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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Company and nature of operations. Washington Federal Bank, National Association, a federally-insured national bank dba WaFd Bank (the “Bank” or “WaFd Bank”), was founded on April 24, 1917 in Ballard, Washington and is engaged primarily in providing lending, depository, insurance and other banking services to consumers, mid-sized to large businesses, and owners and developers of commercial real estate. Washington Federal, Inc., a Washington corporation (the “Company”), was formed as the Bank’s holding company in November, 1994. As used throughout this document, the terms “Washington Federal” or the “Company” refer to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, and the term “Bank” refers to the operating subsidiary, Washington Federal Bank, National Association. The Company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The Bank conducts its activities through a network of 234 bank branches located in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. Risks and Uncertainties. The worldwide spread of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) has created significant uncertainty in the global economy. There have been no comparable recent events that provide guidance as to the effect the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic may have, and, as a result, the ultimate impact of COVID-19 and the extent to which COVID-19 and the related government actions impact the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and difficult to predict. Basis of presentation and use of estimates. The Company’s accounting and financial reporting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). Inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the Company makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the reporting periods and related disclosures. The areas that require application of significant management judgments often result in the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in future periods. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Certain amounts in the financial statements from prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current financial statement presentation. In certain instances, amounts in text are presented by rounding to the nearest thousand. The Company's fiscal year end is September 30. All references to 2020, 2019 and 2018 represent balances as of September 30, 2020, September 30, 2019, and September 30, 2018, or activity for the fiscal years then ended. Cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks, overnight investments and repurchase agreements with an initial maturity of three months or less. Restricted cash balances - Based on the level of vault cash on hand, the Company was not required to maintain cash reserve balances with the Federal Reserve Bank as of September 30, 2020. As of September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, the Company pledged cash collateral related to derivative contracts of $97,600,000 and $31,850,000, respectively. Equity securities - The Company records equity securities within Other assets in its Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Investments in equity securities with readily determinable fair values (marketable) are measured at fair value, with changes in the fair value recognized as a component of Other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Investments in equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values (non-marketable) are accounted for at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or similar investment of the same issuer, also referred to as the measurement alternative. Any adjustments to the carrying value of these investments are recorded in Other income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Debt securities, including mortgage-backed securities. The Company accounts for debt securities in two categories: held-to-maturity and available-for-sale. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are deferred and recognized into income over the contractual life of the asset using the effective interest method. Held-to-maturity securities are accounted for at amortized cost, but the Company must have both the positive intent and the ability to hold those securities to maturity. There are very limited circumstances under which securities in the held-to-maturity category can be sold without jeopardizing the cost basis of accounting for the remainder of the securities in this category. Available-for-sale securities are accounted for at fair value. Gains and losses realized on the sale of these securities are accounted for based on the specific identification method. Unrealized gains and losses for available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and reported net of the related tax effect in the accumulated other comprehensive income component of shareholders' equity. Allowance for Credit Losses (Held-to-Maturity Debt Securities). For held-to-maturity (“HTM”) debt securities, the Company is required to utilize a CECL methodology to estimate expected credit losses. Substantially all of the Company’s HTM debt securities are issued by U.S. government agencies or U.S. government-sponsored enterprises. These securities carry the explicit and/or implicit guarantee of the U.S. government and have a long history of zero credit loss. Therefore, the Company did not record an allowance for credit losses for these securities. As September 30, 2020, the Company determined that the expected credit loss on its corporate and municipal bonds was immaterial, and therefore, an allowance for credit losses was not recorded. See Note C "Investment Securities" and Note F "Fair Value Measurements" for more information about HTM debt securities. Allowance for Credit Losses (Available-for-Sale Debt Securities). The impairment model for available-for-sale (“AFS”) debt securities differs from the CECL methodology applied for HTM debt securities because AFS debt securities are measured at fair value rather than amortized cost. Although ASC 326 replaced the legacy other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) model with a credit loss model, it retained the fundamental nature of the legacy OTTI model. For AFS debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either criteria is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. For AFS debt securities where neither of the criteria are met, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, management considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the credit rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that 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 losses is recorded for the credit loss, limited to the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any remaining discount that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income. Under the new guidance, an entity may no longer consider the length of time fair value has been less than amortized cost. Changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded as a provision (or release) for credit losses. 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. As of September 30, 2020, the Company determined that the unrealized loss positions in AFS securities were not the result of credit losses, and therefore, an allowance for credit losses was not recorded. See Note C "Investment Securities" and Note F "Fair Value Measurements" for more information about AFS debt securities. Loans receivable. Loans that are performing in accordance with their contractual terms are carried at the unpaid principal balance, net of premiums, discounts and net deferred loan fees. Net deferred loan fees include nonrefundable loan origination fees less direct loan origination costs. Net deferred loan fees, premiums and discounts are amortized into interest income using either the interest method or straight-line method over the terms of the loans, adjusted for actual prepayments. In addition to fees and costs for originating loans, various other fees and charges related to existing loans may occur, including prepayment charges, late charges and assumption fees. When a borrower fails to make a required payment on a loan, the Bank attempts to cure the deficiency by contacting the borrower. Contact is made after a payment is 30 days past its grace period. In most cases, deficiencies are cured promptly. If the delinquency is not cured within 90 days, the Bank may institute appropriate action to foreclose on the property. If foreclosed, the property is sold at a public sale and may be purchased by the Bank. Allowance for Credit Losses (Loans Receivable). Effective October 1, 2019, the Company has applied FASB ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses ("ASC 326"), so the allowance calculation is based on current expected credit loss methodology ("CECL"). Prior to October 1, 2019, the calculation was based on incurred loss methodology. See Note B "New Accounting Pronouncements" and Note E "Allowance for Losses on Loans" for details. The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) for the expected credit losses of the loan portfolio as well as unfunded loan commitments. The amount of ACL is based on ongoing, quarterly assessments by management. The CECL methodology requires an estimate of the credit losses expected over the life of an exposure (or pool of exposures) and replaces the incurred loss methodology’s threshold that delayed the recognition of a credit loss until it was probable a loss event was incurred. The ACL consists of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded commitments. The estimate of expected credit losses under the CECL methodology is based on relevant information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amounts. Historical loss experience is generally the starting point for estimating expected credit losses. We then consider whether the historical loss experience should be adjusted for asset-specific risk characteristics or current conditions at the reporting date that did not exist over the period that historical experience was based for each loan type. Finally, we consider forecasts about future economic conditions or changes in collateral values that are reasonable and supportable. Portfolio segment is defined as the level at which an entity develops and documents a systematic methodology to determine its ACL. The Company has designated two loan portfolio segments, commercial loans and consumer loans. These loan portfolio segments are further disaggregated into classes, which represent loans of similar type, risk characteristics, and methods for monitoring and assessing credit risk. The commercial loan portfolio segment is disaggregated into five classes: multi-family, commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, construction, and land acquisition and development. The risk of loss for the commercial loan portfolio segment is generally most indicated by the credit risk rating assigned to each borrower. Commercial loan risk ratings are determined by experienced senior credit officers based on specific facts and circumstances and are subject to periodic review by an independent internal team of credit specialists. The consumer loan portfolio segment is disaggregated into five classes: single-family-residential mortgage, custom construction, consumer lot loans, home equity lines of credit, and other consumer. The risk of loss for the consumer loan portfolio segment is generally most indicated by delinquency status and general economic factors. Each commercial and consumer loan portfolio class may also be further segmented based on risk characteristics. For most of our loan portfolio classes, the historical loss experience is determined using a cohort methodology. This method pools loans into groups (“cohorts”) sharing similar risk characteristics and tracks each cohort’s net charge-offs over the lives of the loans to calculate a historical loss rate. The historical loss rates for each cohort are then averaged to calculate an overall historical loss rate which is applied to the current loan balance to arrive at the quantitative baseline portion of the allowance for credit losses for the respective loan portfolio class. For certain loan portfolio classes, the Company determined there was not sufficient historical loss information to calculate a meaningful historical loss rate using the cohort methodology. For any such loan portfolio class, the weighted-average remaining maturity (“WARM”) methodology is being utilized until sufficient historical loss data is obtained. The WARM method multiplies an average annual loss rate by the expected remaining life of the loan pool to arrive at the quantitative baseline portion of the allowance for credit losses for the respective loan portfolio class. The Company also considers qualitative adjustments to the historical loss rate for each loan portfolio class. The qualitative adjustments for each loan class consider the conditions over the period from which historical loss experience was based and are split into two components: 1) asset or class specific risk characteristics or current conditions at the reporting date related to portfolio credit quality, remaining payments, volume and nature, credit culture and management, business environment or other management factors and 2) reasonable and supportable forecast of future economic conditions and collateral values. The Company performs a quarterly asset quality review which includes a review of forecasted gross charge-offs and recoveries, nonperforming assets, criticized loans, risk rating migration, delinquencies, etc. The asset quality review is performed by management and the results are used to consider a qualitative overlay to the quantitative baseline. The second qualitative adjustment noted above, economic conditions and collateral values, encompasses a one-year reasonable and supportable forecast period. The overlay adjustment for the reasonable and supportable forecast assumes an immediate reversion after the one-year forecast period to historical loss rates for the remaining life of the respective loan pool. When management deems it to be appropriate, the Company establishes a specific reserve for individually evaluated loans that do not share similar risk characteristics with the loans included in each respective loan pool. These individually evaluated loans are removed from their respective pools and typically represent collateral dependent loans but may also include other non-performing loans or troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”). In addition, the Company individually evaluates “reasonably expected” TDRs, which are identified by the Company as a loan expected to be classified as a TDR within the next six months. Management judgment is utilized to make this determination. Troubled debt restructured loans ("TDRs"). The Company will consider modifying the interest rates and terms of a loan if it determines that a modification is a better alternative to foreclosure. Most TDRs are accruing and performing loans where the borrower has proactively approached the Company about modifications due to temporary financial difficulties. Each request is individually evaluated for merit and likelihood of success. The concession for these loans is typically a payment reduction through a rate reduction of 100 to 200 bps for a specific term, usually six to 12 months. Interest-only payments may also be approved during the modification period. Principal forgiveness is generally not an available option for restructured loans. Before granting approval to modify a loan in a TDR, the borrower’s ability to repay is evaluated, including: current income levels and debt to income ratio, borrower’s credit score, payment history of the loan and updated evaluation of the secondary repayment source. The Company also modifies some loans that are not classified as TDRs as the modification is due to a restructuring where the effective interest rate on the debt is reduced to reflect a decrease in market interest rates. The Company's ACL reflects the effects of a TDR when management reasonably expects at the reporting date that a TDR will be executed with an individual borrower. CARES Act loan modifications. The Company is actively working with its borrowers to provide loan payment deferrals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pursuant to the CARES Act, these loan modifications are not accounted for as TDRs. Payment deferral terms generally range from 90 to 180 days and some borrowers have been granted multiple deferrals. Non-accrual loans. Loans are placed on nonaccrual status when, in the judgment of management, the probability of collection of interest is deemed to be insufficient to warrant further accrual. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, previously accrued but unpaid interest is deducted from interest income. The Company does not accrue interest on loans 90 days or more past due. If payment is made on a loan so that the loan becomes less than 90 days past due, and the Company expects full collection of principal and interest, the loan is returned to full accrual status. Any interest ultimately collected is credited to income in the period of recovery. A loan is charged-off when the loss is estimable and it is confirmed that the borrower is not expected to be able to meet contractual obligations. If a consumer loan is on non-accrual status before becoming a TDR it will stay on non-accrual status following restructuring until it has been performing for at least six months, at which point it may be moved to accrual status. If a loan is on accrual status before it becomes a TDR, and management concludes that full repayment is probable based on internal evaluation, it will remain on accrual status following restructuring. If the restructured consumer loan does not perform, it is placed on non-accrual status when it is 90 days delinquent. For commercial loans, six consecutive payments on newly restructured loan terms are required prior to returning the loan to accrual status. In some instances, after the required six consecutive payments are made, management will conclude that collection of the entire principal and interest due is still in doubt. In those instances, the loan will remain on non-accrual status. Accrued interest receivable. Upon adoption of ASC 326, the Company made the following elections regarding accrued interest receivable ("AIR"): •Presenting accrued interest receivable balances separately from their underlying instruments within the consolidated statements of financial condition. •Excluding accrued interest receivable that is included in the amortized cost of financing receivables from related disclosure requirements. •Continuing our policy to write off accrued interest receivable by reversing interest income in cases where the Company does not reasonably expect to receive payment. •Not measuring an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivable due to the Company’s policy of writing off uncollectible accrued interest receivable balances in a timely manner. We believe accrued interest receivable recorded as of September 30, 2020 is collectible. Off-balance-sheet credit exposures. The only material off-balance-sheet credit exposures are loans in process and unused lines of credit. The reserve for unfunded commitments is recognized as a liability (other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition), with adjustments to the reserve recognized through provision for credit losses in the consolidated statements of income. The reserve for unfunded commitments represents the expected lifetime credit losses on off-balance sheet obligations such as commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. However, a liability is not recognized for commitments that are unconditionally cancellable by the Company. The reserve for unfunded commitments is determined by estimating future draws, including the effects of risk mitigation actions, and applying the expected loss rates on those draws. Loss rates are estimated by utilizing the same loss rates calculated for the allowance for credit losses related to the respective loan portfolio class. See Note M "Commitments and Contingencies" for details. Client swap program hedges. Interest rate swap agreements are provided to certain clients who desire to convert their obligations from variable to fixed interest rates. Under these agreements, the Bank enters into a variable-rate loan agreement with a customer in addition to a swap agreement, and then enters into a corresponding swap agreement with a third party in order to offset its exposure on the customer swap agreement. As the interest rate swap agreements with the customers and third parties are not designated as accounting hedges under FASB ASC 815, the instruments are marked to market in earnings. The change in fair value of the offsetting swaps are included in interest income and interest expense and there is no impact on net income. There is fee income earned on the swaps that is included in loan fee income. Borrowings cash flow hedges. The Company has entered into interest rate swaps to convert a series of future short-term borrowings to fixed-rate payments. These interest rate swaps qualify as cash flow hedging instruments under ASC 815 so gains and losses are recorded in Other Comprehensive Income to the extent the hedge is effective. Gains and losses on the interest rate swaps are reclassified from OCI to earnings in the period the hedged transaction affects earnings and are included in the same income statement line item that the hedged transaction is recorded. Mortgage loan "last-of-layer" portfolio hedges. The Company has entered into interest rate swaps to hedge the portion of the respective closed portfolios of prepayable mortgage loans that are expected to remain at the end of the hedge term. These hedges qualify as last-of-layer hedges under ASC 815 and provide for matching of the recognition of the gains and losses on the interest rate swap and the related hedged item. Commercial loan fair value hedges. The Company has entered into interest rate swaps to hedge long term fixed rate commercial loans. These hedges qualify as fair value hedges under ASC 815 and provide for matching of the recognition of the gains and losses on the interest rate swap and the related hedged loan. Premises and equipment. Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Costs for improvements are capitalized. Charges for ordinary maintenance and repairs are expensed to operations as incurred. Real estate owned. Real estate properties acquired through foreclosure of loans or through acquisitions are recorded initially at fair value less selling costs and are subsequently recorded at lower of cost or fair value. Costs for improvements are capitalized. Any gains (losses) and maintenance costs are recorded in Gain (loss) on real estate owned, net. Intangible assets. Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of businesses acquired over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Other intangibles, including core deposit intangibles, are acquired assets that lack physical substance but can be distinguished from goodwill. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter. Other intangible assets are amortized over their estimated lives and are subject to impairment testing when events or circumstances change. If circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable, an impairment charge could be recorded. The Bank amortizes the core deposit intangibles over their estimated lives using an accelerated method. The table below provides detail regarding the Company's intangible assets.
| Goodwill |  | Core Deposit and Other Intangibles |  | Total
| (In thousands)
Balance at September 30, 2018 | $ | 301,368 |  |  | $ | 9,918 |  |  | $ | 311,286 |
Additions | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Amortization | — |  |  | (2,039) |  |  | (2,039) |
Balance at September 30, 2019 | 301,368 |  |  | 7,879 |  |  | 309,247 |
Additions | 1,339 |  |  | 1,471 |  |  | 2,810 |
Amortization | — |  |  | (2,151) |  |  | (2,151) |
Balance at September 30, 2020 | $ | 302,707 |  |  | $ | 7,199 |  |  | $ | 309,906 |
The table below presents the estimated future amortization expense of core deposit and other intangibles for the next five years.
Fiscal Year |  | Expense
|  | (In thousands)
2021 |  | $ | 1,369 |
2022 |  | 949 |
2023 |  | 893 |
2024 |  | 859 |
2025 |  | 810 |
Income taxes. Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, a deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement and corresponding tax treatment of income, gains, losses, deductions or credits using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The provision for income taxes includes current and deferred income tax expense based on net income adjusted for temporary and permanent differences such as depreciation, loan loss reserve, tax-exempt interest, and affordable housing tax credits. Reserves for uncertain tax positions, together with any related interest and penalties, if applicable, and amortization of affordable housing tax credit investments are recorded within income tax expense. Accounting for stock-based compensation. We recognize in the statement of operations the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity-based forms of compensation issued to employees over the employees' requisite service period (generally the vesting period). The requisite service period may be subject to performance conditions. Stock options and restricted stock awards generally vest ratably over two to five years and are recognized as expense over that same period of time. The exercise price of each option equals the market price of the Company's common stock on the date of the grant, and the maximum term is ten years. Certain grants of restricted stock are subject to performance-based and market-based vesting as well as other approved vesting conditions and cliff vest based on those conditions. Compensation expense is recognized over the service period to the extent restricted stock awards are expected to vest. See Note O for additional information. Business segments. As the Company manages its business and operations on a consolidated basis, management has determined that there is one reportable business segment. Regulatory matters. On February 28, 2018, pursuant to a Stipulation and Consent to the Issuance of a Consent Order (the “Consent Order”), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued a Consent Order relating to the Bank, the terms of which are intended to further enhance its Bank Secrecy Act ("BSA") program. The Consent Order requires the Bank to create a BSA-focused action plan, supplement existing customer due diligence policies and procedures, perform a BSA risk assessment, perform a transaction activity look-back, enhance training, and complete independent testing. The Bank has not been informed that this action includes the assessment of a civil money penalty. The Bank is working cooperatively with the OCC to implement the necessary changes to comply with the provisions of the Consent Order. On October 9, 2013, the CFPB entered a Consent Order against the Bank that required the Bank to pay a civil money penalty of $34,000, and to adopt an enhanced compliance program related to reporting Home Mortgage Disclosure Act ("HMDA") data. The Bank has adopted an enhanced HMDA program, which continues to be subject to review by the CFPB. On October 27, 2020 the CFPB entered a second Consent Order against the Bank for violations related to the Bank’s HMDA reporting obligations. The 2020 Consent Order required the Bank to pay a $200,000 civil money penalty and develop and implement a HMDA compliance management system. Subsequent events. The Company has evaluated subsequent events for adjustment to or disclosure in the Company’s consolidated financial statements through the date of this report, and the Company has not identified any recordable or disclosable events, not otherwise reported in these consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.

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