Bank Regulatory Agencies

Bank Regulatory News

January 2005

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January 28, 2005 - NCUA - United States Treasurer Anna Cabral To Keynote NCUA's Access Across America Economic Empowerment Summit in Des Moines, Iowa February 9 http://www.ncua.gov/news/press_releases/2005/NR05-0128-3.htm

January 28, 2005 - NCUA - Matz Shares Concerns for the Future of Credit Unions - In her first speech of 2005, NCUA Board Member Debbie Matz identified five concerns for the future of credit unions and shared many initiatives that credit union leagues are taking to address those issues. www.ncua.gov/news/press_releases/2005/NR05-0128-2.htm

January 28, 2005 - FRB Statistical Release - U.S. Reserve Assets; and Foreign Official Assets Held at Federal Reserve Banks www.federalreserve.gov/releases/bulletin/1204assets.htm

January 28, 2005 - Banking Agencies Announce Implementation of Web-Based Central Data Repository for Bank Financial Data - The federal banking agencies announced today a new implementation plan for the Central Data Repository -an Internet-based system created to modernize and streamline how the agencies collect, validate, manage, and distribute financial data submitted by banks in quarterly "Call Reports." While banks will not be required to submit Call Report data to the CDR until October 2005, the agencies plan to make the CDR available for testing by banks and software vendors early this summer.
Press Release: www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/other/2005/20050128/
Press Release: www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2005/pr0405.html
Press Release: www.occ.treas.gov/scripts/newsrelease.aspx?JNR=1&Doc=XT9PXYTB.xml

January 28, 2005 - The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced the termination of the enforcement actions listed below. Terminations of enforcement actions are listed on the Federal Reserve's public web site. www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/Enforcement/2005/200501282/default.htm

January 28, 2005 - The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced the execution of a Written Agreement by and between the Asian Bank, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/Enforcement/2005/20050128/default.htm

January 28, 2005 - NCUA Chairman Johnson Highlights 2004 Accomplishments and Outlines 2005 Agenda. www.ncua.gov/news/press_releases/2005/NR05-0128.htm
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January 27, 2005 - Does Trading Frequency Affect Subordinated Debt Spreads? - Christopher Bianchi, Diana Hancock, and Laura Kawano 2005-8 - Because illiquid bonds may be relatively poorly priced, the ability to infer investor perceptions of changes in a banking organization's financial health from such bonds may be obscured.
Press Release: www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/feds/2005/200508/200508abs.html

January 27, 2005 - Agencies Issue Statement on Implementation of Basel II Framework - The federal banking and thrift agencies today released an interagency statement on implementation of the Basel II framework and the qualification process for the framework's "advanced approaches."
Press Release: www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/bcreg/2005/20050127/default.htm
Press Release: www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2005/pr0305.html
Press Release: www.ots.treas.gov/docs/7/77501.html
Press Release: www.occ.treas.gov/scripts/newsrelease.aspx?JNR=1&Doc=8DFWFFME.xml
Attachment: www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/release/2005-6a.pdf

January 27, 2005 - The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday announced the issuance of a consent Order to Cease and Desist against Riggs National Corporation, Washington, D.C., a bank holding company. www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/Enforcement/2005/20050127/default.htm

January 27, 2005 - OCC Issues Modified Consent Order Against Riggs Bank, N.A. - The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced today a modification of the consent order of May 13, 2004 against Riggs Bank, N.A.
Press Release: www.occ.treas.gov/scripts/newsrelease.aspx?Doc=SCSWQXC8.xml
Attachment: www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/release/2005-7a.pdf

January 26, 2005 -The Federal Reserve Board on Wednesday announced its approval of the applications under section 3 of the Bank Holding Company Act, the Bank Merger Act, and section 9 of the Federal Reserve Act for Westamerica Bancorporation ("Westamerica"), San Rafael, California, to merge with Redwood Empire Bancorp, Santa Rosa, California, and by Westamerica's subsidiary bank, Westamerica Bank, to effect the following transactions: (1) merge with National Bank of the Redwoods ("Redwood Bank"); and (2) retain and operate branches at the location of Redwood Bank's main office and branches. www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/orders/2005/20050126/default.htm

January 26, 2005 - Banking Structure Financial Holding Companies - Under the Bank Holding Company Act, bank holding companies may elect to be financial holding companies. Following is a list of those companies whose elections to become or be treated as financial holding companies are effective. www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/fhc/

January 25, 2005 - Basel II White Papers - The Potential Impact of Explicit Basel II Operational Risk Capital Charges on the Competitive Environment of Processing Banks in the U.S. www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/basel2/docs2005/opriskjan05.pdf

January 25, 2005 - The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday announced its approval of the application filed by The Colonial BancGroup, Inc., Montgomery, Alabama, to acquire 100 percent of the voting shares of Union Bank of Florida, Lauderhill, Florida. www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/orders/2005/20050125/default.htm

January 25, 2005 - NCUA General Counsel Opinion 03-0736 - Providing Investment Service to Nonmembers www.ncua.gov/RegulationsOpinionsLaws/opinion_letters/2003_letters/03-0736.pdf

January 24, 2005 - Home Mortgage Disclosure Act: Exemption Threshold for Depository Institutions under Regulation C - This bulletin announces a recently published final rule relating to the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. In the rule, the Federal Reserve Board amended the staff commentary that interprets the requirements of Regulation C. By this amendment, the Board raised the asset size exemption threshold for depository institutions that are required to report data under HMDA. The adjustment became effective January 1.
Press Release: www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/bulletin/2005-2.txt
Attachment: www.occ.treas.gov/fr/fedregister/69fr77139.pdf

January 24, 2005 - NCUA - Credit Unions Added Over 27.4 Million Potential New Members In Underserved Areas Across America in 2004. www.ncua.gov/news/press_releases/2005/NR05-0123.htm

January 24, 2005 - Kevin Mukri Named Director for Press Relations - The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced today the selection of Kevin M. Mukri as Director for Press Relations. Mr. Mukri succeeds Robert M. Garsson, who became Deputy Comptroller for Public Affairs last year. www.occ.treas.gov/scripts/newsrelease.aspx?Doc=EZEUGRQV.xml

January 11, 2005 - The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's latest edition of Financial Industry Perspectives features an overview of banking conditions in the Tenth Federal Reserve District and the results of a survey of the District's community banks. Additionally, the publication includes research on technology outsourcing from a community bank perspective and a look at the adoption of corporate governance practices by community banks in the Tenth District. www.kc.frb.org/pubaffrs/pressrel/pr05-01.htm
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January 19, 2005 - NCUA General Counsel Opinion 05-0117 - Split Dollar Life Insurance www.ncua.gov/RegulationsOpinionsLaws/opinion_letters/2005/05-0117.pdf

January 19, 2005 - Beige Book - Informal review by the Federal Reserve Banks of current economic conditions in their Districts www.federalreserve.gov/fomc/beigebook/2005/20050119/default.htm

January 19, 2005 - Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network New Secure Web-Based Distribution System for 314(a) Search Requests - Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network plans to release its 314(a) search requests to financial institutions through a new secure Web-based system. www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2005/fil305.html

January 19, 2005 - Governor Ben S. Bernanke - Productivity At the C. Peter McColough Roundtable Series on International Economics, Council on Foreign Relations, New York, New York. www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2005/20050119/default.htm

January 18, 2005 - Governor Susan Schmidt Bies - The Economy and Challenges in Retirement Savings To Financial Executives International Baltimore Chapter, Baltimore, Maryland. www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2005/20050118/default.htm

January 18, 2005 - Acting Comptroller Williams Issues Statement Regarding FDIC Proposal to Expand Special Examination Authority - Acting Comptroller of the Currency Julie L. Williams spoke today in opposition to a proposal to expand the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's special examination authority.
Press Release: www.occ.treas.gov/scripts/newsrelease.aspx?Doc=58OAO6ZR.xml
Attachment: www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/release/2005-4a.pdf

January 18, 2005 - Letter to Stakeholders Fourth Quarter 2004 Edition of the FDIC's Letter to Stakeholders - The FDIC has issued its quarterly Letter to Stakeholders, which reports on the FDIC's priorities and activities for the fourth quarter of 2004. www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2005/fil205.html

January 18, 2005 - The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday announced its approval of the proposal filed by Toronto-Dominion Bank, Toronto, Canada, to acquire 51 percent of the voting shares of Banknorth Group, Inc., and its subsidiary bank, Banknorth, National Association, both in Portland, Maine. www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/orders/2005/20050118/default.htm

January 18, 2005 - Matz Announces April PALS Workshop to Help Credit Unions Reach "New Markets, New Members, and New Business" - NCUA Board Member Debbie Matz has announced a free Partnering and Leadership Successes workshop on April 28 in St. Louis to help credit unions gain new members and new business by reaching new markets. www.ncua.gov/news/press_releases/2005/NR05-0118.htm

January 18, 2005 - OCC Releases CRA Evaluations For 25 National Banks - The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today released a list of Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluations that became public during the period of December 15, 2004 through January 14, 2005. www.occ.treas.gov/scripts/newsrelease.aspx?Doc=PXTK9BPR.xml

January 14, 2005 - FinCEN's Web-based 314(a) Distribution System - This alert transmits to national banks and federal branches a memorandum issued by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network that announces plans to introduce a new Web-based 314(a) delivery and reporting system in February.
Press Release: www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/alert/2005-2.txt
Attachment: www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/alert/2005-2a.pdf

January 14, 2005 - Deposit Insurance Coverage Video-Seminar on Deposit Insurance Coverage for Bank Employees - The FDIC has produced a video-seminar for bankers on the FDIC's rules and requirements for deposit insurance coverage. The one and one-half hour video is a comprehensive seminar on deposit insurance coverage, explaining in detail the rules and requirements for all account ownership categories, with illustrated examples. www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2005/fil105.html

January 14, 2005 - Industrial Production And Capacity Utilization - Industrial production increased 0.8 percent in December after gains of 0.2 percent in November and 0.8 percent in October. In the manufacturing sector, output rose 0.7 percent in December, and increases occurred in most major industry groups. www.federalreserve.gov/Releases/G17/Current/default.htm

January 13, 2005 - "GSE Risks Need To Be Mitigated": St. Louis Fed's Poole - Government Sponsored Enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac face five major sources of business risk: credit risk, prepayment risk, interest rate risk from mismatched duration of assets and liabilities, liquidity risk and operational risk, according to William Poole, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. www.stlouisfed.org/news/releases/2005/1_13_05.html

January 13, 2005 - NCUA - Board Member Matz votes for consumer protections to strengthen NCUA's rules on conversions to private insurance and mutual savings banks www.ncua.gov/news/press_releases/2005/St05-0113.pdf

January 13, 2005 - NCUA - Statement of NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson on the Final Rule Amending Part 708b Mergers of Federally Insured Credit Unions; Voluntary Termination or Conversion of Insured Status www.ncua.gov/news/press_releases/2005/St05-0113-2.pdf

January 13, 2005 - NCUA - Statement of NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson on the Final Rule Amending Part 708a Conversions of Insured Credit Unions to Mutual Savings Banks www.ncua.gov/news/press_releases/2005/St05-0113-3.pdf
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January 13, 2005 - OCC Announces Six Enforcement Actions and Two Terminations - The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today announced six new enforcement actions taken against national banks and individuals currently and formerly affiliated with national banks and two terminations of existing enforcement actions. www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/release/2005-2.htm

January 13, 2005 - NCUA - Final Regulation - Loan Interest Rates www.ncua.gov/RegulationsOpinionsLaws/RecentFinalRegs/F-701.pdf

January 13, 2005 - NCUA - Final Regulation - Mergers of Federally-Insured Credit Unions; Voluntary Termination or Conversion of Insured Status www.ncua.gov/RegulationsOpinionsLaws/RecentFinalRegs/F-708b.pdf

January 13, 2005 - FRB Statistical Release - G.20 Finance Companies www.federalreserve.gov/Releases/G20/Current/default.htm

January 13, 2005 - NCUA - Results of January 13, 2005 NCUA Board Meeting www.ncua.gov/NCUABoard/board_reports/board_reports.html

January 13, 2005 - NCUA Board Issues Final Rule on Conversion Disclosure Rules for Insurance and Credit Union Conversions to Mutual Savings Banks www.ncua.gov/news/press_releases/2005/NR05-0113.htm

January 13, 2005 - NCUA - Draft items for the January 13, 2005 NCUA board meeting are available www.ncua.gov/NCUABoard/draftboardactions/index.htm

January 12, 2005 - Vice Chairman Roger W. Ferguson, Jr.- Recessions and Recoveries Associated with Asset-Price Movements: What Do We Know? At the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Stanford, California www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2005/20050112/default.htm

January 12, 2005 - Proper Disposal of Consumer Information: Final Rule - This bulletin announces that on December 28, 2004, the OCC, Federal Reserve Board, FDIC, and OTS jointly issued a final rule that requires financial institutions to adopt measures for properly disposing of consumer information derived from credit reports.
Press Release: www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/bulletin/2005-1.txt
Attachment: www.occ.treas.gov/fr/fedregister/69fr77610.pdf

January 12, 2005 - Acting Comptroller Williams Urges New Approach to Disclosures To Enhance Consumer Protection - Acting Comptroller of the Currency Julie L. Williams today urged bankers, government officials, and consumer advocates to work together to improve our current system of disclosure for financial consumers.
Press Release: www.occ.treas.gov/scripts/newsrelease.aspx?Doc=AYJPDLW2.xml
Attachment: www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/release/2005-1a.pdf

January 12, 2005 - Econometric Tests of Asset Price Bubbles: Taking Stock - Refet S. Gurkaynak - Can asset price bubbles be detected? This survey of econometric tests of asset price bubbles shows that, despite recent advances, econometric detection of asset price bubbles cannot be achieved with a satisfactory degree of certainty. www.federalreserve.gov/Pubs/FEDS/2005/200504/200504pap.pdf

January 11, 2005 - The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday released the minutes of its discount rate meetings from November 22 through December 14, 2004. www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/monetary/2005/20050111/default.htm

January 11, 2005 - FDIC Makes Public November Enforcement Actions; No Administrative Hearing Scheduled - The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation today released a list of orders of administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in November. No administrative hearing is scheduled for January. www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2005/pr0205.html

January 10, 2005 Legal Interpretation - Letter to HSBC Bank USA, National Association, New Castle, Delaware, granting an exemption from the quantitative limits of section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation W. www.federalreserve.gov/BoardDocs/LegalInt/FederalReserveAct/2004/20041222/default.htm

January 9, 2005 - Governor Donald L. Kohn Central Bank Communication - At the Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2005/20050109/default.htm

January 7, 2005 - Unauthorized Banking: Sunra International Bank & Trust Corporation, Republic of Palau, License Revocation - This alert states that the Financial Institutions Commission, Republic of Palau, has advised the OCC that it revoked the banking license of Sunra International Bank & Trust Corporation (Sunra) on January 6, 2005. www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/alert/2005-1.txt

January 7, 2005 - Precautionary Savings Motives and Tax Efficiency of Household Portfolios: An Empirical Analysis Gene Amromin - Tax efficiency is the dominant consideration in theoretical portfolio models that allow for both taxable and tax-deferred accounts. Investors are advised to locate higher-tax assets in their tax-deferred accounts, which in the Unites States commonly translates into "holding bonds inside TDAs and holding equities outside." www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/feds/2005/200501/200501abs.html

January 7, 2005 - The Reform of October 1979: How It Happened and Why David E. Lindsey, Athanasios Orphanides, and Robert H. Rasche - This study offers a historical review of the monetary policy reform of October 6, 1979, and discusses the influences behind it and its significance. We lay out the record from the start of 1979 through the spring of 1980, relying almost exclusively upon contemporaneous sources, including the recently released transcripts of Federal Open Market Committee meetings during 1979. www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/feds/2005/200502/200502abs.html

January 7, 2005 - FRB Statistical Release G.19 Consumer Credit www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/current/default.htm

January 7, 2005 - The Federal Reserve Board on Friday released figures that indicate the Federal Reserve Banks distributed approximately $18.086 billion of their $23.541 billion total income to the U.S. Treasury during 2004. www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/other/2005/200501072/

January 7, 2005 - The Federal Reserve Board on Friday named eleven new members to its Consumer Advisory Council for three-year terms and designated a new Chair and Vice Chair of the Council for 2005. www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/other/2005/20050107/

January 7, 2005 - Vice Chairman Roger W. Ferguson, Jr. - Interpreting Labor Market Statistics in the Context of Monetary Policy To the 2005 Annual Convention, Allied Social Science Associations, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2005/200501072/default.htm

January 7, 2005 - Governor Ben S. Bernanke - Panel Discussion: The Transition from Academic to Policymaker At the Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2005/20050107/default.htm

January 10, 2005 - Business-to-Business Transactions Dominate E-Commerce: St. Louis Fed Analysis - The rise of E-Bay and the increase in consumers who opted to go online to do their holiday shopping have made headlines, but an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis indicates that the volume of business-to-business e-commerce transactions far exceeds that of business-to-consumer sales. www.stlouisfed.org/news/releases/2005/1_10_05.html

January 3, 2005 - St. Louis Fed Analysis: Why Are Jobs Not Lasting As Long? - In spite of numerous news stories on why job stability has declined, academic research has not confirmed that. Now, however, new evidence from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis suggests that job stability has indeed declined. www.stlouisfed.org/news/releases/2005/1_03_05.html

January 3, 2005 - St. Louis Fed Promotes Francis, Price, Wilson and Yeager www.stlouisfed.org/news/releases/2005/1_03_05-b.htm
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January 6, 2005 - NCUA - Agenda for the NCUA Board meeting on January 13, 2005 is available www.ncua.gov/NCUABoard/Calendars/board_calendar/ag05-0113.htm

January 6, 2005 - NCUA Terminates Cease and Desist Order Against Northeast Arkansas Federal Credit Union www.ncua.gov/news/press_releases/2005/NR05-0106.htm

January 6, 2005 - Remarks by Governor Donald L. Kohn At the Wharton/Sloan/Mercer Oliver Wyman Institute Conference, "Financial Risk Management in Practice," Philadelphia, Pennsylvania January 6, 2005 www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2005/20050106/default.htm

January 5, 2005 - NCUA General Counsel Opinion 04-1130 - Exception to Member Business Loan Definition www.ncua.gov/RegulationsOpinionsLaws/opinion_letters/2004/04-1130.pdf

January 5, 2005 - The Federal Reserve Board on Wednesday announced the execution of a Written Agreement by and among Prineville Bancorporation, Prineville, Oregon; the Community First Bank, Prineville Oregon; the Oregon Division of Financial and Corporate Securities, Salem, Oregon; and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/Enforcement/2005/20050105/default.htm

January 5, 2005 - FDIC Issues January List of Banks Examined for CRA Compliance - The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation today issued its monthly list of state nonmember banks recently evaluated for compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act. The list covers evaluation ratings that the FDIC assigned to institutions in October 2004. www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2005/pr0105.html

January 4, 2005 - Statistical Release - Minority-Owned Banks www.federalreserve.gov/releases/mob/current/default.htm

January 4, 2005 - Federal Open Market Committee Minutes of the December 14, 2004, meeting www.federalreserve.gov/fomc/minutes/20041214.htm

January 4, 2005 - FFIEC Information Technology Examination Handbook - The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council completed its update of the 1996 FFIEC Information Systems Examination Handbook earlier this year with the release of the last two of twelve booklets that now comprise the new FFIEC Information Technology Examination Handbook. www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/SRLETTERS/2004/sr0420.htm

January 3, 2005 - Statistical Release - E.15 Agricultural Finance Databook - These data are derived from quarterly sample surveys conducted by the Federal Reserve System during the first full week of the second month of each quarter. The data are generally released at month-end in March, June, September, and December. www.federalreserve.gov/releases/e15/default.htm

January 3, 2005 - The Magnitude and Cyclical Behavior of Financial Market Frictions Andrew T. Levin, Fabio M. Natalucci, and Egon Zakrajsek - We quantify the cross-sectional and time-series behavior of the wedge between the cost of external and internal finance by estimating the structural parameters of a canonical debt-contracting model with informational frictions. www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/feds/2004/200470/200470pap.pdf

January 3, 2005 - Alternative Estimates of the Presidential Premium Sean D. Campbell and Canlin Li - Since the early 1980s much research, including the most recent contribution of Santa-Clara and Valkanov (2003), has concluded that there is a stable, robust and significant relationship between Democratic presidential administrations and robust stock returns. www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/feds/2004/200469/200469pap.pdf

January 3, 2005 - Statistical Release - G.5A Foreign Exchange Rates (Annual) - The Table Below Shows The Average Rates Of Exchange In 2004 Together With Comparable Figures For Other Years. www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g5a/current/

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