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FDIC Enforcement Decisions and Orders

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   [10,773] In the Matter of Heritage Bank, Watertown, Connecticut, Docket No. FDIC-93-87b (4-27-93).

   Bank to cease and desist from such unsafe or unsound practices as operating with excessive volumes of adversely classified assets; following hazardous lending and lax collection practices; operating with inadequate capital; operating in violation of applicable regulations; operating with management whose policies are detrimental to the Bank; operating with inadequate loan documentation; engaging in practices which produce inadequate operating income; failing to provide adequate supervision over the Bank's affairs; operating with inadequate allowance for loan and lease losses; failing to submit Reports of Condition and Income in accordance with instructions; operating with limited liquidity; operating with excessive interest rate risk exposure; and operating without proper internal routine and controls. (This order was terminated by order of the FDIC dated 4-12-96. See ¶16,091.)

   [.1]Management—Qualifications—Review
   [.2]Management—Management Plan—Minimum Requirements
   [.3]Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses—Establish/Maintain
   [.4]Capital—Tier 1 Capital—Increase/Maintain—Methods
   [.5]Loans—Risk Position—Reduce—Written Plans Required
   [.6]Loans—Extensions of Credit—Existing Borrowers—Curtail
   [.7]Loans—Overdue—Accrual of Interest
   [.8]Loan Policy—Written Revision—Minimum Requirements
   [.9]Profit Plan—Minimum Requirements
   [.10]Funds Management—Written Policy Required
   [.11]Dividends—Restricted
   [.12]Shareholders—Disclosure—Cease and Desist Order
   [.13]Technical Exceptions—Eliminate/Correct
   [.14]Violations of Law—Eliminate/Correct

In the Matter of

HERITAGE BANK
WATERTOWN,CONNECTICUT
(Insured State Nonmember Bank)
ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST
FDIC-93-87b

   Heritage Bank, Watertown, Connecticut ("Bank"), having been advised of its right to a Notice of Charges and of Hearing detailing the unsafe or unsound banking practices and violations of regulations alleged to have been committed by the Bank and of its right to a hearing on 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 counsel for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"), dated April 13, 1993, whereby solely for the purpose of this proceeding and without admitting or denying any unsafe or unsound banking practices or violations of 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 violated 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 its institution-affiliated parties, as that 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 of regulations:
   (a) operating with an excessive volume of adversely classified assets;
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   (b) engaging in hazardous lending and lax collection practices, including maintaining an excessive volume of adversely classified loans;
   (c) operating with inadequate capital for the kind and quality of assets held;
   (d) engaging in violations of applicable regulations;
   (e) operating with management whose policies and practices are detrimental to the Bank;
   (f) operating with deficient or inadequate loan documentation, including but not limited to current financial statements, insurance coverage, title searches or legal opinions, and cash flow and/or operating information;
   (g) engaging in practices which produce inadequate operating income and excessive loan losses;
   (h) failing to provide adequate supervision and direction over the affairs of the Bank to prevent unsafe or unsound practices and violations of regulations;
   (i) operating with an inadequate allowance for loan and lease losses for the volume, kind and quality of loans held;
   (j) failing to submit Reports of Condition and Income in accordance with prevailing instructions;
   (k) operating with limited liquidity;
   (l) operating with excessive interest rate risk exposure;
   (m) operating without proper internal routine and controls.
   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Bank and its institution-affiliated parties take affirmative action as follows:

[.1] 1. (a) Within ninety (90) days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall assess the qualifications of senior management. Each member of management shall have qualifications and experience commensurate with his or her duties and responsibilities at the Bank. 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.
During the life of this ORDER, the Bank shall notify the Regional Director of the FDIC's Boston Regional Office ("Regional Director") and the State of Connecticut Banking Commissioner ("Commissioner') in writing of any changes in management. The notification must include the names and background of any replacement personnel and must be provided prior to the individual's assuming the new position.

   [.2] (b) Within thirty (30) days from the effective date of this ORDER, the board of directors shall develop a written analysis and assessment of the Bank's management and staffing needs ("management plan"), which shall include, at a minimum:

       (i) identification of both the type and number of officer positions needed to manage and supervise properly the affairs of the Bank;
       (ii) identification and establishment of such Bank committees as are needed to provide guidance and oversight to active management;
       (iii) evaluation of each Bank officer, to determine whether these individuals possess the ability, experience and other qualifications required to perform present and anticipated duties, including adherence to the Bank's established policies and practices, and maintenance of the Bank in a safe and sound condition; and
       (iv) a plan of action to recruit and hire any additional or replacement personnel with the requisite ability, experience and other qualifications, which the Board of Directors determines are necessary to fill Bank officer or staff member positions consistent with the Board's analysis, evaluation and assessment as provided in paragraphs 1(b)(i) and 1(b)(iii) of this ORDER.
   (c) The written management plan shall be submitted to the Regional Director and the Commissioner for review and comment within ninety (90) days from the effective date of this ORDER. No sooner {{6-30-93 p.C-3178}}than thirty (30) days, but under no circumstances more than sixty (60) days after such submission, the Board of Directors shall approve the written management plan, taking into consideration any regulatory comments, and such approval shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors. Subsequent modifications to the written management plan may be made only after giving the Regional Director and the Commissioner written notice of the proposed modification, and after consideration of any responsive comments submitted by the Regional Director and Commissioner within thirty (30) days from their receipt of the notice of proposed modification. No such modification shall become effective until approved by the Board of Directors, and such approval shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors. The Bank, its directors, officers and employees shall implement and follow the written management plan and/or any subsequent modification thereto.
    (d) (i) The written management plan shall also include the requirement that the Board of Directors of the Bank, or a committee thereof consisting of not less than a majority of Board members who shall continue to be independent with respect to the Bank, provide supervision over lending, investment and operating policies of the Bank sufficient to ensure that the Bank complies with the provisions of this ORDER.
       (ii) At the next meeting of the shareholders of the Bank, and at each succeeding meeting of the shareholders at which Bank directors are to be elected, the members of the Board of Directors who are also shareholders shall nominate and support the election of candidates to the Board of Directors who are independent with respect to the Bank, in such number as is necessary to cause a majority of the Board of Directors to be and to remain independent with respect to the Bank.
       (iii) For purposes of this ORDER, an individual who is "independent with respect to the Bank" shall be any individual (1) who is not an officer of the Bank and who does not own, directly or indirectly, more than five (5.0) percent of the outstanding shares of the Bank, (2) who is not related by blood, marriage or common financial interest to an officer of the Bank or to any stockholder owning, directly or indirectly, more than five (5.0) percent of the Bank's outstanding shares, and (3) who is not indebted to the Bank, directly or indirectly (including the indebtedness of any entity in which the individual has a substantial financial interest), in an amount exceeding five (5.0) percent of the Bank's total equity capital and allowance for loan and lease losses.
   (e) The Bank's Board of Directors shall continue to meet at least monthly. The Board shall continue to prepare in advance and shall follow a detailed written agenda at each meeting, which shall include consideration of actions of any committees. A chronological file of all written agendas shall be maintained. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not be precluded from considering matters other than those contained in the agenda. Detailed written minutes of all Board meetings shall be maintained and recorded on a timely basis.

[.3] 2. (a) Unless already accomplished by the Bank, within ten (10) days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall increase its allowance for loan and lease losses ("Reserve") existing as of June 30, 1992 by $363,000 at a minimum.
   (b) Immediately after complying with paragraph 2(a), unless already accomplished by the Bank, the Bank shall eliminate from its books, by charge-off or collection, all assets or portions of assets classified "Loss" and fifty (50.0) percent of all assets or portions of assets FDIC Report of Examination of the Bank as of September 21, 1992 ("Examination"), which have not been previously collected or charged off. Reduction of these assets through use of proceeds of loans made by the Bank, other than loans to qualified third party borrowers, does not constitute "collection" or "elimination" for the purpose of this paragraph.
   (c) The Bank must maintain its Reserve in accordance with the prevailing requirements of the Instructions for the Reports of Condition and Income ("Instructions"). Toward this end, within sixty (60) days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank's Board of Directors shall establish a comprehensive policy for determining the adequacy of the Bank's Re- {{6-30-93 p.C-3179}}serve. The policy shall provide for a review of the Reserve at least once each calendar quarter. 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 on significant credits, concentrations of credit, and present and prospective economic conditions. Review of other real estate and exposure therein shall be undertaken along the same lines as the aforementioned loan portfolio review. The adequacy of the Reserve in relation to the loss potential in the loan portfolio will be reviewed by the Board of Directors and adjustments to the Reserve will be made accordingly. Details of these reviews will be incorporated into the minutes of the Board of Directors, including the methodology used to determine the adjustments made.
   (d) Reports of Condition and Income required to be submitted by the Bank as of each Report date, as that term is used in the Instructions, between and including June 30, 1992 and the effective date of this ORDER, shall, at a minimum, reflect a Reserve that should have been maintained in accordance with the Instructions. If necessary to comply with this paragraph 2(d), the Bank shall file amended Reports of Condition and Income within ten (10) days from the effective date of this ORDER.
   (e) Prior to the submission of any Report of Condition or Report of Income required to be filed by the Bank after the effective date of this ORDER, the Board of Directors of the Bank shall: (1) review the adequacy of the Bank's Reserve, (2) provide for an adequate Reserve, and (3) accurately report the Reserve in any such Report of Condition and Income. The minutes of the Board meeting at which such review is undertaken shall indicate the results of the review, including any increases in the Reserve, and the basis for determining the amount of allowance provided.

[.4] 3. (a) (i) As of the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall have Tier 1 capital at or in excess of six (6.0) percent of the Bank's total assets ("Tier 1 leverage capital ratio") and shall continue to maintain its Tier 1 leverage capital ratio at or in excess of such level as calculated herein while this ORDER is in effect.
   (ii) For 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's Rules and Regulations, 12 C.F.R. Part 325.
   (b) In calculating the Bank's Tier 1 leverage capital ratio under paragraph 3(a) initially, the Bank shall first comply fully with paragraphs 2(a) and (b) of this ORDER. Thereafter, such ratio and its component parts shall be determined only after the Bank has made such additions to its Reserve so as to bring the Reserve into compliance with the prevailing requirements of the Instructions and charged off any losses identified subsequent to the Examination.
   (c) Any increase in the Tier 1 leverage capital ratio made by the Bank in order to meet the requirements of paragraph 3(a) of this ORDER may be accomplished by:

       (i) the sale of new offerings of common stock or perpetual preferred stock;
       (ii) the direct contribution of cash by the directors of the Bank;
       (iii) the collection of all or part of assets classified "Loss" within the Examinations without loss or liability to the Bank. Reductions to loans and leases classified "Loss" shall first be credited to the Bank's Reserve and, if the Board of Directors' review of the adequacy of the Reserve required by paragraph 2 of this ORDER indicates that such Reserve has a balance in excess of that required for adequacy, any such excess may be transferred to equity capital through a negative provision to the Reserve;
       (iv) the collection in cash of assets previously charged off;
       (v) any combination of the above means; or
       (vi) any other means acceptable to the Regional Director and the Commissioner.
   (d) Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall submit a written plan to the Regional Director and the Commissioner for increasing such ratio up to or in excess of seven (7.0) percent. If, after having achieved the Tier 1 leverage capital ratio specified {{6-30-93 p.C-3180}}in paragraph 3(a)(i), such ratio declines below six (6.0) percent, the Bank, within thirty (30) days after the date on which said ratio so declined, shall submit a written plan to the Regional Director and the Commissioner for increasing such ratio up to or in excess of six (6.0) percent within sixty (60) days after the written plan is implemented. Upon approval by the Regional Director and the Commissioner, the Bank shall immediately implement the written plan.
   (e) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs 3(a)-(d), the Bank shall comply with the FDIC's Statement of Policy on Risk-Based Capital found in Appendix A to Part 325 of the FDIC's Rules and Regulations, 12 C.F.R. Part 325, App. A.
   (f) If all or part of any increase in capital made by the Bank in order to meet the requirements of this paragraph 3 involves an offering, other than an offering deemed not to be a public securities offering pursuant to 17 C.F.R. § 230.506 as currently in effect or as hereafter amended, of the Bank's securities (including a distribution limited only 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 the Federal securities laws. Prior to the sale of the 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, Washington, D.C. 20429, for review. Any changes requested to be made in the materials by the FDIC shall be made prior to their dissemination.
   (g) In complying with the provisions of paragraph 3(f) of this ORDER, the Bank shall provide to any subscriber and/or purchaser of Bank stock, 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 3(g) shall be furnished within ten (10) calendar days from the date such material development or change was planned or occurred, whichever is earlier, to every purchaser and/or subscriber of Bank stock who received or was tendered the information contained in the Bank's original offering materials.
   (h) The Bank's Board of Directors shall maintain in its minutes a written record of all actions taken by the Bank to comply with the capital requirements of paragraph 3(a) through 3(g) of this ORDER, including, at a minimum, any action to increase its Tier 1 capital by each of the methods specified in paragraphs 3(c)(i) through 3(c)(vi) of this ORDER.

[.5] 4. (a) Within thirty (30) days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Board of Directors shall develop a written plan of action to lessen the Bank's risk position with respect to each borrower who or which had outstanding principal debt owing to the Bank in excess of $250,000 and each parcel of other real estate ("ORE") with book value in excess of $250,000 which was classified "Substandard" or "Doubtful," in whole or in part, as of September 21, 1992. The Bank shall add to its written plan of action loans and ORE in excess of $250,000 which are so classified in any subsequent examination. In developing such plan, the Bank shall, at a minimum:

       (i) review the financial position of each such borrower, including source of repayment, repayment ability, and alternative repayment sources; and
       (ii) evaluate the available collateral for each such credit, including possible actions to improve the Bank's collateral position; and
       (iii) in the case of ORE, evaluate the property and provide cost/benefit analyses of holding the property versus current liquidation value.
Based upon such review and evaluation, the written plan of action shall: (A) establish target dollar levels to which the Bank shall reduce the aggregate dollar volume of "Substandard" or "Doubtful" classifications as of September 21, 1992 as well as any additional assets that are in need of criticism according to internal Bank review; and (B) provide for the submission of written monthly progress reports to the Bank's Board of Directors for review and notation in the minutes of the Board of Directors. [Exhibit A provides the form {{6-30-93 p.C-3181}}for the progress report.] As used in this paragraph 4, "reduce' means to (1) collect, (2) charge off, or (3) improve the quality of such assets so as to warrant removal of any adverse classification by the FDIC and the Commissioner. Payment of loans with the proceeds of the other loans made by the Bank, other than loans to qualified third party borrowers, will not constitute "reduction" or "collection" for purposes of this paragraph.
   (b) The written plan of action described by paragraph 4(a) shall be submitted to the Regional Director and the Commissioner for review and comment within thirty (30) days from the effective date of this ORDER. No sooner than thirty (30) days, but under no circumstances more than sixty (60) days after such submission, the Board of Directors shall approve the written plan of action, taking into consideration any regulatory comments, and such approval shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors. Subsequent modifications to the written plan may be made only after giving the Regional Director and the Commissioner written notice of the proposed modification, and after consideration of any responsive comments submitted by the Regional Director and/or the Commissioner within thirty (30) days from their receipt of the notice of proposed modification. No such modification shall become effective until approved by the Board of Directors, and such approval shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors. The Bank, its directors, officers and employees shall follow the written plan of action and/or any subsequent modification thereto.

   [.6] 5. Except for legally binding commitments in effect as of March 31, 1993, the Bank shall not extend or renew, directly or indirectly, credit to, or for the benefit of, any borrower who or which has a loan or other extension of credit with the Bank that has been charged off or classified, in whole or in part, "Loss," "Doubtful," or "Substandard," and is uncollected, unless a majority of the Bank's Board of Directors first (1) determines that such extension or renewal is in the best interest of the Bank, (2) determines that the Bank has satisfied the requirements set out in paragraph 4 of this ORDER as to such borrower, and (3) approves such extension or renewal. A written record of the Board of Directors' determination and approval of any extension or renewal under the terms of this paragraph 5 shall be maintained in the credit file of the affected borrower(s) as well as the minutes of the Board of Directors.

   [.7] 6. The Bank shall not accrue interest on any loan that is, or becomes, ninety (90) days or more delinquent as to principal or interest, unless the loan is both well secured and in the process of collection. For purposes of this paragraph 6, "well secured" and "in the process of collection" shall have the same meaning as those terms have in the prevailing Instructions for the Reports of Condition and Income. The Bank shall reverse on its books any previously accrued but uncollected interest on any loan that has ceased to accrue interest pursuant to this provision.

   [.8] 7. Within sixty (60) days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall review the Bank's written loan policy and shall record the results of such review in the Board of Directors' minutes. Thereafter, the Bank, its directors, officers, and employees shall follow the written loan policy.

[.9] 8. (a) Within thirty (30) days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall develop a written profit plan consisting of goals and strategies for improving the earnings of the Bank, which written profit plan shall include, at a minimum:

       (i) identification of the major areas in, and means by, which the Board of Directors will seek to improve the Bank's operating performance;
       (ii) realistic and comprehensive budgets;
       (iii) a budget review process to monitor the income and expenses of the Bank to compare actual figures with budgetary projections; and
       (iv) a description of the operating assumptions that form the basis for, and adequately support, major projected income and expense components.
   (b) The written profit plan shall be submitted to the Regional Director and the Commissioner for review and comment within thirty (30) days from the effective date of this ORDER. No sooner than thirty (30) days, but under no circumstances more than sixty (60) days after such sub- {{6-30-93 p.C-3182}}mission, the Board of Directors shall approve the written profit plan, taking into consideration any regulatory comments, and such approval shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors. Subsequent modifications to the written profit plan may be made only after giving the Regional Director and the Commissioner written notice of the proposed modification, and after consideration of any responsive comments submitted by the Regional Director and/or the Commissioner within thirty (30) days from their receipt of the notice of proposed modification. No such modification shall become effective until approved by the Board of Directors, and such approval shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors. The Bank, its directors, officers, and employees shall follow the written profit plan and/or any subsequent modification thereto.

[.10] 9. (a) Within thirty (30) days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall develop a written funds management policy which shall include, at a minimum:

       (i) the Bank's liquidity needs and plans for insuring that such needs are met on an ongoing basis;
       (ii) goals and strategies for managing and/or improving the Bank's interest rate risk exposure;
       (iii) monitoring of the interest rate sensitivity of present investments and deposits and projections of the types of investments and deposits to improve such liquidity position; and
       (iv) coordination of the Bank's loan, investment, operating, and budget and profit planning policies with the written funds management policy.
   (b) The written funds management policy shall be submitted to the Regional Director and the Commissioner for review and comment within thirty (30) days from the effective date of this ORDER. No sooner than thirty (30) days, but under no circumstances more than sixty (60) days after such submission, the Board of Directors shall approve the written funds management policy, taking into consideration any regulatory comments, and such approval shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors. Subsequent modifications to the written funds management policy may be made only after giving the Regional Director and the Commissioner written notice of the proposed modification, and after consideration of any responsive comments submitted by the Regional Director and/or the Commissioner within thirty (30) days from their receipt of the notice of proposed modification. No such modification shall become effective until approved by the Board of Directors, and such approval shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors. The Bank, its directors, officers and employees shall follow the written funds management policy and/or any subsequent modification thereto.

   [.11] 11. The Bank shall not pay or declare any dividends without the prior written consent of the Regional Director and the Commissioner.

   [.12] 12. Following the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall send to its shareholders 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 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, for review at least twenty (20) 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. (a) To the extent not already done so, by the Bank, within sixty (60) days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall correct the remediable technical exceptions on loans noted on pages 2d of the Examination.
       (b) To the extent not already done so, by the Bank, within (60) days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall formulate and implement a plan to reduce all concentrations as noted on page 2b of the Examination to less than twenty-five (25.0) percent of the Bank's Tier 1 capital.

   [.14] 14. To the extent not already done so by the Bank, within sixty (60) days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank shall eliminate and/or correct any remediable violations of regulations as described on page 6a of the Examination.
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   15. Within forty-five (45) days from the effective date of this ORDER, and, thereafter, within forty-five (45) days from the end of each calendar quarter, the Bank shall furnish written progress reports to the Regional Director and the Commissioner detailing the form and manner of any action taken to secure compliance with this ORDER and the result thereof. In addition, the Bank shall furnish such reports on request of either the Regional Director or the Commissioner. 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 Board meeting.
   This ORDER shall become effective ten (10) days from the date of its issuance.
   The provisions of this ORDER shall be binding upon the Bank and its institution-affiliated parties.
   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 Westwood, Massachusetts this 27th day of April, 1993.
   Pursuant to delegated authority.

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