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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations. Webster Financial Corporation (collectively, with its consolidated subsidiaries, “Webster” or the “Company”) is a financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, incorporated under the laws of Delaware in 1986 and headquartered in Waterbury, Connecticut. At September 30, 2014, Webster Financial Corporation's principal asset is all of the outstanding capital stock of Webster Bank, National Association ("Webster Bank").
Webster, through Webster Bank and various non-banking financial services subsidiaries, delivers financial services to individuals, families and businesses throughout southern New England and into Westchester County, New York. Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage lending, financial planning, trust and investment services through banking offices, ATMs, telephone banking, mobile banking and its Internet website (www.websterbank.com). Webster also offers equipment financing, commercial real estate lending, and asset-based lending across the Northeast. Webster Bank offers, through its HSA Bank division, health savings accounts on a nationwide basis.
Basis of Presentation. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Webster Financial Corporation and all other entities in which it has a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Webster's accounting and financial reporting policies conform, in all material respects, to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and to general practices within the financial services industry.
The Company determines whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity or a variable interest entity (“VIE”) under GAAP. Voting interest entities are entities in which the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance itself independently and provides the equity holder with the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns and the right to make decisions about the entity’s activities. The Company consolidates voting interest entities in which it has at least a majority of the voting interest. VIEs are entities that lack one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity. A controlling financial interest in a VIE is present when the Company has both the power and ability to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
The Company owns the common stock of a trust which has issued trust preferred securities. The trust is a VIE in which the Company is not the primary beneficiary and, therefore, is not consolidated. The trust's only assets are junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company, which were acquired by the trust using the proceeds from the issuance of the trust preferred securities and common stock. The junior subordinated debentures are included in long-term debt and the Company’s equity interest in the trust is included in other assets in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Interest expense on the junior subordinated debentures is reported in interest expense on long-term debt in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or net change in cash or cash equivalents.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with 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 these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The allowance for loan and lease losses, the fair value measurements of financial instruments and evaluation of investments for other-than-temporary impairment, the valuation of goodwill, the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, and pension and other postretirement benefits, as well as the status of contingencies, are particularly subject to change.
Cash Equivalents and Cash Flows. For the purposes of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash equivalents include cash on hand and due from banks and, interest-bearing deposits at the Federal Reserve. Cash equivalents have a maturity of three months or less.
Cash flows from loans, either originated or acquired, are classified at that time according to management's original intent to either sell or hold the loan for the foreseeable future. When management's intent is to sell the loan, the cash flows of that loan are presented as operating cash flows. When management's intent is to hold the loan for the foreseeable future, the cash flows of that loan are presented as investing cash flows.
Investment Securities. Investment securities are classified as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity at the time of purchase and any subsequent change to classification is reviewed for compliance with corporate objectives and accounting policy. Debt securities classified as held-to-maturity are those which Webster has the ability and intent to hold to maturity. Securities in the held-to-maturity portfolio are recorded at amortized cost net of unamortized premiums and discounts. Discount accretion income and premium amortization expense are recognized as interest income according to a constant yield methodology. Securities classified as available-for-sale are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, recorded as a component of other comprehensive income (“OCI”). Securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity are recorded at fair value at the time of transfer and the respective gain or loss is recorded as a separate component of OCI and then amortized as an adjustment to interest income over the remaining life of the security.
All securities classified as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity that are in an unrealized loss position are evaluated for other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") on a quarterly basis. The evaluation considers several qualitative factors, including the period of time the security has been in a loss position, in addition to the amount of the unrealized loss. If the Company intends to sell the security or it is more than likely the Company will be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost basis, the security is written down to fair value and the loss is recorded in non-interest income in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. If the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost basis, only the credit component of any impairment charge to a debt security would be recognized as a loss in non-interest income in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The remaining loss component would be recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI"). A decline in the value of an equity security that is considered OTTI is recorded as a loss in non-interest income in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
The specific identification method is used to determine realized gains and losses on sales of securities.
Loans Held for Sale. Loans typically are classified as held for sale upon origination based on management's intent to sell such loans. Loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value. Non-residential mortgage loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value and are valued on an individual asset basis. Any cost amount in excess of fair value is recorded as a valuation allowance and recognized as a reduction of other income in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Gains or losses on the sale of loans held for sale are recorded as non-interest income. Direct loan origination costs and fees are deferred and are recognized as part of the gain or loss at the time of sale.
Loans. Loans are stated at the principal amount outstanding, net of amounts charged off, unamortized premiums and discounts, and deferred loan fees and/or costs which are recognized as yield adjustments using the interest method. These yield adjustments are amortized over the contractual life of the related loans adjusted for estimated prepayments when applicable. Interest on loans is credited to interest income as earned based on the interest rate applied to principal amounts outstanding.
Loans are placed on non-accrual status when collection of principal and interest in accordance with contractual terms is doubtful. A loan is transferred to a non-accrual basis generally when principal or interest payments become 90 days delinquent, unless the loan is well secured and in process of collection, or sooner if management concludes circumstances indicate that the borrower may be unable to meet contractual principal or interest payments. Residential real estate and consumer loans are placed on non-accrual status at 90 days past due, or at the date when the Company is notified that the borrower is discharged in bankruptcy. A charge-off is recorded at 180 days if the loan balance exceeds the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell. Commercial, commercial real estate, and equipment finance loans are subject to a detailed review when 90 days past due to determine accrual status, or when payment is uncertain and a specific consideration is made to put a loan or lease on non-accrual status.
When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, the accrual of interest is discontinued and any unpaid accrued interest is reversed and charged against interest income. If ultimate repayment of a non-accrual loan is expected, any payments received are applied in accordance with contractual terms. If ultimate repayment is not expected on commercial, commercial real estate, and equipment finance loans, any payment received on a non-accrual loan is applied to principal until the unpaid balance has been fully recovered. Any excess is then credited to interest income when received. If the Company determines, through a current valuation analysis, that principal can be repaid on residential real estate and consumer loans, interest payments may be taken into income as received on a cash basis. Except for loans discharged under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code, loans are removed from non-accrual status when they become current as to principal and interest or demonstrate a period of performance under contractual terms and, in the opinion of management, are fully collectible as to principal and interest. Pursuant to regulatory guidance, a Chapter 7 discharged bankruptcy loan is removed from non-accrual status when the bank expects full repayment of the remaining pre-discharged contractual principal and interest, is a closed-end amortizing loan, fully collateralized, and post-discharge had at least six consecutive months of current payments.
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses. The allowance for loan and lease losses ("ALLL") is a reserve established through a provision for loan and lease losses charged to expense and represents management’s best estimate of probable losses that may be incurred within the existing loan and lease portfolio as of the balance sheet date. The level of the allowance reflects management’s view of trends in losses, current portfolio quality, and present economic, political, and regulatory conditions. Portions of the allowance may be allocated for specific loans and leases; however, the entire allowance is available for any loan or lease that is charged off. A charge-off is recorded on a case-by-case basis when all or a portion of the loan or lease is deemed to be uncollectible. Back-testing is performed to compare original estimated losses and actual observed losses, resulting in ongoing refinements. While management utilizes its best judgment based on the information available at the time, the ultimate adequacy of the allowance is dependent upon a variety of factors that are beyond the Company’s control, which include the performance of the Company’s portfolio, economic conditions, interest rate sensitivity, and the view of the regulatory authorities regarding loan classifications.
The ALLL consists of the following three elements: (i) specific valuation allowances established for probable losses on impaired loans and leases; (ii) quantitative valuation allowances calculated using loss experience for like loans and leases with similar characteristics and trends, adjusted, as necessary, to reflect the impact of current conditions; and (iii) qualitative factors determined based on general economic conditions and other factors that may be internal or external to the Company.
Loans and leases are considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due in accordance with the original contractual terms of the loan agreement, including scheduled principal and interest payments. Impairment is evaluated on a pooled basis for smaller-balance homogeneous residential and consumer loans. Commercial, commercial real estate, and equipment financing loans and leases over a specific dollar amount and all troubled debt restructurings ("TDR") are evaluated individually for impairment. A loan identified as a TDR is considered an impaired loan for the entire term of the loan, with few exceptions. If a loan is impaired, a specific valuation allowance may be established, and the loan is reported net, at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s original interest rate or at the fair value of collateral less cost to sell if repayment is expected from collateral liquidation. Interest payments on non-accruing impaired loans are typically applied to principal unless collectability of the principal amount is reasonably assured, in which case interest is recognized on a cash basis. Impaired loans, or portions thereof, are charged off when deemed uncollectible. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, discharged bankruptcy, and the likelihood of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments. Consumer modified loans are analyzed for re-default probability, which is considered when determining the impaired reserve for ALLL. The current or weighted average (for multiple notes within a commercial borrowing arrangement) interest rate of the loan is used as the discount rate when the interest rate floats with a specified index. A change in terms or payments would be included in the impairment calculation.
Reserve for Unfunded Commitments. The reserve for unfunded commitments provides for probable losses inherent with funding the unused portion of legal commitments available to lend. The unfunded reserve calculation includes factors that are consistent with ALLL methodology for funded loans using the loss given default, probability of default and a draw down factor applied to the underlying borrower risk and facility grades. Changes in the reserve for unfunded credit commitments, included within other liabilities, are reported as a component of other expense in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
Troubled Debt Restructurings. A modified loan is considered a TDR when the following two conditions are met: (i) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties and (ii) the modification constitutes a concession. The Company considers all aspects of the restructuring in determining whether a concession has been granted, including the debtor's ability to access funds at a market rate. In general, a concession exists when the modified terms of the loan are more attractive to the borrower than standard market terms. Modified terms are dependent upon the financial position and needs of the individual borrower. The most common types of modifications include covenant modifications, forbearance and/or other concessions. Loans for which the borrower has been discharged under Chapter 7 bankruptcy are considered collateral dependent TDRs, impaired at the date of discharge, and charged down to the fair value of collateral less cost to sell, if management considers that loss potential likely exists.
The Company’s policy is to place consumer loan TDRs, except those that were performing prior to TDR status, on non-accrual status for a minimum period of six months. Commercial TDRs are evaluated on a case-by-case basis for determination of whether or not to place on non-accrual status. Loans qualify for return to accrual status once they have demonstrated performance with the restructured terms of the loan agreement for a minimum of six months. Initially, all TDRs are reported as impaired. Generally, TDRs are classified as impaired loans and reported as TDRs for the remaining life of the loan. Impaired and TDR classification, may be removed if the borrower demonstrates compliance with the modified terms for a minimum of six months and through one fiscal year-end and the restructuring agreement specifies a market rate of interest equal to that which would be provided to a borrower with similar credit at the time of restructuring. In the limited circumstance that a loan is removed from TDR classification it is the Company’s policy to continue to base its measure of loan impairment on the contractual terms specified by the loan agreement.
Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets. Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is generally considered to have been surrendered when (i) the transferred assets are legally isolated from the Company or its consolidated affiliates, even in bankruptcy or other receivership, (ii) the transferee has the right to pledge or exchange the assets with no conditions that constrain the transferee and provide more than a trivial benefit to the Company, and (iii) the Company does not maintain the obligation or unilateral ability to reclaim or repurchase the assets.
The Company sells financial assets in the normal course of business, the majority of which are residential mortgage loan sales primarily to government-sponsored enterprises through established programs, commercial loan sales through participation agreements, and other individual or portfolio loan and securities sales. In accordance with accounting guidance for asset transfers, the Company considers any ongoing involvement with transferred assets in determining whether the assets can be derecognized from the balance sheet. With the exception of servicing and certain performance-based guarantees, the Company’s continuing involvement with financial assets sold is minimal and generally limited to market customary representation and warranty clauses.
When the Company sells financial assets, it may retain servicing rights and/or other interests in the financial assets. The gain or loss on sale depends on the previous carrying amount of the transferred financial assets and the consideration received and any liabilities incurred in exchange for the transferred assets. Upon transfer, any servicing assets and other interests held by the Company are carried at the lower of cost or fair value.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Updates
ASU No. 2013-11 - Income Taxes (Topic 740) - "Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)." The ASU requires an entity to present an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, as applicable. To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit shall be presented in the financial statements as a liability and shall not be combined with deferred tax assets. This update was adopted effective January 1, 2014 and will be applied prospectively; however, its netting provisions are consistent with the Company’s previous presentation, as applicable, and as a result do not require additional disclosures.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards Updates
ASU No. 2014-01 - Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323) - "Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)." The ASU permits an entity to make an accounting policy election to account for its investment in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. Under the proportionate 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 decision to apply the proportionate amortization method of accounting should be applied consistently to all qualifying affordable housing project investments. A reporting entity that uses the effective yield or other method to account for its investments in qualified affordable housing projects before the date of adoption may continue to apply such method to those preexisting investments. The amendments are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after January 1, 2015. The Company does not expect the application of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.
ASU No. 2014-04, Receivables - Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40) - "Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)." The ASU clarifies that 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, upon either (i) the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or (ii) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar agreement. In addition, the amendments require disclosure of both the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure in accordance with local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction. An entity can elect to adopt the amendments using either a modified retrospective method or a prospective transition method. The amendments are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after January 1, 2015. The Company does not expect the application of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.
ASU No. 2014-09 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The ASU establishes a single comprehensive model for an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled, and will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance, to clarify and converge revenue recognition principles under US GAAP and IFRS. The update outlines five steps to recognizing revenue: (i) identify the contracts with the customer; (ii) identify the separate performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligations; (v) recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. The update requires more comprehensive disclosures, relating to quantitative and qualitative information for amounts, timing, the nature and uncertainty of revenue, and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, which will mainly impact construction and high-tech industries. The most significant potential impact to banking entities relates to less prescriptive derecognition requirements on the sale of OREO property. The amendments are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after January 1, 2017. An entity may elect either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective application. The Company does not expect the application of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.
ASU No. 2014-11 - Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860) - “Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures.” The ASU requires two accounting changes: (i) the accounting for repurchase-to-maturity transactions are to be accounted for as secured borrowings; (ii) repurchase financing arrangements, separate accounting is required for a transfer of a financial asset executed contemporaneously with a repurchase agreement with the same counterparty, which will result in secured borrowing accounting for the repurchase agreement. Additionally, disclosure requirements have been expanded to include a disaggregation of collateral used for secured borrowings, and contractual maturity disclosure has been expanded to interim periods. The amendments are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after January 1, 2015. The Company does not expect the application of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.
ASU No. 2014-12, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - “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 ASU provides explicit guidance to account for a performance target that could be achieved after the requisite service period as a performance condition. For awards within the scope of this Update, the Task Force decided that an entity should apply existing guidance in Topic 718 as it relates to share-based payments with performance conditions that affect vesting. Consistent with that guidance, performance conditions that affect vesting should not be reflected in estimating the fair value of an award at the grant date. Compensation cost should be recognized when it is probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the period for which the requisite service has already been rendered. If the performance target becomes probable of being achieved before the end of the requisite service period, the remaining unrecognized compensation cost should be recognized prospectively over the remaining requisite service period. The total amount of compensation cost recognized during and after the requisite service period should reflect the number of awards that are expected to vest and should be adjusted to reflect those awards that ultimately vest. The amendments are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after January 1, 2016. The Company does not expect the application of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.
ASU No. 2014-14, Receivables-Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40) - "Classification of Certain Government-Guaranteed Residential Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)." The ASU has been issued to reduce diversity in practice in the classification of foreclosed residential mortgage loans held by creditors that are fully guaranteed under certain government programs, including the Federal Housing Administration guarantees. A residential mortgage loan would be derecognized and a separate other receivable would be recognized upon foreclosure if the loan has both of the following characteristics: (i) the loan has a government guarantee that is not separable from the loan before foreclosure entitling the creditor to the full unpaid principal balance of the loan; and (ii) at the time of foreclosure, the creditor has the intent to make a claim on the guarantee and the ability to recover the full unpaid principal balance of the loan through the guarantee. Notably, upon foreclosure, the separate other receivable would be measured based on the current amount of the loan balance expected to be recovered under the guarantee. The amendments are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after January 1, 2015. The Company does not expect the application of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.
ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40) - "Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern." The ASU has been issued to require an entity to evaluate going concern uncertainties by assessing information about conditions and events that exist at the date the financial statements are issued and provide footnote disclosures when it is either (i) more likely than not that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations within twelve months after the financial statement date without taking actions outside the ordinary course of business, or (ii) known or probable that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations within twenty-four months after the financial statement date without taking actions outside the ordinary course of business. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after January 1, 2017 and also for interim periods beginning after January 1, 2018. The Company does not expect the application of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.