VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2021

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

NOTE 6 - VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

Citizens is involved in various entities that are considered VIEs, including investments in limited partnerships that sponsor affordable housing projects, limited liability companies that sponsor renewable energy projects or asset-backed securities, and lending to special purpose entities. Citizens’ maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with these entities is limited to the balance sheet carrying amount of its investment in equity and asset-backed securities, unfunded commitments, and outstanding principal balance of loans to special purpose entities. The Company does not consolidate any of its investments in these entities. These investments are included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For more details see Note 10 in the 2020 Form 10-K.

A summary of these investments is presented below:


(in millions)	June 30, 2021	December 31, 2020
Lending to special purpose entities included in loans and leases	$1,520	$1,295
LIHTC investment included in other assets	1,926	1,687
LIHTC unfunded commitments included in other liabilities	974	875
Investment in asset-backed securities included in HTM securities	826	893
Renewable energy investments included in other assets	448	403

Lending to Special Purpose Entities

Citizens provides lending facilities to third-party sponsored special purpose entities. As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the lending facilities had aggregate unpaid principal balances of $1.5 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively, and undrawn commitments to extend credit of $1.7 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively.

Low Income Housing Tax Credit Partnerships

The purpose of the Company’s equity investments is to assist in achieving the goals of the Community Reinvestment Act and to earn an adequate return of capital.

The following table presents other information related to the Company’s affordable housing tax credit investments:


	Three Months Ended June 30,		Six Months Ended June 30,
(in millions)	2021	2020	2021	2020
Tax credits included in income tax expense	$51	$39	$102	$80
Other tax benefits included in income tax expense	13	10	25	20
Total tax benefits included in income tax expense	64	49	127	100
Less: Amortization included in income tax expense	53	42	106	85
Net benefits from affordable housing tax credit investments included in income tax expense	$11	$7	$21	$15

No LIHTC investment impairment losses were recognized three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.