Significant Accounting Policies (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Unless otherwise indicated, defined terms and abbreviations used herein have the meanings set forth in the accompanying Glossary of Acronyms and Abbreviations.

Basis of Presentation - FirstMerit Corporation is a BHC whose principal asset is the Common Stock of its wholly-owned subsidiary, FirstMerit Bank, N. A. The Parent Company’s other subsidiaries include Citizens Savings Corporation of Stark County, FirstMerit Capital Trust I, and FirstMerit Risk Management, Inc., FMT, Inc. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accounting and reporting policies of the Corporation conform to GAAP and to general practices within the financial services industry.

The Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2013 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date. The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normally recurring adjustments) that are, in the opinion of Management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Certain reclassifications of prior year’s amounts have been made to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on net earnings or equity. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted in accordance with the rules of the SEC. The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation as of June 30, 2014 and 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full fiscal year or for any future period. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (the “2013 Form 10-K”). There have been no significant changes in the current quarter to the Corporation’s accounting policies as disclosed in the 2013 Form 10-K.

In preparing these accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, subsequent events were evaluated through the time the consolidated financial statements were issued.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

FASB ASU 2014-01, Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects. The amendments in ASU 2014-01 do not change the existing accounting methods, but permit reporting entities to make an accounting policy election to account for their investments in qualified affordable projects using the proportional amortization method, if certain conditions are met. Under the proportional amortization method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit). The amendments in ASU 2014-01 are effective for annual periods and interim reporting periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014, and should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. The Corporation early adopted ASU 2014-01 in the first quarter of 2014. Amortization of the initial investment cost of qualifying projects is now recorded in the provision for income taxes together with the tax credits and benefits received. Previously, the amortization was recorded as other noninterest expense. All prior period amounts have been restated to reflect the adoption of the amendment, which resulted in an offsetting decrease to other noninterest expense and increase to the provision for income taxes of approximately $0.8 million and $1.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

FASB ASU 2014–12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved After the Requisite Service Period — a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. The amendments in this update clarify that entities should treat performance targets that can be met after the requisite service period of a share-based payment award as performance conditions that affect vesting. Therefore, an entity would not record compensation expense (measured as of the grant date without taking into account the effect of the performance target) related to an award for which transfer to the employee is contingent on the entity’s satisfaction of a performance target until it becomes probable that the performance target will be met. The ASU does not contain any new disclosure requirements. The ASU is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. In addition, entities will have the option of applying the guidance either prospectively (i.e., only to awards granted or modified on or after the effective date) or retrospectively. Retrospective application would only apply to awards with performance targets outstanding at or after the beginning of the first annual period presented (i.e., the earliest presented comparative period). The Corporation is in process of assessing the potential impact the adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU 2014-11, Transfers and Servicing: Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures. The amendments in this update require entities to account for repurchase-to-maturity transactions as secured borrowings (rather than as sales with forward repurchase agreements), eliminates accounting guidance on linking repurchase financing transactions, and expands disclosure requirements related to certain transfers of financial assets that are accounted for as sales and certain transfers, such as repos, securities lending transactions, and repurchase-to-maturity transactions, accounted for as secured borrowings. The amendments in ASU 2014-11 are effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2014. The amendments must present changes in accounting for transactions outstanding on the effective date as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. Early application is prohibited. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation's financial position or results of operations.

FASB ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The amendments in this update supersede virtually all existing GAAP revenue recognition guidance, including most industry-specific revenue recognition guidance. ASU 2014-09 creates a single, principle-based revenue recognition framework and will require entities to apply significantly more judgment and expanded disclosures surrounding revenue recognition. The core principle requires an entity to recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 applies to contracts with customers to provide goods and services, with certain exclusions such as lease contracts, financing arrangements, and financial instruments. The amendments in ASU 2014-09 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. The amendments can be adopted using either the full retrospective approach or a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is prohibited. The Corporation is in process of assessing the potential impact the adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements and Property, Plant, and Equipment: Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. The amendments in this update change the definition of a discontinued operation in ASC 205-20 and requires additional disclosures for transactions that meet the definition of a discontinued operation and certain other significant transactions that do not meet the discontinued operations criteria. The amendments in ASU 2014-08 are effective prospectively for all disposals, except disposals classified as held for sale before the adoption date or components initially classified as held for sale in periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation's financial position or results of operations.

FASB ASU 2014-04, Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure. ASU 2014-04 amends the guidance in ASC 310-40 by clarifying when an in-substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan. Additionally, the amendments require interim and annual disclosure of both 1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and 2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction. The amendments in ASU 2014-04 are effective for annual periods, and interim period within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. The amendments can either be adopted using a modified retrospective or a prospective transition method. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation's financial position or results of operations.

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

FASB ASU 2014-01, Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects. The amendments in ASU 2014-01 do not change the existing accounting methods, but permit reporting entities to make an accounting policy election to account for their investments in qualified affordable projects using the proportional amortization method, if certain conditions are met. Under the proportional amortization method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit). The amendments in ASU 2014-01 are effective for annual periods and interim reporting periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014, and should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. The Corporation early adopted ASU 2014-01 in the first quarter of 2014. Amortization of the initial investment cost of qualifying projects is now recorded in the provision for income taxes together with the tax credits and benefits received. Previously, the amortization was recorded as other noninterest expense. All prior period amounts have been restated to reflect the adoption of the amendment, which resulted in an offsetting decrease to other noninterest expense and increase to the provision for income taxes of approximately $0.8 million and $1.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

FASB ASU 2014–12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved After the Requisite Service Period — a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. The amendments in this update clarify that entities should treat performance targets that can be met after the requisite service period of a share-based payment award as performance conditions that affect vesting. Therefore, an entity would not record compensation expense (measured as of the grant date without taking into account the effect of the performance target) related to an award for which transfer to the employee is contingent on the entity’s satisfaction of a performance target until it becomes probable that the performance target will be met. The ASU does not contain any new disclosure requirements. The ASU is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. In addition, entities will have the option of applying the guidance either prospectively (i.e., only to awards granted or modified on or after the effective date) or retrospectively. Retrospective application would only apply to awards with performance targets outstanding at or after the beginning of the first annual period presented (i.e., the earliest presented comparative period). The Corporation is in process of assessing the potential impact the adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU 2014-11, Transfers and Servicing: Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures. The amendments in this update require entities to account for repurchase-to-maturity transactions as secured borrowings (rather than as sales with forward repurchase agreements), eliminates accounting guidance on linking repurchase financing transactions, and expands disclosure requirements related to certain transfers of financial assets that are accounted for as sales and certain transfers, such as repos, securities lending transactions, and repurchase-to-maturity transactions, accounted for as secured borrowings. The amendments in ASU 2014-11 are effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2014. The amendments must present changes in accounting for transactions outstanding on the effective date as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. Early application is prohibited. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation's financial position or results of operations.

FASB ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The amendments in this update supersede virtually all existing GAAP revenue recognition guidance, including most industry-specific revenue recognition guidance. ASU 2014-09 creates a single, principle-based revenue recognition framework and will require entities to apply significantly more judgment and expanded disclosures surrounding revenue recognition. The core principle requires an entity to recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 applies to contracts with customers to provide goods and services, with certain exclusions such as lease contracts, financing arrangements, and financial instruments. The amendments in ASU 2014-09 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. The amendments can be adopted using either the full retrospective approach or a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is prohibited. The Corporation is in process of assessing the potential impact the adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements and Property, Plant, and Equipment: Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. The amendments in this update change the definition of a discontinued operation in ASC 205-20 and requires additional disclosures for transactions that meet the definition of a discontinued operation and certain other significant transactions that do not meet the discontinued operations criteria. The amendments in ASU 2014-08 are effective prospectively for all disposals, except disposals classified as held for sale before the adoption date or components initially classified as held for sale in periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation's financial position or results of operations.

FASB ASU 2014-04, Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure. ASU 2014-04 amends the guidance in ASC 310-40 by clarifying when an in-substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan. Additionally, the amendments require interim and annual disclosure of both 1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and 2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction. The amendments in ASU 2014-04 are effective for annual periods, and interim period within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. The amendments can either be adopted using a modified retrospective or a prospective transition method. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation's financial position or results of operations.