more past due including all nonperforming loans was 2.78 percent at March 31, 2020, and 2.92 percent at December 31, 2019. |
The following table provides summary delinquency information for residential mortgages, credit card and other retail loans included in the consumer lending segment:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Amount | | | | | | As a Percent of Ending Loan Balances | |
(Dollars in Millions) | | March 31, 2020 | | | December 31, 2019 | | | | | | March 31, 2020 | | | December 31, 2019 | |
Residential Mortgages (a) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 164 | | | $ | 154 | | | | | | | | .23 | % | | | .22 | % |
| | | 108 | | | | 120 | | | | | | | | .15 | | | | .17 | |
| | | 243 | | | | 241 | | | | | | | | .34 | | | | .34 | |
| | $ | 515 | | | $ | 515 | | | | | | | | .72 | % | | | .73 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 293 | | | $ | 321 | | | | | | | | 1.29 | % | | | 1.30 | % |
| | | 294 | | | | 306 | | | | | | | | 1.29 | | | | 1.23 | |
| | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | |
| | $ | 587 | | | $ | 627 | | | | | | | | 2.58 | % | | | 2.53 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 45 | | | $ | 45 | | | | | | | | .52 | % | | | .53 | % |
| | | 3 | | | | 4 | | | | | | | | .04 | | | | .05 | |
| | | 15 | | | | 13 | | | | | | | | .18 | | | | .15 | |
| | $ | 63 | | | $ | 62 | | | | | | | | .74 | % | | | .73 | % |
Home Equity and Second Mortgages | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 78 | | | $ | 77 | | | | | | | | .53 | % | | | .51 | % |
| | | 45 | | | | 48 | | | | | | | | .30 | | | | .32 | |
| | | 112 | | | | 116 | | | | | | | | .75 | | | | .77 | |
| | $ | 235 | | | $ | 241 | | | | | | | | 1.58 | % | | | 1.60 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 264 | | | $ | 271 | | | | | | | | .79 | % | | | .81 | % |
| | | 47 | | | | 45 | | | | | | | | .14 | | | | .13 | |
| | | 35 | | | | 36 | | | | | | | | .10 | | | | .11 | |
| | $ | 346 | | | $ | 352 | | | | | | | | 1.03 | % | | | 1.05 | % |
(a) | Excludes $396 million of loans 30-89 days past due and $1.6 billion of loans 90 days or more past due at March 31, 2020, purchased from GNMA mortgage pools that continue to accrue interest, compared with $428 million and $1.7 billion at December 31, 2019, respectively. |
(b) | Includes revolving credit, installment, automobile and student loans. |
In certain circumstances, the Company may modify the terms of a loan to maximize the collection of amounts due when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulties or is expected to experience difficulties in the near-term. In most cases the modification is either a concessionary reduction in interest rate, extension of the maturity date or reduction in the principal balance that would otherwise not be considered.
Troubled Debt Restructurings
Concessionary modifications are classified as TDRs unless the modification results in only an insignificant delay in the payments to be received. TDRs accrue interest if the borrower complies with the revised terms and conditions and has demonstrated repayment performance at a level commensurate with the modified terms over several payment cycles, which is generally six months or greater. At March 31, 2020, performing TDRs were $3.7 billion, compared with $3.8 billion at December 31, 2019.
The Company continues to work with customers to modify loans for borrowers who are experiencing financial difficulties. Many of the Company’s TDRs are determined on a
basis in connection with ongoing loan collection processes. The modifications vary within each of the Company’s loan classes. Commercial lending segment TDRs generally include extensions of the maturity date and may be accompanied by an increase or decrease to the interest rate. The Company may also work with the borrower to make other changes to the loan to mitigate losses, such as obtaining additional collateral and/or guarantees to support the loan.
The Company has also implemented certain residential mortgage loan restructuring programs that may result in TDRs. The Company modifies residential mortgage loans under Federal Housing Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and its own internal programs. Under these programs, the Company offers qualifying homeowners the opportunity to permanently modify their loan and achieve more affordable monthly payments by providing loan concessions. These concessions may include adjustments to interest rates, conversion of adjustable rates to fixed rates, extensions of maturity dates or deferrals of payments, capitalization of accrued interest and/or outstanding advances, or in limited situations, partial forgiveness of loan principal. In most instances, participation in residential mortgage loan restructuring programs requires the customer to complete a short-term trial period. A permanent loan modification is contingent on the customer successfully completing the trial period
arrangement, and the loan documents are not modified until that time. The Company reports loans in a trial period arrangement as TDRs and continues to report them as TDRs after the trial period.
Credit card and other retail loan TDRs are generally part of distinct restructuring programs providing customers modification solutions over a specified time period, generally up to 60 months.
In accordance with regulatory guidance, the Company considers secured consumer loans that have had debt discharged through bankruptcy where the borrower has not reaffirmed the debt to be TDRs. If the loan amount exceeds the collateral value, the loan is charged down to collateral value and the remaining amount is reported as nonperforming.
Loan modifications or concessions granted to customers resulting directly from the effects of the
COVID-19
pandemic, who were otherwise in current payment status, are not considered to be TDRs.
The following table provides a summary of TDRs by loan class, including the delinquency status for TDRs that continue to accrue interest and TDRs included in nonperforming assets:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | As a Percent of Performing TDRs | | | | | | | |
At March 31, 2020 (Dollars in Millions) | | Performing TDRs | | | 30-89 Days Past Due | | | 90 Days or More Past Due | | | Nonperforming TDRs | | | Total TDRs | |
Commercial | | $ | 256 | | | | 5.2 | % | | | 2.7 | % | | $ | 121 | (a) | | $ | 377 | |
Commercial real estate | | | 166 | | | | 2.3 | | | | – | | | | 42 | (b) | | | 208 | |
Residential mortgages | | | 1,239 | | | | 3.0 | | | | 4.0 | | | | 143 | | | | 1,382 | (d) |
Credit card | | | 266 | | | | 10.4 | | | | 6.6 | | | | – | | | | 266 | |
Other retail | | | 153 | | | | 8.2 | | | | 6.6 | | | | 29 | (c) | | | 182 | (e) |
TDRs, excluding loans purchased from GNMA mortgage pools | | | 2,080 | | | | 4.5 | | | | 4.1 | | | | 335 | | | | 2,415 | |
Loans purchased from GNMA mortgage pools (g) | | | 1,619 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 1,619 | (f) |
Total | | $ | 3,699 | | | | 2.5 | % | | | 2.3 | % | | $ | 335 | | | $ | 4,034 | |
(a) | Primarily represents loans less than six months from the modification date that have not met the performance period required to return to accrual status (generally six months) and small business credit cards with a modified rate equal to 0 percent. |
(b) | Primarily represents loans less than six months from the modification date that have not met the performance period required to return to accrual status (generally six months). |
(c) | Primarily represents loans with a modified rate equal to 0 percent. |
(d) | Includes $298 million of residential mortgage loans to borrowers that have had debt discharged through bankruptcy and $29 million in trial period arrangements or previously placed in trial period arrangements but not successfully completed. |
(e) | Includes $83 million of other retail loans to borrowers that have had debt discharged through bankruptcy and $18 million in trial period arrangements or previously placed in trial period arrangements but not successfully completed. |
(f) | Includes $134 million of Federal Housing Administration and United States Department of Veterans Affairs residential mortgage loans to borrowers that have had debt discharged through bankruptcy and $379 million in trial period arrangements or previously placed in trial period arrangements but not successfully completed. |
(g) | Approximately 6.2 percent and 45.4 percent of the total TDR loans purchased from GNMA mortgage pools are 30-89 days past due and 90 days or more past due, respectively, but are not classified as delinquent as their repayments are insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. |
The Company makes short-term modifications that it does not consider to be TDRs, in limited circumstances, to assist borrowers experiencing temporary hardships, including those modifications resulting directly from the
COVID-19
pandemic. Consumer lending programs include payment reductions, deferrals of up to three past due payments, and the ability to return to current status if the borrower makes required payments. The Company may also make short-term modifications to commercial lending loans, with the most common modification being an extension of the maturity date of three months or less. Such extensions generally are used when the maturity date is imminent and the borrower is experiencing some level of financial stress, but the Company believes the borrower will pay all contractual amounts owed. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had approved modifications to approximately $3.1 billion of loans included on its consolidated balance sheet related to borrowers impacted by the
COVID-19
pandemic, consisting primarily of payment deferrals of 90 days or less on loans within the consumer lending segment.
The level of nonperforming assets represents another indicator of the potential for future credit losses. Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, restructured loans not performing in accordance with modified terms and not accruing interest, restructured loans that have not met the performance period required to return to accrual status, other real estate owned (“OREO”) and other nonperforming assets owned by the Company. Interest payments collected from assets on nonaccrual status are generally applied against the principal balance and not recorded as income. However, interest income may be recognized for interest payments if the remaining carrying amount of the loan is believed to be collectible.
At March 31, 2020, total nonperforming assets were $946 million, compared to $829 million at December 31, 2019. The $117 million (14.1 percent) increase in nonperforming assets was driven by increases in nonperforming commercial and commercial real estate loans. The ratio of total nonperforming assets to total loans and other real estate was 0.30 percent at March 31, 2020, compared with 0.28 percent at December 31, 2019. The Company expects nonperforming assets to increase given current economic conditions.
OREO was $70 million at March 31, 2020, compared with $78 million at December 31, 2019, and was related to foreclosed properties that previously secured loan balances. These balances exclude foreclosed GNMA loans whose repayments are primarily insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
The following table provides an analysis of OREO as a percent of their related loan balances, including geographical location detail for residential (residential mortgage, home equity and second mortgage) and commercial (commercial and commercial real estate) loan balances:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Amount | | | | | | As a Percent of Ending Loan Balances | |
(Dollars in Millions) | | March 31, 2020 | | | December 31, 2019 | | | | | | March 31, 2020 | | | December 31, 2019 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 8 | | | $ | 10 | | | | | | | | .18 | % | | | .22 | % |
| | | 6 | | | | 6 | | | | | | | | .10 | | | | .10 | |
| | | 6 | | | | 6 | | | | | | | | .66 | | | | .66 | |
| | | 5 | | | | 7 | | | | | | | | .02 | | | | .03 | |
| | | 3 | | | | 4 | | | | | | | | .09 | | | | .12 | |
| | | 39 | | | | 41 | | | | | | | | .09 | | | | .09 | |
| | | 67 | | | | 74 | | | | | | | | .08 | | | | .09 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | .01 | | | | .01 | |
| | | – | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | |
| | | 3 | | | | 4 | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | |
| | $ | 70 | | | $ | 78 | | | | | | | | .02 | % | | | .03 | % |
| | |
| | Net Charge-offs as a Percent of Average Loans Outstanding |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | |
| | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | .28 | % | | | .30 | % |
| | | .36 | | | | .15 | |
| | | .28 | | | | .29 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | (.01 | ) | | | – | |
Construction and development | | | (.04 | ) | | | – | |
Total commercial real estate | | | (.02 | ) | | | – | |
| | | .01 | | | | .02 | |
| | | 3.95 | | | | 4.04 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | .90 | | | | .19 | |
Home equity and second mortgages | | | .03 | | | | (.03 | ) |
| | | .79 | | | | .80 | |
| | | .61 | | | | .47 | |
| | | .53 | % | | | .52 | % |
Analysis of Loan Net Charge-Offs
Total loan net charge-offs were $393 million for the first quarter of 2020, compared with $367 million for the first quarter of 2019. The ratio of total loan net charge-offs to average loans outstanding on an annualized basis for the first quarter of 2020 was 0.53 percent, compared with 0.52 percent for the first quarter of 2019. The increase in net charge-offs for the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, reflected higher retail leasing and credit card loan net charge-offs. The increase in retail leasing charge-offs reflected the inclusion of end of term losses on residual lease values as of January 1, 2020. The Company expects net charge-offs to increase given current economic conditions.
Analysis and Determination of the Allowance for Credit Losses
Prior to January 1, 2020, the allowance for credit losses was established to reserve for probable and estimable losses incurred in the Company’s loan and lease portfolio, including unfunded credit commitments. Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted new accounting guidance which changed previous impairment recognition to a model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. The allowance for credit losses is increased through provisions charged to earnings and reduced by net charge-offs, inclusive of expected recoveries. Management evaluates the appropriateness of the allowance for credit losses on a quarterly basis. The allowance considers expected losses for the remaining lives of the applicable assets. Multiple economic scenarios are considered over a three-year reasonable and supportable forecast period, which incorporates historical loss experience in years two and three. After the forecast period, the Company fully reverts to long-term historical loss experience, adjusted for prepayments and characteristics of the current loan and lease portfolio, to estimate losses over the remaining lives. The economic scenarios are updated at least quarterly, and are designed to provide a range of reasonable estimates, both better and worse than current expectations. Scenarios are weighted based on the Company’s expectation of future conditions. Final loss estimates also consider factors affecting credit losses not reflected in the scenarios, due to the unique aspects of current conditions and expectations. These factors may include loan servicing practices, regulatory guidance, and/or fiscal and monetary policy actions. Because business processes and credit risks associated with unfunded credit commitments are essentially the same as for loans, the Company utilizes similar processes to estimate its liability for unfunded credit commitments, which is included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Both the allowance for loan losses and the liability for unfunded credit commitments are included in the Company’s analysis of credit losses and reported reserve ratios.
The allowance recorded for credit losses utilizes forward-looking expected loss models to consider a variety of factors affecting lifetime credit losses. These factors include loan and borrower characteristics, such as internal risk ratings on commercial loans and consumer credit scores, delinquency status, collateral type and available valuation information, consideration of end-of-term losses on lease residuals, and the remaining term of the loan, adjusted for expected prepayments. Where loans do not exhibit similar risk characteristics, an individual analysis is performed to consider expected credit losses. For each loan portfolio, model estimates are adjusted as necessary to consider any relevant changes in portfolio composition, lending policies, underwriting standards, risk management practices or economic conditions that would affect the accuracy of the model.
The results of the analysis are evaluated quarterly to confirm the estimates are appropriate for each loan portfolio. Expected credit loss estimates also include consideration of expected cash recoveries on loans previously charged-off, or expected recoveries on collateral dependent loans where recovery is expected through sale of the collateral. The allowance recorded for individually evaluated loans greater than $5 million in the commercial lending segment is based on an analysis utilizing expected cash flows discounted using the original effective interest rate, the observable market price of the loan, or the fair value of the collateral, less selling costs, for collateral-dependent loans.
The allowance recorded for TDR loans in the consumer lending segment is determined on a homogenous pool basis utilizing expected cash flows discounted using the original effective interest rate of the pool. The allowance for collateral-dependent loans in the consumer lending segment is determined based on the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell and any expected future write-offs or recoveries. The allowance for credit losses on consumer lending segment TDR loans includes the consideration of subsequent payment defaults since modification, the borrower’s ability to pay under the restructured terms, and the timing and amount of payments.
When evaluating the appropriateness of the allowance for credit losses for any loans and lines in a junior lien position, the Company considers the delinquency and modification status of the first lien. At March 31, 2020, the Company serviced the first lien on 40 percent of the home equity loans and lines in a junior lien position. The Company also considers the status of first lien mortgage accounts reported on customer credit bureau files when the first lien is not serviced by the Company. Regardless of whether the Company services the first lien, an assessment is made of economic conditions, problem loans, recent loss experience and other factors in determining the allowance for credit losses. Based on the available information, the Company estimated $290 million or 2.0 percent of its total home equity portfolio at March 31, 2020, represented non-delinquent junior liens where the first lien was delinquent or modified.
The Company considers historical loss experience on the loans and lines in a junior lien position to establish loss estimates for junior lien loans and lines the Company services that are current, but the first lien is delinquent or modified. Historically, the number of junior lien defaults has been a small percentage of the total portfolio (approximately 1 percent annually), while the long-term average loss rate on loans that default has been approximately 90 percent. In addition, the Company obtains updated credit scores on its home equity portfolio each quarter, and in some cases more frequently, and uses this information in its loss estimation methods. In its evaluation of the allowance for credit losses, the Company also considers the increased risk of loss associated with home equity lines that are contractually scheduled to convert from a revolving status to a fully amortizing payment and with residential lines and loans that have a balloon payoff provision.
Beginning January 1, 2020, when a loan portfolio is purchased, the acquired loans are divided into those considered purchased with more than insignificant credit deterioration (“PCD”) and those not considered purchased with more than insignificant credit deterioration. An allowance is established for each population and considers product mix, risk characteristics of the portfolio, bankruptcy experience, delinquency status, refreshed LTV ratios when possible, and portfolio growth. The allowance established for purchased loans not considered PCD is recognized through provision expense upon acquisition, whereas the allowance established for loans considered PCD at acquisition is offset by an increase in the basis of the acquired loans. Any subsequent increases and decreases in the allowance related to purchased loans are recognized through provision expense, with future charge-offs charged to the allowance. The Company did not have a material amount of PCD loans included in its loan portfolio at March 31, 2020.
The Company’s methodology for determining the appropriate allowance for credit losses for each loan segment also considers the imprecision inherent in the methodologies used. As a result, amounts determined under the methodologies described above are adjusted by management to consider the potential impact of other qualitative factors which include, but are not limited to, the following: model imprecision, imprecision in economic scenario assumptions, and emerging risks related to either changes in the
economic environment that are affecting specific portfolio segments, or changes in portfolio concentrations over time that may affect model performance. The consideration of these items results in adjustments to allowance amounts included in the Company’s allowance for credit losses for each portfolio class.
Although the Company determined the amount of each element of the allowance separately and considers this process to be an important credit management tool, the entire allowance for credit losses is available for the entire loan portfolio. The actual amount of losses can vary significantly from the estimated amounts.
At March 31, 2020, the allowance for credit losses was $6.6 billion (2.07 percent of period-end loans),
compared with an allowance of $4.5 billion (1.52 percent of period-end loans) at December 31, 2019. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans was 809 percent at March 31, 2020, compared with 649 percent at December 31, 2019. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to annualized loan net charge-offs was 417 percent at March 31, 2020, compared with 309 percent of full year 2019 net charge-offs at December 31, 2019.
The increase in the allowance for credit losses of $2.1 billion (46.7 percent) at March 31, 2020, compared with December 31, 2019, reflected the $1.5 billion impact of the January 1, 2020 adoption of new accounting guidance, along with an additional $600 million increase during the first quarter of 2020 due to deteriorating economic conditions driven by the impact of COVID-19 on the domestic and global economies. Expected loss estimates considered both the decrease in economic activity, and the mitigating effects of government stimulus and industrywide loan modification efforts designed to limit long-term effects of the pandemic event.
Changes in economic conditions as of March 31, 2020 included steep declines in economic activity related to actions taken by governmental authorities to slow the spread of COVID-19, including stay-at-home orders. Record increases in unemployment claims, and declining Gross Domestic Product estimates for the first half of 2020, as well as contractions in manufacturing activity and oil prices, were all observable changes in conditions that increased expected credit losses. At the same time, record economic stimulus measures were also enacted, with the intent to support businesses and consumers through what is expected to be a temporary period of reduced activity. To balance these offsetting factors, economic scenarios updated through the end of the first quarter of 2020 that produced higher quantitative loss estimates consistent with the expected deterioration in reported economic statistics were evaluated in conjunction with management’s expectation that current and potential future stimulus efforts, as well as industrywide availability of short-term payment deferral programs, would mitigate losses estimated from models based on historical data from periods when mitigation efforts were not as extensive. Overall, loss expectations are consistent with prior economic downturn experience, but the severity of the deterioration in current economic conditions is not expected to persist over the life of the loan portfolio.
The allowance for credit losses related to commercial lending segment loans increased $542 million at March 31, 2020, compared with December 31, 2019, as increased loan volume and credit downgrades during March 2020 reflected the immediate impact of COVID-19 on certain industry sectors, including the travel, lodging, restaurants, energy, retail, media and entertainment, and automobile industries that were severely impacted by virus containment measures. The allowance for credit losses related to consumer lending segment loans increased $58 million at March 31, 2020, compared with December 31, 2019, as higher economic risks were mitigated by strong underlying credit quality that supports expectations of long-term repayment, and the decline in funded loan balances.
Residual Value Risk Management
The Company manages its risk to changes in the residual value of leased vehicles, office and business equipment, and other assets through disciplined residual valuation setting at the inception of a lease, diversification of its leased assets, regular residual asset valuation reviews and monitoring of residual value gains or losses upon the disposition of assets. As of March 31, 2020, no significant change in the amount of residual values or concentration of the portfolios had occurred since December 31, 2019. Refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Residual Value Risk Management” in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019, for further discussion on residual value risk management.
Operational Risk Management
Operational risk is inherent in all business activities, and the management of this risk is important to the achievement of the Company’s objectives. Business lines have direct and primary responsibility and accountability for identifying, controlling, and monitoring operational risks embedded in their business activities. The Company maintains a system of controls with the objective of providing proper transaction authorization and execution, proper system operations, proper oversight of third parties with whom it does business, safeguarding of assets from misuse or theft, and ensuring the reliability and security of financial and other data. Refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Operational Risk Management” in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019, for further discussion on operational risk management.
Compliance Risk Management
The Company may suffer legal or regulatory sanctions, material financial loss, or damage to its reputation through failure to comply with laws, regulations, rules, standards of good practice, and codes of conduct, including those related to compliance with Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering requirements, sanctions compliance requirements as administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, consumer protection and other requirements. The Company has controls and processes in place for the assessment, identification, monitoring, management and reporting of compliance risks and issues. Refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Compliance Risk Management” in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019, for further discussion on compliance risk management.
Interest Rate Risk Management
In the banking industry, changes in interest rates are a significant risk that can impact earnings and the safety and soundness of an entity. The Company manages its exposure to changes in interest rates through asset and liability management activities within guidelines established by its Asset Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”) and approved by the Board of Directors. The ALCO has the responsibility for approving and ensuring compliance with the ALCO management policies, including interest rate risk exposure. One way the Company measures and analyzes its interest rate risk is through net interest income simulation analysis.
Simulation analysis incorporates substantially all of the Company’s assets and liabilities and
off-balance
sheet instruments, together with forecasted changes in the balance sheet and assumptions that reflect the current interest rate environment. Through this simulation, management estimates the impact on net interest income of various interest rate changes that differ in the direction, amount and speed of change over time, as well as the shape of the yield curve. This simulation includes assumptions about how the balance sheet is likely to be affected by changes in loan and deposit growth. Assumptions are made to project interest rates for new loans and deposits based on historical analysis, management’s outlook and
re-pricing
strategies. These assumptions are reviewed and validated on a periodic basis with sensitivity analysis being provided for key variables of the simulation. The results are reviewed monthly by the ALCO and are used to guide asset/liability management strategies.
The Company manages its interest rate risk position by holding assets with desired interest rate risk characteristics on its balance sheet, implementing certain pricing strategies for loans and deposits and selecting derivatives and various funding and investment portfolio strategies.
Table 9 summarizes the projected impact to net interest income over the next 12 months of various potential interest rate changes. The sensitivity of the projected impact to net interest income over the next 12 months is dependent on balance sheet growth, product mix, deposit behavior, pricing and funding decisions. While the Company utilizes assumptions based on historical information and expected behaviors, actual outcomes could vary significantly. For example, if deposit outflows are more limited (stable) than the assumptions the Company used in preparing Table 9, the projected impact to net interest income would be an increase of 2.61 percent in the “Up 50 bps” and 3.92 percent in the “Up 200 bps” scenarios.
| | |
| | Sensitivity of Net Interest Income |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | March 31, 2020 | | | | | | December 31, 2019 | |
| | Down 50 bps Immediate | | | Up 50 bps Immediate | | | Down 200 bps Gradual | | | Up 200 bps Gradual | | | | | | Down 50 bps Immediate | | | Up 50 bps Immediate | | | Down 200 bps Gradual | | | Up 200 bps Gradual | |
| | | (4.17 | )% | | | 2.47 | % | | | * | | | | 2.99 | % | | | | | | | (1.43 | )% | | | .83 | % | | | * | | | | .21 | % |
* | Given the level of interest rates, downward rate scenario is not computed. |
Use of Derivatives to Manage Interest Rate and Other Risks
To manage the sensitivity of earnings and capital to interest rate, prepayment, credit, price and foreign currency fluctuations (asset and liability management positions), the Company enters into derivative transactions. The Company uses derivatives for asset and liability management purposes primarily in the following ways:
• | | To convert fixed-rate debt from fixed-rate payments to floating-rate payments; |
• | | To convert the cash flows associated with floating-rate debt from floating-rate payments to fixed-rate payments; |
• | | To mitigate changes in value of the Company’s unfunded mortgage loan commitments, funded MLHFS and MSRs; |
• | | To mitigate remeasurement volatility of foreign currency denominated balances; and |
• | | To mitigate the volatility of the Company’s net investment in foreign operations driven by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. |
In addition, the Company enters into interest rate and foreign exchange derivative contracts to support the business requirements of its customers (customer-related positions). The Company minimizes the market and liquidity risks of customer-related positions by either entering into similar offsetting positions with broker-dealers, or on a portfolio basis by entering into other derivative or
non-derivative
financial instruments that partially or fully offset the exposure from these customer-related positions. The Company may enter into derivative contracts that are either exchange-traded, centrally cleared through clearinghouses or
The Company does not utilize derivatives for speculative purposes.
The Company does not designate all of the derivatives that it enters into for risk management purposes as accounting hedges because of the inefficiency of applying the accounting requirements and may instead elect fair value accounting for the related hedged items. In particular, the Company enters into interest rate swaps, swaptions, forward commitments to buy
securities (“TBAs”), U.S. Treasury and Eurodollar futures and options on U.S. Treasury futures to mitigate fluctuations in the value of its MSRs, but does not designate those derivatives as accounting hedges.
Additionally, the Company uses forward commitments to sell TBAs and other commitments to sell residential mortgage loans at specified prices to economically hedge the interest rate risk in its residential mortgage loan production activities. At March 31, 2020, the Company had $8.9 billion of forward commitments to sell, hedging $3.7 billion of MLHFS and $8.8 billion of unfunded mortgage loan commitments. The forward commitments to sell and the unfunded mortgage loan commitments on loans intended to be sold are considered derivatives under the accounting guidance related to accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities. The Company has elected the fair value option for the MLHFS.
Derivatives are subject to credit risk associated with counterparties to the contracts. Credit risk associated with derivatives is measured by the Company based on the probability of counterparty default, including consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company manages the credit risk of its derivative positions by diversifying its positions among various counterparties, by entering into master netting arrangements, and, where possible, by requiring collateral arrangements. The Company may also transfer counterparty credit risk related to interest rate swaps to third parties through the use of risk participation agreements. In addition, certain interest rate swaps, interest rate forwards and credit contracts are required to be centrally cleared through clearinghouses to further mitigate counterparty credit risk.
For additional information on derivatives and hedging activities, refer to Notes 12 and 13 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In July 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority announced that it would no longer require banks to submit rates for the London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) after 2021. The Company holds financial instruments that will be impacted by the discontinuance of LIBOR, including certain loans, investment securities, derivatives, borrowings and other financial instruments that use LIBOR as the benchmark rate. The Company also provides various services to customers in its capacity as trustee, which involve financial instruments that will be similarly impacted by the discontinuance of LIBOR. The Company anticipates these financial instruments will require transition to a new reference rate. This transition
will occur over the next several years as many of these arrangements do not have an alternative rate referenced in their contracts or a clear path for the parties to agree upon an alternative reference rate. In order to facilitate the transition process, the Company has instituted a LIBOR Transition Office and commenced an enterprise-wide project to identify, assess and monitor risks associated with the expected discontinuance or unavailability of LIBOR, actively engage with industry working groups and regulators, achieve operational readiness and engage impacted customers. It is currently unclear what impact
COVID-19
may have on the LIBOR transition or on the timing thereof. Refer to “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019, for further discussion on potential risks that could adversely affect the Company’s financial results as a result of the LIBOR transition.
In addition to interest rate risk, the Company is exposed to other forms of market risk, principally related to trading activities which support customers’ strategies to manage their own foreign currency, interest rate risk and funding activities. For purposes of its internal capital adequacy assessment process, the Company considers risk arising from its trading activities, as well as the remeasurement volatility of foreign currency denominated balances included on its Consolidated Balance Sheet (collectively, “Covered Positions”), employing methodologies consistent with the requirements of regulatory rules for market risk. The Company’s Market Risk Committee (“MRC”), within the framework of the ALCO, oversees market risk management. The MRC monitors and reviews the Company’s Covered Positions and establishes policies for market risk management, including exposure limits for each portfolio. The Company uses a VaR approach to measure general market risk. Theoretically, VaR represents the statistical risk of loss the Company has to adverse market movements over a
one-day
time horizon. The Company uses the Historical Simulation method to calculate VaR for its Covered Positions measured at the ninety-ninth percentile using a
one-year
look-back period for distributions derived from past market data. The market factors used in the calculations include those pertinent to market risks inherent in the underlying trading portfolios, principally those that affect the Company’s corporate bond trading business, foreign currency transaction business, client derivatives business, loan trading business and municipal securities business, as well as those inherent in the Company’s foreign denominated balances and the derivatives used to mitigate the related measurement volatility. On average, the Company expects the
one-day
VaR to be exceeded by actual losses two to three times per year related to these positions. The Company monitors the accuracy of internal VaR models and modeling processes by back-testing model performance, regularly updating the historical data used by the VaR models and regular model validations to assess the accuracy of the models’ input, processing, and reporting components. All models are required to be independently reviewed and approved prior to being placed in use. If the Company were to experience market losses in excess of the estimated VaR more often than expected, the VaR models and associated assumptions would be analyzed and adjusted.
The average, high, low and
period-end
one-day
VaR amounts for the Company’s Covered Positions were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
Three Months Ended March 31 | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | $ | 2 | | | $ | 1 | |
| | | 3 | | | | 2 | |
| | | 1 | | | | 1 | |
| | | 3 | | | | 1 | |
Given the recent market volatility, the Company experienced actual losses for its combined Covered Positions that exceeded VaR five times during the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company did not experience any actual losses for its combined Covered Positions that exceeded VaR during the three months ended March 31, 2019. The Company stress tests its market risk measurements to provide management with perspectives on market events that may not be captured by its VaR models, including worst case historical market movement combinations that have not necessarily occurred on the same date.
The Company calculates Stressed VaR using the same underlying methodology and model as VaR, except that a historical continuous
one-year
look-back period is utilized that reflects a period of significant financial stress appropriate to the Company’s Covered Positions. The period selected by the Company includes the significant market volatility of the last four months of 2008.
The average, high, low and
period-end
one-day
Stressed VaR amounts for the Company’s Covered Positions were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
Three Months Ended March 31 | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | $ | 6 | | | $ | 6 | |
| | | 7 | | | | 8 | |
| | | 4 | | | | 4 | |
| | | 7 | | | | 7 | |
Valuations of positions in client derivatives and foreign currency activities are based on discounted cash flow or other valuation techniques using market-based
assumptions. These valuations are compared to third party quotes or other market prices to determine if there are significant variances. Significant variances are approved by senior management in the Company’s corporate functions. Valuation of positions in the corporate bond trading, loan trading and municipal securities businesses are based on trader marks. These trader marks are evaluated against third party prices, with significant variances approved by senior management in the Company’s corporate functions.
The Company also measures the market risk of its hedging activities related to residential MLHFS and MSRs using the Historical Simulation method. The VaRs are measured at the ninety-ninth percentile and employ factors pertinent to the market risks inherent in the valuation of the assets and hedges. A
one-year
look-back period is used to obtain past market data for the models.
The average, high and low VaR amounts for the residential MLHFS and related hedges and the MSRs and related hedges were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
Three Months Ended March 31 | | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
Residential Mortgage Loans Held For Sale and Related Hedges | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 5 | | | $ | 1 | |
| | | 12 | | | | 2 | |
| | | 2 | | | | – | |
Mortgage Servicing Rights and Related Hedges | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 13 | | | $ | 4 | |
| | | 34 | | | | 5 | |
| | | 6 | | | | 4 | |
Liquidity Risk Management
The Company’s liquidity risk management process is designed to identify, measure, and manage the Company’s funding and liquidity risk to meet its daily funding needs and to address expected and unexpected changes in its funding requirements. The Company engages in various activities to manage its liquidity risk. These activities include diversifying its funding sources, stress testing, and holding readily-marketable assets which can be used as a source of liquidity if needed. In addition, the Company’s profitable operations, sound credit quality and strong capital position have enabled it to develop a large and reliable base of core deposit funding within its market areas and in domestic and global capital markets. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company effectively managed its liquidity position while funding significant loan growth late in the period.
The Company’s Board of Directors approves the Company’s liquidity policy. The Risk Management Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors oversees the Company’s liquidity risk management process and approves a contingency funding plan. The ALCO reviews the Company’s liquidity policy and limits, and regularly assesses the Company’s ability to meet funding requirements arising from adverse company-specific or market events.
The Company regularly projects its funding needs under various stress scenarios and maintains a contingency funding plan consistent with the Company’s access to diversified sources of contingent funding. The Company maintains a substantial level of total available liquidity in the form of
on-balance
sheet and
off-balance
sheet funding sources. These liquidity sources include cash at the Federal Reserve Bank and certain European central banks, unencumbered liquid assets, and capacity to borrow from the FHLB and at Federal Reserve Bank’s Discount Window. At March 31, 2020, the fair value of unencumbered investment securities totaled $113.0 billion, compared with $114.2 billion at December 31, 2019. Refer to Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and “Balance Sheet Analysis” for further information on investment securities maturities and trends. Asset liquidity is further enhanced by the Company’s practice of pledging loans to access secured borrowing facilities through the FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank. At March 31, 2020, the Company could have borrowed an additional $86.6 billion from the FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank based on collateral available for additional borrowings.
The Company’s diversified deposit base provides a sizeable source of relatively stable and
low-cost
funding, while reducing the Company’s reliance on the wholesale markets. Total deposits were $394.9 billion at March 31, 2020, compared with $361.9 billion at December 31, 2019. Refer to “Balance Sheet Analysis” for further information on the Company’s deposits.
Additional funding is provided by long-term debt and short-term borrowings. Long-term debt was $52.3 billion at March 31, 2020, and is an important funding source because of its multi-year borrowing structure. Short-term borrowings were $26.3 billion at March 31, 2020, and supplement the Company’s other funding sources. Refer to “Balance Sheet Analysis” for further information on the Company’s long-term debt and short-term borrowings.
In addition to assessing liquidity risk on a consolidated basis, the Company monitors the parent company’s liquidity. The Company establishes limits for the minimal number of months into the future where the parent company can meet existing and forecasted obligations with cash and securities held that can be readily monetized. The Company measures and manages this limit in both normal and adverse conditions. The Company maintains sufficient funding to meet expected capital and debt service obligations for 24 months without the support of dividends from subsidiaries and
assuming access to the wholesale markets is maintained. The Company maintains sufficient liquidity to meet its capital and debt service obligations for 12 months under adverse conditions without the support of dividends from subsidiaries or access to the wholesale markets. The parent company is currently well in excess of required liquidity minimums.
At March 31, 2020, parent company long-term debt outstanding was $19.3 billion, compared with $18.6 billion at December 31, 2019. As of March 31, 2020, there was no parent company debt scheduled to mature in the remainder of 2020.
The Company is subject to a regulatory Liquidity Coverage Ratio (“LCR”) requirement which requires banks to maintain an adequate level of unencumbered high quality liquid assets to meet estimated liquidity needs over a
30-day
stressed period. At March 31, 2020, the Company was compliant with this requirement.
Refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Liquidity Risk Management” in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019, for further discussion on liquidity risk management.
The Company provides merchant processing and corporate trust services in Europe either directly or through banking affiliations in Europe. Revenue generated from sources in Europe represented approximately 2 percent of the Company’s total net revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Operating cash for these businesses is deposited on a short-term basis typically with certain European central banks. For deposits placed at other European banks, exposure is mitigated by the Company placing deposits at multiple banks and managing the amounts on deposit at any bank based on institution-specific deposit limits. At March 31, 2020, the Company had an aggregate amount on deposit with European banks of approximately $8.5 billion, predominately with the Central Bank of Ireland and Bank of England.
In addition, the Company provides financing to domestic multinational corporations that generate revenue from customers in European countries, transacts with various European banks as counterparties to certain derivative-related activities, and through a subsidiary, manages money market funds that hold certain investments in European sovereign debt. Any further deterioration in economic conditions in Europe, including the potential negative impact of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (“Brexit”), is not expected to have a significant effect on the Company related to these activities. The Company is focused on providing continuity of services, with minimal disruption resulting from Brexit, to customers with activities in European countries. The Company has made certain structural changes to its legal entities and operations in the United Kingdom and European Union, where needed, and migrated certain business activities to the appropriate jurisdictions to continue to provide such services and generate revenue.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
Off-balance
sheet arrangements include any contractual arrangements to which an unconsolidated entity is a party, under which the Company has an obligation to provide credit or liquidity enhancements or market risk support. In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into an array of commitments to extend credit, letters of credit and various forms of guarantees that may be considered
off-balance
sheet arrangements. Refer to Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on these arrangements. The Company does not utilize private label asset securitizations as a source of funding.
Off-balance
sheet arrangements also include any obligation related to a variable interest held in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, credit enhancement or market risk support. Refer to Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information related to the Company’s interests in variable interest entities.
The Company is committed to managing capital to maintain strong protection for depositors and creditors and for maximum shareholder benefit. The Company also manages its capital to exceed regulatory capital requirements for banking organizations. The regulatory capital requirements effective for the Company follow Basel III, with the Company being subject to calculating its capital adequacy as a percentage of risk-weighted assets under the standardized approach. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company elected to adopt an interim final rule issued in March 2020 by its regulators which permits banking organizations who adopt accounting guidance related to the impairment of financial instruments based on the current expected credit losses methodology during 2020, the option to defer the impact of the effect of that guidance at adoption plus 25 percent of its quarterly credit reserve
increases over the next two years on its regulatory capital requirements, followed by a three-year transition period to phase in the cumulative deferred impact. Table 10 provides a summary of statutory regulatory capital ratios in effect for the Company at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. All regulatory ratios exceeded regulatory “well-capitalized” requirements.
| | |
| | Regulatory Capital Ratios |
| | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in Millions) | | March 31, 2020 | | | December 31, 2019 | |
Basel III standardized approach: | | | | | | | | |
Common equity tier 1 capital | | $ | 36,224 | | | $ | 35,713 | |
| | | 42,651 | | | | 41,721 | |
| | | 51,277 | | | | 49,744 | |
| | | 404,627 | | | | 391,269 | |
| | |
Common equity tier 1 capital as a percent of risk-weighted assets | | | 9.0 | % | | | 9.1 | % |
Tier 1 capital as a percent of risk-weighted assets | | | 10.5 | | | | 10.7 | |
Total risk-based capital as a percent of risk-weighted assets | | | 12.7 | | | | 12.7 | |
Tier 1 capital as a percent of adjusted quarterly average assets (leverage ratio) | | | 8.8 | | | | 8.8 | |
Tier 1 capital as a percent of total on- and off-balance sheet leverage exposure (total leverage exposure ratio) | | | 7.1 | | | | 7.0 | |
The Company believes certain other capital ratios are useful in evaluating its capital adequacy. At March 31, 2020, the Company’s tangible common equity, as a percent of tangible assets and as a percent of risk-weighted assets determined in accordance with transitional regulatory capital requirements related to the current expected credit losses methodology under the standardized approach, was 6.7 percent and 8.9 percent, respectively. This compares to the Company’s tangible common equity, as a percent of tangible assets and as a percent of risk-weighted assets under the standardized approach, of 7.5 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively, at December 31, 2019. In addition, the Company’s common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio, reflecting the full implementation of the current expected credit losses methodology was 8.6 percent at March 31, 2020. Refer to
“Non-GAAP
Financial Measures” beginning on page 29 for further information on these other capital ratios.
Total U.S. Bancorp shareholders’ equity was $51.5 billion at March 31, 2020, compared with $51.9 billion at December 31, 2019. The decrease was primarily the result of a reduction to retained earnings resulting from the January 1, 2020 adoption of accounting guidance related to the impairment of financial instruments, common share repurchases and dividends, partially offset by changes in unrealized gains and losses on
investment securities included in other comprehensive income (loss) and corporate earnings.
During 2019, the Company announced its Board of Directors had approved authorizations to repurchase up to $5.5 billion of its common stock, from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The Company announced on March 15, 2020, that it will temporarily suspend its common stock repurchase program through the end of the second quarter of 2020, as it supports the efforts the federal government and its agencies are taking to moderate the impact of
COVID-19
on the economy and global markets by maintaining strong capital levels and liquidity to support customers, employees and shareholders. The Company continues to evaluate potential economic scenarios and believes that even if an economic downturn persisted through most of 2020, it would be able to maintain its common stock dividend at its current level.
The following table provides a detailed analysis of all shares purchased by the Company or any affiliated purchaser during the first quarter of 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Period | | Total Number of Shares Purchased | | | Average Price Paid Per Share | | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program (a) | | | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Program (In Millions) | |
| | | 12,018,538 | (b) | | $ | 54.30 | | | | 11,838,538 | | | $ | 1,762 | |
| | | 18,410,873 | (c) | | | 53.12 | | | | 18,260,873 | | | | 792 | |
| | | 1,249,363 | (d) | | | 42.04 | | | | 774,363 | | | | 756 | |
| | | 31,678,774 | (e) | | $ | 53.13 | | | | 30,873,774 | | | $ | 756 | |
(a) | All shares were purchased under the common stock repurchase authorization programs announced in 2019. |
(b) | Includes 180,000 shares of common stock purchased, at an average price per share of $55.00, in open-market transactions by U.S. Bank National Association, the Company’s banking subsidiary, in its capacity as trustee of the U.S. Bank 401(k) Savings Plan, which is the Company’s employee retirement savings plan. |
(c) | Includes 150,000 shares of common stock purchased, at an average price per share of $53.59, in open-market transactions by U.S. Bank National Association in its capacity as trustee of the U.S. Bank 401(k) Savings Plan. |
(d) | Includes 475,000 shares of common stock purchased, at an average price per share of $34.46, in open-market transactions by U.S. Bank National Association in its capacity as trustee of the U.S. Bank 401(k) Savings Plan. |
(e) | Includes 805,000 shares of common stock purchased, at an average price per share of $42.62, in open-market transactions by U.S. Bank National Association in its capacity as trustee of the U.S. Bank 401(k) Savings Plan. |
Refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Capital Management” in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019, for further discussion on capital management.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Three Months Ended March 31 | | 2020 | | | 2019 | | | Percent Change | | | | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | | | Percent Change | | | | |
Condensed Income Statement | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net interest income (taxable-equivalent basis) | | $ | 797 | | | $ | 778 | | | | 2.4 | % | | | | | | $ | 1,541 | | | $ | 1,581 | | | | (2.5 | )% | | | | |
| | | 274 | | | | 208 | | | | 31.7 | | | | | | | | 757 | | | | 535 | | | | 41.5 | | | | | |
Securities gains (losses), net | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | |
| | | 1,071 | | | | 986 | | | | 8.6 | | | | | | | | 2,298 | | | | 2,116 | | | | 8.6 | | | | | |
| | | 429 | | | | 420 | | | | 2.1 | | | | | | | | 1,344 | | | | 1,266 | | | | 6.2 | | | | | |
| | | – | | | | 1 | | | | * | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | 5 | | | | (20.0 | ) | | | | |
Total noninterest expense | | | 429 | | | | 421 | | | | 1.9 | | | | | | | | 1,348 | | | | 1,271 | | | | 6.1 | | | | | |
Income before provision and income taxes | | | 642 | | | | 565 | | | | 13.6 | | | | | | | | 950 | | | | 845 | | | | 12.4 | | | | | |
Provision for credit losses | | | 425 | | | | 23 | | | | * | | | | | | | | 123 | | | | 70 | | | | 75.7 | | | | | |
Income before income taxes | | | 217 | | | | 542 | | | | (60.0 | ) | | | | | | | 827 | | | | 775 | | | | 6.7 | | | | | |
Income taxes and taxable-equivalent adjustment | | | 54 | | | | 136 | | | | (60.3 | ) | | | | | | | 207 | | | | 194 | | | | 6.7 | | | | | |
| | | 163 | | | | 406 | | | | (59.9 | ) | | | | | | | 620 | | | | 581 | | | | 6.7 | | | | | |
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | |
Net income attributable to U.S. Bancorp | | $ | 163 | | | $ | 406 | | | | (59.9 | ) | | | | | | $ | 620 | | | $ | 581 | | | | 6.7 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 82,168 | | | $ | 78,118 | | | | 5.2 | % | | | | | | $ | 8,860 | | | $ | 9,452 | | | | (6.3 | )% | | | | |
| | | 21,218 | | | | 20,578 | | | | 3.1 | | | | | | | | 16,280 | | | | 16,035 | | | | 1.5 | | | | | |
| | | 3 | | | | 6 | | | | (50.0 | ) | | | | | | | 66,644 | | | | 61,906 | | | | 7.7 | | | | | |
| | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | |
| | | 8 | | | | – | | | | * | | | | | | | | 54,920 | | | | 54,402 | | | | 1.0 | | | | | |
| | | 103,397 | | | | 98,702 | | | | 4.8 | | | | | | | | 146,704 | | | | 141,795 | | | | 3.5 | | | | | |
| | | 1,647 | | | | 1,647 | | | | – | | | | | | | | 3,475 | | | | 3,475 | | | | – | | | | | |
| | | 7 | | | | 9 | | | | (22.2 | ) | | | | | | | 2,405 | | | | 2,882 | | | | (16.6 | ) | | | | |
| | | 115,404 | | | | 107,338 | | | | 7.5 | | | | | | | | 161,750 | | | | 154,720 | | | | 4.5 | | | | | |
Noninterest-bearing deposits | | | 29,329 | | | | 30,211 | | | | (2.9 | ) | | | | | | | 27,986 | | | | 26,574 | | | | 5.3 | | | | | |
| | | 14,073 | | | | 11,751 | | | | 19.8 | | | | | | | | 53,050 | | | | 51,121 | | | | 3.8 | | | | | |
| | | 48,204 | | | | 41,267 | | | | 16.8 | | | | | | | | 64,272 | | | | 61,382 | | | | 4.7 | | | | | |
| | | 18,427 | | | | 18,205 | | | | 1.2 | | | | | | | | 16,480 | | | | 14,800 | | | | 11.4 | | | | | |
| | | 110,033 | | | | 101,434 | | | | 8.5 | | | | | | | | 161,788 | | | | 153,877 | | | | 5.1 | | | | | |
Total U.S. Bancorp shareholders’ equity | | | 15,815 | | | | 15,346 | | | | 3.1 | | | | | | | | 14,929 | | | | 14,998 | | | | (.5 | ) | | | | |
LINE OF BUSINESS FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Company’s major lines of business are Corporate and Commercial Banking, Consumer and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Investment Services, Payment Services, and Treasury and Corporate Support. These operating segments are components of the Company about which financial information is prepared and is evaluated regularly by management in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance.
Basis for Financial Presentation
Business line results are derived from the Company’s business unit profitability reporting systems by specifically attributing managed balance sheet assets, deposits and other liabilities and their related income or expense. Refer to Note 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the business lines’ basis for financial presentation.
Designations, assignments and allocations change from time to time as management systems are enhanced, methods of evaluating performance or product lines change or business segments are realigned to better respond to the Company’s diverse customer base. During 2020, certain organization and methodology changes were made and, accordingly, 2019 results were restated and presented on a comparable basis.
Corporate and Commercial Banking
Corporate and Commercial Banking offers lending, equipment finance and small-ticket leasing, depository services, treasury management, capital markets services, international trade services and other financial services to middle market, large corporate, commercial real estate, financial institution,
non-profit
and public sector clients. Corporate and Commercial Banking contributed $163 million of the Company’s net income in the first quarter of 2020, or a decrease of $243 million (59.9 percent) compared with the first quarter of 2019.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 2020 | | | 2019 | | | Percent Change | | | | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | | | Percent Change | | | | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | | | Percent Change | | | | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | | | Percent Change | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | $ | 283 | | | $ | 293 | | | | (3.4 | )% | | | | | | $ | 652 | | | $ | 617 | | | | 5.7 | % | | | | | | $ | (26 | ) | | $ | 17 | | | | * | % | | | | | | $ | 3,247 | | | $ | 3,286 | | | | (1.2 | )% |
| | | | | 464 | | | | 430 | | | | 7.9 | | | | | | | | 794 | | | | 851 | | | | (6.7 | ) | | | | | | | 186 | | | | 262 | | | | (29.0 | ) | | | | | | | 2,475 | | | | 2,286 | | | | 8.3 | |
| | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | 50 | | | | 5 | | | | * | | | | | | | | 50 | | | | 5 | | | | * | |
| | | | | 747 | | | | 723 | | | | 3.3 | | | | | | | | 1,446 | | | | 1,468 | | | | (1.5 | ) | | | | | | | 210 | | | | 284 | | | | (26.1 | ) | | | | | | | 5,772 | | | | 5,577 | | | | 3.5 | |
| | | | | 444 | | | | 432 | | | | 2.8 | | | | | | | | 731 | | | | 722 | | | | 1.2 | | | | | | | | 326 | | | | 207 | | | | 57.5 | | | | | | | | 3,274 | | | | 3,047 | | | | 7.4 | |
| | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | – | | | | | | | | 35 | | | | 31 | | | | 12.9 | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | 42 | | | | 40 | | | | 5.0 | |
| | | | | 447 | | | | 435 | | | | 2.8 | | | | | | | | 766 | | | | 753 | | | | 1.7 | | | | | | | | 326 | | | | 207 | | | | 57.5 | | | | | | | | 3,316 | | | | 3,087 | | | | 7.4 | |
| | | | | 300 | | | | 288 | | | | 4.2 | | | | | | | | 680 | | | | 715 | | | | (4.9 | ) | | | | | | | (116 | ) | | | 77 | | | | * | | | | | | | | 2,456 | | | | 2,490 | | | | (1.4 | ) |
| | | | | 23 | | | | (3 | ) | | | * | | | | | | | | 262 | | | | 286 | | | | (8.4 | ) | | | | | | | 160 | | | | 1 | | | | * | | | | | | | | 993 | | | | 377 | | | | * | |
| | | | | 277 | | | | 291 | | | | (4.8 | ) | | | | | | | 418 | | | | 429 | | | | (2.6 | ) | | | | | | | (276 | ) | | | 76 | | | | * | | | | | | | | 1,463 | | | | 2,113 | | | | (30.8 | ) |
| | | | | 69 | | | | 73 | | | | (5.5 | ) | | | | | | | 105 | | | | 107 | | | | (1.9 | ) | | | | | | | (151 | ) | | | (105 | ) | | | (43.8 | ) | | | | | | | 284 | | | | 405 | | | | (29.9 | ) |
| | | | | 208 | | | | 218 | | | | (4.6 | ) | | | | | | | 313 | | | | 322 | | | | (2.8 | ) | | | | | | | (125 | ) | | | 181 | | | | * | | | | | | | | 1,179 | | | | 1,708 | | | | (31.0 | ) |
| | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | (8 | ) | | | (9 | ) | | | 11.1 | | | | | | | | (8 | ) | | | (9 | ) | | | 11.1 | |
| | | | $ | 208 | | | $ | 218 | | | | (4.6 | ) | | | | | | $ | 313 | | | $ | 322 | | | | (2.8 | ) | | | | | | $ | (133 | ) | | $ | 172 | | | | * | | | | | | | $ | 1,171 | | | $ | 1,699 | | | | (31.1 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | $ | 4,189 | | | $ | 3,921 | | | | 6.8 | % | | | | | | $ | 9,543 | | | $ | 9,441 | | | | 1.1 | % | | | | | | $ | 1,227 | | | $ | 1,028 | | | | 19.4 | % | | | | | | $ | 105,987 | | | $ | 101,960 | | | | 3.9 | % |
| | | | | 533 | | | | 504 | | | | 5.8 | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | 2,047 | | | | 2,353 | | | | (13.0 | ) | | | | | | | 40,078 | | | | 39,470 | | | | 1.5 | |
| | | | | 4,245 | | | | 3,670 | | | | 15.7 | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | 70,892 | | | | 65,582 | | | | 8.1 | |
| | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | 23,836 | | | | 22,597 | | | | 5.5 | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | 23,836 | | | | 22,597 | | | | 5.5 | |
| | | | | 1,627 | | | | 1,723 | | | | (5.6 | ) | | | | | | | 309 | | | | 376 | | | | (17.8 | ) | | | | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | 56,864 | | | | 56,501 | | | | .6 | |
| | | | | 10,594 | | | | 9,818 | | | | 7.9 | | | | | | | | 33,688 | | | | 32,414 | | | | 3.9 | | | | | | | | 3,274 | | | | 3,381 | | | | (3.2 | ) | | | | | | | 297,657 | | | | 286,110 | | | | 4.0 | |
| | | | | 1,617 | | | | 1,617 | | | | – | | | | | | | | 2,811 | | | | 2,814 | | | | (.1 | ) | | | | | | | 144 | | | | – | | | | * | | | | | | | | 9,694 | | | | 9,553 | | | | 1.5 | |
| | | | | 44 | | | | 54 | | | | (18.5 | ) | | | | | | | 535 | | | | 513 | | | | 4.3 | | | | | | | | 28 | | | | – | | | | * | | | | | | | | 3,019 | | | | 3,458 | | | | (12.7 | ) |
| | | | | 13,936 | | | | 13,183 | | | | 5.7 | | | | | | | | 38,562 | | | | 38,615 | | | | (.1 | ) | | | | | | | 165,155 | | | | 149,543 | | | | 10.4 | | | | | | | | 494,807 | | | | 463,399 | | | | 6.8 | |
| | | | | 13,184 | | | | 13,275 | | | | (.7 | ) | | | | | | | 1,402 | | | | 1,157 | | | | 21.2 | | | | | | | | 2,241 | | | | 2,216 | | | | 1.1 | | | | | | | | 74,142 | | | | 73,433 | | | | 1.0 | |
| | | | | 9,986 | | | | 9,204 | | | | 8.5 | | | | | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | | | | | 250 | | | | 101 | | | | * | | | | | | | | 77,359 | | | | 72,177 | | | | 7.2 | |
| | | | | 56,556 | | | | 41,127 | | | | 37.5 | | | | | | | | 112 | | | | 109 | | | | 2.8 | | | | | | | | 850 | | | | 763 | | | | 11.4 | | | | | | | | 169,994 | | | | 144,648 | | | | 17.5 | |
| | | | | 2,160 | | | | 3,804 | | | | (43.2 | ) | | | | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | | – | | | | | | | | 4,240 | | | | 8,297 | | | | (48.9 | ) | | | | | | | 41,309 | | | | 45,108 | | | | (8.4 | ) |
| | | | | 81,886 | | | | 67,410 | | | | 21.5 | | | | | | | | 1,516 | | | | 1,268 | | | | 19.6 | | | | | | | | 7,581 | | | | 11,377 | | | | (33.4 | ) | | | | | | | 362,804 | | | | 335,366 | | | | 8.2 | |
| | | | | 2,465 | | | | 2,442 | | | | .9 | | | | | | | | 6,081 | | | | 5,974 | | | | 1.8 | | | | | | | | 11,856 | | | | 12,829 | | | | (7.6 | ) | | | | | | | 51,146 | | | | 51,589 | | | | (.9 | ) |
Net revenue increased $85 million (8.6 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019. Net interest income, on a taxable-equivalent basis, increased $19 million (2.4 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019. The increase was primarily due to loan and interest-bearing deposit growth, partially offset by lower noninterest-bearing deposit balances compared with the prior year, changes in loan mix, and lower spreads on loans, reflecting changing interest rates and a competitive marketplace. Noninterest income increased $66 million (31.7 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to higher capital markets and trading revenue as companies
accessed the fixed income capital markets for bond issuances.
Noninterest expense increased $8 million (1.9 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, primarily driven by higher variable compensation related to fixed income capital markets business production and higher salary expense due to merit increases and one additional day in the quarter, partially offset by lower loan costs. The provision for credit losses increased $402 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to an unfavorable change in the reserve allocation based on economic risks related to
COVID-19
in the portfolio, partially offset by lower net charge-offs.
Consumer and Business Banking
Consumer and Business Banking delivers products and services through banking offices, telephone servicing and sales,
on-line
services, direct mail, ATM processing and mobile devices. It encompasses community banking, metropolitan banking and indirect lending, as well as mortgage banking. Consumer and Business Banking contributed $620 million of the Company’s net income in the first quarter of 2020, or an increase of $39 million (6.7 percent) compared with the first quarter of 2019.
Net revenue increased $182 million (8.6 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019. Net interest income, on a taxable-equivalent basis, decreased $40 million (2.5 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019. The decrease was primarily due to the impact of declining interest rates on the margin benefit from deposits, partially offset by growth in
non-interest
bearing and interest-bearing deposit balances as well as one additional day in the first quarter of 2020. Noninterest income increased $222 million (41.5 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to higher mortgage banking revenue driven by mortgage production and stronger gain on sale margins, partially offset by changes in the valuation of
MSRs, net of hedging activities.
Noninterest expense increased $77 million (6.1 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to higher net shared services expense, reflecting the impact of investment in infrastructure supporting business growth and costs to manage the business, higher variable compensation related to mortgage banking business production, and higher loan costs. The provision for credit losses increased $53 million (75.7 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, due to an unfavorable change in the reserve allocation and higher net charge-offs in line with portfolio growth.
Wealth Management and Investment Services
Wealth Management and Investment Services provides private banking, financial advisory services, investment management, retail brokerage services, insurance, trust, custody and fund servicing through four businesses: Wealth Management, Global Corporate Trust & Custody, U.S. Bancorp Asset Management and Fund Services. Wealth Management and Investment Services contributed $208 million of the Company’s net income in the first quarter of 2020, or a decrease of $10 million (4.6 percent) compared with the first quarter of 2019.
Net revenue increased $24 million (3.3 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019. Net interest income, on a taxable-equivalent basis, decreased $10 million (3.4 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to changes in funding mix, partially offset by the impact of higher interest-bearing deposit balances. Noninterest income increased $34 million (7.9 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to the impact of favorable market conditions over the past year and business growth on trust and investment management fees and investment product fees.
Noninterest expense increased $12 million (2.8 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, reflecting increased net shared services expense due to technology development and higher compensation expense due to the impact of merit increases, increased staffing, and one additional work day in the first quarter of 2020, partially offset by lower corporate plan incentives and a favorable litigation settlement in the first quarter of 2020. The provision for credit losses increased $26 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, reflecting an unfavorable change in the reserve allocation.
Payment Services includes consumer and business credit cards, stored-value cards, debit cards, corporate, government and purchasing card services, consumer lines of credit and merchant processing. Payment Services contributed $313 million of the Company’s net income in the first quarter of 2020, or a decrease of $9 million (2.8 percent) compared with the first quarter of 2019.
Net revenue decreased $22 million (1.5 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019. Net interest income, on a taxable-equivalent basis, increased $35 million (5.7 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to loan growth and higher loan fees as well as one additional day in the first quarter of 2020, partially offset by compression on loan rates. Noninterest income decreased $57 million (6.7 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, mainly due to the impacts of
COVID-19
on consumer and business spending volume in all payments businesses including merchant processing services and corporate payment products.
Noninterest expense increased $13 million (1.7 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, reflecting an increase in charge-back liabilities for undelivered products and services, including prepaid airline tickets, due to COVID-19 and higher software expense due to capital expenditures and acquisitions. These increases were partially offset by lower compensation expense, reflecting lower variable compensation, partially offset by merit increases, increased staffing, and one additional work day in the first quarter of 2020. The provision for credit losses decreased $24 million (8.4 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, reflecting a favorable change in the reserve allocation, partially offset by higher net charge-offs in line with loan growth.
Treasury and Corporate Support
Treasury and Corporate Support includes the Company’s investment portfolios, funding, capital management, interest rate risk management, income taxes not allocated to the business lines, including most investments in
tax-advantaged
projects, and the residual aggregate of those expenses associated with corporate activities that are managed on a consolidated basis. Treasury and Corporate Support recorded a net loss of $133 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared with net income of $172 million in the first quarter of 2019.
Net revenue decreased $74 million (26.1 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019. Net interest income, on a taxable-equivalent basis, decreased $43 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to changes in funding mix. Noninterest income decreased $31 million (11.6 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to lower equity investment income and higher credit valuation losses, partially offset by gains on the sale of certain businesses in the first quarter of 2020 and higher securities gains.
Noninterest expense increased $119 million (57.5 percent) in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, primarily due to COVID-related expenses, higher compensation expense, reflecting the impact of increased staffing, merit increases, and stock-based compensation, and higher implementation costs of capital investments to support business growth. These increases were partially offset by lower net shared services expense and lower costs related to
tax-advantaged
projects. The provision for credit losses was $159 million higher in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter of 2019, reflecting an unfavorable change in the reserve allocation due to credit risk in the current environment.
Income taxes are assessed to each line of business at a managerial tax rate of 25.0 percent with the residual tax expense or benefit to arrive at the consolidated effective tax rate included in Treasury and Corporate Support.
NON-GAAP
FINANCIAL MEASURES
In addition to capital ratios defined by banking regulators, the Company considers various other measures when evaluating capital utilization and adequacy, including:
• | | Tangible common equity to tangible assets, |
• | | Tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets, and |
• | | Common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, reflecting the full implementation of the current expected credit losses methodology. |
These capital measures are viewed by management as useful additional methods of evaluating the Company’s utilization of its capital held and the level of capital available to withstand unexpected negative market or economic conditions. Additionally, presentation of these measures allows investors, analysts and banking regulators to assess the Company’s capital position relative to other financial services companies. These capital measures are not defined in generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), or are not currently effective or defined in banking regulations. In addition, certain of these measures differ from currently effective capital ratios defined by banking regulations principally in that the currently effective ratios, which are subject to certain transitional provisions, temporarily exclude the impact of the first quarter of 2020 adoption of accounting guidance related to impairment of financial instruments based on the current expected credit losses methodology. As a result, these capital measures disclosed by the Company may be considered
non-GAAP
financial measures. Management believes this information helps investors assess trends in the Company’s capital adequacy.
The Company also discloses net interest income and related ratios and analysis on a taxable-equivalent basis, which may also be considered
non-GAAP
financial measures. The Company believes this presentation to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income as it provides a relevant comparison of net interest income arising from taxable and
tax-exempt
sources. In addition, certain performance measures, including the efficiency ratio and net interest margin utilize net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis.
There may be limits in the usefulness of these measures to investors. As a result, the Company encourages readers to consider the consolidated financial statements and other financial information contained in this report in their entirety, and not to rely on any single financial measure.
The following table shows the Company’s calculation of these
non-GAAP
financial measures:
| | | | | | | | |
(Dollars in Millions) | | March 31, 2020 | | | December 31, 2019 | |
| | $ | 52,162 | | | $ | 52,483 | |
| | | (5,984 | ) | | | (5,984 | ) |
| | | (630 | ) | | | (630 | ) |
Goodwill (net of deferred tax liability) (1) | | | (8,958 | ) | | | (8,788 | ) |
Intangible assets, other than mortgage servicing rights | | | (742 | ) | | | (677 | ) |
Tangible common equity (a) | | | 35,848 | | | | 36,404 | |
Common equity tier 1 capital, determined in accordance with transitional regulatory capital requirements related to the current expected credit losses methodology implementation | | | 36,224 | | | | | |
| | | (1,377 | ) | | | | |
Common equity tier 1 capital, reflecting the full implementation of the current expected credit losses methodology (b) | | | 34,847 | | | | | |
| | | 542,909 | | | | 495,426 | |
Goodwill (net of deferred tax liability) (1) | | | (8,958 | ) | | | (8,788 | ) |
Intangible assets, other than mortgage servicing rights | | | (742 | ) | | | (677 | ) |
| | | 533,209 | | | | 485,961 | |
Risk-weighted assets, determined in accordance with prescribed regulatory capital requirements effective for the Company (d) | | | 404,627 | | | | 391,269 | |
| | | (958 | ) | | | | |
Risk-weighted assets, reflecting the full implementation of the current expected credit losses methodology (e) | | | 403,669 | | | | | |
| | |
| | | | | | | | |
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (a)/(c) | | | 6.7 | % | | | 7.5 | % |
Tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets (a)/(d) | | | 8.9 | | | | 9.3 | |
Common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, reflecting the full implementation of the current expected credit losses methodology (b)/(e) | | | 8.6 | | | | | |
| |
| | Three Months Ended March 31 | |
| | 2020 | | | 2019 | |
| | $ | 3,223 | | | $ | 3,259 | |
Taxable-equivalent adjustment (4) | | | 24 | | | | 27 | |
Net interest income, on a taxable-equivalent basis | | | 3,247 | | | | 3,286 | |
| | |
Net interest income, on a taxable-equivalent basis (as calculated above) | | | 3,247 | | | | 3,286 | |
| | | 2,525 | | | | 2,291 | |
Less: Securities gains (losses), net | | | 50 | | | | 5 | |
Total net revenue, excluding net securities gains (losses) (f) | | | 5,722 | | | | 5,572 | |
| | |
| | | 3,316 | | | | 3,087 | |
| | |
| | | 58.0 | % | | | 55.4 | % |
(1) | Includes goodwill related to certain investments in unconsolidated financial institutions per prescribed regulatory requirements. |
(2) | Includes the estimated increase in the allowance for credit losses related to the adoption of the current expected credit losses methodology net of deferred taxes. |
(3) | Includes the impact of the estimated increase in the allowance for credit losses related to the adoption of the current expected credit losses methodology. |
(4) | Based on a federal income tax rate of 21 percent for those assets and liabilities whose income or expense is not included for federal income tax purposes. |
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accounting and reporting policies of the Company comply with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and conform to general practices within the banking industry. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions. The Company’s financial position and results of operations can be affected by these estimates and assumptions, which are integral to understanding the Company’s financial statements. Critical accounting policies are those policies management believes are the most important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results, and require management to make estimates that are difficult, subjective or complex. Most accounting policies are not considered by management to be critical accounting policies. Management has discussed the development and the selection of critical accounting policies with the Company’s Audit Committee. Those policies considered to be critical accounting policies relate to the allowance for credit losses, fair value estimates, MSRs, and income taxes.
Allowance for Credit Losses
Management’s evaluation of the appropriate allowance for credit losses is often the most critical of all the accounting estimates for a banking institution. It is an inherently subjective process impacted by many factors as discussed throughout the Management’s Discussion and Analysis section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Prior to January 1, 2020, the allowance for credit losses was established to provide for probable and estimable losses incurred in the Company’s credit portfolio. Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted new accounting guidance which changed previous impairment recognition to a model that is based
on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Refer to Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion on the effect of the adoption of this guidance on the Company’s financial statements.
The methods utilized to estimate the allowance for credit losses, key assumptions and quantitative and qualitative information considered by management in determining the appropriate allowance for credit losses at March 31, 2020 are discussed in the “Credit Risk Management” section. Although methodologies utilized to determine each element of the allowance reflect management’s assessment of credit risk as identified through assessments completed of individual credits and of homogenous pools affected by material credit events, degrees of imprecision exist in these measurement tools due in part to subjective judgments involved and an inherent lag in the data available to quantify current conditions and events that affect credit loss reserve estimates. As discussed in the “Analysis and Determination of Allowance for Credit Losses” section, management considered the effect of changes in economic conditions, risk management practices, and other factors that contributed to imprecision of loss estimates in determining the allowance for credit losses. If not considered, expected losses in the credit portfolio related to imprecision and other subjective factors could have a dramatic adverse impact on the liquidity and financial viability of a banking institution.
Given the many quantitative variables and subjective factors affecting the credit portfolio, changes in the allowance for credit losses may not directly coincide with changes in the risk ratings of the credit portfolio reflected in the risk rating process. This is in part due to the timing of the risk rating process in relation to changes in the business cycle, the exposure and mix of loans within risk rating categories, levels of nonperforming loans and the timing of charge-offs and expected recoveries. The allowance for credit losses on commercial lending segment loans measures the expected loss content on the remaining portfolio exposure, while nonperforming loans and net charge-offs are measures of specific impairment events that have already been confirmed. Therefore, the degree of change in the forward-looking expected loss in the commercial lending allowance may differ from the level of changes in nonperforming loans and net charge-offs. Management maintains an appropriate allowance for credit losses by updating allowance rates to reflect changes in expected losses, including expected changes in economic or business cycle conditions.
Some factors considered in determining the appropriate allowance for credit losses are more readily quantifiable while other factors require extensive qualitative judgment. Management conducts an analysis with respect to the accuracy of risk ratings and the volatility of expected losses, and utilizes this analysis along with qualitative factors that can affect the precision of credit loss estimates, including economic conditions, such as changes in
Gross Domestic Product, unemployment or bankruptcy rates, and concentration risks, such as risks associated with specific industries, collateral valuations, and loans to highly leveraged enterprises, in determining the overall level of the allowance for credit losses.
The Company considers a range of economic scenarios in its determination of the allowance for credit losses. These scenarios are constructed with interrelated projections of multiple economic variables, and loss estimates are produced that consider the historical correlation of those economic variables with credit losses, and also the expectation that conditions will eventually normalize over the longer run. Scenarios worse than the Company’s expected outcome at March 31, 2020 include risks that government stimulus in response to the
COVID-19
pandemic is less broad or less effective than expected, or that a longer or more severe health crisis prolongs the downturn in economic activity, reducing the number of businesses that are ultimately able to resume operations after the crisis has passed.
The Company’s determination of the allowance for commercial lending segment loans is sensitive to the assigned credit risk ratings and expected loss rates at March 31, 2020. If 20 percent of period ending loan balances (including unfunded commitments) within each risk category of risk rated commercial lending loans experienced a downgrade to the next worse risk category, the allowance for credit losses would have increased by approximately $206 million at March 31, 2020. If quantitative loss estimates for commercial lending segment loans increased by 10 percent, the allowance for credit losses would have increased by approximately $289 million at March 31, 2020. The Company believes the allowance for credit losses appropriately considers the imprecision in estimating credit losses based on credit risk ratings and credit loss model estimates, but actual losses may differ from those estimates.
The Company’s determination of the allowance for consumer lending segment loans is sensitive to changes in estimated loss rates and estimated impairments on restructured loans. In the event that estimated losses for this segment of the loan portfolio increased by 10 percent, the allowance for credit losses would have increased by approximately $266 million at March 31, 2020. Because several quantitative and qualitative factors are considered in determining the allowance for credit losses, these sensitivity analyses do not necessarily reflect the nature and extent of future changes in the allowance for credit
losses. They are intended to provide insights into the impact of adverse changes in risk rating and loss model estimates and do not imply any expectation of future deterioration in the risk rating or loss rates. Given current processes employed by the Company, management believes the risk ratings and loss model estimates currently assigned are appropriate. It is possible that others, given the same information, may at any point in time reach different reasonable conclusions that could be significant to the Company’s financial statements. Refer to the “Analysis and Determination of the Allowance for Credit Losses” section for further information.
Accounting policies related to fair value estimates, MSRs, and income taxes are discussed in detail in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Critical Accounting Policies” and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the Company has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Rules 13a-15(e)
and
15d-15(e)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Based upon this evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
During the most recently completed fiscal quarter, there was no change made in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules
13a-15(f)
and
15d-15(f)
under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Part II — Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
— See the information set forth in Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.
— There are a number of factors that may adversely affect the Company’s business, financial results or stock price. These risks are described elsewhere in this report or the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019. Additional risks that the Company currently does not know about or currently views as immaterial may also impair the Company’s business or adversely impact its financial results or stock price.
There are no material changes from the risk factors set forth under Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2019, other than the addition of the following risk factor:
The Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity, capital and results of operations have been, and will likely continue to be, adversely affected by the
COVID-19
pandemic
The
COVID-19
pandemic has created economic and financial disruptions that have adversely affected, and are likely to continue to adversely affect, the Company’s business, financial condition, capital, liquidity and results of operations. The Company cannot predict at this time the extent to which it will continue to be negatively affected by the
COVID-19
pandemic. The extent of any continued or future adverse effects of the
COVID-19
pandemic will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and outside the Company’s control, including the scope and duration of the pandemic, the direct and indirect impact of the pandemic on the Company’s employees, clients, counterparties and service providers, as well as other market participants, and actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic.
Many of the Company’s counterparties and third-party service providers have been, and may further be, affected by
orders, market volatility and other factors that increase their risks of business disruption or that may otherwise affect their ability to perform under the terms of any agreements with the Company or provide essential services. As a result, the Company’s operational and other risks are generally expected to increase until the pandemic subsides. In addition, the Company’s business operations may be disrupted if significant portions of its workforce are unable to work effectively, including because of illness, quarantines, government actions, or other restrictions in connection with the pandemic. The Company has already temporarily closed certain of its offices and reduced operating hours and/or lobby services at its branches. The Company may also face heightened cybersecurity, information security or other operational risks resulting from alternative working arrangements of its employees.
In response to the pandemic and to support its customers, the Company is offering fee waivers, payment deferrals and other expanded assistance to credit card, automobile, mortgage, small business and personal lending customers, including committing in certain states in which it operates, to suspend mortgage payments and foreclosure sales for financially impacted customers for certain periods of time. The Company anticipates that a significant number of its customers will seek to suspend their mortgage payments under these programs. Suspensions of mortgage payments and foreclosures and reduced pricing under these programs may adversely affect the Company’s revenue and results of operations. In addition, if these or other measures provided by the Company are not effective in mitigating the financial consequences of
COVID-19
on customers, including providing loans under various newly created government-sponsored lending programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program, the Company may experience higher rates of default and increased credit losses in future periods.
Certain industries where the Company has credit exposure, including the transportation industry, and in particular air travel, have experienced significant operational challenges as a result of
COVID-19.
These negative effects have resulted in a number of corporate lending clients making higher than usual draws on outstanding lines of credit, which may negatively affect the Company’s liquidity if current economic conditions persist. The economic effects of
COVID-19
may also cause the Company’s commercial customers to be unable to pay their loans as they come due or decrease the value of collateral, which the Company expects would cause significant increases in its credit losses. In addition, the Company could be exposed to further losses in its role as merchant processor of credit card transactions, as under the rules of credit card associations, a merchant processor retains a contingent liability for credit card transactions processed. In the event a merchant was unable to fulfill product or services subject to future delivery, such as airline tickets, the Company could become financially liable for refunding to the cardholders the purchase price of such products or services purchased through credit card associations, in the event the merchant was not able to do so.
Net interest income is significantly affected by market rates of interest. The significant reductions to the federal funds rate have led to a decrease in the rates and yields on U.S. Treasury securities, in some cases declining below zero. If interest rates are reduced further in response to
COVID-19,
the Company’s net interest income could continue to decline, perhaps significantly. The overall effect of lower interest rates cannot be predicted at this time and depends on future actions the Federal Reserve may take to increase or reduce the targeted federal funds rate in response to the
COVID-19
pandemic and resulting economic conditions.
The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides credit and debit card, corporate payments products and merchant processing services. Revenues from its payment services businesses depend on consumer and business credit card spending, including at many small and
medium-sized
businesses. Due to responses to
COVID-19,
including
orders that require businesses other than those defined as essential to close and for consumers to remain at home unless they are engaged in essential activities, consumer and business credit card spending has significantly declined. If these conditions persist, the Company expects to experience adverse effects on its payment services businesses. This negative effect could continue after the pandemic subsides if a substantial number of businesses were to close permanently as a result of
COVID-19’s
economic effects or if consumer and business spending were to remain depressed.
The effects of the
COVID-19
pandemic on economic and market conditions have increased demands on the Company’s liquidity as it meets its customers’ needs. In addition, these adverse developments may negatively affect its capital and leverage ratios. In March 2020, the Company announced that it was suspending stock repurchases through the second quarter of 2020 to preserve capital and liquidity in order to support customers, employees and shareholders. The
COVID-19
pandemic may cause the Company to further reduce capital distributions and/or extend the suspension of its share repurchase program, and although not currently contemplated, reduce or suspend its common stock dividend.
Governmental authorities worldwide have taken unprecedented measures to stabilize the markets and support economic growth. The success of these measures is unknown and they may not be sufficient to address the negative economic effects of
COVID-19
or avert severe and prolonged reductions in economic activity.
Other negative effects of
COVID-19
and the resulting economic and market disruptions, including customer disputes, litigation and governmental and regulatory scrutiny of response actions taken by the Company, that may impact the Company’s business, reputation, financial condition, liquidity, capital and results of operations cannot be predicted at this time. However, it is likely that the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity, capital and results of operations will continue to be adversely affected until the pandemic subsides and the domestic economy begins to recover. Further, the
COVID-19
pandemic may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form
10-K.
Until the pandemic subsides, the Company expects continued draws on lines of credit, reduced revenues from its lending businesses, increased credit losses in its lending portfolios and decreased revenue from its payments businesses. Even after the pandemic subsides, it is possible that the domestic and other major global economies continue to experience a prolonged recession, which the Company expects would adversely affect its business, financial condition, liquidity, capital and results of operations, potentially materially.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
— Refer to the “Capital Management” section within Management’s Discussion and Analysis in Part I, Item 2 of this Report for information regarding shares repurchased by the Company during the first quarter of 2020.