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Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

The accounting and financial reporting policies of United Community Banks, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to herein as “United”) conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and reporting guidelines of banking regulatory authorities and regulators. The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements have not been audited. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. In addition to those items mentioned below, a more detailed description of United’s accounting policies is included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “2019 10-K”).

In management’s opinion, all accounting adjustments necessary to accurately reflect the financial position and results of operations on the accompanying financial statements have been made. These adjustments are normal and recurring accruals considered necessary for a fair and accurate presentation. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year or any other interim periods. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing in United’s 2019 10-K. Certain amounts reported in prior periods' consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Debt Securities

Debt securities are classified as held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Debt securities are classified as available-for-sale when they might be sold before maturity. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income, net of tax.

Interest income includes amortization of purchase premiums or discounts. Premiums and discounts on securities are generally amortized on the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments, except for mortgage-backed securities where prepayments are anticipated. Premiums on callable debt securities are amortized to their earliest call date. Gains and losses on sales are recorded on the trade date and determined using the specific identification method.

Transfers of securities between categories are recorded at fair value at the date of transfer. Unrealized holding gains or losses associated with transfers of securities from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity are included in the balance of accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheets. These unrealized holding gains or losses are amortized into income over the remaining life of the security as an adjustment to the yield in a manner consistent with the amortization or accretion of the original purchase premium or discount on the associated security.

A debt security is placed on nonaccrual status at the time any principal or interest payments become 90 days delinquent. Interest accrued but not received for a security placed on non-accrual is reversed against interest income.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Held-to-Maturity and Available-for-Sale Securities and Off-Balance Sheet Credit Exposures

ACL - Off-Balance Sheet Credit Exposures

Management estimates expected credit losses on commitments to extend credit over the contractual period in which United is exposed to credit risk on the underlying commitments. The ACL on off-balance sheet credit exposures is adjusted as a provision for credit loss expense. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life. The ACL is calculated using the same aggregate reserve rates calculated for the funded portion of loans at the portfolio level applied to the amount of commitments expected to fund.

Allowance for Credit Losses (“ACL”) - Held-to-Maturity Securities: Management measures expected credit losses on held-to-maturity debt securities on a collective basis by major security type. Accrued interest receivable on held-to-maturity debt securities totaled $1.07 million at March 31, 2020 and was excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

The estimate of expected credit losses considers historical credit loss information that is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Management classifies the held-to-maturity portfolio into the following major security types: State and political subdivisions, residential mortgage-backed, agency and commercial mortgage-backed, agency.

All of the residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities held by United are issued by U.S. government agencies. These securities are either explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, are highly rated by major rating agencies and have a long history of no credit losses. The state and political subdivision securities are highly rated by major rating agencies. As a result, no ACL was recorded on the held-to-maturity portfolio at March 31, 2020.

ACL - Available-For-Sale Securities: For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, United first assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security's amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. For debt securities available-for-sale that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, United evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, management considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an ACL is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value

is less than the amortized cost basis. Any amount of unrealized loss that has not been recorded through an ACL is recognized in other comprehensive income.

Changes in the ACL are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit loss expense. Losses are charged against the ACL when management believes the uncollectibility of an available-for-sale security is confirmed or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met. At March 31, 2020, there was no ACL related to the available-for-sale portfolio.

Accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale debt securities totaled $8.83 million at March 31, 2020 and was excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

Loans and Leases

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at amortized cost. Amortized cost is the principal balance outstanding, net of purchase premiums and discounts and deferred fees and costs. Accrued interest receivable related to loans totaled $21.2 million at March 31, 2020 and was reported in accrued interest receivable on the consolidated balance sheets. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income using methods that approximate a level yield without anticipating prepayments.

The accrual of interest is discontinued when a loan becomes 90 days past due and is not well collateralized and in the process of collection, or when management believes, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts, that the principal or interest will not be collectible in the normal course of business. Past due status is based on contractual terms of the loan.

All interest accrued but not received for loans placed on nonaccrual is reversed against interest income. Interest received on such loans is accounted for on the cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Under the cost-recovery method, interest income is not recognized until the loan balance is reduced to zero. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current, there is a sustained period of repayment performance and future payments are reasonably assured.

Equipment Financing Lease Receivables: Equipment financing lease receivables, which are classified as sales-type or direct financing leases, are recorded as the sum of the future minimum lease payments, initial deferred costs and estimated or contractual residual values less unearned income and security deposits. The determination of residual value is derived from a variety of sources including equipment valuation services, appraisals, and publicly available market data on recent sales transactions on similar equipment. The length of time until contract termination, the cyclical nature of equipment values and the limited marketplace for re-sale of certain leased assets are important variables considered in making this determination. Interest income, which is included in loan interest revenue in the consolidated statements of income, is recognized as earned using the effective interest method. Direct fees and costs associated with the origination of leases are deferred and included as a component of equipment financing receivables. Net deferred fees or costs are recognized as an adjustment to interest income over the contractual life of the lease using the effective interest method. These lease agreements may include options to renew and for the lessee to purchase the leased equipment at the end of the lease term. United excludes sales taxes from consideration in these lease contracts.

Purchased Credit Deteriorated (“PCD”) Loans: Upon adoption of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (“ASC 326”), loans that were designated as purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) loans under the previous accounting guidance were classified as PCD loans without reassessment.

In future acquisitions, United may purchase loans, some of which have experienced more than insignificant credit deterioration since origination. In those cases, United will consider internal loan grades, delinquency status and other relevant factors in assessing whether purchased loans are PCD. PCD loans are recorded at the amount paid. An initial ACL is determined using the same methodology as other loans held for investment, but with no impact to earnings. The initial ACL determined on a collective basis is allocated to individual loans. The sum of the loan's purchase price and ACL becomes its initial amortized cost basis. The difference between the initial amortized cost basis and the par value of the loan is a noncredit discount or premium, which is amortized into interest income over the life of the loan. Subsequent to initial recognition, PCD loans are subject to the same interest income recognition and impairment model as non-PCD loans, with changes to the ACL recorded through provision expense.

ACL Loans

ACL - Loans

The ACL is a valuation account that is deducted from the loans' amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loans are charged off against the ACL when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is confirmed. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off. Accrued interest receivable is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

Management determines the ACL balance using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Historical credit behaviors along with model judgments provide the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. Adjustments to modeled loss estimates may be made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics such as differences in underwriting standards, portfolio mix, delinquency level, or term as well as for changes in environmental conditions, such as changes in economic conditions, property values, or other relevant factors.

The ACL is measured on a collective basis when similar risk characteristics exist. United has identified the following portfolio segments and calculates the ACL for each using a discounted cash flow methodology at the loan level, with loss rates, prepayment assumptions and curtailment assumptions driven by each loan’s collateral type:

Owner occupied commercial real estate - Loans in this category are susceptible to business failure and general economic conditions.

Income producing commercial real estate - Common risks for this loan category are declines in general economic conditions, declines in real estate value, declines in occupancy rates, and lack of suitable alternative use for the property.

Commercial & industrial - Risks to this loan category include the inability to monitor the condition of the collateral which often consists of inventory, accounts receivable and other non-real estate assets. Equipment and inventory obsolescence can also pose a risk. Declines in general economic conditions and other events can cause cash flows to fall to levels insufficient to service debt.

Commercial construction - Risks common to commercial construction loans are cost overruns, changes in market demand for property, inadequate long-term financing arrangements and declines in real estate values.

Equipment financing - Risks associated with equipment financing are similar to those described for commercial and industrial loans, including general economic conditions, as well as appropriate lien priority on equipment, equipment obsolescence and the general mobility of the collateral.

Residential mortgage - Residential mortgage loans are susceptible to weakening general economic conditions, increases in unemployment rates and declining real estate values.

Home equity lines of credit - Risks common to home equity lines of credit are general economic conditions, including an increase in unemployment rates, and declining real estate values which reduce or eliminate the borrower’s home equity.

Residential construction - Residential construction loans are susceptible to the same risks as residential mortgage loans. Changes in market demand for property lead to longer marketing times resulting in higher carrying costs and declining values.

Consumer - Risks common to consumer direct loans include unemployment and changes in local economic conditions as well as the inability to monitor collateral consisting of personal property.

When management determines that foreclosure is probable or when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty at the reporting date and repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral, expected credit losses are based on the fair value of the collateral at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate.

When the discounted cash flow method is used to determine the ACL, management adjusts the effective interest rate used to discount expected cash flows to incorporate expected prepayments.

Determining the Contractual Term: Expected credit losses are estimated over the contractual term of the loans, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate. The contractual term excludes expected extensions, renewals, and modifications unless either of the following applies: management has a reasonable expectation at the reporting date that a troubled debt restructuring will be executed with an individual borrower or the extension or renewal options are included in the original or modified contract at the reporting date and are not unconditionally cancellable by United.

Troubled Debt Restructurings (“TDR”s): A loan for which the terms have been modified resulting in a more than insignificant concession, and for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, is generally considered to be a TDR. The ACL on a TDR is measured using the same method as all other loans held for investment, except that the original interest rate is used to discount the expected cash flows, not the rate specified within the restructuring. As discussed in Note 2, certain modifications in the first quarter of 2020 were excluded from the TDR population based on relief provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”).

Accounting Standards Updates and Recently Adopted Standards

On January 1, 2020, United adopted ASC 326, which replaced the incurred loss impairment framework in prior GAAP with a current expected credit loss (“CECL”) framework, which requires an estimate of credit losses for the remaining estimated life of the financial asset using historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts and generally applies to financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loan receivables and held-to-maturity debt securities, and some off-balance sheet credit exposures such as unfunded commitments to extend credit. Financial assets measured at amortized cost will be presented at the net amount expected to be collected by using an ACL. PCD loans will receive an initial allowance at the acquisition date that represents an adjustment to the amortized cost basis of the loan, with no impact to earnings. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will be recorded through an ACL prospectively, with such allowance limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost.

United adopted ASC 326 as of January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective method for loans, leases and off-balance sheet credit exposures. Adoption of this guidance resulted in an $8.75 million increase in the ACL, comprised of increases in the ACL for loans of $6.88 million and the ACL for unfunded commitments of $1.87 million, with $3.59 million of the increase reclassified from the amortized cost basis of PCD financial assets that were previously classified as PCI. The cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings was $3.53 million, net of tax. Calculated credit losses on held-to-maturity debt securities were not material and there was no impact to the available-for-sale securities portfolio or other financial instruments. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2020 are presented under ASC 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP (“Incurred Loss”).

The ACL for the majority of loans and leases was calculated using a discounted cash flow methodology applied at a loan level with a one-year reasonable and supportable forecast period and a two-year straight-line reversion period. In connection with the adoption, management has implemented changes to relevant systems, processes and controls where necessary. Model validation was completed during the fourth quarter of 2019 and implementation of the accounting, reporting and governance processes to comply with the new guidance was completed in the first quarter of 2020. United’s CECL allowance will fluctuate over time due to macroeconomic conditions and forecasts as well as the size and composition of the loan portfolios. Federal banking regulatory agencies have provided relief, which United has adopted, for the delay of the adverse capital impact of CECL at adoption and during the subsequent two-year period. This optional two-year delay is followed by an optional three-year transition period to phase out the aggregate amount of capital benefit provided during the initial two-year delay. Under the transition provision, the amount of aggregate capital benefit is phased out by 25% each year with the full impact of adoption completely recognized by the beginning of the sixth year.

United adopted ASC 326 using the prospective transition approach for PCD assets that were previously classified as PCI. In accordance with the standard, management did not reassess whether PCI assets met the criteria of PCD assets as of the date of adoption. As mentioned above, the amortized cost basis of the PCD assets was adjusted to reflect the addition of $3.59 million of the ACL. The remaining noncredit discount (based on the adjusted amortized cost basis) will be accreted into interest income at a rate that approximates the effective interest rate as of January 1, 2020.

With regard to PCD assets, because United elected to disaggregate the former PCI pools and no longer considers these pools to be the unit of account, contractually delinquent PCD loans will be reported as nonaccrual loans using the same criteria as other loans. Similarly, although management did not reassess whether modifications to individual acquired financial assets accounted for in pools were TDRs as of the date of adoption, PCD loans that are restructured and meet the definition of troubled debt restructurings after the adoption of CECL will be reported as such.

United elected not to measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivable and instead to reverse interest income on those loans that are 90 days past due, to exclude accrued interest receivable from the amortized cost basis of financial instruments subject to CECL and to separately state the balance of accrued interest receivable on the consolidated balance sheet. In addition, United elected to adjust the discount rate used to calculate credit losses for expected prepayments and will include all changes in discounted cash flows as credit loss. United also elected to use, as a practical expedient, the fair value of collateral when determining the ACL for loans for which repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty (collateral-dependent loans).

On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was signed into law. The CARES Act included a number of provisions that were applicable to United, including the following:


•	Accounting Relief for TDRs: The CARES Act provided that modifications for loans under certain forbearance conditions that were otherwise performing before the COVID-19 crisis will not be considered TDRs for regulatory reporting and GAAP.

•

Optional Delay and Regulatory Relief for CECL Implementation: The CARES Act stipulated that large SEC filers have the option of delaying the adoption of CECL from January 1, 2020 to the earlier of the end of the COVID-19 emergency period or December 31, 2020. Banks that were required to implement CECL by the end of 2020 were granted the option to defer any impact of CECL on regulatory capital for two years before beginning the original three-year regulatory phase-in period, for a total five-year phase-in period. Although United did not elect to delay the adoption of CECL, the Company did elect the five-year phase-in period for regulatory purposes, as discussed above.


•	Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”): The CARES Act created the PPP through the Small Business Administration (“SBA”), which allowed United to lend money to small businesses to maintain employee payrolls through the crisis with guarantees from the SBA. Under this program, loan amounts may be forgiven if the borrower maintains employee payrolls or restores payrolls afterwards.

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-03, Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments. This update clarified certain minor issues within the codification, including, among other things, debt securities disclosure for financial institutions and determination of the contractual term of a net investment in a lease. The standard was effective immediately, and did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This update provides expedients for contracts that are modified because of reference rate reform, including receivables, debt, leases, and certain derivatives. In addition, the update provides a one-time election to sell or transfer debt securities classified as held-to-maturity that reference a rate that is affected by reference rate reform. The update is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Adoption of this update did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825 Financial Instruments. In addition to amending guidance related to the new CECL standard, this update clarifies certain aspects of hedge accounting and recognition and measurement of financial instruments. United adopted this update as of January 1, 2020, with no material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This update eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test, which required an entity to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill by valuing a reporting unit’s assets and liabilities using the same process that would be required to value assets and liabilities in a business combination. Instead, the amendments require that an entity perform its annual goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. United adopted this update as of January 1, 2020, with no material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for financing receivable.

+ References + Details