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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

SouthState Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Winter Haven, Florida, and was incorporated under the laws of South Carolina in 1985. We provide a wide range of banking services and products to our customers through our Bank. The Bank operates SouthState Advisory, Inc., a wholly owned registered investment advisor. The Bank also operates Duncan-Williams, Inc. (“Duncan-Williams”), which it acquired on February 1, 2021. Duncan-Williams is a registered broker-dealer, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, that serves primarily institutional clients across the U.S. in the fixed income business. The Bank also owns CBI Holding Company, LLC (“CBI”), which in turn owns Corporate Billing, LLC (“Corporate Billing”), a transaction-based finance company headquartered in Decatur, Alabama that provides factoring, invoicing, collection and accounts receivable management services to transportation companies and automotive parts and service providers nationwide. The holding company owns SSB Insurance Corp., a captive insurance subsidiary pursuant to Section 831(b) of the U.S. Tax Code. R4ALL, Inc., the holding company’s subsidiary that managed a troubled loan purchased from the Bank, dissolved effective October 29, 2021. The Company also operates a correspondent banking division within the national bank subsidiary, of which the majority of its bond salesmen, traders and operational personnel are housed in facilities located in Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. The Bank provides general banking services within a six (6) state footprint in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia..

The accounting and reporting policies of the Company and its consolidated subsidiary conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (‘U.S. GAAP”). There are 13 unconsolidated subsidiaries of the Company that were established for the purpose of issuing in the aggregate approximately $118.6 million of trust preferred securities at December 31, 2021. During 2021, seven unconsolidated subsidiaries of the Company, approximately $39.9 million of trust preferred securities in the aggregate, were dissolved as the Company redeemed the trust preferred debt. See Note 11—Other Borrowings for further detailed descriptions of our trust preferred securities.

Unless otherwise mentioned or unless the context requires otherwise, references herein to "SouthState," the "Company" "we," "us," "our" or similar references mean SouthState Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. References to the “Bank” means SouthState Bank, National Association.

Basis of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and other entities in which it has a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Assets held by the Company in trust are not assets of the Company and are not included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Segments

The Company, through its Bank subsidiary, provides a broad range of financial services to individuals and companies in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Virginia. These services include demand, time and savings deposits; lending and credit card servicing; ATM processing; mortgage banking services; correspondent banking services and wealth management and trust services. While the Company’s decision makers monitor the revenue streams of the various financial products and services, operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated on an organization-wide basis. Accordingly, the Company’s banking and finance operations are not considered by management to constitute more than one reportable operating segment.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated balance sheet and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for credit losses for loans and investment securities held to maturity, fair value of financial instruments, fair values of assets

and liabilities acquired in business combinations, loss estimates related to loans and other real estate acquired, evaluating impairment of investment securities, goodwill impairment tests and valuation of deferred tax assets.

In connection with the determination of the allowance for credit losses, management has identified specific loans as well as adopted a policy of providing amounts for loan valuation purposes which are not identified with any specific loan but are derived from models based on macroeconomic factors and forecasts. Management believes that the allowance for credit losses is adequate. While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in economic forecasts. In addition, regulatory agencies, as an integral part of the examination process, periodically review the banking subsidiary’s allowance for credit losses. Such agencies may require additions to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

The Company’s Bank subsidiary grants agribusiness, commercial, and residential loans to customers throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Virginia and Georgia. Although the subsidiary has a diversified loan portfolio, a substantial portion of their borrowers’ abilities to honor their contracts is dependent upon economic conditions within South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia and the surrounding regions.

The Company considers concentrations of credit to exist when, pursuant to regulatory guidelines, the amounts loaned to a multiple number of borrowers engaged in similar business activities which would cause them to be similarly impacted by general economic conditions represents 25% of total Tier 1 capital plus regulatory adjusted allowance for credit losses of the Company, or $860.6 million at December 31, 2021. Based on this criteria, we had seven such credit concentrations at December 31, 2021, including loans on hotels and motels of $892.6 million, loans to lessors of nonresidential buildings (except mini-warehouses) of $4.7 billion, loans secured by owner occupied office buildings (including medical office buildings) of $1.8 billion, loans secured by owner occupied nonresidential buildings (excluding office buildings) of $1.7 billion, loans to lessors of residential buildings (investment properties and multi-family) of $1.3 billion, loans secured by 1st mortgage 1-4 family owner occupied residential property (including condos and home equity lines) of $4.1 billion and loans secured by jumbo (original loans greater than $548,250) 1st mortgage 1-4 family owner occupied residential property of $1.6 billion. The risk for these loans and for all loans is managed collectively through the use of credit underwriting practices developed and updated over time. The loss estimate for these loans is determined using our standard ACL methodology.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For the purpose of presentation in the consolidated statements of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash items in process of collection, amounts due from banks including restricted pledged cash, interest bearing deposits with banks, purchases of securities under agreements to resell, and federal funds sold. Due from bank balances are maintained at other financial institutions. Federal funds sold are generally purchased and sold for one-day periods, but may, from time to time, have longer terms.

The Company enters from time to time into purchases of securities under agreements to resell substantially identical securities. When the Company enters into such repurchase agreements, the securities purchased under agreements to resell generally consist of U.S. government-sponsored entities and agency mortgage-backed securities. The Company may elect to use other asset classes at its discretion. It is the Company’s practice to take possession of securities purchased under agreements to resell. The securities are delivered into the Company’s account maintained by a third-party custodian designated by the Company under a written custodial agreement that explicitly recognizes the Company’s interest in the securities. The Company monitors the market value of the underlying securities, including accrued interest, which collateralizes the related receivable on agreements to resell. Historically, these agreements were considered to be cash equivalents with maturities of three months or less. The Company held no securities under agreements to resell at December 31, 2021.

Trading Securities

Through its Correspondent Banking Department and its wholly owned broker dealer Duncan-Williams Inc., the Company purchases trading securities and subsequently sells them to their customers to take advantage of market

opportunities, when presented, for short-term revenue gains. Securities purchased for this portfolio are primarily municipals, treasuries and mortgage-backed agency securities and are held for short periods of time. This portfolio is carried at fair value and realized and unrealized gains and losses are included in trading securities revenue, a component of Correspondent Banking and Capital Market Income in our Consolidated Statements of Net Income.

Investment Securities

Debt securities that management has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as “held to maturity” and carried at amortized cost. Securities not classified as held to maturity, including equity securities with readily determinable fair values, are classified as “available for sale” and carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in Other Comprehensive Income.

Purchase premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using methods approximating the interest method over the terms of the securities. Gains and losses realized on sales of securities available for sale are determined using the specific identification method.

Management no longer evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment, otherwise referred to herein as Other Than Temporary Impairment (“OTTI”), as ASC Subtopic 326-30, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses—Available for sale Debt Securities, changes the accounting for recognizing impairment on available for sale debt securities. Each quarter Management evaluates impairment where there has been a decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis of a security to determine whether there is a credit loss associated with the decline in fair value. Management considers the nature of the collateral, potential future changes in collateral values, default rates, delinquency rates, third-party guarantees, credit ratings, interest rate changes since purchase, volatility of the security’s fair value and historical loss information for financial assets secured with similar collateral among other factors. Credit losses are calculated individually, rather than collectively, using a discounted cash flow method, whereby Management compares the present value of expected cash flows with the amortized cost basis of the security. The credit loss component would be recognized through the Provision for Credit Losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. (see Note 3—Investment Securities).

Other investments include stock acquired for regulatory purposes, investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and other nonmarketable investment securities. Stock acquired for regulatory purposes include Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (“FHLB”) stock and Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) stock. These securities do not have a readily determinable fair value because their ownership is restricted and they lack a market for trading. As a result, these securities are carried at cost and are periodically evaluated for impairment. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries represent a minority investment in SCBT Capital Trust I, SCBT Capital Trust II, SCBT Capital Trust III, TSB Statutory Trust I, SAVB Capital Trust I, SAVB Capital Trust II, Southeastern Bank Financial Statutory Trust I, Southeastern Bank Financial Statutory Trust II, Provident Community Bancshares Capital Trust I, FCRV Statutory Trust I, Community Capital Statutory Trust I, CSBC Statutory Trust I, and Provident Community Bancshares Capital Trust II. These investments are recorded at cost and the Company receives quarterly dividend payments on these investments. Other nonmarketable investment securities consist of Business Development Corporation stock and stock in Banker’s Banks. These investments also do not have a readily determinable fair value because their ownership is restricted and they lack a market for trading. As a result, these securities are carried at cost and are periodically evaluated for impairment.

Loans Held for Sale

The Company sells residential mortgages to government sponsored entities (“GSEs “) and mortgage and third-party investors, who may issue securities backed by pools of such loans. The Company retains no beneficial interests in these sales, but may retain the servicing rights for the loans sold. The Company is obligated to subsequently repurchase a loan if the purchaser discovers a representation or warranty violation such as noncompliance with eligibility or servicing requirements, or customer fraud, that should have been identified in a loan file review.  Mortgage loans held for sale are accounted for at fair value on an individual loan basis. Estimated fair value is determined on the basis of existing forward commitments, or the current market value of similar loans.  Changes in the fair value, and realized gains and losses on the sales of mortgage loans, are reported in Mortgage Banking Income, a component of Noninterest Income in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Loans

Loans that Management has originated and has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay off generally are reported at their unpaid principal balances, less unearned income and net of any deferred loan fees and costs. Unearned income on installment loans is recognized as income over the terms of the loans by methods that generally approximate the interest method. Interest on other loans is calculated by using the simple interest method on daily balances of the principal amount outstanding.

We place non acquired loans and acquired loans on nonaccrual once reasonable doubt exists about the collectability of all principal and interest due. Generally, this occurs when principal or interest is 90 days or more past due, unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection.

A loan is evaluated individually for loss when it is on nonaccrual and has a net book balance over $1 million. Large pools of homogeneous loans are collectively evaluated for loss and reserved at the pool level. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as nonaccrual, provided that Management expects to collect all amounts due, including interest accrued at the contractual interest rate for the period of delay.

Troubled Debt Restructurings (“TDRs”)

The Bank measures expected credit losses over the contractual term of a loan. When determining the contractual term, the Company considers expected prepayments but is precluded from considering expected extensions, renewals, or modifications, unless the Company reasonably expects it will execute a TDR with a borrower. In the event of a reasonably-expected TDR, the Company factors the reasonably-expected TDR into the current expected credit losses estimate. For consumer loans, the point at which a TDR is reasonably expected is when the Company approves the borrower’s application for a modification (i.e., the borrower qualifies for the TDR) or when the Credit Administration department approves loan concessions on substandard loans. For commercial loans, the point at which a TDR is reasonably expected is when the Company approves the loan for modification or when the Credit Administration department approves loan concessions on substandard loans. The Company uses a discounted cash flow methodology for a TDR to calculate the effect of the concession provided to the borrower within the allowance for credit losses.

A restructuring that results in only a delay in payments that is insignificant is not considered an economic concession. In accordance with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, the Company implemented loan modification programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to provide borrowers with flexibility with respect to repayment terms. The Company’s payment relief assistance includes forbearance, deferrals, extension and re-aging programs, along with certain other modification strategies. The Company elected the accounting policy in the CARES Act to not apply TDR accounting to loans modified for borrowers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic if the concession met the criteria as defined under the CARES Act.

Allowance for Credit Losses (“ACL”)

On January 1, 2020, we adopted the requirements of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, sometimes referred to herein as ASU 2016-13. Topic 326 was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2019-11, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses; ASU No. 2019-05, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses; and ASU No. 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments. This standard applies to all financial assets measured at amortized cost and off balance sheet credit exposures, including loans, investment securities and unfunded commitments. We applied the standard’s provisions using the modified retrospective method as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2020. With this transition method, we did not have to restate comparative prior periods presented in the financial statements related to Topic 326, but will present comparative prior periods disclosures using the previous accounting guidance for the allowance for loan losses. This adoption method is considered a change in accounting principle requiring additional disclosure of the nature of and reason for the change, which is solely a result of the adoption of the required standard.

ACL – Investment Securities

Management uses a systematic methodology to determine its ACL for investment securities held to maturity. The ACL is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the held to maturity portfolio. Management considers the effects of past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts on the collectability of the portfolio. The Company’s estimate of its ACL involves a high degree of judgment; therefore, Management’s process for determining expected credit losses may result in a range of expected credit losses. Management monitors the held to maturity portfolio to determine whether a valuation account will need to be recorded. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $1.8 billion of held to maturity securities and no related valuation account. As of December 31, 2021, the held to maturity portfolio consisted of U.S. Government Agency, U.S. Government Agency Residential and Commercial Mortgage-backed securities, and Small Business Administration loan-backed securities. Management does not believe that a fair value below amortized cost is due to credit related factors.

Management no longer evaluates available for sale securities for other-than-temporary impairment, otherwise referred to herein as OTTI, as ASC Subtopic 326-30, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses—Available for sale Debt Securities, changes the accounting for recognizing impairment on available for sale debt securities. Each quarter Management evaluates impairment where there has been a decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis of an available for sale security to determine whether there is a credit loss associated with the decline in fair value. Management considers the nature of the collateral, potential future changes in collateral values, default rates, delinquency rates, third-party guarantees, credit ratings, interest rate changes since purchase, volatility of the security’s fair value and historical loss information for financial assets secured with similar collateral among other factors. Credit losses are calculated individually, rather than collectively, using a discounted cash flow method, whereby Management compares the present value of expected cash flows with the amortized cost basis of the security. The credit loss component would be recognized through the provision for credit losses in the Statements of Income. Management excludes the accrued interest receivable balance from the amortized cost basis in measuring expected credit losses on the investment securities and does not record an allowance for credit losses on accrued interest receivable. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the accrued interest receivables for investment securities recorded in Other Assets were $19.2 million and $13.1 million, respectively.

ACL – Loans

The ACL for loans held for investment reflects Management’s estimate of losses that will result from the inability of our borrowers to make required loan payments. The Company established the incremental increase in the ACL at adoption through equity and subsequent adjustments through a provision for or recovery of credit losses recorded to earnings. The Company records loans charged off against the ACL and subsequent recoveries, if any, increase the ACL when they are recognized.

Management uses systematic methodologies to determine its ACL for loans held for investment and certain off-balance-sheet credit exposures. The ACL is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loan portfolio. Management considers the effects of past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts on the collectability of the loan portfolio. The Company’s estimate of its ACL involves a high degree of judgment; therefore, Management’s process for determining expected credit losses may result in a range of expected credit losses. The Company’s ACL recorded in the balance sheet reflects Management’s best estimate within the range of expected credit losses. The Company recognizes in net income the amount needed to adjust the ACL for Management’s current estimate of expected credit losses. The Company’s ACL is calculated using collectively evaluated and individually evaluated loans.

The allowance for credit losses is measured on a collective pool basis when similar risk characteristics exist. Loans with similar risk characteristics are grouped into homogenous segments, or pools, for analysis. The Discounted Cash Flow (“DCF”) method is utilized for each loan in a pool, and the results are aggregated at the pool level. A periodic tendency to default and absolute loss given default are applied to a projective model of the loan’s cash flow while considering prepayment and principal curtailment effects. The analysis produces expected cash flows for each instrument in the pool by pairing loan-level term information (e.g., maturity date, payment amount, interest rate, etc.) with top-down pool assumptions (e.g., default rates and prepayment speeds). The Company has identified the following portfolio segments: Owner-Occupied Commercial Real Estate, Non Owner-Occupied Commercial Real Estate, Multifamily, Municipal, Commercial and Industrial, Commercial Construction and Land Development, Residential

Construction, Residential Senior Mortgage, Residential Junior Mortgage, Revolving Mortgage, and Consumer and Other.

In determining the proper level of the ACL, Management has determined that the loss experience of the Bank provides the best basis for its assessment of expected credit losses. It therefore utilized its own historical credit loss experience by each loan segment over an economic cycle, while excluding loss experience from certain acquired institutions (i.e., failed banks). For most of the segment models for collectively evaluated loans, the Company incorporated two or more macroeconomic drivers using a statistical regression modeling methodology.

Management considers forward-looking information in estimating expected credit losses. The Company subscribes to a third-party service which provides a quarterly macroeconomic baseline outlook and alternative scenarios for the United States economy. The baseline, along with the evaluation of alternative scenarios, is used by Management to determine the best estimate within the range of expected credit losses. Management has evaluated the appropriateness of the reasonable and supportable forecast scenarios and has made adjustments as needed. For the contractual term that extends beyond the reasonable and supportable forecast period, the Company reverts to the long term mean of historical factors within four quarters using a straight-line approach. The Company generally utilizes a four-quarter forecast and a four-quarter reversion period.

Included in its systematic methodology to determine its ACL, Management considers the need to qualitatively adjust expected credit losses for information not already captured in the loss estimation process. These qualitative adjustments either increase or decrease the quantitative model estimation (i.e., formulaic model results). Each period the Company considers qualitative factors that are relevant within the qualitative framework that includes the following: 1) Lending Policy; 2) Economic conditions not captured in models; 3) Volume and Mix of Loan Portfolio; 4) Past Due Trends; 5) Concentration Risk; 6) External Factors; and 7) Model Limitations.

When a loan no longer shares similar risk characteristics with its segment, the asset is assessed to determine whether it should be included in another pool or should be individually evaluated. The Company’s threshold for individually-evaluated loans includes all non-accrual loans with a net book balance in excess of $1.0 million. Management will monitor the credit environment and make adjustments to this threshold in the future if warranted. Based on the threshold above, consumer financial assets will generally remain in pools unless they meet the dollar threshold. The expected credit losses on individually-evaluated loans will be estimated based on discounted cash flow analysis unless the loan meets the criteria for use of the fair value of collateral, either by virtue of an expected foreclosure or through meeting the definition of collateral-dependent. Financial assets that have been individually evaluated can be returned to a pool for purposes of estimating the expected credit loss insofar as their credit profile improves and that the repayment terms were not considered to be unique to the asset.

Management measures expected credit losses over the contractual term of a loan. When determining the contractual term, the Company considers expected prepayments but is precluded from considering expected extensions, renewals, or modifications, unless the Company reasonably expects it will execute a TDR with a borrower. In the event of a reasonably-expected TDR, the Company factors the reasonably-expected TDR into the current expected credit losses estimate. For consumer loans, the point at which a TDR is reasonably expected is when the Company approves the borrower’s application for a modification (i.e., the borrower qualifies for the TDR) or when the Credit Administration department approves loan concessions on substandard loans. For commercial loans, the point at which a TDR is reasonably expected is when the Company approves the loan for modification or when the Credit Administration department approves loan concessions on substandard loans. The Company uses a discounted cash flow methodology for a TDR to calculate the effect of the concession provided to the borrower within the ACL.

A restructuring that results in only a delay in payments that is insignificant is not considered an economic concession. In accordance with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, the Company implemented loan modification programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to provide borrowers with flexibility with respect to repayment terms. The Company’s payment relief assistance includes forbearance, deferrals, extension and re-aging programs, along with certain other modification strategies. The Company elected the accounting policy in the CARES Act to not apply TDR accounting to loans modified for borrowers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic if the concession met the criteria as defined under the CARES Act.

For purchased credit-deteriorated, otherwise referred to herein as PCD, assets are defined as acquired individual financial assets (or acquired groups of financial assets with similar risk characteristics) that, as of the date of acquisition,

have experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination, as determined by the Company’s assessment. The Company records acquired PCD loans by adding the expected credit losses (i.e., allowance for credit losses) to the purchase price of the financial assets rather than recording through the provision for credit losses in the income statement. The expected credit loss, as of the acquisition day, of a PCD loan is added to the allowance for credit losses. The non-credit discount or premium is the difference between the unpaid principal balance and the amortized cost basis as of the acquisition date. Subsequent to the acquisition date, the change in the ACL on PCD loans is recognized through the Provision for Credit Losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The non-credit discount or premium is accreted or amortized, respectively, into interest income over the remaining life of the PCD loan on a level-yield basis. In accordance with the transition requirements within the standard, the Company’s acquired credit-impaired loans (i.e., ACI or Purchased Credit Impaired) were treated as PCD loans.

The Company follows its nonaccrual policy by reversing contractual interest income in the income statement when the Company places a loan on nonaccrual status. Therefore, Management excludes the accrued interest receivable balance from the amortized cost basis in measuring expected credit losses on the portfolio and does not record an allowance for credit losses on accrued interest receivable. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the accrued interest receivables for loans recorded in Other Assets were $70.6 million and $93.9 million, respectively.

The Company has a variety of assets that have a component that qualifies as an off-balance sheet exposure. These primarily include undrawn portions of revolving lines of credit and standby letters of credit. The expected losses associated with these exposures within the unfunded portion of the expected credit loss will be recorded as a liability on the balance sheet. Management has determined that a majority of the Company’s off-balance-sheet credit exposures are not unconditionally cancellable. Management completes funding studies based on historical data to estimate the percentage of unfunded loan commitments that will ultimately be funded to calculate the reserve for unfunded commitments. Management applies this funding rate, along with the loss factor rate determined for each pooled loan segment, to unfunded loan commitments, excluding unconditionally cancellable exposures and letters of credit, to arrive at the reserve for unfunded loan commitments. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the liability recorded for expected credit losses on unfunded commitments was $30.5 million and $43.4 million, respectively. The current adjustment to the ACL for unfunded commitments is recognized through the Provision for Credit Losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Other Real Estate Owned and Bank Property Held For Sale

Other real estate owned (“OREO”) consists of properties obtained through foreclosure or through a deed in lieu of foreclosure in satisfaction of loans. Prior to the merger with CSFL, the Company classified former branch sites as held for sale OREO. During the second quarter of 2020 and with the merger with CSFL, the Company elected to reclassify these assets as bank property held for sale and report on a separate line on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Both OREO and bank property held for sale are recorded at the lower of cost or fair value and the fair value was determined on the basis of current valuations obtained principally from independent sources, adjusted for estimated selling costs. At the time of foreclosure or initial possession of collateral, for OREO, any excess of the loan balance over the fair value of the real estate held as collateral is treated as a charge against the ACL. At the time a bank property is no longer in service and is moved to held for sale, any excess of the current book value over fair value is recorded as an expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Subsequent adjustments to this value are described in the following paragraph.

The Company reports subsequent declines in the fair value of OREO and bank properties held for sale below the new cost basis through valuation adjustments. Significant judgments and complex estimates are required in estimating the fair value of these properties, and the period of time within which such estimates can be considered current is significantly shortened during periods of market volatility. In response to market conditions and other economic factors, Management may utilize liquidation sales as part of its problem asset disposition strategy. As a result of the significant judgments required in estimating fair value and the variables involved in different methods of disposition, the net proceeds realized from sales transactions could differ significantly from the current valuations used to determine the fair value of these properties. Management reviews the value of these properties periodically and adjusts the values as appropriate. Revenue and expenses from OREO operations as well as gains or losses on sales and any subsequent adjustments to the value are recorded as OREO Expense and Loan Related Expense, a component of Noninterest Expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Expenses related to bank property held for sale, as well as gains or losses on sales and any subsequent adjustments to the value, are recorded Other Expenses, a component of Noninterest Expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Business Combinations and Method of Accounting for Loans Acquired

The Company accounts for its acquisitions under FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, which requires the use of the acquisition method of accounting. All identifiable assets acquired, including loans, are recorded at fair value. We adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, on January 1, 2020 which now requires us to record purchased financial assets with credit deterioration (PCD assets), defined as a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination or issuance, at the purchase price plus the allowance for credit losses expected at the time of acquisition. Under this method, there is no credit loss expense affecting net income on acquisition of PCD assets. Changes in estimates of expected credit losses after acquisition are recognized as provision for credit losses (or recovery for credit losses) in subsequent periods as they arise. Any non-credit discount or premium resulting from acquiring a pool of purchased financial assets with credit deterioration shall be allocated to each individual asset. At the acquisition date, the initial allowance for credit losses determined on a collective basis shall be allocated to individual assets to appropriately allocate any non-credit discount or premium. The non-credit discount or premium, after the adjustment for the allowance for credit losses, shall be accreted to interest income using the interest method based on the effective interest rate determined after the adjustment for credit losses at the adoption date.

A purchased financial asset that does not qualify as a PCD asset is accounted for similar to an originated financial asset. Generally, this means that an entity recognizes the allowance for credit losses for non-PCD assets through net income at the time of acquisition. In addition, both the credit discount and non-credit discount or premium resulting from acquiring a pool of purchased financial assets that do not qualify as PCD assets shall be allocated to each individual asset. This combined discount or premium shall be accreted to interest income using the effective yield method.

For further discussion of our loan accounting and acquisitions, see Note 2—Mergers and Acquisitions, Note 4—Loans and Note 5—Allowance for Credit Losses to the audited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Premises and Equipment

Land is carried at cost. Office equipment, furnishings, and buildings are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation computed principally on the declining-balance and straight-line methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the improvements or the terms of the related leases including lease renewals only when the Company is reasonably assured of the aggregate term of the lease. Additions to premises and equipment and major replacements are added to the accounts at cost. Maintenance and repairs and minor replacements are charged to expense when incurred. Gains and losses on routine dispositions are reflected in current operations.

Leases (Topic 842) and Method of Adoption

On January 1, 2019, we adopted the requirements of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; ASU No. 2018-11, Targeted Improvements; and ASU No. 2019-01, Codification Improvements to Topic 842 Leases. The purpose of the update was to increase transparency and comparability between organizations that enter into lease agreements. The key difference between the previous guidance and the update is the recognition of a right-of-use asset (ROU) and lease liability on the statement of financial position for those leases previously classified as operating leases under the old guidance. ASC Topic 842 defines a lease as a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to control the use of identified property, plant, or equipment (an identified asset) for a period of time in exchange for consideration. In applying this standard, we reviewed our material contracts to determine if they included a lease by this new definition and did not identify any new leases. Our lease agreements in which ASC Topic 842 has been applied are primarily for real estate properties, including retail branch locations, operations and administration locations and stand-alone ATM locations. These leases have lease terms from greater than 12 months to leases with options of more than 24 years. Related to lease payment terms, some are fixed payments or based on a fixed annual increases while others are variable and the annual increases are based on market rates. The Company performed an analysis on equipment leases for the implementation of ASC Topic 842 and determined the number and dollar amount of our equipment leases was not material.

A modified retrospective transition approach is required, applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. An entity may choose to use either (1) its effective date or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements as its date of initial application. We chose the transition method of adoption provided by ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842) – Targeted Improvements, where we initially apply the new lease standard at the effective date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption if applicable. Therefore, we applied this standard to all existing leases as of the adoption date of January 1, 2019, recording a ROU asset and a lease liability in an equal amount. We did not have a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. With this transition method, we did not have to restate comparative prior periods presented in the financial statements related to ASC Topic 842, but will present comparative prior periods disclosures using the previous accounting guidance for leases. This adoption method is considered a change in accounting principle requiring additional disclosure of the nature of and reason for the change, which is solely a result of the adoption of the required standard.

ASC Topic 842 provides a package of practical expedients in applying the lease standard that had to be chosen at the date of adoption. We chose to elect this package of practical expedients. With this election, we do not have to reassess whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain a lease, do not have to reassess the classification of any expired or existing leases, do not have to separate lease and non-lease components and can account for both as a single lease component, and do not have to reassess initial direct costs or cash incentives for any existing leases due to immateriality. In addition, we chose not to apply ASC Topic 842 to short-term leases (leases with terms of 12 months or less) and not to record an underlying ROU asset or lease liability based on the uncertainty around the renewal of these leases. The Company will recognize lease expense for such leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. We determined that we do not have any leases classified as finance leases and that all of our leases are operating leases at adoption. Two finance leases were acquired through the merger with CSFL, though these leases are immaterial. ROU assets and liabilities for operating leases are recognized at commencement date based on present value of lease payments not yet paid, discounted using the discount rate for the lease at the lease commencement date over the lease term. For operating leases, lease expense is determined by the sum of the lease payments to be recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Based on the transition method that we chose to follow, the commencement date of the lease term for all existing leases is January 1, 2019. The lease term used for the calculation of the initial ROU asset and lease liability will include the initial lease term in addition to any renewal options or termination costs in the lease that we think are reasonably certain to be exercised or incurred. We received input from several levels of Management and our Corporate Real Estate Department in determining which options were reasonably certain to be exercised. A discount rate is also needed in the calculation of the initial ROU assets and lease liability. ASC Topic 842 requires that the implicit rate within the lease agreement be used if available. If not available, we should use its incremental borrowing rate in effect at the time of the lease commencement date. We looked at the incremental borrowing rate from several of our borrowing sources to determine an average rate to be used in the calculation of the initial ROU asset and lease liability. The Company also considered the term of the borrowings as they relate to the terms of the leases.

The adoption of the new standard had a material impact on our consolidated balance sheet, with the recording of ROU asset and lease liability of $82.2 million at the commencement date of January 1, 2019. We did not have a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings at commencement. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had ROU assets of $110.3 million and $113.4 million, respectively, recorded within premises and equipment on the balance sheet and a lease liability of $115.9 million and $118.3 million, respectively, recorded within other liabilities on the balance sheet. The adoption of ASC Topic 842 did not have a material impact on our consolidated income statement.

Bank Owned Life Insurance

Bank owned life insurance (BOLI) are comprised of long-term life insurance contracts on the lives of certain current and past employees where the insurance policy benefits and ownership are retained by the employer. Its cash surrender value is an asset that the Company uses to partially offset the future cost of employee benefits. The cash value accumulation on BOLI is permanently tax deferred if the policy is held to the insured person’s death and certain other conditions are met.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of goodwill, core deposit intangibles and client list intangibles that result from the acquisition of other banks or branches from other financial institutions. Core deposit intangibles represent the value of long-term deposit relationships acquired in these transactions. Client list intangibles represent the value of long-term client relationships for the wealth and trust management business. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the sum of the estimated fair values of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired less the estimated fair value of the liabilities assumed in a business combination. At December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the balance of goodwill was $1.6 billion. Goodwill has an indefinite useful life and is evaluated for impairment annually or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the asset’s fair value.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, which simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment for all entities by requiring impairment charges to be based on Step 1 of the previous accounting guidance’s two-step impairment test under ASC Topic 350. Under the new guidance, if a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, an entity will record an impairment charge based on that difference. The impairment charge will be limited to the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The new standard eliminates the requirement to calculate a goodwill impairment charge using Step 2 which involved calculating an implied fair value of goodwill for each reporting unit for which the first step indicated impairment. The standard does not change the guidance on completing Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test. An entity will still be able to perform today’s optional qualitative goodwill impairment assessment before determining whether to proceed to the quantitative step of determining whether the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds it fair value. This guidance was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2020.

The Company evaluated the carrying value of goodwill as of October 31, 2021, our annual test date, considering the effects of COVID-19 and other market condition and determined that no impairment charge was necessary.

Core deposit intangibles and client list intangibles consist primarily of amortizing assets established during the acquisition of other banks. This includes whole bank acquisitions and the acquisition of certain assets and liabilities from other financial institutions. Core deposit intangibles, included in Core Deposit and Other Intangibles in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the deposit accounts acquired (generally 10 to 13 years) on either (1) the straight-line method or (2) an accelerated basis method which reasonably approximates the anticipated benefit stream from the accounts. The estimated useful lives are periodically reviewed for reasonableness. Client list intangibles, included in Core Deposit and Other Intangibles in the consolidated Balance Sheets, are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the client lists acquired (generally 15 years) on the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives are periodically reviewed for reasonableness.

Mortgage Servicing Rights

The Company has a mortgage loan servicing portfolio with related mortgage servicing rights. Mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”) represent the present value of the future net servicing fees from servicing mortgage loans. Servicing assets and servicing liabilities must be initially measured at fair value, if practicable. For subsequent measurements, an entity can choose to measure servicing assets and liabilities either based on fair value or lower of cost or market. The Company uses the fair value measurement option for MSRs.

The methodology used to determine the fair value of MSRs is subjective and requires the development of a number of assumptions, including anticipated prepayments of loan principal. Fair value is determined by estimating the present value of the asset’s future cash flows utilizing estimated market-based prepayment rates and discount rates, interest rates and other economic factors and assumptions validated through comparison to trade information, industry surveys and with the use of independent third-party appraisals. Risks inherent in the MSRs valuation include higher than expected prepayment rates and/or delayed receipt of cash flows. The value of MSRs is significantly affected by mortgage interest rates available in the marketplace, which influence mortgage loan prepayment speeds. In general, during periods of declining interest rates, the value of mortgage servicing rights declines due to increasing prepayments attributable to increased mortgage refinance activity. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of servicing rights generally increases due to reduced refinance activity. MSRs are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recorded as a component of Mortgage Banking Income each period in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company also uses derivative instruments to mitigate the income statement effect of changes in fair value due to

changes in valuation inputs and assumptions of its MSRs.

Transfer of Financial Assets

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over the transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when: (1) the assets have been isolated from the Company, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity. The Company reviews all sales of loans by evaluating specific terms in the sales documents and believes that the criteria discussed above to qualify for sales treatment have been met as loans have been transferred for cash and the notes and mortgages for all loans in each sale are endorsed and assigned to the transferee. As stated in the commitment document, the buyer has no recourse with these loans except in the case of fraud. In certain sales, mortgage servicing rights may be retained and in other programs potential loss exposure from the credit enhancement obligation may be retained, both of which are evaluated and appropriately measured at the date of sale.

The Company packages fixed rate conforming mortgage loans as securities to investors issued through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and sold to third-party investors or sells them to satisfy cash forward mandatory commitments to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Company records loan securitizations or cash forwards as a sale when the transferred loans are legally isolated from its creditors and the accounting criteria for a sale are met. Gains or losses recorded on loan securitizations and cash forwards depend in part on the net carrying amount of the loans sold, which is allocated between the loans sold and retained interests based on their relative fair values at the date of sale. The Company generally retains mortgage servicing rights on residential mortgage loans sold in the secondary market. Loans transferred to “held-for-sale” with the intention of disposal through a bulk loan sale will be sold with servicing released. Since quoted market prices are not typically available, the fair value of retained interests is estimated through the services of a third-party service provider to determine the net present value of expected future cash flows. Such models incorporate management’s best estimates of key variables, such as prepayment speeds and discount rates that would be used by market participants and are appropriate for the risks involved. Gains and losses incurred on loans sold to third-party investors are included in Mortgage Banking Income in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Method of Adoption

On January 1, 2018, we adopted the requirements of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU Topic 606”). The majority of our revenue is derived primarily from interest income from receivables (loans) and securities. Other revenues are derived from fees received in connection with deposit accounts, mortgage banking activities including gains from the sale of loans and loan origination fees, correspondent banking activities including revenue from the sale of fixed income securities and fees from hedging services, and trust and investment advisory services. The core principle of the new standard is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.

The Company adopted ASU Topic 606 using the retrospective transition approach which requires restatement of prior periods. The Company selected this method even though there were no material changes in the timing of revenue recognition due to the fact that ASU Topic 606 requires us to report network costs associated with debit card and ATM transactions netted against the related fees from such transactions. Previously, such network costs were reported as a component of other noninterest expense. The Company restated prior periods for this reclassification. For years 2021, 2020 and 2019, gross interchange and debit card transaction fees totaled $38.3 million, $30.2 million and $24.5 million, respectively while related network costs totaled $20.3 million, $16.5 million and $11.9 million, respectively. On a net basis, the Company reported $18.0 million, $13.7 million and $12.6 million, respectively, as interchange and debit card transactions fees in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income as noninterest income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019. This adoption method is considered a change in accounting principle requiring additional disclosure of the nature of and reason for the change, which is solely a result of the adoption of the required standard. When applying the retrospective approach under ASU Topic 606, the Company has elected, as a practical expedient, to apply the revenue standard only to contracts that are not completed as of January 1, 2018. A completed contract is considered to be a contract for which all (or substantially all) of the revenue was recognized in accordance with revenue guidance that was in effect before January 1, 2018. There were no uncompleted contracts as of January 1, 2018 for which application of the new standard required an adjustment to retained earnings.

The following disclosures related to ASU Topic 606 involve income derived from contracts with customers. Within the scope of ASU Topic 606, the Company maintains contracts to provide services, primarily for investment advisory and/or custody of assets. Through the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, the Bank, and SouthState Advisory, Inc., the Company contracts with its customers to perform IRA, Trust, and/or Custody and Agency advisory services. Total revenue recognized from these contracts with customers was $37.0 million, $29.4 million and $29.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. The Bank contracts with its customers to perform deposit account services. Total revenue recognized from these contracts with customers is $107.3 million, $85.7 million and $76.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. Due to the nature of our relationship with the customers that we provide services, we do not incur costs to obtain contracts and there are no material incremental costs to fulfill these contracts that should be capitalized.

Disaggregation of Revenue - The portfolio of services provided to the Company’s customers which generates revenue for which the revenue recognition standard applies consists of approximately 1.1 million active contracts at December 31, 2021. The Company has disaggregated revenue according to the timing of the transfer of service. Total revenue derived from contracts in which services are transferred at a point in time was $180.8 million, $182.8 million and $104.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. Total revenue derived from contracts in which services are transferred over time was $19.9 million, $17.9 million and $19.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. Revenue is recognized as the services are provided to the customers. Economic factors impacting the customers could affect the nature, amount, and timing of these cash flows, as unfavorable economic conditions could impair the customers’ ability to provide payment for services. This risk is mitigated as we generally deduct payments from customers’ accounts as services are rendered.

Contract Balances - The timing of revenue recognition, billings, and cash collections results in billed accounts receivable on our balance sheet. Most contracts call for payment by a charge or deduction to the respective customer account but there are some that require a receipt of payment from the customer. For fee per transaction contracts, the customers are billed as the transactions are processed. For hourly rate and monthly service contracts related to trust and some investment revenues, the customers are billed monthly (generally as a percentage basis point of the market value of the investment account). In some cases, specific to SouthState Advisory, Inc., customers are billed in advance for quarterly services to be performed based on the past quarter’s average account balance. These do create contract liabilities or deferred revenue, as the customers pay in advance for service. Neither the contract liabilities nor the accounts receivables balances are material to the Company’s balance sheet.

Performance Obligations - A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer, and is the unit of account in ASU Topic 606. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. The performance obligations for these contracts are satisfied as the service is provided to the customer (either over time or at a point in time). The payment terms of the contracts are typically based on a basis point percentage of the investment account market value, fee per hour of service, or fee for service incurred. There are no significant financing components in the contracts. Excluding deposit services revenues which are mostly billed at a point in time as a fee for services incurred, all other contracts within the scope of ASU Topic 606 contain variable consideration in that fees earned are derived from market values of accounts or from hours worked for services performed which determines the amount of consideration to which we are entitled. The variability is resolved when the hours are incurred or services are provided. The contracts do not include obligations for returns, refunds, or warranties. The contracts are specific to the amounts owed to the Company for services performed during a period should the contracts be terminated.

Significant Judgments - All of the contracts create performance obligations that are satisfied at a point in time excluding the contracts billed in advance through SouthState Advisory, Inc. and some immaterial deposit revenues. Revenue is recognized as services are billed to the customers. Variable consideration does exist for contracts related to our trust and investment services as revenues are based on market values and services performed. The Company has adopted the right-to-invoice practical expedient for trust management contracts through SouthState Bank which we contract with our customers to perform IRA, Trust, and/or Custody services.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as they are incurred and advertising communication costs the first time the advertising takes place. The Company may establish accruals for anticipated advertising expenses within the

course of a fiscal year.

Comprehensive Income

Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses be included in net income. Certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as (1) unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities (2) unrealized gains and losses on effective portions of derivative financial instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges and (3) net change in unrecognized amounts related to pension and post-retirement benefits, are reported as a separate component of the equity section of the balance sheet. Such items, along with net income, are components of total comprehensive income (see Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income on page F-8).

Employee Benefit Plans

The Company’s defined benefit pension and other post retirement plans are accounted for in accordance with FASB ASC 715, Compensation—Retirement Benefits, which requires the Company to recognize the funded status in its statement of financial position. See Note 17Retirement Plans for information regarding the defined benefit pension plan and Note 18Post-Retirement Benefits for information regarding our post-retirement benefit plans. The Company terminated its defined benefit pension plan in 2019. The expected costs of the post retirement benefit plans are being expensed over the period that employees provide service.

The Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) allows for a look-back option which establishes the purchase price as an amount based on the lesser of the stock’s market price at the grant date or its market price at the exercise (or purchase) date. For the shares issued in exchange for employee services under the plan, the Company accounts for the plan under the FASB ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, in which the fair value measurement method is used to estimate the fair value of the equity instruments, based on the share price and other measurement assumptions at the grant date. See Note 19Share-Based Compensation for the amount the Company recognized as expense for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are provided for the tax effects of the transactions reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and consist of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes related primarily to differences between the tax basis and financial statement basis of gains on acquisitions, loans, available for sale securities, allowance for credit losses, write downs of OREO properties, bank properties held for sale, accumulated depreciation, net operating loss carryforwards, accretion income, deferred compensation, intangible assets, mortgage servicing rights, and pension plan and post-retirement benefits. The deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax return consequences of those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are reflected at income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the Provision for Income Taxes in the Consolidated Statements of Income.  

The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued relative to unrecognized tax benefits in its respective federal or state income tax accounts.  As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no material accruals for uncertain tax positions. The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. Additionally, income tax returns are filed by the Company or its subsidiaries in the state of Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, New York, Virginia, and in the city of New York City. Generally, the Company’s federal and state income tax returns are no longer subject to examination by taxing authorities for years prior to 2018.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) represents income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share reflects additional shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential shares had been issued. Potential shares that may be issued by the Company relate solely to outstanding stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units (non-vested shares and vested shares subject to a holding period), and warrants, and are determined using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the number of incremental shares is determined by assuming the issuance of stock for the

outstanding stock options, reduced by the number of shares assumed to be repurchased from the issuance proceeds, using the average market price for the year of the Company’s stock. Weighted-average shares for the basic and diluted EPS calculations have been reduced by the average number of unvested restricted shares.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company’s interest rate risk management strategy incorporates the use of a derivative financial instrument, specifically an interest rate swap, to essentially convert a portion of its variable-rate debt to a fixed rate. Cash flows related to variable-rate debt will fluctuate with changes in an underlying rate index. When effectively hedged, the increases or decreases in cash flows related to the variable-rate debt will generally be offset by changes in cash flows of the derivative instrument designated as a hedge. This strategy is referred to as a cash flow hedge. For derivatives designated as hedging exposure to variable cash flows of a forecasted transaction (cash flow hedge), the derivative’s entire gain or loss is initially reported as a component of other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified into earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings or when the hedge is terminated. For derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recognized in earnings immediately.

The Company also maintains loan swaps which are accounted for as a fair value hedge. This derivative protects the Company from interest rate risk caused by changes in the LIBOR curve in relation to a certain designated fixed rate loan. Fair value hedges convert the fixed rate to a floating rate (see Note 28—Derivative Financial Instruments). For discussion related to Reference Rate Reform, please refer to the caption “Issued But Not Yet Adopted Accounting Standards” within this Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

The Company’s risk management strategy for its mortgage banking activities incorporates derivative instruments used to hedge both the value of the mortgage servicing rights and the mortgage pipeline. These derivative instruments are not designated as hedges and are not speculative in nature. The derivative instruments that are used to hedge the value of the mortgage servicing rights include financial forwards, futures contracts, and options written and purchased. When-issued securities and mandatory cash forward trades are typically used to hedge the mortgage pipeline. These instruments derive their cash flows, and therefore their values, by reference to an underlying instrument, index or referenced interest rate.

The Company’s risk management strategy also incorporates the use of interest rate swap contracts that help in managing interest rate risk within the loan portfolio and foreign currency exchange. These derivatives are not designated as hedges and are not speculative, and result from a service the Company provides to certain customers. The Company executes interest rate swaps with commercial banking customers to facilitate their respective risk management strategies. Those interest rate swaps are simultaneously hedged by offsetting interest rate swaps that the Company executes with a third-party, such that the Company minimizes its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions. As the interest rate swaps associated with this program do not meet the strict hedge accounting requirements, changes in the fair value of both the customer swaps and the offsetting swaps are recognized directly in earnings (See Note 28—Derivative Financial Instruments).

By using derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to credit and market risk. If the counterparty fails to perform, credit risk is equal to the fair value gain in a derivative. When the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, this situation generally indicates that the counterparty is obligated to pay the Company, and, therefore, creates a repayment risk for the Company. When the fair value of a derivative contract is negative, the Company is obligated to pay the counterparty and, therefore, has no repayment risk. The Company minimizes the credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high-quality counterparties that are reviewed periodically by the Company.

The Company’s derivative activities are monitored by its Asset-Liability Management Committee as part of that committee’s oversight of the Company’s asset/liability and treasury functions. The Company’s Asset-Liability Management Committee is responsible for implementing various hedging strategies that are developed through its analysis of data from financial simulation models and other internal and industry sources. The resulting hedging strategies are then incorporated into the overall interest-rate risk management process.

The Company recognizes the fair value of derivatives as assets or liabilities in the financial statements. The accounting for the changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative instrument at inception. The change in fair value of the effective portion of cash flow hedges is accounted for in other comprehensive

income rather than net income. Changes in fair value of derivative instruments that are not intended as a hedge are accounted for in the net income in the period of the change (see Note 28—Derivative Financial Instruments for further disclosure).

Reclassification

Certain amounts previously reported have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on net income and shareholders’ equity.

Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events for accounting and disclosure purposes through the date the financial statements are issued. See Note 31—Subsequent Events for further information.

Recent Accounting and Regulatory Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Adopted

In February 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2020-02, Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 119 and Update to SEC Section of Effective Date Related to Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This update adds the content of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 119 to the FASB Codification. SAB No.119 provides interpretive guidance on methodologies and supporting documentation for measuring credit losses, with a focus on the documentation the staff would normally expect registrants engaged in lending transactions to prepare and maintain to support estimates of current expected credit losses for loan transactions. The ASU also updates the SEC section of the FASB Codification for the delay in the effective date of Topic 842 for public business entities that otherwise would not meet the definition of a public business entity except for a requirement to include its financial information in another entity’s filing with the SEC. The clarification related to SAB No. 119 was adopted in the first quarter of 2020 when ASU 2016-13 was adopted. See ASU 2016-13 below for overall effect of Topic 326 Financial Instruments-Credit Losses on our consolidated financial statements. The change in the effective date for ASU 2016-02 – Leases did not affect the Company in that we adopted the standard in 2019.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The amendments in this update simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying the amending existing guidance. Some of the simplification items included are 1) simplification for intraperiod tax allocations where entities will determine the tax effect of pre-tax income or loss from continuing operations without consideration of the tax effect of other items that are not included in continuing operations, 2) simplification for calculating income taxes in an interim period when a year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated loss for the year allowing an entity to record a benefit for year-to-date loss in excess of its forecasted loss, and 3) simplify the accounting for income taxes by requiring that an entity recognize a franchise tax (or similar tax) that is partially based on income as an income-based tax and account for any incremental amount incurred as a non-income-based tax. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments related to franchise taxes that are partially based on income should be applied on either a retrospective basis for all periods presented or a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied on a prospective basis. The Company adopted ASU No. 2019-12 but it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans (Subtopic 715-20). ASU 2018-14 amends ASC 715-20 to add, remove, and clarify disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. For public business entities, ASU 2018-14 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020 and requires entities to apply the amendment on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU No. 2018-14 but it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-11, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial

Instruments-Credit Losses, Topic 815. This update, related to ASU 2016-01, clarifies certain aspects brought to the Account Standards Board attention by stakeholders related to these ASUs, but does not change the core principles of these standards. The areas of improvement clarified in this update are related to 1) expected recoveries for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration, 2) transition relief for troubled debt restructurings, 3) disclosures related to accrued interest receivables, 4) financial assets secured by collateral maintenance provisions and 5) conforming amendment to Subtopic 805-20. This clarification was adopted in the first quarter of 2020 when the overall standard was adopted. See ASU 2016-13 below for overall effect of Topic 326 Financial Instruments-Credit Losses on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-05, Targeted Transition Relief (Topic 326 – Financial Instruments-Credit Losses). This update provides entities that have certain instruments within the scope of Subtopic 326-20, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses— Measured at Amortized Cost, with an option to irrevocably elect the fair value option in Subtopic 825-10 applied on an instrument-by-instrument basis for eligible instruments, upon adoption of Topic 326. The fair value option election does not apply to held to maturity debt securities. An entity that elects the fair value option should subsequently apply the guidance in Subtopics 820-10, Fair Value Measurement—Overall, and 825-10. This update was adopted in the first quarter of 2020 when the overall standard was adopted. See ASU 2016-13 below for overall effect of Topic 326 Financial Instruments-Credit Losses on our 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. This update related to ASU 2016-01, ASU 2017-12 and ASU 2016-13 clarifies certain aspects brought to the Account Standards Board attention by stakeholders related to these ASUs, but does not change the core principles of these standards. The clarifications related to ASU 2016-01 and 2017-12 were adopted in the second quarter of 2019 and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. The clarifications related to ASU 2016-13 were adopted in the first quarter of 2020 when the overall standard was adopted. See ASU 2016-13 below for overall effect of Topic 326 Financial Instruments-Credit Losses on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820). ASU 2018-13 removes, modifies, and adds certain disclosure requirements in ASC 820 related to Fair Value Measurement on the basis of the concepts in the FASB Concepts Statement Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting — Chapter 8: Notes to Financial Statements. ASU 2018-13 was effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods therein. The ASU requires application of the prospective method of transition (for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption) to the new disclosure requirement additions. The ASU also requires prospective application to any modifications to disclosures made because of the change to the requirements for the narrative description of measurement uncertainty. The effects of all other amendments made by the ASU must be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. This update did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangible-Goodwill and other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. ASU 2017-04 simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment for all entities by requiring impairment charges to be based on the first step in today’s two-step impairment test under ASC Topic 350 and eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. As amended, the goodwill impairment test consists of one step comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize a goodwill impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. The guidance was effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those years. Based on effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and on our stock price, the Company evaluated its goodwill on a quarterly basis in 2020 per ASU 2017-04 and has reverted to an annual impairment test cycle. The most recent analysis as of October 31, 2021 determined there was no impairment of goodwill or other intangibles. The Company will continue to monitor if a triggering event occurs that requires goodwill to be evaluated before the nest annual impairment test date.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 requires an entity to utilize a new impairment model known as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model to estimate its lifetime “expected credit loss” and record an ACL that, when deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset, presents the net amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. The CECL model is expected to result in earlier recognition of credit losses for loans, investment securities portfolio, and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. See Note 1Summary of Significant Account Policies – Allowance for Credit Losses for further discussion. We adopted the new standard as of January 1, 2020. This standard did not have a material impact on our investment securities portfolio at implementation. Related to the implementation of ASU 2016-13, the Company recorded additional ACL for loans of $54.4 million, deferred tax assets of $12.6 million, an additional reserve for unfunded commitments of $6.4 million and an adjustment to retained earnings of $44.8 million. See table below for impact of ASU 2016-13 on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. See Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for further discussion.

January 1, 2020

As Reported Under

Pre-ASC 326

Impact of ASC 326

Dollars in thousands

    

ASC 326

    

Adoption

    

Adoption

  

Assets:

Allowance for Credit Losses on Debt Securities

Investment Securities - Available-for-Sale

$ 1,956,047

$ 1,956,047

$—

A

Investment Securities - Held-to-Maturity

A

Loans

Non-Acquired Loans

9,252,831

9,252,831

Acquired Loans

2,118,940

2,117,209

1,723

B

Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans

(111,365)

(56,927)

(54,438)

C

Deferred Tax Asset

43,955

31,316

12,639

D

Accrued Interest Receivable - Loans

30,009

28,332

1,677

B

Liabilities:

Reserve for Loan Losses - Unfunded Commitments

6,756

335

6,421

E

Equity:

Retained Earnings

635,075

679,895

(44,820)

F

A –

The Company did not have any held-to maturity securities as of January 1, 2020. Per our analysis we determined that no ACL was necessary for investment securities – available for sale.

B –

Accrued interest receivable from acquired credit impaired loans of $1,677 was reclassified to other assets and was offset by the reclass of the grossed up credit discount on acquired credit impaired loans of $3,408 that was moved to the ACL for the purchased credit deteriorated loans.

C –

This is the calculated adjustment to the ACL related to the adoption of ASC 326. Additional reserve related to non-acquired loans was $34,049, to acquired loans was $16,981 and to purchased credit deteriorated loans was $3,408.

D –

This is the effect of deferred tax assets related to the adjustment to the ACL from the adoption of ASC 326 using a 22% tax rate.

E –

This is the adjustment to the reserve for unfunded commitments related to the adoption of ASC 326.

F –

This is the net adjustment to retained earnings related to the adoption of ASC 326.

Issued But Not Yet Adopted Accounting Standards

In March 2020, FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848 – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting and subsequently expanded the scope of ASU No. 2020-04 with the issuance of ASU No. 2021-01. This update provides companies with optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates that will be discontinued. The amendments in this update provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The main provisions for contract modifications include optional relief by allowing the modification as a continuation of the existing contract without additional analysis and other optional expedients regarding embedded features. The amendments in this update apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate that will be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The amendments in this update were effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 and

may be applied through December 31, 2022.  An entity may elect to apply the amendments in this update to eligible hedging relationships existing as of the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020 and to new eligible hedging relationships entered into after the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020. An entity may elect to apply the amendments for contract modifications as of any date from the beginning of an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, or prospectively from a date within an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, up to the date that the financial statements are available to be issued. Once elected, the amendments in this update must be applied prospectively for all eligible contract modifications and hedging relationships.

The Company has established a LIBOR Committee and various subcommittees which have evaluated the impact of adopting and implementing ASU 2020-04 on the consolidated financial statements including the evaluation of all of its contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions that will be affected by reference rates that are being discontinued. The cross-functional LIBOR Committee and subcommittees have 1) assessed the Company's current exposure to LIBOR indexed instruments and the data, systems and processes that will be impacted; 2) established a detailed implementation plan; and 3) developed a formal governance structure for the transition. The Company is in the process of developing and implementing various proactive steps to facilitate the transition on behalf of customers, which include the adoption and ongoing implementation of fallback provisions that provide for the determination of replacement rates for LIBOR-linked financial products; the adoption of new products linked to alternative reference rates, such as adjustable-rate mortgages, consistent with guidance provided by the U.S. regulators, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, and government sponsored entities; the cessation of quoting LIBOR and originating new products linked to LIBOR by December 31, 2021; and the selection of SOFR indices as the replacement indices, and successful completion of systems testing using the SOFR replacement indices.

As a result of the implementation plan, the Company discontinued quoting LIBOR on September 30, 2021 and discontinued originating new products linked to LIBOR on December 31, 2021. The Company continues to evaluate its financial and operational infrastructure in its effort to transition all financial and strategic processes, systems, and models to reference rates other than LIBOR. The Company is in the process of developing and implementing processes to educate all client-facing associates and coordinate communications with customers regarding the transition. In addition, the Company expects to adopt the LIBOR transition relief allowed under ASU No. 2020-04.