DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES	DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES SHUSA is the parent holding company of SBNA, a national banking association; SC, a consumer finance company; SSLLC, a broker-dealer headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts; BSI, a financial services company headquartered in Miami, Florida that offers a full range of banking services to foreign individuals and corporations based primarily in Latin America; and SIS, a registered broker-dealer headquartered in New York providing services in investment banking, institutional sales, and trading and offering research reports of Latin American and European equity and fixed income securities; as well as several other subsidiaries. SSLLC, SIS, and another SHUSA subsidiary, SAM, are registered investment advisers with the SEC. SHUSA is headquartered in Boston and the Bank's home office is in Wilmington, Delaware. SHUSA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Santander. The Parent Company's two largest subsidiaries by asset size and revenue are the Bank and SC. On September 1, 2020 the Company sold its investment in Santander BanCorp, a financial holding company headquartered in Puerto Rico that offered a full range of financial services through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, BSPR. Refer to the caption "Sale of SBC" below for more information. The Bank’s primary business consists of attracting deposits and providing other retail banking services through its network of retail branches, and originating small business loans, middle market, large and global commercial loans, multifamily loans, residential mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, and auto and other consumer loans throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern areas of the United States, principally located in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The Bank uses its deposits, as well as other financing sources, to fund its loan and investment portfolios. SC is a specialized consumer finance company focused on vehicle finance and third-party servicing and delivering service to dealers and customers across the full credit spectrum. SC's primary business is the indirect origination and servicing of RICs and leases, principally through manufacturer-franchised dealers in connection with their sale of new and used vehicles to retail consumers. Additionally, SC sells consumer RICs through flow agreements and, when market conditions are favorable, it accesses the ABS market through securitizations of consumer RICs. SAF is SC’s primary vehicle financing brand, and is available as a finance option for automotive dealers across the United States. Since May 2013, under its agreement with FCA, SC has operated as FCA's preferred provider for consumer loans, leases, and dealer loans and provides services to FCA customers and dealers under the Chrysler Capital brand. These products and services include consumer RICs and leases, as well as dealer loans for inventory, construction, real estate, working capital and revolving lines of credit. In 2019, SC entered into an amendment to the Chrysler Agreement which modified that agreement to, among other things, adjust certain performance metrics, exclusivity commitments and payment provisions. SC also originates vehicle loans through a web-based direct lending program, purchases vehicle RICs from other lenders, and services automobile and recreational and marine vehicle portfolios for other lenders. Additionally, SC has other relationships through which it provides other consumer finance products. As of September 30, 2020, SC was owned approximately 80.2% by SHUSA and 19.8% by other shareholders. SC Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the trading symbol "SC." IHC The EPS mandated by Section 165 of the DFA Final Rule were enacted by the Federal Reserve to strengthen regulatory oversight of FBOs. Under the Final Rule, FBOs with over $50 billion of U.S. non-branch assets, including Santander, were required to consolidate U.S. subsidiary activities under an IHC. Due to its U.S. non-branch total consolidated asset size, Santander is subject to the Final Rule. As a result of this rule, Santander transferred substantially all of its equity interests in U.S. bank and non-bank subsidiaries previously outside the Company to the Company, which became an IHC effective July 1, 2016. These subsidiaries included BSI, SIS and SSLLC, as well as several other subsidiaries. On July 1, 2017, an additional Santander subsidiary, SFS, a finance company located in Puerto Rico, was transferred to the Company. Additionally, effective July 2, 2018, Santander transferred SAM to the IHC. NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) Sale of SBC On October 21, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement to sell the stock of Santander BanCorp ("SBC") (the holding company that owns BSPR). On September 1, 2020, the Company completed the sale of SBC to FirstBank Puerto Rico for approximately $1.28 billion. The sale of SBC resulted in the recognition of a gain in the third quarter of 2020 totaling $62 million, reported in Miscellaneous income, net and a tax impact of $12 million, for a total net gain of $50 million. In addition, the Company reclassified to income approximately $23.6 million ($14.8 million after tax) of other comprehensive income related to its investment in SBC which is also recorded in Miscellaneous income, net. The final sales price and gain on sale are subject to adjustments based on the buyer’s review of the transferred assets and liabilities, in accordance with the agreement. In the second quarter of 2020, the Company recorded $39 million tax expense to establish a deferred tax liability for the book over tax basis in its investment in SBC. Transaction expenses related to the sale of SBC totaled approximately $10.0 million through September 30, 2020. At August 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Consolidated Balance Sheets of the Company included total assets of $5.5 billion and $6.0 billion, respectively, total liabilities of $4.3 billion and $4.8 billion, respectively, and total equity of $1.2 billion at both dates attributable to SBC. The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations of the Company for the three and nine-months ended September 30, 2020 included $14.3 million and $33.1 million, respectively, of net income attributable to SBC and $26.4 million and $66.6 million, respectively, of net income attributable to SBC for the comparative periods in 2019. As part of the stipulations of the transaction, SBC transferred all of its non-performing assets to the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, SFS. This resulted in three separate transactions executed in December 2019, August 2020, and October 2020 for a total of $160.0 million in loans and $30.0 million of real estate owned which are included in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet of the Company at September 30, 2020. Basis of Presentation The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, including certain Trusts that are considered VIEs. The Company also consolidates VIEs for which it is deemed to be the primary beneficiary and VOEs in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Additionally, where applicable, the Company's accounting policies conform to the accounting and reporting guidelines prescribed by bank regulatory authorities. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required for GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods indicated, and contain adequate disclosure for the fair statement of this interim financial information. Results of operations for the periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Use of Estimates The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and those differences may be material. The most significant estimates include the ACL, accretion of discounts and subvention on RICs, fair value measurements, expected end-of-term lease residual values, values of repossessed assets, goodwill, and income taxes. These estimates, although based on actual historical trends and modeling, may potentially show significant variances over time. NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Since January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the following FASB ASUs: •Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This guidance significantly changed how entities measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments measured at amortized cost. The amendment introduced a new credit reserving framework known as CECL, which replaced the incurred loss impairment framework with one that reflects expected credit losses over the expected life of financial assets and commitments, and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information, including estimation of future expected changes in macroeconomic conditions. Additionally, the standard changes the accounting framework for purchased credit-deteriorated HTM debt securities and loans, and dictates measurement of AFS debt securities using an allowance instead of reducing the carrying amount as it was under the OTTI framework. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2020 on a modified retrospective basis which resulted in an increase in the ACL of approximately $2.5 billion, a decrease in stockholder's equity of approximately $1.8 billion and a decrease in deferred tax liabilities, net of approximately $0.7 billion at January 1, 2020. The increase was based on forecasts of expected future economic conditions and was primarily driven by the fact that the allowance covers expected credit losses over the full expected life of the loan portfolios. •In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This guidance provides temporary optional expedients to reduce the costs and complexity associated with the high volume of contractual modifications expected in the transition away from LIBOR as the benchmark rate in contracts and hedges. These optional expedients allow entities to negate many of the accounting impacts of modifying contracts and hedging relationships necessitated by reference rate reform, allowing them to generally maintain the accounting as if a change had not occurred. The Company adopted this standard during the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, electing the practical expedients relative to the Company’s contracts and hedging relationships modified as a result of reference rate reform through December 31, 2022. These practical expedients did not have a material impact on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. •In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The amendments in this ASU simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general tax accounting principles and simplifying other specific tax scenarios. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2020 reflecting the change prospectively. It did not have a material impact to the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations, or disclosures. The adoption of the following ASUs did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations: •ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement •ASU 2018-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities As required by the adoption of the CECL standard, the following additional accounting policy disclosures are required to update the disclosures included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019: Significant Accounting Policies Investment Securities and Other Investments Investments in debt securities are classified as either AFS, HTM, trading, or other investments. Investments in equity securities are generally recorded at fair value with changes recorded in earnings. Management determines the appropriate classification at the time of purchase. NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) Debt securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity are classified as HTM securities. HTM securities are reported at cost and adjusted for payments, chargeoffs, amortization of premium and accretion of discount. Impairment of HTM securities is recorded using a valuation reserve which represents management’s best estimate of expected credit losses during the lives of the securities. Securities for which management has an expectation that nonpayment of the amortized costs basis is zero do not have a reserve. The Company has a zero loss expectation when the securities are issued or guaranteed by certain U.S. government entities and those entities have a long history of no defaults and the highest credit ratings issued by rating agencies. Transfers of debt securities into the HTM category from the AFS category are made at fair value at the date of transfer. The unrealized holding gain or loss at the date of transfer is retained in OCI and in the carrying value of HTM securities. Such amounts are amortized over the remaining lives of the securities. Any allowance recorded for credit losses while the security was classified as AFS is reversed through provision expense. Thereafter, the allowance is recorded through the provision using the HTM valuation reserve. Debt securities expected to be held for an indefinite period of time are classified as AFS and recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. If the fair value of an AFS debt security declines below its amortized cost basis and the Company does not have the intention or requirement to sell the security before it recovers its amortized cost basis, declines due to credit factors will be recorded in earnings through an allowance on AFS securities, and declines due to non-credit factors will be recorded in AOCI, net of taxes. Subsequent to recognition of a credit loss, improvements to the expectation of collectability will be reversed through the allowance. If the Company has the intention or requirement to sell the security, the Company will record its fair value changes in earnings as a direct write down to the security. Increases in fair value above amortized cost basis are recorded in AOCI, net of taxes. The Company conducts a comprehensive security-level impairment assessment quarterly on all AFS securities with a fair value that is less than their amortized cost basis to determine whether the loss is due to credit factors. The quarterly assessment takes into consideration whether (i) the Company has the intent to sell or (ii) it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before the expected recovery of its amortized cost. The Company also considers whether or not it would expect to receive all of the contractual cash flows from the investment based on its assessment of the security structure, recent security collateral performance metrics, external credit ratings, failure of the issuer to make scheduled interest or principal payments, judgment and expectations of future performance, and relevant independent industry research, analysis and forecasts. The Company also considers the severity of the impairment in its assessment. Similar to HTM securities, securities for which management expects risk of nonpayment of the amortized cost basis is zero do not have a reserve. The Company has a zero loss expectation when the securities are issued or guaranteed by certain U.S. government entities and those entities have a long history of no defaults and the highest credit ratings issued by rating agencies. In the event of a credit loss, the credit component of the impairment is recognized within non-interest income as a separate line item and by the recording of a valuation reserve. The non-credit component is recorded within AOCI. The Company does not measure an ACL for accrued interest, and instead writes off uncollectible accrued interest balances in a timely manner. The Company places securities on nonaccrual and reverses any uncollectible accrued interest when the full and timely collection of interest or principal becomes uncertain, but no later than at 90 days past due. See Note 2 to these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for details on the Company's investments. LHFI Purchased LHFI Loans that at acquisition the Company deems to have more than insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination (i.e., PCD loans) require the recognition of an ACL at purchase. The ACL is added to the purchase price at the date of acquisition to determine the initial amortized cost basis of the PCD loan. The ACL is calculated using the same methodology as originated loans, as described below. Alternatively, the Company can elect the FVO at the time of purchase for any financial asset. Under the FVO, loans are recorded at fair value with changes in value recognized immediately in income. There is no ACL for loans under a FVO. NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) Allowance for Credit Losses General The ALLL and reserve for off-balance sheet commitments (together, the ACL) are maintained at levels that represent management’s best estimate of expected credit losses in the Company’s HFI loan portfolios, which excludes those loans accounted for under the FVO. The allowance for expected credit losses is measured based on a lifetime expected loss model, which means that it is not necessary for a loss event to occur before a credit loss is recognized. Management’s estimate of expected credit losses is based on an evaluation of relevant information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the future collectability of the reported amounts. Management's evaluation takes into consideration the risks in the loan portfolio, past loan and lease loss experience, specific loans with loss potential, geographic and industry concentrations, delinquency trends, economic forecasts and other relevant factors. While management uses the best information available to make such evaluations, future adjustments to the ACL may be necessary if conditions differ substantially from the assumptions used in making the evaluations. Provisions for credit losses are charged to provision expense in amounts sufficient to maintain the ACL at levels considered adequate to cover expected credit losses in the Company’s HFI loan portfolios. The ALLL is a valuation account that is deducted from, or added to, the amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the Company’s HFI loan portfolios. The reserve for off-balance sheet commitments represents the ECL for unfunded lending commitments and financial guarantees, and is presented within Other liabilities on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The reserve for off-balance sheet commitments, together with the ALLL, is generally referred to collectively throughout this Form 10-Q as the ACL, despite the presentation differences. The Company measures expected losses of all components of the amortized cost basis of its loans. For all loans except TDRs and credit cards, the Company has elected to exclude accrued interest receivable balances from the measurement of expected credit losses because it applies a nonaccrual policy that results in the timely write off of uncollectible interest. Off-balance sheet commitments which are not unconditionally cancellable by the Company are subject to credit risk. Additions to the reserve for off-balance sheet commitments are made by charges to the credit loss expense. The Company does not calculate a liability for expected credit losses for off-balance sheet credit exposures which are unconditionally cancellable by the lender, because these instruments do not expose the Company to credit risk. At SHUSA, this generally applies to credit cards and commercial demand lines of credit. Methodology The Company uses several methodologies for the measurement of ACL. The Company generally uses a DCF approach for determining ALLL for TDRs and other individually assessed loans, and loss rate or roll-rate models for other loans. The methodologies utilized by the Company to estimate expected credit losses may vary by product type. Expected credit losses are estimated on a collective basis when similar risk characteristics exist. Expected credit losses are estimated on an individual basis only if the individual asset or exposure does not share similar risk attributes with other financial assets or exposures, including when an asset is treated as a collateral dependent asset. The estimate of expected credit losses reflects information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the future collectability of reported amounts. This information includes internal information, external information, or a combination of both. The Company uses historical loss experience as a starting point for estimating expected credit losses. The ACL estimate includes significant assumptions including the reasonable and supportable economic forecast period, which considers the availability of forward-looking scenarios and their respective time horizons, as well as the reversion method to historical losses. The economic scenarios used by the Company are available up to the contractual maturities of the assets, and therefore the Company can project losses through the respective contractual maturities, using an input reversion approach. This method results in a single, quantitatively consistent credit model across the entire projection period as the macroeconomic effects in the historical data are controlled for the estimate of the long-run loss level. NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) The Company uses multiple scenarios in its CECL estimation process. The selection of scenarios is reviewed quarterly and governed by the ACL Committee. Additionally, the results from the CECL models are reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, based on management’s judgment, as discussed in the section captioned "Qualitative Reserves" below. CECL Models The Company uses a statistical methodology based on an ECL approach that focuses on forecasting the ECL components (i.e., PD, payoff, LGD and EAD) on a loan level basis to estimate the expected future lifetime losses. •In calculating the PD and payoff, the Company developed model forecasts which consider variables such as delinquency status, loan tenor and credit quality as measured by internal risk ratings assigned to individual loans and credit facilities. •The LGD component forecasts the extent of losses given that a default has occurred and considers variables such as collateral, LTV and credit quality. •The EAD component captures the effects of expected partial prepayments and underpayments that are expected to occur during the forecast period and considers variables such as LTV, collateral and credit quality. The above ECL components are used to compute an ACL based on the weighted average of the results of four macroeconomic scenarios. The weighting of these scenarios is governed and approved quarterly by management through established committee governance. These ECL components are inputs to both the Company’s DCF approach for TDRs and individually assessed loans, and the non-DCF approach for other loans. When using a non-DCF method to measure the ACL, the Company measures ECL over the asset’s contractual term, adjusted for (a) expected prepayments, (b) expected extensions associated with assets for which management has a reasonable expectation at the reporting date that it will execute a TDR with the borrower, and (c) expected extensions or renewal options (excluding those that are accounted for as derivatives) included in the original or modified contract at the reporting date that are not unconditionally cancellable by the Company. In addition to the ALLL, management estimates expected losses related to off-balance sheet commitments using the same models and procedures used to estimate expected loan losses. Off-balance sheet commitments for commercial customers are analyzed and segregated by risk according to the Company's internal risk rating scale. These risk classifications, in conjunction with a forecast of expected usage of committed amounts and an analysis of historical loss experience, reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions, performance trends within specific portfolio segments, and any other pertinent information result in the estimation of the reserve for off-balance sheet commitments. DCF Approaches A DCF method measures expected credit losses by forecasting expected future principal and interest cash flows and discounting them using the financial asset’s EIR. The ACL reflects the difference between the amortized cost basis and the present value of the expected cash flows. When using a DCF method to measure the ACL, the period of exposure is determined as a function of the Company’s expectations of the timing of principal and interest payments. The Company considers estimated prepayments in the future principal and interest cash flows when utilizing a DCF method. The Company generally uses a DCF approach for TDRs and impaired commercial loans. The Company reports the entire change in present value in credit loss expense. Collateral-Dependent Assets A loan is considered a collateral-dependent financial asset when: •The Company determines foreclosure is probable, or •The borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and the Company expects repayment to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral. For all collateral-dependent loans, the Company measures the allowance for expected credit losses as the difference between the asset’s amortized cost basis and the fair value of the underlying collateral as of the reporting date, adjusted for expected costs to sell. If repayment or satisfaction of the loan is dependent only on the operation, rather than the sale of the collateral, the measure of credit losses does not incorporate estimated costs to sell. NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) A collateral dependent loan is written down (i.e., charged-off) to the fair value of the collateral adjusted for costs to sell (if repayment from sale is expected.) Any subsequent increase or decrease in the collateral’s fair value less cost to sell is recognized as an adjustment to the related loan’s ACL. Negative ACLs are limited to the amount previously charged-off. Collateral Maintenance Provisions For certain loans with collateral maintenance provisions which are secured by highly liquid collateral, the Company expects nonpayment of the amortized cost basis to be zero when such provisions require the borrower to continually replenish collateral in the event the fair value of the collateral changes. For these loans, the Company records no ACL. Negative Allowance Negative allowance is defined as the amount of future recovery expected for accounts that have already been charged-off. The Company performs an analysis of the actual historical recovery values to determine the pattern of recovery and expected rate of recovery over a given historic period, and uses the results of this analysis to determine a negative allowance. Negative allowance reduces the ACL. Qualitative Reserves Quantitative models have certain limitations with respect to estimating expected losses in times of rapidly changing macro-economic forecasts. The ACL estimate includes qualitative adjustments to adjust for limitations in modeled results with respect to forecasted economic conditions that are well outside of historic economic conditions used to develop the models and to give consideration to significant government relief programs, stimulus, and internal credit accommodations. Management believes the qualitative component of the ACL, which incorporates management’s expert judgment related to expected future credit losses, will continue to represent a significant portion of the ACL for the foreseeable future. Regardless of the extent of the Company's analysis of customer performance, portfolio evaluations, trends or risk management processes established, a level of imprecision will always exist due to the judgmental nature of loan portfolio and/or individual loan evaluations. The Company maintains a qualitative reserve to the ACL to recognize the existence of these exposures. Imprecisions include loss factors inherent in the loan portfolio that may not have been discreetly contemplated in the modelled approach to the allowance, as well as potential variability in estimates. The qualitative adjustment is also established in consideration of several factors such as the interpretation of economic trends, changes in the nature and volume of our loan portfolios, trends in delinquency and collateral values, and concentration risk. This analysis is conducted at least quarterly, and the Company revises the allowance factors whenever necessary in order to address improving or deteriorating credit quality trends or specific risks associated with a loan pool classification. Governance A comprehensive analysis of the ACL is performed by the Company on a quarterly basis. Management regularly monitors the condition of borrowers and assesses both internal and external factors in determining whether any relationships have deteriorated considering factors such as historical loss experience, trends in delinquency and NPLs, changes in risk composition and underwriting standards, experience and ability of staff and regional and national economic conditions, trends and forecasts. Risk factors are continuously reviewed and revised by management when conditions warrant. The Company's reserves are principally based on various models subject to the Company's model risk management framework. New models are approved by the Company's Model Risk Management Committee, and inputs are reviewed periodically by the Company's Internal Audit function. Models, inputs and documentation are further reviewed and validated at least annually, and the Company completes a detailed variance analysis of historical model projections against actual observed results on a quarterly basis. Required actions resulting from the Company's analysis, if necessary, are governed by its ACL Committee. In addition, a review of allowance levels based on nationally published statistics is conducted on at least an annual basis. Reserve levels are collectively reviewed for adequacy and approved quarterly by Board-level committees. The ACL is subject to review by banking regulators. The Company's primary bank regulators conduct examinations of the ACL and make assessments regarding its adequacy and the methodology employed in its determination. NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) Changes in the assumptions used in these estimates could have a direct material impact on credit loss expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and in the allowance for loan losses. The loan portfolio represents the largest asset on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s models incorporate a variety of assumptions based on historical experience, current conditions and forecasts. Management also applies its judgement in evaluating the appropriateness of the allowance. Material changes to the ACL might be necessary if prevailing conditions differ materially from the assumptions and estimates utilized in calculating the ACL. TDRs TDR Impact to ACL The Company’s policies for estimating the ACL also apply to TDRs as follows: •The Company reflects the impact of the concession in the ALLL for TDRs. Interest rate concessions and significant term deferrals can only be captured within the ALLL by using a DCF method. Therefore, in circumstances in which the Company offers such extensions in its TDR modification, it uses a DCF method to calculate the ALLL. •The Company recognizes the impact of a TDR modification to the ALLL when the Company has a reasonable expectation that the TDR modification will be executed. Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted There are no recently issued GAAP accounting developments that we expect will have a material impact on the Company's business, financial position, results of operations, or disclosures upon adoption. Subsequent Events The Company evaluated events from the date of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements on September 30, 2020 through the issuance of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, and has determined that there have been no material events that would require recognition in its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or disclosure in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 except as noted in Notes 15 and 17.

SHUSA is the parent holding company of SBNA, a national banking association; SC, a consumer finance company; SSLLC, a broker-dealer headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts; BSI, a financial services company headquartered in Miami, Florida that offers a full range of banking services to foreign individuals and corporations based primarily in Latin America; and SIS, a registered broker-dealer headquartered in New York providing services in investment banking, institutional sales, and trading and offering research reports of Latin American and European equity and fixed income securities; as well as several other subsidiaries. SSLLC, SIS, and another SHUSA subsidiary, SAM, are registered investment advisers with the SEC. SHUSA is headquartered in Boston and the Bank's home office is in Wilmington, Delaware. SHUSA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Santander. The Parent Company's two largest subsidiaries by asset size and revenue are the Bank and SC. On September 1, 2020 the Company sold its investment in Santander BanCorp, a financial holding company headquartered in Puerto Rico that offered a full range of financial services through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, BSPR. Refer to the caption "Sale of SBC" below for more information.

The Bank’s primary business consists of attracting deposits and providing other retail banking services through its network of retail branches, and originating small business loans, middle market, large and global commercial loans, multifamily loans, residential mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, and auto and other consumer loans throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern areas of the United States, principally located in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The Bank uses its deposits, as well as other financing sources, to fund its loan and investment portfolios.

SC is a specialized consumer finance company focused on vehicle finance and third-party servicing and delivering service to dealers and customers across the full credit spectrum. SC's primary business is the indirect origination and servicing of RICs and leases, principally through manufacturer-franchised dealers in connection with their sale of new and used vehicles to retail consumers. Additionally, SC sells consumer RICs through flow agreements and, when market conditions are favorable, it accesses the ABS market through securitizations of consumer RICs. SAF is SC’s primary vehicle financing brand, and is available as a finance option for automotive dealers across the United States.

Since May 2013, under its agreement with FCA, SC has operated as FCA's preferred provider for consumer loans, leases, and dealer loans and provides services to FCA customers and dealers under the Chrysler Capital brand. These products and services include consumer RICs and leases, as well as dealer loans for inventory, construction, real estate, working capital and revolving lines of credit. In 2019, SC entered into an amendment to the Chrysler Agreement which modified that agreement to, among other things, adjust certain performance metrics, exclusivity commitments and payment provisions.

The EPS mandated by Section 165 of the DFA Final Rule were enacted by the Federal Reserve to strengthen regulatory oversight of FBOs. Under the Final Rule, FBOs with over $50 billion of U.S. non-branch assets, including Santander, were required to consolidate U.S. subsidiary activities under an IHC. Due to its U.S. non-branch total consolidated asset size, Santander is subject to the Final Rule. As a result of this rule, Santander transferred substantially all of its equity interests in U.S. bank and non-bank subsidiaries previously outside the Company to the Company, which became an IHC effective July 1, 2016. These subsidiaries included BSI, SIS and SSLLC, as well as several other subsidiaries. On July 1, 2017, an additional Santander subsidiary, SFS, a finance company located in Puerto Rico, was transferred to the Company. Additionally, effective July 2, 2018, Santander transferred SAM to the IHC.

On October 21, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement to sell the stock of Santander BanCorp ("SBC") (the holding company that owns BSPR). On September 1, 2020, the Company completed the sale of SBC to FirstBank Puerto Rico for approximately $1.28 billion. The sale of SBC resulted in the recognition of a gain in the third quarter of 2020 totaling $62 million, reported in Miscellaneous income, net and a tax impact of $12 million, for a total net gain of $50 million. In addition, the Company reclassified to income approximately $23.6 million ($14.8 million after tax) of other comprehensive income related to its investment in SBC which is also recorded in Miscellaneous income, net. The final sales price and gain on sale are subject to adjustments based on the buyer’s review of the transferred assets and liabilities, in accordance with the agreement. In the second quarter of 2020, the Company recorded $39 million tax expense to establish a deferred tax liability for the book over tax basis in its investment in SBC. Transaction expenses related to the sale of SBC totaled approximately $10.0 million through September 30, 2020.

The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations of the Company for the three and nine-months ended September 30, 2020 included $14.3 million and $33.1 million, respectively, of net income attributable to SBC and $26.4 million and $66.6 million, respectively, of net income attributable to SBC for the comparative periods in 2019.

As part of the stipulations of the transaction, SBC transferred all of its non-performing assets to the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, SFS. This resulted in three separate transactions executed in December 2019, August 2020, and October 2020 for a total of $160.0 million in loans and $30.0 million of real estate owned which are included in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet of the Company at September 30, 2020.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, including certain Trusts that are considered VIEs. The Company also consolidates VIEs for which it is deemed to be the primary beneficiary and VOEs in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Additionally, where applicable, the Company's accounting policies conform to the accounting and reporting guidelines prescribed by bank regulatory authorities. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required for GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods indicated, and contain adequate disclosure for the fair statement of this interim financial information. Results of operations for the periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and those differences may be material. The most significant estimates include the ACL, accretion of discounts and subvention on RICs, fair value measurements, expected end-of-term lease residual values, values of repossessed assets, goodwill, and income taxes. These estimates, although based on actual historical trends and modeling, may potentially show significant variances over time.

•Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This guidance significantly changed how entities measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments measured at amortized cost. The amendment introduced a new credit reserving framework known as CECL, which replaced the incurred loss impairment framework with one that reflects expected credit losses over the expected life of financial assets and commitments, and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information, including estimation of future expected changes in macroeconomic conditions. Additionally, the standard changes the accounting framework for purchased credit-deteriorated HTM debt securities and loans, and dictates measurement of AFS debt securities using an allowance instead of reducing the carrying amount as it was under the OTTI framework. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2020 on a modified retrospective basis which resulted in an increase in the ACL of approximately $2.5 billion, a decrease in stockholder's equity of approximately $1.8 billion and a decrease in deferred tax liabilities, net of approximately $0.7 billion at January 1, 2020. The increase was based on forecasts of expected future economic conditions and was primarily driven by the fact that the allowance covers expected credit losses over the full expected life of the loan portfolios.

•In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This guidance provides temporary optional expedients to reduce the costs and complexity associated with the high volume of contractual modifications expected in the transition away from LIBOR as the benchmark rate in contracts and hedges. These optional expedients allow entities to negate many of the accounting impacts of modifying contracts and hedging relationships necessitated by reference rate reform, allowing them to generally maintain the accounting as if a change had not occurred. The Company adopted this standard during the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, electing the practical expedients relative to the Company’s contracts and hedging relationships modified as a result of reference rate reform through December 31, 2022. These practical expedients did not have a material impact on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.

•In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The amendments in this ASU simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general tax accounting principles and simplifying other specific tax scenarios. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2020 reflecting the change prospectively. It did not have a material impact to the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.

Debt securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity are classified as HTM securities. HTM securities are reported at cost and adjusted for payments, chargeoffs, amortization of premium and accretion of discount. Impairment of HTM securities is recorded using a valuation reserve which represents management’s best estimate of expected credit losses during the lives of the securities. Securities for which management has an expectation that nonpayment of the amortized costs basis is zero do not have a reserve. The Company has a zero loss expectation when the securities are issued or guaranteed by certain U.S. government entities and those entities have a long history of no defaults and the highest credit ratings issued by rating agencies. Transfers of debt securities into the HTM category from the AFS category are made at fair value at the date of transfer. The unrealized holding gain or loss at the date of transfer is retained in OCI and in the carrying value of HTM securities. Such amounts are amortized over the remaining lives of the securities. Any allowance recorded for credit losses while the security was classified as AFS is reversed through provision expense. Thereafter, the allowance is recorded through the provision using the HTM valuation reserve.

Debt securities expected to be held for an indefinite period of time are classified as AFS and recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. If the fair value of an AFS debt security declines below its amortized cost basis and the Company does not have the intention or requirement to sell the security before it recovers its amortized cost basis, declines due to credit factors will be recorded in earnings through an allowance on AFS securities, and declines due to non-credit factors will be recorded in AOCI, net of taxes. Subsequent to recognition of a credit loss, improvements to the expectation of collectability will be reversed through the allowance. If the Company has the intention or requirement to sell the security, the Company will record its fair value changes in earnings as a direct write down to the security. Increases in fair value above amortized cost basis are recorded in AOCI, net of taxes.

The Company conducts a comprehensive security-level impairment assessment quarterly on all AFS securities with a fair value that is less than their amortized cost basis to determine whether the loss is due to credit factors. The quarterly assessment takes into consideration whether (i) the Company has the intent to sell or (ii) it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before the expected recovery of its amortized cost. The Company also considers whether or not it would expect to receive all of the contractual cash flows from the investment based on its assessment of the security structure, recent security collateral performance metrics, external credit ratings, failure of the issuer to make scheduled interest or principal payments, judgment and expectations of future performance, and relevant independent industry research, analysis and forecasts. The Company also considers the severity of the impairment in its assessment. Similar to HTM securities, securities for which management expects risk of nonpayment of the amortized cost basis is zero do not have a reserve. The Company has a zero loss expectation when the securities are issued or guaranteed by certain U.S. government entities and those entities have a long history of no defaults and the highest credit ratings issued by rating agencies. In the event of a credit loss, the credit component of the impairment is recognized within non-interest income as a separate line item and by the recording of a valuation reserve. The non-credit component is recorded within AOCI.

The Company does not measure an ACL for accrued interest, and instead writes off uncollectible accrued interest balances in a timely manner. The Company places securities on nonaccrual and reverses any uncollectible accrued interest when the full and timely collection of interest or principal becomes uncertain, but no later than at 90 days past due.

Loans that at acquisition the Company deems to have more than insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination (i.e., PCD loans) require the recognition of an ACL at purchase. The ACL is added to the purchase price at the date of acquisition to determine the initial amortized cost basis of the PCD loan. The ACL is calculated using the same methodology as originated loans, as described below. Alternatively, the Company can elect the FVO at the time of purchase for any financial asset. Under the FVO, loans are recorded at fair value with changes in value recognized immediately in income. There is no ACL for loans under a FVO.

The ALLL and reserve for off-balance sheet commitments (together, the ACL) are maintained at levels that represent management’s best estimate of expected credit losses in the Company’s HFI loan portfolios, which excludes those loans accounted for under the FVO. The allowance for expected credit losses is measured based on a lifetime expected loss model, which means that it is not necessary for a loss event to occur before a credit loss is recognized. Management’s estimate of expected credit losses is based on an evaluation of relevant information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the future collectability of the reported amounts. Management's evaluation takes into consideration the risks in the loan portfolio, past loan and lease loss experience, specific loans with loss potential, geographic and industry concentrations, delinquency trends, economic forecasts and other relevant factors. While management uses the best information available to make such evaluations, future adjustments to the ACL may be necessary if conditions differ substantially from the assumptions used in making the evaluations. Provisions for credit losses are charged to provision expense in amounts sufficient to maintain the ACL at levels considered adequate to cover expected credit losses in the Company’s HFI loan portfolios.

The ALLL is a valuation account that is deducted from, or added to, the amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the Company’s HFI loan portfolios. The reserve for off-balance sheet commitments represents the ECL for unfunded lending commitments and financial guarantees, and is presented within Other liabilities on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The reserve for off-balance sheet commitments, together with the ALLL, is generally referred to collectively throughout this Form 10-Q as the ACL, despite the presentation differences.

The Company measures expected losses of all components of the amortized cost basis of its loans. For all loans except TDRs and credit cards, the Company has elected to exclude accrued interest receivable balances from the measurement of expected credit losses because it applies a nonaccrual policy that results in the timely write off of uncollectible interest.

Off-balance sheet commitments which are not unconditionally cancellable by the Company are subject to credit risk. Additions to the reserve for off-balance sheet commitments are made by charges to the credit loss expense. The Company does not calculate a liability for expected credit losses for off-balance sheet credit exposures which are unconditionally cancellable by the lender, because these instruments do not expose the Company to credit risk. At SHUSA, this generally applies to credit cards and commercial demand lines of credit.

The Company uses several methodologies for the measurement of ACL. The Company generally uses a DCF approach for determining ALLL for TDRs and other individually assessed loans, and loss rate or roll-rate models for other loans. The methodologies utilized by the Company to estimate expected credit losses may vary by product type.

Expected credit losses are estimated on a collective basis when similar risk characteristics exist. Expected credit losses are estimated on an individual basis only if the individual asset or exposure does not share similar risk attributes with other financial assets or exposures, including when an asset is treated as a collateral dependent asset. The estimate of expected credit losses reflects information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the future collectability of reported amounts. This information includes internal information, external information, or a combination of both. The Company uses historical loss experience as a starting point for estimating expected credit losses.

The ACL estimate includes significant assumptions including the reasonable and supportable economic forecast period, which considers the availability of forward-looking scenarios and their respective time horizons, as well as the reversion method to historical losses. The economic scenarios used by the Company are available up to the contractual maturities of the assets, and therefore the Company can project losses through the respective contractual maturities, using an input reversion approach. This method results in a single, quantitatively consistent credit model across the entire projection period as the macroeconomic effects in the historical data are controlled for the estimate of the long-run loss level.

The Company uses multiple scenarios in its CECL estimation process. The selection of scenarios is reviewed quarterly and governed by the ACL Committee. Additionally, the results from the CECL models are reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, based on management’s judgment, as discussed in the section captioned "Qualitative Reserves" below.

The above ECL components are used to compute an ACL based on the weighted average of the results of four macroeconomic scenarios. The weighting of these scenarios is governed and approved quarterly by management through established committee governance. These ECL components are inputs to both the Company’s DCF approach for TDRs and individually assessed loans, and the non-DCF approach for other loans.

When using a non-DCF method to measure the ACL, the Company measures ECL over the asset’s contractual term, adjusted for (a) expected prepayments, (b) expected extensions associated with assets for which management has a reasonable expectation at the reporting date that it will execute a TDR with the borrower, and (c) expected extensions or renewal options (excluding those that are accounted for as derivatives) included in the original or modified contract at the reporting date that are not unconditionally cancellable by the Company.

In addition to the ALLL, management estimates expected losses related to off-balance sheet commitments using the same models and procedures used to estimate expected loan losses. Off-balance sheet commitments for commercial customers are analyzed and segregated by risk according to the Company's internal risk rating scale. These risk classifications, in conjunction with a forecast of expected usage of committed amounts and an analysis of historical loss experience, reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions, performance trends within specific portfolio segments, and any other pertinent information result in the estimation of the reserve for off-balance sheet commitments.

A DCF method measures expected credit losses by forecasting expected future principal and interest cash flows and discounting them using the financial asset’s EIR. The ACL reflects the difference between the amortized cost basis and the present value of the expected cash flows. When using a DCF method to measure the ACL, the period of exposure is determined as a function of the Company’s expectations of the timing of principal and interest payments. The Company considers estimated prepayments in the future principal and interest cash flows when utilizing a DCF method. The Company generally uses a DCF approach for TDRs and impaired commercial loans. The Company reports the entire change in present value in credit loss expense.

For all collateral-dependent loans, the Company measures the allowance for expected credit losses as the difference between the asset’s amortized cost basis and the fair value of the underlying collateral as of the reporting date, adjusted for expected costs to sell. If repayment or satisfaction of the loan is dependent only on the operation, rather than the sale of the collateral, the measure of credit losses does not incorporate estimated costs to sell.

A collateral dependent loan is written down (i.e., charged-off) to the fair value of the collateral adjusted for costs to sell (if repayment from sale is expected.) Any subsequent increase or decrease in the collateral’s fair value less cost to sell is recognized as an adjustment to the related loan’s ACL. Negative ACLs are limited to the amount previously charged-off.

For certain loans with collateral maintenance provisions which are secured by highly liquid collateral, the Company expects nonpayment of the amortized cost basis to be zero when such provisions require the borrower to continually replenish collateral in the event the fair value of the collateral changes. For these loans, the Company records no ACL.

Negative allowance is defined as the amount of future recovery expected for accounts that have already been charged-off. The Company performs an analysis of the actual historical recovery values to determine the pattern of recovery and expected rate of recovery over a given historic period, and uses the results of this analysis to determine a negative allowance. Negative allowance reduces the ACL.

Quantitative models have certain limitations with respect to estimating expected losses in times of rapidly changing macro-economic forecasts. The ACL estimate includes qualitative adjustments to adjust for limitations in modeled results with respect to forecasted economic conditions that are well outside of historic economic conditions used to develop the models and to give consideration to significant government relief programs, stimulus, and internal credit accommodations. Management believes the qualitative component of the ACL, which incorporates management’s expert judgment related to expected future credit losses, will continue to represent a significant portion of the ACL for the foreseeable future.

Regardless of the extent of the Company's analysis of customer performance, portfolio evaluations, trends or risk management processes established, a level of imprecision will always exist due to the judgmental nature of loan portfolio and/or individual loan evaluations. The Company maintains a qualitative reserve to the ACL to recognize the existence of these exposures. Imprecisions include loss factors inherent in the loan portfolio that may not have been discreetly contemplated in the modelled approach to the allowance, as well as potential variability in estimates.

The qualitative adjustment is also established in consideration of several factors such as the interpretation of economic trends, changes in the nature and volume of our loan portfolios, trends in delinquency and collateral values, and concentration risk. This analysis is conducted at least quarterly, and the Company revises the allowance factors whenever necessary in order to address improving or deteriorating credit quality trends or specific risks associated with a loan pool classification.

A comprehensive analysis of the ACL is performed by the Company on a quarterly basis. Management regularly monitors the condition of borrowers and assesses both internal and external factors in determining whether any relationships have deteriorated considering factors such as historical loss experience, trends in delinquency and NPLs, changes in risk composition and underwriting standards, experience and ability of staff and regional and national economic conditions, trends and forecasts. Risk factors are continuously reviewed and revised by management when conditions warrant.

The Company's reserves are principally based on various models subject to the Company's model risk management framework. New models are approved by the Company's Model Risk Management Committee, and inputs are reviewed periodically by the Company's Internal Audit function. Models, inputs and documentation are further reviewed and validated at least annually, and the Company completes a detailed variance analysis of historical model projections against actual observed results on a quarterly basis. Required actions resulting from the Company's analysis, if necessary, are governed by its ACL Committee.

Changes in the assumptions used in these estimates could have a direct material impact on credit loss expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and in the allowance for loan losses. The loan portfolio represents the largest asset on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s models incorporate a variety of assumptions based on historical experience, current conditions and forecasts. Management also applies its judgement in evaluating the appropriateness of the allowance. Material changes to the ACL might be necessary if prevailing conditions differ materially from the assumptions and estimates utilized in calculating the ACL.

•The Company reflects the impact of the concession in the ALLL for TDRs. Interest rate concessions and significant term deferrals can only be captured within the ALLL by using a DCF method. Therefore, in circumstances in which the Company offers such extensions in its TDR modification, it uses a DCF method to calculate the ALLL.

The Company evaluated events from the date of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements on September 30, 2020 through the issuance of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, and has determined that there have been no material events that would require recognition in its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or disclosure in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 except as noted in Notes 15 and 17.