Accounting for credit losses – Getting ready for big changes

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Abstract: For community banks, accounting for credit losses — which are reflected in the allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL) — is a critical process that can have a significant impact on earnings and capital. Recently, both the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued proposals to change the way financial institutions determine when and how credit losses should be recognized. This article looks at the different proposals and what the future might hold.