Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles Of Consolidation

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of IBERIABANK Corporation (the "Company") and its wholly owned subsidiaries, IBERIABANK, Lenders Title Company ("LTC"), IBERIA Capital Partners LLC ("ICP"), IB Aircraft Holdings, LLC, IBERIA Asset Management Inc. ("IAM"), and IBERIA CDE, LLC ("CDE"). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. All normal, recurring adjustments which, in the opinion of management are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial statements, have been included. Certain amounts reported in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Nature Of Operations

NATURE OF OPERATIONS

The Company offers commercial and retail banking products and services to customers throughout locations in six states through IBERIABANK. The Company also operates mortgage production offices in twelve states through IBERIABANK Mortgage Company ("IMC"), and offers a full line of title insurance and closing services throughout Arkansas and Louisiana through LTC and its subsidiaries. ICP provides equity research, institutional sales and trading, and corporate finance services. IB Aircraft Holdings, LLC owns a fractional share of an aircraft used by management of the Company and its subsidiaries. IAM provides wealth management and trust services for commercial and private banking clients. CDE is utilized to purchase tax credits.

Use Of Estimates

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are susceptible to significant change in the near term are the allowance for loan losses, valuation of and accounting for loans covered by loss sharing arrangements with the FDIC and the related loss share receivable, valuation of goodwill, intangible assets and other purchase accounting adjustments, and share-based compensation.

Concentration Of Credit Risks

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISKS

Most of the Company's business activity is with customers located within the States of Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee. The Company's lending activity is concentrated in its market areas in those states. The Company has emphasized originations of commercial loans and private banking loans, defined as loans to larger consumer clients. Repayment of loans is expected to come from cash flows of the borrower. Losses on secured loans are limited by the value of the collateral upon default of the borrowers. The Company does not have any significant concentrations to any one industry or customer.

Cash And Cash Equivalents

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

For purposes of presentation in the consolidated statements of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents are defined as cash, interest-bearing deposits and noninterest-bearing demand deposits at other financial institutions with original maturities less than three months. IBERIABANK may be required to maintain average balances on hand or with the Federal Reserve Bank to meet regulatory reserve and clearing requirements. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the required reserve balances were $25,000 and $4,909,000, respectively. IBERIABANK had enough cash deposited with the Federal Reserve at December 31, 2011 to cover the required reserve balance.

Investment Securities

INVESTMENT SECURITIES

Debt securities that management has the ability and intent to hold to maturity are classified as held to maturity and carried at cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts using methods approximating the interest method. Securities not classified as held to maturity or trading, including equity securities with readily determinable fair values, are classified as available for sale and recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income. Declines in the value of individual held to maturity and available for sale securities below their cost that are other than temporary are included in earnings as realized losses. In estimating other than temporary impairment losses, management considers 1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, 2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, 3) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value, and 4) for debt securities, the recovery of contractual principal and interest. Gains or losses on securities sold are recorded on the trade date, using the specific identification method.

Mortgage Loans Held For Sale

MORTGAGE LOANS HELD FOR SALE

Mortgage loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value in the aggregate. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recognized through a valuation allowance that is recorded as a charge to income. Loans held for sale have primarily been fixed rate single-family residential mortgage loans under contract to be sold in the secondary market. In most cases, loans in this category are sold within thirty days. These loans are generally sold with the mortgage servicing rights released. Buyers generally have recourse to return a purchased loan to the Company under limited circumstances. Recourse conditions may include early payment default, breach of representations or warranties, and documentation deficiencies. During 2011, an insignificant number of loans were returned to the Company.

Loans (Excluding Acquired Loans)

LOANS (EXCLUDING ACQUIRED LOANS)

The Company grants mortgage, commercial and consumer loans to customers. Except for loans which are subject to fair value requirements, loans receivable that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are stated at the unpaid principal balances, less the allowance for loan losses and net deferred loan origination fees and unearned discounts. Deferred loan origination fees were $9,422,000 and $6,791,000 and deferred loan expenses were $4,828,000 and $4,469,000 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. In addition to loans issued in the normal course of business, the Company considers overdrafts on customer deposit accounts to be loans and reclassifies these overdrafts as loans in its consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, overdrafts of $1,646,000 and $2,270,000, respectively, have been reclassified to loans receivable.

Interest income on loans is accrued over the term of the loans based on the principal balance outstanding. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized as an adjustment of the related loan yield, using the effective interest method.

The accrual of interest on loans is discontinued at the time the loan is 90 days delinquent unless the credit is well-secured and in process of collection. Mortgage, credit card and other personal loans are typically charged down to net collateral value, less cost to sell, no later than 180 days past due. Past due status is based on the contractual terms of loans. In all cases, loans are placed on nonaccrual status or charged off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful.

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. The impairment loss is measured on a loan by loan basis for commercial and construction loans by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate, the loan's obtainable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.

In general, all interest accrued but not collected for loans that are placed on nonaccrual status or charged off is reversed against interest income. The interest on these loans is accounted for on the cash-basis method or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for a return to accrual status. Loans are returned to accrual status when all principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

Allowance For Loan Losses

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

The allowance for loan losses is established as losses are estimated to have occurred through a provision charged to earnings, and for loans covered by loss share agreements with the FDIC, through a charge to earnings and an indemnification asset, the FDIC loss share receivable. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. Allowances for impaired loans are generally determined based on collateral values or the present value of estimated cash flows. Changes in the allowance related to impaired loans are charged or credited to the provision for loan losses.

The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level which, in management's opinion, is adequate to absorb credit losses inherent in the portfolio. The Company utilizes both peer group analysis, as well as a historical analysis of the Company's portfolio to validate the overall adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. In addition to these objective criteria, the Company subjectively assesses the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses with consideration given to current economic conditions, changes to loan policies, the volume and type of lending, composition of the portfolio, the level of classified and criticized credits, seasoning of the loan portfolio, payment status and other factors.

In connection with acquisitions, the Company acquires certain loans considered impaired and accounts for these loans under the provisions of ASC Topic 310, which require the initial recognition of these loans at the present value of amounts expected to be received. The Company also accounts for certain acquired loans considered performing at the time of acquisition by analogy to ASC Topic 310. The allowance for loan losses previously associated with these loans does not carry over. Any deterioration in the credit quality of these loans subsequent to acquisition would be considered in the allowance for loan losses. For any increases in cash flows expected to be collected, the Company adjusts the amount of accretable yield recognized on a prospective basis over the loan's or pool's remaining life.

Accounting For Acquired Loans And Related FDIC Loss Share Receivable

ACCOUNTING FOR ACQUIRED LOANS AND RELATED FDIC LOSS SHARE RECEIVABLE

The Company accounts for its acquisitions under ASC Topic 805, which requires the use of the purchase method of accounting. All identifiable assets acquired, including loans, are recorded at fair value. No allowance for loan losses related to the acquired loans is recorded on the acquisition date as the fair value of the loans acquired incorporates assumptions regarding credit risk. Loans acquired are recorded at fair value in accordance with the fair value methodology prescribed in ASC Topic 820, exclusive of the shared-loss agreements with the FDIC from certain of the Company's acquisitions in 2009 and 2010. The fair value estimates associated with the loans include estimates related to expected prepayments and the amount and timing of undiscounted expected principal, interest and other cash flows.

Loans acquired are recorded at fair value in accordance with the fair value methodology prescribed in ASC Topic 820, exclusive of the shared-loss agreements with the FDIC for loans acquired in 2010 and 2009. The fair value estimates associated with the loans include estimates related to the amount and timing of undiscounted expected principal, interest and other cash flows, as well as the appropriate discount rate. At the time of acquisition, the Company estimated the fair value of the total acquired loan portfolio by segregating the total portfolio into loan pools with similar characteristics, which included:

• whether the loan was performing according to contractual terms at the time of acquisition,

• the loan type based on regulatory reporting guidelines, namely whether the loan was a mortgage, consumer, or commercial loan

• the nature of collateral,

• the interest rate type, whether fixed or variable rate, and

• the loan payment type, primarily whether the loan was amortizing or interest-only.

From these pools, the Company used certain loan information, including outstanding principal balance, estimated expected losses, weighted average maturity, weighted average term to re-price (if a variable rate loan), weighted average margin, and weighted average interest rate to estimate the expected cash flow for each loan pool.

Over the life of the acquired loans, the Company continues to estimate cash flows expected to be collected on each loan pool. The Company evaluates, at least semi-annually, whether the present value of the cash flows from the loan pools, determined using the effective interest rates, has decreased and if so, recognizes a provision for loan loss in its consolidated statement of income. For any increases in cash flows expected to be collected, the Company adjusts the amount of accretable yield recognized on a prospective basis over the loan's or pool's remaining life. Interest income on acquired loans is recognized through accretion of the difference between carrying value of the loans and the expected cash flows.

Pursuant to an AICPA letter dated December 18, 2009, the AICPA summarized the SEC staff's view regarding the accounting in subsequent periods for discount accretion associated with loan receivables acquired in a business combination or asset purchase. Regarding the accounting for such loan receivables that, in the absence of further standard setting, the AICPA understands the SEC staff would not object to an accounting policy based on contractual cash flows (ASC Topic 310-20 approach) or an accounting policy based on expected cash flows (ASC 310-30 approach). The Company believes analogizing to ASC Topic 310-30 is the more appropriate option to follow in accounting for the fair value discount.

FDIC loss share receivable

Because the FDIC will reimburse the Company for certain loans acquired in 2009 and 2010 should the Company experience a loss, an indemnification asset is recorded at fair value at the acquisition date. The indemnification asset is recognized at the same time as the indemnified loans, and measured on the same basis, subject to collectability or contractual limitations. The shared loss agreements on the acquisition date reflect the reimbursements expected to be received from the FDIC, using an appropriate discount rate, which reflects counterparty credit risk and other uncertainties.

The shared loss agreements continue to be measured on the same basis as the related indemnified loans, and the loss share receivable is impacted by changes in estimated cash flows associated with these loans. Deterioration in the credit quality of the acquired loans and related expected cash flows (immediately recorded as an adjustment to the allowance for loan losses) would immediately increase the loss share receivable, with the offset recorded through the consolidated statement of income. Increases in the credit quality of the acquired loans and related cash flows (reflected as an adjustment to yield and accreted into income over the remaining life of the loans) decrease the basis of the shared loss agreements, with such decrease being amortized into income over 1) the life of the loan or 2) the life of the shared loss agreements, whichever is shorter. Loss assumptions used in the basis of the indemnified loans are consistent with the loss assumptions used to measure the indemnification asset. Fair value accounting incorporates into the fair value of the indemnification asset an element of the time value of money, which is accreted back into income over the life of the shared loss agreements.

Upon the determination of an incurred loss the indemnification asset will be reduced by the amount owed by the FDIC. A corresponding claim receivable is recorded in other assets until cash is received from the FDIC.

For further discussion of the Company's acquisitions and loan accounting, see Note 3 and Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.

Off-Balance Sheet Credit Related Financial Instruments

OFF-BALANCE SHEET CREDIT RELATED FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company accounts for its guarantees in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 460. In the ordinary course of business, the Company has entered into commitments to extend credit, including commitments under credit card arrangements, commercial letters of credit and standby letters of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

Derivative Financial Instruments

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

ASC Topic 815 requires that all derivatives be recognized as assets or liabilities in the balance sheet at fair value. The Company may enter into derivative contracts to manage exposure to interest rate risk or to meet the financing needs of its customers.

Interest rate swap agreements

The Company utilizes interest rate swap agreements to convert a portion of its variable-rate debt to a fixed rate (cash flow hedge). Interest rate swaps are contracts in which a series of interest rate flows are exchanged over a prescribed period. The notional amount on which the interest payments are based is not exchanged.

For derivatives designated as hedging the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset or liability (fair value hedge), the gain or loss is recognized in earnings in the period of change together with the offsetting gain or loss to the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged. Earnings will be affected to the extent to which the hedge is not effective in achieving offsetting changes in fair value. For derivatives designated as hedging exposure to variable cash flows of a forecasted transaction (cash flow hedge), the effective portion of the derivative's gain or loss is initially reported as a component of other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified into earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings or when the hedge is terminated. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss is reported in earnings immediately. For derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recognized in earnings immediately.

In applying hedge accounting for derivatives, the Company establishes a method for assessing the effectiveness of the hedging derivative and a measurement approach for determining the ineffective aspect of the hedge upon the inception of the hedge. These methods are consistent with the Company's approach to managing risk.

Rate lock commitments

The Company enters into commitments to originate loans whereby the interest rate on the prospective loan is determined prior to funding ("rate lock commitments"). A rate lock is given to a borrower, subject to conditional performance obligations, for a specified period of time that typically does not exceed 60 days. Simultaneously with the issuance of the rate lock to the borrower, a rate lock is received from an investor for a best efforts or mandatory delivery of the loan. Under the terms of the best efforts delivery lock, the investor commits to purchase the loan at a specified price, provided the loan is funded and delivered prior to a specified date and provided that the credit and loan characteristics meet pre-established criteria for such loans. Rate lock commitments on mortgage loans that are intended to be sold are considered to be derivatives. Accordingly, such commitments, along with any related fees received from potential borrowers, are recorded at fair value as derivative assets or liabilities, with changes in fair value recorded in net gain or loss on sale of mortgage loans. The fair value of rate lock commitments was immaterial in 2011 and 2010.

Equity-indexed certificates of deposit

Beginning in 2010, IBERIABANK offers its customers a certificate of deposit that provides the purchaser a guaranteed return of principal at maturity plus potential equity return, which allows IBERIABANK to identify a known cost of funds. The rate of return is based on the performance of ten large cap U.S. stocks in the S&P 500 stock index, representing a variety of industry segments. Because it is based on an equity index, the rate of return represents an embedded derivative that is not clearly and closely related to the host instrument. ASC Topic 815 therefore requires the certificate of deposit be separated into two components: a zero coupon certificate of deposit (the host instrument) and a written option purchased by the depositor (an embedded derivative). The discount on the zero coupon deposit is amortized over the life of the deposit, and the written option is carried at fair value on the Company's consolidated balance sheet, with changes in fair value recorded through earnings. IBERIABANK offsets the risks of the written option by purchasing an option with terms that mirror the written option and that is also carried at fair value on the Company's consolidated balance sheet.

Premises And Equipment

PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT

Land is carried at cost. Buildings and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation computed on a straight line basis over the estimated useful lives of 10 to 40 years for buildings and 5 to 15 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment.

Other Real Estate

OTHER REAL ESTATE

Other real estate includes all real estate, other than bank premises used in bank operations, owned or controlled by the Company, including real estate acquired in settlement of loans. Properties are recorded at the balance of the loan (which is the pro-rata carrying value of loans accounted for in accordance with ASC 310-30) or at estimated fair value less estimated selling costs, whichever is less, at the date acquired. Subsequent to foreclosure, management periodically performs valuations and the assets are carried at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated selling costs. Revenue and expenses from operations, gain or loss on sale and changes in the valuation allowance are included in net expenses from foreclosed assets.

For further discussion of the Company's other real estate owned, see Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill is accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 350, and accordingly is not amortized but is evaluated at least annually for impairment. As a part of its testing, the Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the Company determines the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount using these qualitative factors, the Company then compares the fair value of goodwill with its carrying amount, and then measures impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Definite-lived intangible assets continue to be amortized over their useful lives and evaluated at least quarterly for impairment.

The Company records its title plant assets in accordance with ASC Topic 950. Under ASC Topic 950, costs incurred to construct a title plant, including the costs incurred to obtain, organize, and summarize historical information, are capitalized until the title plant can be used to perform title searches. Purchased title plant, including a purchased undivided interest in title plant, is recorded at cost at the date of acquisition. For title plant acquired separately or as part of a company acquisition, cost is measured as the fair value of the consideration given. Capitalized costs of title plant are not depreciated or charged to income unless circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the title plant has been impaired. Impairment identifiers include a change in legal requirements or statutory practices, identification of obsolescence, and abandonment of the title plant, among others identifiers.

Transfers Of Financial Assets

TRANSFERS OF FINANCIAL ASSETS

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when 1) the assets have been isolated from the Company, 2) the transferee obtains the right, free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right, to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and 3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

Income Taxes

INCOME TAXES

The Company and all subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return on a calendar year basis. The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions through IBERIABANK, LTC and their subsidiaries. In lieu of Louisiana state income tax, IBERIABANK is subject to the Louisiana bank shares tax, which is included in noninterest expense or income tax expense in the Company's consolidated financial statements. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state or local income tax examinations for years before 2008.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined using the liability (or balance sheet) method. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the tax effects of the temporary differences between the book and tax bases of the various balance sheet assets and liabilities and gives current recognition to changes in tax rates and laws. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by the amount of any tax benefits that, based on available evidence, are not expected to be realized.

Stock Compensation Plans

STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS

The Company issues stock options and restricted stock under various plans to directors, officers and other key employees. The Company accounts for its stock compensation plans in accordance with ASC Topics 718 and 505. Under those provisions, the Company has adopted a fair value based method of accounting for employee stock compensation plans, whereby compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. As a result, compensation expense relating to stock options and restricted stock is reflected in net income as part of "Salaries and employee benefits" on the consolidated statements of income. The Company's practice has been to grant options at no less than the fair market value of the stock at the grant date.

See Note 18 for additional information on the Company's share-based compensation plans.

Earnings Per Common Share

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

Basic earnings per share represents income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued, as well as any adjustment to income that would result from the assumed issuance. Potential common shares that may be issued by the Company relate to outstanding stock options and warrants and are determined using the two-class method.

See Note 2 for additional information on the Company's calculation of earnings per share.

Treasury Stock

TREASURY STOCK

The purchase of the Company's common stock is recorded at cost. At the date of retirement or subsequent reissuance, treasury stock is reduced by the cost of such stock with differences recorded in additional paid-in capital or retained earnings, as applicable.

Comprehensive Income

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses be included in net income. Although certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities and cash flow hedges, are reported as a separate component of the equity section of the balance sheet, such items, along with net income, are components of comprehensive income.

Segments

SEGMENTS

In prior years, the Company strategically managed and reported the results of its business through three operating segments: IBERIABANK, IBERIABANK fsb, and LTC. The Company's IBERIABANK and IBERIABANK fsb segments offered commercial and retail banking products and services to customers throughout locations in six states. IBERIABANK provided these products and services in Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida, while IBERIABANK fsb provided similar services in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Texas. As a Louisiana-chartered commercial bank and a member of the Federal Reserve System, IBERIABANK is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Office of Financial Institutions of the State of Louisiana, IBERIABANK's chartering authority, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "FRB"), IBERIABANK's primary federal regulator. As a federal savings association, IBERIABANK fsb was subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Office of Thrift Supervision (the "OTS").

The IBERIABANK and IBERIABANK fsb segments were considered reportable segments based on quantitative thresholds applied for reportable segments provided by ASC Topic 280, and were disclosed separately. The Company's LTC segment did not meet the thresholds provided, but was reported because management believed information about this segment would be useful to readers of the Company's consolidated financial statements. A fourth reportable column, entitled "Other", included the results of operations and financial condition of the Company's other subsidiaries, as well as the activities of the Company's holding company, which include corporate business activities, including payment of employee salary and benefits and marketing, business development, legal, professional, and other corporate expenses. Certain expenses not directly attributable to a specific segment were allocated to segments based on pre-determined means that reflected utilization.

Upon the merger of the Company's two financial institution subsidiaries, IBERIABANK and IBERIABANK fsb, at the close of business on December 31, 2010, all of the Company's banking operations are considered by management to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment. Because the overall banking operations comprise substantially all of the consolidated operations and none of the Company's other subsidiaries, either individually or in the aggregate, meet quantitative materiality thresholds provided by ASC Topic 280, no separate segment disclosures are presented in these unaudited consolidated financial statements.