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2003 Annual Report |
III. Financial Statements and Notes - Savings Association and Insurance Fund (SAIF)
Notes to the Financial Statements December 31, 2003 and 2002 1. Operations of the Savings Association Insurance Fund
Overview The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is the independent deposit insurance agency created by Congress in 1933 to maintain stability and public confidence in the nation's banking system. Provisions that govern the operations of the FDIC are generally found in the Federal Deposit Insurance (FDI) Act, as amended, (12 U.S.C. 1811, et seq). In carrying out the purposes of the FDI Act, as amended, the FDIC insures the deposits of banks and savings associations, and in cooperation with other federal and state agencies promotes the safety and soundness of insured depository institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to the deposit insurance funds established in the FDI Act, as amended. FDIC is the administrator of the Savings Association Insurance Fund (SAIF), the Bank Insurance Fund (BIF), and the FSLIC Resolution Fund (FRF), which are maintained separately to carry out their respective mandates. The SAIF and the BIF are insurance funds responsible for protecting insured thrift and bank depositors from loss due to institution failures. These insurance funds must be maintained at not less than 1.25 percent of estimated insured deposits or a higher percentage as circumstances warrant. The FRF is a resolution fund responsible for the sale of remaining assets and satisfaction of liabilities associated with the former Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC) and the Resolution Trust Corporation.
An active institution's insurance fund membership and primary federal supervisor are generally determined by the institution's charter type. Deposits of SAIF-member institutions are generally insured by the SAIF; SAIF members are predominantly thrifts supervised by the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS). Deposits of BIF-member institutions are generally insured by the BIF; BIF members are predominantly commercial and savings banks supervised by the FDIC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, or the Federal Reserve Board. In addition to traditional thrifts and banks, several other categories of institutions exist. A member of one insurance fund may, with the approval of its primary federal supervisor, merge, consolidate with, or acquire the deposit liabilities of an institution that is a member of the other insurance fund without changing insurance fund status for the acquired deposits. These institutions with deposits insured by both insurance funds are referred to as Oakar financial institutions. In addition, SAIF-member thrifts can convert to a bank charter and retain their SAIF membership. These institutions are referred to as Sasser financial institutions. Likewise, BIF-member banks can convert to a thrift charter and retain their BIF membership.
Operations of the SAIF
The primary purpose of the SAIF is to: 1) insure the deposits and protect the depositors of SAIF-insured institutions and 2) resolve SAIF-insured failed institutions upon appointment of FDIC as receiver in a manner that will result in the least possible cost to the SAIF.
The SAIF is primarily funded from: 1) interest earned on investments in U.S. Treasury obligations and 2) deposit insurance assessments. Additional funding sources are borrowings from the U.S. Treasury, the Federal Financing Bank (FFB), and the Federal Home Loan Banks, if necessary. The FDIC has borrowing authority from the U.S. Treasury up to $30 billion for insurance purposes on behalf of the SAIF and the BIF. A statutory formula, known as the Maximum Obligation Limitation (MOL), limits the amount of obligations the SAIF can incur to the sum of its cash, 90% of the fair market value of other assets, and the amount authorized to be borrowed from the U.S. Treasury. The MOL for the SAIF was $20.3 billion and $19.9 billion as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Receivership Operations
The FDIC is responsible for managing and disposing of the assets of failed institutions in an orderly and efficient manner. The assets held by receivership entities, and the claims against them, are accounted for separately from SAIF assets and liabilities to ensure that receivership proceeds are distributed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Also, the income and expenses attributable to receiverships are accounted for as transactions of those receiverships. Receiverships are billed by the FDIC for services provided on their behalf.
Recent Legislative Initiatives
In April 2001, FDIC issued recommendations for deposit insurance reform. The FDIC recommendations included merging SAIF and BIF and improving FDIC's ability to manage the merged fund by permitting the FDIC Board of Directors to price insurance premiums properly to reflect risk, to set the reserve ratio in a range around 1.25 percent, establish a system for providing credits, rebates and surcharges, and to eliminate the SAIF exit fee reserve. FDIC also recommended that Congress consider indexing deposit insurance coverage for inflation. During the 107th Congress (2001-2002), hearings were held in the House and Senate and legislation was introduced containing major elements of FDIC's deposit insurance reform proposals. The legislation was not enacted prior to congressional adjournment. During the 108th Congress (2003 - 2004), the House and Senate are again considering deposit insurance reform legislation. If Congress enacts deposit insurance reform legislation that contains the above recommendations, the new law would have a significant impact on the SAIF and BIF. FDIC management, however, cannot predict which provisions, if any, will ultimately be enacted. 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
General
These financial statements pertain to the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the SAIF and are presented in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These statements do not include reporting for assets and liabilities of closed thrift institutions for which the FDIC acts as receiver. Periodic and final accountability reports of the FDIC's activities as receiver are furnished to courts, supervisory authorities, and others as required.
Use of Estimates
Management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Where it is reasonably possible that changes in estimates will cause a material change in the financial statements in the near term, the nature and extent of such changes in estimates have been disclosed. The more significant estimates include allowance for loss on receivables from thrift resolutions, the estimated losses for anticipated failures and litigation, and the postretirement benefit obligation.
Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Cash equivalents consist primarily of Special U.S. Treasury Certificates.
Investment in U.S. Treasury Obligations
SAIF funds are required to be invested in obligations of the United States or in obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States; the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury must approve all such investments in excess of $100,000. The Secretary has granted approval to invest SAIF funds only in U.S. Treasury obligations that are purchased or sold exclusively through the Bureau of the Public Debt's Government Account Series (GAS) program.
SAIF's investments in U.S. Treasury obligations are either classified as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale. Securities designated as held-to-maturity are shown at amortized cost. Amortized cost is the face value of securities plus the unamortized premium or less the unamortized discount. Amortizations are computed on a daily basis from the date of acquisition to the date of maturity, except for callable U.S. Treasury securities, which are amortized to the first anticipated call date. Securities designated as available-for-sale are shown at market value, which approximates fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are included in Comprehensive Income. Realized gains and losses are included in the Statements of Income and Fund Balance as components of Net Income. Interest on both types of securities is calculated on a daily basis and recorded monthly using the effective interest method.
Cost Allocations Among Funds
Operating expenses not directly charged to the SAIF, the BIF, and the FRF are allocated to all funds using workload-based allocation percentages. These percentages are developed during the annual corporate planning process and through supplemental functional analyses.
Related Parties
The nature of related parties and a description of related party transactions are discussed in Note 1 and disclosed throughout the financial statements and footnotes.
Reclassifications
Reclassifications have been made in the 2002 financial statements to conform to the presentation used in 2003.
3. Cash and Other Assets: Restricted for SAIF-Member Exit Fees
The FDIC and the Secretary of the Treasury will determine when it is no longer necessary to escrow such funds for the payment of interest on obligations previously issued by the FICO. These escrowed exit fees are invested in U.S. Treasury securities pending determination of ownership. The interest earned is also held in escrow. There were no conversion transactions during 2003 and 2002 that resulted in an entrance/exit fee to the SAIF.
As of December 31, 2003 and 2002, the unamortized premium, net of the unamortized discount, was $2.5 million and $3.4 million, respectively.
4. Investment in U.S. Treasury Obligations, Net
As of December 31, 2003 and 2002, the unamortized premium, net of the unamortized discount, was $317.5 million and $160.4 million, respectively.
5. Receivables From Thrift Resolutions, Net
At December 31, 2003, about 99% of the SAIF's $273 million net receivable will be repaid from assets related to the Superior receivership (which failed in July 2001), primarily, cash, investments, and a promissory note arising from a settlement with the owners of the failed institution. The credit risk related to the promissory note is limited since half of the outstanding note is secured by a letter of credit and the remaining half is subject to the creditworthiness of the payor of the note. Annual monitoring of the creditworthiness of the payor is performed and currently indicates a low risk of non-performance.
6. Contingent Liabilities for:
The SAIF records a contingent liability and a loss provision for thrifts (including Oakar and Sasser financial institutions) that are likely to fail within one year of the reporting date, absent some favorable event such as obtaining additional capital or merging, when the liability becomes probable and reasonably estimable.
The contingent liability is derived by applying expected failure rates and historical loss rates to groups of institutions with certain shared characteristics. In addition, institution-specific analysis is performed on those thrifts where failure is imminent absent institution management resolution of existing problems. As of December 31, 2003 and 2002, the contingent liabilities for anticipated failure of insured institutions were $3 million and $90 million, respectively. In addition to these recorded contingent liabilities, the FDIC has identified additional risk in the financial services industry that could result in a material loss to the SAIF should potentially vulnerable financial institutions ultimately fail. This risk is evidenced by the level of problem thrift assets and the presence of various high-risk banking business models that are particularly vulnerable to adverse economic and market conditions. Due to the uncertainty surrounding future economic and market conditions, there are other thrifts for which the risk of failure is less certain, but still considered reasonably possible. As a result of these risks, the FDIC believes that it is reasonably possible that the SAIF could incur additional estimated losses up to $143 million. The accuracy of these estimates will largely depend on future economic and market conditions. The FDIC's Board of Directors has the statutory authority to consider the contingent liability from anticipated failures of insured institutions when setting assessment rates.
Litigation Losses
The SAIF records an estimated loss for unresolved legal cases to the extent those losses are considered probable and reasonably estimable. In addition to the amount recorded as probable, the FDIC has determined that losses from unresolved legal cases totaling $53.4 million are reasonably possible.
Other Contingencies
Representations and Warranties As part of the FDIC's efforts to maximize the return from the sale of assets from thrift resolutions, representations and warranties, and guarantees were offered on certain loan sales. In general, the guarantees, representations, and warranties on loans sold relate to the completeness and accuracy of loan documentation, the quality of the underwriting standards used, the accuracy of the delinquency status when sold, and the conformity of the loans with characteristics of the pool in which they were sold. The total amount of loans sold subject to unexpired representations and warranties, and guarantees was $5.2 billion as of December 31, 2003. SAIF did not establish a liability for all outstanding claims asserted in connection with representations and warranties because the receiverships have sufficient funds to pay for such claims. In addition, future losses on representations and warranties, and guarantees could be incurred over the remaining life of the loans sold, which is generally 20 years or more. Consequently, the FDIC believes it is possible that additional losses may be incurred by the SAIF from the universe of outstanding contracts with unasserted representation and warranty claims. However, because of the uncertainties surrounding the timing of when claims may be asserted, the FDIC is unable to reasonably estimate a range of loss to the SAIF from outstanding contracts with unasserted representation and warranty claims.
7. Assessments
The FDIC is required to maintain the insurance funds at a designated reserve ratio (DRR) of not less than 1.25 percent of estimated insured deposits (or a higher percentage as circumstances warrant). If the reserve ratio falls below the DRR, the FDIC is required to set semiannual assessment rates that are sufficient to increase the reserve ratio to the DRR not later than one year after such rates are set, or in accordance with a recapitalization schedule of fifteen years or less. As of September 30, 2003, the SAIF reserve ratio was 1.40 percent of estimated insured deposits. Assessments are also levied on institutions for payments of the interest on obligations issued by the Financing Corporation (FICO). The FICO was established as a mixed-ownership government corporation to function solely as a financing vehicle for the FSLIC. The annual FICO interest obligation of approximately $790 million is paid on a pro rata basis using the same rate for banks and thrifts. The FICO assessment has no financial impact on the SAIF and is separate from the regular assessments. The FDIC, as administrator of the SAIF and the BIF, acts solely as a collection agent for the FICO. During 2003 and 2002, $162 million and $161 million, respectively, were collected from SAIF-member institutions and remitted to the FICO. Operating expenses totaled $130 million for 2003 compared to $124 million for 2002. Salaries and benefits expenses are lower due to the workforce reduction programs in 2002. The chart below lists the major components of operating expenses.
During 2002, the FDIC offered voluntary employee buyout incentives to a majority of its employees and conducted a reduction-in-force (RIF) in 2002 and 2003 in an effort to reduce identified staffing excesses and skill imbalances. As a result, approximately 750 employees left by December 31, 2003. Termination benefits included compensation of fifty percent of the employee's current base salary and locality adjustment for voluntary departures. The total cost of this buyout was $33.1 million for 2002, with SAIF's pro rata share totaling $4.2 million, which is included in the "Salaries and benefits" category in the chart below, as well as the "Separation Incentive Payment" line item in Note 10.
9. Provision for Insurance Losses Provision for insurance losses was a negative $82 million for 2003 and a negative $156 million for 2002. In both 2003 and 2002, the negative provision was primarily due to lower estimated losses for anticipated failures which resulted from the improved financial condition of a few large thrifts. The following chart lists the major components of the provision for insurance losses.
Pension Benefits, Savings Plans and Postemployment Benefits
Eligible FDIC employees (permanent and term employees with appointments exceeding one year) are covered by the federal government retirement plans, either the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Although the SAIF contributes a portion of pension benefits for eligible employees, it does not account for the assets of either retirement system. The SAIF also does not have actuarial data for accumulated plan benefits or the unfunded liability relative to eligible employees. These amounts are reported on and accounted for by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Eligible FDIC employees also may participate in a FDIC-sponsored tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan with matching contributions up to five percent. The SAIF pays its share of the employer's portion of all related costs.
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions
The FDIC provides certain life and dental insurance coverage for its eligible retirees, the retirees' beneficiaries, and covered dependents. Retirees eligible for life insurance coverage are those who have qualified due to: 1) immediate enrollment upon appointment or five years of participation in the plan and 2) eligibility for an immediate annuity. The life insurance program provides basic coverage at no cost to retirees and allows converting optional coverages to direct-pay plans. Dental coverage is provided to all retirees eligible for an immediate annuity.
Prior to 2003, the SAIF funded its liability for postretirement benefits other than pensions directly to a separate entity, which was established to restrict the funds and to provide for the accounting and administration of these benefits. As of January 1, 2003, the FDIC changed its funding policy for these benefits and eliminated the separate entity in order to simplify the investment, accounting, and reporting for the obligation. The change does not impact any benefit entitlements to employees and retirees or the accrual of this liability pursuant to the provisions of SFAS No. 106. The SAIF received $14 million, of the total $103 million, as its proportionate share of the plan assets and recognized a liability of $14 million, of the total $104 million, in the "Accounts payable and other liabilities" line item on its Balance Sheets. The net cumulative effect of this accounting change for the periods prior to 2003 was a negative $43 thousand which is included in the "Insurance and other expenses" line item on the SAIF's Statements of Income and Fund Balance. In addition to the cumulative effect, the SAIF's expense for such benefits in 2003 was $1 million, which is included in the current year operating expenses. In the absence of the accounting change, the SAIF would have recognized an expense of $925 thousand. At December 31, 2003 and 2002, the SAIF's net postretirement benefit liability recognized in the "Accounts payable and other liabilities" line item in the Balance Sheet was $15 million and $145 thousand, respectively. Key actuarial assumptions used in the accounting for the plan include the discount rate, the rate of compensation increase, and the dental coverage trend rate. 11. Commitments and Off-Balance-Sheet Exposure
Commitments:
Leased Space
Off-Balance-Sheet Exposure:
Deposit Insurance As of September 30, 2003, deposits insured by the SAIF totaled approximately $868 billion. This would be the accounting loss if all depository institutions were to fail and the acquired assets provided no recoveries. 12. Disclosures About the Fair Value of Financial Instruments Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments and are shown at current value. The fair market value of the investment in U.S. Treasury obligations is disclosed in Note 3 and 4 and is based on current market prices. The carrying amount of interest receivable on investments, short-term receivables, and accounts payable and other liabilities approximates their fair market value, due to their short maturities and/or comparability with current interest rates. The net receivables from thrift resolutions primarily include the SAIF's subrogated claim arising from payments to insured depositors. The receivership assets that will ultimately be used to pay the corporate subrogated claim are valued using discount rates that include consideration of market risk. These discounts ultimately affect the SAIF's allowance for loss against the net receivables from thrift resolutions. Therefore, the corporate subrogated claim indirectly includes the effect of discounting and should not be viewed as being stated in terms of nominal cash flows. Although the value of the corporate subrogated claim is influenced by valuation of receivership assets (see Note 5), such receivership valuation is not equivalent to the valuation of the corporate claim. Since the corporate claim is unique, not intended for sale to the private sector, and has no established market, it is not practicable to estimate its fair market value. The FDIC believes that a sale to the private sector of the corporate claim would require indeterminate, but substantial, discounts for an interested party to profit from these assets because of credit and other risks. In addition, the timing of receivership payments to the SAIF on the subrogated claim does not necessarily correspond with the timing of collections on receivership assets. Therefore, the effect of discounting used by receiverships should not necessarily be viewed as producing an estimate of market value for the net receivables from thrift resolutions.
13. Supplementary Information Relating to the Statements of Cash Flows
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Last Updated 02/26/2004 | communications@fdic.gov |