Fair Value Measurements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

8. Fair Value Measurements

We use estimates of fair value in applying various accounting standards in our financial statements. We categorize our fair value estimates based on a hierarchical framework associated with three levels of price transparency utilized in measuring financial instruments at fair value. Please refer to “Note 12 — Fair Value Measurements” in our 2018 Form 10-K for a full discussion.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, there were no significant transfers of financial instruments between levels, or changes in our methodology or assumptions used to value our financial instruments.

The following table summarizes the valuation of our financial instruments that are marked-to-market on a recurring basis.

	Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
	June 30, 2019											December 31, 2018
(Dollars in millions)	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3			Total			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3			Total
Assets
Derivative instruments:⁽¹⁾
Interest rate swaps		—		241			2			243			—		171			2			173
Cross-currency interest rate swaps		—		—			3			3			—		—			6			6
Total derivative assets⁽²⁾		—		241			5			246			—		171			8			179
Total	$	—	$	241		$	5		$	246		$	—	$	171		$	8		$	179
Liabilities⁽³⁾
Derivative instruments⁽¹⁾
Interest rate swaps	$	—	$	(1	)	$	(23	)	$	(24	)	$	—	$	(50	)	$	(29	)	$	(79	)
Floor Income Contracts		—		(99	)		—			(99	)		—		(53	)		—			(53	)
Cross-currency interest rate swaps		—		—			(606	)		(606	)		—		(26	)		(639	)		(665	)
Other		—		—			(2	)		(2	)		—		—			(4	)		(4	)
Total derivative liabilities⁽²⁾		—		(100	)		(631	)		(731	)		—		(129	)		(672	)		(801	)
Total	$	—	$	(100	)	$	(631	)	$	(731	)	$	—	$	(129	)	$	(672	)	$	(801	)

⁽¹⁾	Fair value of derivative instruments excludes accrued interest and the value of collateral.

⁽²⁾	See “Note 4—Derivative Financial Instruments” for a reconciliation of gross positions without the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification.

⁽³⁾	Borrowings which are the hedged items in a fair value hedge relationship and which are adjusted for changes in value due to benchmark interest rates only are not carried at full fair value and are not reflected in this table.

8. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

The following tables summarize the change in balance sheet carrying value associated with level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value on a recurring basis.

	Three Months Ended June 30,
	2019												2018
	Derivative instruments												Derivative instruments
(Dollars in millions)	Interest Rate Swaps			Cross Currency Interest Rate Swaps			Other			Total Derivative Instruments			Interest Rate Swaps			Cross Currency Interest Rate Swaps			Other			Total Derivative Instruments
Balance, beginning of period	$	(24	)	$	(645	)	$	(2	)	$	(671	)	$	(37	)	$	(246	)	$	(12	)	$	(295	)
Total gains/(losses):
Included in earnings⁽¹⁾		2			10			—			12			3			(314	)		3			(308	)
Included in other comprehensive income		—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Settlements		1			32			—			33			1			31			1			33
Transfers in and/or out of level 3		—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Balance, end of period	$	(21	)	$	(603	)	$	(2	)	$	(626	)	$	(33	)	$	(529	)	$	(8	)	$	(570	)
Change in mark-to-market gains/(losses) relating to instruments still held at the reporting date⁽²⁾	$	2		$	42		$	—		$	44		$	4		$	(283	)	$	4		$	(275	)

	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2019												2018
	Derivative instruments												Derivative instruments
(Dollars in millions)	Interest Rate Swaps			Cross Currency Interest Rate Swaps			Other			Total Derivative Instruments			Interest Rate Swaps			Cross Currency Interest Rate Swaps			Other			Total Derivative Instruments
Balance, beginning of period	$	(27	)	$	(633	)	$	(4	)	$	(664	)	$	(41	)	$	(322	)	$	(18	)	$	(381	)
Total gains/(losses):
Included in earnings⁽¹⁾		4			(35	)		2			(29	)		6			(265	)		6			(253	)
Included in other comprehensive income		—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Settlements		2			65			—			67			2			58			4			64
Transfers in and/or out of level 3		—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Balance, end of period	$	(21	)	$	(603	)	$	(2	)	$	(626	)	$	(33	)	$	(529	)	$	(8	)	$	(570	)
Change in mark-to-market gains/(losses) relating to instruments still held at the reporting date⁽²⁾	$	5		$	30		$	2		$	37		$	7		$	(180	)	$	10		$	(163	)

⁽¹⁾	“Included in earnings” is comprised of the following amounts recorded in the specified line item in the consolidated statements of income:

	Three Months Ended June 30,					Six Months Ended June 30,
(Dollars in millions)	2019		2018			2019			2018
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net	$	2	$	(277	)	$	6		$	(195	)
Interest expense		10		(31	)		(35	)		(58	)
Total	$	12	$	(308	)	$	(29	)	$	(253	)

⁽²⁾

Recorded in “gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income for interest rate swaps and other. Recorded in interest expense for cross currency interest rate swaps in fair value hedges for 2019 with the adoption of ASU No. 2017-12. Recorded in “gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net” for cross currency interest rate swaps in 2018.

8. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

The following table presents the significant inputs that are unobservable or from inactive markets used in the recurring valuations of the level 3 financial instruments detailed above.

(Dollars in millions)	Fair Value at June 30, 2019			Valuation Technique	Input	Range (Weighted Average)
Derivatives
Prime/LIBOR basis swaps	$	(21	)	Discounted cash flow	Constant Prepayment Rate	7%
					Bid/ask adjustment to	.08% — .08%
					discount rate	(.08%)
Cross-currency interest rate swaps		(603	)	Discounted cash flow	Constant Prepayment Rate	4%
Other		(2	)
Total	$	(626	)

The significant inputs that are unobservable or from inactive markets related to our level 3 derivatives detailed in the table above would be expected to have the following impacts to the valuations:

•

Prime/LIBOR basis swaps — These swaps do not actively trade in the markets as indicated by a wide bid/ask spread. A wider bid/ask spread will result in a decrease in the overall valuation. In addition, the unobservable inputs include Constant Prepayment Rates of the underlying securitization trust the swap references. A decrease in this input will result in a longer weighted average life of the swap which will increase the value for swaps in a gain position and decrease the value for swaps in a loss position, everything else equal. The opposite is true for an increase in the input.

•

Cross-currency interest rate swaps — The unobservable inputs used in these valuations are Constant Prepayment Rates of the underlying securitization trust the swap references. A decrease in this input will result in a longer weighted average life of the swap. All else equal in a typical currency market, this will result in a decrease to the valuation due to the delay in the cash flows of the currency exchanges as well as diminished liquidity in the forward exchange markets as you increase the term. The opposite is true for an increase in the input.

The following table summarizes the fair values of our financial assets and liabilities, including derivative financial instruments.

	June 30, 2019									December 31, 2018
(Dollars in millions)	Fair Value			Carrying Value			Difference			Fair Value			Carrying Value			Difference
Earning assets
FFELP Loans	$	68,378		$	67,956		$	422		$	72,074		$	72,253		$	(179	)
Private Education Loans		22,312			21,564			748			22,958			22,245			713
Cash and investments		4,648			4,648			—			5,488			5,488			—
Total earning assets		95,338			94,168			1,170			100,520			99,986			534
Interest-bearing liabilities
Short-term borrowings		6,812			6,785			(27	)		5,418			5,422			4
Long-term borrowings		86,412			86,776			364			92,173			93,519			1,346
Total interest-bearing liabilities		93,224			93,561			337			97,591			98,941			1,350
Derivative financial instruments
Floor Income Contracts		(99	)		(99	)		—			(53	)		(53	)		—
Interest rate swaps		219			219			—			94			94			—
Cross-currency interest rate swaps		(603	)		(603	)		—			(659	)		(659	)		—
Other		(2	)		(2	)		—			(4	)		(4	)		—
Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value							$	1,507								$	1,884