Page 189 - ACCESS BANK ANNUAL REPORTS_eBook

the assets’ original effective interest rate. Losses are recognised in the income statement and reflect-
ed in an allowance account against loans and advances. Interest on the impaired asset continues to be
recognised through the unwinding of the discount. When a subsequent event causes the amount of
impairment loss to decrease, the impairment loss is reversed through profit or loss.

[ii] Available for sale securities
Impairment losses on available-for-sale investment securities are recognised by transferring the
cumulative loss that has been recognised in other comprehensive income to the income statement as
a reclassification adjustment.

For debt securities, the group uses the criteria referred to in (i) above to assess impairment. If any such
evidence exists for available-for-sale financial assets, the cumulative loss – measured as the difference
between the acquisition cost and the current fair value, less any impairment loss on that financial asset
previously recognised in profit or loss – is removed from equity and recognised in the income state-
ment. For equity, a prolonged decline in the fair value of the security below its cost is also evidence that
the asset is impaired. Impairment losses recognised in the consolidated income statement on equity
instruments are not reversed through the consolidated income statement. If, in a subsequent year,
the fair value of an impaired available-for-sale debt security increases and the increase can be related
objectively to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised, then the impairment loss
is reversed through the income statement; otherwise, any increase in fair value is recognised through
OCI. Any subsequent recovery in the fair value of an impaired available-for-sale equity security is always
recognised in OCI.

The Group writes off previously impaired loans and advances (and investment securities) when they
are determined not to be recoverable. The Group writes off loans or investment debt securities that
are impaired (either partially or in full and any related allowance for impairment losses) when the Group
credit team determines that there is no realistic prospect of recovery.

(h) Cash and balances with banks
Cash and balances with banks include notes and coins on hand, balances held with central banks and
highly liquid financial assets with original maturities of less than three months, which are subject to
insignificant risk of changes in their fair value, and are used by the Group in the management of its
short-term commitments.

In the consolidated statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, unre-
stricted balances with foreign and central banks, money market placements and other short-term
highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

(i) Repossessed collateral

Repossessed collateral are equities, investment properties or other investments repossessed from a
customer and used to settle his outstanding obligation. Such investments are classified in accordance
with the intention of the Group in the asset class which they belong and are also separately disclosed in
the financial statement.
When collaterals are repossessed in satisfaction of a loan, the receivable is written down against the
allowance for losses. Repossessed collaterals are included in the financial statement based on how the
Bank intends to realize benefit from such collateral such as Non current assets held for sale and carried
at the lower of cost or estimated fair value less costs to sell, if the Group intends to sell or cost less
accumulated depreciation, if for use in the normal course of business.

(j) Derivative financial instruments
Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date on which a derivative contract is entered into
and are subsequently remeasured at their fair value. Fair values are obtained from quoted market pric-
es in active markets (for example, for exchange-traded options), including recent market transactions,
and valuation techniques (for example for swaps and currency transactions), including discounted cash
flow models and options pricing models, as appropriate. All derivatives are carried as assets when fair
value is positive and as liabilities when fair value is negative.

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Annual Report & Accounts 2017