STI 2018 Annual Report

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 84 NOTE 1 – SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES General SunTrust is a financial services holding company headquartered inAtlanta, Georgia and is one of the nation’s largest commercial banking organizations. Through its principal subsidiary, SunTrust Bank, the Company offers a full line of financial services for consumers, businesses, corporations, institutions, and not-for-profit entities, both through branches (located primarily in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia) and through other digital and national delivery channels. In addition to deposit, credit, mortgage banking, and trust and investment services provided by the Bank, the Company’s other subsidiaries provide capital markets, securities brokerage, investment banking, and wealth management services. The Company operates and measures business activity across two business segments: Consumer and Wholesale, with functional activities included in Corporate Other. For additional information on the Company’s business segments, see Note 22, “Business Segment Reporting.” Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries after elimination of significant intercompany accounts and transactions. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations in these financial statements, have been made. The Company holds VIs, which are contractual, ownership or other interests that fluctuate with changes in the fair value of a VIE’s net assets. The Company consolidates a VIE if it is the primary beneficiary, which is the party that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the financial performance of the VIE and the obligation to absorb losses or rights to receive benefits through its VIs that could potentially be significant to the VIE. To determine whether or not a VI held by the Company could potentially be significant to the VIE, both qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the nature, size, and form of the Company’s involvement with the VIE are considered. The assessment of whether or not the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE is performed on an ongoing basis. The Company consolidates VOEs that are controlled through the Company’s equity interests or by other means. Investments in entities for which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over operating and financing decisions are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. These investments are included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at cost, adjusted to reflect the Company’s portion of income, loss, or dividends of the investee. For information on the Company’s equity investments that do notmeet the criteria to be accounted for under the equity method and do not result in consolidation of the investee, see the “Equity Securities” section in this Note. Results of operations of acquired entities are included from the date of acquisition. Results of operations associated with entities or net assets sold are included through the date of disposition. The Company reports any noncontrolling interests in its subsidiaries in the equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets and separately presents the income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest of a consolidated subsidiary in its Consolidated Statements of Income. Assets and liabilities of acquired entities are accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting, whereby the purchase price of an acquired entity is allocated to the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the amount allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes; actual results could vary from these estimates. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include Cash and due from banks, Interest-bearing deposits in other banks, Fed Funds sold, and Securities borrowed or purchased under agreements to resell. Cash and cash equivalents have maturities of three months or less, and accordingly, the carrying amount of these instruments is deemed to be a reasonable estimate of fair value. Trading Activities Various trading assets and liabilities are used as part of the Company’s overall balance sheet management strategies and to support client requirements. Trading assets and liabilities are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized within Noninterest income in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. See Note 5, “Trading Assets and Liabilities and Derivative Instruments,” for additional information on the Company’s trading activities. Investments The Company invests in various debt and equity securities that are not held for trading purposes. Debt securities that the Company might not hold until maturity are classified as securities AFS. Equity securities that are not held for trading purposes are recorded in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Securities Available for Sale The Company invests in various debt securities primarily as a store of liquidity and as part of the overall ALM process to optimize income and market performance over an entire interest rate cycle. Interest income on securities AFS is recognized on an accrual basis in Interest income in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. Premiums and discounts on securitiesAFS are amortized or accreted as an adjustment to yield over the life of the security. The Company estimates principal prepayments on securities AFS for which prepayments are probable and the timing and amount of prepayments can be