Enter Search TextSubmitSearch Advanced Search     Home     Deposit Insurance     Consumer Protection     Industry Analysis     Regulations & Examinations     Asset Sales     News & Events     About FDIC

		Home > Industry Analysis > Failed Banks > Failed Bank List > Failed Bank Information – Question and Answer Guide

Question and Answer Guide Community Bank of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ FDIC Call Center Toll free number 1-800-913-3058 Hours of Operation – Mountain Time Friday, August 14, 2009:   Until 9:00 p.m. Saturday, August 15, 2009:   9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sunday, August 16, 2009:   Noon – 6:00 p.m. Thereafter:   8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. On August 14, 2009, Community Bank of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, was closed by the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was then named Receiver. Subsequent to the closure, MidFirst Bank, Oklahoma City, OK acquired substantially all the deposits and assets of Community Bank of Arizona from the FDIC as Receiver for Community Bank of Arizona. Any claims by equity holders were not acquired. Share price does not trigger a bank closing and was not the reason for Community Bank of Arizona’s failure. The total balance in your account(s) has been transferred to MidFirst Bank and will be available for transactions during regular business hours at the former Community Bank of Arizona branches starting on Monday, August 17, 2009. You may continue to use your same checks, ATM cards and debit cards until notified. All Direct Deposits, including Social Security checks, will continue as usual.

Account(s): What about my account with Community Bank of Arizona?

If you had an account with Community Bank of Arizona, you now have an account with MidFirst Bank, Oklahoma City, OK. All deposit accounts, which include checking, savings, money market, CDs and retirement accounts, have been transferred to MidFirst Bank, regardless of the dollar amount. No one lost any money on deposit in Community Bank of Arizona.

Customers of both banks should continue to use their existing branches until MidFirst Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of Community Bank of Arizona.

To forewarn you of any scams, please be advised that you will not receive any e-mail notification from the FDIC, the Receiver, or MidFirst Bank to claim/unlock/unsuspend your account or to provide any private information. Please be watchful for and resist any such scams to obtain information from you by individuals or entities purporting to act on behalf of Community Bank of Arizona.

ATM/debit card and/or Billpay: What about my ATM/debit card and/or bill paying with Community Bank of Arizona?

Your ATM/debit card will continue to work, and bill paying will work as it has in the past.

Brokered Deposits: I am a deposit broker or have brokered deposits. What do I do?

As an All-Deposit Transfer transaction, the total of all deposit accounts, excluding the Cede & Co brokered deposits, have been assumed by MidFirst Bank. The FDIC retained the Cede & Co brokered deposits and will pay those accounts off directly.

Be advised, however, that from and after the date of closing, MidFirst Bank will accrue and pay interest on deposit liabilities at a rate it shall determine; accordingly, MidFirst Bank shall permit depositors, including brokered depositors, impacted by reduced rates to withdraw their deposits without penalty for early withdrawal.

If you are a customer who has a Community Bank of Arizona deposit through a broker, you must contact your broker with any questions.

Direct Deposits - Government Deposits: What will happen to my direct deposits?

Direct Deposits, including Social Security checks, will continue as normal.

Existing Deposits at MidFirst Bank: I already have other deposit accounts with the new bank.  When combined with balances at this bank, my deposits exceed $250,000.  Are all funds insured?

The accounts transferred to MidFirst Bank will be separately insured for at least six months after the merger.  This grace period gives a depositor the opportunity to restructure the accounts, if necessary.

CDs from the failed bank are separately insured until the earliest maturity date after the end of the six-month grace period.

CDs that mature during the six-month period and are renewed for the same term and in the same dollar amount (either with or without accrued interest) continue to be separately insured until the first maturity date after the six-month period.

If a CD matures during the six-month grace period and is renewed on any other basis, it would be separately insured only until the end of the six-month grace period.

Interest Rates, Early Withdrawal Penalty: Will I continue to earn interest at the same rate?  Will I be charged an early withdrawal penalty?

All interest on insured deposits accrued through Friday, August 14, 2009, will be paid at your same rate. MidFirst Bank will review rates and notify you if interest rates will change.

You may withdraw funds from any transferred account without an early withdrawal penalty until you enter into a new deposit agreement with your new bank.  Entering into a new deposit agreement can be done by either renewing your CD or making a deposit to, or a withdrawal from, your account.

Loans/mortgages: What about my loan or mortgage with Community Bank of Arizona?

All mortgages and loans, except participation loans acquired from Community Bank of Nevada, have been assumed by MidFirst Bank.  Your payment amount and due date are the same.  If you are having your payment deducted from your account, it will continue as it has in the past.  You should continue to make your checks payable to Community Bank of Arizona and send your payments to the same address.

Loans in Process: What happens if I had a loan in process that had not closed or a line of credit not fully funded?

You should contact your loan officer.  All prior contacts remain the same.

Media: I represent a TV/Newspaper/Radio and would like some information.

Please contact the Office of Public Affairs:

Outstanding Checks: What about checks that I have written on my account with Community Bank of Arizona?

Your checks will clear up to the available balance in your account.  You can continue to use your existing checks.

Safe Deposit Boxes: How can I claim the contents of my safe deposit box?

It is business as usual.  You can go to your local branch and access your safe deposit box; however, no action on your part is required because of this transaction.

Shareholders: What about my shares of stock?

All shares of Community Bank of Arizona were owned by its holding company, Community Bancorp, Las Vegas, NV. The holding company was not included in the closing of the bank or the resulting receivership. If you are a shareholder of Community Bancorp, please do not contact or file a claim with the Receiver. You may contact Community Bancorp directly for information as follows:

Back to top

Transaction Types: Why do all deposits, insured or not, pass in some transactions but not in others?

The FDIC is required by law to employ the least-cost resolution measure for each failed financial institution.  The most frequent result is for the FDIC to transfer only the insured deposits in a merger transaction.  The FDIC has been able to transfer all deposits in about 25% of the failures over the past 15 years.

Back to top

Unpaid Bills: I did some work for the bank and have not been paid. What should I do?

All claims against Community Bank of Arizona, together with proof of the claims, must be submitted in writing to the Receiver at the following address:

FDIC as Receiver for Community Bank of Arizona 40 Pacifica, Suite 1000 Irvine, CA 92618 Attention: Claims Agent

Back to top

Last Updated 08/14/2009

cservicefdicdal@fdic.gov

Home    Contact Us    Search    Help    SiteMap    Forms Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Service Center    Website Policies    USA.gov

FDIC Office of Inspector General    FDIC Open Government Webpage