Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The Company

American Express Credit Corporation (Credco), together with its subsidiaries, is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (TRS), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express Company (American Express).

Credco is engaged in the business of financing certain non-interest-earning Card Member receivables arising from the use of the American Express charge cards issued in the United States and in certain countries outside the United States. Credco also finances certain interest-earning revolving loans generated by Card Member spending on American Express credit cards issued in non-U.S. markets.

Credco executes material transactions with its affiliates. The agreements between Credco and its affiliates provide that the parties intend that the transactions thereunder be conducted on an arm’s-length basis; however, there can be no assurance that the terms of these arrangements are the same as would be negotiated between independent, unrelated parties.

American Express provides Credco with financial support with respect to maintenance of its minimum required 1.25 fixed charge coverage ratio, which is achieved by charging appropriate discount rates on the purchases of receivables Credco makes from, and the interest rates on the loans Credco provides to, TRS and other American Express subsidiaries. Each monthly period, the discount and interest rates are determined to generate income for Credco that is sufficient to maintain its minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. The revenue earned by Credco from purchasing Card Member receivables and Card Member loans at a discount is reported as discount revenue on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Significant intercompany transactions are eliminated.

Credco consolidates entities in which Credco holds a controlling financial interest. For voting interest entities, Credco is considered to hold a controlling financial interest when it is able to exercise control over the investees’ operating and financial decisions. For variable interest entities (VIEs), the determination of which is based on the amount and characteristics of the entity’s equity, Credco is considered to hold a controlling financial interest when it is determined to be the primary beneficiary. A primary beneficiary is the party that has both: (1) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact that VIE’s economic performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb the losses of, or the right to receive the benefits from, the VIE that could potentially be significant to that VIE.

Foreign Currency

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based upon exchange rates prevailing at the end of the reporting period; non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the historic exchange rate at the date of the transaction; revenues and expenses are translated at the average month-end exchange rates during the year. Resulting translation adjustments, along with any related qualifying hedge and tax effects, are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI), a component of shareholder’s equity. Translation adjustments, including qualifying hedge and tax effects, are reclassified to earnings upon the sale or substantial liquidation of investments in foreign operations. Gains and losses related to transactions in a currency other than the functional currency are reported net in Other expenses, in Credco’s Consolidated Statements of Income.

Amounts Based on Estimates and Assumptions

Accounting estimates are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements. These estimates are based, in part, on management’s assumptions concerning future events. Among the more significant assumptions are those that relate to reserves for Card Member losses on receivables and loans and income taxes. These accounting estimates reflect the best judgment of management, but actual results could differ.

Discount Revenue Earned from Purchased Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans

Credco earns discount revenue from purchasing Card Member receivables and Card Member loans at a discount to par value. The discount is deferred and recognized as revenue over the period that the receivables and loans are estimated to be outstanding or funded. Estimates are based on the historical average life of Card Member receivables and Card Member loans.

Interest Income from Affiliates

Interest income from affiliates is earned on interest-bearing loans made by Credco to affiliates. Interest income is accrued primarily using the average daily balance method on loans and is recognized based on the outstanding loan principal amount and interest rates specified in the agreements until the outstanding loan balance is paid.

Finance Revenue

Finance revenue is assessed using the average daily balance method for Card Member loans and is recognized based upon the loan principal amount outstanding in accordance with the terms of the applicable account agreement until the outstanding balance is paid or written off.

Interest Expense

Interest expense includes interest incurred primarily to fund Card Member receivables and Card Member loans, general corporate purposes and liquidity needs, and is recognized as incurred.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and amounts due from banks, interest-bearing bank balances, and other highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less.

Other Significant Accounting Policies

The following table identifies Credco’s other significant accounting policies, along with the related Note and page number where the Note can be found.

	Note
Significant Accounting Policy	Number	Note Title	Page
Card Member Receivables and		Card Member Receivables and
Card Member Loans	Note 2	Card Member Loans	39
Reserves for Losses – Card Member Receivables and Loans	Note 3	Reserves for Losses	42
Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities	Note 6	Derivatives and Hedging Activities	44
Fair Value Measurements	Note 7	Fair Values	48
Income Taxes	Note 11	Income Taxes	55

Recently-Issued-and-adopted-Accounting-Standards

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new accounting guidance for the recognition of credit losses on financial instruments, effective January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted on January 1, 2019. Credco does not intend to early adopt the new standard. The guidance introduces a new credit reserving model known as the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) model, which is based on expected losses, and differs significantly from the incurred loss approach used today. The CECL model requires measurement of expected credit losses not only based on historical experience and current conditions, but also by including reasonable and supportable forecasts incorporating forward-looking information. The guidance also requires a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the reporting period of adoption. Credco continues to evaluate the impact the new guidance will have on Credco’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows and credit ratings. Credco expects that the CECL model will alter the assumptions used in estimating credit losses on Card Member receivables and loans, and may result in material increases to Credco’s credit reserves as the new guidance involves earlier recognition of expected losses for the life of the assets. However, the extent of the impact will depend on the characteristics of Credco’s loan portfolio, macroeconomic conditions and forecasted information at the date of adoption. American Express continues to be actively engaged in cross-functional implementation efforts and is in the process of developing and implementing CECL models that satisfy the requirements of the new standard, along with appropriate business processes and controls.

In February 2018, as a result of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Tax Act), the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the reclassification of certain tax effects from AOCI to retained earnings. The optional reclassification is effective January 1, 2019. Credco is evaluating the new guidance along with any impacts on Credco’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows, none of which are expected to be material.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In January 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities, which was effective and adopted by Credco as of January 1, 2018. The guidance makes targeted changes to GAAP; specifically to the classification and measurement of equity securities, and to certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial assets and liabilities. The adoption of the guidance did not have a material impact on Credco’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Credco implemented changes to its accounting policies, business processes and internal controls in support of the new guidance. Such changes were not material.

In November 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the cash flow classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents, effective January 1, 2018. The guidance provides specifically that amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents are to be included with cash and cash equivalents on the statements of cash flows. Credco holds a restricted cash balance such that it becomes a material change to the way balances are presented on the statements of cash flows. Beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2018, Credco’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows reflect the adoption of the standard using the full retrospective method, which applies the new standard to each prior reporting period presented.

In August 2017, the FASB issued new accounting guidance providing targeted improvements to the accounting for hedging activities, effective January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted in any interim period or fiscal year before the effective date. The guidance introduces a number of amendments, several of which are optional, that are designed to simplify the application of hedge accounting, improve financial statement transparency and more closely align hedge accounting with an entity’s risk management strategies. Effective January 1, 2018, Credco adopted the guidance with no material impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows, along with associated changes to its accounting policies, business processes and internal controls in support of the new guidance. Such changes were not material.

Other Information

Effective for the second quarter of 2018, American Express realigned its reportable operating segments to reflect the organizational changes announced during the first quarter of 2018 which combined its U.S. and International consumer businesses into a global consumer services organization, among other changes. To enhance the comparability and usefulness of Credco’s financial statements with that of American Express, Credco has also combined its U.S. and International consumer Card Member receivables and Card Member loans in Note 2 for the periods presented. This change did not have any impact on Credco’s underlying assumptions or judgments with respect to reserves for losses or credit performance.