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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

 

☒	Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018

Commission File Number: 001-34084

 

 

POPULAR, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Puerto Rico		66-0667416
(State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation or organization)		(IRS Employer Identification Number)
Popular Center Building 209 Muñoz Rivera Avenue
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico		00918
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

(787) 765-9800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NOT APPLICABLE

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    ☒  Yes    ☐  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).     ☒  Yes    ☐  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

 

Large accelerated filer		☒		Accelerated filer		☐
Non-accelerated filer		☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller reporting company		☐
				Emerging growth company		☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     ☐  Yes     ☒  No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 102,285,819 shares outstanding as of May 7, 2018.

 

 

 

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POPULAR, INC.

INDEX

 

		Page
Part I – Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017			5
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017			6
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017			7
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017			8
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017			9
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements			10
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			114
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk			160
Item 4. Controls and Procedures			160
Part II – Other Information			160
Item 1. Legal Proceedings			160
Item 1A. Risk Factors			161
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			161
Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities			161
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures			161
Item 5. Other Information			161
Item 6. Exhibits			161
Signatures			163

 

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Forward-Looking Information

This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about Popular, Inc.’s (the “Corporation,” “Popular,” “we,” “us,” “our”), including without limitation statements about Popular’s business, financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives and future performance. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on management’s current expectations and, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions. Potential factors, some of which are beyond the Corporation’s control, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include without limitation the effect of competitive and economic factors, and our reaction to those factors, the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, delinquency trends, market risk and the impact of interest rate changes, capital markets conditions, capital adequacy and liquidity, the effect of legal proceedings and new accounting standards on the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations, and the impact of Hurricanes Irma and María on the Corporation. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking, and the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continues,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project” and similar expressions and future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “can,” “may” or similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Various factors, some of which are beyond Popular’s control, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to:

 

•

the rate of growth in the economy and employment levels, as well as general business and economic conditions in the geographic areas we serve;

 

•

the impact of the current fiscal and economic crisis of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (the “Commonwealth” or “Puerto Rico”) and the measures taken and to be taken by the Puerto Rico Government and the Federally-appointed oversight board on the economy, our customers and our business;

 

•

the impact of the pending debt restructuring proceedings under Title III of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”) and of other actions taken or to be taken to address Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis on the value of our portfolio of Puerto Rico government securities and loans to governmental entities and private borrowers that have relationships with the government, and the possibility that these actions may result in credit losses that are higher than currently expected;

 

•

the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the measures taken to recover from these hurricanes (including the availability of relief funds and insurance proceeds), on the economy of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands, and on our customers and our business;

 

•

changes in interest rates and market liquidity, which may reduce interest margins, impact funding sources and affect our ability to originate and distribute financial products in the primary and secondary markets;

 

•

the fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government and its agencies;

 

•

changes in federal bank regulatory and supervisory policies, including required levels of capital and the impact of proposed capital standards on our capital ratios;

 

•

the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) on our businesses, business practices and cost of operations;

 

•

regulatory approvals that may be necessary to undertake certain actions or consummate strategic transactions such as acquisitions and dispositions;

 

•

the length of time and the receipt of regulatory approvals necessary to consummate our acquisition and assumption of certain assets and liabilities related to Wells Fargo’s auto finance business in Puerto Rico, as well as the ability to successfully transition and integrate the business, unexpected costs, including, without limitation, costs due to exposure to any unrecorded liabilities or issues not identified during due diligence investigation of the business or that are not subject to indemnification or reimbursement, and risks that the business may suffer as a result of the transaction, including due to adverse effects on relationships with customers, employees and service providers;

 

•

the relative strength or weakness of the consumer and commercial credit sectors and of the real estate markets in Puerto Rico and the other markets in which borrowers are located;

 

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•

the performance of the stock and bond markets;

 

•

competition in the financial services industry;

 

•

additional Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) assessments;

 

•

possible legislative, tax or regulatory changes; and

 

•

a failure in or breach of our operational or security systems or infrastructure or those of EVERTEC, Inc., our provider of core financial transaction processing and information technology services, as a result of cyberattacks, including e-fraud, denial-of-services and computer intrusion, that might result in loss or breach of customer data, disruption of services, reputational damage or additional costs to Popular.

Other possible events or factors that could cause results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements include the following:

 

•

negative economic conditions, including as a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, that adversely affect housing prices, the job market, consumer confidence and spending habits which may affect, among other things, the level of non-performing assets, charge-offs and provision expense;

 

•

changes in market rates and prices which may adversely impact the value of financial assets and liabilities;

 

•

liabilities resulting from litigation and regulatory investigations;

 

•

changes in accounting standards, rules and interpretations;

 

•

our ability to grow our core businesses;

 

•

decisions to downsize, sell or close units or otherwise change our business mix; and

 

•

management’s ability to identify and manage these and other risks.

Moreover, the outcome of legal proceedings, as discussed in “Part II, Item I. Legal Proceedings,” is inherently uncertain and depends on judicial interpretations of law and the findings of regulators, judges and/or juries. Investors should refer to the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as well as “Part II, Item 1A” of this Form 10-Q for a discussion of such factors and certain risks and uncertainties to which the Corporation is subject.

All forward-looking statements included in this Form 10-Q are based upon information available to Popular as of the date of this Form 10-Q and, other than as required by law, including the requirements of applicable securities laws, we assume no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or information which speak as of their respective dates.

 

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POPULAR, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(UNAUDITED)

 

(In thousands, except share information)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Assets:
Cash and due from banks		$	280,077			$	402,857
Money market investments:
Time deposits with other banks			6,984,009				5,255,119
Total money market investments			6,984,009				5,255,119
Trading account debt securities, at fair value:
Pledged securities with creditors’ right to repledge			622				625
Other trading securities			41,764				33,301
Debt securities available-for-sale, at fair value:
Pledged securities with creditors’ right to repledge			380,644				393,634
Other investment securities available-for-sale			10,039,945				9,783,289
Debt securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value 2018 - $98,740; 2017 - $97,501)			104,817				107,019
Equity securities (realizable value 2018 -$169,340); (2017 - $168,417)			165,218				165,103
Loans held-for-sale, at lower of cost or fair value			77,701				132,395
Loans held-in-portfolio:
Loans not covered under loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC			24,224,793				24,423,427
Loans covered under loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC			514,611				517,274
Less – Unearned income			136,856				130,633
Allowance for loan losses			640,578				623,426
Total loans held-in-portfolio, net			23,961,970				24,186,642
FDIC loss-share asset			44,469				45,192
Premises and equipment, net			544,109				547,142
Other real estate not covered under loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC			153,061				169,260
Other real estate covered under loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC			15,333				19,595
Accrued income receivable			157,340				213,844
Mortgage servicing assets, at fair value			166,281				168,031
Other assets			1,978,760				1,991,323
Goodwill			627,294				627,294
Other intangible assets			33,347				35,672
Total assets		$	45,756,761			$	44,277,337
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing		$	8,698,610			$	8,490,945
Interest bearing			28,435,483				26,962,563
Total deposits			37,134,093				35,453,508
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase			380,061				390,921
Other short-term borrowings			186,200				96,208
Notes payable			1,564,204				1,536,356
Other liabilities			1,427,294				1,696,439
Total liabilities			40,691,852				39,173,432
Commitments and contingencies (Refer to Note 21) Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, 30,000,000 shares authorized; 2,006,391 shares issued and outstanding			50,160				50,160
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 170,000,000 shares authorized; 104,263,919 shares issued (2017 - 104,238,159) and 102,189,914 shares outstanding (2017 - 102,068,981)			1,043				1,042
Surplus			4,300,936				4,298,503
Retained earnings			1,261,775				1,194,994
Treasury stock - at cost, 2,074,005 shares (2017 - 2,169,178)			(86,167	)			(90,142	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax			(462,838	)			(350,652	)
Total stockholders’ equity			5,064,909				5,103,905
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	45,756,761			$	44,277,337

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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POPULAR, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands, except per share information)		2018				2017
Interest income:
Loans		$	373,584			$	363,136
Money market investments			22,285				6,573
Investment securities			57,209				46,286
Total interest income			453,078				415,995
Interest expense:
Deposits			38,688				33,757
Short-term borrowings			2,013				1,095
Long-term debt			19,330				19,045
Total interest expense			60,031				53,897
Net interest income			393,047				362,098
Provision for loan losses—non-covered loans			69,333				42,057
Provision (reversal) for loan losses—covered loans			1,730				(1,359	)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses			321,984				321,400
Service charges on deposit accounts			36,455				39,536
Other service fees			60,602				56,175
Mortgage banking activities (Refer to Note 10)			12,068				11,369
Net (loss) gain, including impairment, on equity securities			(646	)			162
Net loss on trading account debt securities			(198	)			(278	)
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold			(2,926	)			(1,966	)
FDIC loss share expense (Refer to Note 28)			(8,027	)			(8,257	)
Other operating income			16,169				19,128
Total non-interest income			113,497				115,869
Operating expenses:
Personnel costs			125,852				123,740
Net occupancy expenses			22,802				20,776
Equipment expenses			17,206				15,970
Other taxes			10,902				10,969
Professional fees			82,985				69,250
Communications			5,906				5,949
Business promotion			12,009				11,576
FDIC deposit insurance			6,920				6,493
Other real estate owned (OREO) expenses			6,131				12,818
Other operating expenses			28,964				31,432
Amortization of intangibles			2,325				2,345
Total operating expenses			322,002				311,318
Income before income tax			113,479				125,951
Income tax expense			22,155				33,006
Net Income		$	91,324			$	92,945
Net Income Applicable to Common Stock		$	90,393			$	92,014
Net Income per Common Share—Basic		$	0.89			$	0.89
Net Income per Common Share—Diluted		$	0.89			$	0.89
Dividends Declared per Common Share		$	0.25			$	0.25

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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POPULAR, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Net income		$	91,324			$	92,945
Reclassification to retained earnings due to cumulative effect of accounting change (Note 3)			(605	)			—
Other comprehensive (loss) income before tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment			93				139
Amortization of net losses of pension and postretirement benefit plans			5,386				5,607
Amortization of prior service credit of pension and postretirement benefit plans			(867	)			(950	)
Unrealized holding losses on debt securities arising during the period			(121,189	)			(3,026	)
Unrealized holding gains on equity securities arising during the period			—				119
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income			—				(162	)
Unrealized net gains (losses) on cash flow hedges			1,225				(637	)
Reclassification adjustment for net (gains) losses included in net income			(1,267	)			855
Other comprehensive (loss) income before tax			(117,224	)			1,945
Income tax benefit (expense)			5,038				(1,571	)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax			(112,186	)			374
Comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax		$	(20,862	)		$	93,319
Tax effect allocated to each component of other comprehensive (loss) income:		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Amortization of net losses of pension and postretirement benefit plans		$	(2,101	)		$	(2,186	)
Amortization of prior service credit of pension and postretirement benefit plans			338				370
Unrealized holding losses on debt securities arising during the period			6,785				322
Unrealized holding gains on equity securities arising during the period			—				(24	)
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income			—				32
Unrealized net gains (losses) on cash flow hedges			(478	)			248
Reclassification adjustment for net (gains) losses included in net income			494				(333	)
Income tax benefit (expense)		$	5,038			$	(1,571	)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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POPULAR, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

 

																						Accumulated
																						other
		Common				Preferred								Retained				Treasury				comprehensive
(In thousands)		stock				stock				Surplus				earnings				stock				loss				Total
Balance at December 31, 2016		$	1,040			$	50,160			$	4,255,022			$	1,220,307			$	(8,286	)		$	(320,286	)		$	5,197,957
Net income															92,945												92,945
Issuance of stock			1								1,806																1,807
Dividends declared:
Common stock															(25,615	)											(25,615	)
Preferred stock															(931	)											(931	)
Common stock purchases											4,518								(80,842	)							(76,324	)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax																							374				374
Balance at March 31, 2017		$	1,041			$	50,160			$	4,261,346			$	1,286,706			$	(89,128	)		$	(319,912	)		$	5,190,213
Balance at December 31, 2017		$	1,042			$	50,160			$	4,298,503			$	1,194,994			$	(90,142	)		$	(350,652	)		$	5,103,905
Cumulative effect of accounting change															1,935												1,935
Net income															91,324												91,324
Issuance of stock			1								880																881
Dividends declared:
Common stock															(25,547	)											(25,547	)
Preferred stock															(931	)											(931	)
Common stock purchases																			(1,328	)							(1,328	)
Common stock reissuance											(16	)							738								722
Stock based compensation											1,569								4,565								6,134
Other comprehensive income, net of tax																							(112,186	)			(112,186	)
Balance at March 31, 2018		$	1,043			$	50,160			$	4,300,936			$	1,261,775			$	(86,167	)		$	(462,838	)		$	5,064,909
																						March 31,				March 31,
Disclosure of changes in number of shares:																						2018				2017
Preferred Stock:
Balance at beginning and end of period																							2,006,391				2,006,391
Common Stock – Issued:
Balance at beginning of period																							104,238,159				104,058,684
Issuance of stock																							25,760				42,934
Balance at end of period																							104,263,919				104,101,618
Treasury stock																							(2,074,005	)			(2,144,878	)
Common Stock – Outstanding																							102,189,914				101,956,740

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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POPULAR, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	91,324			$	92,945
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for loan losses			71,063				40,698
Amortization of intangibles			2,325				2,345
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment			12,836				11,799
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees			(7,006	)			(6,463	)
Share-based compensation			3,112				—
Impairment losses on long-lived assets			272				—
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights			4,307				5,954
FDIC loss share expense			8,027				8,257
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold			2,926				1,966
Earnings from investments under the equity method, net of dividends or distributions			(7,370	)			(9,213	)
Deferred income tax expense			10,758				25,060
(Gain) loss on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets			(72	)			6,466
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale and mortgage banking activities			(1,116	)			(5,381	)
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs			(99	)			4,512
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale			(47,335	)			(73,043	)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale			12,036				29,364
Net originations on loans held-for-sale			(48,375	)			(123,336	)
Net decrease (increase) in:
Trading debt securities			93,998				176,937
Equity securities			(130	)			435
Accrued income receivable			56,504				10,024
Other assets			36,014				11,995
Net (decrease) increase in:
Interest payable			(10,614	)			(11,281	)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligation			1,225				331
Other liabilities			(94,529	)			(13,654	)
Total adjustments			98,757				93,772
Net cash provided by operating activities			190,081				186,717
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net increase in money market investments			(1,728,858	)			(766,208	)
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			(1,311,382	)			(1,216,880	)
Equity			(9,730	)			(225	)
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			1,016,203				222,677
Held-to-maturity			2,639				2,184
Proceeds from sale of investment securities:
Equity			9,745				1,757
Net disbursements on loans			93,482				99,306
Acquisition of loan portfolios			(161,295	)			(109,098	)
Net payments (to) from FDIC under loss sharing agreements			(1,263	)			(23,574	)
Return of capital from equity method investments			—				3,362
Acquisition of premises and equipment			(13,046	)			(18,646	)
Proceeds from insurance claims			258				—
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets			3,033				3,011
Foreclosed assets			25,746				27,547
Net cash used in investing activities			(2,074,468	)			(1,774,787	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits			1,678,029				1,715,958
Federal funds purchased and assets sold under agreements to repurchase			(10,860	)			(44,711	)
Other short-term borrowings			89,992				—
Payments of notes payable			(12,680	)			(17,408	)
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable			40,000				—
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			4,712				1,806
Dividends paid			(26,138	)			(16,499	)
Net payments for repurchase of common stock			(193	)			(75,604	)
Payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation			(1,223	)			(719	)
Net cash provided by financing activities			1,761,639				1,562,823
Net decrease in cash and due from banks, and restricted cash			(122,748	)			(25,247	)
Cash and due from banks, and restricted cash at beginning of period			412,629				374,196
Cash and due from banks, and restricted cash at the end of the period		$	289,881			$	348,949

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial

Statements (Unaudited)

 

Note 1 -		Nature of operations			11
Note 2 -		Basis of presentation and summary of significant accounting policies			12
Note 3 -		New accounting pronouncements			13
Note 4 -		Restrictions on cash and due from banks and certain securities			16
Note 5 -		Debt securities available-for-sale			17
Note 6 -		Debt securities held-to-maturity			21
Note 7 -		Loans			23
Note 8 -		Allowance for loan losses			32
Note 9 -		FDIC loss share asset and true-up payment obligation			46
Note 10 -		Mortgage banking activities			48
Note 11 -		Transfers of financial assets and mortgage servicing assets			49
Note 12 -		Other real estate owned			52
Note 13 -		Other assets			53
Note 14 -		Goodwill and other intangible assets			54
Note 15 -		Deposits			56
Note 16 -		Borrowings			57
Note 17 -		Offsetting of financial assets and liabilities			59
Note 18 -		Stockholders’ equity			61
Note 19 -		Other comprehensive loss			62
Note 20 -		Guarantees			64
Note 21 -		Commitments and contingencies			66
Note 22 -		Non-consolidated variable interest entities			74
Note 23 -		Related party transactions			77
Note 24 -		Fair value measurement			80
Note 25 -		Fair value of financial instruments			86
Note 26 -		Net income per common share			90
Note 27 -		Revenue from contracts with customers			91
Note 28 -		FDIC loss share expense			93
Note 29 -		Pension and postretirement benefits			94
Note 30 -		Stock-based compensation			95
Note 31 -		Income taxes			97
Note 32 -		Supplemental disclosure on the consolidated statements of cash flows			101
Note 33 -		Segment reporting			102
Note 34 -		Subsequent events			106
Note 35 -		Condensed consolidating financial information of guarantor and issuers of registered guaranteed securities			107

 

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Note 1 – Nature of operations

Popular, Inc. (the “Corporation”) is a diversified, publicly-owned financial holding company subject to the supervision and regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Corporation has operations in Puerto Rico, the mainland United States and U.S. and British Virgin Islands. In Puerto Rico, the Corporation provides retail, mortgage, and commercial banking services through its principal banking subsidiary, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (“BPPR”), as well as investment banking, broker-dealer, auto and equipment leasing and financing, and insurance services through specialized subsidiaries. In the U.S. mainland, the Corporation provides retail, mortgage and commercial banking services through its New York-chartered banking subsidiary, Popular Bank (“PB”), which has branches located in New York, New Jersey and Florida.

Prior to April 9, 2018, PB operated under the legal name of Banco Popular North America and conducted business under the assumed name of Popular Community Bank.

 

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Note 2 – Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared without audit. The consolidated statement of financial condition data at December 31, 2017 was derived from audited financial statements. The unaudited interim financial statements are, in the opinion of management, a fair statement of the results for the periods reported and include all necessary adjustments, all of a normal recurring nature, for a fair statement of such results.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2017 consolidated financial statements and notes to the financial statements to conform with the 2018 presentation.

Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted from the unaudited financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2017, included in the Corporation’s 2017 Form 10-K. Operating results for the interim periods disclosed herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year or any future period.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

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Note 3 – New accounting pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Updates

FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost

The FASB issued ASU 2017-07 in March 2017, which requires that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost of pension and postretirement benefit plans. The amendments also provide guidance on how to present the service cost component and the other components of net benefit cost in the income statement and allow only the service cost component of net benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization.

As a result of the adoption of this accounting pronouncement during the first quarter of 2018, the Corporation recognized $2.2 million (March 31, 2017—$1.9 million) as components of net periodic benefit cost other than service cost in the other operating expenses caption, which would have otherwise previously been recognized as personnel cost. The presentation for prior periods has been adjusted to reflect the new classification. Effective January 1, 2018, these expenses are no longer capitalized as part of loan origination costs.

FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-05, Other Income– Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets

The FASB issued ASU 2017-05 in February 2017, which, among other things, clarifies the scope of the derecognition of nonfinancial assets, the definition of in substance financial assets, and impacts the accounting for partial sales of nonfinancial assets by requiring full gain recognition upon the sale.

The adoption of this standard during the first quarter of 2018 did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial statements.

FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business

The FASB issued ASU 2017-01 in January 2017, which revises the definition of a business by providing an initial screen to determine when an integrated set of assets and activities (“set”) is not a business. Also, the amendments, among other things, specify the minimum inputs and processes required for a set to meet the definition of a business when the initial screen is not met and narrow the definition of the term output so that the term is consistent with Topic 606.

The Corporation adopted ASU 2017-01 during the first quarter of 2018. As such, the Corporation will consider this guidance in any business combinations completed after the effective date.

FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash

The FASB issued ASU 2016-18 in November 2016, which require entities to present the changes in total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance also requires a reconciliation of the totals in the statement of cash flows to the related captions in the balance sheet if restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents are presented in a different line item in the balance sheet.

As a result of the adoption of this accounting pronouncement during the first quarter of 2018, the Corporation included restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents within money market investments of $9.8 million at March 31, 2018 (March 31, 2017—$8.7 million) in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. In addition, the Corporation presented a reconciliation of the totals in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to the related captions in the Consolidated Statements of Condition in Note 32, Supplemental disclosure on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

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FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory

The FASB issued ASU 2016-16 in October 2016, which eliminates the exception for all intra-entity sales of assets other than inventory that requires deferral of the tax effects until the transferred asset is sold to a third party or otherwise recovered through use. The new guidance requires a reporting entity to recognize the tax impact from the sale of the asset in the seller’s tax jurisdiction when the transfer occurs, even though the pre-tax effects of that transaction are eliminated in consolidation. Any deferred tax asset that arises in the buyer’s jurisdiction would also be recognized at the time of the transfer.

As a result of the adoption of this accounting pronouncement during the first quarter of 2018, the Corporation recorded a positive cumulative effect adjustment of $1.3 million to retained earnings to reflect the net tax benefit resulting from intra-entity sales of assets.

FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments

The FASB issued ASU 2016-15 in August 2016, which addresses specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing existing diversity in practice, which may lead to a difference in the classification of transactions between operating, financing or investing activities. Among other things, the guidance provides an accounting policy election for classifying distributions received from equity method investees and clarifies the application of the predominance principle.

As a result of the adoption of this accounting pronouncement during the first quarter of 2018, the Corporation reclassified from investing to operating activities $0.5 million in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 as a result of electing the cumulative earnings approach for classifying distributions received from equity investees.

FASB Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)

The FASB has issued a series of ASUs which, among other things, clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and develop a common revenue standard. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services, that is, the satisfaction of performance obligations, to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. A five-step process is defined to achieve this core principle. The new guidance also requires disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

The Corporation adopted this accounting pronouncement during the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. The Corporation elected the practical expedient that permits an entity to expense incremental costs of obtaining contracts, given the amortization periods were one year or less. There were no material changes in the presentation and timing of when revenues are recognized. ASC Topic 606 was applied to contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2018. There was no impact in the evaluation of these contracts. Refer to additional disclosures on Note 27, Revenue from contracts with customers.

FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

The FASB issued ASU 2016-01 in January 2016, which primarily affects the accounting for equity investments and financial liabilities under the fair value option as follows: require equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; simplify the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values; require changes in fair value due to instrument-specific credit risk to be presented separately in other comprehensive income for financial liabilities under the fair value option; and clarify that the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities should be evaluated in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. In addition, the ASU also impacts the presentation and disclosure requirements of financial instruments.

As a result of the adoption of this accounting pronouncement during the first quarter of 2018, the Corporation aggregated $11 million previously classified as available-for-sale and as trading to those under the other investment securities caption and reclassified under the caption of equity securities which amounted to $165.2 million at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017—$165.1 million). In addition, a positive cumulative effect adjustment of $0.6 million was recognized due to the reclassification of unrealized gains of equity securities available-for-sale, net of tax, from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings.

 

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The adoption of FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-09, Compensation– Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, effective during the first quarter of 2018, did not have a significant impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Updates

FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-03, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities

The FASB issued ASU 2018-03 in February 2018, which clarifies certain aspects of the guidance in ASU 2016-01, principally related to equity securities without a readily determinable fair value.

The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted.

The Corporation does not expect to be significantly impacted by these technical corrections and improvements.

For recently issued Accounting Standards Updates not yet effective, refer to Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2017 Form 10-K.

 

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Note 4 – Restrictions on cash and due from banks and certain securities

The Corporation’s banking subsidiaries, BPPR and PB, are required by federal and state regulatory agencies to maintain average reserve balances with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Fed”) or other banks. Those required average reserve balances amounted to $ 1.5 billion at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $ 1.4 billion). Cash and due from banks, as well as other highly liquid securities, are used to cover the required average reserve balances.

At March 31, 2018, the Corporation held $39 million in restricted assets in the form of funds deposited in money market accounts, debt securities available for sale and equity securities (December 31, 2017—$41 million). The amounts held in debt securities available for sale and equity securities consist primarily of restricted assets held for the Corporation’s non-qualified retirement plans and fund deposits guaranteeing possible liens or encumbrances over the title of insured properties.

 

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Note 5 – Debt securities available-for-sale

The following tables present the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, approximate fair value, weighted average yield and contractual maturities of debt securities available-for-sale at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

		At March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		Amortized cost				Gross unrealized gains				Gross unrealized losses				Fair value				Weighted average yield
U.S. Treasury securities
Within 1 year		$	1,148,842			$	9			$	2,845			$	1,146,006				1.22	%
After 1 to 5 years			2,881,995				176				49,382				2,832,789				1.69
After 5 to 10 years			538,364				—				4,764				533,600				2.44
Total U.S. Treasury securities			4,569,201				185				56,991				4,512,395				1.66
Obligations of U.S. Government sponsored entities
Within 1 year			319,734				29				1,176				318,587				1.33
After 1 to 5 years			268,528				2				4,343				264,187				1.48
Total obligations of U.S. Government sponsored entities			588,262				31				5,519				582,774				1.39
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions
After 1 to 5 years			6,731				—				119				6,612				2.07
Total obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions			6,731				—				119				6,612				2.07
Collateralized mortgage obligations—federal agencies
Within 1 year			17				—				—				17				1.47
After 1 to 5 years			16,648				72				111				16,609				2.90
After 5 to 10 years			75,511				9				3,058				72,462				1.85
After 10 years			825,468				1,723				32,646				794,545				2.05
Total collateralized mortgage obligations—federal agencies			917,644				1,804				35,815				883,633				2.04
Mortgage-backed securities
Within 1 year			928				6				—				934				4.18
After 1 to 5 years			11,871				134				211				11,794				3.56
After 5 to 10 years			331,616				1,827				7,102				326,341				2.22
After 10 years			4,222,400				15,163				142,211				4,095,352				2.45
Total mortgage-backed securities			4,566,815				17,130				149,524				4,434,421				2.44
Other
After 5 to 10 years			748				6				—				754				3.62
Total other			748				6				—				754				3.62
Total debt securities available-for-sale[1]		$	10,649,401			$	19,156			$	247,968			$	10,420,589				2.01	%

 

[1]	Includes $7.0 billion pledged to secure public and trust deposits, assets sold under agreements to repurchase, credit facilities and loan servicing agreements that the secured parties are not permitted to sell or repledge the collateral, of which $6.1 billion serve as collateral for public funds.

 

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		At December 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Amortized cost				Gross unrealized gains				Gross unrealized losses				Fair value				Weighted average yield
U.S. Treasury securities
Within 1 year		$	1,112,791			$	8			$	2,101			$	1,110,698				1.06	%
After 1 to 5 years			2,550,116				—				26,319				2,523,797				1.55
After 5 to 10 years			293,579				281				191				293,669				2.24
Total U.S. Treasury securities			3,956,486				289				28,611				3,928,164				1.46
Obligations of U.S. Government sponsored entities
Within 1 year			276,304				21				818				275,507				1.26
After 1 to 5 years			336,922				22				3,518				333,426				1.48
Total obligations of U.S. Government sponsored entities			613,226				43				4,336				608,933				1.38
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions
After 1 to 5 years			6,668				—				59				6,609				2.30
Total obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions			6,668				—				59				6,609				2.30
Collateralized mortgage obligations—federal agencies
Within 1 year			40				—				—				40				2.60
After 1 to 5 years			16,972				173				75				17,070				2.90
After 5 to 10 years			36,186				57				526				35,717				2.31
After 10 years			914,568				2,789				26,431				890,926				2.01
Total collateralized mortgage obligations—federal agencies			967,766				3,019				27,032				943,753				2.03
Mortgage-backed securities
Within 1 year			484				8				—				492				4.23
After 1 to 5 years			14,599				206				211				14,594				3.50
After 5 to 10 years			339,161				2,390				3,765				337,786				2.21
After 10 years			4,385,368				19,493				69,071				4,335,790				2.46
Total mortgage-backed securities			4,739,612				22,097				73,047				4,688,662				2.44
Other
After 5 to 10 years			789				13				—				802				3.62
Total other			789				13				—				802				3.62
Total debt securities available-for-sale[1]		$	10,284,547			$	25,461			$	133,085			$	10,176,923				1.96	%

 

[1]	Includes $6.6 billion pledged to secure public and trust deposits, assets sold under agreements to repurchase, credit facilities and loan servicing agreements that the secured parties are not permitted to sell or repledge the collateral, of which $5.6 billion serve as collateral for public funds.

The weighted average yield on debt securities available-for-sale is based on amortized cost; therefore, it does not give effect to changes in fair value.

Debt securities not due on a single contractual maturity date, such as mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, are classified in the period of final contractual maturity. The expected maturities of collateralized mortgage obligations, mortgage-backed securities and certain other securities may differ from their contractual maturities because they may be subject to prepayments or may be called by the issuer.

There were no securities sold during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017.

The following tables present the Corporation’s fair value and gross unrealized losses of debt securities available-for-sale, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

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		At March 31, 2018
		Less than 12 months								12 months or more								Total
(In thousands)		Fair value				Gross unrealized losses				Fair value				Gross unrealized losses				Fair value				Gross unrealized losses
U.S. Treasury securities		$	2,782,548			$	38,901			$	1,332,915			$	18,090			$	4,115,463			$	56,991
Obligations of U.S. Government sponsored entities			228,285				1,532				351,070				3,987				579,355				5,519
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions			6,613				119				—				—				6,613				119
Collateralized mortgage obligations—federal agencies			208,888				3,646				578,882				32,169				787,770				35,815
Mortgage-backed securities			1,542,995				41,063				2,512,508				108,461				4,055,503				149,524
Total debt securities available-for-sale in an unrealized loss position		$	4,769,329			$	85,261			$	4,775,375			$	162,707			$	9,544,704			$	247,968
		At December 31, 2017
		Less than 12 months								12 months or more								Total
(In thousands)		Fair value				Gross unrealized losses				Fair value				Gross unrealized losses				Fair value				Gross unrealized losses
U.S. Treasury securities		$	2,608,473			$	14,749			$	1,027,066			$	13,862			$	3,635,539			$	28,611
Obligations of U.S. Government sponsored entities			214,670				1,108				376,807				3,228				591,477				4,336
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions			6,609				59				—				—				6,609				59
Collateralized mortgage obligations—federal agencies			153,336				2,110				595,339				24,922				748,675				27,032
Mortgage-backed securities			1,515,295				12,529				2,652,359				60,518				4,167,654				73,047
Total debt securities available-for-sale in an unrealized loss position		$	4,498,383			$	30,555			$	4,651,571			$	102,530			$	9,149,954			$	133,085

As of March 31, 2018, the portfolio of available-for-sale debt securities reflects gross unrealized losses of approximately $248 million, driven mainly by mortgage-backed securities, U.S. Treasury securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations.

Management evaluates debt securities for other-than-temporary (“OTTI”) declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Once a decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, the value of a debt security is reduced and a corresponding charge to earnings is recognized for anticipated credit losses. The OTTI analysis requires management to consider various factors, which include, but are not limited to: (1) the length of time and the extent to which fair value has been less than the amortized cost basis, (2) the financial condition of the issuer or issuers, (3) actual collateral attributes, (4) the payment structure of the debt security and the likelihood of the issuer being able to make payments, (5) any rating changes by a rating agency, (6) adverse conditions specifically related to the security, industry, or a geographic area, and (7) management’s intent to sell the debt security or whether it is more likely than not that the Corporation would be required to sell the debt security before a forecasted recovery occurs.

At March 31, 2018, management performed its quarterly analysis of all debt securities in an unrealized loss position. Based on the analysis performed, management concluded that no individual debt security was other-than-temporarily impaired as of such date. At March 31, 2018, the Corporation did not have the intent to sell debt securities in an unrealized loss position and it was not more likely than not that the Corporation would have to sell the debt securities prior to recovery of their amortized cost basis.

The following table states the name of issuers, and the aggregate amortized cost and fair value of the debt securities of such issuer (includes available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities), in which the aggregate amortized cost of such securities exceeds 10% of stockholders’ equity. This information excludes debt securities backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Investments in obligations issued by a state of the U.S. and its political subdivisions and agencies, which are payable and secured by the same source of revenue or taxing authority, other than the U.S. Government, are considered securities of a single issuer.

 

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		March 31, 2018								December 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Amortized cost				Fair value				Amortized cost				Fair value
FNMA		$	3,500,042			$	3,392,654			$	3,621,537			$	3,572,474
Freddie Mac			1,279,650				1,236,594				1,358,708				1,335,685

 

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Note 6 – Debt securities held-to-maturity

The following tables present the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, approximate fair value, weighted average yield and contractual maturities of debt securities held-to-maturity at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

		At March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		Amortized cost				Gross unrealized gains				Gross unrealized losses				Fair value				Weighted average yield
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions
Within 1 year		$	3,445			$	—			$	271			$	3,174				5.98	%
After 1 to 5 years			16,195				—				3,281				12,914				6.06
After 5 to 10 years			26,140				—				5,588				20,552				3.62
After 10 years			45,023				3,312				249				48,086				1.91
Total obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions			90,803				3,312				9,389				84,726				3.30
Collateralized mortgage obligations - federal agencies
After 5 to 10 years			66				4				—				70				5.45
Total collateralized mortgage obligations - federal agencies			66				4				—				70				5.45
Trust preferred securities
After 5 to 10 years			1,637				—				—				1,637				8.33
After 10 years			11,561				—				—				11,561				6.51
Total trust preferred securities			13,198				—				—				13,198				6.73
Other
Within 1 year			250				—				—				250				2.44
After 1 to 5 years			500				—				4				496				2.97
Total other			750				—				4				746				2.79
Total debt securities held-to-maturity[1]		$	104,817			$	3,316			$	9,393			$	98,740				3.73	%

 

[1]	Includes $90.8 million pledged to secure public and trust deposits that the secured parties are not permitted to sell or repledge the collateral.

 

		At December 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Amortized cost				Gross unrealized gains				Gross unrealized losses				Fair value				Weighted average yield
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions
Within 1 year		$	3,295			$	—			$	79			$	3,216				5.96	%
After 1 to 5 years			15,485				—				4,143				11,342				6.05
After 5 to 10 years			29,240				—				8,905				20,335				3.89
After 10 years			44,734				3,834				222				48,346				1.93
Total obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions			92,754				3,834				13,349				83,239				3.38
Collateralized mortgage obligations - federal agencies
After 5 to 10 years			67				4				—				71				5.45
Total collateralized mortgage obligations - federal agencies			67				4				—				71				5.45
Trust preferred securities
After 5 to 10 years			1,637				—				—				1,637				8.33
After 10 years			11,561				—				—				11,561				6.51
Total trust preferred securities			13,198				—				—				13,198				6.73
Other
Within 1 year			500				—				7				493				1.96
After 1 to 5 years			500				—				—				500				2.97
Total other			1,000				—				7				993				2.47
Total debt securities held-to-maturity[1]		$	107,019			$	3,838			$	13,356			$	97,501				3.79	%

 

[1]	Includes $92.8 million pledged to secure public and trust deposits that the secured parties are not permitted to sell or repledge the collateral.

Debt securities not due on a single contractual maturity date, such as collateralized mortgage obligations, are classified in the period of final contractual maturity. The expected maturities of collateralized mortgage obligations and certain other securities may differ from their contractual maturities because they may be subject to prepayments or may be called by the issuer.

The following tables present the Corporation’s fair value and gross unrealized losses of debt securities held-to-maturity, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

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		At March 31, 2018
		Less than 12 months								12 months or more								Total
(In thousands)		Fair value				Gross unrealized losses				Fair value				Gross unrealized losses				Fair value				Gross unrealized losses
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions		$	9,980			$	101			$	37,517			$	9,288			$	47,497			$	9,389
Other			250				—				496				4				746				4
Total debt securities held-to-maturity in an unrealized loss position		$	10,230			$	101			$	38,013			$	9,292			$	48,243			$	9,393
		At December 31, 2017
		Less than 12 months								12 months or more								Total
(In thousands)		Fair value				Gross unrealized losses				Fair value				Gross unrealized losses				Fair value				Gross unrealized losses
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions		$	—			$	—			$	35,696			$	13,349			$	35,696			$	13,349
Other			—				—				743				7				743				7
Total debt securities held-to-maturity in an unrealized loss position		$	—			$	—			$	36,439			$	13,356			$	36,439			$	13,356

As indicated in Note 5 to these Consolidated Financial Statements, management evaluates debt securities for OTTI declines in fair value on a quarterly basis.

The “Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions” classified as held-to-maturity at March 31, 2018 are primarily associated with securities issued by municipalities of Puerto Rico and are generally not rated by a credit rating agency. This includes $47 million of general and special obligation bonds issued by three municipalities of Puerto Rico, which are payable primarily from, and have a lien on, certain property taxes imposed by the issuing municipality. In the case of general obligations, they also benefit from a pledge of the full faith, credit and unlimited taxing power of the issuing municipality and issuing municipalities are required by law to levy property taxes in an amount sufficient for the payment of debt service on such general obligations bonds.

The portfolio also includes $44 million in securities for which the underlying source of payment is not the central government, but in which a government instrumentality provides a guarantee in the event of default. The Corporation performs periodic credit quality reviews on these issuers. Based on the quarterly analysis performed, management concluded that no individual debt security held-to-maturity was other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2018. Further deterioration of the fiscal crisis of the Government of Puerto Rico or of Puerto Rico’s economy could further affect the value of these securities, resulting in losses to the Corporation. The Corporation does not have the intent to sell debt securities held-to-maturity and it is more likely than not that the Corporation will not have to sell these investment securities prior to recovery of their amortized cost basis.

Refer to Note 21 for additional information on the Corporation’s exposure to the Puerto Rico Government.

 

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Note 7 – Loans

Loans acquired in the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction, except for lines of credit with revolving privileges, are accounted for by the Corporation in accordance with ASC Subtopic 310-30. Under ASC Subtopic 310-30, the acquired loans were aggregated into pools based on similar characteristics. Each loan pool is accounted for as a single asset with a single composite interest rate and an aggregate expectation of cash flows. The loans which are accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-30 by the Corporation are not considered non-performing and will continue to have an accretable yield as long as there is a reasonable expectation about the timing and amount of cash flows expected to be collected. The Corporation measures additional losses for this portfolio when it is probable the Corporation will be unable to collect all cash flows expected at acquisition plus additional cash flows expected to be collected arising from changes in estimates after acquisition. Lines of credit with revolving privileges that were acquired as part of the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction are accounted for under the guidance of ASC Subtopic 310-20, which requires that any differences between the contractually required loan payment receivable in excess of the Corporation’s initial investment in the loans be accreted into interest income. Loans accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-20 are placed in non-accrual status when past due in accordance with the Corporation’s non-accruing policy and any accretion of discount is discontinued.

The risks on loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted transaction are significantly different from the risks on loans not covered under the FDIC loss sharing agreements because of the loss protection provided by the FDIC. Accordingly, the Corporation presents loans subject to the loss sharing agreements as “covered loans” in the information below and loans that are not subject to the FDIC loss sharing agreements as “non-covered loans”. The FDIC loss sharing agreements expired on June 30, 2015 for commercial (including construction) and consumer loans, and expires on June 30, 2020 for single-family residential mortgage loans, as explained in Note 9.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation recorded purchases (including repurchases) of mortgage loans amounting to $156 million and consumer loans of $51 million, compared to purchases (including repurchases) of mortgage loans of $136 million, consumer loans of $42 million and leases of $2 million, during the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

The Corporation performed whole-loan sales involving approximately $10 million of residential mortgage loans during the quarter ended March 31, 2018 (March 31, 2017 - $28 million). Also, during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation securitized approximately $112 million of mortgage loans into Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) mortgage-backed securities and $26 million of mortgage loans into Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) mortgage-backed securities, compared to $147 million and $28 million, respectively, during the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Non-covered loans

The following table presents the composition of non-covered loans held-in-portfolio (“HIP”), net of unearned income, by past due status at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, including loans previously covered by the commercial FDIC loss sharing agreements.

 

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March 31, 2018
Puerto Rico
		Past due																Current				Non-covered loans HIP Puerto Rico
(In thousands)		30-59 days				60-89 days				90 days or more				Total past due
Commercial multi-family		$	5,296			$	211			$	2,876			$	8,383			$	142,706			$	151,089
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			106,662				3,383				27,890				137,935				2,243,092				2,381,027
Commercial real estate owner occupied			31,295				16,783				121,620				169,698				1,598,786				1,768,484
Commercial and industrial			38,309				4,712				36,832				79,853				2,742,343				2,822,196
Construction			1,369				—				4,463				5,832				88,026				93,858
Mortgage			281,846				185,748				1,558,078				2,025,672				4,330,034				6,355,706
Leasing			8,899				2,962				3,957				15,818				822,565				838,383
Consumer:
Credit cards			15,418				21,379				11,004				47,801				1,007,076				1,054,877
Home equity lines of credit			404				176				329				909				4,524				5,433
Personal			15,259				10,791				21,963				48,013				1,182,928				1,230,941
Auto			26,996				10,329				13,356				50,681				835,793				886,474
Other			1,303				510				15,789				17,602				133,610				151,212
Total		$	533,056			$	256,984			$	1,818,157			$	2,608,197			$	15,131,483			$	17,739,680
March 31, 2018
Popular U.S.
		Past due
(In thousands)		30-59 days				60-89 days				90 days or more				Total past due				Current				Loans HIP Popular U.S.
Commercial multi-family		$	20			$	—			$	—			$	20			$	1,249,577			$	1,249,597
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			4,965				126				365				5,456				1,786,075				1,791,531
Commercial real estate owner occupied			2,771				—				405				3,176				265,507				268,683
Commercial and industrial			5,616				2,115				94,141				101,872				934,028				1,035,900
Construction			20,021				—				—				20,021				779,512				799,533
Mortgage			15,600				948				11,647				28,195				680,743				708,938
Legacy			1,597				8				3,137				4,742				26,425				31,167
Consumer:
Credit cards			1				8				7				16				57				73
Home equity lines of credit			1,402				2,791				14,731				18,924				147,493				166,417
Personal			2,399				1,575				2,604				6,578				289,628				296,206
Other			—				—				7				7				205				212
Total		$	54,392			$	7,571			$	127,044			$	189,007			$	6,159,250			$	6,348,257

 

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March 31, 2018
Popular, Inc.
		Past due																				Non-covered loans HIP Popular, Inc.[1] [2]
(In thousands)		30-59 days				60-89 days				90 days or more				Total past due				Current
Commercial multi-family		$	5,316			$	211			$	2,876			$	8,403			$	1,392,283			$	1,400,686
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			111,627				3,509				28,255				143,391				4,029,167				4,172,558
Commercial real estate owner occupied			34,066				16,783				122,025				172,874				1,864,293				2,037,167
Commercial and industrial			43,925				6,827				130,973				181,725				3,676,371				3,858,096
Construction			21,390				—				4,463				25,853				867,538				893,391
Mortgage			297,446				186,696				1,569,725				2,053,867				5,010,777				7,064,644
Leasing			8,899				2,962				3,957				15,818				822,565				838,383
Legacy[3]			1,597				8				3,137				4,742				26,425				31,167
Consumer:
Credit cards			15,419				21,387				11,011				47,817				1,007,133				1,054,950
Home equity lines of credit			1,806				2,967				15,060				19,833				152,017				171,850
Personal			17,658				12,366				24,567				54,591				1,472,556				1,527,147
Auto			26,996				10,329				13,356				50,681				835,793				886,474
Other			1,303				510				15,796				17,609				133,815				151,424
Total		$	587,448			$	264,555			$	1,945,201			$	2,797,204			$	21,290,733			$	24,087,937

 

[1]	Non-covered loans held-in-portfolio are net of $137 million in unearned income and exclude $78 million in loans held-for-sale.

[2]

Includes $7.1 billion pledged to secure credit facilities and public funds that the secured parties are not permitted to sell or repledge the collateral, of which $4.6 billion were pledged at the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) as collateral for borrowings, $2.1 billion at the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) for discount window borrowings and $0.4 billion serve as collateral for public funds.

[3]	The legacy portfolio is comprised of commercial loans, construction loans and lease financings related to certain lending products exited by the Corporation as part of restructuring efforts carried out in prior years at the Popular U.S. segment.

 

December 31, 2017
Puerto Rico
		Past due																				Non-covered loans HIP Puerto Rico
(In thousands)		30-59 days				60-89 days				90 days or more				Total past due				Current
Commercial multi-family		$	—			$	426			$	1,210			$	1,636			$	144,763			$	146,399
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			39,617				131				28,045				67,793				2,336,766				2,404,559
Commercial real estate owner occupied			7,997				2,291				123,929				134,217				1,689,397				1,823,614
Commercial and industrial			3,556				1,251				40,862				45,669				2,845,658				2,891,327
Construction			—				—				170				170				95,199				95,369
Mortgage			217,890				77,833				1,596,763				1,892,486				4,684,293				6,576,779
Leasing			10,223				1,490				2,974				14,687				795,303				809,990
Consumer:
Credit cards			7,319				4,464				18,227				30,010				1,063,211				1,093,221
Home equity lines of credit			438				395				257				1,090				4,997				6,087
Personal			13,926				6,857				19,981				40,764				1,181,548				1,222,312
Auto			24,405				5,197				5,466				35,068				815,745				850,813
Other			537				444				16,765				17,746				139,842				157,588
Total		$	325,908			$	100,779			$	1,854,649			$	2,281,336			$	15,796,722			$	18,078,058

 

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December 31, 2017
Popular U.S.
		Past due
		30-59				60-89				90 days				Total								Loans HIP
(In thousands)		days				days				or more				past due				Current				Popular U.S.
Commercial multi-family		$	395			$	—			$	784			$	1,179			$	1,209,514			$	1,210,693
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			4,028				1,186				1,599				6,813				1,681,498				1,688,311
Commercial real estate owner occupied			2,684				—				862				3,546				315,429				318,975
Commercial and industrial			1,121				5,278				97,427				103,826				901,157				1,004,983
Construction			—				—				—				—				784,660				784,660
Mortgage			13,453				6,148				14,852				34,453				659,175				693,628
Legacy			291				417				3,039				3,747				29,233				32,980
Consumer:
Credit cards			3				2				11				16				84				100
Home equity lines of credit			4,653				3,675				14,997				23,325				158,760				182,085
Personal			3,342				2,149				2,779				8,270				289,732				298,002
Other			—				—				—				—				319				319
Total		$	29,970			$	18,855			$	136,350			$	185,175			$	6,029,561			$	6,214,736
December 31, 2017
Popular, Inc.
		Past due																				Non-covered
(In thousands)		30-59 days				60-89 days				90 days or more				Total past due				Current				loans HIP Popular, Inc.[1] [2]
Commercial multi-family		$	395			$	426			$	1,994			$	2,815			$	1,354,277			$	1,357,092
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			43,645				1,317				29,644				74,606				4,018,264				4,092,870
Commercial real estate owner occupied			10,681				2,291				124,791				137,763				2,004,826				2,142,589
Commercial and industrial			4,677				6,529				138,289				149,495				3,746,815				3,896,310
Construction			—				—				170				170				879,859				880,029
Mortgage			231,343				83,981				1,611,615				1,926,939				5,343,468				7,270,407
Leasing			10,223				1,490				2,974				14,687				795,303				809,990
Legacy[3]			291				417				3,039				3,747				29,233				32,980
Consumer:
Credit cards			7,322				4,466				18,238				30,026				1,063,295				1,093,321
Home equity lines of credit			5,091				4,070				15,254				24,415				163,757				188,172
Personal			17,268				9,006				22,760				49,034				1,471,280				1,520,314
Auto			24,405				5,197				5,466				35,068				815,745				850,813
Other			537				444				16,765				17,746				140,161				157,907
Total		$	355,878			$	119,634			$	1,990,999			$	2,466,511			$	21,826,283			$	24,292,794

 

[1]	Non-covered loans held-in-portfolio are net of $131 million in unearned income and exclude $132 million in loans held-for-sale.

[2]

Includes $7.1 billion pledged to secure credit facilities and public funds that the secured parties are not permitted to sell or repledge the collateral, of which $4.6 billion were pledged at the FHLB as collateral for borrowings, $2.0 billion at the FRB for discount window borrowings and $0.5 billion serve as collateral for public funds.

[3]	The legacy portfolio is comprised of commercial loans, construction loans and lease financings related to certain lending products exited by the Corporation as part of restructuring efforts carried out in prior years at the Popular U.S. segment.

The level of delinquencies for mortgage loans was impacted by the loan moratorium implemented by the Corporation as part of its hurricane relief measures. Also, loans with a delinquency status of 90 days past due as of March 31, 2018 include approximately $535 million in loans previously pooled into GNMA securities (December 31, 2017—$840 million). Under the GNMA program, issuers such as BPPR have the option but not the obligation to repurchase loans that are 90 days or more past due. For accounting purposes, these loans subject to the repurchase option are required to be reflected on the financial statements of the Bank with an offsetting liability. While the borrowers for our serviced GNMA portfolio benefited from the loan payment moratorium, the delinquency status of these loans continued to be reported to GNMA without considering the moratorium. Management will continue to monitor the effect of the moratorium as the period comes to an end and the loan repayment schedule is resumed.

 

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The following tables present non-covered loans held-in-portfolio by loan class that are in non-performing status or are accruing interest but are past due 90 days or more at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Accruing loans past due 90 days or more consist primarily of credit cards, Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) / U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) and other insured mortgage loans, and delinquent mortgage loans which are included in the Corporation’s financial statements pursuant to GNMA’s buy-back option program. Servicers of loans underlying GNMA mortgage-backed securities must report as their own assets the defaulted loans that they have the option (but not the obligation) to repurchase, even when they elect not to exercise that option.

 

At March 31, 2018
		Puerto Rico								Popular U.S.								Popular, Inc.
(In thousands)		Non-accrual loans				Accruing loans past-due 90 days or more [1]				Non-accrual loans				Accruing loans past-due 90 days or more [1]				Non-accrual loans				Accruing loans past-due 90 days or more [1]
Commercial multi-family		$	1,396			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	1,396			$	—
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			18,205				—				365				—				18,570				—
Commercial real estate owner occupied			100,777				—				405				—				101,182				—
Commercial and industrial			36,754				78				377				—				37,131				78
Construction			4,293				—				—				—				4,293				—
Mortgage[3]			357,967				1,117,460				11,647				—				369,614				1,117,460
Leasing			3,957				—				—				—				3,957				—
Legacy			—				—				3,137				—				3,137				—
Consumer:
Credit cards			—				11,004				7				—				7				11,004
Home equity lines of credit			—				329				14,731				—				14,731				329
Personal			21,852				91				2,604				—				24,456				91
Auto			13,356				—				—				—				13,356				—
Other			14,959				830				7				—				14,966				830
Total[2]		$	573,516			$	1,129,792			$	33,280			$	—			$	606,796			$	1,129,792

 

[1]

Non-covered loans of $209 million accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-30 are excluded from the above table as they are considered to be performing due to the application of the accretion method, in which these loans will accrete interest income over the remaining life of the loans using estimated cash flow analysis.

[2]	For purposes of this table non-performing loans exclude non-performing loans held-for-sale.

[3]

It is the Corporation’s policy to report delinquent residential mortgage loans insured by FHA or guaranteed by the VA as accruing loans past due 90 days or more as opposed to non-performing since the principal repayment is insured. These balances include $194 million of residential mortgage loans in Puerto Rico insured by FHA or guaranteed by the VA that are no longer accruing interest as of March 31, 2018. These balances also include approximately $535 million of loans rebooked due to a repurchase option with GNMA. Under the GNMA program, issuers such as BPPR have the option but not the obligation to repurchase loans that are 90 days or more past due. For accounting purposes, these loans subject to the repurchase option are required to be reflected on the financial statements of BPPR with an offsetting liability. The Corporation has approximately $57 million in reverse mortgage loans in Puerto Rico which are guaranteed by FHA, but which are currently not accruing interest. Due to the guaranteed nature of the loans, it is the Corporation’s policy to exclude these balances from non-performing assets.

 

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At December 31, 2017
		Puerto Rico								Popular U.S.								Popular, Inc.
(In thousands)		Non-accrual loans				Accruing loans past-due 90 days or more [1]				Non-accrual loans				Accruing loans past-due 90 days or more [1]				Non-accrual loans				Accruing loans past-due 90 days or more [1]
Commercial multi-family		$	1,115			$	—			$	784			$	—			$	1,899			$	—
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			18,866				—				1,599				—				20,465				—
Commercial real estate owner occupied			101,068				—				862				—				101,930				—
Commercial and industrial			40,177				685				594				—				40,771				685
Mortgage[3]			306,697				1,204,691				14,852				—				321,549				1,204,691
Leasing			2,974				—				—				—				2,974				—
Legacy			—				—				3,039				—				3,039				—
Consumer:
Credit cards			—				18,227				11				—				11				18,227
Home equity lines of credit			—				257				14,997				—				14,997				257
Personal			19,460				141				2,779				—				22,239				141
Auto			5,466				—				—				—				5,466				—
Other			15,617				1,148				—				—				15,617				1,148
Total[2]		$	511,440			$	1,225,149			$	39,517			$	—			$	550,957			$	1,225,149

 

[1]

Non-covered loans of $215 million accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-30 are excluded from the above table as they are considered to be performing due to the application of the accretion method, in which these loans will accrete interest income over the remaining life of the loans using estimated cash flow analysis.

[2]	For purposes of this table non-performing loans exclude non-performing loans held-for-sale.

[3]

It is the Corporation’s policy to report delinquent residential mortgage loans insured by FHA or guaranteed by the VA as accruing loans past due 90 days or more as opposed to non-performing since the principal repayment is insured. These balances include $178 million of residential mortgage loans in Puerto Rico insured by FHA or guaranteed by the VA that are no longer accruing interest as of December 31, 2017. These balances also include approximately $840 million of loans rebooked due to a repurchase option with GNMA. Under the GNMA program, issuers such as BPPR have the option but not the obligation to repurchase loans that are 90 days or more past due. For accounting purposes, these loans subject to the repurchase option are required to be reflected on the financial statements of BPPR with an offsetting liability. The Corporation has approximately $58 million in reverse mortgage loans in Puerto Rico which are guaranteed by FHA, but which are currently not accruing interest. Due to the guaranteed nature of the loans, it is the Corporation’s policy to exclude these balances from non-performing assets.

Covered loans

The following tables present the composition of loans by past due status at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 for covered loans held-in-portfolio. The information considers covered loans accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-20 and ASC Subtopic 310-30.

 

March 31, 2018
		Past due
		30-59				60-89				90 days				Total								Covered
(In thousands)		days				days				or more				past due				Current				loans HIP [1]
Mortgage		$	44,199			$	2,753			$	67,652			$	114,604			$	386,079			$	500,683
Consumer			1,231				—				1,026				2,257				11,671				13,928
Total covered loans		$	45,430			$	2,753			$	68,678			$	116,861			$	397,750			$	514,611

 

[1]	Includes $268 million pledged to secure credit facilities at the FHLB which are not permitted to sell or repledge the collateral.

 

December 31, 2017
		Past due
		30-59				60-89				90 days				Total								Covered
(In thousands)		days				days				or more				past due				Current				loans HIP [1]
Mortgage		$	16,640			$	5,453			$	59,018			$	81,111			$	421,818			$	502,929
Consumer			518				147				988				1,653				12,692				14,345
Total covered loans		$	17,158			$	5,600			$	60,006			$	82,764			$	434,510			$	517,274

 

[1]	Includes $279 million pledged to secure credit facilities at the FHLB which are not permitted to sell or repledge the collateral.

 

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The following table presents covered loans in non-performing status and accruing loans past-due 90 days or more by loan class at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

		March 31, 2018								December 31, 2017
		Non-accrual				Accruing loans past				Non-accrual				Accruing loans past
(In thousands)		loans				due 90 days or more				loans				due 90 days or more
Mortgage		$	3,413			$	—			$	3,165			$	—
Consumer			182				—				188				—
Total[1]		$	3,595			$	—			$	3,353			$	—

 

[1]	Covered loans accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-30 are excluded from the above table as they are considered to be performing due to the application of the accretion method, in which these loans will accrete interest income over the remaining life of the loans using estimated cash flow analyses.

The Corporation accounts for lines of credit with revolving privileges under the accounting guidance of ASC Subtopic 310-20, which requires that any differences between the contractually required loans payment receivable in excess of the initial investment in the loans be accreted into interest income over the life of the loans, if the loan is accruing interest. Covered loans accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-20 amounted to $10 million at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017—$10 million).

Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality accounted for under ASC 310-30

The following provides information of loans acquired with evidence of credit deterioration as of the acquisition date, accounted for under the guidance of ASC 310-30.

Loans acquired from Westernbank as part of an FDIC-assisted transaction

The carrying amount of the Westernbank loans consisted of loans determined to be impaired at the time of acquisition, which are accounted for in accordance with ASC Subtopic 310-30 (“credit impaired loans”), and loans that were considered to be performing at the acquisition date, accounted for by analogy to ASC Subtopic 310-30 (“non-credit impaired loans”), as detailed in the following table.

 

		March 31, 2018												December 31, 2017
		Carrying amount												Carrying amount
(In thousands)		Non-credit impaired loans				Credit impaired loans				Total				Non-credit impaired loans				Credit impaired loans				Total
Commercial real estate		$	898,172			$	13,543			$	911,715			$	909,389			$	14,035			$	923,424
Commercial and industrial			86,447				—				86,447				88,130				—				88,130
Construction			—				170				170				—				170				170
Mortgage			538,352				21,605				559,957				542,182				21,357				563,539
Consumer			16,096				758				16,854				16,900				758				17,658
Carrying amount [1]			1,539,067				36,076				1,575,143				1,556,601				36,320				1,592,921
Allowance for loan losses			(84,801	)			(4,962	)			(89,763	)			(64,520	)			(5,609	)			(70,129	)
Carrying amount, net of allowance		$	1,454,266			$	31,114			$	1,485,380			$	1,492,081			$	30,711			$	1,522,792

 

[1]	The carrying amount of loans acquired from Westernbank and accounted for under ASC 310-30 which remains subject to the loss sharing agreement with the FDIC amounted to approximately $505 million as of March 31, 2018 and $507 million as of December 31, 2017.

The outstanding principal balance of Westernbank loans accounted pursuant to ASC Subtopic 310-30, amounted to $1.9 billion at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $1.9 billion). At March 31, 2018, none of the acquired loans from the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-30 were considered non-performing loans. Therefore, interest income, through accretion of the difference between the carrying amount of the loans and the expected cash flows, was recognized on all acquired loans.

 

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Changes in the carrying amount and the accretable yield for the Westernbank loans accounted pursuant to the ASC Subtopic 310-30, for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, were as follows:

 

		Activity in the accretable yield
		Westernbank loans ASC 310-30
		For the quarters ended
		March 31, 2018												March 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Non-credit impaired loans				Credit impaired loans				Total				Non-credit impaired loans				Credit impaired loans				Total
Beginning balance		$	875,837			$	4,878			$	880,715			$	1,001,908			$	8,179			$	1,010,087
Accretion			(34,349	)			(659	)			(35,008	)			(36,016	)			(876	)			(36,892	)
Change in expected cash flows			28,798				(130	)			28,668				7,789				222				8,011
Ending balance		$	870,286			$	4,089			$	874,375			$	973,681			$	7,525			$	981,206
		Carrying amount of Westernbank loans accounted for pursuant to ASC 310-30
		For the quarters ended
		March 31, 2018												March 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Non-credit impaired loans				Credit impaired loans				Total				Non-credit impaired loans				Credit impaired loans				Total
Beginning balance		$	1,556,601			$	36,320			$	1,592,921			$	1,695,381			$	42,948			$	1,738,329
Accretion			34,349				659				35,008				36,016				876				36,892
Collections / loan sales / charge-offs			(51,883	)			(903	)			(52,786	)			(83,069	)			(3,252	)			(86,321	)
Ending balance[1]		$	1,539,067			$	36,076			$	1,575,143			$	1,648,328			$	40,572			$	1,688,900
Allowance for loan losses ASC 310-30 Westernbank loans			(84,801	)			(4,962	)			(89,763	)			(59,283	)			(7,261	)			(66,544	)
Ending balance, net of ALLL		$	1,454,266			$	31,114			$	1,485,380			$	1,589,045			$	33,311			$	1,622,356

 

[1]	The carrying amount of loans acquired from Westernbank and accounted for under ASC 310-30 which remain subject to the loss sharing agreement with the FDIC amounted to approximately $ 505 million as of March 31, 2018 (March 31, 2017- $542 million).

Other loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality

The outstanding principal balance of other acquired loans accounted pursuant to ASC Subtopic 310-30, amounted to $552 million at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017—$556 million). At March 31, 2018, none of the other acquired loans accounted under ASC Subtopic 310-30 were considered non-performing loans. Therefore, interest income, through accretion of the difference between the carrying amount of the loans and the expected cash flows, was recognized on all acquired loans.

Changes in the carrying amount and the accretable yield for the other acquired loans accounted pursuant to the ASC Subtopic 310-30, for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

 

Activity in the accretable yield - Other acquired loans ASC 310-30
		For the quarters ended
(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				March 31, 2017
Beginning balance		$	333,773			$	278,896
Additions			3,437				3,254
Accretion			(7,052	)			(8,836	)
Change in expected cash flows			193				36,464
Ending balance		$	330,351			$	309,778

 

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Carrying amount of other acquired loans accounted for pursuant to ASC 310-30
		For the quarters ended
(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				March 31, 2017
Beginning balance		$	516,072			$	562,695
Additions			5,272				5,581
Accretion			7,052				8,836
Collections and charge-offs			(18,348	)			(20,388	)
Ending balance		$	510,048			$	556,724
Allowance for loan losses ASC 310-30 non-covered loans			(56,357	)			(28,909	)
Ending balance, net of allowance for loan losses		$	453,691			$	527,815

 

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Note 8 – Allowance for loan losses

The Corporation follows a systematic methodology to establish and evaluate the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses to provide for inherent losses in the loan portfolio. This methodology includes the consideration of factors such as current economic conditions, portfolio risk characteristics, prior loss experience and results of periodic credit reviews of individual loans. The provision for loan losses charged to current operations is based on this methodology. Loan losses are charged and recoveries are credited to the allowance for loan losses.

The Corporation’s assessment of the allowance for loan losses is determined in accordance with the guidance of loss contingencies in ASC Subtopic 450-20 and loan impairment guidance in ASC Section 310-10-35. Also, the Corporation determines the allowance for loan losses on purchased impaired loans and purchased loans accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-30, by evaluating decreases in expected cash flows after the acquisition date.

The accounting guidance provides for the recognition of a loss allowance for groups of homogeneous loans. The determination for general reserves of the allowance for loan losses includes the following principal factors:

 

•

Base net loss rates, which are based on the moving average of annualized net loss rates computed over a 5-year historical loss period for the commercial and construction loan portfolios, and an 18-month period for the consumer and mortgage loan portfolios. The base net loss rates are applied by loan type and by legal entity.

 

•

Recent loss trend adjustment, which replaces the base loss rate with a 12-month average loss rate, when these trends are higher than the respective base loss rates. The objective of this adjustment is to allow for a more recent loss trend to be captured and reflected in the ALLL estimation process.

For the period ended March 31, 2018, 45% (March 31, 2017—55%) of the ALLL for non-covered BPPR segment loan portfolios utilized the recent loss trend adjustment instead of the base loss. The effect of replacing the base loss with the recent loss trend adjustment was mainly concentrated in the mortgage, leasing, credit cards and auto loans portfolios for 2018 and in the mortgage, other consumer and commercial real estate owner occupied portfolios for 2017.

For the period ended March 31, 2018, 5.41% (March 31, 2017—0.35%) of our Popular U.S. segment loan portfolios utilized the recent loss trend adjustment instead of the base loss. The effect of replacing the base loss with the recent loss trend adjustment was concentrated in the consumer portfolios for 2018 and in the commercial multifamily loan and legacy portfolios for 2017.

 

•

Environmental factors, which include credit and macroeconomic indicators such as unemployment rate, economic activity index and delinquency rates, adopted to account for current market conditions that are likely to cause estimated credit losses to differ from historical losses. The Corporation reflects the effect of these environmental factors on each loan group as an adjustment that, as appropriate, increases the historical loss rate applied to each group. Environmental factors provide updated perspective on credit and economic conditions. Regression analysis is used to select these indicators and quantify the effect on the general reserve of the allowance for loan losses.

The following tables present the changes in the allowance for loan losses, loan ending balances and whether such loans and the allowance pertain to loans individually or collectively evaluated for impairment for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

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For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
Puerto Rico - Non-covered loans
(In thousands)		Commercial				Construction				Mortgage				Leasing				Consumer				Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Beginning balance		$	171,531			$	1,286			$	159,081			$	11,991			$	174,215			$	518,104
Provision (reversal of provision)			20,934				1,163				7,464				2,914				24,243				56,718
Charge-offs			(6,789	)			48				(13,791	)			(2,513	)			(28,372	)			(51,417	)
Recoveries			2,846				160				547				520				6,117				10,190
Ending balance		$	188,522			$	2,657			$	153,301			$	12,912			$	176,203			$	533,595
Specific ALLL		$	45,028			$	474			$	44,419			$	448			$	22,955			$	113,324
General ALLL		$	143,494			$	2,183			$	108,882			$	12,464			$	153,248			$	420,271
Loans held-in-portfolio:
Impaired non-covered loans		$	352,064			$	4,293			$	510,849			$	1,361			$	97,730			$	966,297
Non-covered loans held-in-portfolio excluding impaired loans			6,770,732				89,565				5,844,857				837,022				3,231,207				16,773,383
Total non-covered loans held-in-portfolio		$	7,122,796			$	93,858			$	6,355,706			$	838,383			$	3,328,937			$	17,739,680

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
Puerto Rico - Covered loans
(In thousands)		Commercial				Construction				Mortgage				Leasing				Consumer				Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Beginning balance		$	—			$	—			$	32,521			$	—			$	723			$	33,244
Provision			—				—				2,265				—				(535	)			1,730
Charge-offs			—				—				(1,446	)			—				(2	)			(1,448	)
Recoveries			—				—				82				—				2				84
Ending balance		$	—			$	—			$	33,422			$	—			$	188			$	33,610
Specific ALLL		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—
General ALLL		$	—			$	—			$	33,422			$	—			$	188			$	33,610
Loans held-in-portfolio:
Impaired covered loans		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—
Covered loans held-in-portfolio excluding impaired loans			—				—				500,683				—				13,928				514,611
Total covered loans held-in-portfolio		$	—			$	—			$	500,683			$	—			$	13,928			$	514,611

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
Popular U.S.
(In thousands)		Commercial				Construction				Mortgage				Legacy				Consumer				Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Beginning balance		$	44,134			$	7,076			$	4,541			$	798			$	15,529			$	72,078
Provision (reversal of provision)			10,555				16				(118	)			(477	)			2,639				12,615
Charge-offs			(8,396	)			—				(82	)			(157	)			(6,316	)			(14,951	)
Recoveries			1,566				—				386				488				1,191				3,631
Ending balance		$	47,859			$	7,092			$	4,727			$	652			$	13,043			$	73,373
Specific ALLL		$	—			$	—			$	2,496			$	—			$	1,195			$	3,691
General ALLL		$	47,859			$	7,092			$	2,231			$	652			$	11,848			$	69,682
Loans held-in-portfolio:
Impaired loans		$	—			$	—			$	9,073			$	—			$	5,853			$	14,926
Loans held-in-portfolio excluding impaired loans			4,345,711				799,533				699,865				31,167				457,055				6,333,331
Total loans held-in-portfolio		$	4,345,711			$	799,533			$	708,938			$	31,167			$	462,908			$	6,348,257

 

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For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
Popular, Inc.
(In thousands)		Commercial				Construction				Mortgage				Legacy				Leasing				Consumer				Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Beginning balance		$	215,665			$	8,362			$	196,143			$	798			$	11,991			$	190,467			$	623,426
Provision (reversal of provision)			31,489				1,179				9,611				(477	)			2,914				26,347				71,063
Charge-offs			(15,185	)			48				(15,319	)			(157	)			(2,513	)			(34,690	)			(67,816	)
Recoveries			4,412				160				1,015				488				520				7,310				13,905
Ending balance		$	236,381			$	9,749			$	191,450			$	652			$	12,912			$	189,434			$	640,578
Specific ALLL		$	45,028			$	474			$	46,915			$	—			$	448			$	24,150			$	117,015
General ALLL		$	191,353			$	9,275			$	144,535			$	652			$	12,464			$	165,284			$	523,563
Loans held-in-portfolio:
Impaired loans		$	352,064			$	4,293			$	519,922			$	—			$	1,361			$	103,583			$	981,223
Loans held-in-portfolio excluding impaired loans			11,116,443				889,098				7,045,405				31,167				837,022				3,702,190				23,621,325
Total loans held-in-portfolio		$	11,468,507			$	893,391			$	7,565,327			$	31,167			$	838,383			$	3,805,773			$	24,602,548

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
Puerto Rico - Non-covered loans
(In thousands)		Commercial				Construction				Mortgage				Leasing				Consumer				Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Beginning balance		$	189,686			$	1,353			$	143,320			$	7,662			$	125,963			$	467,984
Provision (reversal of provision)			583				464				15,172				1,048				14,211				31,478
Charge-offs			(11,071	)			(3,587	)			(14,983	)			(1,341	)			(21,812	)			(52,794	)
Recoveries			8,433				3,731				1,428				528				5,729				19,849
Ending balance		$	187,631			$	1,961			$	144,937			$	7,897			$	124,091			$	466,517
Specific ALLL		$	51,276			$	—			$	41,067			$	522			$	22,331			$	115,196
General ALLL		$	136,355			$	1,961			$	103,870			$	7,375			$	101,760			$	351,321
Loans held-in-portfolio:
Impaired non-covered loans		$	348,823			$	—			$	501,647			$	1,803			$	106,236			$	958,509
Non-covered loans held-in-portfolio excluding impaired loans			6,715,507				95,459				5,368,071				717,840				3,120,843				16,017,720
Total non-covered loans held-in-portfolio		$	7,064,330			$	95,459			$	5,869,718			$	719,643			$	3,227,079			$	16,976,229

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
Puerto Rico - Covered Loans
(In thousands)		Commercial				Construction				Mortgage				Leasing				Consumer				Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Beginning balance		$	—			$	—			$	30,159			$	—			$	191			$	30,350
Provision (reversal of provision)			—				—				(1,690	)			—				331				(1,359	)
Charge-offs			—				—				(1,231	)			—				(93	)			(1,324	)
Recoveries			—				—				103				—				1				104
Ending balance		$	—			$	—			$	27,341			$	—			$	430			$	27,771
Specific ALLL		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—
General ALLL		$	—			$	—			$	27,341			$	—			$	430			$	27,771
Loans held-in-portfolio:
Impaired covered loans		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—
Covered loans held-in-portfolio excluding impaired loans			—				—				536,287				—				15,693				551,980
Total covered loans held-in-portfolio		$	—			$	—			$	536,287			$	—			$	15,693			$	551,980

 

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For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
Popular U.S.
(In thousands)				Commercial				Construction				Mortgage				Legacy				Consumer				Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Beginning balance				$	12,968			$	8,172			$	4,614			$	1,343			$	15,220			$	42,317
Provision (reversal of provision)					7,622				(136	)			(436	)			(665	)			4,194				10,579
Charge-offs					(70	)			—				(106	)			(41	)			(4,733	)			(4,950	)
Recoveries					533				—				210				529				990				2,262
Ending balance				$	21,053			$	8,036			$	4,282			$	1,166			$	15,671			$	50,208
Specific ALLL				$	—			$	—			$	2,197			$	—			$	679			$	2,876
General ALLL				$	21,053			$	8,036			$	2,085			$	1,166			$	14,992			$	47,332
Loans held-in-portfolio:
Impaired loans				$	—			$	—			$	8,921			$	—			$	2,780			$	11,701
Loans held-in-portfolio excluding impaired loans					3,747,370				735,846				749,348				40,688				473,539				5,746,791
Total loans held-in-portfolio				$	3,747,370			$	735,846			$	758,269			$	40,688			$	476,319			$	5,758,492

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
Popular, Inc.
(In thousands)		Commercial				Construction				Mortgage				Legacy				Leasing				Consumer				Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Beginning balance		$	202,654			$	9,525			$	178,093			$	1,343			$	7,662			$	141,374			$	540,651
Provision (reversal of provision)			8,205				328				13,046				(665	)			1,048				18,736				40,698
Charge-offs			(11,141	)			(3,587	)			(16,320	)			(41	)			(1,341	)			(26,638	)			(59,068	)
Recoveries			8,966				3,731				1,741				529				528				6,720				22,215
Ending balance		$	208,684			$	9,997			$	176,560			$	1,166			$	7,897			$	140,192			$	544,496
Specific ALLL		$	51,276			$	—			$	43,264			$	—			$	522			$	23,010			$	118,072
General ALLL		$	157,408			$	9,997			$	133,296			$	1,166			$	7,375			$	117,182			$	426,424
Loans held-in-portfolio:
Impaired loans		$	348,823			$	—			$	510,568			$	—			$	1,803			$	109,016			$	970,210
Loans held-in-portfolio excluding impaired loans			10,462,877				831,305				6,653,706				40,688				717,840				3,610,075				22,316,491
Total loans held-in-portfolio		$	10,811,700			$	831,305			$	7,164,274			$	40,688			$	719,643			$	3,719,091			$	23,286,701

The following table provides the activity in the allowance for loan losses related to Westernbank loans accounted for pursuant to ASC Subtopic 310-30.

 

		ASC 310-30 Westernbank loans
		For the quarters ended
(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				March 31, 2017
Balance at beginning of period		$	70,129			$	68,877
Provision for loan losses (reversal of provision)			21,570				(322	)
Net charge-offs			(1,936	)			(2,011	)
Balance at end of period		$	89,763			$	66,544

Impaired loans

The following tables present loans individually evaluated for impairment at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

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March 31, 2018
Puerto Rico
		Impaired Loans – With an												Impaired Loans
		Allowance												With No Allowance								Impaired Loans—Total
(In thousands)		Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Related allowance				Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Related allowance
Commercial multi-family		$	129			$	129			$	3			$	—			$	—			$	129			$	129			$	3
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			118,828				119,540				29,904				14,951				30,032				133,779				149,572				29,904
Commercial real estate owner occupied			130,676				154,775				11,652				23,962				53,495				154,638				208,270				11,652
Commercial and industrial			50,123				53,199				3,469				13,395				22,823				63,518				76,022				3,469
Construction			4,293				4,293				474				—				—				4,293				4,293				474
Mortgage			457,759				517,106				44,419				53,090				67,730				510,849				584,836				44,419
Leasing			1,361				1,361				448				—				—				1,361				1,361				448
Consumer:
Credit cards			33,265				33,265				5,892				—				—				33,265				33,265				5,892
Personal			61,001				61,001				16,467				—				—				61,001				61,001				16,467
Auto			1,763				1,763				355				—				—				1,763				1,763				355
Other			1,701				1,701				241				—				—				1,701				1,701				241
Total Puerto Rico		$	860,899			$	948,133			$	113,324			$	105,398			$	174,080			$	966,297			$	1,122,213			$	113,324

 

March 31, 2018
Popular U.S.
		Impaired Loans – With an												Impaired Loans
		Allowance												With No Allowance								Impaired Loans—Total
(In thousands)		Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Related allowance				Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Related allowance
Mortgage		$	6,851			$	8,533			$	2,496			$	2,222			$	3,155			$	9,073			$	11,688			$	2,496
Consumer:
HELOCs			3,952				3,955				959				1,127				1,150				5,079			$	5,105			$	959
Personal			552				553				236				222				222				774			$	775			$	236
Total Popular U.S.		$	11,355			$	13,041			$	3,691			$	3,571			$	4,527			$	14,926			$	17,568			$	3,691

 

March 31, 2018
Popular, Inc.
		Impaired Loans – With an												Impaired Loans
		Allowance												With No Allowance								Impaired Loans—Total
(In thousands)		Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Related allowance				Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Related allowance
Commercial multi-family		$	129			$	129			$	3			$	—			$	—			$	129			$	129			$	3
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			118,828				119,540				29,904				14,951				30,032				133,779				149,572				29,904
Commercial real estate owner occupied			130,676				154,775				11,652				23,962				53,495				154,638				208,270				11,652
Commercial and industrial			50,123				53,199				3,469				13,395				22,823				63,518				76,022				3,469
Construction			4,293				4,293				474				—				—				4,293				4,293				474
Mortgage			464,610				525,639				46,915				55,312				70,885				519,922				596,524				46,915
Leasing			1,361				1,361				448				—				—				1,361				1,361				448
Consumer:
Credit Cards			33,265				33,265				5,892				—				—				33,265				33,265				5,892
HELOCs			3,952				3,955				959				1,127				1,150				5,079				5,105				959
Personal			61,553				61,554				16,703				222				222				61,775				61,776				16,703
Auto			1,763				1,763				355				—				—				1,763				1,763				355
Other			1,701				1,701				241				—				—				1,701				1,701				241
Total Popular, Inc.		$	872,254			$	961,174			$	117,015			$	108,969			$	178,607			$	981,223			$	1,139,781			$	117,015

 

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December 31, 2017
Puerto Rico
		Impaired Loans – With an												Impaired Loans
		Allowance												With No Allowance								Impaired Loans—Total
(In thousands)		Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Related allowance				Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Related allowance
Commercial multi-family		$	206			$	206			$	32			$	—			$	—			$	206			$	206			$	32
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			101,485				102,262				23,744				11,454				27,522				112,939				129,784				23,744
Commercial real estate owner occupied			127,634				153,495				10,221				24,634				57,219				152,268				210,714				10,221
Commercial and industrial			43,493				46,918				2,985				14,549				23,977				58,042				70,895				2,985
Mortgage			450,226				504,006				46,354				58,807				75,228				509,033				579,234				46,354
Leasing			1,456				1,456				475				—				—				1,456				1,456				475
Consumer:
Credit cards			33,676				33,676				5,569				—				—				33,676				33,676				5,569
Personal			62,488				62,488				15,690				—				—				62,488				62,488				15,690
Auto			2,007				2,007				425				—				—				2,007				2,007				425
Other			1,009				1,009				165				—				—				1,009				1,009				165
Total Puerto Rico		$	823,680			$	907,523			$	105,660			$	109,444			$	183,946			$	933,124			$	1,091,469			$	105,660

 

December 31, 2017
Popular U.S.
		Impaired Loans – With an												Impaired Loans
		Allowance												With No Allowance								Impaired Loans—Total
(In thousands)		Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Related allowance				Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Related allowance
Mortgage		$	6,774			$	8,439			$	2,478			$	2,468			$	3,397			$	9,242			$	11,836			$	2,478
Consumer:
HELOCs			3,530				3,542				722				761				780				4,291				4,322				722
Personal			542				542				231				224				224				766				766				231
Total Popular U.S.		$	10,846			$	12,523			$	3,431			$	3,453			$	4,401			$	14,299			$	16,924			$	3,431

 

December 31, 2017
Popular, Inc.
		Impaired Loans – With an												Impaired Loans
		Allowance												With No Allowance								Impaired Loans—Total
(In thousands)		Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Related allowance				Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Recorded investment				Unpaid principal balance				Related allowance
Commercial multi-family		$	206			$	206			$	32			$	—			$	—			$	206			$	206			$	32
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			101,485				102,262				23,744				11,454				27,522				112,939				129,784				23,744
Commercial real estate owner occupied			127,634				153,495				10,221				24,634				57,219				152,268				210,714				10,221
Commercial and industrial			43,493				46,918				2,985				14,549				23,977				58,042				70,895				2,985
Mortgage			457,000				512,445				48,832				61,275				78,625				518,275				591,070				48,832
Leasing			1,456				1,456				475				—				—				1,456				1,456				475
Consumer:
Credit Cards			33,676				33,676				5,569				—				—				33,676				33,676				5,569
HELOCs			3,530				3,542				722				761				780				4,291				4,322				722
Personal			63,030				63,030				15,921				224				224				63,254				63,254				15,921
Auto			2,007				2,007				425				—				—				2,007				2,007				425
Other			1,009				1,009				165				—				—				1,009				1,009				165
Total Popular, Inc.		$	834,526			$	920,046			$	109,091			$	112,897			$	188,347			$	947,423			$	1,108,393			$	109,091

The following tables present the average recorded investment and interest income recognized on impaired loans for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

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For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
		Puerto Rico								Popular U.S.								Popular, Inc.
(In thousands)		Average recorded investment				Interest income recognized				Average recorded investment				Interest income recognized				Average recorded investment				Interest income recognized
Commercial multi-family		$	168			$	2			$	—			$	—			$	168			$	2
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			123,359				1,366				—				—				123,359				1,366
Commercial real estate owner occupied			153,453				1,486				—				—				153,453				1,486
Commercial and industrial			60,780				582				—				—				60,780				582
Construction			2,147				—				—				—				2,147				—
Mortgage			509,941				6,580				9,158				43				519,099				6,623
Leasing			1,409				—				—				—				1,409				—
Consumer:
Credit cards			33,471				—				—				—				33,471				—
Helocs			—				—				4,685				—				4,685				—
Personal			61,745				—				771				—				62,516				—
Auto			1,885				—				—				—				1,885				—
Other			1,355				—				—				—				1,355				—
Total Popular, Inc.		$	949,713			$	10,016			$	14,614			$	43			$	964,327			$	10,059

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
		Puerto Rico								Popular U.S.								Popular, Inc.
(In thousands)		Average recorded investment				Interest income recognized				Average recorded investment				Interest income recognized				Average recorded investment				Interest income recognized
Commercial multi-family		$	81			$	1			$	—			$	—			$	81			$	1
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			118,836				1,375				—				—				118,836				1,375
Commercial real estate owner occupied			164,512				1,598				—				—				164,512				1,598
Commercial and industrial			60,195				497				—				—				60,195				497
Mortgage			499,568				3,369				8,899				44				508,467				3,413
Leasing			1,810				—				—				—				1,810				—
Consumer:
Credit cards			37,708				—				—				—				37,708				—
Helocs			—				—				2,693				—				2,693				—
Personal			65,833				—				117				—				65,950				—
Auto			2,094				—				—				—				2,094				—
Other			792				—				—				—				792				—
Total Popular, Inc.		$	951,429			$	6,840			$	11,709			$	44			$	963,138			$	6,884

Modifications

Troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) related to non-covered loan portfolios amounted to $ 1.3 billion at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $ 1.3 billion). The amount of outstanding commitments to lend additional funds to debtors owing receivables whose terms have been modified in TDRs amounted to $16 million related to the commercial loan portfolio at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $8 million).

At March 31, 2018, the mortgage loan TDRs include $463 million guaranteed by U.S. sponsored entities at BPPR, compared to $449 million at December 31, 2017.

A modification of a loan constitutes a TDR when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and the modification constitutes a concession. For a summary of the accounting policy related to TDRs, refer to the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies included in Note 3 to the 2017 Form 10-K.

The following tables present the non-covered and covered loans classified as TDRs according to their accruing status and the related allowance at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

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		Popular, Inc.
		Non-Covered Loans
		March 31, 2018																December 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Accruing				Non-Accruing				Total				Related Allowance				Accruing				Non-Accruing				Total				Related Allowance
Commercial		$	227,254			$	57,951			$	285,205			$	40,293			$	161,220			$	59,626			$	220,846			$	32,472
Construction			—				4,293				4,293				474				—				—				—				—
Mortgage			811,361				133,626				944,987				46,915				803,278				126,798				930,076				48,832
Leases			1,015				346				1,361				448				863				393				1,256				475
Consumer			93,280				14,364				107,644				24,150				93,916				12,233				106,149				22,802
Total		$	1,132,910			$	210,580			$	1,343,490			$	112,280			$	1,059,277			$	199,050			$	1,258,327			$	104,581
		Popular, Inc.
		Covered Loans
		March 31, 2018																December 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Accruing				Non-Accruing				Total				Related Allowance				Accruing				Non-Accruing				Total				Related Allowance
Mortgage		$	3,362			$	2,768			$	6,130			$	—			$	2,658			$	3,227			$	5,885			$	—
Total		$	3,362			$	2,768			$	6,130			$	—			$	2,658			$	3,227			$	5,885			$	—

The following tables present the loan count by type of modification for those loans modified in a TDR during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. Loans modified as TDRs for the U.S. operations are considered insignificant to the Corporation.

 

Popular, Inc.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
		Reduction in interest rate				Extension of maturity date				Combination of reduction in interest rate and extension of maturity date				Other
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			2				5				—				—
Commercial real estate owner occupied			—				19				—				—
Commercial and industrial			3				19				—				—
Construction			1				—				—				—
Mortgage			19				4				36				23
Leasing			—				—				—				—
Consumer:
Credit cards			131				—				—				150
HELOCs			—				5				4				—
Personal			160				2				—				—
Auto			—				—				1				—
Other			7				—				1				—
Total			323				54				42				173

 

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Popular, Inc.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
		Reduction in interest rate				Extension of maturity date				Combination of reduction in interest rate and extension of maturity date				Other
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			—				1				—				—
Commercial real estate owner occupied			2				1				—				—
Commercial and industrial			2				6				—				—
Mortgage			14				6				104				68
Leasing			—				—				3				—
Consumer:
Credit cards			126				—				1				158
Personal			262				4				—				1
Auto			—				1				1				—
Other			8				—				—				—
Total			414				19				109				227

The following tables present, by class, quantitative information related to loans modified as TDRs during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

Popular, Inc.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)		Loan count				Pre-modification outstanding recorded investment				Post-modification outstanding recorded investment				Increase (decrease) in the allowance for loan losses as a result of modification
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			7			$	22,986			$	22,923			$	6,800
Commercial real estate owner occupied			19				4,974				4,269				138
Commercial and industrial			22				11,069				10,523				(110	)
Construction			1				4,210				4,293				474
Mortgage			82				10,273				8,919				457
Consumer:
Credit cards			281				2,926				3,301				454
HELOCs			9				865				856				267
Personal			162				3,072				3,070				1,010
Auto			1				134				132				23
Other			8				157				155				26
Total			592			$	60,666			$	58,441			$	9,539

 

Popular, Inc.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)		Loan count				Pre-modification outstanding recorded investment				Post-modification outstanding recorded investment				Increase (decrease) in the allowance for loan losses as a result of modification
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			1			$	141			$	139			$	(11	)
Commercial real estate owner occupied			3				1,157				1,147				56
Commercial and industrial			8				319				2,388				419
Mortgage			192				21,068				19,513				1,014
Leasing			3				114				115				32
Consumer:
Credit cards			285				2,402				2,643				312
Personal			267				4,598				4,595				1,033
Auto			2				36				37				6
Other			8				65				65				9
Total			769			$	29,900			$	30,642			$	2,870

 

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The following tables present by class, TDRs that were subject to payment default and that had been modified as a TDR during the twelve months preceding the default date. Payment default is defined as a restructured loan becoming 90 days past due after being modified, foreclosed or charged-off, whichever occurs first. The recorded investment at March 31, 2018 is inclusive of all partial paydowns and charge-offs since the modification date. Loans modified as a TDR that were fully paid down, charged-off or foreclosed upon by period end are not reported.

 

Popular, Inc.
Defaulted during the quarter ended March 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)		Loan count				Recorded investment as of first default date
Commercial real estate owner occupied			2			$	86
Commercial and industrial			5				72
Mortgage			17				2,572
Consumer:
Credit cards			48				1,342
Personal			30				889
Total			102			$	4,961

 

Popular, Inc.
Defaulted during the quarter ended March 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)		Loan count				Recorded investment as of first default date
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			1			$	262
Commercial real estate owner occupied			1				267
Commercial and industrial			2				544
Mortgage			36				3,695
Leasing			1				45
Consumer:
Credit cards			128				1,349
HELOCs			1				97
Personal			42				1,024
Auto			2				57
Total			214			$	7,340

Commercial, consumer and mortgage loans modified in a TDR are closely monitored for delinquency as an early indicator of possible future default. If loans modified in a TDR subsequently default, the Corporation evaluates the loan for possible further impairment. The allowance for loan losses may be increased or partial charge-offs may be taken to further write-down the carrying value of the loan.

Credit Quality

The following table presents the outstanding balance, net of unearned income, of non-covered loans held-in-portfolio based on the Corporation’s assignment of obligor risk ratings as defined at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

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March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		Watch				Special Mention				Substandard				Doubtful				Loss				Sub-total				Pass/Unrated				Total
Puerto Rico[1]
Commercial multi-family		$	1,357			$	1,717			$	7,241			$	—			$	—			$	10,315			$	140,774			$	151,089
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			479,890				245,430				322,409				—				—				1,047,729				1,333,298				2,381,027
Commercial real estate owner occupied			273,456				157,457				414,022				2,477				—				847,412				921,072				1,768,484
Commercial and industrial			488,714				110,852				211,204				387				99				811,256				2,010,940				2,822,196
Total Commercial			1,243,417				515,456				954,876				2,864				99				2,716,712				4,406,084				7,122,796
Construction			—				—				5,819				—				—				5,819				88,039				93,858
Mortgage			3,222				2,930				183,900				—				—				190,052				6,165,654				6,355,706
Leasing			—				—				3,801				—				156				3,957				834,426				838,383
Consumer:
Credit cards			—				—				11,004				—				—				11,004				1,043,873				1,054,877
HELOCs			—				—				329				—				—				329				5,104				5,433
Personal			484				575				22,864				—				—				23,923				1,207,018				1,230,941
Auto			—				—				13,216				—				140				13,356				873,118				886,474
Other			—				—				15,602				—				187				15,789				135,423				151,212
Total Consumer			484				575				63,015				—				327				64,401				3,264,536				3,328,937
Total Puerto Rico		$	1,247,123			$	518,961			$	1,211,411			$	2,864			$	582			$	2,980,941			$	14,758,739			$	17,739,680
Popular U.S.
Commercial multi-family		$	25,718			$	6,303			$	7,093			$	—			$	—			$	39,114			$	1,210,483			$	1,249,597
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			51,304				11,580				35,742				—				—				98,626				1,692,905				1,791,531
Commercial real estate owner occupied			32,835				3,263				8,109				—				—				44,207				224,476				268,683
Commercial and industrial			3,441				104				115,256				—				—				118,801				917,099				1,035,900
Total Commercial			113,298				21,250				166,200				—				—				300,748				4,044,963				4,345,711
Construction			44,193				11,919				56,539				—				—				112,651				686,882				799,533
Mortgage			—				—				11,647				—				—				11,647				697,291				708,938
Legacy			521				386				3,017				—				—				3,924				27,243				31,167
Consumer:
Credit cards			—				—				—				—				—				—				73				73
HELOCs			—				—				5,522				—				9,209				14,731				151,686				166,417
Personal			—				—				1,648				—				944				2,592				293,614				296,206
Other			—				—				7				—				—				7				205				212
Total Consumer			—				—				7,177				—				10,153				17,330				445,578				462,908
Total Popular U.S.		$	158,012			$	33,555			$	244,580			$	—			$	10,153			$	446,300			$	5,901,957			$	6,348,257
Popular, Inc.
Commercial multi-family		$	27,075			$	8,020			$	14,334			$	—			$	—			$	49,429			$	1,351,257			$	1,400,686
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			531,194				257,010				358,151				—				—				1,146,355				3,026,203				4,172,558
Commercial real estate owner occupied			306,291				160,720				422,131				2,477				—				891,619				1,145,548				2,037,167
Commercial and industrial			492,155				110,956				326,460				387				99				930,057				2,928,039				3,858,096
Total Commercial			1,356,715				536,706				1,121,076				2,864				99				3,017,460				8,451,047				11,468,507
Construction			44,193				11,919				62,358				—				—				118,470				774,921				893,391
Mortgage			3,222				2,930				195,547				—				—				201,699				6,862,945				7,064,644
Legacy			521				386				3,017				—				—				3,924				27,243				31,167
Leasing			—				—				3,801				—				156				3,957				834,426				838,383
Consumer:
Credit cards			—				—				11,004				—				—				11,004				1,043,946				1,054,950
HELOCs			—				—				5,851				—				9,209				15,060				156,790				171,850
Personal			484				575				24,512				—				944				26,515				1,500,632				1,527,147
Auto			—				—				13,216				—				140				13,356				873,118				886,474
Other			—				—				15,609				—				187				15,796				135,628				151,424
Total Consumer			484				575				70,192				—				10,480				81,731				3,710,114				3,791,845
Total Popular, Inc.		$	1,405,135			$	552,516			$	1,455,991			$	2,864			$	10,735			$	3,427,241			$	20,660,696			$	24,087,937

 

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The following table presents the weighted average obligor risk rating at March 31, 2018 for those classifications that consider a range of rating scales.

 

Weighted average obligor risk rating		(Scales 11 and 12)				(Scales 1 through 8)
Puerto Rico:[1]		Substandard				Pass
Commercial multi-family			11.19				5.76
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			11.07				6.98
Commercial real estate owner occupied			11.24				7.12
Commercial and industrial			11.18				7.09
Total Commercial			11.17				7.04
Construction			11.74				7.80
Popular U.S. :		Substandard				Pass
Commercial multi-family			11.00				7.27
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			11.01				6.63
Commercial real estate owner occupied			11.05				7.30
Commercial and industrial			11.85				6.24
Total Commercial			11.60				6.77
Construction			11.00				7.69
Legacy			11.15				7.94

 

[1]	Excludes covered loans acquired in the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction.

 

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December 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Watch				Special Mention				Substandard				Doubtful				Loss				Sub-total				Pass/Unrated				Total
Puerto Rico[1]
Commercial multi-family		$	1,387			$	1,708			$	6,831			$	—			$	—			$	9,926			$	136,473			$	146,399
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			327,811				335,011				307,579				—				—				970,401				1,434,158				2,404,559
Commercial real estate owner occupied			243,966				215,652				354,990				2,124				—				816,732				1,006,882				1,823,614
Commercial and industrial			453,546				108,554				241,695				471				126				804,392				2,086,935				2,891,327
Total Commercial			1,026,710				660,925				911,095				2,595				126				2,601,451				4,664,448				7,265,899
Construction			110				4,122				1,545				—				—				5,777				89,592				95,369
Mortgage			2,748				3,564				155,074				—				—				161,386				6,415,393				6,576,779
Leasing			—				—				1,926				—				1,048				2,974				807,016				809,990
Consumer:
Credit cards			—				—				18,227				—				—				18,227				1,074,994				1,093,221
HELOCs			—				—				257				—				—				257				5,830				6,087
Personal			429				659				20,790				—				—				21,878				1,200,434				1,222,312
Auto			—				—				5,446				—				20				5,466				845,347				850,813
Other			—				—				16,324				—				440				16,764				140,824				157,588
Total Consumer			429				659				61,044				—				460				62,592				3,267,429				3,330,021
Total Puerto Rico		$	1,029,997			$	669,270			$	1,130,684			$	2,595			$	1,634			$	2,834,180			$	15,243,878			$	18,078,058
Popular U.S.
Commercial multi-family		$	11,808			$	6,345			$	7,936			$	—			$	—			$	26,089			$	1,184,604			$	1,210,693
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			46,523				16,561				37,178				—				—				100,262				1,588,049				1,688,311
Commercial real estate owner occupied			28,183				30,893				8,590				—				—				67,666				251,309				318,975
Commercial and industrial			4,019				603				123,935				—				—				128,557				876,426				1,004,983
Total Commercial			90,533				54,402				177,639				—				—				322,574				3,900,388				4,222,962
Construction			36,858				8,294				54,276				—				—				99,428				685,232				784,660
Mortgage			—				—				14,852				—				—				14,852				678,776				693,628
Legacy			688				426				3,302				—				—				4,416				28,564				32,980
Consumer:
Credit cards			—				—				11				—				—				11				89				100
HELOCs			—				—				6,084				—				8,914				14,998				167,087				182,085
Personal			—				—				2,069				—				704				2,773				295,229				298,002
Other			—				—				—				—				—				—				319				319
Total Consumer			—				—				8,164				—				9,618				17,782				462,724				480,506
Total Popular U.S.		$	128,079			$	63,122			$	258,233			$	—			$	9,618			$	459,052			$	5,755,684			$	6,214,736
Popular, Inc.
Commercial multi-family		$	13,195			$	8,053			$	14,767			$	—			$	—			$	36,015			$	1,321,077			$	1,357,092
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			374,334				351,572				344,757				—				—				1,070,663				3,022,207				4,092,870
Commercial real estate owner occupied			272,149				246,545				363,580				2,124				—				884,398				1,258,191				2,142,589
Commercial and industrial			457,565				109,157				365,630				471				126				932,949				2,963,361				3,896,310
Total Commercial			1,117,243				715,327				1,088,734				2,595				126				2,924,025				8,564,836				11,488,861
Construction			36,968				12,416				55,821				—				—				105,205				774,824				880,029
Mortgage			2,748				3,564				169,926				—				—				176,238				7,094,169				7,270,407
Legacy			688				426				3,302				—				—				4,416				28,564				32,980
Leasing			—				—				1,926				—				1,048				2,974				807,016				809,990
Consumer:
Credit cards			—				—				18,238				—				—				18,238				1,075,083				1,093,321
HELOCs			—				—				6,341				—				8,914				15,255				172,917				188,172
Personal			429				659				22,859				—				704				24,651				1,495,663				1,520,314
Auto			—				—				5,446				—				20				5,466				845,347				850,813
Other			—				—				16,324				—				440				16,764				141,143				157,907
Total Consumer			429				659				69,208				—				10,078				80,374				3,730,153				3,810,527
Total Popular, Inc.		$	1,158,076			$	732,392			$	1,388,917			$	2,595			$	11,252			$	3,293,232			$	20,999,562			$	24,292,794

 

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The following table presents the weighted average obligor risk rating at December 31, 2017 for those classifications that consider a range of rating scales.

 

Weighted average obligor risk rating		(Scales 11 and 12)				(Scales 1 through 8)
Puerto Rico:[1]		Substandard				Pass
Commercial multi-family			11.16				5.89
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			11.06				6.99
Commercial real estate owner occupied			11.28				7.14
Commercial and industrial			11.16				7.11
Total Commercial			11.17				7.06
Construction			11.00				7.76
Popular U.S.:		Substandard				Pass
Commercial multi-family			11.00				7.28
Commercial real estate non-owner occupied			11.04				6.74
Commercial real estate owner occupied			11.10				7.14
Commercial and industrial			11.82				6.17
Total Commercial			11.59				6.80
Construction			11.00				7.70
Legacy			11.11				7.93

 

[1]	Excludes covered loans acquired in the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction.

 

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Note 9 – FDIC loss-share asset and true-up payment obligation

In connection with the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction, BPPR entered into loss-share arrangements with the FDIC with respect to the covered loans and other real estate owned. Pursuant to the terms of the loss-share arrangements, the FDIC’s obligation to reimburse BPPR for losses with respect to covered assets begins with the first dollar of loss incurred. The FDIC reimburses BPPR for 80% of losses with respect to covered assets, and BPPR reimburses the FDIC for 80% of recoveries with respect to losses for which the FDIC paid reimbursement under loss-share arrangements. The loss-share agreement applicable to single-family residential mortgage loans provides for FDIC loss and recoveries sharing for ten years expiring at the end of the quarter ending June 30, 2020.

The following table sets forth the activity in the FDIC loss-share asset for the periods presented.

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Balance at beginning of period		$	46,316			$	69,334
Amortization of loss-share indemnification asset			(934	)			(776	)
Credit impairment losses to be covered under loss-sharing agreements			104				148
Reimbursable expenses			537				921
Net payments from FDIC under loss-sharing agreements			(364	)			—
Other adjustments attributable to FDIC loss-sharing agreements			—				(5,550	)
Balance at end of period		$	45,659			$	64,077
Balance due to the FDIC for recoveries on covered assets			(1,190	)			(5,284	)
Balance at end of period		$	44,469			$	58,793

The loss-share component of the arrangements applicable to commercial (including construction) and consumer loans expired during the quarter ended June 30, 2015. The agreement provides for reimbursement of recoveries to the FDIC to continue through the quarter ending June 30, 2018, and for the single family mortgage loss-share component of such agreement to expire on the quarter ended June 30, 2020.

The weighted average life of the single family loan portfolio accounted for under ASC 310-30 subject to the FDIC loss-sharing agreement at March 31, 2018 is 7.1 years.

As part of the loss-share agreements, BPPR has agreed to make a true-up payment to the FDIC on the date that is 45 days following the last day (such day, the “true-up measurement date”) of the final shared-loss month, or upon the final disposition of all covered assets under the loss-share agreements, in the event losses on the loss-share agreements fail to reach expected levels. The estimated fair value of such true-up payment obligation is recorded as contingent consideration, which is included in the caption of other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition. Under the loss sharing agreements, BPPR will pay to the FDIC 50% of the excess, if any, of: (i) 20% of the intrinsic loss estimate of $4.6 billion (or $925 million) (as determined by the FDIC) less (ii) the sum of: (A) 25% of the asset discount (per bid) (or ($1.1 billion)); plus (B) 25% of the cumulative shared-loss payments (defined as the aggregate of all of the payments made or payable to BPPR minus the aggregate of all of the payments made or payable to the FDIC); plus (C) the sum of the period servicing amounts for every consecutive twelve-month period prior to and ending on the true-up measurement date in respect of each of the loss-sharing agreements during which the loss-sharing provisions of the applicable loss-sharing agreement is in effect (defined as the product of the simple average of the principal amount of shared- loss loans and shared-loss assets at the beginning and end of such period times 1%).

Of the four components used to estimate the true-up payment obligation (intrinsic loss estimate, asset discount, cumulative shared-loss payments, and period servicing amounts) only the cumulative shared-loss payments and the period servicing amounts will change on a quarterly basis. These two variables are the main drivers of changes in the undiscounted true-up payment obligation. In order to estimate the true-up obligation, actual and expected portfolio performance for loans under both the commercial and residential loss sharing agreement are contemplated. The cumulative shared loss payments and cumulative servicing amounts are derived from our quarterly loss reassessment process for covered loans accounted for under ASC 310-30.

 

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Once the undiscounted true-up payment obligation is determined, the fair value is estimated based on the contractual remaining term to settle the obligation and a discount rate that is composed of the sum of the interpolated U.S. Treasury Note (“T Note”), defined by the remaining term of the true-up payment obligation, and a risk premium determined by the spread of the Corporation’s outstanding senior unsecured debt over the equivalent T Note.

The following table provides the fair value and the undiscounted amount of the true-up payment obligation at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Carrying amount (fair value)		$	170,970			$	164,858
Undiscounted amount		$	189,449			$	188,958

The increase in the fair value of the true-up payment obligation was principally driven by a decrease in the discount rate from 5.47% in 2017 to 4.57% in 2018 due to a lower risk premium. The discount rate reflects Popular’s credit risk for the term remaining before the payment. Therefore, a significant component of the discount rate is the credit spreads on Popular’s publicly traded debt securities. This spread has been impacted by the effect of the hurricanes, resulting in volatility in the fair value of the true-up payment obligation, even though the undiscounted value of the liability has not varied signififcantly. The estimated fair value of the true-up payment obligation corresponds to the difference between the initial estimated losses to be reimbursed by the FDIC and the revised estimate of reimbursable losses. As the amount of estimated reimbursable losses decreases, the value of the true-up payment obligation increases.

As described above, the estimate of the true-up payment obligation is determined by applying the provisions of the loss sharing agreements and will change on a quarterly basis. The amount of the estimate of the true-up payment obligation is expected to change in future periods and may be subject to the interpretation of provisions of the loss sharing agreements.

The loss-share agreements contain specific terms and conditions regarding the management of the covered assets that BPPR must follow in order to receive reimbursement on losses from the FDIC. Under the loss-share agreements, BPPR must:

 

•

manage and administer the covered assets and collect and effect charge-offs and recoveries with respect to such covered assets in a manner consistent with its usual and prudent business and banking practices and, with respect to single family shared-loss loans, the procedures (including collection procedures) customarily employed by BPPR in servicing and administering mortgage loans for its own account and the servicing procedures established by FNMA or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), as in effect from time to time, and in accordance with accepted mortgage servicing practices of prudent lending institutions;

 

•

exercise its best judgment in managing, administering and collecting amounts on covered assets and effecting charge-offs with respect to the covered assets;

 

•

use commercially reasonable efforts to maximize recoveries with respect to losses on single family shared-loss assets and best efforts to maximize collections with respect to commercial shared-loss assets;

 

•

retain sufficient staff to perform the duties under the loss-share agreements;

 

•

adopt and implement accounting, reporting, record-keeping and similar systems with respect to the commercial shared-loss assets;

 

•

comply with the terms of the modification guidelines approved by the FDIC or another federal agency for any single-family shared-loss loan;

 

•

provide notice with respect to proposed transactions pursuant to which a third party or affiliate will manage, administer or collect any commercial shared-loss assets;

 

•

file monthly and quarterly certificates with the FDIC specifying the amount of losses, charge-offs and recoveries; and

 

•

maintain books and records sufficient to ensure and document compliance with the terms of the loss-share agreements.

 

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Note 10 – Mortgage banking activities

Income from mortgage banking activities includes mortgage servicing fees earned in connection with administering residential mortgage loans and valuation adjustments on mortgage servicing rights. It also includes gain on sales and securitizations of residential mortgage loans and trading gains and losses on derivative contracts used to hedge the Corporation’s securitization activities. In addition, lower-of-cost-or-market valuation adjustments to residential mortgage loans held for sale, if any, are recorded as part of the mortgage banking activities.

The following table presents the components of mortgage banking activities:

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Mortgage servicing fees, net of fair value adjustments:
Mortgage servicing fees		$	12,456			$	13,452
Mortgage servicing rights fair value adjustments			(4,307	)			(5,954	)
Total mortgage servicing fees, net of fair value adjustments			8,149				7,498
Net gain on sale of loans, including valuation on loans held-for-sale			1,057				5,381
Trading account profit (loss):
Unrealized losses on outstanding derivative positions			(221	)			(40	)
Realized gains (losses) on closed derivative positions			3,083				(1,470	)
Total trading account profit (loss)			2,862				(1,510	)
Total mortgage banking activities		$	12,068			$	11,369

 

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Note 11 – Transfers of financial assets and mortgage servicing assets

The Corporation typically transfers conforming residential mortgage loans in conjunction with GNMA and FNMA securitization transactions whereby the loans are exchanged for cash or securities and servicing rights. As seller, the Corporation has made certain representations and warranties with respect to the originally transferred loans and, in the past, has sold certain loans with credit recourse to a government-sponsored entity, namely FNMA. Refer to Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of such arrangements.

No liabilities were incurred as a result of these securitizations during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 because they did not contain any credit recourse arrangements. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation recorded a net gain of $1.0 million (March 31, 2017 - $5.0 million) related to the residential mortgage loans securitized.

The following tables present the initial fair value of the assets obtained as proceeds from residential mortgage loans securitized during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

		Proceeds Obtained During the Quarter Ended March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Initial Fair Value
Assets
Debt securities available for sale:
Mortgage-backed securities—FNMA		$	—			$	5,722			$	—			$	5,722
Total debt securities available-for-sale		$	—			$	5,722			$	—			$	5,722
Trading account debt securities:
Mortgage-backed securities—GNMA		$	—			$	112,495			$	—			$	112,495
Mortgage-backed securities—FNMA			—				20,025				—				20,025
Total trading account debt securities		$	—			$	132,520			$	—			$	132,520
Mortgage servicing rights		$	—			$	—			$	2,415			$	2,415
Total		$	—			$	138,242			$	2,415			$	140,657
		Proceeds Obtained During the Quarter Ended March 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Initial Fair Value
Assets
Debt securities available for sale:
Mortgage-backed securities—FNMA		$	—			$	4,752			$	—			$	4,752
Total debt securities available-for-sale		$	—			$	4,752			$	—			$	4,752
Trading account debt securities:
Mortgage-backed securities—GNMA		$	—			$	146,977			$	—			$	146,977
Mortgage-backed securities—FNMA			—				22,891				—				22,891
Total trading account debt securities		$	—			$	169,868			$	—			$	169,868
Mortgage servicing rights		$	—			$	—			$	2,470			$	2,470
Total		$	—			$	174,620			$	2,470			$	177,090

During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation retained servicing rights on whole loan sales involving approximately $10.0 million in principal balance outstanding (March 31, 2017 - $18.2 million), with realized gains of approximately $0.1 million (March 31, 2017 - gains of $0.4 million). All loan sales performed during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were without credit recourse agreements.

The Corporation recognizes as assets the rights to service loans for others, whether these rights are purchased or result from asset transfers such as sales and securitizations. These mortgage servicing rights (“MSR”) are measured at fair value.

The Corporation uses a discounted cash flow model to estimate the fair value of MSRs. The discounted cash flow model incorporates assumptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income, including estimates of prepayment speeds, discount rate, cost to service, escrow account earnings, contractual servicing fee income, prepayment and late fees, among other considerations. Prepayment speeds are adjusted for the Corporation’s loan characteristics and portfolio behavior.

 

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The following table presents the changes in MSRs measured using the fair value method for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

Residential MSRs
(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				March 31, 2017
Fair value at beginning of period		$	168,031			$	196,889
Additions			2,557				2,763
Changes due to payments on loans[1]			(3,335	)			(4,587	)
Reduction due to loan repurchases			(972	)			(644	)
Changes in fair value due to changes in valuation model inputs or assumptions			—				(723	)
Fair value at end of period		$	166,281			$	193,698

 

[1]	Represents changes due to collection / realization of expected cash flows over time.

Residential mortgage loans serviced for others were $16.1 billion at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, which in part was impacted by a reduction of $535 million (December 31, 2017 - $840 million), in mortgage loans at BPPR due to the rebooking of loans previously pooled into GNMA securities.

Net mortgage servicing fees, a component of mortgage banking activities in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, include the changes from period to period in the fair value of the MSRs, including changes due to collection / realization of expected cash flows. The banking subsidiaries receive servicing fees based on a percentage of the outstanding loan balance. These servicing fees are credited to income when they are collected. At March 31, 2018 and 2017, those weighted average mortgage servicing fees were 0.30%. Under these servicing agreements, the banking subsidiaries do not generally earn significant prepayment penalty fees on the underlying loans serviced.

The section below includes information on assumptions used in the valuation model of the MSRs, originated and purchased.

Key economic assumptions used in measuring the servicing rights derived from loans securitized or sold by the Corporation during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

 

		Quarters ended
		March 31, 2018				March 31, 2017
Prepayment speed			5.6	%			4.4	%
Weighted average life (in years)			9.1				10.9
Discount rate (annual rate)			10.8	%			11.0	%

Key economic assumptions used to estimate the fair value of MSRs derived from sales and securitizations of mortgage loans performed by the banking subsidiaries and servicing rights purchased from other financial institutions, and the sensitivity to immediate changes in those assumptions, were as follows as of the end of the periods reported:

 

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		Originated MSRs								Purchased MSRs
		March 31,				December 31,				March 31,				December 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017				2018				2017
Fair value of servicing rights		$	71,837			$	73,951			$	94,444			$	94,080
Weighted average life (in years)			7.6				7.3				6.8				6.5
Weighted average prepayment speed (annual rate)			4.5	%			5.1	%			5.1	%			5.7	%
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change		$	(1,333	)		$	(1,503	)		$	(1,830	)		$	(2,070	)
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change		$	(2,630	)		$	(2,976	)		$	(3,608	)		$	(3,999	)
Weighted average discount rate (annual rate)			11.5	%			11.5	%			11.0	%			11.0	%
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change		$	(3,171	)		$	(3,091	)		$	(3,980	)		$	(3,785	)
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change		$	(6,106	)		$	(5,971	)		$	(7,671	)		$	(7,235	)

The sensitivity analyses presented in the tables above for servicing rights are hypothetical and should be used with caution. As the figures indicate, changes in fair value based on a 10 and 20 percent variation in assumptions generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in assumption to the change in fair value may not be linear. Also, in the sensitivity tables included herein, the effect of a variation in a particular assumption on the fair value of the retained interest is calculated without changing any other assumption. In reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another (for example, increases in market interest rates may result in lower prepayments and increased credit losses), which might magnify or counteract the sensitivities.

At March 31, 2018, the Corporation serviced $1.4 billion (December 31, 2017 - $1.5 billion) in residential mortgage loans with credit recourse to the Corporation.

Under the GNMA securitizations, the Corporation, as servicer, has the right to repurchase (but not the obligation), at its option and without GNMA’s prior authorization, any loan that is collateral for a GNMA guaranteed mortgage-backed security when certain delinquency criteria are met. At the time that individual loans meet GNMA’s specified delinquency criteria and are eligible for repurchase, the Corporation is deemed to have regained effective control over these loans if the Corporation was the pool issuer. At March 31, 2018, the Corporation had recorded $535 million in mortgage loans on its Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition related to this buy-back option program (December 31, 2017 - $840 million). While the borrowers for our serviced GNMA portfolio benefited from the loan payment moratorium, the delinquency status of these loans continued to be reported to GNMA without considering the moratorium. As long as the Corporation continues to service the loans that continue to be collateral in a GNMA guaranteed mortgage-backed security, the MSR is recognized by the Corporation. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation repurchased approximately $85 million (March 31, 2017 - $45 million) of mortgage loans under the GNMA buy-back option program. The determination to repurchase these loans was based on the economic benefits of the transaction, which results in a reduction of the servicing costs for these severely delinquent loans, mostly related to principal and interest advances. Furthermore, due to their guaranteed nature, the risk associated with the loans is minimal. The Corporation places these loans under its loss mitigation programs and once brought back to current status, these may be either retained in portfolio or re-sold in the secondary market.

 

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Note 12 – Other real estate owned

The following tables present the activity related to Other Real Estate Owned (“OREO”), for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

		For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
		Non-covered				Non-covered				Covered
		OREO				OREO				OREO
(In thousands)		Commercial/ Construction				Mortgage				Mortgage				Total
Balance at beginning of period		$	21,411			$	147,849			$	19,595			$	188,855
Write-downs in value			(654	)			(2,514	)			(287	)			(3,455	)
Additions			4,403				2,984				—				7,387
Sales			(389	)			(20,305	)			(3,282	)			(23,976	)
Other adjustments			864				(588	)			(693	)			(417	)
Ending balance		$	25,635			$	127,426			$	15,333			$	168,394
		For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
		Non-covered				Non-covered				Covered
		OREO				OREO				OREO
(In thousands)		Commercial/ Construction				Mortgage				Mortgage				Total
Balance at beginning of period		$	20,401			$	160,044			$	32,128			$	212,573
Write-downs in value			(1,259	)			(2,755	)			(772	)			(4,786	)
Additions			4,538				26,254				4,109				34,901
Sales			(993	)			(20,409	)			(5,397	)			(26,799	)
Other adjustments			(133	)			148				(142	)			(127	)
Ending balance		$	22,554			$	163,282			$	29,926			$	215,762

 

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Note 13 – Other assets

The caption of other assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition consists of the following major categories:

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Net deferred tax assets (net of valuation allowance)		$	1,031,360			$	1,035,110
Investments under the equity method			222,811				215,349
Prepaid taxes			150,104				168,852
Other prepaid expenses			92,909				84,771
Derivative assets			15,418				16,539
Trades receivable from brokers and counterparties			41,683				7,514
Receivables from investments maturities			50,000				70,000
Principal, interest and escrow servicing advances			110,076				107,299
Guaranteed mortgage loan claims receivable			134,293				163,819
Others			130,106				122,070
Total other assets		$	1,978,760			$	1,991,323

 

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Note 14 – Goodwill and other intangible assets

Goodwill

There were no changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

The following tables present the gross amount of goodwill and accumulated impairment losses by reportable segments.

 

March 31, 2018
		Balance at								Balance at				Balance at								Balance at
		January 1,				Accumulated				January 1,				March 31,				Accumulated				March 31,
		2018				impairment				2018				2018				impairment				2018
(In thousands)		(gross amounts)				losses				(net amounts)				(gross amounts)				losses				(net amounts)
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico		$	280,221			$	3,801			$	276,420			$	280,221			$	3,801			$	276,420
Popular U.S.			515,285				164,411				350,874				515,285				164,411				350,874
Total Popular, Inc.		$	795,506			$	168,212			$	627,294			$	795,506			$	168,212			$	627,294
December 31, 2017
		Balance at								Balance at				Balance at								Balance at
		January 1,				Accumulated				January 1,				December 31,				Accumulated				December 31,
		2017				impairment				2017				2017				impairment				2017
(In thousands)		(gross amounts)				losses				(net amounts)				(gross amounts)				losses				(net amounts)
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico		$	280,221			$	3,801			$	276,420			$	280,221			$	3,801			$	276,420
Popular U.S.			515,285				164,411				350,874				515,285				164,411				350,874
Total Popular, Inc.		$	795,506			$	168,212			$	627,294			$	795,506			$	168,212			$	627,294

Other Intangible Assets

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Corporation had $ 6.1 million of identifiable intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, mostly associated with the E-LOAN trademark.

The following table reflects the components of other intangible assets subject to amortization:

 

		Gross								Net
		Carrying				Accumulated				Carrying
(In thousands)		Amount				Amortization				Value
March 31, 2018
Core deposits		$	37,224			$	23,278			$	13,946
Other customer relationships			35,632				22,395				13,237
Total other intangible assets		$	72,856			$	45,673			$	27,183
December 31, 2017
Core deposits		$	37,224			$	22,347			$	14,877
Other customer relationships			35,683				21,051				14,632
Total other intangible assets		$	72,907			$	43,398			$	29,509

During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation recognized $ 2.3 million in amortization expense related to other intangible assets with definite useful lives (March 31, 2017 - $ 2.3 million).

 

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The following table presents the estimated amortization of the intangible assets with definite useful lives for each of the following periods:

 

(In thousands)
Remaining 2018		$	6,960
Year 2019			9,042
Year 2020			4,967
Year 2021			2,157
Year 2022			1,281
Year 2023			1,281
Later years			1,495

 

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Note 15 – Deposits

Total interest bearing deposits as of the end of the periods presented consisted of:

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Savings accounts		$	9,161,138			$	8,561,718
NOW, money market and other interest bearing demand deposits			11,479,102				10,885,967
Total savings, NOW, money market and other interest bearing demand deposits			20,640,240				19,447,685
Certificates of deposit:
Under $100,000			3,459,634				3,446,575
$100,000 and over			4,335,609				4,068,303
Total certificates of deposit			7,795,243				7,514,878
Total interest bearing deposits		$	28,435,483			$	26,962,563

A summary of certificates of deposit by maturity at March 31, 2018 follows:

 

(In thousands)
2018		$	3,715,239
2019			1,404,036
2020			1,149,907
2021			766,327
2022			550,150
2023 and thereafter			209,584
Total certificates of deposit		$	7,795,243

At March 31, 2018, the Corporation had brokered deposits amounting to $ 0.6 billion (December 31, 2017 - $ 0.5 billion).

The aggregate amount of overdrafts in demand deposit accounts that were reclassified to loans was $4 million at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $4 million).

 

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Note 16 – Borrowings

The following table presents the balances of assets sold under agreements to repurchase at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase		$	380,061			$	390,921
Total assets sold under agreements to repurchase		$	380,061			$	390,921

The following table presents information related to the Corporation’s repurchase transactions accounted for as secured borrowings that are collateralized with debt securities available-for-sale, other assets held-for-trading purposes or which have been obtained under agreements to resell. It is the Corporation’s policy to maintain effective control over assets sold under agreements to repurchase; accordingly, such securities continue to be carried on the consolidated statements of financial condition.

Repurchase agreements accounted for as secured borrowings

 

		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Repurchase liability				Repurchase liability
U.S. Treasury Securities
Within 30 days		$	54,013			$	148,516
After 30 to 90 days			53,921				87,357
After 90 days			181,698				43,500
Total U.S. Treasury Securities			289,632				279,373
Obligations of U.S. government sponsored entities
Within 30 days			62,098				30,656
After 30 to 90 days			—				19,463
After 90 days			—				15,937
Total obligations of U.S. government sponsored entities			62,098				66,056
Mortgage-backed securities
Within 30 days			4,645				31,383
After 90 days			13,085				—
Total mortgage-backed securities			17,730				31,383
Collateralized mortgage obligations
Within 30 days			10,601				14,109
Total collateralized mortgage obligations			10,601				14,109
Total		$	380,061			$	390,921

Repurchase agreements in this portfolio are generally short-term, often overnight. As such our risk is very limited. We manage the liquidity risks arising from secured funding by sourcing funding globally from a diverse group of counterparties, providing a range of securities collateral and pursuing longer durations, when appropriate.

The following table presents information related to the Corporation’s other short-term borrowings for the periods ended March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Advances with the FHLB paying interest at maturity with fixed rates ranging from 1.63% to 2.02%		$	185,000			$	95,000
Others			1,200				1,208
Total other short-term borrowings		$	186,200			$	96,208

Note: Refer to the Corporation’s 2017 Form 10-K for rates information at December 31, 2017.

 

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The following table presents the composition of notes payable at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Advances with the FHLB with maturities ranging from 2018 through 2029 paying interest at monthly fixed rates ranging from 0.84% to 4.19 %		$	599,954			$	572,307
Advances with the FHLB with maturities ranging from 2018 through 2019 paying interest monthly at a floating rate ranging from 0.22% to 0.34% over the 1 month LIBOR			34,164				34,164
Advances with the FHLB with maturities ranging from 2018 through 2019 paying interest quarterly at a floating rate from 0.09% to 0.24% over the 3 month LIBOR			25,019				25,019
Unsecured senior debt securities maturing on 2019 paying interest semiannually at a fixed rate of 7.00%, net of debt issuance costs of $2,606			447,394				446,873
Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (related to trust preferred securities) with maturities ranging from 2027 to 2034 with fixed interest rates ranging from 6.125% to 8.327%, net of debt issuance costs of $443			439,357				439,351
Others			18,316				18,642
Total notes payable		$	1,564,204			$	1,536,356

Note: Refer to the Corporation’s 2017 Form 10-K for rates information at December 31, 2017.

A breakdown of borrowings by contractual maturities at March 31, 2018 is included in the table below.

 

(In thousands)		Assets sold under agreements to repurchase				Short-term borrowings				Notes payable				Total
2018		$	380,061			$	186,200			$	242,635			$	808,896
2019			—				—				649,382				649,382
2020			—				—				112,069				112,069
2021			—				—				21,840				21,840
2022			—				—				5,143				5,143
Later years			—				—				533,135				533,135
Total borrowings		$	380,061			$	186,200			$	1,564,204			$	2,130,465

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Corporation had FHLB borrowing facilities whereby the Corporation could borrow up to $3.8 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively, of which $844 million and $726 million, respectively, were used. In addition, at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Corporation had placed $435 million and $260 million, respectively, of the available FHLB credit facility as collateral for a municipal letter of credit to secure deposits. The FHLB borrowing facilities are collateralized with loans held-in-portfolio, and do not have restrictive covenants or callable features.

Also, at March 31, 2018, the Corporation has a borrowing facility at the discount window of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York amounting to $1.1 billion (2017 - $1.1 billion), which remained unused at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The facility is a collateralized source of credit that is highly reliable even under difficult market conditions.

 

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Note 17 – Offsetting of financial assets and liabilities

The following tables present the potential effect of rights of setoff associated with the Corporation’s recognized financial assets and liabilities at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

As of March 31, 2018
														Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
(In thousands)		Gross Amount of Recognized Assets				Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position				Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Statement of Financial Position				Financial Instruments				Securities Collateral Received				Cash Collateral Received				Net Amount
Derivatives		$	15,496			$	—			$	15,496			$	83			$	—			$	—			$	15,413
Total		$	15,496			$	—			$	15,496			$	83			$	—			$	—			$	15,413
As of March 31, 2018
														Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
(In thousands)		Gross Amount of Recognized Liabilities				Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position				Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Statement of Financial Position				Financial Instruments				Securities Collateral Pledged				Cash Collateral Pledged				Net Amount
Derivatives		$	13,685			$	—			$	13,685			$	83			$	—			$	—			$	13,602
Repurchase agreements			380,061				—				380,061				—				380,061				—				—
Total		$	393,746			$	—			$	393,746			$	83			$	380,061			$	—			$	13,602
As of December 31, 2017
														Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
(In thousands)		Gross Amount of Recognized Assets				Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position				Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Statement of Financial Position				Financial Instruments				Securities Collateral Received				Cash Collateral Received				Net Amount
Derivatives		$	16,719			$	—			$	16,719			$	121			$	—			$	—			$	16,598
Total		$	16,719			$	—			$	16,719			$	121			$	—			$	—			$	16,598

 

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As of December 31, 2017
														Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
(In thousands)		Gross Amount of Recognized Liabilities				Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position				Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Statement of Financial Position				Financial Instruments				Securities Collateral Pledged				Cash Collateral Pledged				Net Amount
Derivatives		$	14,431			$	—			$	14,431			$	121			$	8			$	—			$	14,302
Repurchase agreements			390,921				—				390,921				—				390,921				—				—
Total		$	405,352			$	—			$	405,352			$	121			$	390,929			$	—			$	14,302

The Corporation’s derivatives are subject to agreements which allow a right of set-off with each respective counterparty. In addition, the Corporation’s Repurchase Agreements and Reverse Repurchase Agreements have a right of set-off with the respective counterparty under the supplemental terms of the Master Repurchase Agreements. In an event of default each party has a right of set-off against the other party for amounts owed in the related agreement and any other amount or obligation owed in respect of any other agreement or transaction between them.

 

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Note 18 – Stockholders’ equity

On January 23, 2017, the Corporation’s Board of Directors approved an increase in the Company’s quarterly common stock dividend from $0.15 per share to $0.25 per share. Also, during the first quarter of 2017, the Corporation completed a $75 million privately negotiated accelerated share repurchase transaction (“ASR”). As part of this transaction, the Corporation received 1,847,372 shares and recognized $79.5 million in treasury stock, based on the stock’s spot price, offset by a $4.5 million adjustment to capital surplus, resulting from the decline in the Corporation’s stock price during the term of the ASR. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation declared dividends on its common stock of $ 25.5 million; which were paid on April 2, 2018.

BPPR statutory reserve

The Banking Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico requires that a minimum of 10% of BPPR’s net income for the year be transferred to a statutory reserve account until such statutory reserve equals the total of paid-in capital on common and preferred stock. Any losses incurred by a bank must first be charged to retained earnings and then to the reserve fund. Amounts credited to the reserve fund may not be used to pay dividends without the prior consent of the Puerto Rico Commissioner of Financial Institutions. The failure to maintain sufficient statutory reserves would preclude BPPR from paying dividends. BPPR’s statutory reserve fund amounted to $540 million at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $540 million) There were no transfers between the statutory reserve account and the retained earnings account during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017.

 

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Note 19 – Other comprehensive loss

The following table presents changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

		Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss by Component [1]
				Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)				2018				2017
Foreign currency translation		Beginning Balance		$	(43,034	)		$	(39,956	)
		Other comprehensive income			93				139
		Net change			93				139
		Ending balance		$	(42,941	)		$	(39,817	)
Adjustment of pension and postretirement benefit plans		Beginning Balance		$	(205,408	)		$	(211,610	)
		Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss for amortization of net losses			3,285				3,421
		Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss for amortization of prior service credit			(529	)			(580	)
		Net change			2,756				2,841
		Ending balance		$	(202,652	)		$	(208,769	)
Unrealized net holding losses on debt securities		Beginning Balance		$	(102,775	)		$	(69,003	)
		Other comprehensive loss			(114,404	)			(2,704	)
		Net change			(114,404	)			(2,704	)
		Ending balance		$	(217,179	)		$	(71,707	)
Unrealized holding gains on equity securities		Beginning Balance		$	605			$	685
		Reclassification to retained earnings due to cumulative effect adjustment of accounting change			(605	)			—
		Other comprehensive income before reclassifications			—				95
		Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income			—				(130	)
		Net change			(605	)			(35	)
		Ending balance		$	—			$	650
Unrealized net losses on cash flow hedges		Beginning Balance		$	(40	)		$	(402	)
		Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			747				(389	)
		Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			(773	)			522
		Net change			(26	)			133
		Ending balance		$	(66	)		$	(269	)
		Total		$	(462,838	)		$	(319,912	)

 

[1]	All amounts presented are net of tax.

 

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The following table presents the amounts reclassified out of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

		Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
		Affected Line Item in the		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		Consolidated Statements of Operations		2018				2017
Adjustment of pension and postretirement benefit plans
Amortization of net losses		Personnel costs		$	(5,386	)		$	(5,607	)
Amortization of prior service credit		Personnel costs			867				950
		Total before tax			(4,519	)			(4,657	)
		Income tax benefit			1,763				1,816
		Total net of tax		$	(2,756	)		$	(2,841	)
Unrealized holding gains on equity securities
Realized gain on sale of equity securities		Net gain on equity securities		$	—			$	162
		Total before tax			—				162
		Income tax expense			—				(32	)
		Total net of tax		$	—			$	130
Unrealized net losses on cash flow hedges
Forward contracts		Mortgage banking activities		$	1,267			$	(855	)
		Total before tax			1,267				(855	)
		Income tax (expense) benefit			(494	)			333
		Total net of tax		$	773			$	(522	)
		Total reclassification adjustments, net of tax		$	(1,983	)		$	(3,233	)

 

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Note 20 – Guarantees

At March 31, 2018 the Corporation recorded a liability of $0.5 million (December 31, 2017 - $0.3 million), which represents the unamortized balance of the obligations undertaken in issuing the guarantees under the standby letters of credit. Management does not anticipate any material losses related to these instruments.

From time to time, the Corporation securitized mortgage loans into guaranteed mortgage-backed securities subject to limited, and in certain instances, lifetime credit recourse on the loans that serve as collateral for the mortgage-backed securities. The Corporation has not sold any mortgage loans subject to credit recourse since 2009. At March 31, 2018 the Corporation serviced $1.4 billion (December 31, 2017 - $1.5 billion) in residential mortgage loans subject to credit recourse provisions, principally loans associated with FNMA and FHLMC residential mortgage loan securitization programs. In the event of any customer default, pursuant to the credit recourse provided, the Corporation is required to repurchase the loan or reimburse the third party investor for the incurred loss. The maximum potential amount of future payments that the Corporation would be required to make under the recourse arrangements in the event of nonperformance by the borrowers is equivalent to the total outstanding balance of the residential mortgage loans serviced with recourse and interest, if applicable. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation repurchased approximately $ 8 million of unpaid principal balance in mortgage loans subject to the credit recourse provisions (March 31, 2017 - $ 9 million). In the event of nonperformance by the borrower, the Corporation has rights to the underlying collateral securing the mortgage loan. The Corporation suffers ultimate losses on these loans when the proceeds from a foreclosure sale of the property underlying a defaulted mortgage loan are less than the outstanding principal balance of the loan plus any uncollected interest advanced and the costs of holding and disposing the related property. At March 31, 2018 the Corporation’s liability established to cover the estimated credit loss exposure related to loans sold or serviced with credit recourse amounted to $ 57 million (December 31, 2017 - $ 59 million).

The following table shows the changes in the Corporation’s liability of estimated losses related to loans serviced with credit recourse provisions during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Balance as of beginning of period		$	58,820			$	54,489
Provision for recourse liability			3,000				2,134
Net charge-offs			(4,395	)			(5,083	)
Balance as of end of period		$	57,425			$	51,540

When the Corporation sells or securitizes mortgage loans, it generally makes customary representations and warranties regarding the characteristics of the loans sold. To the extent the loans do not meet specified characteristics, the Corporation may be required to repurchase such loans or indemnify for losses and bear any subsequent loss related to the loans. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, BPPR repurchased $9 million in loans under representation and warranty arrangements (there were no loan repurchases during the same period of the prior year). A substantial amount of these loans reinstate to performing status or have mortgage insurance, and thus the ultimate losses on the loans are not deemed significant.

From time to time, the Corporation sells loans and agrees to indemnify the purchaser for credit losses or any breach of certain representations and warranties made in connection with the sale. The following table presents the changes in the Corporation’s liability for estimated losses associated with indemnifications and representations and warranties related to loans sold by BPPR for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

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		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Balance as of beginning of period		$	11,742			$	10,936
Reversal of provision for representation and warranties			(152	)			(399	)
Net charge-offs			(172	)			—
Balance as of end of period		$	11,418			$	10,537

Servicing agreements relating to the mortgage-backed securities programs of FNMA and GNMA, and to mortgage loans sold or serviced to certain other investors, including FHLMC, require the Corporation to advance funds to make scheduled payments of principal, interest, taxes and insurance, if such payments have not been received from the borrowers. At March 31, 2018, the Corporation serviced $16.1 billion in mortgage loans for third-parties, including the loans serviced with credit recourse (December 31, 2017 - $16.1 billion). The Corporation generally recovers funds advanced pursuant to these arrangements from the mortgage owner, from liquidation proceeds when the mortgage loan is foreclosed or, in the case of FHA/VA loans, under the applicable FHA and VA insurance and guarantees programs. However, in the meantime, the Corporation must absorb the cost of the funds it advances during the time the advance is outstanding. The Corporation must also bear the costs of attempting to collect on delinquent and defaulted mortgage loans. In addition, if a defaulted loan is not cured, the mortgage loan would be canceled as part of the foreclosure proceedings and the Corporation would not receive any future servicing income with respect to that loan. At March 31, 2018, the outstanding balance of funds advanced by the Corporation under such mortgage loan servicing agreements was approximately $110 million (December 31, 2017 - $107 million). To the extent the mortgage loans underlying the Corporation’s servicing portfolio experience increased delinquencies, the Corporation would be required to dedicate additional cash resources to comply with its obligation to advance funds as well as incur additional administrative costs related to increases in collection efforts.

Popular, Inc. Holding Company (“PIHC”) fully and unconditionally guarantees certain borrowing obligations issued by certain of its wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries amounting to $ 149 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. In addition, at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, PIHC fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a subordinated basis $ 427 million of capital securities (trust preferred securities) issued by wholly-owned issuing trust entities to the extent set forth in the applicable guarantee agreement. Refer to Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2017 Form 10-K for further information on the trust preferred securities.

 

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Note 21 – Commitments and contingencies

Off-balance sheet risk

The Corporation is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet credit risk in the normal course of business to meet the financial needs of its customers. These financial instruments include loan commitments, letters of credit and standby letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

The Corporation’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and financial guarantees is represented by the contractual notional amounts of those instruments. The Corporation uses the same credit policies in making these commitments and conditional obligations as it does for those reflected on the consolidated statements of financial condition.

Financial instruments with off-balance sheet credit risk, whose contract amounts represent potential credit risk as of the end of the periods presented were as follows:

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Commitments to extend credit:
Credit card lines		$	4,390,503			$	4,303,256
Commercial and construction lines of credit			2,828,876				3,011,673
Other consumer unused credit commitments			250,338				250,029
Commercial letters of credit			1,217				2,116
Standby letters of credit			33,140				33,633
Commitments to originate or fund mortgage loans			20,163				15,297

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Corporation maintained a reserve of approximately $11 million and $10 million, respectively, for potential losses associated with unfunded loan commitments related to commercial and consumer lines of credit.

Business concentration

Since the Corporation’s business activities are concentrated primarily in Puerto Rico, its results of operations and financial condition are dependent upon the general trends of the Puerto Rico economy and, in particular, the residential and commercial real estate markets. The concentration of the Corporation’s operations in Puerto Rico exposes it to greater risk than other banking companies with a wider geographic base. Its asset and revenue composition by geographical area is presented in Note 33 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Puerto Rico is in the midst of a profound fiscal and economic crisis, was recently significantly impacted by two major hurricanes, and has commenced several proceedings under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”) to restructure its outstanding obligations and those of certain of its instrumentalities.

In September 2017, Puerto Rico was impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Most relevant, Hurricane Maria made landfall on September 20, 2017, causing severe wind and flood damage to infrastructure, homes and businesses throughout Puerto Rico. Following the passage of Hurricane Maria, all Puerto Rico was left without electrical power and other basic utility and infrastructure services were severely curtailed. As of the date of this report, electricity and water services have been restored to the vast majority of the clients of the Commonwealth’s electric and water utilities, but the electric system remains fragile. The damages caused by the hurricanes are substantial and have had a material adverse impact on economic activity in Puerto Rico. It is still, however, too early to fully assess and quantify the extent of the damage caused by the hurricanes, as well as their long-term impact on economic activity.

The U.S. Congress enacted PROMESA on June 30, 2016 in response to the Commonwealth’s ongoing fiscal and economic crisis. PROMESA, among other things, (i) established a seven-member oversight board (the “Oversight Board”) with broad powers over the finances of the Commonwealth and its instrumentalities, (ii) requires the Commonwealth (and any instrumentality thereof designated as a “covered entity” under PROMESA) to submit its budgets, and if the Oversight Board so requests, a fiscal plan for certification by the Oversight Board, and (iii) established two separate processes for the restructuring of the outstanding liabilities of the Commonwealth, its instrumentalities and municipalities: (a) Title VI, a largely out-of-court process through which a government entity and its financial creditors can agree on terms to restructure such entity’s debts, and (b) Title III, a court-supervised process for a comprehensive restructuring similar to Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

 

 

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The Oversight Board has designated a number of entities as “covered entities” under PROMESA, including the Commonwealth and all of its instrumentalities. While the Oversight Board has the power to designate any of the Commonwealth’s municipalities as covered entities under PROMESA, it has not done so as of the date hereof. Pursuant to PROMESA, the Oversight Board certified fiscal plans for certain of these “covered entities,” including the Commonwealth, Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico (“GDB”) and several other public corporations in 2017. However, following the hurricanes, the Oversight Board requested the submission of new fiscal plans for such entities. The Oversight Board certified revised fiscal plans for the Commonwealth, GDB, the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority (“HTA”), the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (“PREPA”), the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority and the University of Puerto Rico on April 2018. Both last year’s fiscal plans and the new certified fiscal plans indicate that the applicable government entities are unable to pay their outstanding obligations as currently scheduled, thus recognizing a need for a significant debt restructuring and/or write downs.

On May 3, 2017, the Oversight Board, on behalf of the Commonwealth, filed a petition in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico to restructure the Commonwealth’s liabilities under Title III of PROMESA. The Oversight Board has subsequently filed analogous petitions with respect to the Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corporation, the Employees Retirement System, HTA and PREPA. The Oversight Board has also authorized GDB to pursue a restructuring of its financial indebtedness under Title VI of PROMESA. As of the date hereof, these entities are the only entities for which the Oversight Board has sought to use the restructuring authority provided by PROMESA. However, the Oversight Board may use the restructuring authority of Title III or Title VI of PROMESA for other Commonwealth instrumentalities, including its municipalities, in the future.

At March 31, 2018, the Corporation’s direct exposure to the Puerto Rico government and its instrumentalities and municipalities amounted to $ 481 million, which was fully outstanding at quarter-end (compared to a direct exposure of approximately $484 million, which was fully outstanding at December 31, 2017). Of this amount, $ 434 million consists of loans and $ 47 million are securities ($ 435 million and $ 49 million at December 31, 2017). All of the amount outstanding at March 31, 2018 were obligations from various Puerto Rico municipalities. In most cases, these are “general obligations” of a municipality, to which the applicable municipality has pledged its good faith, credit and unlimited taxing power, or “special obligations” of a municipality, to which the applicable municipality has pledged other revenues. At March 31, 2018, 74% of the Corporation’s exposure to municipal loans and securities was concentrated in the municipalities of San Juan, Guaynabo, Carolina and Bayamón.

The following table details the loans and investments representing the Corporation’s direct exposure to the Puerto Rico government according to their maturities:

 

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(In thousands)		Investment Portfolio				Loans				Total Outstanding				Total Exposure
Central Government
After 1 to 5 years		$	4			$	—			$	4			$	4
After 5 to 10 years			9				—				9				9
After 10 years			31				—				31				31
Total Central Government			44				—				44				44
Government Development Bank (GDB)
Within 1 year			3				—				3				3
Total Government Development Bank (GDB)			3				—				3				3
Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority
After 5 to 10 years			4				—				4				4
Total Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority			4				—				4				4
Municipalities
Within 1 year			3,445				9,454				12,899				12,899
After 1 to 5 years			16,195				196,369				212,564				212,564
After 5 to 10 years			26,140				106,573				132,713				132,713
After 10 years			1,025				122,038				123,063				123,063
Total Municipalities			46,805				434,434				481,239				481,239
Total Direct Government Exposure		$	46,856			$	434,434			$	481,290			$	481,290

In addition, at March 31, 2018, the Corporation had $382 million in indirect exposure to loans or securities issued or guaranteed by Puerto Rico governmental entities whose principal source of repayment is non-governmental. In such obligations, the Puerto Rico government entity guarantees any shortfall in collateral in the event of borrower default ($386 million at December 31, 2017). These included $306 million in residential mortgage loans guaranteed by the Puerto Rico Housing Finance Authority (“HFA”), an entity that has been designated as a covered entity under PROMESA (December 31, 2017 - $310 million). These mortgage loans are secured by the underlying properties and the HFA guarantee serve to cover shortfalls in collateral in the event of a borrower default. Although the Governor is currently authorized by local legislation to impose a temporary moratorium on the financial obligations of the HFA, he has not exercised this power as of the date hereof. Also, at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Corporation had $44 million in Puerto Rico housing bonds issued by HFA, which are secured by second mortgage loans on Puerto Rico residential properties, $7 million in pass-through securities that have been economically defeased and refunded and for which collateral including U.S. agencies and Treasury obligations has been escrowed, and $25 million of commercial real estate notes issued by government entities, but payable from rent paid by third parties).

BPPR’s commercial loan portfolio also includes loans to private borrowers who are service providers, lessors, suppliers or have other relationships with the government. These borrowers could be negatively affected by the fiscal measures to be implemented to address the Commonwealth’s fiscal crisis and the ongoing Title III proceedings under PROMESA described above. Similarly, BPPR’s mortgage and consumer loan portfolios include loans to government employees which could also be negatively affected by fiscal measures such as employee layoffs or furloughs.

The Corporation has operations in the United States Virgin Islands (the “USVI”) and has approximately $80 million in direct exposure to USVI government entities. The USVI has been experiencing a number of fiscal and economic challenges that could adversely affect the ability of its public corporations and instrumentalities to service their outstanding debt obligations. In addition, in September 2017, the USVI was also severely impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which will pose additional challenges to the USVI government and could further materially adversely affect the USVI economy.

Other contingencies

As indicated in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, as part of the loss sharing agreements related to the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction, the Corporation agreed to make a true-up payment to the FDIC on the date that is 45 days following the last day of the final shared loss month, or upon the final disposition of all covered assets under the loss sharing agreements in the event losses on the loss sharing agreements fail to reach expected levels. The fair value of the true-up payment obligation was estimated at $ 171 million at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $ 165 million). For additional information refer to Note 9.

 

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Legal Proceedings

The nature of Popular’s business ordinarily results in a certain number of claims, litigation, investigations, and legal and administrative cases and proceedings (“Legal Proceedings”). When the Corporation determines that it has meritorious defenses to the claims asserted, it vigorously defends itself. The Corporation will consider the settlement of cases (including cases where it has meritorious defenses) when, in management’s judgment, it is in the best interest of both the Corporation and its shareholders to do so.

On at least a quarterly basis, Popular assesses its liabilities and contingencies relating to outstanding Legal Proceedings utilizing the latest information available. For matters where it is probable that the Corporation will incur a material loss and the amount can be reasonably estimated, the Corporation establishes an accrual for the loss. Once established, the accrual is adjusted on at least a quarterly basis as appropriate to reflect any relevant developments. For matters where a material loss is not probable, or the amount of the loss cannot be reasonably estimated, no accrual is established.

In certain cases, exposure to loss exists in excess of the accrual to the extent such loss is reasonably possible, but not probable. Management believes and estimates that the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses (with respect to those matters where such limits may be determined, in excess of amounts accrued), for current Legal Proceedings ranges from $0 to approximately $28.2 million as of March 31, 2018. For certain other cases, management cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss at this time. Any estimate involves significant judgment, given the varying stages of the Legal Proceedings (including the fact that many of them are currently in preliminary stages), the existence of multiple defendants in several of the current Legal Proceedings whose share of liability has yet to be determined, the numerous unresolved issues in many of the Legal Proceedings, and the inherent uncertainty of the various potential outcomes of such Legal Proceedings. Accordingly, management’s estimate will change from time-to-time, and actual losses may be more or less than the current estimate.

While the outcome of Legal Proceedings is inherently uncertain, based on information currently available, advice of counsel, and available insurance coverage, management believes that the amount it has already accrued is adequate and any incremental liability arising from the Corporation’s Legal Proceedings in matters in which a loss amount can be reasonably estimated will not have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s consolidated financial position. However, in the event of unexpected future developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of these matters, if unfavorable, may be material to the Corporation’s consolidated financial position in a particular period.

Set forth below is a description of the Corporation’s significant legal proceedings.

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Hazard Insurance Commission-Related Litigation

Popular, Inc., BPPR and Popular Insurance, LLC (the “Popular Defendants”) have been named defendants in a putative class action complaint captioned Perez Díaz v. Popular, Inc., et al, filed before the Court of First Instance, Arecibo Part. The complaint seeks damages and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief on behalf of the purported class against the Popular Defendants, as well as Antilles Insurance Company and MAPFRE-PRAICO Insurance Company (the “Defendant Insurance Companies”). Plaintiffs allege that the Popular Defendants have been unjustly enriched by failing to reimburse them for commissions paid by the Defendant Insurance Companies to the insurance agent and/or mortgagee for policy years when no claims were filed against their hazard insurance policies. They demand the reimbursement to the purported “class” of an estimated $400 million plus legal interest, for the “good experience” commissions allegedly paid by the Defendant Insurance Companies during the relevant time period, as well as injunctive relief seeking to enjoin the Defendant Insurance Companies from paying commissions to the insurance agent/mortgagee and ordering them to pay those fees directly to the insured. A hearing on the request for preliminary injunction and other matters was held on February 15, 2017, as a result of which plaintiffs withdrew their request for preliminary injunctive relief. A motion for dismissal on the merits, which the Defendant Insurance Companies filed shortly before hearing, was denied with a right to replead following limited targeted discovery. On March 24, 2017, the Popular Defendants filed a certiorari petition with the Puerto Rico Court of Appeals seeking a review of the lower court’s denial of the motion to dismiss. The Court of Appeals denied the Popular Defendant’s request, and the Popular Defendants appealed this determination to the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, which declined review. Separately, a class certification hearing was held in June and the Court requested post-hearing briefs on this issue. On October 26, 2017, the Court entered an order whereby it broadly certified the class. At a hearing held on November 2, 2017, the Court encouraged the parties to reach agreement on discovery and class notification procedures. The Court further allowed defendants until January 4, 2018 to answer

 

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the complaint. A follow-up hearing was set for March 6, 2018. On December 21, 2017, the Popular Defendants filed a certiorari petition before the Puerto Rico Court of Appeals, which plaintiffs opposed on January 9, 2018. On March 4, 2018, the Court of Appeals declined to entertain the certiorari petition. Plaintiffs sought to amend the complaint and defendants filed an answer thereto. The case is now in its discovery stage.

BPPR has separately been named a defendant in a putative class action complaint captioned Ramirez Torres, et al. v. Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, et al, filed before the Puerto Rico Court of First Instance, San Juan Part. The complaint seeks damages and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief on behalf of the purported class against the same Popular Defendants, as well as other financial institutions with insurance brokerage subsidiaries in Puerto Rico. Plaintiffs essentially contend that in November 2015, Antilles Insurance Company obtained approval from the Puerto Rico Insurance Commissioner to market an endorsement that allowed its customers to obtain reimbursement on their insurance deductible for good experience, but that defendants failed to offer this product or disclose its existence to their customers, favoring other products instead, in violation of their duties as insurance brokers. Plaintiffs seek a determination that defendants unlawfully failed to comply with their duty to disclose the existence of this new insurance product, as well as double or treble damages (the latter subject to a determination that defendants engaged in anti-monopolistic practices in failing to offer this product). Between late March and early April, co-defendants filed motions to dismiss the complaint and opposed the request for preliminary injunctive relief. A co-defendant filed a third-party Complaint against Antilles Insurance Company. A preliminary injunction and class certification hearing originally scheduled for April 6th was subsequently postponed, pending resolution of the motions to dismiss. On July 31, 2017, the Court dismissed the complaint with prejudice. In August 2017, plaintiffs appealed this judgment and on March 21, 2018, the Court of Appeals reversed the Court of First Instance’s dismissal. On April 5, 2018, co-defendant Oriental Bank filed a motion for reconsideration, which the Court denied on April 27th. Banco Popular intends to appeal the Court of Appeals’ determination.

Mortgage-Related Litigation and Claims

BPPR has been named a defendant in a putative class action captioned Lilliam González Camacho, et al. v. Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, et al., filed before the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico on behalf of mortgage-holders who have allegedly been subjected to illegal foreclosures and/or loan modifications through their mortgage servicers. Plaintiffs maintain that when they sought to reduce their loan payments, defendants failed to provide them with such reduced loan payments, instead subjecting them to lengthy loss mitigation processes while filing foreclosure claims against them in parallel. Plaintiffs assert that such actions violate the Home Affordable Modification Program (“HAMP”), the Home Affordable Refinance Program (“HARP”) and other federally sponsored loan modification programs, as well as the Puerto Rico Mortgage Debtor Assistance Act and the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”). For the alleged violations stated above, Plaintiffs request that all Defendants (over 20, including all local banks), be held jointly and severally liable in an amount no less than $400 million. BPPR waived service of process in June and filed a motion to dismiss in August 2017, as did most co-defendants. On March 28, 2018, the Court dismissed the complaint in its entirety. On April 9, 2018, plaintiffs filed a motion for reconsideration of such dismissal, which is still pending before the Court.

BPPR has also been named a defendant in two separate putative class actions captioned Costa Dorada Apartment Corp., et al. v. Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, et al., and Yiries Josef Saad Maura v. Banco Popular, et al., filed by the same counsel who filed the González Camacho action referenced above, on behalf of commercial and residential customers of the defendant banks who have allegedly been subject to illegal foreclosures and/or loan modifications through their mortgage servicers. As in González Camacho, plaintiffs contend that when they sought to reduce their loan payments, defendants failed to provide them with such reduced loan payments, instead subjecting them to lengthy loss mitigation processes while filing foreclosure claims against them in parallel (dual tracking), all in violation of TILA, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”), the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (“ECOA”), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) and other consumer-protection laws and regulations. They demand approximately $1 billion (in Costa Dorada) and unspecified damages (in Saad Maura). Banco Popular has not yet been served with summons in relation to the Costa Dorada Matter. On January 3, 2018, plaintiffs in the Saad Maura case requested that Banco Popular waive service of process, which it agreed to do on February 1, 2018. BPPR subsequently filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on the same grounds as those asserted in the Gonzalez Camacho action (as did most co-defendants, separately). BPPR further filed a motion to oppose class certification.

 

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BPPR has been named a defendant in a complaint for damages and breach of contract captioned Héctor Robles Rodriguez et al. v. Municipio de Ceiba, et al. Plaintiffs are residents of a development called Hacienda Las Lomas. Through the Doral Bank-FDIC assisted transaction, BPPR acquired a significant number of mortgage loans within this development and is currently the primary creditor in the project. Plaintiffs claim damages against the developer, contractor, the relevant insurance companies, and most recently, their mortgage lenders, because of a landslide that occurred in October 2015, affecting various streets and houses within the development. Plaintiffs specifically allege that the mortgage lenders, including BPPR, should be deemed liable for their alleged failure to properly inspect the subject properties. Plaintiffs demand in excess of $30 million in damages and the annulment of their mortgage deeds. BPPR extended plaintiffs three consecutive six-month payment forbearances, the last of which is still in effect, and has recently engaged in preliminary settlement discussions with plaintiffs. In November 2017, the FDIC notified BPPR that it had agreed to indemnify the Bank in connection with its Doral-related exposure, pursuant to the terms of the relevant Purchase and Assumption Agreement. On April 11, 2018, the Court stayed these proceedings in light of the FDIC’s filing of a motion to remove this matter to Federal Court.

Mortgage-Related Investigations

The Corporation and its subsidiaries from time to time receive requests for information from departments of the U.S. government that investigate mortgage-related conduct. In particular, BPPR has received subpoenas and other requests for information from the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Office of the Inspector General, the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program and the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of the Inspector General mainly concerning real estate appraisals and residential and construction loans in Puerto Rico. The Corporation is cooperating with these requests and is in discussions with the relevant U.S. government departments regarding the resolution of such matters. There can be no assurances as to the outcome of those discussions.

Separately, it has come to the attention of management that certain letters generated by the Corporation to comply with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) rules requiring written notification to borrowers who have submitted a loss mitigation application were not mailed to borrowers over a period of up to approximately three-years due to a systems interface error. Loss mitigation is a process whereby creditors work with mortgage loan borrowers who are having difficulties making their loan payments on their debt. The loss mitigation process applies both to mortgage loans held by the Corporation and to mortgage loans serviced by the Corporation for third parties. The Corporation has corrected the systems interface error that caused the letters not to be sent.

The Corporation notified applicable regulators and conducted a review of its mortgage files to assess the scope of potential customer impact. The review is substantially complete. The review found that while the mailing error extended to approximately 23,000 residential mortgage loans (approximately 50% of which are serviced by the Corporation for third parties), the number of borrowers actually harmed by the mailing error was substantially lower. This was due to, among other things, the fact that the Corporation regularly uses means other than the mail to communicate with borrowers, including email and hand delivery of written notices at our mortgage servicing centers or bank branches. Importantly, more than half of all borrowers potentially subject to such error actually closed on a loss mitigation alternative.

During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Corporation began outreach to potentially affected borrowers with outstanding loans. These efforts are substantially complete; however, outreach to certain borrowers whose loans require special handling is still in progress. Such borrowers include for example, those in bankruptcy. The Corporation is engaged in ongoing dialogue with applicable regulators with respect to this matter, including remediation plans. At this point, we are not able to estimate the financial impact of the failure to mail the loss mitigation notices.

Other Significant Proceedings

In June 2017, a syndicate comprised of BPPR and other local banks (the “Lenders”) filed an involuntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding against Betteroads Asphalt and Betterecycling Corporation (the “Involuntary Debtors”). This filing followed attempts by the Lenders to restructure and resolve the Involuntary Debtors’ obligations and outstanding defaults under a certain credit agreement, first through good faith negotiations and subsequently, through the filing of a collection action against the Involuntary Debtors in local court. The involuntary debtors subsequently counterclaimed, asserting damages in excess of $900 million. The Lenders ultimately joined in the commencement of these involuntary bankruptcy proceedings against the Debtors in order to preserve and recover the Involuntary Debtors’ assets, having confirmed that the Involuntary Debtors were transferring assets out of their estate for little or no consideration. The Involuntary Debtors subsequently filed a motion to dismiss the proceedings and for damages against the syndicate, arguing both that this petition was filed in bad faith and that there was a bona fide dispute as to the petitioners’ claims, as set forth in

 

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the counterclaim filed by the Involuntary Debtors in local court. The court allowed limited discovery to take place prior to an evidentiary hearing to determine the merits of debtors’ motion to dismiss. At a hearing held in November 2017, the Court determined that it was inclined to rule against the dismissal of the complaint but requested that the parties submit supplemental briefs on the subject, which the parties did; however, no decision has been rendered to date. Discovery is ongoing.

POPULAR SECURITIES

Puerto Rico Bonds and Closed-End Investment Funds

The volatility in prices and declines in value that Puerto Rico municipal bonds and closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in Puerto Rico municipal bonds have experienced since August 2013 have led to regulatory inquiries, customer complaints and arbitrations for most broker-dealers in Puerto Rico, including Popular Securities. Popular Securities has received customer complaints and is named as a respondent (among other broker-dealers) in 117 arbitration proceedings with aggregate claimed amounts of approximately $243 million, including one arbitration with claimed damages of approximately $78 million in which another Puerto Rico broker-dealer is a co-defendant. While Popular Securities believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims asserted in these proceedings, it has often determined that it is in its best interest to settle such claims rather than expend the money and resources required to see such cases to completion. The Government’s defaults and non-payment of its various debt obligations, as well as the Commonwealth’s and the Financial Oversight Management Board’s decision to pursue restructurings under Title III and Title VI of PROMESA, have increased and may continue to increase the number of customer complaints (and claimed damages) filed against Popular Securities concerning Puerto Rico bonds, including bonds issued by COFINA and GDB, and closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in Puerto Rico bonds. An adverse result in the arbitration proceedings described above, or a significant increase in customer complaints, could have a material adverse effect on Popular.

Subpoenas for Production of Documents in relation to PROMESA Title III Proceedings

Popular Securities has, together with Popular, Inc. and BPPR (collectively, the “Popular Companies”) filed an appearance in connection with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s pending Title III bankruptcy proceeding. Its appearance was prompted by a request by the Commonwealth’s Unsecured Creditors’ Committee (“UCC”) to allow a broad discovery program under Rule 2004 to investigate, among other things, the causes of the Puerto Rico financial crisis. The Rule 2004 request sought broad discovery not only from the Popular Companies, but also from Banco Santander de Puerto Rico (“Santander”) and others, spanning in excess of eleven (11) years. In their respective objections, both the Popular Companies and Santander argued that these requests go substantially beyond the permissible scope of Rule 2004 discovery programs and should either be denied outright or substantially modified. A hearing before Magistrate Judge Gail Dein was held on August 9, 2017. At the hearing, the Court requested that the UCC and the PROMESA Oversight Board, who opposed the UCC’s request, submit further briefing on this subject. The parties argued their respective positions at the omnibus hearing held on November 15, 2017. Upon listening to arguments on this matter, Magistrate Dein denied the UCC’s request without prejudice, to allow the law firm of Kobre & Kim to carry out its own independent investigation on behalf of the PROMESA Oversight Board.

Since the August 2017 hearing, the Popular Companies have been served with additional requests for the preservation and voluntary production of certain documents and witnesses from the UCC and the COFINA Agents in connection with the COFINA-Commonwealth adversary complaint, as well as from the Oversight Board’s Independent Investigator, Kobre & Kim. The Popular Companies are cooperating with all such requests but have asked that such requests be submitted in the form of a subpoena to address privacy and confidentiality considerations pertaining to some of the documents involved in the production.

POPULAR BANK

Josefina Valle v. Popular Community Bank (now Popular Bank)

PB has been named a defendant in a putative class action complaint captioned Josefina Valle, et al. v. Popular Community Bank, filed in November 2012 in the New York State Supreme Court (New York County). Plaintiffs, PB customers, allege among other things that PB has engaged in unfair and deceptive acts and trade practices in connection with the assessment of overdraft fees and payment processing on consumer deposit accounts. The complaint further alleges that PB improperly disclosed its consumer overdraft policies and that the overdraft rates and fees assessed by PB violate New York’s usury laws. Plaintiffs seek unspecified damages, including punitive damages, interest, disbursements, and attorneys’ fees and costs.

 

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A motion to dismiss was filed on September 9, 2013. After several procedural steps that included a ruling partially granting PB’s motion to dismiss and the filing of an amended complaint that was also partially dismissed, on August 12, 2015, Plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint. On September 17, 2015, PB filed a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint and on February 18, 2016, the Court granted it in part and denied it in part, dismissing plaintiffs’ unfair and deceptive acts and trade practices claim to the extent it sought to recover overdraft fees incurred prior to September 2011. On March 28, 2016, PB filed an answer to the second amended complaint. On April 7, 2016, PB filed a notice of appeal on the partial denial of PB’s motion to dismiss and after briefing and the holding of oral argument, on April 25, 2017, the Appellate Division issued an order denying PB’s appeal. On November 13, 2017, the parties reached an agreement in principle. Under this agreement, subject to certain customary conditions including court approval of a final settlement agreement in consideration for the full settlement and release of defendant, an amount up to $5.2 million will be paid to qualified plaintiffs. In March 2018, the Court entered an order for the preliminary approval of the settlement. A fairness hearing has been scheduled for August 2018.

Eugene Duncan v. Popular North America

Popular North America was named a defendant in a putative class action complaint captioned Duncan v. Popular North America, filed on January 29, 2018 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The complaint generally asserted that Popular North America (“PNA”) failed to design, construct, maintain and operate its website to be fully accessible to and independently usable by plaintiff and other blind or visually-impaired people, and that PNA’s denial of full and equal access to its website, and therefore to its products and services, violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. Plaintiff sought a permanent injunction to cause a change in defendant’s allegedly unlawful corporate policies, practices and procedures so that its website becomes and remains accessible to blind and visually impaired customers. On April 3, 2018, the parties reached an agreement in principle to settle this matter.

 

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Note 22 – Non-consolidated variable interest entities

The Corporation is involved with four statutory trusts which it created to issue trust preferred securities to the public. These trusts are deemed to be variable interest entities (“VIEs”) since the equity investors at risk have no substantial decision-making rights. The Corporation does not hold any variable interest in the trusts, and therefore, cannot be the trusts’ primary beneficiary. Furthermore, the Corporation concluded that it did not hold a controlling financial interest in these trusts since the decisions of the trusts are predetermined through the trust documents and the guarantee of the trust preferred securities is irrelevant since in substance the sponsor is guaranteeing its own debt.

Also, the Corporation is involved with various special purpose entities mainly in guaranteed mortgage securitization transactions, including GNMA and FNMA. These special purpose entities are deemed to be VIEs since they lack equity investments at risk. The Corporation’s continuing involvement in these guaranteed loan securitizations includes owning certain beneficial interests in the form of securities as well as the servicing rights retained. The Corporation is not required to provide additional financial support to any of the variable interest entities to which it has transferred the financial assets. The mortgage-backed securities, to the extent retained, are classified in the Corporation’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as available-for-sale or trading securities. The Corporation concluded that, essentially, these entities (FNMA and GNMA) control the design of their respective VIEs, dictate the quality and nature of the collateral, require the underlying insurance, set the servicing standards via the servicing guides and can change them at will, and can remove a primary servicer with cause, and without cause in the case of FNMA. Moreover, through their guarantee obligations, agencies (FNMA and GNMA) have the obligation to absorb losses that could be potentially significant to the VIE.

The Corporation holds variable interests in these VIEs in the form of agency mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, including those securities originated by the Corporation and those acquired from third parties. Additionally, the Corporation holds agency mortgage-backed securities, agency collateralized mortgage obligations and private label collateralized mortgage obligations issued by third party VIEs in which it has no other form of continuing involvement. Refer to Note 24 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the debt securities outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, which are classified as available-for-sale and trading securities in the Corporation’s consolidated statements of financial condition. In addition, the Corporation holds variable interests in the form of servicing fees, since it retains the right to service the transferred loans in those government-sponsored special purpose entities (“SPEs”) and may also purchase the right to service loans in other government-sponsored SPEs that were transferred to those SPEs by a third-party.

The following table presents the carrying amount and classification of the assets related to the Corporation’s variable interests in non-consolidated VIEs and the maximum exposure to loss as a result of the Corporation’s involvement as servicer of GNMA and FNMA loans at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Assets
Servicing assets:
Mortgage servicing rights		$	134,819			$	132,692
Total servicing assets		$	134,819			$	132,692
Other assets:
Servicing advances		$	43,615			$	47,742
Total other assets		$	43,615			$	47,742
Total assets		$	178,434			$	180,434
Maximum exposure to loss		$	178,434			$	180,434

The size of the non-consolidated VIEs, in which the Corporation has a variable interest in the form of servicing fees, measured as the total unpaid principal balance of the loans, amounted to $11.4 billion at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $11.7 billion).

 

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The Corporation determined that the maximum exposure to loss includes the fair value of the MSRs and the assumption that the servicing advances at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, will not be recovered. The agency debt securities are not included as part of the maximum exposure to loss since they are guaranteed by the related agencies.

In September of 2011, BPPR sold construction and commercial real estate loans to a newly created joint venture, PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC. In March of 2013, BPPR completed a sale of commercial and construction loans, and commercial and single family real estate owned to a newly created joint venture, PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC.

These joint ventures were created for the limited purpose of acquiring the loans from BPPR; servicing the loans through a third-party servicer; ultimately working out, resolving and/or foreclosing the loans; and indirectly owning, operating, constructing, developing, leasing and selling any real properties acquired by the joint ventures through deed in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure, or by resolution of any loan.

BPPR provided financing to PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC and PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC for the acquisition of the assets in an amount equal to the acquisition loan of $86 million and $182 million, respectively. The acquisition loans have a 5-year maturity and bear a variable interest at 30-day LIBOR plus 300 basis points and are secured by a pledge of all of the acquiring entity’s assets. In addition, BPPR provided these joint ventures with a non-revolving advance facility (the “advance facility”) of $69 million and $35 million, respectively, to cover unfunded commitments and costs-to-complete related to certain construction projects, and a revolving working capital line (the “working capital line”) of $20 million and $30 million, respectively, to fund certain operating expenses of the joint venture. As part of these transactions, BPPR received $ 48 million and $92 million, respectively, in cash and a 24.9% equity interest in each joint venture. The Corporation is not required to provide any other financial support to these joint ventures.

BPPR accounted for both transactions as a true sale pursuant to ASC Subtopic 860-10.

The Corporation has determined that PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC and PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC are VIEs but it is not the primary beneficiary. All decisions are made by Caribbean Property Group (“CPG”) (or an affiliate thereof) (the “Manager”), except for certain limited material decisions which would require the unanimous consent of all members. The Manager is authorized to execute and deliver on behalf of the joint ventures any and all documents, contracts, certificates, agreements and instruments, and to take any action deemed necessary in the benefit of the joint ventures.

The Corporation holds variable interests in these VIEs in the form of the 24.9% equity interests and the financing provided to these joint ventures. The equity interest is accounted for under the equity method of accounting pursuant to ASC Subtopic 323-10.

The following tables present the carrying amount and classification of the assets and liabilities related to the Corporation’s variable interests in the non-consolidated VIEs, PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC and PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC, and their maximum exposure to loss at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

		PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC								PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC
(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017				March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Assets
Other assets:
Equity investment		$	6,940			$	7,199			$	7,518			$	12,874
Total assets		$	6,940			$	7,199			$	7,518			$	12,874
Liabilities
Deposits		$	(1,811	)		$	(20	)		$	(10,010	)		$	(10,501	)
Total liabilities		$	(1,811	)		$	(20	)		$	(10,010	)		$	(10,501	)
Total net assets		$	5,129			$	7,179			$	(2,492	)		$	2,373
Maximum exposure to loss		$	5,129			$	7,179			$	—			$	2,373

The Corporation determined that the maximum exposure to loss under a worst case scenario at March 31, 2018 would be not recovering the net assets held by the Corporation as of the reporting date.

 

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ASU 2009-17 requires that an ongoing primary beneficiary assessment should be made to determine whether the Corporation is the primary beneficiary of any of the VIEs it is involved with. The conclusion on the assessment of these non-consolidated VIEs has not changed since their initial evaluation. The Corporation concluded that it is still not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs, and therefore, these VIEs are not required to be consolidated in the Corporation’s financial statements at March 31, 2018.

 

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Note 23 – Related party transactions

The Corporation considers its equity method investees as related parties. The following provides information on transactions with equity method investees considered related parties.

EVERTEC

The Corporation has an investment in EVERTEC, Inc. (“EVERTEC”), which provides various processing and information technology services to the Corporation and its subsidiaries and gives BPPR access to the ATH network owned and operated by EVERTEC. As of March 31, 2018, the Corporation’s stake in EVERTEC was 16.09%. The Corporation continues to have significant influence over EVERTEC. Accordingly, the investment in EVERTEC is accounted for under the equity method and is evaluated for impairment if events or circumstances indicate that a decrease in value of the investment has occurred that is other than temporary.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, there were no dividend distributions received by the Corporation from its investments in EVERTEC’s holding company (March 31, 2017—$ 1.2 million). The Corporation’s equity in EVERTEC is presented in the table which follows and is included as part of “other assets” in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Equity investment in EVERTEC		$	52,030			$	47,532

The Corporation had the following financial condition balances outstanding with EVERTEC at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Items that represent liabilities to the Corporation are presented with parenthesis.

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Accounts receivable (Other assets)		$	6,376			$	6,830
Deposits			(24,249	)			(22,284	)
Accounts payable (Other liabilities)			(4,619	)			(2,040	)
Net total		$	(22,492	)		$	(17,494	)

The Corporation’s proportionate share of income from EVERTEC is included in other operating income in the consolidated statements of operations. The following table presents the Corporation’s proportionate share of EVERTEC’s income and changes in stockholders’ equity for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Share of income from investment in EVERTEC		$	3,704			$	3,700
Share of other changes in EVERTEC’s stockholders’ equity			129				619
Share of EVERTEC’s changes in equity recognized in income		$	3,833			$	4,319

The following table present the impact of transactions and service payments between the Corporation and EVERTEC (as an affiliate) and their impact on the results of operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. Items that represent expenses to the Corporation are presented with parenthesis.

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017				Category
Interest expense on deposits		$	(11	)		$	(9	)			Interest expense
ATH and credit cards interchange income from services to EVERTEC			7,982				7,666				Other service fees
Rental income charged to EVERTEC			1,765				1,759				Net occupancy
Processing fees on services provided by EVERTEC			(45,558	)			(42,370	)			Professional fees
Other services provided to EVERTEC			314				266				Other operating expenses
Total		$	(35,508	)		$	(32,688	)

 

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PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC

As indicated in Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Corporation holds a 24.9% equity interest in PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC and currently holds certain deposits from the entity.

The Corporation’s equity in PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC is presented in the table which follows and is included as part of “other assets” in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Equity investment in PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC		$	6,940			$	7,199

The Corporation had the following financial condition balances outstanding with PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Deposits (non-interest bearing)		$	(1,811	)		$	(20	)

The Corporation’s proportionate share of income or loss from PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC is included in other operating income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The following table presents the Corporation’s proportionate share of loss from PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Share of loss from the equity investment in PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC		$	(259	)		$	(511	)

No capital distributions were received by the Corporation from its investment in PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. There were no transactions between the Corporation and PRLP 2011 Holdings, LLC during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC

As indicated in Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, effective March 2013 the Corporation holds a 24.9% equity interest in PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC and currently provides certain financing to the joint venture as well as holds certain deposits from the entity.

The Corporation’s equity in PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC is presented in the table which follows and is included as part of “other assets” in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Equity investment in PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC		$	7,518			$	12,874

The Corporation had the following financial condition balances outstanding with PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Deposits		$	(10,010	)		$	(10,501	)

The Corporation’s proportionate share of income or loss from PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC is included in other operating income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The following table presents the Corporation’s proportionate share of loss from PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC for quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

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		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Share of loss from the equity investment in PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC		$	(5,356	)		$	(154	)

During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, there were no capital distributions received by the Corporation from its investment in PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC (March 31, 2017—$ 3.4 million). The Corporation received $0.7 million in dividend distributions during the quarter ended March 31, 2017, which were declared by PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC during the quarter ended December 31, 2016. The following table presents transactions between the Corporation and PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC and their impact on the Corporation’s results of operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017				Category
Interest income on loan to PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC		$	—			$	9				Interest income
Interest expense on deposits			(6	)			(4	)			Interest expense
Total		$	(6	)		$	5

Centro Financiero BHD León

At March 31, 2018, the Corporation had a 15.84% stake in Centro Financiero BHD Leon, S.A. (“BHD Leon”), one of the largest banking and financial services groups in the Dominican Republic. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation recorded $ 8.5 million in earnings from its investment in BHD Leon (March 31, 2017 - $ 6.1 million), which had a carrying amount of $ 143.0 million at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $ 135.0 million). As of December 31, 2016, BPPR had extended a credit facility of $ 50 million to BHD León with an outstanding balance of $ 25 million. This credit facility was repaid and expired during March 2017. On December 2017, BPPR extended a credit facility of $ 40 million to BHD León, with an outstanding balance of $ 40 million at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $ 40 million). There were no dividend distributions received by the Corporation from its investment in BHD Leon during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

On June 30, 2017, BPPR extended an $8 million credit facility to Grupo Financiero Leon, S.A. Panamá (“GFL”), a shareholder of BHD Leon with an outstanding balance of $8 million at March 31, 2018. The sources of repayment for this loan are the dividends to be received by GFL from its investment in BHD Leon. BPPR’s credit facility ranks pari passu with another $8 million credit facility extended to GFL by BHD International Panama, an affiliate of BHD Leon.

Puerto Rico Investment Companies

The Corporation provides advisory services to several Puerto Rico investment companies in exchange for a fee. The Corporation also provides administrative, custody and transfer agency services to these investment companies. These fees are calculated at an annual rate of the average net assets of the investment company, as defined in each agreement. Due to its advisory role, the Corporation considers these investment companies as related parties.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2018 administrative fees charged to these investment companies amounted to $ 1.7 million (2017 - $ 2.0 million) and waived fees amounted to $ 0.5 million (2017 - $ 0.6 million), for a net fee of $ 1.2 million (2017 - $ 1.4 million).

The Corporation, through its subsidiary Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, has also entered into lines of credit facilities with these companies. As of March 31, 2018, the available lines of credit facilities amounted to $356 million (December 31, 2017 - $356 million). The aggregate sum of all outstanding balances under all credit facilities that may be made available by BPPR, from time to time, to those Puerto Rico investment companies for which BPPR acts as investment advisor or co-investment advisor, shall never exceed the lesser of $200 million or 10% of BPPR’s capital. At March 31, 2018 there was no outstanding balance for these credit facilities.

 

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Note 24 – Fair value measurement

ASC Subtopic 820-10 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels in order to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements and disclosures. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows:

 

•

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Corporation has the ability to access at the measurement date. Valuation on these instruments does not necessitate a significant degree of judgment since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily available in an active market.

 

•

Level 2 - Quoted prices other than those included in Level 1 that are observable either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or that can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

 

•

Level 3 - Inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement. Unobservable inputs reflect the Corporation’s own assumptions about assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

The Corporation maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the observable inputs be used when available. Fair value is based upon quoted market prices when available. If listed prices or quotes are not available, the Corporation employs internally-developed models that primarily use market-based inputs including yield curves, interest rates, volatilities, and credit curves, among others. Valuation adjustments are limited to those necessary to ensure that the financial instrument’s fair value is adequately representative of the price that would be received or paid in the marketplace. These adjustments include amounts that reflect counterparty credit quality, the Corporation’s credit standing, constraints on liquidity and unobservable parameters that are applied consistently. There have been no changes in the Corporation’s methodologies used to estimate the fair value of assets and liabilities from those disclosed in the 2017 Form 10-K.

The estimated fair value may be subjective in nature and may involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment for certain financial instruments. Changes in the underlying assumptions used in calculating fair value could significantly affect the results.

Fair Value on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis

The following fair value hierarchy tables present information about the Corporation’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

 

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At March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Assets
Debt securities available-for-sale:
U.S. Treasury securities		$	501,727			$	4,010,668			$	—			$	4,512,395
Obligations of U.S. Government sponsored entities			—				582,774				—				582,774
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions			—				6,612				—				6,612
Collateralized mortgage obligations—federal agencies			—				883,633				—				883,633
Mortgage-backed securities			—				4,433,158				1,263				4,434,421
Other			—				754				—				754
Total debt securities available-for-sale		$	501,727			$	9,917,599			$	1,263			$	10,420,589
Trading account debt securities, excluding derivatives:
U.S. Treasury securities		$	9,251			$	—			$	—			$	9,251
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions			—				165				—				165
Collateralized mortgage obligations			—				—				488				488
Mortgage-backed securities—federal agencies			—				28,872				43				28,915
Other			—				2,970				519				3,489
Total trading account debt securities, excluding derivatives		$	9,251			$	32,007			$	1,050			$	42,308
Equity securities		$	—			$	11,747			$	—			$	11,747
Mortgage servicing rights			—				—				166,281				166,281
Derivatives			—				15,496				—				15,496
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		$	510,978			$	9,976,849			$	168,594			$	10,656,421
Liabilities
Derivatives		$	—			$	(13,685	)		$	—			$	(13,685	)
Contingent consideration			—				—				(170,970	)			(170,970	)
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		$	—			$	(13,685	)		$	(170,970	)		$	(184,655	)

 

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At December 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Assets
Debt securities available-for-sale:
U.S. Treasury securities		$	503,385			$	3,424,779			$	—			$	3,928,164
Obligations of U.S. Government sponsored entities			—				608,933				—				608,933
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions			—				6,609				—				6,609
Collateralized mortgage obligations—federal agencies			—				943,753				—				943,753
Mortgage-backed securities			—				4,687,374				1,288				4,688,662
Other			—				802				—				802
Total debt securities available-for-sale		$	503,385			$	9,672,250			$	1,288			$	10,176,923
Trading account debt securities, excluding derivatives:
U.S. Treasury securities		$	261			$	—			$	—			$	261
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions			—				159				—				159
Collateralized mortgage obligations			—				—				529				529
Mortgage-backed securities - federal agencies			—				29,237				43				29,280
Other			—				2,988				529				3,517
Total trading account debt securities, excluding derivatives		$	261			$	32,384			$	1,101			$	33,746
Equity securities		$	—			$	11,076			$	—			$	11,076
Mortgage servicing rights			—				—				168,031				168,031
Derivatives			—				16,719				—				16,719
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		$	503,646			$	9,732,429			$	170,420			$	10,406,495
Liabilities
Derivatives		$	—			$	(14,431	)		$	—			$	(14,431	)
Contingent consideration			—				—				(164,858	)			(164,858	)
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		$	—			$	(14,431	)		$	(164,858	)		$	(179,289	)

The fair value information included in the following tables is not as of period end, but as of the date that the fair value measurement was recorded during the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 and excludes nonrecurring fair value measurements of assets no longer outstanding as of the reporting date.

 

Quarter ended March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
NONRECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Assets																			Write- downs
Loans[1]		$	—			$	—			$	29,826			$	29,826			$	(13,766	)
Other real estate owned[2]			—				—				14,397				14,397				(3,116	)
Other foreclosed assets[2]			—				—				2,045				2,045				(523	)
Total assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis		$	—			$	—			$	46,268			$	46,268			$	(17,405	)

 

[1]

Relates mostly to certain impaired collateral dependent loans. The impairment was measured based on the fair value of the collateral, which is derived from appraisals that take into consideration prices in observed transactions involving similar assets in similar locations, in accordance with the provisions of ASC Section 310-10-35. Costs to sell are excluded from the reported fair value amount.

[2]	Represents the fair value of foreclosed real estate and other collateral owned that were written down to their fair value. Costs to sell are excluded from the reported fair value amount.

 

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Quarter ended March 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
NONRECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Assets																			Write-downs
Loans[1]		$	—			$	—			$	45,133			$	45,133			$	(16,491	)
Other real estate owned[2]			—				—				17,155				17,155				(4,578	)
Other foreclosed assets[2]			—				—				165				165				(73	)
Total assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis		$	—			$	—			$	62,453			$	62,453			$	(21,142	)

 

[1]

Relates mostly to certain impaired collateral dependent loans. The impairment was measured based on the fair value of the collateral, which is derived from appraisals that take into consideration prices in observed transactions involving similar assets in similar locations, in accordance with the provisions of ASC Section 310-10-35. Costs to sell are excluded from the reported fair value amount.

[2]	Represents the fair value of foreclosed real estate and other collateral owned that were written down to their fair value. Costs to sell are excluded from the reported fair value amount.

The following tables present the changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

Quarter ended March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		MBS classified as debt securities available- for-sale				CMOs classified as trading account debt securities				MBS classified as trading account debt securities				Other securities classified as trading account debt securities				Mortgage servicing rights				Total assets				Contingent consideration				Total liabilities
Balance at December 31, 2017		$	1,288			$	529			$	43			$	529			$	168,031			$	170,420			$	(164,858	)		$	(164,858	)
Gains (losses) included in earnings			—				—				—				(10	)			(4,307	)			(4,317	)			(6,112	)			(6,112	)
Gains (losses) included in OCI			1				—				—				—				—				1				—				—
Additions			—				16				—				—				2,557				2,573				—				—
Settlements			(26	)			(57	)			—				—				—				(83	)			—				—
Balance at March 31, 2018		$	1,263			$	488			$	43			$	519			$	166,281			$	168,594			$	(170,970	)		$	(170,970	)
Changes in unrealized gains
(losses) included in earnings relating to assets still held at March 31, 2018		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	5			$	—			$	5			$	(6,112	)		$	(6,112	)
Quarter ended March 31, 2017
(In thousands)		MBS classified as debt securities available- for-sale				CMOs classified as trading account debt securities				MBS classified as trading account debt securities				Other securities classified as trading account debt securities				Mortgage servicing rights				Total assets				Contingent consideration				Total liabilities
Balance at December 31, 2016		$	1,392			$	1,321			$	4,755			$	602			$	196,889			$	204,959			$	(153,158	)		$	(153,158	)
Gains (losses) included in earnings			—				(4	)			(43	)			(19	)			(5,954	)			(6,020	)			(7,385	)			(7,385	)
Gains (losses) included in OCI			10				—				—				—				—				10				—				—
Additions			—				—				164				—				2,763				2,927				—				—
Sales			—				(205	)			(156	)			—				—				(361	)			—				—
Settlements			(25	)			(51	)			(375	)			—				—				(451	)			—				—
Transfers out of Level 3			(88	)			—				—				—				—				(88	)			—				—
Balance at March 31, 2017		$	1,289			$	1,061			$	4,345			$	583			$	193,698			$	200,976			$	(160,543	)		$	(160,543	)
Changes in unrealized gains
(losses) included in earnings relating to assets still held at March 31, 2017		$	—			$	(4	)		$	(27	)		$	9			$	(723	)		$	(745	)		$	(7,385	)		$	(7,385	)

There were no transfers in and/or out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 for financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis during the quarter ended March 31, 2018. During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, a certain MBS amounting to $88 thousand was transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 due to a change in valuation technique from an internally-prepared pricing matrix to a bond’s theoretical value.

 

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Gains and losses (realized and unrealized) included in earnings for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 for Level 3 assets and liabilities included in the previous tables are reported in the consolidated statements of operations as follows:

 

		Quarter ended March 31, 2018								Quarter ended March 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Total gains (losses) included in earnings				Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at reporting date				Total gains (losses) included in earnings				Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at reporting date
FDIC loss share expense		$	(6,112	)		$	(6,112	)		$	(7,385	)		$	(7,385	)
Mortgage banking activities			(4,307	)			—				(5,954	)			(723	)
Trading account loss			(10	)			5				(66	)			(22	)
Total		$	(10,429	)		$	(6,107	)		$	(13,405	)		$	(8,130	)

The following table includes quantitative information about significant unobservable inputs used to derive the fair value of Level 3 instruments, excluding those instruments for which the unobservable inputs were not developed by the Corporation such as prices of prior transactions and/or unadjusted third-party pricing sources.

 

(In thousands)

Fair value at March 31, 2018

Valuation technique

Unobservable inputs

Weighted average (range)

CMO’s - trading

$

488

Discounted cash flow model

Weighted average life

2.1 years (1.5 - 2.3 years)

Yield

3.9% (3.7% - 4.2%)

Prepayment speed

18.6% (16.7% - 21.4%)

Other - trading

$

519

Discounted cash flow model

Weighted average life

5.3 years

Yield

12.3%

Prepayment speed

10.8%

Mortgage servicing rights

$

166,281

Discounted cash flow model

Prepayment speed

4.8% (0.2% - 15.9%)

Weighted average life

7.1 years (0.1 - 16.4 years)

Discount rate

11.2% (9.5% - 15.0%)

Contingent consideration

$

(170,970

)

Discounted cash flow model

Credit loss rate on covered loans

3.4% (0.0% - 100.0%)

Risk premium component

of discount rate

2.3%

Loans held-in-portfolio

$

26,937

[1]

External appraisal

Haircut applied on

external appraisals

25.0%

Other real estate owned

$

12,525

[2]

External appraisal

Haircut applied on

external appraisals

23.8% (15.0% - 30.0%)

 

[1]	Loans held-in-portfolio in which haircuts were not applied to external appraisals were excluded from this table.

[2]	Other real estate owned in which haircuts were not applied to external appraisals were excluded from this table.

The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Corporation’s collateralized mortgage obligations and interest-only collateralized mortgage obligation (reported as “other”), which are classified in the “trading” category, are yield, constant prepayment rate, and weighted average life. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation would result in significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. Generally, a change in the assumption used for the constant prepayment rate will generate a directionally opposite change in the weighted average life. For example, as the average life is reduced by a higher constant prepayment rate, a lower yield will be realized, and when there is a reduction in the constant prepayment rate, the average life of these collateralized mortgage obligations will extend, thus resulting in a higher yield. These particular financial instruments are valued internally by the Corporation’s investment banking and broker-dealer unit utilizing internal valuation techniques. The unobservable inputs incorporated into the internal discounted cash flow models used to derive the fair value of collateralized mortgage obligations and interest-only collateralized mortgage obligation (reported as “other”), which are classified in the “trading” category, are reviewed by the Corporation’s Corporate Treasury unit on a quarterly basis. In the case of Level 3 financial instruments which fair value is based on broker quotes, the Corporation’s Corporate Treasury unit reviews the inputs used by the broker-dealers for reasonableness utilizing information available from other published sources and validates that the fair value measurements were developed in accordance with ASC Topic 820. The Corporate Treasury unit also substantiates the inputs used by validating the prices with other broker-dealers, whenever possible.

 

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The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Corporation’s mortgage servicing rights are constant prepayment rates and discount rates. Increases in interest rates may result in lower prepayments. Discount rates vary according to products and / or portfolios depending on the perceived risk. Increases in discount rates result in a lower fair value measurement. The Corporation’s Corporate Comptroller’s unit is responsible for determining the fair value of MSRs, which is based on discounted cash flow methods based on assumptions developed by an external service provider, except for prepayment speeds, which are adjusted internally for the local market based on historical experience. The Corporation’s Corporate Treasury unit validates the economic assumptions developed by the external service provider on a quarterly basis. In addition, an analytical review of prepayment speeds is performed quarterly by the Corporate Comptroller’s unit. The Corporation’s MSR Committee analyzes changes in fair value measurements of MSRs and approves the valuation assumptions at each reporting period. Changes in valuation assumptions must also be approved by the MSR Committee. The fair value of MSRs are compared with those of the external service provider on a quarterly basis in order to validate if the fair values are within the materiality thresholds established by management to monitor and investigate material deviations. Back-testing is performed to compare projected cash flows with actual historical data to ascertain the reasonability of the projected net cash flow results.

 

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Note 25 – Fair value of financial instruments

The fair value of financial instruments is the amount at which an asset or obligation could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale. For those financial instruments with no quoted market prices available, fair values have been estimated using present value calculations or other valuation techniques, as well as management’s best judgment with respect to current economic conditions, including discount rates, estimates of future cash flows, and prepayment assumptions. Many of these estimates involve various assumptions and may vary significantly from amounts that could be realized in actual transactions.

The fair values reflected herein have been determined based on the prevailing rate environment at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, as applicable. In different interest rate environments, fair value estimates can differ significantly, especially for certain fixed rate financial instruments. In addition, the fair values presented do not attempt to estimate the value of the Corporation’s fee generating businesses and anticipated future business activities, that is, they do not represent the Corporation’s value as a going concern. There have been no changes in the Corporation’s valuation methodologies and inputs used to estimate the fair values for each class of financial assets and liabilities not measured at fair value, but for which the fair value is disclosed from those disclosed in the 2017 Form 10-K.

The following tables present the carrying amount and estimated fair values of financial instruments with their corresponding level in the fair value hierarchy. The aggregate fair value amounts of the financial instruments disclosed do not represent management’s estimate of the underlying value of the Corporation.

 

		March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		Carrying amount				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Fair value
Financial Assets:
Cash and due from banks		$	280,077			$	280,077			$	—			$	—			$	280,077
Money market investments			6,984,009				6,974,205				9,804				—				6,984,009
Trading account debt securities, excluding derivatives[1]			42,308				9,251				32,007				1,050				42,308
Debt securities available-for-sale[1]			10,420,589				501,727				9,917,599				1,263				10,420,589
Debt securities held-to-maturity:
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions		$	90,803			$	—			$	—			$	84,726			$	84,726
Collateralized mortgage obligation-federal agency			66				—				—				70				70
Trust preferred securities			13,198				—				13,198				—				13,198
Other			750				—				746				—				746
Total debt securities held-to-maturity		$	104,817			$	—			$	13,944			$	84,796			$	98,740
Equity securities:
FHLB stock		$	63,113			$	—			$	63,113			$	—			$	63,113
FRB stock			88,999				—				88,999				—				88,999
Other investments			13,106				—				11,747				5,268				17,015
Total equity securities		$	165,218			$	—			$	163,859			$	5,268			$	169,127
Loans held-for-sale		$	77,701			$	—			$	—			$	78,248			$	78,248
Loans not covered under loss sharing agreement with the FDIC			23,480,969				—				—				21,484,858				21,484,858
Loans covered under loss sharing agreements with the FDIC			481,001				—				—				454,706				454,706
FDIC loss share asset			44,469				—				—				32,466				32,466
Mortgage servicing rights			166,281				—				—				166,281				166,281
Derivatives			15,496				—				15,496				—				15,496

 

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		March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		Carrying amount				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Fair value
Financial Liabilities:
Deposits:
Demand deposits		$	29,338,850			$	—			$	29,338,850			$	—			$	29,338,850
Time deposits			7,795,243				—				7,603,836				—				7,603,836
Total deposits		$	37,134,093			$	—			$	36,942,686			$	—			$	36,942,686
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase		$	380,061			$	—			$	380,095			$	—			$	380,095
Other short-term borrowings[2]		$	186,200			$	—			$	186,200			$	—			$	186,200
Notes payable:
FHLB advances		$	659,137			$	—			$	653,314			$	—			$	653,314
Unsecured senior debt securities			447,394				—				464,292				—				464,292
Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (related to trust preferred securities)			439,357				—				412,833				—				412,833
Others			18,316				—				—				18,316				18,316
Total notes payable		$	1,564,204			$	—			$	1,530,439			$	18,316			$	1,548,755
Derivatives		$	13,685			$	—			$	13,685			$	—			$	13,685
Contingent consideration		$	170,970			$	—			$	—			$	170,970			$	170,970

 

[1]	Refer to Note 24 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the fair value by class of financial asset and its hierarchy level.

[2]	Refer to Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the composition of other short-term borrowings.

 

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		December 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Carrying amount				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Fair value
Financial Assets:
Cash and due from banks		$	402,857			$	402,857			$	—			$	—			$	402,857
Money market investments			5,255,119				5,245,346				9,773				—				5,255,119
Trading account debt securities, excluding derivatives[1]			33,746				261				32,384				1,101				33,746
Debt securities available-for-sale[1]			10,176,923				503,385				9,672,250				1,288				10,176,923
Debt securities held-to-maturity:
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions		$	92,754			$	—			$	—			$	83,239			$	83,239
Collateralized mortgage obligation-federal agency			67				—				—				71				71
Trust preferred securities			13,198				—				13,198				—				13,198
Other			1,000				—				750				243				993
Total debt securities held-to-maturity		$	107,019			$	—			$	13,948			$	83,553			$	97,501
Equity securities:
FHLB stock		$	57,819			$	—			$	57,819			$	—			$	57,819
FRB stock			94,308				—				94,308				—				94,308
Other investments			12,976				—				11,076				5,214				16,290
Total equity securities		$	165,103			$	—			$	163,203			$	5,214			$	168,417
Loans held-for-sale		$	132,395			$	—			$	—			$	134,839			$	134,839
Loans not covered under loss sharing agreement with the FDIC			23,702,612				—				—				21,883,003				21,883,003
Loans covered under loss sharing agreements with the FDIC			484,030				—				—				465,893				465,893
FDIC loss share asset			45,192				—				—				33,323				33,323
Mortgage servicing rights			168,031				—				—				168,031				168,031
Derivatives			16,719				—				16,719				—				16,719
		December 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Carrying amount				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Fair value
Financial Liabilities:
Deposits:
Demand deposits		$	27,938,630			$	—			$	27,938,630			$	—			$	27,938,630
Time deposits			7,514,878				—				7,381,232				—				7,381,232
Total deposits		$	35,453,508			$	—			$	35,319,862			$	—			$	35,319,862
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase		$	390,921			$	—			$	390,752			$	—			$	390,752
Other short-term borrowings[2]		$	96,208			$	—			$	96,208			$	—			$	96,208
Notes payable:
FHLB advances		$	631,490			$	—			$	628,839			$	—			$	628,839
Unsecured senior debt			446,873				—				463,554				—				463,554
Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (related to trust preferred securities)			439,351				—				406,883				—				406,883
Others			18,642				—				—				18,642				18,642
Total notes payable		$	1,536,356			$	—			$	1,499,276			$	18,642			$	1,517,918
Derivatives		$	14,431			$	—			$	14,431			$	—			$	14,431
Contingent consideration		$	164,858			$	—			$	—			$	164,858			$	164,858

 

[1]	Refer to Note 24 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the fair value by class of financial asset and its hierarchy level.

[2]	Refer to Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the composition of other short-term borrowings.

 

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The notional amount of commitments to extend credit at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is $ 7.5 billion and $ 7.6 billion, respectively, and represents the unused portion of credit facilities granted to customers. The notional amount of letters of credit at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is $ 34 million and $ 36 million respectively, and represents the contractual amount that is required to be paid in the event of nonperformance. The fair value of commitments to extend credit and letters of credit, which are based on the fees charged to enter into those agreements, are not material to Popular’s financial statements.

 

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Note 26 – Net income per common share

The following table sets forth the computation of net income per common share (“EPS”), basic and diluted, for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands, except per share information)		2018				2017
Net income		$	91,324			$	92,945
Preferred stock dividends			(931	)			(931	)
Net income applicable to common stock		$	90,393			$	92,014
Average common shares outstanding			101,696,343				102,932,989
Average potential dilutive common shares			140,869				180,906
Average common shares outstanding—assuming dilution			101,837,212				103,113,895
Basic EPS		$	0.89			$	0.89
Diluted EPS		$	0.89			$	0.89

As disclosed in Note 18, during the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Corporation completed a $75 million privately negotiated accelerated share repurchase transaction. As part of this transaction, the Corporation entered into a forward contract in which the final number of shares delivered at settlement was based on the average daily volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) of its common stock during the term of the ASR, net of a discount. Based on the discounted VWAP of $40.60, the Corporation received 1,847,372 shares of its outstanding common stock.

For the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Corporation calculated the impact of potential dilutive common shares under the treasury stock method, consistent with the method used for the preparation of the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017. For a discussion of the calculation under the treasury stock method, refer to Note 34 of the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2017 Form 10-K.

For the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no stock options outstanding.

 

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Note 27 – Revenue from contracts with customers

The following table presents the Corporation’s revenue streams from contracts with customers by reportable segment for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

						Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)						2018								2017
						BPPR				Popular U.S.				BPPR				Popular U.S.
Service charges on deposit accounts						$	33,179			$	3,276			$	36,276			$	3,260
Other service fees:
Debit card fees							11,395				243				11,342				201
Insurance fees, excluding reinsurance							7,237				622				7,357				582
Credit card fees, excluding late fees and membership fees							16,803				240				14,384				184
Sale and administration of investment products							5,355				—				5,082				—
Trust fees							5,341				—				5,037				—
Total revenue from contracts with customers			[1	]		$	79,310			$	4,381			$	79,478			$	4,227

 

[1]	The amounts include intersegment transactions of $0.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized when, or as, the performance obligations are satisfied by the Corporation by transferring the promised services to the customers. A service is transferred to the customer when, or as, the customer obtains control of that service. A performance obligation may be satisfied over time or at a point in time. Revenue from a performance obligation satisfied over time is recognized based on the services that have been rendered to date. Revenue from a performance obligation satisfied at a point in time is recognized when the customer obtains control over the service. The transaction price, or the amount of revenue recognized, reflects the consideration the Corporation expects to be entitled to in exchange for those promised services. In determining the transaction price, the Corporation considers the effects of variable consideration. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price only to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. The Corporation is the principal in a transaction if it obtains control of the specified goods or services before they are transferred to the customer. If the Corporation acts as principal, revenues are presented in the gross amount of consideration to which it expects to be entitled and are not netted with any related expenses. On the other hand, the Corporation is an agent if it does not control the specified goods or services before they are transferred to the customer. If the Corporation acts as an agent, revenues are presented in the amount of consideration to which it expects to be entitled, net of related expenses.

Following is a description of the nature and timing of revenue streams from contracts with customers:

Service charges on deposit accounts

Service charges on deposit accounts are earned on retail and commercial deposit activities and include, but are not limited to, nonsufficient fund fees, overdraft fees and checks stop payment fees. These transaction-based fees are recognized at a point in time, upon occurrence of an activity or event or upon the occurrence of a condition which triggers the fee assessment. The Corporation is acting as principal in these transactions.

Debit card fees

Debit card fees include, but are not limited to, interchange fees, surcharging income and foreign transaction fees. These transaction-based fees are recognized at a point in time, upon occurrence of an activity or event or upon the occurrence of a condition which triggers the fee assessment. Interchange fees are recognized upon settlement of the debit card payment transactions. The Corporation is acting as principal in these transactions.

Insurance fees

Insurance fees include, but are not limited to, commissions and contingent commissions. Commissions and fees are recognized when related policies are effective since the Corporation does not have an enforceable right to payment for services completed to date. An allowance is created for expected adjustments to commissions earned related to policy cancellations. Contingent commissions are recorded on an accrual basis when the amount to be received is notified by the insurance company. The Corporation is acting as an agent since it arranges for the sale of the policies and receives commissions if, and when, it achieves the sale.

 

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Credit card fees

Credit card fees include, but are not limited to, interchange fees, additional card fees, cash advance fees, balance transfer fees, foreign transaction fees, and returned payments fees. Credit card fees are recognized at a point in time, upon the occurrence of an activity or an event. Interchange fees are recognized upon settlement of the credit card payment transactions. The Corporation is acting as principal in these transactions.

Sale and administration of investment products

Fees from the sale and administration of investment products include, but are not limited to, commission income from the sale of investment products, asset management fees, underwriting fees, and mutual fund fees.

Commission income from investment products is recognized on the trade date since clearing, trade execution, and custody services are satisfied when the customer acquires or disposes of the rights to obtain the economic benefits of the investment products and brokerage contracts have no fixed duration and are terminable at will by either party. The Corporation is acting as principal in these transactions since it performs the service of providing the customer with the ability to acquire or dispose of the rights to obtain the economic benefits of investment products.

Asset management fees are satisfied over time and are recognized in arrears. At contract inception, the estimate of the asset management fee is constrained from the inclusion in the transaction price since the promised consideration is dependent on the market and thus is highly susceptible to factors outside the manager’s influence. As advisor, the broker-dealer subsidiary is acting as principal.

Underwriting fees are recognized at a point in time, when the investment products are sold in the open market at a markup. When the broker-dealer subsidiary is lead underwriter, it is acting as an agent. In turn, when it is a participating underwriter, it is acting as principal.

Mutual fund fees, such as distribution fees, are considered variable consideration and are recognized over time, as the uncertainty of the fees to be received is resolved as NAV is determined and investor activity occurs. The promise to provide distribution-related services is considered a single performance obligation as it requires the provision of a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer. When the broker-dealer subsidiary is acting as a distributor, it is acting as principal. In turn, when it acts as third-party dealer, it is acting as an agent.

Trust fees

Trust fees are recognized from retirement plan, mutual fund administration, investment management, trustee, escrow, and custody and safekeeping services. These asset management services are considered a single performance obligation as it requires the provision of a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer. The performance obligation is satisfied over time, except for optional services and certain other services that are satisfied at a point in time. Revenues are recognized in arrears, when, or as, the services are rendered. The Corporation is acting as principal since, as asset manager, it has the obligation to provide the specified service to the customer and has the ultimate discretion in establishing the fee paid by the customer for the specified services.

 

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Note 28 – FDIC loss share expense

The caption of FDIC loss-share expense in the consolidated statements of operations consists of the following major categories:

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Amortization of loss share indemnification asset		$	(934	)		$	(776	)
80% mirror accounting on credit impairment losses[1]			104				148
80% mirror accounting on reimbursable expenses			537				921
80% mirror accounting on recoveries on covered assets, including rental income on OREOs, subject to reimbursement to the FDIC			(1,658	)			4,833
Change in true-up payment obligation			(6,112	)			(7,385	)
Other			36				(5,998	)
Total FDIC loss share expense		$	(8,027	)		$	(8,257	)

 

[1]

Reductions in expected cash flows for ASC 310-30 loans, which may impact the provision for loan losses, may consider reductions in both principal and interest cash flow expectations. The amount covered under the FDIC loss sharing agreement for interest not collected from borrowers is limited under the agreement (approximately 90 days); accordingly, these amounts are not subject fully to the 80% mirror accounting.

 

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Note 29 – Pension and postretirement benefits

The Corporation has a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan and supplementary pension benefit restoration plans for regular employees of certain of its subsidiaries. The accrual of benefits under the plans is frozen to all participants.

The components of net periodic pension cost for the periods presented were as follows:

 

		Pension Plan								Benefit Restoration Plans
		Quarters ended March 31,								Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017				2018				2017
Other operating expenses:
Interest cost		$	6,029			$	6,120			$	344			$	352
Expected return on plan assets			(9,551	)			(10,186	)			(509	)			(502	)
Amortization of net loss			4,716				5,054				349				411
Total net periodic pension cost (benefit)		$	1,194			$	988			$	184			$	261

During the quarter ended March 31, 2018 the Corporation made a contribution to the pension and benefit restoration plans of $59 thousand. The total contributions expected to be paid during the year 2018 for the pension and benefit restoration plans amount to approximately $235 thousand.

During the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, there is no service cost recognized as part of the net periodic pension cost since the accrual of benefits for all participants has been frozen. As part of the implementation of ASU 2017-07, the other components of net periodic pension cost in the amount of $ 1.2 million were reclassified from “Personnel costs” to “Other operating expenses” in the consolidated statement of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

The Corporation also provides certain postretirement health care benefits for retired employees of certain subsidiaries. The table that follows presents the components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost.

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Personnel costs:
Service cost		$	257			$	256
Other operating expenses:
Interest cost			1,390				1,426
Amortization of prior service cost			(867	)			(950	)
Amortization of net loss			321				142
Total postretirement cost		$	1,101			$	874

Contributions made to the postretirement benefit plan for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 amounted to approximately $1.2 million. The total contributions expected to be paid during the year 2018 for the postretirement benefit plan amount to approximately $6.3 million.

As part of the implementation of ASU 2017-07, the other components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost other than the service cost components in the amount of $ 0.6 million were reclassified from “Personnel costs” to “Other operating expenses” in the consolidated statement of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

 

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Note 30 – Stock-based compensation

In April 2004, the Corporation’s shareholders adopted the Popular, Inc. 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”). The Incentive Plan permits the granting of incentive awards in the form of Annual Incentive Awards, Long-term Performance Unit Awards, Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Units or Performance Shares. Participants in the Incentive Plan are designated by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (or its delegate as determined by the Board). Employees and directors of the Corporation and/or any of its subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the Incentive Plan.

Under the Incentive Plan, the Corporation has issued restricted shares and performance shares, which become vested based on the employees’ continued service with Popular. Unless otherwise stated in an agreement, the compensation cost associated with the shares of restricted stock is determined based on a two-prong vesting schedule. The first part is vested ratably over five years commencing at the date of grant and the second part is vested at termination of employment after attainment of 55 years of age and 10 years of service. The five-year vesting part is accelerated at termination of employment after attaining 55 years of age and 10 years of service. The vesting schedule for restricted shares granted on or after 2014 was modified as follows, the first part is vested ratably over four years commencing at the date of the grant and the second part is vested at termination of employment after attainment of the earlier of 55 years of age and 10 years of service or 60 years of age and 5 years of service. The four year vesting part is accelerated at termination of employment after attaining the earlier of 55 years of age and 10 years of service or 60 years of age and 5 years of service.

The performance share awards consist of the opportunity to receive shares of Popular, Inc.’s common stock provided that the Corporation achieves certain goals during a three-year performance cycle. The goals will be based on two metrics weighted equally: the Relative Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) and the Absolute Earnings per Share (“EPS”) goals. The TSR metric is considered to be a market condition under ASC 718. For equity settled awards based on a market condition, the fair value is determined as of the grant date and is not subsequently revised based on actual performance. The EPS metric is considered to be a performance condition under ASC 718. The fair value is determined based on the probability of achieving the EPS goal as of each reporting period. The TSR and EPS metrics are equally weighted and work independently. The number of shares that will ultimately vest ranges from 50% to a 150% of target based on both market (TSR) and performance (EPS) conditions. The performance shares vest at the end of the three-year performance cycle. The vesting is accelerated at termination of employment after attaining the earlier of 55 years of age and 10 years of service or 60 years of age and 5 years of service.

The following table summarizes the restricted stock and performance shares activity under the Incentive Plan for members of management.

 

(Not in thousands)		Shares				Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Non-vested at December 31, 2016			383,982			$	26.35
Granted			212,200				42.57
Performance Shares Quantity Adjustment			(232,989	)			29.10
Vested			(67,853	)			48.54
Non-vested at December 31, 2017			295,340			$	30.75
Granted			157,030				44.70
Performance Shares Quantity Adjustment			106,499				30.37
Vested			(171,636	)			36.00
Forfeited			(2,326	)			33.07
Non-vested at March 31, 2018			384,907			$	33.98

During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, 84,616 shares of restricted stock (March 31, 2017 - 64,479) and 72,414 performance shares (March 31, 2017 - 73,684) were awarded to management under the Incentive Plan.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation recognized $ 2.7 million of restricted stock expense related to management incentive awards, with a tax benefit of $ 0.3 million (March 31, 2017 - $ 2.0 million, with a tax benefit of $ 0.2 million).

 

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For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the fair market value of the restricted stock and performance shares vested was $3.5 million at grant date and $4.4 million at vesting date. This triggers a windfall, of $0.4 million that was recorded as a reduction on income tax expense. For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation recognized $2.6 million of performance shares expense, with a tax benefit of $0.3 million (March 31, 2017 - $1.7 million, with a tax benefit of $0.1 million). The total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock awards and performance shares to members of management at March 31, 2018 was $ 8.9 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.3 years.

The following table summarizes the restricted stock activity under the Incentive Plan for members of the Board of Directors:

 

(Not in thousands)		Restricted Stock				Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Non-vested at December 31, 2016			—			$	—
Granted			25,771				38.42
Vested			(25,771	)			38.42
Forfeited			—				—
Non-vested at December 31, 2017			—			$	—

During the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, no shares of restricted stock were granted to members of the Board of Directors of Popular, Inc. During this period, the Corporation recognized $0.3 million of restricted stock expense related to restricted stock previously granted, with a tax benefit of $39 thousand (March 31, 2017 - $0.3 million, with a tax benefit of $31 thousand). There was no fair value at vesting date of the restricted stock vested during the quarter ended March 31, 2018 for directors.

 

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Note 31 – Income taxes

The reason for the difference between the income tax expense applicable to income before provision for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the statutory tax rate in Puerto Rico, were as follows:

 

		Quarters ended
		March 31, 2018								March 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Amount				% of pre-tax income				Amount				% of pre-tax income
Computed income tax expense at statutory rates		$	44,257				39	%		$	49,121				39	%
Net benefit of tax exempt interest income			(22,993	)			(20	)			(18,004	)			(14	)
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance			7,226				6				5,056				4
Difference in tax rates due to multiple jurisdictions			(2,959	)			(2	)			(959	)			(1	)
Effect of income subject to preferential tax rate			(3,048	)			(3	)			(3,019	)			(3	)
Adjustments in net deferred tax due to change in tax law			(5,133	)			(4	)			—				—
State and local taxes			1,363				1				1,279				1
Others			3,442				3				(468	)			—
Income tax (benefit) expense		$	22,155				20	%		$	33,006				26	%

Income tax expense amounted to $22.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, compared with an income tax expense of $33.0 million for the same quarter of 2017. The reduction in income tax expense was primarily due to lower taxable income before tax and higher tax benefit on net exempt interest income.

The following table presents a breakdown of the significant components of the Corporation’s deferred tax assets and liabilities.

 

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		March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		PR				US				Total
Deferred tax assets:
Tax credits available for carryforward		$	16,069			$	7,859			$	23,928
Net operating loss and other carryforward available			120,973				705,651				826,624
Postretirement and pension benefits			84,204				—				84,204
Deferred loan origination fees			3,210				593				3,803
Allowance for loan losses			596,211				21,053				617,264
Deferred gains			—				2,596				2,596
Accelerated depreciation			1,300				7,213				8,513
Intercompany deferred (loss) gains			1,324				—				1,324
Difference in outside basis from pass-through entities			27,034				—				27,034
Other temporary differences			27,293				6,678				33,971
Total gross deferred tax assets			877,618				751,643				1,629,261
Deferred tax liabilities:
FDIC-assisted transaction			60,406				—				60,406
Indefinite-lived intangibles			32,848				34,135				66,983
Unrealized net gain (loss) on trading and available-for-sale securities			19,457				(13,951	)			5,506
Other temporary differences			10,199				386				10,585
Total gross deferred tax liabilities			122,910				20,570				143,480
Valuation allowance			74,489				381,451				455,940
Net deferred tax asset		$	680,219			$	349,622			$	1,029,841
		December 31, 2017
(In thousands)		PR				US				Total
Deferred tax assets:
Tax credits available for carryforward		$	16,069			$	7,979			$	24,048
Net operating loss and other carryforward available			115,512				708,158				823,670
Postretirement and pension benefits			85,488				—				85,488
Deferred loan origination fees			3,669				958				4,627
Allowance for loan losses			603,462				20,708				624,170
Deferred gains			—				2,670				2,670
Accelerated depreciation			1,300				7,083				8,383
Intercompany deferred (loss) gains			224				—				224
Difference in outside basis from pass-through entities			30,424				—				30,424
Other temporary differences			25,084				6,901				31,985
Total gross deferred tax assets			881,232				754,457				1,635,689
Deferred tax liabilities:
FDIC-assisted transaction			60,402				—				60,402
Indefinite-lived intangibles			31,973				33,009				64,982
Unrealized net gain (loss) on trading and available-for-sale securities			26,364				(7,961	)			18,403
Other temporary differences			9,876				386				10,262
Total gross deferred tax liabilities			128,615				25,434				154,049
Valuation allowance			67,263				380,561				447,824
Net deferred tax asset		$	685,354			$	348,462			$	1,033,816

The net deferred tax asset shown in the table above at March 31, 2018 is reflected in the consolidated statements of financial condition as $1.0 billion in net deferred tax assets in the “Other assets” caption (December 31, 2017 - $1.0 billion) and $1.5 million in deferred tax liabilities in the “Other liabilities” caption (December 31, 2017 - $1.3 million), reflecting the aggregate deferred tax assets or liabilities of individual tax-paying subsidiaries of the Corporation in their respective tax jurisdiction, Puerto Rico or the United States.

 

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A deferred tax asset should be reduced by a valuation allowance if based on the weight of all available evidence, it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion or the entire deferred tax asset will not be realized. The valuation allowance should be sufficient to reduce the deferred tax asset to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The determination of whether a deferred tax asset is realizable is based on weighting all available evidence, including both positive and negative evidence. The realization of deferred tax assets, including carryforwards and deductible temporary differences, depends upon the existence of sufficient taxable income of the same character during the carryback or carryforward period. The analysis considers all sources of taxable income available to realize the deferred tax asset, including the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards, taxable income in prior carryback years and tax-planning strategies.

At March 31, 2018 the net deferred tax asset of the U.S. operations amounted to $731 million with a valuation allowance of approximately $381 million, for a net deferred tax asset of approximately $350 million. As of March 31, 2018, management estimated that the U.S. operations would earn enough pre-tax Income during the carryover period to realize the total amount of net deferred tax asset after valuation allowance. After weighting all available positive and negative evidence, management concluded that is more likely than not that a portion of the deferred tax asset from the U.S. operation, amounting to approximately $350 million, will be realized. Management will continue to evaluate the realization of the deferred tax asset each quarter and adjust as any changes arises.

At March 31, 2018, the Corporation’s net deferred tax assets related to its Puerto Rico operations amounted to $680 million.

The Corporation’s Puerto Rico Banking operation is not in a cumulative three year loss position and has sustained profitability for the three year period ended March 31, 2018. This is considered a strong piece of objectively verifiable positive evidence that outweights any negative evidence considered by management in the evaluation of the realization of the deferred tax asset. Based on this evidence and management’s estimate of future taxable income, the Corporation has concluded that it is more likely than not that such net deferred tax asset of the Puerto Rico Banking operations will be realized.

The Popular, Inc., holding company (“PIHC”) operation is in a cumulative loss position taking into account taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences, for the three year period ended March 31, 2018. Management expects these losses will be a trend in future years. This objectively verifiable negative evidence is considered by management as strong negative evidence that will suggest that income in future years will be insufficient to support the realization of all deferred tax asset. After weighting of all positive and negative evidence management concluded, as of the reporting date, that it is more likely than not that the PIHC will not be able to realize any portion of the deferred tax assets, considering the criteria of ASC Topic 740. Accordingly, a valuation allowance is recorded on the deferred tax asset at the PIHC, which amounted to $74 million as of March 31, 2018.

The reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest, was as follows:

 

(In millions)		2018				2017
Balance at January 1		$	7.3			$	7.4
Additions for tax positions -January through March			0.2				0.2
Balance at March 31		$	7.5			$	7.6

At March 31, 2018, the total amount of interest recognized in the statement of financial condition approximated $2.8 million (December 31, 2017 - $2.7 million). The total interest expense recognized at March 31, 2018 was $151 thousand (March 31, 2017 - $145 thousand). Management determined that at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 there was no need to accrue for the payment of penalties. The Corporation’s policy is to report interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense, while the penalties, if any, are reported in other operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

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After consideration of the effect on U.S. federal tax of unrecognized U.S. state tax benefits, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits, including U.S. and Puerto Rico, that if recognized, would affect the Corporation’s effective tax rate, was approximately $9.2 million at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $9.0 million).

The amount of unrecognized tax benefits may increase or decrease in the future for various reasons including adding amounts for current tax year positions, expiration of open income tax returns due to the statutes of limitation, changes in management’s judgment about the level of uncertainty, status of examinations, litigation and legislative activity and the addition or elimination of uncertain tax positions.

The Corporation and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in Puerto Rico, the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various U.S. states and political subdivisions, and foreign jurisdictions. At March 31, 2018, the following years remain subject to examination in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction: 2014 and thereafter; and in the Puerto Rico jurisdiction, 2013 and thereafter. The Corporation anticipates a reduction in the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months, which could amount to approximately $4.6 million.

 

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Note 32 – Supplemental disclosure on the consolidated statements of cash flows

Additional disclosures on cash flow information and non-cash activities for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017 are listed in the following table:

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				March 31, 2017
Non-cash activities:
Loans transferred to other real estate		$	6,254			$	32,597
Loans transferred to other property			9,405				8,956
Total loans transferred to foreclosed assets			15,659				41,553
Financed sales of other real estate assets			5,250				2,904
Financed sales of other foreclosed assets			4,083				3,161
Total financed sales of foreclosed assets			9,333				6,065
Transfers from loans held-for-sale to loans held-in-portfolio			9,215				—
Loans securitized into investment securities[1]			138,242				174,620
Trades receivable from brokers and counterparties			41,683				53,192
Trades payable to brokers and counterparties			53,973				5,128
Receivables from investments maturities			20,000				—
Recognition of mortgage servicing rights on securitizations or asset transfers			2,557				2,763
Interest capitalized on loans subject to the temporary payment moratorium			481				—
Loans booked under the GNMA buy-back option			219,487				2,740

 

[1]	Includes loans securitized into trading securities and subsequently sold before quarter end.

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and due from banks, and restricted cash reported within the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				March 31, 2017
Cash and due from banks		$	265,122			$	332,505
Restricted cash and due from banks			14,955				7,720
Restricted cash in money market investments			9,804				8,724
Total cash and due from banks, and restricted cash[2]		$	289,881			$	348,949

 

[2]	Refer to Note 4—Restrictions on cash and due from banks and certain securities for nature of restrictions.

 

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Note 33 – Segment reporting

The Corporation’s corporate structure consists of two reportable segments – Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and Popular U.S. These reportable segments pertain only to the continuing operations of Popular, Inc.

Management determined the reportable segments based on the internal reporting used to evaluate performance and to assess where to allocate resources. The segments were determined based on the organizational structure, which focuses primarily on the markets the segments serve, as well as on the products and services offered by the segments.

Banco Popular de Puerto Rico:

Given that Banco Popular de Puerto Rico constitutes a significant portion of the Corporation’s results of operations and total assets at March 31, 2018, additional disclosures are provided for the business areas included in this reportable segment, as described below:

 

•

Commercial banking represents the Corporation’s banking operations conducted at BPPR, which are targeted mainly to corporate, small and middle size businesses. It includes aspects of the lending and depository businesses, as well as other finance and advisory services. BPPR allocates funds across business areas based on duration matched transfer pricing at market rates. This area also incorporates income related with the investment of excess funds, as well as a proportionate share of the investment function of BPPR.

 

•

Consumer and retail banking represents the branch banking operations of BPPR which focus on retail clients. It includes the consumer lending business operations of BPPR, as well as the lending operations of Popular Auto and Popular Mortgage. Popular Auto focuses on auto and lease financing, while Popular Mortgage focuses principally on residential mortgage loan originations. The consumer and retail banking area also incorporates income related with the investment of excess funds from the branch network, as well as a proportionate share of the investment function of BPPR.

 

•

Other financial services include the trust and asset management service units of BPPR, the brokerage and investment banking operations of Popular Securities, and the insurance agency and reinsurance businesses of Popular Insurance, Popular Insurance V.I., Popular Risk Services, and Popular Life Re. Most of the services that are provided by these subsidiaries generate profits based on fee income.

Popular U.S.:

Popular U.S. reportable segment consists of the banking operations of PB, E-LOAN, Inc., Popular Equipment Finance, Inc. and Popular Insurance Agency, U.S.A. PB operates through a retail branch network in the U.S. mainland under the name of Popular, while E-LOAN, Inc. supported PB’s deposit gathering through its online platform until March 31, 2017, when said operations were transferred to Popular Direct, a division of PB. During 2017, the E-LOAN brand was transferred to BPPR and is being used to offer personal loans through an online platform. Popular Equipment Finance, Inc. also holds a running-off loan portfolio as this subsidiary ceased originating loans during 2009. Popular Insurance Agency, U.S.A. offers investment and insurance services across the PB branch network.

The Corporate group consists primarily of the holding companies: Popular, Inc., Popular North America, Popular International Bank and certain of the Corporation’s investments accounted for under the equity method, including EVERTEC and Centro Financiero BHD, Leon. The Corporate group also includes the expenses of certain corporate areas that are identified as critical to the organization including: Finance, Risk Management and Legal.

The accounting policies of the individual operating segments are the same as those of the Corporation. Transactions between reportable segments are primarily conducted at market rates, resulting in profits that are eliminated for reporting consolidated results of operations.

 

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The tables that follow present the results of operations and total assets by reportable segments:

 

2018
For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		Banco Popular de Puerto Rico				Popular Bank				Intersegment Eliminations
Net interest income		$	332,268			$	74,993			$	4
Provision for loan losses			58,469				12,615				—
Non-interest income			96,625				4,341				(139	)
Amortization of intangibles			2,159				166				—
Depreciation expense			10,528				2,118				—
Other operating expenses			240,529				45,220				(136	)
Income tax expense			25,847				1,089				—
Net income		$	91,361			$	18,126			$	1
Segment assets		$	36,244,300			$	9,227,093			$	(14,471	)

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		Reportable Segments				Corporate				Eliminations				Total Popular, Inc.
Net interest income (expense)		$	407,265			$	(14,218	)		$	—			$	393,047
Provision (reversal) for loan losses			71,084				(21	)			—				71,063
Non-interest income			100,827				12,948				(278	)			113,497
Amortization of intangibles			2,325				—				—				2,325
Depreciation expense			12,646				187				—				12,833
Other operating expenses			285,613				22,082				(851	)			306,844
Income tax expense (benefit)			26,936				(5,012	)			231				22,155
Net income (loss)		$	109,488			$	(18,506	)		$	342			$	91,324
Segment assets		$	45,456,922			$	5,033,543			$	(4,733,704	)		$	45,756,761

 

2017
For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Banco Popular de Puerto Rico				Popular Bank				Intersegment Eliminations
Net interest income		$	310,212			$	67,119			$	(164	)
Provision for loan losses			30,118				10,580				—
Non-interest income			99,732				4,931				(144	)
Amortization of intangibles			2,179				166				—
Depreciation expense			9,733				1,903				—
Other operating expenses			236,301				41,713				(138	)
Income tax expense			33,998				7,290				(70	)
Net income		$	97,615			$	10,398			$	(100	)
Segment assets		$	31,217,093			$	8,832,246			$	(22,946	)

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Reportable Segments				Corporate				Eliminations				Total Popular, Inc.
Net interest income (expense)		$	377,167			$	(15,069	)		$	—			$	362,098
Provision for loan losses			40,698				—				—				40,698
Non-interest income			104,519				11,427				(77	)			115,869
Amortization of intangibles			2,345				—				—				2,345
Depreciation expense			11,636				163				—				11,799
Other operating expenses			277,876				19,926				(628	)			297,174
Income tax expense (benefit)			41,218				(8,423	)			211				33,006
Net income (loss)		$	107,913			$	(15,308	)		$	340			$	92,945
Segment assets		$	40,026,393			$	5,004,658			$	(4,771,769	)		$	40,259,282

 

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Additional disclosures with respect to the Banco Popular de Puerto Rico reportable segment are as follows:

 

2018
For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
(In thousands)		Commercial Banking				Consumer and Retail Banking				Other Financial Services				Eliminations				Total Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
Net interest income		$	139,270			$	191,434			$	1,576			$	(12	)		$	332,268
Provision for loan losses			20,693				37,776				—				—				58,469
Non-interest income			12,562				61,857				22,449				(243	)			96,625
Amortization of intangibles			52				1,069				1,038				—				2,159
Depreciation expense			4,289				6,085				154				—				10,528
Other operating expenses			60,261				162,490				18,033				(255	)			240,529
Income tax expense			16,875				7,457				1,515				—				25,847
Net income		$	49,662			$	38,414			$	3,285			$	—			$	91,361
Segment assets		$	23,652,941			$	20,618,670			$	346,096			$	(8,373,407	)		$	36,244,300
2017
For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
(In thousands)		Commercial Banking				Consumer and Retail Banking				Other Financial Services				Eliminations				Total Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
Net interest income		$	120,296			$	188,132			$	1,787			$	(3	)		$	310,212
Provision (reversal) for loan losses			(573	)			30,691				—				—				30,118
Non-interest income			19,428				58,071				22,311				(78	)			99,732
Amortization of intangibles			54				1,067				1,058				—				2,179
Depreciation expense			4,262				5,267				204				—				9,733
Other operating expenses			60,833				161,264				14,292				(88	)			236,301
Income tax expense			22,076				8,983				2,939				—				33,998
Net income		$	53,072			$	38,931			$	5,605			$	7			$	97,615
Segment assets		$	17,559,586			$	18,178,383			$	325,217			$	(4,846,093	)		$	31,217,093

Geographic Information

 

		Quarter ended
(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				March 31, 2017
Revenues:[1]
Puerto Rico		$	399,414			$	384,448
United States			86,528				74,843
Other			20,602				18,676
Total consolidated revenues		$	506,544			$	477,967

 

[1]

Total revenues include net interest income (expense), service charges on deposit accounts, other service fees, mortgage banking activities, net gain (loss) and valuation adjustments on investment securities, trading account (loss) profit, net (loss) gain on sale of loans and valuation adjustments on loans held-for-sale, adjustments to indemnity reserves on loans sold, FDIC loss share (expense) income and other operating income.

 

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Selected Balance Sheet Information:

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Puerto Rico
Total assets		$	35,123,827			$	33,705,624
Loans			17,202,481				17,591,078
Deposits			29,053,772				27,575,292
United States
Total assets		$	9,711,729			$	9,648,865
Loans			6,751,863				6,608,056
Deposits			6,601,323				6,635,153
Other
Total assets		$	921,205			$	922,848
Loans			725,905				743,329
Deposits [1]			1,478,998				1,243,063

 

[1]	Represents deposits from BPPR operations located in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

 

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Note 34 – Subsequent events

On February 14, 2018, we announced that BPPR, our Puerto Rico banking subsidiary, agreed to acquire certain assets and liabilities related to Wells Fargo’s auto finance business in Puerto Rico for a cash purchase price of approximately $1.7 billion. Notwithstanding our expectation that further regulatory approvals would not be necessary, we now anticipate that regulatory approval will be required to consummate the transaction. Transaction economics will not be impacted. Although there can be no guarantee that regulatory approval will be received, we continue to anticipate that the transaction will close during the second quarter of 2018.

 

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Note 35 – Condensed consolidating financial information of guarantor and issuers of registered guaranteed securities

The following condensed consolidating financial information presents the financial position of Popular, Inc. Holding Company (“PIHC”) (parent only), Popular North America, Inc. (“PNA”) and all other subsidiaries of the Corporation at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and the results of their operations and cash flows for periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

PNA is an operating, wholly-owned subsidiary of PIHC and is the holding company of its wholly-owned subsidiaries: Equity One, Inc. and Popular Bank (“PB”), including PB’s wholly-owned subsidiaries Popular Equipment Finance, Inc., Popular Insurance Agency, U.S.A., and E-LOAN, Inc.

PIHC fully and unconditionally guarantees all registered debt securities issued by PNA.

 

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Financial Condition (Unaudited)

 

		At March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		Popular Inc. Holding Co.				PNA Holding Co.				All other subsidiaries and eliminations				Elimination entries				Popular, Inc. Consolidated
Assets:
Cash and due from banks		$	39,389			$	462			$	280,076			$	(39,850	)		$	280,077
Money market investments			217,485				1,060				6,983,524				(218,060	)			6,984,009
Trading account debt securities, at fair value			—				—				42,386				—				42,386
Debt securities available-for-sale, at fair value			—				—				10,420,589				—				10,420,589
Debt securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost			8,725				4,472				91,620				—				104,817
Equity securities			5,554				20				159,767				(123	)			165,218
Investment in subsidiaries			5,470,699				1,639,974				—				(7,110,673	)			—
Loans held-for-sale, at lower of cost or fair value			—				—				77,701				—				77,701
Loans held-in-portfolio:
Loans not covered under loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC			37,389				—				24,185,750				1,654				24,224,793
Loans covered under loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC			—				—				514,611				—				514,611
Less - Unearned income			—				—				136,856				—				136,856
Allowance for loan losses			245				—				640,333				—				640,578
Total loans held-in-portfolio, net			37,144				—				23,923,172				1,654				23,961,970
FDIC loss-share asset			—				—				44,469				—				44,469
Premises and equipment, net			3,317				—				540,792				—				544,109
Other real estate not covered under loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC			—				—				153,061				—				153,061
Other real estate covered under loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC			—				—				15,333				—				15,333
Accrued income receivable			403				31				157,151				(245	)			157,340
Mortgage servicing assets, at fair value			—				—				166,281				—				166,281
Other assets			68,216				35,317				1,890,928				(15,701	)			1,978,760
Goodwill			—				—				627,295				(1	)			627,294
Other intangible assets			6,114				—				27,233				—				33,347
Total assets		$	5,857,046			$	1,681,336			$	45,601,378			$	(7,382,999	)		$	45,756,761
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing		$	—			$	—			$	8,738,460			$	(39,850	)		$	8,698,610
Interest bearing			—				—				28,653,543				(218,060	)			28,435,483
Total deposits			—				—				37,392,003				(257,910	)			37,134,093
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase			—				—				380,061				—				380,061
Other short-term borrowings			—				4,301				186,200				(4,301	)			186,200
Notes payable			738,206				148,545				677,453				—				1,564,204
Other liabilities			53,844				2,600				1,387,267				(16,417	)			1,427,294
Total liabilities			792,050				155,446				40,022,984				(278,628	)			40,691,852
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock			50,160				—				—				—				50,160
Common stock			1,043				2				56,306				(56,308	)			1,043
Surplus			4,292,409				4,100,866				5,739,540				(9,831,879	)			4,300,936
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)			1,270,303				(2,523,310	)			244,248				2,270,534				1,261,775
Treasury stock, at cost			(86,081	)			—				—				(86	)			(86,167	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax			(462,838	)			(51,668	)			(461,700	)			513,368				(462,838	)
Total stockholders’ equity			5,064,996				1,525,890				5,578,394				(7,104,371	)			5,064,909
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	5,857,046			$	1,681,336			$	45,601,378			$	(7,382,999	)		$	45,756,761

 

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Financial Condition (Unaudited)

 

		At December 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Popular, Inc. Holding Co.				PNA Holding Co.				All other subsidiaries and eliminations				Elimination entries				Popular, Inc. Consolidated
Assets:
Cash and due from banks		$	47,663			$	462			$	402,910			$	(48,178	)		$	402,857
Money market investments			246,457				2,807				5,254,662				(248,807	)			5,255,119
Trading account debt securities, at fair value			—				—				33,926				—				33,926
Debt securities available-for-sale, at fair value			—				—				10,176,923				—				10,176,923
Debt securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost			8,726				4,472				93,821				—				107,019
Equity securities			5,109				20				160,075				(101	)			165,103
Investment in subsidiaries			5,494,410				1,646,287				—				(7,140,697	)			—
Loans held-for-sale, at lower of cost or fair value			—				—				132,395				—				132,395
Loans held-in-portfolio:
Loans not covered under loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC			33,221				—				24,384,251				5,955				24,423,427
Loans covered under loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC			—				—				517,274				—				517,274
Less - Unearned income			—				—				130,633				—				130,633
Allowance for loan losses			266				—				623,160				—				623,426
Total loans held-in-portfolio, net			32,955				—				24,147,732				5,955				24,186,642
FDIC loss-share asset			—				—				45,192				—				45,192
Premises and equipment, net			3,365				—				543,777				—				547,142
Other real estate not covered under loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC			—				—				169,260				—				169,260
Other real estate covered under loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC			—				—				19,595				—				19,595
Accrued income receivable			369				112				213,574				(211	)			213,844
Mortgage servicing assets, at fair value			—				—				168,031				—				168,031
Other assets			61,319				34,312				1,912,727				(17,035	)			1,991,323
Goodwill			—				—				627,294				—				627,294
Other intangible assets			6,114				—				29,558				—				35,672
Total assets		$	5,906,487			$	1,688,472			$	44,131,452			$	(7,449,074	)		$	44,277,337
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing		$	—			$	—			$	8,539,123			$	(48,178	)		$	8,490,945
Interest bearing			—				—				27,211,370				(248,807	)			26,962,563
Total deposits			—				—				35,750,493				(296,985	)			35,453,508
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase			—				—				390,921				—				390,921
Other short-term borrowings			—				—				96,208				—				96,208
Notes payable			737,685				148,539				650,132				—				1,536,356
Other liabilities			64,813				5,276				1,641,383				(15,033	)			1,696,439
Total liabilities			802,498				153,815				38,529,137				(312,018	)			39,173,432
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock			50,160				—				—				—				50,160
Common stock			1,042				2				56,307				(56,309	)			1,042
Surplus			4,289,976				4,100,848				5,728,978				(9,821,299	)			4,298,503
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)			1,203,521				(2,536,707	)			165,878				2,362,302				1,194,994
Treasury stock, at cost			(90,058	)			—				—				(84	)			(90,142	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax			(350,652	)			(29,486	)			(348,848	)			378,334				(350,652	)
Total stockholders’ equity			5,103,989				1,534,657				5,602,315				(7,137,056	)			5,103,905
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	5,906,487			$	1,688,472			$	44,131,452			$	(7,449,074	)		$	44,277,337

 

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

 

		Quarter ended March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		Popular, Inc. Holding Co.				PNA Holding Co.				All other subsidiaries and eliminations				Elimination entries				Popular, Inc. Consolidated
Interest and dividend income:
Dividend income from subsidiaries		$	25,000			$	—			$	—			$	(25,000	)		$	—
Loans			525				—				373,065				(6	)			373,584
Money market investments			842				1				22,285				(843	)			22,285
Investment securities			147				81				56,981				—				57,209
Total interest and dividend income			26,514				82				452,331				(25,849	)			453,078
Interest expense:
Deposits			—				—				39,531				(843	)			38,688
Short-term borrowings			—				6				2,013				(6	)			2,013
Long-term debt			13,118				2,692				3,520				—				19,330
Total interest expense			13,118				2,698				45,064				(849	)			60,031
Net interest income (expense)			13,396				(2,616	)			407,267				(25,000	)			393,047
Provision for loan losses- non-covered loans			(21	)			—				69,354				—				69,333
Provision for loan losses- covered loans			—				—				1,730				—				1,730
Net interest income (expense) after provision for loan losses			13,417				(2,616	)			336,183				(25,000	)			321,984
Service charges on deposit accounts			—				—				36,455				—				36,455
Other service fees			—				—				60,847				(245	)			60,602
Mortgage banking activities			—				—				12,068				—				12,068
Net (loss) gain, including impairment, on equity securities			(42	)			—				(584	)			(20	)			(646	)
Net (loss) profit on trading account debt securities			—				—				(198	)			—				(198	)
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold			—				—				(2,926	)			—				(2,926	)
FDIC loss-share expense			—				—				(8,027	)			—				(8,027	)
Other operating income			3,745				751				11,687				(14	)			16,169
Total non-interest income			3,703				751				109,322				(279	)			113,497
Operating expenses:
Personnel costs			14,911				—				110,941				—				125,852
Net occupancy expenses			990				—				21,812				—				22,802
Equipment expenses			508				1				16,697				—				17,206
Other taxes			41				1				10,860				—				10,902
Professional fees			3,644				31				79,555				(245	)			82,985
Communications			112				—				5,794				—				5,906
Business promotion			398				—				11,611				—				12,009
FDIC deposit insurance			—				—				6,920				—				6,920
Other real estate owned (OREO) expenses			—				—				6,131				—				6,131
Other operating expenses			(18,164	)			14				47,720				(606	)			28,964
Amortization of intangibles			—				—				2,325				—				2,325
Total operating expenses			2,440				47				320,366				(851	)			322,002
Income (loss) before income tax and equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries			14,680				(1,912	)			125,139				(24,428	)			113,479
Income tax benefit			—				543				21,381				231				22,155
Income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries			14,680				(2,455	)			103,758				(24,659	)			91,324
Equity in undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries			76,644				15,852				—				(92,496	)			—
Net Income (Loss)		$	91,324			$	13,397			$	103,758			$	(117,155	)		$	91,324
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		$	(20,862	)		$	(8,785	)		$	(9,094	)		$	17,879			$	(20,862	)

 

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

 

		Quarter ended March 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Popular, Inc. Holding Co.				PNA Holding Co.				All other subsidiaries and eliminations				Elimination entries				Popular, Inc. Consolidated
Interest and dividend income:
Dividend income from subsidiaries		$	129,000			$	—			$	—			$	(129,000	)		$	—
Loans			15				—				363,121				—				363,136
Money market investments			481				21				6,572				(501	)			6,573
Investment securities			142				80				46,064				—				46,286
Total interest and dividend income			129,638				101				415,757				(129,501	)			415,995
Interest expense:
Deposits			—				—				34,258				(501	)			33,757
Short-term borrowings			—				—				1,095				—				1,095
Long-term debt			13,118				2,692				3,235				—				19,045
Total interest expense			13,118				2,692				38,588				(501	)			53,897
Net interest income (expense)			116,520				(2,591	)			377,169				(129,000	)			362,098
Provision (reversal) for loan losses- non-covered loans			—				—				42,057				—				42,057
Provision for loan losses- covered loans			—				—				(1,359	)			—				(1,359	)
Net interest income (expense) after provision for loan losses			116,520				(2,591	)			336,471				(129,000	)			321,400
Service charges on deposit accounts			—				—				39,536				—				39,536
Other service fees			—				—				56,258				(83	)			56,175
Mortgage banking activities			—				—				11,369				—				11,369
Net (loss) gain, including impairment, on equity securities			—				—				162				—				162
Net (loss) profit on trading account debt securities			(120	)			—				(169	)			11				(278	)
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold			—				—				(1,966	)			—				(1,966	)
FDIC loss-share expense			—				—				(8,257	)			—				(8,257	)
Other operating income			4,655				809				13,670				(6	)			19,128
Total non-interest income			4,535				809				110,603				(78	)			115,869
Operating expenses:
Personnel costs			13,814				—				109,926				—				123,740
Net occupancy expenses			914				—				19,862				—				20,776
Equipment expenses			582				—				15,388				—				15,970
Other taxes			46				—				10,923				—				10,969
Professional fees			2,513				(525	)			67,345				(83	)			69,250
Communications			152				—				5,797				—				5,949
Business promotion			419				—				11,157				—				11,576
FDIC deposit insurance			—				—				6,493				—				6,493
Other real estate owned (OREO) expenses			—				—				12,818				—				12,818
Other operating expenses			(18,790	)			13				50,755				(546	)			31,432
Amortization of intangibles			—				—				2,345				—				2,345
Total operating expenses			(350	)			(512	)			312,809				(629	)			311,318
Income (loss) before income tax and equity in earnings of subsidiaries			121,405				(1,270	)			134,265				(128,449	)			125,951
Income tax (benefit) expense			—				(445	)			33,240				211				33,006
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries			121,405				(825	)			101,025				(128,660	)			92,945
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries			(28,460	)			8,633				—				19,827				—
Net Income		$	92,945			$	7,808			$	101,025			$	(108,833	)		$	92,945
Comprehensive income, net of tax		$	93,319			$	7,827			$	101,049			$	(108,876	)		$	93,319

 

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

		Quarter ended March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		Popular, Inc. Holding Co.				PNA Holding Co.				All other subsidiaries and eliminations				Elimination entries				Popular, Inc. Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	91,324			$	13,397			$	103,758			$	(117,155	)		$	91,324
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of dividends or distributions			(76,644	)			(15,852	)			—				92,496				—
Provision for loan losses			(21	)			—				71,084				—				71,063
Amortization of intangibles			—				—				2,325				—				2,325
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment			187				—				12,649				—				12,836
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees			521				7				(7,534	)			—				(7,006	)
Shared-based compensation			2,361				—				751				—				3,112
Impairment losses on long-lived assets			—				—				272				—				272
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights			—				—				4,307				—				4,307
FDIC loss-share expense			—				—				8,027				—				8,027
Adjustments to indemnity reserves on loans sold			—				—				2,926				—				2,926
Earnings from investments under the equity method, net of dividends or distributions			(3,745	)			(751	)			(2,874	)			—				(7,370	)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense			—				(282	)			10,809				231				10,758
(Gain) loss on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets			(5	)			—				(67	)			—				(72	)
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held for sale and mortgage banking activities			—				—				(1,116	)			—				(1,116	)
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs			—				—				(99	)			—				(99	)
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale			—				—				(47,335	)			—				(47,335	)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale			—				—				12,036				—				12,036
Net originations on loans held-for-sale			—				—				(48,375	)			—				(48,375	)
Net decrease (increase) in:
Trading securities			—				—				94,099				(101	)			93,998
Equity securities			(443	)			—				313				—				(130	)
Accrued income receivable			(34	)			81				56,423				34				56,504
Other assets			(2,287	)			28				37,515				758				36,014
Net (decrease) increase in:
Interest payable			(7,875	)			(2,680	)			(25	)			(34	)			(10,614	)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligations			—				—				1,225				—				1,225
Other liabilities			(3,434	)			3				(89,748	)			(1,350	)			(94,529	)
Total adjustments			(91,419	)			(19,446	)			117,588				92,034				98,757
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(95	)			(6,049	)			221,346				(25,121	)			190,081
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net decrease (increase) in money market investments			29,000				1,748				(1,728,858	)			(30,748	)			(1,728,858	)
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			—				—				(1,311,382	)			—				(1,311,382	)
Equity			—				—				(9,853	)			123				(9,730	)
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			—				—				1,016,203				—				1,016,203
Held-to-maturity			—				—				2,639				—				2,639
Proceeds from sale of investment securities:
Equity			—				—				9,745				—				9,745
Net (disbursements) repayments on loans			(4,168	)			—				93,349				4,301				93,482
Acquisition of loan portfolios			—				—				(161,295	)			—				(161,295	)
Net payments from FDIC under loss-sharing agreements			—				—				(1,263	)			—				(1,263	)
Capital contribution to subsidiary			(10,000	)			—				—				10,000				—
Acquisition of premises and equipment			(143	)			—				(12,903	)			—				(13,046	)
Proceeds from insurance claims			—				—				258				—				258
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets			—				—				3,033				—				3,033
Foreclosed assets			—				—				25,746				—				25,746
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			14,689				1,748				(2,074,581	)			(16,324	)			(2,074,468	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits			—				—				1,638,953				39,076				1,678,029
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase			—				—				(10,860	)			—				(10,860	)
Other short-term borrowings			—				4,301				89,992				(4,301	)			89,992
Payments of notes payable			—				—				(12,680	)			—				(12,680	)
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable			—				—				40,000				—				40,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			4,712				—				—				—				4,712
Dividends paid to parent company			—				—				(25,000	)			25,000				—
Dividends paid			(26,138	)			—				—				—				(26,138	)
Net payments for repurchase of common stock			(191	)			—				—				(2	)			(193	)
Return of capital to parent company			—				—				10,000				(10,000	)			—
Payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation			(1,223	)			—				—				—				(1,223	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(22,840	)			4,301				1,730,405				49,773				1,761,639
Net decrease in cash and due from banks, and restricted cash			(8,246	)			—				(122,830	)			8,328				(122,748	)
Cash and due from banks, and restricted cash at beginning of period			48,120				462				412,225				(48,178	)			412,629
Cash and due from banks, and restricted cash at end of period		$	39,874			$	462			$	289,395			$	(39,850	)		$	289,881

 

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

 

		Quarter ended March 31, 2017
(In thousands)		Popular, Inc. Holding Co.				PNA Holding Co.				All other subsidiaries and eliminations				Elimination entries				Popular, Inc. Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	92,945			$	7,808			$	101,025			$	(108,833	)		$	92,945
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of dividends or distributions			28,460				(8,633	)			—				(19,827	)			—
Provision (reversal) for loan losses			—				—				40,698				—				40,698
Amortization of intangibles			—				—				2,345				—				2,345
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment			163				—				11,636				—				11,799
Net accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums and deferred fees			521				7				(6,991	)			—				(6,463	)
Fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights			—				—				5,954				—				5,954
FDIC loss-share expense			—				—				8,257				—				8,257
Adjustments (expense) to indemnity reserves on loans sold			—				—				1,966				—				1,966
(Earnings) losses from investments under the equity method			(2,986	)			(809	)			(5,418	)			—				(9,213	)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)			—				(445	)			25,295				210				25,060
(Gain) loss on:
Disposition of premises and equipment and other productive assets			(17	)			—				6,483				—				6,466
Sale of loans, including valuation adjustments on loans held for sale and mortgage banking activities			—				—				(5,381	)			—				(5,381	)
Sale of foreclosed assets, including write-downs			—				—				4,512				—				4,512
Acquisitions of loans held-for-sale			—				—				(73,043	)			—				(73,043	)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale			—				—				29,364				—				29,364
Net originations on loans held-for-sale			—				—				(123,336	)			—				(123,336	)
Net (increase) decrease in:
Trading debt securities			—				—				176,937				—				176,937
Equity securities			(355	)			—				796				(6	)			435
Accrued income receivable			5				104				9,943				(28	)			10,024
Other assets			(1,422	)			22				13,088				307				11,995
Net increase (decrease) in:
Interest payable			(7,875	)			(2,685	)			(749	)			28				(11,281	)
Pension and other postretirement benefits obligations			—				—				331				—				331
Other liabilities			(2,413	)			(551	)			(9,844	)			(846	)			(13,654	)
Total adjustments			14,081				(12,990	)			112,843				(20,162	)			93,772
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			107,026				(5,182	)			213,868				(128,995	)			186,717
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net decrease (increase) in money market investments			(30,000	)			5,053				(764,408	)			23,147				(766,208	)
Purchases of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			—				—				(1,216,880	)			—				(1,216,880	)
Equity			—				—				(225	)			—				(225	)
Proceeds from calls, paydowns, maturities and redemptions of investment securities:
Available-for-sale			—				—				222,677				—				222,677
Held-to-maturity			—				—				2,184				—				2,184
Proceeds from sale of investment securities:
Equity			—				—				1,757				—				1,757
Net repayments (disbursements) on loans			7				—				99,299				—				99,306
Acquisition of loan portfolios			—				—				(109,098	)			—				(109,098	)
Net payments from FDIC under loss-sharing agreements			—				—				(23,574	)			—				(23,574	)
Return of capital from equity method investments			—				—				3,362				—				3,362
Acquisition of premises and equipment			(39	)			—				(18,607	)			—				(18,646	)
Proceeds from sale of:
Premises and equipment and other productive assets			18				—				2,993				—				3,011
Foreclosed assets			—				—				27,547				—				27,547
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(30,014	)			5,053				(1,772,973	)			23,147				(1,774,787	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net increase (decrease) in:
Deposits			—				—				1,725,266				(9,308	)			1,715,958
Assets sold under agreements to repurchase			—				—				(44,711	)			—				(44,711	)
Payments of notes payable			—				—				(17,408	)			—				(17,408	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			1,806				—				—				—				1,806
Dividends paid to parent company			—				—				(129,000	)			129,000				—
Dividends paid			(16,499	)			—				—				—				(16,499	)
Net payments for repurchase of common stock			(75,599	)			—				—				(5	)			(75,604	)
Payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation			(719	)			—				—				—				(719	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(91,011	)			—				1,534,147				119,687				1,562,823
Net increase (decrease) in cash and due from banks			(13,999	)			(129	)			(24,958	)			13,839				(25,247	)
Cash and due from banks, and restricted cash at beginning of period			48,130				591				373,556				(48,081	)			374,196
Cash and due from banks, and restricted cash at end of period		$	34,131			$	462			$	348,598			$	(34,242	)		$	348,949

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This report includes management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) of the consolidated financial position and financial performance of Popular, Inc. (the “Corporation” or “Popular”). All accompanying tables, financial statements and notes included elsewhere in this report should be considered an integral part of this analysis.

The Corporation is a diversified, publicly-owned financial holding company subject to the supervision and regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Corporation has operations in Puerto Rico, the United States (“U.S.”) mainland, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. In Puerto Rico, the Corporation provides retail, mortgage, and commercial banking services through its principal banking subsidiary, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (“BPPR”), as well as investment banking, broker-dealer, auto and equipment leasing and financing, and insurance services through specialized subsidiaries. The Corporation’s mortgage origination business is conducted under the brand name Popular Mortgage, a division of BPPR. In the U.S. mainland, the Corporation provides retail, mortgage and commercial banking services through its New York-chartered banking subsidiary, Popular Bank (“PB”), which has branches located in New York, New Jersey and Florida. Note 33 to the Consolidated Financial Statements presents information about the Corporation’s business segments.

The Corporation has several investments which it accounts for under the equity method. As of March 31, 2018, the Corporation had a 16.09% interest in the holding company of EVERTEC, which provides transaction processing services throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, and services many of the Corporation’s systems infrastructure and transaction processing businesses. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation recorded $ 3.8 million in earnings from its investment in EVERTEC, which had a carrying amount of $52 million as of the end of the quarter. Also, the Corporation had a 15.84% stake in Centro Financiero BHD Leon, S.A. (“BHD Leon”), one of the largest banking and financial services groups in the Dominican Republic. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation recorded $8.5 million in earnings from its investment in BHD Leon, which had a carrying amount of $143 million, as of the end of the quarter.

 

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SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Agreement to acquire Wells Fargo’s Auto Finance Business in Puerto Rico

On February 14, 2018, we announced that BPPR, our Puerto Rico banking subsidiary, agreed to acquire certain assets and liabilities related to Wells Fargo’s auto finance business in Puerto Rico for a cash purchase price of approximately $1.7 billion. Notwithstanding our expectation that further regulatory approvals would not be necessary, we now anticipate that regulatory approval will be required to consummate the transaction. Transaction economics will not be impacted. Although there can be no guarantee that regulatory approval will be received, we continue to anticipate that the transaction will close during the second quarter of 2018.

Name Change and rebranding of Popular’s U.S. Operations

On April 9, 2018, the Corporation’s New York-chartered banking subsidiary changed its legal name from Banco Popular North America to Popular Bank. Formerly operating as “Popular Community Bank”, Popular Bank will use the brand “Popular” to market its businesses. These changes align the new name and brand with the New York-based bank’s strategic initiatives, expanded capabilities and recent launch of several business platforms designed to attract diverse consumer and business segments in the U.S. markets it serves. As a result of the rebranding initiative, the Corporation now operates under a single brand, “Popular”, throughout all its regions – the United States mainland, Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands – for the first time in the Corporation’s history.

OVERVIEW

Table 1 provides selected financial data and performance indicators for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

Table 1 - Financial highlights

 

Financial Condition Highlights		Ending Balances at												Average for the Quarter Ended
(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017				Variance				March 31, 2018				March 31, 2017				Variance
Money market investments		$	6,984,009			$	5,255,119			$	1,728,890			$	5,824,283			$	3,297,350			$	2,526,933
Investment securities			10,733,010				10,482,971				250,039				10,923,764				9,125,496				1,798,268
Loans			24,680,249				24,942,463				(262,214	)			24,073,431				23,352,589				720,842
Earning assets			42,397,268				40,680,553				1,716,715				40,821,478				35,775,435				5,046,043
Total assets			45,756,761				44,277,337				1,479,424				44,250,082				39,546,252				4,703,830
Deposits			37,134,093				35,453,508				1,680,585				36,068,198				31,339,873				4,728,325
Borrowings			2,130,465				2,023,485				106,980				2,845,714				2,024,830				820,884
Stockholders’ equity			5,064,909				5,103,905				(38,996	)			5,242,909				5,285,204				(42,295	)

 

Operating Highlights		First Quarter
(In thousands, except per share information)		2018				2017				Variance
Net interest income		$	393,047			$	362,098			$	30,949
Provision for loan losses - non-covered loans			69,333				42,057				27,276
Provision (reversal) for loan losses - covered loans			1,730				(1,359	)			3,089
Non-interest income			113,497				115,869				(2,372	)
Operating expenses			322,002				311,318				10,684
Income before income tax			113,479				125,951				(12,472	)
Income tax expense			22,155				33,006				(10,851	)
Net income		$	91,324			$	92,945			$	(1,621	)
Net income applicable to common stock		$	90,393			$	92,014			$	(1,621	)
Net income per common share - Basic		$	0.89			$	0.89			$	—
Net income per common share - Diluted		$	0.89			$	0.89			$	—
Dividends declared per common share - Basic		$	0.25			$	0.25			$	—

 

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		First Quarter
Selected Statistical Information		2018				2017
Common Stock Data
Market price
High		$	44.61			$	45.75
Low			35.64				38.46
End			41.62				40.73
Book value per common share at period end			49.07				50.41
Profitability Ratios
Return on assets			0.84	%			0.95	%
Return on common equity			7.06				7.13
Net interest spread			3.66				3.86
Net interest spread (taxable equivalent) (non-GAAP)			3.98				4.15
Net interest margin			3.89				4.08
Net interest margin (taxable equivalent) (non-GAAP)			4.21				4.37
Capitalization Ratios
Average equity to average assets			11.85	%			13.36	%
Common equity Tier 1 capital			16.80				16.34
Tier I capital			16.80				16.34
Total capital			19.74				19.34
Tier 1 leverage			9.98				10.61

Adjusted results of operations – Non-GAAP financial measure

Adjusted net income

The Corporation prepares its Consolidated Financial Statements using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP” or the “reported basis”). In addition to analyzing the Corporation’s results on a reported basis, management monitors “Adjusted net income” of the Corporation and excludes the impact of certain transactions on the results of its operations. Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that Adjusted net income provides meaningful information about the underlying performance of the Corporation’s ongoing operations.

For the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, there were no adjustments identified by management to arrive at an Adjusted net income presentation.

Net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis

Net interest income, on a taxable equivalent basis, is presented with its different components in Table 2 for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 as compared with the same period in 2017, segregated by major categories of interest earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

The interest earning assets include investment securities and loans that are exempt from income tax, principally in Puerto Rico. The main sources of tax-exempt interest income are certain investments in obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies and sponsored entities, and certain obligations of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its agencies and municipalities and assets held by the Corporation’s international banking entities. To facilitate the comparison of all interest related to these assets, the interest income has been converted to a taxable equivalent basis, using the applicable statutory income tax rates for each period. The taxable equivalent computation considers the interest expense and other related expense disallowances required by the Puerto Rico tax law. Under this law, the exempt interest can be deducted up to the amount of taxable income. Net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this presentation provides meaningful information since it facilitates the comparison of revenues arising from taxable and exempt sources.

 

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Non-GAAP financial measures used by the Corporation may not be comparable to similarly named Non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

Financial highlights for the quarter ended March 31, 2018

 

•

For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation recorded net income of $ 91.3 million, compared to net income of $ 92.9 million for the same quarter of the previous year.

 

•

Net interest income was $393.0 million for the first quarter of 2018, an increase of $30.9 million when compared with the same quarter of 2017. Taxable equivalent net interest income was $425.1 million for the first quarter of 2018, an increase of $37.5 million when compared to $387.6 million for the same quarter of 2017. The increase in net interest income was mostly due to higher volume of money market and investment securities, higher income from commercial loans, offset by lower income from mortgage loans, the Westernbank portfolio and higher deposit costs. Net interest margin for the first quarter of 2018 was 3.89%, a decrease of 19 basis points when compared to 4.08% for the same quarter of the previous year due mainly to changes in the asset mix. Net Interest margin, on a taxable equivalent basis, for the first quarter of 2018 was 4.21%, a decrease of 16 basis points when compared to 4.37% for the same quarter of 2017. Refer to the Net Interest Income section of this MD&A for additional information.

 

•

The total provision for loan losses was $71.1 million, an increase of $30.4 million, compared to the same quarter of 2017, mainly at the BPPR segment due to the provision for a single commercial borrower.

 

•

Non-performing assets, excluding covered loans and OREO, increased by $40 million from December 31, 2017, mostly related to higher P.R. mortgage non-performing loans (“NPLs”), largely attributed to the end of the payment moratorium granted to certain consumer and commercial borrowers as a result of the 2017 hurricanes. Refer to the Provision for Loan Losses and Credit Risk section of this MD&A for an explanation of the main factors impacting the provision for loan losses and a detailed analysis of net charge-offs, non-performing assets, allowance for loan losses and selected loan losses statistics.

 

•

Non-interest income decreased by $2.4 million when compared to the first quarter of 2017, mainly due to lower service charges on deposit accounts, higher provision for indemnity reserves and lower income from equity method investments, partially offset by higher other service fees.

 

•

Operating expenses increased by $10.7 million mostly due to higher professional fees by $13.7 million.

 

•

For the first quarter of 2018, the Corporation recorded an income tax expense of $22.2 million, reflecting a decrease of $10.9 million when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, mainly attributed to lower taxable income and the impact to our U.S. operations of the reduction in the federal income tax rate, from 35% to 21%, pursuant to the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

 

•

Total assets at March 31, 2018 amounted to $45.8 billion, compared to $44.3 billion, at December 31, 2017. The increase of approximately $1.5 billion was mainly at BPPR due to a net increase of $1.6 million in cash and money market investments due to an increase in deposits.

 

•

Total deposits at March 31, 2018 increased by $1.7 billion when compared to deposits at December 31, 2017, mainly due to an increase in retail and commercial savings and NOW deposits at BPPR, including an increase of $567 million from Puerto Rico government deposits.

 

•

Stockholders’ equity totaled $5.1 billion at March 31, 2018 and $5.1 billion at December 31, 2017, a decrease of $39.0 million, principally due to higher unrealized losses on debt securities available-for-sale by $115.0 million, declared dividends on common stock of $25.5 million and $0.9 million in dividends on preferred stock, partially offset by net income of $91.3 million and a cumulative effect of an accounting change of $1.9 million.

 

•

Capital ratios continued to be strong. As of March 31, 2018, the Corporation’s common equity tier 1 capital ratio was 16.80%, while the total capital ratio was 19.74%. Refer to Table 13 for capital ratios.

 

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As a financial services company, the Corporation’s earnings are significantly affected by general business and economic conditions in the markets which we serve. Lending and deposit activities and fee income generation are influenced by the level of business spending and investment, consumer income, spending and savings, capital market activities, competition, customer preferences, interest rate conditions and prevailing market rates on competing products.

The Corporation continuously monitors general business and economic conditions, industry-related indicators and trends, competition, interest rate volatility, credit quality indicators, loan and deposit demand, operational and systems efficiencies, revenue enhancements and changes in the regulation of financial services companies.

The Corporation operates in a highly regulated environment and may be adversely affected by changes in federal and local laws and regulations. Also, competition with other financial institutions could adversely affect its profitability.

The description of the Corporation’s business contained in Item 1 of the Corporation’s 2017 Form 10-K, while not all inclusive, discusses additional information about the business of the Corporation and risk factors, many beyond the Corporation’s control that, in addition to the other information in this Form 10-Q, readers should consider. Also, refer to Item 1A - Risk Factors, of this Form 10-Q for additional information.

The Corporation’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol BPOP.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES / ESTIMATES

The accounting and reporting policies followed by the Corporation and its subsidiaries conform to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America and general practices within the financial services industry. Various elements of the Corporation’s accounting policies, by their nature, are inherently subject to estimation techniques, valuation assumptions and other subjective assessments. These estimates are made under facts and circumstances at a point in time and changes in those facts and circumstances could produce actual results that differ from those estimates.

Management has discussed the development and selection of the critical accounting policies and estimates with the Corporation’s Audit Committee. The Corporation has identified as critical accounting policies those related to: (i) Fair Value Measurement of Financial Instruments; (ii) Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses; (iii) Acquisition Accounting for Loans and Related Indemnification Asset; (iv) Income Taxes; (v) Goodwill, and (vi) Pension and Postretirement Benefit Obligations. For a summary of these critical accounting policies and estimates, refer to that particular section in the MD&A included in Popular, Inc.’s 2017 Form 10-K. Refer to Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2017 Form 10-K for a summary of the Corporation’s significant accounting policies and to Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10Q for information on recently adopted accounting standard updates.

OPERATING RESULTS ANALYSIS

NET INTEREST INCOME

Net interest income was $393.0 million for the first quarter of 2018, an increase of $30.9 million when compared to $362.1 million for the same quarter of 2017. Taxable equivalent net interest income was $425.1 million for the first quarter of 2018, an increase of $37.5 million when compared to $387.6 million for the same quarter of 2017. The increase in $6.5 million in the taxable equivalent adjustment is directly related to a higher volume of tax exempt investments in P.R. Net interest margin for the first quarter of 2018 was 3.89%, a decrease of 19 basis points when compared to 4.08% for the same quarter of the previous year. Net Interest margin, on a taxable equivalent basis, for the first quarter of 2018 was 4.21%, a decrease of 16 basis points when compared to 4.37% for the same quarter of 2017. The decrease in net interest margin is mostly related to the mix in asset composition, due to higher proportion of money market, investment and trading securities to total earning assets (41% this quarter versus 35% in the first quarter of 2017) which have a lower yield when compared to the proportion of loans to earning assets which carry a higher yield. The main reasons for the increase in net interest income are described below:

 

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Positive variances:

 

•

Higher interest income from money market investments due to an increase in volume of funds available to invest, related to higher average balance of deposits by $4.7 billion, mostly government deposits in Puerto Rico by $2.0 billion and also an increase in retail deposits in the last quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018. Also starting in March 2017 the U.S. Federal Reserve has increased the federal funds rate four times in 25 basis points intervals. The average rate of the money market portfolios for the first quarter of 2018 increased 74 basis points when compared to the same period in 2017;

 

•

Higher interest income from investment securities mainly due to higher volumes, particularly on U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities related to recent purchases, in part to deploy excess cash. Most of this interest income from securities is exempt from income tax in P.R. therefore improving the return on investment; and

 

•

Higher income from commercial and construction loans, driven by higher volume of loans, mainly in the U.S. and improved yields related to the effect of the abovementioned rise in interest rates on the variable rate portion of this portfolio.

Negative variances:

 

•

Lower interest income from mortgage loans due to lower average balances driven to lower lending activity and portfolio run-off in P.R. and the U.S. and lower yields in P.R. impacted by a reduction in fees collected from delayed mortgage payments due to the moratorium period;

 

•

Lower income from consumer loans by $0.8 million, or 30 basis points, mainly on BPPR’s credit card portfolio due to higher reserves for uncollectible interest and fees and lower average volume, partially offset by higher interest income from acquired loans;

 

•

Lower interest income from loans acquired in the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction (“WB Loans”) related to the normal portfolio run-off; and

 

•

Higher interest expense on deposits mainly due to higher volumes in most categories, predominantly the increase in deposits from the Puerto Rico government and higher volumes in the U.S. to fund loan growth. These increases were partially offset by a lower average volume of regular and brokered certificates of deposits.

Interest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 included the amortization of deferred loans fees, prepayment penalties, late fees and the amortization of premium/discounts, amounting to $3.4 million, compared with $6.4 million for the same period in 2017.

 

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Table 2 - Analysis of Levels & Yields on a Taxable Equivalent Basis for Continuing Operations (Non-GAAP)

Quarters ended March 31,

 

Average Volume												Average Yields / Costs														Interest												Variance Attributable to
2018				2017				Variance				2018				2017				Variance						2018				2017				Variance				Rate				Volume
(In millions)																										(In thousands)
$	5,824			$	3,297			$	2,527				1.55	%			0.81	%			0.74	%		Money market investments		$	22,285			$	6,573			$	15,712			$	8,563			$	7,149
	10,845				9,020				1,825				2.91				2.70				0.21			Investment securities			78,541				60,819				17,722				8,381				9,341
	79				106				(27	)			7.19				7.16				0.03			Trading securities			1,401				1,872				(471	)			6				(477	)
	16,748				12,423				4,325				2.46				2.24				0.22			Total money market, investment and trading securities			102,227				69,264				32,963				16,950				16,013
																								Loans:
	10,409				9,704				705				5.41				5.15				0.26			Commercial			138,927				123,250				15,677				6,457				9,220
	905				821				84				6.10				5.41				0.69			Construction			13,619				10,943				2,676				1,481				1,195
	820				708				112				5.99				6.54				(0.55	)		Leasing			12,274				11,586				688				(1,032	)			1,720
	6,492				6,606				(114	)			5.36				5.60				(0.24	)		Mortgage			87,033				92,444				(5,411	)			(3,841	)			(1,570	)
	3,785				3,704				81				10.19				10.49				(0.30	)		Consumer			95,079				95,846				(767	)			(3,409	)			2,642
	22,411				21,543				868				6.25				6.26				(0.01	)		Sub-total loans			346,932				334,069				12,863				(344	)			13,207
	1,663				1,810				(147	)			8.74				8.53				0.21			WB loans			35,942				38,182				(2,240	)			728				(2,968	)
	24,074				23,353				721				6.43				6.44				(0.01	)		Total loans			382,874				372,251				10,623				384				10,239
$	40,822			$	35,776			$	5,046				4.80	%			4.98	%			(0.18	)%		Total earning assets		$	485,101			$	441,515			$	43,586			$	17,334			$	26,252
																								Interest bearing deposits:
$	11,194			$	8,516			$	2,678				0.42	%			0.41	%			0.01	%		NOW and money market [1]		$	11,496			$	8,514			$	2,982			$	735			$	2,247
	8,744				8,041				703				0.24				0.25				(0.01	)		Savings			5,203				4,897				306				(175	)			481
	7,697				7,756				(59	)			1.16				1.06				0.10			Time deposits			21,989				20,346				1,643				1,901				(258	)
	27,635				24,313				3,322				0.57				0.56				0.01			Total deposits			38,688				33,757				4,931				2,461				2,470
	481				456				25				1.70				0.97				0.73			Short-term borrowings			2,013				1,095				918				777				141
	1,559				1,569				(10	)			4.98				4.88				0.10			Other medium and long-term debt			19,330				19,045				285				275				10
	29,675				26,338				3,337				0.82				0.83				(0.01	)		Total interest bearing liabilities			60,031				53,897				6,134				3,513				2,621
	8,434				7,027				1,407															Demand deposits
	2,713				2,411				302															Other sources of funds
$	40,822			$	35,776			$	5,046				0.59	%			0.61	%			(0.02	)%		Total source of funds			60,031				53,897				6,134				3,513				2,621
													4.21	%			4.37	%			(0.16	)%		Net interest margin/ income on a taxable equivalent basis (Non-GAAP)			425,070				387,618				37,452			$	13,821			$	23,631
													3.98	%			4.15	%			(0.17	)%		Net interest spread
																								Taxable equivalent adjustment			32,024				25,520				6,504
													3.89	%			4.08	%			(0.19	)%		Net interest margin/ income non-taxable equivalent basis (GAAP)		$	393,046			$	362,098			$	30,948

Note: The changes that are not due solely to volume or rate are allocated to volume and rate based on the proportion of the change in each category.

 

[1]	Includes interest bearing demand deposits corresponding to certain government entities in Puerto Rico.

 

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Provision for Loan Losses

The Corporation’s total provision for loan losses was $71.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, compared to $40.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, an increase of $30.4 million.

The provision for loan losses for the non-covered loan portfolio totaled $69.3 million, compared to $42.1 million for the same quarter in 2017, an increase of $27.2 million, mostly driven by the BPPR segment. Total non-covered net charge-offs increased by $16.9 million when compared with the same quarter in 2017, mainly due to higher commercial and consumer net charge-offs in each of the Popular U.S. and BPPR segments.

The provision for loan losses for the non-covered loan portfolio at the BPPR segment totaled $56.7 million, compared to $31.5 million for the same quarter in 2017. The increase of $25.2 million was mainly related to an increase in the allowance of $21.6 million for a single commercial borrower, coupled with higher charge-offs by $8.3 million, mostly related to the consumer portfolio, in part offset by a downward adjustment of $7.5 million to the estimated losses associated with Hurricane Maria. Management continues to evaluate the impact of the hurricanes on its loan portfolios and the effect on its credit metrics after the end of the payment moratorium granted to certain customers and commercial borrowers as a result of the hurricanes.

The provision for loan losses for the Popular U.S. segment amounted to $12.6 million, compared to $10.6 million for the same quarter in 2017, an increase of $2.0 million. Net charge-offs increased $8.6 million when compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2017, mostly related to its taxi medallion portfolio. The Popular U.S. segment continued to reflect strong growth and favorable credit quality metrics, except in the case of the taxi medallion portfolio acquired from the FDIC in the assisted sale of Doral Bank, which continues to reflect the pressure on medallion collateral values, particularly in the New York City metro area. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation recorded a provision of $11.8 million and charge offs amounting to $7.6 million related to the taxi medallion portfolio.

For the first quarter of 2018, the covered loan portfolio reflected a provision expense of $1.7 million, compared to a provision reversal of $1.4 million for the same quarter in 2017.

Refer to the Credit Risk section of this MD&A for a detailed analysis of net charge-offs, non-performing assets, the allowance for loan losses and selected loan losses statistics.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income was $113.5 million for the first quarter of 2018, a decrease of $2.4 million, when compared with the same quarter of the previous year, driven primarily by the following:

 

•

Lower service charges on deposit accounts by $3.1 million due to lower fees on transactional cash management services;

 

•

Higher provision for indemnity reserves by $1.0 million mostly due to an increase in the reserve for credit recourse at BPPR; and

 

•

Lower other operating income by $3.0 million mainly due to lower aggregated net earnings from investments under the equity method by $3.5 million, principally in PR Asset Portfolio 2013-1 International, LLC, a commercial real estate joint venture.

These decreases were partially offset by:

 

•

Higher other service fees by $4.4 million, mainly at BPPR, due to higher credit card interchange income due to customer activity in Puerto Rico normalizing during the quarter after the effect of the hurricanes and higher credit card late fees due to higher delinquencies and the reinstatement of these fees after the expiration of the moratorium period granted as part of the Corporation’s hurricane relief efforts.

 

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Table 3 - Financial Information - Westernbank FDIC-Assisted Transaction

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Interest income on WB loans		$	35,942			$	38,182
FDIC loss share expense:
Amortization of loss share indemnification asset			(934	)			(776	)
80% mirror accounting on credit impairment losses[1]			104				148
80% mirror accounting on reimbursable expenses			537				921
80% mirror accounting on recoveries on covered assets, including rental income on OREOs, subject to reimbursement to the FDIC			(1,658	)			4,833
Change in true-up payment obligation			(6,112	)			(7,385	)
Other			36				(5,998	)
Total FDIC loss share expense			(8,027	)			(8,257	)
Total income			27,915				29,925
Provision (reversal) for loan losses- WB loans			21,699				(499	)
Total income less provision (reversal) for loan losses		$	6,216			$	30,424

 

[1]

Reductions in expected cash flows for ASC 310-30 loans, which may impact the provision for loan losses, may consider reductions in both principal and interest cash flow expectations. The amount covered under the FDIC loss sharing agreement for interest not collected from borrowers is limited under the agreement (approximately 90 days); accordingly, these amounts are not subject fully to the 80% mirror accounting.

Average balances

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In millions)		2018				2017
Loans		$	1,663			$	1,810
FDIC loss-share asset			45				44

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 increased by $ 10.7 million when compared with the same quarter of 2017, driven primarily by:

 

•

Higher personnel cost by $2.1 million due to higher medical insurance expense, higher contributions on employee retirement savings plans and to the grant of restricted stock and performance share awards;

 

•

higher net occupancy expenses by $2.0 million due to higher repair and maintenance expenses due to hurricanes impact;

 

•

higher equipment expense by $1.2 million due to higher depreciation and higher software and maintenance expenses; and

 

•

higher professional fees by $13.7 million primarily due to higher consulting and advisory fees by $8.8 million, higher programming, processing and other technology services by $3.2 million and higher legal fees.

These increases were partially offset by:

 

•

Lower other real estate owned expense by $6.7 million due to higher gains by $3.5 million on sale on mortgage properties at BPPR and limited inflow of foreclosed properties as a result of the loan moratorium; and

 

•

lower other operating expenses by $2.5 million as a result of a write-down of $7.6 million recognized during the first quarter of 2017, related to capitalized software costs for a project that was discontinued by the Corporation, partially offset by higher sundry losses by $2.4 million and higher provision for unused commitments by $1.0 million during this quarter.

 

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Table 4 - Operating Expenses

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017				Variance
Personnel costs:
Salaries		$	78,397			$	78,376			$	21
Commissions, incentives and other bonuses			21,316				20,078				1,238
Pension, postretirement and medical insurance			9,929				9,377				552
Other personnel costs, including payroll taxes			16,210				15,909				301
Total personnel costs			125,852				123,740				2,112
Net occupancy expenses			22,802				20,776				2,026
Equipment expenses			17,206				15,970				1,236
Other taxes			10,902				10,969				(67	)
Professional fees:
Collections, appraisals and other credit related fees			3,058				3,823				(765	)
Programming, processing and other technology services			51,305				48,091				3,214
Legal fees, excluding collections			5,763				3,296				2,467
Other professional fees			22,859				14,040				8,819
Total professional fees			82,985				69,250				13,735
Communications			5,906				5,949				(43	)
Business promotion			12,009				11,576				433
FDIC deposit insurance			6,920				6,493				427
Other real estate owned (OREO) expenses			6,131				12,818				(6,687	)
Other operating expenses:
Credit and debit card processing, volume and interchange expenses			4,608				5,532				(924	)
Operational losses			9,924				7,536				2,388
All other			14,432				18,364				(3,932	)
Total other operating expenses			28,964				31,432				(2,468	)
Amortization of intangibles			2,325				2,345				(20	)
Total operating expenses		$	322,002			$	311,318			$	10,684

INCOME TAXES

For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation recorded income tax expense of $22.2 million, compared to $33.0 million for the same quarter of the previous year. The decrease in income tax expense is primarily due to lower taxable income and the impact to our U.S. operations of the reduction in the federal income tax rate, from 35% to 21%, pursuant to the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

In December 2017, the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) was enacted, which reduced the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from a maximum rate of 35% to a single tax rate of 21%. The Act contains other provisions, which became effective on January 1, 2018 and which may impact the Corporation’s tax calculations and related income tax expense in future years. Management continues to evaluate the impact of the TCJA in future periods and may make further adjustments as a result of additional analysis and guidance issued on the legislation.

Puerto Rico’s recently Certified Fiscal Plan (as hereinafter defined) proposes to enact a comprehensive tax reform with the intention of spurring economic development, lowering the cost of doing business and making Puerto Rico more competitive. The proposed tax reform seeks to, among other things, reduce individual and corporate income tax rates and gradually eliminate, over a two year period, the business-to-business sales and use tax. Maximum corporate tax rates in particular would be reduced from a current rate of 39% to 31%. According to the Certified Fiscal Plan, any tax reform should be revenue-neutral, with stabilizing mechanisms to offset revenue shortfalls. The tax reform, including the reduction in the maximum corporate tax rates referenced above, require legislative action and are thus subject to approval by the Legislative Assembly and the Governor. The PROMESA Oversight Board could also assert the power to veto any tax reform legislation that in their view is inconsistent with the Certified Fiscal Plan.

A reduction in corporate tax rates to 31%, if approved, would result in a write down of the Corporation’s deferred tax asset (“DTA”) related to its P.R. operations of approximately $150 million, with a corresponding charge to the Corporation’s income tax expense.

 

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If such a reduction in the Corporation’s DTA from its P.R. operations would have occurred as of March 31, 2018, Common Equity Tier 1 Capital and Total Regulatory Capital would have been reduced by approximately 30 bps. On a forward-looking basis, a reduction of the maximum corporate income tax rate to 31% could result in a reduction in the Corporation’s effective tax rate of between 2% and 3% on an annual basis.

At March 31, 2018, the Corporation had a DTA amounting to $1.0 billion, net of a valuation allowance of $0.5 billion. The DTA related to the U.S. operations was $0.3 billion, net of a valuation allowance of $0.4 billion.

Refer to Note 31 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconciliation of the statutory income tax rate to the effective tax rate and additional information on DTA balances.

REPORTABLE SEGMENT RESULTS

The Corporation’s reportable segments for managerial reporting purposes consist of Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and Popular U.S. (previously Banco Popular North America). A Corporate group has been defined to support the reportable segments. For managerial reporting purposes, the costs incurred by the Corporate group are not allocated to the reportable segments.

For a description of the Corporation’s reportable segments, including additional financial information and the underlying management accounting process, refer to Note 33 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Corporate group reported a net loss of $18.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, compared with a net loss of $15.3 million for the same quarter of the previous year. The change was mostly driven by higher personnel costs, higher professional fees and an unfavorable variance of income taxes. These unfavorable variances were partially offset by higher earnings from investments under the equity method, and higher interest income on commercial loans and money market investments.

Highlights on the earnings results for the reportable segments are discussed below:

Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

The Banco Popular de Puerto Rico reportable segment’s net income amounted to $91.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, compared with net income of $97.6 million for the same quarter of the previous year. The principal factors that contributed to the variance in the financial results included the following:

 

•

Higher net interest income by $22.1 million impacted by higher income from money market by $15.3 million due to an increase in volume of funds available to invest related to higher average balance of deposits, mostly government deposits in Puerto Rico by $2.0 billion; and higher interest income from investments securities by $10.8 million driven by higher volumes of U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities. These favorable variances were partially offset by higher cost of public and private deposits by $3.5 million driven by the increase in average balances. The net interest margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 was 4.14% compared to 4.46% for the same period in previous year. The reduction in net margins is driven by earning assets mix;

 

•

Provision expense for the first quarter of 2018 was $58.5 million, an increase of $28.4 million compared to the same period of the previous year, mainly related to an increase in the allowance of $21.6 million for a single commercial borrower, coupled with higher charge-offs, mostly related to the consumer portfolio; and partially offset by a downward adjustment to the estimated losses associated with Hurricane Maria by $7.5 million;

 

•

Lower non-interest income by $3.1 million mainly driven by lower service charges on deposits accounts by $3.1 million as a result of lower retail and commercial fees, and lower other operating income by $4.3 million due to lower earnings from investments under the equity method. These unfavorable variances were partially offset by higher revenues from daily rental fleet in Popular Auto subsidiary and higher other service fees by $4.4 million, mainly in credit card fees driven by higher interchange income resulting from a higher volume of transactions;

 

•

Higher operating expenses by $5.0 million impacted by higher professional services expenses by $11.2 million, mainly from higher consulting and advisory fees, including legal and audit fees, and higher technology services. These favorable variances were partially offset by lower OREO expenses of $6.8 million due to higher gains on sale of foreclosed properties at BPPR and limited inflow activity as a result of the loan moratorium. Also, lower other operating expenses by $2.6 million mostly due to the impact of a write-down of $7.6 million, recognized during the first quarter of 2017, related to capitalized software cost for a project that was discontinued by the Corporation offset by higher sundry losses in the current quarter; and

 

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•

Lower income tax expense by $8.2 million due to lower taxable income.

Popular U.S.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the reportable segment of Popular U.S. reported a net income of $18.1 million, compared to net income of $10.4 million for the same quarter of the previous year. The factors that contributed to the variance in the financial results included the following:

 

•

Higher net interest income by $7.9 million impacted by higher income from commercial and construction loans by $9.8 million driven by loan portfolio growth and higher yields. Also, higher income from money market and investment securities by $0.9 million due to higher average balances and higher yield, due to recent increases in market interest rates. These favorable variances were partially offset by higher interest expense on deposits by $1.8 million due to higher volumes and costs of money market and time deposits, and on short-term borrowings by $1.0 million driven by higher average balances at higher rates. For the first quarter of 2018, the net interest margin for the Popular U.S. segment was 3.61%, compared to 3.52% for the same period in 2017;

 

•

Higher provision for loan losses by $2.0 million, when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, mostly related to higher impairments on the taxi medallion loan portfolio;

 

•

Higher operating expenses by $3.7 million mainly due to higher professional services by $1.0 million driven by higher consulting and advisory fees, and higher other operating expenses by $2.6 million, mainly related to losses on disposition of assets due to rebranding costs and higher write-downs of taxi medallion repossessed property; and

 

•

Income tax favorable variance of $6.2 million primarily driven by a decrease in deferred tax asset valuation allowance associated to changes in enacted tax rates.

FINANCIAL CONDITION ANALYSIS

Assets

The Corporation’s total assets were $45.8 billion at March 31, 2018, compared to $44.3 billion at December 31, 2017. Refer to the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition included in this report for additional information.

Money market investments, trading and investment securities

Money market investments totaled $7.0 billion at March 31, 2018, compared to $5.3 billion at December 31, 2017. The increase was mainly at BPPR due to higher liquidity driven by an increase in deposits.

Trading account debt securities amounted to $42 million at March 31, 2018, compared to $34 million at December 31, 2017. Refer to the Market Risk section of this MD&A for a table that provides a breakdown of the trading portfolio by security type.

Debt securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity amounted to $10.5 billion at March 31, 2018, compared with $10.3 billion at December 31, 2017. The increase of $0.2 billion was mainly at BPPR due to purchases of U.S. Treasury securities, partially offset by pay-downs and unfavorable unrealized fair value changes in mortgage-backed agency pools.

 

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Table 5 provides a breakdown of the Corporation’s portfolio of debt securities available-for-sale (“AFS”) and held-to-maturity (“HTM”) on a combined basis. Also, Notes 5 and 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements provide additional information with respect to the Corporation’s debt securities AFS and HTM.

Table 5 - Breakdown of Debt Securities Available-for-Sale and Held-to-Maturity

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
U.S. Treasury securities		$	4,512,395			$	3,928,164
Obligations of U.S. Government sponsored entities			582,774				608,933
Obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions			97,415				99,364
Collateralized mortgage obligations			883,699				943,819
Mortgage-backed securities			4,434,421				4,688,662
Trust preferred securities			13,198				13,198
Others			1,504				1,802
Total debt securities AFS and HTM		$	10,525,406			$	10,283,942

Loans

Refer to Table 6 for a breakdown of the Corporation’s loan portfolio, the principal category of earning assets. Loans covered under the FDIC loss sharing agreements are presented separately in Table 6. The risks on covered loans are significantly different as a result of the loss protection provided by the FDIC as described in Note 7, Loans. As of March 31, 2018, the Corporation’s covered loans portfolio amounted to $515 million, comprised mainly of residential mortgage loans.

The Corporation’s total loan portfolio amounted to $ 24.7 billion at March 31, 2018, compared to $24.9 billion at December 31, 2017. Refer to Note 7 for detailed information about the Corporation’s loan portfolio composition and loan purchases and sales.

 

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Table 6 - Loans Ending Balances

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017				Variance
Loans not covered under FDIC loss sharing agreements:
Commercial		$	11,468,507			$	11,488,861			$	(20,354	)
Construction			893,391				880,029				13,362
Legacy[1]			31,167				32,980				(1,813	)
Lease financing			838,383				809,990				28,393
Mortgage			7,064,644				7,270,407				(205,763	)
Consumer			3,791,845				3,810,527				(18,682	)
Total non-covered loans held-in-portfolio			24,087,937				24,292,794				(204,857	)
Loans covered under FDIC loss sharing agreements:
Mortgage			500,683				502,930				(2,247	)
Consumer			13,928				14,344				(416	)
Total covered loans held-in-portfolio			514,611				517,274				(2,663	)
Total loans held-in-portfolio			24,602,548				24,810,068				(207,520	)
Loans held-for-sale:
Mortgage			77,701				132,395				(54,694	)
Total loans held-for-sale			77,701				132,395				(54,694	)
Total loans		$	24,680,249			$	24,942,463			$	(262,214	)

 

[1]	The legacy portfolio is comprised of commercial loans, construction loans and lease financings related to certain lending products exited by the Corporation as part of restructuring efforts carried out in prior years at the Popular U.S. segment.

Non-covered loans

The non-covered loans held-in-portfolio decreased by $205 million to $ 24.1 billion at March 31, 2018, principally due to a decrease of $0.3 billion in mortgage loans rebooked at BPPR which are subject to the GNMA repurchase option, partially offset by growth in commercial loans at PB by $0.1 billion.

The loans held-for-sale portfolio decreased by $55 million from December 31, 2017, mainly at BPPR, due to a higher volume of securitization activity than that of the fourth quarter of 2017 due to operational delays caused by Hurricane Maria.

Westernbank loans accounted for under ASC 310-30

The covered loans portfolio amounted to $515 million at March 31, 2018, compared to $517 million at December 31, 2017. The decrease is due to loan resolutions and the normal portfolio run-off. Refer to Table 6 for a breakdown of covered loans by major loan type categories.

Covered loans

Tables 7 and 8 provide the activity in the carrying amount and outstanding discount on the Westernbank loans accounted for under ASC 310-30. The outstanding accretable discount is impacted by changes in cash flow expectations on the loan pool based on quarterly revisions of the portfolio. An increase in the accretable discount is recognized as interest income using the effective yield method over the estimated life of each applicable loan pool.

 

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Table 7 - Activity in the Carrying Amount of Westernbank Loans Accounted for Under ASC 310-30

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Beginning balance		$	1,592,921			$	1,738,329
Accretion			35,008				36,892
Collections / loan sales / charge-offs			(52,786	)			(86,321	)
Ending balance[1]		$	1,575,143			$	1,688,900
Allowance for loan losses (ALLL)			(89,763	)			(66,544	)
Ending balance, net of ALLL		$	1,485,380			$	1,622,356

 

[1]	The carrying amount of loans acquired from Westernbank and accounted for under ASC 310-30 which remain subject to the loss sharing agreement with the FDIC amounted to approximately $505 million as of March 31, 2018 (March 31, 2017 - $542 million).

Table 8 - Activity in the Accretable Yield on Westernbank Loans Accounted for Under ASC 310-30

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Beginning balance		$	880,715			$	1,010,087
Accretion[1]			(35,008	)			(36,892	)
Change in expected cash flows			28,668				8,011
Ending balance		$	874,375			$	981,206

 

[1]	Positive to earnings, which is included in interest income.

FDIC loss share asset

Table 9 sets forth the activity in the FDIC loss share asset for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

Table 9 - Activity of Loss Share Asset

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Balance at beginning of period		$	46,316			$	69,334
Amortization of loss-share indemnification asset			(934	)			(776	)
Credit impairment losses to be covered under loss-sharing agreements			104				148
Reimbursable expenses			537				921
Net payments from FDIC under loss-sharing agreements			(364	)			—
Other adjustments attributable to FDIC loss-sharing agreements			—				(5,550	)
Balance at end of period		$	45,659			$	64,077
Balance due to the FDIC for recoveries on covered assets			(1,190	)			(5,284	)
Balance at end of period		$	44,469			$	58,793

The FDIC loss share indemnification asset is recognized on the same basis as the assets subject to the loss share protection from the FDIC, except that the amortization/accretion terms differ. The Corporation revises its expected cash flows and estimated credit losses on a quarterly basis. Decreases in expected reimbursements from the FDIC due to improvements in expected cash flows to be received from borrowers, as compared with the initial estimates, are recognized as a reduction to non-interest income prospectively over the life of the loss share agreements. This is because the indemnification asset balance is reduced to the expected reimbursement amount from the FDIC (amortization). In contrast, an increase to non-interest income is recognized as a result of increases in expected reimbursements due to higher loss estimates (accretion). Table 10 presents the activity associated with the outstanding balance of the FDIC loss share asset amortization (or negative discount).

 

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Table 10 - Activity in the Remaining FDIC Loss Share Asset Amortization

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2018				2017
Balance at beginning of period[1]		$	1,562			$	4,812
Amortization of negative discount[2]			(934	)			(776	)
Impact of changes in lower (higher) projected losses			2,465				(107	)
Balance at end of period		$	3,093			$	3,929

 

[1]	Positive balance represents negative discount (debit to assets), while a negative balance represents a discount (credit to assets).

[2]	Amortization results in a negative impact to non-interest income, while accretion results in a positive impact to non-interest income, particularly FDIC loss share expense.

Other real estate owned

Other real estate owned represents real estate property received in satisfaction of debt. At March 31, 2018, OREO decreased to $168 million from $189 million at December 31, 2017 mainly due to a decrease in residential properties at BPPR. Refer to Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the activity in other real estate owned. The amounts included as “covered other real estate” are subject to the FDIC loss sharing agreement.

Other assets

Refer to Note 13 for a breakdown of the principal categories that comprise the caption of “Other Assets” in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

Liabilities

The Corporation’s total liabilities were $40.7 billion at March 31, 2018, compared to $39.2 billion at December 31, 2017. Refer to the Corporation’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition included in this Form 10-Q.

Deposits and Borrowings

The composition of the Corporation’s financing sources to total assets at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is included in Table 11.

Table 11 - Financing to Total Assets

 

		March 31,				December 31,				% increase (decrease)				% of total assets
(In millions)		2018				2017				from 2017 to 2018				2018				2017
Non-interest bearing deposits		$	8,699			$	8,491				2.4	%			19.0	%			19.2	%
Interest-bearing core deposits			23,572				22,394				5.3				51.5				50.6
Other interest-bearing deposits			4,863				4,569				6.4				10.6				10.3
Repurchase agreements			380				391				(2.8	)			0.9				0.9
Other short-term borrowings			186				96				N.M.				0.4				0.2
Notes payable			1,564				1,536				1.8				3.4				3.5
Other liabilities			1,428				1,696				(15.8	)			3.1				3.8
Stockholders’ equity			5,065				5,104				(0.8	)			11.1				11.5

 

N.M.	- Not meaningful.

Deposits

The Corporation’s deposits totaled $37.1 billion at March 31, 2018 compared to $35.5 billion at December 31, 2017. The deposits increase of $1.6 billion was mainly due to an increase in retail and commercial savings and NOW deposits at BPPR, including an increase of $567 million from Puerto Rico government deposits. Refer to Table 12 for a breakdown of the Corporation’s deposits at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

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Table 12 - Deposits Ending Balances

 

(In thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017				Variance
Demand deposits [1]		$	12,698,538			$	12,460,081			$	238,457
Savings, NOW and money market deposits (non-brokered)			16,225,871				15,054,242				1,171,629
Savings, NOW and money market deposits (brokered)			414,441				424,307				(9,866	)
Time deposits (non-brokered)			7,655,903				7,411,140				244,763
Time deposits (brokered CDs)			139,340				103,738				35,602
Total deposits		$	37,134,093			$	35,453,508			$	1,680,585

 

[1]	Includes interest and non-interest bearing demand deposits.

Borrowings

The Corporation’s borrowings remained relatively flat at $2.1 billion at March 31, 2018, compared to $2.0 billion at December 31, 2017. Refer to Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for detailed information on the Corporation’s borrowings. Also, refer to the Liquidity section in this MD&A for additional information on the Corporation’s funding sources.

Other liabilities

The Corporation’s other liabilities amounted to $1.4 billion at March 31, 2018, a decrease of $0.3 billion when compared to December 31, 2017, due to a decrease in the liability for GNMA loan sold with an option to repurchase.

Stockholders’ Equity

Stockholders’ equity totaled $5.1 billion at March 31, 2018, down $39 million from $5.1 billion at December 31, 2017, principally due to higher unrealized losses on debt securities available-for-sale by $115.0 million, declared dividends of $25.5 million on common stock ($0.25 per share) and $0.9 million in dividends on preferred stock, partially offset by net income for the quarter of $91.3 million and a cumulative effect of an accounting change of $1.9 million. Refer to the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, Comprehensive Income and of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for information on the composition of stockholders’ equity.

REGULATORY CAPITAL

The Corporation, BPPR and PB are subject to regulatory capital requirements established by the Federal Reserve Board. The current risk-based capital standards applicable to the Corporation, BPPR and PB (“Basel III capital rules”), which have been effective since January 1, 2015, are based on the final capital framework for strengthening international capital standards, known as Basel III, of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. As of March 31, 2018, the Corporation’s, BPPR’s and PB’s capital ratios continue to exceed the minimum requirements for being “well-capitalized” under the Basel III capital rules.

The risk-based capital ratios presented in Table 13, which include common equity tier 1, Tier 1 capital, total capital and leverage capital as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, are calculated based on the Basel III capital rules related to the measurement of capital, risk-weighted assets and average assets.

 

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Table 13 - Capital Adequacy Data

 

(Dollars in thousands)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Common equity tier 1 capital:
Common stockholders equity - GAAP basis		$	5,014,749			$	5,053,745
AOCI related adjustments due to opt-out election			419,897				307,618
Goodwill, net of associated deferred tax liability (DTL)			(559,588	)			(561,604	)
Intangible assets, net of associated DTLs			(33,347	)			(28,538	)
Deferred tax assets and other deductions			(528,910	)			(544,702	)
Common equity tier 1 capital		$	4,312,801			$	4,226,519
Additional tier 1 capital:
Preferred stock			50,160				50,160
Other additional tier 1 capital deductions			(50,160	)			(50,160	)
Additional tier 1 capital		$	—			$	—
Tier 1 capital		$	4,312,801			$	4,226,519
Tier 2 capital:
Trust preferred securities subject to phase in as tier 2			426,602				426,602
Other inclusions (deductions), net			328,556				332,144
Tier 2 capital		$	755,158			$	758,746
Total risk-based capital		$	5,067,959			$	4,985,265
Minimum total capital requirement to be well capitalized		$	2,567,002			$	2,593,570
Excess total capital over minimum well capitalized		$	2,500,957			$	2,391,695
Total risk-weighted assets		$	25,670,021			$	25,935,696
Total assets for leverage ratio		$	43,220,269			$	42,185,805
Risk-based capital ratios:
Common equity tier 1 capital			16.80	%			16.30	%
Tier 1 capital			16.80				16.30
Total capital			19.74				19.22
Tier 1 leverage			9.98				10.02

The Basel III capital rules provide that a depository institution will be deemed to be well capitalized if it maintains a leverage ratio of at least 5%, a common equity Tier 1 ratio of at least 6.5%, a Tier 1 capital ratio of at least 8% and a total risk-based ratio of at least 10%. Management has determined that as of March 31, 2018, the Corporation, BPPR and PB continue to exceed the minimum requirements for being “well-capitalized” under the Basel III capital rules.

The increase in the common equity tier I capital ratio, tier I capital ratio and total capital ratio as of March 31, 2018 as compared to December 31, 2017 was mainly attributed to the three months period earnings, and lower risk-weighted assets driven by a decrease in loans held-in-portfolio. The decrease in the leverage ratio was mainly attributed to the increase in average total assets. Refer to Table 1, Financial Condition Highlights, for information of average assets and to the Financial Condition Analysis section of this MD&A for a discussion of significant variances in assets.

Non-GAAP financial measures

The tangible common equity ratio, tangible assets and tangible book value per common share, which are presented in the table that follows, are non-GAAP measures. Management and many stock analysts use the tangible common equity ratio and tangible book value per common share in conjunction with more traditional bank capital ratios to compare the capital adequacy of banking organizations with significant amounts of goodwill or other intangible assets, typically stemming from the use of the purchase accounting method of accounting for mergers and acquisitions. Neither tangible common equity nor tangible assets or related measures should be considered in isolation or as a substitute for stockholders’ equity, total assets or any other measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. Moreover, the manner in which the Corporation calculates its tangible common equity, tangible assets and any other related measures may differ from that of other companies reporting measures with similar names.

 

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Table 14 provides a reconciliation of total stockholders’ equity to tangible common equity and total assets to tangible assets as of March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017.

Table 14 - Reconciliation of Tangible Common Equity and Tangible Assets

 

(In thousands, except share or per share information)		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Total stockholders’ equity		$	5,064,909			$	5,103,905
Less: Preferred stock			(50,160	)			(50,160	)
Less: Goodwill			(627,294	)			(627,294	)
Less: Other intangibles			(33,347	)			(35,672	)
Total tangible common equity		$	4,354,108			$	4,390,779
Total assets		$	45,756,761			$	44,277,337
Less: Goodwill			(627,294	)			(627,294	)
Less: Other intangibles			(33,347	)			(35,672	)
Total tangible assets		$	45,096,120			$	43,614,371
Tangible common equity to tangible assets			9.66	%			10.07	%
Common shares outstanding at end of period			102,189,914				102,068,981
Tangible book value per common share		$	42.61			$	43.02

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER COMMITMENTS

In the ordinary course of business, the Corporation engages in financial transactions that are not recorded on the balance sheet, or may be recorded on the balance sheet in amounts that are different than the full contract or notional amount of the transaction. As a provider of financial services, the Corporation routinely enters into commitments with off-balance sheet risk to meet the financial needs of its customers. These commitments may include loan commitments and standby letters of credit. These commitments are subject to the same credit policies and approval process used for on-balance sheet instruments. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the statement of financial position. Other types of off-balance sheet arrangements that the Corporation enters in the ordinary course of business include derivatives, operating leases and provision of guarantees, indemnifications, and representation and warranties. Refer to Note 20 for a detailed discussion related to the Corporation’s obligations under credit recourse and representation and warranties arrangements.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

The Corporation has various financial obligations, including contractual obligations and commercial commitments, which require future cash payments on debt and lease agreements. Also, in the normal course of business, the Corporation enters into contractual arrangements whereby it commits to future purchases of products or services from third parties. Obligations that are legally binding agreements, whereby the Corporation agrees to purchase products or services with a specific minimum quantity defined at a fixed, minimum or variable price over a specified period of time, are defined as purchase obligations.

Purchase obligations include major legal and binding contractual obligations outstanding at March 31, 2018, primarily for services, equipment and real estate construction projects. Services include software licensing and maintenance, facilities maintenance, supplies purchasing, and other goods or services used in the operation of the business. Generally, these contracts are renewable or cancelable at least annually, although in some cases the Corporation has committed to contracts that may extend for several years to secure favorable pricing concessions. Purchase obligations amounted to $324 million at March 31, 2018 of which approximately 50% mature in 2018, 25% in 2019, 14% in 2020 and 11% thereafter.

The Corporation also enters into derivative contracts under which it is required either to receive or pay cash, depending on changes in interest rates. These contracts are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition with the fair value representing the net present value of the expected future cash receipts and payments based on market rates of interest as of the statement of condition date. The fair value of the contract changes daily as interest rates change. The Corporation may also be required to post additional collateral on margin calls on the derivatives and repurchase transactions.

Refer to Note 16 for a breakdown of long-term borrowings by maturity.

 

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The Corporation utilizes lending-related financial instruments in the normal course of business to accommodate the financial needs of its customers. The Corporation’s exposure to credit losses in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and commercial letters of credit is represented by the contractual notional amount of these instruments. The Corporation uses credit procedures and policies in making those commitments and conditional obligations as it does in extending loans to customers. Since many of the commitments may expire without being drawn upon, the total contractual amounts are not representative of the Corporation’s actual future credit exposure or liquidity requirements for these commitments.

Table 15 presents the contractual amounts related to the Corporation’s off-balance sheet lending and other activities at March 31, 2018.

Table 15 - Off-Balance Sheet Lending and Other Activities

 

		Amount of commitment - Expiration Period
(In thousands)		2018				Years 2019 - 2020				Years 2021 - 2022				Years 2023 - thereafter				Total
Commitments to extend credit		$	6,355,651			$	894,735			$	143,968			$	75,363			$	7,469,717
Commercial letters of credit			1,217				—				—				—				1,217
Standby letters of credit			19,499				13,641				—				—				33,140
Commitments to originate or fund mortgage loans			19,292				871				—				—				20,163
Total		$	6,395,659			$	909,247			$	143,968			$	75,363			$	7,524,237

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Corporation maintained a reserve of approximately $11 million and $10 million, respectively, for probable losses associated with unfunded loan commitments related to commercial and consumer lines of credit. The estimated reserve is principally based on the expected draws on these facilities using historical trends and the application of the corresponding reserve factors determined under the Corporation’s allowance for loan losses methodology. This reserve for unfunded loan commitments remains separate and distinct from the allowance for loan losses and is reported as part of other liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial condition.

Refer to Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on credit commitments and contingencies.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Managing risk is an essential component of the Corporation’s business. Risk identification and monitoring are key elements in the overall risk management. Popular has a strong disciplined risk management culture where risk management is a shared responsibility by all employees.

Risk Management Framework

Popular’s risk management framework seeks to ensure that there is an effective process in place to manage risk across the organization. Popular’s risk management framework incorporates three interconnected dependencies: risk appetite, stress testing, and capital planning. The stress testing process incorporates key risks within the context of the Risk Appetite Statement (RAS) defined in our Risk Management Policy. The process analyzes and delineates how much risk Popular is prepared to assume in pursuit of its business strategy and how much capital Popular’s activities will consume in light of a forward-looking assessment of the potential impact of adverse economic conditions. The RAS includes risk tolerance, limits, and types of risks the Corporation is willing to accept, as well as processes to maintain compliance with those limits.

Principal Risk Types

 

•

Credit Risk – Potential for default or loss resulting from an obligor’s failure to meet the terms of any contract with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or failure otherwise to perform as agreed. Credit risk arises from all activities where success depends on counterparty, issuer, or borrower performance.

 

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•

Interest Rate Risk (“IRR”) – The risk to earnings or capital arising from changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk arises from differences between the timing of rate changes and the timing of cash flows (repricing risk); from changing rate relationships among different yield curves affecting bank lending and borrowing activities (basis risk); from changing rate relationships across the spectrum of maturities (yield curve risk); and from interest related options embedded in bank products (options risk).

 

•

Market Risk – Potential for economic loss resulting from changes in market prices of the assets or liabilities in the Corporation’s or in any of its subsidiaries’ portfolios.

 

•

Liquidity Risk – Potential for loss resulting from the Corporation or its subsidiaries not being able to meet their financial obligations when they come due. This could be a result of market conditions, the ability of the Corporation to liquidate assets or manage or diversify various funding sources. This risk also encompasses the possibility that an instrument cannot be closed out or sold at its economic value, which might be a result of stress in the market or in a specific security type given its credit, volume and maturity.

 

•

Operational Risk – Possibility that inadequate or failed systems and internal controls or procedures, human error, fraud or external influences such as disasters, can cause losses. It includes the risk for those processes that have been outsourced to third parties and the risk of the inadequate use of models.

 

•

Compliance Risk – Potential for loss resulting from violations of or non-conformance with laws, rules, regulations, or prescribed practices.

 

•

Regulatory and Legal Risk – Risk of negative impact to business activities, earnings or capital, regulatory relationships or reputation as a result of failure to comply with or a failure to adapt to current and changing regulations, law, rules, regulatory expectations, existing contracts or ethical standards.

 

•

Strategic Risk – Potential for loss arising from adverse business decisions or improper implementation of business decisions. Also, it incorporates how management analyzes external factors that impact the strategic direction of the Corporation.

 

•

Reputational Risk – Potential for loss arising from negative public opinion.

Risk Governance

The Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has established a Risk Management Committee (“RMC”) to undertake the responsibilities of overseeing and approving the Corporation’s Risk Management Program, as well as the Corporation’s Capital Plan. The Capital Plan is a plan to maintain sufficient regulatory capital at the Corporation, BPPR and PB, which considers current and future regulatory capital requirements, expected future profitability and credit trends and, at least, two macroeconomic scenarios, including a base and stress scenario.

The RMC, as an oversight body, monitors and approves corporate policies to identify measure, monitor and control risks while maintaining the effectiveness and efficiency of the business and operational processes. As an approval body for the Corporation, the RMC reviews and approves relevant risk management policies and critical processes. Also, it periodically reports to the Board about its activities.

The Board and RMC have delegated to the Corporation’s management the implementation of the risk management processes. This implementation is split into two separate but coordinated efforts that include (i) business and / or operational units who identify, manage and control the risks resulting from their activities, and (ii) a Risk Management Group (“RMG”). In general, the RMG is mandated with responsibilities such as assessing and reporting to the Corporation’s management and RMC the risk positions of the Corporation; developing and implementing mechanisms, policies and procedures to identify, measure and monitor risks; implementing measurement mechanisms and infrastructure to achieve effective risk monitoring; developing and implementing the necessary management information and reporting mechanisms; and monitoring and testing the adequacy of the Corporation’s policies, strategies and guidelines.

The RMG is responsible for the overall coordination of risk management efforts throughout the Corporation and has four divisions that are charged with risk management responsibilities: (i) Credit Risk Management, (ii) Regulatory and Financial Compliance, (iii) Financial Crimes Compliance; and (iv) Financial and Operational Risk Management. The latter includes an Enterprise Risk Management function that facilitates, among other aspects, the identification, coordination, and management of multiple and cross-enterprise risks. The Corporation’s Corporate Risk Reviews group, which reports directly to the RMC and administratively to the Chief Risk Officer, also provides important risk management functions by validating critical models used in the Corporation and by assessing the adequacy of the Corporation’s lending risk function.

 

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Additionally, the Internal Auditing Division provides an independent assessment of the Corporation’s internal control structure and related systems and processes. The Internal Audit Division also provides an assessment of the effectiveness of the Corporation’s risk management function.

Moreover, management oversight of the Corporation’s risk-taking and risk management activities is conducted through management committees:

 

•

CRESCO (Credit Strategy Committee) – Manages the Corporation’s overall credit exposure and approves credit policies, standards and guidelines that define, quantify, and monitor credit risk. Through this committee, management reviews asset quality ratios, trends and forecasts, problem loans, establishes the provision for loan losses and assesses the methodology and adequacy of the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis.

 

•

ALCO (Asset/Liability Management Committee) – Oversees and approves the policies and processes designed to ensure sound market risk and balance sheet strategies, including the interest rate, liquidity, investment and trading policies. The ALCO monitors the capital position and plan for the Corporation and approves all capital management strategies, including capital market transactions and capital distributions. The ALCO also monitors forecasted results and their impact on capital, liquidity, and net interest margin of the Corporation.

 

•

ORCO (Operational Risk Committee) – Monitors operational risk management activities to ensure the development and consistent application of operational risk policies, processes and procedures that measure, limit and manage the Corporation’s operational risks while maintaining the effectiveness and efficiency of the operating and businesses’ processes.

 

•

Compliance Committees – Monitors regulatory compliance activities to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the Corporation’s policies. This includes Section 23A & B, Fair Lending, and BSA/Anti-Money Laundering Committees.

 

•

ERM (Enterprise Management Committee) – Monitors Market, Interest, Liquidity, Compliance, Regulatory, Legal, Strategic, Operational (including Information Security & Cyber), and Reputational risks in the Risk Appetite Statement (RAS) and within the Corporation’s ERM framework.

There are other management committees such as the New Products and Fiduciary Risk Committees, among others, which provide oversight of specific business risks.

Market / Interest Rate Risk

The financial results and capital levels of the Corporation are constantly exposed to market, interest rate and liquidity risks. The ALCO and the Corporate Finance Group are responsible for planning and executing the Corporation’s market, interest rate risk, funding activities and strategy, and for implementing the policies and procedures approved by the RMC and the ALCO. In addition, the Financial and Operational Risk Management Division is responsible for the independent monitoring and reporting of adherence with established policies to the Risk Management Committee, and enhancing and strengthening controls surrounding interest, liquidity and market risk. The ALCO generally meets on a weekly basis and reviews the Corporation’s current and forecasted asset and liability levels as well as desired pricing strategies and other relevant financial management and interest rate and risk topics. Also, on a monthly basis the ALCO reviews various interest rate risk sensitivity metrics, ratios and portfolio information, including but not limited to, the Corporation’s liquidity positions, projected sources and uses of funds, interest rate risk positions and economic conditions.

Market risk refers to the risk of a reduction in the Corporation’s capital due to changes in the market valuation of its assets and/or liabilities.

Most of the assets subject to market valuation risk are securities in the debt securities portfolio classified as available-for-sale. Refer to Notes 5 and 6 for further information on the debt securities available for sale and held to maturity portfolio. Debt securities classified as available-for-sale amounted to $10.4 billion as of March 31, 2018. Other assets subject to market risk include loans held-for-sale, which amounted to $78 million, mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”) which amounted to $166 million and securities classified as “trading”, which amounted to $42 million, as of March 31, 2018.

Liabilities subject to market risk include the FDIC clawback obligation, which amounted to $ 171 million at March 31, 2018.

Management believes that market risk is currently not a material source of risk at the Corporation.

 

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Interest Rate Risk (“IRR’)

The Corporation’s net interest income is subject to various categories of interest rate risk, including repricing, basis, yield curve and option risks. In managing interest rate risk, management may alter the mix of floating and fixed rate assets and liabilities, change pricing schedules, adjust maturities through sales and purchases of investment securities, and enter into derivative contracts, among other alternatives.

Interest rate risk management is an active process that encompasses monitoring loan and deposit flows complemented by investment and funding activities. Effective management of interest rate risk begins with understanding the dynamic characteristics of assets and liabilities and determining the appropriate rate risk position given line of business forecasts, management objectives, market expectations and policy constraints.

Management utilizes various tools to assess IRR, including Net Interest Income (“NII“) simulation modeling, static gap analysis, and Economic Value of Equity (EVE). The three methodologies complement each other and are used jointly in the evaluation of the Corporation’s IRR. NII simulation modeling is prepared for a five-year period, which in conjunction with the EVE analysis, provides management a better view of long term IRR.

Net interest income simulation analysis performed by legal entity and on a consolidated basis is a tool used by the Corporation in estimating the potential change in net interest income resulting from hypothetical changes in interest rates. Sensitivity analysis is calculated using a simulation model which incorporates actual balance sheet figures detailed by maturity and interest yields or costs.

Management assesses interest rate risk by comparing various NII simulations under different interest rate scenarios that differ in direction of interest rate changes, the degree of change and the projected shape of the yield curve. For example, the types of rate scenarios processed during the quarter include flat rates, implied forwards, parallel and non-parallel rate shocks. Management also performs analyses to isolate and measure basis and prepayment risk exposures.

The asset and liability management group performs validation procedures on various assumptions used as part of the simulation analyses as well as validations of results on a monthly basis. In addition, the model and processes used to assess IRR are subject to independent validations according to the guidelines established in the Model Governance and Validation policy.

The Corporation processes NII simulations under interest rate scenarios in which the yield curve is assumed to rise and decline by the same amount (parallel shifts). The rate scenarios considered in these market risk simulations reflect parallel changes of -200, +200 and +400 basis points during the succeeding twelve-month period. Simulation analyses are based on many assumptions, including relative levels of market interest rates across all yield curve points and indexes, interest rate spreads, loan prepayments and deposit elasticity. Thus, they should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results. Further, the estimates do not contemplate actions that management could take to respond to changes in interest rates. By their nature, these forward-looking computations are only estimates and may be different from what may actually occur in the future. The following table presents the results of the simulations at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, assuming a static balance sheet and parallel changes over flat spot rates over a one-year time horizon:

Table 16 - Net Interest Income Sensitivity (One Year Projection)

 

		March 31, 2018								December 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)		Amount Change				Percent Change				Amount Change				Percent Change
Change in interest rate
+400 basis points		$	266,215				16.14	%		$	227,970				14.26	%
+200 basis points			132,885				8.05				114,943				7.19
-200 basis points			(215,475	)			(13.06	)			(176,095	)			(11.01	)

The results of the NII simulations at December 31, 2017 in the table above have been adjusted to align the assumptions used with respect to interest rates on non-maturity public funds deposits to contractual terms of their related depository agreements. Previously, assumptions with respect to such deposits had been based on the historical behavior of commercial and public deposits in the aggregate and did not consider the fact that contracts governing such non-maturity public deposits contained provisions that require BPPR, in certain circumstances, to make adjustments to the interest rate payable

 

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on such deposits based upon changes in market interest rates. Although as a result of such adjustment the magnitude of the Corporation’s sensitivity to increases in interest rates becomes lower, the Corporation continues to be in an asset sensitive position due mainly to, among other reasons: (i) a high level of money market investments that are highly sensitive to changes in interest rates, (ii) approximately 34% of the Corporation’s loan portfolio being comprised of Prime and Libor-based loans and (iii) low elasticity of the Corporation’s core deposit base.

The following table compares the results of the sensitivity analysis at December 31, 2017, as initially reported in the Corporation’s Form 10-K, with the amounts resulting from the changes described above:

Table 17 - Net Interest Income Sensitivity (One Year Projection) Correction

 

		At December 31, 2017
		As reported								Revised								Change
(Dollars in thousands)		Amount change				Percent change				Amount change				Percent change				Amount change				Percent change
Change in interest rate
+ 400 basis points		$	409,924				25.57	%		$	227,970				14.26	%		$	181,954				11.31	%
+ 200 basis points			205,011				12.79				114,943				7.19				90,068				5.60
- 200 basis points			(169,126	)			(10.55	)			(176,095	)			(11.01	)			6,969				0.46

At March 31, 2018, the simulations showed that the Corporation maintains an asset-sensitive position. The increase in sensitivity from December 31, 2017 in the +200 and +400 scenarios is mainly driven by an increase in money market investments of $1.7 billion, from $5.3 billion at December 31, 2017 to $7.0 billion at March 31, 2018, primarily due to growth in interest-bearing non-maturity deposits. The increase in sensitivity in the -200 scenario is also driven by the increase in money market investments, which are subject to immediate repricing as rates change across all scenarios, combined with the increase in the Federal Funds Target Rate in March 2018 by the Federal Reserve, which led to an increase in the magnitude of the -200 basis points scenario.

The Corporation’s loan and investment portfolios are subject to prepayment risk, which results from the ability of a third-party to repay debt obligations prior to maturity. Prepayment risk also could have a significant impact on the duration of mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, since prepayments could shorten (or lower prepayments could extend) the weighted average life of these portfolios.

Trading

The Corporation engages in trading activities in the ordinary course of business at its subsidiaries, BPPR and Popular Securities. Popular Securities’ trading activities consist primarily of market-making activities to meet expected customers’ needs related to its retail brokerage business, and purchases and sales of U.S. Government and government sponsored securities with the objective of realizing gains from expected short-term price movements. BPPR’s trading activities consist primarily of holding U.S. Government sponsored mortgage-backed securities classified as “trading” and hedging the related market risk with “TBA” (to-be-announced) market transactions. The objective is to derive spread income from the portfolio and not to benefit from short-term market movements. In addition, BPPR uses forward contracts or TBAs to hedge its securitization pipeline. Risks related to variations in interest rates and market volatility are hedged with TBAs that have characteristics similar to that of the forecasted security and its conversion timeline.

At March 31, 2018, the Corporation held trading securities with a fair value of $42 million, representing approximately 0.1% of the Corporation’s total assets, compared with $34 million and 0.1%, respectively, at December 31, 2017. As shown in Table 18, the trading portfolio consists principally of mortgage-backed securities relating to BPPR’s mortgage activities described above, which at March 31, 2018 were investment grade securities. As of March 31, 2018, the trading portfolio also included $9 million in U.S. Treasury securities and $0.2 million in Puerto Rico government obligations ($0.3 million and $0.2 million as of December 31, 2017,

 

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respectively). Trading instruments are recognized at fair value, with changes resulting from fluctuations in market prices, interest rates or exchange rates reported in current period earnings. The Corporation recognized a net trading account loss of $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively. Table 18 provides the composition of the trading portfolio at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

Table 18 - Trading Portfolio

 

		March 31, 2018								December 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)		Amount				Weighted Average Yield [1]				Amount				Weighted Average Yield [1]
Mortgage-backed securities		$	28,915				5.41	%		$	29,280				5.40	%
U.S. Treasury securities			9,251				1.65				261				1.31
Collateralized mortgage obligations			488				5.72				529				5.74
Puerto Rico government obligations			165				0.27				159				0.28
Interest-only strips			519				12.31				529				12.58
Other [2]			3,048				2.83				3,168				2.43
Total		$	42,386				4.11	%		$	33,926				5.18	%

 

[1]	Not on a taxable equivalent basis.

[2]	Includes trading derivatives for the period ended March 31, 2018.

The Corporation’s trading activities are limited by internal policies. For each of the two subsidiaries, the market risk assumed under trading activities is measured by the 5-day net value-at-risk (“VAR”), with a confidence level of 99%. The VAR measures the maximum estimated loss that may occur over a 5-day holding period, given a 99% probability.

The Corporation’s trading portfolio had a 5-day VAR of approximately $0.2 million for the last week in March 2018. There are numerous assumptions and estimates associated with VAR modeling, and actual results could differ from these assumptions and estimates. Backtesting is performed to compare actual results against maximum estimated losses, in order to evaluate model and assumptions accuracy.

In the opinion of management, the size and composition of the trading portfolio does not represent a significant source of market risk for the Corporation.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Corporation currently measures at fair value on a recurring basis its trading debt securities, debt securities available-for-sale, certain equity securities, derivatives, mortgage servicing rights and contingent consideration. Occasionally, the Corporation may be required to record at fair value other assets on a nonrecurring basis, such as loans held-for-sale, impaired loans held-in-portfolio that are collateral dependent and certain other assets. These nonrecurring fair value adjustments typically result from the application of lower of cost or fair value accounting or write-downs of individual assets.

The fair value of assets and liabilities may include market or credit related adjustments, where appropriate. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, inclusion of credit risk in the fair value of the derivatives resulted in a net loss of $344 thousand recorded in the other operating income and interest expense captions of the Consolidated Statement of Operations, which consisted of a loss of $315 thousand resulting from the Corporation’s own credit standing adjustment and a loss of $29 thousand from the assessment of the counterparties’ credit risk.

The Corporation categorizes its assets and liabilities measured at fair value under the three-level hierarchy. The level within the hierarchy is based on whether the inputs to the valuation methodology used for fair value measurement are observable.

 

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Refer to Note 24 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information on the Corporation’s fair value measurement required by the applicable accounting standard. At March 31, 2018, approximately $ 10.5 billion, or 98%, of the assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis used market-based or market-derived valuation inputs in their valuation methodology and, therefore, were classified as Level 1 or Level 2. The majority of instruments measured at fair value were classified as Level 2, including U.S. Treasury notes, obligations of U.S. Government sponsored entities, obligations of Puerto Rico, States and political subdivisions, most mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), and derivative instruments.

Broker quotes used for fair value measurements inherently reflect any lack of liquidity in the market since they represent an exit price from the perspective of the market participants. Financial assets that were fair valued using broker quotes amounted to $ 1 million at March 31, 2018. These Level 3 assets consisted of tax-exempt GNMA mortgage-backed securities. Fair value for these securities was based on an internally-prepared matrix derived from local broker quotes. The main input used in the matrix pricing was non-binding local broker quotes obtained from limited trade activity.

Refer to Note 31 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2017 Form 10-K for a description of the Corporation’s valuation methodologies used for the assets and liabilities measured at fair value. Also, refer to the Critical Accounting Policies / Estimates in the 2017 Form 10-K for additional information on the accounting guidance and the Corporation’s policies or procedures related to fair value measurements.

Inputs are evaluated to ascertain that they consider current market conditions, including the relative liquidity of the market. When a market quote for a specific security is not available, the pricing service provider generally uses observable data to derive an exit price for the instrument, such as benchmark yield curves and trade data for similar products. To the extent trading data is not available, the pricing service provider relies on specific information including dialogue with brokers, buy side clients, credit ratings, spreads to established benchmarks and transactions on similar securities, to draw correlations based on the characteristics of the evaluated instrument. If for any reason the pricing service provider cannot observe data required to feed its model, it discontinues pricing the instrument. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, none of the Corporation’s investment securities were subject to pricing discontinuance by the pricing service providers. The pricing methodology and approach of our primary pricing service providers is concluded to be consistent with the fair value measurement guidance. In addition, during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation did not adjust any prices obtained from pricing service providers or broker dealers for its investment securities.

Furthermore, management assesses the fair value of its portfolio of investment securities at least on a quarterly basis, which includes analyzing changes in fair value that have resulted in losses that may be considered other-than-temporary. Factors considered include, for example, the nature of the investment, severity and duration of possible impairments, industry reports, sector credit ratings, economic environment, creditworthiness of the issuers and any guarantees.

Securities are classified in the fair value hierarchy according to product type, characteristics and market liquidity. At the end of each period, management assesses the fair value hierarchy for each asset or liability measured. The fair value measurement analysis performed by the Corporation includes validation procedures with alternate pricing sources when available and review of market changes, pricing methodology, assumption and level hierarchy changes, and evaluation of distressed transactions. Management has established materiality thresholds according to the investment class to monitor and investigate material deviations in prices obtained from the primary pricing service provider and the secondary pricing source used as support for the valuation results.

Liquidity

The objective of effective liquidity management is to ensure that the Corporation has sufficient liquidity to meet all of its financial obligations, finance expected future growth and maintain a reasonable safety margin for cash commitments under both normal and stressed market conditions. The Board is responsible for establishing the Corporation’s tolerance for liquidity risk, including approving relevant risk limits and policies. The Board has delegated the monitoring of these risks to the RMC and the ALCO. The management of liquidity risk, on a long-term and day-to-day basis, is the responsibility of the Corporate Treasury Division. The Corporation’s Corporate Treasurer is responsible for implementing the policies and procedures approved by the Board and for monitoring the Corporation’s liquidity position on an ongoing basis. Also, the Corporate Treasury Division coordinates corporate wide liquidity management strategies and activities with the reportable segments, oversees policy breaches and manages the escalation process. The Financial and Operational Risk Management Division is responsible for the independent monitoring and reporting of adherence with established policies.

An institution’s liquidity may be pressured if, for example, its credit rating is downgraded, it experiences a sudden and unexpected substantial cash outflow, or some other event causes counterparties to avoid exposure to the institution. Factors that the Corporation does not control, such as the economic outlook, adverse ratings of its principal markets and regulatory changes, could also affect its ability to obtain funding.

 

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Liquidity is managed by the Corporation at the level of the holding companies that own the banking and non-banking subsidiaries. It is also managed at the level of the banking and non-banking subsidiaries. The Corporation has adopted policies and limits to monitor more effectively the Corporation’s liquidity position and that of the banking subsidiaries. Additionally, contingency funding plans are used to model various stress events of different magnitudes and affecting different time horizons that assist management in evaluating the size of the liquidity buffers needed if those stress events occur. However, such models may not predict accurately how the market and customers might react to every event, and are dependent on many assumptions.

On January 23, 2017, the Corporation’s Board of Directors approved an increase in the Company’s quarterly common stock dividend from $0.15 per share to $0.25 per share. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation declared dividends on its common stock of $ 25.5 million. During the first quarter of 2017, the Corporation completed a $75 million privately negotiated accelerated share repurchase transaction. Refer to additional information on Note 18 – Stockholder’s equity.

Deposits, including customer deposits, brokered deposits and public funds deposits, continue to be the most significant source of funds for the Corporation, funding 81% of the Corporation’s total assets at March 31, 2018 and 80% at December 31, 2017. The ratio of total ending loans to deposits was 66% at March 31, 2018, compared to 70% at December 31, 2017. In addition to traditional deposits, the Corporation maintains borrowing arrangements. At March 31, 2018, these borrowings consisted primarily of $ 380 million in assets sold under agreement to repurchase, $844 million in advances with the FHLB, $439 million in junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (net of debt issuance cost) related to trust preferred securities and $447 million in term notes (net of debt issuance cost) issued to partially fund the repayment of TARP funds. A detailed description of the Corporation’s borrowings, including their terms, is included in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Also, the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements provide information on the Corporation’s cash inflows and outflows.

The following sections provide further information on the Corporation’s major funding activities and needs, as well as the risks involved in these activities. A detailed description of the Corporation’s borrowings and available lines of credit, including its terms, is included in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Also, the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements provide information on the Corporation’s cash inflows and outflows.

Banking Subsidiaries

Primary sources of funding for the Corporation’s banking subsidiaries (BPPR and PB), or “the banking subsidiaries,” include retail and commercial deposits, brokered deposits, unpledged investment securities, mortgage loan securitization, and, to a lesser extent, loan sales. In addition, the Corporation maintains borrowing facilities with the FHLB and at the discount window of the Federal Reserve Board (the “FRB”), and has a considerable amount of collateral pledged that can be used to quickly raise funds under these facilities.

The principal uses of funds for the banking subsidiaries include loan originations, investment portfolio purchases, loan purchases and repurchases, repayment of outstanding obligations (including deposits), and operational expenses. Also, the banking subsidiaries assume liquidity risk related to collateral posting requirements for certain activities mainly in connection with contractual commitments, recourse provisions, servicing advances, derivatives, credit card licensing agreements and support to several mutual funds administered by BPPR.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, BPPR declared cash dividends of $23 million, a portion of which was used by Popular, Inc. for the payments of the cash dividends on its outstanding common stock.

Note 35 to the Consolidated Financial Statements provides a consolidating statement of cash flows which includes the Corporation’s banking subsidiaries as part of the “All other subsidiaries and eliminations” column.

The banking subsidiaries maintain sufficient funding capacity to address large increases in funding requirements such as deposit outflows. This capacity is comprised mainly of available liquidity derived from secured funding sources, as well as on-balance sheet liquidity in the form of cash balances maintained at the Fed and unused secured lines held at the FRB and FHLB, in addition to liquid unpledged securities. The Corporation has established liquidity guidelines that require the banking subsidiaries to have sufficient liquidity to cover all short-term borrowings and a portion of deposits.

 

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The Corporation’s ability to compete successfully in the marketplace for deposits, excluding brokered deposits, depends on various factors, including pricing, service, convenience and financial stability as reflected by operating results, credit ratings (by nationally recognized credit rating agencies), and importantly, FDIC deposit insurance. Although a downgrade in the credit ratings of the Corporation’s banking subsidiaries may impact their ability to raise retail and commercial deposits or the rate that it is required to pay on such deposits, management does not believe that the impact should be material. Deposits at all of the Corporation’s banking subsidiaries are federally insured (subject to FDIC limits) and this is expected to mitigate the potential effect of a downgrade in the credit ratings.

Deposits are a key source of funding as they tend to be less volatile than institutional borrowings and their cost is less sensitive to changes in market rates. Refer to Table 12 for a breakdown of deposits by major types. Core deposits are generated from a large base of consumer, corporate and institutional customers. Core deposits include all non-interest bearing deposits, savings deposits and certificates of deposit under $100,000, excluding brokered deposits with denominations under $100,000. Core deposits have historically provided the Corporation with a sizable source of relatively stable and low-cost funds. Core deposits totaled $ 32.3 billion, or 87% of total deposits, at March 31, 2018, compared with $30.9 billion, or 87% of total deposits, at December 31, 2017. Core deposits financed 76% of the Corporation’s earning assets at March 31, 2018, compared with 76% at December 31, 2017.

Certificates of deposit with denominations of $100,000 and over at March 31, 2018 totaled $ 4.3 billion, or 12% of total deposits (December 31, 2017 - $4.1 billion, or 11% of total deposits). Their distribution by maturity at March 31, 2018 is presented in the table that follows:

Table 19 - Distribution by Maturity of Certificate of Deposits of $100,000 and Over

 

(In thousands)
3 months or less		$	1,709,018
3 to 6 months			512,426
6 to 12 months			670,995
Over 12 months			1,443,170
Total		$	4,335,609

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, approximately 1% of the Corporation’s assets were financed by brokered deposits. The Corporation had $ 0.6 billion in brokered deposits at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $0.5 billion). In the event that any of the Corporation’s banking subsidiaries’ regulatory capital ratios fall below those required by a well-capitalized institution or are subject to capital restrictions by the regulators, that banking subsidiary faces the risk of not being able to raise or maintain brokered deposits and faces limitations on the rate paid on deposits, which may hinder the Corporation’s ability to effectively compete in its retail markets and could affect its deposit raising efforts.

To the extent that the banking subsidiaries are unable to obtain sufficient liquidity through core deposits, the Corporation may meet its liquidity needs through short-term borrowings by pledging securities for borrowings under repurchase agreements, by pledging additional loans and securities through the available secured lending facilities, or by selling liquid assets. These measures are subject to availability of collateral.

The Corporation’s banking subsidiaries have the ability to borrow funds from the FHLB. At March 31, 2018 the banking subsidiaries had credit facilities authorized with the FHLB aggregating to $3.8 billion, based on assets pledged with the FHLB at those dates (December 31, 2017 - $3.9 billion). Outstanding borrowings under these credit facilities totaled $844 million at March 31, 2018 and $726 million at December 31, 2017. Such advances are collateralized by loans held-in-portfolio, do not have restrictive covenants and do not have any callable features. At March 31, 2018 the credit facilities authorized with the FHLB were collateralized by $4.8 billion in loans held-in-portfolio (December 31, 2017 - $4.9 billion). Refer to Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the terms of FHLB advances outstanding.

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Corporation’s borrowing capacity at the Fed’s Discount Window amounted to approximately $1.1 billion, which remained unused as of both dates. The amount available under this borrowing facility is dependent upon the balance of performing loans, securities pledged as collateral and the haircuts assigned to such collateral. At March 31, 2018, this credit facility with the Fed was collateralized by $2.1 billion of loans held-in-portfolio (December 31, 2017 - $2.0 billion).

At March 31, 2018, management believes that the banking subsidiaries had sufficient current and projected liquidity sources to meet their anticipated cash flow obligations, as well as special needs and off-balance sheet commitments, in the ordinary course of business and have sufficient liquidity resources to address a stress event. Although the banking subsidiaries have historically been able to replace maturing deposits and advances, no assurance can be given that they would be able to replace those funds in the

 

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future if the Corporation’s financial condition or general market conditions were to deteriorate. The Corporation’s financial flexibility will be severely constrained if its banking subsidiaries are unable to maintain access to funding or if adequate financing is not available to accommodate future financing needs at acceptable interest rates. The banking subsidiaries also are required to deposit cash or qualifying securities to meet margin requirements. To the extent that the value of securities previously pledged as collateral declines because of market changes, the Corporation will be required to deposit additional cash or securities to meet its margin requirements, thereby adversely affecting its liquidity. Finally, if management is required to rely more heavily on more expensive funding sources to meet its future growth, revenues may not increase proportionately to cover costs. In this case, profitability would be adversely affected.

Bank Holding Companies

The principal sources of funding for the bank holding companies (the “BHC’s”), which are Popular, Inc. (holding company only) (“PIHC”) and Popular North America, Inc. (“PNA”), include cash on hand, investment securities, dividends received from banking and non-banking subsidiaries (subject to regulatory limits and authorizations) asset sales, credit facilities available from affiliate banking subsidiaries and proceeds from potential securities offerings.

The principal use of these funds include the repayment of debt, and interest payments to holders of senior debt and junior subordinated deferrable interest (related to trust preferred securities) and capitalizing its banking subsidiaries.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, PIHC received $23 million in dividends from BPPR and $2.0 million in dividends from its non-banking subsidiaries.

Another use of liquidity at the parent holding company is the payment of dividends on its outstanding stock. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation declared quarterly dividends on its outstanding common stock of $0.25 per share, for a total of $ 25.5 million. Refer to additional information on Note 18– Stockholder’s equity. The dividends for the Corporation’s Series A and Series B preferred stock amounted to $ 0.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.

The BHC’s have in the past borrowed in the money markets and in the corporate debt market primarily to finance their non-banking subsidiaries, however, the cash needs of the Corporation’s non-banking subsidiaries other than to repay indebtedness and interest are now minimal. These sources of funding have become more costly due to the reductions in the Corporation’s credit ratings. The Corporation’s principal credit ratings are below “investment grade”, which affects the Corporation’s ability to raise funds in the capital markets. The Corporation has an automatic shelf registration statement filed and effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which permits the Corporation to issue an unspecified amount of debt or equity securities.

Note 35 to the Consolidated Financial Statements provides a statement of condition, of operations and of cash flows for the two BHC’s. The loans held-in-portfolio in such financial statements is principally associated with intercompany transactions.

The outstanding balance of notes payable at the BHC’s amounted to $887 million at March 31, 2018, compared with $886 million at December 31, 2017. The repayment of the BHC’s obligations represents a potential cash need which is expected to be met with a combination of internal liquidity resources stemming mainly from future dividend receipts and new borrowings.

The contractual maturities of the BHC’s notes payable at March 31, 2018 are presented in Table 20.

Table 20 - Distribution of BHC’s Notes Payable by Contractual Maturity

 

Year		(In thousands)
2018		$	—
2019			447,394
2020			—
2021			—
2022			—
Later years			439,357
Total		$	886,751

As indicated previously, the BHC did not issue new registered debt in the capital markets during the quarter ended March 31, 2018.

The BHCs liquidity position continues to be adequate with sufficient cash on hand, investments and other sources of liquidity which are expected to be enough to meet all BHCs obligations during the foreseeable future.

 

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Non-banking subsidiaries

The principal sources of funding for the non-banking subsidiaries include internally generated cash flows from operations, loan sales, repurchase agreements, capital injection and borrowed funds from their direct parent companies or the holding companies. The principal uses of funds for the non-banking subsidiaries include repayment of maturing debt, operational expenses and payment of dividends to the BHCs. The liquidity needs of the non-banking subsidiaries are minimal since most of them are funded internally from operating cash flows or from intercompany borrowings from their holding companies, BPPR or PB.

Other Funding Sources and Capital

The debt securities portfolio provides an additional source of liquidity, which may be realized through either securities sales or repurchase agreements. The Corporation’s debt securities portfolio consists primarily of liquid U.S. government investment securities, sponsored U.S. agency securities, government sponsored mortgage-backed securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations that can be used to raise funds in the repo markets. The availability of the repurchase agreement would be subject to having sufficient unpledged collateral available at the time the transactions are to be consummated, in addition to overall liquidity and risk appetite of the various counterparties. The Corporation’s unpledged debt securities, amounted to $3.1 billion at March 31, 2018 and $3.2 billion at December 31, 2017. A substantial portion of these debt securities could be used to raise financing quickly in the U.S. money markets or from secured lending sources.

Additional liquidity may be provided through loan maturities, prepayments and sales. The loan portfolio can also be used to obtain funding in the capital markets. In particular, mortgage loans and some types of consumer loans, have secondary markets which the Corporation could use.

Risks to Liquidity

Total lines of credit outstanding are not necessarily a measure of the total credit available on a continuing basis. Some of these lines could be subject to collateral requirements, standards of creditworthiness, leverage ratios and other regulatory requirements, among other factors. Derivatives, such as those embedded in long-term repurchase transactions or interest rate swaps, and off-balance sheet exposures, such as recourse, performance bonds or credit card arrangements, are subject to collateral requirements. As their fair value increases, the collateral requirements may increase, thereby reducing the balance of unpledged securities.

The importance of the Puerto Rico market for the Corporation is an additional risk factor that could affect its financing activities. In the case of a deterioration in economic and fiscal conditions in Puerto Rico, the credit quality of the Corporation could be affected and result in higher credit costs. The Puerto Rico economy continues to face various challenges, including significant pressures in some sectors of the residential real estate market and the recent impact of two major hurricanes. Refer to the Geographic and Government Risk section of this MD&A for some highlights on the current status of the Puerto Rico economy and the ongoing fiscal crisis.

Factors that the Corporation does not control, such as the economic outlook and credit ratings of its principal markets and regulatory changes, could also affect its ability to obtain funding. In order to prepare for the possibility of such scenario, management has adopted contingency plans for raising financing under stress scenarios when important sources of funds that are usually fully available are temporarily unavailable. These plans call for using alternate funding mechanisms, such as the pledging of certain asset classes and accessing secured credit lines and loan facilities put in place with the FHLB and the FRB.

The credit ratings of Popular’s debt obligations are a relevant factor for liquidity because they impact the Corporation’s ability to borrow in the capital markets, its cost and access to funding sources. Credit ratings are based on the financial strength, credit quality and concentrations in the loan portfolio, the level and volatility of earnings, capital adequacy, the quality of management, geographic concentration in Puerto Rico, the liquidity of the balance sheet, the availability of a significant base of core retail and commercial deposits, and the Corporation’s ability to access a broad array of wholesale funding sources, among other factors.

The Corporation’s banking subsidiaries have historically not used unsecured capital market borrowings to finance its operations, and therefore are less sensitive to the level and changes in the Corporation’s overall credit ratings. At the BHCs, the volume of capital market borrowings has declined substantially, as the non-banking lending businesses that it had historically funded have been shut down and the need to raise unsecured senior debt has been substantially reduced.

Obligations Subject to Rating Triggers or Collateral Requirements

The Corporation’s banking subsidiaries currently do not use borrowings that are rated by the major rating agencies, as these banking subsidiaries are funded primarily with deposits and secured borrowings. The banking subsidiaries had $12 million in deposits at March 31, 2018 that are subject to rating triggers.

 

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In addition, certain mortgage servicing and custodial agreements that BPPR has with third parties include rating covenants. In the event of a credit rating downgrade, the third parties have the right to require the institution to engage a substitute cash custodian for escrow deposits and/or increase collateral levels securing the recourse obligations. Also, as discussed in Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Corporation services residential mortgage loans subject to credit recourse provisions. Certain contractual agreements require the Corporation to post collateral to secure such recourse obligations if the institution’s required credit ratings are not maintained. Collateral pledged by the Corporation to secure recourse obligations amounted to approximately $45 million at March 31, 2018. The Corporation could be required to post additional collateral under the agreements. Management expects that it would be able to meet additional collateral requirements if and when needed. The requirements to post collateral under certain agreements or the loss of escrow deposits could reduce the Corporation’s liquidity resources and impact its operating results.

Credit Risk

Geographic and Government Risk

The Corporation is exposed to geographic and government risk. The Corporation’s assets and revenue composition by geographical area and by business segment reporting are presented in Note 33 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

A significant portion of our financial activities and credit exposure is concentrated in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (the “Commonwealth” or “Puerto Rico”), which continues to be in a severe economic and fiscal crisis and was significantly impacted by two major hurricanes in September 2017.

Hurricanes Impact

During the month of September 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria, two major hurricanes, caused extensive destruction in Puerto Rico, disrupting the primary market in which BPPR does business. Most relevant, Hurricane Maria made landfall on September 20, 2017, causing severe wind and flood damage to infrastructure, homes and businesses throughout Puerto Rico. Following the passage of Hurricane Maria, all Puerto Rico was left without electric power and other basic utility and infrastructure services (such as water, communications, ports and other transportation networks) were severely curtailed. The hurricanes caused significant disruption to the island’s economic activity. Most business establishments, including retailers and wholesalers, financial institutions, manufacturing facilities and hotels, were closed for several days.

Puerto Rico was declared a disaster zone by President Trump due to the impact of the hurricanes, thus making it eligible for Federal assistance. Federal, state and local governments have carried out a significant recovery operation since the impact of the hurricanes, including efforts related to debris removal, repair or replacement of damaged facilities, homes and infrastructure, and restoration of water and electricity services. As of the date of this report, electricity and water services have been restored to the vast majority of the clients of the Commonwealth’s electric and water utilities, but the electric system remains frail. Electronic transactions, a significant source of revenue for BPPR, declined significantly in the months following the hurricanes as a result of the lack of power and telecommunication services, but have already returned to pre-hurricane levels. Several reports indicate that the hurricanes have also accelerated the outmigration trends that Puerto Rico was experiencing, with many residents moving to the mainland United States, either on a temporary or permanent basis.

The damages caused by the hurricanes are substantial and are expected to have, at least in the short-term, a material adverse impact on economic activity in Puerto Rico. As further discussed below, the Certified Fiscal Plan (as defined below) estimates a 13.2% decrease in real gross national product (“GNP”) in fiscal year 2018 (July 2017-June 2018), as well as a decrease in the government’s tax revenues. It is still, however, too early to fully assess and quantify the extent of the damage caused by the hurricanes, as well as their long-term impact on economic activity.

 

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Fiscal and Economic Crisis

Even before the hurricanes, the Commonwealth was experiencing a severe fiscal and economic crisis resulting from continuing economic contraction, persistent and significant budget deficits, a high debt burden, unfunded legacy obligations, and lack of access to the capital markets, among other factors. The Commonwealth’s deficits were historically covered with bond financings, loans from Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico (“GDB”), and other extraordinary one-time revenue measures, as well through the deferment of the cost of certain legacy obligations, such as pensions.

Notwithstanding the implementation of a number of extraordinary measures aimed at increasing revenues, reducing expenditures, and managing the government’s liquidity, the Commonwealth’s structural imbalance between revenue and expenditure and its unfunded legacy obligations, coupled with the Commonwealth’s inability to access the capital markets, eventually resulted in the Commonwealth and certain of its instrumentalities being unable to pay scheduled debt payments while continuing to provide government services. A moratorium on most debt service payments has been in place since 2016 and, as further discussed below, the Commonwealth and several of its instrumentalities are currently pursuing debt restructuring proceedings under Titles III or VI of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”).

Following the hurricanes, the Commonwealth and its instrumentalities have had to incur significant extraordinary expenditures, while experiencing a decrease in tax and other revenues. The Commonwealth’s municipalities are also facing similar challenges. Such circumstances have aggravated the enduring fiscal and economic crisis and have further strained the liquidity of certain government entities, notwithstanding the receipt of significant Federal assistance. The government announced earlier this year that it would need to obtain loans from the Federal government in order to continue financing the recovery efforts and to provide necessary, interim support to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (“PREPA”) and the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (“PRASA”). Furthermore, in January 2018, the Legislative Assembly enacted legislation to authorize the government to make loans of up to $550 million and $80 million to PREPA and PRASA, respectively, in order to cover the expected liquidity shortfalls of such entities, which provide essential electric power and water services to the residents of Puerto Rico. On February 19, 2018, the federal judge presiding over the pending debt restructuring proceedings under Title III of PROMESA (further discussed below) authorized PREPA to obtain a $300 million emergency loan from the Commonwealth, a significant portion of which has already been repaid. The purpose of such loan was to provide temporary liquidity relief to PREPA to allow for recovery efforts to continue and prevent further service interruptions. The Oversight Board and the Government anticipate that the Government will need to implement a number of additional extraordinary measures to address its many challenges, some of which are described below under “Fiscal Plans.”

Economic Performance

Puerto Rico entered into recession in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2006. Puerto Rico’s GNP has thereafter contracted in real terms every year between fiscal year 2007 and fiscal year 2016 (inclusive), with the exception of growth of 0.5% in fiscal year 2012 (likely as a result of the large amount of governmental stimulus and deficit spending in that fiscal year). The last Puerto Rico Planning Board estimates, released in April 2017 (before the impact of the hurricanes), projected GNP to further contract by 1.7% and 1.5% during fiscal years 2017 and 2018, respectively. The latest Economic Activity Index issued by GDB, which is an indicator of general economic activity and not a direct measurement of GNP, reflected a 2.1% reduction in the average for fiscal year 2017, compared to the prior fiscal year. During the first six months of fiscal year 2018 (July 2017-December 2017), the Economic Activity Index reflected a 9.4% average reduction compared to the corresponding figure for fiscal year 2017.

As discussed above, Hurricanes Irma and Maria have had a material adverse impact on economic activity that is likely to be reflected in further reductions to GNP and the Economic Activity Index during fiscal year 2018. The Puerto Rico economy could also be adversely impacted as a result of the enactment by the U.S. Congress of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which imposes a 12.5% tax on income generated from patents and licenses held by companies outside of the United States, including those operating in Puerto Rico. Such new tax could affect Puerto Rico’s ability to attract or retain foreign corporations engaged in manufacturing, a dominant sector in the Puerto Rico economy. Considering these factors, the Certified Fiscal Plan estimates a 13.2% contraction in real GNP for fiscal year 2018.

Enactment of PROMESA

PROMESA, which was enacted by the Federal government in June 2016, created a seven-member federally-appointed oversight board (the “Oversight Board”) with ample powers over the fiscal and economic affairs of the Commonwealth, its instrumentalities, and municipalities. On August 2016, President Obama appointed the seven voting members of the Oversight Board. Pursuant to PROMESA, the Oversight Board will remain in place until market access is restored and balanced budgets, in accordance with modified accrual accounting, are produced for at least four consecutive years.

 

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The Oversight Board has designated the Commonwealth and all of its instrumentalities as “covered entities” under PROMESA. None of the Commonwealth’s municipalities, however, have been designated as covered entities as of the date of this report. Such designation has several implications under PROMESA. First, it means that the Governor has to submit such entity’s annual budgets and, if the Oversight Board so requests, its fiscal plans, to the Oversight Board for its review and approval. Second, covered entities may not issue debt or guarantee, exchange, modify, repurchase, redeem, or enter into similar transactions with respect to their debts without the prior approval of the Oversight Board. Finally, they could also potentially be eligible to use the restructuring processes provided by PROMESA. One of such restructuring processes, Title VI, is a largely out-of-court process through which a government entity and its financial creditors can agree on terms to restructure such entity’s debt. If a supermajority of creditors of a certain category agrees, that agreement can bind all other creditors in such category. The other one, Title III, draws on the federal bankruptcy code and provides a court-supervised process for a comprehensive restructuring led by the Oversight Board. Access to either of these procedures is dependent on compliance with certain requirements established in PROMESA, including the approval of the Oversight Board.

Fiscal Plans

Commonwealth Fiscal Plan. As required by PROMESA, the government submitted a fiscal plan to the Oversight Board, which the Oversight Board certified, with certain amendments, on March 2017 (the “Original Fiscal Plan”). The Original Fiscal Plan, covering the Commonwealth and several of its instrumentalities, estimated that, absent the revenue enhancing and expense reduction measures set forth therein and assuming the payment of debt service as contracted, the Commonwealth’s 10-year budget gap would reach approximately $66.9 billion. Assuming the successful implementation of all measures set forth therein, the Original Fiscal Plan projected that the Commonwealth and the other entities covered by the fiscal plan would only have $7.8 billion available for the payment of debt service during said 10-year period (compared to $35 billion of contractual debt service), thus recognizing the need for significant debt restructuring and/or write downs.

As a result of the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, on October 31, 2017, the Oversight Board requested that the government prepare a new fiscal plan (i) revising macroeconomic driver effects on revenue and expenses, (ii) adapting fiscal/structural reform measures and schedule based on feasibility and recovery timeline, and (iii) integrating recovery funds and reimbursement timing with the capital plan. The government submitted several drafts of proposed fiscal plans to the Oversight Board from January through April 2018. The Oversight Board issued various notices of violation to the Government providing that the proposed fiscal plans did not comply with the requirements of PROMESA and including required revisions, some of which the Government included in subsequent submissions. As permitted under PROMESA, however, the Oversight Board ultimately developed and certified its own fiscal plan for Puerto Rico (the “Certified Fiscal Plan”). As further discussed below, the Governor and legislative leaders have publicly announced that they are in disagreement with, and do not intend to implement, certain of the measures included in the Certified Fiscal Plan.

The Certified Fiscal Plan, which covers a 6-year period, estimates a 13.2% contraction in real GNP during fiscal year 2018, followed by 5 years of economic growth. It also projects that the Commonwealth will have a cash flow surplus of approximately $6.7 billion over such period, assuming the implementation of all measures included therein and excluding the payment of any debt service (compared to a $4.8 billion cash flow surplus projected by the Original Fiscal Plan for the same period, excluding the payment of debt service) due to revenues buoyed by a positive macroeconomic trajectory resulting from significant disaster relief funding stimulus, as well as federal Medicaid funding.

The Certified Fiscal Plan includes illustrative estimates of the implied debt capacity of the Commonwealth and the instrumentalities covered by the plan, based on a range of interest rates and assuming a 30-year term. Such estimates reaffirm the need for significant debt restructuring and/or write-downs. The Certified Fiscal Plan does not take any position as to the allocation of debt repayments to any particular class of creditors. Finally, the Certified Fiscal Plan requires the Government to implement a number of structural and fiscal reforms. Such reforms include a labor reform that contemplates significant reductions in statutorily required employee benefits and a 10% reduction in pension benefits to retired Government employees. The Government has stated that it does not intend to implement these two reforms, and it is currently unknown whether the Oversight Board will seek judicial intervention to require such implementation. Other reforms contemplated by the Certified Fiscal Plan include energy sector, infrastructure, tax and healthcare reforms, among others.

 

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The Certified Fiscal Plan does not contemplate a restructuring of the debt of Puerto Rico’s municipalities. It does, however, contemplate the gradual reduction of budgetary subsidies provided to municipalities, which constitute a material portion of the operating revenues of certain municipalities. In fiscal year 2018, the total appropriations to municipalities were reduced to $220, a $150 million (or 40%) reduction from the prior fiscal year. The Certified Fiscal Plan contemplates that such subsidies will be further reduced by 20% each fiscal year, up to an 80% aggregate reduction by fiscal year 2023. Pursuant to the Certified Fiscal Plan, the reduction in municipal subsidies could be partially offset by the consolidation of services across municipalities, a property tax reform, and enhanced property tax collections. The Certified Fiscal Plan is publicly available at the Oversight Board’s website.

Other Fiscal Plans. Pursuant to PROMESA, in 2017, the Oversight Board also requested and certified fiscal plans for (i) GDB, (ii) Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority (“HTA”), (iii) PREPA, (iv) PRASA and (v) the Public Corporation for the Supervision and Insurance of Cooperatives. All such fiscal plans reflected that the applicable government entity is unable to pay its financial obligations in full, thus recognizing the need for debt relief. Moreover, following the hurricanes, the Oversight Board requested that the government submit new fiscal plans for such entities. The Oversight Board certified revised fiscal plans for GDB, HTA, PREPA, PRASA and the University of Puerto Rico on April 20, 2018, all of which reaffirm the need for significant debt restructuring. The fiscal plans certified by the Oversight Board for such entities (other than GDB) include amendments introduced by the Oversight Board to the draft fiscal plans that were submitted by the Government. PREPA’s certified fiscal plan assumes changes to the treatment of the municipal contribution in lieu of taxes, which could result in increased electricity expenses for municipalities.

GDB’s new certified fiscal plan contemplates the wind-down of GDB’s operations and the distribution of the cash flows of GDB’s loan portfolio among its creditors (including depositors). Pursuant to the Restructuring Support Agreement, dated May 15, 2017, as amended, entered into by and among GDB and a significant portion of its financial creditors (the “GDB RSA”), GDB noteholders and municipal depositors would be eligible to exchange their claims against GDB for new bonds to be issued by a new government entity and which would have an upfront exchange ratio of 55%. The new bonds would be payable from payments received in respect of certain assets to be transferred by GDB to such new government entity (consisting largely of municipal loans). The legality of the modification of GDB’s financial obligations outlined in the GDB RSA is currently being challenged in court by certain dissenting municipalities with deposits in GDB.

Pending Title III and Title VI Proceedings

On May 3, 2017, the Oversight Board, on behalf of the Commonwealth, filed a petition in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico to restructure the Commonwealth’s liabilities under Title III of PROMESA. The Oversight Board has subsequently filed analogous petitions with respect to COFINA, ERS, HTA and PREPA. As of the date of this report, the plans of adjustment for said entities’ debts have not been filed. Based on the projection of funds available for debt service under the applicable fiscal plans, however, the restructuring is expected to result in significant discounts on creditor recoveries.

On July 12, 2017, the Oversight Board conditionally authorized GDB to pursue the modification of its financial obligations outlined in the GDB RSA pursuant to Title VI of PROMESA. However, the GDB RSA has since been amended and the revised agreement is pending approval by the Oversight Board.

Exposure of the Corporation

The credit quality of BPPR’s loan portfolio necessarily reflects, among other things, the general economic conditions in Puerto Rico and other adverse conditions affecting Puerto Rico consumers and businesses. The effects of the prolonged recession are reflected in limited loan demand, an increase in the rate of foreclosures and delinquencies on loans granted in Puerto Rico. While PROMESA provides a process to address the Commonwealth’s fiscal crisis, the length and complexity of the Title III proceedings for the Commonwealth and various of its instrumentalities, the adjustment measures required by the fiscal plans and the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria suggest a risk of further significant economic contraction. In addition, the measures taken to address the fiscal crisis and those that will have to be taken in the near future will likely affect many of our individual customers and customers’ businesses, which could cause credit losses that adversely affect us and may negatively affect consumer confidence. This, in turn, results in reductions in consumer spending that may also adversely impact our interest and non-interest revenues. If global or local economic conditions worsen or the Government of Puerto Rico and the Oversight Board are unable to adequately manage the Commonwealth’s post-hurricane recovery efforts and pre-existing fiscal crisis, including by consummating an orderly restructuring of its debt obligations while continuing to provide essential services, these adverse effects could continue or worsen in ways that we are not able to predict.

 

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At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Corporation’s direct exposure to the Puerto Rico government and its instrumentalities and municipalities amounted to $ 481 million and $484 million, respectively, which is fully outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Deterioration of the Commonwealth’s fiscal and economic situation, including any negative ratings implications, could further adversely affect the value of our Puerto Rico government obligations, resulting in losses to us. Of the amount outstanding, $ 434 million consists of loans and $ 47 million are securities ($435 million and $49 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017). All of the amount outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were obligations from various Puerto Rico municipalities. In most cases, these were “general obligations” of a municipality, to which the applicable municipality has pledged its good faith, credit and unlimited taxing power, or “special obligations” of a municipality, to which the applicable municipality has pledged other revenues. At March 31, 2018, 74% of the Corporation’s exposure to municipal loans and securities was concentrated in the municipalities of San Juan, Guaynabo, Carolina and Bayamón. Although the Oversight Board has not designated any of the Commonwealth’s 78 municipalities as covered entities under PROMESA, it may decide to do so in the future. For a more detailed description of the Corporation’s direct exposure to the Puerto Rico government and its instrumentalities and municipalities, refer to Note 21 – Commitments and contingencies.

In addition, at March 31, 2018, the Corporation had $382 million in indirect exposure to loans or securities issued or guaranteed by Puerto Rico governmental entities, but whose principal source of repayment are non-governmental entities. In such obligations, the Puerto Rico governmental entity guarantees any shortfall in collateral in the event of borrower default ($386 million at December 31, 2017). These included $306 million in residential mortgage loans guaranteed by the Puerto Rico Housing Finance Authority (“HFA”), an entity that has been designated as a covered entity under PROMESA (December 31, 2017—$310 million). These mortgage loans are secured by the underlying properties and the HFA guarantee serves to cover shortfalls in collateral in the event of a borrower default. Although the Governor is currently authorized by local legislation to impose a temporary moratorium on the financial obligations of HFA, he has not exercised this power as of the date hereof. Also, at March 31, 2018, the Corporation had $44 million in Puerto Rico housing bonds issued by HFA, which are secured by second mortgage loans on Puerto Rico residential properties, $7 million in pass-through securities that have been economically defeased and refunded and for which collateral including U.S. agencies and Treasury obligations has been escrowed, and $25 million of commercial real estate notes issued by government entities, but payable from rent paid by private parties ($44 million, $7 million and $25 million December 31, 2017, respectively).

BPPR’s commercial loan portfolio also includes loans to private borrowers who are service providers, lessors, suppliers or have other relationships with the government. These borrowers could be negatively affected by the fiscal measures to be implemented to address the Commonwealth’s fiscal crisis and the ongoing Title III proceedings under PROMESA described above. Similarly, BPPR’s mortgage and consumer loan portfolios include loans to current and former government employees which could also be negatively affected by fiscal measures such as employee layoffs or furloughs or reductions in pension benefits.

BPPR also has a significant amount of deposits from the Commonwealth, its instrumentalities, and municipalities. The amount of such deposits may fluctuate depending on the financial condition and liquidity of such entities, as well as on the ability of BPPR to maintain these customer relationships.

United States Virgin Islands

The Corporation has operations in the United States Virgin Islands (the “USVI”) and has credit exposure to USVI government entities.

The USVI has been experiencing a number of fiscal and economic challenges that could adversely affect the ability of its public corporations and instrumentalities to service their outstanding debt obligations, and was also severely impacted by Hurricanes Irma and María. PROMESA does not apply to the USVI and, as such, there is currently no federal legislation permitting the restructuring of the debts of the USVI and its public corporations and instrumentalities.

To the extent that the fiscal condition of the USVI continues to deteriorate, the U.S. Congress or the Government of the USVI may enact legislation allowing for the restructuring of the financial obligations of USVI government entities or imposing a stay on creditor remedies, including by making PROMESA applicable to the USVI.

 

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At March 31, 2018, the Corporation’s direct exposure to USVI instrumentalities and public corporations amounted to approximately $80 million, of which approximately $72 million is outstanding (compared to $82 million and $73 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017). Of the amount outstanding, approximately (i) $43 million represents loans to the West Indian Company LTD, a government-owned company that owns and operates a cruise ship pier and shopping mall complex in St. Thomas, (ii) $14 million represents loans to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, a public corporation of the USVI that operates USVI’s water production and electric generation plants, and (iii) $15 million represents loans to the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority, a public corporation of the USVI created for the purpose of raising capital for public projects (compared to $43 million, $14 million and $16 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017).

U.S. Government

As further detailed in Notes 5 and 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, a substantial portion of the Corporation’s investment securities represented exposure to the U.S. Government in the form of U.S. Government sponsored entities, as well as agency mortgage-backed and U.S. Treasury securities. In addition, $1.4 billion of residential mortgages and $87 million commercial loans were insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies at March 31, 2018 (compared to $1.7 billion and $88 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017).

Non-Performing Assets

Non-performing assets include primarily past-due loans that are no longer accruing interest, renegotiated loans, and real estate property acquired through foreclosure. A summary, including certain credit quality metrics, is presented in Table 21.

On June 30, 2015, the shared-loss arrangement under the commercial loss share agreement with the FDIC related to the loans acquired from Westernbank as part of the FDIC assisted transaction in 2010 expired. Loans and OREO’s that remain covered under the terms of the single-family loss share agreement continue to be presented as covered assets in the accompanying tables and credit metrics as of March 31, 2018.

Because of the application of ASC Subtopic 310-30 to the Westernbank acquired loans and the loss protection provided by the FDIC which limits the risks on the covered loans, the Corporation has determined to provide certain quality metrics in this MD&A that exclude such covered loans to facilitate the comparison between loan portfolios and across periods. The Corporation believes the inclusion of these loans in certain asset quality ratios in the numerator or denominator (or both) would result in a distortion to these ratios. In addition, because charge-offs related to the acquired loans are recorded against the non-accretable balance, the net charge-off ratio including the acquired loans is lower for the single-family loan portfolios which includes covered loans. The inclusion of these loans in the asset quality ratios could result in a lack of comparability across periods and could negatively impact comparability with other portfolios that were not impacted by acquisition accounting. The Corporation believes that the presentation of asset quality measures, excluding covered loans and related amounts from both the numerator and denominator, provides a better perspective into underlying trends related to the quality of its loan portfolio.

The first quarter of 2018 metrics reflect higher inflows into NPLs and total non-performing loans, largely attributed to the end of the payment moratorium granted to certain consumer and commercial borrowers as a result of the 2017 hurricanes. The Corporation continues to monitor credit quality trends given the uncertainties that remain regarding the full effect of the hurricanes on its loan portfolios and the pace of recovery in Puerto Rico from the impact of the storms.

Non-performing assets, excluding covered loans and OREO, increased by $40 million when compared with December 31, 2017, mainly attributed to higher Puerto Rico mortgage NPLs of $51 million, primarily due to certain customers still being evaluated for post-moratorium loss mitigation options, partially offset by lower Puerto Rico mortgage OREOs of $19 million, mainly related to sales activity and reduced foreclosure activity due to the moratorium.

At March 31, 2018, non-performing loans secured by real estate held-in-portfolio, excluding covered loans, amounted to $500 million in the Puerto Rico operations and $30 million in the U.S. operations. These figures compare to $449 million in the Puerto Rico operations and $36 million in the U.S. operations at December 31, 2017. In addition to the non-performing loans included in Table 21. at March 31, 2018, there were $184 million of non-covered performing loans, mostly commercial loans, which in management’s opinion, are currently subject to potential future classification as non-performing and are considered impaired, compared with $155 million at December 31, 2017.

 

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Table 21 - Non-Performing Assets

 

		March 31, 2018																December 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)		BPPR				Popular U.S.				Popular, Inc.				As a % of loans HIP by category [4]				BPPR				Popular U.S.				Popular, Inc.				As a % of loans HIP by category [4]
Commercial		$	157,132			$	1,147			$	158,279				1.4	%		$	161,226			$	3,839			$	165,065				1.4	%
Construction			4,293				—				4,293				0.5				—				—				—				—
Legacy[1]			—				3,137				3,137				10.1				—				3,039				3,039				9.2
Leasing			3,957				—				3,957				0.5				2,974				—				2,974				0.4
Mortgage			357,967				11,647				369,614				5.2				306,697				14,852				321,549				4.4
Consumer			50,167				17,349				67,516				1.8				40,543				17,787				58,330				1.5
Total non-performing loans held-in-portfolio, excluding covered loans			573,516				33,280				606,796				2.5	%			511,440				39,517				550,957				2.3	%
Non-performing loans held-for-sale [2]			—				—				—								—				—				—
Other real estate owned (“OREO”), excluding covered OREO			149,919				3,142				153,061								167,253				2,007				169,260
Total non-performing assets, excluding covered assets		$	723,435			$	36,422			$	759,857							$	678,693			$	41,524			$	720,217
Covered loans and OREO [3]			18,928				—				18,928								22,948				—				22,948
Total non-performing assets		$	742,363			$	36,422			$	778,785							$	701,641			$	41,524			$	743,165
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more[5] [6]		$	1,129,792			$	—			$	1,129,792							$	1,225,149			$	—			$	1,225,149
Ratios excluding covered loans:[7]
Non-performing loans held-in-portfolio to loans held-in-portfolio			3.23				0.52				2.52	%							2.83				0.64				2.27	%
Allowance for loan losses to loans held-in-portfolio			3.01				1.16				2.52								2.87				1.16				2.43
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans, excluding held-for-sale			93.04				220.47				100.03								101.30				182.40				107.12
Ratios including covered loans:
Non-performing assets to total assets			2.06				0.38				1.70	%							2.03				0.43				1.68	%
Non-performing loans held-in-portfolio to loans held-in-portfolio			3.16				0.52				2.48								2.77				0.64				2.23
Allowance for loan losses to loans held-in-portfolio			3.11				1.16				2.60								2.96				1.16				2.51
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans, excluding held-for-sale			98.28				220.47				104.95								107.10				182.40				112.47

 

HIP	= “held-in-portfolio”

[1]	The legacy portfolio is comprised of commercial loans, construction loans and lease financings related to certain lending products exited by the Corporation as part of restructuring efforts carried out in prior years at the Popular U.S. segment.

[2]	There were no non-performing loans held-for-sale as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

[3]

The amount consists of $4 million in non-performing covered loans accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-20 and $15 million in covered OREO as of March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $3 million and $20 million, respectively). It excludes covered loans accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-30 as they are considered to be performing due to the application of the accretion method, in which these loans will accrete interest income over the remaining life of the loans using estimated cash flow analyses.

[4]	Loans held-in-portfolio used in the computation exclude $515 million in covered loans at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $517 million).

[5]

The carrying value of loans accounted for under ASC Sub-topic 310-30 that are contractually 90 days or more past due was $274 million at March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $272 million). This amount is excluded from the above table as the loans’ accretable yield interest recognition is independent from the underlying contractual loan delinquency status.

[6]

It is the Corporation’s policy to report delinquent residential mortgage loans insured by FHA or guaranteed by the VA as accruing loans past due 90 days or more as opposed to non-performing since the principal repayment is insured. These balances include $194 million of residential mortgage loans insured by FHA or guaranteed by the VA that are no longer accruing interest as of March 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 - $178 million). These

 

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balances also include approximately $535 million of loans rebooked due to a repurchase option with GNMA liability (December 31, 2018—$840 million). Under the GNMA program, issuers such as BPPR have the option but not the obligation to repurchase loans that are 90 days or more past due. For accounting purposes, these loans subject to the repurchase option are required to be reflected on the financial statements of BPPR with an offsetting liability. The Corporation has approximately $57 million in reverse mortgage loans which are guaranteed by FHA, but which are currently not accruing interest. Due to the guaranteed nature of the loans, it is the Corporation’s policy to exclude these balances from non-performing assets (December 31, 2017 - $58 million).

[7]

These asset quality ratios have been adjusted to remove the impact of covered loans and covered foreclosed property. Appropriate adjustments to the numerator and denominator have been reflected in the calculation of these ratios. Management believes the inclusion of acquired loans in certain asset quality ratios that include non-performing assets, past due loans or net charge-offs in the numerator and denominator results in distortions of these ratios and they may not be comparable to other periods presented or to other portfolios that were not impacted by purchase accounting.

Accruing loans past due 90 days or more are composed primarily of credit cards, residential mortgage loans insured by FHA / VA, and delinquent mortgage loans included in the Corporation’s financial statements pursuant to GNMA’s buy-back option program. Under the GNMA program, issuers such as BPPR have the option but not the obligation to repurchase loans that are 90 days or more past due. For accounting purposes, these loans subject to the repurchase option are required to be reflected on the financial statements of the issuer with an offsetting liability. As of March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, loans past due 90 days or more include approximately $535 million and $840 million, respectively, in loans previously pooled into GNMA securities with a buy-back option. While the borrowers for our serviced GNMA portfolio benefited from the loan payment moratorium as part of the hurricane relief efforts, the delinquency status of these loans continued to be reported to GNMA without considering the moratorium. Also, accruing loans past due 90 days or more include residential conventional loans purchased from other financial institutions that, although delinquent, the Corporation has received timely payment from the sellers / servicers, and, in some instances, have partial guarantees under recourse agreements.

In consumer lending, delinquencies are near pre-hurricane levels except for the credit cards portfolio, which has experienced an increase in delinquency partly related to some customer balances becoming over-limit due to interest accumulated during the payment moratorium period. As a result of the interest accumulation, the minimum payment for these customers has increased as the Corporation requires payments to bring the balance to the approved limit. Open-end consumer loans are charged off when these become 180 days in arrears.

The Corporation’s commercial loan portfolio secured by real estate (“CRE”), excluding covered loans, amounted to $7.6 billion at March 31, 2018, of which $2.0 billion was secured with owner occupied properties, compared with $7.6 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2017. CRE non-performing loans, excluding covered loans, amounted to $121 million at March 31, 2018, compared with $124 million at December 31, 2017. The CRE non-performing loans ratios for the BPPR and U.S. segments were 2.80% and 0.02%, respectively, at March 31, 2018, compared with 2.77% and 0.10%, respectively, at December 31, 2017.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, total non-performing loan inflows, excluding consumer loans, increased by $9 million, or 8%, when compared to the inflows for the same quarter in 2017. Inflows of non-performing loans held-in-portfolio at the BPPR segment increased by $12 million, or 10%, compared to the inflows for the first quarter of 2017, mostly related to higher mortgage inflows of $26 million, prompted by the end of the payment moratorium after the hurricanes. Inflows of non-performing loans held-in-portfolio at the U.S. segment decreased by $2 million, or 39%, from the same quarter in 2017, mostly driven by lower mortgage inflows of $2 million.

 

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Table 22 - Activity in Non-Performing Loans Held-in-Portfolio (Excluding Consumer and Covered Loans)

 

		For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)		BPPR				Popular U.S.				Popular, Inc.
Beginning balance		$	467,923			$	21,730			$	489,653
Plus:
New non-performing loans			127,431				3,763				131,194
Advances on existing non-performing loans			116				4				120
Less:
Non-performing loans transferred to OREO			(5,186	)			—				(5,186	)
Non-performing loans charged-off			(16,263	)			(264	)			(16,527	)
Loans returned to accrual status / loan collections			(54,629	)			(9,302	)			(63,931	)
Ending balance NPLs		$	519,392			$	15,931			$	535,323

Table 23 - Activity in Non-Performing Loans Held-in-Portfolio (Excluding Consumer and Covered Loans)

 

		For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)		BPPR				Popular U.S.				Popular, Inc.
Beginning balance		$	477,849			$	18,743			$	496,592
Plus:
New non-performing loans			115,749				6,108				121,857
Advances on existing non-performing loans			—				47				47
Less:
Non-performing loans transferred to OREO			(14,766	)			(46	)			(14,812	)
Non-performing loans charged-off			(14,581	)			(117	)			(14,698	)
Loans returned to accrual status / loan collections			(69,324	)			(5,747	)			(75,071	)
Ending balance NPLs		$	494,927			$	18,988			$	513,915

Table 24 - Activity in Non-Performing Commercial Loans Held-In-Portfolio (Excluding Covered Loans)

 

		For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
(In thousands)		BPPR				Popular U.S.				Popular, Inc.
Beginning Balance—NPLs		$	161,226			$	3,839			$	165,065
Plus:
New non-performing loans			15,179				680				15,859
Less:
Non-performing loans transferred to OREO			(2,674	)			—				(2,674	)
Non-performing loans charged-off			(4,789	)			(231	)			(5,020	)
Loans returned to accrual status / loan collections			(11,810	)			(3,141	)			(14,951	)
Ending balance—NPLs		$	157,132			$	1,147			$	158,279

 

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Table 25 - Activity in Non-Performing Commercial Loans Held-In-Portfolio (Excluding Covered Loans)

 

		For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
(In thousands)		BPPR				Popular U.S.				Popular, Inc.
Beginning Balance—NPLs		$	159,655			$	3,693			$	163,348
Plus:
New non-performing loans			33,600				1,355				34,955
Less:
Non-performing loans transferred to OREO			(3,510	)			—				(3,510	)
Non-performing loans charged-off			(5,153	)			(46	)			(5,199	)
Loans returned to accrual status / loan collections			(9,115	)			(1,238	)			(10,353	)
Ending balance—NPLs		$	175,477			$	3,764			$	179,241

Table 26 - Activity in Non-Performing Construction Loans Held-In-Portfolio (Excluding Covered Loans)

 

		For the quarter ended March 31, 2018 [1]
(In thousands)		BPPR				Popular U.S.				Popular, Inc.
Beginning Balance—NPLs		$	—			$	—			$	—
Plus:
New non-performing loans			4,177				—				4,177
Advances on existing non-performing loans			116				—				116
Ending balance—NPLs		$	4,293			$	—			$	4,293

 

[1]	There were no non-performing construction loans at March 31, 2017.

Table 27 - Activity in Non-Performing Mortgage Loans Held-in-Portfolio (Excluding Covered Loans)

 

		For the quarter ended March 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)		BPPR				Popular U.S.				Popular, Inc.
Beginning balance—NPLs		$	306,697			$	14,852			$	321,549
Plus:
New non-performing loans			108,075				2,955				111,030
Less:
Non-performing loans transferred to OREO			(2,512	)			—				(2,512	)
Non-performing loans charged-off			(11,474	)			(33	)			(11,507	)
Loans returned to accrual status / loan collections			(42,819	)			(6,127	)			(48,946	)
Ending balance—NPLs		$	357,967			$	11,647			$	369,614

Table 28 - Activity in Non-Performing Mortgage Loans Held-in-Portfolio (Excluding Covered Loans)

 

		For the quarter ended March 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)		BPPR				Popular U.S.				Popular, Inc.
Beginning balance—NPLs		$	318,194			$	11,713			$	329,907
Plus:
New non-performing loans			82,149				4,753				86,902
Less:
Non-performing loans transferred to OREO			(11,256	)			(46	)			(11,302	)
Non-performing loans charged-off			(9,428	)			(69	)			(9,497	)
Loans returned to accrual status / loan collections			(60,209	)			(4,462	)			(64,671	)
Ending balance—NPLs		$	319,450			$	11,889			$	331,339

 

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Allowance for Loan Losses

Non-Covered Loan Portfolio

The allowance for loan losses, which represents management’s estimate of credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio, is maintained at a sufficient level to provide for estimated credit losses on individually evaluated loans as well as estimated credit losses inherent in the remainder of the loan portfolio. The Corporation’s management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis. In this evaluation, management considers current economic conditions and the resulting impact on Popular Inc.’s loan portfolio, the composition of the portfolio by loan type and risk characteristics, historical loss experience, results of periodic credit reviews of individual loans, regulatory requirements and loan impairment measurement, among other factors.

The Corporation must rely on estimates and exercise judgment regarding matters where the ultimate outcome is unknown, such as economic developments affecting specific customers, industries or markets. Other factors that can affect management’s estimates are the years of historical data when estimating losses, changes in underwriting standards, financial accounting standards and loan impairment measurements, among others. Changes in the financial condition of individual borrowers, in economic conditions, in historical loss experience and in the condition of the various markets in which collateral may be sold may all affect the required level of the allowance for loan losses. Consequently, the business financial condition, liquidity, capital and results of operations could also be affected. Refer to the Critical Accounting Policies / Estimates section of this MD&A for a description of the Corporation’s allowance for loans losses methodology.

Refer to the following table for a summary of the activity in the allowance for loan losses and selected loan losses statistics for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

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Table 29 - Allowance for Loan Losses and Selected Loan Losses Statistics—Quarterly Activity

 

		Quarters ended March 31,
		2018				2018				2018				2017				2017				2017
(Dollars in thousands)		Non-covered loans				Covered loans				Total				Non-covered loans				Covered loans				Total
Balance at beginning of period		$	590,182			$	33,244			$	623,426			$	510,301			$	30,350			$	540,651
Provision (reversal) for loan losses			69,333				1,730				71,063				42,057				(1,359	)			40,698
			659,515				34,974				694,489				552,358				28,991				581,349
Charge-offs:
BPPR
Commercial			6,789				—				6,789				11,071				—				11,071
Construction			(48	)			—				(48	)			3,587				—				3,587
Leases			2,513				—				2,513				1,341				—				1,341
Mortgage			13,791				1,446				15,237				14,983				1,231				16,214
Consumer			28,372				2				28,374				21,812				93				21,905
Total BPPR charge-offs			51,417				1,448				52,865				52,794				1,324				54,118
Popular U.S.
Commercial			8,396				—				8,396				70				—				70
Legacy[1]			157				—				157				41				—				41
Mortgage			82				—				82				106				—				106
Consumer			6,316				—				6,316				4,733				—				4,733
Total Popular U.S. charge-offs			14,951				—				14,951				4,950				—				4,950
Popular, Inc.
Commercial			15,185				—				15,185				11,141				—				11,141
Construction			(48	)			—				(48	)			3,587				—				3,587
Leases			2,513				—				2,513				1,341				—				1,341
Legacy			157				—				157				41				—				41
Mortgage			13,873				1,446				15,319				15,089				1,231				16,320
Consumer			34,688				2				34,690				26,545				93				26,638
Total charge-offs			66,368				1,448				67,816				57,744				1,324				59,068
Recoveries:
BPPR
Commercial			2,846				—				2,846				8,433				—				8,433
Construction			160				—				160				3,731				—				3,731
Leases			520				—				520				528				—				528
Mortgage			547				82				629				1,428				103				1,531
Consumer			6,117				2				6,119				5,729				1				5,730
Total BPPR recoveries			10,190				84				10,274				19,849				104				19,953
Popular U.S.
Commercial			1,566				—				1,566				533				—				533
Legacy[1]			488				—				488				529				—				529
Mortgage			386				—				386				210				—				210
Consumer			1,191				—				1,191				990				—				990
Total Popular U.S. recoveries			3,631				—				3,631				2,262				—				2,262
Popular, Inc.
Commercial			4,412				—				4,412				8,966				—				8,966
Construction			160				—				160				3,731				—				3,731
Leases			520				—				520				528				—				528
Legacy			488				—				488				529				—				529

 

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Mortgage			933				82				1,015				1,638				103				1,741
Consumer			7,308				2				7,310				6,719				1				6,720
Total recoveries			13,821				84				13,905				22,111				104				22,215
Net charge-offs (recoveries):
BPPR
Commercial			3,943				—				3,943				2,638				—				2,638
Construction			(208	)			—				(208	)			(144	)			—				(144	)
Leases			1,993				—				1,993				813				—				813
Mortgage			13,244				1,364				14,608				13,555				1,128				14,683
Consumer			22,255				—				22,255				16,083				92				16,175
Total BPPR net charge-offs			41,227				1,364				42,591				32,945				1,220				34,165
Popular U.S.
Commercial			6,830				—				6,830				(463	)			—				(463	)
Legacy[1]			(331	)			—				(331	)			(488	)			—				(488	)
Mortgage			(304	)			—				(304	)			(104	)			—				(104	)
Consumer			5,125				—				5,125				3,743				—				3,743
Total Popular U.S. net charge-offs			11,320				—				11,320				2,688				—				2,688
Popular, Inc.
Commercial			10,773				—				10,773				2,175				—				2,175
Construction			(208	)			—				(208	)			(144	)			—				(144	)
Leases			1,993				—				1,993				813				—				813
Legacy			(331	)			—				(331	)			(488	)			—				(488	)
Mortgage			12,940				1,364				14,304				13,451				1,128				14,579
Consumer			27,380				—				27,380				19,826				92				19,918
Total net charge-offs			52,547				1,364				53,911				35,633				1,220				36,853
Balance at end of period		$	606,968			$	33,610			$	640,578			$	516,725			$	27,771			$	544,496
Specific ALLL		$	117,015			$	—			$	117,015			$	118,072			$	—			$	118,072
General ALLL		$	489,953			$	33,610			$	523,563			$	398,653			$	27,771			$	426,424
Ratios:
Annualized net charge-offs to average loans held-in-portfolio			0.90	%							0.90	%			0.63	%							0.63	%
Provision for loan losses to net charge-offs			1.32	x							1.32	x			1.18	x							1.10	x

 

[1]	The legacy portfolio is comprised of commercial loans, construction loans and lease financings related to certain lending products exited by the Corporation as part of restructuring efforts carried out in prior years at the Popular U.S. segment.

The following table presents annualized net charge-offs to average loans held-in-portfolio (“HIP”) for the non-covered portfolio by loan category for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

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Table 30 - Annualized Net Charge-offs (Recoveries) to Average Loans Held-in-Portfolio (Non-Covered Loans)

 

		Quarter ended March 31, 2018												Quarter ended March 31, 2017
		BPPR				Popular U.S.				Popular, Inc.				BPPR				Popular U.S.				Popular, Inc.
Commercial			0.22	%			0.64	%			0.38	%			0.15	%			(0.05	)%			0.08	%
Construction			(0.87	)			—				(0.09	)			(0.65	)			—				(0.07	)
Leases			0.97				—				0.97				0.46				—				0.46
Legacy			—				(4.12	)			(4.12	)			—				(4.48	)			(4.48	)
Mortgage			0.91				(0.17	)			0.80				0.93				(0.05	)			0.81
Consumer			2.68				4.37				2.89				1.99				3.11				2.13
Total annualized net charge-offs to average loans held-in-portfolio			0.96	%			0.72	%			0.90	%			0.77	%			0.19	%			0.63	%

Net charge-offs, excluding covered loans, for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, increased by $16.9 million, when compared to the same quarter in 2017. Increase from 2017 was mainly driven higher U.S. commercial and P.R. consumer net charge-offs of $7.3 million and $6.2 million, respectively. The U.S. operations commercial net charge-offs increase was mostly related to its taxi medallion portfolio.

 

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Table 31 - Composition of ALLL

 

March 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)		Commercial				Construction				Legacy[2]				Leasing				Mortgage				Consumer				Total[3]
Specific ALLL		$	45,028			$	474			$	—			$	448			$	46,915			$	24,150			$	117,015
Impaired loans [1]		$	352,064			$	4,293			$	—			$	1,361			$	519,922			$	103,583			$	981,223
Specific ALLL to impaired loans [1]			12.79	%			11.04	%			—	%			32.92	%			9.02	%			23.31	%			11.93	%
General ALLL		$	191,353			$	9,275			$	652			$	12,464			$	111,113			$	165,096			$	489,953
Loans held-in-portfolio, excluding impaired loans [1]			$11,116,443				$889,098				$31,167				$837,022				$6,544,722				$3,688,262				$23,106,714
General ALLL to loans held-in-portfolio, excluding impaired loans [1]			1.72	%			1.04	%			2.09	%			1.49	%			1.70	%			4.48	%			2.12	%
Total ALLL		$	236,381			$	9,749			$	652			$	12,912			$	158,028			$	189,246			$	606,968
Total non-covered loans held-in-portfolio [1]			$11,468,507				$893,391				$31,167				$838,383				$7,064,644				$3,791,845				$24,087,937
ALLL to loans held-in-portfolio [1]			2.06	%			1.09	%			2.09	%			1.54	%			2.24	%			4.99	%			2.52	%

 

[1]	Excludes covered loans acquired on the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction.

[2]	The legacy portfolio is comprised of commercial loans, construction loans and lease financings related to certain lending products exited by the Corporation as part of restructuring efforts carried out in prior years at the Popular U.S. segment.

[3]	Excludes covered loans acquired on the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction. At March 31, 2018, the general allowance on the covered loans amounted to $33.6 million.

Table 32 - Composition of ALLL

 

December 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)		Commercial				Construction				Legacy[2]				Leasing				Mortgage				Consumer				Total[3]
Specific ALLL		$	36,982			$	—			$	—			$	475			$	48,832			$	22,802			$	109,091
Impaired loans [1]		$	323,455			$	—			$	—			$	1,456			$	518,275			$	104,237			$	947,423
Specific ALLL to impaired loans [1]			11.43	%			—	%			—	%			32.62	%			9.42	%			21.88	%			11.51	%
General ALLL		$	178,683			$	8,362			$	798			$	11,516			$	114,790			$	166,942			$	481,091
Loans held-in-portfolio, excluding impaired loans [1]			$11,165,406				$880,029				$32,980				$808,534				$6,752,132				$3,706,290				$23,345,371
General ALLL to loans held-in-portfolio, excluding impaired loans [1]			1.60	%			0.95	%			2.42	%			1.42	%			1.70	%			4.50	%			2.06	%
Total ALLL		$	215,665			$	8,362			$	798			$	11,991			$	163,622			$	189,744			$	590,182
Total non-covered loans held-in-portfolio [1]			$11,488,861				$880,029				$32,980				$809,990				$7,270,407				$3,810,527				$24,292,794
ALLL to loans held-in-portfolio [1]			1.88	%			0.95	%			2.42	%			1.48	%			2.25	%			4.98	%			2.43	%

 

[1]	Excludes covered loans acquired on the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction.

[2]	The legacy portfolio is comprised of commercial loans, construction loans and lease financings related to certain lending products exited by the Corporation as part of restructuring efforts carried out in prior years at the Popular U.S. segment.

[3]	Excludes covered loans acquired on the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction. At December 31, 2017, the general allowance on the covered loans amounted to $33.2 million.

Non-covered loans portfolio

At March 31, 2018, the allowance for loan losses, increased by $17 million when compared with December 31, 2017, mostly driven by an increase in the BPPR segment of $15 million.

At March 31, 2018, the allowance for loan losses at the BPPR segment increased by $15 million to $534 million, or 3.01% of non-covered loans held-in-portfolio, compared with $518 million, or 2.87% of non-covered loans held-in-portfolio, at December 31, 2017.

 

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The increase was mostly driven by an increase in the allowance with respect to a single commercial borrower, in part offset by a downward adjustment to the estimated losses associated with Hurricane María of $7.5 million. The allowance for the BPPR segment continued to carry qualitative reserves to address the uncertainties that remain with respect to the full impact of the 2017 hurricanes over our loan portfolios due to their unprecedented nature and the effects of the payment moratorium. Management will continue to carefully assess and review the exposure of the portfolios to hurricane-related factors, economic trends and their effect on credit quality as conditions continue to evolve. The ratio of the allowance to non-performing loans held-in-portfolio was 93.0% at March 31, 2018, compared with 101.3% at December 31, 2017.

The U.S. operation continued to reflect strong growth and favorable credit quality metrics, except in the case of its taxi medallion portfolio acquired from the FDIC in the assisted sale of Doral Bank, which continues to reflect the pressure on medallion collateral values, particularly in the New York City metro area. At March 31, 2018, the allowance for loan losses at the U.S. segment increased slightly by $1 million to $73 million, or 1.16% of loans held-in-portfolio, compared with $72 million, or 1.16% of loans held-in-portfolio, at December 31, 2017. The allowance for loans losses for the U.S. taxi medallion portfolio increased by $12 million, in part offset by total net charge-offs of $7.6 million during the first quarter of 2018, mostly related to the taxi portfolio. The ratio of the allowance to non-performing loans held-in-portfolio at the U.S. segment was 220.47% at March 31, 2018, compared with 182.40% at December 31, 2017.

Covered loans portfolio

The Corporation’s allowance for loan losses for the covered loan portfolio acquired in the Westernbank FDIC-assisted transaction amounted to $34 million at March 31, 2018, compared to $33 million at December 31, 2017.

Decreases in expected cash flows after the acquisition date for loans (pools) accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-30 are recognized by recording an allowance for loan losses in the current period. For purposes of loans accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-20 and new loans originated as a result of loan commitments assumed, the Corporation’s assessment of the allowance for loan losses is determined in accordance with the accounting guidance of loss contingencies in ASC Subtopic 450-20 (general reserve for inherent losses) and loan impairment guidance in ASC Section 310-10-35 for loans individually evaluated for impairment.

Troubled debt restructurings

The Corporation’s TDR loans, excluding covered loans, amounted to $1.3 billion at March 31, 2018, increasing by $84 million, or approximately 7%, from December 31, 2017. TDRs in accruing status increased by $73 million from December 31, 2017, while non-accruing TDRs increased by $11 million. The increase in accrual TDRs was mostly prompted by two commercial relationships in the BPPR commercial portfolio.

Refer to Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on modifications considered troubled debt restructurings, including certain qualitative and quantitative data about troubled debt restructurings performed in the past twelve months.

The tables that follow present the approximate amount and percentage of non-covered commercial impaired loans for which the Corporation relied on appraisals dated more than one year old for purposes of impairment requirements at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

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Table 33 - Non-Covered Impaired Loans with Appraisals Dated 1 year or Older

 

March 31, 2018
		Total Impaired Loans – Held-in-portfolio  (HIP)
(In thousands)		Loan Count				Outstanding Principal Balance				Impaired Loans with Appraisals Over One-Year Old [1]
Commercial			121			$	293,164				32	%
Construction			1				4,293				100

 

[1]	Based on outstanding balance of total impaired loans.

 

December 31, 2017
		Total Impaired Loans – Held-in-portfolio  (HIP)
(In thousands)		Loan Count				Outstanding Principal Balance				Impaired Loans with Appraisals Over One-Year Old [1]
Commercial			112			$	267,302				30	%

 

[1]	Based on outstanding balance of total impaired loans.

ADOPTION OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND ISSUED BUT NOT YET EFFECTIVE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Refer to Note 3, “New Accounting Pronouncements” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Quantitative and qualitative disclosures for the current period can be found in the Market Risk section of this report, which includes changes in market risk exposures from disclosures presented in the Corporation’s 2017 Form 10-K.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Corporation’s management, with the participation of the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Corporation in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act and such information is accumulated and communicated to management, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.

Part II - Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

For a discussion of Legal Proceedings, see Note 21, Commitments and Contingencies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the risk factors discussed under “Part I - Item 1A - Risk Factors” in our 2017 Form 10-K. These factors could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and capital position, and could cause our actual results to differ materially from our historical results or the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this report. Also refer to the discussion in “Part I - Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this report for additional information that may supplement or update the discussion of risk factors below and in our 2017 Form 10-K.

There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed under Item 1A of the Corporation’s 2017 Form 10-K.

The risks described in our 2017 Form 10-K and in this report are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and capital position.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

In April 2004, the Corporation’s shareholders adopted the Popular, Inc. 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Corporation used shares reissued from treasury stock to make grants under the Plan. As of March 31, 2018 the maximum number of shares of common stock that may have been granted under this plan was 3,500,000.

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item  5. Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.		Exhibit Description
10.1		Form of Popular, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Equity Incentive Award and Agreement(1)
12.1		Computation of the ratios of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends(1)
31.1		Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)
31.2		Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)
32.1		Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)
32.2		Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1)

 

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101.INS		XBRL Instance Document(1)
101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document(1)
101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document(1)
101.DEF		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definitions Linkbase Document(1)
101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document(1)
101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document(1)

 

(1)	Included herewith

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

				POPULAR, INC.
				(Registrant)
Date: May 10, 2018				By:		/s/ Carlos J. Vázquez
						Executive Vice President &
						Chief Financial Officer
Date: May 10, 2018				By:		/s/ Jorge J. García
						Jorge J. García
						Senior Vice President & Corporate Comptroller

 

 

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