• "Trust Preferred Securities and the Capital Strength of Banking Organizations" describes the role of trust preferred securities issued by bank holding companies during the recent financial crisis and the resulting legislative and regulatory reforms that signal a move away from reliance on these hybrid securities.
• "From the Examiner's Desk: Managing Agricultural Credit Concentrations" provides an overview of best practices relating to agricultural lending and effective management of agricultural credit concentrations to help farm banks manage the inherent uncertainties in the agricultural sector.
• "Insights from the FDIC's Credit and Consumer Products/Services Survey" summarizes recent risk management- and compliance-related survey results that provide insights into how insured institutions are changing operations in response to stressed economic conditions, including tightening underwriting standards and making greater use of third-party providers to offer new and innovative products.
• "Senior Life Settlements: A Cautionary Tale" discusses the development of the senior life settlements market and highlights significant risks associated with these transactions to financial institutions, investors, and consumers, including the potential for fraud.
• Suggestions for article topics and requests for permission to reprint articles should be e-mailed to supervisoryjournal@fdic.gov . Requests for print copies should be e-mailed to publicinfo@fdic.gov .

Distribution:
FDIC-Supervised Institutions

Suggested Routing:
Chief Executive Officer
Compliance Officer

Note:
FDIC financial institution letters (FILs) may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/financial-institution-letters/2010/index.html .

To receive FILs electronically, please visit http://www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/fil.html .

Paper copies of FDIC financial institution letters may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center, 3501 Fairfax Drive, E-1002, Arlington, VA 22226 (1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200).