Customer Deposits

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Banking and Thrift [Abstract]

Customer deposits [Text Block]

Customer Deposits

Customer deposits consisted of the following:

	December 31,
	2018			2017
	(in millions)
Fixed rate certificates	$	7,377		$	5,837
Stock market certificates	476			520
Stock market embedded derivative	6			10
Other	33			33
Less: accrued interest classified in other liabilities	(7		)	(12		)
Total investment certificate reserves	7,885			6,388
Brokerage deposits	3,660			3,915
Total	$	11,545		$	10,303

Investment Certificates

The Company offers fixed rate investment certificates primarily in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $2 million with interest crediting rate terms ranging from 3 to 48 months. Investment certificates may be purchased either with a lump sum payment or installment payments. Certificate owners are entitled to receive a definite sum of money at either maturity or upon demand depending on the type of certificate. Payments from certificate owners are credited to investment certificate reserves. Investment certificate reserves generally accumulate interest at specified percentage rates. Reserves are maintained for advance payments made by certificate owners, accrued interest thereon and for additional credits in excess of minimum guaranteed rates and accrued interest thereon. On certificates allowing for the deduction of a surrender charge, the cash surrender values may be less than accumulated investment certificate

reserves prior to maturity dates. Cash surrender values on certificates allowing for no surrender charge are equal to certificate reserves. The Company generally invests the proceeds from investment certificates in fixed and variable rate securities.

Certain investment certificate products have returns tied to the performance of equity markets. The Company guarantees the principal for purchasers who hold the certificate for the full term and purchasers may participate in increases in the stock market based on the S&P 500^® Index, up to a maximum return. Purchasers can choose 100% participation in the market index up to the cap or 25% participation plus fixed interest with a combined total up to the cap. Current first term certificates have maximum returns of 2.5% to 13.0%, depending on the term length. The equity component of these certificates is considered an embedded derivative and is accounted for separately. See Note 17 for additional information about derivative instruments used to economically hedge the equity price risk related to the Company’s stock market certificates.

Brokerage Deposits

Brokerage deposits are amounts payable to brokerage customers related to free credit balances, funds deposited by customers and funds accruing to customers as a result of trades or contracts. The Company pays interest on certain customer credit balances and the interest is included in banking and deposit interest expense.