v3.26.1
Leases
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Leases  
Leases

Note 7 — Leases

As of June 30, 2026, and December 31, 2025, we had operating right-of-use (“ROU”) assets of $503.2 million and $507.1 million, respectively, and operating lease liabilities of $525.2 million and $525.3 million, respectively. We maintain operating leases on land and buildings for some of our operating centers, branch facilities and ATM locations. Most leases include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms extending up to 20 years. The exercise of renewal options is based on the sole judgment of management and what they consider to be reasonably certain given the environment today. Factors in determining whether an option is reasonably certain of exercise include, but are not limited to, the value of leasehold improvements, the value of renewal rate compared to market rates, and the presence of factors that would cause a significant economic penalty to us if the option is not exercised. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet and instead are recognized in lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

  ​ ​ ​

2026

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2026

2025

 

Lease Cost Components:

Amortization of ROU assets – finance leases

$

116

$

116

$

231

$

231

Interest on lease liabilities – finance leases

5

7

10

14

Operating lease cost (cost resulting from lease payments)

17,334

15,914

34,065

25,283

Short-term lease cost

195

425

397

780

Variable lease cost (cost excluded from lease payments)

 

1,395

 

1,560

 

2,344

 

2,315

Total lease cost

$

19,045

$

18,022

$

37,047

$

28,623

Supplemental Cash Flow and Other Information Related to Leases:

Finance lease – operating cash flows

$

4

$

7

$

10

$

14

Finance lease – financing cash flows

123

121

246

242

Operating lease – operating cash flows (fixed payments)

14,341

14,277

28,979

22,864

Operating lease – operating cash flows (net change asset/liability)

(6,249)

(6,437)

(12,630)

(11,422)

New ROU assets – operating leases

36,501

7,705

38,319

397,318

Weighted – average remaining lease term (years) – finance leases

1.99

2.95

1.99

2.95

Weighted – average remaining lease term (years) – operating leases

 

12.26

12.80

 

12.26

 

12.80

Weighted – average discount rate - finance leases

1.8%

1.7%

1.8%

1.7%

Weighted – average discount rate - operating leases

 

6.4%

 

6.4%

 

6.4%

 

6.4%

 

 

 

 

Operating lease payments due:

2026 (excluding 6 months ended June 30, 2026)

$

29,067

2027

60,135

2028

61,553

2029

61,078

2030

59,570

Thereafter

518,519

Total undiscounted cash flows

789,922

Discount on cash flows

(264,713)

Total operating lease liabilities

$

525,209

Terms and conditions are similar to those real estate operating leases described above. Lease classifications from the acquired institutions were retained. At June 30, 2026, we did not maintain any leases with related parties and determined that the number and dollar amount of our equipment leases was immaterial. As of June 30, 2026, we had three operating leases that had not yet commenced for approximately $4.4 million.

Equipment Lessor

SouthState has an Equipment Finance Group which does business directly with customers and primarily focuses on serving the construction and utility segments. The following table summarizes lease receivables and investment in operating leases and their corresponding balance sheet location at June 30, 2026, and December 31, 2025:

June 30,

December 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

  ​ ​ ​

2026

2025

 

Direct financing leases:

Lease receivables

$

205,742

$

92,927

Guaranteed residual values

5,697

4,212

Unguaranteed residual values

16,528

11,335

Initial direct costs

7,191

3,502

Less: Unearned income

 

(35,510)

 

(17,690)

Total net investment in direct financing leases

$

199,648

$

94,286

The following table summarizes direct financing lease income recorded for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, and remaining lease payment receivable for each of the next five years:

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

(Dollars in thousands)

2026

2025

2026

2025

Direct financing lease income

Interest income

$

2,938

$

890

$

5,167

$

1,519

Remaining lease payments receivable:

2026 (excluding 6 months ended June 30, 2026)

$

26,626

2027

 

47,248

2028

 

39,882

2029

 

41,177

2030

29,511

Thereafter

 

26,995

Total undiscounted lease receivable

 

211,439

Less: unearned interest income

(35,510)

Net lease receivables

$

175,929

See Note 1 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, under the “Leases” section, of the 2025 Form 10-K, on accounting for leases.