Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations

Note 1— Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of UnionBanCal Corporation, its subsidiaries, and its consolidated VIEs (the Company) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP) for interim financial reporting and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, they do not include all of the disclosures necessary for annual financial statements in conformity with US GAAP. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The results of operations for the first half of 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results anticipated for the full year. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in UnionBanCal Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (2010 Form 10-K).

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP also requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Although such estimates contemplate current conditions and management’s expectations of how they may change in the future, it is reasonably possible that actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. This could materially affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition in the near term. Significant estimates made by management in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements include, but are not limited to, the evaluation of other-than-temporary impairment on investment securities (Note 4), allowance for credit losses (Note 5), purchased credit-impaired loans (Note 5), annual goodwill impairment analysis, pension accounting (Note 7), valuing financial instruments (Note 10), and income taxes.

UnionBanCal Corporation is a financial holding company and commercial bank holding company whose major subsidiary, Union Bank, N.A. (the Bank), is a commercial bank. The Company provides a wide range of financial services to consumers, small businesses, middle-market companies and major corporations, primarily in California, Oregon, Washington, and Texas, as well as nationally and internationally.

Effective in the first half of 2011, payments received of $96 million related to the loss share agreements with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in conjunction with the Company’s FDIC-assisted acquisitions are disclosed separately as proceeds from FDIC loss share agreements and are classified within cash flows from investing activities. These proceeds were previously classified under cash flows from operating activities and totaled $95 million and $165 million in the third quarter and full year 2010, respectively.