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FDIC Enforcement Decisions and Orders

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{{10-31-94 p.C-2723}}
   [10,646] In the Matter of Bank of San Pedro, San Pedro, California, Docket No. FDIC-92-288b (9-25-92).

   Bank to cease and desist from such unsafe or unsound practices as operating with management deficiencies; operating with inadequate capital; operating with an excessive level of poor quality assets; operating with inadequate capital; operating with inadequate allowance for loan and lease losses; following unsatisfactory lending and collection practices; operating with inadequate liquidity and funds management; operating without proper internal routine and controls; operating in such a manner as to produce operating losses; and operating in violation of applicable laws and regulations. (This order was terminated by order of the FDIC dated 8-5-94; see ¶ 15,897.)

   [.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] Bank Operations—Overhead Expenses
   [.7] Violations of Law—Eliminate/Correct
   [.8] Asset/Liability Management—Written Policy—Minimum Requirements
   [.9] Bank Operations—Internal Routine and Controls—Written Policy Required
   [.10] Reports of Condition and Income—Amendment Required
   [.11] Dividends—Restricted
   [.12] Shareholders—Disclosure—Cease and Desist Order
   [.13] Real Estate Activities—Compliance with State Law Required

In the Matter of

BANK OF SAN PEDRO
SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA
(Insured State Nonmember Bank)
ORDER TO
CEASE AND DESIST

FDIC-92-288b

   Bank of San Pedro, San Pedro, California ("Bank"), having been advised of its right {{10-31-94 p.C-2724}}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 September 17, 1992, 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 management deficiencies;
   (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, real estate investments, other real estate, and other assets;
   (d) operating with an inadequate loan valuation reserve;
   (e) following unsatisfactory lending and collection practices;
   (f) operating with inadequate provisions for liquidity and funds management;
   (g) operating with inadequate routine and controls policies;
   (h) operating in such a manner as to produce operating losses; and
   (i) operating in violation of Sections 325.3(a) and 350.3(b) of the FDIC Rules and Regulations, 12 C.F.R. §§ 325.3(a) and 350.3(b), as more fully described on Pages 6-b and 6-b-1 of the Report of Examination as of March 2, 1992.
   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Bank take affirmative action as follows:

   [.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. 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:

       (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 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 {{11-30-92 p.C-2725}}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) By June 30, 1993, the Bank shall increase Tier 1 capital by no less than $5,000,000 (above the adjusted Tier 1 capital of $4,652,000 as set forth on Page 3 of the Report of Examination of the Bank as of March 2, 1992), and shall have Tier 1 capital in such an amount as to equal or exceed six and one-quarter (6.25) 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 six and one-quarter (6.25) percent of the Bank's total assets.
   (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) The level of Tier 1 capital to be maintained during the life of this ORDER pursuant to Subparagraph 2(a) shall be in addition to a fully funded loan loss reserve, the adequacy of which shall be satisfactory to the Regional Director and Superintendent as determined at subsequent examinations and/or visitations.
   (d) 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, shareholders, and/or parent holding company; or
       (iv) any other means acceptable to the Regional Director and the Superintendent; or
       (v) any combination of the above means.
Any increases in Tier 1 capital necessary to meet the requirements of Paragraph 2 of this ORDER may not be accomplished through a deduction from the Bank's loan loss reserves, such that said reserves thereby become underfunded.
   (e) 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, D.C. 20429, 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 non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, then 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.
   (f) In complying with the provisions of Paragraph 2 of this ORDER during the pendency of any public offering, 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 mate- {{11-30-92 p.C-2726}}rially 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 in compliance with applicable securities laws and as soon as practicable after 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.
   (g) 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" and one-half of the assets classified "Doubtful" as of March 2, 1992, 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" and those assets classified "Doubtful" as of March 2, 1992 that have not previously been charged off to not more than $20,000,000.
   (c) Within 240 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall have reduced the assets classified "Substandard" and those assets classified "Doubtful" as of March 2, 1992 that have not previously been charged off to not more than $17,600,000.
   (d) Within 360 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall have reduced the assets classified "Substandard" and those assets classified "Doubtful" as of March 2, 1992 that have not previously been charged off to not more than $14,800,000.
   (e) Within 540 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall have reduced the assets classified "Substandard" and those assets classified "Doubtful" as of March 2, 1992 that have not previously been charged off to not more than 90% of Tier 1 capital.
   (f) The requirements of Subparagraphs 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 3(d), and 3(e) 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), 3(e), and 3(f) 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 extensions of credit from the Bank that has been charged off or classified, in whole or in part, "Loss" by the FDIC and is uncollected. Subparagraph 4(a) of this ORDER shall not prohibit the Bank from renewing or extending the maturity of any credit in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement Number 15 ("FASB 15").
   (b) 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" or "Doubtful" by the FDIC without the prior approval of a majority of the Board of Directors or the loan committee of the Bank. Subparagraph 4(b) of this ORDER shall not prohibit the Bank from renewing or extending the maturity of any credit in accordance with FASB 15, providing 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.
   (c) In connection with Subparagraph 4(a) and 4(b) of this ORDER, the Bank shall not:
{{11-30-92 p.C-2727}}
       (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 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.
   (d) For the purpose of Subparagraph 4(c) 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. Within 30 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall establish and thereafter maintain an adequate reserve for loan losses.
   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 at least ten (10) days prior to the end of each quarter, in order that the findings of the Board of Directors with respect to the loan loss reserve may be properly reported 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 loss reserve consistent with the loan loss reserve policy established. Such policy shall be submitted to the Regional Director and the Superintendent for review as to form and acceptability and its implementation shall be satisfactory to the Regional Director and Superintendent as determined at subsequent examinations and/or visitations.

   [.6] 6. 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 submitted to the Regional Director and Superintendent for review as to form and acceptability and its implementation shall be satisfactory 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 eliminate and/or correct the violation of law pertaining to Part 350.3(b) of the FDIC Rules and Regulations which is more fully set out on Page 6-b-1 of the Report of Examination of the Bank as of March 2, 1992, and the Bank shall take all necessary steps to ensure future compliance with all applicable laws and regulations; and
       (b) By June 30, 1993, the Bank shall eliminate and/or correct the violation of law pertaining to Part 325.3 of the FDIC Rules and Regulations which is more fully set out on Page 6-b of the Report of Examination of the Bank as of March 2, 1992, and the Bank shall take all necessary steps to ensure future compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

   [.8] 8. Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the board of directors {{11-30-92 p.C-2728}}shall revise, adopt, and implement a comprehensive asset/liability management policy. The policy shall establish standards consistent with generally accepted prudent banking operations by giving specific consideration to:
       (i) establishing a range of the Bank's volatile liability dependency ratio, as computed by the FDIC in its Reports of Examination, and which ratio shall, within 180 days from the effective date of this ORDER, be reduced to not more than seventeen (17.0) percent. The requirements of this Paragraph shall not be construed as standards for future operations, and the Bank's volatile liability dependency ratio shall be maintained at a level consistent with prudent banking practices;
       (ii) establishing a definition of volatile liabilities to include time deposits in denominations of $90,000 or more;
       (iii) establishing a range for short-term investments to potentially volatile liabilities, as those terms are defined by the FDIC in its current edition of "A Users Guide for the Uniform Bank Performance Report";
       (iv) establishing maturity ranges for the Bank's investment portfolio;
       (v) establishing acceptable ranges for the Bank's rate sensitivity and gap ratios; and
       (vi) the establishing of an asset/ liability committee, including a description of its responsibilities, how often it will meet, how it will obtain information and guidance from the board of directors, and how its activities will be reported to the Board of Directors.
   Such policy shall be submitted to the Regional Director and Superintendent for review as to form and acceptability and its implementation shall be satisfactory to the Regional Director and Superintendent as determined at subsequent examinations and/or visitations.

   [.9] 9. Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall adopt and implement a policy for the operation of the Bank in such a manner as to provide adequate internal routine and control policies consistent with safe and sound banking practices. Such policy shall be submitted to the Regional Director and the Superintendent for review as to form and acceptability and its implementation shall be satisfactory to the Regional Director and Superintendent as determined at subsequent examinations and/or visitations.

   [.10] 10. Within 30 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall file with the FDIC amended Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income which shall accurately reflect the financial condition of the Bank as of December 31, 1991 to correct inaccuracies reflected on Page 1-a-4 of the Report of Examination of the Bank as of March 2, 1992; and as of March 31, 1992 to correct inaccuracies reflected on Page 4-a-2 of the Report of Examination of the Bank as of March 2, 1992. Thereafter, during the life of this ORDER, the Bank shall file with the FDIC Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income which accurately reflect the financial condition of the Bank as of the end of the period for which the Reports are filed, including any adjustment in the Bank's books made necessary or appropriate as a consequence of any final California State Banking Department or FDIC examination report that has been received by the Bank during that reporting period.

   [.11] 11. 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 six and one-quarter (6.25) percent and the reserve for loan losses shall be at an adequate level;
       (c) that such declaration and payment of dividends shall be approved in advance by the Board of Directors;
       (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; and
       (e) that any written request by the Bank for approval to pay such dividends shall be acted upon by the Regional Director within 30 days of receipt thereof.

   [.12] 12. 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 {{4-30-95 p.C-2729}}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.

   [.13] 13. During the life of this ORDER, the Bank shall furnish to the Regional Director a copy of any application to the Superintendent filed pursuant to Section 751.3 of the California Financial Code, Cal. Fin. Code § 751.3 (West 1989), to engage in real estate activities. This copy of such application shall be furnished to the Regional Director on or before the date of its filing with the Superintendent. In no event shall the Bank engage in real estate activities which are the subject of any such application filed pursuant to Section 751.3 of the California Financial Code without the prior written consent of the Regional Director.
   14. Within 30 days of the end of the first quarter following the effective date of this ORDER, and within thirty (30) 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, 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 25th day of September, 1992.
   Pursuant to delegated authority.

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