Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation

Press Releases

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Washington Federal, Seattle, Washington, Assumes All of the Deposits of Western National Bank, Phoenix, Arizona

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 16, 2011

Media Contact: Greg Hernandez (202) 898-6993 Email: mediarequests@fdic.gov

Western National Bank, Phoenix, Arizona, was closed today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Washington Federal, Seattle, Washington, to assume all of the deposits of Western National Bank.

The three branches of Western National Bank will reopen on Monday as branches of Washington Federal. Depositors of Western National Bank will automatically become depositors of Washington Federal. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance coverage up to applicable limits. Customers of Western National Bank should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from Washington Federal that it has completed systems changes to allow other Washington Federal branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Western National Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of September 30, 2011, Western National Bank had approximately $162.9 million in total assets and $144.5 million in total deposits. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Washington Federal agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

Customers with questions about today's transaction should call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-405-7869. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Mountain Standard Time (MST); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., MST; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., MST; on Monday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., MST; and thereafter from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., MST.

Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/westernnatl.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $37.6 million. Compared to other alternatives, Washington Federal's acquisition was the least costly resolution for the FDIC's DIF. Western National Bank is the 92nd FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the third in Arizona. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Summit Bank, Prescott, on July 15, 2011.

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Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation's banking system. The FDIC insures deposits at the nation's 7,437 banks and savings associations, and it promotes the safety and soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no federal tax dollars — insured financial institutions fund its operations.

FDIC press releases and other information are available on the Internet at www.fdic.gov, by subscription electronically (go to www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html) and may also be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center (877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200). PR-195-2011