DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). For purposes of comparability, certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation, in particular, as a result of the spinoff of its LoyaltyOne segment and its classification as discontinued operations, the Company has adjusted the presentation of its Consolidated Financial Statements from its historical approach under SEC Regulation S-X Article 5, which is broadly applicable to all “commercial and industrial companies,” to Article 9, which is applicable to “bank holding companies.” While neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is considered a “bank” within the meaning of the Bank Holding Company Act, the changes from the historical presentation, to the bank holding company presentation, the most significant of which reflect a reclassification of Interest expense within Net interest income, are intended to reflect the Company’s operations going forward and better align the Company with its peers for comparability purposes. The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statement should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2022; if not significantly different, certain note disclosures included therein have been omitted from these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein reflect all adjustments, which consist of normal, recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to state fairly the results for the interim periods presented. Results of operations reported for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. These accounting estimates and assumptions reflect the best judgement of management, but actual results could differ. The most significant of those estimates and assumptions relate to the Company’s Allowance for credit losses. The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and all subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS	RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS In March 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new accounting and disclosure guidance for troubled debt restructurings effective January 1, 2023, with early adoption permitted. Specifically, the new guidance eliminates the previous recognition and measurement guidance for troubled debt restructurings while enhancing the disclosure requirements for certain loan modifications, including requiring disclosure of gross principal losses by year of loan origination. The Company is evaluating the new guidance and any impacts on its financial position, results of operations and regulatory risk-based capital, none of which are expected to be material, along with any anticipated impacts on its operational processes, controls and governance.
Credit Card and Other Loans	The Company’s payment and lending solutions result in the generation of credit card and other loans, which are recorded at the time a cardholder enters into a point-of-sale transaction with a merchant. Credit card loans represent revolving amounts due and have a range of terms that include credit limits, interest rates and fees, which can be revised over time based on new information about the cardholder, in accordance with applicable regulations and the governing terms and conditions. Cardholders choosing to make a payment of less than the full balance due, instead of paying in full, are subject to finance charges and are required to make monthly payments based on pre-established amounts. Other loans, which are primarily installment loans offered to customers, have a range of fixed terms such as interest rates, fees and repayment periods, and borrowers are required to make pre-established monthly payments over the term of the loan in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions. Credit card and other loans are presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of the Allowance for credit losses, and include principal and any related accrued interest and fees. The Company continues to accrue interest and fee income on all accounts, except in limited circumstances, until the related balance and all related interest and fees are paid or charged-off; an Allowance for credit losses is established for uncollectable interest and fees. Primarily, the Company classifies its credit card and other loans as held for investment. The Company sells a majority of its credit card loans originated by Comenity Bank and by Comenity Capital Bank, which together are referred to herein as the “Banks,” to securitization master trusts, which are themselves consolidated VIEs, and therefore these loans are restricted for securitization investors. All new originations of credit card and other loans are determined to be held for investment at origination because the Company has the intent and ability to hold them for the foreseeable future. In determining what constitutes the foreseeable future, the Company considers the average life and homogenous nature of its credit card and other loans. In assessing whether its credit card and other loans continue to be held for investment, the Company also considers capital levels and scheduled maturities of funding instruments used. The assertion regarding the intent and ability to hold credit card and other loans for the foreseeable future can be made with a high degree of certainty given the maturity distribution of the Company’s direct-to-consumer deposits and other funding instruments; the demonstrated ability to replace maturing time-based deposits and other borrowings with new deposits or borrowings; and historic payment activity on its credit card and other loans. Due to the homogenous nature of the Company’s credit card loans, amounts are classified as held for investment on a brand partner portfolio basis. From time to time certain credit card loans are classified as held for sale, as determined on a brand partner basis. The Company carries these assets at the lower of aggregate cost or fair value, and continues to recognize finance charges on an accrual basis. Cash flows associated with credit card and other loans originated or purchased for investment are classified as Cash flows from investing activities, regardless of any subsequent change in intent and ability.
Allowance for Credit Losses	The allowance for credit losses is an estimate of expected credit losses, measured over the estimated life of its credit card and other loans that considers forecasts of future economic conditions in addition to information about past events and current conditions. The estimate under the credit reserving methodology referred to as the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) model is significantly influenced by the composition, characteristics and quality of the Company’s portfolio of credit card and other loans, as well as the prevailing economic conditions and forecasts utilized. The estimate of the allowance for credit losses includes an estimate for uncollectible principal as well as unpaid interest and fees. Principal losses, net of recoveries are deducted from the allowance. Principal losses for unpaid interest and fees as well as any adjustments to the allowance associated with unpaid interest and fees are recorded as a reduction to Interest and fees on loans. The allowance is maintained through an adjustment to the Provision for credit losses and is evaluated for appropriateness. In estimating its allowance for credit losses, for each identified group, management utilizes various models and estimation techniques based on historical loss experience, current conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts and other relevant factors. These models utilize historical data and applicable macroeconomic variables with statistical analysis and behavioral relationships with credit performance. The Company’s quantitative estimate of expected credit losses under CECL is impacted by certain forecasted economic factors. The Company considers the forecast used to be reasonable and supportable over the estimated life of the credit card and other loans, with no reversion period. In addition to the quantitative estimate of expected credit losses, the Company also incorporates qualitative adjustments for certain factors such as Company-specific risks, changes in current economic conditions that may not be captured in the quantitatively derived results, or other relevant factors to ensure the Allowance for credit losses reflects the Company’s best estimate of current expected credit losses. Credit Card Loans The Company uses a “pooled” approach to estimate expected credit losses for financial assets with similar risk characteristics. The Company has evaluated multiple risk characteristics across its credit card loans portfolio, and determined delinquency status and credit quality to be the most significant characteristics for estimating expected credit losses. To estimate its Allowance for credit losses, the Company segments its credit card loans on the basis of delinquency status, credit quality risk score and product. These risk characteristics are evaluated on at least an annual basis, or more frequently as facts and circumstances warrant. In determining the estimated life of the Company’s credit card loans, payments were applied to the measurement date balance with no payments allocated to future purchase activity. The Company uses a combination of First In First Out (FIFO) and the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD Act) methodology to model balance paydown.
Transfers of Financial Assets	The Company accounts for transfers of financial assets as either sales or financings. Transfers of financial assets that are accounted for as sales are removed from the Consolidated Balance Sheets with any realized gain or loss reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income during the period in which the sale occurs. Transfers of financial assets that are not accounted for as a sale are treated as a financing. The Company regularly securitizes the majority of its credit card loans through the transfer of those loans to one of its master trusts (the Trusts). The Company performs the decision making for the Trusts, as well as servicing the cardholder accounts that generate the credit card loans held by the Trusts. In its capacity as a servicer, the Company administers the loans, collects payments and charges-off uncollectible balances. Servicing fees are earned by a subsidiary of the Company, which are eliminated in consolidation. The Trusts are consolidated VIEs because they have insufficient equity at risk to finance their activities – being the issuance of debt securities and notes, collateralized by the underlying credit card loans. Because the Company performs the decision making and servicing for the Trusts, it has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the Trusts’ economic performance (the collection of the underlying credit card loans). In addition, the Company holds all of the variable interests in the Trusts, with the exception of the liabilities held by third-parties. These variable interests provide the Company with the right to receive benefits and the obligation to absorb losses, which could be significant to the Trusts. As a result of these considerations, the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the Trusts and therefore consolidates the Trusts. The Trusts issue debt securities and notes, which are non-recourse to the Company. The collections on the securitized credit card loans held by the Trusts are available only for payment of those debt securities and notes, or other obligations arising in the securitization transactions. For its securitized credit card loans, during the initial phase of a securitization reinvestment period, the Company generally retains principal collections in exchange for the transfer of additional credit card loans into the securitized pool of assets. During the amortization or accumulation period of a securitization, the investors’ share of principal collections (in certain cases, up to a maximum specified amount each month) is either distributed to the investors or held in an account until it accumulates to the total amount due, at which time it is paid to the investors in a lump sum.
Available-for-Sale Securities	The Company’s investment securities consist of available-for-sale (AFS) securities, which are debt securities, U.S. Treasury bonds and mutual funds. The Company also holds equity securities within its investment securities portfolio. Collectively, these investments are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets within Investment securities. For any AFS debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the CECL methodology requires estimation of the lifetime expected credit losses which then would be recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income by establishing, or adjusting an existing allowance for those credit losses. The Company did not have any such credit losses for the periods presented. Any unrealized gains, or any portion of a security’s non-credit-related unrealized losses are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, net of tax. The Company typically invests in highly-rated securities with low probabilities of default. Gains and losses on investments in equity securities are recorded in Other non-interest expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Realized gains and losses are recognized upon disposition of the investment securities, using the specific identification method. The table below reflects unrealized gains and losses as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively:

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). For purposes of comparability, certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation, in particular, as a result of the spinoff of its LoyaltyOne segment and its classification as discontinued operations, the Company has adjusted the presentation of its Consolidated Financial Statements from its historical approach under SEC Regulation S-X Article 5, which is broadly applicable to all “commercial and industrial companies,” to Article 9, which is applicable to “bank holding companies.” While neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is considered a “bank” within the meaning of the Bank Holding Company Act, the changes from the historical presentation, to the bank holding company presentation, the most significant of which reflect a reclassification of Interest expense within Net interest income, are intended to reflect the Company’s operations going forward and better align the Company with its peers for comparability purposes.

The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statement should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2022; if not significantly different, certain note disclosures included therein have been omitted from these unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein reflect all adjustments, which consist of normal, recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to state fairly the results for the interim periods presented. Results of operations reported for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. These accounting estimates and assumptions reflect the best judgement of management, but actual results could differ. The most significant of those estimates and assumptions relate to the Company’s Allowance for credit losses.

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and all subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In March 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new accounting and disclosure guidance for troubled debt restructurings effective January 1, 2023, with early adoption permitted. Specifically, the new guidance eliminates the previous recognition and measurement guidance for troubled debt restructurings while enhancing the disclosure requirements for certain loan modifications, including requiring disclosure of gross principal losses by year of loan origination. The Company is evaluating the new guidance and any impacts on its financial position, results of operations and regulatory risk-based capital, none of which are expected to be material, along with any anticipated impacts on its operational processes, controls and governance.

Credit Card and Other Loans

The Company’s payment and lending solutions result in the generation of credit card and other loans, which are recorded at the time a cardholder enters into a point-of-sale transaction with a merchant. Credit card loans represent revolving amounts due and have a range of terms that include credit limits, interest rates and fees, which can be revised over time based on new information about the cardholder, in accordance with applicable regulations and the governing terms and conditions. Cardholders choosing to make a payment of less than the full balance due, instead of paying in full, are subject to finance charges and are required to make monthly payments based on pre-established amounts. Other loans, which are primarily installment loans offered to customers, have a range of fixed terms such as interest rates, fees and repayment periods, and borrowers are required to make pre-established monthly payments over the term of the loan in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions. Credit card and other loans are presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of the Allowance for credit losses, and include principal and any related accrued interest and fees. The Company continues to accrue interest and fee income on all accounts, except in limited circumstances, until the related balance and all related interest and fees are paid or charged-off; an Allowance for credit losses is established for uncollectable interest and fees.

Primarily, the Company classifies its credit card and other loans as held for investment. The Company sells a majority of its credit card loans originated by Comenity Bank and by Comenity Capital Bank, which together are referred to herein as the “Banks,” to securitization master trusts, which are themselves consolidated VIEs, and therefore these loans are restricted for securitization investors. All new originations of credit card and other loans are determined to be held for investment at origination because the Company has the intent and ability to hold them for the foreseeable future. In determining what constitutes the foreseeable future, the Company considers the average life and homogenous nature of its credit card and other loans. In assessing whether its credit card and other loans continue to be held for investment, the Company also considers capital levels and scheduled maturities of funding instruments used. The assertion regarding the intent and ability to hold credit card and other loans for the foreseeable future can be made with a high degree of certainty given the maturity distribution of the Company’s direct-to-consumer deposits and other funding instruments; the demonstrated ability to replace maturing time-based deposits and other borrowings with new deposits or borrowings; and historic payment activity on its credit card and other loans. Due to the homogenous nature of the Company’s credit card loans, amounts are classified as held for investment on a brand partner portfolio basis. From time to time certain credit card loans are classified as held for sale, as determined on a brand partner basis. The Company carries these assets at the lower of aggregate cost or fair value, and continues to recognize finance charges on an accrual basis. Cash flows associated with credit card and other loans originated or purchased for investment are classified as Cash flows from investing activities, regardless of any subsequent change in intent and ability.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for credit losses is an estimate of expected credit losses, measured over the estimated life of its credit card and other loans that considers forecasts of future economic conditions in addition to information about past events and current conditions. The estimate under the credit reserving methodology referred to as the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) model is significantly influenced by the composition, characteristics and quality of the Company’s portfolio of credit card and other loans, as well as the prevailing economic conditions and forecasts utilized. The estimate of the allowance for credit losses includes an estimate for uncollectible principal as well as unpaid interest and fees. Principal losses, net of recoveries are deducted from the allowance. Principal losses for unpaid interest and fees as well as any adjustments to the allowance associated with unpaid interest and fees are recorded as a reduction to Interest and fees on loans. The allowance is maintained through an adjustment to the Provision for credit losses and is evaluated for appropriateness.

In estimating its allowance for credit losses, for each identified group, management utilizes various models and estimation techniques based on historical loss experience, current conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts and other relevant factors. These models utilize historical data and applicable macroeconomic variables with statistical analysis and behavioral relationships with credit performance. The Company’s quantitative estimate of expected credit losses under CECL is impacted by certain forecasted economic factors. The Company considers the forecast used to be reasonable and supportable over the estimated life of the credit card and other loans, with no reversion period. In addition to the quantitative estimate of expected credit losses, the Company also incorporates qualitative adjustments for certain factors such as Company-specific risks, changes in current economic conditions that may not be captured in the quantitatively derived results, or other relevant factors to ensure the Allowance for credit losses reflects the Company’s best estimate of current expected credit losses.

Credit Card Loans

The Company uses a “pooled” approach to estimate expected credit losses for financial assets with similar risk characteristics. The Company has evaluated multiple risk characteristics across its credit card loans portfolio, and determined delinquency status and credit quality to be the most significant characteristics for estimating expected credit losses. To estimate its Allowance for credit losses, the Company segments its credit card loans on the basis of delinquency status, credit quality risk score and product. These risk characteristics are evaluated on at least an annual basis, or more frequently as facts and circumstances warrant. In determining the estimated life of the Company’s credit card loans, payments were applied to the measurement date balance with no payments allocated to future purchase activity. The Company uses a combination of First In First Out (FIFO) and the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD Act) methodology to model balance paydown.

Transfers of Financial Assets

The Company accounts for transfers of financial assets as either sales or financings. Transfers of financial assets that are accounted for as sales are removed from the Consolidated Balance Sheets with any realized gain or loss reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income during the period in which the sale occurs. Transfers of financial assets that are not accounted for as a sale are treated as a financing.

The Company regularly securitizes the majority of its credit card loans through the transfer of those loans to one of its master trusts (the Trusts). The Company performs the decision making for the Trusts, as well as servicing the cardholder accounts that generate the credit card loans held by the Trusts. In its capacity as a servicer, the Company administers the loans, collects payments and charges-off uncollectible balances. Servicing fees are earned by a subsidiary of the Company, which are eliminated in consolidation.

The Trusts are consolidated VIEs because they have insufficient equity at risk to finance their activities – being the issuance of debt securities and notes, collateralized by the underlying credit card loans. Because the Company performs the decision making and servicing for the Trusts, it has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the Trusts’ economic performance (the collection of the underlying credit card loans). In addition, the Company holds all of the variable interests in the Trusts, with the exception of the liabilities held by third-parties. These variable interests provide the Company with the right to receive benefits and the obligation to absorb losses, which could be significant to the Trusts. As a result of these considerations, the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the Trusts and therefore consolidates the Trusts.

The Trusts issue debt securities and notes, which are non-recourse to the Company. The collections on the securitized credit card loans held by the Trusts are available only for payment of those debt securities and notes, or other obligations arising in the securitization transactions. For its securitized credit card loans, during the initial phase of a securitization reinvestment period, the Company generally retains principal collections in exchange for the transfer of additional credit card loans into the securitized pool of assets. During the amortization or accumulation period of a securitization, the investors’ share of principal collections (in certain cases, up to a maximum specified amount each month) is either distributed to the investors or held in an account until it accumulates to the total amount due, at which time it is paid to the investors in a lump sum.

Available-for-Sale Securities

The Company’s investment securities consist of available-for-sale (AFS) securities, which are debt securities, U.S. Treasury bonds and mutual funds. The Company also holds equity securities within its investment securities portfolio. Collectively, these investments are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets within Investment securities.

For any AFS debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the CECL methodology requires estimation of the lifetime expected credit losses which then would be recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income by establishing, or adjusting an existing allowance for those credit losses. The Company did not have any such credit losses for the periods presented. Any unrealized gains, or any portion of a security’s non-credit-related unrealized losses are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, net of tax. The Company typically invests in highly-rated securities with low probabilities of default.

Gains and losses on investments in equity securities are recorded in Other non-interest expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Realized gains and losses are recognized upon disposition of the investment securities, using the specific identification method. The table below reflects unrealized gains and losses as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively: