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Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

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FY2020 Annual Report · Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
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Annual Report 
2020 

Who we are 
CIBC is a leading North American fnancial institution and ended 2020 
with a market capitalization of $44 billion and a Basel III Common Equity 
Tier 1 capital ratio of 12.1%. 

Across Personal and Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth 
Management, and Capital Markets businesses, our 44,000 employees 
provide a full range of fnancial products and services to 10 million 
personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients in 
Canada, the U.S. and around the world. 

Our purpose 
CIBC’s purpose is to help make your ambition a reality. 

Our strategy 
At CIBC, our goal is to deliver superior client experience and top-tier 
shareholder returns while maintaining our fnancial strength. To achieve 
our ambition, we are executing on three strategic priorities: 

1.  

 Focusing on key client segments to accelerate our earnings growth 

2.    Simplifying and transforming to deliver a modern relationship-

banking proposition 

3.   Advancing our purpose-driven culture 

Creating value for our shareholders 
At CIBC, we are committed to delivering sustainable earnings  
growth to our shareholders. We are guided by our purpose – to help 
make our clients’ ambition a reality – as we reinvest in our business to 
accelerate revenue growth and reduce our structural cost base while 
keeping a keen focus on industry-leading fundamentals in capital, 
expenses and risk management. 

$3.8B 

Reported net income 

$4.4B 

Adjusted net income 

$44B 

Market capitalization 

12.1% 

Basel III CET1 r

atio 

10M 

Clients 

Table of contents 

2020 Performance at a glance  
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) scorecard  
Our response to COVID-19  
 Message from the President and Chief Executive Ofcer  
 Message from the Chair of the Board  
Enhanced Disclosure Task Force  

i 
ii 
iv 
ix 
x 

Management’s discussion and analysis 
Consolidated fnancial statements  
Notes to the consolidated fnancial statements  
Quarterly review  
Ten-year statistical review  
Glossary  
Shareholder information  

1 
99 
114 
191 
193 
196 
203

 
 
 
 
 
2020 performance  
at a glance 

Business mix 
% adjusted net income(1) 

44% 
Canadian Personal  
and Business Banking 

27% 
Canadian Commercial  
Banking and Wealth 
Management 

-6% 
Corporate and Other  

25% 
Capital Markets 

10% 
U.S. Commercial Banking 
and Wealth Management 

62.8 

Client experience 
2020 CIBC  
Enterprise Net 
Promoter Score 

Reported revenue 
($ billions) 

Reported earnings  
per share 
($) 

Adjusted earnings  
per share(1) 
($) 

Dividend 
($/share) 

18.6 

18.7 

17.8 

11.65 

11.19 

12.21  11.92 

5.60

5.82 

5.32 

8.22 

9.69 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

(1)   For additional information, see the “Non-GAAP measures” section of the MD&A. 

Financial highlights 

For the year ended October 31  
(Canadian $ in billions, except as noted) 

Financial results 
Revenue 
Provision for credit losses 
Expenses 
Reported/Adjusted net income(1) 
Financial measures (%) 
Reported/Adjusted efciency ratio(1) 
Reported/Adjusted return on common shareholders’ equity (ROE)(1) 
Net interest margin 
Total shareholder return 
Common share information 
Reported/Adjusted earnings per share(1)  
Market capitalization 
Dividends (%) 
Dividend yield 
Reported/Adjusted dividend payout ratio(1) 
Net income by strategic business unit 
Canadian Personal and Business Banking 
Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
Capital Markets 

(1) For additional information, see the “Non-GAAP measures” section of the MD&A. 

2020 

2019 

18.7 

2.5 

11.4 

3.8/4.4 

60.6/55.8 

10.0/11.7 

1.50 

(5.9) 

8.22/9.69 

44.4 

5.9 

70.7/60.0 

2.0 

1.2 

0.4 

1.1 

18.6 
1.3 
10.9 
5.1/5.4 

58.3/55.5 
14.5/15.4 
1.65 
4.2 

11.19/11.92 
50.0 

5.0 
49.9/46.9 

2.3 
1.3 
0.7 
1.0 

Financial scorecard 

Target 

2020 reported results 

2020 adjusted results(1) 

Earnings per share (EPS) 
growth(2) 

5%–10% annually 

$8.22,  
down 27% from 2019 

$9.69,   
down 19% from 2019 

Return on equity (ROE)(2) 

15%+ 

10.0% 

11.7% 

Efciency ratio 

52% run rate in 2022 

60.6%,  
increased 230 basis points 
from 2019 

55.8%,  
increased 30 basis points 
from 2019 

Basel III CET1 ratio 

Strong bufer to  
regulatory minimum 

12.1% 

Dividend payout ratio(2) 

40%–50% 

70.7% 

60.0% 

Total shareholder return 

Outperform the  
S&P/TSX Composite  
Banks Index over a rolling 
fve-year period 

(1)   For additional information, see the “Non-GAAP measures” section of the MD&A. 
(2)  Through the cycle. 

CIBC – 27.7%  
Banks Index – 35.3% 

 
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) scorecard 

Material topics 

Target 

2020 performance 

Status 

Client  
experience 

Privacy and 
information 
security 

Sustainable 
fnance 

Inclusive  
banking 

• Continuous improvement 

• CIBC 

 Enterprise Net Promoter Score  
was 62.8, a two point increase from 2019 

• No priv

acy fndings against CIBC  

• 3   privacy fndings against CIBC  

X(1) 

by regulators 

by regulators(1) 

• $150 billion in suppor

t for environmental  

• $15.

7 billion in environmental and  

and sustainable fnancing over 10 years 
(2018–2027) 

sustainable fnancing 

28%(2)   
achieved to date  
($42 billion) 

• Eng 

age 200,000 clients in fnancial 
education seminars and events over three
years (2019–2021) 

• P  rovide $9 billion in new loans to SMEs 

over four years (2020–2023) 

• 20  20 performance will be updated in 

N/A 

CIBC’s 2020 Sustainability Report 

• $6.

  9 billion in new loans to small and 
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 

77%   
achieved to date 

• Gr  ow our commercial banking Indigenous 

• 23% 

 growth in commercial banking  

business by 10% in 2020 

Indigenous business 

Belonging  
at work 

•  At least 30% women and at least 30%  
men on the CIBC Board of Directors 

• 40% 

 women on the CIBC Board of 

Directors 

•  At a minimum, between 35% and 40%  

• 33% 

 women in board-approved  

women in board-approved executive roles   
by 2022 (Global) 

executive roles (Global) 

• A  t least 22% visible minorities in  

• 20% 

 visible minorities in board-approved 

board-approved executive roles by  
2022 (Canada) 

•  4% Black leaders in board-approved  
executive roles by 2023 (Canada) 
•  8%–9% of external hires in 2020 are  
persons with disabilities (Canada) 

•  2% of external hires in 2020 are  
Indigenous peoples (Canada) 

executive roles (Canada) 

• 3% 

 leaders from the Black community in  
board-approved executive roles (Canada) 
 of external hires are persons with 

• 5% 

disabilities (Canada)(3) 

• 3% 

 of external hires are Indigenous 

peoples (Canada) 

X(3) 

•  At least 5% of student recruitment from  

• Student

 recruitment from the  

the Black community 

Black community 

Starting in 2021 

Employee 
engagement 

• CIBC’

s employee engagement score 
>109% of the Willis Towers Watson 
global fnancial services norm 

• CIBC’

s engagement score of 90% was  

111% of the Willis Towers Watson global 
fnancial services norm 

• V  oluntary turnover <12.5% in 2020 

• 7.3% voluntary turnover (Canada) 

(Canada) 

• 100% of emplo

yees will have 
performance reviews in 2020 

• 100% 

 of employees had performance 

reviews 

Community 
relationships 

• $350 million in t

otal corporate  

• Invested $75 million in community 

and employee giving over fve years 
(2019–2023) 

organizations across Canada and the U.S. 

44%   
achieved to date   
($154 million) 

Business 
ethics 

• 100% emplo

yee completion rate for 

• 100% of emplo

yees completed CIBC 

ethical training on our Code of Conduct 

ethical training on our Code of Conduct 

(1)   Cases against CIBC by the Ofce of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. 
(2)  Represents the cumulative results of 2018 through 2020. 
(3)   The full picture of our hiring for persons with disabilities is likely not refected due to low self-disclosure in the survey utilized for data collection. 

CIBC 2 0 2 0  ANNUAL REPORT 

i 

  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our response  
to COVID-19 

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered signifcant economic 
disruption and public health concerns around the world. 
From the largest corporations to families planning for 
their future, many clients faced a crisis that afected  
their immediate well-being and put their long-term 
ambitions at risk. 

Drawing on our 153-year history of being there for our 
clients in challenging times, everyone across our bank 
immediately understood the role we needed to play –  
for our clients, for our communities, and for each other. 

And we did. 

From our teams in Asia and Europe who were frst to 
initiate business continuity plans to support our clients 
through the pandemic, to our teams across North America  
who were proactive in preparing for this disruption and 
stepped forward when called on, our global team delivered  
for all of our stakeholders and honoured our history. 

ii 

CIBC 2 0 2 0  ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
 
Our communities 
As the impacts of COVID-19 continue 
to be felt across our communities, our 
promise is to help revive the sector 
by harnessing our investments and 
genuinely caring culture. This includes 
helping through our people and 
fnancial support. 

To date Team CIBC has delivered 
nearly 1,000 hours of COVID-19 
related volunteer time. In addition, 
we increased donations for those 
most at risk and reassured our 
community partners that our support 
would remain in place. Incremental 
donations included emergency 
funding for Community Food Centres 
Canada, United Way, Kids Help 
Phone, Canadian Blood Services 
and the American Red Cross. We 
also supported frontline health care 
workers with Aventura points to 
enable them to take a well-deserved 
break through our Holidays for Heroes 
program, as well as supporting the 
next generation of health care workers 
achieve their ambitions for a career in 
health care through the CIBC Future 
Heroes Fund Bursary Program. 

And we continued our long-standing 
support for those fghting cancer, 
as we rallied behind a virtual 
CIBC Run for the Cure, attracting 
the participation of thousands of 
Canadians across the country. 

Our team 
Our global team of 44,000 was the 
driving force behind our strong, client-
focused response to the pandemic. 
Protecting their health and well-being, 
along with that of our clients and  
our communities, has been our  
top priority. 

As public health measures were 
being enacted, an unprecedented 
70% of our team members switched 
to working remotely. We stayed 
connected and focused on our 
clients thanks to our investments in  
technology and collaboration tools 
that facilitated a smooth transition. 

For team members in vital roles who 
needed to be on-site, we implemented 
enhanced safety protocols and 
provided additional fnancial 
compensation, as well as activating 
back-up work locations and adjusting 
hours in our banking centres to ensure 
we continued to serve our clients. 
In addition, we provided employees 
with wellness resources and up to 
10 additional paid days of to ensure 
they were taking care of themselves 
as they focused all of their eforts on 
supporting our clients through  
a challenging period. 

In our 2020 employee survey, 88% 
of our team members said CIBC 
helped them manage their well-being 
during the pandemic. This was an 
important source of pride for our team 
members. We also saw our employee 
engagement score increase to 90, an 
all-time high for CIBC. 

Our clients 
As the disruption caused by COVID-19  
created pressure on the fnances of 
individuals, families and businesses 
alike, our entire bank leaned in with 
purpose as we leveraged the strength  
and commitment of our team to 
implement a range of support 
measures to help our clients during  
a challenging time. 

During the year, we assisted more 
than 500,000 clients facing fnancial  
hardship through payment deferral 
programs on mortgages, loans and 
credit cards, and reduced interest 
rates on credit cards, in many cases 
providing fnancial relief proactively. 

Throughout this period we worked to  
ensure our clients had access to much- 
needed funds being made available  
through government programs, 
including the Canada Emergency 
Business Account and the Paycheck 
Protection Program in the U.S. 
Recognizing the urgent need to  
provide fnancial support and relief  
quickly and in a radically simple way,  
in many cases our team launched 
fully digital solutions for clients. 

In addition, we provided “front-
of-the-line” access to seniors 
and persons with disabilities and 
proactively ofered assistance to 
clients identifed to have the greatest  
need. We’ve also supported our large  
corporate clients and entrepreneurs  
across our global footprint to ensure  
they, in turn, can take care of their 
teams and continue to play a role in 
moving our economy forward. 

As a result of our focus and commitment  
to our clients, CIBC was recognized   
as the top performing brand during the  
frst wave of the pandemic. 

CIBC 2 0 2 0  ANNUAL REPORT 

iii 

   
 
 
 
 
Message from the President and Chief Executive Ofcer 

Resilient  
and focused  
on the future 

Drawing on our 153-year history of being there  
for our clients, we responded to the COVID-19 
pandemic by living our purpose – to help make  
our clients’ ambitions a reality – while delivering  
a resilient fnancial performance and advancing  
our long-term growth strategy in 2020. 

Our clients are at the centre of 
everything we do. This year, more than 
any other in my time as CEO, our clients 
needed us – and I am very proud of how 
our team delivered. 

Victor G. Dodig 
President and Chief Executive Ofcer 

iv  CIBC 2 0 2 0  ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
 
Thanks to the tremendous eforts of our team of  
44,000 employees globally, we are well positioned  
to succeed amidst a changing environment in the  
years ahead and contribute to a more inclusive, 
sustainable future. 

Financials and 2020 review 

Our bank reported earnings in 2020 of $3.8 billion or 
$4.4 billion on an adjusted basis, down 26% and 18% 
from last year, respectively, primarily as a result of 
the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our 
capital position remained very strong, with a CET1 ratio 
of 12.1%, underscoring the strength of our balance sheet 
as we focus on growing our business in an uncertain 
economic environment. 

Our clients are at the centre of everything we do.  
This year, more than any other in my time as CEO,  
our clients needed us – and I am very proud of how  
our team delivered. 

As public health measures such as stay at home 
directives and physical distancing were introduced 
to slow the spread of COVID-19, we leveraged our 
investments in technology in recent years to support 
our clients. We moved quickly to enable digital-frst 
solutions – including being the frst bank to announce 
our readiness to accept Canada Emergency Business 
Account (CEBA) applications from business owners in 
Canada using a fully digital application. 

We also acted in line with our purpose by being the frst 
bank to announce reduced credit card interest rates for 
clients experiencing hardship. We established payment 
relief programs, as well as priority service for seniors in 
our banking centres and on the phone. In addition, we 
made calls to our senior clients to check on their well-
being and to help them use mobile and online banking, 
which saw a surge in demand from clients 65 years 
of age and over as the pandemic set in. Our bank was 
recognized as the top performing brand during the peak 
of COVID-19, a refection of the measures we took to 
help our clients. 

Our decisive, early action made a challenging time  
more manageable. In 2020, our bank helped over 
500,000 clients with payment relief, and advice  
when they needed us most. 

Our team was the foundation of our client-focused 
response to the pandemic. At a time of signifcant 
disruption and uncertainty, many of our team members 
seamlessly transitioned to working remotely, while those 
who needed to be on site to perform essential work 
were able to do so safely. Our team was steadfast in the  
face of a challenge, and made a diference in the lives of  
our clients. I want to thank them for their professionalism  
and dedication.  

Through the pandemic we remained focused on creating 
a relationship-oriented bank for a modern world. In 
2020 we continued to reinvest for long-term growth. 

Revenue by business segment 

$8.5B 

Canadian Personal and 
Business Banking  

$4.1B 

Canadian Commercial 
Banking and Wealth 
Management 

$2.1B 

U.S. Commercial Banking 
and Wealth Management  

$3.5B 

Capital Markets  

CIBC 2 0 2 0  ANNUAL REPORT 

v 

   
 
 
 
 
 
Message from the President and Chief Executive Ofcer 

Inclusion is the cornerstone of our 
culture at CIBC. It is both an enabler of 
growth and a foundational element in  
our connected culture. 

We continued to attract new clients and deliver growth 
in our Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
businesses in the U.S. and Canada. In just one example 
of our relationship-focused approach to doing business, 
as the U.S. government rolled out relief programs 
for business owners to support payrolls, our team 
of relationship managers called every one of our 
commercial banking clients to evaluate their needs and 
work with them to determine if a loan through the relief 
program would be of help to their business. 

Our focus on supporting growth in the private 
economy and the deep expertise of our relationship 
managers have helped us to build a robust, high-quality 
commercial banking portfolio in recent years, and have 
fueled growth in our wealth management business 
through new and deeper client relationships that cross 
business and personal needs. Despite the context of 
a challenging overall environment, our bank is well 
positioned to move these businesses forward, both in 
Canada and the U.S. 

In Canadian Personal and Business Banking,   
we achieved our highest client experience scores on 
record as we continued to make investments in advice 
and in our digital capabilities – two areas that remain 
the foundation of client relationships and growth. In 
addition, we earned the highest overall satisfaction 
rating among the Big 5 banks from J.D. Power for  
our mobile banking app. 

We continued to modernize our bank to make it easier 
for clients to get advice through virtual meetings, and 
implemented options such as eSignatures to allow 
clients to sign documentation without needing to leave 
their home. While we have a continued opportunity to 
accelerate growth in this area, there are encouraging 
signs that our eforts are producing results. 

Amidst a highly volatile market, we were there with 
the advice and counsel to help our largest corporate 
clients navigate market conditions. Our diversifed 
Capital Markets business delivered strong, high-
quality growth in 2020, including robust results in our 
trading businesses, growth in the U.S. by working as a 
connected team, and continued revenue growth through 
connectivity by furthering the innovative remittance and 
foreign exchange services ofered to personal banking 
and wealth management clients across our bank. 

Strengthening our leadership team 

As part of our long-term growth strategy, a number of 
members of our Executive Committee took on new or 
expanded accountabilities this year, as we continue to 
invest in the depth of our leadership team and position 
leaders to draw on their skills in new areas of our bank. 
This further strengthens our client-focused culture and 
connectivity across our bank in support of our clients. 

vi  CIBC 2 0 2 0  ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
 
Building an inclusive, sustainable future 

As the economy moves towards recovery, we all have an 
opportunity to reshape our future economy as one that 
is more inclusive and more sustainable, refective of the 
full capabilities of our collective intellectual capital. 

Inclusion is the cornerstone of our culture at CIBC. It is 
both an enabler of growth and a foundational element  
in our connected culture. But there is more we can do. 

As social unrest grew in 2020, I had the opportunity to 
speak with many of our team members from the Black 
community and I heard frst-hand their stories of the 
efects of racism in their personal and professional lives. 

As a team, we are taking decisive action to eliminate 
racism in all its forms. I was proud to take on the role 
of co-Chair for the BlackNorth Initiative to help drive 
action on this important issue. Our bank also announced 
specifc measures to attract and develop talented 
team members from the Black community, create new 
learning opportunities to help disrupt anti-Black racism 
and direct over $1,000,000 of our corporate donations 
to organizations supporting Black communities in North 
America. These measures are in addition to our existing 
commitments in hiring and developing people of colour, 
persons with disabilities and Indigenous peoples. A 
more inclusive bank is a stronger bank, better positioned 
to meet the needs of our clients. 

Further, we have an opportunity to build a more 
sustainable economy through the coming economic 
recovery. Within our Capital Markets business we 
expanded our team of experts in sustainable fnance 
and renewable energy again this year, and we held our 
frst-ever Sustainability Conference bringing together 
industry leaders from a variety of sectors to map out a 
path to a more sustainable future. Across our bank, we 
continue to make progress on our own targets in areas 
such as a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 
our operations. As well, we have achieved $42 billion of 
our $150 billion sustainable fnance target by 2027 as 
we support our clients in transitioning to the low-carbon 
economy of the future. 

Executive Team 

Victor G. Dodig  
President and Chief Executive Ofcer 

Shawn Beber  
Senior Executive Vice-President and 
Chief Risk Ofcer 

Michael G. Capatides  
Senior Executive Vice-President and 
Group Head, U.S. Region; President  
and CEO, CIBC Bank USA 

Harry Culham  
Senior Executive Vice-President and 
Group Head, Capital Markets 

Laura Dottori-Attanasio  
Senior Executive Vice-President  
and Group Head, Personal and  
Business Banking, Canada 

Jon Hountalas  
Senior Executive Vice-President and 
Group Head, Commercial Banking and 
Wealth Management, Canada 

Christina Kramer  
Senior Executive Vice-President  
and Group Head, Technology, 
Infrastructure and Innovation 

Kikelomo Lawal  
Executive Vice-President and  
Chief Legal Ofcer 

Hratch Panossian  
Senior Executive Vice-President and 
Chief Financial Ofcer and Enterprise 
Strategy 

Sandy Sharman  
Senior Executive Vice-President and 
Group Head, People, Culture and Brand 

CIBC 2 0 2 0  ANNUAL REPORT 

vii 

   
 
 
 
 
Message from the President and Chief Executive Ofcer 

Our bank has a proud tradition of supporting our 
communities, and our commitment continued in 2020. 
As charities and community organizations faced a 
shortfall in donations as a result of the pandemic, we 
contributed $750,000 to organizations that would face 
increased demand including food banks and mental  
health services. Later in the year, working together with 
the Canadian Cancer Society, we reimagined the CIBC 
Run for the Cure into a virtual event and helped to raise 
$2 million as a team for this vitally important cause. 

Looking ahead to 2021 and beyond 

The need for advice and the value of relationships 
amidst changing market conditions have never been 
higher. To attract new clients and drive growth, banks 
will need to invest in their infrastructure and advice 
capabilities to enable the right conversations with 
clients at this pivotal moment for so many families and 
businesses. We believe our strategy positions us well  
to succeed in this evolving market. 

Our view is that clients will continue to embrace  
digital. It will form an important touchpoint as part of 
client relationships, for both everyday transactions and 
increasingly, for advice and virtual engagement. We will 
build on our leadership in this area. 

The economic recovery will be led by the private 
economy, with mid-market businesses playing a major 
role. Our investments in this market pre-pandemic 
and our focus on our clients during the crisis will 
pay long-term dividends as growth returns. We will 
continue to enhance our capabilities in the U.S. and 
continue to invest in our team of relationship managers 
in Canada to help businesses navigate this challenging 
period. Relationships in this market are often multi-
generational, and the foundation we are laying today  
as the relationship leader will have long-term benefts 
for our bank. 

As well, we will continue to build on our diferentiated 
Capital Markets business model, meeting the needs of 
our core clients while growing our recurring, fee-based 
earnings within this business as well as across our 
Wealth Management businesses. 

Our bank is well positioned for the changes occurring 
in the market for fnancial services and in the broader 
economy. We’ve transformed our culture around our 
clients and we’ve lived our purpose at a time when 
relationships are becoming entrenched as the primary 
value proposition for fnancial institutions, which 
positions us well for continued growth. 

We’re investing in our team – the foundation of our 
relationship-focused growth strategy. In 2021, we’ll   
begin moving in to CIBC Square, our new global 
headquarters, as part of a broader workforce 
modernization efort that will further the connectivity 
across our bank that enables our relationship-focused 
approach to meeting the needs of our clients. We were 
again recognized this year as one of Canada’s Top 100 
employers and best diversity employers, a refection of 
our focus on building an inclusive culture where every 
team member can achieve their ambitions. 

I am incredibly proud of our CIBC team for their  
eforts during a crisis. I am equally proud of the work 
we’ve done together to be a leader in the economy  
of the future. Our bank is well positioned to help  
clients achieve their ambitions and drive growth in  
the years ahead. 

Victor G. Dodig 
President and Chief Executive Ofcer 

viii  CIBC 2 0 2 0  ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
 
 
Message from the Chair of the Board 

Building a 
sustainable,  
inclusive bank 

2020 has been a challenging year for all 
of us! During this year of unprecedented 
difculties, your Board has sought to 
maintain a long-term focus on the trends 
shaping our industry while ofering our 
full support to management as CIBC 
moved decisively to meet the needs of 
clients amidst the global pandemic. 

After 16 years as a Director including the last six  
as your Chair of the Board, I will be retiring at the  
annual meeting in April. As I look back over my time 
as Chair, I believe we achieved much together. I am 
confdent that CIBC has the right strategy, culture,  
and a deep leadership team to build a relationship-
oriented bank for a modern world. I am pleased  
that Katharine B. Stevenson, who has serv
ed on  
the CIBC Board since 2011, has been appointed  
Chair of the Board, efective April 8, 2021, upon her 
election as a director at our annual meeting. 

In closing, I would like to thank your CEO, Victor 
Dodig and your management team for their leadership 
throughout this year full of surprises. On behalf of your 
Board, I also would like to thank every member of CIBC’s 
team for their passion in living our purpose. We are 
grateful for everything you do. 

The Honourable John P. Manley 
Chair of the Board 

2020 was a year of renewal for your Board.  
We welcomed Charles Brindamour, Chief Executive  
Ofcer of Intact Financial Corporation as a Director,  
as Linda Hasenfratz retired from our Board after  
15 years of outstanding service as a Director.  
We also oversaw succession planning across our  
senior management team, further developing leaders 
across the bank and bringing some new faces to the  
senior executive team. As we move into 2021, I am pleased 
that following her retirement, Mary Lou Maher, KPMG 
Canadian Managing Partner, Quality & Risk and Global 
Head of Inclusion and Diversity, will be put forward for 
election at our next annual meeting. 

In 2020 we also took steps to accelerate our inclusion 
and diversity strategy, including a new goal to have 4% 
of board-approved executive roles based in Canada held 
by leaders from the Black community by 2023, as part 
of the bank’s broader target to have 22% representation 
of visible minorities in board-approved executive roles 
by 2022. While we seek to achieve gender parity on the 
Board, we are proud that 40% of your Board members are  
women, ahead of our target to have at least 30% women  
and men. In addition, the diversity policy of your Board was  
updated to emphasize the Board’s commitment to having  
its membership better refect the background of CIBC 
employees and the clients and communities we serve. 

CIBC 2 0 2 0  ANNUAL REPORT 

ix 

   
 
 
 
 
 
Enhanced Disclosure Task Force 

The Enhanced Disclosure Task Force (EDTF), established by the Financial Stability Board, released its report “Enhancing the Risk Disclosures of 
Banks” in 2012, which included thirty-two disclosure recommendations. The index below provides the listing of these disclosures, along with their 
locations. EDTF disclosures are located in our management’s discussion and analysis, consolidated financial statements, and supplementary 
packages, which may be found on our website (www.cibc.com). No information on CIBC’s website, including the supplementary packages, should 
be considered incorporated herein by reference. 

Topics 

Recommendations 

Disclosures 

Management’s 
discussion 
and analysis 

Consolidated 
financial 
statements 
Page references 

Pillar 3 Report and 
Supplementary 
regulatory 
capital disclosure 

Index of risk information – current 
page 

Risk terminology and measures (1) 

Top and emerging risks 

Key future regulatory ratio 
requirements 

Risk management structure 

Risk culture and appetite 

50 

36, 39, 76, 78 

166 

44, 45 

43, 46, 47 

General 

Risk 
governance, 
risk 
management 
and business 
model 

Capital 
adequacy 
and risk-
weighted 
assets 

Liquidity 

Funding 

Market risk 

Credit risk 

Other risks 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

166 

166 

71–72 

9, 16 

8–11 

12 

4 

4 

27–36 

4, 5 

69, 70 

138–145, 186 

6–7, 65–68 

116 

139 

156–157 

68, 35 (2) 

156–157 

20, 53, 68 

179 

Risks arising from business activities 

48, 53 

Bank-wide stress testing 

31, 49, 57, 
71, 74 

Minimum capital requirements 

Components of capital and 
reconciliation to the consolidated 
regulatory balance sheet 

Regulatory capital flow statement 

Capital management and planning 

Business activities and risk-weighted 
assets 

Risk-weighted assets and capital 
requirements 

Credit risk by major portfolios 

Risk-weighted assets flow statement 

31 

36 

37 

39 

38, 53 

33, 38 

56–61 

38 

Back-testing of models 

48, 57, 70 

Liquid assets 

Encumbered assets 

Contractual maturity of assets, 
liabilities and off-balance sheet 
instruments 

Funding strategy and sources 

Reconciliation of trading and 
non-trading portfolios to the 
consolidated balance sheet 

Significant trading and non-trading 
market risk factors 

Model assumptions, limitations and 
validation procedures 

Stress testing and scenario analysis 

Analysis of credit risk exposures 

Impaired loan and forbearance 
policies 

Reconciliation of impaired loans and 
the allowance for credit losses 

Counterparty credit risk arising from 
derivatives 

Credit risk mitigation 

Other risks 

Discussion of publicly known risk 
events 

75 

75 

79 

77 

69 

69–73 

69–73 

31, 71 

58–67 

55, 65, 85 

65 

55, 59 

55, 61 

80–82 

80 

(1)  A detailed glossary of our risk and capital terminology is included on page 198. 
(2)  Included in supplementary financial information package. 

x 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) is provided to enable readers to assess CIBC’s financial condition and results of operations as at and 
for the year ended October 31, 2020, compared with prior years. The MD&A should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial 
statements. Unless otherwise indicated, all financial information in this MD&A has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRS or GAAP) and all amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars. Certain disclosures in the MD&A have been shaded as they form an 
integral part of the consolidated financial statements. The MD&A is current as of December 2, 2020. Additional information relating to CIBC, including 
the Annual Information Form, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the United States (U.S.) Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) 
website at www.sec.gov. No information on CIBC’s website (www.cibc.com) should be considered incorporated herein by reference. A glossary of 
terms used in the MD&A and the audited consolidated financial statements is provided on pages 196 to 202 of this Annual Report. 

2  External reporting changes 

8  Financial performance 

19  Strategic business units 

43  Management of risk 

2  Overview 
2  CIBC’s strategy 
2  Performance against objectives 

5  Financial highlights 

6  Economic and market 

environment 

6  Year in review – 2020 
6  Outlook for calendar year 2021 

7  Significant events 

overview 

8  2020 Financial results review 
9  Net interest income and 

margin 

9  Non-interest income 
10  Trading activities (TEB) 
10  Provision for credit losses 
10  Non-interest expenses 
11  Taxes 
11  Foreign exchange 
12  Fourth quarter review 
13  Quarterly trend analysis 
14  Review of 2019 financial 

performance 

16  Non-GAAP measures 

overview 

20  Canadian Personal and 
Business Banking 
22  Canadian Commercial 
Banking and Wealth 
Management 

24  U.S. Commercial Banking and 

Wealth Management 

26  Capital Markets 
29  Corporate and Other 

30  Financial condition 
30  Review of condensed 

consolidated balance sheet 

31  Capital management 
41  Off-balance sheet 
arrangements 

83  Accounting and control 

matters 

83  Critical accounting policies 

and estimates 

88  Accounting developments 
89  Other regulatory 
developments 

90  Related-party transactions 
90  Policy on the Scope of 

Services of the Shareholders’ 
Auditor 

90  Controls and procedures 

91  Supplementary annual 

financial information 

A NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: From time to time, we make written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities 
laws, including in this Annual Report, in other filings with Canadian securities regulators or the SEC and in other communications. All such statements are made pursuant 
to the “safe harbour” provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the U.S. Private 
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements made in the “Message from the President and Chief Executive 
Officer”, “Overview – Performance against objectives”, “Economic and market environment – Outlook for calendar year 2021”, “Significant events”, “Financial performance 
overview – Taxes”, “Strategic business units overview – Canadian Personal and Business Banking”, “Strategic business units overview – Canadian Commercial Banking 
and Wealth Management”, “Strategic business units overview – U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management”, “Strategic business units overview – Capital 
Markets”, “Financial condition – Capital management”, “Financial condition – Off-balance sheet arrangements”, “Management of risk – Risk overview”, “Management of 
risk – Top and emerging risks”, “Management of risk – Credit risk”, “Management of risk – Market risk”, “Management of risk – Liquidity risk”, “Accounting and control 
matters – Critical accounting policies and estimates”, “Accounting and control matters – Accounting developments”, “Accounting and control matters – Other regulatory 
developments” and “Accounting and control matters – Controls and procedures” sections of this report and other statements about our operations, business lines, 
financial condition, risk management, priorities, targets, ongoing objectives, strategies, the regulatory environment in which we operate and outlook for calendar year 2021 
and subsequent periods. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “target”, 
“objective” and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will”, “should”, “would” and “could”. By their nature, these statements require us to make 
assumptions, including the economic assumptions set out in the “Economic and market environment – Outlook for calendar year 2021” section of this report, and are 
subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific. Given the continuing impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the global economy, 
financial markets, and our business, results of operations, reputation and financial condition and the expectation that oil prices will remain well below year-ago levels, 
there is inherently more uncertainty associated with our assumptions as compared to prior periods. A variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, affect our 
operations, performance and results, and could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. These 
factors include: the occurrence, continuance or intensification of public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and any related government policies and 
actions; credit, market, liquidity, strategic, insurance, operational, reputation, legal, conduct, regulatory and environmental and related social risk; currency value and 
interest rate fluctuations, including as a result of market and oil price volatility; the effectiveness and adequacy of our risk management and valuation models and 
processes; legislative or regulatory developments in the jurisdictions where we operate, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Common 
Reporting Standard, and regulatory reforms in the United Kingdom and Europe, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s global standards for capital and liquidity 
reform, and those relating to bank recapitalization legislation and the payments system in Canada; amendments to, and interpretations of, risk-based capital guidelines 
and reporting instructions, and interest rate and liquidity regulatory guidance; the resolution of legal and regulatory proceedings and related matters; the effect of changes 
to accounting standards, rules and interpretations; changes in our estimates of reserves and allowances; changes in tax laws; changes to our credit ratings; political 
conditions and developments, including changes relating to economic or trade matters; the possible effect on our business of international conflicts and terrorism; natural 
disasters, disruptions to public infrastructure and other catastrophic events; reliance on third parties to provide components of our business infrastructure; potential 
disruptions to our information technology systems and services; increasing cyber security risks which may include theft or disclosure of assets, unauthorized access to 
sensitive information, or operational disruption; social media risk; losses incurred as a result of internal or external fraud; anti-money laundering; the accuracy and 
completeness of information provided to us concerning clients and counterparties; the failure of third parties to comply with their obligations to us and our affiliates or 
associates; intensifying competition from established competitors and new entrants in the financial services industry including through internet and mobile banking; 
technological change; global capital market activity; changes in monetary and economic policy; general business and economic conditions worldwide, as well as in 
Canada, the U.S. and other countries where we have operations, including increasing Canadian household debt levels and global credit risks; our success in developing 
and introducing new products and services, expanding existing distribution channels, developing new distribution channels and realizing increased revenue from these 
channels; changes in client spending and saving habits; our ability to attract and retain key employees and executives; our ability to successfully execute our strategies 
and complete and integrate acquisitions and joint ventures; the risk that expected benefits of an acquisition, merger or divestiture will not be realized within the expected 
time frame or at all; and our ability to anticipate and manage the risks associated with these factors. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of our 
forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Any 
forward-looking statements contained in this report represent the views of management only as of the date hereof and are presented for the purpose of assisting our 
shareholders and financial analysts in understanding our financial position, objectives and priorities and anticipated financial performance as at and for the periods ended 
on the dates presented, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that is contained in this report or in 
other communications except as required by law. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

1 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

External reporting changes 

The following external reporting changes were made in 2020. 

Changes made to our business segments 
  We changed the way that we allocate capital to our strategic business units (SBUs). Previously, we utilized an economic capital model to 

attribute capital to our SBUs and calculate segmented return on equity. Effective November 1, 2019, capital is allocated to the SBUs based on 
the estimated amount of regulatory capital required to support their businesses. Segmented return on equity is a non-GAAP measure (see the 
“Non-GAAP measures” section for additional details). 
The transfer pricing methodology used by Treasury was enhanced to align with the changes that we made to our capital allocation 
methodology as discussed above. Concurrently with this change, we also made other updates and enhancements to our funds transfer pricing 
methodology as well as minor updates to certain allocation methodologies. 

 

Prior period amounts have been revised accordingly. The changes impacted the results of our SBUs and how we measure the performance of our 
SBUs. There was no impact on our consolidated financial results from these changes. 

Adoption of IFRS 16 “Leases” 
Effective November 1, 2019, we adopted IFRS 16 “Leases” (IFRS 16) using the modified retrospective approach, without restatement of comparative 
periods. 

Overview 

CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with a market capitalization of $44 billion and a Basel III Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 
12.1% as at October 31, 2020. Through our four SBUs – Canadian Personal and Business Banking, Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth 
Management, U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets – CIBC provides a full range of financial products and 
services to 10 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. We have 
approximately 44,000 employees dedicated to providing our clients with banking solutions for a modern world, delivering consistent and sustainable 
earnings growth for our shareholders, and giving back to our communities. 

CIBC’s strategy 
At CIBC, our goal is to deliver superior client experience and top-tier shareholder returns while maintaining our financial strength. To achieve this, 
we are executing on three strategic priorities: 
 
 
 

Focusing on key client segments to accelerate our earnings growth; 
Simplifying and transforming to deliver a modern relationship-banking proposition; and 
Advancing our purpose-driven culture. 

Performance against objectives 
For many years, CIBC has reported a scorecard of financial measures that we use to evaluate and report on our progress to external stakeholders. 
These measures can be categorized into four key areas – earnings growth, operational efficiency, profitability, and balance sheet strength. We have 
set targets for each of these measures over the medium term, which we define as three to five years. 

On March 11, 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The COVID-19 
pandemic has had a significant adverse impact on the global economy, and has negatively impacted our results in fiscal 2020. Until there is greater 
certainty concerning the dissemination of an effective mass-produced vaccine, the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to continue to impact our 
ability to achieve our performance objectives. 

Earnings growth(1) 
To assess our earnings growth, we monitor our earnings per share (EPS). 
Our through-the-cycle target is an average annual EPS growth of 5% to 
10%. In 2020, against a backdrop of a challenging economic 
environment, reported and adjusted(1) diluted EPS declined by 27% and 
19%, respectively. 

Reported diluted EPS 
($) 

Adjusted diluted EPS(1) 
($) 

11.24  11.65 

11.19 

10.70 

8.22 

12.21 11.92 

11.11 

10.22 

9.69 

Going forward, we are maintaining our target to deliver average annual 
EPS growth of 5% to 10% through the cycle. 

(1)  Adjusted measures are non-GAAP measures. For additional information, see the “Non-GAAP measures” section. 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

2 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Operational efficiency 
We have two metrics to measure operational efficiency: 

Reported efficiency ratio 
(%) 

Adjusted efficiency ratio(1) 
(%) 

1. 

Efficiency ratio(1) 

To assess how well we use our resources to generate net income, we 
measure and monitor our efficiency ratio, defined as the ratio of 
non-interest expenses to total revenue. In 2020, our reported and 
adjusted(1) efficiency ratios were 60.6% and 55.8%, respectively, 
compared with 58.3% and 55.5% in 2019. 

60.6 

59.7 

58.8 

58.3 

57.5 

58.0 

57.2 

55.6 

55.5 

55.8

2.  Operating leverage(1) 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

Reported operating leverage 
(%) 

Adjusted operating leverage(1) 
(%) 

Operating leverage, defined as the difference between the year-over-
year percentage change in revenue (on a taxable equivalent basis 
(TEB)) and year-over-year percentage change in non-interest expenses, 
is a measure of the relative growth rates of a bank’s revenue and 
expenses. In 2020, our reported and adjusted(1) operating leverage was 
(4.0)% and (0.6)%, respectively. 

7.3 

2.4 

1.6 

(1.5) 

(4.0) 

Going forward, our target is to deliver positive operating leverage 
through the cycle, which will improve our efficiency ratio over time. 

Profitability 
We have three metrics to measure profitability, including two shareholder 
value targets: 

1.  Return on common shareholders’ equity (ROE)(1) 
ROE is a key measure of profitability. In 2020, our reported and 
adjusted(1) ROE were at 10.0% and 11.7%, respectively. 

Going forward, we will continue to target a strong ROE of at least 15% 
through the cycle. 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

Reported return on 
common 
shareholders’ equity 
(%) 

19.9 

18.3 

16.6 

14.5 

10.0 

2.8 

3.2 

1.5 

0.2 

(0.6) 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

Adjusted return on 
common 
shareholders’ equity(1) 
(%) 

19.0 

18.1  17.4 

15.4 

11.7 

2.  Dividend payout ratio(1) 

We have consistently delivered adjusted(1) dividend payout ratios in the 
range of 40% to 50% of earnings to common shareholders. Our key 
criteria for considering dividend increases are our current level of payout 
relative to our target and our view on the sustainability of our current 
earnings level through the cycle. In 2020, our reported and adjusted(1) 
dividend payout ratios were 70.7% and 60.0%, respectively. 

Going forward, we will continue to target a dividend payout ratio of 40% 
to 50% through the cycle. 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

Reported dividend 
payout ratio 
(%) 

Adjusted dividend 
payout ratio(1) 
(%) 

70.7 

60.0 

44.3 

45.6  45.5

49.9 

46.4  46.2 

46.9 

43.4 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

(1)  Adjusted measures are non-GAAP measures. For additional information, see the “Non-GAAP measures” section. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

3 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

3. 

Total shareholder return (TSR) 

TSR is the ultimate measure of shareholder value, and the output of delivering against the financial targets 
within our control. We have an objective to deliver a TSR that exceeds the industry average, which we have 
defined as the Standard & Poor’s (S&P)/Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) Composite Banks Index, over a 
rolling five-year period. For the five years ended October 31, 2020, our TSR was 27.7%, which was below 
the Banks Index return over the same period of 35.3%. 

Balance sheet strength 
Maintaining a strong balance sheet is foundational to our long-term success. Our goal is to maintain strong 
capital and liquidity positions. We look to constantly balance our objectives of holding a prudent amount of 
excess capital for unexpected events and environmental uncertainties, investing in our core businesses, 
growing through acquisitions and returning capital to our shareholders. 

1.  Basel III Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio 

At the end of 2020, our Basel III CET1 ratio was 12.1%, well above the current regulatory target set by the 
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) of 9.0%. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 
OSFI directed that all federally regulated financial institutions halt share buybacks and dividend increases 
until further notice. 

2. 

Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) 

Our ability to meet our financial obligations is measured through the LCR ratio. It measures unencumbered 
high quality liquid assets (HQLA) that can be converted into cash to meet liquidity needs for a 30-calendar 
day liquidity stress scenario. The LCR standard requires that, absent a situation of financial stress, the value 
of the ratio be no lower than 100%. 

For the quarter ended October 31, 2020, our three-month daily average LCR was 145% compared to 125% 
for the same period last year. 

Rolling five-year TSR 
(%) 

125 

100 

75 

50 

25 

0 

Oct-19 

Jan-20

Apr-20

Jul-20

Oct-20

CIBC 27.7% 
S&P/TSX Composite Index 34.2% 
S&P/TSX Composite Banks Index 35.3% 

CET1 ratio 
(%) 

11.3 

10.6 

11.4  11.6 

12.1 

16 

17

18

19

20

Liquidity coverage ratio 
(%)

124 

120 

128 

125 

145 

16 

17

18

19

20 

Client experience 
Our ambition is to be the leader in client experience as measured by external client surveys and our internal CIBC Enterprise Net Promoter Score 
(CIBC CXNPS). Our client-focused culture is resonating with the clients we serve as evidenced by our strongest scores to date from both the IPSOS 
Customer Service Index and the J.D. Power Client Satisfaction (SAT) study. Our internal CIBC CXNPS is a balanced weighting of internal net 
promoter scores across our businesses. As of October 31, 2020, the CIBC CXNPS score was 62.8, a 2-point increase over 2019. 

CIBC was ranked the top performing brand during the pandemic as a result of our focus and commitment to clients. Over 90% of CIBC clients 
surveyed feel the same or more positive about CIBC as a result of our response to COVID-19. CIBC also received IPSOS Financial Service 
Excellence awards for our mobile banking, live agent telephone banking and ATMs. 

Going forward, we will continue to build on this momentum to further enhance the quality and consistency of our service delivery to our clients in 
support of our purpose-driven culture and strategy to be a modern, innovative relationship-oriented bank. 

4 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Financial highlights 

As at or for the year ended October 31 

Financial results ($ millions) 
Net interest income 
Non-interest income 
Total revenue 
Provision for credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 
Income before income taxes 
Income taxes 
Net income 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests 

Preferred shareholders and other equity instrument holders 
Common shareholders 

Net income attributable to equity shareholders 

Financial measures 
Reported efficiency ratio 
Loan loss ratio (1) 
Reported return on common shareholders’ equity 
Net interest margin 
Net interest margin on average 
interest-earning assets (2) 
Return on average assets (3) 
Return on average interest-earning assets (2)(3) 
Reported effective tax rate 

Common share information 
Per share ($) 

Closing share price ($) 
Shares outstanding (thousands) 

– basic earnings 
– reported diluted earnings 
– dividends 
– book value 

– weighted-average basic 
– weighted-average diluted 
– end of period 

Market capitalization ($ millions) 

Value measures 
Total shareholder return 
Dividend yield (based on closing share price) 
Reported dividend payout ratio 
Market value to book value ratio 

Selected financial measures – adjusted (4) 
Adjusted efficiency ratio (5) 
Adjusted return on common shareholders’ equity 
Adjusted effective tax rate 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share ($) 
Adjusted dividend payout ratio 

On- and off-balance sheet information ($ millions) 
Cash, deposits with banks and securities 
Loans and acceptances, net of allowance 
Total assets 
Deposits 
Common shareholders’ equity 
Average assets 
Average interest-earning assets (2) 
Average common shareholders’ equity 
Assets under administration (AUA) (6)(7) 
Assets under management (AUM) (7) 

Balance sheet quality (All-in basis) and liquidity measures 
Risk-weighted assets (RWA) ($ millions) 

Total RWA 
CET1 capital RWA 
Tier 1 capital RWA 
Total capital RWA 

Capital ratios 

CET1 ratio (8) 
Tier 1 capital ratio (8) 
Total capital ratio (8) 

Leverage ratio 
LCR (9) 

Other information 
Full-time equivalent employees 

2020 

11,044 
7,697 
18,741 
2,489 
11,362 
4,890 
1,098 
3,792 
2 
122 
3,668 
3,790 

$ 

$ 

$ 

60.6 % 
0.26 % 
10.0 % 
1.50 % 

1.69 % 
0.52 % 
0.58 % 
22.5 % 

$ 

$ 

8.23 
8.22 
5.82 
84.05 
99.38 
445,435 
446,021 
447,085 
44,431 

(5.90)% 
5.9 % 
70.7 % 
1.18 

55.8 % 
11.7 % 
21.8 % 
9.69 
60.0 % 

$ 

$  211,564 
416,388 
769,551 
570,740 
37,579 
735,492 
654,142 
36,792 
2,368,904 
265,936 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2019 

10,551 
8,060 
18,611 
1,286 
10,856 
6,469 
1,348 
5,121 
25 
111 
4,985 
5,096 

58.3 % 
0.29 % 
14.5 % 
1.65 % 

1.84 % 
0.80 % 
0.89 % 
20.8 % 

11.22 
11.19 
5.60 
79.87 
112.31 
444,324 
445,457 
445,342 
50,016 

4.19 % 
5.0 % 
49.9 % 
1.41 

55.5 % 
15.4 % 
20.6 % 

11.92 

46.9 % 

138,669 
398,108 
651,604 
485,712 
35,569 
639,716 
572,677 
34,467 
2,425,651 
252,007 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2018 

10,065 
7,769 
17,834 
870 
10,258 
6,706 
1,422 
5,284 
17 
89 
5,178 
5,267 

57.5 % 
0.26 % 
16.6 % 
1.68 % 

1.88 % 
0.88 % 
0.99 % 
21.2 % 

11.69 
11.65 
5.32 
73.83 
113.68 
443,082 
444,627 
442,826 
50,341 

4.70 % 
4.7 % 
45.5 % 
1.54 

55.6 % 
17.4 % 
20.0 % 

12.21 

43.4 % 

119,355 
381,661 
597,099 
461,015 
32,693 
598,441 
536,059 
31,184 
2,303,962 
225,379 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2017 

8,977 
7,303 
16,280 
829 
9,571 
5,880 
1,162 
4,718 
19 
52 
4,647 
4,699 

58.8 % 
0.25 % 
18.3 % 
1.66 % 

1.85 % 
0.87 % 
0.97 % 
19.8 % 

11.26 
11.24 
5.08 
66.55 
113.56 
412,636 
413,563 
439,313 
49,888 

18.30 % 
4.5 % 
45.6 % 
1.71 

57.2 % 
18.1 % 
20.3 % 

11.11 

46.2 % 

107,571 
365,558 
565,264 
439,706 
29,238 
542,365 
485,837 
25,393 
2,192,947 
221,571 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2016 

8,366 
6,669 
15,035 
1,051 
8,971 
5,013 
718 
4,295 
20 
38 
4,237 
4,275 

59.7 % 
0.31 % 
19.9 % 
1.64 % 

1.88 % 
0.84 % 
0.96 % 
14.3 % 

10.72 
10.70 
4.75 
56.59 
100.50 
395,389 
395,919 
397,070 
39,906 

5.19 % 
4.7 % 
44.3 % 
1.78 

58.0 % 
19.0 % 
16.6 % 

10.22 

46.4 % 

101,588 
319,781 
501,357 
395,647 
22,472 
509,140 
445,134 
21,275 
2,041,887 
183,715 

$  254,871 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 

$ 

239,863 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 

$ 

n/a 
216,144 
216,303 
216,462 

$ 

n/a 
203,321 
203,321 
203,321 

$ 

n/a 
168,996 
169,322 
169,601 

12.1 % 
13.6 % 
16.1 % 
4.7 % 
145 % 

11.6 % 
12.9 % 
15.0 % 
4.3 % 
125 % 

11.4 % 
12.9 % 
14.9 % 
4.3 % 
128 % 

10.6 % 
12.1 % 
13.8 % 
4.0 % 
120 % 

11.3 % 
12.8 % 
14.8 % 
4.0 % 
124 % 

43,853 

45,157 

44,220 

44,928 

43,213 

(1)  The ratio is calculated as the provision for credit losses on impaired loans to average loans and acceptances, net of allowance for credit losses. 
(2)  Average interest-earning assets include interest-bearing deposits with banks, interest-bearing demand deposits with Bank of Canada, securities, cash collateral on 

securities borrowed, securities purchased under resale agreements, loans net of allowances, and certain sublease-related assets. 

(3)  Net income expressed as a percentage of average assets or average interest-earning assets. 
(4)  Adjusted measures are non-GAAP measures. Adjusted measures are calculated in the same manner as reported measures, except that financial information included in 
the calculation of adjusted measures is adjusted to exclude the impact of items of note. For additional information and a reconciliation of reported results to adjusted 
results, see the “Non-GAAP measures” section. 

(5)  Calculated on a TEB. 
(6)  Includes the full contract amount of AUA or custody under a 50/50 joint venture between CIBC and The Bank of New York Mellon of $1,861.5 billion as at October 31, 2020 

(2019: $1,923.2 billion). 

(7)  AUM amounts are included in the amounts reported under AUA. 
(8)  Effective beginning in the second quarter of 2020, ratios reflect the expected credit loss (ECL) transitional arrangement announced by OSFI on March 27, 2020. 
(9)  Average for the three months ended October 31 for each respective year. 
n/a  Not applicable. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

5 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Economic and market environment 

Year in review – 2020 
The North American outbreak of COVID-19 that occurred in the first quarter of 2020 represented a major shock to CIBC’s principal markets. Efforts 
to contain the pandemic in the spring of 2020, including the implementation of public health measures such as travel restrictions and physical 
distancing, resulted in a steep economic decline in Canada and the U.S., as governments on both sides of the border announced unprecedented 
fiscal and monetary stimulus measures to bolster the economy. The subsequent relaxation of these public health measures resulted in an uneven 
recovery that continues to leave both countries with a considerable gap to economic levels at the beginning of the year. Service industries in which 
physical distancing posed a major impediment were particularly hard-hit, along with the energy sector that faced a soft global demand environment. 
Impacts on household and business credit quality were cushioned but not eliminated by large-scale government assistance measures and deep 
cuts in interest rates in Canada and the U.S., with lower rates resulting in reduced lending margins in the banking system. In Canada, household 
credit growth slowed as sharply weaker non-mortgage credit demand offset growth in mortgages. Lower consumer spending had a negative impact 
on retail transaction volumes. Housing prices remained firm in most markets. Business credit demand picked up sharply early in the pandemic for 
liquidity needs, but then decelerated over the balance of the year on slower economic activity, while capital markets activity was boosted by strong 
corporate and government bond issuance. U.S. equity markets reached new highs in the summer, while Canadian equity markets recovered 
significantly from the initial lows. 

Outlook for calendar year 2021 
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant adverse impact on the near-term economic outlook for the global economy. Restrictions 
imposed by governments around the world to limit the impact of subsequent waves of infection, such as travel restrictions, physical distancing 
measures, and the closure of certain businesses, continue to disrupt the global economy, and will limit the scope for a further recovery until an 
effective mass-produced vaccine is in place. Recent positive developments related to vaccine development suggest regulatory approval and 
targeted usage could be expected by early 2021, but uncertainty remains surrounding the timing of mass production, distribution, public 
acceptance and the subsequent reduction in rates of infection. Our outlook assumes that mass vaccinations will be underway in mid-2021 and allow 
for stronger global recovery in the latter half of the year. Until then, we assume that temporary restraints on activity in response to subsequent waves 
will replace the near-complete restrictions that were in place in early and mid-2020. Growth will continue in sectors less impacted by physical 
distancing measures, but other sectors will experience periods of disruption when regulations are tightened in response to new waves of the virus. 
We generally expect to see stronger performance in the goods sector of the economy, but continued slack in the services sector. Constrained 
global activity and its implications on demand for fuel will also result in a slower recovery in crude oil prices through the first half of 2021. 

In Canada, after a drop of approximately 5.5% in 2020, real gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to advance by about 4% in 2021, with 
more of the gains expected in the latter half of the calendar year. We expect that this will still leave the unemployment rate averaging over 8%, well 
above full employment levels. Both businesses and households will benefit from substantial government fiscal support through at least the first half 
of the year, which will reduce the impact of slower economic growth on insolvencies, business and household credit growth and retail transaction 
volumes relative to what would have occurred absent these measures. Government bond issuance will remain elevated to cover the resulting 
federal and provincial deficits. The Bank of Canada will maintain short-term interest rates at their current levels through 2021, although longer-term 
rates will drift higher as economic growth accelerates, and the central bank eases up on its asset purchase program. 

In the U.S., real GDP is expected to grow by approximately 3.5% in 2021, after a similarly-scaled decline in 2020, with better gains expected in 

the latter half of next year. Our outlook assumes that the federal government will enact a second round of fiscal stimulus no later than early 2021 to 
provide enhanced support for households and businesses impacted by the pandemic, reducing its impact on insolvencies. With no growth over the 
two-year period of 2020–21, unemployment will average approximately 6.5% in 2021, well above full-employment levels. In response, we expect that 
the Federal Reserve will maintain near-zero short-term interest rates and continue to engage in asset purchases to slow the climb in long-term rates. 

The economic challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic impact all our SBUs. From a credit perspective, all our loan portfolios will continue to 

be negatively impacted by the constrained economic activity associated with measures taken to contain the spread of infection, mitigated to an 
extent by large-scale government support and relief programs targeting both individuals and businesses. Deposit growth is likely to decelerate as 
businesses draw down on liquidity raised earlier in the pandemic, and as households spend a greater portion of their income as economic growth 
accelerates. The persistent low interest environment is expected to continue to have a negative impact on the net interest margins for all our SBUs. 
For Canadian Personal and Business Banking, mortgage demand growth could see a deceleration, but will continue to remain well supported 

by low rates, while we expect to see a return to growth in non-mortgage credit demand as pandemic-related constraints begin to ease. Continued 
demand for business lending products is anticipated as small businesses look to weather the impact of the economic slowdown, but a slower pace 
of growth is expected relative to 2020. 

Our Canadian and U.S. wealth management businesses are expected to benefit from a further economic recovery, with investors looking for 

alternatives to low rates on savings deposits. 

Our Capital Markets business is expected to benefit from merger and acquisition activity as corporate consolidations increase in the aftermath 
of the pandemic, as well as increased equity issuance, but will be impacted by lower corporate bond issuance and lower trading revenues from the 
highs in 2020. Loan demand in our Canadian and U.S. commercial banking businesses could experience slower growth as the need for liquidity 
during the crisis eases, but will be supported by business expansion plans further into the year. 

The economic outlook described above reflects numerous assumptions and uncertainties regarding the economic impact of the COVID-19 
pandemic, which will ultimately depend on the speed at which an effective vaccine can be developed and administered on a mass scale, and the 
ability of governments, businesses and health-care systems to effectively limit the epidemiological and economic impacts of the current and 
possible future resurgences of the virus in the intervening period. The extent to which physical distancing policies restrict economic activity, and the 
level and effectiveness of government support during this intervening period are material to our expectations for the scale and timing of a further 
economic rebound in 2021. Expectations reflect currently available expert opinions and are subject to change as new information on transmissibility 
and epidemiology becomes available. As a result, actual experience may differ materially from expectations. 

See the “Significant events” section for further details on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

6 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Significant events 

Impact of COVID-19 
On March 11, 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic by the WHO. As discussed in the “Economic and market 
environment” section, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant adverse impact on the global economy. Measures undertaken in the 
second quarter to contain the spread of the virus, including the closure of non-essential businesses, succeeded in curbing the initial spread of 
infection, allowing for partial easing of these measures in the third and fourth quarters. As a result, certain sectors of the economy have seen a 
resumption of activity. However there is a risk that the recent retightening of these measures enacted by governments and businesses in response 
to the resurgence in infection rates could impact economic activity beyond levels that were previously anticipated. The overall economy continues to 
operate below pre-pandemic levels in Canada, the U.S. and other regions where we operate. As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to 
significantly impact our clients, our team, and our business. 

Supporting our clients, team members, and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic 
Initial measures to curb COVID-19 resulted in the closure or reduced operating hours at a number of our banking centre locations, as well as the 
provision of certain expanded benefits to our team members in light of the challenges posed by COVID-19. As governments subsequently eased 
physical distancing measures, we worked closely with regional authorities to align our business practices with prevailing guidelines in the regions in  
which we operate, resulting in the reopening of our banking centres and adjustment to the expanded employee benefits. We continue to work 
closely with the relevant government and health authorities as regions respond to the second wave of the pandemic to ensure the safety of our team 
members and clients. Steps taken to keep our team members and clients safe include the continued support of remote working arrangements and 
enhanced safety procedures and cleaning protocols. We also continue to support the organizations and charities that are taking care of our 
communities during this crisis. 

We have been actively engaged in lending activities to support our clients who were experiencing financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 

pandemic, including providing payment deferral programs on various products for personal, corporate and commercial banking clients, and 
voluntarily reducing interest rates on select credit cards. A number of these programs have now drawn to a close, with the number of additional 
clients seeking relief reducing significantly relative to prior quarters, resulting in a reduction in the outstanding balances for these programs. See the 
“CIBC client relief programs in response to COVID-19” section for further details. 

We continue to be actively engaged with governments, monetary authorities and regulators in the jurisdictions in which we operate, and 

continue to support our clients through government-led relief programs. See the “Government lending programs in response to COVID-19” and 
“Off-balance sheet arrangements” sections and Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for further details regarding our participation in 
these programs. 

Impact on financial results 
COVID-19 has negatively impacted our results in 2020. See the “2020 Financial results review” and “Strategic business units overview” sections for 
further details on our financial performance in 2020, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On pages 2 to 4 of our 2020 Annual Report, we provided disclosure regarding our scorecard of financial measures that we use to evaluate our 
performance against our strategic objectives, including the targets that we have set for each of these measures over the medium term. Until there is 
greater certainty concerning the dissemination of an effective mass-produced vaccine, the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to continue to impact 
our ability to achieve our performance objectives. 

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively impact our business, results of operations, reputation and financial 

condition, as well as our regulatory capital and liquidity positions, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain. See the 
“Economic and market environment” section and Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements for further details on how the COVID-19 pandemic 
has impacted our economic outlook. 

Impact on risk environment 
We enacted our business continuity plans in the second quarter upon the WHO declaring COVID-19 a pandemic and we developed business 
priorities and an operating model to support our clients, team members and communities throughout this crisis. See the “Top and emerging risks” 
section for further details on additional risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Unprecedented regulatory and central bank support 
Governments, monetary authorities, regulators and financial institutions continue to take actions to support the economy, increase liquidity, mitigate 
unemployment, provide public assistance, provide regulatory flexibility and implement other measures intended to mitigate or counterbalance the 
adverse economic consequences of the pandemic. See the “Regulatory developments arising from the COVID-19 pandemic” section for further 
details on regulatory flexibility provided during the quarter in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the “Regulatory developments concerning 
liquidity” section for details on relevant funding and liquidity programs instituted to support market liquidity during this crisis. 

Impact on significant accounting judgments and estimates 
Ongoing economic uncertainty, including reduced short- and medium-term growth due to the decline in economic activity associated with physical 
distancing measures and market volatility impact our significant accounting estimates and judgments. While economic activity started to recover in 
the third and fourth quarters, we continue to be faced with unprecedented circumstances which lead to significant uncertainty regarding the ultimate 
outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on economic growth and consumer behaviour. This results in higher inherent risk associated 
with estimating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our consolidated financial statements and requires management to exercise significant 
judgment in certain areas, in particular in relation to determining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ECL allowances. Further details can be 
found in the “Accounting and control matters” section, as well as in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements. 

Restructuring 
During the first quarter of 2020, we recognized a restructuring charge of $339 million ($250 million after-tax) associated with ongoing efforts to 
transform our cost structure and simplify our bank, shown as an item of note. This charge consisted primarily of employee severance and related 
costs and was recognized in Corporate and Other. For additional information, see Note 23 to our consolidated financial statements. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

7 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Sale of FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited 
On November 8, 2019, we announced that we had entered into a definitive agreement to sell 66.73% of the outstanding shares of FirstCaribbean 
International Bank Limited (CIBC FirstCaribbean) to GNB Financial Group Limited (GNB) for total consideration of approximately US$797 million, 
comprised of approximately US$200 million in cash and secured financing provided by CIBC for the remainder, subject to closing adjustments to 
reflect certain changes in CIBC FirstCaribbean’s book value. The closing of this transaction would result in CIBC retaining a 24.9% minority interest 
in CIBC FirstCaribbean, which would be accounted for as an investment in associate using the equity method. 

In the fourth quarter of 2019, we recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $135 million as a result of the valuation implied from the definitive 

agreement with GNB. Commencing in the first quarter of 2020, the assets and liabilities of CIBC FirstCaribbean were treated as held for sale, and 
measured at the lower of their aggregate carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell, on the basis that the transaction was highly probable to 
close in 2020 subject to regulatory approvals. In the second quarter of 2020, we recognized an additional goodwill impairment charge of $28 million 
based on the estimated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the recoverable value of the 24.9% interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean that we expected 
to retain. 

As a result of the lengthy regulatory review process, the worsening impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Caribbean economy and our 
revised expectations regarding the likelihood and timing of closing of a potential transaction, we concluded in the fourth quarter of 2020 that held for 
sale accounting is no longer appropriate. As a result, we were required to assess the recoverable amount of the remaining goodwill based on 
current market conditions rather than the definitive agreement with GNB. This assessment reflected revised expectations concerning the impact of 
the COVID-19 pandemic and led to the recognition of an additional goodwill impairment charge of $220 million. While we discontinued the 
application of held for sale accounting, we continue to pursue the transaction and the regulatory review process. 

For additional information, see Note 4 and Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements. 

Financial performance overview 

This section provides a review of our consolidated financial results for 2020. A review of our SBU results follows on pages 19 to 28. Refer to page 14 
for a review of our financial performance for 2019. 

2020 Financial results review 
Reported net income for the year was $3,792 million, compared with $5,121 million in 2019. 

Adjusted net income(1) for the year was $4,447 million, compared with $5,444 million in 2019. 
Reported diluted EPS for the year was $8.22, compared with $11.19 in 2019. 
Adjusted diluted EPS(1) for the year was $9.69, compared with $11.92 in 2019. 

2020 
Net income was affected by the following items of note: 
 
 

$339 million ($250 million after-tax) restructuring charge primarily related to employee severance (Corporate and Other); 
$248 million ($248 million after-tax) goodwill impairment charges related to our controlling interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean of which $28 million 
was recognized in the second quarter and $220 million was recognized in the fourth quarter (Corporate and Other); 
$114 million ($84 million after-tax) charge related to the consolidation of our real estate portfolio (Corporate and Other); 
$105 million ($80 million after-tax) amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets ($6 million after-tax in Canadian Personal and Business 
Banking, $1 million after-tax in Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, $61 million after-tax in U.S. Commercial Banking and 
Wealth Management, and $12 million after-tax in Corporate and Other); 
$79 million ($58 million after-tax) gain as a result of plan amendments related to pension and other post-employment plans (Corporate and 
Other); and 
$70 million ($51 million after-tax) increase in legal provisions (Corporate and Other). 

The above items of note increased non-interest expenses by $797 million and decreased income taxes by $142 million. In aggregate, these items of 
note decreased net income by $655 million. 

2019 
Net income was affected by the following items of note: 
 

$227 million ($167 million after-tax) charge for a payment made to Air Canada, including related sales tax and transaction costs, to secure our 
participation in the new loyalty program (Canadian Personal and Business Banking); 
$135 million ($135 million after-tax) goodwill impairment charge related to our controlling interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean (Corporate and Other); 
$109 million ($82 million after-tax) amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets ($7 million after-tax in Canadian Personal and Business 
Banking, $1 million after-tax in Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, $65 million after-tax in U.S. Commercial Banking and 
Wealth Management, and $9 million after-tax in Corporate and Other); 
$67 million ($49 million after-tax) of interest income related to the settlement of certain income tax matters (Corporate and Other); 
$45 million ($33 million after-tax net positive impact) in purchase accounting adjustments net of transaction and integration-related costs(2) 
associated with the acquisitions of The PrivateBank, Geneva Advisors and Wellington Financial (income of $25 million after-tax in U.S. 
Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and $8 million after-tax in Corporate and Other); and 
$28 million ($21 million after-tax) increase in legal provisions (Corporate and Other). 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 

The above items of note increased revenue by $101 million and non-interest expenses by $488 million, and decreased income taxes by $64 million. 
In aggregate, these items of note decreased net income by $323 million. 

(1)  Adjusted measures are non-GAAP measures. For additional information, see the “Non-GAAP measures” section. 
(2)  Transaction costs include legal and other advisory fees and interest adjustments relating to the obligation payable to dissenting shareholders. Integration costs are 

comprised of direct and incremental costs incurred as part of planning for and executing the integration of the businesses of The PrivateBank (subsequently rebranded as 
CIBC Bank USA) and Geneva Advisors with CIBC, including enabling cross-sell opportunities and expansion of services in the U.S. market, the upgrade and conversion of 
systems and processes, project management, integration-related travel, severance, consulting fees and marketing costs related to rebranding activities. Purchase 
accounting adjustments, shown as an item of note from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the fourth quarter of 2019, include changes in the fair value of contingent consideration 
relating to the Geneva Advisors and Wellington Financial acquisitions. These items are recognized in Corporate and Other. 

8 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Net interest income and margin 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Average interest-earning assets 
Net interest income 
Net interest margin on average interest-earning assets 

2020 

2019 

2018 

$  654,142 
11,044 

$  572,677 
10,551 

$  536,059 
10,065 

1.69 % 

1.84 % 

1.88 % 

Net interest income was up $493 million or 5% from 2019, primarily due to volume growth across our businesses, higher trading income and higher 
revenue from Capital Markets financing activities, partially offset by narrower margins driven by changes in the interest rate environment and interest 
rate relief provided to our credit card clients as part of the CIBC client relief programs offered to support our clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Net interest margin on average interest-earning assets was down 15 basis points, primarily due to narrower margins largely due to the factors 

discussed above and excess liquidity costs. 

Additional information on net interest income and margin is provided in the “Supplementary annual financial information” section. 

Non-interest income 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Underwriting and advisory fees 
Deposit and payment fees 
Credit fees 
Card fees 
Investment management and custodial fees (1)(2) 
Mutual fund fees (2) 
Insurance fees, net of claims 
Commissions on securities transactions 
Gains (losses) from financial instruments measured/designated at fair value through profit or loss 

(FVTPL), net (3) 

Gains (losses) from debt securities measured at fair value through other comprehensive income 

(FVOCI) and amortized cost, net 
Foreign exchange other than trading 
Income from equity-accounted associates and joint ventures (1) 
Other 

$ 

2020 

468 
781 
1,020 
410 
1,382 
1,586 
386 
362 

694 

9 
234 
79 
286 

$ 

2019 

475 
908 
958 
458 
1,305 
1,595 
430 
313 

761 

34 
304 
92 
427 

$ 

2018 

420 
877 
851 
510 
1,247 
1,624 
431 
357 

603 

(35) 
310 
121 
453 

$  7,697 

$  8,060 

$  7,769 

(1)  Custodial fees directly recognized by CIBC are included in Investment management and custodial fees. Our proportionate share of CIBC Mellon’s custodial fees are 

included within Income from equity-accounted associates and joint ventures. 

(2)  Investment management fees and mutual fund fees are driven by various factors, including the amount of AUM. Investment management fees in our asset management 

and private wealth management businesses are generally driven by the amount of AUM, while investment management fees in our retail brokerage business are driven by 
a combination of the amount of AUA and, to a lesser extent, other factors unrelated to the amount of AUA (e.g., flat fees on a per account basis). 

(3)  Includes $31 million of loss (2019: $54 million of loss; 2018: $46 million of income) relating to non-trading financial instruments measured/designated at FVTPL. 

Non-interest income was down $363 million or 5% from 2019. 

Deposit and payment fees were down $127 million or 14%, primarily due to lower client transaction activity in Canadian Personal and Business 
Banking as a result of the pandemic. 

Credit fees were up $62 million or 6%, primarily due to growth in commercial loans. 

Card fees were down $48 million or 10%, primarily due to lower client transaction activity as a result of the pandemic and an interchange rate 
change in Canadian Personal and Business Banking. 

Investment management and custodial fees were up $77 million or 6%, primarily due to asset growth in our wealth management businesses. 

Commissions on securities transactions were up $49 million or 16%, primarily due to higher trading volume in our retail brokerage business. 

Gains (losses) from financial instruments measured/designated at FVTPL, net were down $67 million or 9%, primarily due to lower trading income, 
partially offset by Treasury activities. 

Foreign exchange other than trading was down $70 million or 23%, primarily due to Treasury activities. 

Other was down $141 million or 33%, primarily due to lower sublease revenue relating to our adoption of IFRS 16 in the current year that was largely 
offset in interest income and non-interest expenses, and mark-to-market losses related to economic hedges of certain non-trading activities that 
were largely offset in net interest income. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

9 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Trading activities (TEB) 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Trading income consists of: 
Net interest income (1) 
Non-interest income 

Trading income by product line: 

Interest rates 
Foreign exchange 
Equities 
Commodities 
Other 

2020 

2019 

2018 

$ 

904 
725 

$ 

633 
815 

$ 

856 
557 

$  1,629 

$  1,448 

$  1,413 

$ 

528 
674 
280 
182 
(35) 

$ 

300 
585 
386 
117 
60 

$ 

246 
573 
452 
94 
48 

$  1,629 

$  1,448 

$  1,413 

(1)  Includes TEB adjustment of $183 million (2019: $177 million; 2018: $278 million) reported within Capital Markets. See “Strategic business units overview” section for further 

details. 

Trading income was up $181 million or 13% from 2019, primarily due to higher interest rates, foreign exchange and commodities trading income, 
partially offset by lower equity trading income. 

Net interest income comprises interest and dividends relating to financial assets and liabilities associated with trading activities, net of interest 

expense and interest income associated with funding these assets and liabilities. Non-interest income includes realized and unrealized gains and 
losses on securities mandatorily measured at FVTPL and income relating to changes in fair value of derivative financial instruments. Trading 
activities and related risk management strategies can periodically shift income between net interest income and non-interest income. Therefore, we 
view total trading revenue as the most appropriate measure of trading performance. 
Provision for credit losses 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses – impaired 
Canadian Personal and Business Banking 
Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
Capital Markets 
Corporate and Other 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses – performing 
Canadian Personal and Business Banking 
Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
Capital Markets 
Corporate and Other 

2020 

2019 

2018 

$ 

640 
162 
133 
106 
24 

$ 

809 
159 
68 
90 
21 

1,065 

1,147 

579 
141 
354 
175 
175 

1,424 

87 
4 
51
63 
(20) 

139 

$  760 
15 
67 
8 
102 

952 

(19) 
(10) 
  2
(38) 
(27) 

(82) 

$  2,489 

$  1,286 

$  870 

Provision for credit losses was up $1,203 million or 94% from 2019. Provision for credit losses on performing loans was up $1,285 million, mainly due 
to increased provisions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Provision for credit losses on impaired loans was down $82 million, due to lower 
insolvencies and write-offs in credit cards and personal lending, reflecting the impact of the client relief programs and government support, partially 
offset by higher provisions in business and government loans. 

For further details regarding provision for credit losses in our SBUs, refer to the “Strategic business units overview” section. 

Non-interest expenses 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Employee compensation and benefits 

Salaries 
Performance-based compensation 
Benefits 

Occupancy costs 
Computer, software and office equipment 
Communications 
Advertising and business development 
Professional fees 
Business and capital taxes 
Other 

$ 

2020 

3,529 
1,948 
782 

6,259 
944 
1,939 
308 
271 
203 
117 
1,321 

$ 

2019 

3,081 
1,873 
772 

5,726 
892 
1,874 
303 
359 
226 
110 
1,366 

$ 

2018 

2,934 
1,966 
765 

5,665 
875 
1,742 
315 
327 
226 
103 
1,005 

$  11,362 

$  10,856 

$  10,258 

Non-interest expenses were up $506 million or 5% from 2019. 

Employee compensation and benefits were up $533 million or 9%, primarily due to a restructuring charge primarily related to employee severance, 
shown as an item of note, higher performance-based compensation and additional employee benefits provided to support our employees during 
the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by a gain as a result of plan amendments related to pension and other post-employment plans, shown as 
an item of note. 

10  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Occupancy costs were up $52 million or 6%, primarily due to a charge related to the consolidation of our real estate portfolio associated with our 
upcoming move to our new global headquarters, shown as an item of note, partially offset by lower occupancy costs related to adoption of IFRS 16 
in the current year that were largely offset by higher interest expenses. 

Advertising and business development were down $88 million or 25%, primarily due to lower spending driven by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Other expenses were down $45 million or 3%, as the prior year included a charge for a payment made to Air Canada, including related sales tax 
and transaction costs, to secure our participation in the new loyalty program, partially offset by higher goodwill impairment relative to the prior year, 
and an increase in legal provisions, with all of these shown as items of note. 

Taxes 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Income taxes 

Indirect taxes (1) 

Goods and Services Tax (GST), Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) and sales taxes 
Payroll taxes 
Capital taxes 
Property and business taxes 

Total indirect taxes 

Total taxes 

Reported effective tax rate 
Total taxes as a percentage of net income before deduction of total taxes 

2020 

2019 

2018 

$  1,098 

$  1,348 

$  1,422 

411 
292 
79 
76 

858 

418 
271 
76 
72 

837 

354 
271 
68 
77 

770 

$  1,956 

$  2,185 

$  2,192 

22.5 % 
34.0 % 

20.8 % 
29.9 % 

21.2 % 
29.3 % 

(1)  Certain amounts are based on a paid or payable basis and do not factor in capitalization and subsequent amortization. 

Income taxes include those imposed on CIBC as a Canadian legal entity, as well as on our domestic and foreign subsidiaries. Indirect taxes 
comprise GST, HST and sales, payroll, capital, property and business taxes. Indirect taxes are included in non-interest expenses. 

Total income and indirect taxes were down $229 million from 2019. 
Income tax expense was $1,098 million, down $250 million from 2019. This was primarily due to lower income, partially offset by an unfavourable 
impact of changes in the proportion of income subject to varying rates of tax in different jurisdictions. The prior year also included a net tax recovery of  
$38 million resulting from the Enron settlement discussed below, largely offset by a $28 million revaluation of certain deferred tax assets due to tax 
rate changes enacted by the Barbados government in the first quarter of 2019. 

Indirect taxes were up $21 million, primarily due to increased payroll taxes, including social security contributions. 
The U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (U.S. tax reforms) reduced the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate effective in 2018 and introduced other 
important changes to U.S. corporate income tax laws including a Base Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) that subjects certain payments from a U.S. 
corporation to foreign related parties to additional taxes. The Internal Revenue Service periodically releases proposed and final regulations to 
implement aspects of the U.S. tax reforms, including BEAT. CIBC continues to evaluate the impact of these regulations on our U.S. operations. 

In prior years, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) issued reassessments disallowing the deduction of Enron settlement payments and related 

legal expenses (the Enron expenses). In January 2019, CIBC entered into a settlement agreement (the Agreement) with the CRA that provides 
certainty with respect to the portion of the Enron expenses deductible in Canada. The Agreement resulted in the recognition of a net $38 million tax 
recovery in the first quarter of 2019. This recovery was determined after taking into account taxable refund interest in Canada and also the portion of 
the Enron expenses that are expected to be deductible in the United States (the U.S. deduction). The U.S. deduction has not been agreed to by the 
Internal Revenue Service. It is possible that adjustments may be required to the amount of tax benefits recognized in the U.S. 

The CRA has reassessed CIBC approximately $1,115 million of additional income tax by denying the tax deductibility of certain 2011 to 2015 

Canadian corporate dividends on the basis that they were part of a “dividend rental arrangement”. The dividends that were subject to the 
reassessments are similar to those prospectively addressed by the rules in the 2015 and 2018 Canadian federal budgets. It is possible that 
subsequent years may be reassessed for similar activities. CIBC is confident that its tax filing positions were appropriate and intends to defend itself 
vigorously. Accordingly, no amounts have been accrued in the consolidated financial statements. 

Foreign exchange 
The estimated impact of U.S. dollar translation on key lines of our consolidated statement of income, as a result of changes in average exchange 
rates, is as follows: 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Estimated increase (decrease) in: 

Total revenue 
Provision for credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 
Income taxes 
Net income 

Impact on EPS: 

Basic 
Diluted 

Average USD appreciation (depreciation) relative to CAD 

$

2020 
vs. 
2019 

 50
9 
26 
3 
12 

$ 

2019 
vs. 
2018 

124 
7 
66 
5 
46 

$ 

2018 
vs. 
2017 

(55) 
(2) 
(30) 
(3) 
(20) 

$  0.03 
0.03 

$  0.10 
0.10 

$ 

(0.05) 
(0.05) 

1.1 % 

3.2 % 

(1.5)% 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  11 

 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Fourth quarter review 

$ millions, except per share amounts, for the three months ended 

2020 

2019 (1) 

Oct. 31 

Jul. 31 

Apr. 30 

Jan. 31 

Oct. 31 

Jul. 31 

Apr. 30 

Jan. 31 

Revenue 

Canadian Personal and Business Banking 
Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management (2) 
Capital Markets (2) 
Corporate and Other (2) 

Total revenue 

Net interest income 
Non-interest income 

Total revenue 
Provision for credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 

Income before income taxes 
Income taxes 

Net income 

Net income (loss) attributable to: 

Non-controlling interests 
Equity shareholders 

EPS  – basic 

– diluted 

$  2,139  $  2,056  $  2,079  $  2,214 
1,055 
507 
871 
208 

1,013 
514 
1,000 
125 

1,028 
515 
792 
126 

1,025 
518 
824 
132 

$  2,225  $  2,240  $  2,126  $  2,164 
984 
479 
712 
226 

1,019 
509 
752 
212 

1,026 
502 
740 
279 

998 
474 
756 
188 

$  4,600  $  4,708  $  4,578  $  4,855 

$  4,772  $  4,732  $  4,542  $  4,565 

$  2,792  $  2,729  $  2,762  $  2,761 
2,094 

1,808 

1,816 

1,979 

$  2,801  $  2,694  $  2,460  $  2,596 
1,969 

2,038 

2,082 

1,971 

4,600 
291 
2,891 

1,418 
402 

4,708 
525 
2,702 

1,481 
309 

4,578 
1,412 
2,704 

462 
70 

4,855 
261 
3,065 

1,529 
317 

4,772 
402 
2,838 

1,532 
339 

4,732 
291 
2,670 

1,771 
373 

4,542 
255 
2,588 

1,699 
351 

4,565 
338 
2,760 

1,467 
285 

$  1,016  $  1,172  $ 

392  $  1,212 

$  1,193  $  1,398  $  1,348  $  1,182 

$ 

$ 

1  $ 

2  $

1,015 

1,170 

(8  )  $

400 

 7
1,205 

2.21  $ 
2.20 

2.56  $ 
2.55 

0.83  $ 
0.83 

2.64 
2.63 

$ 

$ 

8  $ 

6  $ 

7  $ 

1,185 

1,392 

1,341 

4 
1,178 

2.59  $ 
2.58 

3.07  $ 
3.06 

2.96  $ 
2.95 

2.61 
2.60 

(1)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “External reporting changes” section for additional details. 
(2)  Capital Markets and U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management revenue and income taxes are reported on a TEB with an equivalent offset in the revenue and 

income taxes of Corporate and Other. 

Compared with Q4/19 
Net income for the quarter was $1,016 million, down $177 million or 15% from the fourth quarter of 2019. 

Net interest income was down $9 million, primarily due to narrower margins, lower treasury revenue and interest income related to the 
settlement of certain income tax matters in the same quarter last year, shown as an item of note, partially offset by volume growth across our 
businesses, higher trading income and higher revenue from financing activities in Capital Markets. 

Non-interest income was down $163 million or 8%, primarily due to lower trading income, and lower deposit and payment fees. 
Provision for credit losses was down $111 million or 28% from the same quarter last year. Provision for credit losses on performing loans was 

up $41 million, primarily due to an unfavourable impact of model parameter updates in Canadian Personal and Business Banking and negative 
credit migration in U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management. Provision for credit losses on impaired loans was down $152 million, largely 
due to lower insolvencies and write-offs in credit cards and personal lending, reflecting the impact of the client relief programs and government 
support. 

Non-interest expenses were up $53 million or 2%, primarily due to charges related to the consolidation of our real estate portfolio and goodwill 

impairment related to our controlling interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean, both shown as items of note. The increase was partially offset by a gain as a 
result of plan amendments related to pension and other post-employment plans this quarter, and an increase in legal provisions in the same quarter 
last year, both shown as items of note, and lower performance-based compensation this quarter. 

Income tax expense was up $63 million or 19%, despite lower income, primarily due to the goodwill impairment charge related to our 

controlling interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean, which is not deductible for tax purposes. 

Compared with Q3/20 
Net income for the quarter was down $156 million or 13% from the prior quarter. 

Net interest income was up $63 million or 2%, primarily due to volume growth in Canadian Personal and Business Banking and higher trading 

income. 

Non-interest income was down $171 million or 9%, primarily due to lower trading income. 
Provision for credit losses was down $234 million or 45% from the prior quarter. Provision for credit losses on performing loans was down 

$112 million, primarily due to an unfavourable change to our economic outlook in the third quarter, partially offset by increased provisions due to 
various model parameter updates and unfavourable credit migration in certain portfolios this quarter. Provision for credit losses on impaired loans 
was down $122 million, due to lower insolvencies and write-offs in personal lending, reflecting the impact of the client relief programs and 
government support, along with lower provisions in business and government loans. 

Non-interest expenses were up $189 million or 7%, primarily due to charges for goodwill impairment related to our controlling interest in CIBC 
FirstCaribbean and the consolidation of our real estate portfolio, both shown as items of note. The increase was partially offset by a gain as a result 
of plan amendments related to pension and other post-employment plans this quarter and an increase in legal provisions in the prior quarter, both 
shown as items of note. 

Income tax expense was up $93 million or 30%, despite lower income, primarily due to the goodwill impairment charge related to our 

controlling interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean, which is not deductible for tax purposes. 

12  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Quarterly trend analysis 
Our quarterly results are modestly affected by seasonal factors. The second quarter has fewer days as compared with the other quarters, generally 
leading to lower earnings. The summer months (July – third quarter and August – fourth quarter) typically experience lower levels of market activity, 
which affects our brokerage, investment management, and Capital Markets activities. 

Revenue 
Canadian Personal and Business Banking revenue has benefited from volume growth, as well as margins widening earlier in the period, with 
headwinds due to margins and fee income arising in the second to fourth quarters of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management has continued to benefit from increases in both commercial banking deposit and 
loan volumes, although recent periods have seen muted loan growth as a result of the impact of the government’s public health measures on a 
number of businesses across Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In wealth management, recent market volatility has impacted AUA and AUM 
balances. 

U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management revenue reflects recent net interest margin pressure, offset by the impact of strong organic 

growth through to the second quarter of 2020, and fee income growth. 

Capital Markets revenue is influenced, to a large extent, by market conditions affecting client trading and underwriting activity. The first and 

third quarters of 2020 included higher trading revenue. 

Corporate and Other included the impact of changes relating to our adoption of IFRS 16 in the current year that were largely offset in non-
interest expenses (see Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements for further details regarding the impact of our transition to IFRS 16). The 
fourth quarter of 2019 included interest income related to the settlement of certain income tax matters. 

Provision for credit losses 
Provision for credit losses is dependent upon the credit cycle in general, on the credit performance of the loan portfolios, and changes in economic 
outlook. As a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in the second quarter of 2020, our loan portfolios were negatively impacted 
by the decline in economic activity associated with physical distancing measures, mitigated to an extent by large-scale government support and 
relief programs targeting both individuals and businesses. There is considerable judgment involved in the estimation of credit losses in the current 
environment. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will depend on the speed at which an effective vaccine can be administered on a 
mass scale, and the ability of governments, businesses and health-care systems to effectively limit the epidemiological and economic impacts of 
expected resurgences of the virus in the intervening period. The extent to which the recommended public health measures restrict economic activity 
and the level and effectiveness of government support during this intervening period are material to our expectations for a continued economic 
rebound in 2021 and our resulting provision for credit losses. 

The significant increase in provision for credit losses on performing loans in the second and, to a lesser extent, in the third and fourth quarters 

of 2020 reflects the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued pressure on oil prices, and has impacted all of our SBUs. We also 
recognized provisions on performing loans throughout 2019, reflective of the impact of certain unfavourable changes to our economic outlook over 
that period. 

In Canadian Personal and Business Banking, the fourth quarter of 2019 included higher provision on impaired loans in the personal lending 
portfolio. The third and fourth quarters of 2020 included lower insolvencies and write-offs in credit cards. The decrease in insolvencies was in line 
with the national Canadian trend, as a result of limited consumer filing channels. The low level of write-offs was due to assistance offered to clients 
from our payment deferral programs, as well as from government support. 

In Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, there were higher provisions on impaired loans since the first quarter of 2019 
compared with the second half of 2018. The first, third and fourth quarters of 2020, and the fourth quarter of 2019, included provisions on one fraud-
related impairment. 

In U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, the third quarter of 2019 and the second half of 2020 included higher provisions on 

impaired loans. Impaired loan provisions in the U.S. remain elevated with no industry or sector trends. 

In Capital Markets, the first quarter of 2019 included higher provisions on impaired loans due to an impaired loan in the utility sector. The 

second half of 2019 and the second and third quarters of 2020 included higher provisions on impaired loans in the oil and gas sector. 

In Corporate and Other, provisions on impaired loans remained relatively stable across 2019 and 2020. 

Non-interest expenses 
Non-interest expenses have fluctuated over the period largely due to changes in employee-related compensation and benefits, spending on 
strategic initiatives, and movement in foreign exchange rates. The first quarter of 2019 included a charge for a payment made to Air Canada, 
including related sales tax and transaction costs, to secure our participation in its new loyalty program. The fourth quarter of 2019 and the second 
and fourth quarters of 2020 included a goodwill impairment charge related to our controlling interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean. The fourth quarter of 
2019 and the third quarter of 2020 included increases in legal provisions in Corporate and Other, shown as an item of note. The first quarter of 2020 
included a restructuring charge associated with ongoing efforts to transform our cost structure and simplify our bank. The fourth quarter of 2020 
included a charge related to the consolidation of our real estate portfolio as a result of our upcoming move to our new global headquarters and a 
gain as a result of plan amendments related to pension and other post-employment plans. 

Income taxes 
Income taxes vary with changes in income subject to tax, and the jurisdictions in which the income is earned. Taxes can also be affected by the 
impact of significant items and the level of tax-exempt income. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  13 

Canadian 
Personal and 
Business 
Banking 

Canadian 
Commercial Banking 
and Wealth 
Management 

U.S. 
Commercial Banking 
and Wealth 
Management (1) 

Capital 
Markets (1) 

Corporate 
and Other (1) 

CIBC 
Total 

$  6,372 
2,383 

$  1,205 
2,822 

$  1,381 
583 

$  1,253 
1,707 

$ 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Review of 2019 financial performance 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

2019 (2) 

Net interest income 
Non-interest income 

Total revenue 
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 

Income (loss) before income taxes 
Income taxes 

8,755 
896 
4,745 

3,114 
825 

4,027 
163 
2,106 

1,758 
471 

Net income (loss) 

$  2,289 

$  1,287 

Net income (loss) attributable to: 

Non-controlling interests 
Equity shareholders 

2018 (2) 

Net interest income 
Non-interest income 

Total revenue 
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 

Income (loss) before income taxes 
Income taxes 

$ 

– 
2,289 

$  6,151 
2,444 

8,595 
741 
4,395 

3,459 
919 

$ 

– 
1,287 

$  1,091 
2,745 

3,836 
5 
2,067 

1,764 
478 

Net income (loss) 

$  2,540 

$  1,286 

Net income (loss) attributable to: 

Non-controlling interests 
Equity shareholders 

$ 

– 
2,540 

$ 

– 
1,286 

340 
565 

905 
1 
1,370 

(466) 
(375) 

$  10,551 
8,060 

18,611 
1,286 
10,856 

6,469 
1,348 

(91) 

$ 

5,121 

25 
(116) 

160 
548 

708 
75 
1,281 

(648) 
(459) 

$ 

25 
5,096 

$  10,065 
7,769 

17,834 
870 
10,258 

6,706 
1,422 

1,964 
73 
1,119 

772 
90 

682 

– 
682 

$ 

$ 

2,960 
153 
1,516 

1,291 
337 

954 

– 
954 

$ 

$ 

$  1,231 
529 

$  1,432 
1,503 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2,935 
(30) 
1,492 

1,473 
387 

1,760 
79 
1,023 

658 
97 

561 

– 
561 

$ 

$ 

$  1,086 

$ 

(189) 

$ 

5,284 

$ 

– 
1,086 

$ 

17 
(206) 

$ 

17 
5,267 

(1)  Capital Markets and U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management revenue and income taxes are reported on a TEB with an equivalent offset in the revenue and 

income taxes of Corporate and Other. 

(2)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “External reporting changes” section for additional details. 

The following discussion provides a comparison of our results of operations for the years ended October 31, 2019 and 2018. 

Overview 
Net income for 2019 was $5,121 million, compared with $5,284 million in 2018. The decrease in net income of $163 million was due to higher 
non-interest expenses and a higher provision for credit losses, partially offset by higher revenue. 

Consolidated CIBC 
Net interest income 
Net interest income was up $486 million or 5% from 2018, primarily due to volume growth across our businesses, wider spreads in Canadian 
Personal and Business Banking, and the impact of foreign exchange translation, partially offset by lower trading income and narrower spreads in 
U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management. 2019 also included interest income related to the settlement of certain income tax matters, 
shown as an item of note. 

Non-interest income 
Non-interest income was up $291 million or 4% from 2018, primarily due to an increase in trading income and credit fees. 

Provision for credit losses 
Provision for credit losses was up $416 million or 48% from 2018. Provision for credit losses on performing loans was up $221 million from 2018, as 
2018 included a reduction in allowance driven by an economic outlook that had improved since our adoption of IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” 
(IFRS 9) on November 1, 2017, while 2019 included an increase in allowance, reflective of the impact of certain unfavourable changes to our 
economic outlook, as well as unfavourable credit migration in certain portfolios. Provision for credit losses on impaired loans was up $195 million, 
due to higher provisions including one fraud-related impairment in Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, higher provisions in the 
utility and the oil and gas sectors within Capital Markets, higher provisions and write-offs in personal lending within Canadian Personal and Business 
Banking, partially offset by lower provisions in CIBC FirstCaribbean, included in Corporate and Other, as 2018 included losses on sovereign loans 
resulting from the Barbados government debt restructuring, of which $28 million was shown as an item of note in the fourth quarter of 2018. 

Non-interest expenses 
Non-interest expenses were up $598 million or 6% from 2018, primarily due to a charge for a payment made to Air Canada, including related sales 
tax and transaction costs, to secure our participation in the new loyalty program, a goodwill impairment charge related to our controlling interest in 
CIBC FirstCaribbean, and an increase in legal provisions, all shown as items of note, and higher spending on strategic initiatives. 

Income taxes 
Income tax expense was down $74 million or 5% from 2018, primarily due to net tax adjustments, resulting from the U.S. tax reforms enacted in the 
first quarter of 2018, shown as an item of note, as well as lower income in 2019, partially offset by lower tax-exempt income and the goodwill 
impairment charge related to our controlling interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean, which is not deductible for tax purposes. 2019 also included a net tax 
recovery of $38 million resulting from the Enron settlement, largely offset by a $28 million revaluation of certain deferred tax assets due to tax rate 
charges enacted by the Barbados government in the first quarter of 2019. 

14  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Revenue by segment 
Canadian Personal and Business Banking 
Revenue was up $160 million or 2% from 2018, primarily due to wider spreads and volume growth, partially offset by lower fee income. 

Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
Revenue was up $191 million or 5% from 2018. Commercial banking revenue was up primarily due to volume growth from loans and deposits, and 
higher fees. Wealth management revenue was up primarily due to higher investment management and custodial fees driven by higher AUM and 
AUA, wider spreads, and volume growth, partially offset by lower commission revenue and mutual fund fees. 

U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
Revenue was up $204 million or 12% from 2018. Commercial banking revenue was up primarily due to volume growth, and the impact of foreign 
exchange translation, partially offset by narrower spreads and lower revenue from the accretion of the acquisition date fair value discount on the 
acquired loans of The PrivateBank, shown as an item of note. Wealth management revenue was up primarily due to volume growth, higher investment 
management and custodial fees driven by higher AUM, and the impact of foreign exchange translation, partially offset by narrower spreads. 

Capital Markets 
Revenue was up $25 million or 1% from 2018. Global markets revenue was up primarily due to higher revenue from our interest rate trading 
business, global markets financing activities, and our commodities and equity trading business, largely offset by lower revenue from our equity 
derivatives trading business. Corporate and investment banking revenue was down primarily due to lower investment portfolio gains, lower equity 
underwriting activity, and lower revenue from our run-off business, partially offset by higher corporate banking and advisory revenue. 

Corporate and Other 
Revenue was up $197 million or 28% from 2018. International banking revenue was up as 2018 included incremental ECL on debt securities in 
CIBC FirstCaribbean, as a result of the Barbados government restructuring its public debt, of which $61 million was shown as an item of note in the 
fourth quarter of 2018. 2019 also reflected a favourable impact from foreign exchange translation and better performance in CIBC FirstCaribbean. 
Other revenue was up primarily due to a lower TEB adjustment and interest income related to the settlement of certain income tax matters, shown as 
an item of note, partially offset by lower treasury revenue and lower income from equity-accounted associates and joint ventures. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  15 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Non-GAAP measures 

We use a number of financial measures to assess the performance of our business lines as described below. Some measures are calculated in 
accordance with GAAP (IFRS), while other measures do not have a standardized meaning under GAAP, and accordingly, these measures may not 
be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Investors may find these non-GAAP measures useful in understanding how 
management views underlying business performance. 

Adjusted measures 
Management assesses results on a reported and adjusted basis and considers both as useful measures of performance. Adjusted results remove 
items of note from reported results and are used to calculate our adjusted measures noted below. Items of note include the amortization of 
intangible assets, and certain items of significance that arise from time to time which management believes are not reflective of underlying business 
performance. We believe that adjusted measures provide the reader with a better understanding of how management assesses underlying business 
performance and facilitates a more informed analysis of trends. While we believe that adjusted measures may facilitate comparisons between our 
results and those of some of our Canadian peer banks, which make similar adjustments in their public disclosure, it should be noted that there is no 
standardized meaning for adjusted measures under GAAP. 

We also adjust our results to gross up tax-exempt revenue on certain securities to a TEB, being the amount of fully taxable revenue, which, 

were it to have incurred tax at the statutory income tax rate, would yield the same after-tax revenue. 

Adjusted diluted EPS 
We adjust our reported diluted EPS to remove the impact of items of note, net of income taxes, to calculate the adjusted EPS. 

Adjusted efficiency ratio 
We adjust our reported revenue and non-interest expenses to remove the impact of items of note and gross up tax-exempt revenue to bring it to a 
TEB, to calculate the adjusted efficiency ratio. 

Adjusted operating leverage 
We adjust our reported revenue and non-interest expenses to remove the impact of items of note and gross up tax-exempt revenue to bring it to a 
TEB, to calculate the adjusted operating leverage. 

Adjusted dividend payout ratio 
We adjust our reported net income attributable to common shareholders to remove the impact of items of note, net of income taxes, to calculate the 
adjusted dividend payout ratio. 

Adjusted return on common shareholders’ equity 
We adjust our reported net income attributable to common shareholders to remove the impact of items of note, net of income taxes, to calculate the 
adjusted ROE. 

Adjusted effective tax rate 
We adjust our reported income before income taxes and reported income taxes to remove the impact of items of note, to calculate the adjusted effective 
tax rate. 

Allocated common equity 
Common equity is allocated to the SBUs based on the estimated amount of regulatory capital required to support their businesses. Unallocated 
common equity is reported in Corporate and Other. Allocating capital on this basis provides a consistent framework to evaluate the returns of each 
SBU commensurate with the risk assumed. 

Segmented return on equity 
We use return on equity on a segmented basis as one of the measures for performance evaluation and resource allocation decisions. While return 
on equity for total CIBC provides a measure of return on common equity, return on equity on a segmented basis provides a similar metric based on 
an allocation of regulatory capital to our SBUs. As a result, segmented return on equity is a non-GAAP measure. Segmented return on equity is 
calculated as net income attributable to common shareholders for each SBU expressed as a percentage of average allocated common equity. 

16  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

The following table provides a reconciliation of GAAP (reported) results to non-GAAP (adjusted) results on a consolidated basis. 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Operating results – reported 
Total revenue 
Provision for credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 
Income before income taxes 
Income taxes 
Net income 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests 
Net income attributable to equity shareholders 

Diluted EPS ($) 

Impact of items of note (1) 
Revenue 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016 

$  18,741 
2,489 
11,362 
4,890 
1,098 
3,792 
2 
3,790 

$  18,611  $  17,834  $  16,280  $  15,035 
1,051 
8,971 
5,013 
718 
4,295 
20 
4,275 

1,286 
10,856 
6,469 
1,348 
5,121 
25 
5,096 

870 
10,258 
6,706 
1,422 
5,284 
17 
5,267 

829 
9,571 
5,880 
1,162 
4,718 
19 
4,699 

$ 

8.22 

$  11.19  $  11.65  $  11.24  $  10.70 

Settlement of certain income tax matters (2) 
Purchase accounting adjustments (3) 
Incremental losses on debt securities and loans in CIBC FirstCaribbean resulting from 

$

the Barbados government debt restructuring 

Gain on the sale and lease back of certain retail properties 
Fees and charges related to the launch of Simplii Financial and the related wind-down of 

President’s Choice Financial 

Gain, net of related transaction costs, on the sale of our minority investment in American 

Century Investments 

Gain, net of related transaction and severance costs, on the sale of a processing centre 
Loss (income) from the structured credit run-off business 
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (4) 

Impact of items of note on revenue 
Provision for credit losses 

Incremental losses on debt securities and loans in CIBC FirstCaribbean resulting from the 

Barbados government debt restructuring 

Transaction and integration-related costs as well as purchase accounting adjustments (5) 
Increase (decrease) in collective allowance (6) 
Loan losses in our exited European leveraged finance portfolio 

Impact of items of note on provision for credit losses 
Expenses 

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (4) 
Transaction and integration-related costs as well as purchase accounting adjustments (5) 
Charge related to the consolidation of our real estate portfolio 
Gain as a result of plan amendments related to pension and other post-employment plans 
Restructuring charge (7) 
Goodwill impairment (8) 
Increase in legal provisions (2) 
Charge for payment made to Air Canada (9) 
Fees and charges related to the launch of Simplii Financial and the related wind-down of 

President’s Choice Financial 

Gain, net of related transaction and severance costs, on the sale of a processing centre 
Loss (income) from the structured credit run-off business 

Impact of items of note on expenses 
Total pre-tax impact of items of note on net income 

Settlement of certain income tax matters (2) 
Transaction and integration-related costs as well as purchase accounting adjustments (3)(5) 
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (4) 
Charge related to the consolidation of our real estate portfolio 
Gain as a result of plan amendments related to pension and other post-employment plans 
Restructuring charge (7) 
Increase in legal provisions (2) 
Charge for payment made to Air Canada (9) 
Incremental losses on debt securities and loans in CIBC FirstCaribbean resulting from the 

Barbados government debt restructuring 

Charge from net tax adjustments resulting from U.S. tax reforms 
Gain on the sale and lease back of certain retail properties 
Fees and charges related to the launch of Simplii Financial and the related wind-down of 

President’s Choice Financial 

Increase (decrease) in collective allowance (6) 
Gain, net of related transaction costs, on the sale of our minority investment in American 

Century Investments 

Gain, net of related transaction and severance costs, on the sale of a processing centre 
Loss (income) from the structured credit run-off business 
Loan losses in our exited European leveraged finance portfolio 
Income tax recovery due to the settlement of transfer pricing-related matters 
Income tax recovery arising from a change in our expected utilization of tax loss 

carryforwards 

Impact of items of note on income taxes 
Total after-tax impact of items of note on net income 

After-tax impact of items of note on non-controlling interests 

After-tax impact of items of note on net income attributable to equity shareholders 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

(105) 
– 
(114) 
79 
(339) 
(248) 
(70) 
– 

– 
– 
– 
(797) 
797 
– 
– 
25 
30 
(21) 
89 
19 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
142 
655 

– 

655 

$ 

(67) $ 
(34) 

$ 

–
(63) 

$ 

–
(9) 

–61
– 

–

– 
– 
– 
–
(101) 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

(109) 
11 
– 
– 
– 
(135) 
(28) 
(227) 

– 
–
– 
(488) 
387 
(18) 
(12) 
27 
– 
– 
–
7 
60

–
– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
–
–
–
–

–
64 
323 

– 

323 

– 

–

– 
– 
– 
–
(2) 

(28) 
– 
– 
– 
(28) 

(115) 
(79) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
 –
– 
(194) 
220 
– 
2 
30 
– 
– 
 –
– 
 –

 19
(88) 
– 

– 
– 

– 
 –
 –
 –
 –

 –
(37) 
257 

5 

252 

–
(299) 

3

– 
– 
– 
–
(305) 

– 
(35) 
18 
– 
(17) 

(41) 
(78) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(45) 
– 

(95) 
 –
– 
(259) 
(29) 
– 
31 
13 
– 
– 
 –
12 
 –

  –
– 
(54) 

27 
(5) 

– 
 –
 –
 –
 –

 –
24 
(53) 

– 

(53) 

– 
– 

  –
– 

– 

(428) 
(59) 
(19) 
1 
(505) 

– 
– 
(109) 
(40) 
(149) 

(29) 
– 
– 
– 
(134) 
– 
(77) 
– 

– 
 (6)
(16) 
(262) 
(94) 
– 
– 
8 
– 
– 
 36
21 
 –

  –
– 
– 

– 
29 

(45) 
 (6)
 (1)
 10
 30

 15
97 
(191) 

– 

(191) 

Impact of items of note on diluted EPS ($) 

$ 

1.47 

$ 

0.73  $ 

0.56  $ 

(0.13)  $ 

(0.48) 

For footnotes, see next page. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Operating results – adjusted (10) 
Total revenue (11) 
Provision for credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 

Income before income taxes 
Income taxes 

Net income 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests 
Net income attributable to equity shareholders 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016 

$  18,741 
2,489 
10,565 

$  18,510 
1,286 
10,368 

$  17,832 
842 
10,064 

$  15,975 
812 
9,312 

$  14,530 
902 
8,709 

5,687 
1,240 

4,447 

2 
4,445 

6,856 
1,412 

5,444 

25 
5,419 

6,926 
1,385 

5,541 

22 
5,519 

5,851 
1,186 

4,665 

19
4,646 

4,919 
815 

4,104 

20 
4,084 

Adjusted diluted EPS ($) 

$ 

9.69 

$ 

11.92 

$ 

12.21 

$ 

11.11 

$ 

10.22 

(1)  Reflects the impact of items of note on our adjusted results as compared with our reported results. 
(2)  Recognized in Corporate and Other. 
(3)  Includes the accretion of the acquisition date fair value discount on the acquired loans of The PrivateBank, shown as an item of note from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the 

fourth quarter of 2019, recognized in U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management. 

(4)  Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets is recognized in the SBU of the acquired business or Corporate and Other. A summary is provided in the table below. 

Canadian Personal and Business Banking (pre-tax) 
Canadian Personal and Business Banking (after-tax) 

Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management (pre-tax) 
Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management (after-tax) 

U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management (pre-tax) 
U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management (after-tax) 

Corporate and Other (pre-tax) 
Corporate and Other (after-tax) 

$

(8)
(6) 

(1) 
(1) 

(83) 
(61) 

(13) 
(12) 

$ 

(9) 
(7) 

(1) 
(1) 

(88) 
(65) 

(11) 
(9) 

$ 

(12) 
(9) 

(1) 
(1) 

(91) 
(65) 

(11) 
(10) 

$ 

(5) 
(4) 

(1) 
(1) 

(27) 
(16) 

(8) 
(7) 

$ 

(6) 
(5) 

(1) 
(1) 

(11) 
(6) 

(11) 
(9) 

(5)  Transaction costs include legal and other advisory fees and interest adjustments relating to the obligation payable to dissenting shareholders. Integration costs are 

comprised of direct and incremental costs incurred as part of planning for and executing the integration of the businesses of The PrivateBank (subsequently rebranded as 
CIBC Bank USA) and Geneva Advisors with CIBC, including enabling cross-sell opportunities and expansion of services in the U.S. market, the upgrade and conversion of 
systems and processes, project management, integration-related travel, severance, consulting fees and marketing costs related to rebranding activities. Purchase 
accounting adjustments, shown as an item of note from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the fourth quarter of 2019, include changes in the fair value of contingent consideration 
relating to the Geneva Advisors and Wellington Financial acquisitions. These items are recognized in Corporate and Other. 

(6)  Relates to collective allowance (prior to the adoption of IFRS 9), except for: (i) residential mortgages greater than 90 days delinquent; (ii) personal loans and scored small 

business loans greater than 30 days delinquent; (iii) net write-offs for the card portfolio; and (iv) the collective allowance related to CIBC Bank USA, which were all reported 
in the respective SBUs. 

(7)  Restructuring charge associated with ongoing efforts to transform our cost structure and simplify our bank. This charge consists primarily of employee severance and 

related costs and was recognized in Corporate and Other. 

(8)  Goodwill impairment charge related to our controlling interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean recognized in Corporate and Other with $28 million recognized in the second quarter 

of 2020 and $220 million recognized in the fourth quarter of 2020. 

(9)  Charge for a payment made to Air Canada, including related sales tax and transaction costs, to secure our participation in its new loyalty program recognized in Canadian 

Personal and Business Banking. 

(10) Adjusted to exclude the impact of items of note. 
(11) Excludes TEB adjustments of $183 million (2019: $179 million; 2018: $280 million). Our adjusted efficiency ratio is calculated on a TEB. 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

2020 

Reported net income (loss) 
After-tax impact of items of note 

Adjusted net income (loss) (1) 

2019 (2)  Reported net income (loss) 

After-tax impact of items of note 

Adjusted net income (loss) (1) 

2018 (2)  Reported net income (loss) 

After-tax impact of items of note 

Adjusted net income (loss) (1) 

2017 

Reported net income (loss) 
After-tax impact of items of note 

Adjusted net income (loss) (1) 

2016 

Reported net income (loss) 
After-tax impact of items of note 

Adjusted net income (loss) (1) 

Canadian 
Personal and 
Business Banking 

Canadian 
Commercial Banking 
and Wealth 
Management 

U.S. 
Commercial Banking 
and Wealth 
Management 

Capital 
Markets 

Corporate 
and Other 

CIBC 
Total 

$  1,962 
6 

$  1,968 

$  2,289 
174 

$  2,463 

$  2,540 
9 

$  2,549 

$  2,420 
(170) 

$  2,250 

$  2,160 
(25) 

$  2,135 

$  1,202 
1 

$  1,203 

$  1,287 
1 

$  1,288 

$  1,286 
1 

$  1,287 

$  1,138 
1 

$  1,139 

$ 

$ 

991 
2 

993 

$  380 
61 

$  1,131 
– 

$  441 

$  1,131 

$  682 
40 

$ 

$  722 

$ 

954 
– 

954 

$  561 
27 

$  1,086 
– 

$  588 

$  1,086 

$  203 
19 

$  1,090 
– 

$  222 

$  1,090 

$ 

$ 

87 
6 

93 

$ 

992 
28 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

(883)  $  3,792 
655 
587 

(296)  $  4,447 

(91)  $  5,121 
323 
108 

17 

$  5,444 

(189)  $  5,284 
257 
220 

31 

$  5,541 

(133)  $  4,718 
(53) 

97 

(36)  $  4,665 

65 
(202) 

$  4,295 
(191) 

$  1,020 

$ 

(137)  $  4,104 

(1)  Non-GAAP measure. 
(2)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “External reporting changes” section for additional details. 

18  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Strategic business units overview 

CIBC has four SBUs – Canadian Personal and Business Banking, Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, U.S. Commercial 
Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets. These SBUs are supported by the following functional groups – Technology, Infrastructure 
and Innovation, Risk Management, People, Culture and Brand, Finance and Enterprise Strategy, as well as other support groups, which all form part 
of Corporate and Other. The expenses of these functional and support groups are generally allocated to the business lines within the SBUs. The 
majority of the functional and support costs of CIBC Bank USA are recognized directly in the U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
SBU. Corporate and Other also includes the results of CIBC FirstCaribbean and other strategic investments, as well as other income statement and 
balance sheet items not directly attributable to the business lines. 

External reporting changes were made in the first quarter of 2020 which affected the results of our SBUs. See the “External reporting changes” 

section for additional details. 

Business unit allocations 
Revenue, expenses, and other balance sheet resources related to certain activities are generally allocated to the lines of business within the SBUs. 
Treasury activities impact the financial results of the SBUs. Each line of business within our SBUs is charged or credited with a market-based 

cost of funds on assets and liabilities, respectively, which impacts the revenue performance of the SBUs. Consistent with the external reporting 
changes made in the first quarter of 2020 (see the “External reporting changes” section for additional details), this market-based cost of funds takes 
into account the cost of maintaining sufficient regulatory capital to support business requirements, including the cost of preferred shares. Once the 
interest and liquidity risks inherent in our client-driven assets and liabilities are transfer priced into Treasury, they are managed within CIBC’s risk 
framework and limits. The residual financial results associated with Treasury activities are reported in Corporate and Other, with the exception of 
certain Treasury activities in U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, which are reported in that SBU. Capital is attributed to the SBUs in 
a manner that is intended to consistently measure and align the costs with the underlying benefits and risks associated with SBU activities. Earnings 
on unattributed capital remain in Corporate and Other. Effective November 1, 2019, capital is attributed to the SBUs based on the estimated amount 
of regulatory capital required to support their businesses (see the “External reporting changes” section for additional details). We review our transfer 
pricing methodologies on an ongoing basis to ensure they reflect changing market environments and industry practices. 

To measure and report the results of operations of the lines of business within our Canadian Personal and Business Banking and Canadian 

Commercial Banking and Wealth Management SBUs, we use a Product Owner/Customer Segment/Distributor Channel allocation management 
model. The model uses certain estimates and methodologies to process internal transfers between lines of business for sales, renewals and trailer 
commissions. Periodically, the sales, renewals and trailer commission rates paid to customer segments for certain products/services are revised 
and applied prospectively. 

The non-interest expenses of the functional and support groups are generally allocated to the business lines within the SBUs based on 
appropriate criteria and methodologies. The basis of allocation is reviewed periodically to reflect changes in support to business lines. Other costs 
not directly attributable to business lines remain in Corporate and Other. 

We recognize provision for credit losses on both impaired (stage 3) and performing (stages 1 and 2) loans in the respective SBUs. 

Revenue, taxable equivalent basis 
The SBUs evaluate revenue on a TEB. In order to arrive at the TEB amount, the SBUs gross up tax-exempt revenue on certain securities to a TEB, 
being the amount of fully taxable revenue, which, were it to have incurred tax at the statutory income tax rate, would yield the same after-tax 
revenue. Simultaneously, an equivalent amount is booked as an income tax expense resulting in no impact on the net income of the SBUs. This 
measure enables comparability of revenue arising from both taxable and tax-exempt sources. The total TEB adjustments of the SBUs are offset in 
revenue and income tax expense in Corporate and Other. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  19 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Canadian Personal and Business Banking 
Canadian Personal and Business Banking provides personal and business clients across Canada with financial advice, products and services 
through banking centres, as well as through direct, mobile and remote channels. 

Our business strategy 
Our goal is to build a modern consumer and small business relationship bank to help our clients achieve their ambitions by focusing on three key 
strategic priorities: 
  Winning at relationships 
 
 

Delivering market-leading solutions 
Being easy to bank with 

2020 progress 
In 2020, we continued to make progress on our strategy while managing against the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 
change in the economic environment due to the pandemic resulted in lower client transaction activity and associated fee income, and the shift in 
client spending and savings patterns resulted in lower demand for certain lending products and strong growth in deposit balances. Our continued 
focus on our three key strategic priorities served us well at a time where clients needed us most. 

Winning at relationships 
 

Led the way during the COVID-19 pandemic by being first to announce convenient ways to access financial relief for personal clients and 
business owners, including mortgage deferral options and credit card interest rate relief; reducing banking centre locations and hours and 
having team members work from home to help flatten the curve; providing special support and care for seniors and persons with disabilities, 
including the “You’re Next” policy; and implementing income protection for team members. 
Proactively reached out to clients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by email and personal phone calls to offer assistance. This includes 
reaching out to hundreds of thousands of seniors by telephone to help them with their banking. 

  Worked with the Federal Government to make it easy for clients to access government programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 

Expanded our business banking specialist team in support of our relationship-based strategy focused on entrepreneurs at all life stages, from 
start up to expansion, to managing cash flow and business transition. 
Helped our clients build their financial knowledge and confidence by offering financial literacy seminars and national education events. Topics 
included women and wealth and cash flow planning, as well as financial literacy for parents with young children, newcomers, seniors and 
business owners. 
Selected a new client relationship management platform to further transform banking experiences for our clients, with a focus on end-to-end 
digitization, advanced analytics, and speed to market. 
Supported 10 Indigenous communities across the Yukon as the new community banking services partner, providing specialized financial 
services to First Nations and other local governments, businesses, communities and community organizations. 
Recognized frontline health-care workers with 30 million Aventura points to help them recharge and reconnect with family. 

 

 

 

 

Delivering market-leading solutions 
 

Rolled out CIBC Goal Planner, a holistic financial planning tool, allowing our Imperial Service advisors to better understand our clients’ 
ambitions and spend more time with our clients having advice conversations. 
Introduced new alerts to our mobile banking functionality, including the CIBC Smart Balance Alert which proactively notifies clients when they 
are short of funds for an upcoming scheduled payment. 
Announced Revival Rewards to help restart the economy and support local restaurants, by offering our clients 2x points, miles or cash back 
when using their CIBC credit card to dine-in or take-out from local restaurants. 
Launched our CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card, which offers a premium travel experience and exceptional benefits to our clients. 
Partnered with Parkland Fuel Corporation on a new Journie Rewards program, to help our clients save at over 1,300 Ultramar, Pioneer, and 
Chevron stations in Canada. 
Started the CIBC Internationally Trained Dentist Program to help newcomers realize their ambition to become accredited, practicing dentists in 
Canada. 

Being easy to bank with 
 

Expanded Global Money Transfer for Business to over 20 additional countries, increasing our reach to over 90 countries where clients can 
send money overseas. 
Achieved the largest year-over-year Net Promoter Score (NPS) growth of the top 5 Canadian banks in the IPSOS Customer Service Index. 
Achieved our highest annual score in the 2020 J.D. Power Client Satisfaction (SAT) study. 
Earned top ranking in customer satisfaction for mobile banking apps by J.D. Power. 
Named best consumer digital bank in North America by Global Finance, based on servicing digital customers, success in getting clients to 
use digital offerings, breadth of product offerings, as well as web/mobile site design and functionality. 
Continued to significantly invest in technology and innovation to make it easier for our clients to bank with us including expanding our 
e-signature tool, redesigning business borrowing pages on cibc.com, and introducing eStatements for Personal Line of Credit accounts. 
Launched Advice for Today to provide timely online financial advice and information to help Canadians through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

20  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

2020 financial review 

Revenue(1) 
($ billions) 

8.6 

8.8

8.5 

Net income(1) 
($ billions) 

Efficiency ratio(1) 
(%) 

2.5 

2.3 

2.0 

54.2  54.2 

51.1 

Average loans and 
acceptances(2) 
($ billions) 

257.0  256.7  259.3 

Average deposits 
($ billions) 

194.6 

177.4

166.7

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

(1)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “External reporting changes” section for additional details. 
(2)  Loan amounts are stated before any related allowances. 

Our focus for 2021 
Our objective is to deliver sustainable, market-leading performance with a focus on helping our clients achieve their ambitions. Our strategy is 
comprised of three key priorities: 
 
 
 

Provide our team with the tools to deliver an excellent experience for our clients; 
Deliver personalized advice to our clients in a way that is meaningful to them; and 
Introduce more opportunities for our clients to deal with us digitally. 

Results(1) 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Revenue 
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses 

Impaired 
Performing 

Provision for credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 
Income before income taxes 
Income taxes 
Net income 

Net income attributable to: 
Equity shareholders 

Efficiency ratio 
Return on equity (3) 
Average allocated common equity (3) 
Average assets ($ billions) 
Average loans and acceptances ($ billions) 
Average deposits ($ billions) 
Full-time equivalent employees 

2020 
8,488 

640 
579 
1,219 
4,603 
2,666 
704 
1,962 

$ 

$ 

2019 (2) 
8,755 

$ 

2018 (2) 
8,595 

$ 

809 
87 
896 
4,745 
3,114 
825 
2,289 

$ 

760 
(19) 
741 
4,395 
3,459 
919 
2,540 

$ 

$ 

1,962 

$ 

2,289 

$ 

2,540 

54.2 % 
28.8 % 

54.2 % 
35.7 % 

51.1 % 
40.7 % 

$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 

6,808 
262.0 
259.3 
194.6 
12,879 

$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 

6,403 
259.1 
256.7 
177.4 
13,431 

$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 

6,245 
259.1 
257.0 
166.7 
14,086 

(1)  For additional segmented information, see Note 31 to the consolidated financial statements. 
(2)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “External reporting changes” section for additional details. 
(3)  For additional information, see the “Non-GAAP measures” section. 

Financial overview 
Net income was down $327 million or 14% from 2019, primarily due to higher provision for credit losses and lower revenue, partially offset by lower 
non-interest expenses. 

Revenue 
Revenue was down $267 million or 3% from 2019, primarily due to narrower margins largely due to changes in the interest rate environment and 
interest rate relief provided to our credit card clients as part of the CIBC client relief programs offered to support our clients during the COVID-19 
pandemic, and lower fees driven by lower client transaction activity, partially offset by volume growth. 

Provision for credit losses 
Provision for credit losses was up $323 million or 36% from 2019. The current year included a higher provision for credit losses on performing loans 
related to the COVID-19 pandemic and an unfavourable impact from model parameter updates. Provision for credit losses on impaired loans was 
down due to lower insolvencies and write-offs in credit cards and personal lending, mainly due to the impact of client relief programs and 
government support. 

Non-interest expenses 
Non-interest expenses were down $142 million or 3% from 2019, primarily due to a charge for a payment made to Air Canada to secure our 
participation in its new loyalty program last year, shown as an item of note, partially offset by higher spending on strategic initiatives and additional 
employee benefits provided to support our employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Income taxes 
Income taxes were down $121 million or 15% from 2019, primarily due to lower income. 

Average assets 
Average assets were up $2.9 billion or 1% from 2019, primarily due to growth in residential mortgages. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  21 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management provides high-touch, relationship-oriented banking and wealth management services to 
middle-market companies, entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals and families across Canada, as well as asset management services to 
institutional investors. 

Our business strategy 
We are focused on building and enhancing client relationships, being Canada’s leader in financial advice and generating long-term consistent 
growth. To deliver on this, our three key strategic priorities are: 
 

Delivering and deepening client relationships through a full service, solutions-based approach that includes commercial and private banking, 
as well as wealth management services 
Continuing to invest in financial planning to further our role as a leader in financial advice 
Simplifying and optimizing our business to align with changing market dynamics to better meet the needs of our clients 

 
 

2020 progress 
In 2020, despite an uncertain economic operating environment and volatile markets we continued to make progress on our strategic priorities of 
deepening client relationships and providing market leading financial advice. In commercial banking, we saw slower loan growth and elevated 
levels of deposit growth as our clients were prudently conserving cash flow, strengthening their financial position, and adjusting to the challenging 
environment. In wealth management, we responded to our clients’ needs with an increased level of technology enabled touch-points, providing 
reassurance and financial advice as market volatility created uncertainty. 

Delivering and deepening client relationships through a full service, solutions-based approach that includes commercial and 
private banking, as well as wealth management services 
 
 

Increased partnership referrals to deepen client relationships across CIBC and better meet the needs of our clients. 
Expanded CIBC Innovation Banking coverage focused on growing geographies and segments, in order to extend our service offering to 
technology and innovation clients across North America. 
Continued to closely collaborate with clients to meet their needs during this difficult period while actively monitoring and managing credit 
exposure. 

 

Continuing to invest in financial planning to further our role as a leader in financial advice 
 

Upgraded the financial planning capabilities and capacity of our team through the addition of new analytical tools to support deeper advisory 
conversations. 
Leveraged our Integrated Wealth Offer to bring differentiated value to clients through enhanced financial planning services and expertise from 
across our bank. 
Expanded our Private Banking team capabilities in order to be at the cross-section of all high-net-worth client needs. 

 

 

Simplifying and optimizing our business to align with changing market dynamics to better meet the needs of our clients 
 

Continued momentum with our CIBC Smart Investment Solutions — all-in-one portfolios that blend active and passive investment strategies to 
deliver on value and expertise. 
Further modernized our investment fulfillment and solutions, driving efficiencies and savings for both our clients and our shareholders. 

 

2020 financial review 

Revenue(1) 
($ billions) 

3.8 

4.0 

4.1 

Net income(1) 
($ millions) 

1,286  1,287 

1,202 

Efficiency ratio(1) 
(%) 

Average loans(2) 
($ billions) 

Average deposits 
($ billions) 

53.9 

52.3 

52.9

64.7 

68.2 

57.8 

71.1

60.2 

53.2 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

Average commercial 
banking loans(2)(3) 
($ billions) 

Average commercial 
banking deposits 
($ billions) 

66.3 

62.6 

55.8 

64.1 

54.9 

47.6 

Assets under 
administration and 
management(4) 
($ billions) 

289.1  287.7 

269.0 

Canadian retail mutual 
funds and exchange-
traded funds 
($ billions) 

108.9

111.4

101.1

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

188.9 
182.4 
164.6 

(1)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “External reporting changes” section for additional details. 
(2)  Loan amounts are stated before any related allowances. 
(3)  Comprises loans and acceptances and notional amount of letters of credit. 
(4)  AUM amounts are included in the amounts reported under AUA. 

AUM 

22  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Our focus for 2021 
To build on our momentum across Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, we will continue to help our clients achieve their 
ambitions by: 
 
 
 

Delivering focused, risk-controlled growth in our Commercial Bank; 
Accelerating the growth of Private Wealth Management; and 
Evolving our Asset Management business in response to client needs. 

Results(1) 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Revenue 

Commercial banking 
Wealth management 

Total revenue 
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses 

Impaired 
Performing 

Provision for credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 

Income before income taxes 
Income taxes 

Net income 

Net income attributable to: 
Equity shareholders 

Efficiency ratio 
Return on equity (3) 
Allocated common equity (3) 
Average assets ($ billions) 
Average loans ($ billions) 
Average deposits ($ billions) 
AUA ($ billions) 
AUM ($ billions) 
Full-time equivalent employees 

2020 

2019 (2) 

2018 (2) 

$  1,663 
2,458 

$  1,633 
2,394 

4,121 

162 
141 

303 
2,179 

1,639 
437 

4,027 

159 
4 

163 
2,106 

1,758 
471 

$  1,461 
2,375 

3,836 

15 
(10) 

5 
2,067 

1,764 
478 

$  1,202 

$  1,287 

$  1,286 

$  1,202 

$  1,287 

$  1,286 

52.9 % 
18.6 % 

52.3 % 
21.7 % 

53.9 % 
23.7 % 

$  6,454 
65.8 
$ 
68.2 
$ 
$ 
71.1 
$  287.7 
$  188.9 
4,984 

$  5,929 
62.6 
$ 
64.7 
$ 
$ 
60.2 
$  289.1 
$  182.4 
5,048 

$  5,417 
55.7 
$ 
57.8 
$ 
$ 
53.2 
$  269.0 
$  164.6 
4,999 

(1)  For additional segmented information, see Note 31 to the consolidated financial statements. 
(2)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “External reporting changes” section for additional details. 
(3)  For additional information, see the “Non-GAAP measures” section. 

Financial overview 
Net income was down $85 million or 7% from 2019, primarily due to a higher provision for credit losses and higher non-interest expenses, partially 
offset by higher revenue. 

Revenue 
Revenue was up $94 million or 2% from 2019. 

Commercial banking revenue was up $30 million or 2%, primarily due to volume growth and the impact of an additional day in the current year, 
partially offset by narrower margins and lower fees. 

Wealth management revenue was up $64 million or 3%, primarily due to higher investment management and custodial fees driven by higher 
average AUM and AUA and higher commission revenue, as well as higher foreign exchange revenue reflecting higher trading volume in our 
full-service brokerage business, partially offset by lower mutual fund fees. 

Provision for credit losses 
Provision for credit losses was up $140 million from 2019. The current year included a higher provision for credit losses on performing loans related 
to the COVID-19 pandemic. Provision for credit losses on impaired loans was comparable with the prior year. 

Non-interest expenses 
Non-interest expenses were up $73 million or 3% from 2019, primarily due to higher employee-related compensation and higher spending 
on strategic initiatives. 

Income taxes 
Income taxes were down $34 million or 7% from 2019, primarily due to lower income. 

Average assets 
Average assets were up $3.2 billion or 5% from 2019, primarily due to growth in commercial loans. 

Assets under administration 
AUA were comparable with 2019. AUM amounts are included in the amounts reported under AUA. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  23 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management delivers commercial banking and private wealth services across the U.S., as well as personal 
and small business banking services in four U.S. Midwestern markets and focuses on middle-market and mid-corporate companies and 
high-net-worth families. 

Our business strategy 
Our focus is on developing deep, profitable relationships leveraging the full complement of CIBC’s products and services across our North 
American platform. To deliver on this, our three key strategic priorities are: 
 

Adding new client relationships in commercial banking and wealth management while maintaining our focus on asset quality as well as loan 
and deposit portfolio diversification 
Expanding relationships with existing clients by leveraging cross border and cross business capabilities 
Investing appropriately in the growth of our business while managing expenses 

 
 

2020 progress 
In 2020, our continued focus on deep-rooted relationship banking helped attract new clients and guide existing relationships through a challenging 
economic environment. This approach continues to generate strong loan, deposit and AUM/AUA growth which in turn, coupled with diligent expense 
control, helped mitigate revenue pressures associated with margin compression experienced throughout the industry. Our offering of products and 
services continues to expand as we leverage cross-border capabilities and maintain investment in process, technology and client needs. 

Adding new client relationships in commercial banking and wealth management while maintaining our focus on asset quality as 
well as loan and deposit portfolio diversification 
  Maintained focus on strong asset quality especially as clients managed through impacts of the pandemic-related economic downturn. 
 

At the onset of the pandemic, leveraged our relationship banking approach to reach out to commercial businesses and ensure they had 
access to various government relief programs and other options to manage their short-term cash flow. 
Drove solid loan and deposit growth given market conditions, including continued expansion of our private banking business with existing 
commercial and wealth clients. 
Generated strong growth in AUM and AUA, bolstered by the performance of our investment strategies through a volatile year. 

 

 

Expanding relationships with existing clients by leveraging cross border and cross business capabilities 
 

Leveraged a strong partnership with Capital Markets to provide a wider range of products and services to U.S. commercial and wealth clients, 
contributing to non-interest income. 
Advanced the implementation of CRM initiatives to further the connectivity between teams, providing a consolidated view of client needs and 
making it easier to engage the broader team in meeting the full relationship needs of our clients. 
Continued to refine client-facing processes, making it easier for clients to bank with us, including offering remote account open capabilities to 
retail banking clients and enhancing our servicing platform for our commercial banking clients to create efficiencies for our teams in meeting 
client needs. 

 

 

Investing appropriately in the growth of our business while managing expenses 
  Maintained a disciplined approach to expenses while investing for growth and enabling our team to work efficiently in the pandemic 

environment. 
Continued to maintain a diversified funding strategy through our commercial, private banking and retail clients. 

 

2020 financial review 

Revenue
($ billions)

(1) 

2.0 

2.1 

1.8 

(1) 

Net income
($ millions) 
682 

561

380 

Efficiency ratio

(1) 

(%) 

58.1

57.0

55.2 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

Average loans

(2) 

($ billions) 

Average deposits 
($ billions) 

42.4 

35.5 

35.6 

30.4 

27.2

22.3 

Average commercial 

banking loans

(2) 

($ billions) 

37.1 

32.4

27.7 

Assets under 
administration and 

management

(3) 

($ billions) 

97.6 

89.7 

80.0 

76.4 
68.8 
60.0 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

(1)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “External reporting changes” section for additional details. 
(2)  Loan amounts are stated before any related allowances. 
(3)  AUM amounts are included in the amounts reported under AUA. 

AUM 

24  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Our focus for 2021 
To build on our momentum across U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, we will continue to focus on helping our clients achieve their 
ambitions by: 
 

Continuing to grow organically with new clients as well as expanding our services to existing clients across commercial, private wealth and 
capital markets; 
Leveraging our national footprint, including within our specialty banking groups; and 
Investing appropriately in the growth of our business in order to improve our client experience while also achieving greater scale and 
efficiencies. 

 
 

Results(1) 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Revenue 

Commercial banking (3) 
Wealth management 

Total revenue (4)(5) 
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses 

Impaired 
Performing 

Provision for credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 

Income before income taxes 
Income taxes (4) 

Net income 

Net income attributable to: 
Equity shareholders 

Efficiency ratio 
Return on equity (6) 
Allocated common equity (6) 
Average assets ($ billions) 
Average loans ($ billions) 
Average deposits ($ billions) 
AUA ($ billions) 
AUM ($ billions) 
Full-time equivalent employees 

2020 

2019 (2) 

2018 (2) 

$  1,432 
622 

2,054 

133 
354 

487 
1,133 

434 
54 

380 

380 

$ 

$ 

$  1,353 
611 

1,964 

$  1,194 
566 

1,760 

68 
5

73 
1,119 

772 
90 

682 

682 

$ 

$ 

67 
 12

79 
1,023 

658 
97 

561 

561 

$ 

$ 

55.2 % 
4.1 % 

57.0 % 
7.9 % 

58.1 % 
7.2 % 

$  9,266 
55.2 
$ 
42.5 
$ 
35.5 
$ 
97.6 
$ 
76.4 
$ 
2,101 

$  8,616 
47.5 
$ 
35.6 
$ 
27.2 
$ 
89.7 
$ 
68.8 
$ 
2,113 

$  7,822 
41.2 
$ 
30.4 
$ 
22.3 
$ 
80.0 
$ 
60.0 
$ 
1,947 

(1)  For additional segmented information, see Note 31 to the consolidated financial statements. 
(2)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “External reporting changes” section for additional details. 
(3)  Certain information has been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in the first quarter of 2020. Commercial banking now includes the Other line of business, 

which includes the treasury activities relating to CIBC Bank USA, as these activities primarily support the commercial banking line of business. 

(4)  Revenue and income taxes are reported on a TEB. Accordingly, revenue and income taxes include a TEB adjustment of nil (2019: $2 million; 2018: $2 million). 

The equivalent amounts are offset in the revenue and income taxes of Corporate and Other. 

(5)  Included $20 million of income relating to the accretion of the acquisition date fair value discount on the acquired loans of The PrivateBank (2019: $35 million; 2018: $55 million). 
(6)  For additional information, see the “Non-GAAP measures” section. 

Financial overview 
Net income was down $302 million or 44% from 2019, primarily due to higher provision for credit losses, partially offset by higher revenue. 

Revenue 
Revenue was up $90 million or 5% from 2019. 

Commercial banking revenue was up $79 million or 6%, primarily due to volume growth and the impact of foreign exchange translation, partially 
offset by narrower margins. 

Wealth management revenue was up $11 million or 2%, primarily due to volume growth, higher investment management and custodial fees driven 
by higher AUM and the impact of foreign exchange translation, partially offset by narrower margins. 

Provision for credit losses 
Provision for credit losses was up $414 million from 2019. The current year included a higher provision for credit losses on performing loans 
primarily related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Provision for credit losses on impaired loans was up mainly due to impairments as a result of certain 
borrower-specific issues across various sectors. 

Non-interest expenses 
Non-interest expenses were up $14 million or 1% from 2019, primarily due to higher employee-related compensation, the impact of foreign 
exchange translation, and higher spending on strategic initiatives, partially offset by lower business development costs, driven by the impact of the 
COVID-19 pandemic. 

Income taxes 
Income taxes were down $36 million or 40% from 2019, primarily due to lower income. 

Average assets 
Average assets were up $7.7 billion or 16% from 2019, primarily due to growth in loans, including loans made under the Paycheck Protection 
Program (PPP). 

Assets under administration 
AUA were up $7.9 billion or 9% from 2019, primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange rates, net sales, and market appreciation. AUM amounts 
are included in the amounts reported under AUA. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  25 

 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Capital Markets 
Capital Markets provides integrated global markets products and services, investment banking advisory and execution, corporate banking solutions 
and top-ranked research to corporate, commercial, government and institutional clients around the world. 

Our business strategy 
Our goal is to deliver leading capital markets solutions to our North American and international clients by providing best-in-class insight, advice and 
execution. To enable CIBC’s strategy and priorities, we collaborate with our partners across our bank to deepen and enhance client relationships. 
Our three key strategic priorities are: 
 
 
 

Being the leading capital markets platform in Canada for our core clients 
Building a North American client platform with global capabilities 
Increasing connectivity across CIBC to deliver greater value and a better experience for our clients 

2020 progress 
In 2020, despite an uncertain economic environment and volatile markets we continued to make progress on our strategic priorities of deepening client 
relationships, growing in the U.S. and enhancing connectivity across the bank. Global markets had a strong year. Revenue was up as we worked 
closely with our clients to help them manage their exposures and access global markets. Corporate and investment banking had solid growth this year 
as a result of higher loans, debt issuances and deposits as we helped manage the funding and liquidity needs of our clients. 

Being the leading capital markets platform in Canada for our core clients 
  Delivered on our purpose by meeting the needs of our clients, helping them through the pandemic by managing their funding and liquidity 

 

needs with expert advice for the long term. 
Supported our clients by investing in our talent, further developing our proprietary technology, expanding our structuring expertise and 
advice, and leveraging our market expertise. 

  Continued to hold leadership positions in syndicated loans, debt and equity underwriting, advisory services, equity trading, commodities and 

 

 

foreign exchange. 
Strengthened our platform by continuing to evolve our research coverage framework and provide specialized advice and solutions, aligned to 
the macro trends influencing the global economy and our clients, including renewable energy, private capital, technology and innovation. 
Established our first continental Europe office in Luxembourg to deliver enhanced capital markets capabilities for clients and provide more 
options for corporate and institutional investors in Canada and the U.S. to access global markets. 

Building a North American client platform with global capabilities 
  Continued to drive growth in the U.S. through a strong partnership across our business and close connectivity with U.S. Commercial Banking 

 

 

 

and Wealth Management. 
Issued our inaugural Green Bond Framework to help mobilize capital and develop market-based solutions to support investments that shape 
a more sustainable economy. 
Issued our inaugural Green Bond to help finance new and existing green projects, assets and businesses that mitigate the risks and effects 
of climate change. 
Established our Sustainability Advisory team to meet the needs of clients as they transition to the lower-carbon economy of the future, and 
expanded research coverage in the renewables and clean energy sector, building on our client-focused growth strategy. 

Increasing connectivity across CIBC to deliver greater value and a better experience for our clients 
 

Expanded CIBC’s Global Money Transfer service by increasing partnerships and product enhancements, supporting payment solutions to 
over 130 countries. 
Engaged with clients virtually to help them navigate volatile markets by hosting conference calls and podcasts, and providing industry-
leading economic research and insights. 

 

As a leading capital markets franchise in Canada and banking partner to our clients around the world, Capital Markets acted as: 
 

Exclusive financial advisor and sole underwriter to Starlight Investments and Kingsett Capital on the acquisition of Northview Apartment REIT 
for $4.9 billion and associated acquisition financing, also lead on the initial public offering of units of Northview Canadian High Yield 
Residential Fund, a newly-formed, three-year closed end fund, in connection with the transaction; 
Joint lead arranger on WESCO Distribution Inc.’s US$3.215 billion senior unsecured bond bridge facility, joint bookrunner on the US$1.5 billion 
5-year and US$1.325 billion 8-year senior notes offerings, joint bookrunner and joint lead arranger on the US$1.1 billion ABL Revolver and 
participant in the US$1.025 billion securitization; net proceeds of the transactions were used to support the parent company, WESCO 
International, Inc.’s transformational US$4.5 billion acquisition of Anixter International, Inc. and to refinance existing debt; 
Exclusive financial advisor and private placement agent to Superior Plus Corp. on a US$260 million equity investment by Brookfield Asset 
Management through exchangeable preferred stock; 
Exclusive financial advisor to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan on its sale of BluEarth Renewables LP to DIF Infrastructure; 
Exclusive financial advisor, lead debt underwriter, lead swap agent and sole deal contingent hedge counterparty to a Korean-based 
consortium comprised of Shinhan Investment Corp., Samtan Co., Ltd, EIP Investment Corp. and KDB KIAMCO on its acquisition of Riverstone 
Holdings LLC’s 50% interest in Utopia Pipeline, a 268-mile ethane pipeline; 
Coordinating lead arranger, administrative agent and depository agent on the construction and operation financing of D.E. Shaw Renewable 
Investments’ (DESRI) 198-megawatt Illinois solar portfolio; the transaction marks CIBC’s fifth lending transaction with DESRI since August 
2017, solidifying the bank’s relationship with one of the most active developers in the U.S. renewables market; and 
As a leading Canadian underwriter of Green Bonds, CIBC acted as a Senior Co-Lead Manager for the Province of Ontario’s $1.5 billion Green 
Bond offering as well as Joint Bookrunner (lead-left) for Brookfield Renewable Partners’ $425 million Green Medium Term Note offering. 

 

 

 
 

 

 

26  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Capital Markets awards and recognition 
 
 
 
 
 

Ranked the most accurate foreign exchange forecaster globally for Q1 2020 by Bloomberg 
Named Canadian Structured Product Issuer of the Year by mtn-i 
Named North American financial advisor of the year in 2020 for 20 deals closed in 2019 with a valuation of US$25 billion by Infrastructure Journal 
Named the Best Consumer Digital Bank in North America by Global Finance magazine, as part of its World’s Best Digital Banks 2019 Report 
Global M&A Network 
 

U.S.A. Middle Markets Small Mid-Markets Deal of the Year (Healthcare) for the sale of Applewhite Dental Partners LLC, a portfolio 
company of Tonka Bay Equity Partners, to Coredental Group, a portfolio company of NMS Capital 

2020 financial review 

Revenue
($ billions) 

(1) 

3.5 

2.9 

3.0 

Net income
($ millions) 

(1) 

1,086 

1,131 

954 

Efficiency ratio

(1) 

(%) 

50.8  51.2 

46.9

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

Average value-at-risk (VaR) 
($ millions) 

8.5 

5.7 

5.3 

Revenue – Global markets

(1) 

Revenue – Corporate and 

($ millions) 

2,143

1,694  1,729 

investment banking

(1) 

($ millions) 

1,241  1,231 

1,344

(1)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “External reporting changes” section for additional details. 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

18 

19 

20 

Our focus for 2021 
To support our bank’s long-term objectives, Capital Markets remains focused on delivering profitable growth by deepening client relationships and 
collaborating with our partners across our bank to help make our clients’ ambitions a reality. We will continue to do this by: 
  Maintaining our focused approach to client coverage in Canada; 
 
 

Growing our North American platform by further expanding our U.S. reach and broadening the services offered to clients; and 
Strengthening our connectivity, technology and innovation efforts to bring more of our bank’s offerings to our clients. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  27 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Results(1) 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Revenue 

Global markets 
Corporate and investment banking 

Total revenue (3) 
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses 

Impaired 
Performing 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 

Income before income taxes 
Income taxes (3) 

Net income 

Net income attributable to: 
Equity shareholders 

Efficiency ratio 
Return on equity (4) 
Allocated common equity (4) 
Average assets ($ billions) 
Full-time equivalent employees 

2020 

2019 (2) 

2018 (2) 

$  2,143 
1,344 

3,487 

106 
175 

281 
1,634 

1,572 
441 

$  1,131 

$  1,131 

46.9 % 
16.8 % 

$  6,731 
$  221.1 
1,470 

$  1,729 
1,231 

2,960 

$  1,694 
1,241 

2,935 

90 
63 

153 
1,516 

1,291 
337 

954 

954 

51.2 % 
15.4 % 

$ 

$ 

$  6,188 
$  184.6 
1,449 

8 
(38) 

(30) 
1,492 

1,473 
387 

$  1,086 

$  1,086 

50.8 % 
20.7 % 

$  5,234 
$  166.2 
1,396 

(1)  For additional segmented information, see Note 31 to the consolidated financial statements. 
(2)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “External reporting changes” section for additional details. 
(3)  Revenue and income taxes are reported on a TEB. Accordingly, revenue and income taxes include a TEB adjustment of $183 million (2019: $177 million; 2018: $278 

million). The equivalent amounts are offset in the revenue and income taxes of Corporate and Other. 

(4)  For additional information, see the “Non-GAAP measures” section. 

Financial overview 
Net income was up $177 million or 19% from 2019, primarily due to higher revenue, partially offset by a higher provision for credit losses and higher 
non-interest expenses. 

Revenue 
Revenue was up $527 million or 18% from 2019. 

Global markets revenue was up $414 million or 24%, primarily due to higher revenue from our interest rate, foreign exchange and commodities 
trading businesses and higher revenue from financing activities, partially offset by lower revenue from our equity derivatives trading business. 

Corporate and investment banking revenue was up $113 million or 9%, primarily due to higher debt and equity underwriting activity and higher 
corporate banking revenue, partially offset by lower advisory revenue. 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses 
Provision for credit losses was up $128 million from 2019. The current year included a higher provision for credit losses on performing loans related 
to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued pressure on oil prices. Provision for credit losses on impaired loans was up, primarily due to 
higher provisions in the oil and gas sector, partially offset by lower provisions in the utility sector. 

Non-interest expenses 
Non-interest expenses were up $118 million or 8% from 2019, primarily due to higher spending on strategic initiatives and higher employee-related 
compensation. 

Income taxes 
Income taxes were up $104 million or 31% from 2019, primarily due to higher income. 

Average assets 
Average assets were up $36.5 billion or 20% from 2019, primarily due to an increase in derivatives valuation, higher loan balances and securities 
purchased under resale agreements. 

28  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Corporate and Other 
Corporate and Other includes the following functional groups – Technology, Infrastructure and Innovation, Risk Management, People, Culture and 
Brand, Finance and Enterprise Strategy, as well as other support groups. The expenses of these functional and support groups are generally 
allocated to the business lines within the SBUs. The majority of the functional and support costs of CIBC Bank USA are recognized directly in the 
U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management SBU. Corporate and Other also includes the results of CIBC FirstCaribbean and other strategic 
investments, as well as other income statement and balance sheet items not directly attributable to the business lines. 

Results(1) 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Revenue 

International banking 
Other 

Total revenue (3) 
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses 

Impaired 
Performing 

Provision for credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 

Loss before income taxes 
Income taxes (3) 

Net income (loss) 

Net income (loss) attributable to: 

Non-controlling interests 
Equity shareholders 

Full-time equivalent employees 

2020 

2019 (2) 

2018 (2) 

$ 

$ 

$ 

734 
(143) 

591 

24 
175 

199 
1,813 

(1,421) 
(538) 

(883) 

2 
(885) 

$ 

$ 

$

798 
107 

905 

21 
(20) 

1 
1,370 

(466) 
(375) 

(91) 

 25  $

(116) 

22,419 

23,116 

$ 

$ 

1  7

657 
51 

708 

102 
(27) 

75
1,281 

(648) 
(459) 

(189) 

(206) 

21,792 

(1)  For additional segmented information, see Note 31 to the consolidated financial statements. 
(2)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “External reporting changes” section for additional details. 
(3)  Revenue and income taxes of Capital Markets and U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management are reported on a TEB. The equivalent amounts are offset in the 

revenue and income taxes of Corporate and Other. Accordingly, revenue and income taxes include a TEB adjustment of $183 million (2019: $179 million; 2018: 
$280 million). 

Financial overview 
Net loss was up $792 million from 2019, primarily due to higher non-interest expenses, lower revenue and a higher provision for credit losses. 

Revenue 
Revenue was down $314 million from 2019. 

International banking revenue was down $64 million, primarily due to lower revenue in CIBC FirstCaribbean as a result of narrower margins and 
lower fees. 

Other revenue was down $250 million, primarily due to lower treasury revenue largely as a result of excess liquidity costs, interest income related to 
the settlement of certain income tax matters in the prior year, shown as an item of note, and due to lower revenue relating to our adoption of IFRS 16 
in the current year that was largely offset in non-interest expenses (see Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements for further details regarding 
the impact of our transition to IFRS 16). 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses 
Provision for credit losses was up $198 million from 2019. The current year included a higher provision for credit losses on performing loans related 
to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Provision for credit losses on impaired loans was comparable with the prior year. 

Non-interest expenses 
Non-interest expenses were up $443 million from 2019, primarily due to charges related to restructuring, the consolidation of our real estate 
portfolio, higher goodwill impairment related to our controlling interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean relative to the prior year, and an increase in legal 
provisions, all shown as items of note, partially offset by a gain as a result of plan amendments related to pension and other post-employment plans, 
also shown as an item of note, and lower occupancy costs related to our adoption of IFRS 16 as noted above. 

Income taxes 
Income tax benefit was up $163 million from 2019, primarily due to higher expenses. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  29 

 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Financial condition 

Review of condensed consolidated balance sheet 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Assets 
Cash and deposits with banks 
Securities 
Securities borrowed or purchased under resale agreements 
Loans and acceptances 
Derivative instruments 
Other assets 

Liabilities and equity 
Deposits 
Obligations related to securities lent or sold short or under repurchase agreements 
Derivative instruments 
Acceptances 
Other liabilities 
Subordinated indebtedness 
Equity 

2020 

2019 

$ 

62,518 
149,046 
74,142 
416,388 
32,730 
34,727 

$ 

17,359 
121,310 
59,775 
398,108 
23,895 
31,157 

$  769,551 

$  651,604 

$  570,740 
89,440 
30,508 
9,649 
22,167 
5,712 
41,335 

$  485,712 
69,258 
25,113 
9,188 
19,069 
4,684 
38,580 

$  769,551 

$  651,604 

Assets 
Total assets as at October 31, 2020 were up $117.9 billion or 18% from 2019, including an increase of approximately $2 billion due to the 
appreciation of the U.S. dollar. 

Cash and deposits with banks increased by $45.2 billion or 260%, primarily due to higher short-term placements in Treasury. 

Securities increased by $27.7 billion or 23%, primarily due to increases in debt securities in Canadian governments, U.S. Treasury and other 
agencies, and corporate debt, mainly in Treasury. Further details on the composition of securities are provided in the “Supplementary annual 
financial information” section and Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Securities borrowed or purchased under resale agreements increased by $14.4 billion or 24%, primarily due to client-driven activities. 

Net loans and acceptances increased by $18.3 billion or 5%, primarily due to increases in Canadian mortgage loans, and U.S. and Canadian 
business and government loans. Further details on the composition of loans and acceptances are provided in the “Supplementary annual financial 
information” section and Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Derivative instruments increased by $8.8 billion or 37%, largely driven by increases in interest rate, foreign exchange and equity derivatives valuation. 

Other assets increased by $3.6 billion or 11%, primarily due to an increase in broker receivables and the recognition of right-of-use assets in the 
current year as a result of our adoption of IFRS 16 (see Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements for additional details), partially offset by 
decreases in current tax receivable and collateral pledged for derivatives. 

Liabilities 
Total liabilities as at October 31, 2020 were up $115.2 billion or 19% from 2019, including an increase of approximately $2 billion due to the 
appreciation of the U.S. dollar. 

Deposits increased by $85.0 billion or 18%, primarily due to domestic retail volume growth and increased wholesale funding. Further details on the 
composition of deposits are provided in the “Supplementary annual financial information” section and Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Obligations related to securities lent or sold short or under repurchase agreements increased by $20.2 billion or 29%, primarily due to our 
participation in the Bank of Canada’s enhanced term repo program (see the “Regulatory developments concerning liquidity – Developments related 
to the COVID-19 pandemic” section) and client-driven activities. 

Derivative instruments increased by $5.4 billion or 21%, largely driven by increases in equity, interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives 
valuation. 

Acceptances increased by $0.5 billion or 5%, driven by client activities. 

Other liabilities increased by $3.1 billion or 16%, primarily due to the recognition of lease liabilities in the current year as a result of our adoption of  
IFRS 16, as noted above, and an increase in collateral received for derivatives. 

Subordinated indebtedness increased by $1.0 billion or 22%, mainly due to an issuance in the third quarter of 2020. For further details see the 
“Capital management” section. 

Equity 
Equity as at October 31, 2020 increased $2.8 billion or 7% from 2019, primarily due to a net increase in retained earnings, which includes an 
increase of $0.1 billion related to the adoption of IFRS 16, as noted above, and the issuance of the limited recourse capital note. For further details 
see the “Capital management” section. 

30  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Capital management 
Our capital strength protects our depositors and creditors from risks inherent in our businesses. Our overall capital management objective is to 
maintain a strong and efficient capital base that: 
 
 
 
 

Acts as a buffer to absorb unexpected losses while providing sustainable returns to our shareholders; 
Enables our frontline businesses to grow and execute on our strategy; 
Demonstrates balance sheet strength and our commitment to prudent balance sheet management; and 
Supports us in maintaining a favourable credit standing and raising additional capital or other funding on attractive terms. 

We actively manage our capital to maintain a strong and efficient capital base that provides balance sheet strength, enables our businesses to grow 
and execute on our strategy, and meets regulatory requirements. 

Capital management and planning framework 
CIBC maintains a capital management policy that helps us achieve our capital management objectives. Our capital management policy is reviewed 
and approved by the Board of Directors (the Board) in support of our Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP). The policy includes 
guidelines that relate to capital strength, capital mix, dividends and return of capital, and unconsolidated capital adequacy of regulated entities, 
based on regulatory requirements and our risk appetite. The key guideline relates to our capital strength, which is foundational to our financial 
strength and supports growth. The guideline on dividends and return of capital is intended to balance the need for retaining capital for strength and 
growth, while providing an adequate return to our shareholders. The level of capital and capital ratios is continually monitored relative to our 
regulatory minimums and internal targets and the amount of capital required may change in relation to CIBC’s business growth, risk appetite, and 
business and regulatory environment, including changes in accounting policies. 

Capital planning is a crucial element of our overall financial planning process and establishment of strategic objectives and is developed in 
accordance with the capital management policy. Each year, a capital plan and three-year outlook are established as part of the financial plan, which 
establishes targets for the coming year and business plans to achieve those targets. The capital plan is also stress-tested as a part of our enterprise-
wide stress testing process to ensure CIBC is adequately capitalized through severe but plausible stress scenarios (see the “Enterprise-wide stress 
testing” section for further details). Our capital position and forecasts are monitored throughout the year and assessed against the capital plan. 

The Board, with endorsement from the Risk Management Committee, provides overall oversight of CIBC’s capital management through the 

approval of our risk appetite, capital policy and plan. The Risk Management Committee is provided with regular updates on our capital position 
including performance to date, updated forecasts, as well as any material regulatory developments that may impact our future capital position. 
Treasury is responsible for the overall management of capital including planning, forecasting, and execution of the plan, with senior management 
oversight provided by the Global Asset Liability Committee. 

Enterprise-wide stress testing 
We perform enterprise-wide stress testing on at least an annual basis and the results are an integral part of our ICAAP, as defined by Pillar 2 of the 
Basel III Accord, wherein we identify and measure our risks on an ongoing basis in order to ensure that the capital available is sufficient to cover all 
risks across CIBC, including the impacts of stress testing. We maintain a process which determines plausible but stressed economic scenarios 
such as global recessions and housing price shocks, and then apply these stress scenarios to our bank-wide exposures to determine the impact on 
the consolidated statement of income, RWA requirements, and consequently, key capital ratios. This helps us analyze the potential risks within our 
portfolios and establish prudent capital levels in excess of the regulatory minimum requirements. All of the elements of capital are monitored 
throughout the year and the capital plan is adjusted as appropriate. 

Management determines the range of scenarios to be tested. Macroeconomic stress test scenarios are designed to be both severe and 

plausible and designed to be consistent with OSFI’s stress testing framework to ensure that they are comprehensive. 

The following diagram summarizes the enterprise-wide stress testing process including the development of scenarios, identification of risk 

drivers and linkages to our other bank-wide ICAAP processes. The process includes syndication with our economists and lines of business to 
ensure scenarios are relevant to our businesses and there is a consistent interpretation of the scenarios across CIBC. 

Enterprise-wide Stress Testing 

Scenario Development 
  Develop macroeconomic scenarios 
  relevant to the current and projected 
  business cycle including emerging risks 

Risk Identification/Modelling 
  Identification of relevant risk drivers 
  Development and validation of stress 
  models and parameters 

Translation of financial and macroeconomic factors 
(e.g., GDP, unemployment, yield curve, etc.) 

Quantify impacts 

Credit 

Market 

Operational 

Liquidity 

Earnings

Other 

Aggregate results 

Earnings 

Evaluate and review bank-wide impacts 
Capital Impacts 

Funding and Liquidity 

Linkages 

Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) 

Risk
Appetite 

Capital 
Management 
and Planning

Financial 
Management 
and Planning 

Liquidity 
Management 

Recovery and
Resolution
Planning 

Risk
Management

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  31 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Stress test scenarios are designed to capture a wide range of macroeconomic and financial variables that are relevant to assess the impact on our 
specific portfolios. This includes, for example, GDP, unemployment, house prices, interest rates and equity prices. 

The stress testing process is comprehensive using a bottoms-up analysis of each of our bank-wide portfolios, and results are analyzed on a 
product, location and sector basis. Our stress testing approach combines the use of statistical models and expert judgment to ensure the results 
are reasonable in estimating the impacts of the stress scenarios. 

Stress testing methodologies and results are subject to a detailed review and challenge from both our lines of business and Risk Management. 

Stress testing results are presented for review to the Risk Management Committee and are also shared with the Board and OSFI. The results of our 
enterprise-wide stress testing are used to highlight any vulnerabilities and ensure we remain well capitalized against regulatory and management 
expectations. 

A key objective of the enterprise-wide stress tests is to identify key areas of exposure and foster discussion of management actions that would 

be taken to mitigate the impact of stress scenarios. Reverse stress testing is also integrated into our recovery and resolution planning process to 
determine worst case scenarios that would result in CIBC reaching the point of non-viability from which remedial actions are then considered. 

Additional information on stress testing is provided in the “Management of risk” section. 

Recovery plan 
Federally regulated financial institutions must maintain robust and credible recovery plans that identify options to restore financial strength and 
viability when under severe stress. CIBC continues to maintain and update its recovery plan in line with OSFI requirements. 

Resolution plan 
In 2019, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) issued guidance for a comprehensive resolution plan. CDIC considers it a priority to 
ensure that banks undertake the necessary work to create resolution plans, demonstrate feasibility, and address any impediments to ensure 
resolvability can be achieved in an orderly fashion. CIBC continues to develop its resolution plan deliverables in line with guidance, in anticipation of 
submission to CDIC by October 2021. 

Regulatory capital requirements under Basel III 
Our regulatory capital requirements are determined in accordance with guidelines issued by OSFI, which are based upon the capital standards 
developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS). 

Regulatory capital consists of CET1, Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital. The tiers of regulatory capital indicate increasing quality/permanence and the 

ability to absorb losses. The major components of our regulatory capital are summarized as follows: 

Higher 
quality 

CET1 capital 
  Common equity (retained earnings, common shares and stock surplus) 
  Accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI)(1) 
  Qualifying instruments issued by a consolidated banking subsidiary to third parties 
  Certain eligible general allowance resulting from expected credit loss provisioning(2) 
  Less regulatory deductions for items such as: 

➢  Goodwill and other intangible assets 
➢  Deferred tax assets 
➢  Net assets related to defined benefit pension plans 
➢  Certain investments 

Additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital 
  Non-viability contingent capital (NVCC) preferred shares 
  Limited recourse capital notes 
  Qualifying instruments issued by a consolidated subsidiary to third parties 
  Innovative Tier 1 notes subject to phase-out rules for capital instruments 

Lower 
quality 

Tier 2 capital 
  NVCC subordinated indebtedness 
  Non-qualifying subordinated indebtedness subject to phase-out rules for capital instruments 
  Eligible general allowance under the standardized approach(2) 
  Qualifying instruments issued by a consolidated subsidiary to third parties 

T
i
e
r
1

c
a
p
i
t
a
l

T
o
t
a
l

c
a
p
i
t
a
l

(1)  Excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) relating to cash flow hedges and changes to fair value option (FVO) liabilities attributable to changes in own 

credit risk. 

(2)  OSFI has provided regulatory flexibility by implementing transitional arrangements for the treatment of expected loss provisioning, such that part of the allowances that 

would otherwise be included in Tier 2 capital will instead qualify for inclusion in CET1 capital subject to certain scalars and limitations until fiscal 2022. See the “Continuous 
enhancement to regulatory capital requirements” section for additional details. 

Qualifying regulatory capital instruments must be capable of absorbing loss at the point of non-viability of the financial institution. Non-qualifying 
Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital instruments are excluded from regulatory capital at a rate of 10% per annum until November 2021, at which point they will 
have no regulatory value. 

OSFI requires all institutions to achieve target capital ratios which include buffers. Targets may be higher for certain institutions at OSFI’s 

discretion. CIBC, along with Bank of Montreal, Bank of Nova Scotia, National Bank of Canada, Royal Bank of Canada, and the Toronto-Dominion 
Bank, have been designated by OSFI as domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs) in Canada. D-SIBs are subject to a CET1 surcharge equal 
to 1.0% of RWA and a Domestic Stability Buffer (DSB) requirement intended to address Pillar 2 risks that are not adequately captured in the Pillar 1 
capital requirements. The DSB is currently set at 1.0%, but can range from 0% to 2.5% of RWA (see the “Continuous enhancement to regulatory 
capital requirements” section for details regarding the reduction in the DSB requirement that was effective March 13, 2020). Additionally, banks 
need to hold an incremental countercyclical capital buffer equal to their weighted-average buffer requirement in Canada and across certain other 
jurisdictions where they have private sector credit exposures. OSFI’s current targets are summarized below: 

As at October 31, 2020 
CET1 ratio 
Tier 1 capital ratio 
Total capital ratio 

Minimum 

4.5 % 
6.0 % 
8.0 % 

Capital 
conservation 
buffer 

2.5 % 
2.5 % 
2.5 % 

D-SIB 
buffer 

1.0 % 
1.0 % 
1.0 % 

Pillar 1 
targets (1) 
8.0 % 
9.5 % 
11.5 % 

Domestic 
Stability 
Buffer 

1.0 % 
1.0 % 
1.0 % 

Target 
including 
all buffer 
requirements 

9.0 % 
10.5 % 
12.5 % 

(1)  The countercyclical capital buffer applicable to CIBC is insignificant as at October 31, 2020. 

32  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Capital adequacy requirements are applied on a consolidated basis consistent with our financial statements, except for our insurance subsidiaries 
(CIBC Cayman Reinsurance Limited and CIBC Life Insurance Company Limited), which are excluded from the regulatory scope of consolidation. 
The basis of consolidation applied to our financial statements is described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. CIBC Life Insurance 
Company Limited is subject to OSFI’s Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test. 

Risk-weighted assets 
The following table provides a summary of permissible regulatory capital approaches and those adopted by CIBC: 

Risk category 

Permissible regulatory capital approaches 

Approach adopted by CIBC 

Credit risk (1) 

Market risk 

Operational risk 

(1)  Includes CCR. 

Basel provides three approaches for calculating credit risk 
capital requirements: 
 
 
 

Standardized 
Foundation 
Advanced internal ratings-based (AIRB) 

OSFI expects financial institutions in Canada with Total 
capital in excess of $5 billion to use the AIRB approach for 
all material portfolios and credit businesses. 

We have adopted the AIRB approach for the majority of 
our credit portfolios. Under this methodology, we utilize 
our own internal estimates to determine probability of 
default (PD), loss given default (LGD), maturity, and 
exposure at default (EAD) for lending products and 
securities. We utilize the standardized approach for credit 
portfolios within CIBC Bank USA and CIBC 
FirstCaribbean. We periodically review portfolios under 
the standardized approach for consideration of adoption 
of the AIRB approach. 

OSFI provides two approaches for calculating counterparty 
credit risk (CCR) for derivatives and transactions: 
 
 

Standardized Approach (SA-CCR) 
Internal Model Method (IMM) 

Effective April 30, 2020, CIBC has adopted the IMM 
approach for calculating CCR exposure for qualifying 
derivative transactions. Certain transactions remain under 
the SA-CCR approach. 

OSFI provides four approaches for calculating CCR for 
repo-style transactions: 
 
 
 
 

Comprehensive approach, with supervisory haircuts 
Comprehensive approach, with own estimate haircuts 
Repo VaR approach 
IMM 

Permitted approaches for equity positions in the banking 
book (which includes equity investments in funds) include: 
 
Standardized 
  Market-based 
 
Look-through 
  Mandate-based 
Fall-back 
 

Basel provides the following approaches for calculating 
capital requirements for securitization positions: 
 
 
 
 

Internal Ratings-Based Approach (SEC-IRBA) 
Internal Assessment Approach (SEC-IAA) 
External Ratings-Based Approach (SEC-ERBA) 
Standardized Approach (SEC-SA) 

Market risk capital requirements can be determined under 
the following approaches: 
Standardized 
 
Internal models 
 

Internal models involve the use of internal VaR models to 
measure market risk and determine the appropriate capital 
requirement. The stressed VaR and incremental risk charge 
(IRC) also form part of the internal models approach. 

Operational risk capital requirements can be determined 
under the following approaches: 
 
 

Basic indicator approach 
Standardized approach 

The comprehensive approach, with supervisory haircuts, 
is used for credit risk mitigation for repo-style 
transactions. 

We use the standardized approach for equity positions in 
the banking book and both the look-through and 
mandate-based approaches for equity investments in 
funds. 

We use SEC-IRBA, SEC-ERBA, SEC-IAA, and SEC-SA for 
securitization exposures in the banking book. 

We use the internal models approach to calculate market 
risk capital. Our internal market risk models comprise 
VaR, stressed VaR, IRC and a capital charge for risk not 
captured in VaR. We also use SEC-ERBA for trading book 
securitization positions. 

We use the standardized approach based on OSFI rules 
to calculate operational risk capital. 

Since the introduction of Basel II in 2008, OSFI has prescribed a capital floor requirement for institutions that use the AIRB approach for credit risk. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  33 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Continuous enhancement to regulatory capital requirements 
The BCBS and OSFI have published a number of proposals for changes to the existing regulatory capital requirements to strengthen the regulation, 
supervision, and practices of banks with the overall objective of enhancing financial stability. The discussion below provides a summary of BCBS 
and OSFI publications that have been issued since our 2019 Annual Report. 

Regulatory developments arising from the COVID-19 pandemic 
Both the BCBS and OSFI have announced a number of changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and to respond to changes in market 
conditions. These announcements are summarized in the tables below. 

BCBS 

March 27, 2020 
Deferral of Basel III 
standards 

April 3, 2020 
Measures to 
alleviate the impact 
of COVID-19 

OSFI 

The Group of Central Bank Governors and Heads of Supervision (GHOS), which is the oversight body for the BCBS, 
announced that the implementation timelines for upcoming Basel III standards would be deferred in order to increase the 
operational capacity of banks and supervisors to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. See the “Basel III reforms” and 
“Revised Pillar 3 disclosure requirements” sections below for additional details. 

The BCBS announced measures to alleviate the impact of COVID-19, including: 
 

Publication of “Measures to reflect the impact of COVID-19”, which includes technical clarifications to ensure 
appropriate treatment of loans subject to payment deferral relief and government guarantees; 
Deferral of the final two implementation phases of the framework for margin requirements for non-centrally cleared 
derivatives by one year, from 2021 to 2022; and 
Deferral of the implementation of the revised global systemically important banks (G-SIB) framework by one year, 
from 2021 to 2022 (see the “Global systemically important banks – public disclosure requirements” section below). 

 

 

March 13, 2020 
Measures to support 
the resilience of 
financial institutions 

OSFI announced measures to support the resilience of financial institutions, which included: 
 
 

An immediate reduction of the DSB (see the “Domestic Stability Buffer” section below); and 
Halting dividend increases or share buybacks for all federally regulated financial institutions effective immediately 
(see the “Capital initiatives” section below). 

March 27, 2020 
Update issued on 
August 31, 2020 

Actions to address 
operational issues 
stemming from 
COVID-19 

March 30, 2020 
Capital treatment of 
programs to support 
COVID-19 efforts 

On March 27, 2020, OSFI announced actions to address operational issues stemming from COVID-19, including: 
 

For the purpose of determining capital requirements under the Capital Adequacy Requirements (CAR) Guideline 
for loans (including mortgages) that are granted payment deferral relief, the payment status will, for the duration of 
the relief period, be based on the payment status of these loans immediately prior to the deferral. On August 31, 
2020, OSFI provided updates to this special capital treatment: 
 

Loans granted payment deferrals before August 31 will continue to be treated as performing loans for the 
duration of the deferral period, subject to a maximum of six calendar months from the effective date of the 
deferral; 
Loans granted new payment deferrals after August 30 and on or before September 30 will be treated as 
performing loans for the duration of the deferral, subject to a maximum of three calendar months from the 
approval date of the deferral; and 
Loans granted payment deferrals with approval dates after September 30, 2020 will not be eligible for the 
special capital treatment. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transitional arrangements for the capital treatment of expected loss provisioning (see the “Transitional 
arrangements for the capital treatment of expected loss provisioning” section below); 
A temporary increase for at least one year in the covered bond limit, which represents the percentage of total 
assets permitted to be pledged as collateral for covered bonds by a deposit-taking institution, from 5.5% to 10%; 
Deferral of the implementation timeline of the Basel III reforms in Canada (see the “Basel III reforms” section 
below); 
A delay in the implementation date of the revised Pillar 3 disclosure requirements finalized by the BCBS in 
December 2018 (see the “Revised Pillar 3 disclosure requirements” section below); 
Confirmation that no outflow needs to be recognized in the LCR for bankers’ acceptances sold to the Bank of 
Canada under the Bankers’ Acceptance Purchase Facility (BAPF) (see the “Regulatory developments concerning 
liquidity” section for additional details); 
A temporary reduction of stressed value-at-risk multipliers used in the determination of market risk capital 
requirements for institutions using internal models; and 
Removal of funding valuation adjustment hedges related to derivative transactions from the calculation of market risk 
capital to address an asymmetry in the existing requirements. 

OSFI provided guidance on the capital requirements applicable to government-supported lending programs created in 
response to COVID-19 (see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for additional details on these programs). 
The capital requirements applicable to the various programs are summarized below: 
 

Loans administered under the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) are excluded from the calculation of 
capital and leverage ratios. 
For capital purposes, the government-guaranteed portion of loans under the Export Development Canada (EDC) 
program may be considered sovereign risk, with the remainder treated as a loan to the borrower. The entire 
amount of the loan is included in the exposure measure used for calculating the leverage ratio. 
A bank’s portion of a loan made under the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) co-lending program for 
small and medium-sized enterprises should be included in the calculation of capital and leverage ratios. 

 

 

April 9, 2020 
Update issued on 
November 5, 2020 

Additional actions to 
address issues 
stemming from 
COVID-19 

On April 9, 2020, OSFI announced additional measures and regulatory flexibility to support COVID-19 efforts, including: 
Exposures arising from central bank reserves and sovereign-issued securities that qualify as HQLA may be 
 
excluded from the exposure measure for leverage ratio purposes. On November 5, 2020, applicability of this 
measure was extended by six months, until December 31, 2021. 
The current capital floor factor was reduced from 75% to 70%, effective April 9, 2020. The reduction is expected to 
remain in place until the domestic implementation of the Basel III capital output floor (see the “Basel III reforms” 
section below). 

 

34  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Transitional arrangements for the capital treatment of expected loss provisioning 
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, OSFI has introduced transitional arrangements for ECL provisioning that are available under the Basel 
Framework. These transitional arrangements were effective immediately upon being announced by OSFI on March 27, 2020 and result in a portion 
of allowances that would otherwise be included in Tier 2 capital qualifying for inclusion in CET1 capital. The amount of ECL allowances eligible for 
inclusion in CET1 capital is determined based on the increase in stage 1 and stage 2 allowances relative to balances as at January 31, 2020 as a 
baseline. This amount is then adjusted for tax effects and is subject to a scaling factor that will decrease over time. The scaling factor has been set 
at 70% for fiscal 2020, 50% for fiscal 2021, and 25% for fiscal 2022. For exposures under the internal ratings-based (IRB) approach, the lower of 
this amount and excess allowances otherwise eligible for inclusion in Tier 2 capital is included as CET1 capital under the transitional arrangements. 

Basel III reforms 
On March 27, 2020, the GHOS announced the deferral of the implementation of the Basel III reforms in order to increase the operational ability of 
banks and supervisors to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 27, 2020, OSFI similarly announced that implementation of the Basel III 
reforms would be delayed consistent with the GHOS announcement. The implementation dates applicable to CIBC for the outstanding Basel III 
reforms following these announcements are summarized below. 

Revised leverage ratio framework and introduction of G-SIB buffer 

Revisions to the standardized and IRB approaches to credit risk 

Changes to Basel III capital output floor requirements 

Revised operational risk framework 

Revised CVA framework 

Revised market risk framework 
(also referred to as the “fundamental review of the trading book” or FRTB) 

November 1, 2022 

November 1, 2022 

November 1, 2022 

November 1, 2022 

November 1, 2023 

November 1, 2023 

Domestic Stability Buffer 
In response to COVID-19 and market conditions, OSFI announced an immediate reduction in the DSB requirement from 2.0% to 1.0% for all D-SIBs 
effective March 13, 2020. This reduction superseded a previously announced increase in the DSB from 2.0% to 2.25%, which was to have been 
effective April 30, 2020, and decreased OSFI’s target capital ratios, including all buffers, for CET1, Tier 1 and Total capital to 9.0%, 10.5% and 
12.5%, respectively. On June 23, 2020, OSFI announced that the DSB would remain unchanged at 1.0%. 

Revised Pillar 3 disclosure requirements 
Consistent with the GHOS announcement on March 27, 2020 that the implementation date of the revised Pillar 3 disclosure requirements finalized in 
December 2018 would be deferred by one year, on March 27, 2020, OSFI also announced that the implementation date for Canadian deposit-taking 
institutions would be no earlier than November 1, 2022. 

Global systemically important banks – public disclosure requirements 
On July 5, 2018, the BCBS issued “Global systemically important banks: revised assessment methodology and the higher loss absorbency 
requirement” as a result of the first review of the G-SIB framework. The revised assessment methodology was to be effective by the 2021 G-SIB 
assessment. As part of the measures announced by the BCBS in response to COVID-19, the effective date for the revised assessment methodology 
has been deferred by one year and will now be effective for the 2022 G-SIB assessment. 

Total loss absorbing capacity requirements 
Beginning in the first quarter of 2022, D-SIBs will be required to maintain a supervisory target total loss absorbing capacity requirements (TLAC) 
ratio (which is comprised of a minimum risk-based TLAC ratio of 21.5% plus the then applicable DSB) and a minimum TLAC leverage ratio of 6.75%. 
TLAC is required to ensure that a non-viable bank will have sufficient loss absorbing capacity, through its regulatory capital and bail-in eligible 
instruments, to support its recapitalization. In accordance with the Department of Finance’s Bank recapitalization (Bail-in) conversion regulations, 
senior debt issued by D-SIBs on or after September 23, 2018, with an original term to maturity of more than 400 days (including explicit or 
embedded options) that is unsecured or partially secured is subject to bail-in. Consumer deposits, certain derivatives, covered bonds, and certain 
structured notes are not eligible for bail-in. 

Other regulatory capital developments 
OSFI capital ruling 
On July 15, 2020, OSFI published a capital ruling on a new financial instrument, a Limited Recourse Capital Note (LRCN), relative to the eligibility 
criteria set out in the CAR Guideline. Consideration was given to economic substance over legal form, and the potential impact on financial stability, 
particularly in times of stress. The resulting capital ruling provides that the LRCNs can qualify as Additional Tier 1 regulatory capital, subject to 
certain limitations and disclosure requirements. Refer to the “Capital initiatives” section for further details related to the LRCNs issued in the fourth 
quarter of 2020. 

CIBC will continue to monitor and prepare for developments impacting regulatory capital requirements and disclosures. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  35 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Regulatory capital and ratios 
The components of our regulatory capital and ratios under Basel III are presented in the table below: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

2020 

2019 

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital: instruments and reserves 

Directly issued qualifying common share capital plus related stock surplus 
Retained earnings 
AOCI (and other reserves) 
Common share capital issued by subsidiaries and held by third parties (amount allowed in group CET1) 

CET1 capital before regulatory adjustments 

CET1 capital: regulatory adjustments 

Prudential valuation adjustments 
Goodwill (net of related tax liabilities) 
Other intangibles other than mortgage-servicing rights (net of related tax liabilities) 
Deferred tax assets excluding those arising from temporary differences (net of related tax liabilities) 
Defined benefit pension fund net assets (net of related tax liabilities) 
Other deductions or regulatory adjustments to CET1 as determined by OSFI (1) 
Other 

Total regulatory adjustments to CET1 capital 

CET1 capital 

Additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital: instruments 

Directly issued qualifying AT1 instruments plus related stock surplus (2) 
Directly issued capital instruments subject to phase out from AT1 (3) 
AT1 instruments issued by subsidiaries and held by third parties (amount allowed in AT1) 

AT1 capital 

Tier 1 capital (T1 = CET1 + AT1) 

Tier 2 capital: instruments and provisions 

Directly issued qualifying Tier 2 instruments plus related stock surplus (4) 
Directly issued capital instruments subject to phase out from Tier 2 
Tier 2 instruments issued by subsidiaries and held by third parties (amount allowed in Tier 2) 
General allowances 

Tier 2 capital (T2) 

Total capital (TC = T1 + T2) 

Total RWA 
Capital ratios 
CET1 ratio 
Tier 1 capital ratio 
Total capital ratio 

$ 

$ 

14,025 
22,119 
1,435 
128 

37,707 

24 
5,177 
1,662 
24 
206 
(592) 
330 

6,831 

13,716 
20,972 
881 
126 

35,695 

32 
5,375 
1,658 
24 
138 
– 
761 

7,988 

30,876 

27,707 

3,575 
302 
22 

3,899 

2,825 
302 
17 

3,144 

34,775 

30,851 

5,035 
628 
29 
502 

6,194 

4,015 
630 
23 
335 

5,003 

$ 

40,969 

$ 

35,854 

$  254,871 

$  239,863 

12.1 % 
13.6 % 
16.1 % 

11.6 % 
12.9 % 
15.0 % 

(1)  Beginning in the second quarter of 2020, includes the impact of the ECL transitional arrangement announced by OSFI on March 27, 2020. The transitional arrangement 

results in a portion of ECL allowances that would otherwise be included in Tier 2 capital qualifying for inclusion in CET1 capital. The amount is subject to certain 
adjustments and limitations until 2022. 

(2)  Comprised of non-viability contingent capital (NVCC) preferred shares and LRCN. 
(3)  Comprised of CIBC Tier 1 Notes – Series B due June 30, 2108. 
(4)  Comprised of certain debentures which qualify as NVCC. 

CET1 ratio 
The CET1 ratio at October 31, 2020 increased 0.5% from October 31, 2019, driven by the increase in CET1 capital partially offset by the impact of 
an increase in RWA. The increase in CET1 capital was primarily the result of internal capital generation (net income less dividends), an increase in 
AOCI, and common share issuance partially offset by share repurchases prior to cessation of the issuer bid upon OSFI’s March 13, 2020 
announcement (see the “Continuous enhancement to regulatory capital requirements” section for further details). While the impact of a higher 
provision for credit losses on performing loans reduced net income, the impact on CET1 capital was mitigated by the impact of the elimination of the 
deduction in relation to our expected loss shortfall calculation as well as the ECL transitional arrangement which was effective beginning in the 
second quarter of 2020 (see the “Transitional arrangements for the capital treatment of expected loss provisioning” section for further details). The 
COVID-19 pandemic had a less significant impact on our expected loss calculation for regulatory capital purposes, as the parameters used in this 
calculation reflect long-run experience which incorporates periods of downturn that are applied to the most recently available risk ratings. This 
contrasts with ECL recognized for accounting purposes, which uses point-in-time parameters based on updated forward-looking information that 
are more reflective of the current economic environment than the long-term parameters used for regulatory capital. 

The increase in total RWA was primarily due to organic growth, movements in portfolios and risk levels, changes in regulatory requirements 
and the impact of foreign exchange translation, partially offset by methodology and parameter updates. The impact of COVID-19 on RWA growth, as 
well as regulatory expected losses, was partially mitigated by CIBC client relief programs and government support targeting both individuals and 
businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (see the “Regulatory developments arising from the COVID-19 pandemic” section for further 
details) that tempered the increase in the delinquency rates that may have otherwise occurred, reductions in balances and utilization rates from 
lower client spending during the pandemic and the use of the most recently available risk ratings. In addition, the net increase in risk levels primarily 
relating to market risk RWA was more than offset by the impact of measures introduced by OSFI in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as 
discussed in the “Regulatory developments arising from the COVID-19 pandemic” section. 

We anticipate that the combined impact of our expected loss calculation for regulatory capital purposes and credit risk RWA will act as a 
headwind to the positive impact of earnings growth on our CET1 ratio in future periods to the extent balances increase, utilization and delinquency 
rates increase and risk ratings and other credit scores deteriorate in line with our forward-looking information. 

36  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Tier 1 capital ratio 
The Tier 1 capital ratio at October 31, 2020 increased 0.7% from October 31, 2019, primarily due to the factors affecting the CET1 ratio noted above, 
as well as an issuance of limited recourse capital notes during the fourth quarter of 2020. See the “Capital initiatives” section below for further details. 

Total capital ratio 
The Total capital ratio at October 31, 2020 increased 1.1% from October 31, 2019, primarily due to the factors affecting the Tier 1 capital ratio noted 
above, as well as an issuance of subordinated indebtedness during the third quarter of 2020. See the “Capital initiatives” section below for further 
details. 

Movement in total regulatory capital 
Changes in regulatory capital under Basel III are presented in the table below: 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

CET1 capital 
Balance at beginning of year 

Shares issued in lieu of cash dividends (add back) 
Other issue of common shares 
Purchase of common shares for cancellation 
Premium on purchase of common shares for cancellation 
Net income attributable to equity shareholders 
Preferred and common share dividends 
Change in AOCI balances included in regulatory capital 

Net foreign currency translation adjustments 
Net change in securities measured at FVOCI 
Net change in cash flow hedges 
Net change in post-employment defined benefit plans 

Change in shortfall of allowance to expected losses 
Change in goodwill and other intangible assets 
Other, including change in regulatory adjustments (1)(2) 

CET 1 capital balance at end of year 

AT1 capital 
Balance at beginning of year 

AT1 eligible capital issues (3) 
Phase-out of innovative Tier 1 notes 
Redeemed 
Other, including change in regulatory adjustments (2) 

AT1 capital balance at end of year 

Tier 2 capital 
Balance at beginning of year 

New Tier 2 eligible capital issues 
Redeemed 
Other, including change in regulatory adjustments (2) 

Tier 2 capital balance at end of year 

Total capital balance at end of year 

2020 

2019 

$  27,707 
144 
227 
(68) 
(166) 
3,790 
(2,714) 

$  24,641 
194 
183 
(30) 
(79) 
5,096 
(2,599) 

180 
189 
161 
80 
575 
194 
577 

(31) 
196 
131 
(220) 
72 
117 
36 

$  30,876 

$  27,707 

$ 

3,144 
750 
– 
– 
5 

$ 

3,267 
575 
(251) 
(452) 
5 

$ 

3,899 

$ 

3,144 

$ 

5,003 
1,000 
(32) 
223 

$ 

4,322 
1,500 
(1,000) 
181 

$ 

6,194 

$ 

5,003 

$  40,969 

$  35,854 

(1)  Includes the net impact on retained earnings as at November 1, 2019 from the adoption of IFRS 16. See Note 8 for additional details. 
(2)  Beginning in the second quarter of 2020, includes the impact of the ECL transitional arrangement announced by OSFI on March 27, 2020. The transitional arrangement 

results in a portion of ECL allowances that would otherwise be included in Tier 2 capital qualifying for inclusion in CET1 capital. The amount is subject to certain 
adjustments and limitations until 2022. 
(3)  Includes preferred shares and LRCNs. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  37 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Components of risk-weighted assets 
The components of our RWA and corresponding minimum total capital requirements are presented in the table below: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Credit risk (2) 
Standardized approach 

Corporate 
Sovereign 
Banks 
Real estate secured personal lending 
Other retail 
Trading book 
Equity 
Securitization 

AIRB approach (3) 

Corporate 
Sovereign (4) 
Banks 
Real estate secured personal lending 
Qualifying revolving retail 
Other retail 
Equity 
Trading book 
Securitization 
Adjustment for scaling factor 

Other credit RWA (5) 

Total credit risk (before adjustment for CVA phase-in) 
Market risk (Internal Models and IRB Approach) 

VaR 
Stressed VaR 
Incremental risk charge 
Securitization and other 

Total market risk 
Operational risk 

2020 

Minimum 
total capital 

2019 

Minimum 
total capital 

RWA 

required (1) 

RWA 

required (1) 

$ 

41,836 
2,460 
326 
2,859 
939 
787 
494 
1,031 

50,732 

83,326 
2,911 
2,995 
20,228 
14,484 
9,022 
423 
5,200 
1,704 
8,315 

148,608 
12,152 

211,492 

1,309 
1,626 
2,192 
731 

5,858 
30,319 

$ 

3,347 
197 
26 
229 
75 
63 
40 
82 

4,059 

6,666 
233 
240 
1,618 
1,159 
722 
34 
416 
136 
665 

11,889 
972 

16,920 

105 
130 
175 
58 

468 
2,426 

$ 

39,131 
2,411 
454 
2,597 
911 
468 
606 
707 

47,285 

76,182 
2,227 
3,082 
18,557 
15,605 
8,890 
395 
6,684 
815 
7,898 

140,335 
10,134 

197,754 

1,073 
2,478 
2,574 
407 

6,532 
28,587 

$ 

3,130 
193 
36 
208 
73 
37 
48 
57 

3,782 

6,095 
178 
247 
1,485 
1,248 
711 
32 
535 
65 
632 

11,228 
811 

15,821 

86 
198 
206 
33 

523 
2,287 

Total RWA before adjustments for CVA phase-in 

$  247,669 

$  19,814 

$  232,873 

$  18,631 

CVA capital charge 

Total RWA 

Total RWA after adjustments for CVA phase-in 

Total RWA 

$ 

7,202 

$ 

576 

$ 

6,990 

$ 

559 

$  254,871 

$  20,390 

$  239,863 

$  19,190 

(1)  Refers to the minimum standard established by the BCBS before the application of the capital conservation buffer and any other capital buffers that may be established by 

regulators from time to time. It is calculated by multiplying RWA by 8%. 

(2)  Credit risk includes CCR, which comprises derivative and repo-style transactions. Credit risk for CIBC Bank USA and CIBC FirstCaribbean are calculated under the 

standardized approach. 

(3)  Includes RWA relating to equity investments in funds and certain commercial loans which are determined using the supervisory slotting approach. 
(4)  Includes residential mortgages insured by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), an agency of the Government of Canada, and government-guaranteed 

student loans. 

(5)  Comprises RWA relating to derivative and repo-style transactions cleared through qualified central counterparties (QCCPs), settlement risk, and other assets that are 
subject to the credit risk framework but are not included in the standardized or IRB frameworks, including other balance sheet assets that are risk-weighted at 100%, 
significant investments in the capital of non-financial institutions that are risk-weighted at 1,250%, and amounts below the thresholds for deduction that are risk-weighted 
at 250%. 

The increase in RWAs was primarily due to organic growth, movement in portfolio and risk levels, changes in book quality, the implementation of 
IFRS 16 in the first quarter of 2020 and the impact of foreign exchange translation, partially offset by methodology and parameter updates. 

The increase in credit risk RWA was primarily due to organic growth, movement in portfolio and risk levels, changes in regulatory requirements and 
the impact of foreign exchange translation, partially offset by methodology and parameter updates. 

The decrease in market risk RWA was driven by capital model and methodology updates, partially offset by movement in risk levels, which includes 
changes in open positions and the market rates affecting these positions. 

The increase in operational risk RWAs was driven by changes in the gross income, as defined by OSFI. 

38  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Leverage ratio 
The Basel III capital standards include a non-risk-based capital metric, the leverage ratio, to supplement risk-based capital requirements. The 
leverage ratio is defined as Tier 1 capital divided by the leverage ratio exposure. The leverage ratio exposure is defined under the rules as the sum of: 
(i)  On-balance sheet assets less Tier 1 capital regulatory adjustments; 
(ii)  Derivative exposures; 
(iii)  Securities financing transaction exposures; and 
(iv)  Off-balance sheet exposures (such as commitments, direct credit substitutes, letters of credit, and securitization exposures). 

OSFI expects federally regulated deposit-taking institutions to have leverage ratios that meet or exceed 3.0%. This minimum may be higher for 
certain institutions at OSFI’s discretion. See the “Continuous enhancement to regulatory capital requirements” section below for recently announced 
capital measures impacting the leverage ratio. 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Tier 1 capital 
Leverage ratio exposure 
Leverage ratio 

2020 

$ 

34,775 
741,760 

2019 

$ 

30,851 
714,343 

4.7 % 

4.3 % 

The leverage ratio at October 31, 2020 increased 0.4% from October 31, 2019, primarily driven by an increase in Tier 1 capital, partially offset by the 
impact of an increase in leverage ratio exposure. The increase in leverage ratio exposure was driven by increases in off-balance sheet, derivative, 
and securities financing transaction exposures, partially offset by a reduction in on-balance sheet exposures reflecting the exclusion of certain 
amounts as permitted by OSFI in respect of exposures arising from central bank reserves and sovereign-issued securities that qualify as HQLA (see 
the “Regulatory developments arising from the COVID-19 pandemic” section for further details). 

Capital initiatives 
In conjunction with OSFI’s March 13, 2020 announcement to decrease the DSB to 1.0%, OSFI also announced that it expects all federally regulated 
financial institutions to cease dividend increases and share buybacks for the time being, in order to ensure that the additional capital available is 
used to support Canadian lending activities. The following were the main capital initiatives undertaken in 2020: 

Normal course issuer bid 
Our normal course issuer bid expired on June 3, 2020. During the year, we purchased and cancelled 2,208,600 common shares under this bid at 
an average price of $106.03 for a total amount of $234 million. 

Dividends 
On February 25, 2020, the Board approved an increase in our quarterly common share dividend from $1.44 per share to $1.46 per share for the 
quarter ended April 30, 2020. 

Common and preferred share dividends are declared quarterly at the discretion of the Board. The declaration and payment of dividends is 
governed by Section 79 of the Bank Act (Canada), the terms of the preferred shares, and the terms of the Tier 1 notes issued by CIBC Capital Trust, 
as explained in Notes 16 and 17 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Shareholder investment plan (the plan) 
Effective with the October 28, 2016 dividend, CIBC has elected to issue shares from Treasury to fulfill the requirements of the plan. Pursuant to the 
plan, we issued 1,534,320 common shares for consideration of $144 million for the year ended October 31, 2020. 

Preferred shares 
Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 41 (NVCC) 
Holders of the Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 41 (NVCC) (Series 41 shares) had the option to convert their shares into 
Non-cumulative Floating Rate Class A Preferred Shares Series 42 (NVCC) (Series 42 shares) on a one-for-one basis on January 31, 2020. As the 
conditions for conversion were not met, no Series 42 shares were issued, and all of the Series 41 shares remain outstanding. The dividend on the Series 
41 shares was reset to 3.909%, payable quarterly as and when declared by the Board, effective for the five-year period commencing January 31, 2020. 

Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 43 (NVCC) 
Holders of the Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 43 (NVCC) (Series 43 shares) had the option to convert their shares into 
Non-cumulative Floating Rate Class A Preferred Shares Series 44 (NVCC) (Series 44 shares) on a one-for-one basis on July 31, 2020. As the conditions 
for conversion were not met, no Series 44 shares were issued, and all of the Series 43 shares remain outstanding. The dividend on the Series 43 shares 
was reset to 3.143%, payable quarterly as and when declared by the Board, effective for the five-year period commencing July 31, 2020. 

See the “Outstanding share data” section below and Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements for further details. 

Limited Recourse Capital Notes 
On September 16, 2020, we issued $750 million principal amount of 4.375% Limited Recourse Capital Notes Series 1 (NVCC) (subordinated 
indebtedness). The Notes mature on October 28, 2080 and bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.375% per annum (paid semi-annually) until October 28, 
2025. Starting on October 28, 2025, and every five years thereafter until October 28, 2075, the interest rate will be reset to the then current five-year 
Government of Canada bond yield plus 4.000% per annum. 

Concurrently with the issuance of the Notes, we issued Non-Cumulative 5-Year Fixed Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 53 (NVCC) 

(the Series 53 Preferred Shares) which are held in a newly formed trust (the Limited Recourse Trust) that is consolidated by CIBC and as a result the 
Series 53 Preferred Shares are eliminated in CIBC’s consolidated financial statements. In the event of non-payment by CIBC of the principal amount 
of, interest on, or redemption price for, the Notes when due, the sole remedy of each Note holder is limited to that holder’s proportionate share of the 
Series 53 Preferred Shares held in the Limited Recourse Trust. 

Subject to regulatory approval we may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, every five years during the period from September 28 to and 

including October 28, commencing in 2025, at par. 

The Notes and the Series 53 Preferred Shares carry standard NVCC provisions necessary for them to qualify as Tier 1 regulatory capital under 

Basel III. Upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event, each Series 53 Preferred Share held in the Limited Recourse Trust will automatically and 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  39 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

immediately be converted without the consent of Note holders into a variable number of common shares which will be delivered to Note holders in 
satisfaction of the principal amount of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all of the Notes. All claims of Note holders against CIBC under the Notes 
will be extinguished upon receipt of such common shares. 

The Notes are compound instruments with both equity and liability features as payments of interest and principal in cash are made at our discretion 
as the sole recourse of each Note holder in the event of non-payment will be limited to that holder’s proportionate share of the Series 53 Preferred Shares 
held in the Limited Recourse Trust. The liability component of the Notes has a nominal value and, as a result, the full proceeds received upon the 
issuance of the Notes have been presented as equity and any interest payments paid thereon are accounted for as equity distributions. 

Subordinated indebtedness 
On July 21, 2020, we issued $1.0 billion principal amount of 2.01% Debentures due July 21, 2030 (NVCC) (subordinated indebtedness). The 
Debentures bear interest at a fixed rate of 2.01% per annum (paid semi-annually) until July 21, 2025, and at the three-month Canadian dollar 
bankers’ acceptance rate plus 1.28% per annum thereafter (paid quarterly) until maturity on July 21, 2030. 

Outstanding share data 
The table below provides a summary of our outstanding shares, NVCC capital instruments, and the maximum number of common shares issuable 
on conversion/exercise: 

$ millions, except number of shares and per share amounts, as at November 27, 2020 

Common shares 
Treasury shares – common shares 

Preferred shares (1)(2) 
Series 39 (NVCC) 
Series 41 (NVCC) 
Series 43 (NVCC) 
Series 45 (NVCC) 
Series 47 (NVCC) 
Series 49 (NVCC) 
Series 51 (NVCC) 
Treasury shares – preferred shares (1)(2) 

Limited recourse capital notes (2)(4) 
4.375% Limited recourse capital notes Series 1 (NVCC) 

Subordinated indebtedness (2)(3) 
3.42% Debentures due January 26, 2026 (NVCC) 
3.45% Debentures due April 4, 2028 (NVCC) 
2.95% Debentures due June 19, 2029 (NVCC) 
2.01% Debentures due July 21, 2030 (NVCC) 

Stock options outstanding 

Shares outstanding 

Number 
of shares 

Amount 

447,092,959 
(11,820) 

$  13,908 
(1) 

$ 

16,000,000 
12,000,000 
12,000,000 
32,000,000 
18,000,000 
13,000,000 
10,000,000 
– 

n/a 

n/a 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 

400 
300 
300 
800 
450 
325 
250 
– 

750 

1,000 
1,500 
1,500 
1,000 

Minimum 
conversion 
price per 
common share 

Maximum number 
of common shares 
issuable on 
conversion/exercise 

$  5.00 
5.00 
5.00 
5.00 
5.00 
5.00 
5.00 

5.00 

5.00 
5.00 
5.00 
5.00 

80,000,000 
60,000,000 
60,000,000 
160,000,000 
90,000,000 
65,000,000 
50,000,000 

150,000,000 

300,000,000 
450,000,000 
450,000,000 
300,000,000 

5,624,458 

(1)  Upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event, each share is convertible into a number of common shares, determined by dividing the par value of $25.00 plus declared and 

unpaid dividends by the average common share price (as defined in the relevant prospectus supplement) subject to a minimum price per share (subject to adjustment in 
certain events as defined in the relevant prospectus supplement). Preferred shareholders do not have the right to convert their shares into common shares. 

(2)  The maximum number of common shares issuable on conversion excludes the impact of declared but unpaid dividends and accrued interest. 
(3)  Upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event, the Debentures are convertible into a number of common shares, determined by dividing 150% of the par value plus accrued and 

unpaid interest by the average common share price (as defined in the relevant prospectus supplement) subject to a minimum price per common share (subject to 
adjustment in certain events as defined in the relevant prospectus supplement). 

(4)  Upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event, the Series 53 Preferred Shares held in the Limited Recourse Trust in support of the Notes are convertible into a number of 

common shares, determined by dividing the par value of $1,000 by the average common share price (as defined in the relevant prospectus supplement) subject to a 
minimum price per common share (subject to adjustment in certain events as defined in the relevant prospectus supplement). See Note 16 to the consolidated financial 
statements for details on our preferred share and other equity instruments rights and privileges. 

n/a  Not applicable. 

The occurrence of a “Trigger Event” would result in conversion of all of the outstanding NVCC instruments described above, which would represent 
a dilution impact of 83% based on the number of CIBC common shares outstanding as at October 31, 2020. As described in the CAR Guideline, a 
Trigger Event occurs when OSFI determines the bank is or is about to become non-viable and, if after conversion of all contingent instruments and 
consideration of any other relevant factors or circumstances, it is reasonably likely that its viability will be restored or maintained; or if the bank has 
accepted or agreed to accept a capital injection or equivalent support from a federal or provincial government, without which OSFI would have 
determined the bank to be non-viable. 

In addition to the potential dilution impacts related to the NVCC instruments discussed above, as at October 31, 2020, $19,925 million (2019: 
$8,986 million) of our outstanding liabilities were subject to conversion to common shares under the bail-in regime. Under the bail-in regime there is 
no fixed and pre-determined contractual conversion ratio for the conversion of the specified eligible shares and liabilities of CIBC that are subject to  
a bail-in conversion into common shares, nor are there specific requirements regarding whether liabilities subject to a bail-in conversion are 
converted into common shares of CIBC or any of its affiliates. CDIC determines the timing of the bail-in conversion, the portion of the specified 
eligible shares and liabilities to be converted and the terms and conditions of the conversion, subject to parameters set out in the bail-in regime. See 
the “Total loss absorbing capacity requirements” section for further details. 

Preferred share and other equity instruments rights and privileges 
See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements for details on our preferred share and other equity instruments rights and privileges. 

40  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Off-balance sheet arrangements 
We enter into off-balance sheet arrangements in the normal course of our business. We consolidate all of our sponsored trusts that securitize our 
own assets. 

Non-consolidated structured entities (SEs) 
We manage and administer a single-seller conduit and several CIBC-sponsored multi-seller conduits in Canada. The multi-seller conduits acquire 
direct or indirect ownership or security interests in pools of financial assets from our clients and finance the acquisitions by issuing asset-backed 
commercial paper (ABCP) to investors. The single-seller conduit acquires financial assets and finances these acquisitions through a credit facility 
provided by a syndicate of financial institutions. The sellers to the conduits may continue to service the assets and may be exposed to credit losses 
realized on these assets, typically through the provision of over-collateralization or another form of credit enhancement. The conduits may obtain 
credit enhancement from third-party providers. 

We generally provide the multi-seller conduits with commercial paper backstop liquidity facilities, securities distribution, and provide both the 

single and multi-seller conduits with accounting, cash management, and operations services. The liquidity facilities for the managed and 
administered multi-seller conduits require us to provide funding, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions with respect to the conduits, for 
ABCP not placed with external investors. We may also purchase ABCP issued by the multi-seller conduits for market-making purposes. 

We are required to maintain certain short-term and/or long-term debt ratings with respect to the liquidity facilities that we provide to the 

sponsored multi-seller conduits. If we are downgraded below the level specified under the terms of those facilities, we must provide alternative 
satisfactory liquidity arrangements, such as procuring an alternative liquidity provider that meets the minimum rating requirements. 

We may also act as the counterparty to derivative contracts entered into by a multi-seller conduit in order to convert the yield of the underlying 

assets to match the needs of the multi-seller conduit’s investors or to mitigate the interest rate, basis, and currency risk within the conduit. 

We earn fees for providing services related to the non-consolidated single-seller and multi-seller conduits, such as backstop liquidity facilities, 
distribution, transaction structuring, and conduit administration. These fees totalled $65 million in 2020 (2019: $54 million). All fees earned in respect 
of activities with the conduits are on a market basis. 

As at October 31, 2020, the amount funded for the various asset types in the multi-seller conduits amounted to $8.4 billion (2019: $7.1 billion). 

The estimated weighted-average life of these assets was 2.0 years (2019: 1.6 years). Our holdings of commercial paper issued by the 
non-consolidated sponsored multi-seller conduits that offer commercial paper to external investors were $12 million (2019: $26 million). Our 
committed backstop liquidity facilities to these conduits were $10.5 billion (2019: $8.8 billion). We also provided credit facilities of $50 million (2019: 
$50 million) to these conduits. 

We participated in a syndicated facility for a three-year commitment, with two years remaining, of $700 million to the single-seller conduit that 

provides funding to franchisees of a major Canadian retailer. Our portion of the commitment was $130 million (2019: $130 million). As at October 31, 
2020, we funded $86 million (2019: $87 million) through the issuance of bankers’ acceptances and prime loans. 

We engage one or more of the four major rating agencies, DBRS Limited (DBRS), Fitch Ratings Inc. (Fitch), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. 
(Moody’s), and S&P, to opine on the credit ratings of asset-backed securities (ABS) issued by our sponsored securitization vehicles. In the event 
that ratings differ between rating agencies, we use the lower rating. 

We also have investments in and provide loans, liquidity and credit facilities to certain other third-party and CIBC-managed SEs. The 

on-balance sheet exposure related to these SEs is included in the consolidated financial statements. 

Our on- and off-balance sheet amounts related to the SEs that are not consolidated are set out in the table below. For additional details on our 

SEs, see Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements. 

$ millions, as at October 31 

2020 

2019 

Investments 

and loans (1) 

Liquidity, credit 
facilities and 
commitments 

Written credit 

Investments 

derivatives (2) 

and loans (1) 

Liquidity, credit 
facilities and 
commitments 

Written credit 

derivatives (2) 

Single-seller and multi-seller conduits 
Third-party structured vehicles – continuing 
Structured vehicles run-off 
Other 

$ 

107 
3,560 
3 
340 

$  8,390 (3) 
2,880 
13 
140 

$ 

– 
– 
130 
– 

$ 

113 
3,345 
3 
332 

$  7,137 (3) 
2,358 
13 
127 

$ 

– 
– 
139 
– 

(1)  Excludes securities issued by, retained interest in, and derivatives with entities established by CMHC, Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan 

Mortgage Corporation, Government National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Bank, and Student Loan Marketing Association. 
$3 million (2019: $3 million) of the exposures related to structured vehicles run-off were hedged. 

(2)  Disclosed amounts reflect the outstanding notional of written credit derivatives. The negative fair value recorded on the consolidated balance sheet was $107 million (2019: 
$112 million). Notional of $123 million (2019: $130 million) was hedged with credit derivatives protection from third parties. The fair value of these hedges net of CVA was 
$98 million (2019: $104 million). An additional notional of $7 million (2019: $9 million) was hedged through a limited recourse note. 

(3)  Excludes an additional $2.1 billion (2019: $1.6 billion) relating to our backstop liquidity facilities provided to the multi-seller conduits as part of their commitment to fund 

purchases of additional assets. Also excludes $12 million (2019: $26 million) of our direct investments in the multi-seller conduits which we consider investment exposure. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  41 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Other financial transactions 
In the second quarter of 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we entered into an arrangement with the Government of Canada to facilitate 
the advancing of loans to CIBC clients who are qualifying borrowers under the CEBA program. As CIBC’s involvement in the CEBA program is to 
administer the CEBA loans, and the funding and risks and rewards associated with the loans, including exposure to payment defaults and principal 
forgiveness, are assumed by the Government of Canada, loans advanced under the CEBA program are not recognized on our consolidated 
balance sheet. As part of our involvement in the CEBA program, we receive a fee that is intended as a reimbursement of costs that we incur to 
administer the loans. For further details regarding this program as well as other government lending programs that we participated in, refer to Note 2 
to our consolidated financial statements. 

We are the sponsor of several mutual and pooled funds, in the form of trusts. We are the administrator of these funds. In addition, we may act 
in other capacities, including custodian, trustee, and broker. We earn fees at market rates from these trusts. We do not guarantee either principal or 
returns to investors in these funds. We act as a trustee of a number of personal trusts and have a fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interests 
of the beneficiaries of the trusts. We earn a fee for acting as a trustee. We also participate in transactions to modify the cash flows of trusts managed 
by third-party asset managers to create investments with specific risk profiles, or to assist clients in the efficient management of other risks. 
Typically, these involve the use of derivative products, which transfer the risks and returns to or from a trust. 

Derivatives 
We participate in derivatives transactions, as a market maker facilitating the needs of our clients or as a principal to manage the risks associated 
with our funding, investing and trading strategies. All derivatives are recorded at fair value on our consolidated balance sheet. See Notes 13 and 24 
to the consolidated financial statements for details on derivative contracts and the risks associated with them. 

Credit-related arrangements 
Credit-related arrangements are generally off-balance sheet instruments and are typically entered into to meet the financing needs of clients. In 
addition, there are certain exposures for which we could be obligated to extend credit that are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheet. For 
additional details of these arrangements, see the “Liquidity risk” section and Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Guarantees 
A guarantee is a contract that requires the issuer to make specified payments to reimburse the holder for a loss it incurs because a specified debtor 
failed to make payment when due in accordance with the original or modified terms of a debt instrument. Guarantees include credit derivatives 
protection sold and standby and performance letters of credit, as discussed in Notes 13 and 22 to the consolidated financial statements, 
respectively. 

42  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Management of risk 

We have provided certain disclosures required under IFRS 7 “Financial Instruments – Disclosures” (IFRS 7) related to the nature and extent of 
risks arising from financial instruments in the MD&A, as permitted by that IFRS standard. These disclosures are included in the “Risk overview”, 
“Credit risk”, “Market risk”, “Liquidity risk”, “Operational risk”, “Reputation and legal risks”, “Conduct risk”, and “Regulatory compliance risk” 
sections. 

43  Risk overview 
44  Risk governance structure 
45  Risk management structure 
46  Risk management process 
46  Risk appetite statement 
47  Risk input into performance and 

compensation 

47  Risk policies and limits 
48  Risk identification and measurement 
49  Stress testing 
49  Risk treatment and mitigation 
49  Risk monitoring and reporting 

50  Top and emerging risks 

53  Risks arising from business activities 

54  Credit risk 
54  Governance and management 
54  Policies 

55  Process and control 
56  Risk measurement 
58  Exposure to credit risk 
61  Credit quality of portfolios 
65  Credit quality performance 
66 

Loans contractually past due but not 
impaired 

66  Exposure to certain countries and 

regions 

67  Selected exposures in certain activities 
67  Settlement risk 
67  Securitization activities 

68  Market risk 
68  Governance and management 
68  Policies 
68  Market risk limits 
68  Process and control 
68  Risk measurement 
69 

Trading activities 

72  Non-trading activities 
73  Pension risk 

74  Liquidity risk 
74  Governance and management 
74  Policies 
74  Risk measurement 
Liquid assets 
75 
77 
Funding 
79  Contractual obligations 

80  Other risks 
80  Strategic risk 
80 
Insurance risk 
80  Operational risk 
81 

Technology, information and cyber 
security risk 

81  Reputation and legal risks 
82  Conduct risk 
82  Regulatory compliance risk 
82  Environmental and related social risk 

Risk overview 
CIBC faces a wide variety of risks across all of its areas of business. Identifying and understanding risks and their impact allows CIBC to frame its 
risk appetite and risk management practices. Defining acceptable levels of risk, and establishing sound principles, policies and practices for 
managing risks, is fundamental to achieving consistent and sustainable long-term performance, while remaining within our risk appetite. 

Our risk appetite defines tolerance levels for various risks. This is the foundation for our risk management culture and our risk management 

framework. 

Our risk management framework includes: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

CIBC, SBU and functional group-level risk appetite statements; 
Risk frameworks, policies, procedures and limits to align activities with our risk appetite; 
Regular risk reports to identify and communicate risk levels; 
An independent control framework to identify and test the design and operating effectiveness of our key controls; 
Stress testing to consider the potential impact of changes in the business environment on capital, liquidity and earnings; 
Proactive consideration of risk mitigation options in order to optimize results; and 
Oversight through our risk-focused committees and governance structure. 

Managing risk is a shared responsibility at CIBC. Business units and risk management professionals work in collaboration to ensure that 
business strategies and activities are consistent with our risk appetite. CIBC’s approach to enterprise-wide risk management aligns with the 
three lines of defence model: 
(i)

As the first line of defence, CIBC’s SBUs and functional groups own the risks and are accountable and responsible for identifying and
assessing risks inherent in their activities in accordance with the CIBC risk appetite. In addition, they establish and maintain controls to
mitigate such risks. The first line of defence may include governance groups within the relevant area to facilitate the control framework and
other risk-related processes. Control groups provide subject matter expertise to the business lines and/or implement and maintain
enterprise-wide control programs and activities. While control groups collaborate with the lines of business in identifying and managing
risk, they also challenge risk decisions and risk mitigation strategies.
The second line of defence is independent from the first line of defence and provides an enterprise-wide view of specific risk types,
guidance and effective challenge to risk and control activities. Risk Management is the primary second line of defence. Risk Management
may leverage or rely on subject matter expertise of other groups (e.g., third parties or control groups) to better inform their independent
assessments, as appropriate.

(ii)

(iii) As the third line of defence, CIBC’s internal audit function provides reasonable assurance to senior management and the Audit Committee
of the Board on the effectiveness of CIBC’s governance practices, risk management processes, and internal controls as part of its risk-
based audit plan and in accordance with its mandate as described in the Internal Audit Charter.

A strong risk culture and communication between the three lines of defence are important characteristics of effective risk management. 

We continuously monitor our risk profile against our defined risk appetite and related limits, taking action as needed to maintain an appropriate 
balance of risk and return. Monitoring our risk profile includes forward-looking analysis of sensitivity to local and global market factors, economic 
conditions, and geo-political and regulatory environments that influence our overall risk profile. 

Regular and transparent risk reporting and discussion at senior management committees facilitates communication of risks and discussion of 

risk management strategies across the organization. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  43 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Risk governance structure 
Our risk governance structure is illustrated below: 

Risk Governance Structure 

Board of Directors 

h t 

e r sig

v

o

Audit 
Committee 

Risk 
Management
Committee 

Management
Resources and 
Compensation 
Committee

Corporate 
Governance 
Committee 

c

ulture 

n  

ala tio

s c

e

Executive Committee 

fra

m

e

w

ork 

Global Asset Liability 
Committee 

Global Risk 
Committee 

Board of Directors (the Board): The Board oversees the enterprise-wide risk management program through approval of our risk appetite, 
control framework and supporting risk management policies and limits. The Board accomplishes its mandate through its Audit, Risk 
Management, Management Resources and Compensation, and Corporate Governance committees, described below. 

Audit Committee (AC): The Audit Committee reviews the overall design and operating effectiveness of internal controls and the control 
environment, including controls over the risk management process. 

Risk Management Committee (RMC): This committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities for defining CIBC’s risk appetite and 
overseeing CIBC’s risk profile and performance against the defined risk appetite. This includes oversight of key frameworks, policies and risk 
limits related to the identification, measurement, monitoring and controlling of CIBC’s principal business risks. 

Management Resources and Compensation Committee (MRCC): This committee is responsible for assisting the Board in its global oversight 
of CIBC’s human capital strategy, including talent and total rewards, and the alignment with CIBC’s strategy, risk appetite and controls. 

Corporate Governance Committee (CGC): This committee is responsible for assisting the Board in fulfilling its corporate governance oversight 
responsibilities. 

Executive Committee (ExCo): The ExCo, led by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and including the executives reporting directly to the CEO, is 
responsible for setting business strategy and for monitoring, evaluating and managing risks across CIBC. The ExCo is supported by the 
following management governance committees: 
 

Global Asset Liability Committee (GALCO): This committee, which comprises members from the ExCo and senior Treasury, Risk 
Management and lines of business executives, provides oversight regarding capital management, funding and liquidity management, and 
asset liability management. It also provides strategic direction regarding structural interest rate risk and structural foreign exchange risk 
postures, approval of funds transfer pricing policies/parameters and approval of wholesale funding plans. 
Global Risk Committee (GRC): This committee, which comprises selected members of the ExCo and senior leaders from the lines of 
business, Risk Management and other functional groups, provides a forum for discussion and oversight of risk appetite, risk profile and 
risk-mitigation strategies. Key activities include reviewing and providing input regarding CIBC’s risk appetite statements; monitoring risk 
profile against risk appetite, reviewing and evaluating business activities in the context of risk appetite; and identifying, reviewing, and 
advising on current and emerging risk issues and associated mitigation plans. 

 

44  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Risk management structure 
The Risk Management group, led by our Chief Risk Officer (CRO), is responsible for setting risk strategies and for providing independent oversight 
of the businesses. Risk Management works to identify, assess, mitigate, monitor and control risks associated with business activities and strategies, 
and is responsible for providing an effective challenge to the lines of business. 

The current structure is illustrated below: 

Risk Management Structure 

Chief Risk Officer 

Capital 
Markets Risk 
Management 

Global Credit 
Risk 
Management 
(including 
non-U.S. Risk 
Officers) 

Global 
Operational 
Risk 
Management 

Risk 
Analytics 
and Credit 
Decisioning 

Enterprise Risk 
Management 

Compliance 
and Global 
Regulatory 
Affairs 

Enterprise 
Anti-Money 
Laundering 

U.S. Risk 
Management 

Risk Appetite and Management Control Metrics 

Risk Policies and Limits 

Risk Identification, Measurement, Monitoring and Reporting 

Effective Challenge as Second Line of Defence 

Stress Testing 

Risk Treatment and Mitigation 

Developing CIBC’s risk appetite and associated management control metrics; 
Setting risk strategy to manage risks in alignment with our risk appetite and business strategy; 
Establishing and communicating risk frameworks, policies, procedures and limits to control risks in alignment with risk strategy; 

The Risk Management group performs several important activities including: 
 
 
 
  Measuring, monitoring and reporting on risk levels; 
 
 
 

Identifying and assessing emerging and potential strategic risks; 
Deciding on transactions that fall outside of risk limits delegated to business lines; and 
Ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory and anti-money laundering (AML) requirements. 

The following key groups within Risk Management, independent of the originating businesses, contribute to our management of risk: 
 

Capital Markets Risk Management – This group provides independent oversight of the measurement, monitoring and control of market risks 
(both trading and non-trading), and trading credit risk (also called counterparty credit risk) across CIBC’s portfolios, and effective challenge 
and sound risk management oversight to the treasury/liquidity management function within CIBC. 
Global Credit Risk Management – This group is responsible for the adjudication and oversight of credit risks (including transaction-specific 
environmental and related social risk) associated with our commercial, corporate and wealth management activities, management of the risks 
in our investment portfolios, as well as management of special loan portfolios. 
Global Operational Risk Management – This group is responsible for designing and implementing effective operational risk management and 
control programs, and providing effective challenge to and monitoring of all operational risks globally, including (but not limited to) technology 
risk, information security risk, fraud risk, model risk, and third party risk. In addition, the team has global accountability for corporate risk 
insurance programs, reputation risks, risk policy and governance, and risk transformation programs. 
Risk Analytics and Credit Decisioning – This group manages credit risk in personal and business products (such as residential mortgages, 
credit cards, personal loans/lines of credit, small business loans) offered through various distribution channels and performs analytics to 
optimize retail credit performance, along with collections, fraud, and AML outcomes. 
Enterprise Risk Management – This group is responsible for enterprise-wide analysis, including the measuring and monitoring of risk appetite, 
enterprise-wide stress testing and reporting, loan loss reporting, risk models and model quantification, economic and regulatory capital 
methodologies, as well as risk data management. In addition, this group identifies and manages environmental risk, including the physical and 
transition risks associated with climate change. 
Compliance and Global Regulatory Affairs – This group is responsible for designing and implementing an effective enterprise-wide framework 
to manage and mitigate regulatory compliance risk. In addition, it provides oversight of conduct and culture risk (including sales practice risk), 
performs effective challenge on compensation plan changes, and conducts examinations on business units/activities using a risk-based 
approach. This group also builds and maintains credible relationships with our prudential, market, conduct and securities regulators and acts 
as a liaison between the regulators and CIBC. 

 

 

 

 

 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  45 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

 

 

Enterprise Anti-Money Laundering – This group is responsible for all aspects of compliance with and oversight of requirements relating to AML, 
anti-terrorist financing (ATF), and sanctions measures. Enterprise Anti-Money Laundering provides advice to all businesses and functional 
groups globally and is responsible for providing an enterprise-wide view of money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctions risks, as well 
as guidance and effective independent challenge to control activities. Furthermore, Enterprise Anti-Money Laundering executes a risk-based 
approach to deter, detect and report suspected money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctioned activities, in accordance with their 
policies and supporting standards. 
U.S. Risk Management – This group carries out the mandate of CIBC Risk Management at a regional level under the leadership of the U.S. 
CRO, with oversight from the U.S. Risk Management Committee. The group provides independent oversight for the identification, management, 
measurement, monitoring and mitigation of risks in the U.S. 

Risk management process 
Our risk management process is illustrated below: 

g
n
i
t
r
o
p
e
R

Risk Management Process 

Risk Appetite Statement 

Risk Policies and Limits 

Risk Identification and Measurement 

Stress Testing 

Risk Treatment / Mitigation 

w
e
i
v
e
R
d
n
a
r
o
t
i
n
o
M

Safeguarding our reputation and brand; 
Doing the right thing for our clients/stakeholders; 
Engaging in client-oriented businesses that we understand; 

Risk appetite statement 
CIBC’s risk appetite statement defines the amount of risk we are willing to assume in pursuit of our strategic and financial objectives. Our guiding 
principle is to practice sound risk management, supported by strong capital and funding positions, as we pursue our client-focused strategy. In 
defining our risk appetite, we take into consideration our purpose, vision, values, strategy and objectives, along with our risk capacity (defined by 
regulatory constraints). It defines how we conduct business, which is to be consistent with the following objectives: 
 
 
 
  Make our client’s goals our own in a professional and radically simple manner; 
  Maintaining a balance between risk and returns; 
 
  Meeting regulatory expectations and/or identifying and having plans in place to address any issues in a timely manner; 
 
  Meeting/exceeding stakeholders’ expectations with respect to the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria. 

Retaining a prudent attitude towards tail and event risk; 

Achieving/maintaining an AA rating; and 

CIBC’s risk appetite statement contains metrics with limits that define our risk tolerance levels. In addition, we have SBU and functional group risk 
appetite statements that are integrated with the overall CIBC risk appetite statement that further articulate our business level risk tolerances. 

CIBC’s risk appetite statement is reviewed annually in conjunction with our strategic, financial and capital planning cycle to ensure alignment 

and is approved annually by the Board. To help ensure CIBC stays within its risk appetite, the Board, RMC, and senior management regularly 
receive and review reporting on our risk profile against the risk appetite limits. 

All strategic business decisions, as well as day-to-day business decisions, are governed by our risk appetite framework. Strategic decisions 
are evaluated to ensure that the risk exposure is within our risk appetite. Day-to-day activities and decisions are governed by our framework of risk 
tolerance limits, policies, standards and procedures that support our risk appetite statement. 

Risk culture 
Risk culture refers to desired attitudes and behaviours relative to risk taking. At CIBC, we strive to achieve a consistent and effective risk culture by: 
 
 
 
 

Promoting, through both formal and informal channels, a shared accountability of risk identification, management and mitigation; 
Cultivating an environment of transparency, open communication and robust discussion of risk; 
Setting the appropriate “tone at the top” through clear communication and reinforcement; and 
Identifying behaviours that are and are not aligned with risk appetite, and reinforcing appropriate behaviours. 

Every year, all employees are required to complete formal training on risk appetite, reputation risk, operational risk, code of conduct, AML and other 
key risk topics. By taking this mandatory training, all employees develop a basic knowledge of risk management in support of our risk culture. This 
training is supplemented by our risk appetite statement, risk management priorities, documents on our internal website and internal news releases. 
In addition, we have policies, procedures and limits in place that govern our day-to-day business activity, with escalation procedures for limit 
breaches outlined accordingly. 

46  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Risk input into performance and compensation 
Throughout the year, the Risk Management team manages various compensation risk reviews. These reviews are part of the second line of defence 
responsibilities to review and challenge new compensation plans, changes to existing compensation plans, and compensation plans that will be 
closed. All compensation plans are rated as either high-risk or low-risk with high-risk compensation plans requiring approval from the CRO. 

At each year-end, Risk Management provides an assessment of adherence to risk appetite and material risk matters across CIBC. Risk 

Management also considers a number of risk inputs to identify matters which may directly impact individual compensation awards and/or 
performance ratings. Annually, Risk Management reviews the assessment with both the RMC and the MRCC. 

The MRCC oversees the performance management and compensation process. The MRCC is responsible for assisting the Board in its global 

oversight of CIBC’s human capital strategy, including talent and total rewards, and the alignment with CIBC’s strategy, risk appetite and controls. 
The MRCC’s key compensation-related responsibilities include: 
 
 
 
 
 

Approving CIBC’s compensation philosophy and any material changes to CIBC’s compensation principles or practices; 
Approving new material compensation policies and material changes to existing material compensation policies; 
Reviewing and recommending for Board approval new material compensation plans or changes to existing material compensation plans; 
Assessing the appropriateness and alignment of compensation relative to actual business performance and risks; 
Reviewing and recommending for Board approval incentive compensation funding and allocations, based on an assessment of business 
performance and risk; 
Reviewing and recommending for Board approval individual compensation target and compensation for the ExCo, including the CEO and 
other key officers; and 
Approving individual compensation for employees with total direct compensation above a certain materiality threshold. 

 

 

Risk policies and limits 
Our risk policies and limits framework is intended to ensure that risks are appropriately identified, measured, monitored and controlled in 
accordance with our risk appetite. For most risks, we have developed an overarching framework document that sets out the key principles for 
managing the associated risks and our key risk policies and limits. This framework is supported by standards, guidelines, processes, procedures 
and controls that govern day-to-day activities in our businesses. Oversight is provided by management committees, as well as the Board/Board 
committees. 

Key risk policies and limits are illustrated below: 

Risk 

Credit 

Market 

Operational 

Reputation 

Liquidity 

Risk Management Framework 

Risk Appetite Statement and Risk Appetite Framework 

Overarching 
Framework / Policy 

Credit Risk Management 
Policy 
Trading Credit Risk 
Management Policy 

Market Risk Management 
Policy 
Structural Risk Management 
Policies 

Operational Risk Management 
Policy 
Control Framework 
Conduct and Culture Risk 
Framework 

Risk Limits 

Management Oversight 

Credit Concentration Limits 
Delegated Credit Approval 
Authorities 
Trading Credit Risk Limits 

Market Risk Limits 
Delegated Risk Authorities 

Key Risk Indicators 

Credit Committee 
Personal and Small Business 
Credit Risk Committee 
Global Risk Committee 
Traded Risk Committee 

Global Risk Committee 
Global Asset Liability 
Committee 
Traded Risk Committee 

Operational Risk and Control 
Committee 
Global Risk Committee 
Technology Risk Committee 
Model and Parameter Risk 
Committee 
Corporate Governance 
Committee 
Traded Risk Committee 

Reputation Risk Management 
Framework and Policy 

Key Risk Indicators 

Reputation and Legal Risk 
Committee 

Liquidity Risk Management 
Policy 
Pledging Policy 

Liquidity and Funding Limits 

Pledging Limits 

Global Asset Liability 
Committee 
Global Risk Committee 

Strategic 

Strategic Planning Policy 

Risk Appetite Statement 

Executive Committee 

Regulatory 

Regulatory Compliance 
Management Policy 

Enterprise Anti-Money 
Laundering Framework and 
Enterprise Anti-Money 
Laundering and Anti-Terrorist 
Financing Policy 

Key Risk Indicators 

Global Risk Committee 

Risk Appetite Statement 
Key AML Metrics 

AML Executive Steering 
Committee 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  47 

 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Risk identification and measurement 
Risk identification and measurement are important elements of our risk management framework. Risk identification is a continuous process, 
generally achieved through: 
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 
 
 
 

Regular assessment of risks associated with lending and trading credit exposures; 
Ongoing monitoring of trading and non-trading portfolios; 
Assessment of risks in new business activities and processes; 
Assessment of risks in complex and unusual business transactions; and 
Regular monitoring of the overall risk profile considering market developments and trends, and external and internal events. 

Risk Management maintains a “Risk Register” to list all material risks facing CIBC. The inventory is based on the risks inherent in CIBC’s businesses 
and updated through various processes, illustrated in the following chart, to reflect changes in the nature of the risks we are facing. The Risk 
Register is used to support our ICAAP, either explicitly in the economic and regulatory capital calculations, or implicitly through the buffer of actual 
capital over economic capital and regulatory capital. 

Risk Identification Processes 

Risks Inherent 
in CIBC s 
Businesses 

’
’

Strategic Business Reviews 

Change Initiative Risk Assessment Process 

Risk and Control Self Assessments 

Strategic and Emerging Risk Themes 

External and Peer Benchmarking 

Regulatory Reviews 

Macro and 
External 
Risks 

Assessment of 
Risk Level 
(probability / 
severity 
considerations) 

Risk Register 

Internal Capital 
Adequacy 
Assessment 
Process 
(ICAAP) 

The decision to register a new risk is based on a risk assessment through our risk identification processes and includes criteria such as severity, 
measurability and probability. Furthermore, the decision to hold capital for a new risk is also based on whether the risk is being mitigated, and 
whether capital is deemed to be a suitable mitigant. 

We have enterprise-wide methodologies, models and techniques in place to measure both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of risks, 
appropriate for the various types of risks we face. These methodologies, models and techniques are subject to independent assessment and review 
to ensure that the underlying logic remains sound, that model risks have been identified and managed, that use of the models continues to be 
appropriate and outputs are valid. 

Risk is usually measured in terms of expected loss, unexpected loss, and economic capital. 

Expected loss 
Expected loss represents the loss that is statistically expected to occur in the normal course of business, with adjustments for conservatism, in a 
given period of time. 

In respect of credit risk, the parameters used to measure expected loss are PD, LGD and EAD. These parameters are updated regularly and 

are based on our historical experience through the cycle and benchmarking of credit exposures. The PD, LGD and EAD parameters used for 
regulatory capital purposes are not adjusted for forward-looking information. 

For trading market risks, VaR is a statistical technique used to measure risk. VaR is an estimate of the loss in market value for a given level of 

confidence that we would expect to incur in our trading portfolio due to an adverse one-day movement in market rates and prices. We also use 
stressed VaR to replicate our VaR over a period when relevant market factors are in distress. 

For trading credit risks associated with market value based products, we use models to estimate exposure relative to the value of the portfolio 

of trades with each counterparty, giving consideration to market rates and prices. 

Unexpected loss and economic capital 
Unexpected loss is the statistical estimate of the amount by which actual losses might exceed expected losses over a specified time horizon, 
computed at a given confidence level. We use economic capital to estimate the level of capital needed to protect us against unexpected losses. 
Economic capital allows us to assess performance on a risk-adjusted basis. 

We also use techniques such as sensitivity analysis and stress testing to help ensure that the risks remain within our risk appetite and that our 

capital is adequate to cover those risks. Our stress testing program includes evaluation of the potential effects of various economic and market 
scenarios on our risk profile, earnings and capital. Refer to the “Capital management” section for additional details. 

Model risk management 
Model risk management encompasses sound development, independent validation, and ongoing monitoring and review of the models as well as 
governance and controls that are proportionate to the risks. Our model inventory includes, but is not limited to, models that relate to risk 
measurement (including VaR, economic and regulatory capital), pricing, credit risk rating and scoring models, credit models for the calculation of 
loss severity and stress testing, and models for the calculation of ECL under IFRS 9. CIBC’s approach to provide effective governance and 
oversight for model risk management comprises the following key elements: 

48  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

 

 

 

Governance and oversight by management committees, including the Model and Parameter Risk Committee (MPRC), senior management and 
the Board; 
Policies, procedures and standards to outline applicable roles and responsibilities of the various oversight groups and to provide guidance to 
identify, measure, control and monitor model risk throughout the model’s life cycle; and 
Controls for key operational aspects of model risk management including maintaining a model inventory, model risk ranking, model risk 
attestation and ongoing monitoring and reporting. 

The MPRC is a subcommittee of the GRC and is responsible for reviewing and approving proposals for new and/or modified regulatory, economic 
capital and financial reporting models and provides oversight of CIBC’s regulatory, economic capital and financial reporting models and parameters 
for credit, market and operational risks. The MPRC has accountability and responsibility for model and parameter approvals, parameter 
performance monitoring, validation oversight, and policy oversight. 

Model risk mitigation policies 
We have policies, procedures, standards and controls to ensure effective model risk management for CIBC. A model review and validation is the 
independent effective challenge that documents the model risk and ensures models are sound and CIBC can rely on their output. The model review 
and validation process includes: 
 
 
 
 
 

Review of model documentation; 
Comprehensive, systematic testing of key model parameters on implementation to ensure results are as expected; 
Replication of the risk quantification process to determine whether the model implementation is faithful to the model specifications; 
Review of whether the model/parameter concepts and assumptions are appropriate and robust; 
Accuracy testing to assess the calibration and accuracy of the risk components including, for example, the discriminative power of rating 
systems and the reasonableness of capital parameters; 
Sensitivity testing to analyze the sensitivity of model/parameter outputs to model/parameter assumptions and key inputs; 
Scenario and stress testing of the model outputs to key inputs; 
Back-testing by comparing actual results with model-generated risk measures; 
Benchmarking to other models and comparable internal and external data; 
Review of the internal usage of the model/parameter applications to ensure consistency of application; 
Reporting of model status to the MPRC, supported through an up-to-date inventory of regulatory models and parameters; 
A quarterly attestation process for model owners in order to ensure compliance with the Model Risk and Validation Policy; and 
A comprehensive validation report is prepared that identifies the conditions for valid application of the model and summarizes these findings to 
the model owners, developers and users. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Once a model has been approved for use, ongoing monitoring becomes a joint responsibility of model users, owners and validators. 

Stress testing 
Stress testing supplements our other risk management tools by providing an estimate of the potential impacts of plausible but stressed economic 
scenarios and risk factors. Results of stress testing are interpreted in the context of our risk appetite, including metrics for capital adequacy. 
Enterprise-wide stress testing, capital planning and financial planning processes are integrated for a comprehensive information system. See the 
“Financial condition” section for detailed discussion on our enterprise-wide stress testing. 

Risk treatment and mitigation 
Risk treatment and mitigation is the implementation of options for modifying risk levels. CIBC pursues risk mitigation options in order to control its 
risk profile in the context of its risk appetite. CIBC’s objective is to proactively consider risk mitigation options in order to optimize results. 

Discussions regarding potential risk mitigation strategies are held between Risk Management and the lines of business, and at the GRC or 
GALCO and at the RMC for governance and oversight, as appropriate. In evaluating possible strategies, considerations include costs and benefits, 
residual risks (i.e., risks that are retained), secondary risks (i.e., those caused by the risk mitigation actions), and appropriate monitoring and review 
to track results. 

Risk controls 
Our risk management framework also includes a comprehensive set of risk controls, designed to ensure that risks are being appropriately identified 
and managed. Our risk controls are part of CIBC’s overall Control Framework, developed based on the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of 
the Treadway Commission’s (COSO) widely accepted “Internal Control – Integrated Framework”. The Control Framework also draws on elements of 
the OSFI Supervisory Framework and Corporate Governance Guidelines. 

The Board, primarily through the RMC, approves certain credit risk limits and delegates specific transactional approval authorities to the CEO 

or jointly to the CEO and CRO. The RMC must approve transactions that exceed delegated authorities. Delegation of authority to business units is 
controlled to ensure decision-making authorities are restricted to those individuals with the necessary experience levels. In addition, CIBC has 
rigorous processes to identify, evaluate and remediate risk control deficiencies in a timely manner. Regular reporting is provided to the RMC to 
evidence compliance with risk limits. Risk limits and the delegation of authority to the CEO or jointly to the CEO and CRO are reviewed annually by 
the RMC. 

Risk monitoring and reporting 
To monitor CIBC’s risk profile and facilitate evaluation against the risk appetite statement, a number of measurement metrics have been established, 
with regular reporting against these metrics provided to the GRC and the RMC. This reporting enables decisions on growth and risk mitigation 
strategies. 

Exposures are also regularly monitored against limits, with escalation protocols for limit excesses, should they occur. Escalation protocols 

ensure awareness at appropriate levels and facilitate management of excesses that is consistent with our risk appetite. 

Regular management reports on each risk type are also prepared to facilitate monitoring and control of risk at a more granular level. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  49 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Top and emerging risks 
We monitor and review top and emerging risks that may affect our future results, and take action to mitigate potential risks. We perform in-depth 
analyses, which can include stress testing our exposures relative to the risks, and provide updates and related developments to the Board on a 
regular basis. Top and emerging risks are those that we consider to have potential negative implications that are material for CIBC. This section 
describes those top and emerging risks, as well as regulatory and accounting developments that are material for CIBC. 

Pandemic outbreaks 
The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed by governments around the world to limit its spread have disrupted the global economy, 
financial markets, supply chains and business productivity in unprecedented and unpredictable ways, and have limited economic activity in 
Canada, the U.S. and other regions where we operate. While the economy has rebounded significantly relative to the trough of the downturn in the 
second quarter of 2020, the recovery has been uneven. Looking ahead, we expect a slow recovery in the first half of 2021, accelerating again 
thereafter and returning to pre-pandemic levels by 2022. 

We are closely monitoring the continuously evolving impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has adversely affected our business and 
uncertainty remains as to the full impact of COVID-19 on the global economy, financial markets, and our business, results of operations, reputation 
and financial condition, including our regulatory capital, liquidity positions and our ability to meet regulatory and other requirements. The ultimate 
impacts will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain, such as the scope, severity and duration of the pandemic, including the 
ongoing fallout from the current second wave, subsequent resurgences of infection, actions taken by governments, monetary authorities, regulators, 
financial institutions and other third parties in response to subsequent waves, the extent of physical distancing measures, as well as business 
closures and travel restrictions mandated by governments. Recent positive developments related to vaccine development suggest regulatory 
approval and targeted usage could be expected by early 2021, but uncertainty remains surrounding the timing of mass production, distribution, 
public acceptance and the subsequent reduction in rates of infection. 

A substantial amount of our business involves extending credit or otherwise providing financial resources to individuals, companies, industries 

or governments that have likely been adversely impacted by the pandemic, hindering their ability to meet original loan terms and potentially 
impacting their ability to repay their loans. While our estimate of ECL on performing loans considers the likelihood and extent of future defaults and 
impairments, given the inherent uncertainty caused by COVID-19, actual experience may differ materially from our current estimates. To the extent 
that business activity does not increase in line with our expectations due to the impact of subsequent waves of infection, or if unemployment 
continues to rise and clients default on loans beyond our current expectations, we may recognize further credit losses beyond those in fiscal 2020. 
The effectiveness of various government support programs in place for individuals and businesses as well as the timing of a vaccine may also 
impact our expectations. Similarly, because of changing economic and market conditions, we may be required to recognize losses, impairments, or 
reductions in other comprehensive income (OCI) in future periods relating to other assets that we hold. 

Net interest income is significantly impacted by market interest rates. Interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve in 
response to COVID-19 have negatively impacted our net interest income. The overall effect of lower, or potentially negative, interest rates cannot be 
predicted and depends on future actions that the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve may take to increase or reduce targeted rates in 
response to COVID-19 or other factors. 

We have taken multiple steps to support our clients through these challenging times (see the “CIBC client relief programs in response to 
COVID-19” section for further details). Governments, monetary authorities, regulators and financial institutions have also taken actions to support the 
economy, increase liquidity, mitigate unemployment, provide temporary financial assistance and regulatory flexibility, and implement other 
measures intended to mitigate or counterbalance the adverse economic consequences of the pandemic. We continue to work with regulators and 
governments across the jurisdictions in which we operate to support and facilitate government programs assisting clients. The unprecedented 
nature, scope and speed of these actions, while essential to mitigate the economic damage of the crisis, present additional risks for CIBC. These 
government programs are complex, and our participation may cause additional operational, compliance, legal and reputational risks that could 
result in litigation, government action or other forms of loss. Furthermore, there can be no assurance as to the effectiveness of these programs, 
which will depend on the duration and scale of COVID-19 and will differ by region and industry, with varying degrees of benefit to our clients. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated operational pressure and risks for CIBC in the areas of business interruption, fraud, third-party 

management, transaction processing and cyber security. 

We continue to operate within our business continuity plans which were enacted upon the WHO declaring COVID-19 a pandemic. We have 

continued to evaluate and adapt our operating model, including our return to office strategy which has been modified in light of the second wave of 
COVID-19. As the infection rate rises in our surrounding communities, continuous monitoring and consistent application of our Health & Safety 
protocols continue, in line with government and public health authorities’ guidelines. The possibility of widespread illness amongst our clients and 
team members poses additional business and operational risk, and we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our clients and team members 
while meeting our clients’ needs during these challenging times. Remote work arrangements continue to be in place, and we anticipate that they will 
continue at least throughout the next quarter. 

Overall, our organization has adapted well. Relevant operational risk metrics continue to track at an acceptable level. Our technology risk 

management practices remain resilient and adaptable. While a more stable environment has been observed, uncertainty remains around the 
operational impact from the prolonged pandemic environment, as well as risk introduced through recently implemented business changes. 
Operational resilience and sustainability remain our key areas of focus. We will continue to monitor our risk posture and trends to ensure operational 
risks are managed appropriately and in a timely manner. 

If the COVID-19 pandemic is prolonged beyond our expectations, or further diseases emerge that give rise to similar effects, the adverse 

impact on the economy could deepen and result in further volatility and declines in financial markets. Moreover, it remains uncertain how the 
macroeconomic environment, societal and business norms will be impacted following this pandemic. Unexpected developments in financial 
markets, regulatory environments, or consumer behaviour and confidence may have adverse impacts on our business, results of operations, 
reputation and financial condition, for a substantial period of time. 

Commodity prices 
While the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to play out in financial markets, we have seen historic lows in crude oil prices, beyond those 
experienced in December 2018, with unprecedented negative prices reflected near the end of April 2020 for one-month West Texas Intermediate 
futures contracts. While oil prices have partially recovered since the lows of April, future price volatility remains a concern given the potential impact 
on global demand due to the second wave of COVID-19. Clients in our oil and gas portfolio continue to be assessed on the basis of our enhanced 
risk metrics that reflect our current environment, and our portfolio is monitored in a prudent manner. Precious metals and other commodities also 

50  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

remain volatile as COVID-19 affects their supply and demand, with gold prices peaking in 2020. We continue to closely monitor our overall 
commodity exposure in these volatile markets. 

Geo-political risk 
The level of geo-political risk escalates at certain points in time. While the specific impact on the global economy and on global credit and capital 
markets would depend on the nature of the event, in general, any major event could result in instability and volatility, leading to widening spreads, 
declining equity valuations, flight to safe-haven currencies and increased purchases of gold. In the short run, market volatility could hurt the net 
income of our trading and non-trading market risk positions. Geo-political risk could reduce economic growth, and in combination with the potential 
impacts on commodity prices and the recent rise of protectionism, could have serious negative implications for general economic and banking 
activities. Current areas of concern include: 
 

Global uncertainty and market repercussions pertaining to the spread of COVID-19, including concerns related to the current and subsequent 
waves of infection, and the development of an effective mass-produced vaccine; 
Carry-over impact from the oil production dispute between Saudi Arabia and Russia; 
Ongoing U.S. and China relations and trade issues; 
Diplomatic tensions and the trade dispute between Canada and China; 
Relations between the U.S. and Iran; 
Anti-government protests in Hong Kong; and 
Uncertainty regarding the outcome of Brexit, given the need for Britain to negotiate a trade agreement with the European Union. 

 
 
 
 
 
 

While it is impossible to predict where new geo-political disruption will occur, we do pay particular attention to markets and regions with existing or 
recent historical instability to assess the impact of these environments on the markets and businesses in which we operate. 

Canadian consumer debt and the housing market 
Historic growth of debt levels, primarily driven by higher mortgage debt, had been tempered by the Bank of Canada’s interest rate increases in 
2017–2018, regulatory measures that include revised mortgage underwriting guidelines (B-20 guidelines) and taxes on foreign ownership. These 
measures, combined with a previous low unemployment environment, have had their intended effect as debt-to-income ratios flattened in 2018–2019. 
To counter the economic impact due to COVID-19, the government put in place several relief programs, the Bank of Canada cut interest rates and 
CIBC assisted clients by offering temporary relief programs across all retail products. The housing market outlook in the short term is expected to 
remain fairly stable. We believe that the probability of a severe housing crash that generates significant losses for mortgage portfolios remains low. 
Currently, we qualify variable rate mortgage borrowers using the Bank of Canada five-year fixed benchmark rate, which is typically higher than the 
variable rate by approximately two percentage points and is required as part of the B-20 guidelines. We run our enterprise-wide statistical stress tests 
at lower home prices to determine potential direct losses and have also conducted stress tests to assess the impact of rising unemployment rates on 
borrowers’ ability to repay loan obligations. 

Disintermediation risk 
Canadian banking clients are increasingly shifting their service transactions from brick-and-mortar banking centres to digital platforms. Competitive 
pressure from digital disruptors, both global technology leaders and smaller financial technology entrants, is increasing and the risk of 
disintermediation continues to grow due to the level of sophistication of these non-traditional competitors, and increased adoption of emerging 
technologies. Blockchain is one such technology that enables parties to transact with one another without the need for centralized third-party 
intermediaries such as banks. Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are a specific application of blockchain with the potential for disintermediation. 
However, widespread adoption as a substitute for government-issued currency does not appear to be a near-term prospect due to several 
shortcomings such as their high volatility and limited regulation. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation also have the potential to 
transform business models over time including the delivery of financial services advice through automated processes. CIBC is maturing its AI 
capabilities with a focus on maintaining customer confidence and trust by building AI practices that apply principles such as fairness, ethics, 
transparency and security. 

We manage disintermediation risk through strategic reviews as well as investment in emerging channels, in data and analytics capabilities, 
and in technology and innovation in general, to meet our clients’ changing expectations, while working to reduce our cost structure and simplify 
operations. We maintain a central and coordinated approach to innovation and have received numerous industry awards related to banking 
innovation and digital and mobile banking. 

Interbank Offered Rate (IBOR) transition 
Interest rate benchmarks including the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other similar benchmarks, are being reformed and replaced by 
new risk-free rates that are largely based on traded markets. The U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) originally announced in July 2017 that it 
would not compel banks to submit LIBOR rates after December 2021. The FCA and the ICE Benchmark Administrator recently announced a 
consultation process that may lead to a change in the expected timing of cessation of certain currencies and tenors of LIBOR, which CIBC will 
closely monitor. As IBORs are widely referenced by large volumes of derivative, loan and cash products, the transition presents a number of risks to 
CIBC, and the industry as a whole. These transition risks include market risk (in the eventuality that new basis risks emerge), model risk, operational 
risk (as processes are changed or newly introduced), legal risk (as contracts are revised) and conduct risk (in ensuring clients are adequately 
informed/prepared). CIBC has established a comprehensive enterprise-wide program to manage and coordinate all aspects of the transition, 
including the identification and mitigation of these risks. See the “Other regulatory developments” section for further details. 

Anti-money laundering 
Money laundering, terrorist financing activities and other related crimes pose a great threat to the stability and integrity of a country’s financial sector 
and its broader economy. In recognition of this threat, the international community has made the fight against these illegal activities a priority. CIBC 
is committed to adhering to all regulatory requirements pertaining to AML and ATF and implementing best practices to minimize the impact of such 
activities. In Canada, amendments to the regulations under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act were published 
in July 2019 to improve the effectiveness of Canada’s AML/ATF regime. CIBC continues to make progress on ensuring our compliance with the new 
regulations once they come into effect. As such, we have implemented procedures, processes and controls with respect to client due diligence, 
record keeping and reporting to ensure that relevant regulatory obligations are met in each jurisdiction and we have implemented mandatory annual 
AML/ATF training for all employees. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  51 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

U.S. banking regulation 
Our U.S. operations are subject to supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve), and are also subject to 
a comprehensive federal and state regulatory framework. Our wholly owned subsidiary, CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. (CIBC Bancorp), is a financial 
holding company subject to regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Act of 1956, as amended. CIBC Bank USA, 
our Illinois-chartered bank, is subject to regulation by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Illinois Department of Financial 
and Professional Regulation. CIBC’s New York branch is subject to regulation and supervision by the New York Department of Financial Services 
and the Federal Reserve. Certain market activities of our U.S. operations are subject to regulation by the SEC and the U.S. Commodity Futures 
Trading Commission, as well as other oversight bodies. 

The scope of these regulations could impact our business in a number of ways. For example, both CIBC Bancorp and CIBC Bank USA are 

required to maintain minimum capital ratios in accordance with Basel III rules adopted by the U.S. bank regulatory agencies, which differ in some 
respects from Canada’s Basel III rules. Under the U.S. bank regulatory framework, both CIBC and CIBC Bancorp are expected to provide a source 
of strength to the subsidiary bank and may be required to commit additional capital and other resources to CIBC Bank USA in the event that its 
financial condition were to deteriorate, whether due to overall challenging economic conditions in the U.S., or because of business-specific issues. 
The Federal Reserve (in the case of CIBC Bancorp) and the FDIC (in the case of CIBC Bank USA) also have the ability to restrict dividends paid by 
CIBC Bancorp or CIBC Bank USA, which could limit our ability to receive distributions on our capital investment in our U.S. banking operations. 
Furthermore, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC could also restrict our ability to grow our U.S. banking operations, whether through 
acquisitions or organically, if, among other things, they have supervisory concerns about risk management, AML or compliance programs and 
practices, governance and controls, and/or capital and liquidity adequacy at CIBC Bancorp, CIBC Bank USA or our New York branch, as 
applicable. 

The U.S. regulatory environment continues to evolve and future legislative and regulatory developments may impact CIBC. 

Technology, information and cyber security risk 
Financial institutions like CIBC are evolving their business processes to leverage innovative technologies and the internet to improve client 
experience and streamline operations. At the same time, cyber threats and the associated financial, reputation and business interruption risks have 
also increased. These risks continue to be actively managed by us through strategic risk reviews, enterprise-wide technology and information 
security programs, with the goal of maintaining overall cyber-resilience that prevents, detects, and responds to threats such as data breaches, 
malware, unauthorized access, and denial-of-service attacks, which can result in damage to CIBC systems and information, theft or disclosure of 
confidential information, unauthorized or fraudulent activity, and service disruption. 

Given the importance of electronic financial systems, including secure online and mobile banking provided by CIBC to its clients, CIBC 
monitors the changing environment globally, including cyber threats, mitigation strategies and evolving regulatory requirements, in order to improve 
our controls and processes to protect our systems and client information. In addition, we perform cyber security preparedness, testing, and 
recovery exercises to validate our defences, benchmark against best practices and provide regular updates to the Board. CIBC has well-defined 
cyber incident response protocols and playbooks in the event that a security incident or breach occurs. CIBC also has cyber insurance coverage to 
help mitigate against certain potential losses associated with cyber incidents. CIBC’s insurance coverage is subject to various terms and provisions, 
including limits on the types and amounts of coverage relating to losses arising from cyber incidents. We periodically assess our insurance 
coverage based on our risk tolerance and limits. Despite our commitment to information and cyber security, and given the rapidly evolving threat 
and regulatory landscape, coupled with a changing business environment, it is not possible for CIBC to identify all cyber risks or implement 
measures to prevent or eliminate all potential incidents from occurring. However, CIBC monitors its risk profile for changes and continues to refine 
approaches to security protection and service resilience to minimize the impact of any incidents that may occur. 

Third party risk 
CIBC’s Board and senior management recognize the establishment of third-party relationships as important to CIBC’s business model and therefore 
leverage them to achieve CIBC’s business objectives. With the introduction of new technologies, new foreign jurisdictions and increasing reliance 
on sub-contractors, the third-party landscape continues to evolve. While such relationships may benefit CIBC through reduced costs, innovation, 
improved performance and increased business competitiveness, they also can introduce risks of failure or disruption to CIBC through breakdowns 
in people, processes or technology or through external events that impact these third parties. 

To mitigate third-party risks, prepare for future third-party risks and changing regulatory expectations, and to ensure existing processes and 

internal controls are operating effectively, CIBC relies on its strong risk culture and established Third Party Risk Management program, which 
includes policies, procedures, expertise and resources dedicated to third-party risk management. The program identifies and manages risks that 
arise from third-party relationships from the point of planning through the life cycle of the business arrangement and supports the maintenance of 
collaborative relationships that advance CIBC’s strategic direction and operational needs within our risk appetite. 

Climate risk 
The physical effects of climate change such as heat waves, water stress and flooding, along with regulations designed to mitigate climate change, 
will have a measurable impact on communities and the economy. As the world transitions to a low-carbon economy, we are committed to 
understanding and responsibly managing the relevant impacts of climate change on our business activities. While CIBC has relatively low direct 
carbon emissions given we are a service-based company, many of our clients operate in businesses that currently face or will face new carbon 
emission standards in the foreseeable future. 

There is an increasing demand for disclosure around climate-related risk identification and mitigation and we support the disclosure framework 

developed by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The TCFD reporting framework provides stakeholders with 
consistent, material climate-related disclosures that are comparable across sectors, industries and countries. A key recommendation by the TCFD 
is the use of climate-related scenario analysis as a way to provide insight into how physical and transition risks of climate change might impact a 
business over time. Along with many other global banks, we are participating in the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative 
(UNEP FI) and the TCFD, in order to accelerate our progress and ensure consistency in the approach to effective climate scenario analysis. 
Developing a comprehensive TCFD report is a journey that is expected to take several years. We are proactively collaborating with peer banks to 
ensure consistency and comparability as we improve the completeness of our TCFD reporting. 

See the “Environmental and related social risk” section for additional information. 

52  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Corporate transactions 
CIBC seeks out acquisition and divestiture opportunities that align with its strategy, risk appetite and financial goals. The ability to successfully 
execute on our strategy to integrate acquisitions, and the ability to anticipate and manage risks associated with such corporate transactions are 
subject to certain factors such as receiving regulatory and shareholder approval on a timely basis and on favourable terms, retaining clients and key 
personnel, realizing synergies and efficiencies, controlling integration and acquisition costs, among others, and changes in general business and 
economic conditions. 

Although many of the factors are beyond CIBC’s control, their impact is partially mitigated by conducting due diligence before completing th

e 

transaction and developing and executing appropriate plans. However, such corporate transactions involve inherent uncertainty and we cannot 
determine all potential events, facts and circumstances and there could be an adverse impact on CIBC’s operations and financial performance 
following such corporate transactions. 

Regulatory developments 
See the “Taxes”, “Capital management”, “Liquidity risk” and “Accounting and control matters” sections for additional information on regulatory 
developments. 

Accounting developments 
See the “Accounting and control matters” section and Note 32 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on accounting 
developments. 

Risks arising from business activities 
The chart below shows our business activities and related risk measures based upon regulatory RWA and allocated common equity as at 
October 31, 2020: 

SBUs 

Business 
activities 

Balance 
sheet 

RWA 

Allocated 
common 
equity (4)(5) 

CIBC 

Corporate and Other 

Canadian Personal and 
Business Banking 

Canadian Commercial 
Banking and
Wealth Management 

U.S. Commercial Banking
and Wealth Management 

Capital Markets 

• Deposits 
 Residential mortgages 
 Personal loans 
 Credit cards 
 Business lending 
 Insurance 

 Commercial banking 
 Full service brokerage 
 Asset management 
 Private wealth management 

 Commercial banking 
 Asset management 
 Private wealth 
 Personal and small
 banking 

 Credit products 
 Global markets 
 Investment banking 
 Investment portfolios 

 International banking 
 Investment portfolios 
 Joint ventures 
 Functional and support 
groups (see page 29) 

($ millions) 

($ millions) 

($ millions) 

($ millions) 

($ millions) 

Average assets 
Average deposits 

261,956 
194,566 

Average assets 
Average deposits 

65,839 
71,076 

Average assets 
Average deposits 

55,237 
35,461 

Average assets 
Average deposits 

221,117 
44,175 

Average assets 
Average deposits 

131,343 
193,356 

($ millions) 

($ millions) 

Credit risk 
Market risk 
Operational risk 

50,332 
– 
12,222 

Credit risk 
Market risk 
Operational risk 

48,423 
– 
6,486 

Credit risk (1) 
Market risk 
Operational risk 

($ millions) 

46,612 

17 
3,574 

Credit risk (2) 
Market risk 
Operational risk 

($ millions) 

53,161 

5,596 
6,680 

Credit risk (3) 
Market risk 
Operational risk 

Proportion of total CIBC 

Comprising: 
Credit risk 
Market risk 
Operational risk 
Other (6) 

(%) 

18 

75 
– 
18 
7 

Proportion of total CIBC 

Comprising: 
Credit risk 
Market risk 
Operational risk 
Other (6) 

(%) 

18 

74 
– 
10 
16 

Proportion of total CIBC 

Comprising: 
Credit risk (6) 
Market risk 
Operational risk 
Other (6) 

(%) 

25 

49 
– 
4 
47 

Proportion of total CIBC 

Comprising: 
Credit risk (6) 
Market risk 
Operational risk 
Other (6) 

(%) 

18 

81 
8 
10 
1 

Proportion of total CIBC 

21

Comprising: 
Credit risk (6) 
Market risk 
Operational risk 
Other (6) 

73 
2 
8 
17 

($ millions) 

20,166 

245 
1,357 

(%) 

Risk profile 

We are exposed to credit, market, liquidity, operational, and other  risks, which primarily include strategic, insurance, technology, information and cyber security, 
reputation and legal, regulatory compliance, and environmental and social risks. 

(1)  Includes CCR of $193 million, which comprises derivatives and repo-style transactions. 
(2)  Includes CCR of $16,784 million, which comprises derivatives and repo-style transactions. 
(3)  Includes CCR of $143 million, which comprises derivatives and repo-style transactions. 
(4)  Effective November 1, 2019, capital is now allocated to the SBUs based on the estimated amount of regulatory capital required to support their businesses. Previously, we 

utilized an economic capital model to attribute capital to our SBUs and calculate segmented return on equity. For additional information, see the “External reporting 
changes” section. Allocated common equity is a non-GAAP measure. For additional information, see the “Non-GAAP measures” section. Allocated common equity amounts 
shown in this table reflect average balances. 

(5)  Under the previous economic capital model, interest rate risk in the banking book was considered a component of market risk. Effective November 1, 2019, the 

composition of risks relating to allocated common equity is based on the Basel III definitions of credit risk, market risk, and operational risk. 

(6)  Represents allocated common equity relating to capital deductions, such as goodwill and intangible assets, in accordance with the rules in OSFI’s CAR Guideline. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  53 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Credit risk 

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss due to a borrower or counterparty failing to meet its obligations in accordance with contractual terms. 

Credit risk arises out of the lending businesses in each of our SBUs. Other sources of credit risk consist of our trading activities, which 

include our over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives, debt securities, and our repo-style transaction activity. In addition to losses on the default of a 
borrower or counterparty, unrealized gains or losses may occur due to changes in the credit spread of the counterparty, which could impact the 
carrying or fair value of our assets. 

Governance and management 
Credit risk is managed through the three lines of defence model. Frontline businesses and control groups must assess and manage the risks 
associated with their activities. They own the risks and the controls that mitigate the risks – this is the first line of defence. 

The second line of defence is Risk Management, which takes a broader, independent view and is responsible for the adjudication and 

oversight of credit risks associated with CIBC’s commercial, corporate and wealth management activities. 

Internal audit is the third line of defence, providing reasonable assurance to senior management and the Audit Committee of the Board on the 

effectiveness of CIBC’s governance practices, risk management processes, and internal control as part of its risk-based audit plan and in 
accordance with its mandate as described in the Internal Audit Charter. 

Senior management reports to the GRC and RMC at least quarterly on material credit risk matters, including material credit transactions, 
compliance with limits, portfolio trends, impaired loans and credit loss provisioning levels. Provision for credit losses is reviewed by the RMC and 
the Audit Committee quarterly. 

Specific to the management of credit risk, Risk Management is mandated to provide enterprise-wide oversight of the management of credit 

risk in CIBC’s credit portfolios, including the measurement, monitoring and control of credit risk and the management of credit risk models. Key 
groups in Risk Management with credit risk responsibility include: 

Capital Markets Risk Management: This group is responsible for independent oversight of the measurement, monitoring and control of traded and 
non-traded market risk, liquidity risk and trading credit risk, including adjudication of trading credit facilities for banks, non-bank financial entities, 
prime brokerage clients and central clearing counterparties. In addition, Capital Markets Risk Management is responsible for the risk management 
of sovereign and country risk, securitizations and the oversight of the Global Collateral Finance framework covering repos and securities lending. 

Global Credit Risk Management: This group is responsible for the adjudication and oversight of credit risks (including transaction-specific 
environmental and related social risk) associated with our commercial, corporate and wealth management credit portfolios, management of the risks 
in our investment portfolios, as well as management of special loan portfolios. 

Model Validation, Global Operational Risk Management: This group is responsible for the oversight of model validation practices. Model 
validation constitutes the independent set of processes, activities and ongoing documentary evidence that models and parameters are sound and 
CIBC can rely on their output. 

Enterprise Risk Management: This group is responsible for enterprise-wide analysis, including enterprise-wide stress testing and reporting, risk 
data systems and models, as well as economic and regulatory capital methodologies. 

Retail Analytics and Credit Decisioning: This group manages credit risk in personal and small business products offered through the various 
distribution channels (e.g., residential mortgages, credit cards, personal loans/lines of credit, small business loans) and performs analytics to 
optimize retail credit performance, along with collections, fraud, and AML outcomes. 

U.S. Risk Management: This group carries out the mandate of CIBC Risk Management at a regional level and provides independent oversight of 
the identification, management, measurement, monitoring and control of credit risks in the U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management SBU. 

Adjudication and oversight above delegated levels is provided by the CRO, GRC and RMC. 

Policies 
To control credit risk, prudent credit risk management principles are used as a base to establish policies, standards and guidelines that govern 
credit activities as outlined by the credit risk management policy. 

The credit risk management policy supplements CIBC’s risk management framework and risk appetite framework, and together with 

CIBC’s portfolio concentration limits for credit exposures, CIBC’s common risk/concentration risk limits for credit exposures, and other 
supporting credit risk policies, standards and procedures, assists CIBC in achieving its desired risk profile by providing an effective foundation 
for the management of credit risk. 

Credit risk limits 
The RMC approves Board limits, and exposures above Board limits require reporting to, or approval of, the RMC. Management limits are 
approved by the CRO. Usage is monitored to ensure risks are within allocated management and Board limits. Exposures above management 
limits require the approval of the CRO. Business lines may also impose lower limits to reflect the nature of their exposures and target markets. 
This tiering of limits provides for an appropriate hierarchy of decision making and reporting between management and the RMC. Credit approval 
authority flows from the Board and is further cascaded to officers in writing. The Board’s Investment and Lending Authority Resolution sets 
thresholds above which credits require reporting to, or approval of, the RMC, ensuring an increasing level of oversight for credits of higher risk. 
CIBC maintains country limits to control exposures within countries outside of Canada and the U.S. 

54  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Credit concentration limits 
At a bank-wide level, credit exposures are managed to promote alignment to our risk appetite statement, to maintain the target business mix and 
to ensure that there is no undue concentration of risk. We set limits to control borrower concentrations by risk-rating band for large exposures 
(i.e., risk-rated credits). Direct loan sales, credit derivative hedges, or structured transactions may also be used to reduce concentrations. We 
also have a set of portfolio concentration limits in place to control exposures by country, industry, product and activity. Further, our policies 
require limits to be established as appropriate for new initiatives and implementation of strategies involving material levels of credit risk. 
Concentration limits represent the maximum exposure levels we wish to hold on our books. In the normal course, it is expected that exposures 
will be held at levels below the maximums. The credit concentration limits are reviewed and approved by the RMC at least annually. 

Credit concentration limits are also applied to our retail lending portfolios to mitigate concentration risk. We not only have concentration 
limits to individual borrowers and geographic regions, but also to different types of credit facilities, such as unsecured credits, rental occupancy 
purpose credits, condominium secured credits and mortgages with a second or third charge where we are behind another lender. In addition, 
we limit the maximum insured mortgage exposure to private insurers in order to reduce counterparty risk. 

Credit risk mitigation 
We may mitigate credit risk by obtaining a pledge of collateral, which improves recoveries in the event of a default. Our credit risk management 
policies include verification of the collateral and its value and ensuring that we have legal certainty with respect to the assets pledged. 
Valuations are updated periodically depending on the nature of the collateral, legal environment, and the creditworthiness of the counterparty. 
The main types of collateral include: (i) cash or marketable securities for securities lending and repurchase transactions; (ii) cash or marketable 
securities taken as collateral in support of our OTC derivatives activity; (iii) charges over operating assets such as inventory, receivables and 
real estate properties for lending to small business and commercial borrowers; and (iv) mortgages over residential properties for retail lending. 
In certain circumstances we may use third-party guarantees to mitigate risk. We also obtain insurance to reduce the risk in our real estate 

secured lending portfolios, the most material of which relates to the portion of our residential mortgage portfolio that is insured by CMHC, an 
agency of the Government of Canada. 

We mitigate the trading credit risk of OTC derivatives, securities lending and repurchase transactions with counterparties by employing the 

International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Master Agreement, as well as Credit Support Annexes (CSAs) or similar master and 
collateral agreements. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for additional details on the risks related to the use of derivatives 
and how we manage these risks. 

ISDA Master Agreements and similar master and collateral agreements, such as the global master repurchase agreement and global 

master securities lending agreement, facilitate cross transaction payments, prescribe close-out netting processes, and define the 
counterparties’ contractual trading relationship. In addition, the agreements formalize non-transaction-specific terms. Master agreements serve 
to mitigate our credit risk by outlining default and termination events, which enable parties to close out of all outstanding transactions in the case 
of a negative credit event on either party’s side. The mechanism for calculating termination costs in the event of a close-out are outlined in the 
master agreement; this allows for the efficient calculation of a single net obligation of one party to another. 

CSAs and other collateral agreements are often included in ISDA Master Agreements or similar master agreements governing securities 

lending and repurchase transactions. They mitigate CCR by providing for the exchange of collateral between parties when a party’s exposure to 
the other exceeds agreed upon thresholds, subject to a minimum transfer amount. CSAs and other collateral agreements which operate with 
master agreements also designate acceptable collateral types, and set out rules for re-hypothecation and interest calculation on collateral. 
Collateral types permitted under CSAs and other master agreements are set through our trading credit risk management documentation 
procedures. These procedures include requirements around collateral type concentrations. 

Consistent with global initiatives to improve resilience in the financial system, we will clear derivatives through central counterparties 

(CCPs) where feasible. Credit derivatives may be used to reduce industry sector concentrations and single-name exposure. 

Forbearance policy 
We employ forbearance techniques to manage client relationships and to minimize credit losses due to default, foreclosure or repossession. In 
certain circumstances, it may be necessary to modify a loan for reasons related to a borrower’s financial difficulties, reducing the potential of default. 
Troubled debt restructurings are subject to our normal quarterly impairment review which considers, amongst other factors, covenants and/or 
payment delinquencies. Loan loss provisions are adjusted as appropriate. 

In retail lending, forbearance techniques include interest capitalization, amortization amendments and debt consolidations. We have a set of 
eligibility criteria which allow our Client Account Management team to determine suitable remediation strategies and propose products based on 
each borrower’s situation. 

The solutions available to corporate and commercial clients vary based on the individual nature of the client’s situation and are undertaken 
selectively where it has been determined that the client has or is likely to have repayment difficulties servicing its obligations. Covenants often reveal 
changes in the client’s financial situation before there is a change in payment behaviour and typically allow for a right to reprice or accelerate 
payments. Solutions may be temporary in nature or may involve other special management options. 

Process and control 
The credit approval process is centrally controlled, with all significant credit requests submitted to a credit adjudication group within Risk 
Management that is independent of the originating businesses. Approval authorities are a function of the risk and amount of credit requested. 
In certain cases, credit requests must be escalated to senior management, the CRO, or to the RMC for approval. 

After initial approval, individual credit exposures continue to be monitored. A formal risk assessment is completed at least annually for all 
risk rated accounts, including review of assigned ratings. Higher risk-rated accounts are subject to closer monitoring and are reviewed at least 
quarterly. Collections and specialized loan workout groups handle the day-to-day management of high risk loans to maximize recoveries. 
Limited approval authorities were delegated to customer contact centres and originating businesses, to ensure we had the ability to 
respond to customer requests for payment relief on a timely basis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are closely monitoring these 
payment relief programs, to ensure that credit performance is realized as expected, including controls on the overall number of deferrals, and 
maintaining daily monitoring of delinquencies and insolvencies. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  55 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Risk measurement 
Exposures subject to AIRB approach 
Under the AIRB approach we are required to categorize exposures to credit risk into broad classes of assets with different underlying risk 
characteristics. This asset categorization may differ from the presentation in our consolidated financial statements. Under the AIRB approach, 
credit risk is measured using the following three key risk parameters(1): 
 
 
 

PD – the probability that the obligor will default within the next 12 months. 
EAD – the estimate of the amount which will be drawn at the time of default. 
LGD – the expected severity of loss as the result of the default, expressed as a percentage of the EAD. 

Our credit risk exposures are divided into business and government and retail portfolios. Regulatory models used to measure credit risk 
exposure under the AIRB approach are subject to CIBC’s model risk management process. 

(1)  These parameters differ from those used in the calculation of ECL under IFRS 9. See the “Accounting and control matters” section for further details. 

Business and government portfolios (excluding scored small business) – risk-rating method 
The portfolios comprise exposures to corporate, sovereign, and bank obligors. Our adjudication process and criteria includes assigning an 
obligor default rating that reflects our estimate of the financial strength of the borrower, and a facility rating or LGD rating that reflects the 
collateral amount and quality applicable to secured exposures, the seniority position of the claim, and the capital structure of the borrower for 
unsecured exposures. 

The obligor rating takes into consideration our financial assessment of the obligor, the industry, and the economic environment of the region 
in which the obligor operates. Where a guarantee from a third party exists, both the obligor and the guarantor will be assessed. While our obligor 
rating is determined independently of external ratings for the obligor, our risk-rating methodology includes a review of those external ratings. 

CIBC employs a 20-point master internal obligor default rating scale that broadly maps to external agencies’ ratings as presented in the 

table below. 

Grade 

Investment grade 
Non-investment grade 
Watch list 
Default 

CIBC 
rating 

00–47 
51–67 
70–80 
90 

S&P 
equivalent 

AAA to BBB-
BB+ to B-
CCC+ to C 
D 

Moody’s 
equivalent 

Aaa to Baa3 
Ba1 to B3 
Caa1 to Ca 
C 

We use quantitative modelling techniques to assist in the development of internal risk-rating systems. The risk-rating systems have been 
developed through analysis of internal and external credit risk data, supplemented with expert judgment. The risk ratings are used for portfolio 
management, risk limit setting, product pricing, and in the determination of regulatory and economic capital. 

Our credit process is designed to ensure that we approve applications and extend credit only where we believe that our client has the 

ability to repay according to the agreed terms and conditions. 

Our credit framework of policies and limits defines our appetite for exposure to any single name or group of related borrowers, which is a 
function of the internal risk rating. We generally extend new credit only to borrowers in the investment and non-investment grade categories 
noted above. Our credit policies are also defined to manage our exposure to concentration in borrowers in any particular industry or region. 

In accordance with our process, each obligor is assigned an obligor default rating and the assigned rating is mapped to a PD estimate that 

represents a long-run average one-year default likelihood. For corporate obligors, PD estimates are calculated using joint maximum likelihood 
techniques based on our internal default rate history by rating category and longer dated external default rates as a proxy for the credit cycle to 
arrive at long-run average PD estimates. Estimates drawn from third party statistical default prediction models are used to supplement the 
internal default data for some rating bands where internal data is sparse. For small and medium corporate enterprises, PD estimates are 
developed using only internal default history. For bank and sovereign obligors, PD estimates are derived from an analysis based on external 
default data sets and supplemented with internal data where possible. We examine several different estimation methodologies and compare 
results across the different techniques. In addition, we apply the same techniques and estimation methodologies to analogous corporate default 
data and compare the results for banks and sovereigns to the corporate estimates for each technique. A regulatory floor is applied to PD 
estimates for corporate and bank obligors. 

Each facility is assigned an LGD rating and each assigned rating is mapped to an LGD estimate that considers economic downturn 

conditions. For corporate obligors, LGD estimates are primarily derived from internal historical recovery data. Time to resolution is typically 1 to 2  
years for most corporate obligors, and 1 to 4 years in the real estate sector. LGD values are based on discounted post-default cash flows for 
resolved accounts and include material direct and indirect costs associated with collections. External data is used in some cases to supplement 
our analysis. Economic downturn periods are identified for each portfolio by examining the history of actual losses, default rates and LGD. For 
bank and sovereign exposures, LGD estimates are primarily driven by expert judgment supplemented with external data and benchmarks where 
available. Appropriate adjustments are made to LGD estimates to account for various uncertainties associated with estimation techniques and 
data limitations, including adjustments for unresolved accounts. 

EAD is estimated based on the current exposure to the obligor together with possible future changes in that exposure driven by factors 
such as the available undrawn credit commitment amount and the obligor default rating. EAD estimates are primarily based on internal historical 
loss data supplemented with comparable external data. Economic downturn periods are identified for each portfolio by examining the historical 
default rates and actual EAD factors. 

Appropriate adjustments are made to PD, LGD and EAD estimates to account for various uncertainties associated with estimation 

techniques and data limitations, including adjustments for unresolved accounts (for LGD). 

A simplified risk-rating process (slotting approach) is used for part of our uninsured Canadian commercial mortgage portfolio, which 
comprises non-residential mortgages and multi-family residential mortgages. These exposures are individually rated on our rating scale using a 
risk-rating methodology that considers the property’s key attributes, which include its loan-to-value (LTV) and debt service ratios, the quality of 
the property, and the financial strength of the owner/sponsor. All exposures are secured by a lien over the property. In addition, we have insured 
multi-family residential mortgages, which are not treated under the slotting approach, but are instead treated as sovereign exposures. 

56  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Retail portfolios 
Retail portfolios are characterized by a large number of relatively small exposures. They comprise: real estate secured personal lending 
(residential mortgages and personal loans and lines secured by residential property); qualifying revolving retail exposures (credit cards, 
overdrafts and unsecured lines of credit); and other retail exposures (loans secured by non-residential assets, unsecured loans including 
student loans, and scored small business loans). 

We use scoring models in the adjudication of new retail credit exposures, which are based on statistical methods of analyzing the unique 

characteristics of the borrower, to estimate future behaviour. In developing our models, we use internal historical information from previous 
borrowers, as well as information from external sources, such as credit bureaus. The use of credit scoring models allows for consistent 
assessment across borrowers. There are specific guidelines in place for each product, and our adjudication decision will take into account the 
characteristics of the borrower, any guarantors, and the quality and sufficiency of the collateral pledged (if any). The lending process will include 
documentation of, where appropriate, satisfactory identification, proof of income, independent appraisal of the collateral and registration of 
security. 

Retail portfolios are managed as pools of homogeneous risk exposures, using external credit bureau scores and/or other behavioural 

assessments to group exposures according to similar credit risk profiles. These pools are established through statistical techniques. 
Characteristics used to group individual exposures vary by asset category; as a result, the number of pools, their size, and the statistical 
techniques applied to their management differ accordingly. 

The following table maps the PD bands to various risk levels: 

Risk level 

Exceptionally low 
Very low 
Low 
Medium 
High 
Default 

PD bands 

0.01%–0.20% 
0.21%–0.50% 
0.51%–2.00% 
2.01%–10.00% 
10.01%–99.99% 
100% 

For the purposes of the AIRB approach for retail portfolios, additional PD, LGD and EAD segmentation into homogenous risk exposures is 
established through statistical techniques. The principal statistical estimation technique is decision trees benchmarked against alternative 
techniques such as regression and random forests. 

Within real estate secured lending, we have two key parameter estimation models: mortgages and real estate secured personal lines of 

credit. Within qualifying revolving retail, we have three key parameter estimation models: credit cards, overdraft, and unsecured personal lines. 
A small percentage of credit cards, overdraft, and unsecured line accounts that do not satisfy the requirements for qualifying revolving retail are 
grouped into other retail parameter models. Within other retail, we have three key parameter models: margin lending, personal loans, and scored 
small business loans. Each parameter model pools accounts according to characteristics such as: delinquency, current credit bureau score, 
internal behaviour score, estimated current LTV ratio, account type, account age, utilization, outstanding balance, or authorized limit. 

PD is estimated as the average default rate over an extended period based on internal historical data, generally for a 5-to-10-year period, 

which is adjusted using internal historical data on default rates over a longer period or comparable external data that includes a period of stress. 
A regulatory floor is applied to our PD estimate for all retail exposures with the exception of insured mortgages and government-guaranteed 
loans. 

LGD is estimated based on observed recovery rates over an extended period using internal historical data. In determining our LGD 
estimate, we exclude any accounts that have not had enough time since default for the substantial majority of expected recovery to occur. This 
recovery period is product-specific and is typically in the range of 1 to 3 years. Accounts that cure from default and return to good standing are 
considered to have zero loss. We simulate the loss rate in a significant downturn based on the relationship(s) between LGD and one or more of 
the following: PD; housing prices, cure rate, and recovery time; or observed LGD in periods with above-average loss rates. We apply 
appropriate adjustments to address various types of estimation uncertainty including sampling error and trending. A regulatory floor is applied to 
all real estate secured exposures with the exception of insured mortgages. 

EAD for revolving products is estimated as a percentage of the authorized credit limit based on the observed EAD rates over an extended 
period using historical data. We simulate the EAD rate in a significant downturn based on the relationship(s) between the EAD rate and PD and/ 
or the observed EAD rate in periods with above-average EAD rates. For term loan products, EAD is set equal to the outstanding balance. 

We apply appropriate adjustments to PD, LGD and EAD to address various types of estimation uncertainty including sampling error and 

trending. 

Back-testing 
We monitor the three key risk parameters – PD, EAD and LGD – on a quarterly basis for our business and government portfolios and on a 
monthly basis for our retail portfolios. Every quarter, the back-testing results are reported to OSFI and are presented to the business and Risk 
Management senior management for review and challenge. For each parameter, we identify any portfolios whose realized values are 
significantly above or significantly below expectations and then test to see if this deviation is explainable by changes in the economy. If the 
results indicate that a parameter model may be losing its predictive power, we prioritize that model for review and update. 

Stress testing 
As part of our regular credit portfolio management process, we conduct stress testing and scenario analyses on our portfolio to quantitatively 
assess the impact of various historical, as well as hypothetical, stressed conditions, versus limits determined in accordance with our risk 
appetite. Scenarios are selected to test our exposures to specific industries (e.g., oil and gas and real estate), products (e.g., mortgages and 
cards), or geographic regions (e.g., Europe and Caribbean). Results from stress testing are a key input into management decision making, 
including the determination of limits and strategies for managing our credit exposure. See the “Real estate secured personal lending” section for 
further discussion on our residential mortgage portfolio stress testing. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  57 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Exposure to credit risk 
The portfolios are categorized based upon how we manage the business and the associated risks. Gross credit exposure amounts presented in 
the table below represent our estimate of EAD, which is net of derivative master netting agreements and CVA but is before allowance for credit 
losses or credit risk mitigation. Gross credit exposure amounts relating to our business and government portfolios are reduced for collateral held 
for repo-style transactions, which reflects the EAD value of such collateral. Non-trading equity exposures are not included in the table below as 
they have been deemed immaterial under the OSFI guidelines, and hence are subject to 100% risk-weighting. 

$ millions, as at October 31 

2020 

AIRB 

approach (1) 

Standardized 
approach 

Total 

approach (1) 

AIRB 

Standardized 
approach 

2019 

Total 

Business and government portfolios 
Corporate 
Drawn 
Undrawn commitments 
Repo-style transactions 
Other off-balance sheet 
OTC derivatives 

Sovereign 
Drawn 
Undrawn commitments 
Repo-style transactions 
Other off-balance sheet 
OTC derivatives 

Banks 

Drawn 
Undrawn commitments 
Repo-style transactions 
Other off-balance sheet 
OTC derivatives 

Gross business and government portfolios 

Less: collateral held for repo-style transactions 

Net business and government portfolios 

Retail portfolios 
Real estate secured personal lending 

Drawn 
Undrawn commitments (2) 

Qualifying revolving retail 

Drawn 
Undrawn commitments (2) 
Other off-balance sheet 

Other retail 
Drawn 
Undrawn commitments (2) 
Other off-balance sheet 

Total retail portfolios 

Securitization exposures 

Gross credit exposure 

Less: collateral held for repo-style transactions 

$  102,342 
49,473 
139,677 
14,085 
10,858 

$  36,603 
7,339 
– 
1,016 
786 

$  138,945 
56,812 
139,677 
15,101 
11,644 

$ 

316,435 

45,744 

362,179 

133,077 
8,354 
38,904 
1,553 
2,187 

184,075 

12,846 
1,552 
24,228 
59,761 
5,805 

104,192 

604,702 
187,832 

416,870 

231,527 
31,390 

262,917 

18,701 
53,085 
271 

72,057 

14,869 
2,819 
35 

17,723 

352,697 

12,276 

969,675 

187,832 

22,664 
– 
– 
– 
2 

22,666 

1,241 
16 
– 
– 
21 

1,278 

69,688 
– 

69,688 

4,799 
– 

4,799 

– 
– 
– 

– 

1,326 
28 
– 

1,354 

6,153 

3,509 

155,741 
8,354 
38,904 
1,553 
2,189 

206,741 

14,087 
1,568 
24,228 
59,761 
5,826 

105,470 

674,390 
187,832 

486,558 

236,326 
31,390 

267,716 

18,701 
53,085 
271 

72,057 

16,195 
2,847 
35 

19,077 

358,850 

15,785 

79,350 

1,049,025 

– 

187,832 

96,444 
44,732 
122,776 
14,540 
14,125 

292,617 

73,036 
6,421 
21,404 
1,624 
3,094 

105,579 

12,689 
1,771 
25,472 
61,532 
9,355 

110,819 

509,015 
157,415 

351,600 

222,933 
20,777 

243,710 

19,784 
49,709 
275 

69,768 

13,478 
2,584 
36 

16,098 

329,576 

10,688 

849,279 

157,415 

$  32,292 
6,244 
1 
981 
596 

$  128,736 
50,976 
122,777 
15,521 
14,721 

40,114 

332,731 

13,301 
– 
– 
– 
2 

13,303 

1,862 
6 
– 
– 
18 

1,886 

55,303 
– 

55,303 

4,177 
1 

4,178 

– 
– 
– 

– 

1,268 
26 
– 

1,294 

5,472 

3,511 

64,286 

– 

86,337 
6,421 
21,404 
1,624 
3,096 

118,882 

14,551 
1,777 
25,472 
61,532 
9,373 

112,705 

564,318 
157,415 

406,903 

227,110 
20,778 

247,888 

19,784 
49,709 
275 

69,768 

14,746 
2,610 
36 

17,392 

335,048 

14,199 

913,565 

157,415 

Net credit exposure (3) 

$  781,843 

$  79,350 

$  861,193 

$  691,864 

$  64,286 

$  756,150 

(1)  Includes exposures subject to the supervisory slotting approach. 
(2)  Increases in EAD in the current year include the impact of certain parameter updates in our regulatory models that were made in the first quarter of 2020 as part of our 

ongoing monitoring and review process. 

(3)  Excludes exposures arising from derivative and repo-style transactions that are cleared through QCCPs as well as credit risk exposures arising from other assets that 
are subject to the credit risk framework but are not included in the standardized or IRB frameworks, including other balance sheet assets that are risk-weighted at 
100%, significant investments in the capital of non-financial institutions that are risk-weighted at 1,250%, settlement risk, and amounts below the thresholds for 
deduction that are risk-weighted at 250%. 

Net credit exposure increased by $105 billion in 2020, due to increases in our deposits with sovereigns and securities holdings, as well as business 
growth in our North American lending portfolios. 

58  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Exposures subject to the standardized approach(1) 
Exposures within CIBC Bank USA, CIBC FirstCaribbean and certain exposures to individuals for non-business purposes do not have sufficient 
historical data to support the AIRB approach for credit risk, and are subject to the standardized approach. The standardized approach utilizes a 
set of risk weightings defined by the regulators, as opposed to the more data intensive AIRB approach. A detailed breakdown of our 
standardized credit risk exposures by risk-weight category, before considering the effect of credit risk mitigation strategies and before 
allowance for credit losses, is provided below. 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Corporate 
Sovereign 
Banks 
Real estate secured personal lending 
Other retail 

$ 

0% 
– 
17,648 
– 
– 
– 
$  17,648 

$ 

20% 
– 
3,442 
1,189 
– 
– 
$  4,631 

$ 

$ 

Risk-weight category 
50% 
– 
138 
1 
– 
– 
$  139 

75% 
– 
– 
– 
2,883 
1,289 
$  4,172 

35% 
– 
– 
– 
1,742 
– 
$  1,742 

$ 

100% 
$  45,592 
906 
78 
170 
59 
$  46,805 

2020 
Total 
$  45,744 
22,666 
1,278 
4,799 
1,354 
$  75,841 

150% 
$  152 
532 
10 
4 
6 
$  704 

2019 
Total 
$  40,114 
13,303 
1,886 
4,178 
1,294 
$  60,775 

(1)  See “Securitization exposures” section for securitization exposures that are subject to the standardized approach. 

We use credit ratings from S&P and Moody’s to calculate credit risk RWA for certain exposures under the standardized approach, including 
securities issued by sovereigns and their central banks (sovereigns), banks and corporates, and deposits with sovereigns and banks. This includes 
S&P and Moody’s issuer-specific credit ratings for securities issued by sovereigns and corporates, the S&P country credit rating for the country of 
incorporation for securities issued by banks, and deposits with banks, and the S&P country credit rating for deposits with central banks. The RWA 
calculated using credit ratings from these agencies represents 2.7% of credit risk RWA under the standardized approach. 

Trading credit exposures 
We have trading credit exposure (also called counterparty credit exposure) that arises from our OTC derivatives and our repo-style transactions. 
The nature of our derivatives exposure and how it is mitigated is further explained in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements. Our repo-
style transactions consist of our securities bought or sold under repurchase agreements, and our securities borrowing and lending activity. 
The PD of our counterparties is estimated using models consistent with the models used for our direct lending activity. Due to the 
fluctuations in the market values of interest rates, exchange rates, and equity and commodity prices, counterparty credit exposure cannot be 
quantified with certainty at the inception of the trade. Counterparty credit exposure is estimated using the current fair value of the exposure, plus 
an estimate of the maximum potential future exposure due to changes in the fair value. Credit risk associated with these counterparties is 
managed within the same process as our lending business, and for the purposes of credit adjudication, the exposure is aggregated with any 
exposure arising from our lending business. The majority of our counterparty credit exposure benefits from the credit risk mitigation techniques 
discussed above, including daily re-margining, and posting of collateral. 

We are also exposed to wrong-way risk. Specific wrong-way risk arises when CIBC receives financial collateral issued (or an underlying 

reference obligation of a transaction is issued) by the counterparty itself, or by a related entity that would be considered to be part of the same 
common risk group. General wrong-way risk arises when the exposure and/or collateral pledged to CIBC is highly correlated to that of the 
counterparty. Exposure to wrong-way risk with derivative counterparties is monitored by Capital Markets Risk Management. Where we may be 
exposed to wrong-way risk, our adjudication procedures subject those transactions to a more rigorous approval process. The exposure may be 
hedged with other derivatives to further mitigate the risk that can arise from these transactions. 

We establish a CVA for expected future credit losses from each of our derivative counterparties. The expected future credit loss is a 

function of our estimates of the PD, the estimated loss in the event of default, and other factors such as risk mitigants. 

Rating profile of OTC derivative mark-to-market (MTM) receivables 

$ billions, as at October 31 

Investment grade 
Non-investment grade 
Watch list 
Default 
Unrated 

2020 

2019 

Exposure (1) 

$  7.46 
2.40 
0.07 
0.03 
– 
$  9.96 

74.9 % 
24.1 
0.7 
0.3 
– 
100.0 % 

$  5.40 
1.12 
0.02 
0.01 
– 
$  6.55 

82.4 % 
17.1 
0.3 
0.2 
– 
100.0 % 

(1)  MTM of the OTC derivative contracts is after the impact of master netting agreements, but before any collateral. 

Concentration of exposures 
Concentration of credit risk exists when a number of obligors are engaged in similar activities, or operate in the same geographic areas or 
industry sectors, and have similar economic characteristics so that their ability to meet contractual obligations is similarly affected by changes 
in economic, political, or other conditions. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  59 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Geographic distribution(1) 
The following table provides a geographic distribution of our business and government exposures under the AIRB approach, net of collateral 
held for repo-style transactions. 

$ millions, as at October 31, 2020 

Drawn 
Undrawn commitments 
Repo-style transactions 
Other off-balance sheet 
OTC derivatives 

October 31, 2019 

Canada 
$  173,199 
45,684 
7,787 
59,188 
9,926 

U.S. 
$  55,051 
9,717 
4,022 
9,422 
3,770 

$ 

Europe 
8,396 
2,402 
1,241 
6,138 
3,279 

Other 
$  11,619 
1,576 
1,927 
651 
1,875 

Total 
$  248,265 
59,379 
14,977 
75,399 
18,850 

$  295,784 

$  81,982 

$  21,456 

$  17,648 

$  416,870 

$  237,234 

$  73,900 

$  23,150 

$  17,316 

$  351,600 

(1)  Classification by country is primarily based on domicile of debtor or customer. 

Business and government exposure by industry groups 
The following table provides an industry-wide breakdown of our business and government exposures under the AIRB approach, net of collateral 
held for repo-style transactions. 

$ 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Commercial mortgages 
Financial institutions 
Retail and wholesale 
Business services 
Manufacturing – capital goods 
Manufacturing – consumer goods 
Real estate and construction 
Agriculture 
Oil and gas 
Mining 
Forest products 
Hardware and software 
Telecommunications and cable 
Broadcasting, publishing and printing 
Transportation 
Utilities 
Education, health, and social services 
Governments 

Drawn 

8,373 
81,967 
5,167 
7,047 
2,791 
3,455 
30,216 
6,771 
9,649 
1,363 
490 
1,227 
335 
457 
5,768 
9,189 
3,096 
70,904 

Undrawn 
commitments 

Repo-style 
transactions 

Other off-
balance sheet 

OTC 
derivatives 

2020 
Total 

2019 
Total (1) 

$ 

47 
7,673 
3,652 
3,264 
2,036 
2,052 
8,257 
1,767 
8,532 
2,931 
515 
890 
1,126 
154 
2,596 
7,066 
1,194 
5,627 

$ 

– 
14,318 
– 
18 
– 
– 
142 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
6 
493 

$ 

– 
66,312 
225 
595 
365 
214 
1,166 
26 
1,039 
723 
205 
45 
408 
2 
262 
2,707 
150 
955 

$ 

–  $ 

8,420  $ 

9,775 
239 
215 
205 
95 
871 
196 
2,305 
114 
29 
27 
326 
52 
1,287 
1,177 
296 
1,641 

180,045 
9,283 
11,139 
5,397 
5,816 
40,652 
8,760 
21,525 
5,131 
1,239 
2,189 
2,195 
665 
9,913 
20,139 
4,742 
79,620 

7,544 
140,284 
9,142 
11,000 
5,898 
6,024 
38,358 
8,575 
21,813 
5,326 
1,324 
1,751 
2,234 
801 
8,877 
15,747 
4,541 
62,361 

(1)  Certain information has been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year. The presentation of commercial mortgages has been changed to 

include risk-rated commercial mortgages. Previously, commercial mortgages only included commercial mortgages under the slotting approach. 

$  248,265 

$  59,379 

$  14,977 

$  75,399 

$  18,850  $  416,870  $  351,600 

As part of our risk mitigation strategy, we may use credit protection purchases as a hedge against customer or industry sector concentration. As at 
October 31, 2020, we had credit protection purchased totalling $185 million (2019: $183 million) related to our business and government loans. 

Oil and gas exposure 
The following table provides a breakdown of our exposure to the oil and gas industry under the AIRB approach. Of these exposures, 64% are 
investment grade as at October 31, 2020 based on our internal risk rating, which incorporates security pledged (equivalent to S&P/Moody’s rating of 
BBB-/Baa3 or higher). 

$ millions, as at October 31, 2020 

Exploration and production 
Midstream 
Integrated 
Petroleum distribution 
Oil and gas services 
Downstream 

October 31, 2019 

Drawn 

$  4,924 
2,241 
211 
1,391 
347 
535 

$  9,649 

$  9,048 

Undrawn 
commitments 

Other off-
balance sheet 

OTC 
derivatives 

$  2,857 
3,107 
1,649 
393 
218 
308 

$  8,532 

$  8,606 

$  378 
43 
468 
106 
15 
29 

$ 1,039 

$  913 

$  1,136 
401 
652 
110 
5 
1 

$  2,305 

$ 

Total (1) 

9,295 
5,792 
2,980 
2,000 
585 
873 

$  21,525 

$  3,246 

$  21,813 

(1)  Oil and gas exposures under the standardized approach are not significant. 

In addition, we have $40.0 billion (October 31, 2019: $39.9 billion) of retail exposure in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland 
and Labrador, which together are responsible for the vast majority of Canada’s oil production. 

60  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Credit quality of portfolios 
Credit quality of risk-rated portfolios 
The following table provides the credit quality of our risk-rated portfolios under the AIRB approach, net of collateral held for repo-style 
transactions. 

The obligor grade is our assessment of the creditworthiness of the obligor, without respect to the collateral held in support of the exposure. 

The LGD estimate would reflect our assessment of the value of the collateral at the time of default of the obligor. For slotted exposures, the 
slotting category reflects our assessment of both the creditworthiness of the obligor, as well as the value of the collateral. 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Obligor grade 

Investment grade 
Non-investment grade 
Watch list 
Default 

Total risk-rated exposure 

LGD estimate 

Less than 10% 
10%–25% 
26%–45% 
46%–65% 
66%–100% 

Strong 
Good 
Satisfactory 
Weak 
Default 

Total slotted exposure 

Total business and government portfolios 

2020 

2019 

EAD 

Corporate 

Sovereign 

Banks 

Total 

Total 

$  106,633 
74,600 
2,730 
1,039 

$  147,438 
781 
– 
– 

$  82,029 
1,264 
– 
– 

$  336,100 
76,645 
2,730 
1,039 

$  276,817 
72,613 
1,239 
579 

$  185,002 

$  148,219 

$  83,293 

$  416,514 

$  351,248 

Corporate 

Sovereign 

Banks 

Total 

Total 

$ 

9,704 
56,615 
84,108 
33,301 
1,274 

$  136,968 
7,881 
3,010 
289 
71 

$  60,057 
5,090 
17,251 
893 
2 

$  206,729 
69,586 
104,369 
34,483 
1,347 

$  142,666 
68,790 
110,596 
27,733 
1,463 

$  185,002 

$  148,219 

$  83,293 

$  416,514 

$  351,248 

$ 

$ 

265 
71 
20 
– 
– 

356 

$ 

$ 

246 
85 
21 
– 
– 

352 

$  416,870 

$  351,600 

The total exposures increased by $65.3 billion from October 31, 2019, due to increases in our deposits with sovereigns and securities holdings, 
as well as business growth in our North American lending portfolios. The investment grade category increased by $59.3 billion from October 31, 
2019, while the non-investment grade category was up $4.0 billion. The increase in watch list and default exposures was largely attributable to 
credit migration of a number of exposures in the corporate lending portfolio, including exposures within the oil and gas portfolio. 

Credit quality of the retail portfolios 
The following table presents the credit quality of our retail portfolios under the AIRB approach. 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Risk level 

Exceptionally low 
Very low 
Low 
Medium 
High 
Default 

EAD 

Real estate secured
personal lending

Qualifying 
revolving retail 

$  201,050 
31,927 
25,825 
3,086 
586 
443 

$  262,917 

$  49,755 
4,469 
10,437 
6,598 
763 
35 

$  72,057 

2020 

2019 

Total 

$  254,621 
40,731 
42,353 
12,122 
2,322 
548 

Total 

$  239,875 
34,018 
39,648 
13,259 
2,271 
505 

$ 

Other 
retail 

3,816 
4,335 
6,091 
2,438 
973 
70 

$  17,723 

$  352,697 

$  329,576 

Securitization exposures 
The following table provides details on securitization exposures in our banking book, by credit rating: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Exposures under the AIRB approach 

S&P rating equivalent 

AAA to BBB-
BB+ to BB-
Below BB-
Unrated 

Exposures under the standardized approach 

Total securitization exposures 

2020 

2019 

EAD 

$  12,276 
– 
– 
– 

12,276 

3,509 

$  10,688 
– 
– 
– 

10,688 

3,511 

$  15,785 

$  14,199 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  61 

 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

CIBC client relief programs in response to COVID-19 
CIBC has been actively engaged in lending activities to support our clients who are experiencing financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 
pandemic. 

For our personal banking clients impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the following client relief programs have been offered since the onset of the 
pandemic: 
 

Credit cards: lower interest rate of 10.99% on certain products was offered, in addition to the option to defer credit card payments for up to 
four months with the lower interest rate also applying over the deferral period. 
Residential mortgages: deferral of regular mortgage payments for up to six months. 
Loans and lines of credit: deferral of regular payments on certain secured personal loans for up to six months and on certain other loans and 
lines of credit for up to two months. 
Guaranteed investment certificates (GICs): on an exception basis, early withdrawal from eligible GICs. 

 
 

 

For our corporate, commercial and business banking clients in Canada, the U.S. and other regions, client relief programs have also been offered on 
a case-by-case basis depending on the product and client including: 
New or increased credit facilities to provide additional liquidity; 
 
Covenant and borrowing base relief to provide financial flexibility; 
 
Principal and interest deferrals for loans, mortgages, lines of credit, authorized overdraft and credit cards; 
 
Early withdrawal of funds held in non-registered GICs; and 
 
Access to financial support through government programs. 
 

On a case-by-case basis, with credit risk management approval, other unique modifications that met prudent standards could also be considered. 

During the fourth quarter of 2020, the number of clients seeking relief under these payment deferral programs was considerably lower relative to the 
prior quarter, which resulted in a reduction in the outstanding balances for those programs in which the deferral periods were three months or less. 
As at October 31, 2020, the gross outstanding balance of loans for which CIBC provided payment deferrals was nil for credit cards in Canada 
(July 31, 2020: less than $10 million; April 30, 2020: $1.8 billion); $2.7 billion for residential mortgages in Canada (July 31, 2020: $33.3 billion; 
April 30, 2020: $35.5 billion); $0.3 billion for personal loans in Canada (July 31, 2020: $0.8 billion; April 30, 2020: $2.3 billion); $0.3 billion for various 
consumer loans in the Caribbean (July 31, 2020: $1.4 billion; April 30, 2020: $1.3 billion); and $2.5 billion for business and government loans (July 
31, 2020: $6.2 billion; April 30, 2020: $10.0 billion), including $0.5 billion in Canada (July 31, 2020: $2.4 billion; April 30, 2020: $8.6 billion), 
$0.5 billion in the U.S. (July 31, 2020: $1.6 billion; April 30, 2020: $0.9 billion) and $1.5 billion in the Caribbean (July 31, 2020: $2.2 billion; April 30, 
2020: $0.5 billion). Of the loans that were under payment deferrals as of October 31, 2020, the gross outstanding balance of loans that received an 
extension of an initial deferral or are in the process of being provided an extension was $1.2 billion. 

Government lending programs in response to COVID-19 
Since the second quarter of 2020, CIBC has been engaged in a number of government-initiated lending programs: 
 
 
 
 

CEBA program; 
Loan guarantee for small and medium-sized enterprises (EDC loan guarantee program); 
Co-lending program for small and medium-sized enterprises (BDC co-lend program); and 
U.S. PPP. 

The CEBA program was launched in the second quarter of 2020 by the Government of Canada. The EDC funds all loans advanced under the CEBA 
program, including any payment defaults and principal forgiveness. The CEBA program was expanded during the third quarter of 2020 to facilitate 
the application of the program to certain borrowers that would have not otherwise qualified. 

The Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP), which was introduced by the Government of Canada in the second quarter of 2020, includes 
two subprograms: (i) the EDC loan guarantee program for small and medium-sized enterprises and (ii) the BDC co-lending arrangement. Under the 
EDC loan guarantee program, EDC will guarantee 80% of qualifying term loans to small and medium-sized enterprises to help them meet their 
operating credit and cash flow requirements. Under the BDC co-lend program, BDC, as co-lender, finances 80% of the loans originated under this 
program, while CIBC finances the remaining 20%. 

The PPP, introduced by the U.S. Small Business Administration, is a forgivable loan program. PPP loans are guaranteed by the U.S. Small 

Business Administration. 

As at October 31, 2020, $2.9 billion of loans to CIBC clients were provided under the CEBA program and were accounted for as off-balance 

sheet loans. For further details, refer to the “Off-balance sheet arrangements” section. As at October 31, 2020, funded loans outstanding on our 
consolidated balance sheet under the EDC loan guarantee and BDC co-lend programs were $0.2 billion. In addition, US$1.9 billion of loans were 
made under the PPP as at October 31, 2020. 

For further details regarding these programs, refer to Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements. 

62  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Real estate secured personal lending 
Real estate secured personal lending comprises residential mortgages, and personal loans and lines secured by residential property (HELOC). This 
portfolio is low risk, as we have a first charge on the majority of the properties and a second lien on only a small portion of the portfolio. We use the 
same lending criteria in the adjudication of both first lien and second lien loans. 

Under the Bank Act (Canada), banks are limited to providing residential real estate loans of no more than 80% of the collateral value. An 
exception is made for mortgage loans with a higher LTV ratio if they are insured by either CMHC or a private mortgage insurer. Mortgage insurance 
protects banks from the risk of default by the borrower, over the term of the coverage. Mortgage insurers are subject to regulatory capital 
requirements, which aim to ensure that they are well capitalized. If a private mortgage insurer becomes insolvent, the Government of Canada has, 
provided certain conditions are met, obligations in respect of policies underwritten by certain insolvent private mortgage insurers as more fully 
described in the Protection of Residential Mortgage or Hypothecary Insurance Act (PRMHIA). There is a possibility that losses could be incurred in 
respect of insured mortgages if, among other things, CMHC or the applicable private mortgage insurer denies a claim, or further, if a private 
mortgage insurer becomes insolvent and either the conditions under the PRMHIA are not met or the Government of Canada denies the claim. 

The following table provides details on our residential mortgage and HELOC portfolios: 

$ billions, as at October 31, 2020 

Ontario (3) 
British Columbia and territories (4) 
Alberta 
Quebec 
Central prairie provinces (5) 
Atlantic provinces (6) 

Canadian portfolio (7)(8) 
U.S. portfolio (7) 
Other international portfolio (7) 

Total portfolio 

October 31, 2019 

$  29.4 
10.2 
13.6 
6.0 
3.7 
4.1 

67.0 
– 
– 

$  67.0 

$  66.2 

Residential mortgages (1) 

HELOC (2) 

Total 

Insured 

Uninsured 

Uninsured 

Insured 

Uninsured 

26 %  $ 
24 
53 
38 
51 
49 

32 
– 
– 

82.1 
32.9 
12.1 
10.0 
3.6 
4.3 

145.0 
2.0 
2.0

74 % 
76 
47 
62 
49 
51 

68 
100 
100 

$  10.4 
4.1 
2.4 
1.2 
0.7 
0.7 

100 % 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 

19.5 
0.1 
– 

100 
100 
– 

$  29.4 
10.2 
13.6 
6.0 
3.7 
4.1 

67.0 
– 
– 

24 %  $ 
22 
48 
35 
46 
45 

29 
– 
– 

92.5 
37.0 
14.5 
11.2 
4.3 
5.0 

164.5 
2.1 
2.0

31 %  $  149.0 

32 %  $  139.1 

69 % 

68 % 

$  19.6 

100 % 

$  67.0 

28 %  $  168.6 

$  21.3 

100 % 

$  66.2 

29 %  $  160.4 

76 % 
78 
52 
65 
54 
55 

71 
100 
100 

72 % 

71 % 

(1)  Balances reflect principal values. 
(2)  We did not have any insured HELOCs as at October 31, 2020 and 2019. 
(3)  Includes $13.8 billion (2019: $14.1 billion) of insured residential mortgages, $53.4 billion (2019: $49.0 billion) of uninsured residential mortgages, and $6.1 billion 

(2019: $6.6 billion) of HELOCs in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). 

(4)  Includes $4.5 billion (2019: $4.6 billion) of insured residential mortgages, $22.9 billion (2019: $22.1 billion) of uninsured residential mortgages, and $2.5 billion 

(2019: $2.7 billion) of HELOCs in the Greater Vancouver Area (GVA). 

(5)  Includes $1.8 billion (2019: $1.8 billion) of insured residential mortgages, $1.7 billion (2019: $1.7 billion) of uninsured residential mortgages, and $0.4 billion 

(2019: $0.4 billion) of HELOCs in Saskatchewan. 

(6)  Includes $1.3 billion (2019: $1.3 billion) of insured residential mortgages, $1.4 billion (2019: $1.4 billion) of uninsured residential mortgages, and $0.2 billion 

(2019: $0.2 billion) of HELOCs in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

(7)  Geographic location is based on the address of the property. 
(8)  71% (2019: 72%) of insurance on Canadian residential mortgages is provided by CMHC and the remaining by two private Canadian insurers, both rated at least AA (low) 

by DBRS. 

The average LTV ratios(1) for our uninsured residential mortgages and HELOCs originated and acquired during the year are provided in the following 
table. 

For the year ended October 31 

Ontario (2) 
British Columbia and territories (3) 
Alberta 
Quebec 
Central prairie provinces 
Atlantic provinces 

Canadian portfolio (4) 
U.S. portfolio (4) 
Other international portfolio (4) 

Residential 
mortgages 

2020 

HELOC 

Residential 
mortgages 

2019 

HELOC 

63 % 
60 
68 
68 
68 
71 

63 
65 
72 % 

68 % 
65 
73 
73 
74 
74 

68 
63 
n/m 

63 % 
61 
68 
68 
69 
72 

64 
69 
72 % 

67 % 
64 
72 
73 
74 
74 

68 
63 
n/m 

(1)  LTV ratios for newly originated and acquired residential mortgages and HELOCs are calculated based on weighted average. 
(2)  Average LTV ratios for our uninsured GTA residential mortgages originated during the year were 62% (2019: 62%). 
(3)  Average LTV ratios for our uninsured GVA residential mortgages originated during the year were 58% (2019: 57%). 
(4)  Geographic location is based on the address of the property. 
n/m Not meaningful. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  63 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

The following table provides the average LTV ratios on our total Canadian residential mortgage portfolio: 

October 31, 2020 (1)(2) 
October 31, 2019 (1)(2) 

Insured 

Uninsured 

55 % 
55 % 

52 % 
54 % 

(1)  LTV ratios for residential mortgages are calculated based on weighted average. The house price estimates for October 31, 2020 and 2019 are based on the Forward 

Sortation Area (FSA) level indices from the Teranet – National Bank National Composite House Price Index (Teranet) as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. 
Teranet is an independent estimate of the rate of change in Canadian home prices. 

(2)  Average LTV ratio on our uninsured GTA residential mortgage portfolio was 48% (2019: 50%). Average LTV ratio on our uninsured GVA residential mortgage portfolio was 

46% (2019: 47%). 

The tables below summarize the remaining amortization profile of our total Canadian, U.S. and other international residential mortgages. The first 
table provides the remaining amortization periods based on the minimum contractual payment amounts. The second table provides the remaining 
amortization periods based upon current customer payment amounts, which incorporate payments other than the minimum contractual amount and/ 
or a different frequency of payments. 

Contractual payment basis 

Canadian portfolio 

October 31, 2020 
October 31, 2019 

U.S. portfolio 

October 31, 2020 
October 31, 2019 

Other international portfolio 

October 31, 2020 
October 31, 2019 

Current customer payment basis 

Canadian portfolio 

October 31, 2020 
October 31, 2019 

U.S. portfolio 

October 31, 2020 
October 31, 2019 

Other international portfolio 

October 31, 2020 
October 31, 2019 

0–5 years 

>5–10 
years 

>10–15 
years 

>15–20 
years 

>20–25 
years 

>25–30 
years 

>30–35 
years 

>35 years 

– % 
– % 

– % 
– % 

1 % 
1 % 

1 % 
2 % 

11 % 
9 % 

15 % 
16 % 

2 % 
2 % 

1 % 
2 % 

23 % 
23 % 

7 % 
6 % 

1 % 
1 % 

23 % 
23 % 

54 % 
49 % 

8 % 
9 % 

18 % 
17 % 

36 % 
42 % 

89 % 
86 % 

10 % 
12 % 

– % 
– % 

– % 
– % 

– % 
– % 

– % 
– % 

– % 
– % 

– % 
– % 

0–5 years 

>5–10 
years 

>10–15 
years 

>15–20 
years 

>20–25 
years 

>25–30 
years 

>30–35 
years 

>35 years 

2 % 
2 % 

2 % 
1 % 

7 % 
7 % 

4 % 
4 % 

3 % 
4 % 

13 % 
13 % 

7 % 
6 % 

7 % 
11 % 

22 % 
23 % 

18 % 
13 % 

10 % 
10 % 

23 % 
24 % 

44 % 
40 % 

10 % 
13 % 

19 % 
18 % 

25 % 
30 % 

68 % 
61 % 

14 % 
14 % 

– % 
3 % 

– % 
– % 

2 % 
1 % 

– % 
2 % 

– % 
– % 

– % 
– % 

We have two types of condominium exposures in Canada: mortgages and developer loans. Both are primarily concentrated in the Toronto and 
Vancouver areas. As at October 31, 2020, our Canadian condominium mortgages were $28.1 billion (2019: $25.2 billion), of which 31% (2019: 33%) 
were insured. Our drawn developer loans were $1.4 billion (2019: $1.3 billion), or 1.0% (2019: 1.0%) of our business and government portfolio, and 
our related undrawn exposure was $4.5 billion (2019: $4.0 billion). The condominium developer exposure is diversified across 107 projects. 

We stress test our mortgage and HELOC portfolio to determine the potential impact of different economic events. Our stress tests can use variables 
such as unemployment rates, debt service ratios and housing price changes, to model potential outcomes for a given set of circumstances. The 
stress testing involves variables that could behave differently in certain situations. Our main tests use economic variables in a similar range to 
historical events when Canada experienced economic downturns. Our results show that in an economic downturn, our strong capital position should 
be sufficient to absorb mortgage and HELOC losses. 

64  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Credit quality performance 
As at October 31, 2020, total loans and acceptances after allowance for credit losses were $416.4 billion (2019: $398.1 billion). Consumer loans 
(comprising residential mortgages, credit cards, and personal loans, including student loans) constitute 66% (2019: 66%) of the portfolio, and 
business and government loans (including acceptances) constitute the remainder of the portfolio. 

Consumer loans were up $9.0 billion or 3% from the prior year, primarily due to an increase in residential mortgages of $12.4 billion, offset 
by a decrease in personal loans and credit cards. Business and government loans (including acceptances) were up $9.2 billion or 7% from the 
prior year, mainly attributable to real estate and construction, financial institutions, utilities, education health and social services, as well as 
transportation. 

Impaired loans 
The following table provides details of our impaired loans and allowance for credit losses: 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

Business and 
government 
loans 

Consumer 
loans 

Gross impaired loans 
Balance at beginning of year 

Classified as impaired during the year 
Transferred to performing during the year 
Net repayments 
Amounts written off 
Recoveries of loans and advances previously written off 
Disposals of loans (1) 
Purchased credit-impaired loans 
Foreign exchange and other 

Balance at end of year 

Allowance for credit losses – impaired loans 
Balance at beginning of year 

Amounts written off 
Recoveries of amounts written off in previous years 
Charge to income statement (2) 
Interest accrued on impaired loans 
Disposals of loans (1) 
Transfers 
Foreign exchange and other 

Balance at end of year 

Net impaired loans (3) 
Balance at beginning of year 

Net change in gross impaired 
Net change in allowance 

Balance at end of year 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

911 
1,256 
(109) 
(547) 
(157) 
– 
– 
– 
5 

$  1,359 

$ 

$ 

$ 

376 
(157) 
9 
451 
(21) 
– 
– 
(8) 

650 

535 
448 
(274) 

$ 

709 

$ 

2020 

Total 

1,866 
3,189 
(689) 
(1,090) 
(935) 
– 
– 
– 
8 

Business and 
government 
loans 

Consumer 
loans 

$ 

$ 

621 
1,204 
(134) 
(239) 
(190) 
– 
(361) 
– 
10 

$ 

859 
2,004 
(394) 
(575) 
(940) 
– 
– 
– 
1 

2019 

Total 

1,480 
3,208 
(528) 
(814) 
(1,130) 
– 
(361) 
– 
11 

$ 

955 
1,933 
(580) 
(543) 
(778) 
– 
– 
– 
3 

990 

$ 

2,349 

$ 

911 

$ 

955 

$ 

1,866 

268 
(778) 
183 
614 
(24) 
– 
– 
1 

264 

687 
35 
4 

726 

$ 

$ 

$ 

644 
(935) 
192 
1,065 
(45) 
– 
– 
(7) 

914 

1,222 
483 
(270) 

$ 

230 
(190) 
13 
350 
(18) 
– 
– 
(9) 

$ 

252 
(940) 
181 
795 
(22) 
– 
– 
2 

$ 

482 
(1,130) 
194 
1,145 
(40) 
– 
– 
(7) 

$ 

376 

$ 

268 

$ 

644 

$ 

391 
290 
(146) 

$ 

$ 

607 
96 
(16) 

998 
386 
(162) 

$ 

1,435 

$ 

535 

$ 

687 

$ 

1,222 

Net impaired loans as a percentage of net loans and 

acceptances 

0.34 % 

0.31 % 

(1)  Includes loans with a par value of $116 million and ECL of $48 million that were derecognized as a result of a debt restructuring agreement completed with the Government 

of Barbados on October 31, 2018. 

(2)  Excludes provision for credit losses on impaired undrawn credit facilities and other off-balance sheet exposures. 
(3)  Net impaired loans are gross impaired loans net of stage 3 allowance for credit losses. 

Gross impaired loans 
As at October 31, 2020, gross impaired loans were $2,349 million, up $483 million from the prior year, primarily due to increases in the oil and gas, 
real estate and construction, and retail and wholesale sectors, as well as an increase in the Canadian residential mortgages portfolio. 

60% of gross impaired loans related to Canada, of which the residential mortgages portfolio, retail and wholesale sector, personal lending 

portfolio and business services sector accounted for the majority. 

25% of gross impaired loans related to the U.S., of which the oil and gas, real estate and construction, and business services sectors 

accounted for the majority. 

The remaining gross impaired loans are primarily related to CIBC FirstCaribbean, of which the residential mortgages portfolio, real estate and 

construction sector and personal lending portfolio accounted for the majority. 

See the “Supplementary annual financial information” section for additional details on the geographic distribution and industry classification of 
impaired loans. 

Allowance for credit losses – impaired loans 
Allowance for credit losses on impaired loans was $914 million, up $270 million from the prior year, primarily due to increases in the retail and 
wholesale, oil and gas, and business services sectors. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  65 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Loans contractually past due but not impaired 
This comprises loans where repayment of principal or payment of interest is contractually in arrears. The following table provides an aging 
analysis of the contractually past due loans. Most risk rated business and government loans that were contractually past due at the time relief 
was provided pursuant to payment deferral programs have been presented in the aging category that applied at the time deferrals were 
granted. Other business and government loans, credit cards, personal loans and residential mortgages that were subject to a payment deferral 
program have generally been presented in the aging category that applied as at March 31, 2020, which approximated the time when the 
majority of the deferrals were granted, except that Canadian residential mortgages and certain secured personal loans that were less than 29 
days past due at that time have been treated as current. Loans that have exited a deferral program generally continue to age based on the 
status that was applied at the beginning of the program to the extent a payment has not been made. 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Residential mortgages 
Personal 
Credit card 
Business and government 

Less than 
31 days 

$  3,358 
608 
485 
1,854 

$  6,305 

31 to 
90 days 

$  1,152 
222 
189 
281 

$  1,844 

Over 
90 days 

$ 

– 
– 
132 
– 

$  132 

2020 
Total 

$  4,510 
830 
806 
2,135 

$  8,281 

2019 
Total (1) 

$  3,840 
1,027 
838 
1,081 

$  6,786 

(1)  Certain prior year amounts related to loans contractually past due but not impaired in CIBC FirstCaribbean were restated. 

During the year, gross interest income that would have been recorded if impaired loans were treated as current was $113 million (2019: $99 
million), of which $69 million (2019: $46 million) was in Canada and $44 million (2019: $53 million) was outside Canada. During the year, interest 
recognized on impaired loans was $45 million (2019: $40 million), and interest recognized on loans before being classified as impaired was 
$67 million (2019: $58 million), of which $43 million (2019: $43 million) was in Canada and $24 million (2019: $15 million) was outside Canada. 

Exposure to certain countries and regions 
Europe 
The following table provides our exposure to European countries, both within and outside the Eurozone. 

Our direct exposures presented in the tables below comprise (A) funded – on-balance sheet loans (stated at amortized cost net of stage 3 
allowance for credit losses, if any), deposits with banks (stated at amortized cost net of stage 3 allowance for credit losses, if any) and securities 
(stated at carrying value); (B) unfunded – unutilized credit commitments, letters of credit, and guarantees (stated at notional amount net of stage 3 
allowance for credit losses, if any); and (C) derivative MTM receivables (stated at fair value) and repo-style transactions (stated at fair value). 

Of our total direct exposures to Europe, approximately 47% (2019: 45%) is to entities in countries with Aaa/AAA ratings from at least one of 

Moody’s or S&P. 

The following table provides a summary of our positions in this business: 

Direct exposures 

Funded 

Unfunded 

Total 
funded 

Total 
unfunded 

Derivative MTM receivables 
and repo-style transactions (1) 

Net 
exposure 
(C) 

Total direct 
exposure 
(A)+(B)+(C) 

$ millions, as at October 31, 2020 

Corporate  Sovereign  Banks 

(A)  Corporate  Banks 

(B)  Corporate  Sovereign  Banks 

Austria 
Finland 
France 
Germany 
Greece 
Ireland 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Norway 
Spain 
Sweden 
Switzerland 
United Kingdom 
Other European countries 

$ 

–  $ 

56 
45 
407 
1 
200 
124 
384 
237 
1– 
344 
206 
2,206 
64 

593  $ 
– 
44 
1,257 
– 
– 
– 
446 
413 

807 
– 
31 
7 

315  $ 
447 
147 
602 
– 
136 
1,631 
146 
53 
6  
191 
15 
1,293 
175 

908  $ 
503 
236 
2,266 
1 
336 
1,755 
976 
703 
7 
1,342 
221 
3,530 
246 

–  $ 

–  $ 

122 
266 
190 
– 
102 
100 
256 
610 
– 
181 
137 
3,086 
13 

10 
56 
97 
– 
40 
90 
238 
– 
24
– 
– 
312 
101 

– 
132 
322 
287 
– 
142 
190 
494 
610 
24 
181 
137 
3,398 
114 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
49 
– 
13 
12 
42 
– 
 –– 
24 
5 
642 
1 

$ 

–  $ 
– 
2 
6 
– 
– 
– 
– 
1 

– 
– 
10 
73 

2  $ 

16 
7 
31 
– 
112 
158 
29 
– 
1
5 
102 
363 
9 

2 
16 
9 
86 
– 
125 
170 
71 
1 
1 
29 
107 
1,015 
83 

$ 

910 
651 
567 
2,639 
1 
603 
2,115 
1,541 
1,314 
  32
1,552 
465 
7,943 
443 

Total Europe 

$  4,275  $  3,598  $  5,157  $  13,030  $  5,063  $  968  $  6,031 

$  788 

$  92  $  835  $  1,715 

$  20,776 

October 31, 2019 

$  3,033  $  3,781  $  5,320  $  12,134  $  5,235  $  580  $  5,815 

$  789 

$  116  $  462  $  1,367 

$  19,316 

(1)  The amounts shown are net of CVA and collateral. Collateral on derivative MTM receivables was $1.8 billion (October 31, 2019: $1.0 billion), collateral on repo-style 

transactions was $30.3 billion (October 31, 2019: $20.5 billion), and both are comprised of cash and investment grade debt securities. 

We have $639 million (2019: $589 million) of indirect exposure to European entities, as we hold debt or equity securities issued by European entities 
as collateral for derivative transactions and securities borrowing and lending activity from counterparties that are not in Europe. 

66  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Selected exposures in certain activities 
In response to the recommendations of the Financial Stability Board, this section provides information on a selected activity within our continuing 
and exited businesses that may be of particular interest to investors based on their risk characteristics and the current market environment. 

U.S. real estate lending 
In our U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management SBU, we operate a full-service real estate platform. Once construction is complete, and 
the property is income producing, we may occasionally offer fixed-rate financing within a permanent financing program (typically with average terms 
of up to 10 years). This portfolio of permanent financing exposures, which is a small subset of our total U.S. real estate lending portfolio, serves as a 
warehouse for inclusion in future commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) programs. We retain no exposure to those CMBS programs. As at 
October 31, 2020, the portfolio of permanent financing exposures was $276 million (2019: $114 million). 

Settlement risk 
Settlement risk is the risk that during an agreed concurrent exchange of currency or principal payments, the counterparty will fail to make its 
payment to CIBC. This risk can arise in general trading activities and from payment and settlement system participation. 

Many global settlement systems offer significant risk reduction benefits through complex risk mitigation frameworks. Bilateral payment netting 

agreements may be put in place to mitigate risk by reducing the aggregate settlement amount between counterparties. Further, we participate in 
several North American payment and settlement systems, including a global foreign exchange multilateral netting system. We also use financial 
intermediaries to access some payment and settlement systems, and for certain trades, we may utilize an established clearing house to minimize 
settlement risk. 

Transactions settled outside of payment and settlement systems or clearing houses require approval of credit facilities for counterparties, 

either as pre-approved settlement risk limits or payment-versus-payment arrangements. 

Securitization activities 
We engage in three types of securitization activities: we securitize assets that we originate, we securitize assets originated by third parties and we 
engage in trading activities related to securitized products. 

We securitize assets that we originate principally as a funding mechanism. The credit risk on the underlying assets in these transactions is 

transferred to the structured entity, with CIBC retaining first loss exposure and other investors exposed to the remaining credit risk. 

Securitization activities relating to assets originated by third parties can include the securitization of those assets through ABCP conduits (or 
similar programs) that we sponsor (includes both consolidated and non-consolidated SEs; see the “Off-balance sheet arrangements” section and 
Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements for additional details), or through direct exposure to a client-sponsored special purpose vehicle. 
Risks associated with securitization exposures to client-originated assets are mitigated through the transaction structure, which includes credit 
enhancements. For the transactions where we retain credit risk on the exposures that we hold, we earn interest income on these holdings. For the 
transactions in the ABCP conduits, we are also exposed to liquidity risk associated with the potential inability to roll over maturing ABCP in the 
market. We earn fee income for the services that we provide to these ABCP conduits. 

We are also involved in the trading of ABS and ABCP to earn income in our role as underwriter and market maker. We are exposed to credit 

and market risk on the securities that we hold in inventory on a temporary basis until such securities are sold to an investor. 

Capital requirements for exposures arising from securitization activities are determined using one of the following approaches: SEC-IRBA, 

SEC-ERBA, SEC-IAA, or SEC-SA. 

The SEC-IAA process relies on internal risk ratings and is utilized for securitization exposures relating to ABCP conduits when external ratings 

are not available for the securitization exposures but the ABCP itself is externally rated. The internal assessment process involves an evaluation of a  
number of factors, including, but not limited to, pool characteristics, including asset eligibility criteria and concentration limits, transaction triggers, 
the asset seller’s risk profile, servicing capabilities, and cash flow stress testing. Cash flows are stress-tested based on historical asset performance 
using our internal risk rating models by asset type. These models are subject to our model risk mitigation policies and are independently reviewed 
by the Model Validation team in Risk Management. The stress test factors used to determine the transaction risk profile and required credit 
enhancement levels are tailored for each asset type and transaction based on the assessment of the factors described above and are done in 
accordance with our internal risk rating methodologies and guidelines. Internal risk ratings are mapped to equivalent external ratings of external 
credit assessment institutions (DBRS, Fitch, Moody’s and S&P) and are used to determine the appropriate risk weights for capital purposes. 
Securitization exposures and underlying asset performance are monitored on an ongoing basis. Risk Management serves as a second line of 
defence providing independent oversight regarding risk rating assumptions and adjudicating on the assignment of the internal risk ratings. SEC-IAA 
applies to various asset types in our ABCP conduits including, but not limited to, auto loans and leases, consumer loans, credit cards, dealer 
floorplan receivables, equipment loans and leases, fleet lease receivables, franchise loans, residential mortgages, and trade receivables. 

Internal risk ratings determined for securitization exposures are also used in the estimation of ECL as required under IFRS 9, determining 

economic capital, and for setting risk limits. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  67 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Market risk 

Market risk is the risk of economic or financial loss in our trading and non-trading portfolios from adverse changes in underlying market factors, 
including interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity market prices, commodity prices, credit spreads, and customer behaviour for retail 
products. Market risk arises in CIBC’s trading and treasury activities, and encompasses all market-related positioning and market-making activity. 

The trading book consists of positions in financial instruments and commodities held to meet the near-term needs of our clients. 
The non-trading book consists of positions in various currencies that are related to asset/liability management (ALM) and investment activities. 

Governance and management 
Market risk is managed through the three lines of defence model. The first line of defence comprises frontline businesses and governance groups 
that are responsible for managing the market risk associated with their activities. 

The second line of defence is Risk Management, which has a dedicated market risk manager for each trading business, supplemented by 

regional risk managers located in all of our major trading centres, facilitating comprehensive risk coverage, including the measurement, monitoring 
and control of market risk. 

Internal audit is the third line of defence providing reasonable assurance to senior management and the Audit Committee of the Board on the 

effectiveness of CIBC’s governance practices, risk management processes, and internal control as part of its risk-based audit plan and in 
accordance with its mandate as described in the Internal Audit Charter. 

Senior management reports material risk matters to the GRC and RMC at least quarterly, including material transactions, limit compliance, and 

portfolio trends. 

Policies 
We have comprehensive policies for the management of market risk. These policies are related to the identification and measurement of various 
types of market risk, their inclusion in the trading book, and to the establishment of limits within which we monitor, manage and report our overall 
exposures. Our policies also outline the requirements for the construction of valuation models, model review and validation, independent 
checking of the valuation of positions, the establishment of valuation adjustments, and alignment with accounting policies including MTM and 
mark-to-model methodologies. 

Market risk limits 
We have risk tolerance levels, expressed in terms of statistically based VaR measures, potential stress losses, and notional or other limits as 
appropriate. We use a multi-tiered approach to set limits on the amounts of risk that we can assume in our trading and non-trading activities, as 
follows: 
 
  Management limits control market risk for CIBC overall and are lower than the Board limits to allow for a buffer in the event of extreme market 

Board limits control consolidated market risk; 

moves and/or extraordinary client needs; 
Tier 2 limits control market risk at the business unit level; and 
Tier 3 limits control market risk at the sub-business unit or desk level. 

 
 

Management limits are established by the CRO, consistent with the risk appetite statement approved by the Board. Tier 2 and Tier 3 limits are 
approved at levels of management commensurate with risk assumed. 

Process and control 
Market risk exposures are monitored daily against approved risk limits, and processes are in place to monitor that only authorized activities are 
undertaken. We generate daily risk and limit-monitoring reports, based on the previous day’s positions. Summary market risk and limit 
compliance reports are produced and reviewed periodically with the GRC and RMC. 

Risk measurement 
We use the following measures for market risk: 
 

 
 
 
 

VaR enables the meaningful comparison of the risks in different businesses and asset classes. VaR is determined by the combined 
modelling of VaR for each of interest rate, credit spread, equity, foreign exchange, commodity, and debt specific risks, along with the 
portfolio effect arising from the interrelationship of the different risks (diversification effect): 
 
 

Interest rate risk measures the impact of changes in interest rates and volatilities on cash instruments and derivatives. 
Credit spread risk measures the impact of changes in credit spreads of provincial, municipal and agency bonds, sovereign bonds, 
corporate bonds, securitized products, and credit derivatives such as credit default swaps. 
Equity risk measures the impact of changes in equity prices and volatilities. 
Foreign exchange risk measures the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates and volatilities. 
Commodity risk measures the impact of changes in commodity prices and volatilities, including the basis between related commodities. 
Debt specific risk measures the impact of changes in the volatility of the yield of a debt instrument as compared with the volatility of the 
yield of a representative bond index. 
Diversification effect reflects the risk reduction achieved across various financial instrument types, counterparties, currencies and regions. 
The extent of diversification benefit depends on the correlation between the assets and risk factors in the portfolio at a particular time. 
Price sensitivity measures the change in value of a portfolio to a small change in a given underlying parameter, so that component risks may 
be examined in isolation, and the portfolio rebalanced accordingly to achieve a desired exposure. 
Stressed VaR enables the meaningful comparison of the risks in different businesses and asset classes under stressful conditions. Changes 
to rates, prices, volatilities, and spreads over a 10-day horizon from a stressful historical period are applied to current positions and 
determine stressed VaR. 
IRC measures the required capital due to credit migration and default risk for debt securities held in the trading portfolios. 
Back-testing validates the effectiveness of risk measurement through analysis of observed and theoretical profit and loss outcomes. 
Stress testing and scenario analysis provide insight into portfolio behaviour under extreme circumstances. 

 

 

 

 
 
 

68  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

The following table provides balances on the consolidated balance sheet that are subject to market risk. Certain differences between accounting 
and risk classifications are detailed in the footnotes below: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

2020 

2019 

Subject to market risk (1) 

Subject to market risk 

Consolidated 
balance 
sheet 

Trading 

Non-
trading 

Not 
subject to 
market risk 

Consolidated 
balance 
sheet 

Trading 

Non-
trading 

Not 
subject to 
market risk 

Non-traded risk 
primary risk 
sensitivity 

Cash and non-interest-bearing 

deposits with banks 

Interest-bearing deposits with banks 
Securities 
Cash collateral on securities 

borrowed 

Securities purchased under resale 

agreements 

Loans 

Residential mortgages 
Personal 
Credit card 
Business and government 
Allowance for credit losses 

Derivative instruments 

Customers’ liability under 

acceptances 

Other assets 

Deposits 
Obligations related to securities 

sold short 

Cash collateral on securities lent 
Obligations related to securities sold 
under repurchase agreements 

Derivative instruments 

Acceptances 
Other liabilities 
Subordinated indebtedness 

$  43,531  $ 
18,987 
149,046 

– 
75 
45,825 

$ 

2,445 
18,912 
103,221 

$  41,086 
– 
– 

$ 

3,840  $ 

13,519 
121,310 

– 
641 
42,403 

$ 

1,711 
12,878 
78,907 

$  2,129  Foreign exchange 
– 
Interest rate 
–  Equity, interest rate 

8,547 

65,595 

221,165 
42,222 
11,389 
135,546 
(3,540) 
32,730 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

22,643 (2) 

– 
31,244 

8,547 

65,595 

221,165 
42,222 
11,389 
112,903 
(3,540) 
1,486 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

3,664 

56,111 

208,652 
43,651 
12,755 
125,798 
(1,915) 
23,895 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

20,226 (2) 

– 
22,610 

3,664 

56,111 

208,652 
43,651 
12,755 
105,572 
(1,915) 
1,285 

9,606 
34,727 

– 
3,364 

9,606 
20,613 

– 
10,750 

9,167 
31,157 

– 
1,957 

9,167 
17,985 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Interest rate 

Interest rate 

Interest rate 
Interest rate 
Interest rate 
Interest rate 
Interest rate 
Interest rate, 
foreign exchange 

– 

Interest rate 
11,215  Interest rate, equity, 
foreign exchange 

$  769,551  $  103,151 

$  614,564 

$  51,836 

$  651,604  $  87,837 

$  550,423 

$  13,344 

$  570,740  $ 

484 (3)  $  510,788 

$  59,468 

$  485,712  $ 

44 (3)  $  437,634 

$  48,034 

Interest rate 

15,963 
1,824 

13,795 
– 

71,653 
30,508 

– 
29,436 

9,649 
22,167 
5,712 

– 
2,386 
– 

2,168 
1,824 

71,653 
1,072 

9,649 
10,926 
5,712 

– 
– 

– 
– 

15,635 
1,822 

14,721 
– 

51,801 
25,113 

– 
23,679 

– 
8,855 
– 

9,188 
19,069 
4,684 

– 
2,096 
– 

914 
1,822 

51,801 
1,434 

9,188 
8,111 
4,684 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
8,862 
– 

Interest rate 
Interest rate 

Interest rate 
Interest rate, 
foreign exchange 
Interest rate 
Interest rate 
Interest rate 

$  728,216  $  46,101 

$  613,792 

$  68,323 

$  613,024  $  40,540 

$  515,588 

$  56,896 

(1)  Fair value adjustments are excluded from trading activities for regulatory capital purposes, with related derivative hedges to these fair value adjustments also excluded 
beginning from the second quarter of 2020 (see the “Continuous enhancement to regulatory capital requirements – Regulatory developments arising from the COVID-19 
pandemic” section for further details). 

(2)  Excludes $291 million (2019: $115 million) of loans that are warehoused for future securitization purposes. These are considered non-trading for market risk purposes. 
(3)  Comprises FVO deposits which are considered trading for market risk purposes. 

Trading activities 
We hold positions in traded financial contracts to meet client investment and risk management needs. Trading revenue (net interest income or 
non-interest income) is generated from these transactions. Trading instruments are recorded at fair value and include debt and equity securities, 
as well as interest rate, foreign exchange, equity, commodity, and credit derivative products. 

Value-at-risk 
Our VaR methodology is a statistical technique that measures the potential overnight loss at a 99% confidence level. We use a full revaluation 
historical simulation methodology to compute VaR, stressed VaR and other risk measures. 

Although a valuable guide to risk, VaR should always be viewed in the context of its limitations. For example: 
 
 

The use of historical data for estimating future events will not encompass all potential events, particularly those that are extreme in nature. 
The use of a one-day holding period assumes that all positions can be liquidated, or the risks offset in one day. This may not fully reflect the 
market risk arising at times of severe illiquidity, when a one-day period may be insufficient to liquidate or hedge all positions fully. 
The use of a 99% confidence level does not take into account losses that might occur beyond this level of confidence. 
VaR is calculated on the basis of exposures outstanding at the close of business and assumes no management action to mitigate losses. 

 
 

The VaR table below presents market risks by type of risk and in aggregate. The risks are interrelated and the diversification effect reflects the 
reduction of risk due to portfolio effects among the trading positions. Our trading risk exposures to interest rates and credit spreads arise from 
activities in the global debt and derivative markets, particularly from transactions in the Canadian, U.S., and European markets. The primary 
instruments are government and corporate debt, and interest rate derivatives. The majority of the trading exposure to foreign exchange risk 
arises from transactions involving the Canadian dollar, U.S. dollar, Euro, pound sterling, Australian dollar, Chinese yuan, and Japanese yen, 
whereas the primary risks of losses in equities are in the U.S., Canadian, and European markets. Trading exposure to commodities arises 
primarily from transactions involving North American natural gas, crude oil products, and precious metals. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  69 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

VaR by risk type – trading portfolio 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

Interest rate risk 
Credit spread risk 
Equity risk 
Foreign exchange risk 
Commodity risk 
Debt specific risk 
Diversification effect (1) 

Total VaR (one-day measure) 

High 

$  10.6 
12.2 
13.5 
7.0 
7.9 
3.9 
n/m 

$  22.0 

Low 

$  3.5 
1.3 
1.5 
0.4 
1.1 
1.5 
n/m 

$  3.8 

2020 

As at 

Average 

High 

$ 

7.3 
7.0 
3.7 
2.0 
2.4 
3.0 
(12.1) 

$ 

6.1 
5.4 
3.8 
1.8 
3.1 
2.5 
(14.2) 

$  10.1 
2.0 
10.4 
4.3 
5.0 
2.4 
n/m 

Low 

$  2.8 
0.9 
1.7 
0.6 
1.1 
1.3 
n/m 

2019 

As at 

Average 

$ 

8.5 
1.5 
3.4 
2.9 
3.9 
1.9 
(15.3) 

$ 

5.2 
1.3 
3.1 
2.1 
2.4 
1.7 
(10.1) 

$  13.3 

$ 

8.5 

$  10.8 

$  3.6 

$ 

6.8 

$ 

5.7 

(1)  Total VaR is less than the sum of the VaR of the different market risk types due to risk offsets resulting from a portfolio diversification effect. 
n/m Not meaningful. It is not meaningful to compute a diversification effect because the high and low may occur on different days for different risk types. 

Average total VaR for the year ended October 31, 2020 was up $2.8 million from the prior year, driven primarily by increases in credit spread, 
interest rate, debt specific, commodity and equity risks due to the larger market shocks arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, with peak exposures 
occurring during March and April 2020. 

Stressed VaR 
The stressed VaR measure is intended to replicate the VaR calculation that would be generated for our current portfolio if the values of the 
relevant market risk factors were sourced from a period of stressed market conditions. The model inputs are calibrated to historical data from a 
continuous 12-month period of significant financial stress relevant to our current portfolio since December 2006. Our current stressed VaR 
period is from September 2, 2008 to August 31, 2009. 

Stressed VaR by risk type – trading portfolio 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

Interest rate risk 
Credit spread risk 
Equity risk 
Foreign exchange risk 
Commodity risk 
Debt specific risk 
Diversification effect (1) 

Stressed total VaR (one-day measure) 

High 

$  41.0 
22.6 
26.3 
22.0 
10.9 
6.5 
n/m 

$  34.1 

Low 

$  8.4 
6.1 
– 
1.0 
1.0 
1.6 
n/m 

$  7.4 

2020 

As at 

Average 

High 

$  33.7 
7.1 
6.9 
9.1 
3.0 
6.1 
(35.7) 

$  20.2 
11.5 
4.2 
7.8 
4.5 
4.6 
(33.9) 

$  37.0 
18.1 
20.2 
29.5 
11.9 
7.3 
n/m 

Low 

$  8.9 
7.9 
1.4 
0.6 
1.3 
4.1 
n/m 

2019 

As at 

Average 

$ 

26.4 
11.1 
2.2 
6.5 
11.9 
4.9 
(42.0) 

$ 

19.4 
12.1 
3.9 
10.4 
4.8 
5.5 
(40.9) 

$  30.2 

$  18.9 

$  47.1 

$  3.5 

$ 

21.0 

$ 

15.2 

(1)  Stressed total VaR is less than the sum of the VaR of the different market risk types due to risk offsets resulting from a portfolio diversification effect. 
n/m Not meaningful. It is not meaningful to compute a diversification effect because the high and low may occur on different days for different risk types. 

Average stressed total VaR for the year ended October 31, 2020 was up $3.7 million from the prior year. The increase was driven by increases in 
interest rate and equity risks and reduced diversification benefit, partially offset by decreases in foreign exchange risk. 

Incremental risk charge 
IRC is a measure of default and migration risk for debt securities held in the trading portfolios. Our IRC methodology is a statistical technique 
that measures the risk of issuer migration and default over a period of one year by simulating changes in issuer credit rating. Validation of the 
model included testing of the liquidity horizon, recovery rate, correlation, and PD and migration. 

IRC – trading portfolio 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

Default risk 
Migration risk 

High 

$  205.6 
104.9 

$ 

Low 

80.4 
49.0 

As at 

Average 

High 

Low 

As at 

Average 

$  102.6 
72.7 

$  126.7 
71.2 

$  268.8 
111.2 

$  124.0 
45.5 

$  132.1 
67.7 

$  180.2 
72.2 

2020 

2019 

IRC (one-year measure) (1) 

$  279.5 

$  141.8 

$  175.3 

$  197.9 

$  371.4 

$  186.5 

$  199.8 

$  252.4 

(1)  High and low IRC are not equal to the sum of the constituent parts, because the highs and lows of the constituent parts may occur on different days. 

Average IRC for the year ended October 31, 2020 was down $54.5 million from the prior year due to a reduction in trading book bond inventory and 
an increase in diversification effect within our fixed income portfolio. 

Back-testing 
To determine the reliability of the trading VaR model, outcomes are monitored regularly through a back-testing process to test the validity of the 
assumptions and the parameters used in the trading VaR calculation. The back-testing process includes calculating a hypothetical or static 
profit and loss and comparing that result with calculated VaR. Static profit and loss represents the change in value of the prior day’s closing 
portfolio due to each day’s price movements, on the assumption that the portfolio remained unchanged. The back-testing process is conducted 
on a daily basis at the consolidated CIBC level as well as business lines and individual portfolios. 

Static profit and loss in excess of the one-day VaR are investigated. The back-testing process, including the investigation of results, is 

performed by risk professionals who are independent of those responsible for development of the model. 

Based on our back-testing results, we are able to ensure that our VaR model continues to appropriately measure risk. 
During the year, there were six negative back-testing breaches of the total VaR measure at the consolidated CIBC level, driven by the 

extreme volatility observed in the second quarter of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on financial markets. 

70  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Trading revenue 
Trading revenue (TEB) comprises both trading net interest income and non-interest income and excludes underwriting fees and commissions. 
Trading revenue (TEB) in the charts below excludes certain exited portfolios. 

During the year, trading revenue (TEB) was positive for 94.5% of the days. The largest gain of $47.7 million occurred on March 9, 2020, 

spread across multiple lines of business. The largest loss of $88.2 million occurred on March 24, 2020. It was mostly attributable to our precious 
metals trading business. Average daily trading revenue (TEB) was $6.4 million during the year, and the average daily TEB was $0.7 million. The 
large increase in VaR in March and April 2020 was a result of market volatility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Frequency distribution of daily 2020 trading revenue (TEB) (1) 
The histogram below presents the frequency distribution of daily trading revenue (TEB) for 2020. 

s
y
a
D
e
u
n
e
v
e
R
g
n
d
a
r
T

i

35 

30 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

(1) or  0 
less 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

C $ millions 

20  21 or 
more 

Trading revenue (TEB) (1) versus VaR (2) 
The trading revenue (TEB) versus VaR graph below shows the current year’s daily trading revenue (TEB) against the close of business day VaR 
measures. 

Trading Revenue (TEB) 

VaR 

$ millions 
60 

40 

20 

0 

(20) 

(40) 

(60) 

(80) 

(100) 

Nov-19 

Dec-19 

Apr-20 
(1)  Excludes certain month-end transfer pricing and other miscellaneous adjustments. 
(2)  Fair value adjustments are excluded from trading activities for regulatory capital purposes, with related derivative hedges to these fair value adjustments also excluded, 
beginning from the second quarter of 2020 (see the “Continuous enhancement to regulatory capital requirements – Regulatory developments arising from the COVID-19 
pandemic” section for further details). 

May-20 

Sep-20 

Aug-20 

Feb-20 

Mar-20 

Jan-20 

Jun-20 

Jul-20 

Oct-20 

Stress testing and scenario analysis 
Stress testing and scenario analysis is designed to add insight to possible outcomes of abnormal market conditions, and to highlight possible 
risk concentrations. 

We measure the effect on portfolio values under a wide range of extreme moves in market risk factors. Our approach simulates the impact 

on earnings of extreme market events over a one-month time horizon, assuming that no risk-mitigating actions are taken during this period to 
reflect the reduced market liquidity that typically accompanies such events. 

Scenarios are developed using historical market data during periods of market disruption, or are based on hypothetical impacts of 

economic events, political events, and natural disasters as predicted by economists, business leaders, and risk managers. 

Among the historical scenarios are the 1994 period of U.S. Federal Reserve tightening, and the market events following the 2008 market 
crisis. The hypothetical scenarios include potential market crises originating in North America, Europe and Asia. In January 2020, the oil shock 
stress scenario was updated to reflect the escalation in the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran. In February 2020, the Brexit “remains” 
scenario was discontinued. This scenario had been introduced in October 2019 to anticipate the possibility of the U.K. remaining in the 
European Union following a potential second Brexit referendum. However, the ratification of the U.K. withdrawal agreement by the European 
Parliament on January 29, 2020 had made this scenario obsolete. In August 2020, a pandemic first wave scenario was incorporated into our 
suite of stress scenarios. This scenario was modelled off the most substantial stress impacts from the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that 
resulted in severe disruption to financial markets between February 24 and March 23, 2020. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  71 

 
 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Below are examples of the core stress test scenarios which are currently run on a daily basis to add insight into potential exposures under stress: 

  Subprime crisis traded 
  U.S. Federal Reserve tightening – 1994 
  U.S. sovereign debt default and downgrade 
  Brexit “leaves” – hard Brexit 

  Canadian market crisis 
  U.S. protectionism 
  Eurozone bank crisis 
  Pandemic first wave 

  Quantitative easing tapering and asset 

price correction 

  Oil crisis 
  Chinese hard landing 

Stress testing scenarios are periodically reviewed and amended as necessary to ensure they remain relevant. Under stress limit monitoring, limits 
are placed on the maximum acceptable loss based on risk appetite in aggregate, at the detailed portfolio level, and for specific asset classes. 

Non-exchange traded commodity derivatives 
In the normal course of business, we trade non-exchange traded commodity derivative contracts. We control and manage our non-exchange traded 
commodity derivatives risk through the VaR and stress testing methodologies described above. We use modelling techniques or other valuation 
methodologies to determine the fair value of these contracts. 

The following table provides the fair value, based upon maturity of non-exchange traded commodity contracts: 

$ millions, as at October 31, 2020 

Maturity less than 1 year 
Maturity 1–3 years 
Maturity 4–5 years 
Maturity in excess of 5 years 

Positive 

$ 

979 
1,343 
472 
96 

$  2,890 

Negative 

$  1,413 
680 
44 
35 

$  2,172 

Net 

$  (434) 
663 
428 
61 

$  718 

Non-trading activities 
Structural Interest Rate Risk (SIRR) 
SIRR primarily consists of the risk arising due to mismatches in assets and liabilities, which do not arise from trading and trading-related 
businesses. The objective of SIRR management is to lock in product margins and deliver stable and predictable net interest income over time, 
while managing the risk to the economic value of our assets arising from changes in interest rates. 

SIRR results from differences in the maturities or repricing dates of assets and liabilities, both on- and off-balance sheet, as well as from 
embedded optionality in retail products, and other product features that could affect the expected timing of cash flows, such as options to pre-
pay loans or redeem term deposits prior to contractual maturity. A number of assumptions affecting cash flows, product re-pricing and the 
administration of rates underlie the models used to measure SIRR. The key assumptions pertain to the expected funding profile of mortgage rate 
commitments, fixed rate loan prepayment behaviour, term deposit redemption behaviour, the treatment of non-maturity deposits and equity. All 
assumptions are derived empirically based on historical client behaviour, balance sheet composition and product pricing with the consideration 
of possible forward-looking changes. All models and assumptions used to measure SIRR are subject to independent oversight by Risk 
Management. A variety of cash instruments and derivatives, primarily interest rate swaps, are used to manage these risks. 

The Board has oversight of the management of SIRR, approves the risk appetite and the associated SIRR risk limits. GALCO and its 

subcommittee, the Asset Liability Management Committee, regularly review structural market risk positions and provide senior management 
oversight. 

In addition to Board-approved limits on earnings and economic value exposure, more granular management limits are in place to guide 

day-to-day management of this risk. The ALM group within Treasury is responsible for the ongoing management of structural market risk across 
the enterprise, with independent oversight and compliance with SIRR policy provided by Risk Management. 

ALM activities are designed to manage the effects of potential interest rate movements while balancing the cost of any hedging activities 
on the current net revenue. To monitor and control SIRR, two primary metrics, net interest income risk and economic value of equity (EVE) risk, 
are assessed, in addition to stress testing, gap analysis and other market risk metrics. The net interest income sensitivity is a measure of the 
impact of potential changes in interest rates on the projected 12-month pre-tax net interest income of the bank’s portfolio of assets, liabilities and 
off-balance sheet positions in response to prescribed parallel interest rate movements with interest rates floored at zero. The EVE sensitivity is a 
measure of the impact of potential changes in interest rates on the market value of the bank’s assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet positions in 
response to prescribed parallel interest rate movements with interest rates floored at zero. 

The following table shows the potential before-tax impact of an immediate and sustained 100 basis points increase and 25 basis points 

decrease in interest rates on projected 12-month net interest income and EVE for our structural balance sheet, assuming no subsequent 
hedging. While an immediate and sustained shock of 100 basis points is typically applied, and notwithstanding the possibility of negative rates, 
due to the low interest rate environment in both Canada and the U.S. at the end of the quarter, an immediate downward shock of 25 basis points 
was applied while maintaining a floor on market and client interest rates at zero. Prior period amounts have been revised to reflect the impact of 
a 25 basis point decrease in all interest rates. 

Structural interest rate sensitivity – measures 

$ millions (pre-tax), as at October 31 

100 basis point increase in interest rates 
Increase (decrease) in net interest income 
Increase (decrease) in EVE 
25 basis point decrease in interest rates 
Increase (decrease) in net interest income 
Increase (decrease) in EVE 

(1)  Includes CAD and other currency exposures. 

72  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

CAD (1) 

2020 

USD 

CAD (1) 

2019 

USD 

$

 317  $
(556) 

  92 

(348) 

$ 

192 
(511) 

$ 

24 
(307) 

(119) 
57 

(42) 
49 

(47) 
104 

(7) 
50 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Foreign exchange risk 
Structural foreign exchange risk primarily consists of the risk inherent in: (a) net investments in foreign operations due to changes in foreign 
exchange rates; and (b) foreign currency denominated RWA and foreign currency denominated capital deductions. This risk, predominantly in U.S. 
dollars, is managed using derivative hedges and by funding the investments in matching currencies. We actively manage this position to ensure 
that the potential impact on our capital ratios is within an acceptable tolerance in accordance with the policy approved by the CRO, while giving 
consideration to the impact on earnings and shareholders’ equity. Structural foreign exchange risk is managed by Treasury under the guidance of 
GALCO with monitoring and oversight by Capital Markets Risk Management. 

A 1% appreciation of the Canadian dollar would reduce our shareholders’ equity as at October 31, 2020 by approximately $150 million 

(2019: $153 million) on an after-tax basis. 

Our non-functional currency denominated earnings are converted into the functional currencies through spot or forward foreign exchange 

transactions. Typically, there is no significant impact of exchange rate fluctuations on our consolidated statement of income. 

We hedge certain foreign currency contractual expenses using derivatives which are accounted for as cash flow hedges. The net change 

in fair value of these hedging derivatives included in AOCI amounted to nil (2019: $3 million) on an after-tax basis. 

Derivatives held for ALM purposes 
Where derivatives are held for ALM purposes, and when transactions meet the criteria specified under IFRS, we apply hedge accounting for the 
risks being hedged, as discussed in Notes 13 and 14 to the consolidated financial statements. Derivative hedges that do not qualify for hedge 
accounting treatment are referred to as economic hedges and are recorded at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet with changes in fair 
value recognized in the consolidated statement of income. 

Economic hedges for other than FVO financial instruments may lead to income volatility because the hedged items are recorded either on 

a cost or amortized cost basis or recorded at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet with changes in fair value recognized through OCI. 
This income volatility may not be representative of the overall risk. 

Equity risk 
Non-trading equity risk arises primarily in our strategy and corporate development activities and our merchant banking activities. The 
investments comprise public and private equities, investments in limited partnerships, and equity-accounted investments. 

The following table provides the amortized cost and fair values of our non-trading equities: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

2020  Equity securities designated at FVOCI 

Equity-accounted investments in associates (1) 

2019  Equity securities designated at FVOCI 

Equity-accounted investments in associates (1) 

Cost 
$  576 
71 
$  647 

$  533 
57 
$  590 

Fair value 
$  585 
93 
$  678 

$  602 
85 
$  687 

(1)  Excludes our equity-accounted joint ventures. See Note 26 to the consolidated financial statements for further details. 

Pension risk 
A number of defined benefit pension plans are operated globally. As at October 31, 2020, our consolidated defined benefit pension plans were in a 
net asset position of $185 million, compared with $116 million as at October 31, 2019. The change in the net asset position of our pension plans is 
disclosed in Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Our Canadian pension plans represent approximately 92% of our pension plans, the most significant of which is our principal Canadian 
pension plan (the CIBC Pension Plan). The estimated impact on our Canadian defined benefit obligations of a 100 basis point change in the 
discount rate is disclosed in Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements. 

The MRCC is responsible for sound governance and oversight, and delegates management authority to the Pension Benefits Management 

Committee (PBMC). An appropriate investment strategy for the CIBC Pension Plan is set through a statement of investment objectives, policies and 
procedures. 

Within Treasury, the Pension Investment Management department is responsible for developing and implementing custom investment 
strategies to sustainably deliver pension benefits within manageable risk tolerances and capital impacts. Key risks include actuarial risks (such as 
longevity risk), interest rate risk, currency risk, market (investment) risk, and health-care cost inflation risks. 

The CIBC Pension Plan principally manages these risk exposures through its liability-driven investment strategy, which includes the use of 
derivatives for risk management and rebalancing purposes, as well as the ability to enhance returns. The use of derivatives within the CIBC Pension 
Plan is governed by the plan’s derivatives policy that was approved by the PBMC. The fair value of derivatives held in the CIBC Pension Plan is 
disclosed in Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements. 

A principal risk for the CIBC Pension Plan is interest rate risk which it mitigates through a combination of physical bonds and a bond overlay 

program funded through the use of repurchase agreements. The plan also operates a currency overlay strategy, which may use forwards or similar 
instruments, to manage and mitigate its currency risk. Investment risk is mitigated through a multi-asset portfolio construction process that 
diversifies across a variety of market risk drivers. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  73 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Liquidity risk 

Liquidity risk is the risk of having insufficient cash or its equivalent in a timely and cost-effective manner to meet financial obligations as they 
come due. Common sources of liquidity risk inherent in banking services include unanticipated withdrawals of deposits, the inability to replace 
maturing debt, credit and liquidity commitments, and additional pledging or other collateral requirements. 

CIBC’s approach to liquidity risk management supports our business strategy, aligns with our risk appetite and adheres to regulatory 

expectations. 

Our management strategies, objectives and practices are regularly reviewed to align with changes to the liquidity environment, including 

regulatory, business and/or market developments. Liquidity risk remains within CIBC’s risk appetite. 

Governance and management 
We manage liquidity risk in a manner that enables us to withstand a liquidity stress event without an adverse impact on the viability of our 
operations. Actual and anticipated cash flows generated from on- and off-balance sheet exposures are routinely measured and monitored to ensure 
compliance with established limits. CIBC incorporates stress testing into its management and measurement of liquidity risk. Stress test results assist 
with the development of our liquidity assumptions, identification of potential constraints to funding planning, and contribute to the design of CIBC’s 
contingency funding plan. 

Liquidity risk is managed using the three lines of defence model, and the ongoing management of liquidity risk is the responsibility of the 

Treasurer, supported by guidance from GALCO. 

The Treasurer is responsible for managing the activities and processes required for measurement, reporting and monitoring of CIBC’s liquidity 

risk position – this is the first line of defence. 

The Liquidity and Non-Trading Market Risk group within Capital Markets Risk Management provides independent oversight of the 

measurement, monitoring and control of liquidity risk, as the second line of defence. 

Internal audit is the third line of defence providing reasonable assurance to senior management and the Audit Committee of the Board on the 

effectiveness of CIBC’s governance practices, risk management processes, and internal control as part of its risk-based audit plan and in 
accordance with its mandate as described in the Internal Audit Charter. 

The GALCO governs CIBC’s liquidity risk management, ensuring the liquidity risk management methodologies, assumptions, and key metrics 

such as the Liquidity Horizon, are regularly reviewed and consider CIBC’s business activities. The Liquidity Risk Management Committee, a 
subcommittee of GALCO, is responsible for ensuring that CIBC’s liquidity risk profile is comprehensively measured and managed in alignment with 
CIBC’s strategic direction, risk appetite and regulatory requirements. 

The RMC approves CIBC’s liquidity risk management policy, and recommends liquidity risk tolerance to the Board through the risk appetite 

statement. 

Policies 
Our liquidity risk management policy requires a sufficient amount of available unencumbered liquid assets and diversified funding sources to 
meet anticipated liquidity needs in both normal and stressed conditions. CIBC branches and subsidiaries possessing unique liquidity 
characteristics, due to distinct businesses or jurisdictional requirements, maintain local liquidity practices in alignment with CIBC’s liquidity risk 
management policy. 

CIBC’s pledging policy sets out consolidated limits for the pledging of CIBC’s assets across a broad range of financial activities. These 

limits ensure unencumbered liquid assets are available for liquidity purposes. 

We maintain a detailed global contingency funding plan that sets out the strategies for addressing liquidity shortfalls in emergency and 
unexpected situations, and delineates the requirements necessary to manage a range of stress conditions, establishes lines of responsibility, 
articulates implementation, and defines escalation procedures, and is aligned to CIBC’s risk appetite. In order to reflect CIBC’s organizational 
complexity, regional and subsidiary contingency funding plans are maintained to respond to liquidity stresses unique to the jurisdictions within 
which CIBC operates, and support CIBC as an enterprise. 

Risk measurement 
Our liquidity risk tolerance is defined by our risk appetite statement, which is approved annually by the Board, and forms the basis for the 
delegation of liquidity risk authority to senior management. We use both regulatory-driven and internally developed liquidity risk metrics to 
measure our liquidity risk exposure. Internally, our liquidity position is measured using the Liquidity Horizon, which combines contractual and 
behavioural cash flows to measure the future point in time when projected cumulative cash outflows exceed cash inflows under a combined 
CIBC-specific and market-wide stress scenario. Expected and potential anticipated inflows and outflows of funds generated from on- and 
off-balance sheet exposures are measured and monitored on a daily basis to ensure compliance with established limits. These cash flows 
incorporate both contractual and behavioural on- and off-balance sheet cash flows. 

Our liquidity measurement system provides liquidity risk exposure reports that include the calculation of the internal liquidity stress tests 

and regulatory reporting such as the LCR, Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) and Net Cumulative Cash Flow (NCCF). Our liquidity management 
also incorporates the monitoring of our unsecured wholesale funding position and funding capacity. 

Risk appetite 
CIBC’s risk appetite statement ensures prudent management of liquidity risk by outlining qualitative considerations and quantitative metrics 
including the LCR and Liquidity Horizon. Quantitative metrics are measured and managed to a set of limits approved by Risk Management. 

Stress testing 
A key component of our liquidity risk management, and complementing our assessments of liquidity risk exposure, is liquidity risk stress testing. 
Liquidity stress testing involves the application of name-specific and market-wide stress scenarios at varying levels of severity to assess the 
amount of available liquidity required to satisfy anticipated obligations as they come due. The scenarios model potential liquidity and funding 
requirements in the event of unsecured wholesale funding and deposit run-off, contingent liquidity utilization, and liquid asset marketability. 

74  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Liquid assets 
Available liquid assets include unencumbered cash and marketable securities from on- and off-balance sheet sources, that can be used to 
access funding in a timely fashion. Encumbered liquid assets, composed of assets pledged as collateral and those assets that are deemed 
restricted due to legal, operational, or other purposes, are not considered as sources of available liquidity when measuring liquidity risk. 

Encumbered and unencumbered liquid assets from on- and off-balance sheet sources are summarized as follows: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Bank owned 
liquid assets 

Securities received 
as collateral 

Total liquid 
assets 

Encumbered 
liquid assets 

Unencumbered 

liquid assets (1) 

2020  Cash and deposits with banks 

$ 

62,518 

$ 

– 

$ 

62,518 

$ 

133 

$ 

62,385 

Securities issued or guaranteed by sovereigns, 

central banks, and multilateral development banks 

Other debt securities 
Equities 
Canadian government guaranteed National Housing 

Act mortgage-backed securities 

Other liquid assets (2) 

2019  Cash and deposits with banks 

Securities issued or guaranteed by sovereigns, central 

banks, and multilateral development banks 

Other debt securities 
Equities 
Canadian government guaranteed National Housing Act 

mortgage-backed securities 

Other liquid assets (2) 

112,403 
4,798 
27,169 

40,592 
10,909 

$  258,389 

$ 

17,359 

85,881 
4,928 
26,441 

41,378 
11,196 

92,202 
4,288 
15,924 

895 
2,109 

204,605 
9,086 
43,093 

41,487 
13,018 

108,425 
2,603 
21,449 

13,084 
5,441 

96,180 
6,483 
21,644 

28,403 
7,577 

$  115,418 

$  373,807 

$  151,135 

$  222,672 

$ 

– 

$ 

17,359 

$ 

784 

$ 

16,575 

86,205 
3,139 
15,766 

876 
463 

172,086 
8,067 
42,207 

42,254 
11,659 

100,203 
1,838 
23,623 

11,627 
6,864 

71,883 
6,229 
18,584 

30,627 
4,795 

$  187,183 

$  106,449 

$  293,632 

$  144,939 

$  148,693 

(1)  Unencumbered liquid assets are defined as on-balance sheet assets, assets borrowed or purchased under resale agreements, and other off-balance sheet collateral 

received less encumbered liquid assets. 

(2)  Includes cash pledged as collateral for derivatives transactions, select ABS and precious metals. 

The following table summarizes unencumbered liquid assets held by CIBC (parent) and its domestic and foreign subsidiaries: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

CIBC (parent) 
Domestic subsidiaries 
Foreign subsidiaries 

2020 

2019 

$  170,936 
12,355 
39,381 

$  108,878 
8,588 
31,227 

$  222,672 

$  148,693 

Asset haircuts and monetization depth assumptions under a liquidity stress scenario are applied to determine asset liquidity value. Haircuts take into 
consideration those margins applicable at central banks – such as the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank – historical observations, 
and securities characteristics including asset type, issuer, credit ratings, currency and remaining term to maturity, as well as available regulatory 
guidance. 

Our unencumbered liquid assets increased $74.0 billion since October 31, 2019, primarily due to investments in liquid assets from funding 

proceeds, including deposit growth. 

Furthermore, CIBC maintains access eligibility to the Bank of Canada’s Emergency Lending Assistance program and the U.S. Federal Reserve 

Bank’s Discount Window. 

Asset encumbrance 

In the course of CIBC’s day-to-day operations, securities and other assets are pledged to secure obligations, participate in clearing and 
settlement systems and other collateral management purposes. 

The following table provides a summary of our total on- and off-balance sheet encumbered and unencumbered assets: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

2020  Cash and deposits with banks 

Securities 
Loans, net of allowance (3) 
Other assets 

2019  Cash and deposits with banks 

Securities 
Loans, net of allowance (3) 
Other assets 

Encumbered 

Unencumbered 

Total assets 

Pledged as 
collateral 

$ 

– 
127,974 
7,946 
4,950 

Other (1) 

$ 

133 
678 
42,291 
– 

Available as 
collateral 

$ 

62,385 
132,493 
34,103 
2,731 

Other (2) 

$ 

– 
– 
322,441 
69,382 

$ 

62,518 
261,145 
406,781 
77,063 

$  140,870 

$  43,102 

$  231,712 

$  391,823 

$  807,507 

$ 

– 
121,349 
2,000 
6,186 

$ 

784 
283 
40,204 
– 

$ 

16,575 
102,867 
35,073 
1,815 

$ 

– 
– 
310,688 
56,218 

$ 

17,359 
224,499 
387,965 
64,219 

$  129,535 

$  41,271 

$  156,330 

$  366,906 

$  694,042 

(1)  Includes assets supporting CIBC’s long-term funding activities and assets restricted for legal or other reasons, such as restricted cash. 
(2)  Other unencumbered assets are not subject to any restrictions on their use to secure funding or as collateral, however they are not considered immediately available to 

existing borrowing programs. 

(3)  Loans included as available as collateral represent the loans underlying National Housing Act mortgage-backed securities and Federal Home Loan Banks eligible loans. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  75 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Restrictions on the flow of funds 
Our subsidiaries are not subject to significant restrictions that would prevent transfers of funds, dividends or capital distributions. However, 
certain subsidiaries have different capital and liquidity requirements, established by applicable banking and securities regulators. 

We monitor and manage our capital and liquidity requirements across these entities to ensure that resources are used efficiently and 

entities are in compliance with local regulatory and policy requirements. 

Liquidity coverage ratio 
The objective of the LCR is to promote short-term resilience of a bank’s liquidity risk profile, ensuring that it has adequate unencumbered high 
quality liquid resources to meet its liquidity needs in a 30-day acute stress scenario. Canadian banks are required to achieve a minimum LCR value 
of 100%. CIBC is in compliance with this requirement. 

In accordance with the calibration methodology contained in OSFI’s Liquidity Adequacy Requirements (LAR) Guideline, CIBC reports the LCR 

to OSFI on a monthly basis. The ratio is calculated as follows: 

Total net cash outflows over the next 30 calendar days 

Total HQLA 

≥ 100% 

The LCR’s numerator consists of unencumbered HQLA, which follow an OSFI-defined set of eligibility criteria that considers fundamental and 
market-related characteristics, and relative ability to operationally monetize assets on a timely basis during a period of stress. CIBC’s centrally-
managed liquid asset portfolio includes those liquid assets reported in the HQLA, such as central government treasury bills and bonds, central bank 
deposits and high-rated sovereign, agency, provincial, and corporate securities. Asset eligibility limitations inherent in the LCR metric do not 
necessarily reflect CIBC’s internal assessment of its ability to monetize its marketable assets under stress. 

The ratio’s denominator reflects net cash outflows expected in the LCR’s stress scenario over the 30-calendar-day period. Expected cash 

outflows represent LCR-defined withdrawal or draw-down rates applied against outstanding liabilities and off-balance sheet commitments, 
respectively. Significant contributors to CIBC’s LCR outflows include business and financial institution deposit run-off, draws on undrawn lines of 
credit and unsecured debt maturities. Cash outflows are partially offset by cash inflows, which are calculated at LCR-prescribed inflow rates, and 
include performing loan repayments and maturing non-HQLA marketable assets. 

During a period of financial stress, institutions may use their stock of HQLA, thereby falling below 100%, as maintaining the LCR at 100% under 

such circumstances could produce undue negative effects on the institution and other market participants. 

The LCR is disclosed using a standard OSFI-prescribed disclosure template. 

$ millions, average of the three months ended October 31, 2020 

Total unweighted value (1)  Total weighted value (2) 

HQLA 
1 

HQLA 

Cash outflows 

Unsecured wholesale funding, of which: 

Stable deposits 
Less stable deposits 

Retail deposits and deposits from small business customers, of which: 

Operational deposits (all counterparties) and deposits in networks of cooperative banks 
Non-operational deposits (all counterparties) 
Unsecured debt 

2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
Outflows related to derivative exposures and other collateral requirements 
11 
Outflows related to loss of funding on debt products 
12 
13 
Credit and liquidity facilities 
14  Other contractual funding obligations 
15  Other contingent funding obligations 

Secured wholesale funding 
Additional requirements, of which: 

16 

Total cash outflows 

Cash inflows 

Secured lending (e.g. reverse repos) 
Inflows from fully performing exposures 

17 
18 
19  Other cash inflows 

20 

Total cash inflows 

21 
22 
23 

Total HQLA 
Total net cash outflows 
LCR 

$ millions, average of the three months ended July 31, 2020 

24 
25 

26 

Total HQLA 
Total net cash outflows 

LCR 

n/a 

$  187,227 

$ 

192,848 
69,388 
123,460 
192,148 
58,055 
108,089 
26,004 
n/a 
120,902 
20,664 
3,165 
97,073 
3,427 
302,688 

n/a 

72,304 
22,399 
4,675 

15,531 
2,082 
13,449 
95,577 
13,953 
55,620 
26,004 
4,437 
28,183 
9,371 
3,165 
15,647 
3,427 
5,990 

153,145 

9,622 
9,404 
4,675 

$ 

99,378 

$ 

23,701 

Total adjusted value 
$  187,227 
$  129,444 

145 % 

Total adjusted value 

$  177,967 
$  118,553 

150 % 

n/a 
n/a 
n/a 

n/a 
n/a 

n/a 

(1)  Unweighted inflow and outflow values are calculated as outstanding balances maturing or callable within 30 days of various categories or types of liabilities, off-balance 

sheet items or contractual receivables. 

(2)  Weighted values are calculated after the application of haircuts (for HQLA) and inflow and outflow rates prescribed by OSFI. 
n/a  Not applicable as per the LCR common disclosure template. 

Our average LCR as at October 31, 2020 decreased to 145% from 150% in the prior quarter, mainly due to higher net cash outflows, partially offset 
by an increase in HQLA. 

76  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

CIBC considers the impact of its business decisions on the LCR and other liquidity risk metrics that it regularly monitors as part of a robust liquidity 
risk management function. Variables that can impact the ratio month-over-month include, but are not limited to, items such as wholesale funding 
activities and maturities, strategic balance sheet initiatives, and transactions and market conditions affecting collateral. Furthermore, CIBC reports 
the LCR to OSFI in multiple currencies, and thus measures the extent of potential currency mismatch under the ratio. CIBC predominantly operates 
in major currencies with deep and fungible foreign exchange markets. 

Reporting of the LCR is calibrated centrally by CIBC Treasury, in conjunction with CIBC’s SBUs and other functional groups. 

Funding 
CIBC funds its operations with client-sourced deposits, supplemented with a wide range of wholesale funding. 

CIBC’s principal approach aims to fund its consolidated balance sheet with deposits primarily raised from personal and commercial 

banking channels. CIBC maintains a foundation of relationship-based core deposits, whose stability is regularly evaluated through internally 
developed statistical assessments. 

We routinely access a range of short-term and long-term secured and unsecured funding sources diversified by geography, depositor 
type, instrument, currency and maturity. We raise long-term funding from existing programs including covered bonds, asset securitizations and 
unsecured debt. 

CIBC continuously evaluates opportunities to diversify into new funding products and investor segments in an effort to maximize funding 

flexibility and minimize concentration and financing costs. We regularly monitor wholesale funding levels and concentrations to internal limits 
consistent with our desired liquidity risk profile. 

GALCO and RMC review and approve CIBC’s funding plan, which incorporates projected asset and liability growth, funding maturities, and 

output from our liquidity position forecasting. 

The following table provides the contractual maturity profile of CIBC’s wholesale funding sources at their carrying values: 

$ millions, as at October 31, 2020 

Less than 
1 month 

1–3 
months 

3–6 
months 

6–12 
months 

Less than 
1 year total 

1–2 
years 

Over 
2 years 

Deposits from banks (1) 
Certificates of deposit and commercial paper 
Bearer deposit notes and bankers’ acceptances 
Asset-backed commercial paper 
Senior unsecured medium-term notes (2) 
Senior unsecured structured notes 
Covered bonds/asset-backed securities 

$ 

6,378 $ 
7,375 
636 
– 
2,750 
– 

Mortgage securitization 
Covered bonds 
Cards securitization 
Subordinated liabilities 
Other 

Of which: 
Secured 
Unsecured 

362 $ 

719 $ 

56  $ 

7,515 $ 

– $ 

10,391 
1,311 
– 
1,523 
– 

1,158 
655 
– 
– 
– 

6,283 
1,168 
– 
3,884 
– 

242 
374 
– 
– 
– 

25,712 
73 
– 
3,501 
186 

2,268 
2,576 
852 
– 
– 

49,761 
3,188 
– 
11,658 
186 

3,668 
3,605 
852 
– 
–

141 
– 
– 
6,358 
– 

2,549 
8,325 
– 
– 
275 

– $ 
– 
– 
– 
27,380 
– 

12,677 
7,667 
808 
5,712 
9

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Total 

7,515 
49,902 
3,188 
– 
45,396 
186 

18,894 
19,597 
1,660 
5,712 
284

$  17,139  $  15,400  $  12,670  $  35,224  $  80,433  $  17,648  $  54,253  $  152,334 

$ 

–  $ 

1,813  $ 

616  $ 

5,696  $ 

8,125  $  10,874  $  21,152  $ 

17,139 

13,587 

12,054 

29,528 

72,308 

6,774 

33,101 

40,151 
112,183 

$  17,139  $  15,400  $  12,670  $  35,224  $  80,433  $  17,648  $  54,253  $  152,334 

October 31, 2019 

$  12,037  $  14,736  $  25,065  $  27,679  $  79,517  $  17,163  $  51,113  $  147,793 

(1)  Includes non-negotiable term deposits from banks. 
(2)  Includes wholesale funding liabilities which are subject to conversion under bail-in regulations. See the “Capital management” section for additional details. 

CIBC’s wholesale funding is diversified by currency as demonstrated in the table that follows: 

$ billions, as at October 31 

CAD 
USD 
Other 

$ 

50.8 
75.4 
26.1 

2020 

33 % 
50 
17 

$ 

49.2 
73.0 
25.6 

$  152.3 

100 % 

$  147.8 

2019 

33 % 
50 
17 

100 % 

We manage liquidity risk in a manner that enables us to withstand severe liquidity stress events. Wholesale funding may present a higher risk of 
run-off in stress situations, and we maintain significant portfolios of unencumbered liquid assets to mitigate this risk. See the “Liquid assets” section 
for additional details. 

Funding plan 
Our funding plan is updated at least quarterly, or in response to material changes in underlying assumptions and business developments. The plan 
incorporates projected asset and liability growth from our ongoing operations, and the output from our liquidity position forecasting. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  77 

 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Credit ratings 
CIBC’s access to and cost of wholesale funding are dependent on multiple factors, among them credit ratings provided by rating agencies. Rating 
agencies’ opinions are based upon internal methodologies, and are subject to change based on factors including, but not limited to, financial 
strength, competitive position, macroeconomic backdrop and liquidity positioning. On April 3, 2020, Fitch revised the rating outlook for seven 
Canadian banks, including CIBC, from stable to negative due to the disruption to economic activity and financial markets from the COVID-19 
pandemic. 

Our credit ratings are summarized in the following table: 

As at October 31, 2020 

Deposit/Counterparty (1) 
Legacy senior debt (2) 
Senior debt (3) 
Subordinated indebtedness 
Subordinated indebtedness – NVCC (4) 
Limited recourse capital notes – NVCC (4) 
Preferred shares – NVCC (4) 
Short-term debt 
Outlook 

DBRS 

AA 
AA 
AA(L) 
A(H) 
A(L) 
BBB(H) 
Pfd-2 
R-1(H) 
Stable 

Fitch 

Moody’s 

AA 
AA 
AA-
A 
A 
n/a 
n/a 
F1+ 
Negative 

Aa2 
Aa2 
A2 
Baa1 
Baa1 
Baa3 
Baa3 
P-1 
Stable 

S&P 

A+ 
A+ 
BBB+ 
BBB+ 
BBB 
BB+ 
P-3(H) 
A-1 
Stable 

(1)  DBRS Long-Term Issuer Rating; Moody’s Long-Term Deposit and Counterparty Risk Assessment Rating; S&P’s Issuer Credit Rating; Fitch Long-Term Deposit Rating and 

Derivative Counterparty Rating. 

(2)  Includes senior debt issued prior to September 23, 2018 as well as senior debt issued on or after September 23, 2018 which is not subject to bail-in regulations. 
(3)  Comprises liabilities which are subject to conversion under bail-in regulations. See the “Capital management” section for additional details. 
(4)  Comprises instruments which are treated as NVCC in accordance with OSFI’s CAR Guideline. 
n/a  Not applicable. 

Additional collateral requirements for rating downgrades 
We are required to deliver collateral to certain derivative counterparties in the event of a downgrade to our current credit risk rating. The collateral 
requirement is based on MTM exposure, collateral valuations, and collateral arrangement thresholds, as applicable. The following table presents the 
additional cumulative collateral requirements for rating downgrades: 

$ billions, as at October 31 

One-notch downgrade 
Two-notch downgrade 
Three-notch downgrade 

2020 

$  0.1 
0.2 
0.3 

2019 

$  0.1 
0.2 
0.3 

Regulatory developments concerning liquidity 
In April 2019, OSFI issued final NSFR guidelines following industry and public consultation, clarifying details of the NSFR implementation and its 
application to the Canadian financial sector. Derived from the BCBS’s Basel III framework and incorporated into OSFI’s LAR Guideline, the NSFR 
standard aims to promote long-term resilience of the financial sector by ensuring banks maintain a sustainable funding structure appropriate to the 
composition of their assets and off-balance sheet activities. D-SIBs were required to comply with the final NSFR guidelines beginning January 2020. 
In April 2019, OSFI also issued “Net Stable Funding Ratio Disclosure Requirements”, which requires public disclosures to be produced beginning in 
the first quarter of 2021. Consistent with the requirements, we submit the NSFR on a quarterly basis to OSFI and to the BCBS twice annually. 

In December 2019, OSFI issued revisions to “Guideline B-6 – Liquidity Principles” for implementation on January 1, 2020. The guideline sets 

out the principles that provide the framework within which OSFI assesses the content and effectiveness of institutions’ management of liquidity risk. 
The changes aim to ensure that the guideline remains current and relevant and to provide additional clarity on OSFI’s expectations regarding 
institutions’ liquidity risk management practices. CIBC maintains a liquidity management framework that is periodically assessed to ensure it aligns 
with the bank’s risk appetite as well as the prudential standards outlined in the guideline. 

Developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic 
As a result of economic instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, global central banks and government agencies instituted a series of 
measures to support the continuous functioning of financial markets through the provision of liquidity. The Bank of Canada introduced the BAPF, the 
expansion of asset buyback programs, and increases in the size, frequency and collateral eligibility of term repo operations. In light of improving 
financial market conditions, the Bank of Canada recently pared back some of these temporary measures and discontinued the BAPF. The Bank of 
Canada continues to monitor market conditions and may revisit programs if warranted. 

As part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Insured Mortgage Purchase Program (IMPP) was revised to 

purchase up to $150 billion of insured mortgage pools through the CMHC. 

In addition, the Bank of Canada introduced the Standing Term Liquidity Facility (STLF), a permanent program that complements existing tools 

to provide liquidity and enhance the resilience of the Canadian financial system. 

Participation in these programs, as and when appropriate, complements CIBC’s liquidity and funding strategy, which includes the objective of 

maintaining the strength and soundness of our consolidated balance sheet. CIBC remains well positioned to meet cash flow expectations and the 
needs of our clients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

See the “Regulatory developments arising from the COVID-19 pandemic” section for additional details on announcements made by OSFI and 

the BCBS in response to changes in market conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

78  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Contractual obligations 
Contractual obligations give rise to commitments of future payments affecting our short- and long-term liquidity and capital resource needs. These 
obligations include financial liabilities, credit and liquidity commitments, and other contractual obligations. 

Assets and liabilities 
The following table provides the contractual maturity profile of our on-balance sheet assets, liabilities and equity at their carrying values. 
Contractual analysis is not representative of CIBC’s liquidity risk exposure, however this information serves to inform CIBC’s management of 
liquidity risk, and provide input when modelling a behavioural balance sheet. 

$ millions, as at October 31, 2020 

Assets 
Cash and non-interest-bearing deposits 

with banks 

Interest-bearing deposits with banks (1) 
Securities 
Cash collateral on securities borrowed 
Securities purchased under resale 

agreements 

Loans 

Residential mortgages 
Personal 
Credit card 
Business and government 
Allowance for credit losses 

Derivative instruments 
Customers’ liability under acceptances 
Other assets 

Less than 
1 month 

1–3 
months 

3–6 
months 

6–9 
months 

9–12 
months 

1–2 
years 

2–5 
years 

Over 
5 years 

No specified 
maturity 

Total 

$  43,531  $ 
18,987 
4,971 
8,547 

–  $ 
– 
3,087 
– 

–  $ 
– 
7,007 
– 

–  $ 
– 
5,028 
– 

–  $ 
– 
3,624 
– 

–  $ 
– 
18,920 
– 

–  $ 
– 
46,554 
– 

– 
– 
31,288 
– 

$ 

–  $  43,531 
– 
18,987 
149,046 
28,567 
8,547 
– 

35,089 

13,080 

12,751 

2,666 

2,009 

– 

– 

– 

– 

65,595 

1,606 
955 
239 
15,539 
– 
2,052 
8,818 
– 

3,336 
646 
478 
5,463 
– 
4,700 
707 
– 

8,242 
1,171 
718 
6,908 
– 
2,436 
68 
– 

12,057 
1,223 
718 
7,116 
– 
1,807 
10 
– 

11,511 
1,148 
718 
6,806 
– 
1,267 
3 
– 

47,032 
450 
2,870 
25,055 
– 
3,651 
– 
– 

128,430 
3,183 
5,648 
43,212 
– 
6,292 
– 
– 

8,302 
3,219 
– 
16,687 
– 
10,525 
– 
– 

649 
30,227 
– 
8,760 
(3,540) 
– 
– 
34,727 

221,165 
42,222 
11,389 
135,546 
(3,540) 
32,730 
9,606 
34,727 

$  140,334  $  31,497  $  39,301  $  30,625  $  27,086  $  97,978  $233,319  $  70,021 

$  99,390  $  769,551 

October 31, 2019 

$  86,873  $  37,026  $  27,740  $  26,478  $  23,115  $  78,483  $201,231  $  59,883 

$  110,775  $  651,604 

Liabilities 
Deposits (2) 
Obligations related to securities sold short 
Cash collateral on securities lent 
Obligations related to securities sold under 

repurchase agreements 

Derivative instruments 
Acceptances 
Other liabilities 
Subordinated indebtedness 
Equity 

$  28,774  $  28,222  $  34,292  $  41,705  $  24,248  $  28,399  $  52,712  $  11,488 
– 
– 

15,963 
1,824 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

$  320,900  $  570,740 
15,963 
1,824 

– 
– 

41,136 
1,969 
8,861 
25 
– 
– 

6,904 
4,645 
707 
50 
– 
– 

21,607 
2,792 
68 
75 
– 
– 

81 
2,049 
10 
74 
– 
– 

425 
1,800 
3 
79 
– 
– 

1,500 
3,079 
– 
295 
– 
– 

– 
5,542 
– 
684 
– 
– 

– 
8,632 
– 
584 
5,712 
– 

– 
– 
– 
20,301 
– 
41,335 

71,653 
30,508 
9,649 
22,167 
5,712 
41,335 

$  98,552  $  40,528  $  58,834  $  43,919  $  26,555  $  33,273  $  58,938  $  26,416 

$  382,536  $  769,551 

October 31, 2019 

$  88,803  $  43,539  $  44,607  $  33,034  $  26,078  $  31,643  $  54,407  $  22,781 

$  306,712  $  651,604 

(1)  Cash includes interest-bearing demand deposits with the Bank of Canada. 
(2)  Comprises $202.2 billion (2019: $178.1 billion) of personal deposits; $351.6 billion (2019: $296.4 billion) of business and government deposits and secured borrowings; 

and $17.0 billion (2019: $11.2 billion) of bank deposits. 

The changes in the contractual maturity profile were primarily due to the natural migration of maturities and also reflect the impact of our regular 
business activities. 

Credit-related commitments 
The following table provides the contractual maturity of notional amounts of credit-related commitments. Since a significant portion of 
commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total of the contractual amounts is not representative of future liquidity 
requirements. 

$ millions, as at October 31, 2020 

Less than 
1 month 

1–3 
months 

3– 6 
months 

6–9 
months 

9–12 
months 

1–2 
years 

2–5 
years 

Over 
5 years 

No specified
maturity

 (1) 

Total 

Unutilized credit commitments 
Securities lending (2) 
Standby and performance letters of credit 
Backstop liquidity facilities 
Documentary and commercial letters of 

$ 

989  $  8,554  $  4,819  $  4,601  $  4,127  $  19,575  $  50,595  $  1,672 
– 
42 
– 

2,779 
2,567 
10,480 

– 
3,567 
627 

– 
2,140 
145 

2,924 
2,070 
1,361 

– 
625 
13 

– 
785 
278 

33,483 
2,769 
3 

$  173,157 
– 
– 
– 

$  268,089 
39,186 
14,565 
12,907 

credit 

Other 

81
2,149 

71
– 

14
–

3
–

15 
– 

–
– 

12
–

– 
– 

– 
–

196 
2,149 

$  39,474  $  24,451  $  11,188  $  8,798  $  6,427  $  20,638  $  51,245  $  1,714 

$  173,157 

$  337,092 

October 31, 2019 

$  42,113  $  21,669  $  9,059  $  8,063  $  5,825  $  14,784  $  50,210  $  2,979 

$  158,076 

$  312,778 

(1)  Includes $131.3 billion (2019: $122.0 billion) of personal, home equity and credit card lines, which are unconditionally cancellable at our discretion. 
(2)  Excludes securities lending of $1.8 billion (2019: $1.8 billion) for cash because it is reported on the consolidated balance sheet. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  79 

 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Other contractual obligations 
The following table provides the contractual maturities of other contractual obligations affecting our funding needs: 

$ millions, as at October 31, 2020 (1) 

Purchase obligations (2) 
Future lease commitments 
Investment commitments 
Pension contributions (3) 
Underwriting commitments 

Less than 
1 month 

$ 

99 
– 
1 
17 
94

$  211 

1–3 
months 

$  205 
1 
4 
33 
–  

$  243 

3–6 
months 

$  174 
8 
– 
49 
– 

$  231 

6–9 
months 

$  179 
10 
1 
49 
– 

$  239 

9–12 
months 

$  138 
12 
4 
50 
– 

$  204 

$ 

1–2 
years 

$  440 
48 
– 
– 
– 

$  488 

$ 

2–5 
years 

Over 
5 years 

$ 

182 
1,249 
194
– 
– 

Total 

$  2,038 
1,494 
212 
198 
94

$  1,625 

$  4,036 

621 
166 
8 
– 
– 

795 

October 31, 2019 

$  222 

$  335 

$  399 

$  365 

$  344 

$  981 

$  1,882 

$  3,582 

$  8,110 

(1)  Effective November 1, 2019, this table excludes operating lease obligations that are accounted for under IFRS 16, which resulted in on-balance recognition for most 
operating lease commitments. Lease obligations that are not accounted for under IFRS 16, including those related to future starting lease commitments for which we 
have not yet recognized a lease liability and right-of-use asset, continue to be recognized in this table. Following our adoption of IFRS 16, this table also excludes 
operating and tax expenses relating to lease commitments. For further details about our transition to IFRS 16, see Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements. 
(2)  Obligations that are legally binding agreements whereby we agree to purchase products or services with specific minimum or baseline quantities defined at fixed, 
minimum or variable prices over a specified period of time are defined as purchase obligations. Purchase obligations are included through to the termination date 
specified in the respective agreements, even if the contract is renewable. Many of the purchase agreements for goods and services include clauses that would allow us 
to cancel the agreement prior to expiration of the contract within a specific notice period. However, the amount above includes our obligations without regard to such 
termination clauses (unless actual notice of our intention to terminate the agreement has been communicated to the counterparty). The table excludes purchases of debt 
and equity instruments that settle within standard market time frames. 

(3)  Includes estimated minimum funding contributions for our funded defined benefit pension plans in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and the Caribbean. Estimated minimum 
funding contributions are included only for the next annual period as the minimum contributions are affected by various factors, such as market performance and 
regulatory requirements, and therefore are subject to significant variability. 

Other risks 
Strategic risk 
Strategic risk is the risk of ineffective or improper implementation of business strategies, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. It includes 
the potential financial loss due to the failure of organic growth initiatives or failure to respond appropriately to changes in the business environment. 
For additional details on corporate transactions, see the “Top and emerging risks” section. 

Oversight of strategic risk is the responsibility of the ExCo and the Board. At least annually, the CEO outlines the process and presents the 
strategic business plan to the Board for review and approval. The Board reviews the plan in light of management’s assessment of emerging market 
trends, the competitive environment, potential risks and other key issues. 

One of the tools for measuring, monitoring and controlling strategic risk is attribution of economic capital against this risk. Our economic capital 

models include a strategic risk component for those businesses utilizing capital to fund an acquisition or a significant organic growth strategy. 

Insurance risk 
Insurance risk is the risk of loss arising from the obligation to pay out benefits and expenses on insurance policies in excess of expected amounts. 
Unfavourable actual experience could emerge due to adverse fluctuations in timing, size and frequency of actual claims (e.g., mortality, morbidity), 
policyholder behaviour (e.g., cancellation of coverage), or associated expenses. 

Insurance contracts provide financial compensation to the beneficiary in the event of an insured risk occurring in exchange for premiums. We 

are exposed to insurance risk in our life insurance business and in our reinsurance business within the respective subsidiaries. 

Senior management of the insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries have primary responsibility for managing insurance risk with oversight by Risk 

Management. The insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries also have their own boards of directors, and an independent Appointed Actuary who provide 
additional input to risk management oversight. Processes and oversight are in place to manage the risk to our insurance business. Underwriting risk on 
business assumed is managed through risk policies that limit exposure to an individual life, to certain types of business and to regions. 

Our risk governance practices ensure strong independent oversight and control of risk within the insurance businesses. The subsidiaries’ boards 
outline the internal risk and control structure to manage insurance risk, which includes risk, capital and control policies, processes as well as limits and 
governance. Senior management of the insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries and Risk Management attend the subsidiaries’ board meetings. 

Operational risk 
Operational risk is the risk of loss resulting from people, inadequate or failed internal processes and systems, or from external events. 

As part of the normal course of business, CIBC is exposed to operational risks in its business activities and external environment. Our 

comprehensive Operational Risk Management Policy, supported by policies, tools, systems and governance structure, is used to mitigate 
operational risks. We continuously monitor our operational risk profile to ensure we are operating within CIBC’s approved risk appetite. 

Governance and management 
Operational risk is managed through the three lines of defence model and articulated in the Operational Risk Management Policy. 
(i)  As the first line of defence, CIBC’s SBUs and functional groups own the risks and are accountable and responsible for identifying and 
assessing risks inherent in their activities in accordance with the CIBC risk appetite. In addition, they establish and maintain controls to 
mitigate such risks. The first line of defence may include control groups within the relevant area to facilitate the control framework and other 
risk-related processes. Control groups provide subject matter expertise to the business lines and/or implement and maintain enterprise-wide 
control programs and activities. While control groups collaborate with the lines of business in identifying and managing risk, they also 
challenge risk decisions and risk mitigation strategies. 

(ii)  The second line of defence is independent from the first line of defence and provides an enterprise-wide view of specific risk types, guidance 
and effective challenge to risk and control activities. Risk Management is the primary second line of defence. Risk Management may leverage 
or rely on subject matter expertise of other groups (e.g., third parties or control groups) to better inform their independent assessments, as 
appropriate. 

(iii)  As the third line of defence, CIBC’s internal audit function provides reasonable assurance to senior management and the Audit Committee of 

the Board on the effectiveness of CIBC’s governance practices, risk management processes, and internal control as part of its risk-based audit 
plan and in accordance with its mandate as described in the Internal Audit Charter. 

A strong risk culture and communication between the three lines of defence are important characteristics of effective risk management. 

80  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Global Operational Risk Management (GORM) oversees CIBC’s operational risk exposures. The Head of GORM chairs the Operational Risk and Control 
Committee (ORCC), a subcommittee of the GRC, with representation from SBUs and functional groups. The ORCC is a management forum providing 
oversight of CIBC’s operational risk and internal control environment. Its Chair reports significant operational risk matters to the GRC and RMC. 

Operational risk management approach 

Information transparency, timely escalation, clear accountability and a robust internal control environment are the principles forming the basis of 
the Operational Risk Management Policy, which supports and governs the processes of identifying, measuring, mitigating, monitoring, and 
reporting operational risks. We mitigate operational losses by consistently applying risk-based approaches and employing risk-specific 
assessment tools. Regular review of our risk governance structure ensures clarity of, and ownership in, key risk areas. 

Risk measurement 
CIBC’s business lines regularly conduct reviews of operational risks inherent in their products, services or processes and assess ways to mitigate 
and manage them in alignment with CIBC’s risk appetite. These reviews include using business process maps, risk and control self-assessments, 
audit findings, operational risk scenarios, past internal and external loss events, key risk indicators trends, change initiative risk assessments and 
in-depth risk reviews to form a holistic operational risk profile for the business lines. Under the three lines of defence model, GORM and relevant 
control groups challenge business lines’ risk assessments and mitigation actions. 

Operational loss is one of the key operational risk metrics informing us of areas of heightened risk. We collect and analyze internal operational 
loss event data for themes and trends. The occurrence of a material or potential material loss triggers an investigation to determine the root causes 
of the incident and the effectiveness of existing mitigating controls, as well as the identification of any additional mitigating actions. Additionally, we 
monitor the external environment for emerging or potential risks to CIBC. The analysis of material operational risk events is performed by the first line 
of defence and the outputs of the analysis are subject to formal independent challenge by our second line of defence. The analysis of material 
operational risk events forms one component of our ongoing operational risk reporting to senior management and the Board. 

Business lines conduct change initiative risk assessment on risks inherent to the initiatives (for example, new product launches or major 
system changes). Identified inherent risks of the change initiative and related mitigation actions are challenged by GORM and other relevant second 
line of defence groups, as well as control groups, to ensure residual risks remain within the approved risk appetite. 

We use the standardized method to quantify our operational risk exposure in the form of operational risk regulatory capital, as agreed with 

local regulators. 

Risk mitigation 
Our primary tool for mitigating operational risk exposure is a robust internal control environment. Our internal control framework outlines key principles, 
structure and processes underpinning CIBC’s approach to managing risks through effective controls. Under our framework, all key controls are 
subject to ongoing testing and review to ensure they effectively mitigate our operational risk exposures. In addition, our corporate insurance program 
affords extra protection from loss while our global business continuity management program ensures that under conditions of interruption or crisis, 
CIBC’s critical business functions could continue to operate and normal operations are restored in a highly effective and efficient manner. 

Risk monitoring and reporting 
Both forward-looking key risk indicators (KRIs) as well as backward-looking key performance indicators provide insight into CIBC’s risk exposure 
and are used to monitor the main drivers of exposure associated with key operational risks and their adherence to the operational risk appetite. KRIs 
assist in early detection of potential operational risk events by identifying unfavourable trends and highlighting controls that may not be designed or  
operating effectively. Business lines are required to identify and implement KRIs for material risk exposures on an ongoing basis. Escalation triggers 
are used to highlight risk exposures requiring additional attention from senior management and/or the Board. The second line of defence challenges 
the selection of KRIs and the appropriateness of thresholds. 

Our risk monitoring processes support a transparent risk-reporting program, informing both senior management and the Board on our control 

environment, operational risk exposures, and mitigation strategies. 

Technology, information and cyber security risk 
We are also exposed to cyber threats and the associated financial, reputation and business interruption risks. For additional information on these 
risks and our mitigation strategies, see the “Top and emerging risks” section. 

Reputation and legal risks 
Our reputation and financial soundness are of fundamental importance to us and to our clients, shareholders and team members. 

Reputation risk is the risk of negative publicity regarding our business conduct or practices which, whether true or not, could significantly 

harm our reputation as a leading financial institution, or could materially and adversely affect our business, operations or financial condition. 
Legal risk is the risk of financial loss arising from one or more of the following factors: (a) civil, criminal or regulatory enforcement 

proceedings against us; (b) our failure to correctly document, enforce or comply with contractual obligations; (c) failure to comply with our legal 
obligations to clients, investors, team members, counterparties or other stakeholders; (d) failure to take appropriate legal measures to protect 
our assets or security interests; or (e) misconduct by our team members or agents. 

Our Reputation Risk Management Framework, Global Reputation and Legal Risks Policy and business-specific procedures outline how we 

safeguard our reputation through identification, assessment, escalation and mitigation of potential reputation and legal risks. Proactive 
management of potential reputation and legal risks is a key responsibility of CIBC and all our team members. 

Overall governance and oversight of reputation risk is provided by the Board, primarily through the RMC of the Board. Senior management 

oversight of reputation and legal risks is provided by the Reputation and Legal Risks Committee, which is a sub-committee of GRC and reports 
its activities regularly to the GRC. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  81 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Conduct risk 
Conduct risk is the risk that actions or omissions (i.e. behaviour) of the organization, team members and/or third parties: do not align with our 
desired culture and values; deliver poor or unfair outcomes for clients, team members or shareholders; result in adverse market practices and 
outcomes; impact CIBC’s reputation as a leading financial institution; or materially and adversely affect CIBC’s business, operations or financial 
condition. 

Overall governance of conduct risk is provided by the Board and its committees, including the CGC, as well as senior management 

committees. Every team member is accountable for the identification and management of conduct risk. 

Our Conduct and Culture Risk Framework describes how CIBC manages conduct risk through proactive identification, measurement and 

management of potential conduct risk. The overarching principles and requirements for maintaining appropriate conduct and addressing 
inappropriate conduct are covered in the Code of Conduct and other business specific and corporate-wide policies, frameworks, programs, 
processes and procedures. All team members must abide by the code, and CIBC policies and procedures in carrying out the accountabilities of 
their role. 

Regulatory compliance risk 
Regulatory compliance risk is the risk of CIBC’s potential non-conformance with applicable regulatory requirements. 

Our regulatory compliance philosophy is to manage and mitigate regulatory compliance risk through the promotion of a strong risk culture 

within the parameters established by CIBC’s Risk Appetite Statement. The foundation of this approach is a comprehensive Regulatory 
Compliance Management (RCM) framework. The RCM framework, owned by the Senior Vice-President, Chief Compliance Officer and Global 
Regulatory Affairs, and approved by the RMC, maps regulatory requirements to internal policies, procedures and controls that govern regulatory 
compliance. 

Our Compliance department is responsible for the development and maintenance of a comprehensive regulatory compliance program, 

including oversight of the RCM framework. This department is independent of business management and regularly reports to the RMC. 

Primary responsibility for compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements rests with senior management of the business and 
functional groups, and extends to all employees. The Compliance department’s activities support those groups, with particular emphasis on 
regulatory requirements that govern the relationship between CIBC and its clients. 

See the “Regulatory developments” section for further details. 

Environmental and related social risk 
Environmental and related social risk is the risk of financial loss or damage to reputation associated with environmental issues including related 
social issues, whether arising from our credit and investment activities or related to our own operations. Our corporate environmental policy, 
originally approved by the Board in 1993, with the most recent biennial update and approval by our CRO in 2019, commits CIBC to responsible 
conduct in all activities to protect and conserve the environment; safeguard the interests of all stakeholders from unacceptable levels of 
environmental risk; and support the principles of sustainable development. 

Within CIBC’s Risk Management function, the Enterprise Risk Management group provides independent oversight of the measurement, 

monitoring and control of environmental risk. This group is led by the Senior Vice-President, Enterprise Risk Management, who has direct 
accountability to the CRO for environmental risk oversight. 

Our environmental risk management team is responsible for developing environmental strategy, setting environmental performance standards 
and targets, and reporting on performance. There is also an enterprise-wide Environmental Management Committee, comprising senior executives 
from our SBUs and functional groups, that meets quarterly and provides input into our environmental strategy and provides oversight of CIBC’s 
environmental initiatives. 

The corporate environmental policy is addressed by an integrated corporate environmental management program that is under the overall 

management of the environmental risk management team. Environmental and related social evaluations are integrated into our credit risk 
assessment processes, with environmental and related social risk management standards and procedures in place for all sectors. In addition, 
environmental and related social risk assessments in project finance, project-related corporate and bridge loans are required, in accordance with 
our commitment to the Equator Principles, which are a voluntary set of guidelines for financial institutions based on the screening criteria of the 
International Finance Corporation. We adopted the Equator Principles in 2003. An escalation process is in place for transactions with the potential to 
have significant environmental and related social risk, with escalation up to the Reputation and Legal Risks Committee for senior executive review, if 
required. 

We also conduct ongoing research and benchmarking on environmental issues such as climate change as they may pertain to responsible 

lending practices. We are a participant in the CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) climate change program, which promotes corporate 
disclosure to the investment community on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change management. 

We are also a supporter of the reporting framework developed by the TCFD, which provides guidance for voluntary, consistent climate-related 

risk disclosures. In 2019, CIBC published its first climate-related disclosure aligned to the TCFD recommendations and structured around its four 
core elements. Our TCFD report, available on our website, provides details as to how CIBC is identifying and managing both physical and transition 
risks associated with climate change. In addition, we are a member of the UNEP FI, which has a mission to promote sustainable finance and is 
guiding our approach to assessing climate change risks, as well as identifying opportunities associated with transitioning to a low-carbon economy. 
In 2018, CIBC Asset Management Inc. became a signatory to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment, which 
commit signatories to incorporate environmental and social issues into investment analysis and decision making across all investment classes. 

The environmental risk management team works closely with our main business units and functional groups to ensure that high standards of 

environmental responsibility are applied to the banking services that we provide to our clients, the relationships we have with our stakeholders, and 
to the way we manage our facilities. 

More information on our environmental governance, policy, management and performance can be found in our Sustainability Report, which is 

available on our website. 

The information provided on our website does not form a part of this document. 

82  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Accounting and control matters 

Critical accounting policies and estimates 
As discussed in the “Significant events” section, the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed by government bodies around the world to 
limit its spread, including the closure of non-essential businesses and other physical distancing measures, have disrupted the global economy, 
resulted in volatility in financial markets, and negatively impacted the expectation for the financial performance of businesses around the world. 
Although the second half of 2020 has seen a resumption in activity in certain sectors as a result of the easing of physical distancing measures, the 
economy continues to operate below pre-pandemic levels. In addition, there is a risk that the recent retightening of physical distancing measures 
enacted by governments and businesses in the fourth quarter in response to the resurgence in infection rates could impact economic activity 
beyond levels that were previously anticipated. This gives rise to heightened uncertainty as it relates to our critical accounting estimates and 
increases the need to apply judgment in evaluating the economic and market environment and its impact on significant estimates. This particularly 
impacts estimates relating to impairment of financial assets, determining the fair value of financial instruments, estimating the allowance for credit 
losses, goodwill impairment, and asset impairment. 

A summary of significant accounting policies is presented in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. Changes in the judgments and 
estimates required in the critical accounting policies discussed below could have a material impact on our financial results. We have established 
control procedures to ensure accounting policies are applied consistently and processes for changing methodologies are well controlled. 

IFRS 16 “Leases” 
CIBC adopted IFRS 16 “Leases” (IFRS 16) in place of International Accounting Standards (IAS) 17 “Leases” as of November 1, 2019. We applied IFRS 
16 on a modified retrospective basis. As permitted, we did not restate our prior period comparative consolidated financial statements, which were 
reported under the prior guidance. The impact of adopting IFRS 16 is discussed in Note 8. 

As a lessee, we recognize a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability based on the present value of future lease payments, less any 
lease incentives receivable, when the lessor makes the leased asset available for use to CIBC, based on the non-cancellable portion of the lease 
term, adjusted for any renewal or termination options that are reasonably certain to be exercised. Measurement of the right-of-use asset also 
includes any initial direct costs of procuring the lease, and any lease payments made or lease incentives received prior to lease commencement. 
Discount rates are based on the rate implicit in the lease, if determinable, or on CIBC’s incremental borrowing rate. Where a property lease contains 
both a lease and non-lease component, we have elected not to allocate the consideration in the contract to each of the components. Subsequent to 
initial measurement, CIBC measures the lease liability by increasing the carrying amount to reflect interest on the lease liability based on the 
discount rate at the time of recognition and reducing the carrying amount to reflect lease payments made during the period, net of any 
remeasurements for lease reassessment or modifications. 

The right-of-use asset is measured using the cost model and amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Right-of-use assets and 

the corresponding lease liabilities are recognized in Property and equipment and Other liabilities, respectively, on our consolidated balance sheet. 
The right-of-use asset and the corresponding lease liability are remeasured when there is a change in lease term, a change in the assessment of an 
option to purchase a leased asset, a change in the expected residual value guarantee (if any), or a change in future lease payments due to a 
change in the index or rate applicable to the payment. Right-of-use assets are tested for impairment as required under IAS 36 “Impairment of 
Assets”. In addition, the evaluation of the useful life for depreciation is assessed under IAS 36. 

Lease payments for low-value assets, short-term leases and variable leases are systematically recognized in Non-interest expenses based on 

the nature of the expense. 

As an intermediate lessor, we classify a sublease as an operating or finance sublease based on whether substantially all of the risks and 

rewards related to the underlying right-of-use asset are transferred to the sub-lessee. If classified as a finance sublease, the related right-of-use 
asset is derecognized and an investment in sublease is recognized, with the difference recognized in the consolidated statement of income as a 
gain or loss. In measuring the investment in sublease, we apply the head lease discount rate unless the rate implicit in the sublease is determinable. 
Where a finance sublease includes lease and non-lease components, we allocate the total consideration in the contract to each component based 
on the standalone prices for each of these components. The investment in sublease is recognized in Other assets on our consolidated balance 
sheet, and is subsequently measured using the effective interest rate method, with interest income recognized over the term of the sublease. Rental 
income from operating subleases is recognized on a systematic basis over the lease term. 

Previously, IAS 17 required lessors to classify leases as operating or finance, considering whether the underlying lease transfers substantially 
all risks and rewards incidental to ownership. Lease expenses related to operating leases were recognized through income on a systematic basis, 
based on the nature of the expense. Finance leases were recognized on-balance sheet through a finance asset and a finance liability, and the 
related lease expenses were recognized through income on a systematic basis. 

Adoption of IFRS 16 reduced our CET1 ratio by 2 basis points at transition (see the “Capital management – Regulatory capital and ratios” section). 

Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7 
In September 2019, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued “Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 
and IFRS 7”, which provides relief for specific hedge accounting requirements to address uncertainties in the period before the interest rate 
benchmark reform, and provides disclosure requirements related to interest rate benchmark reform. 

Only the amendments to IAS 39 “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” (IAS 39) and IFRS 7 “Financial Instruments: 
Disclosures” apply to us because we elected to continue to apply the hedge accounting requirements of IAS 39 upon the adoption of IFRS 9 
“Financial Instruments” (IFRS 9). The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2020. 

CIBC elected to early adopt the amendments effective November 1, 2019 to prepare for uncertainties that may increase relating to the timing 

or amount of benchmark-based cash flows of hedged items and hedging instruments. The relief provided in the amendments allows hedge 
accounting to continue during the period of uncertainty before the replacement of existing interest rate benchmarks with an alternative rate. 
Significant judgment is involved in identifying the hedge accounting relationships that are directly affected by interest rate benchmark reform as 
different jurisdictions are transitioning at different stages and may adopt different transition approaches. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  83 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

The U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) originally announced in July 2017 that it would not compel banks to submit London Interbank 

Offered Rate (LIBOR) rates after December 2021. This may cause LIBOR and other current benchmarks to disappear entirely or perform differently 
than in the past, create disincentives for market participants to continue to administer and contribute to certain benchmarks, or have other 
consequences which cannot be predicted. The FCA and the ICE Benchmark Administrator recently announced a consultation process that may 
lead to a change in the expected timing of cessation of certain currencies and tenors of LIBOR, which CIBC will closely monitor. As at November 1, 
2019, the notional amount of our derivatives in designated hedge accounting relationships that were indexed to U.S. LIBOR and British pound 
sterling (GBP) LIBOR, with a maturity date beyond December 31, 2021, was $48 billion. We expect the derivatives indexed to the Euro Interbank 
Offered Rate (EURIBOR) and the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR) that are in our designated hedge accounting relationships to continue 
beyond 2021 in conjunction with alternative rates that might be applied in the impacted markets. We also continue to monitor benchmark rates in 
other jurisdictions as they continue to evaluate benchmark reform. 

In August 2020, the IASB issued “Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Phase 2 Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16”, 
which addresses issues that affect financial reporting once an existing rate is replaced with an alternative rate and provides specific disclosure 
requirements. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2021. As we elected to continue to apply the hedge 
accounting requirements of IAS 39 upon the adoption of IFRS 9, the amendments will apply to IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 for us, 
mandatorily effective on November 1, 2021. Earlier application is permitted. We continue to evaluate the impact of the amendments on our 
consolidated financial statements. 

We previously established an enterprise-wide transition program to assess the impact of interest rate benchmark reform and manage the 

process to transition to alternative benchmark rates. For details on this program, refer to the “Other regulatory developments” section. 

International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee 23 “Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments” 
CIBC adopted International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee 23 “Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments” (IFRIC 23) as at 
November 1, 2019. IFRIC 23 clarifies the accounting for uncertainties in income taxes. There was no impact to our 
consolidated financial statements and no changes in our accounting policies as a result of adopting IFRIC 23. 

IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” 
CIBC adopted IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (IFRS 15) as at November 1, 2018 in place of prior guidance, including IAS 18 
“Revenue” and IFRIC 13 “Customer Loyalty Programmes”. We applied IFRS 15 on a modified retrospective basis. As permitted, we did not restate 
our prior period comparative consolidated financial statements. Amounts reported related to the year ended October 31, 2018 are reported under 
the prior guidance, including IAS 18 and IFRIC 13, and are therefore not comparable to the information presented for 2019 or 2020. The application 
of IFRS 15 did not significantly impact our critical accounting policies. 

Use and classification of financial instruments 
As a financial institution, our assets and liabilities primarily comprise financial instruments, which include deposits, securities, loans, derivatives, 
acceptances, repurchase agreements, and subordinated indebtedness. 

We use these financial instruments for both trading and non-trading activities. Trading activities primarily include the purchase and sale of 

securities, transacting in foreign exchange and derivative instruments in the course of facilitating client trades and taking proprietary trading 
positions with the objective of income generation. Non-trading activities generally include the business of lending, investing, funding, and ALM. 
The use of financial instruments may either introduce or mitigate exposures to market, credit and/or liquidity risks. See the “Management of 

risk” section for details on how these risks are managed. 

Financial instruments are accounted for according to their classification. Judgment is applied in determining the appropriate classification of 

financial instruments under IFRS 9, in particular as it relates to the assessment of whether debt financial assets meet the solely payment of principal 
and interest (SPPI) test, and the assessment of the business model used to manage financial assets. For details on the accounting for these 
instruments under IFRS 9, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Accounting for FVOCI securities under IFRS 9 
FVOCI securities include debt securities that meet the SPPI criteria and the “Hold to collect and for sale” business model and equity securities that 
are designated at FVOCI upon initial recognition. Impairment of equity securities designated at FVOCI is not required under IFRS 9 because 
unrealized gains or losses are recognized in OCI and are directly reclassified to retained earnings upon disposition of the equity securities with no 
recycling to profit or loss. 

FVOCI debt securities under IFRS 9 are measured at fair value, with the difference between the fair value and the amortized cost included in 

AOCI. However, FVOCI debt securities are subject to the ECL impairment model under IFRS 9. For more details, refer to the “Impairment of financial 
assets” section below and Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Determination of fair value of financial instruments 
Under IFRS 9, debt and equity securities mandatorily measured and designated at FVTPL, business and government loans mandatorily measured 
and designated at FVTPL, obligations related to securities sold short, derivative contracts, FVOCI securities and FVO financial instruments are 
carried at fair value. FVO financial instruments include certain debt securities, certain secured borrowings, obligations related to securities sold 
under repurchase agreements, structured deposits and business and government deposits. Retail mortgage interest rate commitments are also 
designated as FVO financial instruments. 

IFRS 13 defines fair value to be the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability at the measurement date in an 

orderly arm’s-length transaction between market participants in the principal market under current market conditions (i.e., the exit price). Fair value 
measurements are categorized into levels within a fair value hierarchy based on the nature of the valuation inputs (Level 1, 2 or 3). We have an 
established and documented process for determining fair value. Fair value is based on unadjusted quoted prices in an active market for the same 
instrument, where available (Level 1). If active market prices or quotes are not available for an instrument, fair value is then based on valuation 
models in which the significant inputs are observable (Level 2) or in which one or more of the significant inputs are non-observable (Level 3). 
Estimating fair value requires the application of judgment. The type and level of judgment required is largely dependent on the amount of 
observable market information available. 

For instruments valued using internally developed models that use significant non-observable market inputs and are therefore classified within 

Level 3 of the hierarchy, the judgment used to estimate fair value is more significant than when estimating the fair value of instruments classified 
within Levels 1 and 2. To ensure that valuations are appropriate, a number of policies and controls are in place, including independent validation of 
valuation inputs to external sources such as exchange quotes, broker quotes or other management-approved independent pricing sources. 

84  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

The following table presents amounts, in each category of financial instruments, which are valued using valuation techniques based on Level 3 

inputs. For further details of the valuation of and sensitivity associated with Level 3 financial assets and liabilities, see Note 3 to the consolidated 
financial statements. 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Assets 
Securities mandatorily measured and designated at FVTPL and loans mandatorily measured at FVTPL 
Debt securities measured at FVOCI and equity securities designated at FVOCI 
Derivative instruments 

Liabilities 
Deposits and other liabilities (2) 
Derivative instruments 

2020 

2019 

Level 3 

Total (1) 

Level 3 

Total (1) 

$ 

802 
240 
358 

0.9 % 
0.4 
1.1 

$  1,034 
291 
412 

$  1,400 

0.8 % 

$  1,737 

$ 

$ 

(4) 
298 

294 

– % 

$ 

1.0 

0.4 % 

$ 

601 
268 

869 

1.4 % 
0.6 
1.7 

1.1 % 

5.4 % 
1.1 

1.7 % 

(1)  Represents the percentage of Level 3 assets and liabilities over total assets and liabilities for each reported category that are carried on the consolidated balance sheet at 

fair value. 

(2)  Includes FVO deposits and bifurcated embedded derivatives. 

Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements presents the valuation methods used to determine fair value showing separately those financial 
instruments that are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet and those that are not. 

In order to reflect the observed market practice of pricing collateralized and uncollateralized derivatives, our valuation approach uses 

overnight indexed swap curves as the discount rate in the valuation of collateralized derivatives and market cost of funding in the valuation of 
uncollateralized derivatives. The use of a market cost of funds curve reduces the fair value of uncollateralized derivative assets incremental to the 
reduction in fair value for credit risk already reflected through the CVA. In contrast, the use of a market cost of funds curve reduces the fair value of 
uncollateralized derivative liabilities in a manner that generally includes adjustments for our own credit. As market practices continue to evolve in 
regard to derivative valuation, further adjustments may be required in the future. 

Fair value adjustments 
We apply judgment in establishing valuation adjustments that take into account various factors that may have an impact on the valuation of financial 
instruments that are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the bid-offer spread, 
illiquidity due to lack of market depth and other market risks, parameter uncertainty, model risk, and credit risk. 

The establishment of fair value adjustments involves estimates that are based on accounting processes and judgments by management. We 
evaluate the adequacy of the fair value adjustments on an ongoing basis. The level of fair value adjustments could change as events warrant and 
may not reflect ultimate realizable amounts. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased market volatility and has negatively impacted the trading levels of certain financial instruments. As a 

result and as part of our process to determine the fair value of financial instruments, since the onset of the pandemic, we have applied a heightened 
level of judgment to a broader population of financial instruments than would otherwise generally be required with the objective of determining the 
fair value that is most representative of those financial instruments. While there has been an improvement in conditions and price discovery in the 
third and fourth quarters of 2020 relative to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the second quarter of 2020, including the narrowing of credit and 
funding spreads, the related valuation adjustments have not decreased to pre-COVID-19 levels. 

As at October 31, 2020, the total valuation adjustments related to financial instruments carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet was 

$358 million (2019: $260 million), primarily related to credit risk, bid-offer spreads, and parameter uncertainty of our derivative assets and liabilities, as 
well as adjustments recognized for valuing our uncollateralized derivative assets and liabilities based on an estimated market cost of funds curve. 

Impairment of financial assets 
Under IFRS 9, we establish and maintain ECL allowances for all debt instrument financial assets classified as amortized cost or FVOCI. In addition, 
the ECL allowances apply to loan commitments and financial guarantees that are not measured at FVTPL. 

ECL allowances represent credit losses that reflect an unbiased and probability-weighted amount that is determined by evaluating a range of 

possible outcomes, the time value of money and reasonable and supportable information about past events, current conditions and forecasts of 
future economic conditions. The objective of IFRS 9 is to record lifetime losses on all financial instruments which have experienced a significant 
increase in credit risk since their initial recognition. As a result, ECL allowances are measured at amounts equal to either: (i) 12-month ECL; or 
(ii) lifetime ECL for those financial instruments which have experienced a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition or when there is 
objective evidence of impairment. 

Key drivers of expected credit loss 
The ECL impairment requirements of IFRS 9 require that we make judgments and estimates related to matters that are uncertain. In particular, the 
ECL requirements of IFRS 9 incorporate the following elements that are subject to a high level of judgment: 
 
  Measuring both 12-month and lifetime credit losses; and 
 

Forecasting forward-looking information for multiple scenarios and determining the probability weighting of each scenario. 

Determining when a significant increase in credit risk of a loan has occurred; 

In addition, the interrelationship between these elements is also subject to a high degree of judgment. Changes in the judgments and estimates 
related to IFRS 9 can have a significant impact on the level of ECL allowance recognized and the period-over-period volatility of the provision for 
credit losses. Changes in a particular period could have a material impact on our financial results. 

The uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the level of judgment applied in respect of all of these elements. See 

Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements for more information concerning the high level of judgment inherent in the estimation of ECL 
allowance under IFRS 9, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  85 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Use of the regulatory framework 
Our ECL model leverages the data, systems and processes that are used to calculate Basel expected losses regulatory adjustments for the portion 
of our portfolios under the AIRB approach. Appropriate adjustments are made to the Basel parameters to meet IFRS 9 requirements, including the 
conversion of through-the-cycle and downturn parameters used in the Basel regulatory calculations to point-in-time parameters used under IFRS 9 
that consider forward-looking information. In addition, credit losses under IFRS 9 are for 12 months for stage 1 financial instruments and lifetime for 
stage 2 and stage 3 financial instruments, as compared with 12 months for AIRB portfolios under Basel. The main adjustments necessary to Basel 
risk parameters are explained in the table below: 

Regulatory Capital 

IFRS 9 

Through-the-cycle PD represents long-run average PD 
throughout a full economic cycle 

Point-in-time 12-month or lifetime PD based on current conditions 
and relevant forward-looking assumptions 

Downturn LGD based on losses that would be expected in an 
economic downturn and subject to certain regulatory floors 
Discounted using the cost of capital 

Based on the drawn balance plus expected utilization of any 
undrawn portion prior to default, and cannot be lower than the 
drawn balance 

Unbiased probability-weighted LGD based on estimated LGD 
including impact of relevant forward-looking assumptions such as 
changes in collateral value 
Discounted using the original effective interest rate 

Amortization and repayment of principal and interest from the 
balance sheet date to the default date is also captured 

ECL is discounted from the default date to the reporting date 

PD 

LGD 

EAD 

Other 

Attribution of provision for credit losses 
We recognize provision for credit losses on both impaired (stage 3) and performing (stages 1 and 2) loans in the respective SBUs. Provision for 
credit losses recognized directly on our consolidated statement of income is in respect to financial instruments classified as loans and bankers’ 
acceptances. Provision for credit losses for FVOCI debt securities and amortized cost securities are recognized in gains (losses) from debt 
securities measured at FVOCI and amortized cost, net in the consolidated statement of income. 

Hedge accounting 
The IFRS 9 hedge accounting guidance is intended to better align the accounting with risk management activities. However, IFRS 9 allows the 
existing hedge accounting requirements under IAS 39 to continue in place of the hedge accounting requirements under IFRS 9. As permitted, 
we have elected to not adopt the IFRS 9 hedge accounting requirements and instead have retained the IAS 39 hedge accounting requirements. 
As required, we have adopted the hedge accounting disclosure requirements under amendments to IFRS 7 that were effective in 2018. 

Securitizations and structured entities 
Securitization of our own assets 
Under IFRS 10 “Consolidated Financial Statements” (IFRS 10), judgment is exercised in determining whether an investor controls an investee 
including assessing whether the investor has: (i) power over the investee; (ii) exposure, or rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the 
investee; and (iii) the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. 

We sponsor several SEs that have purchased and securitized our own assets including Cards II Trust, which we consolidate under IFRS 10. 
We also securitize our own mortgage assets through a government-sponsored securitization program. We sell these securitized assets to a 

government-sponsored securitization vehicle that we do not consolidate, as well as to other third parties. IFRS 9 provides guidance on when to 
derecognize financial assets. A financial asset is derecognized when the contractual rights to receive cash flows from the asset have expired, or 
when we have transferred the rights to receive cash flows from the asset such that: 
  We have transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset; or 
  We have neither transferred nor retained substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset, but have transferred control of the asset. 

We have determined that our securitization activities related to residential mortgages and cards receivables are accounted for as secured 
borrowing transactions because we have not met the aforementioned criteria. 

Securities lending and repurchase transactions generally do not result in the transfer of substantially all the risks and rewards of the securities 

and as a result do not result in derecognition of the securities. 

We also sell certain U.S. commercial mortgages to third parties that qualify for derecognition because we have transferred substantially all the 

risks and rewards of the mortgages and have no continuous involvement after the transfer. 

Securitization of third-party assets 
We also sponsor several SEs that purchase pools of third-party assets. We consider a number of factors in determining whether CIBC controls these 
SEs. We monitor the extent to which we support these SEs, through direct investment in the debt issued by the SEs and through the provision of 
liquidity protection to the other debtholders, to assess whether we should consolidate these entities. 

IFRS 10 also requires that we reconsider our consolidation assessment if facts and circumstances relevant to the entities indicate that there are 

changes to one or more of the three elements of control described above. Factors that trigger reassessment include, but are not limited to, 
significant changes in ownership structure of the entities, changes in contractual or governance arrangements, provision of a liquidity facility beyond 
the original terms, transactions with the entities that were not contemplated originally and changes in the financing structure of the entities. 

Specifically, in relation to our multi-seller conduits, we would reconsider our consolidation assessment if our level of interest in the ABCP issued 

by the conduits changes significantly, or in the rare event that the liquidity facility that we provide to the conduits is drawn or amended. 

A significant increase in our holdings of the outstanding commercial paper issued by the conduits would become more likely in a scenario in 

which the market for bank-sponsored ABCP suffered a significant deterioration such that the conduits were unable to roll their ABCP. 

For additional information on the securitizations of our own assets and third-party assets, see the “Off-balance sheet arrangements” section 

and Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements. 

86  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Asset impairment 
Goodwill 
As at October 31, 2020, we had goodwill of $5,253 million (2019: $5,449 million). Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested, at least annually, for 
impairment by comparing the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit (CGU) to which goodwill has been allocated, with the carrying amount 
of the CGU including goodwill. Any deficiency is recognized as impairment of goodwill. The recoverable amount of a CGU is defined as the higher 
of its estimated fair value less cost to sell and its value in use. Goodwill is also required to be tested for impairment whenever there are indicators 
that it may be impaired. 

Estimation of the recoverable amount is an area of significant judgment. Recoverable amounts are estimated using internally developed 
models which require the use of significant assumptions including forecasted earnings, discount rates, growth rates, forecasted regulatory capital 
requirements, and price-earnings multiples. Reductions in the estimated recoverable amount could arise from various factors, such as reductions in 
forecasted cash flows, an increase in the assumed level of required capital, and any adverse changes to the discount rate or terminal growth rates 
either in isolation or in any combination thereof. Where our estimated recoverable amount is not significantly in excess of the carrying amount of the 
CGU, additional judgment is required, and reductions in the recoverable amount are more likely to result in an impairment charge. 

In the fourth quarter of 2020, we performed our annual impairment test. This assessment required the application of heightened judgment in 

light of the uncertainty regarding the ultimate economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in evaluating the impact on medium and 
long-term forecasted earnings. Implicit in our economic outlook is the assumption that the manner in which governments respond to the current 
second and subsequent waves of the virus, and the dissemination of an effective mass produced vaccine, will allow the U.S. and Canadian 
economies to continue to recover during 2021, with the economy returning to pre-COVID levels of economic activity in 2022 and pre-COVID levels 
of unemployment in 2023. 

As discussed in Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements, in the second quarter of 2020 we recognized a goodwill impairment charge of 

$28 million on our CIBC FirstCaribbean CGU. In the fourth quarter of 2020, we concluded that held for sale accounting is no longer appropriate and we 
recognized an additional goodwill impairment charge of $220 million based on our revised estimate of the recoverable value of CIBC FirstCaribbean. 
This reduced the carrying amount of the goodwill relating to the CIBC FirstCaribbean CGU to $35 million (US$26 million) as at October 31, 2020. 
Reductions in the estimated recoverable amount of the CIBC FirstCaribbean CGU could arise from various factors, including changes in 

market conditions. 

For additional information, see Note 4 and Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements. 

Other intangible assets and long-lived assets 
As at October 31, 2020, we had other intangible assets with an indefinite life of $142 million (2019: $142 million). Acquired intangible assets are 
separately recognized if the benefits of the intangible assets are obtained through contractual or other legal rights, or if the intangible assets can 
be sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged. Determining the useful lives of intangible assets requires judgment and fact-based analysis. 
Intangible assets with an indefinite life are not amortized but are assessed for impairment by comparing the recoverable amount to the 

carrying amount. An impairment test is required at least annually, or whenever there are indicators that these assets may be impaired. 

Long-lived assets and other identifiable intangible assets with a definite life are amortized over their estimated useful lives. These assets are 
tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount is higher than the recoverable amount. The 
recoverable amount is defined as the higher of the estimated fair value less cost to sell and value in use. 

Determining the recoverable amount of intangible assets and long-lived assets is an area of judgment as we estimate the future cash flows 

expected to result from the use of the asset and, where appropriate, cash flows arising from the asset’s eventual disposition. 

For additional details, see Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Income taxes 
We are subject to income tax laws in the various jurisdictions where we operate, and the tax laws in those jurisdictions are potentially subject to 
different interpretations by us and the relevant taxation authority, which gives rise to uncertainty. We use judgment in the estimation of income taxes 
and deferred tax assets and liabilities. As a result, management judgment is applied in the interpretation of the relevant tax laws and in estimating 
the provision for current and deferred income taxes. For tax positions where there is uncertainty regarding the ultimate determination of the tax 
impact, including positions which are under audit, dispute or appeal, we recognize provisions to consider this uncertainty based on our best 
estimate of the amount expected to be paid based on an assessment of the relevant factors. 

Deferred tax assets or liabilities are determined for each temporary difference based on the tax rates that are expected to be in effect in the 

period that the assets are realized or the liabilities are settled. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognized for all taxable temporary differences 
unless the temporary differences relate to our net investments in foreign operations (NIFOs) and will not reverse in the foreseeable future. 

We are required to assess whether it is probable that our deferred tax assets will be realized prior to their expiration and, based on all of the 

available evidence, determine if any portion of our deferred tax assets should not be recognized. The factors used to assess the probability of realization 
are based on our past experience of income and capital gains, forecasts of future net income before income taxes, available tax planning strategies that 
could be implemented to realize the deferred tax assets, and the remaining expiration period of tax loss carryforwards. In addition, for deductible 
temporary differences arising from our NIFOs, we must consider whether the temporary difference will reverse in the foreseeable future. Although 
realization is not assured, we believe, based on all of the available evidence, it is probable that the recognized deferred tax assets will be realized. 

Income tax accounting impacts all of our reporting segments. For further details on our income taxes, see Note 20 to the consolidated financial 

statements. 

Contingent liabilities and provisions 
Legal proceedings and other contingencies 
In the ordinary course of its business, CIBC is a party to a number of legal proceedings, including regulatory investigations, in which claims for 
substantial monetary damages are asserted against CIBC and its subsidiaries. Legal provisions are established if, in the opinion of management, 
it is both probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to resolve the matter, and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of 
the obligation. If the reliable estimate of probable loss involves a range of potential outcomes within which a specific amount appears to be a better 
estimate, that amount is accrued. If no specific amount within the range of potential outcomes appears to be a better estimate than any other 
amount, the mid-point in the range is accrued. In some instances, however, it is not possible to determine whether an obligation is probable or to 
reliably estimate the amount of loss, in which case no accrual can be made. 

While there is inherent difficulty in predicting the outcome of legal proceedings, based on current knowledge and in consultation with legal 
counsel, we do not expect the outcome of these matters, individually or in aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  87 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

statements. However, the outcome of these matters, individually or in aggregate, may be material to our operating results for a particular reporting 
period. We regularly assess the adequacy of CIBC’s litigation accruals and make the necessary adjustments to incorporate new information as it 
becomes available. 

CIBC considers losses to be reasonably possible when they are neither probable nor remote. It is reasonably possible that CIBC may incur 
losses in addition to the amounts recorded when the loss accrued is the mid-point of a range of reasonably possible losses, or the potential loss 
pertains to a matter in which an unfavourable outcome is reasonably possible but not probable. 

A description of significant ongoing matters to which CIBC is a party can be found in Note 23 to the consolidated financial statements. The 

provisions disclosed in Note 23 include all of CIBC’s accruals for legal matters as at October 31, 2020, including amounts related to the significant 
legal proceedings described in that note and to other legal matters. 

CIBC believes the estimate of the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses, in excess of the amounts accrued, for its significant legal 

proceedings, where it is possible to make such an estimate, is from nil to approximately $1.1 billion as at October 31, 2020. This estimated 
aggregate range of reasonably possible losses is based upon currently available information for those significant proceedings in which CIBC is 
involved, taking into account CIBC’s best estimate of such losses for those cases for which an estimate can be made. CIBC’s estimate involves 
significant judgment, given the varying stages of the proceedings and the existence of multiple defendants in many of such proceedings whose 
share of the liability has yet to be determined. The range does not include potential punitive damages and interest. The matters underlying the 
estimated range as at October 31, 2020 consist of the significant legal matters disclosed in Note 23 to the consolidated financial statements. The 
matters underlying the estimated range will change from time to time, and actual losses may vary significantly from the current estimate. For certain 
matters, CIBC does not believe that an estimate can currently be made as many of them are in preliminary stages and certain matters have no 
specific amount claimed. Consequently, these matters are not included in the range. 

Restructuring 
During the first quarter of 2020, we recognized a restructuring charge of $339 million in Corporate and Other associated with ongoing efforts to 
transform our cost structure and simplify our bank. This charge consisted primarily of employee severance and related costs and was recorded in 
Non-interest expenses – Employee compensation and benefits. For further details on our restructuring provision, see Note 23 to the consolidated 
financial statements. 

Post-employment and other long-term benefit plan assumptions 
We sponsor a number of benefit plans to eligible employees, including registered and supplemental pension plans, and post-retirement medical and 
dental plans (other post-employment benefit plans). We also continue to sponsor a long-term disability income replacement plan and associated 
medical and dental benefits (collectively, other long-term benefit plans). The long-term disability plan was closed to new claims effective June 1, 2004. 
The calculation of net defined benefit plan expense and obligations depends on various actuarial assumptions such as discount rates, health-

care cost trend rates, turnover of employees, projected salary increases, retirement age, and mortality rates. The actuarial assumptions used for 
determining the net defined benefit plan expense for a fiscal year are set at the beginning of the annual reporting period, are reviewed in 
accordance with accepted actuarial practice and are approved by management. 

The discount rate assumption used in measuring the net defined benefit plan expense and obligations reflects market yields, as of the 
measurement date, on high quality debt instruments with a currency and term to maturity that match the currency and expected timing of benefit 
payments. Our discount rate is estimated by developing a yield curve based on high quality corporate bonds. While there is a deep market of high 
quality corporate bonds denominated in Canadian dollars with short and medium terms to maturity, there is not a deep market in bonds with terms 
to maturity that match the timing of all the expected benefit payments for all of our Canadian plans. As a result, for our Canadian pension, other 
post-employment and other long-term benefit plans, we estimate the yields of high quality corporate bonds with longer-term maturities by 
extrapolating current yields on bonds with short- and medium-term durations along the yield curve. Judgment is required in constructing the yield 
curve, and as a result, different methodologies applied in constructing the yield curve can give rise to different discount rates. 

For further details of our annual pension and other post-employment expense and obligations, see Note 19 and Note 1 to the consolidated 

financial statements. 

Accounting developments 
Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting 
In March 2018, the IASB issued a revised version of its “Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting” (Conceptual Framework). The Conceptual 
Framework sets out the fundamental concepts that underlie the preparation and presentation of financial statements and serves to guide the IASB 
in developing IFRS standards. The Conceptual Framework also assists entities in developing accounting policies when no IFRS standard applies to a 
particular transaction, and more broadly, the Conceptual Framework helps entities to understand and interpret the standards. The Conceptual 
Framework is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2020, which for us will be on November 1, 2020. 

The impact of the Conceptual Framework is not expected to be significant to our consolidated financial statements. 

Transition to IFRS 17 
IFRS 17 “Insurance Contracts” (IFRS 17), issued in May 2017, replaces IFRS 4 “Insurance Contracts”. In June 2020, the IASB issued amendments to 
IFRS 17 partly aimed at helping companies implement the standard. IFRS 17, incorporating the amendments, is effective for annual reporting 
periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023, which is a two-year deferral from the original effective date, and for us, will be November 1, 2023. 
IFRS 17 provides comprehensive guidance on the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of insurance contracts we issue and 
reinsurance contracts we hold. 

We continue to evaluate the impact of IFRS 17 on our consolidated financial statements and to prepare for its implementation. We have 
established an Executive Steering Committee and a project team to support the implementation of IFRS 17. This team continues to determine the 
required changes to our accounting and actuarial policies resulting from the adoption of IFRS 17, including the amendments issued in June 2020, 
and to evaluate the required technology solution to support the new requirements. 

Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Phase 2 Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 
Refer to discussions under the “Other regulatory developments” section for details. 

88  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Other regulatory developments 
Reforms to interest rate benchmarks 
Various interest rate and other indices that are deemed to be “benchmarks” (including the LIBOR) are the subject of international regulatory 
guidance and proposals for reform. The U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) originally announced in July 2017 that it would not compel banks 
to submit LIBOR rates after December 2021. This may cause LIBOR and other current benchmarks to disappear entirely or perform differently than 
in the past, create disincentives for market participants to continue to administer and contribute to certain benchmarks, or have other consequences 
which cannot be predicted. The FCA and the ICE Benchmark Administrator recently announced a consultation process that may lead to a change in 
the expected timing of cessation of certain currencies and tenors of LIBOR, which CIBC will closely monitor. The transition from current reference 
rates may adversely affect the value of, return on, or trading market for contracts linked to existing benchmarks. 

A significant number of CIBC’s derivatives, and lending and deposit contracts reference various interest rate benchmarks, including contracts 

with maturity dates that extend beyond December 2021. CIBC also holds securities that reference interbank offered rates. 

In response to the proposed reforms to interest rate benchmarks, CIBC has established an Enterprise IBOR Transition Program (the 

“Program”), which is supported by a formal governance structure and dedicated working groups that include stakeholders from frontline businesses 
as well as functional groups such as Treasury, Technology and Operations, Risk Management, Legal, and Finance, to assess the impact across all 
of our products and to manage the process through transition. A comprehensive initial impact assessment of contracts that reference various 
interbank offered rates has been completed to develop an enterprise-wide project plan to support the Program. Key features of this plan include: 
 
 
 

Development of detailed business-level remediation plans for affected contracts, processes and systems; 
An enterprise-wide communication strategy, which includes both external and internal stakeholders; and 
Formalization of an enterprise-wide exposure management process. 

An IBOR Steering Committee has been established with responsibility for oversight and execution of the Program, including: 
 
 
 
 

Ensuring key project milestones are met; 
Providing direction and guidance on a holistic basis; 
Reviewing and resolving key issues and risks; and 
Ensuring that our transition strategies and any transition actions remain consistent with CIBC’s overall strategy, risk appetite, and control framework. 

We continue to assess the impact of IBOR reform and prepare for the transition of existing IBOR based contracts to those that reference the new 
risk-free rates, which includes the development of supporting business processes. We also continue to engage with industry associations to 
incorporate recent developments into our project plan. The Program provides regular updates to senior management, including the ExCo. 

Current and future accounting policy changes relating to interest rate benchmark reform 
The IASB has addressed the interest rate benchmark reform and its effects on financial reporting in two phases. The first phase focuses on issues 
affecting financial reporting in the period before the interest rate benchmark reform, and the second phase focuses on issues that affect financial 
reporting once the existing rate is replaced with an alternative rate. In September 2019, the IASB finalized phase one through the issuance of 
“Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7”. CIBC elected to early-adopt the phase one amendments effective 
November 1, 2019. As a result, we provided certain disclosures related to hedging derivatives that reference LIBOR. 

In August 2020, IASB finalized phase two through the issuance of “Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Phase 2 Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, 

IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16”, which addresses issues that affect financial reporting once an existing rate is replaced with an alternative rate and 
provides specific disclosure requirements. The phase two amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2021. As we 
elected to continue to apply the hedge accounting requirements of IAS 39 upon the adoption of IFRS 9, the phase two amendments will apply to 
IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 for us, mandatorily effective on November 1, 2021. Earlier application is permitted. We continue to evaluate the 
impact of the phase two amendments on our consolidated financial statements. 

CIBC continues to actively engage with the industry through various working groups to ensure alignment with market developments in relevant 
jurisdictions, and will continue to monitor developments in this area including accounting developments intended to address interest rate 
benchmark reform. 

Client Focused Reforms 
In October 2019, the Canadian Securities Administrators published “Reforms to Enhance the Client-Registrant Relationship”, an amendment to 
National Instrument 31–103 and its companion policy (referred to as the “Client Focused Reforms”), which is intended to raise the standard of 
conduct required for registered dealers and advisors to ensure that registrants put client interests’ first. The Client Focused Reforms are supported 
by the introduction of a know-your-product provision and enhancements to the know-your-client, suitability, conflicts of interest, and relationship 
disclosure information requirements. 

The Client Focused Reforms came into effect on December 31, 2019 and will be phased in over a two-year period, with the conflicts of interest 

provisions to be implemented by June 2021 and all remaining provisions by December 2021. These requirements will impact our Canadian 
Commercial Banking and Wealth Management and Canadian Personal and Business Banking SBUs and we expect to implement changes to our 
policies and procedures to comply with these requirements. 

CDIC – Deposit protection modernization 
In April 2019, the Canadian federal government approved changes to the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act intended to strengthen and 
modernize deposit protection. The changes will occur in two phases. The first phase was effective on April 30, 2020, and included changes to 
extend CDIC coverage to foreign currency deposits and deposits with terms greater than five years and to eliminate coverage for travellers’ 
cheques. The second phase will be effective on April 30, 2022, and will include additional changes such as providing separate coverage for certain 
registered plans and introducing new requirements for deposits held in trust. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  89 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Related-party transactions 
We have various processes in place to ensure that the relevant related-party information is identified and reported to the CGC of the Board on a 
quarterly basis, as required by the Bank Act (Canada). The CGC has the responsibility for reviewing our policies and practices in identifying 
transactions with our related parties that may materially affect us, and reviewing the associated procedures for promoting compliance with the Bank 
Act (Canada). 

In the ordinary course of business, we provide banking services and enter into transactions with related parties on terms similar to those 
offered to unrelated parties. Related parties include key management personnel(1), their close family members, and entities that they or their close 
family members control or jointly control. Related parties also include associates and joint ventures accounted for under the equity method, and 
post-employment benefit plans for CIBC employees. Loans to these related parties are made in the ordinary course of business and on substantially 
the same terms as for comparable transactions with unrelated parties. We offer a subsidy on annual fees and preferential interest rates on credit 
card balances to senior officers which is the same offer extended to all employees of CIBC. In addition, CIBC offers deferred share and other plans 
to non-employee directors, executives, and certain other key employees. Details of our compensation of key management personnel(1) and our 
investments in equity-accounted associates and joint ventures are disclosed in Notes 25, 18, 19 and 26 to the consolidated financial statements. 

(1)  Key management personnel are defined as those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of CIBC directly or 

indirectly and comprise the members of the Board (referred to as directors), ExCo and certain named officers per the Bank Act (Canada) (collectively referred to as senior 
officers). Board members who are also ExCo members are included as senior officers. 

Policy on the Scope of Services of the Shareholders’ Auditor 
The “Policy on the Scope of Services of the Shareholders’ Auditor” sets out the parameters for the engagement of the shareholders’ auditor by CIBC 
that are consistent with applicable law, including the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and SEC rules. The policy requires the Audit Committee’s 
pre-approval of all work performed by the shareholders’ auditor and prohibits CIBC from engaging the shareholders’ auditor for “prohibited” 
services. The Audit Committee is accountable for the oversight of the work of the shareholders’ auditor and for an annual assessment of the 
engagement team’s qualifications, performance and independence, including lead audit partner rotation. The Audit Committee is also responsible 
for conducting a periodic comprehensive review of the external auditor at least every five years. The Audit Committee’s oversight activities over the 
shareholders’ auditor are disclosed in our Management Proxy Circular. 

Controls and procedures 
Disclosure controls and procedures 
CIBC’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that relevant information is accumulated and 
communicated to CIBC’s management, including the President and CEO and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), to allow timely decisions regarding 
required disclosure. 

CIBC’s management, with the participation of the President and CEO and the CFO, has evaluated the effectiveness of CIBC’s disclosure controls 
and procedures as at October 31, 2020 (as defined in the rules of the SEC and the Canadian Securities Administrators). Based on that evaluation, 
the President and CEO and the CFO have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective. 

Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting 
CIBC’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for CIBC. 

Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the President and CEO and the CFO and effected 
by the Board, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of 
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. CIBC’s internal control over financial reporting includes 
those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records, that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions 
and dispositions of the assets of CIBC; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial 
statements in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB, and that receipts and expenditures of CIBC are being made only in accordance with 
authorizations of CIBC’s management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized 
acquisition, use or disposition of CIBC’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. 

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations and may not prevent or detect misstatements on a timely 

basis. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement 
preparation and presentation. 

CIBC’s management has used the Internal Control – Integrated Framework that was published in 2013 by the COSO as the basis to evaluate 

the effectiveness of CIBC’s internal control over financial reporting. 

As at October 31, 2020, management assessed the effectiveness of CIBC’s internal control over financial reporting and concluded that such 

internal control was effective. 

Ernst & Young LLP, the external auditor, has audited the consolidated financial statements of CIBC for the year ended October 31, 2020, and has 

also issued a report on internal control over financial reporting under standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 

Changes in internal control over financial reporting 
There have been no changes in CIBC’s internal control over financial reporting during the year ended October 31, 2020 that have materially 
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control. 

90  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Supplementary annual financial information 

Average balance sheet, net interest income and margin 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2020 

2019 

2018 

Average balance 

Interest 

Average rate 

Total domestic assets 

510,353 

459,897 

439,609 

13,335 

15,433 

13,240 

Domestic assets (1) 
Cash and deposits with banks 
Securities 
Securities borrowed or purchased under resale 

agreements 

Loans 

Residential mortgages 
Personal and credit card 
Business and government 

Total loans 

Other interest-bearing assets 
Derivative instruments 
Customers’ liability under acceptances 
Other non-interest-bearing assets 

Foreign assets (1) 
Cash and deposits with banks 
Securities 
Securities borrowed or purchased under resale 

agreements 

Loans 

Residential mortgages 
Personal and credit card 
Business and government 

Total loans 

Other interest-bearing assets 
Derivative instruments 
Customers’ liability under acceptances 
Other non-interest-bearing assets 

Total foreign assets 

Total assets 

Domestic liabilities (1) 
Personal 
Deposits 
Business and government 
Bank 
Secured borrowings 

Total deposits 
Derivative instruments 
Acceptances 
Obligations related to securities sold short 
Obligations related to securities lent or sold under 

repurchase agreements 

Other liabilities 
Subordinated indebtedness 

Total domestic liabilities 

Foreign liabilities (1) 
Deposits 

Personal 
Business and government 
Bank 
Secured borrowings 

Total deposits 
Derivative instruments 
Acceptances 
Obligations related to securities sold short 
Obligations related to securities lent or sold under 

repurchase agreements 

Other liabilities 
Subordinated indebtedness 

Total foreign liabilities 

Total liabilities 
Shareholders’ equity 
Non-controlling interests 

$ 

30,232  $ 
76,063 

7,156  $ 

5,541  $ 

150  $ 

164  $ 

66,954 

58,854 

1,776 

1,852 

26,498 

208,811 
51,948 
68,072 

328,831 

5,194 
14,334 
9,560 
19,641 

23,950 

203,575 
53,490 
63,131 

320,196 

3,837 
10,248 
10,170 
17,386 

25,320 

204,536 
52,314 
54,298 

311,148 

2,041 
11,660 
10,038 
15,007 

290 

5,581 
3,433 
2,043 

496 

6,347 
4,012 
2,434 

11,057 

12,793 

11,295 

62 
– 
– 
– 

128 
– 
– 
– 

12 
– 
– 
– 

95 
1,434 

404 

5,740 
3,731 
1,824 

20,050 
62,014 

42,199 

4,429 
1,309 
66,015 

71,753 

701 
20,629 
1 
7,792 

13,305 
49,059 

35,491 

3,815 
1,435 
55,443 

60,693 

555 
13,419 
– 
7,297 

14,283 
43,300 

29,719 

3,401 
1,266 
47,117 

51,784 

265 
12,387 
– 
7,094 

99 
792 

552 

176 
97 
2,416 

2,689 

55 
– 
– 
– 

232 
927 

978 

201 
105 
2,819 

3,125 

2 
– 
– 
– 

187 
835 

649 

176 
98 
2,319 

2,593 

1 
– 
– 
– 

225,139 

179,819 

158,832 

4,187 

5,264 

4,265 

0.50 %  2.29 % 
2.33 

2.77 

1.71 % 
2.44 

1.09 

2.67 
6.61 
3.00 

3.36 

1.19 
– 
– 
– 

2.61 

0.49 
1.28 

1.31 

3.97 
7.41 
3.66 

3.75 

7.85 
– 
– 
– 

1.86 

2.07 

3.12 
7.50 
3.86 

4.00 

3.34 
– 
– 
– 

3.36 

1.74 
1.89 

2.76 

5.27 
7.32 
5.08 

5.15 

0.36 
– 
– 
– 

2.93 

1.60 

2.81 
7.13 
3.36 

3.63 

0.59 
– 
– 
– 

3.01 

1.31 
1.93 

2.18 

5.17 
7.74 
4.92 

5.01 

0.38 
– 
– 
– 

2.69 

$  735,492  $  639,716  $  598,441  $  17,522  $  20,697  $  17,505 

2.38 %  3.24 % 

2.93 % 

$  172,913  $  157,537  $  148,143  $ 
153,092 
1,915 
39,111 

178,476 
2,105 
39,076 

134,382 
2,188 
43,085 

392,570 
14,398 
9,563 
16,794 

27,374 
6,464 
4,891 

351,655 
10,790 
10,171 
15,412 

15,995 
14,621 
4,549 

327,798 
11,207 
10,039 
14,708 

13,699 
13,754 
3,645 

1,405  $ 
2,019 
13 
668 

1,861  $ 
3,033 
29 
1,037 

4,105 
– 
– 
251 

220 
49 
152 

5,960 
– 
– 
285 

477 
9 
193 

1,299 
1,378 
26 
952 

3,655 
– 
– 
269 

329 
(7) 
170 

472,054 

423,193 

394,850 

4,777 

6,924 

4,416 

16,974 
113,877 
13,891 
1,322 

146,064 
20,718 
1 
1,047 

41,881 
13,706 
152 

223,569 

695,623 
39,682 
187 

15,543 
97,429 
12,277 
226 

125,475 
14,130 
– 
1,089 

35,413 
3,014 
150 

179,271 

602,464 
37,072 
180 

13,511 
101,583 
12,543 
– 

127,637 
11,905 
– 
592 

27,364 
2,420 
151 

170,069 

564,919 
33,336 
186 

142 
964 
100 
15 

1,221 
– 
– 
3 

436 
34 
7 

1,701 

6,478 
– 
– 

193 
2,068 
197 
4 

2,462 
– 
– 
6 

721 
28 
5 

3,222 

10,146 
– 
– 

114 
2,319 
152 
– 

2,585 
– 
– 
3 

407 
25 
4 

3,024 

7,440 
– 
– 

0.81 %  1.18 % 
1.13 
0.62 
1.71 

1.98 
1.51 
2.65 

0.88 % 
1.03 
1.19 
2.21 

1.05 
– 
– 
1.49 

0.80 
0.76 
3.11 

1.01 

0.84 
0.85 
0.72 
1.13 

0.84 
– 
– 
0.29 

1.04 
0.25 
4.61 

0.76 

0.93 
– 
– 

1.69 
– 
– 
1.85 

2.98 
0.06 
4.24 

1.64 

1.24 
2.12 
1.60 
1.77 

1.96 
– 
– 
0.55 

2.04 
0.93 
3.33 

1.80 

1.68 
– 
– 

1.12 
– 
– 
1.83 

2.40 
(0.05) 
4.66 

1.12 

0.84 
2.28 
1.21 
– 

2.03 
– 
– 
0.51 

1.49 
1.03 
2.65 

1.78 

1.32 
– 
– 

Total liabilities and equity 

$  735,492  $  639,716  $  598,441  $ 

6,478  $  10,146  $ 

7,440 

0.88 %  1.59 % 

1.24 % 

Net interest income and margin 

$  11,044  $  10,551  $  10,065 

1.50 %  1.65 % 

1.68 % 

Additional disclosures: Non-interest-bearing deposit liabilities 

Domestic 
Foreign 

$ 

59,862  $ 
18,430 

48,478  $ 
14,582 

47,879 
14,311 

(1)  Classification as domestic or foreign is based on domicile of debtor or customer. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  91 

Management’s discussion and analysis 

Volume/rate analysis of changes in net interest income 

$ millions 

2020/2019 

2019/2018 

Increase (decrease) due to change in: 

Increase (decrease) due to change in: 

Domestic assets (1) 
Cash and deposits with banks 
Securities 
Securities borrowed or purchased under resale agreements 

$ 

Loans 

Residential mortgages 
Personal and credit card 
Business and government 

Total loans 
Other interest-bearing assets 

Change in domestic interest income 

Foreign assets (1) 
Cash and deposits with banks 
Securities 
Securities borrowed or purchased under resale agreements 

Loans 

Residential mortgages 
Personal and credit card 
Business and government 

Total loans 
Other interest-bearing assets 

Change in foreign interest income 

Total change in interest income 

Domestic liabilities (1) 
Personal 
Deposits 
Business and government 
Bank 
Secured borrowings 

Total deposits 
Obligations related to securities sold short 
Obligations related to securities lent or sold under repurchase 

agreements 
Other liabilities 
Subordinated indebtedness 

Average 
balance 

Average 
rate 

$ 

Total 

(14) 
(76) 
(206) 

(766) 
(579) 
(391) 

(1,736) 
(66) 

(2,098) 

(133) 
(135) 
(426) 

(25) 
(8) 
(403) 

(436) 

529 
252 
53 

163 
(116) 
190 

237 
45 

1,116 

118 
245 
185 

32 
(9) 
538 

561 
1 

$ 

(543) 
(328) 
(259) 

(929) 
(463) 
(581) 

(1,973) 
(111) 

(3,214) 

(251) 
(380) 
(611) 

(57) 
1 
(941) 

(997) 

52  53 

1,110 

(2,187) 

(1,077) 

Average 
balance 

Average 
rate 

$

 28 $
197 
(22) 

(27) 
84 
297 

354 
11 

568 

(13) 
111 
126 

21 
13 
410 

444 
1 

669 

 41  $

 69

221 
114 

634 
197 
313 

1,144 
105 

1,625 

58 
(19) 
203 

4 
(6) 
90 

88 
– 

330 

Total 

418 
92 

607 
281 
610 

1,498 
116 

2,193 

45 
92 
329 

25 
7 
500 

532 
1 

999 

$  2,226 

$ 

(5,401) 

$ 

(3,175) 

$  1,237 

$  1,955 

$  3,192 

$ 

182 
503 
3 
(1) 

687 
26 

339 
(5) 
15 

$ 

(638) 
(1,517) 
(19) 
(368) 

(2,542) 
(60) 

(596) 
45 
(56) 

$ 

(456) 
(1,014) 
(16) 
(369) 

(1,855) 
(34) 

(257) 
40 
(41) 

$ 

$ 

$ 

82 
192 
(3) 
(88) 

183 
13 

55 
– 
42 

293 

17 
(95) 
(3) 
– 

(81) 
3 

120 
6 
– 

48 

341 

896 

$ 

480 
1,463 
6 
173 

2,122 
3 

93 
16 
(19) 

2,215 

62 
(156) 
48 
4 

(42) 
– 

194 
(3) 
1 

150 

$ 

562 
1,655 
3 
85 

2,305 
16 

148 
16
23 

2,508 

79 
(251) 
45 
4 

(123) 
3 

314 
3 
1 

198 

$  2,365 

$  2,706 

$ 

(410) 

$ 

486 

Change in domestic interest expense 

1,062 

(3,209) 

(2,147) 

Foreign liabilities (1) 
Deposits 

Personal 
Business and government 
Bank 
Secured borrowings 

Total deposits 
Obligations related to securities sold short 
Obligations related to securities lent or sold under repurchase 

agreements 
Other liabilities 
Subordinated indebtedness 

Change in foreign interest expense 

Total change in interest expense 

Change in total net interest income 

18 
349 
26 
19 

412 
– 

132 
99 
– 

643 

$  1,705 

$ 

521 

$ 

$ 

(69) 
(1,453) 
(123) 
(8) 

(1,653) 
(3) 

(417) 
(93) 
2 

(2,164) 

(5,373) 

(28) 

(51) 
(1,104) 
(97) 
11 

(1,241) 
(3) 

(285) 
6 
2 

(1,521) 

(3,668) 

493 

$ 

$ 

(1)  Classification as domestic or foreign is based on domicile of debtor or customer. 

92  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Analysis of net loans and acceptances 

Canada (1) 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016 
$  216,215  $  204,383  $  203,930  $  203,787  $  184,610 
73 
36,896 
11,755 
233,334 
6,734 
4,831 
4,044 
5,312 
1,663 
2,663 
11,684 
5,364 
4,532 
722 
465 
267 
444 

33 
41,473 
12,060 
257,496 
6,426 
6,885 
5,219 
7,018 
2,318 
3,294 
16,297 
6,011 
5,064 
824 
446 
575 
275 

24 
41,882 
12,143 
258,432 
6,064 
7,565 
5,720 
7,037 
2,465 
3,972 
18,465 
6,965 
5,222 
1,024 
628 
651 
191 

18 
40,299 
10,550 
267,082 
5,844 
9,434 
4,882 
6,914 
2,115 
3,326 
20,782 
6,829 
5,328 
610 
474 
518 
108 

50 
39,483 
11,805 
255,125 
6,481 
5,403 
4,496 
6,237 
1,912 
3,019 
13,293 
5,558 
4,762 
668 
464 
539 
281 

406 
2,218 
2,642 

3,333 
1,173 
– 

557 
2,193 
2,281 

3,221 
857 
– 

527 
1,880 
2,291 

2,870 
954 
– 

291 
1,818 
1,927 

2,937 
869 
– 

333 
1,630 
1,663 

2,826 
728 
– 

2020 
$  2,000 
– 
409 
27 
2,436 
292 
7,560 
1,958 
5,340 
2,547 
1,057 
18,750 
103 
3,066 
142 
141 
1,694 
1,015 

99 
1,283 
2,761 

4,203 
216 
– 

2019 
$  1,527 
– 
435 
35 
1,997 
115 
8,111 
2,066 
4,570 
2,399 
958 
16,871 
124 
3,190 
154 
162 
1,215 
314 

92 
1,263 
1,759 

2,941 
127 
– 

U.S. (1) 

2018 
$  1,152 
– 
356 
36 
1,544 
39 
5,529 
1,914 
3,840 
2,143 
695 
14,559 
79 
2,375 
60 
215 
1,082 
887 

102 
893 
1,226 

3,040 
92 
– 

$ 

2017 

902  $ 
– 
326 
35 
1,263 
95 
3,248 
1,812 
3,567 
1,559 
702 
13,761 
107 
2,198 
87 
209 
883 
756 

117 
602 
1,445 

3,099 
7 
12 

2016 
– 
– 
56 
36 
92 
103 
2,100 
290 
1,215 
128 
28 
8,554 
44 
1,951 
242 
4 
165 
30 

– 
288 
1,237 

– 
– 
17 

$ millions, as at October 31 
Residential mortgages 
Student 
Personal 
Credit card 
Total net consumer loans 
Non-residential mortgages 
Financial institutions 
Retail and wholesale 
Business services 
Manufacturing – capital goods 
Manufacturing – consumer goods 
Real estate and construction (2) 
Agriculture 
Oil and gas 
Mining 
Forest products 
Hardware and software 
Telecommunications and cable 
Publishing, printing, and 

broadcasting 

Transportation 
Utilities 
Education, health and social 

services 
Governments 
Others 
Stage 1 and 2 allowance for credit 

losses (2017 and prior: Collective 
allowance allocated to business 
and government loans) (2)(3) 

Total net business and government 
loans, including acceptances 
Total net loans and acceptances 

(341) 

(144) 

(98) 

(195) 

(215) 

(536) 

(138) 

(108) 

(83) 

(58) 

76,595 

55,690 
$  343,677  $  333,366  $  326,572  $  315,885  $  289,024 

60,760 

69,076 

74,934 

51,691 
$  54,127 

46,293 
$  48,290 

38,662 
$  40,206 

34,183 

16,338 
$  35,446  $  16,430 

(1)  Classification by country is primarily based on domicile of debtor or customer. 
(2)  Stage 3 allowance for credit losses (2017 and prior: individual allowance under IAS 39) is allocated to business and government loans, including acceptances, by category 

above. 

(3)  Stage 1 and 2 allowance (2017 and prior: collective allowance under IAS 39) are primarily allocated based on the geographic location where they are recorded. 

Analysis of net loans and acceptances (continued) 

$ millions, as at October 31 
Residential mortgages 
Student 
Personal 
Credit card 
Total net consumer loans 
Non-residential mortgages 
Financial institutions 
Retail and wholesale 
Business services 
Manufacturing – capital goods 
Manufacturing – consumer goods 
Real estate and construction (2) 
Agriculture 
Oil and gas 
Mining 
Forest products 
Hardware and software 
Telecommunications and cable 
Publishing, printing, and 

broadcasting 

Transportation 
Utilities 
Education, health and social 

services 
Governments 
Others 
Stage 1 and 2 allowance for credit 

losses (2017 and prior: Collective 
allowance allocated to business 
and government loans) (2)(3) 

Total net business and government 
loans, including acceptances 
Total net loans and acceptances 

2020 
$  2,587 
– 
664 
145 
3,396 
252 
2,227 
427 
1,791 
49 
97 
1,312 
147 
623 
507 
– 
74 
140 

58 
3,033 
2,758 

27 
1,817 
– 

2019 
$  2,531 
–
757 
157 
3,445 
258 
2,103 
467 
1,822 
128 
61 
1,529 
104 
253 
642 
–
– 
185 

81 
2,012 
1,744 

34 
1,657 
– 

Other (1) 

2018 
$  2,453 
–
715 
159 
3,327 
266 
2,043 
438 
1,675 
125 
92 
1,624 
25 
440 
710 
–
–
208 

85 
1,642 
647 

28 
1,598 
––

2017 
$  2,379 
–
583 
152 
3,114 
218 
841 
435 
1,736 
432 
111 
1,325 
22 
555 
784 
–
20 
301 

89 
1,847 
779 

29 
1,662 

2016 
$  2,467 
– 
519 
155 
3,141 
232 
1,723 
561 
1,266 
234 
114 
1,391 
24 
268 
928 
– 
– 
359 

87 
1,326 
532 

32 
1,874 
300

Total 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016 
$  220,802  $  208,441  $  207,535  $  207,068  $  187,077 
73 
37,471 
11,946 
236,567 
7,069 
8,654 
4,895 
7,793 
2,025 
2,805 
21,629 
5,432 
6,751 
1,892 
469 
432 
833 

18 
41,372 
10,722 
272,914 
6,388 
19,221 
7,267 
14,045 
4,711 
4,480 
40,844 
7,079 
9,017 
1,259 
615 
2,286 
1,263 

24 
43,074 
12,335 
263,874 
6,437 
17,779 
8,253 
13,429 
4,992 
4,991 
36,865 
7,193 
8,665 
1,820 
790 
1,866 
690 

33 
42,544 
12,255 
262,367 
6,731 
14,457 
7,571 
12,533 
4,586 
4,081 
32,480 
6,115 
7,879 
1,594 
661 
1,657 
1,370 

50
40,392 
11,992 
259,502 
6,794 
9,492 
6,743 
11,540 
3,903 
3,832 
28,379 
5,687 
7,515 
1,539 
673 
1,442 
1,338 

563 
6,534 
8,161 

7,563 
3,206 
  – 

730 
5,468 
5,784 

6,196 
2,641 
– 

714 
4,415 
4,164 

5,938 
2,644 
– 

497 
4,267 
4,151 

6,065 
2,538 
12 

420 
3,244 
3,432 

2,858 
2,602 
317 

(151) 

(73) 

(90) 

(73) 

(65) 

(1,028) 

(355) 

(296) 

(351) 

(338) 

15,188 
$  18,584 

13,007 
$  16,452 

11,556 
$  14,883 

11,113 
$  14,227 

11,186 
$  14,327 

143,474 

83,214 
$  416,388  $  398,108  $  381,661  $  365,558  $  319,781 

134,234 

119,294 

106,056 

(1)  Classification by country is primarily based on domicile of debtor or customer. 
(2)  Stage 3 allowance for credit losses (2017 and prior: individual allowance under IAS 39) is allocated to business and government loans, including acceptances, by category 

above. 

(3)  Stage 1 and 2 allowance (2017 and prior: collective allowance under IAS 39) are primarily allocated based on the geographic location where they are recorded. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  93 

 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Summary of allowance for credit losses 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

Balance at beginning of year under IAS 39 

Impact of adopting IFRS 9 at November 1, 2017 

Balance at beginning of year under IFRS 9 
Provision for credit losses 

Write-offs 

Domestic (2) 

Residential mortgages 
Student 
Personal and credit card 
Other business and government 

Foreign (2) 

Residential mortgages 
Personal and credit card 
Other business and government 

Total write-offs 

Recoveries 

Domestic (2) 

Personal and credit card 
Other business and government 

Foreign (2) 

Residential mortgages 
Personal and credit card 
Other business and government 

Total recoveries 

Net write-offs 

Interest income on impaired loans 

Foreign exchange and other 

Balance at end of year 

Comprises: 
Loans 
Undrawn credit facilities and other off-balance sheet exposures 

Ratio of net write-offs during the year to average loans outstanding 

2020 

n/a 
n/a 

2019 

n/a 
n/a 

2018 (1) 

2017 

2016 

$  1,737 
63 

$  1,813 
n/a 

$  1,762 
n/a 

$  2,044 
2,489 

$  1,741 
1,286 

1,800 
870 

22 
– 
897 
30 

7 
14 
160 

19 
– 
866 
37 

35
14 
79 

n/a 
829 

21 
– 
869 
51 

17  
19 
80 

n/a 
1,051 

13 
– 
842 
116 

21
18 
143 

1,130 

1,050 

1,057 

1,153 

173 
6 

2 
6 
7 

194 

936 

(40) 

(7) 

174 
6 

– 
4 
6 

190 

860 

(23) 

(46) 

168 
15 

– 
5 
5 

193 

864 

(26) 

(15) 

163 
8 

– 
6 
6 

183 

970 

(29) 

(1) 

15 
– 
755 
43 

1 
7 
114 

935 

170 
4 

6 
7 
5 

192 

743 

(45) 

(23) 

$  3,722 

$  2,044 

$  1,741 

$  1,737 

$  1,813 

$  3,540 
182 

$  1,915 
129 

$  1,639 
102 

$  1,618 
119 

$  1,691 
122 

during the year 

0.19 % 

0.25 % 

0.24 % 

0.26 % 

0.33 % 

(1)  Effective November 1, 2017, all loans that are contractually 90 days in arrears are automatically classified as impaired and as stage 3 under IFRS 9, except for credit card 
loans which are classified as impaired and are fully written off when payments are contractually 180 days in arrears or at the earlier of the notice of bankruptcy, settlement 
proposal, or enlistment of credit counselling services. The determination of impairment was generally the same under IAS 39, except (i) residential mortgages guaranteed 
or insured by a Canadian government (federal or provincial) or a Canadian government agency were not classified as impaired until payments were contractually 365 days 
in arrears, and (ii) residential mortgages guaranteed or insured by a private insurer, or loans that were fully secured and in the process of collection were not classified as 
impaired until payments were contractually 180 days in arrears. 

(2)  Classification as domestic or foreign is primarily based on domicile of debtor or customer. 
n/a  Not applicable. 

Allowance for credit losses on impaired loans as a percentage of gross impaired loans 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Domestic (4) 

Residential mortgages 
Personal loans 
Business and government 

Total domestic 

Foreign (4) 

Residential mortgages 
Personal loans 
Business and government 

Total foreign 

Total allowance 

2020 

2019 

2018 (2) 

2017 (3) 

2016 (3) 

2020 

2019 

2018 (2) 

2017 (3) 

2016 (3) 

Allowance for 
credit losses (1) 

Allowance as a % of 
gross impaired loans 

$

 69 
80 
406 

555 

82 
33 
244 

359 

$

 61 $
98 
217 

376 

79 
30 
159 

268 

 54 $

 22 $

79 
56 

189 

89 
30 
174 

293 

 20 
110 
43 

175 

123 
31 
148 

302 

105 
63 

188 

148 
40 
196 

384 

10.8 % 
60.2 
62.6 

10.5 % 
62.4 
45.8 

10.9 % 
57.7 
41.5 

39.1 

31.0 

24.6 

47.7 
68.8 
34.4 

38.6 

46.5 
63.8 
36.4 

41.0 

49.4 
66.7 
35.8 

41.2 

7.5 % 

8.0 % 

94.8 
41.7 

34.2 

55.7 
56.4 
28.3 

37.8 

85.4 
30.9 

32.5 

56.3 
57.1 
26.2 

35.6 

$  914 

$  644 

$  482 

$  477 

$  572 

38.9 % 

34.5 % 

32.6 % 

36.4 % 

34.5 % 

(1)  Excludes allowance on undrawn credit facilities and other off-balance sheet exposures. 
(2)  Effective November 1, 2017, all loans that are contractually 90 days in arrears are automatically classified as impaired and as stage 3 under IFRS 9, except for credit card 
loans which are classified as impaired and are fully written off when payments are contractually 180 days in arrears or at the earlier of the notice of bankruptcy, settlement 
proposal, or enlistment of credit counselling services. The determination of impairment was generally the same under IAS 39, except (i) residential mortgages guaranteed 
or insured by a Canadian government (federal or provincial) or a Canadian government agency were not classified as impaired until payments were contractually 365 days 
in arrears, and (ii) residential mortgages guaranteed or insured by a private insurer, or loans that were fully secured and in the process of collection were not classified as 
impaired until payments were contractually 180 days in arrears. 

(3)  Under IAS 39, comprises individual allowance, and collective allowance related to personal, scored small business, and mortgage impaired loans that are greater than 90 

days delinquent. 

(4)  Classification as domestic or foreign is primarily based on domicile of debtor or customer. 

94  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Allowance on performing loans as a percentage of net loans and acceptances 

$ millions, as at October 31 

2020 

2019 

2018 (3) 

2017 

2016 

2020 

2019 

2018 (3) 

2017 

2016 

Allowance for 
credit losses (1)(2) 

Allowance as a % of net 
loans and acceptances 

Domestic 

Residential mortgages 
Personal loans 
Credit cards 
Business and government 

Total domestic 

Foreign 

Residential mortgages 
Personal loans 
Credit cards 
Business and government 

Total foreign 

$

 89 $  

 38 $

697 
659 
341 

415 
413 
144 

1,786 

1,010 

123 
22 
8 
687 

840 

33 
10 
7 
211 

261 

29
362 
415 
98 

904 

42 
10 
3 
198 

253 

 $

 34 $  

345 
383 
187 

949 

24 
9 
3 
156 

192 

 30 
345 
383 
205 

963 

23 
7 
3 
123 

156 

– %  

– %  

– %  

– %  

– %  

1.7 
6.2 
0.4 

0.5 

2.7 
2.1 
4.7 
1.0 

1.2 

1.0 
3.4 
0.2 

0.3 

0.8 
0.8 
3.6 
0.4 

0.4 

0.9 
3.4 
0.1 

0.3 

1.2 
0.9 
1.5 
0.4 

0.5 

0.9 
3.2 
0.3 

0.3 

0.7 
1.0 
1.6 
0.3 

0.4 

0.9 
3.3 
0.4 

0.3 

0.9 
1.2 
1.6 
0.4 

0.5 

Total stage 1 and 2 allowance (2017 and 

prior: total allowance) 

$  2,626  $  1,271  $  1,157  $  1,141  $  1,119 

0.6 % 

0.3 % 

0.3 % 

0.3 % 

0.3 % 

(1)  Excludes allowance on undrawn credit facilities and other off-balance sheet exposures. 
(2)  Stage 1 and 2 allowance (2017 and prior: collective allowance under IAS 39) are primarily allocated based on the geographic location where they are recorded. 
(3)  Effective November 1, 2017, all loans that are contractually 90 days in arrears are automatically classified as impaired and as stage 3 under IFRS 9, except for credit card 
loans which are classified as impaired and are fully written off when payments are contractually 180 days in arrears or at the earlier of the notice of bankruptcy, settlement 
proposal, or enlistment of credit counselling services. The determination of impairment was generally the same under IAS 39, except (i) residential mortgages guaranteed 
or insured by a Canadian government (federal or provincial) or a Canadian government agency were not classified as impaired until payments were contractually 365 days 
in arrears, and (ii) residential mortgages guaranteed or insured by a private insurer, or loans that were fully secured and in the process of collection were not classified as 
impaired until payments were contractually 180 days in arrears. 

Net loans and acceptances by geographic location (1) 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Canada 

Atlantic provinces 
Quebec 
Ontario 
Prairie provinces 
Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut 
British Columbia and Yukon 
Stage 1 and 2 allowance (2017 and prior: collective allowance) 

allocated to Canada (2) 

Total Canada 

U.S. 

Other countries 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016 

$ 

14,685 
30,916 
176,915 
14,710 
46,133 
62,104 

$ 

14,578 
30,113 
169,073 
14,680 
45,103 
60,829 

$ 

14,036 
28,598 
165,592 
13,947 
44,896 
60,407 

$ 

14,194 
27,027 
157,987 
13,746 
44,354 
59,479 

$ 

14,006 
25,471 
139,254 
13,341 
43,308 
54,567 

(1,786) (3) 

(1,010) (3) 

(904) (3) 

(902) (4) 

(923) (4) 

343,677 

54,127 

18,584 

333,366 

48,290 

16,452 

326,572 

40,206 

14,883 

315,885 

289,024 

35,446 

14,227 

16,430 

14,327 

Total net loans and acceptances 

$  416,388 

$  398,108 

$  381,661 

$  365,558 

$  319,781 

(1)  Classification by country is primarily based on domicile of debtor or customer. 
(2)  Stage 1 and 2 allowance (2017 and prior: collective allowance under IAS 39) are primarily allocated based on the geographic location where they are recorded. 
(3)  Stage 3 allowance for credit losses (2017 and prior: individual allowance under IAS 39) is allocated to provinces above, including acceptances. 
(4)  Under IAS 39, relates to collective allowance, except for: (i) residential mortgages greater than 90 days delinquent; and (ii) personal loans and scored small business loans 

greater than 30 days delinquent. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  95 

 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Net impaired loans 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Gross impaired loans 
Residential mortgages 
Student 
Personal 

Total gross impaired consumer loans 

Non-residential mortgages 
Financial institutions 
Retail, wholesale and business services 
Manufacturing – consumer and capital goods 
Real estate and construction 
Agriculture 
Resource-based industries 
Telecommunications, media and technology 
Transportation 
Utilities 
Other 

Total gross impaired – business and government loans 

Canada (1) 

U.S. (1) 

2020 

2019 

2018 (2) 

2017 

2016 

2020 

2019 

2018 (2) 

2017 

2016 

$ 

637  $ 
3 
130 

770 

15 
8 
383 
5 
39 
27 
124 
1 
4 
38 
5 

649 

581 
1 
156 

738 

3 
2 
283 
6
38 
53
46 
2 
4 
32
5 

474 

$  497 
2 
135 

$  292 
2 
114 

$  251 
3 
120 

$

634 

408 

3 
5 
62 
 7
39 
 8
1 
2 
3 
 –
5 

135 

769 
100 

7 
– 
38 
 6
33 
 9
2 
3 
2 
 –
3 

103 

511 
337 

374 

4 
1 
23 
 19
23 
 4
121 
4 
1 
 –
4 

204 

578 
362 

17
– 
5 

22 

– 
34 
98 
 65 
169 
  – 
169 
6 
– 
  – 
21 

562 

584 
– 

  $

  $

16
– 
5 

21 

– 
37 
89 
35 
46 
– 
69 
2 
– 
– 
23 

 13
– 
2 

15 

– 
65 
44 
14 
90 
– 
54 
2 
1 
– 
56 

301 

322 
– 

326 

341 
– 

  $

  9  $
– 
2 

11 

– 
8 
52 
1 
137 
– 
114 
2 
– 
– 
45 

359 

370 
– 

  –

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
5 
– 
62 
– 
248 
– 
– 
– 
– 

315 

315 
– 

Total gross impaired loans 
Other past due loans (3) 

1,419 
127 

1,212 
96 

Total gross impaired and other past due loans 

$  1,546  $  1,308 

$  869 

$  848 

$  940 

$  584 

$  322 

$  341 

$  370 

$  315 

Allowance for credit losses 
Residential mortgages 
Student 
Personal 

Total allowance – consumer loans 

Non-residential mortgages 
Financial institutions 
Retail, wholesale and business services 
Manufacturing – consumer and capital goods 
Real estate and construction 
Agriculture 
Resource-based industries 
Telecommunications, media and technology 
Transportation 
Utilities 
Other 

Total allowance – business and government loans 

$

 69
1 
79 

149 

– 
4 
289 
3 
11 
22 
56 
– 
2 
17 
2 

406 

 $

 61
– 
98 

159 

– 
1 
151 
4 
16 
24 
11 
– 
2 
5 
3 

217 

 $

 54
– 
79 

133 

 $

 22
– 
110 

132 

 $

 20
– 
105 

125 

  $ 

– 
– 
26 
4 
15 
4 
1 
1 
2 
– 
3 

56 

2 
– 
18 
5 
9 
– 
2 
2 
2 
– 
3 

43 

2 
– 
16 
7 
10 
1 
21 
3 
1 
– 
2 

63 

3 
– 
2 

5 

– 
8 
24 
29 
58 
– 
53 
2 
– 
– 
1 

$ 

3 
– 
1 

4 

– 
1
28 
– 
28 
– 
34
– 
– 
– 
10

175 

101 

$ 

2 
– 
– 

2 

– 
 14  –
27 
1 
41 
– 
 5 88
– 
– 
– 
 –– 

88 

$ 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

16 
– 
41 
– 

– 
– 
– 

$ 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
  –
4 
– 
20 
– 

– 
– 
– 
–

65 

32 

$ 

555  $ 

376 

$  189 

$  175 

$  188 

$  180 

$  105 

$  90 

$  65 

$  32 

Total allowance 

Net impaired loans 
Residential mortgages 
Student 
Personal 

Total net impaired consumer loans 

Non-residential mortgages 
Financial institutions 
Retail, wholesale and business services 
Manufacturing – consumer and capital goods 
Real estate and construction 
Agriculture 
Resource-based industries 
Telecommunications, media and technology 
Transportation 
Utilities 
Other 

$ 

568  $ 
2 
51 

621 

15 
4 
94 
2 
28 
5 
68 
1 
2 
21 
3 

520 
1 
58 

579 

3 
1 
132 
2
22 
29
35 
2 
2 
27
2 

257 

$  443 
2 
56 

$  270 
2 
4 

$  231 
3 
15 

$

501 

276 

3 
5 
36 
 3
24 
 4
– 
1 
1 
 –
2 

79 

5 
– 
20 
 1
24 
 9
– 
1 
– 
 –
– 

60 

249 

2 
1 
7 
 12
13 
 3
100 
1 
– 
 –
2 

141 

14
– 
3 

17 

– 
26 
74 
 36 
111 
  – 
116 
4 
– 
  – 
20 

387 

  $

  $

13
– 
4 

17 

– 
36 
61 
35 
18 
– 
35 
2 
– 
– 
13 

 11
– 
2 

13 

– 
51 
17 
13 
49 
– 
49 
2 
1 
– 
56 

200 

238 

  $

  9
– 
2 

11 

– 
8 
36 
1 
96 
– 
106 
2 
– 
– 
45 

294 

  $

  –
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
1 
– 
42 
– 
240 
– 
– 
– 
– 

283 

Total net impaired – business and government loans 

243 

Total net impaired loans 

$ 

864  $ 

836 

$  580 

$  336 

$  390 

$  404 

$  217 

$  251 

$  305 

$  283 

(1)  Classification by country is primarily based on domicile of debtor or customer. 
(2)  Effective November 1, 2017, all loans that are contractually 90 days in arrears are automatically classified as impaired and as stage 3 under IFRS 9, except for credit card 
loans which are classified as impaired and are fully written off when payments are contractually 180 days in arrears or at the earlier of the notice of bankruptcy, settlement 
proposal, or enlistment of credit counselling services. The determination of impairment was generally the same under IAS 39, except (i) residential mortgages guaranteed 
or insured by a Canadian government (federal or provincial) or a Canadian government agency were not classified as impaired until payments were contractually 365 days 
in arrears, and (ii) residential mortgages guaranteed or insured by a private insurer, or loans that were fully secured and in the process of collection were not classified as 
impaired until payments were contractually 180 days in arrears. 

(3)  Represents loans where repayment of principal or payment of interest is contractually in arrears between 90 and 180 days. 

96  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Net impaired loans (continued) 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Gross impaired loans 
Residential mortgages 
Student 
Personal 

Total gross impaired consumer loans 

Non-residential mortgages 
Financial institutions 
Retail, wholesale and business services 
Manufacturing – consumer and capital goods 
Real estate and construction 
Agriculture 
Resource-based industries 
Telecommunications, media and technology 
Transportation 
Utilities 
Other 

Total gross impaired – business and government loans 

Total gross impaired loans 
Other past due loans (3) 

Other (1) 

Total 

2020 

2019 

2018 (2) 

2017 

2016 

2020 

2019 

2018 (2) 

2017 

2016 

$  155  $  154  $  167  $  212  $  263  $ 

– 
43 

198 

11 
1 
49 
3 
55 
– 
27 
– 
2 
– 
– 

148 

346 
5 

– 
42 

196 

17 
– 
43 
4 
59 
– 
– 
– 
2 
– 
11 

136 

332 
3 

– 
43 

210 

15 
1 
52 
4 
72 
1 
– 
– 
3 
– 
12 

160 

370 
3 

– 
53 

265 

17 
2 
57 
5 
78 
1 
– 
– 
4 
– 
– 

164 

429 
3 

– 
70 

333 

17 
3 
94 
210 
104 
1 
– 
– 
2 
– 
1 

432 

765 
3 

990 

26 
43 
530 
73 
263 
27 
320 
7 
6 
38 
26 

1,359 

2,349 
132 

809  $ 
3 
178 

751  $ 
1 
203 

677  $ 
2 
180 

513  $ 
2 
169 

514 
3 
190 

707 

21 
4 
122 
229 
189 
5 
369 
4 
3 
– 
5 

951 

955 

20 
39 
415 
45 
143 
53 
115 
4 
6 
32 
39 

911 

859 

18 
71 
158 
25 
201 
9 
55 
4 
7 
– 
73 

621 

684 

24 
10 
147 
12 
248 
10 
116 
5 
6 
– 
48 

626 

1,866 
99 

1,480 
103 

1,310 
340 

1,658 
365 

Total gross impaired and other past due loans 

$  351  $  335  $  373  $  432  $  768  $  2,481  $  1,965  $  1,583  $  1,650  $  2,023 

Allowance for credit losses 
Residential mortgages 
Student 
Personal 

Total allowance – consumer loans 

Non-residential mortgages 
Financial institutions 
Retail, wholesale and business services 
Manufacturing – consumer and capital goods 
Real estate and construction 
Agriculture 
Resource-based industries 
Telecommunications, media and technology 
Transportation 
Utilities 
Other 

Total allowance – business and government loans 

$

 79
– 
31 

110 

2 
1 
21 
2 
29 
– 
13 
– 
1 
– 
– 

69 

 $ 

76  $ 

– 
29 

105 

5 
– 
18 
2 
30 
– 
– 
– 
1 
– 
2 

58 

87  $  123  $  148  $ 
– 
31 

– 
40 

– 
30 

117 

154 

188 

7 
1 
28 
3 
39 
1 
– 
– 
2 
– 
5 

86 

9 
– 
29 
3 
39 
1 
– 
– 
2 
– 
–

83 

12
2 
48 
45
54 
1 
– 
– 
2 
– 
 – 

164 

151  $ 
1 
112 

140  $ 
– 
128 

143  $ 
– 
109 

145  $ 
– 
141 

264 

  2 
13 
334 
 34 
98 
22 
122 
2 
3 
17 
3 

650 

268 

5 
2 
197 
6 
74 
24 
45 
– 
3 
5 
15 

376 

252 

286 

7 
15
81 
8 
95 
5 
6 
1 
4 
– 
8 

11 
– 
63 
8 
89 
1 
10 
2 
4 
– 
3 

230 

191 

Total allowance 

Net impaired loans 
Residential mortgages 
Student 
Personal 

Total net impaired consumer loans 

Non-residential mortgages 
Financial institutions 
Retail, wholesale and business services 
Manufacturing – consumer and capital goods 
Real estate and construction 
Agriculture 
Resource-based industries 
Telecommunications, media and technology 
Transportation 
Utilities 
Other 

Total net impaired – business and government loans 

$  179  $  163  $  203  $  237  $  352  $ 

914  $ 

644  $ 

482  $ 

477  $ 

$

 76
– 
12 

88 

9 
– 
28 
1 
26 
– 
14 
– 
1 
– 
– 

79 

 $ 

78  $ 

80  $ 

89  $  115  $ 

– 
13 

91 

12 
– 
25 
2 
29 
– 
– 
– 
1 
– 
9 

78 

– 
13 

93 

8 
– 
24 
1 
33 
– 
– 
– 
1 
– 
7 

74 

– 
22 

111 

8 
2 
28 
2 
39 
– 
– 
– 
2 
– 
– 

81 

– 
30 

145 

5 
1 
46 
165 
50 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
1 

268 

658  $ 
2 
66 

611  $ 
1 
75 

534  $ 
2 
71 

368  $ 
2 
28 

726 

24 
30 
196 
39 
165 
5 
198 
5 
3 
21 
23 

709 

687 

15 
37 
218 
39 
69 
29 
70 
4 
3 
27 
24 

535 

607 

11 
56 
77 
17 
106 
4 
49 
3 
3 
– 
65 

391 

398 

13 
10 
84 
4 
159 
9 
106 
3 
2 
– 
45 

435 

168 
– 
145 

313 

14 
2 
68 
52
84 
2 
29 
3 
3 
– 
2 

259 

572 

346 
3 
45 

394 

7 
2 
54 
177 
105 
3 
340 
1 
– 
– 
3 

692 

Total net impaired loans 

$  167  $  169  $  167  $  192  $  413  $  1,435  $  1,222  $ 

998  $ 

833  $  1,086 

(1)  Classification by country is primarily based on domicile of debtor or customer. 
(2)  Effective November 1, 2017, all loans that are contractually 90 days in arrears are automatically classified as impaired and as stage 3 under IFRS 9, except for credit card 
loans which are classified as impaired and are fully written off when payments are contractually 180 days in arrears or at the earlier of the notice of bankruptcy, settlement 
proposal, or enlistment of credit counselling services. The determination of impairment was generally the same under IAS 39, except (i) residential mortgages guaranteed 
or insured by a Canadian government (federal or provincial) or a Canadian government agency were not classified as impaired until payments were contractually 365 days 
in arrears, and (ii) residential mortgages guaranteed or insured by a private insurer, or loans that were fully secured and in the process of collection were not classified as 
impaired until payments were contractually 180 days in arrears. 

(3)  Represents loans where repayment of principal or payment of interest is contractually in arrears between 90 and 180 days. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  97 

 
 
Management’s discussion and analysis 

Deposits 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2020 

2019 

2018 

Average balance 

Interest 

Rate 

Deposits in domestic bank offices (1) 
Payable on demand 

Personal 
Business and government 
Bank 

Payable after notice 

Personal 
Business and government 
Bank 

Payable on a fixed date 

Personal 
Business and government 
Bank 
Secured borrowings 

$ 

11,945  $ 
50,683 
5,761 

9,939  $ 

43,539 
4,517 

109,856 
56,758 
276 

55,164 
102,953 
2,078 
39,076 

99,859 
44,691 
256 

51,522 
85,978 
1,161 
39,111 

$

10,216 
42,784 
4,632 

98,054 
38,621 
415 

43,561 
76,674 
1,625 
43,085 

Total domestic 

434,550 

380,573 

359,667 

Deposits in foreign bank offices 
Payable on demand 

Personal 
Business and government 
Bank 

Payable after notice 

Personal 
Business and government 

Payable on a fixed date 

Personal 
Business and government 
Bank 
Secured borrowings 

Total foreign 

Total deposits 

1,971 
20,454 
31 

8,119 
12,825 

2,832 
48,680 
7,850 
1,322 

104,084 

1,687 
15,687 
13 

6,909 
9,544 

3,164 
51,082 
8,245 
226 

96,557 

1,693 
14,149 
10 

5,239 
7,740 

2,891 
55,997 
8,049 
– 

95,768 

 14
305 
1 

460 
659 
2 

969 
1,358 
20 
668 

4,456 

2 
32 
1 

66 
83 

36 
546 
89 
15 

870 

 $

 17
585 
3 

855 
927 
4 

1,040 
2,063 
23 
1,037 

6,554 

2 
70 
– 

82 
185 

58 
1,271 
196 
4 

1,868 

 $

 15
432 
1 

644 
606 
6 

676 
1,442 
27 
952 

4,801 

1 
33 
– 

39 
96 

38 
1,088 
144 
– 

1,439 

  0.12 % 
0.60 
0.02 

0.17 % 
1.34 
0.07 

0.15 % 
1.01 
0.02 

0.42 
1.16 
0.72 

1.76 
1.32 
0.96 
1.71 

1.03 

0.10 
0.16 
3.23 

0.81 
0.65 

1.27 
1.12 
1.13 
1.13 

0.84 

0.86 
2.07 
1.56 

2.02 
2.40 
1.98 
2.65 

1.72 

0.12 
0.45 
– 

1.19 
1.94 

1.83 
2.49 
2.38 
1.77 

1.93 

0.66 
1.57 
1.45 

1.55 
1.88 
1.66 
2.21 

1.33 

0.06 
0.23 
– 

0.74 
1.24 

1.31 
1.94 
1.79 
– 

1.50 

$  538,634  $  477,130  $  455,435 

$  5,326 

$  8,422 

$  6,240 

0.99 % 

1.77 % 

1.37 % 

(1)  Deposits by foreign depositors in our domestic bank offices amounted to $42.2 billion (2019: $29.3 billion; 2018: $32.3 billion). 

Short-term borrowings 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

Amounts outstanding at end of year 
Obligations related to securities sold short 
Obligations related to securities lent or sold under repurchase agreements 

Total short-term borrowings 

Obligations related to securities sold short 
Average balance 
Maximum month-end balance 
Average interest rate 
Obligations related to securities lent or sold under repurchase agreements 
Average balance 
Maximum month-end balance 
Average interest rate 

Fees paid to the shareholders’ auditor 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Audit fees (1) 
Audit-related fees (2) 
Tax fees (3) 
All other fees (4) 

Total 

2020 

2019 

2018 

$  15,963 
73,477 

$  89,440 

$  15,635 
53,623 

$  69,258 

$  13,782 
33,571 

$  47,353 

$  17,841 
22,467 

$  16,501 
18,448 

$  15,300 
17,162 

1.42 % 

1.76 % 

1.78 % 

$  69,255 
81,349 

$  51,408 
57,346 

$  41,063 
45,343 

0.95 % 

2.33 % 

1.79 % 

2020 

$  24.0 
2.2 
1.4 
– 

$  27.6 

2019 

$  22.3 
1.7 
1.9 
0.1 

$  26.0 

2018 

$  26.0 
2.5 
2.4 
0.1 

$  31.0 

(1)  For the audit of CIBC’s annual financial statements and the audit of certain of its subsidiaries, as well as other services normally provided by the principal auditor in 

connection with CIBC’s statutory and regulatory filings. Audit fees also include the audit of internal control over financial reporting under standards of the Public Company 
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 

(2)  For the assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of CIBC’s consolidated financial statements, including 

accounting consultation, various agreed upon procedures and translation of financial reports. 

(3)  For tax compliance and advisory services. 
(4)  Includes fees for non-audit services. 

98  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Consolidated financial statements 

100 

101 

105 

108 

109 

110 

111 

112 

113 

114 

Financial reporting responsibility 

Independent auditor’s report – Canadian generally accepted auditing standards 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm – Standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board 
(United States) 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm – Internal control over financial reporting 

Consolidated balance sheet 

Consolidated statement of income 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity 

Consolidated statement of cash flows 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

Details of the notes to the consolidated financial statements 

114  Note 1 

–  Basis of preparation and summary of 

126  Note 2 
128  Note 3 
135  Note 4 
136  Note 5 
138  Note 6 
146  Note 7 

significant accounting policies 
– 
Impact of COVID-19 
–  Fair value measurement 
–  Significant transactions 
–  Securities 
–  Loans 
–  Structured entities and derecognition of 

financial assets 

–  Property and equipment 
–  Goodwill, software and other intangible assets 

149  Note 8 
150  Note 9 
152  Note 10  –  Other assets 
153  Note 11  –  Deposits 
153  Note 12  –  Other liabilities 
153  Note 13  –  Derivative instruments 
158  Note 14  –  Designated accounting hedges 
162  Note 15  –  Subordinated indebtedness 
163  Note 16  –  Common and preferred shares and other 
equity instruments 

Income taxes 

167  Note 17  –  Capital Trust securities 
168  Note 18  –  Share-based payments 
170  Note 19  –  Post-employment benefits 
175  Note 20  – 
177  Note 21  –  Earnings per share 
178  Note 22  –  Commitments, guarantees and pledged assets 
179  Note 23  –  Contingent liabilities and provisions 
182  Note 24  –  Concentration of credit risk 
183  Note 25  –  Related-party transactions 
184  Note 26  – 

Investments in equity-accounted associates and 
joint ventures 

185  Note 27  –  Significant subsidiaries 
186  Note 28  –  Financial instruments – disclosures 
187  Note 29  –  Offsetting financial assets and liabilities 
187  Note 30  – 
188  Note 31  –  Segmented and geographic information 
190  Note 32  –  Future accounting policy changes 

Interest income and expense 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  99 

Consolidated financial statements 

Financial reporting responsibility 

Management of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) is responsible for the preparation, presentation, accuracy and reliability of the Annual 
Report, which includes the consolidated financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A). The consolidated financial 
statements have been prepared in accordance with Section 308(4) of the Bank Act (Canada), which requires that the financial statements be 
prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. The MD&A 
has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of applicable securities laws. 

The consolidated financial statements and MD&A contain items that reflect the best estimates and judgments of the expected effects of current 

events and transactions with appropriate consideration to materiality. Financial information appearing throughout the Annual Report is consistent 
with the consolidated financial statements. 

Management has developed and maintained effective systems, controls and procedures to ensure that information used internally and 
disclosed externally is reliable and timely. CIBC’s system of internal controls and supporting procedures are designed to provide reasonable 
assurance that transactions are authorized, assets are safeguarded and proper records are maintained. These internal controls and supporting 
procedures include the communication of policies and guidelines, the establishment of an organizational structure that provides appropriate and 
well-defined responsibilities and accountability, and the careful selection and training of qualified staff. Management has assessed the effectiveness 
of CIBC’s internal control over financial reporting as at year-end using the Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of 
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework). Based upon this assessment, we have determined that internal control 
over financial reporting is effective in all material respects and CIBC is in compliance with the requirements set by the U.S. Securities and Exchange 
Commission (SEC) under the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act. 

CIBC’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have certified CIBC’s annual filings with the SEC under the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act 

and with the Canadian Securities Administrators under Canadian securities laws. 

The Internal Audit department reviews and reports on the effectiveness of CIBC’s internal control, risk management and governance systems 
and processes, including accounting and financial controls, in accordance with the audit plan approved by the Audit Committee. Our Chief Auditor 
has unfettered access to the Audit Committee. 

The Board of Directors oversees management’s responsibilities for financial reporting through the Audit Committee, which is composed of 
independent directors. The Audit Committee reviews CIBC’s interim and annual consolidated financial statements and MD&A and recommends 
them for approval by the Board of Directors. Other key responsibilities of the Audit Committee include monitoring CIBC’s system of internal control, 
and reviewing the qualifications, independence and service quality of the shareholders’ auditor and the performance of CIBC’s internal auditors. 
Ernst & Young LLP, the shareholders’ auditor, obtains an understanding of CIBC’s internal controls and procedures for financial reporting to 
plan and conduct such tests and other audit procedures as they consider necessary in the circumstances to express their opinions in the reports 
that follow. Ernst & Young LLP has unrestricted access to the Audit Committee to discuss their audit and related matters. 

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) Canada is mandated to protect the rights and interest of depositors and 
creditors of CIBC. Accordingly, OSFI examines and enquires into the business and affairs of CIBC, as deemed necessary, to ensure that the 
provisions of the Bank Act (Canada) are being complied with and that CIBC is in sound financial condition. 

Victor G. Dodig 
President and Chief Executive Officer 

Hratch Panossian 
Chief Financial Officer 

December 2, 2020 

100  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Independent auditor’s report 
To the shareholders and directors of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 

Opinion 
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), which comprise the consolidated balance 
sheets as at October 31, 2020 and 2019, and the consolidated statements of income, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, 
consolidated statements of changes in equity and consolidated statements of cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended 
October 31, 2020, and notes to the consolidated financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies (collectively referred to 
as the “consolidated financial statements”). 

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of 
CIBC as at October 31, 2020 and 2019, and its consolidated financial performance and its consolidated cash flows for each of the years in the 
three-year period ended October 31, 2020 in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International 
Accounting Standards Board. 

Basis for opinion 
We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Our responsibilities under those standards are further 
described in the “Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated financial statements” section of our report. We are independent of CIBC 
in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the consolidated financial statements in Canada, and we have fulfilled 
our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and 
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

Key audit matters 
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the consolidated financial 
statements for the year ended October 31, 2020. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the consolidated financial statements 
as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. For each matter below, our description 
of how our audit addressed the matter is provided in that context. 

We have fulfilled the responsibilities described in the “Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated financial statements” section of 
our report, including in relation to these matters. Accordingly, our audit included the performance of procedures designed to respond to our 
assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements. The results of our audit procedures, including the 
procedures performed to address the matters below, provide the basis for our audit opinion on the accompanying consolidated financial statements. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  101 

Consolidated financial statements 

Key audit matter 

Allowance for credit losses 
As more fully described in Note 1 and Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements, CIBC has used an expected credit 
loss (ECL) model to recognize $3.7 billion in allowances for credit losses on its consolidated balance sheet. ECL 
allowances represent an unbiased and probability-weighted amount, which is determined by evaluating a range of 
possible outcomes and reasonable and supportable information about past events, current conditions and forecasts of 
future economic conditions. Forward-looking information (FLI), which involves significant judgment, is explicitly 
incorporated into the estimation of ECL allowances. ECL allowances are measured at amounts equal to either (i) 12-month 
ECL; or (ii) lifetime ECL for those financial instruments that have experienced a significant increase in credit risk (SICR) 
since initial recognition or when there is objective evidence of impairment. 

Auditing the allowance for credit losses was complex and required the involvement of specialists due to the inherent 
complexity of the models, the large volume of data used, assumptions, judgments, and the interrelationship of these 
variables in measuring the ECL. Significant assumptions and judgments with respect to the estimation of the allowance for 
credit losses include (i) the determination of when a loan has experienced a SICR; (ii) the forecast of FLI for multiple 
economic scenarios and the probability weighting of those scenarios; (iii) the calculation of both 12-month and lifetime 
credit losses; and (iv) the application of expert credit judgment. Management has applied a heightened use of judgment in 
the areas noted above when assessing the impact of COVID-19 on the allowance for credit losses. Specifically, 
management has applied judgment in assessing the potential impact of government support programs and client relief 
measures on the ECL, including estimation of the effects on borrower risk ratings and retail portfolio migration. The 
allowance for credit losses is a significant estimate for which variations in model methodology, assumptions and judgments 
can have a material effect on the measurement of expected credit losses. 

How our audit 
addressed the 
key audit matter 

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of management’s controls, 
including those related to technology, over the allowance for credit losses. The controls we tested included, amongst 
others, controls over model development and validation, economic forecasting, data completeness and accuracy, the 
determination of internal risk ratings for non-retail loans, and the governance and oversight controls over the review of the 
overall ECL, including the application of expert credit judgment. 

To test the allowance for credit losses, amongst other procedures, we assessed, with the assistance of our credit risk 
specialists, whether the methodology and assumptions used in significant models that estimate ECL are consistent with the 
requirements of IFRS, CIBC’s own historical data and industry standards. This included an assessment of the thresholds 
used to determine a SICR. For a sample of FLI variables, with the assistance of our economic specialists, we evaluated 
management’s forecasting methodology and compared management’s FLI to independently derived forecasts and publicly 
available information. We also evaluated the scenario probability weights used in the ECL models. With the assistance of our 
credit risk specialists, we assessed the application of management’s expert credit judgment by evaluating that the amounts 
recorded were reflective of underlying credit quality and macroeconomic trends, including the impact of COVID-19, amongst 
other factors. We tested the completeness and accuracy of data used in the measurement of the ECL and evaluated the 
non-retail borrower risk ratings against CIBC’s risk rating scale. On a sample basis, we recalculated the ECL to test the 
mathematical accuracy of management’s models. We also assessed the adequacy of the allowance for credit loss financial 
statement note disclosures. 

Fair value measurement of derivatives 
As more fully described in Note 3 and Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements, CIBC has recognized $32.7 billion 
in derivative assets and $30.5 billion in derivative liabilities. The portfolio of derivative instruments is presented by level 
within the fair value hierarchy, with the majority of the portfolio classified as Level 2. While derivative instruments classified 
as Level 1 have quoted market prices, those classified as Level 2 and 3 require valuation techniques that use observable 
and non-observable market inputs and involve the application of management judgment. 

Auditing the valuation of derivatives was complex and required the application of significant auditor judgment and 
involvement of valuation specialists where the fair value was determined based on complex models and/or significant 
non-observable market inputs, including any significant valuation adjustments. The inputs and assumptions used to 
determine fair value that were subject to significant auditor judgment included, amongst others, correlations, volatilities and 
credit spreads. The valuation of derivatives is sensitive to these inputs as they are forward-looking and could be affected 
by future economic and market conditions. 

Key audit matter 

How our audit 
addressed the 
key audit matter 

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of management’s controls 
over the valuation of CIBC’s derivatives portfolio, including those related to technology. The controls we tested included, 
amongst others, controls over the development and validation of models used to determine the fair value of derivatives, 
controls over the independent price verification process, including the integrity of significant inputs described above, and 
controls over significant valuation adjustments applied. 

To test the valuation of these derivatives, our audit procedures included, amongst others, an evaluation of the methodologies 
and significant inputs used by CIBC. With the assistance of our valuation specialists, we performed an independent valuation 
for a sample of derivatives and valuation adjustments to assess the modelling assumptions and significant inputs used by 
CIBC to estimate the fair value. We independently obtained significant inputs and assumptions from external market data in 
performing our independent valuation. For a sample of models, and with the assistance of our valuation specialists, we 
assessed the valuation methodologies used by CIBC to determine fair value. We also assessed the adequacy of the 
disclosures related to the fair value measurement of derivatives. 

102  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Key audit matter 

Measurement of uncertain tax provisions 
As more fully described in Note 20 of the consolidated financial statements, CIBC has disclosed its significant accounting 
judgments, estimates and assumptions in relation to accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. CIBC operates in a tax 
environment with constantly evolving and complex tax legislation for financial institutions. Uncertainty in tax positions may 
arise as tax legislation is subject to interpretation. Estimating uncertain tax provisions requires management judgment to be 
applied in the interpretation of tax laws across the various jurisdictions in which CIBC operates. This includes significant 
judgment in the determination of whether it is probable that CIBC’s tax filing positions will be sustained relating to certain 
complex tax positions and, when probable, the measurement of such provision when recognized. 

Auditing CIBC’s uncertain tax provisions required the involvement of our tax professionals and the application of judgment, 
including the interpretation of applicable tax legislation and jurisprudence. 

How our audit 
addressed the 
key audit matter 

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of management’s controls 
over CIBC’s uncertain tax provisions. This included, amongst others, controls over management’s assessment of the 
technical merits of tax positions and the process related to the measurement of any related income tax provisions. 

Key audit matter 

With the assistance of our tax professionals, our audit procedures included, amongst others, an assessment of the 
technical merits of income tax positions taken by CIBC and the measurement of any related uncertain tax provisions 
recorded. We inspected and evaluated correspondence from the relevant income tax authorities, income tax advice 
obtained by CIBC from external advisors including income tax opinions, CIBC’s interpretations of tax laws and the 
assessment thereof with respect to uncertain tax positions. We evaluated the reasonability of CIBC’s treatment of any new 
information received during the year relating to the amounts recorded. We also assessed the adequacy of the disclosures 
related to uncertain tax positions. 

Goodwill impairment assessment of the U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management Cash 
Generating Unit (U.S. CGU) 
As more fully described in Note 9 to the financial statements, CIBC has recognized goodwill of $4.1 billion related to the 
U.S. CGU. Goodwill is tested, at least annually, for impairment by comparing the recoverable amount of the U.S. CGU with 
the carrying amount of the U.S. CGU. The recoverable amount of the U.S. CGU is defined as the higher of its estimated fair 
value less cost to sell and its value-in-use. Goodwill is also required to be tested for impairment whenever there are 
indicators that it may be impaired. 

Auditing CIBC’s U.S. goodwill impairment test was complex and required the involvement of specialists due to the highly 
judgmental nature of key assumptions and significant estimation required to determine the recoverable amount of the 
U.S. CGU. In particular, the estimate of recoverable amount was sensitive to significant assumptions, including, amongst 
others, forecast earnings, discount rate, and the terminal growth rate, which are affected by expectations about future 
market or economic conditions, including the impact of COVID-19. 

How our audit 
addressed the 
key audit matter 

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over CIBC’s 
goodwill impairment assessment process. These included, amongst others, controls over management’s review of the 
methodology and significant assumptions in the determination of the recoverable amount. Significant assumptions 
included forecast earnings, discount rate and the terminal growth rate. 

With the assistance of our valuation specialists, we tested the estimated recoverable amount of the U.S. CGU which was 
determined based on a value-in-use calculation. We performed audit procedures that included, amongst others, assessing 
the methodology applied, testing the significant assumptions discussed above and testing the completeness, accuracy 
and relevance of underlying data used by CIBC in its assessment. We compared the significant assumptions and inputs 
used by CIBC to externally available industry and economic trends, which considered the impact of COVID-19. We 
evaluated the reasonability of management’s estimates by performing a comparison of management’s prior year 
projections to actual results and current performance and performed sensitivity analysis over the significant assumptions. 
We also assessed the adequacy of CIBC’s disclosures related to the impairment testing of goodwill. 

Other information 
Management is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises: 
  Management’s discussion and analysis; and 
 

The information, other than the consolidated financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon, in the Annual Report. 

Our opinion on the consolidated financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion 
thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the consolidated financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider 
whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the consolidated financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or 
otherwise appears to be materially misstated. 

We obtained management’s discussion and analysis and the Annual Report prior to the date of this auditor’s report. If, based on the work we have 
performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact in this auditor’s report. We 
have nothing to report in this regard. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  103 

Consolidated financial statements 

Responsibilities of management and those charged with governance for the consolidated financial statements 
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS, and for such 
internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is responsible for assessing CIBC’s ability to continue as a going concern, 
disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either intends to 
liquidate CIBC or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so. 

Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing CIBC’s financial reporting process. 

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated financial statements 
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements as a whole are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of 
assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards will always detect 
a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, 
they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these consolidated financial statements. 

As part of an audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards, we exercise professional judgment and maintain 
professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also: 
 

Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and 
perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our 
opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve 
collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control. 
Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, 
but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of CIBC’s internal control. 
Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by 
management. 
Conclude on the appropriateness of management’s use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, 
whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on CIBC’s ability to continue as a going 
concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures 
in the consolidated financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit 
evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause CIBC to cease to continue as a going 
concern. 
Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the consolidated financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the 
consolidated financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation. 
Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within CIBC to express an 
opinion on the consolidated financial statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the group audit. We 
remain solely responsible for our audit opinion. 

 

 

 

 

 

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant 
audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit. 

We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding 
independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, 
and where applicable, related safeguards. 

From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the 
consolidated financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor’s report 
unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should 
not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest 
benefits of such communication. 

The engagement partner on the audit resulting in this independent auditor’s report is Helen Mitchell. 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP 
Chartered Professional Accountants 
Licensed Public Accountants 
Toronto, Canada 
December 2, 2020 

104  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm 
To the shareholders and directors of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 

Opinion on the consolidated financial statements 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) as of October 31, 2020 and 2019, 
the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year 
period ended October 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of CIBC at October 31, 
2020 and 2019, and its consolidated financial performance and its consolidated cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended 
October 31, 2020 in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. 

Report on internal control over financial reporting 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), CIBC’s 
internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by 
the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated December 2, 2020 expressed an 
unqualified opinion thereon. 

Basis for opinion 
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of CIBC’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on CIBC’s 
consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be 
independent with respect to CIBC in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities 
and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain 
reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our 
audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or 
fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the 
amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and 
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that 
our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

Critical audit matters 
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were 
communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the 
consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical 
audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating 
the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  105 

Consolidated financial statements 

Description of 
the matter 

Allowance for credit losses 
As more fully described in Note 1 and Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements, CIBC has used an expected credit loss 
(ECL) model to recognize $3.7 billion in allowances for credit losses on its consolidated balance sheet. ECL allowances 
represent an unbiased and probability-weighted amount, which is determined by evaluating a range of possible outcomes and 
reasonable and supportable information about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions. 
Forward-looking information (FLI), which involves significant judgment, is explicitly incorporated into the estimation of ECL 
allowances. ECL allowances are measured at amounts equal to either (i) 12-month ECL; or (ii) lifetime ECL for those financial 
instruments that have experienced a significant increase in credit risk (SICR) since initial recognition or when there is objective 
evidence of impairment. 

Auditing the allowance for credit losses was complex and required the involvement of specialists due to the inherent complexity 
of the models, the large volume of data used, assumptions, judgments, and the interrelationship of these variables in measuring 
the ECL. Significant assumptions and judgments with respect to the estimation of the allowance for credit losses include (i) the 
determination of when a loan has experienced a SICR; (ii) the forecast of FLI for multiple economic scenarios and the probability 
weighting of those scenarios; (iii) the calculation of both 12-month and lifetime credit losses; and (iv) the application of expert 
credit judgment. Management has applied a heightened use of judgment in the areas noted above when assessing the impact 
of COVID-19 on the allowance for credit losses. Specifically, management has applied judgment in assessing the potential 
impact of government support programs and client relief measures on the ECL, including estimation of the effects on borrower 
risk ratings and retail portfolio migration. The allowance for credit losses is a significant estimate for which variations in model 
methodology, assumptions and judgments can have a material effect on the measurement of expected credit losses. 

How we 
addressed the 
matter in our 
audit 

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of management’s controls, 
including those related to technology, over the allowance for credit losses. The controls we tested included, amongst others, 
controls over model development and validation, economic forecasting, data completeness and accuracy, the determination of 
internal risk ratings for non-retail loans, and the governance and oversight controls over the review of the overall ECL, including 
the application of expert credit judgment. 

To test the allowance for credit losses, amongst other procedures, we assessed, with the assistance of our credit risk 
specialists, whether the methodology and assumptions used in significant models that estimate ECL are consistent with the 
requirements of IFRS, CIBC’s own historical data and industry standards. This included an assessment of the thresholds used to 
determine a SICR. For a sample of FLI variables, with the assistance of our economic specialists, we evaluated management’s 
forecasting methodology and compared management’s FLI to independently derived forecasts and publicly available 
information. We also evaluated the scenario probability weights used in the ECL models. With the assistance of our credit risk 
specialists, we assessed the application of management’s expert credit judgment by evaluating that the amounts recorded were 
reflective of underlying credit quality and macroeconomic trends, including the impact of COVID-19, amongst other factors. We 
tested the completeness and accuracy of data used in the measurement of the ECL and evaluated the non-retail borrower risk 
ratings against CIBC’s risk rating scale. On a sample basis, we recalculated the ECL to test the mathematical accuracy of 
management’s models. We also assessed the adequacy of the allowance for credit loss financial statement note disclosures. 

Description of 
the matter 

Fair value measurement of derivatives 
As more fully described in Note 3 and Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements, CIBC has recognized $32.7 billion in 
derivative assets and $30.5 billion in derivative liabilities. The portfolio of derivative instruments is presented by level within the 
fair value hierarchy, with the majority of the portfolio classified as Level 2. While derivative instruments classified as Level 1 have 
quoted market prices, those classified as Level 2 and 3 require valuation techniques that use observable and non-observable 
market inputs and involve the application of management judgment. 

Auditing the valuation of derivatives was complex and required the application of significant auditor judgment and involvement of 
valuation specialists where the fair value was determined based on complex models and/or significant non-observable market 
inputs, including any significant valuation adjustments. The inputs and assumptions used to determine fair value that were subject 
to significant auditor judgment included, amongst others, correlations, volatilities and credit spreads. The valuation of derivatives 
is sensitive to these inputs as they are forward-looking and could be affected by future economic and market conditions. 

How we 
addressed the 
matter in our 
audit 

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of management’s controls over the 
valuation of CIBC’s derivatives portfolio, including those related to technology. The controls we tested included, amongst others, 
controls over the development and validation of models used to determine the fair value of derivatives, controls over the 
independent price verification process, including the integrity of significant inputs described above, and controls over significant 
valuation adjustments applied. 

To test the valuation of these derivatives, our audit procedures included, amongst others, an evaluation of the methodologies and 
significant inputs used by CIBC. With the assistance of our valuation specialists, we performed an independent valuation for a 
sample of derivatives and valuation adjustments to assess the modelling assumptions and significant inputs used by CIBC to 
estimate the fair value. We independently obtained significant inputs and assumptions from external market data in performing our 
independent valuation. For a sample of models, and with the assistance of our valuation specialists, we assessed the valuation 
methodologies used by CIBC to determine fair value. We also assessed the adequacy of the disclosures related to the fair value 
measurement of derivatives. 

106  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Description of 
the matter 

Measurement of uncertain tax provisions 
As more fully described in Note 20 of the consolidated financial statements, CIBC has disclosed its significant accounting 
judgments, estimates and assumptions in relation to accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. CIBC operates in a tax 
environment with constantly evolving and complex tax legislation for financial institutions. Uncertainty in tax positions may arise 
as tax legislation is subject to interpretation. Estimating uncertain tax provisions requires management judgment to be applied in 
the interpretation of tax laws across the various jurisdictions in which CIBC operates. This includes significant judgment in the 
determination of whether it is probable that CIBC’s tax filing positions will be sustained relating to certain complex tax positions 
and, when probable, the measurement of such provision when recognized. 

Auditing CIBC’s uncertain tax provisions required the involvement of our tax professionals and the application of judgment, 
including the interpretation of applicable tax legislation and jurisprudence. 

How we 
addressed the 
matter in our 
audit 

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of management’s controls over 
CIBC’s uncertain tax provisions. This included, amongst others, controls over management’s assessment of the technical merits 
of tax positions and the process related to the measurement of any related income tax provisions. 

With the assistance of our tax professionals, our audit procedures included, amongst others, an assessment of the technical 
merits of income tax positions taken by CIBC and the measurement of any related uncertain tax provisions recorded. We 
inspected and evaluated correspondence from the relevant income tax authorities, income tax advice obtained by CIBC from 
external advisors including income tax opinions, CIBC’s interpretations of tax laws and the assessment thereof with respect to 
uncertain tax positions. We evaluated the reasonability of CIBC’s treatment of any new information received during the year 
relating to the amounts recorded. We also assessed the adequacy of the disclosures related to uncertain tax positions. 

Description of 
the matter 

Goodwill impairment assessment of the U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management Cash 
Generating Unit (U.S. CGU) 
As more fully described in Note 9 to the financial statements, CIBC has recognized goodwill of $4.1 billion related to the 
U.S. CGU. Goodwill is tested, at least annually, for impairment by comparing the recoverable amount of the U.S. CGU with the 
carrying amount of the U.S. CGU. The recoverable amount of the U.S. CGU is defined as the higher of its estimated fair value 
less cost to sell and its value-in-use. Goodwill is also required to be tested for impairment whenever there are indicators that it 
may be impaired. 

Auditing CIBC’s U.S. goodwill impairment test was complex and required the involvement of specialists due to the highly 
judgmental nature of key assumptions and significant estimation required to determine the recoverable amount of the U.S. CGU. 
In particular, the estimate of recoverable amount was sensitive to significant assumptions, including, amongst others, forecast 
earnings, discount rate, and the terminal growth rate, which are affected by expectations about future market or economic 
conditions, including the impact of COVID-19. 

How we 
addressed the 
matter in our 
audit 

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over CIBC’s goodwill 
impairment assessment process. These included, amongst others, controls over management’s review of the methodology and 
significant assumptions in the determination of the recoverable amount. Significant assumptions included forecast earnings, 
discount rate and the terminal growth rate. 

With the assistance of our valuation specialists, we tested the estimated recoverable amount of the U.S. CGU which was 
determined based on a value-in-use calculation. We performed audit procedures that included, amongst others, assessing the 
methodology applied, testing the significant assumptions discussed above and testing the completeness, accuracy and 
relevance of underlying data used by CIBC in its assessment. We compared the significant assumptions and inputs used by 
CIBC to externally available industry and economic trends, which considered the impact of COVID-19. We evaluated the 
reasonability of management’s estimates by performing a comparison of management’s prior year projections to actual results 
and current performance and performed sensitivity analysis over the significant assumptions. We also assessed the adequacy 
of CIBC’s disclosures related to the impairment testing of goodwill. 

We have served as CIBC’s auditor since 2002. 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP 
Chartered Professional Accountants 
Licensed Public Accountants 
Toronto, Canada 
December 2, 2020 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  107 

Consolidated financial statements 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm 
To the shareholders and directors of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 

Opinion on internal control over financial reporting 
We have audited Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce’s (CIBC) internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2020, based on criteria 
established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 
framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, CIBC maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of 
October 31, 2020, based on the COSO criteria. 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the 
consolidated balance sheets of CIBC as of October 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, 
changes in equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended October 31, 2020, and the related notes and our report dated 
December 2, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. 

Basis for opinion 
CIBC’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of 
internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying “Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting” 
section contained in the accompanying management’s discussion and analysis. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on CIBC’s internal 
control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent 
with respect to CIBC in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange 
Commission and the PCAOB. 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain 

reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. 

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, 

testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures 
as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

Definition and limitations of internal control over financial reporting 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial 
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A 
company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in 
reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that 
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, 
and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the 
company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the 
company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any 

evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that 
the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP 
Chartered Professional Accountants 
Licensed Public Accountants 
Toronto, Canada 
December 2, 2020 

108  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Consolidated balance sheet 

Millions of Canadian dollars, as at October 31 

ASSETS 
Cash and non-interest-bearing deposits with banks 

Interest-bearing deposits with banks 

Securities (Note 5) 

Cash collateral on securities borrowed 

Securities purchased under resale agreements 

Loans (Note 6) 
Residential mortgages 
Personal 
Credit card 
Business and government 
Allowance for credit losses 

Other 
Derivative instruments (Note 13) 
Customers’ liability under acceptances 
Property and equipment (Note 8) 
Goodwill (Note 9) 
Software and other intangible assets (Note 9) 
Investments in equity-accounted associates and joint ventures (Note 26) 
Deferred tax assets (Note 20) 
Other assets (Note 10) 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 
Deposits (Note 11) 
Personal 
Business and government 
Bank 
Secured borrowings 

Obligations related to securities sold short 

Cash collateral on securities lent 

Obligations related to securities sold under repurchase agreements 

Other 
Derivative instruments (Note 13) 
Acceptances 
Deferred tax liabilities (Note 20) 
Other liabilities (Note 12) 

Subordinated indebtedness (Note 15) 

Equity 
Preferred shares and other equity instruments (Note 16) 
Common shares (Note 16) 
Contributed surplus 
Retained earnings 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) 

Total shareholders’ equity 
Non-controlling interests 

Total equity 

2020 

2019 

$ 

43,531 

$ 

3,840 

18,987 

149,046 

8,547 

65,595 

221,165 
42,222 
11,389 
135,546 
(3,540) 

406,782 

32,730 
9,606 
2,997 
5,253 
1,961 
658 
650 
23,208 

77,063 

13,519 

121,310 

3,664 

56,111 

208,652 
43,651 
12,755 
125,798 
(1,915) 

388,941 

23,895 
9,167 
1,813 
5,449 
1,969 
586 
517 
20,823 

64,219 

$  769,551 

$  651,604 

$  202,152 
311,426 
17,011 
40,151 

$  178,091 
257,502 
11,224 
38,895 

570,740 

485,712 

15,963 

1,824 

71,653 

30,508 
9,649 
33 
22,134 

62,324 

5,712 

3,575 
13,908 
117 
22,119 
1,435 

41,154 
181 

41,335 

15,635 

1,822 

51,801 

25,113 
9,188 
38 
19,031 

53,370 

4,684 

2,825 
13,591 
125 
20,972 
881 

38,394 
186 

38,580 

$  769,551 

$  651,604 

The accompanying notes and shaded sections in “MD&A – Management of risk” are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

Victor G. Dodig 
President and Chief Executive Officer 

Nicholas D. Le Pan 
Director 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  109 

Consolidated financial statements 

Consolidated statement of income 

Millions of Canadian dollars, except as noted, for the year ended October 31 

2020 

2019 

2018 

Interest income (1) 
Loans 
Securities 
Securities borrowed or purchased under resale agreements 
Deposits with banks 

Interest expense 
Deposits 
Securities sold short 
Securities lent or sold under repurchase agreements 
Subordinated indebtedness 
Other 

Net interest income 

Non-interest income 
Underwriting and advisory fees 
Deposit and payment fees 
Credit fees 
Card fees 
Investment management and custodial fees 
Mutual fund fees 
Insurance fees, net of claims 
Commissions on securities transactions 
Gains (losses) from financial instruments measured/designated at fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL), net 
Gains (losses) from debt securities measured at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) 

and amortized cost, net (Note 5) 

Foreign exchange other than trading (FXOTT) 
Income from equity-accounted associates and joint ventures (Note 26) 
Other 

Total revenue 

Provision for credit losses (Note 6) 

Non-interest expenses 
Employee compensation and benefits 
Occupancy costs 
Computer, software and office equipment 
Communications 
Advertising and business development 
Professional fees 
Business and capital taxes 
Other (Notes 4 and 9) 

Income before income taxes 
Income taxes (Note 20) 

Net income 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests 

Preferred shareholders and other equity instrument holders 
Common shareholders 

Net income attributable to equity shareholders 

Earnings per share (EPS) (in dollars) (Note 21) 

Basic 
Diluted 

Dividends per common share (in dollars) (Note 16) 

$  13,863 
2,568 
842 
249 

$  16,048 
2,779 
1,474 
396 

$  13,901 
2,269 
1,053 
282 

17,522 

20,697 

17,505 

5,326 
254 
656 
159 
83 

6,478 

11,044 

468 
781 
1,020 
410 
1,382 
1,586 
386 
362 
694 

9 
234 
79 
286 

7,697 

18,741 

2,489 

6,259 
944 
1,939 
308 
271 
203 
117 
1,321 

8,422 
291 
1,198 
198 
37 

10,146 

10,551 

475 
908 
958 
458 
1,305 
1,595 
430 
313 
761 

34 
304 
92 
427 

8,060 

18,611 

1,286 

5,726 
892 
1,874 
303 
359 
226 
110 
1,366 

6,240 
272 
736 
174 
18 

7,440 

10,065 

420 
877 
851 
510 
1,247 
1,624 
431 
357 
603 

(35) 
310 
121 
453 

7,769 

17,834 

870 

5,665 
875 
1,742 
315 
327 
226 
103 
1,005 

11,362 

10,856 

10,258 

4,890 
1,098 

3,792 

2 

122 
3,668 

$ 

$ 

$ 

6,469 
1,348 

5,121 

2  5

111 
4,985 

$ 

$

$ 

6,706 
1,422 

5,284 

17

89 
5,178 

$ 

$

$ 

$ 

3,790 

$ 

5,096 

$ 

5,267 

$ 

8.23 
8.22 
5.82 

$ 

11.22 
11.19 
5.60 

$ 

11.69 
11.65 
5.32 

(1)  Interest income included $15.7 billion for the year ended October 31, 2020 (2019: $18.8 billion) calculated based on the effective interest rate method. 

The accompanying notes and shaded sections in “MD&A – Management of risk” are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

110  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
Consolidated financial statements 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

Millions of Canadian dollars, for the year ended October 31 

Net income 

2020 

2019 

2018 

$  3,792 

$  5,121 

$  5,284 

Other comprehensive income (loss) (OCI), net of income tax, that is subject to subsequent reclassification 

to net income 
Net foreign currency translation adjustments 
Net gains (losses) on investments in foreign operations 
Net gains (losses) on hedges of investments in foreign operations 

Net change in debt securities measured at FVOCI 
Net gains (losses) on securities measured at FVOCI 
Net (gains) losses reclassified to net income 

Net change in cash flow hedges 
Net gains (losses) on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges 
Net (gains) losses reclassified to net income 

OCI, net of income tax, that is not subject to subsequent reclassification to net income 

Net gains (losses) on post-employment defined benefit plans 
Net gains (losses) due to fair value change of fair value option (FVO) liabilities attributable to changes in 

credit risk 

Net gains (losses) on equity securities designated at FVOCI 

Total OCI (1) 

Comprehensive income 

Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests 

Preferred shareholders and other equity instrument holders 
Common shareholders 

Comprehensive income attributable to equity shareholders 

382 
(202) 

180 

254 
(22) 

232 

142 
19 

161 

80 

(56) 
50 

74 

647 

(21) 
(10) 

(31) 

244 
(28) 

216 

137 
(6) 

131 

(220) 

28 
(2) 

(194) 

122 

635 
(349) 

286 

(142) 
(29) 

(171) 

(25) 
(26) 

(51) 

226 

(2) 
29 

253 

317 

$  4,439 

$  5,243 

$  5,601 

$ 

$ 

2 

122 
4,315 

$

$ 

25  $

17

111 
5,107 

$ 

89 
5,495 

$  4,437 

$  5,218 

$  5,584 

(1)  Includes $44 million of gains for 2020 (2019: $44 million of gains; 2018: $19 million of losses) relating to our investments in equity-accounted associates and joint ventures. 

Millions of Canadian dollars, for the year ended October 31 

Income tax (expense) benefit allocated to each component of OCI 
Subject to subsequent reclassification to net income 
Net foreign currency translation adjustments 
Net gains (losses) on investments in foreign operations 
Net gains (losses) on hedges of investments in foreign operations 

Net change in debt securities measured at FVOCI 
Net gains (losses) on securities measured at FVOCI 
Net (gains) losses reclassified to net income 

Net change in cash flow hedges 
Net gains (losses) on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges 
Net (gains) losses reclassified to net income 

Not subject to subsequent reclassification to net income 

Net gains (losses) on post-employment defined benefit plans 
Net gains (losses) due to fair value change of FVO liabilities attributable to changes in credit risk 
Net gains (losses) on equity securities designated at FVOCI 

2020 

2019 

2018 

$

 42 
(46) 

(4) 

(59) 
7 

(52) 

(51) 
(7) 

(58) 

(19) 
20 
(17) 

(16) 

$ 

– 
(16) 

(16) 

(36) 
10 

(26) 

(49) 
2

(47) 

77 
(10) 
– 

67 

$ 

(31) 
43 

12 

18 
8 

26 

8 
9 

17 

(87) 
1 
(11) 

(97) 

$ 

(130) 

$ 

(22) 

$ 

(42) 

The accompanying notes and shaded sections in “MD&A – Management of risk” are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  111 

 
 
Consolidated financial statements 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity 

Millions of Canadian dollars, for the year ended October 31 
Preferred shares and other equity instruments (Note 16) 
Balance at beginning of year 
Issue of preferred shares and limited recourse capital notes 
Treasury shares 
Balance at end of year 
Common shares (Note 16) 
Balance at beginning of year 
Issued pursuant to the acquisition of The PrivateBank 
Issued pursuant to the acquisition of Wellington Financial 
Issue of common shares 
Purchase of common shares for cancellation 
Treasury shares 
Balance at end of year 
Contributed surplus 
Balance at beginning of year 
Compensation expense arising from equity-settled share-based awards 
Exercise of stock options and settlement of other equity-settled share-based awards 
Other 
Balance at end of year 
Retained earnings 
Balance at beginning of year before accounting policy changes 
Impact of adopting IFRS 9 at November 1, 2017 
Impact of adopting IFRS 15 at November 1, 2018 
Impact of adopting IFRS 16 at November 1, 2019 (Note 8) 
Balance at beginning of year after accounting policy changes 
Net income attributable to equity shareholders 
Dividends and distributions (Note 16) 

Preferred and other equity instruments 
Common 

Premium on purchase of common shares for cancellation 
Realized gains (losses) on equity securities designated at FVOCI reclassified from AOCI 
Other (1) 
Balance at end of year 
AOCI, net of income tax 
AOCI, net of income tax, that is subject to subsequent reclassification to net income 

Net foreign currency translation adjustments 
Balance at beginning of year 
Net change in foreign currency translation adjustments 
Balance at end of year 
Net gains (losses) on debt securities measured at FVOCI 
Balance at beginning of year under International Accounting Standards (IAS) 39 
Impact of adopting IFRS 9 at November 1, 2017 
Balance at beginning of year under IFRS 9 
Net change in securities measured at FVOCI 
Balance at end of year 
Net gains (losses) on cash flow hedges 
Balance at beginning of year 
Net change in cash flow hedges 
Balance at end of year 

AOCI, net of income tax, that is not subject to subsequent reclassification to net income 

Net gains (losses) on post-employment defined benefit plans 
Balance at beginning of year 
Net change in post-employment defined benefit plans 
Balance at end of year 
Net gains (losses) due to fair value change of FVO liabilities attributable to changes in credit risk 
Balance at beginning of year 
Net change attributable to changes in credit risk 
Balance at end of year 
Net gains (losses) on equity securities designated at FVOCI 
Impact of adopting IFRS 9 at November 1, 2017 
Balance at beginning of year under IFRS 9 
Net gains (losses) on equity securities designated at FVOCI 
Realized gains (losses) on equity securities designated at FVOCI reclassified to retained earnings (2) 
Balance at end of year 

Total AOCI, net of income tax 
Non-controlling interests 
Balance at beginning of year under IAS 39 
Impact of adopting IFRS 9 at November 1, 2017 
Balance at beginning of year under IFRS 9 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests 
Dividends 
Other 

Balance at end of year 

Equity at end of year 

2020 

2,825 
750 
– 
3,575 

$ 

$ 

$  13,591 
– 
– 
371 
(68) 
14 
$  13,908 

2019 

2,250 
575 
– 
2,825 

$ 

$ 

$  13,243 
– 
– 
377 
(30) 
1 
$  13,591 

2018 

1,797 
450 
3 
2,250 

$ 

$ 

$  12,548 
194 
47
555 
(104) 
3 
$  13,243 

$ 

$ 

125 
14 
(20) 
(2) 
117 

$ 

$ 

136 
16 
(27) 
– 
125 

$ 

$ 

137 
31 
(32) 
– 
136 

$  20,972 
n/a 
n/a 
148 
21,120 
3,790 

(122) 
(2,592) 
(166) 
93 
(4) 
$  22,119 

$  18,537 
n/a 
6 
n/a 
18,543 
5,096 

(111) 
(2,488) 
(79) 
18 
(7) 
$  20,972 

$  16,101 
(144) 
n/a 
n/a 
15,957 
5,267 

(89) 
(2,356) 
(313) 
49 
22 
$  18,537 

$ 

$ 

$

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$

$ 

$

$ 
$ 

993 
180 
1,173 

n/a 
n/a 
 77
232 
309 

113 
161 
274 

(363) 
80 
(283) 

1  6
(56) 
(40) 

n/a 
 45
50 
(93) 
2 
1,435 

$ 

$ 

$  

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$  

$ 

$

$
$ 

1,024 
(31) 
993 

n/a 
n/a 
(139) 
216 
77 

(18) 
131 
113 

(143) 
(220) 
(363) 

(12) 
28 
16 

n/a 
65 
(2) 
(18) 
 45
881 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

85

$ 

738 
286 
1,024 

60 
(28) 
32 
(171) 
(139) 

33 
(51) 
(18) 

(369) 
226 
(143) 

(10) 
(2) 
(12) 

85 

29 
(49) 
65
777 

$ 

n/a 
n/a 
186 
2 
(15) 
8 
$ 
181 
$  41,335 

$ 

n/a 
n/a 
173 
25 
(11) 
(1) 
$ 
186 
$  38,580 

$ 

202 
(4) 
198 
17 
(31) 
(11) 
$ 
173 
$  35,116 

(1)  In 2018, includes the recognition of loss carryforwards relating to foreign exchange translation amounts on CIBC’s net investment in foreign operations that were previously 

reclassified to retained earnings as part of our transition to IFRS in 2012. 

(2)  Includes nil reclassified to retained earnings (2019: nil; 2018: $11 million), relating to our investments in equity-accounted associates and joint ventures. 
n/a  Not applicable. 

The accompanying notes and shaded sections in “MD&A – Management of risk” are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

112  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated financial statements 

Consolidated statement of cash flows 

Millions of Canadian dollars, for the year ended October 31 

2020 

2019 

2018 

Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities 
Net income 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities: 

$ 

3,792 

$ 

5,121 

$ 

5,284 

Provision for credit losses 
Amortization and impairment (1) 
Stock options and restricted shares expense 
Deferred income taxes 
Losses (gains) from debt securities measured at FVOCI and amortized cost 
Net losses (gains) on disposal of property and equipment 
Other non-cash items, net 
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities 

Interest-bearing deposits with banks 
Loans, net of repayments 
Deposits, net of withdrawals 
Obligations related to securities sold short 
Accrued interest receivable 
Accrued interest payable 
Derivative assets 
Derivative liabilities 
Securities measured at FVTPL 
Other assets and liabilities measured/designated at FVTPL 
Current income taxes 
Cash collateral on securities lent 
Obligations related to securities sold under repurchase agreements 
Cash collateral on securities borrowed 
Securities purchased under resale agreements 
Other, net 

Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities 
Issue of subordinated indebtedness 
Redemption/repurchase/maturity of subordinated indebtedness 
Issue of preferred shares and limited recourse capital notes, net of issuance cost 
Issue of common shares for cash 
Purchase of common shares for cancellation 
Net sale (purchase) of treasury shares 
Dividends and distributions paid 
Repayment of lease liabilities 

Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities 
Purchase of securities measured/designated at FVOCI and amortized cost 
Proceeds from sale of securities measured/designated at FVOCI and amortized cost 
Proceeds from maturity of debt securities measured at FVOCI and amortized cost 
Cash used in acquisitions, net of cash acquired 
Net cash provided by dispositions of investments in equity-accounted associates and joint ventures 
Net sale (purchase) of property and equipment 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and non-interest-bearing deposits with banks 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and non-interest-bearing deposits with banks during the year 
Cash and non-interest-bearing deposits with banks at beginning of year 

Cash and non-interest-bearing deposits with banks at end of year (2) 

Cash interest paid 
Cash interest received 
Cash dividends received 
Cash income taxes paid 

2,489 
1,311 
14 
(228) 
(9) 
4 
(767) 

(5,468) 
(18,891) 
82,120 
328 
97 
(238) 
(8,832) 
5,184 
(8,296) 
1,563 
1,287 
2 
19,852 
(4,883) 
(9,394) 
(742) 

60,295 

1,000 
(33) 
747 
163 
(234) 
14 
(2,571) 
(307) 

(1,221) 

(54,075) 
11,883 
23,093 
– 
– 
(309) 

(19,408) 

25 

39,691 
3,840 

43,531 

6,716 
16,774 
845 
39 

1,286 
838 
16 
108 
(34) 
(7) 
(229) 

(208) 
(17,653) 
19,838 
1,853 
(122) 
138 
(2,484) 
4,037 
(1,826) 
1,222 
(309) 
(909) 
20,961 
1,824 
(10,785) 
(4,041) 

18,635 

1,500 
(1,001) 
568 
157 
(109) 
1 
(2,406) 
– 

(1,290) 

(42,304) 
13,764 
10,948 
(25) 
– 
(272) 

(17,889) 

4

(540) 
4,380 

3,840 

10,008 
19,840 
735 
1,549 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

870 
657 
31 
69 
35 
(14) 
(292) 

(2,599) 
(16,155) 
20,770 
69 
(341) 
205 
2,780 
(2,084) 
(647) 
(380) 
(301) 
707 
2,869 
(453) 
(1,195) 
(18) 

9,867 

1,534 
(638) 
445 
186 
(417) 
6 
(2,109) 
– 

(993) 

(33,011) 
12,992 
12,402 
(315) 
200 
(255) 

(7,987) 

 53

940 
3,440 

4,380 

7,235 
16,440 
724 
1,654 

$ 

$ 

(1)  Comprises amortization and impairment of buildings, right-of-use assets, furniture, equipment, leasehold improvements, software and other intangible assets, and goodwill. 
(2)  Includes restricted cash of $463 million (2019: $479 million; 2018: $438 million) and interest-bearing demand deposits with Bank of Canada. 

The accompanying notes and shaded sections in “MD&A – Management of risk” are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  113 

 
Consolidated financial statements 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) is a diversified financial institution governed by the Bank Act (Canada). CIBC was formed through the 
amalgamation of the Canadian Bank of Commerce and Imperial Bank of Canada in 1961. Through our four strategic business units (SBUs) – 
Canadian Personal and Business Banking, Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth 
Management, and Capital Markets – CIBC provides a full range of financial products and services to 10 million personal banking, business, public 
sector and institutional clients in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. Refer to Note 31 for further details on our business units. CIBC is 
incorporated and domiciled in Canada, with our registered and principal business offices located at Commerce Court, Toronto, Ontario. 

Note  1 

Basis of preparation and summary of significant accounting policies 

Basis of preparation 
The consolidated financial statements of CIBC have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued 
by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). These consolidated financial statements also comply with Section 308(4) of the Bank Act 
(Canada) and the requirements of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI). 

CIBC has consistently applied the same accounting policies throughout all periods presented, except for the adoption of IFRS 15 “Revenue 

from Contracts with Customers” effective November 1, 2018, the adoption of IFRS 16 “Leases” effective November 1, 2019, the adoption of “Interest 
Rate Benchmark Reform: Phase 1 Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7” effective November 1, 2019, and the adoption of IFRIC 23 
“Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments” effective November 1, 2019, each of which were adopted without restatement of comparative periods as 
discussed below under the sections titled “Fee and commission income”, “Leases”, “Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Amendments to IFRS 9, 
IAS 39 and IFRS 7”, and “International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee 23: Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments”. 

These consolidated financial statements are presented in millions of Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. 
These consolidated financial statements were authorized for issue by the Board of Directors (the Board) on December 2, 2020. 

Summary of significant accounting policies 
The following paragraphs describe our significant accounting policies. 

Use of estimates and assumptions 
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires management to make estimates and assumptions that 
affect the recognized and measured amounts of assets, liabilities, net income, comprehensive income and related disclosures. Significant estimates 
and assumptions are made in the areas of the valuation of financial instruments, allowance for credit losses, the evaluation of whether to consolidate 
structured entities (SEs), asset impairment, income taxes, provisions and contingent liabilities, post-employment and other long-term benefit plan 
assumptions and valuation of self-managed loyalty points programs. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions. 

Basis of consolidation 
We consolidate entities over which we have control. We have control over another entity when we have: (i) power to direct relevant activities of the 
entity; (ii) exposure, or rights, to variable returns from our involvement with the entity; and (iii) the ability to affect those returns through our power 
over the entity. 

Subsidiaries 
Subsidiaries are entities over which CIBC has control. Generally, CIBC has control of its subsidiaries through a shareholding of more than 50% of 
the voting rights, and has significant exposure to the subsidiaries based on its ownership interests of more than 50%. The effects of potential voting 
rights that CIBC has the practical ability to exercise are considered when assessing whether control exists. Subsidiaries are consolidated from the 
date control is obtained by CIBC and are deconsolidated from the date control is lost. Consistent accounting policies are applied for all 
consolidated subsidiaries. Details of our significant subsidiaries are provided in Note 27. 

Structured entities 
An SE is an entity that has been designed so that voting or similar rights are not the dominant factor in deciding who controls the entity, such as 
when any voting rights relate to administrative tasks only and the significant relevant activities are directed by contractual arrangements. SEs often 
have some or all of the following features or attributes: (i) restricted activities; (ii) a narrow and well-defined objective, such as to securitize our own 
financial assets or third-party financial assets to provide sources of funding or to provide investment opportunities for investors by passing on risks 
and rewards associated with the assets of the SE to investors; (iii) insufficient equity to permit the SE to finance its activities without subordinated 
financial support; or (iv) financing in the form of multiple contractually linked instruments to investors that create concentrations of credit or other 
risks. Examples of SEs include securitization vehicles, asset-backed financings, and investment funds. 

When voting rights are not relevant in deciding whether CIBC has power over an entity, particularly for complex SEs, the assessment of control 
considers all facts and circumstances, including the purpose and design of the investee, its relationship with other parties and each party’s ability to  
make decisions over significant activities, and whether CIBC is acting as a principal or as an agent. 

Consolidation conclusions are reassessed whenever there is a change in the specific facts and circumstances relevant to one or more of the 

three elements of control. Factors that trigger the reassessment include, but are not limited to, significant changes in ownership structure of the 
entities, changes in contractual or governance arrangements, provision of a liquidity facility beyond the original terms, transactions with the entities 
that were not contemplated originally and changes in the financing structure of the entities. 

Transactions eliminated on consolidation 
All intercompany transactions, balances and unrealized gains and losses on transactions are eliminated on consolidation. 

114  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Non-controlling interests 
Non-controlling interests are presented on the consolidated balance sheet as a separate component of equity that is distinct from CIBC’s 
shareholders’ equity. The net income attributable to non-controlling interests is presented separately in the consolidated statement of income. 

Associates and joint ventures 
We classify investments in entities over which we have significant influence, and that are neither subsidiaries nor joint ventures, as associates. 
Significant influence is presumed to exist where we hold, either directly or indirectly, between 20% and 50% of the voting rights of an entity, or, in the 
case of a limited partnership, where CIBC is a co-general partner. Significant influence also may exist where we hold less than 20% of the voting 
rights of an entity, for example if we have influence over policy-making processes through representation on the entity’s Board of Directors, or by 
other means. Where we are a party to a contractual arrangement whereby, together with one or more parties, we undertake an economic activity 
that is subject to joint control, we classify our interest in the venture as a joint venture. 

Investments in associates and interests in joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method. Under the equity method, such 

investments are initially measured at cost, including attributable goodwill and intangible assets, and are adjusted thereafter for the post-acquisition 
change in our share of the net assets of the investment. 

In applying the equity method for an investment that has a different reporting period from that of CIBC, adjustments are made for the effects of 

any significant events or transactions that occur between the reporting date of the investment and CIBC’s reporting date. 

Foreign currency translation 
Monetary assets and liabilities and non-monetary assets and liabilities measured at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are 
translated into the functional currencies of operations at prevailing exchange rates at the date of the consolidated balance sheet. Revenue and 
expenses are translated using average monthly exchange rates. Realized and unrealized gains and losses arising from translation into functional 
currencies are included in the consolidated statement of income, with the exception of unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses on FVOCI 
equity securities, which are included in AOCI. 

Assets and liabilities of foreign operations with a functional currency other than the Canadian dollar, including goodwill and fair value 

adjustments arising on acquisition, are translated into Canadian dollars at the exchange rates prevailing as at the consolidated balance sheet date, 
while revenue and expenses of these foreign operations are translated into Canadian dollars at the average monthly exchange rates. Exchange 
gains and losses arising from the translation of these foreign operations and from the results of hedging the net investment in these foreign 
operations, net of applicable taxes, are included in Net foreign currency translation adjustments, in AOCI. 

Any accumulated exchange gains and losses, including the impact of hedging, and any applicable taxes in AOCI are reclassified into the 
consolidated statement of income when there is a disposal of a foreign operation, including a partial disposal of a foreign operation that involves the 
loss of control. On partial disposal of a foreign operation that does not involve the loss of control, the proportionate share of the accumulated 
exchange gains and losses, including the impact of hedging, and any applicable taxes previously recognized in AOCI are reclassified into the 
consolidated statement of income. 

Accounting for financial instruments 
Classification and measurement of financial instruments 
All financial assets must be classified at initial recognition as financial instruments mandatorily measured at FVTPL (trading and non-trading), 
financial instruments measured at amortized cost, debt financial instruments measured at FVOCI, equity financial instruments designated at FVOCI, 
or financial instruments designated at FVTPL (fair value option), based on the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial assets and the 
business model under which the financial assets are managed. All financial assets and derivatives are required to be measured at fair value with the 
exception of financial assets measured at amortized cost. Financial assets are required to be reclassified when and only when the business model 
under which they are managed has changed. All reclassifications are to be applied prospectively from the reclassification date. 

The classification and measurement model requires that all debt instrument financial assets that do not meet a “solely payment of principal and 

interest” (SPPI) test, including those that contain embedded derivatives, be classified at initial recognition as FVTPL. The SPPI test is conducted to 
identify whether the contractual cash flows of a financial instrument are “solely payments of principal and interest” such that any variability in the 
contractual cash flows is consistent with a “basic lending arrangement”. “Principal” for the purpose of this test is defined as the fair value of the 
financial asset at initial recognition and may change over the life of the financial asset, for example, due to repayments of principal or amortization of  
the premium/discount. “Interest” for the purpose of this test is defined as the consideration for the time value of money and credit risk, which are the 
most significant elements of interest within a lending arrangement. Contractual terms that introduce a more than de minimis exposure to risks or 
volatility in the contractual cash flows that are unrelated to a basic lending arrangement do not give rise to contractual cash flows that are solely 
payments of principal and interest on the amount outstanding. The intent of the SPPI test is to ensure that debt instruments that contain non-basic 
lending features, such as conversion options and equity-linked payouts, are measured at FVTPL. 

For debt instrument financial assets that meet the SPPI test, classification at initial recognition is determined based on the business model 

under which these instruments are managed. Debt instruments that are managed on a “held for trading” or “fair value” basis are classified as 
FVTPL. Debt instruments that are managed on a “hold to collect and for sale” basis are classified as FVOCI for debt. Debt instruments that are 
managed on a “hold to collect” basis are classified as amortized cost. We consider the following in our determination of the applicable business 
model for financial assets: 
I) 
II) 
III)  The basis on which performance of the portfolio is being evaluated; and 
IV)  The frequency and significance of sales activity. 

The business purpose of the portfolio; 
The risks that are being managed and the type of business activities that are being carried out on a day-to-day basis to manage the risks; 

All equity instrument financial assets are classified at initial recognition as FVTPL unless they are not held with the intent for short-term profit-taking 
and an irrevocable designation is made to classify the instrument as FVOCI for equities. 

Financial liabilities, other than derivatives, obligations related to securities sold short and FVO liabilities, are measured at amortized cost. 

Derivatives, obligations related to securities sold short and FVO financial liabilities are measured at fair value. 

Derivatives are measured at FVTPL, except to the extent that they are designated in a hedging relationship, in which case the IAS 39 “Financial 

Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” hedge accounting requirements continue to apply. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  115 

Consolidated financial statements 

Financial instruments mandatorily measured at FVTPL (trading and non-trading) 
Trading financial instruments are mandatorily measured at FVTPL as they are held for trading purposes or are part of a managed portfolio with a 
pattern of short-term profit-taking. Non-trading financial assets are also mandatorily measured at fair value if their contractual cash flow 
characteristics do not meet the SPPI test or if they are managed together with other financial instruments on a fair value basis. 

Trading and non-trading financial instruments mandatorily measured at FVTPL are remeasured at fair value as at the consolidated balance 
sheet date. Gains and losses realized on disposition and unrealized gains and losses from changes in fair value are included in Non-interest income 
as Gains (losses) from financial instruments measured/designated at FVTPL, net. Interest income and dividends earned on trading and non-trading 
securities and dividends and interest expense incurred on securities sold short are included in Interest income and Interest expense, respectively. 

Financial instruments designated at FVTPL (fair value option) 
Financial instruments designated at FVTPL are those that we voluntarily designate at initial recognition as instruments that we will measure at fair value 
through the consolidated statement of income that would otherwise fall into a different accounting category. The FVO designation, once made, is 
irrevocable and can only be applied if reliable fair values are available, when doing so eliminates or significantly reduces the measurement 
inconsistency that would otherwise arise from measuring assets or liabilities on a different basis and if certain OSFI requirements pertaining to certain 
loans are met. Financial liabilities may also be designated at FVTPL when they are part of a portfolio which is managed on a fair value basis, in 
accordance with our investment strategy, and are reported internally on that basis. Designation at FVTPL may also be applied to financial liabilities that 
have one or more embedded derivatives that would otherwise require bifurcation. We apply the FVO to certain mortgage commitments. 

Gains and losses realized on dispositions and unrealized gains and losses from changes in the fair value of FVO financial instruments are 

treated in the same manner as financial instruments which are mandatorily measured at FVTPL, except that changes in the fair value of FVO 
liabilities that are attributable to changes in own credit risk are recognized in OCI. Dividends and interest earned and interest expense incurred on 
FVO assets and liabilities are included in Interest income and Interest expense, respectively. 

Financial assets measured at amortized cost 
Financial assets measured at amortized cost are debt financial instruments with contractual cash flows that meet the SPPI test and are managed on a 
“hold to collect” basis. These financial assets are recognized initially at fair value plus or minus direct and incremental transaction costs, and are 
subsequently measured at amortized cost, using the effective interest rate method, net of an allowance for expected credit losses (ECL). 

Loans measured at amortized cost include residential mortgages, personal loans, credit cards and most business and government loans. 

Certain portfolios of treasury securities that are managed on a “hold to collect” basis are also classified as amortized cost. Most deposits with 
banks, securities purchased under resale agreements, cash collateral on securities borrowed and most customers’ liability under acceptances are 
accounted for at amortized cost. 

Debt financial assets measured at FVOCI 
Debt financial instruments measured at FVOCI are non-derivative financial assets with contractual cash flows that meet the SPPI test and are 
managed on a “hold to collect and for sale” basis. 

FVOCI debt instruments are measured initially at fair value, plus direct and incremental transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, 
FVOCI debt instruments are remeasured at fair value, with the exception that changes in ECL allowances in addition to related foreign exchange 
gains or losses are recognized in the consolidated statement of income. Cumulative gains and losses previously recognized in OCI are transferred 
from AOCI to the consolidated statement of income when the debt instrument is sold. Realized gains and losses on sale, determined on an average 
cost basis, and changes in ECL allowances, are included in Gains (losses) from debt securities measured at FVOCI and amortized cost, net in the 
consolidated statement of income. Interest income from FVOCI debt instruments is included in Interest income. FVOCI debt instruments include our 
treasury securities which are managed on a “hold to collect and for sale” basis. 

A debt financial instrument is classified as impaired (stage 3) when one or more events that have a detrimental impact on the estimated future 

cash flows of that financial instrument have occurred after its initial recognition. Evidence of impairment includes indications that the borrower is 
experiencing significant financial difficulties, or a default or delinquency has occurred. 

Equity financial instruments designated at FVOCI 
Equity financial instruments are measured at FVTPL unless an irrevocable designation is made to measure them at FVOCI. Gains or losses from 
changes in the fair value of equity instruments designated at FVOCI, including any related foreign exchange gains or losses, are recognized in OCI. 
Amounts recognized in OCI will not be subsequently recycled to profit or loss, with the exception of dividends that are not considered a return of 
capital, which are recognized as interest income when received in the consolidated statement of income. Instead, cumulative gains or losses upon 
derecognition of the equity instrument will be transferred within equity from AOCI to retained earnings and presented in Realized gains (losses) on 
equity securities designated at FVOCI reclassified to retained earnings in the consolidated statement of changes in equity. Financial assets designated 
as FVOCI include non-trading equity securities, primarily related to our investment in private companies and limited partnerships. 

Impairment of financial assets 
ECL allowances are recognized on all financial assets that are debt instruments classified either as amortized cost or FVOCI and for all loan 
commitments and financial guarantees that are not measured at FVTPL. ECL allowances represent credit losses that reflect an unbiased and 
probability-weighted amount which is determined by evaluating a range of possible outcomes, the time value of money and reasonable and 
supportable information about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions. Forward-looking information is explicitly 
incorporated into the estimation of ECL allowances, which involves significant judgment (see Note 6 for additional details). 

ECL allowances for loans and acceptances are included in allowance for credit losses on the consolidated balance sheet. ECL allowances for 

FVOCI debt securities are included as a component of the carrying value of the securities, which are measured at fair value. ECL allowances for 
other financial assets are included in the carrying value of the instrument. ECL allowances for guarantees and loan commitments are included in 
other liabilities. 

ECL allowances are measured at amounts equal to either: (i) 12-month ECL; or (ii) lifetime ECL for those financial instruments which have 

experienced a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition or when there is objective evidence of impairment. 

The calculation of ECL allowances is based on the expected value of three probability-weighted scenarios to measure the expected cash 

shortfalls, discounted at the effective interest rate. A cash shortfall is the difference between the contractual cash flows that are due and the cash 
flows that we expect to receive. The key inputs in the measurement of ECL allowances are as follows: 
 

The probability of default (PD) is an estimate of the likelihood of default over a given time horizon; 

116  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

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The loss given default (LGD) is an estimate of the loss arising in the case where a default occurs at a given time; and 
The exposure at default (EAD) is an estimate of the exposure at a future default date. 

Lifetime ECL is the expected credit losses that result from all possible default events over the expected life of a financial instrument. 12-month ECL 
is the portion of lifetime expected credit losses that represent the expected credit losses that result from default events on the financial instrument 
that are possible within the 12 months after the reporting date. 

Stage migration and significant increase in credit risk 
As a result of the requirements above, financial instruments subject to ECL allowances are categorized into three stages. 

For performing financial instruments: 
Stage 1 is comprised of all performing financial instruments which have not experienced a significant increase in credit risk since initial 

recognition. We recognize 12 months of ECL for stage 1 financial instruments. In assessing whether credit risk has increased significantly, we 
compare the risk of a default occurring on the financial instrument as at the reporting date with the risk of a default occurring on the financial 
instrument as at the date of its initial recognition. 

Stage 2 is comprised of all performing financial instruments which have experienced a significant increase in credit risk since initial 

recognition. We recognize lifetime ECL for stage 2 financial instruments. In subsequent reporting periods, if the credit risk of the financial instrument 
improves such that there is no longer a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition, then we revert to recognizing 12 months of ECL as 
the financial instrument has migrated back to stage 1. 

We determine whether a financial instrument has experienced a significant increase in credit risk since its initial recognition on an individual 

financial instrument basis. Changes in the required ECL allowance, including the impact of financial instruments migrating between stage 1 and 
stage 2, are recorded in Provision for credit losses in the consolidated statement of income. Significant judgment is required in the application of 
significant increase in credit risk (see Note 6 for additional details). 

Stage 3 financial instruments are those that we have classified as impaired. We recognize lifetime ECL for all stage 3 financial instruments. We 

classify a financial instrument as impaired when one or more events that have a detrimental impact on the estimated future cash flows of that financial 
instrument have occurred after its initial recognition. Evidence of impairment includes indications that the borrower is experiencing significant 
financial difficulties, or a default or delinquency has occurred. All financial instruments on which repayment of principal or payment of interest is 
contractually 90 days in arrears are automatically considered impaired, except for credit card loans, which are classified as impaired and are fully 
written off when payments are contractually 180 days in arrears or at the earlier of the notice of bankruptcy, settlement proposal, or enlistment of 
credit counselling services. 

A financial instrument is no longer considered impaired when all past due amounts, including interest, have been recovered, and it is 

determined that the principal and interest are fully collectable in accordance with the original contractual terms or revised market terms of the 
financial instrument with all criteria for the impaired classification having been remedied. 

Financial instruments are written off, either partially or in full, against the related allowance for credit losses when we judge that there is no 
realistic prospect of future recovery in respect of those amounts. When financial instruments are secured, this is generally after all collateral has 
been realized or transferred to CIBC, or in certain circumstances, when the net realizable value of any collateral and other available information 
suggests that there is no reasonable expectation of further recovery. In subsequent periods, any recoveries of amounts previously written off are 
credited to the provision for credit losses. 

Purchased loans 
Both purchased performing and purchased credit-impaired loans are initially measured at their acquisition date fair values. As a result of recording 
these loans at fair value, no allowance for credit losses is recognized in the purchase equation at the acquisition date. Fair value is determined by 
estimating the principal and interest cash flows expected to be collected and discounting those cash flows at a market rate of interest. At the 
acquisition date, we classify a loan as performing where we expect timely collection of all amounts in accordance with the original contractual terms 
of the loan and as credit-impaired where it is probable that we will not be able to collect all contractually required payments. 

For purchased performing loans, the acquisition date fair value adjustment on each loan is amortized to interest income over the expected 

remaining life of the loan using the effective interest rate method. The remaining unamortized amounts relating to those loans are recorded in 
income in the period that the loan is repaid. ECL allowances are established in Provision for credit losses in the consolidated statement of income 
immediately after the acquisition date based on classifying each loan in stage 1, since the acquisition date is established as the initial recognition 
date of purchased performing loans for the purpose of assessing whether a significant increase in credit risk has occurred. Subsequent to the 
acquisition date, ECL allowances are estimated in a manner consistent with our significant increase in credit risk and impairment policies that we 
apply to loans that we originate. 

For purchased credit-impaired loans, the acquisition date fair value adjustment on each loan consists of management’s estimate of the shortfall 

of principal and interest cash flows expected to be collected and the time value of money. The time value of money component of the fair value 
adjustment is amortized to interest income over the expected remaining life of the loan using the effective interest rate method. Subsequent to the 
acquisition date, we regularly re-estimate the expected cash flows for purchased credit-impaired loans. Decreases in the expected cash flows will 
result in an increase in our ECL allowance. Increases in the expected cash flows will result in a recovery of the ECL allowance. ECL allowances for 
purchased credit-impaired loans are reported in stage 3. 

Originated credit impaired financial assets 
The accounting for originated credit-impaired financial assets operates in a similar manner to the accounting for purchased credit-impaired loans in 
that originated credit-impaired assets are initially recognized at fair value with no initial ECL allowance as concerns about the collection of future 
cash flows are instead reflected in the origination date discount. The time value of money component of the discount is amortized to interest income 
over the expected remaining life of the financial asset using the effective interest rate method. Changes in expectation regarding the contractual 
cash flows for loans are recognized immediately in provision for credit losses and for securities are recognized in Gains (losses) from debt 
securities measured at FVOCI and amortized cost, net. 

This accounting generally applies to financial assets that result from debt restructuring arrangements in which a previously impaired financial 

asset is exchanged for a new financial asset that is either recognized at a fair value that represents a deep discount to par or for which there are 
significant concerns over the ability to collect the contractual cash flows. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  117 

Consolidated financial statements 

Determination of fair value 
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability between market participants in an orderly transaction in the 
principal market at the measurement date under current market conditions (i.e., the exit price). Fair value measurements are categorized into three 
levels within a fair value hierarchy (Level 1, 2 or 3) based upon the market observability of the valuation inputs used in measuring the fair value. See 
Note 3 for more details about fair value measurement subsequent to initial recognition by type of financial instrument. 

Transaction costs 
Transaction costs relating to financial instruments mandatorily measured or designated at FVTPL are expensed as incurred. Transaction costs are 
amortized over the expected life of the instrument using the effective interest rate method for instruments measured at amortized cost, and debt 
instruments measured at FVOCI. For equity instruments designated at FVOCI, transaction costs are included in the instrument’s carrying value. 

Date of recognition of securities 
We account for all securities transactions on our consolidated balance sheet using settlement date accounting. 

Effective interest rate 
Interest income and expense for all financial instruments measured at amortized cost and for debt securities measured at FVOCI is recognized in 
Interest income and Interest expense using the effective interest rate method. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated 
future cash receipts or payments through the expected life of the financial instrument to the net carrying value of the financial asset or liability upon 
initial recognition. When calculating the effective interest rate, we estimate future cash flows considering all contractual terms of the financial 
instrument, but not future credit losses. 

Fees relating to loan origination, including commitment, restructuring and renegotiation fees, are considered an integral part of the yield 
earned on the loan and are accounted for using the effective interest rate method. Fees received for commitments that are not expected to result in 
a loan are included in Non-interest income over the commitment period. Loan syndication fees are included in Non-interest income on completion of 
the syndication arrangement, provided that the yield on the portion of the loan we retain is at least equal to the average yield earned by the other 
lenders involved in the financing; otherwise, an appropriate portion of the fee is deferred as unearned income and amortized to interest income 
using the effective interest rate method. 

Interest income is recognized on stage 1 and stage 2 financial assets measured at amortized cost by applying the effective interest rate to the 

gross carrying amount of the financial instrument. For stage 3 financial instruments, interest income is recognized using the rate of interest used to 
discount the estimated future cash flows for the purpose of measuring the impairment loss and applied to the net carrying value of the financial 
instrument. 

Securitizations and derecognition of financial assets 
Securitization of our own assets provides us with an additional source of liquidity. As we generally retain substantially all of the risks and rewards of 
the transferred assets, assets remain on the consolidated balance sheet and funding from these transactions is accounted for as Deposits – 
secured borrowing transactions. 

Our contractual right to receive cash flows from the assets has expired; 

Securitizations to non-consolidated SEs are accounted for as sales, with the related assets being derecognized, only where: 
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  We transfer our contractual rights to receive the cash flows of the financial asset, and have: (i) transferred substantially all the risks and 
rewards of ownership, or (ii) neither retained nor transferred substantially all the risks and rewards, but have not retained control; or 
The transfer meets the criteria of a qualifying pass-through arrangement. 

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Derecognition of financial liabilities 
A financial liability is derecognized when the obligation under the liability is discharged, cancelled or expires. If an existing financial liability is 
replaced by another liability from the same lender on substantially different terms, or the terms of the existing liability are substantially modified, such 
an exchange or modification is treated as a derecognition of the original liability and a recognition of a new liability, and the difference in the 
respective carrying values is recognized in the consolidated statement of income. The repurchase of a debt instrument is considered an 
extinguishment of that debt instrument even if we intend to resell the instrument in the near term. 

Financial guarantees 
Financial guarantees are financial contracts that require the issuer to make specified payments to reimburse the holder for a loss it incurs because a 
specified debtor fails to make payment when due in accordance with the original or modified terms of a debt instrument. 

Financial guarantee contracts issued by CIBC that are not classified as insurance contracts are initially recognized as a liability at fair value, 

adjusted for transaction costs that are directly attributable to the issuance of the guarantees, which is generally the premium received or receivable 
on the date the guarantee was given. Subsequently, financial guarantee liabilities are measured at the higher of the initial fair value, less cumulative 
amortization, and the applicable ECL allowances. A financial guarantee that qualifies as a derivative is remeasured at fair value as at each reporting 
date and reported as Derivative instruments in assets or liabilities, as appropriate. 

Mortgage commitments 
Mortgage interest rate commitments are extended to our retail clients in contemplation of borrowing to finance the purchase of homes under 
mortgages to be funded by CIBC in the future. These commitments are usually for periods of up to 120 days and generally entitle the borrower to 
receive funding at the lower of the interest rate at the time of the commitment and the rate applicable at the funding date. We use financial 
instruments, such as interest rate derivatives, to economically hedge our exposure to an increase in interest rates. Based on our estimate of the 
commitments expected to be exercised, a financial liability would be recognized on our consolidated balance sheet, to which we apply the FVO. 
We also carry the associated economic hedges at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet. Changes in the fair value of the FVO commitment 
liability and the associated economic hedges are included in gains (losses) from financial instruments measured/designated at FVTPL. In addition, 
since the fair value of the commitments is priced into the mortgage, the difference between the mortgage amount and its fair value at funding is 
recognized in the consolidated statement of income to offset the carrying value of the mortgage commitment that is released upon its expiry. 

118  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Offsetting of financial assets and financial liabilities 
Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset, and the amount presented net, when we have a legally enforceable right to set off the recognized 
amounts and intend to settle on a net basis or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. 

Acceptances and customers’ liability under acceptances 
Acceptances constitute a liability of CIBC on negotiable instruments issued to third parties by our customers. We earn a fee for guaranteeing and 
then making the payment to the third parties. The amounts owed to us by our customers in respect of these guaranteed amounts are reflected in 
assets as Customers’ liability under acceptances. 

Securities purchased under resale agreements and obligations related to securities sold under repurchase agreements 
Securities purchased under resale agreements are treated as collateralized lending transactions as they represent the purchase of securities 
affected with a simultaneous agreement to sell them back at a future date at a fixed price, which is generally near term. These transactions are 
classified and measured at amortized cost, as they meet the SPPI criteria and are managed under a hold to collect business model, unless they 
were classified at FVTPL or designated under the FVO. For Securities purchased under resale agreements that are classified at amortized cost, an 
ECL is applied. Interest income is accrued using the effective interest rate method and is included in Interest income – Securities borrowed or 
purchased under resale agreements in the consolidated statement of income. 

Similarly, securities sold under agreements to repurchase are treated as collateralized borrowing transactions at amortized cost with interest 

expense accrued using the effective interest rate method and are included in Interest expense – Securities lent or sold under repurchase 
agreements in the consolidated statement of income. Certain obligations related to securities sold under repurchase agreements are designated at 
FVTPL under the FVO. 

Cash collateral on securities borrowed and securities lent 
The right to receive back cash collateral paid and the obligation to return cash collateral received on borrowing and lending of securities, which is 
generally near term, is recognized as cash collateral on securities borrowed and securities lent, respectively. These transactions are classified and 
measured at amortized cost as they meet the SPPI criteria and are managed under a hold to collect business model. For Cash collateral on securities 
borrowed classified at amortized cost, an ECL is applied. Interest income on cash collateral paid and interest expense on cash collateral received 
together with the security borrowing fees and security lending income are included in Interest income – Securities borrowed or purchased under 
resale agreements and Interest expense – Securities lent or sold under repurchase agreements, respectively. For securities borrowing and lending 
transactions where securities are pledged or received as collateral, securities pledged by CIBC remain on the consolidated balance sheet and 
securities received by CIBC are not recognized on the consolidated balance sheet. 

Derivatives 
We use derivative instruments for both asset/liability management (ALM) and trading purposes. The derivatives used for ALM purposes allow us to 
manage financial risks, such as movements in interest and foreign exchange rates, while our derivative trading activities are primarily driven by 
client trading activities. We may also take proprietary trading positions with the objective of earning income. 

All derivative instruments are recognized initially, and are measured subsequently, at fair value and are reported as assets where they have a 
positive fair value and as liabilities where they have a negative fair value, in both cases as derivative instruments. Any realized and unrealized gains 
or losses on derivatives used for trading purposes were recognized immediately in Gains (losses) from financial instruments measured/designated 
at FVTPL, net. The accounting for derivatives used for ALM purposes depends on whether they qualify for hedge accounting as discussed below. 
Fair values of exchange-traded derivatives are based on quoted market prices. Fair values of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives, including 

OTC derivatives that are centrally cleared, are obtained using valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow models and option pricing 
models. See Note 13 for further information on the valuation of derivatives. 

Derivatives used for ALM purposes that qualify for hedge accounting 
As permitted at the time of transition to IFRS 9, we have elected to continue to apply the hedge accounting requirements of IAS 39. However, in 
2018, we adopted the new hedge accounting disclosure requirements under the amendments to IFRS 7 “Financial Instruments: Disclosures.” 
Details of the additional disclosures are provided in Note 14. 

We apply hedge accounting for derivatives held for ALM purposes that meet specified criteria. There are three types of hedges: fair value, 

cash flow and hedges of net investments in foreign operations (NIFOs). When hedge accounting is not applied, the change in the fair value of the 
derivative is recognized in the consolidated statement of income (see “Derivatives used for ALM purposes that are not designated for hedge 
accounting” below). 

In order for derivatives to qualify for hedge accounting, the hedge relationship must be designated and formally documented at its inception in 

accordance with IAS 39. The particular risk management objective and strategy, the specific asset, liability or cash flow being hedged, as well as 
how hedge effectiveness is assessed, are documented. Hedge effectiveness requires a high correlation of changes in fair values or cash flows 
between the hedged and hedging items. 

We assess the effectiveness of derivatives in hedging relationships, both at inception and on an ongoing basis. Ineffectiveness results to the 
extent that the change in the fair value of the hedging derivative differs from the change in the fair value of the hedged risk in the hedged item, or 
the cumulative change in the fair value of the hedging derivative exceeds the cumulative change in the fair value of expected future cash flows of 
the hedged item. The amount of ineffectiveness of hedging instruments is recognized immediately in the consolidated statement of income. 

Fair value hedges 
We designate fair value hedges primarily as part of interest rate risk management strategies that use derivatives to hedge changes in the fair value 
of financial instruments with fixed interest rates. Changes in fair value attributed to the hedged interest rate risk are accounted for as basis 
adjustments to the hedged financial instruments and are included in Net interest income. Changes in fair value from the hedging derivatives are also 
included in Net interest income. Any differences between the two represent hedge ineffectiveness that is included in Net interest income. 

Similarly, for hedges of foreign exchange risk, changes in the fair value from the hedging derivatives and non-derivatives are included in 
FXOTT. Changes in the fair value of the hedged item from the hedged foreign exchange risk are accounted for as basis adjustments and are also 
included in FXOTT. Any difference between the two represents hedge ineffectiveness. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  119 

Consolidated financial statements 

If the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, or where the hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, the 

hedge relationship is terminated and the basis adjustment applied to the hedged item is amortized over the remaining term of the hedged item. If 
the hedged item is derecognized, the unamortized basis adjustment is recognized immediately in the consolidated statement of income. 

Cash flow hedges 
We designate cash flow hedges as part of interest rate risk management strategies that use derivatives to mitigate our risk from variable cash flows 
by effectively converting certain variable-rate financial instruments to fixed-rate financial instruments, and as part of foreign exchange rate risk 
management strategies to hedge forecasted foreign currency denominated cash flows. We also designate cash flow hedges to hedge changes in 
CIBC’s share price in respect of certain cash-settled share-based payment awards. 

The effective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative instrument is recognized in OCI until the variability in cash flows being hedged 

is recognized in the consolidated statement of income in future accounting periods, at which time an appropriate portion of the amount that was in 
AOCI is reclassified into the consolidated statement of income. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the hedging derivative is 
included in Net interest income, FXOTT, or Non-interest expenses immediately as it arises. 

If the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, or where the hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, the 

hedge relationship is terminated. Upon termination of the hedge relationship, any remaining amount in AOCI remains therein until it is recognized in 
the consolidated statement of income when the variability in cash flows hedged or the hedged forecast transaction is ultimately recognized in the 
consolidated statement of income. When the forecasted transaction is no longer expected to occur, the related cumulative gain or loss in AOCI is 
recognized immediately in the consolidated statement of income. 

Hedges of NIFOs with a functional currency other than the Canadian dollar 
We may designate NIFO hedges to mitigate the foreign exchange risk on our NIFOs with a functional currency other than the Canadian dollar. 

These hedges are accounted for in a similar manner to cash flow hedges. The change in fair value of the hedging instrument relating to the 
effective portion is recognized in OCI. The change in fair value of the hedging instrument attributable to the forward points and relating to the ineffective 
portion is recognized immediately in FXOTT. Gains and losses in AOCI are reclassified to the consolidated statement of income upon the disposal or 
partial disposal of the investment in the foreign operation that involves the loss of control, as explained in the “Foreign currency translation” policy above. 

Derivatives used for ALM purposes that are not designated for hedge accounting 
The change in fair value of the derivatives not designated as accounting hedges but used to economically hedge FVO assets or liabilities is included in 
Gains (losses) from financial instruments measured/designated at FVTPL, net. The change in fair value of other derivatives not designated as 
accounting hedges but used for other economic hedging purposes is included in Non-interest income as FXOTT or Other, as appropriate, or in the 
case of economic hedges of cash-settled share-based payment obligations, in compensation expense. 

Embedded derivatives 
Derivatives embedded in financial liabilities are accounted for as separate derivatives when their economic characteristics and risks are not closely 
related to those of the host instrument and the terms of the embedded derivative represent those of a freestanding derivative in situations where the 
combined instrument is not classified as FVTPL or FVO. These embedded derivatives, which are classified together with the host instrument on the 
consolidated balance sheet, are measured at fair value, with changes therein included in the consolidated statement of income. The residual 
amount of the host liability is accreted to its maturity value through Interest income and Interest expense, respectively, using the effective interest 
rate method. 

Gains at inception on derivatives embedded in financial instruments bifurcated for accounting purposes are not recognized at inception; 
instead they are recognized over the life of the residual host instrument. Where an embedded derivative is separable from the host instrument but 
the fair value, as at the acquisition or reporting date, cannot be reliably measured separately or is otherwise not bifurcated, the entire combined 
contract is measured at FVTPL. 

Financial assets with embedded derivatives are classified in their entirety into the appropriate classification at initial recognition through an 

assessment of the contractual cash flow characteristics of the asset and the business model under which it is managed. 

Accumulated other comprehensive income 
AOCI is included on the consolidated balance sheet as a separate component of total equity, net of income tax. It includes net unrealized gains and 
losses on FVOCI debt and equity securities, the effective portion of gains and losses on derivative instruments designated within effective cash flow 
hedges under IAS 39, unrealized foreign currency translation gains and losses on foreign operations with a functional currency other than the 
Canadian dollar net of gains or losses on related hedges, net gains (losses) related to fair value changes of FVO liabilities attributable to changes in 
own credit risk, and net gains (losses) on post-employment defined benefit plans. 

Treasury shares 
Where we repurchase our own equity instruments, these instruments are treated as treasury shares and are deducted from equity at their cost with 
any gain or loss recognized in Contributed surplus or Retained earnings as appropriate. No gain or loss is recognized in the consolidated statement 
of income on the purchase, sale, issue or cancellation of our own equity instruments. Any difference between the carrying value and the 
consideration, if reissued, is also included in Contributed surplus. 

Liabilities and equity 
We classify financial instruments as a liability or equity based on the substance of the contractual arrangement. An instrument is classified as a 
liability if it is a contractual obligation to deliver cash or another financial asset, or to exchange financial assets or financial liabilities at potentially 
unfavourable terms. A contract is also classified as a liability if it is a non-derivative and could obligate us to deliver a variable number of our own 
shares or it is a derivative other than one that can be settled by the delivery of a fixed amount of cash or another financial asset for a fixed number of 
our own equity instruments. An instrument is classified as equity if it evidences a residual interest in our assets after deducting all liabilities. The 
components of a compound financial instrument are classified and accounted for separately as assets, liabilities, or equity as appropriate. 
Incremental costs directly attributable to the issuance of equity instruments are shown in equity, net of income tax. 

120  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Property and equipment 
Land is recognized initially at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Buildings, furniture, equipment 
and leasehold improvements are recognized initially at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any 
accumulated impairment losses. 

Depreciation commences when the assets are available for use and is recognized on a straight-line basis to depreciate the cost of these 

assets to their estimated residual value over their estimated useful lives. The estimated useful lives are as follows: 
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Buildings – 40 years 
Computer equipment – 3 to 7 years 
Office furniture and other equipment – 4 to 15 years 
Leasehold improvements – over the estimated useful life 

Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each annual reporting date and are adjusted if appropriate. 

Gains and losses on disposal are included in Non-interest income – Other. 

Prior to the adoption of IFRS 16 on November 1, 2019, we considered a portion of land and a building underlying a finance lease arrangement as 
investment property since we sub-lease this portion to third parties. Our investment property was recognized initially at cost and was subsequently 
measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Our investment property was depreciated on a straight-
line basis over its estimated useful life, being the term of the lease. 
Rental income is included in Non-interest income – Other. 

Leases 
CIBC adopted IFRS 16 “Leases” (IFRS 16) in place of IAS 17 “Leases” as of November 1, 2019. We applied IFRS 16 on a modified retrospective 
basis. As permitted, we did not restate our prior period comparative consolidated financial statements, which were reported under the prior 
guidance. The impact of adopting IFRS 16 is discussed in Note 8. 

As a lessee, we recognize a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability based on the present value of future lease payments, less 

any lease incentives receivable, when the lessor makes the leased asset available for use to CIBC, based on the non-cancellable portion of the 
lease term, adjusted for any renewal or termination options that are reasonably certain to be exercised. Measurement of the right-of-use asset also 
includes any initial direct costs of procuring the lease, and any lease payments made or lease incentives received prior to lease commencement. 
Discount rates are based on the rate implicit in the lease, if determinable, or on CIBC’s incremental borrowing rate. Where a property lease contains 
both a lease and non-lease component, we have elected not to allocate the consideration in the contract to each of the components. Subsequent to 
initial measurement, CIBC measures the lease liability by increasing the carrying amount to reflect interest on the lease liability based on the 
discount rate at the time of recognition and reducing the carrying amount to reflect lease payments made during the period, net of any 
remeasurements for lease reassessment or modifications. The right-of-use asset is measured using the cost model, and amortized on a straight-line 
basis over the lease term. Right-of-use assets and the corresponding lease liabilities are recognized in Property and equipment and Other liabilities, 
respectively, on our consolidated balance sheet. 

The right-of-use asset and the corresponding lease liability are remeasured when there is a change in lease term, a change in the assessment 
of an option to purchase a leased asset, a change in the expected residual value guarantee (if any), or a change in future lease payments due to a 
change in the index or rate applicable to the payment. Right-of-use assets are tested for impairment as required under IAS 36 “Impairment of 
Assets”. In addition, the evaluation of the useful life for depreciation is assessed under IAS 36. 

Lease payments for low-value assets, short-term leases and variable leases are systematically recognized in Non-interest expenses based on 

the nature of the expense. 

As an intermediate lessor, we classify a sublease as an operating or finance sublease based on whether substantially all of the risks and 

rewards related to the underlying right-of-use asset are transferred to the sub-lessee. If classified as a finance sublease, the related right-of-use 
asset is derecognized and an investment in sublease is recognized, with the difference recognized in the consolidated statement of income as a 
gain or loss. In measuring the investment in sublease, we apply the head lease discount rate unless the rate implicit in the sublease is determinable. 
Where a finance sublease includes lease and non-lease components, we allocate the total consideration in the contract to each component based 
on the standalone prices for each of these components. The investment in sublease is recognized in Other assets on our consolidated balance 
sheet, and is subsequently measured using the effective interest rate method, with interest income recognized over the term of the sublease. Rental 
income from operating subleases is recognized on a systematic basis over the lease term. 

Previously, IAS 17 required lessors to classify leases as operating or finance, considering whether the underlying lease transfers substantially 
all risks and rewards incidental to ownership. Lease expenses related to operating leases were recognized through income on a systematic basis, 
based on the nature of the expense. Finance leases were recognized on-balance sheet through a finance asset and a finance liability, and the 
related lease expenses were recognized through income on a systematic basis. 

Goodwill, software and other intangible assets 
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired in 
business combinations. Identifiable intangible assets are recognized separately from goodwill when they are separable or arise from contractual or 
other legal rights, and have fair values that can be reliably measured. 

Goodwill is not amortized, but is subject to impairment review at least annually or more frequently if there are indicators that the goodwill may 

be impaired. Refer to the “Impairment of non-financial assets” policy below. 

Intangible assets represent software and customer relationships, core deposit intangibles, investment management contracts, and brand 
names recognized as part of past acquisitions. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are measured at cost less accumulated amortization and 
accumulated impairment losses. Each intangible asset is assessed for legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive or other factors to determine if the 
useful life is definite. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which are as follows: 
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Software – 5 to 10 years 
Contract-based intangibles – 8 to 15 years 
Core deposit and customer relationship intangibles – 3 to 16 years 

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Indefinite-life intangible assets are 
tested for impairment at least annually and whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired. Refer to the “Impairment of non-financial 
assets” policy below. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  121 

Consolidated financial statements 

Impairment of non-financial assets 
The carrying values of non-financial assets with definite useful lives, including right-of-use assets, buildings and equipment, and intangible assets 
with definite useful lives are reviewed to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite 
useful lives are tested for impairment at least annually, and whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired. If any such indication of 
impairment exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss, if any. 

For the purpose of reviewing non-financial assets with definite useful lives for impairment, asset groups are reviewed at their lowest level for 
which identifiable cash inflows are largely independent of cash inflows of other assets or groups of assets. This grouping is referred to as a cash-
generating unit (CGU). 

Corporate assets do not generate separate cash inflows. Corporate assets are tested for impairment at the minimum collection of CGUs to 

which the corporate asset can be allocated reasonably and consistently. 

The recoverable amount is the greater of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. Value in use is the present value of the future cash flows 
expected to be derived from the asset or CGU. When the carrying value exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment loss equal to the difference 
between the two amounts is recognized in the consolidated statement of income. If an impairment subsequently reverses, the carrying value of the 
asset is increased to the extent that the carrying value of the underlying assets does not exceed the carrying value that would have been 
determined, net of depreciation or amortization, if no impairment had been recognized. Any impairment reversal is recognized in the consolidated 
statement of income in the period in which it occurs. 

Goodwill is assessed for impairment based on the group of CGUs expected to benefit from the synergies of the business combination, and the 

lowest level at which management monitors the goodwill. Any potential goodwill impairment is identified by comparing the recoverable amount of 
the CGU grouping to which the goodwill is allocated to its carrying value including the allocated goodwill. If the recoverable amount is less than its 
carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized in the consolidated statement of income in the period in which it occurs. Impairment losses on 
goodwill are not subsequently reversed if conditions change. 

Income taxes 
Income tax comprises current tax and deferred tax. Income tax is recognized in the consolidated statement of income, except to the extent that it 
relates to items recognized in OCI or directly in equity, in which case it is recognized accordingly. 

Current tax is the tax expected to be payable on the taxable profit for the year, calculated using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted as 
at the reporting date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years. Current tax assets and liabilities are offset when CIBC intends 
to settle on a net basis and the legal right to offset exists. 

Deferred tax is recognized on temporary differences between the carrying value of assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet 

and the corresponding amounts attributed to such assets and liabilities for tax purposes. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognized for all 
taxable temporary differences unless the temporary differences relate to our NIFOs and will not reverse in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax 
assets, other than those arising from our NIFOs, are recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against 
which deductible temporary differences can be utilized. Deferred tax assets arising from our NIFOs are recognized for deductible temporary 
differences which are expected to reverse in the foreseeable future to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against 
which these deductible temporary differences can be utilized. Deferred tax is not recognized for temporary differences on the initial recognition of 
assets or liabilities in a transaction that is not a business combination and that affects neither accounting nor taxable income, or for taxable 
temporary differences arising on the initial recognition of goodwill. 

Deferred tax is measured at the tax rates that are expected to be applied to the temporary differences when they reverse, based on the laws 

that have been enacted or substantively enacted as at the reporting date. 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and they relate to 

income taxes levied by the same tax authority on the same taxable entity or tax reporting group. 

We are subject to income tax laws in the various jurisdictions where we operate, and the tax laws in those jurisdictions are potentially subject to 

different interpretations by us and the relevant taxation authority, which gives rise to uncertainty. For tax positions where there is uncertainty 
regarding the ultimate determination of the tax impact, including positions which are under audit, dispute or appeal, we recognize provisions to 
consider this uncertainty based on our best estimate of the amount expected to be paid based on an assessment of the relevant factors. 

Pension and other post-employment benefits 
We are the sponsor of a number of employee benefit plans. These plans include both defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, and 
various other post-employment benefit plans including post-retirement medical and dental benefits. 

Defined benefit plans 
The cost of pensions and other post-employment benefits earned by employees is actuarially determined separately for each plan using the 
projected unit credit method and our best estimate of salary escalation, retirement ages of employees, mortality and expected health-care costs. 
This represents CIBC’s defined benefit obligation, which is measured as at the reporting date. The discount rate used to measure the defined 
benefit obligation is based on the yield of a portfolio of high-quality corporate bonds denominated in the same currency in which the benefits are 
expected to be paid and with terms to maturity that, on average, match the terms of the defined benefit obligation. 

Plan assets are measured at fair value as at the reporting date. 
The net defined benefit asset (liability) represents the present value of the defined benefit obligation less the fair value of plan assets. The net 

defined benefit asset (liability) is included in Other assets and Other liabilities, respectively. 

Current service cost reflects the cost of providing post-employment benefits earned by employees in the current period. Current service cost is 

calculated as the present value of the benefits attributed to the current year of service and is recognized in the consolidated statement of income. 
The current service cost is calculated using a separate discount rate to reflect the longer duration of future benefit payments associated with the 
additional year of service to be earned by the plan’s active participants. 

Past service costs arising from plan amendments or curtailments are recognized in net income in the period in which they arise. 
Net interest income or expense comprises interest income on plan assets and interest expense on the defined benefit obligation. Interest 

income is calculated by applying the discount rate to the plan assets, and interest expense is calculated by applying the discount rate to the 
defined benefit obligation. Net interest income or expense is recognized in the consolidated statement of income. 

122  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Actuarial gains and losses represent changes in the present value of the defined benefit obligation which result from changes in actuarial 

assumptions and differences between previous actuarial assumptions and actual experience, and from differences between the actual return on 
plan assets and assumed interest income on plan assets. Net actuarial gains and losses are recognized in OCI in the period in which they arise and 
are not subject to subsequent reclassification to net income. Cumulative net actuarial gains and losses are included in AOCI. 

When the calculation results in a net defined benefit asset, the recognized asset is limited to the present value of economic benefits available in the 

form of future refunds from the plan or reductions in future contributions to the plan (the asset ceiling). For plans where we do not have an unconditional 
right to a refund of surplus, we determine the asset ceiling by reference to future economic benefits available in the form of reductions in future 
contributions to the plan, in which case the present value of economic benefits is calculated giving consideration to minimum funding requirements for 
future service that apply to the plan. Where a reduction in future contributions to the plan is not currently realizable at the reporting date, we estimate 
whether we will have the ability to reduce contributions for future service at some point during the life of the plan by taking into account, among other 
things, expected future returns on plan assets. If it is anticipated that we will not be able to recover the value of the net defined benefit asset, after 
considering minimum funding requirements for future service, the net defined benefit asset is reduced to the amount of the asset ceiling. 

When the payment in the future of minimum funding requirements related to past service would result in a net defined benefit surplus, or an 

increase in a net defined benefit surplus, the minimum funding requirements are recognized as a liability to the extent that the surplus would not be 
fully available as a refund or a reduction in future contributions. Any funded status surplus is limited to the present value of future economic benefits 
available in the form of refunds from the plan or reductions in future contributions to the plan. 

Defined contribution plans 
Costs for defined contribution plans are recognized during the year in which the service is provided. 

Other long-term employee benefits 
CIBC sponsors a closed long-term disability plan that is classified as a long-term defined benefit arrangement. As the amount of the long-term 
disability benefit does not depend on the length of service, the obligation is recognized when an event occurs that gives rise to an obligation to 
make payments. CIBC also offers other medical and dental benefits to employees while on long-term disability. 

The amount of other long-term employee benefits is actuarially calculated using the projected unit credit method. Under this method, the 

benefit is discounted to determine its present value. The methodology used to determine the discount rate used to value the long-term employee 
benefit obligation is consistent with that for pension and other post-employment benefit plans. Actuarial gains and losses and past service costs are 
recognized in the consolidated statement of income in the period in which they arise. 

Share-based payments 
We provide compensation to certain employees and directors in the form of share-based awards. 

Compensation expense for share-based awards is recognized from the service commencement date to the earlier of the contractual vesting date 

or the employee’s retirement eligible date. For grants regularly awarded in the annual incentive compensation cycle (annual incentive grant), the service 
commencement date is considered to be the start of the fiscal year that precedes the fiscal year in which the grant is made. The service commencement 
date in respect of special awards granted outside of the annual cycle is the grant date. The amount of compensation expense recognized is based on 
management’s best estimate of the number of share-based awards expected to vest, including estimates of expected forfeitures, which are revised 
periodically as appropriate. For the annual incentive grant, compensation expense is recognized from the service commencement date based on the 
estimated fair value of the forthcoming grant with the estimated fair value adjusted to the actual fair value at the grant date. 

Under the Restricted Share Award (RSA) plan, where grants are settled in the cash equivalent of common shares, changes in the obligation 

which arise from fluctuations in the market price of common shares, net of related hedges, are recognized in the consolidated statement of income 
as compensation expense in proportion to the award recognized. Under the Restricted Stock plan, where restricted stock is granted and settled in 
common shares, compensation expense is based on the grant date fair value. Compensation expense results in a corresponding increase to 
contributed surplus. When the restricted stock vests and is released from restriction, the amount recognized in Contributed surplus is credited to 
common share capital. 

Under the Performance Share Unit (PSU) plan, where grants are settled in the cash equivalent of common shares, changes in the obligation 

which arise from fluctuations in the market price of common shares, and revised estimates of the performance factor, net of related hedges, are 
recognized in the consolidated statement of income as compensation expense in proportion to the award recognized. The performance factor 
ranges from 75% to 125% of the initial number of units awarded based on CIBC’s performance relative to the other major Canadian banks. 
Compensation expense in respect of the Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) is based on the grant date fair value. Where the service 

commencement date precedes the grant date, compensation expense is recognized from the service commencement date based on the estimated 
fair value of the award at the grant date, with the estimated fair value adjusted to the actual fair value at the grant date. Compensation expense 
results in a corresponding increase to contributed surplus. If the ESOP award is exercised, the proceeds we receive, together with the amount 
recognized in Contributed surplus, are credited to common share capital. If the ESOP award expires unexercised, the compensation expense 
remains in Contributed surplus. 

As part of our acquisition of Wellington Financial Fund V LP (Wellington Financial) in the first quarter of 2018, equity-settled awards in the form 

of exchangeable shares with specific service and non-market performance vesting conditions were issued to selected employees. Compensation 
expense in respect of the exchangeable shares is based on the grant date fair value, adjusted for changes in the estimated impact of the 
non-market performance conditions. 

Compensation in the form of Deferred Share Units (DSUs) issued pursuant to the Deferred Share Unit Plan, the Deferred Compensation Plan 

(DCP), and the Directors’ Plan, entitle the holder to receive the cash equivalent of a CIBC common share. At the time DSUs are granted, the related 
expense in respect of the cash compensation that an employee or director would otherwise receive would have been fully recognized. Changes in 
the obligations which arise from fluctuations in the market price of common shares, net of related hedges, are recognized in the consolidated 
statement of income as compensation expense for employee DSUs and as Non-interest expense – Other for Directors’ DSUs. 

Our contributions under the Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP) are expensed as incurred. 
The impact due to our changes in common share price in respect of cash-settled share-based compensation under the RSA and PSU plans is 
hedged through the use of derivatives. We designate these derivatives within cash flow hedge accounting relationships. The effective portion of the 
change in fair value of these derivatives is recognized in OCI and is reclassified into compensation expense, within the consolidated statement of 
income, over the period that the hedged awards impact the consolidated statement of income. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of 
the hedging derivatives is recognized in the consolidated statement of income immediately as it arises. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  123 

Consolidated financial statements 

Provisions and contingent liabilities 
Provisions are liabilities of uncertain timing or amount. A provision is recognized when we have a present legal or constructive obligation as a result 
of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate can be made of 
the amount of the obligation. The provision is recognized as the best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation at the reporting date, 
taking into account the risk and uncertainties related to the obligation. Where material, provisions are discounted to reflect the time value of money, 
and the increase in the obligation due to the passage of time is presented as Interest expense in the consolidated statement of income. 

Contingent liabilities are possible obligations that arise from past events whose existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence, or 
non-occurrence, of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control of CIBC, or are present obligations that have arisen from past 
events but are not recognized because it is not probable that settlement will require the outflow of economic benefits. 

Provisions and contingent liabilities are disclosed in the consolidated financial statements. 

Earnings per share 
We present basic and diluted EPS for our common shares. 

Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income for the period attributable to CIBC common shareholders by the weighted-average number of 

common shares outstanding during the period. 

Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income for the period attributable to CIBC common shareholders by the weighted-average number of 

diluted common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted common shares reflect the potential dilutive effect of contingently issuable shares and 
the exercise of stock options based on the treasury stock method. The number of contingently issuable shares included in diluted EPS is based on 
the number of shares that would be issuable if the end of the reporting period were the end of the contingency period. For stock options, the 
treasury stock method determines the number of incremental common shares by assuming that outstanding stock options, whose exercise price is 
less than the average market price of common shares during the period, are exercised and then reduced by the number of common shares 
assumed to be repurchased with the exercise proceeds from the assumed exercise of the options. Instruments determined to have an antidilutive 
effect for the period are excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS. 

Fee and commission income 
CIBC adopted IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (IFRS 15) as at November 1, 2018 in place of prior guidance, including IAS 18 
“Revenue” (IAS 18) and IFRIC 13 “Customer Loyalty Programmes” (IFRIC 13). We applied IFRS 15 on a modified retrospective basis. As permitted, 
we did not restate our prior period comparative consolidated financial statements. Amounts reported related to the year ended October 31, 2018 are 
reported under the prior guidance, including IAS 18 and IFRIC 13, and are therefore not comparable to the information presented for 2019 or 2020. 
The impact of adopting IFRS 15 was not significant (see “Transition impact from adoption of IFRS 15” section below). 

IFRS 15 includes a five-step, principles-based recognition and measurement approach, as well as requirements for accounting for contract 
costs, and enhanced quantitative and qualitative disclosure requirements. The application of this guidance involves the use of judgment. IFRS 15 
excludes from its scope revenue related to financial instruments, lease contracts and insurance contracts. As a result, the majority of our revenue 
was not impacted by the adoption of this standard, including net interest income, net gains (losses) from financial instruments measured/designated 
at FVTPL and net gains (losses) from debt securities measured at FVOCI. 

Measurement differences resulting from the adoption of IFRS 15 include the upfront expensing of previously deferred mutual fund sales 
commissions. In addition, the adoption of IFRS 15 has resulted in the revaluation of our self-managed credit card loyalty points liability, which is now 
subject to both upward and downward remeasurement to reflect the expected cost of redemption as this expectation changes over time. Previously, 
under IFRIC 13, decreases in the expected cost of redemptions were only recognized as points were redeemed, while increases were recognized 
immediately. 

In addition, the adoption of IFRS 15 has resulted in changes to the presentation of certain revenue and expense items in the consolidated 
statement of income. Presentation differences include the net presentation of certain expenditures where CIBC is deemed the agent rather than the 
principal and the gross presentation of certain expenditures where CIBC is deemed the principal rather than the agent. Our prior period 
comparative consolidated financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2018 are reported under the prior guidance, without restatement; 
however, the measurement and presentation differences in 2019 and 2020 are not significant. 

Our accounting policies under both IFRS 15 and IAS 18 are provided below. 

Fee and commission income (IAS 18 and IFRIC 13) 
The recognition of fee and commission income was determined by the purpose of the fee or commission and the basis of accounting for any 
associated financial instrument. Income earned on completion of a significant act was recognized when the act was completed. Income earned 
from the provision of services was recognized as revenue as the services were provided. Income which formed an integral part of the effective 
interest rate of a financial instrument was recognized as an adjustment to the effective interest rate. 

Fee and commission income (IFRS 15) 
The recognition of fee and commission income is determined by the purpose of the fee or commission and the terms specified in the contract with 
the customer. Revenue is recognized when, or as, a performance obligation is satisfied by transferring control of the service to the customer, in the 
amount of the consideration to which we expect to be entitled. Revenue may therefore be recognized at a point in time upon completion of the 
service or over time as the services are provided. When revenue is recognized over time, we are generally required to provide the services each 
period, such that control of the services is transferred evenly to the customer, and we therefore measure our progress towards completion of the 
service based upon the time elapsed. For contracts where the transaction price includes variable consideration, revenue is only recognized to the 
extent that it is highly probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty 
associated with the variable consideration is resolved, which typically occurs by the end of the reporting period. When another party is involved in 
providing a service to a customer, we determine whether the nature of our performance obligation is that of a principal or an agent. If we control the 
service before it is transferred to the customer, we are acting as the principal and present revenue separately from the amount paid to the other 
party; otherwise we are the agent and present revenue net of the amount paid to the other party. Our performance obligations typically have a term 
of one year or less, with payment received upon satisfaction of the performance obligation or shortly afterwards, and as a result there is no 
significant financing component and we do not typically capitalize the costs of obtaining contracts with our customers. Income which forms an 
integral part of the effective interest rate of a financial instrument continues to be recognized as an adjustment to the effective interest rate. 

In addition to these general principles, the following specific policies applied under IAS 18 and IFRIC 13 in 2018, and IFRS 15 in 2019 and 2020: 

124  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Underwriting and advisory fees are earned on debt and equity securities placements and transaction-based advisory services. Under IAS 18 
and IFRS 15, underwriting fees are typically recognized at the point in time when the transaction is completed. Under IAS 18 and IFRS 15, advisory 
fees are generally recognized as revenue over the period of the engagement as the related services are provided or at the point in time when the 
transaction is completed. 

Deposit and payment fees arise from personal and business deposit accounts and cash management services. Under IAS 18 and IFRS 15, 
monthly and annual fees are recognized over the period that the related services are provided. Under IAS 18 and IFRS 15, transactional fees are 
recognized at the point in time the related services are provided. 

Credit fees consist of loan syndication fees, loan commitment fees, letter of credit fees, banker’s acceptance stamping fees, and securitization 

fees. Under IAS 18 and IFRS 15, credit fees are generally recognized over the period that the related services are provided, except for loan 
syndication fees, which are typically recognized at the point in time that the financing placement is completed. 

Card fees primarily include interchange income, overlimit fees, cash advance fees, and annual fees. Under IAS 18 and IFRS 15, card fees are 

recognized at the point in time the related services are provided, except for annual fees, which are recognized over the 12-month period to which 
they relate. Under IFRIC 13 and IFRS 15, the cost of credit card loyalty points is recognized as a reduction of interchange income when the loyalty 
points are issued for both self-managed and third-party loyalty points programs. Under IFRIC 13, credit card loyalty points for self-managed loyalty 
programs were recognized as deferred revenue when the loyalty points were issued and as revenue when the loyalty points were redeemed. Under 
IFRS 15, credit card loyalty point liabilities are recognized for self-managed loyalty point programs and are subject to periodic remeasurement to 
reflect the expected cost of redemption as this expectation changes over time. 

Commissions on securities transactions include brokerage commissions for transactions executed on behalf of clients, trailer fees and mutual 

fund sales commissions. Under IAS 18 and IFRS 15, brokerage commissions and mutual fund sales commissions are generally recognized at the 
point in time that the related transaction is executed. Under IAS 18 and IFRS 15, trailer fees are typically recognized over time based upon the daily 
net asset value of the mutual fund units held by clients. 

Investment management fees are primarily based on the respective value of the assets under management (AUM) or assets under 

administration (AUA) and, under IAS 18 and IFRS 15, are recognized over the period that the related services are provided. Under IAS 18 and IFRS 
15, investment management fees relating to our asset management and private wealth management business are generally calculated based on 
point-in-time AUM balances, and investment management fees relating to our retail brokerage business are generally calculated based on 
point-in-time AUM or AUA balances. Under IAS 18 and IFRS 15, custodial fees are recognized as revenue over the applicable service period, which 
is generally the contract term. 

Mutual fund fees are earned on fund management services and, under IAS 18 and IFRS 15, are recognized over the period that the mutual 

funds are managed based upon the daily net asset values of the respective mutual funds. In certain circumstances, CIBC may, on a discretionary 
basis, elect to absorb certain expenses that would otherwise be payable by the mutual funds directly. Under IAS 18 and IFRS 15, these expenses 
are recognized in Non-interest expenses on the consolidated statement of income. 

Transition impact from adoption of IFRS 15 
As indicated above, CIBC adopted IFRS 15 as at November 1, 2018 in place of prior guidance, including IAS 18 and IFRIC 13. We applied IFRS 15 
on a modified retrospective basis by recognizing a cumulative $6 million after-tax credit from the initial application in opening November 1, 2018 
retained earnings. The impact of the initial adoption of IFRS 15 related to the upfront expensing of previously deferred mutual fund sales 
commissions and the revaluation of our self-managed credit card loyalty points. 

Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7 
In September 2019, the IASB issued “Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Phase 1 Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7”, which provides relief 
for specific hedge accounting requirements to address uncertainties in the period before the interest rate benchmark reform, and provides 
disclosure requirements related to interest rate benchmark reform. 

Only the amendments to IAS 39 “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” (IAS 39) and IFRS 7 “Financial Instruments: 
Disclosures” apply to us because we elected to continue to apply the hedge accounting requirements of IAS 39 upon the adoption of IFRS 9 
“Financial Instruments” (IFRS 9). The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2020. 

CIBC elected to early adopt the phase 1 amendments effective November 1, 2019 to prepare for uncertainties that may increase relating to the 

timing or amount of benchmark-based cash flows of hedged items and hedging instruments. The relief provided in the amendments allows hedge 
accounting to continue during the period of uncertainty before the replacement of existing interest rate benchmarks with an alternative rate. 
Significant judgment is involved in identifying the hedge accounting relationships that are directly affected by interest rate benchmark reform as 
different jurisdictions are transitioning at different stages and may adopt different transition approaches. 

The United Kingdom’s (U.K.’s) Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) originally announced in July 2017 that it would not compel banks to submit 
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) rates after December 2021. This may cause LIBOR and other current benchmarks to disappear entirely or 
perform differently than in the past, create disincentives for market participants to continue to administer and contribute to certain benchmarks, or 
have other consequences which cannot be predicted. The FCA and the ICE Benchmark Administrator recently announced a consultation process 
that may lead to a change in the expected timing of cessation of certain currencies and tenors of LIBOR, which CIBC will closely monitor. As at 
November 1, 2019, the notional amount of our derivatives in designated hedge accounting relationships that were indexed to U.S. LIBOR and British 
pound sterling (GBP) LIBOR, with a maturity date beyond December 31, 2021, was $48 billion. We expect the derivatives indexed to the Euro 
Interbank Offered Rate (EURIBOR) and the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR) that are in our designated hedge accounting relationships to 
continue beyond 2021 in conjunction with alternative rates that might be applied in the impacted markets. We also continue to monitor benchmark 
rates in other jurisdictions as they continue to evaluate benchmark reform. 

As discussed in Note 32, in August 2020, the IASB issued “Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Phase 2 Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, 

IFRS 4 and IFRS 16”, which addresses issues that affect financial reporting once an existing rate is replaced with an alternative rate and provides 
specific disclosure requirements. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2021. As we elected to continue 
to apply the hedge accounting requirements of IAS 39 upon the adoption of IFRS 9, the amendments will apply to IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 
16 for us, mandatorily effective on November 1, 2021. Earlier application is permitted. We continue to evaluate the impact of the amendments on our 
consolidated financial statements. 

We previously established an enterprise-wide transition program to assess the impact of interest rate benchmark reform and manage the 
process to transition to alternative benchmark rates. In response to the proposed reforms to interest rate benchmarks, CIBC has established an 
Enterprise IBOR Transition Program (the “Program”), which is supported by a formal governance structure and dedicated working groups that 
include stakeholders from frontline businesses as well as functional groups such as Treasury, Technology and Operations, Risk Management, 
Legal, and Finance, to assess the impact across all of our products and to manage the process through transition. An Interbank Offered Rate 
(IBOR) Steering Committee has been established with responsibility for oversight and execution of the Program. We also continue to engage with 
industry associations to incorporate recent developments into our project plan. The Program provides regular updates to senior management, 
including the Executive Committee. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  125 

Consolidated financial statements 

International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee 23 “Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments” (IFRIC 23) 
CIBC adopted IFRIC 23 as at November 1, 2019. IFRIC 23 clarifies the accounting for uncertainties in income taxes. There was no impact to our 
consolidated financial statements and no changes in our accounting policies as a result of adopting IFRIC 23. 

Note 2 

Impact of COVID-19 

On March 11, 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The COVID-19 pandemic 
continues to have a significant adverse impact on the global economy. Measures undertaken in the second quarter to contain the spread of the 
virus, including the closure of non-essential businesses, succeeded in curbing the initial spread of infection, allowing for the partial easing of these 
measures in the third and fourth quarters. As a result, certain sectors of the economy had seen a resumption of activity. However, there is a risk 
that the recent retightening of physical distancing measures enacted by governments and businesses in response to the resurgence in infection 
rates could impact economic activity beyond levels that were previously anticipated. The overall economy continues to operate below pre-pandemic 
levels in Canada, the U.S. and other regions where we operate, with continuing uncertainty related to economic growth and unemployment, which 
ultimately will only be resolved with the dissemination of an effective vaccine for COVID-19. As a result, we continue to operate in an uncertain 
macroeconomic environment. 

Impact on estimates and assumptions 
As disclosed in Note 1, the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires management to make estimates and 
assumptions that affect the recognized and measured amounts of assets, liabilities, net income, comprehensive income and related disclosures. 
Significant estimates and assumptions are made in the areas of the valuation of financial instruments, allowance for credit losses, the evaluation of 
whether to consolidate SEs, asset impairment, income taxes, provisions and contingent liabilities, post-employment and other long-term benefit plan 
assumptions and valuation of self-managed loyalty points programs. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions. 

The COVID-19 pandemic gives rise to heightened uncertainty as it relates to accounting estimates and assumptions and increases the need to 
apply judgment in evaluating the economic and market environment and its impact on significant estimates. This particularly impacts estimates and 
assumptions relating to allowance for credit losses, valuation of financial instruments, and asset impairment. 

Allowance for credit losses 
The uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the level of judgment applied in estimating allowance for credit losses. See 
Note 6 for more information. 

Valuation of financial instruments 
Estimating fair value requires the application of judgment. The type and level of judgment required is largely dependent on the amount of observable 
market information available. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased market volatility and has negatively impacted the trading levels of certain 
financial instruments. As a result and as part of our process to determine the fair value of financial instruments, since the onset of the pandemic, we 
have applied a heightened level of judgment to a broader population of financial instruments than would otherwise generally be required with the 
objective of determining the fair value that is most representative of those financial instruments. While there has been an improvement in conditions 
and price discovery in the third and fourth quarter of 2020 relative to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the second quarter of 2020, including 
the narrowing of credit and funding spreads, the related valuation adjustments have not decreased to pre-COVID-19 levels. 

For further details of the valuation of our financial assets and liabilities, see Note 3. 

Asset impairment 
Given the disruption in economic and market activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in the second and third quarters of 2020, we assessed 
whether there were indicators that goodwill may have been impaired. As a result, we recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $28 million on our 
FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited (CIBC FirstCaribbean) CGU in the second quarter of 2020. An additional goodwill impairment charge of 
$220 million was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2020 upon the discontinuance of held for sale accounting, as discussed in Note 4. 

In the fourth quarter of 2020, we performed our annual impairment test for our other CGUs, which required the application of heightened 

judgment in light of the uncertainty regarding the ultimate economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in evaluating the impact on 
medium- and long-term forecasted earnings. Implicit in our economic outlook is the assumption that the manner in which governments respond to 
the second and subsequent waves of the virus, and the dissemination of an effective mass-produced vaccine, will allow the U.S. and Canadian 
economies to continue to recover during 2021, with the economy returning to pre-COVID levels of economic activity in 2022 and pre-COVID levels 
of unemployment in 2023. We concluded that the recoverable amounts of these CGUs were in excess of their carrying amounts. Actual experience 
may differ materially from these expectations, including in relation to the duration and severity of economic contraction and the ultimate timing and 
extent of a future recovery, which could lead to reductions in the recoverable amounts, which in turn could result in impairment charges. 

For further details, see Note 4 and Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements. 

Government lending programs in response to COVID-19 
During the year, the Government of Canada introduced the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program and the Business Credit 
Availability Program (BCAP) to improve access to credit and financing for Canadian businesses facing operational cash flow and liquidity 
challenges during the current period of significant uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the U.S. federal government 
introduced the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Further details 
about the programs in which CIBC has more significant participation, and the associated accounting impacts, are described below. 

Canada Emergency Business Account program 
The purpose of the CEBA program is to provide interest-free, partially forgivable loans of up to $40,000 to qualifying small businesses and 
not-for-profit organizations to help cover their operating costs during a period when their revenues have been temporarily reduced. The CEBA 
program is underwritten by Export Development Canada (EDC) and is available to borrowers until December 31, 2020. The program utilizes the 
infrastructure of eligible financial institutions, including CIBC, to provide loans that are partially forgivable to existing clients of these financial 
institutions, including CIBC, that meet the underwriting standards of EDC. Loans advanced under the CEBA program are not recognized on our 

126  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

consolidated balance sheet because they are funded by EDC and all of the resulting cash flows and associated risks and rewards, including any 
exposure to payment defaults and principal forgiveness, are assumed by EDC. EDC provides a fee to participating financial institutions which is 
intended to reimburse the costs associated with administering the loans, which we recognize as a reduction of other non-interest expenses. The 
CEBA program was launched in the second quarter and expanded subsequently to facilitate the application of the program to certain borrowers that 
would not have otherwise qualified. As at October 31, 2020, loans of $2.9 billion had been provided to CIBC clients under the CEBA program. 

Loan guarantee for small and medium-sized enterprises under BCAP 
This program is designed to encourage lending to existing clients. Under this program, a subprogram under BCAP, EDC will guarantee 80% of new 
qualifying operating credit and cash flow term loans of up to $6.25 million to small and medium-sized enterprises. Loans provided under this 
program are recognized on our consolidated balance sheet as business and government loans classified at amortized cost. Similar to existing 
guarantee arrangements, the guarantee from EDC on these loans is reflected in our estimate of ECL. Associated fees paid or received under this 
program are accounted for over the expected life of the loan using the effective interest rate method. As at October 31, 2020, $252 million of loans 
have been authorized under this program, of which $175 million, net of repayments, was outstanding on our consolidated balance sheet. 

Co-lending program for small and medium-sized enterprises (“co-lend program”) under BCAP 
Under the co-lend program, a subprogram under BCAP, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and participating financial institutions 
co-lend term loans to help qualifying businesses meet their operational cash flow requirements. BDC finances 80% of the loans, with CIBC financing 
the remaining 20%. The program offers differing maximum financing amounts based on business revenues. Loans originated under this program 
would be interest-only for the first 12 months. We recognize our 20% interest in loans originated under this program on our consolidated balance 
sheet as business and government loans classified at amortized cost, to which ECL are applied. The remaining 80% interest financed by BDC is not 
recognized on our consolidated balance sheet as the risks and rewards, including all interest and credit losses, are passed to BDC. The servicing 
fee paid by BDC to CIBC for administering their share of the loans will be recognized over the servicing period. As at October 31, 2020, $368 million 
of loans have been authorized under this program, of which $73 million, representing CIBC’s 20% pro-rata share, remains outstanding on our 
consolidated balance sheet. 

Paycheck Protection Program 
In the U.S., the PPP was temporarily added to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Loan Program, under the U.S. federal government’s 
CARES Act, to help businesses to keep their workforces employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Loans provided under the PPP will be forgivable 
by the SBA if employee and compensation levels are maintained, and the loan proceeds are primarily applied towards payroll, rent, mortgage 
interest, or utilities. The SBA will reimburse CIBC for all loans forgiven pursuant to the program and for all payment defaults. Loans originated under 
the PPP are recognized on our consolidated balance sheet as business and government loans classified at amortized cost. As the SBA’s guarantee 
is integral to the origination of these loans, it is reflected in our estimate of the ECL associated with these loans. As at October 31, 2020, the 
outstanding balance of loans provided to our clients under this program was US$1.9 billion. 

CIBC client relief programs in response to COVID-19 
Refer to Note 6 for details regarding programs offered by CIBC in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  127 

Consolidated financial statements 

Note 3 

Fair value measurement 

This note presents the fair values of financial instruments and explains how we determine those values. Note 1, “Basis of preparation and summary 
of significant accounting policies” sets out the accounting treatment for each measurement category of financial instruments. 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, between market participants in an orderly 

transaction in the principal market at the measurement date under current market conditions (i.e., the exit price). The determination of fair value 
requires judgment and is based on market information, where available and appropriate. Fair value measurements are categorized into three levels 
within a fair value hierarchy (Level 1, 2 or 3) based on the valuation inputs used in measuring the fair value, as outlined below. 
 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities we can access at the measurement date. Bid 
prices, ask prices or prices within the bid and ask, which are the most representative of the fair value, are used as appropriate to measure fair 
value. Fair value is best evidenced by an independent quoted market price for the same instrument in an active market. An active market is 
one where transactions are occurring with sufficient frequency and volume to provide quoted prices on an ongoing basis. 
Level 2 – Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are inactive or observable market quotes for similar instruments, or use 
of valuation techniques where all significant inputs are observable. Inactive markets may be characterized by a significant decline in the 
volume and level of observed trading activity or through large or erratic bid/offer spreads. In instances where traded markets do not exist or 
are not considered sufficiently active, we measure fair value using valuation models. 
Level 3 – Non-observable or indicative prices or use of valuation techniques where one or more significant inputs are non-observable. 

 

 

For a significant portion of our financial instruments, quoted market prices are not available because of the lack of traded markets, and even where 
such markets do exist, they may not be considered sufficiently active to be used as a final determinant of fair value. When quoted market prices in 
active markets are not available, we would consider using valuation models. The valuation model and technique we select maximizes the use of 
observable market inputs to the extent possible and appropriate in order to estimate the price at which an orderly transaction would take place at 
the measurement date. In an inactive market, we consider all reasonably available information, including any available pricing for similar 
instruments, recent arm’s-length market transactions, any relevant observable market inputs, indicative dealer or broker quotations, and our own 
internal model-based estimates. 

Valuation adjustments are an integral component of our fair valuation process. We apply judgment in establishing valuation adjustments that 

take into account various factors that may have an impact on the valuation. Such factors primarily include, but are not limited to, the bid-offer 
spreads, illiquidity due to lack of market depth, parameter uncertainty and other market risk, model risk and credit risk of our derivative assets and 
liabilities, as well as adjustments for valuing our uncollateralized derivative assets and liabilities based on an estimated market cost of funds curve. 
Generally, the unit of account for a financial instrument is the individual instrument, and valuation adjustments are applied at an individual 
instrument level, consistent with that unit of account. In cases where we manage a group of financial assets and liabilities that consist of substantially 
similar and offsetting risk exposures, the fair value of the group of financial assets and liabilities is measured on the basis of the net open risks. 

We apply judgment in determining the most appropriate inputs and the weighting we ascribe to each such input as well as in our selection of 

valuation methodologies. Regardless of the valuation technique we use, we incorporate assumptions that we believe market participants would 
make for credit, funding, and liquidity considerations. When the fair value of a financial instrument at inception is determined using a valuation 
technique that incorporates one or more significant inputs that are non-observable, no inception profit or loss (the difference between the 
determined fair value and the transaction price) is recognized at the time the asset or liability is initially recorded. Any gains or losses at inception 
are deferred and recognized only in future periods over the term of the instruments or when the inputs become significantly observable. 

We have an ongoing process for evaluating and enhancing our valuation techniques and models. Where enhancements are made, they are 

applied prospectively, so that fair values reported in prior periods are not recalculated on the new basis. Valuation models used, including analytics 
for the construction of yield curves and volatility surfaces, are vetted and approved, consistent with our model risk policy. 

To ensure that valuations are appropriate, we have established internal guidance on fair value measurement, which is reviewed periodically in 
recognition of the dynamic nature of markets and the constantly evolving pricing practices in the market. A number of policies and controls are put 
in place to ensure that the internal guidance on fair value measurement is being applied consistently and appropriately, including independent 
validation of valuation inputs to external sources such as exchange quotes, broker quotes or other management-approved independent pricing 
sources. Key model inputs, such as yield curves and volatilities, are independently verified. The results from the independent price validation and 
any valuation adjustments are reviewed by the Independent Price Verification Committee on a monthly basis. This includes, but is not limited to, 
reviewing fair value adjustments and methodologies, independent price verification results, limits and valuation uncertainty. 

Due to the judgment used in applying a wide variety of acceptable valuation techniques and models, as well as the use of estimates inherent 
in this process, estimates of fair value for the same or similar assets may differ among financial institutions. The calculation of fair value is based on 
market conditions as at each consolidated balance sheet date and may not be reflective of ultimate realizable value. 

Methods and assumptions 
Financial instruments with fair value equal to carrying value 
For financial instruments that are not carried on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value and where we consider the carrying value to be a 
reasonable approximation of fair value due to their short-term nature and generally negligible credit risk, the fair values disclosed for these financial 
instruments are assumed to equal their carrying values. These financial instruments are: cash and non-interest-bearing deposits with banks; short-
term interest-bearing deposits with banks; cash collateral on securities borrowed; securities purchased under resale agreements; customers’ 
liability under acceptances; cash collateral on securities lent; obligations related to securities sold under repurchase agreements; acceptances; 
deposits with demand features; and certain other financial assets and liabilities. 

Securities 
The fair value of debt or equity securities and obligations related to securities sold short is based on quoted bid or ask market prices where 
available in an active market. 

Securities for which quotes in an active market are not available are valued using all reasonably available market information as described below. 
The fair value of government issued or guaranteed securities that are not traded in an active market is calculated by applying valuation 
techniques such as discounted cash flow models using implied yields derived from the prices of actively traded government securities and most 
recently observable spread differentials. 

The fair value of corporate debt securities is determined using the most recently executed transaction prices, and where appropriate, adjusted 

to the price of these securities obtained from independent dealers, brokers, and third-party multi-contributor consensus pricing sources. When 
observable price quotations are not available, fair value is determined based on discounted cash flow models using observable discounting curves 

128  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

such as benchmark and government yield curves and spread differentials observed through independent dealers, brokers, and third-party multi-
contributor consensus pricing sources. 

Asset-backed securities (ABS) and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) not issued or guaranteed by a government are valued using 

discounted cash flow models making maximum use of market observable inputs, such as broker quotes on identical or similar securities and other 
pricing information obtained from third-party pricing sources adjusted for the characteristics and the performance of the underlying collateral. Other 
key inputs used include prepayment and liquidation rates, credit spreads, and discount rates commensurate with the risks involved. These 
assumptions factor information that is derived from actual transactions, underlying reference asset performance, external market research, and 
market indices, where appropriate. 

Privately issued debt and equity securities, which include certain Community Reinvestment Act equity investments and Federal Home Loan 

Bank (FHLB) stock, are valued using recent market transactions, where available. Otherwise, fair values are derived from valuation models using a 
market or income approach. These models consider various factors, including projected cash flows, earnings, revenue or other third-party evidence 
as available. The fair value of limited partnership investments is based upon net asset values published by third-party fund managers and is 
adjusted for more recent information, where available and appropriate. The carrying value of Community Reinvestment Act equity investments and 
FHLB stock approximates fair value. 

Loans 
The fair value of variable-rate loans and loans for which interest rates are repriced or reset frequently is assumed to be equal to their carrying value. 
The fair value for fixed-rate loans is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that uses market interest rates. 

The ultimate fair value of loans disclosed is net of the associated allowance for credit losses. The fair value of loans is not adjusted for the 
value of any credit derivatives used to manage the credit risk associated with them. The fair value of these credit derivatives is disclosed separately. 

Other assets and other liabilities 
Other assets and other liabilities mainly comprise accrued interest receivable or payable, brokers’ client accounts receivable or payable, precious 
metals and accounts receivable or payable. 

The fair values of other assets and other liabilities are primarily assumed to be at cost or amortized cost as we consider the carrying value to be 

a reasonable approximation of fair value, except for the fair value of precious metals, which is quoted in an active market. Other assets also include 
investment in bank-owned life insurance carried at the cash surrender value, which is assumed to be a reasonable approximation of fair value. 

Deposits 
The fair values of floating-rate deposits and demand deposits are assumed to be equal to their amortized cost. The fair value of fixed-rate deposits 
is determined by discounting the contractual cash flows using either current market interest rates with similar remaining terms or rates estimated 
using internal models and broker quotes. The fair value of deposit notes issued to CIBC Capital Trust is determined by reference to the quoted 
market prices of CIBC Tier 1 Notes issued by CIBC Capital Trust. The fair value of deposit liabilities with embedded optionality includes the fair 
value of those options. The fair value of equity- and commodity-linked notes includes the fair value of embedded equity and commodity derivatives. 
Certain deposits designated at FVTPL are structured notes that have coupons or repayment terms linked to the performance of commodities, 

debt or equity securities. Fair value of these structured notes is estimated using internally vetted valuation models for the debt and embedded 
derivative portions of the notes by incorporating market observable prices of the referenced securities or comparable securities, and other inputs 
such as interest rate yield curves, market volatility levels, foreign exchange rates and changes in our own credit risk, where appropriate. Where 
observable prices or inputs are not available, management judgment is required to determine fair values by assessing other relevant sources of 
information such as historical data, proxy information from similar transactions, and through extrapolation and interpolation techniques. Appropriate 
market risk valuation adjustments for such inputs are assessed in all such instances. 

The fair value of secured borrowings, which comprises liabilities issued by or as a result of activities associated with the securitization of 
residential mortgages, the Covered Bond Programme, and consolidated securitization vehicles, is based on identical or proxy market observable 
quoted bond prices or determined by discounting the contractual cash flows using maximum market observable inputs, such as market interest 
rates, or credit spreads implied by debt instruments of similar credit quality, as appropriate. 

Subordinated indebtedness 
The fair value of subordinated indebtedness is determined by reference to market prices for the same or similar debt instruments. 

Derivative instruments 
The fair value of exchange-traded derivatives such as options and futures is based on quoted market prices. OTC derivatives primarily consist of 
interest rate swaps, foreign exchange forwards, equity and commodity derivatives, interest rate and currency derivatives, and credit derivatives. For 
such instruments, where quoted market prices or third-party consensus pricing information are not available, valuation techniques are employed to 
estimate fair value on the basis of pricing models. Such vetted pricing models incorporate current market measures for interest rates, foreign exchange 
rates, equity and commodity prices and indices, credit spreads, corresponding market volatility levels, and other market-based pricing factors. 

In order to reflect the observed market practice of pricing collateralized and uncollateralized derivatives, our valuation approach uses 

overnight indexed swap (OIS) curves as the discount rate for valuing collateralized derivatives and uses an estimated market cost of funds curve as 
the discount rate for valuing uncollateralized derivatives. For most collateralized derivatives that are cleared through central clearing houses, 
changes to market discounting conventions were implemented in 2020 to support the global market efforts to transition interbank offered rate (IBOR) 
to the new benchmark rates. Certain centrally cleared collateralized derivatives have transitioned to the use of the new benchmark replacement 
rates as the overnight index discount rates, including USD derivatives cleared through London Clearing House (LCH) or Chicago Mercantile 
Exchange (CME), which have transitioned their discounting from the US Fed Funds rate to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR). 
Uncollateralized derivatives are valued based on an estimated market cost of funds curve, which reduces the fair value of uncollateralized derivative 
assets incremental to the reduction in fair value for credit risk already reflected through the credit valuation adjustment (CVA). In contrast, the use of 
a market cost of funds curve reduces the fair value of uncollateralized derivative liabilities in a manner that generally includes adjustments for our 
own credit. As market practices continue to evolve in regard to derivative valuation, further adjustments may be required in the future. 

In determining the fair value of complex and customized derivatives, such as equity, credit, and commodity derivatives written in reference to 

indices or baskets of reference, we consider all reasonably available information including any relevant observable market inputs, third-party 
consensus pricing inputs, indicative dealer and broker quotations, and our own internal model-based estimates, which are vetted and pre-approved 
in accordance with our model risk policy, and are regularly and periodically calibrated. The model calculates fair value based on inputs specific to 
the type of contract, which may include stock prices, correlation for multiple assets, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, yield curves, and volatility 
surfaces. Where observable prices or inputs are not available, management judgment is required to determine fair values by assessing other 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  129 

Consolidated financial statements 

relevant sources of information such as historical data, proxy information from similar transactions, and through extrapolation and interpolation 
techniques. Appropriate parameter uncertainty and market risk valuation adjustments for such inputs and other model risk valuation adjustments are 
assessed in all such instances. 

In addition to reflecting estimated market funding costs in our valuation of uncollateralized derivative receivables, we also consider whether a 
CVA is required to recognize the risk that any given derivative counterparty may not ultimately be able to fulfill its obligations. The CVA is driven off 
market-observed credit spreads or proxy credit spreads and our assessment of the net counterparty credit risk (CCR) exposure. In assessing this 
exposure, we also take into account credit mitigants such as collateral, master netting arrangements, and settlements through clearing houses. As 
noted above, the fair value of uncollateralized derivative liabilities based on market cost of funding generally includes adjustments for our own credit. 

Mortgage commitments 
The fair value of mortgage commitments designated at FVTPL is for fixed-rate residential mortgage commitments and is based on changes in 
market interest rates for the loans between the commitment and the consolidated balance sheet dates. The valuation model takes into account the 
expected probability that outstanding commitments will be exercised as well as the length of time the commitment is offered. 

Fair value of financial instruments 

$ millions, as at October 31 
2020  Financial assets 

Carrying value 

Amortized 
cost 

Mandatorily 
measured 
at FVTPL 

Designated 
at FVTPL 

Fair value 
through 
OCI 

Cash and deposits with banks 
Securities 
Cash collateral on securities borrowed 
Securities purchased under resale agreements 
Loans 

$ 

61,570  $ 
31,800 
8,547 
58,090 

948 
62,576 
– 
7,505 

Fair 
value 

Fair value 
over (under) 
carrying value 

$ 

–  $ 

117 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
357 
– 
– 
– 

220,739 
41,390 
10,722 
110,220 
– 
9,606 
15,940 

63 
– 
– 
23,291 
32,730 
– 
– 

$  199,593  $ 
301,546 
17,011 
39,560 
– 
9,649 
– 
1,824 

– 
– 
– 
– 
30,508 
– 
15,963 
– 

$  2,559  $ 
9,880 
– 
591 
– 
– 
– 
– 

54,617 
15,282 
5,712 

– 
133 
– 

17,036 
9 
– 

$ 

–  $ 

413 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

208,381 
43,098 
12,335 
103,885 
– 
9,167 
13,829 

60 
– 
– 
21,182 
23,895 
– 
– 

$  176,340  $ 
248,367 
11,224 
38,680 
– 
9,188 
– 
1,822 

– 
– 
– 
– 
25,113 
– 
15,635 
– 

$  1,751  $ 
9,135 
– 
215 
– 
– 
– 
– 

51,801 
14,066 
4,684 

– 
114 
– 

– 
12 
– 

Total 

$ 

62,518  $ 

149,046 
8,547 
65,595 

220,802 
41,390 
10,722 
133,868 
32,730 
9,606 
15,940 

62,518 
149,599 
8,547 
65,595 

222,920 
41,452 
10,722 
134,097 
32,730 
9,606 
15,940 

$  202,152  $  202,345 
312,279 
17,011 
40,586 
30,508 
9,649 
15,963 
1,824 

311,426 
17,011 
40,151 
30,508 
9,649 
15,963 
1,824 

71,653 
15,424 
5,712 

71,653 
15,424 
5,993 

Total 

$ 

17,359  $ 

121,310 
3,664 
56,111 

208,441 
43,098 
12,335 
125,067 
23,895 
9,167 
13,829 

17,359 
121,453 
3,664 
56,111 

208,693 
43,120 
12,335 
125,160 
23,895 
9,167 
13,829 

$  178,091  $  178,046 
257,872 
11,224 
39,223 
25,113 
9,188 
15,635 
1,822 

257,502 
11,224 
38,895 
25,113 
9,188 
15,635 
1,822 

51,801 
14,192 
4,684 

51,801 
14,192 
4,925 

– 
54,553 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
46,798 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

Residential mortgages 
Personal 
Credit card 
Business and government 

Derivative instruments 
Customers’ liability under acceptances 
Other assets 
Financial liabilities 
Deposits 

Personal 
Business and government 
Bank 
Secured borrowings 
Derivative instruments 
Acceptances 
Obligations related to securities sold short 
Cash collateral on securities lent 
Obligations related to securities sold under 

repurchase agreements (1) 

Other liabilities 
Subordinated indebtedness 

Residential mortgages 
Personal 
Credit card 
Business and government 

Derivative instruments 
Customers’ liability under acceptances 
Other assets 
Financial liabilities 
Deposits 

Personal 
Business and government 
Bank 
Secured borrowings 
Derivative instruments 
Acceptances 
Obligations related to securities sold short 
Cash collateral on securities lent 
Obligations related to securities sold under 

repurchase agreements 

Other liabilities 
Subordinated indebtedness 

$ millions, as at October 31 
2019  Financial assets 

Carrying value 

Amortized 
cost 

Mandatorily 
measured 
at FVTPL 

Designated 
at FVTPL 

Fair value 
through 
OCI 

Cash and deposits with banks 
Securities 
Cash collateral on securities borrowed 
Securities purchased under resale agreements 
Loans 

$ 

16,720  $ 
20,115 
3,664 
50,913 

639 
53,984 
– 
5,198 

Fair 
value 

Fair value 
over (under) 
carrying value 

$ 

– 
553 
– 
– 

2,118 
62 
– 
229 
– 
– 
– 

$  193 
853 
– 
435 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
281 

$ 

$ 

– 
143 
– 
– 

252 
22 
– 
93 
– 
– 
– 

(45) 
370 
– 
328 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
241 

(1)  Includes obligations related to securities sold under repurchase agreements supported by bearer deposit notes that are pledged as collateral under the Bank of Canada 

Term Repo Facility. 

130  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Fair value of derivative instruments 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Held for trading 
Interest rate derivatives 
Over-the-counter 

– Forward rate agreements 
– Swap contracts 
– Purchased options 
– Written options 

Exchange-traded 

– Purchased options 

Positive 

Negative 

$ 

108 
12,296 
109 
– 

12,513 

4 

4 

$ 

161 
9,309 
– 
129 

9,599 

– 

– 

2020 

Net 

$ 

(53) 
2,987 
109 
(129) 

2,914 

4 

4 

Positive 

Negative 

$ 

$ 

$ 

67 
8,528 
92 
– 

8,687 

4 

4 

241 
7,697 
– 
128 

8,066 

– 

– 

2019 

Net 

(174) 
831 
92 
(128) 

621 

4 

4 

12,517 

9,599 

2,918 

8,691 

8,066 

625 

Total interest rate derivatives 

Foreign exchange derivatives 

Over-the-counter 

– Forward contracts 
– Swap contracts 
– Purchased options 
– Written options 

6,655 
3,469 
303 
– 

6,358 
3,613 
– 
214 

Total foreign exchange derivatives 

10,427 

10,185 

Credit derivatives 

Over-the-counter 

– Credit default swap contracts – 

protection purchased 

– Credit default swap contracts – 

protection sold 

Total credit derivatives 

Equity derivatives 

Over-the-counter 
Exchange-traded 

Total equity derivatives 

Precious metal derivatives 

Over-the-counter 
Exchange-traded 

Total precious metal derivatives 

Other commodity derivatives 

Over-the-counter 
Exchange-traded 

Total other commodity derivatives 

104 

2 

106 

1,995 
3,153 

5,148 

283 
– 

283 

2,604 
271 

2,875 

47 

100 

147 

3,427 
3,537 

6,964 

366 
– 

366 

1,806 
325 

2,131 

297 
(144) 
303 
(214) 

242 

57 

(98) 

(41) 

(1,432) 
(384) 

(1,816) 

(83) 
– 

(83) 

798 
(54) 

744 

5,152 
2,971 
214 
– 

8,337 

105 

– 

105 

1,262 
2,384 

3,646 

287 
69 

356 

1,289 
314 

1,603 

5,711 
3,330 
– 
196 

9,237 

21 

107 

128 

2,561 
1,825 

4,386 

167 
45 

212 

1,517 
253 

1,770 

(559) 
(359) 
214 
(196) 

(900) 

84 

(107) 

(23) 

(1,299) 
559 

(740) 

120 
24 

144 

(228) 
61 

(167) 

Total held for trading 

Held for ALM 
Interest rate derivatives 
Over-the-counter 

– Forward rate agreements 
– Swap contracts 
– Purchased options 
– Written options 

Total interest rate derivatives 

Foreign exchange derivatives 

Over-the-counter 

– Forward contracts 
– Swap contracts 

Total foreign exchange derivatives 

– Credit default swap contracts – 

protection purchased 

Credit derivatives 

Over-the-counter 

Total credit derivatives 

Equity derivatives 

Over-the-counter 

Total equity derivatives 

Other commodity derivatives 

Over-the-counter 

Total other commodity derivatives 

Total held for ALM 

Total fair value 

Less: effect of netting 

31,356 

29,392 

1,964 

22,738 

23,799 

(1,061) 

– 
310 
17 
1 

328 

14 
1,021 

1,035 

– 

– 

8 

8 

3 

3 

1 
392 
– 
– 

393 

14 
684 

698 

1 

1 

24 

24 

– 

– 

1,374 

32,730 
(19,347) 

1,116 

30,508 
(19,347) 

(1) 
(82) 
17 
1 

(65) 

– 
337 

337 

(1) 

(1) 

(16) 

(16) 

3 

3 

258 

2,222 
– 

2 
439 
14 
– 

455 

31 
571 

602 

– 

– 

100 

100 

– 

– 

1 
256 
– 
– 

257 

28 
1,026 

1,054 

3 

3 

– 

– 

– 

– 

1 
183 
14 
– 

198 

3 
(455) 

(452) 

(3) 

(3) 

100 

100 

– 

– 

1,157 

1,314 

23,895 
(14,572) 

25,113 
(14,572) 

(157) 

(1,218) 
– 

$  13,383 

$  11,161 

$  2,222 

$ 

9,323 

$  10,541 

$  (1,218) 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  131 

Consolidated financial statements 

Assets and liabilities not carried on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value 
The table below presents the fair values by level within the fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities in which fair value is not assumed to 
equal the carrying value: 

$ millions, as at October 31 
Financial assets 
Amortized cost securities 
Loans 

Residential mortgages 
Personal 
Credit card 
Business and government 

Investment in equity-accounted associates (1) 

Financial liabilities 
Deposits 

Personal 
Business and government 
Bank 
Secured borrowings 
Subordinated indebtedness 

Level 1 

Quoted market price 

Level 2 
Valuation technique – 
observable market inputs 

Level 3 
Valuation technique – 
non-observable market inputs 

2020 

2019 

2020 

2019 

2020 

2019 

Total 
2020 

Total 
2019 

$ –   $ –

  $ 

31,773  $ 

20,242 

$ 

580 

$ 

524 

$ 

32,353  $ 

20,766 

– 
– 
– 
– 
10 

– 
– 
– 
– 
9 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

222,857 
41,452 
10,722 
110,449 
83 

208,633 
43,120 
12,335 
103,978 
76 

222,857 
41,452 
10,722 
110,449 
93 

$ –   $ – 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

$ 

52,648  $ 

132,016 
10,048 
38,275 
5,993 

53,994 
123,144 
6,113 
36,049 
4,925 

$ 

$ 

1,282 
2,302 
– 
1,720 
– 

1,635 
2,508 
– 
2,959 
– 

$ 

53,930  $ 

134,318 
10,048 
39,995 
5,993 

208,633 
43,120 
12,335 
103,978 
85 

55,629 
125,652 
6,113 
39,008 
4,925 

(1)  See Note 26 for details of our equity-accounted associates. 

Financial instruments carried on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value 
The table below presents the fair values of financial instruments by level within the fair value hierarchy: 

$ millions, as at October 31 
Financial assets 
Deposits with banks 
Securities mandatorily measured and 

designated at FVTPL 

Government issued or guaranteed 
Corporate equity 
Corporate debt 
Mortgage- and asset-backed 

Loans mandatorily measured at FVTPL 

Business and government 
Residential mortgages 

Debt securities measured at FVOCI 

Government issued or guaranteed 
Corporate debt 
Mortgage- and asset-backed 

Equity securities designated at FVOCI 

Corporate equity 

Securities purchased under resale agreements 

measured at FVTPL 
Derivative instruments 
Interest rate 
Foreign exchange 
Credit 
Equity 
Precious metal 
Other commodity 

Total financial assets 

Financial liabilities 
Deposits and other liabilities (4) 
Obligations related to securities sold short 
Obligations related to securities sold under 

repurchase agreements 

Derivative instruments 
Interest rate 
Foreign exchange 
Credit 
Equity 
Precious metal 
Other commodity 

Total financial liabilities 

$ 

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

Quoted market price 

Valuation technique – 
observable market inputs 

2020 

2019 

2020 

2019 

Valuation technique – 
non-observable market inputs 
2019 

2020 

Total 
2020 

Total 
2019 

$ 

–  $ 

– 

$ 

948  $ 

639 

$ 

– 

$ 

– 

$ 

948  $ 

639 

3,917 
27,919 
– 
– 
31,836 

– 
– 
– 

3,912 
– 
– 
3,912 

41 
41 

– 

2,372 
25,852 
– 
– 
28,224 

– 
– 
– 

2,369 
– 
– 
2,369 

45 
45 

– 

25,091 (1) 

47 
3,525 
2,018 (2) 

30,681 

19,306 (1) 
684 
3,760 
2,220 (2) 

25,970 

23,022 
63 
23,085 

41,269 
6,224 
2,563 
50,056 

304 
304 

20,351 
60 
20,411 

35,460 
5,621 
2,746 
43,827 

266 
266 

7,505 

5,198 

– 
16 
25 
135 
176 

626 (3) 
– 
626 

– 
– 
– 
– 

240 
240 

– 

– 
7 
23 
173 
203 

831 (3) 
– 
831 

– 
– 
– 
– 

291 
291 

– 

4 
– 
– 
3,153 
– 
271 
3,428 

4 
– 
– 
2,383 
– 
383 
2,770 
$  39,217  $  33,408 

12,793 
11,462 
8 
1,791 
283 
2,607 
28,944 

9,086 
8,939 
1 
1,111 
356 
1,220 
20,713 
$  141,523  $  117,024 

48 
– 
98 
212 
– 
– 
358 
$  1,400 

56 
– 
104 
252 
– 
– 
412 
$  1,737 

29,008 
27,982 
3,550 
2,153 
62,693 

23,648 
63 
23,711 

45,181 
6,224 
2,563 
53,968 

585 
585 

21,678 
26,543 
3,783 
2,393 
54,397 

21,182 
60 
21,242 

37,829 
5,621 
2,746 
46,196 

602 
602 

7,505 

5,198 

12,845 
11,462 
106 
5,156 
283 
2,878 
32,730 

9,146 
8,939 
105 
3,746 
356 
1,603 
23,895 
$  182,140  $  152,169 

$

–  $

(5,363) 

– 
(7,258) 

$ 

(13,176)  $ 
(10,600) 

(10,626) 
(8,377) 

$

– 

– 

(17,036) 

– 

– 
– 
– 
(3,537) 
– 
(325) 
(3,862) 
(9,225)  $ 

– 
– 
– 
(1,824) 
– 
(300) 
(2,124) 
(9,382)  $ 

(9,964) 
(10,883) 
(41) 
(3,288) 
(366) 
(1,806) 
(26,348) 
(67,160)  $ 

(8,322) 
(10,291) 
(19) 
(2,407) 
(212) 
(1,470) 
(22,721) 
(41,724) 

$ 

4 
– 

– 

(28) 
– 
(107) 
(163) 
– 
– 
(298) 
(294) 

$ 

(601) 
– 

$ 

(13,172)  $ 
(15,963) 

(11,227) 
(15,635) 

– 

(17,036) 

– 

(1) 
– 
(112) 
(155) 
– 
– 
(268) 
(869) 

$ 

(9,992) 
(10,883) 
(148) 
(6,988) 
(366) 
(2,131) 
(30,508) 
(76,679)  $ 

(8,323) 
(10,291) 
(131) 
(4,386) 
(212) 
(1,770) 
(25,113) 
(51,975) 

$ 

(1)  Includes $57 million related to securities designated at FVTPL (2019: $56 million). 
(2)  Includes $60 million related to ABS designated at FVTPL (2019: $357 million). 
(3)  Includes $357 million related to loans designated at FVTPL (2019: nil). 
(4)  Comprises deposits designated at FVTPL of $13,419 million (2019: $10,458 million), net bifurcated embedded derivative assets of $389 million (2019: net bifurcated 

embedded derivative liabilities of $643 million), other liabilities designated at FVTPL of $9 million (2019: $12 million), and other financial liabilities measured at fair value of 
$133 million (2019: $114 million). 

132  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Transfers between levels in the fair value hierarchy are deemed to have occurred at the beginning of the year in which the transfer occurred. 
Transfers between levels can occur as a result of additional or new information regarding valuation inputs and changes in their observability. During 
the year, we transferred $197 million of securities mandatorily measured at FVTPL (2019: $25 million) and $1,851 million of securities sold short (2019: 
$431 million) from Level 1 to Level 2, and nil of securities sold short (2019: $379 million) from Level 2 to Level 1 due to changes in the observability of 
the inputs used to value these securities. In addition, transfers between Level 2 and Level 3 were made during 2020 and 2019, primarily due to 
changes in the observability of certain market volatility inputs that were used in measuring the fair value of our embedded derivatives. 

The following table presents the changes in fair value of financial assets and liabilities in Level 3. These instruments are measured at fair value 

utilizing non-observable market inputs. We often hedge positions with offsetting positions that may be classified in a different level. As a result, the 
gains and losses for assets and liabilities in the Level 3 category presented in the table below do not reflect the effect of offsetting gains and losses 
on the related hedging instruments that are classified in Level 1 and Level 2. 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

2020 
Securities mandatorily measured at FVTPL 

Corporate equity 
Corporate debt 
Mortgage- and asset-backed 
Securities designated at FVTPL 

Asset-backed 

Loans mandatorily measured at FVTPL 

Business and government 
Debt securities measured at FVOCI 

Government issued or guaranteed 
Corporate debt 
Mortgage- and asset-backed 
Equity securities designated at FVOCI 

Corporate equity 
Derivative instruments 

Interest rate 
Credit 
Equity 

Total assets 

Deposits and other liabilities (5) 
Derivative instruments 

Interest rate 
Credit 
Equity 

Total liabilities 

2019 
Securities mandatorily measured at FVTPL 

Corporate equity 
Corporate debt 
Mortgage- and asset-backed 

Securities designated at FVTPL 

Asset-backed 

Loans mandatorily measured at FVTPL 

Business and government 
Debt securities measured at FVOCI 

Government issued or guaranteed 
Corporate debt 
Mortgage- and asset-backed 
Equity securities designated at FVOCI 

Corporate equity 
Derivative instruments 
Interest rate 
Credit 
Equity 

Total assets 

Deposits and other liabilities (5) 
Derivative instruments 
Interest rate 
Credit 
Equity 

Total liabilities 

Net gains (losses) 
included in income (1) 

Opening 
balance  Realized (2)  Unrealized (2)(3) 

Net unrealized 
gains (losses) 
included in OCI (4) 

Transfer 
in to 
Level 3 

Transfer 
out of 
Level 3 

Purchases/ 
Issuances 

Sales/ 
Settlements 

Closing 
balance 

$

$ 

7 
23 
173 

–

831 

– 
– 
– 

291 

56 
104
252 

$  1,737 

$ 

(601) 

$ 

$ 

(1) 
(112) 
(155) 

$ 

(869) 

$ 

$

$ 

6 
26 
319 

–

482 

– 
– 
– 

285 

– 
115 
107 

$  1,340 

$ 

(423) 

$ 

$ 

(109) 
(131) 
(119) 

$ 

(782) 

$ 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
(7) 
– 

(7) 

– 

– 
7 
– 

7 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
(9) 
– 

(9) 

– 

– 
9 
– 

9 

$ 

(8) 
2 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

32 
1 
(40) 

(13) 

512 

(33) 
(2) 
14 

$ 

$

$ 

$

– 
– 
– 

– 

3 

– 
(3) 
– 

63 

– 
– 
– 

$ 

7
–
– 

–

– 

– 
20 
– 

– 

– 
–
– 

$  63 

$

– 

$ 

$ 

27 

(42)

$ 

$ 

–
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

$ 

10 
– 
118 

– 

$ 

$ 

–
– 
(156) 

– 

16 
25 
135 

– 

1,270 

(1,478) 

626 

– 
1 
– 

50 

6 
– 
53 

– 
(18) 
– 

(164) 

(46) 
– 
(53) 

– 
– 
– 

240 

48 
98 
212 

$  1,508 

$  (1,915)  $  1,400 

29 

$ 

(72) 

$ 

178

$ 

4 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
(60) 

6 
– 
38 

(28) 
(107) 
(163) 

$ 

491 

$  – 

$ 

(42)  $ 

29 

$ 

(132) 

$ 

222 

$ 

(294) 

$ 

1 
(3) 
1 

$

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

$ 

$ 

59 
(2) 
15 

71 

(113) 

132 
3 
(89) 

$ 

–
– 
– 

– 

(1) 

– 
– 
– 

2 

– 
– 
– 

$ 

–
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
(24) 

–
– 
– 

–

– 

– 
–
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

$ 

– 
– 
74 

– 

$ 

$ 

–
– 
(221) 

– 

7 
23 
173 

– 

856 

(506) 

831 

– 
– 
– 

74 

2 
– 
202 

– 
– 
– 

(70) 

(5) 
–
(48) 

– 
– 
– 

291 

56 
104 
252 

$ 

$ 

(850) 

$  1,737 

206 

$ 

(601) 

$  1 

$  – 

$ 

$ 

$ 

(24) 

$  1,208 

(100)  $  117 

$ 

(288) 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
77 

– 
– 
(70) 

(24) 
7
46 

(1) 
(112) 
(155) 

$ 

(67) 

$  – 

$  (100) 

$  194 

$ 

(358) 

$ 

235 

$ 

(869) 

(1)  Cumulative AOCI gains or losses related to equity securities designated at FVOCI are reclassified from AOCI to retained earnings at the time of disposal or derecognition. 
(2)  Includes foreign currency gains and losses related to debt securities measured at FVOCI. 
(3)  Comprises unrealized gains and losses relating to these assets and liabilities held at the end of the reporting year. 
(4)  Foreign exchange translation on loans mandatorily measured at FVTPL held by foreign operations and denominated in the same currency as the foreign operations is 

included in OCI. 

(5)  Includes deposits designated at FVTPL of $137 million (2019: $135 million) and net bifurcated embedded derivative assets of $141 million (2019: net bifurcated embedded 

derivative liabilities of $466 million). 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  133 

Consolidated financial statements 

Quantitative information about significant non-observable inputs 
Valuation techniques using one or more non-observable inputs are used for a number of financial instruments. The following table discloses the 
valuation techniques and quantitative information about the significant non-observable inputs used in Level 3 financial instruments: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

2020 

Valuation techniques 

Key non-observable inputs 

Low 

High 

Range of inputs 

Securities mandatorily measured at 

FVTPL 
Corporate equity 

Corporate debt 

Mortgage- and asset-backed 

$

 16

25 

135 

Valuation multiple 

Discounted cash flow 

Earnings multiple 

12.2 

12.2 

Discount rate 

Credit spread 
Market proxy or direct broker quote  Market proxy or direct broker quote 

Discounted cash flow 

7.5  % 

1.4  % 
0.5 

7.5 % 

2.0 % 
0.5 

Equity securities designated at FVOCI 

Corporate equity 
Limited partnerships and private 

companies 

Loans mandatorily measured at FVTPL 

Business and government 

Derivative instruments 

Interest rate 

Credit 

Equity 

Total assets 

Deposits and other liabilities 

Derivative instruments 

Interest rate 

212 

$  1,400 

$ 

4 

(28) 

240 

626 

Adjusted net asset value (1) 

Proxy share price 

Net asset value (3) 
Proxy share price (3) 

n/a 
n/a 

n/a 
n/a 

Discounted cash flow 

Credit spread 

0.6  % 

2.1 % 

48 

n/a 
Market volatility 
98  Market proxy or direct broker quote  Market proxy or direct broker quote 

Proprietary model (2) 
Option model 

n/a 

17.1  % 
0.0  % 

n/a 
97.3 % 
20.5 % 

Option model 

Market correlation 

35.0  % 

96.0 % 

Option model 

Market volatility 
Market correlation 

10.0  % 
(60.0) % 

87.0 % 
100.0 % 

Credit 
Equity 

(107)  Market proxy or direct broker quote  Market proxy or direct broker quote 
(163) 
Market correlation 

Option model 

Total liabilities 

$ 

(294) 

Proprietary model (2) 
Option model 

n/a 
Market volatility 

n/a 

17.1  % 

0.0  % 
13.0  % 

n/a 
97.3 % 

20.5 % 
98.0 % 

(1)  Adjusted net asset value is determined using reported net asset values obtained from the fund manager or general partner of the limited partnership or the limited liability 

company and may be adjusted for current market levels where appropriate. 

(2)  Using valuation techniques that we consider to be non-observable. 
(3)  The range of NAV price or proxy share price has not been disclosed due to the wide range and diverse nature of the investments. 
n/a  Not applicable. 

Sensitivity of Level 3 financial assets and liabilities 
The following section describes the significant non-observable inputs identified in the table above, the interrelationships between those inputs, 
where applicable, and the change in fair value if changing one or more of the non-observable inputs within a reasonably possible range would 
impact the fair value significantly. 

The fair value of our limited partnerships is determined based on the net asset value provided by the fund managers, adjusted as appropriate. 
The fair value of limited partnerships is sensitive to changes in the net asset value, and by adjusting the net asset value within a reasonably possible 
range, the aggregate fair value of our limited partnerships would increase or decrease by $63 million (2019: $34 million). 

While our standalone derivatives are recorded as derivative assets or derivative liabilities, our derivatives embedded in our structured note 
deposit liabilities or deposit liabilities designated at FVTPL are recorded within deposits and other liabilities. The determination of the fair value of 
certain Level 3 embedded derivatives and certain standalone derivatives requires significant assumptions and judgment to be applied to both the 
inputs and the valuation techniques employed. These derivatives are sensitive to long-dated market volatility and correlation inputs, which we 
consider to be non-observable. Market volatility is a measure of the anticipated future variability of a market price and is an important input for 
pricing options, which are inherent in many of our Level 3 derivatives. A higher market volatility generally results in a higher option price, with all else 
held constant, due to the higher probability of obtaining a greater return from the option, and results in an increase in the fair value of our Level 3 
derivatives. Correlation inputs are used to value those derivatives where the payout is dependent upon more than one market price. For example, 
the payout of an equity basket option is based upon the performance of a basket of stocks, and the interrelationships between the price movements 
of those stocks. A positive correlation implies that two inputs tend to change the fair value in the same direction, while a negative correlation implies 
that two inputs tend to change the fair value in the opposite direction. Changes in market correlation could result in an increase or a decrease in the 
fair value of our Level 3 derivatives and embedded derivatives. By adjusting the non-observable inputs by reasonably alternative amounts, the fair 
value of our net Level 3 standalone derivatives and embedded derivatives would increase by $84 million or decrease by $74 million (2019: increase 
by $45 million or decrease by $33 million). 

134  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
Consolidated financial statements 

Financial instruments designated at FVTPL 
Financial assets designated at FVTPL include certain debt securities and loans that were designated at FVTPL on the basis of being managed 
together with derivatives to eliminate or significantly reduce financial risks. 

Deposits and other liabilities designated at FVTPL include: 
 

Certain business and government deposit liabilities, certain secured borrowings and certain obligations related to securities sold under 
repurchase agreements that are economically hedged with derivatives and other financial instruments, and certain financial liabilities that have 
one or more embedded derivatives that significantly modify the cash flows of the host liability but are not bifurcated from the host instrument; 
and 
Our mortgage commitments to retail clients to provide mortgages at fixed rates that are economically hedged with derivatives and other 
financial instruments. 

 

The carrying value of our securities designated at FVTPL represents our maximum exposure to credit risk related to these assets designated at 
FVTPL. The change in fair value attributable to change in credit risk of these assets designated at FVTPL during the year is insignificant (2019: 
insignificant). The fair value of a liability designated at FVTPL reflects the credit risk relating to that liability. For those liabilities designated at FVTPL 
for which we believe changes in our credit risk would impact the fair value from the note holders’ perspective, the related fair value changes were 
recognized in OCI. Changes in fair value attributable to changes in our own credit are measured as the difference between: (i) the period-over-
period change in the present value of the expected cash flows using a discount curve adjusted for our own credit; and (ii) the period-over-period 
change in the present value of the same expected cash flows using a discount curve based on the benchmark curve adjusted for our own credit as 
implied at inception of the liability designated at FVTPL. The pre-tax impact of changes in CIBC’s own credit risk on our liabilities designated at 
FVTPL was losses of $76 million for the year and losses of $55 million cumulatively (2019: gains of $39 million for the year and gains of $21 million 
cumulatively). A net gain of $60 million, net of hedges, was realized for assets designated at FVTPL and liabilities designated at FVTPL, which is 
included in the consolidated statement of income under Gains (losses) from financial instruments measured/designated at FVTPL, net (2019: a net 
loss of $32 million). 

The estimated contractual amount payable at maturity of deposits designated at FVTPL, which is based on the par value and the intrinsic value 

of the applicable embedded derivatives, is $786 million higher (2019: $283 million higher) than its fair value. The intrinsic value of the embedded 
derivatives reflects the structured payoff of certain FVO deposit liabilities, which we hedge economically with derivatives and other FVTPL financial 
instruments. 

Note 4 

Significant transactions 

2020 
Sale of FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited 
On November 8, 2019, we announced that we had entered into a definitive agreement to sell 66.73% of the outstanding shares of CIBC 
FirstCaribbean to GNB Financial Group Limited (GNB) for total consideration of approximately US$797 million, comprised of approximately 
US$200 million in cash and secured financing provided by CIBC for the remainder, subject to closing adjustments to reflect certain changes in 
CIBC FirstCaribbean’s book value. The closing of this transaction would result in CIBC retaining a 24.9% minority interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean, 
which would be accounted for as an investment in associate using the equity method. 

In the fourth quarter of 2019, we recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $135 million as a result of the valuation implied from the definitive 

agreement with GNB. Commencing in the first quarter of 2020, the assets and liabilities of CIBC FirstCaribbean were treated as held for sale, and 
measured at the lower of their aggregate carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell, on the basis that the transaction was highly probable to 
close in 2020 subject to regulatory approvals. In the second quarter of 2020, we recognized an additional goodwill impairment charge of $28 million 
based on the estimated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the recoverable value of the 24.9% interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean that we expected 
to retain. 

As a result of the lengthy regulatory review process, the worsening impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Caribbean economy and our 
revised expectations regarding the likelihood and timing of closing of a potential transaction, we concluded in the fourth quarter of 2020 that held for 
sale accounting is no longer appropriate. As a result, we were required to assess the recoverable amount of the remaining goodwill based on 
current market conditions rather than the definitive agreement with GNB. This assessment reflected revised expectations concerning the impact of 
the COVID-19 pandemic and led to the recognition of an additional goodwill impairment charge of $220 million. While we discontinued the 
application of held for sale accounting, we continue to pursue the transaction and the regulatory review process. 

For additional information, see Note 9. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  135 

Consolidated financial statements 

2019 
Acquisition of Cleary Gull 
On September 9, 2019, we completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets and operations of Cleary Gull Inc. (Cleary Gull), a Milwaukee-
based boutique investment banking firm specializing in middle-market mergers and acquisitions, private capital placement and debt advisory 
across the U.S. Goodwill and intangible assets of $16 million were recognized as a result of the acquisition. The results of the acquired business 
have been consolidated from the date of close and are included in our Capital Markets SBU. 

Acquisition of Lowenhaupt Global Advisors 
On September 1, 2019, we completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets and operations of Lowenhaupt Global Advisors, LLC (LGA), a 
wealth advisory firm in St. Louis and New York that provides independent advice on family wealth transfer, taxation, investment portfolio allocation 
and business structuring. Goodwill and intangible assets of $14 million were recognized as a result of the acquisition. The results of the acquired 
business have been consolidated from the date of close and are included in our U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management SBU. 

Finalization of arrangement with Air Canada 
Air Canada’s acquisition of the Aeroplan loyalty business from Aimia Inc. closed on January 10, 2019. We now offer credit cards under Air Canada’s 
new loyalty program, which launched in November 2020. This program allows CIBC’s Aeroplan cardholders to transfer their existing Aeroplan Miles 
to Air Canada’s new Aeroplan loyalty program. 

To secure our participation in Air Canada’s new Aeroplan loyalty program for a period of 10 years, we paid Air Canada $200 million plus 
applicable sales tax, which we recognized as an expense in the first quarter of 2019. In addition, we made a payment of $92 million plus applicable 
sales tax in the first quarter of 2019 as a prepayment to be applied towards future monthly payments in respect of Aeroplan Miles over a 10-year period. 

Note  5 

Securities 

Securities 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Debt securities measured at FVOCI 
Equity securities designated at FVOCI 
Securities measured at amortized cost (1) 
Securities mandatorily measured and designated at FVTPL 

2020 

2019 

$ 

53,968 
585 
31,800 
62,693 
$  149,046 

$ 

46,196 
602 
20,115 
54,397 
$  121,310 

(1)  During the year, $47 million of amortized cost debt securities were disposed of shortly before their maturity resulting in a realized gain of $2 million (2019: a realized loss of 

less than $1 million). 

136  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Within 1 year 

1 to 5 years 

5 to 10 years 

Over 10 years 

No specific 
maturity 

2020 
Total 

2019 
Total 

Carrying 

Carrying 

Carrying 

Carrying 

Carrying 

Carrying 

Carrying 

value  Yield (1) 

value  Yield (1) 

value  Yield (1) 

value  Yield (1) 

value  Yield (1) 

value  Yield (1) 

value  Yield (1) 

Residual term to contractual maturity 

Debt securities measured at FVOCI 
Securities issued or guaranteed by: 

Canadian federal government  $  1,361 
330 
Other Canadian governments 
7,290 
U.S. Treasury and agencies 
3,060 
Other foreign governments 
Mortgage-backed securities (2) 
81 
– 
Asset-backed securities 
2,211 
Corporate debt 

0.5 %  $  9,745 
10,853 
0.4 
5,306 
0.5 
2,553 
0.6 
536 
0.2 
– 
–
4,009 
0.6 

0.6%  $ 
0.9 
0.9 
0.6 
1.0 
– 
0.7 

303 
4,132 
– 
163 
181 
66 
4 

0.7%  $ 
1.2 
– 
5.2 
2.4 
2.2 
2.4 

– 
– 
– 
85 
1,570 
129
– 

– %  $ 
– 
– 
5.1 
1.4 
1.6 
– 

$  14,333 

$  33,002 

$  4,849 

$  1,784 

Equity securities designated at FVOCI 
Corporate public equity 
Corporate private equity 

$

$

 –
– 

– 

$

– 
– 

 –
–

$

– 

$

–
– 

– 

Securities measured at amortized cost 
Securities issued or guaranteed by: 
Canadian federal government  $
Other Canadian governments 
U.S. Treasury and agencies 
Other foreign governments 
Mortgage-backed securities (3) 
Asset-backed securities 
Corporate debt 

133 
452 
551 
92 
259 
– 
232 

$

619 
4,518 
9,551 
42
1,684 
234 
3,432 

$

$

 – –
– 

$

– 

$

– 

$

585 

 –
– 

$

– 
– 

585 

38 
6,102 
866 
36 
926 
396 
139 

$

– 
– 
– 
381 
1,085 
32 
– 

$  1,719 

$  20,080 

$  8,503 

$  1,498 

Securities mandatorily measured and designated at FVTPL 
Securities issued or guaranteed by: 

Canadian federal government  $  3,996 
1,037 
Other Canadian governments 
269 
U.S. Treasury and agencies 
1,230 
Other foreign governments 
Mortgage-backed securities (4) 
108 
143 
Asset-backed securities 
882 
Corporate debt 

Corporate public equity 
Corporate private equity 

$  7,665 

– 
– 

– 

$ 

$  4,073 
1,784 
2,504 
683 
1,326 
102 
1,920 

$  12,392 

– 
– 

– 

$ 

$  1,085 
869 
2,177 
29 
141 
76 
568 

$  4,945 

– 
– 

– 

$ 

$  2,501 
6,093 
646 
32 
7 
250 
180 

$  9,709 

– 
– 

– 

$ 

Total securities (5) 

$  23,717 

$  65,474 

$  18,297 

$  12,991 

$ 

$

$

$ 

$ 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

27,982 
– 

$  27,982 

$  28,567 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– %  $  11,409 
15,315 
– 
12,596 
– 
5,861 
– 
2,368 
– 
195
– 
6,224 
– 

0.6 %  $  10,851 
1.0 
12,271 
0.7 
9,371 
0.8 
5,336 
1.4 
2,699 
1.8 
47 
0.7 
5,621 

1.7 % 
1.9 
2.0 
2.5 
2.4 
2.4 
2.4 

$  53,968 

$  46,196 

42 
543

n/m 
n/m 

$  

 42
543

n/m 
n/m 

$   

$ 

$ 

n/m 
n/m 

46 
556 

602 

582 
6,748 
5,927 
660 
3,616 
463 
2,119 

$

790 
11,072 
10,968 
551 
3,954 
662 
3,803 

$  31,800 

$  20,115 

$  11,655 
9,783 
5,596 
1,974 
1,582 
571 
3,550 

$  34,711 

27,982 
– 

$  27,982 

$  149,046 

$ 

7,203 
8,262 
5,074 
1,139 
1,175 
1,218 
3,783 

$  27,854 

26,523 
20 

$  26,543 

$  121,310 

(1)  Represents the weighted-average yield, which is determined by applying the weighted average of the yields of individual fixed income securities. 
(2)  Includes securities backed by mortgages insured by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), with amortized cost of $410 million (2019: $232 million) and 

fair value of $413 million (2019: $232 million); securities issued by Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), with amortized cost of $888 million (2019: $1,127 
million) and fair value of $918 million (2019: $1,136 million); securities issued by Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), with amortized cost of 
$367 million (2019: $487 million) and fair value of $380 million (2019: $492 million); and securities issued by Government National Mortgage Association, a U.S. 
government corporation (Ginnie Mae), with amortized cost of $655 million (2019: $841 million) and fair value of $657 million (2019: $839 million). 

(3)  Includes securities backed by mortgage insured by the CMHC with amortized cost of $609 million (2019: $858 million) and fair value of $610 million (2019: $859 million); 

securities issued by Fannie Mae, with amortized cost of $1,165 million (2019: $1,037 million) and fair value of $1,197 million (2019: $1,048 million); securities issued by 
Freddie Mac, with amortized cost of $2,008 million (2019: $1,610 million) and fair value of $2,091 million (2019: $1,651 million); and securities issued by Ginnie Mae, with 
amortized cost of $69 million (2019: $98 million) and fair value of $71 million (2019: $99 million). 

(4)  Includes securities backed by mortgages insured by the CMHC of $1,547 million (2019: $1,135 million). 
(5)  Includes securities denominated in U.S. dollars with carrying value of $68.4 billion (2019: $54.4 billion) and securities denominated in other foreign currencies with carrying 

value of $2,616 million (2019: $1,813 million). 

n/m Not meaningful. 

Fair value of debt securities measured and equity securities designated at FVOCI 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Securities issued or guaranteed by: 
Canadian federal government 
Other Canadian governments 
U.S. Treasury and agencies 
Other foreign governments 
Mortgage-backed securities 
Asset-backed securities 
Corporate debt 

Corporate public equity (2) 
Corporate private equity 

Cost/ 
Amortized 

cost (1) 

Gross 
unrealized 
gains 

Gross 
unrealized 
losses 

2020 

Fair 
value 

Cost/ 
Amortized 

cost (1) 

Gross 
unrealized 
gains 

Gross 
unrealized 
losses 

2019 

Fair 
value 

$  11,379 
15,187 
12,533 
5,825 
2,320 
197 
6,194 

53,635 
30 
546 

576 

$ 

32 
128 
63 
38 
49 
– 
31 

341 
15 
43 

58 

$ 

(2)  $  11,409 
15,315 
– 
12,596 
– 
5,861 
(2) 
2,368 
(1) 
195 
(2) 
6,224 
(1) 

(8) 
(3) 
(46) 

(49) 

53,968 
42 
543 

585 

$  10,842 
12,252 
9,353 
5,318 
2,688 
47 
5,608 

46,108 
40 
493 

533 

$ 

12 
22 
25 
25 
15 
– 
16 

115 
15 
85 

100 

$ 

(3)  $  10,851 
12,271 
(3) 
9,371 
(7) 
5,336 
(7) 
2,699 
(4) 
47 
– 
5,621 
(3) 

(27) 
(9) 
(22) 

(31) 

46,196 
46 
556 

602 

$  54,211 

$  399 

$ 

(57)  $  54,553 

$  46,641 

$  215 

$ 

(58)  $  46,798 

(1)  Net of allowance for credit losses for debt securities measured at FVOCI of $22 million (2019: $23 million). 
(2)  Includes restricted stock. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  137 

Consolidated financial statements 

Fair value of equity securities designated at FVOCI that were disposed of during the year was $88 million (2019: $20 million). Net realized 
cumulative after-tax gains of $93 million for the year (2019: $18 million) resulting from dispositions of equity securities designated at FVOCI and 
return on capital distributions from limited partnerships designated at FVOCI were reclassified from AOCI to retained earnings. 

Dividend income recognized on equity securities designated at FVOCI that were still held as at October 31, 2020 was $5 million (2019: 
$9 million). Dividend income recognized on equity securities designated at FVOCI that were disposed of during the year was $2 million (2019: nil). 

The table below presents profit or loss recognized on FVOCI securities: 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Realized gains 
Realized losses 
Provision for credit losses on debt securities 

2020 

$

30
(1) 
(8) 

$

21

2019 

$

40
(2) 
(3) 

$  35 

$

2018 

 56
(13) 
(78) 

$ 

(35) 

Allowance for credit losses 
The following table provides a reconciliation of the opening balance to the closing balance of the ECL allowance for debt securities measured at 
FVOCI: 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

2020  Debt securities measured at FVOCI 
Balance at beginning of year 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses (1)(2) 
Write-offs 
Other 

Balance at end of year 

2019  Debt securities measured at FVOCI 
Balance at beginning of year 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses (1) 
Write-offs 
Other 

Balance at end of year 

Stage 1 

Stage 2 

Stage 3 

Collective provision 
12-month ECL 
performing 

Collective provision 
lifetime ECL 
performing 

Collective and 
individual provision 
lifetime ECL 
credit-impaired 

Total 

$

14
5 
– 
(1) 

$

18

$  15 
– 
– 
(1) 

$  14 

$

 3
2 
– 
(1) 

$

 4

$  3 
– 
– 
– 

$  3 

$

 6
1 
– 
(7) (3) 

$

 23
8 
– 
(9) 

$

 –

$

 22

$ 

5 
4 
(4) 
1 

$ 

6 

$  23 
4 
(4) 
– 

$  23 

(1)  Included in the gains (losses) from debt securities measured at FVOCI and amortized cost, net on our consolidated statement of income. 
(2)  Excludes stage 3 provisions for credit loss of $14 million for originated credit-impaired amortized cost securities that are recognized in the gains (losses) from debt 

securities measured at FVOCI and amortized cost, net on our consolidated statement of income. 

(3)  Includes ECL of $8 million relating to Barbados U.S. dollar denominated securities that were derecognized in the third quarter of 2020 as a result of a U.S. dollar 

denominated debt restructuring agreement completed with the Government of Barbados. 

Note  6 

Loans(1)(2)

$ millions, as at October 31 

Gross 
amount 

Stage 3 
allowance 

Stages 1 
and 2 
allowance 

Total 

allowance (3) 

2020 

Net 
total 

Gross 
amount 

Stage 3 
allowance 

Stages 1 
and 2 
allowance 

Total 

allowance (3) 

2019 

Net 
total 

Residential mortgages (4) 
Personal 
Credit card 
Business and government (4) 

$  221,165 
42,222 
11,389 
135,546 

$  151 
113 
– 
650 

$ 

212 
719 
667 
1,028 

$ 

363  $  220,802 
41,390 
832 
10,722 
667 
133,868 
1,678 

$  208,652 
43,651 
12,755 
125,798 

$  140 
128 
– 
376 

$ 

71 
425 
420 
355 

$ 

211  $  208,441 
43,098 
553 
12,335 
420 
125,067 
731 

$  410,322 

$  914 

$  2,626 

$  3,540  $  406,782 

$  390,856 

$  644 

$  1,271 

$  1,915  $  388,941 

(1)  Loans are net of unearned income of $530 million (2019: $469 million). 
(2)  Includes gross loans of $76.6 billion (2019: $69.5 billion) denominated in U.S. dollars and $8.4 billion (2019: $6.7 billion) denominated in other foreign currencies. 
(3)  Includes ECL allowances for customers’ liability under acceptances. 
(4)  Includes $63 million of residential mortgages (2019: $60 million) and $23,291 million of business and government loans (2019: $21,182 million) that are measured at FVTPL. 

138  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated financial statements 

Allowance for credit losses 
The following table provides a reconciliation of the opening balance to the closing balance of the ECL allowance: 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

Stage 1 

Stage 2 

Collective provision 
12-month ECL 
performing 

Collective provision 
lifetime ECL 
performing 

Stage 3 
Collective and 
individual provision 
lifetime ECL 
credit-impaired (1) 

Residential mortgages 
Balance at beginning of year 

Originations net of repayments and other derecognitions 
Changes in model 
Net remeasurement (2) 
Transfers (2) 

– to 12-month ECL 
– to lifetime ECL performing 
– to lifetime ECL credit-impaired 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses (3) 
Write-offs (4) 
Recoveries 
Interest income on impaired loans 
Foreign exchange and other 

Balance at end of year 
Personal 
Balance at beginning of year 

Originations net of repayments and other derecognitions 
Changes in model 
Net remeasurement (2) 
Transfers (2) 

– to 12-month ECL 
– to lifetime ECL performing 
– to lifetime ECL credit-impaired 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses (3) 
Write-offs (4) 
Recoveries 
Interest income on impaired loans 
Foreign exchange and other 

Balance at end of year 
Credit card 
Balance at beginning of year 

Originations net of repayments and other derecognitions 
Changes in model 
Net remeasurement (2) 
Transfers (2) 

– to 12-month ECL 
– to lifetime ECL performing 
– to lifetime ECL credit-impaired 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses (3) 
Write-offs (4) 
Recoveries 
Interest income on impaired loans 
Foreign exchange and other 

Balance at end of year 
Business and government 
Balance at beginning of year 

Originations net of repayments and other derecognitions 
Changes in model 
Net remeasurement (2) 
Transfers (2) 

– to 12-month ECL 
– to lifetime ECL performing 
– to lifetime ECL credit-impaired 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses (3) 
Write-offs (4) 
Recoveries 
Interest income on impaired loans 
Foreign exchange and other 

Balance at end of year 
Total ECL allowance (5) 

Comprises: 
Loans 
Undrawn credit facilities and other off-balance sheet exposures (6) 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$

$

$ 
$ 

$ 

28 
9 
(3) 
(21) 

61 
(23) 
– 
23 
– 
– 
– 
– 
51 

174 
37 
(13) 
(186) 

300 
(108) 
– 
30 
– 
– 
– 
– 
204 

145 
(3) 
(6) 
(223) 

281 
(58) 
– 
(9) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
136 

239 
51 
14 
264 

113 
(201) 
(21) 
220 
– 
– 
– 
(6) 
453 
844 

735 
109 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$

$ 

43 
(12) 
30 
123 

(51) 
39 
(10)
119 
– 
– 
– 
(1) 
161 

271 
(51) 
181 
378 

(292) 
126 
(67)
275 
– 
– 
– 
– 
546 

340 
(69) 
59 
674 

(281) 
58 
(209) 
232 
– 
– 
–
–
572 

158 
(45) 
(1) 
594 

(103) 
210 
(121) 
534 
– 
–
– 
(9) 
683 
$ 
$  1,962 

$  1,891 
71 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$

$ 
$ 

$ 

140 
(17) 
– 
73 

(10) 
(16) 
1  0
40 
(16) 
6 
(19) 
– 
151 

128 
(12) 
– 
247 

(8) 
(18) 
6  7
276 
(353) 
66 
(5) 
1 
113 

– 
– 
– 
89 

– 
– 
209 
298 
(409) 
111 
–
–
– 

378 
(20) 
(1) 
349 

(10) 
(9) 
142 
451 
(157) 
9
(21) 
(8) 
652 
916 

914 
2

2020 

Total 

211 
(20) 
27 
175 

– 
– 
–
182 
(16) 
6 
(19) 
(1) 
363 

573 
(26) 
168 
439 

– 
– 
–
581 
(353) 
66 
(5) 
1 
863 

485 
(72) 
53 
540 

– 
– 
– 
521 
(409) 
111 
– 
– 
708 

775 
(14) 
12 
1,207 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$

$ 

– 
– 
– 
1,205 
(157) 
9 
(21) 
(23) 
$  1,788 
$  3,722 

$  3,540 
182 

(1)  Includes the ECL allowance for purchased credit-impaired loans from the acquisition of The PrivateBank. 
(2)  Transfers represent stage movements of prior period ECL allowances to the current period stage classification. Net remeasurement represents the current period change 

in ECL allowances for transfers, net write-offs, changes in forecasts of forward-looking information, parameter updates, and partial repayments in the period. 

(3)  Provision for (reversal of) credit losses for loans and undrawn credit facilities and other off-balance sheet exposures is presented as Provision for (reversal of) credit losses 

on our consolidated statement of income. 

(4)  We generally continue to pursue collection on the amounts that were written off. The degree of collection efforts varies from one jurisdiction to another, depending on the 

local regulations and original agreements with customers. 

(5)  See Note 5 for the ECL allowance on debt securities measured at FVOCI. The table above excludes the ECL allowance on debt securities classified at amortized cost of 
$16 million as at October 31, 2020 (2019: $2 million), $14 million of which was stage 3 ECL allowance on originated credit-impaired amortized cost debt securities (2019: 
nil). The ECL allowances for other financial assets classified at amortized cost were immaterial as at October 31, 2020 and were excluded from the table above. Financial 
assets other than loans that are classified at amortized cost are presented on our consolidated balance sheet net of ECL allowances. 

(6)  Included in Other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  139 

 
 
 
 
Consolidated financial statements 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

Residential mortgages 
Balance at beginning of year 

Originations net of repayments and other derecognitions 
Changes in model 
Net remeasurement (2) 
Transfers (2) 

– to 12-month ECL 
– to lifetime ECL performing 
– to lifetime ECL credit-impaired 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses (3) 
Write-offs (4) 
Recoveries 
Interest income on impaired loans 
Foreign exchange and other 

Balance at end of year 
Personal 
Balance at beginning of year 

Originations net of repayments and other derecognitions 
Changes in model 
Net remeasurement (2) 
Transfers (2) 

– to 12-month ECL 
– to lifetime ECL performing 
– to lifetime ECL credit-impaired 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses (3) 
Write-offs (4) 
Recoveries 
Interest income on impaired loans 
Foreign exchange and other 

Balance at end of year 
Credit card 
Balance at beginning of year 

Originations net of repayments and other derecognitions 
Changes in model 
Net remeasurement (2) 
Transfers (2) 

– to 12-month ECL 
– to lifetime ECL performing 
– to lifetime ECL credit-impaired 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses (3) 
Write-offs (4) 
Recoveries 
Interest income on impaired loans 
Foreign exchange and other 

Balance at end of year 
Business and government 
Balance at beginning of year 

Originations net of repayments and other derecognitions 
Changes in model 
Net remeasurement (2) 
Transfers (2) 

– to 12-month ECL 
– to lifetime ECL performing 
– to lifetime ECL credit-impaired 

Provision for (reversal of) credit losses (3) 
Write-offs (4) 
Recoveries 
Interest income on impaired loans 
Foreign exchange and other 

Balance at end of year 
Total ECL allowance (5) 

Comprises: 
Loans 
Undrawn credit facilities and other off-balance sheet exposures (6) 

Stage 1 

Stage 2 

Collective provision 
12-month ECL 
performing 

Collective provision 
lifetime ECL 
performing 

Stage 3 
Collective and 
individual provision 
lifetime ECL 
credit-impaired (1) 

$ 

$ 

27 
4 
(2) 
(41) 

42 
(3) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
1 
28 

$  190 
45 
(14) 
(194) 

183 
(37) 
– 
(17) 
– 
– 
– 
1 
$  174 

$  102 
– 
36 
(190) 

229 
(33) 
– 
42 
– 
– 
– 
1 
$  145 

$  180 
32 
– 
(17) 

71 
(21) 
(2) 
63 
– 
– 
– 
(4) 
$  239 
586 
$

$  526 
60 

$ 

$ 

44 
(11) 
(6) 
32 

(30) 
22 
(7) 
– 
– 
– 
– 
(1) 
43 

$  199 
(50) 
30 
283 

(179) 
51 
(63) 
72 
– 
– 
– 
– 
$  271 

$  370 
(50) 
(48) 
477 

(229) 
33 
(215) 
(32) 
– 
– 
– 
2 
$  340 

$  147 
(19) 
1 
97 

(64) 
25 
(29) 
11 
– 
– 
– 
– 
$  158 
812 
$

$  745 
67 

$  143 
(23) 
(5) 
94 

(12) 
(19) 
7 
42 
(29) 
2 
(17) 
(1) 
$  140 

$  109 
– 
– 
309 

(4) 
(14) 
63 
354 
(395) 
62 
(5) 
3 
$  128 

$ 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
184 

– 
– 
215 
399 
(516) 
117 
– 
– 
– 

$  230 
(21) 
3 
350 

(7) 
(4) 
31 
352 
(190) 
13 
(18) 
(9) 
$  378 
646 
$

$  644 
2 

2019 

Total 

214 
(30) 
(13) 
85 

– 
– 
– 
42 
(29) 
2 
(17) 
(1) 
211 

498 
(5) 
16 
398 

– 
– 
– 
409 
(395) 
62 
(5) 
4 
573 

472 
(50) 
(12) 
471 

– 
– 
– 
409 
(516) 
117 
– 
3 
485 

557 
(8) 
4 
430 

– 
– 
– 
426 
(190) 
13 
(18) 
(13) 
775 
2,044 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$

$  1,915 
129 

(1)  Includes the ECL allowance for purchased credit-impaired loans from the acquisition of The PrivateBank. 
(2)  Transfers represent stage movements of prior period ECL allowances to the current period stage classification. Net remeasurement represents the current period change 

in ECL allowances for transfers, net write-offs, changes in forecasts of forward-looking information, parameter updates, and partial repayments in the period. 

(3)  Provision for (reversal of) credit losses for loans and undrawn credit facilities and other off-balance sheet exposures is presented as Provision for (reversal of) credit losses 

on our consolidated statement of income. 

(4)  We generally continue to pursue collection on the amounts that were written off. The degree of collection efforts varies from one jurisdiction to another, depending on the 

local regulations and original agreements with customers. 

(5)  See Note 5 for the ECL allowance on debt securities measured at FVOCI. The table above excludes the ECL allowance on debt securities classified at amortized cost of 
$2 million as at October 31, 2019. The ECL allowances for other financial assets classified at amortized cost were immaterial as at October 31, 2019 and were excluded 
from the table above. Financial assets other than loans that are classified at amortized cost are presented on our consolidated balance sheet net of ECL allowances. 

(6)  Included in Other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet. 

140  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Inputs, assumptions and model techniques 
Our ECL allowances are estimated using complex models that incorporate inputs, assumptions and model techniques that involve a high degree of 
management judgment. In particular, the following ECL elements are subject to a high level of judgment that can have a significant impact on the 
level of ECL allowances provided: 
 
  Measuring both 12-month and lifetime credit losses; and 
 

Forecasting forward-looking information for multiple scenarios and determining the probability weighting of the scenarios driven by the 
changes in the macroeconomic environment. 

Determining when a significant increase in credit risk (SICR) of a loan has occurred; 

In addition, the interrelationship between these elements is also subject to a high degree of judgment which can also have a significant impact on 
the level of ECL recognized. 

The uncertainties inherent in the COVID-19 pandemic have increased the level of judgment applied in respect of all these elements as discussed 
below. Actual credit losses could differ materially from those reflected in our estimates. 

Determining when a significant increase in credit risk has occurred 
The determination of whether a loan has experienced a SICR has a significant impact on the level of ECL allowance as loans that are in stage 1 are 
measured at 12-month ECL, while loans in stage 2 are measured at lifetime ECL. Migration of loans between stage 1 and stage 2 can cause 
significant volatility in the amount of the recognized ECL allowances and the provision for credit losses in a particular period. 

For the majority of our retail loan portfolios, we determine a SICR based on relative changes in the loan’s lifetime PD since its initial recognition. 

The PDs used for this purpose are the expected value of our upside, downside and base case lifetime PDs. Significant judgment is involved in 
determining the upside, downside and base case lifetime PDs through the incorporation of forward-looking information into long-run PDs, in 
determining the probability weightings of the scenarios, and in determining the relative changes in PDs that are indicative of a SICR for our various 
retail products. Increases in the expected PDs or decreases in the thresholds for changes in PDs that are indicative of a SICR can cause significant 
migration of loans from stage 1 to stage 2, which in turn can cause a significant increase in the amount of ECL allowances recognized. In contrast, 
decreases in the expected PDs or increases in the thresholds for changes in PDs that are indicative of a SICR can cause significant migration of 
loans from stage 2 to stage 1. 

For the majority of our business and government loan portfolios, we determine a SICR based on relative changes in internal risk ratings since 
initial recognition. Significant judgment is involved in the determination of the internal risk ratings. Deterioration or improvement in the risk ratings or 
adjustments to the risk rating downgrade thresholds used to determine a SICR can cause significant migration of loans and securities between 
stage 1 and stage 2, which in turn can have a significant impact on the amount of ECL allowances recognized. While potentially significant to the 
level of ECL allowances recognized, the thresholds for changes in PDs that are indicative of a SICR for our retail portfolios and the risk rating 
downgrade thresholds used to determine a SICR for our business and government loan portfolios are not expected to change frequently. 

All loans on which repayment of principal or payment of interest is contractually 30 days in arrears and all business and government loans that 

have migrated to the watch list are normally automatically migrated to stage 2 from stage 1. 

As at October 31, 2020, if the ECL for the stage 2 performing loans were measured using stage 1 ECL as opposed to lifetime ECL, the 

expected credit losses would be $743 million lower than the total recognized IFRS 9 ECL on performing loans (2019: $305 million). 

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 
The determination of whether a SICR has occurred in the COVID-19 pandemic required a heightened application of judgment in a number of areas, 
including with respect to the evaluation of the evolving macroeconomic environment, the various client relief programs we have provided to our 
clients and the unprecedented level of government support being provided to individuals and businesses. 

Consistent with guidance issued by the IASB, interest or principal deferments pursuant to various relief programs provided to both our retail 

and business and government clients have not automatically resulted in a SICR that would trigger migration to stage 2 by reason only that a deferral 
under the program was granted. However, the inclusion of a loan in a relief program did not preclude its migration to stage 2 if we determined that 
there was a SICR based on our assessment of the changes in the risk of a default occurring over the expected life of a loan. 

For retail clients and consistent with our past practice, SICR was determined based on an evaluation of the relative increase in lifetime PDs 
using forward-looking indicators reflective of our expectations. However, we applied judgment in the degree that our forecasts of certain forward-
looking indicators, including unemployment, should cause a SICR in light of the level of government support provided. 

For the majority of our business and government clients, we continued to utilize risk ratings as the primary determinant of a SICR. We applied 

judgment in the determination of the industries most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and assessed the associated impact on risk ratings after 
considering the benefit of government support. 

Measuring both 12-month and lifetime expected credit losses 
Our ECL models leverage the PD, LGD, and EAD parameters, as well as the portfolio segmentation used to calculate Basel expected loss 
regulatory adjustments for the portion of our retail and business and government portfolios under the advanced internal ratings-based (AIRB) 
approach. Adjustments are made to the Basel parameters to meet IFRS 9 requirements, including the conversion of through-the-cycle and downturn 
parameters used in the Basel regulatory calculations to point-in-time parameters used under IFRS 9 that consider forward-looking information. For 
standardized business and government portfolios, available long-run PDs, LGDs and EADs are also converted to point-in-time parameters through 
the incorporation of forward-looking information for the purpose of measuring ECL under IFRS 9. 

Significant judgment is involved in determining which forward-looking information variables are relevant for particular portfolios and in 
determining the extent by which through-the-cycle parameters should be adjusted for forward-looking information to determine point-in-time 
parameters. While changes in the set of forward-looking information variables used to convert through-the-cycle PDs, LGDs and EADs into 
point-in-time parameters can either increase or decrease ECL allowances in a particular period, changes to the mapping of forward-looking 
information variables to particular portfolios are expected to be infrequent. However, changes in the particular forward-looking information 
parameters used to quantify point-in-time parameters will be frequent as our forecasts are updated on a quarterly basis. Increases in the level of 
pessimism in the forward-looking information variables will cause increases in ECL, while increases in the level of optimism in the forward-looking 
information variables will cause decreases in ECL. These increases and decreases could be significant in any particular period and will start to 
occur in the period where our outlook of the future changes. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  141 

Consolidated financial statements 

With respect to the lifetime of a financial instrument, the maximum period considered when measuring ECL is the maximum contractual period 

over which we are exposed to credit risk. For revolving facilities, such as credit cards, the lifetime of a credit card account is the expected 
behavioural life. Significant judgment is involved in the estimate of the expected behavioural life. Increases in the expected behavioural life will 
increase the amount of ECL allowances, in particular for revolving loans in stage 2. 

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 
The measurement of ECL in the COVID-19 pandemic required a heightened application of judgment in a number of areas, including with respect to 
our expectations concerning the degree to which forward-looking information would correlate with credit losses in the current environment 
characterized by unprecedented levels of government support relative to the historical experience in our models. We applied judgment with respect 
to the degree that certain industries and portfolios would be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the degree that various 
government support programs are expected to limit credit losses. 

Forecasting forward-looking information for multiple scenarios and determining the probability weighting of the scenarios 
As indicated above, forward-looking information is incorporated into both our assessment of whether a financial asset has experienced a SICR since 
its initial recognition and in our estimate of ECL. From analysis of historical data, our risk management function has identified and reflected in our 
ECL allowance those relevant forward-looking information variables that contribute to credit risk and losses within our retail and business and 
government loan portfolios. Within our retail loan portfolio, key forward-looking information variables include Canadian unemployment rates, housing 
prices and gross domestic product (GDP) growth. In many cases these variables are forecasted at the provincial level. Housing prices are also 
forecasted at the municipal level in some cases. Within our business and government loan portfolio, key drivers that impact the credit performance 
of the entire portfolio include S&P 500 growth rates, business credit growth rates, unemployment rates and credit spreads, while forward-looking 
information variables such as commodity prices and mining activity are significant for certain portfolios, and U.S. unemployment rates and U.S. GDP 
growth are significant for our U.S. portfolios. 

For the majority of our loan portfolios, our forecast of forward-looking information variables is established from a “base case” or most likely 
scenario that is used internally by management for planning and forecasting purposes. For most of the forward-looking information variables related 
to our Canadian businesses, we have forecast scenarios by province. In forming the base case scenario, we consider the forecasts of international 
organizations and monetary authorities such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Monetary 
Fund (IMF), and the Bank of Canada, as well as private sector economists. We then derive reasonably possible “upside case” and “downside case” 
scenarios using external forecasts that are above and below our base case and the application of management judgment. A probability weighting is 
assigned to our base case, upside case and downside case scenarios based on management judgment. 

The forecasting process is overseen by a governance committee consisting of internal stakeholders from across our bank including Risk 
Management, Economics, Finance and the impacted SBUs and involves a significant amount of judgment both in determining the forward-looking 
information forecasts for our various scenarios and in determining the probability weighting assigned to the scenarios. In general, a worsening of our 
outlook on forecasted forward-looking information for each scenario, an increase in the probability of the downside case scenario occurring, or a 
decrease in the probability of the upside case scenario occurring will increase the number of loans migrating from stage 1 to stage 2 and increase 
the estimated ECL allowance. In contrast, an improvement in our outlook on forecasted forward-looking information, an increase in the probability of 
the upside case scenario occurring, or a decrease in the probability of the downside case scenario occurring will have the opposite impact. It is not 
possible to meaningfully isolate the impact of changes in the various forward-looking information variables for a particular scenario because of both 
the interrelationship between the variables and the interrelationship between the level of pessimism inherent in a particular scenario and its 
probability of occurring. 

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 
The forecasting of forward-looking information and the determination of scenario weightings in the COVID-19 pandemic required a heightened 
application of judgment in a number of areas as our forecast reflects numerous assumptions and uncertainties regarding the economic impact of 
the COVID-19 pandemic, which will ultimately depend on the speed at which an effective vaccine can be developed and administered on a mass 
scale, and the ability of governments, businesses and health-care systems to effectively limit the epidemiological and economic impacts of the 
resurgences of the virus in the intervening period. 

Significant changes to our forecasts were made in the current year. The following table provides the base case, upside case and downside 

case scenario forecasts for select forward-looking information variables used to estimate our ECL. 

As at October 31, 2020 

Real GDP year-over-year growth 

Canada (2) 
United States 
Unemployment rate 

Canada (2) 
United States 

Canadian Housing Price Index growth (2) 
S&P 500 Index growth rate 
West Texas Intermediate Oil Price (US$) 

$

Base case 

Upside case 

Downside case 

Average 
value over 
the next 
12 months 

Average 
value over 
the remaining 
forecast period (1) 

Average 
value over 
the next 
12 months 

Average 
value over 
the remaining 
forecast period (1) 

Average 
value over 
the next 
12 months 

Average 
value over 
the remaining 
forecast period (1) 

1.6 % 
1.7 % 

8.7 % 
7.4 % 
2.4 % 
5.6 % 
 42

3.8 % 
3.5 % 

6.7 % 
4.7 % 
3.0 % 
4.8 % 
 53 

$

3.6 % 
3.0 % 

7.4 % 
5.1 % 
11.2 % 
11.2 % 

$

 51

$

4.6 % 
4.2 % 

5.9 % 
3.5 % 
10.4 % 
7.7 % 
 60

0.03 % 
(0.6)% 

9.5 % 
9.2 % 
(6.9)% 
(3.5)% 
 34

$

2.0 % 
1.7 % 

8.4 % 
7.3 % 
(0.8)% 
(5.3)% 
 39 

$

(1)  The remaining forecast period is generally two years. 
(2)  National-level forward-looking forecasts are presented in the table above, which represent the aggregation of the provincial-level forecasts used to estimate our ECL. 

Housing Price Index growth rates are also forecasted at the municipal level in some cases. As a result, the forecasts for individual provinces or municipalities reflected in 
our ECL will differ from the national forecasts presented above. 

142  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
 
Consolidated financial statements 

As at October 31, 2019 

Canadian GDP year-over-year growth (2) 
Canadian unemployment rate (2) 
Canadian Housing Price Index growth (2) 
S&P 500 Index growth rate 
West Texas Intermediate Oil Price (US$) 

Base case 

Upside case 

Downside case 

Average 
value over 
the next 
12 months 

Average 
value over 
the remaining 
forecast period (1) 

Average 
value over 
the next 
12 months 

Average 
value over 
the remaining 
forecast period (1) 

Average 
value over 
the next 
12 months 

Average 
value over 
the remaining 
forecast period (1) 

1.5 % 
6.1 % 
1.6 % 
5.0 % 
60 

$ 

1.8 % 
5.9 % 
2.2 % 
4.7 % 
60 

$ 

2.3 % 
5.5 % 
4.8 % 
8.2 % 
67 

$ 

2.5 % 
5.5 % 
4.0 % 
6.6 % 
74 

$ 

0.6 % 
6.4 % 
(2.2)% 
(3.7)% 
47 

$ 

0.8 % 
6.5 % 
(0.8)% 
(10.3)% 
43 

$ 

(1)  The remaining forecast period is generally two years. 
(2)  National-level forward-looking forecasts are presented in the table above, which represent the aggregation of the provincial-level forecasts used to estimate our ECL. 

Housing Price Index growth rates are also forecasted at the municipal level in some cases. As a result, the forecasts for individual provinces or municipalities reflected in 
our ECL will differ from the national forecasts presented above. 

As required, the forward-looking information used to estimate expected credit losses reflects our expectations as at October 31, 2020 and 
October 31, 2019, respectively, and does not reflect changes in expectation as a result of economic forecasts that may have subsequently 
emerged. The base case, upside case and downside case amounts shown represent the average value of the forecasts over the respective 
projection horizons. Our economic forecasts are made in the context of the recovery currently underway from the severe downturn experienced in 
the second quarter of 2020. The underlying base case projection is characterized by a slow recovery in the first half of 2021, accelerating again 
thereafter and with the economy returning to the same level of economic activity experienced in the pre-COVID-19 period in 2022. Assumptions 
concerning the extent of the restrictions imposed by governments to limit the impact of subsequent waves of infection, including travel restrictions, 
the closure of certain businesses and other physical distancing requirements, and the timing of effective mass vaccinations, are material to these 
forecasts. The downside case forecast still reflects a recovery from the severe low experienced in the second calendar quarter of 2020, but to a 
much lower level of sustained economic activity. Meanwhile, the upside scenario continues to reflect a quicker recovery with the pre-pandemic level 
of activity reached in late 2021. 

As at October 31, 2020, the average next 12 months real GDP growth rate in the table above is calculated based on the weighted average of the 
annualized calendar year 2020 and 2021 real GDP growth rates. This results in the next 12 months real GDP growth rate forecast to be lower than 
our calendar year 2021 real GDP growth rate forecast because the next 12 months real GDP growth rate is compared in part to a pre-pandemic 
level of real GDP, and the calendar year 2021 forecast also includes the strong growth rate expected in the fourth calendar quarter of 2021, after a 
vaccine is anticipated to be available. The relatively high forecasted real GDP growth in the remaining forecast period in the table above, relative to 
a year ago, is the result of the fact that we are forecasting to recover from relatively low levels of real GDP as shown in the charts below. The graphs 
below depict the actual and forecasted real GDP levels in Canada and the U.S. on a calendar quarter basis: 

Canadian Real GDP 
(Millions of Chained 2012 Canadian Dollars) 

U.S. Real GDP 
(Millions of Chained 2012 U.S. Dollars)

 2,200,000
 2,150,000
 2,100,000
2,050,000
2,000,000
 1,950,000
 1,900,000
 1,850,000
 1,800,000
1,750,000
 1,700,000

Q 1-2020

Q 2-2020

Q 3-2020

Q 4-2020

Q 1-2021

Q 2-2021

Q 3-2021

Q 4-2021

Q 1-2022

Q 2-2022

Q 3-2022

Q 4-2022 

 20,500,000

 20,000,000

 19,500,000

 19,000,000

 18,500,000

 18,000,000

 17,500,000

 17,000,000

 16,500,000 

16,000,000 

Q 1-2020

Q 2-2020

Q 3-2020

Q 4-2020

Q 1-2021

Q 2-2021

Q 3-2021

Q 4-2021

Q 1-2022

Q 2-2022

Q 3-2022

Q 4-2022

Actual Canadian Real GDP 

Projection as at Q4 2020 

Actual U.S. Real GDP 

Projection as at Q4 2020 

As indicated above, forecasting forward-looking information for multiple scenarios and determining the probability weighting of the scenarios 
involves a high degree of management judgment, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. If we were to only use our base case scenario for 
the measurement of ECL for our performing loans, our ECL allowance would be $204 million lower than the recognized ECL as at October 31, 2020 
(2019: $63 million). If we were to only use our downside case scenario for the measurement of ECL for our performing loans, our ECL allowance 
would be $938 million higher than the recognized ECL as at October 31, 2020 (2019: $254 million). This sensitivity is isolated to the measurement of 
ECL and therefore did not consider changes in the migration of exposures between stage 1 and stage 2 from the determination of the SICR that 
would have resulted in a 100% base case scenario or a 100% downside case scenario. As a result, our ECL allowance on performing loans could 
exceed the amount implied by the 100% downside case scenario from the migration of additional exposures from stage 1 to stage 2. 

Use of management overlays 
Management overlays to ECL allowance estimates are adjustments which we use in circumstances where we judge that our existing inputs, 
assumptions and model techniques do not capture all relevant risk factors. The emergence of new macroeconomic, microeconomic or political 
events, along with expected changes to parameters, models or data that are not incorporated in our current parameters, internal risk rating 
migrations, or forward-looking information are examples of such circumstances. 

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 
To address the uncertainties inherent in the current environment, we utilized management overlays with respect to the impact that the COVID-19 
pandemic will have on the migration of certain business and government exposures that we believe are the most susceptible to these risks and the 
resulting measurement of the ECL for those exposures. The mitigating impact of government support measures was considered in the determination 
of these overlays to the extent not already reflected in our models. In addition, management overlays were applied with respect to the impact of 
government support and client relief measures on the migration of retail exposures and the resulting measurement of the ECL for those exposures. In 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  143 

Consolidated financial statements 

light of the unprecedented level of government support, the management overlays took into account our expectations concerning the degree to which 
forward-looking information would correlate with credit losses in the current environment relative to the historical experience in our models. 

The use of management overlays requires the application of significant judgment that impacts the amount of ECL allowances recognized. 

Actual credit losses could differ materially from those reflected in our estimates. 

The following tables provide the gross carrying amount of loans, and the contractual amounts of undrawn credit facilities and other off-balance 
sheet exposures based on the application of our 12-month point in time PDs under IFRS 9 to our risk management PD bands for retail exposures, 
and based on our internal risk ratings for business and government exposures. Refer to the “Credit risk” section of the MD&A for details on the CIBC 
risk categories. 

Stage 1 

Stage 2 

Stage 3 (2)(3)(4) 

2020 

Total 

Stage 1 

Stage 2 

Stage 3 (2)(3)(4)

Loans(1) 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Residential mortgages 
– Exceptionally low 
– Very low 
– Low 
– Medium 
– High 
– Default 
– Not rated 

$  146,139  $ 
45,678 
12,491 
232 
– 
– 
1,810 

Gross residential mortgages (5)(6) 
ECL allowance 

Net residential mortgages 

206,350 
51 

206,299 

Personal 

– Exceptionally low 
– Very low 
– Low 
– Medium 
– High 
– Default 
– Not rated 

Gross personal (6) 
ECL allowance 

Net personal 

Credit card 

– Exceptionally low 
– Very low 
– Low 
– Medium 
– High 
– Default 
– Not rated 

Gross credit card 
ECL allowance 

Net credit card 

Business and government 

– Investment grade 
– Non-investment grade 
– Watchlist 
– Default 
– Not rated 

Gross business and government (5)(7) 
ECL allowance 

Net business and government 

23,302 
1,618 
8,662 
1,265 
331 
– 
513 

35,691 
179 

35,512 

3,285 
1,388 
2,340 
1,778 
– 
–
135

8,926 
125 

8,801 

49,418 
78,302 
416 
– 
218

128,354 
380 

127,974 

2 
1,166 
6,042 
4,924 
1,054 
– 
818 

14,006 
161 

13,845 

– 
157 
2,497 
2,768 
769 
– 
159 

6,350 
540 

5,810 

– 
– 
– 
1,973 
472 
–
18 

2,463 
542 

1,921 

1,071 
9,876 
4,443 
– 
49 

15,439 
648 

14,791 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
654 
155 

809 
151 

658 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
140 
41 

181 
113 

68 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
1,359 
– 

1,359 
650 

709 

$ 

$  146,141 
46,844 
18,533 
5,156 
1,054 
654 
2,783 

221,165 
363 

220,802 

$  142,260 
37,140 
17,315 
1,207 
11 
– 
2,251 

200,184 
28 

200,156 

23,302 
1,775 
11,159 
4,033 
1,100 
140 
713 

42,222 
832 

41,390 

3,285 
1,388 
2,340 
3,751 
472 
– 
153 

11,389 
667 

10,722 

50,489 
88,178 
4,859 
1,359 
267 

145,152 
1,678 

143,474 

24,258 
4,321 
4,955 
3,703 
302 
– 
720 

38,259 
160 

38,099 

3,015 
1,142 
5,619 
1,344 
10
–
158 

11,288 
129 

11,159 

46,800 
80,780 
374 
– 
752 

128,706 
209 

128,497 

$ 

– 
– 
1,010 
5,312 
1,162 
– 
233 

7,717 
43 

7,674 

– 
1,353 
1,582 
1,611 
613 
– 
29 

5,188 
265 

4,923 

– 
83 
274 
565 
538 
–
7

1,467 
291 

1,176 

251 
3,443 
1,575 
– 
79 

5,348 
146 

5,202 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
597 
154 

751 
140 

611 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
164 
40 

204 
128 

76 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
866 
45 

911 
376 

535 

2019 

Total 

$  142,260 
37,140 
18,325 
6,519 
1,173 
597 
2,638 

208,652 
211 

208,441 

24,258 
5,674 
6,537 
5,314 
915 
164 
789 

43,651 
553 

43,098 

3,015 
1,225 
5,893 
1,909 
548 
– 
165 

12,755 
420 

12,335 

47,051 
84,223 
1,949 
866 
876 

134,965 
731 

134,234 

Total net amount of loans 

$  378,586  $  36,367 

$  1,435 

$  416,388 

$  377,911 

$  18,975 

$  1,222 

$  398,108 

(1)  The table excludes debt securities measured at FVOCI, for which ECL allowances of $22 million (2019: $23 million) were recognized in AOCI. In addition, the table 

excludes debt securities classified at amortized cost, for which ECL allowances of $16 million were recognized as at October 31, 2020 (2019: $2 million), $14 million of 
which was stage 3 ECL allowance on originated credit-impaired amortized cost debt securities (2019: nil). Other financial assets classified at amortized cost were also 
excluded from the table above as their ECL allowances were immaterial as at October 31, 2020 and October 31, 2019. Financial assets other than loans that are classified 
as amortized cost are presented on our consolidated balance sheet net of ECL allowances. 

(2)  Includes purchased credit-impaired loans from the acquisition of The PrivateBank. 
(3)  Excludes foreclosed assets of $23 million (2019: $25 million), which were included in Other assets on our consolidated balance sheet. 
(4)  As at October 31, 2020, 93% (2019: 90%) of stage 3 impaired loans were either fully or partially collateralized. 
(5)  Includes $63 million (2019: $60 million) of residential mortgages and $23,291 million (2019: $21,182 million) of business and government loans that are measured at 

FVTPL. 

(6)  The internal risk rating grades presented for residential mortgages and certain personal loans do not take into account loan guarantees or insurance issued by the 

Canadian government (federal or provincial), Canadian government agencies, or private insurers, as the determination of whether a significant increase in credit risk has 
occurred for these loans is based on relative changes in the loans’ lifetime PD without considering collateral or other credit enhancements. 

(7)  Includes customers’ liability under acceptances of $9,606 million (2019: $9,167 million). 

144  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Undrawn credit facilities and other off-balance sheet exposures 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Retail 

– Exceptionally low 
– Very low 
– Low 
– Medium 
– High 
– Default 
– Not rated 

Gross retail 
ECL allowance 

Net retail 

Business and government 

– Investment grade 
– Non-investment grade 
– Watchlist 
– Default 
– Not rated 

Gross business and government 
ECL allowance 

Net business and government 

Total net undrawn credit facilities and 

Stage 1 

Stage 2 

Stage 3 

2020 

Total 

Stage 1 

Stage 2 

Stage 3 

$ 

$  124,690 
6,632 
8,703 
909 
263 
– 
411 

141,608 
36 

141,572 

89,067 
55,288 
82 
– 
795 

145,232 
73 

145,159 

8 
137 
416 
692 
503 
– 
23 

1,779 
36 

1,743 

159 
5,103 
1,678 
– 
41 

6,981 
35 

6,946 

$ 

$ 

–  $  124,698 
6,769 
– 
9,119 
– 
1,601 
– 
766 
– 
28 
28 
434 
– 

$  106,696 
7,341 
10,974 
1,737 
255 
– 
397 

28 
– 

28 

– 
– 
– 
129 
– 

129 
2 

127 

143,415 
72 

143,343 

89,226 
60,391 
1,760 
129 
836 

152,342 
110 

152,232 

127,400 
30 

127,370 

78,906 
52,379 
65 
– 
688 

132,038 
30 

132,008 

120 
1,126 
1,357 
752 
495 
– 
32 

3,882 
55 

3,827 

296 
1,282 
575 
– 
60 

2,213 
12 

2,201 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
19 
– 

19 
– 

19 

– 
– 
– 
69 
– 

69 
2 

67 

2019 

Total 

$  106,816 
8,467 
12,331 
2,489 
750 
19 
429 

131,301 
85 

131,216 

79,202 
53,661 
640 
69 
748 

134,320 
44 

134,276 

other off-balance sheet exposures  $  286,731 

$  8,689 

$  155  $  295,575 

$  259,378 

$  6,028 

$  86 

$  265,492 

Net interest income after provision for credit losses 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Interest income 
Interest expense 

Net interest income 
Provision for credit losses 

Net interest income after provision for credit losses 

2020 

2019 

$  17,522 
6,478 

$  20,697 
10,146 

11,044 
2,489 

10,551 
1,286 

2018 

$  17,505 
7,440 

10,065 
870 

$ 

8,555 

$ 

9,265 

$ 

9,195 

Modified financial assets and client relief programs 
CIBC has been actively engaged in lending activities to support our clients who are experiencing financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 
pandemic, including payment deferral options offered on cards, residential mortgages, personal lending products, and business and government 
loans. As of October 31, 2020, the gross outstanding balance of loans for which CIBC provided payment deferrals was nil for credit cards in 
Canada (July 31, 2020: less than $10 million; April 30, 2020: $1.8 billion); $2.7 billion for residential mortgages in Canada (July 31, 2020: 
$33.3 billion; April 30, 2020: $35.5 billion); $0.3 billion for personal loans in Canada (July 31, 2020: $0.8 billion; April 30, 2020: $2.3 billion); 
$0.3 billion for various consumer loans in the Caribbean (July 31, 2020: $1.4 billion; April 30, 2020: $1.3 billion); and $2.5 billion for business and 
government loans (July 31, 2020: $6.2 billion; April 30, 2020: $10.0 billion), including $0.5 billion in Canada (July 31, 2020: $2.4 billion; April 30, 
2020: $8.6 billion); $0.5 billion in the U.S. (July 31, 2020: $1.6 billion; April 30, 2020: $0.9 billion) and $1.5 billion in the Caribbean (July 31, 2020: 
$2.2 billion; April 30, 2020: $0.5 billion). Modification gains or losses resulting from client relief programs were not significant. 

As part of CIBC’s usual lending business, from time to time we may modify the contractual terms of loans classified as stage 2 and stage 3 for which 
the borrower has experienced financial difficulties, through the granting of a concession in the form of below-market rates or terms that we would not 
otherwise have considered. 

During the year ended October 31, 2020, loans classified as stage 2 or stage 3 with an amortized cost of $10,498 million (2019: $346 million) were 
either modified through the granting of a financial concession in response to the borrower having experienced financial difficulties or were subject to  
the client relief programs in response to COVID-19, in each case before the time of modification or deferral. In addition, the gross carrying amount of 
previously modified or deferred stage 2 or stage 3 loans that have returned to stage 1 during the year ended October 31, 2020 was $5,287 million 
(2019: $15 million). 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  145 

Consolidated financial statements 

Note  7 

Structured entities and derecognition of financial assets 

Structured entities 
SEs are entities that have been designed so that voting or similar rights are not the dominant factor in deciding who controls the entity, such as 
when any voting rights relate to administrative tasks only and the relevant activities are directed by means of contractual arrangements. SEs are 
entities that are created to accomplish a narrow and well-defined objective. CIBC is involved with various types of SEs for which the business 
activities include securitization of financial assets, asset-backed financings, and asset management. 

We consolidate an SE when the substance of the relationship indicates that we control the SE. 

Consolidated structured entities 
We consolidate the following SEs: 

Multi-seller conduit 
We sponsor a consolidated multi-seller conduit in Canada that purchases financial assets from clients and finances the purchases by issuing ABS. 
The sellers to the conduit continue to service the assets and are exposed to credit losses realized on these assets through the provision of credit 
enhancements. We hold all of the outstanding ABS. 

Credit card securitization trusts 
We sell an ownership interest in a revolving pool of credit card receivables generated under certain credit card accounts to Cards II Trust (Cards II), 
which purchases a proportionate share of credit card receivables on certain credit card accounts, with the proceeds received from the issuance of 
notes. 

Our credit card securitizations are revolving securitizations, with credit card receivable balances fluctuating from month to month as credit 

card clients repay their balances and new receivables are generated. 

The notes are presented as Secured borrowings within Deposits on the consolidated balance sheet. 
As at October 31, 2020, $1.7 billion of credit card receivable assets with a fair value of $1.7 billion (2019: $2.9 billion with a fair value of 
$2.9 billion) supported associated funding liabilities of $1.7 billion with a fair value of $1.7 billion (2019: $2.9 billion with a fair value of $2.9 billion). 

Covered bond guarantor 
Under the Legislative Covered Bond Programme, we transfer a pool of conventional uninsured mortgages to the CIBC Covered Bond (Legislative) 
Guarantor Limited Partnership (the Guarantor LP). The Guarantor LP holds interest and title to these transferred mortgages and serves to guarantee 
payment of principal and interest to bondholders. The covered bond liabilities are on-balance sheet obligations that are fully collateralized by the 
mortgage assets over which bondholders enjoy a priority claim in the event of CIBC’s insolvency. 

As at October 31, 2020, our Legislative Covered Bond Programme had outstanding covered bond liabilities of $19.6 billion with a fair value of 

$19.7 billion (2019: $18.9 billion with a fair value of $19.0 billion). 

CIBC-managed investment funds 
We establish and manage investment funds such as mutual funds and pooled funds. We act as an investment manager and earn market-based 
management fees, and for certain pooled funds, performance fees which are generally based on the performance of the funds. Seed capital is 
provided from time to time to CIBC-managed investment funds for initial launch. We consolidate those investment funds in which we have power to 
direct the relevant activities of the funds and in which our seed capital, or our units held, are significant relative to the total variability of returns of the 
funds such that we are deemed to be a principal rather than an agent. As at October 31, 2020, the total assets and non-controlling interests in 
consolidated CIBC-managed investment funds were $7 million and $3 million, respectively (2019: $23 million and $15 million, respectively). 
Non-controlling interests in consolidated CIBC-managed investment funds are included in Other liabilities as the investment fund units are 
mandatorily redeemable at the option of the investor. 

Community-based tax-advantaged investments 
We sponsor certain SEs that invest in community development projects in the U.S. through the issuance of below-market loans that generate a 
return primarily through the realization of tax credits. As at October 31, 2020, the program had outstanding loans of $75 million (2019: $55 million). 

Non-consolidated structured entities 
The following SEs are not consolidated by CIBC: 

Single-seller and multi-seller conduits 
We manage and administer a single-seller conduit and several CIBC-sponsored multi-seller conduits in Canada. The multi-seller conduits acquire 
direct or indirect ownership or security interests in pools of financial assets from our clients and finance the acquisitions by issuing asset-backed 
commercial paper (ABCP) to investors. The single-seller conduit acquires financial assets and finances these acquisitions through a credit facility 
provided by a syndicate of financial institutions. The sellers to the conduits may continue to service the assets and may be exposed to credit losses 
realized on these assets, typically through the provision of over-collateralization or another form of credit enhancement. The conduits may also 
obtain credit enhancement from third-party providers. As at October 31, 2020, the total assets in the single-seller conduit and multi-seller conduits 
amounted to $0.5 billion and $8.4 billion, respectively (2019: $0.5 billion and $7.1 billion, respectively). 

We generally provide the multi-seller conduits with commercial paper backstop liquidity facilities, securities distribution, and provide both the 

single and multi-seller conduits with accounting, cash management, and operations services. The liquidity facilities for the managed and 
administered multi-seller conduits require us to provide funding, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions with respect to the conduits, for 
ABCP not placed with external investors. We also may purchase ABCP issued by the multi-seller conduits for market-making purposes. 

We are required to maintain certain short-term and/or long-term debt ratings with respect to the liquidity facilities that we provide to the 

sponsored multi-seller conduits. If we are downgraded below the level specified under the terms of those facilities, we must provide alternative 
satisfactory liquidity arrangements, such as procuring an alternative liquidity provider that meets the minimum rating requirements. 

146  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

We may also act as the counterparty to derivative contracts entered into by a multi-seller conduit in order to convert the yield of the underlying 

assets to match the needs of the multi-seller conduit’s investors or to mitigate the interest rate, basis, and currency risk within the conduit. 

All fees earned in respect of activities with the conduits are on a market basis. 

Third-party structured vehicles – continuing 
We have investments in and provide loans, liquidity and credit facilities to third-party SEs. We also have investments in limited partnerships in which 
we generally are a passive investor of the limited partnerships as a limited partner, and in some cases, we are the co-general partner and have 
significant influence over the limited partnerships. Similar to other limited partners, we are obligated to provide funding up to our commitment level 
to these limited partnerships. 

Pass-through investment structures 
We have exposure to units of third-party or CIBC-managed investment funds. We enter into equity derivative transactions with third-party investment 
funds to pass-through the return of these referenced funds. These transactions provide the investors of the third-party managed investment funds 
with the desired exposure to the referenced funds in a tax efficient manner. 

CIBC Capital Trust 
We have issued senior deposit notes to CIBC Capital Trust, which funds the purchase of these notes through the issuance of CIBC Tier 1 Notes 
(Notes) that match the term of the senior deposit notes. The Notes are eligible for Tier 1 regulatory capital treatment and are subject to the phase-out 
rules for capital instruments that will be viewed as non-qualifying capital instruments. See Note 17 for additional details. 

CIBC-managed investment funds 
As indicated above, we establish investment funds, including mutual funds and pooled funds, to provide clients with investment opportunities and 
we may receive management fees and performance fees. We may hold insignificant amounts of fund units in these CIBC-managed funds. We do 
not consolidate these funds if we do not have significant variability of returns from our interests in these funds such that we are deemed to be an 
agent through our capacity as the investment manager, rather than a principal. We do not guarantee the performance of CIBC-managed investment 
funds. As at October 31, 2020, the total AUM in the non-consolidated CIBC-managed investment funds amounted to $125.2 billion (2019: 
$122.7 billion). 

CIBC structured collateralized debt obligation (CDO) vehicles 
We hold exposures to structured CDO vehicles through investments in, or written credit derivatives referencing, these structured vehicles. We may 
also provide liquidity facilities or other credit facilities. The structured vehicles are funded through the issuance of senior and subordinated tranches. 
We may hold a portion of those senior and/or subordinated tranches. 

We previously curtailed our business activity in structuring CDO vehicles within our structured credit run-off portfolio. Our exposures to CDO 

vehicles mainly arose through our previous involvement in acting as structuring and placement agent for the CDO vehicles. As at October 31, 2020, 
the assets in the CIBC structured CDO vehicles have a total principal amount of $214 million (2019: $232 million). 

Third-party structured vehicles – structured credit run-off 
Similar to our structured activities, we also curtailed our business activities in third-party structured vehicles, within our structured credit run-off 
portfolio. These positions were initially traded as intermediation, correlation and flow trading, which earned us a spread on matching positions. 

Community Reinvestment Act investments 
We hold debt and equity investments in limited liability entities to further our U.S. Community Reinvestment Act initiatives with a carrying value of 
$328 million (2019: $279 million). These entities invest in qualifying community development projects, including affordable housing projects that 
generate a return primarily by the realization of tax credits. Similar to other limited investors in these entities, we are obligated to provide funding up 
to our commitment level to these limited liability entities. As at October 31, 2020, the total assets of these limited liability entities were $5.2 billion 
(2019: $4.8 billion). 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  147 

Consolidated financial statements 

Our on-balance sheet amounts and maximum exposure to loss related to SEs that are not consolidated are set out in the table below. The maximum 
exposure comprises the carrying value of unhedged investments, the notional amounts for liquidity and credit facilities, and the notional amounts less 
accumulated fair value losses for unhedged written credit derivatives on SE reference assets. The impact of CVA is not considered in the table below. 

$ millions, as at October 31, 2020 

On-balance sheet assets at carrying value (3) 

Securities 
Loans 
Investments in equity-accounted associates and joint ventures 

October 31, 2019 

On-balance sheet liabilities at carrying value (3) 

Deposits 
Derivatives (4) 

October 31, 2019 

Maximum exposure to loss, net of hedges 

Investments and loans 
Notional of written derivatives, less fair value losses 
Liquidity, credit facilities and commitments 
Less: hedges of investments, loans and written derivatives exposure 

October 31, 2019 

Single-seller 
and multi-seller 
conduits 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$

$

$ 

$ 

12 
95 
– 

107 

113 

 –  $
– 

 –  $

– 

107 
– 

8,390 (5) 

– 

$  8,497 

$  7,250 

Third-party 
structured 
vehicles – 
continuing 

$  1,770 
1,790 
– 

$

3,560 

$  3,345 

Structured 
vehicles 

run-off (1) 

Other (2) 

$ 

$ 

$ 

3 
– 
– 

3 

3 

$  328 
– 
12 

$

340 

$  332 

 –  $

– 

$

303

–

– 

 –  $

$ 

$  3,560 
– 
2,880 
– 

$  6,440 

$  5,703 

107 

107 

– 

$

  303

$  112 

$  302 

$ 

$ 

$ 

3 
23 
13 
(27) 

12 

13 

$  340 
– 
140 
– 

$  480 

$  418 

(1)  Includes CIBC structured CDO vehicles and third-party structured vehicles. 
(2)  Includes pass-through investment structures, CIBC Capital Trust, and CIBC-managed investment funds and Community Reinvestment Act-related investment vehicles. 
(3)  Excludes SEs established by CMHC, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, FHLB, Federal Farm Credit Bank, and Student Loan Marketing Association. 
(4)  Comprises written credit default swaps (CDS) and total return swaps (TRS) under which we assume exposures. Excludes foreign exchange derivatives, interest rate 

derivatives and other derivatives provided as part of normal client facilitation. 

(5)  Excludes an additional $2.1 billion (2019: $1.6 billion) relating to our backstop liquidity facilities provided to the multi-seller conduits as part of their commitment to fund 

purchases of additional assets. Also excludes $12 million (2019: $26 million) of our direct investments in the multi-seller conduits which we consider investment exposure. 

We also hold investments in a variety of third-party investment funds, which include, but are not limited to, exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, 
and investment trusts. We buy and sell units of these investment funds as part of trading activities or client facilitation businesses that are managed 
as part of larger portfolios. We generally are a passive investor and are not the investment manager in any of these investment funds. We are not the 
sponsor of any third-party investment funds, nor do we have the power over key decision-making activities of the funds. Our maximum exposure to 
loss from our investments is limited to the carrying amounts of our investments and any unutilized commitment we have provided to these funds. In 
addition, we issue certain structured notes and enter into equity derivatives that are referenced to the return of certain investment funds. 
Accordingly, we do not include our interests in these third-party investment funds in the table above. 

Derecognition of financial assets 
We enter into transactions in the normal course of business in which we transfer recognized financial assets directly to third parties, but retain 
substantially all of the risks and rewards of those assets. The risks include credit, interest rate, foreign exchange, pre-payment and other price risks 
whereas the rewards include income streams associated with the assets. Due to the retention of risks, the transferred financial assets are not 
derecognized and such transfers are accounted for as secured borrowing transactions. 

The majority of our financial assets transferred to non-consolidated entities that do not qualify for derecognition are: (i) residential mortgage 

loans under securitization transactions; (ii) securities held by counterparties as collateral under repurchase agreements; and (iii) securities lent 
under securities lending agreements. 

Residential mortgage securitizations 
We securitize fully insured fixed- and variable-rate residential mortgage pools through the creation of National Housing Act (NHA) MBS under the 
NHA MBS Program, sponsored by CMHC. Under the Canada Mortgage Bond Program, sponsored by CMHC, we sell MBS to a government-
sponsored securitization trust that issues securities to investors. We do not consolidate the securitization trust. We may act as a counterparty in 
interest rate swap agreements where we pay the trust the interest due to investors and receive the interest on the MBS. We have also sold MBS 
directly to CMHC under the Government of Canada’s Insured Mortgage Purchase Program. 

The sale of mortgage pools that comprise the NHA MBS does not qualify for derecognition as we retain pre-payment, credit, and interest rate 
risks associated with the mortgages, which represent substantially all the risks and rewards. As a result, the mortgages remain on our consolidated 
balance sheet and are carried at amortized cost. We also recognize the cash proceeds from the securitization as Deposits – Secured borrowings. 

Securities held by counterparties as collateral under repurchase agreements 
We enter into arrangements whereby we sell securities but enter into simultaneous arrangements to repurchase the securities at a fixed price on a 
future date thereby retaining substantially all the risks and rewards. As a result, the securities remain on our consolidated balance sheet. 

Securities lent for cash collateral or for securities collateral 
We enter into arrangements whereby we lend securities but with arrangements to receive the securities at a future date, thereby retaining 
substantially all the risks and rewards. As a result, the securities remain on our consolidated balance sheet. 

148  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
Consolidated financial statements 

The following table provides the carrying amount and fair value of transferred financial assets that did not qualify for derecognition and the 
associated financial liabilities: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Residential mortgage securitizations (1) 
Securities held by counterparties as collateral under repurchase agreements (2) 
Securities lent for cash collateral (2) 
Securities lent for securities collateral (2) 

Associated liabilities (3) 

Carrying 
amount 

2020 

Fair 
value 

$  17,550  $  17,726 
36,720 
13 
20,226 

36,720 
13 
20,226 

Carrying 
amount 

$  16,245 
15,663 
45 
21,789 

2019 

Fair 
value 

$  16,264 
15,663 
45 
21,789 

$  74,509  $  74,685 

$  53,742 

$  53,761 

$  75,853  $  76,080 

$  54,591 

$  54,734 

(1)  Consists mainly of Canadian residential mortgage loans transferred to Canada Housing Trust. Certain cash in transit balances related to the securitization process 

amounting to $1,148 million (2019: $738 million) have been applied to reduce these balances. 

(2)  Does not include over-collateralization of assets pledged. Repurchase and securities lending arrangements are conducted with both CIBC-owned and third-party assets 

on a pooled basis. The carrying amounts represent an estimated allocation related to the transfer of our own financial assets. 
(3)  Includes the obligation to return off-balance sheet securities collateral on securities lent and fair value hedge basis adjustments. 

Note  8 

Property and equipment 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

2020 

Cost 

Balance at beginning of year 

Impact of adopting IFRS 16 (3) 
Additions (4) 
Disposals (5) 
Adjustments (6) 

Right-of-
use assets (1) 

Land and 
buildings 

Computer 
equipment 

Office furniture, 
equipment 
and other (2) 

Leasehold 
improvements 

n/a 
1,733 
115 
(64) 
6 

$  1,383 
(715) 
17 
(6) 
2 

$  1,043 
– 
117 
(53) 
2 

$  1,109 

$  1,013 
– 
142 
(29) 
3 

$  1,129 

Total 

$  4,643 
1,018 
427 
(217) 
16

$  1,204 
– 
36 
(65) 
3 

Balance at end of year 

$  1,790 

$ 

681 

$  1,178 

$  5,887 

2019 

Balance at end of year 

n/a 

$  1,383 

$  1,043 

$  1,013 

$  1,204 

$  4,643 

2020 

Accumulated depreciation 

Balance at beginning of year 
Impact of adopting IFRS 16 
Depreciation (5) 
Disposals (5) 
Adjustments (5) 

Balance at end of year 

2019 

Balance at end of year 

Net book value 

As at October 31, 2020 
As at October 31, 2019 

n/a 
54 
280 
(18) 
– 

$ 

316 

n/a 

$  1,474 
n/a 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

669 
(376) 
13 
(2) 
1 

305 

669 

376 
714 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

819 
– 
102 
(53) 
1 

869 

819 

240 
224 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

521 
– 
50 
(18) 
– 

553 

521 

576 
492 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

821 
– 
72 
(46) 
– 

847 

821 

331 
383 

$  2,830 
(322) 
517 
(137) 
2 

$  2,890 

$  2,830 

$  2,997 
$  1,813 

(1)  Includes right-of-use assets with a net book value of $49 million as at November 1, 2019 that are rented out through operating sublease arrangements. 
(2)  Includes $306 million (2019: $173 million) of work-in-progress not subject to depreciation. 
(3)  Includes $103 million related to leases that were previously classified as finance leases under IAS 17. 
(4)  Includes impact of lease modifications. 
(5)  Includes write-offs for properties that were vacated in the fourth quarter of 2020, and write-offs of fully depreciated assets. 
(6)  Includes foreign currency translation adjustments. 
n/a  Not applicable. 

Cost of net additions and disposals during the year was: Canadian Personal and Business Banking net additions of $860 million (2019: net additions 
of $3 million); Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management net additions of nil (2019: net additions of $3 million); U.S. Commercial 
Banking and Wealth Management net additions of $219 million (2019: net additions of $27 million); Capital Markets net additions of $166 million 
(2019: net additions of $1 million); and Corporate and Other net disposals of $17 million (2019: net disposals of $11 million). 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  149 

 
Consolidated financial statements 

Transition to IFRS 16 “Leases” 
CIBC adopted IFRS 16 as at November 1, 2019 in place of prior guidance, IAS 17 “Leases” (IAS 17). For lessees, the new standard required on-
balance sheet recognition for most leases that were considered operating leases under IAS 17, which resulted in the gross-up of the balance sheet 
through the recognition of a right-of-use asset and a corresponding liability for the lease component of the future payments. Depreciation expense on 
the right-of-use asset and interest expense on the lease liability replaced the operating lease expense. Accounting for leases by lessors remains 
mostly unchanged from IAS 17; however, intermediate lessors are required to reassess subleases by reference to the right-of-use asset arising from 
the head lease which could result in on-balance sheet recognition for certain subleases previously classified as operating subleases. The application 
of IFRS 16 mainly applied to our office and banking centre leases, as well as certain subleases previously classified as operating subleases. 

We applied IFRS 16 using the modified retrospective approach, without restatement of comparative periods. As at November 1, 2019, the 
adoption of IFRS 16 resulted in the recognition of approximately $1.7 billion of lease liabilities and $1.6 billion of right-of-use assets. The amount of  
the right-of-use assets recognized was determined based on the amount of the lease liabilities less the existing deferred rent liabilities as at 
October 31, 2019. Furthermore, the reassessment of certain subleases related to a previously recognized finance lease property, a portion of which 
is rented out and considered investment property, resulted in an increase in net assets as a result of the recognition of additional sublease-related 
assets, net of the derecognition of amounts related to the corresponding head lease. The after-tax impact to retained earnings as a result of 
adopting IFRS 16 was an increase of $0.1 billion. 

In addition, the following permitted recognition exemptions and practical expedients have been applied: 
 

A single discount rate curve has been applied to portfolios of leases with reasonably similar characteristics at the date of application. The 
weighted average incremental borrowing rate applied on our existing lease portfolio was 2.31%. 
In contracts where we are the lessee, we have not reassessed contracts that were identified as finance leases under the previous accounting 
standard (IAS 17). 

 

  We have elected to exclude leases of assets considered as low value and short-term leases with a remaining term of less than 12 months. 
  We have applied the onerous lease provisions recognized as at October 31, 2019 as an alternative to performing an impairment review of our 
right-of-use assets as at November 1, 2019. Where an onerous lease provision was recorded on a lease, the right-of-use asset has been 
reduced by the amount of that provision on transition and no further impairment review was performed. 

  We have elected not to separate lease and non-lease components of a lease contract when calculating the lease liability and corresponding 
right-of-use asset for certain classes of assets. Non-lease components may consist of, but are not limited to, common area maintenance 
expenses and utility charges. Other occupancy costs not within the scope of IFRS 16 will continue to be recorded as operating expenses. 

The following table reconciles the operating lease commitments as at October 31, 2019 disclosed under IAS 17 to the opening lease liabilities under 
IFRS 16 as at the initial date of application, November 1, 2019. 

$ millions 

Operating lease commitments as at October 31, 2019 

Less: Operating and tax expenses related to the lease commitments 
Less: Impact of future lease commitments not yet commenced (1) 
Adjustments as a result of renewal and termination assumptions 
Impact of discounting 

Lease liability recognized as at November 1, 2019 

(1)  Mainly related to CIBC Square lease commitments that are expected to commence in 2021. 

Note  9 

Goodwill, software and other intangible assets 

$ 5,547 
(2,477) 
(1,434) 
306 
(230) 

$ 1,712 

Goodwill 
The carrying amount of goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually as at August 1 and whenever there are events or changes in circumstances 
which indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Goodwill is allocated to CGUs for the purposes of impairment testing based on the 
lowest level for which identifiable cash inflows are largely independent of cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets. The goodwill 
impairment test is performed by comparing the recoverable amount of the CGU to which goodwill has been allocated with the carrying amount of 
the CGU including goodwill, with any deficiency recognized as impairment to goodwill. The recoverable amount of a CGU is defined as the higher of 
its estimated fair value less cost to sell and value in use. 

We have three significant CGUs to which goodwill has been allocated. The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are allocated to each 

CGU as follows: 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

2020 

Balance at beginning of year 

Impairment 
Foreign currency translation adjustments 

Balance at end of year 

2019 

Balance at beginning of year 

Acquisitions 
Impairment 
Foreign currency translation adjustments 

Balance at end of year 

150  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

CIBC 
FirstCaribbean 

$  278 
(248) 
5 

$ 

35 

$  413 
– 
(135) 
– 

$  278 

CGUs 

Canadian 
Wealth 
Management 

U.S. Commercial 
Banking and 
Wealth 
Management 

$  884 
– 
– 

$  884 

$  884 
– 
– 
– 

$  884 

$  4,084 
– 
47 

Other 

$  203 
– 
– 

Total 

$  5,449 
(248) 
52 

$  4,131 

$  203 

$  5,253 

$  4,078 
4 
– 
2 

$  189 
14 
– 
– 

$  5,564 
18 
(135) 
2 

$  4,084 

$  203 

$  5,449 

Consolidated financial statements 

Impairment testing of goodwill and key assumptions 
CIBC FirstCaribbean 
CIBC acquired a controlling interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean in December 2006 and now holds 91.7% of its shares. CIBC FirstCaribbean is a major 
Caribbean bank offering a full range of financial services in corporate and investment banking, retail and business banking, and wealth 
management. CIBC FirstCaribbean, which has assets of approximately US$12 billion, operates in the Caribbean and is traded on the stock 
exchanges of Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago. The results of CIBC FirstCaribbean, including goodwill impairment charges thereon, are included in 
Corporate and Other. 

On November 8, 2019 and as discussed in Note 4, we announced that we had entered into a definitive agreement to sell 66.73% of CIBC 

FirstCaribbean’s outstanding shares to GNB Financial Group Limited (GNB). As a result of the valuation implied from the definitive agreement with 
GNB, we recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $135 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. Commencing in the first quarter of 2020, the assets 
and liabilities of CIBC FirstCaribbean were treated as held for sale, and measured at the lower of their aggregate carrying amount and fair value less 
costs to sell, on the basis that the transaction was highly probable to close in 2020, subject to regulatory approvals. In the second quarter of 2020, 
we recognized an additional goodwill impairment charge of $28 million based on the estimated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 
recoverable value of the 24.9% interest in CIBC FirstCaribbean that we expected to retain. 

As a result of the lengthy regulatory review process, the worsening impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Caribbean economy and our 
revised expectations regarding the likelihood and timing of closing of a potential transaction, we concluded in the fourth quarter of 2020 that held for 
sale accounting is no longer appropriate. As a result, we were required to assess the recoverable amount of the remaining goodwill based on 
current market conditions rather than the definitive agreement with GNB. This assessment reflected revised expectations concerning the impact of 
the COVID-19 pandemic and led to the recognition of an additional goodwill impairment charge of $220 million. Estimation of the recoverable 
amount is based on fair value less costs to sell, and is an area of significant judgment. The fair value measurement is categorized within level 3 of 
the fair value hierarchy as it includes certain unobservable inputs. Reductions in the estimated recoverable amount could arise from various factors, 
including changes in the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic and other market conditions. 

See Note 4 for additional details. 

Canadian Wealth Management 
The recoverable amount of the Canadian Wealth Management CGU is based on a fair value less cost to sell calculation. The fair value is estimated 
using an earnings-based approach whereby the forecasted earnings are based on the Wealth Management internal plan which was approved by 
management and covers a three-year period. The calculation incorporates the forecasted earnings multiplied by an earnings multiple derived from 
observable price-to-earnings multiples of comparable wealth management institutions. The price-to-earnings multiples of those comparable wealth 
management institutions ranged from 7.9 to 13.7 as at August 1, 2020 (August 1, 2019: 8.0 to 10.9). 

We have determined that the estimated recoverable amount of the Wealth Management CGU was well in excess of its carrying amount as at 

August 1, 2020. As a result, no impairment charge was recognized during 2020. 

If alternative reasonably possible changes in key assumptions were applied, the result of the impairment test would not differ. 

U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 
The recoverable amount of the U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management CGU (including The PrivateBank and Geneva Advisors) is based 
on a value in use calculation that is estimated using a ten-year cash flow projection, to reflect a recovery to more normal levels of economic growth 
following the COVID-19 pandemic. The cash flows projections are based on the financial plans approved by management, and an estimate of the 
capital required to be maintained to support ongoing operations. The determination of the medium- and long-term forecasted earnings requires the 
exercise of judgment in light of the uncertainty regarding the ultimate economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Implicit in our economic outlook 
is the assumption that the manner in which governments respond to the second and subsequent waves of the virus, and the dissemination of an 
effective mass-produced vaccine, will allow the U.S. economy to continue to recover during 2021, with the economy returning to pre-COVID levels 
of economic activity in 2022 and pre-COVID levels of unemployment in 2023. 

We have determined that for the impairment testing performed as at August 1, 2020, the estimated recoverable amount of the U.S. Commercial 

Banking and Wealth Management CGU was in excess of its carrying amount. As a result, no impairment charge was recognized during 2020. 
A terminal growth rate of 4.0% as at August 1, 2020 (August 1, 2019: 3.5%) was applied to the years after the ten-year forecast. All of the 

forecasted cash flows were discounted at an after-tax rate of 10.2% as at August 1, 2020 (12.4% pre-tax) which we believe to be a risk-adjusted 
discount rate appropriate to U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management (we used an after-tax rate of 9.0% as at August 1, 2019). The 
determination of a discount rate and a terminal growth rate require the exercise of judgment. The discount rate was determined based on the 
following primary factors: (i) the risk-free rate; (ii) an equity risk premium; and (iii) beta adjustment to the equity risk premium based on a review of 
betas of comparable publicly traded financial institutions in the region. The terminal growth rate was based on management’s expectations of real 
growth and forecast inflation rates. 

Estimation of the recoverable amount is an area of significant judgment. The recoverable amounts is estimated using an internally developed 

model which requires the use of significant assumptions including forecasted earnings, a discount rate, a terminal growth rate and forecasted 
regulatory capital requirements. Reductions in the estimated recoverable amount could arise from various factors, such as reductions in forecasted 
cash flows, an increase in the assumed level of required capital, and any adverse changes to the discount rate or terminal growth rate either in 
isolation or in any combination thereof. 

Other 
The goodwill relating to the Other CGUs is comprised of amounts which individually are not considered to be significant. We have determined that for 
the impairment testing performed as at August 1, 2020, the estimated recoverable amount of these CGUs was in excess of their carrying amounts. 

Allocation to strategic business units 
Goodwill of $5,253 million (2019: $5,449 million) is allocated to the SBUs as follows: Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management of 
$954 million (2019: $954 million), Corporate and Other of $98 million (2019: $327 million), U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management of 
$4,131 million (2019: $4,084 million), Capital Markets of $63 million (2019: $77 million), and Canadian Personal and Business Banking of $7 million 
(2019: $7 million). 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  151 

Consolidated financial statements 

Software and other intangible assets 
The carrying amount of indefinite-lived intangible assets is provided in the following table: 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

2020 

Balance at beginning of year 
Foreign currency translation adjustments 

Balance at end of year 

2019 

Balance at beginning of year 
Foreign currency translation adjustments 

Balance at end of year 

(1)  Represents management contracts purchased as part of past acquisitions. 
(2)  Acquired as part of the CIBC FirstCaribbean acquisition. 

The components of finite-lived software and other intangible assets are as follows: 

Contract 

based (1) 

Brand name (2) 

$  116 
– 

$  116 

$  116 
– 

$  116 

$  26 
– 

$  26 

$  26 
– 

$  26 

Total 

$  142 
– 

$  142 

$  142 
– 

$  142 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

2020  Gross carrying amount 

Balance at beginning of year 

Additions 
Disposals (5) 
Adjustments (6) 

Balance at end of year 

2019 

Balance at end of year 

2020  Accumulated amortization 

Balance at beginning of year 

Amortization and impairment (5) 
Disposals (5) 
Adjustments (6) 

Balance at end of year 

2019 

Balance at end of year 

Net book value 

As at October 31, 2020 
As at October 31, 2019 

Core deposit 

Software (1) 

intangibles (2) 

Contract 

based (3) 

Customer 
relationships (4) 

$  3,052 
481 
(28) 
3 

$  3,508 

$  3,052 

$  1,631 
371 
(20) 
1 

$  1,983 

$  1,631 

$  1,525 
$  1,421 

$  611 
– 
– 
8 

$  619 

$  611 

$  389 
64 
– 
4 

$  457 

$  389 

$  162 
$  222 

$  38 
– 
– 
(16) 

$  22 

$  38 

$  11 
5 
– 
(4) 

$  12 

$  11 

$  10 
$  27 

Total 

$  4,023 
481 
(97) 
(1) 

$  4,406 

$  4,023 

$  2,196 
476 
(88) 
3 

$  2,587 

$  2,196 

$  322 
– 
(69) 
4 

$  257 

$  322 

$  165 
36 
(68) 
2 

$  135 

$  165 

$  122 
$  157 

$  1,819 
$  1,827 

(1)  Includes $620 million (2019: $515 million) of work-in-progress not subject to amortization. 
(2)  Acquired as part of the acquisitions of CIBC FirstCaribbean and The PrivateBank. 
(3)  Represents a combination of management contracts purchased as part of past acquisitions including The PrivateBank and Geneva Advisors in 2017, as well as LGA and 

Cleary Gull in 2019. 

(4)  Represents customer relationships associated with past acquisitions including The PrivateBank and Geneva Advisors in 2017, and LGA in 2019. 
(5)  Includes write-offs of fully amortized assets. 
(6)  Includes foreign currency translation adjustments and reclassification of certain contract-based assets to right-of-use assets in Property and equipment as a result of our 

adoption of IFRS 16 on November 1, 2019. 

Net additions and disposals of gross carrying amount during the year were: Canadian Personal and Business Banking net additions of $1 million 
(2019: net disposals of $12 million); Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management net disposals of nil (2019: net disposals of nil); 
U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management net disposals of $8 million (2019: net additions of $10 million); Capital Markets net disposals of 
nil (2019: net disposals of $1 million); and Corporate and Other net additions of $459 million (2019: net additions of $81 million). 

Note  10  Other assets 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Accrued interest receivable 
Defined benefit asset (Note 19) 
Precious metals (1) 
Brokers’ client accounts 
Current tax receivable 
Other prepayments 
Derivative collateral receivable 
Accounts receivable 
Other (2) 

$ 

2020 

1,317 
247 
2,731 
9,153 
2,201 
557 
4,950 
519 
1,533 

$ 

2019 

1,414 
175 
1,815 
5,471 
3,542 
745 
6,185 
759 
717 

$  23,208 

$  20,823 

(1)  Includes gold and silver bullion that are measured at fair value using unadjusted market prices quoted in active markets. 
(2)  Includes investments in subleases of $749 million as at October 31, 2020, related to certain subleases we have re-assessed as finance subleases as part of the adoption 

of IFRS 16. For the year ended October 31, 2020, finance income related to our investment in sublease was $53 million. Future lease payments receivable are $506 million 
over the next five years, and $838 million thereafter until expiry of the subleases. 

152  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Note  11  Deposits(1)(2) 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Personal 
Business and government (7) 
Bank 
Secured borrowings (8) 

Comprises: 

Held at amortized cost 
Designated at fair value 

Total deposits include (9): 

Non-interest-bearing deposits 

Canada 
U.S. 
Other international 

Interest-bearing deposits 

Canada 
U.S. 
Other international 

Payable on 

Payable after 

Payable on a 

demand (3) 

notice (4) 

fixed date (5)(6) 

2020 
Total 

$ 

13,704 
85,604 
6,837 
– 

$  132,152 
82,477 
126 
– 

$ 

56,296 
143,345 
10,048 
40,151 

$  202,152 
311,426 
17,011 
40,151 

2019 
Total 

$  178,091 
257,502 
11,224 
38,895 

$  106,145 

$  214,755 

$  249,840 

$  570,740 

$  485,712 

$  557,321 
13,419 

$  475,254 
10,458 

$  570,740 

$  485,712 

$ 

71,122 
13,833 
5,798 

$ 

51,880 
7,876 
4,647 

389,439 
66,399 
24,149 

344,756 
56,844 
19,709 

$  570,740 

$  485,712 

(1)  Includes deposits of $185.2 billion (2019: $152.8 billion) denominated in U.S. dollars and deposits of $30.2 billion (2019: $30.0 billion) denominated in other foreign 

currencies. 

(2)  Net of purchased notes of $3,063 million (2019: $2,930 million). 
(3)  Includes all deposits for which we do not have the right to require notice of withdrawal. These deposits are generally chequing accounts. 
(4)  Includes all deposits for which we can legally require notice of withdrawal. These deposits are generally savings accounts. 
(5)  Includes all deposits that mature on a specified date. These deposits are generally term deposits, guaranteed investment certificates, and similar instruments. 
(6)  Includes $19,925 million (2019: $8,986 million) of deposits which are subject to the bank recapitalization (bail-in) conversion regulations issued by the Department of 
Finance (Canada). These regulations provide certain statutory powers to the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC), including the ability to convert specified 
eligible shares and liabilities of CIBC into common shares in the event that CIBC is determined to be non-viable. 

(7)  Includes $303 million (2019: $302 million) of Notes issued to CIBC Capital Trust. 
(8)  Comprises liabilities issued by or as a result of activities associated with the securitization of residential mortgages, covered bond programme, and consolidated 

securitization vehicles. 

(9)  Classification is based on geographical location of the CIBC office. 

Note  12  Other liabilities 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Accrued interest payable 
Defined benefit liability (Note 19) 
Gold and silver certificates 
Brokers’ client accounts 
Derivative collateral payable 
Negotiable instruments 
Accrued employee compensation and benefits 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 
Other (1) 

$ 

2020 

1,200 
676 
133 
5,303 
4,772 
1,110 
2,174 
2,153 
4,613 

$ 

2019 

1,438 
737 
114 
4,940 
3,823 
991 
2,281 
2,062 
2,645 

$  22,134 

$  19,031 

(1)  Includes the carrying value of our lease liabilities, which was $1,866 million as at October 31, 2020, relating to our adoption of IFRS 16 in the current year. See Note 8 for 
additional details on the IFRS 16 transition. The carrying value includes $302 million related to leases that were previously classified as finance leases under IAS 17. The 
undiscounted cash flows related to the contractual maturity of our lease liabilities is $354 million for the period less than 1 year, $1,111 million between years 1-5, and 
$706 million thereafter until expiry of the leases. During the year ended October 31, 2020, interest expense on lease liabilities was $60 million. 

Note  13  Derivative instruments 

As described in Note 1, in the normal course of business, we use various derivative instruments for both trading and ALM purposes. These 
derivatives limit, modify or give rise to varying degrees and types of risk. 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Trading (Note 3) 
ALM (Note 3) (1) 

Assets 

$  31,356 
1,374 

$  32,730 

2020 

Liabilities 

$  29,392 
1,116 

$  30,508 

2019 

Assets 

Liabilities 

$  22,738 
1,157 

$  23,799 
1,314 

$  23,895 

$  25,113 

(1)  Comprised of derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting under IAS 39 and derivatives used for economic hedges. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  153 

Consolidated financial statements 

Derivatives used by CIBC 
The majority of our derivative contracts are OTC transactions, which consist of: (i) contracts that are bilaterally negotiated and settled between 
CIBC and the counterparty to the contract; and (ii) contracts that are bilaterally negotiated and then cleared through a central counterparty (CCP). 
Bilaterally negotiated and settled contracts are usually traded under a standardized International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) 
agreement with collateral posting arrangements between CIBC and its counterparties. Terms are negotiated directly with counterparties and the 
contracts have industry-standard settlement mechanisms prescribed by ISDA. Centrally cleared contracts are generally bilaterally negotiated and 
then novated to, and cleared through, a CCP. The industry promotes the use of CCPs to clear OTC trades. The central clearing of derivative 
contracts generally facilitates the reduction of credit exposures due to the ability to net settle offsetting positions. Consequently, derivative contracts 
cleared through CCPs generally attract less capital relative to those settled with non-CCPs. 

The remainder of our derivative contracts are exchange-traded derivatives, which are standardized in terms of their amounts and settlement 
dates, and are bought and sold on organized and regulated exchanges. These exchange-traded derivative contracts consist primarily of options 
and futures. 

Interest rate derivatives 
Forward rate agreements are OTC contracts that effectively fix a future interest rate for a period of time. A typical forward rate agreement provides 
that at a pre-determined future date, a cash settlement will be made between the counterparties based upon the difference between a contracted 
rate and a market rate to be determined in the future, calculated on a specified notional principal amount. No exchange of principal amount takes 
place. Certain forward rate agreements are bilaterally transacted and then novated and settled through a clearing house which acts as a CCP. 

Interest rate swaps are OTC contracts in which two counterparties agree to exchange cash flows over a period of time based on rates applied to 
a specified notional principal amount. A typical interest rate swap would require one counterparty to pay a fixed market interest rate in exchange for a 
variable market interest rate determined from time to time, with both calculated on a specified notional principal amount. No exchange of principal 
amount takes place. Certain interest rate swaps are bilaterally transacted and then novated and settled through a clearing house which acts as a CCP. 
Interest rate options are contracts in which one party (the purchaser of an option) acquires from another party (the writer of an option), in 
exchange for a premium, the right, but not the obligation, to either buy or sell, on a specified future date or within a specified time, a specified 
financial instrument at a contracted price. The underlying financial instrument has a market price which varies in response to changes in interest 
rates. Options are transacted in both OTC and exchange-traded markets. 

Interest rate futures are standardized contracts transacted on an exchange. They are based upon an agreement to buy or sell a specified 

quantity of a financial instrument on a specified future date, at a contracted price. These contracts differ from forward rate agreements in that they 
are in standard amounts with standard settlement dates and are transacted through an exchange. 

Foreign exchange derivatives 
Foreign exchange forwards are OTC contracts in which one counterparty contracts with another to exchange a specified amount of one currency for 
a specified amount of a second currency, at a future date or range of dates. 

Foreign exchange futures contracts are similar in mechanics to foreign exchange forward contracts except that they are in standard currency 

amounts with standard settlement dates and are transacted through an exchange. 

Foreign exchange swap contracts comprise foreign exchange swaps and cross-currency interest rate swaps. Foreign exchange swaps are 

transactions in which a currency is simultaneously purchased in the spot market and sold for a different currency in the forward market, or vice 
versa. Cross-currency interest rate swaps are transactions in which counterparties exchange principal and interest flows in different currencies over 
a period of time. These contracts are used to manage both currency and interest rate exposures. 

Credit derivatives 
Credit derivatives are OTC contracts designed to transfer the credit risk in an underlying financial instrument (usually termed as a reference asset) 
from one counterparty to another. The most common credit derivatives are CDS and certain TRS. 

CDS contracts provide protection against the decline in value of a reference asset as a result of specified credit events such as default or 
bankruptcy. These derivatives are similar in structure to an option whereby the purchaser pays a premium to the seller of the CDS contract in return 
for payment contingent on the occurrence of a credit event. The protection purchaser has recourse to the protection seller for the difference 
between the face value of the CDS contract and the fair value of the reference asset at the time of settlement. Neither the purchaser nor the seller 
under the CDS contract has recourse to the entity that issued the reference asset. Certain CDS contracts are cleared through a CCP. 

In credit derivative TRS contracts, one counterparty agrees to pay or receive cash amounts based on the returns of a reference asset, 
including interest earned on these assets in exchange for amounts that are based on prevailing market funding rates. These cash settlements are 
made regardless of whether there is a credit event. Upon the occurrence of a credit event, the parties may either exchange cash payments 
according to the value of the defaulted assets or exchange cash based on the notional amount for physical delivery of the defaulted assets. 

Equity derivatives 
Equity swaps are OTC contracts in which one counterparty agrees to pay, or receive from the other, cash amounts based on changes in the value 
of a stock index, a basket of stocks or a single stock in exchange for amounts that are based either on prevailing market funding rates or changes 
in the value of a different stock index, basket of stocks or a single stock. These contracts generally include payments in respect of dividends. 

Equity options give the purchaser of the option, for a premium, the right, but not the obligation, to buy from or sell to the writer of an option, 
an underlying stock index, basket of stocks, or a single stock at a contracted price. Options are transacted in both OTC and exchange markets. 
Equity index futures are standardized contracts transacted on an exchange. They are based on an agreement to pay or receive a cash 

amount based on the difference between the contracted price level of an underlying stock index and its corresponding market price level at a 
specified future date. There is generally no actual delivery of stocks that comprise the underlying index. These contracts are in standard amounts 
with standard settlement dates. 

Precious metal and other commodity derivatives 
We also transact in other derivative products, including commodity forwards, futures, swaps and options, such as precious metal and energy-
related products in both OTC and exchange markets. 

154  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Notional amounts 
The notional amounts are not recorded as assets or liabilities, as they represent the face amount of the contract to which a rate or price is applied to 
determine the amount of cash flows to be exchanged. In most cases, notional amounts do not represent the potential gain or loss associated with 
market or credit risk of such instruments. 

The following table presents the notional amounts of derivative instruments: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

2020 

2019 

Residual term to contractual maturity 

Less 
than 
1 year 

1 to  
5 years 

Over 
5 years 

Total 
notional 
amounts 

Trading 

ALM (1) 

Trading 

ALM (1) 

$ 

10,175 

$ 

3,444 

$ 

– 

$ 

13,619 

$ 

10,593 

$ 

3,026  $ 

8,591  $ 

2,480 

Interest rate derivatives 

Over-the-counter 

Forward rate agreements 
Centrally cleared forward rate 

agreements 
Swap contracts 
Centrally cleared swap contracts 
Purchased options 
Written options 

Exchange-traded 

Futures contracts 
Purchased options 
Written options 

Total interest rate derivatives 

Foreign exchange derivatives 

Over-the-counter 

Forward contracts 
Swap contracts 
Purchased options 
Written options 

Exchange-traded 

Futures contracts 

Total foreign exchange derivatives 

Credit derivatives 
Over-the-counter 

Credit default swap contracts – 

protection purchased 

Centrally cleared credit default swap 
contracts – protection purchased 

Credit default swap contracts – 

protection sold 

Centrally cleared credit default swap 

contracts – protection sold 

Total credit derivatives 

Equity derivatives 
Over-the-counter 
Exchange-traded 

Total equity derivatives 

Precious metal derivatives 

Over-the-counter 
Exchange-traded 

Total precious metal derivatives 

Other commodity derivatives 

146,823 
72,315 
1,227,733 
5,200 
3,957 
1,466,203 

185,639 
3,059 
5,059 
193,757 
1,659,960 

1,058,942 
117,017 
16,857 
20,792 
1,213,608 

2,605 
138,145 
1,537,632 
4,622 
4,914 
1,691,362 

84,020 
1 
1 
84,022 
1,775,384 

18,898 
266,263 
2,102 
1,877 
289,140 

– 
83,576 
520,617 
1,120 
1,265 
606,578 

11 
– 
– 
11 
606,589 

2,334 
145,735 
49 
14 
148,132 

149,428 
294,036 
3,285,982 
10,942 
10,136 
3,764,143 

269,670 
3,060 
5,060 
277,790 
4,041,933 

1,080,174 
529,015 
19,008 
22,683 
1,650,880 

149,428 
264,184 
2,840,793 
9,188 
9,370 
3,283,556 

269,670 
3,060 
5,060 
277,790 
3,561,346 

1,071,423 
486,689 
19,008 
22,229 
1,599,349 

3 
1,213,611 

– 
289,140 

– 
148,132 

3 
1,650,883 

3 
1,599,352 

16 

58 

41 

– 
115 

66,888 
69,675 

136,563 

9,263 
524 

9,787 

925 

835 

362 

819 
2,941 

24,081 
19,807 

43,888 

418 
– 

418 

995 

1,691 

220 

490 
3,396 

810 
342 

1,936 

2,584 

623 

1,309 
6,452 

1,907 

2,424 

614 

1,309 
6,254 

91,779 
89,824 

86,865 
89,824 

1,152 

181,603 

176,689 

– 
– 

– 

9,681 
524 

10,205 

9,681 
524 

10,205 

– 
– 

– 

– 
29,852 
445,189 
1,754 
766 
480,587 

– 
– 
– 
– 
480,587 

8,751 
42,326 
– 
454 
51,531 

– 
51,531 

29 

160 

9 

– 
198 

320,118 
275,418 
2,780,206 
12,883 
14,670 

– 
40,177 
355,846 
2,358 
1,011 

3,411,886 

401,872 

136,627 
14,616 
5,758 

157,001 

2,266 
– 
– 

2,266 

3,568,887 

404,138 

892,117 
398,262 
19,285 
23,947 

1,333,611 

12,840 
45,510 
– 
– 

58,350 

26 

– 

1,333,637 

58,350 

940 

973 

328 

181 

2,422 

102 

158 

50 

– 

310 

4,914 
– 

4,914 

85,310 (2) 
89,529 

174,839 

3,347 
– 

3,347 

9,814 
3,235 

13,049 

36,819 
102 
23,086 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

Over-the-counter 
Centrally cleared commodity derivatives 
Exchange-traded 

Total other commodity derivatives 

Total notional amount of which: 

Over-the-counter (3) 
Exchange-traded 

13,999 
41 
12,411 
26,451 
$  3,046,487 
2,770,117 
276,370 

19,309 
14 
6,008 
25,331 
$  2,137,102 
2,027,265 
109,837 

842 
– 
281 
1,123 
$  760,392 
759,758 
634 

34,150 
55 
18,700 
52,905 
$  5,943,981 
5,557,140 
386,841 

34,142 
55 
18,700 
52,897 
$  5,406,743 
5,019,902 
386,841 

8 
– 
– 
8 

60,007 

– 
$  537,238  $  5,152,841  $  466,145 
463,879 
2,266 

4,879,964 
272,877 

537,238 
– 

(1)  ALM: asset/liability management. 
(2)  Restated from amount previously presented. 
(3)  For OTC derivatives that are not centrally cleared, $1,984.6 billion (2019: $1,596.7 billion) are with counterparties that have two-way collateral posting arrangements, 

$44.9 billion (2019: $94.2 billion) are with counterparties that have one-way collateral posting arrangements, and $88.3 billion (2019: $184.8 billion) are with counterparties 
that have no collateral posting arrangements. Counterparties with whom we have more than insignificant OTC derivative portfolios and one-way collateral posting 
arrangements are either sovereign entities or supra national financial institutions. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  155 

Consolidated financial statements 

Risk 
In the following sections, we discuss the risks related to the use of derivatives and how we manage these risks. 

Market risk 
Derivatives are financial instruments where valuation is linked to changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity, commodity, credit prices 
or indices. Changes in value as a result of the aforementioned risk factors are referred to as market risk. 

Market risk arising from derivative trading activities is managed in order to mitigate risk in line with CIBC’s risk appetite. To manage market 

risk, we set market risk limits and may enter into hedging transactions. 

Credit risk 
Credit risk arises from the potential for a counterparty to default on its contractual obligations and the possibility that prevailing market conditions are 
such that a loss would occur in replacing the defaulted transaction. 

We limit the credit risk of OTC derivatives through the use of ISDA master netting agreements, collateral, CCPs and other credit mitigation 

techniques. We clear eligible derivatives through CCPs in accordance with various global initiatives. Where feasible, we novate existing bilaterally 
negotiated and settled derivatives to a CCP in an effort to reduce CIBC’s credit risk exposure. We establish counterparty credit limits and limits for 
CCP exposures based on a counterparty’s creditworthiness and the type of trading relationship with each counterparty (underlying agreements, 
business volumes, product types, tenors, etc.). 

We negotiate netting agreements to contain the build-up of credit exposure resulting from multiple transactions with more active 
counterparties. Such agreements provide for the simultaneous close-out and netting of all transactions with a counterparty, in the case of a 
counterparty default. A number of these agreements incorporate a Credit Support Annex, which is a bilateral security agreement that, among other 
things, provides for the exchange of collateral between parties in the event that one party’s exposure to the other exceeds agreed upon thresholds. 
Credit risk on exchange-traded futures and options is limited, as these transactions are standardized contracts executed on established 
exchanges, whose CCPs assume the obligations of both counterparties. Similarly, swaps that are centrally cleared represent limited credit risk 
because these transactions are novated to the CCP, which assumes the obligations of the original bilateral counterparty. All exchange-traded and 
centrally cleared contracts are subject to initial margin and daily settlement of variation margins, designed to protect participants from losses 
incurred from a counterparty default. 

A CVA is determined using the fair value based exposure we have on derivative contracts. We believe that we have made appropriate fair 

value adjustments to date. The establishment of fair value adjustments involves estimates that are based on accounting processes and judgments 
by management. We evaluate the adequacy of the fair value adjustments on an ongoing basis. Market and economic conditions relating to 
derivative counterparties may change in the future, which could result in significant future losses. 

The following table summarizes our credit exposure arising from derivatives, which includes the current replacement cost, credit equivalent amount 
and risk-weighted amount. 

In the second quarter of 2020, we adopted the Internal Model Method (IMM) for the determination of the EAD amount for most of our 

derivatives portfolios. The EAD amount is based on effective expected positive exposure (EEPE) which computes, through simulation, the expected 
exposures with consideration to the expected movements in underlying risk factor and netting/collateral agreements. It is calculated as EEPE 
multiplied by the prescribed alpha factor of 1.4 and is reduced by CVA losses. The EAD amount is then multiplied by counterparty risk variables to 
arrive at the risk-weighted amount. The risk-weighted amount is used in determining the regulatory capital requirements for derivatives. 

From the first quarter of 2019 to the second quarter of 2020, the Standardized Approach for Counterparty Credit Risk (SA-CCR) was used in 

calculating the replacement cost, EAD amount and risk-weighted assets. The current replacement cost was the estimated cost to replace all 
contracts that have a positive market value, representing an unrealized gain to us. The replacement cost of an instrument was dependent upon its 
terms relative to prevailing market prices. Replacement cost included the impact of certain collateral amounts and the impact of master netting 
agreements. The EAD amount was calculated as the sum of replacement cost and the potential future exposure, multiplied by an alpha of 1.4, and 
was reduced by CVA losses. The potential future exposure was an estimate of the amount by which the current replacement cost could increase 
over the remaining term of each transaction, based on a formula prescribed by OSFI. Similar to IMM, the EAD amount was then multiplied by 
counterparty risk variables to arrive at the risk-weighted amount. 

156  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

$ millions, as at October 31 

2020 (1) 

Current replacement cost (2) 

Trading 

ALM 

Total 

$ 

–  $ 

16  $ 

3,974 
17 
9 

4,000 

– 

237 
6 
– 

259 

– 

16 
4,211 
23 
9 

4,259 

– 

4,000 

259 

4,259 

851 
358 
116 
47 

1,372 

364 
481 
1 
– 

846 

1,215 
839 
117 
47 

2,218 

7 
10 

17 

275 
579 

854 

58 
–– 

58 

1,293 
3 

1,296 

9 
– 

9 

55 
– 

55 

– 

– 

25 
– 

25 

16 
10 

26 

330 
579 

909 

58 
  –  20 

58 

136 
1 

156 

1,318 
3 

1,321 

2,365 
1,291 

3,656 

Credit 
equivalent 

amount (3) 

Risk-
weighted 
amount 

Current replacement cost (2) 

Credit 
equivalent 

Trading 

ALM 

Total 

amount (3) 

2019 

Risk-
weighted 
amount 

$ 

135  $ 

12  $ 

–  $ 

13  $ 

13  $ 

6,744 
35 
5 

6,919 

309 

7,228 

4,974 
2,324 
182 
44 

7,524 

144 
13 

157 

3,100 
3,929 

7,029 

2,705 
26 
2 

2,745 

9 

2,503 
11 
6– 

2,520 

155 
– 

2,658 
11 

69 
7,140 
56 

$ 

9 
2,507 
38 

6  31  29

168 

2,688 

7,296 

2,583 

4 

– 

4 

192 

5 

2,754 

2,524 

168 

2,692 

7,488 

2,588 

1,423 
700 
65 
20 

2,208 

939 
735 
71 
13 

1,758 

21 
– 

21 

265 
682 

947 

51 
4 

55 

697 
9 

706 

21 
6 

27 

658 
120 

778 

55 

56 

866 
52 

918 

213 

7,202 

4 
4 
– 
– 

8 

– 

5 
– 

5 

– 
– 

– 

62 
– 

62 

943 
739 
71 
13 

7,136 
3,546 
365 
106 

1,766 

11,153 

1,737 
687 
119 
24 

2,567 

  3  25 
– 

  3  27 

7

9

2 

2 

270 
682 

952 

51 
4 

55 

759 
9 

768 

4,832 
3,593 

8,425 

332 
171 

503 

3,928 
1,200 

5,128 

1,018 
103 

1,121 

115 
7 

122 

1,195 
48 

1,243 

245 

6,990 

Interest rate derivatives 

Over-the-counter 

Forward rate agreements 
Swap contracts 
Purchased options (4) 
Written options (4) 

Exchange-traded 

Foreign exchange derivatives 

Over-the-counter 

Forward contracts 
Swap contracts 
Purchased options (4) 
Written options (4) 

Credit derivatives 
Over-the-counter 

Credit default swap contracts 
– protection purchased 
– protection sold 

Equity derivatives 
Over-the-counter 
Exchange-traded 

Precious metal derivatives 

Over-the-counter 
Exchange-traded 

Other commodity derivatives 

Over-the-counter 
Exchange-traded 

RWA related to non-trade exposures 

to central counterparties 

RWA related to CVA charge 

Total derivatives 

7,597 

1,194 

8,791 

25,750 

14,156 

5,992 

244 

6,236 

32,724 

14,885 

(1)  Effective in the second quarter of 2020, we adopted the IMM approach for CCR for qualifying derivative transactions which impacted the calculation of EAD and risk-

weighted assets (RWA). Some derivatives are not eligible for IMM and remain under SA-CCR. Comparative amounts presented have not been restated. 

(2)  Current replacement cost reflects the current mark-to-market (MTM) value of derivatives offset by eligible financial collateral, where present. 
(3)  Under IMM, effective expected positive exposure (EEPE) is used, which computes through simulation, the expected exposures with consideration to the expected 

movements in underlying risk factor and netting/collateral agreements. The EAD is calculated as EEPE multiplied by the prescribed alpha factor of 1.4. The EAD under 
SA-CCR is calculated as the sum of replacement cost and potential future exposure, multiplied by the prescribed alpha factor of 1.4. 

(4)  Prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year. 

The following table presents the current replacement cost of derivatives by geographic region based on the location of the derivative counterparty: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

2020 

Canada 

U.S. 

Other 
countries 

Total 

Canada 

U.S. 

Other 
countries 

2019 

Total 

Derivative instruments 
By counterparty type 

Financial institutions 
Governments 
Corporate 

$ 

921 
982 
1,823 

$ 

949 
– 
1,774 

$  1,156 
4 
1,182 

$  3,026 
986 
4,779 

$ 

534 
891 
951 

$  1,063 
– 
1,017 

$ 

549 
8 
1,223 

$  2,146 
899 
3,191 

Total derivative instruments 

$  3,726 

$  2,723 

$  2,342 

$  8,791 

$  2,376 

$  2,080 

$  1,780 

$  6,236 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  157 

 
 
 
 
Consolidated financial statements 

Note 14 

Designated accounting hedges 

Hedge accounting 
We apply hedge accounting as part of managing the market risk of certain non-trading portfolios arising from changes due to interest rates, foreign 
exchange rates, and equity market prices. See the shaded sections in “Non-trading activities” in the MD&A for further information on our risk 
management strategy for these risks. See Note 13 for further information on the derivatives used by CIBC. 

Interest rate risk 
The majority of our derivative contracts used to hedge certain exposures to benchmark interest rate risk are interest rate swaps. For fair value 
hedges, we convert our fixed interest rate exposures from the hedged financial instruments to floating interest rate exposures. For cash flow 
hedges, we convert certain exposures to cash flow variability from our variable rate instruments to fixed interest rate exposures. 

Foreign currency risk 
For our fair value hedges, we mainly use various combinations of cross-currency interest rate swaps and interest rate swaps to hedge our 
exposures to foreign currency risk together with interest rate risk, converting our fixed foreign currency rate exposures to floating functional currency 
rate exposures. 

For our cash flow hedges, the majority of our derivative contracts are used to hedge our exposures to cash flow variability arising from 

fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, and mainly consist of cross-currency interest rate swaps. We also use foreign exchange forwards and 
synthetic forwards created from interest rate swaps to hedge certain foreign currency contractual expenses. 

For NIFO hedges, we use a combination of foreign denominated deposit liabilities and foreign exchange forwards to manage our foreign currency 
exposure of our NIFOs with a functional currency other than the Canadian dollar. 

Equity price risk 
We use cash-settled total return swaps in designated cash flow hedge relationships to hedge changes in CIBC’s share price in respect of certain 
cash-settled share-based compensation awards. Note 18 provides details on our cash-settled share-based compensation plans. 

For the hedge relationships above, hedge effectiveness is assessed at the inception of the hedge relationship and on an ongoing basis, primarily 
using the dollar offset method. The sources of hedge ineffectiveness are mainly attributed to the following: 
 
 
 

Utilization of hedging instruments that have a non-zero fair value at the inception of the hedge relationship; 
Differences in fixed rates, when contractual coupons of the fixed rate hedged items are designated; 
Differences in the discounting factors between the hedged item and the hedging instruments arising from different rate reset frequencies and 
timing of cash flows; and 
Differences in the discount curves to determine the basis adjustments of the hedged items and the fair value of the hedging derivatives, 
including from the application of OIS and CVA to the valuation of derivatives when they are applicable. 

 

158  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Designated hedging instruments 
The following table provides a summary of financial instruments designated as hedging instruments: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

2020  Cash flow hedges 

Foreign exchange risk 

Notional 
amount of 
the hedging 

instrument (1)(2) 

Maturity range 

Fair value of the 
hedging derivatives 

Less than 
1 year 

1-5 
years 

Over 5 
years 

Assets 

Liabilities 

Gains (losses) on 
changes in fair value 
used for calculating 
hedge ineffectiveness 

Foreign exchange forwards 
Cross-currency interest rate swaps 

$ 

– 
7,329 

$ 

– 
3,692 

$ 

$ 

– 
3,637 

9,019 

159 

15,104 

6,085 

1,171 

1,012 

$ 

23,604 

$  10,789 

$ 

12,815 

$ 

$ 

247
20,409 

$ 

247
20,409 

$ 

$ 

20,656 

$  20,656 

$ 

–
– 

– 

$ 

$ 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

–
– 

– 

$ 

– 
134 

$ 

– 
161 

13 

5 

– 

23 

$  152 

$ 

184 

$ 

$ 

$ 

–
n/a 

– 

$ 

– 
n/a 

– 

$ 

– 
43 

320 

(131) 

$ 

232 

$ 

(2) 
(154) 

$ 

(156) 

$  205,518 

$  61,911 

$  126,570 

$  17,037 

$  170 

$ 

194 

$ 

(815) 

34,329 
17,025 

2,185 
– 

26,689 
14,311 

5,455 
2,714 

795 
– 

$  256,872 

$  64,096 

$  167,570 

$  25,206 

$  965 

$  301,132 

$  95,541 

$  180,385 

$  25,206 

$ 1,117 

$ 

$ 

$ 

486 
5 

685 

869 

– 
177 

– 

– 

$ 

– 
104 

4 

93 

$  201 

$ 

177 

$ 

$ 

$ 

7 
n/a 

7 

$ 

2 
n/a 

2 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

(26) 
66 

(775) 

(699) 

(7) 
(168) 

193 

(1) 

17 

– 
6 

6 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2019  Cash flow hedges 

Foreign exchange risk 

Foreign exchange forwards 
Cross-currency interest rate swaps 

$ 

17 
6,619 

$ 

$ 

17 
859 

– 
5,760 

$ 

18,180 

3,122 

15,058 

1,203 

1,030 

173 

$ 

26,019 

$ 

5,028 

$ 

20,991 

$ 

$ 

598 
17,616 

$ 

598 
17,616 

$ 

$ 

18,214 

$  18,214 

$ 

– 
– 

– 

$ 

$ 

Interest rate risk 

Interest rate swaps 
Equity share price risk 

Equity swaps 

NIFO hedges 
Foreign exchange risk 

Foreign exchange forwards 
Deposits (3) 

Fair value hedges 
Interest rate risk 

Interest rate swaps 

Foreign exchange / interest rate risk 

Cross-currency interest rate swaps 
Interest rate swaps 

Interest rate risk 

Interest rate swaps 
Equity share price risk 

Equity swaps 

NIFO hedges 
Foreign exchange risk 

Foreign exchange forwards 
Deposits (3) 

Fair value hedges 
Interest rate risk 

Interest rate swaps 

Foreign exchange / interest rate risk 

Cross-currency interest rate swaps 
Interest rate swaps 

$  194,398 

$  63,723 

$  114,455 

$  16,220 

$  291 

$ 

219 

$ 

(276) 

34,627 
16,477 

7,226 
2,937 

20,597 
10,158 

6,804 
3,382 

339 
155 

$  245,502 

$  73,886 

$  145,210 

$  26,406 

$  785 

$ 

682 
– 

901 

$  289,735 

$  97,128 

$  166,201 

$  26,406 

$  993 

$  1,080 

41 
142 

(93) 

(70) 

$ 

$ 

(1)  For some hedge relationships, we apply a combination of derivatives to hedge the underlying exposures; therefore, the notional amounts of the derivatives generally 

exceed the carrying amount of the hedged items. 

(2)  As at October 31, 2020, the notional amount of our derivatives in designated hedge accounting relationships that were indexed to U.S. LIBOR and GBP LIBOR, with a 
maturity date beyond December 31, 2021, was $59 billion. See “Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7” in Note 1 for details. 

(3)  Notional amount represents the principal amount of deposits as at October 31, 2020 and October 31, 2019. 
n/a  Not applicable. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  159 

Consolidated financial statements 

The following table provides the average rate or price of the hedging derivatives: 

As at October 31 

2020  Cash flow hedges 

Foreign exchange risk 

Cross-currency interest rate swaps 

Interest rate risk 

Interest rate swaps 

Equity share price risk 

Equity swaps 

NIFO hedges 
Foreign exchange risk 

Foreign exchange forwards 

Fair value hedges 
Interest rate risk 

Interest rate swaps 

Foreign exchange / interest rate risk 

Cross-currency interest rate swaps 

Interest rate swaps 

2019  Cash flow hedges 

Foreign exchange risk 

Foreign exchange forwards 
Cross-currency interest rate swaps 

Interest rate risk 

Interest rate swaps 

Equity share price risk 

Equity swaps 

NIFO hedges 
Foreign exchange risk 

Foreign exchange forwards 

Fair value hedges 
Interest rate risk 

Interest rate swaps 

Foreign exchange / interest rate risk 

Cross-currency interest rate swaps 

Interest rate swaps 

Average 

exchange rate (1) 

Average fixed 

interest rate (1) 

Average 
share price 

AUD – CAD 
EUR – CAD 
GBP – CAD 

AUD – CAD 
HKD – CAD 

EUR – CAD 
GBP – CAD 
USD – CAD 

USD – CAD 
AUD – CAD 
EUR – CAD 
GBP – CAD 
USD – CAD 

AUD – CAD 
HKD – CAD 
USD – CAD 

EUR – CAD 
GBP – CAD 
USD – CAD 

0.97 
1.51 
1.68 

n/a 
n/a 

n/a 

0.93 
0.17 

n/a 
n/a 

CAD 
USD 

1.60 % 
1.65 % 

n/a 

n/a 
n/a 

n/a 

CAD 

1.52 % 

1.41 
1.65 
1.36 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 

1.32 
0.99 
1.51 
1.66 
1.32 

n/a 
n/a 

n/a 

0.90 
0.17 
1.31 

CHF 
EUR 
GBP 

0.12 % 
1.06 % 
1.69 % 
(0.41)% 
0.00 % 
0.71 % 

n/a 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 

CAD 
USD 

2.10 % 
1.62 % 

n/a 

n/a 
n/a 
n/a 

n/a 

CAD 

1.93 % 

1.30 
1.65 
1.32 
n/a 
n/a 

EUR 
GBP 

0.12 % 
1.06 % 
1.61 % 
0.08 % 
0.71 % 

n/a 
n/a 

n/a 
n/a 

$  105.11 

n/a 
n/a 

n/a 

n/a 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 

n/a 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 

n/a 
n/a 

$  108.59 

n/a 
n/a 
n/a 

n/a 

n/a 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 

(1)  Includes average foreign exchange rates and interest rates relating to significant hedging relationships. 
n/a  Not applicable. 

160  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Designated hedged items 
The following table provides information on designated hedged items: 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

2020  Cash flow hedges (1) 

Foreign exchange risk 

Forecasted expenses 
Deposits 

Interest rate risk 

Loans 

Equity share price risk 

Share-based payment 

NIFO hedges 

Fair value hedges (2) 
Interest rate risk 
Securities 
Loans 
Deposits 
Subordinated indebtedness 

Foreign exchange / interest rate risk 

Loans 
Deposits 

2019  Cash flow hedges (1) 

Foreign exchange risk 

Forecasted expenses 
Deposits 

Interest rate risk 

Loans 

Equity share price risk 

Share-based payment 

NIFO hedges 

Fair value hedges (2) 
Interest rate risk 
Securities 
Loans 
Deposits 
Subordinated indebtedness 

Foreign exchange / interest rate risk 

Loans 
Deposits 

Carrying amount of 
the hedged item 

Accumulated amount 
of fair value hedge adjustments 
on the hedged item 

Assets 

Liabilities 

Assets 

Liabilities 

Gains (losses) on
change in fair 
value used for 
calculating hedge 
ineffectiveness 

n/a 
– 

$ 

15,092 

– 

$  15,092 

$  20,656 

$  33,319 
62,171 
– 
– 

5 
– 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

n/a 
3,132 

– 

1,061 

4,193 

– 

– 
– 
90,597 
4,632 

– 
17,331 

n/a 
n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 
n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

$ 1,347 
1,005 
– 
– 

– 
– 

$ 

– 
– 
1,466 
202 

– 
81 

$  95,495 

$  112,560 

$ 2,352 

$ 1,749 

n/a 
– 

$ 

18,169 

– 

$  18,169 

$  18,214 

$  25,763 
62,987 
– 
– 

6 
– 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

n/a 
2,860 

– 

1,169 

4,029 

– 

– 
– 
84,173 
3,761 

– 
17,222 

n/a 
n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

$  633 
132 
– 
– 

– 
– 

n/a 
n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

– 
– 
533 
89 

– 
57 

$ 

$

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$  88,756 

$  105,156 

$  765 

$  679 

$ 

– 
(44) 

(320) 

131 

(233) 

156 

783 
1,161 
(1,019) 
(113) 

– 
(35) 

777 

7 
168 

(193) 

1 

(17) 

(6) 

1,013 
1,151 
(1,750) 
(137) 

– 
(180) 

97 

(1)  As at October 31, 2020, the amount remaining in AOCI related to discontinued cash flow hedges was $134 million (2019: immaterial). 
(2)  As at October 31, 2020, the accumulated fair value hedge net asset adjustment remaining on the consolidated balance sheet related to discontinued fair value hedges was 

$75 million (2019: net liability of $112 million). 

n/a  Not applicable. 

Hedge accounting gains (losses) in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

2020  Cash flow hedges 

Foreign exchange risk 
Interest rate risk 
Equity share price risk 

Beginning 
balance of 
AOCI – hedge 
reserve (after-tax) 

Change in 
the value of the 
hedging instrument 
recognized in 
OCI (before-tax) 

Amount 
reclassified from 
accumulated 
OCI to income 

(before-tax) (1) 

Tax 
benefit 
(expense) 

Ending balance 
of AOCI 
hedge reserve 
(after-tax) 

Hedge 
ineffectiveness 
gains (losses) 
recognized 
in income 

$ 

(2) 
98 
17 

$ 

4 
320 
(131) 

$

(4) 
(74) 
104 

$ 

113 

$ 

193 

$ 

26 

$

$

– 
(65) 
7 

(58) 

$ 

$ 

(2) 
279 
(3) 

274 

$

$

(2) 
– 
– 

(2) 

NIFO hedges – foreign exchange risk 
Hedges of net investment in foreign operations 

$  (1,139) 

$ 

(156) 

2019  Cash flow hedges 

Foreign exchange risk 
Interest rate risk 
Equity share price risk 

$ 

$ 

5 
(45) 
22 

(18) 

$ 

(1) 
188 
(1) 

$

186 

NIFO hedges – foreign exchange risk 
Hedges of net investment in foreign operations 

$ 

(1,129) 

$ 

6 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

– 

$ 

(46) 

$ 

(1,341) 

$ 

– 

(8) 
6 
(6) 

(8) 

$ 

$

2 
(51) 
2 

(47) 

$ 

(2) 
98 
17 

$ 

113 

$ 

$ 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

$ 

(16) 

$ 

(1,139) 

$ 

– 

(1)  During the year ended October 31, 2020, the amount reclassified from AOCI to net income for cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions that were no longer expected to 

occur was immaterial (2019: immaterial). 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  161 

Consolidated financial statements 

Hedge accounting gains (losses) in the consolidated statement of income 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

2020 

Fair value hedges 
Interest rate risk 
Foreign exchange / interest rate risk 

2019 

Fair value hedges 
Interest rate risk 
Foreign exchange / interest rate risk 

Note  15 

Subordinated indebtedness 

Gains (losses) 
on the hedging 
instruments 

Gains (losses) on 
the hedged items 
attributable 
to hedged risk 

Hedge 
ineffectiveness 
gains (losses) 
recognized in income 

$ 

(815) 
40 

$ 

(775) 

$ 

$ 

(276) 
183 

(93) 

$ 

812 
(35) 

$ 

777 

$ 

$ 

277 
(180) 

97 

$  (3) 
5 

$  2 

$  1 
3 

$  4 

The debt issues included in the table below are outstanding unsecured obligations of CIBC and its subsidiaries and are subordinated to the claims 
of depositors and other creditors as set out in their terms. Foreign currency denominated indebtedness funds foreign currency denominated assets. 
All redemptions are subject to regulatory approval. 

Terms of subordinated indebtedness 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Interest 
rate % 

Contractual 
maturity date 

Earliest date redeemable 

At greater of 

Canada Yield Price (1) 

and par 

At par 

Denominated 
in foreign 
currency 

TT$175 million 

$

5.75 (3) 
3.42 (5)(6) 
3.45 (5)(7) 
8.70 
2.95 (5)(8) 
2.01 (9) 

11.60 
10.80 
8.70 
8.70 
8.70 
Floating (10) 
Floating (12) 

July 11, 2024 (4) 

January 26, 2026 
April 4, 2028 
May 25, 2029 (4) 
June 19, 2029 
July 21, 2030 
January 7, 2031 
May 15, 2031 
May 25, 2032 (4) 
May 25, 2033 (4) 
May 25, 2035 (4) 
July 31, 2084 
August 31, 2085 

January 26, 2021 
April 4, 2023 

June 19, 2024 
July 21, 2025 

January 7, 1996 
May 15, 2021 

July 27, 1990 
August 20, 1991 

US$44 million (11) 
US$13 million (13) 

2020 

2019 

Par 
value 

 35
1,000 
1,500 
25 
1,500 
1,000 
200 
150 
25 
25 
25 
59 
17 

5,561 
(54) 

 $

Carrying 

value (2) 

 $

 35
1,001 
1,568 
40 
1,535 
1,000 
214 
160 
44 
45 
48 
59 
17 

5,766 
(54) 

Par 
value 

 34
1,000 
1,500 
25 
1,500 
– 
200 
150 
25 
25 
25 
85 
23 

4,592 
3 

Carrying 

value (2) 

 $

 34
991 
1,533 
40 
1,494 
– 
200 
149 
42 
44 
46 
85 
23 

4,681 
3 

Subordinated indebtedness sold short (held) for trading purposes 

$  5,507 

$  5,712 

$  4,595 

$  4,684 

(1)  Canada Yield Price: a price calculated at the time of redemption to provide a yield to maturity equal to the yield of a Government of Canada bond of appropriate maturity 

plus a pre-determined spread. 

(2)  Carrying values of fixed-rate subordinated indebtedness notes reflect the impact of interest rate hedges in an effective hedge relationship. 
(3)  Guaranteed Subordinated Term Notes in Trinidad and Tobago dollars issued on July 11, 2018 by FirstCaribbean International Bank (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited, a 

subsidiary of CIBC FirstCaribbean, and guaranteed on a subordinated basis by CIBC FirstCaribbean. 

(4)  Not redeemable prior to maturity date. 
(5)  Debentures are also subject to a non-viability contingent capital (NVCC) provision, necessary for the Debentures to qualify as Tier 2 regulatory capital under Basel III. As 

such, the Debentures are automatically converted into common shares upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event as described in the capital adequacy guidelines. In such an 
event, the Debentures are convertible into a number of common shares, determined by dividing 150% of the par value plus accrued and unpaid interest by the average 
common share price (as defined in the relevant prospectus supplements) subject to a minimum price of $5.00 per share (subject to adjustment in certain events as defined 
in the relevant prospectus supplements). 

(6)  Interest rate is fixed at the indicated rate until the earliest date redeemable at par by CIBC and, thereafter, at a rate of 2.57% above the three-month Canadian dollar 

bankers’ acceptance rate. 

(7)  Interest rate is fixed at the indicated rate until the earliest date redeemable at par by CIBC and, thereafter, at a rate of 1.00% above the three-month Canadian dollar 

bankers’ acceptance rate. 

(8)  Interest rate is fixed at the indicated rate until the earliest date redeemable at par by CIBC and, thereafter, at a rate of 1.18% above the three-month Canadian dollar 

bankers’ acceptance rate. 

(9)  Interest rate is fixed at the indicated rate until the earliest date redeemable at par by CIBC and, thereafter, at a rate of 1.28% above the three-month Canadian dollar 

bankers’ acceptance rate. 

(10) Interest rate is based on the six-month US$ LIBOR plus 0.25%. 
(11) US$21 million (2019: US$1 million) of this issue was repurchased and cancelled during the year. 
(12) Interest rate is based on the six-month US$ LIBOR plus 0.125%. 
(13) US$4 million (2019: nil) of this issue was repurchased and cancelled during the year. 

162  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
Consolidated financial statements 

Note  16  Common and preferred shares and other equity instruments 

The following table presents the number of common and preferred shares outstanding and dividends paid, other equity instruments and 
distributions paid thereon: 

Common and preferred shares outstanding and other equity instruments 

$ millions, except number of shares and per share 
amounts, as at or for the year ended October 31 

Shares outstanding 

Number 

2020 

Dividends and 
distributions paid 

Shares outstanding 

2019 

Dividends and 
distributions paid 

Shares outstanding 

2018 

Dividends and 
distributions paid 

of shares  Amount  Amount 

$ per 
share 

Number 
of shares 

Amount  Amount 

$ per 
share 

Number 
of shares 

Amount  Amount 

$ per 
share 

Common shares 

446,932,750  $  13,892  $  2,592  $  5.82  445,325,744  $  13,589  $  2,488  $  5.60  442,823,361  $  13,242  $  2,356  $  5.32 

Class A Preferred Shares 
Series 39 
Series 41 
Series 43 
Series 45 
Series 47 
Series 49 
Series 51 

16,000,000 
12,000,000 
12,000,000 
32,000,000 
18,000,000 
13,000,000 
10,000,000 

400 
300 
300 
800 
450 
325 
250 

15 
12 
10 
35 
20 
17 
13 

0.93  16,000,000 
0.97  12,000,000 
0.87  12,000,000 
1.10  32,000,000 
1.13  18,000,000 
1.30  13,000,000 
1.29  10,000,000 

400 
300 
300 
800 
450 
325 
250 

16 
11 
11 
35 
20 
13 
5 

0.96  16,000,000 
0.94  12,000,000 
0.90  12,000,000 
1.10  32,000,000 
1.13  18,000,000 
– 
1.00 
– 
0.53 

400 
300 
300 
800 
450 
– 
– 

$ 

2,825  $ 

122 

$ 

2,825  $ 

111 

$  2,250  $ 

0.98 
0.94 
0.90 
1.10 
0.88 
– 
– 

16 
11 
11 
35 
16 
– 
– 

89 

Treasury shares – common shares 
Treasury shares – preferred shares 

152,579  $ 

–

16 
– 

Other Equity Instruments 
Limited recourse capital notes (1) 

$ 

750 

15,931  $ 

–

$

2 
– 

– 

3,019  $ 
–

$

1 
– 

– 

(1)  See 4.375% Limited Recourse Capital Notes Series 1 (NVCC) (subordinated indebtedness) section below for details. 

Common shares 
CIBC’s authorized capital consists of an unlimited number of common shares, without nominal or par value. 

Common shares issued 

$ millions, except number of shares, as at or for the year ended October 31 

Number 
of shares 

2020 

Amount 

Number 
of shares 

2019 

Amount 

Number 
of shares 

2018 

Amount 

Balance at beginning of year 
Issuance pursuant to: 

Acquisition of The PrivateBank 
Acquisition of Wellington Financial 
Equity-settled share-based compensation 

plans (1) 

Shareholder investment plan (2) 
Employee share purchase plan 

Purchase of common shares for cancellation 
Treasury shares 

445,341,675 

$  13,591 

442,826,380 

$  13,243 

439,313,303 

$  12,548 

–
–

823,502 
1,534,320 
1,457,784 

449,157,281 
(2,208,600) 
136,648 

– 
– 

87 
144 
140 

– 
– 

511,567 
1,777,738 
1,213,078 

– 
– 

52 
194 
131 

1,689,450 
378,848 

999,675 
2,880,782 
1,044,893 

194 
47 

95 
337 
123 

$  13,962 
(68) 
14 

446,328,763 
(1,000,000) 
12,912 

$  13,620 
(30) 
1 

446,306,951 
(3,500,000) 
19,429 

$  13,344 
(104) 
3 

Balance at end of year (3) 

447,085,329 

$  13,908 

445,341,675 

$  13,591 

442,826,380 

$  13,243 

(1)  Includes the settlement of contingent consideration related to prior acquisitions. 
(2)  Commencing with the dividends paid on April 27, 2018, the shares for the Dividend Reinvestment Option and the Stock Dividend Option of the Shareholder Investment 
Plan (the Plan) were issued from Treasury without discount. Prior to this, these shares were issued at a 2% discount from average market price. The participants in the 
Share Purchase Option of the Plan continue to receive shares issued from Treasury with no discount. 

(3)  Excludes nil restricted shares as at October 31, 2020 (2019: nil; 2018: 60,764). 

Common shares reserved for issue 
As at October 31, 2020, 14,996,337 common shares (2019: 15,310,806) were reserved for future issue pursuant to stock option plans, 
12,848,784 common shares (2019: 14,383,104) were reserved for future issue pursuant to the Shareholder Investment Plan, 8,183,815 common 
shares (2019: 9,772,134) were reserved for future issue pursuant to the ESPP and other activities, and 2,246,208,750 common shares (2019: 
1,789,893,750) were reserved for future issue pursuant to instruments which include an NVCC provision requiring conversion into common shares 
upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event as described in the capital adequacy guidelines. 

Normal course issuer bid 
Our normal course issuer bid (NCIB) expired on June 3, 2020. During the year, we purchased and cancelled 2,208,600 common shares under the 
current bid at an average price of $106.03 for a total amount of $234 million. 

On March 13, 2020, OSFI announced that it expects all federally regulated financial institutions to cease dividend increases and share 

buybacks for the time being, in order to ensure that the additional capital available is used to support Canadian lending activities. 

The following table shows common shares purchased and cancelled under previously expired NCIBs. 

$ millions, except number of shares, as at or for the year ended October 31 

TSX approval date 

May 31, 2018 (1) 

Number 
of shares 

– 

2020 

Amount 

$  – 

Number 
of shares 

2019 

Amount 

Number 
of shares 

– 

$  – 

3,500,000 

2018 

Amount 

$  417 

(1)  Common shares were repurchased at an average price of $119.22 under this NCIB. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  163 

Consolidated financial statements 

Preferred shares and other equity instruments 
CIBC is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Class A Preferred Shares and Class B Preferred Shares without nominal or par value, issuable 
in series, provided that, for each class of preferred shares, the maximum aggregate consideration for all outstanding shares, at any time does not 
exceed $10 billion. There are no Class B Preferred Shares currently outstanding. 

Preferred share and other equity instruments rights and privileges 
Class A Preferred Shares 
Each series of Class A Preferred Shares bears quarterly non-cumulative dividends. Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 39, 
41, 43, 45, 47, 49, and 51 (NVCC) are redeemable, subject to regulatory approval if required, for cash by CIBC on or after the specified redemption 
dates at the cash redemption prices indicated in the terms of the preferred shares. 

Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 39 (NVCC) (Series 39 shares) 
On June 11, 2014, we issued 16 million Series 39 shares with a par value of $25.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $400 million. For the initial five-
year period to the earliest redemption date of July 31, 2019, the Series 39 shares paid quarterly cash dividends, as declared, at a rate of 3.90%. The 
dividend was reset to 3.713%, payable quarterly as and when declared by the Board, effective for the five-year period commencing July 31, 2019. 
On July 31, 2024, and on July 31 every five years thereafter, the dividend rate will reset to be equal to the then current five-year Government of 
Canada bond yield plus 2.32%. 

Holders of the Series 39 shares had the right to convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into Non-cumulative Floating Rate Class A 
Preferred Shares Series 40 (NVCC) (Series 40 shares), subject to certain conditions, on July 31, 2019. As the conditions for conversion were not 
met, no Series 40 shares were issued, and all of the Series 39 shares remain outstanding. Holders of the Series 39 shares will have the right to 
convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into Series 40 shares, subject to certain conditions, on July 31, 2024 and on July 31 every five years 
thereafter. Holders of the Series 40 shares will be entitled to receive a quarterly floating rate dividend, if declared, equal to the three-month 
Government of Canada Treasury Bill yield plus 2.32%. Holders of the then outstanding Series 40 shares may convert their shares on a one-for-one 
basis into Series 39 shares, subject to certain conditions, on July 31, 2029 and on July 31 every five years thereafter. 

Subject to regulatory approval and certain provisions of the shares, we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 39 shares at 

par on July 31, 2024, and on July 31 every five years thereafter; we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 40 shares at par on 
July 31, 2029, and on July 31 every five years thereafter. 

Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 41 (NVCC) (Series 41 shares) 
On December 16, 2014, we issued 12 million Series 41 shares with a par value of $25.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $300 million. For the initial 
five-year period to the earliest redemption date of January 31, 2020, the Series 41 shares paid quarterly cash dividends, as declared, at a rate of 
3.75%. The dividend was reset to 3.909%, payable quarterly as and when declared by the Board, effective for the five-year period commencing 
January 31, 2020. On January 31, 2025, and on January 31 every five years thereafter, the dividend rate will reset to be equal to the then current 
five-year Government of Canada bond yield plus 2.24%. 

Holders of the Series 41 shares had the right to convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into Non-cumulative Floating Rate Class A 

Preferred Shares Series 42 (NVCC) (Series 42 shares), subject to certain conditions, on January 31, 2020. As the conditions for conversion were not 
met, no Series 42 shares were issued, and all of the Series 41 shares remain outstanding. Holders of the Series 41 shares will have the right to 
convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into Series 42 shares, subject to certain conditions, on January 31, 2025 and on January 31 every five 
years thereafter. Holders of the Series 42 shares will be entitled to receive a quarterly floating rate dividend, if declared, equal to the three-month 
Government of Canada Treasury Bill yield plus 2.24%. Holders of the then outstanding Series 42 shares may convert their shares on a one-for-one 
basis into Series 41 shares, subject to certain conditions, on January 31, 2030 and on January 31 every five years thereafter. 

Subject to regulatory approval and certain provisions of the shares, we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 41 shares 
at par on January 31, 2025 and on January 31 every five years thereafter; we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 42 shares 
at par on January 31, 2030 and on January 31 every five years thereafter. 

Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 43 (NVCC) (Series 43 shares) 
On March 11, 2015, we issued 12 million Series 43 shares with a par value of $25.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $300 million. For the initial 
five-year period to the earliest redemption date of July 31, 2020, the Series 43 shares paid quarterly cash dividends, as declared, at a rate of 3.60%. 
The dividend was reset to 3.143%, payable quarterly as and when declared by the Board, effective for the five-year period commencing July 31, 
2020. On July 31, 2025, and on July 31 every five years thereafter, the dividend rate will reset to be equal to the then current five-year Government 
of Canada bond yield plus 2.79%. 

Holders of the Series 43 shares had the right to convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into Non-cumulative Floating Rate Class A 
Preferred Shares Series 44 (NVCC) (Series 44 shares), subject to certain conditions, on July 31, 2020. As the conditions for conversion were not 
met, no Series 44 shares were issued, and all of the Series 43 shares remain outstanding. Holders of the Series 43 shares will have the right to 
convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into Series 44 shares, subject to certain conditions, on July 31, 2025 and on July 31 every five years 
thereafter. Holders of the Series 44 shares will be entitled to receive a quarterly floating rate dividend, if declared, equal to the three-month 
Government of Canada Treasury Bill yield plus 2.79%. Holders of the then outstanding Series 44 shares may convert their shares on a one-for-one 
basis into Series 43 shares, subject to certain conditions, on July 31, 2030 and on July 31 every five years thereafter. 

Subject to regulatory approval and certain provisions of the shares, we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 43 shares 
at par on July 31, 2025 and on July 31 every five years thereafter; we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 44 shares at par 
on July 31, 2030 and on July 31 every five years thereafter. 

Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 45 (NVCC) (Series 45 shares) 
On June 2, 2017, we issued 32 million Series 45 shares with a par value of $25.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $800 million. For the initial 
five-year period to the earliest redemption date of July 31, 2022, the Series 45 shares pay quarterly cash dividends, as declared, at a rate of 4.40%. 
On July 31, 2022, and on July 31 every five years thereafter, the dividend rate will reset to be equal to the then current five-year Government of 
Canada bond yield plus 3.38%. 

Holders of the Series 45 shares will have the right to convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into Non-cumulative Floating Rate Class A 
Preferred Shares Series 46 (NVCC) (Series 46 shares), subject to certain conditions, on July 31, 2022 and on July 31 every five years thereafter. 
Holders of the Series 46 shares will be entitled to receive a quarterly floating rate dividend, if declared, equal to the three-month Government of 
Canada Treasury Bill yield plus 3.38%. Holders of the then outstanding Series 46 shares may convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into Series 
45 shares, subject to certain conditions, on July 31, 2027 and on July 31 every five years thereafter. 

164  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Subject to regulatory approval and certain provisions of the shares, we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 45 shares 

at par on July 31, 2022 and on July 31 every five years thereafter; we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 46 shares at par on 
July 31, 2027 and on July 31 every five years thereafter. 

Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 47 (NVCC) (Series 47 shares) 
On January 18, 2018, we issued 18 million Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 47 (NVCC) (Series 47 shares) with a par 
value of $25.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $450 million. For the initial five-year period to the earliest redemption date of January 31, 2023, the 
Series 47 shares pay quarterly cash dividends, as declared, at a rate of 4.50%. On January 31, 2023, and on January 31 every five years thereafter, 
the dividend rate will reset to be equal to the then current five-year Government of Canada bond yield plus 2.45%. 

Holders of the Series 47 shares will have the right to convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into Non-cumulative Floating Rate Class A 

Preferred Shares Series 48 (NVCC) (Series 48 shares), subject to certain conditions, on January 31, 2023 and on January 31 every five years 
thereafter. Holders of the Series 48 shares will be entitled to receive a quarterly floating rate dividend, if declared, equal to the three-month 
Government of Canada Treasury Bill yield plus 2.45%. Holders of the then outstanding Series 48 shares may convert their shares on a one-for-one 
basis into Series 47 shares, subject to certain conditions, on January 31, 2028 and on January 31 every five years thereafter. 

Subject to regulatory approval and certain provisions of the shares, we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 47 shares 
at par on January 31, 2023 and on January 31 every five years thereafter; we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 48 shares 
at par on January 31, 2028 and on January 31 every five years thereafter. 

Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 49 (NVCC) (Series 49 shares) 
On January 22, 2019, we issued 13 million Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 49 (NVCC) (Series 49 shares) with a par 
value of $25.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $325 million. For the initial five-year period to the earliest redemption date of April 30, 2024, the 
Series 49 shares pay quarterly cash dividends, as declared, at a rate of 5.20%. On April 30, 2024, and on April 30 every five years thereafter, the 
dividend rate will reset to be equal to the then current five-year Government of Canada bond yield plus 3.31%. 

Holders of the Series 49 shares will have the right to convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into Non-cumulative Floating Rate Class A 

Preferred Shares Series 50 (NVCC) (Series 50 shares), subject to certain conditions, on April 30, 2024 and on April 30 every five years thereafter. 
Holders of the Series 50 shares will be entitled to receive a quarterly floating rate dividend, if declared, equal to the three-month Government of 
Canada Treasury Bill yield plus 3.31%. Holders of the then outstanding Series 50 shares may convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into Series 
49 shares, subject to certain conditions, on April 30, 2029 and on April 30 every five years thereafter. 

Subject to regulatory approval and certain provisions of the shares, we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 49 shares at 

par on April 30, 2024 and on April 30 every five years thereafter; we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 50 shares at par on 
April 30, 2029 and on April 30 every five years thereafter. 

Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 51 (NVCC) (Series 51 shares) 
On June 4, 2019, we issued 10 million Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 51 (NVCC) (Series 51 shares) with a par value 
of $25.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $250 million. For the initial five-year period to the earliest redemption date of July 31, 2024, the Series 51 
shares pay quarterly cash dividends, as declared, at a rate of 5.15%. On July 31, 2024, and on July 31 every five years thereafter, the dividend rate 
will reset to be equal to the then current five-year Government of Canada bond yield plus 3.62%. 

Holders of the Series 51 shares will have the right to convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into Non-cumulative Floating Rate Class A 
Preferred Shares Series 52 (NVCC) (Series 52 shares), subject to certain conditions, on July 31, 2024 and on July 31 every five years thereafter. 
Holders of the Series 52 shares will be entitled to receive a quarterly floating rate dividend, if declared, equal to the three-month Government of 
Canada Treasury Bill yield plus 3.62%. Holders of the then outstanding Series 52 shares may convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into Series 
51 shares, subject to certain conditions, on July 31, 2029 and on July 31 every five years thereafter. 

Subject to regulatory approval and certain provisions of the shares, we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 51 shares 

at par on July 31, 2024 and on July 31 every five years thereafter; we may redeem all or any part of the then outstanding Series 52 shares at par on 
July 31, 2029 and on July 31 every five years thereafter. 

4.375% Limited Recourse Capital Notes Series 1 (NVCC) (subordinated indebtedness) (the Notes) 
On September 16, 2020 we issued $750 million principal amount of 4.375% Limited Recourse Capital Notes Series 1 (NVCC) (subordinated 
indebtedness). The Notes mature on October 28, 2080, and bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.375% per annum (paid semi-annually) until October 28, 
2025. Starting on October 28, 2025, and every 5 years thereafter until October 28, 2075, the interest rate will be reset to the then current five-year 
Government of Canada bond yield plus 4.000% per annum. 

Concurrently with the issuance of the Notes, we issued Non-Cumulative 5-Year Fixed Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series 53 (NVCC) 

(the Series 53 Preferred Shares) which are held in a newly formed trust (the Limited Recourse Trust) that is consolidated by CIBC and as a result the 
Series 53 Preferred Shares are eliminated in CIBC’s consolidated financial statements. In the event of non-payment by CIBC of the principal amount 
of, interest on, or redemption price for, the Notes when due, the sole remedy of each Note holder is limited to that holder’s proportionate share of the 
Series 53 Preferred Shares held in the Limited Recourse Trust. 

Subject to regulatory approval we may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, every five years during the period from September 28 to and 

including October 28, commencing in 2025, at par. 

The Notes and the Series 53 Preferred Shares carry standard NVCC provisions necessary for them to qualify as Tier 1 regulatory capital under 

Basel III (see “NVCC conversion mechanics” below). Upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event, each Series 53 Preferred Share held in the Limited 
Recourse Trust will automatically and immediately be converted without the consent of Note holders into a variable number of common shares 
which will be delivered to Note holders in satisfaction of the principal amount of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all of the Notes. All claims of 
Note holders against CIBC under the Notes will be extinguished upon receipt of such common shares. 

The Notes are compound instruments with both equity and liability features as payments of interest and principal in cash are made at our discretion 
as the sole recourse of each Note holder in the event of non-payment will be limited to that holder’s proportionate share of the Series 53 Preferred Shares 
held in the Limited Recourse Trust. The liability component of the Notes has a nominal value and, as a result, the full proceeds received upon the 
issuance of the Notes have been presented as equity and any interest payments paid thereon are accounted for as equity distributions. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  165 

Consolidated financial statements 

NVCC conversion mechanics 
Each series of Class A preferred shares discussed above are subject to an NVCC provision, necessary for the shares to qualify as regulatory capital 
under Basel III. As such, the shares are automatically converted into common shares upon the occurrence of a “Trigger Event”. As described in the 
Capital Adequacy Guidelines, a Trigger Event occurs when OSFI determines the bank is or is about to become non-viable and, if after conversion of 
all contingent instruments and consideration of any other relevant factors or circumstances, it is reasonably likely that its viability will be restored or 
maintained; or if the bank has accepted or agreed to accept a capital injection or equivalent support from a federal or provincial government, 
without which OSFI would have determined the bank to be non-viable. Each such share is convertible into a number of common shares, determined 
by dividing the par value of $25.00 ($1,000 in the case of the Series 53 Preferred Shares) plus declared and unpaid dividends (except for the Series 
53 Preferred Shares while held in the Limited Recourse Trust) by the average common share price (as defined in the relevant prospectus 
supplement) subject to a minimum price of $5.00 per share (subject to adjustment in certain events as defined in the relevant prospectus 
supplement). We have recorded the Series 39, Series 41, Series 43, Series 45, Series 47, Series 49, and Series 51 shares as equity. 

Terms of Class A Preferred Shares 

Outstanding as at October 31, 2020 

Series 39 

Series 41 

Series 43 

Series 45 

Series 47 

Series 49 

Series 51 

Quarterly 

dividends per share (1) 

Earliest specified 
redemption date 

Cash redemption 
price per share 

$  0.232063 

July 31, 2024 

$  0.244313 

January 31, 2025 

$  0.196438 

$  0.275000 

July 31, 2025 

July 31, 2022 

$  0.281250 

January 31 2023 

$  0.325000 

$  0.321875 

April 30, 2024 

July 31, 2024 

$  25.00 

$  25.00 

$  25.00 

$  25.00 

$  25.00 

$  25.00 

$  25.00 

(1)  Quarterly dividends may be adjusted depending on the timing of issuance or redemption. 

Restrictions on the payment of dividends 
Under Section 79 of the Bank Act (Canada), a bank, including CIBC, is prohibited from declaring or paying any dividends on its preferred or 
common shares if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the bank is, or the payment would cause it to be, in contravention of any capital 
adequacy or liquidity regulation or any direction to the bank made by OSFI. 

In conjunction with OSFI’s March 13, 2020 announcement to decrease the Domestic Stability Buffer to 1.0%, OSFI also announced that it 
expects all federally regulated financial institutions to cease dividend increases and share buybacks for the time being, in order to ensure that the 
additional capital available is used to support Canadian lending activities. 

In addition, our ability to pay common share dividends is also restricted by the terms of the outstanding preferred shares. These terms provide 

that we may not pay dividends on our common shares at any time without the approval of holders of the outstanding preferred shares, unless all 
dividends to preferred shareholders that are then payable have been declared and paid or set apart for payment. Our Series 53 Preferred Shares, 
further limit the payment of dividends on the outstanding Class A Preferred Shares Series 39 to 51 in certain limited circumstances. 

We have agreed that if CIBC Capital Trust fails to pay any interest payments on its $300 million of CIBC Tier 1 Notes – Series B, due June 30, 2108, 

we will not declare dividends of any kind on any of our preferred or common shares for a specified period of time. For additional details see Note 17. 

Currently, these limitations do not restrict the payment of dividends on our preferred or common shares. 

Capital 
Objectives, policy and procedures 
Our overall capital management objective is to employ a strong and efficient capital base. We manage capital in accordance with a capital policy 
approved by the Board, which includes specific guidelines that relate to capital strength, capital mix, dividends and return of capital, and the 
unconsolidated capital adequacy of regulated entities. Capital is monitored continuously for compliance. 

Each year, a Capital Plan and three-year outlook are established as a part of the financial plan, and they encompass all material elements of 

capital: forecasts of sources and uses of capital including earnings, dividends, business growth, and corporate initiatives, as well as maturities, 
redemptions, and issuances of capital instruments. The Capital Plan is stress-tested to ensure that it is sufficiently robust under severe but plausible 
stress scenarios. The level of capital and capital ratios are monitored throughout the year including a comparison to the Capital Plan. There were no 
significant changes made to the objectives, policy, guidelines and procedures during the year. 

Regulatory capital requirements under Basel III 
Our regulatory capital requirements are determined in accordance with guidelines issued by OSFI, which are based on the capital standards 
developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS). 

CIBC has been designated by OSFI as a D-SIB in Canada, and is subject to a CET1 surcharge equal to 1.0% of RWA. OSFI also currently 

expects D-SIBs to hold a Domestic Stability Buffer. On March 13, 2020, OSFI announced an immediate reduction in the Domestic Stability Buffer 
from 2.0% to 1.0%. This results in current targets, including all buffer requirements, for CET1, Tier 1 and Total capital ratios of 9.0%, 10.5%, and 
12.5%, respectively. These targets may be higher for certain institutions at OSFI’s discretion. 

166  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Regulatory capital and ratios 
Regulatory capital under Basel III consists of CET1, Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital. 

CET1 capital includes common shares, retained earnings, AOCI (excluding AOCI relating to cash flow hedges and changes to FVO liabilities 
attributable to changes in own credit risk), and qualifying instruments issued by a consolidated banking subsidiary to third parties, less regulatory 
adjustments for items such as goodwill and other intangible assets (net of related deferred tax liabilities), certain deferred tax assets, net assets 
related to defined benefit pension plans as reported on our consolidated balance sheet (net of related deferred tax liabilities), and certain 
investments. Additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital primarily includes NVCC preferred shares, Limited Recourse Capital Notes, qualifying instruments 
issued by a consolidated subsidiary to third parties, and non-qualifying innovative Tier 1 notes subject to phase-out rules for capital instruments. 
Tier 2 capital includes NVCC subordinated indebtedness, non-qualifying subordinated indebtedness subject to phase-out rules for capital 
instruments, eligible collective allowance under the standardized approach, and qualifying instruments issued by a consolidated subsidiary to third 
parties. 

Our capital ratios and leverage ratio are presented in the table below: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

CET1 capital (1) 
Tier 1 capital 
Total capital 

Total RWA 

CET1 ratio 
Tier 1 capital ratio 
Total capital ratio 
Leverage ratio exposure 
Leverage ratio 

A 

$ 

2020 

30,876 
34,775 
40,969 

$ 

2019 

27,707 
30,851 
35,854 

254,871 

239,863 

12.1% 
13.6% 
16.1% 

11.6% 
12.9% 
15.0% 

B 
A/B 

$  741,760 

$  714,343 

4.7% 

4.3% 

(1)  Beginning in the second quarter of 2020, includes the impact of the ECL transitional arrangement announced by OSFI on March 27, 2020. The transitional arrangement 

results in a portion of ECL allowances that would otherwise be included in Tier 2 capital qualifying for inclusion in CET1 capital. The amount is subject to certain 
adjustments and limitations until 2022. 

During the years ended October 31, 2020 and 2019, we have complied with OSFI’s regulatory capital requirements. 

Note  17  Capital Trust securities 

CIBC Capital Trust is a trust wholly owned by CIBC and established under the laws of the Province of Ontario. CIBC Capital Trust has $300 million 
outstanding of CIBC Tier 1 Notes – Series B, due June 30, 2108 (the Notes), redeemable on or after June 30, 2014 at the Canada Yield Price; 
redeemable at par on June 30, 2039. CIBC Capital Trust is not consolidated by CIBC and the senior deposit notes issued by CIBC to CIBC Capital 
Trust are reported as Deposits – Business and government on the consolidated balance sheet. 

The Notes were structured to achieve Tier 1 regulatory capital treatment and, as such, have features of equity capital, including the deferral of 

cash interest under certain circumstances (Deferral Events). In the case of a Deferral Event, holders of the Notes will be required to invest interest 
paid on the Notes in our perpetual preferred shares. Should CIBC Capital Trust fail to pay the semi-annual interest payments on the Notes in full, 
we will not declare dividends of any kind on any of our preferred or common shares for a specified period of time. 

In addition, the Notes will be automatically exchanged for our perpetual preferred shares upon the occurrence of any one of the following 
events: (i) proceedings are commenced for our winding-up; (ii) OSFI takes control of us or our assets; (iii) we or OSFI are of the opinion that our 
Tier 1 capital ratio is less than 5% or our Total capital ratio is less than 8%; or (iv) OSFI directs us pursuant to the Bank Act (Canada) to increase 
our capital or provide additional liquidity and we elect such automatic exchange or we fail to comply with such direction. Upon such automatic 
exchange, holders of the Notes will cease to have any claim or entitlement to interest or principal against CIBC Capital Trust. 

CIBC Tier 1 Notes – Series B was issued on March 13, 2009 and pays interest at a rate of 10.25%, semi-annually on June 30 and 

December 31, until June 30, 2039. On June 30, 2039, and on each five-year anniversary thereafter, the interest rate on the CIBC Tier 1 Notes – 
Series B will reset to the five-year Government of Canada bond yield at such time plus 9.878%. The Canada Yield Price is a price calculated at the 
time of redemption (other than an interest rate reset date applicable to the series) to provide a yield to maturity equal to the yield on a Government of 
Canada bond of appropriate maturity plus: (a) 1.645% if the redemption date is any time prior to June 30, 2039, or (b) 3.29% if the redemption date 
is any time on or after June 30, 2039. 

Subject to the approval of OSFI, CIBC Capital Trust may, in whole or in part, on the redemption dates specified, and on any date thereafter, 
redeem the CIBC Tier 1 Notes Series B without the consent of the holders. Also, subject to the approval of OSFI, CIBC Capital Trust may redeem all, 
but not part of, the CIBC Tier 1 Notes Series B prior to the earliest redemption date specified without the consent of the holders, upon the 
occurrence of certain specified tax or regulatory events. 

OSFI’s capital adequacy guidelines confirmed the adoption of Basel III in Canada and clarified the treatment of non-qualifying capital 
instruments. Non-qualifying capital instruments are subject to a 10% phase-out per annum commencing in 2013. Banks are expected to develop 
and maintain a redemption schedule for non-qualifying capital instruments that gives priority to redeeming instruments at their regular par 
redemption dates before exercising any regulatory event redemption rights. With the adoption of Basel III, innovative capital instruments such as the 
CIBC Tier 1 Notes are considered non-qualifying capital instruments. We expect to exercise our regulatory event redemption rights in fiscal 2022 in 
respect of the $300 million CIBC Tier 1 Notes – Series B. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  167 

Consolidated financial statements 

Note  18 

Share-based payments 

We provide the following share-based compensation to certain employees and directors in the form of cash-settled or equity-settled awards. 

Restricted share award plan 
Under the RSA plan, share unit equivalents (RSA units) are granted to certain key employees on an annual basis or during the year as special 
grants. RSA grants are made in the form of cash-settled awards which generally vest and settle in cash either at the end of three years or one-third 
annually beginning one year after the date of the grant. Dividend equivalents on RSA units are paid in cash or in the form of additional RSA units to 
the employees at the end of the vesting period or settlement date. 

Grant date fair value of each cash-settled RSA unit granted is calculated based on the average closing price per common share on the TSX for the 

10 trading days prior to a date specified in the grant terms. Upon vesting, each RSA unit is settled in cash based on the average closing price per 
common share on the TSX for the 10 trading days prior to the vesting date. 

During the year, 2,864,000 RSAs were granted at a weighted-average price of $113.62 (2019: 2,666,888 granted at a weighted-average price of 

$113.01; 2018: 2,653,437 granted at a weighted-average price of $115.20) and the number of RSAs outstanding as at October 31, 2020 was 8,391,532 
(2019: 8,343,235; 2018: 8,252,167). Compensation expense in respect of RSAs, before the impact of hedging, totalled $275 million in 2020 (2019: 
$319 million; 2018: $352 million). As at October 31, 2020, liabilities in respect of RSAs, which are included in Other liabilities, were $775 million (2019: 
$850 million; 2018: $858 million). 

Performance share unit plan 
Under the PSU plan, awards are granted to certain key employees on an annual basis in December. PSU grants are made in the form of cash-
settled awards which vest and settle in cash at the end of three years. Dividend equivalents on PSUs, are provided in the form of additional PSUs. 
Grant date fair value of each cash-settled PSU is calculated based on the average closing price per common share on the TSX for the 
10 trading days prior to a date specified in the grant terms. The final number of PSUs that vest will range from 75% to 125% of the initial number 
awarded based on CIBC’s performance relative to the other major Canadian banks. Upon vesting, each PSU is settled in cash based on the 
average closing price per common share on the TSX for the 10 trading days prior to the vesting date. 

During the year, 835,785 PSUs were granted at a weighted-average price of $115.30 (2019: 952,273 granted at a weighted-average price of 

$113.48; 2018: 894,040 granted at a weighted-average price of $115.23). As at October 31, 2020, the number of PSUs outstanding, before the 
impact of CIBC’s relative performance, was 2,967,248 (2019: 3,033,980; 2018: 2,920,695). Compensation expense in respect of PSUs, before the 
impact of hedging, totalled $90 million in 2020 (2019: $106 million; 2018: $123 million). As at October 31, 2020, liabilities in respect of PSUs, which 
are included in Other liabilities, were $286 million (2019: $319 million; 2018: $328 million). 

Exchangeable shares 
As part of our acquisition of Wellington Financial in the first quarter of 2018, equity-settled awards in the form of exchangeable shares, which vest 
over a period of up to 5 years and have specific service and non-market performance vesting conditions, were issued to selected employees. 
Employees receive dividend equivalents in the form of additional exchangeable shares upon vesting. Compensation expense in respect of the 
exchangeable shares is based on the grant date fair value, adjusted for the impact of best estimates on the satisfaction of the service requirements 
and non-market performance conditions. At the acquisition, each exchangeable share was granted at $123.99, and the number of exchangeable 
shares outstanding as at October 31, 2020 was 278,711 (2019: 386,010). Compensation expense in respect of exchangeable shares totalled 
$9 million in 2020 (2019: $8 million). 

Deferred share unit plan/deferred compensation plan 
Under the DSU plan and DCP plan, certain employees can elect to receive DSUs in exchange for cash compensation that they would otherwise be 
entitled to. In addition, certain key employees are granted DSUs during the year as special grants. DSUs are generally fully vested upon grant or 
vest in accordance with the vesting schedule defined in the grant agreement and settle in cash on a date within the period specified in the plan 
terms. Employees receive dividend equivalents in the form of additional DSUs. 

Grant date fair value of each cash settled DSU that is not granted under the DCP is calculated based on the average closing price per 

common share on the TSX for the 10 trading days prior to a date specified in the grant terms. These DSUs are settled in cash based on the average 
closing price per common share on the TSX for the 10 trading days prior to the payout date and after the employee’s termination of employment. 
The grant date fair value for DCP grants is based on the closing stock price on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on the last day of the quarter. 
Upon distribution, each DSU is settled in cash based on the average closing price per common share on the NYSE for the 10 trading days prior to 
the date of the distribution. 

During the year, 183,941 DSUs were granted at a weighted-average price of $106.22 (2019: 173,089 granted at a weighted-average price of 

$110.53; 2018: 132,739 granted at a weighted-average price of $115.60) and the number of DSUs outstanding as at October 31, 2020 was 791,571 
(2019: 617,281; 2018: 447,200). Compensation expense in respect of DSUs, before the impact of hedging, totalled $8 million in 2020 (2019: 
$17 million; 2018: $26 million). As at October 31, 2020, liabilities in respect of DSUs, which are included in Other liabilities, were $90 million (2019: 
$82 million; 2018: $64 million). 

Directors’ plans 
Each director who is not an officer or employee of CIBC may elect to receive the annual equity retainer as either DSUs or common shares, under the 
Director DSU/Common Share Election Plan and may elect to receive all or a portion of their remuneration in the form of cash, common shares or 
DSU’s under the Non-Officer Director Share Plan. 

The value of DSUs credited to a director is payable when he or she is no longer a director or employee of CIBC or of an affiliate of CIBC, and 
for directors subject to section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the director is not providing any services to CIBC or 
any member of its controlled group as an independent contractor. In addition, under the Director DSU/Common Share Election Plan, the value of 
DSUs is payable only if the director is not related to, or affiliated with, CIBC as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada). 

Other non-interest expense in respect of the DSU components of these plans totalled nil in 2020 (2019: $3 million; 2018: $3 million). As at 

October 31, 2020, liabilities in respect of DSUs, which are included in Other liabilities, were $23 million (2019: $27 million; 2018: $25 million). 

168  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Stock option plans 
Under the ESOP, stock options are periodically granted to certain key employees. Options provide the employee with the right to purchase common 
shares from CIBC at a fixed price not less than the closing price of the shares on the trading day immediately preceding the grant date. In general, 
the options vest by the end of the fourth year and expire 10 years from the grant date. 

The following tables summarize the activities of the stock options and provide additional details related to stock options outstanding and vested. 

As at or for the year ended October 31 

Outstanding at beginning of year 

Granted 
Exercised (2) 
Forfeited 
Cancelled/expired 

Outstanding at end of year 

Exercisable at end of year 

Available for grant 

Number 
of stock 
options 

5,176,962 
818,290 
(314,469) 
(672) 
– 

5,680,111 

2,783,694 

9,316,226 

Reserved for future issue 

14,996,337 

2020 

Weighted-
average 
exercise 

price (1) 

$  96.93 
109.87 
68.10 
70.66 
– 

$  100.39 

$  88.63 

Number 
of stock 
options 

4,713,163 
894,324 
(393,055) 
(35,714) 
(1,756) 

5,176,962 

2,290,139 

10,133,844 

15,310,806 

2019 

Weighted-
average 
exercise 
price 

$ 

$ 

$ 

91.05 
111.50 
58.60 
110.42 
45.63 

96.93 

80.27 

2018 

Weighted-
average 
exercise 
price 

$ 

$ 

$ 

84.28 
120.02 
67.84 
103.98 
45.08 

91.05 

71.89 

Number 
of stock 
options 

4,876,673 
756,516 
(876,309) 
(42,443) 
(1,274) 

4,713,163 

1,898,125 

10,990,698 

15,703,861 

(1)  For foreign currency-denominated options granted and exercised during the year, the weighted-average exercise prices are translated using exchange rates as at the 

grant date and settlement date, respectively. The weighted-average exercise price of outstanding balances as at October 31, 2020 reflects the conversion of foreign 
currency-denominated options at the year-end exchange rate. 

(2)  The weighted-average share price at the date of exercise was $97.72 (2019: $106.94; 2018: $120.55). 

As at October 31, 2020 

Stock options outstanding 

Stock options vested 

Range of exercise prices 

$11.00 – $55.00 
$55.01 – $65.00 
$65.01 – $75.00 
$75.01 – $85.00 
$85.01 – $95.00 
$95.01 – $105.00 
$105.01 – $115.00 
$115.01 – $125.00 

Number 
outstanding 

239,891 
146,085 
158,106 
304,285 
362,400 
1,126,241 
2,602,275 
740,828 

5,680,111 

Weighted-
average 
contractual life 
remaining 

1.84 
4.75 
1.13 
1.87 
3.28 
4.65 
7.70 
7.06 

5.91 

Weighted-
average 
exercise 
price 

$ 

31.19 
60.93 
71.43 
79.88 
90.97 
99.71 
110.74 
120.02 

$  101.11 

Number 
outstanding 

239,891 
146,085 
158,106 
304,285 
362,400 
1,126,241 
446,686 
– 

2,783,694 

Weighted-
average 
exercise 
price 

$  31.19 
60.93 
71.43 
79.88 
90.97 
99.71 
110.77 
– 

$  88.63 

The fair value of options granted during the year was measured at the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Model assumptions 
are based on observable market data for the risk-free interest rate and dividend yield, contractual terms for the exercise price, and historical 
experience for expected life. Volatility assumptions are best estimates of market implied volatility matching the exercise price and expected life of 
the options. 

The following weighted-average assumptions were used as inputs into the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of options 
on the date of grant: 

For the year ended October 31 

Weighted-average assumptions 

Risk-free interest rate 
Expected dividend yield 
Expected share price volatility 
Expected life 
Share price/exercise price 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2.00 % 
6.80 % 
15.30 % 

2.63 % 
5.87 % 
18.36 % 

2.08 % 
5.15 % 
14.74 % 

6 years 
$  109.87 

6 years 
$  111.50 

6 years 
$  120.02 

For 2020, the weighted-average grant date fair value of options was $3.90 (2019: $8.22; 2018: $7.06). 

Compensation expense in respect of stock options totalled $5 million in 2020 (2019: $7 million; 2018: $7 million). 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  169 

Consolidated financial statements 

Employee share purchase plan 
Under our Canadian ESPP, qualifying employees can choose each year to have any portion of their eligible earnings withheld to purchase common 
shares. We match 50% of the employee contribution amount, up to a maximum contribution of 3% of eligible earnings, subject to a ceiling of $2,250 
annually. CIBC contributions vest after employees have two years of continuous participation in the plan, and all subsequent contributions vest 
immediately. Similar programs exist in other regions globally, where each year qualifying employees can choose to have a portion of their eligible 
earnings withheld to purchase common shares and receive a matching employer contribution subject to each plan’s provisions. Employee 
contributions to our ESPP are used to purchase common shares from Treasury. CIBC FirstCaribbean operates an ESPP locally, in which 
contributions are used by the plan trustee to purchase CIBC FirstCaribbean common shares in the open market. 

Our contributions are expensed as incurred and totalled $50 million in 2020 (2019: $48 million; 2018: $45 million). 

Restricted stock plan 
Under the restricted stock plan, awards were granted to certain key employees in the form of equity-settled awards as part of the acquisition of The 
PrivateBank in 2017. These restricted stocks were fully vested and released in 2019. Compensation expense in respect of restricted stock totalled 
nil in 2020 (2019: $1 million). 

Note  19 

Post-employment benefits 

We sponsor pension and other post-employment benefit plans for eligible employees in a number of jurisdictions including Canada, the U.S., the 
U.K., and the Caribbean. Our pension plans include registered funded defined benefit pension plans, supplemental arrangements that provide 
pension benefits in excess of statutory limits, and defined contribution plans. We also provide certain health-care, life insurance, and other benefits 
to eligible employees and retired members. Plan assets and defined benefit obligations related to our defined benefit plans are measured for 
accounting purposes as at October 31 each year. 

Plan characteristics, funding and risks 
Pension plans 
Pension plans include CIBC’s Canadian, U.S., U.K., and Caribbean pension plans. CIBC’s Canadian pension plans represent approximately 92% 
of our consolidated defined benefit obligation. All of our Canadian pension plans are defined benefit plans, the most significant of which is our 
principal Canadian pension plan (the CIBC Pension Plan), which encompasses approximately 64,000 active, deferred, and retired members. 

The CIBC Pension Plan provides members with monthly pension income at retirement based on a prescribed plan formula which is based on 

a combination of maximum yearly pensionable earnings, average earnings at retirement and length of service recognized in the plan. There is a 
two-year waiting period for members to join the CIBC Pension Plan. 

The CIBC Pension Plan is funded through a separate trust. Actuarial funding valuations are prepared by the Plan’s external actuary at least 

once every three years or more frequently as required by Canadian pension legislation to determine CIBC’s minimum funding requirements as well 
as maximum permitted contributions. Any deficits determined in the funding valuations must generally be funded over a period not exceeding fifteen 
years. CIBC’s pension funding policy is to make at least the minimum annual required contributions required by regulations. Any contributions in 
excess of the minimum requirements are discretionary. 

The CIBC Pension Plan is registered with OSFI and the Canada Revenue Agency and is subject to the acts and regulations that govern 

federally regulated pension plans. 

Other post-employment plans 
Other post-employment plans include CIBC’s Canadian, U.S. and Caribbean post-retirement health-care benefit plans (referred to for disclosure 
purposes as other post-employment plans). CIBC’s Canadian other post-employment plan (the Canadian post-employment plan) represents more 
than 93% of our consolidated other post-employment defined benefit obligation. 

The Canadian post-employment plan provides medical, dental and life insurance benefits to retirees that meet specified eligibility 
requirements, including specified age and service period eligibility requirements. CIBC reimburses 100% of the cost of benefits for eligible 
employees that retired prior to January 1, 2009, whereas the contribution level for medical and dental benefits for eligible employees that retire 
subsequent to this date has been fixed at a specified level. The plan is funded on a pay-as-you-go basis. 

Benefit changes 
There were no material changes to the terms of our Canadian defined benefit pension plans in 2020 or 2019. Certain plan amendments were made 
to our other pension and other post-employment plans in 2020, which resulted in a negative past service cost. 

Risks 
CIBC’s defined benefit plans expose the group to actuarial risks (such as longevity risk), currency risk, interest rate risk, market (investment) risk 
and health-care cost inflation risks. 

The CIBC pension plan operates a currency overlay strategy, which may use forwards or similar instruments, to manage and mitigate its 

currency risk. 

Interest rate risk is managed as part of the CIBC pension plan’s liability-driven investment strategy through a combination of physical bonds, 

overlays funded in the repo market, and/or derivatives. 

Market (investment) risk is mitigated through a multi-asset portfolio construction process that diversifies across a variety of market risk drivers. 
The use of derivatives within the CIBC pension plan is governed by its derivatives policy that was approved by the Pension Benefits 
Management Committee (PBMC) and permits the use of derivatives to manage risk at the discretion of the Pension Investment Committee (PIC). 
In addition to the management of interest rate risk, risk reduction and mitigation strategies may include hedging of currency, credit spread and/or 
equity risks. The derivatives policy also permits the use of derivatives to enhance plan returns. 

170  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Plan governance 
All of CIBC’s pension arrangements are governed by local pension committees, senior management or a board of trustees. However, all significant 
plan changes require approval from the Management Resources and Compensation Committee (MRCC). For the Canadian pension plans, the 
MRCC is responsible for setting the strategy for the pension plans, reviewing material risks, performance including funded status, and approving 
material design or governance changes. 

While specific investment policies are determined at a plan level to reflect the unique characteristics of each plan, common investment policies 

for all plans include the optimization of the risk-return relationship using a portfolio of multiple asset classes diversified by market segment, 
economic sector, and issuer. The objectives are to secure the benefits promised by our funded plans, to maximize long-term investment returns 
while not compromising the benefit security of the respective plans, manage the level of funding contributions in conjunction with the stability of the 
funded status, and implement all policies in a cost effective manner. Investments in quoted debt and equity (held either directly or indirectly through 
investment funds) represent the most significant asset allocations. 

The use of derivatives is limited to the purposes and instruments described in the derivatives policy of the CIBC Pension Plan. These include 

the use of synthetic debt or equity instruments, currency hedging, risk reduction and enhancement of returns. 

Investments in specific asset classes are further diversified across funds, managers, strategies, sectors and geographies, depending on the 

specific characteristics of each asset class. 

The exposure to any one of these asset classes will be determined by our assessment of the needs of the plan assets and economic and 

financial market conditions. Factors evaluated before adopting the asset mix include demographics, cash-flow payout requirements, liquidity 
requirements, actuarial assumptions, expected benefit increases, and plan funding requirements. 

Management of the assets of the various Canadian plans has been delegated primarily to the PIC, which is a committee that is composed of 

CIBC management. The PIC is responsible for the appointment and termination of individual investment managers (which includes CIBC Asset 
Management Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CIBC), who each have investment discretion within established target asset mix ranges as set by the 
PBMC. Should a fund’s actual asset mix fall outside specified ranges, the assets are re-balanced as required to be within the target asset mix ranges. 
On a periodic basis, an Asset-Liability Matching study is performed in which the consequences of the strategic investment policies are analyzed. 

Management of the actuarial valuations of the various Canadian plans is primarily the responsibility of the PBMC. The PBMC is responsible for 

approving the actuarial assumptions for the valuations of the plans, and for recommending the level of annual funding for the Canadian plans to 
CIBC senior management. 

Local committees with similar mandates manage our non-Canadian plans and annually report back to the MRCC on all material governance 

activities. 

Amounts recognized on the consolidated balance sheet 
The following tables present the financial position of our defined benefit pension and other post-employment plans for Canada, the U.S., the U.K., 
and our Caribbean subsidiaries. Other minor plans operated by some of our subsidiaries are not material and are not included in these disclosures. 

$ millions, as at or for the year ended October 31 

Defined benefit obligation 
Balance at beginning of year 

Current service cost 
Past service cost (1) 
Interest cost on defined benefit obligation 
Employee contributions 
Benefits paid 
Loss on settlements 
Special termination benefits 
Foreign exchange rate changes 
Net actuarial (gains) losses on defined benefit obligation 

Balance at end of year 

Plan assets 
Fair value at beginning of year 

Interest income on plan assets (2) 
Net actuarial gains (losses) on plan assets (2) 
Employer contributions 
Employee contributions 
Benefits paid 
Plan administration costs 
Net transfer out 
Foreign exchange rate changes 

Fair value at end of year 

Net defined benefit asset (liability) 
Valuation allowance (3) 

Net defined benefit asset (liability), net of valuation allowance 

Pension plans 

Other post-employment plans 

2020 

2019 

2020 

2019 

$  8,722 
277 
(20) 
268 
5 
(369) 
– 
10 
8 
238 

$  9,139 

$  8,853 
277 
349 
227 
5 
(369) 
(7) 
– 
6 

$  9,341 

202 
(17) 

185 

$ 

$ 

$

$ 

$  7,370 
218 
1 
303 
5 
(353) 
1 
– 
(1) 
1,178 

$  8,722 

$  7,691 
323 
965 
229 
5 
(353) 
(6) 
– 
(1) 

$  8,853 

$ 

131 
(15)

116 

$ 

671 
14 
(77) 
20 
– 
(26) 
– 
– 
1 
6 

 609 

– 
– 
– 
26 
– 
(26) 
– 
– 
– 

– 

(609) 
– 

$ 

589 
11 
– 
24 
– 
(30) 
– 
– 
– 
77 

$ 

671 

$ 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
30 
– 
(30) 
– 
– 
– 

– 

(671) 
– 

$ 

(609) 

$ 

(671) 

(1)  Includes amounts related to the restructuring charge, and gains related to plan amendments recognized in 2020. See Note 23 for additional details on the restructuring charge. 
(2)  The actual return on plan assets for the year was $626 million (2019: $1,288 million). 
(3)  The valuation allowance reflects the effect of asset ceiling on plans with a net defined benefit asset. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  171 

 
Consolidated financial statements 

The net defined benefit asset (liability), net of valuation allowance, included in other assets and other liabilities is as follows: 

$ millions, as at October 31 
Other assets 
Other liabilities (1) 

Pension plans 

Other post-employment plans 

2020 
$  247 
(62) 
$  185 

2019 
$  175 
(59) 
$  116 

2020 
– 
(609) 
(609) 

$ 

$ 

2019 
– 
(671) 
(671) 

$ 

$ 

(1)  Excludes $5 million (2019: $7 million) of other liabilities for other post-employment plans of immaterial subsidiaries. 

The defined benefit obligation and plan assets by region are as follows: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Defined benefit obligation 

Canada 
U.S., U.K., and the Caribbean 

Defined benefit obligation at the end of year 

Plan assets 
Canada 
U.S., U.K., and the Caribbean 

Plan assets at the end of year 

Pension plans 

Other post-employment plans 

2020 

2019 

2020 

2019 

$  8,384 
755 
$  9,139 

$  8,469 
872 
$  9,341 

$  7,982 
740 
$  8,722 

$  8,004 
849 
$  8,853 

$  568 
41 
$  609 

$

$

– 
– 
– 

$  620 
51 
$  671 

$

$

– 
– 
– 

Amounts recognized in the consolidated statement of income 
The net defined benefit expense for our defined benefit plans in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and the Caribbean is as follows: 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Current service cost (1) 
Past service cost (2) 
Interest cost on defined benefit obligation 
Interest income on plan assets 
Special termination benefits (2) 
Plan administration costs 
Loss on settlements 
Net defined benefit plan expense recognized in net income 

Pension plans 

Other post-employment plans 

2020 
$  277 
(20) 
268 
(277) 
10 
7 
– 
$  265 

2019 
218 
1
303 
(323) 
–
6
1
206 

$ 

$ 

2018 
223 
– 
281 
(294) 
– 
6 
– 
216 

$ 

$ 

$

2020 
14
(77) 
20 
– 
– 
– 
– 
$  (43) 

2019 

$

11  $

2018 
13

–
24 
–
–
–
–
35

$

  $

– 
25 
– 
– 
– 
– 
38

(1)  The 2020, 2019 and 2018 current service costs were calculated using separate discount rates of 3.14%, 4.14%, and 3.72%, respectively, to reflect the longer duration of 

future benefits payments associated with the additional year of service to be earned by the plan’s active participants. 

(2)  Includes amounts related to the restructuring charge, and gains related to plan amendments recognized in 2020. See Note 23 for additional details on the restructuring charge. 

Amounts recognized in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
The net remeasurement gains (losses) recognized in OCI for our defined benefit plans in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and the Caribbean is as follows: 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2020 

2019 

2018 

Pension plans 

Other post-employment plans 

Actuarial gains (losses) on defined benefit obligation arising from 

changes in: 
Demographic assumptions 
Financial assumptions 
Experience 

Net actuarial gains (losses) on plan assets 
Changes in asset ceiling excluding interest income 
Net remeasurement gains (losses) recognized in OCI (1) 

$  148 
(327) 
(59) 
349 
(1) 
110 

$

$ 

$ 

– 
(1,133) 
(45) 
965 
(5) 
(218) 

$ 

$ 

4 
488 
(65) 
(234) 
1 
194 

$

$

13
(26) 
7 
– 
– 
 (6) 

$ 

$ 

– 
(78) 
1 
– 
– 
(77) 

$

46
67 
4 
– 
– 
$  117 

(1)  Excludes net remeasurement gains/losses recognized in OCI in respect of immaterial subsidiaries not included in the disclosures totalling $5 million net losses (2019: 

$2 million of net losses; 2018: $2 million of net gains). 

Canadian defined benefit plans 
As the Canadian defined benefit pension and other post-employment benefit plans represent approximately 90% of our consolidated defined benefit 
obligation, they are the subject and focus of the disclosures in the balance of this note. 

Disaggregation and maturity profile of defined benefit obligation 
The breakdown of the defined benefit obligation for our Canadian plans between active, deferred and retired members is as follows: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Active members 
Deferred members 
Retired members 
Total 

Pension plans  Other post-employment plans 

2020 
$  4,362 
626 
3,396 
$  8,384 

2019 
$  4,165 
587 
3,230 
$  7,982 

2020 
$  129 
– 
439 
$  568 

2019 
$  179 
– 
441 
$  620 

The weighted-average duration of the defined benefit obligation for our Canadian plans is as follows: 

As at October 31 

Weighted-average duration, in years 

172  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Pension plans  Other post-employment plans 

2020 
14.8 

2019 
15.4 

2020 
12.6 

2019 
13.6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated financial statements 

Plan assets 
The major categories of our defined benefit pension plan assets for our Canadian plans are as follows: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Asset category (1) 
Canadian equity securities (2) 

Debt securities (3) 

Government bonds 
Corporate bonds 
Inflation adjusted bonds 

Investment funds (4) 

Canadian equity funds 
U.S. equity funds 
International equity funds (5) 
Global equity funds (5) 
Emerging markets equity funds 
Fixed income funds 

Other (2) 

Alternative investments (6) 
Cash and cash equivalents and other 
Obligations related to securities sold under repurchase agreements 

2020 

2019 

$ 

540 

6 % 

$ 

547 

7 % 

5,001 
1,195 
– 

6,196 

30 
423 
32 
961 
229 
117 

1,792 

1,281 
241 
(1,581) 

(59) 

59 
14 
– 

73 

– 
5 
– 
12 
3 
1 

21 

16 
3 
(19) 

– 

4,623 
1,024 
76 

5,723 

28 
379 
32 
907 
256 
110 

1,712 

1,095 
220 
(1,293) 

22 

58 
13 
1 

72 

– 
5 
– 
12 
3 
1 

21 

13 
3 
(16) 

– 

$  8,469 

100 % 

$ 

8,004 

100 % 

(1)  Asset categories are based upon risk classification including synthetic exposure through derivatives. The fair value of derivatives as at October 31, 2020 was a net 

derivative liability of $41 million (2019: net derivative asset of $16 million). 

(2)  Pension benefit plan assets include CIBC issued securities and deposits of $7 million (2019: $8 million), representing 0.1% of Canadian plan assets (2019: 0.1%). All of the 

equity securities held as at October 31, 2020 and 2019 have daily quoted prices in active markets except hedge funds, infrastructure, and private equity. 

(3)  All debt securities held as at October 31, 2020 and 2019 are investment grade, of which $244 million (2019: $88 million) have daily quoted prices in active markets. 
(4)  $31 million (2019: $29 million) of the investment funds are directly held as at October 31, 2020 and have daily quoted prices in active markets. 
(5)  Global equity funds include North American and international investments, whereas International equity funds do not include North American investments. 
(6)  Comprised of private equity, infrastructure, private debt and real estate funds. 

Principal actuarial assumptions 
The weighted-average principal assumptions used to determine the defined benefit obligation for our Canadian plans are as follows: 

As at October 31 

Discount rate 
Rate of compensation increase (1) 

Pension plans  Other post-employment plans 

2020 

2019 

2020 

2019 

2.8 % 
2.0 % 

3.1 % 
2.3 % 

2.7 % 
2.0 % 

3.0 % 
2.3 % 

(1)  Rates of compensation increase for 2020 and 2019 reflect the use of a salary growth rate assumption table that is based on the age and tenure of the employees. The table 

yields a weighted-average salary growth rate of approximately 2.0% per annum (2019: 2.3%). 

Assumptions regarding future mortality have been based on published statistics and mortality tables. The current longevities underlying the values 
of the defined benefit obligation of our Canadian plans are as follows (in years): 

As at October 31 

Longevity at age 65 for current retired members 

Males 
Females 

Longevity at age 65 for current members aged 45 

Males 
Females 

2020 

2019 

23.4 
24.5 

24.3 
25.4 

23.3 
24.8 

24.3 
25.7 

The assumed health-care cost trend rates of the Canadian other post-employment plan providing medical, dental, and life insurance benefits are as 
follows: 

For the year ended October 31 

Health-care cost trend rates assumed for next year 
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline 
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate 

2020 

5.2 % 
4.0 % 

2040 

2019 

5.3 %
4.0 %

2040 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  173 

 
 
Consolidated financial statements 

Sensitivity analysis 
Reasonably possible changes to one of the principal actuarial assumptions, holding other assumptions constant, would have affected the defined 
benefit obligation of our Canadian plans as follows: 

Estimated increase (decrease) in defined benefit obligation 

Pension plans  Other post-employment plans 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Discount rate (100 basis point change) 

Decrease in assumption 
Increase in assumption 

Rate of compensation increase (100 basis point change) 

Decrease in assumption 
Increase in assumption 

Health-care cost trend rates (100 basis point change) 

Decrease in assumption 
Increase in assumption 

Future mortality 

1 year shorter life expectancy 
1 year longer life expectancy 

n/a  Not applicable. 

2020 

$  1,450 
(1,185) 

(283) 
325 

n/a 
n/a 

(216) 
213 

2020 

$  79 
(65) 

– 
– 

(28) 
32 

(18) 
19 

The sensitivity analyses presented above are indicative only, and should be considered with caution as they have been calculated in isolation 
without changing other assumptions. In practice, changes in one assumption may result in changes in another, which may magnify or counteract 
the disclosed sensitivities. 

Future cash flows 
Cash contributions 
The most recently completed actuarial valuation of the CIBC Pension Plan for funding purposes was as at October 31, 2019. The next actuarial 
valuation of this plan for funding purposes will be effective as of October 31, 2020. 

The minimum contributions for 2021 are anticipated to be $198 million for the Canadian defined benefit pension plans and $28 million for the 

Canadian other post-employment benefit plans. These estimates are subject to change since contributions are affected by various factors, such as 
market performance, regulatory requirements, and management’s ability to change funding policy. 

Expected future benefit payments 
The expected future benefit payments for our Canadian plans for the next 10 years are as follows: 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Defined benefit pension plans 
Other post-employment plans 

2021 

2022 

2023 

2024 

2025 

2026–2030 

Total 

$  363 
28 

$  367 
29 

$  354 
30 

$  360 
31 

$  367 
31 

$  1,953 
163 

$  3,764 
312 

$  391 

$  396 

$  384 

$  391 

$  398 

$  2,116 

$  4,076 

Defined contributions and other plans 
We also maintain defined contribution plans for certain employees and make contributions to government pension plans. The expense recognized 
in the consolidated statement of income for these benefit plans is as follows: 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Defined contribution pension plans 
Government pension plans (1) 

(1)  Includes Canada Pension Plan, Quebec Pension Plan, and U.S. Federal Insurance Contributions Act. 

2020 

2019 

2018 

$

$

 33
137 

170 

 $

 29 $
121 

 27 

124 

$  150 

$  151 

174  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Note 20 

Income taxes 

Total income taxes 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Consolidated statement of income 
Provision for current income taxes 

Adjustments for prior years 
Current income tax expense 

Provision for deferred income taxes 

Adjustments for prior years 
Effect of changes in tax rates and laws 
Origination and reversal of temporary differences 

OCI 

Total comprehensive income 

2020 

2019 

2018 (1) 

$ 

(40) 
1,366 

1,326 

$ 

(125) 
1,365 

1,240 

$ 

(39) 
1,392 

1,353 

37 
4 
(269) 

(228) 

1,098 
130 

107 
34 
(33) 

108 

1,348 
22 

32 
87 
(50) 

69 

1,422 
42 

$  1,228 

$  1,370 

$  1,464 

(1)  Excludes loss carryforwards that were recognized directly in retained earnings relating to foreign exchange translation amounts on CIBC’s net investment in foreign 

operations. These amounts were previously reclassified to retained earnings as part of our transition to IFRS in 2012. 

Components of income tax 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Current income taxes 

Federal 
Provincial 
Foreign 

Deferred income taxes 

Federal 
Provincial 
Foreign 

$ 

2020 

613 
420 
390 

1,423 

(67) 
(44) 
(84) 

(195) 

$ 

2019 

634 
428 
226 

1,288 

30 
20 
32 

82 

$ 

2018 

686 
467 
188 

1,341 

54 
36 
33 

123 

$  1,228 

$  1,370 

$  1,464 

The combined Canadian federal and provincial income tax rate varies each year according to changes in the statutory rates imposed by each of 
these jurisdictions, and according to changes in the proportion of our business carried out in each province. We are also subject to Canadian 
taxation on income of foreign branches. 

Earnings of foreign subsidiaries would generally only be subject to Canadian tax when distributed to Canada. Additional Canadian taxes that 

would be payable if all foreign subsidiaries’ retained earnings were distributed to the Canadian parent as dividends are estimated to be nil. 

The effective rates of income tax in the consolidated statement of income are different from the combined Canadian federal and provincial 

income tax rates as set out in the following table: 

Reconciliation of income taxes 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

2020 

2019 

2018 

Combined Canadian federal and provincial income tax rate applied to 

income before income taxes 

Income taxes adjusted for the effect of: 

Earnings of foreign subsidiaries 
Tax-exempt income 
Disposition 
Changes in income tax rate on deferred tax balances 
Impact of equity-accounted income 
Other (including Enron settlement) 

$  1,291 

26.4 % 

$  1,718 

26.5 % 

$  1,777 

26.5 % 

(66) 
(134) 
–
4 
(18) 
21 

(1.3) 
(2.7) 
– 
0.1 
(0.4) 
0.4 

(214) 
(131) 
– 
34 
(23) 
(36) 

(3.3) 
(2.0) 
– 
0.5 
(0.4) 
(0.5) 

(220) 
(203) 
(1)
88 
(29) 
10 

(3.3) 
(3.0) 
– 
1.3 
(0.4) 
0.1 

Income taxes in the consolidated statement of income 

$  1,098 

22.5% 

$  1,348 

20.8 % 

$  1,422 

21.2 % 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  175 

Consolidated financial statements 

Deferred income taxes 
Sources of and movement in deferred tax assets and liabilities 

Deferred tax assets 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

2020  Balance at beginning of year before accounting 

policy changes 

Impact of adopting IFRS 16 at November 1, 2019 

Balance at beginning of year after accounting 

Allowance 
for credit 
losses 

Property 
and 
equipment 

Pension and 
employee 

benefits  Provisions 

Financial 
instrument 
revaluation 

Tax loss 
carry-

forwards (1)  Other 

Total 
assets 

$  170 
– 

$  47 
– 

$  567 
– 

$  20 
– 

$ 

1 
– 

1 
– 
– 
– 

1 

$  24 
– 

$  157  $ 
(12) 

986 
(12) 

24 
(1) 
– 
(4) 

145 
114 
– 
(23) 

974 
270 
(18) 
(10) 

$  19 

$  236  $  1,216 

66 
– 

$  38 
– 

$  127  $ 
3 

994 
3 

policy changes 
Recognized in net income 
Recognized in OCI 
Other (2) 

170 
143 
– 
1 

47 
(23) 
– 
15 

567 
4 
(18) 
1 

20 
33 
– 
– 

Balance at end of year 

$  314 

$  39 

$  554 

$  53 

2019  Balance at beginning of year before accounting 

policy changes 

Impact of adopting IFRS 15 at November 1, 2018 

Balance at beginning of year after accounting 

$  298 
– 

$  12 
– 

$  437 
– 

$  16 
– 

$ 

$ 

policy changes 
Recognized in net income 
Recognized in OCI 
Other (2) 

Balance at end of year 

298 
(124) 
– 
(4) 

12 
14 
– 
21 

437 
46 
83 
1 

16 
3 
– 
1 

66 
(32) 
(50) 
17 

38 
(14) 
– 
– 

130 
20 
– 
7 

$  170 

$  47 

$  567 

$  20 

$ 

1 

$  24 

$  157  $ 

997 
(87) 
33 
43 

986 

2018  Balance at beginning of year under IAS 39 

Impact of adopting IFRS 9 at November 1, 2017 

$  245 
7 

$  69 
– 

$  559 
– 

$  47 
– 

$  124 
20 

$  18 
– 

$  107  $  1,169 
27 

– 

Balance at beginning of year under IFRS 9 

Recognized in net income 
Recognized in OCI 
Other (2) 

Balance at end of year 

252 
31 
1 
14 

69 
(53) 
– 
(4) 

559 
(45) 
(87) 
10 

47 
(31) 
– 
– 

144 
(60) 
(1) 
(17) 

18 
20 
– 
– 

107 
22 
– 
(2) 

1,196 
(116) 
(87) 
1 

$  298 

$  12 

$  437 

$  16 

$ 

66 

$  38 

$  127  $ 

994 

Deferred tax liabilities 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

2020  Balance at beginning of year before accounting 

policy changes 

Impact of adopting IFRS 16 at November 1, 2019 (3) 

Balance at beginning of year after accounting 

policy changes 
Recognized in net income 
Recognized in OCI 
Other (2) 

Balance at end of year 

2019  Balance at beginning of year before accounting 

policy changes 

Impact of adopting IFRS 15 at November 1, 2018 

Balance at beginning of year after accounting 

policy changes 
Recognized in net income 
Recognized in OCI 
Other (2) 

Balance at end of year 

2018 

Balance at beginning of year under IFRS 9 (4) 
Recognized in net income 
Recognized in OCI 
Other (2) 

Intangible 
assets 

Property
and
equipment

  Pension and 
employee 

benefits  Goodwill 

Financial 
instrument 
revaluation 

Other 

Total 
liabilities 

$ 

(315) 
– 

$ 

(68) 
(39) 

$ 

(315) 
13 
– 
(3)

(107) 
(6) 
– 
1 

(9) 
– 

(9) 
(5) 
(2) 
1 

$ 

(84) 
– 

$ 

(25) 
– 

$ 

(6)  $ 
– 

(507) 
(39) 

(84) 
(2) 
– 
–

(25) 
(24) 
(13) 
(1)

(63) 

(6) 
(18) 
– 
6 

(546) 
(42) 
(15) 
4 

$ 

(18)  $ 

(599) 

$ 

(305) 

$  (112) 

$ 

(15) 

$ 

(86) 

$ 

$ 

(287) 
– 

$ 

(47) 
– 

$ 

(11) 
– 

$ 

(85) 
– 

$ 

(12) 
– 

$ 

$ 

6 
(5) 

(436) 
(5) 

(287) 
(16) 
– 
(12) 

(315) 

(329) 
53 
– 
(11) 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

(47) 
(12) 
– 
(9) 

(68) 

(52) 
– 
– 
5 

(47) 

(11) 
(1) 
(6) 
9 

(9) 

(10) 
3 
(3) 
(1) 

(11) 

$ 

$ 

$ 

(85) 
(1) 
– 
2 

(84) 

(93) 
1 
– 
7 

$ 

$ 

(12) 
(4) 
– 
(9) 

(25) 

(17) 
3 
(2) 
4 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

(85) 

$ 

(12) 

$ 

6 

1 
13 
(1) 
(19) 

(441) 
(21) 
(7) 
(38) 

(6)  $ 

(507) 

29 
(13) 
13 
(23) 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 
$ 

(472) 
47 
8 
(19) 

(436) 

617 
479 
558 

Balance at end of year 

$ 

(287) 

$ 

Net deferred tax assets as at October 31, 2020 
Net deferred tax assets as at October 31, 2019 
Net deferred tax assets as at October 31, 2018 

(1)  The deferred tax effect of tax loss carryforwards includes $19 million (2019: $22 million; 2018: $38 million) that relate to operating losses (of which $13 million relate to 
Canada, and $6 million relate to the Caribbean) that expire in various years commencing in 2021, and nil (2019: $2 million, 2018: nil) that relate to U.S. capital losses. 

(2)  Includes foreign currency translation adjustments. 
(3)  Transition impact from the adoption of IFRS 16 at November 1, 2019 is reported net for lease liability and right-of-use assets. 
(4)  Transition impact from the adoption of IFRS 9 at November 1, 2017 was nil. 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are assessed by entity for presentation in our consolidated balance sheet. As a result, the net deferred tax assets 
of $617 million (2019: $479 million) are presented in the consolidated balance sheet as deferred tax assets of $650 million (2019: $517 million) and 
deferred tax liabilities of $33 million (2019: $38 million). 

176  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
Consolidated financial statements 

Unrecognized tax losses 
The amount of unused operating tax losses for which deferred tax assets have not been recognized was $1,855 million as at October 31, 2020 
(2019: $1,908 million), of which $669 million (2019: $669 million) relates to the U.S. region and $1,186 million (2019: $1,239 million) relates to the 
Caribbean region. These unused operating tax losses expire within 10 years. 

The amount of unused capital tax losses for which deferred tax assets have not been recognized was $611 million as at October 31, 2020 

(2019: $611 million). These unused capital tax losses relate to Canada. 

U.S. tax reforms 
The U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (U.S. tax reforms) reduced the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate effective in 2018 and introduced other 
important changes to U.S. corporate income tax laws including a Base Erosion Anti-abuse Tax (BEAT) that subjects certain payments from a U.S. 
corporation to foreign related parties to additional taxes. The Internal Revenue Service periodically releases proposed and final regulations to 
implement aspects of the U.S. tax reforms, including BEAT. CIBC continues to evaluate the impact of these regulations on our U.S. operations. 

Enron 
In prior years, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) issued reassessments disallowing the deduction of Enron settlement payments and related legal 
expenses (the Enron expenses). In January 2019, CIBC entered into a settlement agreement (the Agreement) with the CRA that provides certainty 
with respect to the portion of the Enron expenses deductible in Canada. The Agreement resulted in the recognition of a net $38 million tax recovery 
in the first quarter of 2019. This recovery was determined after taking into account taxable refund interest in Canada and also the portion of the 
Enron expenses that are expected to be deductible in the United States (the U.S. deduction). The U.S. deduction has not been agreed to by the 
Internal Revenue Service. It is possible that adjustments may be required to the amount of tax benefits recognized in the U.S. 

Dividend received deduction 
The CRA has reassessed CIBC approximately $1,115 million of additional income tax by denying the tax deductibility of certain 2011 to 2015 
Canadian corporate dividends on the basis that they were part of a “dividend rental arrangement”. The dividends that were subject to the 
reassessments are similar to those prospectively addressed by the rules in the 2015 and 2018 Canadian federal budgets. It is possible that 
subsequent years may be reassessed for similar activities. CIBC is confident that its tax filing positions were appropriate and intends to defend itself 
vigorously. Accordingly, no amounts have been accrued in the consolidated financial statements. 

Note  21 

Earnings per share 

$ millions, except per share amounts, for the year ended October 31 

Basic EPS 
Net income attributable to equity shareholders 
Less: preferred share dividends and distributions on other equity instruments 

Net income attributable to common shareholders 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (thousands) 

Basic EPS 

Diluted EPS 
Net income attributable to common shareholders 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (thousands) 
Add: stock options potentially exercisable (1) (thousands) 
Add: restricted shares and equity-settled consideration (thousands) 

Weighted-average diluted common shares outstanding (thousands) 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2020 

3,790 
122 

3,668 

445,435 

8.23 

3,668 

445,435 
378 
208 

446,021 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2019 

5,096 
111 

4,985 

444,324 

11.22 

4,985 

444,324 
702 
431 

445,457 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2018 

5,267 
89 

5,178 

443,082 

11.69 

5,178 

443,082 
1,111 
434 

444,627 

Diluted EPS 

$ 

8.22 

$ 

11.19 

$ 

11.65 

(1)  Excludes average options outstanding of 3,748,652 with a weighted-average exercise price of $111.53 (2019: 2,319,723 with a weighted-average exercise price of 

$114.29; 2018: 688,123 with a weighted-average exercise price of $120.02), as the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of common shares. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  177 

Consolidated financial statements 

Note  22  Commitments, guarantees and pledged assets 

Commitments 
Credit-related arrangements 
Credit-related arrangements are generally off-balance sheet instruments and are typically entered into to meet the financing needs of clients. In 
addition, there are certain exposures for which we could be obligated to extend credit that are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheet. 
Our policy of requiring collateral or other security to support credit-related arrangements and the types of security held is generally the same as for 
loans. The contract amounts presented below for credit-related arrangements represent the maximum amount of additional credit that we could be 
obligated to extend. The contract amounts also represent the additional credit risk amounts should the contracts be fully drawn, the counterparties 
default and any collateral held proves to be of no value. As many of these arrangements will expire or terminate without being drawn upon, the 
contract amounts are not necessarily indicative of future cash requirements or actual risk of loss. 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Securities lending (1) 
Unutilized credit commitments (2) 
Backstop liquidity facilities 
Standby and performance letters of credit 
Documentary and commercial letters of credit 
Other commitments to extend credit 

2020 

2019 

Contract amounts 

$ 

39,186 
268,089 
12,907 
14,565 
196 
2,149 

$ 

44,220 
241,038 
10,870 
13,489 
224 
2,937 

$  337,092 

$  312,778 

(1)  Excludes securities lending of $1.8 billion (2019: $1.8 billion) for cash because it is reported on the consolidated balance sheet. 
(2)  Includes $131.3 billion (2019: $122.0 billion) of personal, home equity and credit card lines, which are unconditionally cancellable at our discretion. 

In addition, the client securities lending of the joint ventures which CIBC has with The Bank of New York Mellon totalled $78.1 billion (2019: 
$77.6 billion) of which $8.0 billion (2019: $6.7 billion) are transactions between CIBC and the joint ventures. 

CIBC has provided indemnities to customers of the joint ventures in respect of securities lending transactions with third parties amounting to 

$64.3 billion (2019: $67.8 billion). 

Securities lending 
Securities lending represents our credit exposure when we lend our own or our clients’ securities to a borrower and the borrower defaults on the 
redelivery obligation. The borrower must fully collateralize the security lent at all times. 

Unutilized credit commitments 
Unutilized credit commitments are the undrawn portion of lending facilities that we have approved to meet the requirements of clients. These lines 
may include various conditions that must be satisfied prior to drawdown and include facilities extended in connection with contingent acquisition 
financing. The credit risk associated with these lines arises from the possibility that a commitment will be drawn down as a loan at some point in 
the future, prior to the expiry of the commitment. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary, is based on our credit evaluation of the 
borrower and may include a charge over the present and future assets of the borrower. 

Backstop liquidity facilities 
We provide irrevocable backstop liquidity facilities primarily to ABCP conduits. We are the financial services agent for some of these conduits, while 
other conduits are administered by third parties. The liquidity facilities for our sponsored ABCP programs, Safe Trust, Sure Trust, and Sound Trust, 
require us to provide funding, subject to the satisfaction of certain limited conditions with respect to the conduits, to fund non-defaulted assets. 

Standby and performance letters of credit 
These represent an irrevocable obligation to make payments to third parties in the event that clients are unable to meet their contractual financial 
or performance obligations. The credit risk associated with these instruments is essentially the same as that involved in extending irrevocable loan 
commitments to clients. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary, is based on our credit evaluation of the borrower and may include 
a charge over present and future assets of the borrower. 

Documentary and commercial letters of credit 
Documentary and commercial letters of credit are short-term instruments issued on behalf of a client, authorizing a third party, such as an exporter, 
to draw drafts on CIBC up to a specified amount, subject to specific terms and conditions. We are at risk for any drafts drawn that are not ultimately 
settled by the client; however, the amounts drawn are collateralized by the related goods. 

Other commitments to extend credit 
These represent other commitments to extend credit, and primarily include forward-dated securities financing trades in the form of securities 
purchased under resale agreements with various counterparties that are executed on or before the end of our reporting period and that settle 
shortly after period end, usually within five business days. 

Other commitments 
As an investor in merchant banking activities, we enter into commitments to fund external private equity funds. In connection with these activities, 
we had commitments to invest up to $212 million (2019: $258 million). 

In addition, we act as underwriter for certain new issuances under which we alone or together with a syndicate of financial institutions purchase 

these new issuances for resale to investors. As at October 31, 2020, the related underwriting commitments were $94 million (2019: $60 million). 

178  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

Guarantees and other indemnification agreements 
Guarantees 
A guarantee is a contract that requires the issuer to make specified payments to reimburse the holder for a loss it incurs because a specified debtor 
failed to make payment when due in accordance with the original or modified terms of a debt instrument. Guarantees include standby and 
performance letters of credit as discussed above, and credit derivatives protection sold, as discussed in Note 13. 

Other indemnification agreements 
In the ordinary course of operations, we enter into contractual arrangements under which we may agree to indemnify the counterparty to such 
arrangement from any losses relating to a breach of representations and warranties, a failure to perform certain covenants, or for claims or losses 
arising from certain external events as outlined within the particular contract. This may include, for example, losses arising from changes in tax 
legislation, litigation, or claims relating to past performance. In addition, we indemnify each of our directors and officers to the extent permitted by  
law, against any and all claims or losses (including any amounts paid in settlement of any such claims) incurred as a result of their service to CIBC. 
In most indemnities, maximum loss clauses are generally not provided for, and as a result, no defined limit of the maximum potential liability exists. 
Amounts are accrued when we have a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, when it is both probable that an outflow of 
economic benefits will be required to resolve the matter, and when a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. We believe that 
the likelihood of the conditions arising to trigger obligations under these contract arrangements is remote. Historically, any payments made in 
respect of these contracts have not been significant. Amounts related to these indemnifications, representations, and warranties reflected within the 
consolidated financial statements as at October 31, 2020 and 2019 are not significant. 

Pledged assets 
In the normal course of business, on- and off-balance sheet assets are pledged as collateral for various activities. The following table summarizes 
asset pledging amounts and the activities to which they relate: 

$ millions, as at October 31 

Assets pledged in relation to: 
Securities lending 
Obligations related to securities sold under repurchase agreements 
Obligations related to securities sold short 
Securitizations 
Covered bonds 
Derivatives 
Foreign governments and central banks (1) 
Clearing systems, payment systems, and depositories (2) 
Other 

(1)  Includes assets pledged to maintain access to central bank facilities in foreign jurisdictions. 
(2)  Includes assets pledged in order to participate in clearing and payment systems and depositories. 

Note  23  Contingent liabilities and provisions 

$ 

2020 

2019 

41,042  $ 
69,528 
15,963 
20,818 
21,073 
14,410 
133 
605 
400 

46,242 
51,942 
15,635 
19,398 
20,206 
12,952 
784 
2,400 
1,247 

$  183,972  $  170,806 

In the ordinary course of its business, CIBC is a party to a number of legal proceedings, including regulatory investigations, in which claims for 
substantial monetary damages are asserted against CIBC and its subsidiaries. Legal provisions are established if, in the opinion of management, 
it is both probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to resolve the matter, and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of 
the obligation. If the reliable estimate of probable loss involves a range of potential outcomes within which a specific amount appears to be a better 
estimate, that amount is accrued. If no specific amount within the range of potential outcomes appears to be a better estimate than any other 
amount, the mid-point in the range is accrued. In some instances, however, it is not possible either to determine whether an obligation is probable 
or to reliably estimate the amount of loss, in which case no accrual can be made. 

While there is inherent difficulty in predicting the outcome of legal proceedings, based on current knowledge and in consultation with legal 
counsel, we do not expect the outcome of these matters, individually or in aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial 
statements. However, the outcome of these matters, individually or in aggregate, may be material to our operating results for a particular reporting 
period. We regularly assess the adequacy of CIBC’s litigation accruals and make the necessary adjustments to incorporate new information as it 
becomes available. 

CIBC considers losses to be reasonably possible when they are neither probable nor remote. It is reasonably possible that CIBC may incur 
losses in addition to the amounts recorded when the loss accrued is the mid-point of a range of reasonably possible losses, or the potential loss 
pertains to a matter in which an unfavourable outcome is reasonably possible but not probable. 

CIBC believes the estimate of the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses, in excess of the amounts accrued, for its significant legal 

proceedings, where it is possible to make such an estimate, is from nil to approximately $1.1 billion as at October 31, 2020. This estimated 
aggregate range of reasonably possible losses is based upon currently available information for those significant proceedings in which CIBC is 
involved, taking into account CIBC’s best estimate of such losses for those cases for which an estimate can be made. CIBC’s estimate involves 
significant judgment, given the varying stages of the proceedings and the existence of multiple defendants in many of such proceedings whose 
share of the liability has yet to be determined. The range does not include potential punitive damages and interest. The matters underlying the 
estimated range as at October 31, 2020 consist of the significant legal matters disclosed below. The matters underlying the estimated range will 
change from time to time, and actual losses may vary significantly from the current estimate. For certain matters, CIBC does not believe that an 
estimate can currently be made as many of them are in preliminary stages and certain matters have no specific amount claimed. Consequently, 
these matters are not included in the range. 

The following is a description of CIBC’s significant legal proceedings, which we intend to vigorously defend. 

Green v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, et al. 
In July 2008, a shareholder plaintiff commenced this proposed class action in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against CIBC and several former 
and current CIBC officers and directors. It alleges that CIBC and the individual officers and directors violated the Ontario Securities Act through 
material misrepresentations and non-disclosures relating to CIBC’s exposure to the U.S. sub-prime mortgage market. The plaintiffs instituted this 
action on behalf of all CIBC shareholders in Canada who purchased shares between May 31, 2007 and February 28, 2008. The action seeks 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  179 

Consolidated financial statements 

damages of $5 billion. In July 2012, the plaintiffs’ motions for leave to file the statement of claim and for class certification were dismissed by the 
Ontario Superior Court of Justice. In February 2014, the Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision overturning the lower court and allowing the 
matter to proceed as a certified class action. In August 2014, CIBC and the individual defendants were granted leave to appeal to the Supreme 
Court of Canada. The defendants’ appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada was heard in February 2015. In December 2015, the Supreme Court of 
Canada upheld the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision allowing the matter to proceed as a certified class action. The trial is scheduled to 
commence in September 2021. 

Fresco v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 
Gaudet v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 
In June 2007, two proposed class actions were filed against CIBC in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Fresco v. CIBC) and in the Quebec 
Superior Court (Gaudet v. CIBC). Each makes identical claims for unpaid overtime for full-time, part-time, and retail frontline non-management 
employees. The Ontario action seeks $500 million in damages plus $100 million in punitive damages for all employees in Canada, while the Quebec 
action is limited to employees in Quebec and has been stayed pending the outcome of the Ontario action. In June 2009, in the Ontario action, the 
motion judge denied certification of the matter as a class action. In September 2010, the Ontario Divisional Court upheld the motion judge’s denial of 
the plaintiff’s certification motion and the award of costs to CIBC by a two-to-one majority. In January 2011, the Ontario Court of Appeal granted the 
plaintiff leave to appeal the decision denying certification. In June 2012, the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned the lower court and granted 
certification of the matter as a class action. The Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in March 2013 denying CIBC leave to appeal 
certification of the matter as a class action, and denying the plaintiff’s cross appeal on aggregate damages. The motions for summary judgment 
were heard in December 2019. In March 2020, the court found CIBC liable for unpaid overtime. CIBC is appealing the decision. A decision on 
remedies was released in August 2020 and the court certified aggregate damages as a common issue and directed that the availability and 
quantum, if any, of aggregate damages be determined at a later date. The plaintiffs’ claim for punitive damages was dismissed. In October 2020, 
the court released its decision on limitation periods finding that limitation periods cannot be determined on a class wide basis. CIBC is appealing 
the decisions on remedies and limitation periods. 

Credit card class actions – Interchange fees litigation: 

Bancroft-Snell v. Visa Canada Corporation, et al. 
9085-4886 Quebec Inc. v. Visa Canada Corporation, et al. 
Watson v. Bank of America Corporation, et al. 
Fuze Salon v. BofA Canada Bank, et al. 
1023926 Alberta Ltd. v. Bank of America Corporation, et al. 
The Crown & Hand Pub Ltd. v. Bank of America Corporation, et al. 
Hello Baby Equipment Inc. v. BofA Canada Bank, et al. 

Since 2011 seven proposed class actions have been commenced against VISA Canada Corporation (Visa), MasterCard International Incorporated 
(MasterCard), CIBC and numerous other financial institutions. The actions, brought on behalf of all merchants who accepted payment by Visa or 
MasterCard from March 23, 2001 to the present, allege two “separate, but interrelated” conspiracies: one in respect of Visa and one in respect of 
MasterCard. The claims allege that Visa and MasterCard conspired with their issuing banks to set default interchange rate and merchant discount 
fees and that certain rules (Honour All Cards and No Surcharge) have the effect of increasing the merchant discount fees. The claims allege civil 
conspiracy, violation of the Competition Act, interference with economic interests and unjust enrichment. The claims seek unspecified general and 
punitive damages. The motion for class certification in Watson was granted in March 2014. The appeal of the decision granting class certification 
was heard in December 2014. In August 2015, the British Columbia Court of Appeal allowed the appeals in part, resulting in certain causes of action 
being struck and others being reinstated. The matter remains certified as a class action. The trial in Watson which was scheduled to commence in 
October 2020 has been adjourned. The motion for class certification in 9085-4886 Quebec Inc. (formerly Bakopanos) was heard in November 2017. 
In February 2018, the Court certified 9085-4886 Quebec Inc. as a class action. In May 2019, the plaintiffs’ appeal of the certification decision in 
9085-4886 Quebec Inc. was heard and in July 2019, the Quebec Court of Appeal allowed the plaintiffs’ appeal. 

Mortgage prepayment class actions: 

Jordan v. CIBC Mortgages Inc. 
Lamarre v. CIBC Mortgages Inc. 
Sherry v. CIBC Mortgages Inc. 
Haroch v. Toronto Dominion Bank, et al. 

In 2011, three proposed class actions were filed in the Superior Courts of Ontario (Jordan), Quebec (Lamarre) and British Columbia (Sherry) against 
CIBC Mortgages Inc. The representative plaintiffs allege that since 2005, CIBC Mortgages Inc. wrongfully charged or overcharged mortgage 
prepayment penalties and that the calculation clauses in the mortgage contract that provide for discretion in applying the prepayment penalties are 
void and unenforceable at law. The motion for class certification in Sherry was granted in June 2014 conditional on the plaintiffs framing a workable 
class definition. In July 2014, CIBC filed a Notice of Appeal. CIBC’s appeal of the certification decision in Sherry was heard in April 2016. The court 
reserved its decision. In June 2016, the British Columbia Court of Appeal allowed the appeal in Sherry in part, resulting in certain causes of action 
being struck. Sherry remains certified as a class action, and continuation of the certification motion on the amended pleading was heard November 
2017. In August 2018, the court certified certain of the plaintiffs’ causes of action in Sherry. The appeal in Sherry was heard in April 2019. In May 
2020, the court dismissed CIBC’s appeal. The certification motion in Jordan was heard in August 2018. In February 2019, the court certified Jordan 
as a class action. CIBC’s motion for leave to appeal the certification decision in Jordan was denied in June 2019. 

In May 2018, a new proposed class action, Haroch, was filed in the Superior Court of Quebec. The action is brought on behalf of Quebec 
residents who during the class period allegedly paid a mortgage prepayment charge in excess of three months’ interest. The plaintiffs allege that the 
defendants created complex prepayment formulas that are contrary to the Quebec Civil Code, the Quebec Consumer Protection Act and the Interest 
Act and seek damages back to 2015. Haroch and Lamarre have been consolidated. The motion for class certification in Haroch was heard in June 
2019 and in July 2019, the court certified the matter as a class action against CIBC and CIBC Mortgages Inc. CIBC and CIBC Mortgages Inc. are 
seeking leave to appeal the certification decision. In January 2020, the court granted CIBC and CIBC Mortgages Inc. leave to appeal in Haroch. 

Cerberus Capital Management L.P. v. CIBC 
In October 2015, Securitized Asset Funding 2011-2, LTD., a special purpose investment vehicle affiliated with Cerberus Capital Management L.P. 
(collectively, “Cerberus”), commenced a Federal Court action in New York against CIBC seeking unspecified damages of “at least hundreds of 
millions of dollars”. The action relates to two transactions in 2008 and 2011 in which CIBC issued a limited recourse note and certificate to Cerberus 

180  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Consolidated financial statements 

which significantly reduced CIBC’s exposure to the U.S. residential real estate market. The complaint alleges that CIBC breached its contract with 
Cerberus by failing to appropriately calculate and pay with respect to two of the payment streams due under the 2008 note and 2011 certificate. 

In November 2015, Cerberus voluntarily dismissed the Federal Court action and filed a new action asserting the same claims in New York 

State Court. In January 2016, CIBC served its Answer and Counterclaims. In March 2016, Cerberus filed a motion for summary judgment and 
sought to stay discovery. In April 2016, the court directed the parties to start discovery. In April 2018, the court denied the plaintiffs’ motion for 
summary judgment. The plaintiffs appealed the decision, which was heard in November 2018. In December 2018, the appellate court affirmed 
the lower court’s denial of the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment. 

Valeant class actions: 

Catucci v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., et al. 
Potter v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., et al. 

In March 2016, a proposed class action was filed in the Quebec Superior Court on behalf of purchasers of shares in Valeant Pharmaceuticals 
International Inc. against the issuer, its directors and officers, its auditors and the underwriting syndicates for six public offerings from 2013 to 2015. 
CIBC World Markets Corp. was part of the underwriting syndicate for three of the offerings (underwriting 1.5% of a US$1.6 billion offering in June 2013, 
1.5% of a US$900 million offering in December 2013 and 0.625% of an offering comprising US$5.25 billion and €1.5 billion in March 2015). The proposed 
class action alleges various misrepresentations on the part of Valeant and the other defendants, including representations made in the prospectus of the 
public offerings, relating to Valeant’s relationships with various “specialty pharmacies” who were allegedly acting improperly in the distribution of 
Valeant’s products resulting in Valeant’s operational results, revenues, and share price during the relevant period being artificially inflated. In July 2016, 
a similar proposed class action (Potter v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., et al.) was commenced in New Jersey Federal Court. 

The motion for class certification in Catucci and motion to dismiss in Potter were heard in April 2017. In September 2017, the court certified 

Catucci as a class action. The defendants sought leave to appeal the certification decision, which was dismissed in December 2017. In Potter the 
court dismissed the action against the underwriters, without prejudice to the plaintiff to re-plead its allegations. In November 2020, the Catucci class 
action was settled. The underwriters did not contribute to the settlement. 

Pilon v. Amex Bank of Canada, et al. 
In January 2018 a proposed class action was commenced in Quebec against CIBC and several other financial institutions. The action alleges that 
the defendants breached the Quebec Consumer Protection Act and the Bank Act when they unilaterally increased the credit limit on the plaintiffs’ 
credit cards. The claim seeks the return of all over limit fees charged to Quebec customers beginning in January 2015 as well as punitive damages 
of $500 per class member. The motion for class certification was heard in April 2019. In August 2019, the court dismissed the certification motion. 
The plaintiffs’ appeal of the decision denying the certification motion is scheduled for February 2021. 

Simplii privacy class actions: 

Bannister v. CIBC (formerly John Doe v. CIBC) 
Steinman v. CIBC 

In June 2018, two proposed class actions were filed in the Ontario Superior Court against CIBC on behalf of Simplii Financial clients who allege their 
personal information was disclosed as a result of a security incident in May 2018. The actions allege that Simplii Financial failed to protect its clients’ 
personal information. The Bannister proposed class action seeks aggregated damages of approximately $550 million, while the Steinman proposed 
class action, which has been stayed, sought damages per class member plus punitive damages of $20 million. The motion for certification in 
Bannister, which was scheduled for December 2019, has been adjourned. 

Order Execution Only class actions: 

Pozgaj v. CIBC and CIBC Trust 
Frayce v. BMO Investorline Inc., et al 
Michaud v. BBS Securities Inc. et al 

In September 2018, a proposed class action (Pozgaj) was filed in the Ontario Superior Court against CIBC and CIBC Trust. It alleges that the 
defendants should not have paid mutual fund trailing commissions to order-execution-only-dealers. The action is brought on behalf of all persons 
who held units of CIBC mutual funds through order-execution-only-dealers and seeks $200 million in damages. 

In 2020, two proposed class action were filed in the Ontario Superior Court (Frayce) and the Supreme Court of British Columbia (Michaud) 

against CIBC Investor Services Inc. and several other dealers. The actions allege that the defendants should not have received and accepted 
trailing commissions for service and advice on mutual funds purchased through their respective order-execution-only-dealers. The action is brought 
on behalf of all persons who purchased units of mutual funds through an order-execution-only-dealer owned by one or more of the defendants and 
seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. The motion for class certification in Frayce is scheduled for December 2021. 

York County on Behalf of the County of York Retirement Fund v. Rambo, et al. 
In February 2019, a class action complaint was filed in the Northern District of California against the directors, certain officers and the underwriters of 
several senior note offerings of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) that took place between March 2016 and April 2018, the total issuance 
amount for the series of offerings being approximately US$4 billion. CIBC World Markets Corp. was part of the underwriting syndicate for an offering, 
whereby CIBC World Markets Corp. underwrote 6% of a US$650 million December 2016 issuance of senior notes. The offering involved the issuance 
of two tranches of notes: US$400 million of 30-year senior notes maturing in December 2046 and US$250 million of one-year floating rate notes that 
matured and were repaid in November 2017. The complaint alleges that the disclosure documentation associated with the note offerings contained 
misrepresentations and/or omissions of material facts, including with respect to PG&E’s failure to comply with various safety regulations, vegetation 
management programs and requirements, as well as understating the extent to which its equipment has allegedly caused multiple fires in California, 
including before the wildfires that occurred in California in 2017 and 2018. In October 2019, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss. 

Pope v. CIBC and CIBC Trust 
In August 2020, a proposed class action was filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia against CIBC and CIBC Trust. The action alleges that 
the defendants misrepresented their investment strategy and charged unitholders excess fees in relation to the CIBC Canadian Equity Fund and 
certain CIBC portfolio funds. The action is brought on behalf of all persons who hold or held units of these funds and seeks unspecified 
compensatory and punitive damages. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  181 

Consolidated financial statements 

Legal provisions 
The following table presents changes in our legal provisions: 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Balance at beginning of year 

Additional new provisions recognized 
Less: 

Amounts incurred and charged against existing provisions 
Unused amounts reversed 

Balance at end of year 

$

2020 

 67 
92 

(5) 
(3) 

2019 

$

40
39 

(8) 
(4) 

$

151

$

67

Restructuring 
During the first quarter of 2020, we recognized a restructuring charge of $339 million in Corporate and Other associated with ongoing efforts to 
transform our cost structure and simplify our bank. The charge consisted primarily of employee severance and related costs and was recorded in 
Non-interest expenses – Employee compensation and benefits. 

The following table presents changes in the restructuring provision: 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Balance at beginning of year 

Additional new provisions recognized 
Less: 

Amounts incurred and charged against existing provisions 
Unused amounts reversed 

Balance at end of year 

2020 

 26 
370 

$

(152) 
(22) 

2019 

$

7  1
– 

(45) 
– 

$  222 

$

 26 

The amount of $222 million recognized represents our best estimate as at October 31, 2020 of the amount required to settle the obligation, including 
obligations related to ongoing payments as a result of the restructuring. 

Note  24  Concentration of credit risk 

Concentration of credit exposure may arise with a group of counterparties that have similar economic characteristics or are located in the same 
geographic region. The ability of such counterparties to meet contractual obligations would be similarly affected by changing economic, political or 
other conditions. 

The amounts of credit exposure associated with our on- and off-balance sheet financial instruments are summarized in the following table: 

Credit exposure by country of ultimate risk 

$ millions, as at October 31 

2020 

Canada 

U.S. 

Other 
countries 

Total 

Canada 

U.S. 

Other 
countries 

2019 

Total 

On-balance sheet 

Major assets (1)(2)(3) 

Off-balance sheet 
Credit-related arrangements 

Financial institutions 
Governments 
Retail 
Corporate 

$  512,542  $  151,337  $  70,945  $  734,824  $  444,317  $  120,286  $  55,844  $  620,447 

$ 

48,236  $ 

13,482  $  12,737  $ 

74,455  $ 

47,815  $ 

13,526  $  12,318  $ 

9,860 
142,351 
70,130 

10 
554 
30,839 

7 
434 
8,452 

9,877 
143,339 
109,421 

9,208 
130,544 
61,228 

10 
510 
28,907 

14 
432 
8,266 

73,659 
9,232 
131,486 
98,401 

$  270,577  $ 

44,885  $  21,630  $  337,092  $  248,795  $ 

42,953  $  21,030  $  312,778 

(1)  Major assets consist of cash and deposits with banks, loans and acceptances net of allowance for credit losses, securities, securities borrowed or purchased under resale 

agreements, and derivative instruments. 

(2)  Includes Canadian currency of $497.3 billion (2019: $426.0 billion) and foreign currencies of $237.5 billion (2019: $194.4 billion). 
(3)  No industry or foreign jurisdiction accounted for more than 10% of loans and acceptances net of allowance for credit losses, with the exception of the U.S., which 

accounted for 13% as at October 31, 2020 (2019: 12.1%). 

See Note 13 for derivative instruments by country and counterparty type of ultimate risk. In addition, see Note 22 for details on the client securities 
lending of the joint ventures which CIBC has with The Bank of New York Mellon. 

Also see shaded sections in “MD&A – Management of risk” for a detailed discussion on our credit risk. 

182  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
 
Consolidated financial statements 

Note  25  Related-party transactions 

In the ordinary course of business, we provide banking services and enter into transactions with related parties on terms similar to those offered to 
unrelated parties. Related parties include key management personnel(1), their close family members, and entities that they or their close family 
members control or jointly control. Related parties also include associates and joint ventures accounted for under the equity method, and post-
employment benefit plans for CIBC employees. Loans to these related parties are made in the ordinary course of business and on substantially the 
same terms as for comparable transactions with unrelated parties. As CIBC’s subsidiaries are consolidated, transactions with these entities have 
been eliminated and are not reported as related-party transactions. We offer a subsidy on annual fees and preferential interest rates on credit card 
balances to senior officers, which is the same offer extended to all employees of CIBC. 

Key management personnel and their affiliates 
As at October 31, 2020, loans to key management personnel(1) and their close family members and to entities that they or their close family 
members control or jointly control totalled $139 million (2019: $239 million), letters of credit and guarantees totalled $2 million (2019: $4 million), and 
undrawn credit commitments totalled $65 million (2019: $72 million). 

These outstanding balances are generally unsecured and we have no provision for credit losses on impaired loans relating to these amounts 

for the years ended October 31, 2020 and 2019. 

(1)  Key management personnel are defined as those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of CIBC directly or 

indirectly and comprise the members of the Board (referred to as directors), Executive Committee and certain named officers per the Bank Act (Canada) (collectively 
referred to as senior officers). Board members who are also Executive Committee members are included as senior officers. 

Compensation of key management personnel 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Short-term benefits (1) 
Post-employment benefits 
Share-based benefits (2) 
Termination benefits 

Total compensation 

2020 

Senior 
officers 

$

18

3 
 30
4 

55

$

Directors 

$

$

3 
– 
1
– 

4

2019 

Senior 
officers 

$

$

23
3 
38
– 

64

Directors 

$

$

3
– 
2 
– 

5

(1)  Comprises salaries, statutory and non-statutory benefits related to senior officers and fees related to directors recognized during the year. Also includes annual incentive 

plan payments related to senior officers on a cash basis. 
(2)  Comprises grant-date fair values of awards granted in the year. 

Refer to the following Notes for additional details on related-party transactions: 

Share-based payment plans 
See Note 18 for details of these plans offered to directors and senior officers. 

Post-employment benefit plans 
See Note 19 for related-party transactions between CIBC and the post-employment benefit plans. 

Equity-accounted associates and joint ventures 
See Note 26 for details of our investments in equity-accounted associates and joint ventures. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  183 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated financial statements 

Note  26 

Investments in equity-accounted associates and joint ventures 

Joint ventures 
CIBC is a 50/50 joint venture partner with The Bank of New York Mellon in two joint ventures: CIBC Mellon Trust Company and CIBC Mellon Global 
Securities Services Company, which provide trust and asset servicing, both in Canada. As at October 31, 2020, the carrying value of our 
investments in the joint ventures was $587 million (2019: $529 million), which was included in Corporate and Other. 

As at October 31, 2020, loans to the joint ventures totalled nil (2019: nil) and undrawn credit commitments totalled $164 million (2019: $128 

million). 

CIBC, The Bank of New York Mellon, and CIBC Mellon have, jointly and severally, provided indemnities to customers of the joint ventures in 

respect of securities lending transactions. See Note 22 for additional details. 

There was no unrecognized share of losses of any joint ventures, either for the year or cumulatively. In 2020 and 2019, none of our joint 
ventures experienced any significant restrictions to transfer funds in the form of cash dividends or distributions, or repayment of loans or advances. 
The following table provides the summarized aggregate financial information related to our proportionate interest in the equity-accounted joint 

ventures: 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Net income 
OCI 

Total comprehensive income 

2020 

 67
43 

$

$  110 

2019 

$  88 
45 

$  133 

2018 

$  106 
(12) 

$ 

94 

Associates 
As at October 31, 2020, the total carrying value of our investments in associates was $71 million (2019: $57 million). These investments comprise: 
listed associates with a carrying value of $10 million (2019: $9 million) and a fair value of $10 million (2019: $9 million); and unlisted associates with 
a carrying value of $61 million (2019: $48 million) and a fair value of $83 million (2019: $76 million). Of the total carrying value of our investments in 
associates, $10 million (2019: $5 million) was included in Canadian Personal and Business Banking, $37 million (2019: $33 million) in Capital 
Markets, and $24 million (2019: $19 million) in Corporate and Other. 

As at October 31, 2020, loans to associates totalled nil (2019: nil) and undrawn credit commitments totalled $79 million (2019: $79 million). 

We also had commitments to invest up to nil (2019: nil) in our associates. 

There was no unrecognized share of losses of any associate, either for the year or cumulatively. In 2020 and 2019, none of our associates 

experienced any significant restrictions to transfer funds in the form of cash dividends or distributions, or repayment of loans or advances. 

The following table provides the summarized aggregate financial information related to our proportionate interest in equity-accounted associates: 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Net income 
OCI 

Total comprehensive income 

2020 

$

$

12
1 

13

2019 

$

$

4
(1) 

3

2018 

$

$

15
(7) 

8

184  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

Consolidated financial statements 

Note  27 

Significant subsidiaries 

The following is a list of significant subsidiaries in which CIBC, either directly or indirectly, owns 100% of the voting shares, except where noted. 

$ millions, as at October 31, 2020 

Subsidiary name (1) 

Canada and U.S. 

CIBC Asset Management Inc. 

CIBC BA Limited 

CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. 

Canadian Imperial Holdings Inc. 

CIBC Inc. 

CIBC World Markets Corp. 

CIBC Bank USA 
CIBC Private Wealth Group, LLC 
CIBC Delaware Trust Company 
CIBC National Trust Company 
CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. 

CIBC Investor Services Inc. 

CIBC Life Insurance Company Limited 

CIBC Mortgages Inc. 

CIBC Securities Inc. 

CIBC Trust Corporation 

CIBC World Markets Inc. 

CIBC Wood Gundy Financial Services Inc. 
CIBC Wood Gundy Financial Services (Quebec) Inc. 

INTRIA Items Inc. 

International 

CIBC Australia Ltd 

CIBC Capital Markets (Europe) S.A. 

CIBC Cayman Holdings Limited 
CIBC Cayman Bank Limited 
CIBC Cayman Capital Limited 
CIBC Cayman Reinsurance Limited 

CIBC Investments (Cayman) Limited 

FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited (91.7%) 

CIBC Bank and Trust Company (Cayman) Limited (91.7%) 

CIBC Fund Administration Services (Asia) Limited (91.7%) 
FirstCaribbean International Bank (Bahamas) Limited (87.3%) 

Sentry Insurance Brokers Ltd. (87.3%) 

FirstCaribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited (91.7%) 

Address of head 
or principal office 

Book value of 
shares owned 

by CIBC (2) 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

$  444 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

Chicago, Illinois, U.S. 
New York, New York, U.S. 
New York, New York, U.S. 
New York, New York, U.S. 
Chicago, Illinois, U.S. 
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. 
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. 
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. 
Chicago, Illinois, U.S. 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada 
Toronto, Ontario, Canada 
Montreal, Quebec, Canada 

– (3) 

9,077 

25 

23 

230 

2 

591 

306 

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada 

100 

19 

550 

1,742 

2,820 

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 

Luxembourg 

George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 
George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 
George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 
George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 

George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 
Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados 
George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 
Hong Kong, China 
Nassau, The Bahamas 
Nassau, The Bahamas 
Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados 
Castries, St. Lucia 
Kingston, Jamaica 
George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 
Curacao, Netherlands Antilles 
Curacao, Netherlands Antilles 
Kingston, Jamaica 
Maraval, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago 
Nassau, The Bahamas 
Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados 

FirstCaribbean International Finance Corporation (Leeward & Windward) Limited (91.7%) 
FirstCaribbean International Securities Limited (91.7%) 
FirstCaribbean International Bank (Cayman) Limited (91.7%) 

FirstCaribbean International Finance Corporation (Netherlands Antilles) N.V. (91.7%) 
FirstCaribbean International Bank (Curacao) N.V. (91.7%) 
FirstCaribbean International Bank (Jamaica) Limited (91.7%) 
FirstCaribbean International Bank (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited (91.7%) 
FirstCaribbean International Trust Company (Bahamas) Limited (91.7%) 
FirstCaribbean International Wealth Management Bank (Barbados) Limited (91.7%) 

CIBC World Markets (Japan) Inc. 

Tokyo, Japan 

48 

(1)  Each subsidiary is incorporated or organized under the laws of the state or country in which the principal office is situated, except for Canadian Imperial Holdings Inc., 

CIBC Inc., CIBC Capital Corporation, CIBC World Markets Corp., CIBC Private Wealth Group, LLC, CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc., and CIBC Bancorp USA Inc., which 
were incorporated or organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, U.S.; CIBC National Trust Company, which was organized under the laws of the U.S.; and CIBC 
World Markets (Japan) Inc., which was incorporated in Barbados. 

(2)  The book value of shares of subsidiaries is shown at cost and may include non-voting common and preferred shares. These amounts are eliminated upon consolidation. 
(3)  The book value of shares owned by CIBC is less than $1 million. 

In addition to the above, we consolidate certain SEs where we have control over the SE. See Note 7 for additional details. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  185 

Consolidated financial statements 

Note  28 

Financial instruments – disclosures 

Certain disclosures required by IFRS 7 are provided in the shaded sections of the “MD&A – Management of risk”, as permitted by IFRS. The 
following table provides a cross referencing of those disclosures in the MD&A. 

Description 

For each type of risk arising from financial instruments, an entity shall disclose: the exposure to risks and how they
arise; objectives, policies and processes used for managing the risks; methods used to measure the risk; and 
description of collateral. 

Credit risk: gross exposure to credit risk, credit quality and concentration of exposures. 

Market risk: trading portfolios – Value-at-Risk (VaR); stressed VaR, incremental risk charge, non-trading portfolios – 
interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk and equity risk. 

Liquidity risk: liquid assets, maturity of financial assets and liabilities, and credit commitments. 

Section 

Risk overview 
Credit risk 
Market risk 
Liquidity risk 
Operational risk 
Reputation and legal risks 
Conduct risk 
Regulatory compliance risk 

Credit risk 

Market risk 

Liquidity risk 

We have provided quantitative disclosures related to credit risk consistent with Basel guidelines in the “Credit risk” section of the MD&A. The table 
below sets out the categories of the on-balance sheet exposures that are subject to the credit risk framework as set out in the Capital Adequacy 
Requirements (CAR) Guideline issued by OSFI under the different Basel approaches based on the carrying value of those exposures in our 
consolidated financial statements. The credit risk framework includes CCR exposures arising from OTC derivatives, repo-style transactions and 
trades cleared through CCPs, as well as securitization exposures. Items not subject to the credit risk framework include exposures that are subject 
to the market risk framework, amounts that are not subject to capital requirements or are subject to deduction from capital, and amounts relating to 
CIBC’s insurance subsidiaries, which are excluded from the scope of regulatory consolidation. 

$ millions, as at October 31 

AIRB 
approach 

Standardized 
approach 

Other 
credit risk (1) 

Total 
subject to 
credit risk 

Not 
subject to 
credit risk 

Total 
consolidated 
balance sheet 

2020 

Cash and deposits with banks 
Securities 
Cash collateral on securities borrowed 
Securities purchased under resale agreements 
Loans 
Allowance for credit losses 
Derivative instruments 
Customers’ liability under acceptances 
Other assets 

$ 

50,407 
91,099 
8,543 
65,595 
363,425 
(2,600) 
32,600 
9,606 
15,518 

$  10,207 
11,961 
4 
– 
44,087 
(940) 
130 
– 
462 

$  1,822 
– 
– 
– 
1,138 
– 
– 
– 
7,739 

$ 

62,436 
103,060 
8,547 
65,595 
408,650 
(3,540) 
32,730 
9,606 
23,719 

$ 

82 
45,986 
– 
– 
1,672 
– 
– 
– 
11,008 

$ 

62,518 
149,046 
8,547 
65,595 
410,322 
(3,540) 
32,730 
9,606 
34,727 

Total credit exposures 

$  634,193 

$  65,911 

$  10,699 

$  710,803 

$  58,748 

$  769,551 

2019 

Total credit exposures 

$  535,483 

$  52,605 

$  8,671 

$  596,759 

$  54,845 

$  651,604 

(1)  Includes credit risk exposures arising from other assets that are subject to the credit risk framework but are not included in the standardized or AIRB frameworks, including 
other balance sheet assets which are risk-weighted at 100%, significant investments in the capital of non-financial institutions, and amounts below the thresholds for capital 
deduction that are risk-weighted at 250%. 

186  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
Consolidated financial statements 

Note  29  Offsetting financial assets and liabilities 

The following table identifies the amounts that have been offset on the consolidated balance sheet in accordance with the requirements of IAS 32 
“Financial Instruments: Presentation”, and also those amounts that are subject to enforceable netting agreements but do not qualify for offsetting on 
the consolidated balance sheet either because we do not have a currently enforceable legal right to set-off the recognized amounts, or because we 
do not intend to settle on a net basis or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. 

Financial assets 

Amounts subject to enforceable netting agreements 

$ millions, as at October 31 
2020 Derivatives 

Cash collateral on securities 

borrowed 

Securities purchased under resale 

agreements 

Gross 
amounts of 
recognized 
financial 
assets 
$  59,024 

Gross 
amounts 
offset on the 
consolidated 
balance sheet (1) 

Net 
amounts 
$  (29,989)  $  29,035 

Related amounts not set-off on 
the consolidated balance sheet 
Financial 
instruments (2) 
$  (19,347)  $ 

Net 
amounts 
(5,170)  $  4,518 

Collateral 
received (3) 

Amounts not 
subject to 
enforceable 
netting 

agreements (4) 
$  3,695 

Net amounts 
presented on 
the consolidated 
balance sheet 
$  32,730 

8,547 

– 

8,547 

– 

(8,267) 

280 

– 

8,547 

68,335 
$  135,906 

(2,740) 

65,595 
$  (32,729)  $  103,177 

– 

417 
$  (19,347)  $  (78,615)  $  5,215 

(65,178) 

– 
$  3,695 

$  2,945 

65,595 
$  106,872 

$  23,895 

2019 Derivatives 

$  42,156 

$  (21,206)  $  20,950 

$  (14,572)  $  (3,888) 

$  2,490 

Cash collateral on securities 

borrowed 

Securities purchased under resale 

agreements 

Financial liabilities 

$ millions, as at October 31 
2020 Derivatives 

Cash collateral on securities lent 
Obligations related to securities 

sold under repurchase 
agreements 

2019 Derivatives 

Cash collateral on securities lent 
Obligations related to securities sold 
under repurchase agreements 

3,664 

– 

3,664 

– 

(3,588) 

76 

– 

3,664 

59,131 
$  104,951 

(3,020) 

56,111 
$  (24,226)  $  80,725 

– 

390 
$  (14,572)  $  (63,197)  $  2,956 

(55,721) 

– 
$  2,945 

56,111 
$  83,670 

Amounts subject to enforceable netting agreements 

Gross 
amounts of 
recognized 
financial 
liabilities 
$  56,461 
1,824 

74,393 
$  132,678 

$  43,941 
1,822 

54,821 
$  100,584 

Gross 
amounts 
offset on the 
consolidated 
balance sheet (1) 

Net 
amounts 
$  (29,989)  $  26,472 
1,824 

– 

Related amounts not set-off on 
the consolidated balance sheet 

Financial 
instruments (2) 
$  (19,347)  $ 

– 

Collateral 
pledged (3) 

Net 
amounts 
(5,883)  $  1,242 
105 
(1,719) 

Amounts not 
subject to 
enforceable 
netting 

agreements (4) 
$  4,036 
– 

Net amounts 
presented on 
the consolidated 
balance sheet 
$  30,508 
1,824 

(2,740) 

71,653 
$  (32,729)  $  99,949 

– 

285 
$  (19,347)  $  (78,970)  $  1,632 

(71,368) 

$  (21,206)  $  22,735 
1,822 

– 

$  (14,572)  $ 

– 

(6,840) 
(1,779) 

$  1,323 
43 

(3,020) 

51,801 
$  (24,226)  $  76,358 

– 

(51,343) 
$  (14,572)  $  (59,962) 

458 
$  1,824 

– 
$  4,036 

$  2,378 
– 

– 
$  2,378 

71,653 
$  103,985 

$  25,113 
1,822 

51,801 
$  78,736 

(1)  Comprises amounts related to financial instruments which qualify for offsetting. Derivatives cleared through the CME are considered to be settled-to-market and not 

collateralized-to-market. Derivatives which are settled-to-market are settled on a daily basis, resulting in derecognition, rather than offsetting, of the related amounts. As a 
result, settled-to-market amounts are not considered to be subject to enforceable netting arrangements. In the absence of this, an amount of $964 million as at October 31, 
2020 (2019: $355 million) relating to derivatives cleared through CME would otherwise have been considered to be offset on the consolidated balance sheet. 

(2)  Comprises amounts subject to set-off under enforceable netting agreements, such as ISDA agreements, derivative exchange or clearing counterparty agreements, global 
master repurchase agreements, and global master securities lending agreements. Under such arrangements, all outstanding transactions governed by the relevant 
agreement can be offset if an event of default or other predetermined event occurs. 

(3)  Collateral received and pledged amounts are reflected at fair value, but have been limited to the net balance sheet exposure so as not to include any over-collateralization. 
(4)  Includes contractual rights of set-off that are subject to uncertainty under the laws of the relevant jurisdiction, exchange-traded derivatives and derivatives which are 

settled-to-market. 

The offsetting and collateral arrangements discussed above and other credit risk mitigation strategies used by CIBC are further explained in the 
“Credit risk” section of the MD&A. Certain amounts of securities received as collateral are restricted from being sold or re-pledged. 

Note  30 

Interest income and expense 

The table below provides the consolidated interest income and expense by accounting categories. 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 
2020  Measured at amortized cost (1)(2) 

Debt securities measured at FVOCI (1) 
Other (3) 
Total 

2019  Measured at amortized cost (1)(2) 

Debt securities measured at FVOCI (1) 
Other (3) 
Total 

2018  Measured at amortized cost (1)(2) 

Debt securities measured at FVOCI (1) 
Other (3) 
Total 

Interest 
income 
$  15,055 
685 
1,782 
$  17,522 

$  17,871 
960 
1,866 
$  20,697 

$  15,275 
749 
1,481 
$  17,505 

Interest 
expense 
6,062 
n/a 
416 
6,478 

$ 

$ 

$ 

9,824 
n/a 
322 
$  10,146 

$ 

$ 

7,139 
n/a 
301 
7,440 

Interest income for financial instruments that are measured at amortized cost and debt securities that are measured at FVOCI is calculated using the effective interest rate method. 

(1) 
(2)  Effective November 1, 2019, includes interest income on sublease-related assets and interest expense on lease liabilities under IFRS 16. 
(3) 
n/a  Not applicable. 

Includes interest income and expense and dividend income for financial instruments that are mandatorily measured and designated at FVTPL and equity securities designated at FVOCI. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  187 

Consolidated financial statements 

Note  31

Segmented and geographic information 

CIBC has four SBUs – Canadian Personal and Business Banking, Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, U.S. Commercial 
Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets. These SBUs are supported by Corporate and Other. 

Canadian Personal and Business Banking provides personal and business clients across Canada with financial advice, products and services 

through banking centres, as well as through direct, mobile and remote channels. 

Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management provides high-touch, relationship-oriented banking and wealth management services 

to middle-market companies, entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals and families across Canada, as well as asset management services to 
institutional investors. 

U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management delivers commercial banking and private wealth services across the U.S., as well as 
personal and small business banking services in four U.S. Midwestern markets and focuses on middle-market and mid-corporate companies and 
high-net-worth families. 

Capital Markets provides integrated global markets products and services, investment banking advisory and execution, corporate banking 

solutions and top-ranked research to corporate, commercial, government and institutional clients around the world. 

Corporate and Other includes the following functional groups – Technology, Infrastructure and Innovation, Risk Management, People, Culture 

and Brand, Finance and Enterprise Strategy, as well as other support groups. The expenses of these functional and support groups are generally 
allocated to the business lines within the SBUs. The majority of the functional and support costs of CIBC Bank USA are recognized directly in the U.S. 
Commercial Banking and Wealth Management SBU. Corporate and Other also includes the results of CIBC FirstCaribbean and other strategic 
investments, as well as other income statement and balance sheet items not directly attributable to the business lines. 

Business unit allocations 
Revenue, expenses, and other balance sheet resources related to certain activities are generally allocated to the lines of business within the SBUs. 
Treasury activities impact the financial results of the SBUs. Each line of business within our SBUs is charged or credited with a market-based 
cost of funds on assets and liabilities, respectively, which impacts the revenue performance of the SBUs. Consistent with the changes discussed in 
the “Changes made to our business segments” section, this market-based cost of funds takes into account the cost of maintaining sufficient 
regulatory capital to support business requirements, including the cost of preferred shares. Once the interest and liquidity risks inherent in our 
client-driven assets and liabilities are transfer priced into Treasury, they are managed within CIBC’s risk framework and limits. The residual financial 
results associated with Treasury activities are reported in Corporate and Other, with the exception of certain Treasury activities in U.S. Commercial 
Banking and Wealth Management, which are reported in that SBU. Capital is attributed to the SBUs in a manner that is intended to consistently 
measure and align the costs with the underlying benefits and risks associated with SBU activities. Earnings on unattributed capital remain in 
Corporate and Other. As discussed in the “Changes made to our business segments” section, effective November 1, 2019, capital is attributed to 
the SBUs based on the estimated amount of regulatory capital required to support their businesses. We review our transfer pricing methodologies 
on an ongoing basis to ensure they reflect changing market environments and industry practices. 

To measure and report the results of operations of the lines of business within our Canadian Personal and Business Banking and Canadian 

Commercial Banking and Wealth Management SBUs, we use a Product Owner/Customer Segment/Distributor Channel allocation management 
model. The model uses certain estimates and methodologies to process internal transfers between lines of business for sales, renewals and trailer 
commissions. Periodically, the sales, renewals and trailer commission rates paid to customer segments for certain products/services are revised 
and applied prospectively. 

The non-interest expenses of the functional and support groups are generally allocated to the business lines within the SBUs based on 
appropriate criteria and methodologies. The basis of allocation is reviewed periodically to reflect changes in support to business lines. Other costs 
not directly attributable to business lines remain in Corporate and Other. 

We recognize provision for credit losses on both impaired (stage 3) and performing (stages 1 and 2) loans in the respective SBUs. 

Changes made to our business segments 
2020 
The following changes were made in the first quarter of 2020: 
  We changed the way that we allocate capital to our SBUs. Previously, we utilized an economic capital model to attribute capital to our SBUs. 

 

Effective November 1, 2019, capital is now allocated to the SBUs based on the estimated amount of regulatory capital required to support their 
businesses. 
The transfer pricing methodology used by Treasury was enhanced to align with the changes that we made to our capital allocation 
methodology as discussed above. Concurrently with this change, we also made other updates and enhancements to our funds transfer pricing 
methodology as well as minor updates to certain allocation methodologies. 

These changes impacted the results of our SBUs. Prior period amounts were revised accordingly. There was no impact on consolidated net income 
resulting from these changes. 

188  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
Consolidated financial statements 

Results by reporting segments and geographic areas 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Canadian 
Personal 
and Business 
Banking 

Canadian 
Commercial 
Banking 
and Wealth 
Management 

U.S. 
Commercial 
Banking 
and Wealth 
Management 

Capital 
Markets 

Corporate 
and Other 

CIBC 
Total 

Canada (1) 

U.S. (1)  Caribbean (1) 

Other 
countries (1) 

2020  Net interest income (2) 

$ 

Non-interest income (3)(4) 

Total revenue 
Provision for (reversal of) 

credit losses 

Amortization and impairment (5) 
Other non-interest expenses 

Income (loss) before income taxes 
Income taxes (2) 

6,294 
2,194 

8,488 

1,219 
230 
4,373 

2,666 
704 

$  1,248 
2,873 

$  1,433  $ 

621 

1,910  $ 
1,577 

159  $  11,044  $ 
432 

7,697 

8,449  $ 
5,243 

4,121 

2,054 

3,487 

591 

18,741 

13,692 

303 
30 
2,149 

1,639 
437 

487 
126 
1,007 

434 
54 

281 
10 
1,624 

1,572 
441 

199 
915 
898 

(1,421) 
(538) 

2,489 
1,311 
10,051 

4,890 
1,098 

1,648 
805 
7,991 

3,248 
700 

Net income (loss) 

$ 

1,962 

$  1,202 

$ 

380  $ 

1,131  $ 

(883)  $ 

3,792  $ 

2,548  $ 

Net income (loss) attributable to: 

Non-controlling interests 
Equity shareholders 

$ 

– 
1,962 

$ 

– 
1,202 

$ 

– $ 

– $ 

2  $ 

2 $ 

– $ 

380 

1,131 

(885) 

3,790 

2,548 

1,583 
1,167 

2,750 

623 
174 
1,336 

617 
165 

452 

– 
452 

$ 

$ 

890 
616 

1,506 

199 
312 
530 

465 
89 

$ 

376 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2 
374 

122 
671 

793 

19 
20 
194 

560 
144 

416 

– 
416 

Average assets (6) 

$  261,956 

$  65,839 

$  55,237  $  221,117  $  131,343  $  735,492  $  554,787  $  122,721 

$  33,012 

$  24,972 

2019 (7)  Net interest income (2) 

$ 

Non-interest income (3)(4) 

Total revenue 
Provision for (reversal of) 

credit losses 

Amortization and impairment (5) 
Other non-interest expenses 

Income (loss) before income taxes 
Income taxes (2) 

6,372 
2,383 

8,755 

896 
96 
4,649 

3,114 
825 

$  1,205 
2,822 

$  1,381  $ 

583 

1,253  $ 
1,707 

340  $  10,551  $ 
565 

8,060 

7,890  $ 
6,008 

4,027 

1,964 

2,960 

905 

18,611 

13,898 

163 
8 
2,098 

1,758 
471 

73 
109 
1,010 

772 
90 

153 
4 
1,512 

1,291 
337 

1 
621 
749 

(466) 
(375) 

1,286 
838 
10,018 

6,469 
1,348 

1,111 
508 
7,985 

4,294 
1,008 

Net income (loss) 

$ 

2,289 

$  1,287 

$ 

682  $ 

954  $ 

(91)  $ 

5,121  $ 

3,286  $ 

Net income (loss) attributable to: 

Non-controlling interests 
Equity shareholders 

$ 

– 
2,289 

$ 

– 
1,287 

$ 

– $ 

– $ 

25  $ 

25  $ 

– $ 

682 

954 

(116) 

5,096 

3,286 

1,405 
1,099 

2,504 

173 
139 
1,290 

902 
139 

763 

– 
763 

$ 

$ 

820 
643 

1,463 

1 
181 
556 

725 
155 

$ 

570 

$ 

$ 

$ 

25 
545 

436 
310 

746 

1 
10 
187 

548 
46 

502 

– 
502 

Average assets (6) 

$  259,089 

$  62,552 

$  47,495  $  184,566  $  86,014  $  639,716  $  501,066  $  99,152 

$  27,086 

$  12,412 

2018 (7)  Net interest income (2) 

$ 

Non-interest income (3)(4) 

Total revenue 
Provision for (reversal of) 

credit losses 

Amortization and impairment (5) 
Other non-interest expenses 

Income (loss) before income taxes 
Income taxes (2) 

6,151 
2,444 

8,595 

741 
98 
4,297 

3,459 
919 

$  1,091 
2,745 

$  1,231  $ 

529 

1,432  $ 
1,503 

160  $  10,065  $ 
548 

7,769 

7,963  $ 
6,030 

3,836 

1,760 

2,935 

708 

17,834 

13,993 

5 
9 
2,058 

1,764 
478 

79 
107 
916 

658 
97 

(30) 
4 
1,488 

1,473 
387 

75 
439 
842 

(648) 
(459) 

870 
657 
9,601 

6,706 
1,422 

740 
469 
7,655 

5,129 
1,021 

Net income (loss) 

$ 

2,540 

$  1,286 

$ 

561  $ 

1,086  $ 

(189)  $ 

5,284  $ 

4,108  $ 

Net income (loss) attributable to: 

Non-controlling interests 
Equity shareholders 

$ 

– 
2,540 

$ 

– 
1,286 

$ 

– $ 

– $ 

17  $ 

17  $ 

– $ 

561 

1,086 

(206) 

5,267 

4,108 

1,204 
895 

2,099 

57 
136 
1,231 

675 
288 

387 

– 
387 

$ 

$ 

793 
567 

1,360 

75 
44 
530 

711 
72 

$ 

639 

$ 

105 
277 

382 

(2) 
8 
185 

191 
41 

150 

$ 

$ 

17 
622 

– 
150 

Average assets (6) 

$  259,131 

$  55,713 

$  41,238  $  166,231  $  76,128  $  598,441  $  476,224  $  80,935 

$  31,101 

$  10,181 

(1)  Net income and average assets are allocated based on the geographic location where they are recorded. 
(2)  U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management and Capital Markets net interest income and income taxes include taxable equivalent basis (TEB) adjustments of nil 
and $183 million, respectively (2019: $2 million and $177 million, respectively; 2018: $2 million and $278 million, respectively) with an equivalent offset in Corporate and 
Other. 

(3)  The fee and commission income within non-interest income consists primarily of underwriting and advisory fees, deposit and payment fees, credit fees, card fees, 

investment management and custodial fees, mutual fund fees and commissions on securities transactions. Underwriting and advisory fees are earned primarily in Capital 
Markets with the remainder earned in Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management. Deposit and payment fees are earned primarily in Canadian Personal and 
Business Banking, with the remainder earned mainly in Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management and Corporate and Other. Credit fees are earned primarily 
in Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, Capital Markets, and U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management. Card fees are earned primarily in 
Canadian Personal and Business Banking, with the remainder earned mainly in Corporate and Other. Investment management and custodial fees are earned primarily in 
Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management and U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, with the remainder earned mainly in Corporate and 
Other. Mutual fund fees are earned primarily in Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management and U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management. 
Commissions on securities transactions are earned primarily in Capital Markets and Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, with the remainder earned 
mainly in Canadian Personal and Business Banking. 

(4)  Includes intersegment revenue, which represents internal sales commissions and revenue allocations under the Manufacturer / Customer Segment / Distributor 

Management Model. 

(5)  Comprises amortization and impairment of buildings, right-of-use assets, furniture, equipment, leasehold improvements, software and other intangible assets, and goodwill. 
(6)  Assets are disclosed on an average basis as this measure is most relevant to a financial institution and is the measure reviewed by management. 
(7)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “Changes made to our business segments” section for additional details. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  189 

Consolidated financial statements 

The following table provides a breakdown of revenue from our reporting segments: 

$ millions, for the year ended October 31 

Canadian Personal and Business Banking 

Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management 

Commercial banking 
Wealth management 

U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management (2) 

Commercial banking (3) 
Wealth management 

Capital Markets (2) 
Global markets 
Corporate and investment banking 

Corporate and Other (2) 
International banking 
Other 

2020 

2019 (1) 

2018 (1) 

$  8,488 

$  8,755 

$  8,595 

$  1,663 
2,458 

$  4,121 

$  1,432 
622 

$  2,054 

$  2,143 
1,344 

$  3,487 

$ 

$ 

734 
(143) 

591 

$  1,633 
2,394 

$  4,027 

$  1,353 
611 

$  1,964 

$  1,729 
1,231 

$  2,960 

$ 

$ 

798 
107 

905 

$  1,461 
2,375 

$  3,836 

$  1,194 
566 

$  1,760 

$  1,694 
1,241 

$  2,935 

$ 

$ 

657 
51 

708 

(1)  Certain prior period information has been revised. See the “Changes made to our business segments” section for additional details. 
(2)  U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management and Capital Markets revenue includes a TEB adjustment of nil and $183 million, respectively (2019: $2 million and 

$177 million, respectively; 2018: $2 million and $278 million, respectively) with an equivalent offset in Corporate and Other. 

(3)  Certain information has been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in the first quarter of 2020. Commercial banking now includes the Other line of business, 

which includes the treasury activities relating to CIBC Bank USA, as these activities primarily support the commercial banking line of business. 

Note  32 

Future accounting policy changes 

Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting 
In March 2018, the IASB issued a revised version of its “Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting” (Conceptual Framework). The Conceptual 
Framework sets out the fundamental concepts that underlie the preparation and presentation of financial statements and serves to guide the IASB in 
developing IFRS standards. The Conceptual Framework also assists entities in developing accounting policies when no IFRS standard applies to a 
particular transaction, and more broadly, the Conceptual Framework helps entities to understand and interpret the standards. The Conceptual 
Framework is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2020, which for us will be on November 1, 2020. 

The impact of the Conceptual Framework is not expected to be significant to our consolidated financial statements. 

IFRS 17 “Insurance Contracts” (IFRS 17) 
IFRS 17 “Insurance Contracts” (IFRS 17), issued in May 2017, replaces IFRS 4 “Insurance Contracts”. On June 25, 2020, the IASB issued 
amendments to IFRS 17 partly aimed at helping companies implement the standard. IFRS 17, incorporating the amendments, is effective for annual 
reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023, which is a two-year deferral from the original effective date, and for us, will be November 1, 
2023. IFRS 17 provides comprehensive guidance on the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of insurance contracts we issue 
and reinsurance contracts we hold. 

We continue to evaluate the impact of IFRS 17 on our consolidated financial statements and to prepare for its implementation. We have 
established an Executive Steering Committee and a project team to support the implementation of IFRS 17. This team continues to determine the 
required changes to our accounting and actuarial policies resulting from the adoption of IFRS 17, including the amendments issued in June 2020, 
and to evaluate the required technology solution to support the new requirements. 

Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Phase 2 Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 
In August 2020, the IASB issued “Interest Rate Benchmark Reform: Phase 2 Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16”, which 
addresses issues that affect financial reporting once an existing rate is replaced with an alternative rate and provides specific disclosure 
requirements. The Phase 2 amendments provide relief for the modification of financial assets and financial liabilities, lease modifications, and 
specific hedge accounting requirements. The Phase 2 amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2021. As we 
elected to continue to apply the hedge accounting requirements of IAS 39 upon the adoption of IFRS 9, the amendments will apply to IAS 39, 
IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 for us, mandatorily effective on November 1, 2021. Earlier application is permitted. We continue to evaluate the impact of 
the amendments on our consolidated financial statements. 

190  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Quarterly review 

Condensed consolidated statement of income 

Unaudited, $ millions, for the three months ended 

Oct. 31 

Jul. 31 

Apr. 30 

2020 
Jan. 31 

Oct. 31 

Jul. 31 

Apr. 30 

2019 
Jan. 31 

Net interest income 
Non-interest income 

Total revenue 
Provision for credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 

Income before income taxes 
Income taxes 

Net income 

Net income (loss) attributable to 

non-controlling interests 

Preferred shareholders and other equity 

instrument holders 
Common shareholders 

$  2,792 
1,808 

$  2,729 
1,979 

$  2,762 
1,816 

$  2,761 
2,094 

$  2,801 
1,971 

$  2,694 
2,038 

$  2,460 
2,082 

$  2,596 
1,969 

4,600 
291 
2,891 

1,418 
402 

4,708 
525 
2,702 

1,481 
309 

$  1,016 

$  1,172 

$ 

4,578 
1,412 
2,704 

462 
70 

392 

4,855 
261 
3,065 

1,529 
317 

4,772 
402 
2,838 

1,532 
339 

4,732 
291 
2,670 

1,771 
373 

4,542 
255 
2,588 

1,699 
351 

4,565 
338 
2,760 

1,467 
285 

$  1,212 

$  1,193 

$  1,398 

$  1,348 

$  1,182 

$

 1

$

 2

$

 (8)

$  

 7

$  

 8

$

 6

$

 7

$

 4 

30 
985 

31 
1,139 

30 
370 

400 

31 
1,174 

32 
1,153 

28 
1,364 

28
1,313 

23 
1,155 

$  1,205 

$  1,185 

$  1,392 

$  1,341 

$  1,178 

Net income attributable to equity shareholders 

$  1,015 

$  1,170 

$ 

Condensed consolidated balance sheet 

Unaudited, $ millions, as at 

Oct. 31 

Jul. 31 

Apr. 30 

2020 
Jan. 31 

Oct. 31 

Jul. 31 

Apr. 30 

Assets 
Cash and deposits with banks 
Securities 
Securities borrowed or purchased under 

resale agreements 

Loans 

Residential mortgages 
Personal and credit card 
Business and government 
Allowance for credit losses 

Derivative instruments 
Customers’ liability under acceptances 
Other assets 

Liabilities and equity 
Deposits 

Personal 
Business and government 
Bank 
Secured borrowings 
Derivative instruments 
Acceptances 
Obligations related to securities lent or sold 
short or under repurchase agreements 

Other liabilities 
Subordinated indebtedness 
Equity 

2019 
Jan. 31 

16,572 
109,027 

$ 

62,518  $ 

68,422  $ 

55,471  $ 

20,731  $ 

17,359  $ 

16,699  $ 

14,407  $ 

149,046 

144,344 

133,806 

129,349 

121,310 

119,699 

121,547 

74,142 

62,060 

71,706 

63,904 

59,775 

55,422 

54,085 

56,848 

221,165 
53,611 
135,546 
(3,540) 
32,730 
9,606 
34,727 

216,469 
53,150 
138,496 
(3,347) 
43,476 
9,689 
35,786 

213,254 
53,541 
147,855 
(3,064) 
40,319 
8,993 
37,255 

209,792 
55,565 
129,539 
(1,948) 
25,251 
9,505 
30,430 

208,652 
56,406 
125,798 
(1,915) 
23,895 
9,167 
31,157 

207,531 
56,321 
123,680 
(1,771) 
24,582 
9,679 
30,680 

207,396 
55,758 
121,815 
(1,751)
22,103 
9,727 
29,022 

207,657 
55,143 
113,976 
(1,715) 
21,174 
10,011 
25,954 

$  769,551  $  768,545  $  759,136  $  672,118  $  651,604  $  642,522  $  634,109  $  614,647 

$  202,152  $  197,409  $  194,080  $  182,773  $  178,091  $  175,196  $  174,662  $  172,836 
239,697 
13,062 
39,112 
23,337 
10,051 

311,628 
16,405 
40,693 
42,875 
9,802 

264,775 
11,928 
38,423 
25,380 
9,568 

250,986 
14,795 
37,097 
22,839 
9,745 

257,502 
11,224 
38,895 
25,113 
9,188 

290,800 
17,497 
41,411 
41,188 
9,051 

253,976 
12,650 
39,222 
25,895 
9,740 

311,426 
17,011 
40,151 
30,508 
9,649 

89,440 
22,167 
5,712 
41,335 

82,765 
21,047 
5,822 
40,099 

96,288 
23,750 
4,818 
40,253 

76,188 
19,158 
4,695 
39,230 

69,258 
19,069 
4,684 
38,580 

65,557 
16,656 
5,620 
38,010 

65,584 
17,017 
4,171 
37,213 

60,576 
15,731 
4,162 
36,083 

$  769,551  $  768,545  $  759,136  $  672,118  $  651,604  $  642,522  $  634,109  $  614,647 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  191 

 
Select financial measures 

Unaudited, as at or for the three months ended 

Oct. 31 

Jul. 31 

Apr. 30 

2020 
Jan. 31 

Oct. 31 

Jul. 31 

Apr. 30 

2019 
Jan. 31 

Return on common shareholders’ equity 
Return on average assets 
Average common shareholders’ 

equity ($ millions) 

Average assets ($ millions) 
Average assets to average common 

equity 

Capital and leverage 

CET1 ratio 
Tier 1 capital ratio 
Total capital ratio 
Leverage ratio 
Net interest margin 
Efficiency ratio 

Common share information 

10.7 % 
0.52 % 

12.1 % 
0.62 % 

4.0 %
0.22 %

13.1 %
0.71 %

12.9 %
0.72 %

15.5 % 
0.86 % 

15.8 % 
0.87 % 

13.8 % 
0.76 % 

36,762  $ 

$ 
33,183 
$  778,933  $  757,589  $  725,701  $  679,531  $  655,971  $  648,537  $  633,556  $  620,599 

34,091  $ 

35,671  $ 

37,386  $ 

37,360  $ 

35,028  $ 

35,553  $ 

21.2 

20.3 

19.4 

19.0 

18.5 

18.5 

18.6 

18.7 

12.1 % 
13.6 % 
16.1 % 
4.7 % 
1.43 % 
62.9 % 

11.8 % 
13.0 % 
15.4 % 
4.6 % 
1.43 % 
57.4 % 

11.3 %
12.5 %
14.5 %
4.5 %
1.55 %
59.1 %

11.3 %
12.5 %
14.5 %
4.3 %
1.62 %
63.1 %

11.6 %
12.9 %
15.0 %
4.3 %
1.69 %
59.5 %

11.4 % 
12.7 % 
15.2 % 
4.3 % 
1.65 % 
56.4 % 

11.2 % 
12.6 % 
14.5 % 
4.3 % 
1.59 % 
57.0 % 

11.2 % 
12.7 % 
14.7 % 
4.2 % 
1.66 % 
60.5 % 

Unaudited, as at or for the three months ended 

Oct. 31 

Jul. 31 

Apr. 30 

Weighted-average basic shares outstanding 

2020 
Jan. 31 

Oct. 31 

Jul. 31 

Apr. 30 

2019 
Jan. 31 

(thousands) 

Per share 

– basic earnings 
– diluted earnings 
– dividends 
– book value (1) 

Closing share price (2) 
Dividend payout ratio 

446,321 

445,416 

444,739 

445,248 

445,357 

444,868 

444,028 

443,033 

$  2.21 
2.20 
1.46 
84.05 
99.38 

$  2.56 
2.55 
1.46 
83.17 
92.73 

66.2 % 

57.1 % 

$  0.83 
0.83 
1.46 
83.67 
82.48 
176.0 % 

$ 

2.64 
2.63 
1.44 
81.38 
107.92 

$ 

2.59 
2.58 
1.44 
79.87 
112.31 

$ 

3.07 
3.06 
1.40 
78.58 
103.83 

$ 

2.96 
2.95 
1.40 
77.49 
112.81 

$ 

2.61 
2.60 
1.36 
75.11 
111.41 

54.6 % 

55.6 % 

45.7 % 

47.3 % 

52.2 % 

(1)  Common shareholders’ equity divided by the number of common shares issued and outstanding at end of period. 
(2)  The high and low price during the period, and closing price on the last trading day of the period, on the TSX. 

192  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ten-year statistical review 

Condensed consolidated statement of income 

Unaudited, $ millions, for the year ended 
October 31 

Net interest income 
Non-interest income 

Total revenue 
Provision for credit losses 
Non-interest expenses 

Income before income taxes 
Income taxes 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016 

2015 

2014 

2013 

2012 

2011 

$  11,044  $  10,551  $  10,065  $  8,977  $  8,366  $  7,915  $  7,459  $  7,453  $  7,326  $  7,062 
5,373 

5,159 

7,303 

5,904 

5,252 

6,669 

5,941 

7,697 

7,769 

8,060 

18,741 
2,489 
11,362 

4,890 
1,098 

18,611 
1,286 
10,856 

6,469 
1,348 

17,834 
870 
10,258 

6,706 
1,422 

16,280 
829 
9,571 

5,880 
1,162 

15,035 
1,051 
8,971 

5,013 
718 

13,856 
771 
8,861 

4,224 
634 

13,363 
937 
8,512 

3,914 
699 

12,705 
1,121 
7,608 

3,976 
626 

12,485 
1,291 
7,202 

3,992 
689 

12,435 
1,144 
7,486 

3,805 
927 

Net income 

$ 

3,792  $ 

5,121  $ 

5,284  $  4,718  $  4,295  $  3,590  $  3,215  $  3,350  $  3,303  $  2,878 

Net income (loss) attributable to 

non-controlling interests 

$

2  $ 

25  $ 

17

$ 

19  $ 

20

$ 

14  $ 

(3) $ 

(2) $ 

9 $ 

11 

Preferred shareholders and other 

equity instrument holders 

Common shareholders 

Net income attributable 
to equity shareholders 

122 
3,668 

111 
4,985 

89 
5,178 

52 
4,647 

38 
4,237 

45 
3,531 

87 
3,131 

99 
3,253 

158
3,136 

177 
2,690 

$ 

3,790  $ 

5,096  $ 

5,267  $  4,699  $  4,275  $  3,576  $  3,218  $  3,352  $  3,294  $  2,867 

Condensed consolidated balance sheet 

Unaudited, $ millions, as at October 31 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016 

2015 

2014 

2013 

2012 

2011 

Assets 
Cash and deposits with banks 
Securities 
Securities borrowed or purchased 

$  62,518  $  17,359  $  17,691  $  14,152  $  14,165  $  18,637  $  13,547  $ 
93,419 

101,664 

121,310 

149,046 

59,542 

87,423 

74,982 

6,379  $ 

4,727 $ 

71,984 

65,334 

5,142 
60,295 

under resale agreements 

74,142 

59,775 

48,938 

45,418 

33,810 

33,334 

36,796 

28,728 

28,474 

27,479 

Loans 

Residential mortgages 
Personal and credit card 
Business and government 
Allowance for credit losses 

Derivative instruments 
Customers’ liability under 

acceptances 

Other assets 

Liabilities and equity 
Deposits 

Personal 
Business and government 
Bank 
Secured borrowings 
Derivative instruments 
Acceptances 
Obligations related to securities 
lent or sold short or under 
repurchase agreements 

Capital Trust securities (1) 
Other liabilities 
Subordinated indebtedness 
Non-controlling interests 
Shareholders’ equity 

221,165 
53,611 
135,546 
(3,540) 
32,730 

208,652 
56,406 
125,798 
(1,915) 
23,895 

207,749 
55,731 
109,555 
(1,639) 
21,431 

207,271 
53,315 
97,766 
(1,618) 
24,342 

187,298 
50,373 
71,437 
(1,691) 
27,762 

169,258 
48,321 
65,276 
(1,670) 
26,342 

157,526 
47,087 
56,075 
(1,660) 
20,680 

150,938 
49,213 
48,207 
(1,698) 
19,947 

150,056  150,509 
50,586 
39,663 
(1,803) 
28,270 

50,476 
43,624 
(1,860) 
27,039 

9,606 
34,727 

9,167 
31,157 

10,265 
25,714 

8,824 
22,375 

12,364 
18,416 

9,796 
19,033 

9,212 
16,098 

9,720 
14,588 

10,436 
14,813 

9,454 
14,163 

$  769,551  $  651,604  $  597,099  $  565,264  $  501,357  $  463,309  $  414,903  $  398,006  $  393,119 $  383,758 

$  202,152  $  178,091  $  163,879  $  159,327  $  148,081  $  137,378  $  130,085  $  125,034  $  118,153 $  116,592 
125,055  117,143 
4,177 
51,308 
28,792 
9,489 

311,426 
17,011 
40,151 
30,508 
9,649 

134,736 
5,592 
49,802 
19,724 
9,721 

148,793 
7,732 
38,783 
21,841 
9,212 

178,850 
10,785 
39,644 
29,057 
9,796 

225,622 
13,789 
40,968 
23,271 
8,828 

190,240 
17,842 
39,484 
28,807 
12,395 

240,149 
14,380 
42,607 
20,973 
10,296 

257,502 
11,224 
38,895 
25,113 
9,188 

4,723 
52,413 
27,091 
10,481 

89,440 
n/a 
22,167 
5,712 
181 
41,154 

69,258 
n/a 
19,069 
4,684 
186 
38,394 

47,353 
n/a 
18,266 
4,080 
173 
34,943 

43,708 
n/a 
15,305 
3,209 
202 
31,035 

24,550 
n/a 
12,919 
3,366 
201 
23,472 

20,149 
n/a 
12,223 
3,874 
193 
21,360 

23,764 
n/a 
10,932 
4,978 
164 
18,619 

20,313 
n/a 
10,862 
4,228 
175 
17,819 

21,259 
1,678 
11,076 
4,823 
170 
16,197 

21,730 
1,594 
11,704 
5,138 
164 
15,927 

$  769,551  $  651,604  $  597,099  $  565,264  $  501,357  $  463,309  $  414,903  $  398,006  $  393,119 $  383,758 

(1)  Commencing November 1, 2012, CIBC Capital Trust was deconsolidated. 
n/a  Not applicable. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  193 

Select financial measures 

Unaudited, as at or for the year 
ended October 31 

Return on equity 
Return on average assets 
Average common shareholders’ 

equity ($ millions) 

Average assets ($ millions) 
Average assets to average 

common equity 

Capital and leverage – Basel III 

CET1 ratio 
Tier 1 capital ratio 
Total capital ratio 
Leverage ratio 

Basel II 

Tier 1 capital ratio (1) 
Total capital ratio (1) 

Net interest margin 
Efficiency ratio 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016 

2015 

2014 

2013 

2012 

2011 

10.0 % 
0.52 % 

14.5 % 
0.80 % 

16.6 % 
0.88 % 

18.3 % 
0.87 % 

19.9 % 
0.84 % 

18.7 % 
0.79 % 

18.3 % 
0.78 % 

21.4 % 
0.83 % 

22.2 % 
0.83 % 

22.2 % 
0.73 % 

$  36,792 
$735,492 

$  34,467 
$  639,716 

$  31,184 
$  598,441 

$  25,393 
$  542,365 

$  21,275 
$  509,140 

$  18,857 
$  455,324 

$  17,067 
$  411,481 

$  15,167 
$  403,546 

$  14,116 
$  397,155 

$  12,145 
$  394,527 

20.0 

18.6 

19.2 

21.4 

23.9 

24.1 

24.1 

26.6 

28.1 

32.5 

12.1 % 
13.6 % 
16.1 % 
4.7 % 

n/a 
n/a 
1.50 % 
60.6 % 

11.6 % 
12.9 % 
15.0 % 
4.3 % 

n/a 
n/a 
1.65 % 
58.3 % 

11.4 % 
12.9 % 
14.9 % 
4.3 % 

n/a 
n/a 
1.68 % 
57.5 % 

10.6 % 
12.1 % 
13.8 % 
4.0 % 

n/a 
n/a 
1.66 % 
58.8 % 

11.3 % 
12.8 % 
14.8 % 
4.0 % 

n/a 
n/a 
1.64 % 
59.7 % 

10.8 % 
12.5 % 
15.0 % 
3.9 % 

n/a 
n/a 
1.74 % 
63.9 % 

10.3 % 
12.2 % 
15.5 % 
n/a 

n/a 
n/a 
1.81 % 
63.7 % 

9.4 % 
11.6 % 
14.6 % 
n/a 

n/a 
n/a 
1.85 % 
59.9 % 

n/a 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 

13.8 % 
17.3 % 
1.84 % 
57.7 % 

n/a 
n/a 
n/a 
n/a 

14.7 % 
18.4 % 
1.79 % 
60.2 % 

(1)  Capital measures for fiscal year 2011 are under Canadian GAAP and have not been restated for IFRS. 
n/a  Not applicable. 

Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity 

Unaudited, $ millions, for the year 
ended October 31 

Balance at beginning of year 
Adjustment for change in 

accounting policy 

Premium on purchase of 

common shares 

Premium on redemption of 

preferred shares 

Changes in share capital 

Preferred and other equity instruments 
Common 

Changes in contributed surplus 
Changes in OCI 
Net income 
Dividends and distributions 

Preferred and other equity instruments 
Common 

Non-controlling interests 
Other 

Balance at end of year 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016 

2015 

2014 

2013 

2012 

2011 

$  38,580 

$  35,116 

$  31,237 

$  23,673 

$  21,553 

$  18,783 

$  17,994 

$  16,367 

$  16,091 

$  14,799 

148 (1) 

6 (2) 

(91) (3) 

(166) 

(79) 

(313) 

– 

– 

– 

750 
317 
(8) 
647 
3,790 

(122) 
(2,592) 
(5) 
(4) 

575 
348 
(11) 
122 
5,096 

(111) 
(2,488) 

13
(7)

453 
695 
(1) 
317 
5,267 

(89) 
(2,356) 
(25) 
22 

– 

– 

– 

797 
4,522 
65 
(338) 
4,699 

(52) 
(2,121) 
1 
(9) 

– 

(209) 

– 

– 
213 
(4) 
(248) 
4,275 

(38) 
(1,879) 
8 
2 

– 

(9) 

– 

(31) 
31 
1 
933 
3,576 

(45) 
(1,708) 

29
(7)

– (4) 

7 (5) 

(180) 

(250) 

(422) 

(118) 

–

– 

– 

–

(30)

(12) 

(675) 
29 
(7) 
145 
3,218 

(87) 
(1,567) 
(11) 
(6) 

– 
(16) 
(3) 
325 
3,352 

(99) 
(1,523) 
5 
1 

(1,050) 
393 
(8) 
(435) 
3,294 

(128) 
(1,470) 
8 
– 

(400) 
572 
(5) 
(171) 
2,867 

(165) 
(1,391) 
(4) 
1 

$  41,335 

$  38,580 

$  35,116 

$  31,237 

$  23,673 

$  21,553 

$  18,783 

$  17,994 

$  16,367 

$  16,091 

(1)  Represents the impact of adoption of IFRS 16 “Leases”. 
(2)  Represents the impact of adoption of IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. 
(3)  Represents the impact of adoption of IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments”. 
(4)  Represents the impact of adoption of IFRS 10 “Consolidated Financial Statements”. 
(5)  Represents the impact of adoption of amendments to IAS 19 “Employee Benefits”. 

194  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Common share information 

Unaudited, as at or for the 
year ended October 31 

Weighted-average 

number basic shares 
outstanding 
(thousands) 

Per share 

$ 

– basic earnings 
– diluted earnings 
– dividends 
– book value (2) 

Closing share price (3) 
Dividend payout ratio 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016 

2015 

2014 

2013 

2012 

2011 

445,435 

444,324 

443,082 (1)  412,636 

395,389 

397,213 

397,620 

400,880 

403,685 

396,233 

8.23  $ 
8.22 
5.82 
84.05 
99.38 

70.7 % 

11.22  $ 
11.19 
5.60 
79.87 
112.31 

11.69  $ 
11.65 
5.32 
73.83 
113.68 

11.26  $ 
11.24 
5.08 
66.55 
113.56 

10.72  $ 
10.70 
4.75 
56.59 
100.50 

8.89  $ 
8.87 
4.30 
51.25 
100.28 

7.87  $ 
7.86 
3.94 
44.30 
102.89 

49.9 % 

45.5 % 

45.6 % 

44.3 % 

48.4 % 

50.0 % 

8.11  $ 
8.11 
3.80 
40.36 
88.70 

46.8 % 

7.77  $ 
7.76 
3.64 
35.83 
78.56 

46.9 % 

6.79 
6.71 
3.51 
32.88 
75.10 

51.7 % 

(1)  Excludes 2,010,890 common shares which were issued and outstanding but which had not been acquired by a third party as at October 31, 2017. These shares were 

issued as a component of our acquisition of The PrivateBank. 

(2)  Common shareholders’ equity divided by the number of common shares issued and outstanding at end of year. 
(3)  The high and low price during the year, and closing price on the last trading day of the year, on the TSX. 

Preferred shares and other equity instruments(1) 

Unaudited, for the year 
ended October 31 

Preferred shares 

Class A 

Series 18 
Series 19 
Series 23 
Series 26 
Series 27 
Series 28 
Series 29 
Series 30 
Series 31 
Series 32 
Series 33 
Series 35 
Series 37 
Series 39 
Series 41 
Series 43 
Series 45 
Series 47 
Series 49 
Series 51 

Other equity instruments 

Limited Recourse 
Capital Notes 
Series 1 

2020 

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016 

2015 

2014 

2013 

2012 

2011 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
0.9283 
0.9673 
0.8714 
1.1000 
1.1250 
1.3000 
1.2875 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
0.9633 
0.9375 
0.9000 
1.1000 
1.1250 
0.9990 
0.5256 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
0.9750 
0.9375 
0.9000 
1.1000 
0.8769 
– 
– 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
0.9750 
0.9375 
0.9000 
0.4551 
– 
– 
– 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
0.9750 
0.9375 
0.9000 
– 
– 
– 
– 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
– 
0.3500 
– 
0.6750 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
0.9750 
0.8203 
0.5764 
– 
– 
– 
– 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
1.4375 
1.4000 
– 
1.3500 
– 
– 
– 
1.0031 
0.8125 
1.2188 
0.3793 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

$ 

– 
– 
– 
1.4375 
1.4000 
– 
1.3500 
– 
– 
– 
1.3375 
1.6250 
1.6250 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

$  1.3694 
– 
– 
1.4375 
1.4000 
– 
1.3500 
– 
0.2938 
0.5625 
1.3375 
1.6250 
1.6250 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

$  1.3750 
– 
– 
1.4375 
1.4000 
0.0400 
1.3500 
0.9000 
1.1750 
1.1250 
1.3375 
1.6250 
1.6250 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(1)  The dividends and distributions are adjusted for the number of days during the year that the share is outstanding at the time of issuance and redemption. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  195 

Glossary 

Allowance for credit losses 
Under IFRS 9, allowance for credit losses represents 12 months of expected credit losses (ECL) for instruments that have not been subject to a 
significant increase in credit risk, while allowance for credit losses represents lifetime ECL for instruments that have been subject to a significant 
increase in credit risk, including impaired instruments. ECL allowances for loans and acceptances are included in allowance for credit losses on the 
consolidated balance sheet. ECL allowances for fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) debt securities are included as a 
component of the carrying value of the securities, which are measured at fair value. Expected credit loss allowances for other financial assets are 
included in the carrying value of the instrument. ECL allowances for guarantees and loan commitments are included in other liabilities. 

Under IAS 39, allowance for credit losses generally represented an allowance set up in the financial statements sufficient to absorb specifically 

identified and inherent credit-related losses in CIBC’s portfolio of loans, acceptances, letters of credit and guarantees. This allowance can be 
“collective”, assessed by reviewing a portfolio of loans with similar characteristics, or “individual”, assessed by reviewing the characteristics of  an  
individual exposure. 

Allowance for credit losses are adjusted for provisions for (reversals of) credit losses and are reduced by write-offs, net of recoveries. 

Amortized cost 
The amount at which a financial asset or financial liability is measured at initial recognition minus repayments, plus or minus any unamortized 
origination date premiums or discounts, plus or minus any basis adjustments resulting from a fair value hedge, and minus any reduction for 
impairment (directly or through the use of an allowance account). The amount of a financial asset or liability measured at initial recognition is the 
cost of the financial asset or liability including capitalized transaction costs and deferred fees. 

Assets under administration (AUA) 
Assets administered by CIBC that are beneficially owned by clients and are, therefore, not reported on the consolidated balance sheet. The 
services provided by CIBC are of an administrative nature, such as safekeeping of securities, client reporting and record keeping, collection of 
investment income, and the settlement of purchase and sale transactions. In addition, AUM amounts are included in the amounts reported under 
AUA. 

Assets under management (AUM) 
Assets managed by CIBC that are beneficially owned by clients and are, therefore, not reported on the consolidated balance sheet. The service 
provided in respect of these assets is discretionary portfolio management on behalf of the clients. 

Average interest-earning assets 
Average interest-earning assets include interest-bearing deposits with banks, securities, cash collateral on securities borrowed or securities 
purchased under resale agreements, loans net of allowances, and certain sublease-related assets. 

Basis point 
One-hundredth of a percentage point (0.01%). 

Collateral 
Assets pledged to secure loans or other obligations, which are forfeited if the obligations are not repaid. 

Collateralized debt obligation (CDO) 
Securitization of any combination of corporate debt, asset-backed securities (ABS), mortgage-backed securities or tranches of other CDOs to form 
a pool of diverse assets that are tranched into securities that offer varying degrees of risk and return to meet investor demand. 

Collateralized loan obligation 
Securitizations of diversified portfolios of corporate debt obligations and/or ABS that are tranched into securities that offer varying degrees of risk 
and return to meet investor demand. 

Credit derivatives 
A category of financial instruments that allow one party (the beneficiary) to separate and transfer the credit risk of nonpayment or partial payment of 
an underlying financial instrument to another party (the guarantor). 

Credit valuation adjustment (CVA) 
A valuation adjustment that is required to be considered in measuring fair value of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives to recognize the risk that any 
given derivative counterparty may not ultimately be able to fulfill its obligations. In assessing the net counterparty credit risk (CCR) exposure, we 
take into account credit mitigants such as collateral, master netting arrangements, and settlements through clearing houses. 

Current replacement cost 
The estimated cost of replacing an asset at the present time according to its current worth. 

Derivatives 
A financial contract that derives its value from the performance of an underlying instrument, index or financial rate. 

Dividend payout ratio 
Common share dividends paid as a percentage of net income after preferred share dividends, premium on preferred share redemptions, and 
distributions on other equity instruments. 

Dividend yield 
Dividends per common share divided by the closing common share price. 

196  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Effective interest rate method 
A method of calculating the amortized cost of a financial asset or financial liability and of allocating the interest income or interest expense over the 
relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments or receipts through the expected life of 
the financial instrument or, when appropriate, a shorter period, to the net carrying amount of the financial asset or financial liability. 

Efficiency ratio 
Non-interest expenses as a percentage of total revenue (net interest income and non-interest income). Efficiency ratio is used as a measure of 
productivity. 

Exchange-traded derivative contracts 
Standardized derivative contracts (e.g., futures contracts and options) that are transacted on an organized exchange and cleared through a central 
clearing house, and are generally subject to standard margin requirements. 

Fair value 
The price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, between market participants in an orderly transaction in the principal 
market at the measurement date under current market conditions. 

Forward contracts 
A non-standardized contract to buy or sell a specified asset at a specified price and specified date in the future. 

Forward rate agreement 
An OTC forward contract that determines an interest rate to be paid or received commencing on a specified date in the future for a specified period. 

Full-time equivalent employees 
A measure that normalizes the number of full-time and part-time employees, base plus commissioned employees, and 100% commissioned 
employees into equivalent full-time units based on actual hours of paid work during a given period, for individuals whose compensation is included 
in the Employee compensation and benefits line on the consolidated statement of income. 

Futures 
A standardized contract to buy or sell a specified commodity, currency or financial instrument of standardized quantity and quality at a specific 
price and date in the future. Futures contracts are traded on an exchange. 

Guarantees and standby letters of credit 
Primarily represent CIBC’s obligation, subject to certain conditions, to make payments to third parties on behalf of clients, if these clients cannot 
make those payments, or are unable to meet other specified contractual obligations. 

Hedge 
A transaction intended to offset potential losses/gains that may be incurred in a transaction or portfolio. 

Loan loss ratio 
The ratio is calculated as the provision for credit losses on impaired loans to average loans and acceptances, net of allowance for credit losses. 

Mark-to-market 
The fair value (as defined above) at which an asset can be sold or a liability can be transferred. 

Net interest income 
The difference between interest earned on assets (such as loans and securities) and interest incurred on liabilities (such as deposits and 
subordinated indebtedness). 

Net interest margin 
Net interest income as a percentage of average assets. 

Normal course issuer bid 
Involves a listed company buying its own shares for cancellation through a stock exchange or other published market, from time to time, and is 
subject to the various rules of the exchanges and securities commissions. 

Notional amount 
Principal amount or face amount of a financial contract used for the calculation of payments made on that contract. 

Off-balance sheet financial instruments 
A financial contract that is based mainly on a notional amount and represents a contingent asset or liability of an institution. Such instruments 
include credit-related arrangements. 

Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) 
OSFI supervises and regulates all banks, all federally incorporated or registered trust and loan companies, insurance companies, cooperative credit 
associations, fraternal benefit societies, and federal pension plans in Canada. 

Operating leverage 
Operating leverage is the difference between the year-over-year percentage change in revenue (on a taxable equivalent basis) and year-over-year 
percentage change in non-interest expenses. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  197 

Options 
A financial contract under which the writer (seller) confers the right, but not the obligation, to the purchaser to either buy (call option) or sell (put 
option) a specified amount of an underlying asset or instrument at a specified price either at or by a specified date. 

Provision for credit losses 
An amount charged or credited to income to adjust the allowance for credit losses to the appropriate level, for both performing and impaired 
financial assets. Provision for credit losses for loans and acceptances and related off-balance sheet loan commitments is included in the Provision 
for credit losses line on the consolidated statement of income. Provision for credit losses for debt securities measured at FVOCI or amortized cost is 
included in Gains (losses) from debt securities measured at FVOCI and amortized cost, net. 

Return on average assets or average interest-earning assets 
Net income expressed as a percentage of average assets or average interest-earning assets. 

Return on common shareholders’ equity 
Net income attributable to equity shareholders expressed as a percentage of average common shareholders’ equity. 

Securities borrowed 
Securities are typically borrowed to cover short positions. Borrowing requires the pledging of collateral by the borrower to the lender. The collateral 
may be cash or a highly rated security. 

Securities lent 
Securities are typically lent to a borrower to cover their short positions. Borrowing requires the pledging of collateral by the borrower to the lender. 
The collateral provided may be cash or a highly rated security. 

Securities purchased under resale agreements 
A transaction where a security is purchased by the buyer and, at the same time, the buyer commits to resell the security to the original seller at a 
specific price and date in the future. 

Securities sold short 
A transaction in which the seller sells securities that it does not own. Initially the seller typically borrows the securities in order to deliver them to the 
purchaser. At a later date, the seller buys identical securities in the market to replace the borrowed securities. 

Securities sold under repurchase agreements 
A transaction where a security is sold by the seller and, at the same time, the seller commits to repurchase the security from the original purchaser 
at a specific price and date in the future. 

Structured entities (SEs) 
Entities that have been designed so that voting or similar rights are not the dominant factor in deciding who controls the entity, such as when any 
voting rights relate to administrative tasks only and the relevant activities are directed by means of contractual arrangements. 

Swap contracts 
A financial contract in which counterparties exchange a series of cash flows based on a specified notional amount over a specified period. 

Taxable equivalent basis (TEB) 
The gross-up tax-exempt revenue on certain securities to a TEB. There is an equivalent offsetting adjustment to the income tax expense. 

Total shareholder return 
The total return earned on an investment in CIBC’s common shares. The return measures the change in shareholder value, assuming dividends paid 
are reinvested in additional shares. 

Risk and capital glossary 

Advanced internal ratings-based (AIRB) approach for credit risk 
Internal models based on historical experience of key risk assumptions such as probability of default (PD), loss given default (LGD) and exposure at 
default (EAD) are used to compute the capital requirements subject to OSFI approval. A capital floor based on the standardized approach is also 
calculated by banks under the AIRB approach for credit risk and an adjustment to risk-weighted assets (RWA) may be required as prescribed by 
OSFI. 

Advanced measurement approach (AMA) for operational risk 
A risk-sensitive approach to calculating the capital charge for operational risk based on internal risk measurement models, using a combination of 
quantitative and qualitative risk measurement techniques. Effective in the first quarter of 2020, the AMA approach for operational risk is no longer 
permitted, and banks must use the standardized approach to calculate operational risk capital requirements. 

Asset/liability management (ALM) 
The practice of managing risks that arise from mismatches between the assets and liabilities, mainly in the non-trading areas of the bank. 
Techniques are used to manage the relative duration of CIBC’s assets (such as loans) and liabilities (such as deposits), in order to minimize the 
adverse impact of changes in interest rates. 

198  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Bail-in eligible liabilities 
Bail-in eligible liabilities include long-term (i.e., original maturity over 400 days), unsecured senior debt issued on or after September 23, 2018 that is 
tradable and transferrable, and any preferred shares and subordinated debt that are not considered non-viability contingent capital (NVCC). 
Consumer deposits, secured liabilities (for example, covered bonds), certain financial contracts (for example, derivatives) and certain structured 
notes are not bail-in eligible. 

Bank exposures 
All direct credit risk exposures to deposit-taking institutions and regulated securities firms, and exposures guaranteed by those entities. 

Business and government portfolio 
A category of exposures that includes lending to businesses and governments, where the primary basis of adjudication relies on the determination 
and assignment of an appropriate risk rating that reflects the credit risk of the exposure. 

Central counterparty (CCP) 
A clearing house that interposes itself between counterparties to contracts traded in one or more financial markets, becoming the buyer to every 
seller and the seller to every buyer and thereby ensuring the future performance of open contracts. 

Comprehensive approach for securities financing transactions 
A framework for the measurement of CCR with respect to securities financing transactions, which utilizes a volatility adjusted collateral value to 
reduce the amount of the exposure. 

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1), Tier 1 and Total capital ratios 
CET1, Tier 1 and total regulatory capital, divided by RWA, as defined by OSFI’s Capital Adequacy Requirements (CAR) Guideline, which is based 
on Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) standards. 

Corporate exposures 
All direct credit risk exposures to corporations, partnerships and proprietorships, and exposures guaranteed by those entities. 

Credit risk 
The risk of financial loss due to a borrower or counterparty failing to meet its obligations in accordance with contractual terms. 

Drawn exposure 
The amount of credit risk exposure resulting from loans already advanced to the customer. 

Economic capital 
Economic capital provides a framework to evaluate the returns of each strategic business unit, commensurate with risk assumed. Economic capital 
is a non-GAAP risk measure based upon an estimate of equity capital required by the businesses to absorb unexpected losses consistent with our 
targeted risk rating over a one-year horizon. Economic capital comprises primarily credit, market, operational and strategic risk capital. 

Economic profit 
A non-GAAP risk-adjusted performance measure used for measuring economic value added. It is calculated as earnings of each business less a 
charge for the cost of capital. 

Exposure at default (EAD) 
An estimate of the amount of exposure to a customer at the event of, and at the time of, default. 

Incremental risk charge (IRC) 
A capital charge applied in addition to market risk capital specifically to cover default and migration risk in unsecuritized credit assets of varying 
liquidity held in the trading book. 

Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) 
A framework and process designed to provide a comprehensive view on capital adequacy, as defined by Pillar II of the Basel Accord, wherein we 
identify and measure our risks on an ongoing basis in order to ensure that the capital available is sufficient to cover all risks across CIBC. 

Internal models approach (IMA) for market risk 
Models, which have been developed by CIBC and approved by OSFI, for the measurement of risk and regulatory capital in the trading portfolio for 
general market risk, debt specific risk, and equity specific risk. 

Internal model method (IMM) for counterparty credit risk 
Models, which have been developed by CIBC and approved by OSFI, for the measurement of CCR with respect to OTC derivatives. 

Internal ratings-based (IRB) approach for securitization exposures 
This approach comprises two calculation methods available for securitization exposures that require OSFI approval: the Internal Ratings-Based 
Approach (SEC-IRBA) is available to the banks approved to use the IRB approach for underlying exposures securitized and the Internal 
Assessment Approach (SEC-IAA) is available for certain securitization exposures extended to asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) programs. 

Leverage ratio exposure 
The leverage ratio exposure is defined under the OSFI rules as on-balance sheet assets (unweighted) less Tier 1 capital regulatory adjustments plus 
derivative exposures, securities financing transaction exposures with a limited form of netting under certain conditions, and other off-balance sheet 
exposures (such as commitments, direct credit substitutes, forward asset purchases, standby/trade letters of credit and securitization exposures). 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  199 

Until December 31, 2021, exposures arising from central bank reserves and sovereign-issued securities that qualify as High Quality Liquid Assets 
(HQLA) may be excluded from the exposure measure for leverage ratio purposes. 

Leverage ratio 
Defined as Tier 1 capital divided by the leverage ratio exposure determined in accordance with guidelines issued by OSFI, which are based on 
BCBS standards. 

Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) 
Derived from the BCBS’s Basel III framework and incorporated into OSFI’s Liquidity Adequacy Requirements (LAR) Guideline, the LCR is a liquidity 
standard that aims to ensure that an institution has an adequate stock of unencumbered HQLA that consists of cash or assets that can be converted 
into cash at little or no loss of value in private markets, to meet its liquidity needs for a 30-calendar-day liquidity stress scenario. 

Liquidity risk 
The risk of having insufficient cash or its equivalent in a timely and cost-effective manner to meet financial obligations as they come due. 

Loss given default (LGD) 
An estimate of the amount of exposure to a customer that will not be recovered following a default by that customer, expressed as a percentage of 
the EAD. LGD is generally based on through-the-cycle assumptions for regulatory capital purposes, and generally based on point-in-time 
assumptions reflecting forward-looking information for IFRS 9 ECL purposes. 

Market risk 
The risk of economic financial loss in our trading and non-trading portfolios from adverse changes in underlying market factors, including interest 
rates, foreign exchange rates, equity market prices, commodity prices, credit spreads and customer behaviour for retail products. 

Master netting agreement 
An industry standard agreement designed to reduce the credit risk of multiple transactions with a counterparty through the creation of a legal right 
of offset of exposures in the event of a default by that counterparty and through the provision for net settlement of all contracts through a single 
payment. 

Net cumulative cash flow (NCCF) 
The NCCF is a liquidity horizon metric defined under OSFI’s LAR Guideline as a monitoring and supervision tool for liquidity risk that measures an 
institution’s detailed cash flows in order to capture the risk posed by funding mismatches between assets and liabilities. 

Net stable funding ratio (NSFR) 
Derived from the BCBS’s Basel III framework and incorporated into OSFI’s LAR Guideline, the NSFR standard aims to promote long-term resilience 
of the financial sector by requiring banks to maintain a sustainable stable funding profile in relation to the composition of their assets and off-balance 
sheet activities. 

Non-viability contingent capital (NVCC) 
Effective January 1, 2013, in order to qualify for inclusion in regulatory capital, all non-common Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital instruments must be capable 
of absorbing losses at the point of non-viability of a financial institution. This will ensure that investors in such instruments bear losses before 
taxpayers where the government determines that it is in the public interest to rescue a non-viable bank. 

Operational risk 
The risk of loss arising from people, inadequate or failed internal processes, and systems or from external events. 

Other off-balance sheet exposure 
The amount of credit risk exposure resulting from the issuance of guarantees and letters of credit. 

Other retail 
This exposure class includes all loans other than qualifying revolving retail and real estate secured personal lending that are extended to individuals 
and small businesses under the regulatory capital reporting framework. 

Over-the-counter derivatives exposure 
The amount of credit risk exposure resulting from derivatives that trade directly between two counterparties, rather than through exchanges. 

Probability of default (PD) 
An estimate of the likelihood of default for any particular customer which occurs when that customer is not able to repay its obligations as they 
become contractually due. PD is generally based on through-the-cycle assumptions for regulatory capital purposes, and generally based on 
point-in-time assumptions reflecting forward-looking information for IFRS 9 ECL purposes. 

Qualifying central counterparty (QCCP) 
An entity that is licensed to operate as a CCP and is permitted by the appropriate regulator or oversight body to operate as such with respect to the 
products offered by that CCP. 

Qualifying revolving retail 
This exposure class includes credit cards, unsecured lines of credit and overdraft protection products extended to individuals. Under the 
standardized approach, these exposures would be included under “other retail”. 

Real estate secured personal lending 
This exposure class includes residential mortgages and home equity loans and lines of credit extended to individuals. 

200  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Regulatory capital 
Regulatory capital, as defined by OSFI’s CAR Guideline, is comprised of Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1), Additional Tier 1 (AT1) and Tier 2 capital. 
CET1 capital includes common shares, retained earnings, accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) (excluding AOCI relating to cash flow 
hedges and changes in fair value option liabilities attributable to changes in own credit risk) and qualifying instruments issued by a consolidated 
banking subsidiary to third parties, less regulatory adjustments for items such as goodwill and other intangible assets, deferred tax assets, net 
assets related to defined benefit pension plans, and certain investments. On March 27, 2020, OSFI introduced transitional arrangements for the 
capital treatment of expected loss provisioning, such that part of the allowances that would otherwise be included in Tier 2 capital will instead qualify 
for inclusion in CET1 capital subject to certain scalars and limitations until fiscal year 2022. AT1 capital primarily includes NVCC preferred shares, 
Limited Recourse Capital Notes, qualifying instruments issued by a consolidated subsidiary to third parties, and non-qualifying innovative Tier 1 
notes which are subject to phase-out rules for capital instruments. Tier 1 capital is comprised of CET1 plus AT1. Tier 2 capital includes NVCC 
subordinated indebtedness, non-qualifying subordinated indebtedness subject to phase-out rules for capital instruments, eligible general 
allowances, and qualifying instruments issued by a consolidated subsidiary to third parties. Total capital is comprised of Tier 1 capital plus Tier 2 
capital. Qualifying regulatory capital instruments must be capable of absorbing loss at the point of non-viability of the financial institution; 
non-qualifying capital instruments are excluded from regulatory capital at a rate of 10% per annum commencing January 1, 2013 through to 
November 1, 2021. 

Repo-style transactions exposure 
The amount of credit risk exposure resulting from our securities bought or sold under resale agreements, as well as securities borrowing and 
lending activities. 

Reputation risk 
The risk of negative publicity regarding CIBC’s business conduct or practices which, whether true or not, could significantly harm CIBC’s reputation 
as a leading financial institution, or could materially and adversely affect CIBC’s business, operations, or financial condition. 

Resecuritization 
A securitization exposure in which the risk associated with an underlying pool of exposures is tranched and at least one of the underlying exposures 
is a securitization exposure. 

Retail portfolios 
A category of exposures that primarily includes consumer but also small business lending, where the primary basis of adjudication relies on credit-
scoring models. 

Risk-weighted assets 
RWA consist of three components: (i) RWA for credit risk are calculated using the AIRB and standardized approaches. The AIRB RWA are 
calculated using PDs, LGDs, EADs, and in some cases maturity adjustments, while the standardized approach applies risk weighting factors 
specified in the OSFI guidelines to on- and off-balance sheet exposures; (ii) RWA for market risk in the trading portfolio are based on the internal 
models approved by OSFI with the exception of the RWA for traded securitization assets where we are using the methodology defined by OSFI; and 
(iii) RWA for operational risk relating to the risk of losses resulting from people, inadequate or failed internal processes, and systems or from external 
events are calculated under a standardized approach (for 2019 and prior: calculated under the AMA and standardized approaches). Since the 
introduction of Basel II in 2008, OSFI has prescribed a capital floor requirement for institutions that use the AIRB approach for credit risk. The capital 
floor is determined by comparing a capital requirement calculated by reference to the Basel II standardized approach against the Basel III 
calculation, as specified by OSFI. Any shortfall in the Basel III capital requirement is added to RWA. 

Securitization 
The process of selling assets (normally financial assets such as loans, leases, trade receivables, credit card receivables or mortgages) to trusts or 
other SEs. An SE normally issues securities or other forms of interests to investors and/or the asset transferor, and the SE uses the proceeds of the 
issue of securities or other forms of interest to purchase the transferred assets. The SE will generally use the cash flows generated by the assets to 
meet the obligations under the securities or other interests issued by the SE, which may carry a number of different risk profiles. 

Sovereign exposures 
All direct credit risk exposures to governments, central banks and certain public sector entities, and exposures guaranteed by those entities. 

Standardized approach for credit risk 
Applied to exposures when there is not sufficient information to allow for the use of the AIRB approach for credit risk. Credit risk capital requirements 
are calculated based on a standardized set of risk weights as prescribed in the CAR Guideline. The standardized risk weights are based on 
external credit assessments, where available, and other risk-related factors, including export credit agencies, exposure asset class, collateral, etc. 

Standardized approach for operational risk 
Capital is based on prescribed percentages that vary by business activity and is applied to the three-year average gross income. 

Standardized approach for securitization exposures 
This approach comprises the calculation methods available for securitization exposures that do not require OSFI approval: the External Ratings-
Based Approach (SEC-ERBA) and the Standardized Approach (SEC-SA). 

Strategic risk 
The risk of ineffective or improper implementation of business strategies, including mergers and acquisitions. It includes the potential financial loss 
due to the failure of organic growth initiatives or failure to respond appropriately to changes in the business environment. 

Stressed Value-at-Risk 
A value-at-risk calculation using a one-year observation period related to significant losses for the given portfolio at a specified level of confidence 
and time horizon. 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  201 

Structural foreign exchange risk 
Structural foreign exchange risk primarily consists of the risk inherent in net investments in foreign operations due to changes in foreign exchange 
rates, and foreign currency denominated RWA and foreign currency denominated capital deductions. 

Structural interest rate risk 
Structural interest rate risk primarily consists of the risk arising due to mismatches in assets and liabilities, which do not arise from trading and 
trading-related businesses. 

Total loss absorbing capacity (TLAC) measure 
The sum of Total capital and bail-in eligible liabilities that have a residual maturity greater than one year. Bail-in eligible liabilities include long-term 
(original maturity over 400 days), unsecured senior debt issued on or after September 23, 2018, that is tradable and transferrable, and any 
preferred shares and subordinated debt that are not NVCC. Consumer deposits, secured liabilities (for example, covered bonds), eligible financial 
contracts (for example derivatives) and certain structured notes are excluded from the bail-in power. 

Transitional arrangements for capital treatment of expected loss provisioning 
On March 27, 2020, OSFI introduced transitional arrangements for expected credit loss provisioning. This arrangement results in a portion of 
allowances that would otherwise be included in Tier 2 capital qualifying for inclusion in CET1 capital. The amount of ECL allowances eligible for 
inclusion in CET1 capital is determined based on the increase in stage 1 and stage 2 allowances relative to balances as at January 31, 2020 as a 
baseline. This amount is then adjusted for tax effects and is subject to a scaling factor that will decrease over time. The scaling factor has been set 
at 70% for fiscal 2020, 50% for fiscal 2021, and 25% for fiscal 2022. For exposures under the internal ratings-based (IRB) approach, the lower of this 
amount and excess allowances eligible for inclusion in Tier 2 capital is included as CET1 capital under the transitional arrangements. 

Undrawn exposures 
The amount of credit risk exposure resulting from loans that have not been advanced to a customer, but which a customer may be entitled to draw 
in the future. 

Value-at-Risk (VaR) 
Generally accepted risk measure that uses statistical models to estimate the distribution of possible returns on a given portfolio at a specified level 
of confidence and time horizon. 

202  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Shareholder information 

Fiscal Year 
November 1st to October 31st 

Key Dates 

Reporting dates 2021 
First quarter results – Thursday, February 25, 2021 
Second quarter results – Thursday, May 27, 2021 
Third quarter results – Thursday, August 26, 2021 
Fourth quarter results – Thursday, December 2, 2021 

Annual Meeting of Shareholders 2021 
CIBC’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on April 8, 2021. For more details, please visit our Annual Meeting webpage at 
https://www.cibc.com/en/about-cibc/investor-relations/annual-meeting.html. 

Common shares of CIBC (CM) are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. Preferred 
shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. 

Dividends 
Quarterly dividends were paid on CIBC common and preferred shares in 2020: 

Common shares 

Ex-dividend date 

Record date 

Payment date 

Dividends per share 

Sep 25/20 
Jun 26/20 
Mar 26/20 
Dec 24/19 

Sep 28/20 
Jun 29/20 
Mar 27/20 
Dec 27/19 

Oct 28/20 
Jul 28/20 
Apr 28/20 
Jan 28/20 

$1.46 
$1.46 
$1.46 
$1.44 

Number of common shares 
on record date 

446,423,900 
445,450,650 
444,565,420 
445,169,021 

Preferred shares 
Stock 

Series 39 

Series 41 (1) 

Series 43 (2) 

Series 45 

Series 47 

Series 49 

Series 51 

Ticker symbol 
Quarterly dividend  $0.232063 

CM.PR.O 

CM.PR.P 
$0.244313 

CM.PR.Q 
$0.196438 

CM.PR.R 
$0.275000 

CM.PR.S 
$0.281250 

CM.PR.T 
$0.325000 

CM.PR.Y 
$0.321875 

(1) The dividend rate of Series 41 was reset in accordance with the share terms effective January 31, 2020. 

(2) The dividend rate of Series 43 was reset in accordance with the share terms effective July 31, 2020. 

2021 dividend payment dates 
(Subject to approval by the CIBC Board of Directors) 

Record dates 
December 29, 2020 
March 29, 2021 
June 28, 2021 
September 28, 2021 

Payment dates 
January 28, 2021 
April 28, 2021 
July 28, 2021 
October 28, 2021 

Eligible dividends 
CIBC designates any and all dividends paid or deemed for Canadian federal, provincial or territorial income tax purposes to be paid on or after 
January 1, 2006 to be “eligible dividends”, unless otherwise indicated in respect of dividends paid subsequent to this notification, and hereby 
notifies all recipients of such dividends of this designation. 

Regulatory capital 
Information on CIBC’s regulatory capital instruments and regulatory capital position may be found at www.cibc.com; About CIBC; Investor Relations; 
Regulatory Capital Instruments. 

Credit ratings 
Credit rating information can be found on page 78 in this Annual Report. 

Shareholder investment plan 
All Canadian and U.S. resident registered holders of CIBC common shares and designated Class A preferred shares may participate in one or more 
of the following options and pay no brokerage commissions or service charges: 

Dividend reinvestment option – Canadian residents may have dividends reinvested in additional CIBC common shares. 
Share purchase option – Canadian residents may purchase up to $50,000 of additional CIBC common shares during the fiscal year. 
Stock dividend option – U.S. residents may elect to receive stock dividends on CIBC common shares. 

Further information is available through AST Trust Company (Canada) (formerly CST Trust Company) and on the CIBC website at www.cibc.com. 

Transfer agent and registrar 
For information relating to shareholdings, shareholder investment plan, dividends, direct dividend deposit, dividend reinvestment accounts and lost 
certificates, or to eliminate duplicate mailings of shareholder material, please contact: 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  203 

AST Trust Company (Canada), P.O. Box 700, Postal Station B, Montreal, QC, H3B 3K3 
416 682-3860 or 1 800 258-0499 (Canada and the U.S. only), Fax 1 888 249-6189, Email: inquiries@astfinancial.com, 
Website: www.astfinancial.com/ca. 

Common and preferred shares are transferable in Canada at the offices of our agent, AST Trust Company (Canada), in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary 
and Vancouver. 

In the U.S., common shares are transferable at: 
Computershare Inc., By Mail: P.O. Box 43078 Providence, RI 02940-3078; By Overnight Delivery: 150 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021, 1 800 
589-9836, Website: www.computershare.com/investor. 

Registered shareholders can opt to have their shares recorded electronically in the Direct Registration System (DRS). Please contact our transfer 
agent for details. 

How to reach us: 

CIBC Head Office 
Commerce Court, Toronto, Ontario, 
Canada M5L 1A2 
Telephone number: 416 980-2211 
SWIFT code: CIBCCATT 
Website: www.cibc.com 

Investor Relations 
Email: investorrelations@cibc.com 

Corporate Secretary 
Call: 416 980-3096 
Email: corporate.secretary@cibc.com 

Office of the CIBC Ombudsman 
Toll-free across Canada: 1 800 
308-6859 
Toronto: 416 861-3313 
Email: ombudsman@cibc.com 

CIBC Telephone Banking 
Toll-free across Canada: 1 800 465-2422 

Communications and Public Affairs 
Email: corporatecommunications@cibc.com 

Client Care 
Toll-free across Canada: 1 800 465-2255 
Email: client.care@cibc.com 

Where to find more information 

CIBC Annual Report 2020 
Additional print copies of the Annual Report will be available in March 2021 and may be obtained by emailing investorrelations@cibc.com. The 
Annual Report is also available online at www.cibc.com/ca/investor-relations/annual-reports.html. 

Des exemplaires supplémentaires du Rapport annuel seront disponibles en mars 2021 et peuvent être commandés par courriel à 
relationsinvestisseurs@cibc.com. Le Rapport annuel est aussi disponible à l’adresse www.cibc.com/ca/investor-relations/annual-reports-fr.html. 

CIBC Sustainability Report and Public Accountability Statement 2020 
This report reviews our economic, environmental, social and governance activities over the past year and will be available in March 2021 at https:// 
www.cibc.com/en/about-cibc/corporate-responsibility.html. 

Management Proxy Circular 2021 
The Management Proxy Circular contains information for shareholders about CIBC’s annual meeting, including information relating to the election of 
CIBC’s directors, appointment of auditors and shareholder proposals, as well as other matters. The 2021 Proxy Circular will be available in March 
2021 at www.cibc.com. 

Corporate Governance 
CIBC’s Statement of Corporate Governance Practices describes the governance framework that guides the Board and management in fulfilling their 
obligations to CIBC and our shareholders. This statement and other information on Corporate Governance at CIBC, including our CIBC Code of 
Conduct for all employees and CIBC Code of Ethics for Directors, can be found on our corporate website at www.cibc.com/ca/inside-cibc/ 
governance/governance-practices.html. 

Regulatory Filings 
In Canada with the Canadian Securities Administrators at www.sedar.com. 

In the U.S. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. 

Incorporation 
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) is a diversified financial institution governed by the Bank Act (Canada). CIBC was formed through the 
amalgamation of The Canadian Bank of Commerce and Imperial Bank of Canada in 1961. 

The Canadian Bank of Commerce was originally incorporated as Bank of Canada by special act of the legislature of the Province of Canada in 
1858. Subsequently, the name was changed to The Canadian Bank of Commerce and it opened for business under that name in 1867. Imperial 
Bank of Canada was incorporated in 1875 by special act of the Parliament of Canada and commenced operations in that year. 

Trademarks 
Trademarks used in this Annual Report which are owned by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, or its subsidiaries in Canada and/or other 
countries include, “CIBC Agility”, “CIBC Bank USA Smart Account”, the CIBC logo, “CIBC eDeposit”, “CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank”, 
“CIBC Foreign Cash Online”, “CIBC Global Money Transfer”, “CIBC Investor’s Edge”, “CIBC Miracle Day”, “CIBC Mobile Banking”, “CIBC Pace It”, 
“CIBC Personal Portfolio Services”, “CIBC Private Wealth Management”, “CIBC Smart”, “CIBC SmartBanking”, “CIBC Team Next”, “Remi Beta Bot”, 
“Simplii Financial” and “Wood Gundy”. All other trademarks mentioned in this annual report which are not owned by Canadian Imperial Bank of 
Commerce or its subsidiaries, are the property of their respective owners. 

204  CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 

Board of Directors: 

The Hon. John P. Manley, P.C., O.C. 
Chair of the Board 
CIBC 
Senior Advisor, Bennett Jones LLP 
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 
Joined in 2005 

Brent S. Belzberg 
(CGC, RMC) 
Senior Managing Partner 
TorQuest Partners 
Toronto, Ontario, Canada 
Joined in 2005 

Charles J. G. Brindamour 
(RMC) 
Chief Executive Officer 
Intact Financial Corporation 
Toronto, Ontario, Canada 
Joined in 2020 

Nanci E. Caldwell 
(MRCC) 
Corporate Director 
Woodside, California, 
U.S.A. 
Joined in 2015 

Michelle L. Collins 
(AC) 
President 
Cambium LLC 
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. 
Joined in 2017 

Kevin J. Kelly 
(MRCC) 
Corporate Director 
Toronto, Ontario, Canada 
Joined in 2013 

Katharine B. Stevenson 
(CGC – Chair, MRCC) 
Corporate Director 
Toronto, Ontario, Canada 
Joined in 2011 

Patrick D. Daniel 
(MRCC – Chair) 
Corporate Director 
Calgary, Alberta, Canada 
Joined in 2009 

Luc Desjardins 
(AC) 
President and Chief Executive Officer 
Superior Plus Corp. 
Toronto, Ontario, Canada 
Joined in 2009 

Victor G. Dodig 
President and Chief 
Executive Officer 
CIBC 
Toronto, Ontario, Canada 
Joined in 2014 

Christine E. Larsen 
(RMC) 
Corporate Director 
Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.A. 
Joined in 2016 

Nicholas D. Le Pan 
(AC – Chair) 
Corporate Director 
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 
Joined in 2008 

Jane L. Peverett 
(AC, CGC) 
Corporate Director 
West Vancouver, British 
Columbia, Canada 
Joined in 2009 

Martine Turcotte 
(CGC, MRCC) 
Corporate Director 
Verdun, Québec, Canada 
Joined in 2014 

Barry L. Zubrow 
(RMC – Chair) 
President 
ITB LLC 
Far Hills, New Jersey, U.S.A. 
Joined in 2015 

AC – Audit Committee 
CGC – Corporate Governance Committee 
MRCC – Management Resources and Compensation Committee 
RMC – Risk Management Committee 

CIBC 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  205 

Sustainable banking  
for a modern world 

Sustainability is at the heart of CIBC’s purpose: to 
help make your ambitions a reality. Inspired by this 
purpose, we integrate sustainability into everything we 
do, focusing on environmental, social and governance 
(ESG) matters of importance to our stakeholders. 

Building on responsible business practices that we 
have embedded across CIBC, we are taking action to 
further reduce environmental impacts across our value 
chain, support programs that foster an inclusive and 
healthy society, and integrate best-in-class governance 
practices to create a sustainable future. 

CIBC supports and participates in many industry and 
global sustainability initiatives: 

CIBC’s 2020 Sustainability Report will be available in March 2021 at www.cibc.com 

www.cibc.com