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BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) of First BanCorp. (the “Corporation”) have been prepared in conformity with the accounting policies stated in the Corporation’s Audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 (the “2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K”). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted from these statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC and, accordingly, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2017, which are included in the 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. All adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods have been reflected. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The results of operations for the quarter and nine-month period ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.

Adoption of New Accounting Requirements and Recently Issued but Not Yet Effective Accounting Requirements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) has issued the following accounting pronouncements and guidance relevant to the Corporation’s operations:

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the FASB updated the Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification” or the “ASC”) to create a new, principles-based revenue recognition framework. This guidance requires entities to recognize revenues when they transfer 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. This guidance describes a 5-step process that entities can apply to achieve the core principle of revenue recognition and requires disclosures sufficient to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers and the significant judgments used in determining that information.  

The Corporation adopted the guidance on January 1, 2018 using a modified retrospective method, in which the guidance applies to existing contracts in effect at January 1, 2018 and new contracts entered into after this date. Most of the Corporation’s revenue, including net interest income, gain on sale of loans, and mortgage servicing fees is explicitly out of scope of the new revenue recognition guidance. The Corporation conducted an assessment of the revenue streams that were potentially affected by the new guidance and reviewed contracts in scope to ensure compliance with the new guidance.

 

The Corporation has identified service charges on deposits and related cash management services, insurance commissions, merchant-related income, and card interchange income as its most significant revenue streams within the scope of the standard.  For the revenue streams that were found in scope, management reviewed in detail its most significant contracts with corresponding customers. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements. However, additional disclosures required by the standard have been included in Note 23 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, to require an entity to: (i) measure equity investments at fair value through net income, with certain exceptions, thus, eliminating eligibility for the available-for-sale category; (ii) present in OCI the changes in instrument-specific credit risk for financial liabilities measured using the fair value option; (iii) present financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset; (iv) calculate the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes based on an exit price; and (v) assess a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets related to unrealized losses of available-for-sale debt securities in combination with other deferred tax assets. The guidance provides an election to subsequently measure certain nonmarketable equity investments at cost less any impairment, adjusted for certain observable price changes. The guidance also requires a qualitative impairment assessment of such equity investments and amends certain fair value disclosure requirements. The adoption of this standard during the first quarter of 2018 did not have a material effect on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flows Presentation – Restricted Cash

In August 2016 and November 2016, the FASB updated the Codification to provide specific guidance on the classification and presentation of certain cash payments and cash receipts, including changes in restricted cash, in the statement of cash flows. This guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this update must be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Corporation adopted the provisions of this guidance during the first quarter of 2018 without any material effect on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Income Tax Effect of Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets

In October 2016, the FASB updated the Codification to improve the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. With this update, entities are required to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. Under prior GAAP, the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer was prohibited until the assets were sold to an outside party. This Update does not include new disclosure requirements; however, existing disclosure requirements might be applicable when accounting for the current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory. For example, GAAP requires an entity to disclose a comparison of income tax expense (benefit) with statutory expectations (a rate reconciliation for public entities or a description of the nature of each significant reconciling item for nonpublic entities) and also requires an entity to disclose the types of temporary differences and carryforwards that give rise to a significant portion of deferred income taxes. The Corporation adopted the provisions of this guidance during the first quarter of 2018 without any effect on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Clarifying what Changes Qualify as a Modification of a Share-Based Payment Award

In May 2017, the FASB updated the Codification to reduce the cost and complexity when applying ASC Topic 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation” (“ASC Topic 718”), and standardize the practice of applying ASC Topic 718 to financial reporting. ASC Topic 718 prescribes the accounting treatment of a modification in the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The guidance clarifies what changes would qualify as a modification. This was done by better defining what does not constitute a modification. In order for a change to a share-based arrangement not to require ASC Topic 718 modification treatment, all of the following must be met: (i) the fair value (or alternative measurement method used) of the modified award must equal the fair value (or alternative measurement method used) of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; (ii) the vesting conditions of the modified award must be the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; and (iii) the classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a liability instrument must be the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. The current disclosure requirements in ASC Topic 718 apply regardless of whether an entity is required to apply modification accounting under this update. The amendments in this update must be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Corporation adopted the provisions of this guidance on January 1, 2018 without any effect on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements. The Corporation’s Omnibus Plan provides for equity-based compensation incentives through the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, cash-based awards and other stock-based awards. If any change occurs in the future to awards issued under the Omnibus Plan, the Corporation will evaluate it under this guidance.

Lease Accounting

In February 2016, the FASB updated the Codification to replace ASC 840, “Leases (Topic 840)” (“ASC Topic 840”), with new guidance for the financial reporting about leasing transactions. Under the new guidance, a lessee will be required to recognize a right-of-use asset (“ROU”) and a lease liability for leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Consistent with current GAAP, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease. However, unlike current GAAP, which requires the recognition of only capital leases on the balance sheet, the guidance will require both types of leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. The guidance will also require disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. These disclosures include qualitative and quantitative information and additional information about the amounts recorded in the financial statements. The FASB issued an update in January 2018 providing an optional transition practical expedient under which an entity need not evaluate under new ASC Topic 842, “Leases” (“ASC Topic 842”), land easements that existed or expired before the entity’s adoption of ASC Topic 842 and were not previously accounted for as leases. In addition, the FASB issued an update in July 2018 that provides entities with an additional and optional transition method that allows entities to apply the transition provisions of the new leases standard at the adoption date, instead of at the earliest comparative period presented. If elected, comparative periods will continue to be presented in accordance with ASC Topic 840. Also, the amendments provide lessors with a practical expedient, by class of underlying asset, to not separate non lease components, subject to certain circumstances. Also in July 2018, the FASB issued an update that makes various technical corrections to clarify how to apply certain aspects of the new leases standard such as reassessment of lease classification, variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate, lease term and purchase options, and certain transition adjustments, among others. The guidance on leases will take effect for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted.

The update is expected to affect the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements since the Corporation has operating and lease arrangements for which it is a lessee. The Corporation will elect the optional transition method described above to initially apply the new leases standard as of January 1, 2019. On the other hand, the Corporation does not expect to elect the optional practical expedient provided to lessors. The Corporation expects to recognize lease liabilities of approximately $0.1 billion or 1% of total assets, with a corresponding recognition of ROU assets on its operating leases.

Accounting for Financial Instruments – Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB updated the Codification to introduce new guidance for the accounting for credit losses. The guidance includes an impairment model (known as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model) that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. It also modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities and provides for a simplified accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. The CECL model will apply to: (1) financial assets subject to credit losses and measured at amortized cost and (2) certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. This includes loans, held-to-maturity debt securities, loan commitments, financial guarantees, and net investments in leases, as well as reinsurance and trade receivables. Upon initial recognition of the exposure, the CECL model requires an entity to estimate the credit losses expected over the life of an exposure (or pool of exposures). The estimate of expected credit losses (“ECL”) should consider historical information, current information, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, including estimates of prepayments. Financial instruments with similar risk characteristics should be grouped together when estimating ECL. The guidance does not prescribe a specific method to make the estimate, so its application will require significant judgment.

 

Generally, upon initial recognition of a financial asset, the estimate of the ECL will be recorded through an allowance for loan and lease losses with an offset to current earnings. Subsequently, the ECL will need to be reassessed each period, and both negative and positive changes to the estimate will be recognized through an adjustment to the allowance for loan and lease losses and earnings.

 

The guidance amends the current OTTI model for available-for-sale debt securities. The new available-for-sale debt security model will require an estimate of ECL only when the fair value is below the amortized cost of the asset. The length of time the fair value of an available-for-sale debt security has been below the amortized cost will no longer affect the determination of whether a credit loss exists. As such, the new available-for-sale debt security model is not an OTTI model. In addition, credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities will now be limited to the difference between the security’s amortized cost basis and its fair value. The available-for-sale debt security model will also require the use of an allowance to record estimated credit losses (and subsequent recoveries).

The purchased financial assets with credit deterioration (“PCD”) model will apply to purchased financial assets (measured at amortized cost or available-for-sale) that have experienced more than insignificant credit deterioration since origination. This represents a change from the scope of what are considered purchased credit-impaired assets under today’s model. In contrast to the accounting for originated or purchased assets that do not qualify as PCD, the initial estimate of expected credit losses for a PCD will be recognized through an allowance for loan and lease losses with an offset to the cost basis of the related financial asset at acquisition (i.e., there will be no effect on net income at initial recognition). Subsequently, the accounting will follow the applicable CECL or available-for-sale debt security impairment model with all adjustments of the allowance for loan and lease losses recognized through earnings. Beneficial interests classified as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale will need to apply the PCD model if the beneficial interest meets the definition of PCD or if there is a significant difference between contractual and expected cash flows at initial recognition.

 

In general, the new guidance will require modified retrospective application to all outstanding instruments, with a cumulative effect adjustment recorded to opening retained earnings as of the beginning of the first period in which the guidance becomes effective. However, prospective application is required for PCD assets previously accounted for under ASC Topic 310-30, “Receivables,” and for debt securities for which an OTTI was recognized prior to the date of adoption.

 

This guidance also expands the disclosure requirements regarding an entity’s assumptions, models, and methods for estimating the allowance for loan and lease losses. In addition, public business entities will need to disclose, among other things, the amortized cost balance for each class of financial asset by credit quality indicator, disaggregated by the year of origination (i.e., by vintage year).

The guidance will be effective for public business entities that are SEC filers in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the guidance will be permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.

The Corporation has developed an actionable and detailed project plan in order to comply on a timely basis with the implementation of this new accounting framework. The Corporation has created a working group with members from multiple areas across the organization that is responsible for assessing the effect of the standard, evaluating interpretative issues, and evaluating the current credit loss models against the new guidance to determine any necessary changes and other related implementation activities. The working group provides periodic updates to the Corporation’s CECL Management Committee, which has oversight responsibilities for the implementation efforts. The Corporation continues to evaluate the effect that this guidance, including the method of implementation, will have on its consolidated financial statements. The Corporation does not expect to early adopt this guidance.

Subsequent Measurement of Goodwill

In January 2017, the FASB updated the Codification to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the current two-step goodwill impairment test. This guidance provides that a goodwill impairment test shall be conducted by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. Entities are to recognize an impairment charge for goodwill equal to the excess of the carrying amount over the reporting unit’s fair value. Entities have the option to perform a qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The effect of this guidance will depend upon the performance of the reporting units that have goodwill and the market conditions affecting the fair value of each reporting unit going forward.

Amortization of Premiums and Discounts of Callable Debt Securities

In March 2017, the FASB updated the Codification to shorten the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amendments require the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. With respect to securities held at a discount, the amendments do not require an accounting change; thus, the discount continues to be amortized to maturity. Under current GAAP, premiums and discounts on callable debt securities generally are amortized to the maturity date. An entity must have a large number of similar loans to consider estimates of future principal prepayments when applying the interest method. However, an entity that holds an individual callable debt security at a premium may not amortize that premium to the earliest call date. If that callable debt security is subsequently called, the entity records a loss equal to the unamortized premium. The amendments in this update more closely align the amortization period of premiums and discounts to expectations incorporated in market pricing on the underlying securities. In most cases, market participants price securities to the call date that produces the worst yield when the coupon is above current market rates (that is, the security is trading at a premium) and price securities to maturity when the coupon is below market rates (that is, the security is trading at a discount) in anticipation that the borrower will act in its economic best interest. As a result, the amendments more closely align interest income recorded on bonds held at a premium or a discount with the economics of the underlying instrument. For public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation’s consolidated statement of financial condition or results of operations. As of September 30, 2018, the Corporation had $4.1 million of callable debt securities held at a premium (unamortized premium of $13 thousand).

Derivatives and Hedging

In August 2017, the FASB updated the Codification to: (i) expand hedge accounting for nonfinancial and financial risk components and amend measurement methodologies to more closely align hedge accounting with a company’s risk management activities; (ii) decrease the complexity of preparing and understanding hedge results by eliminating the separate measurement and reporting of hedge ineffectiveness; (iii) enhance transparency, comparability, and understanding of hedge results through enhanced disclosures and a change in the presentation of hedge results to align the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item; and (iv) reduce the cost and complexity of applying hedge accounting by simplifying the manner in which assessments of hedge effectiveness may be performed. This update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance requires companies to apply requirements to existing hedging relationships on the date of adoption, and the effect of the adoption should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. As of September 30, 2018, all of the derivatives held by the Corporation were considered economic undesignated hedges. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation’s consolidated statement of financial condition or results of operations.

Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In February 2018, the FASB updated the Codification to provide entities with an option to reclassify to retained earnings, tax effects that were stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income, pursuant to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”). This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. This guidance may be early adopted in any interim or annual period for which financial statements have not yet been issued and applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the change in the corporate tax rate in the Tax Act is recognized. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material effect on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting

In June 2018, the FASB updated the Codification as part of a simplification initiative to expand the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from non-employees and to address and improve aspects of the accounting for non-employee share-based payment transactions. The amendments will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have an effect on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement

In August 2018, the FASB updated the Codification and amended ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures,” to add, remove, and modify fair value measurement disclosures requirements. The disclosure requirements that are removed for public entities include: (i) transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; (ii) the policy for determining when transfers between any of the three levels have occurred; and (iii) the valuation processes used for Level 3 measurements. The disclosure requirements that are modified for public entities include: (i) for certain investments in entities that calculate the net asset value, revisions to require disclosures about the timing of liquidation and lapses of redemption restrictions, if the latter has been communicated to the reporting entity; and (ii) revisions to clarify that the Level 3 measurement uncertainty disclosure should communicate information about the uncertainty at the balance sheet date. The additional or new disclosure requirements include: (i) the changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 instruments held at the balance sheet date; and (ii) the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used for Level 3 measurements, but adds an option to disclose other quantitative information in place of the weighted average to the extent that it would be a more reasonable and rational method to reflect the distribution of certain unobservable inputs.

This update is effective for all entities in fiscal years, including interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for any of the removed or modified disclosures immediately even if adoption of the new disclosures is delayed until the effective date. In the third quarter of 2018, the Corporation early adopted the disclosure requirements that were removed or modified by this guidance.

Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract

In August 2018, the FASB amended the Codification to address a customer’s accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract.  This update aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. Costs for implementation activities in the application development stage are capitalized depending on the nature of the costs, while costs incurred during the preliminary project and post implementation stages are expensed as the activities are performed. The amendments in this update also require the entity to expense the capitalized implementation costs over the term of the hosting arrangement. Expenses related to the capitalized implementation costs will be presented in the same line item in the statement of income as the fees associated with the service of the arrangement and payments for capitalized implementation costs will be classified in the statement of cash flows in the same manner as payments made for fees associated with the hosting element. With this update, the entity is also required to present the capitalized implementation costs in the statement of financial position in the same line item that a prepayment for the fees of the associated hosting arrangement would be presented.

An entity can choose between prospective and retrospective transition. For the corporation, this guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within. Early adoption is permitted, including in an interim period.  The adoption of this guidance is no expected to have a material effect on the Corporation’s consolidated statement of financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.