Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Basis of presentation: The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and, accordingly, do not include all information and note disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The interim financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), but in the opinion of management, the interim financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in accordance with GAAP. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC. Significant accounting policies: The following is a description of significant accounting policies used in preparing the financial statements. The accounting and reporting policies of the Company are in accordance with GAAP and conform to general practices within the consumer finance industry. Principles of consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company operates through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary in each state. The Company also consolidates variable interest entities (each, a “VIE”) when it is considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE because it has (i) power over the significant activities of the VIE and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that could be significant to the VIE. Variable interest entities: The Company transfers pools of loans to wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote, special purpose entities (each, an “SPE”) to secure debt for general funding purposes. These entities have the limited purpose of acquiring finance receivables and holding and making payments on the related debts. Assets transferred to each SPE are legally isolated from the Company and its affiliates, as well as the claims of the Company’s and its affiliates’ creditors. Further, the assets of each SPE are owned by such SPE and are not available to satisfy the debts or other obligations of the Company or any of its affiliates. The Company continues to service the finance receivables transferred to the SPEs. The lenders and investors in the debt issued by the SPEs generally only have recourse to the assets of the SPEs and do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company. The SPEs’ debt arrangements are structured to provide credit enhancements to the lenders and investors, which may include overcollateralization, subordination of interests, excess spread, and reserve funds. These enhancements, along with the isolated finance receivables pools, increase the creditworthiness of the SPEs above that of the Company as a whole. This increases the marketability of the Company’s collateral for borrowing purposes, leading to more favorable borrowing terms, improved interest rate risk management, and additional flexibility to grow the business. The SPEs are considered VIEs under GAAP and are consolidated into the financial statements of their primary beneficiary. The Company is considered to be the primary beneficiary of the SPEs because it has (i) power over the significant activities through its role as servicer of the finance receivables under each debt arrangement and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that could be significant through the Company’s interest in the monthly residual cash flows of the SPEs. Consolidation of VIEs results in these transactions being accounted for as secured borrowings; therefore, the pooled receivables and the related debts remain on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company. Each debt is secured solely by the assets of the VIEs and not by any other assets of the Company. The assets of the VIEs are the only source of funds for repayment on each debt, and restricted cash held by the VIEs can only be used to support payments on the debt. The Company recognizes revenue and provision for credit losses on the finance receivables of the VIEs and interest expense on the related secured debt. Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities for the periods indicated in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to change relate to the determination of the allowance for credit losses, the fair value of share-based compensation, the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, and the fair value of financial instruments. Reclassifications: Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Such reclassifications had no impact on previously reported net income or stockholders’ equity. Net finance receivables: The Company’s small loan portfolio is comprised of branch small loan receivables and convenience check receivables. Branch small loan receivables are direct loans to customers and are secured by non-essential household goods and, in some instances, an automobile. Convenience checks are direct loans originated by mailing checks to customers based on a pre-screening process that includes a review of the prospective customer’s credit profile provided by national credit reporting bureaus or data aggregators. A recipient of a convenience check is able to enter into a loan by endorsing and depositing or cashing the check. Large loan receivables are direct loans to customers, some of which are convenience check receivables and the vast majority of which are secured by non-essential household goods, automobiles, and/or other vehicles. Retail loan receivables consist principally of retail installment sales contracts collateralized by the purchased furniture, appliances, and other retail items and are initiated by and purchased from retailers, subject to the Company’s credit approval. Automobile loan receivables consist of direct automobile purchase loans, which were originated at the dealership and closed in one of the Company’s branches, and indirect automobile purchase loans, which were originated and closed at a dealership in the Company’s network without the need for the customer to visit one of the Company’s branches. In each case, these automobile loans are collateralized primarily by the purchased automobiles and, in the case of indirect loans, were initiated by and purchased from automobile dealerships, subject to the Company’s credit approval. The Company ceased originating automobile purchase loans in November 2017. Allowance for credit losses: The Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued an accounting update in June 2016 to change the impairment model for estimating credit losses on financial assets. The previous incurred loss impairment model required the recognition of credit losses when it was probable that a loss had been incurred. The incurred loss model was replaced by the CECL model, which requires entities to estimate the lifetime expected credit loss on financial instruments and to record an allowance to offset the amortized cost basis of the financial asset. The CECL model requires earlier recognition of credit losses as compared to the incurred loss approach. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2020. The allowance for credit losses is based on historical credit experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts. The historical loss experience is adjusted for quantitative and qualitative factors that are not fully reflected in the historical data. In determining its estimate of expected credit losses, the Company evaluates information related to credit metrics, changes in its lending strategies and underwriting practices, and the current and forecasted direction of the economic and business environment. These metrics include, but are not limited to, loan portfolio mix and growth, unemployment, credit loss trends, delinquency trends, changes in underwriting, and operational risks. The Company selected a static pool Probability of Default (“PD”) / Loss Given Default (“LGD”) model to estimate its base allowance for credit losses, in which the estimated loss is equal to the product of PD and LGD. Historical static pools of net finance receivables are tracked over the term of the pools to identify the incidences of loss (PDs) and the average severity of losses (LGDs). To enhance the precision of the allowance for credit loss estimate, the Company evaluates its finance receivable portfolio on a pool basis and segments each pool of finance receivables with similar credit risk characteristics. As part of its evaluation, the Company considers loan portfolio characteristics such as product type, loan size, loan term, internal or external credit scores, delinquency status, geographical location, and vintage. Based on analysis of historical loss experience, the Company selected the following segmentation: product type, Fair Isaac Corporation (“FICO”) score, and delinquency status. As finance receivables are originated, provisions for credit losses are recorded in amounts sufficient to maintain an allowance for credit losses at an adequate level to provide for estimated losses over the contractual life of the finance receivables (considering the effect of prepayments). Subsequent changes to the contractual terms that are a result of re-underwriting are not included in the finance receivable’s contractual life (considering the effect of prepayments). The Company uses its segmentation loss experience to forecast expected credit losses. Historical information about losses generally provides a basis for the estimate of expected credit losses. The Company also considers the need to adjust historical information to reflect the extent to which current conditions differ from the conditions that existed for the period over which historical information was evaluated. These adjustments to historical loss information may be qualitative or quantitative in nature. Reasonable and supportable macroeconomic forecasts are required for the Company’s allowance for credit loss model. The Company engaged a major rating service to assist with compiling a reasonable and supportable forecast. The Company reviews macroeconomic forecasts to use in its allowance for credit losses. The Company adjusts the historical loss experience by relevant qualitative factors for these expectations. The Company does not require reversion adjustments, as the contractual lives of its portfolio (considering the effect of prepayments) are shorter than its available forecast periods. The Company charges credit losses against the allowance when an account reaches 180 days contractually delinquent, subject to certain exceptions. The Company’s non-titled customer accounts in a confirmed bankruptcy are charged off in the month following the bankruptcy notification or at 60 days contractually delinquent, subject to certain exceptions. Deceased borrower accounts are charged off in the month following the proper notification of passing, with the exception of borrowers with credit life insurance. Subsequent recoveries of amounts charged off, if any, are credited to the allowance. Troubled Debt Restructurings: The Company classifies a finance receivable as a troubled debt restructuring (each, a “TDR”) when the Company modifies the finance receivable’s contractual terms for economic or other reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties and grants a concession that it would not otherwise consider (including Chapter 13 bankruptcies and delinquent renewals). Modifications primarily include an interest rate reduction and/or term extension to reduce the borrower’s monthly payment. Once a loan is classified as a TDR, it remains a TDR for the purpose of calculating the allowance for credit losses for the remainder of its contractual term. The Company establishes its allowance for credit losses related to its TDRs by calculating the present value of all expected cash flows (discounted at the finance receivable’s effective interest rate prior to modification) less the amortized costs of the aggregated pool. The Company uses the modified interest rates and certain assumptions, including expected credit losses and recoveries, to estimate the expected cash flows from its TDRs. Nonaccrual status: Accrual of interest income on finance receivables is suspended when an account becomes 90 days delinquent. If the account is charged off, the accrued interest income is reversed as a reduction of interest and fee income. Interest received on such loans is accounted for on the cash-basis method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Under the cash-basis method, interest income is recorded when the payment is received. Loans resume accruing interest when the past due status is brought below 90 days. The Company made a policy election to not record an allowance for credit losses related to accrued interest because it has nonaccrual and charge-off policies that result in the timely suspension and reversal of accrued interest. Finance receivable origination fees and costs: Non-refundable fees received and direct costs (personnel and digital loan origination costs) incurred for the origination of finance receivables are deferred and recognized to interest income over their contractual lives using the constant yield method. Unamortized amounts are recognized in interest income at the time that finance receivables are paid in full, renewed, or charged off.

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of presentation: The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and, accordingly, do not include all information and note disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The interim financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), but in the opinion of management, the interim financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in accordance with GAAP. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC.

Significant accounting policies: The following is a description of significant accounting policies used in preparing the financial statements. The accounting and reporting policies of the Company are in accordance with GAAP and conform to general practices within the consumer finance industry.

Principles of consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company operates through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary in each state. The Company also consolidates variable interest entities (each, a “VIE”) when it is considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE because it has (i) power over the significant activities of the VIE and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that could be significant to the VIE.

Variable interest entities: The Company transfers pools of loans to wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote, special purpose entities (each, an “SPE”) to secure debt for general funding purposes. These entities have the limited purpose of acquiring finance receivables and holding and making payments on the related debts. Assets transferred to each SPE are legally isolated from the Company and its affiliates, as well as the claims of the Company’s and its affiliates’ creditors. Further, the assets of each SPE are owned by such SPE and are not available to satisfy the debts or other obligations of the Company or any of its affiliates. The Company continues to service the finance receivables transferred to the SPEs. The lenders and investors in the debt issued by the SPEs generally only have recourse to the assets of the SPEs and do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company.

The SPEs’ debt arrangements are structured to provide credit enhancements to the lenders and investors, which may include overcollateralization, subordination of interests, excess spread, and reserve funds. These enhancements, along with the isolated finance receivables pools, increase the creditworthiness of the SPEs above that of the Company as a whole. This increases the marketability of the Company’s collateral for borrowing purposes, leading to more favorable borrowing terms, improved interest rate risk management, and additional flexibility to grow the business.

The SPEs are considered VIEs under GAAP and are consolidated into the financial statements of their primary beneficiary. The Company is considered to be the primary beneficiary of the SPEs because it has (i) power over the significant activities through its role as servicer of the finance receivables under each debt arrangement and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that could be significant through the Company’s interest in the monthly residual cash flows of the SPEs.

Consolidation of VIEs results in these transactions being accounted for as secured borrowings; therefore, the pooled receivables and the related debts remain on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company. Each debt is secured solely by the assets of the VIEs and not by any other assets of the Company. The assets of the VIEs are the only source of funds for repayment on each debt, and restricted cash held by the VIEs can only be used to support payments on the debt. The Company recognizes revenue and provision for credit losses on the finance receivables of the VIEs and interest expense on the related secured debt.

Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities for the periods indicated in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to change relate to the determination of the allowance for credit losses, the fair value of share-based compensation, the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, and the fair value of financial instruments.

Reclassifications: Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Such reclassifications had no impact on previously reported net income or stockholders’ equity.

Net finance receivables: The Company’s small loan portfolio is comprised of branch small loan receivables and convenience check receivables. Branch small loan receivables are direct loans to customers and are secured by non-essential household goods and, in some instances, an automobile. Convenience checks are direct loans originated by mailing checks to customers based on a pre-screening process that includes a review of the prospective customer’s credit profile provided by national credit reporting bureaus or data aggregators. A recipient of a convenience check is able to enter into a loan by endorsing and depositing or cashing the check. Large loan receivables are direct loans to customers, some of which are convenience check receivables and the vast majority of which are secured by non-essential household goods, automobiles, and/or other vehicles. Retail loan receivables consist principally of retail installment sales contracts collateralized by the purchased furniture, appliances, and other retail items and are initiated by and purchased from retailers, subject to the Company’s credit approval. Automobile loan receivables consist of direct automobile purchase loans, which were originated at the dealership and closed in one of the Company’s branches, and indirect automobile purchase loans, which were originated and closed at a dealership in the Company’s network without the need for the customer to visit one of the Company’s branches. In each case, these automobile loans are collateralized primarily by the purchased automobiles and, in the case of indirect loans, were initiated by and purchased from automobile dealerships, subject to the Company’s credit approval. The Company ceased originating automobile purchase loans in November 2017.

Allowance for credit losses: The Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued an accounting update in June 2016 to change the impairment model for estimating credit losses on financial assets. The previous incurred loss impairment model required the recognition of credit losses when it was probable that a loss had been incurred. The incurred loss model was replaced by the CECL model, which requires entities to estimate the lifetime expected credit loss on financial instruments and to record an allowance to offset the amortized cost basis of the financial asset. The CECL model requires earlier recognition of credit losses as compared to the incurred loss approach. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2020.

The allowance for credit losses is based on historical credit experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts. The historical loss experience is adjusted for quantitative and qualitative factors that are not fully reflected in the historical data. In determining its estimate of expected credit losses, the Company evaluates information related to credit metrics, changes in its lending strategies and underwriting practices, and the current and forecasted direction of the economic and business environment. These metrics include, but are not limited to, loan portfolio mix and growth, unemployment, credit loss trends, delinquency trends, changes in underwriting, and operational risks.

The Company selected a static pool Probability of Default (“PD”) / Loss Given Default (“LGD”) model to estimate its base allowance for credit losses, in which the estimated loss is equal to the product of PD and LGD. Historical static pools of net finance receivables are tracked over the term of the pools to identify the incidences of loss (PDs) and the average severity of losses (LGDs).

To enhance the precision of the allowance for credit loss estimate, the Company evaluates its finance receivable portfolio on a pool basis and segments each pool of finance receivables with similar credit risk characteristics. As part of its evaluation, the Company considers loan portfolio characteristics such as product type, loan size, loan term, internal or external credit scores, delinquency status, geographical location, and vintage. Based on analysis of historical loss experience, the Company selected the following segmentation: product type, Fair Isaac Corporation (“FICO”) score, and delinquency status.

As finance receivables are originated, provisions for credit losses are recorded in amounts sufficient to maintain an allowance for credit losses at an adequate level to provide for estimated losses over the contractual life of the finance receivables (considering the effect of prepayments). Subsequent changes to the contractual terms that are a result of re-underwriting are not included in the finance receivable’s contractual life (considering the effect of prepayments). The Company uses its segmentation loss experience to forecast expected credit losses. Historical information about losses generally provides a basis for the estimate of expected credit losses. The Company also considers the need to adjust historical information to reflect the extent to which current conditions differ from the conditions that existed for the period over which historical information was evaluated. These adjustments to historical loss information may be qualitative or quantitative in nature.

Reasonable and supportable macroeconomic forecasts are required for the Company’s allowance for credit loss model. The Company engaged a major rating service to assist with compiling a reasonable and supportable forecast. The Company reviews macroeconomic forecasts to use in its allowance for credit losses. The Company adjusts the historical loss experience by relevant qualitative factors for these expectations. The Company does not require reversion adjustments, as the contractual lives of its portfolio (considering the effect of prepayments) are shorter than its available forecast periods.

The Company charges credit losses against the allowance when an account reaches 180 days contractually delinquent, subject to certain exceptions. The Company’s non-titled customer accounts in a confirmed bankruptcy are charged off in the month following the bankruptcy notification or at 60 days contractually delinquent, subject to certain exceptions. Deceased borrower accounts are charged off in the month following the proper notification of passing, with the exception of borrowers with credit life insurance. Subsequent recoveries of amounts charged off, if any, are credited to the allowance.

Troubled Debt Restructurings: The Company classifies a finance receivable as a troubled debt restructuring (each, a “TDR”) when the Company modifies the finance receivable’s contractual terms for economic or other reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties and grants a concession that it would not otherwise consider (including Chapter 13 bankruptcies and delinquent renewals). Modifications primarily include an interest rate reduction and/or term extension to reduce the borrower’s monthly payment. Once a loan is classified as a TDR, it remains a TDR for the purpose of calculating the allowance for credit losses for the remainder of its contractual term.

The Company establishes its allowance for credit losses related to its TDRs by calculating the present value of all expected cash flows (discounted at the finance receivable’s effective interest rate prior to modification) less the amortized costs of the aggregated pool. The Company uses the modified interest rates and certain assumptions, including expected credit losses and recoveries, to estimate the expected cash flows from its TDRs.

Nonaccrual status: Accrual of interest income on finance receivables is suspended when an account becomes 90 days delinquent. If the account is charged off, the accrued interest income is reversed as a reduction of interest and fee income. Interest received on such loans is accounted for on the cash-basis method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Under the cash-basis method, interest income is recorded when the payment is received. Loans resume accruing interest when the past due status is brought below 90 days. The Company made a policy election to not record an allowance for credit losses related to accrued interest because it has nonaccrual and charge-off policies that result in the timely suspension and reversal of accrued interest.

Finance receivable origination fees and costs: Non-refundable fees received and direct costs (personnel and digital loan origination costs) incurred for the origination of finance receivables are deferred and recognized to interest income over their contractual lives using the constant yield method. Unamortized amounts are recognized in interest income at the time that finance receivables are paid in full, renewed, or charged off.