Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.

We update our fair value analysis each quarter, with changes since the prior reporting period reflected as a component of "Changes in fair value of loans" in the condensed consolidated statements of income. Changes in yields, purchase and payment rates, servicing rates, realized and projected credit loss rates and discount rates will lead to changes in the fair value of loans and therefore impact earnings. Further, our retail asset typically has seasonal growth during the summer months, impacting the fair value of assets.

Fair value differs from amortized cost accounting in the following ways:

For receivables that are carried at net amortized cost, we include disclosures of the fair value of such receivables to the extent practicable within the disclosures below.

Where applicable, we account for our financial assets and liabilities at fair value based upon a three-tiered valuation system. In general, fair values determined by Level 1 inputs use quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs use inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. Where inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety has been determined is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

Valuations and Techniques for Assets

Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. The table below summarizes (in thousands) by fair value hierarchy the March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 fair values and carrying amounts of (1) our assets that are carried at fair value in our condensed consolidated financial statements and (2) our assets not carried at fair value, but for which fair value disclosures are required:

For those asset classes above that are carried at fair value in our condensed consolidated financial statements, gains and losses associated with fair value changes are detailed on our condensed consolidated statements of income as a component of Changes in fair value of loans. Variations in the three month U.S. Treasury bill rate over the measurement period are used to determine the portion of change in fair value considered to be attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit risk. These variations are applied to the period end discount rate we use to determine fair value. For our loans included in the above table, we assess the fair value of these assets based on our estimate of future cash flows net of servicing costs. For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, we estimate the portion of fair value changes considered to be attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit risk to be $9.3 million and $(6.5) million, respectively.

For Level 3 assets carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs, the following table presents (in thousands) a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024: 

The unrealized gains and losses for assets within the Level 3 category presented in the tables above include changes in fair value that are attributable to both observable and unobservable inputs.

Loans at Fair Value. The fair value of Loans at fair value is based on the present value of future cash flows using a valuation model of expected cash flows and the estimated cost to service and collect those cash flows. We estimate the present value of these future cash flows using internally-developed estimates of assumptions third-party market participants would use in determining fair value, including estimates of credit losses, payment rates, servicing costs, discount rates and yields earned on private label credit and general purpose credit card receivables. We forecast the cash flows underlying our fair value assessment based on the individual offer type (in the case of general purpose credit cards) or by specific offers at our retail partners (for private label credit). While overall product return requirements among the offer types may be similar, the individual product offerings necessary to achieve those returns is often unique to each offer and retailer based on several factors, including acceptance rates of the offers by consumers and underlying consumer performance data which varies by offer type.

Our fair value models include market degradation to reflect the possibility of delinquency rates increasing in the near term (and the corresponding increase in charge-offs and decrease in payments) above the level that current trends would suggest. 

The fair value of loans we acquire associated with our retail partners are typically lower than the aggregate unpaid gross balance of the underlying loans due to loan originations by our bank partners that contain below market interest rates or fees charged to consumers. Under agreements with our bank partners, we are required to purchase these receivables for amounts that may be in excess of fair value. In these instances, a fair value assessment that is less than the purchase price of the receivable can occur on the date we initially acquire the receivable, resulting in a loss on acquisition of the receivable. This negative fair value assessment is included in Changes in fair value of loans on our condensed consolidated statements of income.

In cases where we acquire these below market receivables, we charge merchant fees to our retail partners to facilitate the transaction and ensure we earn adequate returns. These merchant fees are based on the value of the goods purchased from our retail partners, the consumer’s credit risk and the terms of our bank partners' related product offering. These fees are recognized upon completion of our services, which coincides with the funding of the loan by our bank partners, in Consumer loans, including past due fees on our condensed consolidated statements of income. These merchant fees often offset the negative impact of the initial acquisition of the underlying receivable. As such, it is not always necessary for us to collect the aggregate unpaid gross balance of the underlying receivable to achieve desired returns.

Valuations and Techniques for Liabilities

Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the liability. The table below summarizes (in thousands) by fair value hierarchy the March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 fair values and carrying amounts of our liabilities not carried at fair value, but for which fair value disclosures are required:

Bank partner fees carried at fair value in accordance with ASC 815, "Derivatives and Hedging", reflect the estimated fair value of future compensation we owe our bank partners associated with the regulatory oversight and other services they provide on our acquired receivables, the underlying accounts of which they continue to own and service. This compensation is based on both a fixed and variable component, dependent on the underlying performance of the acquired receivables. We estimate the present value of this compensation using internally-developed estimates of payment rates and discount rates. We recognize the fair value of these Bank partner fees within Card and loan servicing on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income on the date we acquire the underlying receivable.

For our credit and debt facilities where market prices are not available, we assess the fair value of these liabilities based on our estimate of future cash flows generated from their underlying credit card receivables collateral, net of servicing compensation required under the note facilities. We have evaluated the fair value of our third party debt by analyzing repayment terms and credit spreads included in our recent financing arrangements to those of our existing facilities. See Note 9, "Notes Payable," for further discussion on our other notes payable.

Other Relevant Data

Other relevant data (in thousands) as of March 31, 2025 and  December 31, 2024 concerning certain assets we carry at fair value are as follows: