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FDIC Enforcement Decisions and Orders

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{{3-31-96 p.C-2983}}
   [10,705] In the Matter of First Scotland Bank, Laurinburg, North Carolina, Docket No. FDIC-92-329b (1-19-93).

   Bank to cease and desist from such unsafe or unsound practices as failing to provide adequate supervision over the Bank's affairs; operating with management whose policies are detrimental to the Bank; operating with excessive volumes of adversely classified assets; following hazardous lending and lax collection practices; operating with inadequate allowance for loan and lease losses; operating without proper internal routine and controls; operating in violation of applicable laws or regulations; operating with inadequate liquidity; and engaging in practices which produce inadequate operating income. (This order was terminated by order of the FDIC dated 1-22-96. See ¶16,067.)

{{3-31-96 p.C-2984}}
   [.1] Management—Qualifications—Review
   [.2] Capital—Tier 1 Capital—Increase/Maintain—Methods
   [.3] Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses—Establish/Maintain
   [.4] Assets—Adversely Classified—Eliminate/Reduce
   [.5] Assets—Adversely Classified—Individual Written Plans
   [.6] Loans—Extensions of Credit—Existing Borrowers—Curtail
   [.7] Loans—Special Mention—Correct Deficiencies
   [.8] Loans—Extensions of Credit—Documentation System Required
   [.9] Budget and Earnings Forecast—Preparation Required
   [.10] Liquidity—Written Policy—Minimum Requirements
   [.11] Dividends—Restricted
   [.12] Violations of Law—Eliminate/Correct
   [.13] Bank Operations—Internal Routine and Controls—Correct Deficiencies
   [.14] Shareholders—Disclosure—Cease and Desist Order

In the Matter of

FIRST SCOTLAND BANK
LAURINBURG,NORTH CAROLINA
(Insured State Nonmember Bank)
ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST
FDIC-92-329b

   First Scotland Bank, Laurinburg, North Carolina ("Bank"), having been advised of its right to a written Notice of Charges and of Hearing detailing unsafe or unsound banking practices and violations of applicable laws and regulations alleged to have been committed by the Bank and of its right to a hearing regarding such 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 a representative of the Legal Division of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"), dated December 11, 1992, whereby solely for the purpose of this proceeding and without admitting or denying any of the alleged charges of unsafe or unsound banking practices and violations of applicable laws and 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 applicable laws and regulations.
   The FDIC, therefore, accepted the CONSENT AGREEMENT and issued the following:

ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST

   IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, that the Bank, its institution-affiliated parties, as such term is defined in section 3(u) of the Act, 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), and its successors and assigns cease and desist from the following unsafe or unsound banking practices and violations of laws and regulations:
   A. Failing to provide adequate supervision and direction over the affairs of the Bank by the board of directors of the Bank to prevent unsafe or unsound practices and violations of laws and regulations;
   B. Operating the Bank with management whose policies and practices are detrimental to the Bank and jeopardize the safety of its deposits;
   C. Operating the Bank with an excessive volume of adversely classified assets, and overdue loans;
   D. Engaging in hazardous lending and ineffective and lax collection practices, including but not limited to: (i) failing to establish and/or enforce repayment programs; (ii) extending credit to borrowers who lack sufficient repayment ability; (iii) extending credit without properly evaluating collateral protection; and (iv) extending credit with deficient or inadequate supporting loan docu- {{4-30-93 p.C-2985}}mentation, including but not limited to current financial statements and cash flow and/or operating information;
   E. Failing to provide and maintain an adequate allowance for loan and lease losses for the volume, kind and quality of loans held by the Bank;
   F. Failing to operate with an adequate system of internal routine and controls, as more fully described on page 6-b of the FDIC's Report of Examination of the Bank as of June 29, 1992;
   G. Engaging in violations of applicable Federal and State of North Carolina regulations, as more fully described on pages 6-a through 6-a-7 of the FDIC's Report of Examination of the Bank as of June 29, 1992;
   H. Operating with inadequate liquidity; and
   I. Engaging in practices which produce inadequate operating income.
   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Bank and its successors and assigns take affirmative action as follows:

   [.1] 1. (a) Within 90 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall have and retain qualifed management. At a minimum, such management shall include a board of directors which shall be responsible for supervising and directing the policies and activities of the Bank; a chief executive officer who shall possess the necessary experience and qualifications to provide daily supervision over the Bank's affairs; and a senior lending officer who has an appropriate level of lending, collection and loan supervision experience necessary to supervise the upgrading of a low-quality loan portfolio. Such persons shall be provided the necessary written authority to implement the provisions of this ORDER. 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. As long as this ORDER remains in effect, the Bank shall notify the Regional Director of the FDIC's Atlanta Regional Office ("Regional Director") and the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks ("Commissioner") in writing of any changes in management. Such notification shall be in addition to any application and prior approval requirements established by section 32 of the Act, 12 U.S.C. § 1831i, and implementing regulations; must include the names and qualifications of any replacement personnel; and must be provided at least 30 days prior to the individual assuming the new position.
   (b) To ensure both compliance with this ORDER and the retention of qualified management by the Bank, the board of directors shall, within 90 days from the effective date of this ORDER, develop a written analysis and assessment of the Bank's management and staffing requirements ("Management Policy"), which shall, at a minimum, contain: (i) an analysis of the number and type of positions needed to properly manage the Bank; (ii) a clear and concise description of the required experience and level of compensation for each such position; (iii) an evaluation of each member of the Bank's present management; (iv) a plan to recruit and hire any replacement personnel with the requisite ability and experience necessary to fill management positions at the Bank; (v) a periodic evaluation of each Bank employee's job performance; and (vi) procedures to periodically review and update the Management Policy. The Management Policy and any subsequent modification thereto shall be submitted to the Regional Director and the Commissioner for review and comment. Within 30 days from receipt of any comment by the Regional Director and/or the Commissioner, and after consideration of such comment, the board of directors shall approve the Management Policy, which approval shall be recorded in the minutes of the board of directors' meeting. Thereafter, the Bank and its successors and assigns shall implement and follow the Management Policy and/or any subsequent modifications thereto.

[.2] 2. (a) Within 30 days after December 31, 1992, and within 30 days after each March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 thereafter while this ORDER remains in effect, the Bank's board of directors shall calculate the Bank's Tier 1 capital as a percentage of its total assets {{4-30-93 p.C-2986}}("capital ratio") as of the nearest preceding March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31 date. If such capital ratio is less than 6.0 percent, the Bank shall, within 90 days from the date of such calculation, increase its Tier 1 capital by an amount sufficient to raise its capital ratio to not less than 6.0 percent as of the nearest preceding March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31 date.
   (b) Any such increase in Tier 1 capital required by paragraph 2(a) of this ORDER may be accomplished by one or more of the following:

       (i) The sale of new securities in the form of common stock on noncumulative perpetual preferred stock;
       (ii) The collection in cash of all or part of the assets other than loans classified "Loss" as of June 29, 1992, and charged off in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Order;
       (iii) The direct contribution of cash by the directors and/or shareholders of the Bank;
       (iv) The collection in cash of assets other than loans previously charged off; or
       (v) Any other means acceptable to the Regional Director and the Commissioner.
(c) (i) If all or part of the increase in the Bank's Tier 1 capital required under paragraph 2(a) of this ORDER is accomplished by the sale of new securities, the Bank's board of directors shall 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 to the Bank's existing shareholders), the Bank shall prepare detailed offering materials fully describing the securities being offered, including an accurate description of the financial condition of the Bank and of this ORDER as well as the circumstances giving rise to the offering, and any other material disclosures necessary to comply with applicable Federal securities laws. Prior to the sale of such securities, and, in any event, not less than twenty (20) days prior to the dissemination of such materials, the materials used in the sale of the securities shall be submitted to the FDIC, Registration and Disclosure Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20429, and to the Commissioner for review. Any changes in such offering materials requested by the FDIC or the Commissioner shall be made prior to their dissemination.
   (ii) In complying with the provisions of paragraph 2(c)(i) of this ORDER, the Bank shall provide to any subscriber and/or purchaser of Bank securities, written notice of any planned or existing development or other change which is materially 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 2(c)(ii) of the ORDER shall be furnished within ten (10) calendar days from the date that such material development or change was planned or occurred, whichever is earlier, and shall be furnished to every purchaser and/or subscriber of Bank securities who received or was tendered the information contained in the Bank's original offering materials.
   (d) In addition to the requirements of paragraph 2(a) of this ORDER, for as long as this ORDER remains in effect, the Bank shall meet the minimum ratio requirements established for "risk-based capital" by the deadlines set out in Appendix A of Part 325 of the FDIC's Rules and Regulations, 12 C.F.R. Part 325, which Appendix A is entitled "Statement of Policy on Risk-Based Capital," and/or any subsequent amendments or modifications thereto.
   (e) For the purposes of this ORDER, the terms "Tier 1 capital" and "total assets" shall have the meanings ascribed to them in sections 325.2(m) and 325.2(n), respectively, of the FDIC's Rules and Regulations, 12 C.F.R. §§ 325.2(m) and 325.2(n).

[.3] 3. (a) Within 30 days from the effective date of this ORDER, and concurrently with compliance with the requirements of paragraph 4 of this ORDER, the Bank shall establish and thereafter continually maintain an adequate allowance for loan and lease losses in accordance with the prevailing requirements of the Instructions {{4-30-93 p.C-2987}}for the Reports of Condition and Income, by charges against current operating income. In complying with the requirements of this paragraph 3(a) of the ORDER, the Bank's board of directors shall, at a minimum, review the adequacy of the Bank's allowance for loan and lease losses prior to the end of each calendar quarter. The Bank's board of directors shall consider the volume and quality of internally rated loans, the level of delinquent and nonaccrual loans, risk in loans listed for Special Mention and anticipated growth in the loan portfolio, in determining the adequacy of its allowance. The minutes of the board meeting at which review of the allowance for loan and lease losses is undertaken shall indicate the results of the review, the amount of any recommended increases in the allowance, and the basis for determining the amount of allowance provided.
   (b) Reports of Condition and Income required to be filed by the Bank prior to the effective date of this ORDER and subsequent to June 29, 1992, shall reflect a provision for the allowance for loan and lease losses necessary to comply with paragraph 3(a) of this ORDER. If necessary to comply with this paragraph 3(b) of the ORDER, the Bank shall file amended Reports of Condition and Income within 30 days from the effective date of this ORDER.

   [.4] 4. Within 30 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall eliminate from its books, by collection, charge-off or other proper entries, all assets or portions of assets classified "Loss" and one-half of all assets or portions of assets classified "Doubtful" by the FDIC as a result of the FDIC's Examination of the Bank as of June 29, 1992, which have not been previously collected or charged off, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Regional Director and the Commissioner. Reduction of these assets through use of proceeds of loans made by the Bank does not constitute collection for the purpose of this paragraph 4 of the ORDER.

   [.5] 5. (a) Within 90 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall submit to the Regional Director and the Commissioner a written plan of action to reduce each asset which was adversely classified by the FDIC as of June 29, 1992, and which aggregated $50,000 or more as of that date. Such plan of action shall thereafter be implemented by the Bank and monitored, and progress reports thereon shall be submitted by the Bank to the Regional Director and the Commissioner at 90-day intervals concurrently with the other reporting requirements set forth in paragraph 15 of this ORDER.
   (b) As used in this paragraph 5 of the ORDER, "reduce" means to (i) collect, (ii) charge off, or (iii) improve the quality of such assets sufficiently to warrant removal of any adverse classification by the FDIC.

   [.6] 6. (a) Effective the 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 with the Bank that has been charged off or classified, in whole or in part, "Loss" or "Doubtful" and is uncollected.
   (b) Effective the 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 with the Bank that has been classified, in whole or in part, "Substandard" and is uncollected, unless, prior to the extension of credit, a majority of the Bank's board of directors: (i) determines that such advance is in the best interest of the Bank; (ii) determines that the Bank has satisfied the requirements set out in paragraph 5(a) of this ORDER as to such borrower; (iii) determine that the extension of credit is in full compliance with the Bank's loan policy; (iv) determines that all necessary loan documentation is on file, including but not limited to, current financial and cash flow information and satisfactory appraisal, title and lien documents; and (v) approves such advance. A written record of the board of directors' determination and approval of any advance under this paragraph 6(b) of the ORDER shall be maintained in the credit file(s) of the affected borrower(s) as well as the minutes of the board of directors.
   (c) The requirements of this paragraph 6 of the ORDER shall not prohibit the Bank from renewing or extending the maturity of any credit already extended to the borrower, provided such action is in {{4-30-93 p.C-2988}}accordance with both Federal and state laws, rules and regulations, and further provided all interest due at the time of such renewal or extension is collected in cash from the borrower.

   [.7] 7. Within 90 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall either correct the cited deficiencies in the assets listed for "Special Mention" on pages 2-c through 2-c-2 of the FDIC's Report of Examination of the Bank as of June 29, 1992, or shall prepare and submit to the Regional Director and the Commissioner a written plan of action to reduce any such asset in the manner specified in paragraph 5(b) of this ORDER. Any plan of action submitted pursuant to this paragraph 7 of the ORDER shall thereafter be implemented and monitored by the Bank, and progress reports thereon shall be submitted by the Bank to the Regional Director and the Commissioner concurrently with the other reporting requirements set forth in paragraph 15 of this ORDER.

   [.8] 8. Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall establish an effective system of loan documentation and shall correct the technical exceptions on loans noted on pages 2-e through 2-e-2 of the FDIC's Report of Examination of the Bank as of June 29, 1992. In addition and as long as this ORDER remains in effect, the Bank shall ensure that all necessary loan documentation, or evidence thereof, is obtained and evaluated before any further credit is extended by the Bank.

   [.9] 9. (a) Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall prepare a realistic and comprehensive budget and earnings forecast for calendar year 1993 and shall submit this budget and earnings forecast to the Regional Director and the Commissioner for review and comment.
   (b) As long as this ORDER remains in effect, the Bank shall prepare realistic and comprehensive calendar year budgets and earnings forecasts on a consolidated basis as of January 1 of each year subsequent to 1993 and shall submit them to the Regional Director and the Commissioner for review and comment no later than January 31 of the budget year.
   (c) In preparing the budgets and earnings forecasts required by this paragraph 9 of the ORDER, the Bank shall, at a minimum:

       (i) identify the major areas in, and means by, which the board of directors will seek to improve the Bank's operating performance, with particular emphasis on improving the Bank's net interest margin and reducing controllable overhead expenses; and
       (ii) describe the operating assumptions that form the basis for, and adequately support, major projected income and expense components.
   (d) Progress reports comparing the Bank's actual income and expense performance with budgetary projections shall be submitted to the Regional Director and the Commissioner at 90 days intervals concurrently with the other reporting requirements set forth in paragraph 15 of this ORDER. The Bank's board of directors shall review such progress reports, which review shall be recorded in the minutes of the board of directors.

   [.10] 10. Within 90 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall develop and submit to the Regional Director and the Commissioner a written plan to improve the Bank's liquidity position. Such written plan shall thereafter be implemented by the Bank and monitored, and progress reports thereon shall be submitted by the Bank to the Regional Director and the Commissioner at 90 day intervals concurrently with the other reporting requirements set forth in paragraph 15 of this ORDER.

   [.11] 11. Effective the date of this ORDER, the Bank shall not pay any cash or property dividends without the prior written consent of the Regional Director and the Commissioner.

   [.12] 12. Within 30 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall take all necessary steps, consistent with safe and sound banking practices, to eliminate and/or correct all violations of laws and regulations committed by the Bank, as described on pages 6-a through 6-a-7 of the FDIC's Report of Examination of the Bank as of June 29, 1992. In addition, the Bank shall adopt appropriate procedures to ensure its future compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

   [.13] 13. Within 90 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall develop and implement a plan to correct internal control deficiencies described on page 6-b of the FDIC's Report of Examination of the Bank as of June 29, 1992.

{{4-30-93 p.C-2989}

   [.14] 14. Following the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall send to its shareholders or otherwise furnish a description of this ORDER (1) in conjunction with the Bank's next shareholder communication and also (2) in conjunction with its notice or proxy statement preceding the Bank's next shareholder meeting. The description shall fully describe this ORDER in all material respects. The description and any accompanying communication, statement or notice shall be sent to the FDIC, Registration and Disclosure Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20429, and to the Commissioner, for review at least (20) days prior to dissemination to shareholders. Any changes requested to be made by the FDIC or the Commissioner shall be made prior to dissemination of the description, communication, notice or statement.
   15. Within 90 days from the effective date of this ORDER, and every 90 days thereafter while this ORDER remains in effect, the Bank shall furnish written progress reports to the Regional Director and the Commissioner detailing the form and manner of any actions taken to secure compliance with this ORDER and the results thereof. Such reports may be discontinued when the corrections required by this ORDER have been accomplished and the Regional Director and the Commissioner have released the Bank in writing from making further reports. All progress reports and other written responses to this ORDER shall be reviewed by the board of directors of the Bank and made a part of the minutes of the appropriate board of directors' meeting.
   16. The provisions of this ORDER shall become effective ten (10) days from the date of its issuance and shall be binding upon the Bank, its institution-affiliated parties, and its successors and assigns. Further, 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 Atlanta, Georgia, this 19 day of January, 1993.
   Pursuant to delegated authority.

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