XML 23 R11.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.5.0.2
Loans
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Receivables [Abstract]  
Loans
Loans
 
 
Loans consisted of the following:
 
June 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in millions)
Commercial loans:
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
10,973

 
$
10,000

Business and corporate banking
19,075

 
19,116

Global banking(1)
26,357

 
29,969

Other commercial
3,138

 
3,368

Total commercial
59,543

 
62,453

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
Residential mortgages
17,667

 
17,758

Home equity mortgages
1,511

 
1,600

Credit cards
668

 
699

Other consumer
421

 
407

Total consumer
20,267

 
20,464

Total loans
$
79,810

 
$
82,917

 
(1) 
Represents large multinational firms including globally focused U.S. corporate and financial institutions and U.S. dollar lending to multinational banking customers managed by HSBC on a global basis. Also includes loans to HSBC affiliates which totaled $5,072 million and $4,815 million at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. See Note 14, "Related Party Transactions," for additional information regarding loans to HSBC affiliates.
Net deferred origination fees totaled $57 million and $62 million at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had a net unamortized premium on our loans of $15 million and $16 million, respectively.
Aging Analysis of Past Due Loans  The following table summarizes the past due status of our loans, excluding loans held for sale, at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The aging of past due amounts is determined based on the contractual delinquency status of payments under the loan. An account is generally considered to be contractually delinquent when payments have not been made in accordance with the loan terms. Delinquency status is affected by customer account management policies and practices such as re-age, which results in the re-setting of the contractual delinquency status to current.
 
Past Due
 
Total Past Due 30 Days or More
 
 
 
 
At June 30, 2016
30 - 89 Days
 
90+ Days
 
 
Current(1)
 
Total Loans
 
(in millions)
Commercial loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
51

 
$
29

 
$
80

 
$
10,893

 
$
10,973

Business and corporate banking
88

 
3

 
91

 
18,984

 
19,075

Global banking

 

 

 
26,357

 
26,357

Other commercial
5

 
6

 
11

 
3,127

 
3,138

Total commercial
144

 
38

 
182

 
59,361

 
59,543

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages(2)
397

 
377

 
774

 
16,893

 
17,667

Home equity mortgages
11

 
44

 
55

 
1,456

 
1,511

Credit cards
8

 
9

 
17

 
651

 
668

Other consumer
6

 
6

 
12

 
409

 
421

Total consumer
422

 
436

 
858

 
19,409

 
20,267

Total loans
$
566

 
$
474

 
$
1,040

 
$
78,770

 
$
79,810

 
Past Due
 
Total Past Due 30 Days or More
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2015
30 - 89 Days
 
90+ Days
 
 
Current(1)
 
Total Loans
 
(in millions)
Commercial loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
31

 
$
33

 
$
64

 
$
9,936

 
$
10,000

Business and corporate banking
36

 
25

 
61

 
19,055

 
19,116

Global banking

 

 

 
29,969

 
29,969

Other commercial

 
6

 
6

 
3,362

 
3,368

Total commercial
67

 
64

 
131

 
62,322

 
62,453

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages
397

 
781

 
1,178

 
16,580

 
17,758

Home equity mortgages
15

 
50

 
65

 
1,535

 
1,600

Credit cards
10

 
9

 
19

 
680

 
699

Other consumer
7

 
7

 
14

 
393

 
407

Total consumer
429

 
847

 
1,276

 
19,188

 
20,464

Total loans
$
496

 
$
911

 
$
1,407

 
$
81,510

 
$
82,917


 
(1) 
Loans less than 30 days past due are presented as current.
(2) 
The decrease in past due loans at June 30, 2016 reflects the impact of the transfer of certain residential mortgage loans with a carrying value of $369 million to held for sale during the first half of 2016. See Note 6, "Loans Held for Sale," for additional details.
Nonaccrual Loans  Nonaccrual loans, including nonaccrual loans held for sale, and accruing loans 90 days or more delinquent consisted of the following:
 
June 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in millions)
Nonaccrual loans:
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
     Construction and other real estate
$
47

 
$
53

Business and corporate banking
238

 
167

Global banking
643

 
44

Other commercial
1

 
1

     Commercial nonaccrual loans held for sale
57

 
26

Total commercial
986

 
291

Consumer:
 
 
 
Residential mortgages(1)(2)(3)(4)
437

 
814

Home equity mortgages(1)(2)
73

 
71

Consumer nonaccrual loans held for sale(4)
376

 
3

Total consumer
886

 
888

Total nonaccruing loans
1,872

 
1,179

Accruing loans contractually past due 90 days or more:
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
Business and corporate banking
1

 
1

Total commercial
1

 
1

Consumer:
 
 
 
Credit cards
9

 
9

Other consumer
7

 
7

Total consumer
16

 
16

Total accruing loans contractually past due 90 days or more
17

 
17

Total nonperforming loans
$
1,889

 
$
1,196

 
(1) 
At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, nonaccrual consumer mortgage loans held for investment include $428 million and $768 million, respectively, of loans that are carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value of the collateral less cost to sell.
(2) 
Nonaccrual consumer mortgage loans held for investment include all loans which are 90 or more days contractually delinquent as well as loans discharged under Chapter 7 bankruptcy and not re-affirmed and second lien loans where the first lien loan that we own or service is 90 or more days contractually delinquent.
(3) 
Nonaccrual consumer mortgage loans for all periods does not include guaranteed loans purchased from the Government National Mortgage Association. Repayment of these loans are predominantly insured by the Federal Housing Administration and as such, these loans have different risk characteristics from the rest of our consumer loan portfolio.
(4) 
The trend in nonaccrual loans reflects the impact of the transfer of certain residential mortgage loans with a carrying value of $369 million to held for sale during the first half of 2016.
The following table provides additional information on our nonaccrual loans:    
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in millions)
Interest income that would have been recorded if the nonaccrual loans had been current in accordance with contractual terms during the period
$
19

 
$
23

 
$
40

 
$
44

Interest income that was recorded on nonaccrual loans and included in interest income during the period
3

 
6

 
9

 
12


Impaired Loans  A loan is considered to be impaired when it is deemed probable that not all principal and interest amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement will be collected. Probable losses from impaired loans are quantified and recorded as a component of the overall allowance for credit losses. Commercial and consumer loans for which we have modified the loan terms as part of a troubled debt restructuring are considered to be impaired loans. Additionally, commercial loans in nonaccrual status, or that have been partially charged-off or assigned a specific allowance for credit losses are also considered impaired loans.
Troubled debt restructurings  TDR Loans represent loans for which the original contractual terms have been modified to provide for terms that are less than what we would be willing to accept for new loans with comparable risk because of deterioration in the borrower’s financial condition.
Modifications for consumer or commercial loans may include changes to one or more terms of the loan, including, but not limited to, a change in interest rate, extension of the amortization period, reduction in payment amount and partial forgiveness or deferment of principal, accrued interest or other loan covenants. A substantial amount of our modifications involve interest rate reductions which lower the amount of interest income we are contractually entitled to receive in future periods. Through lowering the interest rate and other loan term changes, we believe we are able to increase the amount of cash flow that will ultimately be collected from the loan, given the borrower’s financial condition. TDR Loans are reserved for either based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loans’ original effective interest rates which generally results in a higher reserve requirement for these loans or in the case of certain secured loans, the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral. Once a consumer loan is classified as a TDR Loan, it continues to be reported as such until it is paid off or charged-off. For commercial loans, if subsequent performance is in accordance with the new terms and such terms reflect current market rates at the time of restructure, they will no longer be reported as a TDR Loan beginning in the year after restructuring. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 there were no commercial loans that met this criteria and were removed from TDR Loan classification.
The following table presents information about loans which were modified during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 and as a result of this action became classified as TDR Loans:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in millions)
Commercial loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$

 
$
4

 
$

 
$
4

Business and corporate banking
190

 
24

 
304

 
50

Global banking

 

 

 
13

Total commercial
190

 
28

 
304

 
67

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages
16

 
35

 
43

 
70

Home equity mortgages
3

 
1

 
5

 
1

Credit cards
1

 
1

 
2

 
2

Total consumer
20

 
37

 
50

 
73

Total
$
210

 
$
65

 
$
354

 
$
140


The weighted-average contractual rate reduction for consumer loans which became classified as TDR Loans during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 was 1.54 percent and 1.68 percent, respectively, compared with 1.90 percent and 1.84 percent during the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, respectively. The weighted-average contractual rate reduction for commercial loans was not significant in either the number of loans or rate.



The following table presents information about our TDR Loans and the related allowance for credit losses for TDR Loans:
 
June 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
Carrying Value
 
Unpaid Principal Balance
 
Carrying Value
 
Unpaid Principal Balance
 
(in millions)
TDR Loans(1)(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
82

 
$
94

 
$
94

 
$
106

Business and corporate banking
449

 
470

 
227

 
240

Global banking
65

 
66

 
44

 
44

Total commercial(3)
596

 
630

 
365

 
390

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages(4)(5)
928

 
1,044

 
1,060

 
1,233

  Home equity mortgages(4)
27

 
59

 
23

 
50

Credit cards
5

 
5

 
5

 
5

Total consumer
960

 
1,108

 
1,088

 
1,288

Total TDR Loans(6)
$
1,556

 
$
1,738

 
$
1,453

 
$
1,678

Allowance for credit losses for TDR Loans(7):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$

 
 
 
$

 
 
Business and corporate banking
84

 
 
 
24

 
 
Global banking

 
 
 

 
 
Total commercial
84

 
 
 
24

 
 
Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages
28

 
 
 
33

 
 
  Home equity mortgages
1

 
 
 
1

 
 
Credit cards
1

 
 
 
1

 
 
Total consumer
30

 
 
 
35

 
 
Total allowance for credit losses for TDR Loans
$
114

 
 
 
$
59

 
 
 
(1) 
TDR Loans are considered to be impaired loans. For consumer loans, all such loans are considered impaired loans regardless of accrual status. For commercial loans, impaired loans include other loans in addition to TDR Loans which totaled $654 million and $88 million at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
(2) 
The carrying value of TDR Loans includes basis adjustments on the loans, such as unearned income, unamortized deferred fees and costs on originated loans, partial charge-offs and premiums or discounts on purchased loans.
(3) 
Additional commitments to lend to commercial borrowers whose loans have been modified in TDRs totaled $221 million and $112 million at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
(4) 
At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the carrying value of consumer mortgage TDR Loans held for investment includes $763 million and $881 million, respectively, of loans that are recorded at the lower of amortized cost or fair value of the collateral less cost to sell.
(5) 
The decrease in TDR Loans at June 30, 2016 reflects the impact of the transfer of certain residential mortgage TDR Loans with a carrying value of $141 million to held for sale during the first half of 2016. There is no allowance for credit losses associated with loans classified as held for sale as they are carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value less cost to sell.
(6) 
At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the carrying value of TDR Loans includes $660 million and $676 million, respectively, of loans which are classified as nonaccrual.
(7) 
Included in the allowance for credit losses.

The following table presents information about average TDR Loans and interest income recognized on TDR Loans:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in millions)
Average balance of TDR Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
87

 
$
149

 
$
89

 
$
161

Business and corporate banking
371

 
56

 
323

 
45

Global banking
62

 
13

 
56

 
9

Total commercial
520

 
218

 
468

 
215

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages
934

 
999

 
990

 
988

     Home equity mortgages
25

 
20

 
24

 
20

Credit cards
5

 
6

 
5

 
6

Total consumer
964

 
1,025

 
1,019

 
1,014

Total average balance of TDR Loans
$
1,484

 
$
1,243

 
$
1,487

 
$
1,229

Interest income recognized on TDR Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$

 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
2

Business and corporate banking
3

 

 
4

 
1

Total commercial
3

 
1

 
5

 
3

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages
9

 
9

 
19

 
18

     Home equity mortgages
1

 
1

 
1

 
1

Total consumer
10

 
10

 
20

 
19

Total interest income recognized on TDR Loans
$
13

 
$
11

 
$
25

 
$
22


The following table presents loans which were classified as TDR Loans during the previous 12 months which for commercial loans became 90 days or greater contractually delinquent or for consumer loans became 60 days or greater contractually delinquent during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in millions)
Commercial loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
2

Business and corporate banking
2

 
2

 
4

 
3

Total commercial
2

 
2

 
4

 
5

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages
4

 
8

 
15

 
17

Total consumer
4

 
8

 
15

 
17

Total
$
6

 
$
10

 
$
19

 
$
22


Impaired commercial loans  The following table presents information about impaired commercial loans and the related impairment reserve for impaired commercial loans:
 
Amount 
with
Impairment
Reserves(1)
 
Amount
without
Impairment
Reserves(1)
 
Total Impaired
Commercial
Loans(1)(2)
 
Impairment
Reserve
 
Unpaid Principal Balance
 
(in millions)
At June 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
6

 
$
92

 
$
98

 
$
2

 
$
110

Business and corporate banking
267

 
234

 
501

 
103

 
519

Global banking
578

 
65

 
643

 
247

 
652

Other commercial
1

 
7

 
8

 
1

 
8

Total commercial
$
852

 
$
398

 
$
1,250

 
$
353

 
$
1,289

At December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
2

 
$
108

 
$
110

 
$
1

 
$
125

Business and corporate banking
168

 
124

 
292

 
52

 
342

Global banking

 
44

 
44

 

 
44

Other commercial
1

 
6

 
7

 
1

 
8

Total commercial
$
171

 
$
282

 
$
453

 
$
54

 
$
519

 
(1) 
Reflects the carrying value of impaired commercial loans and includes basis adjustments on the loans, such as partial charge-offs, unamortized deferred fees and costs on originated loans and any premiums or discounts on purchased loans.
(2) 
Includes impaired commercial loans that are also considered TDR Loans which totaled $596 million and $365 million at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
The following table presents information about average impaired commercial loans and interest income recognized on impaired commercial loans:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in millions)
Average balance of impaired commercial loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
101

 
$
166

 
$
104

 
$
176

Business and corporate banking
427

 
92

 
382

 
91

Global banking
296

 
13

 
212

 
9

Other commercial
8

 
7

 
7

 
7

Total average balance of impaired commercial loans
$
832

 
$
278

 
$
705

 
$
283

Interest income recognized on impaired commercial loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$

 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
2

Business and corporate banking
3

 

 
5

 
1

Global banking
2

 

 
2

 

Total interest income recognized on impaired commercial loans
$
5

 
$
1

 
$
8

 
$
3


Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators  The following credit quality indicators are monitored for our commercial loan portfolio:
Criticized loans  Criticized loan classifications presented in the table below are determined by the assignment of various criticized facility grades based on the risk rating standards of our regulator. These criticized facility grades, however, are not used for determining our allowance for credit losses. Under our methodology for determining the allowance for credit losses, loans are assigned obligor grades which reflect our internal assessment of the credit risk of the loans. While the regulatory criticized facility grades are directionally aligned with our internal obligor grades, each changes based on its respective underlying criteria. As a result, changes in regulatory classifications will not necessarily result in corresponding changes to our allowance for credit losses. The following facility grades are deemed to be criticized:
Special Mention – generally includes loans that are protected by collateral and/or the credit worthiness of the customer, but are potentially weak based upon economic or market circumstances which, if not checked or corrected, could weaken our credit position at some future date.
Substandard – includes loans that are inadequately protected by the underlying collateral and/or general credit worthiness of the customer. These loans present a distinct possibility that we will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.
Doubtful – includes loans that have all the weaknesses exhibited by substandard loans, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full of the recorded loan highly improbable. However, although the possibility of loss is extremely high, certain factors exist which may strengthen the credit at some future date, and therefore the decision to charge off the loan is deferred. Loans graded as doubtful are required to be placed in nonaccruing status.
The following table summarizes criticized commercial loans:
 
Special Mention
 
Substandard
 
Doubtful
 
Total
 
(in millions)
At June 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
286

 
$
192

 
$
4

 
$
482

Business and corporate banking
782

 
752

 
102

 
1,636

Global banking
1,085

 
3,053

 
415

 
4,553

Other commercial

 
7

 
1

 
8

Total commercial
$
2,153

 
$
4,004

 
$
522

 
$
6,679

At December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
239

 
$
187

 
$

 
$
426

Business and corporate banking
941

 
690

 
52

 
1,683

Global banking
1,069

 
2,300

 
12

 
3,381

Other commercial
1

 
37

 
1

 
39

Total commercial
$
2,250

 
$
3,214

 
$
65

 
$
5,529


The increase in criticized commercial loans at June 30, 2016 was driven by downgrades, predominantly emerging markets related.
Nonperforming  The following table summarizes the status of our commercial loan portfolio, excluding loans held for sale:
 
Performing
Loans
 
Nonaccrual
Loans
 
Accruing Loans
Contractually Past
Due 90 days or More
 
Total
 
(in millions)
At June 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
10,926

 
$
47

 
$

 
$
10,973

Business and corporate banking
18,836

 
238

 
1

 
19,075

Global banking
25,714

 
643

 

 
26,357

Other commercial
3,137

 
1

 

 
3,138

Total commercial
$
58,613

 
$
929

 
$
1

 
$
59,543

At December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
9,947

 
$
53

 
$

 
$
10,000

Business and corporate banking
18,948

 
167

 
1

 
19,116

Global banking
29,925

 
44

 

 
29,969

Other commercial
3,367

 
1

 

 
3,368

Total commercial
$
62,187

 
$
265

 
$
1

 
$
62,453


Credit risk profile  The following table shows the credit risk profile of our commercial loan portfolio:
 
Investment
Grade(1)
 
Non-Investment
Grade
 
Total
 
(in millions)
At June 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
8,564

 
$
2,409

 
$
10,973

Business and corporate banking
9,801

 
9,274

 
19,075

Global banking
18,209

 
8,148

 
26,357

Other commercial
1,781

 
1,357

 
3,138

Total commercial
$
38,355

 
$
21,188

 
$
59,543

At December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
Construction and other real estate
$
8,487

 
$
1,513

 
$
10,000

Business and corporate banking
10,373

 
8,743

 
19,116

Global banking
23,111

 
6,858

 
29,969

Other commercial
1,883

 
1,485

 
3,368

Total commercial
$
43,854

 
$
18,599

 
$
62,453

 
(1) 
Investment grade includes commercial loans with credit ratings of at least BBB- or above or the equivalent based on our internal credit rating system.
Consumer Loan Credit Quality Indicators  The following credit quality indicators are utilized for our consumer loan portfolio:
Delinquency  The following table summarizes dollars of two-months-and-over contractual delinquency and as a percent of total loans and loans held for sale ("delinquency ratio") for our consumer loan portfolio:
 
June 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
  
Delinquent Loans
 
Delinquency
Ratio
 
Delinquent Loans
 
Delinquency
Ratio
 
(dollars are in millions)
Residential mortgages(1)(2)
$
801

 
4.44
%
 
$
858

 
4.83
%
Home equity mortgages(1)(2)
49

 
3.24

 
56

 
3.50

Credit cards
12

 
1.80

 
13

 
1.86

Other consumer
9

 
1.81

 
11

 
2.26

Total consumer
$
871

 
4.20
%
 
$
938

 
4.56
%
 
(1) 
At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, consumer mortgage loan delinquency includes $735 million and $793 million, respectively, of loans that are carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value of the collateral less cost to sell, including $361 million and $3 million, respectively, relating to loans held for sale.
(2) 
At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, consumer mortgage loans and loans held for sale include $523 million and $567 million, respectively, of loans that were in the process of foreclosure.
Nonperforming  The following table summarizes the status of our consumer loan portfolio, excluding loans held for sale:
 
Performing
Loans
 
Nonaccrual
Loans
 
Accruing Loans
Contractually Past
Due 90 days or More
 
Total
 
(in millions)
At June 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages(1)
$
17,230

 
$
437

 
$

 
$
17,667

Home equity mortgages
1,438

 
73

 

 
1,511

Credit cards
659

 

 
9

 
668

Other consumer
414

 

 
7

 
421

Total consumer
$
19,741

 
$
510

 
$
16

 
$
20,267

At December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages
$
16,944

 
$
814

 
$

 
$
17,758

Home equity mortgages
1,529

 
71

 

 
1,600

Credit cards
690

 

 
9

 
699

Other consumer
400

 

 
7

 
407

Total consumer
$
19,563

 
$
885

 
$
16

 
$
20,464


 
(1) 
The decrease in nonaccrual loans at June 30, 2016 reflects the impact of the transfer of certain residential mortgage loans with a carrying value of $369 million to held for sale during the first half of 2016.
Troubled debt restructurings  See discussion of impaired loans above for further details on this credit quality indicator.
Concentration of Credit Risk  At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, our loan portfolios included interest-only residential mortgage loans totaling $3,669 million and $3,645 million, respectively. An interest-only residential mortgage loan allows a customer to pay the interest-only portion of the monthly payment for a period of time which results in lower payments during the initial loan period. However, subsequent events affecting a customer's financial position could affect the ability of customers to repay the loan in the future when the principal payments are required which increases the credit risk of this loan type.