Rendering

Component: (Network and Table)
Network
2317301 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)
(http://www.comerica.com/role/EmployeeBenefitPlansTables)
Table(Implied)
Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Disclosures [Abstract]Period [Axis]
2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Disclosures [Abstract]
 
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures
The following table sets forth reconciliations of plan assets and the projected benefit obligation, the weighted-average assumptions used to determine year-end benefit obligations, and the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the Corporation’s defined benefit pension plans and postretirement benefit plan at December 31, 2016 and 2015. The Corporation used a measurement date of December 31, 2016 for these plans.
 
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
 
 
 
 
 
Qualified
 
 
Non-Qualified
 
Postretirement Benefit Plan
(dollar amounts in millions)
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Change in fair value of plan assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at January 1
$
2,346

 
 
$
2,541

 
 
$

 
$

 
$
61

 
$
67

Actual return on plan assets
200

 
 
(73
)
 
 

 

 
2

 

Employer contributions

 
 

 
 

 

 
4

 

Benefits paid
(93
)
 
 
(122
)
(a)
 

 

 
(5
)
 
(6
)
Fair value of plan assets at December 31
$
2,453

 
 
$
2,346

 
 
$

 
$

 
$
62

 
$
61

Change in projected benefit obligation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected benefit obligation at January 1
$
1,916

 
 
$
2,070

 
 
$
222

 
$
235

 
$
59

 
$
73

Service cost
31

 
 
35

 
 
3

 
4

 

 

Interest cost
87

 
 
88

 
 
10

 
10

 
3

 
3

Actuarial loss (gain)
161

 
 
(155
)
 
 
11

 
(16
)
 
(2
)
 
(8
)
Benefits paid
(93
)
 
 
(122
)
(a)
 
(11
)
 
(11
)
 
(5
)
 
(6
)
Plan change
(200
)
 
 

 
 
(34
)
 

 

 
(3
)
Projected benefit obligation at December 31
$
1,902

 
 
$
1,916

 
 
$
201

 
$
222

 
$
55

 
$
59

Accumulated benefit obligation
$
1,894

 
 
$
1,756

 
 
$
198

 
$
191

 
$
55

 
$
59

Funded status at December 31 (b) (c)
$
551

 
 
$
430

 
 
$
(201
)
 
$
(222
)
 
$
7

 
$
2

Weighted-average assumptions used:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
4.23
%
 
 
4.82
%
 
 
4.23
%
 
4.82
%
 
3.92
%
 
4.53
%
Rate of compensation increase
3.50

 
 
3.75

 
 
3.50

 
3.75

 
n/a

 
n/a

Healthcare cost trend rate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost trend rate assumed for next year
n/a

 
 
n/a

 
 
n/a

 
n/a

 
6.50

 
7.00

Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)
n/a

 
 
n/a

 
 
n/a

 
n/a

 
5.00

 
5.00

Year when rate reaches the ultimate trend rate
n/a

 
 
n/a

 
 
n/a

 
n/a

 
2027

 
2027

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net actuarial loss
$
(673
)
 
 
$
(586
)
 
 
$
(82
)
 
$
(78
)
 
$
(20
)
 
$
(22
)
Prior service credit (cost)
178

 
 
(21
)
 
 
50

 
21

 
1

 
1

Balance at December 31
$
(495
)
 
 
$
(607
)
 
 
$
(32
)
 
$
(57
)
 
$
(19
)
 
$
(21
)
(a)
Included $56 million in benefit payments made to certain terminated vested eligible participants who elected to receive lump-sum settlements in 2015.
(b)
Based on projected benefit obligation for defined benefit pension plans and accumulated benefit obligation for postretirement benefit plan.
(c)
The Corporation recognizes the overfunded and underfunded status of the plans in “accrued income and other assets” and “accrued expenses and other liabilities,” respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets.
n/a - not applicable
 
 
Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following table details the changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2016.
 
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Qualified
 
Non-Qualified
 
Postretirement Benefit Plan
 
Total
Actuarial (loss) gain arising during the period
$
(124
)
 
$
(11
)
 
$
1

 
$
(134
)
Prior service credit arising during the period
200

 
34

 

 
234

Amortization of net actuarial loss
38

 
7

 
1

 
46

Amortization of prior service credit
(2
)
 
(5
)
 

 
(7
)
Total recognized in other comprehensive income
$
112

 
$
25

 
$
2

 
$
139

 
 
Components of Net Periodic Defined Benefit Cost
Components of net periodic defined benefit cost and postretirement benefit cost, the actual return on plan assets and the weighted-average assumptions used were as follows.
 
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
(dollar amounts in millions)
Qualified
 
Non-Qualified
Years Ended December 31
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Service cost
$
31

 
$
35

 
$
29

 
$
3

 
$
4

 
$
3

Interest cost
87

 
88

 
88

 
10

 
10

 
10

Expected return on plan assets
(163
)
 
(159
)
 
(131
)
 

 

 

Amortization of prior service (credit) cost
(2
)
 
4

 
6

 
(5
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Amortization of net loss
38

 
59

 
31

 
7

 
10

 
7

Net periodic defined benefit (credit) cost
$
(9
)
 
$
27

 
$
23

 
$
15

 
$
20

 
$
16

Actual return on plan assets
$
200

 
$
(73
)
 
$
278

 
n/a

 
n/a

 
n/a

Actual rate of return on plan assets
8.66
%
 
(2.95
)%
 
13.88
%
 
n/a

 
n/a

 
n/a

Weighted-average assumptions used:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
4.53
%
 
4.28
 %
 
5.17
%
 
4.53
%
 
4.28
%
 
5.17
%
Expected long-term return on plan assets
6.75

 
6.75

 
6.75

 
n/a

 
n/a

 
n/a

Rate of compensation increase
3.75

 
3.75

 
4.00

 
3.75

 
3.75

 
4.00

n/a - not applicable
(dollar amounts in millions)
Postretirement Benefit Plan
Years Ended December 31
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Interest cost
$
3

 
$
3

 
$
3

Expected return on plan assets
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Amortization of prior service cost

 
1

 
1

Amortization of net loss
1

 
1

 
1

Net periodic postretirement benefit cost
$

 
$
1

 
$
1

Actual return on plan assets
$
2

 
$

 
$
3

Actual rate of return on plan assets
2.83
%
 
(0.53
)%
 
4.62
%
Weighted-average assumptions used:
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
4.53
%
 
3.99
 %
 
4.59
%
Expected long-term return on plan assets
5.00

 
5.00

 
5.00

Healthcare cost trend rate:
 
 
 
 
 
Cost trend rate assumed
7.00

 
7.00

 
7.50

Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)
5.00

 
5.00

 
5.00

Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate
2027

 
2026

 
2033

 
 
Balances Remaining in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to be Recognized over Next Fiscal Year
The estimated portion of balances remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) that are expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost in the year ended December 31, 2017 are as follows.
 
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Qualified
 
Non-Qualified
 
Postretirement
Benefit Plan
 
Total
Net loss
$
43

 
$
8

 
$
1

 
$
52

Prior service credit
(19
)
 
(8
)
 

 
(27
)
 
 
Effect of One-Percentage-Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates
Assumed healthcare cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the postretirement benefit plan. A one-percentage-point change in 2016 assumed healthcare and prescription drug cost trend rates would have the following effects.
 
One-Percentage-Point
(in millions)
Increase
 
Decrease
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation
$
3

 
$
(3
)
Effect on total service and interest cost

 

 
 
Fair Value of Defined Benefit Plan Investments
The fair values of the Corporation’s qualified defined benefit pension plan investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2016 and 2015, by asset category and level within the fair value hierarchy, are detailed in the table below.
(in millions)
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalent securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Commercial paper
$
2

 
$

 
$
2

 
$

Common stock
850

 
850

 

 

Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury and other U.S. government agency securities
377

 
377

 

 

Corporate and municipal bonds and notes
709

 

 
709

 

Collateralized mortgage obligations
15

 

 
15

 

U.S. government agency mortgage-backed securities
8

 

 
8

 

Private placements
71

 

 

 
71

Total investments in the fair value hierarchy
2,032


1,227


734


71

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments measured at net asset value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collective investment funds
416

 


 


 


Total investments at fair value
$
2,448

 


 


 


December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalent securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual funds
$
43

 
$
43

 
$

 
$

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual funds
69

 
69

 

 

Common stock
480

 
478

 
2

 

Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury and other U.S. government agency securities
368

 
368

 

 

Corporate and municipal bonds and notes
729

 

 
729

 

Collateralized mortgage obligations
18

 

 
18

 

U.S. government agency mortgage-backed securities
8

 

 
8

 

Private placements
105

 

 

 
105

Total investments in the fair value hierarchy
1,820

 
958

 
757

 
105

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments measured at net asset value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Collective investment funds
527

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total investments at fair value
$
2,347

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in Level 3 Defined Benefit Plan Investments
The table below provides a summary of changes in the Corporation’s qualified defined benefit pension plan’s Level 3 investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
 
Balance at
Beginning
of Period
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at
End of Period
 
 
Net Gains (Losses)
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
 
Realized
 
Unrealized
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Year Ended December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private placements
$
105

 
$
1

 
$
3

 
$
64

 
$
(102
)
 
$
71

Year Ended December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private placements
$
73

 
$

 
$
(5
)
 
$
108

 
$
(71
)
 
$
105

 
 
Estimated Future Benefit Payments
The Corporation currently expects to make no employer contributions to the qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans and postretirement benefit plan for the year ended December 31, 2017.
 
Estimated Future Benefit Payments
(in millions)
Years Ended December 31
Qualified
Defined Benefit
Pension Plan
 
Non-Qualified
Defined Benefit
Pension Plan
 
Postretirement
Benefit Plan (a)
2017
$
120

 
$
11

 
$
6

2018
119

 
12

 
6

2019
124

 
12

 
6

2020
126

 
13

 
5

2021
129

 
13

 
5

2022 - 2026
657

 
65

 
21

(a)
Estimated benefit payments in the postretirement benefit plan are net of estimated Medicare subsidies.