Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

NOTE 13. Commitments and Contingencies

BB&T utilizes a variety of financial instruments to meet the financing needs of clients and to reduce exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, letters of credit and financial guarantees and derivatives. BB&T also has commitments to fund certain affordable housing investments and contingent liabilities related to certain sold loans.

Commitments to extend, originate or purchase credit are primarily lines of credit to businesses and consumers and have specified rates and maturity dates. Many of these commitments also have adverse change clauses, which allow BB&T to cancel the commitment due to deterioration in the borrowers' creditworthiness.

Letters of credit and financial guarantees written are unconditional commitments issued by BB&T to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. These guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements, including commercial paper issuance, bond financing and similar transactions, the majority of which are to tax exempt entities. The credit risk involved in the issuance of these guarantees is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to clients and as such, the instruments are collateralized when necessary. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, BB&T had issued letters of credit totaling $6.3 billion and $7.3 billion, respectively. The carrying amount of the liability for such guarantees was $35million and $41 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

A derivative is a financial instrument that derives its cash flows, and therefore its value, by reference to an underlying instrument, index or interest rate. For additional disclosures related to BB&T's derivatives refer to Note 15.

In the ordinary course of business, BB&T indemnifies its officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law against liabilities arising from pending litigation. BB&T also issues standard representation and warranties in underwriting agreements, merger and acquisition agreements, loan sales, brokerage activities and other similar arrangements. Counterparties in many of these indemnification arrangements provide similar indemnifications to BB&T. Although these agreements often do not specify limitations, BB&T does not believe that any payments related to these guarantees would materially change the financial position or results of operations of BB&T.

Merger and acquisition agreements of businesses other than financial institutions occasionally include additional incentives to the acquired entities to offset the loss of future cash flows previously received through ownership positions. Typically, these incentives are based on the acquired entity's contribution to BB&T's earnings compared to agreed-upon amounts. When offered, these incentives are typically issued for terms of three to five years. As certain provisions of these agreements do not specify dollar limitations, it is not possible to quantify the maximum exposure resulting from these agreements. However, based on recent payouts and current projections, any payments made in relation to these agreements are not expected to be material to BB&T's results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In connection with the Colonial acquisition, Branch Bank entered into loss sharing agreements with the FDIC related to certain assets acquired. Pursuant to the terms of these loss sharing agreements, the FDIC's obligation to reimburse Branch Bank for losses with respect to certain loans, other real estate owned (“OREO”), certain investment securities and other assets (collectively, “covered assets”), begins with the first dollar of loss incurred. For additional information about the terms of the loss sharing agreements refer to BB&T's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

BB&T invests in certain affordable housing and historic building rehabilitation projects throughout its market area as a means of supporting local communities, and receives tax credits related to these investments. BB&T typically acts as a limited partner in these investments and does not exert control over the operating or financial policies of the partnerships. Branch Bank typically provides financing during the construction and development of the properties; however, permanent financing is generally obtained from independent third parties upon completion of a project. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, BB&T had investments of$1.2 billion related to these projects, which are included as other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. BB&T's outstanding commitments to fund affordable housing investments totaled $278 million and $334 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, which are included as other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, BB&T had outstanding loan commitments to these funds of $144 million and $135 million, respectively. Of these amounts, $69 million and $36 million had been funded at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, and were included in loans and leases on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. BB&T's maximum risk exposure related to these investments totaled $1.3 billion at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

BB&T has sold certain mortgage-related loans that contain recourse provisions. These provisions generally require BB&T to reimburse the investor for a share of any loss that is incurred after the disposal of the property. BB&T also issues standard representations and warranties related to mortgage loan sales to government-sponsored entities. Refer to Note 6 for additional disclosures related to these exposures.

BB&T has investments and future funding commitments to certain venture capital funds. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, BB&T had investments of $276 million and $266 million related to these ventures, respectively. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, BB&T had future funding commitments of $152 million and $185 million, respectively. BB&T's risk exposure relating to such commitments is generally limited to the amount of investments and future funding commitments made.

Legal Proceedings

The nature of the business of BB&T's banking and other subsidiaries ordinarily results in a certain amount of claims, litigation, investigations and legal and administrative cases and proceedings, all of which are considered incidental to the normal conduct of business. BB&T believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims asserted against it in its currently outstanding legal proceedings and, with respect to such legal proceedings, intends to continue to defend itself vigorously, litigating or settling cases according to management's judgment as to what is in the best interests of BB&T and its shareholders.

The Company is a defendant in three separate cases primarily challenging the Company's daily ordering of debit transactions posted to customer checking accounts for the period from 2003 to 2010. The plaintiffs have requested class action treatment, however, no class has been certified. The court initially denied motions by the Company to dismiss these cases and compel them to be submitted to individual arbitration. The Company then filed appeals in all three matters. There have been numerous subsequent procedural developments, and at present the issues raised by these motions and/or appeals remain pending. If the motions or appeals are granted, they would preclude class action treatment. Even if those appeals are denied, the Company believes it has meritorious defenses against these matters, including class certification. Because of these appeals, and because these cases are in preliminary proceedings and no damages have been specified, no specific loss or range of loss can currently be determined.

On at least a quarterly basis, BB&T assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with outstanding legal proceedings utilizing the latest information available. For those matters where it is probable that BB&T will incur a loss and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, BB&T records a liability in its consolidated financial statements. These legal reserves may be increased or decreased to reflect any relevant developments on a quarterly basis. For other matters, where a loss is not probable or the amount of the loss is not estimable, BB&T has not accrued legal reserves. While the outcome of legal proceedings is inherently uncertain, based on information currently available, advice of counsel and available insurance coverage, BB&T's management believes that its established legal reserves are adequate and the liabilities arising from BB&T's legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations or consolidated cash flows of BB&T. However, in the event of unexpected future developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of these matters, if unfavorable, may be material to BB&T's consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations or consolidated cash flows.