v3.24.4
Fair Value Measurements
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, provides a three-level hierarchy for classifying the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value of financial instruments based on whether the inputs are observable or unobservable. It also requires certain disclosures about those measurements. The three-level valuation hierarchy is as follows:
•Level 1: Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs are defined as those that utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access.
•Level 2: Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs are those that utilize inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active or inactive markets, quoted prices for the identical assets in an inactive market and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. The Company evaluates factors such as the frequency of transactions, the size of the bid-ask spread and the significance of adjustments made when considering transactions involving similar assets or liabilities to assess the relevance of those observed prices. If relevant and observable prices are available, the fair values of the related assets or liabilities would be classified as Level 2.
•Level 3: Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs are those based on unobservable inputs and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability being valued. In instances where the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy in which the measurements are classified is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Accordingly, the Company may utilize both observable and unobservable inputs in determining the fair values of financial instruments classified within the Level 3 category.
The Company evaluates the classification of each fair value measurement within the hierarchy at least quarterly.
The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and involves consideration of factors specific to the asset or liability. Furthermore, certain techniques used to measure fair value involve some degree of judgment and, as a result, are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company would realize in a current market exchange.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows (dollars in millions):
Quoted Price in Active Markets
for Identical Assets 
(Level 1)
Significant Other Observable Inputs 
(Level 2)
Significant Unobservable Inputs 
(Level 3)
Total
Balance at December 31, 2023
Assets
Fair value - OCI
U.S. Treasury and U.S. GSE securities$12,928 $9 $— $12,937 
Residential mortgage-backed securities - Agency— 465 — 465 
Available-for-sale investment securities$12,928 $474 $— $13,402 
Derivative financial instruments - cash flow hedges(1)
$— $2 $— $2 
Fair value - Net income
Marketable equity securities$1 $— $— $1 
Derivative financial instruments - fair value hedges(1)
$— $2 $— $2 
Balance at December 31, 2022
Assets
Fair value - OCI
U.S. Treasury and U.S. GSE securities$11,416 $7 $— $11,423 
Residential mortgage-backed securities - Agency— 564 — 564 
Available-for-sale investment securities$11,416 $571 $— $11,987 
Derivative financial instruments - cash flow hedges(1)
$— $1 $— $1 
Fair value - Net income
Marketable equity securities$41 $— $— $41 
Liabilities
Fair value - OCI
Derivative financial instruments - cash flow hedges(1)
$— $3 $— $3 
Fair value - Net income
Derivative financial instruments - fair value hedges(1)
$— $2 $— $2 
(1)Derivative instrument carrying values in an asset or liability position are presented as part of other assets or accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively, in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition.
Available-for-Sale Investment Securities
Investment securities classified as available-for-sale consist of U.S. Treasury and U.S. GSE securities and RMBS. The fair value estimates of investment securities classified as Level 1, consisting of U.S. Treasury securities, are determined based on quoted market prices for the same securities. The fair value estimates of U.S. GSE securities and RMBS are classified as Level 2 and are valued by maximizing the use of relevant observable inputs, including quoted prices for similar securities, benchmark yield curves and market-corroborated inputs.
The Company validates the fair value estimates provided by pricing services primarily by comparing to valuations obtained through other pricing sources. The Company evaluates pricing variances among different pricing sources to ensure that the valuations utilized are reasonable. The Company also corroborates the reasonableness of the fair value estimates with analysis of trends of significant inputs, such as market interest rate curves. The Company further performs due diligence in understanding the procedures and techniques performed by the pricing services to derive fair value estimates.
At December 31, 2023, amounts reported in RMBS reflect U.S. government agency and U.S. GSE obligations issued by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with an aggregate par value of $480 million, a weighted-average coupon of 4.09% and a weighted-average remaining maturity of four years.
Marketable Equity Securities
The Company holds non-controlling equity positions in payment service entities that have actively traded stock and therefore have readily determinable fair values. The Company classifies these equity securities as Level 1, the fair value estimates of which are determined based on quoted share prices for the same securities.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company’s derivative financial instruments consist of interest rate swaps and foreign exchange forward contracts. These instruments are classified as Level 2 as their fair values are estimated using proprietary pricing models, containing certain assumptions based on readily observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves, option volatility and foreign currency forward and spot rates. In determining fair values, the pricing models use widely accepted valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity and the observable market-based inputs. The fair values of the interest rate swaps are determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash receipts (or payments) and the discounted expected variable cash payments (or receipts). The variable cash payments are based on an expectation of future interest rates derived from the observable market interest rate curves. The Company considers collateral and master netting agreements that mitigate credit exposure to counterparties in determining the counterparty credit risk valuation adjustment. The fair values of the currency instruments are valued by comparing the contracted forward exchange rate pertaining to the specific contract maturities to the current market exchange rate.
The Company validates the fair value estimates of interest rate swaps primarily through comparison to the fair value estimates computed by the counterparties to each of the derivative transactions. The Company evaluates pricing variances among different pricing sources to ensure that the valuations utilized are reasonable. The Company also corroborates the reasonableness of the fair value estimates with analysis of trends of significant inputs, such as market interest rate curves. The Company performs due diligence in understanding the impact of any changes to the valuation techniques performed by proprietary pricing models before implementation, working closely with the third-party valuation service and reviewing the service’s control objectives at least annually. The Company corroborates the fair value of foreign exchange forward contracts through independent calculation of the fair value estimates.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
The Company also has assets that, under certain conditions, are subject to measurement at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These assets include those associated with acquired businesses, including goodwill. For these assets, measurement at fair value in periods subsequent to the initial recognition of the assets may be applicable whenever one is tested for impairment. No impairments were recognized related to these assets for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Financial Instruments Measured at Other Than Fair Value
The following tables disclose the estimated fair value of the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are not required to be carried at fair value (dollars in millions):
Balance at December 31, 2023Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)TotalCarrying Value
Assets
Amortized cost
Residential mortgage-backed securities - Agency$— $234 $— $234 $253 
Held-to-maturity investment securities$— $234 $— $234 $253 
Net loan receivables$— $— $126,940 $126,940 $119,126 
Carrying value approximates fair value(1)
Cash and cash equivalents$11,685 $— $— $11,685 $11,685 
Restricted cash$43 $— $— $43 $43 
Accrued interest receivables(2)
$— $1,450 $— $1,450 $1,450 
Liabilities
Amortized cost
Time deposits(3)
$— $45,333 $— $45,333 $45,240 
Short-term borrowings$— $750 $— $750 $750 
Long-term borrowings - owed to securitization investors$— $10,770 $65 $10,835 $10,993 
Other long-term borrowings— 9,469 — 9,469 9,588 
Long-term borrowings$— $20,239 $65 $20,304 $20,581 
Carrying value approximates fair value(1)
Accrued interest payables(2)
$— $421 $— $421 $421 
Balance at December 31, 2022
Assets
Amortized cost
Residential mortgage-backed securities - Agency$— $199 $— $199 $221 
Held-to-maturity investment securities$— $199 $— $199 $221 
Net loan receivables$— $— $110,796 $110,796 $104,746 
Carrying value approximates fair value(1)
Cash and cash equivalents$8,856 $— $— $8,856 $8,856 
Restricted cash$41 $— $— $41 $41 
Accrued interest receivables(2)
$— $1,211 $— $1,211 $1,211 
Liabilities
Amortized cost
Time deposits(3)
$— $32,710 $— $32,710 $33,070 
Long-term borrowings - owed to securitization investors$— $9,862 $84 $9,946 $10,259 
Other long-term borrowings— 9,468 — 9,468 9,849 
Long-term borrowings$— $19,330 $84 $19,414 $20,108 
Carrying value approximates fair value(1)
Accrued interest payables(2)
$— $308 $— $308 $308 
(1)    The carrying values of these assets and liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.
(2)    Accrued interest receivable and payable carrying values are presented as part of other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively, in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition.
(3)    Excludes deposits without contractually defined maturities for all periods presented.