Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

FIRST HAWAIIAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

First Hawaiian, Inc. (“FHI” or the “Parent”), a bank holding company, owns 100% of the outstanding common stock of First Hawaiian Bank (“FHB” or the “Bank”). FHB is a state-chartered bank that is not a member of the Federal Reserve System. FHB, the oldest financial institution in Hawaii, was established as Bishop & Company in 1858. As of December 31, 2019, FHB was the largest bank in Hawaii in terms of total assets, loans and leases and deposits. FHB has 58 branches located throughout the State of Hawaii, Guam and Saipan, and offers a comprehensive suite of banking services to consumer and commercial customers including loans, deposit products, wealth management, insurance, trust, retirement planning, credit card and merchant processing services.

The accounting and reporting principles of First Hawaiian, Inc. and Subsidiary (the “Company”) conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and prevailing practices within the financial services industry. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  

Transition to an Independent Public Company

Prior to our initial public offering in August 2016 (“IPO”), we were an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas (“BNPP”), a global financial institution based in France.  

On April 1, 2016, BNPP effected a series of transactions (“Reorganization Transactions”) pursuant to which FHI, which was then known as BancWest Corporation (“BancWest”), contributed Bank of the West (“BOW”), its subsidiary at the time, to BancWest Holding Inc. (“BWHI”), a newly formed bank holding company and a wholly owned subsidiary of BancWest. Following the contribution of BOW to BWHI, BancWest distributed its interest in BWHI to BNPP, and BWHI became a wholly owned subsidiary of BNPP. As part of these transactions, we amended our certificate of incorporation to change our name to First Hawaiian, Inc., with First Hawaiian Bank remaining our only direct wholly owned subsidiary.

On July 1, 2016, we became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas USA, Inc. (“BNP Paribas USA”), BNPP’s U.S. intermediate holding company. As part of that reorganization, we became a direct wholly owned subsidiary of BancWest Corporation (“BWC”), a direct wholly owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas USA.

In August 2016, FHI completed its IPO of 24,250,000 shares of common stock sold by BWC. Shares of FHI’s common stock began trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) under the ticker symbol “FHB” on August 4, 2016. In connection with FHI’s IPO, BNPP announced its intent to sell its interest in FHI, including FHI’s wholly owned subsidiary, FHB, over time, subject to market conditions and other considerations.

In February 2017, BWC sold an additional 28,750,000 shares of FHI common stock in a secondary offering. In May and June 2018, BWC sold an additional 16,830,000 shares of FHI common stock in the aggregate in a secondary offering. BWC sold 20,000,000 additional shares of FHI common stock in secondary offerings completed in each of August and September 2018, respectively. BWC sold shares of FHI common stock of 2,968,069 and 1,801,801 in May and August 2018, respectively, to the Company pursuant to share repurchase agreements. On February 1, 2019, BNPP, through BWC, completed the sale of its remaining 24,859,750 shares of FHI common stock in a public offering. FHI did not receive any of the proceeds from the sales of shares of FHI common stock in that offering, in any of the secondary offerings described above or the IPO. As a result of the completion of the February 1, 2019 public offering, BNPP (through BWC, the selling stockholder) fully exited its ownership interest in FHI common stock.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable.

Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events, actual results may differ from these estimates.

Variable Interest Entities

A variable interest entity (“VIE”) is a legal entity that lacks the ability to financially support its activities or whose equity investors lack the ability to control its activities or absorb profits and losses proportionately with their investment in the entity. The primary beneficiary consolidates the VIE. The primary beneficiary is defined as the enterprise that has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be significant to the VIE.

The Company has a limited partnership interest or is a member in a limited liability company (“LLC”) in several low-income housing partnerships. These partnerships or LLCs provide funds for the construction and operation of apartment complexes that provide affordable housing to that segment of the population with lower family income. If these developments successfully attract a specified percentage of residents falling in that lower income range, state and/or federal income tax credits are made available to the partners or members. The tax credits are generally recognized over 10 years. In order to continue receiving the tax credits each year over the life of the partnership or LLC, the low-income residency targets must be maintained.

The Company accounts for its interests in these low-income housing partnerships using the proportional amortization method. Unfunded commitments to fund these investments were $102.8 million and $36.0 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. These unfunded commitments are unconditional and legally binding and are recorded in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

These low-income housing partnership and LLC entities meet the definition of a VIE; however, the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the entities, as the general partner or managing member has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the entities and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be significant to the entities. While the partnership or LLC agreements allow the limited partners and members, through a majority vote, to remove the general partner or managing member, this right is not deemed to be substantive as the general partner or managing member can only be removed for cause.

Cash and Due from Banks

Cash and due from banks include amounts due from other financial institutions as well as in-transit clearings. Because amounts due from other financial institutions often exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) deposit insurance limit, the Company evaluates the credit risk of these institutions through periodic review of their financial condition and regulatory capital position. Under the terms of the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act, the Company is required to maintain reserves with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (“FRB”) based on the amount of deposits held. The average amount of cash reserves required was $67.4 million and $57.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Cash and cash equivalents include cash and due from banks and interest-bearing deposits in other banks. All amounts are readily convertible to cash and have maturities of less than 90 days.

Interest-bearing Deposits in Other Banks

Interest-bearing deposits in other banks include funds held in other financial institutions that are either fixed or variable rate instruments, including certificates of deposits. Interest income is recorded when earned and presented within other interest income in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

Investment Securities

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, investment securities were comprised of debt, mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies and government-sponsored enterprises. The Company amortizes premiums and accretes discounts using the interest method over the expected lives of the individual securities. All investment securities transactions are recorded on a trade-date basis. All of the Company’s securities were categorized as available-for-sale as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. Available-for-sale investment

securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. Gains and losses realized on sales of investment securities are determined using the specific identification method.  

Unrealized losses for all investment securities are reviewed to determine whether the losses are other than temporary. Investment securities are evaluated for other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) on at least a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic and market conditions warrant such an evaluation, to determine whether the decline in fair value below amortized cost is other than temporary. For a debt security for which there has been a decline in the fair value below amortized cost, the Company will recognize an OTTI write-down in noninterest income if there is an intent to sell the security, it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, or the Company does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security. The OTTI write-down is measured as the entire difference between the amortized cost basis and fair value of the investment security.

Loans Held for Sale

The Company originates certain loans for individual sale or for sale as a pool of loans to government-sponsored enterprises. Loans held for sale are carried, on an aggregate basis, at the lower of cost or fair value. The fair value of loans held for sale is primarily determined based on quoted prices for similar loans in active markets. Net gains and losses on loan sales are recorded as a component of other noninterest income. Direct loan origination costs and fees are deferred at origination of the loan and are recognized in other noninterest income upon sale of the loan.

Loans and Leases

Loans are reported at the principal amount outstanding, net of unearned income including unamortized and unaccreted deferred loan fees and costs, and cumulative net charge-offs. Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. Loan origination fees, certain direct costs and unearned discounts and premiums, if any, are deferred and are generally accreted or amortized into interest income as yield adjustments using the interest method over the contractual life of the loan. Other credit-related fees are recognized as fee income, a component of noninterest income, when earned.

Direct financing leases are carried at the aggregate of lease payments receivable plus the estimated residual value of leased property, less unearned income. Leveraged leases, which are a form of direct financing leases, are carried net of non-recourse debt. Unearned income on direct financing and leveraged leases is amortized over the lease terms by methods that approximate the interest method. Residual values on leased assets are periodically reviewed for impairment.

Non-Performing Loans and Leases

The Company generally places a loan or lease on nonaccrual status when management believes that collection of principal or interest has become doubtful or when a loan or lease becomes 90 days past due as to principal or interest, unless it is well secured and in the process of collection. A charge-off is recorded when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and when it is possible to determine a reasonable estimate of the loss. When the Company places a loan or lease on nonaccrual status, previously accrued and uncollected interest is reversed against interest income in the current period. When the Company receives an interest payment on a nonaccrual loan or lease, the payment is applied as a reduction of the principal balance. Nonaccrual loans and leases are generally returned to accrual status when they become current as to principal and interest and have demonstrated a sustained period of payment performance or become both well secured and in the process of collection.

Troubled Debt Restructurings

A restructuring of debt constitutes a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) if the Company, for economic or legal reasons related to the debtor’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the debtor that it would not otherwise consider. The Company offers various types of concessions when modifying a loan, including term extensions, temporary deferral of principal and temporary interest rate reductions. However, forgiveness of principal is rarely granted. Generally, a non-accrual loan that has been modified in a TDR remains on non-accrual status for at least six months to demonstrate that the borrower is able to meet the terms of the modified loan. However, performance prior to the modification, or significant events that coincide with the modification, are included in assessing whether the borrower can meet the new terms and may result in the loan being returned to accrual status at the time of loan modification or after a shorter performance period. However, if the borrower’s ability to meet the revised payment terms is uncertain, the loan remains on non-accrual status.

Impaired Loans

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will not be able to collect all amounts due from the borrower in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan, including scheduled interest payments. This evaluation is generally based on delinquency information, an assessment of the borrower’s financial condition and the adequacy of collateral, if any. The Company’s impaired loans are primarily comprised of commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, residential mortgage and any loans modified in a TDR, whether on accrual or nonaccrual status.

The Company individually measures impairment on commercial and industrial loans and commercial real estate loans based on the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or, for residential real estate loans and collateral-dependent loans, based on the fair value of the collateral less disposition costs. On a case-by-case basis, the Company may measure impairment based upon a loan’s observable market price. Impaired loans without a related allowance for loan and lease losses are generally collateralized by assets with fair values in excess of the recorded investment in the loans.

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

The Company maintains the allowance for loan and lease losses (the “Allowance”) at a level which, in management’s judgment, is adequate to absorb probable credit losses that have been incurred in the Company’s loan and lease portfolio as of the balance sheet date. The Company’s methodology for determining an adequate and appropriate level of the Allowance takes into account many factors, including:

● Trends in the volume and severity of delinquent loans and leases, nonaccrual loans and leases, troubled debt restructurings and other loan and lease modifications;

● Trends in the quality of risk management and loan administration practices including findings of internal and external reviews of loans and the effectiveness of collection practices;

● Changes in the quality of the Company’s risk identification process and loan review system;

● Changes in lending policies and procedures including underwriting standards and collection, charge-off and recovery practices;

● Changes in the nature and volume of the loan and lease portfolio;

● Changes in concentrations within the loan and lease portfolio;  

● Changes in national and local economic business conditions, including the condition of various market segments.

While the Company has a formal methodology to determine an adequate and appropriate level of the Allowance, estimates of inherent loan and lease losses involve judgment and assumptions as to various factors, including current economic conditions. Management’s determination of the adequacy of the Allowance is based on quarterly evaluations of the above factors. Accordingly, the provision for credit losses will vary from period to period based on management’s ongoing assessment of the adequacy of the Allowance.

The Allowance consists of two components, the allocated and the unallocated allowance. The allocated portion of the Allowance includes reserves that are allocated based on impairment analyses of specific loans or pools of loans. A discussion of evaluating specific loans for impairment is noted in the “Impaired Loans” section above. The Company collectively evaluates large groups or pools of smaller-balance homogeneous loans and leases such as consumer loans, residential real estate loans and small business loans. The risk assessment process includes the use of estimates to determine the inherent loss in these portfolios. The Company considers a variety of factors including, but not limited to historical loss experience, estimated defaults or foreclosures based on portfolio trends and delinquencies, and current economic conditions.

The unallocated component of the Allowance recognizes the imprecision in the loan and lease loss estimation process. While the Company’s allocated reserve methodology strives to reflect all risk factors, there may still be certain unidentified risk elements. The purpose of the unallocated reserve is to capture these factors. The relationship of the unallocated component to the total Allowance may fluctuate from period to period. Management evaluates the adequacy of the total Allowance based on the combined total of the allocated and unallocated components of the Allowance.

The Allowance is increased by provisions for loan and lease losses and reduced by charge-offs, net of recoveries. Consumer loans and leases are generally charged off upon reaching a predetermined delinquency status that ranges from 120 to 180 days and varies by product type. Other loans and leases may be charged off to the extent they are classified as loss. Recoveries of amounts that have previously been charged off are credited to the Allowance and are generally recorded only to the extent that cash is received.

Reserve for Unfunded Commitments

The reserve for unfunded commitments (the “Unfunded Reserve”) is a component of other liabilities and represents the estimate for probable credit losses inherent in unfunded commitments to extend credit. Unfunded commitments to extend credit include loan commitments, and standby and commercial letters of credit. The process used to determine the Unfunded Reserve is consistent with the process for determining the Allowance as adjusted for estimated funding probabilities or loan and lease equivalency factors. The level of the Unfunded Reserve is adjusted by recording an expense or recovery in other noninterest expense.

Provision for Loan and Lease Losses

The provision for loan and lease losses (the “Provision”) represents the amount charged against current period earnings to achieve an Allowance that in management’s judgment is adequate to absorb probable credit losses that have been incurred in the Company’s loan and lease portfolio as of the consolidated balance sheet date. Accordingly, the Provision will vary from period to period based on management’s ongoing assessment of the overall adequacy of the Allowance.

Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment, including leasehold improvements, are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of 10 to 39 years for premises, 4 to 20 years for equipment and the shorter of the lease term or remaining useful life for leasehold improvements.

On a periodic basis, long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of a long-lived asset exceeds its fair value and is not recoverable. An impairment analysis is performed whenever events or changes in circumstances suggest that the carrying value of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable.

Operating lease rental income for leased assets, primarily premises, is recognized on a straight-line basis as an offset to rental expense.

Other Real Estate Owned and Repossessed Personal Property

Other real estate owned (“OREO”) and repossessed personal property are comprised primarily of properties that the Company acquires through foreclosure proceedings. The Company values these properties at fair value less estimated costs to sell the property upon acquisition, which establishes the new carrying value. The Company charges losses arising upon the acquisition of the property against the Allowance. If the fair value of the property at the time of acquisition exceeds the carrying amount of the loan, the excess is recorded either as a recovery to the Allowance if a charge-off had previously been recorded, or as a gain on initial transfer in other noninterest income. After acquisition, the Company carries such properties at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated selling costs. Any write-downs or losses from the subsequent disposition of such properties are included in other noninterest expense. Gains recognized on the sale of such properties are included in other noninterest income.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the cost of acquired businesses in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired. The Company performs impairment testing of goodwill, an infinite-lived intangible asset, as required under GAAP on an annual basis or when circumstances change that indicate that a potential impairment may have occurred. The Company has assigned goodwill to its operating segments for impairment testing purposes. The goodwill impairment guidance provides the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing further impairment tests is unnecessary. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, or does not elect this option, it is required to perform impairment testing. Step 1 of the test identifies potential impairments at the reporting unit level by comparing the estimated fair value of each identified reporting unit to its carrying amount. If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, there is no impairment of goodwill. However, if the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value, Step 2 is performed to determine the amount of the potential impairment. Step 2 compares the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined as if the reporting unit were being acquired in a business combination. If the implied fair value of goodwill exceeds the goodwill assigned to the reporting unit, there is no impairment. If the carrying amount of reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. Subsequent reversals of goodwill impairment are prohibited.

Mortgage Servicing Rights

Mortgage servicing rights are recognized as assets when residential mortgage loans are sold and the rights to service those loans are retained.  Mortgage servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value by using a discounted cash flow model to calculate the present value of estimated future net servicing income, incorporating assumptions that market participants would use in their estimates of fair value.

The Company’s mortgage servicing rights are accounted for under the amortization method and periodically assessed for impairment. The Company amortizes the mortgage servicing rights over the period of estimated net servicing income, taking into account prepayment assumptions. Any such indicated impairment is recognized in earnings during the period in which the impairment occurs. Mortgage servicing income, net of the amortization of mortgage servicing rights, is recorded as a component of other noninterest income in the consolidated statements of income.

Non-Marketable Equity Securities

The Company is required to own Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) of Des Moines stock as a condition of membership. These securities are accounted for under the cost method, which equals par value, and are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. These securities do not have a readily determinable fair value as ownership is restricted and there is no market for these securities. The Company reviews these securities periodically for impairment. Management considers these securities to be long-term investments. Accordingly, when evaluating these securities for impairment, management considers the ultimate recoverability of the par value rather than recognizing temporary declines in value. No impairment was recognized on non-marketable equity securities for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

The Company has a qualified noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, an unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan, a directors’ retirement plan, a non-qualified pension plan for eligible directors and a postretirement benefit plan providing life insurance and healthcare benefits that is offered to directors and employees, as applicable. The qualified noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, the unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan and the directors’ retirement plan are all frozen plans to new participants. To calculate annual pension costs, management uses the following key variables: (1) size of the employee population, length of service and estimated compensation increases; (2) actuarial assumptions and estimates; (3) expected long-term rate of return on plan assets; and (4) discount rate. For all pension and postretirement benefit plan calculations, the Company uses a December 31^st measurement date.

The expected long-term rate of return was based on a calculated rate of return from average rates of return on various asset classes over a 20-year historical time horizon. Using long-term historical data allows the Company to capture multiple economic environments, which management believes is relevant when using historical returns. Net actuarial gains or losses that exceed a 5% corridor of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the fair value of plan assets as of the beginning of the year are amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic pension cost on a straight-line basis over five years.

In estimating the projected benefit obligation, an independent actuary bases assumptions on factors such as mortality rate, turnover rate, retirement rate, disability rate and other assumptions related to the population of individuals in the pension plan. If significant actuarial gains or losses occur, the actuary reviews the demographic and economic assumptions with management, at which time the Company considers revising these assumptions based on actual results.

The Company recognizes an asset on its consolidated balance sheets for a plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status. The Company also measures the plans’ assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the year and recognizes those changes in other comprehensive income, net of tax. Periodic pension expense (or income) includes service costs, interest costs based on the assumed discount rate, the expected return on plan assets based on an actuarially derived market-related value and amortization of actuarial gains and losses. Service cost is included in salaries and employee benefits expense, while all other components of net periodic pension cost are included in other noninterest expense in the consolidated statements of income.

Income Taxes

Current income tax expense is recognized for the amount of income taxes expected to be payable or refundable for the current period, and deferred income taxes are provided to reflect the tax effect of temporary differences between financial statement carrying amounts and the corresponding tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes are calculated by applying enacted statutory tax rates and tax laws to future years in which temporary differences are expected to reverse. The impact on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that the tax rate change is enacted. A deferred tax valuation allowance is established if it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Interest and penalties, if any, expected to be assessed or refunded by taxing authorities relating to an underpayment or overpayment of income taxes are accrued and recorded as part of income tax expense.

Excise tax credits relating to premises and equipment are accounted for using the flow-through method, and the benefit is recognized in the year the asset is placed in service. General business and excise tax credits generated from the leasing portfolio, except for credits that are passed on to lessees, are recognized over the term of the lease for book purposes, but in the year placed in service for tax purposes.

The Company maintains reserves for unrecognized tax benefits that arise in the normal course of business. As of December 31, 2019, these positions were evaluated based on an assessment of probabilities as to the likelihood of whether a liability had been incurred. Such assessments are reviewed as events occur and adjustments to the reserves are made as appropriate. In evaluating a tax position for recognition, the Company evaluates whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. If the tax position meets the more likely than not recognition threshold, the tax position is measured and recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as the largest amount of tax benefit that, in management’s judgment, is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Derivatives are recognized on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. On the date the Company enters into a derivative contract, the Company designates the derivative instrument as: (1) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (“fair value hedge”); (2) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow hedge”); or (3) held for trading, customer accommodation or not qualifying for hedge accounting (“free-standing derivative instrument”). For a fair value hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument and changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment attributable to interest rate risk are recorded in current period earnings. For a cash flow hedge, to the extent that the hedge is considered highly effective, changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument are recorded in other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified to net income in the same period

that the hedged transaction impacts net income. To the extent the derivative instruments are not effective, any changes in the fair value of the derivatives are immediately recognized in noninterest income. For free-standing derivative instruments, changes in fair values are reported in current period earnings. The Company formally documents the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as the risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes linking all derivative instruments that are designated as hedges to specific assets or liabilities, unrecognized firm commitments or forecasted transactions. The Company also formally assesses, both at the inception of a hedge and on a quarterly basis, whether the derivative instruments used are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values of, or cash flows related to, hedged items.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value measurements apply whenever GAAP requires or permits assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value either on a recurring or nonrecurring basis. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for an asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is based on the assumptions that management believes market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability. Fair value measurement and disclosure guidance established a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the use of inputs used in valuation methodologies. Management maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value measurements.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company grants stock-based awards, including restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance stock units. These awards are issued at no cost to the recipient. The fair value of restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards was based on the closing price of FHI’s common stock on the date of grant. Such awards were recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of income on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Recipients of performance stock units are entitled to receive shares of FHI common stock at no cost, subject to the Company’s achievement of specified market or performance conditions. The grant date fair value of the performance stock units subject to the Company’s achievement of specified market conditions was estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation model. For purposes of this modeling exercise, historical volatilities of FHI common stock and members of the peer group were used. The risk-free interest rate that was used in the valuation was that of a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury note that was commensurate with the performance period.

As compensation cost is recognized, a deferred tax asset is established which represents an estimate of the future tax deduction from the release of restrictions or the achievement of performance targets. At the time that restrictions on the stock-based awards are released, the Company may be required to recognize an adjustment to income tax expense, depending on the market price of the Company’s common stock at that time.

Treasury Stock

Shares of the Parent’s common stock that were repurchased or that are used to satisfy payroll tax withholdings related to stock-based compensation are recorded in treasury stock at cost. On the date of subsequent reissuance, the treasury stock account will be reduced by the cost of such stock on a first-in, first-out basis.

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period, assuming conversion of potentially dilutive common stock equivalents.

Advertising and Marketing Costs

Advertising and marketing costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising and marketing costs were $6.9 million, $4.8 million and $6.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2019

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This guidance provided that lessees would be required to recognize the following for all operating leases (with the exception of short-term leases): 1) a lease liability, which is the present value of a lessee's obligation to make lease payments, and 2) a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee's right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Lessor accounting under the new guidance remains largely unchanged as it is substantially equivalent to existing guidance for sales-type leases, direct financing leases and operating leases. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2016-02 on January 1, 2019 and elected several practical expedients made available by the FASB. Specifically, the Company elected the transition practical expedient to not recast comparative periods upon the adoption of the new guidance. In addition, the Company elected the package of practical expedients which among other things, required no reassessment of whether existing contracts were or contained leases as well as no reassessment of lease classification for existing leases and the practical expedient which permitted the Company to not separate nonlease components from lease components in determining the consideration in the lease agreement when the Company was a lessee or a lessor. The Company identified the primary lease agreements in scope of this new guidance as those relating to branch premises. As a result, the Company recognized a lease liability of $50.3 million and a related right-of-use asset of $50.6 million on its consolidated balance sheet on January 1, 2019. See “Note 14. Leases” for required disclosures related to this new guidance.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-08, Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20), Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. Prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2017-08, entities typically amortized the premium as an adjustment of yield over the contractual life of debt securities. This guidance shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium to the earliest call date. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2017-08 on January 1, 2019 and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The objectives of the new guidance were to: (1) improve the transparency and understandability of information conveyed to financial statement users about an entity’s risk management activities by better aligning the entity’s financial reporting for hedging relationships with those risk management activities, and (2) reduce the complexity of and simplify the application of hedge accounting by preparers. Historically, the Company has participated in limited activities in fair value and cash flow hedging relationships. As a result, the adoption of ASU No. 2017-12 on January 1, 2019 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See “Note 17. Derivative Financial Instruments” for required disclosures related to this new guidance.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract. This guidance aligns the accounting for implementation costs related to a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the guidance on capitalizing costs associated with developing or obtaining internal-use software. Common examples of hosting arrangements include software as a service, platform or infrastructure as a service and other similar types of hosting arrangements. While capitalized costs related to internal-use software is generally considered an intangible asset, costs incurred to implement a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract would typically be characterized in the company’s financial statements in the same manner as other service costs (e.g., other assets). The new guidance provided that an entity would be required to amortize capitalized implementation costs over the term of the hosting arrangement on a straight-line basis unless another systematic and rational basis was more representative of the pattern in which the entity expected to benefit from access to the hosted software. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with earlier adoption permitted in any annual or interim period for which financial statements have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The Company early adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2018-15 prospectively on January 1, 2019 due to the Company’s shift towards utilizing more hosting arrangements that are service contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company capitalized $10.6 million related to hosting arrangements that are service contracts.

In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-16, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes. This guidance expands the list of U.S. benchmark interest rates permitted in the application of hedge accounting by adding the OIS rate based on the SOFR. Due to concerns about the sustainability of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), a committee convened by the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of New

York initiated an effort to introduce an alternative reference rate in the U.S. The committee identified SOFR as the preferred alternative reference rate to LIBOR. The OIS rate based on SOFR was added as a U.S. benchmark interest rate to facilitate broader use in the marketplace and provide sufficient lead time for entities to prepare for changes to interest rate risk hedging strategies. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2018-16 on January 1, 2019 and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The following ASUs have been issued by the FASB and are applicable to the Company in future reporting periods.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This guidance eliminates the probable recognition threshold for credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost. For loans and held-to-maturity debt securities, this guidance requires a current expected credit loss (“CECL”) approach to determine the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”). CECL requires loss estimates for the remaining estimated life of the financial asset using historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. CECL also applies to off-balance sheet credit exposures, except for unconditionally cancellable commitments. In addition, this guidance modifies the other-than-temporary-impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities to require an allowance for credit impairment instead of a direct write-down, which allows for a reversal of credit losses in future periods. This guidance requires entities to record a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. In April 2019, the FASB also issued ASU No. 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments. As it relates to CECL, this guidance amended certain provisions contained in ASU No. 2016-13, particularly with regards to the inclusion of accrued interest in the definition of amortized cost, as well as clarifying that extension and renewal options that are not unconditionally cancelable by the entity that are included in the original or modified contract should be considered in the entity’s determination of expected credit losses. Federal banking regulatory agencies have also provided relief for an initial capital decrease on January 1, 2020 by allowing for an election to phase-in the impact of adopting the CECL standard over a three-year period on a straight-line basis.

The Company will adopt the provisions of ASU No. 2016-13, ASU No. 2019-04 and related amendments on January 1, 2020. The Company elected the practical expedient to use the fair value of the collateral at the reporting date when recording the net carrying amount of the asset and determining the ACL for a financial asset for which the repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty based on the Company’s assessment as of the reporting date. The Company will also make accounting policy elections not to measure an ACL on accrued interest receivable, write-off accrued interest receivable by reversing interest income and to present accrued interest receivable separately from the related financial asset on the balance sheet. The implementation of CECL will require significant operational changes, particularly in data collection and analysis. The Company engaged a software vendor and ran several CECL parallel productions during 2019. In the fourth quarter of 2019, model validation was completed and management approved the model to be placed into production. Furthermore, significant progress was made in the Company’s user acceptance testing and reconciliation processes. Based on the Company’s portfolio balances and forecasted economic conditions as of January 1, 2020, management believes that the adoption of the CECL standard will result in an increase in the ACL of approximately 10% to 15%, as compared to the Company’s reserve levels as of December 31, 2019.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This guidance simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the current two-step goodwill impairment test. This guidance provides that a goodwill impairment test be conducted by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. Entities are to recognize an impairment charge for goodwill by the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. Entities will continue to have the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. This guidance is effective for annual and any interim impairment tests for periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2017-04 on January 1, 2020 and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This guidance is a part of the FASB’s disclosure framework project to improve disclosure effectiveness. This guidance eliminates certain disclosure

requirements for fair value measurements: the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, an entity’s policy for the timing of transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy and an entity’s valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. This guidance also adds new disclosure requirements for public entities: changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements of instruments held at the end of the reporting period, and the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop recurring and nonrecurring Level 3 fair value measurements, including how the weighted average is calculated. Furthermore, this guidance modifies certain requirements which will involve disclosing: transfers into and out of Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, purchases and issuances of Level 3 assets and liabilities, and information about the measurement uncertainty of Level 3 fair value measurements as of the reporting date. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2018-13 on January 1, 2020 and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.