(2) Finance Receivables

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Finance Receivables

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(2) Finance Receivables

Our portfolio of finance receivables consists of small-balance homogeneous contracts comprising a single segment and class that is collectively evaluated for impairment on a portfolio basis according to delinquency status. Our contract purchase guidelines are designed to produce a homogenous portfolio. For key terms such as interest rate, length of contract, monthly payment and amount financed, there is relatively little variation from the average for the portfolio. We report delinquency on a contractual basis. Once a contract becomes greater than 90 days delinquent, we do not recognize additional interest income until the obligor under the contract makes sufficient payments to be less than 90 days delinquent. Any payments received on a contract that is greater than 90 days delinquent are first applied to accrued interest and then to principal reduction.

In January 2018 the Company adopted the fair value method of accounting for finance receivables acquired after 2017. Finance receivables measured at fair value are recorded separately on the Company’s Balance Sheet and are excluded from all tables in this footnote.

The following table presents the components of Finance Receivables, net of unearned interest:

	June 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
	(In thousands)
Finance receivables
Automobile finance receivables, net of unearned interest	$	668,449	$	895,566
Unearned acquisition fees and originations costs		1,323		1,964
Finance receivables	$	669,772	$	897,530

We consider an automobile contract delinquent when an obligor fails to make at least 90% of a contractually due payment by the following due date, which date may have been extended within limits specified in the servicing agreements. The period of delinquency is based on the number of days payments are contractually past due, as extended where applicable. Automobile contracts less than 31 days delinquent are not included. In certain circumstances we will grant obligors one-month payment extensions to assist them with temporary cash flow problems. The only modification of terms is to advance the obligor’s next due date by one month and extend the maturity date of the receivable by one month. In certain limited cases, a two-month extension may be granted. There are no other concessions such as a reduction in interest rate, forgiveness of principal or of accrued interest. Accordingly, we consider such extensions to be insignificant delays in payments rather than troubled debt restructurings. The following table summarizes the delinquency status of finance receivables as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

	June 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
	(In thousands)
Delinquency Status
Current	$	553,523	$	669,937
31 - 60 days		55,498		107,951
61 - 90 days		23,199		57,395
91 + days		8,464		31,350
Repo		27,765		28,933
	$	668,449	$	895,566

Finance receivables totaling $8.5 million and $31.4 million at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, including all receivables greater than 90 days delinquent, have been placed on non-accrual status as a result of their delinquency status.

Allowance for Credit Losses – Finance Receivables

The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of finance receivables to present the net amount expected to be collected. Charge offs are deducted from the allowance when management believes that collectability is unlikely.

Management estimates the allowance using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions and, reasonable and supportable forecasts. We believe our historical credit loss experience provides the best basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. Consequently, we use historical loss experience for older receivables, aggregated into vintage pools based on their calendar quarter of origination, to forecast expected losses for less seasoned quarterly vintage pools.

We measure the weighted average monthly incremental change in cumulative net losses for the vintage pools in the relevant historical period. The data reflect the effect on vintage pools of past events as well as more recent events reflecting current conditions. We then apply the results of the historical analysis to less seasoned vintage pools beginning with each vintage pool’s most recent actual cumulative net loss experience and extrapolating from that point based on the historical data. We believe the pattern and magnitude of losses on older vintages allows us to establish a reasonable and supportable forecast of less seasoned vintages.

Our contract purchase guidelines are designed to produce a homogenous portfolio. For key credit characteristics of individual contracts such as obligor credit history, job stability, residence stability and ability to pay, there is relatively little variation from the average for the portfolio. Similarly, for key structural characteristics such as loan-to-value, length of contract, monthly payment and amount financed, there is relatively little variation from the average for the portfolio. Consequently, we do not believe there are significant differences in risk characteristics between various segments of our portfolio.

Our methodology incorporates historical pools that are sufficiently seasoned to capture the magnitude and trends of losses within those vintage pools. Furthermore, the historical period encompasses a substantial volume of receivables over periods that include fluctuations in the competitive landscape, the Company’s rates of growth, size of our managed portfolio and fluctuations in economic growth and unemployment.

In consideration of the depth and breadth of the historical period, and the homogeneity of our portfolio, we generally do not adjust historical loss information for differences in risk characteristics such as credit or structural composition of segments of the portfolio or for changes in environmental conditions such as changes in unemployment rates, collateral values or other factors. However, we have considered how certain qualitative factors may affect future credit losses and have incorporated our judgement of the effect of such factors into our estimates.

The following table presents the amortized cost basis of our finance receivables by annual vintage as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

	June 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
	(In thousands)
Annual Vintage Pool
2012	$	1,312	$	2,432
2013		9,057		15,489
2014		41,225		61,290
2015		122,363		162,242
2016		228,234		292,360
2017		266,258		361,753
	$	668,449	$	895,566

At the adoption of CECL, the Company recorded an addition to its allowance for finance credit losses of $127.0 million. In accordance with the rules for adopting CECL, the offset to the addition to the allowance for finance credit losses was a tax affected reduction to retained earnings using the modified retrospective method.

In consideration of the uncertainty associated with the pandemic, the Company made additional provision for credit losses on finance receivables for the for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2020, in the amounts of $3.1 million and $6.7 million, respectively.

The following table presents a summary of the activity for the allowance for finance credit losses for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2020 and 2019:

	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2020			2019			2020			2019
	(In thousands)						(In thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	114,073		$	48,196		$	11,640		$	67,376
Early adoption of CECL		–			n/a			127,000			n/a
Provision for credit losses on finance receivables		3,100			20,489			6,713			44,445
Charge-offs		(23,308	)		(50,409	)		(57,522	)		(102,919	)
Recoveries		4,737			14,388			10,771			23,762
Balance at end of period	$	98,602		$	32,664		$	98,602		$	32,664

Excluded from finance receivables are contracts that were previously classified as finance receivables but were reclassified as other assets because we have repossessed the vehicle securing the Contract. The following table presents a summary of such repossessed inventory together with the allowance for losses in repossessed inventory that is not included in the allowance for finance credit losses:

	June 30,			December 31,
	2020			2019
	(In thousands)
Gross balance of repossessions in inventory	$	27,765		$	28,933
Allowance for losses on repossessed inventory		(23,109	)		(21,389	)
Net repossessed inventory included in other assets	$	4,656		$	7,544