Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation

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   [¶10,407] In the Matter of American Interstate Bank, Newport Beach, California, Docket No. FDIC-91-402b (12-13-91).

   Bank to cease and desist from such unsafe or unsound practices as operating with inadequate management; operating with inadequate capital; operating with a large volume of adversely classified assets; operating without adequate reserve for loan losses; and operating in violation of applicable laws or regulations, including Regulation O. (This order was terminated by order of the FDIC dated 7-23-92; see ¶ 15,488.)

   [.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 Loss Reserve—Establish/Maintain
   [.6] Profit Plan—Minimum Requirements
   [.7] Compensation—Director's—Review Required
   [.8] Bank Operations—Travel Expenses—Policy Required
   [.9] Loans—Internal Review Procedure—"Watch List"
   [.10] Asset/Liability Management—Written Policy
   [.11] Loans—Concentrations of Credit—Reduction Plan
{{9-30-92 p.C-1774}}
   [.12] Violations of Law—Eliminate/Correct
   [.13] Dividends—Restricted
   [.14] Shareholders—Disclosure—Cease and Desist Order
   [.15] Compliance Reports—Frequency

In the Matter of

AMERICAN INTERSTATE BANK
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA
(Insured State Nonmember Bank)
ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST

   American Interstate Bank, Newport Beach, 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 December 11, 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:

   IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Bank, and any institution-affiliated party of the Bank 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 of assets held by the Bank;
   (c) operating with a large volume of poor quality loans;
   (d) operating with an inadequate loan valuation reserve;
   (e) operating in such a manner as to produce low earnings; and
   (f) operating in violation of section 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act, as amended, 12 U.S.C. § 375b, as more fully described on pages 6-a and 6-a-1 of the Report of Examination as of September 3, 1991; section 215.4(b), 215.4(d), and 215.7 of Regulation O of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 12 C.F.R. §§ 215.4(b), 215.4(d), and 215.7, made applicable to state nonmember institutions by section 18(j)(2) of the Act, 12 U.S.C. 1828(j)(2), as more fully described on pages 6-a and 6-a-1 of the Report of Examination as of September 3, 1991; and section 323 of the FDIC's Rules and Regulations, 12 C.F.R. § 323, as more fully described on page 6-a-1 of the Report of Examination as of September 3, 1991.

   [.1] 1. The Bank shall continue to 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. Management should include a chief executive officer with proven ability in managing a Bank of comparable size, and experience in upgrading a low quality loan portfolio, improving earnings, and other matters needing particular attention. Management should also include a senior lending 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:

{{2-29-92 p.C-1775}}(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.

   [.2] 2. (a) Within 180 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall increase Tier 1 capital by no less than $2,000,000, and shall have Tier 1 capital in such an amount as to equal or exceed seven (7.0) percent of the Bank's total assets. Thereafter, during the life of this ORDER, the Bank shall maintain Tier 1 capital in such an amount as to equal or exceed seven (7.0) percent of the Bank's total assets. The computation of the above shall be determined by using the procedures outlined in the "Analysis of Capital" schedule in the FDIC Report of Examination.
   (b) Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall develop and adopt a plan to meet the minimum risk-based capital requirements as described in the FDIC Statement of Policy on Risk-Based Capital contained in Appendix A to Part 325 of the FDIC Rules and Regulations, 12 C.F.R. Part 325, Appendix A. The Plan shall be in a form and manner acceptable to the Regional Director as determined at subsequent examinations.
   (c) 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 sale 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) any other means acceptable to the Regional Director and the Superintendent; or
   (v) any combination of the above means.

   [.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 September 3, 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 120 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall have reduced the assets classified "Substandard" as of September 3, 1991 that have not previously been charged off to not more than $5,200,000.
   (c) Within 240 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall have reduced the assets classified "Substandard" as of September 3, 1991 that have not previously been charged off to not more than $4,000,000.
   (d) Within 360 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall have reduced the assets classified "Substandard" as of September 3, 1991 that have not previously been charged off to not more than $3,000,000.
   (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 subparagraphs 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.

   [.5] 5. (a) Within 10 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall establish and thereafter maintain an adequate reserve for loan losses.
   (b) Additionally, within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the board of directors shall develop or revise, adopt and implement a comprehensive policy for determining the adequacy of the reserve for loan losses. For the purpose of this determination, the adequacy of the reserve shall be determined after the charge-off of all loans or other items classified "Loss." The policy shall provide for a review of the reserve at least once each calendar quarter. Said review should be completed in order that the findings of the board of directors with respect to the loan loss reserve may be properly re- {{2-29-92 p.C-1777}}ported in the quarterly Reports of Condition and Income. The review should focus on the results of the Bank's internal loan review, loan loss experience, trends of delinquent and non-accrual loans, an estimate of potential loss exposure of significant credits, concentrations of credit, and present and prospective economic conditions. A deficiency in the reserve shall be remedied in the calendar quarter it is discovered, prior to submitting the Report of Condition, by a charge to current operating earnings. The minutes of the board of directors meeting at which such review is undertaken shall indicate the results of the review. Upon completion of the review, the Bank shall increase and maintain its loan loss reserve consistent with the reserve for loan loss policy. Such policy and its implementation shall be satisfactory to the Regional Director and the Superintendent as determined at subsequent examinations and/or visitations.

   [.6] 6. (a) Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall formulate and fully implement a written profit plan and a comprehensive budget for all categories of income and expense. The plan and budget required by this paragraph shall include formal goals and strategies, consistent with sound banking practices, to improve the Bank's net interest margin, increase interest income, reduce discretionary expenses, and improve and sustain earnings of the Bank. The plan shall include a description of the operating assumptions that form the basis for and adequately support, major projected income and expense components. Thereafter, the Bank shall formulate such a plan and budget by November 30 of each subsequent year.
   (b) The plan and budget required by subparagraph 12(a) of this ORDER, shall be in a form and manner acceptable to the Regional Director and Superintendent as determined at subsequent examinations and/or visitations.
   (c) Following the end of each calendar quarter, the board of directors shall evaluate the Bank's actual performance in relation to the plan and budget required by subparagraph 11(a) of this ORDER and shall record the results of the evaluation, and any actions taken by the Bank, in the minutes of the board of directors meeting at which such evaluation is undertaken. Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall develop and adopt a plan to control overhead and other expenses and restore the Bank's profitability. The plan shall be in a form and manner acceptable to the Regional Director and the Superintendent as determined at subsequent examinations and or visitations.

   [.7] 7. (a) Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall review and study all fees, costs and expenses paid by the Bank to or on behalf of Director Franklyn D. Jeans and Director Jeans' spouse and children. The review shall include, but is not limited to, a comparison of the cost of the actual services provided by Director Jeans with a projection of the cost of comparable services if provided by an independent party.
   (b) Upon completion of the study required by subparagraph (a) above, the Bank shall provide substantiation satisfactory to the Regional Director for the payment of any and all fees, costs and expenses paid to or on behalf of Director Jeans and Director Jeans' spouse and children. If such documentation is not satisfactory to the Regional Director, the Bank shall obtain reimbursement from Director Jeans for such fees, costs and expenses as the Regional Director deems appropriate.

   [.8] 8. Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall adopt and implement a policy governing travel expenses. The policy shall include, at a minimum, provisions governing reimbursement of directors for travel, lodging and meal expenses, and provisions restricting expenses for retreats and conferences. The policy shall be in a form and manner acceptable to the Regional Director and the Superintendent as determined at subsequent examinations and/ or visitations.

   [.9] 9. Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall develop and adopt procedures to identify deficiencies in its loan portfolio. Such procedures shall include, at a minimum, the preparation of a loan "watch list" which shall include relevant information on all loans which are classified "Substandard" as of September 3, 1991 or by the FDIC or the State in subsequent Reports of Examination and all other loans which warrant individual review and
{{2-29-92 p.C-1778}}consideration by the board of directors as determined 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.

   [.10] 10. During the life of this ORDER, the Bank shall fully implement and adhere to its asset/liability management policy. Such implementation shall be reviewed at subsequent examinations and/or visitations.

   [.11] 11. Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall perform a risk segmentation analysis with respect to the Concentrations of Credit listed on page 2-d of the Report of Examination of the Bank as of September 3, 1991. Concentrations should be identified by product type, geographic distribution, underlying collateral or other asset groups which are considered economically related and in the aggregate represent a large portion of the Bank's capital account. A copy of this analysis will be provided to the Regional Director and the Superintendent and the board agrees to develop a plan to reduce any segment of the portfolio which the Regional Director and Superintendent deem to be an undue concentration of credit in relation to the Bank's capital account. The plan and its implementation shall be in a form and manner acceptable to the Regional Director and Superintendent as determined at subsequent examinations and/or visitations.

   [.12] 12. 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 and 6-a-1 of the Report of Examination of the Bank as of September 3, 1991. In addition, the Bank shall take all necessary steps to ensure future compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

   [.13] 13. The Bank shall not pay cash dividends in any amount except as follows:

   (a) such declarations and payments are made in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws and regulations;
   (b) that after payment of such dividends, the ratio of Tier 1 capital to total assets of the Bank will be not less than seven (7.0) percent;
   (c) that such declaration and payment of dividends shall be approved in advance by the board of directors; and
   (d) that such declaration and payment of dividends shall be approved in advance, in writing, by the Regional Director and the Superintendent, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

   [.15] 15. Within 45 days of the end of the first quarter following the effective date of this ORDER, and within 45 days of the end of each quarter thereafter, the Bank shall furnish written progress reports to the Regional Director and the Superintendent detailing the form and manner of any actions taken to secure compliance with this ORDER and the results thereof. Such reports shall include a copy of the Bank's Report of Condition and the Bank's Report of Income. Such reports may be discontinued when the corrections required by this ORDER have been accomplished and the Regional Director and the Superintendent have released the Bank in writing from making further reports.
   The provisions of this ORDER shall be binding upon 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), to include, its directors, officers, employees, agents, successors, assigns, and other persons participating in the conduct of the affairs 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.
   Dated at San Francisco, California, this 13th day of December, 1991.
   Pursuant to delegated authority.