Finance Receivables

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Receivables [Abstract]

Finance Receivables

4. Finance Receivables

Finance receivables consist of automobile finance installment Contracts and Direct Loans and are detailed as follows:

	(In thousands)
	December 31, 2016			March 31, 2016
Finance receivables, gross contract	$	515,316		$	498,130
Unearned interest		(161,645	)		(155,257	)
Finance receivables, net of unearned interest		353,671			342,873
Unearned dealer discounts		(17,166	)		(18,023	)
Finance receivables, net of unearned interest and unearned dealer discounts		336,505			324,850
Allowance for credit losses		(14,748	)		(13,013	)
Finance receivables, net	$	321,757		$	311,837

Contracts and Direct Loans each comprise a portfolio segment. The following tables present selected information on the entire portfolio of the Company:

	As of December 31,
Contract Portfolio	2016			2015
Weighted APR		22.43	%		22.71	%
Weighted average discount		7.48	%		7.70	%
Weighted average term (months)		57			56
Number of active contracts		37,834			38,013

	As of December 31,
Direct Loan Portfolio	2016			2015
Weighted APR		25.69	%		25.75	%
Weighted average term (months)		33			32
Number of active contracts		3,023			3,185

Each portfolio segment consists of smaller balance homogeneous loans which are collectively evaluated for impairment.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the changes in the allowance for credit losses on Contracts:

	Three months ended December 31, (In thousands)						Nine months ended December 31, (In thousands)
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Balance at beginning of period	$	12,925		$	10,955		$	12,265		$	11,325
Current period provision		8,701			7,437			23,723			18,402
Losses absorbed		(8,247	)		(7,584	)		(23,815	)		(20,454	)
Recoveries		570			694			1,776			2,229
Balance at end of period	$	13,949		$	11,502		$	13,949		$	11,502

The Company purchases Contracts from automobile dealers at a negotiated price that is less than the original principal amount being financed by the purchaser of the automobile. The Contracts are predominately for used vehicles. As of December 31, 2016, the average model year of vehicles collateralizing the portfolio was a 2008 vehicle. The Company utilizes a static pool approach to track portfolio performance. If the allowance for credit losses is determined to be inadequate for a static pool, then an additional charge to income through the provision is used to maintain adequate reserves based on management’s evaluation of the risk inherent in the loan portfolio, the composition of the portfolio, and current economic conditions. Such evaluation, considers among other matters, the estimated net realizable value of the underlying collateral, economic conditions, historical loan loss experience, management’s estimate of probable credit losses and other factors that warrant recognition in providing for an adequate allowance for credit losses.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the changes in the allowance for credit losses on Direct Loans:

	Three months ended December 31, (In thousands)						Nine months ended December 31, (In thousands)
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Balance at beginning of period	$	774		$	780		$	748		$	703
Current period provision		95			162			243			364
Losses absorbed		(73	)		(83	)		(217	)		(224	)
Recoveries		3			1			25			17
Balance at end of period	$	799		$	860		$	799		$	860

Direct Loans are originated directly between the Company and the consumer. These loans are typically for amounts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 and are generally secured by a lien on an automobile, watercraft or other permissible tangible personal property. The majority of Direct Loans are originated with current or former customers under the Company’s automobile financing program. The typical Direct Loan represents a significantly better credit risk than our typical Contract due to the customer’s historical payment history with the Company. In deciding whether or not to make a loan, the Company considers the individual’s credit history, job stability, income and impressions created during a personal interview with a Company loan officer. Additionally, because most of Direct Loans made by the Company to date have been made to borrowers under Contracts previously purchased by the Company, the payment history of the borrower under the Contract is a significant factor in making the loan decision. As of December 31, 2016, loans made by the Company pursuant to its Direct Loan program constituted approximately 2% of the aggregate principal amount of the Company’s loan portfolio. Changes in the allowance for credit losses for both Contracts and Direct Loans were driven by current economic conditions and trends over several reporting periods which are useful in estimating future losses and overall portfolio performance.

A performing account is defined as an account that is less than 61 days past due. A non-performing account is defined as an account that is contractually delinquent for 61 days or more and the accrual of interest income is suspended. As of September 30, 2016, when an account is 180 days contractually delinquent, the account is written off. This change aligns the Company’s charge-off policy with best practices within the subprime auto financing segment, and had an immaterial impact on losses absorbed and the allowance for credit losses. Prior to September 2016, accounts that were 120 days contractually delinquent were written off. See Item 2 for more discussion. Upon notification of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, an account is put into bankruptcy status and monitored for collection with other Chapter 13 bankruptcy accounts. In the event the debtors balance has been reduced by the bankruptcy court, the Company will record a loss equal to the amount of principal balance reduction. The remaining balance will be reduced as payments are received by the bankruptcy court. In the event an account is dismissed from bankruptcy, the Company will decide, based on several factors, to begin repossession proceedings or to allow the customer to begin making regularly scheduled payments.

The following table is an assessment of the credit quality by creditworthiness:

	(In thousands)
	December 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
	Contracts		Direct Loans		Contracts		Direct Loans
Performing accounts	$	462,569	$	11,231	$	467,285	$	11,932
Non-performing accounts		36,980		280		11,112		100
Total	$	499,549	$	11,511	$	478,397	$	12,032
Chapter 13 bankruptcy accounts		4,220		36		4,341		38
Finance receivables, gross contract	$	503,769	$	11,547	$	482,738	$	12,070

The following tables present certain information regarding the delinquency rates experienced by the Company with respect to Contracts and under its Direct Loans, excluding Chapter 13 bankruptcy accounts:

	(In thousands)
Contracts	Gross Balance Outstanding		31 – 60 days			61 –90 days			Over 90 days			Total
December 31, 2016	$	499,549	$	35,184		$	17,263		$	19,717		$	72,164
				7.04	%		3.46	%		3.95	%		14.45	%
December 31, 2015	$	478,397	$	23,971		$	7,030		$	4,082		$	35,083
				5.01	%		1.47	%		0.85	%		7.33	%
Direct Loans	Gross Balance Outstanding		31 – 60 days			61 –90 days			Over 90 days			Total
December 31, 2016	$	11,511	$	282		$	155		$	125		$	562
				2.45	%		1.34	%		1.09	%		4.88	%
December 31, 2015	$	12,032	$	212		$	63		$	37		$	312
				1.76	%		0.53	%		0.31	%		2.60	%