Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy

Nature of Operations

The Company is a small-dollar consumer finance (installment loan) company headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina that offers short-term small loans, medium-term larger loans, related credit insurance products and ancillary products and services to individuals who have limited access to other sources of consumer credit. It also offers income tax return preparation services to its customer base and to others.

As of March 31, 2023, the Company operated 1,073 branches in Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin. Branches in the aforementioned states operate under one of the following names: World Finance Corporation or World Finance.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of World Acceptance Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”). Subsidiaries consist of operating entities in various states and WAC Insurance Company, Ltd. (a captive reinsurance company). All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant item subject to such estimates and assumptions that could materially change in the near term is the allowance for credit losses.

Reclassification, Policy

Reclassification

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Such reclassifications had no impact on previously reported net income or shareholders' equity.

Business Segments

Business Segments

The Company reports operating segments in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 280. Operating segments are components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. FASB ASC Topic 280 requires that a public enterprise report a measure of segment profit or loss, certain specific revenue and expense items, segment assets, information about the way that the operating segments were determined and other items.

The Company has one reportable segment. The other revenue generating activities of the Company, including the sale of insurance products, income tax preparation, and the automobile club, are done within the existing branch network in conjunction with or as a complement to the lending operations. There is no discrete financial information available for these activities, and they do not meet the criteria under FASB ASC Topic 280 to be considered operating segments.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less from the date of original issuance to be cash equivalents. As of March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had $8.3 million and $7.8 million, respectively, in restricted cash associated with its captive insurance subsidiary that reinsures a portion of the credit insurance sold in connection with loans made by the Company.

Loans and Interest Income/Nonaccrual Policy

Loans and Interest and Fee Income

The Company is licensed to originate consumer loans in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. During fiscal 2023, 2022, and 2021, the Company originated loans generally ranging up to $6,000 with terms of 60 months or fewer. Experience indicates that a majority of the consumer loans are refinanced, and the Company accounts for the majority of the refinancings as new loans. Generally, a customer must make multiple payments in order to qualify for refinancing. Furthermore, the Company's lending policy has predetermined lending amounts so that in most cases a refinancing will result in advancing additional funds. The Company believes that the advancement of additional funds constitutes more than a minor modification to the terms of the existing loan if the present value of the cash flows under the terms of the new loan will be 10% or more of the present value of the remaining cash flows under the terms of the original loan.

The following table sets forth information about our loan products for fiscal 2023:

	Minimum Origination		Maximum Origination		Minimum Term (Months)	Maximum Term (Months)
Small loans	$	500	$	2,450	5	31
Large loans	2,500		33,450		10	60
Tax advance loans	500		5,000		8	8

Gross loans receivable at March 31, 2023 and 2022 consisted of the following:

	2023		2022
Small loans	$	580,107,889	$	727,852,627
Large loans	807,345,625		789,112,912
Tax advance loans	2,562,054		5,823,321
Total gross loans	$	1,390,015,568	$	1,522,788,860

Fees received and direct costs incurred for the origination of loans are deferred and amortized to interest income over the contractual lives of the loans using the interest method. Unamortized amounts are recognized in interest income at the time that loans are refinanced or paid in full except for those refinancings that do not constitute a more than minor modification.

Loans are carried at the gross amount outstanding, reduced by unearned interest and insurance income, net of deferred origination fees and direct costs, and an allowance for credit losses.  Net unamortized deferred origination costs were $4.9 million and $6.9 million as of March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The Company recognizes interest and fee income using the interest method. Charges for late payments are recognized in interest and fee income when collected.

With the exception of tax advance loans, which are interest free, the Company offers its loans at the prevailing statutory rates for terms not to exceed 60 months. Management believes that the carrying value approximates the fair value of its loan portfolio.

Nonaccrual Policy

The accrual of interest is discontinued when a loan is 61 days or more past the contractual due date. When the interest accrual is discontinued, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed against interest income. While a loan is on nonaccrual status, interest income is recognized only when a payment is received. Once a loan moves to nonaccrual status, it remains in nonaccrual status until it is paid out, charged off or refinanced.

Impaired LoansThe Company defines impaired loans as bankrupt accounts and accounts 91 days or more past due on a recency basis. In accordance with the Company’s charge-off policy, once a loan is deemed uncollectible, 100% of the net investment is charged off, except in the case of a borrower who has filed for bankruptcy. As of March 31, 2023 and 2022, bankrupt accounts that had not been charged off were approximately $6.8 million and $5.4 million, respectively.  Bankrupt accounts 91 days or more past due on a recency basis are reserved at 100% of the gross loan balance. The Company also considers any accounts 91 days or more past due on a recency basis to be impaired, and such accounts are reserved at 100% of the gross loan balance, less a rehab rate for defaulted loans that do not charge-off.

Allowance for Loan Losses

Allowance for Credit Losses

Refer to Note 2, “Allowance for Credit Losses and Credit Quality Information”, for information regarding the Company's adoption of the CECL allowance model on April 1, 2020 and a description of the methodology it utilizes.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the related asset as follows: buildings, 25 to 40 years; furniture and fixtures, 5 to 10 years; equipment, 3 to 7 years; and vehicles, 3 years. Amortization of leasehold improvements is recorded using the straight-line method over the lesser of the estimated useful life of the asset, which is generally five years, or the lease term, which is generally three to five years. Additions to premises and equipment and major replacements or improvements are added at cost. Maintenance, repairs, and minor replacements are charged to operating expense as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in Insurance and other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Leases

Leases

For any new or modified lease, the Company, at the inception of the contract, determines whether a contract is or contains a lease. The Company records ROU assets and lease liabilities for its leases, which are initially recognized based on the discounted future lease payments over the term of the lease. The Company uses its effective annual or fourth quarter interest rate as the discount rate when evaluating leases. Refer to Note 9, "Leases", for further discussion of the discount rate.

Lease term is defined as the non-cancelable period of the lease plus any options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the option. The Company has elected not to recognize ROU assets and lease obligations for its short-term equipment leases, which are defined as leases with an initial term of 12 months or less. Further, the Company has elected to not separate lease from non-lease components. Variable lease costs include expenses such as common area maintenance, utilities, and repairs and maintenance.

Other Assets

Other Assets

Other assets include cash surrender value of life insurance policies, HTC investments, prepaid expenses, debt issuance costs related to the senior notes payable, and other deposits and receivables.

Debt Issuance Costs

Debt Issuance Costs

In accordance with ASC 835, debt issuance costs related to the senior unsecured notes payable are presented as a direct deduction from its carrying value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Unamortized debt issuance costs related to the senior unsecured notes payable as of March 31, 2023 and 2022 were $3.5 million and 4.6 million, respectively.

As the Company intends to pay down the senior notes payable throughout the contractual arrangement, debt issuance costs related to this arrangement are presented as an asset within Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as discussed above. Unamortized debt issuance costs related to the senior notes payable as of March 31, 2023 and 2022 were $1.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Intangible assets include the cost of acquiring existing customers ("customer lists") and the fair value assigned to non-compete agreements. Customer lists are amortized on a straight line or accelerated basis over their estimated period of benefit, ranging from 8 to 23 years with a weighted average of approximately 9.4 years. Non-compete agreements are amortized on a straight line basis over the term of the agreement, ranging from 3 to 5.3 years with a weighted average of approximately 4.7 years.

Customer lists are allocated at a branch level and are evaluated for impairment at a branch level when a triggering event occurs, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 360-10-05. If a triggering event occurs, the impairment loss to the customer list is generally the remaining unamortized customer list balance. In most acquisitions, the original fair value of the customer list allocated to a branch is less than $100,000, and management believes that in the event a triggering event were to occur, the impairment loss to an unamortized customer list would be immaterial.

Non-compete agreements are valued at the stated amount paid to the other party for these agreements, which the Company believes approximates the fair value. The fair value of the customer lists is based on a valuation model that utilizes the Company’s historical data to estimate the value of any acquired customer lists. In a business combination, the remaining excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the tangible assets, customer list, and non-compete agreements is allocated to goodwill. The branches the Company acquires are small, privately-owned branches, which do not have sufficient historical data to determine customer attrition. The Company believes that the customers acquired have the same characteristics and perform similarly to its customers. Therefore, the Company utilized the attrition patterns of its customers when developing the estimate of attrition for acquired customers. This estimation method is re-evaluated periodically.

The Company evaluates goodwill annually for impairment in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year using the market value-based approach. The Company has one reporting unit, and the Company has multiple components, the lowest level of which is individual branches.  The Company’s components are aggregated for impairment testing as they have similar economic characteristics.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company assesses impairment of long-lived assets, including property and equipment and intangible assets, whenever changes or events indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company assesses impairment of these assets generally at the branch level based on the operating cash flows of the branch and the Company’s plans for branch closings. The Company will write down such assets to fair value if, based on an analysis, the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets. The Company did not record any impairment charges for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023, 2022, or 2021.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

FASB ASC Topic 825 requires disclosures about the fair value of all financial instruments, regardless of whether the financial instrument is recognized on the balance sheet, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. The Company’s financial instruments for the periods reported consist of the following: cash and cash equivalents, loans receivable, senior notes payable, and senior unsecured notes payable.

Loans receivable are originated at prevailing market rates and have an average life of less than twelve months. Given the short-term nature of these loans, they are continually repriced at current market rates. The Company’s senior notes payable has a variable rate based on a margin over SOFR and reprices with any changes in SOFR. The fair value of the senior unsecured notes payable is estimated based on quoted prices in markets that are not active.

Insurance Premiums and Commissions

Insurance Premiums and CommissionsInsurance premiums for credit life, accident and health, property and unemployment insurance written in connection with certain loans, net of refunds and applicable advance insurance commissions retained by the Company, are remitted monthly to an insurance company. All commissions are recorded to unearned insurance commissions and recognized as insurance income over the life of the related insurance contracts. The Company recognizes insurance income using the Rule of 78s method for credit life (decreasing term), credit accident and health, unemployment insurance and the Pro Rata method for credit life (level term) and credit property.

Non-filing Insurance

Non-filing Insurance

Non-filing insurance premiums are charged on certain loans in lieu of recording and perfecting the Company's security interest in the assets pledged. The premiums and recoveries are remitted to a third party insurance company and are not reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements (see Note 8).

Claims paid by the third party insurance company result in a reduction to credit losses. Certain losses related to such loans, which are not recoverable through life, accident and health, property, or unemployment insurance claims, are reimbursed through non-filing insurance claims subject to policy limitations. Any remaining losses are charged to the allowance for credit losses.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment related to additional facts and circumstances occurs.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 260. Basic EPS includes no dilution and is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of the Company. Potential common stock included in the diluted EPS computation consists of stock options and restricted stock, which are computed using the treasury stock method. See Note 11 for the reconciliation of the numerators and denominators for basic and dilutive EPS calculations.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

FASB ASC Topic 718-10 requires companies to recognize in the income statement the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to employees. FASB ASC Topic 718-10 does not change the accounting guidance for share-based payment transactions with parties other than employees provided in FASB ASC Topic 718-10. Under FASB ASC Topic 718-10, the way an award is classified will affect the measurement of compensation cost. Liability-classified awards are remeasured to fair value at each balance-sheet date until the award is settled. Equity-classified awards are measured at grant-date fair value, amortized over the subsequent vesting period, and are not subsequently remeasured. The fair value of non-vested stock awards for the purposes of recognizing stock-based compensation expense is the market price of the stock on the grant date. The fair value of options is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model (see Note 12). The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. At March 31, 2023, the Company had several share-based employee compensation plans, which are described more fully in Note 12.

Share Repurchases

Share Repurchases

On February 24, 2022, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $30.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock, inclusive of the amount that remains available for repurchase under prior repurchase authorizations. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $1.1 million in aggregate remaining repurchase capacity under its current share repurchase program. The timing and actual number of shares of common stock repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including the stock price, corporate and regulatory requirements, restrictions under the revolving credit facility and other market and economic conditions.

The Company continues to believe stock repurchases are a viable component of the Company’s long-term financial strategy and an excellent use of excess cash when the opportunity arises. As of March 31, 2023 our debt outstanding was $595.3 million, net of $3.5 million unamortized debt issuance costs related to the unsecured senior notes payable, and our shareholders' equity was $385.2 million resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.6:1.0.

Concentration of Risk

Concentration of Risk

The Company generally serves individuals with limited access to other sources of consumer credit such as banks, credit unions, other consumer finance businesses and credit card lenders. During the year ended March 31, 2023, the Company operated in sixteen states in the United States. For fiscal years ended March 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, gross loan receivable within the Company's four largest states accounted for approximately 52% of the Company's gross loans receivable balance.

The Company maintains amounts in bank accounts which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced losses in such accounts, which are maintained with large domestic banks. Management believes the Company’s exposure to credit risk is minimal for these accounts.

Advertising Costs

Advertising CostsAdvertising costs are expensed when incurred.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards and Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Accounting for Investments in Tax Credit Structures Using the Proportional Amortization Method

In March 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-02, Investments- Equity Method and Joint Venture (Topic 323). The amendments in this ASU permit reporting entities to elect to account for their tax equity investments, regardless of the tax credit program from which the income tax credits are received, using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. For public business entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in any interim period. If an entity adopts the amendments in an interim period, it shall adopt them as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The amendments in this pronouncement must be applied on either a modified retrospective or retrospective basis.

The Company adopted this ASU as of April 1, 2022 using the modified retrospective approach. The adoption of this ASU resulted in a $1.9 million cumulative adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. Refer to Note 10 for further details.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures

In March 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-02, Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures. The amendments in this update eliminate the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings by creditors in Subtopic 310-40, Receivables—Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors, while enhancing disclosure requirements for certain loan refinancings and restructurings by creditors when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty. Additionally, for public business entities, the amendments in this update require that an entity disclose current-period gross write-offs by year of origination for financing receivables and net investments in leases within the scope of Subtopic 326-20, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses—Measured at Amortized Cost. For entities that have adopted the amendments in Update 2016-13, the amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years

beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years and should be applied prospectively, with the exception of the transition method related to the recognition and measurement of troubled debt restructurings in which an entity has the option to apply a modified retrospective transition method. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this update will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

We reviewed all other newly issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they are either not applicable to our business or are not expected to have a material effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements as a result of future adoption.