| i) | Impairment of financial assets - |
The Group assesses at the date of each consolidated statement of financial position whether there is any objective evidence that a financial asset or a group of financial assets is impaired. An impairment exists if one or more events that has occurred since the initial recognition of the asset (an incurred “loss event”), has an impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset or the group of financial assets that can be reliably estimated. Evidence of impairment may include indications that the borrower or a group of borrowers is experiencing significant financial difficulty, default or delinquency in interest or principal payments, the probability that they will go bankrupt or other legal financial reorganization process and where observable data indicate that there is a measurable decrease in the estimated future cash flows, such as changes in arrears or economic conditions that correlate with defaults.
The criterion used for each category of financial assets is as follows:
| (i) | Financial assets carried at amortized cost - |
For loans, receivables and held-to-maturity investments that are carried at amortized cost, the Group first assesses whether impairment exists individually for financial assets that are individually significant, or collectively for financial assets that are not individually significant. If the Group determines that no objective evidence of impairment exists for an individually assessed financial asset, whether significant or not, it includes that asset in a group of financial assets with similar credit risk characteristics and collectively assesses them for impairment. Assets that are individually assessed for impairment and for which an impairment loss is, or continues to be, recognized are not included in a collective assessment of impairment.
The amount of any impairment loss identified is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows (excluding future expected credit losses that have not yet been incurred).
The carrying amount of the asset is reduced through the use of a provision account and the amount of the loss is recognized in the consolidated statement of income. A loan, together with the respective associated provision, is written off when classified as a loss and is fully provisioned and there is real and verifiable evidence that the loan is irrecoverable and collection efforts concluded without success, the impossibility of foreclosures or all collateral has been realized or has been transferred to the Group.
If in any subsequent year, the amount of the estimated impairment loss increases or decreases because of an event occurring after the impairment was recognized, the previously recognized impairment loss is increased or reduced by adjusting the provision account. If in the future a written-off loan is later recovered, the recovery is recognized in the consolidated statement of income, as a credit to “Provision for loan losses, net of recoveries”.
The present value of the estimated future cash flows is discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate. If a loan has a variable interest rate, the discount rate for measuring any impairment loss will be the current effective interest rate.
The calculation of the present value of the estimated future cash flows of a collateralized financial asset reflects the cash flows that may result from foreclosure less costs for obtaining and selling the collateral, whether or not foreclosure is probable.
For collective assessment of impairment, financial assets are grouped considering the Group’s internal credit grading system, which considers credit risk characteristics; for example: asset type, industry, geographical location, collateral type and past-due status and other relevant factors.
Future cash flows from a group of financial assets that are collectively evaluated for impairment are estimated on the basis of historical loss experience for assets with similar credit risk characteristics to those in the group. Historical loss experience is adjusted on the basis of current observable data to reflect the effects of current conditions that did not affect the years on which the historical loss experience is based and to remove the effects of conditions in the historical period that do not currently exist. The methodology and assumptions used are reviewed regularly to reduce any differences between loss estimates and actual loss experience.
| (ii) | Available-for-sale financial investments - |
For available-for-sale financial investments, the Group assesses at each date of the consolidated statement of financial position whether there is objective evidence that an investment or a group of investments is impaired.
In the case of equity investments, objective evidence would include a significant or prolonged decline in their fair value below cost. “Significant” is to be evaluated against the original cost of the investment and “prolonged” against the period in which the fair value has been below its original cost. The determination of what is “significant” or “prolonged” requires judgment. In making this judgment, the Group evaluates, among other factors, the duration or extent to which the fair value of an investment is less than its cost.
When there is evidence of impairment, the cumulative loss (measured as the difference between the acquisition cost and the current fair value, less any previously recognized impairment loss) is removed from available-for-sale investments reserve of the consolidated statement of changes in equity and recognized in the consolidated statement of income. Impairment losses on equity investments are not reversed through the consolidated statement of income; increases in their fair value after impairment are recognized directly in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
In the case of debt instruments, impairment is assessed based on the same criteria as financial assets carried at amortized cost. However, the amount recorded for impairment is the cumulative loss measured as the difference between the amortized cost and the current fair value, less any impairment loss on that investment previously recognized in the consolidated statement of income. Future interest income is based on the reduced carrying amount and is accrued using the interest rate used to discount the future cash flows for the purpose of measuring the impairment loss. Interest income is recorded as part of “Interest and similar income” of the consolidated statement of income. If in a subsequent year, the fair value of a debt instrument increases and the increase can be objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognized in the consolidated statements of income, the impairment loss is reversed through the consolidated statement of income.
| (iii) | Renegotiated loans - |
When a loan is modified, it is not considered as past due but it maintains its previous classification as impaired or not impaired. If the debtor complies with the new agreement during the following six months, and an analysis of its payment capacity supports a new improved risk classification, the loan is classified as not impaired. If, subsequent to the loan modification, the debtor fails to comply with the new agreement, it is considered as impaired and past due.
