Synovus utilizes derivative instruments to manage its exposure to various types of interest rate risk, exposures related to liquidity and credit risk, and to facilitate client transactions. The primary types of derivative instruments utilized by Synovus consist of interest rate swaps, interest rate lock commitments made to prospective mortgage loan clients, commitments to sell fixed-rate mortgage loans, and foreign currency exchange forwards. Interest rate lock commitments represent derivative instruments since it is intended that such loans will be sold. Synovus also provides foreign currency exchange services, primarily forward contracts, with counterparties to allow commercial clients to mitigate exchange rate risk. Synovus covers its risk by entering into an offsetting foreign currency exchange forward contract. Synovus enters into risk participation agreements with financial institution counterparties where we are either a participant or a lead bank so that the risk of default on the interest rate swaps is shared. Synovus either pays or receives a fee depending on the participation type. Synovus is party to master netting arrangements with its dealer counterparties; however, Synovus does not offset assets and liabilities under these arrangements for financial statement presentation purposes. See "Part II - Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" of this Report for additional information regarding accounting policies for derivatives.

Cash flow hedge relationships mitigate exposure to the variability of future cash flows or other forecasted transactions. Synovus has entered into interest rate swap contracts to manage overall cash flow changes related to interest rate risk exposure on index-based variable rate commercial loans. The contracts effectively modify Synovus' exposure to interest rate risk by utilizing receive fixed/pay index-based variable rate interest rate swaps.

For cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported initially as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of the tax impact, and subsequently reclassified into earnings when the hedged transaction affects earnings with the impacts recorded in the same income statement line item used to present the earnings effect of the hedged item. When a cash flow hedge relationship is discontinued but the hedged cash flows, or forecasted transactions, are still expected to occur, gains or losses that were accumulated in OCI are amortized into earnings over the same periods which the hedged transactions are still expected to affect earnings. If, however, it is probable the forecasted transactions will no longer occur, the remaining accumulated amounts in OCI for the impacted cash flow hedges are immediately recognized in earnings.

Synovus recorded no unrealized gains (losses) during the year ended December 31, 2023 related to terminated cash flow hedges. Net unrealized gains (losses) of $(57.4) million, or $(43.4) million, after tax, in OCI were recorded during the year ended December 31, 2022 and $1.2 million, or $930 thousand, after-tax, in OCI, were recorded during the year ended December 31, 2021, related to terminated cash flow hedges, which are being recognized into earnings in conjunction with the effective terms of the original swaps through the third quarter of 2026. Synovus recognized pre-tax income (loss) of $(23.7) million, $3.8 million, and $12.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively, related to the amortization of terminated cash flow hedges.

As of December 31, 2023, Synovus expects to reclassify into earnings approximately $117 million in pre-tax loss due to the receipt or payment of interest payments on all cash flow hedges within the next twelve months. Included in this amount is approximately $21 million in pre-tax loss related to the amortization of terminated cash flow hedges. As of December 31, 2023, the maximum length of time over which Synovus is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows is through the first quarter of 2028.

Fair value hedging relationships mitigate exposure to the change in fair value of an asset or liability. Synovus has entered into receive-fixed, pay-variable interest rate swap contracts to hedge the change in the fair value due to fluctuations in market interest rates for outstanding fixed-rate long-term debt and fixed rate term interest-bearing deposits. The changes in fair value of the fair value hedges are recorded through earnings with an offset against changes in the fair value of the hedged item within interest expense in the consolidated statements of income. All components of each derivative instrument’s gain (loss) are included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

Derivatives not designated as hedges include those that are entered into as either economic hedges to facilitate client needs or as part of Synovus' overall risk management strategy. Economic hedges are those that do not qualify to be treated as a fair value hedge or cash flow hedge for accounting purposes but are necessary to economically manage the risk exposure associated with the assets and liabilities of Synovus. For derivative instruments that are not designated as hedging instruments, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recognized in earnings immediately.

Synovus enters into interest rate swap agreements to facilitate the risk management strategies of certain commercial banking clients. Synovus typically mitigates this risk largely by entering into equal and offsetting interest rate swap agreements with highly rated counterparties. The interest rate swap agreements are free-standing derivatives and are recorded at fair value in other assets or other liabilities on Synovus' consolidated balance sheets. The credit risk to these clients is evaluated and included in the calculation of fair value. Fair value changes including credit-related adjustments are recorded as a component of capital markets income.

Entering into derivative contracts potentially exposes Synovus to the risk of counterparties’ failure to fulfill their legal obligations, including, but not limited to, potential amounts due or payable under each derivative contract. Notional principal amounts are often used to express the volume of these transactions, but the amounts potentially subject to credit risk are much smaller. Synovus assesses the credit risk of its dealer counterparties by regularly monitoring publicly available credit rating information, evaluating other market indicators, and periodically reviewing detailed financials. Dealer collateral requirements are determined via risk-based policies and procedures and in accordance with existing agreements. Synovus seeks to minimize dealer credit risk by dealing with highly rated counterparties and by obtaining collateral for exposures above certain predetermined limits. Management closely monitors credit conditions within the client swap portfolio, which management deems to be of higher risk than dealer counterparties. Collateral is secured at origination and credit-related fair value adjustments are recorded against the asset value of the derivative as deemed necessary based upon an analysis, which includes consideration of the current asset value of the swap, client risk rating, collateral value, and client standing with regards to its swap contractual obligations and other related matters. Such asset values fluctuate based upon changes in interest rates regardless of changes in notional amounts and changes in client specific risk.

Synovus originates first lien residential mortgage loans for sale into the secondary market. Mortgage loans are sold either individually or in a bulk sale by Synovus on a whole loan servicing-released basis to third-party servicing aggregators for potential conversion into mortgage-backed securities which can be traded in the secondary market or retained on their respective balance sheet.

Synovus enters into interest rate lock commitments for residential mortgage loans which commits it to lend funds to a potential borrower at a specific interest rate and within a specified period of time. Interest rate lock commitments that relate to the origination of mortgage loans that, if originated, will be held for sale, are considered derivative financial instruments under applicable accounting guidance. Outstanding interest rate lock commitments expose Synovus to the risk that the price of the mortgage loans underlying the commitments may decline due to increases in mortgage interest rates from inception of the rate lock to the funding of the loan and the eventual commitment for sale into the secondary market.

Forward commitments to sell primarily fixed-rate mortgage loans are entered into to reduce the exposure to market risk arising from potential changes in interest rates, which could affect the fair value of mortgage loans held for sale and outstanding interest rate lock commitments, which guarantee a certain interest rate if the loan is ultimately funded or granted by Synovus as a mortgage loan held for sale. The commitments to sell mortgage loans are at fixed prices and are scheduled to settle at specified dates that generally do not exceed 90 days.

Certain derivative transactions have collateral requirements, both at the inception of the trade, and as the value of each derivative position changes. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Synovus had recorded the right to reclaim cash collateral of $69.7 million and $66.8 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Synovus had recorded the obligation to return cash collateral of $5.7 million and $7.7 million, respectively.

For derivatives cleared through central clearing houses, the variation margin payments made are legally characterized as settlements of the derivatives. As a result, these variation margin payments are netted against the fair value of the respective derivative contracts on the consolidated balance sheets and related disclosures.


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
			Fair Value						Fair Value
(in thousands)	Notional Amount		Derivative Assets		Derivative Liabilities		Notional Amount		Derivative Assets		Derivative Liabilities
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships:
Interest rate contracts	$	5,600,000	$	—	$	7,527	$	5,250,000	$	—	$	8,286
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments			$	—	$	7,527			$	—	$	8,286

Derivatives in fair value hedging relationships:
Interest rate contracts	$	2,563,504	$	—	$	12,891	$	2,230,232	$	—	$	8,093
Total fair value hedges			$	—	$	12,891			$	—	$	8,093
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments			$	—	$	20,418			$	—	$	16,379

Derivatives not designated: as hedging instruments
Interest rate contracts	$	11,888,152	$	94,208	$	238,134	$	10,276,754	$	89,310	$	322,329
Mortgage derivatives - interest rate lock commitments	40,642		695		—		50,218		350		—
Mortgage derivatives - forward commitments to sell fixed-rate mortgage loans	60,906		—		567		76,500		155		—
Risk participation agreements	732,682		—		3		635,891		—		3
Foreign exchange contracts	41,603		—		528		20,439		—		516
Visa derivative	—		—		589		—		—		3,453
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments			$	94,903	$	239,821			$	89,815	$	326,301


	2023
	Interest Income		Interest Expense
(in thousands)	Loans, including fees		Deposits		Long-term debt
Total interest income/expense amounts presented in the consolidated statements of income	$	2,684,762	$	1,026,755	$	180,670

Gain (loss) on cash flow hedging relationships:(1)
Interest rate contracts:
Realized gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI, pre-tax, to interest income on loans	$	(176,442)	$	—	$	—
Pre-tax income (loss) recognized on cash flow hedges	$	(176,442)	$	—	$	—

Gain (loss) on fair value hedging relationships:
Amounts related to interest settlements and amortization on derivatives	$	—	$	(22,495)	$	(16,358)
Recognized on derivatives	—		8,711		5,986
Recognized on hedged items	—		(8,711)		(5,986)
Pre-tax income (loss) recognized on fair value hedges	$	—	$	(22,495)	$	(16,358)


	2022
	Interest Income		Interest Expense
(in thousands)	Loans, including fees		Deposits		Long-term debt
Total interest income/expense amounts presented in the consolidated statements of income	$	1,806,060	$	187,232	$	79,402

Gain (loss) on cash flow hedging relationships:(1)
Interest rate contracts:
Realized gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI, pre-tax, to interest income on loans	$	(24,057)	$	—	$	—
Pre-tax income (loss) recognized on cash flow hedges	$	(24,057)	$	—	$	—

Gain (loss) on fair value hedging relationships:
Amounts related to interest settlements and amortization on derivatives	$	—	$	1,516	$	(322)
Recognized on derivatives	—		(24,227)		(19,348)
Recognized on hedged items	—		24,227		19,348
Pre-tax income (loss) recognized on fair value hedges	$	—	$	1,516	$	(322)

	2021
	Interest Income		Interest Expense
(in thousands)	Loans, including fees		Deposits		Long-term debt
Total interest income/expense amounts presented in the consolidated statements of income	$	1,482,567	$	74,919	$	45,349

Gain (loss) on cash flow hedging relationships:(1)
Interest rate contracts:
Realized gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI, pre-tax, to interest income on loans	$	12,862	$	—	$	—
Pre-tax income (loss) recognized on cash flow hedges	$	12,862	$	—	$	—


	December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
	Hedged Items Currently Designated				Hedged Items No Longer Designated			Hedged Items Currently Designated
(in thousands)	Carrying Amount of Assets/(Liabilities)		Hedge Accounting Basis Adjustment				Carrying Amount of Assets/(Liabilities)	Hedge Accounting Basis Adjustment
Interest-bearing deposits	$	(2,013,504)	$	(8,711)	$	1,267		$	(1,680,000)	$	24,227
Long-term debt	(546,872)		(5,986)		9,638			(545,787)		19,348

During the year ended December 31, 2023, Synovus terminated fair value hedges related to interest-bearing deposits and long-term debt with carrying values of $150.0 million and $496.7 million, respectively. The remaining fair value basis adjustments on the terminated hedging relationships will be amortized into interest expense over the respective remaining terms.


		Gain (Loss) Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Income
		For The Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	Location in Consolidated Statements of Income	2023		2022		2021
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate contracts(1)	Capital markets income	$	395	$	1,570	$	100
Mortgage derivatives - interest rate lock commitments	Mortgage banking income	345		(1,756)		(4,154)
Mortgage derivatives - forward commitments to sell fixed-rate mortgage loans	Mortgage banking income	(722)		277		1,489
Risk participation agreements	Capital markets income	—		33		269
Foreign exchange contracts	Capital markets income	(12)		(555)		39
Visa derivative	Other non-interest expense	(3,927)		(6,000)		(2,656)
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	(3,921)	$	(6,431)	$	(4,913)