Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies

In the normal course of business, Synovus enters into commitments to extend credit such as loan commitments and letters of credit to meet the financing needs of its clients. Synovus uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a client as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Synovus also has commitments to fund certain tax credits, CRA partnerships, and other investments.

The contractual amount of these financial instruments represents Synovus' maximum credit risk should the counterparty draw upon the commitment and should the counterparty subsequently fail to perform according to the terms of the contract. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Additionally, certain commitments (primarily consumer) can generally be canceled by providing notice to the borrower.

The ACL associated with unfunded commitments and letters of credit is recorded within other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. At September 30, 2022, the ACL for unfunded commitments was $57.9 million, compared to a reserve of $41.9 million at December 31, 2021. Additionally, an immaterial amount of unearned fees relating to letters of credit are recorded within other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Synovus invests in certain LIHTC partnerships, which are engaged in the development and operation of affordable multi-family housing pursuant to Section 42 of the Code. Additionally, Synovus invests in certain solar energy tax credit partnerships pursuant to Section 48 of the Code and certain new market tax credit partnerships pursuant to section 45D of the Code. Synovus typically acts as a limited partner in these investments and does not exert control over the operating or financial policies of the partnerships and as such, is not considered the primary beneficiary of the partnership. For certain of its LIHTC investments, Synovus provides financing during the construction and development of the properties and is at risk for the funded amount of its equity investment plus the outstanding amount of any construction loans in excess of the fair value of the collateral for the loan, but has no obligation to fund the operations or working capital of the partnerships and is not exposed to losses beyond Synovus’ investment. Synovus receives tax credits related to these investments, which are subject to recapture by taxing authorities based on compliance provisions required to be met at the project level.

Synovus also invests in CRA partnerships, including SBIC programs, and other investments. The SBIC is a program initiated by the SBA in 1958 to assist in the funding of small business loans.


(in thousands)	September 30, 2022		December 31, 2021
Letters of credit(1)	$	215,645	$	183,463
Commitments to fund commercial and industrial loans	9,869,096		9,595,793
Commitments to fund commercial real estate, construction, and land development loans	3,741,186		3,593,171
Commitments under home equity lines of credit	2,092,533		1,805,869
Unused credit card lines	463,253		473,582
Other loan commitments	755,935		604,353
Total letters of credit and unfunded lending commitments	$	17,137,648	$	16,256,231


Tax credits, CRA partnerships, and other investments:
Carrying amount included in other assets	$	465,361	$	426,137
Amount of future funding commitments	265,209		250,733
Permanent and short-term construction loans and letter of credit commitments(2)	164,863		204,391
Funded portion of permanent and short-term loans and letters of credit(3)	202,392		104,315

(1) Represent the contractual amount net of risk participations purchased of $26.1 million and $26.1 million at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

(2) Represent the contractual amount net of risk participations of $1.7 million and $6.0 million at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

(3) Represent the contractual amount net of risk participations of $5.7 million and $3.0 million at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

Merchant Services

In accordance with credit and debit card association rules, Synovus provides merchant processing services for clients with a contractual arrangement under which certain sales and processing support are provided through an outside merchant services provider with Synovus owning the merchant contract relationship. In addition, Synovus sponsors various third-party MPS businesses that process credit and debit card transactions on behalf of merchants. In connection with these services, a liability may arise in the event of a billing dispute between the merchant and a cardholder that is ultimately resolved in the cardholder's favor. If the merchant defaults on its obligations, the cardholder, through its issuing bank, generally has until six months after the date of the transaction to present a chargeback to the MPS, which is primarily liable for any losses on covered transactions. However, if a sponsored MPS fails to meet its obligations, then Synovus, as the sponsor, could be held liable for the disputed amount. Synovus seeks to mitigate this risk through its contractual arrangements with the MPS and the merchants by withholding future settlements, retaining cash reserve accounts and/or obtaining other security. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, Synovus and the sponsored entities processed and settled $30.33 billion and $89.94 billion of transactions, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, Synovus and the sponsored entities processed and settled $28.39 billion and $83.54 billion of transactions, respectively.

Legal Proceedings

Synovus and its subsidiaries are subject to various legal proceedings, claims and disputes that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, Synovus and its subsidiaries are subject to regulatory and governmental examinations, information gathering requests, inquiries and investigations. Synovus, like many other financial institutions, has been the target of legal actions and other proceedings asserting claims for damages and related relief for losses. These actions include mortgage loan and other loan put-back claims, claims and counterclaims asserted by individual borrowers related to their loans, and allegations of violations of state and federal laws and regulations relating to banking practices, including putative class action matters. In addition to actual damages, if Synovus does not prevail in such asserted legal actions, credit-related litigation could result in additional write-downs or charge-offs of assets, which could adversely affect Synovus' results of operations during the period in which the write-down or charge-off were to occur.

Synovus carefully examines and considers each legal matter, and, in those situations where Synovus determines that a particular legal matter presents loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable, Synovus establishes an appropriate reserve. An event is considered to be probable if the future event is likely to occur. While the final outcome of any legal proceeding is inherently uncertain, based on the information currently available, advice of counsel and available insurance coverage, management believes that the amounts accrued with respect to legal matters as of September 30, 2022 are adequate. The actual costs of resolving legal claims may be higher or lower than the amounts accrued.

In addition, where Synovus determines that there is a reasonable possibility of a loss in respect of legal matters, Synovus considers whether it is able to estimate the total reasonably possible loss or range of loss. Under GAAP, an event is “reasonably possible” if “the chance of the future event or events occurring is more than remote but less than likely,” and an event is “remote” if the “chance of the future event or events occurring is slight." In many situations, Synovus may be unable to estimate reasonably possible losses due to the preliminary nature of the legal matters, as well as a variety of other factors and uncertainties. For those legal matters where Synovus is able to estimate a range of reasonably possible losses, management currently estimates the aggregate range from our outstanding litigation is from zero to $5 million in excess of the amounts accrued, if any, related to those matters. This estimated aggregate range is based upon information currently available to Synovus, and the actual losses could prove to be lower or higher. As there are further developments in these legal matters, Synovus will reassess these matters, and the estimated range of reasonably possible losses may change as a result of this assessment. Based on Synovus' current knowledge and advice of counsel, management presently does not believe that the liabilities arising from these legal matters will have a material adverse effect on Synovus' consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of these legal matters could have a material adverse effect on Synovus' results of operations or financial condition for any particular period.

Synovus intends to vigorously pursue all available defenses to these legal matters but will also consider other alternatives, including settlement, in situations where there is an opportunity to resolve such legal matters on terms that Synovus considers to be favorable, including in light of the continued expense and distraction of defending such legal matters. Synovus maintains insurance coverage, which may be available to cover legal fees, or potential losses that might be incurred in connection with such legal matters. The above-noted estimated range of reasonably possible losses does not take into consideration insurance coverage, which may or may not be available for the respective legal matters.