FOREIGN TRADE BANK OF LATIN AMERICA, INC. | CIK:0000890541 | 3

  • Filed: 4/30/2018
  • Entity registrant name: FOREIGN TRADE BANK OF LATIN AMERICA, INC. (CIK: 0000890541)
  • Generator: DataTracks
  • SEC filing page: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890541/000114420418023750/0001144204-18-023750-index.htm
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  • ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForLoansAndReceivablesExplanatory

     
    3.5
    Loans - at amortized cost
     
    Loans are reported at their amortized cost considering the principal outstanding amounts net of unearned interest, and deferred fees and allowance for expected credit losses. Interest income is recognized using the effective interest rate method. This shall be calculated by applying the effective interest rate to the gross carrying amount of the loan, except for: a) purchased or originated credit-impaired loans. For these financial assets, the Bank applies the credit-adjusted effective interest rate to the amortized cost of the financial asset from initial recognition; and b) loans that have subsequently become credit-impaired financial assets. For these loans, the Bank shall apply the effective interest rate to the amortized cost of the financial asset in subsequent reporting years.
     
    The amortization of net unearned interest and deferred fees are recognized as an adjustment to the related loan yield using the effective interest rate method.
     
    Purchased loans are recorded at acquisition cost. The difference between the principal and the acquisition cost of loans, the premiums and discounts, is amortized over the life of the loan as an adjustment to the yield. All other costs related to acquisition of loans are expensed when incurred.
     
    Definition of Default
     
    The Bank considers a financial asset to be in default when it presents any of the following characteristics:
     
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    The debtor is past due for more than 90 days in any of its obligations to the bank, either in the loan principal or interest; or when the principal balance with one single balloon payment was due for more than 30 days;
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    Deterioration in the financial condition of the client, or the existence of other factors with the administration to estimate the possibility that the balance of principal and interest on customer loans is not fully recovered.
     
    The above presumptions regarding past due loans may be rebuttable if the Bank has reasonable and supportable information that is available without undue cost or effort, that demonstrate that the credit risk has not increased significantly since initial recognition even though the contractual payments are more than 30 or 90 days past due.
     
    In assessing whether a borrower is in default, the Bank considers indicators that are qualitative and quantitative based on data developed internally and obtained from external sources. Inputs into the assessment of whether a financial instrument is in default and their significance may vary over time to reflect changes in circumstances.
     
    Modified loan
     
    A modified or renegotiated loan is a loan whose borrower is experiencing financial difficulties and the renegotiation constitutes a concession to the borrower. A concession may include modification of terms such as an extension of maturity date, reduction in the stated interest rate, rescheduling of future cash flows, and reduction in the face amount of the loan or reduction of accrued interest, among others.
     
    When a financial asset is modified the Bank assesses whether this modification results in derecognition. In accordance with the Bank’s policy a modification results in derecognition when it gives rise to substantially different terms. To determine if the modified terms are substantially different from the original contractual terms the Bank considers the following:
     
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    Qualitative factors, such as contractual cash flows after modification are no longer SPPI, change in currency or change of counterparty, the extent of change in interest rates, maturity, covenants. If these do not clearly indicate a substantial modification, then;
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    A quantitative assessment is performed to compare the present value of the remaining contractual cash flows under the original terms with the contractual cash flows under the revised terms, both amounts discounted at the original effective interest.
     
    If the difference in present value is greater than 10% the Bank deems the arrangement is substantially different leading to derecognition.
     
    In the case where the financial asset is derecognised the loss allowance for ECL is remeasured at the date of derecognition to determine the net carrying amount of the asset at that date. The difference between this revised carrying amount and the fair value of the new financial asset with the new terms will lead to a gain or loss on derecognition. The new financial asset will have a loss allowance measured based on 12-month ECL except in the rare occasions where the new loan is considered to be originated credit impaired. This applies only in the case where the fair value of the new loan is recognised at a significant discount to its revised par amount because there remains a high risk of default which has not been reduced by the modification. The Bank monitors credit risk of modified financial assets by evaluating qualitative and quantitative information, such as if the borrower is in past due status under the new terms.
     
    When the contractual terms of a financial asset are modified and the modification does not result in derecognition, the Group determines if the financial asset’s credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition by comparing:
     
     
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    The remaining lifetime PD estimated based on data at initial recognition and the original contractual terms; with
     
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    The remaining lifetime PD at the reporting date based on the modified terms.
     
    In the renegotiation or modification of the contractual cash flows of the loan, the Bank shall:
     
     
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    Continue with its current accounting treatment for the existing loan that has been modified.
     
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    Record a modification gain or loss by recalculating the gross carrying amount of the financial asset as the present value of the renegotiated or modified contractual cash flows, discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate.
     
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    Assess whether there has been a significant increase in the credit risk of the financial instrument, by comparing the risk of a default occurring at the reporting date (based on the modified contractual terms) and the risk of a default occurring at initial recognition (based on the original, unmodified contractual terms). The loan that is modified is not automatically considered to have a lower credit risk. The assessment should consider credit risk over the expected life of the asset based on the historical and forward-looking information, including information about the circumstances that led to the modification. Evidence that the criteria for the recognition of lifetime expected credit losses are subsequently no longer met may include a history of up-to-date and timely payment in subsequent periods. A minimum period of observation will be necessary before a financial asset may qualify to return to a 12-month expected credit loss measurement.
     
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    Make the appropriate quantitative and qualitative disclosures required for renegotiated or modified assets to reflect the nature and effect of such modifications (including the effect on the measurement of expected credit losses) and how the Bank monitors these loans that have been modified.
     
    The Bank recognizes a loss allowance for expected credit losses (ECL) on a loan that is measured at amortized cost at each reporting date at an amount equal to the lifetime expected credit losses if the credit risk on that loan has increased significantly since initial recognition. If at the reporting date, the credit risk of that loan has not increased significantly since initial recognition, an entity shall measure the loss allowance for that loan at an amount equal to 12-month expected credit losses.
     
    The Bank's lending portfolio is comprised of the following segments: corporations, sovereign, middle-market companies and banking and financial institutions. The distinction between corporations and middle-market companies depends on the client’s level of annual sales in relation to the country risk, among other criteria. Except for the sovereign segment, segments are broken down into state-owned and private.
     
    The Bank's lending policy is applicable to all types of loans.