Description Of Business, Basis of Presentation, And Changes in Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

In calculating the provision for interim income taxes, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 740, Income Taxes, we apply an estimated annual effective tax rate to year-to-date ordinary income. At the end of each interim period, we estimate the effective tax rate expected to be applicable for the full fiscal year. We exclude and record discretely the tax effect of unusual or infrequently occurring items, including, for example, changes in judgment about valuation allowances and effects of changes in tax law or rates. The provision for income taxes in tax jurisdictions with a projected full year or year-to-date loss for which a tax benefit cannot be realized is estimated using tax rates specific to that jurisdiction.

Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2012 Annual Report regarding additional significant accounting policies.

Discontinued Operations, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We classify operations as discontinued when operations and cash flows will be eliminated from our ongoing operations and we do not expect to retain any significant continuing involvement in their operations after the respective sale transactions. For all periods presented, all of the operating results for these discontinued operations have been removed from continuing operations and presented separately as discontinued operations, net of tax, in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. The Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been adjusted to exclude discontinued operations unless otherwise noted.

Fair Value for MSR [Policy Text Block]

As an accounting policy election, we elected fair value treatment for our mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) portfolio. Liabilities incurred as part of these securitization transactions, such as representation and warranty provisions, are recorded at fair value at the time of sale and are reported as accrued expenses and other liabilities on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Upon the sale of the loans, we recognize a gain or loss on sale for the difference between the assets recognized, the assets derecognized, and the liabilities recognized as part of the transaction.