Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

OTHER REGULATORY MATTERS

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OTHER REGULATORY MATTERS
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Banking and Thrift [Abstract]  
OTHER REGULATORY MATTERS OTHER REGULATORY MATTERS
Huntington and the Bank are subject to certain risk-based capital and leverage ratio requirements under the U.S. Basel III capital rules adopted by the Federal Reserve, for Huntington, and by the OCC, for the Bank. These rules implement the Basel III international regulatory capital standards in the United States, as well as certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. These quantitative calculations are minimums, and the Federal Reserve and OCC may determine that a banking organization, based on its size, complexity or risk profile, must maintain a higher level of capital in order to operate in a safe and sound manner.
Under the U.S. Basel III capital rules, Huntington’s and the Bank’s assets, exposures and certain off-balance sheet items are subject to risk weights used to determine the institutions’ risk-weighted assets. These risk-weighted assets are used to calculate the following minimum capital ratios for Huntington and the Bank:
CET1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio, equal to the ratio of CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets. CET1 capital primarily includes common shareholders’ equity subject to certain regulatory adjustments and deductions, including with respect to goodwill, intangible assets, certain deferred tax assets, and AOCI. In July 2019, the FDIC, the Federal Reserve and OCC issued final rules that simplify the capital treatment of mortgage servicing assets, deferred tax assets arising from temporary differences that an institution could not realize through net operating loss carrybacks, and investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions, as well as simplify the recognition and calculation of minority interests that are includable in regulatory capital, for non-advanced approaches banking organizations, including Huntington and the Bank. Banking organizations may adopt these changes beginning on January 1, 2020, and are required to adopt them for the quarter beginning April 1, 2020.
In addition, in December 2018, the U.S. federal banking agencies finalized rules that would permit BHCs and banks to phase-in, for regulatory capital purposes, the day-one impact of the new CECL accounting rule on retained earnings over a period of three years. For further discussion of the new current expected credit loss accounting rule, see Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio, equal to the ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets. Tier 1 capital is primarily comprised of CET1 capital, perpetual preferred stock and certain qualifying capital instruments.
Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio, equal to the ratio of total capital, including CET1 capital, Tier 1 capital and Tier 2 capital, to risk-weighted assets. Tier 2 capital primarily includes qualifying subordinated debt and qualifying ALLL. Tier 2 capital also includes, among other things, certain trust preferred securities.
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio, equal to the ratio of Tier 1 capital to quarterly average assets (net of goodwill, certain other intangible assets and certain other deductions).
The total minimum regulatory capital ratios and well-capitalized minimum ratios are reflected on the following page. The Federal Reserve has not yet revised the well-capitalized standard for BHCs to reflect the higher capital requirements imposed under the U.S. Basel III capital rules. For purposes of the Federal Reserve’s Regulation Y, including determining whether a BHC meets the requirements to be an FHC, BHCs, such as Huntington, must maintain a Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio of 6.0% or greater and a Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio of 10.0% or greater. If the Federal Reserve were to apply the same or a very similar well-capitalized standard to BHCs as that applicable to the Bank, Huntington’s capital ratios as of December 31, 2019 would exceed such a revised well-capitalized standard. The Federal Reserve may require BHCs, including Huntington, to maintain capital ratios substantially in excess of mandated minimum levels, depending upon general economic conditions and a BHC’s particular condition, risk profile and growth plans.
Failure to be well-capitalized or to meet minimum capital requirements could result in certain mandatory and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have an adverse material effect on our operations or financial condition. Failure to be well-capitalized or to meet minimum capital requirements could
also result in restrictions on Huntington’s or the Bank’s ability to pay dividends or otherwise distribute capital or to receive regulatory approval of applications.
In addition to meeting the minimum capital requirements, under the U.S. Basel III capital rules Huntington and the Bank must also maintain the required Capital Conservation Buffer to avoid becoming subject to restrictions on capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments to management. The Capital Conservation Buffer is calculated as a ratio of CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets, and it effectively increases the required minimum risk-based capital ratios. The Capital Conservation Buffer requirement was phased in over a three-year period that began on January 1, 2016. The phase-in period ended on January 1, 2019, and the Capital Conservation Buffer was at its fully phased-in level of 2.5% throughout 2019.
As of December 31, 2019, Huntington’s and the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios were above the well-capitalized standards and met the then-applicable Capital Conservation Buffer. Please refer to the table below for a summary of Huntington’s and the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios as of December 31, 2019, calculated using the regulatory capital methodology applicable during 2019.
 
 
Minimum
 
Minimum
 
 
 
Basel III
 
 
Regulatory
 
Ratio+Capital
 
Well-
 
December 31,
 
 
Capital
 
Conservation
 
Capitalized
 
2019
 
2018
(dollar amounts in millions)
 
Ratios
 
Buffer
 
Minimums
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CET 1 risk-based capital
Consolidated
4.50
%
 
7.00
%
 
N/A

 
9.88
%
 
$
8,647

 
9.65
%
 
$
8,271

 
Bank
4.50

 
7.00

 
6.50
%
 
11.17

 
9,747

 
10.19

 
8,732

Tier 1 risk-based capital
Consolidated
6.00

 
8.50

 
6.00

 
11.26

 
9,854

 
11.06

 
9,478

 
Bank
6.00

 
8.50

 
8.00

 
12.17

 
10,621

 
11.21

 
9,611

Total risk-based capital
Consolidated
8.00

 
10.50

 
10.00

 
13.04

 
11,413

 
12.98

 
11,122

 
Bank
8.00

 
10.50

 
10.00

 
13.59

 
11,864

 
13.42

 
11,504

Tier 1 leverage
Consolidated
4.00

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
9.26

 
9,854

 
9.10

 
9,478

 
Bank
4.00

 
N/A

 
5.00

 
10.01

 
10,621

 
9.23

 
9,611


Huntington and its subsidiaries are also subject to various regulatory requirements that impose restrictions on cash, debt, and dividends. The Bank is required to maintain cash reserves based on the level of certain of its deposits. This reserve requirement may be met by holding cash in banking offices or on deposit at the FRB. During 2019 and 2018, the average balances of these deposits were $0.6 billion and $0.4 billion, respectively.
Under current Federal Reserve regulations, the Bank is limited as to the amount and type of loans it may make to the parent company and nonbank subsidiaries. At December 31, 2019, the Bank could lend $1.2 billion to a single affiliate, subject to the qualifying collateral requirements defined in the regulations.
Dividends from the Bank are one of the major sources of funds for the Company. These funds aid the Company in the payment of dividends to shareholders, expenses, and other obligations. Payment of dividends and/or return of capital to the parent company is subject to various legal and regulatory limitations. During 2019, the Bank paid dividends of $0.7 billion to the holding company. Also, there are statutory and regulatory limitations on the ability of national banks to pay dividends or make other capital distributions.