text: **Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements**
  We enter into commitments to extend credit to customers through our Nordstrom credit cards. The unused credit card capacity available to 
  our customers represents an off-balance sheet commitment. As of January 31, 2015, this unfunded commitment was $17,322. 
  
  Other than operating leases entered into in the normal course of business and the development of our Manhattan full-line store, we had no 
  material off-balance sheet arrangements during 2014. 
  
  **CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES**
  The preparation of our financial statements requires that we make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, 
  liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and 
  other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The following 
  discussion highlights the estimates we believe are critical and should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Consolidated Financial 
  Statements in Item 8: Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Our management has discussed the development and selection of 
  these critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors and the Audit Committee has reviewed our disclosures 
  that follow. 
  
  **Allowance for Credit Losses**
  The allowance for credit losses reflects our best estimate of the losses inherent in our credit card receivables as of the balance sheet date, 
  including uncollectible finance charges and fees. We estimate such credit losses based on several factors, including historical aging and 
  delinquency trends, write-off experience, portfolio concentration and risk metrics and general economic conditions. 