Commitments and Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

NOTE 12. Commitments and Contingencies

		June 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions)
Letters of credit and financial guarantees written		$	5,012	$	5,164
Carrying amount of the liability for letter of credit guarantees			44		30
Investments related to affordable housing and historic building rehabilitation projects			1,243		1,223
Amount of future funding commitments included in investments related to affordable
	housing and historic rehabilitation projects		431		461
Lending exposure to these affordable housing projects			131		87
Tax credits subject to recapture related to affordable housing projects			220		193
Investments in private equity and similar investments			269		323
Future funding commitments to private equity and similar investments			82		129

Letters of credit and financial guarantees written are unconditional commitments issued by BB&T to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. These guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements, including commercial paper issuance, bond financing and similar transactions, the majority of which are to tax exempt entities. The credit risk involved in the issuance of these guarantees is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to clients and as such, the instruments are collateralized when necessary.

BB&T invests in certain affordable housing and historic building rehabilitation projects throughout its market area as a means of supporting local communities, and receives tax credits related to these investments. BB&T typically acts as a limited partner in these investments and does not exert control over the operating or financial policies of the partnerships. Branch Bank typically provides financing during the construction and development of the properties; however, permanent financing is generally obtained from independent third parties upon completion of a project. Tax credits are subject to recapture by taxing authorities based on compliance features required to be met at the project level. BB&T's maximum potential exposure to losses relative to investments in VIEs is generally limited to the sum of the carrying amount of the investment, tax credits subject to recapture and any related loans to the entity. Loans to these entities are underwritten in substantially the same manner as are other loans and are generally secured.

Legal Proceedings

The nature of the business of BB&T's banking and other subsidiaries ordinarily results in a certain amount of claims, litigation, investigations and legal and administrative cases and proceedings, all of which are considered incidental to the normal conduct of business. BB&T believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims asserted against it in its currently outstanding legal proceedings and, with respect to such legal proceedings, intends to continue to defend itself vigorously, litigating or settling cases according to management's judgment as to what is in the best interests of BB&T and its shareholders.

The Company was a defendant in three separate cases primarily challenging the Company's daily ordering of debit transactions posted to customer checking accounts for the period from 2003 to 2010. The final case was resolved during March 2013, at which time the court issued an order compelling arbitration and dismissing the matter. The time for an appeal from that order expired with no appeal being taken. As a result, all three matters are now concluded.

On at least a quarterly basis, BB&T assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with outstanding legal proceedings utilizing the latest information available. For those matters where it is probable that BB&T will incur a loss and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, BB&T records a liability in its consolidated financial statements. These legal reserves may be increased or decreased to reflect any relevant developments on at least a quarterly basis. For other matters, where a loss is not probable or the amount of the loss is not estimable, BB&T has not accrued legal reserves. While the outcome of legal proceedings is inherently uncertain, based on information currently available, advice of counsel and available insurance coverage, BB&T's management believes that its established legal reserves are adequate and the liabilities arising from BB&T's legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations or consolidated cash flows of BB&T. However, in the event of unexpected future developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of these matters, if unfavorable, may be material to BB&T's consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations or consolidated cash flows.