Allowance for Credit Losses
An allowance for credit losses, also known as an allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL), is a financial institution’s estimation of the amount of loans, leases, or other credit instruments that may be uncollectible or charged off due to default or non-payment. This allowance is set aside as a contra-asset account, which is used to reduce the carrying value of the loan portfolio on the balance sheet.
Banks and financial institutions use this allowance to account for potential losses in their loan portfolios due to credit risk. The allowance for credit losses serves as a cushion to absorb the losses and is adjusted periodically based on the institution’s analysis of the credit quality of its loan portfolio, considering factors such as economic conditions, historical loss experience, and the borrower’s financial position.
Example of an Allowance for Credit Losses
Here’s an example of how an allowance for credit losses is used in a real-life scenario:
Let’s assume that XYZ Bank has a loan portfolio of $10,000,000. Based on historical data and the current economic situation, the bank estimates that 3% of these loans may not be collected due to defaults or non-payments.
- Calculate the allowance for credit losses: $10,000,000 (loan portfolio) x 3% (estimated uncollectible percentage) = $300,000.
- Record the journal entry for the credit loss expense:Debit: Credit Loss Expense (Income Statement) $300,000 Credit: Allowance for Credit Losses (Balance Sheet) $300,000
With this entry, the bank’s balance sheet will show a loan portfolio of $10,000,000 and an allowance for credit losses of $300,000, resulting in a net loan portfolio of $9,700,000 ($10,000,000 – $300,000).
Over time, as some loans become delinquent or charged off, the bank would update the allowance for credit losses accordingly. For example, if a $50,000 loan is charged off:
Debit: Allowance for Credit Losses (Balance Sheet) $50,000 Credit: Loans Receivable (Balance Sheet) $50,000
This entry would reduce both the loans receivable and the allowance for credit losses, reflecting the actual loss incurred. After this entry, the allowance for credit losses would be $250,000 ($300,000 – $50,000), and the net loan portfolio would be $9,650,000 ($9,700,000 – $50,000).
