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Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Changes in Significant Accounting Policies
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Changes in Significant Accounting Policies Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Changes in Significant Accounting Policies
Ally Financial Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires, Ally, the Company, we, us, or our) is a financial-services company with the nation’s largest all-digital bank and an industry-leading automotive financing and insurance business, driven by a mission to “Do It Right” and be a relentless ally for customers and communities. The Company serves customers through a full range of online banking services (including deposits, mortgage, and credit card products) and securities brokerage and investment advisory services. The Company also includes a corporate finance business that offers capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies. Ally is a Delaware corporation and is registered as a BHC under the BHC Act and an FHC under the GLB Act.
Our accounting and reporting policies conform to U.S. GAAP. Additionally, where applicable, the policies conform to the accounting and reporting guidelines prescribed by bank regulatory authorities. Certain reclassifications may have been made to the prior periods’ financial statements and notes to conform to the current period’s presentation, which did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and that affect income and expenses during the reporting period and related disclosures. In developing the estimates and assumptions, management uses all available evidence; however, actual results could differ because of uncertainties associated with estimating the amounts, timing, and likelihood of possible outcomes. Our most significant estimates pertain to the allowance for loan losses, valuations of automotive lease assets and residuals, fair value of financial instruments, and the determination of the provision for income taxes.
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements at September 30, 2024, and for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023, are unaudited but reflect all adjustments that are, in management’s opinion, necessary for the fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. These unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements (and the related Notes) included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed on February 20, 2024, with the SEC.
Significant Accounting Policies
Allowance for Loan Losses
The allowance for loan losses (the allowance) is deducted from, or added to, the loan’s amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected from our loan portfolios. We estimate the allowance using relevant available information, which includes both internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Additions and reductions to the allowance are charged to current period earnings through the provision for credit losses and amounts determined to be uncollectible are charged directly against the allowance, net of amounts recovered on previously charged-off accounts. Expected recoveries do not exceed the total of amounts previously charged-off and amounts expected to be charged-off.
Expected credit losses are estimated over the contractual term of the loans, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate. The contractual term excludes expected extensions or renewals, unless the extension or renewal option is included in the original or modified contract at the reporting date and we are not able to unconditionally cancel the option. Expected loan modifications are also not included in the contractual term, unless we have a reasonable expectation at period end that the loan modification will be executed with a borrower.
For the purpose of calculating portfolio-level reserves, we have grouped our loans into four portfolio segments: consumer automotive, consumer mortgage, consumer other, and commercial. The allowance is measured on a collective basis using statistical models when loans have similar risk characteristics. These statistical models are designed to correlate certain macroeconomic variables to expected future credit losses. The macroeconomic data used in the models are based on forecasted factors over a reasonable and supportable forecast period. These forecasted variables are derived from both internal and external sources. Beyond this forecasted period, we revert each variable to a historical average on a straight-line basis. The historical average is calculated predominantly using historical data beginning in January 2008 through the most recent period of available data.
During the second quarter of 2024, we updated our reasonable and supportable forecast period from 12 months to 24 months, and our reversion period from 24 months to 12 months. This refinement to our estimation process represents a change in accounting estimate, with prospective application beginning in the period of change. The impact of this refinement to our estimation process was offset by an adjustment in the qualitative portion of our allowance. The use of a longer-duration reasonable and supportable macroeconomic forecast period to produce the modeled portion of our allowance for loan losses is expected to further improve model performance.
Equity-Method Investments and Proportional Amortization Investments
Our equity-method investments primarily include equity investments related to the CRA, which do not have a readily determinable fair value. The majority of these investments are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are included in equity-method investments within other assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Our proportional amortization investments include tax equity investments related to the CRA, for which the primary return to us is the income tax credits and other income tax benefits we receive. We have elected to apply the proportional amortization method to qualifying tax equity investments within our LIHTC, NMTC, and HTC programs. Under the proportional amortization method, the costs of qualifying tax equity investments are amortized in proportion to the allocation of income tax credits and other income tax benefits in each period to the total
income tax benefits expected to be obtained over the life of the investment, and the investment amortization and income tax credits are presented on a net basis as a component of income tax expense. Our proportional amortization investments are included within other assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Our obligations related to unfunded commitments for our proportional amortization investments are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Income tax credits and other income tax benefits received are recorded in income tax expense of the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) and in net income and as a component of operating activities within deferred income taxes, other assets, and other liabilities of the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
This update to our accounting policy resulted from our adoption of ASU 2023-02 on January 1, 2024, as further described within the section below titled Recently Adopted Accounting Standards.
Income Taxes
In calculating the provision for interim income taxes, in accordance with ASC 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. This method differs from that described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which describes our annual significant income tax accounting policy and related methodology.
Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K regarding additional significant accounting policies.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions (ASU 2022-03)
In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions. The purpose of this guidance is to clarify that a contractual restriction on the ability to sell an equity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security, and therefore should not be considered when measuring the equity security’s fair value. Additionally, an entity cannot separately recognize and measure a contractual-sale restriction. This guidance also adds specific disclosures related to equity securities that are subject to contractual-sale restrictions, including (1) the fair value of equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions reflected in the balance sheet, (2) the nature and remaining duration of the restrictions, and (3) the circumstances that could cause a lapse in the restrictions. We adopted the amendments on January 1, 2024, using the prospective approach. The impact of these amendments was not material.
Accounting for Investments in Tax Credit Structures Using the Proportional Amortization Method (ASU 2023-02)
In March 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-02, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Tax Credit Structures Using the Proportional Amortization Method. The purpose of this guidance is to expand the use of the proportional amortization method to certain tax equity investments made primarily for the purpose of receiving income tax credits and other income tax benefits. In order to qualify for the proportional amortization method, the following five conditions must be met: (1) it is probable that the income tax credits allocable to the tax equity investor will be available, (2) the tax equity investor does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the underlying project, (3) substantially all of the projected benefits are from income tax credits and other income tax benefits, (4) the tax equity investor’s projected yield is based solely on the cash flows from the income tax credits and other income tax benefits is positive, and (5) the tax equity investor is a limited liability investor in the limited liability entity for both legal and tax purposes, and the tax equity investor’s liability is limited to its capital investment. Selecting the proportional amortization method is an accounting policy election that must be applied on a tax-credit-program-by-tax-credit-program basis rather than at the entity level or to individual investments. Additionally, in order to apply the proportional amortization method to qualifying investments, an entity must use the flow-through method when accounting for the receipt of the investment tax credits. This guidance also adds disclosure requirements related to tax credit programs where the proportional amortization method has been elected. We adopted the amendments on January 1, 2024, using the modified retrospective approach. The adoption of the amendments resulted in a reduction to our opening retained earnings of approximately $2 million, net of income taxes.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards and Disclosure Rules
Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (ASU 2023-07)
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The purpose of this guidance is to improve reportable segment disclosure, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. This ASU requires that an entity disclose, on an interim and annual basis, significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM and are included within the reported measure of segment profit or loss. This ASU also requires an entity to disclose, on an interim and annual basis, other segment items by reportable segment, including a qualitative description of the composition of those items. This “other” category is defined as the difference between segment profit or loss and segment revenue less significant segment expenses. Entities are also required to disclose the title and position of the individual, or the name of the group or committee, identified as the CODM. The amendments are effective on January 1, 2024, for annual reporting, and January 1, 2025, for interim reporting, with early adoption permitted. The amendments must be applied using a retrospective approach. Management does not expect the impact of these amendments to be material.
Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (ASU 2023-09)
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The purpose of this guidance is to enhance the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disclosures. This ASU requires that an entity disclose, on an annual basis, specific categories in the rate reconciliation and provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. For the state and local income tax category of the rate reconciliation, entities must disclose a qualitative description of the states and local jurisdictions that make up the majority (greater than 50 percent) of the category. For the income taxes paid disclosures, entities will be required to disclose, on an annual basis, the amount of income taxes paid (net of refunds received) disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign taxes. The amendments are effective on January 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted. The amendments must be applied using either a prospective or retrospective approach. Management does not expect the impact of these amendments to be material.
The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors (SEC Release No. 33-11275)
In March 2024, the SEC adopted the final rule under SEC Release No. 33-11275, The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors. This final rule requires registrants to disclose certain climate-related information in registration statements and annual reports for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2025. On April 4, 2024, the SEC ordered that the final rule is stayed pending the completion of judicial review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Management is still assessing the final rule and monitoring legal developments to determine its impact on us.