Introduction and Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Introduction and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Introduction and Basis of Presentation

1.Introduction and Basis of Presentation

The Charles Schwab Corporation (CSC) is a savings and loan holding company engaged, through its subsidiaries, in wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, money management, and financial advisory services. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab) is a securities broker-dealer with over 325 domestic branch offices in 45 states, as well as a branch in each of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and London, England. In addition, Schwab serves clients in Hong Kong through one of CSC’s subsidiaries. Other subsidiaries include Charles Schwab Bank (Schwab Bank), a federal savings bank, and Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (CSIM), the investment advisor for Schwab’s proprietary mutual funds, which are referred to as the Schwab Funds®, and for Schwab’s exchange-traded funds, which are referred to as the Schwab ETFs™.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include CSC and its majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the Company). Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S.), which require management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the accompanying financial statements. Certain estimates relate to valuation of goodwill, allowance for loan losses, legal and regulatory reserves, and other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) of securities available for sale and securities held to maturity. Actual results may differ from those estimates. These condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The Company’s results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year or any other interim period. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are included in note “2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. There have been no significant changes to these accounting policies during the first quarter of 2015.