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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Nature of Operations and Principles of Consolidation Simmons First National Corporation (“Company”) is a Mid-South financial holding company headquartered in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and the parent company of Simmons Bank, an Arkansas state-chartered bank that has been in operation since 1903 (“Simmons Bank” or the “Bank”). Simmons First Insurance Services, Inc. and Simmons First Insurance Services of TN, LLC are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Simmons Bank and are insurance agencies that offer various lines of personal and corporate insurance coverage to individual and commercial customers. The Company, through its subsidiaries, offers, among other things, consumer, real estate and commercial loans; checking, savings and time deposits; and specialized products and services (such as credit cards, trust and fiduciary services, investments, agricultural finance lending, equipment lending, insurance and Small Business Administration (“SBA”) lending) from approximately 222 financial centers as of December 31, 2024, located throughout market areas in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Simmons Bank is an Arkansas state-chartered bank and a member of the Federal Reserve System through the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Due to the Company’s typical acquisition process, there may be brief periods of time during which the Company may operate another subsidiary bank that the Company acquired through a merger with a target bank holding company as a separate subsidiary while preparing for the merger and integration of that subsidiary bank into Simmons Bank. However, it is the Company’s intent to generally maintain Simmons Bank as the Company’s sole subsidiary bank. Operating Segments Operating segments are components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is regularly evaluated by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company is organized with community and commercial banking groups. Each of these groups provide one or more similar banking services, including such products and services as loans; time deposits, checking and savings accounts; treasury management; and credit cards. Loan products include consumer, real estate, commercial, agricultural, equipment, warehouse lending and SBA lending. The individual banking groups have similar operating and economic characteristics. While the chief operating decision maker monitors the revenue streams of the various products, services, branch locations, divisions and groups, operations are managed, financial performance is evaluated, and management makes decisions on how to allocate resources, on a Company-wide basis. Accordingly, the respective groups are considered by management to be aggregated into one reportable operating segment. The Company also considers its wealth group, which provides trust and investment services, as well as insurance services, to be operating segments. Information on these segments is not reported separately since they do not meet the quantitative thresholds under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 280-10-50-12, and, as a result, are reported within “Other” in the following tables. The Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is the chief executive officer. The CODM evaluates the performance of the Company’s reportable operating segments using net interest income and net income. The CODM analyzes on the spread between interest revenue and interest expense (net interest income) to assess performance and to allocate operating and capital resources. Therefore, interest revenue is presented net of interest expense. Additionally, the CODM reviews budgeted net income versus actual net income of the Company to allocate resources to meet the Company’s strategic objectives. The following table provides a summary of the Company’s reportable operating segment results as of or for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
(In thousands) | Community and Commercial Banking |  | Other |  | Consolidated
December 31, 2024 |  |  |  |  |
Net interest income | $ | 627,698 |  |  | $ | 767 |  |  | $ | 628,465 |
Noninterest income | 109,701 |  |  | 37,470 |  |  | 147,171 |
Total net revenue | 737,399 |  |  | 38,237 |  |  | 775,636 |
Noninterest expense: |  |  |  |  |
Salaries and employee benefits | 265,610 |  |  | 18,514 |  |  | 284,124 |
Occupancy expense, net | 46,373 |  |  | 1,841 |  |  | 48,214 |
Furniture and equipment expense | 22,045 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 22,047 |
Deposit insurance | 23,938 |  |  | — |  |  | 23,938 |
Other operating expenses(1) | 173,295 |  |  | 5,925 |  |  | 179,220 |
Total noninterest expense | 531,261 |  |  | 26,282 |  |  | 557,543 |
Income before provision for credit losses and income taxes | 206,138 |  |  | 11,955 |  |  | 218,093 |
Provision for credit losses | 46,785 |  |  | — |  |  | 46,785 |
Income tax expense | 18,530 |  |  | 85 |  |  | 18,615 |
Net income | $ | 140,823 |  |  | $ | 11,870 |  |  | $ | 152,693 |
Assets as of December 31, 2024 | $ | 26,870,061 |  |  | $ | 5,988 |  |  | $ | 26,876,049 |
December 31, 2023 |  |  |  |  |
Net interest income | $ | 650,928 |  |  | $ | (802) |  |  | $ | 650,126 |
Noninterest income | 120,567 |  |  | 34,999 |  |  | 155,566 |
Total net revenue | 771,495 |  |  | 34,197 |  |  | 805,692 |
Noninterest expense: |  |  |  |  |
Salaries and employee benefits | 268,300 |  |  | 17,817 |  |  | 286,117 |
Occupancy expense, net | 46,712 |  |  | 29 |  |  | 46,741 |
Furniture and equipment expense | 20,740 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 20,741 |
Deposit insurance | 29,986 |  |  | — |  |  | 29,986 |
Other operating expenses(1) | 173,480 |  |  | 5,996 |  |  | 179,476 |
Total noninterest expense | 539,218 |  |  | 23,843 |  |  | 563,061 |
Income before provision for credit losses and income taxes | 232,277 |  |  | 10,354 |  |  | 242,631 |
Provision for credit losses | 42,028 |  |  | — |  |  | 42,028 |
Income tax expense | 25,451 |  |  | 95 |  |  | 25,546 |
Net income | $ | 164,798 |  |  | $ | 10,259 |  |  | $ | 175,057 |
Assets as of December 31, 2023 | $ | 27,338,690 |  |  | $ | 6,984 |  |  | $ | 27,345,674 |
(In thousands) | Community and Commercial Banking |  | Other |  | Consolidated
December 31, 2022 |  |  |  |  |
Net interest income | $ | 717,316 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 717,316 |
Noninterest income | 136,820 |  |  | 33,246 |  |  | 170,066 |
Total net revenue | 854,136 |  |  | 33,246 |  |  | 887,382 |
Noninterest expense: |  |  |  |  |
Salaries and employee benefits | 268,817 |  |  | 18,165 |  |  | 286,982 |
Occupancy expense, net | 44,296 |  |  | 25 |  |  | 44,321 |
Furniture and equipment expense | 20,642 |  |  | 23 |  |  | 20,665 |
Deposit insurance | 11,608 |  |  | — |  |  | 11,608 |
Other operating expenses(1) | 196,875 |  |  | 6,297 |  |  | 203,172 |
Total noninterest expense | 542,238 |  |  | 24,510 |  |  | 566,748 |
Income before provision for credit losses and income taxes | 311,898 |  |  | 8,736 |  |  | 320,634 |
Provision for credit losses | 14,074 |  |  | — |  |  | 14,074 |
Income tax expense | 50,065 |  |  | 83 |  |  | 50,148 |
Net income | $ | 247,759 |  |  | $ | 8,653 |  |  | $ | 256,412 |
Assets as of December 31, 2022 | $ | 27,453,130 |  |  | $ | 7,931 |  |  | $ | 27,461,061 |
_________________________ (1) Other operating expenses primarily include professional services, marketing, software and technology, amortization of intangibles and other general operating expenses. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income items and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The estimates and assumptions used in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are based upon management’s evaluation of the relevant facts and circumstances as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and actual results may differ from these estimates. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, the Company’s allowance for credit losses. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change relate to the determination of the allowance for credit losses, the valuation of acquired loans, valuation of goodwill and subsequent impairment analysis, stock-based compensation plans and income taxes. Management obtains third party valuations to assist in valuing certain aspects of these material estimates, as appropriate, including independent appraisals for significant properties in connection with the determination of the allowance for credit losses and the fair value of acquired loans. Assumptions used in the goodwill impairment analysis involve internally projected forecasts, coupled with market and third-party data. These material estimates could change as a result of the uncertainty in current macroeconomic conditions and other factors that are beyond the Company’s control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Reclassifications Various items within the accompanying consolidated financial statements for previous years have been reclassified to provide more comparative information. These reclassifications were not material to the consolidated financial statements. Cash Equivalents The Company considers all liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents are considered to include cash and noninterest bearing balances due from banks, interest bearing balances due from banks and federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell. At December 31, 2024, nearly all of the interest-bearing and noninterest bearing deposits were uninsured with nearly all of these balances held at the Federal Reserve Bank. Investment Securities Held-to-maturity securities (“HTM”), which include any security for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity, are carried at historical cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Premiums and discounts are amortized and accreted, respectively, to interest income using the constant effective yield method over the estimated life of the security. Prepayments are anticipated for mortgage-backed and SBA securities. Premiums on callable securities are amortized to their earliest call date. Available-for-sale securities (“AFS”), which include any security for which the Company has no immediate plan to sell but which may be sold in the future, are carried at fair value. Realized gains and losses, based on specifically identified amortized cost of the individual security, are included in other income. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded, net of related income tax effects, in stockholders’ equity. Premiums and discounts are amortized and accreted, respectively, to interest income using the constant effective yield method over the estimated life of the security. Prepayments are anticipated for mortgage-backed and SBA securities. Premiums on callable securities are amortized to their earliest call date. Trading securities, if any, which include any security held primarily for near-term sale, are carried at fair value. Gains and losses on trading securities are included in other income. Allowance for Credit Losses - Investment Securities Allowance for Credit Losses - HTM Securities - The Company measures expected credit losses on HTM securities on a collective basis by major security type, with each type sharing similar risk characteristics. The estimate of expected credit losses considers historical credit loss information that is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company has made the election to exclude accrued interest receivable on HTM securities from the estimate of credit losses and report accrued interest separately on the consolidated balance sheets. Allowance for Credit Losses - AFS Securities - For AFS securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first evaluates whether it intends to sell, or whether it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of these criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the AFS security amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. If the criteria is not met, the Company is required to assess whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or noncredit-related factors. If the assessment indicates a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists, and an allowance for credit loss is recorded through income as a component of provision for credit loss expense. If the assessment indicates that a credit loss does not exist, the Company records the decline in fair value through other comprehensive income, net of related income tax effects. The Company has made the election to exclude accrued interest receivable on AFS securities from the estimate of credit losses and report accrued interest separately on the consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit loss expense. Losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of an AFS security is confirmed or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met. Mortgage Loans Held For Sale Mortgage Loans Held for Sale are carried at fair value which is determined on an aggregate basis. Adjustments to fair value are recognized monthly and reflected in earnings. The Company regularly sells mortgages into the capital markets to mitigate the effects of interest rate volatility during the period from the time an interest rate lock commitment (“IRLC”) is issued until the IRLC funds creating a mortgage loan held for sale and its subsequent sale into the secondary/capital markets. Loan sales are typically executed on a mandatory basis. Under a mandatory commitment, the Company agrees to deliver a specified dollar amount with predetermined terms by a certain date. Generally, the commitment is not loan specific, and any combination of loans can be delivered into the outstanding commitment provided the terms fall within the parameters of the commitment. Upon failure to deliver, the Company is subject to fees based on market movement. The IRLCs are derivative instruments; their fair values at December 31, 2024 and 2023 were not material. Gains and losses resulting from sales of mortgage loans are recognized when the respective loans are sold to correspondent lenders, investors or aggregators. Gains and losses are determined by the difference between the sale price and the carrying amount in the loans sold, net of discounts collected, or premiums paid. Hedge instruments are, likewise, carried at fair value and associated gains/losses are realized at time of settlement. Loans Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-offs are reported at their amortized cost basis, which is the unpaid principal balance outstanding, net of unearned income, deferred loan fees and costs, premiums and discounts associated with acquisition date fair value adjustments on acquired loans, and any direct principal charge-offs. The Company has made a policy election to exclude accrued interest from the amortized cost basis of loans and report accrued interest separately from the related loan balance on the consolidated balance sheets. For loans amortized at cost, interest income is accrued based on the unpaid principal balance. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, as well as premiums and discounts, are deferred and amortized as a level yield adjustment over the respective term of the loan. The accrual of interest on loans, except on certain government guaranteed loans, is discontinued at the time the loan is 90 days past due unless the credit is well-secured and in process of collection. Past due status is based on contractual terms of the loan. In all cases, loans are placed on non-accrual or charged off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful. Discounts and premiums on purchased residential real estate loans are amortized to income using the interest method over the remaining period to contractual maturity, adjusted for anticipated prepayments. Discounts and premiums on purchased consumer loans are recognized over the expected lives of the loans using methods that approximate the interest method. Further information regarding accounting policies related to past due loans, non-accrual loans, and modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty is presented in Note 4, Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses. Additionally, for discussion of the Company’s accounting for acquired loans, see Acquisition Accounting, Loans later in this section. Allowance for Credit Losses The allowance for credit losses is a reserve established through a provision for credit losses charged to expense which represents management’s best estimate of lifetime expected losses based on reasonable and supportable forecasts, quantitative factors, and other qualitative considerations. Loans with similar risk characteristics such as loan type, collateral type, and internal risk ratings are aggregated for collective assessment. The Company uses statistically-based models that leverage assumptions about current and future economic conditions throughout the contractual life of the loan. Expected credit losses are estimated by either lifetime loss rates or expected loss cash flows based on three key parameters: probability-of-default (“PD”), exposure-at-default (“EAD”), and loss-given-default (“LGD”). Future economic conditions are incorporated to the extent that they are reasonable and supportable. Beyond the reasonable and supportable periods, the economic variables revert to a historical equilibrium at a pace dependent on the state of the economy reflected within the economic scenarios. The Company also includes qualitative adjustments to the allowance based on factors and considerations that have not otherwise been fully accounted for. Loans that have unique risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. These evaluations are typically performed on loans with a deteriorated internal risk rating. For a collateral-dependent loan, our evaluation process includes a valuation by appraisal or other collateral analysis adjusted for selling costs, when appropriate. This valuation is compared to the remaining outstanding principal balance of the loan. If a loss is determined to be probable, the loss is included in the allowance for credit losses as a specific allocation. Reserve for Unfunded Commitments In addition to the allowance for credit losses, the Company has established a reserve for unfunded commitments, classified in other liabilities, representing expected credit losses over the contractual period for which the Company is exposed to credit risk resulting from a contractual obligation to extend credit. This reserve is maintained at a level management believes to be sufficient to absorb losses arising from unfunded loan commitments. The adequacy of the reserve for unfunded commitments is determined quarterly based on methodology similar to the methodology for determining the allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit loss is reported as a component of accrued interest and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Adjustments to the allowance are reported in the income statement as a component of the provision for credit losses. Acquisition Accounting, Loans The Company accounts for its acquisitions under 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. The fair value for acquired loans at the time of acquisition is based on a variety of factors including discounted expected cash flows, adjusted for estimated prepayments and credit losses. In accordance with ASC 326, the fair value adjustment is recorded as premium or discount to the unpaid principal balance of each acquired loan. Loans that have been identified as having experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination is a purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loan. The net premium or discount on PCD loans is adjusted by the Company’s allowance for credit losses recorded at the time of acquisition. The remaining net premium or discount is accreted or amortized into interest income over the remaining life of the loan using a constant yield method. The net premium or discount on loans that are not classified as PCD (“non-PCD”), that includes credit and non-credit components, is accreted or amortized into interest income over the remaining life of the loan using a constant yield method. The Company then records the necessary allowance for credit losses on the non-PCD loans through provision for credit losses expense. For further discussion of the Company’s acquisition and loan accounting, see Note 2, Acquisitions, and Note 4, Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses. Trust Assets Trust assets (other than cash deposits) held by the Company in fiduciary or agency capacities for its customers are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets since such items are not assets of the Company. Premises and Equipment Depreciable assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is charged to expense using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and amortized by the straight-line method over the terms of the respective leases or the estimated useful lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter. Right-of-use lease assets are operating leases with a term greater than one year and are included in premises and equipment. Foreclosed Assets Held For Sale Assets acquired by foreclosure or in settlement of debt and held for sale are valued at estimated fair value less estimated cost to sell as of the date of foreclosure. Management evaluates the value of foreclosed assets held for sale periodically and any decreases in the fair value are charged to other expense. Bank Owned Life Insurance The Company maintains bank-owned life insurance policies on certain current and former employees and directors, which are recorded at their cash surrender values as determined by the insurance carriers. The appreciation in the cash surrender value of the policies is recognized as a component of noninterest income in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Other intangible assets represent purchased assets that also lack physical substance but can be separately distinguished from goodwill because of contractual or other legal rights or because the asset is capable of being sold or exchanged either on its own or in combination with a related contract, asset or liability. The Company performs an annual goodwill impairment test, and more than annually if circumstances warrant, in accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, as amended by Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-08 - Testing Goodwill for Impairment. ASC Topic 350 requires that goodwill and intangible assets that have indefinite lives be reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if certain conditions occur. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over the estimated life of the asset, and are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicated that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Impairment losses on recorded goodwill, if any, will be recorded as operating expenses. Derivative Financial Instruments The Company may enter into derivative contracts for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate risk to meet the financing needs of its customers. A derivative instrument is a financial tool which derives its value from the value of some other financial instrument, or variable index, including certain hedging instruments embedded in other contracts. These products are primarily designed to reduce interest rate risk for either the Company or its customers who proactively manage these risks. The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. In an effort to meet the financing needs of its customers and mitigate the impact of changing interest rates on the fair value of AFS securities, the Company has entered into fair value hedges. Fair value hedges include interest rate swap agreements on fixed rate loans and fixed rate callable AFS securities. To qualify for hedge accounting, derivatives must be highly effective at reducing the risk associated with the exposure being hedged and must be designated as a hedge at the point of inception of the derivative contract. For derivatives designated as hedging the exposure to changes in the fair value of the hedged item, the gain or loss is recognized in earnings in the period of change together with the offsetting loss or gain of the hedging instrument. The fair value hedges are considered to be highly effective and any hedge ineffectiveness was deemed not material. Fair value adjustments related to cash flow hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income and are reclassified to earnings when the hedged transaction is reflected in earnings. Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase The Company sells securities under agreements to repurchase to meet customer needs for sweep accounts. At the point funds deposited by customers become investable, those funds are used to purchase securities owned by the Company and held in its general account with the designation of Customers’ Securities. A third party maintains control over the securities underlying overnight repurchase agreements. The securities involved in these transactions are generally U.S. Treasury or Federal Agency issues. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase generally mature on the banking day following that on which the investment was initially purchased and are treated as collateralized financing transactions which are recorded at the amounts at which the securities were sold plus accrued interest. Interest rates and maturity dates of the securities involved vary and are not intended to be matched with funds from customers. Revenue from Contracts with Customers ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, applies to all contracts with customers to provide goods or services in the ordinary course of business. However, Topic 606 specifically does not apply to revenue related to financial instruments, guarantees, insurance contracts, leases, or nonmonetary exchanges. Given these scope exceptions, interest income recognition and measurement related to loans and investments securities, the Company’s two largest sources of revenue, are not accounted for under Topic 606. Also, the Company does not use Topic 606 to account for gains or losses on its investments in securities, loans, and derivatives due to the scope exceptions. Certain revenue streams, such as service charges on deposit accounts, gains or losses on the sale of Other Real Estate Owned (“OREO”), and trust income, fall under the scope of Topic 606 and the Company must recognize revenue at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. Topic 606 is applied using five steps: 1) identify the contract with the customer, 2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, 3) determine the transaction price, 4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and 5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company has evaluated the nature of all contracts with customers that fall under the scope of Topic 606 and determined that further disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers into categories was not necessary. There has not been significant revenue recognized in the current reporting periods resulting from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods. In addition, there has not been a significant change in timing of revenues received from customers. A description of performance obligations for each type of contract with customers is as follows: Service charges on deposit accounts – The Company’s primary source of funding comes from deposit accounts with its customers. Customers pay certain fees to access their cash on deposit including, but not limited to, non-transactional fees such as account maintenance, dormancy or statement rendering fees, and certain transaction-based fees such as ATM, wire transfer, overdraft or returned check fees. The Company generally satisfies its performance obligations as services are rendered. The transaction prices are fixed, and are charged either on a periodic basis or based on activity Debit and credit card fees – These represent debit and credit card interchange fees, along with credit card fee income. The Company generally satisfies its performance obligations related to interchange and merchant fees as services are rendered. Periodic credit card fees, net of direct origination costs, are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the period the fee entitles the cardholder to use the card. Sale of OREO – In the normal course of business, the Company will enter into contracts with customers to sell OREO, which has generally been foreclosed upon by the Company. The Company generally satisfies its performance obligation upon conveyance of property from the Company to the customer, generally by way of an executed agreement. The transaction price is fixed, and on occasion the Company will finance a portion of the proceeds the customers uses to purchase the property. These properties are generally sold without recourse or warranty. Wealth management fees – The Company enters into contracts with its customers to manage assets for investment, and/or transact on their accounts. The Company generally satisfies its performance obligations as services are rendered. The management fee is a fixed percentage-based fee calculated upon the average balance of assets under management and is charged to customers on a monthly basis. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with income tax accounting guidance in ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. The income tax accounting guidance results in two components of income tax expense: current and deferred. Current income tax expense reflects taxes to be paid or refunded for the current period by applying the provisions of the enacted tax law to the taxable income or excess of deductions over revenues. The Company determines deferred income taxes using the liability (or balance sheet) method. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is based on the tax effects of the differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and enacted changes in tax rates and laws are recognized in the period in which they occur. Deferred income tax expense results from changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities between periods. Deferred tax assets are recognized if it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the tax position will be realized or sustained upon examination. The term more likely than not means a likelihood of more than 50 percent; the terms examined and upon examination also include resolution of the related appeals or litigation processes, if any. A tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. The determination of whether or not a tax position has met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold considers the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting date and is subject to management’s judgment. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of evidence available, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company files consolidated income tax returns with its subsidiaries. Earnings Per Share Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each year. Diluted earnings per share are computed using the weighted average common shares and all potential dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. The computation of per share earnings is as follows:
(In thousands, except per share data) | 2024 |  | 2023 |  | 2022
Net income available to common stockholders | $ | 152,693 |  |  | $ | 175,057 |  |  | $ | 256,412 |
Average common shares outstanding | 125,489 |  |  | 126,338 |  |  | 123,958 |
Average potential dilutive common shares | 627 |  |  | 438 |  |  | 512 |
Average diluted common shares | 126,116 |  |  | 126,776 |  |  | 124,470 |
Basic earnings per share | $ | 1.22 |  |  | $ | 1.39 |  |  | $ | 2.07 |
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 1.21 |  |  | $ | 1.38 |  |  | $ | 2.06 |
There were 322,750 and 410,490 stock options excluded from the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 earnings per share calculations, respectively, due to the related stock option exercise price exceeding the average market price of the Company’s stock. There were no stock options excluded from the earnings per share calculation for the year ended December 31, 2022 due to the related stock option exercise price exceeding the average market price of the Company’s stock. Stock-Based Compensation The Company has adopted various stock-based compensation plans. The plans provide for the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance stock units and stock awards. Pursuant to the plans, shares are reserved for future issuance by the Company, upon exercise of stock options or awarding of performance or bonus shares granted to directors, officers and other key employees. In accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, the fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model that uses various assumptions. This model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, changes to which can materially affect the fair value estimate. For additional information, see Note 14, Employee Benefit Plans.

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