Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”).

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and in the related disclosures. These estimates are based on information available as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. While management makes its best judgment, actual amounts or results could differ from these estimates. In the opinion of management, all normal, recurring adjustments have been included for a fair statement of this interim financial information. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Capital One Financial Corporation and all other entities in which we have a controlling financial interest. We determine whether we have a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity or a variable interest entity (“VIE”). All significant intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated.

New Accounting Standards Adopted

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards

Restricted Cash

In November 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued revised guidance that requires restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to be included within beginning and ending total cash amounts reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Disclosure of the nature of the restrictions on cash balances is required under the guidance. We have elected to early adopt the guidance retrospectively effective as of January 1, 2017. Upon adoption, changes in restricted cash, which had previously been presented as financing activities, are now included within beginning and ending Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for securitization investors balances.

The Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for securitization investors balances presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows are comprised of the amounts captioned on the consolidated balance sheets as Total cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash for securitization investors.

Improvements to Employee Share-Based Accounting

In March 2016, the FASB issued revised guidance for accounting for employee share-based payments. The guidance requires that all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies that pertain to employee stock-based incentive payments be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the consolidated statements of income, rather than within additional paid-in capital; and that excess tax benefits be classified as an operating activity rather than financing activity in the consolidated statements of cash flows. The guidance also permits an accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures when they occur. We adopted the guidance effective in the first quarter of 2017 on a prospective basis related to recognition of excess tax benefits and deficiencies in the consolidated statements of income and presentation of excess tax benefits in the consolidated statements of cash flows. In addition, we made an accounting policy election to account for forfeitures of awards as they occur and applied a modified retrospective transition method. Our adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued but Not Yet Adopted Accounting Standards

Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities

In March 2017, the FASB issued revised guidance to shorten the amortization period to the earliest call date for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. There is no change for accounting for securities held at a discount. Under the existing guidance, the premium is generally amortized as an adjustment to interest income over the contractual life of the debt security. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. This guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted, through a modified retrospective method.

Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment

In January 2017, the FASB issued revised guidance which is intended to reduce the cost and complexity of testing goodwill for impairment by eliminating the second step from the current goodwill impairment test. Under the existing guidance, step one compares an entity’s reporting unit’s carrying value to its fair value. If the carrying value exceeds fair value, an entity then performs step two, which assigns the fair value across its assets and liabilities, including unrecognized assets and liabilities, following a procedure required in purchase accounting. Under the new guidance, the impairment to a reporting unit’s goodwill is determined based on the amount by which the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, limited to the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. This impairment method applies to all reporting units, including those with zero or negative carrying amounts of net assets. The guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. We plan to adopt the standard on its effective date.

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

In June 2016, the FASB issued revised guidance for impairments on financial instruments. The guidance requires an impairment model (known as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model) that is based on expected rather than incurred losses, with an anticipated result of more timely loss recognition. The CECL model is applicable to financial assets measured at amortized cost, lease receivables and certain off-balance sheet arrangements. The CECL model will replace our current accounting for purchased credit-impaired (“PCI”) and impaired loans. The guidance also amends the available for sale (“AFS”) debt securities other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) model. Credit losses (and subsequent recoveries) on AFS debt securities will be recorded through an allowance approach, rather than the current U.S. GAAP practice of permanent write-downs for credit losses and accreting positive changes through interest income over time. This guidance will be effective for us on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted no earlier than January 1, 2019. We are currently assessing the potential impact on our consolidated financial statements; however, due to the significant differences in the revised guidance from existing GAAP, the implementation of this guidance may result in material changes in our accounting for credit losses on financial instruments.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued revised guidance for leases. The guidance requires lessees to recognize right of use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements for all leases, with certain practical expedients. This will be effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We plan to adopt the standard on the effective date. We are currently assessing the potential impact on our consolidated financial statements; however, we expect our total assets and liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet to increase.

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

In January 2016, the FASB issued revised guidance for the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The main provisions of the guidance include, (i) most equity investments are to be measured at fair value and recorded through net income, except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that do not have a readily determinable fair value (for which a practical expedient can be elected); (ii) the use of the exit price notion is required when valuing financial instruments for disclosure purposes; (iii) an entity shall present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability under fair value option resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk; (iv) the determination of the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities must be made in combination with other deferred tax assets. The guidance eliminates the current classifications of equity securities as trading or available-for-sale and will require separate presentation of financial assets and liabilities by category and form of the financial assets on the face of the consolidated balance sheets or within the accompanying notes. The guidance also eliminates the requirement to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet. The guidance will be effective January 1, 2018. Early adoption is only permitted for the requirement to present the portion of the total change in fair value attributable to a change in the instrument-specific credit risk in other comprehensive income. We plan on adopting the guidance effective January 1, 2018, and do not expect the guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued revised guidance for the recognition, measurement and disclosure of revenue from contracts with customers. The original guidance has been amended through subsequent accounting standard updates that resulted in technical corrections, improvements, and a one-year deferral of the effective date to January 1, 2018. The guidance, as amended, is applicable to all entities and, once effective, will replace significant portions of existing industry and transaction-specific revenue recognition rules with a more principles-based recognition model. Entities can elect to adopt the guidance either on a full or modified retrospective basis.

Most revenue associated with financial instruments, including interest income, loan origination fees and credit card fees, is outside the scope of the guidance. Gains and losses on investment securities, derivatives and sales of financial instruments are similarly excluded from the scope. Our implementation efforts have included identifying revenues and related costs within the scope of this guidance, reviewing the associated contracts and evaluating the related accounting policies and internal controls to determine if any changes will be required. Efforts to evaluate the effect of this guidance, assess changes in our disclosures required by this guidance and consider the adoption methods are ongoing. We have not identified any material changes in the timing of recognition of revenues or expenses. We are still evaluating some changes to the income statement classification of certain credit card-related expenses. We plan to adopt this guidance on the effective date.

Offsetting of Financial Assets and Liabilities

Offsetting of Financial Assets and Liabilities

Derivative contracts and repurchase agreements that we execute bilaterally in the OTC market are governed by enforceable master netting arrangements where we generally have the right to offset exposure with the same counterparty. Either counterparty can generally request to net settle all contracts through a single payment upon default on, or termination of, any one contract. We elect to offset the derivative assets and liabilities under netting arrangements for balance sheet presentation where a right of setoff exists. Derivative contracts that are cleared with central clearinghouses through FCMs are not subject to offsetting due to the uncertainty existing around an end-user’s ability to setoff these derivative contracts. Therefore, as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we did not offset our derivative positions cleared through clearinghouses.

We also maintain collateral agreements with certain derivative counterparties. For bilateral derivatives, we review our collateral positions on a daily basis and exchange collateral with our counterparties in accordance with standard International Swaps and Derivatives Association documentation and other related agreements. Agreements with certain bilateral counterparties require both parties to maintain collateral in the event the fair values of derivative instruments exceed established exposure thresholds. For centrally cleared derivatives, we are subject to initial margin and daily variation margin posting with the central clearinghouses. Acceptable types of collateral are typically in the form of cash or high quality liquid securities.

The exchange of collateral is dependent upon the fair value of the derivative instruments as well as the fair value of the pledged collateral. When valuing collateral, an estimate of the variation in price and liquidity over time is subtracted in the form of a “haircut” to discount the value of the collateral pledged.