Regions Bank 2011 Annual Report Download - page 154

REGIONS FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Regions Financial Corporation (“Regions” or “the Company”) provides a full range of banking and bank-
related services to individual and corporate customers through its subsidiaries and branch offices located
primarily in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. The Company is subject to
competition from other financial institutions, is subject to the regulations of certain government agencies and
undergoes periodic examinations by those regulatory authorities.
The accounting and reporting policies of Regions and the methods of applying those policies that materially
affect the accompanying consolidated financial statements conform with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and with general financial services industry practices. In preparing the
financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet dates and revenues and expenses for the periods presented. Actual
results could differ from the estimates and assumptions used in the consolidated financial statements including,
but not limited to, the estimates and assumptions related to the allowance for credit losses, intangibles, mortgage
servicing rights and income taxes.
Regions has evaluated all subsequent events for potential recognition and disclosure through the filing date
of this Form 10-K. See Note 25.
Certain amounts in prior period financial statements have been reclassified to conform to current period
presentation, except as otherwise noted. These reclassifications are immaterial and have no effect on net income
(loss), total assets or stockholders’ equity.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Regions, its subsidiaries and certain variable
interest entities (“VIEs”). Significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Regions
considers a voting rights entity to be a subsidiary and consolidates it if Regions has a controlling financial
interest in the entity. VIEs are consolidated if Regions has the power to direct the significant activities of the VIE
that impact financial performance and has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that
could potentially be significant (i.e., Regions is considered to be the primary beneficiary). Unconsolidated
investments in voting rights entities or VIEs in which Regions has significant influence over operating and
financing decisions (usually defined as a voting or economic interest of 20 percent to 50 percent) are accounted
for using the equity method. Unconsolidated investments in voting rights entities or VIEs in which Regions has a
voting or economic interest of less than 20 percent are generally carried at cost. See Note 2 for further discussion
of VIEs.
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
On January 11, 2012, Regions entered into an agreement to sell Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. and
related affiliates. Results of operations for the entities being sold are presented separately as discontinued
operations for all periods presented on the consolidated statements of operations because the pending sale met all
of the criteria for reporting as discontinued operations at December 31, 2011. See Note 3 and Note 25 for further
discussion.
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