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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Description of the Business Fiserv, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) provide payments and financial services technology solutions to clients worldwide. The Company provides account processing and digital banking solutions; card issuer processing and network services; payments; e-commerce; merchant acquiring and processing; and the Clover® cloud-based point-of-sale solution. The Company serves clients around the globe, including banks, credit unions, other financial institutions and merchants. On July 29, 2019, the Company acquired First Data Corporation (“First Data”) by acquiring 100% of the First Data stock that was issued and outstanding as of the date of acquisition for a total purchase price of $46.5 billion (see Note 4). First Data provides a wide-range of solutions to merchants, including retail point-of-sale merchant transaction processing and acquiring, e-commerce services, mobile payment services and the cloud-based Clover point-of-sale operating system, as well as technology solutions for bank and non-bank issuers. The consolidated financial statements include the financial results of First Data from the date of acquisition. Effective in the first quarter of 2020, the Company realigned its reportable segments to reflect its new management structure and organizational responsibilities (“Segment Realignment”) following the acquisition of First Data. The Company’s reportable segments are Merchant Acceptance (“Acceptance”), Financial Technology (“Fintech”) and Payments and Network (“Payments”). Segment results for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 have been restated to reflect the Segment Realignment. Additional information regarding the Company’s business segments is included in Note 21 to the consolidated financial statements. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Fiserv, Inc. and its subsidiaries in which the Company holds a controlling financial interest. Control is normally established when ownership and voting interests in an entity are greater than 50%. Investments in which the Company has significant influence but not control are accounted for using the equity method of accounting, for which the Company’s share of net income or loss is reported within income from investments in unconsolidated affiliates and the related tax expense or benefit is reported within the income tax provision in the consolidated statements of income. Significant influence over an affiliate’s operations generally coincides with an ownership interest in an entity of between 20% and 50%. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company maintains majority controlling interests in certain entities, mostly related to consolidated merchant alliances (see Note 20). Noncontrolling interests represent the minority shareholders’ share of the net income or loss and equity in consolidated subsidiaries. The Company’s noncontrolling interests presented in the consolidated statements of income include net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests. Noncontrolling interests are presented as a component of equity in the consolidated balance sheets and reflect the minority shareholders’ share of acquired fair value in the consolidated subsidiaries, along with their proportionate share of the earnings or losses of the subsidiaries, net of dividends or distributions. Noncontrolling interests that are redeemable upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the Company’s control are presented outside of equity and are carried at their estimated redemption value if it exceeds the initial carrying value of the redeemable interest (see Note 13). Stock Split On February 21, 2018, the Company’s board of directors declared a two-for-one stock split of the Company’s common stock and a proportionate increase in the number of its authorized shares of common stock. The additional shares were distributed on March 19, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 5, 2018. The Company’s common stock began trading at the split-adjusted price on March 20, 2018. The impact on the consolidated balance sheet of the stock split was an increase of $4 million to common stock and an offsetting reduction in additional paid-in capital. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Risks and Uncertainties In 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) was identified and has since continued to spread. In March 2020, the World Health Organization recognized the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the governments of many countries, states, cities and other geographic regions have taken actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as imposing travel restrictions and bans, quarantines, social distancing guidelines, shelter-in-place or lock-down orders and other similar limitations, adversely impacting global economic activity and contributing to significant volatility in financial markets. Global economic and market conditions impact levels of consumer and business spending, which have been negatively impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the Company’s operating performance, primarily within its merchant acquiring and payment-related businesses, which earn transaction-based fees, has been adversely affected, and may continue to be adversely affected, by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s future operational and financial performance will depend on, among other matters, the duration and intensity of the pandemic; the level of success of global vaccination efforts; governmental and private sector responses to the pandemic and the impact of such responses on the Company; and the impact of the pandemic on the Company’s employees, clients, vendors, operations and sales, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. These changing conditions may also affect the estimates and assumptions made by management. Such estimates and assumptions affect, among other things, the valuations of the Company’s long-lived assets, definite-lived intangible assets and equity method investments; the impairment assessment of goodwill; the Company’s deferred tax assets and related valuation allowances; the estimate of current expected credit losses; and certain pension plan assumptions. Changes in any assumptions used may result in an impairment or other charge that, if incurred, could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, total assets and total equity in the period recognized. Events and changes in circumstances arising subsequent to December 31, 2020, including those resulting from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be reflected in management’s estimates for future periods. Revenue Recognition The Company generates revenue from the delivery of processing, service and product solutions. Revenue is measured based on consideration specified in a contract with a customer, and excludes any amounts collected on behalf of third parties. The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control over a product or service to a customer which may be at a point in time or over time. Additional information regarding the Company’s revenue recognition policies is included in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and investments with original maturities of 90 days or less. Cash and cash equivalents are stated at cost in the consolidated balance sheets, which approximates market value. Cash and cash equivalents that were restricted from use due to regulatory or other requirements are included in other long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheets and totaled $13 million and $40 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company analyzes the collectability of trade accounts receivable by considering historical bad debts, client creditworthiness, current economic trends, changes in client payment terms and collection trends when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. Any change in the assumptions used in analyzing a specific account receivable may result in an additional allowance for doubtful accounts being recognized in the period in which the change occurs. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $48 million and $39 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Leases Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), and its related amendments using the optional transition method applied to all leases. Prior period amounts have not been restated. Additional information about the Company’s lease policies and the related impact of the adoption is included in Notes 2 and 11 to the consolidated financial statements. The Company maintains certain leasing receivables associated with its point-of-sale terminal leasing businesses. Leasing receivables are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and other long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Interest income on the Company’s leasing receivables is recognized using the effective interest method, and is included within product revenue in the consolidated statements of income. Initial direct costs are expensed as incurred if the fair value of the underlying asset is different from its carrying amount at the commencement date of the lease. Prepaid Expenses Prepaid expenses represent advance payments for goods and services to be consumed in the future, such as maintenance, postage and insurance and totaled $348 million at both December 31, 2020 and 2019. Settlement Assets and Obligations Settlement assets and obligations result from timing differences between collection and fulfillment of payment transactions primarily associated with the Company’s merchant acquiring services. Settlement assets represent cash received or amounts receivable from agents, payment networks, bank partners or directly from consumers. Settlement obligations represent amounts payable to merchants and payees. Certain merchant settlement assets that relate to settlement obligations are held by partner banks to which the Company does not have legal ownership but has the right to use the assets to satisfy the related settlement obligations. The Company records corresponding settlement obligations for amounts payable to merchants and for payment instruments not yet presented for settlement. Additional information regarding the Company’s settlement assets and obligations is included in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements. Reserve for Merchant Credit Losses With respect to the Company’s merchant acquiring business, the Company’s merchant customers have the legal obligation to refund any charges properly reversed by the cardholder. However, in the event the Company is not able to collect the refunded amounts from the merchants, the Company may be liable for the reversed charges. The Company’s risk in this area primarily relates to situations where the cardholder has purchased goods or services to be delivered in the future. The Company requires cash deposits, guarantees, letters of credit or other types of collateral from certain merchants to minimize this obligation. Collateral held by the Company is classified within settlement assets and the obligation to repay the collateral is classified within settlement obligations on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company also utilizes a number of systems and procedures to manage merchant risk. Despite these efforts, the Company experiences some level of losses due to merchant defaults. The aggregate merchant credit losses incurred by the Company was $113 million and $40 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, included within cost of processing and services in the consolidated statements of income. The amount of collateral held by the Company was $1.2 billion and $510 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company maintains a reserve for merchant credit losses that are expected to exceed the amount of collateral held. The reserve includes an estimated amount for anticipated chargebacks and fraud events that have been incurred on merchants’ payment transactions that have been processed but not yet reported to the Company (“IBNR Reserve”), as well as an allowance on refunded amounts to cardholders that have not yet been collected from the merchants. The IBNR Reserve, which is recorded within accounts payable and accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets, is based primarily on the Company’s historical experience of credit losses and other relevant factors such as economic downturns or increases in merchant fraud. The aggregate merchant credit loss reserve was $59 million and $34 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Property and Equipment Property and equipment is reported at cost. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed primarily using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the leasehold period, if applicable. Property and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:
(In millions) | Estimated Useful Lives |  | 2020 |  | 2019
Land | — |  | $ | 54 |  |  | $ | 61 |
Data processing equipment | 3 to 5 years |  | 1,666 |  |  | 1,483 |
Buildings and leasehold improvements | 5 to 40 years |  | 555 |  |  | 540 |
Furniture and equipment | 5 to 8 years |  | 636 |  |  | 576 |
|  |  | 2,911 |  |  | 2,660 |
Less: Accumulated depreciation |  |  | (1,283) |  |  | (1,054) |
Total |  |  | $ | 1,628 |  |  | $ | 1,606 |
Depreciation expense for all property and equipment totaled $523 million, $247 million and $92 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively (see Note 17 for a description of accelerated depreciation under certain finance lease agreements). Intangible Assets Customer related intangible assets represent customer contracts and relationships obtained as part of acquired businesses and are amortized using an accelerated amortization method which corresponds with the customer attrition rates used in the initial valuation of the intangibles over their estimated useful lives, generally ten to twenty years. Acquired software and technology represents software and technology intangible assets obtained as part of acquired businesses and is amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, generally four to ten years. Trade names are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, generally eight to twenty years. The Company continually develops, maintains and enhances its products and systems. Product development expenditures represented approximately 6% of the Company’s total revenue in 2020 and 8% in both 2019 and 2018. Research and development costs incurred prior to the establishment of technological feasibility are expensed as incurred. Routine maintenance of software products, design costs and other development costs incurred prior to the establishment of a product’s technological feasibility are also expensed as incurred. Costs are capitalized commencing when the technological feasibility of the software has been established. Purchased software represents software licenses purchased from third parties and is amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, generally three to five years. Additional information regarding the Company’s identifiable intangible assets is included in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements. Capitalized software development costs represent the capitalization of certain costs incurred to develop new software or to enhance existing software which is marketed externally or utilized by the Company to process client transactions. Capitalized software development costs are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, generally five years. The Company may, at its discretion, negotiate to pay an independent sales organization (“ISO”) an agreed-upon up-front amount in exchange for the ISO’s surrender of its right to receive commission payments from the Company related to future transactions of the ISO’s referred merchants (“residual buyout”). The amount that the Company pays for these residual buyouts is capitalized and subsequently amortized using the straight-line method over the expected life of the merchant portfolios, generally six years to nine years. Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if circumstances indicate possible impairment. Goodwill is tested for impairment at a reporting unit level, which is one level below our reportable segments. When assessing goodwill for impairment, the Company considers (i) the prior year’s amount of excess fair value over the carrying value of each reporting unit, (ii) the period of time since a reporting unit’s last quantitative test, (iii) the extent a reorganization or disposition changes the composition of one or more of the reporting units and (iv) other factors to determine whether or not to first perform a qualitative test. When performing a qualitative test, the Company assesses numerous factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting units are less than their respective carrying values. Examples of qualitative factors that the Company assesses include its share price, its financial performance, market and competitive factors in its industry and other events specific to its reporting units. If the Company concludes that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company performs a quantitative impairment test by comparing reporting unit carrying values to estimated fair values. In connection with the Segment Realignment described above, certain of the Company’s reporting units changed in composition as a result of which goodwill was allocated to such reporting units using a relative fair value approach. Accordingly, the Company performed an interim goodwill impairment assessment in the first quarter of 2020 for those reporting units impacted by the Segment Realignment and determined that its goodwill was not impaired based on an assessment of various qualitative factors, as described above. The Company’s most recent annual impairment assessment of its reporting units in the fourth quarter of 2020 determined that its goodwill was not impaired as the estimated fair values exceeded the carrying values. However, it is reasonably possible that future developments related to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on certain of the Company’s recently acquired (recorded at fair value) First Data businesses, such as an increased duration and intensity of the pandemic and/or government-imposed shutdowns, prolonged economic downturn or recession, or lack of governmental support for recovery, could have a future material impact on one or more of the estimates and assumptions used to evaluate goodwill impairment. There is no accumulated goodwill impairment for the Company through December 31, 2020. Additional information regarding the Company’s goodwill is included in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements. Asset Impairment The Company reviews property and equipment, lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, intangible assets and its investments in unconsolidated affiliates for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. The Company reviews capitalized software development costs for impairment at each reporting date. Recoverability of property and equipment, ROU assets, capitalized software development costs and other intangible assets is assessed by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to either the undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or the net realizable value of the asset, depending on the type of asset. The Company assesses lease ROU assets that are exited in advance of the non-cancellable lease terms by comparing the carrying values of the ROU assets to the discounted cash flows from estimated sublease payments. The Company’s investments in unconsolidated affiliates are assessed by comparing the carrying amount of the investments to their estimated fair values and are impaired if any decline in fair value is determined to be other than temporary. Measurement of any impairment loss is based on estimated fair value. Fair Value Measurements The Company applies fair value accounting for all assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in its consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis. Fair value represents the amount that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities, the Company uses the hierarchy prescribed in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurements, and considers the principal or most advantageous market and the market-based risk measurements or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The three levels in the hierarchy are as follows: •Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that are accessible as of the measurement date. •Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices within Level 1 that are observable either directly or indirectly, including but not limited to quoted prices in markets that are not active, quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and observable inputs other than quoted prices such as interest rates or yield curves. •Level 3 – Unobservable inputs reflecting management’s judgments about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Additional information regarding the Company’s fair value measurements is included in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements. Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses Accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of the following at December 31:
(In millions) |  | 2020 |  | 2019
Trade accounts payable |  | $ | 437 |  |  | $ | 392 |
Client deposits |  | 702 |  |  | 650 |
Accrued compensation and benefits |  | 419 |  |  | 378 |
Accrued taxes |  | 130 |  |  | 137 |
Accrued interest |  | 220 |  |  | 224 |
Other accrued expenses |  | 1,278 |  |  | 1,299 |
Total |  | $ | 3,186 |  |  | $ | 3,080 |
Foreign Currency The United States (“U.S.”) dollar is the functional currency of the Company’s U.S.-based businesses and certain foreign-based businesses. Where the functional currency differs from the U.S. dollar, assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates during the reporting period. Gains and losses from foreign currency translation are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in determining net income for the reporting period. The Company has designated its Euro- and British Pound- denominated senior notes as net investment hedges to hedge a portion of its net investment in certain subsidiaries whose functional currencies are the Euro and the British Pound (see Note 14). Accordingly, foreign currency transaction gains or losses on the qualifying net investment hedge instruments are recorded as foreign currency translation within other comprehensive (loss) income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income and will remain in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the consolidated balance sheet until the sale or complete liquidation of the underlying foreign subsidiaries. Derivatives Derivatives are entered into for periods consistent with related underlying exposures and are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets as either an asset or liability measured at fair value. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and recognized in the consolidated statements of income when the hedged item affects earnings. The Company’s policy is to enter into derivatives with creditworthy institutions and not to enter into such derivatives for speculative purposes. Employee Benefit Plans The Company maintains frozen defined benefit pension plans covering certain employees in Europe and the U.S. The Company recognizes actuarial gains/losses and prior service cost in the consolidated balance sheets and recognizes changes in these amounts during the year in which changes occur through other comprehensive (loss) income. The Company uses various assumptions when computing amounts relating to its defined benefit pension plan obligations and their associated expenses (including the discount rate and the expected rate of return on plan assets). Additional information regarding the Company’s employee benefit plans is included in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements. Cost of Processing, Services and Product Cost of processing and services consists of costs directly associated with providing services to clients and includes the following: personnel; equipment and data communication; infrastructure costs, including costs to maintain software applications; client support; certain depreciation and amortization; and other operating expenses. Cost of product consists of costs directly associated with the products sold and includes the following: costs of materials and software development; personnel; infrastructure costs; certain depreciation and amortization; and other costs directly associated with product revenue. Selling, General and Administrative Expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses primarily consist of: salaries, wages, commissions and related expenses paid to sales personnel, administrative employees and management; advertising and promotional costs; certain depreciation and amortization; and other selling and administrative expenses. Interest Expense, Net Interest expense, net consists of interest expense primarily associated with the Company’s outstanding borrowings and finance lease obligations, as well as interest income primarily associated with the Company’s investment securities. The Company recognized $716 million, $507 million and $193 million of interest expense and $7 million, $34 million and $4 million of interest income during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Income Taxes Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, and net operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is recorded against deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Liabilities are established for unrecognized tax benefits, attributable to differences between a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefit recognized in the financial statements. In establishing a liability for an unrecognized tax benefit, assumptions are made in determining whether, and the extent to which, a tax position will be sustained. A tax position is recognized only when it is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the relevant taxing authority, based on its technical merits. The amount of tax benefit recognized reflects the largest benefit the Company believes is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement. As additional information becomes available, the liability for unrecognized tax benefits is reevaluated and adjusted, as appropriate. Tax benefits ultimately realized can differ from amounts previously recognized due to uncertainties, with any such differences generally impacting the provision for income tax. Net Income Per Share Net income per share attributable to Fiserv, Inc. in each period is calculated using actual, unrounded amounts. Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Fiserv, Inc. by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Fiserv, Inc. by the weighted-average number of common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding during the period. Common stock equivalents consist of outstanding stock options, unvested restricted stock units and unvested restricted stock awards, and are computed using the treasury stock method. The Company excluded 1.3 million weighted-average shares in 2020 and 1.1 million in both 2019 and 2018 from the calculations of common stock equivalents for anti-dilutive stock options. The computation of shares used in calculating basic and diluted net income per share is as follows at December 31:
(In millions) |  | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Weighted-average common shares outstanding used for the calculation of net income attributable to Fiserv, Inc. per share – basic |  | 672.1 |  |  | 512.3 |  |  | 405.5 |
Common stock equivalents |  | 11.3 |  |  | 10.3 |  |  | 8.2 |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding used for the calculation of net income attributable to Fiserv, Inc. per share – diluted |  | 683.4 |  |  | 522.6 |  |  | 413.7 |
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
(In millions) |  |  |  |  |  |
Year Ended December 31, |  | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Interest paid |  | $ | 673 |  |  | $ | 291 |  |  | $ | 165 |
Income taxes paid |  | 156 |  |  | 197 |  |  | 259 |
Treasury stock purchases settled after the balance sheet date |  | — |  |  | 6 |  |  | 26 |
Distribution of nonmonetary assets (see Note 4) |  | 726 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Financed software arrangements |  | 308 |  |  | — |  |  | — |

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the basis of presentation and significant accounting policies concepts. Basis of presentation describes the underlying basis used to prepare the financial statements (for example, US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting, IFRS). Accounting policies describe all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369 + Details
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