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FDIC Enforcement Decisions and Orders

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{{1-31-95 p.C-1251}}
   [10,289] In the Matter of Cypress Coast Bank, Seaside, California, Docket No. FDIC-91-222b (7-29-91).

   Bank to cease and desist from such unsafe or unsound practices as operating with inadequate management; operating with inadequate capital; operating with an excessive level of poor quality loans; operating with inadequate loan valuation reserve; following hazardous lending and lax collection practices; operating with inadequate liquidity; operating in such a manner as to produce operating losses; and operating in violation of applicable laws or regulations. (This order was terminated by order of the FDIC dated 11-28-94; see ¶ 15,939.)

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   [.1] Management—Qualifications—Review
   [.2] Capital—Tier 1 Capital—Increase/Maintain—Methods
   [.3] Assets—Adversely Classified—Eliminate/Reduce
   [.4] Loans—Extensions of Credit—Existing Borrowers—Curtail
   [.5] Loan Policy—Written Revision—Minimum Requirements
   [.6] Loans—Concentration of Credit—Reduction Plan Required
   [.7] Loan Loss Reserve—Establish/Maintain
   [.8] Profit Plan—Minimum Requirements
   [.9] Violations of Law—Eliminate/Correct
   [.10] Funds Management and Liquidity—Written Policy Required
   [.11] Dividends—Restricted
   [.12] Ethics—Written Policy Required
   [.13] Shareholders—Disclosure—Cease and Desist Order

In the Matter of

CYPRESS COAST BANK
SEASIDE, CALIFORNIA
(Insured State Nonmember Bank)
ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST

   Cypress Coast Bank, Seaside, California ("Bank"), having been advised of its right to a Notice of Charges and of Hearing detailing the unsafe or unsound banking practices and violations of law and/or regulations alleged to have been committed by the Bank and of its right to a hearing on the alleged charges under section 8(b)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ("Act"), 12 U.S.C. § 1818(b)(1), and having waived those rights, entered into a STIPULATION AND CONSENT TO THE ISSUANCE OF AN ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST ("CONSENT AGREEMENT") with counsel for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"), dated July 24, 1991, whereby solely for the purpose of this proceeding and without admitting or denying the alleged charges of unsafe or unsound banking practices and violations of law and/or regulations, the Bank consented to the issuance of an ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST ("ORDER") by the FDIC.
   The FDIC considered the matter and determined that it had reason to believe that the Bank had engaged in unsafe or unsound banking practices and had committed violations of law and/or regulations. The FDIC, therefore, accepted the CONSENT AGREEMENT and issued the following:

ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST
   IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Bank, and any institution-affiliated party as such term is defined in section 3(u) of the Act. 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), cease and desist from the following unsafe or unsound banking practices and violations:
   (a) operating with inadequate management;
   (b) operating with inadequate equity capital and reserves in relation to the volume and quality and assets held by the Bank;
   (c) operating with a large volume of poor quality loans;
   (d) operating with an inadequate loan valuation reserve;
   (e) following hazardous lending practices;
   (f) operating with inadequate provisions for liquidity and funds management;
   (g) operating in such a manner as to produce operating losses; and
   (h) operating in violation of sections 215.4(a) and 215.4(b) of Regulation O of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 12 C.F.R. §§ 215.4 (a)(1), 215.4(a)(2) and 215.4(b)(1), made applicable to state nonmember institutions by section 18(j)(2) of the Act, 12 U.S.C. § 1828(j)(s), section 326.2 of the FDIC Rules and Regulations, 12 C.F.R. § 326.2, and sections 406 and 1221(a) of the California Financial Code, as more fully described on pages 6-a through 6-a-5 of the Report of Examination as of March 31, 1991.
   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Bank take affirmative action as follows:
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   [.1] 1. The Bank shall have and retain qualified management.
   (a) Each member of management shall have qualifications and experience commensurate with his or her duties and responsibilities at the Bank. At a minimum, management should include a chief executive officer with ability in managing a bank of comparable size and experience in upgrading a low quality loan portfolio. Management should also include a senior lending officer, who may also be the Bank's chief executive officer, with significant appropriate lending, collection, and loan supervision experience and experience in upgrading a low quality loan portfolio. Each member of management shall be provided appropriate written authority from the Bank's board of directors to implement the provisions of this ORDER.
   (b) The qualifications of management shall be assessed on its ability to:

       (i) comply with the requirements of this ORDER;
       (ii) operate the Bank in a safe and sound manner;
       (iii) comply with applicable laws and regulations; and
       (iv) restore all aspects of the Bank to a safe and sound condition, including asset quality, capital adequacy, earnings, management effectiveness, and liquidity.
   (c) During the life of this ORDER, the Bank shall notify the Regional Director of the FDIC's San Francisco Regional Office ("Regional Director") and the Honorable James E. Gilleran, Superintendent of Banks for the State of California ("Superintendent") in writing when it proposes to add any individual to the Bank's board of directors or employ any individual as a senior executive officer. The notification must be received at least 30 days before such addition or employment is intended to become effective and should include a description of the background and experience of the individual or individuals to be added or employed.
   (d) The Bank may not add any individual to its board of directors or employ any individual as a senior executive officer if the Regional Director issues a notice of disapproval pursuant to section 32 of the Act, 12 U.S.C. § 1831i.

   [.2] 2. (a) During the life of this ORDER, the Bank shall maintain Tier 1 capital in such an amount as to equal or exceed eight (8.0) percent of the Bank's adjusted Part 325 total assets.
   (b) Any increase in Tier 1 capital necessary to meet the requirements of Paragraph 2 of this ORDER may be accomplished by the following:

       (i) the same of common stock; or
       (ii) the sale of noncumulative perpetual preferred stock; or
       (iii) the direct contribution of cash by the board of directors and/or shareholders of the Bank; or
       (iv) the collection of assets previously charged off; or
       (v) the reduction of the "Loss" assets specified in Paragraph 3 of this ORDER without loss or liability to the Bank; or
       (vi) any other means acceptable to the Regional Director and the Superintendent; or
       (vii) any combination of the above means.
   (c) If all or part of the increase in Tier 1 capital required by Paragraph 2 of this ORDER is accomplished by the sale of new securities, the board of directors shall forthwith take all necessary steps to adopt and implement a plan for the sale of such additional securities, including the voting of any shares owned or proxies held or controlled by them in favor of the plan. Should the implementation of the plan involve a public distribution of the Bank's securities (including a distribution limited only to the Bank's existing shareholders), the Bank shall prepare offering materials fully describing the securities being offered, including an accurate description of the financial condition of the Bank and the circumstances giving rise to the offering, and any other material disclosures necessary to comply with the Federal securities laws. Prior to the implementation of the plan and, in any event, not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the dissemination of such materials, the plan and any materials used in the sale of the securities shall be submitted to the FDIC, Registration and Disclosure Section, Washington, {{9-30-91 p.C-1254}}D.C. 24029, for review. Any changes requested to be made in the plan or materials by the FDIC shall be made prior to their dissemination. If the increase in Tier 1 capital is provided by the sale of preferred stock, than all terms and conditions of the issue, including but not limited to those terms and conditions relative to interest rate and convertibility factor, shall be presented to the Regional Director and the Superintendent for prior approval.
   (d) In complying with the provisions of Paragraph 2 of this ORDER, the Bank shall provide to any subscriber and/or purchaser of the Bank's securities, a written notice of any planned or existing development or other changes which are materially different from the information reflected in any offering materials used in connection with the sale of Bank securities. The written notice required by this paragraph shall be furnished within ten (10) days from the date such material development or change was planned or occurred, whichever is earlier, and shall be furnished to every subscriber and/or purchaser of the Bank's securities who received or was tendered the information contained in the Bank's original offering materials.
   (e) For the purposes of this ORDER, the terms "Tier 1 capital" and "total assets" shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Part 325 of the FDIC Rules and Regulations, 12 C.F.R. §§ 325.2(m) and 325.2(n), as amended at 56 Fed. Reg. 10154, effective April 10, 1991.

   [.3] 3. (a) Within 10 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall eliminate from its books, by charge-off or collection, all assets classified "Loss" as of March 31, 1991, that have not been previously collected or charged off. Elimination of these assets through proceeds of other loans made by the Bank is not considered collection for the purpose of this paragraph.
   (b) Within 90 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall have reduced the assets classified "Substandard" as of March 31, 1991 that have not previously been charged off to not more than $1,500,000.
   (c) Within 180 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall have reduced the assets classified "Substandard" as of March 31, 1991 that have not previously been charged off to not more than $1,000,000.
   (d) Within 270 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall have reduced the assets classified "Substandard" as of March 31, 1991 that have not previously been charged off to not more than $500,000.
   (e) The requirements of subparagraphs 3(a), 3(b), 3(c) and 3(d) of this ORDER are not to be construed as standards for future operations and, in addition to the foregoing, the Bank shall eventually reduce the total of all adversely classified assets. Reduction of these assets through proceeds of other loans made by the Bank is not considered collection for the purpose of this paragraph. As used in sub-paragraphs 3(b), 3(c), 3(d) and 3(e) the word "reduce" means:

       (i) to collect;
       (ii) to charge-off; or
       (iii) to sufficiently improve the quality of assets adversely classified to warrant removing any adverse classification, as determined by the FDIC.
   [.4] 4. (a) Beginning with the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall not extend, directly or indirectly, any additional credit to, or for the benefit of, any borrower who has a loan or other extension of credit from the Bank that has been classified, in whole or part, "Substandard" without the prior approval of a majority of the board of directors or the loan committee of the Bank. The Bank may renew or extend the maturity of any credit in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement Number 15 ("FASB 15"), provided that such renewal or extension shall be made only with the prior approval of a majority of the board of directors or the loan committee of the Bank.
   (b) In connection with subparagraph 4(a) of this ORDER, the Bank shall not:
       (i) continue the accrual of interest on any loan which is delinquent in principal or interest payments ninety (90) days or more unless the asset is both well secured and in the process of collection; or
       (ii) engage in any practice or device which essentially avoids recognition of overdue loans and/or artificially inflates the income of the Bank. For any {{9-30-91 p.C-1255}}loans restructured in accordance with FASB 15, consideration should be given to the reasonableness of the modified terms of the loan, since loans should not be restructured in an attempt to conceal credit losses or delay their recognition.
   (c) For the purpose of subparagraph 4(b) of this ORDER, debt is "well secured" if it is secured by:
       (i) collateral in the form of liens on or pledges of real or realizable value sufficient to discharge the debt (including accrued interest) in full; or
       (ii) the guaranty of a financially responsible party.
   A debt is "in the process of collection" if collection of the debt is proceeding in due course either through legal action, including judgment enforcement procedures, or, in appropriate circumstances, through collection efforts not involving legal action which are reasonably expected to result in repayment of the debt or in its restoration to a current status.

   [.5] 5. (a) Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall revise, adopt, and implement written lending and collection policies to provide effective guidance and control over the Bank's lending function. In addition, the Bank shall obtain adequate and current documentation for all loans in the Bank's loan portfolio. Such policies and their implementation shall be in a form and manner acceptable to the Regional Director and the Superintendent as determined at subsequent examinations and/or visitations.
   (b) The Bank's loan policy and practices, required by this paragraph, at a minimum, shall include the following:

       (i) provisions, consistent with FDIC instructions for the preparation of Reports of Condition and Income, under which the accrual of interest income is discontinued and previously accrued interest is reversed on delinquent loans;
       (ii) provisions which prohibit the capitalization of interest or loans related expense unless the board of directors supports in writing and records in the minutes of the corresponding board of directors meeting why an exception thereto is in the best interests of the Bank;
       (iii) provisions which require complete loans documentation, realistic repayment terms and current credit information adequate to support the outstanding indebtedness of the borrower. Such documentation shall include current financial information, profit and loss statements or copies of tax returns and cash flow projections;
       (iv) provisions which incorporate limitations on the amount that can be loaned in relation to established collateral values;
       (v) provisions which specify the circumstances and conditions under which real estate appraisals must be conducted by an independent third party;
       (vi) provisions which establish standards for unsecured credit;
       (vii) provisions which establish officer lending limits;
       (viii) provisions that require extensions of credit to any of the Bank's executive officers, directors, or principal shareholders, or to any related interest of such persons, to be approved in advance by a majority of the entire board of directors in accordance with section 315.4(b) of Regulation O of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 12 C.F.R. § 215.4(b);
       (ix) provisions which prohibit the issuance of standby letters of credit unless the letters of credit are fully secured by readily marketable collateral and/or are supported by current and complete financial information;
       (x) provisions which prohibit concentrations of credit in excess of 25 percent of the Bank's total equity capital and reserves to any borrower and that borrower's related interests;
       (xi) provisions which require that preparation of a loan "watch list" which shall include relevant information on all loans in excess of $50,000 which are classified "Substandard" as of march 31, 1991 or by the FDIC or California State Banking Department in subsequent Reports of Examination and all other loans in excess of $50,000 which warrant individual review and consideration by the board of directors as de- {{9-30-91 p.C-1256}}termined by the loan committee or active management. The loan "watch list" shall be presented to the board of directors for review at least monthly with such review noted in the minutes; and
   (c) Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the board of directors shall adopt procedures whereby officer compliance with the revised loans policy is monitored and responsibility for exceptions thereto assigned. The procedures adopted shall be reflected in minutes of a board of directors meeting at which all members are present and the vote of each is noted.

   [.6] 6. Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall develop a written plan, approved by its board of directors and acceptable to the Regional Director and the Superintendent for systematically reducing the amount of loans or other extensions of credit advanced, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of, any borrowers in the "Richter Concentration" as listed on page 2-b in the Report of Examination as of March 31, 1991. No new loans or other extensions of credit shall be granted to or for the benefit of, any borrower in the "Richter Concentration" with the exception of loans or extensions of credit to individuals which are for first lien single family residential real estate financing or for household, family, or other consumer expenditures and which have received the prior written approval of the board of directors as reflected in its recorded minutes and are otherwise in conformance with all laws and regulations.

   [.7] 7. Within 10 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall establish and thereafter maintain an adequate reserve for loan losses. Such reserve shall be established by charges to current operating income, together with collection of assets previously charged off. In complying with the provisions of this paragraph, the board of directors shall review the adequacy of the Bank's reserve for loan losses prior to the end of each quarter. The minutes of the board of directors meeting at which such review is undertaken shall indicate the results of the review, the amount of any increase in the reserve, and the basis for determination of the amount of the reserve provided.

   [.8] 8. Within 90 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall formulate and implement a written profit plan. This plan shall be forwarded to the Regional Director and to the Superintendent for review and comment and shall address, as a minimum, the following:
   (a) goals and strategies for improving and sustaining the earnings of the Bank, including:

       (i) an identification of the major areas in, and means by which, the board of directors will seek to improve the Bank's operating performance;
       (ii) realistic and comprehensive budgets;
       (iii) a budget review process to monitor the income and expenses of the Bank to compare actual figures with budgetary projections; and
       (iv) a description of the operating assumptions that form the basis for, and adequately support, major projected income and expense components.
   (b) coordination of the Bank's loan, investment, and operating policies, and budget and profit planning, with the funds management policy.

   [.9] 9. Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall eliminate and/or correct all violations of law which are more fully set out on pages 6-a through 6-a-5 of the Report of Examination of the Bank as of March 31, 1991 provided, however, that:

       (i) compliance by the Bank with paragraph 3 of this ORDER with respect to the scheduled reduction of assets classified "Substandard" by the FDIC as of March 31, 1991 shall constitute compliance with this paragraph 9 to the extent that the extensions of credit by the Bank giving rise to said assets have been cited as violations of law by the FDIC; and
       (ii) compliance by the Bank with the written plan required by paragraph 6 of this ORDER shall constitute compliance with this paragraph 9 to the extent that the extensions of credit by the Bank advanced, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of any borrowers in the "Richter Concentration" as listed on page 2-b in the Report of Examination as of March 31, 1991 have been cited as violations of law by the FDIC.
   In addition, the Bank shall take all necessary steps to ensure future compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

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   [.11] 11. The Bank shall not pay cash dividends without the prior written consent of the Regional Director and the Superintendent.

   [.12] 12. Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall develop, adopt and implement a written ethics policy and procedure with regard to the ethical conduct and other standards of conduct and responsibilities for its directors, officers, employees, agents and other persons participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs. At a minimum, this policy and procedure shall address the financial interests and obligations of an individual which appear to be in conflict with that individual's duties and responsibilities including, but not limited to:
   (a) Participating in any manner in any transaction or extension of credit in which the individual, his spouse, child, partner, controlled organization, or other related interest is involved; or in any transaction with, or extension of credit to, an entity in which the individual serves as an officer, director, trustee, partner or employee, or has a financial interest; and
   (b) Receiving portions of the proceeds of extensions of credit made by the Bank to third parties.

   [.13] 13. Following the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall send to its shareholders or otherwise furnish a description of this ORDER in conjunction with the Bank's next shareholder communication and also in conjunction with its notice or proxy statement preceding the Bank's next shareholder meeting. The description shall fully describe the ORDER in all material respects. The description and any accompanying communication, statement, or notice shall be sent to the FDIC, Registration and Disclosure Section, Washington, D.C. 20429, at least fifteen (15) days prior to dissemination to shareholders. Any changes requested to be made by the FDIC shall be made prior to dissemination of the description, communication, notice, or statement.
   The provisions of this ORDER shall be binding upon the Bank, and any institution-affiliated party of the Bank.
   This ORDER shall become effective ten (10) days from the date of its issuance.
   The provisions of this ORDER shall remain effective and enforceable except to the extent that, and until such time as, any provisions of this ORDER shall have been modified, terminated, suspended, or set aside by the FDIC.
   Pursuant to delegated authority.
   Dated at San Francisco, California, this 29th day of July, 1991.

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