CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP INC/RI
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is the 14th largest retail bank holding company in the United States.(1) Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, we offer a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to more than five million individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Our products and services are offered through approximately 1,100 branches in 11 states in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions and approximately 135 retail and commercial non-branch offices, though certain lines of business serve national markets. At December 31, 2019, we had total assets of $165.7 billion, total deposits of $125.3 billion and total stockholders’ equity of $22.2 billion.
We are a bank holding company incorporated under Delaware state law in 1984 and whose primary federal regulator is the FRB. On January 2, 2019, we consolidated our banking subsidiaries via a merger of CBPA into CBNA in order to streamline governance and enterprise risk management, improve CBNA’s risk profile and gain operational efficiencies. CBNA is our primary subsidiary and sole banking subsidiary, whose primary federal regulator is the OCC.
Business Segments
We manage our business through two reportable business operating segments: Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. For additional information regarding our business segments see the “Business Operating Segments” section of Item 7 and Note 25 in Item 8. Our activities outside these segments are classified as “Other” and include treasury activities, wholesale funding activities, securities portfolio, community development assets and other unallocated assets, liabilities, capital, revenues, provision for credit losses and expenses, including income tax expense. The Other classification also includes the financial impact of non-core, liquidating loan portfolios and other non-core assets and liabilities. For a description of non-core assets see the “Allowance for Credit Losses and Nonperforming Assets” section of Item 7.
The following table presents selected financial information for our business operating segments, Other and consolidated:
Consumer Banking Segment
Consumer Banking serves retail customers and small businesses with annual revenues of up to $25 million, with products and services that include deposit products, mortgage and home equity lending, credit cards, business loans, wealth management and investment services largely across our 11-state traditional banking footprint. We also offer auto loans, education loans, unsecured loans and product financing in addition to select digital deposit products nationwide.
Consumer Banking operates a multi-channel distribution network with a workforce of approximately 5,700 branch colleagues, approximately 1,100 branches, including about 290 in-store locations, and approximately 2,700 ATMs. Our network includes approximately 1,325 specialists covering lending, savings and investment needs as well as a broad range of small business products and services. We serve customers on a national basis through telephone service centers as well as through our online and mobile platforms where we offer customers the convenience of depositing funds, paying bills and transferring money between accounts and from person to person, as well as a host of other everyday transactions.
(1) According to SNL Financial as of September 30, 2019. Based on subsequent peer merger activity.
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We believe our strong retail deposit market share in our core regions, which have relatively diverse economies and affluent demographics, is a competitive advantage. As of June 30, 2019, we ranked second by retail deposit market share in the New England region and ranked in the top five in nine of our ten principal MSAs.(1)
The following table presents information regarding our competitive position in our principal MSAs:
Source: FDIC, June 2019. Principal MSAs determined by total retail branch count. Deposits capped at $500 million per branch. Includes banks, savings banks and thrifts. Excludes “non-retail banks” as defined by SNL Financial. The scope of “non-retail banks” is subject to the discretion of SNL Financial, but typically includes: industrial bank and non-depository trust charters, institutions with more than 20% brokered deposits (of total deposits), institutions with more than 20% credit card loans (of total loans), institutions deemed not to broadly participate in the banking services market and other nonretail competitor banks. Due to deposit cap, Citizens Access® retail deposits excluded from MSA deposits statistics.
Commercial Banking Segment
Commercial Banking primarily serves companies and institutions with annual revenues of over $25 million to more than $3.0 billion and strives to be our clients’ trusted advisor and preferred provider for their banking needs. We offer a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndications, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities.
Commercial Banking is structured along business lines and product groups. The business lines, Corporate Banking and Commercial Real Estate, and the product groups, Corporate Finance & Capital Markets, and Treasury Solutions work in teams to understand client needs and provide comprehensive solutions to meet those needs. We acquire new clients through a coordinated approach to the market, leveraging deep industry knowledge in specialized banking groups and a geographic coverage model.
Corporate Banking serves middle market commercial and industrial clients with annual gross revenues of $25 million to $500 million, and mid-corporate clients with annual revenues of $500 million to more than $3.0 billion in the United States. In several areas, such as Healthcare, Technology, Aerospace and Defense, and Franchise Finance, we offer a more dedicated and tailored approach to better meet the unique needs of these client segments.
Commercial Real Estate provides customized debt capital solutions for middle market operators, institutional developers, investors, and REITs. Commercial Real Estate provides financing for projects primarily in the office, multi-family, industrial, retail, healthcare and hospitality sectors.
The Corporate Finance & Capital Markets serves clients through key product groups including Corporate Finance, Capital Markets, and Global Markets. Corporate Finance provides advisory services to middle market and mid-corporate clients, including mergers and acquisitions and capital structure advice. The team works closely with industry-sector specialists within debt capital markets to advise our clients. Corporate Finance also provides acquisition and follow-on financing for new and recapitalized portfolio companies of key sponsors, services meeting the unique and time-sensitive needs of private equity firms, management companies and funds, and underwriting and portfolio management expertise for leveraged transactions and relationships. Capital Markets originates, structures and underwrites multi-bank syndicated credit facilities targeting middle market, mid-corporate and private equity sponsors with a focus on offering value-added ideas to optimize their capital structures, including advising on and facilitating mergers and acquisitions, valuations, tender offers, financial restructurings, asset sales,
(1) According to SNL Financial.
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divestitures and other corporate reorganizations and business combinations. Global Markets provides foreign exchange, interest rate and commodities risk management services.
The Treasury Solutions product group supports Commercial Banking and certain small business clients with treasury management solutions, including domestic and international products and services related to receivables, payables, information reporting and liquidity management as well as commercial credit cards and trade finance.
Business Strategy
Our mission is to help each of our customers, colleagues and communities reach their potential, and our vision is to become a top-performing bank distinguished by our customer-centric culture, mindset of continuous improvement, and excellent capabilities. We strive to understand customers and targeted client needs, so we can tailor advice and solutions to help make them more successful. Our business strategy is designed to maximize the full potential of our businesses, drive sustainable growth, and enhance profitability. Our success rests on our ability to distinguish ourselves as follows:
Maintain a high-performing, customer-centric organization: To accomplish this, we continually strive to enhance our “customer-first” culture in order to deliver the best possible banking experience. Recently, we launched a new company-wide branding campaign ‘Made Ready,’ which is centered around our focus on delivering personalized and distinctive experiences. For colleagues, we are taking talent management to the next level, with a goal of attracting, developing and retaining great people, while ensuring strong leadership, teamwork, and a sense of empowerment, accountability and urgency.
Develop differentiated value propositions to acquire, deepen, and retain core customer segments: We have focused on certain customer segments where we believe we are well positioned to compete. In Consumer Banking, we focus on serving mass affluent and affluent customers, and small business customers. In Commercial Banking, we focus on serving customers in the middle market, mid-corporate, and certain industry vertical areas. By developing differentiated and targeted value propositions, we believe we can attract new customers, deepen relationships with existing customers, and deliver an enhanced customer experience.
Build excellent capabilities designed to help us stand out from competitors: Across our businesses we strive to deliver seamless, multi-channel experiences that allow customers to interact with us when, where and how they choose. We continue to build out enhanced data analytics and capabilities to provide timely, insight-driven, tailored advice in order to deliver solutions to consumer and business customers throughout their lifecycles. We are also focused on expanding our digital capabilities and related strategies in order to satisfy rapidly changing customer preferences.
Operate with financial discipline and a mindset of continuous improvement to self-fund investments: We believe that continued focus on operational efficiency is critical to future profitability and ability to continue to reinvest to drive future growth. We launched the first Tapping our Potential (“TOP”) initiative in 2014 and have launched additional programs in each subsequent year. The programs are designed to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and competitiveness of the franchise. In the second half of 2019, we launched the sixth TOP program, which is a multi-year program consisting of traditional TOP initiatives (similar in nature to prior programs), and a Transformation Program designed to redefine how we operate across the organization and deliver for customers and colleagues.
Prudently grow and optimize our balance sheet: We operate with a strong balance sheet with regard to capital, liquidity and funding, coupled with a well-defined and prudent risk appetite. We continue to focus on thoughtfully growing our balance sheet and strive to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns by actively managing capital and resource allocation decisions through balance sheet optimization initiatives. Our goal is to be good stewards of our resources, and we continue to rigorously evaluate our execution.
Modernize our technology and operational models to improve delivery, organizational agility and speed to market: We are continuing to modernize our technology and operating models to improve our speed-to-market, deliver innovative products and services, strengthen collaboration across teams, and meet financial objectives. We will also continue to engage in FinTech partnerships that help deliver differentiated value-added digital experiences for customers.
Embed risk management within our culture and operations: Given that the quality of our risk management program directly affects our ability to execute our strategy we continue to work to further strengthen our risk management culture. Moreover, we are committed to continuously enhancing our processes and talent, and to making improvements in the platform including ongoing investments in risk technology and frameworks. These actions are designed to support and bolster our risk management capabilities and regulatory profile.
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Competition
The financial services industry is highly competitive. Our branch footprint is in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions, though certain lines of business serve national markets. Within these markets we face competition from community banks, super-regional and national financial institutions, credit unions, savings and loan associations, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market funds, hedge funds and private equity firms. Some of our larger competitors may make available to their customers a broader array of products, pricing and structure alternatives while some smaller competitors may have more liberal lending policies and processes. Competition among providers of financial products and services continues to increase, with consumers having the opportunity to select from a growing variety of traditional and nontraditional alternatives. The ability of non-banking financial institutions, including FinTech companies, to provide services previously limited to commercial banks has also intensified competition.
In Consumer Banking, the industry has become increasingly dependent on and oriented toward technology-driven delivery systems, permitting transactions to be conducted through telephone, online and mobile channels. In addition, technology has lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for non-bank institutions to attract funds and provide lending and other financial products and services. The emergence of digital-only banking models has increased and we expect this trend to continue. Given their lower cost structure, these models are often, on average, able to offer higher rates on deposit products than retail banking institutions with a traditional branch footprint. The primary factors driving competition for loans and deposits are interest rates, fees charged, tailored value propositions to different customer segments, customer service levels, convenience, including branch locations and hours of operation, and the range of products and services offered.
In Commercial Banking, there is intense competition for quality loan originations from traditional banking institutions, particularly large regional banks, as well as commercial finance companies, leasing companies and other non-bank lenders, and institutional investors including CLO managers, hedge funds and private equity firms. Some larger competitors, including certain national banks that compete in our market area, may offer a broader array of products and due to their asset size, may sometimes be in a position to hold more exposure on their own balance sheet. We compete on a number of factors including providing innovative corporate finance solutions, quality of customer service and execution, range of products offered, price and reputation.
Regulation and Supervision
Our operations are subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination under federal and state laws and regulations. These laws and regulations cover all aspects of our business, including lending practices, deposit insurance, customer privacy and cybersecurity, capital adequacy and planning, liquidity, safety and soundness, consumer protection and disclosure, permissible activities and investments, and certain transactions with affiliates. These laws and regulations are intended primarily for the protection of depositors, the Deposit Insurance Fund and the banking system as a whole and not for the protection of shareholders or other investors. The discussion below outlines the material elements of selected laws and regulations applicable to us and our subsidiaries. Changes in applicable law or regulation, and in their interpretation and application by regulatory agencies and other governmental authorities, cannot be predicted, but may have a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We and our subsidiaries are subject to examinations by federal and state banking regulators, as well as the SEC, FINRA and various state insurance and securities regulators. In some cases, regulatory agencies may take supervisory actions that may not be publicly disclosed, and such actions may restrict or limit our activities or activities of our subsidiaries. As part of our regular examination process, regulators may advise us to operate under various restrictions as a prudential matter. We have periodically received requests for information from regulatory authorities at the federal and state level, including from banking, securities and insurance regulators, state attorneys general, federal agencies or law enforcement authorities, and other regulatory authorities, concerning our business practices. Such requests are considered incidental to the normal conduct of business. For a further discussion of how regulatory actions may impact our business, see
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
We are subject to a number of risks potentially impacting our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. As we are a financial services organization, certain elements of risk are inherent in our transactions and operations and are present in the business decisions we make. We, therefore, encounter risk as part of the normal course of our business and we design risk management processes to help manage these risks. Our success is dependent on our ability to identify, understand and manage the risks presented by our business activities so that we can appropriately balance revenue generation and profitability. These risks include, but are not limited to, credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, model risk, technology, regulatory and legal risk and strategic and reputational risk. We discuss our principal risk management processes and, in appropriate places, related historical performance in the “Risk Governance” section in Item 7.
You should carefully consider the following risk factors that may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Other factors that could affect our business, financial condition and results of operation are discussed in the “Forward-Looking Statements” section above. However, there may be additional risks that are not presently material or known, and factors besides those discussed below, or in this or other reports that we file or furnish with the SEC, that could also adversely affect us.
Risks Related to Our Business
We may not be able to successfully execute our business strategy.
Our business strategy is designed to maximize the full potential of our business and drive sustainable growth and enhanced profitability, and our success rests on our ability to maintain a high-performing, customer-centric organization; develop differentiated value propositions to acquire, deepen, and retain core customer segments;
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build excellent capabilities designed to help us stand out from our competitors; operate with financial discipline and a mindset of continuous improvement to self-fund investments; prudently grow and optimize our balance sheet; modernize our technology and operational models to improve delivery, organizational agility and speed to market; and embed risk management within our culture and our operations. Our future success and the value of our stock will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively implement our business strategy. There are risks and uncertainties, many of which are not within our control, associated with each element of our strategy. If we are not able to successfully execute our business strategy, we may never achieve our financial performance goals and any shortfall may be material. See the “Business Strategy” section in Item 1 for further information.
Supervisory requirements and expectations on us as a financial holding company and a bank holding company and any regulator-imposed limits on our activities could adversely affect our ability to implement our strategic plan, expand our business, continue to improve our financial performance and make capital distributions to our stockholders.
Our operations are subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination by the federal banking agencies (the FRB, the OCC and the FDIC), as well as the CFPB. As part of the supervisory and examination process, if we are unsuccessful in meeting the supervisory requirements and expectations that apply to us, regulatory agencies may from time to time take supervisory actions against us that may not be publicly disclosed. Such actions may include restrictions on our activities or the activities of our subsidiaries, informal (nonpublic) or formal (public) supervisory actions or public enforcement actions, including the payment of civil money penalties, which could increase our costs and limit our ability to implement our strategic plans and expand our business, and as a result could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. See the “Regulation and Supervision” section in Item 1 for further information.
Changes in interest rates may have an adverse effect on our profitability.
Net interest income historically has been, and we anticipate that it will remain, a significant component of our total revenue. This is due to the fact that a high percentage of our assets and liabilities have been and will likely continue to be in the form of interest-bearing or interest-related instruments. Changes in interest rates can have a material effect on many areas of our business, including net interest income, deposit costs, loan volume and delinquency, and the value of our mortgage servicing rights. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, including general economic conditions and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies and, in particular, the Federal Open Market Committee. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest we receive on loans and securities and the amount of interest we pay on deposits and borrowings, but such changes could also affect our ability to originate loans and obtain deposits and the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities. If the interest rates on our interest-bearing liabilities increase at a faster pace than the interest rates on our interest earning assets, our net interest income may decline and, with it, a decline in our earnings may occur. Our net interest income and our earnings would be similarly affected if the interest rates on our interest earning assets declined at a faster pace than the interest rates on our interest-bearing liabilities.
We cannot control or predict with certainty changes in interest rates. Global, national, regional and local economic conditions, competitive pressures and the policies of regulatory authorities, including monetary policies of the FRB, affect interest income and interest expense. Although we have policies and procedures designed to manage the risks associated with changes in market interest rates, as further discussed under the “Risk Governance” section in Item 7, changes in interest rates still may have an adverse effect on our profitability.
If our ongoing assumptions regarding borrower or depositor behavior or overall economic conditions are significantly different than we anticipate, then our risk mitigation may be insufficient to protect against interest rate risk and our net income would be adversely affected.
Changes in the method pursuant to which the LIBOR and other benchmark rates are calculated and their potential discontinuance could adversely impact our business operations and financial results.
Many of our lending products, securities, derivatives, and other financial transactions utilize a benchmark rate, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), to determine the applicable interest rate or payment amount. In July 2017, the Chief Executive of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced that the FCA intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. This announcement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. In late 2018,
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we formed a LIBOR Transition Program designed to guide the organization through the potential discontinuation of LIBOR.
The discontinuation of a benchmark rate, changes in a benchmark rate, or changes in market perceptions of the acceptability of a benchmark rate, including LIBOR, could, among other things, adversely affect the value of and return on certain of our financial instruments or products, result in changes to our risk exposures, or require renegotiation of previous transactions. In addition, any such discontinuation or changes, whether actual or anticipated, could result in market volatility, adverse tax or accounting effects, increased compliance, legal and operational costs, and risks associated with customer disclosures and contract negotiations. The transition to using a new rate could also expose us to risks associated with disputes with customers and other market participants in connection with interpreting and implementing LIBOR fallback provisions.
Various regulators, industry bodies and other market participants in the U.S. and other countries are engaged in initiatives to develop, introduce and encourage the use of alternative rates to replace certain benchmarks. Despite progress made to date by regulators and industry participants, such as us, to prepare for the anticipated discontinuation of LIBOR, significant uncertainties still remain. Such uncertainties relate to, for example, whether replacement benchmark rates may become accepted alternatives to LIBOR for different types of transactions and financial instruments, how the terms of any transaction or financial instrument may be adjusted to account for differences between LIBOR and any alternative rate selected, how any replacement would be implemented across the industry, and the effect any changes in industry views or movement to alternative benchmarks would have on the markets for LIBOR-linked financial instruments.
We could fail to attract, retain or motivate highly skilled and qualified personnel, including our senior management, other key employees or members of our Board, which could impair our ability to successfully execute our strategic plan and otherwise adversely affect our business.
A cornerstone of our strategic plan involves the hiring of highly skilled and qualified personnel. Accordingly, our ability to implement our strategic plan and our future success depends on our ability to attract, retain and motivate highly skilled and qualified personnel, including our senior management and other key employees and directors. The marketplace for skilled personnel is becoming more competitive, which means the cost of hiring, incentivizing and retaining skilled personnel may continue to increase. The failure to attract or retain, including as a result of an untimely death or illness of key personnel, or replace a sufficient number of appropriately skilled and key personnel could place us at a significant competitive disadvantage and prevent us from successfully implementing our strategy, which could impair our ability to implement our strategic plan successfully, achieve our performance targets and otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Limitations on the manner in which regulated financial institutions, such as us, can compensate their officers and employees, including those contained in pending rule proposals implementing requirements of Section 956 of the Dodd-Frank Act, may make it more difficult for such institutions to compete for talent with financial institutions and other companies not subject to these or similar limitations. If we are unable to compete effectively, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected, perhaps materially.
Our ability to meet our obligations, and the cost of funds to do so, depend on our ability to access identified sources of liquidity at a reasonable cost.
Liquidity risk is the risk that we will not be able to meet our obligations, including funding commitments, as they come due. This risk is inherent in our operations and can be heightened by a number of factors, including an over-reliance on a particular source of funding (including, for example, secured FHLB advances), changes in credit ratings or market-wide phenomena such as market dislocation and major disasters. Like many banking groups, our reliance on customer deposits to meet a considerable portion of our funding has grown over recent years, and we continue to seek to increase the proportion of our funding represented by customer deposits. However, these deposits are subject to fluctuation due to certain factors outside our control, such as increasing competitive pressures for retail or corporate customer deposits, changes in interest rates and returns on other investment classes, or a loss of confidence by customers in us or in the banking sector generally which could result in a significant outflow of deposits within a short period of time. To the extent there is heightened competition among U.S. banks for retail customer deposits, this competition may increase the cost of procuring new deposits and/or retaining existing deposits, and otherwise negatively affect our ability to grow our deposit base. An inability to grow, or any material decrease in, our deposits could have a material adverse effect on our ability to satisfy our liquidity needs.
Maintaining a diverse and appropriate funding strategy for our assets consistent with our wider strategic risk appetite and plan remains challenging, and any tightening of credit markets could have a material adverse
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impact on us. In particular, there is a risk that corporate and financial institution counterparties may seek to reduce their credit exposures to banks and other financial institutions (for example, reductions in unsecured deposits supplied by these counterparties), which may cause funding from these sources to no longer be available. Under these circumstances, we may need to seek funds from alternative sources, potentially at higher costs than has previously been the case, or may be required to consider disposals of other assets not previously identified for disposal, in order to reduce our funding commitments.
A reduction in our credit ratings, which are based on a number of factors, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Credit ratings affect the cost and other terms upon which we are able to obtain funding. Rating agencies regularly evaluate us, and their ratings are based on a number of factors, including our financial strength. Other factors considered by rating agencies include conditions affecting the financial services industry generally. Any downgrade in our ratings would likely increase our borrowing costs, could limit our access to capital markets, and otherwise adversely affect our business. For example, a ratings downgrade could adversely affect our ability to sell or market certain of our securities, including long-term debt, engage in certain longer-term derivatives transactions and retain our customers, particularly corporate customers who may require a minimum rating threshold in order to place funds with us. In addition, under the terms of certain of our derivatives contracts, we may be required to maintain a minimum credit rating or have to post additional collateral or terminate such contracts. Any of these results of a rating downgrade could increase our cost of funding, reduce our liquidity and have adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our financial performance may be adversely affected by deterioration in borrower credit quality, particularly in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions, where our operations are concentrated.
We have exposure to many different industries and risks arising from actual or perceived changes in credit quality and uncertainty over the recoverability of amounts due from borrowers is inherent in our businesses. Our exposure may be exacerbated by the geographic concentration of our operations, which are predominately located in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. The credit quality of our borrowers may deteriorate for a number of reasons that are outside our control, including as a result of prevailing economic and market conditions and asset valuation. The trends and risks affecting borrower credit quality, particularly in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions, have caused, and in the future may cause, us to experience impairment charges, increased repurchase demands, higher costs, additional write-downs and losses and an inability to engage in routine funding transactions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our framework for managing risks may not be effective in mitigating risk and loss.
Our risk management framework is made up of various processes and strategies to manage our risk exposure. The framework to manage risk, including the framework’s underlying assumptions, may not be effective under all conditions and circumstances. If the risk management framework proves ineffective, we could suffer unexpected losses and could be materially adversely affected.
One of the main types of risks inherent in our business is credit risk. An important feature of our credit risk management system is to employ an internal credit risk control system through which we identify, measure, monitor and mitigate existing and emerging credit risk of our customers. As this process involves detailed analyses of the customer or credit risk, taking into account both quantitative and qualitative factors, it is subject to human error. In exercising their judgment, our employees may not always be able to assign an accurate credit rating to a customer or credit risk, which may result in our exposure to higher credit risks than indicated by our risk rating system.
In addition, we have undertaken certain actions to enhance our credit policies and guidelines to address potential risks associated with particular industries or types of customers, as discussed in more detail under the “Risk Governance” and “Market Risk” sections in Item 7. However, we may not be able to effectively implement these initiatives, or consistently follow and refine our credit risk management system. If any of the foregoing were to occur, it may result in an increase in the level of nonperforming loans and a higher risk exposure for us, which could have a material adverse effect on us.
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Changes in our accounting policies or in accounting standards could materially affect how we report our financial results and condition.
From time to time, the FASB and SEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. These changes can be operationally complex to implement and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. For example, in June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“CECL”), that, effective January 1, 2020, substantially changed the accounting for credit losses on loans and other financial assets held by banks, financial institutions and other organizations. The standard replaces existing incurred loss impairment guidance and establishes a single allowance framework for financial assets carried at amortized cost. Upon adoption of CECL, companies must recognize credit losses on these assets equal to management’s estimate of credit losses over the full remaining expected life. Companies must consider all relevant information when estimating expected credit losses, including details about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. In December 2018, the Federal Reserve, OCC and FDIC released a final rule to revise their regulatory capital rules to address this upcoming change to the treatment of credit expense and allowances. The final rule provides an optional three-year phase-in period for the day-one adverse regulatory capital effects upon adopting the standard. We adopted the standard on January 1, 2020, and elected to phase in the impact of the standard over a three-year period. The standard could introduce heightened volatility in provision for credit losses, given uncertainty in the accuracy of macroeconomic forecasts over longer time horizons, variances in the rate and composition of loan growth, changes in overall loan portfolio size and mix. As a result, following adoption, it is possible that our ongoing reported earnings and lending activity could be negatively impacted. For more information regarding CECL, see Note 1 in Item 8.
Our financial and accounting estimates and risk management framework rely on analytical forecasting and models.
The processes we use to estimate our inherent loan losses and to measure the fair value of financial instruments, as well as the processes used to estimate the effects of changing interest rates and other market measures on our financial condition and results of operations, depends upon the use of analytical and forecasting models. Some of our tools and metrics for managing risk are based upon our use of observed historical market behavior. We rely on quantitative models to measure risks and to estimate certain financial values. Models may be used in such processes as determining the pricing of various products, grading loans and extending credit, measuring interest rate and other market risks, predicting losses, assessing capital adequacy and calculating regulatory capital levels, as well as estimating the value of financial instruments and balance sheet items. Poorly designed or implemented models present the risk that our business decisions based on information incorporating such models will be adversely affected due to the inadequacy of that information. Moreover, our models may fail to predict future risk exposures if the information used in the model is incorrect, obsolete or not sufficiently comparable to actual events as they occur. We seek to incorporate appropriate historical data in our models, but the range of market values and behaviors reflected in any period of historical data is not at all times predictive of future developments in any particular period and the period of data we incorporate into our models may turn out to be inappropriate for the future period being modeled. In such case, our ability to manage risk would be limited and our risk exposure and losses could be significantly greater than our models indicated. In addition, if existing or potential customers believe our risk management is inadequate, they could take their business elsewhere. This could harm our reputation as well as our revenues and profits. Finally, information we provide to our regulators based on poorly designed or implemented models could also be inaccurate or misleading. Some of the decisions that our regulators make, including those related to capital distributions to our stockholders, could be affected adversely due to their perception that the quality of the models used to generate the relevant information is insufficient.
The preparation of our financial statements requires the use of estimates that may vary from actual results. Particularly, various factors may cause our ALLL to increase.
The preparation of audited Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make significant estimates that affect the financial statements. Our most critical accounting estimate is the ALLL. The ALLL is a reserve established through a provision for loan and lease losses charged to expense and represents our estimate of incurred but unrealized losses within the existing portfolio of loans. The ALLL is necessary to reserve for estimated loan and lease losses and risks inherent in the loan portfolio. The level of the ALLL reflects our ongoing evaluation of industry concentrations, specific credit risks, loan and lease loss experience, current loan portfolio quality, present economic, political and regulatory conditions and incurred losses inherent in the current loan portfolio.
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The determination of the appropriate level of the ALLL inherently involves a degree of subjectivity and requires that we make significant estimates of current credit risks and future trends, all of which may undergo material changes. Changes in economic conditions affecting borrowers, the stagnation of certain economic indicators that we are more susceptible to, such as unemployment and real estate values, new information regarding existing loans, identification of additional problem loans and other factors, both within and outside our control, may require an increase in the ALLL. In addition, bank regulatory agencies periodically review our ALLL and may require an increase in the ALLL or the recognition of further loan charge-offs, based on judgments that can differ from those of our own management. In addition, if charge-offs in future periods exceed the ALLL-that is, if the ALLL is inadequate-we will need additional loan and lease loss provisions to increase the ALLL. Should such additional provisions become necessary, they would result in a decrease in net income and capital and may have a material adverse effect on us. For more information regarding our use of estimates in preparation of financial statements, see Note 1 in Item 8 and the “Critical Accounting Estimates” section in Item 7.
Operational risks are inherent in our businesses.
Our operations depend on our ability to process a very large number of transactions efficiently and accurately while complying with applicable laws and regulations. Operational risk and losses can result from internal and external fraud; improper conduct or errors by employees or third parties; failure to document transactions properly or to obtain proper authorization; failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements and conduct of business rules; equipment failures, including those caused by natural disasters or by electrical, telecommunications or other essential utility outages; business continuity and data security system failures, including those caused by computer viruses, cyber-attacks or unforeseen problems encountered while implementing major new computer systems or upgrades to existing systems; or the inadequacy or failure of systems and controls, including those of our suppliers or counterparties. Although we have implemented risk controls and loss mitigation actions, and substantial resources are devoted to developing efficient procedures, identifying and rectifying weaknesses in existing procedures and training staff, it is not possible to be certain that such actions have been or will be effective in controlling each of the operational risks faced by us. Any weakness in these systems or controls, or any breaches or alleged breaches of such laws or regulations, could result in increased regulatory supervision, enforcement actions and other disciplinary action, and have an adverse impact on our business, applicable authorizations and licenses, reputation and results of operations.
The financial services industry, including the banking sector, is undergoing rapid technological changes as a result of competition and changes in the legal and regulatory framework, and we may not be able to compete effectively as a result of these changes.
The financial services industry, including the banking sector, is continually undergoing rapid technological change with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. In addition, new, unexpected technological changes could have a disruptive effect on the way banks offer products and services. We believe our success depends, to a great extent, on our ability to address customer needs by using technology to offer products and services that provide convenience to customers and to create additional efficiencies in our operations. However, we may not be able to, among other things, keep up with the rapid pace of technological changes, effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers. As a result, our ability to compete effectively to attract or retain new business may be impaired, and our business, financial condition or results of operations may be adversely affected.
In addition, changes in the legal and regulatory framework under which we operate require us to update our information systems to ensure compliance. Our need to review and evaluate the impact of ongoing rule proposals, final rules and implementation guidance from regulators further complicates the development and implementation of new information systems for our business. Also, recent regulatory guidance has focused on the need for financial institutions to perform increased due diligence and ongoing monitoring of third-party vendor relationships, thus increasing the scope of management involvement and decreasing the efficiency otherwise resulting from our relationships with third-party technology providers. Given the significant number of ongoing regulatory reform initiatives, it is possible that we incur higher than expected information technology costs in order to comply with current and impending regulations. See “-Supervisory requirements and expectations on us as a financial holding company and a bank holding company and any regulator-imposed limits on our activities could adversely affect our ability to implement our strategic plan, expand our business, continue to improve our financial performance and make capital distributions to our stockholders.”
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We are subject to a variety of cybersecurity risks that, if realized, could adversely affect how we conduct our business.
Information security risks for large financial institutions such as us have increased significantly in recent years in part because of the proliferation of new technologies, such as Internet and mobile banking to conduct financial transactions, and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, hackers, terrorists, nation-states, activists and other external parties. Third parties with whom we or our customers do business also present operational and information security risks to us, including security breaches or failures of their own systems. The possibility of employee error, failure to follow security procedures, or malfeasance also presents these risks. Our operations rely on the secure processing, transmission and storage of confidential information in our computer systems and networks. In addition, to access our products and services, our customers may use personal computers, smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices that are beyond our control environment. Although we believe that we have appropriate information security procedures and controls, our technologies, systems, networks and our customers’ devices may be the target of cyber-attacks or information security breaches that could result in the unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, misuse, loss or destruction of the confidential, and/or proprietary information of CFG, our customers, our vendors, our counterparties, or our employees. We are under continuous threat of loss due to cyber-attacks, especially as we continue to expand customer capabilities to utilize the Internet and other remote channels to transact business. Two of the most significant cyber-attack risks that we face are e-fraud and loss of sensitive customer data. Loss from e-fraud occurs when cybercriminals extract funds directly from customers’ or our accounts using fraudulent schemes that may include Internet-based funds transfers. We have been subject to a number of e-fraud incidents historically. We have also been subject to attempts to steal sensitive customer data, such as account numbers and social security numbers, through unauthorized access to our computer systems including computer hacking. Such attacks are less frequent but could present significant reputational, legal and regulatory costs to us if successful. We have implemented certain technology protections such as Customer Profiling and Set-Up Authentication to be in compliance with the FFIEC Authentication in Internet Banking Environment (“AIBE”) guidelines.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our layers of defense or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities. System enhancements and updates may also create risks associated with implementing new systems and integrating them with existing ones. Due to the complexity and interconnectedness of information technology systems, the process of enhancing our layers of defense can itself create a risk of systems disruptions and security issues. In addition, addressing certain information security vulnerabilities, such as hardware-based vulnerabilities, may affect the performance of our information technology systems. The ability of our hardware and software providers to deliver patches and updates to mitigate vulnerabilities in a timely manner can introduce additional risks, particularly when a vulnerability is being actively exploited by threat actors.
Despite our efforts to prevent a cyber-attack, a successful cyber-attack could persist for an extended period of time before being detected, and, following detection, it could take considerable time for us to obtain full and reliable information about the cybersecurity incident and the extent, amount and type of information compromised. During the course of an investigation, we may not necessarily know the full effects of the incident or how to remediate it, and actions and decisions that are taken or made in an effort to mitigate risk may further increase the costs and other negative consequences of the incident.
The techniques used by cyber criminals change frequently, may not be recognized until launched and can be initiated from a variety of sources, including terrorist organizations and hostile foreign governments. These actors may attempt to fraudulently induce employees, customers or other users of our systems to disclose sensitive information in order to gain access to data or our systems. In the event that a cyber-attack is successful, our business, financial condition or results of operations may be adversely affected. For a discussion of the guidance that federal banking regulators have released regarding cybersecurity and cyber risk management standards, see the “Regulation and Supervision” section of Item 1.
We rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our business.
We rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our business. Any failure, interruption or breach in security of these systems, including due to hacking or other similar attempts to breach information technology security protocols, could result in failures or disruptions in our customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, loan and other systems. Although we have established policies and procedures designed to prevent or limit the effect of the possible failure, interruption or security breach of our information systems, there can be no assurance that these policies and procedures will be successful and that any such failure, interruption or
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security breach will not occur or, if they do occur, that they will be adequately addressed. The occurrence of any failure, interruption or security breach of our information systems could require us to devote substantial resources (including management time and attention) to recovery and response efforts, damage our reputation, result in a loss of customer business, subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny, or expose us to civil litigation and possible financial liability. Although we maintain insurance coverage for information security events, we may incur losses as a result of such events that are not insured against or not fully covered by our insurance.
We rely on third parties for the performance of a significant portion of our information technology.
We rely on third parties for the performance of a significant portion of our information technology functions and the provision of information technology and business process services. For example, (i) unaffiliated third parties operate data communications networks on which certain components and services relating to our online banking system rely, (ii) third parties host or maintain many of our applications, including our Commercial Loan System, which is hosted and maintained by Automated Financial Systems, Inc., (iii) Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. maintains our core deposits system, and (iv) IBM Corporation provides us with a wide range of information technology support services, including end user, data center, mainframe, storage and database services. The success of our business depends in part on the continuing ability of these (and other) third parties to perform these functions and services in a timely and satisfactory manner, which performance could be disrupted or otherwise adversely affected due to failures or other information security events originating at the third parties or at the third parties’ suppliers or vendors (so-called “fourth party risk”). We may not be able to effectively monitor or mitigate fourth-party risk, in particular as it relates to the use of common suppliers or vendors by the third parties that perform functions and services for us. If we experience a disruption in the provision of any functions or services performed by third parties, we may have difficulty in finding alternate providers on terms favorable to us and in reasonable time frames. If these services are not performed in a satisfactory manner, we would not be able to serve our customers well. In either situation, our business could incur significant costs and be adversely affected.
We are exposed to reputational risk and the risk of damage to our brands and the brands of our affiliates.
Our success and results depend, in part, on our reputation and the strength of our brands. We are vulnerable to adverse market perception as we operate in an industry where integrity, customer trust and confidence are paramount. We are exposed to the risk that litigation, employee misconduct, operational failures, the outcome of regulatory or other investigations or actions, press speculation and negative publicity, among other factors, could damage our brands or reputation. Our brands and reputation could also be harmed if we sell products or services that do not perform as expected or customers’ expectations for the product are not satisfied.
We may be adversely affected by unpredictable catastrophic events or terrorist attacks and our business continuity and disaster recovery plans may not adequately protect us from serious disaster.
The occurrence of catastrophic events such as hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes and other large-scale catastrophes and terrorist attacks could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations if a catastrophe rendered both our production data center in Rhode Island and our recovery data center in North Carolina unusable. Although we enhanced our disaster recovery capabilities in 2016 through the completion of the new, out-of-region backup data center in North Carolina, there can be no assurance that our current disaster recovery plans and capabilities will adequately protect us from serious disaster.
Risks Related to Our Industry
Any deterioration in national economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business is affected by national economic conditions, as well as perceptions of those conditions and future economic prospects. Changes in such economic conditions are not predictable and cannot be controlled. Adverse economic conditions could require us to charge off a higher percentage of loans and increase the provision for credit losses, which would reduce our net income and otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, our business was significantly affected by the global economic and financial crisis that began in 2008. The falling home prices, increased rate of foreclosure and high levels of unemployment in the United States triggered significant write-downs by us and other financial institutions. These write-downs adversely impacted our financial results in material respects. Although the U.S. economy has
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made a significant recovery, an interruption or reversal of this recovery would adversely affect the financial services industry and banking sector.
We operate in an industry that is highly competitive, which could result in losing business or margin declines and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We operate in a highly competitive industry. The industry could become even more competitive as a result of reform of the financial services industry resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act and other legislative, regulatory and technological changes, as well as continued consolidation. We face aggressive competition from other domestic and foreign lending institutions and from numerous other providers of financial services, including non-banking financial institutions that are not subject to the same regulatory restrictions as banks and bank holding companies, securities firms and insurance companies, and competitors that may have greater financial resources.
With respect to non-banking financial institutions, technology and other changes have lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for non-banks to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks. For example, consumers can maintain funds that would have historically been held as bank deposits in brokerage accounts or mutual funds. Consumers can also complete transactions such as paying bills and/or transferring funds directly without the assistance of banks. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries, known as “disintermediation,” could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. Some of our non-bank competitors are not subject to the same extensive regulations we are and, therefore, may have greater flexibility in competing for business. As a result of these and other sources of competition, we could lose business to competitors or be forced to price products and services on less advantageous terms to retain or attract clients, either of which would adversely affect our profitability.
The conditions of other financial institutions or of the financial services industry could adversely affect our operations and financial conditions.
Financial services institutions are typically interconnected as a result of trading, investment, liquidity management, clearing, counterparty and other relationships. Within the financial services industry, the default by any one institution could lead to defaults by other institutions. Concerns about, or a default by, one institution could lead to significant liquidity problems and losses or defaults by other institutions, as the commercial and financial soundness of many financial institutions are closely related as a result of these credit, trading, clearing and other relationships. Even the perceived lack of creditworthiness of, or questions about, a counterparty may lead to market-wide liquidity problems and losses or defaults by various institutions. This systemic risk may adversely affect financial intermediaries, such as clearing agencies, banks and exchanges with which we interact on a daily basis, or key funding providers such as the FHLBs, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our access to liquidity or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Regulations Governing Our Industry
As a financial holding company and a bank holding company, we are subject to comprehensive regulation that could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
As a financial holding company and a bank holding company, we are subject to comprehensive regulation, supervision and examination by the FRB. In addition, CBNA is subject to comprehensive regulation, supervision and examination by the OCC. Our regulators supervise us through regular examinations and other means that allow the regulators to gauge management’s ability to identify, assess and control risk in all areas of operations in a safe and sound manner and to ensure compliance with laws and regulations. In the course of their supervision and examinations, our regulators may require improvements in various areas. If we are unable to implement and maintain any required actions in a timely and effective manner, we could become subject to informal (non-public) or formal (public) supervisory actions and public enforcement orders that could lead to significant restrictions on our existing business or on our ability to engage in any new business. Such forms of supervisory action could include, without limitation, written agreements, cease and desist orders, and consent orders and may, among other things, result in restrictions on our ability to pay dividends, requirements to increase capital, restrictions on our activities, the imposition of civil monetary penalties, and enforcement of such actions through injunctions or restraining orders. We could also be required to dispose of certain assets and liabilities within a prescribed period. The terms of any such supervisory or enforcement action could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We are a bank holding company that has elected to become a financial holding company pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act. Financial holding companies are allowed to engage in certain financial activities in which a bank holding company is not otherwise permitted to engage. However, to maintain financial holding company status, a bank holding company (and all of its depository institution subsidiaries) must be “well capitalized” and “well managed.” If a bank holding company ceases to meet these capital and management requirements, there are many penalties it would be faced with, including the FRB may impose limitations or conditions on the conduct of its activities, and it may not undertake any of the broader financial activities permissible for financial holding companies or acquire a company engaged in such financial activities without prior approval of the FRB. If a company does not return to compliance within 180 days, which period may be extended, the FRB may require divestiture of that company’s depository institutions. To the extent we do not meet the requirements to be a financial holding company in the future, there could be a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be unable to disclose some restrictions or limitations on our operations imposed by our regulators.
From time to time, bank regulatory agencies take supervisory actions that restrict or limit a financial institution’s activities and lead it to raise capital or subject it to other requirements. Directives issued to enforce such actions may be confidential and thus, in some instances, we are not permitted to publicly disclose these actions. In addition, as part of our regular examination process, our regulators may advise us to operate under various restrictions as a prudential matter. Any such actions or restrictions, if and in whatever manner imposed, could adversely affect our costs and revenues. Moreover, efforts to comply with any such nonpublic supervisory actions or restrictions may require material investments in additional resources and systems, as well as a significant commitment of managerial time and attention. As a result, such supervisory actions or restrictions, if and in whatever manner imposed, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations; and, in certain instances, we may not be able to publicly disclose these matters.
The regulatory environment in which we operate continues to be subject to significant and evolving regulatory requirements that could have a material adverse effect on our business and earnings.
We are heavily regulated by multiple banking, consumer protection, securities and other regulatory authorities at the federal and state levels. This regulatory oversight is primarily established to protect depositors, the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund, consumers of financial products, and the financial system as a whole, not our security holders. Changes to statutes, regulations, rules or policies, including the interpretation, implementation or enforcement of statutes, regulations, rules or policies, could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways, including by, for example, subjecting us to additional costs, limiting the types of financial services and other products we may offer, limiting our ability to pursue acquisitions and increasing the ability of third parties, including non-banks, to offer competing financial services and products. In recent years, we, together with the rest of the financial services industry, have faced particularly intense scrutiny, with many new regulatory initiatives and vigorous oversight and enforcement on the part of numerous regulatory and governmental authorities. Legislatures and regulators have pursued a broad array of initiatives intended to promote the safety and soundness of financial institutions, financial market stability, the transparency and liquidity of financial markets, and consumer and investor protection. Certain regulators and law enforcement authorities have also recently required admissions of wrongdoing and, in some cases, criminal pleas as part of the resolutions of matters brought by them against financial institutions. Any such resolution of a matter involving us could lead to increased exposure to civil litigation, could adversely affect our reputation, could result in penalties or limitations on our ability to do business or engage in certain activities and could have other negative effects. In addition, a single event or issue may give rise to numerous and overlapping investigations and proceedings, including by multiple federal and state regulators and other governmental authorities.
We are also subject to laws and regulations relating to the privacy of the information of our customers, employees, counterparties and others, and any failure to comply with these laws and regulations could expose us to liability and/or reputational damage. As new privacy-related laws and regulations are implemented, the time and resources needed for us to comply with those laws and regulations, as well as our potential liability for non-compliance and our reporting obligations in the case of data breaches, may significantly increase.
While there have been significant revisions to the laws and regulations applicable to us that have been finalized in recent months, there are other rules to implement changes that have yet to be proposed or enacted by our regulators. The final timing, scope and impact of these changes to the regulatory framework applicable to financial institutions remains uncertain. For more information on the regulations to which we are subject and
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recent initiatives to reform financial institution regulation, see the “Regulation and Supervision” section in Item 1.
We are subject to capital adequacy and liquidity standards, and if we fail to meet these standards our financial condition and operations would be adversely affected.
We are subject to several capital adequacy and liquidity standards. To the extent that we are unable to meet these standards, our ability to make distributions of capital will be limited and we may be subject to additional supervisory actions and limitations on our activities. See “Regulation and Supervision” in Item 1 and the “Capital and Regulatory Requirements” and “Liquidity” sections in Item 7, for further discussion of the regulations to which we are subject.
The Parent Company could be required to act as a “source of strength” to CBNA, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
FRB policy historically required bank holding companies to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to their subsidiary banks. The Dodd-Frank Act codified this policy as a statutory requirement. This support may be required by the FRB at times when we might otherwise determine not to provide it or when doing so is not otherwise in the interests of CFG or our stockholders or creditors, and may include one or more of the following:
•
The Parent Company may be compelled to contribute capital to CBNA, including by engaging in a public offering to raise such capital. Furthermore, any extensions of credit from the Parent Company to CBNA that are included in CBNA’s capital would be subordinate in right of payment to depositors and certain other indebtedness of CBNA.
•
In the event of a bank holding company’s bankruptcy, any commitment that the bank holding company had been required to make to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a subsidiary bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment.
•
In the event of impairment of the capital stock of CBNA, the Parent Company, as CBNA’s stockholder, could be required to pay such deficiency.
The Parent Company depends on CBNA for most of its revenue, and restrictions on dividends and other distributions by CBNA could affect its liquidity and ability to fulfill our obligations.
As a bank holding company, the Parent Company is a separate and distinct legal entity from CBNA, our banking subsidiary. The Parent Company typically receives substantially all of our revenue from dividends from CBNA. These dividends are the principal source of funds to pay dividends on our equity and interest and principal on our debt. Various federal and/or state laws and regulations, as well as regulatory expectations, limit the amount of dividends that CBNA may pay to the Parent Company. Also, our right to participate in a distribution of assets upon a subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization is subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors. In the event CBNA is unable to pay dividends to the Parent Company, it may not be able to service debt, pay obligations or pay dividends on its common stock. The inability to receive dividends from CBNA could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. See the “Supervision and Regulation” section in Item 1 and the “Capital and Regulatory Matters” section in Item 7.
From time-to-time, we may become or are subject to regulatory actions that may have a material impact on our business.
We may become or are involved, from time to time, in reviews, investigations and proceedings (both formal and informal) by governmental and self-regulatory agencies regarding our business. These regulatory actions involve, among other matters, accounting, compliance and operational matters, certain of which may result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions or other relief that may require changes to our business or otherwise materially impact our business.
In regulatory actions, such as those referred to above, it is inherently difficult to determine whether any loss is probable or whether it is possible to reasonably estimate the amount of any loss. We cannot predict with certainty if, how or when such proceedings will be resolved or what the eventual fine, penalty or other relief, conditions or restrictions, if any, may be, particularly for actions that are in their early stages of investigation. The Parent Company may be required to make significant restitution payments to CBNA customers arising from certain compliance issues and also may be required to pay civil money penalties in connection with certain of these issues. This uncertainty makes it difficult to estimate probable losses, which, in turn, can lead to substantial disparities between the reserves we may establish for such proceedings and the eventual settlements, fines, or penalties.
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Adverse regulatory actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are and may be subject to litigation that may have a material impact on our business.
Our operations are diverse and complex and we operate in legal and regulatory environments that expose us to potentially significant litigation risk. In the normal course of business, we have been named, from time to time, as a defendant in various legal actions, including arbitrations, class actions and other litigation, arising in connection with our activities as a financial services institution, including with respect to alleged unfair or deceptive business practices and mis-selling of certain products. Certain of the actual or threatened legal actions include claims for substantial compensatory and/or punitive damages or claims for indeterminate amounts of damages. In some cases, the entities that would otherwise be the primary defendants in such cases are bankrupt or in financial distress. Moreover, a number of recent judicial decisions have upheld the right of borrowers to sue lending institutions on the basis of various evolving legal theories, collectively termed “lender liability.” Generally, lender liability is founded on the premise that a lender has either violated a duty, whether implied or contractual, of good faith and fair dealing owed to the borrower or has assumed a degree of control over the borrower resulting in the creation of a fiduciary duty owed to the borrower or its other creditors or stockholders. This could increase the amount of private litigation to which we are subject. For more information regarding ongoing significant legal proceedings in which we may be involved, see Note 18 in Item 8.
Compliance with anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing rules involve significant cost and effort.
We are subject to rules and regulations regarding money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Monitoring compliance with anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing rules can put a significant financial burden on banks and other financial institutions and poses significant technical challenges. Although we believe our current policies and procedures are sufficient to comply with applicable rules and regulations, we cannot guarantee that our anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing policies and procedures completely prevent situations of money laundering or terrorism financing. Any such failure events may have severe consequences, including sanctions, fines and reputational consequences, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Risks Related to our Common Stock
Our stock price may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment as a result.
You should consider an investment in our common stock to be risky, and you should invest in our common stock only if you can withstand a significant loss and wide fluctuation in the market value of your investment. The market price of our common stock could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to, among other things, the factors described in this “Risk Factors” section, and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. These factors include:
•
quarterly variations in our results of operations or the quarterly financial results of companies perceived to be similar to us;
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changes in expectations as to our future financial performance, including financial estimates by securities analysts and investors;
•
our announcements or our competitors’ announcements regarding new products or services, enhancements, significant contracts, acquisitions or strategic investments;
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fluctuations in the market valuations of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us;
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future sales of our common stock;
•
additions or departures of members of our senior management or other key personnel;
•
changes in industry conditions or perceptions; and
•
changes in applicable laws, rules or regulations and other dynamics.
Furthermore, the stock markets have experienced price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market price of equity securities of many companies. These fluctuations have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. These broad market fluctuations, as well as general economic, systemic, political and market conditions, such as recessions, loss of investor confidence, interest rate changes or international currency fluctuations, may negatively affect the market price of our common stock.
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If any of the foregoing occurs, it could cause our stock price to fall and may expose us to securities class action litigation that, even if unsuccessful, could be costly to defend and a distraction to management.
We may not repurchase shares or pay cash dividends on our common stock.
Holders of our common stock are only entitled to receive such dividends as our Board of Directors may declare out of funds legally available for such payments. Although we have historically declared cash dividends on our common stock, we are not required to do so and may reduce or eliminate our common stock dividend in the future. This could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Also, as a bank holding company, our ability to repurchase shares and declare and pay dividends is dependent on certain federal regulatory considerations, including the rules of the FRB regarding capital adequacy and dividends. Additionally, we are required to submit periodic capital plans to the FRB for review, or otherwise obtain FRB authorization, before we can take certain capital actions, including repurchasing shares, declaring and paying dividends, or repurchasing or redeeming capital securities. If our capital plan or any amendment to our capital plan is objected to for any reason, our ability to repurchase shares and declare and pay dividends on our capital stock may be limited. Further, if we are unable to satisfy the capital requirements applicable to us for any reason, we may be limited in our ability to repurchase shares and declare and pay dividends on our capital stock. See the “Regulation and Supervision” section in Item 1, for further discussion of the regulations to which we are subject.
“Anti-takeover” provisions and the regulations to which we are subject may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if the change in control would be beneficial to stockholders.
We are a bank holding company incorporated in the state of Delaware. Anti-takeover provisions in Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, as well as regulatory approvals that would be required under federal law, could make it more difficult for a third party to take control of us and may prevent stockholders from receiving a premium for their shares of our common stock. These provisions could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and could reduce the amount that stockholders might get if we are sold.
We believe these provisions protect our stockholders from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics by requiring potential acquirers to negotiate with our Board and by providing our Board with more time to assess any acquisition proposal. However, these provisions apply even if the offer may be determined to be beneficial by some stockholders and could delay or prevent an acquisition that our Board determines is not in our best interest and that of our stockholders.
Furthermore, banking laws impose notice, approval and ongoing regulatory requirements on any stockholder or other party that seeks to acquire direct or indirect “control” of an FDIC-insured depository institution. These laws include the Bank Holding Company Act and the Change in Bank Control Act.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We lease seven operations centers in Boston and Medford, Massachusetts; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Warwick, Rhode Island; Franklin, Tennessee; Irving, Texas and Glen Allen, Virginia. We own two principal operations centers in Johnston and East Providence, Rhode Island. At December 31, 2019, our subsidiaries owned and operated a total of 40 facilities and leased an additional 1,247 facilities. We believe our current facilities are adequate to meet our needs. See Note 6 and Note 8 of Item 8 for more information regarding our premises and equipment, and leases, respectively.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Information required by this item is presented in Note 18 in Item 8 and is incorporated herein by reference.
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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CFG.” As of February 5, 2020, our common stock was owned by two holders of record (including Cede & Co.) and approximately 195,000 beneficial shareholders whose shares were held in “street name” through a broker or bank. Information relating to compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance is presented in Item 12.
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder returns for our performance during the five-year period ended December 31, 2019 relative to the performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500® index, a commonly referenced U.S. equity benchmark consisting of leading companies from diverse economic sectors; the KBW Nasdaq Bank Index (“BKX”), composed of 24 leading national money center and regional banks and thrifts; and a group of other banks that constitute our peer regional banks (i.e., BB&T, Comerica, Fifth Third, KeyCorp, M&T, PNC, Regions, SunTrust and U.S. Bancorp. Includes Truist for the period subsequent to the merger of BB&T and SunTrust). The graph assumes a $100 investment at the closing price on December 31, 2014 in each of CFG common stock, the S&P 500 index, the BKX and the peer market-capitalization weighted average and assumes all dividends were reinvested on the date paid. The points on the graph represent the fiscal quarter-end amounts based on the last trading day in each subsequent fiscal quarter.
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This graph shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
(1) The Peer Regional Bank Average includes the impact of BB&T and SunTrust through December 6, 2019 which were replaced by the newly formed Truist Financial Corp. on December 9, 2019.
Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities
Details of the repurchases of our common stock during the fourth quarter 2019 are included in the following table:
(1) On June 27, 2019, we announced that our Board of Directors had authorized share repurchases of CFG common stock of up to $1.275 billion for the four-quarter period ending with the second quarter of 2020. This share repurchase plan allowed for share repurchases that may be executed in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, including under Rule 10b5-1 plans. All shares repurchased by us during the fourth quarter were executed pursuant to an accelerated share repurchase transaction, which was completed by December 31, 2019. The timing and exact amount of future share repurchases will be subject to various factors, including our capital position, financial performance and market conditions.
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ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected Consolidated Statements of Operations data for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 and the selected Consolidated Balance Sheet data as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 are derived from our audited Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8. We derived the selected Consolidated Statements of Operations data for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and the selected Consolidated Balance Sheet data as of December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 from our prior audited Consolidated Financial Statements. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for any future period.
The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Page
Introduction
Financial Performance
Results of Operations - 2019 compared with 2018
Net Interest Income
Noninterest Income
Noninterest Expense
Provision for Credit Losses
Income Tax Expense
Business Operating Segments
Results of Operations - 2018 compared with 2017
Analysis of Financial Condition
Securities
Loans and Leases
Allowance for Credit Losses and Nonperforming Assets
Deposits
Borrowed Funds
Quarterly Results of Operations
Capital and Regulatory Matters
Liquidity
Contractual Obligations
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Critical Accounting Estimates
Accounting and Reporting Developments
Risk Governance
Market Risk
Key Performance Metrics, Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations
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INTRODUCTION
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions with $165.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2019. Our mission is to help customers, colleagues and communities each reach their potential by listening to them and understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, we offer a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. In Consumer Banking, we provide an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a 24/7 customer contact center as well as the convenience of approximately 2,700 ATMs and 1,100 branches in 11 states in the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, we offer corporate, institutional and not-for-profit clients a full range of wholesale banking products and services including lending and deposits, capital markets, treasury services, foreign exchange and interest rate products, and asset finance. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com.
The following MD&A is intended to assist readers in their analysis of the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and supplemental financial information. It should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, as well as other information contained in this document.
Key Performance Metrics Used by Management and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
As a banking institution, we manage and evaluate various aspects of our results of operations and our financial condition including the levels and trends of the line items included in our balance sheet and statement of operations, used in calculating various key performance metrics commonly used in our industry. The primary line items we use in calculating our key performance metrics to manage and evaluate our statement of operations include net interest income, noninterest income, total revenue, provision for credit losses, noninterest expense, net income and net income available to common stockholders. The primary line items we use in calculating our key performance metrics to manage and evaluate our balance sheet data include loans and leases, securities, allowance for credit losses, deposits, borrowed funds and derivatives. We analyze these key performance metrics and financial trends against our own historical performance, our budgeted performance and the financial condition and performance of comparable banking institutions in our region and nationally.
We consider the following key performance metrics when evaluating our performance and making day-to-day operating decisions, as well as evaluating capital utilization and adequacy, including:
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Return on average tangible common equity, which we define as annualized net income available to common stockholders divided by average common equity excluding average goodwill (net of related deferred tax liability) and average other intangibles;
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Efficiency ratio, which we define as the ratio of total noninterest expense to the sum of net interest income and total noninterest income. The efficiency ratio helps us to evaluate the efficiency of our operations as it helps us monitor how costs are changing compared to income. A decrease in the efficiency ratio represents improvement;
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Operating leverage, which we define as the percent change in total revenue, less the percent change in noninterest expense; and
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CET1 capital ratio, which represents CET1 capital divided by total risk-weighted assets as defined under the U.S. Basel III Standardized approach.
This document contains non-GAAP financial measures denoted as “Underlying” results. Underlying results for any given reporting period exclude certain items that may occur in that period which Management does not consider indicative of our on-going financial performance. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors because they are used by Management to evaluate our operating performance and make day-to-day operating decisions. In addition, we believe our Underlying results in any given reporting period reflect our on-going financial performance and increase comparability of period-to-period results, and, accordingly, are useful to consider in addition to our GAAP financial results.
Other companies may use similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated differently from the way we calculate such measures. Accordingly, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by such companies. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on such non-GAAP financial measures, but to consider them with the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Non-GAAP financial measures
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have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our results reported under GAAP.
Non-GAAP measures are denoted throughout our MD&A by the use of the term Underlying and where there is a reference to Underlying results in a paragraph, all measures that follow this reference are on the same basis when applicable. For more information on the computation of key performance metrics and non-GAAP financial measures, see “-Key Performance Metrics, Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations.”
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
2019 compared with 2018 - Key Highlights
Net income of $1.8 billion increased 4% from 2018, with earnings per diluted common share of $3.81, up 8% from $3.52 per diluted common share for 2018. ROTCE of 12.6% compares with 12.9% in 2018.
We recorded $17 million after-tax, or $0.03 per diluted common share, of notable items in 2019 tied to Acquisition integration costs, costs related to strategic initiatives, and income tax benefits associated with an operational restructure and legacy tax matters. In 2018 we recorded $16 million after-tax, or $0.04 per diluted common share, of notable items tied to Acquisition integration costs, efficiency initiatives and the impact of 2017 tax legislation.
(1) Other notable items include noninterest expense of $50 million related to our TOP programs and other efficiency initiatives and an income tax benefit of $34 million related to an operational restructure and legacy tax matters.
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Net income available to common stockholders of $1.7 billion increased $26 million, or 2%, compared to 2018. Earnings per diluted common share increased $0.29, or 8%, from 2018.
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On an Underlying basis,* net income available to common stockholders of $1.7 billion increased by 2% led by 6% revenue growth reflecting 17% growth in noninterest income and 2% growth in net interest income, partially offset by 6% growth in noninterest expense and 21% increase in provision for credit losses.
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On an Underlying basis,* earnings per diluted common share of $3.84 increased $0.28, or 8%, from $3.56 for the year ended 2018.
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•
Total revenue of $6.5 billion increased $363 million, or 6%, from 2018, driven by a 2% increase in net interest income and an 18% increase in noninterest income.
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Net interest income of $4.6 billion increased $82 million, or 2%, compared to $4.5 billion in 2018, as the benefit of 4% growth in average interest-earning assets was partially offset by the impact of a reduction in net interest margin, given the challenging yield-curve environment.
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Net interest margin of 3.14% decreased 7 basis points from 3.21% in 2018, driven by higher funding costs tied to modestly higher short-term rates and growth, as well as higher securities premium amortization tied to significantly lower long-term rates. These results were partially offset by the benefit of higher interest-earning asset yields, given continued mix shift toward more attractive risk-adjusted return portfolios and modestly higher short-term rates.
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Net interest margin on a fully taxable-equivalent basis of 3.16% decreased by 6 basis points, compared to 3.22% in 2018 given the challenging yield-curve environment.
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Average loans and leases of $117.9 billion increased $4.4 billion, or 4%, from $113.5 billion in 2018, reflecting a 5% increase in commercial loans and leases and a 3% increase in retail loans.
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Average deposits of $123.3 billion increased $7.4 billion, or 6%, from $115.9 billion in 2018, largely reflecting growth in savings, term deposits and checking with interest.
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Noninterest income of $1.9 billion increased $281 million, or 18%, from 2018, with record results in mortgage banking, capital markets fees, and trust and investment services fees, which included the impact of Acquisitions, along with higher foreign exchange and interest rate products and card fees.
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Noninterest expense of $3.8 billion increased $228 million, or 6%, compared to $3.6 billion in 2018, reflecting higher salaries and employee benefits, outside services, and equipment and software expense, driven by the impact of Acquisitions, partially offset by lower other operating expense largely tied to a reduction in FDIC insurance.
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On an Underlying basis,* noninterest expense increased 6% from 2018.
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The efficiency ratio of 59.3% compared to 59.1% in 2018, and ROTCE of 12.6% compared to 12.9%.
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The Underlying efficiency ratio of 58.2% compared to 58.1% in 2018.
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Underlying ROTCE of 12.8% compares with 13.1% and reflected an approximate 50 basis point drag from higher tangible common equity value, given the positive impact of lower long-term rates on securities valuations.
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Provision for credit losses of $393 million increased $67 million, or 21%, from $326 million in 2018, reflecting 4% average loan growth, stable credit quality, as well as a small number of uncorrelated losses in commercial, and continued seasoning in retail growth portfolios.
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Tangible book value per common of $32.08 increased 12% from 2018. Fully diluted average common shares outstanding decreased by 29.2 million shares, or 6% over the same period.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - 2019 compared with 2018
Net Interest Income
Net interest income is our largest source of revenue and is the difference between the interest earned on interest-earning assets (generally loans, leases and investment securities) and the interest expense incurred in connection with interest-bearing liabilities (generally deposits and borrowed funds). The level of net interest income is primarily a function of the difference between the effective yield on our average interest-earning assets and the effective cost of our interest-bearing liabilities. These factors are influenced by the pricing and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities which, in turn, are impacted by external factors such as local economic conditions, competition for loans and deposits, the monetary policy of the FRB and market interest rates.
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The following table presents the major components of net interest income and net interest margin:
(1) Interest income and rates on loans include loan fees. Additionally, $778 million and $836 million of average nonaccrual loans were included in the average loan balances used to determine the average yield on loans for December 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(2) Balances are net of certain short-term receivables associated with reverse repurchase agreements, as applicable. Interest expense includes the full cost of the repurchase agreements and certain hedging costs.
(3) Beginning in the first quarter of 2019, borrowed funds balances and the associated interest expense are classified based on original maturity. Prior periods have been adjusted to conform with the current period presentation.
(4) Net interest income and net interest margin is presented on a fully taxable-equivalent (“FTE”) basis using the federal statutory tax rate of 21%. The FTE impact is predominantly attributable to commercial loans for the periods presented.
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Net interest income of $4.6 billion increased $82 million, reflecting 4% average interest-earning asset growth partially offset by a 7 basis point decrease in net interest margin given the challenging yield curve environment.
Net interest margin of 3.14% decreased 7 basis points compared to 3.21% in 2018, driven by higher funding costs tied to modestly higher short-term rates and higher securities premium amortization tied to significantly lower long-term rates. These results were partially offset by the benefit of higher interest-earning asset yields, given continued mix shift toward more attractive risk-adjusted return portfolios and modestly higher short-term rates. Net interest margin on an FTE basis of 3.16% decreased 6 basis points compared to 3.22% in 2018. Average interest-earning asset yields of 4.19% increased 14 basis points from 4.05% in 2018, while average interest-bearing liability costs of 1.46% increased 27 basis points from 1.19% in 2018.
Average interest-earning assets of $146.8 billion increased $5.5 billion, or 4%, from 2018, driven by a $2.9 billion increase in average commercial loans and leases, a $1.6 billion increase in average retail loans, a $932 million increase in average total loans held for sale, and a $156 million increase in total investment securities and interest-bearing cash and due from banks and deposits in banks. Total commercial loan and lease growth was driven by commercial and commercial real estate. Retail loan growth was driven by residential mortgage, education, credit cards and other retail.
Average deposits of $123.3 billion increased $7.4 billion from 2018, reflecting growth in savings, term deposits, checking with interest, and money market accounts, partially offset by a decline in demand deposits. Total interest-bearing deposit costs of $1.2 billion increased $370 million, or 47%, from $785 million in 2018, primarily due to higher short-term rates and average deposit growth.
Average total borrowed funds of $13.7 billion decreased $2.2 billion from 2018, reflecting a decrease in other short-term borrowed funds, a decrease in long-term borrowed funds, and a decrease in federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements. Total borrowed funds costs of $420 million decreased $21 million from 2018. The total borrowed funds cost of 3.06% increased 30 basis points from 2.76% in 2018 due to an increase in short-term rates and a mix shift to long-term senior debt.
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The following table presents the change in interest income and interest expense due to changes in both average volume and average rate. Volume and rate changes have been allocated on a consistent basis using the respective percentage changes in average balances and average rates.
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Noninterest Income
The following table presents the significant components of our noninterest income:
(1) Includes net impairment losses recognized in earnings on available for sale debt securities, bank-owned life insurance income and other income.
Noninterest income increased $281 million, from 2018, reflecting record mortgage banking fees, capital markets fees, and trust investment services fees, which included the impact of Acquisitions and, along with higher foreign exchange and interest rate products revenue, reflected the benefit of investments to broaden and enhance our capabilities. Results also reflected increased other income due to higher leasing income, including $7 million associated with a lease restructuring transaction, and asset dispositions tied to balance sheet optimization and efficiency initiatives.
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Noninterest Expense
The following table presents the significant components of our noninterest expense:
(1) In 2019, we combined our presentation of equipment and expense and amortization of software into equipment and software expense. Prior periods have been adjusted to conform with the current period presentation.
Noninterest expense of $3.8 billion in 2019 increased $228 million, or 6%, compared to 2018, reflecting higher salaries and employee benefits, outside services, and equipment and software expense, and included the impact of Acquisitions as well as continued investments to diversify our platform and drive future revenue growth. These results were partially offset by lower other operating expense largely tied to a reduction in FDIC insurance premiums. Underlying noninterest expense increased $214 million, or 6%, due to the reasons listed above.
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Provision for Credit Losses
The provision for loan and lease losses is the result of a detailed analysis performed to estimate an appropriate and adequate ACL. The total provision for credit losses includes the provision for loan and lease losses as well as the provision for unfunded commitments. Refer to “-Analysis of Financial Condition - Allowance for Credit Losses and Nonperforming Assets” for more information.
Provision for credit losses of $393 million increased $67 million, or 21%, from $326 million in 2018, which reflected a small number of uncorrelated losses in commercial, the impact of continued seasoning in retail growth portfolios and loan growth. Full year 2019 results reflected a $37 million ACL release, compared to $9 million ACL build in 2018. Net charge-offs in 2019 of $430 million increased $113 million compared to 2018.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense of $460 million decreased $2 million from $462 million in 2018. The 2019 effective tax rate of 20.4% decreased from 21.2% in 2018, largely reflecting legacy tax matters, a benefit from an operational restructure, a reduction in non-deductible FDIC insurance premiums and an increase in benefits from tax advantaged investments, partially offset by a benefit related to 2017 Tax Legislation in 2018. On an Underlying basis, the effective income tax rate decreased to 22.0% from 22.5% in 2018, primarily attributable to the reduction in non-deductible FDIC insurance premiums and an increase in benefits from tax advantaged investments.
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Business Operating Segments
We have two business operating segments: Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. Segment results are derived by specifically attributing managed assets, liabilities, capital and related revenues, provision for credit losses, income taxes and expenses. Non-segment operations are classified as Other, which includes corporate functions, the Treasury function, the securities portfolio, wholesale funding activities, intangible assets not directly allocated to a business operating segment, community development, non-core assets, and other unallocated assets, liabilities, capital, revenues, expenses, and residual provision for credit losses and income tax expense. For a description of non-core assets, see “-Analysis of Financial Condition - Allowance for Credit Losses and Nonperforming Assets - Non-Core Assets.” In addition, Other includes goodwill not directly assigned to a business operating segment and any associated goodwill impairment charges. For impairment testing purposes, we assign all goodwill to our Consumer and Commercial Banking reporting units.
Our capital levels are evaluated and managed centrally; however, capital is allocated on a risk-adjusted basis to the business operating segments to support evaluation of business performance. Because funding and asset liability management is a central function, funds transfer-pricing (“FTP”) methodologies are utilized to allocate a cost of funds used, or credit for the funds provided, to all business operating segment assets, liabilities and capital, respectively, using a matched-funding concept. The residual effect on net interest income of asset/liability management, including the residual net interest income related to the FTP process, is included in Other. We periodically evaluate and refine our methodologies used to measure financial performance of our business operating segments.
Provision for credit losses is allocated to each business operating segment based on respective actual net charge-offs. The residual difference between the consolidated provision for credit losses and the business operating segments’ net charge-offs is reflected in Other.
Noninterest income and expense are directly attributed to each business operating segment, including fees, service charges, salaries and benefits, and other direct revenues and costs and are respectively accounted for in a manner similar to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Occupancy costs are allocated based on utilization of facilities by each business operating segment. Noninterest expenses incurred by centrally managed operations or business operating segments that directly support another business operating segment’s operations are charged to the applicable business operating segment based on its utilization of those services.
Income tax expense is assessed to each business operating segment at a standard tax rate with the residual tax expense or benefit to arrive at the consolidated effective tax rate included in Other.
Developing and applying methodologies used to allocate items among the business operating segments is a dynamic process. Accordingly, financial results may be revised periodically as management systems are enhanced, methods of evaluating performance or product lines are updated, or our organizational structure changes.
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The following table presents certain financial data of our business operating segments. Total business operating segment financial results differ from total consolidated net income. These differences are reflected in Other non-segment operations. See Note 25 in Item 8 for further information.
(1) Includes LHFS.
Consumer Banking
Net interest income increased $118 million, or 4%, from 2018, driven by the benefit of a $2.7 billion increase in average loans led by residential, education and unsecured personal loans. Noninterest income increased $183 million, or 19%, from 2018, driven by higher mortgage banking, trust and investment services fees, card fees and included the impact of Acquisitions. Noninterest expense increased $128 million, or 5%, from 2018, reflecting higher salaries and benefits and outside services and included the impact of Acquisitions. Provision for credit losses of $325 million increased $36 million, or 12%, reflecting higher net charge-offs given expected seasoning in growth portfolios.
Commercial Banking
Net interest income of $1.5 billion decreased $31 million, or 2%, from 2018, reflecting the impact of higher deposit costs, partially offset by loan growth. Noninterest income of $607 million increased $62 million, or 11%, from $545 million in 2018, driven by an increase in capital market and foreign exchange and interest rate product fees. Noninterest expense of $858 million increased $45 million, from $813 million in 2018, driven by higher salaries and employee benefits expense. Provision for credit losses of $97 million increased $71 million from 2018, driven by higher net charge-offs from a small number of uncorrelated losses.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - 2018 compared with 2017
For a description of our results of operations for 2018, see the “Results of Operations - 2018 compared with 2017” section of Item 7 in our 2018 Form 10-K.
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ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
Securities
The following table presents our AFS and HTM securities:
Our securities portfolio is managed to maintain prudent levels of liquidity, credit quality and market risk while achieving appropriate returns that align with our overall portfolio management strategy. The portfolio includes high quality, highly liquid investments reflecting our ongoing commitment to appropriate contingent liquidity levels and pledging capacity. U.S. government-guaranteed notes and GSE-issued mortgage-backed securities represent 97% of the fair value of our debt securities portfolio holdings. Holdings backed by mortgages dominate our portfolio and facilitate our ability to pledge those securities to the FHLB for collateral purposes.
The fair value of the AFS debt securities portfolio of $20.6 billion at December 31, 2019 increased $718 million from $19.9 billion at December 31, 2018 largely reflecting the impact of the transfer of a net $740 million in securities from HTM to AFS upon the adoption of ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, and lower long-term rates. The fair value of the HTM debt securities portfolio decreased $799 million largely reflecting the net impact of the transfer discussed above. For further information, see Note 1 in Item 8.
As of December 31, 2019, the portfolio’s average effective duration was 3.7 years compared with 4.4 years as of December 31, 2018, as lower long-term rates drove an increase in both actual and projected securities prepayment speeds. We manage our securities portfolio duration and convexity risk through asset selection and securities structure, and maintain duration levels within our risk appetite in the context of the broader interest rate risk in the banking book framework and limits.
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The following table presents an analysis of the amortized cost, remaining contractual maturities, and weighted-average yields by contractual maturity for our debt securities portfolio. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without incurring penalties.
(1) As of December 31, 2019, no investment exceeded 10% of Stockholders’ Equity.
(2) Yields on tax-exempt securities are not computed on a tax-equivalent basis.
(3) Yields exclude the impact of hedging activity.
Loans and Leases
The following table presents the composition of loans and leases:
Total loans and leases increased $2.4 billion, or 2%, from $116.7 billion as of December 31, 2018, driven by growth in both retail and commercial. Retail loan growth was driven by education, other retail, credit cards and residential mortgages, partially offset by run off in the home equity portfolio. Commercial loans and leases growth was driven by geographic, product and client-focused expansion strategies as well as strength in commercial real estate, partially offset by planned reductions in leases.
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Maturities and Sensitivities of Loans and Leases to Changes in Interest Rates
The following table presents a summary of loans and leases by remaining maturity or repricing date:
(1) On a maturity basis only, the commercial and commercial real estate loan portfolios maturing in one year or less were $7.4 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively, maturing after one year through five years were $27.8 billion and $9.8 billion, respectively, and maturing after five years were $6.3 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively, as of December 31, 2019.
Loan and Lease Concentrations
At December 31, 2019, we did not identify any concentration of loans and leases exceeding 10% of total loans and leases that were not otherwise disclosed as a category of loans and leases. For further information on how we manage concentration exposures, see Note 5 in Item 8.
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Allowance for Credit Losses and Nonperforming Assets
The ACL, which consists of an ALLL and a reserve for unfunded lending commitments, is created through charges to the provision for credit losses in order to provide appropriate reserves to absorb future estimated credit losses in accordance with GAAP. For further information on our processes to determine our ACL, see “-Critical Accounting Estimates - Allowance for Credit Losses,” and Note 5 in Item 8.
Summary of Loan and Lease Loss Experience
The following table presents a summary of the changes to our ALLL:
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(1) As of December 31, 2017, we enhanced the method for assessing various qualitative risks, factors and events that may not be measured in the modeled results. The qualitative allowance was presented within each loan class beginning in 2017 and prior periods were not reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
(2) During December 2016, changes to the incurred loss period were reflected as components of the provision for retail property secured products.
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Allocation of the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
The following table presents an allocation of the ALLL by class and the percent of each class of loans and leases to the total loans and leases:
(1) The qualitative allowance was presented within each loan class beginning in 2017 and prior periods were not reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
The ALLL represented 1.05% of total loans and leases and 178% of nonperforming loans and leases as of December 31, 2019 compared with 1.06% and 162%, respectively, as of December 31, 2018.
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Risk Elements
The following table presents nonperforming loans and leases and loans, accruing and 90 days or more past due, and restructured loans and leases:
(1) Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019, nonperforming balances exclude both fully and partially guaranteed residential mortgage loans sold to Ginnie Mae for which we have the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase. Prior periods have been adjusted to exclude partially guaranteed amounts to conform with the current period presentation.
(2) TDR balances reported in this line item consist of only those TDRs not reported in the nonaccrual loan or accruing and 90 days or more delinquent loan categories. Thus, only those TDRs that are in compliance with their modified terms and not past due, or those TDRs that are past due 30-89 days and still accruing are included in the TDR balances listed above.
Overall credit quality remained strong across retail and commercial. Nonperforming loans and leases of $703 million as of December 31, 2019 decreased $63 million from December 31, 2018, driven by a $107 million decrease in retail, reflecting improvements in home equity, education and auto that was partially offset by $44 million increase in commercial nonperforming loans. Net charge-offs of $430 million increased $113 million, or 36%, from $317 million in 2018 reflecting a small number of uncorrelated losses in commercial and expected seasoning in the other retail loan portfolio. Net charge-offs as a percentage of total average loans of 0.36% increased 8 basis points compared to 0.28% in 2018.
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Potential Problem Loans and Leases
At December 31, 2019, we did not identify any potential problem loans or leases within the portfolio that were not already disclosed in “-Risk Elements” and “-Commercial Loan Asset Quality.” Potential problem loans or leases consist of loans and leases where information about a borrower’s possible credit problems cause management to have serious doubts as to the ability of a borrower to comply with the present repayment terms.
Commercial Loan Asset Quality
Our commercial loan and lease portfolio consists of traditional commercial loans, commercial leases and commercial real estate loans. The portfolio is largely comprised of customers in our footprint and adjacent states in which we have a physical presence where our local delivery model provides for strong client connectivity. We also lend nationally to companies that fall within targeted client, industry, and geographic expansion strategies.
For commercial loans and leases, we utilize regulatory classification ratings to monitor credit quality. For more information on regulatory classification ratings, see Note 5 in Item 8. The recorded investment in commercial loans and leases based on regulatory classification ratings is presented below:
Total commercial criticized loans and leases of $3.0 billion as of December 31, 2019 increased $199 million compared with December 31, 2018. Commercial criticized loans and leases as a percent of total commercial loans and leases of 5.3% at December 31, 2019 increased from 5.0% at December 31, 2018. Commercial criticized balances of $2.5 billion, or 6.1% of the commercial loan portfolio as of December 31, 2019, increased from $2.3 billion, or 5.5%, as of December 31, 2018. Commercial real estate criticized balances of $353 million, or 2.6% of the commercial real estate portfolio, decreased from $500 million, or 3.8%, as of December 31, 2018. Commercial criticized loans represented 83% of total criticized loans as of December 31, 2019 compared to 80% as of December 31, 2018. Commercial real estate accounted for 12% of total criticized loans as of December 31, 2019 compared to 18% as of December 31, 2018.
Nonperforming commercial loans and leases increased $44 million to $245 million as of December 31, 2019 from $201 million as of December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2019, total commercial nonperforming loans were 0.4% of the commercial loans and leases portfolio and remained stable to December 31, 2018. Total 2019 commercial loan and lease portfolio net charge-offs of $116 million increased from $33 million in 2018. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the commercial loan and lease portfolio annualized net charge-off ratio of 0.20% increased from 0.06% for the year ended December 31, 2018, reflecting the impact of several uncorrelated losses.
Retail Loan Asset Quality
For retail loans, we primarily utilize payment and delinquency status to regularly review and monitor credit quality trends. Historical experience indicates that the longer a loan is past due, the greater the likelihood of future credit loss. The largest portion of the retail portfolio is represented by borrowers located in the New England, Mid-
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Atlantic and Midwest regions, although we lend selectively in areas outside the footprint primarily in the auto finance, education lending and unsecured portfolios.
The following tables present asset quality metrics for the retail loan portfolio:
(1) The real estate secured portfolio CLTV is calculated as the mortgage and second lien loan balance divided by the most recently available value of the property.
(2) Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019, nonperforming balances exclude both fully and partially guaranteed residential mortgage loans sold to Ginnie Mae for which we have the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase. Prior periods have been adjusted to exclude partially guaranteed amounts to conform with the current period presentation.
Retail asset quality remained relatively stable with December 31, 2018. The net charge-off rate of 0.52% for the year ended December 31, 2019 reflected an increase of 4 basis points from the year ended December 31, 2018, driven by expected seasoning in retail growth portfolios including personal and education refinance loans.
Troubled Debt Restructurings
TDR is the classification given to a loan that has been restructured in a manner that grants a concession to a borrower experiencing financial hardship that we would not otherwise make. TDRs typically result from our loss mitigation efforts and are undertaken in order to improve the likelihood of recovery and continuity of the relationship. Our loan modifications are handled on a case-by-case basis and are negotiated to achieve mutually agreeable terms that maximize loan collectability and meet our borrower’s financial needs. The types of concessions include interest rate reductions, term extensions, principal forgiveness and other modifications to the structure of the loan that fall outside our lending policy. Depending on the specific facts and circumstances of the customer, restructuring can involve loans moving to nonaccrual, remaining on nonaccrual, or remaining on accrual status.
As of December 31, 2019, $667 million of retail loans were classified as TDRs, compared with $723 million as of December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2019, $143 million of retail TDRs were in nonaccrual status with 38% current with payments, compared to $181 million in nonaccrual status with 49% current on payments at December 31, 2018. TDRs generally return to accrual status once repayment capacity and appropriate payment history can be established. TDRs are individually evaluated for impairment and loans, once classified as TDRs, remain classified as TDRs until paid off, sold or refinanced at market terms. For additional information regarding TDRs, see “-Critical Accounting Estimates - Allowance for Credit Losses” and Note 5 in Item 8.
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The following tables present retail TDRs by loan class, including delinquency status for accruing TDRs and TDRs in nonaccrual:
Impact of Nonperforming Loans and Leases on Interest Income
The following table presents the gross interest income for both nonaccrual and restructured loans that would have been recognized if those loans had been current in accordance with their original contractual terms, and had been outstanding throughout the year, or since origination if held for only part of the year. The table also presents the interest income related to these loans that was actually recognized for the year.
(1) Based on the contractual rate that was being charged at the time the loan was restructured or placed on nonaccrual status.
Cross-Border Outstandings
Cross-border outstandings can include loans, receivables, interest-bearing deposits with other banks, other interest-bearing investments and other monetary assets that are denominated in either dollars or non-local currency. As of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, there were no aggregate cross-border outstandings from borrowers or counterparties in any country that exceeded 1%, or were between 0.75% and 1% of consolidated total assets.
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Non-Core Assets
The table below presents the composition of our non-core assets:
Non-core assets are primarily liquidating loan and lease portfolios inconsistent with our strategic priorities, generally as a result of geographic location, industry, product type or risk level and are included in Other.
Deposits
The following table presents the major components of our deposits:
Total deposits as of December 31, 2019, increased $5.7 billion, or 5%, to $125.3 billion compared to $119.6 billion, driven by growth in money market accounts, checking with interest and savings, partially offset by a decrease in term deposits and demand deposits. Citizens Access®, our national digital platform, attracted $5.8 billion of deposits through December 31, 2019, up from $3.0 billion as of December 31, 2018.
The following table presents the average balances and average interest rates paid for deposits.
(1) The aggregate amount of deposits by foreign depositors in domestic offices was $1.7 billion, $1.2 billion and $1.0 billion as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
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Borrowed Funds
Short-term borrowed funds
The following table presents a summary of our short-term borrowed funds:
(1) Beginning in the first quarter of 2019, borrowed funds balances and the associated interest expense are classified based on original maturity. Prior periods have been adjusted to conform with the current period presentation.
The net decrease in other short-term borrowed funds of $152 million resulted primarily from a decrease in short-term FHLB advances.
Our advances, lines of credit, and letters of credit from the FHLB are collateralized by pledged mortgages and securities at least sufficient to satisfy the collateral maintenance level established by the FHLB. The utilized borrowing capacity for FHLB advances and letters of credit was $9.8 billion and $13.0 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Our remaining available FHLB borrowing capacity was $7.2 billion and $4.8 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. We can also borrow from the FRB discount window to meet short-term liquidity requirements. Collateral, including certain loans, is pledged to support this borrowing capacity. At December 31, 2019, our unused secured borrowing capacity was approximately $38.9 billion, which included unencumbered securities, FHLB borrowing capacity, and FRB discount window capacity.
The following table presents key data related to our short-term borrowed funds:
(1) Rates exclude certain hedging costs.
(2) Balances are net of certain short-term receivables associated with reverse repurchase agreements, as applicable.
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Long-term borrowed funds
The following table presents a summary of our long-term borrowed funds:
(1) Rate disclosed reflects the floating rate as of December 31, 2019.
(2) Beginning in the first quarter of 2019, borrowed funds balances and the associated interest expense are classified based on original maturity. Prior periods have been adjusted to conform with the current period presentation.
Long-term borrowed funds of $14.0 billion as of December 31, 2019 decreased $1.9 billion from December 31, 2018, reflecting a decrease of $2.5 billion in FHLB borrowings, partially offset by an increase of $613 million in subordinated debt and unsecured notes.
The Parent Company’s long-term borrowed funds as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 included principal balances of $2.5 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively, and unamortized deferred issuance costs and/or discounts of ($8) million and ($5) million, respectively. CBNA and other subsidiaries’ long-term borrowed funds as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 included principal balances of $11.5 billion and $14.0 billion, respectively, with unamortized deferred issuance costs and/or discounts of ($13) million and ($14) million, respectively, and hedging basis adjustments of $50 million and ($66) million, respectively. See Note 13 in Item 8 for further information about our hedging of certain long-term borrowed funds.
QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table presents unaudited quarterly Consolidated Statements of Operations data and Consolidated Balance Sheet data as of and for the four quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively. We have prepared the Consolidated Statements of Operations data and Balance Sheet data on the same basis as our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 and, in the opinion of management, each Consolidated Statement of Operations and Balance Sheet includes
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all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair statement of the results of operations and balance sheet data as of and for these periods. This information should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes in Item 8.
Supplementary Summary Consolidated Financial and Other Data (unaudited)
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(1) Fourth quarter 2019 noninterest expense included $37 million of pre-tax notable items consisting of $35 million in other notable items ($35 million in TOP programs and other efficiency initiatives) and $2 million of integration costs associated with acquisitions.
(2) Fourth quarter 2019 income tax expense included $33 million of benefits associated with other notable items ($24 million largely tied to legacy tax matters and $9 million in TOP programs and other efficiency initiatives).
(3) Fourth quarter 2019 net income included $4 million of after-tax notable items consisting of $2 million in total integration costs associated with acquisitions and $2 million in other notable items (including $24 million largely tied to legacy tax matters offset by $26 million in after-tax TOP programs and other efficiency initiatives).
(4) Third quarter 2019 noninterest expense included $19 million of pre-tax notable items consisting of $15 million in other notable items ($15 million in TOP programs and other efficiency initiatives) and $4 million of integration costs associated with acquisitions. Income tax expense included $15 million of benefits associated with notable items ($14 million in other notable items, consisting of $10 million related to an operational restructure and $4 million in TOP programs and other efficiency initiatives, and $1 million for integration costs associated with acquisitions). Net income included $4 million of after-tax notable items consisting of $3 million of total integration costs associated with acquisitions and $1 million in other notable items (including $10 million related to an operational restructure offset by $11 million in after-tax TOP programs and other efficiency initiatives).
(5) Second quarter 2019 noninterest expense included $7 million of pre-tax notable items for total integration costs associated with acquisitions. Income tax expense and net income included $2 million and $5 million, respectively, related these notable items.
(6) First quarter 2019 noninterest expense included $5 million of pre-tax notable items for total integration costs associated with acquisitions. Income tax expense and net income included $1 million and $4 million, respectively, related to these notable items.
(7) Fourth quarter 2018 noninterest income included $5 million of pre-tax notable items ($4 million in FAMC integration costs and $1 million in other pre-tax notable items). Noninterest expense included $45 million of pre-tax notable items consisting of $33 million in other notable items ($33 million in TOP efficiency initiatives) and $12 million of FAMC integration costs. Income tax expense included $41 million of benefit associated with notable items ($37 million in other notable items consisting of $8 million in TOP efficiency initiatives and $29 million of net deferred tax liability adjustment) and $4 million in FAMC integration costs. Net income included $9 million of after-tax notable items consisting of $12 million of FAMC integration costs offset by $3 million other notable items (including $29 million of net deferred tax liability adjustment offset by $25 million in after-tax TOP efficiency initiatives and $1 million of noninterest income notable items).
(8) Third quarter 2018 noninterest expense included $9 million of pre-tax notable items for FAMC integration costs. Income tax expense included $2 million of benefits associated with notable items for FAMC integration costs and net income included $7 million of after-tax notable items for FAMC integration costs.
(9) Ratios for the periods above are presented on an annualized basis.
(10) Beginning in the first quarter of 2019, we changed the method of calculating our net interest margin to equal net interest income, annualized based on the number of days in the period, divided by average total interest-earning assets. Prior periods have been adjusted to conform with the current period presentation.
(11) Net interest margin is presented on a FTE basis using the federal statutory tax rate of 21%.
(12) Excludes LHFS of $3.3 billion, $2.0 billion, $2.2 billion, $1.3 billion, $1.3 billion, $1.3 billion, $710 million, and $800 million as of December 31, 2019, September 30, 2019, June 30, 2019, March 31, 2019, December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018, June 30, 2018 and March 31, 2018, respectively.
(13) Beginning in the first quarter of 2019, borrowed funds balances and the associated interest expense are classified based on original maturity. Prior periods have been adjusted to conform with the current period presentation.
(14) Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019, nonperforming balances exclude both fully and partially guaranteed residential mortgage loans sold to Ginnie Mae for which we have the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase. Prior periods have been adjusted to exclude partially guaranteed amounts to conform with the current period presentation.
(15) The capital ratios and associated components are prepared using the U.S. Basel III Standardized transitional approach.
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CAPITAL AND REGULATORY MATTERS
As a bank holding company and a financial holding company, we are subject to regulation and supervision by the FRB. Our banking subsidiary, CBNA, is a national banking association whose primary federal regulator is the OCC. Our regulation and supervision continues to evolve as the legal and regulatory frameworks governing our operations continue to change. The current operating environment reflects heightened regulatory expectations around consumer compliance, the Bank Secrecy Act, anti-money laundering compliance, and increased internal audit activities, among other factors. For more information, see the “Regulation and Supervision” section in Item 1.
Dodd-Frank Act
The Dodd-Frank Act regulates many aspects of the financial services industry and addresses among other things, systemic risk, capital adequacy, deposit insurance assessments, consumer financial protection, derivatives and securities markets, restrictions on an insured bank’s transactions with its affiliates, lending limits and mortgage lending practices.
In October 2019, the FRB and the other banking regulators finalized rules that tailor the application of the enhanced prudential standards to bank holding companies and depository institutions to implement the EGRRCPA amendments to the Dodd-Frank Act (“Tailoring Rules”). Concurrently, the FRB and other banking regulators finalized the regulatory capital, liquidity and resolution plan requirements to firms with more than $100 billion in total assets. Category IV firms with $100 billion to $250 billion in total assets, such as us, will, among other things, be subject to biennial supervisory stress-testing and will be exempt from company-run stress testing and related disclosure requirements. The FRB will continue to supervise Category IV firms on an ongoing basis, including evaluation of the capital adequacy and capital planning processes during off-cycle years. Category IV firms are also no longer required to submit resolution plans. For more information, see the “Tailoring of Prudential Requirements” and “Resolution Planning” sections in Item 1.
In light of the Tailoring Rules, the FRB provided us relief in February 2019 from certain regulatory requirements related to supervisory stress testing, company-run stress testing, and related disclosure requirements for the 2019 stress test cycle. As a result, we were not required to participate in the supervisory stress test of CCAR, conduct company-run stress tests, or submit a capital plan to the FRB for 2019. We remain subject to the requirement to develop and maintain an annual capital plan that is reviewed and approved by our Board of Directors (or one of its committees), as well as FR Y-14 reporting requirements. The FRB has not objected to our maximum planned capital actions for the period beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2020, which are largely based on the results for our 2018 supervisory stress test, adjusted for any changes in our regulatory capital ratios since the FRB acted on our 2018 capital plan. On June 27, 2019, our Board of Directors authorized common share repurchases of up to $1.275 billion over the four-quarter period beginning July 1, 2019. The timing and exact amount of future share repurchases will depend on various factors, including capital position, financial performance and market conditions.
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Capital Framework
Under the current U.S. Basel III capital framework, we and our banking subsidiary must meet the following specific minimum requirements: CET1 capital ratio of 4.5%, tier 1 capital ratio of 6.0%, total capital ratio of 8.0%, and tier 1 leverage ratio of 4.0%. A capital conservation buffer (“CCB”) of 2.5% is imposed on top of the three minimum risk-based capital ratios listed above.
In July 2019, the FRB and the other federal banking regulators issued a final rule to simplify regulatory capital treatment for MSRs, certain DTAs and significant investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions, pursuant to EGRRCPA. Effective for us on April 1, 2020, the final rule will change the individual CET1 deduction threshold for these assets from 10% to 25%, eliminate the aggregate deduction threshold for these assets of 15%, assign a 250% risk weight for any MSRs or DTAs not deducted from CET1 capital, and assign an exposure category risk weight for investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions not deducted from CET1 capital.
The table below presents our actual regulatory capital ratios under the U.S. Basel III Standardized rules:
(1) Required “Minimum Capital ratio” for 2019 and 2018 are: Common equity tier 1 capital of 4.5%; Tier 1 capital of 6.0%; Total capital of 8.0%; and Tier 1 leverage of 4.0%.
(2) “Minimum Capital ratio” includes capital conservation buffer of 2.500% for 2019 and 1.875% for 2018; N/A to Tier 1 leverage.
At December 31, 2019, our CET1 capital, tier 1 capital and total capital ratios were 10.0%, 11.1% and 13.0%, respectively, as compared with 10.6%, 11.3% and 13.3%, respectively, as of December 31, 2018. The CET1 capital ratio decreased as $6.7 billion of risk-weighted asset (“RWA”) growth, the impact of the capital actions described in “-Capital Transactions” below, and an increase in goodwill and intangibles related to Acquisitions, were partially offset by net income for the year ended December 31, 2019. The tier 1 capital ratio decreased as the changes in the CET1 capital ratio were partially offset by the issuance of preferred stock as described further in “-Capital Transactions” below. The total capital ratio decreased due to the changes in CET1 and tier 1 capital ratios and an increase in non-qualifying subordinated debt. At December 31, 2019, our CET1 capital, tier 1 capital and total capital ratios were approximately 300 basis points, 260 basis points and 250 basis points, respectively, above their regulatory minimums plus the capital conservation buffer. All ratios remained well above the U.S. Basel III minima.
Regulatory Capital Ratios and Capital Composition
CET1 capital under U.S. Basel III Standardized rules totaled $14.3 billion at December 31, 2019, and decreased $181 million from $14.5 billion at December 31, 2018, as common share repurchases, dividends and an increase in goodwill and intangibles related to Acquisitions were partially offset by net income for the year ended December 31, 2019. Tier 1 capital at December 31, 2019 totaled $15.9 billion, reflecting a $549 million increase from $15.3 billion at December 31, 2018, driven by the changes in CET1 capital and the issuance of preferred stock. At December 31, 2019, we had $1.6 billion of non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock issued and outstanding, an increase of $730 million from $840 million at December 31, 2018, given the first quarter 2019 issuance of 300,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock and the fourth quarter 2019 issuance of 450,000 shares of Series E Preferred
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Stock that qualified as additional tier 1 capital. Total capital of $18.5 billion at December 31, 2019, increased $385 million from December 31, 2018, driven by the changes in CET1 and tier 1 capital and an increase in non-qualifying subordinated debt.
RWA totaled $142.9 billion at December 31, 2019, based on U.S. Basel III Standardized rules, up $6.7 billion from December 31, 2018. This increase was driven by growth in retail loans, including education, residential mortgages and unsecured retail portfolios, as well as higher commercial loans and commitments, higher derivative valuations and multi-family loans. The increase in RWA was also driven by the creation of a right-of-use asset in conjunction with the adoption of ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and market risk RWA, as we met the reporting threshold prescribed by Market Risk Capital Guidelines. These increases were partially offset by run-off in the home equity portfolio and lower investment securities.
As of December 31, 2019, the tier 1 leverage ratio was 10.0% and was stable with December 31, 2018 as the $5.8 billion increase in quarterly adjusted average assets was offset by the increase in tier 1 capital.
The following table presents our capital composition under the U.S. Basel III capital framework:
(1) As a U.S. Basel III Standardized approach institution, we selected the one-time election to opt-out of the requirements to include all the components of AOCI.
(2) As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the amount of non-qualifying subordinated debt excluded from regulatory capital was $267 million and $139 million, respectively.
Capital Adequacy Process
Our assessment of capital adequacy begins with our risk appetite and risk management framework. This framework provides for the identification, measurement and management of material risks. Capital requirements are determined for actual and forecasted risk portfolios using applicable regulatory capital methodologies. The assessment also considers the possible impacts of approved and proposed changes to regulatory capital requirements. Key analytical frameworks, including stress testing, which enable the assessment of capital adequacy versus unexpected loss under a variety of stress scenarios, supplement our base line forecast. A governance framework supports our capital planning process, including capital management policies and procedures that document capital adequacy metrics and limits, as well as our Capital Contingency Plan and the active engagement of both the legal-entity boards and senior management in oversight and decision-making.
Forward-looking assessments of capital adequacy feed development of a single capital plan covering us and our banking subsidiary that is periodically submitted to the FRB. We prepare this plan in full compliance with the FRB’s Capital Plan Rule and we participate annually in the FRB’s horizontal capital review, which is the FRB’s assessment of specific capital planning areas as part of their normal supervisory process.
All distributions proposed under our Capital Plan are subject to consideration and approval by our Board of Directors prior to execution. The timing and exact amount of future dividends and share repurchases will depend on various factors, including our capital position, financial performance and market conditions.
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Capital Transactions
We completed the following capital actions during 2019:
•
Declared quarterly common stock dividends of $0.32 per share for the first and second quarters of 2019, and $0.36 per share for the third and fourth quarters of 2019, aggregating to $617 million;
•
Declared semi-annual dividends of $27.50 per share on the 5.500% fixed-to-floating rate non-cumulative perpetual Series A Preferred Stock, aggregating to $14 million;
•
Declared semi-annual dividends of $30.00 per share on the 6.000% fixed-to-floating rate non-cumulative perpetual Series B Preferred Stock, aggregating to $18 million;
•
Declared quarterly dividends of $15.94 per share on the 6.375% fixed-to-floating rate non-cumulative perpetual Series C Preferred Stock, aggregating to $19 million;
•
Issued $300 million, or 12,000,000 depository shares, of 6.350% fixed-to-floating rate non-cumulative perpetual Series D Preferred Stock (the “Series D Preferred Stock”), par value of $25.00 per share with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, with net proceeds of $293 million;
•
Declared quarterly dividends of $11.82 per share in the first quarter of 2019 and $15.88 per share in the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2019 on the Series D Preferred Stock, aggregating to $18 million;
•
Issued $450 million, or 18,000,000 depository shares, of 5.000% fixed-rate non-cumulative perpetual Series E Preferred Stock (the “Series E Preferred Stock”), par value of $25.00 per share with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, with net proceeds of $437 million;
•
Declared a quarterly dividend of $9.44 per share in fourth quarter 2019 on the Series E Preferred Stock, aggregating to $4 million; and
•
Repurchased $1.2 billion of our outstanding common stock
Banking Subsidiary’s Capital
The following table presents CBNA’s capital ratios under U.S. Basel III Standardized rules:
CBNA CET1 capital totaled $15.6 billion at December 31, 2019, up $3.6 billion from $12.0 billion at December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily driven by the net impact of the merger of CBPA into CBNA effective January 2, 2019, and net income for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase was partially offset by dividend payments to the Parent Company and an increase in goodwill and intangibles related Acquisitions. Total capital was $17.9 billion at December 31, 2019, an increase of $3.7 billion from December 31, 2018, driven by the change in CET1 capital, an increase in the ACL, primarily attributable to the merger and slightly offset by an increase in non-qualifying subordinated debt.
CBNA had RWA of $142.6 billion at December 31, 2019, an increase of $28.9 billion from December 31, 2018 driven primarily by the merger of CBPA into CBNA, in addition to growth in retail loans, commercial loans and commitments and higher derivative valuations. RWA was also increased by the creation of a right-of-use asset in conjunction with the adoption of ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and market risk RWA, as we met the reporting threshold prescribed by Market Risk Capital Guidelines. These increases were partially offset by run-off in the home equity portfolio and certain sales of investment securities.
As of December 31, 2019, the CBNA tier 1 leverage ratio was 9.9% and was stable with December 31, 2018 as the $36.7 billion increase in quarterly adjusted average assets was offset by the increase in tier 1 capital.
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LIQUIDITY
Liquidity is defined as our ability to meet our cash flow and collateral obligations in a timely manner, at a reasonable cost. An institution must maintain operating liquidity to meet its expected daily and forecasted cash flow requirements, as well as contingent liquidity to meet unexpected (stress scenario) funding requirements. As noted earlier, reflecting the importance of meeting all unexpected and stress scenario funding requirements, we identify and manage contingent liquidity; consisting of cash balances at the FRB, unencumbered high-quality and liquid securities, and unused FHLB borrowing capacity. Separately, we also identify and manage asset liquidity (cash balances at the FRB and unencumbered securities) as a subset of contingent liquidity (asset liquidity and undrawn FHLB capacity). We consider the effective and prudent management of liquidity to be fundamental to our financial health and strength.
We manage liquidity at the consolidated enterprise level and at each material legal entity, including at the Parent Company and CBNA level.
Parent Company Liquidity
Our Parent Company’s primary sources of cash are dividends and interest received from CBNA as a result of investing in bank equity and subordinated debt and externally issued preferred stock as well as senior and subordinated debt. Uses of cash include the routine cash flow requirements as a bank holding company, including periodic share repurchases and payments of dividends, interest and expenses; the needs of subsidiaries, including CBNA, for additional equity and, as required, its need for debt financing; and the support for extraordinary funding requirements when necessary. To the extent the Parent Company has relied on wholesale borrowings, uses also include payments of related principal and interest.
On January 29, 2019, the Parent Company issued $300 million, or 12,000,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of its 6.350% fixed-to-floating rate non-cumulative perpetual Series D Preferred Stock, par value of $25.00 per share with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share). For further information, see Note 16 in Item 8.
On July 25, 2019, the Parent Company issued $500 million in seven-year 2.850% fixed-rate senior notes.
On October 28, 2019, the Parent Company issued $450 million, or 18,000,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of its 5.000% fixed-rate non-cumulative perpetual Series E Preferred Stock, par value of $25.00 per share with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share). For further information, see Note 16 in Item 8.
On February 6, 2020, the Parent Company issued $300 million in ten-year 2.500% fixed-rate senior notes.
For further information on outstanding debt and preferred stock, see Note 12 and Note 16 in Item 8.
During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Parent Company declared and paid dividends on common stock of $617 million and $471 million, respectively, and declared dividends on preferred stock of $73 million and $29 million, respectively. In addition, the Parent Company repurchased $1.220 billion and $1.025 billion of its outstanding common stock, respectively.
Our Parent Company’s cash and cash equivalents represent a source of liquidity that can be used to meet various needs and totaled $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2019 compared with $911 million as of December 31, 2018. The Parent Company’s double-leverage ratio (the combined equity investment in Parent Company subsidiaries divided by Parent Company equity) is a measure of reliance on equity cash flows from subsidiaries to fund Parent Company obligations. At December 31, 2019, the Parent Company’s double-leverage ratio was 99%.
CBNA Liquidity
In the ordinary course of business, the liquidity of CBNA is managed by matching sources and uses of cash. The primary sources of bank liquidity include deposits from our consumer and commercial customers; payments of principal and interest on loans and debt securities; and wholesale borrowings, as needed, and as described under “-Liquidity Risk Management and Governance.” The primary uses of bank liquidity include withdrawals and maturities of deposits; payment of interest on deposits; funding of loans and related commitments; and funding of securities purchases. To the extent that CBNA has relied on wholesale borrowings, uses also include payments of related principal and interest. For further information on CBNA’s outstanding debt, see Note 12 in Item 8.
As CBNA’s major businesses involve taking deposits and making loans, a key role of liquidity management is to ensure that customers have timely access to funds from deposits and for loans. Liquidity management also involves
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maintaining sufficient liquidity to repay wholesale borrowings, pay operating expenses and support extraordinary funding requirements when necessary.
On February 14, 2019, CBNA issued $1.5 billion in senior notes, consisting of $700 million in three-year 3.250% fixed-rate notes, $300 million in three-year floating-rate notes, and $500 million in seven-year 3.750% fixed-rate notes.
Liquidity Risk
We define liquidity risk as the risk that an entity will be unable to meet its payment obligations in a timely manner, at a reasonable cost. Liquidity risk can arise due to contingent liquidity risk and/or funding liquidity risk.
Contingent liquidity risk is the risk that market conditions may reduce an entity’s ability to liquidate, pledge and/or finance certain assets and thereby substantially reduce the liquidity value of such assets. Drivers of contingent liquidity risk include general market disruptions as well as specific issues regarding the credit quality and/or valuation of a security or loan, issuer or borrower and/or asset class.
Funding liquidity risk is the risk that market conditions and/or entity-specific events may reduce an entity’s ability to raise funds from depositors and/or wholesale market counterparties. Drivers of funding liquidity risk may be idiosyncratic or systemic, reflecting impediments to operations and/or damaged market confidence.
Factors Affecting Liquidity
Given the composition of assets and borrowing sources, contingent liquidity risk at CBNA would be materially affected by events such as deterioration of financing markets for high-quality securities (e.g., mortgage-backed securities and other instruments issued by the GNMA, FNMA and the FHLMC), by any inability of the FHLBs to provide collateralized advances and/or by a refusal of the FRB to act as a lender of last resort in systemic stress.
Similarly, given the structure of its balance sheet, the funding liquidity risk of CBNA would be materially affected by an adverse idiosyncratic event (e.g., a major loss, causing a perceived or actual deterioration in its financial condition), an adverse systemic event (e.g., default or bankruptcy of a significant capital markets participant), or a combination of both. Consequently, and despite ongoing exposure to a variety of idiosyncratic and systemic events, we view our contingent liquidity risk and our funding liquidity risk to be relatively modest.
An additional variable affecting our access to unsecured wholesale market funds and to large denomination (i.e., uninsured) customer deposits is the credit ratings assigned by such agencies as Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch. The following table presents our credit ratings:
NR = Not Rated
Changes in our public credit ratings could affect both the cost and availability of our wholesale funding. As a result and in order to maintain a conservative funding profile, CBNA continues to minimize reliance on unsecured wholesale funding. At December 31, 2019, our wholesale funding consisted primarily of secured borrowings from the FHLBs collateralized by high-quality residential mortgages and term debt issued by the Parent Company and CBNA.
Existing and evolving regulatory liquidity requirements represent another key driver of systemic liquidity conditions and liquidity management practices. The FRB, the OCC and the FDIC regularly evaluate our liquidity as part of the overall supervisory process. In addition we are subject to existing and evolving regulatory liquidity requirements, some of which are subject to further rulemaking, guidance and interpretation by the applicable
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federal regulators. For further discussion, see the “Regulation and Supervision - Financial Regulatory Reform” and “-Liquidity Requirements” sections in Item 1.
The LCR was developed by the U.S. federal banking regulators to ensure banks have sufficient high-quality liquid assets to cover expected net cash outflows over a 30-day liquidity stress period. In accordance with the October 2019 Final Rules, Category IV institutions with less than $50 billion in weighted short-term wholesale funding, such as us, are no longer subject to the requirements of the LCR rule as of December 31, 2019.
Liquidity Risk Management and Governance
Liquidity risk is measured and managed by the Funding and Liquidity unit within our Treasury unit in accordance with policy guidelines promulgated by our Board and the Asset Liability Committee. In managing liquidity risk, the Funding and Liquidity unit delivers regular and comprehensive reporting, including current levels versus threshold limits, for a broad set of liquidity metrics and early warning indicators, explanatory commentary relating to emerging risk trends and, as appropriate, recommended remedial strategies.
Our Funding and Liquidity unit’s primary goal is to deliver and otherwise maintain prudent levels of operating liquidity (to support expected and projected funding requirements), and contingent liquidity (to support unexpected funding requirements resulting from idiosyncratic, systemic, and combination stress events, and regulatory liquidity requirements) in a timely manner from stable and cost-efficient funding sources.
We seek to accomplish this goal by funding loans with stable deposits; by prudently controlling dependence on wholesale funding, particularly short-term unsecured funding; and by maintaining ample available liquidity, including a contingent liquidity buffer of unencumbered high-quality loans and securities. As of December 31, 2019:
•
Core deposits continued to be our primary source of funding and our consolidated year-end loans-to-deposits ratio, which excludes LHFS, was 95.0%;
•
Our cash position (which is defined as cash balance held at the FRB) totaled $2.1 billion;
•
Contingent liquidity was $28.5 billion, consisting of unencumbered high-quality liquid securities of $19.2 billion, unused FHLB capacity of $7.2 billion, and our cash position of $2.1 billion. Asset liquidity (a component of contingent liquidity) was $21.3 billion, consisting of our cash position of $2.1 billion and unencumbered high-quality liquid securities of $19.2 billion;
•
Available discount window capacity, defined as available total borrowing capacity from the FRB based on identified collateral, is secured by non-mortgage commercial and retail loans and totaled $12.4 billion. Use of this borrowing capacity would be considered only during exigent circumstances; and
•
For a summary of our sources and uses of cash by type of activity for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, see the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in Item 8.
The Funding and Liquidity unit monitors a variety of liquidity and funding metrics and early warning indicators and metrics, including specific risk thresholds limits. These monitoring tools are broadly classified as follows:
•
Current liquidity sources and capacities, including cash at the FRBs, free and liquid securities and available and secured FHLB borrowing capacity;
•
Liquidity stress sources, including idiosyncratic, systemic and combined stresses, in addition to evolving regulatory requirements; and
•
Current and prospective exposures, including secured and unsecured wholesale funding and spot and cumulative cash-flow gaps across a variety of horizons.
Further, certain of these metrics are monitored individually for CBNA, and for our consolidated enterprise on a daily basis, including cash position, unencumbered securities, asset liquidity, and available FHLB borrowing capacity. In order to identify emerging trends and risks and inform funding decisions, specific metrics are also forecasted over a one-year horizon.
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CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table presents our outstanding contractual obligations as of December 31, 2019:
(1) Deposits and long-term borrowed funds exclude interest.
(2) Includes demand, checking with interest, regular savings, and money market account deposits. See “-Deposits” for further information.
(3) Includes obligations under capital leases.
(4) Includes accrued interest and future contractual interest obligations related to long-term borrowed funds.
(5) Includes purchase obligations for goods and services covered by non-cancelable contracts and contracts including cancellation fees.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The following table presents our outstanding off-balance sheet arrangements. For further information, see Note 18 in Item 8:
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Our audited Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included in this Report, are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to establish accounting policies and make estimates that affect amounts reported in our audited Consolidated Financial Statements.
An accounting estimate requires assumptions and judgments about uncertain matters that could have a material effect on our audited Consolidated Financial Statements. Estimates are made using facts and circumstances known at a point in time. Changes in those facts and circumstances could produce results substantially different from those estimates. Our most significant accounting policies and estimates and their related application are discussed below. See Note 1 in Item 8, for further discussion of our significant accounting policies.
Allowance for Credit Losses
Management’s estimate of probable losses in our loan and lease portfolios including unfunded lending commitments is recorded in the ALLL and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments, at levels that we believe to be appropriate as of the balance sheet date. The reserve for unfunded lending commitments is reported as a component of other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our determination of such estimates is based on a periodic evaluation of the loan and lease portfolios and unfunded credit facilities, as well as other relevant factors. This evaluation is inherently subjective and requires significant estimates and judgments of underlying factors, all of which are susceptible to change.
The ALLL and reserve for unfunded lending commitments could be affected by a variety of internal and external factors. Internal factors include portfolio performance such as delinquency levels, assigned risk ratings, the mix and level of loan balances, differing economic risks associated with each loan category and the financial condition of specific borrowers. External factors include fluctuations in the general economy, unemployment rates, bankruptcy filings, developments within a particular industry, changes in collateral values and factors particular to
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a specific commercial credit such as competition, business and management performance. The ALLL may be adjusted to reflect our current assessment of various qualitative risks, factors and events that may not be measured in our statistical procedures. There is no certainty that the ALLL and reserve for unfunded lending commitments will be appropriate over time to cover losses because of unanticipated adverse changes in any of these internal, external or qualitative factors. There were no material changes in assumptions or estimation techniques compared with prior years that impacted the determination of the current year’s ALLL and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments.
The evaluation of the adequacy of the commercial, commercial real estate, and lease ALLL and reserve for unfunded lending commitments is primarily based on risk rating models that assess probability of default (“PD”), loss given default (“LGD”) and exposure at default on an individual loan basis. The models are primarily driven by individual customer financial characteristics and are validated against historical experience. Additionally, qualitative factors are included in the risk rating models. After the aggregation of individual borrower incurred loss, additional overlays can be made based on back-testing against historical losses and forward loss curve ratios.
For nonaccruing commercial and commercial real estate loans with an outstanding balance of $3 million or greater and for all commercial and commercial real estate TDRs (regardless of size), we conduct specific analysis on a loan level basis to determine the probable amount of credit loss. If appropriate, a specific ALLL is established for the loan through a charge to the provision for credit losses. For all classes of impaired loans, individual loan measures of impairment may result in a charge-off to the ALLL, if deemed appropriate. In such cases, the provision for credit losses is not affected when a specific reserve for at least that amount already exists. Techniques utilized include comparing the loan’s carrying amount to the estimated present value of its future cash flows, the fair value of its underlying collateral, or the loan’s observable market price. The technique applied to each impaired loan is based on the workout officer’s opinion of the most probable workout scenario. Historically, this has generally led to the use of the estimated present value of future cash flows approach. The fair value of underlying collateral will be used if the loan is deemed collateral dependent. For loans that use the fair value of underlying collateral approach, a charge-off assessment is performed quarterly to write the loans down for declines in value to fair value less cost to sell.
For most non-impaired retail loan portfolio types, the ALLL is based upon the incurred loss model utilizing the PD, LGD and exposure at default on an individual loan basis. When developing these factors, we may consider the loan product and collateral type, delinquency status, LTV ratio, lien position, borrower’s credit, time outstanding, geographic location and incurred loss period. Incurred loss periods are reviewed and updated at least annually, and potentially more frequently when economic situations change rapidly, as they tend to fluctuate with economic cycles. Incurred loss periods are generally longer in good economic times and shorter in bad times. Certain retail portfolios, including education, unsecured personal loans, SBO home equity loans and credit card receivables utilize roll rate or vintage models to estimate the ALLL.
For home equity lines and loans, a number of factors impact the PD. Specifically, the borrower’s current FICO score, the utilization rate, delinquency statistics, borrower income, current CLTV ratio and months on books are all used to assess the borrower’s creditworthiness. Similarly, LGD is also impacted by various factors, including the utilization rate, the CLTV ratio, the lien position, the Housing Price Index change for the location (as measured by the Case-Shiller index), age of the loan and current loan balance.
When we are not in a first lien position, we use delinquency information on the first lien exposures obtained from third-party credit information providers in the credit assessment. For all first liens, whether owned by a third party or by us, an additional assessment is performed on a quarterly basis. In this assessment, the most recent three months’ performance of the senior liens is reviewed for delinquency (90 days or more past due), modification, foreclosure and/or bankruptcy statuses. If any derogatory status is present, the junior lien will be placed on nonaccrual status regardless of its delinquency status on our books. This subsequent change to nonaccrual status will alter the treatment in the PD model, thus affecting the reserve calculation.
In addition, the first lien exposure is combined with the second lien exposure to generate a CLTV. The CLTV is a more accurate reflection of the leverage of the borrower against the property value, as compared to the LTV from just the junior lien(s). The CLTV is used for modeling both the junior lien PD and LGD. This also impacts the ALLL rates for the junior lien HELOCs.
The above measures are all used to assess the PD and LGD for HELOC borrowers for whom we originated the loans.
For retail TDRs that are not collateral-dependent, allowances are developed using the present value of expected future cash flows, compared to the recorded investment in the loans. Expected re-default factors are considered in this analysis. Retail TDRs that are deemed collateral-dependent are written down to the fair market
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value of the collateral less costs to sell. The fair value of collateral is periodically monitored subsequent to the modification.
Changes in the levels of estimated losses can significantly affect management’s determination of an appropriate ALLL. For retail loans, losses are affected by such factors as loss severity, collateral values, economic conditions, and other factors. A one basis point and five basis point increase in the estimated loss rate for retail loans at December 31, 2019 would have increased the ALLL by $6 million and $31 million, respectively. The ALLL for our Commercial Banking segment is sensitive to assigned credit risk ratings and inherent loss rates. If 10% and 20% of the December 31, 2019 year end loan balances (including unfunded commitments) within each risk rating category of our Commercial Banking segment had experienced downgrades of two risk categories, the ALLL would have increased by $66 million and $126 million, respectively.
Commercial loans and leases are charged off to the ALLL when there is little prospect of collecting either principal or interest. Charge-offs of commercial loans and leases usually involve receipt of borrower-specific adverse information. For commercial collateral-dependent loans, an appraisal or other valuation is used to quantify a shortfall between the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell and the recorded investment in the commercial loan. Retail loan charge-offs are generally based on established delinquency thresholds rather than borrower-specific adverse information. When a loan is collateral-dependent, any shortfalls between the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell and the recorded investment is promptly charged off. Placing any loan or lease on nonaccrual status does not by itself require a partial or total charge-off; however, any identified losses are charged off at that time.
For additional information regarding the ALLL and reserve for unfunded lending commitments, see Note 1 and Note 5 in Item 8.
Fair Value
We measure fair value using the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is based upon quoted market prices in an active market, where available. If quoted prices are not available, observable market-based inputs or independently sourced parameters are used to develop fair value, whenever possible. Such inputs may include prices of similar assets or liabilities, yield curves, interest rates, prepayment speeds and foreign exchange rates.
We classify our assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value in accordance with the three-level valuation hierarchy:
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Level 1. Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
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Level 2. Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar instruments; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and
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Level 3. Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market information and that are significant to the fair value measurement.
Classification in the hierarchy is based upon the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the asset or liability. For instruments classified in Level 1 and 2 where inputs are primarily based upon observable market data, there is less judgment applied in arriving at the fair value. For instruments classified in Level 3, management judgment is more significant due to the lack of observable market data.
We review and update the fair value hierarchy classifications on a quarterly basis. Changes from one quarter to the next related to the observability of inputs in fair value measurements may result in a reclassification between the fair value hierarchy levels and are recognized based on year-end balances. We also verify the accuracy of the pricing provided by our primary external pricing service on a quarterly basis. This process involves using a secondary external vendor to provide valuations for our securities portfolio for comparison purposes. Any securities with discrepancies beyond a certain threshold are researched and, if necessary, valued by an independent outside broker.
Fair value is also used on a nonrecurring basis to evaluate certain assets for impairment or for disclosure purposes. Examples of nonrecurring uses of fair value include mortgage servicing rights accounted for by the amortization method, loan impairments for certain loans and goodwill.
The fair value of assets under operating leases is determined using collateral specific pricing digests, external appraisals, broker opinions, recent sales data from industry equipment dealers, and the discounted cash flows
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derived from the underlying lease agreement. As market data for similar assets and lease agreements is available and used in the valuation, these assets are classified as Level 2.
MSRs do not trade in an active market with readily observable prices. MSRs are classified as Level 3 since the valuation methodology utilizes significant unobservable inputs. The fair value was calculated using a discounted cash flow model which used assumptions, including weighted-average life, prepayment assumptions and weighted-average option adjusted spread. It is important to note that changes in our assumptions may not be independent of each other. Changes in one assumption may result in changes to another (e.g., changes in interest rates, which are inversely correlated to changes in prepayment rates, may result in changes to discount rates), which could impact sensitivities. The underlying assumptions and estimated values are corroborated by values received from independent third parties based on their review of the servicing portfolio, and comparisons to market transactions. In addition, the MSR Policy is approved by the Asset Liability Committee.
For additional information regarding our fair value measurements, see Note 1, Note 3, Note 8, Note 13, and Note 19 in Item 8.
ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING DEVELOPMENTS
Accounting standards issued but not adopted as of December 31, 2019
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RISK GOVERNANCE
We are committed to maintaining a strong, integrated and proactive approach to the management of all risks to which we are exposed in pursuit of our business objectives. A key aspect of our Board’s responsibility as the main decision making body is setting our risk appetite to ensure that the levels of risk that we are willing to accept in the attainment of our strategic business and financial objectives are clearly understood.
To enable our Board to carry out its objectives, it has delegated authority for risk management activities, as well as governance and oversight of those activities, to a number of Board and executive management level risk committees. The Executive Risk Committee (“ERC”), chaired by the Chief Risk Officer, is responsible for oversight of risk across the enterprise and actively considers our inherent material risks, analyzes our overall risk profile and seeks confirmation that the risks are being appropriately identified, assessed and mitigated. Reporting to the ERC are the following additional committees, covering specific areas of risk: Compliance and Operational Risk Committee, Model Risk Committee, Credit Policy Committee, Asset Liability Committee, Business Initiatives Review Committee, and the Conduct and Ethics Committee.
Risk Framework
Our risk management framework is embedded in our business through a “Three Lines of Defense” model which defines responsibilities and accountabilities for risk management activities.
First Line of Defense
The business lines (including their associated support functions) are the first line of defense and are accountable for identifying, assessing, managing, and controlling the risks associated with the products and services they provide. The business lines are responsible for performing regular risk assessments to identify and assess the material risks that arise in their area of responsibility, complying with relevant risk policies, testing and certifying the adequacy and effectiveness of their operational and financial reporting controls on a regular basis, establishing and documenting operating procedures and establishing and owning a governance structure for identifying and managing risk.
Second Line of Defense
The second line of defense includes independent monitoring and control functions accountable for developing and ensuring implementation of risk and control frameworks and related policies. This centralized risk function is appropriately independent from the business and is accountable for overseeing and challenging our business lines on the effective management of their risks, including credit, market, operational, regulatory, reputational, interest rate, liquidity and strategic risks.
Third Line of Defense
Our Internal Audit function is the third line of defense providing independent assurance with a view of the effectiveness of our internal controls, governance practices, and culture so that risk is managed appropriately for the size, complexity, and risk profile of the organization. Internal Audit has complete and unrestricted access to any and all of our records, physical properties and personnel. Internal Audit issues a report following each internal review and provides an audit opinion to the Board’s Audit Committee on a quarterly basis.
Credit Quality Assurance reports to the Chief Audit Executive and provides the legal-entity boards, senior management and other stakeholders with independent assurance on the quality of credit portfolios and adherence to agreed Credit Risk Appetite and Credit Policies and processes. In line with its procedures and regulatory expectations, the Credit Quality Assurance function undertakes a program of portfolio testing, assessing and reporting through four Risk Pillars of Asset Quality, Rating and Data Integrity, Risk Management and Credit Risk Appetite.
Risk Appetite
Risk appetite is a strategic business and risk management tool. We define our risk appetite as the maximum limit of acceptable risk beyond which we could be unable to achieve our strategic objectives and capital adequacy obligations.
Our principal non-market risks include credit, operational, regulatory, reputational, liquidity and strategic risks. We are also subject to certain market risks which include potential losses arising from changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices, commodity prices and/or other relevant market rates or prices. Market risk in our business arises from trading activities that serve customer needs, including hedging of interest rates, foreign exchange risk and non-trading activities within capital markets. We have established enterprise-wide policies
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and methodologies to identify, measure, monitor and report on market risk. We actively manage both trading and non-trading market risks. See “-Market Risk” for further information. Our risk appetite is reviewed and approved annually by the Board Risk Committee.
Credit Risk
Overview
Credit risk represents the potential for loss arising from a customer, counterparty, or issuer failing to perform in accordance with the contractual terms of the obligation. While the majority of our credit risk is associated with lending activities, we do engage with other financial counterparties for a variety of purposes including investing, asset and liability management, and trading activities. Given the financial impact of credit risk on our earnings and balance sheet, the assessment, approval and management of credit risk represents a major part of our overall risk-management responsibility.
Objective
The independent Credit Risk Function is responsible for reviewing and approving credit risk appetite across all lines of business and credit products, approving larger and higher risk credit transactions, monitoring portfolio performance, identifying problem credit exposures, and ensuring remedial management.
Organizational Structure
Management and oversight of credit risk is the responsibility of both the business line and the second line of defense. The second line of defense, the independent Credit Risk Function, is led by the Chief Credit Officer who oversees all of our credit risk. The Chief Credit Officer reports to the Chief Risk Officer. The Chief Credit Officer, acting in a manner consistent with Board policies, has responsibility for, among other things, the governance process around policies, procedures, risk acceptance criteria, credit risk appetite, limits and authority delegation. The Chief Credit Officer and team also have responsibility for credit approvals for larger and higher risk transactions and oversight of line of business credit risk activities. Reporting to the Chief Credit Officer are the heads of the second line of defense credit functions specializing in: Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, Citizens Restructuring Management, Portfolio and Corporate Reporting, ALLL Analytics, Current Expected Credit Loss, and Credit Policy and Administration. Each team under these leaders is composed of highly experienced credit professionals.
Governance
The primary mechanisms used to govern our credit risk function are our consumer and commercial credit policies. These policies outline the minimum acceptable lending standards that align with our desired risk appetite. Material changes in our business model and strategies that identify a need to change our risk appetite or highlight a risk not previously contemplated are identified by the individual committees and presented to the Credit Policy Committee, Executive Risk Committee and the Board Risk Committee for approval, as appropriate.
Key Management Processes
We employ a comprehensive and integrated risk control program to proactively identify, measure, monitor, and mitigate existing and emerging credit risks across the credit life cycle (origination, account management/portfolio management, and loss mitigation and recovery).
Consumer
On the Consumer Banking side of credit risk, our teams use models to evaluate consumer loans across the life cycle of the loan. Starting at origination, credit scoring models are used to forecast the probability of default of an applicant. When approving customers for a new loan or extension of an existing credit line, credit scores are used in conjunction with other credit risk variables such as affordability, length of term, collateral value, collateral type, and lien subordination.
To ensure proper oversight of the underwriting teams, lending authority is granted by the second line of defense credit risk function to each underwriter. The amount of delegated authority depends on the experience of the individual. We periodically evaluate the performance of each underwriter and annually reauthorize their delegated authority. Only senior members of the second line of defense credit risk team are authorized to approve significant exceptions to credit policies. It is not uncommon to make exceptions to established policies when compensating factors are present. There are exception limits which, when reached, trigger a comprehensive analysis.
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Once an account is established, credit scores and collateral values are refreshed at regular intervals to allow for proactive identification of increasing or decreasing levels of credit risk. Our approach to managing credit risk is highly analytical and, where appropriate, is automated, to ensure consistency and efficiency.
Commercial
On the Commercial Banking side of credit risk, the structure is broken into C&I loans and leases and CRE. Within C&I loans and leases there are separate verticals established for certain specialty products (e.g., asset-based lending, leasing, franchise finance, health care, and technology, mid-corporate). A “specialty vertical” is a stand-alone team of industry or product specialists. Substantially all activity that falls under the ambit of the defined industry or product is managed through a specialty vertical when one exists. CRE also operates as a specialty vertical.
Commercial credit risk management begins with defined credit products and policies.
Commercial transactions are subject to individual analysis and approval at origination and, with few exceptions, are subject to a formal annual review requirement. The underwriting process includes the establishment and approval of credit grades that confirm the PD and LGD. All material transactions then require the approval of both a business line approver and an independent credit approver with the requisite level of delegated authority. The approval level of a particular credit facility is determined by the size of the credit relationship as well as the PD. The checks and balances in the credit process and the independence of the credit approver function are designed to appropriately assess and sanction the level of credit risk being accepted, facilitate the early recognition of credit problems when they occur, and to provide for effective problem asset management and resolution. All authority to grant credit is delegated through the independent Credit Risk function and is closely monitored and regularly updated.
The primary factors considered in commercial credit approvals are the financial strength of the borrower, assessment of the borrower’s management capabilities, cash flows from operations, industry sector trends, type and sufficiency of collateral, type of exposure, transaction structure, and the general economic outlook. While these are the primary factors considered, there are a number of other factors that may be considered in the decision process. In addition to the credit analysis conducted during the approval process at origination and annual review, our Credit Quality Assurance group performs testing to provide an independent review and assessment of the quality of the portfolio and new originations. This group conducts portfolio reviews on a risk-based cycle to evaluate individual loans, and validate risk ratings, as well as test the consistency of the credit processes and the effectiveness of credit risk management.
The maximum level of credit exposure to individual credit borrowers is limited by policy guidelines based on the perceived risk of each borrower or related group of borrowers. Concentration risk is managed through limits on industry asset class and loan quality factors. We focus predominantly on extending credit to commercial customers with existing or expandable relationships within our primary markets (for this purpose defined as our 11 state footprint plus contiguous states), although we do engage in lending opportunities outside our primary markets if we believe that the associated risks are acceptable and aligned with strategic initiatives.
Substantially all loans categorized as Classified are managed by a specialized group of credit professionals.
MARKET RISK
Market risk refers to potential losses arising from changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices, commodity prices and/or other relevant market rates or prices. Modest market risk arises from trading activities that serve customer needs, including hedging of interest rate and foreign exchange risk. As described below, more material market risk arises from our non-trading banking activities, such as loan origination and deposit-gathering. We have established enterprise-wide policies and methodologies to identify, measure, monitor and report market risk. We actively manage market risk for both trading and non-trading activities.
Non-Trading Risk
We are exposed to market risk as a result of non-trading banking activities. This market risk is substantially composed of interest rate risk, as we have no commodity risk and de minimis direct currency and equity risk. We also have market risk related to capital markets loan originations, as well as the valuation of our MSRs.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk emerges from the balance sheet after the aggregation of our assets, liabilities and equity. We refer to this non-trading risk embedded in the balance sheet as “structural interest rate risk” or “interest rate risk in the banking book.”
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A major source of structural interest rate risk is a difference in the repricing of assets relative to liabilities and equity. There are differences in the timing and drivers of rate changes reflecting the maturity and/or repricing of assets and liabilities. For example, the rate earned on a commercial loan may reprice monthly with changes in LIBOR, while the rate paid on debt or certificates of deposit may be fixed for a longer period. There may also be differences in the drivers of rate changes. Loans may be tied to a specific index rate such as LIBOR or Prime, while deposits may be only loosely correlated with LIBOR and dependent upon competitive demand. Due to these basis differences, net interest income is sensitive to changes in spreads between certain indices or repricing rates.
Another important source of structural interest rate risk relates to the potential exercise of explicit or embedded options. For example, most consumer loans can be prepaid without penalty and most consumer deposits can also be withdrawn without penalty. The exercise of such options by customers can exacerbate the timing differences discussed above.
A primary source of our structural interest rate risk relates to faster repricing of floating-rate loans relative to retail deposit funding. This source of asset sensitivity is more biased toward the short end of the yield curve. After a period of slowly raising short-term rates to a more neutral stance, the FRB adjusted their policy stance with a mid-cycle adjustment, reducing short term rates by 75 basis points in 2019. As this shift occurred, we reduced our asset sensitivity to a more moderate level to account for the less certain outlook for policy rates.
The secondary source of our interest rate risk is driven by longer term rates comprising the rollover or reinvestment risk on fixed-rate loans, as well as prepayment risk on mortgage-related loans and securities funded by non-rate sensitive deposits and equity.
The primary goal of interest rate risk management is to control exposure to interest rate risk within policy limits approved by our Board. These limits and guidelines reflect our tolerance for interest rate risk over both short-term and long-term horizons. To ensure that exposure to interest rate risk is managed within our risk appetite, we must measure the exposure and hedge it, as necessary. The Treasury Asset and Liability Management team is responsible for measuring, monitoring and reporting on our structural interest rate risk position. These exposures are reported on a monthly basis to the Asset Liability Committee and at Board meetings.
We measure structural interest rate risk through a variety of metrics intended to quantify both short-term and long-term exposures. The primary method we use to quantify interest rate risk is simulation analysis in which we model net interest income from assets, liabilities and hedge derivative positions under various interest rate scenarios over a three-year horizon. Exposure to interest rate risk is reflected in the variation of forecasted net interest income across the scenarios.
Key assumptions in this simulation analysis relate to the behavior of interest rates and spreads, the changes in product balances and the behavior of loan and deposit clients in different rate environments. The most material of these behavioral assumptions relate to the repricing characteristics and balance fluctuations of deposits with indeterminate (i.e., non-contractual) maturities, as well as the pace of mortgage prepayments. Assessments are periodically made by running sensitivity analyses to determine the impact of key assumptions. The results of these analyses are reported to the Asset Liability Committee.
As the future path of interest rates cannot be known in advance, we use simulation analysis to project net interest income under various interest rate scenarios including a “most likely” (implied forward) scenario, as well as a variety of deliberately extreme and perhaps unlikely scenarios. These scenarios may assume gradual ramping of the overall level of interest rates, immediate shocks to the level of rates and various yield curve twists in which movements in short- or long-term rates predominate. Generally, projected net interest income in any interest rate scenario is compared to net interest income in a base case where market forward rates are realized.
The table below reports net interest income exposures against a variety of interest rate scenarios. Our policies involve measuring exposures as a percentage change in net interest income over the next year due to either instantaneous or gradual parallel changes in rates relative to the market implied forward yield curve. As the following table illustrates, our balance sheet is asset-sensitive; net interest income would benefit from an increase in interest rates, while exposure to a decline in interest rates is within limit. While an instantaneous and severe shift in interest rates was used in this analysis, we believe that any actual shift in interest rates would likely be more gradual and therefore have a more modest impact.
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The table below presents the sensitivity of net interest income to various parallel yield curve shifts from the market implied forward yield curve:
Given broad expectations that the FRB will maintain its current policy stance, we continue to manage asset sensitivity within the scope of our policy and changing market conditions. Asset sensitivity against a 200 basis point gradual increase in rates was 3.2% at December 31, 2019, compared with 4.9% at December 31, 2018. Additionally, approximately 75% to 80% of this asset sensitivity is tied to long-term interest rate exposure (greater than six months). The risk position can be affected by changes in interest rates which impact the repricing sensitivity or beta of the deposit base as well as the cash flows on assets that allow for early payoff without a penalty. The risk position is managed within our risk limits, and long term view of interest rates through occasional adjustments to securities investments, interest rate swaps and mix of funding.
We use a valuation measure of exposure to structural interest rate risk, Economic Value of Equity (“EVE”), as a supplement to net interest income simulations. EVE complements net interest income simulation analysis, as it estimates risk exposure over a long-term horizon. EVE measures the extent to which the economic value of assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet instruments may change in response to fluctuations in interest rates. This analysis is highly dependent upon assumptions applied to assets and liabilities with non-contractual maturities. The change in value is expressed as a percentage of regulatory capital.
We use interest rate swap contracts to manage the interest rate exposure to variability in the interest cash flows on our floating-rate assets and floating-rate wholesale funding, and to hedge market risk on fixed-rate capital markets debt issuances. The table below summarizes the related hedging activities.
(1) In 2019, we reduced asset sensitivity over the December 2019 to December 2021 period with the addition of $1.8 billion of December 2019 forward starting
receive-fixed interest rate swaps as part of an ongoing program to manage interest rate risk.
(2) In 2019, we executed a last-of-layer hedge utilizing pay-fixed interest rate swap agreements to manage the interest rate exposure on mortgage-backed
securities held in our available for sale debt securities portfolio. As of December 31, 2019, the notional and fair value of these hedges was $2.0 billion and
$2 million, respectively.
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Capital Markets
A key component of our capital markets activities is the underwriting and distribution of corporate credit facilities to partially finance mergers and acquisitions transactions for our clients. We have a rigorous risk management process around these activities, including a limit structure capping our underwriting risk, our potential loss, and sub-limits for specific asset classes. Further, the ability to approve underwriting exposure is delegated only to senior level individuals in the credit risk management and capital markets organizations with each transaction adjudicated in the Loan Underwriting Approval Committee.
Mortgage Servicing Rights
We have market risk associated with the value of residential MSRs, which are impacted by various types of inherent risks, including risks related to duration, basis, convexity, volatility and yield curve. Through December 31, 2019, we had elected to account for the MSRs acquired from FAMC at fair value while maintaining a lower of cost or market approach on our MSRs held before the FAMC acquisition. On January 1, 2020, we elected to change our accounting treatment such that all MSRs will be accounted for at fair value.
As part of our overall risk management strategy relative to the fair market value of the MSRs we enter into various free-standing derivatives, such as interest rate swaps, interest rate swaptions, interest rate futures, and forward contracts to purchase mortgage-backed securities to economically hedge the changes in fair value. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the fair value of the FAMC MSRs was $642 million and $600 million, respectively, and the total notional amount of related derivative contracts was $8.6 billion and $4.6 billion, respectively. Gains and losses on MSRs and the related derivatives used for hedging are included in mortgage banking fees on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, our MSRs held before the FAMC acquisition had a book value of $182 million and $221 million, respectively, and were carried at the lower of cost or market. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, these MSRs had a fair value of $193 million and $243 million, respectively, which exceeded the carrying value at those dates.
As with our traded market risk-based activities, earnings at risk excludes the impact of MSRs. MSRs are captured under our single price risk management framework that is used for calculating a management value at risk that is consistent with the definition used by banking regulators, as defined below.
Trading Risk
We are exposed to market risk primarily through client facilitation activities including derivatives and foreign exchange products, as well as underwriting and market making activities. Exposure is created as a result of changes in interest rates and related basis spreads and volatility, foreign exchange rates, and credit spreads on a select range of interest rates, foreign exchange, commodities, corporate bonds and secondary loan instruments. These trading activities are conducted through CBNA and CCMI.
Client facilitation activities consist primarily of interest rate derivatives, financially settled commodity derivatives and foreign exchange contracts where we enter into offsetting trades with a separate counterparty or exchange to manage our market risk exposure. In addition to the aforementioned activities, we operate a secondary loan trading desk with the objective to meet secondary liquidity needs of our issuing clients’ transactions and investor clients. We do not engage in any trading activities with the intent to benefit from short-term price differences.
We record these rate derivatives and foreign exchange contracts as derivative assets and liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Trading assets and liabilities are carried at fair value with income earned related to these activities included in net interest income. Changes in fair value of trading assets and liabilities are reflected in other income, a component of noninterest income on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Market Risk Governance
The market risk limit setting process is established in-line with the formal enterprise risk appetite process and policy. This appetite reflects the strategic and enterprise level articulation of opportunities for creating franchise value set to the boundaries of how much market risk to assume. Dealing authorities represent the key control tool in the management of market risk that allows the cascading of the risk appetite throughout the enterprise. A dealing authority sets the operational scope and tolerances within which a business and/or trading desk is permitted to operate, which is reviewed at least annually. Dealing authorities are structured to accommodate client facing trades and hedges needed to manage the risk profile. Primary responsibility for keeping within established tolerances
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resides with the business. Key risk indicators, including VaR, open foreign currency positions and single name risk, are monitored on a daily basis and reported against tolerances consistent with our risk appetite and business strategy to relevant business line management and risk counterparts.
Market Risk Measurement
We use VaR as a statistical measure for estimating potential exposure of our traded market risk in normal market conditions. Our VaR framework for risk management and regulatory reporting is the same. Risk management VaR is based on a one day holding period to a 99% confidence level, whereas regulatory VaR is based on a ten day holding period to the same confidence level. In addition to VaR, non-statistical measurements for measuring risk are employed, such as sensitivity analysis, market value and stress testing.
Our market risk platform and associated market risk and valuation models capture correlation effects across all our “covered positions” and allow for aggregation of market risk across products, risk types, business lines and legal entities. We measure, monitor and report market risk for both management and regulatory capital purposes.
VaR Overview
The market risk measurement model is based on historical simulation. The VaR measure estimates the extent of any fair value losses on trading positions that may occur due to broad market movements (General VaR) such as changes in the level of interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices and commodity prices. It is calculated on the basis that current positions remain broadly unaltered over the course of a given holding period. It is assumed that markets are sufficiently liquid to allow the business to close its positions, if required, within this holding period. VaR’s benefit is that it captures the historic correlations of a portfolio. Based on the composition of our “covered positions,” we also use a standardized add-on approach for the loan trading desk’s Specific Risk capital which estimates the extent of any losses that may occur from factors other than broad market movements. The General VaR approach is expressed in terms of a confidence level over the past 500 trading days. The internal VaR measure (used as the basis of the main VaR trading limits) is a 99% confidence level with a one day holding period, meaning that a loss greater than the VaR is expected to occur, on average, on only one day in 100 trading days (i.e., 1% of the time). Theoretically, there should be a loss event greater than VaR two to three times per year. The regulatory measure of VaR is done at a 99% confidence level with a ten-day holding period. The historical market data applied to calculate the VaR is updated on a two business day lag. Refer to “Market Risk Regulatory Capital” below for details of our ten-day VaR metrics for the quarters ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, including high, low, average and period end VaR for interest rate and foreign exchange rate risks, as well as total VaR.
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Market Risk Regulatory Capital
The U.S. banking regulators’ “Market Risk Rule” covers the calculation of market risk capital. For the purposes of the Market Risk Rule, all of our client facing trades and associated hedges maintain a net low risk and do qualify, as “covered positions.” For the three months ended December 31, 2019 we were subject to the reporting threshold under the Market Risk Rule, which resulted in the inclusion of $695 million of calculated risk-weighted assets. However, for the three months ended December 31, 2018, we were not subject to the reporting threshold. As a result, $785 million of calculated market risk-weighted assets as of December 31, 2018 was not included in our risk-weighted assets and our covered trading activities were risk-weighted under U.S. Basel III Standardized credit risk rules. The internal management VaR measure is calculated based on the same population of trades that is utilized for regulatory VaR. The following table presents the results of our modeled and non-modeled measures for regulatory capital calculations:
(1) For the three months ended December 31, 2018 we did not meet the reporting threshold prescribed by Market Risk Rule.
Stressed VaR
SVaR is an extension of VaR, but uses a longer historical look-back horizon that is fixed from January 3, 2005. This is done not only to identify headline risks from more volatile periods, but also to provide a counter-balance to VaR which may be low during periods of low volatility. The holding period for profit and loss determination is ten days. In addition to risk management purposes, SVaR is also a component of market risk regulatory capital. We calculate SVaR daily under its own dynamic window regime. In a dynamic window regime, values of the ten-day, 99% VaR are calculated over all possible 260-day periods that can be obtained from the complete historical data set. Refer to “Market Risk Regulatory Capital” above for details of SVaR metrics, including high, low, average and period end SVaR for the combined portfolio.
Sensitivity Analysis
Sensitivity analysis is the measure of exposure to a single risk factor, such as a one basis point change in rates or credit spread. We conduct and monitor sensitivity on interest rates, basis spreads, foreign exchange exposures, option prices and credit spreads. Whereas VaR is based on previous moves in market risk factors over recent periods, it may not be an accurate predictor of future market moves. Sensitivity analysis complements VaR as it provides an indication of risk relative to each factor irrespective of historical market moves, and is an effective tool in evaluating the appropriateness of hedging strategies and concentrations.
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Stress Testing
Conducting a stress test of a portfolio consists of running risk models with the inclusion of key variables that simulate various historical or hypothetical scenarios. For historical stress tests, profit and loss results are simulated for selected time periods corresponding to the most volatile underlying returns while hypothetical stress tests aim to consider concentration risk, illiquidity under stressed market conditions and risk arising from our trading activities that may not be fully captured by our other models. Hypothetical scenarios also assume that market moves happen simultaneously and no repositioning or hedging activity takes place to mitigate losses as market events unfold. We generate stress tests of our trading positions on a daily basis. For example, we currently include a stress test that simulates a “Lehman-type” crisis scenario by taking the worst 20-trading day peak to trough moves for the various risk factors that go into VaR from that period, and assumes they occurred simultaneously.
VaR Model Review and Validation
Market risk measurement models used are independently reviewed and subject to ongoing performance analysis by the model owners. The independent review and validation focuses on the model methodology, market data, and performance. Independent review of market risk measurement models is the responsibility of Citizens’ Model Risk Management and Validation team. Aspects covered include challenging the assumptions used, the quantitative techniques employed and the theoretical justification underpinning them and an assessment of the soundness of the required data over time. Where possible, the quantitative impact of the major underlying modeling assumptions will be estimated (e.g., through developing alternative models). Results of such reviews are shared with our U.S. banking regulators. The market risk models may be periodically enhanced due to changes in market price levels and price action regime behavior. The Market Risk Management and Validation team will conduct internal validation before a new or changed model element is implemented and before a change is made to a market data mapping.
VaR Backtesting
Backtesting is one form of validation of the VaR model and is run daily. The Market Risk Rule requires a comparison of our internal VaR measure to the actual net trading revenue (excluding fees, commissions, reserves, intra-day trading and net interest income) for each day over the preceding year (the most recent 250 business days). Any observed loss in excess of the VaR number is taken as an exception. The level of exceptions determines the multiplication factor used to derive the VaR and SVaR-based capital requirement for regulatory reporting purposes, when applicable. We perform sub-portfolio backtesting as required under the Market Risk Rule, using models approved by our banking regulators, for interest rate, credit spread, and foreign exchange positions.
The following graph shows our daily net trading revenue and total internal, modeled VaR for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Daily VaR Backtesting
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KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS, NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RECONCILATIONS
For more information on the computation of key performance metrics and non-GAAP financial measures, see “-Introduction- Key Performance Metrics Used by Management and Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” included in this Report. The following tables present key components and computations of key performance metrics as well as computations of non-GAAP financial measures representing our “Underlying” results used throughout “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”:
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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are presented in the “Market Risk” section of Part II, Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is incorporated herein by reference.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Page
Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1 - Basis of Presentation
Note 2 - Cash and Due from Banks
Note 3 - Securities
Note 4 - Loans and Leases
Note 5 - Allowance for Credit Losses, Nonperforming Assets, and Concentrations of Credit Risk
Note 6 - Premises, Equipment and Software
Note 7 - Mortgage Banking
Note 8 - Leases
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Note 10 - Variable Interest Entities
Note 11 - Deposits
Note 12 - Borrowed Funds
Note 13 - Derivatives
Note 14 - Employee Benefits
Note 15 - Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Note 16 - Stockholders’ Equity
Note 17 - Share-Based Compensation
Note 18 - Commitments and Contingencies
Note 19 - Fair Value Measurements
Note 20 - Noninterest Income
Note 21 - Other Operating Expense
Note 22 - Income Taxes
Note 23 - Earnings Per Share
Note 24 - Regulatory Matters
Note 25 - Business Operating Segments
Note 26 - Parent Company Financials
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REPORT OF MANAGEMENT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting is designed, under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 based on the framework set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Based on that assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2019, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.
The Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their accompanying report, appearing on page 93, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Providence, Rhode Island
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 24, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
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ALLL - Commercial Loan Portfolio - Refer to Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
Management’s estimate of probable losses in the Company’s loan and lease portfolios is recorded in the allowance ALLL and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments. On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates the adequacy of the ALLL and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments by performing reviews of certain individual loans and leases, analyzing changes in the composition, size and delinquency of the portfolio, reviewing previous loss experience and considering current and anticipated economic factors.
The evaluation of the adequacy of the commercial, commercial real estate, and lease (collectively “commercial loan portfolio”) ALLL and reserve for unfunded lending commitments is primarily based on risk rating models that assess probability of default (“PD”), loss given default (“LGD”) and exposure at default on an individual loan basis. The models are primarily driven by individual customer financial characteristics and are validated against historical experience. Additionally, qualitative factors may be included in the risk rating models. After the aggregation of individual borrower incurred loss, additional overlays can be made based on back-testing against historical losses.
The ALLL and the reserve for unfunded commitments is adjusted to reflect Management’s current assessment of various qualitative risks, factors and events that may not be measured in the statistical analysis (“qualitative component”). Such factors include trends in economic conditions, loan growth, back testing results, credit underwriting policy exceptions, regulatory and audit findings, and peer comparisons. The Company’s methodology for determining the qualitative component includes a statistical analysis of prior charge-off rates and a qualitative assessment of factors affecting the determination of incurred losses in the loan and lease portfolio.
Given the size and nature of the commercial loan portfolio and the subjective nature of estimating the ALLL and reserve for unfunded commitments, auditing the ALLL and reserve for unfunded commitments for the commercial loan portfolio involved a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the commercial loan portfolio ALLL and reserve for unfunded commitments included the following, among others:
•
We tested the effectiveness of controls over the (i) PD risk rating models, (ii) reviews of individual loans and the assignment of PD and LGD ratings, (iii) estimation of additional overlays and the qualitative component and (iv) the overall calculation of the commercial loan ALLL and reserve for unfunded commitments.
•
We used our credit specialists to assist us in evaluating the reasonableness of the PD risk rating models.
•
We evaluated the relevance of the historical loss rates and data used in the determination of the ALLL and reserve for unfunded commitments.
•
We evaluated the accuracy of the PD and LGD ratings assigned to a sample of individual loans within the commercial portfolio.
•
We evaluated the appropriateness and relevance of the qualitative factors and related quantitative measures included in the qualitative component.
•
We tested the accuracy and evaluated the relevance of the historical loss data in the statistical analysis of prior charge-off rates used in determining the qualitative component.
•
We evaluated the reasonableness of the Company’s assessment and determination of the qualitative factors and related impact on the estimation of the qualitative component.
•
We tested the arithmetic accuracy of the calculation of the qualitative component.
•
We tested the arithmetic accuracy of the calculation of the commercial loan ALLL and reserve for unfunded commitments.
•
We evaluated the reasonableness of the Company’s commercial ALLL and reserve for unfunded commitments methodology and models by comparing actual loan losses to those amounts previously estimated by the Company.
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Current Expected Credit Losses (ASC 326) Adoption -Refer to Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company will adopt ASC 326 on January 1, 2020, retrospectively for loans and leases and HTM securities and prospectively for AFS securities.
To estimate the ACL under CECL, Citizens uses models and other estimation techniques that are sensitive to changes in forecasted economic conditions. The Company applies qualitative factors related to idiosyncratic risk factors, changes in current economic conditions that may not be adequately reflected in quantitatively derived results, or other relevant factors to ensure the ACL reflects the Company’s best estimate of current expected credit losses.
The Company expects to recognize an increase in the ACL upon adoption of approximately $450 million, based on a two-year reasonable and supportable forecast period, and a one-year reversion to long-term historical macroeconomic variables. The increase in ACL is primarily related to consumer loans, such as residential mortgage, unsecured and education, due to the requirement to estimate credit losses over the full remaining expected life of the asset.
Given the subjective nature of estimating the losses under ASC 326 for the purpose of disclosing the estimated impact of the adoption of ASC 326, auditing the disclosure of the expected impact of adoption of ASC 326 on January 1, 2020 involved a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the expected impact of the adoption of ASC 326 disclosure included the following, among others:
•
We tested the effectiveness of management’s controls covering the disclosure of the expected impact of the adoption of ASC 326, including controls covering accounting policy decisions, key assumptions and judgments, loss estimation modeling methodologies and the calculation of the expected credit losses.
•
We evaluated the appropriateness of the accounting policy decisions and disclosure of the estimated impact of the ASC 326 adoption.
•
We, with the assistance of our credit specialists, evaluated the reasonableness of the key assumptions and judgments, losses estimation modeling methodologies and calculated expected credit losses.
•
We tested the arithmetic accuracy of the calculation of the expected credit losses.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 24, 2020
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2000.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Providence, Rhode Island
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, of the Company and our report dated February 24, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Report of Management’s on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 24, 2020
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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(1) Includes only collateral pledged by the Company where counterparties have the right to sell or pledge the collateral.
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(a) Cash and cash equivalents include cash and due from banks and interest-bearing cash and due from banks as reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accounting and reporting policies of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. conform to GAAP. The Company’s principal business activity is banking, conducted through its banking subsidiary Citizens Bank, National Association. The Company also provides M&A, capital raising and other financial advisory services to middle market companies across a focused set of industry verticals through its broker-dealer CCMI.
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Citizens and subsidiaries in which Citizens has a controlling financial interest. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. The Company has evaluated its unconsolidated entities and does not believe that any entity in which it has an interest, but does not currently consolidate, meets the requirements to be consolidated as a variable interest entity.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near-term relate to the determination of the ACL and the fair value of MSRs.
Significant Accounting Policies
The following table identifies the Company’s significant accounting policies and the Note and Page where a detailed description of each policy can be found.
Acquisitions
On January 1, 2019, the Company acquired Clarfeld Financial Advisors, LLC (“Clarfeld”), a Tarrytown, New York-based boutique wealth management and financial advisory firm, for total consideration of $110 million. As part of this transaction, the Company expanded its wealth management position with the addition of a robust client base. The Company recognized goodwill of $83 million and other intangibles of $21 million related to the transaction.
On March 1, 2019, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Bowstring Advisors, LLC (“Bowstring”), an Atlanta, Georgia-based mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising firm, for the consideration of $40 million. As part of this transaction, the Company expanded its mergers and acquisitions advisory position with the addition of a referral network and experienced staff. The Company recognized goodwill of $35 million and other intangibles of $6 million related to the transaction.
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Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2019
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Accounting Pronouncements Pending Adoption
NOTE 2 - CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS
For the purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents have original maturities of three months or less and include cash and due from banks and interest-bearing cash and due from banks, primarily at the FRB.
Citizens maintains certain average reserve balances and compensating balances for check clearing and other services with the FRB. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the balance of deposits at the FRB amounted to $2.1 billion and $3.0 billion, respectively. Average balances maintained with the FRB during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 exceeded amounts required by law for the FRB’s requirements. All amounts, both required and excess reserves, held at the FRB currently earn interest at a fixed rate of 155 basis points. Citizens recorded interest income on FRB deposits of $28 million, $28 million, and $16 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively, in interest-bearing deposits in banks in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
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NOTE 3 - SECURITIES
Investments include debt and equity securities and other investment securities. Citizens classifies debt securities as AFS, HTM, or trading based on management’s intent to hold to maturity at the time of purchase. Equity securities are recorded at fair value or at cost if there is not a readily determinable fair value.
Debt securities that will be held for indefinite periods of time and may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, changes in prepayment risk, or other factors considered in managing the Company’s asset/liability strategy are classified as AFS and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in OCI, net of taxes, as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Gains and losses on the sales of securities are recognized in noninterest income and are computed using the specific identification method.
Debt securities for which the Company has the ability and intent to hold to maturity are classified as HTM and reported at amortized cost. Transfers of debt securities to the HTM classification are recognized at fair value at the date of transfer.
For debt securities classified as AFS or HTM, interest income is recorded on the accrual basis including the amortization of premiums and the accretion of discounts. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized or accreted using the effective interest method over the estimated lives of the individual securities. Citizens uses actual prepayment experience and estimates of future prepayments to determine the constant effective yield necessary to apply the effective interest method of income recognition. Estimates of future prepayments are based on the underlying collateral characteristics of each security and are derived from market sources. Judgment is involved in making determinations about prepayment expectations and in changing those expectations in response to changes in interest rates and macroeconomic conditions. The amortization of premiums and discounts associated with mortgage-backed securities may be significantly impacted by changes in prepayment assumptions.
Securities classified as trading are bought and held principally for selling them in the near term and carried at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. When applicable, realized and unrealized gains and losses on such assets are reported in noninterest income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Equity securities are primarily composed of FHLB stock and FRB stock (which are carried at cost) and money market mutual fund investments held by the Company’s broker-dealers (which are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in noninterest income). Equity securities that are carried at cost are reviewed at least annually for impairment, with valuation adjustments recognized in noninterest income.
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The following table presents the major components of securities at amortized cost and fair value:
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The following table presents the amortized cost and fair value of debt securities by contractual maturity as of December 31, 2019. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without incurring penalties.
Taxable interest income from investment securities as presented on the Consolidated Statements of Operations was $642 million, $672 million and $625 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The following table presents realized gains and losses on securities:
(1) For the year ended December 31, 2019, $6 million of gains on sale of debt securities were recognized in mortgage banking fees in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, as they related to AFS securities held as economic hedges of the value of the MSR portfolio recognized using the amortization method.
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The following table presents the amortized cost and fair value of debt securities pledged:
Citizens regularly enters into security repurchase agreements with unrelated counterparties, which involve the transfer of a security from one party to another, and a subsequent transfer of substantially the same security back to the original party. The Company’s repurchase agreements are typically short-term in nature and are accounted for as secured borrowed funds on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Citizens recognized no offsetting of short-term receivables or payables as of December 31, 2019 or 2018. Citizens offsets certain derivative assets and derivative liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For further information see Note 13.
Securitizations of mortgage loans retained in the investment portfolio for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, were $150 million, $142 million and $134 million, respectively. These securitizations include a substantive guarantee by a third party. In 2019, 2018 and 2017 the guarantors were FNMA, FHLMC, and GNMA. The debt securities received from the guarantors are classified as AFS.
Impairment
Citizens reviews its securities for other-than-temporary impairment on a quarterly basis or more frequently if a potential loss triggering event occurs. The initial indicator of other-than-temporary impairment for both debt and equity securities is a decline in fair value below its recorded investment amount, as well as the severity and duration of the decline. For a security that has declined in fair value below the cost basis, the Company recognizes other-than-temporary impairment if management has the intent to sell the security, it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, or the Company does not expect to recover the entire cost basis of the security.
Estimating the recovery of the amortized cost basis of a debt security is based upon an assessment of the cash flows expected to be collected. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected, discounted at the security’s original effective yield, exceeds the amortized cost, no credit impairment has occurred. If this amount is less than the amortized cost, other-than-temporary impairment is considered to have occurred. In addition to these cash flow projections, several other characteristics of each debt security are reviewed when determining whether a credit loss exists and the period over which the debt security is expected to recover. These characteristics include: (i) the type of investment, (ii) various market factors affecting the fair value of the security (e.g., interest rates, spread levels, liquidity in the sector, etc.), (iii) the length and severity of impairment, and (iv) the public credit rating of the instrument.
Citizens estimates the portion of loss attributable to credit using a collateral loss model and integrated cash flow engine. The model calculates prepayment, default and loss severity assumptions using collateral performance data. These assumptions are used to produce cash flows that generate loss projections. These loss projections are reviewed on a quarterly basis by a cross-functional governance committee to determine whether security impairments are other-than-temporary.
If the Company intends to sell an impaired security, or if it is more likely than not Citizens will be required to sell the security before recovery, the impairment loss recognized in current period earnings equals the difference between the amortized cost basis and the fair value of the security. If the Company does not intend to sell the impaired security, and it is not likely that the Company will be required to sell the impaired security, the other-than-temporary impairment write-down is separated into an amount representing the credit loss, which is recognized in current period earnings and the amount related to all other factors, which is recognized in OCI.
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The following table presents the net securities impairment losses recognized in earnings:
The following tables present mortgage-backed debt securities with fair values below their respective carrying values, separated by the duration the securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:
NOTE 4 - LOANS AND LEASES
Loans held for investment are reported at the amount of their outstanding principal, net of charge-offs, unearned income, deferred loan origination fees and costs, and unamortized premiums or discounts on purchased loans. Deferred loan origination fees and costs and purchase premiums and discounts are amortized as an adjustment of yield over the life of the loan, using the effective interest method. Unamortized amounts remaining upon prepayment or sale are recorded as interest income or gain (loss) on sale, respectively. Credit card receivables include billed and uncollected interest and fees.
Interest income on loans is determined using the effective interest method. This method calculates periodic interest income at a constant effective yield on the net investment in the loan, to provide a constant rate of return over the term. Loans accounted for using the fair value option are measured at fair value with corresponding changes recognized in noninterest income.
Loan commitment fees for loans that are likely to be drawn down, and other credit related fees, are deferred (together with any incremental costs) and recognized as an adjustment to the effective interest rate over the loan term. When it is unlikely that a loan will be drawn down, the loan commitment fees are recognized over the commitment period on a straight-line basis.
Loans and leases are disclosed in portfolio segments and classes. The Company’s loan and lease portfolio segments are commercial and retail. The classes of loans and leases are: commercial, commercial real estate, leases, residential mortgages, home equity loans, home equity lines of credit, home equity loans serviced by others, home equity lines of credit serviced by others, automobile, education, credit cards and other retail.
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The following table presents the composition of loans and leases:
(1) SBA loans the Company services for others of $33 million are not included above. These loans represent the government guaranteed portion of SBA loans sold to outside investors as of December 31, 2019. There were no SBA loans serviced for others as of December 31, 2018.
(2) Mortgage loans the Company services for others of $77.5 billion and $69.6 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are not included above.
(3) LHFS totaling $3.3 billion and $1.3 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are not included above.
The following table presents the composition of LHFS.
(1) Residential mortgage LHFS at fair value are originated for sale. Commercial LHFS at fair value consist of loans managed by the Company’s commercial secondary loan desk.
(2) Residential mortgages other LHFS of $1.1 billion as of December 31, 2019 comprised of two loan portfolio pools of $524 million and $575 million representing loan sales expected to settle in first quarter 2020. Commercial other LHFS generally consist of commercial loans associated with the Company’s syndication business.
During the year ended December 31, 2019 the Company purchased $1.1 billion of education loans and $530 million of other loans. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company purchased $457 million of education loans.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company sold $454 million of commercial loans and $628 million of retail loans, including $22 million of TDR sales. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company sold $553 million of commercial loans.
Loans pledged as collateral for FHLB borrowed funds, primarily residential mortgages and home equity loans, totaled $25.3 billion and $25.6 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Loans pledged as collateral to support the contingent ability to borrow at the FRB discount window, if necessary, were primarily comprised of auto, commercial and commercial real estate loans, and totaled $17.4 billion and $16.8 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Citizens is engaged in the leasing of equipment for commercial use, primarily focused on middle market and mid-corporate clients for large capital equipment acquisitions including aircraft and railcars, among other equipment. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease and the related lease classification at inception. Lease terms predominantly range from three years to seven years and may include options to terminate the lease early or purchase the leased property prior to the end of the lease term. The Company does not have lease agreements which contain lease and nonlease components.
A lessee is evaluated from a credit perspective using the same underwriting standards and procedures as for a loan borrower. A lessee is expected to make rental payments based on its cash flows and the viability of its
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operations. Leases are usually not evaluated as collateral-based transactions, and therefore the lessee’s overall financial strength is the most important credit evaluation factor.
The components of the net investment in direct finance and sales-type leases, before ALLL, are presented below:
Interest income on direct financing and sales-type leases for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $77 million and is reported within interest and fees on loans and leases in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
A maturity analysis of direct financing and sales-type lease receivables at December 31, 2019 is presented below:
NOTE 5 - ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES, NONPERFORMING ASSETS, AND CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK
Allowance for Credit Losses
Management’s estimate of probable losses in the Company’s loan and lease portfolios is recorded in the ALLL and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments, collectively the ACL. On a quarterly basis, Citizens evaluates the adequacy of the ALLL by performing reviews of certain individual loans and leases, analyzing changes in the composition, size and delinquency of the portfolio, reviewing previous loss experience and considering current and anticipated economic factors. The ALLL is established in accordance with the Company’s credit reserve policies, as approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. The Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer review the adequacy of the ALLL each quarter, together with risk management. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Company’s allowance for credit losses. The ALLL is maintained at a level that management considers reflective of probable losses, and is established through charges to earnings in the form of a provision for credit losses. The Company’s methodology for determining the qualitative component includes a statistical analysis of prior charge-off rates and a qualitative assessment of factors affecting the determination of incurred losses in the loan and lease portfolio. Such factors include trends in economic conditions, loan growth, back testing results, credit underwriting policy exceptions, regulatory and audit findings, and peer comparisons. Amounts determined to be uncollectible are deducted from the ALLL and subsequent recoveries, if any, are added to the ALLL. While management uses available information to estimate loan and lease losses, future additions to the ALLL may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions. There were no material changes in assumptions or estimation techniques compared with prior years that impacted the determination of the current year’s ALLL and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments.
The evaluation of the adequacy of the commercial, commercial real estate, and leases ALLL and reserve for unfunded lending commitments is primarily based on risk rating models that assess probability of default, loss given default and exposure at default on an individual loan basis. The models are primarily driven by individual customer financial characteristics and are validated against historical experience. Additionally, qualitative factors are included in the risk rating models. After the aggregation of individual borrower incurred loss, additional overlays can be made based on back-testing against historical losses.
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For non-impaired retail loans, the ALLL is based upon an incurred loss model utilizing the probability of default, loss given default and exposure at default on an individual loan basis. When developing these factors, the Company may consider the loan product and collateral type, delinquency status, LTV ratio, lien position, borrower’s credit, age of the loan, geographic location and incurred loss period. Certain retail portfolios, including education, unsecured personal loans, SBO home equity loans and commercial credit card receivables utilize roll rate or vintage models to estimate the ALLL.
For nonaccruing commercial and commercial real estate loans with an outstanding balance of $3 million or greater and for all commercial and commercial real estate TDRs (regardless of size), the Company conducts further analysis to determine the probable amount of loss and establishes a specific allowance for the loan, if appropriate. Citizens estimates the impairment amount by comparing the loan’s carrying amount to the estimated present value of its future cash flows, the fair value of its underlying collateral, or the loan’s observable market price. For collateral-dependent impaired commercial and commercial real estate loans, the excess of the Company’s recorded investment in the loan over the fair value of the collateral, less cost to sell, is charged off to the ALLL.
For retail TDRs that are not collateral-dependent, allowances are developed using the present value of expected future cash flows compared to the recorded investment in the loans. Expected re-default factors are considered in this analysis. Retail TDRs that are deemed collateral-dependent are written down to fair market value less cost to sell. The fair value of collateral is periodically monitored subsequent to the modification.
In addition to the ALLL, the Company also estimates probable credit losses associated with off-balance sheet financial instruments such as standby letters of credit, financial guarantees and binding unfunded loan commitments. Off-balance sheet financial instruments are subject to individual reviews and are analyzed and segregated by risk according to the Company’s internal risk rating scale. These risk classifications, in conjunction with historical loss experience, economic conditions and performance trends within specific portfolio segments, result in the estimate of the reserve for unfunded lending commitments.
The ALLL and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments are reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in the allowance for loan and lease losses and in other liabilities, respectively. Provision for credit losses related to the loans and leases portfolio and the unfunded lending commitments are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as provision for credit losses.
Loan Charge-Offs
Commercial loans are charged off when it is highly certain that a loss has been realized, including situations where a loan is determined to be both impaired and collateral-dependent. The determination of whether to recognize a charge-off involves many factors, including the prioritization of the Company’s claim in bankruptcy, expectations of the workout/restructuring of the loan and valuation of the borrower’s equity or the loan collateral. A loan is considered to be collateral-dependent when repayment of the loan is expected to be provided solely by the underlying collateral, rather than by cash flows from the borrower’s operations, income or other resources.
Retail loans are generally fully charged-off or written down to the net realizable value of the underlying collateral, with an offset to the ALLL, upon reaching specified stages of delinquency in accordance with standards established by the FFIEC. Residential real estate loans, credit card loans and unsecured open end loans are generally charged off in the month in which the account becomes 180 days past due. Auto loans, education loans and unsecured closed end loans are generally charged off in the month in which the account becomes 120 days past due. Certain retail loans will be charged off or charged down to their net realizable value earlier than the FFIEC charge-off standards in the following circumstances:
•
Loans modified in a TDR that are determined to be collateral-dependent.
•
Loans to borrowers who have experienced an event (e.g., bankruptcy) that suggests a loss is either known or highly certain.
◦
Residential real estate and auto loans are charged down to the net realizable value within 60 days of receiving notification of the bankruptcy filing, or when the loan becomes 60 days past due if repayment is likely to occur.
◦
Credit card loans are fully charged off within 60 days of receiving notification of the bankruptcy filing or other event.
◦
Education loans are generally charged off when the loan becomes 60 days past due after receiving notification of a bankruptcy.
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•
Auto loans are written down to net realizable value upon repossession of the collateral.
The following tables present a summary of changes in the ACL:
(1) Includes an increase of approximately $50 million to commercial and corresponding decrease to retail for the impact of the enhancement to the assessment of qualitative risks, factors and events that may not be measured in the modeled results.
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The following table presents the recorded investment in loans and leases based on the Company’s evaluation methodology:
The following table presents a summary of the ACL by evaluation methodology:
For commercial loans and leases, Citizens utilizes regulatory classification ratings to monitor credit quality. Loans with a “pass” rating are those that the Company believes will be fully repaid in accordance with the contractual loan terms. Commercial loans and leases that are “criticized” are those that have some weakness, or potential weakness, that indicate an increased probability of future loss. “Criticized” loans are grouped into three categories, “special mention,” “substandard” and “doubtful.” Special mention loans have potential weaknesses that, if left uncorrected, may result in deterioration of the Company’s credit position at some future date. Substandard loans are inadequately protected loans; these loans have well-defined weaknesses that could hinder normal repayment or collection of the debt. Doubtful loans have the same weaknesses as substandard, with the added characteristics that the possibility of loss is high and collection of the full amount of the loan is improbable. For retail loans, the Company primarily uses the loan’s payment and delinquency status to monitor credit quality. The further a loan is past due, the greater the likelihood of future credit loss. These credit quality indicators for both commercial and retail loans are continually updated and monitored.
The following tables present the recorded investment in commercial loans and leases based on regulatory classification ratings:
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The following tables present the recorded investment in classes of retail loans, categorized by delinquency status:
Nonperforming Assets
Nonperforming loans and leases are those on which accrual of interest has been suspended. Loans (other than certain retail loans insured by U.S. government agencies) are placed on nonaccrual status and considered nonperforming when full payment of principal and interest is in doubt, unless the loan is both well secured and in the process of collection.
When the Company places a loan on nonaccrual status, the accrued unpaid interest receivable is reversed against interest income and amortization of any net deferred fees is suspended. Interest collections on nonaccruing loans and leases for which the ultimate collectability of principal is uncertain are generally applied to first reduce the carrying value of the asset. Otherwise, interest income may be recognized to the extent of the cash received. A loan or lease may be returned to accrual status if (i) principal and interest payments have been brought current, and the Company expects repayment of the remaining contractual principal and interest, (ii) the loan or lease has otherwise become well-secured and in the process of collection, or (iii) the borrower has been making regularly scheduled payments in full for the prior six months and the Company is reasonably assured that the loan or lease will be brought fully current within a reasonable period.
Commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, and leases are generally placed on nonaccrual status when contractually past due 90 days or more, or earlier if management believes that the probability of collection is insufficient to warrant further accrual. Some of these loans and leases may remain on accrual status when contractually past due 90 days or more if management considers the loan collectible.
Residential mortgages are generally placed on nonaccrual status when past due 120 days, or sooner if determined to be collateral-dependent, unless repayment of the loan is guaranteed by the Federal Housing
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Administration. Credit card balances are placed on nonaccrual status when past due 90 days or more and are restored to accruing status if they subsequently become less than 90 days past due. All other retail loans are generally placed on nonaccrual status when past due 90 days or more, or earlier if management believes that the probability of collection is insufficient to warrant further accrual. Loans less than 90 days past due may be placed on nonaccrual status upon the death of the borrower, fraud or bankruptcy.
The following table presents nonperforming loans and leases and loans accruing and 90 days or more past due:
(1) Nonperforming balances exclude first lien residential mortgage loans that are 100% guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration. These loans are included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(2) Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019, nonperforming balances exclude both fully and partially guaranteed residential mortgage loans sold to Ginnie Mae for which the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase. Prior periods have been adjusted to exclude partially guaranteed amounts to conform with the current period presentation. These loans are included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Other nonperforming assets primarily consist of other real estate owned and are presented in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Other real estate owned, net of valuation allowance, was $45 million and $34 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The following table presents a summary of nonperforming loan and lease key performance indicators:
(1) Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019, nonperforming balances exclude both fully and partially guaranteed residential mortgage loans sold to Ginnie Mae for which the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase. Prior periods have been adjusted to exclude partially guaranteed amounts to conform with the current period presentation. These loans are included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The recorded investment in mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property for which formal foreclosure proceedings were in-process was $152 million and $172 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
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The following table presents the aging of both accruing and nonaccruing loan and lease past due amounts:
Impaired Loans
A loan is considered to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all of the contractual interest and principal payments as scheduled in the loan agreement. This evaluation is generally based on delinquency information, an assessment of the borrower’s financial condition and the adequacy of collateral, if any. Impaired loans include nonaccruing larger balance (greater than $3 million carrying value), non-homogeneous commercial and commercial real estate loans, and restructured loans that are deemed TDRs.
When a loan is identified as impaired, the impairment is measured on an individual loan level as the difference between the recorded investment in the loan (net of previous charge-offs, deferred loan fees or costs and unamortized premium or discount) and the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate. When collateral is the sole source of repayment for the impaired loan, rather than the borrower’s income or other sources of repayment, the Company charges down the loan to its net realizable value.
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The following tables present a summary of impaired loans by class:
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The following table presents additional information on impaired loans:
Troubled Debt Restructurings
In situations where, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, the Company grants a concession to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider, the related loan is classified as a TDR. TDRs typically result from the Company’s loss mitigation efforts and are undertaken in order to improve the likelihood of recovery and continuity of the relationship with the borrower. The Company’s loan modifications are handled on a case-by-case basis and are negotiated to achieve mutually agreeable terms that maximize loan collectability and meet the borrower’s financial needs. Concessions granted in TDRs for all classes of loans may include lowering the interest rate, forgiving a portion of principal, extending the loan term, lowering scheduled payments for a specified period of time, waiving or delaying a scheduled payment of principal or interest for other than an insignificant time period, or capitalizing past due amounts. A rate increase can be a concession if the increased rate is lower than a market rate for debt with risk similar to that of the restructured loan. TDRs for commercial loans may also involve creating a multiple note structure, accepting non-cash assets, accepting an equity interest, or receiving a performance-based fee. In some cases, a TDR may involve multiple concessions. The financial effects of TDRs for all loan classes may include lower income (either due to a lower interest rate or a delay in the timing of cash flows), larger loan loss provisions, and accelerated charge-offs if the modification renders the loan collateral-dependent. In some cases, interest income throughout the term of the loan may increase if, for example, the loan is extended or the interest rate is increased as a result of the restructuring.
Retail and commercial loans whose contractual terms have been modified in a TDR and are current at the time of restructuring may remain on accrual status if there is demonstrated performance prior to the restructuring and payment in full under the restructured terms is expected. Retail loans that were discharged in bankruptcy and not reaffirmed by the borrower are deemed to be collateral-dependent TDRs and are generally charged off to the fair value of the collateral, less cost to sell, and less amounts recoverable under a government guarantee (if any). Cash receipts on nonaccruing impaired loans, including nonaccruing loans involved in TDRs, are generally applied to reduce the unpaid principal balance. Certain TDRs that are current in payment status are classified as nonaccrual in accordance with regulatory guidance. Income on these loans may be recognized on a cash basis if management believes that the remaining book value of the loan is realizable. Nonaccruing TDRs that meet the guidelines above for accrual status can be returned to accruing if supported by a well-documented evaluation of the borrowers’ financial condition, and if they have been current for at least six months.
Because TDRs are impaired loans, Citizens measures impairment by comparing the present value of expected future cash flows, or when appropriate, the fair value of collateral less costs to sell, to the loan’s recorded investment. Any excess of recorded investment over the present value of expected future cash flows or collateral value is included in the ALLL. Any portion of the loan’s recorded investment the Company does not expect to collect as a result of the modification is charged off at the time of modification. For retail TDR accounts where the expected
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value of cash flows is utilized, any recorded investment in excess of the present value of expected cash flows is recognized by increasing the ALLL. For retail TDR accounts assessed based on the fair value of collateral, any portion of the loan’s recorded investment in excess of the collateral value less costs to sell is charged off at the time of modification or at the time of subsequent and regularly recurring valuations.
The following table summarizes TDRs by class and total unfunded commitments:
The following tables summarize how loans were modified during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. The reported balances represent the post-modification outstanding recorded investment and can include loans that became TDRs during the period and were paid off in full, charged off, or sold prior to period end. Pre-modification balances for modified loans approximate the post-modification balances shown.
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(1) Includes modifications that consist of multiple concessions, one of which is an interest rate reduction.
(2) Includes modifications that consist of multiple concessions, one of which is a maturity extension (unless one of the other concessions was an interest rate reduction).
(3) Includes modifications other than interest rate reductions or maturity extensions, such as lowering scheduled payments for a specified period of time, principal forgiveness, and capitalizing arrearages. Also included are the following: deferrals, trial modifications, certain bankruptcies, loans in forbearance and prepayment plans. Modifications can include the deferral of accrued interest resulting in post modification balances being higher than pre-modification.
The net change to ALLL resulting from modifications of loans for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $9 million, $3 million and $1 million, respectively. Charge-offs may also be recorded on TDRs. Citizens recorded charge-offs resulting from the modification of loans of $7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and $5 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
A payment default refers to a loan that becomes 90 days or more past due under the modified terms. Loan data includes loans meeting the criteria that were paid off in full, charged off, or sold prior to December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. For commercial loans, recorded investment in TDRs that defaulted within 12 months of their modification date for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $1 million, $63 million and $9 million, respectively. For retail loans, there were $37 million, $40 million and $41 million of loans which defaulted within 12 months of their restructuring date for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
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Concentrations of Credit Risk
Most of the Company’s lending activity is with customers located in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Generally, loans are collateralized by assets including real estate, inventory, accounts receivable, other personal property and investment securities. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, Citizens had a significant amount of loans collateralized by residential and commercial real estate. There were no significant concentration risks within the commercial loan or retail loan portfolios. Exposure to credit losses arising from lending transactions may fluctuate with fair values of collateral supporting loans, which may not perform according to contractual agreements. The Company’s policy is to collateralize loans to the extent necessary; however, unsecured loans are also granted on the basis of the financial strength of the applicant and the facts surrounding the transaction.
Certain loan products, including residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, and credit cards, have contractual features that may increase credit exposure to the Company in the event of an increase in interest rates or a decline in housing values. These products include loans that exceed 90% of the value of the underlying collateral (high LTV loans), interest-only and negative amortization residential mortgages, and loans with low introductory rates. Certain loans have more than one of these characteristics. The following tables present balances of loans with these characteristics:
NOTE 6 - PREMISES, EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE
Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization have been computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the lease (including renewal options if exercise of those options is reasonably assured) or their estimated useful life, whichever is shorter.
Additions to premises and equipment are recorded at cost. The cost of major additions, improvements and betterments is capitalized. Normal repairs and maintenance and other costs that do not improve the property, extend the useful life or otherwise do not meet capitalization criteria are charged to expense as incurred. Citizens evaluates premises and equipment for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable.
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A summary of the carrying value of premises and equipment is presented below:
Depreciation charged to noninterest expense totaled $116 million, $117 million, and $124 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively, and is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in both occupancy and equipment expense.
Software
Costs related to computer software developed or obtained for internal use are capitalized if the projects improve functionality and provide long-term future operational benefits. Capitalized costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the asset’s expected useful life, based upon the basic pattern of consumption and economic benefits provided by the asset. Citizens begins to amortize the software when the asset (or identifiable component of the asset) is substantially complete and ready for its intended use. All other costs incurred in connection with an internal-use software project are expensed as incurred. Capitalized software is included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Citizens had capitalized software assets of $2.0 billion and $1.8 billion and related accumulated amortization of $1.1 billion and $948 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Amortization expense was $194 million, $189 million, and $180 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
The estimated future amortization expense for capitalized software assets is presented below:
(1) Excluded from this balance is $296 million of in-process software at December 31, 2019.
NOTE 7 - MORTGAGE BANKING
The Company sells residential mortgages to GSEs and other parties, who may issue securities backed by pools of such loans. The Company retains no beneficial interests in these sales, but may retain the servicing rights for the loans sold. The Company is obligated to subsequently repurchase a loan if the purchaser discovers a representation or warranty violation such as noncompliance with eligibility or servicing requirements, or customer fraud, that should have been identified in a loan file review.
Mortgage loans held for sale are accounted for at fair value on an individual loan basis. Changes in the fair value, and realized gains and losses on the sales of mortgage loans, are reported in mortgage banking income.
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The following table summarizes activity related to the Company’s residential mortgage loan sales and the Company's mortgage banking activity:
(1) Reported in mortgage banking fees in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The Company recognizes the right to service residential mortgage loans for others, or MSRs, as separate assets, which are presented in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, when purchased, or when servicing is contractually separated from the underlying mortgage loans by sale with servicing rights retained. MSRs are initially recorded at fair value. Subsequent to the initial recognition, MSRs are measured using either the fair value method or the amortization method. MSRs accounted for under the amortization method are subsequently accounted for at lower of cost or fair value, net of accumulated amortization, which is recorded in proportion to, and over the period of, net servicing income. The unpaid principal balance of the related residential mortgage loans was $77.5 billion and $69.6 billion as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
In connection with the August 1, 2018 acquisition of FAMC, the Company began maintaining two separate classes of MSRs which, at the time of initial capitalization, were differentiated by how the risk associated with valuation changes of the MSRs was being managed. The acquired FAMC portfolio is accounted for under the fair value method while the Company’s MSR portfolio held before the FAMC acquisition is accounted for under the amortization method. Beginning January 1, 2019, all of the Company’s newly originated MSRs are accounted for under the fair value method. The Company implemented an active hedging strategy to manage the risk associated with changes in the value of the MSR portfolio accounted for under the fair value method, which includes the purchase of freestanding derivatives. Depending on the interest rate environment, economic hedges may be used to protect the market value of MSRs accounted for under the amortization method. Any changes in fair value during the period for MSRs carried under the fair value method, as well as amortization and impairment of MSRs under the amortization method, are recorded in mortgage banking fees in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The following table summarizes changes in MSRs recorded using the amortization method:
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The following table summarizes changes in MSRs recorded using the fair value method:
(1) Represents changes in value due to passage of time including the impact from both regularly scheduled loan principal payments and partial paydowns, and
loans that paid off during the period.
(2) Represents changes in value primarily due to market driven changes in interest rates and prepayment speeds.
The fair value of MSRs is estimated by using the present value of estimated future net servicing cash flows, taking into consideration actual and expected mortgage loan prepayment rates, discount rates, contractual servicing fee income, servicing costs, default rates, ancillary income, and other economic factors, which are determined based on current market interest rates. The valuation does not attempt to forecast or predict the future direction of interest rates.
The sensitivity analyses below present the impact to current fair value of an immediate 50 basis point and 100 basis point adverse change in key economic assumptions and the decline in fair value if the respective adverse change was realized. These sensitivities are hypothetical, with the effect of a variation in a particular assumption on the fair value of the MSRs calculated independently without changing any other assumption. In reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another (e.g., changes in interest rates, which drive changes in prepayment rates, could result in changes in the discount rates), which may amplify or counteract the sensitivities. The primary risk inherent in the Company’s MSRs is an increase in prepayments of the underlying mortgage loans serviced, which is dependent upon movements in market interest rates.
For MSRs under the amortization method, the key economic assumptions used to estimate the fair value are presented below:
For MSRs under the fair value method, the key economic assumptions used to estimate the fair value are presented below:
Citizens accounts for derivatives in its mortgage banking operations at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as derivative assets or derivative liabilities, depending on whether the derivative had a positive (asset) or negative (liability) fair value as of the balance sheet date. The Company’s mortgage banking derivatives include commitments to originate mortgages held for sale, certain loan sale agreements, and other financial instruments that meet the definition of a derivative. Refer to Note 13 for additional information.
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NOTE 8 - LEASES
Citizens as Lessee
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and records a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability. A right-of-use asset represents the value of the Company’s contractual right to use an underlying leased asset and a lease liability represents the Company’s contractual obligation to make payments on the same underlying leased asset. Operating and finance lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of the lease payments over the non-cancelable lease term. As most of the Company’s leases do not specify an implicit rate, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on information available at the lease commencement date to determine the present value of the lease payments. The Company evaluates right-of-use assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable.
In its normal course of business, the Company leases both equipment and real estate, including office and branch space. Lease terms predominantly range from one year to ten years and may include options to extend the lease, terminate the lease, or purchase the underlying asset at the end of the lease. Certain lease agreements include rental payments based on an index or are adjusted periodically for inflation. The Company has lease agreements that contain lease and non-lease components and for certain real estate leases, these components are accounted for as a single lease component.
Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and are recognized in occupancy expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations on a straight-line basis over the remaining lease term. The Company may also enter into subleases with third parties for certain leased real estate properties that are no longer occupied.
The components of operating lease cost are presented below:
Operating lease cost is recognized on a straight line basis over the lease term and recorded in occupancy expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Supplemental Consolidated Balance Sheet information related to the Company’s operating lease arrangements is presented below:
Supplemental information related to the Company’s operating lease arrangements is presented below:
The weighted average remaining lease term and weighted average discount rate for operating leases as of December 31, 2019 is seven years and 3.15%, respectively.
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At December 31, 2019, lease liabilities maturing under non-cancelable operating leases are presented below for the years ended December 31:
Citizens as Lessor
Operating lease assets where Citizens was the lessor totaled $57 million and $92 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Operating lease rental income for leased assets where Citizens is the lessor is recognized in other income on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Depreciation expense associated with operating lease assets is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life, considering the estimated residual value of the leased asset and is included in other operating expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. On a periodic basis, operating lease assets are reviewed for impairment. Impairment loss is recognized in other operating expense if the carrying amount of the leased assets exceeds fair value and is not recoverable. The carrying amount of leased assets is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the lease payments and the estimated residual value upon the eventual disposition of the asset.
For discussion of direct finance and sales-type leases where Citizens is lessor, refer to Note 4.
NOTE 9 - GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill is the purchase premium associated with the acquisition of a business and is assigned to the Company’s reporting units at the acquisition date. A reporting unit is a business operating segment or a component of a business operating segment. Citizens has identified and assigned goodwill to two reporting units - Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking - based upon reviews of the structure of the Company’s executive team and supporting functions, resource allocations and financial reporting processes. Once goodwill has been assigned to reporting units, it no longer retains its association with a particular acquisition, and all of the activities within a reporting unit, whether acquired or organically grown, are available to support the value of the goodwill.
Goodwill is not amortized, but is subject to annual impairment tests. Citizens reviews goodwill for impairment annually as of October 31st and in interim periods when events or changes indicate the carrying value of one or more reporting units may not be recoverable. The Company has the option of performing a qualitative assessment of goodwill to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit is less than the carrying value. If it is more likely than not that the fair value exceeds the carrying value, then no further testing is necessary; otherwise, Citizens must perform a two-step quantitative assessment of goodwill.
Citizens may elect to bypass the qualitative assessment and perform a two-step quantitative assessment. The first step, used to identify potential impairment, involves comparing each reporting unit’s fair value to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, applicable goodwill is deemed to be not impaired. If the carrying value exceeds fair value, there is an indication of impairment and the second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment.
The second step involves calculating an implied fair value of goodwill for each reporting unit for which the first step indicated impairment. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination, which is the excess of the fair value of the reporting unit, as determined in the first step, over the aggregate fair values of the individual assets, liabilities and identifiable intangible. If the implied fair value of goodwill exceeds the carrying value of goodwill assigned to the reporting unit, there is no impairment. If the carrying value of goodwill assigned to a reporting unit exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess. An impairment loss that is recognized cannot
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exceed the amount of goodwill assigned to a reporting unit, and the loss establishes a new basis in the goodwill. Subsequent reversal of goodwill impairment losses is not permitted.
Under the quantitative impairment assessment, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units are determined using a combination of income and market-based approaches. Citizens relies on the income approach (discounted cash flow method) for determining fair value. Market and transaction approaches are used as benchmarks only to corroborate the value determined by the discounted cash flow method. Citizens relies on several assumptions when estimating the fair value of its reporting units using the discounted cash flow method. These assumptions include the discount rate, as well as projected loan loss, income tax and capital retention rates.
Discount rates are estimated based on the Capital Asset Pricing Model, which considers the risk-free interest rate, market risk premium, beta, and size premium adjustments specific to a particular reporting unit. The discount rates are also calibrated on the assessment of the risks related to the projected cash flows of each reporting unit. Cash flow projections include estimates for projected loan loss, income tax and capital retention rates. Multi-year financial forecasts are developed for each reporting unit by considering several key business drivers such as new business initiatives, customer retention standards, market share changes, anticipated loan and deposit growth, forward interest rates, historical performance, and industry and economic trends, among other considerations. The long-term growth rate used in determining the terminal value of each reporting unit is estimated based on management’s assessment of the minimum expected terminal growth rate of each reporting unit, as well as broader economic considerations such as GDP and inflation.
Citizens bases its fair value estimates on assumptions it believes to be representative of assumptions that a market participant would use in valuing the reporting unit but that are unpredictable and inherently uncertain, including estimates of future growth rates and operating margins and assumptions about the overall economic climate and the competitive environment for its reporting units. There can be no assurances that future estimates and assumptions made for purposes of goodwill testing will prove accurate predictions of the future. If the assumptions regarding business plans, competitive environments or anticipated growth rates are not achieved, Citizens may be required to record goodwill impairment charges in future periods.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, Citizens elected to perform a qualitative analysis to determine whether it was more likely than not that the fair value of either of its reporting units was less than the respective reporting unit’s carrying value. As a result of this qualitative assessment, the Company determined that it was not necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test and concluded that there was no impairment to the carrying value of the Company's goodwill.
The Company acquired Clarfeld in January 2019 and Bowstring in March 2019, which resulted in increases to goodwill of $83 million and $35 million, respectively. Changes in the carrying value of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are presented below:
(1) Adjustments to goodwill are the result of an update to the purchase price allocation for the FAMC acquisition, given higher value attributed to purchased net assets.
Accumulated impairment losses related to the Consumer Banking reporting unit totaled $5.9 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018. The accumulated impairment losses related to the Commercial Banking reporting unit totaled $50 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018. No impairment was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.
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Other Intangibles
Other intangible assets are recognized separately from goodwill if the asset arises as a result of contractual rights or if the asset is capable of being separated and sold, transferred or exchanged. Intangible assets are recorded in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis and subject to an annual impairment evaluation. Amortization expense is recorded in other expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
A summary of the carrying value of intangible assets is presented below. Included in the carrying value at December 31, 2019 was $19 million and $5 million in other intangibles related to the Clarfeld and Bowstring acquisitions, respectively. Additionally, included in the carrying value at December 31, 2019 was $18 million related to the March 2019 purchase of naming rights for a theater in Boston, Massachusetts, and a sponsorship and promotion arrangement.
As of December 31, 2019, all of the Company’s intangible assets were being amortized. Amortization expense recognized on intangible assets was $11 million and $3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. There was no amortization expense recognized on intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2017. The Company’s projection of amortization expense is based on balances as of December 31, 2019, and future amortization expense may vary from these projections.
Estimated intangible asset amortization expense for the next five years is as follows:
NOTE 10 - VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
Citizens makes equity investments in various entities that are considered VIEs, as defined by GAAP. A VIE typically does not have sufficient equity at risk to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. The Company’s variable interest arises from contractual, ownership or other monetary interests in the entity, which change with fluctuations in the fair value of the entity's net assets. Citizens consolidates a VIE if it is the primary beneficiary of the entity. Citizens is the primary beneficiary of a VIE if its variable interest provides it with the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE and the right to receive benefits (or the obligation to absorb losses) that could potentially be significant to the VIE. To determine whether or not a variable interest held could potentially be significant to the VIE, the company considers both qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the nature, size and form of its involvement with the VIE. Citizens assesses whether or not it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE on an ongoing basis.
Citizens is involved in various entities that are considered VIEs, including investments in limited partnerships that sponsor affordable housing projects, limited liability companies that sponsor renewable energy projects and lending to special purpose entities. Citizens’ maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with these entities is limited to the balance sheet carrying amount of its equity investment and outstanding principal balance of loans to special purpose entities.
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A summary of these investments is presented below:
Low Income Housing Tax Credit Partnerships
The purpose of the Company’s equity investments is to assist in achieving the goals of the Community Reinvestment Act and to earn an adequate return of capital. LIHTC partnerships are managed by unrelated general partners that have the power to direct the activities which most significantly affect the performance of the partnerships. Citizens is therefore not the primary beneficiary of any LIHTC partnerships. Accordingly, Citizens does not consolidate these VIEs and accounts for these investments in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Citizens applies the proportional amortization method to account for its LIHTC investments. Under the proportional amortization method, the Company applies a practical expedient and amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits received in the current period as compared to the total tax credits expected to be received over the life of the investment. The amortization and tax benefits are included as a component of income tax expense. The tax credits received are reported as a reduction of income tax expense (or an increase to income tax benefit) related to these transactions.
The following table presents other information related to the Company’s affordable housing tax credit investments:
No LIHTC investment impairment losses were recognized during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017.
Lending to Special Purpose Entities
Citizens provides lending facilities to third-party sponsored special purpose entities. Because the sponsor for each respective entity has the power to direct how proceeds from the Company are utilized, as well as maintains responsibility for any associated servicing commitments, Citizens is not the primary beneficiary of these entities. Accordingly, Citizens does not consolidate these VIEs on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the lending facilities had aggregate unpaid principal balances of $1.1 billion and $613 million, respectively, and undrawn commitments to extend credit of $1.2 billion and $584 million, respectively.
Renewable Energy Entities
The Company’s investments in renewable energy entities provide benefits from a return generated by government incentives plus other tax attributes that are associated with tax ownership (e.g., tax depreciation). As a tax equity investor, Citizens does not have the power to direct the activities which most significantly affect the performance of these entities and therefore is not the primary beneficiary of any renewable energy entities. Accordingly, Citizens does not consolidate these VIEs and accounts for these investments in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
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NOTE 11 - DEPOSITS
Interest-bearing deposits in banks are carried at cost and include deposits that mature within one year.
The following table presents the major components of deposits:
The following table presents the maturity distribution by year of term deposits as of December 31, 2019:
Of these deposits, the amount of term deposits with a denomination of $100,000 or more was $13.4 billion at December 31, 2019. The following table presents the remaining maturities of these deposits:
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NOTE 12 - BORROWED FUNDS
The following table presents a summary of the Company’s short-term borrowed funds:
The following table presents key data related to the Company’s short-term borrowed funds:
(1) Rates exclude certain hedging costs.
(2) Balances are net of certain short-term receivables associated with reverse repurchase agreements, as applicable.
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The following table presents a summary of the Company’s long-term borrowed funds:
(1) Rate disclosed reflects the floating rate as of December 31, 2019.
The Parent Company’s long-term borrowed funds as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 included principal balances of $2.5 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively, and unamortized deferred issuance costs and/or discounts of ($8) million and ($5) million, respectively. CBNA and other subsidiaries’ long-term borrowed funds as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 included principal balances of $11.5 billion and $14.0 billion, respectively, with unamortized deferred issuance costs and/or discounts of ($13) million and ($14) million, respectively, and hedging basis adjustments of $50 million and ($66) million, respectively. See Note 13 for further information about the Company’s hedging of certain long-term borrowed funds.
Advances, lines of credit, and letters of credit from the FHLB are collateralized by pledged mortgages and pledged securities at least sufficient to satisfy the collateral maintenance level established by the FHLB. The utilized borrowing capacity for FHLB advances and letters of credit was $9.8 billion and $13.0 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company’s available FHLB borrowing capacity was $7.2 billion and $4.8 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Citizens can also borrow from the FRB discount window to meet short-term liquidity requirements. Collateral, including certain loans, is pledged to support this borrowing capacity. At December 31, 2019, the Company’s unused secured borrowing capacity was approximately $38.9 billion, which includes unencumbered securities, FHLB borrowing capacity, and FRB discount window capacity.
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The following table presents a summary of maturities for the Company’s long-term borrowed funds at December 31, 2019:
NOTE 13 - DERIVATIVES
In the normal course of business, Citizens enters into a variety of derivative transactions to meet the financing needs of its customers and to reduce its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. These transactions include interest rate swap contracts, interest rate options, foreign exchange contracts, residential loan commitment rate locks, interest rate future contracts, swaptions, forward commitments to sell to-be-announced mortgage securities (“TBAs”), forward sale contracts and purchase options. The Company does not use derivatives for speculative purposes.
The Company’s derivative instruments are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in derivative assets and derivative liabilities at fair value. Information regarding the valuation methodology and inputs used to estimate the fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments is described in Note 19.
Derivative assets and derivative liabilities are netted by counterparty on the Consolidated Balance Sheets if a “right of setoff” has been established in a master netting agreement between the Company and the counterparty. This netted derivative asset or liability position is also netted against the fair value of any cash collateral that has been pledged or received in accordance with a master netting agreement.
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The following table presents derivative instruments included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
(1) The notional or contractual amount of interest rate derivatives and foreign exchange contracts is the amount upon which interest and other payments under the contract are based. For interest rate contracts, the notional amount is typically not exchanged. Therefore, notional amounts should not be taken as the measure of credit or market risk, as they do not measure the true economic risk of these contracts.
(2) Amounts represent the impact of enforceable master netting agreements that allow the Company to net settle positive and negative positions as well as collateral paid and received.
The Company’s derivative transactions are internally divided into three sub-groups: institutional, customer and residential loan. Certain derivative transactions within these sub-groups are designated as fair value or cash flow hedges, as described below:
Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments
The Company’s institutional derivatives qualify for hedge accounting treatment. The net interest accruals on interest rate swaps designated in a fair value or cash flow hedge relationship are treated as an adjustment to interest income or interest expense of the item being hedged. The Company formally documents at inception all hedging relationships, as well as risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking various accounting hedges. Additionally, the Company monitors the effectiveness of its hedge relationships during the duration of the hedge period. The methods utilized to assess hedge effectiveness vary based on the hedge relationship and the Company monitors each relationship to ensure that management’s initial intent continues to be satisfied. The Company discontinues hedge accounting treatment when it is determined that a derivative is not expected to be, or has ceased to be, effective as a hedge and subsequently reflects changes in the fair value of the derivative in earnings after termination of the hedge relationship.
Fair Value Hedges
In a fair value hedge, changes in the fair value of both the derivative instrument and the hedged asset or liability attributable to the risk being hedged are recognized in the same income statement line item in the Consolidated Statements of Operations when the changes in fair value occur.
Citizens has outstanding interest rate swap agreements utilized to manage the interest rate exposure on its long-term borrowings, certain fixed rate residential mortgages and AFS debt securities. Certain fair value hedges have been designated as a last-of-layer hedge, which affords the Company the ability to execute a fair value hedge of the interest rate risk associated with a portfolio of similar prepayable assets whereby the last dollar amount estimated to remain in the portfolio of assets is identified as the hedged item.
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The following table presents the change in fair value of interest rate contracts designated as fair value hedges, as well as the change in fair value of the related hedged items attributable to the risk being hedged, included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations:
The following table reflects amounts recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets related to cumulative basis adjustments for fair value hedges:
(1) The Company designated $2.0 billion as the hedged amount (from a closed portfolio of prepayable financial assets with a carrying value of $15.8 billion as of December 31, 2019) in a last-of-layer hedging relationship, which commenced in the third quarter of 2019.
Cash Flow Hedges
In a cash flow hedge, the entire change in the fair value of the interest rate swap included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness is initially recorded in OCI and is subsequently reclassified from OCI to current period earnings (interest income or interest expense) in the same period that the hedged item affects earnings.
Citizens has outstanding interest rate swap agreements designed to hedge a portion of the Company’s floating-rate assets, and liabilities. All of these swaps have been deemed highly effective cash flow hedges. During the next 12 months, there are $4 million in pre-tax net gains on derivative instruments included in OCI expected to be reclassified to net interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. This amount could differ from amounts actually recognized due to changes in interest rates, hedge de-designations, and the addition of other hedges subsequent to December 31, 2019.
During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, there were no gains or losses reclassified from OCI to current period earnings (other income) related to the discontinuance of a cash flow hedge where it became probable that the original forecasted transaction would no longer occur by the end of the originally specified time period.
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The following table presents the pre-tax net gains (losses) recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income relating to derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges:
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Economic Hedges
The Company’s economic hedges include those related to offsetting customer derivatives, residential mortgage loan derivatives (including interest rate lock commitments and forward sales commitments) and derivatives to hedge its residential MSR portfolio. Customer derivatives include interest rate and foreign exchange derivative contracts designed to meet the hedging and financing needs of the Company’s customers, and are economically hedged by the Company to offset its market exposure. Interest rate lock commitments on residential mortgage loans that will be held for sale are considered derivative instruments, and are economically hedged by entering into forward sale commitments to manage changes in fair value due to interest rate risk. Residential MSR portfolio derivatives are entered to hedge the risk of changes in the fair value of the Company’s MSR asset.
The following table presents the effect of economic hedges on noninterest income:
(1)Includes ($5) million related to interest rate derivative contracts used to hedge residential MSRs valued at LOCOM for the year ended December 31, 2019.
NOTE 14 - EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Pension Plans
Citizens maintains a non-contributory pension plan (the “Qualified Plan”) that was closed to new hires and re-hires effective January 1, 2009, and frozen to all participants effective December 31, 2012. Benefits under the Qualified Plan are based on employees’ years of service and highest 5-year average of eligible compensation. The Qualified Plan is funded on a current basis, in compliance with the requirements of ERISA. Citizens also provides an unfunded, non-qualified supplemental retirement plan (the “Non-Qualified Plan”), which was closed and frozen effective December 31, 2012. The Company’s Qualified Plan and Non-Qualified Plan are collectively referred to as the Company’s “Pension Plans”. The Pension Plans’ investments include equity-oriented and fixed income-oriented investments, including but not limited to government obligations, corporate bonds, and common and collective equity and fixed income funds.
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The following table presents changes in the fair value of the Company’s Pension Plans’ assets, projected benefit obligation, funded status, and accumulated benefit obligation:
The Company’s projected benefit obligation increased for the year ending December 31, 2019, due to the decrease in the discount rate assumption, partially offset by updated mortality assumptions. Citizens recognized actuarial gains and losses on the Pension Plans in AOCI resulting in an ending balance of $551 million and $618 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
No contributions were made to the Qualified Plan in 2019 and no contribution is planned for 2020. Citizens contributed $50 million to the qualified plan in 2018. Citizens contributed $8 million to the Non-Qualified Plan in 2019 and expects to contribute $8 million in 2020.
The following table presents other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in OCI for the Company’s Pension Plans:
Costs under the Company’s Pension Plans are actuarially computed and include current service costs and amortization of prior service costs over the participants’ average future working lifetime. The actuarial cost method used in determining the net periodic pension cost is the projected unit method.
The following table presents the components of net periodic pension (income) cost for the Company’s Pension Plans:
(1) In the Consolidated Statements of Operations, service cost is presented in salaries and employee benefits, and all other components of net periodic pension (income) cost are presented in other operating expense.
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The following table presents the expected future benefit payments for the Company’s Pension Plans:
401(k) Plan
Citizens sponsors a 401(k) Plan under which employee tax-deferred/Roth after-tax contributions to the 401(k) Plan are matched by the Company after completion of one year of service. Contributions are matched at 100% up to an overall limitation of 4% on a pay period basis. Substantially all employees will receive an additional 2% of earnings after completion of one year of service, subject to limits set by the Internal Revenue Service. Amounts contributed and expensed by the Company were $72 million in 2019 compared to $68 million in 2018 and $61 million in 2017.
NOTE 15 - ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
The following table presents the changes in the balances, net of income taxes, of each component of AOCI:
(1) As of December 31, 2017, the balance of AOCI reflects the retrospective adoption of FASB ASU 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.
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NOTE 16 - STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred Stock
The following table provides the number of authorized preferred shares, the number of issued and outstanding, the liquidation value per share and the carrying amount as of December 31:
(1) Equivalent to $25 per depositary share.
(2) Represented by 12,000,000 depositary shares each representing a 1/40th interest in the Series D Preferred Stock.
(3) Represented by 18,000,000 depositary shares each representing a 1/40th interest in the Series E Preferred Stock.
The following table provides information related to the Company’s preferred stock outstanding as of December 31, 2019:
(1) Series are non-cumulative fixed-to-floating rate perpetual preferred stock. Except in limited circumstances, the preferred stock does not have voting rights.
(2) Series are non-cumulative fixed rate perpetual preferred stock. Except in limited circumstances, the preferred stock does not have voting rights.
(3) Dividends are payable when, and if, declared by the Company’s Board of Directors or an authorized committee thereof.
(4) Redeemable at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, on any dividend payment date on or after the date stated, or in whole but not in part, at any time within 90 days following a regulatory capital treatment event a as defined in the applicable certificate of designations, in each case at a redemption price equal to $1,000 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. Under current rules, any redemption is subject to approval by the FRB.
(5) Represented by 12,000,000 depositary shares each representing a 1/40th interest in the Series D Preferred Stock.
(6) Represented by 18,000,000 depositary shares each representing a 1/40th interest in the Series E Preferred Stock.
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Dividends
The following table provides information related to dividends per share and in the aggregate, declared and paid, for each type of stock issued and outstanding for the year ended December 31:
Treasury Stock
The purchase of the Company’s common stock is recorded at cost. At the date of retirement or subsequent reissuance, treasury stock is reduced by the cost of such stock on a first-in, first-out basis with differences recorded in additional paid-in capital or retained earnings, as applicable.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company paid $1.220 billion to repurchase 34,305,768 common shares at a weighted-average price of $35.56. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded no shares of treasury stock associated with share-based compensation plan activity.
During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company paid $1.025 billion to repurchase 25,773,807 common shares at an average price of $39.77. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded no shares of treasury stock associated with share-based compensation plan activity.
NOTE 17 - SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
Citizens has share-based employee compensation plans as outlined below, pursuant to which stock awards are granted to employees and non-employee directors.
Employees of the Company hold time-based restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock units. A restricted stock unit is the right to receive shares of stock on a future date, which may be subject to time-based vesting conditions and/or performance-based vesting conditions. If a dividend is paid on shares underlying the awards prior to the date such shares are distributed, those dividends will be distributed following vesting in the same form as the dividend that has been paid to common stockholders generally.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan. Certain employees of the Company hold time-based restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock units granted under this plan. Time-based restricted stock units granted generally become vested ratably over a 3-year period and performance-based restricted stock units granted generally become vested in a single installment at the end of a 3-year performance period, depending on the level of performance achieved during such period.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan. Non-employee directors receive grants of time-based restricted stock units under this plan as compensation for their services pursuant to the Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Directors Compensation Policy. Restricted stock units granted to directors are fully vested on the grant date, with settlement of the awards deferred until a director’s cessation of service.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Citizens also maintains the Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”), which provides eligible employees an opportunity to purchase its common stock at a 10% discount, through accumulated payroll deductions. Eligible employees may contribute up to 10% of eligible compensation to the ESPP, up to a maximum purchase of $25,000 worth of stock in any calendar year. Offering periods under the ESPP are quarterly. Shares of CFG common stock are purchased for a participant on the last day of each quarter at a 10% discount from the fair market value (fair market value under the plan is defined as the closing price on the day of purchase). Prior to the date the shares are purchased, participants do not have any rights or privileges as a stockholder with respect to shares to be purchased at the end of the offering period.
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Summary of Share-Based Plans Activity
The following table presents the activity related to the Company’s share-based plans (excluding the ESPP) for the year ended December 31, 2019:
During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the following number of CFG share awards were granted: 2019 (1,677,167 granted with a weighted-average grant price of $36.21); 2018 (1,174,501 granted with weighted-average grant price of $39.54); and 2017 (1,256,816 granted with weighted-average grant price of $39.09).
In addition, the following number of CFG share awards became vested and distributed: 2019 (1,518,836 vested and distributed with a weighted-average grant price of $32.21); 2018 (877,111 vested with weighted-average grant price of $30.50); and 2017 (1,426,850 vested with weighted-average grant price of $21.91).
There are 48,116,987 shares of Company common stock available for awards to be granted under the Omnibus Plan and Directors Plan. In addition, there are 5,782,877 shares available for awards under the ESPP. Upon settlement of share-based awards, the Company generally issues new shares, but may also issue shares from treasury stock.
Citizens measures compensation expense related to stock awards based upon the fair value of the awards on the grant date. Compensation expense is adjusted for forfeitures as they occur. The related expense is charged to earnings on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (e.g., vesting period) of the award. With respect to performance-based stock awards, compensation expense is adjusted upward or downward based upon the probability of achievement of performance. Awards that continue to vest after retirement are expensed over the shorter of the period of time from grant date to the final vesting date or from the grant date to the date when an employee is retirement eligible. Awards granted to employees who are retirement eligible at the grant date are generally expensed immediately upon grant.
Share-based compensation expense (including ESPP) was $55 million, $41 million, and $39 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. At December 31, 2019, the total unrecognized compensation expense for nonvested equity awards granted was $47 million. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately two years. No share-based compensation costs were capitalized during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017.
The income tax benefit recognized in earnings based on the compensation expense recognized for all share-based compensation arrangements amounted to $1 million, $3 million and $9 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
NOTE 18 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
A summary of outstanding off-balance sheet arrangements is presented below:
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Commitments to Extend Credit
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to customers in accordance with conditions contractually agreed upon in advance. Generally, the commitments have fixed expiration dates or termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of these commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the contract amounts are not necessarily indicative of future cash requirements.
The Company’s commercial loan trading desk provides ongoing secondary market support and liquidity to its clients. Unsettled loan trades (i.e., loan purchase contracts) represent firm commitments to purchase loans from a third party at an agreed-upon price. Principal amounts associated with unsettled commercial loan trades are off-balance sheet commitments until delivery of the loans has taken place. The principal balances of unsettled commercial loan trade purchases and sales were $183 million and $236 million, respectively, at December 31, 2019 and $68 million and $161 million, respectively, at December 31, 2018.
Letters of Credit
Letters of credit in the table above reflect commercial, standby financial and standby performance letters of credit. Standby letters of credit, both financial and performance, are issued by the Company for its customers. They are used as conditional guarantees of payment to a third party in the event the customer either fails to make specific payments (financial) or fails to complete a specific project (performance). The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of counterparty nonperformance in connection with the above instruments is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments, net of the value of collateral held. Generally, letters of credit are collateralized by cash, accounts receivable, inventory or investment securities. Credit risk associated with letters of credit is considered in determining the appropriate amounts of reserves for unfunded commitments. Standby letters of credit and commercial letters of credit are issued for terms of up to ten years and one year, respectively.
Other Commitments
Citizens has additional off-balance sheet arrangements that are summarized below:
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Marketing Rights - During 2003, Citizens entered into a 25-year agreement to acquire the naming and marketing rights of a baseball stadium in Pennsylvania.
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Loans sold with recourse - Citizens is an originator and servicer of residential mortgages and routinely sells such mortgage loans in the secondary market and to GSEs. In the context of such sales, the Company makes certain representations and warranties regarding the characteristics of the underlying loans and, as a result, may be contractually required to repurchase such loans or indemnify certain parties against losses for certain breaches of those representations and warranties. The Company also sells the government guaranteed portion of certain SBA loans to outside investors, for which it retains the servicing rights.
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Risk Participation Agreements - RPAs are guarantees issued by the Company to other parties for a fee, whereby the Company agrees to participate in the credit risk of a derivative customer of the other party. The current amount of credit exposure is spread out over 89 counterparties. RPAs generally have terms ranging from one year to five years; however, certain outstanding agreements have terms as long as ten years.
Contingencies
The Company operates in a legal and regulatory environment that exposes it to potentially significant risks. A certain amount of litigation ordinarily results from the nature of the Company’s banking and other businesses. The Company is a party to legal proceedings, including class actions. The Company is also the subject of investigations, reviews, subpoenas, and regulatory matters arising out of its normal business operations, which, in some instances, relate to concerns about fair lending, unfair and/or deceptive practices, mortgage-related issues, and mis-selling of certain products. In addition, the Company engages in discussions with relevant governmental and regulatory authorities on a regular and ongoing basis regarding various issues, and any issues discussed or identified may result in investigatory or other action being taken. Litigation and regulatory matters may result in settlements, damages, fines, penalties, public or private censure, increased costs, required remediation, restrictions on business activities, or other impacts on the Company.
In these disputes and proceedings, the Company contests liability and the amount of damages as appropriate. Given their complex nature, and based on the Company's experience, it may be years before some of these matters are finally resolved. Moreover, before liability can be reasonably estimated for a claim, numerous legal and factual issues may need to be examined, including through potentially lengthy discovery and determination of important
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factual matters, and by addressing novel or unsettled legal issues relevant to the proceedings in question. The Company cannot predict with certainty if, how, or when such claims will be resolved or what the eventual settlement, fine, penalty or other relief, if any, may be, particularly for claims that are at an early stage in their development or where claimants seek substantial or indeterminate damages. The Company recognizes a provision for a claim when, in the opinion of management after seeking legal advice, it is probable that a liability exists and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. In many proceedings, however, it is not possible to determine whether any loss is probable or to estimate the amount of any loss.
Based on information currently available, the advice of legal counsel and other advisers, and established reserves, management believes that the aggregate liabilities, if any, potentially arising from these proceedings will not have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
NOTE 19 - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Citizens measures or monitors many of its assets and liabilities on a fair value basis. Fair value is used on a recurring basis for assets and liabilities for which fair value is the required or elected measurement basis of accounting. Additionally, fair value is used on a nonrecurring basis to evaluate assets for impairment or for disclosure purposes. Nonrecurring fair value adjustments typically involve the application of lower of cost or market accounting or write-downs of individual assets. Citizens also applies the fair value measurement guidance to determine amounts reported for certain disclosures in this Note for assets and liabilities that are not required to be reported at fair value in the financial statements.
Fair Value Option
Citizens elected to account for residential mortgage LHFS and certain commercial and commercial real estate LHFS at fair value. The election of the fair value option for financial assets and financial liabilities is optional and irrevocable. Applying fair value accounting to the residential mortgage LHFS better aligns the reported results of the economic changes in the value of these loans and their related economic hedge instruments. Certain commercial and commercial real estate held for sale loans are managed by a commercial secondary loan desk that provides liquidity to banks, finance companies and institutional investors. Applying fair value accounting to this portfolio is appropriate because the Company holds these loans with the intent to sell within the near-term periods.
The following table presents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of LHFS measured at fair value:
Residential Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
The fair value of residential mortgage LHFS is derived from observable mortgage security prices and includes adjustments for loan servicing value, agency guarantee fees, and other loan level attributes which are mostly observable in the marketplace. Credit risk does not significantly impact the valuation since these loans are sold shortly after origination. Therefore, the Company classifies the residential mortgage LHFS in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
The residential mortgage loans accounted for under the fair value option are initially measured at fair value (i.e., acquisition cost) when the financial asset is acquired. Subsequent changes in fair value are recognized in mortgage banking fees on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company recognized changes in fair value in mortgage banking income of $6 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Interest income on residential mortgage loans held for sale is calculated based on the contractual interest rate of the loan and is recorded in interest income.
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Commercial and Commercial Real Estate Loans Held for Sale
The fair value of commercial and commercial real estate LHFS is estimated using observable prices of similar loans that transact in the marketplace. In addition, Citizens uses external pricing services that provide estimates of fair values based on quotes from various dealers transacting in the market, sector curves or benchmarking techniques. Therefore, the Company classifies the commercial and commercial real estate loans managed by the commercial secondary loan desk in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy given the observable market inputs.
There were no loans in this portfolio that were 90 days or more past due or nonaccruing as of December 31, 2019. The loans accounted for under the fair value option are initially measured at fair value when the financial asset is recognized. Subsequent changes in fair value are recognized in other noninterest income on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Since all loans in the Company’s commercial trading portfolio consist of floating rate obligations, all changes in fair value are due to changes in credit risk. Such credit-related fair value changes may include observed changes in overall credit spreads and/or changes to the creditworthiness of an individual borrower. Unsettled trades within the commercial trading portfolio are not recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and represent off-balance sheet commitments. Refer to Note 18 for further information.
Interest income on commercial and commercial real estate loans held for sale is calculated based on the contractual interest rate of the loan and is recorded in interest income. Citizens recognized $5 million, ($2) million and $4 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, in other noninterest income related to its commercial trading portfolio.
Recurring Fair Value Measurements
Citizens measures fair value using the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is based upon quoted market prices in an active market, where available. If quoted prices are not available, observable market-based inputs or independently sourced parameters are used to develop fair value, whenever possible. Such inputs may include prices of similar assets or liabilities, yield curves, interest rates, prepayment speeds, and foreign exchange rates.
A portion of the Company’s assets and liabilities are carried at fair value, including securities available for sale, derivative instruments and other investment securities. In addition, the Company elects to account for its loans associated with its mortgage banking business and secondary loan trading desk at fair value. Citizens classifies its assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value in accordance with the three-level valuation hierarchy:
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Level 1. Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
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Level 2. Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar instruments, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
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Level 3. Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market information and that are significant to the fair value measurement.
Classification in the hierarchy is based upon the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the asset or liability. For instruments classified in Levels 1 and 2 where inputs are primarily based upon observable market data, there is less judgment applied in arriving at the fair value. For instruments classified in Level 3, management judgment is more significant due to the lack of observable market data.
Citizens reviews and updates the fair value hierarchy classifications on a quarterly basis. Changes from one quarter to the next related to the observability of inputs in fair value measurements may result in a reclassification between the fair value hierarchy levels and are recognized based on period-end balances.
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Citizens utilizes a variety of valuation techniques to measure its assets and liabilities at fair value. The valuation methodologies used for significant assets and liabilities carried on the balance sheet at fair value on a recurring basis are presented below:
Debt securities available for sale
The fair value of debt securities classified as AFS is based upon quoted prices, if available. Where observable quoted prices are available in an active market, the security is classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Classes of instruments that are valued using this market approach include debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury. If quoted market prices are not available, the fair value for the security is estimated under the market or income approach using pricing models. These instruments are classified as Level 2 because they currently trade in active markets and the inputs to the valuations are observable. The pricing models used to value securities generally begin with market prices (or rates) for similar instruments and make adjustments based on the characteristics of the instrument being valued. These adjustments reflect assumptions made regarding the sensitivity of each security’s value to changes in interest rates and prepayment speeds. Classes of instruments that are valued using this market approach include specified pool mortgage “pass-through” securities and other debt securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored entities and state and political subdivisions. The pricing models used to value securities under the income approach generally begin with the contractual cash flows of each security and make adjustments based on forecasted prepayment speeds, default rates, and other market-observable information. The adjusted cash flows are then discounted at a rate derived from observed rates of return for comparable assets or liabilities that are traded in the market. Classes of instruments that are valued using this market approach include residential and commercial CMOs.
A significant majority of the Company’s Level 1 and 2 debt securities are priced using an external pricing service. Citizens verifies the accuracy of the pricing provided by its primary outside pricing service on a quarterly basis. This process involves using a secondary external vendor to provide valuations for the Company’s securities portfolio for comparison purposes. Any valuation discrepancies beyond a certain threshold are researched and, if necessary, corroborated by an independent outside broker.
In certain cases where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to the valuation model, securities are classified as Level 3.
Mortgage Servicing Rights - Fair Value Method
MSRs do not trade in an active market with readily observable prices. MSRs are classified as Level 3 since the valuation methodology utilizes significant unobservable inputs. The fair value was calculated using a discounted cash flow model which used assumptions, including weighted-average life, prepayment assumptions and weighted-average option adjusted spread. The underlying assumptions and estimated values are corroborated by values received from independent third parties based on their review of the servicing portfolio, and comparisons to market transactions. In addition, the MSR Policy is approved by the Asset Liability Committee. Refer to Note 7 for more information.
Derivatives
The vast majority of the Company’s derivatives portfolio is composed of “plain vanilla” interest rate swaps, which are traded in over-the-counter markets where quoted market prices are not readily available. For these interest rate derivatives, fair value is determined utilizing models that primarily use market observable inputs, such as swap rates and yield curves. The pricing models used to value interest rate swaps calculate the sum of each instrument’s fixed and variable cash flows, which are then discounted using an appropriate yield curve (i.e., LIBOR or Overnight Index Swap curve) to arrive at the fair value of each swap. The pricing models do not contain a high level of subjectivity as the methodologies used do not require significant judgment. Citizens also considers certain adjustments to the modeled price that market participants would make when pricing each instrument, including a credit valuation adjustment that reflects the credit quality of the swap counterparty. Citizens incorporates the effect of exposure to a particular counterparty’s credit by netting its derivative contracts with the available collateral and calculating a credit valuation adjustment on the basis of the net position with the counterparty where permitted. The determination of this adjustment requires judgment on behalf of Company management; however, the total amount of this portfolio-level adjustment is not material to the total fair value of the interest rate swaps in their entirety. Therefore, interest rate swaps are classified as Level 2 in the valuation hierarchy.
The Company’s other derivatives include foreign exchange contracts. The fair value of foreign exchange derivatives uses the mid-point of daily quoted currency spot prices. A valuation model estimates fair value based
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on the quoted spot rates together with interest rate yield curves and forward currency rates. Since all of these inputs are observable in the market, foreign exchange derivatives are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Money Market Mutual Fund Investments
Fair value is determined based upon unadjusted quoted market prices and is considered a Level 1 fair value measurement.
The following table presents assets and liabilities measured at fair value, including gross derivative assets and liabilities on a recurring basis at December 31, 2019:
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The following table presents assets and liabilities measured at fair value including gross derivative assets and liabilities on a recurring basis at December 31, 2018:
The following table present a rollforward of the balance sheet amounts for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and classified as Level 3 for the year ended December 31, 2019. There were no other derivative contracts measured at fair value on a recurring basis and classified as Level 3 for the year ended December 31, 2018.
(1) Represents changes in value of the MSRs due to i) passage of time including the impact from both regularly scheduled loan principal payments and partial
paydowns, and ii) loans that paid off during the period.
(2) Represents changes in value primarily driven by market conditions. These changes are recorded in mortgage banking fees in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(3) Reflects changes in the significance of unobservable inputs on derivative contracts associated with mortgage origination costs.
Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is also used on a nonrecurring basis to evaluate certain assets for impairment or for disclosure purposes. Examples of nonrecurring uses of fair value include MSRs accounted for by the amortization method and loan impairments for certain loans and leases.
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The following valuation techniques are utilized to measure significant assets for which the Company utilizes fair value on a nonrecurring basis:
Impaired Loans
The carrying amount of collateral-dependent impaired loans is compared to the appraised value of the collateral less costs to dispose and is classified as Level 2. Any excess of carrying amount over the appraised value is charged to the ALLL.
Mortgage Servicing Rights - Amortization Method
MSRs do not trade in an active market with readily observable prices. MSRs are classified as Level 3 since the valuation methodology utilizes significant unobservable inputs. The fair value was calculated using a discounted cash flow model, which used assumptions, including weighted-average life, weighted-average constant prepayment rate and weighted-average discount rate. Refer to Note 7 for more information.
Leased assets
The fair value of assets under operating leases is determined using collateral specific pricing digests, external appraisals, broker opinions, recent sales data from industry equipment dealers, and discounted cash flows derived from the underlying lease agreement. As market data for similar assets and lease agreements is available and used in the valuation, these assets are classified as Level 2 fair value measurement.
The following table presents gains (losses) on assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and recorded in earnings:
The following table presents assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis:
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Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The following table presents the estimated fair value for financial instruments not recorded at fair value in the Consolidated Financial Statements. The carrying amounts are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets under the indicated captions:
NOTE 20 - NONINTEREST INCOME
The following table presents noninterest income, segregated between revenue from contracts with customers and revenue from other sources:
Revenues from Contracts with Customers
Citizens recognizes revenue from contracts with customers in the amount of consideration it expects to receive upon the transfer of control of a good or service. The timing of recognition is dependent on whether the Company satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of the product or service to a customer over
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time or at a point in time. Judgments are made in the recognition of income including the timing of satisfaction of performance obligations and determination of the transaction price.
The following table presents the components of revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by revenue stream and business operating segment:
(1) There is no revenue from contracts with customers included in Other non-segment operations.
Citizens does not have any material contract assets, liabilities, or other receivables recorded on its Consolidated Balance Sheets related to revenues from contracts with customers as of December 31, 2019. Citizens has elected the practical expedient to exclude disclosure of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which the Company recognized revenue at the amount to which the Company has the right to invoice for services performed. A description of the above components of revenue from contracts with customers is presented below:
Service Charges and Fees
Service charges and fees include fees earned from deposit products in lieu of compensating balances, service charges for transactions performed upon depositors’ request, as well as fees earned from performing cash management activities. Service charges on deposit products are recognized over the period in which the related service is provided, typically monthly. Service fees are recognized at a point in time upon completion of the requested service transaction. Fees on cash management products are recognized over time (typically monthly) as services are provided.
Card Fees
Card fees include interchange income from credit and debit card transactions and are recognized at a point in time upon settlement by the association network. Interchange rates are generally set by the association network based on purchase volume and other factors. Other card-related fees are recognized at a point in time upon completion of the transaction. Costs related to card rewards programs are recognized in current earnings as the rewards are earned by the customer and are presented as a reduction to card fees on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Capital Markets Fees
Capital markets fees include fees received from leading or participating in loan syndications, underwriting services and advisory fees. Loan syndication and underwriting fees are recognized as revenue at a point in time when the Company has rendered all services to, and is entitled to collect the fee from, the borrower or the issuer, and there are no other contingencies associated with the fee. Underwriting expenses passed through from the lead underwriter are recognized within other operating expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Advisory fees for merger and acquisitions are recognized over time, while valuation services and fairness opinions are recognized at a point in time upon completion of the advisory service.
Trust and Investment Services Fees
Trust and investment services fees include fees from investment management services and brokerage services. Fees from investment management services are based on asset market values and are recognized over the period in which the related service is provided. Brokerage services include custody fees, commission income, trailing commissions and other investment securities. Custody fees are recognized on a monthly basis for customers that are assessed custody fees. Commission income is recognized at a point in time on trade date. Trailing commissions such as 12b-1 fees, insurance renewal income, and income based on asset or investment levels in future periods are recognized at a point in time when the asset balance is known, or the renewal occurs and the income is no longer constrained. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized trailing commissions
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of $15 million and $16 million, respectively, related to services provided in previous reporting periods. Fees from other investment services are recognized at a point in time upon completion of the service.
Other Banking Fees
Other banking fees include fees for various transactional banking activities such as letter of credit fees, foreign wire transfers and other transactional services. These fees are recognized in a manner that reflects the timing of when transactions occur and as services are provided.
Revenue from Other Sources
Letter of Credit and Loan Fees
Letter of credit and loan fees primarily includes fees received related to letter of credit agreements as well as loan fees received from lending activities that are not deferrable. These fees are generally recognized upon execution of the contract.
Foreign Exchange and Interest Rate Products
Foreign exchange and interest rate products primarily includes the fees received from foreign exchange and interest rate derivative contracts executed with customers to meet their hedging and financing needs. These fees are generally recognized upon execution of the contracts. Foreign exchange and interest rate products also include the mark-to-market gains and losses recognized on (i) these customer contracts and (ii) offsetting derivative contracts that are executed with external counterparties to hedge the foreign exchange and interest rate risk associated with the customer contracts.
Mortgage Banking Fees
Mortgage banking fees primarily include gains on sales of residential mortgages originated with the intent to sell and servicing fees on mortgages where the Company is the servicer. Mortgage banking fees also include valuation adjustments for mortgage loans held-for-sale that are measured at the lower of cost or fair value, as well as mortgage loans originated with the intent to sell that are measured at fair value under the fair value option. Changes in the value of MSRs are reported in mortgage fees and related income. For a further discussion of MSRs, see Note 8. Net interest income from mortgage loans is recorded in interest income.
Other Income
Bank-owned life insurance is stated at its cash surrender value. Citizens is the beneficiary of the life insurance policies on current and former officers and selected employees of the Company. Net changes in the carrying amount of the cash surrender value are an adjustment of premiums paid in determining the expense or income to be recognized under the life insurance policy for the period.
NOTE 21 - OTHER OPERATING EXPENSE
The following table presents the details of other operating expense:
NOTE 22 - INCOME TAXES
Citizens uses an asset and liability (balance sheet) approach for financial accounting and reporting of income taxes, resulting in two components of income tax expense: current and deferred. Current income tax expense approximates taxes to be paid or refunded for the current period. Deferred income tax expense results from changes in gross deferred tax assets and liabilities between periods. These gross deferred tax assets and liabilities represent changes in taxes expected to be paid in the future due to reversals of temporary differences between the bases of
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the assets and liabilities as measured under tax laws, and their bases reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements as measured under GAAP.
Citizens also assesses the probability that the positions taken, or expected to be taken, in its income tax returns will be sustained by taxing authorities. A “more likely than not” (more than 50 percent) recognition threshold must be met before a tax benefit can be recognized. Tax positions that are more likely than not to be sustained are reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following table presents total income tax expense:
The following table presents the components of income tax expense:
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The following table presents a reconciliation between the U.S. federal income tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate:
The following table presents the tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities:
Deferred tax assets are recognized for net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. Valuation allowances are recorded as necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts that management concludes are more likely than not to be realized.
At December 31, 2019, the Company had state tax net operating loss carryforwards of $1.1 billion. Limitations on the ability to realize these carryforwards are reflected in the associated valuation allowance. At December 31, 2019, the Company had a valuation allowance of $79 million against various deferred tax assets related to state net operating losses and state tax credits, as it is management’s current assessment that it is more likely than not that
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the Company will not recognize a portion of the deferred tax assets related to these items. The valuation allowance decreased $31 million during the year ended December 31, 2019.
Effective with the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997, the reserve method for bad debts was no longer permitted for tax purposes. The repeal of the reserve method required the recapture of the reserve balance in excess of certain base year reserve amounts attributable to years ended prior to 1988. At December 31, 2019, the Company’s base year loan loss reserves attributable to years ended prior to 1988, for which no deferred income taxes have been provided, was $557 million. This base year reserve may become taxable if certain distributions are made with respect to the stock of the Company or if the Company ceases to qualify as a bank for tax purposes. No actions are planned that would cause this reserve to become wholly or partially taxable.
Citizens files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and in various state and local jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal or state and local income tax examinations by major tax authorities for years before 2016.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits:
Tax positions are measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. The difference between the benefit recognized for a position and the tax benefit claimed on a tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit.
Included in the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2019, are potential benefits of $5 million that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate.
Citizens classifies interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. There was no interest accrued through income tax expense during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. The Company released $8 million of accrued interest through income tax expense during the year ended December 31, 2017. Citizens had approximately $1 million, $2 million, and $1 million accrued for the payment of interest at December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. There were no amounts accrued for penalties as of December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, and there were no penalties recognized during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017.
NOTE 23 - EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Net income available to common stockholders represents net income after preferred stock dividends, accretion of the discount on preferred stock issuances, and gains or losses from any repurchases of preferred stock. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each period, plus potential dilutive shares such as share-based payment awards and warrants using the treasury stock method.
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(1) Potential dilutive common shares are excluded from the computation of diluted EPS in the periods where the effect would be antidilutive. Excluded from the computation of diluted EPS were weighted average antidilutive shares totaling 783 and 533 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2017. There were no potentially dilutive shares to exclude from the calculation for the year ended December 31, 2018.
NOTE 24 - REGULATORY MATTERS
As a bank holding company, Citizens is subject to regulation and supervision by the FRB. Our banking subsidiary, CBNA, is a national banking association whose primary federal regulator is the OCC.
Under the U.S. Basel III capital framework, the Company and CBNA must meet the following specific minimum requirements: CET1 capital ratio of 4.5%, tier 1 capital ratio of 6.0%, total capital ratio of 8.0%, and tier 1 leverage ratio of 4.0%. A CCB of 2.5% is imposed on top of each of the three minimum risk-weighted capital ratios listed above. In addition, the Company must not be subject to a written agreement, order or capital directive with any of its regulators. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can result in the initiation of certain actions that, if undertaken, could have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following table presents the Company’s capital and capital ratios under U.S. Basel III Standardized rules. The Company has declared itself as an “AOCI opt-out” institution, which means the Company is not required to recognize in regulatory capital the impacts of net unrealized gains and losses included within AOCI for debt securities that are available for sale or held to maturity, accumulated net gains and losses on cash flow hedges and certain defined benefit pension plan assets.
(1) “Minimum Capital ratio” includes capital conservation buffer of 2.500% for 2019 and 1.875% for 2018; N/A to Tier 1 leverage.
Under the FRB’s Capital Plan Rule, the Company may only make capital distributions, including payment of dividends and share repurchases, in accordance with a capital plan that has been reviewed by the FRB with no objection or as otherwise authorized by the FRB. The timing and exact amount of future dividends and share repurchases will depend on various factors, including the Company’s capital position, financial performance and market conditions. All future capital distributions are subject to consideration and approval by the Board of Directors prior to execution. See Note 16 for more information regarding the Company’s preferred stock issuances, common stock repurchases, and dividends.
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Dividends payable by CBNA, as a national bank subsidiary, are limited to the lesser of the amount calculated under a “recent earnings” test and an “undivided profits” test. Under the recent earnings test, a dividend may not be paid if the total of all dividends declared by a bank in any calendar year is in excess of the current year’s net income combined with the retained net income of the two preceding years, less any required transfers to surplus, unless the national bank obtains the approval of the OCC. Under the undivided profits test, a dividend may not be paid in excess of the entity’s “undivided profits” (generally, accumulated net profits that have not been paid out as dividends or transferred to surplus). Federal bank regulatory agencies have issued policy statements which provide that FDIC-insured depository institutions and their holding companies should generally pay dividends only out of their current operating earnings.
NOTE 25 - BUSINESS OPERATING SEGMENTS
Citizens is managed by its Chief Executive Officer on a segment basis. The Company’s two business operating segments are Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. The business segments are determined based on the products and services provided, or the type of customer served. Each segment has a segment head who reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer has final authority over resource allocation decisions and performance assessment. The business segments reflect this management structure and the manner in which financial information is currently evaluated by the Chief Executive Officer.
Reportable Segments
Segment results are determined based upon the Company’s management reporting system, which assigns balance sheet and statement of operations items to each of the business segments. The process is designed around the Company’s organizational and management structure and accordingly, the results derived are not necessarily comparable with similar information published by other financial institutions. A description of each reportable segment and table of financial results is presented below:
Consumer Banking
The Consumer Banking segment focuses on retail customers and small businesses with annual revenues of up to $25 million. It offers traditional banking products and services, including checking, savings, home loans, education loans, credit cards, business loans, and unsecured product finance and personal loans in addition to financial management services. It also operates an indirect auto financing business, providing financing for both new and used vehicles through auto dealerships. The segment’s distribution channels include a branch network, ATMs and a work force of experienced specialists ranging from financial consultants, mortgage loan officers and business banking officers to private bankers. The Company’s Consumer Banking value proposition is based on providing simple, easy to understand product offerings and a convenient banking experience with a more personalized approach.
Commercial Banking
The Commercial Banking segment primarily targets companies with annual revenues from $25 million to $2.5 billion and provides a full complement of financial products and solutions, including loans, leases, trade financing, deposits, cash management, commercial cards, foreign exchange, interest rate risk management, corporate finance and capital markets advisory capabilities. It focuses on middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions and has dedicated teams with industry expertise in government banking, not-for-profit, healthcare, technology, professionals, oil and gas, asset finance, franchise finance, asset-based lending, commercial real estate, private equity and sponsor finance. While the segment’s business development efforts are predominantly focused in the Company’s footprint, some of its specialized industry businesses also operate selectively on a national basis (such as healthcare, asset finance and franchise finance). A key component of Commercial Banking’s growth strategy is to bring ideas to clients that help their businesses thrive, and in doing so, expand the loan portfolio and ancillary product sales.
Non-segment Operations
Other
Non-segment operations are classified as Other, which includes corporate functions, the Treasury function, the securities portfolio, wholesale funding activities, intangible assets, community development, non-core assets, and other unallocated assets, liabilities, capital, revenues, provision for credit losses, and expenses including income tax expense. In addition to non-segment operations, Other includes goodwill and any associated goodwill impairment
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charges. For impairment testing purposes, the Company assigns goodwill to its Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking reporting units.
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Management accounting practices utilized by the Company as the basis of presentation for segment results include the following:
FTP adjustments
Citizens utilizes an FTP system to eliminate the effect of interest rate risk from the segments’ net interest income because such risk is centrally managed within the Treasury function. The FTP system credits (or charges) the segments with the economic value of the funds created (or used) by the segments. The FTP system provides a funds credit for sources of funds and a funds charge for the use of funds by each segment. The sum of the interest income/expense and FTP charges/credits for each segment is its designated net interest income. The variance between the Company’s cumulative FTP charges and cumulative FTP credits is offset in Other. Citizens periodically evaluates and refines its methodologies used to measure financial performance of its business operating segments.
Provision for credit losses allocations
Provision for credit losses is allocated to each business segment based on actual net charge-offs recognized by the business segment. The difference between the consolidated provision for credit losses and the business segments’ net charge-offs is reflected in Other.
Income tax allocations
Income taxes are assessed to each line of business at a standard tax rate with the residual tax expense or benefit to arrive at the consolidated effective tax rate included in Other.
Expense allocations
Noninterest expenses incurred by centrally managed operations or business lines that directly support another business line’s operations are charged to the applicable business line based on its utilization of those services.
Goodwill
For impairment testing purposes, the Company assigns goodwill to its Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking reporting units. For management reporting purposes, the Company presents the goodwill balance (and any related impairment charges) in Other.
Substantially all revenues generated and long-lived assets held by the Company’s business segments are derived from clients that reside in the United States. Neither business segment earns revenue from a single external customer that represents ten percent or more of the Company’s total revenues.
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NOTE 26 - PARENT COMPANY FINANCIALS
Condensed Statements of Operations
In accordance with federal and state banking regulations, dividends paid by CBNA to the Company are subject to certain limitations, see Note 24 for more information. Additionally, see Note 16 for more information regarding the Company’s common and preferred stock dividends.
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Condensed Balance Sheets
Condensed Cash Flow Statements
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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company maintains a set of disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms. The design of any disclosure controls and procedures is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in management's evaluation pursuant to Rules13a-15(d) or 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act during the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting are included in Item 8.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
We refer in Part III of this Report to relevant sections of our 2020 Proxy Statement for the 2020 annual meeting of shareholders, which will be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the close of our 2019 fiscal year. Portions of our 2020 Proxy Statement, including the sections we refer to in this Report, are incorporated by reference into this Report.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information required by this item is presented under the captions “Corporate Governance Matters” - “Election of Directors” - “Nominees” and “Board Governance and Oversight - Corporate Governance Guidelines, Committee Charters and Code of Business and Ethics” of our 2020 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated by reference into this item.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information required by this item is presented under the captions “Compensation Matters” - “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Compensation Committee Report,” “Executive Compensation,” “Termination of Employment and Change of Control,” “Director Compensation,” “Role of Risk Management in Compensation,” and “CEO Pay Ratio” of our 2020 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated by reference into this item.
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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this item regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is presented under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in our 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding our compensation plans under which CFG equity securities are authorized for issuance is included in the table below. Additional information regarding these plans is included in Note 17 in Item 8.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
At December 31, 2019
(1) Represents the number of shares of common stock associated with outstanding time-based and performance-based restricted stock units.
(2) We had no outstanding options.
(3) Represents the number of shares remaining available for future issuance under the Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan (46,659,259 shares), the Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Repurchase Plan (5,782,877 shares), and the Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan (1,457,728 shares).
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information required by this item is set forth under the captions “Corporate Governance Matters” - “Board Governance and Oversight - Director Independence” and “Related Person Transactions” of our 2020 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated by reference into this item.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Information required by this item is presented under the captions “Audit Matters” - “Pre-approval of Independent Auditor Services” and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees” of our 2020 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated by reference into this item.
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) Financial Statements of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., included in this Report:
•
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Consolidated Financial Statements;
•
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018;
•
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017;
•
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017;
•
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017;
•
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017; and
•
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules
All financial statement schedules for the Registrant have been included in the audited Consolidated Financial Statements or the related footnotes in Item 8, or are either inapplicable or not required.
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(a)(3) Exhibits
3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant as in effect on the date hereof (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 8, 2015)
3.2 Certificate of Designations of the Registrant with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock, dated May 22, 2018, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and effective May 22, 2018 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 24, 2018)
3.3 Certificate of Designations of the Registrant with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock, dated October 24, 2018, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and effective October 24, 2018 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed October 25, 2018)
3.4 Certificate of Designations of the Registrant with respect to the Series D Preferred Stock, dated January 23, 2019, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and effective January 23, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed January 29, 2019)
3.5 Certificate of Designations of the Registrant with respect to the Series E Preferred Stock, dated October 22, 2019, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and effective October 22, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.5 of the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed October 25, 2019)
3.6 Bylaws of the Registrant (as amended and restated on October 20, 2016) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed October 24, 2016)
4.1 Senior Debt Indenture between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon dated as of October 28, 2015 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed October 29, 2015)
4.2 Subordinated Indenture between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon dated as of September 28, 2012 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed July 28, 2015)
4.3 Form of Certificate representing the Series A Preferred Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed April 6, 2015)
4.4 Form of Certificate representing the Series B Preferred Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 24, 2018)
4.5 Form of Deposit Agreement, by and among the Company, Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., jointly as depositary, and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts described therein (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed October 25, 2019)
4.6 Form of Depository Receipt (incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.2 of the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed January 29, 2019)
4.7 Agreement to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request a copy of instruments defining the rights of holders of certain long-term debt of the registrant and consolidated subsidiaries*
10.1 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed November 14, 2014)†
10.2 Amended and Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan as of June 23, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 5, 2016)†
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10.3 Amended and Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan as of June 20, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 6, 2019)†
10.4 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for 2016 Awards (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 26, 2016)†
10.5 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for 2017 Award (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, Filed February 24, 2017)†
10.6 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for 2018 Award (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 22, 2018)†
10.7 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 24, 2019)†
10.8 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Bruce Van Saun Relating to Annual Awards (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, Filed February 24, 2017)†
10.9 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Form of Performance Share Award Agreement for 2016 Awards (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 9, 2016)†
10.10 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Form of Performance Stock Award Agreement for 2017 Awards (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, Filed February 24, 2017)†
10.11 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Amendment to Form of Performance Stock Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Filed August 3, 2017)†
10.12 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Form of Performance Stock Award Agreement for 2018 Awards (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.17 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 22, 2018)†
10.13 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Form of Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 24, 2019)†
10.14 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement for Bruce Van Saun Relating to Annual Awards (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, Filed February 24, 2017)†
10.15 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Amendment to Performance Share Unit Award Agreement/Restricted Stock Unit Agreement/Deferred Cash Agreement Terms and Conditions (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 26, 2016)†
10.16 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.3 of the Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed September 26, 2014)†
10.17 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Non-Employee Directors Compensation Policy, Amended and Effective as of April 26, 2018 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 9, 2018)†
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10.18 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Non-Employee Directors Compensation Policy, as amended April 25, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 6, 2019)†
10.19 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of the Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed September 26, 2014)†
10.20 Amended and Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan as of June 23, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 5, 2016)†
10.21 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 26, 2016)†
10.22 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Filed August 3, 2017)†
10.23 Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., effective January 1, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed August 15, 2014)†
10.24 Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed September 8, 2014)†
10.25 Amended and Restated CFG Voluntary Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2009 and amended and restated on September 1, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 3, 2015)†
10.26 First Amendment to the CFG Voluntary Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated March 1, 2019†*
10.27 Second Amendment to the CFG Voluntary Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated December 9, 2019†*
10.28 Amended and Restated Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed August 15, 2014)†
10.29 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Form of Deferred Cash Award Agreement for 2016 Awards (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.28 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 26, 2016)†
10.30 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Form of Deferred Cash Award Agreement for 2017 and 2018 Awards (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.35 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 22, 2018)†
10.31 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Form of Deferred Cash Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.32 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 24, 2019)†
10.32 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Executive Severance Practice (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed August 15, 2014)†
10.33 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Performance Formula and Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.28 of Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 3, 2015)†
10.34 Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement, dated May 5, 2016, between the Registrant and Bruce Van Saun (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Quarterly Report on Form S-1, filed May 9, 2016)†
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10.35 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement between the Registrant and Bruce Van Saun relating to the May 2016 Grant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 9, 2016)†
10.36 Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan Performance Share Unit Award Agreement between the Registrant and Bruce Van Saun for the May 2016 Grant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 9, 2016)†
10.37 Executive Employment Agreement, dated March 23, 2015, between the Registrant and Donald H. McCree III and subsequent addendum dated August 2, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 3, 2017)†
10.38 Offer Letter, dated May 23, 2008, as amended on August 6, 2014, between the Registrant and Brad Conner and subsequent addendums dated August 6, 2014 and August 2, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 3, 2017)†
10.39 Executive Employment Agreement, dated September 6, 2014, between the Registrant and Malcolm Griggs and subsequent addendum dated August 14, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.41 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 24, 2019)†
10.40 Executive Employment Agreement, dated December 13, 2016, between the Registrant and John F. Woods and subsequent addendum dated August 2, 2017 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 3, 2017)†
10.41 Supplemental Retirement Agreement, dated October 31, 1995, as amended, between Charter One Financial, Inc. and, Charles J. Koch (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.37 of Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed September 8, 2014)†
21.1 Subsidiaries of Registrant*
23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm*
24.1 Power of Attorney (contained herein on signature pages)
31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
The following materials from the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, formatted in XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements*
Cover page interactive data file in inline XBRL format, included in Exhibit 101 to this report*
† Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
* Filed herewith.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
Not applicable.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on February 24, 2020.
CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(Registrant)
By:
/s/ Bruce Van Saun
Name: Bruce Van Saun
Title: Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
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SIGNATURES
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned, being a director or officer of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints Bruce Van Saun, John F. Woods, Stephen T. Gannon, and C. Jack Read, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead in any and all capacities, to sign one or more Annual Reports for the Company's fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 on Form 10-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or such other form as any such attorney-in-fact may deem necessary or desirable, any amendments thereto, and all additional amendments thereto, each in such form as they or any one of them may approve, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done so that such Annual Report shall comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the applicable Rules and Regulations adopted or issued pursuant thereto, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their substitute or resubstitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Bruce Van Saun
Bruce Van Saun
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
February 24, 2020
(Principal Executive Officer and Director)
/s/ John F. Woods
John F. Woods
Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer
February 24, 2020
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ C. Jack Read
C. Jack Read
Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller
February 24, 2020
(Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Mark Casady
Mark Casady
Director
February 24, 2020
/s/ Christine M. Cumming
Christine M. Cumming
Director
February 24, 2020
/s/ William P. Hankowsky
William P. Hankowsky
Director
February 24, 2020
/s/ Howard W. Hanna, III
Howard W. Hanna, III
Director
February 24, 2020
/s/ Leo I. Higdon, Jr.
Leo I. Higdon, Jr.
Director
February 24, 2020
/s/ Edward J. Kelley III
Edward J. Kelly III
Director
February 24, 2020
/s/ Charles J. Koch
Charles J. Koch
Director
February 24, 2020
/s/ Terrance J. Lillis
Terrance J. Lillis
Director
February 24, 2020
/s/ Shivan S. Subramaniam
Shivan S. Subramaniam
Director
February 24, 2020
/s/ Wendy A. Watson
Wendy A. Watson
Director
February 24, 2020
/s/ Marita Zuraitis
Marita Zuraitis
Director
February 24, 2020
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