Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation

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   [¶10,814] In the Matter of Royal Thrift & Loan Company, Los Angeles, California, Docket No. FDIC-93-123b (6-2-93).

   Thrift to cease and desist from such unsafe or unsound practices as operating with inadequate management; operating with inadequate capital; operating with an excessive level of poor quality assets; operating without adequate reserve for loan losses; following lax lending and collection practices; operating without proper internal routine and controls; and operating in violation of applicable laws or regulations.

   [.1] Management—Qualifications—Review
   [.2] Capital—Tier 1 Capital—Increase/Maintain—Methods
   [.3] Assets—Adversely Classified—Eliminate/Reduce
   [.4] Loans—Extensions of Credit—Existing Borrowers—Curtail
   [.5] Lending and Collection Policy—Minimum Requirements
   [.6] Loan Loss Reserve—Establish/Maintain
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   [.7] Assets—Average Assets—Limitations on Increase
   [.8] Bank Operations—Overhead Expenses—Plan required
   [.9] Violations of Law—Eliminate/Correct
   [.10.10] Reports of Condition and Income—Amendment Required
   [.11] Dividends—Restricted
   [.12] Brokered Deposits—Notice to FDIC Required
   [.13] Shareholders—Disclosure—Cease and Desist Order

In the Matter of

ROYAL THRIFT & LOAN
COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
(Insured State Nonmember Institution)
ORDER
TO
CEASE AND DESIST
FDIC-93-123b
   Royal Thrift & Loan Company, Los Angeles, California ("Insured Institution"), having been advised of its right to a Notice of Charges and of Hearing detailing the unsafe or unsound banking practices and violations of law and/or regulations alleged to have been committed by the Insured Institution and of its right to a hearing on the 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 May 23, 1993, whereby solely for the purpose of this proceeding and without admitting or denying the alleged charges of unsafe or unsound banking practices and violations of law and/or regulations, the Insured Institution 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 Insured Institution had engaged in unsafe or unsound banking practices and had committed violations of law and/or regulations. The FDIC, therefore, accepted the CONSENT AGREEMENT and issued the following:

   IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Insured Institution, and any institution-affiliated party as such 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:
   (a) operating with inadequate management;
   (b) operating with inadequate equity capital and reserves in relation to the volume and quality of assets held by the Insured Institution;
   (c) operating with a large volume of poor quality loans;
   (d) operating with an inadequate loan valuation reserve;
   (e) following lax lending and collection practices;
   (f) operating with criticized routine and controls policies; and
   (g) operating in violation of section 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, 12 U.S.C. § 371c-1, made applicable to state nonmember insured institutions by section 18(j)(1) of the Act, 12 U.S.C. § 1828(j)(1), as more fully described on page 6-a-2 of the Report of Examination as of October 5, 1992; and sections 323, 350.4(a)(1), 350.6, and 350.7(b) of the FDIC Rules and Regulations, 12 U.S.C. §§ 323, 350.4(a)(1), 350.6, and 350.7(b), as more fully described on pages 6-a and 6-a-1 of the Report of Examination as of October 5, 1992.
   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Insured Institution take affirmative action as follows:

   [.1] 1. The Insured Institution shall have and retain qualified management.
   (a) Each member of management shall have qualifications and experience commensurate with his or her duties and responsibilities at the Insured Institution. Management should include a chief executive officer with proven ability in managing a Insured Institution of comparable size, and experience in upgrading a low quality loan portfolio, improving earnings, and other matters needing particular {{8-31-93 p.C-3247}}attention. Management should also include a senior lending officer with significant appropriate lending, collection, and loan supervision experience and experience in upgrading a low quality loan portfolio. Each member of management shall be provided appropriate written authority from the Insured Institution's board of directors to implement the provisions of this ORDER.
   (b) The qualifications of management shall be assessed on its ability to:

   (i) comply with the requirements of this ORDER;
   (ii) operate the Insured Institution in a safe and sound manner;
   (iii) comply with applicable laws and regulations; and
   (iv) restore all aspects of the Insured Institution to a safe and sound condition, including asset quality, capital adequacy, earnings, management effectiveness, and liquidity.

[.2] 2. (a) During the life of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall maintain Tier 1 capital in such an amount as to equal or exceed seven and one-half (7.5) percent of the Insured Institution's total assets.
   (b) Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall develop and adopt a plan to meet the minimum risk-based capital requirements as described in the FDIC Statement of Policy on Risk-Based Capital contained in Appendix A to Part 325 of the FDIC Rules and Regulations, 12 C.F.R. Part 325, Appendix A. The Plan shall be in a form and manner acceptable to the Regional Director as determined at subsequent examinations.
   (c) The level of Tier 1 capital to be maintained during the life of this ORDER pursuant to Subparagraph 2(a) shall be in addition to a fully funded loan loss reserve, the adequacy of which shall be satisfactory to the Regional Director and Commissioner as determined at subsequent examinations and/or visitations.
   (d) Any increase in Tier 1 capital necessary to meet the requirements of Paragraph 2 of this ORDER may be accomplished by the following:

   (i) the sale of common stock; or
   (ii) the sale of noncumulative perpetual preferred stock; or
   (iii) the direct contribution of cash by the board of directors, shareholders, and/or parent holding company; or
   (iv) any other means acceptable to the Regional Director and the Commissioner; or
   (v) any combination of the above means.

[.3] 3. (a) Within 10 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall eliminate from its books, by charge-off or collection, all assets classified "Loss" as of October 5, 1992, that have not been previously collected or charged off. Elimination of these assets through proceeds of other loans made by the Insured Institution is not considered collection for the purpose of this paragraph.
   (b) Within 90 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall have reduced the assets classified "Substandard" as of October 5, 1992 that have not previously been charged off to not more than $5,500,000.
   (c) Within 180 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall have reduced the assets classified "Substandard" as of October 5, 1992 that have not previously been charged off to not more than $4,500,000.
   (d) Within 360 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall have reduced the assets classified "Substandard" as of October 5, 1992 that have not previously been charged off to not more than $3,500,000.
   (e) The requirements of subparagraphs 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), and 3(d) of this ORDER are not to be construed as standards for future operations and, in addition to the foregoing, the Insured Institution shall eventually reduce the total of all adversely classified assets. Reduction of these assets through proceeds of other loans made by the Insured Institution is not considered collection for the purpose of this paragraph. As used in subparagraphs 3(b), 3(c), 3(d), and 3(e) the word "reduce" means:

   (i) to collect;
   (ii) to charge-off; or
   (iii) to sufficiently improve the quality of assets adversely classified to warrant removing any adverse classification, as determined by the FDIC.

   [.5] 5. Within 60 days from the effective {{11-30-93 p.C-3249}}date of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall revise, adopt, and implement written lending and collection policies to provide effective guidance and control over the Insured Institution's lending function, which policies shall include at a minimum, revisions to address loan documentation procedures and all items of criticism as outlined on page 6 of the Report of Examination as of October 5, 1992. Such policies and their implementation shall be in a form and manner acceptable to the Regional Director and the Commissioner as determined at subsequent examinations and/or visitations.

   [.6] 6. Within 10 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall establish and thereafter maintain an adequate reserve for loan loses. Such reserve shall be established by charges to current operating income, together with collection of assets previously charged off. In complying with the provisions of this paragraph, the board of directors shall review the adequacy of the Insured Institution's reserve for loan losses prior to the end of each quarter. The minutes of the board of directors meeting at which such review is undertaken shall indicate the results of the review, the amount of any increase in the reserve, and the basis for determination of the amount of the reserve provided.

   [.7] 7. During the life of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall not increase its average assets in excess of fifteen (15.0) percent per annum without receiving the prior written approval of the Regional Director and the Commissioner. The prior written approval shall be requested at least thirty (30) days in advance of the period during which the Insured Institution intends to exceed the fifteen (15.0) percent growth restriction. Irrespective of the above, in no event shall the Insured Institution increase its average assets by an amount that would result in a violation of the capital requirements set forth in Paragraph 2 of this ORDER.

   [.8] 8. Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall revise and maintain a plan to control overhead and other expenses. The plan shall be in a form and manner acceptable to the Regional Director and the Commissioner as determined at subsequent examinations and/or visitations.

   [.9] 9. Within 60 days from the effective date of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall eliminate and/or correct all violations of law which are more fully set out on pages 6-a, 6-a-1, and 6-a-2 of the Report of Examination of the Insured Institution as of October 5, 1992. In addition, the Insured Institution shall take all necessary steps to ensure future compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

   [.10] 10. Within 10 days after eliminating from its books any asset in compliance with Paragraph 3 of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall file with the FDIC amended Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income which shall accurately reflect the financial condition of the Insured Institution as of June 30, 1992. Thereafter, during the life of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall file with the FDIC Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income which accurately reflect the financial condition of the Insured Institution as of the end of the period for which the Reports are filed, including any adjustment in the Insured Institution's books made necessary or appropriate as a consequence of any California Department of Corporations or FDIC examination of the Insured Institution during that reporting period.

   [.11] 11. The Insured Institution shall not pay cash dividends without the prior written consent of the Regional Director and the Commissioner.

   [.12] 12. While this ORDER is in effect, the Insured Institution shall give written notice to the Regional Director and the Commissioner at such time as the Insured Institution intends to make use of brokered deposits. The notification should indicate how the brokered deposits are to be utilized with specific reference to credit quality of investments/loans and the effect on the Insured Institution's funds position and asset/ liability matching. The Regional Director and the Commissioner shall have the right to reject the Insured Institution's plans for utilizing brokered deposits. For purposes of this ORDER, brokered deposits are defined as described in section 337.6(a)(1) of the FDIC Rules and Regulations to include any deposits funded by third party agents or nominees for depositors, including deposits managed by a trustee or custodian when each individual beneficial interest is entitled to or asserts a right to federal deposit insurance.

   [.13] 13. Following the effective date of this ORDER, the Insured Institution shall {{11-30-93 p.C-3250}}send to its shareholders or otherwise furnish a description of this ORDER in conjunction with the Insured Institution's next shareholder communication and also in conjunction with its notice or proxy statement preceding the Insured Institution'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, 550-17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20429, at least fifteen (15) 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. Within 30 days of the end of the first quarter following the effective date of this ORDER, and within thirty (30) days of the end of each quarter thereafter, the Insured Institution 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 shall include a copy of the Insured Institution's Report of Condition and the Insured Institution's Report of Income. 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 Insured Institution in writing from making further reports.
   The provisions of this ORDER shall be binding upon the Insured Institution, its directors, officers, employees, agents, successors, assigns, and other persons participating in the conduct of the affairs of the Insured Institution.
   This ORDER shall become effective ten (10) days from the date of its issuance.
   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 San Francisco, California, this 2nd day of June, 1993.
   Pursuant to delegated authority.