Business Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Business Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Business Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	1. Business Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Business Overview CPI Card Group Inc., (which, together with its subsidiary companies, is referred to herein as “CPI” or the “Company”) is a payment technology company and leading provider of comprehensive Financial Payment Card solutions in the United States. The Company defines “Financial Payment Cards” as credit, debit and Prepaid Debit Cards issued on the networks of the “Payment Card Brands” (Visa, Mastercard®, American Express® and Discover® in the United States) and Interac (in Canada). We define “Prepaid Debit Cards” as debit cards issued on the networks of the Payment Card Brands, but not linked to a traditional bank account. The Company also offers an instant card issuance solution, which provide card issuing bank customers the ability to issue a personalized debit or credit card within the bank branch to individual cardholders. As a producer and provider of services for Financial Payment Cards, each of the Company’s secure facilities must be compliant and registered with one or more of the Payment Card Brands and is therefore subject to specific requirements and conditions. Noncompliance with these requirements would prohibit the individual facilities of the Company from producing Financial Payment Cards for these entities’ payment card issuers. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Company’s Canadian subsidiary to Allcard Limited, a provider of card solutions to the gift and loyalty sectors. The sale agreement did not include the portions of the business relating to Financial Payment Cards, as that business migrated to the Company’s operations in the Debit and Credit segment or to other service providers in 2019. The transaction closed on April 1, 2019, and the Company received cash proceeds of $1,451. After the payment of liabilities and transaction costs, including employee termination costs, the sale did not have a significant impact on cash, and no significant loss on sale. The Canadian subsidiary was not a significant operating segment and was part of the Other reportable segment. COVID-19 Update In December 2019, a novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) was reported and in January 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. On February 28, 2020, the WHO raised its assessment of the COVID-19 threat from high to very high at a global level due to the continued increase in the number of cases and affected countries, and on March 11, 2020, the WHO characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. Further, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency, invoking powers under the Stafford Act – the legislation that directs federal emergency disaster response. The broader and long-term implications of COVID-19 on the Company’s results of operations and overall financial performance remain uncertain. The adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have become widespread, including in the locations where the Company operates and its customers and suppliers conduct business. The health and safety of CPI’s employees remains paramount, and the Company continues to follow the safety precautions and other appropriate measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  All of CPI’s operations remain open and continue to provide direct and essential support to the financial services industry. However, the Company may experience constrained supply or curtailed customer demand that could materially adversely impact the business, results of operations and overall financial performance in future periods. While CPI’s net sales and net income in the first quarter of 2020 has increased over the first quarter of 2019, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic will not be fully reflected in the Company’s results of operations and overall financial performance until future periods. See Risk Factors for further discussion of the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, the Company continues to provide essential support to its customers and execute on its strategic plan, while carefully managing spending. However, there can be no assurance that such strategies will be successful in effectively managing the Company’s resources and mitigating the negative impact of the COVID-19 on the business and operating results. On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law. The CARES Act, among other things, includes provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits, deferment of employer side social security payments, changes in net operating loss carryback periods, alternative minimum tax credit refunds, modifications to the net interest deduction limitations and technical corrections to tax depreciation methods for qualified improvement property. CPI is evaluating the applicability of the CARES Act to the Company, and the potential impacts on the business. While the Company may determine to apply for, or otherwise participate in, such programs, there is no guarantee that CPI will meet any eligibility requirements to participate in certain programs or, even if the Company is able to participate, that such programs will provide meaningful benefit to the business. Basis of Presentation Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for the fair statement of the results of the interim periods presented. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2019 is derived from the audited financial statements as of that date. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Use of Estimates Management uses estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities in its preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount of property and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets, leases, valuation allowances for inventories and deferred taxes, revenue recognized for work performed but not completed, and uncertain tax positions. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Recent Accounting Standards Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”), which provides guidance for accounting for leases. The new guidance requires companies to recognize the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leased assets. ASC 842 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 (the Company’s fiscal year 2019) with early adoption permitted. The guidance required a modified retrospective approach, with an option to apply the transition provisions of the new guidance at the adoption date without adjusting the comparative periods presented. In July 2018, the FASB issued additional accounting standard updates clarifying certain provisions, as well as providing for a second transition method allowing entities to initially apply the standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2019 and used the adoption date as the date of initial application as allowed under ASC 842. Refer to Note 10, Financing and Operating Leases. Recently Issued Accounting Standards In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13"). This ASU changes the model for the recognition of credit losses from an incurred loss model, which recognized credit losses only if it was probable that a loss had been incurred, to an expected loss model, which requires the Company to estimate the total credit losses expected on the portfolio of financial instruments. The effective date of ASU 2016-13 was amended by ASU 2019-10, Credit Losses Effective Dates. CPI is a smaller reporting company and adoption of this accounting standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim periods therein, with early adoption permitted. The Company has elected not to early adopt this accounting standard in the current fiscal year 2020. The Company is evaluating the impact of adoption of this standard, and does not anticipate the application of ASU 2016-13 will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

1. Business Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Business Overview

CPI Card Group Inc., (which, together with its subsidiary companies, is referred to herein as “CPI” or the “Company”) is a payment technology company and leading provider of comprehensive Financial Payment Card solutions in the United States. The Company defines “Financial Payment Cards” as credit, debit and Prepaid Debit Cards issued on the networks of the “Payment Card Brands” (Visa, Mastercard®, American Express® and Discover® in the United States) and Interac (in Canada). We define “Prepaid Debit Cards” as debit cards issued on the networks of the Payment Card Brands, but not linked to a traditional bank account. The Company also offers an instant card issuance solution, which provide card issuing bank customers the ability to issue a personalized debit or credit card within the bank branch to individual cardholders.

As a producer and provider of services for Financial Payment Cards, each of the Company’s secure facilities must be compliant and registered with one or more of the Payment Card Brands and is therefore subject to specific requirements and conditions. Noncompliance with these requirements would prohibit the individual facilities of the Company from producing Financial Payment Cards for these entities’ payment card issuers.

In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Company’s Canadian subsidiary to Allcard Limited, a provider of card solutions to the gift and loyalty sectors. The sale agreement did not include the portions of the business relating to Financial Payment Cards, as that business migrated to the Company’s operations in the Debit and Credit segment or to other service providers in 2019. The transaction closed on April 1, 2019, and the Company received cash proceeds of $1,451. After the payment of liabilities and transaction costs, including employee termination costs, the sale did not have a significant impact on cash, and no significant loss on sale. The Canadian subsidiary was not a significant operating segment and was part of the Other reportable segment.

COVID-19 Update

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) was reported and in January 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. On February 28, 2020, the WHO raised its assessment of the COVID-19 threat from high to very high at a global level due to the continued increase in the number of cases and affected countries, and on March 11, 2020, the WHO characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. Further, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency, invoking powers under the Stafford Act – the legislation that directs federal emergency disaster response.

The broader and long-term implications of COVID-19 on the Company’s results of operations and overall financial performance remain uncertain. The adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have become widespread, including in the locations where the Company operates and its customers and suppliers conduct business. The health and safety of CPI’s employees remains paramount, and the Company continues to follow the safety precautions and other appropriate measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  All of CPI’s operations remain open and continue to provide direct and essential support to the financial services industry. However, the Company may experience constrained supply or curtailed customer demand that could materially adversely impact the business, results of operations and overall financial performance in future periods. While CPI’s net sales and net income in the first quarter of 2020 has increased over the first quarter of 2019, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic will not be fully reflected in the Company’s results of operations and overall financial performance until future periods. See Risk Factors for further discussion of the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business.

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, the Company continues to provide essential support to its customers and execute on its strategic plan, while carefully managing spending. However, there can be no assurance that such strategies will be successful in effectively managing the Company’s resources and mitigating the negative impact of the COVID-19 on the business and operating results.

On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law. The CARES Act, among other things, includes provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits, deferment of employer side social security payments, changes in net operating loss carryback periods, alternative minimum tax credit refunds, modifications to the net interest deduction limitations and technical corrections to tax depreciation methods for qualified improvement property. CPI is evaluating the applicability of the CARES Act to the Company, and the potential impacts on the business. While the Company may determine to apply for, or otherwise participate in, such programs, there is no guarantee that CPI will meet any eligibility requirements to participate in certain programs or, even if the Company is able to participate, that such programs will provide meaningful benefit to the business.

Basis of Presentation

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for the fair statement of the results of the interim periods presented. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2019 is derived from the audited financial statements as of that date. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Use of Estimates

Management uses estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities in its preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount of property and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets, leases, valuation allowances for inventories and deferred taxes, revenue recognized for work performed but not completed, and uncertain tax positions. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”), which provides guidance for accounting for leases. The new guidance requires companies to recognize the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leased assets. ASC 842 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 (the Company’s fiscal year 2019) with early adoption permitted. The guidance required a modified retrospective approach, with an option to apply the transition provisions of the new guidance at the adoption date without adjusting the comparative periods presented. In July 2018, the FASB issued additional accounting standard updates clarifying certain provisions, as well as providing for a second transition method allowing entities to initially apply the standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2019 and used the adoption date as the date of initial application as allowed under ASC 842. Refer to Note 10, Financing and Operating Leases.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13"). This ASU changes the model for the recognition of credit losses from an incurred loss model, which recognized credit losses only if it was probable that a loss had been incurred, to an expected loss model, which requires the Company to estimate the total credit losses expected on the portfolio of financial instruments. The effective date of ASU 2016-13 was amended by ASU 2019-10, Credit Losses Effective Dates. CPI is a smaller reporting company and adoption of this accounting standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim periods therein, with early adoption permitted. The Company has elected not to early adopt this accounting standard in the current fiscal year 2020. The Company is evaluating the impact of adoption of this standard, and does not anticipate the application of ASU 2016-13 will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.