FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
IN RE: Western Union Interim Corporation (In Organization) Englewood, Colorado
Applications for Consent to Merge and Relocate the Main Office
ORDER AND BASIS FOR CORPORATION APPROVAL
Pursuant to Section 18(c) and other provisions of the Federal Deposit
Insurance (FDI) Act, and application has been filed by Western Union Financial Services,
Inc.(WUFS) on behalf of its wholly-owned second tier subsidiary, Western Union Interim Corporation
(In Organization),both of Englewood, Colorado, for the Corporation's consent to merge with
and into Basin Industrial Bank. Cortez. Colorado, a state-chartered nonmember bank with
membership in the Bank Insurance Fund and with total resources of $7,311,000
and total deposits of $6,507,000 as of March 31. 1998. After the proposed merger is consummated, Basin
Industrial Bank, which will be the surviving institution. intends to relocate its main office
from 2 East Main Street, Cortez. Colorado. to 6200 South Quebec Street, Englewood, Colorado, and
to establish the Cortez facility as a branch. Notice of the proposed transaction, in a
form approved by the Corporation. has been published pursuant to the FDI Act.
Prior to consummation of the proposed merger, WUFS will acquire sole
ownership of The Basin Finance Company which presently owns 41 percent of
the stock of Basin Industrial Bank. Western Union Interim Corporation will
be formed as a subsidiary of The Basin Finance Company. The proposed
merger of Western Union Interim Corporation and Basin Industrial Bank will
result in WUFS's wholly-owned subsidiary. The Basin Finance Company,
acquiring 100 percent of the stock of Basin Industrial Bank.
WUFS is proposing to acquire Basin Industrial Bank in conjunction with
marketing a service known as "Benefits Quick Cash" (BQC) to
recipients of Federal benefit payments who do not currently have bank
accounts. Enrollees in the BQC program will have their Federal benefit
payments deposited, via electronic funds transfer. in Basin Industrial
Bank or any other insured financial institution chosen by the enrollee.
Those deposits, however, will be withdrawn from the pertinent insured
financial institution and transferred to WUFS on a daily basis.
Therefore, there will be no increase in the amount of deposits reported by
the insured financial institutions related to the BQC program. The BQC
program will be administered at the Englewood, Colorado. location while
the Cortez. Colorado, location will continue to house Basin Industrial
Bank's traditional retail operations. Since the BQC program is focused on
individuals who do not currently have bank accounts, the proposed merger
will not alter the competitive structure of commercial banking within the
relevant market.
A review of the available information, including the Community
Reinvestment Act (CRA) Statement of Basin Industrial Bank disclosed no
inconsistencies with the purposes of the CRA. The resultant institution is
expected to continue to meet the credit needs of its entire community,
consistent with the safe and sound operation of the institution.
In connection with the applications, the FDIC has also taken into
consideration the financial and managerial resources and future prospects
of the proponent institution and the resultant bank-, and the convenience
and needs of the community to be served. Having found favorably on these
statutory factors and having considered all other relevant information,
including any reports on the competitive factors furnished by the
Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, and the Attorney
General of the United States, it is the FDIC's judgment that the
applications should be and hereby are approved, subject to the following
conditions.
1. That Basin Industrial Bank and WUFS obtain the FDIC Division of
Supervision's Atlanta Regional Director's prior nonobjection to the advertising
materials and documents pertaining to accounts established at Basin Industrial Bank
pursuant to the RQC program when such materials and documents are issued or revised
during the period beginning on the date of this Order and ending upon
completion of the first full scope examination of Basin Industrial Bank commencing
after implementation of the Department of the Treasury's final regulations
regarding the electronic funds transfer of federal benefit payments to insured
financial institutions.
2. That the transaction shall not be consummated less than fifteen
calendar days after the date of this Order or later than six months after the date of this
Order. unless such period is extended for good cause by the Corporation, and
3. That until the proposed
transaction becomes effective, the Corporation shall have the right to alter. suspend, or withdraw its approval should any interim development be deemed to warrant such action.
This approval also serves as notice that the FDIC reserves the authority
at any time to evaluate the appropriateness of marketing disclosures
pertaining to accounts established at Basin Industrial Bank pursuant to
the BQC program by having its examiners or agents periodically, and, without identification as FDIC examiners or agents, solicit WUFS
toll-free customer service telephone line for information on the BQC program.
Pursuant to delegated authority.
Dated at Washington. D. C. this 7th day
of July. 1998.
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
By:
Mark S. Schmidt
Associate Director
Division of Supervision